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THE ELECTRICIAN

A WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance

VOLUME LXXXVIII.

From January 1, 1922, to June 30, 1922.

V!'

LONDON :

Printed by W. H. SMITH & SON, The Atden Press, Stamford Street, S.E.I, and Published by BENN BROthkrs T,TD.

at 8, Bouverie Street. London, E.G. 4.

1922.

INDEX TO "THE ELECTRICIAN."

VOL. LXXXVIII.

EA-3>
Y.S8

SPECIAL INDEXES.

PAGE

Municipal, Foreign and General Notes . . . . vi

Companies' Meetings, Keports, Dividends, &o, . . vii

Companies (New Electrical, A-c.) Registered . . \iii

• Entries in these Indexes are not included in the
General Index.

SUB.HEADINGS IN GENERAL INDEX.

Accounts, ^Municipal

Domestic Electricity

Educational . .

Institution Notes

Institution of Electrical Engineers

Legal Intelligence
Obituary
Parliamentary
Personal
Railways, Electric

PAGE

ReWews of Books . . v

Telegraphy . . . . v

Telephony . . . . . . . . v

Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony vi

Works, Descriptions of . . . . vi

Names of A uthors of Articles and Papers are indexed alphabetically in the GENEEAl Index,
and not under the sub-headings.

General Alphabetical Index.

Heavy figures denote that the subject
matter s a '* Leading Article " or in
the "Editorial Note." When the
letter (C) i* placed after a title, it
■itfnifies that tiie arlrcle in question
•ppvared m the Correspondence
columa.

ACCOUNTS. MUNICIPAL—

Aberdeen, 728

Burton, 758

Hackney, 48

Hove, 48

Hull, 140

Lincoln, 728

Liverpool, 140, 207, 728

Lowestoft, 758

Manchester, 758

Oldham, 758

Plymouth, 758

Beading, 48

Swansea, 728

Tyncmouth, 728

Walsall, 728

Worcester, 728
Acousticon, 508
Addenhrooke, O. L. :

Surface Leakage, 03

Electrostatic Wattmeter, 4B6.
Aerial Navigation, Light as an Aid, 309
AlTKKN, W.: Auxiliary Features in Auto-
matic Telephone Systems, 62, 154, 470
Alden Lighting I'lants, 670
Allan, C. T. : (C) " Neglect of French

Products," 16, 31
Allen, H. W. : (C) Radio Telegraphy in

Chile, 721
Allkn, 8. T. : Production of Metallic Mag-
nesium, 87, 92
Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd.i

799
Amaluaniation of Electricity Undertakings,

30. 15
Anial«aination of L. it N.W. and Midland

Railway, 337
America '•. Kurope (Flcmingl, 627
American Domesticity through English Byes

[DycrJ, 375
American Trade with I-atin-America, 036
Andekson, .1. : Electric Motor Starters, 335,

342, (DiscussionK 314
Andkuson, J. : (f) A Brighter Institution,

385
Antenna). Earth Besistance of [ Meissnerl, 685
Anti-Da/.zle ProMcm, 590
Argentina, Ilydro-l'lcctrlc Power, 23
Armndirc Winding, Practical Formulrc

fVollisoii], 196.
Arn..ttr()ng, Whitwordi and Co., Ilydro-

Eleclric l)ci)t., 537
AitNAi.i,, A. T. : Jlydro-Elcctric Power in

India, 237
Arton an<l Walton, Washing Machine, 4S1
ASHHY, W. "E, : (C) Klectric Propulsion

Methods, 657
Ash Conveyor at Wolveriianipton, 801
" At rax " Projector, 389
Australia, Company Legislation, 296
Australia, Industrial Arbitration, 494

Ball Bearings for Textile Work, 228
Barton Power Station, 662
Bascule Hiiil«e, Electrically Controlled, 471
Batavia l'\il>lic Works. 165
Baftery-Cliai;;iim Plant, Autonuitlc. 536
Belgium, KiDjIneirlng Industry in, 641
BelJ, l'iii\(i-iil Coml'ination, 391
BELLINI, E. : Chainsof Magnetically Coupled
ClrcultH, 560, IFewJ (C) 506

Bknn, Sir E. J. P. :

The Election and Trade, 38, 46

Bringing Victorian Economics Up to date,
352

Opening Up Europe, 664

Busy Europe : Politics and Business, 695

Our Spoon-fed Traders, 720.
B.E.S.A. Publications, 594
BiGOE, D. L. Selby : Recent Developments

in Power Production, 715
Birmingham, Electricity In, 48. NechellsGen-

erating Station, 744
Bishop, W. F. (C) Henley's Cables, 657
Boiler, Spearing, History of, 562
Bolton, F. : (C/ Hydro Electric Develop-
ment, 161
Box, New Network, 633
Breakdown, Charing Cross Co.'s, 148
Brentwood fJIectric Lighting, 433
Brighton's Electricity, 665
Brighton Tramways Inquiry, 418
British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers'

Association, Annual General Meeting, 414
British Malaya, Electric Machinery, 300
British Tenders for Foreign Orders, 59
British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd.,

Twin Wiring System, 379
British Musc\nn, " Electrician " at, 525
Broadcasting, 449, 572, 611, [De Forest], (C)

657
Broadcasting Boom, Radio Telephone

(Howel, 684
Bkoughton, H. H.: Electric Winding

Engines and Mine Hoists, 6, 34
Brown, Boveri and Co.'s Developments in

Textile Drives, 233
Brown Coal at Morwell, 595
Bruce Peebles' Heavy Test Plate, 46
Budget, 521

Bulk Supijly Powers, 637
BCKKOWKS. R. B. : Notes on Theory of

(irassot Fluxmeter, 122
Butt-Welding, 510
Bvno, E. S. : Telephone Line Work in the

United States (Liscussion), 192

Cable Mi-nufacturers' Results, 404

Cable Winches for India, 598

Cables, Sliaft, Install' -'in, 101.

" Cn-g " Miners' Eh ..n.ic Lamps, 480

Calcutta, Briti.sh Orde.-s from, 480

Calvkkt, E. : Adniinistraticn and Control
of Electricity Departments, 770, 792,
(ViscuxHion) 793

Cambridge and Paul Remote Power Indi-
cator, Temperature Regulator, String
Electrometer, String Galvanometer and
Disaitpeaniii; Filament Pyrometer, 72

Canada, Branch Factories, 603

Caiuula, Trade with. 51

Canada, Trolley Onmilmses. 198

Cauk, L. II. A.; Induction-Type Synchronous
Motors, 12, {Dixcussifin) 13. !4

Cah.son, John R., and GiLin ri J. J. • " Sea
Ri'turn of a Submarine Cab!. " 499

Central Technical Coll.Ke, 613

Centrifugal Clutches and Sn)all Motors 633

Ciylon Eb'etrieity Projects, 156

CMAMiiKits, F. .].: Wireless Tclegraphv in
the Men-untile Marine, 682

Cliarges, Electricity, Beductlon, 867

Charges, JCleotrieIfy, at Oswestry, 478

Cliaring Cross Electric Supply Co.'s Break-
down, 148

Cmattock, R. a. : Sub-Station Equipment,
including Automatic Control, 609, 794,
iDitcuxsiun) 796

Chester Corporation, Special Order, 538

CHKrvuEiix, K. (JEOUGFS, .Jt'N. : Electric
Conduit and I'i, e Clearing Device, 383

Chll-, Electric Traction in, 026 [Allen], (C)
721

Chilean Railways, Electric Locomotives for,
693

China, Electrical Activities in, 424

Chloride Electric Storage Co.'s Exide
Battery Service, 194

Clap,ke, Willum B. : (C) An Anomaly, 561

Clearing Device, Pipe and Electric Conduit
[Cheuvreux), 383

Clocks, 535

Clock, " Telur " Stop, 573

Close, C. J. : (C) Amateur " Wireless," 535

Coal Cutters in Mines, 494

Coal Cutter, " Hardy-Bedford," 597

Coals, Low-Grade, for Electric Power, 352

Coaxes, W. A.: High Voltage Switchgear
Design, 556 [RudkinJ (C) 595; A Com-
mentary on Power Station Switchgear, 782

Cobalt Steels, 421

Colour-Matching Unit, B.T.-H., " Trutint,"
386

Compensation for Deprivation of Employ-
ment, 31, 46

Compressed Powdered Iron, Magnetic Pro-
perties of [Speed and Elmen], 566

Condensing Plant and Auxiliaries, Develop-
ment of [Shaw], 784

Conduit and Pipe Clearing Device, Electric
(Cheuvreuxl, 383

Contract, Brighton Railway, 205

Contract, Condition" of, 739

Contractor and the ShowToom, 367, 388

Contracts, South African, 22, 135

Contracts, Limited Liabilities Companies',
613

Cooker-Radiator, " Utility," 391

Cooker, Falkirk Iron Co., Silver Medal, 512

Cooker, " Falco," 733

Cookers, Standardisation of, 710

Cooper, W. R. : Some Reflections on the
Lead Hydrate Accunnilator, 654

COPPINGER, C. A. : (C) Overhead Wires and
Private Property, 721

Corporation Tax, 336, 463

CowiE, J. R. : Recent Tendencies in Switch-
gear Design and Manufacture, 778

Cox-Cavendish Electric Co., Electrostatic
Oscillograph and Gold Leaf Electroscope,
73

Crane, High Electric Ordnance, 353

Crowley, J. F. :
Industrial Future in India, 210, 222, 282
Electricity in the Lace Industry, 225

CUSINS, Lt.-Col. a. C. T. : High-Speed Wire-
less 'relesraphy, 67, 65

Cut-Out, The •• Priory " Iron-Clad, 392

Cut-Out, Henley " Isco C," 725

D.R. Cotton Mills, Electric Equipment, 473
Dalmarnock Power Station, Some Notes on

[Milclieli], 687
Davifs, D. R. : Considerations Relating to

the Design of Oil Circuit Breakers. 712
Davis, p. W. : (C) " Revo " Electric Iron,

161, [Scourfleld] (C) 193, [Railwayman] (C)

291
Daysohms Utility Arc Welder, 410
D> Forest, Lee : (C) " Broadcasting "

Pioneers, 657
Delas Air Extr.-ictor, 718
Demand Attachment for Watthour Meter,

696
Devon Electricity Scheme, 198
Dickinson, H. : (C) Rates and Rate Aid, 193
Diesel Sets at Southend, 535
Dispute, Engineers', 248, 278. 309, 337, 492,

648.678
Dispute, Technical Staff, Southampton, 297,

322
Disiuite, Wiring, Chelmsford. 493, 513
District Industrial Councils, 595
DividiMids, Some Supply Comi>anies', 179
Docks, Improved Handling Facilities, 154
Domestic E}eQtri«kl Appliances, (C) 561

DOMESTIC ELECTRICITY—

Cooker, " 'Tricity," 320

Cooker, Falkirk Iron Co., 381, 512

Cooker-Radiator, " Utility," 391

Cooker, Silver Medal, 512

Cookers, Electric, Carron, 321, 599

Cookers, Standardisation of, 710

" Daily Mail " Labour Saving House, 119

Dish Washing Machine, 348

Domestic Apparatus, Supply of, 551

Domestic Electrical Appliances, (C) 561

Extension of the Use of Electricity for

Domestic Purposes [Vignoles], 789
Fires, Electric, Selling's, 290
Fires. Electric, Jackson, 291
Fires, Electric, Sun, 348
Floor Polisher, " Electrolux," 599
G.E.C. Labour Saving Devices, 199
Hotcupboards, Jackson, Electric, 78
Iron, " Xcel," Electric, 371
Kettle, The Meta Electric Copper, 390
Meter, A.C. House, 729
Ranges, Efficiency of, 709
Toaster, " Creda," 598
Vacuum Cleaner, New Electric, 391
Washing Machine, " Miilparvo," 381
Wider Application of Electricity and
Electrical Apparatus to Domestic Life
[Vv'illiams], 376
Dow, J. S. : Artificial Daylight, 220
Drive, Individual, for Looms, 235
Driving. Electric, in Scotch Woollen Mills

[Stevenson], 217
DCNSHEATH, p. : (C) The Thermal Ohm, 45
Dyer, Margaret : American Domesticity

through English Eyes, 375
Dvnamos, Fhix Distribution in Air Gap and
Teeth [Still], 152, 187

Eastbourne, Rental Wiring at, 278
Eastern and Associated Telegraph Com-
panies' Jubilee. 772
Eastick I.ampliolder Adapter, 353
ECK, J. : (C) Institution Lighting, 261, 385
Economics, Victorian, Bringing them up to

Date, [Benn] 352
Edinburgh 'tramways, 102, 418
Edisw.an Accumulators. 689
Education Estinuatcs, 354, 522

EDUCATIONAL—

Aberdeen University. 759

Association of Teachers in Technical
Institutions, 699. 720

Carnegie Research Scliolarships, 575

East Midland University. 759

Finance and Education, 31

Technical Education, Problems of, 699, 720

University Education, 366
Electric Control, Ltd., "Empire" High

Tension Fuse. 752
Electricitv Act, The. 247, 280, 307, 335,

365, 403, 419. 650
Electricitv Comnussioners and tlielr Work,

60. 6231 538, 003, 694
Electricitv Commissioners' Department, Cost

of, 483 '
Electricity Couunissioners and the " Geddes

Axe," 118, 177
Electricity Commissioners' Kegulations, 405,

551

Ei.EC-TRIOlTY DISTRICT" :

East of Scotland, 201, 418, 420

Lancashire, 477

Mid Lanes., 418

North Lanes, and S. Cumberland, 136, 148,

102
North West Midl.-.nds, 247. 204. 338
South E.ist Lanes., 75, 88. 104, 648, 699,
708

South West Jlidlands, 366, 708
West of Scotland, i, 17, 75
Electricitv Supply Act, Confirmation of
Orders, 801

Vol. LXXXVIII.

INDEX

Electricity v. Gas, 583

Electro-Fariniiig [Matthews], 407, 439, 441

Electro-Magnetic Laws, itevisioii, 210

'• Elkctuon " : (C) Kelativo Status of Eloc.

and Mecli. Engineering, 89, 100
Electroplating Outfit, 197
Electrostatic Wattmeter, and Measurement
of Low Power Factor, [Addenljrooltel (Ci 16
Electrostatic Wattmeter, [AddcnhrookeJ 466
Emlky, I.t.-Col. M. W. : (C) Recruiting for

Territorial Engineers, 45
Engineers' Dispute, 248, 278. 309, 337, 421,

492, 523, 582, 635, 648, 678
English Electric Co., Rotary Converters, 449
Erith, C. : Some Essentials of Automatic

Stokers, 15
Erskinf-Murray, J., and J. Robinson:
Directional Transmission of Electro-
magnetic Waves for Navigational Pur-
poses, 315, (Discussion) 316
Erskinf-Mdrray, J., and B. Williams : The
Determination of the Decrement of a
Distant Station, 316
Europe, Opening Up, [Benn] 664
Europe : Politics and Business, [Benn] 695
Everett, Edgcumbo s Voltmeter, 98
EwiNG, Sir a. J. : Models of Ferro-magnetic
Induction, 260

EXHIBITION'S :

Birmingham Efficiency, 665
, Birmingham National Trades, 393
Brazilian Centenary Exhibition, 82'
British Empire, 638, 69S
British Industries Fair, 249, 262, 277, 293,

322, 423
Chicago " Pageant of Progress," 597
Foreign Samples, 518
Hackney Electrical, 512
Ideal Home, 239, 249, 262, 277, 290, 320,

348, 381
International Building Trades, 423
International Metal Industries, 698
International Technical Exhibition of

Engineering, 698
Kingston-on-Thames, 419
Mining and Industrial, S. Africa, 423
Model Engineer Exhibition, 82
Physical Society and Optical Society, 43,

71, 98, 158
Selfridge's Exiiibition, 82
South Wales Engineering, 638
Utrecht Industries Fair, 82
" Exide " Batteries, 692
" Exide " Battery Service, 194
Exponential Values and Expansions in
Powers of 6, of sin 6, and cos $, [Lucas]
(C) 45, [Stubbings] (C) 74, 100

Falkirk Iron Co., Cooker, 381

Fans, G.E.C. " Freezor," 634

Fawsett-Parry Relay, 99

Ferromagnetic Induction, Models, [Ewingl

260
Few, H. p. : (C) Chains of Magnetically

Coupled Circuits, 595
Pire-Damp, Ignitiori of, 147
Fires, " Heatrae " Electric, 50S
Flemixo, a. p. M.: Americas. Europe, 627
Floor Polisher, " Electrolux," 599
Flux Distribution in Air Gap and Teeth of

Dynamos, (StillJ 152, 187
Foster Instrument Temperature Controller,

98
Franklin, C. S. : Short-wave Directional

Wireless Telegraphv, 593
French Produ'^;ts, Neglect, [ \llan] (C;- 16, 31
Frith, Julius: Tariffs for the Sale of

Electrical Energv, 624
Fry's " Enox " Tools, 754
Fuel Consumption at Electricity Works, 178
Fuel Research Board, 709
Fullagar Oil Enaine, 660
Furnace, Electric, 506
Furniture, Use and Future of Electrically

Equipped, [Whitehorne| 377
Fuse, " Empire " High Tension, 752

Gaby, F. A. : (C) Imperial Water Power

Progress, 632
Garrard, Dr. C. C. : Mechanical and Elec-
trical Effects of Large Currents on H. T.
Switch Gear, 60, 6H, 74, [Met.-Vickers Co.]
(C) 193, fGarrard] (C) 349
Gas Industry, Condition of, 740
Gas Light and Coke Co.'s Order, 551
Gas Lighter, Electric, 16
Gas Works and the Production of Light,

Heat and Power, 134
Gearing, Double Helical, Some Notes,

[BroughtonJ 6, 34
Geddes, Sir E., Address to Junior Institution

of Engineers, 678
Geddes and the Post Office, 249
Geddes' Penknife [Benn], 177, 194
Geipel and Co.'s New D.C. Motor Starter, 197
General Election and Trade, [Renn] 32, 46
General Electric Co.'s Twenty-First Anni-
versary, 148
Generator, Electric Steam, 450
Generator of High Fre.iuency Current for

Measurement Purposes, [J. Al.] 436
Genoa Conference, 478
German Competition in Belgium, 161
German Industrial Situation, 680
German Insulators for India, 756
German Scientific Instruments, 699, 752
Gennany, Economic Conditions in, 537

Germany, Fuel Problem in, 455

(JILLOTT, W . A. ; Counterbalancing the

Slump, 505
(ilasgow. Recent Electrical DevelopmcntB in,

[liardiel 372
Gla.sgow, All-Electric Houses at, 261, 381
Glass, Unbreakable, 300
Glassware, Lighting, Proposed Duty, 38
Gosforth, All-Elftctrie House at, 511
Grassot Fluxmeter, Notes on Theory of,

[BurrowesJ 122
Guarantees, Treasury, 462, 480
Gwydyr House, Lighting at, [Clarke] (C) 561

Hapfn, C. I. : Utilisation of Exhaust Steam
from Electrical (Jeneration Stations and
Coal Economy, 90, 94, iDitciission) 97, 319

Hammer, Electric Scaling, 665

Hammersmith Mains Extension, 783

" Handilite " Flash Lamp, 373

Handling Facilities at Docks, Improved, 154

Hardie, R. • Recent Electrical Develop-
ments in Glasgow, 372

Heaters, Igranic, 77

Heating, Industrial Electrical, 308, 322

Heating, Recent Progress in High Frequency
Inductive, [Northrup] 565

" Heaviside " Reprinted, 811

He.nley Cable Winches, 598

Henley's Cables, [Bishop) (C) 657

Henley Wiring System Show Card, 755

Herino, Cakl : (C) Thermal Ohm, 16,
[Dunsheath] (C) 16

Heurtley, E. S. : Notes on the Duplex
Balancing of Long Submarine Cables, 37

Hill, J. G. : Modern Telephony Techni-
cally Considered, 408 iDisru.ti^lon)

Hiring of Domestic Elec. Apparatus,
[PiukneyJ 370

Hire-Purchase Agreements at Eastbourne
278

Hirst, Huoo : Modern Industrial Organisa-
tion, 625

Hollings and Guest's Erecting Shop, 510

Holophane Reflectors and Flood Lighting,
389

Honours list, 678

Howe, Prop. G. W. O. : Recording and
Printing of High-speed Radio Signals, 554 ;
Radio-Telephone Broadcasting Boom, 684

Hi'll Electricity Undertaking, 24P

Hydro-Electric Installation at Ballantyne's
Mills. 229

Hydro-Electric Installations of the Barce-
lona Traction, Lisht and Power Co., [Par-
shall] 188

Hydro- Electric Power in Argentina, 23

Hydro- Electric Power in India, [Arnall] 21D,
237

Hydro-Electric Scheme^, Scottish, 57

Hydro-Electrics, 118, fBolron] (C) 161

Igranic Heaters, 77
Illuminating Ware, Duty on, 772
Immersion Heater, " Genii," 391
Imperial Water Power Progress [Gaby], (C)

632
Imports and Exports, Electrical, 516, 607,

765
Incorporated Municipal Electrical Associa-
tion (Convention), 707, 772, 788 ; Ex-
penses of Members, 770, 797
India, British Trade with, 77
India, Hydro-Electric Power [Arnell], 210,

237
India, Industrial Future [Crowley], 210,

222, 282
Indian Electricity Supply, 614
Indicator, Norris and Holley Bell, 392
Inductance Coils, High Frequency, Resist-
ance of. 685
Industrial Films, 419
Industrial Essentials, 614
Industrial Entente, 647
Industrial League and Council, 724
Industrial Organisation, Modern [Hirst], 625
Industrial Research, F'uture of [Sexton], 627
Inquiries, Cost of. 551
Institution of Engineers, India, 421
International Railway Congress [Smith],
(C) 799

INSTITUTION NOTES—

Association of Consulting Engineers, 725
Association of Mining Electrical Engineers,

North of England Section, 101
Association of Officers and Staff Members

of Electricity Companies, 725
Birmingham Electric Club, 266, 351
British Association, 21, 383, 541
British Elec. and Allied Industries

Research Association, 129, 2:?S
British Elec. and Allied Manufacturers'

Association, 201
British Elec. Development Assoc, 238,

240, 247, 292
British Engineering Standards Association,

759
British Non-Ferrous Metals Research

Association, 234, 353, 699
Chelmsford Engineering Society, 49, 266
Circle of Scientific, Technical and Trade

Journalists, 679
Diesel Engine Users' Association. 729
Electrical Wholesalers' Federation, 147,

163
Electrical Contractors' Association, 261

Intlitution Note* — (e./ntiuued).

Electrical Srx:iety of Glasgow, 300

Electrical Tra<le« Benevolent Inttitutloo,
512

Engineering Society of the University
C'ollcgi: of Southampton, 'MA

Glai^gdw Electrical Sr.K;iety, 101

Illuminating Eugineerinit Society, 100,
19.5, 709

Inoorixjrated Municipal Elec. AOHOdation
(Vork.shirc Centre;, 512; Annual Con-
vention, 699, 708, 738

InHtitiite of Mctal.s, 1(J6

Institute of PaUjntees, :J22

Institute of Phy.iics, 597, 662

Institution of Civil Engineers, Awards, 482

In.stitution of Engineers, Australia, 454

Institution of Welding Engineers, 1:J8

International Electro-Technical Co omis-
sion, 201, 2»5

Iron and Steel Institute, 49

Junior Institution of Engineers, 297, 6.36,
678

Midland In.stilate, 49, 137

National A.ssccl» Jon of Supervising Elec-
tricians, 135, z63

Newcastle Rotary Club, 352

Newcomen Society, 604, 772

Physical Society, 243

Routgen Society, 759

Royal Society of Arts, 352, 629

Royal Institution, 541

Soci6t6 des Ingenieurs Civils de France, 479

INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERS—

Aerial, Permanent, 201, 323

Air Conference, 201

Alternating-Current Systems, Protection,

101
Alternating-Current Power Stations, In-
terconnection [Romero and Palmer],
157, {Discussion) 160.
Annual Dinner, "20
Annual General Meeting, 651, 658
Brighter Institution, 339, 385
British Electrical Development Associa-
tion (Showroom Displays and Demon-
strations), 387
Cinematograph Demonstration, 60, 68, 74
Decrement of a Distant Station, Deter-
mination [Erskine-Murrav and Williams]
316
Dinner, 239

Directional Transmission of Electro-
magnetic Waves for Navigational Pur-
poses [Erskine-Murray and Robinson),
315, [Discussion) 316
East Midland Sub-Centre, 136
Exhaust Steam from Electrical Generating
Stations and Coal Economy [UadenJ,
90, 94, (Discussion), 97.
Electro-Farming [Borlase Matthews], 439,

444
Electricity and Matter [Rutherford], 740,

742
Faraday Medal, 611, 632
Finance in Electrical Undertakings (Dit-

cussiun), 435
High-Speed Wireless Telegraphy [Cusins).

57,65
Informal Meetings, 58, 8-2, 192, 261, 435
Institution BuUding [EcK) (C) 261, 385
Journal (Commemoration Number*, 710
Jubilee of the I. E. E., 1. 136, 198, 209.

248, 250, 254, 286
Kelvin Lecture, 356
Library, 49

Lighting of the I.E.E. [.'.ck] (C) 261
Liverpool Sub-Centre, 514, 635
Main Line Railways, 117, 133
Manchester Informal Meetings, 58, 69
Modern Telephony Technically Considered

(J. G. Hill). 408
Motors, Induction-Tvpe Svnchronous

[CarrI, 12. (Discussiyii) 13, 14
Motors, Single-and-riirce-Phase .\.C. Com-
mutator, with Series and Shunt Charac-
teristics [Smith], 29, 30, (Discussion) 42
Newcastle Students' Section, 101
New Council, 403, 523, 611, 632
North Midland Centre, 536
North- Western Centre, 58, 69, 70, 394, 413,

536
Power Station Auxiliaries, 58. 69, 70
Radioactivitv [Rutherford,. 411, 492,

501
Rotjirv Converters, with Special Reference
to Railwav KK-ctritication [Whitjiker],
210,251, 'i.VS, [Oerlikon, Ltd.] (C». '291
(Discussion) 346
Scottish Centre. 20
South Midland Centre, 484
Short-Wave DiriHJtional \Mreless Tele-
graphv [Franklin], 593
Special General Meeting. 311, 325, 365. 385
Starters, Electric Motor [Anderson], 335,

342, (DiseusHon) 344.
Starters, Motor. British Standard Specifica-
tions [Wordingham!. 335, 344
Students' Premiums, 20
Students' Section, Mr. Hightleld's Address,

590
Sumnu^r Meeting. 20, 353, 677, 69<1
Switchgenr. H. I"., MeoluiuiCiU and Elec-
trical Effects of Large Currents [Gar-
rxrd], 60. 68. 74. [Met.-Vickers Co.] (C)
19'. [Garrard] (C) 349
Telephone Line Work in the United States

[Hyng]. (DiscusHon) 192
Theriuionic Triode as Kectlttcr [Moul-

lin and ruruerj, 442
Trade Union Staff Evolution, 261

Intt ttti-<n of KUciricai En4i»*«r* —

i'rotv^ctiTe Appvat«w

.'Mia, 19s.

■c. G«aef«unz
■>'-' '" Wbv»l!l, M. K.,

(D .i»

WiOfc. -. tM l-r^.'.rntioa Xead

a (K-UMir .

Wlrdeaa if:

Inmlatin^ "^ ...^ftel.a88

f' ' ";"'-J, 'I'i'., %.%£

jrceUin, for Ovtrhead Power

L 'y SjntetiM, «35

I;. ' <^>auDaiiicaUoa, HC

li: ./ CoogfCH, ltoae,4H.

Inventions, K^searcii Worken', IM
Italy in I921-, 571

Jackson Elec. Store Co.'s Hot Copboank, 7i
Journal o( Scientific Instnimeata, iVT

K£HP, L. C. : Tlie Clu>ice o( 8teain &»•

ditions in Modem Power SUtioos, 774
Kettle, The MeU Electric Copper. 390
Kettle Protector, " Creda," «l
" Kingsway " Combined Switch aad Elns,

390
KrYSER, J. A. : Protective Apparatos (or

Turbo-G«ncratorB, 521. 531 iDuatttitm).

533

Lace Industrv, tlecfnjitv in the ' - -

225
Lal>our Representation on J.E.A. -, • --j
Lampholder Adapter. Easticic, 353
I.amps, UastHled, Temperatures Attaiaedi,

178
Lamp M- ... .-^

Lamps. V

Lamps, M - V, 5(M

Lamps, iliu. r- . .\ i.i:i.- i :.
Lamp, ■■ Handilite " Kla^ti, 373
Lamps, Osram Axial Type. 3S3
Lamps, Table Standard, i*9
Lamp Economisers, " Anti-Break," 390
Lamp, Fuller's Saf'-ty, 391
Lamps, Elec. Saiety. 5m7
Lamps. " Ediswan " Full'tlite, 635
Lancashire Electricity Di-trict. 4SL, 477
Latin-American Engiaeenng ProHtoM ft

1921, 22
Lead Hydrate .\ccuiuulator. Some Kcdeo-

tions on [Cooper', 654
Leakage, Surface [Addenbrooke'. 6'$
Legislation. Electricitv Supply. 550
LATom. M. : (C) ■• Choke Control ' — A

Question of Priority, 74
L.C.C. Tramways, 4lt

LEGAL INTELI IGENCE—

Accidents, 324

Anslo-Genuan Tribunal Decisioos, IM

Attorney-tieneml r. OcLiininn. 601

Blackpool Corporation, 452

Blombach. C, r. Griraea and Hawkes. 133

Britannia Rubber Co. r. Kamptulieou Co.,

79
B.T.-H.Co.,Ltd.. r. Corona LampVTorka,

79, 165, 196, 240
B.T.-H. Co., Ltd.. r. B.T.T. Elec, Lamp

an J Accessories Co., 19«, 279. 2*5
B.T.T. Elec. I^mp and Accessories r. M-

R. S. Butler. 53
Carter. Hubert D. (Bangor^. 801
Chesliire Bros. r. K. J. Jones and Soos and

Studeliak'T. 105
Chester CDrporation ». Willianis and Wil-
liams. 17. 59
Christian Bcrgh Elec. Co. r. E. C. Bfooks-

Voss and Co., 354
Coal Cutters. Elec.. in Gassy Micois. Ift4
Cob.ilt E!.-.- Co. r Mr R nx -ithal. lO.'.
C '11 ot Employ-

c .otiooCo..I&4

!.■> ini.i i.,»ii.:> *^ >•-,%-. 1 ■... 72«

Dawson r. Doui:las. 432

Donusn r. Mo.tdows. StK)

n ' -h r Oumlties £le«tridty

ill
p :'itv Kerry and DUt. Tram-

' t'>'rtx>r\',i '^n. li>6
i -I- -- ' I' \ I'.r,.- .241

L \l ... i" ., ^- -/. Castings.

Electric Ugh'

Elect riciU In?' '

Electricity Co. -. ri, 66*

Falkirk bistrict rraia»a>s ». Stifling

Countv Council. 164. 726
Frauds. 241. 421. 511. 63'*. 6*4
German Wirvles* Inventor, 511
Glasgow Tramwa\-s, Damages for Tom

Jacket. 79
GrefuiKk and Port Glasgow Tmnwa}-s r

J. Kirk. 17
Halford r. McC.iulUsli ani Easier. T9
Hamilton r. >! -'less, 'i^^. 32 1

Harnxls r. Ri ~ ;'ter. I'O. 1;::.

Hastings Tnir. .ion, UH5

Hoibrook v. Court, 6 U

INDEX

Vol. LXXXVIII.

Legal Intelligeocc- {ccntinued).
Hujit Cnscadc Motor I'atents, 13H
Kelly I!. Alexandra Clothine Co., 539
Lamps, Electric, Tlioft of, 354
Lancashire Electric Power Co. v. Kirk-
patrick. Hall, Ivers and Speak, 118. 138
Lodge Tuned Wireless Patent, 295, 324,

354
Liipton V. Stinnes, 666
Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co. v.

Hamilton, 511
Metropolitau-Vickers Elcc. Co. v. Chinese

Engineering and Mining Co., 164
Miller v. Lanarkshire Tramways, 324
Miller v. Lower, 601
Morley Award, 31, 46, 84, 148
Motor Generator Dispute. 394
Newinark, Louis, v. Semco, 240
Patent Cases, 354
Patent Litigation, American, 394
Phipps V. Galloway, 79
Pittman v. May, 613
Postmaster-General v. Capt. Barraclough,

105
Postmaster-General v. Liverpool Corpora-
tion, 803
Power Supply, Definition of, 6P0
Katcliffe v. Shard, 394
Scottish Machinery, Assessment Appeals,

324
Smoke Nuisance, 421
Stealing Lamps, 354
Stealing Lighting Deposits, 164
Stealing Electricity, 538, 583
Stealing Wire, 666
Telephone Charges, 539
Telephone Wires, Damagi to, 666
Telegraph Posts Dispute, 105, 452, 539,

678, [Copplngorj (C) 721
Telegraphist's War Bonus, 482
Trading with Infants, 694
Tramcar a Carriage ? 638
Tramcar Passenger, Damages for, 699
Tramway Arbitration Appeal, 573
Truck, Electric : Is it a Light Locomotive?

138
Urban Electric Supply Co. v. Cade, 666
White, J. G., and Co., Ltd., 601
Wall (A. E.) V. Falcke, 354
, Weldrics, Ltd. v. Qua.si Arc Co., 803
Weston Elec. Lamp Co. v. Baldes, 539
Weston Electric Lamp Co. r. Evans, 764
Weston, Geo., 601
Westminster Elec. Supply Corporation v.

Wykeham's Studios, 600, 638, 708
Wiring Contract Disjiutes, 105, 421
Wireless Telegraph Kegulations, Breach

ot, 366, 394
Wireless I'atint Litigation, American, 482
Leiitz, C. K. ; American Arc Radio Trans-
mitter, 8
Light, as an Aid to Aerial Navigation, 309
Lighting, B.T.-H.atthe Maypole Works, 392
Lighting, Better Rural, 667
Jiightiiig Decorative Interiors, 432
Lighting Developments, 89
Lighting Earnihouses, 163
Lighting, Flood, at Selfridges, 197
Lighting, Flood and Holophane Reflector,

389
Lighting, Flood, B.T.-H. at Rugby, 450
Lighting Hoardings bv Night, 17
Lighting, Hospital, 522
Lighting, ItKlustrial, 277
Lighting, Oxford Street, 265, 297.
Lighting of J'ublic Buildings, 432
Lighting Set, Alden Fngino Co., 510
Lighting, Street, in (i.S.A., 563
Lighliiiiig AiTcstrr, New Typo, 635
Linke-llollniaiin Works, 604
Liver])ool and Bootle Electricity Amalgama-
tion, 30, 45
Liverpool Electricity Suj)ply, 754
Liverpool and the Rates, 151, [Dickinson]

(C) 191
LonoF, SIR 0. • Zceman's Discovery of the
Action of a Magnetic Field on a So\irce of
Litiht, 181, 182
London and District ,Toint Board, 149
London I'nderground Rly., 433
London County Council and the Smoke

Nuisance, 179
Loughborough Extensions, 136
LUOAH, W. . (C) The Exponential Values
and Expansions In Powers of 0, of sin 0,
and cos 0, 45, [Stubbings) (C) 74

Machinery, Rating, 179

" Maconite," A New Insulating Material, 388

Magnesium, Metallic, Production [Allen I,

87. 92
" Magnet " Club. 800
Magnet leally-Coupled Circuits, Oiains of

jltcllinil, 560 [Few], (C) 595
Magniller. IIeurtley,99
Malaya ICIec. Sui)ply, 195
Manchester Corj)oration Electricity D(M)t

771 ...

" Manifoldla " System, 695
Mannfaeluring, Modern, Some Problems of

|l'ybns|, 016
M.\TTHK\\s, R. BoKLASK: Electro-Farming,

439, 444
MKI8SNKU, A. : On the Karth Resistance of

Antenna', 685
Mereurv rinlni-tienerator Plant, 801
Mersevslde (•(iiifcdcratioii. 41
Metals Kcscarcb. .'Von- Ferrous, 353
Metering, Ai curate, 613
METROI'OI,IT\N-\ ICKEKS Ei-E(\ Co. :

{(') Mechanical and Elec. Effects of Large

Currents on II. T. Switehizear, 193, 385

New Zealand Contract. 477

Wireless Work, 583
" Micas," Properties and Uses of," 446
Monte Video, United Elec. Tramways of, 493
Midland Elec. Mfg. Co. Quick-Make Switches,

197
Mines, Lighting of, 551
Miners' Blindness, 506
Mining Boxes, Flame Proof, 536
Ministry of Communications, 279
Mitchell, R. B. : Some Notes on Dal-

marnock Power Station, 687
MoiLLiN, E. B.. and L. B. Turner,,: The

Thermionic Triode as Rectifier, 412
Motor Starter, New D.C., 197
Motors, Automatic Control of D.C., 475
Motors, London Electric Finn, 481
Motors, Textile Mill, 238
Motors for Super-Dreadnoughts, 573
Muirhead and Co.'s Heurtley Magnifier, 99
" Mulparvo " Washing Machine, 381
Municipal Electrical Old Stagers, 103

Nabia : (C) Electrical v. Mechanical Engi-
neers, 194
N alders Bros, and Thompson, Fawsett-Parry

Relay, 99
National Association of Supervising Engi-
neers, 799
Needham's Revolution Counter, 98
Netherlands, Trade Openings in, 427, 486

543
New Zealand Electricity Scheme, 584
New Zealand, Hydro-Electric Power in, 597
Noble, Sir Wm., Retirement of, 662
Non-Union Labour. Ban on, 4S0
NORDEFKLDT, B. : Regenerative Braking and
Single-Phase Commutator Motors, 308,
312, 340
NoRTHRUP, E. F. : Recent Progress in High-

Frequency Inductive Heating, 565
Northumberland Clause, 772
N. Lanes and S. Cumberland Elec. District,

136, 148. 162
N.-West Midlands Inquiry, 247. 261, 338
N. Metropolitan Power Co.'s Bill, 279
Norway, Industrial Conditions, 350
Norway, Elec. Power Supply in, 752
Nottingham, Electricity at, 367
Nuremberg Power Developments, 263

OBITUARY—

Barker, Sir F. H., 140, 169

Benn, Sir John, 432, 448, 482

Blackwood, M., 326

Bottomley, Dr. J. F., 241

Brinn, W. J., 515

Carus-WiLson, Capt. L. C, 515

Christie, Sir William, 110

Claremont, E. A., 424

Clark, T. W., 201, 263

Clunas, .T. F., 543

Cotterill, Prof. J. H., 110

Curtis, Maj.-Gen. Sir R. S., 82

Cuthl«ertson, G. A., 201

Dvson, J. L., 201

Easton, J. J., 454

Eeles, H.,241

Edwards, Frederick, 642

KniMiot-t, H., 515

Fiselier-Hinnen, Prof. J., 267

Foulds, P., 326

Garnham, J. B., 515

Guye, Philippe, 424

(iraves, R. E., 642

Halpiii. D.,267

Holt, I']., 19

llo|iUiiison, Dr. E., 69. 64

Howe, I'rof. H. M., 642

.lagL'cr, E., 169

Kelccy F. Fiord, 40

Kenway, W. E., 241

Kitson, Hon. E. C. 'jZ

\A)hh. Comnidr. F. J., 13

Mcticoch, A., 140

McWilliam, Dr. An.lii w, 454

Marshall, .1., 299

IM.iisliall, l>., 169

Martin, John, 670

Matluw. J. E., 140

Matthews, Sir W., 49

Malliews, Dr. G. B., 358

Mer/, Dr. J. T., 358

Milt.m, J., 19

I'a.Miian, .lames N., 424

Kcev.s, F. R., 759

iiicv. R.,3.58

Howlaiid, C. S., 140

Sanderson, F. W., 759

Slaeke, R. IV, 298

Tax lor, L. H., 82
Tiiiipio, John, 642

Walklale, J. J., 326
Waller, A. D., 326
Ward. G. G., 759
Williams, John, 604
OerliUon (ieared Individual Drive for Looms,

235
Oeuliko.n-. Ltd. ; rC) Rotary Converter

Praetiee, 291
Oil (^ircuil Breaking, W estinghotise, 661
Oil Circuit Breakers, Design ot [Davles], 712
(^il Fngine, Fullagar, 660
Olympia. A Male Ma.iunal at [Sulliv.an],374
Onwdbiises, Trolley. I'uture of, 102
Osrain Axial T\ pe Lami)s, 3S3

OBITUARY— {coidinued) .

Osram Lamp Works, The Duke of York at,

239
Ovens. Electric, 635 ; j'or Paint Drying, 702
Overhead Lines, 60
Overhead Wires and Priv.Tte Property

[Copp-nuer] (C) 721
Owner's Risk Scandal, 211

Palestine Water Power Conces'^ion, 648, 664,
699

Palmer, J. B.,and L. Romero, Interconnec-
tion of Alternating-Current Power Stations,
157 (Discussion) 160

PARLIAMENTARY—

Adriiralty Electricians, 296
Apprentices, Artificer, 323
Ayr Electricity Bill, 601, 637
Ayr Provisional Order, 452
Barking Station, 266
Cable Service, Urgent, 296
Charges of Supply Companies. 726
Coal Mines (Safety Appliances), 573
Coal Mines (Safety Lamps), 602
Dartford Light Railways Order, 573
Doncaster Corporation Bill, 420
Dover's Claim against Admiralty, 296
East of Scotland Electricity District, 420
Edinburgh, Tramway Problem, 452
Electric Power Charges, 802
Electricity Commissioners' Expen.ses, 802
Electricitv Orders Confirmed, 802
Electricity Supply Bill, 280. 296, 394, 403,

419, 434, 452, 461, 482, 602, 667, 756
Electrification of S.E. & C. Rly. Suburban

Lines, 726
Empire Wireless Scheme, 802
Engineering Trade Dispute. 266, 582
German Optical and Scientificlnstruments,

602
German Wireless Press Service, 296
German Insulators for India, 756
Glasgow Tramways Provisional Order,

405, 419
Grampian Electricity Suppiv Bill; 296,

540, 572, 637
Great Eastern Railwav (Electrification),

573
Imperial Cable Rates, 420
Imperial Wireless Chain, 540
Imports from Germany, 1921, 198
Key Industries, 726
L.C.C. Tramways, 602
L. * N.■\\^ & Midland Railway Bill, 726
Machinery Rating Bill, 540
Marconi Bonds (China), 354
Merchandise Marks Bill, 198
Merchant Ships Wireless Staff, 602
Miners' Safety Lamps, 323
Montevideo Tramways, 323, 802
Morecambe Corporation Tramways Bill,

540
N. Metropolitan Elec. Supply, 198
Miners' Safety Lamp Glass, .540
Minister of Transport, 420
Orkney Islands Cable, 420
Post Ofiice Estimates, 572
Post Ofl^ce Tube Railway, 420
Private Bills, 198, 266, 802
Railway Electrification Schemes, 241, 266,

296, 420
Railway Electrification Loan, 394
Rhondda Valley Telephone Service, 756
Safeguarding of Industries Act, 198, 637,

726
Scottish Private Bills and Orders, 241
Severn Scheme, 637
Sheftield Telephone Exchange Contract,

540
South Eastern and Chatham Railway

Electrification, 802
South Wales Elec. Power Bill, 394
Special Orders, 354
Telephone Apparatus, 637
Telephone Cabinets: Euston Station, 198
Telei)lione Rates, Increased, 198
Telephone Call Boxes, 540
Tele])hone Report of Select Committee, 667
Telephone Service, 241, 266, 482, 738, 756
Telephone Subscribers (Dejwsits), 756
Telephone Service, French, 354
T elei)hone, Transferring a, 694
Toll Exchange, 354
Torquay Corporation Bill, 667
Traffic, Omnibus and Tramcar, 198, 2tl
Underground Railway Extensions, 296,

308, 323
Water Power Development, 354
W'ater Power Undertakings, 802
West Indies (Cables). 573
■West Kent Electric, 756
Wireless Coiiimunieation on Railways, 667
Wireless Costs, Aniatiui. 296
Wireless on I'assenuer .•Veroplanes, 667
Wireless Receiving Apparatus, 32:i
Wireless Service between India and

England, 420
Wireless Service, London-Switzerland, 667
Wireless Service on Merchant Ships, 756
Wireless Telepraphv Licences, 198
Wireless Telephony, 420
Workmen's Compensation, 637
\\ orthing Corporation Bill, 420
Wrexham Generating Station. 756
Yorkshire Electric Power Bill, 4'20, 482,
667
I'AKSHALL. If. F. : Hydro-Electric Installa-
tions of the Barcelona Traction, Light and
Power Co., 188
Patent Office Report, 740

Patents Board 180

Paul's Mutual Inductance, 159

Peking Tramwavs, 735

Pen, Stylolectric, 480

" Pennoil " Lubrication, 724

PERSONAL—

Abraham, A. J.. 669, 697

Addis, Sir Charles, 640

Alston, Abel F.. 396

Ashfield, Lord, 697

Atherton, Jacob, 642

Atkinson, Llewellyn B., 423

Austen, J. C, 514

Baker, C. I., 299, 542

Bancroft, E. T., 4.54

Bearcroft, Lieut. E. C. L., 423

Bellhouse, G., 697

Bernard, John, 423

Bispham, J. W., 603

Blondel, M..243

Bloodsworth, W^ S., 423

Bloxam, T. W., 81

Blundstone, S. B., 573

Bowden. J. R., 574

Bridge, A. J., 758

Bromlev, J. A., 514

Brown, I. C.,454

Burness, H. H., 697

Butler, A. S., 758

Calder, J. M., 200

Carlisle, 542

Cash, H. J., 299

Chadwick-Healey, Sir G. E., 396

Chandler, L., 200

Chapman, Prof. R. W., 603

Chappie, H. J. B.. 603

Clerk, Sir Dugald, 640

Clegg, .Sir Wm., 299, 514

CoUinge, Charles, 484

Corte7-Leigh, Col. F. A., 30

Crawford, Earl of, 484

David, Dr. W. T., 803

Da^^dson, C. S., 758

Davies, Miss A. C, 603

Day, H. C, 108, 200

Derby, Lord, 574

Dickinson, H., 454

Dunn, E. R., 423

Durrell, W. H., 758

Dvkes, A. H., 542

Ellis, Arthiu-, 395

Falkc, C. D., 640

Faversham, 514

Fleming. Prof. A. J., 454

Forde. J. A., 396

Fortescue, Prof. C. L., 603

Foxlee. F. J., 758

Gann, W. T., 758

Gillott, W. A., 480

Gill, F., 403

Gorton, A. C, 423

Greenall, J. N., 542

Ciregory, Sir Richard, 603

Grierson. R. , 266

Grittith. W. L., 542
Hauiilton, Alderman, 803
Hatton, E.. 243, 423
Hawes, G. W. Spencer, 423
. Hav, D., 243
Hoadlev, E. E., 454
Hodgson, R., 697
Holland. Sir Thomas H., 603
Honours, Birthday, 697
Honours, New Year, 20
Hooi)er, Capt. H., 200
Jackson, Capt. C, 758
Jackson, J,, 697
Jackson, H., 263, 574
Jenkins, D., 542
Jewett, Frank B., 514
Johnson. T. M., 243
Johnson, R. S., 396
John.son, Dr. F., 484
Hudson, B., 574
Kerr, W. T. 20, 356
King. Lieut. L. S.,423
Kerridge, B. F., 423
Kintner, S. M., 423
Lancaster. H. H., 574
Larkin. P. C, 167
l.ee. Tondinson, 117, 149. 240, 297
Lewis. J. Dver, 758
MacCidlum.'Col. H., 423
Mackenzie. A. E., 396
McElroy, J. M., 200, 243
Makin, J., 266
Marconi, G., 243, 669
Marsh. Frank, 423
•Marsh, A. G., 396
.Marsh, Frank. 574
Mather. Prof. T.. 149. 167
Mattinson, Major H., 514
Mitchell, C. 396. 003
Morgan. J. D.. 200, 571
Morrell, Capt. A. R. H., 243
Morris, Edgar R. , 603
.Mosslev. H. Leigh, 669
Nicklin. A.. 574

Noble, Sir William, 356, 662, 697
Oswald, W. J.. 758
Oxenham. 640
Oxlcv, Henrv H.. 542
Pausev. E. B., 803
Paterson, C. C, 20
Paxniau. Major Wm., 542
Perlev. Sir G.. 20
Pitts," R. H., 454
Purves, Major T. F., 697, 721
Prancnell. N. W., 49
Ransonie. Coimcillor, E. C, 423
Rendell. W. R., 758
Richards, H. W. H., 167
Richardson, Major H., 803

Vol Lxxxviir.

INDEX

Peraonal — (cmttinued).

RoflKcr, J. W., 640

RatluTiaii, Dr. W., 141

Roborston, J. A., 454

JRobinsoii, J. A., 263

Robinson, L. L., 574

Roux, G., 2415

Schlucderl)prg, C. G., 640

Skinner. C. E., 423

Sniithor, \V. J., 514

Straddling, R. E., 603

Spencer. A., 299

Spooner, H. J., 454

Stevens, T., 326

Swinton, A. A. Campbell, 697

SvkeM, Major-General Sir Frederick, 423

Tofleld. H. C, 514

Telegraph Cable Repairing Steamer, 042

Trewman, H. F.. 697

Turner, Dr. W. E. S., 542

Vickers, Prof. K., 396

Wardle, W. H., 454

Warren, A. G., 758

Watts, H., 396

Webb, W. J., 423

Willis, Major G. H., 423

Wood, J. A. S., 243

Wright, Johnstone, 447
Phase Meters, Some Notes on Theory of

[Stubbingsl, 586
Physics and Engineering Science TBarrl, 535
Pinching, W. B., (C) Hydro Electric De-
velopment, 161
PiNKNEY, W. F. T., Hiring ot Domestic

Electrical Apparatus, 370
PococK, T.. C, Reflection in Telephone Cir-
cuits, 589
Poland, Electrical Developments, 297
Post Office Charges, 553
Post Office Engineering Prosress, 240
Post Office Estimates, 537, 572
Post Office Tube Railway, 420
" Posterlite," B. T.-H.. 661
Power Companies as Distributors of Elec-
tricity, 279
Power Factor, Low, Measurement, and the

Electrostatic Wattmeter [Addenbrookel,

(C), 16
Power Production, Recent Developments in

fSelby Biggs], 715
Power Station Economy in Great Britain, 178
Power Station Switchgear, a Commentarv on

[Coates], 782
Power Stations at Angerstein's Wharf and

Belvedere, 679, 694. 722, 739
Press, a,. (C), Screen. Connterpoise or Earth,

100 • (C) Sea Return of a Submarine

Cable. 657
Price of "The Electrician," 209
" Priory " Iron-CIad Cut-Oiit, 392
Private Generating Stations, 613
Projector " Atrase," 389
Propulsion Methods, Electric [Ashbyl (C),

657
Protection of Electrical Apparatus, 569
Pump. p;!ectri:-, in Marine Salvage. 451
Pump. Langnuiir Condensation, 634
Pybus, p. J., Some Problems of Modern

Manufacturing. 616
Pyrometer. Tinsley's Disappearing Fila-
ment, 158

Radmolite, 665

Railway Accident Statistics, 771

RAILWAYS, ELECTRIC—

Amalgamation, Railways, and Electric

Traction, 180
Bolivia, Yungas Railway, 451
British Railways Electrification and
Organisation, 30 [" Electron "1 (C) 89,
100
Chile, Electric Traction in, 102
Italian Railways, 51
Japanese Railways, 51, 451
Lancaster- Morecambe-H eysham Electric

Railway, 121, 124, 155
Locomotive, Electric, Design, [Ravenl 2,

10, 29
London, " Underground " Extensions,

296, 308, 323
Main Line Railways, Electrification, 117,

133
Natal Main Line, 507
Railways and Electrification, 281
Regenerative Braking, 178
Regenerative Braking ~ and Single-Phase
Conmiutator Motors, [Nordefeldtl 308,
312, 340
Rotary Converters with Special Reference
to Railway Electrification, [Whitaker]
210, 251, 258, [Oerlikonl (C) 291, (Dis-
cussion) 346
South Eastern & Chatham Railways, 357,

663, 679, 694, 722, 739, 753
Swit?erland, 628, 670
"Railwayman" (C) Electrical v. Mechani-
cal Engineers, 291
Railway Elec. Traction Equipment, [Smith!

582, 591. [Sigma] (C) 751
Railway Electricity Supply Inquiry, 663,

679, 694, 722, 739, 753
Railway Rates, New, for Electrical Goods,

449
Railways, Organisation of Work on, 492
Raphael, F. Charles : (C) Rental Wiring

at Eastbourne, 385
Rates and Rate Aid. 151
Rates Relief and Electricity Profits, 494
Rating of Machinery Bill, 179
Raven, Sir Vincent : Recent Progress in

Electric Locomotive Design, 2, 10, 29
Rawlplug Co., 599

Recruiting for Territorial Engineers, [Emleyj

REVIEWS—

Absolute Measurements in Electricity and

Magnetism, [Gray] 285
Absolute Relations of Time and Space.

[Robb] 314
America v. Europe in Industry, [Farnhamj

627
Armature Windini/ and Motor Repair,

[Braymer] 93
Boiler Inspection and Maintenance,

[Clayton] 617
Catalogue ot British Scientific and Tech-
nical Books, 285
Central Station Voltages and Cliarges, 300
Coil Ignition for Motor Cars, [Sylvester] 66
Common Battery Telephony Simplified,

[Atkins] 216
Costing for Manufacturers, [Hazell] 530
Diagnosing of Troubles in Electrical

Machines, [Miles Walker] 567
Die Transformatorem, [Vidmar] 567
Electric Furnace, The, [Pring] 692
Electrical Engineering, [Wall] 253
Electrical Engineers' Diary, 53
Electrical Engineers' Pocket Book, 438
Electrical Installation Rules and Tables,

[IbbetsonI 389
Electrical Rates, [Watkins] 341
Electrical Trades' Directory, 274
Elements of Direct Ciu-rent Electrical
Engineering, [Trewman and Condliffcl
567
Experimental Wireless Stations, [Edel-

man] 469
" Exponentials Made Easy," [Gheury de

Bray] 657
Factory Administration and Cost Ac-
counts, [Elbourne] 691
Heat, Part I, and Chemistry, Part I,

[Thompson and Leslie] 438
Hydro-Electric Engineering, [Gibson] 617
Iron, Revo Electric, 103, [Scourfleld] (C)

135, 193, [Davis] (C) 161, 291
Lexique Technique Anglais-Fran^ais, [Mal-

gorn] 469
Marconi International Directory, 702
■' Mechanical World " Electrical Pocket

Book, 1922, 323
Metric System for Engineers, [Clapham]

569
Modern Gasworks Practice, [Meade] 96
Motor and Dynamo Control, [Ibbetson] 16
Notes and Examples on Theory of Heat

and Heat Engines, [Case] 692
Practical Electricity, [Ayrton and Mather]

441
Practical Testing of Electrical Machines,

[Oulton and Wilson] 717
Protective Relays : Their Theory, Design

and Practical Operation [Todd]. 777
Rays of Positive Electricity and their Ap-
plication to Chemical Analyses, [Thom-
son] 717
Switching Equipment for Power Control,

[Hayes] 568
Telegraphy, Telephony and Wireless,

[Poole] 186
Tests, Comparative, on Domestic Heating
and Cooking Apparatus, [Rutishauser]
191
Textile Recorder Year Book, 1922, 54
Thermionic Tubes in -Radio Telegraphy

and Telephony, [Scott-Taggart] 530
Wireless Design and Practice, [Sleeper] 123
Wireless Telegrajihy and Telephony,
[Turner] 568
Review of 1921, 2, 60
ReyroUe's Switchgear. 2(2
Rickets, W. -J. : (C) Transmutation of

Elements and Atomic Energy, 477
Robinson, J., and J. Erskine-Murray :
Directional Transmission of Electro-
magnetic Waves for Navigational Pur-
poses, 315, (Discussion^ 316
RoiEiio. L., and J. B. Palmer : Interconnec-
tion of Alternating-Current Power Stations,
157, (Discussion) 160
Rotary Converters, (Discussion) 476
Rotary Converters, English Electric, 449
Royal Society Conversazione. 629
Rubber Wire, Packing of, 511
Ri'DKiN, J. B. : (C\ High Voltage Switch-
gear De.sjgn, 595
Rutenbcrg Concession, 648, 664, 699, 787
Rutherford, Sir Ernest : Radioactivity,
411, 492, 501 ; Electricity and Matter, 740,
742
Rutishauser, J. : Comparative Tests on
Domestic Heating and Cooking Apparatus,
191

Safety First Signal Device, 393

Safety First in Factories, Electricity and,

[Seal] 618
Safeguarding of Industries Act : Lighting

Glassware, 38 : Imported Lamp Bulbs,

58, 76, 801
Salesmanship Conferences, 89, 100, 277, 292,

387
Sexton, F. Peake : Future of Industrial

Research, 627
Scott, E. Kilburn (C) Does the Institution

need a Wider Outlook ? 632
Scottish Electricity Supply Reorganisation,

in, 17, 75
Scottish Hydro-Elec. Schemes, 57

SCOCHFIF.LI), W. B. (C) Revo Electric Iron,

135, 193
Seal, W. H.: Electricity and Safety First

in FactoricH, 618
Secretaries, butieft of, 679
Shanghai Municipal Electricity Dept., 707,

723
Shaw, J. H. : Development of Condensing

Plant and Auxiliaries, 784
Showrooiiis :

British Thomson-Houston, 17
Chloride Elec. Power Storage, 194
G.E.C., Cardiff, 392
Metropolitan-Vickers Elec. Co., 78, 303,

686
Troughton and Youngs, 367. 388
Showroom Displays and Dcrnongtratlons,

387
Signals. Light, for Night Flying, 1«M)
Signal Device for Night Driving, 393
Signs, Street, 60

Signalling, All-Electric Antoiuatic Power,
on Metropolitan Railway, (WilloxJ 431,
440
Signals, Luminous for Power Stations, 570
Silvanus Thompson Memorial Lecture, 349
Simpson, Baker and Co.'s new Preniisos, 390
Slump, Counterbalancing the, [Gillott] 505
S.M1TH, Dk. S. p.. Single- and Three Phase
A.C. Conmiutator Motors with Seriirs and
Shunt Characteristics. 29, 30, (Discussir/n)
42; International Railway Congress, (C)
799
S.mith, Rooer T. : Recent Jmproyements
in Railway Elec. Traction Equipment, 582,
591, [Sigma] (C)751; Int-rnational Rail-
way Congress at Rome, 652, [S. P. Smith]
(C) 799
Smoke Nuisance and the L.C.C., 179
Soutli Eastern &- Chatham RIy. Power

Supply, 679, 694
Southampton Technical Staff DisDute, 297,

322
South African Contracts, 22
South Ea.it Lanes. Elec. Area. 75, 88, 104
South-We.st Midlands Elec. District, 366
Spain, Industry in, 1921, 570
Specialist : Enamelled Wire and Enamelled

Wire, 95
Specifications and Estimafes (discussion), 413
Speed, B., and G. W. Elmen • Magnetic
Properties of Compressed Powdered Iron,
566
Standardisation, 432

Status of Electrical and Mechanical Engi-
neers, 89. [■' Electron "] (C) 100, [Pinching]
(C) 161, [Nabia] (C) 194, [RaUwavman]
(C) 291
Steam Conditions, Choice of in Modem

Power Stations [Kemp], 774
Steam Turbine Te.sts. American, 480
Stepney Extensions. 195
Stevenson. A. W. : Elec. Driving in Scot-
tish Woollen Mills. 217
Still, a. : Flux Distribution in Air Gap

and Teeth of Dynamos, 152, 187
Stokers, .\utomatic. Some Essentials, fErithJ

15
Stoke-on-Trent, Recent Extensions, 415
Street Lighting in U.S.A., 563
Strikes, 395

Stubeings, G. W. : Some Notes on the
Theory of Phase Meters, 586 ; The
Exponential Values and Expansions
in Powers of 6, of sin d and cos 6.
(C) 74, 100
Stylolectric Pen, 479
Submarine Cable, Sea Return Impedance of.

[Carson and Gilbert] 499. [Press] (C) 657
Sub-Station, Automatic, 6'^6
Sub-Station Equipment, ini. 'uding Automatic
Control [Chattock], 699, 794, (Disciission)
796
Sullivan (H. W.) Microphone, High Fre-
quency Apparatus and \. C. Generator, 73
SuLLiv.A^N. A : ■ It is my Privilege to
Introduce," 252

A Male Mammal at Olnnpia, 374
Sun Electrical Co. (C) Domestic Electrical

Appliances, 561
Supply Companies in 1921, 309
Supply Services, Law Regarding. 463
Switch and Plug Combined, '" Kiugsway,"

390
Switches, Tucker, 509
Switches, Quick-Make, 197
Switchgear, An Interesting Type, 505
Switchgear Design and Manufacture. Recent

Tendencies in [Cowie]. 778
Switchgear Design, High Voltage, [Coates)

526 [Rudkin] (C) 595
Switchgear Evolution, 524
Switchgear, G.E.C., at Southport Power

House, 508
Switchgear, High Voltage O\itdoor. 350
Switchgear, H.T.. Mechanical and Electrical
Effects of Large Currents on. [Motropolitan-
Vickers Elec. Co.", 385
Switchgear, Power Station, a Commentary

on [Coatesl, 782
Switchgear. Reyrollc's, 262
Switch-plug, Simplex Conduits, 599

Tables of Electricity Supply, 671

Tariffs for the Sale of Electrical Rhergy,

[Frith] 624
Taxation and Trade Revival. 90
Taxation. Bankers and. 119
Taxation, Reduction of. 491
Technical Engineers, Remuneration of

(Technical) (C) 751
Technical Press. 279

" Techmcai, •• : B«raanentloa U T«:h-
nical V.n%\u':':n (Ci 751

TELEGRAPHY—

' •-• »»1 Automatie

t'atiJ-, W-i

IV.U-.iUriU-i. . H.--*|t|>:'. -'

Telephone Circuits, aefliM.tion in. XVoc/,

589

TELEPHONY—

Antoma'i. Mi, hone .Syi««ciM. AaxOUrr
ffa' «2, 154, 470

Cam!

Char-.'' - , .072

Jji-MiopiiiCiii, "38

Fiimish arui ."Swedish Telephone, 4i4

France, WiO

Genoa. 4-<4

lA^tmiuz in 404

Liverjiool, 4H4

.Vewcaatlc Telephon<-«. :!52

Notes, 19, 50. 81, KW, 141. I«», 201, 24>
3(K), 3.56, 39ti. 423, 481, i42. 575, »44i '

Overcliarges 323

Re[xjrt of the Sei.-r^; Committee. Mt. 3«

T.lephon.- Rat. -. :;:;!

Subniarine, I ■ .'-Ic, 390

United Sta' ..: Line Work,

[Byng] ilj. ■ -

Tele-Photograpfiy. 4->7
Temperature Controller, Foster Instrnmeot

98
Temperatures Attained in GM-aiJed LaaiM

178 *^

Tenders, British, for ForelCT Orders, M
Temi»orarv Expedients. 432
Test Bed. Bruce Peeble,-. 46
Test Set, " MiUtiversal." 733
Textile Drives, Recent iHvelopment. 23;{
Textile Industry and Public Elec. .Sapplv.

[Wood] 214
Textile Industry, Helping, 218
Theatre Dimmers, "■ Igranic," 383
Thermal Ohm, [Hering] (C) 16, [Donslxathl

Helium Gas (C) .506
TiLNEY, M. G. E. : Tramwav Change-over

Arrangements (C) 449
Tinsley Disappearing Filament P\Toineter.

158
Toaster, " Creda ' 598
Tools. Electricians'. 754
Trackless Trolley Results. 433
Trade and Trade Associations. 406
Trade facilities Act and the B.I. Fair, 137
Trade Promotion. 368
Trade. Story of, [Hiu'hfieldi 590
Trade Terms and fonditions, 240
Trade with Canada. 51
Trade with India. British. 77
Traders. Our Spoon-feil [Benni, 720
Traffic Reform. London. 451
Train Control, Automatic. 751. 771
Transmission at l.tXXi.OOO V, 67
Transmutation of Elements and Atomic

Energy. [Rickets] (Ci 477
Tramcar, New One-Man. 102
Tramwav Change-over Arrangements,

[Tiliiey] (C) 483. 449
Tramway Charges Legislation, 118
Tramway Rail Comi>*ation. 87
Tramway Rails and Fishplates, 4S5
Tramway Systems. Tynt>side, 418
Tramways and Light Railways Association,

Annual Congress, 770
Tramways, Glasgow, 405. 419
Tramways in Edinbur -h. 102, 418
Tramways Inquiry, Brighton, 418
Transport Problems, 525
Trolley Omnibuses at Lewisliam. 406
Trolley Omnibuses in Canada, 198
Troughton A Young's New Showrooms,

388
" Tnitint " Colour-matching Unit, 06
Tungar Battery Charger. 197
Tungsten Charging to Helium Gss, 32i,

[Thomson] (C) 50t>
Turbo-Alternator Transport. 292
Turbo-Alternators, 160.000 kVA, 336
Tyneside Tramway Sj-stems, 418

Underfeed Stoker Co. "' 1 sco " Ash Con-
veyor. -^Ol
United Elec. Tramwaj-s of Monte Video. 493
Uruguay. EltH'tricuI Situation in, 7i5
U.S. Power Station Practice, 710
U.S..\. Electric Manufactures, 603

Vacuum Cleaner. New Electric. 391
Vehicle, Elec., Considerations, 192
V'liicles, Battery, and Coal Supply, 134
Vehicles, Elec.. at Islington, 69. 345
Vehicles, Elec. r. Petrol. 512
Ventilator, '■ Vcutiheta." 382
Verdun. Cutts and Co.. im
Victoria. Electricity Supply in, 799
Vionoles. Lt.-Col! W. a. '. Fjctension of the

Use of Electricity for Domestic Purposes,

789, (D\seusHon\ 791
Voltmeter, Fverott Edgcumbes, 98

INDEX

VI. LXXXVIII.

Wacps of Electricians, 670

War Memorial of the St. James's and I'all
Mall Eloc. Light Co., 136

Wiste Heat, Utilisation in Generating Sta-
tions, 90. 94, 97 „

Washintc Machine, Mulparvo. 381

WashiiiK Machine, " Hnarton, 481

Water J'ower in .l\i(!0-slavia, 16o

Water Power. Mechanical Storafic
Factor in Textile I'rodnction, 229

Water-power Progress, Imperial, 464

WATF.RHO.KE, L. M. : Modern Winng-
The Siirflex Safety System, .180 ■

Wattmeter, Electrostatic, and Measurement
of Low Power Factor, [Addenbrookc]

Wehb^ Percy C, Ltd., New Premises, .^73
Welwyn Garden City, Electricity SnpT)ly to,

386
Welding, Electric, 405 . , . „t

Welding; Electric, Metallurgical Aspect,

420
Wflder. Daysohm's Utility Arc, 416
West Ham, Klee. Supply in, 106
West Kent Elec. Co.. 6<i:i , »,

West of Scot lan.l Electricity District 1,1 7, 75

WHITAKFK l-' p.: Rotary Converters with

''specWil iteference to Hallway Klectnhca-

tion, 210, 251, 2.'-.8, fOeriikon, Ltd.] (C)

w'^TKHOKvr'Ca E.: The Use and
'M"iture' of Electrically Equipped Fnrn-

wldtlV^ouncils, Psychological Effects of,

WHYSAIJ, F. H., Utilisation of Waste Heat
from Electrical Generating Stations, 90,
K), iJJiDCUmiion) 07, 319

WHLUMS, B.. * J. Ekskin-f.-Mcrray:
Drtennination of the Decrement of a

^^^MZl'-'v^i^er Application of
El-'ctricity and Elec. Apparatus to

vv-m ox'"^^^'•''' ••"lu-Elcctric Automatic
Power' Signalling on Metropolitan Rly.,

Whnhledon, Affairs at, 117, 149, 240
Wind-Power for Generation of Electricity,

V\'f>Kling Engines. Elec, and Mine Hoists,
wKTnamelled'aml Bnanielled Wire, [A
Specialist] 95

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY AND
TKLEPHONY—

Aeroplanes, Wireless on, 667

Alarm, Marconi Marine, 30, 4.i

Amateur Wireless (C) 530

Amateur Wireless in U.S.A., 550

America, 485 , ^ . _, .

Anglo- Egyptian Wireless Service, 51 n

A re KadioTransinitter, American , [Leutz] 8

British West Indies, 760

Broadcasting, 449. 572, 612, 710

Cable between Trieste and Corfu, 760

- Choke Control " : A Question of Priority

[Latourl, (C) 74
Crime Detection, 664 wortm

Directional Transmission of Electro-
magnetic Waves for Navigationa Pur-
poses, [Erskine-Murray and Williams]
315, (Discussion'' 316
" Egyp^" Wreck of, 647, 667
Fire Risk Rules, 698
Ki'^hing Vessels, Wireless on, 480

Highspeed Wireless Telegraphy, fCusinsJ
Imperial Wireless Communication, 560,
Index to Recent Wireless Publications,
IntJrnaUonal Wireless Telegraph Con-
TnSuonaT Radio-Communication, 652
Legislation, 738

Literature, 449
London-Switzeriand Service, 667

Me-cantile Marine, Wireless relegrapilj

in. [Chambers] 682
Mcrcluvnt Ships and W«l.«%«*f A,?:"^
Metropolitan-Vickers Radio Sets 66..
MuUard Valve, Manufacture 316
NO es, 19, 81, 109, 1". If - /Ol. 243, 267,

300 326, 356, 396, 423, 454, 484, 514,

542, 640, 669, 698, 804
Patent Situation, 550 . ^-.t r t w
Portable Wireless Receiving Set, li.i.M.,

Progress of Wireless Telephony, 492
. Prosecution, First Wireless Telegraph. 366
Publications, 449
Publications Index, 5/9, 704
Radio Control, 550 Printine

Radio-Signals, Recording and Printing

of Hish-Speed [Howel. 449, 554 ^
Radio-Telepbone Broadcasting Boom

[Howe], 684
Raihvavs, Wireless on, 667

^^ Counter'pf se or Earth [Press] (C)

Short-wave Directional Wireless Tele-

grai>hy (Franklin] 593
Valencia (co. Kerry V 760
Watchers, Wireless, 710, 7.i4

Wireless Tel.
119. 130

Wireless Wii
Wiring, HeM
Wiring, Moii
Wiring, Rem
Wireless 'IM'

Marine, [Chin
WOOD, W. J.

Public Elect I
WOLLiaON. L. :

ing FonuiiUv,
WOKDINOHAM,

Specilication
Workmen's Coi

iphy Commission Report,

Meters. 602

... ^...i.-m. 379

t, tv System. 380
111.', 278, '385
tlie Mercantile

ersl tit>'2

: Textile Industry and
ly Supply. '214
I'raetical Armature Wlnd-

H.: British Standard
r Motor Starters, 386, 344
nnsationln 1920, 180

WORKS, DK' RIPTIONS OF-

Barton Stall. Manchester, 68, 69,70
O. B.C. Works Witton, 189
Nechells Gen. Mnu Station, 738, 744
Siemens Eleei 1-amp Works at Dalston,

Wotton Batter> narging Plant, 536

Xcel" Electritrons, 371

Yorkshire Electv Power Co.'s Progress, 210

Zeenian's Disco ry of the Action of a
Magnetic Fiei on a Source of Light
[Lodge], 181, V.

Municipal, Foreign and General Notes.

ELECT. SUPPLY

Abbevfeall (co. Limerick),

727
Aberagron, 18
Aberdi^en, 79. 541
Acerington, 18, 106, 107,

166, 298, 325, 513, 603
Adwiek, 107
Aldershot, 199
Alteration of Charges, 757
Aininan Valley, 453
Ammanford. 139
Amble, 79, 107
Argyll, 47

Ashford, 199, 395, 422
Axminster, 395
Aylesbury, 242
Ayr, 18 ■
Ayrshire, 7.50

Baeiip, 727

Ballyiiiena, 106

Baiiir, 106

Bangor, 757

BaniKlnple, 298, .541,804

Barrow, 80, 639 ^

Barrv, 212, 513, 668, 6i)(^

Bath, 805

Battersea, 483

Beckenhani, 355

Bedford, 106, 130. 305

Bedwas, 208

Belfast, 47, 166. '25, 422,

453
Bentlev, 267
Berwlitkshlre, 603
BexhIll-on-Sea, 668
Bldeford, 199, 422
Birkenhead. 140
Birmingham, '267, '208, 574,

668
Blaekbuin, 166. 727
Blackpool, 166, 325. 422,

513. 541. 7'27, 757
Bhiekrock. 727

Bolton, 130

Bootle. 79, 453

Boston, IS, 47. 109

Briieklev, IH, 130

Bradford. 130. 395. 603

Brighton, 422

Bralles, 305

Breehlm, Special Order. 523

Brentwood. 107

Bright on. 139

Bristol, 106. 305

Bronilev. 18

BrowiiliilN. 511

Bli.-kle, .so

Budlei«b Siilterton. 483

Buriev-ln-Whiirfediile. 7'27 '

Burnley, 166, 325. 453. 483

Burton-on-Trent, 47

Bury, 727

Kuxtoii, 727

(Caerphilly, 668

Calne, 7.">7

Cannock, 80, 305, 513

Ctttiterburv, 727

Cardlir. 107, 190, 242, 298,

305, 513
Cttrilsle, 130,212
Carnarvon, 727

Charges, Alteration, 18, 47,
80,107,140,166,109,242,
:J25, 355, 395, 422, 483,
523, 541, 603, 639, 668,
696

Chasetown, 242

Cheadle (Lanes), 727

Chelmsford, 513

Clie^-buiit, 18

Chester, 139, 668

Chesterfield, 422

Chichester. 18

CImlmleigh, 668

Col.naine, 199, 483

Colwyn Bay, 80

Connahs (Juay, 18, 130

Conwav, 107

Cookhani, 298, 513

Corwen, 603

Crewe, 166

Cricft, 79, 355

Crook (CO. Durham), 727

Croydon, 298, 603, 696

Darwen, 47, 574
Deal and Walmer, 804
Denbigh, 696
Derby, 139, 166, 298
Doncaster, 267, 574
Douglas, 18,242,7.57,804
Dover, 47, 199, 574
Dublin, 47
Dumfries, 7'27
Diindalk. 483, 513
Dundee, 79. 80, 139,395,422
Duiileary, 199
Durham, 47

Ealing, 267

Eastbourne, 47, 199

East Grinstead, 422

East Midlands Elec. Dis-
trict, 068

East of Scotland EU-c.
District, 242

Edenderrv, 47

Edinburgh. 139, 166

l':ghnm, 130

Elgin, 541, 696, 727

Ely, 70

I'lston, 355

Exeter, 18, 79,801

Exmoiilh. 603

Favershnm. 804
Foehiibers. 513
Kolkestone, 606
Korest of Dean, 57 I
Formbv (Lanes), 727
Isulham. 139

Galway. 325

Genoa, Turin and Modaul,

483
Glasgow. 18, 79. 80,^106,

267, 298, 325. 483. 669, 727
Gloucester. 139
Gouroek, 668
Grampian Elec Seheme, 106,

166. 478, 681
(travesend, 47
Grays. 395, 630
Greater London. 4,'>0
(iulldford, 453, 513

Hackney, 47, 106, 298, 367,

727, '7iJ9, 757
Hammersmith, 107, 355,639,

804
Hampstead, 166
Harrogate, 18, 298
Harwarden, 453
Hastings, 18, 727
Haverfordwest, 47
Hawardcn, 139, 422, 727
Hcniel Hempstead, 107, 483,

668, 804
Henley-on-Thames, 727
Heywood, 639
Hitchin, 603
Holywell, 166
Hove, 106, 139, 513
Hovlake, 395, 639
Hull, 106, 139, 242, 267, 298,
325, 355, 395, 483, 668,
727
Huyton-with-Roby, 574

Ilford, 422
India, 614
Inverurie, 79
Inverness, 727

Jerses', 107

Keishley, 18
Kendal, 696, 727
Kilmarnock, is, 453
Kirkburton, 757

Lanark. 107
Lancaster, 139, 696
Leeds, 18, 166. 267, 298
Lewes, 80
Levton, IS, 422
l.ightlni; Orders, New, 541
Lincoln, 199
Littlehamplon, 80, 199
Liverpool, 80, 139, 166, 242,

298, 395, 696, 727, 754
Llandudno, 513
Llandrinod Wells, 242
London County Council, 199,

242, .568
Long Eaton, 199
Lvton, 199, 541
Lvdnev, 355
Lyme Regis, 18, 139, 603,

727
Lynn, 242, 513
Lytliaui, 727

Maidenhead, 18, 199, 453
Maidstone. 47
Manchester, 47, 267, 771
Miiiislielil. 804
Marlborough, 166, 727
Matloek. 208
Meuai Bridge. 518
Middlesbrough, 79, 139
Mld-Laneashire Elec. Dis-
trict. 1 40, 482
Mlliirow, 395
Monmouth. 109
Mcuitrose, 18

Montrose, Special Order, 523
Moreeambe. 422
Miilllngar, 668
Mumbles, 325
Mynyddlslwyn, 298

Navan (Ireland), 267, 453,

541, 727
Neath, 79

Nelson (Lanes), 641
Newark, 298
Newcastleton, 696
Newhaven, 139
Newport (Mon.), 541
Newton Abbott, 395

North Houghton. 757

N. Lanes. & South Cumbei-

land, 541
N.-W. Midlands, 106, 242
Norwich, 804
Northwood, 757
Nottingham, IS

Ogmore Valley, 242
Ogmore and Oarw, 422
Okchampton. 106
Oldham. 47, 639
Ormskirk, 395, 574
Oswaldtwistlc, 639, 668
Oswestry, 757
Oxted, 107

Perth. 18
Peterborough, 139
Plymouth, 18, 422
Pontypridd, 166
Portrush, 483
Portsmouth, 79, 395, 483,

603, 757
Port Talbot, 267
Porthcawl, 513
Preston, 47, 79, 106, 107,
242, 267, 395, 483, 630,
804

Private Bills, 756

Radcliffe, 757

Rawtenstall, 574

Reading, 395, 483

Rcdditch, 513

Reigate, 422

Retford, 139

Richmond, 166

Rickniansworth, 199

Risca, 298

Rochdale, 242, 574

Rotherham, 208

Royston, 541

U iincorn, 242

St. Annes, 199, 325, 757

St. Heliers, 298

St. Marylebone Borough

Council, 395
St. Paneras, 199, 7'27
Salford, 355
Saffron Walden, 574
Snlford, 447, 483, 668
Scnnybridge, 47
Sevenoaks, 395 '
Sheffiel.L 483
Shorediffih, 242, 603
Shorehain, 18
Shr-wsburv. 18, 483, 639
Sidmouth, 80, 139, 422
Sittingbourne, 166
Skijrfon, 298
Sleights (Yorks), 166
South Eastern & Chatham

Rly, 574
South-East Lancashire, 298,

668

.South- Western Victoria, 540
South-West Midlands Elec.

District, 696
Southend, 139, 804
Southport, 47, 139. 109. 325,

508, 54 1
Southwick, 79
Spalding, 47
Stafford. 106, 199
Stalybridge, 541
Staliiam, 106
Stepney, 79, 242, 453, 727
Stockton, 483
Stockton Heath, 639, 696
Streatham, 395
Stroud, 513
Sunderiand. 757
Swadlincote, 242
Swansea, 139, 242

Taunton, 355
Teignmouth, 267, 325
Tonbridge, 602
Torquay, 47, 325
Tregaron, 668
Truro, 18, 199. 422
Tunbrldgc Wells, 166
Tynemouth. 395

Wallasey, 140
Walmer, 166, 513
Walsall, 242
Ware, 199
Wareham, 80
Warminster, 603
Warrington, 325, 541, 727
Waterford, 267
Waterloo-with-Seaforth, 325
Watford, 199, 267, 298, 433
Welling, 166
Welwyn Garden City, 386,

696
We?tgate-on-Sea, 79, 242
Westminster, 47
West of Scotland Elec.

District, 355
Weston-super-Mare, 106, 5 1 3
Whitehaven, 79, 757
Widnes, 80
Wigau. 199
Willesborough, 79
Willesden, 668
Wimbledon, 267
Winchester, 47, 139, 603
Witney, 18, 757
Wolstanton, 18
Wolverhampton, 47
Worcester, 18, 47, 603
Worksop, 727

York, 727

TRACTION

Aberdare, 639
Accidents, 19
Acerington, 19, 167, 200,

574, 639
Amalgamation, Railway,167
Ayr, 669
Barrow, 167, 604
Belfast, 422
Birmin.jham, 48, 140, 243,

267, 483, 542, 639
Blackburn, 48, 80, 140, 167,

453

Lckpool. 19, 453, 728

liiriiemouth, 19, 48, 326

lulford, 10, 140

i-.;hton, 19, 355

I -itol, 630

1 ish Municipal Tramways

sRoclatlon, 639
Hnlev. 48. 140, 355, 422,

74,697. 728
If ton-on-Trcnt, 200
By (Lanes), 574
CdifT, 19, 200, 243, 355,

22, 513, 6'39
( ster, 395
( stertleld, 355
( le, 626 (Allen) (C), 721
( tbridge, 19
( vdon, 574

Dllngton, 542

nwen, 166, 574

Lliy, 48

li.sbury, 804

1), caster, 140, 267, 483

Jiiglas, 48

D er, 243

D.lin, 48

K- Ham, 326
K iburgh, 19, 48, 140, 299,
.5, 542, 574, 604, 697,

Eitric Passenger Loco-

otive, 728
EMrical Vehicles for

unicipal Work, 802
E ter, 167

Fe3 Reduction, 422

Faworth, 80

Glgow, 167, 200, 355, 453,

2, 728, 804
Gchard Railway, 728
Grnock, 267, 626

Hifax, 80, 267

Hnmersmith, 804

Hiley, 167

Hiingden, 140

HI. 81, 140, 167, 299, 395,

•4, 804
Hi & Hessle Tram Exten-

on, 323
Hwood, 639

Its, 474

Jot Industrial Council for

'Jimway Industry, 200,

•9, 326

Kehley, 804

Kixaldy, 243

L.C. Tramway Accounts,

11
Lw.s, 48, 167, 355, 422, 513,

19
Lesster, 422
Lesham, 326
Lirpool, 453, 639, 728
Lolon, Brighton & S.C.

lilway, 81
Lolon County Council, 48,

V, 167, 200, 243, 267,

a, 326, 395, 417, 453,

Vol. IJKXVIII,

INDEX

VIX

Municipal, Foreign and General Notes — {continued).

London

Rly.,

London

Rly. 1

motivi

Liitoii, ')

Maidstm

Manclii-

Mcrthyr

Natioiia!

649
Nelson (
Newoa^i
2fi7, -
Xe\v|iori
North K
Notts A
\vav<,
Oldham,
Oninil'ii
rckiiiL' i

I'lvilirn
POM'I. I

Pro-i-'
Ka i

K:i
R;i

Hi!

Koiii
nir

it; Von Western

6:',',)

A- Xoh Western
iiriiij-Kctric Loco-

■ 'l'rial:4J95

1'^

IV 513
, i Ddais. 422
Klectc Traction,

I,ancsVi42

I ii-ltie, 140,243,

I ' ;:> ;i9o, 422

, ! :i, !9
^^' li.n ')8
'. 1 rlvhire Tram-

.111. 48, 167
)iv s, 733

w. Co., 669

, fiOO
771

■ Traction,
nith), .591
ics), 574
I. 395. 604

Improve-

Rotli. Piu'ii. I-
St. AniK' >. ■4.-;.26
St. Gothard, -1)
St. Hol..i.<, M-

Sa!f - ' I

Si 48, 299

,si,

Smi-ULUM :v, J.

South Africa, 507

South Eastern & Chatham
Rly., 542

Southport, 422, 697

Soutli Shields, 697

StourbridKc 107

Sunderland, 243, 395, 513,
604

Swansea, 80, 299, 355, 604

Taunton, 80, 140

Tipton, 243

Traffic Rules (Paris>r453

Tranicars, Covered-in Front
for, 639

Tramway Passengers' Rights
648

Tramways and Light Rail-
ways Association Annual
Congress, 770

Underground Rly. Co., Lon-
don,'669, 728

Vehicle, Electric, 355

Ventilation of Tube Rail-
ways, 669

Walsall, 243, 604

West Bromwich, 574, 758

West Ham, 513

Western Vallevs (Mon.), 483

West Hartlepool, 697

Weston-super-Mare, 804

Wimbledon, 140

Wirral Railway, 325

Wolverhampton, 483, 758

York, 542

IMPERIAL

Africa, 268, 641

Africa, Elec. Traction in, 507

Australia, 168, 201, 357, 455,

543, 602, 641, 729, 799
British Honduras, 455
Calcutta, 485

Canada, 109, 141, 268, 343,

357, 485, 543, 63 1, 641,

663, 666, 669, 697, 729
Ceylon, 268. 641, 72!)
Colonies, Ptcsources of, 451
Hong Kong, 110
Hungary, 670

India, 50, 109, 455, 614, '541
Jamaica, 50, 110
Melbourne, 168, 268, 397
New Brunswick, 543
New South A^'ales, 21, 50.

109, 14], 168, 268, 357,

4.55, 515, 602, 729, 760
Newcastle (N.S.W.), 397
Newfoundland, 455
New Zealand, 201, 357, 397,

477, 543,584,597
Nova Scotia, 168
Orange Free State, 201
Quebec, 755
Queensland, 21, 109
Singapore, 168
S. Africa, 21, 50, 141, 168,

268, 455, 641, 729, 760
St. Lawrence Canalisation,

455
Tasmania, 21, 50, 109, 168,

268, 357, 397, 515, 760
Victoria, 50, 109, 16?, 26*,

357, 455, 540, 729, 760,

799

FOREIG.N

America, 142, 169, 202, 268,
357, 397, 451, 480, 493
592, 636, 841, 698, 729

Arizona, 169

Athens, 268

Austria, 21

Belgian Congo, 142

Belgiuni, 110. 268, 353, 641,
670, 683

Brazil, 50, 698
Budapest, 729
Buenos Aire.^, 202
Chicago, 597
Chile, «26, 729
China, JIO, 481, 485,

670, 6!»«, 7:','.
Christiania, 2'W
Cuba, 110
Czecho-Slovakia, 142,

485
Dutch Ka.st Indies, 357
Finland, 202, 760
Flanders, 169
France, 21, 50, 110,202,

330, 3-)7, 397, 455,

641, 670, 698, 760
French W. Africa, 202
Germanv, 21, 50, 110,

202, 268, 357, 455,

604, 698
Holland, 169, 268, 505,

670
Hungary, 698
Illinois, 268
Italy, 22, 330, 474,571,

698
Japan, 451, 543, 641
Luxembourg, 670
Manchiu-ia, 485
Mauritius, 455
Mexico, 698
Monte Video, 142
Netheriands, 486
Nor\vay, 50, 110, 202
Palestine, 397
Poland, 397, 485
Russia, 21, 110, 397,

760
South America, 21, 330,
Spain, 50, 202, 330, 357,

570
Sweden, 21, 330

268,
515,

169,
543,

543.

543,

397
485,

■Switzprland, 268, 397, 670,

69^*
Turkey, 670
Uraifuay, 330, 755
United States of America,

357, 485, 515, 603, 641,

729, 760

MISCEIXANEOUS

Bessemer Medal, 575

Books, New, 362

Canadian National Exhibi-
tion, 604

City and Guilds Examina-
tions, 357

Customs and Tariffs, 22, 51

Exhibition Notes, 141. 167,
200, 241, 300, 3.56, 397,
484, 519, 698

Exports, Electrical, U.S.A.,
1921,

Farming and E!ec-tricity, 332

Federation of British In-
dustries Year Book, 1922,
685

Fire at Metropolitan Rail-
way Sub-Station, 803

Foundrv Trades Exhibi-
tion, 764

Fuel Research Board Com-
mittee for Sampling and
.\nalysing Coal, 194

Gas Situation in Binning-
ham, 755

German Engineers in Aus-
tralia, .326

Grass. Turning into Hay by
Electricity, 195

Hughes, David, Eariy Ex-
periments, 263

Imports and Exports, 84,
195, 329

1921-22,711
..'mtific Con-

Ii
L.'

Loi,...,M r.:-.-. I..,. ■ .;.. :*

London Electricity !*npph-.
751

Lorries, Electric, for Cal-
cutta, 322

Meter for Stampine Letters.
642

Xetheriand«, Trade with.
169

Newspaper Press Fond, 363.
4M

Patents, Appiications for,
699

Platfonn, Mo\ing, Prize, 2<3

Postal Raos, 679

Rams.iy Mt morial Fund. 1 1 1
Recon'-truction, European.

2«8
•• Safety First," 759
Salmon Barrage, 19.5
Trade In the Netheriaad',

332
Trade Improvement, 324
U..S. Industrial Po«er Load,

.332
" Vibrac," 200

Wage Redumptions, 23, 53.

84, 107. 139, 240, 484, 637
Wage- at .Scarboroagb, 1*2
Wages, Electricians', Ifio
Water-Power R«soarcea of

Ireland Committee, 111
Works Maiiazin^s, 5-38
Zinc, Klectrol.vtic Process

for the Production, 36$

Companies' Meetings, Reports, Dividends, &c.

AberdP

'n Suirban Tramway, 303

ACIIlr i

roilu.on, 606

Allda"^

;iiid ions, 25

All. ..

-;i lud Co., 25

.\'

llan, 673

xtricitats Gesellschaft, 805

. Supply, 673

^ration, 732, 763

hone and Telegraph, 328

I works and Electric, 518

Telegraph, 53, 457

' Tramways, 111, 172, 762

ways and Power, 328, 458

Autu....

... _.phoneMfg. Co.,700, 732

}\--.

'• 'ilcox, 605, 613,643

listrict Traction, 763

awavs, 576, 606

rion, 273

Co. of Canada, 25, 359

-bestos, 518

listrict Elec. Supply, 359
iistrict Power and Traction,

.nd Poole Elec. Supply, 244

o., 204

tion. Light and Power, 328,

ries, and Partners, 606
Tramways Investment, 643,

r.r i'r.'uvays and Carriage, 425

I'.i ! inium Co., 425

! obile Traction, 518

I ia Elec. Railway, 172, 205, 545

j; c Traction. 643, 761

Bii; 1. ,ic Transformer, 493, 518, 544

Brit!~i ];:ine Boiler and Electrical In-

siir;ii!i'e 1., 400
Briti-J! li.iated and Helsby Cables, 328,

3.-.!i. 367.09
Briti-ii I.. . Erisson Mfg., 457, 518
BritiH. .M;,icsmann Tube, 273, 327
Briti-I: rii.ison-Houston, 359, 613, 643, 672
Briti^i irite, 111
Brolt, Ltd 187
Brompton id Kensington Elec. Supply, 273,

336, 35)-
Bromley I i:nt) Elec. Light and Power, 425
Browctt, iidley and Co., 359
Bruce, Peues and Co., 244, 329
Brunner, ond, 700
Brush Elerical Engineering, 404, 425, 456

Calcutta Jcc. Supply Corp., 142, 518, 576

Calcutta 'iimways, 60.5, 643

Callender Jable and Construction, 576, 605,

672
Callender Share and Investment Trust, 763
Cambridpi-^lec. Supply, 204
Canadian eneral Electric, 303, 328, 457, 763
Canadian Vestem Natural Gas Light, Heat

.ind Vo-.r, 25

niiing. "., & Co., 425

rmarthi Elec. Supply, 359

Castner-Kellner Alkali, 605
Central Argentine Railway, 457
Central Elec. Supply, 172'
Central London Railway, 204, 270
Chadburn's (Ship) Telegraph, 111, 172
Charing Cross, W. End and City Elec. Sup-
ply, 244, 302, 327
Chatham and District Light Railways, 84
Chagford and Devon Elec. Light, 545
Chelsea Elec. Supply, 273, 303, 358
Chiswick Elec. Supply, 457
Chloride Electrical Storage, 673, 732
City and South London Railway, 204, 271
City of Buenos Ayres Tramways, 142, 172,

545
City Electric light (Brisbane), 487
City of London Elec. Lighting, 244, 303, 358
City of Santos Improvements, 487, 545
Clarke, Chapman and Co., 303
Cleveland and Durham Elec. Power, 605
Clontarf and Hill of Howth Tramroad, 142
Clyde Valley Elec. Power, 303, 400
Commonwealth Edison. 328
Companies Struck off the Register, 328
Consolidated Gas, Elec. Light and Power

Co., 273, 457, 700
Cork Elec. Tramways and Lighting, 606
Costa Rica Elec. Light and Traction. 272
County of Durham Elec. Power Distribution,

359
County of London Elec. Supply, 204, 302,

327
Craigpark Elec. Cable, 545
Cuba Submarine Telegraph, 576

Davis and Timmins, 328, 399

Delhi Elec. Tramways and Lighting, 701

Dickson and Maun, 673

Direct Spanish Telesraph, 328

Direct United States Cable, 487, 545

Doulton and Co., 673. 732

Dublin United Tramways, 142, 204

Dublin and Lucan Elec. Railway, 700

Durelco, Ltd., 25

East London Railway, 111, 142, 172
Eastern Extension Australasia and China

Telegraph, 84, 457, 805
Eastern Telegraph Co., 457, 805
Edgar Allen, 805

Edison-Swan Electric, 111, 404, 424, 456
Edmundson's Electricity Corporation, 763
Electric Construction. 673, 700, 762
Electric and Railway Finance Corp., 172
Electric Supply Company of Victoria, 53
Electrical Apparatus, 732
Electrical and Industrial Investment, 142
Electrical Development of Ontario, 328
Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire, 272, 328
Electro Bleach and Bv-Products, 303
English Electric, 576,'60.5. 612
Ever-Ready (Great Britain), 518, 605

Fairbairn. Lawson, Comle, Barbour, 172

Ferguson Pailin, 328

Fife Tramway Light and Power, 84, 303

Folkestone Electricity Supply. 457
French Thomson-Houston, 605

Gateshead and District Tramwavs, 576

Gear, H. R., 606

General Elec. Co. (New York), 805

Globe Telegraph and Trust, 303, 673, 732,

763
Gravesend and Northfleet Elec. Tramways,

605
Great Indian Peninsula Railway. Ill
Great Northern Telegraph Co., 731
Great Northern Telegraph Co. of Denmark,

545
Greenwood and Batley, 204
Guernsey Railway, 328

Hadfield's, Ltd., 359, 425

Halifax and Bermudas Cable, 359

Hamilton (Claud), 25

Harrow Electric Light and Power, 328

Hart Accumulator, 576

Hastings and District Elec. Tramways, 303,

359 ~
Havana Elec. Railwav, Light and Power, 605
Hawkcs, O. C, 303
Head, Wrightson and Co., 53, 763
Henley's (W. T.) Telegraph Works, 204, 272.

302, 404
Hong Kong Tramway, 142
Hurst, Nelson, 643
Hydro-Electric Power and Metxillurgical, 487

India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph

Works. 805
Indian Elec. Supply and Traction, 605. 643
Indo-Eunipean Telegraph. 172. 487, 544
International Automatic Telephoiu\ 700
International Lighting Association, 545
Isle of Tlianet Elec. Tramways aud Lighting,

25
Isle of Wight Elec. Light aud Power Co., 400

James Keith aud Blackman, 763
Johnson and Phillips. 643. 672
Jutland Telephone Co., 359

Kaministiquia Power, 53, 518

Kensington and Knightsbridge Elec. LigUt-

ing, 244. 359 ,. ^^,

Kidderminster and District Elec. Lighting

aud Traction, 763
King's Lynn Elec. Department, 484

Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Eailway. 273
Lanarkshire Tramways, 111, 271
Lancashire Elec. Light aud Power. h,;>
Lancashire Dynamo and Motor. 576
Lancashire Electric Power. 709
Lancasliiro United Tramways, 272
La Plata Elee. Tramways. 643
Lewes aud District Elec. Supply, .01
lasbou Electric Tramway*. 76 4
Listowel Elec. 1 Jght and Power. 457
Liverpool Overhead Railway, 204, 2<2, 303

Llandudno and Colwvn Bav Elec. Railwav,

273
Llanellv and District Elec. Lighting and

Traction, 359. 400
London and Subsirban Traction, 204, 303,

32S
London and S. Western Railway, 205, 273
London, Brighton and South Coa:$t Railwav,

172,241
London and North Western Railway, 273
London Elec. Railway. 204. 271
London Elec. Supply Con)-. 204. 269
London Elec. Wire and Smith's. 404. 425,

457
Loudon United Tramways. 273
Low Temperature Carbonisation. 25

Mackav Companies. 328
Maclellan. P. and W., 400

.Madras Elec. Tramways (1904). 457

545

761

700,

Madras Elec. Supply Corporation, 673,
Manila Electric Corporation, 328, 763
Mather and Piatt. 204, 269, 404
Mersey Railway. 273. 327
Merth\T Elec. Traction and Lighting,

732

Metropolitan District Railway, 84, 271
Metroi>olitau Elec. Supply, 273. 303
MetroiX)litau Elec. Tramwavs, 204
Metropolitan Railwav, 17u, 204, 270, 425,

487
Metropolitan- Vickers Electrical, 359, 404,

425, 456, 805
Mexlwro" and Swintnn Trunways. 545
Mexico Electric T-
Midland Couuties
.Midland Electric 1
Mirrlees Watsou.
Mirrlees. Bickert.
Mississippi River ; _
Montana Power. 40.
Montevideo Telephone. 518
Montreal Light. Heat and Power, 111, 204
Morris (Herbert), Ltd., H-

-. oi>9

Nati^

;ltu

' iural Insurance, 273
■ion. 544

r.iectric Supply, 303

l'we;l^t-' -or.- 1
336, 358

ewc;istle and District Electric Lighting Co.
400

ewmarket Electric Light Co.. 425
ew South Wales Railways, 457
ew York Telephone. 457
orth London Railway. 204, 273
orth Metropolitan Elec. Power Suppiv, 204
244

orth Mellxjume Elec. Tramways and Light
ing, 457

orth of Scotland Elec. Light and Power. 51;
oriliampton Elec. Light and Power. 273
425

orthem Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin SOne^, 25
otting Hill Elec. Lighting Co.. 273

INDEX

Vol. LXXXVIII.

Wages of Electricians, 670

War Memorial of tlic St. James's and Pall

Mall EInc. Light Co., i:JC
Waste Heat, Utilisation in Generating Sta-
tions, 90. 94, 97
WashinK Machine, " Mulparvo," 381
Washing Machine, " Hriarton," 481
Water Power in Jiigo-Slavia, 165
Water Power. Mechanical Storage as a

Factor in Textile I'rotlnrtion, 229
Water- Power Progress, Imperial, 464
Watekhguse, L. M. : Modern Wiring—

The Siirfiex Safety System, 380
Wattmeter, Electrostatic, and Measurement

of Low Power Factor, [Addenbrookc]

386
Welding, Electric, 405
Welding, Electric, Metallurgical Aspect,

420
Welder. Davsohm's Utilitv Arc, 416
West II;iiii. i;i(e. Suppiv in, 106
West K<iil Kl.'C. Co.. 663
West of Scotland Electricity Distriet.l, 17, 7.">
Whitakkk, y. P. : Rotary Converfer.s with

Special Kcfcrence to Kailwav Eleetrifica-

tion, 210, 251, 2.')H, fOerlikon, Ltd.] (C)

291, (IHncuHsiun) 346
Whitkhokne, Eakl E. : The Use and

Future of Electrically Equipped Furni-
ture, 377
Whitley Councils, Psychological Effects of,

628
WhysaiJ/, F. H., Utilisation of Waste Heat

from Electrical Generating Stations, 90,

95, (JJincumion) 97, 319

Williams, li.. A- J. Erskixe-Murray :

Determination of the Decrement of a

Distant Station, 316
vVilliams, Airf-REP : Wider Application of

Electricity and Blec. Apparatus to

Domestig Life, 376
rt'iLLOX, W. : " All-EIcctric Automatic

Power Signalling on Metropolitan Kly.,"

431. 440
vVimbledon, Affairs at, 117, 149, 240
Wind-Power for Generation of Electricity,

509
SVinding Engines. Elec, and Mine Hoists,

[Broughton) 6, 34
SVire, Enamelled and Enamelled Wire, [A

Specialist) 95

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY AND
TKLEPHONY—

Aeroplanes, Wireless on, 667

Alarm, Marconi Marine, 30, 43

Amateur Wireless (C) 535

Amateur Wireless in U.S.A., 550

America, 485

Anglo-Egyptian Wireless Service, 515

Arc RadioTransmittcr, American, [Leutz] S

British West Indies, 760

Broa'leasting, 449, 572, 612, 710

Cable between Trieste and Corfu, 700

'• Choke Control " : A Question of Priority
[Latourl, (C) 74

Crime Detection, 664

Directional Transmission of Electro-
magnetic Waves for Navigational Pur-
poses, [Erskine-Murray and Williams]
315, I IJhxussion) 316

" Egypf," Wreck of, 647, 667

Fire Risk Rules, 698

Fishing Vessels, Wireless on, 480

High-speed Wireless Telegraphy, [Cusins]
67, 65

Imperial Wireless Communication, 550:
581

Index to Recent Wireless Publications,
579, 704

International Wireless Telegraph Con-
ference, 396

International Radio-Communication, 552

Legislation, 738

Literature, 449

London-Switzerland Service, 667

Mercantile Marine, Wireless Telegraphy
in. [Chambers] 682

Merchant Ships and Wireless Staff. 602

Metropolitan-Vickers Radio Sets, 665

Mullard Valve, Manufacture, 316

Notes, 19, 81, 109, 141, 169, 201, 243, 267,
300, 326, 356, 396, 423, 454, 484, 514,
542, 640, 669, 698, 804

Patent Situation, 550

Portable Wireless Receiving Set, B.T.H.,
348

Progress of Wireless Telephony, 492
. Prosecution, First Wireless Telegraph. 366

Publications, 449

Publications Index, 579, 704

Radio Control, 550

Radio-Signals, Recording and Printing
of High-Speed [Howe]. 449, 554

Radio-Telephone Broadcasting Boom
[Howe], 684

Railwavs, Wireless on, 667

Review of 1921, 32

Screen, Counterpoise or Earth [Press] (C)
100

Short-Wave Directional Wireless Tele-
graphy (Franklin] 593

Valencia (co. Kerry), 760

Watchers, Wireless, 710, 724

Wireless Telegraphy Commission Report,

119, 130
Wireless Wave Meters, 602
Wiring, Helsby Twin System, 379
Wiring, Modern Surflex Safety System, 380
Wiring, Rental, at Eastbourne, 278, 385
Wireless Telegraphy in the Mercantile

Marine. [Chambers] 682
Wood, W. J. H.: Textile Industry and

Public Electricity Supply, 214
WOLLISOS, L. : " Practical .\rmature Wind-
ing ForuHilae," 496
Wordingham, C. H. : British Standard
Specifications for Motor Starters, 335, 344
Workmen's Compensation in 1920, 180

WORKS, DESCRIPTIONS OF—

Barton Station, Manchester, 58, 69,70
G.E.C. Works at Witton, 189
Nechells Generating Station, 738, 744
Siemens Electric Lamp Works at Dalston,
630
Wotton Battery-Charging Plant, 536

" Xcel •• Electric Irons, 371

Yorkshire Electric Power Co.'s Progress. 210

Zeeman's Discovery of the Action of a
Magnetic Field on a Source of Light
[Lodge], 181, 182

Municipal, Foreign and General Notes.

ELECT. SDPPLY

Abbevfeall (eo. Limerick),

727
Aberagron, 18
Aberdeen, 79. 541
Accrington, 18, Hm, 107,

166, 298, 325, 513, 603
Adwick, 107
Aldershot, 199
Alteration of Charges, 757
Amman N'alley, 453
Ammanford, 139
Amble, 79, 107
Argyll, 47

Ashford, 199, 395, 422
Axminster, 395
Aylesbury, 242
Ayr, 18
Ayrshire, 750

Bacup, 727

Ballymena, 166

Banff, 106

Bangor, 757

Barnstaple, 298, 541, 804

Barrow, 80, 639

Barrv, 212, 513, 668, 60(5^

Bath, 395

Battersea, 483

Bcckenhani, 355

Bedford, 106, 139, 395

Bedwas, 298

Belfast, 47, 166, 325, 422,

4.<)3
Bentlcy, 267
Berwickshire, 603
BexhIII-on-Sea, 668
BIdeford, 199, 422
Birkenhead, 140
Birmingham, '267, 298, 574,

668
Blaekbtiin. 166. 727
Blackpool, 166, 325, 422,

513, 541. 727, 757
Blnckrock. 727
Bolton, 139
Bootle, 79, 453
Boston, IS, 47. 199
Bracklev, is, 139
Bradforil, 139, 395, 603
Brighton. 42'.^
Briiiles, 3115

Brechlni, Special Ord.T, ."i'.':!
Brentwood, 107
Brighton, 139
Bristol, 106. 395
Bromlev, 18
Brownhllls, 54 I
Buekle, 80

Builleigh Salterion. 483
Buriev-iu-Wharredale, 727 '
Burnley, Hill, 325. 453, 483
Btirton-ou-Treiit, 47
Bury, 727
Buxton, 727

Caerphilly. tUiS

Calne, 757

(;annock, 80, 395, 513

(Janterl)ur\', 7'J7

Cardiff, 107, 199, 242, 208,

305, 513
Carilsle, 139. 242
Carnarvon, 727

Charges, Alteration, 18, 47,
80, 107,140, 166, 199,242,
325, 355, 395, 422, 483,
523, 541, 603, 639, 068,
696

Chasetown, 242

Cheadle (Lanes), 727

Chelmsford, 513

Cheshunt, 18

Chester, 139, 668

Chest^irfleld, 422

(y'hichcster, 18

Chulinleigh, 668

Coleraine, 199, 483

Colwyn Bay, 80

Connahs Quay, 18, 139

(Jonwav, 107

Cookhani, 298, 513

Corwen, 603

Crewe, 166

Crieff, 79, 355

Crook (CO. Durham), 727

Croydon, 298, 603, 696

Darwcn, 47, 574
Deal and Waliner, 804
Denbigh, 696
Derbv, 139, 166, 298
Doncasfer, 267, 574
Douglas, 18, 242, 757, 804
Dover, 47, 199, 574
Dublin, 47
Dumfries, 727
Dundalk, 483, 513
Dundee, 79, 80, 139, 395, 422
Duiileary, 199
Durham, 47

Ealing. 267

Kastbourne, 47, 199

East Grinstead. 422

East Midlands Elcc. Dis-
trict, 668

East of Scotland Elec.
District. 242

EdendiTrv, 47

Edinburgh, 139, 106

Kgham, 139

Elgin, 541. 696, 727

Ely, 79

lOslon, 355

Ex(!ter, 18, 70, 804

Kxmoulh. 603

Faversham, 804
Fochabers, 513
Folkestone, 696
Forest of Dean, 571
Fonnby (Lanes), 727
Fulham, 139

Galway. 325

Genoa, Turin and Modaul,

483
Glasgow. 18. 79. 80. 106,

267, "298, 325. 483, 06!», 727
Gloucester. 139
Gouroek, 668
Grainpliiu Elec S<beiiie. 106,

166, 478, 681
Gravesend, 47
Grays. 395. 639
('reatcr London, 450
Guildford, 453, 513

Hackney, 47, 106, 298, 367,

727, 7.'}9, 757
Hammersmith, 107, 355,f)39,

804
Hampstead, 166
Harrogate, 18, 298
Harwardcn, 4.53
Hastings, 18, 727
Haverfordwest, 47
Hawarden, 139, 422, 727
Hemel Hempstead, 107, 483.

668, 804
Henley-on-Thames, 727
Heywood, 639
Hitchin, 603
Holywell, 166
Hove, 106, 139, 513
Hovlake, 395, 639
Hull, 106, 139, 242, 267, 298,

325, 355, 395, 483, 668,

727
Huyton-with-Roby, 574

Ilford, 422
India, 614
Inverurie, 79
Inverness, 727

Jersey, 107

Keiahlcy, 18
Kendal, 696, 727
Kilmarnock, 18, 453
Kirkburton, 757

Lanark. 107
Lancaster, 139, 696
Leeds, 18, 166, 267, 298
Lewes, 80
Leyto". 18, 422
Lighliin; Orders, New, 541
l.ineolu, 199
Littleh.:'iip. on, 80, 109
Liveriionl. so, 139, 166, 242,

298, 305, 696, 727, 754
Mandudno, 513
Llmiddnod Wells, 242
London County Couiieil, i<)9,

242, 568
Long Eaton, 199
Luton, 199, 541
Lydney, 355
Lyme Regis, 18, 139, 603,

727
Lynn. 242. 51. -J
Lythaui, 727

Maidenhead, 18, 199, 153
MaidMiiiH'. 47
Manchester, 4 7. 267. 771
Miiiisll.'jd. S04
Muriborough, 166, 727
.Mallork. 298
Mniai Itridge, 518
Mid(lle>.l.ii)ugh. 79. 139
Mid-I.aiuashiie Elec. Dis-

Iriet. 110, 482
Milnrow, 395
Monmouth, 199
Montrose, IS

Mi-itrose, Special Order, 523
Moreeambe, 422
Mullingar, 60S
Mumbles, 325
Mynyddislwyn, 29S

Navan (Ireland), 267, 453,

541, 727
Neath, 79

Nelson (Lanes), 541
Newark, 298
Newcastleton, 696
Newhaven. 139
Newport (Mon.), 541
Newton Abbott, 395

North Houghton, 757

N. Lanes. & South Cumbei-

land, 541
N.-W. Midlands, 106, 242
Norwich, 804
North wood, 757
Nottingham, 18

Ogniore Valley, 242
Ogmore and Garw, 422
Okehampton, 106
Oldham. 47, 639
Ormskirk, 395, 574
Oswaldtwistle, 639, 668
Oswestry, 757
Oxtcd, 107

Perth. 18
Peterborough, 139
Plymouth, 18, 422
Pontypridd, 166
Portrush, 483
Portsmouth, 79, 395, 483,

603, 757
Port Talbot, 267
Porthcawl, 513
Preston, 47, 79, 106, 107,

242, 267, 395, 483, 630,

804
Private Hills, 756
Radclitfe, 757
Rawtenstall, 574
Reading, 395, 483
Reilditch, 513
Rcigate, 422
Retford, 139
Richmond, 166
Rickmansworth, 199
Kisea. 298
Rnrhdille. 242, 574
Kotherham, 298
Koyston, 541
Ritncorn, 242

St. Annes. 199, 325, 757

St. Heliers, 298

St. Marylebone Borough

Council, 395
St. Paneras, 199, 727
Salford. 355
Saffron Walden, 574
Sniford. 4 47, 483, 668
Sennybridge, 47
Sevenoaks, 395 '
SheHiehL 483
ShoredifCli, 242. 603
Shoreham, 18
Shr"wsl)nrv. 18. 483, 639
Sidmowth, 80. 139, 422
Sittingbourne, 166
Skipton, 298
Sleights (Yorks), 166
South Eastern & Chatham

RIy, 574
South-East Laneashire, 298,

668

South-Western Victoria, 540
South-West Midlands Elec.

District, 696
Southend, 139, 804
Southport, 47, 139, 199, 325,

508, .541
Southwick, 79
Spalding, 47
Stafford. 106, 199
Stalybridge, 541
Staliiam, 106
Stepney, 79, 242, 453, 727
Stockton, 483
Stockton Heath, 639, 696
Streatham, 395
Stroud, 513
Sunderland, 757
Swadlincote, 242
Swansea, 139, 242

Taunton, 355
Teignmouth, 267, 325
Tonbridge, 602
Torquay, 47, 325
Tregaron, 668
Truro, 18, 199, 422
Tunbridge Wells, 166
Tynemouth, 395

Wallasey, 140
Walmer," 166, 513
Walsall, 242
Ware, 199
Wareham, 80
Warminster, 603
Warrington, 325, 541, 727
Waterford, 267
Waterloo-with-Seaforth, 325
Watford, 199, 267, 293, 453
Welling, 166
Welwyn Garden City, 386,

696
Westgate-on-Sea, 79, 242
Westminster, 47
West of Scotland Elec.

District, 355
Weston-super-Mare, 106. 513
Whitehaven, 79, 757
Widnes, 80
Wigau. 199
Willesborough, 79
Willesden. 66S
Wimbledon. 267
Winchester. 47. 139, 603
Witnev, 18, 757
Wolst.-iiiton, 18
Wolverhampton, 47
Worcester, 18, 47, 603
Worksop, 727

York, 727

TRACTION

Aberdare, 639
Accidents, 19
Accrington, 19, 167, 200,

574, 639
Amalgamation, Railway, 167
Ayr, 669
Barrow, 167, 604
Belfast, 422
Birniinixham, 48, 140, 243,

267, 483, 542, 639
Blackburn, 48, 80, 140, 167,

453

Blackpool, 19, 453, 728
Bournemouth, 19, 48, 326
Bradford, 19, 140
Brighton, 19, 355
Bristol, 639
British Municipal Tramways

Association, 639
Burnley, 48, 140, 355, 422,

574, 697. 728
Burton-on-Trent, 200
Bury (Lanes), 574

Cardiff, 19, 200, 243, 355,

422, 513, 639
Chester, 395
Chesterfield, 355
Chile, 626 (Allen) (C), 721
Coatbridge, 19
Croydon, 574

Darlington, 542
Darwen, 166, 574
Derby, 48
Dewsbury, 804
Doncaster, 140, 267, 483
Douglas, 48
Dover, 243
Dublin, 48

East Ham, 326

Edinburgh, 19, 48, 140, 299,
355, 542, 574, 604, 697,
758

Electric Passenger Loco-
motive, 728

Electrical Vehicles for
Municipal Work, 802

Exeter, 167

Fares Reduction, 422
Farnworth, 80

Glasgow, 167, 200, 355, 453,

542. 728. 804
Gotthard Railway, 728
Greenock, 267, 626

Halifax, 80. 267

Hamiuersmith, 804

Hanlev, 167

Haslingdcn, 140

Hull. 81, 140, 167, 299, 395,
574, 804

Hull & Hessle Tram Exten-
sion, 323

Heywood, 639

Italy, 474

Joint Industrial Council for
Tramway Industry, 200,
299, 326

Keighlev, 804
Kirkcaldy, 243

L.C.C. Tramway Accounts,

801
Leeds, 48. 167. 355. 422, 513,

639
Leici ster, 422
Lewisham, 326
Liverpool, 453, 639, 728
London, Brighton <$: S.C.

Railway, SI
Londou County Council, 48,

137, 167, '200, 24!}, 267,

299, 326, 395, 417, 453<

513

Vol. LXXXVIII.

INDEX

Vll

Municipal, Foreign and General Notes — {continued).

London & Nortlx Western
Rly., 639

London * North Western
Rly. Turbo-Klectric Loco-
motive Trials, 395

Luton, 542

Maidstone, 669

Manchester, 483, 513

Merthyr and Dowlais. 422

National Electric Traction,
649

Nelson (Lanes), 542

Newcastle-on-Tync, 140,243,
267, 299, 355, 395, 422

Newport, 453, 639

North London, 758

Notts & Derbyshire Tram-
ways, 167

Oldham, 574

Omnibus Traffic, 48, 167

rcking Tramways, 733

Plymouth, 140

Posen Tramway Co., 669

Preston, 542

Kadcliffe (Lanes), 669

Railless Traction, 771

Railways Bill, 453

Railway Electric Traction,
Equipment (Smith), 591

Ra\vtenstall (Lanes), 574

Reading, 48, 200. 395. 604

Rishton, 167

Rochdale, 200, 542

Rolling Stock, Improve-
ments in, 771

Rotherham, 639

St. Anne's, 48, 326

St. Gothard, 200

St. Helens, 483

Salford, 19, 200

Scarborough, 19, 48, 299

Sheffield, 140

Smethwick, 140

South Africa, 507

South Eastern & Chatham
Rly., 542

Southport, 422, 697

South Shields, 697

Sto\irbridgc, 107

Sunderland, 243, 395, 513,
604

Swansea, 80, 299, 355, 604

Taunton, 80, 140

Tipton, 243

Traffic Rules (Paris)7 453

Tramcars, Covered-in Front
for, 639

Tramway Passengers' Rights
648

Tramways and Light Rail-
ways Association Annual
Congress, 770

Underground Rly. Co., Lon-
don ,669, 728

Vehicle, Electric, 355

Ventilation of Tube Rail-
ways, 669

Walsall, 243, 604

West Bromwich, 574, 758

West Haiu, 513

Western Vallevs (Mon.), 483

West Hartlepool, 697

Weston-super-Mare, 804

Wimbledon, 140

W^irral Railway, 325

Wolverhampton, 483, 758

York. 542

IMPERIAL

Africa, 268, 641

Africa, Elec. Traction in, 507

Australia, 168, 201, 357, 455,

543, 602, 641, 729, 799
British Honduras, 455
Calcutta, 485

Canada, 109, 141, 268, 343,

357, 485, 543, 634, 641,

663, 666, 669, 697, 729
Ceylon, 268, (541, 729
Colonies, Resources of, 451
Hong Kong, 110
Hungary, 670

India, 50, 109, 455, 614, ''.41
Jamaica, 50, 110
Mclhounie, 168, 268, 307
New Brunswick, 543
New South Wales, 21, 50.

109, 143, 168, 268, 357,

455, 515, 602, 729, 760
Newcastle (N.S.W.), 397
Newfoundland, 455
New Zealand, 201, 357, 397,

477, 543, 684, 597
Nova Scotia, 168
Orange Free State, 201
Quebec, 755
Queensland, 21, 109
Singapore, 168
S. Africa, 21, 50, 141, 168,

268, 455, 641, 729, 760
St. Lawrence Canalisation,

455
Tasmania, 21, 50, 109, 168,

268, 357, 397, 515, 760
Victoria, 50, 109, 163, 268,

357, 455, 540, 729, 760,

799

FOREIG.N

America, 142, lfi9, 202, 268,
357, 397, 451, 480, 493
592, 636, 841, 698, 729

Arizona, 169

Athens, 268

Austria, 21

Belgian Congo, 142

Belgiun., 110. 268, 353, 641,
670, 683

Brazil, 50, <i98
Budapest, 72P
Buenos .\ires, 202
Cliicago, 597
Chile, «26, 729
China, 110, 481, 185,

670, 698, 735
Christiania, 2«8
Cuba, 110
C'^cho-Slovakia, 142,

485
Dutch Ka.st Indies, 357
Finland, 202, 760
Flanders, 169
France, 21,50, 110, 202,

330, 3.>7, 397, 455,

641, 670, 698, 760
French W. Africa, 202
Germany, 21, 50, 110,

202, 268, 357, 455,

604, 698
Holland, 169, 268, 50.^,

670
Hungary, 698
Illinois, 268
Italy, 22, 330, 474, 571,

698
Japan, 451, 543, 641
Luxembourg, 670
Manchuria, 485
Mauritius, 455
Mexico, 698
Monte Video, 142
Netherlands, 486
Norway, 50, 110, 202
Palestine, 397
Poland, 397, 485
Russia, 21, 110, 397,

760
South America, 21, 330,
Spain, 50, 202, 330, 357,

570
Sweden, 21, 330

268,
5)5,

169,
543,

.543.

543,

397
485,

•Switzerland, 268, 397, 670,

698
Turkey, 670
I'ruguay, 3:J0, 755
United .States of America,

3.57, 485, 51.5, 603, 641,

729, 760

MISCEI.LANEOUS

Bessemer Medal, 575

Books. New, 362

Cana<lian National Exhibi-
tion, 604

City and Guilds Examina-
tions, 357

Customs and Tariff", 22, 51

Exhilition Notes, 141. 167,
200, 241, 300, 3.56, 397,
481, 519, 698

Exports, Electrical, U.S.A.,
1921,

Fanning and Electricity, .332

Federation of Briti.sh In-
dustries Year Book, 1922,
685

Fire at Metropolitan Rail-
way Sub-Station, 803

Foundry Trades Exhibi-
tion, 764

Fuel Research Board Com-
mittee for Sampling and
Analysing Coal, 194

Gas Situation in Birming-
ham, 755

German Engineers in Aus-
tralia, 326

Grass. Turning into Hay by
Electricity, 195

Hughes, Da\id, Early Ex-
periments, 263

Imports and Exports, 84,
195, 329

London kl»ctricii-.

751
Ix>rries, Electric, l^i • i -

ctitta, 322
Meter (or Stampine Letter?,

642
Netheriands, Trade wi*-

169
Newspaper Preae Fond, 2.'.

464
Patents, Appiica'ionj f

699
Platfonn, Moving, Prize, -■
Postal Rafr:s, 079

Ram.say M( morial Fund. 1 1 1
Recon'-tmction, Enropean.

2«S
■■ Safety First," 759
Salmon Barrage, 195
Trade in the Neth<?rian :

332
Trade Impros-ement, 324
U..S. Industrial Poner Lf>a ;

332
" Vibrac," 200

Wage Redu'^ion«, 23,
84, 107. 139. eiO. 4«t.

Wagi- -

Wage-

Water
Irel.

Work-

Zinc,

for tri'- 1 r "iiution, ;>

53.

Companies' Meetings, Reports, Dividends, &c.

Aberdeen Suburban Tramway, 303
Acme Production, 606
Alldays and Onions, 25
Allen (Edgar) and Co., 25
Alley and Maclellan, 673
Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellschaft, 805
Altrincham Elec. Supply, 673
Aluminium Corj^ration, 732, 763
American Telephone and Telegraph, 328
American Waterworks and Electric, 518
Anglo-American Telegraph, 53, 457
Anglo-Argentine Tramways, 111, 172, 762
Argentine Tramways and Power, 328, 458
Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co., 700, 732

Babcock and Wilcox, 605, 613, 643

Barnslcy and District Traction, 763

Bath Elec. Tramways, 576, 606

Belfast Corporation, 273

Bell Telephone Co. of Canada, 25, 359

Bell's United Asbestos, 518

Benn Bros., 763

Bideford and District Elec. Supply, 359

Birmingham District Power and Traction,
643

Bournemouth and Poole Elec. Supply, 244

Braby (F.) & Co., 204

Brazilian Traction, Light and Power, 328,
700, 732

Brisfht, Sir Charles, and Partners, 606

Brisbane Elec. Tramways Investment, 643,
701

Bristol Tramways and Carriage, 425

British Aluminium Co., 425

British Auton obile Traction, 518

British Cohmibia Elec. Railway, 172, 205, 545

British Electric Traction. 643, 761

British Electric Transformer, 493, 518, 544

British Engine Boiler and Electrical In-
surance Co., 400

British Insulated and Helsby Cables, 328,
359 367 .399

British L. H. Erisson Mfg., 457, 518

British Mannesmann Tube, 273, 327

British Thomson-Houston, 359, 613, 643, 672

British Uralite, 111

Brolt, Ltd., 487

Brompton and Kensington Elec. Supply, 273,
336, 358

Bromley (Kent) Elec. Light and Power, 425

Browett, Lindley and Co., 359

Bruce, Peebles and Co., 244, 329

Brunner, Mond, 700

Brush Electrical Engineering, 404, 425, 456

Calcutta Elec. Supply Corp., 142, 518, 576

Calcutta Tramways, 605, 643

Callender's Cable and Construction, 576, 605,

672
Callender's Share and Investment Trust, 763
Cambridge Elec. Supply, 204
Canadian General Electric, 303, 328, 457, 763
Canadian Western Natural Gas Light, Heat

and Power, 25
Canning, W., & Co., 425
Carmarthen Elec. Supply, 359

Castner-Kellner Alkali, 605
Central Argentine Railway, 457
Central Elec. Supply, 172
Central London Railway, 204, 270
Chadburn's (Ship) Telegraph, 111, 172
Charing Cross, W. End and City Elec. Sup-
ply, 244, 302, 327
Chatham and District Light Railways, 84
Chagford and Devon Elec. Light, 545
Chelsea Elec. Supply, 273, 303, 358
Chiswick Elec. Supply, 457
Chloride Electrical Storage, 673, 732
City and South London Railway, 204, 271
Citv of Buenos Ayres Tramways, 142, 172.

545
City Electric light (Brisbane), 487
City of London Elec. Lighting, 244, 303, 358
City of Santos Improvements, 487, 545
Clarke, Chapman and Co., 303
Cleveland and Durban Elec. Power, 605
Clontarf and Hill of Howth Traniroad, 142
Clyde Valley Elec. Power, 303, 400
Commonwealth Edison. 328
Companies Struck off the Register, 328
Consolidated Gas, Elec. Light and Power

Co., 273, 457", 700
Cork Elec. Tramways and Lighting. 606
Costa Rica Elec. Light and Traction, 272
County of Durham Elec. Power Distribution,

359
County of London Elec. Supply, 204, 302,

327
Craigpark Elec. Cable, 545
Cuba Submarine Telegraph, 576

Davis and Timmins, 328, 399

Delhi Elec. Tramways and Lightings, 701

Dickson and Maun, 673

Direct Spanish Telcaraph, 328

Direct United States Cable, 487, 545

Doulton and Co., 673. 732

Dublin United Tramways, 142, 204

Dublin and Lucan Elec. Railway, 700

Durelco, Ltd., 25

East London Railway, 111, 142, 172
Eastern Extension Australasia and China

Telegraph, 84, 457, 805
Eastern Telegraph Co., 457, 805
Edgar Allen, 805

Edison-Swan Electric, 111, 404, 424, 4.56
Edmundson's Electricitv Corporation, 763
Electric Construction. 673, 700, 762
Electric and Railway Finance Corp., 172
Electric Supply Company of Victoria, 53
Electrical Apparatus, 732
Electrical and Industrial Investment, 142
Electrical Dcveloiuiient of Ontario, 328
Electrical Distril)ution of Yorkshire, 272, 328
Electro Bleach and Bv-J'roducts, 303
English Electric, 576,605, 612
Ever-Ready (Great Britain), 518, 605

F.airbairn. Lawson, Comle, Barbour, 172

Ferguson Pailin, 328

Fife Tramway Light and Power, 84, 303

Folkestone Electricity Supply, 457
French Thomson-Houston, 605

Gateshead and District Tramways, 576

Gear, H. R., 606

General Elec. Co. (New York), 805

Globe Telegraph and Trust, 303, 673, 732,

763
Gravesend and Northfleet Elec. Tramways,

605
Great Indian Peninsula Railway, 111
Great Northern Telegraph Co., 731
Great Northern Telegraph Co. of Denmark,

545
Greenwood and Batley, 204
Guernsey Railway, 328

Hadfield's, Ltd., 359, 425

Halifax and Bermudas Cable, 359

Hamilton (Cland), 25

Harrow Electric Light and Power, 328

Hart Accumulator, 576

Hastings and District Elec. Tramways,

359
Havana Elec. Railway, Light and Power
Hawkes, O. C, 303
Head, Wrightson and Co., 53, 763
Henley's (W. T.) Telegraph Work<. 204.

302,' 404
Hong Kong Tramway, 142
Hurst, Nelson, 643
Hydro-Electric Power and Metallurgical,

303,
605

487

India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph

Works, 805
Indian Elec. Supply and Traction, 605. 643
Indo-European Telegraph. 172. 487, 544
International Automatic Telephone, 700
International Liijliting Association, 545
Isle of Thanet Elec. Tramways and Lighting.

25
Isle of Wight Elec. Light and Power Co., 400

James Keith and Blackman, 763
Johnson and Phillips, 643. 672
Jutland Telephone Co., 359

Kaministiquia Power, 53, 51S

Kensington and Knightsbridge hicc. ii^m-

ing, -244. 359 .

Kidderminster and District Elec. Lighting

and Traction, 763
King's L>iin Elec. Department, 484

Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway, 273
Lanarkshire Tramways, HI, 271
Lancashire Klec. Light and Power, r>73
Lancashire Dvnamo and Motor, 576
Lancashire Kleotric Power, 709
Lancashire United Tramways, 272
La Plata Elec. Tramways, ti43
Lewes aiKl District Elec. Sr.pply, 701
IJsbon i:iectric Tramway-, 701
Listowel Eloc. light and Power, 4o7
Liverpool Overhead Railway, 204, 272, 303

Llandudno and Colwvn Bav Elec. Railnray,

273
Llaneliv and District Elec. Lighting and

Traction, 350. 400
London and Suburban Traction, 204, ;wM,

32 S
London and S. Western Railway. 205, 273
London, Brighton and South Coast Railwav,

172,241
London and North Western Railway, 273
London Elec. Railway, 204. 271
London Elec. Supp:y Corp.. 204. 2fi9
London Elec. \\ ire and Smith's. 404, <"25.

457
London United Tramways. 273
Low Temperature Carbonisation, 25

Mackav Companies. 328

Maclellan. P. and W.. 400

Madras Elec. Tramways (1904). 45.'. 545

Madras Elec. Supply Corporation, 673. 761

Manila Electric Corporation, 328, 763

Mather and Piatt. 204, 269, 404

Mersey Railway. 273, 327

Merth\T Elec. Traction and Lighting, 7ii<t,

732
Metropolitan District Railway. 84, 271
Metropolitan Elec. Supply. 273. 303
MetroiHilitau EU-c. Tramwavs, 204
Metropolitan Railwav, 172. 204, 270. 425.

487
Metropolitan - Vickers Electrical. 359, 404,

425. 456, 805
Mexl>oro' an.! S«ii:tk'ii Tri.iiWays. 545
Mexico K
Midland i
Midland I
.Mirrlees W.u.-vi.
Mirrle.-s. Bick. i
Missi siiu.i Kiv
Montana I
Montoviii
Montreal i
Morris (Herbert

.128, 399

lud Power, 111. 2tit
Ltd., 142

National Boiler - ' ■'■ r-l r- ;::iiiti-. _7.»

National Hoc. '>44

National Klec. -

Nowcastle-ou-lMu r-itiiiic Supply, 303,
838, 3.58

Newcastle and District Electric Lighting Co..
4lH)

Newmarket Electric Light Co.. 425

New South Wales Railways, 457

New York Telephone. 457

North London Railway. 204, 273

North Metropolitan Elec. Power Snpplv. 204,
244

North MellJoume Elec. Tramwa>-8 and Light-
ing, 457

North of Scotland Elec, Light and Power, 518

Northampton Elec. Light and Power, 273.
425

Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines. 25

Notting Hill" Elec. Lighting Co., 273

Vlll

INDEX

Vol. LXXXVIII.

Companies' Meetings, Reports, Dividends, &q.— {continued).

Oriental Telephone and Blec, 518, 673, 700
Oxford Electric, 243, 273, 328

Paisley District Tramways, 204, 272
Para Electric Railways and Lighting, 359
Para Telephone, 518, 763
Park Electrical and Engineering, 606
Penarth Electric Lighting, 732
Pennsylvania Water and Power, 204, 700
Pcmambnco Tramways and Power, 700, 732
Peterborough ¥A(.-c. Traction, 605
Philips' Lamp Works of Amsterdam, 359
Pinchin, Johnson, 576, 606
Potteries Elec. Traction, 606
Pritchett and Gold and E.P.S., 359
Provincial Tramways, 53

Radio Corporation of America, 545
Ramsgate and District Elec. Supply, 643
Rangoon Elec. Tramway and Supply, 457,

487
Ransomes, Simms and Jeffries, 359, 732
Reading Electric Supply Co., 400
Rees Roturbo Manufacturing, 673
RejTolle, A., 425
Rhondda Tramways, 643
Richardsons, We.stgarth, 763
River Plate Electricity, 518
Rotherliam Tramways Committee, 400
Rothesay Tramways, 487
Roycc, Ltd., 53

Rushden and District Elec. Supply, 273
Ruston and Hornsby, 25, 732

St. James' and Pall Mall Elec. Light, 172,

204, 268
Scarborough Elec. Supply, 605
Scottish Power, 244

Shanghai Electric Construction, 25, 605, 700
Shawinigan Water and Power, 328, 487
Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire

Power, 763, 805
Siemens Bros, and Co., 576, 643, 672
Siemens Elektrische Betriebe, 400
Singapore Elec. Tramways, 400
Smith (S.) and Sons (Motor Accessories), 25
Smithflelds Market Elec. Supply Corp., 172
SociM6 Industrielle du Radium, 25
South African Carbide and By-Products, 25
South Eastern and Chatham Railway, 204,

270, 643
South London Elec. Su-pply, 425
Soutti Metropolitan Elec. Light and Power

204, 269
South Metropolitan Elec. Trams and Light-
ing, 204
South Staffordshire Tramways Co., 400
South Wales Electrical Power Distribution,

763
Southern Brazil Electric, 518, 545
Staveley Coal and Iron, 303
Steana Romana (British), 53
Stewarts and Lloyds, 328

Stock Exchange Notices, 25, 142, 172, 240,

359, 487, 518, 732
Stone and Co., 700
Stothert and Pitt, 328
Submarine Cables Trust, 487, 605
Sunderland District Electric Tramways, 172,

272
Swansea, 204
Swansea Improvements and Tramways Co.,

400
Swedish-Danish-Russian Telephone, 605

Taunton Elec. Traction, 425

Telegraph Construction 'and Maintenance,

244, 327, 404
Thomson-Houston (Cie Francaise), 673
Toronto Power, 329
Toronto Railway, 273
Torpoinc Blec. Supply Co., Ltd., 425
Torquay Tramways, 425
Tottenham District Light, Heat and Power,

112
Traction and Power Securities, 273
Tynemouth and District Elec. Traction, 005
Tyneside Tramways and Tramroads, 172, 272
Tyneside Elec. Development Co., 400

Underground Elec. Railways, 204, ,303, 327
United River Plate Telephone, 732, 762
Urban Electric Supply, 359, 457, 463
Uxbridge and District Elec. Supply, 328

Vera Cruz Elec. Light, Power and Traction,

673
Veritys, Ltd., 763
Vickcrs, Ltd., 273
Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power, 359, 763

Ward (T. W.), 328

Waste Heat and Gas Elec. Generating

Stations, Ltl.. 399
Waygood-Otis, 763

Wayne Engineering and Equipment, 606
Wemy,ss and District Tramways, 303
Western Telegraph, 303, 700
Westminster Elec, Supply, 172, 244, 303
Western Union Telegraph, 359, 487, 576
White, J. G,, 805
White (J. G.) and Co., 172
Whitehall Electric Investments, Ltd,, 425,

761
Wholesale Electrical, 606
Windermere and Di-trict Elec. Supply, 458
Woking Electric Supply, 302

Yorkshire Elec Power, 205, 210. 244, 273
Yorkshire (Woollen District) Elec. Tram-
ways, 763
Yorkshire (W. Riding) Elec. Tramways, 172,
700, 732

Zinc Corporation, 763

Companies (New Electrical, &c.) Registered.

Abrcy and Gerratt, 733

Adams, A,, 733

Adams' Silent Burglar Alarm, 675

A. H. Development Syndicate, 112

Anti-Vibration Elec. Lamp Co., Ltd., 458

A. P. T., Ltd., -274

Arco Institute, 733

Auto Electrical Services, Ltd., 274

Auto and Electrical Equipments, 397

Bedford Electrical and Radio, 764

Bennett, R,,764

Berry, Wiggin and Co,, 112

Bldetord and District Elec, Supply, 361, 519

Blackburn, W, (Kew), 733

Bombay Elec, Supply and Irani ways, 304

Bower, J, B,, 487

Boyd, John M,, 733

Brasco-Lath, 85

Brassc, Ltd,, 274

Bray, E, N,, 764

Breward Sales, 701

British Horo Electric, Ltd,, 458

British Motor fmprovements, 85

British Radiophone, 764

Building and Insulating Material, 733

Burke I'ilectrical Manufacturing, 675

Burtidept, Ltd,, 458

Bnrrell (A, G.) and Co., 53

Butler, Spragg and Co., 397

Butler, H. D., 701

CalphoH Eli'ctrical, 644

Canibriiin lOlcctrolytic Zinc, 458

Cardill Eire, licpairs, 304

Carr, G. Edward, 576

Champion (C. H.) & Co., 53

Chimes, 733

Clarke'c (Manchc^ster), 173

Clatworthy and Son, 304

Colliery Hxplosivev, 173

Coimucrcial Engineering, 733

Con' olidated Trading and IVifg,,, 207

Conveyor and Elevator (Jo,, 25

Cooncfnnd Smith, 173

Calkin and Parkinson, 8.'i

Dalgitti Electric, .'jei
Debc'M Constnietion, '207
Doniilclst)!! and Kelso. 304
Dundee Electrical Repairs, 7(14

Electric House Caffis. 487

Klectriea! liisulaMng Compositlo'i, «.'>

Elecliicltv (•( ncessions (Ireland\ (87

Elect rieo, 7«4

Elite Kleetrleinns, 361

KIworthy-Sadet, 173

Englnepring and Mercantile Co,, 'i07

Engineers ( Tenge), 397

Engineers' Supply Association (Norwich), 207
Evered, 764

Foundation Co, , 274
Fowler, John (India), 644
Freeland, White and Co,, 207
French Mutagraph, 606
Freyn, Brassert and Co,, 173

Gardner Engines, Ireland, 547

Gas and Electricity Development, 644

General Electro-Motives, 332

Gerald Cars, 143

Globe Supplies (Electrical), Ltd,, 458

Good Bros., 644

Gordon, .fames, 519

Gi'cenodd Motor Cycle, 85

Grosvenor Clark Electrical, 576

Guaranteed, Ltd,, 304

Gurnoy (S,) and Co,, 112

Hamilton, 644

Hastings, V. P. and G., 733

Haydon, H., 701

Haywards Heath and District Elec. Supply,

487
Havward Tnrbine Engineering, 675
Heinke, C. E., Ltd,, 458
Henderson and Thornton, 53
Henderson, Clifton and Co,, 304
Hill .ind Boll (Bridport), Ltd,, 458
Holes, Ltd , 576

Illuminated Identification Plate, 606

Industrial Intelligence, 207

instrument Screw, 519

Invincible Electrical Engineering, 547

Irish Automatic Telephone Installation, 207

Jesshope, Ltd,, 25

Johnson and Slater, 112

Johnson Radio, 733

,lolms()M, Siivage, 764

Jones (ClK.rl.'s), Junior, Ltd,, 173

Jowitt Engineering Co,, 428

Kay Models, 274

Kaye and Co,, 274

Kemp (H, S,) and Co,. L'71

Kilrush Elec, Lighting and Power, 458

Kiiicceesities, 207

Kinsey (J. R.) and t'o., 112

Kirhv, Jolmson and Co,, 112

Kohler. 519

L, C, Engineering Supplies, 397

Ledger, Taylor. 'r»3

Liieester Elec, Engineering, 207

I.elios Lamj) Co.. 361

Level- Protractor Engineering. t.l9

Light and Power Co.; 428

Lighting and Power Finance Corporation, 487

Loco and Auto Economy Accessories, 764

London Lamps, 361

London Magneto Repairing and Winding, 675

London Radio College, 361

Maglen, A,P,, 397

Magneto Repair and Winding, 606

McCombe, George, 606

McMichael, L,, 701

Metal Electrical Syndicate, 207

Metallisation, Ltd,, 274

Milliken Bros,, 428

Moores (James) and Co. (Sundries), 274

Motolite Dynamos, 397

Multi-Way Earthing Clip, 85

Murphy, 'T. C, 644

Natalite (South America), 25
National Signs, 274
Navlor Benzon Engineering, 675
Neon Lights, Ltd., 458
Newcastle General Supply, 173
Newcastleton Electric Supply, 606
New Electric Sign, 733
Norchard Sjmdicate, 397
North-EastService, 207
North-Western Electrical, 397
Nuttall, Edmund, 576

Olso-Light, 332
Ossorum Foundry, 207

Pace Engines, 274

Parkinson, Poison and Co., 173

Peacehaven Elec. Light and Power, 519

Peckston, A., Ltd., 458

Perfecta Electric, 361

Plant and Supplies, 487

Power and Traction Finance, 519, 522

Radio-Constructa, 332

Radio In'^truments, 733

Radiola Wireless Telephone Parts, 701

Rapson Tyre and Jack, 53

Revnard Electrical, 274

Ride and Bell, 361

Rock Safetv Gevsers, 207

Russell (J.) and Co., 25

Rassell Electrical Appliances, 576

Sadgrove (Birmingham), 644

St. Helens Motor and Engineering. 675

Seloo, I td,, 304

Serck Tubes, 361

Shoepbridge Stokes Centritngal Ca.<tings, 274

Shenton and Co,, 85

Shropshire Blec, and General Eng,, 112

Simpson, W, K,, 644

Sir William Prescott and Sons, 764
Skirving Rutherford Institute, 207
Smethurst (A.) and Sons, 25
South-Eastern and Chatham Construction

and Power, 701
Southall Engineering, .304
Specialities (Liverpool), 764
Spensers, Ltd., 428
Stamford Engineering, .576
Sterling Accessories, 53
Sturge and Baker, 547
Sugden, W. H., 764
Summers (Henry and Sons, 428
Summit Electrical, 733
Sunbeam Light, 576
Sunray, 701
Superadio, 606

Taylor, H. Cecil, 644

Teignmonth Elec. Lighting, 112

Therm-Saving Appliances, ^3

Timeproof Ferro-Concrete Railway Sleeper,

85
Trinmph Elec. Mfg., 644
Tylor Engineering Co., 606

Unipressure, 207
United Sugar Engineers, 143
Universal Postal Frankers, 675 ■
Unwin-Soar Agency, 332

Vardas ct Cie, 25
Veco, utd., 143
Verdim Cutts, 764
Vio-Ray Elec. Co., 85

Walker, A. E. (Loughborough), 207

Watson (J.) and Son (Nelson), 85

Watt Electrical, 143

Weatherlev (H. E.) and Co., 173

Webb and Wilson, 332

Welste^ids. Ltd.. 361

Welwyn Garden Citv Electricity Supply, 576

West'(J. R.l, 112

Western Rublver and Brattice Cloth. 173

Whoatlev Brothers (Aldingtons, 173

Whitelmll Electric Investments, 428

Wdsoii. R. B.. 304

Winsor En<;ineering, 547

Wirole<s .\ppliance5, 675

Woodclitf, 64 t

Woodstock Electric Light, 576

Workiuiiton Elec, Power. 361

World's Electric, 733

Wvcoml)e (Borough) Blec. Light and Power.

487
Wylie (Matthew) and Co., 304

York Sliipley, 361

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2277. [

No. I
Vol. LXXXVI

...]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1922.

Prepaid Sabscription U.K., /2 1 is.

per ann. 5

ipUonU.K., /212s. p_:__ ,
Abroa<l,/2 I4». * rice Ij-

NOTBS OF THE WeEK

1921

Pjlectric Winding- Engines and Mine Hoists. By H. H.

Brouofhton. Illustrated

An American Arc Radio Transmitter. By C. K. Leutz.

Illustrated

Recent Progress in Electric Locomotive Design. Illustrated....
Induction-Type Synchronous Motors. By Laurence H. A. Carr,

M.Sc. (Tech.). Illustrated.

Some Essentials of Aiitomatic Stokers Bv Charles Eritli,

A.M.r.Mech.E

Reviews

Correspondence

Legal Intelligence

Electricity Supply

Electric Traction

Telegraph and Telephone Note 3

Wireless Notes

Obituary

Personal and Appointments

CONTENTS.

1 Business Items, Ac

2 Educational

Institution Notes

20
30
20

ImperiH't Notes

•>^

Foreign Notes ... . ...

8
10

Latin American Engineering Progress in 921

South African Contra ts

Customs and Tariff A Iteiations

Miscellaneous

2S
■2»

1.3
16

Hydro-Electric Power in Argenti: a

Tenders Invited and Accepted

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c

23
24

16
17

New Coiiipinies

Forty Years Ago

2.5

2.>

18
19

Catalogues, Prica Lists, &c . .

Books Received . :.

Arrangements for the Week

Commercial Intelligence

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c

Patent Record

„ 26

19
19
19
20

2»>
27

Notes of the Week.

— ♦ —

An I.E.E. Commenioration.

Readers of The Electrician will be interested to hear
that the first meeting of the Society of Telegraph En-
gineers, which was held on Feb. 28, J872, will be com-
memorated by the Institution of Electrical Engineers
holding a series of functicus on dates approximately cor-
resjponding to that of the original meeting These functioais
will include the gastronomical exercise which is insieparable
from a celebration of any sort, or, in other words, the
annual dinner will take place at the Hotel Cecil on Tiiesday,
Feb. 21. To emphasise the popular appeal not only of
electricity, but of the Institution, a lecture on " Michael
Faraday and the Foundations: of Electrical Engineering "
will be delivered by Prof. J. A. Fleming on Tuesday,
Feb. 21, at 4 p.m., and will be repeated on Wednesday,
Feb. 22, at 8.30 p.m. To these lectures admission will
be by ticket, and a limited number of these will be reserved
for guests.

The Industry Historically Considered.

On Thursday, Feb. 23, matters of more particular
interest to electrical engineers will be dealt with when,
from 4 to 6 p.m., and again from 8 to 10 p.m., a number
of members of the Institution, and othersi closely eonnieoted
with the eariy development of electrical engineering, will

reminisce " and discourse on their expei'iences. The
speakers will deal Avith matters of both scientific and tech-
nical interest, as well as with the effect of legislative action
on the progress of the industry. Noi better method of cele-
bration could have been devised. The functions will be
anticipated with the greatest interest, and the Council are
to be congratulated on the way in which they have felt
the pulse of the industry in this matter. It is a great
occasion, to which we hope all concerned will do their best
to make a success by their attendance.

Scottish Electricity Supply Reorganisation.

Having made a survey of the electricity supply resources .
in the principal industrial areas of England and Wales, and

halving provisionally determined the boundaries of thirteen
electricity district®, the Electricity Commissioners have now
turned their attention to Scotland, where a start is being
made with the West of Scotland di.strict, the home of
the Scottish shipbuilding and engineering industries,
including the ciry of Glasgow, the county of Renfrew, and
parts of the counties of Ayr, Dumbarton, Lanark, and
Stirling. From the electrical point> of view, thi.si is a
moat promising area to deal with, for, apart from th©
staple industry of shipbuilding, there are important coal
mines, textile mills, engineering works and factories- in
certain portions of the district, and, although electricity
supply has already reached an advanced stage of develop-
ment, especially in Glasgow, there is room for still great er
pro'gress. The majority of the existing generating stations
are owned and operated by municipal authorities, but
there are three s'lpply companies, apart, from the Clyde
Valley Electrical Power Compaiiy ; and, as might l>e
expected, a variety of systems, pressures and frequencies.

Existing Organisation Inadequate.

We are not, therefore, surprised to learn that the Com-
missioners are not satisfied with the existing organisation^
and notify that they will hold a local inquiry. The unusually
long period of twelve montJis is allowed to the authori.-«d
undertakers and others interested for submitting
improvement schemes, including proposals for the
formation of a Joint Electricity Authority or for
altering or adjusting tlie boundaries of the district. In
view of the numerous interests involved, and particularly
when we consider the outv^tanding position of the G1a.wow
Corporation and of the Clyde Valley Electrical Power
Company, the time allowed may not be too long; at all
events, the experience gained from some of the Lancashire
and ^Midland districts proves that the technical, administra-
tive and financial details of a Joint Authority cannot be
prepared and adjusted in thiee or six months. If this is
the case where preliminary schemes have for long been
under consideration, it is the more likely to be true where
fresh ground has to be broken.

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

Electric Traction and the Designer.

In the early days of electric tractiou it was not
unjiatural that auy discussion of its qualities should be
prefaced by a statement of the advantages which its
employment would make possible as compared with the
older methods of operation. But now that electric traction
is firmly established, the same policy, unfortunately, still
too often holds, and time that might be more usefully
employed is wasted in dealing with a question which, see-
ing that human nature is what it is, must always be more
or less a matter of opinion. The time taken up by Sir
Vincent Raven in the Paper on " Railway Electrifica-
tion," which he read recently before the North-East Coast
Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, is, therefore,
welcome, both as a new departure and as an example. For,
while he discussed at some length the relative advantages
of electric and siteam traction for British railway working,
}ie went on to deal with, questions of the design of electric
traction equipment and to give full details of the electric
passenger and goods locomotives which are being built at
Darlington by British labour from British designs. As we
have pointed out before, British electric traction has up
to now depended for its development on the activity of
foreign brains. That must be changed, and Sir Vincent
Raven has shown that there is no reason why it cannot be
(^hanged.

1921.

The year 1920 was remarkable for the sharp change
from boom tO' depression w-hich occuried during its summer
months. Nevertheless the repeal of the Excess Profits Duty
gave rise to the opinion that trade would revive, probably
nlowly but none the less surely. Events in 1921 proved
that optimism unjustified. With a few exceptions the
year, industrially speaking, was the veiy worst within
living memory.

1921 in Prospect.

It is only fair to add that optimism of early 1921 was not
quite so unjustifiable as it now appears. At the beginning
of the year under review the slump had apparently reached
bottom. Government control was slackening, and, prices-
were falling. But all hopes of recovery were soon killed by
the coal strike, which, beginning on ApiU 1, lasted no fewer
than thirtieen weeks, and brought in its train an unparal-
leled amount of human suffering and industrial depression,
of which we are still feeling the effects.

A Bad Year for the Electrical Industry.

Under tlie«e conditions it is not surjori^ing that the elec-
trical industry has had far from a good year. In fact, the
best that can be said is that it has not suffered so much
as .many other industries. There has never been a com-
j)lete cessation of output, as in the coal industry, nor has
i;> reached those depths of depression which have been pre-
valent in the iron and steel industry. At the same time,
the coal strike, by cutting off a vital commodity, imposed
great expense and required much ingenuity from those
working on (ho supply side of the industry, while the
general uncertainty as regards the future has placed a con-
siderable check on development on the manufacturing side.
It is therefore not surpri.sing to find that outstanding
electrical events during 1921 have been few and far between.

The Rcort{anisation of Electricity Supply.

The passing of the Electricity Supply Act at the end of '
1919 encouraged the hope that an early reorganisation of
J he electricity supply industry would be followed by wide

developments on the manufacturing side and in the making
available for the general public a convenient commodity
whose wider use would have been equally beneficial to them
and to the electrical industry itself. Unfortunately, pro-
gress in this direction has been slow in spite of the almost
superhuman efforts of the Electricity Commissioners. These
Commissioners have now been in office for nearly two years.
They have up to new provisionally delimited thirteen of the
districts in England and one in Scotland, thus practically
covering the whole of industrial Englau.d with the ex-
ception of the North-East Coast, which, in many ways, is
already operating as an edeotricity district.

The Enquiries.

During 1921 six enquiries w^ere held into the various
schemes that were put forward for the engineering and
financial conduct of these districts, beginning with the
abortive West of England scheme in January, and m-
cludiug the Mersey and West Lancashire district, the Aire
and Calder district of Yorkshire, the North Wales and
ChestiBr district, tlie London and Home Counties district,
and the South-West IMidlanda district. In all of these,
except the West of England and South-West: Midlands, the
provisional decisions of the Commissioners have be«n pub-
lished, jjut so far little progress has been made with the
settlement of the necessary orders. Enquiries have still to
be held into' the schemes* put forward for the South-East
Lancashire, the North Lancashire and South. Cumberland,
and the East Midlands districts, while scheanee are still
awaited for the Mid-Lanes, the North-We&t Midlands, the
North-East Midlands, and the West, of Scotland districts,
in the last of which the area has only just, been delimited.

The Commissioners' Duties.

At fir^ sight, therefore, it appears unnecessary delay is
taking place in bringing about the required reorganisation,
and much criticism on these lines has been directed against
the Commissioners. The fault, however, cannot be entirely
laid at their door. The annual report of their work, which
was published in October, shows that, whatever else they
may be, they are not idle, for, in addition to their more
spectacular duties, all the other legislative work connected
with electricity supply, formerly carried out by other
Government Departments, is now undertaken by them, and
under these headings alone a large amount of official work
has been necessary tO' meet post-war conditions.

On the other hand, delay has been caused by the ina-
bility of those concerned in the various areas to reach
a decision. This has not been the fault of the engineers,
who, in nearly every case, have produced an agreed scheme.
There has, however, been a regrettable tendency on the part
of some municipalities to play for their own hands and for
their own aggrandisement rather than for the good of tli©

district,

Agreemen t.:sential.

It has been pointed out with a good deal of justice that

upon the reorganisation of electricity supply depends the

development oi" the industi-y as a whole. That development

is held in check until we know what is going to happen, and

unemployment and poor trade are the inevitable results.

Agreement with regard to this question is therefore, from

all points of view, highly desirable, and in this connection

the Commissioners themselves have set a good example,

for the decisions w'hich they have so far published show

that they are adopting a policy of compromise in nearly

every case, and that they show no inclination to favour

either a pure municipal policy or to permit the unoontrolled

expansion of private enterprise.

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

Technical Progress.

Technically speaking, progress has been slow. Exten-
sions in most places were unnecessary, the additional plant
added to meet war-time conditions being amply sufficient
to deal with the load during the past year. What will
eventually be a large station was, however, opened at
Blackburn in October, with a preliminary capacity of
20 000 kW, while the Mersey Power Company also began
operations with a station at Runcorn with a present
capacity of 25 000 kW. A new station at Sheffield, with
a present capacity of 35 500 kVA, was opened by the Duke
of York in November, though it had already been working
for some time. In many places obsolesoeint plant was replaced
by larger and more efficient machinery, as, for instance, at
Bolton, Bury, Darlington, Halifax, Hull, Salford, Sunder-
land, Warrington and Wigan; while satisfactory progress
was madei with the Barton station of the Manchester Cor-
poration, the Nechells station of the Birmingham Corpora-
tion, and the Portobello station of the Edinburgh Cor-
poration. Plans are in readiness for a large station at
Ageoroffc, Salford, and for the famous Barking station,
a start on which we hope will shortly be made. Progress
has alsoi been made in linking up the London stations,
while additional plant has been installed at Hackney, Ham-
mersmith, Marylebone, and Stepney.

Water-Power Resources.

Much attention was paid during the year to the problems
of water-power utilisation for the generation of electrical
energy. This examination was stimulated in the early
months of the year by the publication of an extraordinary
scheme by the Minister of Transport for employing the
tidal power of the Severn for this purpose. The scheme
as it stood was too grandiose and wanting in engineering
soundness to receive much approbation in technical circles,
but it is obvious that the utilisation of this source of power
is a question which must be examined side by side with
that of the eonployment of waterfalls.

The Water Power Resources Committee, which was
appointed in 1918 by the Board of Trade, published its final
report during the year, and details WQre given in a recent
is.sue. Among other important conclusions they called
attention to the necessity of discovering exactly what water
power i.s' available in Britain and how this can best be
utilised. The obstacles toi doing this are well known, but.,
at tlie same time, the difficulties with regard to present
methods of coal utilisation are, in their wdy, almost equally
profound. There are certainly cases where the employment
of water power, even when iti is situated in remote parts of
Scotland, will be an undoubted advantage. In countries
like Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, France, Spain,
India, New Zealand, Tasmania, Canada, certain parts of
the United States and South America, matters are far
otherwise. Here coal is often unobtainable, or, where a.vail-
able, is very expensive, while water power is found suffi-
ciently contiguous to industrial areas to make its employ-
ment highly desirable. For these reasons considerable
development in the use of water power may be ex-
pected shortly, and it is therefore necessary that British
electrical engineers shall be ready to play their part in
dealing with the technical problems which will arise.

Distribution and Utilisation Problems.

The public work of the Commissioners has naturally
drawn the greiatest attention to the generation side of the
electricity supply problem, but on the distribution and
utilisation side the difficulties are just as important and
equally interesting. Those responsible for electricity
supplv in most towns are faced with a growing demand
D 2

from domestic consumers and with the problem of supply-
ing that demand over an inadequate distribution system.
These conditions will .soon have to be met either by in-
creasing the copper employed in the cable network, by the
use of mercury vapour rectifiers, or by a return to the house-
to-house system of supply. As a matter of fact, all three
solutions are being employed with success in various |>arts
of the country, and it remains to be seen which will receive
the widest application.

Finance and Tariffs.

The financial devastation caused by the war has had a
disastrous effect on the fortun-* of the smaller electricity
supply undertakings, especially where these are in private
hands. To improve this a determined effort has been made
to obtain the Commissioners' consent to a compulsory two-
rate tariff. We hope this consent will not long be with-
held, as it is most inequitable that these pioneer under-
tiakings, which operate mainly in residential areas and
have never paid their promoters for the work and money
that has been sunk in them, should continue to be con-
ducted on a non-paying basis.

The question of the best t*riff for domestic purposes is
one which can only be solved locally, but in general it is
agreed that a two-part scale with a fixed charge depending
on the amount and class of apparatus installed, together
with as small a ininning charge as possible per unit, is one
which is not only most favourable to the undertaking itself,
but is likely to give the consumer most encouragement to
develop the use of domestic electrical apparatus.

The Domestic Field.

In entering 1922 it must be reiterated that it is in the
domestic field that the electrical engineer must look for
much of his success in future. It is a field that is almost
illimitable, and though as yet many difficult problems have
to be solved before it is fully developed, if electricity is
really to be an aid to civilisation, it is here that it can
give the greatest help and provide the greatest comfort.
In supply cii'cles this is now generally recognised, and
such entei-prises as the electric restaurant of the Brompton
and Kensington Accessories Company, and the interesting
and up-toi-datei showrooms and energetic business methods
displayed in such places as Newcastle and Glasgow, are
sufficient examples oi a realisation of present difficulties
and a guerdon of future success.

Electric Traction.

From the point of view of actual accomplishment, stagna-
tion was as complete in the electric ti^action world as in that
of electricity supply. The Advisory Committee appointed
by the Minister of Transport a*-, the be^uning of 1920
issued a final report in 1921, in which certain details of
the equipment were standardised. Until the latter part
of the year no schemes for the electrification of the railways
of this ccuntry were even suggested, though it was under-
stood that the North-Eastem Railway were working on the
electrification of their main line between York and New-
castle. In November, however, a number of schemes
which had been under consideration by the directorates of
the various railways saw the light, principally as a result of
the Government's proposals for dealing with unemployment
by putting in hand work which was likely to be in the
national interest. In this way we were made acquainted
with the plans of the South-Eastem and Chatham Railways
for the electrification of their London suburban lines within
a radius of 20 miles of Charing Cross, J^nd for a further
scheme for ultimately including such towns as Chatham,
Tonbridge, and Dorking within the electrified area. The

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

Loudon, Brighton and South Coast Railway also put for-
ward a scheme for the electrification of their main lines as
fai- as Ea&tbourne, while details of the proposed edectrifi-
cation of the Great Easteirn Railway's main and suburban
lines in the London area weire published. In addition to the
electrification of trunk systems the City and South London
tube railway is to be widened and connected to the London
Electric Railway at Camden Town. The Hampstead and
Highgate Railway is to be extended to Edgware, and the
Central London Railway is to be connected to the London
and South- Western Railway at Shepherd's Bush.

All these schemes, we are told, merely await the coming
of easier financial conditions. They are, in fact, a tribute
to the economic and engineering advantages of electric
traction — -advantages which are equally recognised not only
in Continental countries such as Switzerland, Austria, and
Norway, where electrification is to be pushed on as quickly
as possible, but in South Africa, India, and South America,
where comprehensive schemes have reached a stage when
work could be started at any time.

No Agreement as to System.

On the technical side no agreement has been reached as
to the best method of operation to employ. Working
results largely obtained from the United States show that
there is not much to choose, either financially or technically,
between the various systems. In this country we are now
apparently committed to high-tension direct current, but
in France and in Switzerland the single-phase system is
favoured. In most other countries no definite decision, has
be^n reached, though both India and South Africa are
following our example, and the same is true of the
Argentine and Chile.

Tramway Troubles.

It is common knowledge that the results obtained by em-
ploying electric traction on railways have been generally
mo.^. ."^atisifaotory. Unfortunately, the same thing cannot
be said of tramways, where bad finance and an uninspired
l)olicy are now bearing fruit in the generally depressed con-
dition of thesei undertakings. In an attiempt^ to ooimteraot
thisi faresi were increased, with the result in many cases of
making matters worse. So much has this been the case that
the London County Council have adopted the wise policy
of reducing their fares, and although it is a little early to
say what the result of this will be, we hope that it will be
most successful. Imi>ro.ved results are also expected from
the use of the railless trolly system, taailer cars and tiie
can-iage of parcels^ and goods. With morei attention to
improved methods, more careful finance and general re-
orgaiii.sation, a great deal can be done to put these under-
takings cm a sounder basis.

The Institution of Electrical Engineers.

The outstanding event in the history of the Institution
of Electrical Engineers during the past year has been the
granting of a Hoyal Charter. It is interesting to note that
this grant took place during the Jubilee year of the Institu-
tion. A further event of the past twelve; months was the
return to the building on Victoria Embankment, which was
ter.iporaiily vacated in 1917 owing to Government require-
ments. The war and pressure of recent events have led to
a general realisation that if the Institution is to sei-ve
electrical engineers in the best i)ossible way it can no longer
confine it.self .^lely to technical problems. It mus^t play
Its part in impressing on the Government and the people
of the oount.ry the views of electrical engineers in matters
which concern them. Its increased status should be of
great bene^t from this point of view, aaid it has made an ex-

cellent start by its representations to the Prime Minister
on the question of German reparations in kind. On the
more domestic side it has still to consider the question of
professional conduct, the admission to its ranks only of
duly qualified men, and the abuse of the term electrical
engineer by those who are not entitled either by education
or experience to apply that name to themselves. The Insti-
tnition of Electrical Engineers is now the largest and mosit
progressive of the great technical bodies in this country,
and its democratic ohai-acter was further exemplified by the
meeting which took place early in the year on the question
of inoreasing the subscriptions.

Telegraphy .

In the Diamond Jubilee issue of The Electrician we
gave an account of telegrajihic development during the past
sixty yeai-s, and it is therefore hardly necessary to deal with
the eivents of thei past twelve months except to say that both
commercially and technically progresis was satisfactory. In
siubsequent issues we shall review wireles-s telegraph and
telephone developments during the pasit twelve months and
deal with the advajices that have taken place in electrical
science.

Telephony.

In the telephone world a superficial glance would make
it seem impossible to say tliat progress in thati field has.
been great. As usual, thei'e was much criticism of Post
Office methods and much comparison of its methods and
their resrdta with, what was being done in other countries.
Nevertheless, some interesting developments took place,
notably the inauguration of the London Toll Exchaiigev
and, as in other fields, ai good deal of preliminary work has
been camed outi, which, during the coming months, should
give satisfactory resiults. Censurei was mainly directed to
administrative work, but in the discussion which took place
on Mr. E. S. Byng's Paper on " Telephone Line Work in
the United States," which was recently read before the
Institution of Electrical Engineers, the same sort of criti-
cism was ma(;ie on what the Engineering Department of the
Posti Office are doing or not doing. The unbiassed view,
however, is that, in spite of numerous difficulties, satis-
factory progress is being made. When no profit has to be
earned enterprise and self-examination are difficult. Still,
however, some advantage is being taken of improved ap-
paratus and methods, and there is no doubt that the resxilt
will be a more' efficient telephone service, if not one that
is ideal.

In the Labour World.

Disorganisation from labour disputes was less in evidence
and, except for the coal strike, its effect during 1921 was*
less serious than during the preceding two years. Though
at one time it seemed as if strikes would actually occur
among the organised engineering trades, in the tramway
industiy, and in sections of the electrical industry, for-
tunately, in every case, an actual stoppage of work was
averted, and it now seems as if the pressure of economic
conditions and the regaining of control over thedr organi-
sations by the saner elements in the trades union world
will bring about a greater emjiloyment of collective bar-
gaining, with the relegation of the strike weapon to the
background.

A Co-operative Success.

The success of Joint Industrial Councils was not equal in
all trades, but in the electrical industry the work of these
bodies was highly satisfactoiy, so much so that on at least
one occasion they were able to go outside the specific pur-
pose and as a body make representations to Government
authorities on matters which, though not directly connected

January 6, 1922

The Electrician*

with conditions of labour, were likely to have a great effect
on those conditions, if not wisely dealt with. This was
particularly the case in the representation made to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer on the proposals fhat the
Oeiman reparations should be paid in kind.

Organisation of the Middle Classes.

Another interesting development in the organisation of
workers was the recognition amongst the salaried classes
that (hey, like both employers and employed, must combine
for their individual and class good. After a good deal of
preliminary work the Society of Technical Engineers put
forward a policy which in general was greatly to be com-
mended, while smaller bodies, such as the National Asso-
ciation of Supervising Electricians and the Electrical Power
Engineers' Association, are equally concerned in maintain-
ing the status of the middle-class worker against aggression
both from above and from below.

Legal Decisions.

The past year's legal actions were above the average in
number and importance. The mosit. importajit commercial
case was the appeal to the House of Lords against a, de-
<!dsion of the Court of Appeal which pronounced the well-
known Langmuir gasfilled lamp patent of 1913 invalid
on aooount of ambiguity in the statement of claim and of
insufficiency in the directions. The appeai was heard by
a strong bench, headed by Viscount Haldane, and the re-
sult was a unanimous judgment in favour of the validity
of the patent. What^ever views may be held ol the noble
lord's capacity to expound the Einstein Theoiy, there can
be uo doubt of his ability to construe correctly ai patent
which involves the application of an absitract. principle to a
method of manufacture, and to reconcile the conilioting
interests! of law and equity. His lucid and convincing
judgment in_the gasfilled lamp case willi be read with
pleasure by those interested in patent law, and it will un-
•doubtedly be looked upon as a leading case. Another in-
teresting patent was dealt with in the application made in
March for the prolongation of the Poulgen arc patent of
1903. The history of the patent was somewhat involved.
It had expired in July, 1917, but it was only in 1920 that
the petition for the prolongation was filed. Owing to this
lapse of time and to the practical amalgamation of the
company with their rivals, the Marconi Company, the
petition was dismissed.

An Important Electricity Supply Judgment.

A judgment of tJie greatest interest, to electricity supjily
consumers was given by a. Divisional Court in November on
the appeal of the Hackney Borough Council against, a
decision of the North London magistrate. The latter had
convicted thei Council of having made default in giving a
supply of electricity to an intending consumer named Dore,
who; had had his house wired by non-union labour. In con-
sequence of tJiis the Council's jointers refused tO' connect
the house to the supply mains, and the magistrate held that
the plea of force majeure urged on behalf of the Council
failed, although he found that the ijrohahle effect, of the
dismissal of the jointers would be a strike of the whole of
the employees of the electricity department. The Divisional
Court agreed witlL,the magistrate's views and dismissed the
appeal. Throughout the case the term force maji-xire was
much discussed, but no general principle can be eixtracted
from it, and the decision of the Divisional Court is only
of limited authority. The case has undoubtedly ci^eated
a prejudice against municipal electricity supply, as well as
against the autocratic methods of the Electrical Trades

Municipal Trading and Activities

An important point in municipal trading was raised in
the action brought by the Attorney-General on the relation
of several local contractors to restrain the Liverpool Cor-
poratio'i from carrying on buainets as wiring contractors
and dealers in electrical fittings. The Coi7X)ration acquired
in 189G and 1902 two local electricity .'iupply companies
which had carried on electric wiring and fitting, and the
tra Lsfer acts contained s])ecific power to carry on this busi-
ness. Under the circumstances, the judge distingui.shed
the Leicester and Sheffield cases, which decided that a local
authority working under a provisional order had no power
to undertake wiring. He therefore dismissed the action.

In January the Stepney Borough Council failed in their
appeal again.st a judgment granting an injunction to re-
strain them from committing a nuisance by the discharge of
grit and ashes from their Limehouse power house. The
Court, felt bound by the judgment in Shelfer's'case, and tie
appeal was entered mainly with a view to a further api>eal
to the House of Lords. The case has, however, been settled
in the meantime, and the Council are now applying for a
special order to exempt them from the liability for a
nuisance in the ordinary use of the station.

In Sheppard v. Glossop Corporation, the Court of
Appeal allowed the appeal of the Corporation against a
judgment of Mr. Justice Greer, awarding the plaintiff
damages for personal injuries sustained owing to their
failure to light a lamp on private land for illuminating a
dangerous place on a public highway. The Court held that
as Sec. 161 of the Public Health Act, 1875, gave the Cor-
poration authority to light their district, but created no
obligation to do so. This decision is unsatisfactory and
has aro-used considerable criticism.

Valuation of Tramways.

The method of assessing the value of tramway buildings
in Bristol was raised in February in a special case on an
arbitrator's award. In 1875 the Bristol Tramways and
Carriage Company leased buildings from the Corporation,
and the point at issue was the meaning of " the then
value " of the buildings, which the Corporation covenanted
to pay on the expiiation of the term. The company conten-
ded that the proper value was the cost of the construction
of the buildings less depreciation, but Mr. Justice Sankey
held that the value was what anyone would pay for them
in th.e open market, and that the matter did not come under
Sec. 43 of the Tramways Act, 1870. The question of
the " then value " was also raised in the arbitr ition on
the value of the Oldham, Ashton and Hyde Electric Tram-
way, and the Court of Appeal decided that there must be
allowed as part of the then value (1) the remuneration of
the engineer, subject to depreciation; (2) interest on
capital during construction, subject or not to depreciation
according to whether the money was spent on depreciating
things such as rails, or on non-depreciating things such as
excavation work; and (3) preliminary expenses, but the
cost of raising capital was disallowed.
Obituary.

The obituary list for 1921, though not quite so lengthy
as in previous years, is sufficient indication that the pioneers
of the electrical industry are gradually passing away, and
that the after effects of the war are also making themselves
felt in a most unfortunate manner among the younger men.
We may mention among those whose lose >will be felt
by a wide circle of friends and whose work has left a
lasting impress on electrical progi-ess. Lord Moultox of
B.ANK, Sir James Pender, Dr. E. A. Bcdde, Vlx. T. E.
Gatehouse, Mr. A. E. Mayor, Dr. E. B. Rosa, and Mr
S. A. Varley.

The Electrician — January 6, 1922

Electric Winding Engines and Mine Hoists.*

Some Notes on Double Helical Gearing.

By H. H. BROUGHTON.

The author Ims collected a series of notes on the strength of helical gearing, as well as particulars of a number of individual gears, with
the idea of providing the user of such gears with data by which he can check the designs of the gearing manufacturers. In the first part
of the article published below typical calculations of the tvorking loads and a chart for determining the horse-poiver raiuig of gearing are given.

Accurately-cut solid gears of the double helical type have
played an important part in the development of the three-
phase geared winder, and in the application of the three-phase
motor to heavy engineering.

Such gears are applicable to cases involving large velocity
ratios and high speeds, and are well suited for withstanding
heavy and rapidly fluctuating loads. Denoting the maximum
permissible speed of machine-cut spur-gearing by unity, then
a double-helical solid gear may be run at a speed of 1-7, and
for a herring-bone gear the permissible speed is 2-0. The
jnaxiraum gear ratio with ordinary spur wheels is 6 : 1. With
double-helical gears a ratio of 10 or 12 : 1 may be used, and for
herring-bone gears this can be increased to 15 : 1.

then the same gear run at a pitch-line speed of 2 000 ft. per
min. will transmit 500 h.p. In other words, at the higher
speed the allowable load on the teeth is only one-halj that at
the lower speed.

A convenient expression for determining the horse-power
which a double helical pinion will transmit is that recom-
mended by D. Brown & Sons. It is of the modified Lewis
form, and reads : —

n.v.=Ph8 fiva

(1)

Strength of Helical Gearing.

It is the purpose of this article to place before the reader
in a convenient form notes on the strength of helical gearing

0020
^0-015

%o-oio

o
o

$0005

^-,

■~.

-i

— •

Fia. 1.

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Speed of Pitch -fine, Feet per Min.

-CuRVK Connecting Velocity Coefficient a h
PiTCH-iiiNE Speed &.

3500

as well as particulars of a number of typical gears. Theoretical
discussion has been eliminated in order to make room for
matters likely to be of immediate assistance to those who,
like tJK! author, have to consider proposals put forward by the
gear specialists and to give decisions upon them at short
notice. At the outset it should be mentioned that the
manufacture of double helical gearing is in the hands of half
a dozen or so specialist firms and, although the design is best
left to the specialist, the user should, lovertheless, be in a
position to make a few simple check calculations for himself,
so as to determine the relative merits of diflerent designs.

Working Load.

The safe loatl tliut may be applied to a pinion or wheel
do])en(Is upon and is proportional to the circular pitch and
width of tlie tcetli. It is also a function of the number and
shape of tlic teeth and depends upon the material of which
the pinion is made. The pitch-line speed has an important
l)caring on the allowable working load. Airhough often
nogh'ctcd, both accuracy of workmanship and ratio of maxi-
mum load and average load aie factors for which proper
allowance has to be made in order to secure durability.
Another factor to be taken into consideration is the inteT-
mittcncy of the load.

The effect of speed on the allowable load can best be shown
by means of an example. If a certain gear when running
«* a pitch-line speed of 500 ft. per min. will transmit 250 h.p!,

wherein P is the circular pitch in inches, h is the width of the
gear in inches, S is the speed of the pitch-line in feet per minute,
J8 is a constant depending upon the material, v is a velocity
coefficient, and a is a coefficient depending on the shape and
number of teeth.

Suitable values of /? are : 1-0 for cast iron ; 1-6 for phosphor
bronze ; 2-2 and 3-0 respectively for cast steel and mild steel ;
3-7 for 0-4 per cent, carbon steel ; and 40 to 5-0 for special
pinion steel.

The relation between the velocity coefficient v and the
speed is plotted in Fig. 1. The rapid variation of the
coefficient at low speeds up to 1 000 ft. per min. will be
noted. At higher speeds, from 1 000 ft. per min. to 3 500 ft.
per min. the variation is less r^,pid, but the reader is warned
against extending the curve for obtaining the coefficients for
higher speedsf than those given in Fig. 1. For winders and
haulage gears, however, the pitch-line speed of the gearing
is well within the limits given in the diagram.

Values of the tooth-shape coefficient a, between wide
practical limits, are set out in Table I.

Table I.—

Yalues of Tooth-shape Coefficient a.

No. of
Teeth.

14^deg.

20 deg.

No. of
Teeth.

Il4i deg.

iO deg.

20
21 and 22
23 „ 24
25 „ 26

0-67
0-71
0-75
0-78
0-81
0-84
0-86
0-88
0-90
0-92
0-94
0-97

0-78
0-84
0-89
0-93
0-97
100
1-03
1-06
108
MO
114
1-18

27 to 29

30 „ 33

34 „ 37

38 „ 42

43 „ 49

50 „ 59

60 „ 74

75 „ 99

100 „ 149

150 „ 209

300 „ 400

Rack

0-99
101
104
1-06
1-OS
1-10
113
115
1-17
1-20
1-22
1-24

1-20
1-24
1-27
1-30
1-33
1-36
1-39
1-42
1-45
1-48
1-51
1-54

Example. — A cast-steel double-helical pinion, running at
380 revs, per min., has 20 teeth of No. \\ diametral pitch
(2-1 in.) of 20 deg. obliquity, and is 13A in. wide. It is required
to determine the horse-power such a pinion will transmit.

Knowing the number of teeth and the pitch, the diameter
of the pinion can be found. From this diameter and the
speed, the pitch-line speed S is determined. Having found the
pitch-line speed, the corresponding velocity coefficient v is
ascertained from Fig. 1. Thus :

Diameter = 20-^li =13-33 in.

Pitch-line speed iS = 7rx 1333 x 380^12

= 1 310 ft. per min.

From Fig. 1, when 5 = 1 310 « =0006 ; /? for cast steel =2-2 ;
and, from Table I, for a 20-tooth pinion of 20 deg. obliquity
a = 1-08.

t In certain applications, outside the scope of this article, the pitch
velocity may be as much as 7 000 ft. per min.

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

Inserting these' values into equation (1) we get :

ii.p. =2-1 X 13-5 X 1 310 X 2-2 X OOOr, x 1 -08
= 530.
This figure must not be confused with the maxijiiuin allowable
horse-power. For winder .service, not only is the duty inter-
mittent but the peak load is usually about lo times the
normal load and, moreover, the peak load occurs for only
a relatively small fraction of the total running time. The
pinion under consideration would give excellent service on

the third group, applies the tooth-shape coefficient. Width
is taken into consideration in the fifth group, and material
in the sixth group. Finally, the horse-power rating is indicated
by the vertical scale on the extreme right of the diagram.
The reader should have no difficulty in constructing the
diagram for himself, and, making u.se of the figures given
in Table 1 and Fig. 1, he is advised to prepare a chart for
20 deg. involute gears.

To show how the chart is intended to be used, take, for
example, a pair of gears running at 300 and 50 rev.s. per min.

Fig, 2. — Chart for Determining the Horse-Power Eating of Double Helical Gears having 14^-peg. Involute Teeth.

ordinary winder duty for a cycle requiring a 500 h.p. motor
provided that the peak load does not exceed 700 to 750 h.p.

Chart for Determining Horse-Potver Rating.

From an inspection of equation (1) it.is evident that the form
is such as to lend itself to the construction of a simple chart
from which the rating of any pair of wheels can be read ofE
by inspection.

Such a chart for 14.1 deg. involute gears is depicted in Fig. 2.
In the first group of curves, teeth are plotted vertically and
circumferences horizontally for wheels having teeth of various
pitches. In the second group of curves, immediately below
the first group, pitch-line speeds are plotted downwards on
the first base line for the several angular speeds indicated.
The third group takes velocity coefficient and pitch into
account, and the fourth group of ciirves, immediatelv above

and having 20 and 120 teeth, 3;. -in. pitch, 20 in. wide, forged-
steel pinion and cast-steel wheel. Taking the pinion first,
a full zigzag line, marked with arrowheads, will be observed
in Fig. 2, which takes into account, progressively, each of the
constants of the pinion. This line terminates on the horse-
power scale and indicates that the pinion will transmit
1 760 H.p. The dotted zigzag line on the diagram refers to
the wheel, and on the extreme right it will be noticed that the
diagram has been extended by lengthening two of the vector*
to a and h, the horse-power rating of the wheel being 1 690.

It should be noted that the drawing from which the diagram.
Fig. -2, has been prepared is about 30 in. in length, and ia
actual use a sheet of tracing paper is pinned to the drawing,
and the rating lines arg drawn on this paper and not onthe
diagram itself.

[To he conchtdnJJ

The Electrician — January 6, 1922

An American Arc Radio Transmitter.

By C. R. LEUTZ.

This article describes a panel type of ore transmitler which has been designed by the Liberty Electric Corporation for either ship or land
nxyrk. DetaiU of a 5 kW transmitter which has been iyisfalled at the New York Radio Station, Babylon, N.y., are given. It is claimed

for this apparatus that it is much more compact than the earlier models.

I^ast November the first panel type arc transmitter was placed mechanism and returns slowty, as an oil dash-pot is provided for

on the American market by the Liberty Electric Corporation. that purpose.

Two sizes are made, 2 kW and 5 kW (input rating), adapted to Protective Devices.

either ship or land installation. Fig. 1 shows a 5 kW complete ^^ overload relay is provided in the low tension direct-current

lines for protection. In case of heavy surges the relay operates
and stops the motor generator automatically. To start the machine
again it is first necessary to open the main line switch.

Another overload relay is provided to protect the high voltage
direct-current line in a similar manner. However heavy surges
instead of shutting down the motor-generator, simply open the
generator line through the main line contactor. A blow-out
magnet is provided at the contacts of the contactor to help extin-
guish a short circuit. A field rheostat is provided to vary the
generator voltage, and can be regulated from 200 to COO V normally.
These various devices can be plainly seen on the lower panel in the
front of Fig. 1.

Another function of the arc striking relay and striking mechanism
is to place the arc starting resistor in series with the arc circuit
when the anode and cathode are struck, otherwise there would be
a dead short circuit. The striking mechanism automatically
attends to this, and after the arc is burning the starting resistor
is again short circuited. In addition to an overload relay protecting
the generator there is also a fuse in the circuit.

The Arc Chamber.

To the right centre of the panel can be seen the arc chamber,
which is a casting, in two pieces, split where the cathode is shown.
The field coils are Avound with asbestos-covered square section
wire allowing space between coils and castings for ventilation. The
upper section has one field coil and the lower section three field

Fig. 1.— .5 kW Transmitter at the New York Radio Station,
Babylon.

tiansmitter installed at New York Radio Station (W.SE) Babylon,
N.Y. Pig. 2 shows the rear view of the same transmitter. Fig. 3
gives a complete wiring diagram of the high frequency and direct-
current equipment.

Ordinarily the motor generator is self contained and mounted
within the frame at the bottom, but in the station a separate source
of high voltage direct-current is used. The panel occupies a space
of () ft. high, 2 ft. wide, and 20 in. deep, and contams all the
apparatus with the exception of the cooling waior tank and lightning
•switch, 'iho low voltage direct-current leads are confined to the
ower control panel as far as possible, the upper panel handling the
liigh potential direct-current and high frequency leads.

Sending Arrangements.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the ship's main.s are
brought to the main switch. To transmit it is only nccessarv to throw
the '' scnd-receive switch to the send position. This automaticaUy
starts the motor genemtor, closes the main line contactor, closes
the generator licld circuit and oj)erates the arc strikin;.' mechanism
through an arc .stiiking relay. This arc striking relay has a current
coil and a potential coil. Tlie potential coil first operates, drawing
the anna ur(> and working the auxiliary contacts, which, in turn
operate the mechanism wliich strikes tlie arc mechanically As
soon as the arc is .stru..k. current i^asses through the current coil
of the relay drawing (he ainiature on the op^iosite side and releasin.^
the arc-striking mechanism. Jt is obvious that if the arc does not
.stay Ignited, current will .stop Mowing through the current coil
of the relay, the ])otential coil will operate again, and the
performance roi)eated over and over again until the arc stavs
igmted. Ihe carbon cathode can be regulated for distance "in
relation to the co|)per anode while the relay is in operation The
cathode IS drawn to (he airode very (luioklvbv the electro-magnetic

•Fig. 2, — A Rear View of the Transmitter.

coils; all these are connected in series. To the left may be seen
the poppet valves which protect the arc chamber from explosions
and the pipe running to the })ressure regulator wliich keeps the gases
in the arc chamber at a constant pressure and insuring a stead\
Hame. The motor which drives the \\ater circulating pump also
drives the cathode rotating mechanism through worms and worm

Jarnmry 6, 1922

The Electrician.

gears. The cathode makes one revohition in three secondH and
keeps the tip burning off even. The catliode is earthed to the arc
chamber. The anode is, of course, insulated from the chamber
and consists of a sohd copper tip inserterl in a larj^e copper tube.
A smaller coj)per tube s(iuirts a steady stream of cool water into the
inside of the tip, and the water returns through the larger tube.
From there the water is circulated through a duct making one
complete turn around the arc chamber ; this duct is cast right in
the chamber. The water then returns to the to]) of the cooling
tank and back to the centrifugal pump. The cooling tank holds
appro.ximately 2 cub. ft. of water, and during the winter alcohol is
mixed with the water to prevent freezing, and, of (course, salt
water can never be used as it would short circuit the anode to
earth through the rubber connecting hoses carrying the salt water.

To maintain the arc steadily and prevent bubbling in addi-
tion to the field magnets, alcohol is fed into the arc chamber and
quickly vaporises, giving a supply of hydro-carbon, and, besides
making the arc very steady, allows a greater amount of power
to be handled, in some cases as much as 50 per cent. more.
The hydro-carbon supply is automatic, as the alcohol valve is

Ships' Afains

J") turns. A compeiLsating inductance is aWj provided for clofl«
adjustments. Referring to the wave-change switch, it will be noted
that there are two positions of each wavelength. When the .switch
is on a half-way tap, the compen-sating inductance is thrown into thf
circuit and the wave length adjusted clow-ly, using the lower wheel
on the panel. The switch is then returned to the pemian'-nt
])Osition and a permanent lead .substituted in exactly the same
place as the variable contact was on this compen.sating inductance
This inductance can be seen in the rear view, and con/<iot3 of a sjjtral
of copper strip at right angles to the main inductance.

Th usual wave lengths are 600, 1 800, 2 100, and 2 400 ni.
To provide a decrement for the CCK) m wave length, allowing
reception with a non-oscillating receiving circuit, a rotarj- modu-
lator is used. This consists of a motor-driven commutator whi* h
has every sixth bar short-circuited. The two brushe« from this
commutator run to a three- turn loop of inductance which Ls coupler!
to the main inductance. When the loop is short-circuited
periodically, the resultant note is approximately 400 cycles, the
wave length is thrown off about 7' per cent., the decrement is very
small and gives extremely sharp tuning. The modulator is provided

Lightning Sw.

Antenna

Ljow ^ Absorbing
Power Coodenser

r Fesh

'star

^--.'i'ing
Resistor

cj Absorbing

Earth

Arc Striking Mech'^

Earth

Lower Series
Field Coil

Earth

Fi(j. 3. — Wiring Diagram of the Equipment.

controlled electro -magnetically when current flows to the arc
electrodes, likewise when the arc is shut down the supply of alcohol
is stopped and the chamber does not flood.

The Absorbing Circuit. -

' This transmitter was designed to have no compensating wave
and an absorbing circuit was used. This consists practically of
an artificial antenna, having approximately the same characteristics
as the ship's antenna Avith which the transmitter was installed. A
special two-way key was provided, in the down position connecting
the arc to the antenna and in the up position connecting it to the
absorbing circuit. It is, of course, obvious that when this key is
working the centre contact must never be disconnected from both
the antenna and absorbing circuit, or the arc would go out. In
other w^ords, when passing from the absorbing circuit to the antenna
the centre contact first touches the antenna contact and then leaves
the absorbing circuit or lower contact. The potentials at this point of
the circuit are not very high, being of the order of 3 000 V, and easily
broken with a jL in. gap. With proper adjustment of the arc there
is no flaming over at the contacts. The key is operated electro-
magnetically, but an auxiliary handle protrudes through the panel
for hand operation in case of an emergency. The absorbing circuit
consists of a mica condenser, resistor bank of heavy ciirrent carrying
capacity, and an iron plate resistor, so that the characteristics of
the circuit can be varied to allow the same power consumption
on the absorbing circuit as on the antenna. In practice, this can
be made exactly the same in both positions, and there is no variation
in the meter readings when sending, except possibly in the antenna
cuirent.

Main Inductance.
The main inductance consists of heavy Litzendraht nearly .' in. m
diameter. This is bankwound in three layers and in sections ot

with a special starting device, and it is impossible to short-cucmt
the loop without having the motor riuining. Three meters are
provided : a 0 to cOO voltmeter to read the generator voltage ; a 0 to 30
direct -current ammeter, which is in the generator arc electrode
circuit, and a 0 to 30 radio frequency ammeter to read the ..ntenna
current. In practice with a o kW installation, 20 A is a fair
antenna current at 1 800 meters on an antenna having a high
frequency resistance of 5 O at that wave length.

In case it is desired to run the motor generator while receiWng.
a holding-switch is provided which keeps the machine running
even, though the antenna switch is thrown to the receive position.
It is also possible to close the generator field switch and arc-striking
device from the panel independent cf the antenna switch contact&.
This transmitter is considerably more compact than eark models,
and is gaining great favour with the steams'iip companies. The
Avriter will be glad to give European engineers any additional data
they may be interested in. *

The cuneut number of the Industrial League and Council Journal
contains a special article hy Lord Burniiara on " The CovrNG or .nn
Industrial World P.^rli.ament." Lord Burnham, who presided at
the International Labour Conference held at Geneva, quite frajik'y
admits that tilings which during his thirty years' ex{H>rieuce -n
a Member of rarliament he regarded as impossilile in his time ar*
coinin>i- to pass if only good sense and good temper prevail on those
issues'^which are not vital in a political sense, but vital having
regard to the well-being of humanity and tlie inipn-vement of sociai
conditions not only in Europe, but m all the continents which are
now bein;^ brought" so much closer t(\s:;ether in industrial competition.
He predicts tliat in the Internal iouai Lal>our Conference, by reason
of it beincj so democratic in character and representative of Capita,
and Labtmr, there are the germs of a world-wide parliament of
industrv.

The Electrician — January 6, 1922

Recent Progress in Electric Locomotive Design.

This article, which is an abstract from a Paper read hy Sir Vincent Raven before the North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and
Shipbuilders, is principally interesting from the details it gives of the electric freight and passenger locoynotives which are now being built
for the North-E astern Kailway. Comparative tests between the latest type of heavy goods steam locomotive and the electric locomotives used
on the Shildon and Newport line arc also given. These tests indicate that the electric engine handled the load more economically than the

steam, and in other ways was more advantageous.

In the course of a Paper on " Railway Electrification " read before
the North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders
last Friday, Sir Vincent Raven, chief mechanical engineer of the
North-Eastern Railway, said there was a great advantage in being
able to build a locomotive which, by its tractive effort, would keep
a more even speed over the railway. In order to do this it was neces-
sary to design a machine which would give the power required
within the limits of the present load gauge. He showed the difficulty
of increasing the power of a steam locomotive without exceeding
present limits, though an electric locomotive capable- of exerting
a pull of 15 tons which would haul a train of 1 000 tons up a gradient
of 1 in 100 at 30 miles per hour would fall within the limits. Although
electric traction would not get over the difficulty of dealing with
larger coaches, it would therefore overcome the difficulty of design-
ing more powerful locomotives without increasing the gauge.
Continuing, he gave some details of the design of electric freight
and passenger locomotives for the North-Eastern Railway and of
comparative tests between them and steam locomotives which
have recently been undertaken. i < ; K2 v v_ Is'-J^a^ 'sfe'^rs!

Modern Electric Freight Locomotive.

The electric freight locomotives on the North-Eastern Railway
are arranged to haul trains weighing 1 400 tons at a speed of not less
than 25 miles per hour on the level. They may be described as
articulated truck locomotives in which the tractive effort is trans-
mitted through the truck frames. The motor equipment of each
locomotive Consists of four totally-enclosed motors, each driving
an axle through single reduction twin gearing. The motors are
suspended by means of a cross beam suspension bar with bearings
and reaction springs. These, with the motor suspension bearings
on the axle, provide the motors with four points of suspension.

The four main motors are fitted two on each bogie, and are wound
for 750 V each, the pair of motors on each bogie being connected
permanently in series. The four main motors of each locomotive
thus form two units, which are controlled on the usual series parallel
system. Each motor is capable of developing 275 b.h.p. at a
speed of 20 miles for one hour with forced ventilation. The motor
equipment is capable without injury of exerting a torque sufficient
to skid the wheels on any conditions of rail, and will exert an
average pull of 28 000 lb. at the tread of the wheels when starting
under normal conditions of rail. The maximum pull at the tread
of the wheels is, of course, considerably greater than this. The
driving wheels are eight in number, measuring 4 ft. in diameter ;
wheel arrangement, 0—4 -f 4 — 0 ; length of fixed wheel base 8 ft. 9 in.
per truck ; total of both trucks 27 ft. There are four axles and the
total weight is 75 tons. The horse-power of motor for one hour'
rating is 275, and for continuous rating, 182. This design of loco-
motive appears to be generally suitable for dealing with goods
and mineral traffic up to the necessary speed.

Equivalent Steam Locomotive.

The latest type of lieavy mincM-al and goods steam locomotive
built on the North-Eastern Railway in 1919, usually known as the
" — 8 — 0 class, is a thn^e-cylinder engines with 200 lb. l)oilcr pressure.
It has a maximum tractive; effort at 85 per cent, boiler pressure of
41 070 lb. or ] 8-3 tons. Weight on coupled wheels, 71 tons, 12 cwts.
Total weight ready for running, 115 tons, 14 cwts. This engine
was brought before the public "^by trials carried out on the North
British Railway, between the Jiridge of Earn and Glenfarg, where
a load of 755 tons was hauled up a gradient of 1 in 75 at an average
siM>ed of 12-8 miles an hour, through a distance of 7 miles.*

Comparative Tests.

Some trials have been mad(> between this engine and the electric
locomotive. The^ were carried out on the Shildon and Newport
fine with the followmg results : The heaviest gradient was 1 in 103,
and the total weight hauled in each case was 1 003 tons, as
shown m the accompanying diagram. These tests were arranged
with a dynainonu'ter car attached to the load a.a follows: (1) A
through run without a stop; (2) three stops at «ie bottom of the
luvivicst grathent ; (3) made with three stops with the whole train
np on the heaviest gradient. The results arc shown below :

Average
Steam. Electric. Draw Bar Horse Power.

,,. . Steam. Electric.

ULstanco .. .. 17J juilea 17.V

1 at Test (time) . . 5()J minutes 54" 862 870

i;"^ " .. ••77' „ 53 602 883

•^'•d •• "••.6? 66 ;682_ 716

* Full details of these trials were give i in the ''Railway (Gazette,"'
September 9th, 1921.

The relative maximum strength of the two engines is in proportion
to the weight on the driving wheels : Weight on drivers of electric
locomotive, 75 tons ; weight on di'ivers of steam locomotive, 72 tons.
It will be seen that the two are practically equal so far as adhesive
force is concerned, and the adhesion determines the maximum possible
pull. The turning effort of the motors on the electric locomotive
produces tractive effort up to the limit permitted by the adhesive
weight. In the case of the steam engine, the steam pressure, acting
on the piston, produces similar results.

It may, therefore, be said that the two locomotives were designed
to be of equal strength. From the tests made, it will be seen that the
electric locomotive handled the load better than the steam ; there was
less time taken. The steam engine was not able to maintain itself;
owing to the fact that it was not able to keep up steam. The fire
had to be cleaned out after the second trip, consequently terminal
time was wasted. The electric locomotive, after completing the three
trips, could have gone on doing this work indefinitely.

Electric Passenger Locomotive.

The North-Eastern Railway have also designed an electric
passenger engine which is being built and erected in their Locomotive
Works at Darlington, the electrical equipment being provided by
the Metropolitan-Vickers Company. This engine is arranged to
haul a 450-ton express passenger train at an average speed of 65 miles
jjer hour. The running gear is designed for a maximum safe speed
of 93 miles per hour, without doing damage to the mechanical portion
of the locomotive, which is of the 4 — 6 — 4 tj'^pe, and consists of main
frames mounted on three driving axles with three pairs of driving
wheels 6 ft. 8 in. in diameter, and a four-wheel bogie at each end ;
cab and sloping ends are rigidly fixed to the main frames, and are
provided with the necessary supporting members for carrying the
auxiliary and control equipment. The current is collected from
the overhead trolley by means of pantagraphs mounted on the roof
at each end of the centre compartment.

The main traction motors, which are of the twin armature type,
are rigidly fixed to the main frame of the locomotive, and transmit
the torque to a gear wheel mounted on a hollow shaft or quill
drive. The high tension apparatus is located in one of the sloping
ends ; the other sloping end contains an electric boiler for supplying
steam for train heating. The capacity of the locomotive will be
1 810 H.p. one hour rating, or 1 260 h.p. continuous rating.

DISCUSSION.

In the course of the discussion on the above Paper, IMr. Roger T.
Smith (Electrical Engineer, Great Western Railway) said that the
electric passenger locomotive referred to in the Paper, now being
buUt at Darlington, was the first passenger locomotive to be con-
structed for running at a speed of above about 65 m.p.h. The
comparison of steam and electric locomotives undouJ)tedly left a
large balance in favour of the latter, but it was necessary for each
railway to consider its own case. The pooling of electric locomo-
tives would be essential if full advantages of their uicreased
running time were to be obtained. With an electric passenger
locomotive it was possible to obtain an annual mileage of from
40 000 to 60 000 miles, whereas a steam passenger locomotive
mileage never reached 30 000 mUes. In the case of freight locomo-
tives, the annual mileage of steam locomotives was more than
doubled with electric locomotives. The power of an electric locomo-
tive was only limited by the temperature of the motors, and its
overload capacity could, therefore, be utilised considerably to
increase the average train speed. The practice of direct coupling
or gearing the motors to the axles had been standardised in this
country because it had been found less troublesome and much
cheaper than the connecting-rod design. The latter design was
developed because the use of a single-phase a.c. sujiply necessitated
larger motors than could be accommodated between the wheels on
the standaid gauge. The strength of the present standard draw
gear imposed a limit on the power of the locomotive, in view of
which locomotives were not likely to be required of more than
1 500 to 2 000 H.r. for many years, and, with this size, it wae an easy
matter to accommodate the motors in the space available between
the wheels. On the North -East coast a cheap supply of electricity
could be obtained. The North-Eeuitern Railwaj^ were, therefore,
in a favourable position to consider electrification, which it was
to be hoped would soon be proceeded with.

Mr. J. Dalziel (Midland Railtvay) agreed that electrification
would make enormous savings on running, maintenance, and
operating costs, but it was difficult to show sufficient advantage to
wari'ant the present capital costs of conversion. Undoubtedly there
were many direct savings which would be effected which it was

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

difficult to eatimato, but it was necessary to proceed with caution.
The direct or gear drive was much preferable to the connecting-rod
drive, and it was much less complicated. It was difficult to see the
object of converting the rotary motion to reciprocating motion
and then back again. With a d.o. system it was possible to use

a 750 11. p. motor to drive direct or through gearing one axle, whilst,
with single-phase a.c, a 6(KJ n.v. motor could he so accommodated.
The use of single-phase h.q. was not the sole cause for the dev< lop-
ment of the connecting-rod drive, because gear-driven locomotive'^
were already operating on single-phase a.c. on American railway*^.

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The Electrician — January 6, 1922

Induction-Type Synchronous Motors.'

In this Paper the author comparer the characteristics and ^ con
polyphase motors. He deals
mena which occur. A math
considerations

Thp correction of the power factor of a system, to a value
annroacMnr unity has attracted much attention. Owing to
SnThkh capital costs, it is necessarj- to utilise existing cables
to tte fulfest extent bv obtaining currents as nearly as possible "i
nha^ S h the pressure. The induction -t>-pe sj-nchronous motor
whtct f^ilitates^power-factor correction, and has also good starting
characteristics, therefore ments attention.

Theory of the Motor.

This motor is essentiaUv an induction motor coupled to a d.c.
.xrSer. Ttl^ Parted up as an induction motor. When the exciting

LAURENCE H. A. CARR. M.Sc. (Tech.).

struction of the induction type synchronous motor uHth those of other

current is switched on it synchronises itself and then run.s as a
synchronous machine whether the machine operates as an induction
motor or as a synchronous machine ; both stator and rotor must
carry " power currents " proportional to the torque ; also a magne-
tisring current must Ije carried by either stator or the rotor, or by
Ijoth. In the induction motor the secondary carries only power
current, which current automatically increases with load, providing
within limits a certain overload capacity.

In the synchronous motor the secondarj- may carry both the
'■ pfjwcr current " and a part or the whole of the magnetising
current ; an over-magnetizing current giving a leading component
to the primary current may even exist. The secondary current
ill this case, however, in controlled by external means, and does
not increase automatically on overload, which must be met by the
normal full-load excitation in either of two ways.

The economical method is to nin the motor normally at a leading
|K^)Wi'r fa'-tor of about 0-9, thus utilising the extra excitation to

Time in, second:
OOI O-02 0-03 CKM 0-O5 0 06

fo- the n3ces8ar>' overload capacity, the same exciting member
has to be used in each case.

Comparison with Other Types of Machines.

The principal advantage of the sviichronous induction moKji
over the plain sjTichronous motor Ues in its starting characteristic.
The s\-nehronous motor with damper windings for starting will
only start against 40 to 5^) per cent, of full-load torque, and even
then requires a large current at a low power factor for an appreciable
time. The synchronous induction motor starts from rest like an
induction motor and easily synchronises itself almost instanta-
neously against full load or over.

Compared with the corrected induction motor, i.e., the induction
motor Ctted with a phase advancer or vibrator, the synchronous
induction motor possesses . the following advantages :

(a) It may be corrected not merely to unity power factor, but
to a leading power factor, for which it is even more suitable.

{h) It delivers a leading component of current, which increases
slightly as the load decreases ; whereas with a corrected induction
motor the power factor lags as the load decreases, until at no load
the motor takes as much lagging current as a plain induction motor.

(c) The action of a phase advancer increases the slip, but the
synchronous induction motor runs at constant speed ; it has zero
slip.

(d) The sj-nchronous induction motor commutates low-voltage
d.c. instead of a.c. in the case of the phase advancer or vibrator.

In the original Paper the author iUu.strates, by a vector diagram,
the advantages of the svTichronous induction motor with leading
power factor.

Construction.

Two different tyjies of motor are at present made, both involving
a standard induction-motor stator, with semi-closed slots, and
either concentric or diamond winding.

In one t j-pc the rotor is of the three-phase type with barrel winding

-lo

Fi.K 2.

correct the power factor of other parts of tke system. The
iin<fiinomical method i.s to increase the air-gap of the machine,
iliii- wi-iinii the excitation by using it to drive the flux through
ilii.s ill' :i isfd air-gap. This method has a further disadvantage
in a synchronous induction motor. It impairs the performance
of the ma<iune as an induction motor during the starting period,
since the ni.ignetising current drawn from the line is increased.
Am a rule there will be little diflereme in first cost between a
-\ IK hi i;iiMis induction motor iirnmged for unity power factor and
uir itr.nii.d for ()-ft leading jHnv<T factor, since, in order to allow

♦ Abstract of Papor read before the InatitutioD of Electrical
Knifinecrs.

of diamond-shaped coils. Two or four bars per slot may be used,
but in manv cases a higher exciUtion voltage is provided .>v
winding the rotor with diamond coils each containing several
turns of rectangular wire. In this case the slots are of the fully
open tvpe. It is usual to make all the conductors of the same size.
When' running synchronously this three-phase winding has an
exceedinglv good damping effect.

In the other tvpe, the main rotor winding consists of concentne
coils of flat copper ribbon wound in open slots, covering alxnit
two-thirds of the rotor periphery. This may be the only winding,
the rotor thus being single phase, or the remaining third of the
rotor peripherv is wound with a second phase of reduced cross-
section for starting. In both types each motor has its own exciter.

Starting and Synchronising.

S>-nchronous induction motors readily start up with a resistance
in the rotor circuit and are capable of accelerating against from 2
to 2^ times full-load torque. The self synchronising feature of these
machines is their only unusual characteristic, and they can exert
a large torque while synchronising.

When direct current is switched on the machine devotops torque
as a synchronous machine. As the rotor slips back through a pole-
pitch, this torque is alternately motoring and generating, and

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

beiow synchronous spt'od there exists in the rotor un induced
alternating current varying h)Oth with time and the speed of the
rotor. The resulting varjing torque must be added to the sj-n-
chronous torque to obtain the total torque {see Fig. 1). With a
cylindrical rotor, the synchronous torque is a sine wave (curve A),
tiie fluctuating induction torque is represented by curve B, and the
sum of curves A and B gives the total torque C. If the coastant load
torque is plotted above the datum line D, the difference between
'•urves C and D (shown cross-hatched) gives the torque causing
Acceleration and deceleration of the moving masses. The variation
in speed produced and the slip are shown by E. The mean speed
occurs with maximum synchronous torque, so that only ha!f of the
positive lobe of the torque curve is available for acceleratiou above
mean speed. In Fig. 2 the speed curve is transferred to a time
basis. If the mivchine is to synchronise, the oscillation must be
large enough to allow the rotor to swing right up to synchronous
speed. The position of the rotor relative to the synchronous field
at the moment of switching on the excitation has an influence on
the commencement of the oscillation and on the sequence of the
phenomena. The worst case in practice is that in which the mean
speed is passed through when the synchronous motoring torque

200 300 ^OO 500

Output ir> >i.0r3e-pcwei-
Fio. 4.

is a maximum. If the machine will synchronise under these con-
<litions it will always synchronise.

This case is accordingly assumed in subsequent calculations.
A diagram is presented for a motor ha\lng constants similar to
those assumed in Fig. 1, but lower rotor resistance givir^ 2^ per
cent, slip at full load. The conditions are considered in the original
Paper in detail. Fig. 3 is interesting as showing a speed curve
when the initial slip is 1^ per cent., and indicates how quickly the
oscillation occurring after synchronous speed is reached dies down.

Limit of Synchronisation.

In the subsequent section of the Paper the limit of synchroni-
sation is considered. This is illustrated in Fig. 4. The curve of
speed is cisymptotic to synchronous speed, the machine synchro-
nising after an infinite time with a pole-lag such that synchronous

¥0-4

o
ij
u
<i 0-8-

% -

S 0-8

0-©

I-

100 200 300 -too

Output m horse-powei

Fig. 5.

torque is just equal to load torque. A mathematical expression
for the condition is derived in the appendix to the original Paper,
namely :

where a> is the limiting slip in mechanical radians per second ;

T^ is the maximum torque in pound-feet exerted as a s\-nchronous
motor with the excitation considered, i.e., torque correspond-
ing to maximum " synchronising kilowatts " ;

I is the moment of inertia Wr^ g in pounds, feet, and seconds ;

<p is the mechanical angle of lag of the rotor pole from the
maximum-torque position, measured in radians, when it is
exerting a torque equal to T^, i.e.,

<f> = {hpl arc cos {T,TJ
» here p is the number of pairs of poles and T, is the steady load torq«e
in poond-feet.

■ Result.s of practical tests confirm tii'. , ; ,, „uuting aiip

calculated from the formula. Fig. .5 gives the performance cur\'e»
of a :i .'{M) V three-phase 5>> p«,-riod 28 ) H.P. motor.

Owing to increa.sed If-akaee single-phase rotors giv'j rather lew
starting torque than that obtained with a three-phasr ro*'-'- T'^, f
is also a marked drop in torque at half-synchr •
rotor starting resistance is cut out Ux) rapidly t\.
" hang " or " crawl " at half speed. It is, however, oni\ H'-
to switch in some resistance to enable the motor to pick up
aga'n. Motors can Ix; arTange<I for any dcsirwJ pull-out t'
7.5 to W) per cent, overload being an economical figure for a n.
with a leatiing power factor of 0'9. The pull-out torque for a niif mw
running as synchronous motor may be increased by extra excitation.

Control and S^ritchgear.

Each motor is provifltd with its own exriter. The author, in
the original Paper, shows in .skeleton form the usual arrangement' of
switches and control for various types of secondarj- windiii;.».
The sequence of operations is as follows: (I) The main switch i»
closed. (2) The rotor starting resistance is gradually cut out and
short-circuited. (3) The rotor circuit is momentarily intcrr . '
(4) The rotor circuit is closed on the exciter. (.3) The c.\
current is adjusted, if neces.sary, to give the desired leading :
factor. A special single switch has been designed to provi'
right sequence of operations with single-phase motors,
three-phase motors switchgear is built up of standard app
compri.5ing liquid starter, rotor change-over switch exciter -
regulator, &c. It is usual to fit interlocks on both starter and
change-over switch so that the main switch cannot be changed unless
these are in the starting position. Automatic starting by con-
tactors has also been applietl.

Inverted Machines.

Inverted machines, i.e., with supply connected to the rotor and
the stator used as secondary have been developed and have certiiin
advantages. The efficiency with 0'9 leading power factor is only
slightly (about 1 per cent.) below that of a plain induction motor.
The cost would, however, be about 2.5 to 4*) per cent, higher. In
view of the power-factor correcting properties of the motor, it is
ver>' suitable for u.se with continuous but varying loads. Amongst
drives favoured are compressors, pumps, fans, &c. ; also the driving
of generators, line shafts, &c. Although machines of 60 H.P.
have been put into commercial use the chief field is for sizes from
1.50 H.p. upwards. The largest at present in use appears to be
1 12.5 H.P., though there is practically no limit to the size.

DISCUSSION.

In opening the discussion in London Dr. S. P. .""MIth suid it
was not clear whether the advantages of the svnchronous induction
motor were due to the large starting torque or to the hish f
factor. It still, however, possessed the fundamental disadvan' . -
of the ordinary induction motor, small air gap. and the low vi
commutator. The latcer trouble could be overcome to -
extent by using series parallel arrangements, but the rotor on thf
induction motor had inherently a fairly low resistance, so that
the same satisfactory design for the exciter as on the s\-nchri ■ "
motor could never be btained. An alternative to the indn
motor excited by continuous current was the s\Tichronous u.
with salient poles wherein the cross flux became roughly equal t'>
the main flux and gave a good starting torque, while liminainj
the rotor circuits allowed the pulsating flux to traverse the '
circuit. Another alternative was a salient pole machine w-
ver\- wide polar arc and a low resistance damping winding, and
the rotor connected through the slip rings to a resistance during
starting. A second set of slip rings were used for exciting tiie
winding. He wondered whether Mr. Carr had studied the trTt. i
e>f pulling the rotor out of s\Tichronism to rather a slow ~ !

then finding out how it behaved with direct ciurent ■
The salient pole type of motor would run up to speed ai: 1 ^» 'ui't
synchronise itself, but it might not pull in correctly.

The Economies of Po*rer Factor Improvement.

Mr. H. M. Sayeh.*; said that the authors methods would lead to
an improvement in the power factor, a matter which was of out-
standing importance at the present time. On the other hand, a
purchaser would want to be con\inctHl that the improved power
factor woidd off set the 33 per cent, increase in cost. The commu-
tator was another disadvantage, and it followed as a result that
these machines were hardly commercial in sizes below H» r.p.
In his opinion the use of condensers for power factor *i '■' : '-•
further considered. He ol>jected to the employment by •
of ■■ designer's shorthand,'" and also to the title, which he c
a contradiction in terms. A synchronous mo e^r was not an induction
mo or.

A Comparison of Methods.

Mr. \V. E. BcBNAM) poiiited oat tliat while the author's motor
was cheaper than a non-sj-nchronous motor with a phase advancer.
its sphere was limited by the fact that it was synchronous, so that

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

if the load pulled out of aynchrooism there would be bad effects
on the line. It was also more expensive than the ordinary
synchronous machine, while botli its efficiency and pull out torque
were lower. Like any other synchronous machine there was a
severe rocking when it pulled into sjTichronism. On the other
hand it could start at full load. The author was a little lukewarm
towards phase advancers which he (Mr. Burnand) thought could be
imj)roved so that a shunt characteristic was imposed on the top
of tlie usual series characteristic, thus giving a perfect power factor
compensation over the whole range on load.

Supporters of the Motor.

Mr. M. Ayres criticising Dr. Stanley Parker Smith said that the
history of the machine was sufficient guarantee of its future. Its
success was in fact due to its high power factor and starting torque.
The machine had a considerable compound characteristic, and, with
a certain amount of overload, a power factor of unity could be
obtained. Motors of the type dealt with were made in many
designs, and at least two patents had been taken out which proposed
to leave the exci er in circuit during stirting. He did not agree
with Mr. Carr that the exciter voltage and currents were dis-
concerting factors. Figures given by the author were not of general
application and the cost of such a motor should not be anything
Hke 33 per cent, in excess of the equivalent in induction motors.

Mr. J. H. Johnson thought that the advantage of the motors
described by Mr. Carr chiefly resided in their high power factor, ^■nd
he gave examples showing how an expenditure of about £500 on
new feeders had been avoided by their use. To say that they cost
33 per cent, more than the induction type motor was to give too
high a figure ; the increase might not be more than 3 or 4 per cent.

Mr. W. M. Selvey confirmed Mr. Johnson's opinion that the
troubles which speakers had suggested might occur with these motors
were not generally experienced.

The Author's Reply.

The Altthor, in reply, rather damaged his reputation as an
original inventor by saying that the motor was of quite an old
type, and that the Paper ought to have been read six or seven
years ago. He thought that high starting torque was the thing
to go for in the design, as improved power factor could be obtained
just as well by other means. It was usual for the air gap in these
machines to be sUghtly larger than in an ordinary induction motor.
The answer to Mr. Sayers' question as to whether it would pay
the customer to give 33 per cent, more for his machine in order to
get a leading power factor depended upon the sort of tariff available.
He did not thmk anyone had yet experienced trouble from the
rocking strain to which Mr. Burnand liad referred.

Manchester Discussion.

Mr. L. H. A. Carr's Paper was also read and discussed in Man-
chester, and we give below an account of the various speakers'
remarks.

Mr. E. P. Hill said that tlie synchronous induction motor scored
over the ordinary synchronous motor on account of the additional
starting torque and because the combined induction motor and
synchronous torque gave a pulsating effect about mean induction
motor speed which enabled it to be pulled into step. With reference
to inverted machines, he asked whether the starting performance
would be improved by constructing the field system with polar
spaces. The low core losses of the synchronous induction motor
warranted further investigation. A bibliography would be useful
to students.

Should Power Engineers Bear Part of Cost ?

Mr. A. B. Mallinson tliought that the machine would be installed
where big poM'cr users who made their own power had cables
overloaded due to low power factor, and wl ^,ie supply authorities
coMipelled power users to improve the power factor. He suggested
that su])ply authorities should encourage users to instal these
machines by reducing tlie power bill to the extent of the slightly
higher efficiency incurred, and by meeting the difference in cost
between this and an ordinary induction motor.

Mr. (i. A. JuiiLiN cited a case in which a roUing mill under-
cistnnated the amount of power taken by an induction motor, and
thus reduced the power factor below the guaranteed figure of O'S.
An exciter was added and on running the machine a? a synchronous
uiductiou motor the power factor was brought to 0-9 "leading, for
which the clic-nt should have had a rebate from the sn;..p]y company.
The air gap of the ordinary induction motor was less than that "of
the synchronous type, and this was the answer to criticism of the
snuUl air gap of the latt(>r. He would have liked a comparison
between the mduction motor with condensers and the synchronous
induction motor. He believed the latter would show a savincr in
Irrst cost and space occupied. °

Rotor Widcnings.

.Mr. W. Stanskik.li), in a written contribution, said that syn-
chronous mduction motors hacV been made in this country "for
thirteen years. For some duties 0-8 lepding power factor was
as high as it was desirable to go, and for others 0-9 was quite

suitable ; but as low a figure as 0'3 leading had been obtained. For
1 )W starting torque, where damper windings were not required,
plain single phase winding was applicable. For high starting
torque without damper windings the rotor could be wound for
two phases out of three, with no winding in the pole portion of the
core, the motor being provided Avith three slip rings and starting
as a two-phase motor.

Mr. V. Mallalieu said that some industrial users had put in
ordinary synchronous motors for power factor connection, and he
thought it would pay much better to instal a machine which would
correct power factor and also do useful work as a motor. Some
systems had very low power factors, for which oversize and slow-
speed motors were responsible in some cases. The systems of
charging for power were out of date.

Mr. Browning asked for further information on the effect of
damping and thought that power factor should not be allowed to
become low, and Mr. D. S. Paxton commented on the absence of
power engineers. ..

Cheapeniag the Synchronous Induction Motor.

Mr. R. TowNEND compared the salient pole machine with the
induction synchronous type and questioned whether, if a synchro-
nous induction motor were designed as such, it would stiU be 30 to
40 per cent, dearer than the induction motor. The cost of the
machine would be appreciably reduced by using bigger and
open slots. He asked whether the author had tried connecting
the exciter permanently in one leg of the rotor.

Mr. .1. Frith pointed out that, as the rolling mill had been spoken
of as a very suitable load, the mill was almost always dependent
on a flywheel effect, and a synchronous constant speed motor could
not be employed.

Mr. R. G. KiLBURNE said that with the Kapp vibrator the power
factor led in many cases down to quarter load and, Avith the
induction motor, greatly increased the overload capacity. He
suggested that induction motor slots might be widened, the motor
cheapened and the performance corrected by a phase advancer.
He asked whether the cascade motor could be made into a
synchronous induction motor.

Mr. T. Baxendale raised some difficulties in applying syn-
chronous induction motors to power station auxiliaries and asked
liow the principle could be applied to totally enclosed motors.

Discussion at Leeds.

In the course of the discussion on Mr. Carr's Paper at Leeds.
Mr. W. B; Woodhouse said that this type of motor was of
interest to supply authorities, as idle current not only loaded up the
mains, but also had a bad effect on the pressure regulation. It was
best to deal with the idle current where it was produced, at the motor.
In the early development of this tyjie of motor, troubles had been
experienced with the exciter, which was dealing with heavy currents.
But recent patterns were very satisfactory. Such a motor was
applicable for use for mine fan engines, and installations of this
kind benefited the user rather than the supply authorities,
because in most instances the founder was paying on a kVA basis,
and hence by improving the power factor he reduced his bill.

Mr. W. H. Brown said the jmce of the machine described varied
from 40 to 20 per cent, in excess of that of the ordinary induction
machine, so the user had to pay either for the macliine or increased
charges to the power company. If a cheaji supply was to be given
it was necessary to improve the power factor of the smaller motors.

Mr. M. Wadeson said that probably more installations of this
nature would have been put in had all supply authorities been
charging on a kVA basis ; but, as legislation now stood, such a
charge could only be made by agreement with the user. He had
recently been concerned in improving the power factor of a rolUng
mill motor, and, after consideration of various methods, it was
decided to adopt an installation of the type described in the
Paper. The motor was a 3 000 V induction motor of 300 ii.r.
with a pull-out torque of three times full load and an overload
capacity of twice fuU load. The average load on this motor was
found to be somewhere about 70 h.p. The alteration consisted in
changing the rotor winders to delta, installing a belt-driven exciter
and injecting therefrom a direct current into one phase of the delta
winders. The machine was found to pull easily into synchronism,
and when pulled out on a heavy load pulled back instantaneouslj^ at;
soon as the load fell off. While running synchronously the motor
had a leading power factor of 0"9, and when it j)ulled out and ran as
an induction motor on the heavy load it had a i)ower factor of 0"85.

Mr. R. M. Longman said that with a Kapp phase advancer on a
machine taking about 200 kW a power factor of 0"9o leading could
be obtained.

Mr. Carr, in reply, said with regard to the application of the
system to motors under 100 ii.r., since the Paper had been WTitten
a year ago, smaller motors had been equipped, and they were now
made of 50 h.p., or even smaller. The increased cost was pro-
portionately the same with these smaller sizes.

The Electrician — January 6, 1922

Some Essentials of Automatic Stokers.

By CHARI.ES ERITH. A.M.I.Mcch.E.

Ill the course of a report to the French Government Commission
on the Utilisation of Fuels, Mr. Raubcr makes the following
interesting comments on the various tyjjos of automatic stokers
in use. The report has been published in full in " Chaleur and
Industrie." We have added the .subheadings.

After Mr. Rauber (who is one of the principal Engineers of Union
d'Electricite, Paris) had visited England to inspect the Erith multi-
ple-retort stokers, his Company, for their new power station at
Gcnnevilliere, Paris, had four ^-drum double-ended Fives-Lille
boilers, specially designed with 45 deg. angle of the tube banks above
its single furnace, to suit a pair of 18-retort French- built stokers,
identical with the two 18-retort Erith's stokers employed for
similar duty at the Edinburgh Corporation Westbank Station, on a
pair of three drum iStirUng boilers.

The Edinburgh arrangement involves two furnaces for the two
boilers ; but both stokers are supplied from a central overhead coal
bunker.

Two of the four 36-retort stokers are now completely erected on two
of the double-ended Fives-Lille boilers at GennevUliers, and these
are expected to start working in February. A detailed description
of the Gennevilliers plant will appear in the French technical
papers.

Very shortly after the adoption by Union d'Electricite of these
huge double-ended boilers, each with 36-retort stoker, teh Cie
Parisienne de Distribution Electrique ordered four identical units.

Multiple- retort stokers constructed by Erith's Engineering
Company, Ltd., are actually used for all grades of coal having
12 per cent, volatile matter and upwards, and having an ash content
up to 40 per cent.

The translation of Mr, Rauber's article in " Chaleur and Industrie"
follows :

During the last twenty years mechanical stokers have gradually
been introduced into boiler houses. After having been for a long
time inferior in working to hand-fired furnaces, they have been so
improved that it can be said that at present they meet every require-
ment. At the same time that they make a notable saving in labour,
they ensure, when they are properly regulated, a better combustion
in every- day working.

General Arrangements.

Speaking generally, the coal is supplied to the hopper of a
mechanical stoker, where it is required to perform as automatically
as possible, the following operations : To feed and spread on the
grate the coal required for all rates of working ; to burn this coal as
perfectly as possible, so as to secure good combustion ; to discharge
the clinker, which, in principle, should be entirely deprived of its
carbon.

Further, the stokers should be flexible and easily regulated, and
should be able to function with coals as different as possible in
quaUty. This last desideratum is not, however, always reaHsed.

The most widely employed mechanical stokers can be divided
into two classes :

Endless Chain Grate Stokers.

In certain endless chain- grate stokers the links ©f the chain form
the grate surface. In other types, the grate bars are supported by
transversal articulated bars. The variation of the grate speed
is still one of the most important methods of regulating the fire.
The grate carries forward by its movement a regulated thickness of
coal, and the combustion ought to be completed at the end of its
travel, so that the grate should then evacuate, as far as possible,
ash alone, without admixture of unburnt fuel.

The regulation of the suction diaught, and of the forced draught
under the stoker, if used, constitute the other variables, permitting
the working to be adapted to the necessities of the load. A good
grate should allow for local air regulation under the different parts
of the grate, either by dividing the wind boxes or by employing
individual dampers.

The ignition of the coal is produced by an arch of refractory
material placed above the front part of the grate, this arch being
itself heated by the stoker. The form of this arch is of capital
importance for ignition, and may vary by over 10 per cent, the
amount admissible in volatile matter, all other things being equal.
Horizontal and very low arches require the employment of a higher
volatile coal than incUned arches.

Advantages of Chain Grates.

Summarizing the results which can be obtained by good industrial
regulation of these chain grates : On natural or suction draught
chain grates, one can burn with 8 to 10 per cent. 00.,, 100 to L^O kg.
hourly per square metre of grate surface (say, 20 to oO lb. per sq. ft.),
of coal having at least 17 per cent, of volatile matter and 5 to 20 per
ce-nt. of ash. On forced draught chain grates, but ^s-ithout divided

wind boxes, one can burn with 8 to 12 per cent. CO.^, l.'O to 200 k;/.
per hour per sqiiare metre of grate surface CM) to 40 lb. per sq, ft.^
of coal having 8 to 2 > per cent, volatile matter and 10 to '.'»'> per cent,
of ash. On forced draught grates, with wind boxes, one can bum
with 10 to \r> per cent. CO., \'A) to 200 kg hourly per swiuare metre
of graH surface (say, .'30 to 40 lb. per .sq. ft.), of coal having from
r> to 25 per cent, of volatile matter and 10 to ?>'> per cent. ash.

In all cases, excepting with coals or rates of working which are
entirely unsuitable, one can succeed in discharging clinker not con-
taining more than 10 to 20 per cent, of carbon, say, 2 to 7 yx^r cent.
of the coal supplied.

The Drawbacks of Chain Grates.

This type of grate has the drawback of requiring a screened
coal, not exceeding 30 to 40 ram. (1-2 in. to PG in.). The
ignition arches and the regulation of fire- bed thickness, although
they are constituted of refractory materials, are we&k points
on account of their sometimes rapid deterioration. Further, for
very large boilers, a number of separate grates must be used,
the width of such a grate necessarily remaining very limited for
mechanical reasons.

The most serious drawback of this system of stokers is in the
fact that the transition from a very low to a very forced duty
requires an appreciable time. One is obUged, in fact, so as to be
sure of a good ignition, not to push too far the lineal speed of the
grate. This involves a somewhat long period for changing to a new
rate of working. The fiexibihty, neverthelesaf is fairly great, and
it may be considered that chain grates constitute a very satisfactori"
solution, though not yet a perfect one, of the problem of mechanical
stoking.

Stokers Fed from Below ("Underfeed").

The raw coal delivered into the hopper is pushed into the stoker
below the ignited fuel, generally by means of a mechanically actuated
ram. The grate is composed of bars, either fixed or moving,
arranged in steps, along which steps the ignited coal progressively
descends, being pushed onward by the freshly introduced coal.
Very often the bars have a slight reciprocating movement, which
assists this travel. On arriving within the furnace, the coal becomes
heated, distilled and burnt as it progressively enters the hot
zone. The chnker, as it forms, descends along the inclined bars,
and is broken up according to the movement of the moving bars.
It should arrive at the lower part practically free from carbon.

Here there is no occasion for an ignition arch, as this is formed
in the heart of the mass of ignited fuel. With this class of
ajiparatus it is necessary to have on the grate a thick bed of
coal, which involves a great resistance to the travel of the air
for combustion. Thus the stokers usually employ forced draught,
the air pressure sometimes going to 1(^0 mm. (4 in.) water gauge.
To vary the rate of duty of the stoker one regulates the quantity
of forced draught air, the speed of the charging ram, and also of the
suction draught, when required.

These stokers are widely employed in America, and excellent
makes are available. It seems, however, that up to the present not
quite so 'extended a range of fuels can be utihsed as is the case for
forced draught chain grates. Hitherto, "' underfeed " stoker? have
succeeded in burning l.oO to 200 kg. hourh' per square metre of grate
(say, 30 to 40 lb. per sq. ft.). But the coal should have more
than 15 per cent, volatile matter, and less than 2"> per cent. ash.
The combustion can be regulated so as to have 12 to 15 per cent.
CO., in the gases, as they leave the boilers. The cUnker produced
will also have from 10 to 20 per cent, of c>, rbon, just as with chain
grates.

Advantages of Underfeed Stokers.

The principal advantages which this type of stoker offers, at
least with the improved types are as follows : Xo ipiition arch and no
regulation by a gate of the^ thickness of the fire-bed. which are the
weak points of the chain grates. Further, fewer cast-iron parts
are subject to the heat of the fire ; great flexibility of working due
to the fact of the large mass of coal carried ii\ the furnace, either
ignited or hot and ready to burn. It is sutficienl to increase or tt.
diminish the volume of forced draught aii- to obtain instantly the
variation of duty required.

All banking of the fire is done by introducing fresh coal in
sufficient thickness to cover the grate and shuttuig off forced
draught. The stoker is quickly ready for work.

When a stoker on this system is constituted of adjacent imits
arranged all along the front of the boiler, the dimension of the stoker
in width is imhmited. which allows the use of enormous stokers
without any great di'ficulty. This type of stoker is very
suitable for present conditions, in either large or small central
stations. It wiU be excellent when a more extended range of fuels
can be utilised in it.

1()

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

Reviews.

Motor and Dynamo Control. By VV. S Ibbetson, B Sc.,
A.M.I.E.E. (London: E.& F.N. Spon, Ltd.) Pp. vm. + 48/.
Price 2 Is. net.
This book is an attempt to combine an explanation of
the theoretical principles underlying the design and manu-
facture of the various types of electrical machinery, with
such practical information as is requisite for their efficient
control and operation. As a general rule, the task is not
an easy one, and rarely is it satisfactorily accomplished.

The author in this case has achieved a fair measure of
success, though in the process he has laid himself open to
the criticism that his treatment is somewhat superficial;
and from the point of view of the student it is, though
presumably the book is not intended so much for students
as for those who have to supervise the installation and
operation of electrical machinery. It is an intensely
practical work, and might almost be described as a cross
between a text-book and a pocket-book.

It covers a wide field, and describes in pithy paragraphs
the main characteristics of the various types of electrical
machines, explains the fundamental principles underlying
thedr construction, and compares them from the point of
view of operation and reliability.

Like other books by the same author, it commences with
the consideration «f the electric and magnetic circuits, the
production of an E.M.F. in the simple generator, and the
salient features of the various types of dynamos. The
function which series windings and inter-poles perform in a
dynamo is explained, boosters and balancers are described,
and diagrams given showing how they are connected.
Alternating current generators are next treated, together
with rotary converters, and a chapter is devoted to a con-
sideration of their parallel operation and the various
methods of synchronising. The common types of d.c. and
a.o. motors are also described and compared, and sieiveral
typical motor calculations are supplied.

The practical engineer will find a mine ol useful informa-
tion in Chapters 10 and 11, in which the author has
tabulated the faults usually found in electrical machinery,
together with the best methods of detecting and remedying
them. There are also numerous practical hints on the
installing of plant. A useful chapter on secondary
batteries completes the book.

The author adopts with considerable advantage the
method of question and answer, and the latter, though in
many cases brief, are very lucid.

It will be seen that, though there is not much which is
new in the book, it covers practically every point upon
which the ordinary motor and dynamo attemdant is likely
tx> require information in connection with the machinery
under his control from the time he receives it from the
manufacturer. It contain-^ also sufficient practical data to
enable the engineer to decide the tvpe ol motor, whether
d.o. or a.c, which it would be mo 4 advisable to install.

In a word the book tells the attendant or engineer-in-
ohargo what to do, how to do it, and the reasons why. It
does not simply explain liow to cure, but how to prevent
trouble, and thus enables him to run his plant more
efficiently. It should therefor© prove a useful book tx>
those ex-Service students who are taking an intensive
oour.se at technical colleges prior to taking positions as sub-
station attendants and junior engineers. The diagrams are
well i)rinted and on a scale sufficiently 'arge tO' be quite
clear U> those whose knowledge of draaght.smanship is
limited. A fairly comjn-ehensive index enables the reader
eajftily to put hi.'^ finger on the information that he requires.
We would recommend that in futuie editions the author
should alter the symbols employed in order to bring them
into line with the recommendations of the International
Electi\>Toi-linical Commission. To the practical electrician
the kind of symbol used may not matter, but to the student
who is familiar with other text-books those employed in
tlie ju-esent edition are liable to lead to confusion.

J. \V. T.

Correspondence.

THE ELECTROSTATIC WATTMETER AND MEASUREMENT
OF LOW-POWER FACTORS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sni, — In a letter published in your columns a short time'sJncc'
I alluded to a zero method of making measurements of this kind
described by Mr. Herbert Parry, which I thought a previous sugges-
tion of mine had anticipated.

On looking into the matter further, I find that though both
methods were founded on balancing the direction by suitable
connection to points on a shunt across the circuit, Mr. Parry's is
otherwise quite diiierent and superior to mine, and, as far as I am
aware, original, and he is to be congratulated on a very pretty and,
I think, useful suggestion.

As very httle has appeared in the Press or otherwise on the
working of the electrostatic wattmeter for a good many years,
perhaps you will give me an opportunity a Uttle later to say some-
thing more on the subject generall}^ — I am, &.C.,

London, W., Dec.'27. G. L. Addenbrooke.

THE THERMAL OHM.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — In your issue of Sept. 9, 1921, there is an article by
Capt. Dunsheath on the Heating of Cables, in which he suggests
and recommends using the " thermal ohm " as a new unit of
thermal resistance, based on the watt instead of the caloric per
second, in calculations concerning electrically produced heat flows.
You also refer to it editorially.

The impression one obtains is tliat the suggestion is thought to
be a new one. Permit me to caU your attention to the fact that
over ten years ago I urged the adoption of exactly this same unit
and with that same name, and I can vouch for the fact that it saves
much time and effort in calculations when the flow of electric
heat is concerned, as it ehminates troublesome conversion factors.
In " MetaUurgicai and Chemical Engineering" (New York), Jan..
1911, Vol. IX., p. 13, and in the " Journal FrankUn Inst." (Phila-
delplda), Dec, 1911, Vol. 172, p. 569, I published articles devoted
entirely to this thermal ohm, and giving the conversion factors
into other units. In numerous other articles that I pubhshed at
about that time involving the flow of heat, I used this same unit.
The second one of the above was abstracted at some length in your
journal, Feb. 23, 1912, p. 786.— I am, &c.,

Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 15. Carl Herino.

"THE NEGLECT OF FRENCH PRODUCTS."

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — ^With further reference to mj^ letter to you, which appeared
in the Oct. 14 issue of The Electrician, the result has been quite
interesting to me, for I have been favoured Avith letters from a
good many French manufacturers, and in some cases have had a
visit from their representative, whom I have been able to help by
suggesting names of engineers to call upon and correspond with.

The engineer representing one firm in particular, on a return
journey, informed me that he had been extremely well received,
and from his conversation I gathered that there is evidently a strong
desire to do business with our French friends. Further, I think if
French manufacturers were to appoint a resident local representative
for this particular district they would get into quicker personal
touch with their customers.

I believe some of our own firms do not yet reahse the extent of
potential engineering business in South Wales, from the very
largest structures and machines down to the smallest. Moreover,
when a customer or prospective customer has to visit a neiglibouring
country to inspect works and products, I think he would as soon
go to France as any other country. Many of our countrymen visit
France for pleasure, and would like to visit it for business, and
perhaps by cf^mbining the two make both pleasurable. — I am. \ c.,

C. T. Allan,
Cardiff, Assistant Manager South Wales Electrical

Dec. 30, 1921. Power Distribution Company.

An Electric Gas Lighter.

A short time ago we called attention to a German dfvice for
lighting gas from tlie public electricity supply in a house or building
which contained c©rt>ain elements of danger. Such an apparatus is.
however, useful in certain cases, and we are therefore glad to find
that an English device has been patented which overcomes the dis-
advantages to which we called attention. The lighter, which ie made
by Lord & Shand, Ltd., consists of a specially made condenser, fi.xed
in a convenient handle. One element of the condenser is connected
by a single fle.xible wire through an adaptor or ceiling rose Ut the
supph" circuit, and is controlled by an ordinary switch. The other
element is connected to a metal brush at the striking end of the
lighter. When this latter element is charged it emits a series of
sparks which are sufficient to light the gas. There is, it is claimed,
no possibility of earthing tlio supply system by the use of thic;
ai-rangcment. and the eneri;v consumed ie. of course, infinitesimal.

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

III our issue
new Manchester

The Latest B.T.-H. Showroom.

of Deo 9 we gave an illustration of a corner of the
r Showroom of the British Thomson-Houston Com-

New B.T.-H. Showroom at (tlasgow.

PANY. The accompanying photograph shows the large showroom
which the firm have recently opened at 155a, St. Vincent-street,
Glasgow.

Light and Publicity.

The advertising value of light is wonderfully exemplified by the
illuminated hoarding illustrated below. Formerly this hoarding was
unlighted at night, and its printed (or lithographed) sapience was
only readable during daylight, liealisine that the period of display in
the winter and autumn was very short, the three advertisers concerned
combined and arranged with the British THOMSON-HotrsTON Com-
pany for an installation of floodlight projectors. The area occupied
by the three posters is 55 by 15 ft., and it is lighted by five pro-
jectors fixed on a blank wall on the opposite side of the road. The
projectors are so disposed and directed that the five separate beams
of light cover the area with an intense and uniformly distributed
illumination. Type 786 projectors, fitted with powerful mirror

Night Illumin.\tion by B.T.-H. Floodlight Projectoks.

reflectors and Mazda gasfilled lamps, and mounted on universal
brackets, are employed. This form of mounting allows the pro-
jector to be swivelled in any horizontal or vertical direction. These
projectors are completely weatherproof, and are intended for use
in exposed positions.

The floodlighting of hoardings must, however, be considered as
something more than a means of extending the period of visibility,

as it has also the effect of making ihe advertisement sUnd out with
an individual distinctif*n not otherwise attainable. Floodlighting
has been developed in this country by the illuminating engineers
of the British Thomson-Houston Company, who have designed a
range of projectors for various purposes and conditions. For
example, they can be used for the illumination of factory yards,
dockyards, goods yards, *.c., while for the spectacular lighting of
monuments and buildings floodlighting is at once the simplest, the
most economical, and the most effective method. Further particulars
mav be obtained from the B.T.-H. Illuminating Engineers' Dept.

West of Scotland Electricity District.

The Electricity Commissioners have been inveetigating ilie- posi-
tion of ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN ScoTi.AND, and they have provieionally
determined the area of the West of Scotland Electricity District as
under : —

Tha counties of the City of Glasgow and of Renfrew.

So much of the county of Ayr as is included in the Royal burghs
of Ayr and Irvine; the burghs of Ardrossan, Darvel, Galeton,
Kilmarnock, Kilwinning, Largs, Newmilns and Greenholm, Prest-
wick, Saltcoats, Stewarton and Troon; the parishes of Ardroesan,
Avr, Beith, Coylton, Craigie, Dairy, Dalrymple, Dreghom, Dun-
donald, Dunlop, Fenwick, Galston, Ii-vine, Kilbirnie, Kilmarnock.
Kilmaurs,- Kilwinning, Largs, Loudoun, Mauchline, Monkton and
Prestwick, Ochiltree, Riccarton, Stair, Steveneton, Stewarton,
Svmington, Tarbolton and W. Kilbride.

So much of the cotuity of Dumbarton ae is included in the Royal
burgh of Dumbarton, the burghs of Clydebank, Kirkintilloch and
Milngavie; the parishes of Bonhill, Cardross, Dumbarton, Old
Kilpatrick, New Kilpatrick and Kirkintilloch.

So much of the county of Lanark ae ie included in the Royal
burghs of Lanark. Renfrew and Rutherglen ; the burghs of Airdrie.
Coatbridge, Hamilton, and Motherwell and Wishaw ; the parishes of
Blantyre, Bothwell, Cadder. Cambuslang, Cambnsnethan, Carlxike.
Carmunnock, Dalserf, Dalziel, E. Kilbride, Glasgow, Glaaford,
Hamilton, Lanark, Old Monkland, New Monkland, Ruthergleti.
Shotts and Stonehouse; and

So much of the county of Stirling as is included in the parishes,
of Baldernock, Campsie, and Strathblane.

Objections or representations on account of the inclusion in or the
exclusion from the district of any area must be made in writing
to the Secretary. Electricitv Com'mission, Gwydyr House, White-
hall, S.W. 1, by Dec. 30, 1922. In the opinion of the Commissioners
the existing organisation for the supply of electricity in the district
should be improved, and a public inquiry will be held into the
matter. Schemes for effecting such improvement, including the
formation of a Joint Electricity Authority, may be submitted on rr
before the same date.

Legal Intelligence.

Damages for Tramcar Accident.

In the Second Division of the Court of Session on the 23rd ult.
Mr John Kirk sued tho Greenock and Port-Glasgow Tramway
Company for damages for personal injuries. The pursuer was an
inside passenger on one of the company's tramcars on July 17th last
when the car jumped the points at a loop line, ran across the road
and collided with a lamp-post. Pursuer was thrown against the side
of the car and sustained i. nervous shock.

The company pleaded that pursuer's account of his injuries wa#
exaggerated, and they tendered £50 and expenses.

The jury, however, assessed the damages at £175.

Illegal Electrical Coanection.

Messrs. Williams and Williams, casement makers, of CJiester, were
summoned at Chester Police Court on Friday last by Cheater Cor-
poration for illegally taking electric current .from the Corporation
main There were also summonses against two members of tae
firm for an alleged assault on Dec. 2 upon the Corporation Electnc^l
Engineer, Mr. S. E. Britton, while there was a cross ennimonf
against Mr. Britton for assault.

The Corporation case was that owing to a change being made mi
their suoply of power it was necessary to cut off their customers
temporarily, Messrs. Williams Bros, being among the numbg-. Iwo
of defendants' firm interviewed the Town Clerk on Dec. 2 and
appealed for an extra supply of current as a special concession.
This was agreed to. but when an official of the Electricity Depart-
ment visited defendants' works later they found that they had con-
nected up two cables with the Corporation supply mains and he
current was not being metered. tVhen Mr. BriUon MSited the
works in order to seal up the illegal supply he was tackled by one of
the Williams brothers, who refused to let him leave the works
through the gate, and he had to climb a wall in order to get out

The defence was that only a technical breach of the law had been
committed in order to avoid closing their works and throwmg about
5 000 men out of work. , .. •• v * ui^^*^u-

A great deal of evidence was given on both sid«. but ultimatel> .
for illecar.v taking the current the firm was fined £5 vnth 3 guineas
costs, and" for a^aulting the Corporation Electrical Engineer one
of the partners was fineil 10s.. the summons against Mr. Britton
being dismissed.

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

Electricity Supply.

Owing to the failure of the electricity supply on Tuesday at the
Metropolitan-Vi(;kers works, Trafford Park, Manchester, the
employees enjoyed a half-day's holiday.

SHOREHAM AND DISTRICT ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND POWER COMPANY,

Ltd give notice of intention to apply to the Electricity Commis-
sioners for a Special Order to authorise the company to supply
electrical energy in Southwick.

The Home Secretary has mad© an Order authorising the employ-
ment of two women of eighteen years of age and over as attendants
at the Langland-street sub-station of Kilmarnock Electricity
Department on two day shifts, on condition that neither of them is
employed on Shift II. in consecutive weeks.

CincHESTER Corporation have applied to the Electricity Commis-
sioners for a Special Order to revoke the Chichester Electric Lightmg
Order, 1898, and the Chichester Electric Lighting (Extension) Ordei-,
1911, to authorise the Chichester Electric Light and Power Company
to sell and the Corporation to purchase the undertaking and works
of the company, &c. .

Following a conference between the Lighting Committees of
Montrose and Brechin Councils in regard to the Special Order
being promoted by the North of Scotland Electric Light and Power
Company, which seeks power to revise charges every three instead
of five years, Montrose Council, on the recommendation of their
Committee, have decided not to join with Brechin in obtaining
the opinion of counsel on the matter, as they consider that their
inter&sts and those of the consumers are amply safeguarded und»r
the present arrangement.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Sanction is being sought by Shrewsbury Town Council to a loan
of £2 650 for electricity purposes.

MAiDENHBADjTown Council contemplate the purchase of additional
generating plant and a new balancer.

Ha-STings Town Council have decided to duplicate the high-
pressure cable to St. Leonards at a cost of over £8 000.

Witney Urban Council have decided to apply for sanction to
borrow £1 000 for the extension of the mains on the Woodstock-
road.

Application is to be made to the Electricity Commissioners by
Harrogate Corporation for sanction to borrow £3 250 for electricity
works extensions.

Perth Electricity Department have authorised the borough
electrical engineer to invite tenders for a new boiler, required in
connection with the extension of the electricity works.

The North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Company have
asked the consent of the Cheshunt Urban Council to their supplying
electricity to the town. A report on the matter is to be prepared by
the Council's legal adviser.

Worcester City Council have received the sanction of the Electri-
city Commissioners to the extension of the generating station by the
installation of 3 000 kW set, three boilers, and auxiliary plant, and
by the construction of the necessary buildings.

Douglas (Isle of Man) Corporation have instructed Handcock &
Dykes to proceed with the plans for an electricity supply station for
tho borough in accordance with the Douglas Corporation Electricity
Act, which has just received the Royal assent.

A committee has been formed to canvas Brackley with a view
to ascertaining the probable number of consumers of electricity
and likely supporters with capital. The proposal is to form a
company to carry out a scheme, at a cost of about £5 000.

As a result of complaints regarding the supply of electricity in
Wolstanix)N, tho engineer has been instructed by the Electricity
Committee, Stoke, to submit a report for additional supply, with
comparative estimates of the coso of the different methods of supply.
.\bi',rayron Urban Council h;u5 deciden ^o make a grant of £100
towards the cost of obtaining a Special Order to enable a company
tx> provide a supply of electricity for the tov.n. The company has
undertaken to apply for the wrder forthwith,' and to proceed with
the scheme without further delay.

AccRiNOTON Corporation, in accordance with the understanding
arrived at with the Electricity Commissioners recently, have decided
to prcxMied with their application for sanction to borrow £100 000
for extensions of plant at the electricity station. The revised figures
show a decrease on the original of £30 000.

The scheme of the Lyme Regis Town Council to purchase the
local electric light company's undertaking, and t,-> supply electricity
in Jjymo Regis and Uplyme, narrowly escaped "'leing held up last
week. A motion to seal a new contract on modihcd terms was only
carried by the casting vote of the Mayor, Councillor H. Ellis.

Tho liosTON Deep Sea Fishing Company have offered to supply the
Unvn and district with electricity, and the Council have intimated
Unit they would look favourably upon such a scheme. At present a
Provisional Order for supplying the town is held by the National
Electric Construction Company, but nothing has -been done to compiv
with its provisions.

Ti^"i].'i'" '^'•**^^" ^'^""'''* ^''« broken off negotiations with tlie Corn-
wall Electric Power Company for a supply of electricity in bulk, on
.account of the high price asked, which would, it is contended, make

the scheme a burden on the customers or the ratepayers. The
Council will now proceed to draw up a scheme based on the original
idea of erecting their own generating station" at Newham.

Terms have been arranged^ between the Gas, Electricity, and
Housing Committees of Glasgow Corporation for laying down
mains and supplying gas and electricity to the various housing
schemes. It is understood that under the agreement the Housing
Department will pay £20 000 and the Electricity Department
£10 000 towards the cost of laying electric supply mains.

Connah's Quay Urban Council have decided to oppose the appli-
cation of Chester for a Special Order under the Electricity Acts to
extend the area of supply. They have also decided to prepare a
distribution scheme consequent upon the North Wales Electricity
Power Company being constituted authorised suppliers, and have
agreed to arrange a loan in respect of a distribution network for the
district.

Cable extensions at Hillside-avenue, Plymouth, and at Beresford-
terrace, Beauchamp-crescent, and Fairfield-avenue Devenport, have
been authorised by the Plymouth Electricity and Street Lighting
Committee. It has also been decided to apply for sanction to borrow
£1 467 for laying new feeder cables from Raglan Barracks to Fore-
street, and £3 161 for a new feeder cable from the Newport-street
Station to New Passage Hill.

Exeter Town Council have intimated that they are not prepared to
extend their area of supply to include Crediton, but, subject to a
satisfactory arrangement as to terms, they would furnish a supply
of electricity in bulk at the city boundary at Cowley Bridge.
Under the circumstances, Crediton Council consider it would be
better to form a company in the town, and the matter has been
referred to the General Purposes Committee.

It is stated that Nottingham Electricity Committee is at last
seriously tackling the steadily increasing number of applications for
current. Good progress is being made with the laying of the new
double electric cable along London-road and Pennyfoot-street, and
the work is to be extended along Manvers-street ir order to serve
the Carlton-road and Sneinton Market areas, from v^hich the demand
for installations has been imperative for some time past.

Application is to be made by Keighley Town Council for sanction
to horrow £5 000 for laying the necessary feeder cables and other
work for the added area covered by the Keighley Electric Lighting
(Extension) Order, 1915. The area comprises the urban districts
of Oakworth and Oxenhope, and part of the irural district of
Keighley. Application is also to be made to the Unemployment
Grants Committee for a grant towards the cost of carrying out the
works.

In order to provide for the anticipated demand for electricity for
industrial purposes on the south side of the River Aire, Leeds Elec-
tricity Department are laying further mains from the works on the
north side of the river. The present mains have been carried under
the streets in the centre of the city and ovei Victoria Bridge, but
as an economy the new mains are being laid in a trench below the
bed of the river. It is expected that the work will be completed at
the end of this month.

Ayr County Council have decided to withdraw their objection
to the Kilmarnock Electricity Extension Order, 1921, on condition
that Kilmarnock Corporation lay mains in the southern portion of
the extended area if the County Council call upon them at any
time to do so, and there is a reasonable prospective return. The
Kilmarnock Gorpotration have agreed to this proviso on the
understanding that should a difference of opinion arise as to a
" reasonable prospective return " tJae question should be referred
to the Electricity Commissioners.

Bromley Electric Light and Power Company have applied to the
Town Council for their assent to change the existing system of
electricity supply in the districts of Bromley Common, Bickley and
Elm^tead from d.c. at 210 and 420 vol;.s to a.c. at 210 V for light-
dng and 420 for power at a frequency of 50 cycles per second. In
order to do this it will be necessary to lay a new 3 300 V cable
from the company's works in West Street tlirough the districts
mentioned, and to build four small transforming stations at various
points. The Council are recommended to consent to the change.

Leyton Urban Council have this week approved of a scheme for
providing additional feeders to meet the increased demands for
power Ln the ^^ea Bridge-road area, and also for the L.C.C. trams in
Leyton. The present scheme has been prepared by Mr C. H.
Wordingham and the Council's electrical engineer, Mr. F. H. Lewis,
and will, it is estimated, cost about £34 500, including a new sub-
station at the jimction of Church-road and Waterloo-road, five new
feeders, additional switchgear, &c. Walthamstow Council could
give a supply in the district under certain conditions, but their terma
were too liigh, ajid the present scheme represents the most econo-
mical method of solving the problem.

Alteration of Charges. i

The Fleetwood Electricity Committee is now giving a discount of
5 per cent, to electricity consumers, consequent upon the improved
position of the electricity undertaking.

Croydon Council has arranged to supply electricity to works in
Morland-road at 2d. per unit for the first 100 000 miits a year, and
l^d. above this figure, with a minimum payment of £2 000 a year.

At the coming meeting of Warrington Towti Council the Electri-
city Committee will present a resolution for the w^ithdrawal, as
from Dec. 31, of the last three increases in the price of electricity,

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

amounting in all to 30 j^er cent, above pre-war prices, for lighting
and traction, and 60 per cent, for power.

Salford Corporation is reducing the charges for electricity for
lighting from 90 per cent, over the pre-war rate to 75 per cent.,
and from 115 per cent, to 100 per cent, over the pre-war rate for
heating and power.

West Bromwich Town Council has decided to lower the charge
for electricity for power by 12^ per cent, from the December
reading of the meters, and, alternatively, to offer power consumers
current at £9 per kW demanded, plus Id. per unit consumed. The
lighting charges remain at 100 per cent, above the pre-war figures.

The following reductions have been made by WiriTEHAVEN Town
Council in the charge per unit for electricity : — Lighting from 7J^d.
to 7d. ; maximum demand from 3^d. to S^d. ; heating and cooking
from l|d. to Igd. ; power from 315d. to 2|d. ; power (flat rate) from
205d. to Igd. ; factory power, the addition of. 60 per cent, to be
reduced to 50 per cent., with a minimum charge of l^d.

In order to stimulate the demand for electric heating and cook-
ing, Bedford Town Council have reduced the price of electricity
from 2d. to l^d. per unit. For new combined lighting and heat-
ing services no charges will be made for laying the service mains
provided the consumer agrees to pay in advance a minimum revenue
for the first year, calculated at the I'ate of £5 per kW installed
for heating, and that this be not lees than 1 kW. A consumer
who already takes energy for lighting and requires a heating
service will be supplied on similar terms.

Electric Traction.

The relaying of BoTmNEMOtJTH tramway track along some of the
main roads is now completed.

Sanction to borrow £450 000 for track renewals, &c., is to be
applied for by Bradford Tramways Committee.

AcCRiNGTON Tramways Manager has been instructed to report on
economies to be effected on the tramway services so as to minimise
the present losses.

Coatbridge Town Council have approved the agreement with regard
to the purchase by the Corporation of Glasgow of the Airdrie and
Coatbridge tramway system.

It is announced that some of the outer London tramway authori-
tites have arranged with the London General Omnibus Company not
to reduce fares without conferring with one another on their
proposals.

The new luggage bridge at the Cardiff Great Western Railway
Station spans seven lines, and is connected with each platform by
electric lifts. The electrical work is under the supervision of Mr.
R. T. Smith, the Compajiy's electrical engineer.

Penny fares were revived on all the Brighton tramway routes on
Sunday. Slight alterations in distances have been made on several
branches, but pratically the system is the same as that abandoned
in July last in favour of the 2d. minimum charge.

Salford Tramways Committee, being faced with omnibus compe-
tition, has issued a strongly-worded resolution of protest, in which
it advocates the legal regulation of private passenger-carrying enter-
prises. The motion has been endorsed by the Borough Council.

The Blackpool Electricity and Tramways Committee has in-
structed the Borough Electrical Engineer (Mr. C. F. Furness) to
invite tenders for four single-deck saloon motor omnibuses in order
that they may be ready for the summer season traffic. '

The president of the Municipal Tramways Association has
stated that of 102 undertakings, representing a capital of nearly
sixty million pounds, only five succeeded last year in paying their
way after meeting the obligation to provide adequately for renewals.

After a long discussion at a special meeting of Edinburgh Town
Council last week it was agreed by 51 votes to 18 that the electrifica-
tion of the tramway systern should be proceeded with, and that the
overhead system should be adopted generally. It was decided also,
by 41 votes to 26, that the overhead system should be adopted for
Princes-street, with span wires.

We understand that the Geddes Economy Committee regard as
unnecessary the rule requiring London tramcars to be painted and
varnished before the annual renewal of the licence. It is calculated
that by reducing the frequency of renewal of paint and varnish,
&c., to once in twenty-one months, £35 000 a year would oe saved in
the cost of labour alone, and a capital sum of £175 000 by a conse-
quent reduction of the number of cars required for the service.
Three and a half per cent, more cars would be freed for work.

It is probable that the Scarborough electric tramway service may
not be shut down, as reported in our last issue, for three offers have
been made for the purchase of the system. These include one from
some London and Yorkshire tramway engineers, which the directors
have accepted, subject to the approval of the tramway company
shareholders. Mr. H. Seaton will act as managing director of a
new company which will run an omnibus service in conjunction
with the tramways to every part of the town. Mr. Moinet, the local
manager of the tramways, has received instructions to continue
running the cars.

In his annual report Mr. C. Furness, the Blacicpool Tramways
Manager, states that the year affords evidence that the attempt to
avoid any appreciable alteration in fares and stages was a mistaken
policy. Last year the reserve balance was practically depleted, the
sum available being only £36, and the revenue account will now be
B 2

called upon to provide expenditure formerly met out of reserve.
Increase in capital expenditure would also require further contribu-
tions for interest and redemption charges, and the restoration of the
finances of the department to their former level would requi-e
careful consideration. An abstract of the accounts appeared in our
issue of Dec. 2.

The official report of the Ministry of Transport Inspector (Major
A. Mount, R.E.) on the Bltiton on-Tkent tkamcar acodent on
Nov. 3 was issued on Saturday. The car was passing from a single
to a double line when the leading wheels took the left track and
the trailing wheels the right track, the rear of the vehicle swinging
round, nd the car overturning at right angles to the road. The
trailing axle fractured. The car was one of four new ones which
had been running less than two years. On three of these cars eight
axles had broken, after an average life of only 18 000 miles. Before
the war only two axles were Vjroken per annum on twenty cars, and
Major Mount is of opinion that the post-war material is not so good.
He considers that the driver was going nearer six miles than four
per hour at the time, anJ suggests rigorous compliance with the
speed regulations; also that all axles be tested before purchase.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

A new telephone exchange was opened at Wallasey last Saturday
to replace with up-to-date apparatus the existing Wallasey Exchange.

The Bridlington correspondent of the " Manchester Guardian
states that the gale over the week-end tore down miles of wires in
East Yorkshxre. Overhead telegraph and telephone wires in other
parts of the country have also suffe'-ed severely.

Permission to erect telephone kiosks in Market-street, Deansgate,
and Albert-square has been granted t-o the Post Office authorities by
the Manchester Highways Committee. These will be the first tele-
phones to be set up in the streets of Manchester.

A correspondent of the "Railway Gazette" states that he has
recently seen a copy of a letter, dated April 4, 1878, from Mr.
W. Langdon, then Telegraph Superintendent of the Midland Rail-
way, to Mr. W. L. Newcombe, the Goods Manager at Derby, inti-
mating that " Should he feel interested in testing its capabilities, he
begged to acquaint him that he had now a telephone communication in
operation between .his (Mr. Langdon's) office and the Stores in
Siddals Road." This letter is of interest as it refers to the first
telephone used on the Midland Railw^^, and one of the first on
any railway.

During the current month the following telephone jl^nctions
and trunk lines have been brought into use in Scotland : — A new
line between Aberdeen and Dundee, Dundee and Kirriemuir, Dundee
and Brechin, Eassie and Forfar, Aberdeen and Ellon, Aberdeen and
Inverness, and Brechin and Laurencekirk, and two new lines
between Dundee and Arbroath and Aberdeen and Glasgow. In the
north, new call offices have recently been established. There has
been a considerably increased demand for the extension of the tele-
phone system in Caithness-shire, especially in the Wick and Thurso
districts.

Wireless Notes.

The French Under-Secretary for Posts, Telegraphs and Tele-
phones announces that he is prepswred to receive applications for the
installation of the wireless telephone on private premises. Over a
distance of thirty miles the cost of a complete station will be about
17 OOOfr. (approximately £340).

A Central News message from Washington states that the Far
East Committee has decided that wireless stations operated by
foreign Governments in China shall be left in existence, but be
reetricted to the use of official messages. All private dis} atches
will be handled exclusively by the Chinese wireless companies. The
Committee decided to call a conference of the world Powers to
regulate the wave length to be used at Chinese stations.

In a letter to the " Northern Whig " Mr. W. Guy, of Tyrone, asks
what safeguards have been provided in the Irish Peace Treaty for the
AMATECTi radio-telegraphist and the exp-^. imenter in wireless tele-
graphy AND telephony. At present, he states, " the freedom of the
amateur and the experimenter in this science is so limited in Great
Britain as to be the butt and the jest of every other nation. Owing
to the P.O. regulations we have very little to our credit in this
country in the field of radio science, simply becarse the experimenter
is to a great extent bound down to certam antiquated apparatus with
which little can be added to the sum total of radio knowledge."

Obituary.

The death has taken place, in London, at the age of seventy-ona
years, of Commander Frederick John Lobb, R.N. (retired), late
Inspector of Imperial Lighthouses in the Bahamas. ,

The death is announced of Mr. John ^In.TON, of 7, Frogmoor-
street, High Wycombe. Mr. Milton was forty-three years of ace,
and for over thirteen years was chief assistant engineer to tne
Wycombe (Borough) Electric Light and Power Company.

We regret to announce the death on Monday, at the age of thirty-
eight, of Mr. Ernest Holt, manager for the past nine years of the
Ashton-unuer-Lyne Corporation tramways undertaking. Mr. Holt
went to Ashton as chief tramways clerk from Halifax in 1905, and
he succeeded Mr. Dugdale as manager in 1912. L"^nder his manage-
ment the borough tramways have been completely reorganised.

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

Personal and Appointments.

Sir George Perley is retiring from the High Commissionship o'
Canada.

Mr. W. E. II. Berwick has been appointed Reader in Mathe-
matiial Analysis at Leeds University.

Mr. C. C. r.\TERS0N has been appointed the Member of Council of
the Institution of Electrical Engineers to act as consultative member
of the London Students" Comniittee for the session 1921-22.

The following firms of electrical engineers are among the latest
admitted to membership of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce :--
Anderson & Munro, Eraser & Borthwick, Haddow & Company.
Andrew Ilutcheson, Osborne & Hunter, and Underbill & Ritchie.

Mr. W. T. Kerr, electrical engineer to the Hereford Corporation.
has sent in his resignation to the City Council. As we stated in our
issue of Dec. 16. he is forming a company to acquire the Bleachley
Power Station at Chepstow, from which it is proposed to supply
power for industrial purposes in the Forest of Dean coalfield.

Mr. LioxEL Jenkhs'S, of Bury St. Edmunds, who has been recom-
mended for the appointment of borough engineer and surveyor to the
Newjiort Corporation, carried out the construction of the ^liddlesex
Light Railway and Tramway system^ at a cost of nearly £1 000 000.
He saw service with the Royal Engineers during the war, and was
mentioned in dispatches.

Capt. J. R. Birch, London Electrical Engineers, has been trans-
ferred to thp general list of the Reserve of Officers of the Territorial
Army; Lieut. A. W. ]\Iawby, London Electrical Engineers, has been
prorioled to major in the Territorial Reserve of Officers; and Lieut.
A. C. Stacev, from the same corps, has been transferred to the
Territorial Reserve of Officers.

Among the New Year Honours conferred by the King, the
following may be of interest to those engaged in the electrical
industries : —

Baronet. — Sir Edward Mortimer Mountain (Chairman of Eagle,
Star and British Dominions Insurance Company), for public ser-
vices in connection with schemes for revival of trade, &c.

(t.B.E. (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire). —
Prof. Chas. Scott Sherrington, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., D.Sc, President
of the Roval Society.

Knights.— Vroi. Wm. Abbott Herdraan, C.B.E., D.Sc, President
of British Association ; Albert John Ilobson, President of Associa-
tion of Chambers of Commerce, 1920-21. and Pro-Chancellor of
University of Sheffield ; C\Til R. S. Kirkpatrick, Chief Engineer to
Port of London Authority; Alfred S. Mays-Smith, President of
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders; Alex. Richardson,
M.P., Managing Director of Engineering, Ltd., and Vice-President
of the Junior Institution of Engineers.

^'.^.— Frank Jas. Brown. C.B.E., Head of Telegraph Branch,

C'./.S.— John Willoughby Meares, Electrical Adviser to the
Government of India, and Chief Engineer of the hydro-electric
survey.

Business Items, &c.

The Union Cable Coiipany have become members of the Cable
Makers' Association.

Stirling Towm Council has appointed Henderson Brothers as elec-
tricians for the ensuing year.

The title of the Dubilier Condenser Company is now the Dubilier
Condenser Company (1921), Ltd.

Mansfield Guardians have apjjointed the Mansfield Engineering
Company electricians for the ensuing six months.

The new telephone number of Measurement, Ltd. 34 and 35
Provost-street, City-road, N. 1, is Clerkenwell 3157.

It is stated that Guest, Keen, & Nettlefolds propose to under-
take the electrification of the whole of their Dowlais works and
collieries.

The business of J Owen and Sons, of Blackheath, has been taken
oyer by Mr. T .A. Keating, electrical engineer, of 186, Westcombe-
hill, Blackheath.

Baugiian & Company, Ltd., electrical engineers, of Reading, who
are having their premises rebuilt, are carrying on business
temporarily at 175. Fnar-streef.

. The Hoover Electric Suction Sweeper has been greatly reduced
in price as from Jan. 2, and it can now be purchased at^he same
price as many ordinary vacuum cleaners.

The Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company, manufac-
turers ot Acel electric heating and cooking appliances, announce
a 16 per cent, reduction in the prices of thes* appliances as from
the new year.

U,?wr'''*M"''™'^r' *"d FiNSBLTiv-PAVEMENT are now officiallv
^^ ll^r /^'^.'x^^ * '* numbering of the old Moorgate-street is
Ciu?^ T^'^ to the beginning of Finsbury-place, which marks the
h^L^M -7.; S""- ^' f "'•t"'"y-P'''^^'"^»'^- «» the west side, now
ide Nn^- M- ^'T'g'''^= N*>- 2, Finsbury-pavement. on tbe east
side. No. 66, Moorgate, and so on.

The busine.8 of Mr Justus Eck will, from January 1, be carried
been i? tJ''^\?^ '^"''V'' ^^"'^ * S. Brook. Mr.' Brook has
LZ2l\.S^ M ""^"^^"'^ f^'-. '"*"y .ve^rs. and will now become.
togeUicr with Mr. Fx;k, iiroprietor o, the new firm. Owinc to the
.ncr«u,ed business the offices have been transferred from^cS.tral

Hall. Southall. to Palmer Street, Westminster, to which address all
correspondence shouLd be sent.

We understand that Ransomes, Sims, & Jefferies, Ltd., of the
Orwell Works, Ipswich, have been appointed sole manufacturers and
licensees in the United Kingdom, the Colonies and Dependencies,
South America, Dutch Indies and China, for the Patent Kestner
Water-Tube Boiler. This boiler has had a great success in France,
where it is manufactured by Schneider & Cie., of I^ Creusot, and
is in use at many of the large municipal power stations.

It is announced in the '' I>ondon Gazette " that the following firms
hold Royal Warrants of Appointment :— 7'r> the Kin</. — Burt,
Escare & Denelle, electrical fittings, &c. ; Edison, Swan" Electric
Company, electric lamps ; Hart Accumulator Company, accumu-
lators; A. P. Lundberg & Sons, electrical accessories: Perry &
Company, electric light fittings; C. A. Vandervell & Company,
manufacturers of . electrical equipment for motor-cars. To the
Queen. — Tredeprs, Ltd., specialists in decorations and lighting. To
Queen Alexandra. — Edison, Swan Electric Company, electric lamps
and fittings; India Rubber, Gutta Percha & Telegraph Works Com-
pany, manufacturers of electric cables and wires, &c.

Educational.

As usual, young and old alike have crowded to the Christmas
juvenile lectures at the Royal Institution. Prof. J. A. Fleming
has chosen for his subject " Electric Waves and Wireless Telephony,"
and tlie fifth lecture of the series will be held to-morrow (Saturday)
at 3 p.m.

Bristol University, known as the University of the West, is
making an appeal for funds, the idea being to raise within five years
the sum of one million pounds. The University is still without any
endowment for many of the Chairs it maintains, including the chair
of electrical engineering, and these are absorbing revenue from
general sources which is urgently needed for other purposes.

The closing of the winter term of Finsbury Technical College
was marked by an interesting cinema lecture, given on Dec. 9,
before the staff and students of the engineering faculty. The chair
was taken by Mr. J. K. Catterson-Smith, chief electrical lecturer.
The film and projector were loaned by the British Thomson-Houston
Company, and showed the manufacture at Rugby of a B.T.H. Curtis
turbo-alternator, illustrating step by step the various processes in The
manufacture of both turbine and alternator, until the complete turbo-
alternator was seen under working conditions. The film included
scenes in the manufacture of a 40 000 h.p. turbo-alternator, the
largest power unit yet constructed in Gi'eat Britain. At the close
of the lecture the chairman, on behalf of those present, thanked Mr.
B. E. Williams, third year electrical student, as the originator in
the college of cinema lectures, for his painstaking efforts in bringing
about what had been a most instructive and interesting afternoon.

Institution Notes.

The next Annual Dinner of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Hotel Cecil.

Arrangements are being made for a Sujimer Meeting of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers to be held at Glasgow and
the Western Highlands in May or June next. The programme will
be similar to the one arranged for the meeting which was to have
been held in 1921.

The Electrical Engineers' Ball, 1922, will be held this season at
the Hotel Cecil on Friday, Feb. 10. Tickets may be obtained from
the joint secretaries. Messrs. A. M. Sillar and W. S. Lonsdale, at
104, Victoria-street, Westminster, S.W. 1: or from any member of
the committee on personal introduction.

Finsbury Technical College Old Students' Association are
holding a smoking concert at the Engineers' Club, Coventry-street,
W. , on Friday, Jan. 27. The chair will be taken by the president,
Mr. W. G. itead, ^t 8 p.m. (Tickets 2s. 6d. each.") An informal
dinner at 7 p.m. has been arranged. Tickets must be applied for
seven days beforehand. (Dinner 5s. 6d., payable at the club.)

The Committee of the Scottish Centre of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers ha<s decided to resume the annual dinner,
which has not been held since 1913. The dinner will take place
on Tuesday, February 28. at the Grosvenor Restaurant, Gordon
Street. Glasgow. Tickets 17s. 6d. each. — exclusive of wines — can
be obtained from the Convener of the Entertainments' Committee,
Mr. W. L. Winning, 166, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, or from
the Hon. Secretary. Mr. J. Taylor, 153, West George Street,
Glasgow.

There will be a general meeting of members of the Golf Circle
of the Engineers' Club on Wednesday, Jan. 18. at 6.30 p.m., m
the Kelvin Room, followed by a dinner in the Stephenson Room at
7.45 p.m. It is hoped to have six regular meetings from March to
October, leaving out July and August, and suitable courses are being
arranged. The Waldie Cup and the Club Challenge Cup will be
played for in medal and bogey rounds respectively at these meetings.
Other prizes are being arranged for, and full information will do
given at the meeting on Jan. 18.

In future the Council of the Institotion of Electrical
Engineers will award each year a maximum of six students' pre-
miums of £10 for iiapers read before the Institution, provided they
are of sufficient merit. The papers will be divided into the following

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

bix classes: — (1) Desij^ri and rriaiiufa<;tuie of electrical plant; (2)
generation and distribution of electric power; (3) utili«ati(m of
electric power (trfution, power and lighting, and electro-chemical) ;
(4) telegraphy and telephony; (5) wireless; (6) unclassified. In the
event of a premium not heing awarded in any eection, two premiums
may be given in aiKvthei' tiection.

The undermentioned have been appointed presidents and recorders
(to whom all communications should be sent) of the following
sections of the BamsH Association for the meeting to be held at
Hull on Sept. 6-13 next, under the presidency of Prof. C. S.
Sluirington : — Section A {Mdtltfmntirg and I'fiynirs) -. President,
Prof. G. H. Hardy; llecorder, Prof. A. O. Rankine, Imperial
College of Science and Technology, S.W. 7. Section B (CHemixtry) :
Pri-sident, Principal J. C. Irvine; Recorder, Prof. C. H. Desch.
University of Sheffield. Skction.G {Enr/ineerirtf/) : President, Prof.
T. Hudson Beare; Recorder, Prof. G. W. 0. Howe, Elmsw(X)d.
Maiden, Surrey. Section L (Kducation) : President, Sir Richaid
(fregory; Recorder, Mr. D. Berridge, 1, College Grounds, Malvern.

Imperial Notes.

Windsor (Queensland) Council has decided to apply for an Order-
in-Council for electricity supply in the town.

Blackhall (Queensland) Council has been granted a loan of £1 600
by the Government for the completion of the Council's electric supply
works.

The erection of the transmission line, 52 miles in lenj'th, from
the Gre.at Lake to ihe Northern end of Tasmania nas been
commenced.

N.ARBANDERA (N.S.W. ) Couiicil is acquiring the electrical generat-
ing plant of Messrs. Wise Brothers. The plant is to be used to
provide electric power for water pumping.

The distribution system in connection with the supply of electri-
city in LiTHGOW (N.S.W.) from the works of the Hoskins Iron &
Steel Company is now being carried out by Messrs. Ramsay, Sharp.
& Company.

LiSMORE (N.S.W.) Council has adopted a scheme by Mr. J. E.
Donoghue for establishing a municipal electricity undertaking at
an estimated expenditure of £32 163. The plant will include two
150 kW steam-driven alternators.

The Hobart correspondent of the " Industrial Australian " states
that the Marine Board have been asked to lease a site near the Ocean
Pier, Hobart, for the electrolytic maniifactltie of pigments. It
is stated that 500 h.p. of electrical energy will be used in the process.

A wireless telephony service between Tasmania and Victoria
is contemplated. A temporary station is being erected at Launces-
ton, and will be equipped with American apparatus. Mr. G.
Apperley and Mr. W. H. Conray are superintending the experiments.

Mr. C. B. Davies, who has been engaged to report on the de-
sirability of transmitting electricity to Zeehan (Tasmania) from the
Lake Margaret station of the Mount Lyell Company, has expressed
the opinion that a large demand can be anticipated and that the line
could be constructed within nine months.

After long discussion of the subject and many negotiations,
Wollongong (N.S.W.) has at last secured its supply of electricity
from the Public Works Department's power house at Port Kembla.
, The supply was inaugurated early in November. The installation
of the distribution system was carried out bv Ramsay, Sharp & Co.,
of Sydney, the contract price being £12 006.

According to a Reutcr's message from Johannesburg, the Chamber
of Mines has notified the South African Industri^al Federation of
the termination of certain wage agreements, and their intention
to withdraw from the status quo in connection with the differentia-
tion in the employment of white and coloured labour. The electrical
power companies have declined to enter into fiu'ther conference
with the federation, or to discuss the increased minimum rates
of pay recently demanded by the trade unions.

The New South Wales Government proposes the following terms
in connection with the raising of a district loan to enable the
Nymboida hydro-electric scheme to be carried : Currency, 10
years ; interest not exceeding 5^ per cent. ; deposit, 25 per cent. ;
balance payable in three quarterly instalments ; bonds not to be
negotiated during the cun-ency of the loan. A special prospectus
will not be necessary, as in October last a prospectus was I'^sued
calling for subscriptions for a loan of £3 000 000 for hydrc^-electric
and other public works.

The annual report of the Tasmanian State Hydro-Electric
Department shows the capital expenditure to date to be
£2 055 043. Compared with 1918, the units generated increased
from 16 500 000 to 38 486 000, and those sold from 14 256 000 to
32 593000; the total connexions numbered 14 705, against 9 205.
During the year the consumers connected increased by 29 per cent. ,
units sold by 26 per cent., working costs by 25 per cent., and
revenue by 26 per cent. Taking the department as a whole, it
has been able to balance its accounts after providing for all
interest charges, working and management expenses, and also
providing £10 610 for the depreciation account (1^ per ceniti.
on capital investment), which is regarded as ample in present
circumstances. It is estimated, the " Times Trade Supplement "
states, that the Great Lake scheme, which will increase the power
to 58 000 h.p., cnn be completed bv the middle of 1922 for an
additional £800 000.

Forei^ Notes.

Increased tramway and omnibus farei! are lo conie into opcraii'.^!. :t.
Paris on the 22nd inst.

Improved lighting for I'abih street« i«s provided for in the

Municipal Budget of Parii for 1922.

The Manila Hailkoad Company contemplates the atili*-'' -- - •' *•-!*

water power of the Agno Kiver in Central Luzon for j

electric current for traction. It i* estimated that froii .
15 000 h.p. is available.

Official telegraphic communicatiotui, which were broken off when
the revolution broke out, have been opened again between Sovnn
Russia and Sweden, without any restrictions whatsoever, and at a
lower rate than before the war.

Last week's "Manchester Gnardian Commercial" contains ai
article on Russian reconstruction by Herr Felix D*- i"
managing director of the Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesell ' ."
Berlin, who recently propounded a scheme for Anglo-Genna/i
operation in the rehabilitation of Russian trade.

An Exchange Telegraph message from Berlin states that iht-
Siemens-Schuckert Werke, which is pan of the Stinnes electrr.-
mining trust, lias concluded an agreement with a Chin- i

for the erection of works at .Shanghai and for the forr i

new company which will push the sale in China of goo :i , -i

by the Stinnes companies.

The South Swedish Electric Power Compant has negotiated a
12 000 000 kronor 6 per cent, bond loan, with five Swedish banks, at
an issue price of 100 5 per cent. The loan is lepayable between 1926
and 1945, and the bonds are in denominations of 10 000, 5 000. and
1 000 kronor. The company has a ^Kare capital of 10 592 400 kronor.
reserve fund of-2 468 000 kronor, and a redemption fund of 1 198 000
kronor. The last three dividends have been 8. 10, and 8 per cent.
i-espective)y.

The formation of a big hydro-electric group in the neighbour-
hood of St. Eticjnne and Grenoble is being considered by tha French
Ministry of Public Works. According to present proposals the
firms concerned will be the Cie. Electrique de la Loire et du Centre,
the Cie. Hydro-electrique de I'Auvergne, Soc. des Forces Motricee
de la Loire, Acieries et Forges de Firminy, the Union Electrique,
and the Soc. des Forces Motrices de la Truyere. The chief need for
such a combination is the difficulty experienced by indiTidual
members in diy years owing to irregularity of supply. To guard
against this eventuality there will be four main transmission lines
passing respectively through St. Etienne. Roanne, and Commentry :
St. Chely d'Apscher, Firminy, and St. Etienne; Grenoble. St.
Chamond, and St. Etienne; Roanne and Villefranche-s.-Saone.

As a result of the abolition of Government subsidies in Austria
the price of goods and various services has risen considerably.
There has been an increase in electncity charges, in railway and
tramway fares, and in postal and telegiaph rates. As already
announced, a scheme is being launched to develop the country".'^
water power. This provides for the combined working of all the
valuable water powers in Styria and of the steam-driven plants near
the Crown coal pits. The total concessions will provide 450 000 h.p.
The financing of the scheme has been undertaken by a syndicate of
the large Vienna banks and the credit institutions of Stvria.
The Government have rect ved offers from the Vickers and Arm-
strong companies for the purchase of the great Woellersdorf arsenal,
which would be converted into works for the manufacture of loco-
motives for the Balkans.

The freight locomotives recently shipped by the Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing Company to the Faulista Railways
OF Brazil are now in service between Jundiahy and Louveira.
These are claimed to be the first electric locomotives to be used
in Brazil. The new locomotives, the " R.ailway Gazette " state^.
haul tiains of from 43 to 45 units over j;.ades as steep as 1-5 pee
cent. The so-called "unit car" is of 10 tons gross weight, and
the term refers to the old wooden car of tSiirty years ago. Modern
cars are said to be two, three, or four unites, according to then-
size and load. Thus a train of 45 units represents 450 tons weigh*,
and is approximately 675 ft. in length. Under f .rmer steam orer.i-
tion such trains could not be carried over a 15 per cent, -rade at
a speed greater than 15 km. per hour. The We-<tin3oij«e Ux<«>-
motives negotiate sucih grades at 45 kin. per hour, which means
tripling the capacity of the t«rack and greatly increasing the speed
of handling freight.

The project for linking the Rhine vtith thx Danube is now
taking definite shape, according to a Berlin correepondent of the
" Timea Trade Supplement." The preparatory organisation is alnxist
complete, and a joint stock company is to be floated t<i carry out the
work. The scheme adopted involves the construction of a waterway
from Aschaffenburg-on-the-Main, via Bamberg. Xuremberg, and
Regensburg, to Pa<sau. the impmvement of the Upper Danube
bet\veen Kelheini and Ulm, construction of junction canals for
navigation to Munich and Augsburg, and the development of
hydro-electric power on a large scale. Forty hydro-electric power
stations are to be installed along the new waterway with an
estimated capacity of 400 000 h.i. It is hoped to complete the
entire scheme within twenty ye-irs. The construction company will
be known as the RheinM r." D.ui.in AG., .md will have a total

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

capital«of 900 000 000 marks (nomLnallv £45 000 000). As sooii as
sections of the waterway are available for navigation they will
become State property, but the company will retain the power
stations for 100 years, after which they will be taken over by the
Government.

A message from Rome, dated Dec. 29, states that the continuous
drought is causing an " electric famine," which will probably render
the winter one of the most disastrous in the history of Italy.
Already reservoirs which supply electric power for the industries of
Lombardy, Piedmont, and Liguria are reduced 50 per cent. The
Mont Cenis reservoir, it is stated, will be dry in twenty days. This
will cause the stoppage of supplies to nearly all the factories in
Turin. Factories have reduced working hours to thirty-two a week.
Tramway services have been cut down, and steam has replaced elec-
tricity on many lines. At the Fiat works this temporary difficulty
has been met by the installation of 25-35 h.p. agricultural tractors-
for driving machinery. More than 150 of these tractors are being
used, the power developed by them totalling more than 5 000. The
use of agricultural tractors for driving machinery is not new, but
this appears to be the first time they have been employed on such an
extensive scale. No special installation is necessary for the use of
tractors. Belt connection is made from the tractor driving pulley to
the overhead shafting for a group of machine tools, or, if necessary,
direct to the machine tool, and the change speed mechanism of the
tractor is made use of if necessary. In order to avoid the repetition
of a temporary shortage of the hydro-electric supply, extensive work
is being carried out in the Italian Alps to form artificial reserves of
wpter which can be brought into use on such occasions as this.

Latin- American Engineering Progress in 1921.

While several important engineering contracts were arranged
during 1921 in Latin America, little new construction was actually
commenced ; railway building fell off owing to the high cost of labour
and disputes ; modified wages, however, were agreed upon and many
labour difficulties arranged during the last months of the y-ear,
leaving a clearer field for 1922.

Electric Railway Progress.

The Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway completed the line from
Stroeder to Patagones ; progress was made with the electrification
of the Buenos Aires Western Moreno branch ; an important contract
valued at £1 500 000 (7 000 000 dollars) was placed for the Santiago-
Valparaiso State line. In Brazil preliminary work proceeded in con-
nection with the Central Railway electrification. Small branch con-
structions were carried out in Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Honduras,
and El Salvador.

A small amount of railway construction took place in Cuba,
together with the erection of two or three additional sugar factories
electrically ©quipped. Port and harbour works, additional railway
mileage, and an electrically equipped sugar factory (the largest of
its kind) were carried out in tlie Central American States.

Brazil.

A concession for the development of the waterfalls on the Preto
River, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the waterfalls of the
Ayruocha River, State of Minas Geraes, was granted to a company
organised for the purpose.

An electro-metallurgical company was authorised to construct a
steel mill with electric furnaces, exvjmption from export duties on
machinery, motors, furnaces and equipment for the project being
granted for thirty years. The Brazil Electro-Metallurgical Company
was formed, with a capital of 6 000 contos of reis, to install two
electric furnaces at Ribeirao Preto with a daily output capacity of
60 tons of structural iron.

An official investigation of the waterfalls of Brazil showed that
they can produce electric energy of over thirty million h.p.

Argentinu.

A commencement was made upon the erection of the first Argen-
tine power fibre-plant at a cost of 5 000 000 dollars (moneda
naciondl)

Chile.

A contract was entered into for the erection at Valparaiso of an
iodizing copper plant by the Compania Yoduradora de Cobre,
capitalised at £200 000 sterling. A British-Chilean Syndicate,
capitalised at £12 000 000, was formed to carry through important
engineering contracta. Important irrigation schemes are to be
carried out.

Colombia.

An iron bridge was erected at La America section of the Medellin
(Anti(X|uia) tramway.

A proposal for the irrigation of 40 000 hectares of land in the
Phims of Toli-na was adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture and
C'Oinmerce.

Mexico.

Large irrigation schemes were also authorised in this State.
Authority was given for the construction of a pipe line and oil re-
finery at a point lu-nr Rio Tuxpan, with powci-s to lay branch pipc-
nu>s, water and gas-lines, telegraph and telephone lines, and electric
light and power cables, and to build a refinery near Mexico City.

Keiiter's Trade Service Special.

South African Contracts.

The "Financial Nevws " reports that German goods are coming
into the South Africajj market in increasing quantities, and recently
German firms or agencies secured some important contracts for
electrical and hydraulic plant from the Rand Water Board. The
National Trading Company (on behalf of the Mannesmann Tube
Company, of Dusseldorf ) olatained a contract for 229 300 ft. of steel
pipes at £276 223. Stewarts & Lloyd (S.A.) Ltd., submitted the
lowest tender for steel pipes of British manufactui'e at £392 476.
An order for electric pumping plant and an overhead crane was
given to Mr. C. Kleudgen for plant made in Germany, the amount
being £7 828. The next tender (for Swiss pumps and English elec-
trical plant) was £9 307 ; but the lowest tender for all British plant
was £9 853, or £2 025 more than the German price. The pumps are
being made by Amag-Hilpert of Nurnberg, and the electric motors
by the Siemens Schuckert Company, and the crane by the Findeiden
firm of Chemnitz. In respect of the pumps, the chief engineer found
that the firm had fully grasped the Board's requirements. Regard-
ing the electrical plant, the engineer reported that the offer was a
complete one in every way. " The electric motors were larger and
heavier, the insulation of the windings was of a better quality, and
the temperature rise at full load less than that put forward by any
British manufacturer." Moreover, the whole of the Board's general
conditions and specification, including penalties, terms of payment,
&c. , and the whole of the prices were firm, and not subject to any
variation in exchange, freightage, &c.

Exceptions taken to the Board's Conditions.

Habert Davies & Company tendered for Swiss pumps and English
electric motors, but certain exceptions were taken to the Board's
conditions, while Messrs. Webber & Gillham, who sent the lowest
all-British tender, stated that they ,vere not prepared to accept the
following : — (1) Guarantee the insulation resistance, (2) full penalties
for low efficiency, (3) to test plant at their works under load, (4)
responsibilities for mistakes uiiHer a certain clause of the conditions,
(5) penalty for late delivery. (6) Board's engineer as sole arbitrator,
and (7) Board's terms of payment, and (8) they also required some
modification of the tests to be applied to the plant after erection.
According to the Board's engineer, the alterations to the general
conditions and specification were of such magnitude that it made it
impossible for the Board to consider the tender.

Other tenders accepted by the Board are as follow : — Blane &
Company, for a Paterson rapid gravity filter plant, £15 458; \\ebber
& Gillham, two turbo-centrifugal pumps having a normal capacity of
5-5 million gallons per day against a head of 570 ft. (£19 6oii) ; and
two Allen steam turbines and Metropolitan-Vickers electrical genera-
tors (£16 971).

Customs and Tariff Alterations.

According to the latest aniondmonts to the Australian Customs
Tariff, the British Preferential Tariff on electrical machines and
appliances, including electric heating and cooking appliances : electric
fittings, consisting wholly or partly of inet^al, viz., switches, fuses,
and lightning arresters, n.e.i. ; regulating, starting and controlling
apparatus for all electrical purposes, including distributing boards
and switchboards, n.e.i.; dynamo electric machines; static trans-
formeis and induction coils for all purposes, unless otherwise
expressly provided, electric fans, is to be 27^ per cent, ad val. The
intermediate tariff on these articles is 35 per cent, and the general
ixariff 40 per cent.

Activities in China.

The following electrical activities in China are reported from
official sources : —

Specifications for power-house machinery, rails, rolling stock, and
workshop equipment for the Peking Electric "Tramway Company
are now in preparation.

The China Electric Company propose to build the Harbin Electric
Railway, and a contract has been signed with an American
engineering company.

Preparations are in progress for the establishment of a company
to undertake the construction of tramways in Hankow.

Petitions have been addressed to the Ministry of Agriculture and
Commerce by a Tsinan merchant for the construction of tramways
in the city. The Ministry has dispatched representatives to make
investigations before official approval is granted.

The authorities of the Peking-Suiyuan Railway are drawing up
plans for the installation of electric brakes along the entire line.

The Yau Hua Electric Company at Hsu Shih-kwan, Soochow, L

started business on Oct. 1. The company has just ordered a larger I

plant from a Shanghai firm to be installed in Hsu Shih-kwan.

The Kwang Hwa Electrical Light Company, established at
Laohokow (Hupeh) with a capital of $70 000, has been registered at
the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce.

The Ministries of Interior, Agriculture and Commerce, and
Communications have approved of an electric company at Peitaiho.

The Lee Hua Electric Light Company in Tsing Kiang-pu, Kiangsu,
is to be opened almost immediately. 2 000 lamps have been installed.

Li Chia-ju and others have organised the Hanyang Electric
Company and requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce
and the Ministry of Communications for registration.

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

Miscellaneous.

The address of the Trade Facilities Act Advisory Committ«e
. ifi now 17, Throgmorton-avenue, E.G. 2.

As from Dec. 30 the rate of interest to be allowed on sums
deposited with the Inland Revenue Commissioners for the purpose
of satisfying any excess profits duty will be 3 per cent per annum.

Electrical plant valued at several tliousands of pounds was
destroyed by a FraE which broke out laet week in an armature
workshop at Portsmouth Dockyard. The cause of the fire is
unknown.

New companies registered in Scotland in 1921 numbered 424,
with a total capital of £7 020 801. Seven were gas and electricity
companies with a combined nominal capital of £75 000, against four
in the previous year with a total capital of £25 000.

In the course of a visit of inspection to the Underground Railways
last week, the members of the Japanese delegation of business men
were taken to the Lots-road, Chelsea, power house, which has a
capacity of 78 000 kW.

We are asked by Mr. C. P. Kininmonth to state that the coal-
handling plant of the City of London Electric Lighting Company,
described in last week's issue of The Electrician, was made by
Henry Simon, Ltd., Manchester.

The first five commercial research fellowships instituted by the
executive council of the British Empire E.xhibition for competition
among the Chambers of Commerce in the United Kingdom have
been awarded to the Chambers of Commerce of London, Glasgow,
Norwich, Warrington, and Oldham.

The December number of " The Bombshell." the house organ of
Thos. Firth & Sons, contains, among other interesting articles, a
short history of the firm since its establishment in 1850. The
pamphlet, which consists of forty-two pages, is well illustrated, and
makes good reading for outsiders as well as for the firm's employees.

With the January issue the " Journal of Industrial Welfare " has
changed its name to " Industrial Welfare." The number contains
many interesting articles, including one on " Industry Humanised,"
by Mr. Arthur Henderson, M.P., and another by Mr. Albert Barratt,
chairman of Barratt & Co., on " Making Co-Partnership a Success."

Hughes and Young, Patent Agents, London, state that the number

of ArPLIC.\TIONS FOR PATENTS FILED DURING 1921 will sllOW a sHght

decrease compared with the 1920 figures. The number will exceed
35 000 against 37 000 last year. The principal inventions for which
patents have been obtained are electrical appliances. These also head
the list in numbers.

The lat« Sir Charles Douglas Fox, J.P., civil, mechanical, and
electrical engineer, one of the joint engineei's of the Mersey
Tunnel, the Liverpool Overhead Railway, the Metropolitan Division
of the Great Central Railway, the Great Northern and City Railway,
and the Hampstead Tube, has left estate valued at £45 766 (net
personalty £44 988).

The B.T.-H. Amateltr Operatic and Dramatic Society (amateur
theatrical section of the B.T.-H. Recreation Club) recently produced
at Rugby Hippodrome, by kind permission of Mr. Rupert D'Oyly
Carte, " The Yeoman of the Guard." This is the eighth play the
society have produced, six of which have been by Gilbert and
Sullivan. The play ran for a week, and was very successful.

Mr. C. F. MusGRAVE, secretary of the London Chamber of Com-
merce, advocates the appointment of commercial experts to the
etaffs of British Embassies and legations to act in liaison with the
Consulates ; and urges that the Consuls should be empowered to
engage the services of qualified commercial experts in preparing
reports and making inquiries on trade matters outside judicial or
routine work.

The Industrial League and Council has issued a syllabus of
lectures and discussions on Industrial Subjects to be held every
Wednesday evening at 7.30 p.m. at Caxton Hall, Westminster,
S.W. 1, from Jan. 4 to March 29. Admission is free to all meetings,
and no tickets are necessary. The League will be pleased to supply
further particulars on application to the General Secretary,
Grosvenor-mansions, 82, Victoria-street, S.W. 1.

The newly formed Transport and General Workers' Union
began operations in large offices at Central-buildings, Westminster,
on Tuesday. Fourteen unions concerned with road and wat-er
transport are represented, and two others are balloting on the
question of joining. The total membership is about 420 000. The
president is Mr. Harry Gosling, and the general secretary and
chief adviser of the whole scheme is Mr. Ernest Bevin.

A recent publication of the Bureau of Standards, Washington,
contains a brief description of the occurrence, collection and pre-
paration of Crude Rubbers, of the manufacture of a number of
rubber goods, such as tyres, inner tubes, hose, sundries, and moulded
goods. The Bureau's methods of physical and chemical testing are
described in detail. This publication is now ready for distribution,
and anyone interested may obtain a copy by addressing a request 1o
the Bureau until the free stock is exhausted.

At the fifth Small- Power Enginekring and Scijentitic Sxhibi-
riON, to be held at the Horticultural Hall, Weslmiufcter, early ihiB
month, besides the exhibits of the makers of models and scientific
machinery and appliances, there will be shown the handiwork of
amateur engineers and inventors, entered for the championship cup
for the beet exhibit in the show. These include three electric motor
launches, the work of a Thames policeman.

The action of the Manchester Corporation in redccing the
wages of the maintenance woirker.'3 of the Tramways and Gae
Departments by 2d. an hour in the case of the skilled men, and
Ijcl. ail hour in the case of the semi-skilled and the un.skilled, ha-
been endorsed by the Industrial Court, to which the matter was
submitted for arbitration. The Corporation aleo reducerl at the
same time the wages of the maintenance workers of the Electricity
Department by these amounts, but this department has an Industrial
Council of its own, to which the dispute 3o far as it affects the
electricity men has been refeired.

At the Guildhall, recently, Aid. Sir T. Vansittart Bowater
fined Frederick Alex. Oppenheim, assistant manager of the Trade
and Finance Syndicate, for unlawfully giving a bribe of £3 to
Harold W. Camp, an officer of the I»ndon Telephone Service. It
was stated that in consequence of complaints about the firm not
getting calls from {?witzerland, Mr. Camp went to the offices of
the syndicate, where he expljiined that all calls were taken in
rotation, and it was impossible for any preference to be shown.
As he was leaving, Mr. Oppenheim remarked, "See that we ^et
our Swiss calls through the same as other people," and put in his
hand an envelope containing three £1 notes.

In addition to the reduction in rates announced in our i.ssue of
Dec. 23, the English and Welsh railway companies have decided to
revert to the free periods allowed in pre-war days for the loading
and unloading of wagons, and the use of sheets used in the convey-
ance of merchandise other than coal, coke, and patent fuel. The
effect of this concession, which will operate as a temporary measure
for twelve months as from Jan. 1, is that traders will save charcres
for demurrage to the extent of one million days per annum, 'fhe
question will be reviewed at the end of 1^22. The companies also
announce a reduction in the charges for shipping cojil and coke at
the North-East and Humber ports. South Wales ports have alrc-ady
introduced lower charges.

The charge of " profiteering " is one that is easily launched, and
in many cases no evidence is given in support of it." However, the
following letter in the " Daily Mail " of Friday— assuming the
facts are as stated — ^ves a clear case of " profiteering " : " Sir, — Wo
tendered to a firm in Manchester for 20 000 electrical fittings and
offered them a keen price. As a trial order we undertook to make
5 000 of these articles. When the work was partly done the question
arose as to our taking an order for the balance of the 20 000. but we
declined as the price was too fine. Our customers then informed us
that they could not possibly pay more, but later when our repre-
sentative called at their retail shop he was asked 3s. 6d. e-ach for the
articles for which we were charging 3s. per dozen. Thi^ is 1 300 per
cent, profit. Do not you agree that the sooner the law is amended
to stamp out this sort of thing the better it will be for all concerned ?
We think that this will prove to your readers tiiat it is not the
manufacturer but the retailer who is profiteering. — NoRTia'MBRiAN."

Hydro-EIectriv; Power in Argentina.

The scheme for the utilisation of the; great Falls of Iguaiv, on
the borders of Argentina and Brazil, is not progressing verj" lipidly.
and efforts are being made to interest American financiers in the
subject, though it is probable that the work will eventually be
carried out either by the Waterworks Departmejit of the Argentine
Government or by a Joint Commission of the Argentine and Brazilian
Governments. About twelve months ago a committee of engineer?
report.ed that there were no insuperablf engineering difficulties to
be overcome, and that diu-ing ten months of the year 125 000 kW.
allowing for transmission losses, could be delivered in Buenos Aires.
For that purpose twelve Francis turbines, of 25 000 h.p. each, would
be required, two being held in reserve, while the power could be
increased by the construction of dams, which need not necessaiily
interfere with the scenic beauties of the falls. During two months
of the year, however, the power delivered at Buenos Aires would be
only 76 250 kW. The question of distributing power along the nnite
to Buenos Aires and also of constructing a branch transmission
line to Rosario de Sante Fe, is regarded as of minor imp)ortajice.
since 80 per cent, of the power would be alisorbed by Buenos Aires.
The plans provide for the development of 150 000 h.p.. to be in-
creased lated to 300 000 h.p. Four transmission lines would be built,
and to guard against interruption of the supply each would be of
sufficient capacity to carry all the power needed. It is estimated
that between six to eight millions sterling would represent the cost
of the scheme, the actual work requiring perhaps two and a half
years. Auxiliary power could be obtained from the Uruguay River
and 30 000 h.p. could be generated by a hydnvclectric plant at Salto
Grande. Before the commercial practicability of the scheme can be
settled, a careful examination of the question of labour is necessary.
The temperature at the falls is about 45°C., which not only
prevents European or American labour from being employed, but
also favours the rapid propivgation of disease. There are also trans-
port and other difficulties to be surmounted.

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Maldens and Coombe Urban Council. Jan. 10.— Two 10 b.h.p.
horizontal electric motors, starting gear, &c., and electric lighting in
the subsidiary pumping station at Blake's-lane ; one 2i-ton electric
lorry with tipping body ; and mercury vapour rectifier outfit. Par-
ticulars from the Engineer and Surveyor, Municipal Offices, New
Maiden.

DiTBUN Electricity Committee. Jan. 11. — 30 h.p. three-phase
motor. Particulars and forms of tender from the City Electrical
Engineer, Fleet-etreet, Dublin.

London County Council. Jan. 12.— Electric passenger lift, to
lift a load of 11^ cwt., at Geoffrey House, Tabard Estate, Ber-
mondsey, S.E. 1. Specification from the Chief Engineer, Gloucester
House (Room 91), 19, Charing Cross-road, W.C. 2.

Peterborough Corporation. Jan. 12. — One 3000 kW turbo-
alternator, with condensing plant, two 750 kW rotary converters,
two 100 kW motor converters, e.h.t. and l.t. switchgear ; steam,
water and drain pipes, &c. Specifications from the City Electrical
Engineer.

Leeds Electricity Department. Jan. 12. — Single-phase watt-
meters, minimum number required 2 000. Particulars from Mr.
C. Nelson Hefford, Manager, Electricity Department, 1, Whitehall-
road, Leeds.

East Ham Corporation. Jan. 12 : — Extension No. 4. Sec. A :
1 600 kW rotary or motor converter, for converting 3-phase 60
period 6 600 V to d.c. 480-500 V ; Extension No. 4 S. Sec. A : e.h.t.
and l.t. switchgear and connections. Particulars from Mr. W. C.
Ullmann, Nelson-street, East Ham, E.

Edinburgh Corporation. Jan. 19. — Electric lighting installation
in Public Washhouse, Causewayside, Edinlmrgh. Specification, &c..
from the City Electrical Engineer, Dewar-place. Edinburgh.

Worthing Corporation. Jan. 23. — One Diesel engine and c.c.
dynamo ; and vulcanised bitumen-sheathed paper-insulated concen-
tric and triple concentric cable. Specifications, &c., from the
Borough Electrical Engineer.

Metropolitan-Vicker.s Electrical Company, Cardiff.— Wiring
for the electric lighting and heating of their new premises in Custom
House-fitreet.

AUSTRALIA.

CiTT Eleotrio Light Company, Ltd., Brisbane.— Feb. 10, 1922,
— *Supply and delivery of six milee of three-core 016 by 016 by 015
paper insulated cable, suitable for 6 500 V, with a' non-earthed
system. _ Tenders, accompanied by a preliminary deposit of £100, to
the Engineer and Manager, Boundary-street, Brisbane.

Australian Commonwealth Government, Feb. 16 : — 30 tons ap-
proximate WIieat.ston6 tape paper white (Schedule 644). Particulars
from the Supply Officer, Australia House, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Victorian Government Railways.— Feb. 16.— *Supply and
delivery of : (1) Fifty track relays,, four front and two back con-
tacts, fifty track relays, eight front and two back contacts, fifty line
relays, six front and two back contacts (Contract No 34 739) ; (2) 100
three-position line relays (Contract No. 34 740) ; (3) 100 electric signal
mechanisms (Contract No. 34 738); (4) electro-mechanical interlock-
ing apparatus (Contract No. 34 822) ; (6) fifty miles insulated copper
wire (Contract No. 34 823). Local representation is essential.

New South Wales Government Railways and Tramways
Department (Electrical Engineer's Branch).— Feb. 22 1922 —
•Supply, delivery, erection and maintenance of one 5 000 kW
50 cycle turbo-alternator with condenser and accessoriee, at Zarra-
street power house, Newcastle. (Contract No. 566.) Tenders on
proper forms and accompanied by a preliminary cash deposit, to
the Secretary for Railways, Phillip-street, Sydney, NSW Local
representation is essential.

MuNxcn-Ai, Councu, of Sydney (Electricity Department).
.April in.— hupply, delivery, and erection of two 2 000 kW rotarv
converters; one 10000 to 12 000 kW tnrho-altcrnator.
NEW ZEALAND.

Post and Telegraph Department. Jan. 17.— *25 000 dry cells for
telephone work.

Borough Council of Palmersion North. Original closing date
Sept 24 Extended date not yet decided.-'Service meters: {a)
Single-phase. 230 V, 400 5 A. 150 10 A, 60 16 A • three-phase
baanced load 400 V. 100 10 A, 30 26 A. 16 50 A, 10 75 A 5%% A.'
(b) la 50 kVA single-phase transformers, 'vith oil, complete-
icSrfer. ""^ • """"^ '■ ''"'*""' ^"'^ ""^ ^^'S; spare part's and

Ltttelton. Public Works Tenders Board of New Zealand.

Jan. 31.- Two o^omplele sets of 3 phase automatic oil circuit

breakers suitable for 6 600 V. 1200 A capacity, four sets of d s

connecting switches for isolating the oil switches, and one 6 600 V

I'lurPnl T "P*^"*^'' switch for main transformer switches at

wiu-,^? 1 *^%''°'''i'"r,*'"'"''- ^^"'^^^ ^° t*^® Secretary, Public
Works fenders Board, Government Buildings, Wellin^tx^n

Public Works Dei-aktment. Wellington. Feb. 28.— 'Supplv and
.lolivery. ex sh.n'K elmg^ Lytt^vlton. of a bank of three fl 000 V
reacUnces. complete, for the Lake Coleridge electric power scheme.
"' Pardcvlart from the Department of Overseas Trade.

Public Works Tenders Board, Waikato Power Scheme.
March 6. — * (Section 45) two 2 600 kWa alternators, three-phase,
50 cycle, 5 000 V, at 166^rds rev. per min., with a power factor
of -8. Excitation at 220 V. (Section 46) two 3 100 h.p. water tur-
bines of the double-runner Francis type to operate the generators
mentioned in Section 45. (Section 47) two exciter sets, each con-
sisting of one 200 kW d.c. generator, and one 350 h.p. asynchronous
motor, together with a Tirrill regulator. The generator shall have
an output of 220 V, with a full-load current of 7 000 A. The
motor shall be of 350 h.p., with a power supply of 400 V, three-phase,
60 cycle. The synchronous speed of the sets shall be 750.
(Section 48) four Stoney sluice gates for the pits, appertaining to
tho turbines mentioned in Section 46. Tenders to the Secretary,
Public Works Tenders Board, Government Buildings, Wellington.

Auckland Harbour Board. April 26. — Four double-barrel elec-
tric winches for the Central Wharf, Auckland. Specifications from
W. & A. McArthur, 18-19, Silk-street, Cripplegate, London, E.C. 2.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Municipal Electricity Supply Undertaking of the City of
Port Elizabeth. Jan. 31. — Supply of electrical plant.

Public Works Department of the Union of South Africa.
Feb. 1. — Conduit and conduit fittings. Particulars from the Elec-
trical Engineer, Public Works Department, Pretoria.

SOUTH AMERICA.

Chilean State Railways, Feb. 4, 1922* : — 1 electric compressor;
1 air storage drum and 1 continuous current electric motor (70 h.p.) ;
1 300 electric filament lamps for locomotives ; 38 wall telephones.

Argentine Ministry of Public Works. Feb. 21, 1922. — *Nine
electric motors, 36 tip waggons, 1 centrifugal pump with electric
motor. Specification expected at the Department of Overseas Trade
by Dec. 2S.

BULGARIA.

Bulgarian Direction of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones
Jan. 10, 1922.— Supply of sixty 60-line and fifteen 100-line tele-
phone exchanges. Particulars and drawings may be obtained from
the Bulgarian Legation, 3, Queensberrv-place, S.W. 7.

Bulgarian Dfiartment of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones.
Jan. 25. — *1C0 000 porcelain insulators.

Bulgarian Department of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones.
January 30. — *Supply of the following parts for telephone
exchanges: 2 200 subsaribers' line indicators, 600 indicators (end
of conversion), 2 600 jacks, 1600 plugs, 2 000 connecting pieces,
20 000 switchboajrd connecting pieces.

Bulgarian Department of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones.
Feb. 8. *Supply of the following telegraphic accessories : — Twenty
terminal boxes for 40-pair cable, 1 000 combined lightning arresters
and 1 A fuses, 500 combined lightning arrestci's in fuses (different
type), 300 transformers, 700 condensers (2 micro-farad), twenty junc-
tion-boxes with protective devices for 40-pair cable.

Bulgarian Department of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones.
February 20. — *2 000 telephone instruments for table use, with
local battery and magneto. Also for spare parts for these instru-
ments.

Bedford Town Council has accepted the tender of C. & A.
Parsons & Company for a 1 500 kW turbo-alternatoi', with circulating
pumps, &c., at £17 976.

Cannock Urban Council have accepted the following tenders for
the supply of cables, switcliboards, and transformers : British
Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd., £5 899; Ferranti, Ltd..
£4 084 10s. ; British Electric Transformer Co., £3 954 10s. ; and
Reyrolle and Co., £973 10s.

Bermondsey (London) Council have accepted the tender of
Ferranti, Ltd., for d.c. meters at the following prices. — 24 2^ A,
£3 10s. each; 12 10 A. £4 166. each; 12 20 A, £6 12s. 9d. each :
two 6 A two-rate, £7 13s. each ; two 10 A two-rate, £8 5s. 6d. each ;
two 20 A two-rate, £8 16s. each.

Eastbourne Corporation recently received the following tenders
for a 2 50C kW single-phase turbo-alternator with condensing
plant :—W. H. Allen, Sons & Company. £19 598 (accepted); Escher.
Wyss & Company, £20 417; Ateliere de Construction Oerlikon,
£21333; British Thom.son-Houston Company, £23 763; Frazer &
Chalmers' Engineering Works, £23 839: Belliss & Morcom, £23 893:
Brush Electrical English Company. £23 965 (for 2 000 kW set):
English Electric Company, ' £23 990 ; Richardsons, Westgarth &
Company, £24 091; J. Howden & Company, £24 317; Metropolitan-
Vickers Electrical Company, £24 470; and C. A. Parsons & Com-
pany, £25 640.

The following tenders were received for the condensing plant
only: — Mirrlees. Watson & Company, £5 703; Cole, Marcnant &
Morley & Company, £5 815; Hick, Hargreaves &" Company, £5 834:
Richardsons. Westgarth & Company. £6 379; Worthington, Simp.son,
£6 623; and G. & J. Weir, £7 667."

For a water-tube boiler, with mechanical stoker, eoonomiser, coal
bunkers, chimney, induced-draught fan, and engine and pipework.
the following submitted tenders — Stirling Boiler Company, £16 765
(accepted); British Niclausse Boiler Company, £17 000; Spearing
Boiler Company, £17 746: John Thompson Watertube Boilers,
£17 910; Babco^k & Wilcox, £18 124; and Clarke, Chapman & Com-
pany, £20 542.

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

Companies' Meetin;«s, Reports, &c.

Th« net profits of Durelco, Lid., for the year ended Sept. 30
amounted to £10 191.

The Beix Telephone Company of Canada has declared a divLd«nil
of 2 per cent, on the capital stock.

The directors of Edgar Allen & Company announce an interim
dividend at the rate of 6d. per share, tax free, for the half yeer
ended Sept. 30.

At an extraordinary meeting of shareholders of Claud Hamilton.
held in Glasgow last week, special resolutions relating to increase of
capital, &c. , were confirmed.

The Shanghai Electric Constrttction Company announce a
second interim dividend at the rate of 6 per cent, actual (125. per
share), less tax, in respect of the yeaj- 1921.

The directois of Rxjston & Hobnsby, Ltd., are unable to authorise
the payment of the half-yearly dividend on the 5 per cent, and 6 per
cent, cumulative preference shares, due on Jan. 1.

The Stock Exchange Committee have granted official quotations to
507 897 £1 fully paid ordinary and 530 067 £1 fully paid 7 per cent,
cumulative preference shares of Tube Investments, Ltd., and
£130 000 5-2 per cent, redeemable debenture stock of the Yorkshire
Electric Power Company.

The report of the Canadian Western Natural Gas, Light, Heat
& Power Company for the year ended Sept. 30, with which is incor-
porated the accounts of the Calgary Gas Company, shows a net
loss of .f 213 512. The net loss in the previous year amounted to
$101 607. The balance S'heet now shows a total debit balance to
profit and loss of ,§60 650.

"*^The profit of Isle of Thanet Electric Tramways and LicnrrNG
Company for the year ended Sept. 30, 1921, was £31 448, and the
total receipts amount to £105 628. Allocations to the various reserve
funds total £16 078; written off cost of motor vehicles, £864. The
half-year's dividend, due in July, 1908, was paid on the preference
shares, leaving to be carried forward £3 972, against £4 284
brought in.

The report of the Societb Industrielle du Radium for the year
ending June 30 states that the shareholders' response to the issue of
£25 000 10 per cent, cumulative participating preference shares was
much too small to justify going to allotment, and the directors are
therefore obtaining requisite funds from a syndicate which is being
formed for the purpose of developing the mine, installing additional
plant and treating the ore. The mine was once more unwatered a
few weeks ago, and is being worked with satisfactory results.
The accounts show a loss of £201, making debit balance £14 834.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the Low Temperature Car-
bonisation Company, in London, last week, Sir Hy. Goold-Adams
said that a large quantity of coal had been carbonised. All this
smokeless coal had been sold. No fewer than 30 000 gallons of oil
had also been dealt with. Negotiations with a view of fixing up
contracts were now being carried on with colliery firms here and
abroad. With a plant of twenty retorts they had proved that it
was possible to put up a low carbonisation plant that would pay.
They also considered they had successfully solved the problem of
by-products. The result of the experiment at Barnsley was absolute
and conclusive.

In moving the adoption- of the report and accounts at the annual
meeting of the South African Carbide and By-Products Company,
held in London last week, the chairman said that the power station
and the carbide factory were now practically completed, and that it
was anticipated that production would commence next month.
Owing to increases in cost of materials and labour, the cost of the
works had" proved greater than anticipated, and it had become
necessary to raise additional capital for working expenses ; for this
purpose it was proposed to make an issue of £75 000 8 per cent,
debenture stock, of which the directors and their friends were pre-
pared, if necessary, to take up approximately £55 000. With the
object of maintaining efficient control of affairs in South Africa, a
local board of management had been appointed, consisting of Prof.
Lawn, Mr. Hallett and Mr. D. D. Drury.

The accounts of S. Smith & Sons (Motor Accessories) for the
year ended July, 1921, show, after -sv-riting off £28 572 for deprecia-
tion on plant and machinery, &c., writing down stock-in-trade to
market prices, and providing for income tax and adjustment in con-
nection with excess profits duty, a loss of £295 437. From this has
to be deducted £91 452 brought in, leaving a deficit of £205 985 to
be carried forward. At the annual meeting on Tuesday Mr. W. H.
Swift, who presided in the absence, through illness, of Mr. Samuel
Smith, stated that at the late Olympia Show out of 227 British cars
fitted with speedometers 115 were of Smith's make, while their
nearest competitor fitted 53. With motor watches, 148 British cars
were fitted, 99 being Smith's and the nearest competitor 39. At
the Motor Cycle Show at Olympia " M-L " magnetos were fitted to
53 motor-cycles, against the nearest competitor's 31.

Presiding at the annual meeting of Alldays & Onions, Ltd., held
in Birmingham last week, Mr H. Marks said that for the year
ended July 31 there was a loss of £108 303. This was largely
accounted for by the writing down of the vast stock owing to the
fall in the price of materials. He thought the property and plant
of the company, if realised, would sell at materially more than what
appeared in the balance-sheet. 'There was nothing organically wrong
with the business — it had a thoroughly sound constitution. One

thing that had hampered rt*uinplu>ri of full-bla.-a w^ uviiv had been
the Government sales of material. There was every reason to expect
the over.seas trade would be resumed when the money market became
more stabilised. Given something approaching normal conditions,
or even a continuance of the present ones, with no violent upheaval
in the labour world, they could lof>k forward with confidence to the
business resuming its place as a steady di^^dend-payi^g concern.
At an e.xtraordinary meeting that followed a resolution was paeeed
authorising the alteration in the articles of association so as to extend
the borrowing capacity of the company.

In the cour.se of his speech at the annual meeting of the Nortkerv
Nigeria (Banchi) Tin Mines last week, Mr. G. Temple Harris,
chairman of the company, said that it was in cheap power that the
future of their property lay. Electricity generated by water was
the cheapest form of power, and he understood that several other
Nigerian mining companies were paying attention to the same
point. Their company were now shut down so far as the hydrr^
electric scheme was concerned, pending being able to obtain the
necessary additional capital, but the plant and work so far done was
fully protected, and should suffer no harm. They had just applied
for State assistance from the £25 000 000 voted bv Parliament 1o
assist trade and unemployment. After providing for depreciation,
interest, &c., the accounts for the last year show a loss of £18 221.
Mr. Mackness, head of the hydro-electric department of Vickers.
Ltd., has been elected a director.

New Companies.

The following list is compiled from information supplied by
Messrs. Jordan & Sons. Ltd., company registration agents, 116-118,
Chancery-lane, London, W.C. 2.

Conveyor and Elevator Company, Ltd. (178 621), Croft Street.
Accrington, Lancaster. Registered Dec. 23, 1921. Conveyor and
elevator manufacturers and erectors. Nominal capital, £15 000 in
15 000 ordinary shares of £1 each. Directors : J. J. Stevenson and
;\Largaret Stevenson. Qualification of directors, £100.

Jesshope, Ltd. (178 565), Dale Street. Burslem, Stoke-or -Trent.
Reo-istered Dec. 21, 1921. Mechanical, electrical, and general en-
gineers. Nominal capital. £2 000 in 2 000 shares of £1 each.
Directois : S. Malkin, J. R. Malkin. L. G. Stevenson, and A. P.
Jesshope. Qualification of directors, fifty shares.

NATrLiTE (South America), Lid. (178 571). Lennox House, Norfolk
Street, Strand, W.C. Registered Dec. 21, 1921. To carry on the
business of making, using, exercising, and vending the motor spirit
for internal combustion engines and for power, heat, and lignt-
known as Natilite or Natalite. Nominal capital, £30 000 in 28 000
ordinary shares of £1 each and 40 000 founders' shares of Is. each.
Directors : Sir W. Alexander. A. E. Leonard, and Sir T. D. ><icol.
Qualification of directors, £500. Remuneration of directors, £500.

J. Russell & Co.. Ltd. (178 637), 5, Credon Road. Plaistow, E.
Re'J-istered Dec. 23, 1921. General engineers and pump makers.
Nominal capital, £1 000 in 1 000 shares of £1 each. Directors : J
Russell and J. Walford. Qualification of directors, £50C.

\ Smethurst & Sons. Ltd. ^ 178 542), 16, Bernard Street,
Southampton. Registered Dec. 21, 1921. Electrical enguieers.
Nominal capital. £6 000 in 6 000 shares of £1 each. Directors:
A A. Smethm-st and Mrs. Beatrice Smethurst. Qualification of
directors, fifty shares. Remuneration of directors, A. A. Smethurst,
£500 per annum.

V^RDAS et Cie, Ltd. (178 648). Finsbury Pavement House, Fiii.-
bury Pavement, E.C. Registered Dec. 23, 1921 F;lectrical.
mechanical, and sanitary engineers. Nominal capital. £1000 in
1 000 shares of £1 each. Directors : J. E. Bembaron. R- W. Sellej-s.
G 0 Nevile A V Vardas. Qualification of directors, one share.

Forty Years Ago.

(The Electrici-an, Jan. 7, 1882.)

The Amoy Cabtj: Repaired.— The Eastern Telepaph Company
(Limited) notifies the repair of the Amoy-Shanghai cable, thus
restoring telegraphic communication with Ch.na and Japan.^

The Berlin Electric Railw.ay.— It is said that Messrs. Siemens
are carrv-ing out experiments at Berlin to ascertain the effect of
winter weather, snowstorms, frost, &c., on the conductmg wires, &c..
of their electric railway.

Royal Institution.— The following Papers have been settled for
reading before Easter next, viz. r-J'^ui 20, • On Comets"," by \N .
Hu'Tgins. F.R.S. ; Maixh 10, " Electric Lightmg by Incandescence
bv J W. Swan ; Maich 24, " Electric Railways,' by Professor W. E.
Avrton, F.R.S.

Electric Light for the Suez Canal.— There is a fair prospect of
the Suez Canal being lighted by electricity, so that ships may pass
through it at night, instead of coming to an anchor, as at pr^ent.
Major Strutt, managing director of the Eastern Electric Light Com-
panv is in Egvpt. arranging with M. Lemasson. the engineer-in-
chief of the Calial Company, for the lighting of parts of the canal
bv the Brush system, so that dredging operations may be carried on
at night, instead of in the day time. There is some prospect also of
the ifghting of the Suez Dock by electricity for the Peninsular and
Oriental Company. — Hamfivard Mail.

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

HiGGS Bros, have sent us their monthly magazine containing
their stock list of a.c. and d.c. motors and dynamos.

The " SuNic " DEEP THERAPY APPARATUS is the subjcct of Bulletin
41S., published hy Watson & Sons (Electro-Medical), Ltd.

A pamphlet illustrating the Hotpoint electric grills, toasters,
and hollow-ware appliances has just been issued by the Hotpoint
Electric Appliance Company.

Particulars and prices of the new C.A.V. Motor-cycle Dtnamo
Lighting Sets are contamed in an illustrated folder (" H ' ) just
issued by C. A. Vandervell & Company.

Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company have issued a pamphlet
of Cosmos nursery rhymes, and in connection with the same they
have arranged a colouring competition for children between tlie
ages of five and twelve, and are offering a number of attractive
prizes.

Medw^ay's Safety Lift Company have issued a new ilh^strate,^
pamphlet in connection with their " Britain's Best " electric lifts,
which include invalid lifts, passenger lifts, motor-car lifts, gooda
lifts, restaurant lifts, &c. The firm have a specially trained staff
of engineers exclusively engaged in inspection, maintenance, and
repairs of the lifts.

Tramways Supplies Ltd., of Leeds and London, are circulating
a pamphlet (o. 102/1) which gives particulars of their h.t. and l.t.
OIL switches. These are suitable for voltages up to 3 000 V, and for
capacities up to 300 A ; they can be supplied in non-automatic
and automatic patterns, d.p. or t.p., and they comply fully with
Home Office requirements.

No. 3 of the series of Transformer Abstracts has been issued by
Johnson & Phillips, Ltd. This describes and illustrates seven out
of the eight tests carried out by the firm on their power transformers
before delivery to customers. As there are several alternative
methods of carrying out the eighth test. — heat runs — this will form
tho subject of a separate memorandum.

Reavell & Company have sent us a copy of their Pamphlet No. 101
illustrating and describing their turbo compressors and exhausters.
The great advantage of these machines over others of this type is the
improved design of the diffuser blades fixed in the stator, which
have a large bearing on the high efficiency obtained, and successfully
solves the problem of overload on the prime mover, should theie be
such a tendency at any time.

A well got up pamphlet lias been issued bv Nalder Bros. &
Thomson, Ltd., illustrating their N.C.S. " Ideal " instruments for
use in connection with the generation and distribution of electricity.
These include the " ideal " moving iron ammeters, three-phase volt-
meters, power factor meters, rotary synchronisers, leakage indicators
for alternating current, relays, insulation testing sets, &c. The
firm's complete illustrated catalogue, giving prices and other infor-
mation, wll be sent on application.

The Societe Industrielle d'Electricite (France), manufac-
turers of patent safety cartridge fuses, have recently opened a
British, Irish and Colonial Department at 23, Queen Anne's-gate,
Westminster, London, S.W. The safety fuse system manufactured
by them is called " Eternos," and while it differs somewhat from
what in England is known as the "Z " system, and on the Conti-
nent as the "Diazed" system, it is interchangeable with these
systems, and can, therefore, be used for all existing installations
of these systems v^ithout any alteration of the fuse bases. In addi-
tion to the " Eternos " system, the firm manufacture other safetv
cartridge fuses which are interchangeable with all Continental and
American systems, such as the " A.E.G." and "American Edison
Screw."

Calendars, Diaries, &c.

The Saxonia Electrical Wire Company have issued a calendar
for 1922 consisting of twelve monthly shee' mounted on a stout
card.

A very useful calendar has been sent ur by Francis Polden k
Company, consisting of twelve monthly sheets mounted on a stout
card. Each sheet contains the calendar for the entire year, with the
particular month running printed in large black letters with a
small adjustable red frame to indicate the date required.

Books Received.

" The Swedish Yca.r Book. 1921." (London : Wiliii.ins & Norgate.)
Pp. 170. 7s. 6d. net. ^

■' Electrical Engineers' Diary and Year B(vik, 19%." (London :
S. Davis & Company.) Pp. 5o4. 10s. 6d. net.

" TJie Practical Electrician's Pocket Book and Diary, 1922."
(Ixxndon : R. Rentell and Co.) Pp. Ixxx. t 558. 3s. net.

" The Fundamental Basis of Dynamo Electric Machine Design. *
By Tatsuo Tanaka. (Tokyo : Maruzen Co., Ltd.) Pp. 140.

"Universal Exchange and Interest Tables." By A. J. Lawson.
M.Inst.C.E. (London : Thomas Skinner and Co). Pp. 242. 15s.
net.

"La Propagation desOndes Electromapnetiques a la Surface de
la Terre." By L. Bouthillon. (Paris : Librarie Delacrave.) Pp
XV 4 340. ^ ^

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY, Jan. 6th.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

6 p.m. At Storey's Gate, London, S.W. Joint meeting with

the Society of Chemical Industry. Paper on " The Co-
operation of the Engineer and Chemist in the Control of
Plants and Processes," by Mr. G. M. Gill.

Royal Institution.
At Albemarle-street, London, W. Christmas Lectures on
" Electric Waves and Wireless Telephony," by Prof. J. A.
Fleming, F.R.S.

SATURDAY, Jan. 7fh.

3 p.m. Lecture V., " Electric Waves."
TUESDAY, Jan. 10th.

5 p.m. Lecture VI., "Wireless Telephony."
MONDAY. Jan. 9th,

iNSTiTirnoN of Electrical Engineers. Informal Meeting.

7 p.m. At Savoy-place, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.

Discussion on " Co-operative Advertising in Relation to the
Electrical Industry." To be opened by Mr. J. W.
Beau champ.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(North-Eastern Centre.)
7.7.5 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Paper
on " Induction Type Synchronous Motors," by Mr. L. H. A.
Carr.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Dundee Sub-Centre.
7.30 p.m.. At University College, Dundee. Paper on " Elec-
trical Distribution," by Mr. Charles Lamb.

TUESDAY, Jan. 10th.

National Association of Supervising Electricians.
6.1^5 p.m. At St. Bride's Institute, Bride-lane, Ludgate Circus, •
London, E.C, Lecture on " A Talk Round the Thermionic
Valve," by Major T. Vincent Smith.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
North- Western Centre.
7 p.m.. At the Engineers' Club, Manchester. Paper on " Tele-
phone Line Work in U.S.A.," by Mr. E. S. Byng.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Scottish Centre.

7 p.m,. At the North British Station Hotel, Edinburgh. Paper

on " Induction Type Synchronous Motors," by Mr. L. H. A.
Carr.

Rontgen Society.
8.1.5 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy-
place, London, W.C. Paper on " The Structure and Dimen-
sions of Molecules," by Prof. A. 0. Rankine, O.B.E.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11th.

Institution of Civil Engineers.
(Students' Meeting.)

6 p.m. At Great George-street, London, S.W. Lecture on " The

Economic Aspecte of Various Methods of Power Transmis-
sion," by Mr. E. W. Monkhouee.

Industrial Leaglt: and Council.
1.30 p.in. .At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecture on " A Fair
Day's Work for a Fair Day's Pay," by Mr. R. Stelling.

Liverpool Engineering Society.

8 p.m. At the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street, Liverpool.

Paper on " Wireless Telegraphy in the Mercantile Marine."
by Capt, J. A. Slee, C.B.E.

THURSDAY, Jan. 12th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers. Extra Meeting.

6 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Cinematograph films on
" Investigations and Tests on High-tension Switchge^r," by
Mr. P. Torchio, with explanatory notes by Dr. C. C.
Garrard ; " Telephone Inventors of To-day," " The
Audion," and " Electricity in the Home," by Mr. F. Gill.

Optical Society.
7.30 p.m. At the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington,
London, S.W. Papers on " The Manufacture of Optical
Glass,' by Dr. C. J. Peddle, M.B.E. ; " The Barr and
Stroud 100-ft, Self-contained Base Rangefinder," by Dr.
J. W. French ; and " The Optical Three Apertures
Problem," by Mr. T. Smith.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Midland Branch.
7.30 p.m. At the University, Edmund -street, Birmingham.
Paper on " Dr. Leonard Hill's Kalathermometer," by Mr.
H. C. Young.
FRIDAY. Jan. 13th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
SctyrrisH Ceni-re. (Students' Section.)
7.30 p.m. .\t tlie Royal Technical College. Glasgow. Paper
on " The Protection of Alternating Current Circuits." bv
Mr. E. T. Pounds.

January 6, 1922

The Electrician.

•11

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following information is taken fTom jrrinted reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

London Gazette.

Partnership Dissolved.

HONE, Henry Percy Greenwood, and DAYIAN, Paul, electrical
contractors, 46, Maiden-road, New Maiden, Surrey, under the
style of Greenwood Hone & Company, by mutual consent cs
from Dec. 25, 1921. Debts received and paid by P. Dayian.

Bankruptcy Information.

DEPLEDGE, Robert Adrian, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, electrical
engineer. Receiving order, Dec. 30. Debtor's petition.

LANGSKORD, Edwin Growdon, Burnley, electrician. Receiving
order, Dec. 30. Debtor's petition.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

PLANET ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD. Meeting of creditors at
the offices of Dollman & Pritchard, 52, Tavistock-square, London,
W.C. 1, on Jan. 9, 1922, at 12 o'clock noon.

TAMPICO ELECTRIC LIGHT, POWER & TRACTION, LTD.
(in voluntary liquidation). Meeting of creditors at liquidator's
office, Jan. 17, 3 p.m. Particulars of claims by Feb. 7, to the
liquidator, J. S. Evernden, 47, Parliament-street, Westminster.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the " Registry of
County Court Judgments " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

ARMATURE REPAIRING & SUPPLY COMPANY, LTD.. Pipe
House Wharf, Swansea, electrical engineers. £17 46. lOd.
Oct. 28.

BATE, Mr. D. C, 16, John Dalton-street, Manchester, electrical
manufacturer. £25 13s. Oct. 27.

BOLLEY & LEESON, 28, Bond-street, Hinckley, electrical en-
gineers. £66 lis. 4d. Nov. 2.

EVANS, Mr., Salubrious-passage, Swansea, electrical engineer.
£15 8s. 2d. Oct. 31.

KNIGHT, Wilfred, Sen., 6, Oak-end, Waye, Gerrards Cross, elec-
trical engineer. £22 36. Oct. 11.

SOUTHERN COUNTIES PLATING COMPANY, LTD., 164.4,
- Friar-street, Reading, electro platere. £17 19s. 5d. Oct. 26.

STRONG, Henry, 157, Chester-road, Hulme, Manchester, electrical
engineer. £10 Os. 6d. Nov. 1.

WALTON, Mr. C. W., 33, Keelings-road, Dudlev Port, electrician.
£14 Is. 7d. Nov. 2.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from t'he Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

COATBRIDGE & AIRDRIE ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY,
LTD. Registered Dec. 20, further charge (supplemental to mort-
gate dated March 31, 1904, securing £5 500, additional), to
County of London Electric Supply Company, Ltd., Moorgate-
court, E.C. ; general charge, and Coatbridge and Airdrie under-
takings, and benefit of certain agi'eements, contracts, &c.
*£179 812 8s. lid. March 17, 1921.
JESMOND ELECTRICAL & GENERAL ENGINEERING COM-
PANY LTD. Registered Dec. 16. £300 debentures, to J.
Sharp, 29, Armstrong-avenue, Heaton ; general charge.
TARANTO TRAMWAYS & ELECTRIC SUPPLY" COMPANY,
LTD., London, E.C. Registered Dec. 21. £20 000 charge, to
Commercial Bank of Scotland, Ltd. ; charged on certain conces-
sion and rights granted by Municipality of Taranto (Italy), also
general charge. *£72 000. Dec. 31, 1920.

Satisfactions.

DAWLISH ELECTRIC LIGHT & POWER COMPANY, LTD.
Satisfaction registered Dec. 22, £300, part of amount registered
Oct. 4, 1920.

ENGLISH ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD., London, W.C.
Satisfaction registered Dec. 23, £30 100, part of amount regis-
tered Oct. 3, 1919.

Deed of Arrangement.

HARRIS, Sydney Henry, trading a<i the MANCHESTER MAG--
NETO REPAIRING COMPANY, 191, Chapel-.ireet. Salford,
and 7, Brideoak-street, Cheetham Hill, Manf;h«r^u-. elfcctrical
engineer. Trustee, J. F. Warburtmi, 28, Que*ri iii- <:, Man-
chester, accountant. Filed Dec. 24. Liabilities unsecured, £522 ;
assets, less secured claims, £210.

PRIVATE MEETING.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily im-ply failurt.

Many private meetings are called merely for the -prarpose of the

debtor consulting his creditors as to his -position when he may not

be insolvent.]

WILLIAMS & BEVAN, electrical and general engineera, Aberdare.
Creditors were called together recently, when a statement of
affairs was presented, which disclosed liabilities of £1 753, all do€
to the trade. The as.sets, consisting of stock £300, and book
debts £316, were estimated to realise £616, a deficiency of
£1 137. It was stated that the debtors commenced trading some
two to three years ago, after leaving the army. The bank
allowed an overdraft to the extent of £700, which had now be«n
reduced to £312, and was secured. The present position was
attributed to want of capital, competition, and takmg contracts
at too low a price. The creditors decided that the estate should
be dealt with under a deed of assignment with Mr. S. K
Clutterbuck, of Messrs. Clarke, Dovey, & Co., accountants.
Cardiff, as trustee. The principal creditors are : English Elec-
trical Company, London, £331; General Electric Company, Ltd..
Cardiff, £110; Simpson & Baker, Bristol, £147; Siemens Bros..
Ltd., Woolwich, £112; McWhirter & Sons, Ltd., Cardiff, £65;
St. Helens Cable & Rubber Company, Ltd., Warrington. £47;
British Thomson-Houston Company, Ltd., Cardiff. £54; En-
gineering Equipments Company, Ltd., Swansea, £22; Chloride
Electric Storage Companv, Ltd., Manchester, £21 ; India Rubber
& Tile Works Company, 'Ltd., London, £28.

Benn Brothers' Journals.

Some Feattjhes of the Ccrrext Issues.

"The Cabinet Maker": "Rococo Ornament," "The Fitted
Washstand," and " Retail Advertising : Christmas Gift Annoance-
ments Reviewed."

" The Chemical Age " : " Leaders of Chemical Industry : (1) Sir
William Alexander " ; " The Structure of the Atom," by Dr.
Stephen Miall, and " "The Nitrate Situation."

" Farm and Home " : " Milk Hygiene," by Alex. Levie.
F.R.C.V.S. ; " Producing Baby Beef," by Prof. James Long, and
" Milk Analyses — Extraordinary Variations."

" The Fruit Grower " : " Industrial Uses of the Potato," bv
H. V. Taylor, B.Sc. Deputy Controller of Horticulture: " Contro''.
of Red Spider," bv Theodore Parker, M.A.E.B.. and " Fruit Prices
in 1921."

" Gardening Illustrated " : " December Chrysanthemums.'"
" Plants of Sliakespeare," and " The Week's Work."

" 'The Hardware Trade Journal " : '' The Operation of Grinding
Machines," " Adveriising and Selling," and "' British Trade
Methods in the Argentine."

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

TCESDAY, J.4.X. 3.

Copper — Price. Inc. Deo.

Best selected per ton £68 15 0 lOs. —

Electro Wirebara .. „ £75 0 0 — 1(^

H.C. wire, baaia per lb. Da. 11 !d. — x'^d.

Sheet Os. lO.Jd. —

Phosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone) —
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis , Is. SJd. — ,V^

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis „ Os, 71d. — —

Sheet, basis „ Os. 10|d. — —

Wire, baaia Os. 11 jd. — —

Pig Iron — •

Cleveland Warrants per ton £5 5 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wire, basia 8 SWG „ £22 0 0 — —

Lead Pig —

Engliah , £26 0 0 — 10s.

Foreign or Colonial .. „ £24 7 6 — lis 6d.

Tin—

Ingot , £170 15 0 — 10s.

Wire, basia per lb. 2s. 3Jd. — Jd.

Aluminium Ingot £120 0 0 —

Salammoniac.—FeT cwt. 65a.-603. Copper StiJphate.—Per ton £23 10s.

Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £12 10s. Doric Acid (Crystals) —Per ton
„ (RoU-Brimatone). — Per ton £65.

£12 10s. Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 6d.

Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°).— Sodium Chloratt.—Pet lb. SJi
Per ton, £9 178. 6d.

Rubber. — Para fine, la. IJd. ; plantation Ut lates. ll^i.
The metaJ prices are aupplied bj British Insulated & Helaby Cabka,
Ltd.

The Electrician.

January 6, 1922

heathed 23 954

Patent Record.

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS

August 29, 1921.
22 825 Halden Electric photographic printing or copying machines.
22 838 MoxHAM. Switch.

22 857 Allan. Wirebss telegraph and telephone apparatus. ,,,,„,„.

22858 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Telephone systems. (\bl6ll\,

U.S.) , ,. ,

22 860 Sykes. Electro-magnetic apparatus for recording sound.
22 861 Harris, Horton, Pre.ston & Hodgson. Direction-finding apparatus

for wireless telegraphy. , , , , , n l

22 870 Pride. Electric light fittings with bowl shudes or reflectors.
22 875 Igranic Electric Co. (Cutler-Hammer Mfg. Co.). Electric motor

ccntrol
22 893 Wilson. Wireless telegraph apparatus. ^, , . , .

22 897 American Radio & Research Corporation. Electrical apparatus.

(.30/8/20, U.S.)
22 906 NiSHiMOTO. Incandescent lamp.

August 30, 1921

22 930 Cooper. Alternating current dynamo .

22 964 Robertson. Combination electric radiator and hot-water circu-
lator. T^ •

22 990 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & Field. Devices for balanc-
ing currents in parallel connected conductors for heavy alternating
currents. , , . , . . . i

22 999 Pullin, Goolden & Geeatbatch. Rectifiers for high potential

alternating currents.

23 001 Koolhaas. Electric maximum automatic cut-out. (30/8/20,

Holland.) , ..

23 004 Westinghouse Brake & Saxby Signal Co. & Peter. Alternating

current track signalling.
23 013 Scott-Taggart. Signalling systems.
23 018 BnouGHAM (Walker Accessories Co.). Commutators fo* ignition

apparatus.
23 020 G. E. Co. & Eden. Holders for electron discharge devices, &c.
23 021 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric motor starters.
23 034 & 23 040 Wacker. Circuit closers for electrically operated alarms.
23 044 Levi & Rottenbueg. Electric lamps.

August 31, 1921.
23 0C6 Ashton. Accumulator battery.
23 075 MoYLE. Electrical bonding junction boxes for metallic

wires, &c.
23 080 Ely. Well-globe fittings for electi-ic lamps.

23 091 Fair-weather (Diehl Mfg. Co.). Motor-driven sewing machines.
23 103 Becherraz. Electric light switches.
23 138 Gordon. Electric motor, &c., controllers.
23 144 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Cun-ent limiting devices.
23 149 A. C. Cutting & Welding Co., Smout & Flood. Electrodes for

welding, &c.
23 154 Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie. Rapid energising of magnets.

(9/9/20, Switzerland.)
23 157 Allmanna Telefonaktiebolaget L. M. Ericsson. Control clocks

for trunk line switchboards. (20/5/21, Sweden.)
23 168 CoRRico & Hughes. Method of mending resistance elements.

(11/9/20, U.S.)

September 1, 1921

23 223 Armstrong. Galvanic batteries.

23 229 Thompson. Electric wire union.

23 232 JucHLi. Production of insulating material
land.)

23 234 Westinghouse Air Brake Co. Automatic
(1/6/21, U.S.)

23 241 Fuller's United Electric Works & Beswick.
electrodes.

23 246 Metropolitan-Vickees Electrical Co. Liauid rheostats
(18/10/20. U.S.)

23 253 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Telephone systems.

23 261 B. T.-H. Co. Electron discharge amplifiers. (29/10/13, U.S.)

23 264 Albrecht. Electi-ically-heated soldering iron. (10/5/21, Switzer-
land.)

23 281 Palmer. Accumulator battery.

23 285 Eckersley, Round & McLellan. Aerials for wireless signalling.

23 434 Exley. Electric batteries or accumulators.

September 2, 1921.
Sayer. Electric traction.
Griffiths. Incandescent lamp holders.
FAIRV7EATHER (Diehl Mfg. Co.). Electric motor.
FAnwEATiiER (Singer Mfg. Co.). Electrically controlled sewing

miicnme.
Fairweather (Singer Mfg. Co.). Lighting attachment for sewing

machine.
Fairweather (Singer Mfg Co.). Electri-.ally lighted sewing

m;ichino.
Fairweather (Singer Mfg. Co.). Electric sewing machine.
bAiRWRATHER (Singer Mfg. Co.). Electrical connectors and

terminal blocks.
Callender's Cable & Construction Co. Clips for testing purposes.
JSoUDou. Electric apparatus for waving hair. (26/3/20, France.)
H. I .-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric discharge devices.
^RiTii. Means for rectifying l.t. alternating currents.
HiGGS. btarters for squirrel cage motors.

Paddon. Electrically operated brakes for self-propelled vehicles.
t.RAHAM. Telephone systems.
Handasyde. Accumulators.
Ges. Kiiu Draiitlose Telegraphie. High frequency telegraphy and

telephony. (29/9/20, Germany.) "^

September 3, 1921.
Bratf. Electrically heated utensils.

Proprietary Smallwares, Ltd. Insulating block for lamp iiolder-;
Prcpiuetary Smallwares, Ltd. & Goldsmith. Electric lamp

nolders.
Thompson (Splitdorf Electrical Co.). Combined connection and

terminal block.
Wilson. Testing points for use in electrical work.
Dupaux. Permanent magnets. (7/9/20, Switzerland.)
Kirk & Milliken Terminal blocks for eleotric conductors
Pritcuett. Switch.
Reynolds. Composition for scieening X rays and for electrical

insulating.

September 5, 1921.
Bentley-Humphries. Cycle electric lighting sets
Baker. Commutators or distributors for ignition systems
Radio Communication Co. & Scott-Taggaut. Signtilling sy.stem*
toRD. Miners' electric safety lamps.

. (1/9/20, Switzer-
electric couplings.
Storage battery

23 294
23 302
23 314
23 317

23 318

23 319

23 320
23 321

23 340
23 349
23 376
23 377
23 379
23 404
23 419
23 434
23 437

23 451
23 452
23 453

23 469

23 476
23 501
23 518
2.3 523
23 535

23 537
23 539
23 579
23 594

23 604 Metropolitan-Vickehs Electrical Co. & Fletcher. Armatures of

d.c. machines.
23 610 & 23 617 Vickers, Ltd., Astington & Flann. Frictional driving

gear for electric machines in railwiy vehicles.
23 612 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Switches.
23 633 Every. Eltctric switches for railways, &c.
23 639 Norsk Hydro-Elektrisk Kvaelstofaktieselskab. Production of

ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen. (7/9/20, Norway.)
23 640 Suter. Electric heating apparatus for waving hair.

September 6, 1921.

23 648 Besford. Dimming devices for electric . lighting on vehicles, &c.

23 668 Polson. Fittings for electric conduits, &c.

23 676 Electro Dynamic Construction Co. & Pensabine. Electric
machines

23 686 Pembrey. Commutators.

23 710 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & Orange. Electric radia-
tors, &c.

23 725 Haddan (Meier). Galvanic cells and batteries.

23 730 B. T.-H. Co. & Given. Motor control.

23 731 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Flexible conductor connectors.

23 760 RiVERS-MooRE. Automatic selectors, &'c., for wireless systems.
September 7, 1921.

23 782 Thompson (Nelson Tuner Co.). Timing switches or commutating
devices.

23 790 Crovstther, Grenfell, -Erskine-Murray, Robinson & Gill.
Directional wireless systems

23 791 Whitehead. Accumulators.

23 796 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co., Smith & Jordan. Telephone
instruments.

23 836 Houston, Sleeman & Schmidt. Magneto ignition for engines
(7/9/20, Australia.)

23 861 Palmer. Telephone junction or terminal boxes, &c.

23 869 Barcn (Oldendorff). Automatic switching arrangements.

23 872 Watson & Sons (Electric Medical), G. E. Co., Gough & Gossling.
Circuits and electro-medical apparatus for transforming and
utilising electric currents.

23 891 Taylor. Arrangement of cables and transformers in h.t. trans-
mission lines.

23 895 Taylor. Electrical transmission systems.

September 8, 1921.
23 898 Glover & Unwin. Electrical automatic clock.
23 912 SiLCOCK. Electric rotary contact maker
23 938 Denny. Electric irons.
23 952 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & Ross. Protective devices

for transformers.
Vickers, Ltd. & Etchells. Electro-magnetic regulating devices

for electric machines.
23 982 Akt. Ges. Beov^n, Boveri et Cie. Damping out third harmonics

in 3-r)hase transformers. (15/9/20, Switzerland.)
23 971 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Tensioning devices.
23 972 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Furnaces.
23 974 Signal Ges. Acoustic apparatus for telephone communication.

(27/9/20, Germiny.)
23 980 RuNBAKEN & Torrance. Testing devices for electric ignition

systems.
23 982 Zagury (Buscha Ges.). Operating from h.t. d.c. mains apparatus

operated by l.t. current.

September 9, 1921.

23 996 Tucker. Fuse-boards.

24 026 Western Electric Co. Vacuum tubes.

24 035 White. Mounting and driving magneto-electric machines.

24 045 G. E. Co. & Baetlett. Circuits for electric heating.

24 057 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric arc ^devices.

24 062 KiNDLiMAN & Co. Portable electric heating apparatus.

(13/12/20, Switzerland.)
24 063 Dalsgaaed-Anderson. Electric bicycle bell.
24 064 ScHvfEiZEEiscHE Magneta A.G. Electric clock and signal instal-

ktion. (11/9/20. Switzerland.)
24 071 ScHoTT & Gen. Electrode for electricity meters in which gases

are electrolytically dissolved and eliminated. (17/9/20, Germany.)

SeptemDer 10, 1921.
24 076 Ellis. Trolly heads for tramcars, &c.
24 094 Morgan. Bulb and battery tester.
24 098 Hippisley & Milham. Incandescent lamp holder.
24 099 Hippisley & Milham. Shade retainer for electric lamp holders.
24 136 Midgley. Switches or switch boards for controlling electric

circuits.
24 140 Woods. Electric rrotors.
24 143 Peirce. Enclosed cartridge fuses.
24 146 Hepworth. Electric generators for road vehicles.

September 12, 1921.

24 179 Western Electric Co. Electro-magnetic step-by-step mechanism.

24 180 Radio Communication Co. & Scott-Taggakt. Signalling systems.

24 194 Rosenkrantz. Electric water heaters.

24 202 Paul. Circuit breakers. (10/9/20, Germany.)

24 206 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Clamps for trolly conduc-
tors. (29/10/20, U.S.)

24 207 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Photo-electric devices.

24 227 Watson & Sons (Electric Medical) & Phillips. Electrical
indicator.

24 240 Hancock. Electric furnaces.

24 241 Warburton. Mining type switchgear

24 250 Porscke. Depolarizers for galvanic elements.

24 251 Porscke. Electrolytes for galvanic elements.

24 266 Smith. Electrical or mechanical hand or chain control.

September 13, 1921.
24 285 Western Electric Co. Telephone exchange systems.
24 303 Lyon. Adaptors or wall plugs for electrical connections.
23 .331 Ellison. Unidirection electric generator set.
24 332 Metropolitan-Vickses Eiectrical Co., Brooks & Hall. Electric

traction systems.
24 333 Metropolitan-Vickees Electrical Co. & Cameron. Sealing

electrical conductors in glass, &c
24 340 Haddan (Automatic Temperature Control Co.). Electrically

operated vale regulators.
24 345 Whittaker-Swinton. Control apparatus for wireless waves.
24 349 Johnston & Schwuchow. Electricnl etching machines.
24 352 Marks (Siemens-Schuckertwerke). Electric lifting gear.
24 356 BiGNAMY. Electric circuit controlling devices.

The. Editorial, Advertisement and Publishinq Offices of " Thi
Elbctrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4. Tele-
fframa : Benbroctic, Fleet, London. Telephone: City 9852 (5 lines).

The subscription to " The Electrician " is £2 12 0 per annum
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date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABMSHED 1861.
THE OI-DEST WEEKLY IIJ.USTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2278. [vc. LXXXV.M.]

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1922.

Prepai.i -,^[j- riDti'jn U.K., /2 in. p_;__ , /
per :.-.:.; .^ ,r',ad, /z 14*. mce I -

CONTENTS.

Notes of the Week

Radio Telegraphy and TELEPHOirr in 1921-i922

Electric Winding Engines and Mine Hoists. By H. H.

Brough ton. Illustrated.

Notes on the Duplex Balancing of Long Submarine Cables. By

E. S. Heurtley. Illustrated

Proposed Duty on Lighting Glassware

Single and Three-Phase Alternating-Current Commutator

Motors with Series and Shunt Charact'^ristics. By S. P.

Smith. Illustrated

The Institution of Electrical Engineeis

Annual Exhibition of the Physical Society of London and the

Optical SDClety. Illustrated

Amalgamation of Electricity Undertakings

Electric Miners' Lamps

COREBSPONDENCE ,. .

Compensation for Deprivation of Employment ...

Tne Election and Trade

Bruce Peebles' Heavy Test Plate

Electricity Supply

Municipal Accounts

Electricity in Birmingham ..

29
32

.34

43
45
45
45
46
46
46
47
48
48

Electric Traction 4S

Personal and Appointments 49

Business Items, &c 49

In.stitution Notes -19

Obituary 49

Telegraph and Telephone Notes 50

Imperial Notes . 5t)

Foreign Notes . 50

Electrification Schemes in Japan 51

Electrification of Italian .Railways 51

Trade with Canada 51

Danish Tariff Revision ^ 5

Tenders Invited and Accepted 52

Miscellaneous 53

Traveller's Wages Claim 53

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 53

New Compxnies .^ 53

Arrangements for the Week 54

Catalogues, Price Lists. &c ,„ 54

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c ' 51

Commercial Intelligence 55

Patent Record 56

Notes of the Week.

A.C. Commutator Motors.

In these troublous days the work, and therefore the out-
look, of the. electrical engineer is so likely to become
obscured by a mass of detail, that he is in danger of losing
sight of those fundamental probleans whose solution is
essential to real progress. For that reason alone the Insti-
tution of Electrical Engineers is to be congratulated on
arranging for a lecture on ' ' Single and Three-Phase Alter-
nating Current Commutator Motors with Series and Shunt
Characteristics," and Dr. Stanley Parker Smith is to be
felicitated on the way' in which he marshalled and delivered
his arguments. The fact that there is nothing new about
these motors, that they were indeed invented, among others,
by Mr. Alexander Siemens, Mr. Llewylyn Atkinson, and
Prof. Ernest Wilson as long ago as the 'eighties and
'nineties, is an added reason for such an exploration as was
conducted last week into the work of these pioneers,
to discover whether some of their results, long for-
gotten because too often before their time, could not
usefully be adapted to present-day conditions. Only within
the past few weeks we have noted in our, own columns two
examples of such " re-discovery." This sort of thing is not
only waste of the " re- discoverer's " time, but leads to con-
flicting claims to priority which are always unfortunate, and
sometimes acrimonious.

A Necessary Clarification of Ideas.

There is no doubt from the course both of the lecture
and the subsequent discussion that the development of
alternating current supply, both for power and traction, has
made the use of alternating current motors a necessity. A
re-statement of, the properties of these machines, and a
candid discussion of their drawbacks (which they certainly
received from Dr. Smith) is therefore advisable for the
clarification of our ideas. Though at first sight it seems
that we have in these motors all the disadvantages of both
the d.c. and the induction motor, with a few peculiar ones

thrown in, it has been demonstrated that neverthe-
less they are quite a commercial proposition. As Mr.
Creedy showed (and no one is better able to demonstrate
the facts than he) there is 'little to choose between
alternating and direct current commutator motors on the
scores of efficiency and price, while on the scores of weight
and size the former has the advantage. It is to be hoped
this lecture will be the forerunner of others, as well
delivered, on equally interesting subjects.

Standardisation a la Mode.

In the course of the discussion at the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers on Dr. Stanley Parker Smith's lecture.
Sir Philip Dawson let the cat out of the bag. He had
only, he said, signed the report oi the Railway Electrifica-
tion Advisory Committ*^e because it left a loophole for any
railway company which did not wish to use the " stan-
dard " 1 500 V direct current system to apply to the
JNIinister of Transport for permission to employ sometliing
else. From the very nature of things such st-andardisatiou
as was recommended by the committee could only hope to
be illusory, and we have always suspected that this standard
system was no standard at all. No^\ our suspicions are con-
firmed . At the same time we are relieved to learn that even
in official circles the door has not been shut to the admis-
sion of any system which future experience shows to be the
best for particular conditions. As has often been pointed
out, there is at the locomotive stage little to choose between
the various systems available, while as regards the reduc-
tion in the number of sub-stations and the direct employ-
ment of high voltages the single-phase syst-em has distinct
advant.ages. As Sir Philip Dawson remarked, he and bis
system had been severely criticised for many years. Is
the tide turning ?

The Locomotive Drive Question.

An important question for designers is raised in Sir
Vincent Raven's recent Paper before the Norlh-Ea.^t
Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders. As in the
ea&e of the Paper which he read before the Engineering

The Electrician.

January 13, 1922

Conference last summer, Sir Vincent was content to state
the pros and cons of the various methods availablei, and to
leave it at that. But it is interesting to note that on the new
North-Eastern passenger locomotive the power is trans-
mitted to the road wheels through a quill and gearing in
accordance with British standard practice. On the other
hand, as Dr. Stanley Parker Smith recently showed the
connecting rod design is favoured in Switzerland, probably
owing to the employment of the single-phase system, in
which the use of larger motors than can be accommodated
between the wheels is necessary. This, like many other
similar matters, is a question to which, we feel, the answer
must depend on the conditions present in each particular
case. Are we, in fact, sure that British standard practice
is the best, or are its presumed efficiency and simplicity
illusory? This is a type of query, of which there are
many connected with electric traction, which should receive
full discussion in technical circles. In the meantime more
polemical matters can well be relegated to the background.

The Present Financial Obstacle.

So great and obvious are the improvements which would
follow the electrification of many sections of railway in. this
country that the only obstacle which prevents their con-
version is finance. It is now well known that the electrifica-
tion of suburban lines is justified by the increased revenue
obtained. Unfortunately, though everything points to a,
similar result following the electrification of a steep
gradient line over which heavy trains have tO' be hauled,
there are no actual British figures that show that this
would be the case, though American statistics are definite
enough in this respect. It is perhaps only natural, then,
that, reuilway directorates should show a little hesitancy in
these uncertain times to spend large sums of money
without being assured that they will obtain satisfaotoTy
results. This, however, is but a passing phase. Conditions
during 1922 will, we hope, lead to an extension of enterprise
of this character. It is well that electrical engineers and
manufacturers should be prepared for it.

The Physical Society Exhibition.

The annual exhibition of scientific apparatus jointly
organised by the Physical Society of London and the
Oj)tical Society was held at the Imperial College of Science,
South Kensington, on Wednesday and Thursday in last
week. The account of the various exhibits, which we begin
on another page of this issue, while it shows the influence
of the war on the scope and design and manufacture of
scientific instruments, also indicates that satisfactory pro-
gress is being made in the ])aths of peace. The organisers
are to be congratulated on the collection of equipment they
were able to bring together, and still more on the interest
they were able to excite in the minds of those who cater for
the public through the columns of the daily Press. Nearly
all the T^iondon dailies had a shorter or longer account of
the exhibition, and though these ranged from grave to gay,
and from the inanfe to the dull, they were at least an indi-
cation of the growing realisation in the ^reat world of the
influence that scientific endeavour has on human existence.
This in itself is a step forward. But much more remains
to be done. We therefore hope that now a breach has
been made in the wall, the attack will be quickly followed
up.

The Marconi Marine Alarm.

As is well known, recent legislation has imposed upon
shipowners the necessity of either providing an alarm
which (^aii bo operated wirelessly by a second ship, in dis-

tress or desiring communication for other reasons, or of hav-
ing an operator constantly in attendance to pick up such
emergency messages. Except on the largest ships, the latter
solution is obviously economically impossible, and much
time has been spent, notably by the Marconi Com-
pany, in devising an arrangement which shall be efficient
from both the wireless and seafaring point of view. On an-
other page of this issue we describe the emergency alarm
which was shown by the INTarconi Company at the
Physical Society Exhibition.

Details of the Alarm.

This alarm consistQ of an ingeniolis combination of the
four eilectrode valve with electrical relay and clockwork
time devices of the kind familiar in ordinary telegraphy to
produce an apparatus which, if demonstrations are any
guide, is amply capable of performing the duties imposed
upon it. The problem to be solved, ati firsit aighb, seemsi to
present, no difficulties. But an alarm, to. be an alarm,
must only operate on certain definite occasions, and, in the
case of a wiredess alarm, must, therefore, be impervious to
the effect of atmospherics and to a variety of other messages
and signals of different wave lengths and strengths. It is
these desiderata, that introduce all the complications, and
the Marconi Company are to be congratulateid on the
enterprise with which they ha.ve tackled, and the ingenuity
with which they ha.ve overcome, the various problems
involved .

An Error in Organisation.

In carrying out the electrification of British railways,
work which we hope will soon be begun and continued at
an accelerated pace, it is axiomatic that the railway com-
panies should follow the advice of men closely acquainted
with electrical progress and properly equipped with the
necessary technical knowledge. The best way of doing this
is to appoint a qualified electrical engineer directly respon-
sible to the directorate, with the general manager as the
only connecting link, and to give weight to his opinions
at least equal to that which would be accorded to those of,
say, the chief goods manager. For a railway is a compli-
cated organisation whose affairs are not conducted in an
atmosphere entirely free from jealousy and controversy,
especially when matters affecting several departments come
up for review.

A Retrograde Step.

We are therefore sorry to see that this essential has been
forgotten in the reorganisation of the London and North-
western and Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, which
took place at the beginning of the year. Col. F. A.
CoRTEZ Leigh, lately chief electrical engineer of the former
company, is now placed under Mr. Geo. Hughes, who com-
bines the pests of chief mechanical and electrical engineer of
the two systems. Col. Leigh also becomes a junior to Col.
O'Brien, who has for some years been Mr. Hughes's elec-
trical assistant on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway.
Placing the personal aspect entirely on one side, we feel
it is the greatest mistake to combine the mechanical and
electrical departments under one head, and even great.er
to place an expert electrical engineer in a position where his
talents cannot fail to lack their full utilisation. The result
will be extremely harmful to a progressive department,
and still more so to the railway companies concerned.

Amalgamation of Electricity Undertakings.

The announcement, that the Liverpool Corporation have
acquired the Electricity Supply undertakings of the Bootle

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

Coqioration and the Liverpool District Lighting Company
is an interesting item of news, and is a clear indication of
the present trend of things in the suj)ply branch of the
electrical industr}'. Amalgamation and co-operation are
found to be as advantageous in electricity supply as in other
business undertakings, and, consequently, it is not surpris-
ing that the larger municipal and company undertakers are
acquiring their smaller neighbours and extending their
powers of supply into the rural areas. No doubt this will
lead to economy in administration, and it will also assist
the movement for reorganisation, initiated by the Electricity
Commissioners.

Electrical Details of the Areas.

The step taken by Liverpool should aid the negotiations
for the creation of a Joint Electricity Authority for the
West Lancashire and Mersey District, and, provided the
Commissioners give their sanction to the purchase, arrange-
ments can be made at once for unifying the supply in the
whole of the Corporation's new area. This will not be a
difficult matter, for supply is given in both Liverpool
and Bootle on the d.c. three-wire system at 230 and 460 V,
and a.c. at 230 and 400 V, while in the Liverpool
District the supply is d.c. 220 and 440 V. At Liverpool
energy is generated 011 the three-phase system at 6 600 V,
50 periods, and at Bootle the generation voltage is 3 300 V,
three-phase, 50 periods; but at the Liverpool District
Lighting Company's station there is only direct current
plant.

Terms of Purchase.

Few details of tlie terms of purchase have been published,
but as these have been approved by the Livei-pool and
Bootle Corporations by large majorities, there is likely to be
little opposition tO' the scheme. As consideiration for the
transfer of the Bootle undertaking, the Corporation of
Ijiverpool will pay in perpetuity an annuity of £7 500, and
for the Liverpool District Company the annuity will be
£4 000; but in the latter case the annuity can be com-
muted by paying £60 000 in cash, or by the issue of mort-
gages producing £3 600 a year. As the paid-up capital of
the company is £60 000, and as a dividend of 5 per cent,
was paid in 1919, it will be seen that the Corporation have
acquired a progressive undertaking for a very reasonable
figure.

Finance and Education.

The proceedings at recent meetings of those associations
that have been, eistablished in the interests, of the
scholastic profes&io'n have been overshadowed by the Geddes
report (as yet unpublished) hovering menacingly in the
background. Taughti by long experience, educationalists
know only too well that the economy axe will fall first and
with the sharpest strokes on their activities, and much
objection and even panic are naturaJly the result. We^ feel,
however, that much of the criticism of the new economic
policy of the Government is being conducted from the
wrong standpoint. No one (not even the politician when
he thinks about it) wants to limit the scope or usefulness
of education, but everyone, at least in his or her taxpaying
capacity, wants to limit its cost. Such limitation need
not necessarily reduce either its efficiency or its scope, for
the expensive thing is not always the best.

No Reduction in Teachers' Salaries or Grants.

It is, moreover, common knowledge, eispecially among
teachers, that far the greater proportion of tlie money
spent on education finds its way into the pockets of tie
D 2

bureaucracy. It is that expbiidiiuie which should (^ uul
down, and teachers would do well to a«>ist in the operation.
On the other hand, it is in the higher degree unwise that
any reduction should be made in teachers' salaries. Theuo
are even now too low for efficiency. They should rather
be raised sufficiently high to attract the best men and
women into the profession, and the remainder should be
ruthlessly weeded out. This is especially necessary in
technical education, where, if real improvement is to be
obtained, the emoluments of those engaged in this im-
portant work must equal those obtainable in commercial
life. We see no reason why a better education cannot be
obtained at a less cost than at present, and teachers,
whether individually or through their associations, are
working against their best interests in taking up any other
standpoint. A memorandum to the Prime Minister from
the Universities of Birmingham, Durham, Leeds, Liver-
pool, Mai1%hester and Sheffield — a memorandum which is
concurred in bv the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities
of Oxford, Cambridge, London, Bristol, Glasgow, Aber-
deen, and "Wales — urges the dangers of any reduction in
the grants made by the Government to the Universities and
University Colleges of Great Britain, and shows in no un-
certain way that, to obtain efficient instruction, adequate
financial support is necessary. We hope the Government
will ponder well the arguments put forward.

French Products and British Engineers.

In a letter which we published in our CoiTespondence
columns some weeks ago, Mr. C. T. Allan pleaded few the
greater recognition of French products by British users, not
to the exclusion of our own goods, but, rather, in
preference to the output of other foreign countries. We
are glad to learn that Mr. Allan's appeal has not been
unsucoeissful. French manufacturers are anxious to do
business with English engineers, and the anxiety is recip-
rocated. It is a state of mind that is worth exploiting.
The fine characteristics of our French neighbours in warfare
were sufficiently well demonstrated during the years when
their armies fought side by side by ours. But it is not
sufficiently well recognised that those same characteristics
are equally present among Fiench engineers and commercial
men; that, however, is th.e truth of the matter, and it is a
point which in these days of national reconstruction should
be used to mutual ad vantage.

Compensation for Loss of Employment.

It was early realised that the reorganisation of the elec-
tricity supply industry might mean loss of employment or
reduction of status to certain individuals. For this reason
Section 16 of the Electricity (Sunply) Act provides that
compensation may be given to those affected, and elec-
tricity supply engineers will therefore be interested in the
decision which has just been come to by the Arbitrator
ill the Moi'ley case — the first of its kin*.'. At Morley the
generating station was recently shut down, and a bulk •
supply taken from Leeds. Mr. J. E. Ellis, the chief
engineer, and his assistant, Mr. J. Crisp, therefore
claimed compensation for loss of status, and ^Ir. Ellis
also claimed for the loss of fees for premium pupils. The
Arbitrator, Sir Wm. Mackenzie. K.C, rejected the status
claims, but allowed Mr. Ellis £140 compensation for the
loss of pupils. The decision, which apparently was based
on the fact that both claimants continued in the Corpora-
tion service at the salaries they were receiving when the
generating station was shut down, does not err on the side
of liberalitv. As the amount of the award is in the dis-

;^2

The Electrician.

January 13, 1922

cretiou ot the Arbitrator, we suggest that an independent
engineer would make a better arbitrator in such cases than
a lawyer.

Electrical Engineers and the Election.

While electrical engineers are not primarily concerned
with politics, a decision on the date at which we are to be
troubled with a General Ejection will nevertheless be awaited
with interest bv our readers. At its best such an event does
no good to trade, and at the present time matters are com-
plicated by the difficulty of deciding how most efficiently
by means of the vote to make the requirements of the elec-
trical industry known to those who govern us. There is,
however, one paramount interest which overrides every
other — the reduction of taxation. So much is this recog-
nised, that economy will certainly be a plank in every elec-
tion platform. But the business men will take at its true
value this sudden change of heart, and not overlook the fact
that politicians have a way of trimming their sails to the
wind when an election is imminent. Incidentally, the
necessity for economy will conveniently be forgotten as soon
as the ballot-boxes close. Electrical engineers would, there-
fore, do well to sfo warily and to select from the candidates
before them the one who, irrespective of political com-
plexion, can be most trusted to take the greatest interest
in this serious matter. Past words and personal predilec-
tions are in these circumstances not a bad guide, and in
any case it is the duty of every electrical engineer to im-
press on every candidate over whom he exercises any influ-
ence the terrible serioiisness of failure to bring the national
budget Within a figure that the taxpayer can afford.

Radio Telegraphy and Tele-
phony in 1921.

In contradistinction to other fields of electrical progress,
1921 was a very active year in wireless telegraphy and tele-
phony, but the activity has chiefly taken the form of com-
mercial progress. It was, like 1920, a year pf consolida-
tion. Full use, even now, has not been made of the great
developments of the war period, but radio engineers have
begun to select from amongst the hundreds of alternative
arrangements those which m^y be applied most successfully
to meet practical requirements. Few new inventions
brightened the year. For some reasons, there is something
to be thankful for in this; wireless designers arc only just
catching up with the technical progress that has been made
during the last few years.

Wireless Societies.

The Wireless Section of the Institution of Electrical En-
gineers continued to be very successful, and the Papers
read during the session were of a type which appeals to
those actually engaged in wireless work. There has, ever
since the section was formed, been a tendency to terminate
the discussion hurriedly. Possibly this speaks well for the
success of the meeting, but if a short discussion is impera-
tive, it would a))pear that some means of lessening the
abruptness of 'the adjournment might be devised without
making the last few sjieakers feel they are unnecessarily
prolonging the proceedings.

Amateur M'ireless societies have increased greatly in num-
ber, and there are now about eighty in existence, most of
them being affiliated to the Wireless Society of London.

Very interesting tests have recently been carried out, dur-
ing which signals have been received in this country from
Ameririan 1 kW valve sets.

Patent Litigation.

The past year saw a recommencement of patent litigation
in connection with wireless telegraphy. The matters under
dispute were of interest, but, with one exception, of only
secondary importance. The air will, no doubt, be very
much cleaxer when these cases are decided. Perhaps, for
this reason, the litigation will have its beneficial effects.
In the meanwhile, the various actions emphasise the great
importance of patent work, which, though usually unpro-
ductive in itself, has a vital connection with a company's
prosperity when competition is keen and litigation con-
stantly in the air.

We cannot help feeling that much patent litigation could
be saved if there were a more general dissemination of
technical knowledge.

Patents and Monopolies.

The importance of patents has probably had a greater
eifect on wireless |")-ogre«s, not only in this country, but
throughout the world, than on any other industry. For
very many years thoi early basic patents enabled a monopoly
to be maintained . No doubt the advantages resulting from
such a monopoly were the just reward for much research
and expenditure. Nevertheless, monopolies tend to stifle
progress, and this has tended to some extent to be
the case in this country. Within the last few years the
basic wireless patents have expired, and the immediate
result of the inevitable competition has been a general im-
provement of wireless apparatus and communications. The
reaction has found expression in no half-hearted manner,
and it is due not a little to the lapsing of important patents
that the field of wireless in this country has been thrown
open to competition to the benefit not only of shipowners,
contractors and wireless engineers, but of the art of wireless
itself.

The Need of Greater Publicity.

If more information were circulated throughout the
world, there would be far fewer valid patents. Many a
patent in this country would operate against an inventor
from another country, where he may have used his inven-
tion for years, simply because he did not publish his results.

During the past year there. have been a very large number
of patents published in this country. Most of them have
been from foreign countries, and date as far back as 1913.
Some of them are very interesting, and corroborate our
views that remarkably few basic inventions in connection
with three-electrode valves have originated in this country.
The early work of Langmuir and his colleagues is unfolde?.
and there is no doubt that the great bulk of the credit for
early work in connection \\'ith valves must go to America.
The reason for this is probably that from the very nature
of the commercial position of wireless here before the war,
there were very few investigators. The advent of these
various patents, dating from early periods, will fortunately
not affect most manufacturers in this country, as the patents
are only granted on condition that they will not operate
against those who were cognisant of the inventions during
the war. It is to be regretted that very many of the 1921
patents were for mere details, or clearly obvious arrange-
ments. Such patents hinder rather than assist progress,
and are probably filed either to intimidate others, or to
prevent intimidation.

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

3:^

New Invsntions. .

There were few inventions of importance published
during the last year. One which has aroused, considerable
interest is the so-called " Negration," which, as its name
implies, is a negative resistance valve. We understand
that this valve, used as a continuous wave generator, has
found a wide commercial application, particularly on board
vessels of the mercantile marine. More recently, much
has been heard of magnetic control thermionic valves for
producing oscillations, althovigh it is too early to say if they
will find a practical application.

The Admiralty carried out a great deal of very valu-
able work in connection with high-powered valve trans-
mitters. They successfully used multi-phase currents for
supplying the anodes of transmitting valves without the use
of rectifying valves. The installation at Horsea was very
successful. It seems likely that the experience gained
at that station will lead to a very much wider use of high-
powered valve sets.

Automatic Call Devices.

The need for automatic call devices, - particularly for
S.O.S. calls, was greatly felt, but no national or inter-
national regulations have yet been put into force. It is
undoubtedly necessary that smaller ships, which cannot
afford to carry more than one operator, should be in posses-
sion of an automatic apparatus which will give an alarm
on receipt of an S.O.S. signal. The Radio Communication
Company have put on the market an apparatus which will
respond to a shin's call letters or the letters S.O.S. The
Marconi Company have more recently devised a very effec-
tive call device which responds to a series of dashes; this
apparatus was shown at the Physical Society's exhibition
last week, and is described in this issue of The Electrician.

Imperial Chain Communications.

The first station of the Imperial Wireless Chain, namely,
Leafield, was opened towards the end of last year. The
station is fitted with Elwell arcs, and is to work with a
similar station near Cairo. The construction of these
stations is in the hands of the British Post Office. Full
details have been given in The Electrician.

There seems some little doubt as to the future of the
chain of wireless stations, as some of the Dominions are in
favour of direct communication with England, instead of
through a number of relay stations. Australia, for-
tunately, is in favour of direct communication. The Mar-
coni Company have offered to subscribe £500,000 towards
a £1,000,000 company to be formed in partnership with the
Commonwealth Government for erecting and maintaining
a high-powered station in Australia; the Eadio Communi-
cation Company have offered to undertake the erection of a
station on an ordinary contracting basis. Whichever
scheme is adopted, it seems likely that direct communica-
tion with Australia will soon be an accomplished fact.
Even at present, the signals from the stations at Leafield
and Carnarvon can be received for limited periods in
Australia.

High-Power Valves.

In connection with the Imperial Chain, it will be remem-
bered that the Technical Committee recommended the use
of high-powered valve installations. A considerable amount
of very valuable work has been carried out in the past year
by the British Admiralty, working in conjunction with
the Mullard Radio Valve Company. Much progress has
been made in the construction of silica valves, which have
now been, made in 10 kW sizes. The result of this work

will undoubtedly be seen in the forthcoming year. We
may expect to ;iee a large number of land stations operating

on valves of large power.

Direction FinJing.

During the past year there were few published develop-
ments in connection with direction finding. The British
Post Office is becoming interested, and it is likely that
in tht/ near future coast stations will be fitted with D.F.
gear. Slow progress was made in the mercantile marine,
but it is likely that when general business prospects are
brighter there will be many more ships fitted than at
present. The Robinson direction-finder system proved as
successful on board ship as for the navigation of aircraft.

Land Stations.

Turning to the consideration of land stations, the most
important development was undoubtedly the opening of
the Long Island station, near New York, which is equipped
with Alexanderson alternators. This station will be a
central station, having a number of radial antennae and
several alternators which may be connected in parallel.
When complete, it will be the most powerful in the world.
At present only a portion of the station is complete and
working, but communication v\'ith Europe is already pro-
ceeding satisfactorily.

The Marconi stations at Clifden and Carnarvon are both
fitted with valve sets which have given very good results.
In connection with high-powered installations, this com-
pany has carried out some remarkably good work in con-
nection with " earth screens," which is the name they give
to what most people have called " balanced capacity "
earths. Although the idea of these " earths " is old, yet
we cannot help but admire the work of those who have
shown us the great advantages which attend the use of
these earth connections in modern high-powered installa-
tions.

Turning to the smaller- powered stations, it seems likely
that some of the apparatus of the British coast stations will
be replaced by modern and up-to-date sets. The Mar-
coni transmitter at North Foreland (probably the hardest -
w^orked coast station in the world) has already been replaced
by one of the Radio Communioaoion Company's standard
sets.

Radio Telephony.

Wireless telephony made, in some quarteirs, great strides,
but very little was heard of any general progress. Although
there is always a strong appeal to the imagination of the
public, wireless telephones will probably find few applica-
tions in this cotxntry, apart from aircraft. Communication
with foreign countries may, however, soon become an
accomplished fact, and some kind of a service has already
been tried between London and Holland. Experiments in
using wireless telephony in conjunction with ordinary land
lines have given good results, and by using two different
wave-lengths speech has been carried on as effectively as if
the ordinary land line system were in use.
Possible Future Developments.

As regards future developments, the problem of atmo-
speric eliiviination has not yet been solved, or, at any rate,
there has been no publication of any results, except, of
course, the perennial announcements of transcendental
developments in connection with wireless research. What-
ever has been achieved, there are no signs yet of the very
high powers still used in longe-range communication
being materially cut down. We are hoping that this — the
greatest modern problem in wireless communication — will
be solved in the very near future.

The Electrician — January 13, 19^2

Electric Winding Engines and Mine Hoists.*

Some Notes on Double Helical Gearing.

By H. H. BROUGHTON.

The author has collected a series of notes on the strength of helical gearing, as well as particulars of a number of individual gears with
the idea of providing the user of such gears with data by which he can check the designs of the gearing manufacturers. In the second part
'' of the article published below the] properties of typical gears are described and compared.

(Concluded from page 7.)

Typical Gears.

For a considerable time the author has been collecting data
on large gears with the object of being able quickly to prepare
rough estimates and to check the gears called for in various
specifications. Although the actual design of the gears is
best left to the gear specialist it is, nevertheless, highly desirable
that the user should be in a position to compare proposed
gears with those which are known to have given satisfaction
on similar duty.

In Tables II. and III. are set out technical data of a number
of helical gears that have been used during recent years for

h< — soz—*4

Adding 25 per cent, to the sum of these two moments of
inertia will make the necessary allowance for the hub and
arms of the wheel.

If the weight and pitch diameter only are given, the
moment of inertia may be considered to be the moment of
inertia due to 60 per cent, of the total weight concentrated
at the pitch circle.

Example. — It is required to determine the approximate
value of the equivalent moment of inertia (reduced to the
wheel shaftf) of the pair of wheels given under Kef. No. 6
in Table III.

l-fr-370-^

.C5
«0

Scale of Millimetres.

SOO 1000 1500

— ! 1 1 I I J I I I I l_ J

2000

Fia. 3.— Typical Split Double-Helical Wheel.

winders and haulages. The gears given in Table II. are of
Citroen make, and those in Table III. are of the Power Plant
Company's make.

'J'o facilitate transport, and to admit of easy erection,
large wheels arc often made in two or more pieces. A
typical split wheel is illustrated in Fig. 3, and attention is
directed to the method of registering the two halves by
means of tool-steel ferrules, located as shown, at opposite
ends of a diameter.

locrtia.

For a helical or herring-bone gear of given dimensions the

moment of inertia of the teetli may be figured as 40 per cent.

of a hollow cylinder of the limiting dimensions, and the rini

(exclusive of teeth) may be figured as a hollow cylinder.

The constants are :

Diameter of wheel
Weight of wheel
Diameter of pinion
Weight of pinion

= 131 -12 = 10-92 ft.
= 8-85x2 240 =19 000 lb.
= 22--12=l-83ft.
=0-65x2 240 = 1460 lb.

Gear ratio = 6 to 1

The moment of inertia of the wheel about its own axis is

/10-92\2
:060xl9 900xr 2 j --32-2

= 11000
As the pinion is a solid forging having a pitch diameter of
1-83 ft., it follows that the radius of gyration will be

t In winders calculations it is usual to " reduce " inertia moments,
Lc, to drum shaft.

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

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January 13, 1922

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•g"

■g

•$

■5

T*.

->:y

-I'M

-tJ"

-iN-^k;

^T!

oi c- 0

0 00

CO t^ 0

« « 0 « t^ 10 -*

»o

i-H

L/J

approximately 0*66 ft., and the inertia about the axis of the
pinion will therefore be :

/p = l 460 X 0-663 -^32•2
= 19-8.
Since the gear ratio is 6 to 1, the Cjuivalent inertia about the
axis of the wheel will be :

7 = 19-8x62=710.
Hence, the total equivalent inertia

'/e = ll 000 + 710 = 11 710.
Comparison of Gears for a Given Duty.

It may be thought that for a pair of wheels transmitting
a given amount of power at a definite speed the tooth pitch
and width would be more or less standardised ; in other words,
that the weights of gears by difierent makers would be
approximately equal.

That such is not the case is evident from an inspection of
Table IV., in which are set out the principal particulars of a
pair of wheels for which four specialist firms were asked to
quote. The enquiry called for 6-89 to 1 gears capable of
transmitting a maximum load of 1 780 h.p., the motor rating
being 1 150 h.p. at 365 revs, per min. ; and makers were asked
to state the pitch and width of gears covered by their quotation.
It will be noted that as one extreme we have a tooth of
relatively coarse pitch (3 in.), and narrow in width (12| in.),
and as the other extreme, a tooth of relatively fine pitch
(I-57 in.), and 25 in. in width. Other things being equal,
the load which can be carried by a tooth is proportional to the
product of pitch a'nd width. Thus, in the case of the wheel
first mentioned. Firm A, the product is 36-75 ; and in the wheel
put forward by Firm B the product is 67-5, or 84 per cent,
higher than A.

In addition to the effect of the formula to which the teeth
are designed, the product of pitch and width varies directly
as the factor of safety. It may be of interest ta mention
that it was the practice of Firm A till quite recently to allow
a factor of safety of 10 on peak loads. In the case under notice
this corresponds to a factor of safety of 15-5 on the rated h.p.
of the motor. It should be remembered that such high
factors are necessary for securing durability, and not for
securing strength or safety. In other w'ords, the factor is
a factor of durability as distinct from safety. By adopting
improved methods of manufacture and by careful selection
of pinion material, a factor of safety of 5 or 6 reckoned on
peak loads may be regarded as sufficient to ensure satisfactory
service.
Table IV. — Comparison of Gears by Different Makers for a Given Dviy*

Rating : 1 150/1 780 h.p. ; Speeds, 365 and 53 r.p.m. ; Gear

ratio, 6-89: 1.

Teeth in wheel . .
Teeth in pinion . .

Pitch, P in

Width efface. PF in. ..
Diameter of wheel, in. .
Diameter of pinion, in. •
Peripheral speed, S ft.

per min

Velocity coefficient, v.
Material of wheel .
Material of pinion .

Tooth-shape ( Wheel
coef a. \ Pinion

Shaft centres, in. .
Actual gear ratio .

Type

Ratio If --P

Product P X ir . . . .

Cost of gears

Cost of sheet-steel gear

case

Packing for shipment .

Approximate weight of
wheel

Makes.

124
18
3

\2\

118-8

17-2

1 650

00055

Cast steel

Special

hard steel

117

0-86

(18

6-8!)

36-75

£1 183

£200
Included

4-75 tons

. B

172
25
No. U(2|)
27
137-6
20

1 910

0 0052

Cast steel

High
carbon stl.

1-20

0-!)7

78-8

6-88

10-8

67 "5

£1 915

£175
5 per cent,
extra

206

24
131-2
191

1820

0 0053

Cast steel

1-20
1-01
75-1
6-87

120

48 0

£2 875

£700
Included

248
36

No. 2(1 -57)
25
124
18

1720

0-0054

Cast steel

High
carbon stl.
1-20
1-04
71
6-89

160

39-25

£1 300

* The figures given in this table are taken from estimates obtained
in March. 1920.

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

Equally interesting are the costs. These cover the supply
of unmounted wheel and pinion. One of the gears is of French
manufacture and the remainder are of British make.

Specifications.

One of the best specifications for heavy gears of which the
author has knowledge is that recommended by a committee
of the American Electric Railway Engineering Association.
The specification is as follows :

Wheels. — Castings to be of open-hearth steel or other approved
process. They must be free from shrinkage cracks and spongy
portions. The design of wheel must be such as to minimise shrinkage
stresses. The unfinished sui-faccs must be reasonably smooth and
free from sand and scale. The finished surface of the teeth and the
finished rim below the teeth should be reasonably free from sand holes
or blow holes, and must not fall below specifications as given below.
No tooth or finished surface between teeth should have sand holes
or blow holes which will reduce the strength of the tooth more than
10 per cent, on motors of 100 n.P. or under, or more than 7.] per cent,
for motors of 100 h.p. or over. When sand holes are detected in a
tooth, a chi-sel with tV-in. cutting edge should be used to determine the
depth and extent, as frequently a hole which appears on the surface to
be very small will be found to contain a great deal of sand. In case
of blow holes the chisel should be used to open them up if possible,
and then a small piece of flexible wire inserted to find the extent
of the cavity to which they lead. If this cavity enlarges under a
tooth or between teeth in such a manner as to affect the strength of
the tooth to the extent mentioned above, the gear will be rejected. The
other portions of the wheel must not contain gas, shrinkage or sand
holes to affect the strength of these portions more than 10 per cent.

i. . . .
t not var\'

It is the practice of some manufacturera of gears to fill gas or BbrinJcage
holes with a mixture or compound which greatly n-sembl' -> tfi'- im-ral
itself.* This does not add to the Htrength of the UyAh or
prevents the above insj>cction l>eing made. Th*?
therefore, recommend that any wheel.s v< t
The thickness of the teeth, compared one

more than 001 in. and thickness at corre<.i [n::>> n.. -" •

the correct thickness and mu.=jt not be below the
by more than 0010 in. . . . All gears should t
the name of the manufacturer and date of manufacture in a
not subject to wear and where the same can be .seen without r»-'
o.' the gear.f The steel must not contain more than 00'
of sulphur or of phosphorus, and must have the follow:/
properties : Tensile or ultimate strength not less than % ';■,■■ ... ,. r
sq. in. ; elastic limit or yield point not less than 27 00<J lb. per sq. m. ;
elongation in 2 in. not less than 15 i>er cent. ; reduction of area not
less than 20 per cent.

Pinions. — Finished surface of teeth must be absolutely free fmm
fiaws of any kind. The thickness of teeth, cf>mpared one w.'-"
must not vary more than 0010 in., and thickness at corre
must not exceed the correct thickness and must not run l^iv « ■ .n-;. ■.
thickness by more than O'OIO in, . . . The name of the manu-
facturer and date of manufacture should be stamped on the pinion
in a place not subject to wear.t . . . Their physical characteristics
should be as follows: Tensile strength, 110 000 lb. per sq. in.
(minimum); elastic limit, 70 000 lb. per sq. in. (minimum);
elongation in 2 in., 15 per cent. ; reduction of area, 20 per cent.

* No blow-holes or cracks should be filled up by electric welding
before the castings have been inspected, and then only with the entire
approval of the inspector.

t The correct pitch circles should be clearly marked on each side of

the gear faces.

Notes on the Duplex Balancing of Long Submarine Cables.

By E. S. HEURTLEY.

The duplex balancing of long submarine cables has been
made more difficult in recent years by the introduction of
" magnifiers." These, in raising the speed constants from a
maximum of COO up to 1000 and over, have, in efiect,
necessitated the employment of a receiving instrument of
much greater sensibility than has hitherto been used. This
sensibility has reached such a point at the present time

Main Cable

Sea Earth
I C-^ \

Fig. 1.

that difficulty occurs with the stability of the balance, and,
even allowing for the marked improvement in this respect
due to the introduction of non- temperature co-efficient
artificial lines, yet the number of times that the balance
needs adjustment in the twenty-four hours frequently places
a limit on the degree of amplification which can be beneficially
employed.

The modern practice in the case of cables of high KK
Ls to employ a sea earth of considerable length, say ten nautical
miles, in order to overcome disturbances. The earth con-
ductor is usually twinned up with the main cable conductor,
the two being covered with the protecting sheathing.

Connections for Use of Sea Earth.

The question arises as to the best method of employing this
sea earth in the duplex balance, and, in considering this
matter, the following points must be borne in mind : —

1. Freedom of the receiving instrument from extraneous disturbances.

2. Stability of balance.

3. Inteiference of the circuit on other circuits in the vicinitv.

Normal Method.

The normal method of connecting up a duplex cable work-
ing " double block "' is shown in Fig. 1, the arrows denoting
the relative direction of the currents in the various circuits.
The following points should be noted : —

1. The currents in the cable and in the sea earth are in opposite
directions.

2. The earth acts as a return path for the current in the cable, and
consequently any change in the resistance of the sea earth has the same
effect on the balance as a similar change of resistance at the b^;inning
of the cable.

5. The battery earth lead being part of the balanced circuit, it i-<
absolutely essential that the sending battery and all apparatus should
be maintained in a permanent state of insulation.

4. The currents in the cable and in the sea earth leads being equal
in intensity and opposite in direction, the cable is neutral in its effect
on other circuits in the vicinity for the distance covered by the sea earth

Alternative Method.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative method of utilising the sea
earth. In this arrangement the sea earth is connected direct
to the earth plate of the artificial line, and a local earth is
used on the sending apparatus. This system is by no means

Main Cable
C

Sea Earth

Local Earth

Fio.

novel, having been used for a considerable period for various
reasons by certain telegraph companies.

Its particular merits are not, perhaps, clearly understood,
and it may be useful to mention the following points in regard

Ths Electrician.

January 13, 1922

to this method of connection as compared with that depicted
in Fig, 1 :—

1. The currents in the cable and in the sea eartli are in tJie same
direction.

2. The sea earth acts as a direct lead for the earth plate of the arti-
ficial line, and all the current which enters into the artificial line passes
thi'ough the sea earth. Consequently, any change in the resistance
of the latter affects the balance in an opposite sense to a similar change
of resistance at the beginning of the cable.

3. The battery earth lead not being in a balanced circuit, good in-
sulation of the battery and sending circuit is not important, and its
variation has no effect on the steadiness of the balance.

4. When balance is obtained, and assuming equal R/S values for
cable and artificial line, the currents in the cable and sea earth are equal
in intensity, but, being in the same du'cction in both cores, the circuit

Main Cable

Fig. 3.

is not neutral in its effect on other circuits, and the disturbing effect
due to induction is double that given by a single cable using a local earth.
5. Any variations in E.M.F. in the local earth enter the ape.x of the
bridge in the same M'ay as the current from the sending battery, and
if balance is maintained it has no effect on the receiving instrument
at the near station.

In the above points, paragraphs 2 and 3 outline very
valuable assets in the maintenance of a stable balance on a
long submarine cable.

Merits of Alternative Method.

Referring to paragraph 2, we have here an automatic
compensation in the balance for changes of resistance due
to temperature changes in the first part of the cable covered
by the sea earth. For any change of resistance in the cable due
to this cause means a similar change in the earth lead (assum-
ing the cores to be of the same dimensions). Paragraph 3
secures that the state of the insulation of the part of the
circuit which is undoubtedly the most difficult to maintain
in good order (viz. : — the sending battery and apparatus)

S.E. A.L. Main Cable

, >4-AMAAA^

Sea Earth(Z)
2C. < \

Fig. 4.

is immaterial to the maintenance of the duplex balance.
Paragraph 4 is the only serious disadvantage to the use
of this system as com])arcd with that outlined in Fig. 1, and
whether or not it makes the system impracticable depends
on the proximity of other circuits and the sensitiveness of
the receiving instruments used on them. In many cases it
ha.s been found to be of no practical importance, but where
cables run in close proximity to each other for long distances,
especially in underground connections, there is a probability
that induction troubles would be serious.

With regard to a method of overcoming this difliculty, the
best plan would undoubtedly be to earth the battery on a
second earth return, which need not necessarily run the whole

distance covered by the sea^earth, but simply through the
locality where induction troubles are likely to be met. The
current in this lead will be the sum of the currents in the
cable and the artificial line, and, if the capacity per nautical
mile is the same as that of the other leads, the inductive
effect on outside circuits should be completely neutralised.
Fig. 3 shows these connections. It is interesting to note that
this second sea earth being in the battery circuit, neither its
resistance nor its insulation has any effect on the duplex
balance, and the benefits outlined in reference to Fig. 2 are
maintained without the inherent disadvantage of that system.

Compensation Arrangements.

An interesting point arises as to how the resistance and
capacity of the artificial line sea earth can be compensated
for in the case of systems outlined in Figs. 2 and 3 ; for the
sea earth being in series between the earth plate of the arti-
ficial line and earth, the sea earth artificial line shown in
Fig. 1 should theoretically be placed between the sheathing
of the cable and the earth, which is obviously impossible.

So long, however, as the same current passes through this
sea earth artificial line as passes through the cable, and so long
as this artificial line is located in series with the cable and
on the cable side of the receiving apparatus, its effective
impedance on the outgoing current and, therefore, its effect
on the balance will be the same, whether it is placed before
the cable or between the earth plate of the cable and actual
earth. In this way a practical means of compensating for
the sea earth in the duplex balance is obtained, the artificial line
for the sea earth being placed immediately before the cable
as snown in Fig. 4. The writer has no hesitation in
expressing the opinion that this form of duplex connec-
tions, where long sea earths are involved, will give the most
stable balance, and he recommends that where cables are
laid in a congested area tricore shore ends should be
used, two cores being utilised for earths as explained above,
and the third core for the main cable.

Leakage in Cross Circuit.

An adjustment which has been foimd useful in connection
with balances such as these referred to and may be men-
tioned here, is to reduce artificially the insulation on the
cable side by a high resistance, say, in the neighbourhood of
100 000 0, connected from the head of the cable to
earth, which is balanced by an adjustable leak from the be-
ginning of the artificial line. Not only has this been found
a useful adjustment, but, in addition, it artificially lowers the
insulation of the cross circuit, and, in this way, makes the
balance less susceptible to variations due to leakage in the
cross circuit.

Proposed Duty on Lighting Glassware.

Sir W. Ashley's Committee is inquiring int'> the application for the
imposition of a tariff on imported German and Bohemian glass under
Part II. of the Safeguarding of Industries Act. The application
is opposed by the Glassware Section of the London Chamber of
Commerce, for whom Sir A. Colefax, K.C. (and Capt. Ernest Evans,
M.P.) urged that a great deal of the evidence asking for the duty
was irrelevant under Part II. The object of the Act wae not to stop
imports from one country in order to promote them from another.
Primarily the object was to help British industry, and they were not
to consider helping a new manufactory to get on to its feet. The
evidence clearly showed that there was no established manufactory
in this coiuitry of some of the articles about which evidence had
been given. He submitted that there was no importation of electric
bulbs from Germany, and in regard to domestic glass, the bulk < f
it came from Belgium, to which country the Act did not apply.

Mr. C. G. Brooks said that the large firms in Bohemia gave
quotations in English sterling. If a duty was imposed, unless the
British manufacturer changed his methods he would not be able to
compete successfully with Continental manufacturers.

Mr. Fernand R. Lang (proprietor of Messrs. Jules Lang & Son)
thought the exchange did not affect the situation to any appreciable
degree. The German exchange had collapsed, but it liad not made
any difference to them. His firm started making scientific glass and
trained many disabled soldiers and some local labour, but they
steadily lost money. He attributed that simply to the fact that
the Germans were better equipped for making that kind of glass ;
and even if his firm gob adequate protection it would take years to
train their people, without reckoning the loss in th° meantime.

On Tuesday Mr. B. L. Cohen, Mr. J. Collyer and Mr. P. C.
Gunningham also gave evidence against the duty.

The Electrician — January 13, 1922

Single- and Three-Phase Alternating-Current Commutator
Motors with Series and Shunt Characteristics."*

By STANLEY PARKKR SMITH. D.Sc.

In this lecture Dr. Smith deals succinctly with the electrical and mechanical characteristics of single-phase and three-j)ha.$e series and

shunt alternating current commutator motors. These machines, though interesting theoretically, possess certain grave prarjic/it diJficuUies

from both the desigtier's and matiufactnrer's point of view. Though, therefore, they were invented smne ye/irs ago, their cf/mrnercial devfJof/ment

has been slotv. until recent demands for alternating -current motors have lead to their possibilities beiruj further considere/J. The lecture icas,

therefore, a timely contribution to our knowledge of this subject, and should form a firm stepping stone to fur/her progress.

Owihg to the rapid growth of alternating-current networks,
there is an increasing demand for suitable a.c. motors possessing
high power factor, large starting torque, and economical speed
regulation. From the manufacturer's and designer's point of view
these machines are most unpopular ; but, from the inventor's and
scholar's point of view, they are probably the most interesting of all.

o-AAT-VAAAWnWAt^' -i-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAMrV

wQ/

(A) Compavsated series motor (B) Series-repulsion motor (C) Plain repulsion motor

(D) Repulsion motor
li'jfA movai/e Jbnishes

(E) Repulsion motor
With fixed S movdJble iriu/iej

(F) Repulsion motor
With phdse- compensation

regrouping the coils or phases, or by varying the phase angle (a« in
Creedy's method), or by cascade devices (as in Hunt's and Creedy's
methods). The addition of a second, or cascade, motor introduces
further possibilities.

By these means, multi-speed motors can be made to give 2, 3, 4, 5
or 6 constant speeds (shunt characteristics) ; but in some ca.se« at
the expense of high power factor and large starting torque. Further,
gradual or continuous economical speed variation is impracticable.

Commutator Motors.

Since phenomena in the conductors are always reproduced at the
commutator brushes (independent of sense or speed of rotation)
it is possible to connect field and armature windings in series or
parallel, although inductive effects may entail modifications with
a.c. In principle, the commutator motor is well adapted for
economical speed control and large starting torque. In many cases
phase-advancement can also be obtained.

Considering, for simplicity, the d.c. motor, the speed is proper-
tional to supply voltage^-pressure-drop ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^

on the product of the armature current and flux.

Speed regulation by series resistance is uneconomical, but the
speed can be controlled by varying either voltage or field.

With a single machine, voltage control is impracticable with
direct current, but, with alternating current, a variable-ratio trans-
former or other device can be used. ►

With field control (the only economical method for a single d.c.
motor), the torque varies inversely as the speed, assuming constant
armature current ; hence the output remains constant over the
whole speed-range, and a variable speed d.c. motor must be

Fig. 1. — Single-Phase Motors with Series Characteristics.

It Ls desirable to speak about these machines, because, though a
good deal was pubUshed about them so long ago, it had almost been
forgotten. The need for these machines is becoming urgent on
account of the growing demand for a.c. motors.

Non-Commutator Types.

Non- commutator types of a.c. motors include the synchronous
motor and the induction motor.

In the synchronous motor, powerful starting torque is obtained
by winding the rotor as an induction motor, or, with the salient-
pole construction, by arranging the damping winding so that the
cross-flux at starting becomes approximately equal to the main
flux. Power factor can be varied by adjustment of exciting current ;
d.c. supply is thus necessary, and speed control is impracticable.
This type is seldom used on single-phase supply.

In the induction motor the above requirements are not feasible
with single-phase induction motors, but polyphase induction motors
can be made to satisfy demands. Power-factor rectification is
possible by means of a phase-advancer of either the revolving or
vibratory type. A commutator is essential.

•A large starting torque demands high power factor during starting,
but the power taken from the mains is proportional to the torque,
and not to the output. Economical speed variation of a single
machine entails a change in the number of poles, is achieved by

*Abstract of a lectitfe delivered before the Institution of Electrical
Engineers.

(A) Shunt motor

i) "With, phase conpensation (C) With startin; device

Torque

(E) With voltage speed- control

Fig. 2. — Sinolk-Phase Shunt Motors-

designed for fuU output at lowest speed ; at all higher speeds the
material cannot be efficiently utilised.

With voltage control (possible with a.c. motors), both field and
armature current can be kept constant over the whole speed-range.
A constant torque is maintained, and the output is proportional to
the speed, enabling the material to be full}' utilised over the whole

The Electrician.

January 13, 1922

working range and corresponding more closely to the load
characteristics of usual drives.

Alternating-Current Commutator Motors.

The a.c. commutator motors in practice unite most of the draw-
backs of both d.c. motors and induction motors. And short circuit-
ing by the brushes of the transformer E.M.F. induced in the coils
predominantly affects the design. Therefore the>ir-gap^must be

(A) Witn main transf oriaer

(B) Wtli rotor transtormer

Torc;ue-cil'.5

<C) W,th fb-d V movaile Ivjslws

Pig. 3. — Thbee-Phase Series Commutatob Motors.

dently so that no transformer is needed. At synchronous
s[)eed the transformer flux is correct for neutralizing the
inductive effects of the exciting fux on the short-circuited coils ;
hence commutation conditions resemble those in a d.c. machine.
At other speeds, especially at hjrper- synchronous ones, the magnitude
of this flux is not correct, so that all motors of the repulsion type are
ill-suited for wide speed-ranges. The repulsion motor has a series
characteristic because the exciting flux is produced by the main
current.

Combining the two stator windings in the plain repulsion motor,
the common repulsion motor with movable brushes is obtained.
The brushes are in the short- circuited position when the brush axis
coincides with the axis of the stator winding, in the neutral position
when the brush axis is pei-pendicular thereto. In both positions
the torque is zero.. If the brushes are in the neutral position, no
stator is required. The line voltage is applied to the stator winding
and the motor begins to revolve in the opposite direction to that in
which the brushes are moved. Thus both transformer and starter
can be dispensed with.

By splitting the brushes into a fixed and a movable set, the brush
shift is doubled, and finer speed regulation can be obtained. " Further,
no flux embraces th6 short-circuited coils when the brushes are in
the neutral position.

Phase compensation is obtained by rotor excitation. These
motors were used on the original electric rolling stock of the Brighton
Railway, being practically the only type then available. The
necessity of working near synchronous speed is a drawback, and the
compensated series motor has replaced this motor for traction work.

Experimental Demonstration.

The characteristics of a single-phase series motor were demon- _
strated on an Oerlikon experimental machine which had two sets
of brush gear, with which about eight series speed characteristics
could be obtained for various tappings when run as a repulsion
motor. The speed was varied by shifting the brushes, and the machine
was reversed by putting the brushes in the other direction. By
altering the connection again, the machine could be run as a shunt
motor, the brushes being shifted, as in the repulsion motor, to make
it start. When it reached about synchronous speed, the brushes were
brought back into neutral. By applying the pressure in one direction
the speed was raised above synchronism, and, by reversing it, it
was brought below. The speed dropped slowly as the load was
applied.

The motor would not work with a connection such as was used in
a d.c. motor, because when a conductor left the top zone, as the

short, the armature reaction compensated, and a low commutator
voltage used — sometimes at the cost of a transformer.

Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate types of motors of practical importance.
The first mention of the fact that the laminated series motor
could work with a.c. current, appears to have been made by
Alexander Siemens in 1884, in a discussion at a meeting of the Society
of Telegraph Engineers ; the polyphase commutator motor was
patented by Ernest Wilson in 1888 (E. P. 18 525). About the same
time Wightman in America discovered rotor excitation. In 1898,
LI. B. Atkinson showed how the single-phase commutator motor
could be made to yield a shunt characteristic. The invention of the
induction motor by Ferraris and by Tesla, in 1885-86, and its rapid
development, indicate the inherent difficulties of a.c. commutator
motors. ^

Single-Phase Commutator Motors.

Single-phase motors with series characteristics are illustrated in
Fig. 1. The more rapid development of the^r types is attributable
to their relative simplicity, and the incentive afforded by the pros-
pects of railway electrification.

The compensated series motor has ousted all other types as a
single-phase traction motor. For this work the transformer E.M.F.
in the short-circuited coil is usually neutralized by a rotational
E.M.F, induced by the flux produced by an interpole winding
shunted by a resistance and excited by the main current. Tliis
gives the motor a very v/ide speed-range. The speed is controlled
from rest by means of a variable-ratio transformer. High power
factor is obtained by designing the motor with a weak field and a
strong armature magneto -motive force, by working well above a
synchronous speed, and by reducing inductive effects. On
Continrntal single-phase railways, inductive effects are'reduced by
adopting a frequency of 10?, periods per second. The compensating
winding may be joined in series with the armature winding, or it
may be short-circuited on itself. Motors for .500 ii.i-. are common
and 3 000 n.i". has been attained. About 40 to 80 ii.r. per pole is
usual for large motors.

In the series-repulsion (or doubly-fed) types, power is supplied to
l)oth stator and rotor. . However, this type has practically given
)ilace to the compensated seiio3 type.

In the plain repulsion motor ail the power is transferred
inductively to the rotor. The rotor voltage can be iixed indepen.

(A) With rotor transformer

(B) With stator tappings

■

100

O 100%

Fiu 4. — Three-Phase Shunt Commutator Motors.

armature rotated, it entered the bottom zone, and there was always
a constant number of conductors in any part of the field, so that tlie
fixed brushes would pick up what was taking jilace in that zone.
Consequently the flux was steady and a steady E.M.F. was picked up.
If there was an alternating flux, pulsating with a frequency of 25,

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

there would be a frequency of 25 between the brushes. In a (I.e.
machine the field winding could be connected either in series or in
parallel with the armature, as the commutator acted as a frequency
changer and the frequency of the pressure induced in the armature
conductors was therefore converted to the frequency in the field
system. The reason, therefore, that this machine would not work
with a simple shunt connection was that, in order to get power,
there must be an E.M.F. of rotation along the axis of the power
component of the current. Mr. Atkinson obtained that by putting
on another pair of brushes and providing a (lux which secured an
K.M.F. of rotation along the axis of the excitation flux, and then
the E.M.F. of rotation along the vertical axis, combined with the
current, gave the torque on which the action of the motor depended.
There was no doubt these a.c. commutator motors had all the
drawbacks of the d.c. motor and the induction motor, in addition

(A) With rotary -converter h. coupled D.C.motor

(B) With. 3 -ph. commutator motor &
iuductioa generator

wvmU^^

ft) Wit;-, coupled 3-ph, commutator motor (W WitK trequencv changer i

Fig. 5. — Variable-Speed Sets.

to a still greater evil. It was really a successful achievement that
satisfactory a.c. commutator motors had been built, and he was sorry
that our own firms and designers had done practically nothing in
that direction. Except for what Mr. Greedy and a few others had
done, these machines had been developed in other countries,
although the pioneer types were invented in this country.

As regards single-phase motors with shunt characteristics, the
shunt motor needs both main and exciting brushes.

The plain shunt motor is inferior to the single-phase induction
motor. It possesses no starting torque ; efficiency and power factor
are lower, and the motor runs merely at one speed, i.e. synchronism.
Some methods of overcoming these drawbacks are illustrated in
Fig. 2.

Phase correction is obtained by injecting a fraction of the
applied pressure into the exciting circuit.

A large starting torque is obtained by letting the motor run up to
speed as a repulsion motor. The machine can then run as a single-
phase induction motor. It is now usual to combine devices (B)
and (C) in order to obtain a constant-speed single-phase motor with
high-power factor and large starting torque.

.Speed regulation is obtained by varying the exciting flux. An
inductance is used to raise the speed ; a capacity to lower it ; or
an auxiliary winding can be used.

In the -doubly-fed type the speed is varied by regulating the
pressure applied to the brushes in the transformer axis. This motor,
the series-repulsion motor and the three-phase commutator tj^pes,
belong to the class in which energy is supplied to both stator and
rotor, power relations being definitely associated with synchronous
speed.

Three>Phase Commutator Motors.

The use of a commutator with the rotor of the three-phase
induction motor raises the frequency of the slip energy to the
frequency of the supply. Hence this energy can be taken from, or
returned to, the supply network, according as the speed is above or
below synchronism.

The speed of the three-phase series motor is controlled by shifting
the brushes. The direction of rotation is independent of the sense
of the rotary field. If the motor, with a fixed ratio of stator to

rotor turns, is designed for a high power factor, instability 'xjcon*
at low speeds {see. P'ig. 3). A transfonncr i« luually necesttaiy to

obtain the low rotor voltage.

A main transformer, rated for full power, is usually neceesary
onlj' for severe conditions.

A rotor transformer, rated for the slipjKiwer only, Ls often all that
is needed. If this transfonner becomes saturated at a certain value
of the rotor voltage (i.e. at a certain speed), racing can ' 'f-d.

Where stability over the whole speed-range and vf-r

factor are needed, the ratio of the stator to the rotoi i.ai.n ...la \n-
decreased, as the speed ri.ses, by one-half of the brushes being fixe^l
and the other half movable.

Wherea-s the repulsion motor is the simplest tyi>e of .sins^le-phase
commutator motor, the thne-phasc series motor ia the simplest
type of three-phase commutator motor.

The three-pha.se series motors had, however, the peculiar charae
teristic that there was an instabilty at low speeds, though there
was a high power factor at high .speeds. A device for overcoming
the instability at low speeds was to u.se tappings on the stator
winding, which served the same function as a tran.sformer.

With Shunt Characteristics.

The speed of the three-phase shunt motor is varied by .supplying
a pressure to the rotor brushes, and the brushes are rocked through
UO deg. to pass from sub-synchronous to hyper-sjTichronoas
speed. The connections are showTi in Fig. 4.

A variable-ratio rotor transformer, capable of transmitting the
slip power to or from the commutator brushes, fixes the speed. A
special connection can be used for altering the phase of the
transformer voltage in order raise the power factor.

Sometimes it is possible to obtain a desired rotor pressure by
taking tappings off stator windings.

Where gradual speeed control is required, brushes can be arranged
in two equal sets, both movable and connected to the separate
stator phases. Power is supplied through slip- rings to the rotor,
while a special regulating winding may be employed as the
commutator winding. Every brush position corresponds to a
definite pressure and speed.

In the types of three-phase shunt motor previously mentioned, and
in the three-phase series motors, the transformer E.M.F. becomes
zero at synchronism, but in this machine it remains the same at all
speeds, because the frequency of the current in the rotor winding is
always that of the supply. In this respect the motor resembles the
single-phase series motor ; but in the latter the transformer E.M.F.
can be neutrahzed, whereas in the former it cannot be. The
relative motion between the revolving field and the rotor is
constant, and at synchronism the frequency of the E.M.F. induced
in the stator winding is zero. By starting from the neutral position,
a starter can be dispensed with. Phase compensation is obtained by
shifting the two sets of brushes unequally. The direction of rotation
of three-phase shunt motors is changed as in an induction motor.
i.e., by reversing two stator leads.

Variable-Speed Sets.

Assuming from 15 to 20 h.p. per pole as a desirable Umit for the
output of a three-phase commutator motor, such motors cannot well
be buUt for outputs above 300 to 500 h.p. However, it is often only
desired to use ther shp i)Ower of a large induction motor having a
limited speed-range. The three-phase commutator motor is well
suited to fulfil these conditions. \'arious ways of using the slip
power are shown in Fig. 5. In many cases, phase compensation in
the main motor is also aimed at. When the auxiliarj- motor is
mechanically coupled to the main motor, the drive is suitable for
constant output over the whole speed-range ; otherwise it is
suitaWe for constant torque. It is desirable to arrange that
synchronous speed shall be in the middle of the speed-range, so that
tiie rating of the auxiliary machin-.s can be corresinindingly
diminished.

A Merseyside Confederation.

A defiuilfc step towards a Merseyside Confedf.r.\tion was taken at
a meeting of Liverpool City Council last week when a resolution.
proposed by Sir Archibald Salvidge for the formation of a special
conmiittee to confer with Government Departments and local authori-
ties on both sides of the Mersey with a view to securing co-operation.
co-ordination and (or) federation, with greater efficiency and
economy in the control of local services and the improvement of
cross-river communication bj- means of a bridge or tunnel, was carried
unanimouslv. In his speech Sir Archibald referred to such matters
its road traffic, tramways, electricity supply, &c. He did not suggest
that any of these matters ought to be controlled in all their details
by one central authority, but his view was that for the purpose r-f
ensuring efficiency and economy the policy might with advantage be
guided in all these matters by a central authority in whose handi*
would thus fall in large measure the control of finance, and to an
extent, rating, in the areas of all the commimities. leaving the con-
stituent authoritif* their existim: operating powers.

me Jblectrictan — January 13, 1922

The Institution of Electrical Engineers.

There was a fairly full attendance at the meeting of the Institution
of Electrical Engineers on Thursday in last week when Dr. Stanley
Parker Smith delivered a lecture on " Single and Three-I'hase
Alternating Current Commutator Motors with Series and Shunt
Characteristics."

The Library — Hours of Opening.

The President opened the meeting b.y saying that it had been
found that though the library Avas well attended on the evening of
meeting nights, on other evenings those taking advantage of the
facilities were very few. It had therefore been decided to keep the
library open on meeting nights, but to close it on other nights of the
week.

On another page of this issue we give an account of Dr. Smith's
lecture, this account being based to a large extent on the printed
notes circulated beforehand, though some supplementary informa-
tion which the lecturer gave in the course of his extempore remarks
has been included. At the conclusion of the lecture which lasted
about an hour and a quarter and was accompanied by a number of
practical demonstrations, the President called upon Mr. F. Greedy
to open the discussion. No better choice could have been made as
Mr. Greedy has probably done more than any other British electrical
engineer to bring the " particular type of motor with which the
lecturer dealt to a practical stage.

Some Practical Aspects.

Mr. F. Greedy therefore somewhat naturally confined his remarks
to practical questions. He pointed out that it was possible to over-
come the difficulty of transformer voltage being induced between
the commutator segments by rurming the machine at nearly
synchronous speed. The voltage between the secondaries was then
purely a reactance voltage, as in the direct current machine,
while the starting torque and power factor could be favourably
compared with those of other types of single phase motors. Compar-
ing the performance of single phase and direct current motors he
pointed out that in the smaller sizes, i.e., about 5 h.p., the efficiency
of the former was only about 5 per cent, less that that of the direct
current motor, while in the large sizes up to about 35 h.p. the
difference was only about 3 per cent..

As regards weight the direct current motor was heavier than the
single-phase motor of 1914 design by about 10 per cent,
throughout the whole range of sizes, but the weight of the modern
single phase motor was only about two-thirds of that of the
corresponding direct current motor. In sizes up to 23 h.p. the cost
of the single-phase commutator motor was from about 4 to 10 per
cent, more than that of the direct current motor and this difference
increased with the size. The single-phase motor of up-to-date
design was smaller than the direct current motor of the same out-
put. In variable speed machines it was necessary to keep the
commutator voltage relatively low, say less than 100 V with outputs
of 100 h.p. on a 50 cycle circuit. When the macliine was operated
constantly at near synchronous speed, however, the commutator
voltage could be at least doubled or alternatively the commutator
size could be halved, an arrangement which reduced loss and so
increased the efficiency.

The British Designer Vindicated.

English firms had not undertaken the manufacture of a.c. com-
mutator motors, not because they were lazy, but because they had
been busily engaged in doing something else. The cascade motor
at least was entirely a British product, and in any evont, as the
polyphase induction motor was an ideal form of drive, it was hardly
necessary for them to sacrifice all its advantages when to do so was
quite unnecessary. Neither did he agree ^vith Dr. Smith that the
commutator machine was the worst of all macliines from a practical
point of view.

Some Practical Machines.

Concluding, Mr. Greedy showed a slide of a multi-speed induction
motor which gave six variable speeds and was operated very simply
by means of a drum controller. Speed changes were obtained by
altering the number of poles so that with 8 poles the motor started
with \1 times the full load current and twice the full load torque,
while with four poles it started with three times the full load torque
and nearly eight times the full load current. An actual motor
which could run at three speeds 1 000, 1 500 and.l 750 revs, per
min. was exhibited.

Conditions in 1898.

Mr. Llewelyn Atkinson said that as far as he remembered the
only previous occasion on which these motors had been the subject
of dis("ussion was when Mr. Greedy, as a student of the Institution,
read a paper on commutator motors which gave a great deal of
information.* He himself in 1898. on the occasion to which Dr. Smith

*See The Electrician, Vol. LV., pp. 21, 46, 85.

had referred, had made the mistake of reading his paper before the
Institution of Civil Engineersf from whose proceedings it was only
unearthed by people who were specially interested. It should be
noted that in 1898 the commutator was still a great trouble to
designers, even of direct current machines, with the result that every-
one was looking forward to a deliverance from their affiictions by
obtaining a polyphase motor which had no commutator. For this
reason he had found it very difficult to get manufacturers either in
this country or elsewhere to carry out the necessary experimental
work. The result was that his patents had been dropped to his own
great financial disadvantage and to the disgust especially of German
designers.

Conditions in 1921.

Even to-day the position had not changed very much, for notmth-
standing the enormous advantage of using a variable pressure on the
commutator no English engineer except Sir Philip Dawson had seen
the advantage of using this type of motor for long distance electrifi-
cation. Nevertheless, it was his (Mr. Atkinson's) opinion that for
main line electrification high pressure alternating currents would
have to be used, and that the employment of a motor of the type
which they had been cUscussing that evening was therefore ensured.
The same nught be said for more general work where the low power
factor of the induction motor gave rise to grave difficulties at the
generating station and on the network. These difficulties were
overcome by the use of the commutator motor with compensated
windings or by injecting a compensated E.M.F. to obtain unity power
factor. If supply engineers in this country altered their tariffs
so that the buyer paid not for watts but for volt-amperes it
would necessarily mean a revival in the use of these compensated
motors and a saving in the capital now wasted in stations and mains.
He thought that Dr. Smith had perhaps inadvertently used the word
" compensation " in two different senses ; one of the compensations
was the balancing of the flux to reduce the reactance and the other
was the compensation of the phase position. For the latter the term
phase compensation was best, while for the other phase neutralisation
would be a convenient expression. Dr. Smith had said that he did
not know what repulsion meant. In his (Mr. Atkinson's) view it did
not mean anything, the only repulsive thing about these motors
being their names.

Results on the Brighton Railway.

Sir Philip Dawson said that since he first undertook heavy
railway electrification fifteen years ago this was the first time he had
heard anything good said about the single phase system. He was
also glad to see that the fiction' that the single phase machine was a
foreign invention had been exploded. The results of tests which
had recently been undertaken on the Brighton railway showed that
the system of speed control employed gave a more even rate of
acceleration than direct current would permit. He agreed with
Dr. Smith that the compensated motor was best adapted for general
applications and pointed out that comparisons as to the relative cost
of single phase and direct current traction should not be made
between modern equipment and that employed on the Brighton
line. For instance, with the original motors the brushes lasted from
6 000 to 7 000, and sometimes attained 1 1 000 miles, while with the
improved type of motor this figure rose to 40 000 or 50 000 mUes.

Although commutation was not altogether good with the motors
used on the Brighton railway, the average mileage of a motor coach
was over 50 000 miles a year, and with this mileage the life of a
commutator was about ten years. In the period under review the
relative cost of alternating current and direct current equipment
had altered considerably and at the present time alternating current
equipment was only about 15 to 20 per cent, more expensive than
750 V direct curreitt equipment.

It had been decided to use single phase traction in Switzerland,
Sweden, Norway, Germanj^ Austria and some parts of the United
States; the quer Lion of the system to emploj- was now'-a-days purely
financial. He had signed the unanimous rejiort of the Eailways
Electrification Advisory Committee because it left the door open to
any railway company to apply to the IVIinistry of Transport for
permission to use a different system than the high tension direct
current systems.

"Little Billie."

Prof. Ernest Wilson gave some details of his original alternating
current commutator motor Avhich according to the President
was kno\vn to the students [of King's College, as " Little Billie."
This motor resembled an ordinarj' direct current motor in that it
possessed an armature with a commutator and a stator made up
of laminated stampings with four polar projections. The motor
originally was constructed for two-phase working, as in those days
it was difficult to get polyphase currents, but the principle was

fSee The Electrician, Vol. XL., p. 714.

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

generally applicable to all alternating current motors. The polar
projections were wound with coils, and on each was a second winding
which could be used as a transformer if necessary, The brushes
could be moved relatively to one another when the machine was used
as a repulsion motor.

Mr. F. J. Tea GO gave some details of a Schrager three-phase
commutator induction motor and of a hcherbius motor which
he had recently had under test.

Dr. S. P. Smith in rejjly said that having regard to the fact that
the greater part of Europe had decided to use single phase traction,
and that British railways would need the same system for their long
distance lines where the traflic was sparse, the Brighton railway
should be required to extend their electrification to Brighton as
early as possible, and the work should be done only by British firms
in order that they could be in a position to compete for future
tenders.

Discussion in Newcastle.

In the course of the discussion which recently took place on
Dr. vSmith's lecture in Newcastle, Mr. F. H. Do^\^^IE said a low
frequency had an advantage with commutator motors as the
size of the motor increased with the frequency.

Mr. A. T. Robertson explained that one of the difficulties in
connection with the manufacture of a.c. commutator motors was
the prodigious number of patents which had been taken out, and
the danger of infringement. This was responsible to a large extent
for the disinclination of manufacturers to build -these motors. The
speaker asked for information as to the use of a three-phase repulsion
motor, capable of phase transformation, which was described in
The Electrician in 1914, but this information was not forthcoming.
Referring to the direction of rotation of the motor being independent

of the sense of the rotary field, Mr. Robertson askcJ whether all
a.c. commutator motors did not actually run with the rotation in the
same direction as the rotation of the field, so that the frf<iuency of
the secondary circuit should always be less than the frequency of the
primary circuit.

Mr. A. B. McLean said that the af^plication of coramuta'
to rolling mill reversing equipment or to winders was ha
fact that the size of the auxiliary machines wa.s comijarabl' a-
size of the main motor. This made any .saving in runni/
capital costs over the Ward Leonard equipment very doubnui.

Mr. R. F. Ar.LAN thought the author was undulj- .severe on dc.
railway motors. The supj.osed extra weight was in the best p<^)'--iMf
position, well below the centre of gravity, whilst the use of a t - •
former fixed some height above the bogies would transfer some of '...-
weight to a position above the centre of gravity. Whether commu-
tating motors would prove more advantageous than the Ward-
Leonard system was doubtful, whilst the problem of reversal was an
additional disadvantage of such motors.

Mr. H. B. PoYNDER considered that the author was hard on the
tap field arrangement for traction motors, and pointed out that with
traction motors on a suburban system the maximum horse power
was not required at maximum speed.

Dr. S. P. Smith in reply .said in the early flays of design efTorts
were directed towards the suppression of 'the transformer E.M.F.
and the commutation was left to look after itself ; now with the use of
interpoles, both the reaction pressure and the transformer E.M.F.
were suppressed. The direction of rotation of the series motor was
always against the rotating field. The Ward-Leonard set gave
excellent control and the automatic features were good, but it was
a clumsy, costly and uneconomical arrangement which it was a
pity could not be dispensed with.

Annual Exhibition of the Physical Society of London

and the Optical Society.

The annual exhibition of the Physical Society and Optical
Society was held on Wednesday and Thursday last week at the
Imperial College of Science, London, and provided a great deal of
interest.

Discourses were given by Sir Frank Dyson (Astronomer Royal) on
the " Employment of Coarse Wire Gratings in Astronomy," by
Mr. F. H. Glew on " Radium : its Application in Peace and War,"
and by Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton on the " Johnsen-Rahbek
Electrostatic Telephone and its Predecessors." Our readers will
have been mostly attracted by the last named, which was delivered
twice. The loudness with wliich conversation from an ordinary
transmitter and wireless signals from various stations were repro-
duced was surprising. Dr. F. L. Hopwood also showed some
interesting optical experiments.

There was a large attendance, and the time available was by
no means more than sufficient for a detailed inspection of the
apparatus shown by the fifty-five firms who exhibited. In what
follows we give an account of the more novel exhibits of electrical
interest.

The Emergency Alarm of the Marconi Company.

^Much interest has been aroused 'recently in the emergency alarm
introduced by the Marconi Company for use On board ship. The
importance of such a device is that by its use the continuous attend-
ance of an operator is rendered unnecessary, and consequently the
personnel can be reduced. Visitors had the advantage not merely

a bell or bells to ring. In the following description, in order t°
avoid confusion, we shaU speak of the first relay as " the relay,"
and shall refer to the subsidiary relays as " contact arms."'

The Application of Four-Electrode Valves.

For the purpose of actuating the relay a four-electrode valve
is used. Considering first the amplifier for ordinarj- reception,
an extra terminal is fitted at a point in the H.T. circuit where the
maximum change in voltage occurs. This is found to be at the

General Negative

'O.G

^° " ~^^^

H.T.

Fig. 1-

TeJephones
-Diagram of Four-Electrode Amplifier.

of seeing the alarm, but of proving for themselves that it is not
affected by ordinary signals.

The device consists of a r^lay which serves to actuate two other
relays ; the action of the latter under the proper conditions causes

Fig. 2 — Diagram of Four-Electrode Valve for Relat.

point marked A in Fig. 1 (which appUes to a four-electrode valve
so used). The point A is connected through a condenser to the
inner grid IG of a four-electrode valve actuating the relay. The
arrangement of this valve is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2.
From this it will be seen that the outer grid (.>G is connected
through a transformer T in series with a coil C to the H.T.
battery. When the normal H.T. current (about half a miUiampere)
is flowing through this coil the tongue B of the relay is attracted
into contact with the spacmg stop S. When, however, a sufficiently
strong signal is received the inner grid becomes sharply negative
and the H.T. cui-rent is thus much reduced. The current from the
plate to the filament is also reduced, and as this current is taken
through the transformer T, this reduction is made to introduce a
further momentary back E.M.F. in the H.T. circuit, so that there
is a verj' marked reduction in the current through the coil C.
sufficient to cause the relay tongue to fall on to the marking contact
M. The making of this contact releases the negative charge on
the inner grid, and consequently the current from the outer grid
through the relay coil begins to grow again until the tongue of the
relay leaves the marking stop. But if the signal is still going on,
the inner grid then again becomes negative and the relay tongue
falls back on to the marking stop as before, so that a continuous

The Electrician.

January 13, 1922

chatter results. When the signal ceases the tongue is able to
rise to the spacing stop, where it Avill remain until another signal
of Sufficient strength arrives. The relay is thus self-restoring.

Some. Difficulties in Responding to a Code.

There is, of course, no difficultj^ in merely arranging for a relay
to be actuated by the variation of the current from the H.T.
battery, but it is a much more serious matter to devise an arrange-
ment which shall respond only to a prearranged code and be

Fig. 3-

-Contact Arm No. 1.

Fig. 4 — Contact Arm No. 2.

insensitive to the ordinary signals. Briefly, the method adopted in
the present device depends upon two selectors which pass through a
cycle of operations in a certain time. Any strong signal is sufficient
to start this cycle, but the cycle will only continue under a prolonged
dash, and will only be completed if the dash is maintained for a
definite period (within limits) followed by a space for a definite
time. This cycle must be repeated three times for the bells to
ring.

The arrangement will be best understood by referring to Figs. 3 to 6.
The device may be said to consist essentially of three parts, namely,
two contact arms with dashpots and a ratchet-operated contact,
indicated in Figs. .3 to 5. There are two pawls, one for pulling the
wheel round and the other for holding it against the action of a
spring which would pull it back into its zero position. Fig. 6 is
a simple diagram of connections, and shows the way in which these
three parts are inter-connected.

Effect of a Strong Signal.

So long as the relay tongue is against the spacing stop a current
flows from a local battery through the magnet coil K of contact
arm No. 1 (Fig. 3), so that the normal position of this arm is down.
But as soon as a strong signal causes the r^lay tongue to leave the

pawl P, so that the wheel is brought round one step and held there,
and the contact Q (which is in series with coil F) is made.

If the dash then terminates, th? arm No. 1 is pulled down again by
the relay, so that contacts D and finally H are broken. Con-
sequently the coil E is de-energised, the pawl P rises to its original
position ready for a further step, and the contact I is broken.
It will be noticed that D and I are in parallel. Consequently coil L
is still energised so long as coil E is energised, even though contact
D is broken. It is only when arm No. 1 has fallen and broken
contact H that coil L becomes de-energised through the action of
coil E.

Thus, when arm No. 1 reaches the bottom of its stroke, arm No. 2
is liberated and begins to rise. This arm is adjusted so as to
complete its stroke in 5 sec, by which time contact G is made.
If this happens, the pawls are pulled out by the coil F and the wheel

Fig

7 — Relay Board oi' Marc3ni Automatic Alarm, showing
Four.Electrode Valves Eelat.

Fig. 5 — Contact Disc.

Fig. 6 — Electrical Connections.

returns to its zero position. This would be the case if a normal
dash were followed by a space of 5 sec. or more ; the apparatus
would be simply reset.

Time Eiement Devices.

Returning to arm No. 1 , it will be noticed that there is a second
contact C. Contact D is fixed on a spring ; it is reached in 3 sec. ,
as already stated, but does not stop the arm rising further, and so
the contact C is reached in 5 sec. Contacts C and G are in parallel.
Thus a dash must be between 3 sec. and 5 sec, for if it is less
than 3 sec, contact D wiU not be reached, and if it is more than
5 sec contact C will reset the contact wheel.

Assuming that the signal is being properly made, the first dash
will be followed by a space of about 1 sec, followed in its turn by
another dash of about 4 sec As soon as the space starts (or,
more correctly, as soon as arm No. 1 reaches zero position after

spacing stop this current is interrupted and the contact arm pro-
ceeds to rise, due to the spiral spring on the left. The movement
of the arm, however, is slow, owing to the dashpot seen on the right.
This consists simply of a piston sUding in a cylinder, the piston
being fitted with a small ball valve, so that an upward movement
is slow but a downward movement is quick, since the valve causes
very little obstruction to the air when escaping. The time taken
for the piston to rise the full height is five seconds.

The " Normal Emergency " Call.

The normal emergency call will consist of three dashes, each of
four seconds, separated by spaces of one second, but these intervals
may have rather large " tolerances."

When the first dash arrives the contact arm No. 1 begins to
rise, and in doing so permits the contacts H to close. The
importance of this will be seen later. A contact D is arranged
at such a heiglit as to be closed by the arm at the end of three
seconds. Consequently if the dash lasts for not l«>ss than three
seconds the contact 1) is made, and by referring to Fig. 6 it will
be seen that this permits a current to flow through the coil E
in Fig. 5 (H being already closed) and through L in Fig. 4. Con-
sequently the lower limit for the dash is three seconds. If the dash
lasts for a shorter time than this, the relaj^ goes back to th« spacing
stop, the coil K is energised, and arm No. 1 is pulled down again
before the contact D is reached. The effect of energising the coil
L is to pull down arm No. 2 from the contact G (which is tiie normal
position), and the effect of energising coil E is to pull down the

^I^^^V ~'

Fig. 8-

-Alarm Mechanism of Marconi Automatic Alarm,
SHOWING Contact Arms and Contact Disc

a space starts), arm No. 2 begins to rise, arm No. 1 being pulled
do^vn. When the second dash starts, arm No 1 begins to rise
again, and what occurs depends on whether contact G is reached
first by arm No. 2 or contact D by arm No. 1. Assuming that the
signal is being properly made, the contact D will be made first, so

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

that arm No. 2 will be pulled down""as before, and the contact
wheel will be pulled round a second step. On the other hand,
if the space is longer than 2 sec, arm No. 2 has a start of more than
2 sec., and since arm No. 1 requires 3 sec. to reach contact D, it
follows that arm No. 2 will reach contact G first, which will result
in the contact wheel being reset. It follows, therefore, that the
space cannot be more than 2 sec. The shortest permissible space
is about i sec, due to the time which arm No. 1 takes to fall to
zero position.

The third dash of the required length causes the contact wheel
to take up its final position, thus making contact of Z with Z'
(Fig. 5), but the bells do not ring until the relay returns to the
spacing stop. When this occurs the bells continue ringing until
the whole apparatus is switched off. If the final dash is too long
the contact disc is released by contact C.

Effect of a Continuous Dash.

If a dash goes on continuously, arm No. 1 remains at the end of
its travel, against contacts D and C, so that the contact disc returns
to its starting position. If a space is too short arm No. 1 will not
have time to get right down before it begins to rise again, and
contact H will not be opened, so that pawl P will not be released
and cannot puU the contact disc round a further step.

The ordinary Morse signals and atmospherics are not usually
long enough to interfere with the working of the dashes and spaces
here described. Two stations may cause arm No. 1 to rise some-
what and might possibly cause the device to operate, but this would
rarely be the case. Interference from three stations is more serious,
assuming always that the signals are sufficiently strong.

If the filament current fails or becomes too low the bells will
also ring. Figs. 7 and 8 show the style of the apparatus.

The apparatus is now under test on one ship of each of ten com-
mercial fleets and a set has been installed by the Post Office at the
North Foreland wireless station so that regular observations may
be made.

(To be continued.)

Amalgamation of Electricity Undertakings.

Two IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS Were Carried at the meeting last
week of the Liverpool City Council. It was agreed that the electri-
city undertaking of Bootle Corporation (including the supply to the
urban district of Litherland) be amalgamated- with the Liverpool
municipal electricity undertaking, and that the undertaking of the
Liverpool District Lighting Company be acquired by the
Corporation.

Eeferring to the first decision, Mr. Wilson, chairman of the Tram-
ways and Electric Power and Lighting Committee, said that from
the point of view of Liverpool, the arrangement was a most desirable
one, as it would unify the system of distribution in Bootle and
Liverpool, and unification would lead to a reduction in the price of
electric current. It would also do away with the difficulty which
had arisen in regard to the Dock Board supply. The difficulties with
Bootle with regard to the maintenance of the tramway overhead
equipment would also be removed. The terms arranged for the
transfer of the whole Bootle undertaking to Liverpool Corporation in
consideration of an annual payment of £7 500. Last year Bootle
made a net profit on their undertaking of £6 342, and the Liverpool
electrical engineer's estimate of the probable profit for next year was
£10 000. The consumption in both Bootle and Litherland was a
growing one, and it was anticipated that the output would be greatly
mcreased. All the negotiations had been carried out in a friendly
spirit, both sides having in view the desirability of securing a cheaper
and more abundant supply of electricity on the Merseyside, for the
benefit of the consumer and the trade of the port.

Dealing with the acquisition by the Corporation of the Liverpool
District Lighting Company, Mr. Wilson said the agreement pro-
vided for an annual payment of £4 000, with the right to commute
that payment, either by paying the sum of £60 000 in cash or by
issuing mortgages, the interest on which would produce £3 600 per
annum. The accounts of the company showed that for last year it
made a profit of £6 640 on an output of 650 000 units. There
seemed to be little doubt that the Corporation, with their more
economical method of working, would be able considerably to
improve on that result, so that the terms arranged were not likely to
involve the Corporation in any loss. Objection was made by two
members to the arrangement by which Liverpool was to pay Bootle
£7 500 a year for ever. If Government permission is secured, the
transfer will be carried through on April 1, and will come into
operation on July 1.

Bootle Corporation have approved the agreement.

Electric Miners' Lamps.

In the new Safety Lamp Order of the Board of Trade particulars
are given of the " Beam " Miners' electric cap and the Adams "
electric hand lamps which have been approved for general use. The
"Beam " lamp is made by Wm. Paton & Co., Glasgow, and the
" Adams " by Adams Bros., liongton. The " Thor " (type " M.")
and the " Ceag " shaft and roadway lamps are also approved for
use by officials or for special purposes.

At present, there are thirty makes of approved electric lamps for
general use and eighteen for use lay officials or for special purposes.

Correspondence,

RECRUITING FOR TKRRITORIAI. KNGI.NKKRS.

To the Kdilor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — J shall be greatly obliged if you will allow me through the
medium of your columns to call attention to the urgent need of
this unit for recruits with electrical training. The work of " Corps
Signals " is no doubt well known to most of your readers, but I
may add that as now organi.sed this unit consists of four C'omf>anie«':
Wireless, Construction, Cable, and Head Quarters with Artilieiy
sections attached. It will be understood that it is difficult to
organise and maintain such a unit without the close co-operation
of electrical firms and employees.

I am sure 1 need not write at length with regard to the benefiui
a man and his employer both gain from his belonging to a unit such
as this. To the man it means fourteen days free holiday in the
summer usually by the sea with pay and an easily earned £5 bounty
each year, whikt the knowledge' which he acquires technically
cannot come amiss in his civilian capacity. Further, Head
Quarters provide a free club. Drills always take place at times
fixed to suit men who earn their hving. The gain to the employer
is apparent after the first annual training, for the man \& almost
invariably a better servant as the result of his militarj- training.

Another important point is that of economy. A Territorial
unit costs a very small fraction of the cost of a corresponding
Regular unit, and if the Territorial units are not recruited up to
strength an increase of Regular or MiUtia units seems inevitable.

Ma,y I appeal to such of your readers as are themselves in a
position to enlist or to give encouragement as regards leave for
camp, Ac, to their employees to do so, to give us the practical
help of which we are in need.

Prospective recruits can enlist at our Head Quarters at Elverton
Street, Westminster, any morning from 10 to 1 and any evenine
from 7 to 10. ^

I shall be very glad to furnish fuller particulars to any of vour
readers who may like to have them. — I am, ^^ c,
Westminster, M. W. Emley,

Lieut. -Col. R.C.S. (T.),
January 4. Commanding .3rd (London) Corps

Signal Coys.

THE EXPONENTIAL VALUES AND EXPANSIONS IN POWERS
OF d OF SIN e AND COS e.

To the Editor oj THE ELECTEICIAN.

Sir, — Rigorous proofs of these important formulae, such as are
demanded by the pure mathematician, are too diffimlt for those
engineering students whose mathematical attainments do not extend
much beyond the elements of the calculus. To such — and probably
they are the majority — the following method of arriving at these
formulae may be of service. It, therefore, seems worth publication
in The ELEcrmciAN,

Let y = cos Q+j smO ... '1

Where j stands for n/ — 1

Then multiplying (1) by J we get :

jy = J cos 6 — sin $

Also by differentiating ( 1 )

Therefore dy
dd

sin d-\- j cos $

= jy

and y = AeJ^
Where ^ is a constant'and ei^ is to be taken as defined by the
ordinary exponential series.

By (1) cos 0+j sin 0 = AeJ«

To find the constant A, put 9 = 0

We then get 1 = Ae". Therefore -4 = 1

and cos $ + j sin 0 = e-'^ (2)

Writing -0 instead of 6 and rememberini; that cos (—$) =
cos 0 and sin ( -^) = —sin 0 we get

cos (9-/ sin^ = e-><' (3)

Adding and substracting (2) and (3) we get the exponential values
of cos e, and sin 0. and then writing e'" and e-f« as exponential
series we get the expansions of cos $ and sin $. in powers of $.—
I am, &c., WILLI.OI LrcAS.

London, N., Jan. 9.

THE THERMAL OHM.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.
Sir —May I make the follo^ring points in reply to the letter
from Doctor Cari Bering, which appeared in your issue of the

6th inst. , . XL 1 *

Doctor Bering is quite right in pointmg out that the employment

of the thermal ohm is not new, and, as a matter of fact, quite early

in ray article I made the follo\\-ing observation :— The foUowmg

The Electrician.

January 13, 1922

notes lay little claim to originalit}'. iThe simple principles
emphasised were recognised by the earliest writers on cable heating,
and several investigators liave, to some extent, interpreted their
results in the manner discussed."

If one were to seek the real originator of the expression one would
be inclined to claim the honour — if the word " honour " can be
applied to the introduction of a treatment so obvious — for
Kennelly's pioneer article, which appeared in the " The Electrical
World " as long ago as 1893.

After Doctor Hering's 1912 articles, and shortly before mine of
last year, the Report of the British Research on Buried Cables
was published. If he followed the report and subsequent discus-
sion in detail, I am .sure Doctor Hering will agree that there was
still room for a wider appreciation of the advantages of the thermal
resistance method. — I am, .S c, P. Dxjnsheath.

London, Jan 7. 1822.

The Election and Trade.

B> ERNEST J. P. BENN.

It used to be said that there is no politics m business, and vye
are still fortunately able to say that there are no party politics in
business ; for no political party, unless it be the Socialists, has yet
succeeded in attaching itself to the business world in such a way as
to make it necessary for trade associations and chambers of com-
merc« to take a definite party line. That is a state of affairs which
we hope may never come. Nevertheless, the business worldis very
deeply interested in the question of an election, whether it takcvs
place within the next few weeks or in the autumn.

Industry and business are at the mercy of the politicians, irre-
spective of party. There is no party which does not intend to
carry out its designs at the expense of the business community, and
the time has arrived when business people in sheer self-defence are
bound to throw off their old disinterest and take an active part in
the selection of candidates and members for the forthcoming Parlia-
ment. Fortunately this is possible without infringing the rule which
bars party politics from business. All the candidates who will
presently submit themselves for our suffrages, with again the only
exception of the Socialists, will 'explain to us how deeply interested
they are in the question of economy. The business community, if
it would only take the matter seriously, is strong enough to turn
this extraordinary position to great advantage.

But although we have innumerable trade organisations there does
not seem to be one amongst them which has thought it worth while
to tackle this question of economy and taxation in detail. All those
who have authority to speak for industry have told us that taxation
must be reduced before trade can revive. Politicians take all such
statements as ex parte, and continue to calculate how they can go
on collecting taxes and relieving such distress as becomes trouble-
some. The direct method of the dole appeals so much more strongly
to the simple political mind than the indirect method of sound
economics. Business men know that the more there is collected and
distributed as dole, the worse will employment become, but he does
not appear so far to have thought it worth while to take the trouble
to reduce this obvious truth to such a basis that the public and even
the politician can be expected to understand it.

The Simple Question.

The simple question which every business man should ask himself
is this. Supposing that taxation and rates were reduced by bringing
down the income-tax from 6s. to 4s. 6d., reducing rates from their
present height to 5s., and abandoning the excess profits duty and
Corporation tax, how far should I be in a better position to offer
employment to the unemployed? There is no reason why every
business man should not take his rates and taxes for 1921, calculate
how much he would have saved had they been at the new rate, and
from the figures thus secured, arrive at an estimate as to his ability
to employ. The saving in rates and taxes, however, means a great
deal more than the direct employment of labour by the people who
are spared part of their present burden. It at once creates further
employment, and that by the most direct method. If the extra
wages means extra business, that again makes further demand upon
somebody.

The new rates of taxation suggested above would mean that in
1922 the business community would have at their disposal certainly
not less than two hundred and fifty millions which last year was
taken from them. There are something less than two million regis-
tered unemployed. It is conceivable that with two hundred and
fifty millions to spare trade could absorb two million extra workers.

A Plebiscite of Industry*

I throw out the suggestion in the hope that the readers of this
journal will write me on the subject. Benn Brothers, Ltd., owning
nine trade papers, are in a uniijue position to test the feeling of the
country on a question like this. We could, if it were thought de-
sirable, conduct a sort of plebiscite of our nine industries from
which statistics could be framed, which would take this question
out of the realm of argument and speculation and bring it down to
arithmetic. I should be glad, therefore, if the readers of the
Electrician would be so good as to write to me and say whether
if some simple form were devised they would be willing to go into
their figures for 1921 and state their opi lion as to the effect upon
employment of reduced taxation in 1922.

Compensation for Deprivation of Employment

The arbitrator (Sir Wm. Mackenzie, K.C.). who recently heard
evidence on the claims, made under Sec. 16 of the Electricity
(Supply) Act by certain members of the staff of the Morley Electri-
city Department for compensation for deprivation of employment,
has issued his award. The claims, which were supported by the
Electrical Power Engineers' Association, were made by the chief
engineer (Mr. J. E. Ellis), the chief assistant engineer "(Mr. H. C.
Crisp), and a charge engineer (Mr. A. Fisher). In April last
Morley ceased to operate its generating station and commenced to
take a bulk supply of electricity from Leeds. Messrs. Ellis and
Crisp's claims were based on a loss of status, and Mr. Fisher's on
loss of employment, because he was no longer in the service of the
Corporation. Mr. Ellis also claimed for being deprived of the right
to take pupils.

Basis of the Claims.

For Mr. Ellis it was stated that, although he had been retained
by the Corporation at approximately the same salary as he would
have received had the generating station continued to be in opera-
tion, he had suffered financial loss, as his status as borough electrical
engineer had been considerably reduced. He also had premium
pupils, who were a reliable source of income up to the period of
the war, and he could justly expect to have that source of income
renewed if the generating station remained in operation. Though
there had been no formal agreement on this point, the privilege had
been allowed by the Corporation.

With regard to Mr. Crisp, it was said his position had been
reduced to a decree similar to that of Mr. Ellis, and his duties
were reduced to those of a minor character, such as wiring and meter
testing, and the possibility of securing a position similar to that
which he held prior to the arrangement had been materially reduced.
It was also contended that both Mr. Ellis and Mr. Crisp had
suffered loss inasmuch as the possibilities of advancement, either on
the Morley undertaking or upon some other undertaking, had been
considerably reduced, and that, therefore, both cases came within
the ambit of Section 16 (3) of the Electricity (Supply) Act of 1919.

The Aivard.

Sir Wm. Mackenzie finds (1) that the claims of Mr. Ellis and Mr.
Crisp on account of loss of status have not been made out; (2) that
the permission or right to take pupils by Mr. Ellis had become a
condition of service, and, therefore, as he had been placed in a
worse position, he awarded him £140 compensation ; that as Mr.
Fisher had lost his employment he was entitled to £81. No costs
were awarded.

Bruce Peebles' Heavy Test Plate.

The illustration shows part of the heavy test bed at the works of
Bruce Peebles & Co., Edinburgh. At the time the photograph was
taken (November 21st) some eleven Peebles-La Gour motor convertejs
were under test, in addition to two 300 l^W induction motor generators
for Tasmania. The eleven motor converter sets were as follows : —

Part of the Heavy Test Bed at Bruce Peebles Works.

One 1 500 kW ; three I 000 kW ; one 600 kW ; five 500 kW ; one
300 kW. The value of the machines was approximately £67 000.

The 1 500 kW converter mentioned above is for the Edinburgh
Corporation, and the company have on hand at the present time for
the Corporation, six 1 500 k^\' and two 500 kW motor converters, two
500 kW synchronous motor generators, and a three-machine battery
booster, in addition to a large number of both vertical and horizontal
auxiliary __motor8 for the condensing and coal handUng plant.

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

Electricity Supply.

In the early hour.-> of S;itiirtlav there was a hreakdown at the
SouTifi'ouT electricity works, anil certain parts of the town were
plunged in darkness for some time.

Argyll County Council have arranged to meet in Glasgow on
Wednesday, Jan. 18, to consider the question of petitioning against,
and, if necessary, opposing, the Grampian Electricity Supply Provi-
sional Order.

At the adjourned monthly meeting of Belfast City Council last
week the question of the reorganisation of the electricity power-
house was discussed at some length, and ultimately referred to the
Council in committee.

The Borough Surveyor's Department of Manchester Corporation
is preparing a map 25 ft. square in connection with the inquiry to
be held by the Electricity Commissioners next week into the South-
East Lancashire Electricity District.

Darwen Town Council have just entered into agreements with
the Darwen Cotton Manufacturing Company, Harwood Brothers
(1920) Ltd. and A. Carus & Sons, cotton manufacturers, for the
supply of electricity for power purposes,

A 5 000 kW generating set, manufactured by Metropoiitan-Vickers
Electricity Company for Stretford Council's electricity station at
Trafford Park, Manchester, was officially started on Monday by
Coun. Sir Thomas Robinson, M.P., chairman of the Electricity
Committee.

The old Davies-street generating station, and until recently a 6ub-
etation of the Westminster Electric Sxjpply Corporation, has been
sold by private treaty for about £20 000. As soon as the machinery
has been removed by the Corporation it is intended to reconstruct
the building for flats.

A Provisional Order will be granted extending the borough
boundary of Wolverhampton by the inclusion of several adjoining
districts. The new borough will have an area of 14 000 acres, as.
against the present 3 000 acres. The population will be increased
from 102 000 to 138 000.

At the monthly meeting of Dover Electricity Committee last week
the electrical engineer stated that the new plant would be working
at the end of this month, and then there would be a saving of 50 per
cent, (about 3 000 tons) on the amount of coal used per' year. With
the falling price of coal, the consumers are hoping shortly for a
substantial reduction in charges.

There was a failure of the electricity supply on Friday afternoon
at Oldham. Business in the centre of the town was brought to a
standstill, and the newspapers were unable to publish until the
evening. The " Manchester Guardian " states that a short circuit
developed early in the morning at the bottom of Yorkshire-street,
causing the underground electric cable to fuse. Fire broke out in
the gas main conduits in consequence, and explosions occurred at
several of the undei ground inspection chambers. Fires broke out
along Union-street and Yorkshire-street, and in the afternoon
further underground explosions occurred, which resulted in the cut-
ting-off of the light and power supply in the principal thoroughfares
and business houses of the town. Later in the evening most of the
electricity supply had been resumed.

Tlie question oi what remuneration, if any, should be paid to
Mr. C. F. Mclnnes, Gravesend Electrical Engineer, for the pre-
paration of plans for the electricity extensions, involving £70 000-
£80 000, and for the supervision of the work, was the subject of a
heated discussion at the meeting of the Council last week. The Elec-
tricity Committee had recommended £200. Councillor Priestley
(chairman of the committee) moved that instead of £200 Mr.
Mclnnes should receive 1^ per cent, on the contract. (He also read
a letter from him stating that he could not undertake the extensions
for £200.) This suggestion was objected to by several members of
the Council, who maintained that £875, which 1^ per cent, would
amount to, was preposterous. Other members were strongly of
opinion that the work came into the ordinary duties of the engineer,
and if Mr. Mclnnes would not undertake' them he must resign.
Fmally, it was agreed to refer the matter back to the Electricitv
•Committee.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

^i^m°^^^^ Town Council have received sanction to a loan of
£1 000 for water-cooling plant in connection with the electricity
imdertaking.

Durham City Council are contemplating lighting the market place
with electricity, and an estimate is to be obtained from the Elec-
trical Power Distribution Company.

Maidstone Council have applied for loans of £3 300 for two 1 000
**^^'A tjf"siormers, £1 250 for mains, switchgear and transformers,
and £700 for giving an increased supply to the Medway Milling

It is proposed to light Spalding by electricity. The town is to be
canvassed for probable consumers, and a committee has been
appointed by the Urban Council to investigate and report on the
financial aspects of the proposed scheme.

Torquay Town Council have decided to apply for powers to enable
them to carry out the terms of a draft agreement, whereby it is

proposed to purchaj^e and work the undertaking of the Urban Elec-
tricity Supply Comp;uiy at Newton Abbot.

To meet increasing demands upi^m the sapply of electricity, East-
bourne Corporation are spending upwards of £70 000 ut^xi improving
the plant of their undertaking, fhey have been a/^^k*d Uj *.icu-fi'i
their mains U> certain of the neighbouring villages.

The Town Commiasioners have appointed a sub-cornmittee to
report on the ouestion of lighting Edenderry by eleclr
report, it is unaerstood, will l>e based on the fact that a
Alenbury's Mills will be available for the purpose at a ;.,i- -.uiti.-
figure.

In regard to the loan of £165 541, fianctioned by the Electricity
Commissioners last July, Hackney Borough Council have decided
to apply to the London County Council for the sum of £60 OCXj. to U-
repaid with interest at the rate per annum current at the date of the
advance.

Haverfordwest Town Coimcil at it« last meeting diAcaased a
scheme of lighting the town with electricity. Under the proposals
the Council have the option at the expiration of twenty years of
purchasing the undertaking. Negotiations in connection with the
matter are still proceeding.

The Electricity Commissioners have approved the application of
Worcester City Council for a loan for the extension of the
generating station. At their meeting last week the Cooncil
approved the proposal to light the twenty-four new Corporation
houses on the Bromyard-road by electricity.

With reference to the offer of the Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Icm
Company to supply electricity to the town, the mana^ng director of
the National Electric Constrcction Company, which hold a Pro-
visional Order, has informed the Town Council that his company
intend shortly to take up the matter with a view to carrying oat the
obligation^;.

Preston Town Council have applied for a Special Order for
sanction to supply electricity wilhin the borough, the urban district
of Fulwood, and the parishes of Broughton, Lea, Ashton, Ingol and
Cottom, Woodplumpton, Barton and Penwortham, in the rural
district of Preston, and to acquire and use for the purpose of a
generating station land in the township of Penwortham.

The BuRTON-ON-TiiENT Electricity Committee recommend the
Town Council to borrow £20 000 for the purpose of extending the
electricity undertaking. The Corporation is to supply a large area
in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Leicestershire under the East
Midlands Electricity scheme, and the mains have already been
extended for several miles outside the borough in various directions.

The village of Sennybridge (Breconshire). which is becoming
known as a marketing centre and the locale of an excellent agricul-
tural show, is now lighted electrically, current being supplied by a
small hydro-electric station. A company was recently floated, and
nearly all the business premises, as well as many private residences,
are enjoying the advantages of electric lighting.

At last week's meeting of the Executive Committee of the Dublin
Citizens' Association tne opinion was strongly expressed that
Rathmines and Pembroke should not proceed with the-r projected
electricity scheme, involving an estimated expenditure of £50 000,
in view of the probable incorporation of the two townships with the
metropolis in the near fui.ure, and before rhe commercial possibilities
of procuring electrical power from the Poulaphouca Falls of the
Liffey had been thoroughly considered.

As the result of a joint meeting between the Preston and Black-
burn Electricity Committees last week, it has been decided to con-
nect the new Blackburn station at Whitebirk with the proposed
station at Preston with a duplicate main at an estimated cost of
£138 000, the expenditure to be borne equally by the Blackburn and
Preston authorities. Arrangements are to be made for supplying
customers en route, and Mr. J. A. RiiI>ertson. electrical enu'iii ''^r <>t
Salford, has been instructed to prepare a scheme for the supply cf
the district, his expenses to be snared equallv between tJie two
authorities. Blackburn and Accrington Councils are also contem-
plating a similar supply main, so that the whole of the district from
Accrington to Preston will be linked up.

Alteration of Charges.

Cannock Urban Council have agieed to the recommendation of
tfte Electricity Committee to make 8d. the maximum charge for
electricity for lighting purposes.

Watford Town Council has decided to reduce the charge of elec-
tricity for the quarter ending March next by 10 per cent^. making
the increase over pre-war rates 70 per cent. • *

As from Jan. 1 the charges of electricity at Rothsrham have been
reduced from 150 to 100 per ceut. on pre-war rates for power and
heating and from 75 to 62i per cent, for lighting.

Wolverhampton Town Coimcil have decided to reduce the charges
of electricity to consumers by 10 {^»er cent., meter hire by 35 per cent.,
and the rate per luiit charged to the tramways from 23d. to l-16d.

Burnley Electricity Committee have acceded to the request of
photographers that all electricity consumed in connection with the
manuiacure of photographs and photographic materials be charged at
power rates.

The question of the possibility of reducing the price of electricity
was discussed at last week's meeting of Derby Town Council, bat it

The Electrician.

January 13, 1922

was decided that no alteration oould be made, at any rate during
the present financial year.

WiKCHESTER Town Council has reduced, as from Oct. 1 last, the
war addition to the basic price of current from 55 per cent, to 40 per
cent., and application has been made for an Order fixing the maxi-
mum price of electricity at 9d. per unit.

The Ministry of Transport, in refusing to receive a deputation
from Weybridge and Walton Councils protesting agamst the
Ministry's decision to raise electricity from lOd. to Is. per unit,

Soint out that the maximum price can be revised at any time after
fov. 1, 1926 !

From the let inst. the price for electricity for lighting at Dudley
has been reduced from 80 per cent, to 60 per cent, over the ratee
specified in the agreement with the Power Company on the sale of
the imdertaking, on the understanding that no other price reduc-
tions are pressed for within at least the next six months.

Leeds City Council have decided to reduce the charges for electri-
city for power from 80 per cent, to 50 per cent, over the 1916
charges, and for lighting from 80 per cent, to 70 per cent.^ above the
1916 rate. An amendment by the Labour Party that the increase in
both cases should be only 50 per cent, on 1916 charges was rejected.

The Westminster Electric Light Corporation announce that
from the Christmas quarter's readings a reduction of ^d. per unit
will be made on the first 1 000 units used in any one year for light-
ing purposes, and ^d. per unit on all units used for heating, cooking
and power purposes. The reduction has been made possible by the
decrease in the price of coal. From the date of the Christmas
quarter's readings, therefore, the charges will be as follows : —
Lighting, for the first 1 000 units 7^d. per unit, for the next 3 000
units 7d. per unit, for all units used in excess of 4 000 5^d. per unit ;
heating, cooking and power, if taken through a separate meter, l^d.
per unit.

Ilford Urban Council has adopted the following decreased scale
of charges for electricity : — Residential premises, 12^ per cent, per
annum on rateable value, subject to an increase of 75 per cent., plus
2d. per unit, for March and December quarters, and l^d. for June
and September quarters ; lighting 8d. , or maximum demand system
9d. and 6d. Power, m.d. system, 6d. and 3d. per unit; first 500
units, per quarter, 5d. ; next 1 000, 4^d. ; next 1 000, 3|d. ; all over
2 500, 3id. ; 10 000 units and over, Z^A. Heating, &c., March and
December quarters, 2>^d. ; June and September quarters, 2d. For
cinemas, vehicle charging, photo lamps, &c., a reduction of 12^
per cent, has been made, reducing total war increase to 112^ per
cent. The minimum charge in the March and December quarters
is lis. 3d., and in June and September 7s. 6d. for each quarter.

Municipal Accounts.

The traffic returns for the Reading Corporation Tramways show
receipts from April 1 to Dec. 1 of £55 576, compared with £58 624
for the corresponding period last year.

The accounts of Hackney Borough Electricity Undertaking for
the year ended March 31, 1921, show a net profit of £13 950. It has
been decided to allocate £4 000 towards the relief of the general
rates.

The accounts of Hove Electricity Undertaking for the year
ended March 31 show the total income to be £39 703, as compared
with £31 436 in the previous year. The total expenditure was
£25 763, against £17 060, leaving'a gross profit of £13 939 (£14 376).
Of this sum, interest on capital absorbed £6 313, repayment of
principal £4 043, taxes £618, leaving a n^t balance of £2,595, com-
pared with £3920 in 1920. Units generated numbered 1593 428.
With regard to the Aldrington eection, the total income was £3 385,
against £2 560, and the total expenditure £2 529, leaving a gross
profit of £856, against a deficit of £788 in the previous vear. Of
this sum, £239 went in interest, and £446 in repayment of loans,
while £136 was absorbed by taxes. The net balance was £34, as
compared with a deficiency of £1 223 on the whole account in the
previous year. Units generated numbered 130 761.

Electricity in Birmingham.

In a review of the industrial developments for the past year, the
''Birmingham Post " states that the output of electrical energy by
the Birmingham Electric Supply Department was about 75 000 000
units in the year ended Sept. 30, compared with about 100 000 000
nooo '" *''® Pi"^<^eding twelve months. New motors representing
9 282 ii.p. were connected, against 10 977 h.p. During the last three
months 660 now industrial and household supplie,^ were connected,
and at the tiir:i of the year consumers representing a load of 3 500 kW
were awaiting connection, and the decrease in the load due to the
coal stoppage and industrial depression n'a.s raf)idlv hpitio; made good
by now connections to the mains. The supply resources of the
department are being steadily extended. Two 15 000 kW turbo-
alternators are being installed at the Nechells generating station, and
a similar set is on order. These additions will give a capacity of
over 110 000 kW. Large additions are also being made to sub-
stations plant and to the distribution system. Among industrial
developments electric furnaces are making "some headway in Birming-
ham, and electric welding is also likely to enlarge Us sphere of
operations. The use of electricity in connection with certain aepecte
of glaes manufacture is also increasing.

Electric Traction.

Derby Town Council has requested the Tramways Committee to
consider the advisability of introducing penny fares.

Leeds City Council have decided to allow twelve passengera to
stand inside the trams in rush hours instead of eight.

The L.C.C. is negotiating with the London United Tramways
Ltd. regarding a through tramway service from London to
Wimbledon.

St. Annes tram recnpts for November w<»r€ £2 279, against £2 597
for the corresponding period of 1920. The receipts for the full
period to the end of November amounted to £42 196, compared with
£43 683.

The Blackburn Parliamentary Bill for powers to extend the tram-
ways and run motor omnibuses, &c. , has been rejected at the rate-
payers' statutory meeting, and a plebiscite of the ratepayers will
probably be taken.

By 1 073 votes to 72 the employees of the Dublin Tramway Com-
pany decided last week on a strike on the proposed reduction of Ss.
a week and the refusal of the inspectors to remain members of the
Tramway and Vehicle Workers' Union.

Burnley Tramways Committee have decided against the intro-
duction of the " reversed " type of staircase in double-decked
tramcars, and the Ministry of Transport has decided not to approve
the construction of the " reversed " type.

The Ministry of Traction have appointed a committee to consider
and report upon the control of omnibus traffic. Recently there
have been demands by tramway undertakings for the regulation of
the stopping places and routes of omnibuses, &c., and the whole
question will be investigated by the new committee.

After passing a resolution by 34 votes to 24 at a special meeting
recently in favour of span wires in Princes-street, Edinburgh
Town Council have now decided by 37 votes to 22 against them,
and the Ministry of Transport is to be approached with a view to
obtaining permission for the erection of centre poles.

As foreshadowed in our issue last week, Scarborough electric
trams are not to cease running. They have been purchased by a
syndicate of London and Yorkshire tramway engineers. It is ex-
plained that the decision to close down was brought about by a
demand upon the company for road repairs involving an outlay of
between £4 000 to £5 000.

It has been agreed, by seventeen votes i-o fifteen, at the monthly
meeting of the Town Council, to place e!o(ttic rvmabouts on the
Undercliff Drive between Boscombe and Bournemouth Piers, but
before definitely accepting an estimate as to the cost, further in
quiries are to be made as to whether the proposed type of vehicles
suggested will be absolutely satisfactory.

Petitions signed by some 500 night workers living in many of the
south-western districts in London have been forwarded to the
London County Council requesting an adjustment of night tram-
way services on the Brixton and Tooting routes which will more
fully meet their needs. The reorganisation for which they are asking
would give an independent night service from the Embankment on
each route, an extension of the Brixton service to Telford-avenue
and the Tooting service to Merton.

Reading Tramways Conimitte.e have passed a resolution support-
ing the opinion expressed by the Municipal Tramways Association
that the Roads Act of 1920 enconrages wasteful and overlapping
competition with municipal tramway and motor omnibus undertak-
ings which will result in increased travelling charges, and is con-
contrary to the intention of Parliament, and that a request should
be made to the Ministry of Transport that such competition should
be subject to statutory regulation in the public interest.

At the annual meeting of the Douglas (Isle of Man) Southern
Electric Tramways, Ltd., it was stated that an agreement had been
entered into with the Douglas Head Marine Drive Company, by
which, at the end of the concession in 1926, the Drive Company
would take over the tramways as a going concern, paying the agreed
or arbitrated value of the mechanical and electrical plant and half
the value of the permanent wav. The number of service davs in
1921 was 96 (1920, 130); passengers carried. 181242 (267 671)': car
mileage, 25 240 (32 420): traflfic receipts, £8 062 (£15 539): total
receipts (less tolls), £8 062 (£11763): expenses. £5 637 (£5 737):
net profit, £2 425 (£6 025). On the ordinary shares a dividend of
5 per cent, was declared.

Birmingham Tramway Committee do not see their way clear to
recommend a reduction in fares at present, but hope within a few
months to be able to do so. It is estimated that during the current
year, owing to the coal dispute alone, the committee's revenue was
diminished by nearly £70 000. This was followed by the industrial
depression. Since the beginning of July the income has decreased
by upwards of £100 000, or an average of £4 600 per week, as com-
pared with the corresponding weeks of last year, and, having regard
to the considerable amount of unemployment still prevailing in the
city, there does not appear to be any prospect of immediate improve-
ment. It has also been necessary during the past year to spend large
sums upon permanent way reconstruction works, chargeable to the
year's trading of the department. There is now a downward
tendency in wages, and to some extent in cost of material, but no
appreciable benefit from these will result during the present
financial year.

January ^1'^^ 1922

The Electrician.

4-9

Personal and Appointments.

Mr. A. Simmons has been appointed manager of the Kent Coast
Electrical Company, 85, High-street. Broadstairs.

Submarine Cables Trust have appointed S;r John Denison
Pender, G.B.E., K.C.M.G., trustee in the place of the late Lord
Balfour of Burleigh.

Mr. W. Nohth-Lewis, J. P., has been appointed chairman of the
Treforest Electrical Coneumers Compajiy, Ltd., in place of the late
Mr. Hugh Bramwell.

The works staff of the British Insulated and Helsby Cable Com-
pany have presented a gold watch to Mr. George Lloyd on the
occasion of nis leaving the firm.

St. Annes Council have appointed Mr. Stanley Pendlebtjry as
teacher of the electrical science class at the Technical School, in the
place of Mr. J. Fairchild, resigned.

Mr. W. RuniEBFORD, formerly managing director of Dick, Kerr
& Company, and subsequently of the English Electric Company, has
been elected a director of G. D. Peters & Company.

Mr. W. Prescott, of the head office staff of the Federation of
British Industries, is to act as the representative of the Federation
on a committee of the Institution of Electrical Engineers to consider
the standardisation of electric wiring.

The regrading of some members of the technical staff of the
Hackney Electricity Department has taken place. Mr. W.
Barham has been placed in Grade 5 of the Schedule of the National
Joint Board, and will be designated Constructional Engineer. Mr.
E. Mathews is in Grade 6, and becomes Meter Superintendent. Mr.
A. G. Hilling and Ms. E. Wilkinson are in Grade 6 of the Schedule,
and are designated Assistant Distributing Engineer and Assistant
Power Station Superintendent respectively.

Mr. N. W. Prangnell has severed his connection with C. A.
Parsons & Company, at Heaton Works, and has started business on
his own account as a manufacturer's area representative, with offices
at 47, Pilgrim-street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. He has been appointed
representative of the following firms : — Twiss Electric Transmission,
Ltd., London Electric Firm, Electric Street Lighting Apparatus Com-
pany, Venner Time Switches, Ltd., Berry's Electric, Ltd., Scholey
& Company, Ltd., Automatic Electric Furnaces, Ltd., Chadburns
(Ship) Telegraph Company, Ltd (land interests), Ewart & Son, Ltd.

A statement has been issued by Senator Marconi, chairman of
Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company, with reference to his con-
nection with the Banca di Sconto of Rome. He states that in con-
sequence of his technical work requiring that he should be absent
from Rome for considerable periods of the year, it was agreed that
he should not be expected to take any part in the direction of the
"bank's affairs. He had not attended any meeting of the Board for
about a year, and therefore knew iiochinT cf what i? responsible for
the present situation. " The sequestration applies to the directors
only until such time as each will have given evidence of his irre-
sponsibility." Senatore Marconi is about to proceed to Italy.

On the recommendation of the Graduate Award Committee the
North -East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders have
awarded a prize of £5 to Mr. Burn for his paper on " Diesel Engine
Flexibility." This paper was read before the general members of
the Institution at Newcastle last week, and Sir J. W. ifoble, who
presided, said it was the first occasion in the history of the Institu-
tion at which a paper previously read at the graduate section had
been selected to be read before the general members. In view of the
remarks of the Awards Committee, the paper had been submitted
to the Reading Committee as being suitable for publication in the
"Transactions of the Institute. It was unanimously recommended
that the paper be printed.

Business Items, &c.

A petition for confirming the resolution reducing the capital of
P. R. Jackson & Company, Ltd. and Reduced, from £120 000 to
£60 000 is directed to be heard before Mr. Justice P. 0. Lawrence
■on Jan. 17.

Messrs. R. Wilson & G. Dickson have started business as elec-
trical engineers at 183, High-street, Ayr. Mr. Wilson was for over
twenty-six years manager of the electrical department of Reid &
Company, 108, High-street, Ayr, and Mr. Dickson was the firm's
leading electrician for over twenty years.

The Liverpool Electric Cable Company annoance that as from
Jan. 1 their London office has been removed from 219, Tottenham
Court-road, London, W. 1, to 9, Playhouse-yard, Golden-lane,
London, E.C. 1 (the offices of the London Electric Wire Company &
"Smiths, Ltd., with whom they are associated), at which address large
fltocks of ordinary types of rubber insulated cables and flexibles and
C.T.S. cables and flexibles will be carried.

In connection with the large order entrusted to Braithwaite &
Company (Engineers), Ltd., of West Bromwich and Newport, Mon.,
for a steel pipe 114 miles long, 6 ft. diameter, for supplying water
to the city of Bombay, India, Royce Ltd., of Trafford Park, Man-
chester, have received an order from Messrs. Braithwaite for the full
equipment of electrical overhead travelling cranes, eleven in number,
for workshops which Messrs. Braithwaite are erecting to carry out
the work.

T. H. Watson & Company (of Sheffield), Ltd., announce that the
yord Motor Company have placed an order for " Greaves-Etchells "

electric furnaces with the Electhic Fl-rnact Cosstbuctiojj Com-
pany (the American branch of T. H Wataon 4 Company, of Shef-
field, Ltd). The order includes the largest electric steel-melting
furnace yet designed. Its capacity will be 9 000 kVA and over
60 tons of steel, being fitted with six electrodes. Two " Greavee-
Etchellfi " electric furnaces are already operating at the Ford works
at Detroit, and, in addition to the large furnace mentioned above,
two 10-ton ' Greaves-Etchells " furnaces are ordered. The large
furnace will be the principal melting unit of the new battery of
electric furnaces for tne Ford Company's River Rouge Works.

Mr. Ashley Pope asks us to state that he has commenced biuinees
on his own account at Toddington, near Dunstable. He is acting
as agent for the Moorlands Engineering Company, of Leek, manu-
facturers of boiler-feed pumps, Brian pumps for refrigerating plants,
and oil pumps, which are specially designed for dealing witn fuel
oils, syrups, and colloidal mixtures, and all liquids of high yiscoeity,
also air and circulating pumps and auxiliary surface condensers, 4c.
He has also the agency for Crowther & Osbom for the counties of
Middlesex, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckingham,
Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.
Crowther & Osborn are manufacturers of the well-known " Sceando "
lamps, which are made in the usual standard sizes of 1 W and i W
types. Mr. Pope is also specialising in street, workshop and shop
lighting fittings.

institution Notes.

The next salesmanship conference of the British Electrical

Development Association will take place on Friday, Jan. 20, at

8 p.m., at the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, Staple Inn-
buildings, W.C. 1, when a discussion on " Salesmanship in Relation

to Electric Heating and Cooking " will be opened bv Mr. W. A.
Gillott.

As a result of the experience obtained by keeping the library open
every evening and Saturday afternoons during the last few weeks,
the Council of the Institution of Electrical Engineers have
decided that in future the library will be kept open until 9.30 p.m.
on the nights on which are held the ordinary meetings of the Institu-
tion, the informal meetings, and meetings of the wireless and
students' sections.

The annual meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute will take
place on Thursday and Friday, May 4 and 5, at the house of the
Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George-street, London. S.W. J.
The annual dinner will be held on the evening of Thursday. May 4,
at the Connaught Rooms, Great Queen-street, London, W.C.
Members are reminded that in March the Council is prepared to
consider applications for grants from the Carnegie Fund in aid of
research work. The latest date for receiving applications from candi-
dates for election as members of the Institute is March 22.

The Chelmsford Engineering Society had an interesting dis-
cussion on " Gas r. Electricity " at their last meeting, held under
the presidency of Mr. G. F. Barrett. Mr. C. Becket, of the British
Commercial Gas Association, opened the discussion by enumerating
the advantages which he contended gas had over electricity, dealing
mainly with the comparative cost. ilr. C. S. Buyers, of Crompton
& Company, spoke from the standpoints of light, heating, and
power, and argued that electricity was superior to gas on each of
those points. The expense of upkeep ought to be taken into account
when considering the coi iparative costs, and he contended that
electricity was cheaper than gas for many purposes. Mr. W. W.
Mason, of the British Commercial Gas Association, said it was a
disaster to the whole nation that the gas and electricity industries
did not go hand in hand, but were at cross purposes. A discussion
followed.

Many exhibits of interest to the electrical industry were shown
at the exhibition at Birmingham in connection with the annual con-
versazione of the Council of the Midland Institute. A demonstra-
tion was given by the Electrical Engin-^ring Department of the
University of Birmingham of the application of the thermionic tube
to the reproduction and amplification of transmitted speech and
music. "The Midland Institute Scientific Society's exhibit, which
takes up nine rooms, included an automatic alarm by the Marconi
Company and the Elverson oscilloscope, by m'^ans of which it is
possible accurately to observe the actual behaviour of high-speed
machinery. Other interesting scientific exhibits were a sound mill
(by Mr. W. Bentley), a synchronised pendulum, a ripple tank.
demonstrating wave rnotions as applied to some of the phenomena of
light, the spectrum of an electric spark, dictograph telephone, spot-
welding machinery, engineering and survey instruments.

Obituary.

The death is announced of Mr. F. Foord Kelcey, C.B.E.. a former
Professor of Mathematics at the Royal Military Academy. Woolwich.

The death is announced of Sir Wiluam M.^tthews, K.C.M.G., a
past-president of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a well-
known harbour engineer. He was created a C.M.G. in 1901 and a
K.C.M.G. in 1906, and was a representative of the Institution of
Civil Engineers on the main committee of tlie British Engineering
Standards Association.

The Electrician.

Januarf 13, 1922

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

WosiBWEix Town Council hae been informed by the Postmaster-
General that, unless unforeseen difficulties arise, a telephone exchange
will be instxalled in the town without further delay.

At a conference at Sheffield, last week, between the Japanese
Commercial Mission to England and prominent Sheffield business
men, the latter urged the importance of the improvement of tele-
phonic COMMUNICATION IN Japan, and asked for reciprocity in ship-
ping, particularly in coastal traffic.

Press telegrams at reduced rates for Austria, Lithuania, Poland,
and Czecho-Slovakia are now accepted at post offices, on the usual
conditions, between 9 a.m. and 12 noon, as well as between 6 p.m.
and 9 a.m. Press telegrams for Esthonia and Latvia are accepted
between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., as well as between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.

The Telegraph Money Order service with British Overseas
Dominions, Dependencies, &c., will be extended on Jan. 2 to Kenya
and Uganda. A special feature of the service is that the telegrams
of advice may be sent at the deferred rate, which reduces the tele-
graph charges by one-half. The full-rate service is available for
cases of special urgency.

A singular accident occurred to the 6.55 train from Worthing
one morning last week. It had not proceeded far on its way to
London Bridge when, according to an official statement, a telegraph
wire which had broken, probably owing to the gale, caught the
handle of one of the carriage doors and wrenched it off, with the
result that four windows were smashed. There were no personal
injuries, and the train was only delayed for seven or eight minutes.

The NEW London Telephone Exciunge, which is to be erected in
Wood-street, E.C., will, when completed, be the largest in Europe.
The site has already been acquired at a cost of £50 000, but the
actual date when building operations will be begun has not yet been
decided. The new exchange will be known as a three-unit exchange,
and will cater for 30 000 subscribers. As, however, no single
exchange can consist of more than 10 000 lines, the new exchange
will have three separate names, each with 10 000 lines.

Since the London Toll Exchange was opened in September last
there has been a steady increase in the use of the service from
30 534 calls in September to 34 188 in December. The official
records show that only 5 per cent, of the " Toll " calls made through-
out the day fail to secure immediate connection, and have to be
booked for completion later, and about half of the calls so booked
are received during the " rush " hours of the morning, when all
lines are taxed to their maximum capacity.

A new underground telephone cable has been laid between Liver-
pool AND Manchester. It consists of 160 pairs of copper wire, each
weighing 40 lb. per mile. It is 365 miles long, and the connecting up
of tbe comparatively short lengths in which it can be drawn into the
ducts required 160 6OO soldered joints, each one of which had to be
electrically tested. Notwithstanding the length of the cable, its
speaking efficiency, owing to the loading and balancing, is equiva-
lent to that of a standard telephone cable nine miles in length. A
cable is also to be laid between Manchester and London. Com-
paring the conditions which existed in 1896, when the trunk lines
were taken over by the Post Office, and those existing to-day, it is
stated that in 1896 there were only 23 circuits between Liverpool
and Manchester. Of these 13 were constructed by the late National
Telephone Company, five by the Mutual Company, and five by the
Post Office, all of which were carried on pole lines, and rarely were
the whole of the 23 circuits in working order on the same day.
Prior to the completion of the new cable there were 173 trunk
circuits between the two centres, 132 miderground and 41 overhead.
The new cable brings the total up to 333, of which 292 are under-
ground and 41 overhead.

Imperial Notes.

Eastwood, Dundas, and IIorn^by (N.S.W.) Councils are con-
sidering a joint electric supply scheme.

The Victorian Electricity Commission hr,-; approved a scheme for
electricity .siip{)ly in Bfnalla (Victoria).

The Board of the Karachi Electric Supplv Corporation recently
decided to order additional generating plant from England.

A new electric furnace with a capacity of 500 tons per month is in
operation at the Vereeniging works of the Union Steel Corporation.

Mr. J. H. Butters, manager of the Tasmanian State Hydro-
Eleclric Department, ha,s approved the electric supply scheme dVawii
up by Mr. Lord for Scottsdale (Tasmania).

The (jovernment of Jamaica propose to introduce another Bill
during the 1922 session of the l^egislative Counci. to authorise the
State to use stre;uns which run through private .>roperty for the
development of hydro-electricity.

The State Hydro-Electric Department is continuing its investiga-
tions into the facilities for developing electric power locally for Uie
towns on the North- West Coast of Tasmania, as it is believed that
this will be more profitable than transmitting energy from the central
plateau.

St. George (N.S.W.) County Council is borrowing £100 000 for
a new electricity supply works for the towns of Rodidale, Bexley,
Kogarah and Hurstvillc. The portion of the lUawarra railway
servinir those districts is being electrified, and is expected to be com-
pleted during the present year.

According to a correspondent of the "Times" Trade Supple-
ment, all the hydro-electric power available in India is being

used to the utmost by cloth mills and iron foundries. Cloth produc-
tion is bound to expand very materially when the new hydro-elec-
tric works under construction are completed.

A poll of the ratepayers of Coraki (N.S.W.) has resulted in
favour of establishing electricity supply in the town, and the Council
has instructed T. W. Bridger & Co. to prepare plans and specifica-
tions. Negotiations for the purchase of electricity in'bulk from the
Moonembar Coal Company will probably be opened.

The Secretary o,f State for India has now approved the maint
principles of the recommendations of the Stores Purchase Committee,
referred to in a recent issue of The Electrician, and Mr. J. S.
Pitkeatkly, superintendent engineer in the electrical and mechanical
branch, Delhi, has been appointed chief controller of stores.

Sir John Monash (chairman of the Victorian Electricity Commis-
sion) states that coal mining at ]\Iorwell, where the Victorian.
Government intends to erect an electric power-house, will begin about
the middle of the present year. The construction of the conduits
for the cooling water from the Latrobe River has been commenced.

The Tasm:anian State Hydro-Electric Department has made an
offer to supply electricity to the municipalities of Kingston, Franklin,
Huonville, and Port Cygnet, in tbe Huon district, south of Hobart.
The Department offers to supply at £12 per E.H.P. per annum, but
it is believed that Port Cygnet Council can do better by improving
its existing plant.

A South African Press report states that the site belonging to
Messrs. Steel, Murray & Company, Durban, has been purchased on
behalf of the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia.
The present building will be demolished and a modern building
erected. United Kingdom manufacturers of materials likely to be
required for the new building may deem it desirable to furnish
H.M. Senior Trade Commissioner in South Africa (P.O. Box 839,
Johannesburg) with copies of their catalogues and price lists.

A message from Johannesburg states that the Industrial Federa-
tion on Monday rejected the offer of the Chamber of Mines, and
unanimously endorsed the resolution in favour of a strike, to start
that evening. It is stated that the Federation Executive decided that
for the present the essential services are to be maintained, including
lighting in outside districts, hospitals, mines, &c., and the water
supply. Except Johannesburg, the reef towns obtain their light and
power from the Victoria Falls Company, and probably they will be
affected. Victoria Falls power generation stations have only enough
coal for a few days.

Oape Town Corporation have removed their restrictions on the
use of electric current and power, and an immediate impetus has
been given to the local market for fittings, cooking and heating
apparatus. Contrary to the general impression, the bulk of the
electrical plant of this type sold in South Africa is of British, and
not American, manufacture, the " British and South African Export
Gazette " states, and, although a certain amount of German competi-
tion is being felt, there is reason for saying that the British article
is preferred, even if the price is slightly higher. Taking the Union's
trade in electrical material and macninery as a whole, it is significant
that, unlike many lines, purchases last year were greatly in excess of
those in 1920, the business in cooking and heating apparatus alone
being worth £35 692 in the first nine months of 1921, as compaxed
with £28 195 for the same period in 1920.

Foreign Notes.

A scheme for electrifying all the railways in Norw'ay is to be
considered by a committee of the National Engineers' Association.

The November imports of German goods into this country show a
drop of £18 746 under the heading of scientific instruments and
domestic glassware.

The President of Brazil has issued a decree sanctioning the law
which gives effect to arrangements for joining up railway and tele-
graph communications between Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia.

The Esthonian Government has contracted with a German elec-
trical works for mill equipment for the national dye industry,
comprising generators, motors, &c., valued at 3 500 000 marks.

The co-efficient of increase in the French Customs Duty on
dynamo brushes of artificial carbon, partly of copper, and on dynamo
brushes of copper and graphite alloy, has been altered to 18, and
that on other armatures to 5.

It has been provisionally agreed that tiie three former German
submarino cables in the Pacific are to be allociited as follows : — To
the United States the cable from Yap to Guam, to Japan the cable
from Yap to Naba and the Japanese mainland, to Holland the cable
from Yap to Menado.

A big trust has been formed in Berlin, under the title of the
" W^rthschaftstelle fiir Handel und Industrie in den Osten," for the
purpose of trading with Russia and developing its resources. The

Times " states that banking, commercial and industrial under-
takings, as well as technical and scientific institutions and labour
organisations, are all represented on the Trust, whose first business
will l)e to increase the transport facilities of the country. Negotia-
tions are prcH-eeding with Messrs. J. P. Morgan & Company for the
formation of a German-American fund of ? 250 000 000 for carrying
on the business. Tliits movement appeare to be of considerable
importance, and British engineers and manufacturers would do well
to watcii developments very closely.

The affairs of the Lisbon Tramways Company appear to be going
from bad to worse. For 1919 there was a net profit of £74 505, and

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

tor 1920 a net lo«s ot £120 006. The result* for 1921 will be even
more adverse, as the company suffered from a lon^ wtrike early lant
year, and the Portuguese exchange is operating adversely. A short
time ago an agreement was made with the Government to grant an
increawo of wages to the employees, pending the appointment of a
Commission to enquire into the financial position of the company.
The report of the Commission was favourable to the company, and
suggested several methods for an increase in the receipts, but no
steps have been taken by the Oovcrnment to adopt the suggestions
of the Commission. An appeal has been made to the Portuguese
Prime Minister, calling upon the Government to comply with the
terms of the agreement, but up to the present no action has re-
sulted. The company carries about 70 000 000 passengers per annum,
and oyer £1 500 000 of British capital is at stake in the undertaking.
The company has just paid the half-year's interest on ilw Debenture
Stock. -

Electrification Schemes in Japan.

Plans for the electritication of Japanese railways have been
drawn up by the Electrification Investigation Commission. It 's
proposed to electrify the following sections of line, which have an
aggregate mileage of 2 000 : —

Kyoto-Kobe (47 miles), Minatomachi (ma Kitsu-Kyoto) (51 miles),
Kobe-llimeji (34 miles), Moji-Hakata (48 miles), and Osaka-Tennoji
(6 miles).

The above are suburban railways, on which there is heavy railway
traffic. On the under-mentioned there is a steep gradient with
many tunnels, and there is abundant water power for utilisation on
these routes : —

Odawara-Numazu (26 miles). Maibara-Imasho (47 miles), Hactiioji-
Shinjiri (116 miles), Nagova-Shinooi (151 miles), Fukushima-Yone-
zawa (26 miles), Yashiro-Ka-shima (94 milcvs), Kameyama-Nara (46
miles), Utsunomiya-Nikko (25 miles), Koriyama-Nii^ata (172 miles),
Oguda-Shinjo (58 miles), Takasaki-Yokokawa (18 miles), Karuizawa-
Naoetsu (92 miles).

On the Numazu-Kyoto section (244 miles) and the Omiva-Fuku-
shima section (151 miles), shortening of the line is required, and
water power can be utilised, while on the Himeji-Shimonoseki section
(295 miles) the increa.se of transportation capacity and the shortening
of the line are required. For the Imasho-Naoetsu (181 miles),
Nagoya-Kameyama (38 miles), and Ohmiya Takasaki sections (46
miles) water power is available, and on Kokura-Wakamatsu (56 miles)
and Muroran-Yubari sections (90 miles) increased carrying capacity i^^
required, and coal can be obtained at low prices.

Electrification of Italian Railways.

The ELECTRIFICATION OF THE ITALIAN RAILWAYS i,s progressing

rapidly. Work is nearing completion on the Genoa-Pisa-Spezia-Leg-
horn, and on the Bologna-Florence and Bologna-Faenza lines. Work
on the short line from Rome to Anzio, on which the three-phase high-
tension system will l>e used, is well advanced, as is also that on the
Benevento-Foggia line, in the south of Italy, which is being electrified
experimentally on the direct-current system.

The next stage in the Government programme (which pro\ndes in
all for the eloctrificoticn of 4 000 kms. of railroad trunk lines, com-
prising about 10 000 kms. of track), includes the electrification of
the important Bologna Verona-Brenner line, which will become in-
creasingly important for the development of Italy's trade with
Central Europe, the Voghera-Mila,n, the Voghera-Piacenza, the lines
serving Trieste, Gorizia and Julian Venetia, down to Fiume, the
Milan-Chiasso, the Milan-Bologna, and several other lines in Central
Italy.

The power required for running these railways will be supplied
mostly by the hydro-electric installations built by private corpora-
tions, supplemented by some big generating stations which flip State
railroads are erecting — i.e., the central station at Bardonecchia.
now nearing completion, two others in Central Italy which will
utilise the waters of the Reno and the Limentre now being rendered
available by great hydraulic works in course of execution, and a
central station near Scanno, in the Abruzzi, fed by the waters of
the iSagittario. Great engineering works recently visited by the
Minister olf 'Public Works land a representative committee of
members of Parliament and the Press, are now being carried out
in cormection with this station. A barrage some 80 ft. high is
being built, which will form an artificial lake with a content capacity
of 3 600 000 cubic ft. The water will then run through a tunnel
6 kms. in length, passing through the mountains .some 12 000 ft.
below their summits, and will fall a drop of some 350 metres
through three-high-pressure pipes, each 780 metres in length, setting
\r\ motion three groups of three-phase alternators, generating 45 000
H.p. of energy. It is estimated that these works will be completed
in 1924.

In a report to the Senate it is stated that over 350 miles of rail-
way line have been electrified, and 300 more miles will be converted
this year, including the Ronie-Tivoli and Rome-.\nzio-Nettuno lines.
The Ronco line is approaching completion and when this work is
finished the Turin-Rome railway will be operated electrically.
Orders have been let for the supply of 111 electric locomotives at a
cost of 165 million lire, but the Government have authorised the
Railway Administration to raise 169 million lire for the acquisi-
tion of 120 additional electric locomotives.

Trade with Canada.

Commencing with the l:,t inst., all ';o<jD3 iMi>OBTEi> i>'i'. ' \>\U\
mu.st be marked with the country of origin, but " the name of a
inaiuifacturer or his trade mark, accf/mpanied bv the naro'- of th«
country or a place in a province, state, or other division of a frnintry
where tht goods have been manufactured or produced, will b«
ac(:e|)led as ,uffif:ienl iiKflcalion of the country of origin."

In his report on the conditions and proepects of British trade in
C/'anada, Capt. E. J. Edwards, II. M. Senior Trade Commissioner,
states that now is the crucial time for British manufacturers to
icgain or obtain trade to which they have more right than a foreign
count, y, and the Canadian Government and pe^'jple have shown in
a marked way their deeire to encourage import* from the United

Kingdom in preference to the United States. Canar!- rters

anrl merchants are anxious to trade with the United ''■ bat

they do not wish to deal with agents whose field of <i\r vers

tho United States and Canada.

During the year ending March 31, 1921. the total machinery
imported intf> Canada (excluding agricultural) amounted in value to
S44 642 000, r,f which no less than 840 767 000 represented importa-
tions from the United States, while the United Kingdom Tfas
responsible only for §3 546 000. Although the last-mentioned figures
are more than double those of the preceding year, they are anything
but satisfactory, especially as during that period United States trade
increased by six and a half million df>IIars. Tenders for plant are
usually invited in a hurry, and the question of delivery is a pre-
dominant factor. Naturally, United States engineering firms benefit
by this Canadian characteristic. There is seldom sufficient time for
specifications to be obtained and sent home so that United Kingdom
manufacturers may tender. Con.sequently adequate local representa-
tion is essential, either by branch nouses or by agents. The agenta
should be technical men, with an expert knowledge of the varioas
types of machinery they are trying to sell and the uses to which
these are put. They should be so qualified that where there is not
sufficient time to mail particulars to their United Kingdom principals
they are able to put the salient points succinctly in a cable. United
Kingdom engineering firms are urged, when replying to a Canadian
inquiry, to remember the proximity of the United States, and there-
fore to quote their very lowest prices and to give the most forward
delivery date possible, which must be rigidly adhered to should the
order eventuate.

H.M. Trade Commissioners in Canada should be kept sapplied
with illustrative and descriptive catalogues of all classes of machinery
and engineering work. Canada's engineering and machinery require-
ments are considerably in excess of what might be imagined from
her population. At a rough estimate. 700 (XX) hands are engaged in
manufacture, and much of the machinery and equipment required in
the work in which lliey are employed is not made in the Dominion,
but has to be imported. In addition, her extensive water power is
beinfj steadily developed, and there is a constant demand for hydro-
electric nlant. Though United Kingdom manufacturers cannot be
said totally to have neglected the Canadian market, in the majority of
ciuses the efforts have been somewhat spasmodic and generally rather
superficial. The machine t(K>l trade is very important, and the lead-
ing machinery supply hoiLses in Canada are desirous of buying from
the United Kingdom. In the past it is said that British prices were
much higher than those of the United States and deliveries uncertain.
However, during the past few months the situatiixi has improved ;
but prices are still high, especially on heavy machine t»x>l> tor rail-
road shops, shipbuilding plants, &c.

Danish Tariff Revision.

A Bill has been introduceil in the Danish Parli.iment providing
for a revision of the Danish Ci'stoms Tariff. The following are
amongst the proposed duties and exemptions under the revised
Tariff:—

Accumulators, transformers, resistances, and other electric regu-
lators, relays, alternators, switches, electrometers, voltmeters.
galvanoscopes, telephone and telegraph apparatus (including switch-
boards, lamps, &c.), searchlights, elect .o-medical apparatus, electric
ovens, bell and signalling apparatus, wireless telegraph and tele-
phone apparatus. Sc. , 7^ per cent, ad val. Articles destined for
electrical installations, consisting mainly of wood, porcelain, faience.
or other earthenware, ebonite, testonite. ambroin. ami the like, are
dutiable as manufactures of those materii.'.s. Unmanufactured
balata, guttaperch.-i and indiarubber, and reclaimed rubber, duty
free. Nlanufactures of ebonite. 10 per cent, ad ral. Manufactures
of guttapercha, indiarubl>er, not specified. 5 per cent, ad vttl.
Physical and similar instruments. 7^ per cent, ad vol. Earthenware
and porcelain articles for electrical installations (other than insu-
lators), such as safety boxes, switches, plug contact boxes, saietj
plugs, &c. . if in combination with metal. 10 per cent, ad ral.
Dynamos, generators, motors and converters, and staters, rotors,
armatures and commutators, &c. . for such, "7^ per cent, ad v<d.
(Machines imported in a knocked-down condition are dutiable as
complete machines. If electrical machines are imported in combina-
tion with other machines, either fixed to such machines or on a
common base, the whole aiticle is dutiable as an electrical machine.)
Rails and sleepers for railways and tramw.ays. free. Wire of copper,
brass, b.'onze and yellow metal. 5 per cent, ad val. Accumulator
plates and electrodes of lead, soldered together. 5 per cent, ad val.
Tramway vehicles, with or without axles and wheels, 5 per cent.
ad val.

The Electrician.

January 13, 1922

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

West Hartlepool. Jan. 16.— Supply of about 634 tons of eteel
tram rails. Particulars from the Borough Engineer.

Glasgow Cokporation. Jan. 16.— Electric wiring and fitting in
connection with Craigton Housing Scheme. Specifications, &c.,
from Mr. R. B. Mitchell, 75, Waterloo-street, Glasgow.

Newcastle-xtnder-Lyme Corpobation. Jan. 17.— Supply and lay-
ing of about 600 yards of lead-covered, steel-armoured distributing
cable. Specification from the Borough Electrical Engineer.

Manchester Education Committee. Jan. 18. — Electric wiring and
fitting of Embden-street, Every-street, and Bangor-street municipal
schools. Specifications from the Education Offices, Deansgate,
Mstncheeter.

Edinburgh Corporation. Jan. 19. — Electric lighting installation
in Public Waslihouse, Causewayside, Edinburgh. Specification, &c.,
from the City Electrical Engineer, Dewar -place, Edinburgh.

Chorley Guardians. Jan. 21. — 10 b.h.p. motor for the laundry
of the Poor Law Institution, Eaves-lane, Chorley. Specification
from the Clerk, Union Offices, Chorley.

Hindley Urban Council. Jan. 21. — Electric motor, centrifugal
pump, pipes, &c. Particulars from the Surveyor, Council Offices,
Hindley.

Lewisham Board of Guardians. Jan. 23. — Bepairing of elec-
trical installation at the Children's Home, Goat House Bridge, Nor-
wood Junction. Particulars from the Clerk, Mr. W. R. Owen, 394,
High-street.

Salford Guardians. Jan. 31. — Small alterations and additions to
electric wiring and fittings in Pavilion B of the Infirmary at Pendle-
ton. Particulars from the Clerk, Poor Law Offices, Eccles New-road.
Salford.

Hampstead (London) Borough Council. March 15. — Supply of
various stores for six or twelve months, including electrical
engineers' stores and oils for the electricity station. Form of tender,
&c., from the Town Clerk.

Metropolitan- ViCKERs Electrical Company, Cardiff. — Wiring
for the electric lighting and heating of their new premises in Custom
House-etreet.

Aylesbury Corporation. — 300 kW converter, with e.h.t. and l.t.
switchgear. Specifications, &c., from the Borough Electrical
Engineer.

AUSTRALIA.

Victorian Railway Commissioners. Feb. 15.— *Hydraulic pig
iron breaker, including tools, gears, accessories and spares, for
Bendigo workshops. (Contract No. 34191.)

Deputy Postmaster-General, Brisbane. Feb. 15. — *Telephone
apparatus ajid parta, including bells, buzzers, chambers for trans-
mitters, induction coils, condensers, cords. (Stores schedule No. 544.)

New South Wales Government Railways and Tramways
Department (Electrical Engineer's Branch). — Feb. 22, 1922. —
•Supply, delivery, erection and maintenance of one 5 000 kW
50 cycle turbo-alternator with condenser and accessories, at Zarra-
street power house, Newcastle. (Contract No. 556.) Tenders, on
proper forms and accompanied by a preliminary cash deposit, to
the Secretary for Railways, Phillip-street, Sydney, N.S.W. Local
representation is essential.

Commonwealth of Australia. March 8. — Switchboard apparatus
and parts (schedule 545). Particulars from the Supply Otficer,
Room 101, Australia House, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Victorian Railway Commissioners. March 8. — *Thirty-five oabin
transformers for power signalling. (Contract No. 34 863.)

Deputy Postmaster-General, Brisbane. March 15. — *Protective
apparatus, including arresters, carbon blocks, fibre fuses, protectors
and terminals. (Stores schedule No. 546.)

Commonwealth of Australia. March 15. — Protective apparatus.
Particulars from the Supply Officer, Room 101, Australia House,
Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Municipal Council of Sydney (Electricity Department).
April 24. — *Supply, delivery, and erection of two 2 000 kW rotary
converters; one 10 000 to 12 000 kW turbo-alternator.

NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton, Public Works Tenders Board of New Zealand.
Jan. 31. — *Two complete sets of 3 phase automatic oil circuit
breakers suitable for 6 600 V, 1 200 A capacity, four sets of dis-
connecting switches for isolating the oil switches, and one 6 600 V
air break lever operated switch for main transformer switches at
Lake Coleridge power house. Tenders to the Secretary, Public
Works Tenders Board, Government Buildings, Wellington.

Public Works Department, Wellington. Feb. 28.— *Supply and
delivery, ex ship's slings Lyttelton, of a bank of three 11 000 V
reactances, complete, for the Lake Coler'dge electric power scheme.

Public Works Tenders Board, Waikato Power Scheme.
March 6.— '(Section 45) two 2 500 kWa alternators, three-phase,

" Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

50 cycle, 5 000 V, at 166§rds rev. per min., with a power factor
of -8. Excitation at 220 V. (Section 46) two 3 100 h.p. water tur-
bines of the double-runner Francis type to operate the generators
mentioned in Section 45. (Section 47) two exciter sets, each con-
sisting of one 200 kW d.c. generator, and one 350 h.p. asynchronous
motor, together with a Tirrill regulator. The generator shall have
an output of 220 V, with a full-load current of 7 000 A. Th«
motor shall be of 350 h.p., with a power supply of 400 V, three-phase,
60 cycle. The synchronous speed of the sets shall be 750.
(Section 48) four Stoney sluice gates for the pits, appertaining to
thj turbines mentioned in Section 46. Tenders to the Secretary,
Public Works Temlers Board, Government Buildings, Wellington.

Auckland Harbour Board. April 25. — Four double-barrel elec-
tric winches for the Central Wharf, Auckland. Specifications from
W. & A. McArthur, 18-19, Silk-street, Cripplegate, London, E.C. 2.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Public Works Department of the Union of South Africa.
Feb. 1.— Conduit and conduit fittings. Particulars from the Elec-
trical Engineer, Public Works Department, Pretoria.

BULGARIA.

Bulgarian Department of Posts. Feb. 14. — *Bronze in plates and
bars, iron and steel plates and bars, and insulating materials.

Bulgarian Department of Posts, Telegraphs, and Ielephones.
February 20. — *2 000 telephone instruments for table use, with
local battery and magneto. Also for spare parts for these instru-
ments.

Bulgarian Department of Posts. Feb. 27. — 'Electricians' small
tools, including 900 pairs pincers, 20 brazing lamps, 100 soldering
irons, 1 500 bits, 300 axes.

Bulgarian Department of Posts. March 8. — 'Porcelain insulat-
ing tubes for telephones (10 000), insulating tubing (impregnated
paper) for telephones (2 200 metres), ebonite caps (1700), and insu-
lated copper wire (1 000 metres).

The tender of R. Kendale & Sons has been accepted for wiring and
fitting at the Municipal Technical College, Bath.

Aberdeen Corporation have accepted the tender of Bell & Robert-
son for electric equipment in workshops at the police stables.

Battersea (London) Council have accepted the tenders of Veritys,
Ltd., for a 30 h.p. open-type motor, £104 5s. 9d. ; and the Igranic
Electric Company for a starter switch, £26 lis. 6d.

Blackpool Tramways Committee have accepted the tender of the
British Insulated & Helsby Cables, Ltd., for a high-tension feeder
cable, and that of the Pirelli General Cable Works for a low-tension
feeder cable. The cost is to be charged against the new £30 000
cable loan.

The Victorian State Government has confirmed the acceptance
by the Victorian Electricity Commissioners of the tender of John
Thompson & Company (Wolverhampton) for steam-raising plant for
the Morwell power house at £282 318. It is stated that of this
amount £137 110 will be expended in Australia.

The New Zealand Government have accepted tenders from
British firms for £100 000 worth of plant for the installation of
a hydro-electric plant to supply Wellington and tlie suiTounding
disfci'ict. Further tenders, Reuter states, are still under considera-
tion. American and Swedish firms also tendered.

Manchester Corporation have accepted the tenders of the British
Thomson-Houston Company for tramcar motors and controllers, the
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company for tramcar motors, G.
Bellington for wiring and sub-service cables to houses on Newton
Heath Estate. A licence has been given to the British Thomson-
Houston Company to sub-let the contracts for h.t. oil switches and
transformers and lighting arresters to the International General
Electric Company (U.S.A.) and for trip-circuit batteries to the D. P.
Battery Company in their contract for switchgear for High-street
sub-station.

Edinburgh Town Council have accepted the following tenders
in connection with the tramways undertaking :— Peckham Truck
Engineering Company, 53 trucks, £9 010; Metropolitan Vickers
Electric Company, for 106 interpole ventilated, light weight trac-
tion motors, of the box-frame type, of approximately 40 h.p., at
600 V on the one-hour rating, £18 000 ; Briti.sh Thomson Houston
Company, 106 controllers, suitable for magnetic track breaking with
interpole motors, £5 814; Electro Mechanical Brake Company, 53
car sets of grid resistances (suitable for mounting on car platform),
£742; N,B. Steel Foundry Company, 250 car wheel centres, £500;
250 tram tvres, £881 5s. ; machining wheel centres as necessary,
£231 5s. 125 axles, 4-in., £781 5s. 125 pairs wheels and axles,
£2 187 10s.

Catalogues Required.

*The Director of the Public W'orks Department, Bagdad, Iraq,
is anxious to obtain catalogues, designs, specifications, prices, &c. , of
machinery and equipment, including electric lighting and power
plant, small electric sets with fans and accessories, larm tractors,
road tractors and agricultural machinery, excavating machinery,
irrigating pumps, piping and pipe fixtures, well-boring plant and
casings, cement and concrete mixers, quarry plant, woodworking
machinery, pumping plants, motor-cars, refrigerating apparatus.

January 13, 1922

The Electrician.

Miscellaneous.

Nottingham Corporation liave decided to reduce by 7^ per cent,
the salaries of all officials receiving less than £750 a year.

Liverpool City Council have approved a recommendatiOTi to
reduce the war bonuses of officials receiving over £1 000 per annum
by 50 per cent, from Jan. 31.

A start has been made on the work of clearing the Wembley site
of the British Empihe Exhibition of 1923. On Tuesday H.R.H.
the Duke of York cut the first sod.

A fire which broke out at Cakdon Hill granite quarry on Sun-
day night completely destroyed the electric power house and two-
thirds of the machinery was put out of action.

The Reading Education Committee have decided to purchase a
RiTTER ELECTRIC MOTOR AND DENTAL APPARATUS for use in the dental
clinic at a cost, including installation, of £82.

A spark from a fire in the storeroom of the Metropolitan- Vickfrs
Electrical Company's premises in Chapel-walk, Sheffield, last week
ignited a roll of paper, and caused a small blaze in the storeroom.
which contained electric fittings. The outbreak was soon extin-
guished by the Sheffield Fire Brigade.

A Canadian company, which holds the British patent rights in an

ELECTRIC PLATE AND DISH WASHING MACHINE, wish to get into tOUch

with firms in the United Kingdom open to undertake the manu-
facture and sale of this article. Further information may be obtained
at the office of the High Commissioner for Canada, 19, Victoria-
street, London, S.W. 1.

We regret that a printer's error occurred in the setting of
Johnson & Phillips' advertisement on page xvi. of our last issue.
The words " Fig. 2 " should have appeared below the bottom left-
hand panel instead of " Fig. 3." " Fig. 3 " should have appeared
below the bottom right-hand panel instead of " Fig. 4," and " Fig.
4 " above the top right-hand panel instead of " Fig 2."

Some of the members of the Coal Mining Association are, says the
Central News Agency, discussing a co-operative scheme for the
RKCONSTRUCTiON of the BRITISH COALFIELDS, with a view to bringing
order out of the existing state of chaos. The scheme includes the
introduction of coal-cutting machinery where it has not already been
installed, the erection of pit-head baths, and greater use of electricity.

Perpkthal MOTION has again been discovered, this time by Mr.
Richard Ulram, of Jersey City. He claims to have finished a
machine, which he calls " the world's greatest invention," and he has
organised the Perpetual Motion, Power, Heat & Light Company,
with a capital stock of 25 million dollars, to develop the invention !
The machine is stated to be " a cross between an electric washer
and the old stone mill. It has more parts than a watch, and more
wheels than a ten-carriage railway tram."

Speaking at the Conference of the Workers' Institute at Balliol
College, Oxford, on Saturday, Mr. A. P. M. Fleming dealt with the
subject of the use and value of records and statistics. He had seen
in batches of boys admitted at the works entrance eye and ear
troubles, tonsilitis, &c. , which would pass undetected in the ordinary
way. But under the record system the boys were sent back, and in
the great majority of cases the parents had things put right by proper
treatment, so that the boys, parents, employers, and, above all, the
community, were saved from the lingering disadvantage which in the
past — and even to a considerable degree in modern times — hampered
industry.

The fourteenth annual issue of the " Electrical Engineers'
Diary " has recently been issued, and contains a mass of useful
information for consulting and contracting engineers, manufacturing
firms, and supply houses. Nearly every branch of the industry and
every practical application of electricity (including cooking and
heating) ie catered for. The information given seems to have under-
gone extensive revision. There are a number of useful technical'
tables and statistics, including lists of central station showrooms and
electrical shop windows, the Wiring Rules of the I.E.E. , the Regula-
tions as to Electricity in Factories and in Mines, lists of streets in
the London area in which mains are laid, particulars of the supply
undertakings in the United Kingdom, &c. We notice that in a few
cases the price of gas is wrongly given, but in the main the informa-
tion is correct. The Diary is published at lOs. 6d. net by S. Davis
& Company, 30-31, St. Swithin's-lane, E.C. 4.

Traveller's Wages Claim.

At the City of London Court last week Mr. R. S. Butler, com-
mercial traveller, sued the B.T.T. Electric Lamp & Accessories
Company for £3 10s., salary and expenses in lieu of notice. Plaintiff
said that about Oct. 20 last he was employed by Mr. Taylor, of
defendant company, as a traveller and representative at £3 per week,
with 10s. for expenses, 2^ per cent, commission, and a week's notice
each way. On the Friday of the first week of his employment he
was told to see Mr. Ay ton, the sales manager. He wait>ed until ten
minutes past seven, and then, thinking he had waited long enough,
and that Mr. Ayton had gone for the day, left. On the Saturday he
was told he ought to have waited. He received his week's salary,
and on the Monday was told he could not start again. He claimed
that he was entitled to notice.

For the defence, Mr. Ayton said the plaintiff was told by him
that it was to be a week on trial, but plaintiff denied that he was
engaged for a week on trial.

The Registrar gave judgment for plaintiff for £3, disallowing the
claim of 10s. for expenses.

Companies' Meetings Reports &c.

The directors of Royce, Ltd., have decided not to pay an interim
dividend on the preference shares.

An interim dividend of 9d. per share, free of tax, on tb« ordinarr
shares is announced by Head, Wrightson & Company.

The KAMINISTIQL^A Power Company has declared it« regtilar
quarterly dividend on the common stock at the rate of 6 per cent.
per annum.

The tramway and electricity receipts of the Electric Supply Com-
PA 'Y OF Victoria, Ltd., for the three months ended Sep*.. 30 Laet
were £34 109 and the expenses £24 930.

A meeting of the holders of Mexico Electric Tramways 5 per
cent, first charge debentures will be held on Feb. 3 for the purpoee
of considering resolutions sanctioning certain proposed modincatiooa
of the rights of the debenture holders.

The report of the Provincial Tramways Compaky for the year

ended Sept. 30, 1921, shows net revenue received from subsidiary
companies of only £20 900, as against £40 916, while a claim by thie
authorities for £12 454 for E.P.D. for 1918 has resulted in a big
fitrain on the company's resources. In the circumstanoea there is
no dividend on the ordinary shares, as compared with 7^ per cent,
for 1919-20, and no appropriation can be made this time to reserve
and depreciation account, which a year ago was allocated £10 000.

The Anglo-American Telegraph Company announces the follow-
ing dividends to the close of last year : — Balance of £1 10b. per
cent, on the consolidated ordinary and on the preferred stocks, lees
tax, making £3 i5s. per cent, on consolidated ordinary and £6 per
cent, on the preferred ; and a first and final of £1 lOs. per cent, on
deferred stock for 1921, less tax. It has also been decided to pay a
bonus of 2s. 3d. per- cent, on the undivided ordinary etock and
4s. 6d. on the deferred, free of tax, all payable on Feb. 1, to holders
registered on Dec. 31.

In the course of his speech at the annual meeting of the Stz.\ua
RoMANA (British), Ltd., in London last week. Sir Charles Greenway,
Bart, (the chairman), stated that the company, conjointly with the
local power company, had, on a 50-50 per cent, partnership basis,
started the erection of a new electric power station, to Ih> called
" Steaua Electrica," to supply its own requirements and also those
of other consumers. This power station is situated at Floresti, and
the company would have the first call on its output. It was hope!
that it would be working before the end of this year.

New Companies.

The following list is compiled from information supplied by
Messrs. Jordan & Sons, Ltd., company registration agents, 116-118.
Chancery-lane, London, W.C. 2.

A. G. BuRRELL & CoMP.\NY, Ltd. (178 803), 28, Change-alley,
Sheffield. Registered Jan. 3. Manufacturers and dealers in systems
and installations of every sort used for the purpose of synchronising
or distributing time. Nominal capital, £5 000 in 1 500 6 per cent.
cumulative preference shares and 3 500 ordinary shares of £1.
Directors : J. W. Molden and W. E. Spearing. Private company^

Charles H. Champion & Company, Ltd. (178 857). Registered
Jan. 4. Producers and suppliers of electrical apparatus. Nominal
capital, £10 100 in 1 000 preference shares of £10 each and 2 000
ordinaiy shares of Is each. Directors to be appointed by sub-
scribers. Qualification of directors, one share. Subscribers : H.
Marcotty, 71, Castlenau-mansions, Barnes. S.W. 13 : C. H. Cham-
pion ; and G. H. Leslie. Private company.

Henderson & Thornton, Ltd. (178 865). Regi^stered Jan. 5.
Producers and suppliers of electrical apparatus. Nominal carital,
£2 000 in 500 preference shares of £1 each, and 1 500 ordinary shares
of £1 each. Directors : F. Higgs, Station Works, Hinton-road,
Heme Hill, S.E. ; B. C. Aldous ; J. A. Henderson ; and L. Thornton.
Qualification of directors, one share. Private company.

Rapson Tyre & Jack Comp.any, Ltd. (178 851), 85. Gracechurch-
street, E.C. Registered Jan. 4. Electrical and general engineers,
&c. Nominal capital, £40 000 in 40 000 shares of £1 each. Directors :
F. L. Rapson and G. G. Warr. Qualification of directors. £500.
Remuneration of directors, £500 each. Private company.

Sterling Accessories. Lrn. (178 768), Bangor House, Shoe-lane,
E C Registered Dec. 31. Electrical, telephone and general engi-
neers. Nominal capital. £1 000 in 1 000 ordinary shares of £1 each
Directors : C. J. ^NLnrgerison and A. Handler. Qualification of
directors, £200. Permanent directors. £500. Private company.

Therm Saving Appli.ances, Ltd. (178 856). Registered Jan. 4.
Iron founders, mechanical and electrical engineers. Nominal capi-
tal, £5 500 in 5 000 preferred shares of £1 each and 10 000 deferred
shares of Is. each. Directors to be appointed by subscribers. Quali-
fication of directors, £1. Subscribers : A. E. Fournier, 18, Fleet-
street, E.C, and B. L. Diddams. Private company.

Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company announce that from the
1st inst. the charge for private radio telegrams from their Poij)HU
Station to ships at sea has been reduced from 26. 6d. per word to
Is 2d. per word, plus the ship charge, which is usually 4d. per word.

The Electrician.

January 13, 1932

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY, Jan. 13th (to-day).

Institution of Electrical Engineers.

(Scottish Centre, Students' Section.)

7.S0 p.m. At the Royal Technical College, Glasgow. Paper on
" The Protection of Alternating Current Circuits," by Mr.
E, T. Pounds.

Edinburgh Electrical Society.
8 p.m. At the Philosophical Institute, 4, Queen-street, Edin-
burgh. Paper on " A Chat on Storage Batteries as Applied
to Electric Traction," by Mr. L. Brookman.

Electro-Harmonic Society.

8 p.m. At Cannon-street Hotel, London, E.C. Smoking concert.

SATURDAY. Jan. 14th.

Birmingham and District Electric Club.
7 p.m. At the Grand Hotel, Colmore-row, Birmingham. Presi-
dential Address by Mr. N. Deykin.

MONDAY. Jan. 16th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Western Centre.)

6 p.m. At the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, Bristol.

Lecture " On the Work of the British Electrical Develop-
ment Association and upon Advertising in Connection with
Engineering and Electricity Development Generally," by Mr.
J. W. Beauchamp.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Liverpool Sub-Centre of the North- Western Centre.)

7 p.m. At the University, Liverpool. Cinematograph films to

be exhibited on " High Tension Switchgear Tests," by Mr.
P. Torchio, described by Dr. C. C. Garrard ; " Telephone
Inventors of To-day," and " Electricity in the Home," by
Mr. F. Gill, O.B.E.

TUESDAY. Jan. 17th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(North Midland Centre.)
7 p.m. At the Metropole, King-street, Leeds. Paper on Single-
and Three-Phase Alternating Current Commutator Motors
with Series and Shunt Characteristics," by Dr. S. P. Smith.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(North- Western Students' Centre.)
7.30 jp.m. At Houldsworth Hall, Deansgate, Manchester. Paper
on " Switching Systems and Lay-Outs," by Mr. F. Gough.

Engineers' Clxtb, Manchester.
7.15 p.m. At Albert-square, Manchester. Address on " The
Relationship of Finance to the Engineering Industry," by
Mr. H. G. Williams.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18th.

Institution of Railway Signal Engineers.
3 p.m. At the Instit.ution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy-place,
London, W.C. Resumed discussion on " Three-Position
Signalling," by Mr. A. E. Tattersall.

Industrial League and Council.
7.30 p.m.. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecture on " Use and
Abuse of Combines and Trusts," by Mr. R. Young, O.B.E.

THURSDAY. Jan. 19th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
6 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Joint meeting with the
Institution of Heating and Ventila ing Engineers. Discus-
sion on " The Utilisation of Waste Heat from Electrical
Generating Stations," with Introductory Papers by Mr C I
Haden and Mr. F. H. Whysall.

FRIDAY. Jan. 20th.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

6 p.m. At Storey's Gate, London, S.W. Paper on " Some

Observations on a Producer-Gas Power Plant " b'-' Mr
H. S. Denny, C.B.E., and Mr. N. V. S. Knibbs,' B.Sc.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(London Students' Section.)

7 p.m At Savoy-place, London. W.C. Paper on " Some Appli-

cations of the Tnermionic Valve to Telephonv " bv Mr
L. T. Hinton. r j> j

Junior Institution of Engineers.
S p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecturett© on " Geology
in its Relation to Engineering."

Royal Institution.

9 p.m At Albemarle-stiw-t, London, W. ] iscourse on " Soap

*ilms and Molecular Forces." by Sir James Dewar, F.R.S.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

The Enterprise Manufacturing Company have issued their
January price list.

A. P. Lundberg & Sons have issued a leaflet dealing with their
Series-Parallel Switches.

Among the new catalogues just published by the overseas
Engineering Company is List No. 195, dealing with the " Overseas-
National " electric lighting outfits, and List No. 28, which deals with
the " Zenith " slow-speed, four-cycle oil engines.

Electrical Components, Ltd., are determined to make a good
year of 1922, and a leaflet, entitled " The Challenge of 1922," is full
of vigorous determination, which is bound to meet with success.
The firm have just issued an abridged price list of electrical acces-
sories (No. 93), and the reductions shown in many instances bring
prices down to pre-war levels.

Forty Years Ago.

(The Electricun, January 14th, 1882.)

The Society of Telegraph Engineers and of Electricians. — The
next meeting of this society takes place on the 19th inst. , when an
inaugural address will be read by the president-elect, Lieut. -Colonel
C. E. Webber, R.E.

Why Electricians Use Gas in their Offices. — The correspondent
of a provincial paper says that the reason why Mr. Swan, of New-
castle, uses gas in his factory is because the electric light is " the
light of the future," and that Mr. Swan evidently knows this.

Railway Signalling. — Mr. A. W. Tuer writes to the " Daily
News" under this heading, suggesting that if " passengers were made
acquainted with the state of the signals as they pursued their
journey (which I think could be managed by means of an automatic
electric indicator fixed in each compartment), neither driver nor
guard dare for an instant neglect them."

The Future. — A glimpse into the future is afforded in an extract
from a speech recently delivered at a preliminary meeting in Paris
of the company which has been formed to work M. Marcel Duprez's
system of transmitting power by means of electricity. M. Bontoux
was the speaker. He said : — " The division of electric energy ie
destined to effect an entire revolution in this sphere. The day will
come, and sooner than is imagined, when the artisan family will see
enter their dwelling, by means of a magic wire, the force which is
now so costly to them, and this will be the democratisation of force
for the benefit of the working classes." What a Utopian Republic
is here foreshadowed !

The " Textile Recorder Year Book for 1922," a copy of which
we have received from the publishers, John Heywood, Ltd., will be
principally of interest to electrical engineers from the short accounts
of the various processes involved in textile manufacture which it
contains. From these they will be able to gain some idea of the
problems which have to be met in adapting the electric drive to
textile requirements. . A certain amount of useful information about
the electric drive is given, but the editor is a little lukewarm as to
its advantages. Nevertheless, it continues to develop, principally,
no doubt, because it provides a convenience and flexibility which it
is difficult to translate directly into figures.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Copper — Price. Inc. Deo,

Best selected per ton £68 10 0 — 5s.

Electro Wirebars . . „ £74 10 0 — IDs.

H.C. wire, basis per lb. Os. H^d. — y'gd.

Sheet Os. 10|d. —

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone) —
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis „ Is. Sy^d. — jL<L

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis „ Os. 7jd. — —

Sheet, basis „ Os. lO^d. — Ad.

Wire, basis , Os. 10|d. — |d.

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Wa Tan ts per ton £5 5 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £22 0 0 — —
Lead Pig —

English £26 0 0 — —

Foreign or Colonial . . „ £24 7 6 — —
Tin-
Ingot £167 0 0 — £3 15 0

Wire, basis per lb. 23. 3id. — ^d.

Aluminium ingot £120 0 0 — —

Salummoniac. — Per cwt. 658.-60s. Copper Sulphate. — Per ton £28 lOs

Sulphur (Flowers). — Ton £12 lOs. Boric Acid (Crystals) —Per ton

„ (Roll- Brimstone). — Per ton £65.

£12 lOs Sodium Bichromate, — Per lb. 6d.

Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°).— Sodium Chlorate.— Fer lb. 3Jd.
Per ton, £9 178. 6d.

Rubber. — Para fine. Is. 1 Jd. ; plantation Ist latex. lOJd.

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated A: Helsby Cubloo.
Ltd., and the rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co.,
Ltd.

January 13, 1922

The Electrician,

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Tht following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible far any errors that may occur.

London Gazette.

Bankruptcy Information.

DEPLEDGE, Robert Adrian, 53, Frodingham-road, Scunthorpe,
Lincolnshire, electrical engineer. First meeting, Jan. 18, 11 a.m..
Official Receiver's Office, St. Mary's Chambere, Great Grimsby.
Public examination, Feb. 2, 11 a.m., Town Hall, Great Grimsby.

WILLCOX, Albert John, The Garage, Farnham Common, Bucks,
electrical engineer, &c. First meeting, Jan. 16, at 11 a.m., 29,
Russell-square, London, W.C. 1. Public examination, Feb. 10,
11 a.m.. Town Hall, Windsor.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT & FINANCE CORPORATION,
LTD. W. B. Stone, 90, Cannon-etreet, E.G., appointed
liquidator.

FOUNTAYNE LAMP & ENGINEERING COMPANY (1910),
LTD. Mr. li. R. Heaton, New-square, Lincoln's Inn, London,
appointed liquidator. fleeting of creditors at liquidator's
- office, on Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 12 noon.

PLANET ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD. S. H. Swallow, 67,
Broad-street-avenue, London, E.C. 2, appointed liquidator.

Liquidator's Notice.

ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT & FINANCE CORPORA-
TION, LTD (in voluntary liquidation). Meeting of creditors
at the offices of Cash, Stone & Co, 90, Cannon-street, London,
E.C. 4, Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 2.30.

Edinburgh Gazette.

WILSON, R. Anderson, mechanical and electrical engineer, 19,
Waterloo-street, Glasgow. Estates sequestrated Jan. 4. Meet-
ing to elect the trustee and commissioners on Monday, Jan. 16,
at 12 noon. Faculty Hall, St. George' s-place, Glasgow.
Fergusson & Roes, writers, 30, Renfield-street, Glasgow, agents.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publicatien of extracts from the " Registry of
County Court Judgments " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgmente
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty -one days.]

FULLER HEATH k CO., The Old Brewery, Earl-street, West-
minster, S.W., electrical engineers. £10 8s. Id. Aug. 25.
GAUNT, Mr. 15, Cambridge-place, Paddington, and SAYER, Mr.

117, De Beauvoir-road, Dalston, formerly trading as Gaunt and

Sayer, electricians. £26 Os. lOd. Oct. 4.
HASLIN, John Joseph, 50, Nestfield-street, Darlington, electrical

welder. £16 15s. 6d. Oct. 5.
HILL, Geo., 22, Chantrey-lane, Grimsby, electrician. £13 13s. 2d.

Oct. 28.
LEVER, J., & SON, 1, Radipole-road, Fulham, electrical engineers.

£55 9s. Oct. IL'.
NEAL WOOD & CO., 5, Snuijlgate, Beccles, electrical engineers.

£11 6s. 6d. Nov. .".
OWEN & SON, Westcombe-hill, Blackheath, electrical engineers.

£10 Us. 8d. Nov. 3.
VEVERS, Mr. J., 45, Queen-street, Maidenhead, electrical engineer.

£14 ICs Id. Aug. 31. ■
WHITEHEAD, Henry John, 62, West-hill, Wandsworth, S.W. 13,

electrical engineer. £54 16s. lOd. Oct. 21.
WYATT, Mr. A. J., 16, Hj keham-road, Bracebridge, electrical

engineer. £12 Is. lOd. Nov. 7.

Bills of Sale.

[The undermentioned information is from the Official Registry.
It includes Bills of Sale registered under the Act of 1882 and under
the Act of 1878. Both kinds require registration every five years.
Up to the date the information was obtained it was registered
as given below ; but payment may have been made in some of the
cases, although no notice had been entered on the Register.]

BROADHURST, William Gladstone, 18, Meadow-way, Weald
Village, Harrow, electrical engineer. Jan. 9. £100.

OWEN, Arthur Leo, 24, Norfolk-road, Littlehampton, electrician.
Jan. 6. £40.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

shall, in making its annual Summary under the Cocipaniea Act,
npecify the total amount of debt due from the Company in rcepect
of all Mortgagee or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Chargea have been so registered. In each cam U\»
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the Uct
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, bat such total may have be«n
reduced since such date.]

BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON COMPANY, LTD., lyxidoo,
E.G., manufacturers of electrical machinery. Registered Dec. 17.
Trust deed dated Nov. 30, 1921, securing £3 000 000 debenture
stock, to Royal Exchange Assurance Corporatiwi, E.C. ; charged
on properties as set out in f.econd schedule to trust deed (subject,
as to certain premises, to trust deed dated March 10, 1902), ako
general charge. *£1.52 295. June 1, 1921.
MIDLAND COUNTIES ELECTRIC SUPPLY CaMPANY. LTD.
(late TRAMWAYS LIGHT & POWER COMPANY, LTD.),
London, E.C. Registered Dec. 22. £400 000 debenture stock,
secured by trust deed dated Dec. 14, 1921 ; charged on shares
and debenture stock of various companies, also general charge.
*£344 150 (debenture stock), £200 000 (notes). March 15, 1921.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY,
LTD. Registered Dec. 22. Trust deed dated Dec. 9, 1921,
supplemental to and modifying provisions of trust deed regis-
tered Oct. 29, 1913, by increasing limit of debenture stock which
may be issued thereunder to £2 000 000 and increasing rate <f
interest payable on the debenture stock thereby secured ; also
registered Dec. 22, acknowledgment of further indebtedness
(supplemental to trust deeds registered Oct. 29, 1913. and
Dec. 22, 1921), securing £750 000 secon'd debenture stock (addi-
tional) ; charged on electrical lighting and power undertaking*
and lands and preniisee now comprised in trust deed, and certain
shares also general charge (ercept uncalled capital). '£3 014 658.
April 5, 1921.
Satisfaction.

CREED & COMPANY, LTD. (late CREED, BILLE & COM-
PANY, LTD.), Crovdon, telegraphic engineers. Satisfaction
registered Dec. 29, £3 000, registered Jan. 22, 1920.

Receivership,

TREDELECT DYNAMOS, LTD. N. Bell, of 78 and 79, Wool
Exchange, Coleman-street, was appointed receiver and manager
by order of court, dated Dec. 21, 1921.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

BARNETT, Bernard, electrical engineer, 104. Whitechapel-road,
E. A meeting of creditors was held last week at the London
Bankruptcy Court. Debtor had stated that in 1914 he took a
lease of a house, shop and factory premises at 104. Whitechapel-
road, where he began business. In March last he executed
some work at premises belonging to M. Heller and R. Cederman.
and later on these two gentlemen entered into partuerohip with
him, the idea being to extend the business to the West End. On
July 29 last his two partners served him with notice of dissolu-
tion of the partnerehip, and a r.?ceiver was appointed. Debtor
estimated his liabilities at between £500 and £800. and valued
his assets at £800. He attributed his present position to over-
confidence in his manager, book-keeper and partners. There
was no quorum o' creditors present, and tne meeting was
adjourned to allow an opportunity of appointing a trustee.

PRIVATE MEETING.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily imply failure.

Many private meetings arf called merely for the purpose of the

debtor consulting his creditors as to his position when he may not

be insolvent.]

AUTOMOBILE ELECTRICAL REPAIRERS. LTD. (in voluntary
liquidation), Euston-road, London. N.W. A mettine of creditors
was held recently at the offices of Cole, Bickin & Hills. Kings-
way, W.C. Mr. N. J. Dodd, the liquidator of the company,
submitted a statement of affaii«, which showed unsecured liabi-
lities of £815. Of that amount £263 was due to the trade, £44
to the bank, and the balance represented the unsecured amount
due to the debenture holders. The claim of the bank amounted
to £194, but thev held securities valued at £150. The assets of
the company were onlv estimated to realise £200, from which
had to be 'deducted £40 for preferential claims, leaving net
assets of £160. The latter amount was insufficient to n*^t the
claims of the debenture holders, which amounted to £513, and
there was no balance available for the ordinary creditors. The
company was incorporated in January. 1920. with a nominal
capital 'of £1 000. The issued capital was £795. The deben-
tures were in order, and it was pointed out that there was
nothing available for the creditors. No resolution was passed,
and the voluntxirv liquidation of the company will therefore be
continued bv Mr". Dodd. The following are creditors :— Bro^^•n
Brothers. London. £14; Burrow & Company. Ltd.. Cheltenham.
£10; General Electric Company, London, £47; W. &. Jeal &
Ebuiy Engineering Company. Ltd., London, £15: i^rra
Engineering Company. Bla.>kpool. £59; C. A. \ andervell 4
Company, London, £15; Collins Electrical Company, London,
£32.

The Electrician.

January 13, 1922

Patent Record.

APPLICATIONS FOE PATENTS

«4 3£iS

a4Si»6

34 413
S4 441
34 442
d4 44o

34 46S

34 501
34 502

34 52?
345-21:4
34 531
34 56i

34 564

34 579

34 5i*3
34 59:
34 5i»S

34 w:

34 6-2-2
34 6S5

34 636
34 641
34 650
34 652
34 654

34 6«1

34 6M

34 T45
34 759
34 761
34 764

34 765

34 769
34 774
34 7?i0
34 SOS
34 75;2
34 7S3
34 Sl-2

34«-23
34S'25

34 S47

34^4$

34S56

35 031

34*65
34S?2
34 £33

34 911

34 9-25
34 9-26
34<t30

M96S

34 9:>4

35 014

25 027
35 031
35 041

35 055
35 056

35 060

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35 062

35 076
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35 157

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96 161
35 170
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September 14, 1921.
Cr-.-.mutators..

.-.lil winder.

, electric lamp, bom, and switchboard.
TN ,v Wreford. Stomersible electrical apparatus.
\Vbein3RD. Port4»bie electric combinatjon tools.
& W'SETORD. Portable electrically -an ven

Contact breakers.

Whitmore. Electric

DowDBSwir..:
Wnsox.
LiMB. E .

ArsTix. l\v^--K\ A
Haines. Foo'i-ey

Dt OmKCK. Application of rheostatic converter system to regula-
tion of sy-nchronous motors.

September 15, 1921.

Co&us. Time Switch. (13 1 21, Denmark.)

LiwuASX^. Trollies for tramways.

G=;een-, \Vn.-i^ox & Jamiesos. Switches.

Klvg. Tide rcwer generating systems. _ ,,- ,« .vi tt o ^

WE-^TiKGHorsE Lamp Co. ilanulacture ot glass. (16/10/20, L.a.)

Aet. Gks. Browx, Bovkbi et Cie. Protection of polyphase
circuit* on e^rth connection. (16 9 -20, Switzerland.)

Stone \3.) & Co. & Watkin-s. Governor for electric motor, «Kc.,
operating pump in hydraulic system. , , ■

Stmoxds. Electric signalling and telegraph devices, &c.

September 16, 1921.
Wn,KixsoK. Wind-driven dynamos.
EfAxnEv Co. & Eatos. Electric terminals.
Efasdem Co. & Eatox. Electric hand lanterns.
XU-EO--.AS A; Roberts. Electric lighting sets for motor vehicles, &c.
DrTT & G.M)rBET. Storage battery.
Zachai:ts (F. H.I, ilETAixWAREsrABR. & Grcx-thal. Electric water

beaiers.
RoiWES. Clock -opera ted electric switches.
RiK-,GE. Electric pocket lamps. (-22 9 20, Germany.)
CrBrrr. Sw.jches.

Parkin. Wireless telegraph devices.
BRrnsH LiGHTixG &, Ignitiox Co. & TrrpES

September 17, 19-21.
Pdtkistok. Electrical clock time switch.
Laxcashir.! Dtsamo & Motor Co. &

machines.

September 19, 192L
KiLVKRT. Self-regulating magreto.
Bedsox. Insalator blocks of h.t. switchgear, &c.
HoRTOS &; Prestox. Electric lead terminals.
Latous. Electro-magnetic wave transmitting systems. (21/8/15,

France.)
Latoitr. Electro-magnetic wave transmitting systems. (-20/11/15,

France.)
CHiTRCHnx. Electric vehicles.
Fas<3Uha.rsox. Magnetos.
Klauck. Trolley Ke^ds for tramc^rs.
B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Motors.
MrxRO. Sockets or bases for trolly poles.
Page. Electric alarm system for detecting a damaged seat
Allkaxxa SvExstA Elektriska

;2 7 "21, Sweden. )
RrEFT. Electric lamps
Bartholomew. Telautography.
ArroMATic Telephone Mro. Co.

U.S.)
ArroMATic Tei-ephoxe Mfg. Co.

U.S.)
LovxLAXD. Ellectric lighting from magnetos
Beaver. Electric joints

September 20. 1921.
Hadwks & Willis. Coupling for electric cables, &c.
Davis & Reeves. Electric heaters.
SrxDEiaaxD Forge, &c., Co., Wight & Pack. Electric signalling

systems.
Whittixgham. Electrically testing ani comparing strength of

ma^-nels.
B. T.-H. Co. iG. E. Co.). Electric discharge apparatus.
B. T.-H. Co. & YorxG. Magneto-electric machines.
HoFTMANN. Automatic safety device for electric connections.

September 21, 1921.
Bishop & Chidwick. Bodies of trackless trolly oars, &c
Gasootxe. Resistance board or panel for tandem lamp circuits.
K&rrp F.) Akt. Ges. Mounvng electric conductors in casings.

' 10 2 -21, Germany.)
B. T.-H. Co. G. E. Co.). Electric tensioning devices.
Clasemont. Electne joints.

MtTROPOLrTAX-VlCKERS ElECTTICAL Co. ChiCTHam & SMETHtniST.
jElectnc relay devices,
Uxiox Bag 4: Paper Corporatiox

Aktiebolaget. Transformers.

Telephone systems.
Telephone systems.
&c.

(1/10/30,
(32/9/30,

Fi^iLEY & Weil. Safety
apparatus. 21 9 -20. Ci.
Williams. Elecirical cor:
Lewitski. Receivers for •
ScHXEiivER. Receiving de

Germany.)

PfcAXuXSLL.
PSA.\GN-EU..

B .

Ro.- ■
Ra:

Fi-..

Scv

Fratce.,
Marriott

Switch. (32/7/21, U.S.)
;or ii.r.easatograph projection

Vig boxes for mines, &c.

. !.y. (21/9; 20. France.)

;r t.eclric waves. (13/7/31,

Valve for wireless apparatus
Coil for wireless apparatus.

September -2-2. 1921.

■I apparatus.

- tuiciiiiCAL Co. 6t HiLU Synchronous

Co.^ Motor ooDtroI.

T electric ignition systems.

x Co. & Scott-Taggart. Production of

Sjfety switches for kinematograph projection

Lc PROMJiTHtK. Electric radiators.

(22 9 30,

Radio receiving sTst«ins. (33/9 30, U.S.)
September 23, 1931
toss. Reflector search-light* i34 9 30, Germany.)
TUCKB I J. H^ & ^o ' * Gaitxet Fuse or distnbution boards
Qpasn Arc Co. & Strohmixger. Ele-tric welding or fusing
<Mi>oait>oB of metals.

•25 233 Kratt. Electric immersion heaters.

25 -234 Kratt. Electric water heaters.

•25 247 Lodge Fcme Co. (Metallbank u. Metallurgische Ges.). Insala-
tor for electrodes of electrical gas purifiers.

25 248 Lodge Fume Co. (Metallbank u. Metallurgische Ges.). Electrical
gas-purification.

-25 249 Evaxs-Jacksox (Takenchi). Starting arrangements for sQoirrel-
cage induction motors.

25 257 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric control systems.

•25 272 English Electric Co. Driving gear of locomotives, tramcars, tec

-25 276 Thor Electric Safety Lamp Co. Miners' lamps, &c.

•25 "279 MiDGLEY. Junction boxes for electrical connections.

-25 -2^2 Chloride Electrical Storage Co. (Ford). Storage battery plates.

-25 2S4 Soc. E. Spexgler & H. Chexx. Switches. (23/9,20, France.)

•25 295 British Power Railway Signal Co., Tinsley & Gall. Trans-
formers.

September 24. 1921.

25 325 Wall. Electric condensers.

25 3127 Theobald. Electric light conduit fitting.

'25 32S Radio Communication Co. & Scott-Taggart. Electric discharge
devices.

25 34S Hutchison & Spowart. Trollies for electric vehicles

•25 3S8 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Motor control.

September 26, 1921.

-25 40S Stra"WS0X. Air-cooled trant-former tank.

25 411 Illingworth. Cutout.

'25 4-2S Credenda Conduits Co. & Davidso-v. Electrical connectors.

25 473 Rushton. Producing alternating currents of freauencies differ-
ing from synchronous frequency of high speed turbine driven
generators.

25 479 Robertson & Wilson. Electro-mechanical high speed relay for
wireless signalling.

25 4S9 Ges. fur Drahtlose Teleguaphie. Thermionic devices. (22/10/20,
Germany.)

September 27, 1921.

25 503 Redshaw. Slip-ring connections of a.c. motors.

-25 544 Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. Device for automatic operation of
circuit breakers. (9,10 '20, Switzerland..)

25 5-23 TuLL. Mouthpieces for telephones, &c.

25 563 Aitkex. Automatic, &c., telephone systems.

25 569 Hyde. Flux coated electrodes for arc welding.

-25 5S7 Radio Communication Co. & Scott-Taggart. Radio receiving
systems, signalling systems, &c.

-25 591 Culver. Radio-localisers.

-25 596 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Fluorescent screens.

25 59S Baron (Signal Ges.). Phase regulating devices.

25 600 MuLLER. Worm gearing for electric vehicles. (19,10/20, Ger-
many.)

25 604 Ellison. Telephones for mines, &c.

25 611 Xaamlooze Vennootschap Philips' Gloerlampexfabr. Rbntgen
ray installations.

September '28, 1921.

25 6'29 Naish. Appaiat-us for indicating position of trolly poles and
pulleys of electric trams, &c.

25 651 EvAxs & Hodgson. Enclosed electric motors.

-25 65S Blacx & Russell. Lighting systems of electric tramcars, &c.

•25 663 VE.iXER. Stationary transformer of a.c. to c.c.

•25 673 Harmer. Arc lights.

25 6S5 BjERKE. Charging stations for electro-automobiles, &c.

25 695 Festa Akt. Ges. Electric liquid heaters. (7/10 '20, Switzerland.)

25 699 Patent Treuh^ud Ges. fur Elektrische Gluhlampex. lacan-
descent lamps. (20,11 20, Germany.)

25 700 G. E. Co. & Rtde. Apparatus for electric discharge through
gases.

25 711 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Electro-magnetic relays.
(1/10/20, U.S.)

September 29, 1921 .

25 719 Oldham. Galvanic batteries

•25 720 Oldham. Miners' safety lamps.

25 733 White. Protective coverings of electric conductors.

'25 734 Fexwick. Bridge fuses, &c., for electric lighting and power.

•25 736 Crosbie. Electric horns

25 744 Moss. Electric bell pushes.

25 794 Gardner & Wood. Telephone attachment.

25 797 & 25 79S Metropolitax-Vickebs Electrical Co. & Coates. Operat-
ing mechanisms for switches.

25 800 B. T.-H. Co. Reactors.

•25 SOI B. T.-H. Co. (G E Co.). Switches.

25 Sll Siemens Bros. &: Co. & Whitehead. Filament lamps for vehicles.

25 S21 Telephone Manufacturixg Co. (19'20), Ltd., Stott & Wood.
Automatic exchange telephone apparatus.

25 S-22 Rees. Wireless telegraph and telephone apparatus

'25 S-24 SUTTOX. Electric switches.

September 30, 1921.
25 S3S Turxock. Electric fuses.

-25 S47 Allen & Vice. Automatic electric switches.
25 854 CoATES. Device for indicating telephone calls
25 S59 Brintjle. Commutator rotor.
25 SS9 Ellexger. Apparatus for sending out and receiving wireless

messages.
25 S95 HiPPiSLEY <fc Milham. Combination connection adaptors for

electrical fittings, iSrc.
25 896 Herrmaxx. Commutators for dynamos, &c. (5,11 30, France.)
25 905 B. T.-H. Co. iG. E. Co.). Wireless signalling systems.
25 913 M. L. Magxeto Stxdicate & Watsox. Ignition magnetos.
•25 921 Sutton. Rotary switches.

October 1, 19'21.
25 970 Lamb & Boper. Electric lamps.

25 984 XUTT.ALL. Automatic devices for control of motive power for

generating sets.

26 002 Krupp (F.* Art. Ges. Devices for sparkless disconnection of

inductive resistance. (4 10 -20, Gerrrany.)
36 016 Telephoxt: Mfg. Co. (\9i»\. Wood & Stott Auton-atic exchange

telephone apparatus
26 017 ^ATioxAL Igxition & Supplies Co. & Trowell. Coil ignition and

lighting systems.
26 026 HoTPoiXT Electric Appliance Co. & Lixg.ard. Apparatus for

grooming horses and cattle.

Tht Editorial, Advtrtisement and Publithing Ofiet* of " Tbb

Elbct&ictan " ore at 8, Bouvrrie Strttt, London, EC. 4. Tfir
gram*: Benbroctie, Fleet, London. Telephone: City 9852 (5 Unet)

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in the United Kingdom, and £2 14 0 per annvm Abroad. Advertise
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aatt of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ISTAMUSUEU Uil.
THE OLi>EST WEJEKLY ILLUSTmATED JOLTWAL OT

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance,

No. 2279.

FRIDAY, J-AXUARY 2c, 1922.

■ ^ " ?r ::

jjei — if.jcE TEcgyicAi. LatX'Kakes

A.BiILi*rT F-i-titires :2 A cvi'njsxit- T*-iet»r<c^* SrEtrTa.5 By W.

Ai'teiL L.rLrtnbt.ed.

&nrf«oe; ljf)bkjLZ~. By G. L. A-ddsaibrxkB . ..

OtetTXEjT. Lt. "Liwhsd H.o|prin=tfip, Jt-P. — .^

B^^Bp^-i "«■ jfciMi TtWnfAg-- By IjL4:SaL A. C. T. Cnmr?

rD-a?traS*d - —

Con Izz^iry.-n. fi Motor Cos

Eirictiiciw. TranEadaEio:: st 1 (XJOOOOT. Iila>lza£ed_ -.

Msc^Mfikai «sd KkcmriraJ, ESeeta of Laif^e CBireBtB en B^gib-

IteMB gwitelgeac. B|sr Dr. C. C Gaoszd. mwsferated...

^■■■al EddhitaaB «f ^w HifiiMi SutJiBty ef Londoo and the
AaEaaebdeali

CONTENTS.

6D X :r^ i:

--ir ^-ia^

65
»
67

«9

71
74
74

E.--r .:.-T

^-Xote.

- - - 4c.

LSote _..„

iSotes

Tp«<kr.t larited and Aweptod ^
Ki&ctiiisJ. IiBports aad Ezpacla
Sociail Xoiee .

IGBecBiaBeas

CcaqMuev' Keel^gs, Separte. 4CL
5ev Caaspaaks

\ far titB Week

Cammeuiti laielfigeaee

FdaeB at Wrtalr, rj^tw^faa. ^

7S
78

7i»
79
90
«Sl
*1
*1
•ll

65
Sa
»S

The ** EJectrician " Index.

mt eke tmda to VoL LXXXVll. of The "

■ iliiiri wkk the iM«e rf Di iiMfcii 3» ^at, «e sow
firec of choc^e. AypfieaCiaaa aho^d he aiode to Ike
», The ** EiecCrieioa,'* 8, Boonerie Street,
E.C.4.

Notes of the Week.

Scottish Hydro-Electrical Scdteme^

Ts&cafi lev nem edectzieal sesames will come up for
tamadenukm m tihe iarihtxmaBg sBsaon ai PaziiaxoeDt,
two ifitestestzBg ProviaaBai Orden, idakli are being pro-
skoted bj t^ Hydro-EJee&ie IWclapaMnt Cosipaoy and
the Ajr Corporation fgr die doveSofMDeut of the -s-axer
power cf tJbe GraaaipAiis and of Lodi Dooq respectiTeilj,
maj be noticed. Tlie Grazapiaji seiieDke is. a xnodihcatioD
rA. the iMnpoeals pot forward last year, vhic^ vere dis-
-cauaed at lengdi in The Elmteicias of Jannaiy U. 1921.
TUs adbeBke, it will be reneDibered, was vitbdrawn avizig Vj
tbe oppuHiion <rf tbe xipaziaa ovbcis aad tbe aisxaa fisherj
ntcferis. Hie ckaei rmo^Aestiaat seem to be tbat foar
-dtes for gemeratimg Mations instead oi five axe specified, aad
:iiat tbe vum^pj^ny deans to be rdiered of the naial restne-
La<ns -wlaA are impoaed on poaro- cowpames atpplyiag dec-
tnd^ for HglttMg

Aa ABBfkbh Protect.

Thk adbane is intenestisg ae being the first British
bjdnveiectrie dearclopment whiA. wSl relj exriBaTel j i^Min
vaier pover for iJie genention of deetzioty far bulk
supply to anthmited dittribiiton aad for odier purposes.
HkMigli tbere is abeadj erideoee of oppoeitim from tbe
f-shing and otber intercstc, the proposals of the oompaxnr,
we are glad to see^ axe reeecring a good deal of sym-
alhj aad flipport. We need scazeeij add that «e wish the
roosoters e^eiy — cwm. in their' e&rts to secure atatntorr
avthoritT f «• a project vhicb will have a most b^iefiaal
^^^T in tbe iadsstries aad social life oi tbe Higblaads.

The Loch Doon Scheme.

Thz prapasaia of Ajr i_ri\i i.-^ :: i :_"^.- — rr -^~
ehaxacier. Tke Pro—V.^i. ',r -: _->i . .-;i -r-r-r. i-.v
supply, trainwayr ii.:. .n:.:.--^:. i:., >^- rri. -::-.- ,_->-
jects. It is iniesM&d
ai DallmeIliBBt<cai f oi

and power is swigiit to oraiscrQct ranous
in. order to be able v ^-^ - -"-^ r^-^-
for geoerating dectr:

overhead lines, Ac. Ter jiaj-- iie uj oe a„cwaci ; .
pletioii of the works.

Mi^cellaneoas Po^ven.

The Order a^ extends tbe area of sappij to Girvaa,
Maybc^ aad screral neigbbooriag ]>arisheB, aad Tanoos
TTnsnpilanemiB powers ajt» sought for the better nuaage-
mesrt of the Biirgh siqiply undertaking. In the first place
it is desired to increase the mazimiiin diarge to Is.
per unit, aad to impose a mirriTn-nTn charge for anr amoant
of energy up to 15 mnts at tbe rate of 15$. ic the March
aad Deoeraber quarters aad ci 10s. for 10 units in the June
aad September quarters. Power is also soeg^ to revise
l^ioes aad methods of charging every three years, to eoD-
struoc Bub-stataoos under streets, to lay mains in private
streets, to disoontaane snppfy whecte electrks^ is nsed con-
trazy to the terms <d the agruement, to erec*- overhead poles,
to snp^j electricity in bulk, aad to equip aad msiirtain
dkuwiuums.. It win be seen that some of these poarer&
would be ooafareid by the Electricity Supply (So. 2) Bill,
if and when passed, aad there is a preoedeot for |KactieaIly
every <me of them in Acts obtained in reeent years by
municipal authorities.

Hi^i-Speed Wireless.

Ox anather page of this iss^e we give an ar^-.-iraci oi a
Paper bv Col. A. G. T. Cusixs, which was reoentlr read
before the Wireless Section of the Institution of Electiical
Engineers. This Paper describes the kw-power hig^-speed
wireless apparacos which has beoi developed for military
purposes at the Army Signals ExperimeBtal Eetabfidiment.

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

Those who have observed the progress of " wireless "
during the last twenty years wall be inclined to be sceptical
at the revival of a promise heard at frequent intervals since
the earliest days. They will remember a little sourly how
favourable previous results have been over short distances,
but they will not thereby be readily led to agree with Col.
CusiNs that it is reasonable to suppose that much greater
distances can be traversed as the power is increased. For
ourselves we think that for the ranges required for military
sets the apparatus described by Col. Cusins constitutes a
very practical and valuable achievement, but at the same
time a study of the previous history of wireless development
might be undertaken with advantage by those who so fre-
quently and so eagerly neglect the very considerable difficul-
ties which have to be overcome in applying to high powers
the methods which experience has shown to be successful
at low powers. The debate on Col. Cusins' Paper carried
the meeting on almost to eight o'clock — two hours' steady
talking. Some speakers contributed matter of value, and
it is probable that others would have given a quantitative
investigation of the relative merits of the apparatus had
there been time. But this was prevented by the amount of
time taken up in the reading of the Paper. We have often
pointed out that where members are anxious to take part
in the discussion the exigencies of time make essential a
considerable shortening of the period occupied in reading
the Paper, and in this particular case certain parts which
were read might well have been omitted.

I.E.E. Informal Meetings.

It has long been known that the ordinary meetings of
the Institution of Electrical Engineers are apt to be
somewhat foiTnidable to a proportion of the members,
many of whom might be prepared to speak at smaller
gathei-ings on less highly technical, but even more debat-
able, subjects. The original objects of the informal meet-
ings were, therefore, to facilitate discussion of a rather
wider range of subjects than is possible at ordinary meet-
ings, and to enable members to make contributions which
would otherwise be withheld on account of modesty or un-
familiarity with the subject under discussion. As far as
London is concerned these objects have been admirably
achieved, while the discussion on the drives of power
station auxiliaries, which inaugurated the Manchester
informal meetings, indicates that these local meetings will
have an equally successful future. The subject chosen
forms an illustration of a type of discussion which is less
concerned with description or the elucidation of principles
than with the correlation of actual experience on matters
of common interest to both manufacturers and supply
engineers.

A Place for Minor Papers

In the course of his evidence Mr. Wilson referred to the
brought before the ordinary meetings of the Institution is
limited by a number of factors, and that, however strenuous
the session, a vast field of technical activity must remain
unrecorded. There, therefore, is a place for what may be
termed minor Papers, as distinct from the major Papers
which form the bulk of the Journal. Such a minor Paper
may consist of a symposium of very short contributions
on a given subject, or of a round-table discussion. Con-
tributions to the discussion on ordinary Papers are often
prepared beforehand, and at the meeting the effect con-
veyed is naturally one of lack of co-ordination. Less formal
discussions might prove to have mo-e unity, and, with care-
ful editing and abbreviation, should prove valuable addi-

tions to the Journal. Their introduction would have the
effect of enabling more justice to be done to every branch
of a complex and many-sided industry, and, in thedr
attempts to make the Institution more useful to the general
membership, their organisation is a matter to which the
Council might well give their attention.

Drives for Power Station Auxiliaries.

The vital importance of reliability in the operation of
power station auxiliaries appears from the discussion at the
first informal meeting of the Institution of Electrical En-
I gineers in Manchester, which we summarise elsewhere in this
issue. The steam is clearly being superseded by the all-elec-
tric drive, duplicate supplies being arranged to minimise
risks of a total stoppage. The enormous increase in the size
of main generating units at large stations necessitates turbo-
alternator sets and transformers for station service of some
magnitude. It is also gratifying to find such a consensus
of opinion in favour of one form of supply, alternating
being preferred to direct current. Power engineers in this
country rightly value continuity of supply, and may there-
fore safely be trusted to ensure this for their auxiliaries
as well as for the outside consumer. The discussion in
general, therefore, confirms the views we expressed in a
recent Editorial Note.

Dumping of German Lamp Bulbs.

Impoetant evidence was given last week by Mr.
Christopher Wilson before the Committee appointed
under Part II. of the Safeguarding of Industries Act. This
portion of the Act deals with dumping, upon which Mr.
Wilson is expert, as he has had long and extensive experi-
ence of the electric lamp trade. From Mr. Wilson's
evidence, which is reported in another column, it will be
seen that at present German lamp bulbs can be placed on
the English market at 56s. 4d. per thousand, or consider-
ably less than the cost of the British labour charges for the
product. If the present demand for a duty of 33^ per
cent, be conceded the price of the German bulb would still
be' less than 55 per cent, of the actual cost of the British
article ! It is interesting to learn that Germany is the only
real competitor so far as bulbs are concerned, for, although
Holland and Belgium also manufacture bulbs, either the
output is not so good or the j^rice is mvich higher.

Duty Required to Increase Employment.

Mr. Wilson stated that the fundamental cause of the
present unemployment in the industry was the low price,
caused by the depreciation of the mark, at which Germans
can put their bulbs on the English market, and he thinks
that a duty would tend to assist employment here,
this benefit being increasingly felt as the foreign cur-
rencies recover. No doubt this is true, but at the present
time the German mark is more likely to depreciate than
to appreciate, and this depreciation may more than counter-
balance the 33J per cent, duty which is demanded by the
manufacturer.

Cause of German Superiority.

In the course of his evidence Mr- Wilson referred to the
superior equipment of the German glassworks and to the
more extensive experience and higher technical skill of the
German workman. These are, no doubt, very important
factors in the situation, for it is common knowledge that
many British glass manufacturers have been carrying on
without up-to-date plant and equipment. In these days
it should be obvious that no duty will save a manufacturer

January 20, 1922

The Electrician.

unless he installs nioderu furnaces, and although lack of
capital and heavy taxation have hitherto prevented many
British firms from modernising their plant and methods,
the time has come when the true facts must be faced and
a real effort made to put their houses in order.

Unauthorised Connections to Mains.

A DECIDED increase in the number of unauthorised con-
nections to the mains of supply authorities is noticeable.
We have, in fact, had to chronicle several cases of the kind
during the past two or three months, and we are afraid
that many of those who make these irregular connections
do not appreciate the result of their action. It cannot be
too strongly emphasised that, apart from any question of
fraud, it is illegal for a contractor or consumer to connect
up premises to the supply mains without the sanction
of the electricity undertaker. There are several reasons
why this should be so, not the least that a main may
thereby be overloaded and the other customers deprived of
their supply. A case of this kind recently occurred at
Chester, where an electrician employed by consumers
put in larger fuses than had been allowed for, with the
result that the fuse in a street box blew, and neigh-
bouring consumers were deprived of their light for
an hour or two. Though there was no fraudulent inten-
tion, we are glad to see that a fine of £5 was inflicted.

Electric Vehicles at Islington.

The Borough of Islington will shortly have one of the
largest municipal fleets of electric vehicles in the Metropolis.
In. March last eleven vehicles were acquired for the purpose
of watering the streets and collecting refuse, and now four
more 2^ ton electric dust vans have been purchased. A
report states that, in the Council's experience, one motor
vehicle is equal to two horse-drawn vans for dust collec-
tion, and to four horse-drawn vehicles for street watering,
and therefore a large economy is effected by using electric
vehicles instead of horses. We notice, however, that for
the repayment of the loan of £6 100 for the dust vans only
a period of five years is allowed by the London County
Council. This is too short, considering that the life of the

electric " is as long as that of the petrol or steam vehicle,
and the result is that the heavy interest and sinking fund
charges place it at a disadvantage during this period. The
Electricity Commissioners allow a minimum of seven years
for the repayment of all loans for motor vehicles, whether
electric, petrol, or steam, and we think that the useful life
of the electric vehicle can safely be taken to be not less
than this figure. Where only five years is allowed for
paying back a municipal loan, it would be more economical
if the money were provided out of the rates than bor-
rowed.

Dr. Edward Hopkinson.

The death of Dr. Edward Hopkinson, which we record
on another page of this issue, removes not only a pioneer
but the bearer of a name which will always be honoured
by those who work in electrical science and industry. John
Hopkinson, it is hardly too much to say, was the father of
the electrical industry as we know it to-day. Bertram
Hopkinson, a son who, like his father, met his death in
untoward circumstances, was no less a practical scientist,
whose work was of the highest importance in the develop-
ment of aviation. Edward Hopkinson in his turn did
much to solve the early problems of electi'ic traction, and
by his knowledge and enterprise built a foundation on
which others might erect a worthy superstructure. Into

the wider field <ji iji^ihk,-, na mougiit a (jroain oi freAh-
iiesH and sincerity which that arid plain .sadly ne«ds.
These are men who can sorely be spared.

British Tenders for Foreign Orders,

C'oMPLAi.sT is often made that British firms are uu-
sucdssful in the competition for colonial and foreign orders,
and that their tenders are frequently passed over in favour
of thof>e of German or American origin. It is therefore
well to consider some of the causes of this want of 9Uooe»^.
In the first place price is not the only element considered
by the customer, for prompt delivery and eflBcienoy of pro-
duct may be regarded as equally important factors.
In the next place, some of the conditions of the contract
in these foreign tenders are very onerous, and British firms
naturally desire to obtain modifications of them. On the
other hand, foreign firms, and particularly the Germans,
who are just now extremely anxious to recover their foreign
trade, are willing to accept exacting conditions.

Two Methods Contrasted.

A GOOD example ol: the methods of the two oonntries. is
to be found in the results 01 the tenders recently inx-ited
by the Rand Water Board for electric pumping plant.
The Board's requirements were advertised in the columns
of The Electrican. Many tenders were received, and the
contract for steel pipes went to a German firm, mainly on
account of the low price — £276 223 compared with
£392 476, the lowest British tender. An order for electric
pumping plant also w^ent to Gennany, and the Board's
engineer, reporting on the tender of the succes-sful firm,
said that they had fully grasped the Board's requirements.
" The elect-ric motors were larger and heavier, the insulation
of the windings was of a better quality, and the tempera-
ture rise at full load less than that put forvv'ard by a
British manufactvu-er. ^Moreover, the whole of the Board's
general conditions and specification, including penalties,
terms of payment, etc., and the whole of the prices were
firm, and not subject to any variation in exchange, freight-
age, etc."

Work for the B.E.A.M.A.

On the other hand it wa^ repoi-ted that some of the British
tenders were subject to exceptions and reservations, and
that one fi.nn intimated that they were not prepared to
accept the following : The guarantee as to tJie insulation
resistance, full penalties for low eiFiciency. testing plant at
their works under load, the clause as to res]x>nsibility for
mistakes, penalty for late deliver}, the Board's engineer
as sole arbiter, and the terms of payment. In addition
they required modification of the tests applied to the plant
after erection. We are not sui-prised, therefore, that the
engineer advised the Board not to consider that particular
tender. Some of the conditions are no doubt unfair and
might prove burdensome to manufacturers, but to attempt
to make, when tendering, such sweeping alterations in
the specification was, to say the least, unwise. It would
have been better to make a protest against unfair conditions
before tendering, or not to submit a tender rather
than to submit one with so many modifications. Such
matters, too, would be better dealt with by the B.E.A.M.A.
than by individual firms. Tt i,; i question they will,
no doubt, take up.

Other Work of the Commissioners.

The long delay between the pro\*isioua] delimitation
of an Electricity District and the holding of the enquiry.

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

to which attention was called recently in connection with
the West of Scotland area, may perhaps be explained by
the pressure of other work which is being imposed on the
Commisyioners. For it must not be supposed that the whole
of their time and energies are devoted to surveying the
existing electricity supply resources and to mapping out the
United Kingdom into eletctricity districts. There is a con-
stant flow of applications for Special Orders, for sanction to
boiTow loans, to extend generating stations and tO' use over-
head lines. In addition, the various forms, regulations,
&o., used by the Board of Trade, are undergoing revision
so as to bring them into line with the altered conditions and
the modern requirements of the industry. Some of these
revised forms have already been issued, but we understand
that the Regulations for securing the safety ol the public
and for ensuring a proper and sufficient supply of electrical
energy are at present being overhauled, and new editions
may be expected during the course of the year.

Overhead Lines.

Among the forms which have recently undergone
revision is the Memorandum setting out the information to
be submitted in oonneotion with proposals for the use of
o/erhead lines. If rural districts are to reap the
advantages of a cheap supply of electricity, extensive use
must be made of overhead line^. It is true the Com-
missioners have shown themselves friendly towards all
applications for overhead wayleaves, and the revised
Memorandum seems to indicate that overhead distribution
is to become a regular and usual, rather than an eixcep-
tional, method of supply. Still, we think that further
powers will have to be obtained in order to overoome the
obstructive tactics of some landowners and local authorities.
We recently noted a, case in the Midlands where an
impossible rent was demanded for a pole, and we also
reported an instance of work on an important overhead line
in North Wales being held up for months on account of
the opposition of a landowner. Though Sections 21 and
22 of the Electricity (Supply) Act havei greatly enlarged the
powers of the JMinistry of Transport, it is still possible for an
ohsti-uctive property owner to hold up a useful supply scheme
for a long time, and we think it is time to devise a ready
means of overcoming this difficulty. We may add that those
interested in the latest forms and regulations of the Com-
missioners will find them in the forthcoming edition of the
Electrical Trades Directory and Handbook.

The I.E.E. and the Cinematograph.

An int.eresting departure from the daily ronnd of
Papers and discussions was made by the Institntion of
Electrical Engineers last week, when the theatre was
turned into a cinema. Who can say after this that the
Institution neglects the march of progress? Three films
were shown: ' Investigations and Tests on High-Tension
Switchgear," by Mr. P. P. ToRcnio, with Explanatory
^ notes by Dr. C. C. Garrard ; "Telephone Inventors of To-
Day" and "The Audion," by Mr. F. Gill. For the
first of th-ese subjects the slow-running cinematograph
forms an exceedingly valuable means of demonstrating
phenomena about which little is known by the ordinary
electrical engineer, while the other two have a human
appeal, which, judging by their reception, undoubtedly
made them as interesting to the electrical engineer
as to the general public. Without wishing to be

ungracious, we may add that it is quite time. the aid of the
cinematograph was enlisted to aid electrical demonstration.

Signs of the Times.

A CORRESPONDENT in a Sunday newspaper complains of
the failure of those residing in Kingsway, London, " to
make easy the path of customers to their doors." He gives
a pathetic account of his attempts to find " Imperial
House," and suggests, if numbering of the premises is not
possible, the setting up of at least four boards, one at each
corner of each end of the street, with the names of the
houses placed upon them in order, so that he who walks
may read. Now, strange as it may seem, this is really an
electrical question, for Kingsway is becoming a street in
which electrical engineers must take a greater and greater
interest. Therein are to be found at least two associations
for helping electrical interests to help themselves and at
least two large manufacturing firms anxious and willing to
assist in this endeavour to the best of their abilities. We
should hate to think that anyone entering Kingsway in an
endeavour to buy either a turbo-alternator or an electric
iron, or both, to say nothing of a wireless mast, should have
any obstacle put in his way. Perhaps Mr. Beauchamp,
who was until quite lately an inhabitant of that thorough-
fare, will see to it that electric signs of appropriate bril-
liancy, quaintness, and appeal are erected to direct the way-
farer after things electrical. It is certainly a case where
usefulness and artistry might be well combined.

1921— Some Technical Land-
marks.

In the last two issues of The Electrician we have dealt
with the electrical history of 1921 in its broadest aspects,
and with the progress that has been made in the develop-
ment of wireless communication respectively. Technically,
however, progress, though perhaps less spectacular, has also
been occurring in other fields. It is therefore proposed to
discuss here certain advances which have taken place during
the year, which consist in the definit^^ adoption in engineer-
ing practice of ideas or discoveries which have, in their early
stages, been considered as purely scientific or laboratory
devices, or of new products developed as a result of
research.

New Materials — Stainless Steel.

Commencing with new materials, the year saw the intro-
duction on a large scale of stainless steel as a material for
steam turbine blading. Although this material has been
available for several years, it was until lately scarce and
costly. It is now being made on a considerable scale, and
so is likely to find wider application.

The property of rustlessness and non-staining was
originally aimed at, and the earliest use was for cutleiy,
where its application is almost automatic. It is highly
remarkable that the special properties are obtained as a
result of the addition of a single ingredient, namely, some
11 to 14 per cent, of chromium. In spite of this simple
addition, the actual procedure in the production of this
material requires skill and care. A brief recapitulation
of its properties only can be given, thus: — The maximum
resistance to corrosion is obtainable in the hardened con-
dition. Corrosion is not produced by the weaker acids,
but sulphuric and hydrochloric acids attack it readily; it

January 20, 1922

The Electrician.

is therefore not a substitute for the resistant irons
" duriron " or " tantiron." The steel does not scale
when heated up to 800°C. or 850°C., and the strength at
700°C. oulv falls to half of that at 600°C. These properties
show that it is si)ecially suitable for the valves of internal-
combustion engines, for which purpose a suitable metal has
long been sought.

llustless iron has also made its appearance, and this,
being free from carbon, will allow of a wider range of appli-
cations even than in the case of stainless steel.

Transformers and Rectifiers.

Apparatus for the transformation of currents is of such
great use and importance for a variety of purposes that it
is obvious much thought is being expended on these devices,
resulting in advances of no small moment. The mercury
rectifier of the laboratory, with its brittle glass or quartz
bulb, has for some years been a thing of the past, and the
steel vessel rectifier which has taken its place has been
steadily developed on the Continent until it is now a stan-
dard article of engineering construction. Until recently,
however, there were but few examples of mercury rectifiers
installed in England, although the list of such equipments
is growing rapidly.

The Departure of an Old Friend.

It seems hard that an old friend like the rotary con-
verter should have to go, but the higher efficiency of the
mercury rectifier is the explanation of the modem tendency
either to replace the rotary, or, at any rate, to instal a
mercury rectifier in place of an additional converter.

The main advantages of mercury rectifiers may be briefly
summarised by saying that although they may cost some-
what more than a rotary converter or motor-generator of
equal output, they have a highetr efficdency, need
less attention, have a longer life and require less
costly lifting appliances in the station owing to their
light weight. The facts that no consumption of mercury
takes place and practically none of the cooling water are
also of importance. As an example of the efficiency obtain-
able it may be stated that for a mercury rectifier of 225 kW
the efficiency, inclusive of auxiliary apparatus, is 94 5 per
cent. The weight of even a much larger size, namely,
700 kW, is only 1 000 kg. (2 200 lbs.).

Electric Transmission at One Million Volts.

For a number of years before the war, although the
voltage at which the transmission of electrical energy was
effected had been steadily rising, the value of 150 kV had
not been exceeded in practice. The past year has wit-
nessed the commencement of yet another forward and
upward step. The Southern Calif ornian Edison Co., which
operates in the region where transmission voltages are
highest, has now completed its Big Creek No. 8 station,
which is the first of a chain of stations that are intended
to operate at 220 kV pressure. The lines are at present
operating at 150 kV pending the completion of the other
stations, but there appears little doubt that the installa-
tion will work quite satisfactorily at the higher voltage, as it
has done at the lower pressure hitherto made use of.

Having now come to within a short distance of a quarter
of a million volts as transmission voltage, some new experi-
ments which have been carried out in the course of the year
by the General Electric Co., of America, with a transformer
capable of giving over a million volts, are of more than
passing interest, in that they portend, not an immediate
extension of the high-voltage range, but an acceptance of
the possibility that it may be necessary or desirable to pro-

ceed, later, to higher pressures. For this reason it is easy to
comprehend that a far-seeing concern like the company men-
tioned is desirous of obtaining experimental proof whether
the laws that have been established for voltages up to, say,
250 kV will hold at pressures which are four timee as
great.

Technical Details.

Reliable technical details, which were not available until
after the close of the year, show that the tests were made
with a 1 000 kVA transformer built specially for this high
pressure and operated at 60 cycles. In-spection of the main
results which have emerged from the tests reveals remark-
able, yet, from the technical standpoint, satisfactory,
behaviour so far as spark-over voltage, corona, and stress
on insulators in cascade are concerned. These matters are
fully dealt with on another page of this issue.

Spark-over Voltage.

The needle gap spark-over voltage curve shows no dis-
tortion, and is, in fact, a continuation of the straight line,
as for lower voltages, in which the sparking distance
increases roughly about 1 in. for each 10 kV. At
1 050 kV the sparking distance is 112 in., i.e., 9 ft. 4 in.,
so it is obvious from this that the spacing question will be
of importance. Actually, the insulators at the transformer
terminals are some 15 ft. in length.

Corona.

The corona starting point, it is found, can be calculated
from the known laws; the stress on a string of, say, 22
suspension insultors in series, however, would, if calculated
on the low-voltage behaviour, be approximately 200 kV,
and since each insulator used had at lower pressures an arc-
over voltage of 75 kV, even so long a string as 22 insulators
in series would be expected to aro over entirely. Contrary
to expectation, it is found that, actually, it does nothing of
the kind, because, owing to the corona effect, the string is
automatically graded as regards stress.

Size of Conductor.

The size of conductor which should be used for such
voltages is a novel problem and introduces new conceptions,
since a high-voltage conductor half-an-inch in diameter is
even now considered tuormous. Assuming tubular con-
ductors to be used, each would have to be 5 in. in diameter
for a spacing of 20 ft. apart ! The one undesirable prooerty
at 1 000 kV is that a small percentage increase in voltage
means a large actual increase, and thus the losses would
be enormously increased if the line voltage were to
rise even a small percentage above the critical point for
which the conductor was designed.

Losses in Line.

The losses observed in the experiments show, for
instance, that for the three conditions as to pres-
sure: 1 000 kV, 1 000 kV + 10 per cent., and 1 000 kV
under rain (which lowers the critical volUge), the losaee
would be 0 325 kW, and 1 080 kW per mile, respectively,
and in order to diminish this loss the diameter of the con-
ductor would have to be increased to 6.5 in. The capacity
of such a line (three-phase) with conductors of 65 in. and
20 ft. spacing is such that the charging current per mile of
line would be 4-43 A, and the kilovolt amperes per mile
7 650. It is obvious from these figures that the introduc-
tion of much higher pressures than 250 kV will undoubtedly
mean the tackling oi a host of new problems ; but the experi-
ments have shown that such voltages are by no means im-
practicable, and so a much-debated question has received its

The Electrician — January 20, 1922

Auxiliary Features in Automatic Telephone Systems.

A New "All-Relay" System Particularly Applicable to Small Installations.

By W. AITKEN. M.I.E.E.

Small automatic switches are one of the most interesting
and useful developments in the telephonic art. There is a
great field for these both as private installations in works,
warehouses and offices, and in connection with exchange

9Pi iSP

i — .. — — i^

service as private branch exchanges (P.B.X.), village ex-
changes, and the like.

This new circuit by the Autojiatic Telephone Manu-
facturing Company marks a distinct advance on j^resent
relay practice, but the author believes a mistake has been
made in pursuing the ideal of an " all-relay " design. The
author's model switch for small installations uses relays for
the connecting means and simple stepping switches to set up
the connection.

In small switches, simplicity of apparatus and circuits is
essential. An all-relay system attains simplicity of apparatus
at the expense of nmltiplication of relays and complication
of circuits. It will be noted from the diagram that the
preselection of an idle connection-circuit to join two lines
together is most simple and efficient, but that the
connection-circuits are overburdened with relays, which
might be readily replaced, to a large extent, by a simple
stepping device. The circuit is interesting in showing how
the cycle of operations in four relays energises a relay for
every impulse of a digit, so that this relay can be made the
connecting relay to the called line.

The arrangement is most suitable for small exchanges
having a capacity up to 28 lines, but may readily be increased.
The diagram shows the circuits of a 19 line switch having
three " connection-circuits " to allow of three simultaneous
conversations. These can be increased as required by the
traffic.

Operation of the Switch.

The calling line switch directly connects a calling line with
a connection-circuit or trunk, and has no intermediate
circuit or testing apparatus. It is a true preselector, as the
trunk to be connected is determined by the prior connec-
tions, and is instantly completed without the aid of common
apparatus. This marks a distinct advance on preyious
relay practice. Each line is equipped with as many simple
relays as there are trunks, one side of the energising winding
being connected to battery, through a contact on the guard
relay, and the other side connected to earth, when the line
relay energises on a call. The connection to the relay above
is through a back contact on the lower relay, so that when
the lower relay energises, it cuts off earth from those above,
so that they do not energise. If the lower rela)'- fails to
energise, because the battery is cut oft' at the guard relay, then
the relay immediately above will energise, and so on. There
is in addition the usual line and cut-off relays per line. For
incoming calls each line has a relay associated with each
connection-circuit and these relays also act as counting relays
in a manner to be described.

Each connection-circuit has six relays for battery feed,
ringing and control, and four repeating or impulsing respond-
- ing relays which operate in a cycle in such a way that only
one relay per impulse is required. Alternate counting relays
are connected to different energising wires from the impulse
relays, which are associated with odd and even numbers of

impulses, and num-
bered 1 to 9 and 0 1 to
00 in a 19 line equip-
ment, to agree with
the subscribers"
numbers. Relay 0
is a switching relay
to bring into opera-
tion a second hold-
ing circuit.

Other features
will be described in
the operation of the
citcuita.

^lilJcxcg

T) <v^

January 20, 1922

The EUeotrician.

The circuits are numbered in the order of operation as
follows :

J. When the receiver of S is lifted R' energises. Assume No. 1 con-
nection-circuit busy, that is, circuit 2 open. Assume No. 2 to be called.

2. Connecting relay R2 energises.

3. Impulse and feed relay R3 energises over loop.

4. Guard relay R4 energises. Circuit 2 is opened and connection-
circuit 2 is made busy to other callers.

5. Cut-o£E relay R5 energises. R' de-energises.

6. R2 holding circuit.

7. Repeater relay R7 energises.

8. R7 holding circuit.

9. Impulse relay 113 de-energises on first break at dial. R9 energises
for the duration of the impulses.

9'. New path to battery.

10. First counting relay RIO energises ; also RIO' to open circuits
7 and 8. The latter remains closed over 9'.

10". RIO holding circuit.

11. Repeater relay Rll energises. Opens circuit 8 and R7 de-
energises. Opens circmts 10 and 11.

12. Rll holding circuit.

13. R3 re-energises at the end of the first impulse and R13 energises.
Circuit 12 open. Rll de-energises. Circuit 13 opened.

14. R13 holding circuit.

End of first, or odd number, impulse 1.

15. R3 de-energises on break at dial for second impulse, R15
energises.

Ki. R15 holding circuit.

17. Second counting relay R7 (even) energises.

18. R17 holding circuit in series with RIO'. Circuit 10 open and
RIO de-energises.

R3 re-energises at end of impulse.

I'J. R7 re-energises, partly over circuit 7, circuit 16 open and R15
de-energises.

8. R7 holding circuit. Circuits 10 and 11 are prepared for the next
impulse (if any).

20. If line No. 2 is busy R20 will energiae over the holding circuit.

21. R20 holding circuit.

22. Busy tone is given to caller.

If the line h idle R20 is not energised and ringing current is applied.
The number having been called RO de-energwes. RIO' reniaiaa
energised. Circuit 8 is open and R7 de-energises.

23. R,23 energises to complete the loop.

24. R23 holding circuit.

25. Called line made busy.

26. Ringing circuit to called line. R20 does not energise until called
party answers. Ringing is by polechanger, in which the {wndulum
connects battery and earth alternately to line, about 20 times i»er
second. Ringing is cut off when R20 energises.

27. Loop talking circuit, current fed through R3.

28. Battery feed for called party through R20.

The connection is broken down when the caller's receiver is replaced,
when R3 and R4 de-energise.

30. AV'hen 0 is dialled (ten impulses) R30 energises, partly over circuit
17.

31. R30 holding circuit. Circuit 18 is open to de-energi«€ all counting
relays of lower value and succeeding relays are built up by impulses
as before described.

A connection has thus been completed between the two
telephones shown over the contacts of R2 of the calling line
and El 7 to the called lines. The talking circuit is divided by
condensers and battery fed to the calling line over R.3 and
to the called line over R20. The transmission efficiency is
standard.

Surface Leakage,

By G. L. ADDENBROOKE.

Some eighteen months since I bought a portable form
of hair hygrometer which I thought might be applicable to
certain, purposes I had in view. On testing it I found that,
though it deflected sufficiently, the maker's scale bore no
relation to the indications of the instrumeint. I therefore
proceeded to calibrate it myself, and finally found I had
succeeded in doing so fairly, and that the scale seemed
decently stable and sufficiently accurate for my purpose.

Having done this, I hung it up in a sitting-room I con-
stantly use, and near it placed a gold leaf electroscope, an
electrophorus, a small Leyden jar, and a few other
appliances for electrostatic experiments. Noting the
humidity of the atmosphere by the hygrometer reading,
I proceeded from time to time to try a few simple experi-
ments. At the time I first did so the hygrometer indicated
80 per cent, humidity, and the experiments were not easy.
The electrophorus required a little warming before it would
excite properly and would not keep charged long, and the
leaves of the electroscope would not remain expanded at
the same angle, but fell too quickly for good reading.

The Effect of Dry Weather.

At last came a spell of dry weather, when the humidity
indicated had fallen to 60 per cent., and now things were
quite different. The electrophorus once excited was found
to keep its charge for houi"s, and the leaves of the electro-
scope maintained their angle for some time; other experi-
ments also went off quite in text-book style. Similar alter-
native results were obtained a number of times during the
past year.

Quantitative Studies.

An attempt was then made to study the results quanti-
tatively. For this puii^ose a gold leaf electroscope was
charged and the time it took to fall to half charge noted
when the humidity was about 60 per cent., and the ex-
periment was repeated on the next occasion when the
humidity reached 80 per cent. Two different electroscopes
were also used, one insulated with ebonite, another with
sulphur, and the effects were similar in both cases. The
leakage would be proportionate to the time of fall of the
leaves and the resistance inversely to this,, speaking approxi-
mately. But the fall with the drier atmosphere took some-
thing of the order of twenty times as long as when the
humiditv was 80 per cent., or the steady field resistance
was evidently some twenty times greater at 60 per cent.

humidity than at 80 per cent. The question arises, IIow
does this come about? Assuming that there is some
relation between the amount of moisture in the film
causing the leakage, and the humidity of the atmosphere,
it is hard to see how a reduction of this from 80 to 60 per
cent,, or, say, by 25 per cent., should alter the surface
resistance some twenty times. Assuming that the moisture
is deposited on the surfaces in an even film, it does not
appear very probable that 25 per cent, decrease in
humidity would evaporate everything but one-twentieth of
the existing moisture, and therefore I put this explanation
on one side, though for some time I could not find an
alternative.

Not long since, however, I came across the account of
some experiments on the moisture deposited by breathing
on clear glass surfaces. It was pointed out that if this was
done and the surface was examined while the moisture wa5
evaporating, the play f colours produced and the appear-
ances did not agree with what might be expected if the film
was even gradually got thinner.

Microscopic Examination.

On examination of such a film under the microscope it
was found that the film was not even, but consisted of multi-
tudes of small, separate half-globules of dome shape, %rith
something approaching bai'e glass botween. It was evident
that the deposition of moisture was round nuclei. Now it
seems a fair assumption that such nuclei must exist abun-
dantly on the surfaces of all insulating materiaJs, and that,
although invisible, moisture condensed en their surfaces is
almost certainly in this form. Consider such a film placed
in a drier atmosphere. The amount of evaporation might
not make much difference in the resistance to a current
passing across the globules, but evaporation from the very
thin intei-mediate spaces might render some of these almost
or quite bare. In the latter case a current would have to
take a devious path and the resistance be greatly increased.
This seemed a reasonable supposition for carrying a plaxisible
explanation a little further, to which I think something
more now, may be added.

Other Analogies.

Tliere has reoentlv been published by Sir George Beilbv
a very interesting book, accompanied by a large number of
micro-photographs, describing his work on metallic and
other surfaces. In the course of such work he studied very

64.

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

thiu films of oil and other substances ou water under tJie
microscope, and gives several illustrations of the results.

He was able to start with relatively thick films and then
gradually attenuate them. At first the films were con-
tinuous, but at a certain critical point began to reticulate;
the surface tension parallel with the surface could no longer
support the strain, a clear break occurred, and the material
gradually broke iip into more and more definite ridges and
separate globules with open spaces between. It is difiicult
to describe the appparance; the photographs themselvee
should be seen to properly grasp what actually occurs. On
inspecting these photographs there seems no doubt that a
continuous path for a current would be formed through
the inter-connection of the ridges formed, ■ but it would be
a very devious one, and if such phenomena occurred with
the moisture on an insulating surface, it might well
account for the gi-eat alteration in resistance found as de-
scribed above.

Observations on Sir George Beilby's Lines.

Following up the suggestion contained in this work of
Sir George Beilby, I have made some microscopic examina-
tion of the moisture films obtained by breathing on glass and
watching the moisture evaporate.

A little difl&culty was found at first in seeing the
phenomena clearly, but, after some trials, it was found that
the most suitable illumination was an Abbe condenser well
stopped down, and using a 1 in. defective and fairly low eye-
piece. The small globules of moistuTe then stood, out well,
both with daylight and artificial light. They are primarily
rounded, and very interesting to watch as they gradually
vanish by evaporation from the outside to the centre, but
apparently evaporation for some time has the general effect
of flattenng the globule without diminishing its size; it is
only when it has apparently got flattened down all over
to a certain thin stage that the edges begin to contract, and,
when this stage is reached, the contraction is rapid in a
now saturated atmosphere. It is evident that, at this
point, when the traces of visible moisture are almost van-
ishing, and can only be seen by careful lighting, there is a
very unstable state, when any slight changes in the humidity
of the air make great alterations in the state of the mois-
ture film.

At the same time this visible film is certainly thicker than
the invisible film with which we usually have to deal elec-
trically, and its behaviour can only be used as some guide
towards the conditions obtaining when the film is invisible.

Characteristics of the Visible Film.

When the visible film is first observed it looks much like
a simple layer of bubbles on water, in most cases the edges
touch and are clearly defined. Contrary to my expectation,
the bubbles do not seem to centre on any particles of dust
visible, but, when very small, these latter seem to gravitate
to the edges. There is no visible nucleus, but the shape and
size of the globules seems to be determined by the state of
the surface underneath, which looks as if it were mottled in
some way as to its properties, as if, perhaps, it were made
lip of flattened crystals having some definite characteristic
over the face exposed.

Unfortunately, having to consult an oculist some time
since, he advised me not to undertake work which in-
volved serious obsei-vation through optical instruments, and
therefore I feel it would be imprudent of me to pursue this
part of the subject, and one of my objects in drawing atten-
tion to these matters is that possibly what I have said may
attract the attention of someone who could do so, and to
whom [ would be happy to give such help as I could.

Regarding the electrical characteristics oMeakage with
both continuous and alternating potential differences, I
would refer to a Paper I read before the Physical Society
in 1912. The whole subject would repay much further
sfc«dy.

Is Surface Leakage Inevitable ?

We are accustomed to take surface leakage as inevitable,
and to accept it as a necessary nuisance, but, if the question
is seriously considered, it is wonderful what a limiting

factor it is becoming in a number of important and different
directions, and, though looked on as of secondary import-
ance, it seems to me that the time is coming when it is
well worth studying in itself. A better and more exact
knowledge of its magnitude and the conditions under which
it acts would be useful, and might reveal unexpected
characteristics which could be utilised for its better control.

OBITUARY.

Dr. Edward Hopkinson, M.P.

- We regret to record the death of Dr. Edward Hopklnsox,
M.P., which took place at his home in Alderley Edge on Sunday
last. Dr. Hopkinson, wlio was bom on May 28th, 1859, was
the fourth son of John Hopkinson, and brother of Dr. John
Hopkinson. He was educated at Owens CoUege, where he
was Dalton Mathematical Exliibitioner. In 1877 he gained an.
exhibition in mathematics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and
later a foundation scholarship. He graduated as Tenth Wrangler
in the Mathematical Tripos of 1881 and became a Fellow of his
college in 1883. In 1881 he took the degree of doctor of science
in the University of London in the branch of electricity and
magnetism, treated mathematically. In the following year he
became assistant to Sir WiUiam Siemens, and continued with him
tiU the latter's death.

Early Distinctions.

During this time he carried out experiments at Portrush on the
first electric tramway in the United Kingdom, and a Paper read
by him on the undertaking gained a silver medal from the Society
of Arts. After Siemens' death Dr. Hopkinson designed and carried
out the equipment of the Bessbrook and Newry electric tramway,
which is worked by water-power. For a Paper on the construction
and working of this tramway the Institution of Civil Engineers
awarded him a gold medal and the Telford premium.

In the year 1884 he joined Mather & Piatt, and took charge of
their electrical engineering department. In 1887 he became a
partner in the firm, and, when the firm was converted to a limited
company in 1892, he was one of its managing directors. In 1899',
when the business of Dowson, Taylor & Company was acquired, he
was appointed vice-chairman, a position he held imtil his death
He was also vice-chairman of the Chloride Electrical Storage Battery
Company.

Dr. Hopkinson took out many important patents, many of them
in collaboration with his distinguished brother. Dr. John Hopkinson.
They were the joint inventors of the " Manchester " djmamo and
motor, and of various improvements in connection with dynamos
and the appUcations of electricity. They were also the joint
authors of a Paper on Dynamo Electric Machinery, printed in the
" Transactions " of the Poyal Society.

Work on Electric Traction.

He was a pioneer of electric traction, and his firm undertook the
first large contract for working a full-gauge railway electrically, Dr.
Hopkinson being responsible for the design of the locomotives.
The City and South London Railway, opened by the Prince of
Wales in November, 1890, was then the largest application of
electric power to locomotion. The characteristic feature was the
employment of separate locomotives with the armatures of the
motors built directly on the axles without the intervention of
gearing. The undertaking was described in a Paper read by him
before the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1893, for which he
received the Telford premium and the George Stephenson medal.
He also designed, and his firm undertook, the original electrical
equipment of the Douglas and Laxej^ Electric Tramway, the Snaefell
Mountain Railway, and the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad.
The Snaefell Railway was remarkable for having a continuous
gradient of one in twelve over a four miles track, ascended at a
uniform speed of nine miles an hour. It was worked by simple ad-
hesion, every axle of the cars being driven by an electric motor.
The Douglas and Snaefell fines were the first on which large fixed
batteries were used.

Professional Qualifications.

Dr. Hopkinson was a past president of the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers, a member of the Council of the Institution
of Electrical Engineers and the first chairman of its Manchester
section. He had also been president of the Manchester Association
of Engineers, a vice-president of the Manchester Steam Users'
Association, and chairman of the Associates of Owens College-
He served on the Indian Industrial Commission which sat from 1916
to 1918, and he was a member of the Industrial Fatigue Research
Board of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
He entered ParUament in 1918 as Unionist Member for the Clajrton
division of Manchester, but he took little part in party poUtics.
He married Minnie, daughter of the late John Campbell, of
Rathfern, county Antrim.

The Electrician— January 20, 1922

High-Speed Wireless Telegraphy.'

By I,t.-Col. A. C. T. CUSINS.

The. author, who is the head of the Army Signals Experimental. Eslablishment, describes apparatus which has tjtf-.n dksigrud and tj-. ,
with between London and Cologne via Aldershol. The aim of the eqwpmenrd is to provide apparatiLS which sfiall en/Me wireless crm>.ii
to be carried on mechanically, both in transmission and in recep'ion, at speeds up to the maximum of Wh^a^stcme apparatus. The ^yt^ern •«
recommended for handling telegraph traffic to the Continent, for replacing sections in an im/>ortanl line which are liable to interruption

and for Press vxtrk.

The Paper records the development of low-power apparatus
which in the hands of operators of average ability enables wireless
telegraphy to be carried on by mechanical operations both in trans-
mission and in reception, either by itself or in continuation of a line
system ; and this at all speeds up to the maximum of Wheatstone
apparatus.

For some time the Post Office have been conducting trials of the

High-tension

supply

(direct current)

Fig. 1. — Continuous Wave Set for Field Use, with High-Speed
Attachment.

apparatus here described and traffic between London and
Germany has been carried on a single vdre and earth between the
Central Telegraph Office, London, and Aldershot, then from Alder-
shot to Cologne by military -wireless, and from Cologne military
wireless station to the German Post Office by wire. Through
transmission has also been carried on with a certain amount of
steady success, using Wheatstone transmission and Creed printer
reception, the working speed being up to 100
words a minute.

The actual set at Aldershot which is now
working to Cologne operates on an aerial
consisting of two 300 ft. wires between
70 ft: masts. The earth resistance is 6 ().
and the aerial current 10 to 12 A. This
power is sufficient for fail- conditions, but
there is need for a larger factor of safety.

Circuit Arrangements.

A circuit diagram is given in Fig. 1. In
this, the actual Wheatstone instrument is
shown as being at a distance from the
transmitter, the signals being relayed to the
latter through a Post Office relay. By
operating on- the grid filament circuit of
small '■ B " control valves the resistance of
their anode-filament paths may be varied
enormously and, if the latter be used as the
grid leak of the main generating valve
" TjA," its oscillations may be controlled
over the full amplitude. This action is
almost instantaneous. Sets up to 6 kW can
be keyed practically without sparking.

Reception.

, In Fig. 2 is given a complete theoretical
diagram of a receiving set which was for
some time an accepted pattern. All
switches, &c., are omitted for the sake of
simplicity.

The oscillations were received on a tuned aerial (loop) which was
loosely coupled to a tuned oscillation circuit shunted by the grid-
filament path of the first valve of a 3-valve high frequency amplifier.

*Abstract of a Paper read before the Wireless Section of the Institution
of Electrical Engineers.

The high frequency amplifier had an amplification factor of about
7nO on three valves and was extremely stable. With a 3 per cent,
variition of wave length the signal strength was reduced to 30 per
cent, of the maximum.

The final anode circuit of the high frefiuency amplifier wa« coupled
to the grid circuit of a Turner valve relay+ which was provided
with a special means of high speed quenching. In ordf-r to preaerve
a correct spacing of Morse signal ?« it was
neces-sary to quench or re-set the relay aljout
four times per dot, and practical <•'•■"'''-
has shown that to receive 200 words ;
the quenching rate should be at lea- , -

second — a rate obviously too great for the
mechanical movement and highly inductive
winding of the Post Office t\'pe relay which
had been used for quenching the original
Turner valve relay. Various methods of high
speed mechanical make and break were Xn&L,
but finally additional valves were employed
to give an intermittent high voltage supply to
the anode of the valve relay in the manner
indicated in Fig. 2.

The Singing Valve.

A valve, called the "singing valve m tv^.2,
was caused to oscillate at a frequency between
1 000 and 3 000 periods per second, and its
grid was connected through a large resistance to
the grid of a second valve labelled " control
valve." The filaments of these two vah'es are
connected together with the result that the
grid of the control valve is made altermtely
positive and negative, and, as the anode filament
path of this valve is part of the anode circuit

of the valve relay, the latter is quenched at the frequency to

which the singing valve is adjusted.

Amplification.

The anode current of the valve relaj- is amplified by a single valve
direct-current amplifier which in turn operates a double-current valve
relay. By this means when a signal is being received a current of

+200V' -200V

Double -current
valve relay

Fig. 2.— Theorktical Diagr.\m of Recbiving Set.

40 mA passes, via the bottom valve, through one coil of the Post
Office relay and 10 niA through the other. When there is no signal
the conditions are reversed, and although the relay or recording
instrument is not actually supplied with double current, the effect

\ See The Elkctricivv, Vol. LXXXIIT.. p. 4.

6(5

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

is the same as that of a true double current of half the value.
With this arrangement the Post Olhce relay Wheatstonc receiver
can be made to operate at the fastest speed of the standard trans-
mitter.

Recent Modifications.

The apparatus described has been superseded by a tj-pe employing
a self-quenching relay which is set to one definite frequency, this
f lequencj^ being obtained whatever the wave-length of the incoming
signal by heterodyne. The need for adjustment of the whole set on
change of wave-length is thus avoided. Perfect signals have been
obtained at 3 000 words per minute -nith a chemical inker, for which
standard Wheatstone slip may be prepared by passing it through a
solution of potassium iodide. A complete remote control system
has been devised. By this means traffic may be dealt with at some
])oint other than the wireless station.

Conclusion.

The speed at which it is possible to work is at least as great as the
speed'at which the Wheatstone apparatus itself will work, and, with
a specially constructed transmitter and chemical inker, speeds over
1 000 words per minute have been recorded.

The greatest range over which the system has been operated at the
time of writing is 400 miles. Using 10 A (key held down) in the
transmitting aerial a very fair factor of safety was obtained at the
receiving station over this distance, so that it is reasonable to
suppose that much greater distances can be traversed as the power
is increased.

Possibly little is to be gained at present for general utility purposes
in pushing up the speed to more than about 100 words per minute.

Suggested Use of the System.

Manj^ uses for the system will occur to anyone knowing its
capabilities, but a few examples may be given.

(1) For the handling of telegraphic traffic to the Continent. A
system independent of submarine cables and land line maintenance
would ipso facio be more reliable.

(2) For replacing, in an important line, any sector liable to
interruption without reducing the speed of operation— since an ^
ordinary Post Office relay serves as the transmitter key (at high
speed) and the signal received also operates a similar relay.

(3) For Press work. Suppose, for example, a single transmitting
station situated at some point in Great Britain. To this station
would be sent by varioiis channels the news of the day. At this
station the news would be punched up and radiated at, say, 120
words per minute. At each important town in the kingdom
publishing a newspaper a receiver would be installed operating a
direct printing-telegraph machine. By this means, one single
transmission of news would result in the news being received in plain
English through the country simultaneously. The development of
this scheme is left to those concerned, but the possibilities are
immense.

The examples so far given are based on what has actually been
achieved. If it is permissible to assume that the power handled can
be increased, and consequently the range, a startling prospect is
opened up.

DISCUSSION.

Sir Chari.es Bright opened the discussion with a reference to the
"coming of age " of wireless telegraphy and the great practical
advance which had taken place since the question of an Imperial
Wireless Chain was first considered by the Government. The
speeds of working considered practicable by Col. Cusins were higher
than those for cables of normal dimensions. There was a great need
for the development of wireless for the distribution of news and the
fostering of trade throughout the Empire. He agreed with the
Prime Minister of Australia. It mattered not what particular
system be used so long as .something was done, and done quickly.

Mr. R. Carpenter emphasized the particular adaptability of
Creed apparatus to wireless telegraphy. The Creed high - speed
system was the only one employing the Morse code, and it was in
consequence much less fastidious than other systems ; it corrected
both Dad signals shape and sjjacing.

Mysteries.

Mr. F. G. CreeD; defined his position as that of a Mechanic : one
who produces machines. To Mm wireless and thr' valve were
mysteries. Electricity was easy to move, and he therefore l)elieved
in the valve for higli-si)ced work, but we must consider all our
resources. He had seen high-speed working with a selenium valve
in Norway in 1!)13. Last year Mr. Cox of the pacific Cable Board
had exhibited a selenhmi valve in which a magnification of TO 000
was obtained, the ap])aiatus having a period of 1/100 sec. He
could see a great shrinking in the effective size of the world, and a
probability that someone would seize control.

Mr. L. B. Turner considered that anyone with the triode to his
hand and his coat off could evolve the a])])aratuR which was described.

Atmospherics remained the dominant problem. At low speeds our
defence was tuning and a low decrement. At high speeds this
defence failed. In aural reception the operator disliked the ringing
effect produced by overmuch tuning ; the ear preferred a crisp signal.
This disadvantage did not apply to Col. Cusins' apparatus. Had
Col. Cusins made experiments at long wave lengths and noted
atmospheric interference ?

The Words per Minute Factor.

Mr. E. H. Shaughnessy enquired the reason for the stated
extreme selectivity of the Turner relay. To his knowledge Messrs,
Hinton and Gill had recorded high speed on the tape in 1918. He
questioned the limit of 90 words a minute assigned bj' Col. Cusins to
the dictaphone. In 1913 the Post Office invited tenders for
apparatus to record 100 words per min., and the Marconi Company
gave a vefy satisfactorj- demonstration for three days and nights at
that speed over £00 miles. The results were given in the " Post
Office Electrical Engineers' Journal " for July, 1914. The practical
results of some recent regular Post Office working were for a certain
six hour service, 40 messages per hour; for another, seven hour
service, 47 messages per hour, both at high speed; a twelve hour
service at hand speed of 21 messages per hour, and a ten hour duplex
high-si>eed service 109 messages per hour. If the Turner gear was not
used, what was ? What was meant by change in nature of signals ?
Were they cooled or heated or what ? Many of the general state-
ments at the beginning and end of the Paper were doubtfid. Work-
ing at 1 r,00 metres over 400 miles did not prove much. The
distribution of news was a more com.plicated problem than might
superficially^ appear.

A Remarkable Piece of Work.

Prof. G. W. Mar CHANT challenged Mr. L. B. Turner's state-
ment that any suitably-equipped person might have turned out
the apparatus described, and he thought it represented a very
creditable piece of work. He considered more traffic could be handled
by wireless than by land lines.

Capt. H. Round considered the Paper described a remarkable
piece of work — in fact, one solution of the old conundrum, " Given
nine valves, what can be done with them ? " What were the
relative values of plain rectification and trigger action ? Mr.
Turner seemed to confuse filter and resonance circuits. The Turner
relay was a single resonance device; he preferred a filter circuit,
i.e., several series resonance circuits in cascade. He preferred to
submit his further remarks in writing.

Mr. J. Scott-Taggart enquired whether experiments had actually
been carried out in bridging long distances by relays, and if so what
was the effect of the outgoing signals upon those being received ?
What advantage had the Turner relay over amplification and
rectification ? A number of circuits were described, and Col. Cusins
was asked to say whether they had been tried.

The hour being then 7.5.5, the Ch.urman (Prof. G. W. O. Howe) did
not add to the discussion, and Col. Cusins aimoimced that he would
reply in writing to the various points which had been raised.

Coil Ignition for Motor Cars.*

This book is described as "a manual for the motor mechanic,
owner-driver, and all interested in coil ignition systems." The
author also says that it " may be correctly termed a course of
electricity for the average chauffeur," but we cannot subscribe
to that description, though we have no doubt that he makes
many mental reservations in his interpi-etation of the phrase,
" A course of electricity."

The author is convinced that coil ignition will, before
long, be universally adopted in the United Kingdom, on the
ground of its greater reliability, smaller first cost, and lesser
running cos'ts when compared with magneto ignition. He
regards the magneto as a superfluous piece of machinery if it
be conceded that the cat- carries a set of accumulators for car
lighting. It is not our function here to agree or to disagree
with this view.

There are chapters on the manufacture of an ignition coil,
on the general details of the ignition system, and on coil ignition
systems in use — this last filling nearly half the book and being
quite up to date. Accumulators are dismissed briefly in eight
pages. We wonder why.

We consider that the price of the book is much too high
and quite disproportionate to that of the same publishers'
" Technical Primer " series. The author naively remarks that
" the price of the book will be lepaid a dozen-fold through
fewer repair bills," and is of the opinion that " every owner
of a motor-car should obtain a copy of this work and give it to
his chauffeur, who is sure to apjireciate i*^." Criticism is
disarmed.

■" Coil, loNnioN ior .Motor Cars. By ('. Sylvester. A.M.I.E.E.,
AJM.I.Mcch.E. (London: Sir Isaac Pitman \- Sons, Ltd.)
Pp. xi.-f228 10s. rd. net.

The Electrician — January 20, 1922

Electrical Transmission at 1 000 000 V.

A sliort time ago we noted the successful conclusion of some
te-sts which had been carried out at the Pittsfield Worics of the
American General Klk( tkic Comi'any, with pressures rising up to
1 (XK) 00<) \, with a view to confirming by
actual experiments the applicability of the
law which had been previously established
for lower voltages. Owing to the courtesy of
the British Thomson-Hocston Company we
are able to give some further details of
these tests.

Previous tests made up to 250 kV and
experiments with needle and sphere gaps, as
well as with line insulators at nearly double
this voltage, had established spark-over
curves which predicted the corona and
.spark-over characteristics at 1 000 000 V, but,
with the present theoretical and probable
future practical interest in view, it was
decided to obtain actual data from ex-
periments.

As is well known, commercial apparatus
lias already been built for 220 kV opera-
tion, but, for possible future developments,
although no deviation from the established
laws was expected, no actual data could be
established without further experiments.

The results of these tests were as follow : —

(a) The spark-over curve between points
sliowed no discontinuity. The spark-over at
I 000 kV was found to be about 105 in.

{It) The spark-over curve between 75 cm.
spheres showed no great deviation from
calculated values.

(c) Tests were made on strings of line
insulators apd the spark-over voltages were as
expected ; for instance, a string of eighteen
standard suspension insulators arced over at
about 900 kV, while a string of twenty-two
insulators did not arc over at more than 1 000 kV.

(rf) \'isual corona tests were made on 3', -in. diameter brass-tube lines
operating single-phase. The corona starting voltage (about t.OO kV)
checked with the calculated value.

There is one point which is psrrticularly srratifying in connection
with the production of this new limit of voltage, namely, a« haji been
the ca.se in previous advances, the transformer is the first part of the

Fig. 2.— Electric Current at 1000 000 V arcing across

A NEEDLE GAP 9 FT. WIDE IN THE EXPERIMENTAL TESTS.

Fig. 1. — High Voltage Engineering Laboratory at the Pittsfield Works of
The General Electric Company, where the transmission of euectbicitt

at 1000 000 V WAS RBCE.VTLY SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMeHSHBD. In THE FOBKGBOUND
IS SHOWN A TRANSFORMER DESIG.NED FOR 750 000 V.

equipment to be produced for a given voltage. Switching devices,
line transmission material protective devices, kc, have always be^n
later developments in the art of making a complete transmission
.system for a given voltage.

Our illustrations show the apparatus employed for making theee
interesting tests, and the appearance of the arc passing across the
9 ft. spark gap.

Spark-Over Conditions.

In commenting further upon these tests in a re<.ent is-sue of
the •• Electrical World," Mr. F. W. Peek, junior, points out that
the minimum spark-over \ oltages for a given conductor-separation
is between sharp points. Such points are likely to occur on trans-
mission line conductors, and this minimum separation is therefore
determined by the needle gap curve. This curve follows a straight
line, which is subject to considerable variations with humidity
and pressure, with the sparking distance between 9 kV and 10 k\
])er inch. The measured needle gap spark-over curve shown in
Fig. 3a has no discontinuity. It is simply an extension of the
approximatcly^traight line needle-gap curve of the lower voltairt>s
and the curves with both ends isolated and one end earthtnl are
practically coincident. A spark-over voltage curve for spheres
29-5 in. in diameter is given in Fig. 3b. No discontinuity was
observed in this curve either, but accurate mea.surements could
not be made up to I 000 000 \' when one sphere wa- '■ i

because the sphere was not large enough.

Corona Tests.

Visual corona tests were maile on parallel bn\ss tubt;. 1 ii...
Ij in., and 3.1 in. in diameter at various sjiacings. These test>
showed that the corona starting-jioints for very high voltages
studied can be calculateil from the laws established at lower
voltages, and that observed and calcidated values which are plottM
in Fi^. 3a agree very closely. The line spark-over cur\-e shown
in Fis:. 3c is also continuous.

Electric Stresses.

It is interesting to observe that at low voltages the stresses on
the line uait of a string of twenty-two insulators would l>e abojtt
20 per cent, of "the applied voltage. If this relation obtained for
1 000 000 V on a string "of twenty-two units, the stress on thejiue

CiS

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

unit wouia be 200 kV. Since a single unit arcs over at about
7") \s.\ the whole string would be expected to arc over as soon as
the voltage became 375 kW Such a string does not. however,

1000
.900

L800

;|600

ul
42 400

>300

—

Needle-

qap

= One side grounded
^Bofh sides insulcrkd

1100
1000

•;r9oo
"fsoo

300

30 40 50 fcO 70 80 so 100 110
Sparking Distance (Inches)

9H<*

<-'

.-^

75 cm. spheres

J<i

<«''■

^on"

A^yi^

'•"^'tt

^#-^

?.v;

¥-

Drawn curvt calculofacf
Points, measured values

100

Spacing (Cen+ime+ers)

■ 1100

—

'~~

tooo

900

^800

Suspension insulafors

S700

.>600

£500

,»400

5300
o

'^200

100

5:1000

^900

tij

«800

100

Brass tubes

4 6 8 10 12 M 16 18
Number of Units in Series

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Calcula+eol Visual Corona Point ( Kv. Effective)

Fig. 3. — Observations of Sparkover and Corona Vot/TAGes at I 000 000 V.

A. Needle-gap sparkover values; B. Spbere-gap spai-kover values; C. Suspension arcover values;

D. Eelation between calculated and measured corona points, using brass tubes.

arc over under 1 000 000 V, the reason being that it is automatically
graded by the corona.

Some Engineering Questions.

-While it is not at present important to speculate just when
1 000 000 Vj^will be used in practice, it is important to know how
to pre-determine the characteristics of high
voltage lines so as to be ready when economic
conditions demand these pressures. It is
also pertinent to consider the characteristics
of the parts of a transmission system affected
by the higher voltages, and, in the article we
have already mentioned, Mr. Peek deals with
the transformer, transmission conductor, and
the line jinsulator from these points of view.
It is mentioned that the design of the high
voltage transformer does not offer am' great
difficulty except at the bushing. On the other
hand, the size of conductor necessary for such
a line is interesting. At sea level and 20 ft.
spacing on a three-phase system it is found
that a conductor 5 in. in diameter is required
for a critical voltage of 1 000 000 V, and
while at this voltage the lines could be
arranged so that the corona loss is zero if the
voltage is increased 10 per cent, the loss
becomes 325 kW per mile, ?.e., the corona
loss increases very rapidly with a slight
percentage increase of the voltage above the
critical point. For this reason it may be
desirable to operate with large margins
between the critical and operating voltages
with the higher voltage lines. The same
applies when the critical voltage is lowered
owing to rain, and to ensure only a small
loss during the storm it might be necessary
to increase the diameter of the tube to 6 "5 in.
Estimating the capacity current and the kVA
per mile of a three-phase line with 6 "5 in.
conductors separated 20 ft. and energised
at 1 000 000 V, CO-cycles, Mr. Peek points
out that the current per mile of line is 4 "43 A,
the kVA per mile being 7 6;"0. Line insulator
design ofiers another difficult" problem,
but assuming that the insulator would be
15 to 20 ft. long, the 1 000 000 V line with
6 1 in. conductors could be spaced 20 ft.
apart, the minimum spacing being determined
by mechanical considerations. With long
lines in which one quarter, one half and full
wave length of the operating frequency are
approached, the line characteristics and the effect of capicity
current differ greatly from the conditions on shorter lines.

Mechanical and Electrical Effects of Large Currents on

High-Tension Syritchgear.*

By Dr. C. C. GARRARD.

The tests described in these notes were carried out by the New
York Edison Company and were recorded in a Paper j by Mr. Philip
Torchio.

In a recent conversation with Mr. Torchio it was suggested that
British engineers would appreciate the opportunity of seeing the

Oil Switch Tests.

The experiments with switches were made with currents of the
order of 100 000 A, 25 cj-cles, but at low pressures (about 200 V).
The object of the tests was not to determine the breaking capacity
of the switches, but to find out in what way the apparatus withstood

LI\

/z\lA

Fio. 1.— Brush which tends to

OUT OF CONTACT UNDER THE IN-
FLUENCE OF CURRENT.

Fig. 2. — Improved inverted brushes

"•HIGH tend to press ON TIGHTER.
DUE TO MAGNETIC FORCES SET UP BY
CURRENT

Fig. 3. — Finger contacts of oil

circuit BREAKERS ARRANGED TO

ATTRACT AND lACREASE CONTACT

PRESSURE.

films illustrating the experiments, and he has been good enough to
send them for exhibition.

* Intrwiuctory notes to a film illustrative of tlie mechanical and
electrical effects of large currents on higli-tension switchgcar shown at
the Institution of Electrical Engineers on .Jan. 12.

t "Journal of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers," l!)2l,
Vol. 40, p. 120.

the very large mechanical stresses set up by these very large currents.
In all the switch tests, the circuit-breakers were mechanically locked
in the closed position. The arcing seen in the films is duo to the
opening of the main and of the arcing contacts caused bj' the
mechanical force resulting from the high current. The justification
for such a test lies in the fact that the short-circuit current in actual
practice in a power station reaches its maximum value with great

January 20, 1922

The Electrician.

rapidity and before the operating mechanism has had time to open.
During the period before the automatic of)ening of an oil circuit-
breaker, at which time it is, in effect, locked in the closed position,
its mechanism must withstand the mechanical forces set uj) by the
current, which may, moreover, be greater than that corresponding to
its kVA breaking capacity. If, for example, the circuit-breaker be
chosen under the assumption that the short-circuit current falls off
to (i/iOths of its maximum value within V sec., the mechanical forces
set up before the breaker operates will be those due to a current
(iO per cent, greater than that corresponding to the kV A rating of the
circuit-breaker.

It must not be assumed from the film that the switches which
apparently fail were in all cases inadequate to withstand a test
equal to their rating. The numerical figures of the tests must be
studied in order to arrive at a conclusion in this respect, as in some
cases the testing currents were increased above those corresponding
to the breaking capacity rating in order to compare different types
of construction.

Influence of the Shape of the Electric Circuit.

It was found that practically all the circuit-breakers tested
had brush contacts arranged as in Fig. 1, so that when the current
flowed the resultant mechanical force acted in a direction opposed
to the brush pressure, thus tending to open the contacts and cause
them to burn and weld together. This can be understood by refer-
ence to the principle that a closed electric circuit always tends to
open out and enclose the maximum area.

As a result of the experiments an improved arrangement of the
brushes was introduced and is illustrated in Fig. 2, from which it
will be seen that the force set up by the current increases the brush
pressure. The film clearly shows the improvement that is effected.
Some of the best results, however, were obtained with finger contacts
as in Fig. 3 (a), from which it will be seen that in such contacts the

Potential
Transformer.

Protective
Resistance

LT. Cut-out
to Protect
Instruments.

Fig. 4 — Potential Transformer with Protective Resistance.
Suggested British Standard Arrangement for Heavy Systems.

current flows through each finger in the same direction. The
fingers, therefore, attract each other under the influence of the
current and thus the contact pressure is increased. ' Fig. 3 (6)
has been introduced to illustrate a construction whereby this
attracting force may be increased by bringing the fingers very
near together.

Tests on Current Transformers.

The results clearly show the large forces to which current trans-
formers are subjected on short-circuit. In one test the transformer
was destroyed in i sec. at 92 000 A (R.M.S.). •

Mr. Torchio's conclusion is that only the single-turn primary type
is suitable for large systems. But it is not always possible to use
this type in feeder circuits.

Tests on Potential Transformer Fuses.

Tests on potential transformer fuses were carried out at the full
pressure of 6 600 and 13 000 V. The definite conclusion arrived
at was that no type of potential fuse on the market can satisfactorily
open the circuit without the addition of a resistance (see Fig. 4).
As an example it may be mentioned that a fibre- tube fuse having
a resistance of 79 O failed completely at 6 600 V, the current being
1 970 A (maximum). The addition of CO O external resistance
reduced the current to 25 A (maximum), when the fuse operated
without visible disturbance in 0*02 of a cycle.

Tests on Disconnecting Switches.

The need of locking devices and the desirability of avoiding
be lids in the leads to the switches was demonstrated, but when
the jc cannot be avoided the blade opening should be at right angles
to the main lead.

Qonclusion.

The original Paper shows the valuable information which can
be obtained by collaboration between manufacturers and supply
authorities. fSuch co-operation under the direction of the British
Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association \v\\\ doubtless
yield similar results in this countrj^

Some Views on Power-Station Auxiliaries.

It is a little doubtful whether at an ':■■*■'■■ ■■■• • '

emphasis on subject matter or on morr- :

there can be no doubt tliat, at the fir-.'. .:.;

I.K. E. >'orth-\V'e«tem Centre, the subject-mattc-r ;

subject of Pf^wKK-STATioN Ai.xn.iAiUKS would t.

justice to a meeting of the more conventional tyiM.* at whi

heavy artillery drowns with its thunder the efTort-s of the -■

calibres. As a beginning the meeting wa.s an awtonlshin:.' -m" > -- .

latt", doubtles-s, traces of stage management will be aKariw.r,. <l

wholly in favour of sjwntaneity without the slightest ri

I'ossibly even a little argument for its own sake will U- ;

and a speaker make an error in his arguments without hnwuz -.'lar

he has ruined his professional reputation in the ej-es of the

specialist.

Methods of Driving Auxiliaries.

Mf. H. C. Lamb, in opening the di.scus.sion, wa.s fortunate in
being able to reveal some of the details of the new Barton
Station at Manchester. He pointed out that increase in size
of units had greatly increased the importance of auxiliary- plant,
which must at all costs be ma»le safe. Failure of conden.ser pumjjs,
and, with modem boilers, failure of the feed pumps soon caused
didiculty. Three methods of driving auxiliaries were in common
use : by steam, by electric drive from a separate and independently
driven generator, dnd by electric drive through tranjrfoi '

the high-tension system, all of which were used in '
The direct steam drive was safe and simple, and indepena>n /i ui'.-
other parts of the plant, but it was more costly to maintain than the
electric drive and more skilled supervision was required- It was
uneconomical to heat feed water with high pressure steam. The
electric drive was not only more economical, but more convenient
to lay out. The method of using transformers from the main bus-lmre
Avas the more efficient of the two electrical methods, but the plant
had to start non-condensing unless power from outside was ava
Also, if a short circuit occurred in or near the station It inva
happened that the a.c. motors would pull out and shut down,
demanding attention at a time when the staff was most needed
elsewhere.

The New Barton Station.*

The auxiliaries at Barton were all electrically driven, and. to
ensure safetj% separate and independent supplies were avaUable
both from the low tension turbo -alternators and from transformers.
The main plant was divided into three sections, and for each section
there was a house-service turbo-alternator generating at 420 \'
with the turbine exhausting into the boiler feed, and a house-service
transformer giving 33 000 420 V. The alternators and trans-
formers would not be paralleled. The works power switchboard was
in three sections with duplicate bus-bars throughout, a selector
switch enabling either supply to be used and the load distribution
arranged to give any desired feed-water temperature. Each of
the main condensing plants had duplicate sets of pumps, these
being driven from the two soiu'ces of supply. ihe auxiliarA"
motors were divided between the two supplies, so that failure of
either source of supply vould not seriously affect the main plant,
and a failure of power from one source could quickly be made goo<l
from another.

Mr. Lamb showed a number of slides illustrating the auxiliary
plant at Barton, and gave figui-es showing the relative economy of
the all-transformer supph', the mixed transformer and low-tension
alternator supply and the steam drive.

The Heat Balance of the Station.

Mr. J. CoLLiNGE referred to the new power station which Salford
contemplated at Agecroft, and said that electrically Manchester
and Salford were excellent friends. He thought the boiler feed
and condensing auxiliaries needed especial care, the important
features being simplicity of design and re.iability of oi>eration.
They should also complete as far as possible the overall heat balance of
the whole power-station. In design, amazing progress liad been made
in recent years. There was a tendency to organise a power station
staff to specialise in the operation, maintenance and repair of the
vai-ious parts of the plant. The choice of steam or electric drive
should be governed by the consideration of heat balance.
Theoretically, the electric'drive from the main sets was most ethcient.
If wiih this was combined feed water heating by bleeding 'the stc .;
from a stage at the exhaust end of the tmbine, it was {H>ssible to < >
a very liigh eflieiency in heat balance. Bleeding the turbine ^....:.
slightly affected the steam consumption of the unit, but there was a
gain in heat efficiency by recovering the latent heat of steam which
would oth^wise be largely dissipated in the circulating water.

* For some further details of the Bart>m Station, see p. 70 of this
issue.

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

This ideal arrangement had one objection : the difficulty of starting
up in the case of a complete shut-down.

Exclusive Types of Drive Undesirable.

]\Ieans should be available for pumping water into boilers in the
case of a complete shut-dowTi, to minimise the rise in pressure and
to reduce the steam blo^vn off. On the other hand, auxiliaries
exclusivel^y driven by steam would waste heat, as all the exhaust
heat could not be absorbedMn the boiler feed, and even if it could it
would not be economical from the point of view of heat balance.
There Mas, therefore, a mean position between the steam driven and
electrically driven auxiliaries, desirable both from the point of view
of heat balance and reliability. The engineer must then determine the
economic heat balance of his system and arrange auxiliary plant in
accordance with the particular installation.

]\Ir. W. DuNDAS said that the points to be considered in deciding
the drive for auxiliary plant were economy, cost of maintenance,
reliability and operation. The steam drive was undoubtedly the
most reliable, but reliability was obtained at the expense of economy
and cost of maintenance. With the tendency towards increased
steam pressures the steam drive became more undesirable and
difficult. The electrical di-ive interposed many links between the
source of power and the point of application, each of which was a
source o ' weakness.

A.C. Versus D.C.

Condenser auxiliaries should be in duplicate, each set capable of
taking 75 per cent, load and the electrical supply taken from two
independent soiirces, so that a.c. was preferable to d.c. The only
advantage offered by the latter was speed control, and, though
especially useful in stoker and fan drives, that, in view of its other
disadvantages, did not justify its adoption. Electrically-driven
feed-pumps were not favoured, and d.c. should .be used for station
lighting and for operating switchgear, where reliability of supjily
w? s of utmost importance and could be guaranteed by the use of
batteries.

Mr. A. L. LuNN gave some details of the amount of power
absorbed in auxiliaries at the Stuart Street Station. There were
over 200 motors, varying in size from rgth b.h.p. to 550 b.h.p.
For continuity of supply the majority of power station engineers
leaned towards steam auxiliaries as being the most reliable, although
the only time he remembered the supply being affected by the failure
of an auxiliary it happened to be a steam auxiliary that failed.
Motor auxiliaries were certainly much more efficient than steam
auxiliaries, and were quite reliable when proper attention was given
them. A.C. was preferable to d.c. where machines had to run
continuously for several weeks.

Switchgear for Auxiliaries.

Mr. W. A. CoATES said that the arrangement referred to by
Mr. Lunn should never be adopted except for quite small currents.
The total capacity of house sets was now such that switchgear for
them demanded as much consideration as power station switchgear
a few years ago. The oil switches for station service transformers
should be of the same breaking capacity as those for all other
circuits supplied from the main bus-bars. Selective relays should be
used to permit of smaller motor switches being employed. Where
the auxiliary transformers were supplied from main generator leads
a separate oil switch was not necessary, since biased balanced, current
protection could be employed so as to cause the generator oil switch
to open in the event of trouble in the corresponding transformer.
Two motors on the same shaft were sometimes \ised for the more
imi)ortant pumps. In this case one was commonly d.c, and since
a battery was needed for switch operation this could well be employed
for driving such auxiliary motors in addition.

Mr. J. S. HiGHFiELD referred particularly to feed pumps and
lighting supply. Part of the latter should be on the battery. A
shut down was less dangerous for circulating pumps than for feed
pumps. Steam sets were most reliable, but the amount of steam to
be dealt with in the all steam drive became too great. Feed pumps,
however, should be steam-driven where possible. For circulating
jjumps the. Barton method was best. He did not like stand-by
plant that was not kejit running.

Analysis of Conditions.

Mr. H. MiDGLEY siiggested that the problem should be set out
systematically, considering types of auxiliaries and station conditions ;
alternative methods of supply ; and the application of these methods
to the particular station conditions and types of auxiliaries available.
Auxiliaries were of two types— those whose momentary stoppage
• would cause a shut-down of the main sets, and those the shut-down
of which would not cause serious inconvenience. The station con-
ditions included starting the first set, and starting later sets; running
undei no load, full load and sudden peak load ; and the shutting down
of any section. The alternative arrangements had to be considered
from point of view of capital and running costs, efficiency, staff
required, simplicity, reliability and heat balance. Leakage in steam

pipes necessitated more feed for make - up. In a station with
electrical auxiliaries 3 per cent, was required, but 6 per cent, was
necessary in a station using direct steam drive. The cumulative
effect on the power supply of steam demands made by auxiliaries
might be serious in an underboUered station.

Notes on the Barton Station, Manchester.

Mr. S. L. Peabce, chief engineer and manager of the Manchester
Corporation Electricity Department, gave some interesting details
at a recent meeting of the Junior Institution of Engineers at
Manchester concerning the new power station which is being
bunt by the Manchester Coi-poration at Barton. The Corporation
Electricity Department now operates over an area of 4S acres and
serves a population of about 900 000 people, in addition to suppl\-ing
Ih bulk to several neighbourhig authorities. The statutory powers
to acquire the Barton site and build the station were acquired in
1914, but war exigencies caused all extensions to be made at the
Stuart Street station, where some of the plant originally intended for
Barton is installed.

The Barton site is 15 acres in extent, and is close to the Ship
Canal. Coal may be brought by the Bridgewater Canal, while the
West Lancashire coalfield is only four miles away. The railways in
the neighbourhood of Trafford Park afford through communication
to all parts of the country. The space available permits plant of
123 000 kW capacity to be put in, and at the present time operations
are going forward for the installation of plant for 75 000 to 80 000 kW.
The turbine room has an area of 240 ft. by 65 ft., the switch room
210 ft. by 41 ft. and the boiler house 312 ft by 85 ft.

Boiler Plant.

Boreholes showed that 1 1 million gallons oi water can be obtained
per day and the coal storage capacity is over six weeks' supplj',
25 000 tons. The service bunkers hold 3 000 tons, sixty- two hours'
supply. Ten boilers are provided for three turbine sets, each boiler
having a heating surface of about thi'ee quarters of an acre. Air
heaters are fitted, and two types of fuel, low grade slack and coke,
could be burnt. Each unit evaporates 100 000 to 120 000 lb. per
hour. The boilers are novel in design and are more efficient than
ordinary types. The grate area is 512 sq. ft. The steam conditions
at the boiler are 375 lb. per sq. in. pressure and 295 °F. superheat.
The feed temperature at the economisers is 200°F.

Turbo- Alternators.

There are three main units each of 27 500 kW maximum continuous
rating, the economical load being 25 000 kW, and these units mark
notable progress in steam turbine design. The vacuum allowed for
is 29 '1 in. The alternator and step up transformer form one unit
the transformer ratio being 6 600/33 000 V, all switching being
done on the h.t. side. The generator and transformer are protected
as one unit by balanced current system. The condenser surface is
40 000 sq. ft., cooling water required being 2 280 000 gallons per
hour. Two circulating pumps per condenser deal with 20 000
gallons per minute, the motor being 320 h.p.*

Distribution.

For each generator there are two three-phase transformers, each
of 19 500 kVA capacity weighing 55 '5 tons. These are on the
ground fioor, the next fioor containing the busbars and the top Uoor
the oil switches. Seven feeders will ultimately lead into the
existing network, protected \)y the Merz-Beard system.

The estimated cost of the station in 1914 was £11 per kW, but
the cost when installed is expected to be £29 per k\\\

International Telegraphy and Commerce.

Mr. John Lee, Controller of the Central Telegraph Office, London,
and formerly of Liverpool, was the guest of the Liverpool Rotary
Club at luncheon at the Compton Hotel on Thursday, Jan. 12, and
spoke on the subject of " International Telegraphy and Com-
merce." Mr. James Blackledge (president) presided. Confinine him-
self to the portion of international telegraphic communication
performed by Government enterprise. Mr. Lee mentioned that the
Post Office had now direct wires from London to twenty-nine
different cities on the Continent of Em'ope, and nearly a million
messages passed from this country to the outside world each month.
He referred to the line which was laid during the war from the North
of Scotland to the Murman coast of Russia. Speaking of the
machin&s employed, Mr. Lee said that Liverpool was the only pro-
vincial city which up to the present had shown sufficient direct,
intimate commercial relationship with particularised Continental
cities to justify a wire. Their engineers had recently been working
at this problem, and they had now succeeded in " splitting " a wire
with such ingeiiuity that they were able, by means of this one wire,
to serve two cities' in England (London and Liverpool) and two in
France (Paris and Lyons). The machines operatin;^ this wire were
worked, not by the INIorse system, but by modern printing telegraph
itistrmnents.

* For details of Barton auxiliaries see the discussion on " Power
Station Auxiliaries " on ]). 69.

The Electrician — January 20, 1922

Annual Exhibition of the Physical Society of London

and the Optical Society.

{Continued from page 45 )

The Cambridge & Paul Instrument Company. .

The Cambridge & Paul Instrument Company, as usual, pro-
vided a most interesting display of instruments. These embodied
apparatus appealing both to the station engineer and the pure
physicist. As an example of the former, we may mention a remote
power indicator which has been patented by Mr. E. Fawsett,
Chief of the Research Department of the Newcastle-on-Tyne
Electric Supply Company. This gives a local indication of a.c.
power at a distant station which may be several miles away.

For single-phase measurements the apparatus consists of a sen-
sitive Cambridge unipivot indicator, a non-inductive resistance
R (Fig. 9) of suitable value, two current transformers C, and two
sets of thermo-junctions J fitted with separate heaters H. A
potential transformer must be added in the case of high tension cir-
cuits. Connections are made so that the E.M.F.'s of the junctions
are in opposition. The heaters are adjusted so that with equal cur-
rents through them equal opposing E.M.F.'s are generated by the
junctions. The current transformers, which are of equal ratios
and similar characteristics, are comiected one to each heater. It
Avill be noted that these transformers operate separately from each
other. The heaters are joined in series and are also in series with
the non-inductive resistance. This series circuit which is in shunt
to the mains corresponds to the ordinary moving coil circuit of a
wattmeter, the current transformer unit corresponding to the
fixed coils. It will be noticed that if the load current is in phase
Avith the pressure, the instantaneous superimposed currents in
one heater are additive and in the other are in opposition, so that
the former heater will be at a higher temperature than the other.

Xow, if both heaters are at the same temperature, there will
be no difference in E.M.F. between the thermo-couples and con-
sequently no deflection on the indicator. If, therefore, the heaters
are warmed, by equal currents from the current transformers,
or the same current through the non-inductive resistance, there
will be no deflection in either case. If, however, the heaters are
warmed by currents from the two sources simultaneously, there
Avill (except at a power factor =0) be a difference in the tempera -

Instantaneous Flow

of Currents shonn

bi^ arrows :-

Potential » — *-

Load »-

Cable up to
30 Miles In
length,

Indicator
Fig. 9. — Diagram of Fawsett's Remote Power Indicator.

ture of the heaters. Therefore, the E.M.F. from one thermo-
couple will be larger than that from the other, and a deflection
will be obtained on the indicator.

It ma,y be proved that the deflections of the indicator are strictly
proportional to the watts in the circuit, i.e., the instrument is a
true wattmeter. By the provision of a condenser in the potential
circuit instead of the non-inductive resistance, the apparatus is
available as a wattless power indicator. The arrangements are
also easily adaptable to polyphase circuits.^

We understand that the apparatus has been in efficient use for
some time in connection with two stations nine miles apart. It
should have a wide application for the measurement of pow<.T ;it
a dLs.,ance.

Apthorpe's Temperature Regulator.

Apthorpe's tempcrHturo regulator, which was also shown, is of
a novel type. It consists of a miihvoltmeter calibrated in dejfii< -.
Xear the end of the pointer is attached a light thermo-coupio wlii' h

String Electrometkb,

is comiected to a moving coil relay. A small platinum spiral,
which is heated electrically, can be placed at any desired position
on the scale in front of the galvanometer, but so that it does not
interfere -with the free movement of the pointer. To control the
temperature of a furnace, a thermo-couple is placed in it and is
connected to the millivoltmeter. The heated spiral is then set
at the desired temperature. As the temperature rises the pointer
deflects until it comes opposite the heated spiral. The thermo-
couple on the pointer then generates current and operates the
relay, which, in its turn, closes an electric circuit controlling the
gas supply. The pointer is prevented fiom swinging past the heater
by a stop. The device can be used to control temperatures from
the lowest that can be measured hy a resistance thermometer to
the highest that would be measuved by a radiation p^Tometer.
The instrument was sho^oi controlling a small electrically-heated
furnace at about 700°C. ± 5°C. Other uses, such as the opera-
tion of alarms, are obvious, and it appears to us that the device
should find a wide application, not merely on account of its con-
venience but o\ving to its accuracy.

String Electrometer.

As is well known, the string electrometer origin;Uly suggested
b}^ Prof. Einthoven is an instrument in which the moving system
is a silvered quartz fibre tightly stretched between, and parallel to,
two fixed metal plates. The special xeature of the model shown is
its compactness and the ease with which it can be assembled with
any other apparatus. In particular, being flat, it may be used on
a microscope stage without further fittings. The general character
of the electrometer is seen in Fig. 10.

The instrument consists of a silvered quartz fibre, each end of
which is carried by a flag, which is anchored to an amber block
by means of a brass clip. One flag is held in a slot in each clip
by a screw. This enables the interchange of fibres to be done very
simply, as fibres can be supplied ready mounted on flags, and can
be transferred by means of a fibre manipulator. The upper amber
block is held in a fixed position, while the louver amber block is
carried on a rocking arm controlled by a micrometer screw at the
right side of the flat case. The ends of the fibre are mounted on
an invar steel rod, so that variations of temperature have only a
small effect on the tension of the quartz fibre. The position of
the plates in relation to the fibre may be altered in a lateral direction
to obtain electrical symmetry. Observation of the fibre is made
through a microscope, with a finely adjustable forward and lateral
movement.

The instrument is extremely rapid -in action, the free period
being small. If desired, it can be employed as an oscillograph
electrometer. It is sensitive, ^vith a very small capacity (a few

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

—

^' 7

cm. only), and the sensitiveness can readily be varied. The sensi-
tivity and period vary, of course, with the tension on the fibre and
the potential difference on the plates, but it may be mentioned
thnt in one typical instrument for standard optical work,
21 divisions for 1 V were obtained with 87 V on the plates, this
corresponding to a movement of the fibre of about 0*16 mm. for
I T. For this sensitiveness the period was about 0*1 sec. The
motion for practically all workable tensions is aperiodic.

Salomonson String Galvanometer.

A simple and less costly form of Salomonson's string galvan-
ometer with two copper fibres 12 /* in diameter, was shown. The

resistance of either string is
11 O, and the magnification
is about 40 at a working
distance of 80 cms. A flux
of 12 8i)0 is obtained with a
current of 5 A. Being a
double string instrument it
is capable of giving two
simultaneous records on the
same plate. Thp mechanism
can be removed quite easily
so as to give ready access to
the fibres. It is a compact
instrument, as will be seen
from Fig. 11.

Disappearing Filament
Pyrometer.

The disappearing filament
pyrometer designed by Dr.
Ezer Griffiths, of the
National Physical Labora-
tory, is a self-contained
instrument. It consists of
an electric lamp which is in
series with a small ammeter
and a rheostat. The leads
provided are connected to
a 2V accumulator. The
observer looks at the hot
body through the eye-piece
of the instrument and
adjusts the current through
the lamp by means of the rheostat until the tip of the filament
is of the same brightness as the hot body. The temperature
of the hot body is then read on the ammeter. The scale of
the instrument is calibrated direct in degrees of temperature, the
standard ranges being 700 to 1 400 °C. for single and double scale
instruments, and also 9)0 to 2 000 °C. for double scale instruments.
The eye-piece is provided with a rubber eye-guard to exclude
extraneous light, and is made adjustable so that it can be focussed ,
on to the lamp filament. The objective is also provided with an
adjustment so as to bring the hot body into the correct focus.
Immediately behind the eye-guard fixed to the eye-piece is a series
of 3 stops, one being a plain hole which is most suitable for viewing
the filament against the hot body at low temperatures. The
second stop is provided with a monochromatic glass which is more
useful when measuring temperatures at about 1000°C., the mono-
chromatic glass reducing the amount of glare. The third stop is
provided with an extra convex monochromatic lens suitable for
still higher temperatures. The introduction of these glasses into
the optical system does not affect the scale or accuracy of the instru-
ment, but is simply a convenience when watching the colour of the
two objects. The lamps in these pyrometers are never used at their
maximum brilliancy under actual conditions. They are specially
aged so that their brilliancy remains constant for very considerable
periods. We are informed that persons without any previous
experience can readily use this instrument and can obtain an
accuracy within 1 per cent, without difficulty. The convenience
of the instrum(>nt will be apparent from Fig. \2. v

The Cambridge & Paul Company exhibited many other interesting
instruments. Among these may be mentioned the beautiful
apparatus evolved by Mr. T. Shimizu for showing continuously
C. T. R. Wilson's experiment rendering evident the tracks of
a, P and X-rays. A moving coil galvanometer was shown,
designed by Dr. Moll, with an electromagnetic field — an idea
which was tried years ago by Ayrton, but was then discarded.
It is very quick in action and gives a deflection of 2 )0 mm. at
1 metre for 1 microampere. It is particularly suitable for use Avith
thermopiles. We noticed that the firm's CO recorder, which has
already been described in these columns, has been modified into a
portable form

Fig. 11. — New Model of Salomonson
String Galvanometee.

H. W. Sullivan.

Mr. H. W. Sullivan again exhibited an attractive collection of
wireless and similar apparatus. Perhaps his hot wire microphone
attracted the chief attention.

Hot Wire Resonator Microphone.

This microphone was originaUy designed for determining the
position or origin of a sound produced by the discharge of a gun
and was largely used in the war, forming the subject of a secret
patent. It has since, however, been applied to a number of other
purposes, particularly for the detection and measurements of sounds
emanating from sources other than gun fire. The microphone con-
sists of an electrically-heated WoUaston wire, or grid, which is
mounted close to, and in front of, a small opening in a cylinder or
container, the latter being closed at the other end, the volume of
air in the container being variable by means of a plunger operated
by a micrometer screw. The fine wire, which is supported in a
suitable frame, is connected to terminals, and an electric current is
passed through it for the purpose of raising its temperature above
that of the surrounding air. In operation the temperature of the
wire is reduced by the cooling effect of the movement of air caused
by the sound to be deterAiined or recorded, and if the ends of the
wire are connected to a sensitive indicating galvanometer of the
imi-pivot tjrpe, a deflection of as much as 90 deg. is easfly observed.
This deflection, of course, depends upon the intensity of the par-
ticular soundwave which is affecting the microphone.

The variation in the electrical resistance can be used in many
ways. The greatest effect, however, is obtained by inserting the
microphone in the arms of a Wheatstone bridge, which utilises
to the best advantage any resistance variation in the microphone.
In conjunction with an Einthoven galvanometer, or other suitable
instrument, it can be used for recording the wave form of sounds
of low frequency — e.g., within the range of 25 to 1 000, or if
connected through a transformer and used in conjunction with a
valve magnifier, sounds can be rendered audible over great
distances.

High Frequency Apparatus.

Among the wireless apparatus shown by Mr. Sullivan we noticed
a bridge for the measurement of resistance, capacity and inductance
at radio frequencies of 10 000 to 500 000 cycles per second. The-
buzzer hitherto used for determinations of this kind is replaced by
a high frequency generator, and thus tests are carried out vmder
actual working conditions, which is a great advantage. The higher
of the two frequencies above mentioned is equivalent to a wave
length of 600 metres. The operation is simple, and a calibration

Fig. 12. — Disappearing Filament Pyrometer.

supplied with the oscillator enables inductance and capacity values
to be determined by simple calculations.

A fixed air condenser of O'OOl mfd. was shown, which had been
designed in conjunction with the National Physical Laboratory
and made on the lines of standard condensers supplied to the
Laboratory. The chief feature in the design is that quartz is usedjas
the only insulating material, so that the condenser (which is other-
wise all metal) is less liable to be affected by temperature than if
materials such as ebonite are used. Quartz was selected as its
dielectric losses are lower than those of any other material except
amber. The latter was used in a large condenser supplied to the
National Physical Laboratory, but owing to diHiculty in obtaining
this material it was superseded by quartz. By fitting metal caps
over all the insulators, the metal cover is made to form a perfect
earth, thus rendering the screening complete. We understand

:-\

January 20, 1922

The Electrician.

that the Laboratory recently tested condensers of this kind made
for a Government Department, and formed an exceptionally high
opinion of their value.

The Thermionic Valve as A.C. Generator.

The convenience of the thermionic valve as a generator of
alternating currents up to high frequencies is now well recognised,
but apparatus for this purpose has not been readily available.
Mr. Sullivan exhibited an instrument which appears to be very
suitable for laboratory work. For frequencies from 3 up to 400
periods per second the instrument consists of coupled circuits with
iron cores. The frequency is varied by means of a condenser, and a
chart is supplied showing the capacity necessary for various
frequencies. Two valves are used in parallel. The input is about

A D

Fig. 13. — End VrEW of Oscillogkaph.

12 watts and the output about 2 watts, which is quite sutificient for
supplying the necessary current for general testing purposes. A
further range of oscillators was shown for generating frequencies of
from 400 to 10 000, and from 10 000 to 500 000.

A convenient heterodyne wave-meter was also shown, suitable
for wave lengths from 150 to 20 000 metres.

The Cox-Cavendish Electrical Company, Ltd.

An interesting electiostatic oscillograph, due to Prof. Taylor
Jones, was exhibited by the Cox-Cavekdish Electrioai. Company.
This oscillograph, which is very simple in construction, was
used by Prof. Jones in his work on induction coils, some of which
was published in our columns. Figs. 13 and 14, which are diagram-
matic, show the construction that has been adopted. A strip
A of phosphor bronze or steel, 1 "75 cms. long, is stretched between
substantial ebonite jaws, the tension being adjustable by means
of a nut and sliding screw. A mirror B of elongated form is attached
at one end to the centre of the strip, while the other end rests on an
adjustable ebonite pillar C which forms a fulcrum so that the mirror
rocks through a small angle in response to any movement of the
strip. The movement is immersed in oil, the liquid serving for
both insulating and damping purposes. Opposite to the centre
of the strip when in position in the container is an attracting plate
E embedded in an ebonite rod F which passes thi'ough the container
wall, while on the side of the strip remote from this is a small plate
of metal D in electrical connexion with the strip and therefore
repelling it. The potential to be measured is put between E and

Side View of Oscillograph.

the filament. A window G in the container allows a beam of
reflected light for observation or recording. For different ranges of
potential, different containers fitted vsdth attracting plates at
different distances and shielded by different thicknesses of ebonite
are used, the movement being the same in each case. The instru-
ment as described can be used for frequencies up to 1 500 ; above this
a special form, having a strip only 3 mm. long, is used. The

deflections are, of course, proportional to the square of the potentials^

It will be seen that this oscillograph differs from other tyyjca so far
used in that the deflection does not reverse with a reversal of polaritv,
and consequently it cannot be used for tracing alternating potentials.

Gold Leaf Electroscope.

The design of the gold leaf electroscope shown iB due to Dr. E. A,
(J wen, and the chief feature is the method adopted to prevent
leakage;. The gold leaf A (Fig. l.^i) is attached to a rod B .screwed
into an insulator D of ebonite ringed with .sulphur. The charging
rod F is capped with ebonite and Is held up in its top position by
a spiral spring. A loose flange E on its lower end, which ifl
maintained in its position by a weak spring, makes contact when
the rod is depressed with a flange C on the rod holding the gold
leaf ; thus the instrument cannot be injured by pressing down the
charging-rod too hard. The most important point to arrange for
in an electroscope is the insulation of the leaf system. Ebonite is
a poor insulator as regards surface leakage and deteriorates rapidly
with exposure to a damp atmosphere. The best material to employ
as insulator would be sulphur or amber ; the former is ruled out in
this case on account of its weakness mechanically, whilst the latter
is at present difficult to obtain and suffers from the same defect as
sulphur, though not to the same degree, in that it is not mechanicaUy
strong. The Insulating properties of ebonite can be greatly
improved by the old method of letting sulphur rings into it. This
method is used in the present case and is found satisfactory-. The

Fig. 15. — Gold Le.\f Electroscope.

cylinder is immediately mounted, kept in the dark and guarded
against the deposition of dust. The gold leaf is about 4"o cms.
long ; the end of the leaf falls through about 0*11 mm. in one hour
after the electroscope is charged at 280 \, while a change of
potential of IV on the leaf moves it through 0'">1 mm. The amount
of soakage in the etonite insulation is small, and reliable readings may
be taken with the instrument in about five or ten minutes after the
leaf is initially charged. The sensitivity of the instrument is
constant over the whole scale of the microscope, so that readings
may be taken indiscriminately over anj- part ^f the scale. For
y ray measuiements the whole of the electroscope is covered with
lead about 0*2 ) in. thick ; for X-Ra\- measurements, the two lead -end
faces H are removed and the rays pass into and out of the instru-
ment through alunnnium windows K of suitable thickness.
( (> be coni'hidid.^

German Reparations in Kind.

Wo are glad to see that the attack on the idea of the Germans
paying for their rep.\r.\tion's in electric.\t. machikeby is not
weakening. A very trenchantly-worded letter hag been addressed to
the Prime Minister by the British Engineers' Association oir'thie
subject, and a copy of the letter has been forwarded to the
Federation of British Industries, with a protest at the failure of
the Federation to take effective precautions to ensure that Prese
publicitv should not be given to the personal views expounded by
Sir Peter Rylands on a subject of grave importance to the
engineering industry.

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

An Electrical Cinematograph Demonstration.

As already announced in The^ Electrician, the proceedings
at the meeting of tlie Institution of Electrical Enginkers on
Thm-sday of last week were of an unusual kind. Temporarily, the
lecture theatre was turned into a picture palace, and the influence
of the new departure was to be seen in the display of exit notices
of the type familiar in theatres over the doors and by the provision
of a very inadequate emergency lighting, whose effect, if not whose
function, was to make darkness visible. The hide-boundedness of
bureaucracy, against which we all inveigh, could not have been
better displayed than in this simple way.

As might have been expected, the fact that films were to be
shown attracted a large audience, who, with rather more reason
than usual, filled the back seats first, with such effect that before the
President entered standing room only could be obtained in quite
the best picture palace style. So much did the new atmosphere
affect those present that we heard tlie suggestion ventured that a
charge should have been made for admission and tlie proceeds
applied towards the reduction of members' subscriptions.

A Ten-Thousand Membership.

The President, in opening the meeting, announced that the
membership of the Institution exceeded 10 000. He also
mentioned that the meeting.on Feb. 2 would be followed by a dinner
at the Engineers' Club, open to any members of the Institution
who cared to attend. These functions, he added, were of an
extremely useful kind, and he hoped that in future they would
receive greater support than the one before Christmas had done.

]VIr. High field then called upon Dr. Garrard to make some
introductory remarks on the film illustrating " Investigations and
Tests on High-Tension Switchgear." These introductory remarks
are reproduced on another page of this issue.

When Dr. Garrard had concluded the exhibition of the film was
proceeded with and attracted a considerable amount of interest
and not a Little applause. Typical tests were the passing of a
current of 108 000 A through a circuit-breaker rated at 1 200 A
and 12.3 700 A through a breaker rated at 800 A. Similar tests of
current transformers and fuses were also exhibited. A specially
effective test was one conducted on a 4 000 A switch at a current
of 102 000 A. The preliminary flares and flashes were followed
by a regular Brock's benefit, and we were surprised to see anything
left of the equipment when it was, as customary, exhibited after tlie
test. As might be expected with an American film, the captions
were terse and to the point, while the very wise method was adopted
of showing each test twice, so that points missed during the first
exhibition could be picked up during the " repeat."

Technology Popularised.

At the conclusion of this film, Mr. F. Gill was called upon to
demonstrate two films entitled " The Audion " and " Telephone
Inventors of To-day " respectively. Mr. Gill began by pointing
out that the films, which were to be shoAvn were not of the same
high technical interest as those which Dr. Garrard had exhibited.
In electrical manufacture now-a-days there were a large number
of people engaged who had not much technical knowledge, but in
whose interest it was necessary that a certain amount of iniormation
on the appHction of the apparatus they were turning out should be
given. These films had been designed for this purpose, and we may
add that that purpose was admirably fulfilled. As films they were
very much better productions than that we have just described, and
the one illustrating the Audion particularly showed an amount of
imagination which reflects the highest credit on its authors or
filmers. Even theoretical engineers are not used to seeing current
flowing along a wire or electrons emitted from antennae or passing
from filament to grid. The film was received with a good deal of
laughter, but at the same time its instructional properties even
to a technical audience were quite evident.

Automatic Telephony Up-to-Date.

Our chief criticism of the film entitled " Telephone Inventors of
To-day " is that it is most inaptly named. It deals not with
personalities but with apparatus. Perhaps the most interesting
feature of it was the wireless assembly of a subscriber's ordinary
telephone set, in which the variety of washers, screws, and other
parts employed leapt into place in a most uijcanny way quite
worthy of Maskelyne and Cooke. The phenomena of the receiver,
which it is the lot of most of us to use every day, wiring itself,
should we say electronically, must be seen to be believed.

Trade with Morocco.

Mr. C. R. B. Atkinson, II. M. Commercial Secretary for Morocco,
i= at present in London, at the Department of Overseas Trade, 35,
Old Queen-street, S.W., 1, and will make appointments until Jan. 25
to interview firms who desire inforn.ation regarding trade with
Morocco. When writing. Reference No. 3 617 T.G. should be
quoted. Mr. Atkinson will also he pleased to receive catalogues.

Correspondence.

THE EXPONENTIAL VALUES AND EXPANSIONS IN POWERS
OF e OF SIN e AND COS e.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — With reference to Mr. Lucas's letter, giving a method of
arriving at the exjionential values and the expansions of sin $ and
cos 0, it is perhaps worthy of note that the expansions can "easily
be obtained without the use of complex quantities.

It can be proved by elementary geometry that

,^ (sin 6) = cos 6

-jT, (cos ^)=— Sin 6

Assume sin 6=A + B$ + GO- etc.

Qos e=a + be + ce- etc.
Differentiating each side of each equation

cos 6 = B + 2Cd + '6B6'- etc.

sin 0=—b—2ce—Sd6- etc.
By equating co-efficients of similar powers of 6 in corresponding
expressions for sin 0 and cos ^, and by putting ^=0.

A = —h = 0 and a = B = l

B=-2c b = 2C

C=—'Sdetc. c = SDetc.

From which are obtained by successive substitution

A=0,B = l,C = 0,B = -\^, E=[),etc.

a = 1, b = 0, c = — 5,f?

0, e =

giving finally the usual expansions for sin 6 and cos 6.

By putting jO for 0 in the expansion of sin 0, and adding the
series for cos 0, the exponential value of cos 6+j sin 6 is imme-
diately obtained. — Yours, etc. G'. W. Sttjbbings.

London, S.E.27. Jan. 16th.

"CHOKE CONTROL"— A QUESTION OF PRIORITY.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — My attention has recently been directed to British Patent
Specification No. 133 366 of June 28th, 1918, granted to the
Western Electric Company, in which is described the well-known
" choke control " method of modulation in radio-telephony. Various
authors have wTongly attributed this system to Heising. As a
proof thereof, suffice it to quote part of my French patent No. 21 855
of Nov. 30, 1916, in which this system is described in its most
elaborate form and such as it was used by the British and American
Signalling Corps during the war :

In certain wireless telephone diagrams the voltages obtained by the
action of the voice on the microphone are amplified by means of
thermionic tubes and then impressed on the high-frequency cathode
tube generator which energises the antenna. These voltages may be
impressed on either the grid or the plate circuit of the generator.

The object of the present invention is to realise an arrangement
whereby a part or the whole of a single source of direct current may be

4iir It

Fig. 1.

used to energise both the microphone current amplifying tubes a
generator tubes in accordance with the general idea of a common 1
put forth in the main patent.

Fig. 1 shows four tubes, 1, 2, 3, 4, the filaments of which are bi
to incandescence by battery 5, all the anodes being fed off a co
battery G.

Tubes 1 and 2 are used to amplify the microphone current ihe
microphone current originating in the circuit comprising the micro-

January 20, 1922

The Electrician.

])li()ne, H, and the battery, \), is eomniuiiifatod to tlie grid and iicuativc
j)ole of tile filament of tube I tliroui^li the transformer, 7. Trans-
former 10 j)ermit8 of this current undergoing a second stage of amjdifica-
tion through tube 2. The resulting amplified microphone voltages are
introduced inthe plate circuit of the parallel-connected high-fre<juency
generating tubes 3 and 4 through the transformer 11.

The high-frequency generator includes, in accordance with a known
diagram which is only shown by way of example, a jjrimary winding 1 2,
and auxiliary winding 1.'5 connected to the grids and filaments, and a
secondary winding 14 which feeds the antenna 15.

Instead of the high-frequency generator output going directly to the
antenna, the same may be used to energise the grid-filament circuit of a
tube system working as a high-frequency amplifier the output of which
is made to feed the antenna. It will be easily understood how the tubes
of this high-frequency amplifier may derive their energy from the same
source of current.

The secondary winding of the transformer 11 should preferably be
shunted by a small capacity in order to create a by-path for the high-
frequency current without appreciably impairing the low-frequency
working.

If the speech-amplifying tube filaments are heated to the same degree
as those of the generating tubes, the amplified microphone voltages
obtained at transformer 11 may be of the order of that of the battery 6,
and consequently it is easily seen that the anangement described
permits of the efficient working of the generating tubes 3 and 4, and
this even with a telatively small voltage from battery 6.

Transformer 1 1 may amount to an auto -transformer or a mere choice coil.
In view of the fact that a relatively imporUmt steady current flows through
its winding, it will be preferable to leave an air-gap in its magnetic circuit.
This feature applies equally well to transformer 7.

The elements of the battery 9 may economically be constituted by a
portion of either the battery 5 or 6.

Trusting the above may serve to dissipate a prevalent error, I
am, &c., Marius Latoue.

Paris, Jan. 9.

Electricity Supply Districts,

Th<; Kl«-(,liiciLy L'ommihiiionere (.Sir .J )

Mr. II. ]i(x,ih and Mr. W. W. Lacki.-

inquiry at Manchester on Tuesday. i u>- ■ c

echeme submitted for the r«-f>rganisatir/n of '

South-East Laxcashike District. It is t , .. _;i

Advisory B<^>ard of forty-eight membens, witii a' technical comiriittev
of engineera. The policy of the Board, which woald have no Wrr/w-
ing powers, would apparently be little more than an extensi/^m of
the principle of linking up the existing supply ondertakir.gB.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones, K.C, who aprx'ar*d for th<t pr'/moNf, ^ave
details of the scheme. He said the Yorkshire Electri' \'i,:':< : Com-
pany, which was interested in Saddleworth and Springh<;ad. arid the
Stalybridge, Hyde, Mfjssley and Dukinfield Joint Board oprK^ed,
but the Bredbury and Romiley Urban Council was the only auLnority
which had passed a hostile resolution. Salford and Stretford had
approved the establishment of the Advisory Board, but a/lded aome
pnrases pressing for the formation of a joint electricity authority,
while Oldham hafl approved the standard resolution, adding that
they thought it most unwise to embody such an authority. Counsel
said there was enough opposition to the idea of a joint authority u>
make its introduction fatal to the success of the scheme, which woald
be the means of shutting down all uneconomic stations. That could,
however, only be done with the goodwill and co-operation of the
undertakings in the district.

Aid. W. T. D.\GNALL, chairman of Manchester Electricity Com-
mittee, and Mr. S. L. Pearce, city electrical engineer, of Man-
chester, gave evidence in support of the scheme, and the inquiry was
adjourned.

West of Scotland District.

The map below shows the area of the West of Scotland
Electricity District which was receutly provisionally determined by
the Electricity Commissioners.

Reference.
Elect n'cky District Bouncfsrj m^^m^^
County Boundaries _»—.-»

Parish "

West of Scotland Electricity District.

The £lectrician.

January 20, 1922

Imported Lamp Bulbs.

Evidence concerning the manufacture of incandescent electric
lamp bulbs in this country was given by Mr. C. Wilson,, of the
Osram Lamp Works, on tlie 11th inst. before the committee which
has been appointed under Part II. of the Safeguarding of In-
dustries Act to enquire into a complaint as to the detrimental effect
upon the British industry of imported bulbs. The Committee has
been asked to report as to whether, or not, a tax of 33^ per cent,
should be imposed upon imported goods, and also to enquire whether
the industry is being carried on efficiently. The complaint has
been lodged" by the British Flint Glass Manufacturers' Association
and the British Flint Glass Makers' Society in respect >f
illuminating glassware as well as domestic and mounting glassware
from Germany and Czecho-Slovakia.

Mr. Chas. Wilson's Evidence.

Mr. Wilson said that he was a director of the General Electric
Company, and managing director of the Osram-G.E.C. Lamp
Works, the Lemington-on-Tyiie Gtass Works, and the Tyne Glass
Works (Gateshead), all of which were owned by the General Elec-
tric Company. When working full time, the Company's bulb re-
quiremente amounted to approximately thirty millions per annum.
Their requirements in pre-war times had been satisfied partly by
the output of their own works at Lemington and partly by the pur-
chase of foreign bulbs. Considerable quantities of bulbs were made
in this country before the war, but during the war, when foreigti
imports were no longer possible, other English glaes manufac-
turers took up the manufacture of bulbs, and large quantities were
made, the output rising in the aggregate to about one million per
week, the General Electric Company reaching over 600 000 per week.
As was natural, at first the quality of the English bulbs was poor,
but as the makers became more used to their new work the quality
had been steadily improving, and the licmington works now pro-
duced a bulb which compared well with any bulb in the world
The G.E.C. had invested over £300 000 in the glass business, and
it had always been their policy to maintain the English industry in
bulb-making in order to avoid complete dependence on foreign sup-
plies, and in the interests of the country Mr. Wilson considered it
was of vital importance that this policy should be encouraged. It
had always been possible to purchase foreign bulbs more cheaply
than English bulbs. Before the war the relative prices of similar
bulbs were: — English bulbs, 53s. per 1000; foreign bulbs delivered
London, 44s. per 1 000, less breakage allowance and export rebate,
making 36s. 6d. per 1 000. Since the war this discrepancy in price
had increased. The present price of German bulb No. 0362 was : —
At works, 46s. 6d. , plus 9s. lOd. freight, or 566. 4d. delivered, ;is
against a British total cost of manufacture of approximately 135s. ,
of which 63s. lid. (or 48 per cent.) was represented by labour, and
the /balance by fuel, materials and overhead charges. Similar
figures for bulb No. 564 were : — At works, 50s. 3d., plus 9s. lOd.
freight, or 60s. Id. delivered, against the British cost of approxi-
mately 140s., of which 65s. 7d. (48 per cent.) was represented by
labour.

Depression in Trade Due to Imports from Germany.

Mr. Wilson said the suggestion made by certain witnesses that
no bulbs had been imported from Germany or Czecho-Slovakia since
the war was absolutely untrue. He had been inundated with
quotations of all kind, and he had himself purchased from Germany
and Holland since June, 1921, upwards of two millions of bulbs.
At present the electric lamp trade was undoubtedly quiet, but it
was a matter of recent and temporary occurrence, and he could say
without hesitation that the fundamental cause of unemployment in
the bulb trade had been the very low price at which, owing to the
depreciation of the mark, it had been possible for the Germans to
put their bulbs on the English market. So far as bulbs were con-
cerned, Belgium could not compete with Germany. The quotations
which Mr. Wilson had obtained for Belgian bulbs showsd that they
were considerably more expensive. In his opinion, if relief were
given under the terms of the Safeguarding of Industries Act, H
would certainly tend to increase employn'ent among English bulb
blowers, a,nd the benefit of the duty would be increasingly felt as
foreigi; currencies recovered.

Statistics of British and Foreign Bulbs.

Replying to questions by members of the Committee, Mr. Wilson
said that considerable quantities of bulbs were made in this country
before the war outside his firm. His own firm made about 65 or
70 per cent, of its own requirements and imported the remainder,
but at present, owing to the decreased demand, his own glass works
were able to make all the bulbs which the Hammersmith lamp
works required. He had no exact figures of the ti>tal production in
this country. At the beginning of the war his u'lass works were
making 250 000 bulbs per week, aTid in the busievst time thev made
650 000 per week. The prices mentioned for the Knglish bulbs were
the usual prices here, the bulbs in his case being charged up to the
lamp works at the market price.

The Chairman (Sm Wm. Ashley) drew special attention to the
statement made by witness that since the war the British price had
increased 150 per cent, and the foreign bulb 50 per cent. Had
witness any doubt as to affirming that ?

Mr. Wilson said his figures proved that. The increase was due
to the greater cost of materials and labour. He held no brief for
British labour as regards glassblowers. He had given orders abroad
and could speiik of actual prices in respect of them. He had placed

an order in Germany for one million bulbs and a similar order in
Holland during the last six months. One of the reasons for giving
those orders was to bring home to the British workman the nature
of the foreign competition we had to meet. Another reason was the
coal strike, and a third was a desire to test the quality of the foreign
lamps. At present his works were working alternate weeks, so that
he was able to make all the lamps he required here. With regard
to glassblowers' wages, the pre-war rate was 9|d. an hour, but that
was pushed up to 4s. an hour during the war. That was what was
earned on piece work. Therefore, he held no brief for the work-
men, but he must say that they were now in a much better frame
of mind than they were a little while ago, because they saw the
danger of foreign competition. He did not altogether blame the
workman for the state of the industry here; the employers were also
to blame.

Equipment of British and German Works.

Many of the British works were not as up-to-date as they sboiTld
be, but that was due to the fact that those particular firms had not
the money to instal modern plant. His own firm had been better
situated in that respect than most of the others. He did not say
that a 33^ tax would be a very great help to the trade at the
moment to compete in price with the German bulbs, and it would be
of no assistance to them if they did not help themselves by putting
in modern furnaces and so on.

Answering Sir Thomas Allen (a member of the Committee), Mr.
Wilson said that before the war he had 240 employees, and now
there were 517 working alternate weeks. Just after the armistice
the number employed was 720. Whilst the number employed was
larger than in 1914, the works could employ more workpeople than
there actually were.

The Economics of Glass Works.

In reply to Sir John B.\rran, witness said they had always lost
money on their glass works, but as they were making for their own
consumption, they were not troubled so much as they would other-
wise have been. The policy had been to make this country lets
dependent upon foreign supplies and to increase the output. They
were feeling German competition before the war, but they had
enormously increased their output as between 1914 and now. That
was due to an increase of plant and an increase in the number o£
up-to-date furnaces. A man he had sent round the country to
secure orders for bulbs had come back with the report that every-
where he was met with German competition at prices which they
could not touch. The reason the Germans were able to turn out
bulbs cheaper than oui'selves was due in a large measui'e to the
greater technical knowledge of the German industry, and the German
workpeople were also better trained. He had his manager in
Germany at present studying the conditions there. The e(iuipmeiit
of German factories was in most cases better than the average British
works. Even so, if the exchange were normal he believed we could
compete. ^

The attention of Mr. Wilson was called to the fact that in a
letter from the German Embassy it was stated that the German
Government had made a regulation that all quotations for goods for
export were to be on the basis of the mark at 280 to the £.

Mr. Wilson replied that he had a quotation received a few days
ago, but there was no reference to such a regulation. It would be
a step in the right direction, however, to assist the British glass-
maker. The German price was 53s. 8d. per thousand and the Dut.ch
quotation 115s. l^d. per thousand for an inferior article. The Dutch
could not compete with the Germans.

Illuminating Glassware.

Mr. F. Watkinson, managing dii-ector of J. and W. B. Smith.
Ltd., Farringdon-road, said Australia and New Zealand placed large
orders for foreign glassware with English firms, and if a duty were
imposed those countries would buy direct and the goods would be
shipped from Antwerp or Hamburg.

Mr. D. LoEBL, chairman of Schindier & Company, said the majority
of the kind of goods his firm sold were not made in England before
the war, the small proportion made here being produced at exorbitant
prices. There was nothing to prevent an export house here from
buying mounts only in England and adding glass sent direct from
the factories abroad, thus evading the duty altogether. That would
increase neither the glass trade nere nor employment in the glass
factories, whereas shipping firms here would lose trade in conse-
quence.

When the evidence was concluded. Sir Arthur Colefax, K.C. .
summed up, and said in regard to illuminating glassware, the com-
mittee must be satisfied that the prices at which these articles were
being sold here to-day were the prices occasioned by the fall in the
currency of the country from which the goods came. The ratio of
increase over pre-war prices of imported articles was substajitiallv
higher than the ratio of increase in the case of pre-war British
goods. That was not due to the question of currency. The British
trade was essentially a special trade in a high class of articles, and it
was not touched by the present importation.

A somewhat cryptic advertisement appears on page xxi. of this
week's issue. It consists not of a hidden number, but of a number
whose meaning is hidden. One of the objects of all advertisements
is the stimulation of interest, and we have no doubt that our
readers will be interested enough to watch these pages from week
to week, notice the changes that (Kcur therein and speculiite on their
probable meaning.

January 20, 1922

The Electrician.

British Trade with India.

In the general review of the conditions and prospects of British
trade in Iridia for the two years ended March, 1921, Mr. Thos. M.
Ainscough, II.M. Senior Trade Commissioner in India and Ceylon,
states that the period was one of transition, and that it will he some
time before a position of equilibrium will be reiiched. Though
the year 1919-20 was one of phenomenal trade activity, there was an
almost complete cessation of Indian exports in the following year,
owing to the financial chaos in Central Europe and the trade depres-
sion in America, and as this drop in exports coincided with a
flood of imports, a collapse of the exchange and a severe financial
crisis ensued, from which the country is slowly recovering. Mr.
Ainscough thinks that direct trade with responsible Indian firms
is reasonably safe, particularly in cases where the home shipper
has a resident represtyitative to safeguard his interests.

British Imports and Exports.

Of the total trade of India, the share of the Empire is now 56 p«r
cent., compared with 52 per cent.^ in the year before the war, while
the share of the United Kingdom is 44 per cent., against 41 in 1913-14,
but her share of India's imports (61 per cent.) is still 3 per cent,
below the pre-war standard. The American and Japanese com-
petitors, who gained a footing during the war, are likely to remain,
and th'ere are sigiis of growing German and Belgian competition. '

Before the war. Great Britain supplied 89 per cent, of the total
imports of machinery ; in 1918-19 her share had fallen to 64 per cent.,
but in the past year the percentage had advanced to 78 per cent.
The value of the electrical machinery imported in 1920-1921 was
£2 188 587, against £1 240 680 in 1919-20; instruments and apparatus
for Government purposes were valued at £602 794 (against £41 912),
and telegraph materials £343 468 (£578 977). The total value of the
electrical supplies imported, including wires and cables, electric
fans and parts, lamps, batteries, ntelers, lighting accessories, &c.,
was £4 183864 (against £1549 589 in 1919-20), and Great Britain's
share of this was £2 888 257 (against £800 132). The United
States came second with £950 283 (£562 875), and Japan third,
£126 582 (£81253). During the war the large trade in fans was
shared by the United States and Italy, but the British imports are
now nearly equal to those of the United States, who also supply
large quantities of electric wires and cables. Holland appears to be
the chief competitor in electric lamps, and Japan sends electric
cables and wires, lighting accessories, electrical porcelain, &c.

Foreign Competition.

The principal American exports during the past five years have
been motor-cars (£6 486 000), iron and steel (£5 199 000), machinery
(£4 026 000), hardware (£2 255 000), aftd instruments and apparatus
(£1 335 000). It is stated that American machinery of all kinds
has now gained a reputation, and is being assiduously pushed with
method and enterprise. Japanese competition is mainly in textiles,
matches, and hardware, and though she supplied electrical instru-
ments, cables, &c., during the war, the shipments of these have
fallen off.

The statistics for 1920-21 record the re-entry of Germany into the
Indian markets with shipments of the value of £4 748 000, the
principal items being dvestuffs (£1 203000). metals (£864 000), hard-
ware (£291 000), glass and glassware (£203 000). German exports
are increasing steadily, being favoured by the depreciated mark
exchange. Recently many orders for machinery for rice mills, sugar
plants. &c., have gone to Germany, owing to quotations being 50 per
cent, below British prices. Last year's Belgian exports were of
the value of £5 326 000, or about double the pre-war shipments.
Belgium is underselling British steel makers in constructional steel.

Dealing with political events, Mr. Ainscough points out that the
watchwords among Indian politicians, industrialsts, and business
men is protection for Indian industries, and this movement will
affect British exporters more than others. During the year the
general import tariff was increased from 71 to 11 per cent. It is
again urged that British houses should be represented by an active
and competent organisation in the country itself, and engineers
should open branches, with competent engineers and erecting staffs.

Production of Minerals.

The output of manganese ore amounted to 538 000 tons, and of
this amount 370 000 tons, valued at £697 732, were exported, mainly
to the United Kingdom. The quantity of mica produced was
47 783 cwts. (valued at £219 842), a decrease of about 9 000 cwts.
compared with 1918-19. There were decreases in the outputs of
monazite, copper, and tungsten, but there were increases in the tin
and lead production. Important deposits of bauxite have been
discovered near Chakar, in the province of Jammu.

Hydro-Electric Development.

A brief sketch of the progress made in the development of water
power as well as the position of the hydro-electric survey is included
in the Survey, but particulars of this work have already appeared
in The Electrician. There are about 1-75 million e.h.p. in sight,
but the actual available water power is much greater, and
about half the power is produced in Bombay. Steady pro-
gress is being made with the provincial hydro-electric surveys,
and it is anticipated that the initial part of the work will
be completed in about three years. Abstracts of the report of the
Chemical Services Committee, and of the work of the Indian
Institute of Science (Bangalore), as well as accounts of the progress
of various industrial companies, are also included. In 1919-20 there
were 905 new companies formed, with a total capital of £275 534 700,
B 2

and in the following year 965 -'(mjianiw, with a capital of
£145 766 700.

Branch Work* in India.

In regard to the factors which should influence British nuina-
facturers in deciding whether or not U> erect works in India, Mr.
Ainscough thinks that, in cases where the principal raw materials
are available in India, and where the country affords a steady
market for the finished product, the prospects for local manafacture
should be promising ; where there arp **«»ab!i«h<»d indastries in
India requiring large and constant sunt ' ' ' ry, and wh«re

there 's a steady demand for standarfli .p«a of heavy

plant x'or Government, railway, or n. ..r,...r,f= '^■<al

manufacture would be succes.iful. The co in-

dustries with British works has not yet be.: be

local engineering shops are competing more and more in strutiural
steelwork and small steam engines. The agents, representatives, and
travellers of British firms engaged in the manufactare of industrial
plant, machinery and stores, are recommended to establish friendly
relations with the Directors of Industry in the provinces, a lirt
of whom are set out.

Igranic Tubular Heater.

An interesting development in electrical heater.s for all kinds .^f
purposes has been made by the Igranic ELEfTRic Company'. We
understand this is not a variation of any e.xieting apparatus, but is
of such fundamentally different construction that it givee character-
istics unlike those of any other heater. By its means, it is claimed.
many requirements can be met which could not be satiefactorily met
by any previous form of heater.

This heater, which ie of the tubular type, consists essentially
of four elements. The resistance of round wire is wound
in a helix, disposed centrally along the a.xie of a metal tube
which is completely filled with ineulating material, embedding
the resistance and terminals and insulating them from the tube.
The resistance material is usually nickel chrojiium, the enclosing
tube being of steel or copper, according to the use to which the
heater will be put. Steel is used for general purposes and copper
for water immersion heaters. The insulation employed is a speciallv
developed highly refractory material, capable of operating at higb
temperatures without deterioration.

No mica is used except at the terminals to insulate them from the
tube. The terminals are of brass or steel, the latter being employed
for high temperatures, where brass would not be suitable, while
brass is used where steel would be liable to rust : generally a copper

Immersion Watek Heater.

tube heater has brass terminals and steel tube heaters steel terminals.
The lead wire connecting the terminals to the resistance is of nickel
chromium of much greater section than the resistance, and provides
a portion of tube of inactive length, so that all the heating effect is
produced within the required portion of the tube.

Application of Tubular Heaters.

There are four general types of tubular heaters

The inimeifion heater, which is immersed directly in the liquid to
be heated. This is shaped as required, the terminals being brought
out to a suit.able location over the edge of the container and passed
through gl.ands in the bottom or side. The tube can be bent to
conform to the shape of the vessel, and to avoid obstructions, and
thus provides a maximum of adaptability in installation.

Cast-in fi eaters. Tlie tubular heater is peculiarly adaptable for
certain work, as it can be shaped to any desired form, and will
sttuid the temperatures at which ahiminiiini, copper, brass, or even
iron are cast. It is strong enough to be self-supporting in the mould.
so that it does not present a difficult moulding problem.

Conduction heaters are usually clamped to the part to be heated,
and it is desirable to provide grooves, into which the heater will fit
fairly closely, so as to secure the maximum conduction of the heat
generated. This is a simpler and cheaper method of applying the
tubular healer to a casting than that of casting it in. and in inany
cases is just as satisfactory.

Air and radiant heaters may be constructed by simply suspending
the element in the air and mounting it on any suitable .support. If

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

operated at a sufficiently high rating it will colour, and can be used ae
a radiant heater.

Igranic tubular heaters are standardised in four diameters : —
9/32 in., 29/64 in., 9/16 in., and 21/52 in., and made in any length
up to a ma.ximum of 60 in. The permissible watt rating is determined
by the service the heater has to meet, varying from 60 W per in.
of actual length of the smaller diameter when used for water immer-
sion, down to 12 W for air heaters.

The insulation is so highly compressed by the -method of manu-
facture that it is practically an artificial stone which fills the space
between turns of the resistance helix and between the helix and the
tube. The helix is kept central in the tube, and is not. we are
informed, displaced by bending. The tubing, being thoroughly
annealed, can be bent "cold, but if required to be re-bent should be
again annealed by heating to red heat and allowing to cool down
again.

The advantages claimed for this heater may be summarised as
follows : — -Insulation unaffected by high temperature ; freedom from
expansion troubles; no soldered or other joints to open up; adapta-
bility by reason of ease of bending, casting in, &c. ; elimination < f
mica, permitting higher temperatures ; small diameter permits appli-
cation in restricted positions ; high insulation value ; great regularity
in duplication owing to standardised manufacturing methods ; and
high thermal efficiency.

contractors and retailers, all of whom are invited to regard the
particular showroom in their vicinity as an extension of their own
premises. To this end books of specially designed introduction cards
are supplied free to the trade. Thesecards can be handed to pro-
spective purchasers, introducing them to the nearest showroom for
the purpose of witnessing a demonstration of any electric household
appliance or fitting in which they may be interested, sales resulting
from such introduction being credited to the retailer concerned.
These showrooms were wired, furnished, and decorated by Harrods
Ltd.

A Galaxy of Electric Hot Cupboards.

The illustration shows a consignment of electrit hot cupboards
manufactured by the Jackson Electric Stove Company, just before
despatch to a canteen in Ireland. The cupboards are 10, 12.
and 13ft. long, all 2ft. 9in. high by 2ft. back to front, fitted with
sliding doore on one long side. The bodies are of sheet steel double

More About Electrical Showroom Service.

As already noted in Thde Electrician, the Metropolitan- Vickers
Electric\l Company have recently opened new extensive London
showrooms at 232, High Holborn, W.C. 1. We are not surprised to
learn that a large number of trade visitors have already availed
themselves of the opportunity of inspecting these splendidly equipped
premises, which are very centrally situated, being adjacent to Kings-
way (Holborn end) and practically adjoining the Holborn Tube
Station.

The new showrooms consist of a ground floor and basement, and
cover a total floor r rea of about 4 000 sq. ft. The basement contains
a complete display of electrical fittings, accessories, heating and
cooking appliances and lamps, while a trade counter provides facili-
ties for dealing promptly and efficiently with contractors' orders.

The accompanying photograph (Fig. 1) gives a general view of
the ground floor, and indicates the care which has been taken in
the grouping of the various fittings. In order to display electric
fittings as far as possible in their appropriate surroundings, the show-
rooms have been divided up into.. sections, representing respectively
the Adam style and the Jacobean and Georgian periods.

Another department has been decorated and furnished throughout
in the William and Mary style, and has been specially designed for
the effective display of the highest grade of electric fittings, designed
and manufactured at the companv's Birmingham works, Harcourts,
Ltd.

No surprise will be felt at the announcement that the showrooms
contain a kitchen. This is shown in Fig. 2. Here daily demonstra-
tions of cooking by electricity and in the use of electric household
utensils are given by an expert lady assistant. The kitchen, it is
needless to add, is designed on the most hygienic and up-to-date
lines, and no housewife could witness a demonstration without -
longing to have the control of appliances of like utility and
cleanliness.

The policy of the company is to protect the interests of electrical

Jackson Electric Hot Qupboards Eeady for Delfvert.

cased and lagged, and the tops of ca^st-iron ground and polished
bright. The cupboard and top are each separately controlled and
independently heated, each section being split into two circuits and
each arranged for three-heat regulation.

The connections are of the well-known " Jackson " type, solid
rod moimted on porcelain insulators. The elements are of trie firm's
standard fireclay pattern. No mica, asbestos, covered wires, loose
leads, beaded wires or pigtails of any description are employed.
The whole is built up of a solid nature and in such a manner that it
is impossible for an earth or short to develop.

The 10ft. cupboards are fitted with three sliding doors and the
12ft. and 13ft. cupboards with four sliding doors.

Metkopolitan-Vickers JSew Showrooms. Fig. 1 — General View of the Ground Floor Fig. 2 — View in the Kitchen.

January 20, 1922

The Electrician.

Legal Intelligence.

Action Aiiainst .Electrical Company Settled.

On Monday Mr. Justice Avory had in hie list the case of the
Britannia Rubber Company and Kamptulicon Company, Ltd., v. the
International Electric Company, Ltd,, but when the case was called
on Mr. Disturnal, K.C. (for plaintiffs) asked the court to allow time
for a consultation with a view to settlement. Later counsel stated
that defendants (for whom Mr. Schiller, K.C. appeared) had agreed
to pay £1 438 l&s. 6d., with taxed costs on the claim and counter-
claim.

The record was withdrawn and judgment entered accordmgly.

B.T.-H. Company, Ltd. v. Corona Lamp Works, Ltd.

On the 11th inst. Sm D. Kerly, K.C, applied to Mr. Justice
Astbury to postpone the hearing of this action. Counsel said he
appeared for the defendants, and the plaintiffs were represented by
Sir Arthur Colefa.x, K.C. and Mr. J. H. Grey, K.C. His position
was that he had not got the brief and his clients were not able to
deliver it because they had not got expert's report. He asked to
be allowed to mention tlie case on Thursday. He said there was
another case between the same parties which had just come to an
end in the House of Lords.

His Lordship said counsel could mention the case again on
Thursday, and observed that as it had waited six years another
term would make no difference.

On the following day His Lordship fixed Feb. 6 for the hearing of
the action, subject to any part-heard case.

Damages for Jacket Torn in Tramcar.

In the Glasgow Small Debt Court on the 11th inst. Sheriff Mac-
diarmid heard an action which raised an interesting point as to the
liability of the Corporation Tramways Department for injury to a
passenger's clothing. The pursuer complained that, while a passenger
in an tJddingston car on July 20 last, she had had the jacket of her
costume torn in consequence of a button having caught in a gap
between the spars of the seating. The defence was that the seating
had been examined and foxmd in perfect order, and therefore the
department repudiated liability.

The evidence was to the effect that the gap was due to the fact
that the seat, which also forms the lid of a box used for storage of
car requisites, had not been pushed into its place, thus leaving a
space between the spars of the lid and those of the back.

The Sheriff held that it was the duty of a conductor, on taking
over a car, to inspect it with a view to the safety of the passengers,
and that that duty had not been fulfilled in the present case. He
therefore decided in pursuer's favour, and assessed the damages at
£10.

Suit by Unregistered Firm.

In the City of London Court last week Messrs. Phipps sued
Mr. E. A. Galloway for £5 Is. for some electrical bowls
supplied. Defendant pleaded that he placed his order with Mr.
MoUett, one of the partners, with whom he had a contra account.
He always paid Mr. Mollett and had had no transactions with
plaintiffs. He declined to pay plaintiffs until he was sure of the
authority to collect the account.

The Registrar pointed out that, under Sec. 8 of the Registration
of Business Names Act, plaintiffs could not sue unless at the time of
taking out the summons their names were properly registered as
partners carrying on business under a trade narrie. They were not
SD registered, and if defendant desired he was in a position to ask that
the case should be struck out. He suggested that the reasonable thing
to do was for plaintiffs to allow defendant the amount of his counter-
claim, and for defendant to pay the claim, less the counter-claim,
plaintiffs dropping the costs of the summons. He non-suited the
plaintiffs, so that they would be able to bring a fresh action if the
present proceedings were not disposed of in the way suggested.

Dispute Over Electric Light Fittings.

Mr. Justice Acton gave judgment last week in the case of Halford
V. McCandlish and Hasler, in which the plaintiff claimed damages
against both defendants (the secretary and head porter of the United
Services Club) for remoymg electric light fittings from 13, Stratford-
place. His Lordship said that during the occupation of the premises
by the club certam electric fittings and mirrors were put in.
Plaintiff became owner, and part of the tenancy agreement was that
the tenant's fixtures should become the landlord's property. When
the club was preparing to vacate the premises, plaintiff" (through
his agents) was proposmg to take over the fittings at a valuation.
At an interview it was agreed to leave the fixtures on the premises
with a view to selling them with the property. Plaintiff denied this,
and alleged that defendants vacated the premises, leaving the articles
on the premises, subject to the plaintiff's legal rights. The burden
was on defendants to show that they had a right to take the articles
away, and that his Lordship reluctantly came to the conclusion they
had not done. The articles were removed, and a technical trespass
was committed, and very slight damage resulted. Plaintiff was,
however, technically right, but he (his Lordship) was surprised that
an outrageous claim of £500 was put forward. There would be
judgment for the plaintiff for £22 10s., and no costs were allowed.

Electricity Supply.

The accounts of Glasuow Electricity Department for the six
nionths ended Nov. 30 last show a loss of £54 000.

Mr. Russell F. Fkrgusok, Hastings Borough Electrical Engineer,
read a Paper, on Monday, l^efore the liatepayers' Association on
'" The Electricity Developments in the Town."

Stepney Borough Council have agreed to pay Babcock & Wilcox,
Ltd., the Hum of £4 000 in settlement of their claim of £5 400 for
increases in the cost of materials and rates of wages beyond those
which oVjtained when they tendered for the work in connection with
Limehouse Generating Station.

At a meeting of Exetek Town Council last week, the Electricity
Committee reported the purchase of new machinery in consequence
of increased demand for electricity, and it ■K&e, stated- tRat so maiiy
lights of bigger power had been installed in business and private
houses without warning that some of the sub-stations were unequal
to the demand, and had been overloaded. The Committee nad
instructed the engineer to consider what sites were available for
additional sub-stations in the centre of the city.

DtTNDEE Electricity Department has decided to withdraw from the
National Joint Industrial Council. At a meeting called to consider
the question last week, the engineer explained that the Industrial
Council's new scheme fixed the wages of a fitter at £3 lis. 6d., and
left the pay of a labourer at £3 8s. lid. The pay in his department
was above the rates laid down in the new scheme of the N.J.I.C.,
and the scheme could serve no useful purpose. The conditions in
Dundee also were better for the men than under the scheme,
and left freedom to select and pay men according to ability.

In reference to the acquisition of the Bootle electricity under-
taking by Liverpool Corporation, it is stated that the latter will
pay the Bootle electrical engineer ^Mr. T. D. Clothier) £8 000 cc«n-
pensation and the other members of the Bootle staff will be retained.
The net debt on the Bootle undertaking is £160 129. Among other
changes to be made in supply methods in Bootle will be the intro-
duction of meter rents (Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per quarter) and a reduc-
tion of a farthing per unit for electric current for lighting. Existing
agreements between the Bootle Corporation and its consumers will
remain in force, and Bootle will have representation on the Liverpool
Electricity Committee. It is estimated that it would cost Bootle
about £120 000 to install the extra plant needed to meet the present
and prospective demands for electricity in the borough.

New^ Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Ely City Council have decided to opply for powers to generate
and supply electricity in Ely and the. district.

Portsmouth Town Council has received sanction to loans of
£30 000 for supply mains, £6 272 for services, and £6 000 for
transformers and sub-station equipment.

Whitehaven Town Council has applied for a loan of £3 500 for
the extension of electrical services at Arrowthwaite, Thwaiteville,
and in connection with the Braunsty Housing Scheme,

Middlesbrough Electricity Committee is making application to
the Electricity Commissioners for sanction to boiTow £6 000 for the
purpose of erecting a further sub-station to supply electricity to
the Linthorpe district.

Westgate-on-Sea Paris' Council has asked the Gas Company
whether they are prepared to supply electricity to the town. If not.
the Isle of Thanet Electric Tramway and Lighting Company are to
be asked if they will extend their cables to Westgate.

A public meeting of the ratepayers of Neath on "Tuesday unani-
mously approved of the Bill being promoted in Parliament by the
Town Council for the extension of boimdaries and additional powers
in regard to the water, gas and electricity undertakings.

At a meeting of Willesborough Parish Council last week it was
decided to ask the Whitstable Electric Company if they would
entertain applications for lighting thu parish if terms could be
'arranged.

The Amble Electricity Special Crder, which authorises Ambl«
Urban Council to supplv electricity within the urban district, has
been submitted to the I\iinister of transport for confirmation. Any
objections must be sent to the Ministry of Transport by Feb. 6.

Application for a Special Electricity Order for CREur has been
made to the Electricitv Commissioners and an Electricity Committ^
of the Town Council has been elected as follows :— Provost Mungall
(convener), Messrs. I^iudor. Watts, and Reid. and Mrs. Wilkie
Brown.

SouTiiwiCK Urban Council has decided, subject to the charges for
electricity not being in excess of those at Hove, to support the
application of the Shoreham and District Electric Light int: and
Power Company for a Special Order for the supply of electricity to
the town.

The proposal to introduce electricity in the burgh of lN\'XRrKiE
was again discussed last week, and it was decided to ascertain what
the cost of installing plant would be. and also to writ© to the
Aberdeen Town Council to ask if they would consider the extension
of their supply mains to Inverurie.

The Preston Corpor.ation Electricity Speci.vl Order. 1921,
authorising the Corporation to supply electricity in the Borough
and Rural District of Preston, has been submitted to the Minister

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

of Transport for confirniation. Any objection must be sent to the
Ministry of Transport by Jan. 28.

A1[. a meeting lield on Thursday, Jan. 12, the Glasgow Corporation
Sub-Committe« on the Grampian Electricity Order instructed the
Town Clerk to lodge a petition against the Order, with the view of
protecting the interests of the Corporation Water and Electricity
Departments, botli of which are affected by the provisions of the
Order.

Cannock Electricity Committee have obtained sanction to a loan
of £56 765 for carrying out the scheme of the authority for the
supply of electricity in the district. Application is to be made to
the Commissioners for authority to supply electricity to the
Brereton and Cannock Chase Collieries in the area of the Lichfield
Rural Council.

A Special Order made by the Electricity Commissioners for the
supply of electricity by the Wareham Electric Supply Company,
Ltd., within the Borough of Wareham and parts of the Wareham
and Purbeck Rural District, has been submitted to the Minister of
Transport for confirmation. Any objections must be sent to the
Ministry of Transport by Feb. 4.

The Liverpool Electric Power and Lighting Committee has re-
ceived the sanction of the Electricity Commissioners for the borrow-
ing of the sum of £21 782 for the provision of mains, services, and
sub-station building and equipment in connection with the supply of
electricity to the housing scheme at the Springwood Estate, G-arston,
and £100 000 for the provision of mains.

Dundee Electricity Committee have appointed the chairman of the
committee and the general manager to interview the Hydro-Electric
Development Company with regard to the price of bulk supply
to the Dundee district, and to report as to whether the Grampian
Provisional Order should be opposed or not. Approval has also
been given to the acceptance of contracts for £40 000 for sub-station
equipment.

The Sussex Electricity Supply Company has applied to the
Electricity Commissioners for powers to supply the whole of the
Littlehampton urban district, including Wick, and for the installa-
tion of the necessary plant. The Urban District Council decided
last week to support the company's application. The current is to
be supplied by means of overhead wires, and an immediate com-
mencement is to be made on the work.

Lewes and District Electric Supply Company, Ltd., are apply-
ing to the Electricity Commissioners for a Special Order to amend
the provisions of the Lewes Corporation Electric Lighting Order,
1898, by increasing the maximum price of electricity to Is. 2d. per
unit, with a minimum charge of lis. 8d. in respect of the July-
September quarter and 17s. 6d. in respect of each of the remaining
quarters.

The application by the Mersey Power Company for permission
to carry overhead electric wires ni the Appleton district of Widnes
caused much discussion at the Widnes Council meeting last week.
The application had been previously discussed in committee, and
was turned down by a majority of one. Alderman Neil moved
ai' amendment that the permission sought be granted. On the vote
being taken, permission was refused by one vote.

Now that the Electricity Commissioners have given their decision
in regard to the question of wayleaves over estates between the
North Wales Power and Traction Company at Dolgarrog and the
boundary of Colwyn Bay Urban Council, it is understood that the
transmission line will be proceeded with as quickly as possible. The
Colwyn Bay Council has completed their distribution station and the
underground lines from the company's sub-station at Bronynant.

At a meeting of Sidmouth Urban Council last week the chairman
brought up the question of the proposed electric lighting installation
for the town, and reported on ^n interview with a representative of
Gilbert Gilkes & Company, showing that the scheme for the instal-
lation would cost approximately £10 000. This was a saving of
£15 000 on the scheme presented two years ago. It was decided that
the Council should meet Messrs. Gilkes' engineer and consider the
question with him.

The General Purposes Committee of Barrow Corporation recom-
mend the Town Council to object to inclusion in the reorganisation
scheme for the North Lancashire and South Cumberland Electricity
District until some more satisfactory provision is made by the
Government towards the capital cost. At the forthcoming public
inquiry the Urban Councils of Millom, Bootle and Dalton will oppose
the scheme, and Millom will submit counter-proposals for generating
electricity from the surplus heat of the local ironworks. '

The report of the London engineers on a coimty hydro-electric
■, installation for Buckie was considered by the Town Council last
week. The engineers divide the district as follows : — Banffshire
districts of Aberchirder, Aberlour, Banff, Buckie, Craigellachie,
Cullen, Dufftown, Findochty, Keith, Macduft, Portknockie, Portsoy.
Whitehills, about 2 500 h.p. ; Aberdeenshire districts of Huntlv and
Turriff, about 1600 h.p.,- IMorayshire districts of Burghead, fogin,
Fochabers, Forres, Lossiemouth,' Rothes, about 1 500 h.p. They are
of opinion that the water-power scheme should be looked for to
develop 5 000 to 10 000 h.p. They outline two possible River Spey
schemes, one of which they consider too expensive. The other, by a
tunnel line from lilacksboat to Carroii, will develop 5 000 " to
10 000 H.p. from 42 000 cubic feet water per minute, through two and
a half miles tuiniel. The estimated cost is £500 000. Another
£100 000 for storage works would give the generating cost at the
power station of l-4d. per unit. For h.t. main from the power house

at Carron to Keith, thence a ring main to Buckie along the coast to
Banff, Macduff, Turriff, Huntly, and back to Keith, they estimate
£160 000. The average selling price to consumers would be below
4d. per unit. The engineers recommended further investigations to
reduce the Spey scheme cost, also that Aberdeenshire be asked if
they would join Banffshire for a bulk supply.

Alteration of Charges.

The Urban Electric Company, Ltd., have secured an Order
authorising them to charge Is. per unit for electricity in Caterham
as from Jan. 1.

The Minister of Transport has refused sanction to Lytham Council
to increase the maximum price for electricity under the Lytham
Electric Lighting Order, 1915.

An Order has been made on the application of the Ascot and
District Gas and Electricity Company, fixing the charge for elec-
tricity at East Hampstead at a maximum of Is. Id. per unit
Before the war the charge was Ogd.

Yarmouth Electricity Committee are to consider the question of
a sliding scale of charges, to come into operation after March 51.
A proposal to increase the Electrical Engineer's salary from £710
to £760 in accordance with the number of units sold has been
referred to the Salaries and Wages Committee. 'ihe General
Purposes Committtee recommend the Council to withdraw from the
Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association, and also from the
Joint Industrial Council.

Electric Traction.

Three of the newly-delivered single-decked tramcars are now
running at Burnley.

By the substitution of mechanically propelled vehicles for horse
traction Holborn Borough Council have saved £2 000 in a year.

FiNCHLEY Ratepayers' Defence League have approached the Metro-
politan Electric Tramways Company with regard to the possibility
of securing a reduction in fares.

So few people have taken advantage of the special late trains
put on the tubes by the Underground Company that they have
been withdrawn. Four additional six-car trains have been put into
service on the Piccadilly line during the " rush " hours. These
carry 2 400 passengers.

On Sunday, Jan. 22, Chelsea and SouthwaAk Bridge will be
brought into direct tram connection by a new route which will be
started via Clapham, Stockwell, Brixton, and Camberwell Green.
The total length is nine miles. There will be a three minutes' s?rvice
during the rush hours, and a four minutes' service at other times
of the day.

Taunton Town Council have instructed a committee to reopen
negotiations with the Taunton Electric Traction Company for the
transfer of the tramway undertaking. Lo the Council. It was stated
in discussion that during the twenty years the trams were running
they were worked at a loss — except in one year, when a dividend
of 1 per cent, was paid.

At a meeting of the Swansea Tramways Committee last week, the
Borough Engineer asked for a definition of the Committee's future
policy in regard to extending the tramways or doubling the tracks,
in order that the Highways Committee could be guided in its policy
of road improvements. The adoption of the trackless system wa^
suggested, and a report is to be prepared on the subject.

Halifax Tramways Committee, on Monday, recommended the
Tramways Sub-Committee to consider the advisability of purchas-
ing another motor 'bus, with a view of starting a service for
Wheatley Valley. The Committee also decided to recommend the
Town Council to approve the extension of a single line from the
present Skircoat Green terminus to the top of Copley Hill.

During the New Year holidays in Glasgow, nearly 55 000 pas-
sengers were carried by the all-night trams, and a revenue of nearly
£500 was added to the ordinary receipts, which now total well
o\er £40 000 each week. It was less than a year ago that the all-
night service was started, for the convenience chiefly of newspaper
workers. After the ordinary service is withdrawn at midniglit.
special cars are put on fifteeji sepai-ate routes.

At Farnworth Council last week it was reported that the Farn-
WORTH AND Kearsley Councils had waited on Salford Corpora-
tion regarding the linking up of the tramlines between Bolton and
Manchester by providing a short length at Clifton. There was not
much hope entertained of this link being supplied for the present.
The Salford lease of the Swinton line would expire in four years,
and the short length of tramway, costing £5 000. would then have to
be handed over to the Swinton Council.

As the result of the opposition of tiie Commercial Motors
Union and the Road Transport Association, which led to
clauses in Blackbltin's new Parliamentary Bill being heavily
defejited at the statutory ratepayers' meeting, a special meeting of
the TowTi Council was called on Saturday to discuss the situation.
Aldennan Forrest, as leader, moved that a poll of the whole town
be taken, the cost of which would be between £500 and £1 000. This
was seconded by Councillor Hamer. Opposition was offered on the
giound of expense .and because the prevailing services were ample for

January 20, 1922

The Electrician.

the town. Eventually the rcfiolution to have a poll was carried l>y
thirty-one votes to three. The cost of the services propf>sed, witn
e.vtension of tramways, will exceed £268 000. It ie believed that the
Bill will be opposed in London.

Considerable difficulty was experienced in working the open-air
ELECTRIC RAILWAYS round LondoH during the enowstorm which
occurred on Sunday evening last. On the section of the BakerlfK>
between Queen's Park, Willefiden Junction, Harrow, and Watford
the electric service was suspended and eteam trains substituted until
the live rail had been cleared of snow. On the Metropolitan and
District Railways snow ploughs were used to clear the live rails, while
on the Central London and London and South-Western Railway
late running wiiB the rule.

In the Bill which the directors of the London, Brighton and
SoxiTH Coast Railway Company are promoting power is eought to
raise capital for the electrification of the line. It is estimated that
the necessary works will rec{uire over £1 000 000, but this expendi-
ture will for a considerable period be unremunerative or unpro-
ductive of an adequate return. In 1911 the company was empowered
to raise £1 500 000 and to borrow by the issue of debenture etock
a further £500 000. None of these powers has, however, been
exercised. It is now proposed to empower the company to borrow
the £500 000 authorised in 1911, and also to borrow a further
£1 000 000, which " may be raised without reference to the issue of
any additional capital." It is also proposed that the company may,
during any period not exceeding five years, pay out of the moneys
borrowed the whole or any part of the interest on any mortgages
or debenture stock issued for electrifying the railway.

At the adjourned meeting of Hull City Council, on Monday, the
Tramways Committee presented five separate schemes for improving
the Ilessle-road tram service to the City-square. They were, briefly
(1) the widening of Midland-street at a cost of £80 000 (which was
rejected by the Local Government Board some years ago) : (2)
taking the cars along Waterhouse-lane from the City-square to
Osborne-street, at a cost of £45 000, this involving the purchase
of the Punch Hotel ; (3) continuing the line from Brook-street to
Osborne-street, at a cost of £40 000 ; (4) placing the terminus at
the east end of Osborne-street (with a double line), at a cost of
£12 000 ; and (5) taking the cars from Carr-lane into Osborne-street
by way of Anne-street, at a cost of £6 000. The Committee recom-
mended the fifth scheme, for which no Provisional Order would be
nece-ssary. By laying a single track along Osborne-street, the dan-
gerous corner of Midland-street would be relieved. After consider-
able discussion it was decided by 24 votes to 20 to adopt the fourth
scheme, and lay a double line down Osborne-street, with a cross-
over at the east end of that street.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

An overland telegraphic service has been established between
Mombasa (Kenya Colony) and Cape Town via Tanganyika Territory,
Nyasaland, and Rhodesia. The rates are said to be cheaper than by
the submarine cables.

Sir William Noble, Engineer-in-chief to the British Post Office,
on Monday opened at the head offices of the " Liverpool Courier "
and "Express " a new relay automatic telephone exchange linked
up with the public service, which has been laid down for the use
of these journals. The Post Office, he said, was not to Islame for
the_ fact that telephony in Great Britain had not developed so
rapidly as in the United States, whose mail, postal, and telegraph
systems were much behind ours. When the telegraph was invented
private automatic exchanges were due- to private individuals, and
were not controlled by the Post Office. The Post Office had
installed automatic exchanges in fourteen salf -contained areas, and
was considering the question of automatic telephones for large
multi-office areas like Liverpool and London. Sir William defended
the new telephone rates, stating that otherwise part of the cost
would have had to come out of taxation. Had the Government
increased its charges, like everyone else, in the early stages of the
war, the telephone rates would now have been on the down grade.

Wireless Notes.

At the annual meeting of the Liverpool Wireless Association
last week all the officers were re-elected, with the exception of Mr. J.
Coulton, whose resignation was accepted with great regret. Mr.
James K. Wilkie was elected to succeed Mr. Coulton as hon.
secretary.

The snowstorm over the week-end caused a considerable amount
of damage to telephone and telegraph wires all over the countrv.
Communication with Paris was much interrupted, Mid- Wales suf-
fered badly. Welshpool was cut off from Shrewsbury, Oswestry
and Llanfair, and only one telephone wire was left 'intact with
NewtowTi._ At Preston, in Lancashire, the tramway service was
seriously interfered with.

The first prize in the Transatlantic amateur wireless tests has been
won by the MANciresTER Wireless Society. The receiving set used
in the test was erected at the residence of Mr. W. R. Burne. who
was responsible for the manipulation of the various instruments
loaned to him by members of the Society. These instruments,
together witb the special panel built for the occasion b^• Mr. Burne
himself, enabled the tests to be carried through successfuUv. The
receiving set will be exhibited on February 25 at the Society's
headquarters, the Albion Hotel, Piccadilly.

Personal and Appointments.

Prof E. W. Makcham has con.stnted to acr a-, president of tiie
Liverpo<jl W'ireles.s SfKriely.

On the 2nd inst., at St. Pancras Church, Cbicbcsier, Mr. J. S.
Cicn>D, late joint .sales manager to the Edicon Swan Electric Com-
pany, was married to Miss E. L. Cbundek.

Sir Edward Busk ha.s formally announced hie intention of re-
tiring in May from the chairmanshin of the Crxivocation of London
University. Sir Edward is in his 78th year.

At the annual meeting of the BamsH I.vdustuial " Sxrm
First " Association, I»rd Leverhalme was re-elected president ; Sir
R. Va.s.sar-Smith and Mr. J. H. Thr^mas were app^^inted joint hoo.
treasurers, and Mr. H. E. Blain was reappointed hon. eecretary.

Mr. T. W. Bloxam has resigned the position of City Elec-
trical Engineer U> Belfast Corporation Electricity Works on a
retiring allowance of 23/60th.s of his present salar>', which, with
bonus, amounts U> £1240. Mr. Blo.xam wa.s appointed assistant
chief of the station in 1899, and became cnief in 1907.

Service Notes. — Lieut. -Commander O. McL. Cameron, R.N., has
been appointed U> " Comus II." for charge of the Wirelese Stati«>n
at Aden. Captain C. R. H. Thorn, T.D., has relinquished hb
commission in the London Electrical Engineers after nearly twenty
years' service. On retiring from the Southern Signal Companies
Major A. Handley has been given the rank of lieut. -colonel.

Business Items, &c.

The telephone numbers of the British THOMSOs-HorsroN Com-
pany's Liverpool office (33, James-street) are Bank 4 374 and 4 575.

Mr. Thomas Twist, late of St. Helens Corporation Electricity
Works, has started business in the town as an electrical engineer
under the style of Twist & Son, at Britannia Chambers, George-
street.

The business carried on hitl erto by the British. Irish, and
Colonial Department of the Ateliers de Construction Oerlikon has
been transferred to Oerlikon, Ltd., Oswaldestre Hoase, Norfolk-
street, Strand.

The Electric Locomotion & Foundry Company, of Glasshouse-
lane, Gateshead, have obtained a contract for an electric storage-
battery locomotive for the Glasgow Corporation. The order amounts
to some thousands of pounds.

The offices of the British Electrical Development Association
and of Mr. J. W. Beauchamp (director and secretary) have been
removed to 15, Savoy-street, Strand (Institution of Electrical
Engineers' building), London, W.C. 2. Telegraphic address : " Elec-
treda Rand, London " ; Telephone number : ' Regent 4570."

Vickers-Petter, Ltd., of Ipswich, have recently put a new range of
semi-Diessel crude oil engines on the market which are claimed to
be adaptable to almost every purpose for which cheap and efficient
power is required. In producing this new series the ratings and
speeds have been designed with a view to meeting the demands for
marine sets and for driving air compressors, pumps, and electrical
equipment, both d.c. and a.c. generators.

BoviNG & Company inform us that they have recently been
awarded a large contract by the Government of New Zealand for
water turbines in connection with the Mangahao hydrc^-electric
power scheme. The order includes fi^e main Pelton wheels, three
with a maximum output of over 8 000 b.h.p., and two of over
4000 B.H.P. ; also two smaller exciter Peltons, each 325 b.h.p.;
making a total capacity of nearly 33 000 b h.p. These water wheels
will work under an averaj^^ head of water of 825 ft.

LoRiVAL M.ANUF.ACTURiNG COMPANY (1921), Ltd., now established
in their new works at Southall, are placing on the market a new
grade of insulating material. We understand that this poso*«ses all
the properties of their ordinary material to an intensified degree, and
enables the firm to quote for all classes of mouldings, large and
small. The firm employ two distinct processes, producing two
different classes of material. The first is a " casting " operation.
particularly suitable for the manufacture of large articles : the second
is the usual " pressing " process, for the manufacture of a " filled
material. It is the latter which is now being plated on the market.

Mr. Lionel Robinson. B. A. , has taken into partnership Mr. W. E.
Warrilow as and from Jan. 1. and under the name of Liovkl
Robinson & Company will continue and further develop the sole
agency for resistance materials and wireii of Henry Wigcui & Com-
pany, Ltd., Birmingham, which Mr. Lionel Robinson has held for the
past fifteen years. ^Ir. Lionel Robinson is the originator with Henr>-
Wiggin & Company of their now famous '" Ferry" r^ ire.

so largely used in all the best makes of motor starte ors.

regulators, rhei^tats, cinema projectors, and also in .-..^.i.^ .v,-i5t-
ances and many scientific instruments. Mr. Warrilow brines to the
business fifteen years' experiemv of commercial work, cnieflv in
encouraging, through the Press, the sales of electrical and allied
products ot every descriptioti. Makers of electric fires and cot»king
apparatus will be interested to know that the o>mpany are now
introducing for Henry Wiggin two grades of iron-free nickel chrome
alloys in wire and ribbon form, which they claim are equal to any
American or other imported materials on the market. They will
also develop other agencies for any class of material requiml by
manufacturers using electrical resistance alloys. AnnouiK-ements will
be made regarding these from time to time. Enquiries should be
addressed to the company's offices. 3, Staple-inn, London. W.C. 1

The Electrician.

January 20, 1922

Institution Notes.

The annual dinner of the Western Centre oi" the Institution of
Electrical Engineers will be held in Cardiff on Monday, Feb. 6.

The AXNIAL DINNER AND REUNION of the INSTITUTION OF ELEC-
TRICAL Engineers will be held at the Hot-el Cecil, Strand, London,
W.C, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, under the presidency of Mr. J. S. High-
field, support-ed by the council. It is particularly requested that early
application be made for tickets, the charge for which is 13s. 6d..
exclusive of win©.

Arrangements have been made for the members of the Inetitution
to dine at the Engineers' Club, Coventry-street, W., after the
ordinary meeting of the Institution, to be' held on Feb. 2. The
charge will be 5s. 6d. each. Members wishing to be present at the
dinner are requested to send their names to the secretary in advance.

The Institution of Civil Engineers have mad© the following
awards for Students' Papers read in London or at local associa-
tions during the Sessions 1919-20 and 1920-21 : — The James Forrest
Medal and a Miller Prize to R. D. Gauld (Manchester) ; the James
Prescott Joule ISIedal and a Miller Prize to J. E. Dumlileton (Bir-
mingham); Miller Prizes to Henry Fowler (Manchester), G. H.
-Humphreys (Manchester), C. M. Brain (London), J. T. Chalk
(London), K. T. Spencer (London), and E. A. Phillipson (London).

A Paper on electric arc welding in steel structures, illustrated by
lantern slides, was read by Major James Caldwell, of London, last
week at the first meeting, held at Swansea, of th© recently formed
South Wales branch of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
The chairman of the branch is Sir John Roper Wright, vice-chairman
Mr. David E. Roberts, and the joint hon. secretaries ^Ir. W. H.
Reynolds, Cardiff, and Prof. F. Bacon, of the Swansea University
College. Half the meetings are to be held at Swansea and half at
Cardiff.

FiNSBtTiY Technical College Old Students' Association have
elected the following officers for the year beginning Jan. 1, 1922 : —
President: W. G. Head. Vice-Presidents: Prof. G. T. Morgan,
A. J. Chapman, F. H. Masters, W. J. Tennant. Mendiers of
Council: J. H. Coste, Harley F. Knight, W. W. Bradfield, E. W.
Moss, E. S. Conradi, E. G. Walker. Hon. Auditors: L. M. Clark,
F. R. C. Rouse, Hon. Treasurer: W. Bernard Thompson,
" Ellerav," Regent-road, Altrincham, Cheshire. Hon. Secretary:
H. P. Guy, 74, Silver-street, Edmonton, N. 18.

At the last informal meeting of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers in London, Mr. J. W. Beauchamp opened a discussion on
Co-operative Advertising. Besides outlining the activities of the
British Electrical Development Association he showed and criticised
a number of lantern slides of various advertisements and discussed
the value of different advertising methods in the technical and lay
Press. In the discussion which followed Mr. A. G. Whyte appealed
for well-trained and well-paid commercial engineers m the sales
departments of supply a,uthoritie6. He thought that very many
station engineers did not understand and even disliked publicity.

The annual dinner of the Liverpool Engineering Society will be.
held at the Exchange Station Hotel, Liverpool, at 7 p.m. for 7.30
on Thursday, Feb. 2. Tickets (exclusive of wines and cigars) will
be 20s. each, and may b© obtained on application to any of the
following : — Mr. J. B.'Wilkie, Mersey Engine Works, Sefton-street,
Liverpool; Mr. J. R, Davidson, Water Engineer's Office, Dale-street,
Liverpool; Prof. T. B. Abell, The University, Liverpool; Mr..
R. E. Gibson, Gas Offices, Duke-street, Liveroool : Mr J. Reney
Smith, H. and C. Grayson, Ltd., Royal Liver Building, Liverpool;
-Prof. E. W. Marchant, Electro- Technical Laboratories, The Univer-
sity, Liverpool; Assoc. -Prof. T. R. Wilton, 1, Crosshall-street,
Liverpool.

At the last meeting of the Diesel Engine Users Association
Mr. C. 0. Milton, electrical engineer to the Borough of Maidenhead,
was re-elected President for a second year, and Mr. Percy Still was
re-elected hon. secretary. Messrs. H. S. Whiteley and W. E.
Brandreth were elected members of the General Committee in place
of the two members retiring at the end of their term of office. The
members forming the Standard Committee on Insurance Against
Breakdown were re-elected for a further term of office.

The hon. secretary made his annual statement, which reported
a further substantial increase in the membership of the association
during the year. By the courtesy of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers the meetings of the association are now again being held
in that building.

The Birmingham and District Electric Club held the first
meeting of the new session at the Grand Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 14,
when the new president, Mr. Norman Deykin, delivered his inau-
gural address. Dealing with the immediate prospects of the electrical
industry, Mr. Deykin said that there were no prospects of a boom,
but there should be a steady expansion, to assist wnich the primary
need was reduction in price ; but even this could not secure business
in foreign inarkets against the extraordinary low prices of our Conti-
nental competitors, largely by reason of the unbalanced exchangee.
In the home market it was essential there should be more effective
protection for the English manufacturer, but reduction in prices
and increased production were necessary steps in the direction of
increased trade. It was also important for manufacturers to give
greater support to their sefling organisation and the needs of their
customers. The cost of electrical energy was too high. It might
be wise to increase the price of current for lighting purposes, making
a corresponding decrease in th© price iov power, cheap electricity
for manufacturers being vital in the struggle for trade.

Exhibition Notes.

The dates for the Utrecht Industries Fair this yeai' are Feb. 21
to March 3, not Feb. 27 to March 10, as previously announced.

A Business Efficiency Exhibition organised by the Association
of Office Appliance -and Equipment Manufacturers and Traders will
be opened by Mr. Gordon Selfridg© in the Central Hall, West-
minster, on f^eb. 8. It will remain open for ten days, and efficiency
experts will explain various ideas in the way of short cuts to
accountancy, methods of keeping stock, plans of sales promotion,
and how to organise efficiently an office of any description.

The Office Central de Chauffe Rationnelle, Paris, is organis-
ing an exhibition of apparatus and material for the conservation of
heat, to take place in April, in Paris. The exhibition will include
every type of apparatus or material used in the conservation and
recuperation of heat, and will be divided into the following sections :
(1) Conservation of heat — refractory materials, insulators, instru-
ments for testing calorific value, &c. (2) Recuperation of heat —
recuperators and regenerators, economisers, air superheaters, and
pre-heaters.

An Industrial Exhibition which is causing much intereet is now
proceeding at the premises in Oxford-street of Selfridge & Co. The
object of the exhibition is to bring to public notice the intricate
machinery and complicated processes through which many of the
things that are handled in everyday life have to pass. Among the
exhibits is a new type pump made of a series of helical springs
linked together to form an endless chain that will lift water to
any height by regulating the speed at which it is run. The
Waygood-Ofis automatic lift is demonstrated ; wireless concerts
are given hourly ; an automatic camera electrically operated takes
photos and delivers the finished article in 3^ minutes ; and the
electric lamp is blown and very fine tungsten filaments drawn
through a diamond die.

The Small Power Engineering and Scientific Exhibition,
better known as the " Model Engineer " Exhibition, which opened
oa Jan. 7th at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster, closed
last Saturday. It was the fith of its series since 1907, the last being
held in 1913. A model tractor engine attracted much interest. It
was exact in detail and measured only IJ in. in length. Electrically
propelled .locomotives and boats were, also in prominence. Many
ii.teresting exhibits were to be seen at the stand of the G. E. C,
Stuart Turner, and Bower Company, the Kendrick inspection lamp
and Meta electric fire being demonstrated by the last-named firm.
Demonstrations of wireless telephony and telegraphy were given
periodically. Among the exhibitors of lathes and tools were Messrs.
Drummond, H. Milnes, Buck & Ryan, Colchester Lathe Company.

On Dec. 28 the formdation stone was laid of the pavilion which is
being built for the accommodation of British exhibits at the forth-
coming Brazilian Centenary Exhibition. Though, owing to the
present state of Brazilian exchange, there is little hope of immediate
business on a large scale, it is also true that the Brazilian market
possesses many special attractions for British traders, and should
not be ignored. Brazilian people are strongly predisposed in favour
of British firms and British goods, the reputation of both standing
even higher than before the war by reason of the contrast with the
quality of the goods and the methods of other nations who took
advantage of the war to exploit the Brazilian market. A committee,
of which Mr. Lionel de Rothschild is chairman, was formed to co-
operate with the Department of Overseas Trade, and has collected
funds which will defray nearly half of the cost of this country's
participation. Full particulars regarding rates for space, &c., can
be obtained from the Department of Overseas Trade.

Obituary.

Mr. H. L. Taylor, of Littleborough, who died last week at the
age of thirty-three years, was ^he managing director of E.
Taylor & Company, electrical engineers, Littleborough. H© had
been in failing health for some months.

The death has occurred at his home at Leeds of the Hon. E. C.
KiTSON, third son of the late Lord Airedale, formerly Sir James
Kitson, and brother of the present peer. Mr. Kitson, who was in his
forty-eighth year, was chairman of Kitson & Company, mechanical
engineers, of wLich firm his father was the founder.

The death is announced, at the age of fifty-eight, of Major-
General Sir Reginald Salmond Curtis, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.
General Curtis saw service with the Egyptian Army in the Sudan
campaign of 1891, and during the Ashanti expedition of 1895-6
acted as director of telegraphs, receiving mention in despatches and
brevet majority. At the outbreak of the war in 1914 ne held the
post of A.A.G. at the War Office, and in 1917 was given the
command of the Cromarty defences. He subsequently had charge
o*^ administration, Aldershot Command, and retired in 1920.

Tt is announced that (he thirteenth Kelvin Lecture will be de-
livered at the Institution of Electrical Engineers on May 11 by
Sir Ernest Rutherford. The subject will be " Electricity and
Matter."

The " Cyc-Arc " process of automatic electric welding was
described and demonstrated by Mr. L. J. Steele, chief electrical
engineer at Portsmouth Dockyard, its inventor, to the Birmingham
Branch of the Institution of Electrical Engineers at the Birmingham
University last week. Prof. Cramp presiding.

January 20, 1922

The Electrician.

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Lewisuam Board of Guardians. Jan. 23. — llepairing of elec-
trical installation at the Children's Home, Goat House Bridge, Nor-
wood Junction. Particulars from the Clerk, Mr. W. R. Owen, 394,
High-street.

Hammersmith (London) Borough Council. Jan. 25. — Supply,
and drawing in existing ducts, of 11 000 V 3-phase linking-up main
'between Hammersmith and Fulham. Specifications, &c. , from the
Engineer, Electricity Works, 85, Fulham Palace-road, W. 6.

Warrington Corporation. Feb. 6. — Main e.h.t. switchboard
extension. Specification, &c., from the Borough Electrical and
Tramways Engineer.

Islington (London) Borough Council. Feb. 16. — One year's
supply of stores, including cables, electricity meters, fuse boxes,
compounds, lamps, wires, electrical sundries, transformers, carbons,
arc lamp globes, insulators, &c. Specification, &c., can be obtained
at the Town Hall.

Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, Cabdot. — Wiring
for the electric lighting and heating of their new premises in Custom
House-street.

Aylesbury Corporation. — 300 kW converter, with e.h.t. and l.t.
bwitchgear. Specifications, &c., from the Borough Electrical
Engineer.
AUSTRALIA.

City Electric Light Company, Ltd., Brisbane. — Feb. 10, 1922.
— *Supply and delivery of six miles of three-core 015 by 0-15 by 015
paper insulated cable, suitable for 5 500 V, with a non-earthed
system. Tenders, accompanied by a preliminary deposit of £100, to
the Engineer and Manager, Boundary -street, Brisbane.

Australian Commonvpealth Government, Feb. 15 : — 30 tons ap-

froximate Wheatstone tape paper white (Schedule 544). Particulars
rom the Supply OflScer, Australia House, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Victorian Government Railvtays. — Feb. 15. — * Supply and
delivery of : (1) Fifty track relays, four front and two back con-
tacts, fifty track relays, eight front and two back contacts, fifty line
relays, six front and two back contacts (Contract No. 34 739) ; (2) 100
three-position line relays (Contract No. 34 740) ; (3) 100 electric signal
mechanisms (Contract No. 34 738); (4) electro-mechanical interlock-
ing apparatus (Contract No. 34 822) ; (5) fifty miles insulated copper
wire (Contract No. 34 823). Local representation is essential.

Victorian Railway Commissioners. Feb. 15. — *Hydraulic pig
iron breaker, including tools, gears, accessories and spares, for
Bendigo workshops. (Contract No. 34191.)

Deputy Postmaster- General, Brisbane. Feb. 15. — *TeIephone
apparatus and parts, including bells, buzzers, chambers for trans-
mitters, induction coils, condensers, cords. (Stores schedule No. 544.)

New South Wales Government Railways and Tramways
Department (Electrical Engineer's Branch).— Feb. 22, 1922.—
•Supply, delivery, erection and maintenance of one 5 000 kW
50 cycle turbo-alternator with condenser and accessories, at Zarra-
street power house, Newcastle. (Contract No. 556.) Tenders, on
proper forms and accompanied by a preliminary cash deposit, '.o
the Secretary for Railways, Phillip-street, Sydney, N.S.W. Local
representation is essential.

Commonwealth of Australia. March 8. — Switchboard apparatus
and parts (schedule 545). Particulars from the Supply Officer,
Room 101, Australia House, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Victorian Railway Commissioners. March 8. — *Thirty-five oabin
transformers for power signalling. (Contract No. 34 863.)

Deputy Postmaster-General, Brisbane. March 15.— 'Protective
apparatus, including arresters, carbon blocks, fibre fuses, protectors
and terminals. (Stores schedule No. 546.)

Commonwealth of Australia. March 15. — Protective apparatus.
Particulars from the Supply Officer, Room 101, Australia House,
Strand, London, W.C 2.

Municipal Council of Sydney (Electricity Department).
April 24.— "Supply, delivery, and erection of two 2 000 kW rotary
converters; one 10 000 to 12000 kW turbo-alternator.
NEW ZEALAND.

Borough Council of Palmerston North. Original closing date
Sept. 24. Extended date not yet decided. — 'Service meters : («
Single-phase, 230 V, 400 5 A, 150 10 A, 50 15 A ; three-phase,
balanced load, 400 V, 100 10 A, 30 25 A, 15 50 A, 10 75 A, 5 100 A.
(b) 19 50 kVA single-phase transformers, with oil, complete;
1 complete winding h. and 1. tension, for one leg; spare parts and
accessories.

PuBUc Works DEPARTMrvr, Wellington. Feb. 28. — •Sopplr and
delivery, ex ship'e elingfi Lytteiton, of a bank of three 11 dOO V
rccictances, complete, for the Lake Coleridge electric power ecbeme.

Public Works Tenders Board, Waikato Power Schexk.
March 6. — "(Section 45) two 2 500 kWa alternators, three-phaM,
50 cycle, 5 0O0 V, at 166§rds rev, per min., with a power factor
of 8. Excitation at 220 V. (Section 46j two 3 100 h.p. water tur-
bines of the double-runner Francis type to operate the generators
mentioned in Section 45. (Section 47) two exciter sets, each con-
sisting of one 200 kW d.c. generator, and one 350 h.p. asynchronooa
rrotor, together with a Tirrill regulator. The generator shall have
an output of 220 V, with a full-load current of 7 000 A. Tb©
motor shall be of 350 h.p., with a power supply of 400 V, three-phase,
60 cycle. The synchronous speed of the sets shall be 750.
(Section 48) four Stoney sluice gates for the pits, appertaining to
thj turbines mentioned in Section 46. Tenders to the Secretary,
Public Works Tenders Board, Government Buildings, Wellington.

Dunedin City Council. Maich 31.— 'Supply and delivery of
one 150 h.p. three-phase induction motor and reduction gear for the
Mornington Cable Service.

Auckland Harbour Board. April 25. — Four doable-barrel elec-
tric winches for the Central Wharf, Auckland. Specifications from
W. & A. McArthur, 18-19, Silk-street, Cripplegate, London, E.G. 2.

ITALY.

Director-General of the Italian State Railways. April 30. —
Electrification of the Bologna- Venice-Monfalcone line. Particulars
from the Direzione-Generale, Ferrovie dello Stato, Rome.

SOUTH AMERICA.

Chilean St.ate Railways, Feb. 4, 1922' : — 1 electric ccmipressor;
1 air storage drum and 1 continuous current electric motor (70 h.p.) ;
1 300 electric filament lamps for locomotives ; 38 wall telephones.

Argentine Ministry of Public Works. Feb. 21, 1922.— *Nine
electric motors, 36 tip waggons, 1 centrifugal pump with electric
motor. Specification expected at the Department of Overseas Trade
by Dec. 28.

BULGARIA.

Bulgarian Department of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones.
January 30. — 'Supply of the following parts for telephone
exchanges : 2 200 subscribers' line indicators, 600 indicators (end
of conversion), 2 500 jacks, 1500 plugs, 2 000 connecting pieces,
20 000 switchboard connecting pieces.

Bulgarian Department of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones.
Feb. 8. 'Supply of the following telegraphic accessories :; — Twenty
terminal boxes for 40-pair cable, 1 000 combined lightning arresters
and 1 A fuses, 500 combined lightning arresters in fuses (different
type), 300 transformers, 700 condensers (2 micro-farad), twenty junc-
tion-boxes with protective devices for 40-pair cable.

Particulars from the Department of Ovetseas Trade.

Bolton Corporation have accepted the tender of Hadfields, Ltd.,
for special tram rails, points and crossings.

Stepney Borough Council have accepted the tender of the Tipton
Tub and Tube Company for two dust catchers for Limehouse
generating station at £5215 each.

Portsmouth Corp>"'RATion have accepted the tender of J. Coch-
rane (Barrhead), Ltd., for additional pumps and electrical machinery
for the drainage scheme at £9 182.

London County Council have accepted the tender of Steel. Peech
& Tozer for tramcar trailing wheel t>Tes at £1 16s. each, and English
Electric & Siemens Supplies, Ltd., for electric lamps.

Burton-on-Trent Corporation have accepted the tenders of G. and
J. Weir for auxiliary purnps, £1230; and the Metropolitan-Vickers
Electrical Company for two 500 kW transformers. £1603.

Peterborough. — The Board of Guardians have accepted the tender
(the lowest received) of ]Mr. W. K. Borrows, of Werrineton. for
installing electric light at the Workhouse at £240. Six tenders were
received, the highest being £295

Blackpool 'Electricity Committee have accepted, subject to ihe
sanction of the Electricity Commissioners, the tender of Fraser «
Chalniors (G.E.C.) for the supply of a new o 000 kK turbo-alternator,
and that of Hick, Hargreaves & Company for condenser and
auxiliaries.

Bradford Coi-poration have accepted the following tenders :---T.
Smith & Son (Rodlev), Ltd.. two 7-ton electric motor cranes. £4 194;
English Electric Companv. one 250 kVA transformer and two elec-
tric lifts; C. Bell, one pjvssenger lift; and Reliance Lift and Engin-
eering Company, one gix>ds lift.

Glasgow Corporation have accepted the following tenders for
tramwav materials :—T. Bolton & Sons, trolly wire; Whipp &
Bourne" switch^ear ; Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company.
relays; Fleming.^Birkby & Goodall. stud bolts: and Brush Electrical
Engineering Company, "truck frame forgings.

Hampste.\d Borough Council have acceptd the following tenders:—
Brit-sh Thomson -Houston Company, h.t. switchgears. at £1825;
Pirelli General Cable Works, laving of 2 300 yards of cable between
Boundarv-road and the electricity station, at £2 454 lis. 4d. : British
Electric ' Transformer Company, distribution transformers, at
£11.854 2s., less £1 694 for the transformers replaced.

81<

The Electrician.

January 20, 192^

Electrical Imports and Exports.

Imports. — The following are official values of electrical machinery,
apparatus and material imported into this coimtry [a] during
December, 1921, and (b) the aggregate figures from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31,
with increase or decrease compared with corresponding periods of
1920 .—

Electrical machinery, (o) £49 795 (decrease £97 027), [b) £728 181
(decrease £603 606) ; telegraph and telephone cables, submarine, («)
nil, (6) nil (decreaise £50); other than submarine, (o) £1346 (de-
crease £4 973), {b) £76 701 (increase £49 853): telegraph and tele-
phone apparatus, (a) £11810 (decrease £40 227), {b) £308 723 (in-
crease £64 415); other electrical wires and cables, rubber insulated,

(a) £2 745 (decrease £1392). {b) £43 142 (increase £10 088); with
other insulations, (a) £1909 (decrease £8 305), (6) £105 209 (de-
crease £128 328) ; carbons, (a) £4 519 (decrease £13 785), [b) £94 828
(decrease £58 578); glow lamps, {a) £40 966 (increase £28 730),

(b) £280 152 (increase £204 672) ; arc lamps and electric search-
lights, {a) nil (decrease £8 956), (6) £6 653 (increase £10 070) ;
parts of arc lamps and searchlights (other than carbons), {a) £497
(increase £346), (b) £15119 (increase £2 012); batteries, (a) £4 736
(decrease £8 426), {b) £119 487 (decrease £10 438); meters and
measuring instruments, {a) £3 171 (decrease £12 297), (6) £135 884
(increase £37 945); switchboards, (o) £6 116 (decrease £2 552),
(b) £29 344 (increase £17 924) ; electrical goods and ar^Daratus
unenumerated. [a) £46 480 (decrease £86 144), (6) £716120 (de-
crease £174 260). Total of electrical machinery, apparatus and
material (other than uninsulated wire), (a) £174 090 (decrease
£255 008), (b) £2 659 543 (decrease £498 421).

Exports. — The exports of electrical machinery, apparatus and
material (a) during December, 1921, and [b] from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31,
with increase or decrease compared with corresponding periods of
1920, were as follows : —

Electrical machinery, (a) £1196 (decrease £137), [b) £18 267 (in-
crease £6 367) ; including railway and tramway motors, {a) £3
(decrease £60), (b) £650 (increase £412); other generators and
motors, [a) £546 (decrease £272), {b) £10 274 (increase £3 411); aiid
electrical machinery unenumerated, [a) £647 (increase £195), [b]
£7 343 (increase £2 544) ; telegraph and telephone cables, submarine,
(a) £83 339 (decrease £242956), {b) £147250 (increase
£370 310); other than submarine, (a) £85 128 (decrease
£39 959), [b) £1621837 (increase £582 072); telegraph and
telephone apparatus, (a) £194 330 (increase £43 486), {b)
£2 056 532 (increase £831675); other electrical wires and cables,
rubber insulated {n) £61611 (decrease £104 461), (b) £1236 362
(decrease £517 087) ; with other insulations, (a) £107 067 (decrease
£40 211), [b) £2 072 427 (increase £31 852) ; carbons, {a) £4 252 (de-
crease £25 036), [b) £70 243 (decrease £78 646); glow lamps, (o)
£25 439 (decrease £1022), {b) £443 850 (increase £123 996); arc
lamps and searchlights, (a) £200 (decrease £3 067), {b) £12 941 (de-
crease £7 947) ; parts of arc lamps and searchlights (other than
carbons), (a) £341 (decrease £1134), [b] £6 265 (decrease £9 232);
batteries, (a) £36 156 (decrease £39 776), [b) £675 476 (increase
£47 202) ; meters and measuring instruments, (a) £35 264 (increase
£5 376), (b) £492 002 (increase £94 822); switchboards, (o) £18 810
(increase £4 950), {b) £240 819 (increase £123 610); electrical goodw
and apparatus unenumerated, (a) £98 814 (decrease £145 729), [b)
£1 989 411 (decrease £128 362). Total of electrical machinery,
material and apparatus, other than uninsulated wire, («) £1063154
(decrease £605 528), (6) £17 809 468 (increase £3 536 989).

Social Notes.

The staff engaged at the Wrexham Electricity Works, together
with members of the Town Council and a large number of con-
sumers, were entertained to dinner last week by Alderman E.
Hughes, chairman of the Electricity Committee.

The London Students' Section of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers are arranging a theatre party for the Coliseum on Jan. 27
at 7.45 p.m Tickets, price 3s. 6d. each, may be obtained from Mr.
A. Butler, " The Cottage," Callendar's Cable" and vJonstruction Com-
pany, Belvedere.

.The London Electrical Engineers' Old Comrades Association
have arranged to hold a Bohemian concert at Bridge House Hotel.
London Bridge, on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. Admission by meml)er-
ship card.

The annual dinner of the London Electrical Engineers (24/26
L.A.S.S. Company), will be held at Bridge House Hotel on Thurs-
day, Feb. 23. Tickets, 7s. each, may be obtained from Mr. E. A.
Wilson, 3, Lombard-street, E.C. 3.

The annual dinner of the London Electrical Engineers (No. 4
(Newhaven) Company) will be held at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-
street, on Saturday, March 18, at 6.30 p.m. Tickets, price 6s. each,
mav be obtained from Mr. G. H. Cannon, 313, Fore-street. Edmon-
ton, N. 9.

The annual New Year's Invitation Social of the Athletic and
Recreation Club of J. H. Tucker & Company, Ltd., Birmingham;
held on the 5th inst. , proved a gi-eat success. The committee had
arranged whist, a concei-t and dancing, a.nd there were no speeches
beyond the usual vote of thanks to the committee. The chair was
occupied by Mr. T. R. Martin, and prizes were distributed to the
winners of the whist drive.

Miscellaneous.

The contributions received and promised up to Nov. 30 in con-
nection with the 1921 annual festival dinner of the Electrical
Trades' Benevolent Institution amounted to £1 443 IBs. 9d.

On a charge of embezzling £292, the money of the Fixed Price
Light Company's branch at Wimbledon, W. Taylor, the firm's chief
clerk, was at Wimbledon Police Court last week committed for
trial to the Central Criminal Court. He denied having had the
money, and refused to be dealt with summarily.

In addition to the awards in the jNIorley Arbitration (set out on
p. 46 of our last issue), the following sums have also been awarded
for loss of emplQj'ment : — L. Dale, engineman, £198 ; E. Williams,
engineman, £101; H. R. Turner, shift engineer or switchman, £66;
C Stinton, shift engineman or switchman, £66.

With certain exceptions, the salaries of Middlesburgh Corpora-
tion officials receiving £500 a year and over are to be reduced by
7^ per cent., and those of officials receiving less than £500 are to be
reduced by 5 per cent., the reductions to operate as from Jan. 1.
The exceptions are officials who have been recently appointed, the
Town Clerk, and the Director of Education.

About 2 000 UNEMPLOYED, representing various branches of the
unemployed workers' movement in London, protested outside the
Amalgamated Engineering Union headquarters in Peckham-road on
Monday afternoon against the ballot now being taken, and the
recommendation of the Executive Council that the men should accept
overtime at the discretion of the employeis. The interview lasted
about an hoar, aad at the end the men were told their case would be
placed before the Executive Council when it met.

An arrangement has been made between a number of the leading
fuel research chemists of this country and the " Colliery Guardian "'
to publish a monthly record of British and foreign research regard-
ing the PREPARATION AND USE OF FUEL, which will be available to all
interested in the subject. The publication will take the form of a
supplement to the "Colliery Guardian,"and willappearon the fourth
Friday of every month, being circulated free with that issue of the
journal. The supplement will be entitled " Fuel in Science and
Practice," and will be edited jointly by Dr R. V. Wheeler, Professor
of Fuel Technology of Sheffield University, and Dr. J. V. Elsden,
joint editor of the "Colliery Guardian."

The London County Council have made new by-laws as to lamps
used for marking road obstructions. (1) Where any work is being
carried out, or any road material or erection (whether movable or
not) is placed, in or on any part of a street or highway which makes
the use of such part dangerous for traffic, that part of the street or
highway shall, during the period between one hour after sunset and
one hour before sunrise, be kept continuously lighted by one or more
lamps showing a red light, placed in such manner and positions as
to indicate sufficiently to foot passengers and drivers of vehicles the
extent and position of such work, road material or erection. (2) No
lamp exhibiting a light other than a red light shall be used for the
purpose. For breaches of the by-laws there is a penalty not
exceeding £5.

A committee of the Federation of British Industries has been
investigating the regulations governing registration of business
NAMES, and a letter has been sent to the Controller of the
Companies Department of the Board of Trade on the matter. It
is pointed out that the necessity of furnishing full particulars to the
Registrar at Somerset House as to all the occupations of the directors
of a company is found to be extremely inconvenient and troublesome.
The Federation feels that, although it might have been desirable
that full information should have been disclosed during the war, the
necessity for this has ce-ased. It urges that nothing further should
now be required than that a director should supply the particulars
required by the Companies Consolidation Act, 1908, giving his usual
occupation. The obligation to place the names of directors on the
letter paper, &c. , of the company is regarded as unnecessary. As
regards the Act of 1916 requiring these particulars in relation to
private firms, the Federation feel this to be an advantage to the
business community generally, which might well be retained, but
the Companies (Particulars of Directors) Act, 1917, might be
repealed.

Companies* Meetings, Reports, &c.

M'he EASTERN KxTKNsioN Australasia & China Telegraph Com-
pany notify that the interest on the 4 per cent, mortgage debenture
stock for the half-vear ending Jan. 31 will be paid bv warrant on
Feb. 1. ■

The Fife Tramway, Light and Power Comp.\ny on Tuesday
offered for public subscription £250 000 7 per cent, debenture stock
at £93. The issue was largely over-subscribed, and the lists were
closed at 11 a.m.

An extraordinary meeting of the Metropolitan District Rail-
way Company, last week, accepted and confirmed the revised scheme
(The Electrician. Dec. 16, p. 770) for the common fund agree-
ment InHween the above company, the Ix>ndon Electric Railway
Company, the City and South London Railway Company, the Cen-
tral London HKTilway Company, and the London General Omnibus
Company. Similar meetings of a'l the companies concerned fol-
lowed, and at each the same scheme was dopted.

The report of the Chatham and District Light Railways Com-
pany for the vcar ended Dec. 31, 1921, shows the revenue to be

January 20, 1922

The fileccrioum.

£87 267 15s. and expenses £67 945 15s., leaving a gross profit of
£19 324. From this sum had to 1>€ deduct-ed £3 743 12s. for rent of
Rochester Corporation lines^ £2 470 for interest account, anri £4 000
for reserve and depreciation, making a total of £10 213 14s., and
leaving a net profit of £9 110 6fi. , which with £1608 lis., the
balance brought forward from 1920, left a balance of £10 718 17«.
Of thifi amount £2 940 has been paid for the 5 per cent, interim
dividend for the half-year ending June 30. 1921, on the preference
share capital ; £2 120 for the 4 per cent, interim dividend for the
same period on the ordinary share capital, and the dirc'ctors recom-
mend that the balance be disposed of ae, follows : — £2 940 to a 5 per
cent, dividend for the half-year ending Dec. 31, 1921, on the pre-
ference share capital ; £2 120 to a 4 per cent, dividend for the same
period on the ordinary share capital ; and £598 17s to a revenue new
account. There is a decrease of £3 446 in the revenue and £1228
in the expenses as compared with the revenue and expenses for the
year 1920. The decrease in net revenue is due to the coal stoppage
and trade depression. During the past year an efficient service of
trams on the various routes has been maintained. The generating
plant has worked satisfactorily, and the whole of the company's
machinery, engines, rolling stock, permanent way, cables, and other
works have been maintained in good working order and repair.

New Companies.

The following list is compiled from information supplied by
Messrs. Jordan & Sons, Ltd., company registration agents, 116-118,
Chancery-lane, London, W.C. 2.

Br.\sco-Lath, Ltd. (178 940). Registered Jan. 10. Manufac-
turers, dealers and contraxitors of electric fittings and building appli-
ances, 165. Queen Victoria-street. E.G. Nominal capital, £1000 in
1000 shares of £1 each. Directors : D. McPherson Armstead, J. E.
Woodruff, and J. B. Wilson. Qualification of directors, one share.

British Motor Improvements, Ltd. (178 916). Registered
Jan. 9. Mechanical and electrical engineers, &c. Nominal capital,
£100 in 100 shares of £1 each. Qualification of directors, one share.
Directors to be appointed by subscribers. Subscribers : Alice E.
Egerton, 37, Essex-street W.C. solicitor's clerk : and H. G.
Springall.

CiTLKiN & Parkikson, Ltd. (178 921), 111, Woodhouse-lane,
Leeds. Registered Jan. 9. Electricians, mechanical engineers, &c.
Nominal capital. £2 000 in 1 000 preference shares of £1 each and
1 000 ordinary shares of £1 each. Directors : J. Culkin and
J. Parkinson. Qualification of directors, £10. Remuneration of
directors, £50 each.

Electrical Insulating Composition Company, Ltd. (178 923),
Proval Works, Davyhulme-road, Davyhulme. Registered Jan. 9.
Electrical engineers and manufacturers, and dealers in electrical
insulation composition. Nominal capital, £1.500 in 1,500 shares of
£1 each. Directors : A. Rigby and H. D. Shancross. Qualification
of directors. £200. Remuneration of directors, £15 per annum each
Managing director, £50 per annum.

Greenodd Motor and Cycle Company, Ltd. (178 902). The
Garage, Greenodd, near Ulverston, Lancashire. Registered Jan. 7.
General mechanical and electrical and motor engineers. Nominal
capital, £1 500 in 1 500 shares of £1 each. Directors : A. E.
Gazey, G. C. Farrer, and T. Tyson. Qualification of direc-
tors, £50.

Multi-Way Earthing Clip, Ltd. (179 011), 44, Weston-street,
London Bridge, S.E. 1. Registered Jan. 12. To acquire the busi-
ness hitherto carried on by A. E. Ryeland and C. A. Greenslade at
44, Weston-street, London Bridge, S.E. 1, for the purpose of test-
ing and developing an invention for improvements in or relating
to means for bonding metallic tubing in electrical wriring installa-
tions, and to carry on the same. Nominal capital, £5 000 in 5 000
shares of £1 each. Directors : A. E. Ryeland, C. A. Greenslade.
and H. Hibbard. Qualification of directors, one share.

Shenton & Company, Ltd. (178 993), .68-69, Shoe-lane, E.C.
Registered Jan. 11. Electrical, telephone, mechanical, general engi-
neers, &c. Nominal capital. £4 000 in 1 000 preference shares, and
3 000 ordinary shares of £1 each. Directors : A. Handley and C. J.
Margerison. Qualification of directors, £250. Permanent direc-
tors,, £1 000.

TiMEPROOF Ferro-Concrete Railway Sleeper Company, Ltd.
(178 965), 2, Dean's-yard, The Sanctuary. Westminster, S.W.
Registered Jan. 10. To acquire from Robert Baker the benefit of
an invention for improvements in railway and tramway sleepers, and
turn same to account. Nominal capital, £900 in" 750 ordinary
shares of £1 each and 3 000 founders' shares of Is. each. Directors":
R. Baker, D. Macdonald, W. Daniel, and E. A. Kite. Qualification
of directors, one share. Remuneration of directors. £50 each.
Chairman, £75.

Joseph Watson & Son (Nelson), Ltd. (178 889), Walverden
Foundry, Nelson, Lancashire. Electrical and mechanical engineers.
Nominal capital. £15 000 in 5 000 15 per cent, cumulative preference
shares and 10 000 ordinary shares of £1 ea.ch. Managing director:
I. Walton. Qualification of directors, 250 shares. Remuneration of
directors, £7 per week managing director and such sum to be votej
by company in general meeting.

Vio-Ray Electric Company. Ltd. (178 937). Registered Jan. 9.
To manufacture, purchase, sell and deal in anv kind of goods, elec-
trical or otherwise. Nominal capital. £1 000 "in 1 000 shares of £1
each. Directors to be appointed bv subscribers. Qualificatiton of
directors, one share. Subscribers : J. H. 0. Emery. 50. Brightside-
road. Hither Green, S.E. 13, and A. A. Henley," Oak House. The
Mount, Sydenham Hill-road, S.E., incorporated accountant.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. J.a. 20th (co-^y).

IsSTITLTIOX OF MECIU}(K:AL V.S .I'.tihi.

G p.m. At Storey's Gate, I>xidon, &;W. Pap«r oo "* Some
Ob«ervations on a Prf*ducer-Ga« Power Plant," br Mr
H. S. Denny, C.B.E.. and Mr. N. V. S. Knibbe, B.Sc.
Ikstitutios' op Electbical Ekgixoss.
(Ia)Ni>os Students' Sccnoti.)

7 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Paper on " Some Appli-

catiorifl of the Thermionic Valve to "Telepbony," by Mr.
L. T. H in ton.

British Electrical Deveu^i *

8 p.m. At the Chartered Institute ^pl* Inn-

buildings, London, W.C. »...•-;„.>,-;,.„ . „.. -rrnce on
" Salesmanship in Relation U, Electric Heating and
Cfx>king." Speaker, Mr. W. A. GilWtt.

MONDAY. Jan. 23rd.

Institltion of Electrical E.vcineers.
(Informal MEm.vG.)
7 p.m.. At Savoy -place, London, W.C. Di«ciusioD oo fctec-
tric Vehicles, Present and Fatnre," to be opened by Mr.
R. J. Mitchell.

I.vstitltion of Electrical Encineebs.
( North- EIastern Centre.)
7.1.5 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcaetle-on-Tyne. Paper
on "The Intercormection of A.C. Power StatioDS," by
Messrs. L. J. Romero and J. B. Palmer.

TUESDAY. Jan. 24th.

Institution of Civil Engineers.

6 p.m. At Gt. George-6treet, London. S.W. Papers to be

further discussed, " Control of Trains, in Relation to
Increased Weight aid Speed Combined with Redaced
Headway," by Mr. A. W. Rendell. and " Trials in Con-
nection with the Application of the Vacuum Brake for
Long Freight Trains," by Sir Henrv Fowler and M- " V
Greeley, C.B.E.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(East Midland Sub-Centre.)
6.45 p.m. At The College, Loughborough. Paper on " Loaeh-
borough Electricity Undertaking and E.xtensions in Hand,"
by Mr. R. B. Leach.

Institution of Electricu. Engineers.
( North- Westkrn Centre.)

7 p.m. At the Engineers' Club. Manchester. Paper on " Cyc-

Arc Procerss of Automatic Electric Welding. » by Mesers.
L. J. Steele and H. Martin.

JuviOR Institution of Engineers.
(North-E\stern Section.)
7 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Paper on
" Pyi'ometry," by Mr. R. L. Granville Johnston.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25th.

iNSTrrtmoN of Civil Engineers.
(Stltjents' Meeting.)

6 p.m. At Great George-street. London. S.W. Lecture en

" The Economic Aspects of Various Methods of Power
Transmission." bv Mr. E. W. Monkhouse, M.A. (Lecture
II)

THURSDAY. Jan. 26th.

Institution of Electric.\l Engineers.
(Tees-Side Sub-Centre.)

7 p.m. At the Cleveland Technical Institute. Miadlesbroueh.

Paper on " Metho'le of Conversion of A.C. to D.C. for
Traction Purposes," by Mr. C. H. Davidson.
Institution of Mechanic.u. Engineers.
7.30 p.m. At the University, Birminghanj. Paper on " Higii
"Teneion Spark Ignition in Internal Combustion Engines."'
by Mr. J. D. Morgan.

FRIDAY. Jan. 27th.

Institition of ELEmiicAL En\;inekrs.
(Scottish Centre, Students' Section.)
7.S0 p.m. At the Royal Technical CoUege. Glasgow. Pa{>er on
" The Economical Production of Electrical Power." by
Mr. R. G Kendall.
North-East Coast Institition of Engineers and SmPBnijirRs.
7.30 p.m. At tbe Literary and Philosiwhioal Societv. Newcastle-
on-Tyne. Paper on ' The X^se of Compressed Air in Diesel-
Engined Ships," by Mj-. W. Reavell.

Institution of Electric.vl Engineers.
(Irish Cen-tre.)
8 p.m. At the Royal College of Science. Dublin. Lecture on
" The Development of" Electricity Supply in Switxerland."
by Mr. E. M. Johnson.

Junior iNSTrnrnoN or Engineers.
f p.m. At Ca.xton Hall, London. S.W. Lectarette on " Fuels
and the Boiler House," bv Mr. L. M. Jookel.

The Electrician — January 20, \^22

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

London Gazette.

Partnerships Dissolved.

COLLINS, Sidney, and SLATER, William Owen, agents for elec-
trical appliances, 17a, Sweeting-street, Liverpool, under the
style of Collins & Slater, by mutual consent as from Nov. 1,
1921. Debts received and paid by S. Colline.

SUKIASSIAN, Sarkis Balthazar; and TAYLOR, James Harry,
electrical accessory dealers, 29, Minshull-street, Manchester,
under the style of the Princess Electrical Company, by mutual
consent as from Dec. 31, 1921. Debts received "and paid by
S. B. Sukiaesian, who will continue the business.

WINKLE Y, William Leonard, and WINKLEY, Bernard Percival,
electro platers and stampers, 6, Hockley-street, Brimingham,
under the style of the Electro Plate & Stamping Company, by
mutual consent as and from Dec. 31, 1921. Debts received and
paid by B. P. Winkley, who will continue the business.

Bankruptcy Information.

FAWCETT, Ernest, 20, St. Anne-street, Liverpool, electrical and
heating engineer. Receiving order, Jan. 13. Debtor's petition.

HURWORTH, Walter, 1, Back James-street, Harrogate, late 41,
Town-street, Horsforth, Leeds, electrical engineer. Receiving
order, Jan. 11. Creditor's petition.

LANGSFORD, Edwin Growdon, 24, Bar-street, Burnley, Lancaster,
electrician. First meeting, Jan. 25, 11 a.m.. Official Receiver's
Offices, 13, Winckley-street, Preston. Public examination,
Jan. 26, 11 a.m.. County Court House, Bankhouse-street,
Burnley.

ROTHWELL, Peter, trading [with Peter Ashworth Rothwell, a
minor) as P. A. Rothwell & Company, at 64, Higher Bridge-
street, Bolton, electrical engineer. Receiving order, Jan. 12.
Debtor's petition.

Notice of Intended Dividend.

DRYSDALE, William, 24, Paxton-street, Barrow-in-Furness. Lan-
caster, electrician. Last day for receiving proofs, Feb. 4.
Trustee, H. Mossop, 4, Ramsden-square, Barrow-in-Furness.

Company Winding-up Voluntarily.

HOOTON & ELLESMERE PORT DISTRICT ELECTRIC
SUPPLY COMPANY, LTD. S. S. Dawson, 51, North John-
street, Liverpool, appointed liquidator.

FELIX MACAULEY, LTD., London, E.G., turners in ebonite.
Registered Dec. 30. £3 000 debentures, present issue £1 600 ;
general charge.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the " Registry of
County Court Judgmenta " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgmenta
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgmente are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

BOULT, M. A., & COMPANY, 26, Slater-street, Liverpool, elec-
trical engineers. £18 2s. 8d. Nov. 10.
BRITISH BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY, LTD., registered

office, King's-walk, Nottingham, electrical engineers.

£13 12s. 2d. Nov. 10.
CALDWELL & SONS, 26, Victoria-road, Hale, electrical engineers.

£10 17s. 3d. xNov. 1'
HALL, Mr. H. W., 29, Emerald-street, Dingle, Liverpool, electrical

engineer. £31 6s. 8d. Nov. 3.
MATTHEWS, Mr. F., 13, Herbert-street, Newport, electrical

engineer. £12 16s. 6d. Nov. 4.
SEACOMBE, Mr. J., 98, Trevor-street, North Shields, electrical

engineer. £19 18s. 8d. Nov. 9.
SLATER BROTHERS, Dickinson-street, Manchester, electrical

engineers. £42 8s. Id. Nov. 1.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an • —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

EVANS (ELECTRICAL) LTD., London, E.G. Registered Jan. 3.
£1100 debentures, to A. E. Pater, 1, Arcade-house, Hendon,
builder and contractor ; general charge.

Receivership.

PULLAN ENGINEERING COMPANY, LTD. T. Paton, of 3,
Piccadilly, Bradford, ceased to act as receiver or manager on
Jan. 9, 1922.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

BARNETT, Bernard, electrical engineer, 104, Whitechapel-road, E.
At the adjourned meeting of creditors, held on Tuesday, a draft
statement of affairs was submitted, showing liabilities £800 and
assets valued at £1 102, of which £781 represented the debtor's
interest in his partnership business. The debtor's late partners,
who were present at the meeting, claimed to be creditors, and
stated that instead of there being any interest for the debtor in
the business, it was insolvent at the date of the appointment of
a receiver. The debtor strenuously denied this contention.
After a somewhat heated discussion, the Official Receiver
expressed a doubt whether any assets would accrue to the estate
from the partnership. He said that he should apply for an
order for the summary administration of the estate in bank-
ruptcy. Meeting was closed, the case remaining in the hands
of the Official Receiver.

PUGH, Herbert John, formerly trading as H. J. Pugh & Company,
electrical engineer, 38, Broadway-parade, Crouch End, Hornsey.
The first meeting of creditors was held last week at the London
Bankruptcy Court. Debtor began business in May, 1914, at
Hornsey Rise with very little free capital, and a few months
later removed to larger premises. He was exempted from military
service on medical grounds, and between 1914 and 1920 he did
an increasing business, though he could not state the amount of
his profits. In 1920 his business suffered from the general trade
depression, and creditors began to press. In April last one of
them obtained judgment, and levied execution, the effects being
sold by the Sheriff to the debtor's mother, who had since con-
tinued the business under debtor's management. Debtor esti-
mated his liabilities at £400 and disclosed no assets, the failure
being attributed to trade depression and to stoppage of his
business for the execution of necessary repairs to the premises.
Case left in the hands of the Official Receiver for administration
in bankruptcy.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Copper — Price. Inc. Dec.

Best selected per ton £69 0 0 IDs. —

Electro Wirebars .. „ £74 0 0 — IDs.

H.C. wire, bajsis per lb. Os. lUd. — Jgd.

Sheet „ Os. lOJd. — —

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone) —
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis ,, Is. Sjd. — Jyd.

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis , Os. 7Jd. — —

Sheet, basis „ Os. lOJd. — —

Wire, basis , Os. lO^d. — —

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants per ton £4 15 0 — 10s

Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £22 0 0 — —

Lead Pig —

English „ £25 10 0 — ^Us.

Foreign or Colonial . . ,, £23 17 6 — IDs.

Tin^

Ingot , £165 5 0 — £1 16 0

Wire, basis per lb. 23. 2|d. — • Jd.

Aluminium Ingots £120 0 0 — —

Salammoniac, — Per cwt. 658.-60s. Copper Sulphate. — Per ton £28 lOs .

Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £12 10s. Boric Acid (Crystals) —Per ton
„ (Roll-Brimstone). — Per ton £65.

£12 10s. Sodium Bichromate, — Per lb. 6iA

Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°).— Sodium ChloraU.—PeT lb. 3id.
Per ton, £9 178. 6d.

Rubber. — Para fine, Is. l^d. ; plantation 1st latex. 10|J. to 10]d.

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated >&, Helsby Cubloa,
Ltd

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Offices of '' Thk
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grams: Benbroctic, Fleet, London. Telephone : City 9852 (5 lines).

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THE ELECTRICIAN

»» ESTABLISHED 1861.

P THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OP

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2280. [

No. 4.
Vol. LXXXVI

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1922.

Prepaid Subscription L'.IC, f_i iis.
pcrann. ; Abroad,/! 141.

Pric

e I -

CONTENTS.

Notes of the Week 87

Waste Heat Utilisation 90

The Production of Metallic Magnesium. By S. T. Allen 92

Kbviews 93 and 96

Utilisation of Waste Heat in Generating Stations. By C. I.

Haden and F. H. Whysall. Illustrated 94

Enamelled Wire and Enamelled Wire. By a Specialist 95

The Institution of Electrical Engineers 97

Annual Exhibition of the Physical Society of London and the

Optical Society. Illustrated. 98

Correspondence ] 00

Salesmanship and Heating and Cooking 100

The Protection of Alternating Current System 101

The Installation of Shaft Cables 101

Electric Traction in Chile 102

The Municipal Electrical Old Stagers. Illustrated 103

The S.-E. Lancashire Inquiry 104

Legal Intelligence 105

Tne Institute of Metals 106

Power Supply Amenities at West Ham • 106

Electricity Supply 106

Electric Traction 107

Trade Inquiries \(f]

Personal and Appointments \{j^

Business Items, &c 108

Institution Notes " \(^

Telegraph and Telephone Notes ]0S

Wireless Notes 109

Imperial Notes [/ \{fy

Foreign Notes hq

Obituary jjq

Recent Wills liO

Miscellaneous \ \\\

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c m

Benn Brothers' Journals m

New Companies 112

Forty Years Ago '* 112

Social Noes \\2

Calendars, Diaries, &c wi

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c 112

Tenders Invited and Accepted '. 113

Commercial Intelligence 114

Arrangements for the Week 115

Patent Record 115

Notes of the Week.

Causes of Rail Corrugation.

The history of the investigationsi into corrugation, of
tramway rails, which has been conducted over a number
of years, and has resulted in great differences of opinion
on the causation, has received an addition in the Final
Reporti of the Rail Corrugation Sub-Committiee lOf the
Municipal Tramways Association. This Committee, which
was under the Chairmanship of Mr. W. W. Beaumont, was
appointed some time before the war to investigate the cor-
rugation of tramway rails, with particular reference to the
vibration of the rails and of the foundations as being a
probable cause. Experiments with this end in view were,
therefore conducted in the London County Council's sub-
way below Kingsway, where a length of straight, level track,
protected from the weather and from the effects of other
traffic, formed a suitable experimental ground. The cars
running through this subway are of the single-deck type,
seating thirty-six passengers and weighing 14^ tons empty.
They are mounted on bogie trucks and are fitted with two
42 H.p motors. The trucks have steel tyres, the diameters
of which are 3 If in. and 21| in. on the driving and bogie
wheels, respectively, while the maximum speed attained is
twenty miles per hour.

Experiments and Observations.

It was found that the corrugations were set up at in-
tervals of about 2J in. a,nd of depths ranging from 0004
and 0008 in. As is well known, opinion on the Continent
inclined to the theory that these corrugations were due to
excessive rigidity in the foundations of the rails, or to
inherent variations in the rail surface set up by the rolling
action of the mills. Special care was therefore taken in
these experiments to reduoe. vibration by the use of angle-
irons or iron blocks bolted to each side of the rail web.
The wooden sleepers on which the rails rested wore replaced
by short lengths of old rails laid crossways at intei-vals,
the whole being concreted up to tiie level of the top

working face of the track. As a result of six years' obser-
vation, the conclusion was arrived at that vibration has
little or nothing to do with the appearance of conugations.
The origin is considered to be found in the action which
occurs when the heavily loaded wheels roll along the surface
of the rail. This action gives rise to supei-ficial stresses in
the rail material which are in excess of the elastic limit
of the steel.

Joint Researches.

The total load on each wheel averages about two tons,
but from experiments made by Mr. Beaumoxt on the area
of contact between the wheel and the rail, it is concluded
that this load gives rise to stress in the centre of the area
of probably as much as fifty tons per sq. in. when the
car is sta^tionary, of some ninety tons when ib is running
at ordinary speeds on the straight, and of as much as 120
tons when it is rounding a curve at speed. We reg~et
to notice that the Committee's report is stated to be
final, as although it lays down with some definiteness
the XJausesi of rail corrugation, and thus makes a step for-
ward in our knowledge of this important subject, it says
little or nothing as to how these corrugations should be
overcome. Continental investigations have rather proceeded
in the other direction by starting with tracks where cor-
rugations have been noticed and trying tc find in their
construction the method by which this expensive source
of wear may be avoided. It would be as well if these
two researches could be joined up and experiments under-
taken that will lead to a removal of the damage.

Electrolytic Production of Magnesium.

Electrical eoigineers would do well to keep a clooe watch
on the possibilities of magnesium as an industiial material.
From the manufactouing point of view, it is adready re-
ceiving a wide application in aeroplane construction, seeing
that it is 40 per cent, lighter than aluminium and is no
more susceptible to corrosion. ^Mechanically its properties
are sufficiently attractive to make its use for transmission
lines a possibility, as it can be easily worked and is handled

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

with, facility. To thei electricity supply engineier it makes
another appeal. For the most economical means of pro-
ducing it is by electrolytic methods, and considering that,
like other guch prooess-es', it provides both a. good load and
a good load factor, the development of this process in areas
where, for one reason or another, electrical furnaces have
not yet been much employed, opens up possibilities of which
the enterprising will not be slow to' take advantage.

Details of the Process.

In the article which we publish on another page of this
issue Mr. S. T. Allen gives some details of the electro-
lytic prooeiss employed by the Magnesium Co. in Wol-
verhampton for the manufacture of this metal. In this
process magnesium chloride forms the starting point, as it>
occurs in nature as one of the constitueints of the German
salt deposits and forms a bye-product after the separation
of the potassium chloride. This chloride is first rendered
anhydrous by exposure to hot, dry air and dry hydrochloric
acid gag. This results in the water being driven off and
the magnesium oxide being converted intoi chloride; finally
a salt with a content of over 99 per cent, magnesium
chloride is obtained. The hydrochloric acid gas used for
this purpose is produced by the electrolytic treatment of
brine.

The Electrolytic Cell.

The anhydrous chloride is then mixed with either sodium
or potassium chloride: tO' reduce its melting point, and the
mixture is treated in a, gas-tight, casti-iron electrolytic cell
fitted with carbon anodes. The cathode consists of a few
inches of molten lead on which the electrolytei floats, the
whole being kept in circulation. The electrical capacity
of the cell is about 5 000 A at 5 V, and it is self-heating.
It produces about 100 lb. of magnesium-lead alloy every
twenty-four hours. In the second stage the magnesium-
lead alloy forms the anode ol a similar cell with steel rod
cathodes. This is really a refining processs in which the
molten lead is freed from its magnesium and returned tO'
the firsti cell to be enriched. The seco>nd cell is worked in
series with the primary and takes 5 000 A at 2 V. Thus
about 100 lb. of magnesium is obtained every twenty-fonr
hours for a consumption of 8-5 kWh per lb. In essence the
process consists of the indirect seiparatiom of magnesium and
oixygen, the chlorinei produced being used for the pro^-
duction of more magnesium-chloride for the magnesite.
The further development of the process will be watched
with interest, by both electricity supply engineers and
electro-chemists.

The South-East Lancashire District.

The scheme put forward at the local inquiry last week
for the reorganisation of electricity supply in the South-
east Lancashire District possesses, in addition to the merit
of simplicity, some special features which deserve more than
passing notice. Next to the London area, this is probably
the most important district in the United Kingdom, as it
includes Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale,
Wigan, Stockport, Stalybridge, and other important
towns and industrial centres. With the exception of those
of the Lancashire Electric Power Company, all the large
generating stations are owned by local authorities, who have
with unpraiseworthy unanimity objected to the transfer
of their undertakings to a Joint Electricity Authority. It
has, therefore, become necessary to devise some substitute
which would satisfy the individualistic views of Lancashire
and at the same time co-ordinate the generation and supply

of electricity in the area. After some delay and a good
deal of discussion it was decided to form an Advisory Board
of forty-eight members whose duty it will be to survey the
sources of supply, to make recommendations for the closing
of generating stations and the laying of transmission lines
and to supervise in a general way the supply of electricity
for power and lighting.

Weakness of Scheme.

Though the Advisory Board is said to be the only way of
commanding the support of the whole of the twenty-eight
supply authorities, it has two inherent sources of weakness.
In the first place, it is too big to be an efficient instrument
of administration, and we should prefei" to^ see' a Board of
twenty or twenty-four members. However, as most of the
real work will be performed by the technical committee of
ten engineers, who will make recommendations to the
Board, this objection may not be so serious as the absence
of all compulsory or coercive powers. For the Board will
have no authority to raise capital, its only reason for exis-
tence being to initiate Cr put forward plans of development
that may be suggested by the engineering committee. It
will thus have to rely upon its moral and persuasive powers
to make the constituent authorities adopt its proposals.
Already the majority of the undertakings in the district are
linked up, and we are afraid that the new Board may not
be able to do much more — perhaps even less — than the old
linking-up committee, especially as each undertaking can
appeal to the Electricity Commissioners against any of its
decisions. It is therefore to be hoped that even at the last
minute a way may be found to form a Joint Authority.

Technical Points in the Scheme.

Feom the technical point of view the scheme leaves little -
room for criticism, and it will at least effect real economies M
in generation and distribution. A capital expenditure of
£13 000 000 would be necessary during the next ten years
to meet the requirements of the individual undertakings,
but by the suggested co-operation about £1 800 000 of this
sum will be saved, and the average annual saving on coal
and in capital charges is estimated at £103 423. The
inquiry was one of the shortest yet held, and as it disclosed
an agreeable spirit of goodwill and co-operation among the
various local authorities, it may be that the proposed
Advisory Board, if approved by the Commissioners, will be
able to perform useful work for some years and so pave the
way for the formation of a Joint Electricity Authority,
when education and the experience of other such bodies will
have rendered that course probable.

Telephones and Archaeology.

An article by Mr. A. O. Gibbon, which appears in the
current issue of the " Post Office Electrical Engineei's'
Journal," should be of interest both to electrical engineers
and to archjeologists. For, as already mentioned in con-
nection with our description of the London Toll Exchange,
the development of the telej^hone system in the metropolis
has recently made the laying of additional cable ducts
necessary. Work of this kind is always difficult in London,
and, in this case, presented some more than usually
stiff problems, especially between St. Paul's Cathedral and
Fleet Sti'eet, where virgin soil was discovered witliin 10 ft.
of the surface. Ai-chaeologists will note that foundations
of old houses, which formerly stood on the site of the
present roadway, were cut through and that some interest-
ing Roman remiainsi were also discovered and have been
carefully preserved.

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

Overcoming Obstructions.

From the engineenng point of view the obstructions that
had to be overcome or ciixumveiited in laying the ducts
formed the most difficult problem. These included the
main outfall sewer and the power supply mains of the Post
Office, both of which had to be crossed at right angles. In
general, such obstacles' were avoided by gi-adually increa^sing
the depths of the ducts until, at Ludgate Circus, a maxi-
mum depth of 19 ft. was reached. Here the Fleet River,
which is now enclosed in a culvert, had to be crossed, aad
as the crown of the culvert is only 3 ft. below the surface
of the roadway and the culvert itself is 24 ft. deep, it was
decided to cany the cables at this point through steel pipes
and to alter the formation of the ducts by spreading them
out horizontally so' as to make the most of the small vertical
space a.vailable. At the point where the sewer emptier;
into the Fleet River at Ludgate Circus, a specially-dedgned
manhole ivith a strengthened loof was constructed, over
which the sewer M'as carried. This manhole is the first
to be built in London with the American method of splayed
comers'. The whole design and lay-out ol the work and
its conduct to a. successful conclusion are matters upon
which the Post Offioei Engineering Department and the
contractors may be whole-heartedly congratulated, especi-
ally, as even their critics will admit, it has been undertaken
to improve London's telephone service.

Selling Heating and Cooking Apparatus.

The third ol the series of conferences which have been
organised by the British Electrical Development Associa-
tion to assist salesmen to- market their waree was a little
disappointing in its immediate appeal. The subject under
discussion was " Salesmanship in Relation to Electric
Heating and Cooking," and no subject should be of more
importance' to electrical engineers of all classes at the pre-
senti time. For, as we have pointed out before, not only
is the domestic field wide and mainly untilled, but the
future of the electrical industry must depend increasingly
on the success with which (to mix metaphors) this par-
ticular market is exploited. Yet the discussion tended to
range not over the difficulties of salesmen and salesmanship
and how these may bei overcoine, but over the disadvantages
and shortcomings of electrical apparatus as reflected by
each particular speaker's inner consciousneiss. This was
not the opener'si (Mr. W. A. Gillott) fault, for he sum-
marised concisely and clearly thei points which eivery sales-
man should keep eiver in view. Especially he emphasised
the need for psychology and tact ol thei special brands that
are called into play when dealing with the non-technical
and feminine public. We like particularly the idea that
mistreisseis should be dealt with via the cook and masters vm
the mistress. Mr. Downe, an he would, could tell us a
good deal about the success of this policy.

A Curious Lack of Enthusiasm.

One speaker, in the course of the discussion, pointed out
that the real obstacle to the increased sale of domestic
electrical apparatus was the lack of enthusiasm of its poten-
tialities that persisted in electrical circles/. This, in our
view, exposes the sore which is infecting th.e wliole body.
The fact is that many electrical engineers have reached a
stage in their domestic electrical education when dis-
couragement has set in. Golfers know this stage well. It
follows a beginning when every stroke is easy and the
Amateur Championship appears within grasp. It is
followed by the stage when balls vanish into hazards and
broken clubs are consumed on a funeral pyre. But that

stage pas.se» too, and we hope it will soon pa&s with elec-
trical engineers. Much of the old domestic apparatus wa."*
bad and many mistakes were made in its use. Apparatus
is a good deal better at present, and it will be better btiil ;
and we are learning a great deal about how it should be
u.sed. Electricity .supply engineers, too, mu<>t take courage j
and reduce their charges, a'- i.s already being done, notably ^
by the Wefctmin.ster Electricity Supply Corjx>ratiou and by
so.ne of the large provincial supply authorities. Hiring
schemes must be initiated and populari.sed. Then enthu-
siasm and cheapness will be mofrt u.seful aids to good
salesmanship .

Electrical v. Mechanical Engineers.

In our correspondence columns to-day we publish a letter
to which we draw attention mainly in order that the views
its writer expresses shall not obscure an important issue. A
fortnight ago we said that to place the chief electrical
engineer of an important railway under the chief
mechanical engineer was a retrograde step. Our corre-
spondent claims that it is equally retrograde to place the
management of an electricity supply undertaking under a
mechanical engineer. The two cases, however, are not on
all fours. In an electricity supply undertaking the
mechanical side is as important as the electrical side; indeed,
in a large undertaking at the present time it may easily be
more important. Again, the principal duty of the chief
of a supply undertaking is to sell electricity as cheaply and
efficiently as possible, and as long as he does that it doee
not matter whether his own bias or that of his staff is
electrical or mechanical. For, unless he is a fool, he will do
nothing that will check development along the most modem
lines. In fact, his chief concern must be with questions of
policy and management rather than with engineering
details.

A Question for the Institution.

On a railway matters are far different. There are two
warring factions. One led by the mechanical eiigineer, who
hopes, though there are exceptions, that it may still by
hard work and enterprise be possible to postpone the evil
day when electric traction will be introduced. The other,
led by the electrical engineer, who knov/s the advantages of
electric traction an>l only asks to be allowed to prove them.
It is obviovis, it is against human nature, that the electrical
engineer will not have that free hand if he is placed under
the mechanical engineer. We reiterate that this is not a
matter of personality, but of policy. Further, so impor-
tant do we consider it in its bearings on the future of electric
traction, that we feel it is a matter which the Institution of
Electrical Engineers should tako up without delay. They
could not better signalise the grant of the Royal Charter.

Electric Lighting Developments.

It is common knowledge that during the war inveutiou
and discovery in the lighting field, as in many others,
were checked or diverted into other channels. During
this period, and indeed for some time after the Armistice,
manufacturers were obliged to concentrate their efforts on
meeting demands for standard articles. But they have
now succeeded in making up arrears, and it seems likely
that once again invention and discovery will come into
their own. At least this should be the case if experience
after the Napoleonic War is anything to go by, while the
much more highly developed facilities for research at the
present day suggest that, once the movement gets into its
stride, progress will be rapid.

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

Small Discharge Lamps.

Perhaps the most strikiug development during 1921 was
the introduction of the small " discharge " lamps, whose
operation is based on the luminescence of neon gas in an
ordinary lamp bulb. These lamps are capable of being
inserted direct into a holder on a 200 to 240 V supply, and
although their low efficiency at present prevents their hav-
ing any important influence on lighting as a whole, they will
doubtless be useful for such special purposes as pilot lamps,
indicators, night-lights and luminous signs, while the
method is probably capable of considerable development.
Interesting speculations on this point are aroused by a
recent Paper read in the United States by Mr. D. MacFar-
LANE Moore, who has used the discharge through neon to
start an arc between tungsten electrodes, within a sealed
glass envelope, thus obtaining a relatively efficient source.
Various other experiments with lamps using rare gases have
been made on the Continent with more or less success, and it
is possible that out of these investigations something useful
may be evolved. Among other developments perhaps the
most noteworthy is the increased attention paid to methods
of producing " artificial daylight." The problem of imi-
tating daylight is now much better understood, and such
sources appear to have a future in connection with pro-
cesses where the correct appearance of colours is vital.

Illuminated Signs.

There have also been interesting developments in connec-
tion with illuminated signs, especially those of the pictorial
variety, and the range of reflectors and other appliances
for the distribution of light has been considerably extended .
In this connection it is probable that flood-lighting methods,
i.e., the use of projectors equipped with gasfilled lamps to
illuminate the surfaces of buildings and other large areas
will make progress in this country as soon as the improve-
ment in the industrial position encourages the use of spec-
tacular lighting. The recent application of flood lighting tO'
Self ridge's premises in London is interesting, but these
methods are, of course, familiar in the United States.

The Judicious Use of Light.

The most hopeful feature in the lighting world during
recent years has undoubtedly been the steady progress,
aided by the propaganda of the Illuminating Engineering
Society, towards more judicious methods of using light.
While it is still true that many instances of glare arising
from the use of unscreened gasfilled lamps in show windows
exist, it is noticeable that the leading stores of London
have almost invariably adopted concealed methods. In
many cases their windows are nov/ lighted in a creditable
and artistic manner. London, however, is in advance of
the provinces in this respect, and there is much room for
further educational effort. Speaking generally, it may be
said that facility in the production of light has as yet some-
what outrun knowledge as to the best way of using it, but it
is encouraging to see how much better the principles of good
illumination are appreciated among technical men. Various
aspects of lighting have been dealt with in official reports
recently, notably the second interim report of ihe Depart-
mental Committee on Lighting in Factories and Workshops.
It is to be hoped that the views expressed in such reports will
in course of time penetrate to the lowest strata of technical
knowledge.

Taxation and Trade Revival.

Opinion on the subject of taxation, in both engineering
and more purely electrioal circles!, is hardening. We, as
an industry, should soon be in a pociticn to impose our
views, through the proper channels, on those whose business

it is to regulate these matters and to indicate in the most
definite Avay the fact, learnt by hard experience, that
nothing is impeding the long-looked-for trade revival more
than the burden of taxation. There will be those who^ argue
thati unemployment and economy arei both more important.
But unemployment (and trade unions leaders and em-
ployers whoi meet their work people over the council table
would do well to emphasise this) can only be relieved by
more trade, and more trade depends, to a. large extent, on
the wider facilities that lower taxation would give.
Economy, in the true sense, follows as a matter of course.
For to spend, not recklessly but wisely, and to save, not
like a. miser but in order to be able to develop industry,
are two ways of reviving trade whioh are impossible of
application under present conditions.

Waste Heat Utilisation.

The policy recently adopted by the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers, of arranging joint meetings with other
technical bodies at which " fringe " subjects are discussed,
is worthy of commendation. Such meetings have already
taken place with the Institution of Gas Engineers and with
the Electro-Therapeutic Section of the Royal Society of
Medicine and the Rontgen Society. These gatherings
were most successful, and though the success that attended
the joint meeting with the Institution of Heating and Ven-
tilating Engineers last week was not quite so great, yet
there is, we hope, every prospect of there being a " next
time," when our congratulations on the proceedings will
be whole-hearted. It is not hard to justify this optimism.
For such meetings enable the views of those working in
other fields to be laid before the Institution, and, similarly,
enable. the views of electrical engineers to be published in
technical circles which are as yet unelectrified.

The Need of Universal Effort.

The subject discussed at the meeting to which we have
referred was " The Utilisation of Waste Heat from Elec-
trical Generating Stations." It was opened on behalf of
the heating engineers by Mr. C. Ingham Haden, and on
behalf of the electrical engineers by Mr. F. H. Whysall.
Their arguments will be found summarised on another page
of this issue. This matter is one on which the close
union of all bodies concerned is necessary. We agree
with Mr. Barker that the efforts of all sections of
engineers should be directed towards impi'oving our
methods of using coal. The need for this, if not already
obvious, was well brought out at the meeting last week.
For some of the views expressed by the heating engineers on
electrical matters were, to put it mildly, out of date. The
idea, for instance, seems to be still prevalent that our
generating stations are mainly concerned with a lighting

load.

The Necessity for an Open Mind.

Unlike certain matters which have been raised at other
joint meetings, this question of the iitilisation of waste heat
is one upon which electrical engineers have, and would do
well to keep, an open mind. We, all of us, with Mr.
Whysall, " deplore the fact that so much of the heat
value of fuel is rejected to the condenser, where steam is
the source of energy for the prime mover" in generating
stations, and for many reasons we have recently not been
inactive in a search for methods wliich shall allow this
waste heat to be utilised in some way or other. Alterna-
tively, efforts are being made to discover means for em-
ploying the heat content of the fuel more efficiently, so
that a greater proportion may be used in the prime movers

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

themselves. The results of these efforts are one of the
things about which Mr. Haden, for instance, does not seem
to have heard. We have no reason to suppose that a
great deal of good will not come from researches along both
these lines, and that, in the limit, economies in the
I)o\ver house, with obvious added advantages in the spheres
of distribution and finance, will result.

A Note of Warning.

But in this connection a note of warning must be uttered.
The generation of electricity, inefficient as it is in some
critics' view, might easily be made more inefficient by the
adoi)tion of methods which, though theoretically attractive,
leave both the financial and heat balance-sheets little, if
any, better off than they were before. Such a distinction
without a difference would, we cannot help feeling, be the
result of the adoption of Mr. Haden' s scheme for improve-
ment. Briefly, Mr. Haden would convert some of the
existing generating stations, which would otherwise be shut
down under the " super-station " scheme, into heat distri-
bution stations, generating electricity as a bye-produot
and linking up such stations with the super-stations, to
supply any surplus electrical load. The result would
obviously be a decrease in efficiency on the generating side,
but this decrease, in Mr. Haden' s opinion, would be more
than counterbalanced, both thermally and financially, by
the advantages obtained from the distribution of heat in
the form of steam to neighbouring houses, offices, flats and
factories.

Which is the Bye-Product ?

It will be seen that this scheme differs essentially from
those that have been put forward at various times,
notably by Mr. W. M. Selvey and Mr. Julius Frith, and
from that which is in successful operation in Manchester
and in certain cities in the United States. In Manchester
electricity is the main, and heat the bye, product, and in the
United States the heat stations are generally separate from
those generating electricity. In Mr. Haden' s scheme heat
is the main, and electricity the bye, product. Mr. Haden
supports his views with a wealth of ingenious argument, buti,
nevertheless, fails to cover up its essential fallaciousness.
]n a station which, as it is to be discarded, is already
generating electricity uneconomically, arrangements are
to be made to render the generation still more uneconomical
(this must be done to supply the principal heat load), while
the capital station is only to be used for supplying such
electrical requirements as cannot be dealt with locally.
Mr. Haden has, in fact, taken the usual argument in. favour
of the large station supplying a wide area — the better
load and diversity factors possible, and the savings made
by using large units under the best conditions — badly
shaken it, and then stood it on its head. Whether it
looks better after having been heated and ventilated in this
way we are rather inclined to doubt. He also seems to
have forgotten that, though in domestic areas heat is more
in demand than power, in industrial areas the reverse is
the case. In fact, we very much prefer Mr. Whysall's
method of attacking the problem.

Heat as the Bye-Product.

Mr. Whysall starts from the electrical end. Given a
station that under present conditions is as efficient as pos-
sible, how can that efficiency be improved ? By discover-
ing the conditions under which, without unduly decreas-
ing the efficiency of the electrical plant (some decrease is
inevitable), waste heat may be supplied to factories and
other buildings within one and a half miles of the station,
with mutual benefit to each. Owing to the large amount of
D 2

steam provided by, say, a 750 k\\ set, to work on these
lines requires that the plant employed shall run at 100
per cent, electrical load factor. Even under these condi-
tions the financial results are probably no better than with
energy supplied from a large central station, while the fact
that the provision of a load factor of 100 per cent, on
the plant supplying exhaust steam for heating purposes is
effected at the expense of the load factor at the main power
station must be taken into consideration when comparing
results.

The Great Distribution Problem.

Economical and practical difficulties do not, however,
cease with generation. There remains, especially for the
heat engineer, the great problem of distribution. Mr.
Haden proposes to distribute heat energy in the form of
steam at the pressure of 60 lbs. per sq. in., and also
in the form of hot water. It is not clear to what limiting
radius from the station he thinks it would be possible to
do this, and there is, indeed, a good deal of difference
of opinion on this point. Mr. Selvey, in his scheme for
hot-water distribution, put the maximum distance as four
miles. Mr. Whysall talks about one and a half miles. In
Detroit, according to Mr. Patchell, it is horizontally
less than two and a half miles, though it could probably be
more.

The Cost of Steam Transmission.

With steam the distance might be greater, but, in any
event a suitably lagged main of a size unspecified by the
author would be required, and the cost of laying this would
be, according to Mr. Haden, £17 800 per mile. Both he
and Mr. Whysall are a little fearful of the disturbance to
the streets which would be caused by these, and Mr.
Patchell 's accounts of the space required for such a service
in Detroit is not likely to allay their anxiety. Mr. Haden
suggested that mains should be taken through the base-
ments of the premises to be supplied, as has, in fact, beep^
done at Manchester, where a successful scheme has been
working for some time in the area adjacent to Dicken son-
street station. But in any event the cost and inconveni-
ence of the inevitable disturbance might well more than
counteract the financial advantages of the steam main com-
pared with the electric cable, even when we take into
account that the energy supplied through the latter can be
employed for all purposes, while the use of the steam is
limited.

Too Great Ambition.

In our view, Mr. Haden' s ideas on this subject are too am-
bitious. There are cases where the waste heat from generat-
ing stations can be, and is being, successfully utilised in the
way he has described. But each such c-.se must be judge<J
on its merits by, as he rightly says, heating engineers and
electrical engineers in combination. There can, we feel,
be no general solution on the lines he suggests. Attempts
to find such a ?olution might easily bring more disadvan-
tages than advantages in their train, and, unless a careful
' balance between heat and electricity supply can always
be assured, lead to a modern variant of Lamb's famous
parable about burning houses and roast pigs.

If the discussion, which was unfortunately both nebu-
lous and wandering, does nothing else, it will, we hope,
indicate that present methods of generating electricity are
not so economical as they might and should be, and that
other people besides electrical engineers are quite aware
of the fact. It follows that it is the duty of all electricity
supply engineers to employ all methods which will lead to
more efficient working, and especially to concentrate their
efforts on the boiler-house end of the problem.

The Electrician — January 27, 1922

The Production of Metallic Magnesium.

The Electrolytic Process of the Magnesium Company.

By S. T. ALLEN.

(Chief Engineer and General Manager, Wolverhampton Electricity Department).

Magnesium is becoming of increasing importance as a constructional material. Its manufacture by electrolytic methods is of interest to

the electricity supply engineer, as this provides a good load at a good load factor. Mr. Allen describes in detail the process devised

by the Magnesium Company for the production of this metal on a commercial scale.

The importanoe of magnesium metal has gi-^atly iiioreased
during the last, few years, because of its present value
and future possibilities in oonnection with the alloying of
other non-ferrous metals, where extreme lightness and high
strength are required, such as in the building of airships
and aeroplanes, and also because of its properties as a
deoxidiser of other metals.

Magnesium is 40 per cent, lighter than aluminium, and,
when pure, is no more susceptible to atmospheric corro-
sion than is aluminium. Thus, given production as cheap
as aluminium, which the Magnesium Company state is a
possibility, and provided that there is a, coo-esponding
demand, the usesi in the future of this beautiful metal will
oeirtainly multiply. Its production will theref ore be watched
with considerable interest.

A High Load Factor Supply.

The intention of this article is more especially to describe
the new electrolytic process developed in Wolverhampton
by the Magnesium Company, which is already creating a
considerable amount of interest throughout the world. It
is of special interest to the electricity supply engineer, as
it is a continuous process, making for a very high load
factor supply.

The only two compounds of magnesium which occur
abundantly in nature are the carbonate and chloride; the
choice of the raw material for the production of the metal
is accordingly limited to one or other of these compounds.
Magnesite, the carbonate, is found in varying states of
purity in all parts of the world. There are no deposits
of pure magnesite in the United Kingdom, but large
quantities occur as dolomite, the double carbonate of mag-
nesium and calcium, from which pure carbonate of
magnesium can be separated by simple processes. Mag-
nesium chloride occurs in nature as one of the constituents
of the German salt deposits. The separation of potassium
chloride from these deposits involves the production of huge
quantities of magnesium chloride. Magnesium chloride
also occurs in sea water, and is a product of its evapora-
tion for the production of salt. Either of these two com-
pounds can be used as raw material, the choice being
influenced by the cost of freight and the means available
to the manufacturer for the disposal of his by-products.

Suggested Processes.

The processes which have been proposed or used for the
production of magnesium may be placed under three
headings: — (1) Thermal processes; (2) substitution pro-
cesses;^ and (3) direct electrolytic prooeisaes. In thei first
the oxide of magnesium is reduced by carbon at a tempera-
ture well within the range of the electric furnace. The
metal is produced as vapour, which may be condensed.
This process has been tried on a considerable scale, but
great difficulties were encountered in attempts to produce
coherent metal from the finely divided material which
resulted from the condensation. In the second process
magnesium has been produced experimentally by the
reduction of magnesium oxide with aluminium. Unlike
the well-known " Thermit " reactions, the reaction
between magnesium oxide and aluminium is endothermic,
and heat must be supplied. In the third process mag-
nesium chloride is also readily reduced by metallic sodium,
and at first sight this might appear to be an economic
method of manufacture. To obtain satisfactory yields the
magnesium chloride must be anhydrous, and as anhydrous
magnesium chloride can be electrolysed for the direct pro-
duction of magnesium, reduction with sodium can only be

economical if the sodium electrolytic cell shows a higher
efficiency than the magnesium electrolytic cell.

The Choice of Electrolyte.

The choice of the electrolyte for the production of the
metal by direct electrolysis is for practical purposes limited
to the chloride and the fluoride, although claims have been
made for the electrolysis of magnesium oxide in a bath of
fused magnesium fluoride following the lines of the ordinary
aluminium process. Electrolysis of the fused sulphide has
also been proposed, but it is safe to say that all the mag-
nesium for the market is produced by electrolysis of the
chloride in a state of fusion with or without the admix-
ture of potassium and sodium chlorides.

Preparation of Anhydrous Magnesium Chloride.

The Magnesium Company are interested in two pro-
cesses for the production of anhydrous magnesium chloride,
in one of which the chloride is produced by the action of
chlorine on magnesium oxide, and in the other water is
removed from magnesium chloride crystals.

In the presence of carbon chlorine reacts with magnesium
oxide, producing magnesium chloride and carbon
monoxide. With pure materials the temperature at which
this reaction is complete is uncommeroially high. Com-
pounds of iron act as chlorine carriers or catalysts of this
reaction, and enable it to proceed to completion at a reason-
able temperature. During the war large quantities of
anhydrous magnesium chloride were made by this process,
and subsequently reduced to the metal. The complete
dehydration of magnesium chloride crystals is not a simple
matter, and has been made the subject of a large number
of patents.

Details of the Process.

The following is a brief description of the process em-
ployed by the Magnesium Company : —

The crystals of magnesium chloride, after passing
through a hydro extractor to remove adhering water, are
exposed for several hours to a cui-rent of dry air at a
temperature of about 150°C. Half the combined water is
thus removed with a small decomposition of the mag-
nesium chloride, the product having the composition: —
Mg CI2, 73 0 per cent. ; MgO, 4-0 per cent. ; and HoO,
23'0 per cent.

The partially dried material is now exposed to a current
of dry hydrochloric acid gas at a temperature of about
300°C. The remainder of the water is removed, the mag-
nesium oxide is converted into magnesium chloride, and a
product showing over 99 per cent, of magnesium chloride
results. As the temperature of fusion is never reached
during the drying process, the crystals retain their original
form, and in consequence the product is very easy to
handle. The hydrochloric acid gas used in the drying
process is produced by direct combination of hydrogen and
chlorine, resulting from the electrolysis of brine.

Electrolytic Arrangements.

As the melting point of anhydrous magnesium chloride,
750°C., is above the economical temperature for electrolysis,
sodium or potassium chloride, or both, are added to the
anhydrous magnesium chloride to produce the electrolytes.
Molten magnesium floats on the surface of this electrolyte,
and consequently a simple cell of the form used in the
manufacture of aluminium cannot be employed. Such a
cell would have tO' be fitted with penneable diaphragms
in order to keep the chlorine out of contact with the mag-
nesium. These diaphragms are a constant source of tro\ible

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

and expense, and, further, they tend to reduce the energy
efficiency of the cell. This difficulty has been got over
by the IMagneaum Company, by conducting the electrolysis
in two stages.

Stayc 1. — The cell, which is of cast steel lined w'ith fire-
J)rick, is fitted with a gas-tight ca&t-iron cover which carries
the graphite anodes. These have suitable openings for the
discharge of the chlorine gas and the removal of the elec-
trolyte. The cell is charged to the depth of a few inches
with molten lead, which forms the cathode. On the surface
of the lead cathode floats a 1 in. layer of the electrolyte,
into which dip the ends of the graphite anodes. The gap
between anodes and cathode surface is about | in.

Circulation of Electrolyte.

Means are provided for the circulation both of the elec-
trolyte and the liquid lead cathode. The cell has a
capacity of 5 000 A, at a cathode current density of about

1 500 A per sq. foot, and a terminal voltagei drop of
about 5 V. Under these conditions the cell is self -heating,
and produces about 100 lb. of Mg. per twenty-four hours
in the fonn of an alloy with lead, with an ampere
efficiency of approximately 85 per cent.

Stage 2. — The cell used in this stage is similar to that
used in Stage 1, except that the magnesium lead alloy
produced in Stage 1 forms the molten anode, while the
cathode consists of a large number of small diameter steel
rods immersed to a small depth in the electrolyte, which has
t^he same composition as that used in Stage 1. Suitable
means are provided for the removal of the molten mag-
nesium as it is produced.

It will be realised that this part of the process really
consists in the electrolytic refining of impure magnesium.
Means are provided to circulate the magnesium lead alloy,
which, as it becomes depleted of magnesium, is returned
to Stage 1 to be enriched. The secondary cell, which is
worked in series with the primary, operates on 5 000 A at

2 V. It will be seen that the total energy oonsaimptioii for
]00 lb. of magnesium per twenty-four hours amounts to
8-5 kWh per lb. of metal produced, giving an energy
efficiency approaching 40 per cent. Given pure mag-
nesium chloride, such as is produced by the processes already
described, the cells operate with remarkable smoothness,
and require little attention, save for the changing of the
electrolyte and the removal of the metal.

Chlorine Disposal.

The disposal of the chlorine from processes of this type,
especially when worked on a comparatively small scale, is
always a matter of some trouble. The process adopted by
the Ma-gnesium Company overcomes this difficulty in a neat
and economical manner. The chlorine is aspirated from the
cells, and is brought into contact in a series, of scrubbing
towers with milk of magnesiiim, produced by suspending the
ordinary calcined magnesia of commerce in water. The
chlorine is absorbed by the magnesia, and a solution is pro-
duced containing magnesium chloride and magnesium
chlorate in the proportion of five molecules to one.

This solution is concentrated to such a strength that, on
cooling, half the contents of magnesium chloride separate
as crystals. Potassium chloride is added to the mother
liquors in quantity equivalent to the magnesium chlorate
present. Potassium chlorate crystallises out practically
quantitatively ; it is washed and recrystallised, and is then
ready for the market. The mother liquors from the
potassium chlorate crystallisation are returned to the
system, and are concentrated so as eventually to yield all
their magnesium chloride as crystals. The potassium
chlorate forms a valuable by-product; but, if for any
reason it is undesirable to produce it, advantage may be
taken of the well-known reaction whereby, when chlorine
is passed into milk of magnesia in the presence of a
catalyst, such, for example, as nickel oxide, magnesium
chloride only is produced and oxygen liberated.

A Cyclic Operation.

It will be realised from the above description that the
process forms a complete cycle, and really consists in the

indirect separation of magnesium and oxygen, in ihat,
apart from the profluction of the by-product, pota.ssium
chloride, the only raw material is magnesite. The chlorine
is being continually .separated from the magnesium in the
electrolysis, and the same chlorine continually use<l for the
production of more magnesium chloride from magnesito.

The magnesium produced is, as would be expected, of
remarkable purity fover 99 5 per cent), and it is interest-
ing in this connection to note that metal of this purity may
be melteu in open vessels without risk of its firing.

Properties of Magnesium.

To repeat what has been previously stated, there is no
doubt that magnesium, either alone or in alloys, hais big
possibilities. It is 40 per cent, lighter than aluminium,
and, when pure, is no more susceptible to atmospheric
corrosion than is aluminium. It can be rolled and
extruded. As a deoxidiser of other metals it is unrivalled,
and its use in this direction is continually extending. It
is a minor constituent of many valuable alloys. Alloys in
which magnesium is the major constituent are already in
use in cases where combined lightness and strength are
desirable. Given a corresponding demand, there is nothing
to prevent magnesium being put upon the market at the
same price as aluminium.

The writer is indebted to the Magnesium Company for
the details describing their procass and the many interest-
ing interactions connected therewith.

Armature Winding and Motor Repair.*

Of late years, there has been a tendency to reduce to
order and to codify the manifold methods used in electrical
repair shops — a tendency which is the logical sequence of
the development and growing importance of electrical
machinery. The present volume is a noteworthy attempt
to provide electricians and repairers with such knowledge
as will enable them to locate quickly and surely and to
remedy eflfectively faults in motors and generators. The
author is the joint editor of the " Electrical World," and,
in addition to drawing on his own experience, he makes
ample use of information relating to the experience of
others.

At the outset, the different types of armature windings
used in continuous- and alternating-current machines are
described, and the importance of making parallel circuits
symmetrical is emphasised. Then follows a long section
on repair-shop methods for rewinding continuous-current
armatures, instructions being given for the various cases
that arise. The chapter on testing oominuous-current
armatures for faults is well written. The various kinds
of insulating materials and varnishes and their uses are
discussed at length, and much valuable information of a
practical nature is given. Repair-shop methods for re-
winding alternating-current machines, and for testing
induction motors for faults, are followed by chapters on the
adaptation of continuous- and alternating-current motors
to changed conditions.

Criticism, but Not Disagreement.

Very important matters are also dealt with in the latter
portion of the book, e.g., commutator repairs, adjusting
brushes and correcting brush troubles, inspecting, costing,
overhauling, diagnosis of motor and generator troubles;
while numerous methods that have been de\'ised to solve
special troubles are collected. Finally, there is a chapter
on the equipment needed in a repair-shop, and an appendix,
containing data and reference tables. Here and there are
points which might well have been criticised, but there is
very little with which we should seriously disagree. The
book is well written, well illustrated, and well arranged.
There is ample scope for it, and it can be heartily recom-
mended to all who have to do with the repair and upkeep
of electrical machines.

* Armvture Winding and Motor Repair. By D. H.
Bra\-mer. (London : HiU PubliBhing Company). Pp. xxi. -f 515.
18s. net.

The Electrician — January 27, 1922

THE UTILISATION OF WASTE HEAT IN
GENERATING STATIONS*

We give helow an account of hvo Papers which were read before a Joint Meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and the
Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers on Thursday, January l^th. The first, by Mr. C. Ingham Haden, suggests the
combination of heat distribution in the form of steam or hot water with electrical generation so as to utilise our fuel resources to betttr advantage
than at present. This would be effected by converting generating stations, which would otherwise be discarded, into heat stations. The second,
by Mr. F. H. Whysall deals with the practical and economic difficulties of any such scheme.

sidered complete which does not make some provision for the
utilisation of waste heat. The scheme also involves the scrapping
of many of the existing generating stations, which seems a most
calamitous proposition. A possible alternative is to retain such of
the existing stations as can be usefully employed as heat distribution
stations — utilise them to their fullest capacity, and, if there is a greater
demand for heat, then provide additional heat stations, using them
also for generating current as a by-product. In this case either a
part of the generating plant can be altered to exhaust at a pressure of
(50 lbs. per sq. inch, or new plant could be specially designed to meet
these new conditions.

Some generating stations in London and in the United Kingdom
are extremely well situated for heat distribution, and if, especially
in London, the difficulty of fuel delivery is given as a reason for
shutting them down, it must be replied that coal has to be delivered
to every house or block of buildings in the district, and that this need
would be largely eliminated if the system suggested were installed.

By linking these stations up v/ith the super stations, the balance
of the electrical load would be made up by the latter. This arrange-
ment makes it possible to provide for a varying heat load and to
bring into commission a larger proportion of the plant of the
super station during the summer, when the minimum heat load
would occur.

The Adaptation of Existing Plant.

Assuming there is a demand for heat in the neighbourhood of an
existing generating station, the question arises, can the existing
plant be adapted to meet both circumstances ? It is, of course, clear
that the utilisation of exhaust steam considerably reduces the
electrical output, and would therefore involve putting into commis-
sion additional plant, and so increasing the fuel consumption and
adding to the total cost of production. Against this added cost
would have to be set the income from the sale of heat and the
economies obtainable by using existing stations for supplying the
heat load from the present boiler plant. This would involve the
discarding of the condensing plant, and the electrical output would
become a by-product. The price charged for the steam supply
would be calculated not only upon its actual cost at the station, but
also upon the cost of its distribution to the consumers. This would
vary according to the distance to which the supply was taken, and
should also be subject to any rise or fall in the price of coal.

Heat Requirements.

The heat requirements of a district, of course, vary. In a
residential neighbourhood the heat load would be more constant,
and included therewith would be the steam for hot-water supply.
The maximum demand for this would occur in the morning, with a

The Utilisation of Exhaust Steam from

Electrical Generating Stations and Coal

Economy.

By C. INGHAM HADEN.

If we express the calorific value of coal as 100 per cent, the
average thermal efficiency obtained from it when used for domestic
purposes is 50 per cent. The number of British thermal units in
coal converted into electrical energy is approximately 5 per cent.,
though it is hoped with the new large stations to improve this figure
to 8 per cent. With the most up-to-date boiler plant it is claimed
that an efficiency of 80 per cent, is obtained from the coal so that,
assuming the calorific value of the coal to be 14 000 B.Th.U.,

1600
1400

1200

,;1000

800

600 t;

400 :|

200

160

B'MU's

.ivrHeatlrii-

— 1

■

/.'-.^

.1 1

~Hot IVaterSupp/u'i

\^^

"amount of3team used for Meat Load,\

\ .Steam Main
(Max.Wlnter Loa

'i^

rAfax. Winter Load,)

'"ill.

/f,!uLo/^ } nf u},„ M'nl-Jn /Tv>/-//7^ —

V^and LiiShtInf Load,.

"<!

y .

::ri

:r^

\rr.

'J^

Iki'Io

nfM^

—

'WinterLm/'ngLoad.\

— 1

—

__.

r::^

12 , 2
Midn't.

10 12
Noon

10 ,12
Midn't,

Fig. 1.

20 per cent, to be lost in the boiler, and 90 per cent, of the remainder
in the generating plant, out of a total of 14 000 B.Th.U. only
1 120 B.Th.U. are converted into electrical energy.

Taking the approximate fuel consumption in generating stations
in this country as 10 000 000 tons per annum, the huge total of
9 200 000 tons represents the approximate value of wasted heat. In
addition, in most generating stations condensing plant is employed
with cooling towers, and the circulating water is supplied by
electrically driven pumps, which absorb a considerable percentage of
the current generated. Large fans are also used to blow away the
heat from the cooling towers, and the water lost in vapour is another
expense which has to be met.

How Can Waste be Reduced ?

These facts and figures being assumed correct, the question is, can
nothing be done to lessen this waste ? This is a difficult problem,
but its complexity should not prevent an attempt being made to
deal with it. The first main difficulty is to find a market for the
heat, though there is the further difficulty of co-ordinating the loads,
as heat for warming is only required for six or seven months in the
year, and, even during this period, the load will vary tremendously.
There is, however, a constant demand for hot water, but the
possibility of utilising heat depends very largely upon the position
of the generating station in relation to that of buildings requiring
heat or hot water, and the amount of the cost of transmitting heat
to any great distance.

Electricity a Wasteful Form of Heat.

In spite of the convenience, cleanliness and adaptability of
electricity supply and its lower transmission losses, it has already
been shown that it is a most wasteful form of heating and quite
impossible if coal is to be conserved. The combination of heat
distribution with the generation of electricity would give a
higher heat efficiency than any other arrangement.

The positions chosen for super stations arc close to some waterway,
it being considered more necessary to have water for condensing
purposes than to be near a coal mine. But no scheme can be con-

1000 100
800 v!? 80

ij 600 d^ 60

rS400 g40
^ -J
200:|20

r/yLM-'

..L,.

' 1 ,1 1

1 ^

and Li^htin^ Load,

_ i/.v-

M/-,^.^

- C.,„„/J ^«w

^gtiiation loss from Steam Mams,

— /

\L/<f/rt/n<f Ldad

!/•

—

^
^

^^12 Z
Midn't,

10 12
Noon

Fig. 2.

* Abstract of Papers read before a Joint Meeting of the Institution
of Electrical Engineers and the Jnstitutita of Heating and Ventilating

Engineers.

K^idnt.

lower load in the afternoon, and an increased load again in the
evening. Assuming the heat load indicated in Fig. 1 is for a com-
plete day of twenty-four hours, the dotted line across gives the
approximate rate of electrical output from generators designed to meet
the working conditions, while the assumed lightmg load (shown chain
dotted) indicates that during certain hours of the day there is a
considerable surplus of electrical energy available for other purposes.
The lighting plus cooking load is also shown, and it wiU be noted that
the possible electrical output from the heating and hot-water service
loads covers the demand for lighting and cooking.

The Effect of the Heating Load.

Fig. 2 shows an assumed summer demand for hot-water supph',
lighting and cooking, and it will be seen that the omission of th

January 27, 1922

The £lectriciai].

heating load makes a great difference. Proportionately also the
electrical output is much less, so that, although the lighting load is so
small, when the cooking demand is added thereto the peak periods
are above the line of the electrical output from the hot-water supply.
In other words, if electric cooking were used to the extent shown in
the curves there would be three periods per day when all the exhaust
steam could not be utilised. It might be possible to provide some
form of thermal storage to use the exhaust for the period if there
were a large local demand for hot water.

The Utilisation of Waste Heat from Electrical
Generating Stations.

for F. H, WHYSALI..

The majority of electrical engineers responsible for the operation
of power stations for electricity supply deplore the fact that so much
of the heat value of fuel is rejected to the condenser where steam is
the source of energy for the prime mover. It has been suggested
that special efforts should be made by supply authorities to surround
their power stations with industries such as paper-making and sugar-
refining, in order that they may sell their exhaust steam for use in
industrial processes. Theoretically and thermally no fault can be
found with this proposal, but it is when we come to the practical
difficulties that doubts arise. In the first place, most of the under-
takings with processes suitable for co-operation with this kind of
power station are established in special districts. In many cases
this difficulty can be overcome, on account of the ease with which
electrical energy can be transmitted, and the discussion of this
subject should follow the lines of putting forward commercial
terms for the co-operation of steam-using industries with the supply
authority so that the two may mutually benefit.

The problem is, where steam is required for heating or industrial
processes within a radius of 1| miles of an electric power station,
how can it be supplied from the power station with benefit both to
the power station and to the consumer of exhaust steam ? what
are the conditions under which this supply should be given ? and
what are the commercial arrangements necessary between the
parties to ensure mutual satisfaction ? The commercial arrange-
ments are the most difficult part of these proposals and, after they
have been settled by agreement on some generally accepted scale of
charges, we may expect a very great saving in fuel.

Steam Tariffs.

With regard to the charges to be made for exhaust steam, with
coal at 10s. the proper charge would be lOd. per 1 000 lb. where the
condensate is recovered by the supply authority and the distance is
not more than one mile from the power station. For the supply of
electrical energy as a by-product from an industrial works making
a large use of steam, in order to make the arrangement a success it is
necessary to allow the supply to be given when available, and this
is equivalent to providing the waste-heat plant with a load factor of
100 per cent. The proper charge for a supply of this kind is 0"ld.
less than the fuel cost of the supply authority for this load factor.

The chief point to bear in mind in working out the details of any
such proposal is that the benefits should be equally divided between
the parties under all the varying conditions likely to obtain in actual
practice.

With regard to the supply of exhaust steam from a power station
for heating purposes, each case must be considered on its merits.
The heat available for transformation into electrical energy depends
upon the temperature limits and, if the lower limit is raised to serve
another purpose, the economy of generation must suffer accordingly.
It is necessary to regard electrical energy as a by-product in this
case and, in order to get the most economical results, the back
pressure must be kept as low as possible, a maximum of 2 lb. (gauge
pressure) being aimed at. This means that the exhaust-steam
supply pipes and the calorifiers for the heating systems must be of
such dimensions that this pressure is not exceeded. In agreements
for supply, a back pressure of h lb. per sq. in. at the consumer's
premises should be specified. The engine unit must be of a size
suited to supply the exhaust steam required for heating purposes
when working under full-load conditions.

The Effect of Load Factor on Steam Supply.

The friction load of a 750 kW set is often equivalent to 5 000 lb. of
steam per hour, and it is a very large building that will take more
than this quantity. It is seen, therefore, that unless the 100 jier
cent, electrical load factor can be given to the sets used, there is
very little profit on the arrangement. Where the heating load is
small, an alternative is to " bleed " the turbine or to take off a supply
from the receiver between the cylinders of a compound reciprocating
engine, the remainder of the steam going to the condenser in each
case. It is doubtful, however, in these cases if the electrical energy
is generated more cheaply than it would be by a large modern
electricity generating station using 11 to 12 lb. per kWh, and the
fact that the provision of a load factor of 100 per cent, to the plant

supplying exhaust steamjfor heating purposes is effectcfl at the
expense of the load factorial the main power station must be taken
into consideration when comparing results.

The Finance of Distribution.

There is also the expenditure on the stearn-distributing mains.
It is a difficult matter to find room for steam mains which need to
be of special design in order to prevent excessive ra^iiation losses.
These difficulties can, however, be overcome by an enthusiagtic
e.igineer, and wayleaves can be found most readily through the base-
ment premises of buildings en route, the proprietors of these premiiies
being induced in most cases to take a supply. The supply of
exhaust steam for heating puqjoses Ls invariably most .satisfactory
to the consumer and the demand is generally ahead of the facilities
for supply.

It is said that combined stations in America have been abandoned
in many cases in favour of a separate central station for the supply
of steam for heating purposes only, but this does not ne<;f>isarily
prove that there are not many ca.ses where a properly organise*!
system of collaboration between existing electric supply stations and
heating consumers in congested city areas should not be profitable
to both parties. It is my opinion that electricity supph' authorities
cannot afford to ignore the demand for exhaust steam or the
possibility of obtaining cheaper supplies of .surplus energj- from
generating stations established in works using low-pressure steam
for industrial purposes, and everj' endeavour should be made by
central station engineers to make collaboration a commercial
success.

Enamelled Wire and Enamelled Wire.

By A SPECIALIST.

Just as there are men and men, so there is enamelled wire and
enamelled wire, and one might say with equal truth in both cases
the former is in the majority ! XJnfortunately, too, the nomen-
clature alone does not indicate in what class they stand. Even.-
adult male human in the former case, and all black or brown
(oxidised) covered conductor in the latter case, claim a common
\inclassifying appellation.

Non-British Wire for British Conditions.

As an early and persistent behever in the utility of enamelled
wire, I view with real concern the flooding of our English markets
from abroad with a material the major part of which, to say the
best for it, is suitable for use only in cases where conditions are
favomable, and reHability is not a serious factor. Unfortunately
again, some of our home manufacturers are sacrificing the hitherto
high quality of their jjroduct in an imwise attempt to compete
with a material which wiU, in time, certainly be appraised at its
true value. The uses of enamelled wire have, in the opinion of
an eminent engineer with whom I was once discussing the question,
" not been scratched," but the manufacturer must look to it that
a suitable quaUty is maintained, otherwise he may tind. that
enamelled wire has itself been " scratched."

The hand of the home manufacturer has perhaps been forced,
and he is to blame only in so far as he is making little attempt to
encourage the user to exercise some discrimination in his purchases.
When one buys eggs, it is elementary- economics to state one's
needs — new-laid, fresh or cooking — and to jxi;/ acco) dingh/ ; yet,
incredible as it may appear, buyers of enamelled vrire in nine cases
out of ten ask siniply for a quotation for the particular size or
sizes required which, when received, is considered solely on the price.
Could one but trace them, imiumerable cases of ultimate trouble
and expense (not to mention damaged reputations) could be found
to have their root in this difference between the buyer of eggs and
the buyer of enamelled wire.

The Buyer's Duty.

It must be recognised that there is gooJ enamelled wire and there
is bad. In some cases it is imperative that the very best be secured,
while in other cases, such as in the production of cheap bells,
indicators and Uke competitive lines, the quaUty is of less import-
ance. It is certainlv the buyer's duty to insist ui>on a high-grade
wire whenever a high-class mstrument is to be produced. If he will
persist ii\ his cheese-paring in regard to the cost, comparing his
quotation from goodness knows where with the quotation from a
reputable firm, then he must drive the latter from the market, or
worse still, compel him to join the ranks of the purveyor of " cooking
eggs."

Wire and Magneto Construction.

As a glaring instance of a pemu" wise and a poimd foolish take as
an "xample the construction of a magneto. As is well known,
the English manufacturer was for years ostensibly striving to beat
a product of his Continental and successful rival. Many, of course,
claim to have succeeded, but— mcU, ask the motorist— he knows !
To me, it is absurd to suggest that the English manufacturer cannot.

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

at the very least, equal tlic product of any rival if he only tackles
the problem in a proper way. That proper way, obviously, is to
take no risk, yet it is within my own personal expei'ience that a
firm manufacturing magnetos on a large scale actually dropped the
use of an enamelled wire that was admittedly giving satisfaction,
and purchased large quantities of imported wire, some even of
unknown origin, with what results the said manufacturer alone
knows. It cost less money per poimd. That's all that mattered.
True, this happened a year or more ago, but some of those magnetos
are still giving somebody trouble. Think of it ! In a magneto
valued at anything up to £10, or even more, there is used approxi-
mately 4 oz. of fine gauge enamelled wire. This wire is a very vital
part of the magneto, and the magneto becomes, perhaps, a very
vital part of either a motor-car or a flying macliine, and the satis-
factory working of these expejasive articles is risked for the sake
of a few pence only. Enamelled fine wire has been used instead
of fine enamelled wire. Do you see the difference ?

Clocks and Eggs.

It is not in magnetos alone that an infinitesimal saving on first
cost is allowed to threaten a manufacturer's reputation. There
are instances where a few shillings in an aggregate of several hundred
pounds will exert more influence than should be permitted. This
may appear an exaggerated statement, but consider the matter of
a town hall or a pubhc clock. It might be said that this is under
observation every minute of the day. Should it stop, it is a subject
of public discussion. The fact will, without doubt, be mentioned
in the local paper. Whatever the reputation of the makers of that
clock may have been, it will certainly suffer as a result. Surely
every detaU in the construction of such an equipment is worthy of
the most careful consideration. According to his lights, the
manufacturer does give that care to the minutest detaU, but I
claim, in the matter of enamelled wire, he stiU has something to
learn. He has become famihar with silk and cotton-covered wires,
the quality of which is apparent upon inspection ; but he must, for
the sake of his reputation, be made to recognise that enamelled wire
is quite a different proposition, and until he is competent to differ-
entiate between " new laid, fresh and cooking," he should insist
upon his buyer securing the highest grade material from a firm with
a high-class reputation. Risk of trouble lies in any other direction.

You magneto manufacturers who have traced at least a part of
your troubles to the enamelled wire : telephone engineers who have
been compelled at enormous expense to replace faulty coils in a
telephone exchange : cable-makers who have suffered rejections
after expending time and money in completing a cable : makers of
high-class instruments whose good reputation has been frayed at
the edges by saving a few shiUings (or pence) in an otherwise first-
class instrument — should need no warning. You have had your
lesson and should act accordingly. My appeal is made principally
to those who have recently adopted, or are considering the adoption
of enamelled wire, and to those users who are casting longing eyes
on the " Factor's " price fist, which is particularly alluring at this
moment of money shortage.

No First-Class Wire at the Price.

A really first-class enamelled wire caimot be produced to compete
with the inferior grades. The insulating compound is more costly ;
extreme care and eternal vigilance is essential in its application ;
while the close examination to which it is finally subjected (an
operation entirely eliminated with the cheaper grades)— all spell
extra costs ; yet cut one out for the sake of reducing the cost and
what do we risk ? Here and there must inevitably occur brittle
portions of insulation where cracks will develop when the wire is
used ; understoved portions which have little .)r no insulating value
rub off in winding and are withal vulnerable spots for attack under
any adverse conditions ; rough surfaces, usually very small eruptions
which flake off in winding, leaving minute bare spots, and other
faults which the experienced eye and touch of the examining
operator immediately detects and deletes, so that the buyer may,
with confidence, use the wire received from end to end.

Some Insulation !

Many of the cheap grades of enamelled wire are covered by simple
oxidising oils similar to linseed oil. The oxidation of the oil is,
by boiling, carried to a maximum working hmit. This, when
applied to the wire and subjected to a moderate temperature,
rapidly oxidises to the point of toughness, but what do we get on
the finished product ? Not much more than a coat of paint ! To
sum up, my advice to the user of enamelled wire is : When you are
responsible for the production of high-class work, look askance at
anything " cheap " or you may sooner or later add the two missing
words.

A further point I should like to touch upon is the matter of
impregnating coils which are wound with enamelled wire. This
practice should, in certain cases, be encouraged. It is an additional
precaution which wisdom dictates, particularly in cases where
absolute reliability is essential. In this direction, however, trouble

has sometimes been introduced instead of eUminated. Paraffin
wax for this purpose must be rigidly avoided. Its deleterious
effect may be jDlainly observed by immersing a sample of enamelled
wire in very hot wax. Similar tests made in other oils, such as
lubricating oils, show little or no deterioration in the covering.
Every instance brought to my notice where impregnating varnish
has failed in its function, has led me to the conclusion that the fault
lay in the fact that the impregnating varnish and the enamel
insulation had no affinity. Insulating varnishes — and enamel
insulating medium comes within that category — not having a
common base are certain to possess varying coefficients of expansion,
and it will readily be recognised that, unless the whole mass expands
and contracts in unison, separation and its evils must occur.

Hints for the Manufacturer.

To overcome this difficulty, cannot the enamelled wire manu-
facturer devise an impregnating varnish which he knows will have
the characteristics of his stoving enamel ? This could be used in
conjunction with his own product to ensure a thoroughly satis-
factory result. Even where it is desired to retain the fine finish of
an instrument, which a black impregnating varnish might impair,
it should be quite possible to supply a clear varnish which would
be equally satisfactory. In this direction, as in all others, utilise
the knowledge possessed by your enamelled wire supplier. If
he is at all alive he will render all the help he possibly can, and so
help to popularise the product in which he is interested.

Modern Gas Works Practice.*

By H. C. WIDLAKE.

In perusing the second edition of Mr. Meade's book we are at
once struck by the fact that the work possesses the much-desired,
though by no means general, characteristic of being at the same
time ambitious, comprehensive and thorough.

Our own interests naturally enough are largely centred in that
portion dealing with the employment of electricity in gas under-
takings, and we regard the section devoted to that subject as a
very clear indication that old prejudices and conservatisms are
being gradually swept away and are no longer permitted to interfere
with the progress of a great industry.

We cannot help feehng, however, that this portion of the work
is dealt Avith in a somewhat general manner, and takes very little
account of those special conditions which have to be catered for on
gas undertakings making an extensive use of electrical power. For
instance, we hear from time to time of works in which practically
every power- driven unit of plant is electrically driven, with perhaps
the solitary exception of the coal gas exhausters. We find no
mention of such extensive applications in Mr. Meade's book, and
would have welcomed a section touching upon such matters as the
electrical driving and governing of exhausters, the auto-control of
water gas blowing fans, the driving of gas boosters (although this
is perhaps a matter which falls under the heading of distribution).
Another important matter which might well be included is a
description of the precautions which should be observed when
a single pole telpherage is introduced into a works which is already
served by an ordinary double-pole system.

In most cases electrical power was first introduced into gas
works in order to serve some form of electrically operated stoking
machines (generallj^ De Brouwer's in the earlier installations), but
it is a far cry from those comparatively crude plants to the
highly efficient and reliable lay outs which are to-day essential
to a works which means to make the fullest possible use of electricity
in its processes. It is in connection with such plants, capable of
handUng the most vital loads, that we should have welcomed further
information.

In connection with the measuring of the works finished product
we are surprised to find no reference to the Thomas meter, which
constitutes a serious rival to the standard station meter in regard
to first cost, area required for its accommodation, and its ability to
provide the required information in graphic form.

In Mr. Meade's work we have a good book written by a good man,
from the value of which the omissions we have noted detract but
little as, in any case, the wise engineer who is considering the
question of going over to electrical operation will naturally turn
to a quaUfied consultant as a way of short circuiting the
difficulties with which he finds himself beset.

The modern gas undertaking, with its many units of power-driven
plant scattered over a wide area, affords an ideal field for the use of
electrical power, and the acceptance of this fact by gas engineers
is bound to have a most beneficial effect not only in regard to the
cost of the works finished product, but in bringing about a broader
view of the entire subject of power application.

In this respect Mr. Meade certainly Aoiccs the opinions of a rising
and progressive generation of gas engineers.

* Modern Gas Works Practice. Bj' Alwyne T. Meade.
(London: Benn Brothers.) Pp. xi + 815. ind Ed. 558.

The Electrician — January 27, 1922

The Institution of Electrical Engineers.

At the meeting of the Institution ok Elfx-tkicaIv Enginkkrs
on Thursday in last week, the Institution of Heating and Ventilating
Engineers were entertained and two Papers on the " Utilisation
of Waste Heat from Electrical Generating Stations " were read
and discussed. The first of these Papers, which was from the heat
engineering point of view, was read by Mr. C. Ingham Haden and
the second from the electrical point of view by Mr. F. H. Whysall.
Abstracts of these Papers will be found on another page of this issue.

The meeting was not very largely attended, and a majority of
those present seemed to be visitors, although this is not evident
in the discussion. This small attendance was a pity considering
the importance of the subject.

As there was no formal business and the Papers were short the
discussion was begun at a rather earlier hour than usual.

A Pioneer on the Future.

Col R. E. Ceompton, who seems to get younger every day,
said that if the centrally situated generating stations which were
now being altered into purely converting stations could be utilised
for heat distribution, and the wayleave difficulty could be overcome,
<i useful method would appear to have been discovered of providing
a new source of income for supply companies' shareholders.
His opinion was that the present boilers should be utilised to supply
heat as super-heated high pressure steam and so to avoid the
transmission losses, which he feared would otherwise be ruinous.
He did not think that heating would be carried out by any one
system alone, and his view was supported by the enormous increase
in the electric heating load which had taken place in the residential
])arts of London, even during the last twelve months. The principal
cause of this increased demand was the " convenience -factor."
It was true that the " efficiency-factor " of electric heating was
exceedingly low ; but at the point of use 90 per cent, of the energy
present could be efficiently employed, and it therefore compared
favourably %vith other methods from the consumers' pocket point
of view.

Thermal Efficiency the First Objective.

Mr. F. Biggin, President of the Institution of Heating and
Ventilating Engineers, said that many of the advantages of electric
heating instanced by Colonel Crompton were equally present
with heating by steam or hot water. In obtaining the highest
efficiency from electric generating stations a great waste of
thermal efficiency resulted and they, the heating engineers, con-
sidered it would be more practicable, wherever there was exhaust
steam, to make thermal efficiency the first consideration. The
world just now was calling for economy, and any method that would
l)ring tliat about should be considered.

American Experiences.

Mr. W. H. Patchell said that the great question was, did our
jiresent methods pay ? Up to the present it seemed that they had
done so. Large blocks of business premises, other than factories,
iifnerally required more heat than light or power, and there obviously
electricity would be a by-product. Some steam companies were
running with 83 per cent, of the steam, which left the station sold
and paid for. That was as much as many electricity supply under-
takings could achieve. He gave an account of the development of
steam supply for heating in Detroit and showed a photogi-aph indi-
< ating the large amount of room taken up by the pipes. In that city
special subways had been built to house the pipes. These were
S ft. high and 8 ft. wide, and the top of the tunnel was from 25 to
40 ft. underground. There were two miles of these subways and
they were used for steam pipes only. They contained one' 12 in.
high pressure pipe and one 20 in. low pressure pipe.

An Outside Supporter of Electricity.

Mr. A. H. Barker thought that the subject under discussion
should be considered entirely from the economic and hygenic
angles. Experiments he had conducted in three L. C. C. cottages
showed that 80 000 B.Th.U. per day supplied in the form of gas
served the requirements of a house of four or five rooms in the cold
weather, which, at Is. per therm, would amount to £10 or £12 per
annum. Solid fuel would cost about half this amount to give
the same heat requirements, and it was extremely doubtful whether
lieat could be supplied from a central station through radiators,
and with constant hot water, for anything like this sum, especially
taking into account the need for providing against breakdowns.
That meant that gas and electricity would have to be available
as well as steani, and he estimated that to serve 100 000 cottages
would cost £100 000, a sum which would only give a return of
£6 000 a year. What the community needed was a supply of
energy from which all the impurities had been filtered which could

instantly be turned into light, lieat and power. Electrical
engineers undertook to manufacture energy of thi.s kind, but .?
present in doing so they wasted alxjut' 9J jx^r cent. <
raw material. Electrical, mechanical and gas enginecfH, phy-
chemists, and heating engineers, instead of fighting and sneering
at one a -other should therefore come together and 9«* whether
they could not devi.se .some way of manufacturing electrical energA-
without so high a loss. Gas people could put into their main^
80 per cent, of the energy of the coal, but even so they were obliged
to make gas so exp<jnsive that the working man could hardly
afford to use it. If electrical energ\' could gee anywhere near that
figure there would be no form of light, neat or power in the world
which could compete with it.

The Mechanical £n{{ineer's View.

The pRE.siDENT announced that he was trj'ing to call on beating
and electrical engineers alternately, and asked Mr. Beauchamp
to speak. Mr. Beauchamp, not being forthcoming, ilr. J. F.
Raggitt said that with regard to the suitability of existing power
plant for suppljang heat, presumably the bulk of this eon.sLsted of
reciprocating engines. This was fortunate, as the steam turbine,
unless specially designed, was not well adapted for exhausting
against a back pressure, and, even when designed as a purely back
pressure turbine, would not give such a large output ' as a
reciprocating engine. He discussed the various tj-pes of engine
in their relation to this problem and considered there was no unsur-
mountable difficulty in extending the scope of the operations to
the heating of districts from combined heating and power stations.
In any event, we could not afford to perpetuate a sy.stem which
wasted 60 per cent, of the heat.

The Purest Grade of Energy.

Mr. W. M. Selvey said that electricity was the purest and the
highest grade of energy, and thought Air. Barker was a little beside
the point in talking about scrap heaps for every steam engine worked
by rejecting steam at the lower limit, this being part of a definite
process, not of obtaining energy, but of obtaining pure energj".
It was a question whether it was more profitable to concentrate
wholly on getting the largest possible amount of heat energj- from
raw material, or to devise processes whereby in the process of getting
pure energy the remainder would be left in such a form that it could
be usefuUy employed. After some remarks on the washing habits
of the population, which it is as well were made in a cultured audience.
Mr. Selvey pointed out that iO per cent, thermal efficiency which
Mr. Haden showed in his heating diagram was not the idciU they were
working for. The whole point of the super station was that this
figure should be increased at one bound to twenty, and they even
had a station which might give twenty-live. If they could reach
a figure which would more or less realise Dr. Ferranti's ideal of
providing all their energy' in the pure form there need be no need
to worry about " scrap heaps."

Some Commercial Points.

Mr. W. W^. NoBBS viewed with some alarm 3Ir. Whysall's sugges-
tion of lOd. per 100 000 lb. as the proper price of steam with coal
at 10s. a ton. He drew a lurid picture of the plight of many
American companies who had fixed too low a rate.

Mr. J. F. D.tiVER was an advocate for real central stations once
more, in view of the fact that electrical engineers now threw away
moie than half the heat available in the c<. al and spent money in
doing so. He thought that electrical engineei-s should follow
the gas engineers' example and make a living out of by-products.

A New Thought on Central Stations.

Mr. W. Nelson Ha den's idea of a central generating station
was one which would include generation and electricity, and the
making of gas and hciit, not to speak of a destructor plant. He
was very eulogistic about the use of destructors, and mentioned
the case of a fairly large toA\-n where the whole tramway service
was run off such a" plant. (Certain supply engineers could give him
some other views on this subject.) One advantage of a station
such as he suggested would be that the nuvins of the vjirious services
would radiate from one point, so justifying the expense of subways.

Mr. C. I. Haden, in replying to the discussion, s^iid that heating
engineers wanted electrical engineers to i-ealise that then^ was a
demand for heat as well as for electricity, and for that reason he
had suggested that retention of existing electricity stations when
super statior.s were ready.

The President, in projxjsing a vote of thanks to the authors,
said the cycle of operations in generating electricity by steam
was efficient at the high pressure end and inefficient at the con-
densing end. Attempts must be made to alter that.

The Electriciar^^January z^j^ 1922

Annual Exhibition of the Physical Society of London

and the Optical Society.

{Continued from page 73.)

Everett, Edgcumbe & Company.

A varied collection of measuring and controlling instruments
was shown by Everett, Edgcumbe & Company. Among these,
their E.H.T. voltmeter attracted attention as a new type M^hich
is likely to come into favour. It is based upon the principle first
employed by Lord Kelvin, and subsequently developed by
M. Abraham, the eminent French investigator, of the attraction
of two oppositely electrified conductors protected by guard plates.
The instrument shown had a maximum range of 40 000 V with
additional ranges of 20 000 V and 10 000 V. It is illustrated in
Fig. 16. Similar instruments are suppUed for all pressures up
to 200 000 V. The change over from one range to another is
immediately effected by altering the distance between the plates.
An important feature of these voltmeters is that, air being used
exclusively as the dielectric, they give identical readings with direct
current or alternating current of any frequency, which is not the case
with electrostatic voltmeters depending upon the use of condensers ;
moreover, the latter instruments are liable to disturbance
through variable leakage affecting the distribution of potential
between the instrument and the condenser in series with it.

In the past the electrostatic principle has been considered as
suitable only for comparativelj^ large dial instruments, but Everett,
Edgcumbe & Company have found it possible so far to reduce the
dimensions that a 3 in. dial electrostatic voltmeter reading up to
2 500 V has now been evolved, and is very largely used for wireless
installations where space and weight are often of great importance.

Special ohmmeters were exhibited by this firm for measuring
the resistance, and thence the temperature, of rotors of machinery
when in use, such as the running rotor of an a.c. generator. For
the measurement of the temperature of the stator or other high
tension windings, resistance units are embedded in the slots as near

Fia. 16. — A New Type of Voltmeter.

to the conductors as possible, and are connected to an indicator
graduated directly in degrees. We also noticed that the firm's
illumination photometer had been modified by adding a second
test plate. This is tinted so as to reflect only one-tenth of the inci-
dent light, thus giving a reducing effect of ten to one. By having
this plate along with the usual white plate, two ranges are
obtamed, one up to 4 ft. candles, and the other up to 40 ft. candles.

Evershed & Vignoles.

Several instruments of interest to marine engineers were shown
by Evershed f^ Vigkoles. These included Needham's pulsator
system, which we described last year, and a new form of revolution
counter, also due to Mr. Needham. Tliis apparatus is designed for
the purpose of counting revolutions, or other operations, at any
distance from the machinery. For revolutions up to 400 per min.
it is made to count single revolutions ; but, if required to count at a
higher speed than this, the transmitter is suitably geared down from
the revolving machinery so as to count one in every ten revolutions
— a nought being added at the unit end of the counter dial. The
counter, which is illustrated in Fig. 17, has the appearance

of an ordinary mechanical counter ; but its working parts are designed
upon an entirely new principle. It is combined with a step-by-step
motor driven by electric current derived from ordinary electric
light mains. In order to secure that the counter shall operate
with certainty, it is necessary that the motor, while sufficiently
strong to rotate all the counter dials simultaneously when required,
shall not move with such violence as to risk damage to the first
dial when the latter only is rotated. The ordinary mechanically
locked counter is therefore unsuitable, since it is Uable to stick

=-S-4t=S=S-

Fig. 17. — Needham s Revolution Counter.

when all its dials are moved simultaneous^, and therefore requires
considerable power in reserve. The present counter consists
of a number of dials, each arranged to be locked magnetically in
any of ten positions corresprading to the digits 0 to 9, but
mechanically quite independent, except during the time when a
change of indication is in progress. The effect of this magnetic
lock is to enable each unit to be made very free from friction ; and
it has the additional advantage that it helps to reduce the power
necessary to change the indication of all digits simultaneously.
The step-by-step motor is also novel. While providing ample
power for moving the counter, its elements are Light enough to work
with certainty up to speeds exceeding 400 per min. The motor
is of the rotary type, no reciprocating motion being emploj^ed.
It operates with two wires only instead of the usual three, thus
reducing the cost of installation to a minimum. It will work
satisfactorily on 70 per cent, of its normal pressure, a feature wliich
enables it to be used on ordinary electric Hght circuits ; and its
internal resistance is such that no variation of contact resistance
in the transmitter wiU affect its jiroper working. The transmitter
is a plain make-and-break mechanism, and is made in various forms
to suit different requirements.

Recording Instruments.

The recording instruments by Evershed & ^"ignoles, Ltd.,
are on the Murday system, having rectangular co-ordinates. In
the new design now shown the instrument is more compact, the
clock being placed underneath the chart. A continuous roll of
chart is provided, 65 ft. in length, or sufficient for one month at
the rate of 1 in. per hour. The insertion and removal of the chart
is very simple. A reservoir trough is provided for the ink, per-
mitting a continuous record to be obtained on fluctuating loads
for the whole period of the chart, without attention. In addition
to the ordinary pattern, instruments are made in which two records
can be obtained on the same chart.

Foster Instrument Company.

An interesting apparatus for the automatic control of
temperature to follow a predetermined programme was exhibited by
the Foster Instrx'ment Compaxy. Various methods of automatic
control have been proposed and used, but these have been mainly
devoted to maintaining the temperature approximately at a constant
figure. While this is a desirable condition for many operations,
there are others in which the temperature should vary in accordance
with a predetermined programme ; for instance, in one important
manufacturing operation, employing an electric furnace, it is desired
that the temperature should rise fairly rapidly to a certain relatively
low value, should be maintained at or near that value for a con-
siderable period and should then be rapidly heated up to a higher
figure, maintained there for a period and then slowiy cooled. The
device exhibited is designed to carry out such a programme. A
thermo-couple is inserted into the electrically heated furnace, the
temperature of which it is desired to control. This thermo-couple is
connected to a recorder, the movements of the pen being therefore
proportional to the temperature of the furnace. The record is
produced by a clock mechanism in the recorder which depresses the
pen alternately on to the ink drum at the side of the chart and on to

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

the chart itself. The pen is brought over to the ink drum by the
clock mechanism and, after it has been pressed on to the ink drum
and received ink, the clock mechanism leaves the pen free to take up
the deflection proportional to the temperature of the furnace.

The Mechanism of Temperature Control.

A divided electrical circuit is arranged, one portion of which
comprises the pen arm itself. In one arm of this circuit the contact
is made between the pen arm and the circuit when the pen arm is
moved over by the clock mechanism towards the ink drum. An
alternative circuit is provided when the pen is depressed on to a
metal plate which is fixed over the chart. This metal plate is
virtually a " template " cut to the shape of the desired temperature
programme. The electric circuits are shown in Fig. 18. There is
provided in and connected with the recorder a divided electrical
circuit coming from the main supply (for instance, a direct current
lighting circuit) through the switch 8, through a lamp resistance L
to the pen arm P in the recorder. When this pen arm has moved
over to the left, near the ink drum, it is brought into contact with the
contact piece C, thereby energising the electro-magnet R, in a relay.
This closes the secondary circuit on that relay, thus operating the
motor Mp The motor operates through a worm and worm wheel to
increase the electrical resistance of the rheostat R, thus reducing the
current through the furnace.

Alternatively, when the pen arm is free over the chart and is
depressed thereon, if the temperature is below that determined by
the template, the pen arm will make contact on the template itself
and thus through the circuit Cg, and the relay R^ will close the

circuit of the motor INIa- This
motor operates to decrease the
electrical resistance of the
rheostat R, thus increasing the
current through the furnace.
The circuit through R^ and
M 2 is only completed when the
temperature is below that deter-
mined by the template. The
speed of the motor Mj is made
less than that of the motor M^
by shunting it with a lamp resist-
ance L,, so that as long as the
temperature is below that deter-
mined by the shape of the
template, there is a constant
balance of tendency to decrease
the electrical resistance of the
rheostat R and thus to increase
the current through the furnace.
On the other hand, when the
temperature has passed above
the limits of the template
(whatever that shape may be)
there will be no contact made
through Mj, but there will be a
contact made through M, so
that there will be a tendency
then to increase the electrical
resistance of the rheostat R,
and thus to decrease the current through the furnace. In
cutting the template it is of course necessary to allow for the
time lag in the furnace.

Nalder Bros, and Thompson.

A group of interesting and improved alternating current instru-
ments on new principles were exhibited by Nalder Beos. &
Thompson, Ltd. Some of them have already been described in our
columns. Perhaps the most important of the instruments sho\^^^ was
the Fawssett-Parry relay. This is particularly sensitive and is
intended for use in connection with the Merz-Price and similar
systems of protection. In the original form of Merz-Price protection
the winding of the relay is traversed by a capacity current flowing
into the pilot cable and proportional (with the usual design of current
transformer) to the current in the feeder to be protected. Thus the
tripping current must exceed the value of this capacity current,
and therefore a lower current setting, or a more sensitive relay,
cannot generally be used. The Fawsett-Parry relay acts easily
with one-tenth of the energy required by the ordinary relay.
This is a great advantage where, say, a span of a medium pressure
line drops on to dry ground, the fault current being then small.

The Fawsett-Parry Relay.

The Fawssett-Parry relay is in principle similar to a moving-iron
ammeter. It is made up of rectangular stampings having a
rectangular space cut away from the centre, but bridged near the
centre by a fixed and a moving iron member in such a way as to
leave small air gaps. These members are surrounded by three
concentric coils, one of which carries the fault current and the other
two the tripping current. The moving iron member is attached to a

Fig. 18.— Diagram of Foster's
Temperature Controller.

pivoted spindle carrying a switch arm, the whole being controlled by
a small spiral spring. When a -fault occurs the out of balance
current causes the moving member to be repelled from the fixed
member and to be attracted into a slightly tapering gap until the
switch arm closes the tripjjing circuit through the outer two coiln in
.series. This puts extra torf|ue on the movement to make a gwjd
contact on the switch arm, and when this contact is closed the'outer
coil is cut out, leaving in just enough turns to keep the tripping
circuit closed. By this means a maximum number of switches can
be tripped simultaneously by a ^Mven batter}'. Once the switch

Fig. 19. — Triple Pole Kelav Fiited with Indixiance.

arm of the relay makes contact the process of tripping the main
switch must go on until the latter is opened ; this breaks the trip
circuit, when the relay returns to its normal position and is thus
self-setting. The relay is insensitive to vibration, and as the relay
contact is held in always till the circuit is closed there is no sparking.
The general appearance of a triple pole relay is seen from Fig. 19.
Its field of application is in connection with the Merz-Beard and
Merz-Hunter protective systems.

Siemens, Brothers & Company.

The exhibit of Siemens, Brothers & Co>rPAXY included
several pyrometers and temperature recorders. Owing to the low
E.M.F of platinum-rhodium couples, the needle of the instrument
in that case is left free, and the record is made every 30 sec. by a
chopper bar depressing the needle onto transparent paper, below
which is a typewriter ribbon.

Several types of temperature indicator were shown, including
a special locomotive pjTometer outfit, specially designed for use
with the superheaters now fitted to most modem locomotives.
This equipment consists of a copper constantan couple and a strongly
constructed water-tight indicator. The thermo-couple consists
of a copper tube, containing a stout constantan wre, Mire and tube
being insulated from each other by asbestos braiding and brazed
together at the end which is inserted in the superheater. Since the
copper sheath forms one element of the couple, the instrument
responds very quickly to changes of temperature.

Muirhead & Company.

The exhibit by Mi irhead & Company included an improved
automatic transmitter, an artificial line box and a modified Heurtley
magnifier. The original magnifier depended upon the variation
in resistance due to the heating up of i^-ires when disp'aced so as
to be near flames. In the present model the flames are replacetl
by electrically heated wires. The arrangement is sho^\Ti diagram-

=rc

Fig. 20. — Di.vqram of Heurtlkt"s Magnifier.

matically in Fig. 20. ABC is the moving wire, forming two arms
of the bridge, and in proximity to the heated wires H, and Hj,
one ou either side. The bridge is balanced so that no current
flows through R. A displacement of ABC towards H, or H^ then
upsets the balance and causes current to flow through R in one
direction or the other.

(7'o he conelxided.)

100

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

Correspondence.

SCREEN. COUNTERPOISE OR EARTH.

To ike Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir.— Capt. T. L. Eckcrsley's Paper on "Transmitting Aerial
Resistances,"-fts reported in your issue of December 23, 1921, has for
me a very great thcorcticalinterest, especially since I feel it is along
the lines of a proper image construction of the overhead antenna
that progress in greater radio efficiencies is to be made.

It would appear that the earliest disclosed departure from the
original earth was that due to Fessenden (1902) in his famous
" wave chute " patent. This was followed by a patent to Stone in
this country. The theory of the wave chute was essentially that of
a screening effect similar" to that now suggested by Capt. Eckersley,
with, however, this very important distinction, viz : Fessenden' s
wave chute was earthed at the ends, whereas the newer type of screen
constructionally similar to a counterpoise is unearthed throughout.

The question is whether the counterpoise of old is exactly equal
in its action to the properly adjusted type of screen suggested.
Surely if the question is wholly one of earth current losses, the old
counterpoise theory (screen wires insulated throughout) would
indicate that a plate slightly above the ground would be better than
a network of wires. Yet Lodge as well as Eckersley find that the
counterpoise function pure and simple does not wholly satisfy the
facts. Would it not be better to regard Eckersley's work as indicat-
ing that the earth ground should be eliminated (screened) as far as
possible and that the best construction of the screen as to mesh,
wire size, and extent are really dependent on the height (Lodge,
Eckersley) of the aerial ?

In a Paper submitted to the Institution of Electrical Engineers
last summer I suggested that the prime necessity was to set up
fictitious (or real) dielectric losses to an extent sufficient to produce a
system of progressive waves on the antenna. The return through
the screen of Eckersley, the wave chute of Fessenden, the earth of
Marconi provide that resistance in series with the distributed
capacitance which is equivalent to a hysteretic loading referred to
in the issue of The Electrician for December 9, 1921. The
distributed hysteretic inductance, for a given frequency, is then
provided by the skin resistance of the aerial. — I am, &c.

Washington, D.C., January 5. A. Press.

THE EXPONENTIAL VALUES AND EXPANSIONS IN POWERS

OF 0 OF SIN 0 AND COS 0.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — ^Will you kindly allow me to correct a careless error in
the la,st . paragraph of 'my letter in last week's issue? To the
exponential value of cos 6+j sin 6, each term of the expansion
for sin 6 is multiplied by j, and the resulting series is added to
that for cos $.—l am, etc., G. W. Stubbings.

London, S.E.2o, Jan. 21st.

RELATIVE STATUS OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL
ENGINEERS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — With reference to your remarks in The Electrician of the
13th inst., dealing with the re-organisation of the electrical
engineering staff of the L. & N. W. and L. & Y. Railways, you have
drawn attention to a specific case where the electrical engineer of a
large.undertaking has been made subordinate to the chief mechanical
engineer.

I should like, however, to point out that the majority of vacancies
for chief engineers in supply undertakings are filled by mechanical
engineers, and in many cases their knowledge of electrical matters is
quite superficial.

An electrical engineer is just as capable of managing a supply
undertaking as a mechanical engineer, probably more so, in view of
the high standard of technical knowledge required when dealing
with the various electrical problems which arise from time to time
on the larger undertakings.

I believe that the present preference shown to mechanical engineers
is due to the following :

(1) Most of the present chief engineers are mechanical men and
therefore favour their own type.

(2) The majority of chief engineers were appointed in the days when
a high standard of technical knowledge in electrical . engineering was
of secondary importance comjiared with a mechanical training.

In conclusion, I should like to say that the " talent " to which
you refer, availeth an engineer very little as regards promotion.

Progress depends on influence, but in Government and municipal
service seniority carries more weight than ability. — I am, &c.

" Electron."

An appeal to members of the House of Commons has been issued
by the Industrial Vehicle Section of the Automobile Associa-
tion AND Motor Union on behalf of industrial vehicle owners and
users with respect to the proposals of railway companies regarding
road transport.

Salesmanship andi Heating and Cooking.

The third of the series of lectures on " Salesmanship " organised
by the British Electrical Development Association was held at
the rooms of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, London,
on Friday last, when Mr. W. A. Gillott opened a discussion on
" Salesmanship in Relation to Electric Heating and Cooking."

Capt. J. M. Donaldson, who presided, in introducing Mr. Gillott
referred to the intrusion into both electric heating and lighting
of the fetish of the obsolete. To placate this fetish electric radiators
were often fitted into fireplaces. This was a mistake, because
an electric radiator was portable, and it was not always necessary
to heat the whole room. With regard to cooking, an electric oven
which could be mounted at a convenient height to save the necessity
of stooping was required.

Different Customers, Different Methods.

Mr. W. A. Gillott said that salesmen would find that while
fundaments,! principles were similar, different methods of attack
must be employed when dealing with different classes of buyers,
such as domestic users, hotels, restaurants and when seUing appliances
to the trade. In one case it would be found better to
sell the idea as a means to an end, and in the other to expatiate
upon quality and utility as a trade buyer should already be a
convert.

SeUing electric cooking and heating apparatus brought the
salesman into touch with all classes of people. It was therefore
necessary to know the subject thoroughly, especially in the case
of domestic cooking where the housewife and cook would require
advice regarding the methods which would secure the best results.
Familiarity with kitchen language and tact were therefore essential
qualifications, while a study of the principles of cooking and heating
was necessary in order to be able to point out the advantages of
using electricity as compared with other methods.

It was as well not to talk too much about price, but to keep
cost in the background until the prospective buyer was interested.
Quality was the thing to talk. This created a desire for possession,
and it would be found that the cost was a secondary consideration.
If the efforts to sell were unsuccessful, an endeavour must be made
to discover the reason, and the experience used at the next
attempt.

Some Important Points.

The claims of electric heating and cooking should be supported
by positive facts, and in this connection the following points
might be emphasised, cleanliness, the satisfactory cooking
results obtained, that electric cooking meant low labour costs,
especially in large kitchens, that electric cookers were convenient
and safe, and that electric cooking was economical. Above all
it should be the aim of salesmen to act in an advisory capacity
to their clients.

When dealing with the domestic side of the business it would be
found advisable to interest the housewife. This would not be
difficult if it was explained how work could be reduced, how cooking
could be done with very Uttle attention, and time saved by eUminat-
ing stoking, attention to flues, manipulation of gas taps, turning
of food, basting, &c. Everyone engaged in the electrical industry
should run an electrical household.

Essentials for Development.

There were two essentials for domestic electric development,
cheap electricity with a sympathetic supply authority and a small
showroom with appfiances demonstrating the capabilities of the
apparatus. Co-operative effort by the heating and cooking manu-
facturers, the local supply authorfty, and the contractors, in giving
a series of lectures and demonstrations in selected towns under
the auspices of the British Electrical Development Association was
suggested. It was regrettable, but none the less true, Mr. Gillott
concluded, that electrical engineers on the whole were not salesmen,
and the subject of salesmanship was not given the attention it
deserved.

Colossal Savings.

Mr. A. F. Berry, who opened the discussion, pointed to the
colossal savings effected by the use of electrical apparatus. The
purchase of certain types of ovens was an investment yielding
something like 100 to 150 per cent, per annum. The real trouble
was that electrical people did not believe that such economies
could be effected, and it was a good thing for the industry that the
public beUeved more in the advantages of electric heating and
cooking than did electrical engineers.

Mr. Still said that the heating business had been retarded by
the use of heaters of small capacities for warming large rooms.
Mr. Rogers on the other hand referred to a building in the West
End where heaters of too large a capacity for the wiring had been
installed with bad results.

More Faith Necessary.

Mr. Prentice also urged that electrical people should have
more faith in electrical apparatus. Salesmen should be con-

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

101

versant not only with the good points of the particular cookers
they were selling, but with the methods of working them.

A Speaker, whose name we .did not catch, said that salesmen
should stick to selling goods, the education of the public being
left in the hands of the British Electrical Development Association.

Mr. E. R. Morton asked that a hiring scheme should be evolved
for electrical apparatus, while Mr. A. G. Whyte pointed out that
in Glasgow there were people actually waiting for electric cookers
owing to the attractive hiring charges.

Cleanliness and Hiring.

Mr. Howell pointed out that if salesmen were to talk about
the cleanliness of electric cookers they should keep their own show-
rooms clean. More co-operation was needed between the supply
authorities and the sellers of apparatus. Mr. W. E. Warkilow
also supported the evolution of a hiring system, as in such a system
in his opinion lay the solution of the problem.

Education of Architects.

Mr. Young insisted on the need for the education of architects
in the usefulness of electricity for heating and cooking. He suggested
that a special fund should be provided for E.D.A. to caiTy on this
work.

Mr. GiLLOTT in replying to the discussion agreed that more attention
should be paid to the electric water heating apparatus, and referred
to a case where money had been saved by these methods owing
to it having been formerly necessary to keep the fire alight all
night. Capital charges for increasing the distribution network
were not so great as were sometimes supposed, as at Billingham,
where about seventy houses were electrically equipped, the average
maximum demand per house did not exceed 0"8 kW, with
11 kW installed in each house. The education of the public, he
thought, was the business of the supply authorities because they were
going to get something out of the use of the apparatus, while when
a manufacturer had sold his goods he had nothing more to come.

The Protection of Alternating Current
Systems.

In a Paper read before the Newcastle Students' Section
of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Mr. R. W. Biles described
the characteristic features and relative advantages of the various
forms of protective apparatus in general use, and said that the
Merz-Price system was now in operation on a 66 000 V system.

With the use of split conductor protection, employing split
switches and non-reactance current transformers, if it was desired
to take off a small tapping in the middle of a line, in all probability
the cost of an additional split switch would not be warranted, and
he therefore suggested three arrangements for giving the required
supply without the necessity of providing such a switch. These
were : ( 1) To install two precisely similar transformers, each having
a capacity equal to half the load required, with H.T. fuses between
the transformers and the split conductor Line, overload protection
being provided on the L.T. side of the transformers ; (2) to instal
a single transformer with a double H.T. winding, one winding
being connected to each split, with H.T. fuses, &c., as before ; (3)
to instal one transformer with a L.T. switch and with H.T. fuses
in each tapping line. Scheme 1 was costly, scheme 3 was the most
economical, but introduced certain disadvantages ; whilst scheme
2 was probably the most satisfactory.

The author recommended the following as" the most suit-
able t3rpe of protective gear to use in particular cases. For the
protecHtion of open-ended feeders — earth leakage. For the protection
of closed feeders, ring mains and interconnectors — Merz-Price,
split conductor, or Hunter four-core. For the protection of
generators and transformers — Merz-Beard self-balance, Merz-
Price circulating current, or " Between Turns."

New Electrical Society for Glasgow.

A meeting, under the auspices of the Glasgow Br;aich of the
Electrical Contractors' Association for Scotland, was held in the
Ca'Dora Restaurant, Union-street, Glasgow, on January 18, Mr.
R. A. Ure, Chairman of the Glasgow Branch of the Electrical
Contractors' Association, presiding. There was a large attendance
representative of the Electricity Supply Authority, Alanufacturers,
Factors, Consulting Engineers, and Associated and Non-Associated
Contractors.

The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called with
the view to inaugurating an Electrical Society which would be
representative of the various callings constituting the electrical in-
dustry. The feeling was expressed that the lack of cohesion of
effort on the part of those engaged in the trade was retarding pro-
gress generally, and while they as engineers recognised the I.E.E.
as their parent institution, some means of meeting under less formal
conditions was essential. The proposal to form such a society was
agreed to unanimously, and a committee was formed to frame a
constitution anJ report at the next meeting to be held in February.

The Installation of Shaft Cables.

In a Paper read by Mn. E. E. Shatford on the " Installation
of Shaft Cables " before the North of England Section of the
As.sociation of Mining Electrical Engineers, in Newcastle,
it was stated that the types of cables generally used for colliery
work were bitumen in.sulated, paper in.sulated lead covered,
or a combination of both. A shaft cable of any type should be
double wire armoured, for mechanical protection, and should have a
compounded jute serving over all to protect the armouring from
corrosion. The practice of splitting the load between two or more
si.aft cables was commended, the increase in cost being Hmali
proportionately to the advantages gained in the way of security.
If the shaft cable was to be looped into one or more seams on
the way to the pit bottom, it was advisable to loop in one cable only
and to run a second cable direct to the pit bottom, disconnect-
ing boxes being installed at each seam and at the pit bottom.
Installation of Shaft Cables.

The simplest method of installation was to mount the cable drum
in the cage, the cable being payed out and cleated up as the cage
descended. If the cage was too small to permit this to be done,
the cable must be lowered end on until the whole lenfrth hung
in the shaft. The safest method of lowering the cable was to lash
it to a steel rope controlled by the haulage gear, and to lower both
cable and rope together. When the final position was reached the
cable was fixed into the top cleat and the lashing removed to a
point below the second cleat, which was then fixed, and the process
repeated until the cable was cleated throughout its length when
the steel rope might be withdrawn. If haulage gear was not available
the wire rope might be controlled by means of locomotives and
spragged trucks, the cable and wire rope being laid out on rollers
along the sleepers and lashed together before lowering commenced.
When lowering by this method the greatest strain was put on the
cable where it passed over the pulley. The cable must, therefore,
be kept moving until the final position was reached, and a cleat
fixed at once to release the strain. When lowering shaft cables
the cable should be run over a large grooved pulley fixed over the
shaft in such a position as to lead the cable as near as possible into
its ultimate position. This pulley should never be less in diameter
than the barrel of the drum, and particular care must be taken to
avoid a twist or kink in the cable.

Cleat Design.

The cleats used for supporting cables in shafts should be made
of hard wood about 2 ft. 6 in. to 3 ft. long, provided with three or
four iron straps and | in. bolts. They should be bored to the exact
diameter of the cable, the thickness of the saw cut when cutting
the cleat longitudinally would ensure a good friction grip on the cable.
The distance between the cleats would depend largely upon the
weight of the cable, but a good average is 20 to 25 yds. apart and no
cleat should carry more than 8 cwts. All cleats should be provided
with sheet iron hoods to keep off water and deflect falling stones.

The practice of suspending a shaft cable from the top only was
not recommended except for very shallow shafts, on account of
the stresses set up immediately below the suspender. This method,
had the advantage of offering no obstacle to falling material.

Surface Cables.

The soil around pil-heads was notoriously injurious to armoured
cables owing to the amount of made-up ground, ashes, Ac. usually
present, and care must be exercised when laying out the runs.
There were only two methods which raeritetl serious consideration
from a safety point of view : A culvert built between the power-
house and the shaft, with brackets fixed to the side to carry the
cables, the top of the culvert being covered with iron plates of
stone slabs, or cables slung overhead between the power-house and
headgear by suspending from a catenary wire when passing over
open ground, or run along the bmldings where convenient. Cables
laid in the former manner were accessible and repairs or extensions
can be effected conveniently. The second method permitted of
the cable always being in view. The suspenders should be
substantial in construction and of generous width.

Jointing.

Unless the shaft cable was to be looped into one or more seams
it should, if possible, be manufactured and installed in one length.
If this was impracticable, a horizontal joint should be made in an
existing heading. A vertical joint in the shaft could be made,
but should be avoided whenever possible,'' as it was difficult to
make in dry shafts and practically impossible in wet shafts. Sweated
joints on the conductors should be made, where possible, but if
naked lights were not allowed, mechanical connectors must be used.
They should give a sound mechanical grip on the strand, and good
electrical contact, the resistance across the connector being at
least equal to a similar length of uncut conductor. The glands
of joint boxes, if the cable was bitumen sheathed, should be provided
with long bearing surfaces to prevent damage at this pohit. The
continuity of the armour wires across the jomts must be provided
for by means of a copper bond.

102

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

Electric Traction in Chile.

We announced a few weeks ago that the Westinghouse Inter-
national Electric Company had secured an imiiortant railroad
electrification contract in Chile, where the total railwaj- mileage is
5 200, of which about 30 per cent, is privately owned, the remainder
being divided into broad gauge and narrow gauge lines. The
fornier extend south from Valparaiso by way of Santiago to Paerto
Montt, with numerous branches. The conditions that arose during
the war brought forcibly to the attention of the railway manage-
ment the necessity for electrifying the broad gauge lines, especially
the Valparaiso-Sa^ntiago line with the Los Andes branch, where
traffic was rajndly approaching the track capacity. In addition
fuel costs were excessive, while almost limitless water-power was
going to waste.

Electric Traction Decided on.

A commission appointed in 1918 to study the problem, reported
in favour of electric traction, and on account of the possible
economies it was decided to electrify the broad gauge lines, beginning
with the Valparaiso-Santiago and Los Andes branches, or the first
zone. A loan of !?10 500 000 for the purpose was heavily over-
subscribed in a few hours.

The initial electrification will include 116 miles from Valparaiso
to Santiago, and 28 miles from Las Vegas to Los Andes, the terminus
of the Transandine Railroad, a narrow gauge line ; while the narrow
gauge longitudinal railroad runs north from Calera, an important
.station on the line to be electrified. The maximum gradient in this
zone is 2 "25 per cent., approaching La Cumbre (the Summit) from
the west ; there are a relatively large number of curves, the maxi-
mum being 10°. The track gauge is 5 ft. 6 in., and there are six
tunnels on the main line, the longest (the San Pedro) being 1 600 ft.
in length. Three of the tunnels are on the most severe gradient
approaching the summir.

Electrical System.

The 3 000 V direct-current system was decided upon as best
suited to the conditions. Hydro-elecJa-ic power will be generated
at the Maitines station of the Chilean Electric Tramway & Light
Company. This station is being constructed and will utilize the
waters of the Rio Colorado. The station will contain three three-
phase 8 125-kVA Westinghouse generators (50 cycles), and will
have an ultimate capacity of 30 000 kW. This power will be
transmitted 37 miles to Santiago by twiti-circuit 110 000 V trans-
mission lines. These transmission lines will be connected at
Santiago with the system fed by the Florida hydro-electric and the
Mapocho steam stations, both of which were constructed some years
ago by the Germans and were designed for 50 cycles three-phase
power. The total capacity of the three generating systems will be,
when completed, approximately 120 000 kW.

Sub-Stations.

The power supply will be distributed by five sub-stations designed
to handle a train movement that is approximately 50 per cent,
greater than that existing in 1917, with a further provision for
tripling the 1917 traffic demands, if necessary. Each station will
contain two 2 000 kW motor-generator sets, each set consisting of
a 2 830 H.p. driving motor, and two 1 000 kW, 1 500 V generators
connected in series. These sets will be designed to withstand a
200 per cent, overload for five minutes without injury, and as an
additional safeguard the Westinghouse flash-suppressor will be
included. Sub-stations Nos. 1 and 5 will receive power at 12 000 V
and Nos. 2, 3 and 4, at 44 000 V. Transformers and switching
equipment will be of the latest design, and the Westinghouse
developed power-indicating and limiting equipment will be installed.

Electric Locomotives.

Thirty-nine electric locomotive^? are required for the initial
electrification, including six expi-ess passenger, eleven local
passenger, fifteen road freight, and seven switching locomotives.
The main points of interest about these locomotives are given in
the following table : — :.. , .j

Type Loco.

Express passenger
Local passenger.
Road freight
Switching . .

Weight.

Tons.
127

80
113

Length.

Ft. in.
58 6
40 6
49 10
40 —

Wheel
Arrangement

2-6-0 - 0-6-2
0-4-0 - 0-4-0
0-6-0 - 0-6-0
0-4-0 - 0-4-0

No. of

Total

Motors.

H.p.

x —

2 250

1500

1680

480

Max.
Speed.

M.r.H.
62i
56
40
34

The locomotives will bo equipped with Westinghouse motora.
The express-passenger and road-freight locomotives will be equipped
with the Westinghouse system of regenerative breaking, with its
most modern development, but the local passenger locomotives will
not require or justify the regenerative braking feature.

Electrical Undertakings in India.

The Department of Overseas Trade has received the Third Sup-
]-)lement to the List of Electrical Undertakings in India, revised
to October, 1921, which contains financial and technical details
of the various licenced electrical undertakings in India. A copy
of this Supplement may be seen on application to the Department
(Room 84), 35, Old Queen Street, Westminster, London, S.W. 1.
A further copy is available for loan to firms in the provinces
(Reference E.D. 7 753.)

Future of Trolley Omnibuses.

In the course of a discussion at an Institute of Transport meet-
ing at Warrington, last week, it was suggested that the availability
of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity might result in the
development of trackless trolley omnibus systems in places where
it is not possible, owing to the heavy expenditure involved, to build
the ordinary tramway track. The point was suggested by a lecture
by Mr. E. H. Edwardes, general manager of the Lancashire
Unit«d Tramways, Ltd., who, in his Paper, discussed the relative
merits of the : — (1) Electric tramway, (2) trackless trolley traction,
(3) motor omnibuses, (4) motor coaches. Mr. Edwardes was of
opinion that all these systems had come to stay, would be further
developed, and become more efficient. From estimates, after t/aking
into account capital expenditure, the most economical form of road
transport for heavy traffic, with regular services of not less than
ten minutes' frequency, was the electric tramcar ; for services of
ten to twenty minutes' frequency, trackless trolley traction ; and for
anything less frequent, the motor omnibus. A form of traction had
yet 'to be invented which could carry large numbers of people reliably
and quickly, at as low a cost per passenger as the electric tram. The
trackless trolley type of vehicle had been greatly improved recently,
its seating capacity was now considerably greater than that of the
motor omnibus, and operating costs were actually cheaper.

New One-Man Tramcar.

The London United Tramways are experimenting with a new
one-man tramcar of their own construction. The new car is modelled
on the lines of the " safety car " which is so widely used in America.
It has been approved by the Ministry of Transport, and has been
licensed by the Commissioner of Police. The vehicle is a single-
decker, and when running the whole of it is closed in. The motor-
man sits in the front part of the car in a vestibule, somewhat after
the manner of the modern cabriolet motor-car. He operates the car
by means of a controller with his left hand, and with his right hand
operates the brake, which is of a patent hydraulic type, merely by
a turn of the wrist. The brake is of the flipper type, and works on
the rail instead of on the wheel. It is held off by the hydraulic
pressure, so that in the event of any failure it operates automatically.
Further, if the driver lets go of his brake handle, through sudden
illness or any other cause, the power is cut off and the brakes applied.
Passengers board and alight from the car at the front end, the door
and step working in unison, and being operated by the motorman by
a lever in the cab. The car cannot be started until the door is shut
and the step folded. The experimental car is being tried in the
Kingston district, and, if it gives satsfactory results, a number of
similar cars will be built by the company. W'iih these small, handy
cars it will be possible to give the public a moi-e frequent service in
suitable districts, instead of a less frequent service of larger cars.

The Tramways Question in Edinburgh.

Lecturing on the subject of city transport before the local
Merchants' Association, Councillor Monctjr, Convenor of the Tram-
ways Committee of Edinburgh Tramway Council, said that the
introduction of the cable system into Edinburgh was a blunder.
Last year the amounts for running charges of the cable cars worked
out at 3'75d. per car mile, against 0"5d. per car mile for the electric
cars in Leith, and a proposal to save, say, 3d. per car mile, or .*
total of £75 000, was not one that could be lightly tm-ned down.
Last year the maint'^nance charges were 5'9d. per car mile for the
cable cars, and 2'9d. for the electric cars. The electric overhead
system had been shown to be the most economical, efficient, and
elastic method known to engineering, and it was with the know-
ledge that they would be assured of that efficiency that it was
decided to run no risk even in Princes-street. He could not
believe that the erection of centi-^ poles and wires in Princes-street
would detract from the amenities in any way. In any case, he
considered the advantage of a uniform system far outweighed any
sentimental objections.

The Dean of York, whose locus standi in the matter is not quite
clear, writes to " The Times" " protesting against the proposed action
of the city authorities, which would disfigure the street and interfere
disastrously with the view." " Surely," he continues, " an effective
endeavour will be made to save Princes-street before it is too late
by lovers of beauty throughout the kingdom, and by some who have
more right to speak and more influence to exert than one who is
merely an occasional visitor with a great love of Scotland and of
romantic beauty." We feel sure that the financial arguments of Mr.
Moncur will appeal more to the canny Scot than the resthetic ones of
the Dean.

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

103

The Municipal Electrical Old Stagers.

The question is : Wtieii is a inunicipal electrical engineer an old
stager? The answer: When, having been in municipal service
before midnight on Dec. 31, 1900, he has ever been a chief. Fifty-
one of them, among whom were Messrs. S. W. Baynes, J. K.
Brydges, J. E. Edgecombe, R. ,F. Ferguson, A- L. C. Fell, A. Gay,
J. 'S. llighfield, F. Harman Lewis, W. W. Lackie, E. T. Ruthven-
Murray, A. Page, H. Faraday Proctor, G. Scott Ram, Sir John Snell,
J. E. Stewart, C. D. Taite, H. Talbot, T. P. Wilmshurst, and C. H.
Wordingham, sat down to dinner at the Hotel Cecil on Friday last,
with four guests, namely, Aid. W. Walker, Chairman of the N.J.I.C.
Electricity Supply Industry, Mr. H. Booth, Mr. W. L. Madgen,

a list of names of those who were prevenied Ti'.r
and letters from Alderman Pearson, who has been

of the I.M.E.A. for so many years, Mr. A. B. M' ...^ .:

the founders, Mr. A. P. Trotter, Mr. A. Bromley Uoimes, and
others.

After dinner a group photograph was taken, which we reprodace
herewith, and brief reminiscences were given by Mesere. Baynes,
Chamen, Christie, Highfield, Ruthven Murray, Faraday Proctor.
C. H- Wordingham and R. Birkett. The note of cordial good fellow-
ship and c.ieeriness was most marked, and all those present seemed
greatly to appreciate the opportunity afforded of meeting old friends.

Phoio W. 0. Siu. .

The "Municipal Old Stagers" — After Dinner.

first Ho4i. Secretary of the I.M.E.A., and Mr. S. T. Allen, President
of the I.M.E.A. All these wera under the chairmanship of Mr. Arthur
Wright, the first President of the I.M.E.A.

The Essential Idea.

The essential idea of the gathering was the reunion, under circum-
stances as informal as possible, of old friends who had borne the
burden and heat of the day in municipal electrical supply. There
was only one toast in addition to the loyal toasts, namely, thart. of
the Old Stagers themselves, proposed by Aid. Walker and
responded to by Mr. A. Wright and Sir John Snell.

The Organising Hon- Secretary, Mr. C. H. Wordingham, read

well remembered, though not seen for many years. Through the
kindness of Mr. Hughman, the menu card bore an e.xcellent repro-
duction of a block publis:.<>d by "Lightning" (••Electrical
Times ") in 1896 of some of the original meml>ers of the I.M.E,A..
while Mr. Bentell lent a set of seventeen framed autographs of early
members of the I.M.E.A., of whom eleven were present at the
reunion. These were a centre of gi-eat interest and pleasure. A
number of early I.M.E A. photographs were shown by Mr. H. Fara-
day Proctor. Many present e.xpressed the hope that the function
might become an annual one, but opinions diffei^d as to whether th«
time limit should be raised as the years went on. or whether the
original limit should be maintained until only two toothless, deaf
and blind old men were left to hobble in and Jine on one another.

Domestic Engineering.

Before the Women's Engineering Society on Tuesday, Miss
Gwynne Howell delivered a lecture on " Domestic Engineering," in
which she dealt mainly with electrical labour-saving appliances. The
lecturer emphasised the need for educating women to the advantages
of these appliances, and so to create a demand and bring down the
initial cost, which at present was quite beyond the means of the
average housewife. Many of the most useful appliances, such as
washing machines, were far too bulky for the ordinary house, flat,
or maisonette. What was wanted were smaller, more compact
machines, and, above all, utility motors which could be attached to
several appliances. A further necessity was a universal voltage. In
one showroom in London the appliances on one side of the room
could not be worked on the same voltage as on the other side. Small
labour-saving appliances, such as electric toasters^ were being put on
the market almost daily, and were becoming a snare to the nouse-
wife, as to possess too many of these only meant a change from one
kind of work to another, on account of the additional polishing re-
quired to keep them clean. An interesting discussion followed.

The Revo Electric Iron.

The following letter, which was written to the Cable Accessobim
Comp.^ny on Jan. 12. by Mr. H. W. Teeton. of the Foundry Works,
Hanley, is, as the Avrit'er states, a good testimony to the excelleiKe
of the Revo electric iron :— " I have returned to you to-day. per
post, one Revo electric iron, which I sunplied to a customer on
Dec. 16, 1920. The iron is a 100 V one; it has been in use since this
date on a 200 V circuit, and has now burned out. The failure
appears to have been in the mica insulation and not in the element
itself. I have supplied my customer with a new iron, as I thought
it might interest you to "see this one. which is certainly a good
testimonial to the capabilities of the Revo iron."

An Open Competitive Examination for 15 situations as assistant
engineer in the ENorsEER-rN-CKiEF's DEP.xRTxreNT of the GEXKRAr.
Post Office will be held in London, Edinburgh, and Manchester,
beginning on April 20. Particulars may be obtained on application
to' the Secretary, Civil Service Commission, Burlington-gard«is,
London, W. 1.

104

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

The S.-E. Lancashire Inquiry.

The inquiry into the South-east Lancashire electricity scheme was
concluded on the 19th inst. , three daye being sufficient for the
investigation. After !Mr. Tyldesley Jones, K.C, had explained
the general principles of the scheme, Ald. W. T. Dagnall, chair-
man of Manchester Electricity Committee and of the committee re-
sponsible for the scheme, gave evidence. He said he d'd not think
that the scheme would suffer by the exclusion of Stalybridge. A
smaller Board than forty-eight would be more manageable, but it
was not intended the whole Board should do the work. A smaller
committee would present its recommendations to the Board.

Mr. S. L. Pearce, electrical engineer of Manchester, gave details
of the technical proposals. He said that the statistics compiled by
the committee had been criticised, and evidence had been called to
support them.

Adjustment of Areas.

At this stage the Town Clerk of Macclesfield, which is not at
present included in the provisional district, asked that the town
should be included. With a cheap and good supply of electricity,
Macclesfield was likely to undergo considerable industrial develop-
ment, ajid his Council had passed a resolution favouring inclusion
in the scheme. Evidence to a similar effect was given by the Clerks
to the Macclesfield and the BoUington Rural Councils, two neigh-
bouring authorities. The boundary of the Macclesfield rural dis-
trict was within four miles of the Stockport generating station, and
BoUington Council felt it was more likely to be helped by
South-east Lancashire than by the North Wales area, with which it
is now grouped.

The Town Clerk of Buxton asked that his Council's area
and those of the neighbouring authorities of Hayfield, Whaley
Bridge and New Mills (at present in the North-east Midlands
area) should be excluded altogether from any electricity district.
If any district was entitled to exclusion on account of its geographi-
cal position, that district was Buxton, which was cut on from
Sheffield by the Pennine Range.

Sir John Snell said the Commissioners were agreed that physical
and economic difficulties were involved in associating Buxton with
the Sheffield area.

The Town Clerk replied that more help might possibly be given
them by South-east Lancashire than by the Sheffield area, but even
from South-east Lancashire they could not expect anything during
the next ten, fifteen, or possibly twenty years.

Sir John Snell reminded the witness of the possibility that the
railway line between Manchester and Buxton might be electrified —
a possibility which lay within the limits of practical politics. Sup-
posing that were done, would Buxton object to receiving such an
advantage, and would the association of Buxton witE the South-east
Lancashire area be considered a disadvantage during the years that
might intervene before that electrical inter-connection could be
established ?

The Town Clerk said he. thought not. If, by coming into the
area, Buxton could in any way help towards electrifying the line
from Manchester, then Buxton would be pleased to come in. But if
they were to derive no benefit during the next ten or fifteen years
there was the question of the contribution. It was a trifling
amount, certainly — only ten guineas a year. From the residential
point of view, and from the point of view of community of interest,
Buxton was more nearly tied to South-east Lancashire and Man-
chester than to any other district.

Approval of Railway Companies.

At this point Mr. Tyldesley Jones, K.C, informed the Com-
missioners that the railway companies in the area, subject to one or
two points on which a provisional arrangement had been made, were
in agreement with the scheme.

Continuing his evidence, Mr. Pearce said that £13 000 000 repre-
sented the cost of extensions of plant which would be required in the
ordinary course if the existing systems were continued in the area ;
it did not, however, mean that an expenditure of £13 000 000 was
proposed under their scheme. Actually the scheme was an attempt
to save £1 400 000 of that £13 000 000, which would otherwise be
incurred. Personally, he was sanguine about the prospects of carrv-
ing out the scheme, which rested on a basis of voluntary co-operation.
At present there was voluntary connection among authorities which
between them accounted for 80 to 85 per cent, of the total number
of units generated in the area.

The scheme had been unanimously adopted by the authorities
represented at the conference, and at the same time keen hostility
was shown towards the idea of setting up a joint electricity authority.
As far as he could discover, no undertaking was willing to transfer
its generating plant or main transmission lines to a joint authority,
*u^ ^u*^^ ^" authority, to be completely successful, must dominate
the whole area— which implied a system of common ownership and
common operation, with ample financial powers. As a technical
scheme the present proposals were the best which the engineers oould
put forv;^ard.

Opposition of Stalybridge.

The attitude of the Joint Electricity and Tramways Board of
Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield, which desired to be
omitted from the scheme, was explained by Mr. T. Eastham and
Mr Pearce admitted, in reply to Mr. Eastham, that the Stalybridge
undertaking, owing to the non-stanJard frequency of the current
which it supplied, would be precluded for many years from

benefiting by inclusion in the scheme. The rest of the area would
not be injured if Stalybridge stayed out.

Mr. Eastham objected that it would cost Stalybridge £400 or
£500 a year to be included in the scheme.

Sm John Snell asked if Stalybridge would object to being in-
cluded if it were not asked to contribute to the expenses of the
Board.

Mr. Eastham replied that if he were informed that Stalybridge
need not pay anything he would obtain fresh instructions.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones said he could not suggest that Stalybridge
should pay nothing, but he would suggest that the Stalybridge con-
tribution should be put on a nominal basis of twenty guineas.

More Boundary Adjustments.

On the 19th inst. the Clerk te the Rural Council of Chapel-en-le-
Frith asked that part of his rural district should be included in the
South-east Lancashire district. At present the whole of Chapel-en-
le-Frith was included in the North-east Midlands (Sheffield) area.
The rural district embraced seventeen parishes, and as it might be
a long time before electric current could be taken across the bleak
expanse dividing one part of the rural district from the other, he
thought it desirable that the nine parishes to the north of the
Pennines should remain in the Sheffield area and the eight parishes
to the south be transferred to the South-east Lancashire area.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones, K.C, said the promoters offered no objec-
tion to the inclusion of the eight parishes in South-east Lancashire.

Mr. C D. Taite, chief engineer and manager of the Lancashire
Electric Power Company, also, gave evidence in favour of the scheme.
The electricity undertakings in the area included some of the most
efficient in the country. In the statistics prepared for the inquiry
the Lancashii'e Power Company's costs were the lowest, and at
present the undertakings of Bolton, Bury and Stalybridge were first.
fourth, and sixth respectively in the United Kingdom for the
lowness of their working costs.

Agreement with Stalybridge.

After a consultation Mr. Eastham announced that the Stalybridge,
Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield authorities were prepared to come
into the scheme, though they did not expect to get any material
benefit for the present. They had been impressed by Mr. Pearce's
views of its possibilities and were anxious not to do anything to
spoil it. It had been agreed that a special clause should be added
to the scheme, recognising the case of the Stalybridge joint board
as a special one, allowing the Joint Board to retain its frequency
of forty, and limiting its financial contribution to twenty-one guineas.

Sir John Snell expressed the Commissioners' satisfaction that
agreement had been reached, and a difference of opinion having
developed over the drafting of the clause, Sir John said that the
Commissioners would settle the points at issue themselves.

Mr. Perkins, who appeared for the Yorkshire Electric Power
Company, objected to the inclusion of Saddleworth and Springhead
on the ground that it would mutilate the Yorkshire company's area.

Mr. Eastham opposed Mr. Perkins's application on behalf of the
Stalybridge undertaking, which also has interests in Saddleworth
and Springhead ; and Sir John Snell observed that as far as he could
see, the powers of the Yorkshire Electric Power Company would
remain entirely unaffected by the scheme.

Position of Advisory Board.

A long discussion took place between !Mr. Tyldesley Jones and the
Commissioners over a clause which gave a constituent authority the
right of appealing to the Commissioners against the Advisory
Board's recommendations.

Sir John Snell asked if the constituent authorities would agree
to be bound by the Commissioners' decision.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones said " No," and instanced the possibility
of a constituent authority being co.npelled by such a decision to
spend large sums of money against its will. At present Manchester
Corporation were expending several millions in erecting a generating
station, and the obligations they were undertaking to outside
authorities accounted for about a million of that sum. Supposing
that in the future the Advisory Board required them to spend two
or three millions in extending that station to cope with the needs
of outside districts, and that Manchester's refusal to do so was over-
ruled by the Commissioners. Was it reasonable that Manchester
should be bound to raise £3 000 000 on the rates in order to comply
with such a decision ?

Sir John Snell asked what was the good of appealing to the
Commissioners if the parties declined te abide by their decision.

Sm Harry Haward, who confessed that he had a good deal of
sympathy with the local authorities in their objection, suggested
tifiat the difficulty might be met by limiting appeals to the Com-
missioners to subjects outside finance, leaving financial points to be
dealt with by the constituent authorities themselves.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones promised that his clients would consider
the suggestion.

The inquiry then concluded, and Sir John Snell paid a tribute
to those responsible for the preparations of the technical details.

Licences of Rioht have been granted to F. Butterworth for
patent No. 13 146/14 for " improvements in and relating to electrical
condensers " ; to A. L. 0. Fauchon-Villeplee, for Patent No. 128 241
(9 243/17), for " improved electric gun or apparatus for propelling
projectiles " ; and to E. G. Mascarenhas, for Patent No. 153 153
(24 197/19), for " improvements in electric lamps."

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

105

Legal Intelligence.

Claim for Electric Motor Repairs.

In the Shoreditch County Court, on Tiuirsday last, the Cohalt
Electrical Company sued Mr Roysenthal to recover £14 5s. for
work done, including the repair of a 30 w.P 480 V motor, rewinding
two field coils, re-insulating two other field coils, and repairing open
circuits in armature.

Mr Wilfred E. Hackett, partner in plaintiff firm, said the orders
for the work were verbal, tiie first being on Aug. 21 for repairs to
an electric motor. It was defendant's cu.stom to send the electric
motors along for repair, and collect them on completion, but in the
case of the first item on the claim, he was asked to send the motor
by special van, which he did.

After hearing the evidence. Judge Cluer found for plaintiff for
the full amount claimed.

Telegraph Wires Over a River.

At the Hull County Court, on Monday, the Postmaster-General
sued Captain Barracl'ough, Barton-on-Humber, for damage caused
bv the breaking of fourteen telegraph wires by the mast of the
defendant's veesel. It was stated that the wires were over the Aire,
near Taylor's Wharf, at Leeds.

For the defence it was ui'ged that a sharp look-out was kept
over the riv«r, but defendant could not be expected to be looking
into the sky to see if it was necessary to lower theniast.

Judge Lock, in giving his decision, said masters of river craft, who
were accustomed to going under wiree, did not lower the masts
unless a warning was given on the bank in the case of exceptionally
low wires. Therefore he gave judgment for defendant.

Electric Lighting Plant Dispute.

At the Chester County Court, last week, Messrs. Cheshire Bros,
sued Messrs. F. J. Jones and Sons, electrical engineers, and Messrs.
Studebaker, Ltd, for the recovery of £39 3s. 6d.

For plaintiffs, it was staited that they received an inquiry for
a Lalley lighting set from Monmouthshire, and Messrs. Jones were
given the order. Subsequently, an advice note was received from
Messrs. Studebaker from which it was known that the erection of
the plant had been completed. Complaints were afterwards made
of the engine stopping ; Mr. Jones suggested certain tests and altera-
tions, and he promised that he would supply a new diaphragm.
After the alterations had been effected the trouble still existed, and
later on Mr. Jones admitted that the plant was defective.

The manager for Messrs. Jones and Sons denied that the plant
was defective when delivered, but another witness said the plant
had been badly erected, and the vibration was causing trouble.

Mr. Marshall Tate, manager of the Lalley light department of
Studebakers, said the machines were tested in America and in
England before being sent out. He did not think there was any
responsibility on the firm to put the plant right.

Judge Parsons, K.C., found for plaintiffs as against Messrs. Jones
for the amount claimed, and granted an indemnity in favour' of
Messrs. Jones as against INtessrs. Studebaker, Ltd., for the amount
payable by Messrs. Jones, with costs.

Wiring Contract Disputes.

The quality of the work in connection with the " wiring " of a
dwelling house was disputed at Marylebone County Court last week
before Judge Scully, when Mr. Douglas H. Brayne sued Mr. W. A.
Clark for £9 balance of an account for work done and materials
supplied. Plaintiff wired defendant's house at Putney, the work
having been finished about August or September last. He did not
send in an account, but asked defendant for payment. He sent in
HJi account later, however, after having asked defendant for payment
several times. He had heard of no complaint regarding the work
until defendant filed a counter-claim. The cost of the work
amounted to £19. Defendant paid him £5 when he commenced the
work and another £5 when it was nearing completion.

Defendant in his evidence alleged that the work was improperly
done. He arranged with plaintiff to use iron pipes, but that was
not done and the wires were exposed. Defendant also failed to
keep an appointment when the work was being tested by the County
of London Electric Supply Company, who subsequently told him
that the work was disgracefully carried out.

Plaintiff said that he could not keep the first appointment, but ne
kept the second one. He added that in connection with the London
County Council housing schemes the wiring was carried out in a
fashion similar to that adopted by him, and only about 2^ per cent,
of electrical contractors adopted the method suggested by defendant.

Defendant : But I asked you to do it my way, and you ought to
have done it. Defendant added that plaintiff had used some of his
fittings, although he contracted to use his own fittings.

In reply to the Judge, plaintiff said the fittings were a small
matter and would not amount to more than one-sixth of the total.

Defendant said that no fuses were put in until they were supplied
by the Supply Company.

Plaintiff : They were in when I was at the second test.

Judge Scully gave judgment for plaintiff for £7, with costs.

At Marylebone County Court, on Monday, Judge Scully heard
another wiring dispute. Mr. R. H. Essex, an electrical engineer,
sued Mr. F. Shirley for £11 15s. for work done. Plaintiff stated
that defendant employed him to install electric light in a workshop.
The contract Was that plaintiff was to have £1 a day, and defendant
was to supply all the materials. Plaintiff spent six and a half

days on the work, afid later it was aere«d that he should receive
£6 5s. in discharge of his account. Witness also installed electric
light in defendant's flat, and wa« to receive £4 10s, for erecting the
wires and putting a meter in the basement.

In crossexaminalion plaintiff said he was an electrician and motor
mechanic. He was not aware that the defendant had had the work
to do all over again.

A solicitor stated that owing to illness the defendant could not
appear in court.

Judge Scully give judgment for plaintiff for the amount claimed,
with costs.

Working of an Electric Washing Machine-
On Tuesday Mr. Justice Coleridge heard an action brought by
Rear- Admiral Sueter and his wife against Ilarrods, Ltd., to recover
damages for personal injuries, alleged to have been caused by the
negligence of defendants' servants. The defence wae a general
denial of the allegations, and a plea that, if defendants had been
guilty of negligence, the female plaintiff had herself contributed to
it by attempting to put a handkerchief between the rollers of a
washing machine, and holding it so negligently and unskilfully that
her fingers were drawTi with it between the rollers of the machine.

In opening the case, Mr. H.'^RDy said that Admiral Sueter and his
wife thought of acquiring a " Thor " electric washer, which Messrs.
Harrods were offering for sale, and it was arranged that an e-xperi-
enced demonstrator should be sent with the machine. In Augiifit,
1920, the demonstration took place at plaintiffs' house, and during
the demonstration Mrs. Sueter's fingers were drawn between the
rollers, and, it was alleged, the cprtilages of the joints were badly
crushed and she suffered a severe shock, which made massage neces-
sary. She received other medical treatment, and she was mcapaci-
tated for some time. It appeared that Mrs. Sueter asked if she
might try the wringing out of her handkerchief in the wringing part
of the machine, and the man who was giving the demonstration
agreed. The man then turned the switch, and the barrel and the
wringer began to revolve. Mrs. Sueter tried to feed the handker-
chief into the \vi-inger, but she could not get the wringer to bite the
handkerchief. Suddenly the rollers reversed themselves. Mrs.
Sueter's hand was drawn right in and crushed. Counsel said the
man was so incompetent that he could do nothing to release Mrs.
Sueter's hand ; he could not stop the machine, nor could he in any
way release the rollers. Admiral Sueter's electrician kicked away
the plug connecting the machine wnth the house wire, and the
Admiral released the pressure from Mrs. Sueter's hand by unscrew-
ing the top of the wringer.

Admiral and Mrs. Sueter gave evidence as to how the accident
occurred, and Dr. Windsor described the nature of the iniunee,
which he admitted in cross-examination were-not of a serious kind.

This closed plaintiffs' case, and after the demonstrator from
Messrs. Harrods and other witnesses had given evidence for the
defence, the Judge, without calling upon counsel to addrees him,
delivered judgment in favour of Messrs. Harrods. He said that he
was satisfied that the accident happened not from any circumstances
over which thev had control, or for which they ou^ht to be held
responsible, although he was disposed somewhat to doub* the com-
petence of the operator. The real cause of the accident however,
had never been pleaded. There would be judgment for defendants,
with costs.

Dispute about Telegraph Posts.
At Paignton County Court, on Monday, His Honour Judge
Terrell K C, gave his d' >-ision as arbitrator on a difference which
had arisen under the Telegraph Acts between Sir Robert Harvey,
of Harberton, and the Postmaster-General.

In s\v\n<r his decision. His Honour said that the case arose out
of the intention of the Postmaster-Creneral to extend the te.egraph
service from Totnes to Tuckerhay Mill. The Postmaster-General
proposed to erect twenty-eight telegraph posts m the hedge along-
side the road from Painsford Cross to Langridge Cross. Totnes. and
to place in the field adjoining the hedge six stays bir Robert
Harvey was willing to consent subject to a payment by the Post-
mastei-General of Is. a year per posl The Postmaster-General
offered to pav 6d. a year for each stay, but he claimed the right
to place and maintain the poles without payment. He found that
Sir Robert Harvev had given his consent upon t^^rnis. which wer«
not prohibitive, and which were ^^o^nmonly agreed to between the
Postmaster-General and private owners. Although the '»"P'*«f
adopted bv the Telegraph Act of 1916 was verv obscure he thought
he should' be right in holding that the '"♦'"O'^f^M^" ^J. 1*^^, "'"-J"^
tion to the granting of the consent was a refusal within the meaning

of the Act of 1916. ^ ,- , w if ♦!,»* ♦»,,,

His Honour said he had. however, to satjsfv himself that the
refusal to give consent was contrary to the public interest. The on.y
evidence on that point was -that of Mr Aldrtdpe the Superintendent
Engineer of the S.W. District, who said the poles were required to
supplv a. telephone ser%-ice to Tuckenhay Mi I. That was a pureh
private line, and in no sense a matter of public interest. The poles
would if required, be used for general telephone purposes He
understood that at present the poles wou'd not be required for
general telephone purposes, but. if required, they would be used here-
after Mr Sheldon. Engineer for the Exeter Section, told him
that befo-e that line was erected applications for a public line to
\shnrin<Tton and Dittisham were made, and at the latter place they
had been asked to put a telephone call office. He did not say thev
intended to extend a line to the villages. The Postmaster-General
had not satisfied him that the refusal was contrary to the public

106

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

interests; the refusal simply affected the private interests of Tucken-
hay Mill. The other question he had to determine was that of
payment. Sir Robert llarvey asked for Is. a pole, which was the
almost universal payment before 1916. The Postmaster&eneral con-
sidered that no payment should be required in respect of the poles
and wires, but he was Milling to make a small nominal payment for
ihe stays. He came to the conclusion that the application of the
Postmaster-General had failed, and that the refusal of consent was
not contrary to the public interests. If he was wrong as to that,
then he held that the payment of Is. per pole was a reasonable and
proper condition to the giving of consent. His Honour, therefore,
dismissed the application, with costs.

Hastings Tram^v^ay Arbitration Appeal.

On Monday Mr. Justice McCardie had before him a special case
stated by the arbitrator in the dispute between Hastings Corpora-
tion and the Hastings Tramway Company. It related to the con-
struction to be put upon the word " cable " in a section of the
1920 Act relating to the construction of No. 1 tramway along the
sea front.

Mr. RosKiLL, K.C., appeared for the Tramways Company, who
appealed against the arbitrator's award, and Mr. McMorran, K.C.,
was for the Corporation.

_ Mr. Roskhx explained that the dispute arose out of the Hastings
Tramway Act, 1920. The tramway was one mile six furlongs long,
and the Act of 1903 provi^ded that it should not be constructed on
the overhead system. The Dolter surface contact system, which was
adopted, proved unsatisfactory, and it was discontinued by order
of the Board of Trade in 1914 Then it was worked on the petrol
electric system, and that also proved unsatisfactory, and finally the
company was authorised to use the overhead system. Certain words
in the Act threw upon the company the obligation of connecting
new lamps, which they had had placed on the tram standards, with
the existing main. The Corporation contended that the company
must place a new lighting cable, or an addition to the existing one.
Mr. Roskill read the section of the Act, and said the arbitrator
ordered them to provide a main cable for a stretch along the
Front. He had found that, because the Corporation had chosen
to place upon each of those standards, 40 yards apart, two 200 V
gasfilled lamps, instead of one arc lamp on each standard. 80 yards
apart, and because that necessitated an extra cable, therefore "there
was an obligation upon the company to provide that extra cable.

Mr. McMoRR.\x said it was a condition of the withdrawal by the
Corporation of their objection to the overhead system that they
were to get a new lighting system provided at the expense of the
company. That was all the Corporation got in return for their
assent to the overhead system. Once the Corporation proved a new
cable was necessary, that cable must be provided by the company.

His Lordship, in giving judgment, said he thought Mr. Roskill
was right. There was no statutory obligation on the company to
provide a main cable, but only an inter-connecting cable. His Lord-
ship was satisfied that from every point of view the Act supported
]Mr. Roskill's contention, and he allowed the appeal, with costs.

The Institute of Metals.

The annual meeting of the Institute of Metals will be held in
London on March 8 and 9, when ten Papers will be presented for
discussion. At the annual dinner at the Trocadero on Wednesday,
March 8, lady members will be present.

The annual May lecture will be delivered on May 3 by Sir Ernest
Rutherford, on " The Relation of the Elements." The autumn
meeting will be held at Swansea from Sept. 20-22. From October to
December (as well as during the present quarter) meetings of the
various local sections — membership of which is free to members of
the parent body — will be held in London, Birmingham, Sheffield,
Glasgow, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and elsewhere. Last year the member-
ship of the Institute increased from 1 298 to 1 410.

Power Supply Amenities at West Ham.

Many of the large power users in West Ham met last week at the
Beta Works of Estler Brothers to receive the report of a pre-
liminary committee appointed to investigate the condition of the
supply of electricity for power in the district. The report was read
by Mr. B. Estler, who referred to the frequent stoppages in supply
and to the circular issued to consumers early in December last, asking
them to reduce their consumption of current during the afternoons.
This had occurred in spite of a promise made that after March, 1921,
when it was expected that new plant would be installed, there would
be an improved supply. The frequent stoppage and the curtailment
asked for had been a serious matter for manufacturers and workers.
The committee had made inquiries as to the price of electricity in
West Ham, ajid found that it compared very unfavourably with
other undertakings. This occurred, too, in spite of its large demand,
one of the greatest in the kingdom, its good load factor, and favour-
able situation. Figures of the cost and price of electricity in West
Ham and other undertakings about London were given in proof of
this statement. After a lengthy discussion, in which several present
gave details of the present heavy charges for their power, the follow-
ing resolution was carried unanimously : " That this general meet-
ing of the power consumers of West Ham, which has been called,
resolves itself into a West Ham Electk.c Power Consumers' Asso-
ciAiiON, with the object of obtaining an adequate and proper supply
of power froni the West Ham Corporation at a reasonable cost."

Electricity Supply.

Bedford Town Council has decided to grant an honorarium of
£350 to the Borough Electrical Engineer, Mr. R. W. L. Phillips, in
recognition of his services in connection with the new generating
station.

Hull Electricity Committee report that the damage done to the
mains and undertaking of the Electricity Department has been re-
paired at a cost of £2 600, the premises of 2 400 consimiers having
been overhauled.

Preston Electricity Committee has recommended the extension
of the time limit for the pm-chase of the National Electric Supply
Companv's undertaking from the end of Februarv, 1922 to the end
of February, 1923.

At the annual meeting of the Stalham Electric Supply Associa-
tion the Rev. M. C. Wallis was re-elected chairman of the com-
mittee. It was resolved that interest be paid to subscribers of over
£35 at the rate of 7 per cent.

In view of the approaching completion of the super-power station
at Portobello, the Edinburgh Electricity Sub-committee recommend
the appointment of a sales superintendent for the Electricity Depart-
ment, at a salary of £500 per annum.

It was stated at last week's meeting of Accrlngton Electricity
Committee that no communication had yet been received from
Blackburn Corporation with reference to the Commissioners' sug-
gestion to lay an inter-communicating cable between the two towns.

The Stafford Town Council has, by sixteen votes to seven,
rejected a recommendation to increase the salary of the Borough
Electrical Engineer and Manager, Mr. W. H. Robins, from £550
to £650 per annum, in recognition of his services in connection with
the recent extensions.

With the object of developing the domestic cooking, heating and
cleaning load, Hackney Electricity Committee propose, in conjunc-
tion with the British Electrical Development Association, to hold
an Electrical Exhibition at the King's Hall, Hackney Public Baths,
from Monday, April 24, to Saturday, April 29 inclusive.

Hove Council have decided not to take more than 20 per cent, of
the current required for their electricity supply department under
the arrangement for bulk supply from Brighton. Hove will there-
fore continue the use of their Holland-road generating station for
some time longer, though the price of fuel and wages -will no doubt
determine how long this arrangement will continue.

The Electricity Commissioners will hold a Local Inquiry at the
Town Hall, Wolverhampton, on Tuesday, the 21st prox., and
following days, with reference to the area to be included in the
propose^ North West Midlands Electricity District, and to
consider the Scheme submitted by the Conference of Authorised
Undertakers for the improvement of the organisation for the supply
of electricity within the district, and for the establishment of a
Joint Electricity Authority.

Glasgow Finance Committee have intimated to the Office of
Works that in view of its decision, together with the Kirl: Session,
to install electric lighting in the Cathedral, the Corporation consider
themselves free from any obligation with regard to the lighting or
heating of the Cathedral. They also refuse to remove the present
gas fittings, as requested, and leave the Office of Works to do as it
thinks best with regard to the disposal of these fixtures.

The Hydro Electric Development Company has been notified by
the Treasury Committee that no facilities under the Government's
credits schemes can be granted for the Grampian Hydro-Electrtc
project. It is stated that the Government will recognise the value
of the undertaking as a means of relieving unemployment later on,
for the Committee have intimated that they will reconsider their
decision when the Provisional Order passes all its Parliamentary
stages.

In reply to a question by Mr. Burgess at last week's meeting of
Bristol Town Council, Sir John Swaish said the total number of
lamps at present in the streets was as follows : — Arc and gasfilled,
712; incandescent electric, 1 588; gas, 7 890; oil, 177. The number of
gas lamps still to be converted to electricity was 384. The average
cost of the conversion per lamp (including reinstatement of ground)
was £15. The total cost would therefore be about £5 760. In
1913-14 605 lamps were con\-€rted ; in 1914-15, a further 760 ; in
1915-16, 1 610. War economy prevented further conversions, but
last year nine lamps were convei'ted. The balance of the cost of
these conversions was only paid off last year. There was very little
difference in the maintenance charges. Of course, the electric
lighting was the better, and as soon as possible they hoped to be
able to extend it.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

The Urban Council has invited the Weston-super-Mare
District Electric Supply Company to submit a scheme, with charges,
for lighting the town, or any part of it.

OKEiiAMProN Town Council are considering the acquisition of the
electric light installation owned by Mr. G K. Blatchford. The
plant has been inspected, and Mr. Blatchford has submitted *wo
schemes.

Although considering it inadvisable to enter formal opposition to
the Gr.^mpian Electricity Order, Banff Town Council have pro-
tested against Parliamentary sanction being given to the proposed
diversion of the River Spey or its tributaries. A copy of the resolu-

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

107

tion is to he sent to the Prime Minister, th« Secretary for Scotland,
the Lord Advocate, and the Member of Parliament for the county.

Adwick Urban Council will support the electricity reorganisation
scheme of Shefheld and Rotherham Corporations for the North-East
Mm>land3 Eleltricitv DismiCT, provided there is distinct repre-
sentation for urban districts.

Application has been made to the Electricity Commissioners by
Preston Corporation for sanction to a loan of £420 000 for the con-
struction of a generating station on the south side of the Ribble, to
provide for two turbo generators. ^

At the monthly meeting of Lanark Town Council, last week, the
proposals of the Electricity Commissioners in regard to the delimi-
tation of the West of Scotland Electricity District were referred
to the Electricity Committee for consideration and report.

OxTED Parish Council has decided to support the application of
the Sevenoaks and District Electricity Company to the Trades
Facilities Advisory Committee for a guarantee of capital, in order
that they may extend their mains to Oxted and Limpsfield.

With reference to the application for a Special Order to supply
electricity to the town and district by the Button Electric Com-
pany, Brentwood Urban Council have decided to send a deputation
to the Commissioners, together with representatives of the Billericay
Rural Council before deciding to support the application.

A petition, together with a private Bill, haa been submitted to
the Jersey States Assembly, asking for powers to erect a power
station on the island to provide electric light. It is proposed to
electrify the two railways and to institute a service of electric
omnibxis^. The whole is to be laid down free of cost to tLe
island.

After considerable negotiations, the Electricity Commissioners
have granted power to Accrixc.ton Corporation to borrow £100000
for additional plant at their electricity station, which is urgently
required. It is understood that these powers are not contingent
upon the laying of an electric cable between Blackbnm and
Accrington, as the Commissioners strongly recommended a short
period ago.

The Minister of Transport gives notice that he proposes to con-
firm the Special Order authorising Amblz Urb.\x District Coirxcir
to supply electricity. Objections may be sent to the Ministry of
Transport by Feb. 13. A copy of any objection must also be sent
to the Council's Solicitor. Council Offices, Amble, or their Parlia-
mentary Agents, Messrs. Lees & Company, Palace-chambers. Bridge-
street, S.W. 1. _

At a meeting of Hemel Hempstead Rural District Council last
week, it was stated that the Electricity Commissioners were con-
sidering the advisability of cancelling tfie powers of the Chesham
Electric Light and Power Company to supply electricity to King's
L.^NGLEY. and that the Council had decided to support an application
to be made by Watford Council for powers to supply in the district,
provided satisfactory terms could be arranged.

At a meeting of Cardiff Waterworks Committee last week, a long
report was submitted by Mr. Priestley on the suggestion that the
water in the new pipe line might be utilised for the generation of
electricity. The report stated that Manchester, Liverpool, and Bir-
mingham were all engaged upon new pipe lines carrjnng far greater
quantities of water than in the second pipe line for Cardiff, and that
not one of those cities had found it expedient to complicate the
question of water supply with that of hydro-electric power stations.

In a report to the Corporation Electrical, Lighting, and Tramways
Committee on proposed plant e.xtensious, Mr. C. G. Morley New,
the City Electrical Engineer. stat«d that the' industrial depression
had kept down the maximum load and output on the feeders.
The generating plant at Roath Station had not yet been usable, and
for some time they had been cont-ending against difficult and unecono-
mical conditions. The boiler capacity needed to be increased imme-
diately. He recommended the extension of the boiler-house plant by
three water-tube boilers. The estimated cost would be £59 300.
including accessories and building work.

A scheme recently put forward by the West London Branch of
the Electrical Trades Union, for wiring small pioperiy in the
Borough of Hasocersmith. has been considered by the Electricity
Committee, who recommend that a sum of £500 be allocated for the
purpose, subject to the details of the scheme being approved by the
committ.ee. A loan of £30000. further on account of the sanction
issued by the Electricity Commissioners last March for extensions
to the electricity undertaking, is to be taken up through a private
source at 6 per cent, interest. Sanction has been received to a loan
of £2 500 for the scheme to link up the Battersea. Fulham. and
ITanunersmith generating stations, and the Public Works Loan
l'i>nimissioners have been asked to lend the money.

.\ proposal to pay a consulting fee to Mr. G. 6". Bell, the Borough
Electrical Engineer, for work in connection with the linking-up
scheme, was referred back to the Electricity Committee by'the
Finance Committee on account of the important principle involved.
The Electricity Committee, having considered the matter further,
reiterated their recommendation, and explained that a similar fee was
paid for laying the first main between Fulham and Hammersmith,
and that the three Councils shared the expense The work is being
carried out by the engineers of the three' imdertakings in rotation,
and it has been agreed that the present main, which is a duplicate
one. should be laid under Mr. Bell's supervision- The other Councils
K 2

and tb« CofxuniMioners have agreed to the pzj^ja^d p«yiii«nt. A
special meeting of the 0>uncil is being held ibia week to OMisider
the matter.

CoKWAT Cooncil have entered into -^n »7Tt*^t.n% with the North

Wales Power and Traction Co .he company will

erect overb<»ad tran^^mi'si'Ti !; . electric ^r'o the

bor' ^a,y ,id^

^^^ heconth.

J""^" '--i ^---r .ia.ii-.iaianon line a r . r. -ai.I

aelr The cost will be about £10 000, Includ-

^"g - ar. and this sum the Cooncil will lend

to tho company, who will repay it in twenty-five annoal uwt«l-

ments with interest, the Council agreeing to take a mtninrara

quantity of energy eqoal to 330 000 uniU per annum at l^d. per unit

The Council have decided to proceed at once with a canvass for
consumers.

Alteration oi' Cher^es.

Oswestry Electric Lighting and Power Company art; je-k:nz
powers to raise the price of electricity from 8d. to Is! 3i j-^r .lit"

McSSELBrRGH AliT> DISTRICT EUCTRIC LiGHT AVI» TkaCTIOS CoM-

p.^jsT has appealed to Invereak Parish Council against a proffered
47^ per cent, abatement of their parochial asseesment. and have
asked for a 75 per cent, abatement. The matter has been referred
U) the Law Committee of the Council.

The recent agreement made by Dihdlet Electricity Committee with
the Shropshire Power Company for a redaction in lighting prices, on
the understanding that no further reductions were to be pressed for
within the next six months, was discussed at some length at the
meeting of the Council last we^. It wm pointed oot that the
restriction fell hardly upon the power tLsere. but the Mayor (Mr.
H. W. Hughes) said the alternative to accepting the bargai'n was to
go to arbitration, which was «- lengthy and costly proceas. He
thought they would be well advised to make the best of a bad j.^
The price of current for lighting would be S^d. per unit for castemen
of under 700 units, plus 60 per cent., making it 6d., while for nower
purposes the price would remain at a penny per unit, plus 115 per
cent. Eventually the matter was referred' back to the committee
with a view to securing the attendance of the manager of the Power
Company.

Electric Traction.

Eight new tramcars have just been delivered to the Bawtxxstaix
-Corporation.

STOt:^BRiDGE Town Council have decided to oppose the BlaKk
Country Tramways and Light Railways Bill.

It is stated that the Loxdon .\xd Xorth-Westerx Railwat Com-
PAXT contemplates electrifj-ing the Xorth London Ime from Broad-
street to Poplar.

An application for twelve days' holidays in the year, instead of
eight as provided in the national agreeir * "^ - been granted to
Belfast tramwaymen on accoiuit of tbt- auditions mder

which they have been working in conseq ne bombing and

firing to which the cars have been subjected.

By a majority of 188, Dcibltn tramway men have agreed to accept
a reduction in tjieir wages of 2s. per week from Feb. 1. and of &.
from March 1, after which wages are to remain stationary to Septem-
ber 1. This will be tho first reduction in their wages since the eno
of the war, and will bring them practically on a level with those
prevailing in England.

Owing to the fog on Sunday a collistos betwezx two tramcois
occurred near New Cross Railway Station, one car ramming the other
with such force that the front part of the car was telescoped into
the other. The stairs were carried away, and the controUen were
forced into the inside of the car. The driver wis seriously injured.
and a number of passengers were cut by splinters of glass.

The reeidents of Upper Norwood are organii; • thi

L.C.C. Bill for powers to extend tue tramw.: wood

terminus through Knight's Hi!! i^-"-> <^•.^- --i • .

Lee Green, in order to link up >
of the residents is that if more :
buses should be introduced, and ni.'t urams. ^
posed ro'ite woi:ld pas« al'inf West.iw Hill. %

and the principal si. ^ ' •! . ir-.i.-..^s

would, they say, be be little doubt

that on the propose '. - i.r than doable-

deck omnibuses, and must be based upoo prejudice

rather than on the n-

Trade Inquiries.

T v,-^*

and -

vnlcar -

of Overseas Trade, iiei^rtuce No. 75.

The Canadian mane fact -.ir^r? of a «n?w«5>f'.!l rLECTRic ^^^T?^-
HEJiTXR desire to dis
United Kingdom. T
Government Trade C"ii:.i;.^-. .n ^ v ..
Basinghall Street, London, E.C. 2.

108

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

Personal and Appointments.

Mr. W. FiNLAYSON, senior, engineering assistant in the Melbourne
(Victoria) municipal electricity department, has resigned.

Mr. H. C. Day has been appointed electrical engineer and tram-
ways manager to Heywood Corporation, in the place of Mr. D. H.
Davies, who has been appointed to a similar position at Cheeterfield.
There were sixty-seven applicants.

Mr. Hope, who has been on the staff of the Burton-on-Trent Cor-
poration Electric Tramways Department since they opened in 1903,
is leaving for New Zealand, and the staff have presented him with
an inscribed silver wallet containing a Bank of England note.

A reward of £500 has been offered for the apprehension of the
person or persons who fired on Mr. Henry Vanderbot, the traffic
manager of the Cairo Electric Tramways Company, who succumbed
to his wounds on Sunday. Mr. Vanderbot was shot on Jan. 3, after
the dismissal of a large number of workmen.

Mr. George Eussell, telegraph superintendent of the Glasgow and
South Western Eailway, has been appointed chairman of this year's
conference of the Telegraph and Electrical Engineers of the British
Eailways. Mr. Eussell, who has been t-elegraph superintendent of
the Glasgow and South-Western Eailway Company for twenty-four
years, was chairman of the conference in 1903.

In recognition of his long service as chairman of the Tramways
Committee of the Leicester City Council, Ald. S. Flint, an ex-
President of the Municipal Tramways Association, has been pre-
sented with a silver rose bowl mounted oin an oak pedestal,
subscribed for by the members of the committee. Aid. Flint is
taking over the chairmanship of the new Electricity Committee, and
is succeeded by Ald. G. Banton.

A portrait of the late Sir Gilbert Clatjghton, Bart., formerly
chairman of the London and North-Weetern Eailway Company, who
had large interests in the industrial undertakings (iron and eteel,
gas and electrical) in the Black Country, has been presented to the
Staffordshire County Council. He was an alderman of that body,
and the gift was made from the County Council Picture Fund. The
painting has been hung in the Stafford County Buildings.

Business Items, &c.

The Electro-Mechanical Brake Company have now opened
London offices at Donington House, Norfolk-street, Strand, W.C. 2,
with Mr. W. F. Knight in charge. (Telephone No., Central 1888.)

The Wardle Engineering Company have appointed, as from
Jan. 1, H. L. Nathan, Ltd., 159, Great Charles-street, Birmingham,
their representatives for Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire and
Worcestershire.

Mr. a. Hinderlich informs us that he has taken over the sale
of the wrought copper cable sockets and the resistance nets hitherto
handled by the Protector Company, Ltd., and will carry on the
business at the old address. Central Hall, Southall, Middlesex (Tel. :
Southall 121).

Wailes Dove Bitumastic, Ltd., at their recent annual meeting,
added to the board of directors Mr. Percy Hedley, engineer, St.
James's-court, London, and Mr. Thomas Macdonald, son of Mr.
Charles Macdonald, who has been associated with the company for
many years.

Eoyce Limited, electric crane makers, Trafford Park, Man-
chester, have received an order for a 2-motor electric telpher, with
self-dumping orab of 1-ton capacity, from the Worcester Corpora-
tion in connection with a scheme for an extension of the plant at
their electricity station,

New electrical works have been opened in Linacre-road, Lither-
land, near Liverpool, by the Delta Electrical and General Engi-
neering Company. The firm is specialising in lighting installations,
motor repairs, armature winding, and is also undertaking toolmak-
ing and millwright's work.

The productions of C. A. Vandervell & Company will be exhibited
on Stand No 69. at the Scottish Motor Show, which opens in Glas-
gow to-morrow (Saturday). The exhibit embraces all the latest elec-
trical productions of the firm, including the C. A. V. Willard start-
ing and lighting battery. A full range of commercial, motor-car
and motor cycle productions is also on view, comprising dynamos,
starters, batteries, lamps, and electrical components of all descrip-
tions

In connection with the visit of the J.\panese Commercial Mission
to Edinburgh on Saturday, Jan, 14, the Edi )burgh Chamber of
Commerce made arrangements for a visit t<^ 'he electrical engi-
neering works of Bruce Peebles & Comi'Any. On arrival at the
works the party divided up into three sections, each section start-
ing from a different point, to avoid confusion in the works. Con-
siderable interest was shown in the work on hand for Japan, which
includee Peebles-la Cour motor converters and induction motors for
the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Kure Naval Arsenal. At the
conclusion of the visit the party were addressed by Sir John Cowan
(chairman of the company).

Institution Notes.

The next Salesmanship Conference will be held at the rooms of
the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents on Feb, 17, at 7-30 p.m.,
when Mr. Haydn Harrison ' will open a discussion on "Sales-
manship in Eelation to Electric Lighting." Mr. S. T. Allen (Presi-
dent of the I.M.E.A.) will preside.

The Fuel Eesearch Board have made arrangements for the recog-
nition of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Eesearch Associa-
tion as the local committee working under the Board for the purpose
of dealing with the physical and chemical survey of the coal seams
in the area. The chairman of the committee is Mr. Eobert
Burrows, and the director of research Mr. F. S. Sinnatt-

The Association des Ingenieitrs Electriciens Sortis de
l'Institut Electrotechnique Monteeiore annormce that the inter-
national competition for the triennial Montefiore prize (interest on
150 OOOfrs. 3 per cent. Belgian Funds) will take place in 1923. The
prize is awarded for the best original work on the scientific progress
or the technical applications of electricity in any of its branches.
The works may be in French or English, printed or typed. Of the
jury of ten electrical engineers, five are Belgian and five foreigners.
Twelve copies of each work must be sent on or before April 30, 1923,
to M. le Secretaire- Archiviste de la Fondation George Montefiore, 31,
rue St. Gilles, Liege.

A students' meeting of the Chelmsford Engineering Society was
held on Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Agricultural Institute, under the
chairmanship of Mr. G. F. Barrett, when two junior members
read Papers. Mr. J. A. Sayer dealt with " Search-Light Projec-
tion," and explained fully the electric arc and the methods of pro-
jecting a powerful light beam. Eeference was made to an experi-
ment carried out during the war, in which the light was reflected
from a screen of liquid containing a solution of metallic salts sprayed
into the air under pressure. By this means the beam of light could
be reflected in any direction, while the search-light was safely con-
cealed under the ground. Mr. E. Tomalin read a Paper on " The
Production of Profile Gauges by Grinding," in which he described
the usual workshop practice and methods of forming profiles of
various shapes to a high degree of accuracy. It was claimed that
profiles on gauges 1-16 in. thick could be ground to an accuracy
of one ten thousandth part of an inch. Both lectures were followed
by interesting discussions.

At a meeting of the Beij-ast Association of Engineers last week
a paper was read by Mr. J. M'C. Girvan on " Electricity
Supply; the Factors Determining the Cost to Consumer." Mr.
Girvan stated that the first essential for low cost of production was
that the demand should be of long duration, for the standing charges,
which were determined solely by the magnitude of the demand,
were thus spread over a large number of units. The second factor
was the diversity of th^ demands. If the demands were simiU-
taneous the standing charges per kW were a maximum ; if they did
not occur simultaneously the standing charges were proportionately
less. The greater the area to be supplied, the more likely the load
factor and the diversity factor would be improved. In conclusion,
Mr. Girvan dealt generally with the situation in the Belfast elec-
tricity undertaking, and pointed out that they had to pay out of
revenue for the upkeep of three stations, the existing East Bridge-
street station, the temporary power station, and the non-productive
new power station in the course of construction.

The Yorkshire Electric Power Company is seeking Parlia-
mentary power to divide the whole of its issued and unissued ,G10
ordinary and £5 cumulative preference into £1 shares. The
authorised oapitjil is ,C2 000 000. and the issued capital now consists
of 83 000 .£10 ordinary and 54 328 .£5 cumulative preference shares.
The company has al.so raised £360 000 by debenture stock.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

The NEW TJNDERGROtTND TELEPHONE CABLE between Leeds and York
has just been brought into use.

The Ascot Telephone Exchange, in Upper Village-road, Sunning-
hill, has been completed, and is now in operation,

A Eio de Janeiro telegram states the steamer " Cormorant,"
owned by the Western Telegraph Company, has been lost off the
coast of Brazil, The " Deseado " sa\ed the crew.

The Great Northern Telegraph Company has re-opened its
office in Petrograd for the transmission of telegrams between
Eu&sia and other counti-ies, excepting Finland.

A sufficient number of subscribers having been obtained in Caith-
ness to warrant the installation of a telephone exchange, the P. 0.
Telephone Department have intimated that the work of erection will
bo begun at once. The service will be the first step towards linking
up the north with the trunk line to the south.

The Japanese have now renounced their rights to the former
German submarine telegraph cables in the Kiaochau (China)
leasehold. The cables affected are the Chefoo-Tsingtao and th«
Tsingtao-Shanghai lines, which were laid by the Germans. The
Tsingtao-Sasebo cable, which the Japanese laid down, will be
operated by a joint Chino-Japanese commission, subject to the terms
of existing contracts to v, hich China is a party. The Japanese
have agreed to hand over to Chinese control, subject to fair com-
pensation, the two wireless stations in the leasehold, one at
Tsinan-fu and the other at Tsingtao, immediately the Japanese
troops arc withdrawn from these points.

Arrangements have been made for putting Germany into direct
submarine cable communication with the Unii'ED States. It is
announced that llie Commercial Cable Company iias agreed to lay

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

100

a new cable from New York to the Azores, a distance of 2 302 miles.
At the Azores connection will be made with a new cable from
Emden, which the Deutsch Atlantische Telegraphen Geseilschaft
have contracted to lay. The cost of the manufacture of the cable
and of the laying is estimated at £2 500 000, and the contract is
to be carried out in eighteen months. The new cable will establish
a direct service between the two countries. Since the Armistice
cable messages (o and from Germany have passed through either
England or France, an arrangement to which American business
interests object. Mr. Clarence Mackay, president of the Commercial
Cable system, in making the announcement concerning the new
cable, staled that his company ceded none of its rights or claims
against the Allied Powers in connection with the former German
cables, which they have diverted to their own uses. Naturally, the
new cable will be of the lateet design.

Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, last week, decided to make
another effort to secure an extension of underground cables from
Edinburgh to Aberdeen, to obviate such a situation as was brought
about by the recent snowstorm through the destruction of overhead
wires. Mr. Robert Milne, ex-president, in making a motion to
approach Aberdeen Town Council with a view to getting Dundee
Town Council and Chamber of Commerce to join Aberdeen in a
representation to the Postmaster-General, said that the previous day
the Aberdeen fish markets had upwards of £20 000 worth of fish on
their hands, and they could not place a single quotation by telegram
into the hands of a customer, or get a reply back. The messages
were five, six, and seven hours delayed in dispatch, and the industry
was paralysed. He had been on two delegations to the Postmaster-
General. In 1911 they were met with platitudes ; in 1913 they had a
stiff reception, and were told it would be very expensive — £30 000
to Dundee, and another £30 000 to Aberdeen. On the last occasion
they met the Postmaster-General he said that, in place of extending
the underground cables, he was going to erect powerful wireless
installations with phantom circuits. Those circuits had been
" phantom " ever since.

Wireless Notes.

A wireless station with, a radius of 300 miles has been opened at
Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast, French West Africa.

A temporary wireless service is being established between Storno-
WAY and the mainland until the cable communication, which broke
down during the recent snowstorms, has been restored.

Farmers in France are to be advised . by wireless of the Paris
Observatory's weather forecast at the time it is made instead of
waiting for the morning newspapers. Instructions on the erection of
a wireless receiver are to be sent to all interested, and they will
not be subject to any State tax for enjoying this privilege.

The RUNDEMANDEN RADIO-TELEGRAPH STATION, which is close tO

Bergen, and was equipped on the Telefunken system in 1912, is to
be modernised by the Norwegian Radio Company, of Christiania.
The new station will have a radius of 3 000 kilometres for tele-
graph, and 600 kilometres for telephone, by day, and a propor-
tionately greater radius by night.

In urging the need for an improved and cheaper news service
between England and India, the " Times of India " states that this
can only be accomplished by completing the Imperial wireless
CHAIN, the future of which is prejudiced by the attitude of the
British Post Office in " adhering to experimental .and second-rate
methods " while India is in direct communication with the Marconi
station of Carnarvon. Recently, for a month at least, the London
correspondent of the " Pioneer," of Allahabad, has been sending his
news to India through the Carnarvon station, and it has been re-
ceived in India intact. In December the Marconi Company offered
to erect within twelve months a wireless station in India at its own
cost. The station would be for commercial service with Great
Britain, and elsewhere if required, and the expenditure would be
not less than £400 000. As an alternative the company would erect
the station and conduct the service on a joint account with the
Government of India, on a basis similar to that approved recently by
the Australian Parliament.

Mr. E. T. Fisk, managing director of Amalgamated Wireless (Aus-
tralasia), Ltd., is reported by the " Industrial Ausiralian " to have
said the company are now fully prepared for establishing a modern
wireless servick between Australia and England, and that, in
order to provide for the growing traffic between Australia and North
America, he has also made arrangements for a station to be
established in Western Canada capable of communicating with Aus-
tralia. Arrangement have also been made for sending and receiving
cornmercial, social and Press messages between Australia and the
United Kingdom at one-third of the existing cable rates. He has
also an imdertaking that if the Marconi Company erects and
operates stations in India and South Africa capable of communi-
cating with Australia, they will make similar traffic arrangements in
regard to such communication. The Australian and the English
high-power stations will be equipped with apparatus for duplex auto-
matic reception and transmission. The main Australian station will
be in the vicinity of Sydney or Melbourne, and the stations in
other parts of the Commonwealth, besides acting as feeders for the
trunk station, will afford facilities for communication to and from
ships at sea.

Imperial Notes.

CoNDOBOLiN (N.S.W.) Council have borrowed £7 000 V^ electricitv
supply purposes. ^

Balliva (N.S.W.) Council are negotiating for a supply of elec-
tricity from a local butter factory.

The N.S.W. Railway Commissioners have agreed to supply elec-
tricity in bulk to Bankstown (N.S.W.) Council.

A petition has been presented to Coraki (Queensland) for a poll
on the (juestion of borrowing money for establishing electricity

works.

It is announced that the Canadian Pacitic Railway is likely to
acquire the tramway service operated in Kingston and district
by the West India Electric Company, another Canadian concern,
with headquarters at Montreal.

As the outcome of his recent visit to Ceylon, Lord Northcliile has
expressed the opinion that, in regard to the proposed development
of hydro-electric power, Ceylon has the same opportonitiee as
Tasmania, especially in view of the high price of coal.

The " Daily News " states that a company has been floated, with
a capital of five lakhs, for the supplv of electricity in the muni-
cipality of Navas.\ri, India (B.B. and C.I. Railway) and the adjoin-
ing area. Engines, generators, switchgears, &c., will be required.

Casino (Queensland) Council have passed a resolution in favour
of the adoption of an electric supply scheme, in conjunction with a
project for pumphig the town water electrically. The expenditure
is estimated at £16 000. The proposal will require confirmation by

the ratepayers-

The Victorian Railway Commissioners have arranged for the con-
struction of h.t. feeder lines for the shires of Lilydale, Fr.knkston,
Mornington and Dandenong, and Tor the supply of electricity to
those districts from metropolitan undertakings pending the carrying
out of the Morwell scheme.

The High Conmiissioner for Canada has received a cablegram
from the Department of Customs, Ottawa, announcing that the
enforcement of the provisions of the Marking of Imported Goods
Act has been postponed by Order in Council until the close of the
next session of Parliament.

The Minister for Works has reported to the Tasmanian Parlia-
ment that the transmission line from the Great Lake to Launceston,
in connection with the Tasm.-vni.^n Government hydro -ei-Ectric
undertaking, will be completed by Aug. 1 next. The steel required
for the towers has now been obtained, chiefly from England.

Bombay Corporation is considering a scheme for the construction
of a tube railway at an approximate cost of 2^ crores of rupees
(about £1 600 000). It is suggested that the work should be under-
taken by one of the two railway companies serving Bombay or by
the tramways company, and, failing either of these, by the Corpora-
tion with Government assistance.

The Tasmanian Minister of Works recently presented to the House
of Assembly a statement on the progress of the State Hydro-
Electric DEPARTiiENT. £932 507 was expended on the undertaking
during the year ended June 30 last, bringing the total expenditure
to £1 996 860, and £930 250 is to be spent during the current year.
The Waddamana development of the Great Lake power scheme is
rapidly approaching completion, and the whole plant should be in
operation in less than a year

The Parliamentary Public Works Committee of the T.\sm.\nian
House of Assembly have reported in favour of building an elec-
trically driven vessel to supersede the " Kangaroo." which has
made the trip between Hobart and Bellerive several times daily oince
1855. The estimated cost of the proposed new vessel is £oOOOO.
including £15 000 for machinery, £16 000 for hull, and £2 000 for
upper structure. The dimensions are to be : — Length, 140 ft. :
beam, 35 ft. ; depth, 8^ ft. ; and the speed, 5 knots.

Though great efforts have been made to establish the ibox .and
steel INDUSTRY IN AusTR.ALiA On a Satisfactory basis, it is reported
that, owing to the severe competition of overseas manufacturers, the
enterprise will have to be restricted to the production of rails and
structural sections. Consequently the Commonwealth Government
have been asked to impose a duty of 50 per cent., as anti-dimiping
legislation is lot considered sufficient protection. The trouble is
attributed mainly to the high rates of wages allowed by the Austra-
lian arbitration courts.

In connection with the proposal of the Government of India to
establish a central organisation to buy all stores, whether imported
or not, it is reported that the railway comp.anies may also come
into the scheme, and the local governments, the native States, and
numicipalities can come into it too, if they wish. The Bengal
Chamber of Commerce, although to some extent an interested paity.
supports a proposal by the Calcutta Import Trade Association that
the scores organisation should make it a rule to invito public tenders
for all purchases above a limit of. say, Rs. 5000

Tho " Times" Melbourne correspondent states that the Common-
wealth Government has refused admission into At-strvlia of srx
German engineering experts engaged bv the Victorian Government
to supervise tho erection of briquette mac"hinery for the Morwell elec-
tricity scheme. Permission had been granted to import the briquet ting
apparatus, at a cost of £100 000, from Germany, on the plea that
it was not obtainable elsewhere. The action of the Federal Govern-
ment is taken under tho amended Immigration Act of 1920, which

110

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

classes persons of German pirentage and nationality as prohibited
immigrants for a period of five years. The Act gives the Federal
Government the power to grant exemption, but the Government
refuses to exercise it, saying that the Victorian Government could
have obtained experts from North America.

The directors of the Honcjkong Tramway Company have decided
to assign the whole of the tramway undertaking to a new company,
to be incorporated under the Hongkong Companies' Ordinance in
exchange for shares of that company. The capital of the new com-
pany will be 325,000 shares of the nominal value of $5.00 each,
treated as fully paid up, which will all be issued to the existing
company. This arrangement is being carried out in order to avoid
the incidence of English taxation, and particulary the corporation
profits tax. It will also diminish differences in exchange.

The Sydney correspondent of the " Telegraph " states that Mr.
McGregor, the British Trade Commissioner, in his report on
Australian trade conditions, lays stress on the importance of Austra-
lian trade with British manufacturers in view of a probable consider-
able increase in the population in the future. Australia buys 60 per
cent, of her overseas requirements from the United Kingdom, which
proportion should increase to 75. The principal weakness is in
machinery, engineering material, and metal manufacture, of which
the United Kingdom percentage is 57 out of total imports of
£39 000 000. There is, he states, abundant evidence that many
firms are doing business in Australia without studying local con-
ditions, or formulating a sales policy.

The Kingston (Jamaica) correspondent of the " Times Tra^e
Supplement " stat-es that the Governor of British Guiana, at the
opening of the annual session of the Combined Court, intimated
that the Government intended to ask for a vote to carry out s
contour survey of the colony above the Great Falls on the Demerara
River in order to decide whether or not a reservoir lake can be
established to enable a good permanent head to be maintained for
hydro-electric works. The Governor stated that it was not likely
that the colony would undertake the construction of hydro-electric
works out of its own funds, but capitalists in Great Britain would
b>> disposed' to do so once they were satisfied that they would
find a market for hydro-electric power if it were provided.

It is stated that very little interest is being shown in Canadian
Government circles regarding the report of the Joint International
Commission on the deepening of the St. Lawrence waterway for
the purposes of navigation and water power. The report declares
the project feasible and recommends a division of the cost of
•«onstruction between Canada and the United States on the basis
if benefits received through navigation ; but the general opinion
seems to be that, while the construction of the waterway will prove
beneficial to the Dominion, owing to the financial position of the
country, the scheme could not be undertaken for some years. The
estimated cost of making a 30ft. channel on the St. Lawrence
River from Lake Ontario to Montreal would be $269,000,000
(£54,000,000 at par), and on the Welland Canal to $60,000,000
(£12,000,000).

A notification issued by the Indian Government on Dec. 17 last
gives the following amongst other new valuations for import
duties upon articles imported into India : — Telegraph instruments
and apparatus imported by a railway company (formerly duty free),
2^ per cent., ad. vol.; implements, instruments, apparatus, and
appliances not otherwise specified, 11 per cent., ad val. This head-
ing does not include the following articles, on which the duty is
2^ per cent., ad val. : — High-pressure switchboards, oil switches,
and oil circuit breakers, motor starters and controllers, with acces-
sories and resistances (for use with machinery and not with vehicles
or lifts), regulators and rheostats (except regulators for fans other
than induced or forced draught fans), and resistances intended for
purposes oV..er than the control of machinery, transformers, static
converters and static condensers of 3kVA capacity or over.

Obituary.

The death is announced of Sir WnxiAM Christie, the Astroncmer
Royal from 1881 to 1910.

While attending to a switchboard at the Phoenix Dynamo Works,
Bradford, recently, Mr. Lawrence Waterhouse, engineer, of Hors-
forth, near Leeds, fell against a live wire and was instantly killed.

The death is announced of Prof. J. H. Cotterhx, M.A., F.R.S. ,
who was for many years Professor of Applied Mathematics at the
Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He was born in 1836, and was
the youngest son of the Rev. J. Cotterill, of Blake-iey, Norfolk. He
was educated at Brighton College, and after serving an anprentice-
ship in the engineering works of Messrs. Fairbairn at Manchester
went to St. John's College, Cambridge. In 1866 he became Lecturer
and in 1870 Vice-Principal of the Royal School of Naval Architecture
at South Kensington. The school was removed to Greenwich in 1873,
and became part of the Royal Naval College, in which Cotterill was
Professor of Applied Mathematics till his retirement in 1897. Prof.
Cotterill was a clear and original teacher, and he was the author of
several well-known works, including " The Steam EiigiiiP, coneidercd
as a Thermodynamic Machine," and a treatise on " Applied
Mechanics." These text-booke passed through several editions, and
had much influence on the teaching of inese subjects in engineering
schools. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Sotiety in 1878.

Foreign Notes.

A Presidential decree approves the installation of a factory for
making electric light bulbs in Havana.

The Rhenish Westphalian Electricity Company, in agreement with
the A. E.G., have decided to increase the capacity of the Goldenberg
Power Station to 3 000 000 kW, and so make it the largest in
Germany. The present output is 200 000 kW.

A hydro-electric plant for lighting and power has recently been
installed at Tensa, Colombia/ a new telephone system at Cartagena;
and a new electric lighting plant at the pier of Buenaventure, in
order to provide the town with energy for power and lighting.

Owing to British competition, a "Times" correspondent states
that United States trade with Vigo, Spain, shows a considerable
decrease, especially in boiler tubes, chains, steel and iron cables,
hardware, sheet metals, including tinplate, and electrical supplies.

A new and powerful lighthouse for night-flying aeroplanes will
be erected on Mont Afrique (1 835 ft.), near Dijon. It is claimed
that the light on Mont Afrique will be the strongest in the world,
and will be 1 000 000 000 c.p., with a range of 100 miles, or, in very
clear weather, 180 miles.

Owing to having ex-enemy members, the Union Internationale
DE Tramways et de Chemins de Fer d'Interet Local, of Brussels,
was sequestered in 1919, and was legally dissolved in November last.
It has, however, been decided to reform the association this year,
but ex-enemy representatives will be excluded.

A fire which broke out recently in the Vitkovice Iron Works in
Moravia caused serious damage. The ehimting plant was entirely
destroyed, with all plant and material, and owing to the damage
caused to the electrical equipment work in the engine shops has had
to be suspended, throwing 2 000 men out of work.

A Reuter's message from Washington states that the Republican
members of the Finance Committee of the Senate have come to a
tentative agreement that the basis for assessing import duties under
the new permanent tariff law should be the American wholesale
price at the time the ai'ticle was shipped to America.

In the course of a speech delivered at the recent opening of the
Antananarivo -Arabatolampy section of the Southern Railway in
Madagascar, the Director of Public Works mentioned that the
electrification of two sections of the Tamatave-Antananarivo line
was under consideration, and sketched out a comprehensive plan of
railway development for future years.

According to a message from Moscow, a Government decree
has been published directing an immediate start on the electrifi-
cation of industries, railways, wharves, &c. Numerous new power-
ful electrical stations are to be erected, and old onea are to be
extended. The decree, which carries out the instructions of the
recent Congress of Soviete, places electrification on a footing of equal
national importance with coal mining, metallurgy, and other lead-
ing industries.

The Commercial Secretary to H.M. Legation at Christiania reports
that the Ajcer (Norway) Municipal Council have agreed to
guarantee that sufficient capital to complete the two electric rail-
ways, for which concessions have been granted to the A/S Akers-
banerne, shall be at the disposal of the company. The Council have
also undertaken to guarantee a loan of two million kroner, to be
taken up by Akersbanerne for commencing the building of both
railways, conditionally upon both being constructed simultaneously
and the work being initiated during the present winter.

Electricity development on a large scale is reported from Fitkien
(China). The following are recent promoters of electric light com-
panies : Wu Shih-hwang (Tungan), Chen Chcn-sin (Kienyung), Lin
Kien-tsing (Yungtai). There are also stated to be numerous other
activities on a smaller scale. Merchants at Sinshihchen, Kashing,
Chekiang, have established an electric plant under the name of
" Chen Sin Electric Light Company," with a capital of $25 000.
Machinery has already arrived, and subscribers total over 400.

A Bulletin issued by the Chinese Government Bureau of
Economic Information states that the Chung Hsin Telephone
Companj'- of Kiah.^in, Chekiang. has been registered by the Ministry
of Agriculture and Commerce; a telegraph office has been opened at
Sintsichen, Chihli ; the Tsilu Electric Company, organised by Ma
Wei-chia, has been granted registration by the Ministry of Com-
munications ; and the Ever Bright Electric Company has been
organised in Chang Hsin. Chekiang. Mr. Wang Yu-piih, formerly
manager of the Wuhsin Electric Company in Wuchow, is manager.
Buildings are now undar construction, and will be completed
about April. 1922.

Recent Wills.

Mr. Septimus Young, late of Head, Wrightson and Co., has left
estate valued at £10 329.

!\rr. F. G. Hart, of Easthope. Epping, :N[.I.E.E., for many vears
associated with ^lessrs. Peto & Radford, has left estate valued at
£19.168.

Mr. Hersl\nn Sloog, M.I.E.E., M.S.E., M.Soc.C.E. (France),
secretary of the Groupe inter-Universitaire Franco-Britanique. the
Societc des Ingcnieurs Civile de France, and the Office National des
Universitos et Ecoles Fran^,aise, and agent in Great Britain for
Danto, Roge et Cie., Lyons, manufacturers of enamelled iron
apparatus, has left estate valued at £1 726.

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

Ill

Miscellaneous.

Companies' Meeting Reports, &c.

The ToLOARRicK Radium Mike, near Truro, is to be reopened.

London County Council have decided, subject to the consent of
the Ministry of Health, to prosecute Islington Borough Council
for allowing the issue of black smoke from the shafts of their elec-
tricity works.

The British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers' Association
announce that the Beama Technical Cable Code, by John F.
Shipley, M.I.E.E. , will be ready on Feb. 6. The publiehed price will
be 5 gs. net, plus postage.

Lord Weir of Eastwood will preside at A costing conference to be
held on Feb. 3, at 2.30 p.m., under the auspices of the Institute
of Costs and Works Accountants. Tickets may be obtained from
the Secretary, 38, Grosvenor-gardens, S.W.I.

Dr. W. F. Dear den (Medical Officer to the Port Sanitary
Authority), lecturing at the Y.M.C.A., Manchester, on Tueeday on
the HEALni problems of modern industry, said that it did not
appear to be sufficiently understood that good lighting was abso-
lutely essential as a working requirement in the factory and else-
where. '

The Metropolitan Eailway Bill, and the Nortih Metropolitan
Electric Power Supply Bill are among the Private Bills passed by
the e.xaminere last week for the first reading in the House of
Commons. In the first Metropolitan Railway Bill the company is
seeking power to guarantee or subscribe an amount not exceeding
£50 000 to the association organising the British Empire Exhibi-
tion, 1923.

The council of the University of Birmingham, in a report to the
Court of Governors, make acknowledgement of the following gifts :
The Watford Electric & Manufacturing Company, per Hunter, Ogle
& Company, an automatic Watford motor starter ; Donovan & Com-
pany, an up-to-date distribution board ; Mr. George Ellison, a circuit
relay and a complete motor starter and circuit breaker ; and Dr.
Ratcliffe, wireless apparatus.

The following have been appointed a special committee of the
Royal Dublin Society to deal with the water-power resources of
Ireland : — Sir John Griffith, Lord Powerscourt (chairman of the
Committee of Agriculture), Mr. George Fletcher (chairman of the
Science Committee). Mr. John Good (chairman of the General Pur-
poses Committee), Prof Hackett, the Right Hon. Frederick Wrench,
Mr, Edgar Anderson, and Prof. P. F. Purcell.

H. K. Lewis & Company have just issued a new list of " College
Textbooks and Works of Reference in Science and Technology."
The titles are arranged alphabetically under authors' names, and are
classified under eighteen subjects, some of which, such as chemistry,
engineering (civil, electrical, mechanical,) &c., are again divided.
The subjects are arranged alphabetically, and a contents list is also
included. The list will be sent post free to any address on
application.

Dr. Walter W. Seton, organising secretary of the Ramsay
Memorial Fund, states that a commemorative medal of the late
Prof. Sir William Ramsay has been executed by the French sculptor,
M. Louis Bottee, and will be struck shortly, when it is known how
many medals will be required. The price of the bronze medal, in-
cluding postage, will be 5s. to subscribers to the Ramsay Fund and
7s. 6d. to all other persons. Those desiring a medal should forward
a remitt^ce to Dr. Walter W. Seton, Ramsay Memorial Fund, Uni-
versity College, London.

With the object of interesting business men 'in this country in
the forthcoming International Industries Fair of Spain, which
is to be held at Barcelona from March 15 to 25, a meeting was 'held
in London at the Spanish Club last week, over which the Spanish
Ambassador presided, and was supported by Sir Maurice de Bunsen
(late Briti.=!h Ambassador at Madrid). The forthcoming fair will
be the third to be held in Barcelona, and the exhibits are to be
assembled in groups, not according to countries, but according to
the various industries represented, and the classification will include
the following sections : Metallurgy and hardware ; mechanical and
electricity ; photography and cinematography ; water power and
hygienic applications ; glassware ; heating, lighting ; transports and
conveyances ; and books.

..■^'"^ a statement of rates levied in various towns, issued by
Mr. W. A. Davis, borough engineer of Preston, it appears that of
county boroughs, Stoke-on-Trent, paying £2 14s. 2d. for rates per
head of population, is the cheapest, and Bradford, which pays
£6 17s. 7d. per head, the dearest, with Manchester and Bootle in
close attendance. Of the boroughs, Ilkeston, £,2 12s. 7d.. is the
cheapest, and Chatham, £6 18s. 6d., the dearest; of the urban
districts, Heston and Isleworth, £2 4s. 9d.. is the cheapest, and
Ebbw Vale, £2 8s. lid., the dearest. Attention is called to the fact
that hjgh rateable value often goes with low rates, while the con-
trary is equally true. We note with interest that of eighty-two
county boroughs no fewer than seventeen contribute nothing for the
relief of the rates from any of their trading undertakings, such as
markets, electricity, tramways, gas, water, motor omnibuses, and
estates. On the other hand, most of the county boroughs had to
help at least one of their undertakings from the rates, so the happy
position of just being on the right side has not yet been widely
attained..

Ihe directors of the Er*iso.s-SwA.v ELKcmic Company Save
decided not to pay a dividend on the preference shares for the half-
year to the 31st inst.

Montuea;. Light, Hkat and Power Cossolidated have doc'.ared
a dividend of li per cent., and the Montreal Light, Heat and
Power Company a dividend of 2 per cent, to shareholders of record
at Jan. 31.

The directors of the' Lanarkshire Tramways Compa.vt recom-
mend a dividend of 6^ per cent, for the pavt halfy»-ar, making,
with the interim dividend of 5 per cent, paid to June last, a divi-
dend of 53 per cent, for the year 1921.

The accounts of the British Uralite Company show total debit
balance of £14,383. The bankers have applied to the court for the
appointment of a receiver, and the directors see no alternative but
to place the company into voluntary liquidation.

The results of the working for the year 1921 of the Anglo- Abgbk-
tine Tramways Company, as cabled from Buenos Aires", will permit
of the payment of a half-year's dividend on the 5j per cent, cumu-
lative second preference shares. This payment, amounting to 2s. 9d.
per share, less income-tax at 6s. in the £, will satisfy the arrears
to June 50, 1917, and will be made to shareholders on the lx>r<ks of
the company at Feb. 7, 1922.

The report of the East London Railway Company for 1921 states
that the Joint Committee's traffic receipts for the pa.st year cannot
be furnished, as accounts between the companies in respect of
receipts and working expenses have not been rendered daring the
period of Government control. The gross receipts are estimated at
£87189, which would give the company £48 826. instead of a
minimum rental of £30 ()00 per annum. The arrears of interest to
Dec. 31, 1921, in connection with the electrification of the line will
be reduced by an amount (when agreed) representing the balance of
revenue for the year due to the East London Railway in excess of
the minimum rent of £30 000.

For the two years ending March 31, 1920, the balance at the
credit of the profit and loss account of Chadburn's (Shtp) Telegraph
Company, after paying directors' fees, depreciation, &c. , amounted
to £14 421, to which was added £6 052 brought in from March 31.
1918, making a total of £20 473. From this amount £7 200 has
l>een deducted, representing four half-yearly dividends which have
been paid at the rate of £6 per cent, per annum on the preference
shares, leaving £13 273. Of this sum a dividend has already been
paid on the ordinary shares at the rate of £6 per cent, per annum,
less income tax. for the two years ending ilarch 31, 1920. and the
balance of £6 073 has been carried forward. The directors again
have to record that, owing to the exceptional circumstances recently
prevailing, il is impossible to submit at the present time a balance-
sheet and profit and loss account for the year ending ^^arch 31. 1921.
They, however, confirm the pajTnent of a dividend of 6 per cent.
on the ordinary shares, and the usual dividends on the preference
shares, for the year in question.

The Chairman of the Great Indian PEXiNStriA Railway Company
fSir Charles H. Armstrong), who presided over the annual meeting on
Friday, referred to the proposed electrification of the Bombay
suburisan lines, and said that all preliminary work had' been com-
pleted. They were quite ready to go ahead when the necessary
funds could be found. If, as was likely, the Government of India
were unable to help them, it would not be difficult to arrange a
satisfactory financial transaction in this country by which payments
would be spread over a period of several years, but au-jrrange-
ment of that nature would need the sanction of the Secretary of
State. The importance of the work was very urgent, as it wonld
not onlv reduce the cost of working, but would be of material assist-
ance to Bombay in the wars to come in helping to move e.xpeditiously
its rapidly increasing population. The cost at present prices was bv
no means excessive — very moderate, in fact — and the return on capi-
tal would be immediate and satisfactory. Offers of the character
referred to had been made already, and they had also had similar
offers in connection with the supply of rolling stock, of which they
were badiv in need.

Benn Brothers' Journals.

Some Features of the Current Issues.

" The Cabinet Maker " Special London Number : " Landmarks
of the London Furniture Trade " ; " The Retail Furnishing Trade
of London," by Sir Sanrael Waxing. Bart. : " London Furnishing
Trade Organisation."

" The Chemical Age " : Special Fertiliser Issue : Contcibntions
by P. Panish. " XeutJal Sulphate of Ammoni.i " : Dr. E. J. Rnsstll.
" Physico-Ohemical Soil Problenvj " : A. B. Williams. " Potash
Mines of Alsace " : A. G. Cowie, " I'otash in Compound Fertilisers " ;
F. C. 0. Spever, " Sulphate of Ammonia Position." &c.

" i\Tii-m and Home": "Draining Agricultural Land of
Capital " : " State Loans fiM- Farmers """: " Feeding Dairy Cows."

"The Fruit Grower": "Insect and Horticulture": "The
Hover Fly"; "Imperial Fruit Show": " Post.i! and Telephone

Services." ,,,,,, ., -• •

" Gairdening Illustrated " : " Our Show Medal ; Mnglq

Cha-vsanthennims," and " Forced Solomon's Seal."
" The Hardware Trade Journal " : " The Cutlery and Silver

Trades " : " The Sheffield Scheme : Have Retailers really very

much to fear? " : " Evolution of File Making."

112

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

New Companies.

The following list is compiled from information supplied by
Messrs. Jordan & Sons, Ltd., company registration agents, 116-llB,
Chancery-lane, London, W.C. 2.

Berry, Wiggin & Company, Ltd., 3, Short-road, Stratford Market,
E. 15. (178 880). Registered Jan. 6. Capital, £1 500 in £1 shai'es
]\ianufacluring chemists, manufacturers, exporters and importers ot
and deiilers in bitumen, asphaltums, waxes, resins, pitches, and tars,
chemical compounds, &c. Permanent directors : C. R. Berry and.
A. E. Wiggins. Private company.

A.H. Development Syndicate, Ltd. (179 052), 16-18, St. Bride
Street, E.C. Registei-ed Jan. 16. Engineers, manufacturers of all
kinds of apparatus. Nominal capital, £100 in 100 shares of £1
each. Directors : E. S. Hunter and E. K. Hunter. Remuneration of
directors, £100 each. Qualification of directors, one share. Private
company.

S. GuRNEY & Company, Ltd. (179 073). Registered Jan. 16. To
acquire and carry on the business of silk lamp, electric, and candle
sJiade manufacturers and importers, now caii'ied on at 29, Kirby
Street, Hatton Garden, E.C, and elsewhea-e. Nominal capital,
£2 000 in 2 000 shares of £1 each. Directors : A. K. BuUey, and
Lelia A. Cooke (Miss). Private company.

Johnson & Slater, Ltd. (179 066), 119/121, The Albany, Oldball
Street, Liverpool. Registered Jan. 16. Manufacturea-s and dealers
in electrical goods and aocessoi'ies of all kinds. Nominal capital,
£1 000 in 1 000 shares of £1 each. Directors : E. J. Johnson (chair-
man), and W. 0. Slater. Qualification of directors, one share.
Private company.

John R. Kinsey & Company. Ltd. (179 092), 350, Lower Addis-
combe Road, Croydon, Surrey. Registered Jan. 17. Electrical
engineers and motor repairers. Nominal capital, £5 000 in 5 000
shares of £1 each. Directors : J. R. Kinsey, A. W. Wood, L. E.
Napper, and H. W. Leyland. Qualification of directors, £100.
Private company.

Ktrby Johnson & Company, Ltd. (12 017). Registered in Edin-
burgh, Jan. 17. Capital £3 000, in £1 shares. To acquire and
develop the business of H. L. Kirby Johnson & Co., 62, Gordon-
street, Glasgow, and to carry on the business of electrical engineers,
engineering contractors, &c. First directors : H. L. Kirby, T.
Young, and F. Greenwood. Qualification, 100 shares.

Shropshire Electrical & General Engineering Company, Ltd.
(179 180), Corve Bridge Works, Ludlow, Shropshire, Registered
Jan. 17. Electrical, consulting, and general engineers. Nominal
caipital, £500 in 500 shares of £1 each. Directors : E. Townson,
A. Taverner. Qualification of directors, £200. Private company.

Teignmouth Electric Lighting Company, Ltd. (179 116), 2 and
3, Odiard Gardens, Teignmouth, Devon. Registered Jan. 18.
Electrical engineers, electricians, engineers and contractoo-s, and
suppliers of electricity. Nominal capital, £10 000 in 10 000 shares
of £1 each. Minimum subscription £4 000. Directors : W. M.
Bird, A. P. Dell, F. C. M. Giles, E. W. Parsons, J. A. Purves, and
G. Rossiter. Qualification of directors, £100. Remuneration of
directors, first year of the company £175 ; second year not less
than £150 ; third year not less than £120. Public company.

J. R. West, Ltd. (179 094). Registered Jan. 17. Elecfciioal and
mechanical engineers. Nominal capital, £300 in 6 000 shares of
Is each. Directors : J. R. West, and H. Causton. Qualification of
directors, 100 shaae^;. Remuneration of directors, £100 each. Private
company.

Forty Years Ago.

(The Electrician, Jan. 28, 1882.)

A Concession. — The Postmaster-General has, in deference to a
request from the Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce, allowed
the word " Wolverhampton " to be paid for as one word on all
foreign telegrams.

The Government and the Telephone Companies. — A rumour
was, according to the " Standard," current cii Wednesday last to the
effect that the Government contemplated purchasing the telephone
undertakings of this country. We have reason to believe that there
is no foundation whatever for this rumour.

Electrical Patents. 1881. — From a perusal of the records of the
Patent Office, it may be roughly estimated that the following patents
were taken out in 1881 : — Electric lighting and appliances therefor,
162, telegraphs and telephones. Ill ; secondard batteries, 28 ; other
batteries, 22; electric clocks, 7; compasses, 6.

A New Electric Light Company. — TJie prospectus of the Ham-
mond Electric Light & Power Supply Company has been issued-
The company has a capital of £250 000. of which it is proposed at
present to issue one-half. The company is formed te.' purchase from
Messrs. Hammond & Company their existing electric light busi-
ness, including their "Brush" concessions and "Lane Fox"
license.

A Govbknment Cable Depot. — We recently stated that tenders
had been invited by the Government for the erection of a cable
depot at Woolwich. This depot is now in course of erection, and
will include cable tanks, offices, &c. The total cost is estimated at
£10 000, and a staff of telegraph engineers will be attached to the
works, which will chiefly be d'cvoted to the Post Office caliles round
the coast, and connected with the various islands in the British seas.
Operations hitherto performed for the Government by private firms
at a cost of .some thousands of pounds per annum will now be
carried out by the Post Office.

Social Notes.

Mr- J. C. Cubitt has been presented with a case of cutlery by
members of Crompton and Company's Cricket Club, Chelmsford, on
the occasion of his forthcoming marriage.

The Dundee Sub-Centre of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers will hold a smoking concert on Monday, January 30, at
7.30 p.m., at the Royal British Hotel, Dundee.

The Greater London Division of the Electricity Supply Com-
mercial Association are holding their second Bohemian concert at
Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street, on Wednesday evening, March 1,
under the chairmanship of Mr. D. C. Clark. Tickets may be
obtained at 2s. 4d. each from members of the E.S.C.A., or from
Mr. G. S. Watts, 121, Little Ealing-lane, Ealing, W. 5. Ladies are
especially invited.

Calendars, Diaries. &c.

An artistic wall calendar for 1922 has been issued by the D.P.
Battery Company, consisting of twelve small monthly sheets below
a water-colour of Peveril Castle.

In addition to a handsome desk blotter, the Hart Accumulator
COMPAi^Y have sent us a useful desk calendar, consisting of twelve
monthly cards in a frame mounted on a stout yellow card, the
upper half of which is black, and cut to the shape of a storage
battery.

The Liverpool Electric Cable Company have sent us their
calendar for 1922. This measures lOin. by 12in., and consists of
twelve good-sized monthly slips below a coloured illustration en-
titled " The ' Mauretania ' in the Mersey." The whole is mounted
on a stout brown card.

The " Mechanical World " Year Book, 1922, which is published
by Emmott & Company at 2s. 6d. net, now (reaches its thirty-fifth
year of publication. The present edition has been enlarged I >
the addition of about twenty pages, largely accounted for by the
section on boiler constTuction, which has been rewritten, and a
considerable amount of new matter added. We also note some
useful details .regarding pipes and tubes, while the tables on the
thermal properties of solids, liquids, and gases have been restored.
A useful feature is a classified buyers' directory in several languages.

The " Practical Electrician's " Pocket Book and Diai-y, 1922, is
published by S. Rentall & Company, at 3s. net. The usual care is
noticeable in the production of this little book, and in this edition
several chapters have been rewritten and new chapters added, with
the result that the pages have been increased in number by about
forty, though by the employment of thin paper the publication
has not increased in bulk ; a point worthy of notice in a
pocket book. New chapters contain information on motor con-
verters, cuiTent limiters, railway signalling apparatus, and the care
of ignition, lighting, and self-starting sets for motor vehicles. Some
up-to-date details on mercury vapour rectifiers, and on the tungar
rectifier for garage charging, are also given. Tables of electricity
supply undertakings, revised up to a few weeks ago, are also
included.

Price. -

Inc.

Dea

£69 0 0

—

£73 5 0

—

15a.

Os. 11-J^d.

—

r'.d.

Os. lOid.

—

id.

l8. 3-^1, d.

,J.d.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, Jan. 24.
Copper —

Best selected per ton

Electro Wirebars . . „

H.C. wire, basis per lb.

Sheet „

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone)—
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis „

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis ,

Sheet, basis „

Wire, basis ,

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants per ton
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „

Lead Pig —

English „

Foreign or Colonial . . ,,

TtTl—

Ingot „

Wire, basis per lb.

Aluminium Ingots

Salammoniac. — Per cwt. 65a. -60s.
Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 10a.
„ (Roll-Brimstone). — Per ton
£10 10s.
Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 108°).—
Per ton, £9 lie. 6d.

Rubber. — Para fine, Is. OJd.
The metal prices are supplied by
Ltd., and the rubber prices by W.
pany.

Os. 7Jd.
Os. 10. Id.
Os. 10 Id.

id.

—

£4 15 0

—

£22 0 0

—

£24 10 0
£23' 0 0

—

£1
17s. 6d

£159 0 0

23. 2d.
£120 0 0

—

£6 5s.
^d.

Copper 5?<^pAa/e.— Per ton £28 lOs.
Boric Acid (Crystals) — Per toD

£65.
Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5|d.
Sodium Chlorate. — Per lb. 3^d.

; plantation 1st latex, 9^d.
British Insulated & Helsby Cables.
T. Henlej-'s Telegraph Works Com-

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

113

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Sai-ford Guardians. Jan. 31.— Small alterations and additions to
electric wiring and fittings in Pavilion B of the Infirmary at Pendle-
ton. Particulars from the Clerk, Poor Law Offices, Eccles New-road,
Salford.

NoRTHFLEET. Jan. 31. — Installation of the electric light at the
Council's Offices. Particulars from the Surveyor, Mr. J. A.
Mitchell.

Warrington Corporation. Feb. 6. — Main e.h.t. switchboard
extension. Specification, &c., from the Borough Electrical and
Tramways Engineer.

Dublin Electricitv Suitlv Committee. Feb 7.— One or two
years' supply of extra high-pressure and low-pressure cables, cable
laying, and supply of troughing, section pillars and joint boxes.
Specification, &c., from the City Electrical Engineer, Fleet-street,

Islington (London) Borough Council. Feb. 16.— One year 6
supply of stores, including cables, electricity meters, fuse boxes,
compounds, lamps, wires, electrical sundries, transformers, carbons,
arc lamp globes, insulators, &c. Specification, &c., can be obtained
at the Town Hall.

Hampstead (London) Borough Council. March 15.— Supply of
various stores for six or twelve months, including electrical
engineers' stores and oils for the electricity station. Form of tender,
&c. , from the Town Clerk.

Aylesbury Corporation. — 300 kW converter, with e.h.t. and l^t.
switchgear. Specifications, &c., from the Borough Electrical
Engineer.

AUSTRALIA.

Australian Commonwealth Government, Feb. 15 : — 30 tons ap-
proximate Wheatstone tape paper white (Schedule 544). Particulars
from the Supply Officer, Australia House, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Victorian Government Railways. — Feb. 15. — *Supply and
delivery of : (1) Fifty track relays, four front and two back con-
tacts, fifty track relays, eight front and two back contacts, fifty line
relays, six front and two back contacts (Contract No. 34 739) ; (2) 100
three-position line relays (Contract No. 34 740) ; (3) 100 electric signal
mechanisms (Contract No. 34 738) ; (4) electro-mechanical interlock-
ing apparatus (Contract No. 34 822) ; (5) fifty miles insulated copper
wire (Contract No. 34 823). Local representation is essential.

Victorian Railway Commissioners. Feb. 15. — *Hydraulic pig
iron breaker, including tools, gears, accessories and spares, for
Bendigo workshops. (Contract No. 34191.)

Deputy Postmaster-General, Brisbane. Feb. 15. — *Telephone
apparatus and parts, including bells, buzzers, chambers for trans-
mitters, induction coils, condensers, cords. (Stores schedule No. 544.)

New South Wales Government Railways and Tramways
Department (Electrical Engineer's Branch). — Feb. 22, 1922. —
•Supply, delivery, erection and maintenance of one 5 000 kW
50 cycle turbo-alternator with condenser and accessories, at Zarra-
street power house, Newcastle. (Contract No. 556.) Tenders, on
proper forms and accompanied by a preliminary cash deposit, lo
the Secretary for Railways, Phillip-street, Sydney, N.S.W. Local
representation is essential.

Commonwealth of Australia. March 8. — Switchboard apparatus
and parts (schedule 545). Particulars from the Supply Officer,
Room 101, Australia House, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Victorian Railway Commissioners. March 8. — *Thirty-fivo cabin
transformers for power signalling. (Contract No. 34 863.)

Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbane. • March 8. — •Tele-
phone switchboard apparatus and parts, including calculagraphs,
caps, plane convex lens, retairdation coils, cords, generators,
indicators, jacks, keys, lamps, pegs, plugs, meters, relays, telephone
sets &c. (Stores schedule No. 5^.)

Deputy Postmaster-General, Brisbane. March 15. — "Protective
apparatus, including arresters, carbon blocks, fibre fuses, protectors
and terminals. (Stores schedule No. 546.)

Commonwealth of Australia. March 15. — Protective apparatus.
Particulars from the Supply Officer, R©om 101, Australia House,
Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Municipal Council of Sydney (Electricity Department).
April 24. — *Supply, delivery, and erection of two 2 000 kW rotary
converters; one 10 000 to 12 000 kW turbo-alternator.
NEW ZEALAND.

Public Works Department, Wellington. Feb. 28. — *Supply and
delivery, ex ship's slings Lyttelton, of a bank of three 11 000 V
reactances, complete, for the Lake Coleridge electric power scheme.

Public Works Tenders Board, Waikato Power Schemb.
March 6. — * (Section 45) two 2 500 kWa alternators, three-phase,
50 cycle, 5 000 V, at 166§rda rev. per min., with a power factor
of 8. Excitation at 220 V. (Section 46) two 3 100 h.p. water tur-
bines of the double-runner Francis type to operate the generators
mentioned in Section 45. (Section 47) two exciter sets, each con-
sisting of one 200 kW d.c. generator, and one 350 h.p. asynchrononi
motor, together with a Tirrill regulator. The generator shall hav»
an output of 220 V, with a full-load current of 7 000 A. The
motor shall be of 350 h.p., with a power supply of 400 V, three-phase,
60 cycle. The synchronous speed of the sets shall be 750.

* Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

(Section 48) four Stoney sluice gates for the pits, appertaining to
thj turbines mentioned in Section 46. Tenders to the Secretary,
Public Works Tenders Board, Government Buildings, Wellington.

DcsEDiN City Council. March 31. — '.Supply and delivery of
one 150 h.p. three-phase induction motor and rediiction gear for the
M(jrnirigton Cable Service.

Auckland Harbour Board. April 25. — Four double-barrel elec-
tric winches for the Central Wharf, Auckland. Specificatione from
W. & A. McArthur, 18-19, Silk-street, Cripplegate, London, E.G. 2.

SOUTH AMERICA.

Aroi-ntine Ministry of Public Works. Feb. 21, 1922. — 'Nine
electric motors, 36 tip waggons, 1 centrifugal pump with electric
motor. Specification expected at the Department of Overseas Trade
by Dec. 28.
BULGARIA.

Bulgarian Depariment of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones.
Feb. 8. *Supply of the following telegraphic accessories : — Twenty
terminal boxes for 40-pair cable, 1 000 combined lightning arresters
and 1 A fuses, 500 combined lightning arresters in fueee (different
type), 300 transformers, 700 condensers (2 micro-farad), twenty jonc-
tion-boxes with prot€cti%e devices for 40-pair cable.

BuLGARUN Department of Posts. Feb. 14. — 'Bronze in plates and
bars, iron and steel plates and bars, and insulating materiaJs.

Bulgarian Department of Post.s, Telegraphs, and iELEFUo.sEs.
February 20.-^*2 000 telephone instruments for table use, with
local battery and magneto. Al.^o for hpaie part>.

Bulgarian Department of Posts. Feb. '21. — •Electriciaae' enaall
tools, including 900 pairs pincers, 20 brazing lamps, 100 soldering
irons, 1 500 bits, 300 axes.

Bulgarian Post and Telegraph Authorities, March 15. — *
The supply of 1 A fuses, cartridge fuses for protection from light-
ning, 3 A fuses, line annunciators, carbon lightning arresters.

Bulgarian Postal Authorities, March 21. — 'Telephone, pole-
line hardware (4-pin carriers for insulators, bolts, etc.).

Bulgarian Postal Authorities, March 27. — '"3 000 junction
pieces for batteries. Delivery required within four months.

London County Council Education Committee have accepted the
tenders of H. J. Cash & Company, for electric lighting work at
Sherrington-road, Greenwich, schools, £506; and Webb-street, Ber-
mondsey, schools, £519.

Hackney Borough Council have accepted the tender of the Stan-
ton Ironworks Company, at £909 13s. 9d.. for condensing-water cir-
culating pipes in connection with the extension of the electricity
power-house at Millfields-road.

Hammersmith Borough Council have accepted the tender (the
lowest received) of the Enfield Ediswan Cable Works. Ltd., for
2 500 yds. of 01 sq. in. 3 core l.t. cable at £947. Five tenders were
received, the highest being £1 007 10s.

It is reported in Sheffield that METROPOLrr.AN-ViCKERS, Ltd., have
secured, in the face of keen competition, an electrical contract in
South Africa of the value of £1 000 000. German firms are said to
have made a vigorous effort to secure the business.

The General Electric Comp.\ny inform us that the alternator of
the turbo-alternator set fvir the Eastbourne Corporation, the con-
tract for which was recentlv awarded to W. H. Allen, Son & Com-
pany (Electrician, Jan. 6, "p. 24), will be a G.E.C. machme, manu-
factured by the firm at their Witton Works. Birmingham.

Sydney (N.S.W.) Citv Council have decided to place an order
with the Electricitv Meter Manufacturing Company for 1 000 5 A
240 V s.p. meters at £3 each, on condition that when ihe company
develops a satisfactory meter which is cheaper to manufacture, a
reasonable preference will be given to the Council in the matter of
price, in return for their efforts to fosfce:' local raanufacure.

London County Council have accepted the following tenders :
Dorman & Smith (lowest tender), for two main power distributipn
boards and power sub-distribution boards in connection with the
electrical installation at the new County Hall, £1 014 7s lid. (five
tenders were received, highest £1 696) ; W. J Furse & Company
(lowest tender), for the supply and inst.-illation of hghtning con-
ductors at the new County Hall. £1 411 Is 8d. (four tenders
received ; highest £1 765 3s. 4d.). The Council have also authorised
the ordering of additional mains and circuit cables up to the value
of £3 000 under the existing sub-contract with the Pirelli General
Cable Works, Ltd.

Swansea Borough Council have reversed the decision of the Elec-
tricity Committee to place a contract with a British firm, although
■x French firm's quotation was lower. The committee recommended
the acceptance of the tender of Ferranti. Ltd.. for a transformer at
the sum of £1 408 7s. This was the lowest British tender :^but the
French firm, I^ Transformateur. tendered at £900. Col. bmclair,
chairman of the Electricity Committee, said that but for the differ-
ence in the rate of exchange the French price would be double
He showed that no less than £870 of the sum quoted by the British
firm would be expended in wages, and emphasised that the accept-
ance of the French tender meant throwing British workmen out of
employment for weeks. On a division, however, the contract was
awarded to the French firm by a large majority.

Ill

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot' be responsible for any errors that may occur.

London Gazette.

Partnerships Dissolved.

GOODEND\Y John, and rREXK. Albert Simon, eleotrical con-
tractors, 101, Dale-street, and 62, Smithdown-road, Liverpool,
CO Lancaster, under the style of Goodenday & Frenk, by mutual
consent as from Dec. 1, 1921. Debts received and paid by A. S.
Frenk.

HORSFALL, Robinson, and HAERTSON, Richard, electricians and
• armature winders, Waltham-street, off Doncaster-road, Barnsley,
under the stvle of Harrison and Horsfall. by mutual consent as.
from Jan. 18. 1922. Debts received and paid by R. Horsfall,
who will continue the business.

JAMES, Arthur Leonard, and WHITE, Albert, electrical engine^e,
&c.,'56 Wiverton-road, Sherwood-rise, and 52a, North-gate, Old
Bas'ford, Nottingham, under the style of A. L. James, by mutual
consent as from Dec. 31, 1921. Debts received and paid b.
A. White, who will continue the business.

Bankruptcy Information.

FAWCETT, Ernest, 20, St. Anne-street, Liverpool, electrical and
heating 'engineer. First meeting, Feb. 1, 11.30 a.m., Offices of
the Official Receiver, 11. Dale-street, Liverpool. Public exan:ina-
tion, Feb. 13, at 10.30 a.nj.. Court House, Government Build-
ings, Victoria-street, Liverpool.

TRUELOVE, Harold (trading as H. Truelove & Company), 19,
Shepley-street, Stalybridge, Co. Chester,^ electrical engineer.
Receiving order, Jan. 18. Creditor's petition.

Notice of Intended Dividend.

BAKER, Reginald Percival, and STUBBS, Frederick Clarence,
trading together in co-partnership as the Sheffield Electric Con-
struction Company, 124, Pond-street, Sheffield, electrical en-
gineers. Last day for receiving proofs, Feb. 8. Trustee,
L. J. Clegg, Official Receiver's Of5ices, 14, Figtree-kne,
fthclfield.

Company Winding-up.

CEDES ELECTRIC TRxVCTION, LTD. Last day for receiving

proofs, Feb. 9. Liquidator, H. E. Burgess, 33, Carey-street,

Lincoln's Inn, London, W.C. 2.
Company Winding-up Voluntarily.
PEARLITE ELECTRIC WELDING COMPANY, LTD. J. C.

Burleigh, Bond Court House, Walbrook, E.C. 4, appointed

liquidator.

Liquidator's Notice.

PEARLITE ELECTRIC WELDING COMPANY, LTD. (in
voluntary liquidation). Meeting of creditors at Bond Court
House, Walbrook, London, E.C. 4, Jan. 31, 11 a.m. N.B.—
The above is a formal ncrtice to comply with Section 188 of the
Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908. All creditors have been,
or will be, paid in full.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgments" does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the oases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]
CHARNOCK, Mr. M. J., 339, Icknield Port-road, Birmingham,

electrical engineer. £21 4s. 3d. Nov. 11.
CROXON, Ralph Wilfred, 38a, Brixton-road, S.W., electrician.

£13 6s. Nov. 15.
JACOBS, ARTHUR (trading as Arthur Jay), 20, St. Thomas-
square, Hackney, electrical engineer. £10 19s. 7d. Nov. 10.
WASSELL, Mr. G. W., 4 Tividale-road, Tipton, electrical engineer.

£10 14s. 6d. Nov. 15.
WOODS, Mr. A., 8, Ladbroke-grove, Holland Park, electrician.
£16 3s. 8d. Nov. 15.

Bills of Sale.

[The luidermentioned information is from the Official Registry.
It includes Bills of Sale registered under the Act of 1822 and under
the Act of 1878. Both kinds requii'e registration eveiy five years.
Up to the date the information was obtained it was registered
as given below ; but payment may have been made in some of the
cases, although no notice had been entered on the Register.]
BENNETT, Albert Richard, 119, Blackfriars-road, Southwark,

electrical apparatus maker. Jan. 20. £30.
JACKS, Filmer, 57, Peacock-street, Gravesend, electrician, &o

Jan. 18. £30. '

OSBORNE, Oliver James, 16, London-road, Maidstone, electrician.

Jan. 18, £50.
SEAGE, Albert, 114,, Airdale-avenue, Chiswick, electrical engineer.

Jan. 23. £60.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company Th respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges' have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary-, but sucb total maj'^ have been
reduced since such date.]

" ALFO " ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, LTD.,
Liverpool. Registered Jan. 12, £250 debentures, to G N.
Kenney, Glenolden, Birkenhead-road, Moreton, electrical engi-
neer ; general charge.
BOURNE "end and DISTRICT ELECTRICITY CORPORA-
TION, LTD. Registered Jan. 11, £850 debentures, part of
£20 000 ; charged on land at Bourne End ; also general charge.

Satisfactions.

BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT POWER & TRACTION COM-
PANY, LTD. (late BIRMINGHAM & MIDLAND TRAM-
WAYS, LTD.). Satisfaction registered Jan. 12, £40 000; and
further advances, &c., registered Jan. 24, 1918.

N'AIROBI ELECTRIC POWER & LIGHTING COMPANY,
LTD., London, E.C Satisfaction registered Jan. 17, £1 000,
part of amounts registered Sept. 29, 1913, and July 30, 1915.

Receivership.

WATSON, FOGGO & COMPANY, LTD. G. H. Highcock, of
The Retreat, Victoria-road, West Kirby, ceased to act as
receiver or manager on Dec. 15, 1921.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

BLOWER, Arthur Ernest, lately trading as Blower & Cooper,
electrical engineers' merchant, 1-3, Paul's Bakehouse Com't,
E.C. This debtor attended at the London Bankruptcy Court
last week for public examination on a statement of affairs
showing gross liabilities £762, and an estimated deficiency of
£484. He began business in partnership in Sept., 1917, when
ihe and his partner bought for £750 — payable as to £100 down
and the balance on or before Aug., 1924 — the stock, fixtures,
and book debts of a business carried on at the above aadress.
He introduced no capital, but had a trade connection, and was
to receive 60 per cent, of the profits, while his partnea", who
brought in £ltO, was to have 40 per cent. They were fairly
successful until Dec, 1920, when the partnership was
dissolved. Under the deed of dissolution he took over his
paartner's interest in the business and goodwill, but the
proceeds from the stock and book debts wei"e to be paid into
a joint banking account and applied in payment of the partner-
ship debts and in reduction of the amount due to the vendor
of the business. He continued alone until August last, when,
owing to trade depression, he closed down. Since Dec.,
1920, the business had resulted in a net loss of £284. The
debtor added that £275 of his debts represented the unpaid
balance of the purchase price of tlie business. The examination
was concluded. The following are ci-editoi-s : Vulcan
Electrical & Mechanical Company. £15 ; Wandsworth Electjic
Mfg. Company, London, £32; Trevelyan & Company,
Birmingham, £19; Boyton, C. & Sons, Ltd., Wealdstone, £20.

Private Meeting.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily imply failure.

Many private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the

debtor consulting his creditors as to his position when he may not

he insolvent.'^

PLANET ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD. (hi voluntaay liquida-
tion), St. George's Road, London, S.E. The creditors of the
above were called together recently, at the offices of Dollman
& Pritchard, 52. TaVistock Square, London, W.C, when it
was stated that the shareholders had passed the usual xesolutions
for voluntaiy liquidation, and had appointed Mr. S. H. Swallow
as liquidator. An approximate statement of affairs presented,
disclosed liabilities of £1 177. of which £877 was due to the
trade. The assets were estimated to realise £918, or a
deficiency of £259. The assets consisted of :' stock estimated
to realise £350 ; good book-debts, £350 : furniture, fittings, and
lighting installaticn, £160; plant. £55; and cash in hand,
£3 3s. "8d. The company was registered some three yea.rs ago
with a nominal capital" of £2 000. The issued capital was
£1 908, of which £1 246 was subscribed for in cash. The last
balance sheet was prepared as at June, 1921, and disclosed a
loss of some £600. A resolution was passed confirming the
voluntary liquidation with Mr. Swallow as liquidator, while a
committee was appointed consisting of the representatives of
Rose Bros., Ltd.. Lion Engine Company, Ltd., Telga Company,
and Fuller United Electric Company. Ltd.

January 27, 1922

The Electrician.

115

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. Jan. 27th (to-day).

Physical Society.
5 pm. At the Imperial College of Science, London, S.W.
Papers to be read "On the Diffusion of Solutions," by
Mr T. H. Littlewood, M.A. ; " A Special Apparatus for the
Measurement at Various Temperatures of the Thomson
Effect in Wirea/' by Mr. H. R. Nettleton, M.Sc, and
" A Defect in the Sprengel Pump — Its Causes and a
Remedy," by Mr. J. J. Manley, M.A.

Electrical Power Engineers' Association.
(Southern Division.)

7 p.m. At Central Hall, Westminster, London, S.W. Lecture

on " The Metering of Steam by Means of Orifices," by
Mr. J. L. Hodgson, B.Sc.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Students' Section of Scottish Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At the Royal Technical College, Glasgow. Paper
on " The Economical Production of Electrical Power," by
Mx. R. G. Kendall.

Nobth-East Coast Institution of Engineers and
Shipbuilders.
7.30 p.m. At the Literary and Philosophical Society, New-
castle-on-Tyne. Paper on " The Use of Compressed Air
in Diesel-Engined Ships," by Mr. W. Reavell.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Irish Centre.)

8 p.m. At the Royal CoUege of Science, Dublin. Lecture on

"The Development of Electricity Supply in Switzerland,"
by Mr. E. M. Jc^hnson.

Junior Institution of Engineers.

5 p.m,. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecturette on "Fuels

and the Boiler House," by Mr. L. M. Jockel.

TUESDAY. Jan. 31st.

Engineers' Club, Manchester.
7.15 p.m. At Albert Square, Manchester. Address on "A
Business Trip to Canada and the U.S.A.," by Mx. J. P.
Bedson.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Students' Section of N. -Western Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At Houldsworth Hall, Deansgate, Manchester.
Paper on "Some Electric Lift Control Systems," by Mr.
W. 0. Brakenridge.

Illuminating Engineering Society
8 p.m. At the Royal Socdety of Arts, John-street, London,
W.C. Discussion on " The Use of Light as an Aid to
Aerial Navigation," opened by Lt.-Col. L. F. Blandy, D.S.O.

WEDNESDAY. Feb. 1st.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.

(Wireless Section.)

6 p.m. At Savoy Place, London, W.C. Papers on " Th.e

Determinatijon of the Decrement of a Distant Sending
Station," by Major J. Erskine-Murray, and "Some New
Methods of Radio-Navigation," by Major J. Erskine-
Muirray and Capt. J. Robinson, Ph.D.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(South Midland Centre.)

7 p.m. At the Univei-eity, Birmingham. Lecture on " Single

and Three-Phase Alternating Current Commutator Motors
with Series and Shunt Characteristics," by Dr. S. P. Smith.

Industrial League and Council.
7.30 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecture on " The
Curse of Work," by Mr. H. T. Smith.

THURSDAY. Feb. 2nd.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
6 p.m. At Savoy Place, London, W.C. Paper on " The Inter-
connection of A.C. Power Stations," by Messrs. L. J.
Romero and J. B. Palmer.

Liverpool Engineering Society.
(Students' Section.)
7.30 p.m. At the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street, Liverpool.
Paper on " Sound Ranging," by Mr. E. G. Stephens.

FRIDAY. Feb. 3rd.

Institute of Cost and Works Accountants.
2.30 p.m. At the Holborn Restaurant, London, W.C. Costing
Conference on " The Necessity for Scientific Costing."

Junior Institution of Engineers

8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecturette on " Uti-

lisation of Waste Heat from Internal Combustion Engines,"
by Major W. Gregson.

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATION.S PUBLISHED.

Th» foUotnng abtlract from tome of the tpeafieatume reeentiy fubUtk^ ktmt
been $ptexaUy compiled try Mehhk.'j. Mkwblks, tLLis 4 Co., CharUrei PatnU
AgenU, 70 and 72, Chancery-lane. London, W.C.

COMi-LET*. SPKCIFIt Allows.

140 789

145 675

146 873
146 914

146 990

147 664
147 850

147 890
149 349

168 350

168 360
168 363
168 394

168 407
168 409
168 432
168 443
168 474

168 479
168 499
168 508
168 514
168 537

ScovrLL MAKurACTiTRiN'a Co. Automatic control mechanisza for
electric furnaces. (28/6/18.J

SiEMEN's & Halske Akt.-Ge.s. High-tension electric transformexs.
(.30/6/19.)

Renault. L. Electric starting and lighting systema for anto-
mobiles. (2/12/13.)

SiEME.vs-ScHucKEBTWEBKE. Portable electric welding appaxatna.
(3/5/19.)

Wester.v Electric Co., Ltd. Telegraphic ciphering and de-
ciphering mechaniBms. (4/12/18.;
KoHLEft Co. Electric generating, systems. (2' 3/16.)
Gz3. FiJR Drahtlosb Texegraphie. Wireless telegraph trans-
mitters. (22/12/17.)

Fery, C. Primary batteries. (1/12/14.)

Metropolitan Vickees Electeical Co., Ltd. Electric wireloM
receiving apparatus. (5/8/19.)

Fellows, A. W., & Gardner, W. A. Electric distributing device
for the ignition systems of internal combustion engines.
(5/6/20.)

Ajax, Ltd., Cooper, C. A., & Sell, D. F. Containers for electrie
batteries and other electrical apparatus. (29/4 1 20.)
Tucker, J. B., & Tucker & Co., Ltd., J. H. Electric contacts.
(20/5/20.)

TiOGART, J., Scott, & Radio Commitnicatios Co., Ltd. Vacatun-
tube relay devices and the like especially for use in wireleea
signalling systems. (29/5/20.)

Macrorie, A. K., AiBEY, H. MoRBis, & Shearing, G. Supports
for filaments for thermionic valves. '31/5/20.)
Mare, G. Construction of combined electric switch and plug
coupling. (1/6/20.)

KiRKHAM, J. Auxiliary device for use with sparking-plaga.
(6/3/20.)
British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd., & Jbwxtt, D. E. Systems

of electric ship propulsion. (12/6/20.)

Relay Automatic Telephone Co., Ltd. (Betulander. G. A., a
Palmgren, N. G.). Arrangement for testing lines or line groups,
particularly in automatic and semi-automatic telephone plants.
(2/7/20.)

Brown, G. R. Process and apparatus for electrostatic separation
of finely divided discrete material. (7/7/20.)
Walker, H. E. Junction boxes and the Uke for electricity dis-
tributing systems. (24/7/20.)

Mull, R. S. S. Process for utilising mica for electrical poritoses.
(4/8/20.) ^ ■ :, ^

HowARTH, O. Apparatus for measuring the maximum demand
demanded from an electricity supply. (13/8/20.)
Johnson & Phillips, Ltd.. & Hockly, A. Means for holding in
close contact a movable truck and stationary cubicle of an e.ectrio
switchboard or other relatively movable members. T 10 2i).)

26 056
26 060

26 078
26 089
26 098
26 102
26 125
26127

26 141
26 147

26 135
26 162
26 212
26 214
26 220
26 227
26 229

26 231
26 238

26 258
26 291
26 302

26 307
26 308
26 314

26 332
26 330

26 336
26 345
26 354
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26 366
26 383
26 3S8
26 417
26 425

26 427
26 431
26 436

26 449
26 466
26 475

APPLICATIONS FOE PATENTS

October 3, 1921.
Davis. Recording telephone calls.
Sutherland, Cooke. Copeland & Rogers Device for recording

telephone calls.
Claremont & ScHoLEs. Electiic juuction boxes.
Ryan. Relays for reception of signals, &c.
Heesch. Automatic electricity meter. (27/8/21, Denmark.)
Bennett. Switches.

Denny. Switches. • , . i ■

HuTH & Oppenheimer. Transmission of signals by electric

oscillations. (2/10/20, Germany.)
Goldsmid-Stern-Salomons (Fayol). Incandescent lamps.
Lindner. Electric pocket hmps.

October 4, 1921.
Geniller. Incandescent lamps for advertising, &c.
Smith & Ansell. Indirect lighting fitting.
Rickets. Electric appliances lor seam or line welding.
Levin. Electrolytic cells for generating oxygen and hyd-ogen.
Walkek. Radio-telephone transmitter.
JoFEH. Telephone mouthpieces
Soc. Anon Le Fer. Production of electrolytic iron. (19/10/20,

France.) ^ „ , .

Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Steam turbines.
Frost. Electrically heated vulcanising apparatus.

October 5. 19f-.

Taylor. Overhead electric transmission.

Brook. Electric lamps. ^, . . . i * i-.

Electric Control, Ltd., & Elletsen. Electric control for lilts.
haulage gear, &c. ^ , . , ... . .

Phi-Kappa Synd. & Kluijtuans. Combined switches and fuses.

Phi-Kappa Synd. & Watson. Electric heut-ng apparatus.

Cash. Releasing arms of starting gates by elect nc power.
(11/10/20, S. Africa.) _. , . ,,.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Wireless signalling systems.

Anderson & Ellison. Magnetic blow-out devices for electnc
circuit controlling apparatus

Zweigbergk. Brakes ior railway and trsunway veniclea.

Watanabe. Steel for making magnets.

Sctlliva.v. Submarine telegraph cables.

Telephone Mfg. Co. (1920) & Stott. Autoiuatio exchange tele-
phone apparatus.

October 0, 1921.

Walters. Horizontal electrically-driven pumps.

Barnett. Automatic electric switch.

Wall. Direct current dynamo.

Hatcher. Commutators. ,. ,^ ^

Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Telephone systems. (lo/lO. a),
U.S.)

RoMBACH. Electric lamps.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.^. Wireless signalling systems.

Watts, Williams & Co. & Middlctox. Dyn^uuo and accumiilator
sets.

Smith. Inductances, indactance coils, &c.

Bry.^n & Tatham. Switch.

Abraham. Wireless telegraphy. (6/10/20, France )

110

The Electrician.

January 27, 1922

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26 662

26 670
26 673

26 729
26 732
26 744
26 746
26 768
26 780
26 793
26 801
26 802

26 807

26 820

26 821
26 836

26 841
26 852
26 853

26 887

26 892

26 899
26 900
26 901
26 903
26 905

26 927

26 931
26 932
26 945

26 963
26 976

26 981

27 023

27 034
27 045

27 049
27 052
27 057
27 089

27 102

27 107

27108

27110

27119
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27 145

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27159
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27197
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27 231
27 246
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27 308
27 309
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27 324

27 335

disc and terminal for ignition

(23/10/20,

October 7, 1921.

FiLDES. Storage of fuse wire.

HouGARDY. Switches.

Judge. Cominiitator rotating
discs.

& 26 550 Igranic Electric Co. (Cutler-Hammer Mfg. Co.). Electro-
magnetic brakes.

Phi-Kappa Synd. & Kluijtmans. Electric heating and cooking
apparatus.

Beiiry. Electric lamps and fans.

Chamberlain & Hookham & James. Circuit interrupting devices.

Valentine. Commutators for electric ignition systems.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric signalling devices.

Hermet & Izoard. Electric lamps.

Amphlett & Lewis. Electric ignition apparatus.
October 8, 1921.

Bosch (E.) Akt. Ges. High-tension ignition systems.
Geitnany.)

Jones. Electric contacts or connections.

Johnson. Automatic control of electric lamps for motor vehicles,
&c.

Spencer & Co. & Sharp. Magnetic separators.

B. T.-H. Co. Electron-discharge devices. (28/10/20, U.S.)
October 10, 1921.

Phi-Kappa Synd. & "Watson. Electric irons.

Telephone Mfg. Co. (1920). Warning signals foi platelayers, &c

Hyman & Saxby. Telephone apparatus.

Cardwell. Electric ignition apparatus.

Oldham. Electric connections

Dinnibier. Electrical entertainment devices. (9/10/20, U.S.)

Bardt. Manutacti re of electrodes.

Bardt. Storage batteries.

Huth & KtJHN. Apparatus for influencing electric waves pro-
duced by cathode tubes for telephony. (2/12/19, Germany.)

American Radio & Research Corporation. Rectification of alter-
nating currents. (8/10/20, U.S.)

Gtjeney. Reflecting devices for electric lamps, &c.
October 11, 1921.

Mechanical Supplies, Ltd. & Baynes. Relays for amplification of
sound, &c.

Automatic Telephones Mfg. Co., Electrical Improvements, Ltd.
& Beard. Indication position of apparatus or condition of
circuits at a distance.

Moore. Electric contact makers.

Midland Electric Mfg. Co. & Barber. Ironclad switches.

Midland Electric Mfg. Co. & Barber. Adpustable time-lags
for circuit breakers.

Ball Bearing Works, J. Schmid-Roost. Current transmission
devices for ball bearings in electrically driven rail vehicles.
(6/11/20, Switzerland.)

Western Electric Co. Electric signalling systems. (11/10/20,
U.S.)

Cambridge & Paul Instrument Co. Adjustable sensitive relays.

Turner & Lucas. Terminals for electric circuits.

Danes, Lucas & Miller. Electricity measuring instruments.

Andersen. Transmission of pictures by telegraph and telephone.

Biemens - ScHUCKERTWERKE. Electric precipitating plants.

(28/10/20, Germany.)

Lodge Fume Co. (Metallbank u. Metallurgische Ges.). Circuit
breaker.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Thermostatic elements.

B. T.-H. Co. & FitzGerald. Relays, &c.

Pasteur. Automatic circuit breakers. (12/10/20, France.)

October 12, 1921.

Taylor. Electric transmission of power with underground cables.

lAYLOR. Eiiiminatmg currents in lead sheating of cables.

J.AYL0R. Improving current-carrying capacity of existing three-
phase cable systems.

Austin & Macfarlane. Electric driving of machines on c c. series
system.

RooKE & Hatcher. Electric machines.

CoALES, Darby, Garrard & Railing. Combined expansion joint
and clamomg support for electrical box bars.

Haefely ET CiE. Insulators. (6/11/20, Switzeriand.)

HOAR. Canopies for electric light fixtures, &c. (22/10/20, U.S.)

a. i.-Jl. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electrical apparatus.

rSoffn^/fn^n^^^"'^^^'^^^- Punfyins gas by electricity.
(22/10/20, Geiinany.)

^lofniuo^^^'^^"^^^- ^ Electric heating and cooking appliances.
(27/10/20, Germany.)

KosENBAUM, Huth & Loewe. Telegraphy or telephony. (15/9/15,

Huth. Generating and strengthening oscillations for wireless

teleeraphy, &c. (17/5/19, Gei-many.)
BfiTiSH Lighting & Ignition Co. & Turner. Switches.

October 3 3, 1921.
Tracy. Electrical connection.

Kratt & McClelland. Electric moto, s for gramophones.
West Lancashire Electrical Co. & Speed. Portable electric

water neatei's.
West Lancashire Electrical Co. & Speed. Method of controlling

water neaters.
■^lamp?' ■^®'^"'°® ^°^' ^^rying illuminating power ,of electric

Rice & Weia Controller for electrical advertising signs, &c

jkuspell. iiilectric irons.

Lancashire Dynamo. &c.. Co. & McLeod. Apparatus for

changing velocity ratio and relative direction of rotation ol

two rotatable parts.
Eastern Telegraph Co. Apparatus for maintaining equality ot

speed in two or mere motors, &c c^uamj, oi

Kaw^akami. Accumulators.
Kemp. Electric condensers.
Graham. Mouthpieces, &c., for telephone transmitters and

receivers.

October 14, 1921.
Robinson. Electric diaphragm warning horn

machines ^ Orsettich. Brush-holders for electric

Aitken. Automatic, &c., telephone exchange systems.

Parsons. Switches. I'ci.in.

FiNizio. Electric irons.

LoKE. Electric furnaces, &c.

§w„^" Wireless apparatus for producing continuous oscillations.

S-^NT. Holders for incandescent lamps.

r' t'w n^ 19<' ^ 9?-\ ^e",'?'' ^°^' pj-pducing oscillations.
o. x.-a. oo. («jr. til. Co.). Radio receiving systems.
Sw?tz 1 j^^^^°^°- Electric cu„-out apparatus. (14/10/20.

M0T0RENFA3RIK Oberursel A. G. Arrangement of magneto in
cycle auxiliary engines. (12/2/21, Germany.)

27 337 CoMPTON & Musgrave. Key contacts for electrically-operated
organs, &c.

27 344 Ever-Ready Co. (Great Britain) & Mummery. Invert electric
bu.tteries.

27 346 Zehnder. Electro-magnetic chucks. (16/10/20, Switzerland.)

27 356 Combination Metallic Packing Co. (1921) & Harrison. Field
magnets of magneto-electric generators, &c.

27 357 Combination Metallic Packing Co. (1921) & Harrison. Dynamo-
electric machines.

27 358 Combination Metallic Packing Co. (1921) & Harrison. Arma-
tures of magneto-electric generators.

27 359 Combination Metallic Packing Co. (1921) & Harrison.
Magnetos, &c.

October 15, 1921.

27 360 Brown. Apparatus foi making communication secret in wireless
telegraphy and telephony.

27 365 Horton. Contrivance for generating electrical energy.

27 367 Harris & Wiseman. Supports for electric conductors.

27 407 Habann. Production of high-frequency oscillations for trans-
mitting messages, &c

27 433 Sprosen & Wiseman. Electric lamps for vehicles.

27 435 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Relay circuit arrangements for
telephone, &c., systems (17/11/20, (J.S.).

27 437 Koeh & Schwarz. Three-phase induction n.otors.

October 17, 1921.

27 464 Parsons. Adjustable electrical contacts.

27 484 WooDMANCZ. Electric switchgear for automobiles

27 497 Emtage. Electric indicators.

27 504 Vries de Waal. Electricity i.s mechanical advertising apparatus.

27 512 Naamlooze Venootschap Metaaldraadlampenfabr., Holland. Incan-
descent la-mps, &c. (29/7/21, Holland.)

27 519 RiCKy.TS. Electric welding devices of resistance type.

27 522 Monger & Ruler-West. Electric model and toy apparatus, &c.

27 527 Todman, Ryall & Co. Cooling electrical machines.

27 528 Todman, Ryall & (I^o. Electric machinery.

27 529 Todman, Ryall & Co. Brush-gear for electrical machines.

27 533 Bergmann Elektricitats Werke A. G. Starter for 3-phase short-
circuited motors. (25/10/20, Germany.)

27 538 New Switchgear Construction Co. & Hall. Protected switches.

27 546 Woods. Electric motors.

2<j;549 SiEBE, Gorman & Co. & Jenner. Battery plates.

27 550 Muller. Electric alarms. (4/7/21, Geimany.)

27 581 Siemens & Halske A. G. Telephone systems. (16/10/20, Ger-
many.

27 636 Everett. Alternating current protective devices

October 18, 1921.
27 575 Crankshaw & Markland. Automatic electro-magnetic lock for

carriage doors, &c.
27 599 MuLLARD Radio Valve Co. Suspension of filaments in vacuum

tubes, &c.
27 620 Oppenheimer. Electric lamps, &c

27 622 EsTLER Bros. Trolly collectors for tramcars or motor vehicles.
27 636 Edgcumbe. Alternating current protective devices.
27 639 English Electric Co. Brakes of tramcars, &c.
27 651 Speedy & Eynon. Switches, &c.
27 665 White (Magnetic Power Typewriter Co.). Electrical actuating

means for type-bars of typewriters, &c. '
27 668 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Systems of illumination.
27 674 Hodgson. Stand for electric irons. (29/10/20, New Zealand.)
27 677 & 27 678 Ellison. Switches, &c.
27 683 Illingworth. Electrodes.

27 689 PoLLAK (Siemens & Halske A. G.). Telephone systems.
27 690 Park & Rose. Device for rendering inoperative simultaneously

prime movers and brakes of mechanical and electric vehicles, &c.
27 692 Aregall. Interrupter rheostats.

October 19, 1921.

27 763 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric machines.

27 787 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Means for operating electrical

signals, &c. (22/10/20, Gennany.)
27 788 Pollak (Siemens & Halske A. G.). Telephone systems.

October 20, 1921.
27 808 Crust. Switch plugs.
27 822 Rogers. Electric horns.
27 835 Bridges. Steam-electric plant.
27 843 Murdoch. Electric machines.
27 846 LiCHT Akt. Ges. Manufacture of wires from metal having high

melting point. (22/10/20, Switzerland.)
27 849 Young. Electrical transmitter microphones.
27 868 Western Electric Co. Carrier telegraph circuits.
27 874 British Generator Co. & Constable. Electric heating of water.

27 883 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Radio sib-nalling systems.

27 885 Ben-Ayad. Automatic electric ship's lead.

27 889 Bullimore. Containers for secondary batteries.

27 893 Godsell. Telephone systems, &c.

27 896 Loth. Locating losses in electric cables or lines.

27 901 DURTNALL. Systems of operation for electric locomotives, trams,

&c.
27 902 Etchells. Switches for train lighting systems.

1921.
Close

Overload trip retarding

Co. Electric railway motor

October 21,
27 934 Electric Construction Co. &
device for circuit breakers, &c.
27 937 Field. Electrical instruments.

27 977 Knight. Incandescent lamps.

28 016 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical

control systems. (5/11/20. U.S.)
28 017 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electrical discharge apparatus.
28 047 ScHATTNER. Ciicuit making and breaking device.

October 22. 1921.

28 063 Thomas. Electric fly and insect killer.

28 074 Cable Accessories Co., Reeves & Davis. Portable electric lamp-
holders.

28 079 CowPER-CoLES. Apparitus for reproduction by electro-deposition.

28 087 BiGNAMY. Starter, transmission-gear, and dynamo drive com-
bined.

96 089 Schroder. Electrically welding high-speed steel to tool shanks,
&c.

7'he Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Offices of " Th>
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.G. 4. Tele-
grams: Benbroctic, Fleet, London. Telephone : City 9852 (5 lines).

The subscription to " The Electrici.\N' " is £2 12 0 per annum
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ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
tisement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABMSHEO 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAI, OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2281. [vol. LXX'XV,...]

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY ;„ 1922.

Prepai-; 1.

per a-

rip'ion L'.K., /2 1:4. p

rice I -

CONTENTS.

Notes of the Week 117

Imperial Wiekless 119

Electric Traction Experiences 121

^'otes on Theory of Grassor Fjuxraeter By R. B. Burrowes ... 122

Review 123

The Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysham Electric Railway.

Illustrated 124

Progress in Industrial Research 129

Impeiiil Wireless Telegraphy — A Technical Report 130

The Electrification of Main-Line Railways 133

Gas Works and the Pr duction of Light, Heat and Power 134

Battery Vehicles and Coal Supply 134

CORKESPONDBNCE J 35

A Large Electrical Contract 135

Supervising Electricians' Dinner 135

Electricity Supply — War Memorial 136

The "Adams" Miners' Lamp ». 137

L.C.C. Tramways J37

Le^al Intelligence 138

Institution Notes 138

Educational ■. 138

Electricity Supply 139

Electric Traction , \U)

Municipal Accounts , :..........:... 140

Obituary i^Q

Personal and Appointments ;.....;... 141

Business Items, &c , 141

Exhibition Notes 141

Telegraph and Telephone Notes 141

Wireless Notes 141

Imperial Notes , 141

Foreign Notes 142

Miscellaneous. » 142

Trada Inquiries .- 142

Social Notes 142

Companies' Meetings, Reports, Ac ,.«...... 142

New Companies 143

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c "...i... ...... ..........^ 148

Forty Years Ago I4.3

Arrangements for the Week ; 143

Tenders invited and Accepted I44

Commercial intelligence .,; 145

Patent Record 146

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c ... 14»)

Notes of the Week.

Autocracy at Wimbledon.

Recent occurrences at Wimbledon are enough tO' make
the least communistically minded see red. For the Borough
Council, becoming dissatisfied with their chief electrical
engineer's work after twenty-one years' service, on Tues-
day night held a special meeting, at which it was pro-
posed that Mr. Tomlinson Lee's engagement should be ter-
minated as from May 31 next, but that he should virtually
be dismissed at a few hours' notice. This proposal was
agreed to by sixteen voltes to six, without any statement as
to why or wherefore. It is only right to add that requests
as to why this course was adopted were made by a stalwart
minority, but nothing was disclosed, for the quaint reason
that publicity would be against Mr. Lee's interests. For
his part, we understand that Mr. Lee courts a full
inquiry. This he certainly should have.

Immediate Action Required.

It is obvious, whatever the cause of the Council's action,
that this sort of thing cannot be allowed to pass with-
out both protest and action. It is likely to cause both.
For the Ekctrical Power Engineers' Association (of which
Mr. Lee is a member), the Chief Technical Assistants' Asso-
ciation, and the Associated Municipal Electrical Engi-
neers all made representations to the Council before the
meeting, asking for an inquiry, and pointing out that, how-
ever justified the dismissal might be on facts, to effect it so
summarily means virtual ruin for the man concerned. The
Ministry of Labour have also been approached, as they
were when a similar case occurred with subordinate em-
ployees of the undertaking a short time ago — for this is
not the first time that Wimbledon has offended — to force
the Council to come into the open. Much might be written
about the ethics of the whole matter, but it is not worth
while. It is sufficient to say that if the conduct of munici-
pal affairs is allowed to fall into the hands of those whose
actions are mainly directed by swollen views of thedr own

importance, such regrettable incidents will follow. The
ratepayers of Wimbledon have the remedy in their own
hands, and the E.P.E.A. might give them a chance of
using it by running a candidate at the next election. In
any event, the matter should not be allowed to drop.

Overhead or Contact Rail.

The discussion on ' ' The Electrification of English Main
Line Railways," which took place at a joint meeting of
the Institutions of Electrical, Civil and Mechanical En-
gineers in Birmingham was not confined to the arid field
where talk on systems alone flowers, but ventured into the
more fruitful pastures where questions of greater engineer-
ing interest flourish. This is as it should be. For even
when the great problem of the system is settled, if ever
it is settled, there s! ill remains the question, far greater
in practical importance, of how best to apply the system,
and especially whether it is bett-er to use the overhead line
or the contact rail. As might be expected, each solution
has its supporters. ]Mr. Willox, fortified by his experieuoe
on the Meti'opolitan Railway, told the meeting that the con-
tact rail was cheap to maintain and that even during such
operations as the Baker Street widening was no source
of danger to platelayers and others working on the line.
On the other hand, Mr. C. F. Bexgough, after a very just
summing up of the advantages and disadvantages of each
system, gave his vote in favour of the overhead line on
account, principally, of its low maintenance costs.

The Overhead System Leading.

This question of choice of system is one which can-
not, we feel, be given a general solution at the present
time. Indeed, we doubt whether a general solution
can ever be given. For on long stretches of underground
lines, where tlie cleaa-ances are small and ingress by un-
authorised persons is impossible, both economically and
from the engineering point of N-iew it may be found better
to continue to use the contact rail. On the other hand, in
shunting yards and in the open country, where the line
can be used as a convenient path for adventurous humans

lis

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

and cattle, the overhead equipment may give commercial
advantages whioli will outweigh any engineering short-
comings. It is true tliati* these engineering shortcomings
have not been sonall or easy to avoid, but the Paper read
by Sir Phimp Dawson before the Institution of Electrical
Engineers eighteen months ago, and the results of the ex-
perimeuts on the Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysham branch
of the Midland Railway, which we publish to-day, show
that they are being eliminated. Again, the higher
the Avorking pressure is raised, the greater the advantages
of the overhead system, and as our standard is becoming
rapidly de- standardised, this may very likely be
a deciding factor. That, however, is for the future. At
present it is interesting to note that Sir Vincent Raven
has announced that the overhead system is to be used in
tlie York-Newcastle electrification on the North Eastern
Railway.

The "Geddes Axe" and the Electricity Com-
mission.

The " Geddes Axe " will find no dead wood to lop in
the Electricity Commission, which is conducted with a small
staff and very economically. Moreover, although a Govern-
ment department, it is not on all fours with moat others
of that kidney, owing to the important fact that the cost
is defrayed by the industry, and not from public funds.
J' or the first two years the exoesB of expenditure over the
revenue of the Commissioners is advanced by the Trea&iury,
but this loan must be refunded within the next three years.
But even if this did not put it outside the Geddes purview,
there would be little to economise. In fact, the Commission
is so miserly that the industry, which pays, feels that an
increase in the staff employed at Gwydyr House would be
beneficial. The vast and increasing mass of work now
pouring on to the Commission's desks could then be
more quickly dealt with and a glow of satisfaction would
result in the invisible queue outside Gwydyr House.
The Commissioners have full authority to einploy un
adequate staff. They should do so for the good of the
industry. This being so we hope that the report that the
Geddes Committee is recommending the root-and-branch
abolition of the Electricity Commission is without founda-
tion. Such a recommendation could only have been made
under a misconception.

Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act.

We have often wondered why electricity-supply anthori-
ties have been so' slow in invoking the aid of Sec. 31 of
the Electricity (Supply) Act of 1919 when their
employees go on strike without notice or before effec-
tive steps can be taken tO' proadde a staff for the
maintenance of supply. Perhaps it is because their own
consciences are not always clear. Fortunately for the
industry, siuch strikes are very rare, but nevertheless the
continuity of electricity supply is such an important
matter, from the points of view of both commercial and
public safety, that noi avoid ablei cause of interruption
should be countenanced. We are glad, therefore, toi see
that the Lancashire Electric Power Company have taught
four of their enginei-room attendants a much-needed lesson,
and we hope it will not be lost upon the employees of other
supply undertakings.

A Trumpery Quarrel and its Consequences.

The employees concerned were summoned under Sec 31
of the 1919 Act, which extends Sec. 4 of the Conspiracy
and Property Act of 1875 to electricity supply stations,
and were fined £5 each and ordered to pay the costs of

the proseoution. The trouble arosei out of a tnimpery
dispute between the employees thenaselves, no industrial
principle being involved. The four defendants left the
station at 1.20 a.m., after only an hour's notice. For-
tunately, two charge engineers were on the preonises
and, as a result of urgent messages, the men on the morn-
ing shift came on duty early. The defendants admitted
their eonducti was illegal and contrary to the rules of their
union, and pleaded that they should not. be sent to pjison.
Fortunately for them, the Bench took a lenient view of
the case.

Tramway Charges Legislation.

Owners of tramway ixndertakings will be glad to learn
that there is a good prospect of fresh legislation this year
on the question of tramway fares. Tramways have had a
bad time of late. Increases in maintenance charges and the
competition of the motor omnibus ha,ve badly affected
their financial position, and any sign of relief will be doubly
welcome, though it is doubtful if continued high
fares will provide an adequate remedy. It is, however,
announced that the Ministry of Transport contemplate the
introduction of a Bill to continue the increase of charges
authorised by the Tramways (Temporary Increase of
Charges) Act of 1920, and the Association of Municipal
Coi-porations is urging the Minister to take the opportunity
of including clauses relating to trolley vehicles fares in the
Bill.

Careless Legislation.

As our readers are aware, the Temporary Increase of
Charges Act will expire on February 15, 1923, and as it is
desired to provide for this contingency as well as to remodel
the constitution of the Advisoiy Committee set up by the
1920 Act, a fresh Bill becomes neoesisary. Before making
an Order to authorise increased fares on an under-
taking, the Minister must refer the application to an
Advisory Committee, of which the Light Railways Com-
missioners formed a part. Now, by the Railways Act of
last year, the powers of the Commissioners were trans-
ferred to the Minister of Transport and the Commissioners
themselves were abolished ! This is a good specimen of
modern " rush " legislation. One grievance is remedied
and two more created owing to- the habit of dealing with
some only of the interlinked subjects on which it is desired
to legislate.

The Institution and Hydro-Electrics.

The development of what may be called hydro-electric
technology has reached a critical stage in this country.
The examination of the water-power resources of this
country by a Board of Trade Committee and their various
reports have shown that there is power of this kind worth
developing in these islands, and the Committee themselves
have suggested the Knee along wlrich this defvelopment
should take place. As we noted last week, a start has
already been made with two fairly important schemes in
Scotland. But technically it may be wondered whether our
engineers are quite ready to begin. There are some, it is
true, who have had experience with similar schemes in other
counti'ies, but, generally speaking, the information is
limited both in amount and disposition. For this reason,
if for no other, the subject is one which requires early
treatment in electrical circles, and we should like to see a
meeting of the Institution arranged at which the Com-
mittee's reports could be discussed and the technical position
made clear. This development is a British problem and
it should be a British duty to solve it.

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

110

Hydro-Electric Developments — Some Drawbacks.

The year 1921 was remarkable, among other things, for
a failure of what might almost be termed one of the laws
of Nature, i.e., the approximate constancy of the rainfall in
a given watershed. Owing to the comparative scarcity of
hydro-electric stations in this country little attention has
been directed to the extraordinary predicament in which
the drought of the past year placed certain countries,
notablv Italy and Switzerland, whose reliance upon the
natural water-powers has in many cases hitherto been abso-
lute. Even in France, where the reliance is not so great, it
is common knowledge that in the Department of Isere there
was only sufficient water available for a supply of energy to
be given on three days out of each week.

Some Revision of Ideas Necessary.

This is a type of difficulty which is far greater in the case
of the purely hydro-electric station than in stations using
steam or gas eneines, for in these last two cases, should one
source of supply fail, another can be resorted to, or the
plant be converted so as to use the fuel in a different
form, i.e., as pulverised coal or fuel oil in place of
gas. With a water-power plant, on the other hand,
no substitution is possible. Although such an occur-
rence may not be repeated for a number of years, and
although, probably, in the case of hydro-electric stations
that may be erected in Great Britain arrangements will be
made for an auxiliary stand-by plant, not dependent upon
water power, the fact that such a dro'Ught is possible shows
thatj for the sake of continuity of supply, our general ideas
as to watercourses being a perpetual source of power must
undergo some revision, and such a contingency must in
future in every case be guarded against.

Bankers and Taxation.

Were it not that both our politicians and our bureau-
oratsi despise and fear the expert., they might gather siome
useful hints as to future conduct from the speeches made
by the chairmen of the various banks), whose annual general
meetings have recently taken place. One land all they
condemned the Government's financial policy, and one and
all they indicated the ruin that will overtake the trade
and industry of the countiy unless some reduction is made
in the present scale of taxation. The critic of any Govern-
ment action is alM^ays suspected (often wrongly) of being
not entirely disinterested in his strictures: But no such
indictment can be made on this occasion. Bankers, thousfh
all business men, are not all of the same political tint, and
their unanimity, therefore, has something more behind
it than merely a desire tO' harass well-meaning
ministers and overworked officials. Those same ministers
and officials would, thereforei, do well to hear and obey, for
as Mr. Reginald McKenna, chairman of the London Joint
City and Midland Bank and one-time Chancellor of the
Exchequer, pointed out, " The present taxation has prob-
ably eixceeded the maximum which can be imposed without
greatly impairing the national spirit of enterprise. . . ,
The remedy is to reduce the national expenditure."

The Labour-Saving House.

The competition organised by the " Daily Mail " to
secui-e the best design of labour-sa^ving house suitable for
professional-class families has had some interesting results.
The principal is that, though the approximate total cost
waa laid down as £2 500, none of the designs submitted
could be carried out for les^i than £3 000. This seems to
have been mainly due to consei-A'atism. For though the

chief object of the competition was to secure the extended
use of labour-saving devices, and especially of a kitchen
which, while being small and well arranged, should con-
tain eveiything for, and no more than, was required for
cooking, all the architects clung to the idea that the kitchen
must also be the servant's sitting-room, arid «» made the
house larger than had been originally intended. Incident-
ally, i^ may be remarked that such a kitchen is most easily
obtained by the use of electric cooking apparatus, which
can be, at the same time, aocesftible and out of the way.
We are glad to see that the part electricity can play in.
domestia labour-saving is fully recognised by the* com-
petitors. The dining- and drawing-room fireplaces, in mos6
of the designs, are fitted with plugs, while in the hall and
on the landing are similar outlets for .supplying the vacuum
cleaner, and in the bedrooms, too, plugs have not been
forgotten. We hope that it will soon be found possible
to erect houses according to these designs, so that some
very interesting ideas may be turned into practice.

Imperial Wireless.

Politically speaking, the report of the Wireless Tele-
graph Commission, which we publish to-day, takes us back
to 1912, when a contract for the erection of eighteen
stations, which were to form an Imperial Wireless Chain,
was let toi the Marconi Company. But nothing is to be
gained by traversing those muddy lanes of past history.
Anyone who wishes to do so will find the facts set out in
tlie files of T'he Electrician. It will be sufficient to say
that little was done with what would now be called a
grandiose scheme, and to-day the only tangible results of
many manoeuvring;s, if we except the present report, are the
stations at Leafield and Cairo.

Past History.

It is true the war intervened to prevent further attempts
being made to establish a system of Imperial wireless oom-
munication until, in November, 1919, a Committee was
appointed under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Norman
to consider the question afresh. The ^larconi Company
refused to give evidence before this Committee, and put
foi-ward in March, 1920, a scheme of their own, in which
they proposed to establish, at their own expense, a " net-
work of wireless communications to serve the ends >f the
whole British Empire," paying to the Government, in addi-
tion, 25 per cent, of the profits. In June, 1920, ihe
Committee recommended the establishment of an Imperial
wireless system, using the thermionic valve, e^ccept at Lea-
field and Cairo, where arcs were to be employed. They
also recommended tlie appointment of a Commission to
design the stations, and that the stations should be erected
by the Post Office engineering departme>it and the corre-
sponding Dominion and Indian authorities. It is this
Commission, which met under the chainuansliip of Lord
Milner, and consisted of Dr. W. H. Eccles, Mr. L. B.
Turner, Mr. E. H. Shaughnessy, with Lt-Col. C. G.
Crawley as secretary, whose report we deal with to-day.

" Severely Technical."

The report, as Dr. Eccles remarks in an explanatory fore-
word, is of a " severely technical nature." It makes
twenty-eight pages of medium octavo, the first six of which
are taken up with preliminaries and the last sixteen with
detailed recommendations on the plant that is to be in-
stalled. In between the introduction and the conclusion

120

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

are sandwiched six pages of matter on the development of
high-power thermionic stations, the choice of wave length,
transmitting aiitieunae, masts and towers, earth screens, and
the methods of reception and the design of receiving
stations. This information, in vulgar parlance, in spite
of its " severely technical nature," is worth the money.

The Valve Advantages and Disadvantages.

Among these technical points, it is interesting to find
the statement that this countiy remains the home of
the valve and that, with the exception of a little work in
the United States, practically nothing has been done else-
M'here witli this means of high-power transmission. This
is, therefore, an eixoellent reason for using the valve, even
if the Commissioii had not been limited by the report of
Sir Henry Norman's Committee to its employment. The
chief difficulty about its application is, of coursiei, that it
has not, so far, been used for such high powers as are
specified for a Chain station, though eixperiments at Car-
narvon have been conducted at powers very nearly as high
as the 120 kW laid down. There should, therefore, be
no insupei*able difficulties to the erection of these high-
power sets, for the main disadvanage about this form of
transftnisision is the large consumption of the valves them-
selves. This point is well made in the Committee's report.
As, however, valves with replaceable filaments are now on
the market', both in silica and glass containers, the cost
of renewals should continue to fall, while the time may
soon arrive when filamenti renewals will be an operation
that can easily be accomplished by the station engineer.

From this point of view, the work that has recently been
carried out, notably by the Mullard Valve Co., with silica
vajves, is of the highest importance. For it is by the use
of either silica or metal containers, rather than in the
employment, of glass, that ultimate success is likely to be
obtained. As regards the supply of valves, there need be
no anxiety, as the number that can be turned out is already
greatly in excess of that laid down by the Committee as
being necessary for use in the Chain stations.

Station Design.

In the general design of the stations, the Commission have
wisely permitted themselves considerable latitude, so that
the power employed may, in future, bei doubled if neices-
sia,ry, and so that the aerial current may be adjusted to
suit special conditions. This, of course, is all the more
ea,sy, for the cost of the generating plant is small compared
with that required for the accessory power plant, buildings,
sites, aerials, towers, earths, and other apparatus which are
common to all systems. Extensions and developments will
also be facilitated by the standardisation of the different
parts which the Committee recommend.

Aerials, Earths, Screens, and Masts.

It is to be noted that the aerials are tO' bo supported on
steel towers and will not be directional. Counterpoise earths
or earth screens are to be used, and the main build'ing is
to be below the aerial. There is no indication that the
screens will cover the building and so reduce the losses, but
the lead-in will go from the buildings straight up to the
aerial system, thereby minimising the losses in the steel
masts and avoiding harmonics. This is satisfactory. For,
as is well known, great trouble has, in the past, been caused
by the generation of heavy currents in steel masts, a trouble
which the Commission evidently intend shall now be cir-
cumvented. As regards mast design, the Commission are
not erring on the side of caution. The masts themselves
are to^ be 250 metres high, and will be designed to take a

horizontal pull of 10 tons, with a factor of safety of 3.
Taking into consideration the wind load on the down lead
and the span of 1 300 ft., this horizontal pull should be
considerably increased. On receiving apparatus and its
pi-oblems the Commission are silent. They apparently
regard the problem of atmospheric elimination as un-
solved, but they make no recommendations, which is rather
disappointing.

The Development of the Arc System.

Referring once again to the question of systems, though,
as has been pointed out, the Commission were practic-
ally limited to a consideration of the application of rhe
valve, they have nevertheless extended the use of the
arc to the stations in East Africa and at Singapore
and Hong Kong, where combined arc-valve transmission
is to be employed. This is very wise, not the least for the
reason that, if experience proves that a mistake has been
made in recommending so wide an application of the ther-
mionic valve, retreat will be possible. In any eivont, by
giving scope for further development, competing ideas in
technical progress will not be unduly st^unted.

It isi for this reason a pity that the high-frequency alter-
nator is not to be tried, though that, of course, is not the
fault of the Commission. At any rate, the two systems,
which are to be erected in parallel, will allow the present
rather vague costs for valve provision and renewals given
in the report to be checked, and as the arc is comparatively
cheap and its performance known, it can be relied upon to
deal with the traffic as a second string, whose performance
is not far short of the first choice.

A Welcome Olive Branch.

A small, but pleasing, feature of the report is the sug-
gestion that the INIarconi Coimpany should be asked to
tender for a part of the apparatus, on the ground that
the testa at Carnarvon show them tO' be capable of building
a thermionic valve station of the size required. It is to
be hoped that this olive branch will be accepted, and that,
for the sake of technical progress, a not very edifying
chapter in wireless histoi^y wall be closed. This is the more
necessary as the enterprise, invention and hard work of the
Company in the design and manufacture of large valve
sets has put them far ahead of the Signal School, whose
report of 1919-20 disclosed an optimism which results have
not justified.

Is a Wireless Chain Advisable P

Leaving technical matters, as the Committtee do on this
particular question, it may be asked whether, in these
economical days, it is wise or even necessaiy to build such
stations at a cost to the Imperial Government of some
£853,000. Tlie existing telegraph cables, it may be
argued, are sufficient to deal with the international traffic
for many years to come, and it would therefore be better,
for both financial and technical reasons, not to go on with
this scheme for the present. "We do not agree. These
stations are long overdue. They have an immense strategic
importance, as the war amply showed. In oase of hos-
tilities they can be more easily protected and can work
with greater flexibility than a cable. In time of peace
they form a useful addition to tlie facilities which the
cables provide, and, .in addition, as Dr. Eccles has pointed
out, they will greatly aid both Press work and propagaiida
in a way which is not only of the highest importance to
political development and industrial progress, but will-tend
to assist, by bringing nations into closer contact, towards
the stabilisation of a world peace.

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

121

Electric Traction Experiences

On another page of this issue we publish an article of,
what we may be forgiven for terming, the highest interest.
In 1908 the Midland Railway Company equipped the short
length of railway between Lancaster, Morecambe and Hey-
sham on the high tension overhead single-phase system of
electric traction, principally with a view to obtaining data
regarding operation and equipment which could be applied
with confidence on a large scale. Mr. J. Sayers and INIr.
J. Dalziel, the two engineers most intimately concerned
with the construction and performance of this line, have
now taken the wise, "and, in some ways, the heroic, course
of permitting us to place on record the experiences they
have gained during the past fourteen years. We hasten to
add that the record, though inevitably one of failure, is
certainly something a great deal more — a record of

education

Improvements in Overhead Design.

When the line was equipped, the best designs and mate-
rial available at the time were used. But in the case of the
overhead equipment, fourteen years' working has shown
that the design could be improved by, for instance, abandon-
ing the original arrangements for tightening the trolley
wire by weights, by reducing the horizontal stagger over
the centre of the running rails, and by substituting for a
straight line lay out of the trolley wire in the vertical plane
a wave form which has overcome all the troubles due to
pull-off insulators and has given a greater flexibility and
absence of hard spots, points which are most desirable in
any overhead system which is to be eVaployed for high-
speed traflEio. In fact, it may be said that by these means
the great crop of troubles due to pull-off insulators, of
which we ourselves witnessed an example, has been entirely
eliminated. In appearance the new suspension is prefer-
able and it follows the curvature of the line better.

Insulator Difficulties.

, The experiences with the insulators originally employed
were not very happy. This is not, perhaps, unnatural.
The line is exposed to all varieties of gales and to a great
deal of weather, mostly bad. It is not surprising, there-
fore, that weak points soon began to be discovered,
especially in the litharge and other cements used for fix-
ing the insulators. These weaknesses arose in spite of the
careful tests that had been applied before erection. This
particular difficulty was overcome on the catenary insula-
tors by the use of insulating links in addition to the other
insulators or by the use of the Diabolo type of insulator,
both of which adaptations have proved quite satisfactory.
It is interesting to note that Mr. Sayers' view is that a
small quantity of really sound porcelain, combined with
a robust construction of the supports and fastenings, pro-
vides the best type of insulator for this purpose. There
is much virtue in these adjectives.

The greatest failures from the insulation point of view
were, however, at the pull offs, and in spite of various
attempts to improve these supports, it was at last decided
to abandon their use altogether. This was made possible
by the employment of the modified system of overhead
equipment which we have noted above.

Motor Equipment.

As regards the motor equipment, experience has been
more gratifying. It must be obvious that this equip-
ment is old, and Sir Philip Dawson's recent remarks
on improvements in single-phase motor design show
how much that connotes. Nevertheless, the equipment
D 2

has been generally satisfactory, and this paiticularly
applies to that part of it which was obtained from America.
In the German equipment it was found, on the other band,
that the lubricating system was too elaborate, and broke
down under the stress and strajn of normal working; that
the design employed cau.sed excessive bearing wear, lead-
ing to core looseness and consequent connection breakage
which gave a good deal of trouble. A series of elec-
trical troubles, consisting of short circuits between the
commutator segments, also occurred. These were finally
traced to the bad mechanical design of the commutator
quill, which was made in two halves, and so permitted the
access of dirt to the commutator. Dirt also caused in.s-ula-
tion failures on both rotor and stator windings, and this
particular defect was overcome by cementing the windings
up solid.

The Role of Dirt in Electrical Operation.
This whole chapter of accidents is an interesting com-
mentary on the part dirt plays in electrical progress, and
of the great importance of eliminating it by every possible
means. Again, resistance and connection troubles were
prevalent, passing from point to point in a most puzzling
fashion. Finally, all these difficulties were overcome by
increasing the area of contact between the commutator con-
nection lugs and the resistance strips by the use of tubular
connectors with large contact areas. The expansion of the
resistance strips owing to heat, and their subsequent
breakage, has also caused trouble. As might be expected,
vibration was another source of worry, while the brush
holder design employed has been a cause of anxiety.

Most Useful Experience.

In fairness to all parties we must add that, with,
the few exceptions noted, the Midland Railway engineers
have retained the original equipment, instead of scrapping
it, and have directed their efforts to the more useful work
of discovering improvements rather than of pro\4ding re-
placements. In the meantime design and manufacture have
moved and, especially in the case of the motors, the equip-
ment available to-day is very different from the equipment
of 1908.

Main Line Conditions.

Nevertheless the experience that ha^ been gained is of
the very greatest use, and forms a good basis for future
advances. This, we feel, applies particularly to the radical
changes made by Mr. Sayers in the overhead equipment.
It is not generally realised that the use of electric traction
on main lines will impose different and very much more
arduous conditions than those present on sections where
purely suburban traffic is dealt with. This is of the
greatest importance. For it may be predicted with a fair
degree of certainty that main line electrification means the
employment of the overhead system, and for this system
to be used at high speeds an equipment possessing the
highest degree of flexibility, both of bow and contact wire,
is essential. Though it may be argued that maximum
flexibility has not been obtained with Mr. Savers' new
system, at least it will be admitted that a great step has
been made in that direction. Our illustrations are suffi-
cient guarantees of that.

Finally, though perhaps not altogether germane to the
matter in hand, a word may be said about the generating
plant. The problem that has been overcome was not easy.
To use gas engines for such a load was, perhaps, in
slang terms, asking for trouble, but the results are at least
interesting, even if they are not likely to lead to such
wide imitation as in the case of other experiments with
which we have dealt.

122

The Electrician — February 3, 1922

Notes on Theory of Grassot Fluxmeter.

By R. B. BURRO WES.

The author in dealing with the Theory of the Grassot fluxmeter, considers such questions as the back movement of the coil to the zero position,
the non-synchronous movemmt of the coil with the flux changes, the time constant of the throw and its independence of reactance and resistance,

and proves that the energy is proportional to the square of the throw.

Movement of Coil Non-Synchronous ivith Flux Change.

If the coil could be imagined massless, so that 7=0, then
'=0 at all instants, that is, the movement of the

The Grassot fluxmeter is a moving coil, permanent magnet
instrument, with suspension control eliminated as far as
possible by suspending the coil with unspun silk. The
damping should be only electro-magnetic, other damping
being negligible. If these conditions are fulfilled the
following theory holds :

Let <}> =Flux linkage in part of circuit under test.

„ (/)„.= Permanent magnet flux linkage.

„ B == Total resistance in coil circuit.

„ / =Moment of inertia of moving coil system.

^^ g = Angular displacement of coil from zero position.

On changing </>, there is an E.M.F. in circuit -^^ and when
the coil begins to move an E.M.F. in opposite direction

~~ df'

Therefore the current round coil circuit, neglecting react-
ance E.M.F.

dt )

'B\dt

So that, assuming flux to be uniformly distributed round
annular air gap, we have :

r, . Jc/d4> dit>A

Deflectmg torque=^(^^ - ^j

where A;=a constant.

Hence we have

k/d^ _d^\_ d^
'R\dt dt )~ dp

Integrating over the period t^ when coil begins to move till
when it stops, we have : ,

I (*-*"> =i>S*=«: '1

Hence ^=<^,„.

That is change of linkage 4> is equal to the change of
permanent magnet flux linkage in coil </)m. With uniform
flux distribution in air gap, in which coil moves <;6m is propor-
tional to angular deflection 0, so that change of linkage </> is
proportional to deflection and a uniform scale is obtained.

It will be noted that accelerating torque becomes a retarding
dcf) _d(f)^ , . dW

torque when — - —
dt

changes sign, -^,

also changing sign.

The throw 6 is independent of rate of change of flux, being
proportional to absolute change ^ only, also proportional
to quantity of electricity which has passed round circuit.

The energy used up due to resistance is, however, proportional
to E.M.F. e or rate of change of flux. For example, if this
were doubled, flux change remaining the same, e is doubled
and, therefore, energy dissipated.

1 2eidt also doubled, where i= ^ = - — - .
1 it U dt

Back Movement of Coil to Zero Position.

The above explains why the coil will always return to its
zero position in time, however small the restoring couple due
to torsion of suspension ; for it has only to move back slowly
enough to reduce the E.M.F. to any degree of smallness and
consequently the energy also. When the coil returns to zero
position exactly the same quantity of electricity passes round
circuit as during its deflection, but it does so against an
extremely small E.M.F, The energy given to the circuit as
heat in this way is that due to the t<"rsion of the. suspension
when in deflected position.

d<l> d<f>„

dt dt

coil would exactly synchronise with change of flux linkage,
there being no resistance loss. Taking the other extreme
case in which the whole of the flux change takes place before
coil begins to move — that is, when acting as a ballistic galvan-
ometer— it is of some interest to compare its action with that
of an ordinary moving coil ballistic galvanometer, whose
movement is controlled by the torsion of the suspension.
Taking the latter case first, the equation of motion is given

dft

Where J= moment of inertia of moving system, k— = damping

couple, and T$ is the torsion couple of the suspension.
This motion may or may not be oscillatory, according as

T W'

positive or negative. If oscillatory, the

solution is

COb(Vj-~<+c)

dB
Neglecting the damping couple h , the equation reduces to :

whence
where c=J(

if:)-

T&^ + c

x)o= initial angular velocity of coil.

dB *

instant when B = B„i or amplitude of throw, 'T = 0, so that,

substituting these values, we have
0= - TBI + Iwl or B„

.(2)

that is, the " throw " is directly proportional to initial
angular velocity w,.

Now, taking the case of the Grassot instrument, in which
the torsion couple TO is negligible and the whole of the control

.d6

due to the damping couple I-
reduces to :

dt'

the equation of motion

Avhence

when
At the

:0. teO, f = ,

:.c=Iii

instant of maximum value
dB

B that is, when
>. (3)

amplitude B,„ is attained, — — 0 and B,„= — <
dt k

So that in this case also the throw is directly proportional
to initial angular velocity a)„.

Time Constant of Throw.

With resistance R in circuit unchanged and instrument
used in ballistic way, le., with no movement till all flux

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

12:5

change has taken place, the time taken by the throw or swing
is independent of amplitude. For equating rate at which
kinetic energy is reduced to rate at which energy is used up
in the circuit, we have :

dtl^^\dt) |~'

.(16

where e=lc — , /c= permanent magnet linkage with 6 equal to
imity.

and

dtV\dt).) R\dt)

Integrating we have

^Ri fw__^^^ where w„=initial angular velocity,
dt

d6=^e mjdt
Integrating again

BI -~t\

.(4)

may be called the time constant of the throw, the

amplitude of which is given by : ^m=-7^w„

This result has already been arrived at in (3) above, in

k^
which the h corresponds to ^ in this.

Throw Independent of Reactance.

Used in the ballistic way, the equation of E.M.F.'s in
circuit is :

d<i> ^di ^. ^

where L = inductance. Integrating over period of flux
"change <^ before motion begins we have :

(l> + Li + B

Also

Li=0. Therefore

I idt=c = 0.

quantity.

It will be noted that the energy due to electric momentum
given to the circuit while current rises is given back again

when current decreases, otherwise reactance E.M.F. L ,-

first acts against current and then with it, having only the
•effect of delaying discharge through coil. This could be
similarly proved with instrument used in non-ballistic way.

Thro^v Independent of Resistance.

This is shown by equation (1), <^ being equal to 4>,„ inde-
pendently of R. It is also shown by results (3) and (4).
This latter is not quite so apparent at first till it is noted
that initial angular velocity a)„ is inversely proportional to R,
so that the R's cancel out.

Energy Proportional to Square of Throw.

■pT

This is evident at once from the relation $„= — (,}„; for as

kinetic energy is proportional to w.^, electrical energy absorbed
is proportional to 6J. Otherwise, as both quantity and
E.M.F. are proportional to throw &,„, the time of throw^ being
constant, see result (4), electrical energy absorbed is pro-
jportional to 6J^.

Wireless Design and Practice,*

By JOHN SCOTT-TAGCiART.

The first chapter of this volume deals with oscillations,
wave-lengths, frequency, inductance and capacity, mutual
inductance, co-eflicient of coupling. Tables are given
showing the frequency which corresponds to different wave-
lengths between 100 and 40 000 metres. This sort of thing i>
spcon-feeding in its worst form, and will deter the experi-
menter from making his own calculations. Methods of
working out the ranges obtained with a variometer and
the meaning of mutual inductance are explained.
Co-efiicients of coupling, capacities in series and parallel
are next considered, and a table is given showing the
different values of capacity produced by connecting
condensers in series.

The second chapter deals with aerials. No methods are
given of calculating aerial capacities, but a practical
method is given and the formulae for finding the inductance
of coil antenna are supplied.

Chapter III. is an important one, as it discusses the
design of inductances. Various useful tables are given,
including one showing the turns per inch of different
gauges of wire with different coverings. As the wires are
given in the B. and S. gauge as used in America (whence
this book hails), this table is of no great use to British
readers. Special coils are also described, and methods of
calculating their inductance are given. Chapter IV. deals
with condensers of both the variable and fixed types.

We now come to valve detector circuits and more
descriptive matter. In the preliminary remarks we find
the statement that it is advisable to connect a grid cell in
the grid circuit of a valve fitted with a leakv grid con-
denser, " so that incoming positive charges will not be
great enough to make the grid positive." To prevent the
establishment of grid currents is to stop the cumulative
rectification effect entirely, and to use a grid cell so as to
make the grid negative is to do the worst thing possible.
With reference to the grid condenser, the author states that
"it is usually said that the grid condenser keeps the
negative charge off the grid." A saying of this kind should
be hushed up.

Oscillating valve circuits are dealt with in Chapter VI.
Figs. 19 and 20 show no telephones. Figs. 21 hJid 22 show
no grid leak (an omission which occurs in all subsequent
valve circuits). Fig. 20 is quite impossible as it stands. The
grid potential would be about + 30 volts, and the circuit
would not oscillate. The second half of the book deals
with transmitters for spark and C.W. signalling. In the
chapter on valve telephone sets several circuits are given,
but there is no attempt at proper explanation, or even
at explaining practical details. A disappointing chapter I

Things brighten up when we come to Part II. — a descrip-
tion of some eighty circuits for wireless work. But all the
valve receivers are bare of grid leaks. The choke-coil
amplifier of circuit 52 is not a very practical arrangement
for amateurs. Small variable resistances are inserted in
the filament circuit " to give a slight negative voltage to
the grid." The first one makes the first grid positive
instead of negative, while the otber two make no difference
at all to the grid potentials of the second and third valves.
The lait few circuits deal with transmitters. The spark
circuits are without blemish, but the valve transmitter
circuits will puzzle tbe beginner. Circuit 67, for example,
should have a choke coil across one of the condensers.
Circuit 69 would be improved by various practical
expedients, unnecessary batteries being eliminated. Cir-
cuit 71 will not work, as no choke is shown in the d.c.
anode circuit.

The book as a whole is good as far as the elementary
calculations are concerned, bad as far as practical instruc-
tion in circuit arrangement is concerned, and deplorable
as far as care in draTvnng the circuits is couoemed.

♦ " WiTiEi-ESS Design- \sv PRAcncE." By M. B. Sleeper.
(London : Henrv Frowde nnd Hodder & Stoughlon.) Pp. Z46.
7s. 6d.

12i

The Electrician — February 3, 1922

THE LANCASTER - MOREC AMBE - HEYSH AM

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

Some Experiences of Fourteen Years' Workinj^ with the Single-Phase Overhead System,

The Larivaster-Morecamhe-Heysham branch of the Midland Railtuay was equipped with single-phase electric traction in 1908 to obtain
experience tvhich toould be valuable in dealing with the wider problem of main line electrification. This article gives an account of the
failures and modifications which have been shown to be necessary in various parts of the apparatus during fourteen years' working. The
overhead work, insulators, bonding, generating plant and rolling stock are dealt with.

It was recently remarked in an engineering journal that one of the
handicaps of electric traction was that to be tried at all it must be
tried on a large scale, and that if it were possible to convert a system
gradually from steam to electric traction we might see greater
endeavours made to adopt this form of haulage. In this respect,
the article continued, the electrical operation of our main line rail-
ways was especially handicapped, for to form a fair guide every
experiment had to be undertaken on a scale which involved heavy
capital expenditure.

This of course is true enough, but at the same time it must not

'"fttei,

.As

(&REEN

,^s*^^ Lancaster STATION

f / .w

Details of the Line.

The line to which we refer is on the Midland Railway and comprises
the Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysham branch, that is the double roads
between Heysham and Morecambe, and Morecambe and Lancaster,
Green Ayre, certain interconnecting junctions, and the single
line from Lancaster, Green Ayre Station to Lancaster, Castle,
Station on the London and North-Western Railway. The total
length of single road is about 21 miles. The general lay-out of this
section with information regarding the curves and gradients is
given in Fig. 1. Its electrification was decided upon in 1907,

f (M

V h \ 41 »> \ 1 V I « 1

4'' / //

Pig. 1. — Plan and Diagram of Grau knts of the Electrified Portion of the Midland Railway System.

be forgotten that the results and experience which have been obtained
on the various railways now operated electrically are not without
their uses in considering the wider problem of main line electrifica-
tion. If this be not admitted we may add that there is at least
one section of railway in this country which was definitely converted
to electric traction as an experiment, that is with a view to obtaining
not immediately improved results but data regarding operation
and equipment which could be applied with confidence on a large
scale. As we shall show in this articlesome interesting results of
the highest value have been obtained.

with the aAOwed intention of obtaining experience with electrical
operation when applied to comparatively light traffic.

An Interesting Prophecy

From the beginning there was no lack of optimism as to the result.
And in this both the directorate and the officials of the Midland
Railway were before their time. For in a Paper read before the
Institution of Civil Engineers* a short time after the line was opened

* See The Electeician, Vol. LXIV., p. 22i\

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

125

by Mr. J. Dalziel and Mr. J. Saycrs, who were to a large extent therefjy U; quickly carried off while ihe main line sieam traim are
responsible for the work of conversion, it was remarked that there being loaded up. There is also a con.siderable peak traffic on
was no reason why electric traction should not be equally successful Saturday nights and at other special times between Lancaster

New Arraniement.

Dropper ^'^'"yy^^^"^'-^

Auxlliartj Wine

Fig. 2. — Elevation of New and Old Arrangements of Overhead Equipment on a Straight Stretch.

for main line passenger and goods traffic as it had at that date
been shown to be for suburban traffic. It was further argued that
for heavy traffic working over long distances electrification even in

and Morecambe, so that apart from other considerations the adoption
of electric traction on this section has meant the elimination of a
great deal of running round and shunting at these two stations.

Gantry

Insulating

New Arrang,ement.

Contact and
AtiKiliartj Wires

CatenarLj
' Wires

Catenary , Auxiliary,
and Contact Wires.

Old Arrangement

Fig. 3. — Plan of Old and New Arrangements on a Straight Stretch.

1938 offered a better solution of a problem than the only other
alternative of exten,sive widening and regrading. These arguments
are applicable a fortiori in 1922 and to that extent the Midland
Railway built better than they knew.

Reasons for Adopting the Single-Phase System.

To carry out the electrification some form of overhead system
was considered essential and as at that time the single-phase
system was the only one available it was perforce adopted. This
is one of the things that have changed, for not only have Messrs.
Dalziel and Sayers a more open mind on this question but the
experience they have obtained with the overhead equipment is
equally applicable to the standard 1 500 V direct-current system,
where overhead work is employed.

Trafjfic Conditions.

Before detailing the changes that have been found necessary
in the equipment of the line something may be said about the nature
of the traffic, as this is not Avithout influence on the results obtained.
The electric trains on this section provide a shuttle service between
Morecambe and Heysham, and a similar shuttle service between
Morecambe and Lancaster Green Ayre, with occasional trains
between Lancaster Green Ayre and Lancaster Castle Station.
The lines over which the electric trains run are also traversed by
numerous steam goods trains and by a certain number of steam
through passenger trains. Though the traffic is light in the winter
it is spread over about seventeen hours out of the twenty-four and
electric traction has therefore not only allowed of the release of
a number of steam locomotives, but has prevented the waste due
to the lengthy standing time inevitable under the old conditions.
In the summer, on the other hand, the traffic is comparatively heavy
and rather peaky owing to large numbers of passengers travelling
at one time in connection with the steamers at Heysham. To deal
with this traffic the electric trains have been found a great advantage,
for the local passengers between Heysham and Morecambe can

Some Disadvantages.

From the traffic point of ^■iew it mil be gathered that the service
is not an easy one on which to obtain good results. The engineering
difficulties in the way of (^onversion and maintenance are equally

Fig. 4.— Elevation of Old .'.nd New Arrangbxsnts on a
30 Chain Curvk.

126

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

great. Indeed, it may be said' that there was every possible
difficulty in the way of the erection of the overhead line, including
severe gradients, sharp curves and low bridges. The line is situated
in a country swept by violent gales and experiencing the worst of
weathers, so that the equipment has been thoroughly tried out in
every respect with the sole exception that it has not been possible
to discover the efiect on the overhead equipment of combined
steam and electric traction through tunnels.

The Paper by Messrs. Dalziel and Sayers to which we have
referred and the articles which we published in The Electrician
of June 12, 19, and 26, 19J8, give a detailed account of the original

Contact Wire.

Turning to the overhead equipment, the contact wire originally
used was of figure 8 section and was run in lengths of from
800 to 1 000 yds. It consisted of the equivalent of a 000 SWG
copper conductor and was of 70 sq. mm. sectional area. One end
of each length of the contact wire was fixed through insulators to a
terminal gantry, the other being attached through pulleys and other
gear to a weight equal to about 1 200 lb. The fixed end of this
arrangement was always that at which the train entered the section
and the weighted end that at which the train left, the idea being
that the tendency of the bow would be to straighten the contact

New Arrangement.

Gantrcj

Ca tenary
Wires

Contact and
Au>iiliarLi Wires

Dropper

Catenary, Auxiliary,
and Contact Wires.

Old Arrangement.
Fig. 5. — Plan of Old and New Aebangements of Overhead Equipment on a 30 Chain Curve.

equipment of the line. It is the purpose of this article to indicate
the changes which have since been found necessary in accordance
with the experience of intervening years.

Overhead Equipment.

The overhead construction originally used is shown in detail in
the ^'accompanying dramngs and photographs (Figs. 2 to 7).
^As regards collection, the employment of a single collecting
bow for travelling in both directions necessitated the bow being
symmetrical about the centre line of the coach and consequently
only a very small clearance between the bow and the structure

wire. The original weight used was equal to about 800 lb. with a
horizontal stagger of 4 ft., i.e., 2 ft. from the centre line of the
coach, but in the experimental trials which were made for a period
of some months before the line was opened it was found necessary
to increase the tension to that mentioned above for lengths of trolley
wire up to 1 000 yds. in length and to reduce the stagger to 2 ft. The
latter reduction was principally necessary owing to the exposure of
the line to the worst of weathers, and even Avith the reduced stagger
there have been occasions when the line has been blown out and kept
some distance from its position of repose by the violence of the gale.
Another reason for increasing the tension was to remove the

Fig. 6. — The Old (Left) and JJaw (Right) Construction compared at an Overbridge Crossing.

of the bridge was permissible. In fact, to obtain sufficient clearance
it was necessary to take the contact wire well out towards the centre
of the bridge arches, so that it came down quite low, though clear
of the loading gauge, in order that the other side of the bow might
clear the structure properly. It is interesting to note that the
clearances actually used are less than those recommended hy the
Advisory Committee on Electric Traction on Railways, and no
trouble has been experienced. Such practice is not of course
recommended as one to be followed, but where there are numerous
low bridges it 's inevitable (see Fig. G).

numerous small kinks which occurred in the trolley wire, especially
on the more exposed sections between Heysham and Morccambe.

Tightening Arrangements Abandoned.

Generally speaking, however, the tighteniiig arrangements were
found to be unsatisfactory. For weighting the contact wre
in the way described gives a pull all in one direction, tending
both to tighten and elongate it. Tiie friction over the pulleys
and at the auxiliary loops and pull-otf fittings also overcame
any tendency of the weights to rise \nth a decrease in temperature.

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

127

while as the contact wire wore the tension of course increased
instead of decreasing, as would have been more desirable.

To overcome these difficulties, in April, 1910 an improved pulley
arrangement was fixed at the weighted end of one section, and all the
auxiliary loops and pull off fittings in that section were lubiicated
with vaseline. With this arrangement the weights did actually rise
and fall with temperature variations, but it soon became evident
that to maintain the movement satisfactorily all points where
friction occurred would have to be lubricated periodically. For
labour and other reasons this was considered impracticable, and it
was therefore decided to abolish the weighting apparatus and to
anchor the contact wire at both ends, an operation which was
successfully carried out between June and October, 1913.

It may be mentioned that only a very small wear of the contact
wire has been observed, and though it has been in use over fourteen
years it has apparently still several years of life. The only trouble,
a minor one, that has been experienced with this part of the installa-
tion is an accumulation of rust at the contact wire clips, though

wire. These loops are rigidly fixed to the contact wire, but arc
movable along the auxiliary wire.

Catenary Details.

The auxiliary wire, which consists of a 7/13 .steel flexible cable, ia
hung from two main catenary cables, of which there are two, at five
points in each span, as can be seen from the illustrations reproduced
herewith. The.se catenary cables, which each consist of 7/13 steel
wires, are clipped together throughout their whole length except for
about 3 ft. on either .side of the insulator, where they divide to pa.H.s
through the giooves of a ring on opf^osite sides of the i: ' •
The catenary is. therefore, free to move for this distance, so •
the stresses in the spans due to unequal loading. At the .-,wjj. uiu..-
everything is .secure should a wre break. All these wires were
treated with hot red paint before erection and no trouble has been
experienced from corrosion. Section switches are pro\-ided so as
to isolate the lengths into which the up and down lines are divided.
These switches are of the double-break air pattern, and are fixed on

FiQ. 7. — The Old (Left) and New (Right) Construction compared on a Straight Stretch with Normal Height Poles.

this has no1> accumulated in sufficient quantity to prevent smooth
running.

Pull-Off Difnculties.

As mentioned above, it was soon found that the 4 ft. stagger
of the contact wire over the track was too great, for even during the
experimental runs several cases occurred of the bow running off
the wire owing to the oscillation of the cars and the wind pressure.
It was also found that the arrangement of the puU-offs on alternate
gantries did not counteract these factors sufficiently to allow the
wiring to be adequately held. The stagger was therefore reduced,
as mentioned above, and as an additional precaution the pull-off
insulators were fixed at every gantry in the manner shown in Fig. 7.
Since this modified arrangement has been in use there has only been
one instance of the bow running off the wre, and this was due to
the combined effect of a gale and a loose joint. Experience, in
fact, shows that with a stagger not exceeding 2 ft. and the upward
tension of the bow limited, the line is held by the pull-otTs
sufficiently satisfactorily to eliminate such occurrences entirely.
The height of the contact wire from rail level varies from 18 ft. 3 in.
in the open to 13 ft. 3 in. under the bridges. It is suspended by
short loops about 4 in. long from a steel cable, known as the auxiliary

the top of the poles supporting the gantries. Each section switch is
in addition duplicated, the connection from one contact wire to the
section ahead of it being accomplished through a short section
of s-ndtch Avire which is connected by a choke coil and lightning
arrester -n-ith a f in. gap to the two contact ^vires (one in each section)
before the line is s^-itched through at this point. This arrangement
was adopted to obtain a duplicate break as well as a short length
of line into which the car could run without thereby bridging the
tM^o sections whicli it was required to isolate. The run-off from
one section to the other is accomplished in a " three-pole " length
of track by gradually curving away and raising the old wire and at
the same curving in and lowering tlio new wire.

The section switches are provided with padlocks, as are the
switches at the station, which enable the contact wire to be earthed
in case of emergency. A certain amount of trouble has been caused
by the air break insulators used on these switches. The first failure
of the insulators occurred in April, 19J9, about a year after the line
opened, and since then there has been a nimiber of others. The
trouble in everv case has been due to the cement used for fastening
the caps on to "the insulators. This cement consisted of a mixture
of sulphur and ground glas.-*. A further weak point that soon became
apparent in the design of these insiUators was that owing to the

128

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

blow caused by opening and shutting the s-ndtch falling upon the
neck of the insulator the porcelain soon fractured. These
difficulties were overcome by providing additional insulators so as
to obtain a double insulation, and by giving a greater strength
to the parts. There have been no failures since this was done
twelve years ago.

Insulator Troubles.
As might be expected, the principal trouble experienced with the
line equipment has been in connection with the various insulators
emploj'ed. The insulators originally used were specially manu-
factured for the company and were tested very severely, but even
before installation they were not found entirely satisfactory. The
steel bolts supporting these insulators were incased with ebonite, the
idea being to obtain practically double insulation with one insulator.
The insulators themselves were also made in two portions so as to
give as massive construction as possible. It was claimed for this
design and its use with a twin catenary cable, that it would bring
the side strain of the overhead gear below the level of the inside
bolt and that as there was no bend at which the catenary cable

up to the present time, i.e., for twelve years. Experience in this
connection goes to show that a small quantity of really sound
porcelain, combined wth a robust construction of the supports
and fastenings, forms the best insulator for a high tension line.

An alternative means of improving the insulation was tried
on the Lancaster-Morecambe section of the line, where the arrange-
ment was adopted of replacing the original insulators by those of
the Diabolo type, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. These, too, have
given very satisfactory results, and there have been no troubles or
failures of any kind with them since their erection in August, 1910.

Pull-Off FaUures.

Perhaps, however, the gi'catest trouble, and certainly the most
interesting way of overcoming it, has been in connection \vith the
pull-off insulators. The first failure -with these insulators occurred
in February, 1911, when one of them broke down electrically during
a heavy rain storm. This failure has been followed bj- many
others. Experience indicates that the bursting, which has frequently
occurred, is due to the absorbent nature of the litharge and gh^cerine

Fig. 8. — The New Construction on a 24 Chain Curve.

itself was deformed by the pressure of any clamp there was no
point at which the mechanical waves would tend to break the wire
at a point of reflection. In other words, the idea of eliminating
(o the fviUest possible extent anything in t'ui way of hard spots
on the contact wire was carefully kept in view.

In spite, however, of the care taken in the choice and manufacture
of these catenary insulators, trouble soon began to occur. In
December, 19.8, the first insulator failure took place with one of
these insulators breaking down electrically and earthing the line.
Daring the two following months four similar failures occurred.
In every case these faults were found to be due to the absorbent
nature of the litharge cement employed by the manufacturers for
fastening the croWn on to the main insulator. With i view to over-
coming this trouble, as much as possible of tlie litharge was
removed. The insulator was then halved and bitumen poured in.
The whole of the catenary insulators on the line had been so treated
in this way by the end of 19^9.

In spite of this, however, the failures continued, until between
May and September, 1910, steps were taken to improve matters
on the Heysham-Morecambe section by providing additional
insulators, known as catenary insulating links, on each side of all
the main insulators. This arrangement proved successful, and there
have been no further failures in connection with these insulators

cement employed for fastening the metal caps on to the insulators,
owing to the expansion of the cement causing a frjieture of the
porcelain.

Here, again, great success was obtained with two insulators
of the Diabolo type which were fixed on poles near Morecambe
as early as 1 9^ 9. These are still in use, and have given no trouble
whatever. In August, 1914, a white spool and strain pull-oft'
insulator was fixed as an experiment on the up line near ]\Iorecambe.
As this experimont proved successful, similar insulators were fixed
on a number of other gantries.

In February, 191G, experiments were also made with a loop
type of insulator. This insulator also behaved satisfactorily
for some time, but in March, 1918, a hea\y discharge was observed
across it, at a time when it was covered with snow. It was then
found that though three of the insulators forming it were broken
there was still sufficient insulation available to prevent a break-
down of the line. The faulty insulators were replaced by others
of the same pattern, but since then further failures have occurred
and in 1920 the u.se of this pattern of insulator was abandoned.

Mechanical Failures.

In connection -with the type of pulloff insulator originally
installed there have been four cases of the shank becoming detached

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

129

from the back of the insulator and hanging foul of the loading gauge,
being suspended from the contact wire by means of the pull-off
pipe. The shanks of these insulators were fastened by means of
led load, raw linseed oil and tow, and it seems that the faults were
cauw'd by the leakage current burning the tow and so loosening the
holding.

A Bold Step.

To overcome this trouble the shanks of a number of pull-ofis
were fixed into the insulators by a black cement, consisting of smithy
ashes, resin and sand. This cement has proved quite satisfactory.
Nevertheless, it has not been entirely tried out as the constant
trouble caused by these pull-off insulators encouraged the bold
st(!p of dispensing with them entirely and of regulating the position
of the contact wire over the track by staggering the catenary
insulator positions as shown in Figs. 2 to 8 which give an
interesting comparison of the old and new methods of suspension.
In the new arrangement the contact wire is held upright by means
of adjustable struts attached to special auxiliary loops and contact
wire clips. This method of suspension was first introduced on the
down line between Morecambe and Heysham at a time when it was
temporarily out of use during the war. Since it has been in opera-
tion the numerous tension tests that have been made show that
it compares favourably with the old methods in all conditions of
weather. Trouble due to pull-off insulators is entirely eliminated ;
in appearance the new suspension is preferable as the contact wire
follows' the curvature of the line and hard spots are non-existent.
This type of suspension is now in use throughout on the down line
between Torrisholme Junction and Heysham, and on the up and
down lines between Heysham and Torrisholme, as well as between
Lancaster Green Ayre Station and Lancaster Castle. It has given
entire satisfaction. It may be added that with this type of suspen-
sion there is very little tension, as even on the curves pull does
not exceed 10 lb., there is no danger of running off and smooth
running is ensured.

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 show the type of construction employed on
curves and under bridges respectively. These are mainly self-explana
tory. Under bridges the change in height of the trolley wire from the
standard to that necessary to permit the passage of the bridge is
effected in a *• four pole " length, the gradient of the wire being usually
about 1 in 100. The contact wires under steel bridges are pro-
tected by fire-proofed wood shields which extend 2 ft. beyond the
bridge structiire and slide into fire-proofed soft wood runners. This
prevents damage from articles being dropped on the equipment
from above, though as an experience at Lancaster showed, it is
possible for a weighty human being to fall on the overhead equip-
ment without the latter being injured.

It may be added that the original puU-offs are still used under the
bridges and on curves, where special endeavours have been made
to render the change in direction as easy as possible. As a means
of protection from damage, gauges IG ft. 9 in. high are provided
at all the level crossings, of which there are a number on the line, to
prevent loads which would otherwise come in contact with the over-
head equipment being taken across the line.

{To he concluded.)

Progress in Industrial Research.

The Quarterly Review issued by the British Electrical and
Allied Industries Research Association contains a record of
the progress made during the past few months in the important
research work conducted by this body. The work of the Association
is carried out by Committees, each dealing with a different section
of the work ; these sections now number eleven.

Fibrous Insulating Materials.

Section A (Fibrous Insulating Materials) covers research on
fabrics (untreated and treated), papers, fibres and boards, varnishes,
&c. Specifications of the methods to be adopted in investigating
varnished fabrics have been drafted. The clauses covering
mechanical tests are now under experimental proof ; but the develop-
ment of tests for electric strength has indicated the desirability of a
wider series of tests applicable to all materials Avith a fibrous base,
and even of a series of tests standardised for every kind of insulating
material. The study of untreated papers has yielded results sliortly
to be published as a document covering the methods of examination
and the definitions of the materials and terms employed. Specifica-
tions have also been drafted for tlie study of pressboard, vulcanised
fibre, varnish board, etc., and are undergoing experimental
verification ; a full report of these researches is in preparation.

New work in section B (Composite Insulating Materials) includes
the formation of ti committee for research in varnishes ; the
co-operation of all having special knowledge of this subject is invited.
A comprehensive publication has been prepared of the test methods
developed by the Association for the investigation and improvement
of composite insulating materials. The publication includes a
complete series of mechanical {e.g. tool wear and chipping tests)

and electrical tests, with the exception of te«t8 for infl^"" ^-V-nity,
flash point, fire rf^istance, dielectric loss*^, action of -rid

surface breakdown. These are still under consider;; j;:h

in some cbhcm the researches have reached the rejKjrt ^xavc. The
Committee of Section C (Porcelain) reports the completion of
arrangements for porcelain research at Manchester UniverHity and
the National Physical J>aboratory.

Mica and Micanite.

The results of the work done by Section i> on Mua an<i .'»ii. .iriH<-
for commutators and condensers will shortly l>e available ar a
report. In the course of this work there has been found a general
lack of physical data concerning certain features, and this led to the
institution of a research on fundamental constants, and the examina-
tion of .he particular characteristics of certain micas. Arrangements
have also been made for the pubhcation of data obtained by the
E.ll.C. The manufacture of micanite is under consideration, and
co-operation is invited from manufacturers and u.sers.

Insulating Oll§.

The specification for insulating oils, prepared by section E and
already submitted to the B.E.S.A., has met with substantial
approval, and a final draft is under consideration. The researchets.
on the electric strength and resistivity of insulating oils include the
deterioration of oils by foreign matter, water, and products of arcing ;
particular interest is involved in the use of centrifugal apparatus in
this research. Work still continues on thermal transference, specific
and latent heats, i c. (at the N.P.L.), and on the action of cataljrsers
and the analysis of deposits.

In Section F (conductors) the intermittent and overload ratings of
buried cables continue to receive attention, the data collected from
power-station engineers being included for analysis. Recommenda-
tions have been drafted dealing with the ratings of cable used on
ships. The research on overhead fines has progressed as far a.s.
deflection and performance tests of standard " A " and " H "' poles,
inserted to various depths. In this research, the records were made
with the aid of a cinema camera, which enabled a detailed examina-
tion of the behaviour of the poles to be made at leisure. This
research is in the report stage, and the tests of long overhead lines
are being pushed.

Electric Control Apparatus.

Section G (Electric Control Apparatus) deals with the phenomena
of switching and arcing, mining switchgear, heavy-duty fuses, d.c.
circuit breakers, and the resistivity of joints and contracts. The
investigation of the phenomena of switching and arcing has involved
as a preliminary the determination of the short-circuit characteristics
of a large alternator at Carville Power Station, the development of
devices for predetermining the instant at which a circuit is made or
broken, and special apparatus for control of the power factor and
energy flow. An adjustable switch has been designed and constructed.
Pending the completion of arrangements on the site of the test, there
has been made a survey of all available data on switching and
arcing.

The tests on mining switchgear deal chiefly with the pressures
developed in closed chambers ,' satisfactory workshop tests have
been devised. The investigations on heavy-duty fuses have pro-
gressed, with the aid of tests on a large battery under short circuit
conditions, to a point where test methods can be formulated. It vet
remains to test makers' samples, of aa hich a complete set has been
collected. Preliminary te«ts of d.c. circuit breakers have disclosed
unexpected difficulties in tue determination of the physical constants
of shorted circuits. When these have been overcome, it is hoped
to secure the loan of apparatus suitable for large-scale tests, failing
which it will be necessary to fall back upon the special apparatus
built for the researches on SAAitching and arcing.

Synthetic Resins.

A close study' has been made by the committee of Section K of
the whole question of the production in this country of sjTithetic
resins. The scope of this work includes plans for the supply and
production of raw materials, for test methods, and the collection of
samples for tests. A report is expected shortly.

The activities of Section L, formed to deal with dielectrica in
general, have resulted in an extensive progra:'ime of research on
dielectric losses to be carried out in co-operation with the N.P.L.
This will commence with observations at low voltages and at low
and audio frequencies, and will later proceed to the development of
test methods for high voltages and radio frequencies. The experi-
mental work on the thermal resistivity of dielectrics in sheet form is
proceeding; test methods for built-up iusidation have been developed
and ace to be used in investigating various methods of construction.

The researches on condenser corrosion and on turbines, carried out
in co-operation with other research associations, have reached the
report stage. The report on the corrosion of metals is a most
valuable resume of the several years' investigations, and should go
far to remove much of the guess-work hitherto inevitable in
condenser maintenanoo and design.

130 The Electrician — February 3, 1922

Imperial Wireless Telegraphy — A Technical Report.

The report of the Wireless Telegraphy Commission ivhich, in accordance with the suggestion of the Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee,
was appointed in 19i0 to make recommendations regarding the sites and apparatus for the stations of the Imperial Wireless Chain, contains a
great deal of interesting information on technical wireless matters. It includes a discussion of the development of high-power thermionic sets,
the cost of valve renewa's, the choice of wave length, transmitting antennce, masts and towers, the methods of recejMion and the design of
receiving stations. Detailed recommendations for the equipment of the various stations in the Imperial Chain are also given.

by means of thermionic stations of less than 30 kW input at Clifden,
Ireland, and at Glace Bay, Canada. In Central Europe the
Telefunken Company have erected plants of about the same power
at two stations. In the United States of America the development
appears to have been confined principally to the laboratories, and
the Commission have no information regarding the commercial
working of large thermionic stations.

The Commission visited the Carnarvon station of the Marconi
Company and took part in trials of the largest thermionic set yet
constructed, t It is an assemblage of forty- eight glass valves and is
capable of working with an input of about 100 kW. This is
approaching the order of magnitude laid down by the Imperial
Wireless Telegraphy Committee. The set was overloaded at the
trials until the input was about 1 50 kW. The trials, which were of
short duration, were very successful and included the transmission
of messages across the Atlantic (of which receipt was acknowledged
by wireless) and the transmission of messages to Australia and
India during what are known to be the best hours of the day for
reception in those parts of the globe. The engineers of the Marconi
Company have spent much time and great ingenuity in building
up this set, and the Commission are confident that they would now
be able to erect a set fulfilling the minimum requirements laid
down by the Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee.

Choice of Wavelength.

Into the problems of choice of wavelength two factors enter,
the international and the physical. The former factor was
discussed in Paris at a meeting of the representatives of the Govern-
ments of the AlUed and Associated Powers. This international
aspect of the matter has been borne in mind by the Commission
in the formulation of their recommendations.

The physical factors in the choice of wavelength have been
closely studied, both theoretically and experimentally, and by
means of accumulated records. Mr. Turner spent September in
Egypt observing the legibihty of prearranged signals despatched
from the Admiralty station at Horsea. For this purpose a thermi-
onic set of about 30 kW input was used to emit a series of signals at
various wavelengths at all hours of the day and night upon selected
days. The conclusion is that for distances such as those in the
links of the Imperial Chain the best signals are those obtained at
night by the use of relatively short waves, while the best day signals
are those using long waves. The month of the trials is one of the
worst months of the year for atmospheric disturbances in Egypt.

Transmitting Antennas, Masts and Tow^ers.

The choice of an antenna for a new type of transmitter lies between
low antennae of great area and high antennae of smaller area. In
the case of thermionic oscillators, where plant large enough for the
task is being made with diflficulty, the high antenna of relatively
small area is preferable. The preference is independently supported
by a deeper study of the better wave-making properties of high as
compared with low antennae. From the nature of the thermionic
oscillator, moreover, it can be shown that a symmetrical antenna
is more suitable than an unsymmeirical one, whether a low or a
high antenna is concerned.

The masts or towers used for supporting the antenna constitute
the most costly item of a wireless station, and unless properly
designed they affect and cause great loss of oscillatory energy
generated. The ideal mast Mould be built of insulating material ;
wooden structures are an approximation to the ideal, but are
unsuitable for the tropics. Steel structures are conductors, and
cause considerable electrical loss. A great deal of this loss can be
avoided by making the mast or tower in sections with insulating
portions and standing the mast on an insulating base. There are
some mechanical difficulties in this mode of construction, but they
do not greatly affect the capital cost, and may be regarded as
subsidiaiy detail. The above remarks apply alike to self-supporting
towers and to masts supported by guys, the guys also being
segmented by insulators in the latter case. The cost of masts is
much less than that of towers.

It is recommended that earth screens and emergency receiving
gear and operating apparatus should be installed at all stations.

Method of Reception and Design of Receiving Stations.

A number of alterimtive types of apparatus and several types of
receiving anteinia; were tested in Egypt by signals from Horsea,
Leaficld and other European stations. The Commission visited the
Towj'n receiving station of the Marconi Company and saw a demon-
stration of Mr. FrankUn's double directional antenna. The
demonstration proved nothing as regards the performance of this

t See The Electrician, Vol. LXXXVIL, p. 714.

The Wireless Telegraphy Commission, which was appointed by
the Cabinet on Dec. 23, 1920, has issued its report (Cmd. 1 572).
The Commission consisted of Lord Milner (chairman), Dr. W. H.
Eccles (vice-chairman), Mr. L. B. Turner and Mr. E. H.
Shaughnessy, with Lieut. -Col. C. G. Crawley as secretary. It was
appointed as the result of a recommendation by the Imperial
Wireless Telegraphy Committee, 1919-20, that the stations of the
Imperial wireless chain should be planned by a wireless Commission
of four members, and its terms of reference were to decide on the
wireless plant most suitable for carrying out the scheme of Imperial
wireless communications recommended by the Imperial Wireless
Telegraphy Committee, 1919-20,* to make recommendations
regarding the actual sites for the stations proposed by that
committee, and to advise generally on the prejiaration of specifica-
tions for machinery and apparatus, the making of contracts, and
the construction of the stations. Its contents are of the highest
technical interest.

Development of High-Power Thermionic Sets.

The report begins by pointing out that the Imperial Wireless
Telegraphy Committee recommended that the thermionic trans-
mitter should be capable of dehvering at least 120 kW to the
antenna and that double this power appears to be within the
bounds of possibihty at an early date. As regards progress in these
matters at home, the work of the Admiralty is especially notable ;
at the Signal School, Portsmouth, very large silica valves have
been constructed and used. Every effort has been made by the
Admiralty to hasten the estabhshment of an industry for the manu-
facture of these valves. At the present date the 2 S kW silica valves
are being produced at the rate of about four or five per week.

In order to equip a tj^pical Chain station with silica valves, about
twenty-four would be required to deliver 120 kW to the aerial.
The annual consumption of valves by such a set working twenty-
four hours every day without cessation would be between 36
and 108 per station. Thus, on the basis of incessant operation, eight
Chain stations would consume between 288 and 864 valves per
annum. The silica valve industry is only gradually approaching
the condition of being able to cope with the possible demands of the
Chain stations over and above those of the Admiralty and other
services.

If glass valves be used instead of silica about four times as many
would be needed for equipment and renewals. In round numbers,
between 1 080 and 3 240 glass valves would probably be required
per annum by the Chain stations if all were to operate continuously. '
There is reason to beUeve that this demand could be met.

Cost of Valve Renewals.

The most important aspect of this question is the cost of valve
renewals. Glass valves cost about £15 each. The above rates of
renewal of glass valves may cost, therefore, between £2 025 and
£6 075 per annum per station. The silica valves cost about £60
each, and the expenditure upon renewals would therefore be between
£2 160 and £6 480 per annum per station. It is claimed, however,
that burnt filaments can be renewed in either glass or silica valves at
small cost, and that the above estimates of costs of renewal of
silica valves can thus be materially reduced. These claims have
not yet been tested practically by anv large user. In all cases, it
should be emphasised, estimates of tha consumption of valves will
be profoundly affected by the care taki^n in manufacture, and by
the absence or presence of skilled attention during use.

The above estimates of the cost of renewals relate to the method
of operation in which high voltage direct-current generators are
employed. If alternating current were used the initial capital
outlay on machinery would be greatly reduced, but the cost of valve
renewals would be increased by 50 per cent, for the silica valves
and by about 66 per cent, for the glass valves. The estimates are
based upon an average filament life of from 6 000 to 2 000 hours,
which can reasonably be expected to be achieved in the course of
valve development.

Apart from the problem of manufacture of the valves, the problem
of assembling them as thoroughly practical telegraphic transmitters
remains. The Commission is collaborating with the Admiralty
upon this problem. A set of valves which is designed to utilise
67 kW is now being erected at Signal School on the Commission's
responsibility.

The Work of the Marconi Company.

Besides the Admiralty, the Marconi Company have in this
country been very active in the development of large thermionic
sets. They hat^e established commercial traffic across the Atlantic

* ^fee The Electrician, Vol. LXXXV., p. 42, July 2nd, ly20.

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

l.'U

apparatus under the tropical conditions of many of the Chain
stations, and an examination of the apparatus tends to confirm the
opinion that it has no anti-atmospheric merits other than those
possessed by various forms of directive apparatus.

The Arrangemeat of Receiving Posts.

The Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee recommended
that each station of the Chain should be one-way duplex, but it
would seem that better use of the plant could be made if each station
were provided with as many receiving posts as there are stations
with which it will communicate ; and, further, that each of the
Egyptian stations should be assumed to communicate with both
East Africa and India. Such an arrangement is quite feasible and
offers the following advantages : — (1) Until the routes are fully
loaded it allows of improved working during periods when the
flow of traffic in one direction is greater than in the other direction ;
(2) during periods when bad atmospheric conditions prevail at one
station and not at the adjacent stations the one station can be
sending to either of the others, and when the good reception period
at the one station comes the time lost can to some extent be made
up by receiving from all adjacent stations at once.

For economy of staffing and for traffic reasons it is highly desir-
able that all the receiving posts of one station shall be situated
together. At each of the non-terminal stations, therefore (Egypt,
East Africa, India, Singapore), the receiving posts should be grouped
together at one spot, distant 20 to 40 miles from the transmitting
station. In Egypt, East Africa and India, where the routes diverge
through much less than a right angle, the line joining the trans-
mitting site to the receiving site should be approximately perpen-
dicular to the average direction of the signalling routes at the
station ; but at Singapore, where the branch to Hong Kong is nearly
perpendicular to the average India-Singapore- Australia route, the
receiving site should be situated approximately on the line joining
Singapore to Hong Kong. In South Africa and Hong Kong the
receiving site should preferably be situated 20 to 40 miles from the
transmitting site approximately on the signalling route. In
England the receiving post of the new station should preferably be
placed with the existing receiving post at Panbury. In general the
receiving site should be chosen so as to comprise a central plot,
250 yds, by 50 yds. for the operating building, and two other
plots, 220 yds. square, each suitable for containing a mast 300 ft.
high, about 550 yds. from the central plot and on opposite sides of
it. The general direction of the three plots should lie along the
average direction of the signalling route.

Atmospheric Disturbance.

Experience recently gained in England and Egypt has shown
that atmospheric interference may be markedly reduced by each of
three distinct methods, which may be referred to as : (a) Atmospheric
balancing, (h) limiting, (c) barraging. Designs are in progress for
applying all these simultaneously in Egypt. If the benefits obtain-
able justify the expenditure, the other stations of the Chain can be
similarly equipped in due course.

The Windhuk Station.

The Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee recommended
(1920) the use of the ex- German Windhuk station as the South
African terminal station of the Chain, being under the impression
that Windhuk was adequately connected by land lines with the
pohtical and commercial centres of the Union. Later information
put before the Commission has shown that new land lines would
be required, and that the maintenance of these lines would be
costly. Under these circumstances, the Commission drew up a
meniorandum upon the possibility of erecting an entirely new
station near Johannesburg as the terminal station of the African
chain. The capital outlay would be greater than that needed for
the adaptation of Windhuk, but the cost of maintenance would
be less, much retransmission of messages would be avoided, and
better conditions for the staff could be provided.

Buildings.

The advantages of a symmetrical antenna have been referred
to above. In order to ensure symmetry, the buildings for housing
the transmitting plant should be placed at the centre of the trans-
mitting site. In general, there will be a boiler house, an engine
room and a high frequency room, together with workshops and an
emergency operating room ; but when power can be drawn from an
outside supply the boiler house is not required. In view of the
recommendations of the Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee it
is inaportant to plan the buildings in such a way that the boiler house,
engine room and high frequency room can each be extended easily.
The form adopted in this Report is a very economical one ; it consists
of two or three equal bays, as the case may be, in parallel formation,
with panelled ends, each lighted from the roof, which may be of
sawtooth type. The buildings may be oriented in any direction
appropriate to the locality.

General Recommendations.

The Commission recommend that : —

(I) The transmitting stations in England, Canada, Australia,

the Union of South Africa, India and Egypt Fhs equipped with
thermionic valve plant in the manner described in detail below.
But in view of the amount of skilled attention demanded bv thw
plant in its present stage of development, and having re^/ard to the
isolated nature of the stations in East Africa, SingajKjre and Hong
Kong, these three stations should be equipped for combined arc-
valve transmission ; the arcs alone should be installed immf,-<iiately
and the thermionic valve plant should be added after practice has
become standardised.

(2) Ea-h transmitting station shouJd be capable of working with
either of two wavelengths as may be appropriate to the time of day
and the atmospheric conditions.

(3) Each receiving centre should be provided with antennae
and apparatus sufficient for working simultaneously with the other
stations normally communicating with it, and all the receiving and
operating apparatus should be in one ai.d the same building.

DETAILED TECHNICAL RECO.MMENDATIONS.

England : Transmitting Station.

(4) Masts. — The masts should be of steel, each 250 ra high, guyed
three ways with six concrete anchorages, both masts and guys
insulated in sections, and designed to take a horizontal pull of
10 tons at the top and a wind load of 60 lb. per sq. ft. with a factor
of safety of 3. Four masts should be erected, one at each comer
of a square not exceeding 400 m. side. The site should allow of
extension of the antenna by the addition of two masts at each end,
and the whole area available should therefore be about 1 mile by
J mile.

(5) Antenna. — The anteima should be designed so as to reduce
corona to a minimum, and should be especially highly insulated.
Its electrical capacity should be about one-foitieth of a microfarad.

(6) Earth Screen. — The earth screen should be a series of copper
wires radiating from the centre of the site to its edges, and supported
at not less than 8 ft. from the ground by insulators.

(7) Antenna Tuning Coil. — The tuning coil should be designed
for an antenna current of 500 A, provided with tappings for tuning
the antenna to wavelengths between 3 000 m and 16 000 m. I he
high frequency resistance of the part in use should not exceed
\ ohm at the corresponding frequency.

(8) Thermionic Valve Set (provided in duplicate). — A thermionic
valve set capable of delivering at least 120 kW of high-frequency
power to the antenna, with the necessary connexions to the antenna
coil, with control gear and protective devices in the anode and
filament circuits, with grid leaks and condensers, relay and hand
keys, air-piping for valves and keys, compressor and instruments,
all connected up. The set should be capable of sub-di\ision in
stages so that a convenient fraction of the total power may be
taken to the antenna at will. It should also be capable of extension
until 240 kW^ can be delivered to the antenna. Current may be
supplied either from high voltage d.c. machines (10 000 to 12 000 V)
or by rectifying alternating current ; tenders will show which is
preferable from the point of view of economy.

The set should be guaranteed with respect to constancy of wave-
length, purity of wave, overall efficiency at each wavelength and
average cost of renewals. It must be capable of transmitting
continuously at hand speed and at ninety words per min. at full
power, for reception at 2 500 miles.

The Marconi Company to Tender.

It is suggested that the Marconi Company be invited to ttnder
for the apparatus recommended under the headings " earth screen,"
" Antenna Tuning coil " and " thermionic valve set.'' If their
quotation should not be acceptable, thermionic plant. &c., could
be designed by the Commission after the conclusion of the work
now being undertaken at Horsea, erected in England, tested, and
proved designs recommended to the Domuiions and to India.

(9) Pouer Supply and Electrical Machincnj. — For the generation
of the electrical power supply water-tube boilers, burning oil or coal,
should be used. The requirements are : — Three water-tube boilers,
each evaporating 7 000 lb. or two each evaporating 10 000 lb. of
water per hour, with superheaters and economisers. pipe work,
water softeners, feed-pump, together with condensers and cooling
plant ; *two 250 k^^' turbo alternators, three-phase. 50 cycles.
3 000 Y between phases ; *two 250 kW three-phaj?e transformers,
giving 15 000 \' ; two turbines, each driving one 50 kW d.c. machine.
220 \, and *one 30 kW d.c. machine, 20 V. and high and low tension
switch gear. The alternative mentioned in Recommendation (Si
would require the substitution of the following two items for the
three items marked with an asterisk : Two 2tX) kW steam-driven
sets giving 10 (XK) to 12 000 V d.c, and t wo ilOkW sets giving 20 V d.c.
Later extensions would be one boiler, one turbo-alternator (or one
200 kW, 10 000 to 12 0(X> V d.c. set), one transformer, one 20 k^V
20 V d.c. set, one d.c. turbo-generator, switch gear. Ac.

(10) Buih^ings. — The transmitting station buildings should be at
the centre of the site. They comprise the sections mentioned in
paragraph 28. A travelling crane is required in the boiler-house
and the engine-room.

(11) Emergency Receiving Gear and Operating Apparatiis. —

132

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

The emergency arrangements should comprise a small aerial, a
receiving set of the Post OflSce pattern, perforators, automatic
transmitters aiid recording apparatus.

Receiving Station for Duplex.

(12) The receiving station should be situated at Banbury, and
be provided with two sets of apparatus similar to that being installed
at Banbury for the Leafield-Abu Zabal link of the Chain, but supple-
mented by limiting apparatus. Details appear in paragraph 19. As
soon as Canada enters the Chain scheme an additional aerial system
and set of receiving apparatus will be needed. Telegraph lines in
duplicate connecting Banbury to the transmitting station wiU be
required.

Canada.

(13) Should the Canadian Govermnent decide to have stations at
Montreal and VancouA^er, the former could maintain a good service
with the station in England, and the latter would be able to
communicate during part of the day with England and with
Australia. Both stations might be as described above.

Australia.

(14) The transmitting station should be as described in Recom-
mendations (4) to (11), unless an ample public supply of electricity
is available. In this latter event the transmitting station might be
similar to that described in Recommendation (16).

(15) The receiving station should have two aerial systems and
three sets of receiving apparatus, with accommodation for a third
outfit for direct communication with South Africa when desired.
The aerial for this receiving station consists of a pair of horizontal
wires each about 250 ft. long supported upon two 75 ft. poles.
The site required is as indicated in paragraph 19. When a station
is bmlt in Vancouver additional receiving equipment will be required.
Apart from this, additional receiving equipment will be necessary
if the Chain station is required to work across Australia.

A 12 kW d.c. supply (public or oil engine) wiU be required for
lighting, charging batteries, and running telegraphic apparatus.

Telegraph lines in duplicate connecting the transmitting station
to the receiving station will be required.

The Commission have been informed that the Australian Govern-
ment prefer to have the Chain station situated at Perth rather than
at Port Darwin.

South Africa and India : Transmitting Stations.

(16 and 18) If the transmitting station is placed near Johannes-
burg the masts, the antenna, the earth screen, the tuning coil, the
thermionic valve set and the emergency gear should be as described
in Recommendations (4) to (8) and (11). The power supply and
electric machinery should be : *Two 250 kW three-phase trans-
formers, 15 000 V : *two 30 kW three-phase transformers, 20 V ;
two 10 kW lighting transformers, 220 V ; two transformers
supplying two 40 kW rotary converters giving 220 V d.c. ; high
and low tension switch gear ; and overhead transmission lines in
duplicate. Later extensions would be one single set of trans-
formers and gear as scheduled.

The alternative mentioned in Recommendation (8) would require
the substitution of the following two items for the two items marked
with an asterisk :— Two 200 kW motor generators, 10 000 to 12 000
V d.c. ; two 20 kW three-phase transformers, 20 V. In each of the
above schedules a mercury rectifier may be substituted for each
rotary converter.

Receiving Stations.

(17) The receiving station should liave one aerial system and two
sets of receiving apparatus in the first instance, with accommodation
for a second outfit for direct communication with Australia when
desired. Lighting and telegraph lines wil' be required as in Australia.
For India the same recommendations are made as for South Africa.

Egypt.

(19) The transmitting station, unless placed at Abu .Zabal,
should be of the type described in Recommendations (4) to (II).

The receiving station should have four aerial systems and five sets
of receiving apparatus.

The site should consist of a central plot 200 yds. by 50 yds.,
containing the operating building, &c., and two other plots 220 yds.
square, each containing a 300 ft. mast 550 yds. away in opposite
directions from the central plot. The tl'ice plots should be
connected by cable.

East Africa : Transmitting Station.

(20) The masts, antenna;, earth screen, tuning coil and emergency
gear should be as described in Recommendations (4) to (7) and (11).

(21) Arc Converter. — Two 250 kW arcs should be installed, each
provided with chokes, condensers, contactors, resistances, instru-
ments, keying inductances, keys and auxiliaries, similar to those at
Leafield.f

(22) Power Supply and Electrical Machinery. — The hydroelectric
project at Thika, reported upon by the PubUc Works Department,
Nairobi, on March 30, 1914, should be carried into effect, at least
in part, if, as seems probable, the wireless transmitting site can be

t See The Electrician, Vol. LXXXVII., p. 266.

near the Falls. For the purposes of the wireless station the water of
the Thika is sufficient, and the proposed simultaneous utilisation of
the Chania might therefore be reserved for any eventual enlargement
of the wireless station. The electrical machinery should consist of
two 250 kW water turbine- dynamo d.c. sets, delivering 350 A, with
voltage regulation between 500 and 1 000 V ; two 60 kW water
turbine-dynamo d.c. sets, 220 V ; switch gear ; and two overhead
transmission lines from the hydroelectric house to the wireless
transmitting station.

(23) Should the hydroelectric project be for any reason impractic-
able, the electrical supply should be generated by steam, as
described in Recommendation (27).

(24.) Buildings. — A hydroelectric building should be provided at
Thika River.

Receiving Station.

(25) The receiving station should have three aerial systems and
four receiving sets, with accommodation for the addition of a fourth
outfit for direct communication with England.

The site should be so chosen as to permit of the erection of a
pole line 250 yds. long across the central plot, but otherwise
conforming to the description in paragraph 19.

Singapore ; Transmitting Station.

(26) The masts, antenna, earth screen, tuning coil and emergency
gear should be as described in Recommendations (4) to (7) and (11).
The arc equipment should be as described in Recommendation (21).

(27) Power Supply and Electrical Machinery. — Three boilers,
each evaporating 7 000 lb., or two each evaporating 10 000 lb. of
water per hour, with superheaters, economisers, water softeners,
feed pump, together with condensers and cooling plant.

Two 250 kW reciprocating-engine and dynamo sets, 350 A d.c,
with voltage regulation between 500 and 1 000 V. Two 60 kW
reciprocating-engine and dynamo sets, 220 V d.c, and switch gear.

(28) The buildings at the transmitting and receiving stations
should be as indicated in the diagrams in Report.

Receiving Station.

(29) The receiving station should have three aerial systems and
four sets of receiving apparatus. The site should be 250 yds. by-
50 yds., with facilities for a pole line 250 yds. long running across it,
and conform to paragraph 23.

Hong Kong : Transmitting Station.

(30) The masts should be of steel, 200 m. high, guj-ed three ways
with six concrete anchorages, both masts and guys insulated in
sections, and designed to take a horizontal puU of 10 tons at the top
and a wind load of 60 lb. per square foot, with a factor of safetj' of
three. Four masts should be erected, one at each corner of a
square not exceeding 400 m. side.

The site should allow of extension of the antenna by the addition
of two masts at each end, and therefore the whole area available
should be about 1 mile by ^ mile. The antenna, earth screen,
tuning coil, and emergency gear should be as described in Recom-
mendations (5) to (7) and (11). The arc equipment should be as
described in Recommendation (21). The power suppty and
electrical machinery should be as described in Recommendation (27).
The buildings should be as described in Recommendation (28).

(31) The receiving station should be generally the same as that
described in Recommendation (17).

Financial Details.

In the course of an explanatory foreword pointing out the severely
technical nature of the report. Dr. Eccles remarks that the structural
work and machinery at each station have been planned with the
endeavour of keeping the probable cost within the approximate
estimates submitted by the Imperial Wireless Telegraphj- Committee
in their report. That is to say, the average cost of the overseas
stations will not exceed £160 000, exclusive of the cost of erecting
residences for the staffs at some of the stations. The stations in
England, Egypt, East Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong, for which
the Imperial Government is presumably responsible, should not
exceed in the aggregate the sum of £853 000.

Looked at as a whole, the report provides specifications sufficiently
full for the immediate preparation of estimates. A later report
will give detailed specifications. All the stations are planned to
permit of easy extension of antenna, buildings and plant.

The Traffic Question.

It should be emphasised that during portions of each day
much of tlie Imperial strategic, official and news traffic could be
carried on by direct communication between any pair of principal
centres, the intermediate stations being omitted ; but the inter-
mediate stations would be necessary for relay work during the less
clear portions of the day, and also for handling their own local
traffic. The news messages transmitted from the principal centres
could be received at many stations in the Emj)irc, for example in
New Zealand, at the cost of an inexpensive addition to tlieir existing
receiving equipment. Foreign stations m many parts of the world
would be able to pick up news and propaganda from one or other of
the_ principal centres.

The Electrician — February 3, 1922

133

The Electrification of Main Line Railways.

An important joint meeting of the Midland branches of the
Institutions of Electrical, Civil and Mechanical Engineers was
recently held in Birmingham, when the subject for discussion was
" The Electrification ok Main Line Railways." By kind
permission of the Lord Mayor of Birmingham the meeting took
place in the Council House under the chairmanship of Sir Henry
Fowler, chief mechanical engineer of the Midland Railway. Sir
Henry was supported by Mr. R. A. Chattock, Mr. E. C. R. Marks,
Chairman of the Midland branch of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, and Mr. A. W. WiUett, President of the Birmingham
Association of Civil Engineers.

Electricity Supply and Electric Traction.

Sir Henry Fowler, in opening the discussion, said that all over
the country enquiries were being held as to the future arrangements
for the supply of electrical energy. If a clear lead could be given
as to transport demands, it would be of the greatest advantage.
Apart from questions of expense, the difficulties which prevented
electrification were few. Finance was especially the difficulty
on lines with a low density of traffic, and the cost of the changeover
needed grave consideration.

No Engineering Difficulties.

Mr. W, WiLLOx, ex-chief engineer of the Metropolitan Railway,
referred to the successful results of electric traction on suburban
lines in this country, and called attention to the number of cases in
the United States where main line working had been conducted by
the same means with the most favourable results, especially where
there were heavy gradients and tunnels. The electric locomotive
had proved itself superior to the steam locomotive, and there were
no engineering difficulties in electrifying existing steam railways,
•even when the traffic was dense, by either the contact rail system
or overhead equipment. It was thought that at jDoints and crossings
the contact rail system was dangerous to the maintenance gangs.
His experience was that there was no special danger, and there had
been no cases on the MetropoUtan Railway where men had been
killed or injured when ordinary care was taken. He emphasised
this by referring to the rebuilding of Baker Street Station, where
the position of every line in the station had been altered without
stopping the traffic. Incidental advantages of electric traction
Avas that power was available for lighting purposes and for operating
both the semaphore and fog signals.

Overhead v. Contact Rail.

Mr. C. F. Eengouge, chief engineer of the North-Eastern Railway,
said that a consideration of the relative advantages of the overhead
wire, and the third rail was important in connection with main
line working, where the problem was quite different from that of
suburban lines. In the case of a line electrified on the third rail
system in order to make the sidings safe for shunters, the third rail
would have to be fully protected and would form a serious obstruc-
tion, so that overhead equipment would appear to be the only prac-
tical form to use. The use of the third rail meant increased
difficulty in maintaining the track, and this would be emphasised
with high pressures. In case of derailment a very slight displace-
ment of the vehicle would wreck the third rail, and when the train
was worked with a single electric locomotive the long gaps necessary
at level crossings or at junctions would have to be bridged by the
erection of short lengths of overhead equipment. The great
advantage of the third rail was its accessibihty, and in the case of
accidents, there was no obstruction to the working of the break-
down cranes. On the other hand, the overhead equipment formed
an obstruction to the breakdown cranes ; it was likely to be dis-
placed from the engine bows during heavy gales, and inspection
necessitated the use of tower wagons. On the other hand, the
maintenance of the track was not interfered with in any way, and
in the case of derailment a considerable displacement of a vehicle
would take place before it would foul the supports. The balance
of advantage was therefore with the overhead equipment and the
question therefore arose as to which was the most economical form.
Where only one contact wire was used as on part of the ShOdon-
Newport line, overhead equipment should be quite as cheap as the
third rail, while experience in the Tj^neside area showed that the
maintenance costs were considerably in its favour.

Mr. Roger T. Smith, chief electrical engineer of the Great Western
Railway, summed up the advantages of electric traction as being
greater haulage power per ton as compared with steam, no stops
for coaling or water and a longer period of usefulness per day.

Comparisons — A Word of Warning.

Mr. F. W. Cabter, B.T.-H. Co., said that in making a comparison
between steam and electrical operation it should not be forgotten
that the methods of working the traffic would not be the same in
the two cases. It might, therefore, be concluded that if an estimate
of the performance and expense of electrical operation were based
on the existing methods, better results would be obtained when the

methods of vorking were more closely adapted to the new require-
ments. It was necessary to enuure that the data derive<l from
electrical considerations and the data derived from traffic
considerations should not be combined in such a manner as
to lead to incon-sistency. Electrical operation would modify the
existinr; railway organisation from the fact that the electric locomo-
tive was capable of much more continuous .service than the steam
locomotive and that closer co-operation would be possible between
the traffic and operating departments. On a steam railway the
trains were independent units, while on the electric railway they
were tied in groups to sub-stations. The amount of plant that mast
be held at the disposal of the railway in generating stations and sub-
stations depended on the maximum demand for power. The work
done by it depended on the average demand, and the greater the
load factor the more efficiently was the plant used. The economy
in operation was therefore the greater the more uniformly the load
could be distributed both in time and space. Mr. Carter gave some
figures of the working on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul
Railroad, which have already appeared in The Electrician', to
emphasise this point.

Suburban and Main Line Electrification — A Difference.

• Mr. H. N. Gresley, Locomotive Engineer of the Great Northern
Railway, said that the electrification of railways had been strongly
urged as a means of enabling railways to pay their way and to
reduce their working expenses. This it had undoubtedly been
successful in doing on suburban railways, not because it saved
expense in working, but because it made money by creating new
traffic. The problem of main line electrification was a totally
different matter. The main Lines of the country were not congested
at the moment and much greater tonnage could be carried without
doubUng the Unes. The electrification of main lines was, therefore,
largely contingent on the price at which current could be obtained,
and this price would have to be more attractive than it was at
present before electrification could \y% favourably considered-
There had been a tendency during the past twelve months to
compare the best results that could be expected from electrification
with the average results now being obtained by steam traction.
No mention was made of the extra cost of the maintenance involved
owing to third rails or overhead wires. Nevertheless, the electrifica-
tion of suburban railways and of heavj- terminal railways should
be undertaken as soon as the necessary mone\' could be raised at a
sufficiently low rate.

No Savings in Maintenance.

Mr. J. A. HicKLEY, locomotive engineer of the North Stafford-
shire Railway, said that it was probably true that electric locomotive
required little inspection and few repairs. But its first cost was
greater and its life probab'y less than the steam locomotive, for
which thirt}^ years was quite a reasonable average. When the cost
of repairs and power station and sub-station plant and the
maintenance of the conductors were taken into account it was
doubtful whether experier.'?e would show any saving on the
maintenance side. Many oi the advantages claimed for electrifica-
tion, such as higher acceleration, and saving of time at terminals,
hardly applied to main line traction, though the saving of time
on plant and engine duties and on repairs and maintenance costs
were equally ajiplicable in the two cases. The objection against
electrification that whole sections of the lines might be thrown
out of use was more or less of a bogey, and if arrangement could be
made to use water power where it was available the cost of energy
would be much reduced. There was no doubt that where a new
line was projected the case for electrification was very strong. One
great advantage of electrification was the })ossibiUty of using
regenerative breaking. It also would be justititM.1 owing to the
increased average speed possible where the traffic was dense and
where widening or doubhng would have to be resorted to to coj>e
with developnient. It was ijossible that further improvements
in steam locomotives would alter the whole aspect of affairs before
many years were passed, and in this connection the combination
of the semi-Diesel engine with electric transmission would form an
intermediate step by rendering possible the gradual electrification
of a railway.

Electrification an Aid to the Civil Engineer.
Dr. F. C. Lea said the development of the steam locomotive
was limited by the requirements of the civil engineer at the bridges,
but these demands for load limitation would be very easily met
while the train drawing capacity could be cunsiderabh" increased
by the electrification of main lines. Many of the civil engineers'
most serious maintenance problems would be considerably
diminished by the adoption of electric traction.

Electrification Means Altered Traffic Conditions.

Prof. W. Cramp said that it had been taken for granted that
traffic on our main fines would be similar under electrification

13i

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

schemes to what it was to-day, but if the conditions which had been
an advantage to suburban traffic could be appHed to main Hnes,
the result would be a great increase in travelling. There was an
enormous demand for short trains of high acceleration and high
frequency from places like Birmingham and Oxford to London.
The present long train was due to the steam locomotive, and the
way to make a success of electric traction was to use shorter trains,
of high acceleration and greater frequency. Some of them were
dismayed at the decisions which had i)een arrived at by the
Advisory Committee on Electric Traction. The 1 500 V direct
current system might be a success, but this Avas not the time to lay
down hard-and-fast regulations.

The Railway Load and the Supply Engineer.

Mr. R. A. Chattock said the railway load was valuable to the
supply engineer owing to its high load factor, and if a power station
could be operated with a high load factor it should be able to
supply current at a low figure. Electric traction had meant more
traffic on suburban lines and he did not see why the same thing
should not happen on main lines. This applied equally to passenger
and goods traffic.

A Single-Phase Advocate.

Dr. GiSBERT Kapp, pointed out that it had been possible to adopt
electric traction on certain Hnes in Italy during the war without
any extra cost for strengthening bridges. He called attention to the
use of the single-phase system in Switzerland and in Germany. The
overhead system was preferable for several reasons, and 1 500 V
direct current would not take us far. 3 000 V direct current could
be employed, but even that meant numerous sub-stations ; 3 OOOV
on an overhead wire instead of 1 500 V meant half the cross section,
but the sub-stations could be ten times as far apart. For direct-
current working they required three-phase transmission with
transformers and converters and a considerable staff. To some
extent this had been overcome in America by the use of automatic
apparatus, but he did not think they would trust such equipment
in this country. The 15 000 V transmission system, such as was
being used in Switzerland, would be no danger for a railway because
it could be placed in tlie company's OAvn ground. He hoped
that, therefore, whatever system was chosen it would only be
after careful consideration, because it could not be changed,
and it was highly necessary that each railway should use the same
system.

The Chairman, in summing up the discussion, said that Prof.
Cramp's idea of smaller train units would mean an increase in
labour charges. He did not look upon the Diesel locomotive as a
competitor of the electrified main lines.

Gas Works and the Production of Light,
Heat, and Power.

In an address delivered to the London and Southern District
Junior Gas Association on " Gas Works and the Production of
Light, Heat, and Power," Mr. A. H. Seabrook emphasised the value
of versatility in engineering practice. A man who had spent a
number- of years in one branch of engineering, and then became
associated with another, could often bring a new outlook to bear
on existing methods. In his own case he had been associated with
electrical engineering for twenty-five years, and during the last
few years he had been connected with gas engineering. There
were many advantages to be derived from closer relations between
these branches. Both were primary public services of unlimited
importance. Ultimately light and po^>.cr stations should become
as neutral, so far as the form of the light, heat, or power was con-
cerned. The centre at which coal could be best dealt with was
also the most suitable place for the joint production of gas and
electricity. In travelling about the country he had been struck by
the facts that gas works were found in the smallest towns, and that
the engineers responsible had usually been happier in their choice
of a site than those who settled the positions of electricity generating
stations. Gas works almost invariably had a railway siding and
plenty of water available.

Coke in Electrical Gencrtnilon.

An important point, that was apt to be o\ erlookcd, was that
the generation of electricity at a gas works permitted the use of
coke as fuel, at a mmimum transportation cost. The burning of
coal in a raw state was generally admitted to be uneconomical ;
yet the Government was actively encouraging the installation of
huge stations where raw coal was to be burned for the production of
electricity. There were varieties of coal so poor in the yield of
bye-products that they could be suitably used direct without an
attempt at by-product recovery. But the use of coal rich in by-
products direct should be eliminated so far as possible.

He was glad to note the growing practice of sandwiching coal
and coke as boiler fuel. The proposal of some of the London
electricity supply companies and the Gas Light & Coke Company

to supply a portion of the electricity required for London from works
at Beckton, was an important step. The arguments in favour of
the arrangement seemed irresistible. There were ample storing
facilities, plenty of space, ample water supply and a distinct induce-
ment for the gas and electricity people to work together. The
fuel used would have been coke, and the destruction of raw coal
for the purpose would have been avoided. Electricity would
doubtless have been produced more cheaply at Beckton than at the
new super- station approved by the Government, lower down the
Thames.

Generating Station Fuel as a By-Product.

Col. Woodhall, in November, 1919, had pointed out that the
by-products of the gas works were more than ample to keep the
ordinary town electricity stations provided with fuel. He (Mr.
Seabrook) was, he believed, the first electrical engineer to fit
suitable automatic stokers to large station boilers for the express
purpose of burning coke breeze. This was done at Marj'lebone
during the war. Various difficulties had been overcome. At one
time the boiler house was unbearable owing to sulphur fumes,
and motor goggles had to be used by the men to keep the coke dust
out of their eyes. But by sheer persistence all difficulties had been
mastered, and ultimately they got the same boiler evaporation
with neat coke breeze as with the coal previously used, while
boiler house conditions became normal. The experiment resulted
in a material reduction in the cost of generating electrical energy,
apart from the valuable conservation of coal. It was on such
experience he had based his advocacy of the Beckton scheme, and
it was difficult to understand why it had been turned down.

Advantages of Combination.

In many cases where the possibility of combining the generation
of gas and electricity was being considered there were other
advantages, such as the existence of buildings that could be readily
adapted for a generating station. In some cases the electricitj'-
supply could be handled by coke gas producers and gas engines
driving electric generators, but above a certain capacity coke-fired
boilers and steam plant must be used. Mr. Bostock had recently
expressed the opinion that the cost of producer gas per therm was
about half that of town gas. In one or two combined works the
use of blue water gas direct to the gas engine driving electric
generators, was contemplated.

Municipal Control and Combination.

Under municipal control the creation of a combined power works
entirely neutral as regards the merits of gas and electricity, should
be fairly easy ; even under company control the gas company and
electricity company operating in a small works should be able to
combine and pool their resources. He did not believe that huge
undertakings, whether for gas or electricity, had necessarily an
advantage over those of medium size. What was needed was such
a size as would supply the entire light, heat and power requirements
of a district. In addition to the Electricity Commissioners, a
Government Department engaged in developing electricity supply,
there should be a Gas Commissioii working on similar Unes, followed
by an amalgamation of the two as a Light, Heat and Power
Commission.

Battery Vehicles and Coal Supply.

In a Paper read before the North of England Section of the
Association of Mining Electrical Engineers on " Coal Loading
by Road, with special reference to Electric Battery Vehicles,'"
Mr. I. S. Mackenzie said that his main object was to draw attention
to the fact that for short distance road haulage the modern electric
vehicle was so reliable and economical that its adoption was a
paying proposition. One particularly useful field was the transport
of coal to the colliery workmen's houses.

The advantages and disadvantages of battery vehicles were
dealt with at some length, and it was pointed out that a judicious
selection of the battery size caused such disadvantages as Uniited
mileage per charge to disappear. Battery charging should present
no difficulties if suitable plant Avas installed, particularly at a
colliery where skilled engineers were in attendance. Where an
alternating-current suiJply was available, as at most collieries, there
was no necessity for the installation of rotary plant, as mercury arc
rectifiers could be used with advantage.

General experience tended to show that the single motor, chain-
driven type of vehicle was the most satisfactory, and certainly-
had the fewest moving parts.

^Vorking out the cost of delivering coals to workmen's houses
by electric vehicles, including all standing and running charges,
plus interest on capital outlay, Ac, the author showed this to
be of the order of 9 5d. per load of 15 cwt. delivered to a distance
of half a mile from the colliery, and suggested that colliery managers
shoidd seriously endeavour to' ascertain what it actually cost
them to do the same work by the present methods.

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

13o

Correspondence.

THK REVO ELECTRIC IRON.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — I have read with interest the letter appearing in your last
issue regarding the performance of a 100 V^ electric iron which weus
used on a 200 V circuit for twelve months. The result is, to say the
least of it, unique, and although not wishing to doubt the good
faith of your correspondent, calm consideration of some elementary
facts leads one to doubt whether, after all, the iron was not in-
correctly rated originally.

Presuming, however, that the article in question was an ordinary
4 or 5 lb. domestic iron rated to consume 400 W, at 100 V, and that it
had a face area of 25 sq. ins. when 200 V were applied, the current
consumption would rise to 1 600 W, or about (54 W per sq. in.,
a result which all the heating and cooking appliance manufacturers
of the world, aided by all the resources of modern science, have
striven for, and failed to achieve.

That the nichrome wire would stand up to the doubled voltage for a
few minutes is understandable, but that it should survive regular
use for a whole year is amazing, and one is tempted to enquire what
the thermal efficiency of the iron would be if used on its rated
voltage.

I would also submit that cheap advertisement of this description
is not conducive to happy relationship between manufacturers and
the trade, as it is likely to mislead the lay user of electric irons as
to their adaptability to any circuit, no matter what voltage.—

I am, &c.

London, W. 9., February 1. Wm. B. Scourfield.

A Large Electrical Contract.

It is a matter for congratulation that, as we announced last week,
the first order placed for the electrification of the Glencoe-Maritz-
burg section of the Natal Railway hae, in the face of keen European
and American competition, been secured by a British manufac-
turer, the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company. The
whole of the mineral traffic of the important Natal coalfields,
for which Glencoe is a collecting centre, passes over this line
on its way to the coast at Durban, and for many years the
mountainous stretches of country between Glencoe and Maritz-
burg have been a bottle neck, with the limit of steam traction
possibilities reached. Important economies will be effected by the
introduction of electric locomotives ; assuming a loaded traffic of
20 000 tons per day in one direction on a 1 per cent, up grade,
eleven electric trains, each of about 1 800 tons, would be capable of
this duty, for which fourteen steam trains would have to be
employed. A valuable feature of electrification in these hilly
districts will be the possibility of employing regenerative braking <>n
the down grades, as obviating all the wear and tear on wheels and
brake shoes inevitable with steam traction. This electrification
will be one of the most important hithei'to undertaken, comparing
in this respect with the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul under-
taking. The locomotives will be designed to take a direct current
supply of energy at a pressure of 3 000 V on the trolley.

A Press Association " Times " telegram from Bloemfontein
states that a letter to the local Press from a prominent Nationalist
alleges that the Union Government rejected a German tender for
the locomotives, which was £425 000, or £5 000 per locomotive
cheaper than the tender of the Metropolitan-Vickfers Company.

Domestic Electric Appliances.

Mr. S. J. Sewell, writing on the action against Harrods, Ltd.,
reported in our issue last week, states : —

I have been for some years of opinion that it is essential that
washing and sewing machines should be driven by fractional electric
motors, and have, in my ' Sewing and Washing Machines Gazette,'
preached this reform, but the action against Harrods, Ltd., which
was a claim for damage to a lady's fingers through being caught in
the wringer used as an adjunct to the ' Thor ' washing machine, is,
I fear, likely to give a set-back to electric washers, also to electric-
driven sewing machines. I would like you to make public the fact
that a similar result might have occurred had the washer been
manual driven. The wringer was fitted with the latest safety
devices, but the ' release,' fitted to both hand and power wringers,
appears to have been utterly ignored.

■'As with washing machines, so with sewing machines, it is im-
possible to make them ' fool-proof,' no matter whether they be
driven by the hand or by an electric motor.

" The sales of electric washing machines during the past two
years have been ever increasing. Up to the present they have been
confined to those of American or Canadian manufacture, but many
British manufacturers of washing machines have for some months
been experimenting with electric motors, and last week Whit taker
Brothers, of Accrington, completed arrangements for producing an
English electric washer. As regards the use of electrical motors for
driving domestic sewing machines, this country is far behind the
United States. But I understand that there are a dozen British
firms who are expeiimenting in the construction of these motors."

The Supervising Electricians' Dinner.

There was a large gathering at th« annual dinner of the N'ational
AssociATfON Of Hvvr.HviHisr, Elfxtricians at Frascati's Restaurant,
Li'>iu\()n, c,j' Saturday overling last.

Major T. Vincent Smith, M.C. (President), occupied the chair,
and was supported, " aregollically " (to u.se an expression of the
late Willie Edouin's) by two old personal friends, Mr. J. S. High-
field, the popular Past-President, and Sir R. Burton Cludwick.
M.P.

The General Secretary (Mr. A. Brammer) and the Entertain-
ment Committee are to be congratulated upon the excellent repast
which was provided, and also the musical entertainment.

In projxwing the toast of " The President," Mr. F. W. Smith said
Major Smith had fully justified the confidence the Association had
placed in him, and he was a very valuable a.i.set to them. The Asso-
ciation had been through trying tin.es during the past year, but
it had achieved great thing.s, and had won the respect of the whole
electrical industry.

The President, replying to the toast, expressed his apprecia-
tion of the loyalty of the members, and of the way thev turned up
at the meetings and bombarded the authors of Papers with questions.
Members of the Association hoped the parent Institution would look
with favour on its children and regard with interest their activities.

Major E. J. Hog.an (Hogan and Wardrop), proposing the toast of
' The Association," said he thought every branch and every shade
of opniion in the profession had its own a.ssociation, and there were
also hybrids. He sometimes thought it would be better if all these
were grouped in one big association, each branch having- ita
own sub-section. Xo association had the right to exist unless it set
out with the purpose of improving the status of its members. In
their A.ssociation the educational side received the most careful studv,
and therefore it was an organisation evervone should support. The
special educational facilities given to associates, and the low sub-
scription demanded from them, were worthy of the highest praise.
The benevolent side of the Association's work was also very \-arnabIe,
as was the sense of mutual protection afforded by membership.

The Association's Progress.

Mr. C. G. Wright, in responding, said the Association had passed
through troubled waters with success. They had now a full-time
secretary, who was looking forward to the presentation of a report
at the meeting on Feb. 14 which would show great progress during
the past year. If the Association continued to progress at the
present rate, he thought they would have to enlarge their premises.
They were now establishing branches in the provinces, which would
help the Association very much. A start had been made with
branches at jNlanchester and Ipswich. The branches would also
occupy themselves with the provision of educational facilities. They
hoped to enrol in the Association every foreman in the industry,
and it would be well if every employer could assist bv becoming an
honorary member. Every full member of the Associa'tion was fullv
qualified to do the work he undertook.

Mr. J. S. Highfield proposed the toast of "The Visitors." and
referred to the fact that Mr. Banister, the former hon. secretary.
had done a great deal for the Association, and he and others who had'
helped him had laid the foundation for a real Association, based
on the principle of service and proper efficiency amongst its members.
He (Mr. Highfield) did not hold with the view that associations
should coalesce into one gigantic body. There were present members
of the technical Press, 'vhich had' served the electrical industrv
extraordinarily well. They should also have had with them Mr.
Beauchamp, of the Electrical Development Association, and he was
sorry he was not there. The E.D.A. had not verv much monev. but
had an immense amount of energy, and had now established itself on
a firm foundation.

Sir R. Burton Chadwick, M.P., in reply, regretted that there
were so few men in the House of Commons who were capable of
speaking authoritatively on the subjects with which the electrical
industry was bound up. It was left to members like himself, without
any electrical knowledge, to criticise an^l discuss matters connected
with the new electricity districts.

The Progressiveness of the Press.

Mr. ^ T. H. \\rNT5iBANK. in proposing the toast of " The
Press," said there were no more retiring or modest men,
nor men who sought less advertisement, than those connected
with the Press. The progressivene.<s of the trade Press was
always reflected in the industry it represented. It was the proud
boast of the electrical industry that it had a free Press which never
hesitated to speak its mind, either to criticise or to encourage those
things which appeared to be for the good of the industry.

Mr. A. H. Allen, in replyitig to the to;ist, said over thirty years
ago ho nearly became a supcrvisinsi electrician. He passed his appren-
ticeship in wiring, and was asked to supervise a squad of wiremen.
He did not take it on, because the pay was not good enough, because
there was no Association of Supervising Electricians in existence
then. The Press noted with satisfaction the progress of the Associa-
tion, and the movement for extending its activities to the provinces.
As the Association sought to serve the industry, (he Press songht to
serve the Association in every possible way.

One of the features of Drury Lane's rebuilt theatre, which is to be
reopened early next month, is an entirely new system or stags
LIGHTING, which, though of British conception, will be capable of
giving tho same effects as the Continental methods.

136

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

Electricity Supply— War Memorial.

We reproduce herewith a photograph of a memorial tablet which
has recently been erected in an imposing position on the wall of the
main entrance to the offices of the St. James and Pall Mall
Electric Light Company, Carnaby-street, Golden-square, W. 1.

The tablet is of Carrara marble mounted on a dove-coloured marble
base — with blue lettering — and is erectedJn grateful remembrance of

Less cae Forggs

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Memorial Tablet erected by the St. James' and Pall
Mall Electric Light Company.

twenty-one employees of the St. James' Company and four employees
of its ally, the Central Electric Supply Company, who fell in the
World War.

The memorial was unveiled on Tuesday, Jan. 24, in the presence
of a large number of employees, bv ihe Chairman of the St. James'
and Central Companies, Mr. Walter Leaf, who, in fit-ting terms,
referred to the honour and reverence in vhich the twenty -five men
whose names are recorded on the tablet are held by the directors and
employees, and said that the memorial would stand for all times as a
monument of gratitude and appreciation.

North Lancashire Electricity District.

Only two of the Electricity Commissioners (Sir John Snell and
Mr. H. Booth) attended the inquiry, which opened at Barrow on
Tuesday, into the scheme for the reorganisation rf electricity supply
in the Nobth Lancashire and Solth Cumpfrland Electricity
District.

Mr. W. S. Kennedy, who appeared for the Committee who pre-
pared the scheme, stated that when it was drawn up there was
general agreement, but since then several of the local authorities had
made objections as to area and other matters. If these authorities
could supply electricity by better moans they would be allowed to do
so, and any scheme would be considered. It was proposed to make
the fullest use of the Vickers plant in Cavendish Park, and negotia-
tions had been opened, although for the time being they were in
suspension. There was also a proposal to use water power from the
River Leven at Backbarrow. If the "Vickers Company required the
plant for their own works in the future, then a new station would be
erected at Barrow. If carried out, the scheme would cost £217 000
by 1925, and the supply would represent just over 20 000 000 units at
a cost of a little over a penny per unit, compared with the 1920
supply of a little over 8 000 000 units costing slightly over 3d. per

unit. Barrow Corporation claimed an increase of representation,
based on the rateable value and units I'equired.

Mr. Wooll, for Barrow Corporation, announced that on the pre-
vious day their General Purposes Committee decided not to come
into the scheme, though they were anxious to assist the Commis-
sioners in carrying out their duties vmder the Electricity Supply
Act.

Mr. Hibbert, of Ulverston, put forward an alternative area, which
would include Barrow, Ulverston, Dalton, North Lonsdale and
Millom, and in reply Mr. Entvvistle, Town Clerk of Morecambe
(who also represented Lancaster and Heysham) admitted there
was no chance of industrial development in the area. With Barrow
out of the scheme they had no bulk-supply source in prospect.
Special arrangement* would have to be made to deal with Winder-
mere and Kendal.

Sir John Snell said the Commissioners would want expert evidence
on the proposal to include Millom in the area.

The inquiry had not concluded when we went to press.

Extensions at Loughborough.

At a meeting last week of the East Midland Sub-Centre of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers, Mr. R. B. Leach, Borough
Electrical Engineer, of Loughborough, delivered an address on the
history and prpgress of the local electricity undertaking. The
present generating capacity of the plant, he stated, was 2 850 kW.
The maximum demand had inci'eased to 1 950 kW. The capacity of
the original plant was 500 kW, and this was found to be sufficient to
meet all i-equirements for a period of seven years. The speaker
described the additions and developments which had been made from
time to time, and went into technical details of the production costs
and selling price of the electricity supplied. In regard to the total
costs, Loughborough tied with the Glasgow undertaking for twelfth
place, with a total of l-37d. per unit. In the cost of coal Lough-
borough tied for third place with Leeds, which was many times
larger, the cost being 0-65d. per unit sold.

The scheme for a further extension of the undertaking included
the installation of two turbo-alternators of 3 000 kW capacity each..
The Electricity Commissioners, however, only sanctioned one 3 000
kW turbo-alternator, as they were of opinion that, by the time the
second set would be required, all the needs of the undertaking could
be met by taking a supply from the joint authority. Mr. Leach gave
a clear description of tVie methods which had led to the successful
results obtained at Loughborough, and showed numerous slides and
portions of machinery.

The I.E.E. Gommemoration.

The official programme of the meetings of the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers, which, as already announced in The Electrician,
will be held on Feb. 21, 22, and 23, to commemorate the first meet-
ing of the Society of Telegraph Engineers on Feb. 28, 1872, has
now been issued.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21^ at 3 p.m., an experimental lecture will be
given by Prof. J. A. Fleming, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S., on " Michael
Faraday and the Foundations of Electrical Engineering." Note. —
The annual dinner of the Institution will be held this day at the
Hotel Cecil, Strand, W.C, at 7 p.m. for 7.30 p.m.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 3.30 to 6 p.m., short discourses will
be given on " Reminiscences and Experiences of Electrical Engineer-
ing in Both its Technical and Legislative Aspects," and at 8.30 p.m.
Professor Fleming will repeat his lecture of the previous day.

On Thursday, Feb. 23, from 3.30 to 6 p.m.. and from 8 to
10 p.m., the discourses on electrical engineering will be continued
and concluded.

It is hoped that the contributors on the Wednesday evening, and
on the afternoon and evening of the Thursday, will include the fol-
lowing :— Mr. LI. B. Atkinson, Mr. Frank Bailey, Mr. 0. H.
Baldwin, Mr. G. Balfour. Sir T. 0. Callender. Mr. R. A. Chattock,
Col. R. E. Crompton, Mr. B. Drake, Mr. H. Edmunds, Sir K.
Elphinstone, Mr. W. B. E.sson, Mr. S. E\'€rshed. Dr. S. Z. de
Ferranti, Pxof. G. Forbes, Mr. E. Garcke. Prof. Andrew Gray,
Mr. F. E. G'-ipper, Mr. H. Hirst, INIr. 3. H. Holmes, Mr. W.
Judd, Dr. G. Kapp, Sir J. Kemnal, Sir Alex. Kennedy, Dr. A. E.
Kennelly, Mr. J. E. Kingsburv, Sir Oliver Lodge, Prof. M.
Maclean, Mr. W. H. Massey, Prof. T. Mather, Sir W. Noble, Lord
Parmoor, Sir C. A. Parsons, Mr. G. W. Partridge. Mr. W. H.
Patchell, Mr. J. H. Rider, Mr. F. H. Rovce. Dr. A. Russell,
Mr. A. Siemens, Mr. C. P. Sparks, Mr. G. Sutton, Mr. J. Swin-
burne, Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton, Mr. J. C. Vaudrev, Mr. A. H.
Walton, Prof. E. Wilson, Mr. C. H. Wordingham, "and Mr. A.
Wright.

A limited number of tickets will be available for visitors intro-
duced by members. Early application for such tickets (not more
than one per member) should be made to the Secretary. The tickets
will be posted as soon as possible after Feb. 10, and in the event of
the applications being in excess of the number of tickets available,
a committee of selection will allot the tickets. No tickets will be
required for members.

The British Commercial Secretary at Teheran offers to display
catalogues of United Kingdom manufacturers of the following,
among other articles : electrical ge^ir. engineering appliances, hydro-
electric gear, illuminants, and publications. Catalogues should be
priced, and if possible, illustrated in colours.

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

137

The "Adams" Miners' Lamp.

The demand for better lighting in mines has caused a number of
manufacturers to design and put on the marliet imjiroved Electuk;
Safety Lamps. Already about thirty types of lamp have been approved
by the Board of Trade for general use, and
among the most recent of these is the " Adams"
lamp, the general design of which is shown in
the accompanying illustration. It compiises the
following parts: —

I. A cylindrical metal case, with a screwed
ring for the attachment of the cover or lantern.
V. An acid electric accumulator, with celluloid
casing and fixed spring terminals, so constructed
as to prevent the escape of any liquid, whatever
the jiosition of the lamp.

3. A cover or lantern containing the lamp
bulbs. These are two in number, connected in
jjarallel on a plate of inflammable insulating
material in which are embedded segments of
brass. The brass segments establish electrical
connection between the lamp bulbs and the
accumulator when the lamp is assembled.

4. A magnetic lock, which secures the cover
to the case when the former has been screwed
into position, and so constructed that the bolt
can only be withdrawn by applying the pole of
an electro magnet to the face of the lock.

Among the advantages claimed for the
"Adams" lamp are that the light obtained
exceeds that produced by other tyi^es, for one
bulb gives the same illumination as one bulb of
any other lamp, and, therefore, the two bulbs burning simultaneously
give double the light. The superior illumination obtained should
result in a marked diminution of "miners nystagmus, ' and thus
reduce the cost of workmen's compensation. If one bulb should fail,
the miner will still have one effective bulb, giving illumination equal
to that of most other electric lamps. The fact of one bulb burning
when the other is out of commission is a great advantage. The
"Adams" lamp, which is made by Adams Brothers, Ltd., nominally
gives 4 c.p. for eleven to twelve hours, and its weight is 5 lbs. 14 ozs.

L.C.G. Tramways.

New and cheaper through booking by the London County
Council trams and the London General Omnibus Company oame
into operation on Wednesday between North and South London
suburban termini and the Mansion House, Ludgabe-circus, St.
George's Hospital, and Victoria-street. The present through book-
ings via Holborn, Southwark, Moorgate, and Victoria (excepting to
Edgware-road Station) have been discontinued. The all-night tram
services operating between Brixton (Water-lane) and Blackfriars,
and between Tooting-broadway and Savoy-street (Strand), are now
run as circular routes via the Embankment.

The Tramways Committee are adding 125 new cars to
their present fleet of 1 667 cars and 158 trailers. The new cars
are similar in type to those now in use, the main points of differ-
ence being increased speed and greater comfort. The cars are
equipped with 60 h.p. motors, as against 44 h.p. motors in the exist-
ing cars. Other advantages are better illumination and improved
lighting effects (due to the white enamel finish of the ceilings),
weather-protected air outlets on the top deck, improved ventilation,
and protection from draughts in the lovrer saloon, and more efficient
safety devices. By an arrangement of double trolley poles con-
tinuous illumination at the terminus is ensured, and the necessity
for the conductor to walk round the car with a trolley rope is
avoided.

The County Council have decided to complete the purchase of
THE London portion of the undertaking of the London United
Tramways, Ltd., on May 2 next. The Council will pay £235 000 for
the lines in Hammersmith, the Chiswick power station, forty-five
tramcars, depot and certain fixed plant, implements, &c. The"^com-
pany is to be at liberty to convert a part of the generating station
into a transforming station, and to use the same for twenty -one years,
but the company will provide free of cost during that period a
sufficient supply of direct current for the tramways up to 1 800 000
units a year, the Council paying for any excess at a rate to be agreed
or determined by arbitration. The Council may require the company
to work the purchased lines exclusively for such time and on such
terms as the parties agree, the company handing over to the Council
gross receipts less working expenses and a reasonable sum for estab-
lishment charges, and the Council lending the company the forty-
five cars. If the company are not required to work the lines, the
Council are at liberty to run over the company's lines in Middlesex
jointly with the company, and the company are at liberty to run
over the lines purchased jointly with the Council, the mileage being
equal, and each party accounting for gross receipts taken. The
company will have access to the transforming station, and the
Council to the depot.

For the six weeks ended Jan. 18 the London County Council
pc^'2 c'^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ passengers, and the traffic receipts were
£538 508, compared with 80 053 280 passengers and £609 155 receipts
in the corresponding period of 1920-21.
K 2

Standardised Electric Traction.

In an address to his constituents at Hillsbro, Sheffield, last Satur-
day, on the schemes which are being promoted to increase employ-
ment, Mr. ^Arthur Neal, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minis-
try of Transport, said that the Ministry waa in active keootiatioh
with eome of the leading railway companiee to get electeificatioji
WORK in hand.' In a subsequent interview on the matter, Mr. Neal
said that he referred to the schemes which the three Southern railway
companies hoped to arrange for the electrification of their lines. Tbeee
railwaj companies were very anxious to do something in the matter,
and as they were desirous of ensuring that the scheme would be one
by which they could work in conjunction, he had, at their request,
appointed a chairman. Sir Philip Xa.sh, to preside over a small com-
mittee which was inquiring into the possibility of a standard Bcheme
for the electrification of the companies, as at present all three
companies wanted to adopt different systems.

The Ignition of Firedamp.

At a meeting af the Midland Institute of Mining, Civil, and
Mechanicjvl Engineers, at Doncaster, last Saturday, Prof. R. V.
Wheeler, of Sheffield University, read a Paper on '' The Ignition of
Firedamp." Referring to the miner's lamp, he said that it was impos-
sible to 6ay with certainty whether or not the ignition of mixtures of
firedamp and air could be caused by the filament of a miner's electric
hand lamp. Nor did the numerous empirical testa made with the
bulbs of such lamps afford definite information. The most that could
be said was that ignition could be only by a filament at a very high
temperature. It would seem that with a current of 2 V, the fila-
ment of a miner's lamp bulb, if designed to have a reasonable life,
was not o\ a sufficiently high temoerature to cause the ignition of
any mixture during the short time of contact between the mixture
and the undamaged filament that the breaking of the bulb allowed.

A discussion followed. Mr J. H. W. Laverick was of opinion
that the use of the electric lamp made for safety in the mine. He
was opposed to the practice of mixing oil lamps with electric lamps.
Mr. A. C. F. AssiNDER considered the flame lamp a source of danger,
and that the element of danger in an electric lamp was infinitesimaJ.

Prof. Wheeler said he thought it was practically impossible for
the filament of an electric lamp, the bulb of which was broken, to
ignite a mixture. In regard to Mr. Laverick's remarks on the use
of oil lamps where electric lamps were in general use. be (Prof.
Wheeler) was a member of a committee now going into the question
of what was the best thing to do with regard to the provision for
testing for gas, for which oil lamps were used. At the same time
the modern flame lamp was an exceedingly eafe thing. He had not
been able to ignite the most easily ignited mixture with it.

Trade Facilities Act and the B.I. Fair.

With the passing into law of the Trade Facilities Act, British
manufacturers and merchants are now able to give credit from
TWELVE months UP TO SIX YE.\RS. according to the commodity,
to any of tjheir foreign customers. This means that foreign buyers
of all sorts of commodities can now buy British troods without
putting down a single penny at the Lime of purchase. In a word
the Act is an aiTangement by which the British Government ia
prepared to grant credit on behalf of any responsible British
manufacturer and merchant who needs it. Actually it is an exten-«
sion of the Overseas Trade (Credits and Insurance) Act of Sept.,
1919, but its scope is so muoh more generous and comprehensive
that there is no doubt of the good results it wiU have for every
kind of trade; one of its best points is that the buyer is not
troubled over any transaction for the ultimate repajTiient of the
credit. Where the credit is not required for more than a year,
the British Goveinment will back the bUl for the total value of
the invoice, and where longer terms are desired the Government
backing will be to the extent of 85 per cent, of the bill. In short,
foreign and oven'seas buyers of all nations who want credit, merely
approach the British manufacturer o:' expoi'ter of their choice, and
he arranges everything with the Export Credits Dejxirtment of the
Department of Overseas Trade.

The value of this scheme to foreign and overseas buyers is too
obvious to need any emphasis. It applies to every country in the
world, except Russia and India, and can be used for any transac-
tion, however small. There is already at least one case in existence
where, under the old Act. a credit was applied for and given for a
sale amounting only to £40. The fact that any British manufac-
turer or exporter can obtain these credits has already made itself
felt in connection with the forthcoming British Industries Fair.
As the facilities which the new Act offers become better known
the more widely will the importance of the Fair to buyers of a'l
countries be recognised.

The coming Fair is the eighth and most important of the series
and will be held sinnilUineously in London and Birmingham from
Feb. 27 to March 10 next. Practically all trades are included,
and already the number of representative firms who have taken
space makes it cle^r that 1922 will prove another great step in its
progress. Special interest will be taken in Benn Brothers' stand,
which, situated near the main entrance of the buildings at the
Birmingham Fair, will contain all the books, joomals, and direc-
tories published by the firm.

138

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

Legal Intelligence.

Is an Electric Truck a Light Locomotive ?

At Southport Police Court, on Monday, Wm. Halton was sum-
moned for driving along the public highway an electric truck
belonging to the Electrical Vehicles, Ltd., without a licence. As the
Superintendent of Police stated there was some doubt as to whether
the truck came within the definition of a light locomotive, the case
was adjourned to enable the local registration authority to com-
municate with the Ministry of Transport for a ruling on the point.

Claim for Electrical Goods.

In the Shoreditch County Court, on Monday, Carl Blombach (of
Ronsdorf, Remscheid. Germany) sued Grimes and Hawkes, Ltd.,
for the recovery of £18 14s. 3d. for goods supplied.

Mr. Robinson, who appeared for the plairttiff, applied for an
adjournment, as his client was in Germany.

After discussion, the hearing was adjourned, on the understanding
that the costs were paid by plaintiff in seven days.

e Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act Prosecution.

At Radcliffe (Lanes.) Police Court, on the 25th ult., R. Kirk-
patrick, F. Hall, I. G. Ivers and W. Speak, four engine-room
attendants employed by the Lancashire Electric Power Company
at their power station at Outwood, were summoned for maliciously
breaking their contract of employment, whereby they jeopardised
the maintenance of the undertaking.

Mr. C. H. PiCKSTONE, who prosecuted for the company, said that
the proceedings were taken under an Act of Parliament passed in
1875 for the maintenance of public services, such as gas and water,
and which, in 1919, was applied to electricity undertakings. There
was no quarrel between the company and any trade union, and
the trouble was between the defendants themselves. The men were
on night duty on Jan. 9. It appeared that the switchboard
attendant, a young man named Gore, was in the habit of having tea
provided, as Ihe was not allowed to leave the station without the
sanction of the charge engineer. At eleven o'clock at night he
wanted tea made, and Ivers, who objected to Hall making it,
assaulted Gore. Words followed, and Ivers told the charge engineer
he was going home. He was joined by the other defendants, and
all four gave an hour's notice of their intention to leave. Efforts
to avoid this did not avail, and the station was abandoned to two
charge engineers, at 1.20 in the morning. Urgent messages sent to
the staff due to come on for the morning shift werie responded to,
and when the position was explained to them they went on duty.
But for nearly two hours the undertaking was jeopardised and
public service in danger of being withheld. Happily no mishap
occurred. The proceedings were instituted to show the illegality
of the course pursued by defendants. The next morning the men
claimed to have asserted a right in giving an hour's notice, but
legally a week's notice on either side was necessary to terminate
the engagement.

Mr. KiNSEY (for the men) admitted almost every word Mr.
Pickstone had used. Defendants thought that as Gore would have
finished his shift at twelve o'clock, he might have waited for his
tea. It was definitely in the minds of defendants that an hour's
notice could be given, and they felt that with two engineers in
charge nothing serious would happen. They were now sorry for
what had taken place, and on their behalf he expressed regret.
He hoped the justices would not send them vo prison, and suggested
that the case would be met by th'e payment of costs.

The justices regarded the offence as very serious indeed, and
could not do less than order each defendant to pay £5, the
prosecuting advocate's fee of five guineas, and the expenses of
witnesses.

Extension of the Hunt Cascade Motor Patents.

On Friday, the 26th and 27th ult., Mr. Jlsiice Sargant heard a
petition by Mr. Louis J. Hunt and Sandycroft, Ltd., for an exten-
sion of patent No. 6 224, of March 14, 1906, granted to the
petitioners (Sandycroft, Ltd., being then known as Sandycroft
Foundry Company), for au invention relating to " improvements in
alterating current dynamo electric machines " ; and also Patent
No. 15 711, of July 11, 1906, for " improvements in windings for
alternating current dynamo electric machines." Counsel said the
first invention consisted of a single winding in place of double stator
windings and the provision of tapping points in particular positions
upon the winding for control purjjoses. The othei invention was
a machine with a stator winding of the type in the lirst invention,
but with separate rotor windings, one of which wa^ connected to
a commutator so that the machine could be used as a convertor tor
providing direct current through the alternating current supply and
vice versa.

Mr. J. Hunter Gra?, K.C, and Mr. Whitehead appeared for th©
petitioning patentees, and Mr. Dighton Pollock and Mr. Trevor
Watson for the Crown.

The merit of the inventions was not opposed by the Crown, and
Mr. James Swinburne described them as a distinct stage in the
industry, and a stage that involved an immense amount of thinking.
By the use of the inventions cascade motors could be built which
had high efficiencies, and as the windings were constructed for a
(tmaller number of poles than those required by an ordinary motor,
it was possible to build a. better commercial slow-speed machine than

hitherto practicable. He explained how the inventions simplified
and improved the characteristics of that class of motor, and why
those machines could be given the starting and speed regulating
features of slip ring motors, in spite of the fact that the rotors
had very low tension windings and no slip rings or rubbing contacts
of any sort. Witness pointed out the advantages those motors
possessed for working in collieries, as they were free from sparking,
and also that they were particularly valuable for industrial works
where dust was prevalent ; he also described how the machines
operated efficiently at two or three different speeds, and expressed
the opinion that there would be great developments in their applica-
tion to the propulsion of ships.

Mr. John Gray said that if an extension of the patents were
granted, the British Thomson-Houston Company would continue
to manufacture under them.

Mr. H. A. Gill stated that the German patent, which was the
equivalent of both the English patents, had been extended for five
years on the ground of war-time losses.

Mr. W. C. Mountain, Mr. Evan Parry, Mr. Louis J. Hunt, and
Mr. James Gilclirist, Secretary of Sandycroft Limited, also gave
evidence in support of the petition.

His Lordship, in giving his decision, said the inventions were of
great utility and involved a deal of scientific knowledge and experi-
ence. It appeared on the petition, and was clearly proved by the
evidence that there was a great loss to the petitioners, owing to the
war. He thought it would be proper in respect of the loss to allow
an extension of four yeai's, which would have this incidental advan-
tage— ^although it had not influenced him in the relief he was grant-
ing— that if the four years were calculated from the date of the
first patent, the extended term of the patent would very nearly
coincide with the extended German patent. The extension would be
granted on the terms that the British licences now existing for the
manufacture of the inventions were continued.

Institution Notes.

At the anniversary meeting of King's College Engineering
Society, to be held at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great
George-street, S.W. 1, on Friday, Feb. 10, at 5.30 p.m.. Mr. F. W.
Macaulay, of the Birmingham Water Department, will read a Paper
on " Water Engineering."

The Institution of Electrical Engineers propose, if a sufficient
number of candidates make application, to hold the Associate
Membership Exaivonation in London and at other places (at home
and abroad) in April next. Particulars can be obtained from the
Secretary of the Institution, Savoy-place, Victoria Embankment,
London, W.C. 2.

The newly formed West Yorkshire Metallurgicvl Society held
its first general meeting at Huddersfield on Saturday, when a
debate on the subject, " That Physical Testing is the Duty of the
Metallurgist Rather than the Engineer," was opened by Mr. J. R.
Handforth, and opposed by Mr. F. Rawlinson. Mr. T. E. Hull,
the President, who occupied the chair, stated that the Society had a
membership of forty, drawn chiefly from Leeds, Bradford, Dews-
bury, and Wakefield.

On Monday, Feb. 6, at the first of three informal meetings
arranged by the Institution of Er£CTRic.\L Engineers, to take
place at the offices of the Institution at Savoy-place, Victoria Em-
bankment, London, Mr. J. Joseph will deliver an address on " Some
Practical Applications of the Thermionic Valve." On Fob. 13 Mr.
J. H. Parker will speak on "' The Evolution of a Staff Trade Union,"
and " The Emergency Use of Oil Fuel During the Recent Coal
Strike " will be the subject of an address h\ I\Ir. E. F. Heitherington
on Feb. 20. The meetings will take place at 7 p.m.

Members of the various sections of the welding industry, at an
iraugural meeting held on Jan. 26, at the Holborn Restaurant,
adopted the proposal to form a new welding society embracing all
systems of welding. A strong committee, with power to add to
their number, representing the different interests, was elected to
draft the constitution with a view to registration after it had
been approved by a general meeting which will be called at an early
date. The name agreed upon is The IxsTiTrrioN of Welbing
Engineers, and all interested in the welding and allied industries
will be eligible for membership. The temporary offices are at 30,
Red Lion-square. London, W.C. 1. aud Mr. C. Raggett is the hon
secretary [pro temp.).

Educational.

Through the generosity of certain local firms, a new chemical
research laboratory is to be set up at Birmingham Municipal
Tochnical School.

The annual examinations for a Faraday Scholarship of 50 guineas
per annum, tenable for two years in college and one year in manu-
facturing works, and for a INIaxwell Scholarship of 50 guineas per
annum, tenable for one year in college and one year in works, will
be held at Faraday House on April 11, 12, and 13. Exhibitions may
also he awarded to candidates who acquit themselves creditably.
Particulars may be obtained from the Secretary, Faraday House,
62-70, Southampton-row, London, W,C. 1.

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

139

Electricity Supply.

It is estimated that Hull electricity undertaking will ehow a
loss of £16 000 on the current financial year.

In addition to reducing the charges for light, Livehpool Elec-
tricity Committee are contributing £60 000 towards the relief of the
rates.

The recent reduction of Id. per hour in the wages of manual
workers represents a saving of £2 000 a year to the Ekiohton
and Hove electricity undertakings. A reduction in the salaries of
the technical staffs will, it is stated, effect a further economy of
£300 per annum

The Theatres and Music Halls Committee of the London County
Council have notified the Metropolitan Electric Supply Company
that the special arrangement entered into in 1905, under which the
Council recognised, subject to certain conditions, the two systems
of electric light supply of the company as sufficiently independent to
comply with the Council's regulation requiring two supplies by

SEPARATE COMPANIES AT' PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT is nO loUgCr

operative, and that the Council cannot, therefore, accept the supply
of the company for both the primary and secondary systems of light-
ing at cinematograph halls or any other premises licensed for public
entertainment.

The necessity of good lighting for shops was emphasised by
Sir Chas. Higham, M.P., at last week's meeting of the British
Association of Display Men in London. He said there were many
shopkeepers who did not seem to realise that they paid half of
their rent for their windows. The shop window was intended to
draw attention to goods for sale, and without efficient lighting

t)assers-by could not be attracted. If thej^ were going to have -i
jrighter London they had got to have brighter shop windows. If
every shop in Central London illuminated its windows at night,
London would be one of the most attractive places in tihe world,
and it would pay handsomely.

In February, 1919, the Chester Electricity Committee reported
that the first five years' working of the hydro station showed that
14 222 744 units were sold to consumers, of which 6 923 315 units
were supplied by the steam station, the expenditure being £51 222
and the income £56 540 ; and 7 299 409 units supplied by the hydro
station, the expenditure being £17 188 and the income £59 612.
During the year 1920-21, 3 717 802 units were sold, of which the
steam station supplied 1 699 101 units, the expenditure being £25 186
and the income £18 571, and the hydro station supplied 2 018 701
units, the expenditure being £5 498 and the income £^ 070. During
the period covered by the foregoing figures 21 855 038 units were sold
to consumers, of which the steam station supplied 10 270 499 units,
the expenditure being £106 003 and the income £91 503, and the
hydro station supplied 11 584 539 units, the expenditure being
£29 148 and the income being £103 223, showing the cost of electri-
city supplied by the steam station to be £14 500 in excess of the
income, and the income from the electricity supplied by the hydro
station to be £74 075 in excess of the expenditure.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Steps are to be taken to light the Henley-on-Thames Town Hall
by electricity.

Gi.oircESTER City Council have decided to extend the Corporation
Electricity Works, at a cost of £50 000.

Retford Town Council have decided to support the electricity
supply scheme for the North-east Midlands.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Electrical Engineer has been authorised
to carry out mains extensions at a cost of £1 156.

Mr. A. J. Leigh, electrical engineer, has been instructed by the
Council to prepare a scheme for supplying Connah's Quay with
electricity.

Sidmouth Urban Council have decided to proceed with a scheme
for supplying the town with electricitv. The estimated cost is
£10 000.

Swansea Electricity Committee recommend the Corporation to
apply for a loan of £20 000 for services and extension of mains
during the next three years.

As the result of a canvass to ascertain the probable number of
electricity consumers, no further action is to be taken to form a
local electricity supply company in Beacklet.

Egham and Staines Electricity Company have applied to the
Electricity Commissioners for a Special Order to extend their area
of supply to the parishes of Ashford, Stanwell, Uiraysburv, and
Thorpe.

Application has been made to the Electricitv Commissioners bv
Middlesborough Corporation for sanction to" the borrowing of
£6 000 for a sub-station and services in the Southfield-road and
Linthorpe areas.

Fulham Electricity Committee recommend the Borough Council
to provide a sub-station, cables and switchgear, at a cost of £2 000,
for a supply of electricity to the works of Manbre Sugar and Malt,
Ltd.

The Minister of Transport proposes to confirm the Ammanford
Electricity Special Order, 1922, granting electricity supply

powers to Ammanford Urban Council, and any objectioDs most
be sent to the Ministry of Transport by Feb. 18.

Edinburgh Town Council has received Ranction to borrow a
farther sum of £516 314 for electricity undertakings in the city,
particularly for the power station at Portobello. Tni« makes the
total amount authorised to be borrowed £1 632 514.

Carlisle Corporation has received sanction to borrow £35 500 for
the extension of the electricity undertaking by the installation of one
3 000 kW turbo-alternator and accessory plant. Sanction to borrow
a furt^ier £3 0C0 for service connections is to be sought.

Bradford Electricity Committee has decided to apply for .sanction
to loans to cover excess expenditure to the extent of £73 514,
incurred, or to be incurred, beyond the sums alreadj' .sanctioned in
connection with electricity plant extensions and £13 for converting
plant.

Teiidei's for new sub-stations and all the necessary cable for the
new Fairground extension, have been accepted by the Socthi^ht
Electricity Committee, and the work is to be proceeded with imme-
diately. It is proposed to change over from the d.c. to the three-
phase system.

On the recommendation of Mr. J. Christie, manager and engineer
of Brighton electricity undertaking, an experiment is to be made in
the lighting of the sea front with a lantern similar to that recently
introduced at Canterbury, which is said to secure better reflection
and diifusion of light.

Bolton Electricity Committee hi..ve decided to apply for sanction
to borrow £31 200 for a new rotary converter for Spa-road sob-
station, additional switch gear at Spa-road and Bradshawgate sob-
stations, and for duplicate feeders from Back-o'-th'-Bank to Brad-
shawgate sub-station.

An inquiry was held on January 24 into the application of Wix-
chester TowTi Council for a loan of £1 200 for remote control gear
for street-lighting purposes, but on the advice of the inspector, Mr.
H. R. Hooper, the application was withdrawn, and the cost is to
be met out of revenue.

Bedford Electricity Committee recommend that the borough elec-
trical engineer be authorised to purchase an additional 350 kVA
transformer for use as a spare to the transformers at the electricity
works at a cost of £431 10s., and that the main be extended in
London-road, at an estimated cost of £80.

Derby Town Council proposes to apply for sanction to a loan of
£90 000 for mains and motors, of which sum £35 000 has already
been authorised, but not borrowed. The balance will be required
during the coming year, when a further capital expenditure of
£11 000 on new plant and extensions is contemplated.

Lyme Regis Corporation have applied to the Electricity Commis-
sioners for a Special Order authorising the Corporation to generate
and distribute electrical energy in the borough, and to maintain
the generating station and other works at present belonging to
the Lyme Regis Electric Light and Power Company, Ltd.

The members of the Xewhaven Urban Council are anxions to
have a large electricity generating station established in their area,
and have asked Lieut. -Col. Campion, M.P., to make representations
to the Electricity Commissioners that the present is an opportune
time to build a station, capable of supplying electricity to the
whole of Sussex.

Dundee Town Council have decided to petition against the
Provisional Order prom.oted by the Grampian Hydro-Electric
Syndicate. The terms on which Dundee was prepared to accept
supply were £2 per kW per annum as a fi.xed charge, plus 0"125d. for
every unit used, against the syndicate's offer of £3 per k>V per
annum, plus 0'2d. per unit.

Lancaster Town Coimcil have decided to put forward an alterna-
tive scheme to the proposal to form a North Lancashire and
South Cumberland electricity supply are.\ by est^ablishing an
area to comprise LaJicaster and Morecambe, the irrban districts of
Caa-ntorth and Heysham, and the rural districts of Lancaster and
Lunesdale. The electa-icity works at Lancaster would also be
extended at a cost of £40 "000.

Peterboroigh Corporation ai-e applying for a speci.il Order to
extend their area of electricity supply to certain parts of the
Peterborough Rural District, "VVhittlesey Urban and Rural Dis-
tricts, Thorney Rural District, Old Fletton Urb.in District, and
Norman Cross" Rural District, &c. Any objections must be sent
to the Seoretaa-y, Electricity Commission, Gwyd\T House, White-
hall, S.W. 1, by Feb. 20.

Liverpool City Council will consider, this week, a proposal to
apply to tho Electricity Commissioners for a Special Order, enabling
the Corporation to supply electricity for all public and private pur-
poses to Bootle, and the urban districts of Waterloo and Seaforth,
Litherland, and Great Crosby, and also authorising Liverpool to
acquire the existing electricity undertakings of the Bootle Corpora-
tion and the Liverpool District Lighting Company.

There is some rivalry concerning electricity supply in the rural
districts ot Chester. The Hvwauden Council some time ago
appointed an electrical engineer to prepare a scheme which involved
a bulk supply from the North Wales Power and Traction Company,
Chester's offer of a supply from Queensferry having been rejected.
The Hawarden scheme will be submitted to the Electricity Com-
missioners within two or three weeks. At a recent meeting, the

140

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

East Saltney rat^epayers d^ecided to support the Hawarden Council,
wlio were recommended to make a canvass similar to that recently
made by the Chester Council.

A considerable amount of work in connection with the linking
up of Wallasey with Bfrkenhead has been carried out. An h.t.
6 600 V cable from Bentinck-street generating station has been laid
to the Wallasey generating station ; a similar cable has been laid irom
Beaufort -road through the area of big works and along the line of
docks to the South-end generating station: a sub-station containing
500 kW of transformer plant has been built at Beaufort-road ; a sub-
station for 1000 kW of plant is to be provided at Marshall-streeit :
two new 500 kW sets have been installed at Bentinck-street :
another 500 kW at the South-end generating station ; and 500 kW
at Clover. Clayton & Company's works. It is hoped that this plant,
which will increase the existing capacity of the Birkenhead under-
taking from 4 700 to 7 200 kW. will be working within a month. The
object is the provision of a ring of h.t. mains around Birkenhead.

There is a sharp conflict of opinion between the electric supply
undertakers in the ^IiD-L-iNCASHiRE Electrtcity District as to the
most suitable method of reorganising the supply in the area. Burn-
ley, Accrington, Colne, Darwen and other East Lancashire towns
have prepared one scheme, but Preston and Blackburn Corporations
have an alternative proposal. Preston is to erect a new station on
the south of the Kibble, with two 10 000 kW turbo-generators at the
outset, and the Preston and Blackburn undertakings! will be con-
nected by duplicate cables. The total cost of the station and of
one of the cables is £489 000.

Preston Council have already approved recommendations to pro-
vide a new electricity generating station, at an estimated cost
of £420 000, and to enter into an agreement with Blackburn to
connect the stations of the two towns by means of duplicate
mains which will save both towns from the necessity of adding
50 per cent, to their generating capacity. In the event of a break-
down in one of the towns, the other will be able to provide the
supply for both.

Alteration of Charges.

Owing to the satisfactory accounts of Kingston electricity under-
taking it is proposed to reduce the charges for lighting from Is. to
9d. per unit, and to make a reduction of 10 per cent, m the charge
for heating and power.

Oswestry Town Council have decided to oppose the application
made to the Electricity Commissioners by the Oswestry Electric
Lighting and Power Company for power to raise the price of elec-
tricity from 8d. to Is. 3d. per unit.

Stretford Electricity Committee have decided to reduce the
advances over pre-war rates for electricity as follows : — Power, from
125 per cent, to 85 per cent., as from March 1; lighting, from a
maximum of 8d. per unit to 6^d. per unit, as from April 1.

Municipal Accounts.

A loss of £16 458 on Hull electricity undertaking is reported for
the current year ending ]\Iarch 31. By five votes to four a resolution
that a special rate be levied to raise the deficit was defeated at a
meeting of the committee last week.

At last week's meeting of the Liverpool Electricity Committee
ret"**»a,.were submitted showing the results of last year's working
of - ■ - • - , . , . •

bf
b

-♦•Tioty and tramways undertakings. There is said to
'\o\ electricity undertaking of about £120 000
and (^'^ o'^ the previous year. The final returns

^^^or

wr„f^3</i-

°^ loss is reported on the working of the

'^- In^^'ih t'"^' ^es.s S. Eow:

'Perir^a^^i nlT'lH^h too\^jl^^<.n\-i the ..

LAND, who for the

Previously,

the staff of Drake

on Tuesday

eRjrmingham

manu-

s^ai-^.

lous

r-o-os-'^.

effe

TO}f

Electric Traction.

Burnley Tramways Committee have decided not to issue contract
tickets.

Smethwick Town Council has decided to oppose the Black
Country Tramways Bill.

The Blackburn ratepayers have rejected the Corporation Bill to
extend the tramways and run motor 'buses.

The Association of Municipal Corporations has decided to oppose
the attempt of railway companies to secure road transport

POWERS.

Haslingden and Rawtenstall Corporations are discussing the
question of running through tramcars between Accrington, Rawten-
stall and Haslingden.

The Birmingham Tramvvays Committee are going into the ques-
tion of a revision of fares, with a view to the reintroduction of
the Id. stage. The minimum fare is now Igd.

Plymouth Corporation are applying to the Minister of Transport
for an Order under the Light Railwaye Act, authorising the con-
struction of certain light railways in Devonport.

Hull Corporation have applied to the Minister of Transport for
an Order under the Light Railways Act, 1896, authorising the con-
struction, &c., of a light railway from the western termination of the
Corporation's tramway in Hessle-road to the junction of Hull-road
with Southgate.

Bradford Corporation Finance Advisory Sub-Committee have
approved of application being made for borrowing powers in respect
of the foUowuig works : — Tram track reconstruction in Thornton-
road (Listerhills), £17 242; tram track reconstruction in Thornton-
road (on the new road at School Green), £19 008.

In connection with Sheffield Council's scheme to provide work
for the unemployed, the Ecclesall tramway track is to be extended
to Millhouses-lane, and the track on the Intake route is to be
doubled. The estimated cost is £31 000, and nearly 200 men will be
employed for four months. A start has already been made on the
Ecclesall extension.

The Minister of Transport has extended for one year from
July 26. 1922, (1) the period allowed by the Wimbledon and
Sutton Railway Act, 1910, for the construction and completion
of the railways and other works and for the compulsory purchase
of lands for such railways ; and (2) the period allowed by the
Metropolitan District Railw.ay Act, 1915, for the payment of
interest out of capital.

The Newcastle-on-Tyne Transport and Electricity Committee
have decided to increase the hours of the employees in the depart-
ment from forty-four to forty-eight per week as from Feb. 26. On
Monday the Committee met the men's representatives, who stated
that they had the authority of their union to refuse to accept the new
hours. In the case of a strike the Committee state that they have
plenty of applications for employment on their books.

The negotiations between T.\unton Corporation and the Taunton
Electric Traction Company in connection with the purchase of the
tramways were recently broken off, the Corporation ultimately
deciding by twelve votes to seven against the purchase. The Trams
Committee recommend that steps be taken to provide a
service of motor 'buses for the borough by private enterprise.
Arrangements are to be made for the removal of the tram track.

An inquiry on behalf of the Mmistry of Transport into an appli-
cation by the Doncaster Corporation for an Order for the extension
of the tramway system was held in the Mansion House. Doncaster,
on Tuesday. The proposal is to construct a loop line from French
Gate to the Station-road terminus by way of Trafford-street and
Factory-lane, to double and remove a portion of the tramway track
, over part of St. Sepulchre Gate, and to double a portion of the track
in Baxtergate, at a cost of £10 000.

The Labour Party's Policy for the forthcoming London County
Council election includes a great and dangerous extension of the
principle of miinicipalisation of public services. The party are in
favour of the following : — The administration of municipal ser-
vices as far as possible by local authorities covering small areas ; the
conferment of powers on local authorities " to enter into remunerax
tive enterprises and to associate for the purpose of combating private
rings and trusts "; and public ownership of motor omnibuses and
underground railways.

The Edinburgh Ti-amways Committee is to consider a proposal
by Bailie Sleigh as to the advisability of applying for statutory
powers to construct a tramway along George-street, connecting St.
Andrew-square with the West End. Meantime, preparations are
to be made to obtain powers in the Provisional Order which the
Corporation are promoting in the near future. The electrification
of the northern tramway routes at an early date is also to be con-
sidered, and the tramways manager is to prepare a report for the
information of the Committee.

W^ith regard to the gradients in the city and their relation to the

'•"in' '" ^n w I °^ ref{, running of electric tramcars. Mr. A. H. Campbell. Burgh Engineer,
^^ ^"^ anni'^l'^.^'-pi-OM n •^ f( states that the new town gradients are not by themselves dangerous

nja/

^'^^inir^^'J^^ V't fo'' electric traction.
* ^" £l4 f ends of gradients

smaller nun..,,

it was possible to buin^ .

But in operating, dangers develop at the lower
where the lines curve sharply. Though precau-
tions are available, both by car brake equipment and by permanent
way design, he points out that serious accidents have occurred on
tramway systems where the gradients are no steeper than in Edin-
burgh.

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

141

Personal and Appointments.

Dr. W. RATiiENAU, chairman of tho Allgemeine Elektricitato
Gesellechaft, has been appointed German Foreign Minieter.

AnMiuAr, OF the Fleet Sir Henry Jackson has Ijecn elected
President of tho London Wireless Society, in succession to Major J.
Erskino Murray. Th« Society was formed in 1913, and has now a
membership of 380.

Dr. Arthur MacGowan has been appointed assistant physician
and Dr Albert Bowie medical officer in charge of the electro-thera-
peutical department of tho London Horacepathic Hospital, Great
Ormond-street, W.C. 1.

Mr. J. V. Moinet, manager of th« Scarborough Tramway Com-
pany, who is shortly leaving Scarborough to take up an appointment
at Hamilton, near Glasgow, has been presented with a case of stain-
leas knives and silver-plate forka from the Staff of the company.

The following officers of the Kent Fortress Engineers have
RESIGNED THEIR COMMISSIONS : — Gapt. E. Lcafaux, Lieut. A. P.
Isard, Lieut. A. jM'L. Atkinson, Lieut. J. C. de Wardt. The last
three mentioned have been given the rank of captain on leaving the
corps.

Mr. W. H. Patterson, who has been associated with the West-
inghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, for the past sixteen years, has resigned to become
vice-president of the Kaestner & Hecht Company, electric elevator
builders, Chicago.

The Carnegie Heroes' Fund Trustees have awarded a medallion
and an annuity of £100 to Dr. J. Hall Edwards, of Birmingham,
one of the pioneers in radiography. It will be remembered that, as
a result of X-ray experiments, Dr. Edwards contracted dermatitis,
which necessitated the amputation of his left hand and forearm,
and four fingers of the right hand.

Business Items, &c.

The address of the British Electrical Development Associa-
tion is now 15, Savoy-street, Strand, London W.C. 2. (I.E.E. Build-
ing, East Entrance). The telephone number is Regent 4 570, and
the telegraphic address, " Electreda, Rand, London."

Mr. Arthur J. Cridge has resigned his position as manager of the
Transformer Sales Department of Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical
Company, in order to join the staff of the Brush Electrical Engineer-
ing Company, to sell that comapny's transformers.

Herbert Terry & Sons, Ltd., are organising a prize competi-
tion, open to all amateur physical culturists using Terry's Patent
Steelspring Exercisers. Prizes amounting to £150 will be awarded.
Full particulars of the competition oan be obtained from the head-
quarters of the firm at Redditch.

Exhibition Notes.

A discount of 20 per cent, is to be allowed on tariff rates of
freight for exhibits at the Malaya-Borneo Exhibition. All cases,
&c., must be clearly marked as destined for exhibition.

The General Electric Company announce that an exhibition of

INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICAL LABOUR-SAVING DEVICES, including electric

drills, grinders and polishers, is to be held in their Industrial Show-
room at Magnet House, Kingeway, London. The exhibition will be
opened on Monday, Feb. 6, and will continue throughout the week
from 2.30 p.m. until 6.30 p.m. daily.

Irish moVor traders and the Royal Irish Automobile Club have
agreed to collaborate in holding an international motor exhibition
IN Dublin during February, 1923. The Society of Motor Manufac-
turers and Traders has agreed in principle to support the Irish
motor show, and will co-operate to make it a success, provided that
the new Irish Government raises no obstacles to trade in British
cars.

No import or export licences are required for goods for exhibit
at the Leipzig Sample and Building Fairs, and the Frankfort
International Fair, pTovided the goods are cleared at the Chief
Customs House at Leipzig and the Frankfort Customs Housq
respectively, and remain undeir Customs control until the time of re-
exportation, which must be effected within two months of the close
of the Fairs.

Benn Brothers' stand at the British Industries Fair, which is to
be held at Birmingham from Feb. 27 to March 10, is in Building
"A," No. 4, quite near the first entrance. All books, journals, and
directories published by the firm will be on sale, and representatives
will be in attendance to answer all enquiries. The Editor of " The
Export World " has a block of the plan of the exhibition, showing
ihe position of the stand, from which stereos could be taken it
required.

An International Sample Fair is to be held at Zagireb (Aga;am),
Jugo-Slavia, from June 3 to 15 this yean-. The Fair authoritiesi
are anxious that tJie United Kingdom should be represented.
Customs duties will be remitted, and there will be a 50 per cent.,
reduction within the Kingdom on transpo^rt costs of exhibits and
fares for exhibitors. The charges for space range, according to
position and type, fxom 200 to 800 crowns per squai'e metre. A
limited number of application forms is available on applicataon to
the Department of Overseas Trade

Wireless Notes.

It is stated that there are between five and six tboasand people
in Great Britain with licences for amatelb wmiLMS ApPAaATcs for
receiving purpobes, and about 150 with transmission licences.

The Government took over the radio-teleii' ' " 'i»H
North Borneo in 1916, and in that year 11 I n»-
mitted. This number has increa.sed gra'l ... ---- iho
number had risen to 22 400, exclusive of P _'e8. ihe ser-
vice is proving useful for commercial and r, jrpoeefl.

A lecture on " The Radiation of Electro- Magnetic Waves in Wire-
less Tblegraphy" was given by Prof. G. W. 0. Howe, of the
National Physical Laboratory, at the Technical College, Bradfc«rd,
on Saturday, in connection with the wireless exhibition organised
by the Bradford Wireless Society. Practical demonstrations of
music and speech by wireless were also given.

The Post Office authorities have agreed to permit the sending out
by wireless telegraphy on certain fixed wave-lengths, of speeches

and music, for haif-an-hour on one day in ev - l- fr,r the

benefit of amateur wireless enthusiasts. It is '. 'hat the

Marconi Company will undertake all necessary an _ at their

high-power station at Chelmsford. The Wireless Society of Lfjndon
has been trying for about twelve months to secure this privilege
for amateurs. It is hoped the permission will be formally granted
this month.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

The Melbocrne-Sydney new trunk-lts-e is now being operated as
a composite telephone and duplex telegraph circuit.

In the NEW Persian Cabinet which took office on Jan. 21, Ettela-
es-Saltaneh has been appointed Minister of Posts and Telegraphs.

It was stated on Monday that, as the result of a severe storm.
direct cable communication with Tangier had been interrupted.

Hull municipal telephones show a profit in the current financial
year of £4 500 after the payment of £7 000 in rates and £1QOOO

in royalties to the Government.

The Chinese Ministry of Cojimunications is preparing to install
a long-distance telephone between Peking and Harbin via Fengtien
and Tientsin, which will be in operation next year.

In connection with the Genoa Conference, to be held next month,
the Italian Government are taking steps to double the telephonic,
telegraphic and wireless facilities. The Minister of Posts and
Telegraphs has applied for a credit of 1 000 000 lire for this purpose.

The Havre Chamber of Commerce is negotiating with M. Loth
for laying a leader cable in the port of Havre. It would ran out
from the port to the lightship moored westward of Cap La Heve.
and beyond the lightship in a direction parallel with the coast up
to Cap d'Antifeir, a total distance of about thirty miles. The cable
would be laid in the navigable channel, and. although fogs are rare at
Havre, the authorities are anxious that a French port should be the
first to utilise a French invention of such importance.

Imperial Notes.

Negotiations have been commenced between this country and
the United States on the proposed waterw.\t between the Great
Lakes and the St. L.\wrence, it being believed that some inter-
national agreement should be reached before any action is taken
by Congress.

A large amount of tramway track renewal will have to be carried
out during the next two or three years by the Joh.vnnesburg Tram-
way and Lighting Committee, and the Council have decided tha'
where there is no alternative route by which the traffic might be
diverted, the work can be carried out by the use of portable
crossovers.

In reply to a question in the House of Representatives, on Mon-
day, Mr. Massey, the Prime Minister, stated that his Government
had given a contract for hydro-electrical plant and supplies to a
British firm, in spite of the tender being £13 000 more than that of a
New Zealand firm handling American"" machinery. The preference
tariff reduced the difference to £7 000.

The Postmaster-C^eneral of the Australian Commonwealth has
given a definition of a " book '" by eliminating the publications
which he considers should not be included. In the excluded list
are directories. Acts of Parliament, law reports, and statistical
works, which are classified as printed matter chargeable at Id. for
every 2 oz. The rate for books is Id. for every 8 oz. when printed
in Australia, and when printed elsewhere Id. for every 4 oz.

The proposal to erect a transmission line for the supply of elec-
tricity from Port Kembla Power Sution. Sydney. N.S.W., to
Bowral, Mittagong and ^loss Vale, with a branch line to Picton. has
been modified bv the New South Wale.s Parliamentary Standing
Committee. Only the line to Bowral. Mitta^ong and Moss Vale
(about twenty-two and a half miles in length), will be erected, and
it will be employed to convey the surplus power (alxmt 1000 kW)
from Port Kembla to meet the immediate needs of the towns and
districts mentioned for town lighting, water pumping, brickmaking
and quarrying. The estimated cost is £32 000.

142

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

Foreign Notes.

It is stated that forty-nine United States railway companies have
been ordered to instal automatic train control by July 1, 1924.

The N'zilo and Lufira P'alls in the Belgian Congo are to be
utilised by the Union Miniere du Haut Katanga to provide electric
power for the company's new copper ore treatment plant.

In consequence of the wages dispute between the United Electric
Tramways Company of Montevideo and its employees, the Municipal
Council of Montevideo have taken the high-handed step of seizing
the company's property, and they are paying the men the increased
wages demanded ! The managers are retaining their posts on
instructions from the board in London.

A considerable amount of industrial progress was made by Czecho-
slovakia during 1921, and, like most countries, the tendency is to
form large combines. According to " The Times Financial and
Commercial Review" of the year, the new issues amounted to 634
million Czsl.K., in which the East-Bohemia and the Moravo-Silesian
Electricity Works participated to the extent of- 118 million Czsl.K.

Miscellaneous.

The Am.\lgamated Engineering Union has rejected by 50 240
votes to 35 525 the proposed agreement regarding management and
overtime.

Among the recommendations of the Geddes Committee, it is
suggested, the " Manchester Dispatch " states, that the Ministry of
Transpo'-t, the Road Fund, and the Electricity Commission be done
away with, and the work at present done by these bodies be trans-
ferred to the Board of Trade.

Scarborough Town Council has fixed a basic rate of pay for its
officials and workmen. Both are to be on the same basis, namely,
that the basic salary or wage shall be generally at the rate of 25 per
cent, above the pre-war rate, the difference between that and the
present scale, salary, or wage to be regarded as bonus.

Mr. W. E. Mandelick, secretary of the Underground Electric
Railway Company, and of the London General Omnibus Company,
left estate of the gross value of £10 563, with net personality
£8 802. His bequests included £1000 to the Railway Benevolent
Institution and £50 each to L. Burrows and A. Sheale, of Electric
Railway House.

Booklets containing the general conditions of tender, applicable
to calls for tenders issued by the Belgian Ministry of INational
Defence, Ministry of Railways, Post and Telegraphs, Ministry of
the Colonies, and Ministries of Agriculture, Industry, and Public
Works may be inejTected at the Department of Overseas Trade.
(Reference D.O.T. 13 561/F.W.).

Members of the Leicester Association of Engineers and friends
to the number of 130 paid a visit to the works of Herbert Morris,
Ltd. , Loughborough, on Saturday, to inspect the latest type of trans-
porting apparatus in operation, and also the means of producing the
same. The firm's staff gave up their half -holiday for the occasion, and
the directors spared no pains to make the visit a success.

During the year 1921, fuel, power and waterworks companies
increased their capital by £33 797 932. Of tliis sum, electrical com-
panies only accounted for £503 000. The total increase in the
metal industries amounted to £12 247 849, of which total engineering
and machinery companies accounted for £4 272 616, electrical com-
panies £2 749 398^ iron and steel companies £2 749 398, and other
metals £1 330 833.

The nineteenth annual report and statement of accounts of Callen-
der's Hospital and Distress Fund was submitted and approved
at the general meeting held at the Belvedere works last Saturday,
over which Sir Tom Callender presided. Owing to the unemploy-
ment caused by the coal strike, the number of members decreased,
and the weekly subscriptions showed a decrease of £16 on the pre-
vious year, the total amounting to £745 17s. 6d., against £761 19o. 7d.
The committee gratefully acknowledge additional contributions
amounting to £73 2s., including £50 from Callender's Cable and
Construction Company, and £5 5s. from Sir Tom Callender. The
annual awards to the hospitals, couA'alescent homes, &c., amounted
to £661 10s. (against £640 10s. last year), of which Guy's Hospital
received £210 and the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital £63.

Trade Inquiries.

A British subject in Belgium is desirous of obtaining the agency
of _ electrical or mechanical maoliinery manufactiwors in the United
Kingdom. Particulars from the Depm-tment of Overseas Trade
(Ref. No. 95).

A Canadian firm manufacturing copper lightning conductoi's are
desirous of receiving quotations from United Kingdom manu-
facturers for : [a] bright soft drawn copper wire, No. 17 B. & S.
gauge 0045 in. diameter; {b) copper tubes. No. 20 B. & S. gauge
(032 in.), f in. outside diameter. Par'iculars may be obtained from
the Department of Overseas Trade (Reference D.O.T.
7631/E.D./S.C.2).

Social Notes.

Old Students of the Finsbury Technical College held an
informal dinner and smoking concert at the Engineers' Club, Coven-
try-street, London, on Friday, last week. Mr. W. G. Head (Presi-
dent of the Association) presided. Under the direction of Mr.
L. N. Clark a well-varied musical programme was carried out.

The newly formed musical section of the Ferranti Recreation Club
gave three performances of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, " Trial
by Jury," in the works canteen on Wednesday, Thursday and Mon-
day, Jan. 18, 19, and 23, preceded by a miscellaneous concert. The
performances proved a great success both musically and financially.

An informal dinner and reunion of past employees of R. W.
Paul, late of New Southgate, was held on Saturday, Jan. 28, at
the Great Eastern Hotel, I-ondon. Mr. Paul presided, and the even-
ing was an unqualified success. Past employees who were not
notified on this occasion are asked to send their names and addresses
to F. Stroude, 20, Lea Bridge-road, Clapton, London, E. 5.

The Electrical Contractors' Association have arranged to hold
a smoking concert at the Engineers' Club, Coventry Street, London.
W., on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m., at which the President of
the Association has promised to be present. In addition to the
concert, matters relating to the electrical industry as a whole will
be discussed, with special reference to the work of the E.C.A. Any
London electrical contractoi', whether a membei- or not, who' wishes
to attend, should apply to the secretary, Mr. L. G. Tate, for a
ticket.

Companies' Meetinj^s, Reports, &c.

The Electrical and Industrial Investment Company recom-
mend a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent, for the year on the pre-
ferred ordinary shares.

Herbert Morris, Ltd., announce the usual half-yearly dividend
to Jan 31 on the 6 per cent, (less tax) and 5 per cent, (tax free)
cumulative preference shares.

Clontarf and Hill of Howth Tramroad Company have declared
a half-yearly dividend at the rate of 3 per cent, per annum and a
bonus of Is. per share,- both less tax.

Hong Kong Tramway Company have declared a final dividend of
Is. 7d. per share, making 2s. 7d. per share for the year on the 5s.
shares, equivalent to a dividend for the year of 51 3-5 per cent.

The City of Buenos Ayres Tr.\mways Company recommends a
balance dividend of Is. 3d. per share, making 5 per cent, per annum,
less tax, placing £2 000 to general amortisation fund, and carrj'ing
forward £7 339.

The directors of the Tottenham District Light, Heat and
Power Company recommend dividends for the half-year ended
December 31, 1921, at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum on the
preference stock, 1^^ per cent, per annum on " A " stock, and 5| per
cent, per annum on " B " stock, all less tax.

The Stock Exchange Committee has ordered the following
securities to be quoted in the Official List : — $5 567 000 5 per cent.
first mortgage gold bonds of the Mexican Electric Light Companv.
$11 340 500 5 per cent, first mortgage gold bonds and $1 000 000
5 per cent, second mortgage 50-yepr bonds of the Mexican Light and
Power Company, $10 298 000 general consolidated first mortgage
50-year 5 per cent, gold bonds and £1 250 000 6 per cent. 50-year
mortgage bonds of the Mexico Tramways Company, and £800 000

5 per cent, first mortgage 50-year bonds of the Pachuca Light &
Power Company, in lieu of deposit receipts now quoted.

The report of the Dublin United Tramways Comp.any (1896),
Ltd., for the year ending Dec. 31, 1921, shows a net profit of
£95 778. Interim dividends, amounting to £19 530, were paid
on July 30, and it is recommended that a dividend at the rate of

6 per cent, per annum, less income-tax, be paid on the preference
stock for the half-year' ending Dec. 31, and that a final dividend at
the rate of 7 per cent, per annum, less income-tax (making 5 per
cent, for the year), be paid on the ordinary stock for the same half-
year ; and £3S 000 be set aside towards renewal of track. The divi-
dends and sum set aside will absorb £83 300, leaving £12 478 to be
carried forward.

Presiding on Tuesday at the annual meeting of the East London
Railway, at the Great Eastern Hotel, E.C.. Lord Claud Hamilton
stated, with reference to the grouping of the railways, that under
the Railways Act, 1921, the railways in the metropolitan area had
been left to take their own course. So far they had considered no
scheme of general amalgamation, but he believed that it would be in
their own interests, and especially in the interests of the public, that
they should form one group, which, of course, would include the East
London. Unfortunately, the East London was not a free agent, and
must be dependent on what might be the final destination of the six
lessee companies. An abstract of the accounts was given in our issue
last week.

At an extraordinary general meeting of the Calcutta Electric
Supply Corporation, held in London last week, to consider a resolu-
tion authorising the borrowing of a sum not exceeding £500 000,
the Chairman (Lord Meston) stated that lo meet the growing
demands both for domestic and manufacturing purposes, the
generating plant capacity, which would this year be increased from

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

143

21 000 to 42 000 kW, would require to be further augmented next
year by the addition of a 15 000 kW set ; that for the latter and
certain other urgent requirements another £500 000 would l)e
required; and that if the members approved, the Trade Facilities
Act Advisory Committ«e were willing to recommend to the Treasury
that it should arrange a loan of that amount and guarantee on
behalf of the Government both the capital and the interest. The
resolution was carried unanimously.

New Companies.

The. following list is compiled from information supplied by
Alfi.ssrs. Jordan <G Sons, Ltd., company registration agents, 116-llb,
Chancery-lane, London, IF. 6'. 2.

Gerald Gars, Ltd. (179 222), Norwich House, Southampton
Street, Bloomsbury, W.C. Registered Jan. 24. To acquire certain
patents for inventions in relation to variable speed power trans-
mission gear, and to carry on the business of manufacturers of
motor cars, motor cycles, &c. Nominal capital, £25 000 in 19 000
ordinary shares of £1 each and 120 000 deferred shares of Is. each ;
Minimum subscription £7. Director : F. D. Gerald Taylor.
Remuneration of directors £200 each. Chairman £250. Public
company.

United Sugar Engineers, Ltd. (179 209), 115, Holland Road,
W. 14. Registered Jan 23. Dealers in machinery rfor the manu-
facture of sugar. Nominal capital, £10 000 in 10 000 shares of
£1 each. Director : R. Mitchell. Private company.

Veco, Ltd. (179 210). 6, Back York Place, King Street, Leeds.
Registered Jan. 23. To manufacture and deal in electrical
accessories. Nominal capital, £1000 in 1000 shares of £1 each.
Directors : C. L. Douthwaite and R. Lindley. Qualifications of
directors, five shares. Private company.

Watt Electrical Co., Ltd. (179 173). Registered Jan. 20.
Electrical, manufacturing, mechanical and general engineers.
Nominal capital, £600 in 600 shares of £1 each. Directors to be
appointed by subscribers. Qualification of directors, one share.
Subscribers : L. N, Abrey, 533, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich,
S.E. (electrical engineer), and E. H. Whatton. Private company.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

" Meldrum " Forced Draught furnaces are fully described in
a loose-leaf illustrated pamphlet just issued by the firm.

The Electric Heating Company are circulating a folder giving
illustrations and particulars of their fires, irons, and soldering
stoves.

Wright Motors, Ltd., have issued a new price list of their
single, two, and three phase induction motors, pipe ventilated, and
totally enclosed induction motors and crane-rated motors.

Julius Sax & Company have published a new catalogue of their
electric bell and light .accessories. The book contains seventy-two
pages, and is artistically produced and well illustrated.

In a descriptive folder, entitled " Universalize Your Home,"
L. G. Hawkins & Co. illustrate and describe a number of their
" Universal" electric appliances, including grills, toasters, milk-
warmers, coffee percolators, and irons.

G. N. Haden & Sons have issued a pleasing wall calendar for
1922. The monthly sheets, which measure 9^ in. by 12 in. each,
contain a large photograph of some well-known buildings in which
the heating installations have been provided by the firm. Below
these photographs is printed in clear black letters the calendar for
the month, on either side of which, in smaller figures, appear calen-
dars for the preceding and following month.

Forty Years Ago.

(The Electrici.w, Feb. 4, 1882).

Eastern Telegraph Company. — The traffic receipts of this
Company for the month of January, 1882, amounted to £53 648,
and to £47 445 in the corresponding period of 1881, being an
increase of £6 203.

Institution of Civil Engineers.— At the meeting of this
institution on Tuesday next, a paper is to be read by Mr. Paget
Higgs. The subject will be " The Measurement of the Candle
Power of the Electric Light."

The Electric Light for the House of Commons: The " Daily
News " says : " The electric light will not, for the present at
least, be used for the illuminaticn of the House of Commons ;
but should experiments in addition to those tried last year prove
mure satisfactory than the latter have turned out, it is probable
the electric light will be laid on permanently during the Easter
recess."

Electric Light and Gas in Belgium. — "L'Industrie Beige " for
Jan. 26th gives the following comparative figures of the cost of
the Jaspar system of electric lighting and gas. According to our
contemporary, M. Jaspar's factory in the Rue Jonfosse. at Liege,
was originally lighted by forty ga's burners at a cost of 1.25 francs
per hour. The expense of lighting the same with his lamps is :
For carbons 20 centimes, coal and oil for motor and machine
15 centimes, calculated for wear and tear 15 centimes, total
50 centimes, or half a franc. M. Jaspar uses reflectors to a very
large extent, thereby avoiding shadows and lighting up all corners.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. Feb. 3rd (to-day).

Institute of Cost and Works Accoltstasts.
3.30 p.m. At the Holborn Restaurant, London, W.C. Costing
Conference on " The Xecesity for Scientific Costing."
Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

6 p.m. At Storeys Gate, London, S.W. Discussion on "Some

Observations on a Producer-Gas Power Plant," by Messrs.
H. S. Denny, C.B.E., and N. V. S. Knibbs.
Junior Institution of Engineers.
8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lectarette on
" Utilisation of Waste Heat from Internal Combaslion
Engines," by Major W. Gregson.

MONDAY. Feb. 6th.

Society of Engineers.

5.30 p.m. At the Geological Society, Burlington Hoase, Picca-
dilly, London, W. Presidential address by Mr. T. J.
Gueritte, B.Sc.

Institution of Electrical Enginters.
(Western Centre).
o.JfO p.m. At the South Wales Institute of Engineers. Park
Place, Cardiff. Address on " Commercial Development,"
by Mr. J. S. Highfield.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Informal Meeting.)

7 p.m. At Savoy Place, London, W.C. Discassion on " Some

Practical Applications of the Thermionic Valve," opened
by Mr. J. Joseph.
TUESDAY. Feb. 7th.

Institution of Civil Engtneers.

6 p.m. At Great George Street, London, S.W. Paper on

"Hydro-Electric Installations of the Barcelona Traction,
Light and Power Company," by Dr. H. F. Parshall.
Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(N. -Western Centre.)

7 p.m. At the Engineers' Club, Albert Square, Manchester.

Paper on " The Interconnection of A. C. Power Stations,"
by Messrs. L. J. Romero, and J. B. Palmer.
Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Students' Section, S. -Midland Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At the University, Edmund Street Birmingham.
Paper on "Telephone Transmission through Submarine
Cables," by Mr. A. Rosen, B.Sc.
Rontgen Society.
S.15 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy
Place, London, W.C. Papers on "A New High-Tension
Generator for X-Ray and other Work," by Mr W. H.
Wilson; "Canny Ryall Diathermy Apparatus,"
" lonostat," "A New " lontoquantimeter," and "New
X-Ray Protective Material," by Mr. H. C. Head; "The
Taylor Jones Electrostatic Oscillograph," " A New Design
of "Gold Leaf Electroscope," by Mr. H. E. Donithome;
" A New Boiling-water X-Ray Tube." by Mr. C. .Vndrews ;
"Diathermv App;>ratus," bv Messrs. F. R. Butt and Co.,
Ltd., and "' A New Model of X-Ray Table," by Mr. E. E.
Burnside.
WEDNESDAY. Feb. 8th.

Industrial League and Council.
7.30 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecture on
"Industrial Unrest: Does it make for Progress?" by
Prof. A. W. Kirkaldy, M.A.

Liverpool Engineering Society.

5 p.m. At the Roval Institution, Colquitt Street. Liverpool.

Paper on " Aerial Wire Ropeways." by Mr. J. W. White.

THURSDAY. Feb. 9th.

Institution of Civil Engineers.
(Students' Meeting.)

6 p.m. At Great George Street, London. S.W. Paper on

" The Design of Modern Water-Turbmes, .- ■ > J.
Kingston-McCloughry, D.S.O.

Institution of Electru-al Engineers.
(Liverpool Students' Sub Centre.)

7 30 p.m. At the University, Liverpool. Popular Lecture oiv

"Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony, by Prof. E. ^^ .

Marchant, D.Sc. *

National Liberal Club Political and Economic Cir<ci:&.
S pm. At the Club. Whitehall Place. London, S.W. Lecture

on " Incentives in a New Industrial Order : Will a New

Order Work? " by Mr. T. Fisher Unwm.

FRIDAY. Feb. 10th.

Institution of Electricu. Engineers.
(Scottish Centre. Students' Section.)
7 30 pm. At the Roval Technical College. Glasgow. Paper
on ' The Sperrv Gvro Compass," by Mr. H. M'Comb^.

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Warrington Corporation. Feb. 6. — Main e.h.t. switchboard
extension. Specification, &c., from the Borough Electrical and
Tramways Engineer.

Dublin Electricity Supply Committee. Feb 7. — One or two
years' supply of extra high-pressure and low-pressure cables, cable
laying, and supply of troughing, section pillars and joint boxes.
Specification, &c., from the City Electrical Engineer, Fleet-street,
Dublin.

Burton-on-Trent Bo.AiiD OF Guardians. Feb. 8. — Installation of
electric light at the hospital. Tender forms from the Clerk, Mr.
H. E. Askew.

Midland Railway Company Northern Counties Committek
(Ireland). Feb. 9. — Three, six, or twelve months' supply of stores,
including telegraph ironwork, wire, batteries, electric lamps, car-
bons, &c. Forms of tender from the Stores Superintendent, York-
road Station, Belfast.

Dundee Tramways Committee. Feb. 10. — One year's supply of
stores, including anti-friction metal, armature coils, commutators,
carbon brushes, insulated tapes, wire, lamps, switches, castings, oils,
grease, trolley rope, &c. Specifications from the General Manager,
Tramway Offices, Dundee.

Manchester Electricity Committee. Feb. 10. — One 2 000 kW
induction motor-genea-ator, complete with the necessary opea-ating
switch-gear. Particulars from Mr. F. E. Hughes, the Secretary,
Electricity Department, Town Hall.

Leeds Corporation. Feb. 10. — Electrical Fittings. Particulars
from Mr. W. T. Lancashire, City Engineer, Municipal Buildings,
Leeds.

ISIanchester Tramways Committee. Feb. 14. — Tramcar type Ah
meters, armature and field coils, lamps, bells, and cells, insulation
material, overhead equipment material, power and lighting cable,
&c. Particulars from Mr. J. M. McElroy, General Manager, Cor-
poration Tramways, 55, Piccadilly, INIanchester.

Cardiff Corporation. Feb. 15. — 400 tons of steel tram rails.
Specifications, &c., from the City Engineer.

Edinburgh Corporation. Feb. 15. — Auxiliary circuits and elec-
tric lighting and earthing for Westbank power station. Specification,
&c., from the Electrical Engineer, Dewar-place, Edinburgh.

Bradford Corporation. Feb. 18.— Steel girder tram rails. Par-
ticulars from Mr. F. Marsden, City Engineer and Surveyor, Town
Hall, Bradford.

Dublin Electricity Committee. Feb. 20.— Transformers for one
or two years. Specifications, &c., from the City Electrical Engineer,
Fleet-street, Dublin.

Great Western Railway. Feb. 20.— Stores for three months
from March 1st, including telegraph instruments, electrical
apparatus (insulators), &c., electrical wires and cables, telegraph
ironwork, and tools, telegraph drysalteries, and electric lamps.

Hammersmith Borough Council. Feb. 22. — Stores for 3, 6, or
12 months, commencing on April 1, including electric light sundries,
insulated wire, metals, packing and jointing materials, tools, joint
boxes and connections, and meters. Particulars from Mr. G. G.
Bell, Borough Electrical Engineer, 85, Fulham Palace Road, W. 6.

Metropolitan Water Board. Feb. 23.— Electric lamps, &c., for
three, six, or twelve months. Forms of tender from the Chief
Engineer, 173, Rosebery-avenue, London, E.C. 1.

EsTON. Feb. 28. — The erecting and providing of plant in con-
nection with the overhead lines, underground caoles, transformers,
sijb-station equipment, and public lighting fittings required under
Eston Electricity Special Order, 1921. Particulars from the Clerk,
Mr. T. Belk, Cleveland House, Grangeto ^^/n, S.O., Yorks.

Hampstead (London) Borough Counch- March 15. — Supply of
▼arious stores for eix or twelve months, including electrical
engineers' stores and oils for the electricity station. Form of tender,
&c., from the Town Clerk.

Aylesbury Corporation. — 300 kW converter, with e.h.t. and l.t.
switchgear. Specifications, &c., from the Borough Electrical
Engineer.

Accrington Corporation. — Supply, delivery, and complete erec-
tion of 25 0001b. water-tube boilers, economisers and brickwork.
Particulars from Mr. A. W. Clegg, Engineer and Works Manager.
AUSTRALIA.

New South Wales Government Railways and Tramways
Department (Electrical Engineer's Branch).— Feb. 22, 1922.—
•Supply, delivery, erection and maintenance of one 5 000 kW
50 cycle turbo-alternator with condenser and accessories, at Zarra-
etreet power house, Newcastle. (Contract No. 556.) I'enders, to
the Secretary for Railways, Phillip-street, Sydney, N.S.W. Ix)cal
representation is essential.

Postmaster-General's Department, Adelaide. April 5. — *
Twelve adjustable condensers for use on telegraph duplex circudts.
(Schedule No. 613.)

* Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbane. April 19. — *
Supply and delivei-y of testing and telegraph instruments, including
d.c. aanmeters, a.c. bridge condenser ooil, condensers, cross-talk
meters, detectors, milliammeters, polarised relays, and artificial
telephone cable boxes. (Stores Sohedule No. 549.)

NEW ZEALAND.

Public Works Department, Wellington. Feb. 28. — *Supply and
delivery, ex ship's slings Lyttelton, of a bank of three 11 000 V
reactances, complete, for the Lake Coleridge electric power scheme.

DuNEDiN City Coxincil. March 31. — *Supply and delivery of
one 150 h.p. three-phase induction motor and reduction gear for the
Mornington Cable Service.

Auckland Harbour Board. April 25.- — Four double-barrel elec-
tric winches for the Central Wharf, Auckland. Specifications from
W. & A. McArthur, 18-19, Silk-street, Cripplegate, London, E.C. 2.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Municipal Council of Johannesburg. Feb. 9. — *Fifty 500 A
and fifty 200 A knife switches, and the following cable, viz. :
6160 yds. h.t. 015 by 015 sq. in., concentric, paper insulated, lead
covered, and double tape armoured; 880 yds. h.t. 015 bv 015, by
not less than 0212 sq. in. ; and 6 160 yds. h.t. 025 by 0-25 by not
less than 0 35 sq. in., twin concentric, paper insulated, lead covered
and double tape armoured.

Durban Corporation Electrical Department. April 12. — *
Two 500 kW rotary converter automatic sub-station equipments.
Alternative tenders for mercury arc rectifiers may be submitted
instead of rotary converters, the switchgear to be completely auto-
matic and suitable for their proper operation and control.

ITALY.

Director-General of the Italian State Railways. April 30. —
Electrification of the Bologna- Venice-Monfalcone line. Particulars
from the Direzione-Generale, Ferrovie dello Stato, Rome.

SOUTH AMERICA.

State Electric Power House, Montevideo. March 21. — *
Diesel set, comprising a 4-stroke Diesel engine directly coupled to
a d.c. generator of 125 kW for a three-wire system at 2x235 V.
Local representation is essential.

BULGARIA.

Bulgarian Department of Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones.
February 20. — *2 000 telephone instruments for table use, with
local battery and magneto. Also for spare parts.

Bulgarian Department of Posts. Feb. 27. — *Electricians' email
tools, including 900 pairs pincers, 20 brazing lamps, 100 soldering
irons, 1 500 bits, 300 axes.

Bulgarian Post and Telegraph AuTHORrriES, March 15. — *
The supply of 1 A fuses, cartridge fuses for protection from light-
ning, 3 A fuses, line annunciators, carbon lightning arresters.

Bulgarian Postal Authorities, March 21. — 'Telephone, pole-
line hardware (4-pin carriers for insulators, bolts, etc.).

Bulgarian Postal Authorities, March 27. — *-3 000 junction
pieces for batteries. Delivery required within four months.

Salford Corporation have accepted the tenders of W. T. Glover
& Company for 2 000 yds. l.t. cable, £446; and Enfield Ediswan
Cable Company, 4 000 yds. ditto, £839.

Wimbledon Electricity Committee recommend the Council to
accept the tender of the English Electric Companj' for h.t. switch-
gear at Raynes Park sub-station, £859 lOs.

London Cou:.ty Council have accepted the tender of Steel, Peech
and Tozer for 2 000 tramcar trailing wheel tyres at £1 16s. each.
There were two lower tenders, which were not to specification. Seven-
teen offers were received, and in si.xteen of these alternative figures
were given for. 2 000 and 1000 tyres. The highest and lowest ten-
ders for 1 000 were £5 and £1 Is. 6d. respectively, and for 2 000
£5 and £1 Is. ,. while one offer was £27 per ton.

Keighley To\vn Council have accepted the tender of Babcock &
Wilcox, amounting to £4 349, for the execution of the work and
supply of all material required in extensions to the boiler-house and
coal-conveying plant at the electricity works, the contract to contain
a special clause providing that in the event of any reduction in the
cost of labour or materials during the execution of the work the
Corporation shall be entitled to the benefit of such reduction.

Spencer & Company, Ltd., Melksham, Wilts, have obtained from
the Union Government of South Africa an order for grain elevator
machinery of the value of £400 000 to £500 000. It is intended to
erect a large shipping grain elevator at Dm-ban and a smaller one at
Cape Town, together with thirty-four elevators in diffei'ent parts of
the country. The elevator at Durban and the thirty-four country
elevators will be erected by Messrs. Spencer.

February 3, 1922

The Electrician.

145

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

London Gazette.

Bankruptcy Information.

FIGGINS, Jam€6 Victor, 3, Pottery-t/errace, Alexandra-road, New-
port, electrical engineer. First meeting, Feb. 9, 11.45 a.m.,
County Court Office, Dock-street Newport. Public examination,
March 14, 10.30 a.m., Town Hall, Newport.

ROTHWELL, Peter, 64, Higher Bridge-street, Bolton, in partner-
ship with P. A. Rothwell (a minor), under the style of P. A.
Rothwell & Company, electrical engine/Cr. First meeting, Feb. 8,
3 p.m., Official Receiver's Offices, Byrom-street, Manchester.
Public examination, Feb. 15, 2.15 p.m., Court House, Mawdeley-
street, Bolton.

Notice of Intended Dividend.

BECKETT, Samuel (jun.), Deane-road, Bolton, Co. Lancaster, elec-
trician. Last day for receiving proofs, Feb. 4. Trustee, J. G.
Gibson, Official Receiver, Byrom-street, Manchester.

Notices of Dividends.

DCWNIE, Charles Philip Manners, 355a, Westborough-road, and
88, Ronald Park-avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, electrical
engineer and factor. Amount per £, 4s. Q^d. First and final.
Paya.ble Feb. 3, Official Receiver's Office, 29, Russell-square,
London, W.C. 1.

HYDE, Thomas, 180, London-road, Croydon, Surrey, electrician.
Amount per £, Is. 9|d. First and final. Payable Feb. 15, 29,
Rufisell-square, W.C. 1.

WARING, Thomas Driffield, late 18, Waterloo-place, Coney-street,
York, electrical engineer. Amount per £, 8s. lid. First and
final. Payable Feb. 6, Official Receiver's Offices, Duncombe-
place, York.

Edinburgh Gazette.

In the sequestration of R. ANDERSON WILSON, electrical engi-
neer, 19, Waterloo-street, Glasgow, James Andrew French, 116,
Hope-street, Glasgow, has been elected trustee, and W. F.
Strang, A. E. R. Copland, and T. Armstrong, of Glasgow, have
been elected commissioners. The examination of the bankrupt
will take place in Sheriff Boyd's Chambers, County Buildings,
70, Hutcheson-street, Glasgow, Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 2.15 p.m.
The creditors will meet in the trustee's chambers Friday,
Feb. 10, at 12 noon.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgments" does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the oases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

BENNETT, Mr. W., 1, Richardson-street, Derby, electrician.
£22 3s. Id. Nov. 16.

ELECTRICAL EXCHANGE COMPANY, 43, St. Nicholas-street,
Bristol, electrical factors. £41 13s. 6d. Nov. 22.

FALSHAW, Cyril, 69, Dragon-parade, Harrogate, electrical engi-
neer. £17 3s. 5d. Nov. 18.

JA"i , Arthur, 20, St. Thomas-square, Hackney, electrician.
£30 2s. 2d. Nov. 22.

JOHNSON, Jas. Nelson, 62, High-street, Hull, electrician.
£34 7s. 2d. Nov. 17.

THOMAS & EVANS, 5 and 7, Salubrious-place, Swansea, electrical
engineers. £14 4s. 9d. Nov. 22.

WILSON, Bruce (and wife), 2, Senior-street, Moldgreen, Hudders-
field, electrical engineer. £17 10s. 2d. Nov. 18.

WILSON, Wm., 27, Fowler-street, South Shields, electrical engi-
neer. £11 17s. 6d. Nov. 15.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note.— The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]
CULKIN & PARKINSON, LTD., Leeds, electricians. Registered

Jan. 23, £400 debentures; general charge.
KEIGHLEY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, LTD.

Registered Jan. 20, debentures, to Barclay's Bank, Ltd., secur-

ing all moneys doe or to becofn« due to the bank ; geo«ntl cbargA.
•£5 000. Nov. 30, 1921.

READING ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY, LTD. Registered
Jan. 16, tru-st deed dated Dec. 31, 1921, securing £100 OOU deben-
ture stfK:k ; charged on hereditaments fipecified in trust deed,
also general charge. 'fiSO 000. April 21, 1921.

SOUTHERN BRAZIL ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD., London,
E.C. Regihtered Jan. 23, £194 500 8 per cent, notes (including
£176 500 already regi.stered) (filed under Sec. 93 (3) of the
Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908), present issue £18 000;
gen -ral charge. '£863 410. Dec. 29, 1921.

YORKSHIRE & DISTRICT ELECTRIC LAMP REPAIRING
COMPANY, LTD., Sheffield. Registered Jan. 21, mortgage
securing all moneys not ex. £1 500, which the mortgagees
may pay under their guarantee to the company's bankers, to
H.J. M. Cockayne, Sheffield, and others; charged on Heelev
Mill, and other buildings, at Saxon-road, Heeley. '£1 500.
Sept. 13, 1921.

Satisfactions.

KEIGHLEY ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, LTD.

—Satisfaction registered Jan. 23, £5 000, registered Dec 28,

1909.
SAUNDERS ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LTD.. Coventry.—

Satisfaction registered Jan. 25, £500, registered Sept. 14, 1920.

Receivership.

SIMOON ENGINEERING COMPANY, LTD. H. C. Chambers,
5, Chancery-lane, W.C, was appointed receiver on Jan. 14, 1922,
under powers contained in mortgage debenture dated Mar. 26,
1920.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

LANGSFORD, Edwin Growdon, 24, Bar-street, Burnley, late 74,
Westgate, Burnley, Lancashire, electrician. The public
examination of this debtor was held recently at Burnley. The
gross liabilities were shown as £411, of which £397 were ex-
pected to rank for dividend, while there was a deficiency of £397.
Debtor attributed his failure to ill-health. He commenced busi-
ness with £20 capital. He was in business in Westgate for about
a year before he joined the army. He was discharged shortly
afterwards owing to ill-health. He returned to the shop, but
was not able to book any orders for electrical work. Seven or
eight years ago he had an administration order made against him
by that court, and the debts were only partially'cleared off. He
was closely questioned regarding money which had been lent
to him, and the examination was adjourned.

Private Meetings.

\Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily imply failure.

Many private meetings arc called merely for the purpose of the

debtor cortsulting his .creditors as to his position when he may not

be insolvent. 1

BARDSLEY, J. N., 179, Katherine-street. Ashton-under-Lyne, elec-
trical fitter, &c. The creditors interested herein met recently
at Manchester, when a statement of affairs was presented which
showed liabilities of £1 250, of which £725 was due to the
trade, while there was one cash creditor for £195, and the bank
were scheduled as crec^itors for £320. The assets totalled £387,
thus leaving a deficiency of £863. The assets comprised : Stock-
in-trade, tools, fixtures, fittings, &c., £1(30: motor van. £37;
book debts, £251, expected to produce £150 : and insurance
claims, estimated to realise £100. A fire had taken place at the
debtor's premises during the last few weeks, in respect of which
debtor had made a claim, as shown in the statement of affairs.
Debtor started in business in August, 1919. He attributed his
position to loss through two motors not being of any use, and
collision of one, illness of self, competition, and cutting of prices.
Only a rough set of books had leen kept, which had been
imperfectly made up. It was eventually resolved that the estate
should be "dealt witli under a deed of assignment to Mr. Arthur
T. Eaves, of ilanchester. The following are creditors :
Crowther & Osborn. Ltd., Salford. £14: Samuel Gratrix, Junr.,
& Brothers. Ltd.. Manchester, £241 : The Park Electric Engineer-
ing Companv. Manchester. £285; Beaidsall. W. E.. i Company,
Ltd., Manchester, £15: B.T.T. Electric Lamp and Accessories
Companv, London, £42 : Power & Lighting Supplies Company,
Manchester. £14; Wholesale Fittings Company. Ltd., Man-
chester, £14; Giddings & Dacre. Ltd.. Salford. £12.

FOUNTAYNE LAMP AND EXGIXEERIXG COMPANY (1910\

LTD. (in voluntarv liquidation). Tottenham. London. N.

The creditors of the" above were called together recently in

London. The shareholders had previously passed t! ' >o-

lution. and had appointed 'Mr. B. R. Heaton. of 8. ' ~e,

Lincohi's Inn. to act as liquidator. The liabilities . : to

approximateiv £1 999. while the assets were only estimated to
realise £100. " It was stated that there was also a claim by the
landlord in respect of dilapidations, and the present position had
been largely brought about by the liquidation of Messrs. Butler
and Wilson, Ltd.. with whom the company had large stocks.
No resolutions were passed, and the volunt-iiry liquidation of the
company will, therefore, bo lominned with Mr. Ht-aion as the
liquidator.

U(5

The Electrician.

February 3, 1922

Patent Record.

28 142
28 144
28 146
28 160
28 175

28 190
28 1fl'2
28 194

28 196

28 210
28 221

28 225
28 232

28 241

28 242

28 243

28 249

28 264
28 315

28 322
28 352

28 354

APPLICATIONS FOE PATENTS

October 24, 1921.
Turner. Electric arc welding.
Tucker & Co. & Line. Electric fuses.
Moore. Electric chronoscope.
Denner & Lepine. Electric wall, &c., plugs.
Anderson & Huntsworth. Coin-at;tuated electi-ic apparatus for

selling tickets, &c.
HiTCHMOUGH & Shade. Electric oven light.
DoNisTHORPE. Thermionic valves. ,^ _

Norske Aktieselskab FUR Elektrokemisk Industri Norsk Hypotek

BANK. Electric furnaces. (1/11/20, Norway.) ,„.,,„,„„

Western Electric Co. Telephone Exchange system. (25/10/20,

U.S.)
B T -H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Radio transmitting systems.
Radio Communication Co. & Scott-Taggart. Eliminating currents

for wireless telegraphy.
Vickers, Ltd. & Etchells. Electric regulating systems.
Gleeson & Sanche. Electro-therapeutic apparatus. (17/12/20,

US)
Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Apparatus for precipitating dust from

gases by electricity. (22/10/20, Germany.) .

Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie. Single-layer winding for a.c.

dynamos. (28/10/20, Switzerland.) , , ,

Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie. Suppression of higher harmonic

voltages in a.c. dynamos. (28/10/20, Switzerland.)
October 25, 1921.
EvERSHED & Vignoles & Needham. Electrical transmissions for

directional purposes.
Bosch (R.) Art. Ges. Magnetos. (8 '11/20, Gei-many.)
Siemens Bros. &, Co. & Goodwin. Protective devices for electnc

circuits. . .

BoUGHTON. Automatic circuit interrupter for ignition systems.
Wolfe. Portable apparatus for producing electric light or igniting

a wick.
Kelly. Appliances for inserting switch or control, &c., apparatus

within electric circuits.

October 26, 1921.
28 385 Brock. Electric lamps.
28 389 TuRNBULL. Electric light fixtures.
28 393 Preston. Switches.

28 411 Short. Combination electric switch and fuse.
28 428 Henney. Electric motor for gramophones.
28 452 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Switches.
28 456 Ireland, Turner, & Lucas. Electric resistances.
' 28 460 Durtnall. Electric, &c., locomotives, trams, &c.
28 461 Vickers, Ltd. & Etchells. Electro-magnetic switching devices.

28 550
28 561
28 568

28 593
28 619
28 643

28 645

28 659
28 660
28 666
28 672
28 674
28 675

28 676

28 688

28 689
28 696

28 708
28 721

28 760

28 778,
28 739
28 790

28 791

28 815
28 820
28 827
28 8:jl
28 832
28 840
28 848
28 833
28 871
28 880
28 884
28 888

28 889

28 895
28 897
28 922
28 927
28 929

28 935
28 963
28 984

28 985

29 001
29 010

29 017

29 022

October 27, 1921.
Barrington, Goldfarb, & Bottom. Electrical fittings.
VAN Hooydonk. Dry battery.
Watson. Impulsive driving mechanisms for magnetos.

October 28, 1921.

Pilkington & Young. Electrical transmitter microphones.

Mackintosh. Electrically-driven reciprocating tool.

Rootes, Ltd. Means for indicating vand controlling charging
batteries.

Macintosh Cable Co. & Watson. Electrical connections in dis-
connecting link box.

Hamilton. Wireless apparatus.

Kerr-Nesbitt, Green, & King. Electric motor.

Carter. Reversible bracket for electric lamp holders.

Marryatt & Scott. Lamps operating by electric discharge.

HosiE. Electric wire insulators attached to poles.

Metropolitan- Vickers Electrical Co. & Scanes. Electrolytic
starters or controllers for motors.
X-Rays, Ltd. & Codd. X-ray apparatus.

Callender's Cable & Construction Co. & Watson. Bonding
devices for electrical junction boxes.

Gilligan. Electric heaters.

Dowsett. Arc generators of electric oscillations.

October 29. 1921.

Robinson. Vacuum tubes.

Meager & Southard. Assembling and protecting elecj;ric wires for
connecting commutator and ignition coils of engines, &c.

Trnnant. Electric number indicator.

28 779, & 28 781 Electric water heaters.

Hutcheson. Devices for registering telephone calls.

Sefton- Jones (Loi^anz Akt. Ges,). Apparatus for production of
high-frequency oscillations by low-frequency a.c.

Sefton-Jones (Loranz Akt. Gfes."*. Process for increasing frequency
by static frequency transformer, &c.
October 31, 1921.

Powell. Mouthpieces for telephones. &c.

Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Raihv:iy signalling apparatus.

Wakefiecd & Sons & Lymburn. Electric lamps.

MoRKis. Combined ammeters and voltmeters.

Morris. Voltmeters, ammeters, &c.

Preston. Shock-absorbing device for electric lamps.

SoMAGNi. Electric machines. (30/10/20, Italy.)

Huther & Weeke. Electric alarms.

Bulimore. Thermionic valve for wireless telegraphy, &c.

HoRAFMAN Gear Co. Time switches.

Kelly. Respirator mouthpieces and telephone transmitters.

National Pneumatic Co. Electrical transmission of communica-
tions. (16/5/21, U.S.) •

Nationai Pneumatic Co.
U.S.)

B. T.-n. Co. (G. E. Co.).

Packford. Transformers.

Rich. Alternate current electrical signalling devices.

Electro Heater Co. & Baden. Electric water heaters.

Wilson. Electric irons.

Novem'jer 1, 1921.

Brewerton. Electric connection plugs and sockets.

CrAston & Quilliam. Bracket arm hangers for trolly wires.

ScoREv. Electro-magnets for magnetising permanent V magnets.

ScoREY. Switch for changing from parallel to series two electrical
windings or lamps.

Bi-.tet Co. & Sharpe. Electrical inspection lamps.

Siemens & Halske A. G. Closed circuit relays. (11/12/20,
Gennany.)

Callender's Cable & Construction Co. & Woeswick. House ser-
vice, &c., fuse boards.

Bullimorf. Thermionic valves.

Radio signalling srstems.
Electric condensers.

(16/7/21,

29 084
29 091
29 099
29116

29 117

29 138
29 139
29 140

29142
29 143
29 164
29 165

29167

29 224
29 245
29 256
29 269

November 2, 1921.
Myer. Fittings and couplings for electric conduits.
Hudson. Telephone system for trains.
Nelson. Electric terminal. '
Hampshire. Means for audible signalling upon sounds being

reproduced in a telephone receiver.
Moltke-Hansen. Electric heating arrangement. (3/11/20,

Norway.)
Smith. Controller gear of electric tramcars, &c., for sanding

the rails.
Three Star Accumulators Ltd. & Kendall. Batteries.
Three Star Accumulators, Ltd. & Gru.-jd. Storage batteries.
Three Star Accumulators, Ltd. & Kendall. Batteries for miners'

lamps, &c.
PoLLAK (Siemens &-Halske A. G.). Telephone systems.
Dickinson. Electric heating devices.

PoULSEN & Co. Electric spark indicators. (1/9/21, Denmark.)
Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Wireless receiving systems.

(24/11/20, Germany.)
Huth & ScHWARZ. Antennae for influencing h.t. conductors, &c.

(2/11/20, Germany.)

November 3, 1921.

McClelland. Switches.

Electric Control, Ltd. & Ellifsen. Brakes for electric lifts.

RoMER. Intercommunication telephone sets.

Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget. Comraression

device for transformer windings. (8/3/21, Sweden.)

Fessenden. Submarine signalling.

Cerrito. Circuit breakers, switches, &c., for ignition systems.

Runbaken & Torrantce. Varying illumination of vehicle lamps.

Naamlooze Vennootschap Philips Gloerlampenfabricken. Electric
discharge tubes. (10.'ll/20, Holland.)
29 322 Naamlooze Vennootschap Philips Gloerlampenfabricken. Manu-
facture of ionic valves. (10/11/20, Holland.)

November 4, 1921.
Combined electric radiator and fan.
Electrically controlled locks.
Connecting devices for conductors.
Support for telephone transmitter, &c.
Ad juh.'. table electric resistances.
Brocklies, Ricketts & Graham. Electric motor driven horns.
Carr & Co. & Greenwood. Apparatus for cooking wafers, &c.,

electrically.
Dunker. Ventilating systems for electric machines.
Braun. Arc lamps, &c.

Macintosh Cable Co. & Watson. House-service cut-out.
Pederan. Wireless transmitting systems. (18/11/20, Denmark.)
Siemens & Berry. Impulse transmitters for automatic, &c.,

telephone systems.
Soc. Anon, des Ateliers de Sachern & Mayforth. Electrically
driven vehicles. (30/11/20, Switzerland.)

29 292
29 309
29 310
29 321

29 330
29 351
29 381
29 388
29 389
29 390
29 395

29 408
29 414
29 426
29 428
29 431

29 446

Barber.

Knorr.

Tadman.

Graham.

November 5, 1921.
for packing and carrying

bulbs for wireless

29 467 Astley. Device
telegraphy.

29 483 Creffield. Electric water heaters.

29 489 & 29 490 Harlwood. Miners', &c., electi-ic lamps.

29 491 Harlwood. Electric lamps.

29 512 Coutbll. Stator and rotor a.c. synchronous motor.

29 515 Metropolitan- Vickers Electrical Co., Gittins & Peck. Protec-
tive devices for electric circuits.

29 520 Scubb. Enabling running rails to be utilised as running rails.

29 528 Adams. Electrically operated stippling pens.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Copper — Price. Inc. Deo.

Best selected per ton £68 0 0 — fi

Electro Wirebars . . „ £72 10 0 — iSs.

H.C. wire, basis per lb. Oa. lid. — _l d.

Sheet „ Oa. lO^^d. ji,d. —

Phosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone) —
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis „ Is. 3d. — J^d.

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis , Os. 7Jd. — —

Sheet, basis „ Os. lOJd. — Jd.

Wire, basis „ Os. 10|d. — —

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants per ton £4 15 0 — —

Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £22 0 0 — —

Lead Pig —

English „ £24 10 0 — —

Foreign or Colonial . . „ i2^^ 2 6 2s. 6d. —
Tivr-

Ingot £157 15 0 — £1 5s.

Wire, basis per lb. 23. 1 J d. — Jd.

Aluminium Ingots £120 0 0 — —

Salammoniac. — Per cwt. 65s.-60s. Copper Sulphate. — Per ton £28 5s.

Sulphur (Flowers). — Ton £10 lOs. Boric Acid (Crystals) — Per ton

„ (RoU-Crimstone). — Per ton £65.

£10 10s. Sodium Bichromate.— Fer lb. 5Jd.

Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°).— Sodium CfUorate.—FeT lb. 3.'.d.
Per ton, £9 178. 6d.
Rubber. — Para fine, Is. Od. ; plantation Ist latex, QJd. to 9fd.

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby Cables,
Ltd.

The Editoricd, Advertisement and Publishing Offices of " Thk
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.G. 4. Tele-
grams: Benbroctic, Fleet, London. Telephone : City 9852 (5 lines).

The subscription to " The Electrician " 15 £2 i2 0 per annum
in the United Kingdom, and £2 14 0 per annu7n Abroad. Advertise-
ment Hates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
tisement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.

THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2282.

r No. 6
I Vol. LXXXV

.'III.J

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY lo, 1922.

Prepaid Subscription U.K., (_i iii. n • ,

perann. ; Abf »d (l 14*. rilCc \-

CONTENTS,

NOTBS OP THH WhBK 147

ThbPowhb Supply Problem in the U.S 150

Ratb8 AND Batb Aid T 151

Flux Distribution in Air Gap and Teeth of Dynamos. By

L_jAUjred Still._ Illustratd. ...„ ^ 152

Auxiliary Features in Automatic Telephone Systems. By W.

,^_Aitken, M.I. KE. .Illustrated. .^.. 154.

The Lancaster-Morecamte-fieysham Electric Railway 155

The Interc mnection of Alternating-Current Power Stations.

By L. Romero and J. B. Palmer. 157

Annual Exhibition ot the Physical Society of London and the

Optical Society. Illustrated. 158

The Insti ution of Electrical Engineers ItjO

German Competition in Belgium ' 161

CORBBSPONDHNCH J 61

North Lancashire Electricity Inquiry 162

Forty Tears Ago ; 162

The Electrical Wholesalers' Federation , 163

Farmhouse Lighting Plant 163

Lei^al Intelligence 164

Public Works in Batavia , 165

Water Power in Jugo Slavia 165

Electricians' Wages .. l6o

El»-ctrieiiy Supply i66

Electric Traction 167

Personnl and Appointments Ib7

Exhibition Notes 167

Institution Notes 168

Business Itf^ms, &c , 168

Imperial Notes • 168

Foreii^n Notes . 169

Openings for Trade in the Netherlands 169

Tf-legraph and Telephone Notes 169

Wireless Notes 169

Obituary 159

Miscellaneous 170

Books Received 170

Catalogues, Price Lists, (Sec ^ 170

Tenders Invited and Accepted 171

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 172

New Companies 175

Arrangements for the Week 173

Commercial Intelligence 174

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c 175

Patent Record ." 176

Notes of the Week.

Mr. Dunlop on the Electrical Industry.

If Mr. D. N. Dunlop only occasionally uses those gifts
of eloquence and directness which he employed with such
effect at the dinner of the Electrical Wholesalers' Federa-
tion last week he will have no need to complain of charges
of reticence or that the B.E.A.M.A. are accused of too
freely employing the methods of secret diplomacy. For our-
selves we require from Mr. Dunlop not a constant flow of
talk and propaganda, which leads nowhither, but suc-
cinct information regarding the principles which influence
the policy of the important Association he directs and
about the results which that policy has successfully
attained. In this we represent the electrical industry.
Moreover, we only ask a little where we have had almost
nothing. By providing what we ask Mr. Dunlop would
not only be assisting the Press, whose task it is to mirror
the doings and thoughts of the electrical industry, but
would be contributing not a little to the well-being of his
own Association. Mr. Dunlop's speech went so far
towards binding together the varying sections of the elec-
trical industry that it would be a pity if his actions
did not consolidate what his speech began.

Co-operation the Essential of Progress.

Mr. Dunlop's arguments are easily summarised, though
not with the eloquence that he himself employed. They
have, in fact, often been advanced before. The chief
novelty is that it is Mr. Dunlop who now re-states them.
In the old days, he said, the British electrical industry
sviffered mightily from foreign competition and trading
methods. Its state was sickly, and the first task of the
B.E.A.M.A. was to renew its health so that it could not
only pay its way but also provide something for research
and other necessary development work. This recovery of
health has been achieved in spite of prejudices, in spite of the

national vice of individualism, and in spite of more material
obstacles. This is what the manufacturer in association has
done. But the manufacturer requires the he'p of the
wholesaler and of the contractor to sell his products, and
is willing that, with certain exceptions, the sale of those
products should only take place through them. The co-
operation of these three bodies in the electrical industry,
he added, should be stimulated until there was no opening
for the foreign products. At the moment the manufsLcturer
had to face foreign competition so cut-throat that to carry
on was difl&cult, but with the assistance of every branch of
the industry they should be able to obtain a stabilised home
market which, with increased production, would enable
many difficulties to be overcome.

A Statement and an Appeal.

This is at once a statement of the case and an appeal.
It is a statement which we hope will be examined with care.
It is an appeal which we hope will not be left unheard. As
has happened before, the manufacturers, more than all
other branches of the electrical industry', are feeling the
effects of the depressing conditions under which we are now
labouring. But if the manufacturers continue to suffer the
whole of the electrical industry will soon be suffering with
them. For all parts of the industry are so interlinked that
what affects one must sooner or later affect the other. De-
pression can thus be best warded off by all pulling togethw
for the common good. This may seem to be so trite that it
is needless to state it. In fact, it is so trite that too many
in the electrical industry neglect to recognise it as a
necessary part of their policy. Too often even now (itJ
was obvious at the Wholesalers' Dinner) one section of the
industry is more eager to fight against another than to
meet and settle differences — except, of course, in after-
dinner speeches. It is not the least for this reason that
Mr. Dunlop's speech will, we hope, be listened to and acted
upon without delay. If it brings about a change of heart
it will have done all that can be expected of it.

148

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

The North Lancashire Electricity District,

The inquiry into the scheme for the reorganisation of
electricity supply in the North Lancashire and South Cum-
berland electricity district, which was concluded on Friday,
revealed a peculiar state of affairs. It showed clearly, what
we have long suspected, how difficult it is to get a group of
small urban and rural authorities to co-operate with one
another for any length of time. It was originally proposed
to form a Joint Authority of thirty members for the dis-
trict. This body would have taken over the five generating
stations of the existing undertakers in the area, and
would have constructed 33 000 V main transmission lines
between the principal towns and 6 600 V lines from Lan-
caster to Morecambe and Heysham, and between Barrow
and Dal ton. It was ?lso proposed to purchase the Cavendish
Park generating stations of Vickers, Ltd., at Barrow, to
erect a hydro- electric station on the River Leven, and even-
tually to lay distributing mains in certain areas which are
at present without a supply.

Paper v. Practice.

On paper the scheme seemed a feasible proposition, but
as soon as the Commissioners (Sir John Snell and Mr. H.
Booth) had opened the inquiry they were met with the
announcement that the Barrow Corporation, the principal
supporters, had withdrawn and were separately represented
b}' counsel. This defection was followed by the withdrawal
of, or notice of opposition by, the leading councils in the
district. Lancaster, Morecambe, Heysham, Windermere,
Kendal, Ulverston and other places all wanted to be
excluded or to put forward alternative proposals for dealing
with portions of the area. This epidemic of defections were
relieved by the desire of Millom to come in, but Sir John
intimated that the Commissioners would want to hear
expert evidence before that coaxld be allowed. Apparently,
Barrow's volte face is due to the lack of Government assist-
ance, and, as this is not likely to be forthcoming, the out-
look for the formation of a Joint Electricity Authority is
indeed gloomy.

The Morley Award.

The employees of electricity undertakings have been
deeply stirred by the publication of the award of Sir Wm.
Mackenzie in the Morley case, to which we recently re-
feired, and the various engineering and official associations
affected are said to be considering the situation in order
to taJte concerted action. We hope they will be successful.
For though Sir Wm. Mackenzie is a very able and im-
partial arbitrator in industrial courts he is not the most
suitable type of referee on the status of electrical engi-
neers. In fact, we have not the slightest hesitation in assert-
ing that the transformation of Morley from a generating
station into a distributing bulk supply station involved such
a loss of status as is contemplated by Sec. 16 (III.) of the
Electricity (Supply) Act, and if an electrical engineer had
been arbitrator he would have so vound. We fancy
that Sir William's judgment was swayfvl by the fact that
Mr. Ellis and his assistant were being retained at their
old salaries, but the salary is not the only, or even the chief,
element in the status of engineering officials.

Need for Careful Revision.

As there will be many cases similar to that of Morley
within the next few years, the situation should now be
reviewed with care in order tha^ the present case shall not
establish a precedent. There are two courses open to those
affected. First, they should make a «trong and united repre-

sentation to the Minister of Labour, whose province it is-
to nominate the arbitrators, to appoint an impartial elec-
trical engineer, who will readily appreciate at their proper
value all questions of status affecting the engineering staff.
If this point be conceded, further action may not be neces-
sary, but as the section permits the appointment of " a
referee or board of referees," it may be advisable to have
such a board in complicated cases, or an electrical engineer
could sit as assessor on engineering questions. At all
events, now is the time for the Electrical Power Engineers*^
Association and the Companies' Officers' Association to
investigate the position fully in order that Sec. 16 of thfr.
1919 Act may not prove something worse than a dead
letter.

Details of the City Breakdown.

The breakdown on the Charing Cross Company's system,,
which deprived part of the City of London of its electricity
supply for some hours on Thursday of last week, was an
indication that every effort should be made by supply
engineers and electrical manufacturers to secure additional
plant to give them a margin to provide against such mis-
haps, and that neighbouring supply authorities should,
devise without delay an adequate scheme of interlinking.
While it is true that interlinking will not prevent break-
down and may, as we showed a short time ago, bring with
it dangers of its own, in the majority of cases it does mitigate
subsequent trouble and permits the status quo to be estab-
lished with a minimum of delay. That is, after aU, the
main thing.

The Trouble Explained.

The primary reason of the breakdown was the failure
of one of the trunk mains supplying the City area from the
Bow generating station. This failure caused an arc to take
place at the back of the E.H.T. bus bars, resulting in a
short circuit between the bars. The damage caused was
so extensive that what actually happened is difficult to
discover, and is therefore, perhaps, better imagined than
described. The immediate result was the breakdown of
about 7 000 kW of plant, the load on the station at the
time being approximately 18 000 kW. Matters, bad as
they were, were complicated by the fact that, owing to the
difficulty in obtaining delivery of plant, a turbo-alternator,
which should have been running in the early part of 1921,
was not in commission. Had it been available to take up
the load of the damaged machines it is probable that supply
would not have been interrupted, or, at least, the interrup-
tion would have been very much shorter than it actually
was. The efforts of the engineers concerned, who, as may
be gathered, have been having a strenuous time during the
past few aays, have resulted in this set now being in run-
ning order, so that when the repairs have been completed on
the damaged plant, which we understand will be in the
very near future, the company will have sufficient reserve
at its disposal to deal with any emergency that is likely
to arise. It is only fair to point out that the supply was.
restored within 15 mintites in the major part 01 the area,
and it was only in a comparatively small section that a delay
of some hours was experienced.

The G.E.C. Grows Up.

The twenty-first anniversary of the foundation of the-
General Electric Co.'s engineering works at Witton was
officially celebrated on Tuesday last by a visit of repre-
sentatives of the technical Press. Unofficially it was alsor
celebrated by the announcement made by Dr. M. Railing.,

February lo, 1922

The Electrician.

149

at the luncheon given in the Magnet Club at Witton, that
the company had secured a contract for the supply of
traction motors to the London, Brighton and South Coast
Railway in connection with the extension of the electrically
operated lines on that system. This is a matter upon which
not only the General Electric Company, but the whole of
the British electrical industry may be congratulated. It is,
we hope — indeed, we feel certain — the forerunner of many
similar orders, and it is a most satisfactory break with the
bad tradition of going abroad for this kind of plant.

A False Argument.

The excuse for this procedure has, of course, been that
foreign designers were more experienced in the production
of traction equipment, and that, though by giving the con-
tract to a non- British firm, manufacturers and labour in
this country were adversely affected, in the end the result
was for the good of the community generally. This argu-
ment contains much that is false, and at the present time,
when not only is it necessary that British industry should
be re-established by every means in our power, but when
our own designers are in possession of sufficient experience
to enable them to build plant of equal efficiency and sound-
ness as that turned out by their foreign competitors, it is
to be hoped that the example of the Brighton Railway will
be widely followed. We shall look forward with interest
to the designs which the General Electric Co. will provide
in fulfilment of this contract and to the performance of the
equipment when it is eventually delivered.

The Wimbledon Mess.

At the moment there is a lull in the, Wimbledon affair.
Having done their deed of shame, action no longer rests
with the Council, unless they eat their resolutions without
further prompting. But behind the scenes the E.P.E.A.
are busy, though they have failed to persuade the
Ministry of Labour to set up an inquiry under the
Industrial Courts Act. At the inquiry all cards should
be laid on the table, especially Mr. Sparks' report and Mr.
Lee's comments thereon. For the Council's reticence and
the innuendo of those who brought about Mr. Lee's dis-
missal are the worst points of the whole affair. We admit
that it ia within the right of any employer to dismiss an
employee after proper notice or to make tliat dismissal
instant by paying over an appropriate proportion of salary.
But it is not within the right of any employer either to give
no reason for his action or to give an obviously evasive
reason, whose main effect is to cast an additional slur on
the dismissed employee. The Wimbledon Council are
guilty on both these counts. Officially, the party in power,
as a party, refuse to give any reason whatsoever for Mr.
Lee's dismissal, but certain members of the " party," w,s
individuals, hint that it would be better in Mr. Lee's own
interests that this request for information should not be
pressed, or say that those who require further details
" should read between the lines." That is adding insult
to injury.

An Inquiry Essential.

The attitude of those who support Mr. Lee, whether
on the Council or outside, is perfectly cleac Mr. Lee,
they point out, has been given no opportunity to defend
himself, nor can he defend himself until some charge is
made against him. Moreover, until that charge is made
no one can possibly say whether he deserves dismissal or
not. If the Council's case is a good one they have nothing
to fear and Mr. Lee has everything to lose. It is upon

this poipt especially that the various prot«ctive as.vxnationB
which are supporting Mr. Lee are basing their action, for
they argue cogently that if this procedure is allowed to pass
unchallenged any municipal employee might be ruined by a
group of councillors whom he had offended. All these
points could be cleared by an inquiry. Unfortunately,
the Ministry of Labour is disinclined to set up such an
inquiry unless the situation becomes " dangerous," i.e.,
apparently, unless the employees of electricity supply under-
takings throughout the country threaten to enforce their
demands by a strike. This is the most wooden-headed pro-
cedure that crmld be conceived. The only result will
be to compel the E.P.E.A. to adopt methods which we have
always deplored to obtain the benefit of legislation framed
expressly to prevent local trouble from spreading. The
ca.se, therefore, not only throws an interesting light on the
byways of local politics, but upon modern bureaucratic
methods of dealing with urgent cases of injustice. There
the matter must rest for the moment, but we cannot say
that we are too happy as to its outcome.

Prof. Thomas Mather, F.R.S.

Many generations of electrical engineers will learn with
interest, not untinged with regret, that after thirty-seven
years' service at South Kensington, following upon two at
Finsbury, Prof. T. Mather is retiring from the chair of
electrical engineering at the City and Guilds (Engineering)
College of the University of London. To some it will be
yet another indication that they are growing old, to others
it will come as a shock that the professor with whom they
have only lately parted company, and whose work did so
much to engender in them a real enthusiasm for electrical
knowledge, is seeking a well-earned rest. To all it will
mark the retirement from an active career of one who has
exerted an unobtrusive, but not the less powerful, influence
on electrical engineering progress, and of a worker whose
researches during the very early days of the electrical in-
dustry have already placed him in one of those niches which
are reserved for the famous dead. After strenuous labours
any man is well entitled to a rest. We are only expressing
the general wish when we hope that Prof. Mather will
long be spared to eniov his.

To Be or Not to Be ?

London supply undertakings will shortly have to decide
whether there is to be a District Joint Board for Loudonn,
and a meeting to settle the question will be held witiiin
the next few weeks. It is true that some more or less
ineffective meetings have already been held, but the forth-
coming one is to be final. The matter is not altogether
easy, for most of the important municipal undertakings
want to set up a board, while the directors o^" Loudon Com-
panies have so far shown them.selves in opposition to sfuch
a proposal. Once again then we are living in an
atmosphere of uncertainty and indecision ! The members
of the E.P.E.A. who form tlie other side of the Board
meantime patiently await the result. What is required is
that every undertaJdng sliall think out its policy and stick
to it. Simply to do nothing will mean disaster, for the good
relations between the technical st^ff and the majiagemenfc
are at stake. The question is simply : Can tho^e good re»-
lations be best maintained by a Board or otherwise? One
thing is certain — they cannot be maintained by evading
the issue. Every undertaking should, therefore, be repre-
sented at the meeting and hoih express an opinion and
vote.

150

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

The Power Supply Problem
in the U.S.

It is not surprising to find that the same problems are
cardinal in the development of electricity supply in the
United States as in this country. On the other side of
the Atlantic, as here, the war caused an accelerated demand
for electrical energy, over-loaded the existing plant and,
for financial reasons, made extensions which would hav»
been undertaken in the ordinary way more difficult to
carry out and more unremunerative when completed. As
here, it has been recognised that one of the best means of
overcoming these difficulties and ensuring progress is by a
thorough investigation of future electrical requirements
and of the possible ways of meeting these requirements
without interfering more than is absolutely necessary with
existing conditions, or, more important, with those who
are now successfully carrying out the work.

The " Super-Power Zone."

As a first step towards this end a Committee, of which
Mr. W. S. MuRBAY was chainnan, was appointed by Con-
gress rather over a year ago tO' examine and report, on
conditions in the " Super-power Zone " along the Atlantic
border between Boston and Washington. This Committee
has now reported and the report contains numerous facts
and figures which cannot fail to be of interest to those con-
cerned with electricity supply in this country, while certain
fundamental omissions will be of no less interest.

The Extent of the Zone.

The zone examined by the Committee lies between the
thirty-ninth and forty-ninth parallels and extends from
the Atlantic coast approximately 150 miles inland. It
embraces parts of the States of Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Main-
land and the whole of the States of Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut and New Jersey. Its population is
about one-quarter of the total of the United States. It
is an industrial area and is already pretty well electrified.
This is evident when we say that it contains 558 public
electricity supply undertakings with a capacity in 1919 of
4 408 200 kW, 96 000 factories, 76 000 of which use elec-
tricity either bought or generated, with an average demand
of 350 H.P., and 36 000 miles of single track steam rail-
way. The electricity consumed in this area in 1919 was
12 650 240 000 kWh, and it is estimated that this will be
increased to 31 000 000 000 kWh in 1930, the date by
which it is assumed the super-power plant could be erected
and the necessary extensions to existing stations made to
deal with the load. As is obvious from the figures we give
above such extension and concentration is eminently desir-
able.

Steam and Water Power — Capital Stations.
, Under the super-power system the number of power
stations required in 1930, including seven " extra super "
stations, which it is suggested should \><^ erected, will be
reduced to 273, of which 218 will belong io existing under-
takings. Four of the new large stations will be steam
driven and will have capacities from 60 000 to 300 000 kW,
with turbo-generator units not less than 30 000 kW. The
remainder of these stations will be operated by water power
and will apparently have an aggregate capacity of
about 1 050 000 kW, though there seems a little discrep-
ancy in the report on this point. Eventually the powers
of the St. Lawrence and the Niagara River might be avail-
able for supplying the zone.
It is rightly recognised as of importance that the new

power stations should be located so as to ensure the maxi-
mum economy both in generation and transmission, and
that to do this existing plant which can be economically
utilised will be employed to the fullest possible extent.
From what we have already said it is obvious that this will
be done where the stations make that course possible.

Some Financial Advantages.

A further argument for consolidation is shown by the
statement that of the 12 650 240 000 kWh generated in
1919 about 9 311 440 000 kWh were developed in private
stations, and only 3 338 800 000 kWh were purchased.
Some striking figures are given of the financial, let alone
the engineering, disadvantages of this individual growth.
It is said, for instance, that the 96 000 establishments
could save |190 000 000 annually above their fixed anual
charges on the capital investment of $185 000 000, neces-
sary to provide motor and other equipment for using electric
power. Moreover, a capital sum of $856 000 000 would
have to be provided by the present electricity supply under-
takings to meet the demand for power in 1930, while under
the super-power system this sum would be reduced to
$693 218 000, or an annual saving of $16 300 000. As
regards the cost of the power itself, it is estimated that in
1930 with the super-power system in working order, the
cost at the bus bars of the present electricity undertakings,
inclusive of fixed charges, would be 106 cents, per kWh,
while under the independent system it would remain the
same as in 1919, i.e., 2-12 cents, per kWh. This is rightly
stated by Mr. W. S. Mubray as being a fundamental
argument in favour of the change.

The Waste ol Small Plants.

If further argument is needed on this point we may call
attention to the statement that in 1919 it would have been
economical to shut down 4 008 200 h.p. of prime movers
in small plants and purchase energy to the amount of
5 623 800 000 kWh instead. The saving in coal thus
eflfected would have been 13 502 100 tons, or 71 per cent,
of the coal used by the industries for producing power, or
25 per cent, of all the coal used by the industries. In
general it was found, as might be expected, that plants
which require 500 h.p. or less can economically draw
their energy from the mains, though an exception is made
in the case of those which obtain power as a by-product of
the industrial processes which they can-y on.

Railway Electrification.

The matter is oanried a step further in connection with
railway electrification as the zone contains systems upon
M'hich the traffic is sufficiently dense to warrant a careful
consideration of the savings that might be effected by
making this change. It is pointed out that about
$150 000 000 is already spent annually by the railways in
extensions and improvements, and that this sum would in
three or four years suffice to cover the cost of electrifying
the 19 000 miles of track which could be profitably con-
verted. We are glad to see in this connection that Mr.
Murray insists that it is the business of the supply under-
takings alone (o generate electricity and that railways and
other industries should purchase energy, not make their
own.

Technical Advantages of the Zone.

From the purely engineering point of view the super-
power zone scheme has many advantages. Though there
is not so much water power available as, for instance, in
California it will on the other hand be possible to erect
three steam stations in the anthracite region at sites on the
Susquehanna River where sufficient condensing water is

February lo, 1922

The Electrician.

151

present to allow plant of a capacity of 300 000 kW to he
used. In addition five hydro-electric stations on the
Potomac, Susquehanna, Delaware, Hudson and Connecti-
cut rivers will allow an aggregate capacity of 1 050 000 kW
to be developed. Existing steam plant with a capacity of
2 677 000 kW or 79 per cent, of the total capacity in 1919
will be retained with an average capacity of 44 600 kW.
Apart from extra super power stations fourteen further
stations with an aggregate capacity of 3 930 000 kW will
be required by 1930. The extra super-power transmission
system will consist of 970 miles of line operating at
220 000 V and 4 696 miles of line operating at 110 000 V,
and to these lines will be connected 5 600 000 kVA of trans-
formers. In general 220 000 V will be the transmission
voltage from the power stations at a considerable distance
from the load, while 1 10 000 V will be used within the
power area and between load centres.

Some Important Omissions.

Taking into account British conditions only these are
figures at which the imagination boggles. It must, how-
ever, be noted that the problem differs ^ in degree not in
kind from that with which we are faced in this country,
and that this area, large as it is, is the one which indus-
trially speaking is the most developed in America. It is
a pity therefore that Mr. Mubray's study could not have
been extended to the entire country when it would have
been easier both for American engineers and ourselves to
envisage the conditions both in a more wholesale way and
in the proper perspective.

Interesting and important as the report' is, however,
there are two important omissions. Nothing is said about
either the financial or the legal means by which this Gar-
gantuan development is to be carried out. Engineering
problems are hard enough to solve, but as we know to' our
cost they become insignificant compared with these factors.
Electrical engineers connected with the " super-power
zone " are, we fear, only at the beginning of their troubles.

Rates and Rate Aid.

The engineer and manager of the Liverpool Corporation
electricity undertaking is to be heartily congratulated on
a successful year's working. Indeed, he has been a little
too successful, for the net profit of the department for 1920
amounts to very nearly £147 000, of which enormous sum
no less than £60 000 has been devoted to the relief of rates,
the balance being transferred to the renewal fund. In view
of the purchase of the undertaJkings of the Bootle Corpora-
tion and of the Liverpool District Lighting Company,
nothing but good can be said about the latter allocation,
but we are very much opposed to the policy of transferring
so large a sum as that proposed to the consolidated rate
fund. No doubt the ratepayers will be glad of any relief,
however slight, in these days of crushing rates and taxes,
but it will be so small that it would be much sounder
finance, both for the individual and for the industrial pros-
perity of the city, if a reduction in the charges for electricity
for power and lighting were now made. This is the only
correct policy to pursue in a municipal trading department.
For reduced power charges would enable manufacturers
to lower their costs of production, and place them in a
better position to meet competition at home and abroad.
Only in this way will the industrial revival, of which we
are glad to see signs, really arrive.
D 2

The Le^al Position.
Unfortunately the law relating to the disposal of the
so-called profits of municipal electricity undertakings is not
very definite, and it would be well if it were amended to
meet modern conditions. By Clause 7 of the Electric Light-
ing (Clauses) Act of 1899 the revenue of a municipal elec-
tricity supply department must be applied in payment of
working and establishment expenses, maintenance charges
and interest on loans, in providing sinking fund instalments,
and in paying all the other expenses of executing the Special
Order, not being expenses properly chargeable to capital.
Subject to this, the local authority may create a reserve
fund not exceeding in amount one-tenth of the aggregate
capital expenditure, and then the net surplus in any year,
as well as the annual proceeds of the reserve fund when
amounting to the prescribed limit, may be carried to the
credit of the local rate, or may be applied to local improve-
ments, or in reduction of the borrowed capital. When, how-
ever, the net surplus exceeds 5 per cent, of the capital
expenditure, the undertakers must make " such a rateable
reduction in the charge for the supply of electrical energy
as, in their judgment, will reduce the surplus to that
maximum rate of profit."

Practice of Local Authorities.
It is obvious that, in addition lo lack in clarity, the clause
is mainly permissive. There is a wide choice of objects to
which the net profit, until it exceeds 5 per cent, of the
capital expenditure, may be devoted, and the practice of
local authorities varies as widely. Some arrange matters
by voting sums to the relief of rates and to other purposes,
so that the 5 per cent, limit is never reached. This is
scarcely fair to the consumers. It retards local industrial
progress, and is detrimental to the best interests of the local
authorities. We should, therefore, like to see it made illegal
for any supply undertaking to relieve the rates until the
prices of electrical energy for power and lighting were
reduced at least to the pre-war figures. At present the Elec-
tricity Commissioners have not any very great authority
over municipal finance, though they can exert a great deal
of indirect pressure; and they may, and we hope will, use
their influence to discourage rate relief until the supply
is much cheaper than it is at present.

What is Capital Expenditure ?
There is some doiot as to what is the precise
meaning of the " capital expenditure " of a municipal
electricity department at a given time. Loans are
usually repaid either by annual instalments of prin-
cipal and interest, or by means of yearly contribu-
tions to sinking funds, or by a combination of both
methods. In the case of Liverpool the capital expenditure
at the end of 1920 was returned at £2 699 423, but about
£850 000 had been repaid, and the reserves and sinking
fund amount to over £1 600 000. If, therefore, we take
the repayments of capital, the reserves, and the sinking
fund into consideration, the net capital outstanding is a
comparatively small figure. But upon which of these items,
the gross or the net capital, the 5 per cent, is to be cal-
calculated is not clear. By taking the former a local
authority might postpone a compulsory reduction in price,
and devote sums to relief of rates in a way which would
not be possible if the calculation were based ou the net,
written-down value of an undertaking.

We have taken the Liveqjool undertaking, which is one
of the most progressive and best managed in the country,
as an ilhtstration, and we do not challenge anything in
their business methods, except tie allocation of so large
a sum to the relief of rat«s.

152

The Electrician — February lo, 1922

Flux Distribution in Air Gap and Teeth of Dynamos.

By ALFRED STILL.*

This article deals with the flux distribution in the air gap and teeth of dynamos from the standpoint of fundamental laws and principles, it being
found that in preseniing such problems to engineering students it is as well to avoid many of the methods used by the practical designer.
The subject is dealt with under the headings of permeance of the air paths, the air gap, arid of the conditions in higldy saturated teeth.
Calculati07is of the tooth density in terms of air gap density and m.m.f., with a correction for the tapering of the teeth are made, the whole

argument being illustrated by a numerical example.

Although this article explains the derivation of a new
formula for use in calculating the ampere-turns required
to overcome air-gap and tooth reluctance, its aim is not so
much to contribute additional material for the use of the
designer as to explain how the difficult problem of tooth and
slot reluctance may be solved without the use of empirical
constants or tables of design co-efficients. The \vriter finds
that, in presenting design problems to engineering students,
it is well to avoid many of the methods used by the practical
designer, and base all arguments and calculations on funda-
mental laws and principles. If, at the same time, this leads to
methods of calculation which are neither longer nor more
tedious than those used by practical designers, they would
seem to be preferable to all others, not only because they tend
to keep in sight the physical aspects of the problem, but also
because, when departures are made from standard designs,
their application will generally yield more accurate results.

Permeance of the Air Paths.

To calculate the permeance of the air paths over one slot
pitch at the centre of the pole face, when the density is low,
the magnetic lines will be supposed to follow the paths
indicated in Fig. 1. The tooth is drawn for convenience with
parallel sides, and the magnetic lines entering the sides of the
tooth are supposed to follow a path consisting of a straight
portion of length 8, equal to the actual air clearance, and a
circular arc of radius r, all as indicated in the figure. This is

v/////////////JY/^^^^^^

I 'iii

■!^^dj

Fig. 1.

obviously an arbitrary assumption, but it is convenient for
calculation and gives very good results. It agrees very closely
with the results obtained by Messrs. H. S. Hele-Shaw,
Alfred Hay, and P. H. Powell in their classic Institution
Paper,t and also with the correct mathematical conclusions
arrived at by Mr. F. W. Carter, based on certain assumptions,
including that of infinite permeability of the iron in the teeth. J

The Air Gap Analysed.

Consider a portibn of the air gap 1 cm. long axially {i.e., in
a direction normal to the plane of the section shown in Fig. 1)
and note that the permeance over the slot pitch of width A
is made up of two parts : (1) the permeance P^ between pole

face and top of tooth, of value Pi = ^, and (2) the permeance

2Po where Pc, is the permeance between the pole face and

one side of the tooth. The permeance of any small section

♦Professor of Electrical Design, Purdue University, U.S.A.

t" Hydrodynamical and Electromagnetic Investigations Regarding
the Magnet'c-Hux Distribution in Toothed-core Armatures." Proc.
Inst. E.E., Vol. 34, p. 21.

t" Electrical World," "Vol. 38, Nov, 30, 1901, p. 884.^ The reader is
also referred to Hawkins and Wallis, " The Dynamo," fifth edition.
Vol. 1, p. 456, where Carters co-eflBcient has been used in preparing
curves giving the ratio between the " apparent " and actual air gap.

of thickness dr and depth 1 cm. measured axially, as indicated
in Fig. 1, is :

dP,=-^
8-f-r

whence

■f'

+ r

The average permeance per square centimetre over the slot
pitch at centre of pole is, therefore :

P.„.„. =

_Pl + 2P2

i^'M^^')

where the tooth pitch, A, is expressed in centimetres.

The reciprocal of this quantity is the reluctance per square
centimetre of air-gap cross section, or the length, 8„ of what
may be called the equivalent air-gap. Thus :

(1)

8.=

-s+^-^S+O

This is the length of air gap that would be necessary to give
the same air-gap reluctance between pole and armature if
the actual toothed armature were replaced by a smooth core
armature. The formula (1), when applied to normal designs
of dynamo-electric machinery, gives results very similar to
those obtained by the application of the many and various
formulas used by designers, some of which are approximations
to the values obtained by using Carter's co-efficients, while
others include empirical constants. No exact formula
has yet been evolved, and, owing to the difficulty of allowing
for variations in the permeability of the iron in the teeth, and
also to the fact that such variations will cause corresponding
changes in the length of the equivalent air gap, the designer
need not look for any closer approximation than that obtain-
able from formulas now available.

A formula which is simpler to use than formula (1) is that
proposed by Mr. T. C. Baillie § ; it gives values for 8, very
closely approximating to those obtained from formula (1)
and also from the use of Carter's co-efficient. AYhen put in
the same form as formula (1) it may be written :

8.=^^4-^ (2)

\h8 + s)

If the radial ventilating ducts in the armature are closely
spaced, or exceptionally wide, the gap 8, for the equivalent
smooth-core armature, as given by formulas (1) and (2).
might have to be slightly modified, but the calculation of
fringing at the sides of vent ducts is usually an unnecessary
refinement.

Conditions in Highly Saturated Teeth.

Consider now Fig. 2, which illustrates the extreme case of
a highly saturated tooth. The lines of flux are shown parallel
over the whole of the slot pitch, a condition which is

§ The Electkician, Jan. 8, 1909, p. 494.

February lo, 1922

The Electrician.

153

Approached — but never attained — as the density in the tooth
is forced up to higher and higher values. It is obviously only
when the permeability of the iron in the tooth becomes equal
to unity — that is to say. equal to the permeability of the air
paths— ^that this parallell?m of the flux lines would occur.
This is an extreme, and, indeed, an imp<»sible, condition ; but

^—t

since, even at comparatively low flux densities in Ihe iron of
the teeth, there wUl be some flux passing directly from the
pole face to the bottom of the slot in adtiition to the flux lines
indicated in Fig. 1, a close approximation to actual con-
ditions may be obtained by assuming a parallel field between
the pole face and the iron at the bottom of the slot super-
imposed upon the field of Fig. 1. The resultant or actual
field in the air gap and slot will then be somewhat as indicated
by the flux in Fig. 3. With low values of tooth density, the
m.m.f. between the tooth tops and the bottom of the slots
will be small, and few flux lines will pass from the pole face
into the armature core without entering the teeth ; but with
higher tooth densities the m.m-f. to overcome tooth reluctance
becomes large, and more flux will be diverted into the parallel
path and pass directly from the pole face to the bottom of the
Mot. The amount and distribution of the flux in the air gap
and slot will, therefore, change with every alteration in
tooth density.*

Calculatioa of Tooth Density In Terms of .Air-Gap Density.

Notwithstanding the fact that the inclusion of the flux
component which passes directly from pole face to bottom of
slot wilFmodify the length of the equivalent air gap and cause
this to be dependent upon the flux density in the teeth, no
appreciable error will be introduced by considering the reluct-
ance of ab gap, teeth, and slots as consisting of two reluct-
ances in series, (a) the reluctance of the equivalent air gap
(as calcnlated by formula (1) or (2) for the centre of the pole
face), and (6) the reluctance of the tooth and slot in paralleL
The calculation of this latter quantity depends upon a
knowledge of the actual flux density in the tooth. For low
densities in the iron — up to about 14 000 gausses — ^the actual

F16. 3.

tooth density will be approximately equal to the apparent
density ; that is to say, practically all the flux entering the
armature over one tooth pitch will pass into the core through
the root of the tooth. For densities exceeding 14 000 gausses,
and even for lower values when the depth of slot is small in
relation to the air gap, the calculations should take account
of that component ol the total flux which goes from the pole
face to the bottom of the slot without entering the teeth.

*The method hoe outlined for at^^^trJTtg the probiem of tooth and
:dot refaMstance k ainflar to that prc^nsed by Mr. F. H. Jiao^imB in the
^ Electncal WmW," <rf Oct 24, 1914 (V(^ 6i, p. 812) exo^ that he
*"*• Carter*8 eo-cflicient instead of ftnnnla (1) or (2) in obtaining an
4 UMiniimi lor the eqaiyalent air gajk

The following symbols will be used in the calculations :
Bf = the average air-gap flux deoaitv at annatare aorface : t^e., the

average denaity orcr one tooth pitch of width ^t■^»)=x and

length Z,.

Bi = the actual flux dennt^ in the tooth.
PL = the permeabili^ of the iron in the teeth.
Bt = the flax density in the slot and parallel ^mmxs ocenpied by air

or inaolatioD.
/, = the groflB length of the armatore core.
In = the net length of the armatore core (iron only).
The other dimensions are given in Fig. 4.

M.M.F. Calcalation.

The full m.m.f. necessary to overcome the reluctance of
air gap and teeth acts between two cylindrical eoniix^t-ential
surfaces passing through the bottom of * ' ots

of the teeth. The assumption is now . ^tal

m.m.f. is the summation of two m.m.f.'s actuig iXi xzir^, the
one of value BJb, required to overcome air-gap reluctance,

and the other of value I — W, to overcome the tooth reluctance.

Since the flux component in the slots and parallel spaces not
occupied by iron will depend upon the total m.m.f. between

H A

Fig. 4.

the two equipotential surfaces previously defined, we may
write the equation :

whoice

C^)

The total amount^ of flux entering the armature over the
space of one tooth pitch is :

B,)d.=Bfi,+BX)d.-tI.) (3)

By inserting for B, in this equation the value given by (2),
it is possible to express 5, in terms of B„ the final expression
being :

B^=B.

<4i

By selecting a number of values for B^, the c(»responding
values of (l can be obtained for the particular quality of iron
used in the armature. The air-gap density B, can thus be
calculated, and a curve plotted givr^^ the relation between
B and B. for the particular design under consideration and
for any value of tooth density.

It is interesting to note the form taken by formula (4) for
the limiting conditions of tooth saturation 0* = 1) and
infinite permeability of the teeth. In the first case we have
the condition B. =B,, which is obviously correct, while in
the second case (/i = ac ),

B,=BA

[K+».) 1

a formula which wiU be sufBcientIv accnimte for all practical
purposes when the value of B, is less than (say) 14 000 gausses.
The formula (5) shows that the actual tooth density is
never quite^ equal to what is known as the apparent tooth
density, which assumes all the flux leaving the pole face to pass
through tne teeth. On this assumption the relation wouhl be :

^-=^i!^) '«

(r* he emuimded.)

154

The Electrician — February lo, 1922

Auxiliary Features in Automatic Telephone Systems.'

An Impulse Converter.

By W. AITKEN, M.I.E.E.

In the Relay Automatic Telephone Company's system a
device is used which responds to the dial, or other, impulses,
and builds up a circuit to energise a relay associated with the
called line to complete a connection. This device was for
some time called a " selector," but there was confusion
between this and the " Strowger " selector. It was then called
a " recorder," which appears inapplicable, as it records
nothing. I have taken the liberty of naming the device
to be described a " converter," because it converts a set of
impulses into a circuit that will call a line having that impulse
code. In the commercial system a 100-line converter is
used, in which a set of interacting relays, in response to
impulses, first build up the tens and then the units circuit
to energise a relay on the called line.

The impulse converter shown in the diagram is for a capacity
of ten to fifteen lines, but could probably be developed farther.
In its present form it might be iised for small offices or for
selecting groups of trunks. It is interesting as showing the
number of lines that may be called by the manipulation of
two wires and earth by the emission of two impulse operations
only. This requires two wires and earth or three wires.

Contacts Kl, K2, and K3 may be closed in any suitable
way, as by keys. Kl and K2 are the impulsing contacts.

^•'■H

13. Energising circuit over line 4.
If K2 closed twice, R12 and R8 energise —

15. Energising circuit over line 5.

If K2 is first closed, then Kl and K2 together R 12, R6 and R8 energise.

16. Energising circuit over line 6.

If Kl and K2 are closed together then Kl closed, Rl, Rll and R1&
energise.

17. Energising circuit over line 7.

18. R18 energises.

19. R18 holding circuit.

If Kl and K2 are closed together, then K2 closed, R8 and Rl 8 energise.

20. Energising circuit over line 8.

If Kl and K2 are closed together twice, R6, R8 and R18 energise.

21. Energising circuit over line 9.

If Kl and K2 are closed together once, and then released, R2 de-
energises and R18 energises.

22. Energising circuit over line 0.

If Kl closed once, R2 de-energises and R3 energises.

23. Energising circuit over line B.

If K2 closed once, R2 de-energises and R18 energises.

24. Energising circuit over line A.

28^JB-

DlAGRAM OF THE IMPULSE CONVERTER.

A. slow relay de-energises after the emission of one or after
two impulses, as the case may be. The contact K3 is
closed for a period corresponding to the other contacts except
in the case of the three last circuits (E, D, E), when it is
closed for a period prior to the impulses to give time for
a slow-to-energise relay (R25) to energise.

Contacts Kl and K2 are in the '. wo wires of the line circuit.

The circuits are numbered as follows :

Contact K3 is closed in a suitable manner for a time sufficient to
allow R25 to energise.

1 Rl energises when Kl is closed.

2. R2 (slow to de-energise) energises.

3. R3 energises.

Kl opened and Rl de-energises but not R2 and R3 —

4. R3 holding circuit.

5. R5 energises.
Rl again closed.

6. R6 energised.

7. External apparatus may be energised over line No. 1.
If K2 had been closed in a manner similar to Kl —

8. R8 energised.

9. External apparatus on line 2 would be energised.

If Kl and K2 had been closed together for the second impulse RG
and R8 would be energised —

10. An energising circuit would be completed over line 3.

11. If K2 closed for the first impulse Rl 1 and R2 energise.
If Kl closes for the second impulse —

12. R12 energises.

14. R12 locking circuit.
K2 held open R5 energises in circuit 5.

25. K3 is closed for a time sufficient to allow R25 to energise.

26. R26 energises.

27. R5 energises.

Kl closed once, R6 energises.

28. Energising circuit over line E.
K2 closed once ; R8 energises.

29. Energising circuit over line D.

Kl and K2 closed together once ; R6 and R8 energise.

30. Energising circuit over line C.

R31 may be introduced to further safeguard circuits 0 D. E, and
be operated for circuits to Imes 1 to 9.

Improved Handling Facilities at Docks.

Considerable activity prevails at many of the important ports in
order to provide better handling facilities. At the new cold storage
building of the Union Cold Storage Company at Alexandra Branch
Dock No. 3, Liverpool, extensive use is made of modern handling
machinery. There is an overhead meat conv<'yor, extending the
fiilL lengtli of sections 14 and 15 of the north shed of the Alexandra
Branch Dock No. 2, with an overliead cross conveyor connection to
the new building. The Company will also carry out extensions at
the Albert Dock, and provision will be made for the electrical
operation of the machinery. Tiie Mersey Docks and Harbour
Board have purchased twenty-four warehouses in Bootle, and elec-
tric mains for lighting, power and heating are being laid.

Extensive additions are being made to their equipment by the
Leith Harbour Commissioners. A large new shed has been
erected on the north side of the Imperial Dock, and there are
electric cranes both in the shed and on the quay. For the conti-
nental traffic additional railway sidings havo been constructed, and
cranes and capstans installed. Power capst^ins are also being pro-
vided throughout tlio dock area. New equipment is also being,
installed on the Clyde dock system, and at two docks 'ivdraulic-
coaling cranes ai'e being replaced by electric ci-aT.es and capstans.

The Electrician — February lo, 1922

155

THE LANCASTER - MOREC AMBE - HEYSH AM

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

Some Experiences of Fourteen Years' Working with the Single-Phase Overhead System.

{Concluded from page 129.)

The Lancaster-Morecamhe-Heyaham branch of the Midland liailway was equipped with single-phase electric traction in 19.8 lo o^jtain

experience which would he valuable in dealing with the vnder problem of man line electrification. Thvs article gives an account of the

failures and modifications which have been shown to be necessary in various parts of the apparatus during fourteen yearii working.

Protective devices, bonding, induction effects, power supply and the traction equipment are de/.ilt with.

Protective Devices and Earthing.

As regards lightning protection three sets of safety devices are
fitted at Heyshan\ Harbour. These consist of a choke coil to take
oS thunder discharges, a Mosciki condenser for high frequency
discharges, and a Giles' valve for discharges of a more moderate
frequency. A lightning arrester is also fitted on the overhead
equipment every half-mile, and an earth wire connected to the
gantries is run the whole of the Hue, being connected at intervals
to heavy rubber insulated cable which in turn is connected to earth
plates. Large earth plates are also fitted in duplicate at Hej'sham
Harbour and at Morecambe at the end of the Midland Railway pier.
These plates are of copper and for protection are enclosed in large
iron caissons. At Lancaster tlie running rails are earthed to the
cast iron columns of the bridge across the Lune, where water is
always flowing. As a test of the efficiency of the various earths,
recording ammeters were put in to indicate the proportion of
current which returns by this route. It was found that this
current was negligible, all the current being dispersed from the
rails into the earths within a very short distance.

Bonding.

For bonding purjioses the Forest City type bond is employed,
the outer rail of each line being bonded throughout its length in
duplicate. For protection the bonds are placed under the fish-
plates. At all crossings and junctions the rails are bonded- together
for greater continuity, these bonds as well as those used for cross
bonding being copper cable bonds of the ordinary type.

During the installation of the bonding very great care was
exercised to prevent any moisture getting into, the drill holes or
on to the bond plugs, and this care has been justified by the compara-
tively few bonds which have had to be replaced under oi-dinary
maintenance. Approximately, about 40 ckble bonds of various
lengths have, however, had to be removed at junctions owing to
the copper strands having broken from vibration, while about
1 £00 of the ordinary bonds have had to be removed at various times
in consequence of re-laying operations or the removal of the rails.
About 83 per cent, of the bonds thus removed have been rendered
fit for further use by conversions into pin bonds. This has been
effected by drilling the solid terminals. It was found that the
damage to the bonds was very much less between Heysham Harbour
Junction and Morecambe, where the permanent way is solid, than
between Lancaster and Morecambe, where the permanent way is
less solid, and the fish plates were therefore often badly worn.

Induction Effects.

A point which always arises with single phase railways is the effect
their operation will have on neighbouring telegraph and telephone
wires. Telephone and telegraph wires run alongside the line
through the whole of the electrified section, and some valuable
results as to inductive effects have therefore been obtainable.
Inductive influence was to some extent removed by installing the
earth wire which, as mentioned above, is fixed to the gantries between
the high tension contact wire and the telegraph wires, while by
arranging an electrostatic E.M.F. to counteract the induced E.M.F.
on the A and B wires of the telephone complete silence has been
obtained over the short lengths involved. Over long distances,
however, it is probable that inductive effects would continue to
cause trouble, and it is one of the points which those employing
single phase traction will have to consider carefully, and especially
to follow closely the work which has been done in this direction in
America.

It may be added that for communication purposes portable
telephones are provided at a number of places between the stations
(iver which the engine driver may give information or receive
instructions from the signal box. Both the signalling and the
telegraph and telephone wires are protected by a link consisting
of a carbon lamp.

Power Supply.

A few words may be said about the power house from which the
line is supplied. This is situated at one end of the line at Heysham
and was originally equipped with three sets of American buUt
VVestinghouse gas engines and generators, each with a capacity of
I-'IO kW, for supplying the power load at the harbour. A battery
with a capacity of 100 kW at the five-hour discharge rate was also

installed. When the electrification of the Lancaster - More-
cambe-Heysham section took place an additional engine with
a capacity of 2:5;") k\V was added, +1113 .set being of the six-
cylinder tandem British Westinghouse type. These engines are
supplied from two Mond gas producers each with a 1 000 h.p.
capacity with the necessary auxiliary blowing, steam producing
and cooling apparatus. Steam for the gas producers is raised
in a locomotive type boiler, using locomotive smoke box ashes
as fuel, and Vn' boilers using the exhaust gas from the engines.
During the war it is interesting to note that advantage was taken
of the gas- making plant to supply large quantities of ammoniam
sulphate, though the present day prices do not make the production
of this useful chemical worth while.

Generating Changes.

At first the energy for traction was obtained from two E.C.C.
motor generators, each with a nominal capacity of 175 k\V single
phase output, but capable of peak outputs as large as TOOkW.
This latter output is occasionally obtained when three trains on
the line start together. These sets were designed with very low
constant losses, but notwithstanding this, the infrequency of the
electric service over the greater part of the year brought down their
overall efficiency to about TO per cent. onh-. In r.»14, therefore,
the three original Westinghouse engines were replaced bj- two tandem
sets, each with a capacitj' of 235 kW. These were coupled through
helical gearing to the motor generators which thus became double
current sets so eliminating the constant losses of one machine
per set. Under this arrangement traction peaks are supplied
first by the whole power of the engine being transferred to the
alternator, any charging current that has been passing into
the battery ceasing, and the battery taking over the harbour direct
current load. Subsequently, any further access of alternating
current load causes the direct current machine to motor from
the battery and help the engine. A Westinghouse regulator
controls the battery booster in place of the original and usual
arrangement of control governed by variations of the direct current
load. The station is of interest because, although it is equipped
with gas engines, it deals successfully with ver^- heavy load varia-
tions, and also because of its verj' small capacity in comparison
with the peak loads with which it has to deal.

Traction Equipment.

Turning to the design and equipment of the rolling stock a very
full description of the orig.nal cars provided by Siemens Brothers
Djaiamo Works and the British Westinghouse Company is given
on page 3(53 of The Electrician, June 19, 1908. In general,
these cars have proved fairly satisfactory during the thirteen years'
operation, and further reference to their design and equipment is
therefore unnecessary. We, however, give a few details of point*
which have received attention with sufficient information about
the original equipment to make these clear. Two out of the three
motor-cars provided for running the line were equipped with
Siemens' equipment of German manufaciure, and one was equippeti
with American ^^'estinghouse equipment. The latter ha^ straight
series compensating motors anil electro-pneumatic control and has
been entirely satisfactory throughout.

Original Specifications.

It is true that nowadays the brush construction and bru:jh gear
wear would be considered excessive compared with direct current
equipment, but it must be remembered that these cars are fifteen
years old. The original specification called for two motors per car,
both of which were to be carried on one bogey, it being considervd
both the more economical and the more mechanical arrangement
to concentrate the motive power and reduce the number of parts
as much as possible. The normal train was specified to consist
of a motor-car and two trailers. The weight of these without any
electrical apparatus or mountings is 2 "> tons and IT tons respectively,
with a total passenger capacity of 310 with 1^0 seats. The contrac-
tors were also reqiiired to make their equipments capable of being
worked from the same master controllers, while the motors in the
case of the Siemens set were nominally of ISO h.p. output, and in the
Westinghouse set of 150 H.r. output. The specification required
that tlu'se motors should be capable of delivering their declared

166

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

output for one hour with a temperature rise not exceeding 135°r.
on the test bed and a temperature rise not exceeding 5jO°F. after
having run the three-coach train for six double trips from Heysham
to Morecambe, Morecambe to Lancaster and return. The collector
bows which deviate a little from the standard practice usual at the
time have given no trouble. The weight of the iSiemens motor coach
is 40 tons 10 cwt. and of the Westinghouse 37 tons 10 cwt.

Motor Details.

The two Westinghouse motors embody resistance strips in the
armature connections to the commutator, but there is no record
of strip failure on these equipments ; electro-pneumatic control
gear has also been entirely satisfactory. The equipment was of a
type already in some use elsewhere and was standardised when it
was purchased.

The Siemens equipments, on the contrar3^ wer* among the very
early productions of their makers and embodied a number of
features wherein theory was in advance of practice. They have
therefore not been quite satisfactory, and, in fact, it is believed
that the two Midland equipments are the only ones of the batch
made to these designs which survive to-da}' in actual work.

The motors are series compensated type with the addition of a
commutation winding, and also have resistance strips. In this
case these have been the source of much trouble ; there have also
been other weaknesses, both mechanical and electrical.

Mechanical Defects.

The original lubricating system was very elaborate, and failed
because its pump and pump drive would not stand up to the work.
It was simplified to a simple reservoir and oil-pad arrangement
with a new bearing and a motor end plate. The bearings originally
wore too rapidly. They were bored slightly eccentric so as to carry
the armature somewhat above the centre, and so relieve the weight;
The spider mounting of the armature core did not give adequate
bearing surface, the arms being too narrow so that the core worked
loose. These arms had to be widened. The core looseness caused
a great deal of breakage of cormections the cause of which for some
time was difficult to locate. Core looseness on traction motors,
of course, is a defect not confined to single phase equipments.

Electro-Mechanical Defects.

In 1910 to 1911 a series of electrical troubles, which were finally
traced to a mechanical fault, commenced and caused a very bad
breakdown record for some six months. The faults consisted of
short circuits between commutator segments, with consequent
bum-outs of the winding sections ; the cause was finally traced to
bad mechanical design, inasmuch as the commutator quill was in
two halves, which did not close up when the commutator was put
together and tightened up. Access of dirt, A.C., into the interior
of the commutator was thus possible ; in fact, copper and steel
turnings were found inside most of the commutators and must
have been there from the time of manufacture. Why they had not
made their presence felt earlier is inexpUcable.

Electrical Defects.

The earUest electrical troubles were short circuits on both
armature and stator windings, resulting from dirt and carbon dust
bridging the bare metal end cormectors, which were too close
together. Insulating distance pieces were inserted between each
winding section, and the trouble was finally rooted out by cementing
up the windings soUd. Insulation failures to earth occurred
mainly at the corners where the windings left the slots. These
were attributed to vibration in the end windings set up by
the a.c. current and damped down at the slot comers. This,
also, was finally cured bj'^ cementing t.ie windings. Earth faults
developed due to dirt accumulating in the neighbourhood of the
ventilating duct openings through the armature and stator. These
ventilating openings were finally eliminated by rebuilding the
armature and stator in soUd form without them ; a resulting gain
of li in. enabled the ventilation path to be reversed so as to blow
from the windings to the commutator and not vice versa, an
arrangement which blew all the carbon dust into the windings. So
far as the stators in these motors are concerned this treatment
has, practically speaking, entirely eliminated in=iulation breakdown
both to earth and between windings.

Resistance and Connection Troubles.

Resistance strip and connection troubles have been the most
difficult to overcome, the faults when driven from one point
appearing elsewhere. By overheating and unsAveating the com-
mutator connection lugs, it was found that the area of connection
between them and the resistance strips was nut suflicient. The
resistance strip was then soldered into a long tubular connector
with Avhich it had a large contact area and a copper wire con-
nector was taken thence into the commutator.

Subsequently expansion of the st'-aight resistance strips at
both ends of the armature caused them to break; an "S" shaped
bend was therefore embodied in them. Expansion trouble after-

wards made its appearance inside the slots and occasionally
under the binders, and this has not yet been altogether eliminated.
The main cause of the overheating of strips is the heavy current
which passes at times of starting and the induced circulating
current in the coils short circuited by the brushes when a motor is
standing with current on.

Causes of Overheating.

Of these two causes of overheating it is believed that of the starting
current is worse than that of the more infrequent case when a car
fails to start at once (say on a gradient), and is not notched up
quickly enough so that some coils remain short circuited for a
period. The original type of strips accordingly have recently
been discarded and other material of lower resistance substituted
so to produce less heating from the starting current. The length
of the strips has been increased to give added radiating surface
and a square section has been used instead of the original flattened
section in the slots so as to give added strength to resist the tendency
to rising and kinking in the slots. So far this looks Like being more
satisfactory, the lower resistance rather improving commutation
than otherR'ise.

Controller Defects.

Single phase aU electric control gear has proved workable, but
is more costly than d.c. in maintenance and inspection, and it is im-
possible to get rid altogether of the vibration which wears the working
parts unduly. There have been a number of connection breakages
which can only be attributed to this vibration arising from the a.c.
drive. When these motors are in good condition their commu-
tation is almost sparkless and their brush wear satisfactory, a
mileage of 47 000 for one set of brushes having been recorded. The
brushes are of the sliding type in box form brush holder^, and though
flexible connectors between brush and brush holder are fitted,
there is a good deal of brush- holder wear due to sparking between
brush and brush-holder. This wears away the interior of the
brush-holders and deteriorates the fit of the brushes in them,
causing the brush to take up a different bearing as between one
du-ection of travel and the other, and adversely affecting commuta-
tion by reducing the effective brush area. Re-lining of the brush
holders is therefore necessary at intervals, and their complete
renewal at longer intervals. An experiment tried with heavily
coppered brushes and no flexible connection Avas unsuccessful,
aggravating the above trouble though giving good enough operation
at first.

Of course it must be borne in mind that these equipments, and
particularly the Siemens ones, were among the very early single
phase equipments. It is understood that most of the weak points
brought out by the above history of defects have been eliminated
in later designs ; the latest American and British single-phase
equipments, for example, have no resistance strips.

The work to which we have drawn attention in this article has
been carried out under the supervision of Mr. J. Sayers, O.B.E.,
Telegraph Superintendent of the Midland Railway, and Mr. J.
Dalziel, Chief Electrical Assistant in the Mechanical Engineer's
Department. Mr. R. Meakin, chief draughtsman, and Mr. F. B.
Holt, chief technical officer in the Telegraph Superintendent's
Department, were largely responsible for the new design of over-
head equipment.

Electricity Projects in Ceylon.

Though there has been much discussion in Ceylon about hydro-
electric DEVELOPMENT, SO far little progress has been made. How-
ever, the recent visit of the Director of Public Works (Mr. Chap-
man) to Canada, Swit2>erland, France and Italy, and the visit of
Lord Northcliffe to Ceylon have given a fillip to some of the pro-
posals. Mr. Chapman is said to be now convinced that with an
estimated cosL of 7 cents per unit for electrical energy delivered at
Colombo the existing industries could be revolutionised, while new
ones would be readily attracted to the colony.

The Government have now decided to proceed with the Aljprdeen-
Laxapana hydro-electric project, but in partnership with an English
electrical engineering firm. Of 'the necessary capital of about
Rs. 14 000 000, the Government will contribute three-fifths by raising
a special loan in England at an early date, and the remainder will
have to be invested by the firm. The plans and estimates will be
forwarded at an early date to the Crown Agents.

The sale of domestic electric appliances and small electrical goods
locally has greatly increased. A year or two ago to find in Colombo
daily newspapers a small advertisement referring to electric material
was a curiosity ; to-rlay it is quite common to find half a page
devoted entirely lo illustrating electrical goods.

Several British firms approached the authorities with a view to
carrying out the scheme, but the Government are determined to
finance the matter themselves, though they have no money available,
and as the Colombo Municipality did not exercise the option to buy
the Colombo electric tramways from Boustead Brothers, who have
secured a renewed tenure of eight years, it was feared the Laxapana-
Aberdeen electricity scheme would be shelved.

The Electrician — February lo, 1922

157

The Interconnection of Alternating-Current Power Stations

By L. ROMKRO and J. B. PALMKK.

Since November, 1916, when Mr. J. S. Peck read a Paper on this
subject, several interlinking schemes have been put into commission
or projected, and the purpose of this Paper is mainly to show the
importance of power-factor phenomena in interconnectors. While
the conclusions arrived at apply with equal force to transmission
lines which are not interconnectors, it is intended only to deal with
the general problem of transmission lines connecting power stations.

In deciding the lay-out of an interconnector scheme the designer
is confronted with the problems: What variation in power factor will
result from interconnection with a given voltage " boost " applied
to the interconnector ? And conversely : What voltage " boost "
will be required to transmit power at a given power factor of trans-
mission. In the original Paper an appendix, giving formulae for
estimating these values, is included.

General Operating Conditions.

The division of load in any desired proportion between two
a.c. power stations depends wholly on the adjustment of the steam
supply to the prime movers. The adjustment of the field strength
of the generators, or the raising of the voltage at the " sending "
end only causes wattless kilovolt-amperes to flow round the circuit
formed by the generators at the two power stations and inter-
connecting cable ; the true power or kilowatts remains unaltered,
except for the copper loss in the interconnector.

When current flows through a circuit having resistance and
reactance (such as an interconnecting cable, with or without step-up
and step-down transformers) the voltage at the two ends of the
circuit will differ either in magnitude or phase displacement, or
in both.

For a given load the position of the voltage triangle with respect
to the current vector wlU vary with the difference in magnitude of
the station voltages. The power factor of transmission at one end
of the line can be controlled and kept constant by varying the
voltage of one station with respect to the other, as the load varies.

There are three main conditions of voltage relationship under
which power can be transmitted between two power stations, viz. :

(1) Station voltages constant and equal. — The mean power factor
of transmission remains at a constant leading value. The power
factors at the station ends of the interconnector vary (within small
limits) in opposite directions as the load varies or reverses in
direction.

(2) Station voltages constant and unequal. — The power factor of
transmission varies with load in the direction of lag to lead as the
load increases, and vice versa as the load decreases. This method
is suitable only for transmission of power in one direction.

(3) Station voltages varied by booster or other means as theload varies.
— The power factor may be kept constant at any desired value
within the range of voltage variation available.

Station Voltages Constant and Equal.

Under condition (1) power may be transmitted in either direction
without varying the voltage or mean power factor. The load in the
interconnector is at a leading power factor throughout its length,
the mean angle of lead depending on the ratio of reactance to resist-
ance in the circuit. The power factor of transmission at the two
ends of the line varies in opposite directions with the load, the mean
power factor remaining constant.

This method might be used for a line connecting two stations
each with a load at or near unity power factor, and where it was
necessary to reverse at short notice the direction of transfer of power

V-

in the line. Under these conditions tan a = ^ where a is the mean

li
angle of lead of the current, X is the reactance of the line, and
R is the resistance of the line. By making X as large as would be
safe from the point of view of synchronising power, the mean power
factor of transmission might be fairly near unity. Power could
then be transmitted in either direction without serious interference
with power-factor values elsewhere. Unfortunately, most power
stations are probably unable to receive and absorb into their
systems a bulk supply at a leading (or even unity) power factor
without serious disturbance to their operating conditions. This
method has, therefore, a limited field of apphcation unless special
measures are taken to supply the large wattless component which
might be required.

Station Voltages Constant and Unequal.

Under condition (2) the voltages are usually fixed to give the
best power factor of transmission at full load. This method is
used with success in some cases where load is trasmitted in one
direction only. It makes it possible to transmit a fixed load at

^ * Abstract of a Paper read before the Institution of Electrical
Engineers.

any desired constant power factor, but it is only suitable for trans-
mitting power in one direction, as a reversal of power would flow
at a low leading power factor. Further, the power factor varies
with a change in load. Lastly, with a large voltage-difference in
circuit 't would hardly be practicable to operate without a regulator
to reduce the voltage-difference when synchronism is approached
or departed from ; otherwise the sudden making or breaking of the
large wattless current which would flow at no load would have
serious effects on the busbar pressure at one or both stations.
These considerations appear to rule out a fixed large voltage-
difference, although this method gives fairly good results under
favourable conditions, and where transmission is efff(t<-d in one
direction only.

Variable Station Voltages.

Condition (3) appears necessary in most cases. The variation
of voltage may be obtained either (a) By varying the busbar voltages
at one or both stations, or (b) By introducing " boost " in the
interconnecting line.

For power undertakings distributing alternating current,
variation of busbar pressure for this purpose is inadmissible since
it means a corresponding variation in voltage at the consumers*
terminals. This method can therefore only be used where the power
to be transmitted is small and the interconnecting cable short.
Almost invariably a fixed pressure is aimed at, and restored after
longer or shorter periods of variation.

The introduction of boost into the interconnector is thus the
only generally applicable method of varying the voltage relationship
between the two stations. The variable boost in the line can be
introduced by induction regulators, static boosting transformers
with step-by-step regulators, or variable regulating tappings on the
main transformers.

Types of Regulators.

In the original Paper the authors summarise the types of
regulators that can be used, including the step-by-step and
induction types. For large powers and high voltage the former
type is at a disadvantage owing to difficulties in building the
necessary remote-control switchgear. Contactor- type and face-
plate step-by-step regulators are limited to pressures of about
3 000 V, and supplementary transformers are usually needed.

An induction regulator is in effect a transformer with one movable
winding, and can be wound for pressures up to 11 000 V. At this
voltage it is equivalent to two auxdiary transformers and switchgear
as used in step-by-step methods, and is superior to it in simplicity
and fineness of voltage regulation. In America, combinations of
both types have been designed for the control of electric furnaces,
and this field is promising. In three-phase induction regulators
the secondary induced pressure is constant, the variation in resultant
pressure (regulated) being obtained by an alteration of the phase angle
between the apphed and induced voltages. Where only two stations
are interlinked there is nt i much objection to this method, but
where more than two stations are concerned the phase angle thus
introduced may lead to complications. Hence it is desirable to
wind the regulator with its series winding in two halves, conrwted
in reverse series. The resultant voltage is then in phiise wth the
applied voltage.

Interlinldng schemes are often required to be reversible. This
simpHfies the lay-oui, as the plant at each end of the line can be in
duplicate. However, the cost of the installation may be increased,
and the requirement involves certain lim\,ations. \\Tiere power is
transmitted for considerable distances it is often desirable to instal
regulating plant at each end of the line (each regiUator half the total
capacity), othersvise the voltage boost required by the regulator
might bring the resultant voltage to a value too far above the
nominal transmission voltage.

It appears that no regidators, cither induction or step-by-step,
have been developed for pressures above 1 1 000 V. In these ciicum-
stances regidatoi-s must be so connecfetl as to operate by varying
the pressure applied to the low-tension windings of the main
transformers. This is feasible, but transformers required to give
their full output over a range of primary voltage are larger and more
expensive than those working at a fixed voltage. In the original
Paper several alternative arrangements are illustrated.

Effect of Power-Factor V^ariation.

The power fajctor of transmission is important, since the cajiacities
of the line, main transformers, and auxiliary apparatus, depend on it.
Further (especially when the power factor of the normal connected
loads on the interlinked power stations is different), it might happen,
that the station receiving power woiUd find itself loaded with
wattless kilovolt-amperes to such an extent as to neutralise the
advantage anticipated from the interconiiection.

Transmission from one station at unity power factor has some

158

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

advantages. The capacity of line and transformers can be reduced
and transmission losses are a minimum. The power factor at the
second station is objectionably low. The excessive wattless com-
ponent could be dealt with by a synchronous condenser, but its
capital cost would not always be justified.

If sjnichronous condensers were installed, the most economical
power factor of transmission would be unity. A small saving is
obtained by their use, but they should only be installed when a
substantial saving on the total cost of transmission could be effected.

Synchronising Power.

There are cases of interconnected alternating-current power
stations where the synchronising power of the interconnecting hne
is not sufficient to produce satisfactory^ parallel running under

the conditions of load fluctuation met with in practice. Trouble
is unhkely to be experienced from this cause in the 33 000 V and
higher voltage interconnection schemes to be laid down in this country
in the near future.

It appears that the magnitude of the oscillations, and therefore
the adequacy of the line from the point of view of satisfactory
synchronous running, depends only on (a) the strength of the original
desjTichroniging force, and (b) the synchronising power of the line.

The capacity of the stations would not, therefore, directly affect
the magnitude of the oscillation. The authors are of the opinion
that the adequacy of the synchronising power of a proposed inter-
connecting line should, if possible, be calculated theoretically before
the line is installed, as the results of installing a line with inadequate
synchronising power might be very costly.

Annual Exhibition of the Physical Society of London

and the Optical Society.

{Concluded from page 99 )

H. Tinsley & Company.

The exhibit of H. Tiksley & Company included several new
instruments in addition to the apparatus already familiar to our
readers. Among the novelties should be mentioned iShotter's
integrator for flow meters, of which we hope to give a description at
some later date. We also noticed an interesting design of dis-
appearing filament pyrometer. This is a compact little instrument
based on one developed by Messrs. Griffiths and Schofield, of the
National Physical Laboratory, and made up complete with
temperature indicator and rheostat so that it can be held in one hand,
the cells being the only extraneous element. The special feature of

Fig. 21. — Diagram of Disappearing Filament Pyrometer.

the instrument is the arrangement of the electric circuits so that the
lamp forms one arm of a bridge instead of being simply in series with
a rheostat and a battery. Referring to Fig. 21, the arms A, B and
D are of manganin, and the value of D is adjusted so that with the
lamps running at some particular temperature, say 700''C, the
bridge is balanced. The zero of the scale thus corresponds to
700"C. If now the current in the lamp is increased by adjusting
the rheostat, thus increasing ihe current in all the arms of the
bridge, the resistance of the lamp in' :-oascs while the resistances
A, B and D remain unchanged. There is then an out of balance
current through the indicator, and consequently a deflection, which
is a measure of the temperature. The resistance E is adjusted so
that the upper end of the scale corresponds with the desired upper limit
of temperature. This method has the great advantage that the
range of temperature Alls the whole length of the scale, whereas, if
the indicator measures the current passing through the lamp then
the temperature indications cover only a ])ortion of the scale. This
objection can be overcome by " setting back " tlie zero, but the
controlling spring is then in a state of permaiient strain. With the
present arrangement the scale can be further extended by reversing
the polarity of the battery. If the bridge is calanced at the mid-
range point the deflections for temperatures below this value can,
by reversing the battery, be made to be in the same direction across
the scale as for those above this value. By this sinn)le device the
scale length becomes equivalent to (i in.

A Low Frequency A.-C. Generator.

In some investigations it is necessary to have alternating ciurent
of very low frequency and of sine form. This is the case in investi-
gating telegraph signals through long distance submarine cables.
Apparatus for this purpose, however, is often not j-eadily available,
and therefore H. Tinsley & Company have produced a simple
generator. This consists of a rheostat, over which a sliding contact

travels through, being coupled to a rotating flywheel driven by a motor.
A steady current is passed through the rheostat and thus a pure sine
wave is obtained. By this means frequencies from 0"1 to 10 per
second are possible. If higher frequencies are desired these can
be obtained from slip rings fltted to the d. c. motor. The latter has
been so designed as to eliminate harmonies.

A large inductance bridge for submarine cable investigations was
also shown. The design is such that the lowest residual or resistance
or impedance can be balanced out to a high degree of accuracy (to
as many as 7 figures). Special attention is given to the time
constants of the coils, and a compensated method of connection is
used to maintain the inductance of the connections constant by
having two separate studs for each coil.

Creed & Company, Ltd.

Messbs. Creed & Company exhibited their apparatus for high
speed automatic printing telegraphy and gave demonstrations at
intervals. Some of this apparatus was described fully in our
columns ^ year ago. There was also exhibited a radio signalling
key, which was primarily developed for the control of a 300 kW arc
transmitter, as shown in Fig. 2'J, and diagrammatically in Fig. 23.
The key, which is mainly pneumatic in its mechanism, is intended for
control by an ordinary Wheatstone or other automatic transmitter
or by a hand key. It is convenient to prepare the necessary,
perforated paper tape for the control of the Wheatstone on a key-
board perforator, such as the Kleinschmidt. To those unfamiliar
with ordinary line telegraph practice it may be explained that this is
a machine resembling a typewriter which, on the depression of its
keys, punches in a paper tape a series of holes grouped according to
the characters of the Morse code. This tape is passed through and
controls the Wheatstone transmitter, which is so arranged as to
supply a small current in one direction until a signal is to be made,
when the current is reversed for the duration of the signal. These
currents in turn are passed to a Carjjenter power relay A (Fig. 23),
which operates the vaWe of a pneumatic engine C. This is known
as the control engine. Reference to the diagram will show that this

Fig. 22. — Signalling Key of 3c)0 kW Arc TRANSMriTKR.

engine, through the medium of suitable link-work, is adapted to
oscillate the rockshaft K. On this shaft are fitt<^d saddle-pieces M
to which are connected links operating the slide valves of a number of
pneumatic engines P, as many as may be necessary for the power to
be controlled, in this case eight. On insulated extensions of the

February lo, 1922

The Electrician.

159

piston rods of these engines are mounted ' the silver- faced di.sc
contacts R, which are thrust into contact with, or withdrawn from,
the stationary adjustable contacts S. Beneath the row of contacts
an air pipe, suitably slotted, introduces into the space between the
opening contacts a ribbon-shaped draught of compressed air which
C00J3 the contacts, and helps to de-ionise the gaps. The de-ionising
power of the silver contacts themselves is, however, mainly relied on,
and provided the current to be broken is properly proportioned to
the area of the contacts in use, much less flashing occurs in practice
than might be expected. Moreover, the airblast required is of
quite low pressure. It is found that, provided the current on
contacts of the particular size fitted does not exceed 50 A, an air
pressure of 14 in. of water is quite sufficient.

Perfect Synchronism Obtained.

It will be noted that the saddle-pieces M on the rockshaft are
adjustable as to their angular position by means of their clamping
screws. By this means it is possible to arrange for the contacts to
open with almost perfect synchronism. The bias of the key may
be adjusted by means of the buifer screws B B. Adjacent pairs of
the moving contacts are connected together by laminated conductors,
and corresponding pairs of the fixed contacts are connected to the
ends of a single coil having mutual inductance with the A.T.I. The
closing of the contacts reduces therefore the inductance of the A.T.I. ,
thus altering the emitted wave-length.

The form of the key is such that any number of pairs of contacts
appropriate to the power to be controlled may be used by the
addition of extra pneumatic engines, and it will therefore be seen
that there is practically no limit to the power for which keys can be
built. The key sliows good clear-cut signals at speeds up to about
120 words per minute Morse, with an air pressure of 2 kg per sq. era.
on the engines (28 lbs. per sq. in.)

This alteration of the emitted wave-length in order to effect the
necessary signalling has been stated in the past to be more prone to
cause interference with other stations than the method which
utilises the complete starting and stopping of the oscillations in the
aerial. It must be borne in mind, however, that extremely sensitive
means of discrimination between the oscillations of different wave
lengths exist, and that a very small percentage change in frequency
is all that is necessary to effect signalling where a spacing wave is

R. W. Paul.
-Mi. I^ \\. I'ALi. Miiowfd a beautiful jjir-ce of work in the form of
a standard of mutual inductance. The design of this ntandard,
evaluated from its geometrical dimensions, w due to Mr. Albert
Campbell ; special care has been directed to permanence and ease
of setting up. The general construction can be seen from Fig. 24.
The primary is of bare wire wound in a screw thread cut in a marble

23. — Diagram of Signalling Key.

permitted. If, however, it is desired to start and stop the oscilla-
tions in the aerial completely to effect signalling, it will be seen that
at high telegraphic speeds and long wave lengths, the rate of growth
and decay of the oscillations must be high, and it is clear that this
high decrement radiation will give rise to serious jamming. It
would seem that so far as high speed, long wave stations "are
concerned the change of frequency method of signalling is actually
to be preferred to the other.

Fig. 24. — A New Standard Mutual Inductance.

cylinder, and has two equal sections, each of a single layer, with a
space between their inner ends. The secondary- is a multi-layered
coil wound in a groove in a marble ring ; this suirounds the cylinder,
and is adjustable both axially and radially in relation to the latter.
It is set midway between the two primary helices, and has a mean
diameter such that the field due to the helices is zero at ♦he mean
circumference ; thus, for a given displacement from the correct
position the change of mutual inductance is a minimum. Curves
were exhibited showing variations of diameter and pitch of the
primary as measured by the National thysical Laboratory-. Cal-
culated curves were also shoAiTi givirg the consequent variations
of mutual inductance. The resulting calculated value of the
standard is lO-OOTlg millih.'uries.

Weston Electrical Instrument Company.

The Westox Electrical Instrument Company had t large
exhibit of their well-kno\\ni instruments. A new t\-pe of high
frequency measuring instrument has been introduced, consisting
of a thermo-couple embedded in a heating element, the couple
being connected to a Weston d.c. permanent magnet mo^'ing coil
galvanometer mounted in the same case. The indications are
not aiYected by changes in frequency, and an overload of ."0 per
cent, is permissible. These instruments are made for various
ranges, from 125 niA up to 750 A. The greater part of the scale
is very open, and the accuracy is guaranteed to bo within 1 per
cent. For ranges above 100 A external heating elements are
provided. The instrument can be checked bj- d.c. current, and the
indications are not affected by changes in room temperature, com-
pensation being provided. Galvanometers are also supplied, havinir
scales uniformly divided so that the indications are proportional
to the square of the current, such instniments being useful on
wavemeters and in decrement measurements.

A new model a.c. and d.c. dynamometer t\-po voltmeter, ammeter,
and wattmeter has been introduced. These are guaranteed to an
accuracy of -^^ih- per cent, on full scale deflection.

The Edison Swan Electric Company.

The Edison Swan Company sliowed .<ome roinarkablo Pointolitfr
incandescent lamps, the largest being of 10 IKK) c.p.. and the neat
smaller sire 4 (XK) c.p. They are intendetl for use in projectors
where arc lamps have hitherto been usetl. Small Pointohte lamps,
filled with argon, have been developed for portable sets combined
with a 32 \ battery. For photographic purposes lamps are
arranged with a series resistance which can be short-circuited at

160

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

the moment of exposure, so that in the case of a 100 c.p. lamp
the candle power for tliis short period is increased about three times
and the life of the lamp is much prolonged. A cylindrical glass
deJBector is now sometimes fused into the top of the bulb so as to
restrict the convection currents, and by this means a large increase
in the life of the lamp is obtained. For use on a.c. circuits a mercury
or other rectifier is fitted. We also noticed ordinary vacuum
lamps having the bulbs so tinted that a fair approximation to day-
light is obtained.

Gambrell Brothers.

At the stand of Gambkell Bbotheks much interest was shown
in the variations of resistance of the human hand. Moistened
■electrodes were fixed to the back and palm of the hand, and the
resistance was balanced so as to bring the spot of light to the centre
of the scale. A slight mental shock to the patient (for example, a
sudden and unexpected movement by the operator) usually pro-
duced a marked lowering of the resistance, with a pronounced
time lag. The phenomenon was shown recently at the Royal
Institution by Dr. Waller. The hand seems to be particularly
susceptible in this respect, the effect not being necessarily obtained
with other parts of the body.

Another item of interest on this stand was a new transmitter
for wireless telephony. In most transmitters the aerial is oscillating
continually, the modulating valve absorbing energy. This, of
course, wastes power, and the valves, being continually fully loaded,
get very hot and have a short life. In the present pattern there is
practically no current in the aerial till the microphone is spoken
into, when there are very large increases in the aerial current
strictly in accordance with the speech waves. The microphone
•controls, but does not carry, the high tension current to the plate
of the oscillating valve. The normal current from the generator
is very small, but increases in conformity with the speech waves
in the microphone. The advantage of this system, apart from
saving in power and increased life of valves, is that the aerial
radiation increases from an extremely low normal to large values
during speech, thus minimising interference with other stations.
We understand that speech is transmitted excellently, and that
the instrument is very suitable for duplex working.

Isenthal & Company.

Electrostatic instruments to the design of Mr. G. L. Addenbrooke
were exhibited by Isenthal A Company. These included an
electrostatic wattmeter similar to the instrument which has been
<iescribed in connection with Mr. Addenbrooke's work. With 200 V
on the needle and one volt between the quadrants the deflection
is equivalent to 2 000 mm. at 2 metres scale distance. Thus,' at
ordinary power factors, a reading of 200 mm. is obtained for a
drop of 0"1 V between the quadrants. Tliis sensitiveness can be
■doubled or even quadrupled for special purposes. The instrument
can be used to measure the loss in condensers of O'OOl mfd. and at
very low power factors. "^

We also noticed on this stand Zehnder accumulator batteries
which are suitable for high voltages.

Miscellaneous Exhibits.

A large exhibit of potentiometers and measuring instruments
was shown by Crompton cv Company. The moving system of
this firm's moving coil instruments has been designed with a view
to easy removal, so that repairs can be readily effected. The
moving coil and moving iron instruments are nov.' identical in
appearance and the connection studs are equally spaced in all sizes
:SO as to facilitate interchange on switchboards.

Many interesting instruments were s'lown by John J. Geiffin
& Sons, Ltd., for laboratory work. VVe noticed particularly a
subdivided wire wound megolmi (ten equal coils) at a reasonable
price. This firm's gyrostats were a source of popular interest.

Light Signals in Night Flying.

Speaking before the Illuminating Engineering Society last
•week, Lieut. -Col. L. F. Blandy described the illuminaition of the
interior of the rigid commercial airship R. 36, which is carried out
with ordinary 12 V metal filament incandescent, lamps, the current
being derived from five generators, one in each ^i the engine cars.
He said that in the D.H. 34 — one of ihe most modern British heavier-
than-air machines for passenger traffic which would be flying this
year — similar provision had been made for internal lighting. Diffi-
•cnlty had been found in obtaining the correct formula for the tinting
of the coloured glasses. The usual signal red and signal green,
manufactured to existing formulre, did not give a satisfactory signal
colour when high intensity filaments were used. The Board of Trade
•and the Air Ministry Research Department were now working in
^conjunction to determine satisfactory formulao. Colonel Blandy
described the various forms of illumination used to facilifat-e the
landing of aircraft at night, and referred to a device with which the
Research Department was experimenting — a high-power 12 V lamp
which would withstand landing shocks. The weight of the com-
plete lamp, ]i6 said, was 7 lbs., and it functioned from either the
engine-starting accumulator or the general service battery.

The Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Electrical engineers who inhabit the Strand and City areas,
among them the staff of The Electrician, felt it peculiarly
appropriate that the Institution of Electrical Engineers should have
devoted Thursday evening, Feb. 2, to a discussion on the interconnec-
tion of power stations, or, as some speakers preferred to call it^
the interconnection of networks. The breakdown at the Bow
Station of the Charing Cross, West End and City Electricity Supply
Company is the reason, and this, perhaps, also explained why, in
spite of the inclement weather, there was such a good attendance.
It is to be feared they were not rewarded by a discussion of out-
standing merit.

After the Paper, an account of which will be found on another
page of this issue, had been read in abstract the President said
that after the four names on his list had been exhausted he hoped
the discussion would develop on more informal lines, and that they
would see four or five gentlemen jumping to their feet at once,
as was usual on Monday nights of the Institution.

Mechanical Causes Fundamental.

Mr. P. V. Hunter, in opening the formal discussion, said the
essential point to recognise in any interconnection scheme was that
the energy was entirely controlled by the steam side. Phase
swinging for instance was purely due to mechanical causes. To
intercoimect stations with voltages that were constant and equal
must be unsatisfactory, because the station supplying the energy
did not supply the wattless current. Of the three types <A regulator
described by the authors he preferred the induction type, though
it might be more expensive to instal. He objected to the title
of the Paper because it was usually the networks that were
interconnected and not the power stations, and the tables
given in the Paper seemed to admit it. The arrangement
shown in the Paper for the connection of two stations both
generating at 6 000 V and using a transmission voltage of 3.3 000 V
would, he felt, be the final practical solution.

The Voltage the Determining Factor.

Mr. F. H. Clough pointed out that the wattless component
depended not on the steam end, but on the voltage. When one
station was supplied by another, the former often required power
on the inductive as well as on the energy side. To determine the
voltage required to transmit energy meant the usual problem of
calculating alternating current in an inductive circuit. That was
dealt with more conveniently by using imaginary than trigono-
metrical quantities. If two stations were connected together
through a low reactance the total capacity might be beyond the
capacity of the switches at either of the stations.

Some Earthing Problems.

Mr. H. Brazil said that Mr. J. S. Peck, in the Paper he had read
before the Institution in 1916, had suggested several methods of
earthing the neutral points of interconnected systems, and the
discussion on the Paper had fa\ oured the method of placing re-
actance or resistance in circuit with the neutral point at each station.
Opinions since that date had favoured the use of resistance rather
than reactance. Too little notice had been taken of the loss due
to earth currents between the neutrals. Mr. Peck in the Paper
he had read in 1912 on earthing resistances had taken the view
that this loss was not of any great importance. He (Mr. Brazil) gave
figures which conflicted with that view. The ideal was to have a
resistance which would reduce the circulating current to a very
small figure and yet allow the full current to pass when a fault
occurred.

Some Practical Points.

Mr. J. M. Donaldson said it was desirable to run such stations
as Brimsdown and Willesden of the North Metropolitan Company
in parallel, as that might allow the plant to be operated in an
economical manner. The question of running plant load factor
had a considerable influence on the running costs, far more than the
load factor of supply. Another obvious advantage was that one
power station could assist the other in event of trouble, though
that advantage was counteracted to some extent by the fact that
serious breakdo^vn at one station might upset the whole of the net-
work. In the case of the North Metropolitan sj'stem, they had
come to the conclusion that the Umiting feature was the ratio of the
reactive resistance of the whole circuit. Any reactance that was
inserted should be put in in the centre of the system, and not at one
end, or both ends. The voltage was controlled from one or other
of the power stations and all the other stations had to regulate
their plant so that their power factor w-as about what it woidd
normally be when they were doing their share. The current was
interchanged only at the centre of the system, but with power
stations that were interconnected, and specially with power stations
wliich belonged to different undertakings, it would be as well to
have an independent means of adjusting the voltage. Induction
regulators, at least those of the tliree-phase type, were not made

February lo, 1922

The Electrician.

1^1

in this country. They had an awkward phase angle which comj)li-
cated matters, and he would, therefore, like to see their use ruled
out. Variations of the tapping system patented by Mr. Berry,
appealed to him as being a more satisfactory method.

End of the Formal Discussion.

This concluded the formal discussion and the President then
invited informal speakers. Only two, Mr. G. W. Partridge and
Mr. A. R. Everest responded, and they did so without any of that
eagerness the President desired, both of them pointing out that it
was only the informal character of the proceedings that induced
them to rise at all.

Two Different Sorts of Interconnections.

Air. G. W. Partridge said that there were two sorts of inter-
connected systems, one with power stations at a great distance
apart and the other with power stations close together, as in London
and Chicago. In the latter case, enormous short circuit currents
might have to be dealt with at any time. In the first case, chances
could be taken ;- but in the second, arrangements must be made so
that if anything went wrong the system could be automatically sub-
divided by means of reactances or special switches. At Deptford
they had no difficulty in running in parallel with the power station
at Greenwich, the load being adjusted by means of the excitation.
The power factor \ aried from 0-85 to 0-97 and from 5 000 to 6 000 kW
was transferred as and when required. The reactance should never
be less than the resistance, and he was inclined to agree that, in
general, the induction regulator was the best to employ. He had had
the same trouble with the automatic booster as had been described
by the authors.

Mr. A. R. Everest remarked that the Paper clearly brought
out a point of fundamental importance, that if two stations were
interconnected at equal voltage the only exchange current passing
was a leading current. If the station carrying the load only took
leading current obviously the lagging current must be obtained
elsewhere, which meant very heavy lagging loads on the machine.
It was for this reason it was not practicable to run with equal
voltages.

The Author's Replies.

Mr. J. B. Palmer, in reply, said that he was not clear as to the
point made by Mr. Clough, about the receiving station having to
carry the wattless component of the other station. Stations usually
obtained aU the wattless components they could deal with. With
regard to Mr. Brazil's remarks, he thought that the Board of Trade
regulation which prohibited the earthing of a system in more than
one place would have to be altered. The Pacific Gas & Electric
Light Company had about one hundred and sixty earths on their
high-tension system without any trouble from inductive inter-
ference.

Mr. L. Romero, who also replied, did not agree with Mr. Hunter's
statement that phase-swinging was only due to mechanical causes.
Any de-synchronising force, such as a sudden increase of load,
would cause swinging if the synchronising power of the fine was
inadequate. (Mr. Hukter intervened to point out that an increase
of load was a mechanical disturbing force, and was not primarily
due to electrical phenomena.) To run with equal voltages might
be a good plan in some cases and would, at any rate, save complica-
tion in boosting apparatus. A disadvantage would be that the
receiving stations would always have to supply the extra wattless
current.

During the course of Mr, Romero's reply the President announced
tha* a certain member was urgently wanted on the telephone.
About a dozen gentlemen occupying the back seats immediately
left the room. Was this guilty conscience ?

German Competition in Belgium.

I'here is an increasing demand for domestic electrical apparatus,
motors, and electric lighting fixtures in Belgium, but serious
complaints are being made of German competition at very low prices.
The figures for German dynamos and motors are said to be 50 per
cent, below American, ajid 20 per cent, under Belgian quotations.
Metal filament lamps are I'argely imported from Holland, but some
como from Germany, while France, Switzerland and Italy export
electric heating and cooking appliances. A large Belgian lamp
factory is to be erected by some Belgian and American firms in order
to oust the foreign lamps. With the rapid extension of electric
supply undertakings the demand for all electrical goods is likely
to be maintained.

The Belgian bureaucrat seems to be remarkably like his British
confrere — very slow and ineffective m action. It appears that it is
within the province of the Ministry of the Interior to authorise
changes in the price of electricity and gas. The Union des Villea
et des Communes demand the suppression of the Government Com-
mittees who deal with the matter and the creation of an arbitration
committee, composed of one representative of the supply company
and one of the commune, with a third to be appointed by the
Government or the other two members.

Correspondence.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT.

To the Editor o' THE ELECTKICIAN.

Sir, — In the " Notes of the Week " of your last issue you refer
to certain hydro-electric problems, your commenta on which
appear to some of us to be somewhat misleading.

It is questioned whether our engineers are quite ready to begin
the deve'opment of water power in Great Britain, on technical
grounds. This idea has a certain degree of currency, which it is
believed rests on quite an inadequate foundation, and has, in fact,
done the engineers of this country con.siderable harm in the past,
and is likely to become accentuated in the future, if efforts are
not directed towards exposing this fallacy. It Ls unfortunate to
find this repetition in one of our leading technical joumab.

British engineers are rather forced to hide their light under
a bushel for fear of the appearance of self-advertisement, which
is not the case with some well-known engineers in other countries.
This has tended towards certain important large hydro-electric
instaUations being placed in the hands of foreign engineers in
British Dependencies ; and there appears even to be a tendency
to invite their invasion of this country itself. That there is, in
fact, no necessity for this attitude is evinced by the successful
installations which have been put up in this countrj', in our Colonies,
and abroad, in the past, under British supervision.

There is no doubt that we have a sufficient number of engineers
experienced in hydro- electric work, capable of handling all projects
of this nature in the Empire.

In another Note you refer to the shortage last year of electricity
in Europe from hydro-electric installations on account of the
drought. No doubt risks are run unwittingly where rainfall record)*
are incomplete, but in many cases it is merely a question as to
whether the cost of impounding sufficient water is justified
financially. The broad facts are, that the driest year has a rainfall
about 40 per cent, less than the average, and the three driest con-
secutive years each has 30 per cent, less than the average. In many
instances cheap power is of more consequence than the remote
risk of shortage of supply. Whether a standby of impounded
water or a steam plant is desirable, depends on financial and local
geographical considerations in each case, and the necessity or
otherwise of an absolutely reliable supply. I am, c.c.

London, S.W., Feb. 6th. F. Boltox.

ELECTRICAL versus MECHANICAL ENGINEERS.

To the Editor ot THE ELECTKICIAN.

Sir, — With reference to your article, also the correspondence,
in The Electrician of the 27th inst. Is it reaUy a question whether
the " mechanical " or the " electrical " shall be " top dog " upon
a railway or any other engineering concern ? Is it not rather that
the man shall be an " engineer" ? For it appears to me that, to-day.
the man who aspires to be an engineer, apart from civil engineering,
is sorely lacking in essential qualifications imless he is well qualified
both mechanically and electrically. An engineer ^vill, of course,
specialise as he progresses in life, but this would not cause him
to show bias to either side. He will judge as an engineer, not as a
" mechanical " or as an '' electrical." There must be a " chief " ;
and he must be qualified to treat all branches of work upon its
merits.

We have, unfortunately, a large number of men in the electrical
world who are labouring under the misfortune of having no mechani-
cal training or knowledge. To these the electrical industry owes
many misfortunes. — I am, <!( c,

William B. Pinching, A.M.I.E.E.

Winchmore HiU. N. 21, Feb. 6.

[We should be pleased to have other opinions on the point raised
in our recent Editorial Notes. — Ed. E.]

THE "REVO" ELECTRIC IRON.

To the Editor of THE ELECTKICIaN.

SiK,— As manufacturers of " Revo " Electric Irons we are
particularly interested in the letter in your correspondence column
over the name Wm. B. Scourfield. In reply, we confirm that the
iron in question was correctly rated and that the testimonial referre.i
to was an unsolicited one.

It is news to us that " all the heating and cooking appliance
manufacturers of the worUl. aided by all the resources of modem
science, have striven for. and failed to achieve' a loading of *"64 W
per sq. in." This has not been our ambition. Instead we have
made it our aim to produce articles that besides doing their work
satisfactorily will witiistand a reasonable amount of rough use.
and in this" we claim to have been successful. In spite of yoiu-
correspondent's remarks quoted above, several manufacturers have
for years made and used successfully elements for 64 ^V per sq. in.
and more.

Your correspondent is " tempted to enquire what the thermal
efiSciency of the iron would be." He bases his figures on a presumed

162

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

loading which is incorrect, and assumes a radiating area which is
also incorrect. Might we suggest that Mr. Scourfield gets his
information right before rushing into print. If your corres-
pondent had considered for a moment he would have
reahsed that an electric iron is never in use continuously ;
further, modern electric irons are frequently given a high
loading for quick heating, and so that heavy damp work can be
done; "consequently, when the same iron is doing light work the
current is only used part time —in fact your correspondent miglit have
'■ presumed " that the current would be switched off sometime
before the iron became red hot to allow ironing to be proceeded with.

Regarding the " adaptabihty of electric irons on any circuit, no
matter what the voltage," we do not think it is necessary to explain
in a technical journal that an electrical appliance should be used on
a circuit of the correct voltage. The fact that a " Revo " iron
intended for use on a 100 V circuit Avas used as a 200 V iron and
withstood the " test " for a considerable time, as vouched for by an
independent witness, will be satisfactory evidence to the majority
of your readers, if not to Mr. Scourfield, that the appHance in
question was built on substantial lines, and it is only because the
iron was incorrectly used that there is anything remarkable in the
incident. A manufacturer cannot always find out what treatment
his products get, but when he hears of their being used in an
abnormal and absurd manner and standing up to it, then, even if a
sense of humour is lacking, there is some satisfaction in having
produced a sturdy British article.

A little time ago we received another unsolicited testimonial
regarding an iron similar to the one referred to above. This had been
forgotten and left on circuit all night ; in the morning it was found
that the iron had burnt its way through a table — carpet and part of
the floor. The iron was dropped into a bucketful of water, but after
drying out the element and insulation were perfect.

In case your correspondent has missed the point of this also, we
mention that the incident shows that a modern well-constructed iron
like the " Revo " wiU withstand more than a httle ill usage, but it is
not our intention to recommend the " adaptability " of electric irons
for other purposes than ironing.

In conclusion, we may say the originals of either of the testimonials
referred to may be seen on appUcation. — We are, &c.,

Tipton, Staffs. The Cable Accessories Company, Ltd,

February 6. P. W. Davis (Engineer).

North Lancashire Electricity Inquiry.

On the 1st inst., when the inquiry was resumed iiilo the scheme
for the reorganisaton of electricty supply in the North Lancashire
ana South Cumberland Electricity District,

Sir John Snell said he was sorry that, owing to bronchitis, he
would not be able to continue to preside, and Mi'. H. Booth would
conduct the inquiry.

Mr H. R. Burnett, secretary to the North Lancashire and South
Cumberland Joint Committee, said Barrow Corporation had agreed
that Ulverston and Dalton were as far as they considered they could
go with regard to area, but now they were opposing the whole
scheme. There was a demand for cheap current in outlying dis-
tricts, and the only hope for the scheme was for the whole district
to come in. He was satisfied that a better scheme could not be
devised than one that would take ni the whole area. It was in the
interests of the public that the whole of the generating stations in
the area, and the mills and industries of those places, should
be under one common scheme. The advantage of keeping the
area in one was important, in view of the fact that they might
take over Messrs^ Vickers' plant at Cavendish Park, and also the
Projectile Factory at Lancaster.

In cross-examination, Mr. Burnett said there was no reason why
towns so far apart as Barrow and Laix aster should not be in one
scheme, but the co-operation of Barrow was essential for success.
Messrs. Vickers wanted £450 000 in 6 per cent, bonds for their
station, but the Vickers' plant could meet the whole of Barrow's
requirements at a cheaper rate than a Joint Committee could supply.

Railway Electrification.

On the 2nd inst., Mr. Burnett was examined as t<i th^e position
of Morecambe and Ileysham. He thought the question of railway
electrification would not arise until after 1925, but there was a
prospect that it would be considered before 19^0, and, if so, current
could be obtained from the transmission lino e-; route. He did not
agree tha^t the scheme was unworkable as far as Kendal was con-
sidered, but the demand for current in the Kendal district was so
small that a separate generating station was not thought necessary.
He was agreeable to Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere Urban
Councils being left out of the scheme, but the committee desired to
include these areas. The Lunesdale, South Westmorland and
Ulverston rural districts were not important from a supply point of
view, and he did not mind them being also excluded, if they desired.

Councillor T. Morton, a member of the Barrow Electricity Com-
mittee, said Barrow had decided against the scheme until they could
get Government assistance. They had also decided that the Barrow
plant should be taken over and compensation allowed for it. Th«
Council had considered an alternative scheme, which would include
Barrow, Dalton, Ulverston and certain rural parts of tlie Ulverston

district. The supply for this smaller area could be produced at
Barrow, and by arrangement they could also draw upon Messrs.
Vickers' power-house.

Mr. S. E Britton, City Electrical Engineer of Chester, said he
had inspected the area of the Joint Committee's scheme, and thought
the estimated expenditure was too low. He also considered that
Barrow Corporation would be penalised financially under the schemes.

Questions of Area.

The inquiry was concluded on Friday, Mr. H. Booth being in
the chair. Mr. A. Page attended as second commissioner.

Mr. Eastham announced that at a conference of parties repre-
senting the Windermere, Grasmere and Ambleside districts, an
agreement had been arrived at to come into the suggested district
if it was to be one area, but they had decided to remain outside
the scheme until such time as they could derive any benefit from it.
They would be put under no financial obligation, but if at any time
it could be shown that they would benefit, then terms could be
arranged with the Joint Electricity Committee or Board. The
Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere urban districts were willing,
and also the Windermere and District Electricity Supply Company
to contribute five guineas each each year to the Joint Electricity
Authority, and they would be represented on the authority. The
Lunesdale, South Westmorland and rural districts of Ulverston
took up the same attitude, with the same contribution if it was one
ai-'ea, but if the area was split then Lancaster and Lunesdale would
desire to be in a Lancaster area.

Mr. Kennedy proceeded with his cross-examination of Mr. S. E.
Britton, who had given evidence on behalf of Barrow Corporation
against the scheme. The witness did not agree with many of the
figures in the scheme as it affected Barrow, and replying to Mr.
Page, he said he had been struck with the large areas in the Joint
Committee's scheme where no supply would be required.

The Chairman said he understood that in the whole scheme
Barrow would not be charged with any transmission main past
Backbarrow.

Mr. Kennedy said that was so, and Mr. Procter said that Kendal
quite understood that.

Mr. Wooll, for Barrow Corporation, said the main objection of
Barrow was to be included in the area, but another objection was
that Barrow did not want to lose control of its plant. "The Barrow
proposal to include Ulverston and Dalton was not a piece of mere
window dressing. Without Barrow no general scheme could go on.

Mr. Procter said Kendal had aerreed to take up the same position
as the Windermere group, and contribute five, guineas to the adminis-
tration costs. If the new scheme would represent a cheaper supply
then Kendal would would come in. In the meantime they would be
represented on the Joint Committee.

Mr. Alfred Taylor, on behalf of the London and North-
western, the Midland and the Furness Railways, said the imme-
diate or early electrification of any part of the railway systems was
not very probable. There were no plans for such electrification,
and, judging by the present traffic, the capital cost would not be
justified. The policy of the railways was to purchase supply in the
cheapest market, whether from a Joint Committee or a private firm.

Major G. C. Milnes, electrical engineer of Lancaster, said he did
not think there was any justification for including the Lancaster
district in the scheme. For the purely local demand their own
supply was sufficient.

Mr. J. Abady opposed the Committee's scheme on behalf of
Millom and Bootle, and said Millom desired powers of its own to
supply electricity; and Mr. H. Kirby, secretary of the Millom and
Askham Hematite Iron Company, said there were gases at their
furnaces which could b© utilised.

After evidence by Mr. G. H. Cheetham and Mr. W. Lewthwaite
against South Cumberland's inclusion, the inquiry was concluded.

Forty Years Ago.

(The Electrician, Feb. 11, 1882.;)

Coalition — The Ripon Town Council have been invited by the
Birmingham Town Council to join them in protecting the interests
of the corporations having gas works under their control against the
Electric Lighting Bills.

The Telecraimi and the Arabs. — In a lecture delivered recently
before the Victoria Institute Mr. Rassam explained the Arab word
" Tel " means " wire," and " Araph " " to know "or " expound " ;
hence " to know by wire " or " obtain knowledge by wire " is the
Arab's explanation of the use of the telegraph.

The City Commissioners of Sewers.. — At the first meeting of the
newly-appointed commissioners, Mr. Felton, the chairman for this
year, said that, " with regard to the electric lighting, he hoped
that by the end of the year they would have extended it to all the
principal thoroughfares in the east and west districts of the City."

W.\ter Power and Electric Lighting. — It is stated that M
Lortet, of Lyons, France has made a preliminary trial of a system
of generating electricity for lighting the house belonging to the
Faculty of Medicine in that town by means of water wheels driven
by the current of the Rhone. It is also stat*d that he is endeavouring
to obtain permission from the authorities to enable him to per-
manently establish this system of obtaining power for electric light
purposes.

February lo, 1922

The Electrician.

10.3

The Electrical Wholesalers' Federation.

The antiual dinner of live Electrical Wholesalers' Feuekaiion
was held at the Trocadeio Kestauiant, London, on Thursday, Feb. 2,
under the chaiimanship of Mr. H. Bowden-How.

The Need of Closer Co-operation.

Mr. R. Albrecht, in proposing the toast of the " Kindred
Associations," said that the first few years of the Electrical Whole-
salers' Federation's existence had been spent in settling the principles
of living and working. They were now able to take slock, and were
conscious that out of individual weakness had come co-operative
.strength. But the added sense of responsibility had brought the
discovery that«ihey were only a cog in a large machine. They had
sought to get into closer touch with the other electrical associations,
and most of their work had been in the direction of the B.E.A.M.A.,
though there they had made little progress. Now they asked for a
lead which would help to bring the two associations more into har-
mony. Failing a proper selling organisation the manufacturers had
organised something for themselves. But the duty of the factor
and contractor was to build up better organisation than the manu-
facturers, and the manufacturers would then be only too pleased
to come into line. This was the first step towards betterment of
trading conditions.

Mr. Dunlop on the Electrical Industry.

Mr. D. N. Dunlop, in reply, said that the initial experiences of
the B.E.A.M.A. had been very similar to those of the Electrical
Wholesalers' Federation. Many complications had to be met before
the elex-trical industry could be placed on a level with similar indus-
tries in the United States and Germany. They had to face cartels
and price cutting, which affected every branch of the industry, and
their first work, therefore, was to make the whole body more
liealthy, and to establish the different branches of the industry
in a position where it could pay decent wages and have something
left o^rev for research. In doing this they had come up against
certain prejudices and difficulties, owing not a little to the multi-
plicity of articles with which they dealt. Now, however, their
endeavours had been partly successful, and there were committees
oo-operating with all the other bodies in the industry.

The Reticence of the B.E.A.M.A.

It was obvious that a national industry could not be built up
on losses, but efforts to obtain profits and reasonable conditions
of contract had met with opposition. The B.E.A.M.A. had often
been criticised for its reticence, but in such negotiations as he
had mentioned secret diplomacy was necessary. A drawback to
closer relationship was the national characteristic of individualism.
But there were many points upon which they could co-operate, and
at any rate the industry must not be allowed to get into so decrepit
a state that it would have to be subsidised. Manufacturers should
not have selling organisations, but should arrange with wholesalers
and contractors to work for them, except for the largest products.
Every contractors' window should be a display of the manufacturers'
goods, so that in the end there was no opening for foreign products.

How to Brighten the Future.

He thought they must recognise they would have to face competi-
tion from foreign countries working with an exchange in their
favour at full speed, and flooding the English market with cheap
goods at a price at which, to give labour a decent livmg wage, we
could not afford to sell. No manufacturer wanted to cut down
labour charges, but if he was faced with competition from abroad
at prices at which he could not afford to make, he could not go
on without assistance from all those concerned.' Some way must
be found out of these difficulties. We were not going to shut up
shop, but every branch of the industry must work to get all the
advantages, and none of the disadvantages, of co-operation. With
the help of the Press and the backing of the Electrical Whole-
salers' Federation and other associations they should be able to
stabilise the home market, increase production, and fight this
competition. Help was wanted to solve the problems which alone
would make the electrical industry of Great Britain second to none
ir. the world.

The GasHlled Lamp Case.

Mr. J. Y. Fletcher, who also responded to this toast, said that
the gasfilled lamp case had not been fought to bind the Electrical
Wholesalers' Federation, but to enable further agreements to be
made in their favour. The result of this case gave a reasonable
chance of business in legitimate markets. The lamp market made
it easy to have a factoring policy, and that was the permanent
policy of the Electrical Lamp Manufacturers' Association. The
E.L.M.A. was also wedded to a contractors' policy, and they had
entered into satisfactory arrangements with both the Electrical
Contractors' Association and Electrical Wholesalers' Federation to
everyone's benefit.

Co-operation w^ith Labour.

Mr. J. McGregor, in supporting the toast, said that the Cable
Makers' Association had started a general industrial council to
solve labour troubles, and it had solved them. From that had
grown the idea of bringing in every branch of the industry into
those councils. He agreed that existing difficulties could only be
solved by bringing parties together round the table. Such co-opera-
tion was necessary for mutual defence and support.

The toast was also supported by Mr. L. G. Tate, who said the

contractors wished to get into closer touch with other bodies of the
electrical industry, and Mr. J. W. Beacoiamp, who said that
a sort of reservoir was required between manufacturer and user,
so that the manufacturer could pump out his proauci oorjtinuously
and the user take it as he required. The wholesalers should be
able to fulfil this useful function. In England the ideal to Tsork for
was a reasonable percentage of co-operaf. ion on top of the national
initiative.

In the course of the evening a presentation was made to Mr. A. G.
Beaver, the late general secretary of the As.vx;iation, of a hand.some
silver tea and coffee servic and tray, with a cheque for £100, as
a mark of the appreciation of the member." for the work he had con-
ducted in initiating and organising the As.<u)ciation.

Farmhouse Lighting Plant.

^^Owing to the convenience and ccoiiomy of electric lighting the
demand for small independent lighting planta for farmhoa.<ie« and
isolated country houses is increa.sing steadily. Though several fimiB
cater for this class of business there is probably no firm who have
made a closer study of the subject, and who have such wide experi-
ence of farmhou.se requirements as Stl'art Turner, engineers, of
Henley-on-Thames. Consequently the firm claim that their " Stuart '
electric light plant is one of the best on the market. The plant is
made in three sizes to meet varying requirements.

The ^ kW plant is designed for any house or farm using up to a
maximum 900 c.p., or say thirty-30 c.p. lamps. The standard voltage

(25) permits the use
of ga.sfilled lamps of
moderate size in the
Jiving rooms, whilst
for passages and
offices q a i t e small
metallic filament
lamps may be em-
ployed. It is claimed
that a plant of thia
size tias ample
capacity for the sug-
gested output, and
the cost of fuel and
oil is rather less than
that of gas light. The
^ kW plant will give
all the conveniences
of abundant electric
light at a very
moderate cost, and
fans and small motors
a^e quite within its
capacity. For those
who wish to do heat-
ing and cooking by
electricity the [firm [supply larger sets of \\ and 3 kW. The plant
is claimed to be as near fool-proof as well designed and constructed
machinery can be.

The engine is rated at 1 h.p., with bore 2^ ui. and stroke 2"^in.
It is of the two-stroke three-port type and has no valves, tappets or
valve gear to get out of order.

The engine is completelv enclosed and gas tight, cannot leak or
throw oil about. It will im cquallv well on ptrol, benzol or gas.
The firm also manufacture the F.S. 1 (1^ k^^ ) and F.S. 2 (3 kW)
hting sets.

Stuart P.3
Engine.

Patent Reversible Toaster.

The " Universal " patent reversible toaster, which we illustrate,
entirely obviates the necessity of touching the bread. It is merely
necessary to touch a tiny -lever and the bread rack automatically

"Universal" Kevkksible Toastkk.

reverses so that botli sides can be toasted without handling. The
rack has a half-way position, which is handv f or removing the toast
when finished. The consumption is only 540 W. This *• Lniversal
appliance is supplied by L. G. Hawkins.

104

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

Legal Intelligence.

An Electrician's Fraud.

Last week an electrician was sent to prison for four months by
the Liverpool Stipendiary, for stealing two sums — £7 5s. and £5 5s.,
which had been entrusted to him to pay a lighting deposit to the
Liverpool Corporation. It was stated that in January, 1920. a local
draper employed defendant to wire his premises, paying him for
the work. Three months after a sum of £7 5s. was paid to him
to obtain a meter from the Corporation electric lighting department
and to pay the lighting deposit. He was also given a further £5 5s.
to perform a similar service for another consumer. The stipendiary
described the case as one of gross and deliberate fraud.

Re Cordoba Light, Power and Traction Company.

On Tuesday Mr. Justice Astbury eanctioned a scheme of arrange-
ment between the Cordoba Light, Power & Traction Company, Ltd.,
and its debenture stockholders, loan creditors who held promissory
notes, and the preference shareholders. Mr. Jenkins, K.C. (for the
company), said it was a sound undertaking, but it had been hampered
of late years by reason of the increase in the cost of materials. It
was formed in 1908 for carrying on in Cordoba and the Argentine
an electric power undertaking and the operating of tramways. It
acquired the undertaking by purchasing the shares of two companies,
one registered in the United States and the other in the Argentine.
The present authorised share capital was £1000 000 in £1 shares.
The company had carried on business very successfully. It had to
spend its cash on its undertaking, and there was a sum of £106 205
etanding to undivided profits account. It had performed all its obli-
gations and it paid its preference dividend down to Sept. 30, 1915.
Since then, although making large profits, the company had had to
use its cash in other directions, and there were six years' arrears of
the preference dividend, amounting to £75 000. In order to put the
company on a sound basis the scheme of arrangement had been
prepared.

Licence Dutv on Tramway Repair Wagons.

In the Falkirk Sheriff Court, last week, the Falkirk and District
Tramways Company were summoned by Stirling County Council for
having, on June 6 last, used a motor tower-repair wagon for which
a licence was not in force. The Council maintained that the duty
payable on the vehicle was £25, but the company contended that they
were not bound to pay more than 5s., as the vehicle came under
the category of a tractor carrying only its own gear, and used solely
for repair purposes, and not for commercial purposes.

Mr. D. Hays, the manager of the Tramways Company, admitted
that the company had no licence for the vehicle. Through an
oversight the 5s. duty which was due had not been paid at the time ;-
but as the County Council demanded £25 for a licence the case was
considered one of considerable importance, and pending a legal
decision no tender was made. Glasgow Corporation, who possessed
several vehicles similar to the one owned by the company, had
refused to pay the higher licence.

The PnocuR.\TOR-Fisc.\L argued that the case depended entirely
on the interpretation of the Finance Act and the Roads Act of 1920,
and the vehicle was one for v/hich a £25 licence should be taken out.

Sheriff Robertson said the question was one for the High Court,
and should be settled by judgment there. It would be better to
have the question fettled by a, special case to the Court of Exchequer
-or something of that kind. There was no question, however, that
the company ought to have had a licence, and he must convict them.
A penalty of £2 2s. was imposed.

Electric Coal Cutters in Gassy Mines.

Last week Sheriff Fyfe, of Glasgow, delivered his considered
judgment in a test case against Nimmo & Co. by an injured miner,
who claimed damages at common law or, alternatively, under the
Employers' Liability Act of 18B0, in respect of an explosion on
June 1, 1920, when two men were killed ; nd several were injured.
The Sheriff dismissed the action, but reserved it for assessment (if
need be) of compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Acts.

In his written judgment the Sheriff examined the various statutory
regulations, and concluded that the pursuer had not established any
cause-and-effect relationship between negligence of the mineowners
and his injury, and so no claim at common law had been established ;
and that, even had it been, the claim was iDarred by the doctrine
of common employment, the accident having been proved to have
been caused by the negligence of fellow workmen in failing to screw
down the cover of the switch-box of an electric coalcutter which was
being used in the mine, and so permitting a flamet to emanate from
the coalcutter and ignite the gT>s in the mine. The Sheriff found
that the coalcutter itself and its cable connection, were in perfect
working order, and that taking off the switch-box cover and replacing
it, as occasion may require, was not a skilled electrician's job, but
an ordinary 'mechnTiicai operation in using the coalcutter, th«
responsibility for dointr which efficiently was with the machinemen.
as part of their duty of operating the machine.

In regard to the suggestion that a coalcutter should not have
been used at all in the mine because of the presence of gas, the
Sheriff said there was no evidence in the case to support such x
proposition ; and he was, fortunately, not called upon to pronounce
any opinion upon that large question. It would be a very serious
proposition for the coal industry in Scotland if it was to be re-
garded as unsafe to use a coalcutter, merely because there was more
or les3 gas found in a mine. There were coalcutters specially

designed for use in gassy mines, and the evidence in the case showed
that the machine in question was a flame-proof machine of modern
type, and was in perfect workmg order.

Leave to appeal was granted, it being understood that the case
was regarded by the Miners' Federation as a test case, involving
important questions as to safety in mine working, and that it would
be carried to the higher courts.

Anglo-German Tribunal Decisions.

On Monday the Anglo-Gei'man Mixed Arbitral Tribunal gave its
reserved judgment on the claim of Chamberlain & Hookham, of Bir-
mingham,, against the Solar Zahlerwerke Ges. (m. b. H.), a sub-
sidiary company in Hamburg in which they held all the shares.
Before the war the claimants supplied the German company with
parts of electricity meters, which were assembled in Hamburg and
sold in Germany, and at the outbreak of war there was a debt of
£23 921 due to the English company by the subsidiary company.
A claim for this amount in sterlinc; (with interest) had been lodged
with the Clearing Office for Enemy Debts, but was rejected by tJhe
German OflSce on the grounds that the creditor and debtor were
the same persons, that there was never an obligation to pay the
debt, and that the German company was not a German national
within the meaning of the Treaty.

Delivering judgment in favouT of the claimants, the President of
the Tlrib^mal (M. Borel), said it was clear tljat both in English
and in German law a company was a legal entity, distinct from it«
shareholders, and that in the event of a liquidation of the German
company before the war the claimants could only have -ranked as
creditors, and could not have claimed the whole assets as share-
holders. On ths point ol nationality, both the Treaty of Peace
Orders 1919 to 1921 and the corresponding German orders of
. Aug. 31, 1919 and April 13, 1920, defined " nationals " of any State
as including any company or corporation incorporated therein
according to the law of that State. On this point also the conten-
tions of the German Clearing Office failed. There were certain
items in dispute, and on some of these the claimants had given
way. Judgment was given for the claimants for £20 438, with
£100 costs.

The Tribunal has also given its decision on the claim made by
Isaac Spencer & Company, of Aberdeen, against G. Schlotterhaus
J& Qoanpany, la German firm, for the repayment of £600 paid for
extraction plant costing 36 000 marks. At the outbreak of war
the machinery was ready for shipment, but was not delivered, and
claimants had already paid one-third of the purchase money
(12 000 marks). M. Borel said that the contract was dissolved in
August 1914, and the consequences of such dissolution were not
expressly regulated by the Treaty. The question in dispute had,
theirefore, to be decided according to the principles of equity.
The debtors had spent a considerable sum of money in manu-
facturing the machinery, and that loss did not appear to have been
covered by the value of the machinery. The Tribunal thought it
equitable that the creditors sihould receive £400 in respect of their
claim, and no order was made as to costs.

Electrical Company's Contract Claim.

Sir H. Courthope-Munroe, K.C, as Arbitrator appointed by the
President of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, sitting at the
Surveyor's Institution, Westminster, held a preliminary hearing on
Mpnday to determine certain questions of law in a claim by the
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company against the Chinese
Engineering & Mining Company. The claim was for £2 750,
alleged to be due in respect of two contracts, dated March 16, 1915,
and May 15, 1915, for the supply of turbo-generators, condensing
plant, transformers, and spare parts. The total of the contracts
was £31 364. The Arbitrator had to deal with questions of law in
the construction of the contracts before entering into questions of
fact as to an alleged interference by the Government with the
claimant's workmen and factory.

The purchasers, by way of defence, relied upon the provisions of
a schedule to the specification contained in the contract of March 16,
1915, which was as follows : — " The contractors undertake to deliver
the first set f.o.b. British port, after testing, within twenty-eight
weeks from March 16, namely, by Sept. 28, 1915, and to deliver the
second set, together with the other parts, f.o.b. British port, after
testing, within thirty-two weeks from the said date, namely, Oct. 27,
1915, and on these deliveries being effected at the dates stated the
purchasers will pay the contractors the sum of £25 426 18s. Should
the delivery of either set be effected at a later date than that stated
above, then the purchasers will pay a reduced amount, which will
be computed by subtracting £250 per week for each week's delay
from the £25 426 18s. The number of weeks' delay for this purpose
shall be taken as the quarter of the two numbers representing the
number of weeks' delay in delivery of the first set and the number
of weeks' delay in the delivery of the second set, and the maximum
deduction for the purpose of this computation shall not exceed
£2 750, being a reduction equivalent to a delay of eleven weeks."
The purchasers alleged that the claimants did not deliver the first
set by Sept. 28, 1915, nor the s*ond set by Oct. 27, 1915, and did
not deliver them until after a delay of more than eleven weeks.
Therefore, it was submitted, the contract price payable by the pur-
chasers for the two sets was less than the sum claimed by £2 750.

The claimants, in reply, alleged that the schedule was in the
nature of a penalty clause, and that the purchasers were not entitled
to the benefit of it or to make any deduction except on proof «.f

February lo, 1922

The Electrician

165

damage caused by delay on the part of the claimaiilfe in making
deliveriee under the first contract, and that no damage was or could
be alleged by the purchasers. Secondly, it was provided by the
schedule that the purchasers should grant under their hand such
exteneion of time for the completion of the works as might seem
reasonable to them in the event of the Government at any date
subsequent to March 16, 1915, by virtue of the Defence of the
Realm Act or any amendment of it, interfering with or com-
mandeering the employees or portion of the contractors' or sub-
contractors' factory, either or both of which were essential for the
construction and due delivery of the works. In the construction and
delivery of the works, it was pleaded, the claimants' workmen and
factory were interfered v/ith by the Government within the terms of
the clause, the purchasers had notice thereof, and in consequence
the claimants became entitled to an extension of time for the delivery
of the works. The purchasers, it was submitted, did not comply
with a i;ovenant as to granting an extension of time or giving notice
of any limited extension, and in consequence the claimants became
released from all liability to deliver the goods or any of them by
any fixed date. Thirdly, it was pleaded, on the true construction of
the contract, the claimants could not be called upon to commence
any work which was of the nature required— buildmg or structure —
for the reception or efficient installation of the works, and which
building or structure had to be provided by the purchasers unless
and until such building or structure should be in a condition suffi-
, cient for the reception or efficient installation of the plant; and that
the contract should be extended yari passu with the delay in pro-
viding any such building or structure. In fact, it was submitted, at
the time it was claimed the plant should have been delivered the
buildings for its reception had not been completed, and that there-
fore the claimants were not liable for the delay in delivery. Finally,
it was said, the purchasers had expressly or impliedly waived com-
pliance by the claimants with the terms of the schedule as to the
dates of aelivery.

The Arbitrator reserved his award, which is to be stated in the
form of a special case.

Electric Lamp Patent Litigation.

On Monday Mr. Justice Astbury commenced the trial of an action
by the British Thomson-Houston Company against the Corona Lamp
Works, for an injunction to restrain an alleged infringement of
patent.

Sir A. CoLEFAX, K.C., appeared with Mr. J. C. Gray,-K.C., Mr.
Whitehead and Mr. Trevor Watson, for the plaintiffs; and Sir D.
Kerly, K.C, and Mr. Frost for the defendants.

Sir Arthur Colefax said the patent (No. 23 775 of 1912) was for
improvements m and relating to evacuated vitreous containers having
sealed-in conductors. The patent had been sometimes referred to, he
thought rather erroneously, as the leading-in wire patent; at any
rate it was a patent which was concerned with the seal between the
glass and the leading-in wires in an incandescent electric lamp. So
far as the infringement went there were certain admissions of fact.
As regarded the alleged infringement, there was no question, so far
as the facts outside that issue, of whether this was an infringement
or not, were concerned.

Sir D. Kerly : We sold the lamps.

Sir A. Colefax said there were two cases, one of one lamp and the
other of twelve lamps. With respect to the issues raised by way
of defence, and so far as the particulars of objection went, they
were the usual issues. The defendants denied novelty, subject
matter and utility, and they pleaded prior user. As to the subject
matter of the invention, counsel said electric lamps dated back forty
years, or rather more, and from the early days -in their .history
until the days of gasfiUed lamps (about which they had been talk-
ing recently in another place) the effort had been consistently to
obtain a better and better vacuum. Incidental to that, it was
important that they should have a perfect seal to the bulb, and it
was also necessary to be able to conduct the current to the filament
that they were to render incandescent. For a very long period of
time platinum was alone used. Platinum had a co-efficient of expan-
sion somewhere near the glass used, but what was more impor-
tant it was non-oxidising. It was used for a very long time, but it
had throughout been very expensive, and from the early nineties
one proposal after another was made to obviate the use of platinum
for the leading-in wire in the incandescent lamp. Notwithstanding
those proposals, until the date of the patent in question, with one
or two exceptions, platinum was universally used, and since the
date of the patent plaintiffs' invention had steadily displaced
^platinum, until to-day among the bigge.st manufacturers of lamps
plaintiffs' invention was employed and platinum was no longer
used. The embodiment of the invention as practised to-day was
this :— -An alloy was taken in the form in which it was most generally
used ; it had got a co-efficient of expansion which, in fact, was less
than glass, and with it a composition wire was made. This core
was then coat;ed with something that, in fact, was independent of
any question of expansion or contraction, it was given a sheath
which presumably had a different co-efficient of expansion (in the
form and embodiment in which it was used copper was taken, which
had a higher co-efficient of expansion than gla.ss), but whatever was
selected for the sheath it was something which was oxidising,^ and
whose oxide was easily soluble in the glass into which the l^eadiiia-in
wire was used in the operation of sealing. In the snecification of the
patent the allov was n'ckel-iron, the ratio beintr 46 per cent, nickel
and 54 iron.. In the alleged infringing Inmns the alloy in the com-
posite wire was 29 per cent, copper, 28"43 per cent, nickel, and

42 4 per cent, iron — 99'83 per cent., there being a liltl»: ;

analysis.

Evidence in support of the plaintiffs' case was given by Mr. J.\».
SwiNBURKE; ex-President of the Institute of Etecirical Engineers,
who said that, platinum being expensive, the object of the inventor
in the case was to get some other metal with the advantages of
platinum. In the case of platinum they must have a bright surface
and a co-efficient of expansion the sanw as glass. If they got away
from platinum they must have a base metal and use it in such a
way th :t the glass would adhere, and that the expansion would not
break the glass. These two properties were foand in th© raetal
in those lamps.

On Tuesday the witness was cross-examined, and in reply to Sir
D. Kerby, who asked if it was common knowledge at the date of the
patent that if one wanted to use any leading in wire, the co-efficient
of expansion of the wire and of the glass they were osing must be
approximately the same, Mr. Swinburne said he should hardly say
it was common knowledge. If the wire was small they oonld seal
such a thin^ as copper in. It was only when they got wire fairly
large that the co-efficiency of expansion played an important par!.
How far it was general knowledge he did not know. He thought
everybody at this date would suppose that it was an advantaj^e to
get it exactly the same, and that they ought to have it certainly tht-
same. Not only in the case of leading-in wires, but in many kind-
of scientific instruments it is necessary to seal metal and glass
together. In many other things besides lamps, although lamps may
be and are the most important, a glass vessel had metal wires sealed
into it, and had to be subjected to variations of temperature. The
variations of temperature were not really the important thing; the
real variation of temperature was a difference of temperature
between the time of sealing and the atmosphere; it was very seldotn
it was raised above or came anywhere near those limits afterward?
in practice.

The hearing was adjourned.

Public Works in Batavia.

The Public Works Department of B.\tavia has officially announced
that all work temporarily suspended for reasons of economy is to
be resumed immediately. The resumption of this work foreshadows
a considerable demand for constructional material and engineering
accessories, and while no official anthority has been given for start-
ing on new works planned, it would appear, the Department of Over-
seas Trade states, that there may be important openings for United
Kingdom firms. In the case of contracts for materials for public
works, dredging plant, cables, &c., United Kingdom firms may
lodge tenders with the Colonial Office at The Hague without the
necessity for local representation in Holland.

Water Power in Jugo Slavia.

H.M. Commercial Secretary at Belgrade reports that the Zagreb
journal, " Agramer Tagblatt " recently published an article concern-
ing the FORMATION OF A SYNDICATE for the development of hydro-elec-
tric power schemes which ^ould be worked in collaboration with tbe
Government. This syndicate was formed a'. Vinkovci in, November for
investigating the water power of the Bosna and Drina, and it has lieen
decided to erect, near Mod. ic, a water-power station of 8 000 h.p. .
and to construct another station on the lower Drina between Kovil-
jaca and Janje of 29 000 h.p. The projected power stations are
int<?nded to provide electricity for Posavina, Podrinje, Slavonia,
Syrmia, Backa, Djakovstina and Osijek, and will be linked up with
the projected overhead electrical system of the State. It is al>o
intended to connect these systems, via Zabgreb, with the power
system of Fala, so that the project of the central Government to
provide an organised network of electric power lines in an ea>t
to west direction could be accomplished without great delay. The
undertakings are assured of State co-operation, and the participa-
tion of foreign capital will only be permitted if native resource*
are insufficient.

Electricians' Wages.

At a conference between the National Fetlerated Electj-ioA.
A.'^sociation and the Electrical Trades Union, held on Jan. 26
the following clauses were added to the N.ation.\l StandardiscI'
Wages Agreement : —

S/iip Work. — The N.F.E.A. rnte for olecfric-U work on ships to
be the ship rate of the district for the sajne class of work.

Sho)" Work. — Wiring or installation of any new work in neT or
old buildings not to be undertaken at Uvss than the N.F.E.A. rate
The rates agreed between the E.T.l^ and the Engineering and tl;.-
Shipbuilders En-ployers Federations to be restricted to niaintenatHv
work, and to exclude all new wiring or installation work.

In accordance with the National Wages Agreenvnts, it has beei;
agreed tbat the variation in the cost of living justifies a 16 per cent,
reduction in wages in lieu of the previou.s reduction of 10 per cent
and tho net hourly rates of pay applicible tc the respective gradet^
of the agreements are as follows : — Grade A. 2s. l^d. ; Grade B.
Is. lO^d. ; Grade C. Is. 9d. ; and Grade D, Is, 7^6. an honr. These
rates came into effect thi<: week, and remain current up to the first
pay day in .Tune next

166

The Electrician

February lo, 1922

Electricity Supply.

The Minister of Tmnsport has revoked the Richmond (Surrey)
Ei.BCTRicnY (Temporary Increase of Charges) Order, 1919, as
from Jan. 31 last.

Pontypridd Chamber of Trade has accepted an invitation from
Mr. J. E. Teasdell, the electrical engineer, to inspect the new eub-
etation and electrical power works of the Council.

Marlborough Town Council has decided to apply for the revoca-
tion of the Provisional Order granted in 1913 to the Marlborough
Electric Supply Co., who have failed to carry out their obligations.

The Borough Electrical Engineer and Manager of Blackburn
(Mr. P. P. Wheelwright) has been instructed to prepare, in three
months' time, a report of the working of the new Whitebirk
electricity station.

Sittingbourne Gas Company has applied for authority to charge
a maximum of 25s. per quarter where premises are lighted by elec-
tricity and gas is laid on merely as a stand-by. The Urban Council
has referred the matter to a committee for a report.

The new electric light plant on Bangor Pier was formally started
last week by Mr. W. R- Jones, chairman of the Pier and Ferries
Committee. The installation, which replaces the old gas lamps,
consists of twenty lights of 100 c.p. each.

The Minister of Transport proposes to confirm the Sho'reham-by-
Sea and Lancing Spf.cial Order, 1922, made by the Electricity
Commissioners to be granted to Mr. Frank Gibbs, Beach Shipyard,
Shoreham. Any objections should be sent to the Ministry of Trans-
port by March 2.

A petition has been circulated in Wimbledon for signature by
burgesses asking the Mayor to call a town's meeting to discuss the
Corporation's action in connection with the dismissal of Mr. H.
ToMLiNSON Lee, chief engineer to the Corporation for over twenty
years. Many ratepayers have signed the petition.

London County Council, having considered the proposals of Hamp-
stead Borough Council to take electricity in bulk from Marylebone
Council, have decided to offer no objection to the scheme. Hampstead
Council propose to shut down their Lithos-road generating station,
and three-phase current at 6 600 V, 50 periods, will be supplied by
Marylebone to Hampstead and transformed down to 105 and 210 V
for local distribution.

The Electricity Commissioners have prepared analyses and sum-
maries from the four-weekly returns of fuel consumption, &c.,
i-endered by 501 electricity stations in Great Britain during the
year ended March 31, 1921. A tabular statement embodying the
summaries, with an explanatory letter, was issued to the engineers
of all the power stations in question. The general position during
the year is indicated in four tables.

At the monthly meeting of the Belfast Corporation, last week, a
recommendation of the Electricity Committee that the electricity staff
should be reorganised, and that, in view of the increased responsi-
bility owing to the enlargement of the undertaking, a chief elec-
trical engineer of experience in the management of large undertak-
ings, and of greater administrative ability than Mr. Bloxam be
appointed. It was further recommended that Mr. Bloxam be
granted a retiring allowance of £480 per annum. There was a very
warm debate over the recommendation of the committee ; finally it
was carried, by thirty-three votes to twelve, an amendment to delete
the name of the chief engineer having been first defeated by the same
vote. Several members of the Corporation said that Mr. Bloxam
was being made a " scapegoat."

At the last meeting of the directors of Edinburgh Chamber of
Commerce, a communication was read from an important manu-
facturing firm in Edinburgh, drawing attention to the increase which
had been made in the charge to consumers of electric current from
Igd. per unit to 2d. per unit, and complAining that the raising of
the charge constituted a serious grievaiice and handicap to manu-
facturing industries using electric power. The directors were of
opinion that rather than maintain the increased price the Electricity
Committee should bear the burden of a temporary small loss, and
(hey strongly recommend that in any case an assurance .should be
s^iven by the Electricity Committee t^at six months hence a reduc-
tion in the charge for current would be made. The matter was
before the Council at its meeting on Thursday last.

New Schemes end Mains Extensions.

All the houses on the Welling Estate, Bexlfy, are to be wired
for electric lighting, the cost per house chargeab'e to the scheme not
to exceed £6.

Leeds Corporation has received sanction to borrow £38 500 for the
provision of overhead wires and electric service for the municipal
housing scheme.

It is proposed to erect electricity works in Ballymena, Ireland,
at a cost of £5 500. A limited liability company is to be formed,
and the prospectus is in course of preparation.

Walmer Urban Council has, subject to proper protection being
afforded, decided to support a proposal to establish electric supply
works by a local company about to be formed.

There are thirty-five petitions against the Grampians Electricity
Supply Order, but the majority of them are by landowners in
order to get protective clauses. The opponents, however, include

five electric supply and power companies, five county councils, and
the Glasgow, Dund'ee, and Perth Corporations, besides several minor
local authorities.

Crewe Town Council has applied for a loan of £10 000 for
additional plant at the electricity works and for cables. It is
proposed to establish a department for wiring private houses.

A motion that the Electricity Committee be instructed to prepare
a scheme for the wiring of premises and the fitting of electric fittings
at cost price was defeated at last week's meeting of Derby Town
Council.

At a meeting last week of the ratepayers of Sleights (Yorks) a
committee was appointed to ascertain the cost of lighting the village
by electricity. The village is also to be canvassed to obtain the
number of prospective consumers.

The Minister of Transport gives notice that he proposes to con-
firm the Blackburn Electricity (Extension) Special Order, 1922.
Objections may be sent to the Secretary, Ministry of Transport,
6, Whitehall-gardens, London, S.W. 1, until Feb. 25'.

Burnley Electricity Committee, who recently postponed the
supply of electricity to the Rosegrove and Lowerhouse districts
pending the erection of a sub-station, have now authorised the Elec-
trical Engineer to prepare a report of the estimated cost.

Tunbridge Wells Council .have decided to apply for a loan of
£12 975 for extensions of mains, services, transformers, sub-stations,
and sub-station pillars for the ensuing three years, and for £4 378 to
cover the increased cost of the installation of the new turbo-
alternator, condensing plant, pipe-work and switchboard.

AcCRiNGTON Corporation has received the consent of the Electricity
Commissioners to extend the plant at the electricity works. The
Electricity Committee have aaithorised the borough surveyor to
proceed with the work, and tenders for the plant are to be invited.
Blackburn Electricity Committee is considering the proposals for
linking up Blackburn and Accrington stations.

Blackpool Finance Committee have sanctioned an application to
the Ministry of Health for a loan of £5 000 in respect of mains and
services for the housing estates. The Electricity Committee
recommend application for sanction to borrow £220 000 for new
generating plant, high tension transmission mains and other plant
required in connection with the electricity undertaking.

The Liverpool Electric Power Committee has received sanction to
borrow £17 082 for mains and services and sub-station equipment in
connection with the Cherry-lane housing scheme addition, subject
to the applicants paying a portion of the cost. Nine mains extensions
are to be proceeded with. The Works Sub-committee of the Health
Committee has authorised the City Engineer to order three electric
puMPS, with cables and starters.

A proposal to introduce electricity supply for lighting and indus-
trial purposes was discussed on Friday at a joint meeting of the
Holywell Urban and Rural Councils. It was reported that the
North Wales Power Company would shortly be laying a cable from
Dolgarrog generating station in Carnarvonshire, through Flintshii-e,
to Wrexham, and if the Holywell area agreed, provision would be
made for a transformer station near the town. A joint committee
was appointed to make further inquiries into the proposal, and to
present a report at the earliest possible date.

Alteration of Charges.

As from the December, 1921, i-eadings, Croydon 'Town Council
have decided to reduce the electricity charges for power, heating,
and cooking from 125 per cent, to 100 per cent, over pre-war rates.

Darwen Town Council have reduced the charges for electricity
as follows : Lighting, 8d. to l^A. ; power, up to 100 units S^d. to
4fd. ; 100 to 500 units, 4^d. to 4d. ; second 500 per quarter, 3d. to
2|d. ; over 1000, 3d. to 2|d., and over 2 000 per quarter, l^d. to
l^d. ; for domestic purposes, for first 30 units, 4^d. to 4d. ; in
excess of 30, 2^A. to 2id. ; public lighting, 6d. to 5^d. ; theatres,
6d. to 5id.

Salford electricity charges are to be reduced from 75 per cent.
to 40 per cent, for lighting, and from 100 per cent, to 65 per cent,
over pre-war rates for power, heat, and bulk supplies. This reduc-
tion has been made possible owing to the decreased cost of coal and
the improvement in its quality, to the existence of the new plant,
and the improvement in the condensing facilities. This is the second
reduction which has l)een made by the Department in three months,
and is undoubtedly the right course to adopt in view of the present
industrial depression.

The following reductions in the charges for electricity, as from
the end of the December, 1921, quarter, have l)een approved by the
Liverpool Tramways Electric Power and Lighting Committee, and
the recommendation will come Wfore the City Council : Ordinary
consumers 25 per cent, off the increased charge of 100 per cent. ;
special consumers having agreements containing coal clause, &c..
25 per cent, instead of 40 ptn- cent, increase ; rateable value con-
sumers, 50 per cent, off the increased charge of 100 per cent, on
the rateable value charge, and 25 per cent, off the increased charge
of 100 per cent, on the basic rsSte per unit.

On Saturday (he Cardiff magistrates sentenced a man named Sulli-
van to a month's imprisonment for obtaining twelve electric
LAMPS (valued at £4 10s.) by false pretences from Messrs. Simpson
and Baker, a local firm of electrical engineers.

February lo, 1922

The fileccrician.

107

Electric Traction.

Darwkn Town Council have reduced the cliarg&s for electricity
for the tramways from 2id. per unit to 2\A.

AcCRiNGTON Tramways Committee have acceded to a request for
a reversion to the original guaranteed week of forty-eight hours.

Application to the Ministry of Transport is to bo made by Hull
City Corporation for authority to extend their electric tramway to
liessle.

RiSHTON Urban Council will oppose the Bill of Blackburn Corpora-
tion for the extension of the borough and for constructing new
tramways and running omnibuses.

Leeds Corporation have decided to lay a double tramway track
along Belvidere-road and Devonshire-road, instead of a single track
as recommended by the Tramways Committee.

Aid. Iligham, chairman of Blackbubn Tramways Committee,
iiolds out no hope for a reduction in tram fares in the near future
ai the late of wages are still considerably higher than the revenue
per mile.

Glasgow Corporation have adopted the proposal of the Tram-
ways Committee that in the interests of public safety pedestrians
should be instructed to keep to the left. Notices to this effect are
to be affixed to the lamp posts and in the tramcars.

The amalgamation of the London & North-Western and Lan-
cashire & Yorkshire Railway Companies having been com-
pleted, it is announced that the directors of the L. & N.-W. Com-
pany are now occupied with the question of bringing the Midland
Railway Company into the group.

The Scottish Commercial Motor Users' Association are oppos-
ing the Aberdeen Corporation Pi-ovisional Order, the Glasgow Cor-
poration Provisional Order and the Ayr Burgh Provisional Order,
under which the Corporations are taking powers to run omni-
bus services beyond the Corporation or burgh boundaries.

Barrow Town Council are opposing the Bill promoted by the
London & North-Western, Midland, and Furness Railway Com-
panies for powers to run road vehicles. At a meeting of the Town
Council on Monday it was stated that the tram service was losing
£200 a week. Penny fares for shorter stages were advocated.

Lewisham Borough Council have resolved to oppose the L.C.C.
Bill for the construction of railless trolley trams from the boun-
dary of the borough at Sydenham to Lee-green via Catford. Hack-
ney Borough Council are also opposing the Bill in order to get certain
conditions inserted, but the general principles of the Bill have been
approved.

In the Bill of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Tramways
Company power is sought to construct a double line of tramway, in
order to connect up its existing system at Heanor with the Ilkeston
tramways, which ha,\ie now been transferred to the company. It is
proposed to give a through service, and for this purpose it is pro-
posed to alter the gauge of the Ilkeston Tramways from 3 ft. 6 in.
to 4 ft. 85 in. The capital required is to be provided by empower-
ing the company to raise the balance of its unissued capital of
£96 470 as preference capital, and to borrow upon its issued capital
ihe sum of £126 765.

The subject of omnibus stop signs has been under the considera-
tion of the Road Department of the Ministry of Transport, and
owing to the divergent views of Borough Councils, efforts are being
m-ade to adopt a uniform, standardised pattern. Some couneils
demand £1 per sign, others require that tramcar and omnibus
stopping places be at least 30 yards apart and others that the sign
be illuminated by electricity or gas by night. The Metropolitan
Boroughs Standing Joint Committee have approved of the principle
of erecting signs in the interest of public safety, and urge councils
to adopt a similar attitude.

The accounts of Exeter Tramways for the past year show a sur-
plus of about £3 000 on the year's working. Expenditure on general
repairs and maintenance for the year is estimated at £4 922, com-
].ared with £9366 and £8 862 for the two preceding yeai-s. In view
of the expenditure that will be further required and the reduction
"f the reserve fund in the past two years, it has been decided that
£2 000 of the £4 000 caaried into the district rate for the current
year be j>aid into the reserve fund. Mr. F. Chick, moving the
adoption of the report at the Council meeting last week, said the
oommittee had not made a profit of £3 000, but they had saved
that amount on maintenance onarges. Perhaps it was false economy.
An amendment that the committee's recommendation be re-considered
was defeated, and the report adopted.

For several months omnibuses have been running between Hanley
and Burslem and Hanley and Stoke, with the result that the traffic
on the tramcars has been affected, and the Potteries Electric Trac-
tion Company have reduced their fares. Some time ago the fare on
the route bejtween Hanley and Stoke, which is the most important
and busiest in the district, was cut down to l^d., but the omnibuses
and chars-a-bancs continued to be well patronised at 2d. On the
other sections, where there is no omnibus competition, the Tramway
Company have made no reduction of fares. Now, howe^^^, they
have still further reduced the fares on the Hanley-Burslem-Stoke
sections to Id. for the journey, which is roughly two miles.
Several of the omnibus proprietors have declared their intention
to transfer for the time being their competition to the sections where
the Tramway Company have not reduced fares if they are forced
by the Id. fare to abandon the Hanley and Burslem and Hanley
and Stoke routes.
B 2

Personal and Appointments.

Sir Charles Paasonh has been elected Master of the Shipwright*
Company.

Mr. E. E. Pope has been appointed mains superintendent of the
Miiidstone Municipal Electricity Works.

Mr. v. C. Lakkin has been appf>intfcd High Corniriisitioner for
Canada in London, in succession to Sir George Perley.

Mr. H. W. Huntington Richards, electric traction engineer of
the L.B. aid S.C. Railway, ha.s been elected a member of uie Insti-
tute of Transport.

The present secretary of the South African Instituti of Elec-
trical Engineers is Air. H. C. Luke, and his address i.s P.O., Box

5 907, 94, Cullinan-buildings, Simmonds- and Main-streets, Johannes-
burg.

Hackney Borough Council have appointed Councillor H. J. Mead,
Chairman of the Works and Open Spaces Committee, and the
Borough Engineer and Surveyor their representatives on the London
" Safety First " Council for the current year.

We are pleased to learn that Sir John Snell, Chairman of the
Electricity Commissioners, had so far recovered from the attack
of bronchitis from which he has been suffering that he was abl»-
to return from Barrow-in-Furness to I^ondon on Monday, and. if
no unforeseen relapse occurs, it is believed that he will be able to
resume his duties about the end of the present week.

The International Commission on Illumination has appointed
an Editing Committee, composed of the following : — English
language. Major K. Edgcumbe (to represent the U.S.A. and Great
Britain); French language, MM. Laporte and Blondin. The follow-
ing officers have been appointed for the ensuing three years : — Presi-
dent, Dr. E. P. Hyde; vice-presidents, M. F. Rouland (France),
M. G. Semenza (Italy), and Major K. Edgcumbe (Great Britain);
hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. C. C. Paterson.

The Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, Eiast
Pittsburgh, Pa., announces that Mr. T. H. Hays has been appointed
manager of the Indianapolis (Indiana) office of the company. Until
further notice Mr. Hitchner, assistant to the manager. Indus-
trial Department, in general charge of the mining and electro-
chemical industries, will have general charge of the sections for-
merly handled by Mr. W. H. Patterson, who, as we announced in
our last issue, has resigned his position to become vice-president of
of the Kaestner & Hecht Company.

After thirty-seven years' service in the City and Guilds (En-
gineering) College, following two years' service at the Finsbury
Technical College, Prof. T. Mather is ret-ring at the end of the
present session. Prof. Mather succeeded to the Chair in Electrical
Engineering on the death of the late Prof. W E. Ayrton, with whom
he had been closely associated in the organisation of the department.
The City and Guilds (Engineering) College forms the engineering
section of the Imperial College of Science and Technology under the
Delegacy, representing the Imperial College, the City and Guilds of
London' Institute and the Goldsmiths' Company. The Delegacy
will proceed shortly to consider the appointment of a successor
to Prof. Mather, and are inviting applications.

The following re-arrangements in the st.\ff of Liverpool
Electricity Department have been approved by the City Council : —
Mr. E. L. Morland, mains superintendent, to be distribution
engineer, at £525 per annum and bonus; Mr. C. M. Lucas, assistant
electrical engineer, to be assinant distribution engineer, at £350 per
annum and bonus ; Mr. A. E. Aird, assistant engineer, to be assistant
electrical engineeer. at .£270 per annum and bonus -, Mr. W. Mayhew.
h.t. inspector, to be assistant engineer, at £205 per annum and
bonus; Mr. T. B. Owens, h.t. switchboard inspector, to be assistant
engineer, at £210 per annum and bonus ; Mr. J. B. Higgins, main<
engineer, to be h.t. engineer, at £235 per annum and bonus ; Mr.
J. H. Murrav, mains engineer, to be district mains engineer, at
£215 per annum and bonus; Mr. C. F. Reid. mains engineer, to be
service mains engineer, at £190 per annum and bonus : Mr. C. L.
Eagle, assistant mains engineer, to be diiirict mains assistant, at
£125 per annum and bonus; Mr. F. C. Carmen, mains assistant, to
be senior mains assistant, at £235 per annum and bonus : ^^r. A. E.
Lewis, mains assistant, to be senior mains assistant, -^t £230 per
annum and bonus: Mr. S. R. Holliway. station engineer, to he shift
engineer, at £220 per annum, plus the E.P.E.A. b>nas: and Mr. T.
Herbert Thomas, shift engineer, at £220 per annum and bonus.

Exhibition Notes.

The Second International SampUs Fair to be held at Triestf
is to take place from Sept. 3 to 18.

Plans are being made to hold ar Internation.u. Exhibitiox at
the White City at Shepherd's Bush, Ixmdon, in 1924.

Stand 201, Block 0, Building B, has been secured by A. Riyrollb

6 Comp.vny, of Hebburn-on-tvne. at the forthcoming British In-
dustries Fair to be held at Birmiimliam from Feb. 27 to March 10.
Their exhibits will include their woll-known armour-cl.id switchgear
and switcli pillars for use in fieiv and non-fiery nu'nes.

The Secoitd Orient Fair (Pressburg) will be held from July 9
to 16. The Fair, which is international in character, is intended
to foster the Balkan trade in conjunction with the efforts now in
progress to develop the importance of Bratislava as a Danube port.
Applications for space should be sent by May 31 to Secretariat.
II. Orient Fair, Bratislava (PressburgV '"'zecho-Slovakia.

1C8

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

Institution Notes.

The fifth SiLVANUs Thompson memorial lecture of the RqNtgen
Society will be delivered by Sir Oliver Lodge at the "Institution of
Electrical Engineers on Tuesday, March 21.

The second annual meeting of the British Electrical Develop-
ment Association, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, will be followed by the
annual luncheon at the Hotel Cecil, Strand, W.C, at 1 for 1.15 p.m.
The chair will be taken by Councillor E. C. Ransome (President-
Elect, E.D.A. ; I.M.E.A. Council ; Chairman, Ransomes, Sinis &
Jefferiee, Ltd.). Other speakers will be : Mr. Arthur Neal, M.F.
(Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Transport), Mr. Hugo
Hirst (President, E.D.A. , 1921-22, and Chairman of the General
Electric Company, Ltd.), Mr. J. S. Highfield (President of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers), Sir Archibald Denny (Chair-
man, William Denny and Bros., Ltd.), and Mr. A. F. Berry (Chair-
man of Council, E.D.A., 1919-20-21-22).

At a meeting of the Chelmsford Engineering Society last week
Mr. A. Haskins in the chair, Mr. G. H. Ayres, of Industrial Waste
Eliminators Ltd., gave an illustrated lecture on " The Reclamation
and Utilization of Waste in Factories." Various methods of
recovering oil from metal turnings, dirty wipers, and cotton waste
were dealt with. The apparatus recommended was the turbine
type of centrifugal extractor. The peripheral speed of the ex-
tractor should be 6 000 to 7 000ft. per min., and by having the
turbine blades fastened direct to the under side of the cage, this
could be easily obtained. One manuafacturing firm in six months
treated 834 cwt. of metal turnings, 8 cwt. of rags, and 134 gross of
sponge cloths, and recovered 2 440 gallons of oil. Another concern
was stated to recover 1 200 gallons of cutting oil per week, while the
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, using 6^ millions of sponge
cloths per annum for cleaning purposes, recover more than a gallon
of oil from each gross of cloths.

Under the chairmanship of Dr. C. S. Desch, Mr. A. Glynn
Lobley, Lecturer in Electro-Metallurgy in the University of Shef-
field, and Reader in Electro-Chemistry in the University of Man-
chester, last week gave a lecture on electric furnaces before the
Sheffield section of the Institute of Metals. The lecturer gave a
brief survey of the basic principles involved, the classification, , and
the evolution of electric furnaces, showing slides of the pioneer
types. He followed this with a review of the characteristics of the
furnaces used for non-ferrous metals, contrasting the merits and
demerits of the three chief types, arc, induction, resistance. A com-
parison of the electrical load with the ordinary power station load
was given, showing the advantage of the el-ectric furnace from the
power station viewpoint. He made a plea for a more extended use
of the simple and reliable wire-wound furnace In order to dispel
the notion that electric furnaces are necessarily expensive, he quoted
examples from his experience in which electric furnaces of his own
design, not only proved economical in use, but were often cheaper
to install than fuel furnaces. He urged that furnaces should be made
as simple as possible in order to reduce the first cost. A comparison
of the thermal efficiencies of various types of fuel and electric fur-
naces was given.

Business Items, &c.

DiENY & Lucas, 329, High Holborn, London, W.C. 1, have
been appointed exclusive agents in Great Britain and the Colonies
for the Societe Alsacienne de Constructions Mecaniques of Beifort
and Mulhouse, manufacturers of electrical machinery.

Mr. S. Utting, 82, Victoria-street, London, has received the
order for the equipment of two large Babcock C.T.M. type boilers
for the Hague electricity works. The " Prat " draft system is
to be installed, and the air heaters are of the " Thermix " type.
This order is the fourth received by Mr. Utting for these important
works, and is the outcome of the success of the first contract.

The Baroda State Railways have placed an order with Hollings
& Guest, Lto., for a horizontal four-tl row chain-driven hydraulic
pump, and a Large hydraulic accumulator, for use at the Baroda
workshops. The East Indian Railways also have recently ordered
a hydraulic press from the firm. In addition, many other British
and Foreigri railway companies have installed similar presses for
various purposes, such as solid tyre fitting, wheel forcing, scrap
metal bundling, and forging.

Simplex Conduits, Ltd., announce that they have completed
arrangements for a joint sales service with their associate company,
Credenda Conduits Company, Ltd., whereby all Simplex and
Credenda productions will be available throughout the branches and
depots of both companies. The arrangement is esseiitially one of
sales organisation, but as such deals only with ac ual productions of
the companies, leaving untouched the usual factored hues, in wiiich
each will continue its own course of action as before. The manu-
facturing policy of neither company will be effected.

A series of novel electrical appliances, known by the trade name
of " Adix," have been placed upon the market by Mr. Chas.
SouKUP, 15, Farringdon-avenue, E.C. 4. These include boilers, tea
kettles, coffee percolators, irons, &c. The heating element and the
vessel being separate, so that no contacts are attached to the con-
tainer, forms a special feature. Should the element burn out it
can easily be replaced by removing a few screws. The appliances
are constructed for use on universal ■ oltages and are designed to
pack into a small compass. Mr. Soukup is sole agent for the
appliances and factors, and others are invited to apply for fuller
particulars.

Imperial Notes.

Westblry (Tasm.\nia) Council nave engaged Mr. H. A. Masters
to report on the subject of electricity supply for the town.

It is understood that tenders for Grahamstown's (S. Africa)
electric lighting scheme, estimated to cost £65 000, wil; be called
for in June or July next.

Ballar\t (Victoria) Finance Committee recommend that the City
Council send a deputation to the State Electricity Commissioners to
discuss the subject of the supply of electrical energy in Ballarat.

Negotiations are in progress for the supply of electrical energy
by the Mount Lyell Company from their Lake Margaret power
station to the Tasmanian State Hydro-Electric Department, and
for its re-sale by them to Zeehan Municipality.

Imports of electrical goods and machinery in South Africa
continue to increase, states the " British and South African Export
Gazette." The value of elevators and lifts imported last year
amounted to £75 000, compared with only £27 271 in 1920.

Amongst revised charges for electricity recently recommended by
Sydney (N.S.W.) Electric Supply Committee was a proposal that
where a supply of current is required continuously for water heating
the charge shall be 5s. 3d. per month per 100 W of demand.

Singapore Munipipal Commission have approved a scheme, involv-
ing the expenditure during the next ten years of 100 million dollars,
for the provision of public utilities on the island, including the pro-
vision of further tramway facilities, and public and private electric

lighting.

It is proposed to erect a li.t. transmission line from New South
Wales State power-house, Port Kembla, to Moss Vale, and a supply
from this line having been offered to Mittagong Council, the
Council have decided -to borrow £4 800 for the distribution, net-
work, &c.

Adelaide (South Ausi-ralia) Tramways Trust have just installed
a 6 000 kW Curtis turbo-alternajtor, made by the British Thomson-
Houston Company, and a condenser, manufactured by G. W. Kelly
& Lewis, of Melbourne, and capable of condensing 75 000 lbs. of
steam per hour.

Benalla (Victoria) Shire Council are considering the advisability
of establishing electricity works for the town, with plant driven by
suction gas, crude oil, or steam, and also a proposal for hydro-elec-
tric works, which would obtain power from the Holland's branch
of the Broken river.

Up to the end of December last, 75 miles of the Melbourne
Subdrban Railways, or slightly more than tJiree- fourths of the
lines, had been converted to electric traction. Automatic sub-
stations are now being equipped, each of which will render its own
section of line dead when not in use, and re-establisii the circuit
when a train approadhes.

The Electrical Federation (Victoria) lias been formed to take
over the work of the Electrical Traders' & Contractors' Asso-
ciation of Victoria, and the latter association is being wound-up.
The oflScers of the new Federation include T. M. Ritchie, Presi-
dent; L. G. Henwood, Vice-President; G. L. Just, Hon. Treasurer ;
and, for the time being, Messrs. Rankin, Man-ison and Company,
314, Collins-street, Melbourne ,a?6 acting as secretariee.

The elimination of double taxation of income as between Aus-
tralia and the United Kingdom has now been achieved. The
arrangement is that where the British tax is greater than the Com-
monwealth and State taxes combined, the taxpayer will in future
pay in the aggregate only the British rate, but wnere the combined
Australian rates exceed the British rate he will pay only at the
combined Australum rates. Tiie higher rate will always be charged,
and the lower tax will be rebated.

A manufacturers' agent in Halifax, Nova Scotia, representing
several Canadian firms for telephones, electrical heating appliances,
bells, &c., desires to represent United Kingdom manufacturers of
electric, incandescent lamps, transformers, Wh meters, galvanised
iron wire, stranded steel guy wire, and pole line material, on a com-
mission basis, for New Brunswick, Prince Edward' Island, Nova
Scotia, and Newfoundland. Applications for names and addresses
must be sent to the Department of Overseas Trade. (Ref. No. 127.)

In connection with the bann on German engineers to supervise
the erection of briquetting machinery at Morwell brown coal
mines, the Victorian Attorney-General recently stated that it was
impossible to obtain the plant from any other country than Germany.
The Federation of Britis-h Industries have been investigating the
matter, and find that not only could the type of briquetting plant
required be obtained in this countiy, but that a Birmingham firm
actually quoted for tliia particular order. The Federation is taking
every possible step to rectify the erroneous statement.

Ill a statement on the financial position of the Tasmanian State
IIydho-Electric Dr.PARrjrENT. made in the Tasmanian Parliament
by the Hon. J. B. Hayes, it is explained that the estimate, given in
1919 as £2 500 000. of the cost of carrying out the Great Lake scheme
to the point of beingable to supply 57 200 ii.p. of electrical energy
had now to be amended by the addition of 25 per cent., due to
increased cost of labour, plant, interest on loans, &c. In addition to
the supplies to the Electrolytic Zinc Compxiny and the Carbide Com-
pany, a supply has been provided for Messrs. Cadbury's chocolate
works at Claremont, and applications have been received from two
companies for large quantities of power for now industries.

February lo, 1922

The Electrician.

169

Foreign Notes.

The Chinese Minietry of Communications has approved the regis-
tration of the Peking Tramway Company.

The Arizona Bureau of Mines h patenting an electric process for
! oCATiNO UNDERGROUND ORE BODIES. The director, Dr. G. M. Butler,
states that it indicates the depth, size, and other information,
regarding concealed copper ore. The device has, it is stated, proved
accurate by testa m the mining regions in Arizona.

What is probably the highest voltage ever employed in urban
Disi-RiBUTiON ia used in Berlin, where 100 000 V overhead linee have
been erected in the centre of the city. High voltage is also used ;n
6ome American towns, as at Seattle and Niagara Falls, where the
lines run across the cities, but the pressure employed ifl much lowei-
than in Berlin.

A scheme for the distribution of electricity for lighting and
power throughout East Flanders has been prepared. The exist-
ing generating stations will be utilieed as far as possible; but
for new works and h.t. lines the Provincial Council will advance
money _to the communes and the local companies. The cost of
the distribution network is estimated at about 10 000 000 francs.

The electrical manufacturers and contractors of Holland are
complaining of the serious eifect of German competition, and the
Vereeniging van Fabrikanten op Electrotechnisoh Gebied has asked
the Minister of Industry and Commerce to restrict the imports
of electrical goods and to make the present five per cent, duty
caluculahlc on the intrinsic value of the money of the country of
origin.

A meeting of tjhe Union Internationale de Tramways et de
Chemins de Fer d'Interet Local will be held at the rooms of the
Societe Generale de Belgique, 34, Rue Royale, Brussels, at 3 o'clock
on February 18, to consider changes in the constitution of the
Association which has been rendered necessary by the war. Among
these changes are the a,ddition to the title of tJie words " Transports
Publics Automobiles," and the restriction of the meimbeirship to
undertakings in friendly or neutral countries.

An American electrical (the Buck-Hewlett Suspension Insu-
lator) patent, which has been the subjeet of litigation for eleven
years, has recently been declared invalid by the U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals. The patent related to a freely suspended system operat-
ing at 60 000 to 10 000 V, periodically dead-ended to cross-arms using
a special disc insulator and a freely suspended jumper. It was held
that the invention was anticipated by a line erected in 1900, and that
an ineulator of a special type and an insulator of a more general type
in combination with expedients appropriated for the art were not
inventions.

We learn from the " Electrical World " that the Lockwood Legis-
lation Committee has ordered an investigation of the affairs of the
General Electric Company of New York, to ascertain if it has
violated any Federal laws. If any violations are discovered the
company will be proceeded against. The Department will investigate
the following questions : — Whether the company maintains an un-
lawful monopoly of tungsten incandescent lamps, whether it has
made unlawful contracts, whether it has manipulated its accounts
and evaded payment of excess profits taxes, and whether it has been
operating in violation of a 1911 decree of the Federal courts.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

An automatic telephone exchange is Vjeing established at Durban.

The new automatic telephone exchange at Hull, which is capable
of accommodatin2 1 000 subscribers, was opened on Monday.

The Spanish Government took over the Barcelona telepicohh
system of the Campania Peninsular de Telefonos in December last.
The company's employees working the service were taken over by
the State.

The Lisbon " 0 Seculo " announces that the United States
Minister i.as been discussing with the Portuguese Minister of
Commerce the question of a concession for laying a new submabinb
cable from New York, via the Azores, to Emden, Germajjy. The
representative of the Commercial Cable Company is also in Lisbon
on the same business.

The "Times" Melbourne correspo;ident states that the Post-
master-General proposes to a.sk Parliament next Session to sanction
a loan for £8 000 (KX) to improve and expwind the telephone system
throughout Australia and to build trunk lines. His idea is to adopt
a continuous scheme which will be independent for three or four
years of the annual Parliamentary Votes. There are now 12 000 un-
satisfied applications in the principal cities for telephone connection,
besides thousands in the country districts for communication with the
main systems. The Cabinet has made available £200 000 as the first
instalment.

In a communication to " Llovd's List " a correspondent calls
attention to the delay in cable communication between this
country and India, and complains that the method of obviating
the delay by paying three times the usual rate for urgent messages
is an abuse, for as long as senders are willing to pay treble rate
there will be no desire on the part of the Cable Company to expedite
ordinary rate messages. We desire to point out, however, that
urgent messages were not introduced by the Telegraph Company,
which is totally opposed to the system. It is recognised by all the
members of the International Telegraph Union, of which telegraph
companies are not members, and the correspondent's best course is
to communicate with the Postmaster-General.

Wireless Notes.

Meteorological forecasts to twelve districts in France are now
being sent daily from the Eiffel Tower for the benefit of f.vrmers.
They will indicate the weather for the following day, the direction
of the wind, the state of the sky, and the possibilities of dangerous
phenomena for agriculture, such as frost, storms, hail. &c., and the
variation of temperature. The messages will be transmitted at half-
past four daily, and in summer, the "Daily Telegraph" corres-
pondent states, it is intended to send a second message at daybreak.
This will contain the same information, only the minimum tempera-
ture of the night will be replaced by the maximum temperature of
the day.

Mr. Fisk, of Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., stated at a recent
luncheon at the National Club, Sydney, that his company would be
prepared to give a first-class se'-vice of communication between Aus-
tralia and England at one-third less than the cost of cable com-
munication. The cost of establishing the service would be
£1 000 000, of which the company already had £450 000. They could
obtain the balance, but preferred that the Government should have
the control.

Openings for Trade in the Netherlands.

The " Handelsbelangen " for Dec. 28 gives particulars of the
following contracts for which tenders are likely to be invited in the
near future : —

The firm of P. Hildebrandt, Bergen n/Oss, meat preserve manu-
facturers, intend to build a new factory on modern lines. The date
(-1 commencement of the building will probably be March or April.

Plans have been prepared for the ertction of a new large pumping
station at Boonereluis, probably in the coming summer. Plans have
been designed bv Ir. A. C. Loeff, who is attached to the Hoogheem-
raadschap (High District Council) van Delfland, Oude Delft 167,
Delft. Plans for the Gouda-Boskoop-Alphen Railway are in the
hands of Engineer Ch. W. Ankersmit, afd. W. 12, Weg en W%-ken,
Nederlandsche Spoorwegen at Utrecht, and will probably be put
into execution at the end of this year.

G. P. Larsen & Zn., shoe and leather manufacturers, of Keulsche-
vaart, Amsterdam, intend building extensive works, and commence-
ment with the building may be expected in March or April.

Plans have also been prepared for the extension of the refuse
destructor installation at Amsterdam. (A. W. Bos, Director of
Public Works, Town Hall, Amsterdam.) N. V. Hollandsche Hout
en Bouwbedrijf voorheen Louis Mohrmann en Zn. (Asterweg.
Amsterdam) intend to extend their wood-working factory; and
Scholten en v. Heek, of Bandstraat, Enschede, will shortb- commence
the construction of their new textile mills.

In connection with the above and other projected works, H. M.
Consul-General of Rotterdam points out that United Kingdom firm.s
interested in supplying material likely to be required should com-
municate direct with the firm or individuals named, and, if neces-
sary, apply to the Consulate-General at Rotterdam or to the
Commercial Secretary at The Hague for further information.

Obituary.

The death is announced of Mr. P. M.^rshall, local manager of
the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company at bhanghai.

Ernest Jagger, an electrical apprentice to the Mansfield Engineer-
ing Company, became entangled in the shafting of an electrv motor
motor last week, and died from his injuries.

Sir Francis Barker, whose death we announced in oar !»*<
issue, received his earlv business training in his fathers bank »"
Constantinople, and subsequently became private and j^nfidentia.
.<.ecretarv to Sir Edgar \'incent (the present Lord ^^ -^^f"""^]" ^^^
that time Director-General of the Imperia Ottonim Bank at Con-
stantinople. During this period he travelled exten^^ivly in bvTia
and oth^er parts of" Asia Alinor. In 1899 the P''^>-f°'^;j^«^S
Patents Company, Ltd., was formed to exploit o" |Y„ ,?f. rS
of Europe Sir Charles Parsons' patents for marine and land turbine
work. Sir Francis was appointed managea- of thw company, and
as such was insta-umental in forming subsuiiary companies m
various foreign countries, and in establishing works under the
Parsons' Patents for the manufacture of land and marine turbines
in those countries. He maintained his association with the Parsons
Foreign Patents Company. Ltd., and ;it the tune of his death wa^
a director of the company.

The LATEST electrical heating dkvice, as might be expected,
hails from America, and is intended for the use of those who
fear foi-ery of their cheques. The device *.>)nsist3 of a stylograpbic
pen which contains a heating element instead of ink. The currenj
passing through tjie element i» sufficient tv, make a stylua hot
enough to scorch the paper so that an indelible record la made.

170

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

Miscellaneous.

The will of the late Mr. Arthur Barrett, managing director of
Bailey, Grundy and Barrett, Ltd., shows gross estate of £7 909.

The eleventh annual dinner of the Birmingham and District
Electric Clitb will be held at the Grand Hotel, Colmore-row,
Birmingham, on Friday, Feb. 24, at 6.30 for 7 p.m. The chair will
ba taken by the President, Mr. Norman Deykin.

Johann Kremenezky has applied for the restoration of Patent
No. 18 278/1908, for' " Improwment^ in the process of sealing the
filament carrier into the bulb of electric incandescent lamps," which
expired on Aug. 31, 1915, owing to non-payment of renewal fee.

Mr. C. Atkinson, K.C., the arbitrator appointed to deal with the
claim that calcium carbide should be brought within the Safe-
guarding OF Industries Act, has come to the conclusion that the
substance is not a synthetic organic chemical, and is not improperly
excluded from the Act.

William Aaron Davis, electrician, of Farnley, Leeds, has, after
several hearings, been remanded on eight chabges of obtaining sums
OF money, ranging from £100 to £250, from persons in various parts
of the country in connection with partnerships and alleged bogus
companies. The alleged frauds involve about £10 000 in all, and
complaints are still being received from persons who have been
victims. Since 1919 accused has been carrying on business under
different names in Leeds as an electrician, as the Leeds Battery Com-
pany, the Alliance Cycle and Motor Company, &c.

An important conference of representatives of commercial, indus-
trial, and financial organisations, convened by the Association of
British Chambers of Commerce, was held last Friday to consider the
reductions necessary in existing postal charges, a suggested list
of reductions, drawn up by a special committee of the Association,
recommending a return to pre-war rates by three instalments by the
end of the year, and the immediate restoration of the Simday collec-
tion of letters, was adopted. If the present rates are continued next
year it is estimated that they will produce a surplus income of
£10 000 000. This surplus Sir Robert Home wants to annex for the
reduction of taxation, but Mr. Kellaway proposes instead to reduce
the rates. There is no doubt as to the public wish in the matter.

In an address on electricity, which he gave to the members of
the Manchester Rotary Club last week, Mr. E. O. Walker pointed
out that it was difficult to make electricity pay, even at 8d. a unit,
in suburban districts, where there was little or no demand for it
for power purposes. In the case of householders who merely
turned on a few lights for a few hours in the winter, a shilling a
unit would not be too high a charge. Referring to the multiplicity
of uses to which electricity is now put, Mr. Walker said that this
country was still very far behind the Continent and America. One
catalogue in his possession contained forty pages of advertisements
of electric washing machines alone. Electric cooking was cheaper
than gas, because there was no waste of heat in the process and no
loss of weight in the food.

"Radio Broadcasting News," a weekly newspaper, has been
established to mark the first anniversary of Kdka, the radio telephone
broadcasting station of the Westinghouse Electric & Manufactur-
ing Company at East Pittsburgh, Pa. The newspaper is believed
to be the first of its kind in the United States. About one year ago
the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company broad-
casted its first programme from Kdka, which was the first station in
the world to give nightly broadcasting programmes. Interest in
the programmes became so great that, in the latter months of 1921,
there was an insistent demand on the part of " listeners in " that
they be informed " in advance " of the programmes to be broad-
casted from Kdka. With this demand, " Radio Broadcasting
News" was born. To-day, with only a few issues off the press, it
is stated to be a fixture.

Books Received.

" The Microscope." By Conrad Beck. (London : R. & J. Beck.)
Pp. 144. 2s. 6d. net.

" Mechanical World Year Book, 1922." (Manchester : Emmott
& Co.) Pp. 266. 2s. 6d. net.

" Is Trade Unionism Sound? " By J. H. Bunting. (London :
Benn Brothers.) Pp. x. -f 98. 2s. 6d.

" Lexique Technique Anglais-Fran§ais." By G. Malgorn. (Paris :
Gauthier Villars et Cie.) Pp. 216. 10 fr.

"Heat." Part I. By G. Thompson and G. H. Leslie. (Lon-
don : Cassell & Company.) Pp. xii. -i- 160.

" Chemistry." Part I. By G. Thompson and G. H. Leslie.
(London : Cassell & Company.) Pp. xi. -f 160.

" Mechanical Appliances for Handling Railway Traffic." By G.
Bulkeley. (London : " The Railway Gazette.") Pp. 132. 5s. net.

" Parallaxes of 260 Stars." By S. A. Mitchell, Ph.D. (New
York : Columbia University Press.) Pp.695. $3.00.

" Calcolo delle Condutture Trifasi per la Trasmissione dell'
Energia." (Milan : Ulrico Hoepli.) Pp. xv-^250. L.20.

" Costruzioni Elettromeccaniche." By E. Morelli. Vol. III.,
Part 14. (Turin : Unione Tip Editrico.) Pp. 256. Lire 20.

". Die Krankheiten des Blei-Akkumulators." By F. E. Kretz-
schmar. (Munich : R. Oldenburg.) Pp viii-^176. ISI. 165.

" Real Mathematics." By Ernest G. Beck, Wh. Ex. (London :
Henry Frowdo and Hodder & Stoughton.) Pp. ix. -1-306. 15s. net

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

Baxter & Gaunter, Ltd., have issued their February price list of
electrical accessories, and will be pleased to send a copy on appli-
cation.

Siemens Brothers & Company have published a new edition
of their Catalogue No. 106, "Twin Flexible Cords," in which the
prices ~ show considerable reductions.

The advantages claimed for the " New System" automatic inter-
communication telephones are set forth in a circular issued by the
NEW system Private Telephone Company.

We have received from A. Hinderlech two leaflets, E. 2015 and
E. 2030, dealing respectively with asbestos woven resistance nets
and grids, and wrought copper cable soldering sockets.

The LuBRiciNE Oil & Tpading Company, 168, Regent-street, W. 1,
have issued their current price list of lubricating oils. The com-
pany supply dynamos and high-class machinery oils and lubricants
for all purposes.

"Guarding the minute," the latest pamphlet circulated by the
International Time Recording Company contains details and
coloured illustrations of the latest models of time recorders manu-
factured by the firm.

A thirty-five page booklet published by Griffiths Brothers &
Company, London, Ltd., gives brief descriptions of the various
INSULATING VARNISHES and COMPOUNDS manufactured by the firm,
and the purposes for which they are suitable.

The General Electric Company have just issued Catalogue Sec-
tion X (4) dealing with condenser protective gear for dissipating
voltage surges. This section has been issued to cover the apparatus,
the use of which is described in the firm's Bulletin No. 10.

The B. E. Company (of London and Birmingham), Ltd., have
sent us a leaflet giving some details of the "J. H. M. Perfecto "
Time Switch. "The clock is claimed to be absolutely reliable, and
IS mounted above the switch, which is lOA double pole, ironclad.

Twenty-three additional leaflets, illustrating their various types
of iron-clad switchboards, distributing boxes, a.c. starting panels,
h.t. truck type switch gear, and h.t. cubicle type switch gear, have
been issued by Major & Coulson for inclusion in t^eir last switch-
gear catalogue.

A striking showcard of the Royal " Ediswan " Fullolitk gas-
filled lamp has been sent us by the Edison Swan Electric Company.
The card, which measures 16 by 12 in., is dark purple and black,
with bold white letters. A picture of the lamp, wliich is also
white, stands out in bold I'elief.

Payment on the instalment system is announced by L. G. Hawknis
& Company in regard to their " L^niversal " washing machines,
heavy ranges, and vacuum cleaners. Under the title of the
Universal Deferred Payments Plan the company have made
arrangements with the Financial Trust Company to finance time
payments for the above appliances.

HoLLiNGS & Guest, Ltd., have just put on the market a new
hydraulic 50-ton tyre press for fixing solid rubber tyres of motor -bus
and other commercial vehicle wheels. This press has been designed to
meet the demand for a smaller and less expensive press than the
standard tyre presses of 150-200 tons. It embodies all the features
of the larger and more powerful presses ; it has four columns with
close-fitting guides to prevent tipping of the table ; and it has
also the divided head, so that wheels can be carried right into the
press.

The February issue of Higgs Brothers' monthly magazine con-
tains the usual mixture of powder and jam, the powder being the
information regarding the various types of motors made by the
firm, and the jam the lighter literary efforts, a perusal of which
should assist in the increased sale of these same motors. It is human
to love a joke, and human ai.so to deduce that a firm who can make
good jokes must also makfe good motors. Special attention may be
drawn to the stirring story of a terribly tall tragedy, which we
fear may land the firm in a libel suit. Of more direct use to tho.se
employing motors, Higgs or otherwise, are hints and tips on ball
bearings.

The issue of the seventh edition i>f " Lektrik " Lighting)
Connections, by A. P. Lundberg & Sons, is sufficient indication
of the usefulness of this booklet. It contains illustrations and
desci'iptions of no fewer than 119 cii'cuits. These are in general
designed to obtain lighting effects of various kinds, though tliere ai"e
a few circuits whicJi refer to fire alarms. Various types of switches
and accessories are also illustrated and described, as are the methods
which have been designed to demonstrate the changes that take
place in tflie circuits when various switches are used. We notice
tliat in 1912 we remarked that " the control of lighting circuits is
a matter which needs greater attention at the hands of electrical
contractoa-s, and wiring consultants." If in the intervening years
it has not received that attention, it is no fault of Lundberg &
Sons, for this is a book which should be in the hands of every
wireman and most electrical engineea-s.

One of the most useful wall calendars we have received this year
has been sent us by Hollings & Guest, Ltd. The monthly slips
are placed below a photograph of one of the firm's erecting shops,
taken from a 20-ton overhead electric travelling crane, and the
black figures, which are nearly 1 in. in depth, stand out clearly on a
pale-tinted background.

February lo, 1922

The Electrician.

171

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Walton-on-Thames Urban Council. Feb. 13. — Electric wiring
and fitting in " Elm Grove," Hersham-road, Walton. Specifications
can be seen at the Council Offices.

Manchesteu 'J'ramways Committee. Feb. 14. — Tramcar type Ah
meters, armature and field coils, lamps, bells, and cells, insulation
material, overhead equipment material, power and lighting cable,
&c. Particulars from Mr. J. M. McElroy, General Manager, Cor-
poration Tramways, 55, Piccadilly, Manchester.

Gloucester Corporation. Feb. 14.— Two 1500 kW geared d.c
high-pres6ure eteam turbo-generators, with surface condensing plant.
Specification, &c., from the Town Clerk.

Cardiff Corporation. Feb. 15. — 400 tons of steel tram rails.
Specifications, &c., from the City Engineer.

Edinburgh Corporation. Feb. 15. — Auxiliary circuits and elec-
tric lighting and earthing for Westbank power station. Specification,
&c., from the Electrical Engineer, Dewar-place, Edinburgh.

Oldbury Urban Coxtncil. Feb. 18. — Wiring and fitting the public
buildings and library. Specification, &c., from the Council's Engineer
and Surveyor.

Bradford Corporation. Feb. 18. — Steel girder tram rails. Par-
ticulars from Mr. F. Marsden, City Engineer and Surveyor, Town
Hall, Bradford.

Hull Corporation. Feb. 20. — 500 or 1 COO tons girder tramway
rails. Forms of tender, &c., from the City Engineer.

Dublin Electricity Committee. Feb. 20. — Transformers for one
or two ^ars. Specifications, &c., from the City Electrical Engineer,
Fleet-street, Dublin.

Great Western Railway. Feb. 20. — Stores for three months
from March 1st, including telegraph instruments, electrical
apparatus (insulators), &c., electrical wires and cables, telegraph
ironwork, and tools, telegraph drysalteries, and electric lamps.

Burton-on-Trent Corporation. Feb. 22. 6 000 kW three-phase
turbo-alternator, with condenser and switchboard ; and two 40 000 lb.
water-tube boilei-s, with economisers, coal-handling plant, &c.
Specifications from the Borough Electrical Engineer.

Metropolitan Water Board. Feb. 23. — Electric lamps, &c., for
three, six, or twelve months. Forms of tender from the Chief
Engineer, 173, Rosebery-avenue, London, E.G. 1.

East Grinstead Urban Council. Feb. 24. — Oil engine driven
generators, motor balancer, motor booster, steam engine and dynamo,
storage batteries, main switchboard, super-heater, feed-water heater,
cable system, street lamps and travelling crane. Specification from
the Clerk of the Council, 102, London-road, East Grinstead.

Skipton Urban Council. Feb. 25. — Supply, laying, &c., of four
core, paper insulated, lead covered, steel tape armoured cable.
Specification, &c., from Mr. W. Emmott, 35, Commercial-street,
Halifax.

Leeds Corpor.\tion. Feb. 27. — One year's supply of stores and
materials to the Tramways and Highways Departments, including
copper bands, electrodes, electrical sundries, engineers' furnishings,
ironmongery, &c. Specifications from the General Manager, Tram-
ways Department, 1, Swinegate, Leeds.

Eston. Feb. 28. — The erecting and providing of plant in con-
nection with the overhead lines, underground cables, transformers,
sub-station equipment, and public lighting fittings required under
Eston Electricity Special Order, 1921. Particulars from the Clerk,
Mr. T. Belk, Cleveland House, Grangetown, S.O., Yorks.

Hampstead (London) Borough Council. March 15. — Supply of
various stores for six or twelve months, including electric-al
engineers' stores and oils for the electricity station. Form of tender,
&c. , from the Town Clerk.

Aylesbury Corporation. — 300 kW converter, with e.h.t. and l.t.
switchgear. Specifications, &c., from the Borough Electrical
Engineer.

Aylesbury Corpor.^tion.— 1 500 kW or 1 000 kW turbo-alternator,
condenser and switchboard. Specification from the Borough Elec-
trical Engineer.

Accrington Corporation. — Supply, delivery, and complete erec-
tion of 25 0001b. water-tube boilers, economisers and brickwork.
Particulars from Mr. A. W. Clegg, Engineer and Works Manager.

AUSTRALIA.

Commonwealth of Australia. March 8. — Switchboard apparatus
and parts (schedule 545). Particulars from the Supply Otficer,
Room 101,. Australia House, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Victorian Railway Commissionebs. Majch 8. — "Thirty-fiv« cabin
transformers for power signalling. (Contract No. 34 863.)

Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbank. March 8. •Tele-
phone switchboard ar>paratus and parts, including calculagraphs,
caps, plane convex lens, retardation coils, corda, generators,
indicators, jacks, keys, lamps, pegs, plugs, meters, relays, telephone
sets &c. (Stores schedule No. 545.)

Deputy Postmaster-General, Brisbane. March 15. — 'Protective
apparatus, including arresters, carbon blocks, fibre fuses, protectors
and terminals. (Stores schedule No. 546.)

CoM.TONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. March 15. — Protective apparatus.
Particulars from the Supply Officer, Room 101, Australia House,
Strand, London, W.C, 2.

Postmaster-General's Department, Adelaide. April 5. — '
Twelve adju-'table condensers for use on telegraph duplex circmt*.
(Schedule No. 613.)

NEW ZEALAND.

Public Works Tenders Board, Waikato Power Scheme.
March 6.—* (Section 45) two 2 500 kWa alternators, three-phase,
50 cycle, 5 000 V, at 166§rds rev. per min., with a power factor
of -8. Excitation at 220 V. (Section 46) two 3 100 h.p. water tur-
bines of the double-runner Francis type to operate the generators
mentioned in Section 45. (Section 4*7) two exciter sets, each con-
sisting of one 200 kW d.c. generator, and one 350 h.p. asynchronous
motor, together with a Tirrill regulator. The generator shall have
an output of 220 V, with a full-load current of 7 000 A. The
motor shall be of 350 h.p., with a power supply of 400 V, three-phase,
60 cycle. The synchronous speed of the sets shaJI be 750.
(Section 48) four Stoney sluice gates for the pits, appertaining to
th3 turbines mentioned in Section 46. Tenders to the Secretary,
Public Works Tenders Board. Government Buildings, Wellington.

Dunedin City Council. March 31. — 'Supply and delivery of
one 150 h.p. three-phase induction motor and reduction gear for th«
Mornington Cable Service.

Auckland Harbour Board. April 25. — Four double-barrel elec-
tric winches for the Central Wharf, Auckland. Specifications from
W. & A. McArthur, 18-19, Silk-street, Cripplegate, London, E.G. 2.

SOUTH AMERICA.

Ayrshire Education Committee hae acceptetl the tender of Mr.
W. G. Dodd, Ayr, for wiring St. Margaret's Schools at £115.

Orders for five " Straker-Clough " 'trolley omnibuses for
Bloemfontein and four for the Teeside Railless Traction Board
have been received by Clough, Smith & Co.

The managers of the Central London School District have
accepted the tender of the Metropolitan Electric Supply Company
to lay l.t. mains in the central block of the school, at an approximate
cost of £356.

London County Council have accepted the tender of A. Hawkins
& Sons ^lowest tender received) for wiring and fitting Belleville-
road, Battersea, school, £718 10s. (Seven tenders were received, the
highest being £1 060.)

Despite the fact that there was a difference of nearly £4 000 in the
tenders, the Worthing Town Council have decided by twenty votes
to three to accept the tender of the British firm of Mirlees, Bicker-
ton & Day in preference to that of a German firm, for the supply
of a new Diesel engine and generator for the borough's electricity
generating station. The net inclusive price of the accepted tender
was £11 375, as against £7 810.

The following tenders have been accepted by Manchester
Corporation : — Alliance Electrical Comj>any. electric wiring at
Chester-street school: Building Guild, Ltd., electric wiring at
Thomas-street school: Allen, West & Coripany, transformer neutral
earth i^sistance ; Nalder Bros. & Thompson, indicating instruments:
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, W.R. meters ; W. H.
Henley's Telegraph Works Company, adhesive tape; Connollys
(Blackley), Blackley tape; Siemens Bros. & Company, dry batteries
for flash lamps ; Callender's Cable & Construction Company, box
compound and bittite tape; Dussel Bitumen Company, box com-
pound; Le Carbone, Ltd., and Morgan Crucible Company, carbon
brushes; W. Patterson, Ltd., dynamo brushes; Siemens Bros. &
Company, fuse bo.xes ; W. T. Glover & Company and W. T. Henley's
Telegraph Works Company, rubber tape, &c. ; General Electric
Company, Ltd., auto-transformers and auto-balances; British Insu-
lated and Helsby Cables, Ltd., e.h.t. trifurcating bo.xes; Johnson &
Phillips, l.t. trifurcating boxes; Siemens Bros. & Companv l.t.
trough box; London Electric Wire Company and Smith's, wire:
Brotherton Ediswan Tubes and Conduits, tubing and accessories :
Hawkins Bros. & Company, tinned copper and pure tin fusie wire :
Titan Trackwork Company, manganese steel crossings : E. M. Evans
& Sons, electric light wiring and "subsidiary service wiring of certain
houses on the Gorton, Catterick Hall and Newton Heath estates.
Callender's Companv have been permitted to sub-let their conduit^
contract to J. Place' & Sons, and A. Reyrolle & Company to sub-let
to Siemens Bros. Dynamo Works, Ltd., a contract fw trip-circnit

batteries. .

• Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

172

rhe Electrician.

February lo, 1922

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.

The total reveiiue of the Anglo-Argentine Tramway Company in
1921 amounted to £4 203 369, compared with £3 997 565 in 1920, an
increase of £205 824.

Smitiifields Market Electric Sotply Corporation liave declai-ed
a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, for 1921. The sum of about
£1 550 is carried forward.

The Westminster Electric Supply Corporation has declared a
fina] dividend for the half-year to Dec. 31 at the rat« of 12 per
cent, per annum, making 10 per cent, for the year 1921.

After transferring £37 S45 to the depreciation fund, the accounts
for 1921 of the Central Electric Supply Company show .a loss of
£7, and the surplus brought forward is reduced to £8.

An extraordinary meeting and a separate meeting of the holders of
the preference shares of J. G. White & Company are to be held to-
day (Friday) to consider a scheme of capital reorganisation.

FArRBAiRN, Lawson, Combe, Barbour, Ltd., are this week offering
for subscription £350 000 7^ per cent. 15 year notes at 94, in regis-
tered notes of £50, £100, and £500, and 150 000 ordinary shares of
£1 each at par.

After deducting dividends amounting to £2 10s. per share, free
of tax (including 15s. 3d. per share from equalisation of dividends
fund), the accounts of the Indo-European Telegraph Company for
1920 show a credit balance of £16 620, which is to be carried forward.

The directors of St. James' & Pall Mall Electric Light Com-
pany recommend a balance dividend on the 7 per cent, preference
shares for the half-j^ear ending Dec. 31 1921, of 3s. 6d. per share,
and 8s. 6d. peir share on the ordinary shares, making, with the
interim dividend paid thereon, a total distribution of 12 per cent,
for the year.

The accounts of the Yorkshire (West Eiding) Electric Tram-
ways Co. for 1921, after providing for debenture interest, show profit
of £33 071, which has been appropriated as follows : Dividend of
6 per cent, on preference shares, £9 715 ; to renewals, depreciation
and reserve fund in lieu of accident insurance, £19 126 ; carried
forward, £4 230.

The accounts of the Tyneside Tramways and Tramroads
Company for the -half year ended December last show a. surplus of
aeceipts over expenditure of £4 971, to which is added £140 brought
in. A dividend of 2^ per cent, on the ordinary shares for the year,
less tax, is declared. The sum of £500 is placed to reserve and
depreciation, leaving £591 to be carried forward.

The Stock Exchange Committee have ordered the following
securities bo be quoted in the Official List : — $1 500 common stock of
Consolidated Ghis, Electric Light & Power Company of Baltimore;
£200 000 4 per cent, debenture stock of London Electric Railway
Company; 40 000 £1 fully paid ordinary shares of Waygood-Otis,
Ltd. Dealings in £823 300 7 per cent. 50-year prior lien A bonds
of the Barcelona Tiitotimi Light & Power Company have been
specially allowed.

The Metropolitan Railway Co. have declared a final dividend
for the half-year ended Dec. 31, at rate of 3 per cent, per annum,
making 2^ per cent, for the year. The sum of £50 000 is placed to
general renewals reserve, and £17800 is carried forward. For the
second half of 1920 the dividend was at the rate of 2 per cent, per
annum (making 1^ per cent, for the year), a similar sum was placed
to general renewals reserve, and about £15 416 was carried forward.
The dividend on the surplus land stock is again 3 per cent, for the
year, and £1 320 is carried forward (against £1 940). In 1920 the
sum of £1 000 was placed to reserve.

The adjourned twenty-first and twenty-second annual meetings,
and the twenty-third annual meeiting of Chadburn's (Ship) Tele- '
ORAPH Company were held last week, Mr. William Chadburn, Chair-
man of the company pi-esiding. After explaining fully the present
position of the company, Mr. Chadburn said he hoped they might
now be able to resume their pre-war programme and hold their
ahnual meeting within the few months of the termination of the
financial year. He assured the sharehol ii^rs that every effort was
being mad© to reduce expenditure and bring figures back to as near
pre-war values as possible. An abstract of the report and accounts
was given in our issue of Jan. 27.

The report for 1921 of the City of Bxjenos Ayres Tramway Com-
pany (1904) states that the annuity payable by the Anglo-Argentine
Tramways Company has been received. The net revenue for the
year, including £3 940 brought in, was £71339. A balance divi-
dend of Is. 3d. per share is recommended, making 5 per cent., less
tax, for th© year, or the same as for 1920. The sum of £2 000
(against £3 000 last year) is placed to general amorti.sation fund, and
the " carry forward " is increased by £3 399 to £7 339. The amor-
tisation fund for the debenture stock, with accrue ' interest to date,
amounts to £20 235, and the general amortisation fund for the
redemption of the share capital now amounts to £79 396.

The directors of the Electric & Railway Finance Corporation,
which was regi.stered in December, with a nominal capital of
£500 000, in £1 shares, are : Mr. Frank Dudley Docker, Sir Edward
Ernest Pearson, Mr. D. Heineman, and Mr. Bernard D. F. Docker.
Among the shareholders are Mr. F. D. Docker (285 000 shares),
Whitehall Securities Corporation (100 000), Sir AlgDrnon Firth
(48 997), Sir Edward Pearson (25 000), Mr. Heineman (20 000), and
x\\B Societe Financieiv de Transports e* d'Ent^.rprise.s Industrielles
(20 000). The registered office is 4, Central-buildings, Westminster.
The company will be interested chiefly in railway electrification,

but it will carry on all or any of the businesses usually carried on
by trust, land, mortgage and agency companies.

The accounts of the Sunderland District Electric Tramways,
Ltd., for the year ended October 31, 1921, show, after providing for
depreciation, &c., a balance of £11 051, to which was added £1 542
brought in. After deductiug interest on the prior lien bonds and
first mortgage debentures, £7 100 ; sinking fund instalment, £500 ; a
balance of £4 993 10s. remains. From this the directors recommend '
the payment of interest at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum (less
income-tax) on the first and second income bonds, which will absorb
£4 066, leaving a sum of £928 to be carried forward to the credit of
the current year. Capital expenditure amounting to £13 739 was
incurred during the year in the purchase of new cars, additional
plant and machinery, extension of car sheds, and other works. The
net result of the year's operation shows a decrease in the operating
profit of £3 758 over last year.

After providing £149 712 for depreciation, &c., and £29 000 for
corporation tax, the net revenue of The British Colombia Electric
Railway Company for the yeav ended June 30 last amounted
to £421 277, which compares with £412 827 for the previous year.
A final dividend at the rate of £1 3s. 8d. per cent, per annum (tax
free) is recommended on the preferred ordinary stock, making
£4 13s. 8d. (tax free) for the year, against £4 138., while the
deferred ordinary stock receives a balance dividend at the rate of
£2 14s. 2d. per cent, per annum (tax free), which makes £6 43. 2d.
(tax free) for the year, against £6 4s. at this time last year. The
balance of £23 999 carried forward compares with £12 646 brought
into the accounts. Notwithstanding the depression which has
existed for some time past, the indications from traffic returns and
from light and power department results are that the earnings
of the company will be maintained during the year to June next.
The demand for light, power and gas continues to be brisk in
consequence of the large amount of building now going on in various
districts. While there has been a falling off in the consumption of
some power customers, particularly in the lumber industry, this'
appears to be only temporary, and with a renewal of the demand for
lumber by the prairie markets the mills may soon be expected to
resume operation. There have been many valuable power customers
added during the year.

The total net income of the London Brighton & South Coast
Railway Company for the year 1921 amounted to £1344 256, which,
with £35 512 brought forward and an appropriation from railways
compensation suspense account, being part of £720 971 received
under an allocation scheme prescribed by the Railways Act, 1921,
of £205 000, gives a total of £1 584 768. The balance available is
£479 672, and enables the board to recommend dividends of £4 5s.
per cent, on the undivided ordinary shares (making 5g per cent, for
the year), £97 384; £4 per cent, on the preferred ordinary shares
(making 6 per cent.), £163 114 ; £4 10s. per cent, for the year on the
deferred ordinary shares, £183 503 ; leaving £35 671 to be carried
forward. The capital account for the year shows a net expendi-
ture of £149 893. In the report the directors call attention to the
fact that at the outbreak of the war active progress was being made
towards the completion of a scheme for the electrical equipment and
working of a large part of the suburban railways of the company,
and that although it became necessary to cancel the main contracts
for the work it was found possible to proceed with certain portions
of it. Tliis course was followed because the board was and still is
convinced from its experience of electrical working, so far as it
lias been brought into operation, '.^hat no better policy can be pur-
sued, at the proper time, than to extend that mode of working. The
work now in progress, namely, the equipment of the railway
between Balham and West Croydon, is approaching completion, and
relying upon the assent of the proprietors the board proposes to pro-
ceed to complete the surburban scheme interrupted by the war so
soon as financial and other conditions permit.

The advantages of electric traction on suburban services were
clearly brought out in the course of the proceedings at the annual
meeting of tlie East London Railw.\y Company last week. Though
there was a decline in the number of passengers carried and in gross
receipts, this was not more than was expected. The line was electri-
fied just before the war, but the development of traffic that ensuei
accrued to the Government. The Board made four unsuccessful
attempts duri.ig the control to obtain some financial concession,
having regard to the large increase in receipts due to the adoption
of electric traction, but an application for compensation is behig
drawn up for submission to the Railways Amalgamation Tribunal.

Replying to a series of questions by Mr. Olsson, the chairman
(Lord Claud Hamilton) stated that having regard to sect. 76 of
the Railways Act of 1921 the .Tinount payable to leased undertakings
in the form of a percentage of gross receipts was limited to rates
and fares in operation in 1913. Leaving out of consideration the
arrears on electrification interest, but taking into account the annual
anKuint that had to be providi'd for on that score, about £130 000
gross earnings wore re<iuired to pay all dividends down to and
including the full 4 per cent, on tlie third del>entures and the annual
interest on capital to lessee companies. To pay full interest on all
debenture stock gross receipts amounting to £171 500 would be
required. The approximate amount of arrears of interest to Dec. 31,
1921. was £18 772, and after liquidating that electrification amount
the future annual payment would be approximately £3 320. From
Aug. 15 any excess of earnings (calculated at 1913 rates and fares)
over and above the minimum rental would go in reduction of arrears
of interest on electrification.

February lo, 1922

The Electrician.

17:5

New Companies.

CiMRKKs (MANCiUiSTKR), Ltd. (179 362). Private company.
Registered Jan. 31. Capital, £500 in £1 shares. Electrical and
general engineers, &c. First directors : H. C. Bagshaw, Mrs.
E. M. A. Leslie, G. W. Leslie, and C. E. Warren Roberts. Qualifi-
cation, 100 shares. Secretary, M. Leslie. Registered office : 134,
Wellington-road, Eccles, Lanes

CoLLiEKY Explosives Company, Ltd. (179 341). Private company.
Registered Jan. 30. Capital, £6 000 in £1 shares. To acquire and
turn to account any inventions for improved explosive compounds
and processes for moulding cartridges and apparatus therefor, and for
protecting, preserving or packing explosives, &c., and to carry on the
Dusiness of manufacturers of explosives, electric fuses and detona-
tors, &c. First directors : T. Abbott, A. J. Jordan, and G. A. Jordan.
Registered office : 112, Market-street, Earlestown, Lanes.

Cooper & Smith, Ltd. (179 462). Private company. Registered
Feb. 3. Capital £12 500 in £1 sharea. To acquire the business
♦)f electric motor and cutter manufacturers and dealers lately carried
on by the Portable Electric Motors (1919) Ltd., at 121, Victoria-
*itreet, S.W., and elsewhere. First directors : J. Cooper and
.7. W. F. Smith. Registered office : Station-row, Maldon, Essex.
Charles Jones, Junior, Ltd. — Private Company. Registered in
Dublin, Jan. 26. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. Electrical and
mechanical engineers, contractors, manufacturers. &c. The first
direct/ors : C. Jones, Junr., C. F. Becketi. Secretary, C. Jones,
Junr. Registered office : 3, Astons-quay, Dublin.

Newcastle General Supply Company, Ltd. (179 438). Private
company. Registered Feb. 2. Capital, £500 in £1 shares. To take
over the business and assets (but not liabilities) of C. Jack, trading
as the " Newcastle & General Supply Company," at 156, Northum-
berland-street, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and to carry on the business of
factors of and agents for electric lamps, and all kinds of electric or
similar goods, electrical engineers, agents, publishers of books deal-
ing with electrical engineering, &c. Permanent directors : R. J. J.
Bigley, J. McDonald, and G. B. Pawson. The directors may borrow
up to the amount of the paid-up capital. Qualification, 50 shares.
Registered office : 156, Northumberland-street, Newoastle-on-Tyne.
Parkinson, Polson & Company, Ltd. (179 414). Private company.
R-egistered Feb. 1. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares (500 7 per cent,
cumulative preference and 1 500 ordinary). To take over the busi-
ness of automobile engineers and electricians, carried on by H. E. F.
Parkinson and C. J. Poison at 30, Commercial-road, Eastbourne, as
" Parkinson, Pol.soii & Company." First directors : H. E. F. Par-
kinson, C. Poison and J. G. Enoch (all permanent). Solicitors:
Billinghurst, Wood & Pope, 7, Bucklersbury, E.C. 4.

H. E. Weatherley & Comp.^ny, Ltd. (179 402).. Private com-
pany. Registered Feb. 1. Capital £500, in 450 6 per cent, cumula-
tive preference shares of £1, and 1 000 ordinary shares of Is. each.
Electrical and mechanical engineers, mamifacttirers of, and dealers
in, engines of all kinds, &c. Permanent directors : A. E. Showell,
A. L. Pailthorpe and H. E. Weatherley. Qualification, £1. Solici-
tor : Kenneth E. Bartlett, 9-10, Fenchiirch -street, E.C.

Western Rubber & Brattice Cloth Company, Ltd. (179 356).
Private company. Registered Jan. 30. Capital £3000, in £1 shares.
Manufacturers of and dealers in electrical goods and appliances, col-
liery requisites, &c. First directors : (Permanent) R. P. Kilminster,
Kianaging director, and J. Stevens, works manager. The subscribers
have power within the first twelve months to appoint other directors.
Registered by W. B. Porter, 10, Commercial-street, Newport, Mon.

Wheatley Brothers (Aldington), Ltd. (179 357). Private com-
pany. Registered Jan. 30 Capital £3 000, in £1 shares. To take
«ver the business of motor, agricultural and general engineers and
electricians carried on by Wheatley Brothers at Aldington, Kent, and
to cariv on the same and the business of engineers, &c. First direc-
tors : D. Y. Wheatley. manager, and J. W. Pickering. Qualifica-
tion. £500. Registered office : Goldenhurst Works, Aldington, Kent.

Freyn, Brassert & Company, Ltd., has been registered as a
" private " company with a nominal capital of £5 000 in £1 shares,
to take over the business carried on in England bv Frevn, Brassert &
Company, a company incorporated under the laws of the State of
Maine, U.S.A.. and to carry on the business of designers, eqnippers
and erectors of blast furnaces, steel plants, rolling mills and all classes
of engineering works (particularly in connection with the iron and
steel industry), iron and brass founders, engineers, electrical engi-
neers, &v^ The signatories to the memorandum of association (each
signing for one share) are : W. A. Walber and H. B. Robinson. The
signatories are to appoint the first directors. Secretarv : IT. B.
Robinson. Registered office: 38, 'Victoria -streeit, S.W. File num-
ber : 179 435.

Elworthy-Sadet, Ltd., haa been~ret,nstered as ^ "private"
companv with a nominal capital of £1 100 in Is. shares. The objects
are : To acquire all or any of the shares of the Russian companies.
M. Helfferich Sadet, Ltd.\ of Kharkoff. and R. and T. Elworthy,
Ltd., of Elizabethgrad, and the businesses of these Russian
cornpanies, to acquire and hold shares, stocks, debentures, and
obligations of any company in any part of the world, and to carry
on in Russia or elsewhere the business of electrical and general
engineera, &c. First directors : R. P. Elwnrthy (Chairman), W. K.
Elworthy, A. J. Youngman, J. R. Caoul, C. Blakey, P. W. Robson.
W. F. A. Fletcher, and J. Gillespie, each of whom may retain
C;ffico till 1927 unless otherwise determined by the company.
Solicitoi-s : Johnson, Weatlierall & Companv, 7," King's Bench-
walk, Temple, E.C. File number 179 465.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY, Feb. 10th (co-day).

Physical Society.
5 p.nt.. At the Imperial College of Science, London, S.W.
Papera " On the Measurement of the Radium Content of
Sealed Metal Tubes," by Dr. E. A, Owen and Bertha
Naylor, B.Sc. ; " The Crystal Structure of Ice," by Sir
Ayilliam Bragg, F.R.S. ; and " A Method of Exciting Vibra-
tions in Plates, Membranes, &c., based on Bernr.nil' •,
Principle," by Dr. Kerr Grant.

Institution of Electrical Engjneebs.
(ScomsH Centre. Stltjents' Section.)
7.30 p.m. At the Royal Technical College, Glasgow. Paper on
The Sperry Gyro Compass," by Mr. H. M'Comb.
Electro Haemonic Society.
- p.m. At Cannon-street Hotel, London, E.G. Concert.
(Ladies' Night.)

Institution of Electrical ENGr?rEEHS.
(Irish Centre.)
8 p.m. At the Royal College of Science, Upper Merrion-street,
Dublin. Paper on " A Method of Regulating the Voltages
on the Two Sides of a Three-Wire C.C. System Equalisedby
Static Balancers," by Mr. R. D. Archibald.

SATURDAY. Feb. 11th.

Birmingham and District Electric Club.
7. p.m. At the Grand Hotel. Birmingham. Lecture on " Illa-
raination," by Mr. C. G. A. McDonald.

MONDAY, Feb. 13th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Informal Meeting.)
7 p.m.. At S^voy-place, London, W.C. Subject, "The Evolu-
tion of a Staff Trade Union," opened by Mr. J. H. Parker.
(North-Eastern Centre.)'
7.1.5 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle. Paper on " Rotary
Converters, with special reference to Railway Electrifica-
tion," by Mr. F. P. Whitaker.

(Dundee Sub-Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At University College, Dundee. Paper on " Publicity
and Electrical Development," bv Mr. J. W. Beauchamp
(To be read by Mr. G. Fowler.) '

TUESDAY, Feb. 14th.

(East Midland Sitb-Centre.)
6.^5 p.m. At the College, Loughborough. Paper on " High
Power iMercury Arc Rectifiers," by Mr. R. L. Morrison.
(North Midland Centre.)
7 p.m. At the Hotel Metropole, King-street, Leeds. Paper on-
" The Cyc-Arc Process of Automatic Electric Weldine." bv
Messrs. L. J. Steele and H. Martin.

Junior Institution of Engineer p.
(North-Eastern Section.)
7 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Paper on
" Steam Locomotive Economy," by Mr. T. Grime.
Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Scottish Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At 207, Bn.th-street, Glasgow. Lecture on " The
Uses of Wireless, Past and Future," by Major J. Erskine-
Murray.

f North- Western Students' Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At Houldeworth Hall, Deansgate, Manchester. Paper
on " Hydro-Electri.- Power Supply," by Mr. A. Tustin.
WEDNESDAY. Feb. 15th.

Institution of Railway Signal Engineers.
3 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers. Victoria
Embankment, London, W^.C. Annual General Meeting and
Presidential Address by :Mr. W. C. Acfield, O.B.E.
Industrlal League and Council.
7.30 p.m. At Caxton Hall, Westminster, London. S W.
Lectme on "' Industry and Its Relation to Finance." In Sir
George Paish.

THURSDAY. Feb. 16th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.

6 p.ni. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Paper on " Rotary Con-
verters, with Special Reference to Railway Electrification."
by Mr. F. P. Whitaker.

N.\tional Liberal Clitb. Political and Eco.vomic Circle.

^ p.m. At Whitehall-place. I.iondon, S.W. I.rfvture on " The
Provision of Capital and Finance," by Mr. H. Ward. J P

FRIDAY. Feb. 17th.

Institution of ^Fechanical Engineers.
6 p.m. At Storey's-gate, St. James's Park. London. S.W.
Annual General fleeting and Paper on " Electric Welding
Applied to Steel Construction, with Special Reference to
Ships," by Mr. A. T. Wall.
British Electrical Development Association.
7..W p.m. At the Chartered Institute of Patent Agent<>. Staple
Inn-buildings, W.C. Salesnuuiship Conference. (No. 4.)
" Salesmansliip in Relation to Electric Lighting." Speaker,
M;'. H. Harrison.

Junior Institution of Engineers.
S p.m. At Caxton Hall, London. S.W. Lecture on " Water
Purification for Boiler Feed Purpo-e~ " •>■ Mr W. .T
Lea ton.

174

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

London Gazette.

Partnerships Dissolved.

INMAN, William Hodgson, INMAN, Joseph Edward, and
INMAN, Dick, electrical engineers, 38 and 40, North-road,
Lancaster, under the style of W. H. INMAN, by mutual con-
sent as from Dec. 31, 1921. Debts received and paid by W. H.
Inman, who will continue the business.

MITCHELL, George, MYEKS, Frederick Stephen, and ROSCOE.
Daniel, electricians, at Market Bridge Mill, Burnley, under the
style of GEORGE MITCHELL & COMPANY, by mutual con-
sent as from Feb. 1, 1922. Debts received and paid by
G. Mitchell and F. S. Myers, who will continue the business.

SMEAD, Ernest, and BORLACE, Walter John, electricians, &c., at
6a, The Avenue, Ealing, Middlesex, under the style of THE
HOUSEHOLD W^ORK COMPANY, by mutual consent as from
Oct. 31, 1921. Debts received and paid by E. Smead, who will
continue the business.

WALKER, Percy, and FERRIER, Frederick Charles, electrical
engineers and contractors, 283, New King's-road, Fulham, Lon-
don, under the style of the HURLINGHAM ELECTRIC COM-
PANY, by mutual consent as from Dec. 12, 1921. Debts
received and paid by P. Walker, who will continue the business.

WATSON, Frederick, WATSON, George Parker, and BENNETT,
George, electrical engineers and electrical factors, 11, Northum-
berland-alley, E.C. 1, under the style of F. WATSON & COM-
PANY & ADVANCE ELECTRIC LAMP & ACCESSORIES
COMPANY, by mutual consent as from Jan. 23, 1922. Debt^s
received and paid by F. Watson and G. Bennett.

Bankruptcy Information.

SCOTT, Thomas, and CAMPBELL, James, under the style of
T. SCOTT & COMPANY, 42, Handyside's-aroade, Percy-
street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, wholesale electrical suppliers.
Receiving order, Feb. 2. Debtor's petition. First meeting,
Feb. 21, 11 a.m.. Official Receiver's Office, Pearl-buildings, 4,
Northumberland-street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Public examina-
tion, Feb. 23, 11 a.m.. County Court, Westgate-road, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne.

WATMOUGH, Arthur Appleby, 41, Town-street, Horsforth, and
1, Back James-street, Harrogate, Co. York, electrical engineer.
Receiving order, Jan. 31. Debtor's petition.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

FREEMAN, J., & COMPANY, LTD. R. H. Bridgwater, 3, New-
slreeu, Bir:r'ngh°''% appointed liquidator: Meeting of creditors
at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, 95, New-street, Birming-
ham, on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 2.30 p.m. Particulars of claims to
the liquidator by Feb. 28.

GOODALL ELECTRIC, LTD. A. G. Turner, Liberty -buildings,
School-lane, Liverpool, appointed liquidator. Meeting of credi-
tors at 64, County-road, Walton, Liverpool, Wednesday, Feb. 1,5,
at 2.30 p.m.

RAWCLIFFE, FRANK, & COMPANY, LTD. W. Brittain, 15,
Pilgrim-street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, appointed liquidator.

Winding-Up Petition.

GILLITT & COMPANY, LTD. A petition for winding up of
this company has been presented by Fenwick, Ltd., and is to
be heard at the Court House, Westgate-road, Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, on Feb. 16. Blacket Gill, 26, Northumberland-street,
Newcastle-upOn-Tyne, solicitor for the petitioners.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgmente " does not im./iy inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the oases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

FROST, Ernest W. , 15, Herbert-street, Loughborough, electrical
engineer. £24 13s. Aug. 22.

LOWTHER & CO., Gradua Works. Porthcawl-road, Lower Syden-
ham, electrical engineers. £47 19s. .id. Nov. 30.

PLANET ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD.. registered office, 5, St.
George's-road, S.E. 1, electrical engineers. £16 lis. 4d
Nov. 24.

TROWEL, William Puckhaw, Nutfield, electrical engineer
£11 Is. 6d. Oct. 24. ■

WOLSTEN HOLME, Alfred, 25, Meadow-road, Pinner, electrical
engineer. £16 12s. Nov. 24.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1903 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days

after its creation, otherwise it shall be void agannst the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but .such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

ELECTRICAL SPECIALITIES COMPANY, LTD., Sheffield.
Registered Jan. 30, £2 500 debentures, to Mrs. J. Dunkerley.
12, Oakdale-road, Sheffield ; general charge ; also registered
Jan. 30, £12 500 debentures (filed under Sec. 93 (3) of the Com-
panies' (Consolidation) Act, 1908), present issue £4 000; gwieral
charge. *Nil. Feb. 2, 1920.

JONES & PORDES, LTD., London, W., manufacturers of elec-
trical batteries. Registered Jan. 25, £1 000 debentures, to Mrs.
J. Jones, 6, Sta.nley-road, Broadstairs ; general charge.

OSWESTRY ELECTRIC LIGHTING & POWER COMPANY.
LTD. Registered Jan. 25, £1 500 debentures (filed under Sec.
93 (3) of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908), present issue
£800 ; general charge. *£1 800 overdraft at bank not to exceed
£1 500 secured by debenture £788 15s. 7d. Oct. 25, 1921.

SHEERNESS & DISTRICT ELECTRIC POWER & TRACTION
COMPANY, LTD. (late COUNTY OF KENT ELECTRICAL
POWER DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, LTD.). Registered
Jan. 27. £200 second debentures, part of £12 500 ; general charge.
*£28 280. June 21, 1921.

Satisfactions.

BANBURY & DISTRICT ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY,
LTD. Satisfaction registered Jan. 27, £100, part of amount
registered March 31, 1913.

SHEERNESS & DISTRICT ELECTRIC POWER & TRACTION
COMPANY, LTD. (late COUNTY OF KENT ELECTRICAL
POWER DISTRIBUTION COMPANY^ LTD.). Satisfaction
registered Jan. 27, £200, part of amount registered Feb. 15. 1915.

Receiverships.

HOWARD PNEUMATIC ENGINEERING COMPANY, LTD.

S. Nugent, of 33, Upnerton-gardens, Eastbourne, was appointed
receiver on Jan. 23, 1922, imder powers contained in mortgage
debentures dated Jan. 13 and 20, 1913, and March 4 and
May 4, 1920.

RUSHMORES (1919), LTD. Sir Basil E. Mayhew, K.B.E., of
20, Alderman's House, E.C, was appointed as receiver cm
Jan. 27, 1922, under powers contained in debentures dated
Nov. 30, 1920.

SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD MOTOR AND ELECTRICAL EIN-
GINEERING COMPANY, LTD. A. G. Mellors, of 1, King
John's Chambers, Nottingham, ceased to act as receiver on
Jan. 22, 1922.

SWIFT ELECTRICAL, LTD. Loviisa Butler, of 94, Woodlands
Gardens, N. 10, was appointed receiver and manager on
Jan. 21, 1922, under powers contained in debenture dated
Oct. 18, 1921.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

DEPLEDGE, Robert Adrian, 53, late 102, Frodingham-road, Scun-
thorpe, Lincolnshire, electrical engineer. The public examina-
tion of this debtor was held on Feb. 2. The statement of affairs
showed gross liabilities of £3 017, of which £1 545 was expected
to rank for dividend, and there was a deficiency of £814. Debtor
attributed his failure to bad trade, want of capital, and loss on
forced sales under executions. The following are creditors : —
Baxendale & Company, Ltd, Manchester, £76; Crossley Bros.,
Ltd., Manchester, £158; Callenders Cable Company, Ltd., Not-
tingham, £105; General Electric, Newcastle-on-Tyne, £103:
Morley, T. B., & Company, Hull, £139: Premier Accumulator
Company, Ltd., Northampton, £52 Quibel, D. J. K. Scun-
thorpe, £457; Thursfield, C. J., Birmingham, £13; Verity. E..
Leeds, £33.

FAWCETT, Ernest, 20, St. Anne-street, Liverpool, electrical and
heating engineer. The first meeting of creditors was held
last week. The receiving order was made on debtor's own peti-
tion. The statement of affairs showed unsecured liabilities of
£348, while the net assets were estimated to realise 14s. lid.
Debtor seived an apprenticeship to an electrical, heating, and
hydraulic engineer, and was for a number of years in the
employ of various engineering firms. In August, ]920. he in-
^^sted in and became one of the directors of an electrical
company, and in the following November he guaranteed jointly
and severally with the other two directors the bank overdraft
of £500. Owing to the slump in trade the company went into
voluntary liquidation on June 1, 1921. On July 21 last jjear
debtor entered into partnership with another person, and the
two carried on business at 20, St. Anne-street, Liverpool, as
electrical and heating engineers. His partner provided the
whole of the partnership capita.1, and the agreement was that
the partnership should be dissolved on the bankruptcy of either

February lO, 1922

The Electrician.

175

partner. The d«bt(jr estimated that his interest in the partner-
ship was at present valueless. In connection with the partner-
ship a firm of business agents had obtained judgment against
the debtor personally for £25 and costs for commission in intro-
ducing the partner with capital. No books of account wer©
kept by the debtfjr in connection with his private estate. He
became aware of his position in Juno last. The matter was left
in the hands of the Official Receiver as trustee.

HEATH, Edward Fuller, trading as FULLER, HEATH & COM-
PANY, electrical and mechanical engineer, 26, Buckingham
Gate, S.W. The receiving order in this case was made on Jan. 18,
on the petition of the Danish Machine Company, creditors for
£300, and the statutory first meeting of creditors was held last
week at the London Bankruptcy Court. Mr. F. T. Garton,
official receiver, who presided, s^aid that the debtor began
ibujsiness as an electrical engineer in January, 1919, at Cannon
Street House, E.C. Owing to the liquidation of a large
electrical company, through which he lost £1 000, he executed a
deed of assignment. Six months later he irecommenced business
as an electrical and mechanical engineer at 26, Buckingham
Gate, with a capital of £100. Owing to strikes and other
difficulties he was unable to carry on successfully. His failuTe
was also due to ill-health and lack of capital. No statement
of affairs had been lodged, but the liabilities were estimated
at £2 000, and assets £135. The case was left In the hands of
the official receiver for administration in bankruptcy.

PHONOPORE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (THE), LTD.,
Phonopore Works, Scott's-road, Southall, Middlesex. The
winding-up order in this matter was made on Nov. 10, 1921,
and the statement of affairs shows liabilities £6 019, of which
£2 445 is due to unsecured creditors. The assets are estimated
to realise £1 957, from which preferential claims of £1 000 have
to be deducted, leaving net assets £957, which are not sufficient
to meet the claims of the debenture holders, which amount to
£4 531. The company was registered as a private company
March, 1916, and was formed generally to carry on the business
of manufacturing telephones, &c., and to take over interests
under an agreement with the New Phonopore Telephone Com-
pany, Ltd. The company is stated to have carried un the busi-
ness of manufacturing telenhones for the army until June, 1917,
when the works were commandeered by the War Office, being
restored only in Jan. 1919. On Oct. 19, 1921, a resolution for
the voluntary liquidation of the company was passed, and a
liquidator anoointed, but that apnointment has been superseded
by the winding-up order. The following are creditors : — Can-
ning, W., & Company, Ltd., London, £40; Caversham Motors,
Ltd, Reading, £35; Collins Electrical Company, Ltd., London,
£14 ; Hatcham Mfg. Company, London, £43 ; Micanite
& Insulators, Ltd., Walthamstow, £24; Mica & Micanite
Supplies, Ltd., London. £470: Phoenix Telephone Works, Ltd.,
London, £180; Sheath Bros., London, £20; Submersible Motors,
Ltd., Southall, £24; Sterling Telephone Company, London, £22;
Telegraph Condenser Company, Ltd., London, £102; Varley
Magnet & Company, London, £203.

SMITH, James Joseph, trading as J. SMITH & SON, electrical
engineer, 1, Central-street, E.C. 1. The above-named debtor
appeared for his public examination at the London Bankruptcy
Court on Feb. 7, and his statement of affairs showed ranking
liabilities £321, and assets nil. Debtor stated that he was born in
London in 1885, and was in employment as an electrical engineer
until about 1910, and from that date until 1919 he carried out
electrical work from his private address at 130, Chestnut-avenue,
Walthamstow. In March, 1919, he took premises at 1, Central-
street, St. Luke's, E.C, and commenced to trade there with a
capital of about £60, under the style of J. Smith & Son. The
business was at first profitable, but owing to strikes in the. coal
and electrical trades it fell off. Although he had traded as
J. Smith & Son, he did not have a partner. He carried on the
same sort of work as he did when trading as an electrical
engineer from his private address. His work was nearly all for
the trade. In May, 1921, execution was levied at 1, Central-
street, his effects being val-ied at £10, and his father-in-law
paid that sum to the sheriff. The tenancy was transferred to
his wife in October, 1921, and his father-in-law having given
the goods which he purchased from the sheriff to her, she had
since carried on business there under his management. He
attributed his insolvency to loss of business owing to strikes, and
to slump in trade. Examination was concluded.

WILLCOX, Albert John, The Garage. Farnham Common, Bucks,
electrical engineer, &c. The statement of affairs shows
liabilities £2190, while the assets are estimated to realise £928,
from which preferential claims of £58 have to be deducted, leav-
ing net assets of £870, or a deficiency of £1320. Debtor attri-
butes his failure to shortness of capital, and borrowing money
at a high rate of interest. He commenced trading on
his own account in Sept., 1917, when he purchased for £1 318
his present business, in which he had for some time previously
been employed as manager. He borrowed £600, giving a charge
on the lease and fixed machinery as security, and paid £518 on
account of the purchase, arranging to pay the balance of £800
by four yearly instalments, with 6 per cent, interest, but has
paid £204 and interest to Oct., 1919. Having no capital, he.
some time ago, had recourse to moneylenders. He became awaro
of his position about twelve months ago.

Private Meeting.

[Incluxi'/n under this he.ading dotn not ntctstnjily invply faUvre.
\Irmy 'private meetinga are called merely for the jm^pote of tfu
debtor r.oruidting his creditors as to hts -position vchen he may not
he in>iolvent.]

STOCKWELL & OHMS, LTD. (in voluntary liquidation^ eitc-
trical power contractors, 164a, Pentonville-road, N. A rri*ei-
ing of creditors took place on Friday, at the offices of Haiuen
Wilson & Co., 2, Fenchurch-avenue, E.C. A statement of
affairs was submitted, showing the position of the company as
at Jan. 13, 1922, the date of the resolution for winding up. The
liabilities amounted to £2 268, all due to unsecured trade credi-
tors, while the assets wer© estinrLated to produce £468, and there
was thus a deficiency disclosed of £1800. Mr. Holraes, the
liquidator of the company, stated that the company had only
been in existence a comparatively short time, and the pre«eni
position had been brought about in consequence of the drop in
values, and the falling market generally. The directors of the
company were Mr. Mepsted and Mr. Hayward, while Mr. Stock-
well was the managing director. It appeared that the managing
director had given out contracts to Crompton & Co. and Siemens
Bros, to the extent of £5 000 for machines, and th« deliveries
were to be arranged over a subsequent twelve months. From
October, 1920, however, the market prices were continually fall-
ing, and to such an extent that it was impossible to realise the
purchase price of the goofls. In these circumstances the manag-
ing director asked the various creditors concerned to delay
deliveries. Eventually it was found that the company could
not go on, and the matter was brought to a head by Siemens'
obtaining a judgment against the company for the amount of
their debt. Questions were asked with regard to the deliveries
made by certain creditors, and it was stated that the last
balance-sheet of the company was got out in October. 1920, and
this showed a profit of £380. Asked as to the stock which wa«
held, it was stat-ed that this included various Siemens' machines.
D.C. motor, while Hurst had supplied two machines which they
claimed were sold on sale or retTJrn. The sales of the busi-
ness since October, 1921, had been £1 107, while the payments
to creditors and other expenses of the business were £950. The
opinion was expressed that the position was very unsatisfactory,
and several creditors urged that the trade should be repre-
sented in tne liquidation. In the result it was decided that
Mr. W. Osborne, of Corfield & Cripwell, should be appointed
as joint liquidator with Mr. Holmes, with a committee of in-
spection consisting of the representatives of Crompton k Com-
pany, English Electric Company, and the General Electric
Company. The following are creditors : — General Electric Com-
pany, £136; Siemens Bros., £25; Simplex Conduits. Ltd..
£12; Crompton & Company, Ltd., £1270; Edison-Swan Elec-
tric Company, £15; English Electric Company, £908: English
Electric & Siemens Company, £69; ^farshall & Plnmtree.
Ltd. ; £40 : Tucker, J. H., & Company, Ltd., £30.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c,

TcESDAY, Feb. 7.

Copper — Price. Inc. Dec

Best selected per ton £65 10 0 — £j lOs.

Electro Wirebars . . „ £70 0 0 . — £i» 10b.

H.C. wire, btisis per lb. Os. lO^-jd, — .j'^d.

Sheet „ Os. 10|d. — ^^^d.

Phosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone) —
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis „ la. 2}|<i. — ^d.

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis Os. 7}d. — —

Sheet, basis , Oe. lOJd. — —

Wire, basis Os. lOSd. — —

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants per ton £4 15 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £22 DC— —

Lead Pig —

English £22 5 0 — £2 59.

Foreign or Colonial .. ,, £20 17 tJ — £2 5«. .

riji—

Ingot „ £i:>4 lo 0 — £3 6s.

Wire, basis per lb. 29. 1 Jd. — Jd.

Aluminium Ingots £120 0 0 — —

Salammoniac. — Per cwt. 65s.-60s. Copper Sulphate. — Per ton £23 ds.

5WpA«r(Flowers).— Ton £10 lOs. Boric Acid (Crystals) —Per toa

„ (Roll- Brimstone). — Per ton £65.

£10 10s. Sodium Bichromate,— Per lb. SjiL

Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°).— Sodium Chlorate,— Pet lb. S^d-
Perton, £9 1 7s 6d.
Bubber. — Para tine, 11 Id. ; plantation Ist latex S,'d.

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated v Helsby Cabloa,

Ltd., and the rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Com-
pany, Ltd.

176

The Electrician.

February lo, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBtlSHED.

Th« loUouring abstract from tome of the tpeetficationt recently publithed have
bten tptctatl)/ complied by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent
Ajentt, 70 and 72, Chancery-lane. London. W.C.

COMPLETK Specifications.

141 354 Hammabrack, L. S. Adjustable standard for electric lamps.

(4/4/19.)

142 090 Wilson, Welder, & Mejals Co., Inc. Process and apparatus for

electric welding. (4/4/19.)

144 669 Soc. Anon, des Etablissements L. Bleriot. _ Means for auto-

matically controlling the temperature of electric heating appara-
tus. (5/2/19.)

145 034 Western Electric Co., Ltd. Telephone systems. (14/6/19.)

145 066 Western Electric Co., Ltd. Electric signalling systems specially

applicable to telephone systems. (31/8/15.)
145 423 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Vacuum rectifiers with rotating

electric arc. (23/10/15.)
147 431 Ges FiJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Production of high-power

currents of constant frequency. (31/12/15.)
147 462 Latour, M. Electro-magnetic wave signalling systems.

(11/11/15.)

147 879 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Electricity meters. (15/3/18.)

148 317 HuTH Ges. Dr. E. F. Arrangement for carrying wireless stations.

(30/10/13.)
148 359 SoiSSAN, L. DE. Electric heating apparatus. (19/12/13.)
158 842 Festa Akt.-Ges. Electric liquid heaters. (11/2/20.)
168 568 Hastings, E. C. M. Party line telephone systems. (1/3/20.)

(Divided Application on 168 377.)
168 611 Crowe, D. C. Automatic or semi-automatic telephone systems.

(4/3/21.)
168 630 Harris, H. K. Recording mechanism for use with electric sign

telegraphs. (6/5/20.)
168 641 Crabtree, J. A. Electrical plug socket and switch combinations.

a/6/20.)

Relay contacts and method of making same.

168 642 DODGSGN, F. L.

(1/6/20.)
168 649 WooDELL, S. F.

direction finding
1*58 650 Petersen, H. M.

Indicating or adjusting devices for wireless
coils and other devices. (2/6/20.)
Method of and means for electrically synchro-
nising apparatus over a long distance. (2/6/20.)
168 660 Lea, N., & Radio Communication Co.. Ltd. Modulated signalling

systems particularly applicable to wireless signalling. (4/6/20.)
168 661 Edwards, L. A. Electric foot and food heater and vapouriser.

(4/6/20.)
168 669 British Thomson-Houston Co.. Ltd. (General Electric Co.).

Filaments and like bodies. (5/6/20.)
168 697 AoYAGi, E. Electro-metallurgical process for manufacture of

ductile bodies of high fusing metals and alloys of same.

(17/6/20.)
168 706 Austin Motor Co., Ltd., & Walker, C. B. Automatic electric

switches for use more especially in relay circuits. (22/6/20.)
168 707 CoATES, W. A., GiTTiNS, G. E., Davies, D. R., & Metropolitan

Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Electrical switch gear. (22/6/20.)

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS

November 7, 1921.
29 545 Butler & Chinn. Voltmeters and ammetere.
29 558 Crowe. Portable electric lamps.

29 559 FoxTON. Dynamos for lighting sets of motor vehicles.
29 579 Caley & Talbot. Commutators of electric ignition systems.
29 581 Reyrolle & Co. & Owen. Lightning. &c., arresters for electric

conductors.
20 614 Vinolto (Lorrain). Electric lighte-.

29 625 Falk, Stadelmann & Co. Globes, &c., for electric lamps.
29 634 Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Means of regulating electric motor

cascades. (9/12/20, Germany.)
29 635 Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Starting 3-phase induction motors.

(30/12/20, Germany.)
29 642 Naamlooze Vbnootschap Hengelosche Elektrische &c., Fabriek.

Induction motors. (12/5/21, Hollnnd.)
29 653 Farrar & Longbottom. Devices for containing electrical con-
ductors, &c.

November 8, 1921.
29 677 Sullivan. Submarine, &c., cables.
29 702 Morgan. Elsmere, Williams & Evans. Electio-magnetic driven

generator and switching arrangement
29 707 Patersoi^. Electric beer en.srine and air compressor.
29 732 Bennett. Switch holdei-s for electric lamps.
29 752 Henley's Telegraph Works Co. & Moor. Fuse carriers, &c.
29 754 B T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Switches
29 777 Bethenod. Electric installations. (8/11/20, France.)
29 793 Allgemeine Elektricitats Ges. High tension cable with paper

insulation. (8/11/20, Germany.)

November 9, 1921.

29 822 CowPER-CoLES. Electrolytic production of tubes, &c.

29 848 Austin. Electric cables.

29 865 Sayers. Electric conductors.

29 368 Bunch. Motor vehicle electric lamps.

29 874 MAWDSLBTif. Dynamo electric machines

29 882 B. T.-H. Co. & Whittaker. Systems of electric distribution.

29 883 B. T.-H. Co. Illuminating devices.

29 885 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Circuit breakers.

29 895 Angus. Apparatus for supplying electricity to instruments or
circuits. ■

29 906 McKenzie, Holland & Westinghouse Power SiGNAL Co. Signal-
ling systems employing light-emitting devices. (2/3/21, U.S.)

29 918 Preston & Shiuiing. Signalling in wireless telegraphy.

November 10, 1921.
29 929 Waterhouse. Electric adaptor fitting
29 973 Blake. Carriers for stora^re batteries
29 979 DoNiSTHonpi;. Thermionic valves.
29 989 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Insulating elements.
29 993 White. Mounting and driving magnetos.

29 997 Somajni. Dynamo-electric machines. (10/11/20, Italy.)

30 016 Best & Lloyd. Chains for electroliers, &c.

30 036 PoLLAK (Siemens & Hal.ske A. G.). Telephone in.strumcnts.

November 11, 1921.
30 059 BoscH (R.) Akt. Ges. Magneto-electric ignition apparatus.

(14/5/21, Germany.)
30 065 Cuppleditch. Means for handling loads on electrically driven

trucks.
30 073 Hadwen & Willi.s. Sling.s for supporting electric cables.
30 087 Neyret. Dynamos. (3/3/20. France.)
30 107 Bailey. Coupling dynamos, &c., to internal combustion engines.

30 109
30 114

30118
30 136

30 139

30 140
30152

30 158
30 159
30 160
30 183

30185
30189

30 192
30 193
30 194
30 195
30 197
30 227
30 239
30 242

30 245

30 248
30 251

30 268
30 275
30 296
30 302
30 303
30 327
30 337
30 338
30 357

30 371

30 372
30 353
30 397

30 424
30 434

30 445
30 461

30 464
30 508

30 520
30 523

30 548

30 555
30 588
30 591
30 596
30 599
30 623
30 630

.^0 635
30 636

30 646
30 654
30 670
30 685
30 692
30 702
,30 704
30 725
30 730

30 740
30 751

30 752

30 757

30 759

30 783
30 801
30 803
30 843
30 850
30 852
30 860
30 801
30 877
30 879
.30 8S5

Miller.
Miller.
Miller.
Miller.

(2/12/20, U.S.)

Mine signalling
(22/10/21,

Mackay Si Shimwell. Wind-driven electric generators.

Nalder Bros. & Thompson & Lipman. Alternating current instru-
ments for indicating synchronism, power factor, phase differ-
ence, &c.

Penfold. Electric cut-outs.

Angus. Devices lor causing electricity to be supplied to instru-
ments or circuits.

Cambridge & Paul Instrument Co. & Collins. High-speed record-
ing indicators.

Measurement, Ltd. & Holden. Electricity meters.

& 30 153 Johnson & Phillips, Barton, Scase & Stigant. Tapping
switches for changing voltage ratios of transformers, &c.

Ehrich & Grastz. Electric cooking utensils.

Ehrich & Graetz. , Electrically heated coffee-making machine.

Curtis. Electric switches or controllers for vehicle head-lamps.

Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. Clamping arrangements for sheet
metal stator teeth of electrical machines. (17/11/20, Switzer-
land.)

Brown. Relays.

Preston & Shuttleworth. High-frequency coils.
November 12, 1921
Electric cycle lamps.
Bulb holders for electric cycle lamps.
Electric lighting dynamos.

±xl.iL,L,^Lr^.. Friction driven electric lighting dynamos for bicycles.

Davis. Electric lamps for road vehicles

Western Electric Co. Telepnone receiver.

Cox. Electric generator.

Hannah. Apparatus for rendering electric system on motor-
cS^cles inoperative.

Sterling Telephone, &c., Co., Bell & Clark. Indicating ringing
of electric bells. &c., to operators.

Savidge & Terrey. Current economiser and regulator.

Mackay & Shimwell. Switch gear for battery charging circuits.

November 14, 1921.
Barlow. Slab inductances for wireless telegraphy or telephony.
Cowan. & Goodwin. Electric lighting of vehicles, &c.
Morrison. Electrolytic engine.

Mead. Electrical apparatus for locating faults in ignition circoits.
Baddeley. Machine for converting a.c. into d.c.
B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric terminals. •
Mackley. Switches.
Sayers. Dynamo-electric machines.
JoHNSEN & Rahbek. Relay, oscillograph, telephone, automatic

current regulator, &c.
Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Automatic switches, for telephone.

&c., systems. (23/11/20, U.S.)
Contell. Alternator.

Nobbs. Electric heating and cooking apparatus
Roberts. Electric cables, &c.

November 15, 1921.
Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. & Remington

systems, &c.
Krupp (F.) Akt. Ges. Arc lamps for projection.

Germany.)
Young. Electrical transmitter microphones.
Lodge Fume Co. (Metallbank u. Metallurgische Ges.)

working electrical gas-purifiers,
Cackemaille (Westinghouse Lamp Co.).

systems.
Pointer. Electric water-heaters.

November 16, 1921.
Morris. Electrolysis of acetone solutions.
Buckley, Saunders & Co., Readett & Poole.

ing machines.
Lodge-Cottrell, Ltd. (Metallbank u. Mettallurgische

Insulators.
Drysdale & Young. Electric rotary pumps.
Sullivan. Duplex, &o., telegraphic systems.
B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Switches.

Beck & Taneforne. Electric washing and wringing machine.
Welch. Holders for thennionic valves.

Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Radiators. (29/11/20, U.S.)
Siemens & Halske A. G. Meters for telephone systems.

(26/11/20, Germany.)
Skaupy. Incandescent lamps. (4/12/20, Germany.)
Skaupy. Incandescent lamps

November 17, 1921.

CowPER-CoLES. Electrolytic manufacture of tubes, &c.

Cooper. Device for grinding commutators.

Bergeon. Electric heating apparatus. (25/11/20, France.)

North. Self-producing motive power for generating electricity.

Gee. Four-way foot control for electric motors for dentistry, &c.

Quain. Electric gas lighter.

Weld-Blundell. Electric adaptors and wall sockets.

Goldsmith. Ceiling roses.

Angus. Devices for causing electricity to be supplied to instru-
ments or circuits.

Stone & Co. & Darker. Electric heaters.

Albano & DE Mattei. Electric heating apparatus of thermo-siphon
type. (10/5/21. Italy.)

Akt. Ges. Brown, Bo\eri & Cie High voltage slot windings of
electrical machines. (16/12/20, Switzerland.)

Siemens <fe Halske A. G. Telephone systems. (23/11/20.
Germany.)

Relay Automatic Telephone Co. (Cie. Gen. de Telegraphie et de
Telephonie Sans Fils.). Telephone systems.
November 18, 1921.

Brown & Scott. Electric connectors.

Clear-Hooxers, Ltd. Supporting lueins for electric horns.

Pemberton. Portable standard or table fittings for electric lamps.

Beaton. Transformer for wireless telegraphy.

Westehn Electric Co. Printing telegraphy.

Waldbeiu;. Electro-metallurgy or electro deposition of metals.

Buit.^jiiAM. Self-supporting electric coils.

Burnham. Indui-tion coils.

Siemens & Halske A. G. _ _

Norman. Apparatus for transforming a.c. into d.c and vice rcr.</i.

B. T.-I-I. Co. (G. E. C). Electric instruments.

Voltage

Method of
regulating

Electric rivet heat-
Ges.).

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Offices of " Thb
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.G. 4. Tele-
grams: Ihvbrotric, Fleet. London. Telephone : City 9852 (5 lines).

The subscription to " Tmc Electrician " is £2 12 0 jter annum
in the United Kingdom, and £2 14 0 per annum J broad. Advertise-
ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
tisement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY H.LUSTRATED JOLRNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2283. U. LXx'kv,.,.]

FRIDAY,

FEBRUARY 17,

1922.

Prepaid Siabscription U.K., /i iij
perann. ; .Abroad, y'l 14!.

Price I /-

CONTENTS.

NOTBS OF THE WeEK 177

Thk Birth of Magneto Optics 181

Ze« man's Discovery of the Action of a Maj^netic Field on a

Source of Light 182

Review 186

Piux Distribution in Air Gap and Teeth of Dynaii:os. By

AUredStill. lUustrat d 187

Hydro-Eloctrio Installations of the Barcelona Traction, Light

and Power Company. By H. F. Par^hall ._, 188

The Coming ot Ageof Wit'on. Illustrated 189

Comparative Tests on Domestic Heating and Ccoking

Appiratus. By J. Rutishauser 191

Telephone Line Work in the United States 192

Electric Vehicle Considerations 192

Correspondence j93

Tlie Geddes Penknife. By E. J. P. Benn 194

" Exide" Battery Sei vice 194

Electrical Imports and Exports 195

The Illuminating Engineering Society 195

Novel Applications of Electricity 195

Legal Intelligence 196

Quick-Make Switches 197

Flood Lighting at Selfridge's 197

New D.C. Motor Staiter

Parliamentary Intelligence

A Devon Electricity Scheme

Electricity Su{)ply

Electric Traction

Exhibition Notes

Personal and Appointments

Business Itt-ms, &c

Institution Notes

Obituary

Telegraph and Telephone Notes .

Wireless Notes

Imperial Notes

Foreign Notes .

Arrangements for the Week

Tenders Invited and Accepted ....
Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.
The Brighton Railway Contract .
Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c. .

Commercial Intelligence

New Companies

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c

Patent Record

197
198
I9H
l&O
200

ato

200
200
201
201
201
2(>1
201
202
202
£03
2204
205
205
106
207
i:07
208

Notes of the Week.

The Geddes Reports.

We assume that, in the days intervening since last
Saturday, electrical eaigineers have not been behind other
classes of the comnaunity in studying and discussing the
Geddes Reports. These documents are, indeed, of the
highest national interest, and we are not surprised that
the demand for them has only been equalled by that for
the most popular of novels. If they were novels we-
should oommend their directness of style; as it is, the
matter is much more important than the manner of pre-
sentation. From the reports two things stand out clearly :
That we are paying out of all proportion more than we
were paying for similar sei-vices in 1913, and that the birth
of new Departments for effecting all sorts of possible and
impossible improvements in the social habits of the people
has added a burden to the taxpayer which he cannot bear
without undue strain. That is the keynote which cannot
be too clearly sounded in any discussion of these important
documents.

Specific Instances of Waste.

As a specific instance of both classes of over- payment, it
may be mentioned that the cost of education to the tax-
payer rose from £17 200 000 in 1913-14 to £60 500 000 in
1921-22. This increase, which does not take into account
the equally large increases in the rates due to the same ser-
vice, is mainly caused by the rise in teachers' salaries, by
special facilities connected with the children's welfare, by
administration, and more than all by the pernicious system
of grants-in-aid, whereby the Board of Education has little
or no control over the expenditure for which it is nominally
responsible. In addition, the school age has been extended
at each end of the scale. State scholarships have been
augmented, and a non-contributoi-y pensions scheme for
teachers has been started. Other examples of the same
dual expansion are to be found in the egregious finance of

the housing schemes, in the electronic emission from the
larger Departments of self-contained branches, such as the
Power, Transport, and Economic Department of the Board
of Trade, in the many divisions of that grandiose and mori-
bund conception, the Ministry of Transport, and in such
excrescences as the staff employed in connection with the
Registration of Business Names, the Census of Production,
and in the Mercantile Marine Office.

The Taxpayers' Duty.

It might be, and is already being, argued by interested
parties that expenditure in certain of the branches, of
Government activity which are scheduled for deforestation
by the Geddes axe is essential for the well-being of the
community. We confess that, as far as some of the educa-
tional proposals are concerned we are in sympathy with
this view. But, in our present financial straits, personal
predilections and theories must be sunk, eveiy way of
reducing national expenditure must be explored, and the
suggestions for economy that this exploration brings to light
loyally supported. In the face of eno'-mous difficulties, Sir
Eric Geddes and his Committee have produced documents
which are worthy of the highest rank in British history for
their fearlessness, enterprise, and insight. They are
designed to provide the taxpayer with a mucli-needed relief.
It is the taxpayer's interest, no less than his duty, to take
the course these reports open up, and to force the Govern-
ment to follow. There is a clear-cut issue. It must not bo
allowed to become clouded. •

The B.O.T. Unit Redivivus.

There are two mijior recommendations in the Geddes
Report to which some attention may be drawn. The first is
that the Electricity Commissioners should not be abolished
(we never thought they should), but should return to the
fold of the Board of Trade, or, more precisely, should remain
a separate entity, with the President of the Board of Trade
as their representative in Parliament. The chiei difference
that this will make is that those who orefer to use the tenii

178

The £lecjcriciaii.

February 17, 1922

" Board of Trade unit " will now have some justification
for doing so. The other is that the subsidy of £2 800
per year paid to the Eastern Extensiou, Australasia and
China Telegraph Company in respect of tlie cost of main-
taining the cable from Chefoo to Wei-hai-Wei, should be
discontinued, especially as the Government is to give up
Wei-hai-Wei. There is little doubt that the company will
accept this philosophically, as the cost of running the cable
amounted to more than the subsidy they received. They
would prefei-, in fact, that the cable should be shut down
altogether, as it probably will be. This is not surprising.

Power-Station Economy in Great Britain.

An interesting analysis of the fuel consumed at, and
the units generated in, the 501 electricity supply stations
of Great Britain, during the year ending March 31, 1921,
has been issued by the Electricity Commissioners. The
figures are based on the returns made under Section 27 of
the Electricity (Supply) Act, by authorised undertakers,
and on the voluntary returns from stations owned by rail-
way and tramway authorities and non-statutory under-
takings. The analysis is made in four Tables. In the
first the stations are classified according to output,
and it is interesting to not© that, by a short head, the
station with the lowest coal consumption is in the group
which generates less than 3 000 000 kWh per annum. This
is due to the fact that it is one of those phenomenal cases
where anthracite and producer gas are successfully used.
When it comes to thermal efficiency, however, the largest
stations are easy winners, though here again the smallest
stations come off second-best. Even so, the figure given
for the best of the largest stations, 17-75 per cent., shows
how large is the gap between unit and station efficiency,
if we take the figure of 25-87 per cent., which was recently
stated to have beeii obtained by one set at Carville, as a
measure. This gap, it is fair to add, is decreasing, and is
likely to decrease. A more important point, however, is
the need for making every effort to increase the figures of
thermal efficiency, as these, when expressed in percentages
of the total energy cost, are still pitiably small.

Coal and Fuel Consumption.

Beturning to fuel statistics, the coal consumption in lbs.
per unit generated varies from 2-71 in the largest stations
to 6 42 in the smallest, which indicates the advantages of
using modern machinery. A classification by areas is also
made. As might be expected, Northumberland leads with
a consumption of 2 08 lbs. per unit, while one station
reaches the low figure of 1-78 lbs. In aggregate, nearly
8 000 000 000 units were generated from 463 steam stations,
161 500 000 from v/aste heat stations, and 23 700 OOC from
oil-engine stations, while water power only accounted for
4 700 000 units and gas-driven stations for rather less. We
are glad to learn that the new form will enable data on
the use and thermal efficiency of oil fuel to be obtained,
but in these days of economy it may well be aslted whether
it is necessary that the returns upon which this interesting
summary is based should be required as often as once a
month. In that period the changes that will have taken
place in most of the data will be very small, and the com-
pilation ■will, therefore, mean work which is out of all pro-
portion tO' the useful information provided.

Temperatures Attained in Gasfilled Lamps.

It is common knowledge that the temperatures reached
in gasfilled lamps cause inoonvenience if the latter are
injudiciously employed. Particularly is this the case in

respect to the charring of insulation round the wires en-
tering the sockets of the ordinary bayonet lamp. An in-
teresting study of the temperature attained is given in a
recent contribution by Messrs. C. L. Dews and W. C.
Brown to the " Transactions " of the American Illumina-
ting Engineering Society. It is rather curious that,
according to the author's analysis, the percentage of
enei'gy radiated in the ' form of light is not very
different in the vacuum and the gasfilled lamp; in one
it is about 6 per cent, and in the other 8 per cent. The
chief difference is the much greater loss by heat gas-con-
vection in the latter (20 per cent, as compared with
8 per cent.), the proportion of ordinary heat-radiation
being correspondingly reduced. Values are given for the
temperature attained in various lighting units, bulb-
temperatures approaching 500° F. being recorded.

Charring and Heating Temperatures.

Naturally, therefore, charring occurs if draperies, silks
or other materials are wrapped closely round the bulb and
deposits of certain varieties of dust may also lead to
" smoke." But it is suggested that the higher consump-
tion and the greater brightness of filament have caused in-
spectors to form erroneous ideas on the danger of fire when,
such lamps are used, leading them in certain cases to
impose conditiona so sever© that the use of gasfilled lamps
has been greatly hindered. Inflammable films, it is men-
tioned, curl at 172° F., melt at 320°, and ignite at 365°;
wood tends to char at temperatures much over 400°.
Hence the obvious desirability of avoiding bringing any
such materials into contact with the bulb. Much attention
has also been given to ventilation of fittings. It is in-
teresting to note that ordinary ventilation, while cooling
the bulb, may actually increase the temperature of the wire
and the socket parts. The idea that a surrounding high
temperature shortens the life of the lamps has apparent ■
little justification. Totally enclosed and unventilated units
have been designed for use in munition works, &c., and
there is a good deal to be said for the non-ventilation theoiy.
Units so designed are cooled by radiation rather than by
ventilation.

An Argument for Regenerative Braking.

It is a little significant that in the frequent discussions
on the advantages of electric traction so little is made of
economies obtainable by the employment of regenerative
braking. This, as is well known, has been successfully
and economically employed on long-falling gradients in the
United States and elsewhere, but it is not so generally
realised that it could with equal advantage be used on
many of our electric railways. Take the section of the
London Underground Railway between South Kensington
and Mansion House as an example. On this section
there are normally eight station stops in a distance of
four miles. In addition there are, at busy times, at least,
frequent inter-station stops. To maintain a service with
the headway now usual, therefore, means rapid acceleration
and equally rapid retardation, or, in other words, braking.
This being the case, it is not surprising to learn that the
watt hours per ton mile on this section have increased
considerably since the line was first converted to electric
traction. Such increase is indeed a natural corollary to an
increased service conducted by present-day methods. But
this rise could be avoided and the original energy con-
sumption probably reduced by fitting the free axles on a
train with regenerative braking equipment as a supplement
to the present devices. To obtain full advantage from this

February 17, 1922

The ^i^ectrician.

179

aiTangement it would be necessary tx> begin braking
somewhat earlier than is now usual, and so reduce
the average speed slightly. But from an economic point of
view it would be certainly worth it. We hope the directors
will con.sider the matter, and at least the possibility of
giving the system a trial.

Rating of Machinery.

That hardy annual, the Rating of Machinei-y Bill, is, we
are informed, to make its appearance in the present
session of Parliajiient. Except during the period of the
war, the Bill has been regularly introduced into the Housie
of Commons every year for many years, but, like the
majority of private members' legislative efforts, it has
always been among the slaughtered innocents. If the Bill
is to succeed, greater efforts will have to be made by the
engineering and trade organisations to- impress upon the
Governmemt the necessity for a reform of the law relating
to the asseasment of property, and more particularly of
machinery, for rating purposes*. At least one member of
the Government, Sir Alfred Mond, who happens to be a
business man, seems to have a proper appreciation oi tihe
disadvantages of the present system, for he recently in-
formed the Aasociation of Britiah Chambers of Commerce
that he had brought the question of the rtjform of methods
of valuation and rating to the attention of the Cabinet.

Organised Effort Required.

This is good news for the promoters! of the Rating of
[Machinery Bill, and a little pressure from the Federation
of British Industrieg, the B.E.A.M.A., and similar asso-
ciations, might induce the Government to take up the
matter, or to give facilities for passing the Bill. No one
dispute«j that there is urgent need for a, drastic reform of
the law, but the agriaultural interests, who fear that if
indugt.ry be relieved by the exemption of machinery from
rating they would have to bear an extra burden, are
opposed to the proposed Bill, and the Government will,
therefore, ha,ve to be persuaded tihat it is for the good of
industry and for the nation as a whole before they will
deal with/. the matter. At present Scottish and Irish manu-
facturers have an advantage over their English brothers,
and apart from the inherent justice of thei demands of
machinery users, there is no reason why this inequality
should be allowed to continue. In Scotland the Lands
Valuation (Scotland) Amendment Act, 1902, excludes from
the valuation of a building used for business, manufacture
or trade any machinery which can be removed without
necessitating the removal of any part of the building, with
the exception of machinery for producing or transmitting
primary motive power or for heating or lighting the
building. Even in Ireland, under the Valuation (Ireland)
Act, 1860, the value of machinery in a mill, factory or
building may not be taken into account in valuing the
premises, except machinery used for the production of
motive power. In view of the heavy burdens of taxation
and rates which manufacturers have to' endure nowadays,
we hope that a combined and well-directed effort, will now
be made to put thei law of rating on a, more rational basis.

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes ?

The recently-developed zeal of the London County
Council in suppressing the smoke nuisance, induces us to
make use of a well-known tag in combination with a large
question mark, aa the heading of this Note. For the Public
Control Committee of the Council have been making in-
vestigations into the smoke issuing from the chimneys of the
forty-two electricity stations in liOndon, and tell us that in
D 2

only four cases have they observed anything seriou.s enough
to report. In two instances out of the four improfve-
ments have been efffectecl as a result of representation.s made
by the Committee and official pressure is being exerted in
the other two. This will all help to the inauguration of
that brighter London which is our desire; but, without
being ungracious, we should like to know whether the Com-
mittee has also investigated the smoke nuisance at »^he
Council's own stations. That they are not always blame-
less we know from experience. And in beautiful summer
weather we have also been poisoned by black smoke is.suing
from fire floats on the Thames. But who hangs the public
hangman ?

Where a Good Example is Needed.

By law the County Council are entrusted with powers
under their General Powers Act of 1910, and the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, to take proceedings against
those who permit black smoke to issue from their chimney
shafts, but the sanction of the ^Ministry of Health muit
first be obtained. Now that there is no restriction upon
the purchase of coal, there ought to be little excuse for
the commission of this sort of nuisance. But if the Council
are really going to enforce the law, and Islington Borough
Cbuncil are threatened with a prosecution, we think they
should begin on their own departments. It would be such
a good example to others.

Some Supply Companies' Dividends.

Though the annual reports of all the electricity supply
companies are not yet available, it is gratifying to fijid in
so many cases the dividends for 1921 have been main-
tained, and even in a few instances an increased allocation
has been possible. When allowance is made for the difficult
conditions prevailing, the restrictions that were imposed
on supply owing to the miners' strike, the depressed con-
dition of trade, and other troubles, the results are sur-
prisingly good. We heartily congratulate the directors
of that pioneer supply company, the London Electric
Supply Corporation, upon being able to increase the
ordinary dividend from 2| to 4 per cent. The outlook for
the company, particularly in regard to traction and
power demands, is good, and the cuirent year should see
a further improvement. The North Metropolitan Electric
Power Supply Co. is in a position to advance the ordinary
dividend from 11 to 10 per cent., the highest distribution
yet made by a power company, while the Yorkshire Electric
Power Co., whose net profits show an increase of nearly
£10 000, again declare an 8 per cent, dividend, but
its reserve and carry-forward are higher than in 1920.
The Westminster Electric Supply Corporation, the St.
James's and Pall Mall, and the Smithfield INIarkets Com-
panies make the same distributions ciS in the previous year,
viz., 10, 12, and 5 per cent., respectively. As we go to
press we notice that the County of London Electric Supply
Company, one of the most progressive and best managed
of the supply companies, has decided to make the same dis-
tribution (8 per cent) on the ordinary shares as in 1920,
but as the profits are greater there are increased alloca-
tions to reserve. This is a policy to which no exception can
be taken.

The District Dividend.

Both the directors and shareholders of the ^letropolitan
i:)istrict Railway are to be congratulated on the 1 per c«nt.
dividend that, as a result'of the recent increase in fares, it
has been possible to pay on the ordinary stock. Small
though the distribution is, it is none the less a signal

180

.The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

event, for it is the first time that a dividend has been paid
for thirty-nine years. The holders of the stock cannot
therefore either be stigmatised as profiteers or accused of
living in guilty splendour on the labour of others. This
distribution, which we hope is only the fii'st term of a series,
is probably the long-delayed first fruits of the electrifica-
tion policy (using the term in its widest sense) which was
adopteid some years ago. But for the employment of elec-
tric traction the system would have become more and more
derelict, while by its use it is possible to run long or short
trains on short or long headways as the immediate demands
of the trafiic require. It is alsO' poissible to deal with rush
traffic by methods of compression, and generally tO' con-
duct the system in, from the directors' point of view, the
most economical way. It has been stated by high authority
that it is only in this way that the railway can be made to
pay. It certainly seems so.

Research Workers' Inventions.

The proper method of recompensing inventors who are
paid from public funds is a subject which has been much
discussed. For while the Admiralty, War Office, and Air
Ministry have always had full power tO' forgo the com-
mercial rights in any invenions made by their officers, on
the other hand, patents for inventions made by those em-
ployed in the Department of Scientific and Industrial Re-
search are taken out in the joint names of thei inventor and
of the Imperial Trust for the Encouragement of Scientific
and Industrial Research, inventors undertaking to assign
all their rights to the Trust. This practice is inequitable
in operation, and has been greatly resented. An Inter-
Departmental Com.mittee was, therefore, appointed to con-
sider the whole question, and to devise a uniform method
of dealing with all inventions made by research workers and
Government servants. The Committee's report has now
been published, and the findings should go far to settle the
problem on an equitable basis.

Suggested Principles.

The Committee propose that, pending a decision by a
" competent authority," all rights in inventions made by
Government servants should be held in trust for the
(government. If the inventor can prove that he had no
assistance from the Department in making the invention, he
is to be entitled to all rights in his invention, except where
it has to be kept secret for reasons of State. Whether an
inventor should, in addition to the enjoyment of usual com-
mercial rights, receive any other reward, is to be left to the
decision of the " competent aathority," and the method
of dealing with inventions is to be uniform for all Govern-
ment Departments. So far so good. We do not, how-
ever, like the suggestion that where the rights in an inven-
tion which is capable of commercial exploitation belong to
the Government the invention should be developed for the
benefit of the latter. The development of a patent involves
a good deal of experimental work ana an equal quantity of
commercial acumen. No Government Department, thei-e-
fore, is capable of doing it, and, moreover, if the sugges-
tion were adopted, we should have a Government Depart-
ment, subsidised by the taxes, competing with private*
enterprise. It would be much better, therefore, to either
sell the patent or to grant a licence or licences to manu-
facture the article.

A Patents Board.

It is proposed that the " competent authority " for
dealing with all patents made by research workers shall be

an Inter-Departmental Patents Board, with an Exploita-
tion Committee for arranging the commercial exploitation
of inventions. We should, however, have little confidence
in such a Committee, and we hope that the proposal will
be dropped. On the other hand, the constitution of the
Patents Board for dealing with awards, settling the rights
of parties and deciding matters of administration, is sound.
It would contain no representatives of the research
workers, or of the Government Departments directly con-
cerned, and it would, therefore, be likely to command
general confidence. Such a board need not involve the
appointment of any new officials, as the Patents Branch of
the Board of Trade and other Government Departments
could easily spare the necessary officials.

Workmen's Compensation in 1920.

The statistics of compensation and prccetdings under the
Workmen's Compensation Acts and Employers' Liability
Act for the year 1920 discloses a serious increase in the
number of accidents for which compensation had to be paid.
There were 3 531 fatal and 381 986 non-fatal accidents, or
a total of 385 517, compared with 368 469 in 1919. There^
was also a sharp rise in the amount of the payments toj
workmen and their dependents, but this was mainly due
the increased amount of compensation payable under the
War Addition Act of 1917. The sum of £755 657 wj
paid for fatal, and £5 222 352 for other accidents, in sever
specified industries, against <£4 616 723 in the pre vious year.'
These figures are disquieting, and seem to show that the
preventive measures, such as those recommended by the
Safety First Council, are not sufficiently widely adopted.l
One satisfactory feature, however, is the large decrease ini
the amount of litigation. According to figures supplie
by the Employers' Liability insurance companies to the
Board of Trade in respect of employers' liability insurance
the income from premiums was £8 851 607, or, including
interest from reserves, £9 047 559. Only £2 980 755J
however, went in payments under policies, while
£2 921 959 was spent on commission and management ex-
penses, £1 476 869 being transferred to reserves, am
£1 667 976 being set aside for profits. These administra-
tive and management expenses seem unduly high, especially
as, after transferring 16 per cent, of the receipts to reserve,
19 per cent, was allocated as profit. However, it is esti^
mated that when the various charges and expenses ar
taken into account, the total charge for compensation ii
the seven great,industries cannot be less than £8 500 000.

Railway Amalgamations and Electric Traction.

In the breasts of the cynical-minded the forthcoming^
amalgamation of the railway companies into a few sma
groups .should generate feelings of unholy joy. Two group'l
ings which, we are informed, will shortly take place ar
the Midland with the augmented London and Nortl
Western system, and the South-Eastern and Chathain|
London and South Western, and Loudon and Brighton anc
South Coast Railways. The Lancashire and Yorkshire sec-
tion of London and North-We«tern group use both higW
tension and low-tension direct current traction with the coii'J
tact rail. The Midland uses the single-phase system, wit
overhead equipment. In the Southem group the South!
Western uses low-tension direct current with the contact railj
the Brighton Railway high-tension single-phase, with ovc
head equipment, and the South-Eastern wishes to use tl
high-tension direct-current system of a special brand due
Mr. A. R A WORTH, their electrical engineer. The problet
is : What is going to happen ?

February 17, 1922

The Electrician.

181

The Birth of Magneto
Optics.

The articles, by Sir Oliver Lodge, on the discovery of the
Zeeman effect, which we are reproducing in another column
from The Electrician of twenty-five years ago, will recall
to many of our readers the birth of one of the greatest
advances of modem physics. The full significance of the
discovery of this phenomenon cannot be realised unless we
remember that, at that time, the electron was nothing but
a product of the physicist's imagination — a hypothetical
entity which was indeed, suggested by various facts, but
whose separate existence had never been detected. It was
not until over three years later that Sir J. J. Thomson
announced the isolation of the actual electron. Bearing
this in mind, we can hardly conceal our surprise and
admiration at the accuracy with which the nature and
properties of the electron were foreshadowed by the experi-
mental work of Dr. Zeeman, a message from whom we
are glad to be able to print to-day, and the theories of Sir J.
Larmor and Dr. Lorentz. Indeed, the most striking
feature of the notes with which Sir Oliver Lodge has sup-
plemented his original articles is the small number of modi-
fications which, after twenty-five years of unprecedented
progress in the study of radiation and atomic structure, he
has found it necessary to make.

The Crowning Point of a Fascinating Research.

The Zeeman effect is, indeed, the crowning-point of one
of the most fascinating researches in the history of physics
• — the quest after the connection between magnetism and
light. We owe it to Faraday's unerring instinct that
the problem has received the attention it deserves. Time
and again it occupied his thoughts, and he succeeded at last
in laying the foundation stone of magneto-optics by his
discovery of the rotation of the plane of polarisation by a
magnetic field — or, as he picturesquely described it, by
" magnetising a ray of light and illuminating a magnetic
line of force." Although he sought for what is now known
as the Zeeman effect — and must, indeed, actually have
obtained it — his appliances were too imperfect to show him
the result he was seeking. The next definite step was
made by Maxwell, who in his electromagnetic theory of
light, showed .that the most intimate connection between
light and magnetism was in the highest degree probable.
Finally, in 1896, the discovery by Dr. Zeeman of the influ-
ence of a magnetic field on the actual source of light put the
electromagnetic nature of light beyond doubt, and opened
a new department of physical investigation.

The Effect in Practice.

Though the Zeeman effect has not as yet received any
direct practical application, it has had important influences
on some of the more practical branches of science. The dis-
covery by Preston that lines of the same spectrum series,
and of corresponding series in related elements, are simi-
larly affected by a magnetic field, has become, in the hands
of Paschen, a useful means of analysis of spectra. In
astronomy, also, the effect has led to Hale's great discovery
of the existence of a magnetic field in a sunspot, and though
the exact connection between this and the phenomena of
terrestrial magnetism has not yet been traced, there can
be no doubt that the connection is very close.

Important Theoretical Aspects

But it is the theoretical aspect of the effect that is at
present of the greatest consequence. Sir Oliver Lodge

has described how Lorentz, by his electron theory, waLs able
to predict the effects which Dr. Zeeman brought to light
Nothing adds to the prestige of a theory so much as a
succe.ssful prediction; and when, as with the Zeeman
effect, the verification extends to matters of detail, .such as
the polarisation phenomena to which Sir Oliveb Lodge
refers, we are almost inclined to regard the theory as an
establishf^l law of Nature.

Yet here we may notice that, despite its almost com-
plete success in explaining the Zeeman effect, the Lorentz
theory in its original form is no longer tenable. It pro-
ceeded from the assumptions that the emis.sion of spectrum
lines resulted from electronic motions whose components
were simple harmonic vibrations, and that the frequencies
of the lines emitted were the frequencies of .such vibrations.
This conception has been found totally inadequate to inter-
pret the actual phenomena of line spectra. These, it
appears, can at present only be explained by supposing
that the revolutions of electrons in atoms do not result in
radiation at all, but that radiation takes place when an
electron suddenly changes its orbit. The frequency of the
spectrum line produced is not the frequency of revolution of
the electron, but is proportional to the difference of energy-
of the electron in the two orbits concerned. On these
lines, Bohr has been able to account for the Zeeman effect
for hydrogen, though the mathematical difficulties con-
nected with more complex atoms have so far proved
intractable.

The Metamorphosis of Electronic Hypotheses.

The original Lorentz theory, then, apparently so con-
vincing and final in its account of the Zeeman effect, seems
destined to share the metamorphosis which has of late years
characterised the whole field of electronic hypotheses. It
is possible, no doubt, to place it in the lumber-room of
science, and, in moments of disinterested reflection, to
marvel at one more example of the measure of truth which
may issue from false premises. There is greater wisdom,
however, in another attitude. Can we not see, iu facts
such as these, the hall-mark of fundamental things \ For
it is not the immediately perceived, derivative phenomena
that call forth alternative explanations. The rainbow,
the seasons, echoes, these things are " explained " — so fai-
as explanation can be given^ — once for all. It is the pro-
founder secrets of Nature that are many-sided. The most
sublime conceptions of science, ideas that have embraced
vast areas of obsei-ved facts and guided progress by their
predictions — it is these that, by virtue of their own excel-
lence have become merged into still more comprehensive
views.

The Passing of Ancient Conceptions.

We have seen, or are now seeing, the passing of s;ich con-
ceptions as the Ptolemaic cosmogony, Newton's law of
gravitation, the elastic-solid theory of light, the nebular
hypothesis, Darwinism. We cAunot caII these conceptions
" false." They have increased the sum of knowledge, and,
after all, grapes do not grow upon thorns, or figs upon
thistles. Perhaps we are hardly justified in placing the
Zeeman effect among the phenomena embodied in such
ideas as these. It has not their comprehensiveness, and is,
moreover, but one aspect of the ultimate relation between
magnetism and light. But it is essentially of the same
nature, and we shall be surprised if, when the history of
the next twenty-five yeai-s of scientific progress oomee to be
written, the Zeeman effect is not found to have played an
even greater part than it has done in the past.

182

The Electrician — February 17, 1922

Zeeman's Discovery of the Action of a Magnetic Field

on a Source of Light.

/?*- this article are reproduced two communications by Prof, now Sir, Oliver Lodge, which appeared in The Electrician of
February 26 and March 12, 1897, respectively, commenting on and discussing the discovery by Dr. P. Zeeman of the action of a magnetic
field on a source of light — the well-known Zeeman effect. The twenty- fifth anniversary of this discovery has recently been celebrated at
Leyden, and we have therefore reproduced the articles, together tvith some interesting notes by Sir Oliver I odge, bringing the whole matter up-
to-date. At the conclusion of the article some comments by Dr. Zeeman on the modern possibilities of his discovery are given.

At a time when the Institution of Electrical Engineers
is celebrating the jubilee of its existence, it is not
inappropriate that attention should be called to an event
which occurred twenty-five years ago in Leyden. This event,
though it has as yet received no practical application, is of
the highest importance theoretically, and may be termed,
without any great exaggeration, the birth of the science of
magneto-optics ; its conception having been begun by
Faraday long ago (1845), when he rotated the plane of
polarisation by a magnetic field. This event is the
discovery of the Zeeman efEect.

There is reason for some comment on this event, for, as
pointed out by Sir Oliver Lodge in the issue of " Nature " for
January 19, in the course of a review of " Verhandelijen van
Dr. P. Zeeman over Magneto-Optische Verschijnelen," in a
quarter of a century a new generation of physicists has arisen,
" many of them so intently occupied with their own
admirable investigations that perhaps the origin of much of
our present knowledge of Nature is liable to be submerged.
Especially may they fail to realise the anticipations
of the great theorists, which enabled a little seed-fact
to fit immediately into its cranny and quickly to develop '
magnificent blossoms." It should also be emphasised, in
order that ideas on the subject may be quite clear, that
Sir J. J. Thomson's isolation of the electron was not
announced until the meeting of the British Association at
Dover in 1899, some three and a half years later.

In the article in " Nature " to which we have referred. Sir
Oliver Lodge says that the announcement of Zeeman' s
discovery to the Eoyal Academy of Sciences at Amsterdam,
and its reception in this country were equally modest, and
would probably not have attracted much attention had not
Sir Joseph Larmor been on the look out for some such efEect.
He had determined theoretically that such a result was
necessary, and had gone on to calculate the amount of dis-
placement or broadening to be expected, but found the
efiect too small to be observed. " For, like everyone else at
that time, he considered that the radiating body must be an
atom or part of an atom with an e/m = 10*. So directly
Zeeman got an effect and found that e/m was of the order
of 107, Larmor perceived that not the whole atom, but the
charge only — the electron part of the ion, or an electron
itself— was a free radiator," and suggested that Sir Oliver
should confirm the result. In a week he had done so with such
appliances as were to hand ; though not without sufficient
difficulty to make him realise thf naturalness of Faraday's
failure to see anything, he being wholly unguided by
theory, and to admire the skill cf Zeeman in detecting the
effect.

Sir Oliver's results were communicated to the Royal Society,
and also to The Electrician 'in an article which was pub-
lished on February 26, 1897, under the heading of " The
Latest Discovery in Physics." This matter is of such great
interest that we have thought well to reproduce here this
article and another of a fortnight later ; and Sir Oliver
Lodge has been good enough to annotat;' them, for, as he
says, they are worthy of reference by anyone interested in
scientific history.

To make what follows quite clear it should be noted that
the matter in the smaller type consists of the original articles
by Sir Oliver Lodge which appeared in The Electrician
during February and March, 1897. The interpolated para-
graphs {e.g., Note B, 1922), in the larger type, are Sir Oliver
Lodge's annotations written during the past few weeks. Sir
Oliver Lodge's conclusion and the letter from Dr. Zeeman
also, of course, bear the date 1922.

The Latest Discovery in Physics.*

By Prof. OLIVER LODGE, D.Sc. F.R.S. [Date, 1897.]

In the year 1862, Faraday, who never lost an opportunity of
probing into the connection between magnetism and light, tried
yet one more experiment, said to have been his last, to see whether
the lines of the spectrum were in any way influenced when the
source of hght was in an intense magnetic field. He arranged a
sodium flame to burn between the poles of a magnet, and then
examined it spectroscopicaUy from a direction across and also
along the fines of force. He saw no efEect. And anyone to-day
[1897] repeating the experiment with a modern grating, without
immense care, would be hable also to notice no effect, beyond
perhaps a sfight alteration in brightness of the lines due to the
magnetic or diamagnetic motions of the flame.

Faraday's Pertinacity.

The pertinacity with which Faraday pursued, in every form,
the connection between Hght and magnetism is very remarkable.
He must have had an instinctive feeling of its importance, though
he could hardly have had an intuition of the great discover}' then
looming in the near future — the electromagnetic nature of hght
(Clerk-MaxweU, 1865).

Zeeman's Discovery.

However, although the chief fact of the interaction between light
and magnetism had been wrenched from Nature by Faraday
in 1845, long before any niche was ready for it, and before it could
be properly appreciated by his contemporaries, the latest outcome
or development remained hidden till the end of last year [1896],
when a young Dutch physicist, Dr. P. Zeeman, now Professor at
Amsterdam University, then working in Dr. Kamerhngh Onnes'
laboratory at Leyden, made another attempt of the same kind as
Faraday's in 1862, and, employing modern spectroscopic appUances,
succeeded in discovering a new phenomenon. The lines of the
spectrum were seen to broaden when the magnet was excited.

Sodium or lithium salts introduced into a Bunsen flame between
pointed poles, and the hght examined by a large Rowland grating,
wiU show the efEect ; but an oxyhydrogen flame is better than an
ordinary Bunsen, because of the higher temperature.

Experimental Details.

Zeeman was not satisfied with examining emission spectra only,
because of the danger of spurious and commonplace causes of the
efEect ; so he arranged a porcelain tube containing sodium between ^
magnet poles, heated it intensely by a flame, and passed a beam of >■
electric light through it into the spectroscope ; in this way he was
able to see the dark absorption D lines, and to obtain them of
uniform width by rotating the tube on ite axis so as to avoid
inequahties of density ; and he was then able to observe, when the
magnet was excited, the same kind of broadening in •the absorption
spectrum as he had seen in the emission spectrum.

Then he considered the fact estabfished, and pubfished it. An
abstract of the communication to the Amsterdam Academy,
appeared in " Nature " for December 24, 1896, p. 192.

To those who had been working in the domains of electro-optics
and the connection between ether and electricity, the general
meaning of the fact was clear. Dr. J. Larmor wrote to me at once
that it was a result which would foUow from his theory ; that, indeed,
he had already deduced that there must be some effect on the
spectral fines, but had concluded that it was probabty too small to
observe. It appears also that Professor Tait, being impressed
with the theoretical probabifity of exactly the kind of phenomenon
now observed, made an attempt in 1 875 to see it, but failed.

The views of Dr. Johnstone Stoney with regard to the motions
of ions or electrons in a source of radiation must also be mentioned
as the kind of views likely to receive confirmation and enlargement
from the new fact.

Theory of Lorentz.

Independently of aU tliiS; however. Dr. Zeeman himself had at
hand a mathematical physicist of the highest enunence, in his own
countryman. Prof. H. A. Lorentz, of Leyden ; and on men-
tioning his discovery to him was at once informed that it chimed in

* From Thb Electrician, Vol. XXXVIII., p. 568. February 26, 1897.

February 17, 1922

The Electrician.

183

exactly with Prof. Lorentz's theoretical views concerning the
nature of radiation, and that if ho looked at the broadened edges
of the lines he would find their light to he polarised. If he looked
across the lines of force at the flarae he would sec the extreme edges
of the broadened sodium lines plane-polariscd, with the i)lane of
polarisation coincident with the magnetic lines of force ; but that
if he used perforated poles, and looked at the flame along the lines
of force, then he should find the broadened edges of the spectral
linos to be composed of circularly polarised liglit, right-handwl on
one side of the line, left-handed on the other. (The analysers must
be inserted before the light reaches the grating, of course, because of
its depolarising action.)

The whole of this prediction has been fulfilled to the letter,
and it is scarcely possible any longer to doubt the correctness of the
obsen^ation.

Spurious Anticipations.

It is not, however, the first time that some such thing has been
noticed. It appears that in 1885 a M. Fievcz brought before the
Belgian Academy of Sciences a Paper on the influence of magnetism
on the character of the spectral rays, and described certain experi-
mental results, which, if they were due to anything more important
than mere magnetic distuibances of the flame, were of a very re-
markable character. The lines are said not only to have widened
and brightened, but reversed and doubly reversed. From the
description, it appears likely that a variety of unimportant causes
of disturbance must have been present, and that if the true effect
was seen at all, it was so mixed up with spurious effects as to be
unrecognisable in its simplicity, and so remained at that time
essentially undiscovered.

The Importance of the Discovery.

The importance of the discovery hes, of course, in its theoretical
bearing, in the evidence it can furnish as to the nature of the motions
which enable matter at high temperature to disturb the ether, and
in the conclusion that can be drawn from it as to the physical nature
of a radiating or absorbing body.

It has for some time now appeared likely that radiation could only
be excited by the motion of electrified particles, not by the vibration
of inert particles of matter themselves, but by the vibration of the
same particles when electrified, each probably with its atomic or
ionic charge. Ions in vibration or in revolution have been shown to
be competent to excite electromagnetic waves, and hence a source
of light has been supposed to contain such ions. !"'ome philosophers
have doubted about the existence of, or necessity for, any material
nucleus beyond the electric charge itself ; such a charge, when in
motion, would behave as if it had inertia, in accordance with well-
known electrical laws, as worked out by Mr. Heaviside, Prof.
J. J. Thomson, and others ; and accordingly the idea of radiation
excited by the motion of electrons pure and simple has been steadily
gaining ground.

For myself, I see at present in the facts nothing which will permit
one to discriminate between these two hypotheses, or, rathei-, these
two modifications of one hypothesis ; but the main idea itself,
that radiation is excited by the motion of electric charges (whether
associated with material particles or free), will probably be found
to be substantiated and established by the discovery of Zeeman.

Note A. 1922. Kadiation, though certainly due to the
oscillation or rotation of an electric charge, might be
caused either by the charge revolving freely like a satellite,
or by a charge oscillating to and fro in a conductor, as it does
in a Hertz vibrator or in a modern wireless station.

At that date (1897) the notion of a charge oscillating on a
conductor seemed the most natural and likely one. And
Dr. Zeeman's approximate measurement of the electro-
chemical equivalent of the radiating body, which he
found to possess a value of e/yn of the order 107, instead of
the atomic order 10^ for hydrogen and about 400 for sodium,
showed that the radiating entity had virtually or really about
one-thousandth of the mass of a hydrogen atom. T]\at did
not prove that it was a free satellite electron ; for though this
idea was in the minds of several people — Johnstone Stoney,
Lorentz, and Larmou — and though — as appears froni the
preceding paragraph — I too had some notion of the kind, and
therefore probably many other people, yet the real discovery
of the experimental separation or isolation of an electron was
announced to the British Association at Dover, three and a
half years later, by Sir J. J. Thomson.

The Elementary Aspects of the Theory.

[1897] The elementary aspects of the theory of the effect are
as simple as possible. Superpose a rotation upon a simple
harmonic motion, after the manner of a Foucault pendulum,
and not only is the path altered, so that a rectilinear path
becomes a hypocycloid, and an elliptical orbit becomes a

spiral or rotating cllipee, hut &\»ii the perirxJ of the oscilla-
tion or revolution in slightly altered too. \ot, indeerj, on
the average, for wherea« any right- handwJ rotation might
bo accelerated, a corresponding left-hanJe*! rotation would be
crjually retarded, and consequently on th' \i a

whole there would be no effect. Neverthele- •ion

frequency would have been increased. In a<iMn i-mi .; -nj '.'•--:

of vibration which had been possible and pr<-n»nt before tj.<
position of the rotation, there will now be a furtli' ' -< ' • f -•
shorter periods, and another set of corrcsfKjndii
And if we have the means of analysing the mo' ,' •

out into all its grades of frequency — a mean.i with which a dinraction-
grating or a prLsm at once furni-shes us— we shall wf not only the
original modes of vibration, represented as a line in the sfK-^-trum
of a certain width, or of a discontinuous set of such line«. we shall
also see, to the right and left of every such line, an exten.>iion, either
separatcfl from it by an intervening dark space or else merued and
gradating into it, in accordance with the circumstancf - ' ' ' -<•.

If every form of possible motion with a definite t -lad

been originally present, and that is what we must a.-r^un. i- uKcIy
in the case of an incandescent vapour, then the exten.sions cau?<*d
by the superposed rotation will be lateral wings shading off with
perfect gradualness into the original line, and with no i ntervening
dark space at all. In other words, the line will be simfjly widened ;
it will not be tripled.

Random Molecular Motion.

Note B. 1922. This notion of the random motions of
the molecules of a gas, as having any close connection with
the Zeeman efEect, rather obsessed me for a few weeks at this
time. I evidently did not realise as clearly as Lorentz did
that it was an intra-atomic phenomenon, that it was
concerned with the internal parts of each individual atom, and
that the motion of the atoms as a whole was insignificant.

The facing-round power of the magnetic field, spoken of
in the next paragraph, is exactly what is operative ; but, as
the electronic orbits have kinetic inertia, the t-flect is not
simply to tilt the orbits, in the way a disc would be tilted,
but to make the orbits revolve round an axis, with a motion
at right angles to the deflecting force, exactly like the pre-
cessional motion of a spinning top that is not "" asleep.''
This kind of electronic motion — predicted by Lorentz, ard
also in 1891 by Johnstone Stoney — was completely verified by
Zeeman.

Other Interesting Phenomena.

[1897] On the other hand, if the magnetic effect be
something more than an acceleration and a retardation of right
and left-handed components respectively; if, in addition to that,
it has any facing-round power like that observed in diamagnetism
on Weber's theory : then, if the field is intense enough, there will
be other interesting phenomena to observe ; but these at present
are not known to have any existence.

The elementary treatment of^the general idea of the Lorentz
theory of the effect is so extremely simple that such of your readers
as are not mathematicia i>s may like to have it here popularised
with the help of a few symbols. An electric charge e, moving
with velocity v across a field of magnetic force of intensity H,
experiences a force, at right angles to the lines of force and to its
motion, of magnitude eHv, the effect of which is to dedect it to the
right or left according to its direction of motion. This is, in
fact, the electrostatic edition of the ordinary force experienced by a
conductor conveying a current in a magnetic field, to which the
power of every electric motor is due.

Note C. 1922. The only justification for the use of the word
^' electrostatic," here, is the fact that the current is analysed
into e and v, that is to say, is definitely regarded as
intrinsically a moving charge. It would not have been
justifiable at that date to assume that everi/ current--in
solids, liquids, and gases— was also due to the locomotion
of unit electric charges. And, indeed, the exact nature of
conduction in metals can hardly be considered finally settled
even now.

[1897] Any motion or component of motion which the electrified
particle possesses in the direcJiou of the fines of force is unaffectwl
by this force, which does not act at all in that direi-tion. Con-
sequently, if we take the magnetic fines as the axis of z, the
effect of the motion we have to consider lies in the plane xy,- and
so long as it is an undisturbeti simple harmonic motion it is
characterised by the equations:

mx + kx=0 ^

itiy + liy = 0 \ '
which express the equaUty of the restoring force to the mass-
acceleration of the particle, and give all the circular, elliptical and

1S4

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

rectilinear motions possible to a weight suspended by a long string,
or a particle constrained by simple elasticity k- about a fixed point ;

and the period of the motion is 27r /\/ —

So far, the moving particle has only possessed inertia (m) ;
but now confer upon it an electric charge e, and let it move with a

velocity whose components are x, y and z in a field H parallel to z.
Then at once it experiences a new force, whose x component is eHy,
and whose y component is ~eHx. Inserting these forces into the
above equations they become :

mx + lcx=eHy'\
my + ky= — eHx J '

and at once the path becomes a little more complicated, and the
period of the motion is slightlj' altered.
The new period is given by:

27r

of his views as to the new phenomenon, for it is evidently of con-
siderable interest in the light of the magnificently comprehensive
theor}' of the physical universe which of late years he has been
partially communicating to the Royal Society.

so the modification in the frequehcy is:

4:Trm
and this is the quantity to be observed.

Note D. 1922. Here I made a slip in the algebra, which
I corrected in a subsequent issue, as appears below. The
modification of frequency as stated in the last line is correct,
except that to keep dimensions right and sensible it is always
best to retain the factor fi, so as to be independent of any
systems of units and true in them all. If this were done more
frequently and systematically a lot of trouble would be saved
when numerical interpretation in either of the main
systems was desired, and there would be no need to specify
the system, or the kind of units intended, except in connection
with a numerical specification ; for all algebraic expressions
would be true in every unit that ever was devised — metric,
British, e.g.s., electric, magnetic, thermal, &c., &c. — as they
ought to be. May I ask students to save themselves and
others trouble by attention to this, and to the opening para-
graphs of the article, " A Few Further Notes," which
immediately follows ? Too few teachers even now realise
the beauty and simj)licity of really absolute measure, though
probably none are aware of what they miss by unconscious
and unsuspected inattention to it.

The Amount of Widening.

[1897] The effect is small, and a strong magnetic field is required;
but what is more important is to have high dispersive power and
good optical arrangements ; the effect is best seen when a bright
sodium flame is formed by an oxyhydrogen jet between the pointed
poles of a large electromagnet, and when the spectrum is examined
by a large Rowland grating, with each line well focussed and sharply
defined. Under these circumstances the discoverer says that the
widening may amount to one-fortieth of the distance between the
D hnes, but I do not know that I myself have seen it quite so much
as this.

As soon as the effect has been plainly obtained, it is not difficult
to examine the light for polarisation, by interposing between the
flame and the grating a nicol prism, or else a quarter-wave plate
and a nicol.

I found it rather more difficult to see the effect along the lines
of force than across them, but that was probably only because the
perforation of one of the poles interfered with the concentration of
the field along the axis of vision.

The circular polarisation can be seen in several ways ; e.g., with
the aid of a rhomb of Iceland sjjar, a double image of the slit can
be formed so that the pair of sodium lines arc doubled; the light
having first passed through a quarter-wave plate ; then, by rotating
the spar, the two pairs can be placed end to end exactlj'', and on no^v
exciting the magnet one pair moves relatively to the other slightly
to the right ; while on reversing the magnet it moves correspondingly
slightly, to the left. This is in consequence of the opposite circular
polarisations.

The plane polarisation of the light which goes to form the
broadened edges of the lines, in the beam across the lines of force,
is seen with comparative ease, and it can be verified that the
polarisation is such that the electric oscillations or revolutions which
are most affected by the magnetism are in a plane normal to the
lines of force ; as, of course, is directly inaicated by the elementary
theory.

I hope that before long Dr. Larmor will let us have the benefit

The second of Sir Oliver Lodge's articles, in which he made a few cor-
rections in his previous argument and added some additional matter, follows.

A Few Further Notes on Zeeman's
Discovery.*

By Prof. OLIVER LODGE, D.Sc, F.R.S. [Date, 1897].
Units and Dimensions.

[1897] In the article on page 569 it would have been better if
B had been everyAvhere written instead of H. The force experi-
enced by a moving charge is not directly dependent on the magnetic
potential-gradient of field intensity, but it is directly dependent on
the induction density, the number of hnes per unit area across
which it is moving. Introducing the factor /a therefore, wherever
H occurs, everything becomes of right dimensions ; /jlcHv or eBv
is a real mechanical force, and fx,eH /4tTrm or eB/4iTrm is really a
frequency, i e., a number per second.

In the interests of those students who may possibly have been
puzzled by considerations about units and dimensions, in a way
which they never need be if proper care is taken to express correctly
and fully every physical quantity which occurs in an expression,
you will allow me to make this apparently insignificant correction.

Correction in Formula.

One other correction. The period of the disturbed motion is
not exactly as printed near the end of page 569, but, in so far as
there is an exact period for a motion which may easily involve
incommensurable terms having no common multiple, it is:

27r

^ (^m \2mJ J 2m

The quantity squared under the root is too small to need taking
into account in that place, and it has only the positive sign attached
to it. In so far as it operates at all, it may be said to represent
the disturbance of the radius vector, AvhUe the quantity outside
the root, with the alternative sign, represents the chief part of the
acceleration or retardation of the periodic time, or frequency, as
correctly stated in the next line of page 569.

[i e., in the formula just above note D.]

Numerical Significance of the Formula.

And now that I am on elementary matters I may as well indicate
the numerical interjiretation and significance of the formula for
the change of frequency, ±eB/4:Trm. First of all then, e/m is the
reciprocal of the electrochemical equivalent of the substance ;
and for the case of sodium in the ordinary electrolytic condition it
equals 1'16 ampere hours, or 4190 coulombs, per gramme. There
is no guarantee that the same charge attaches to the atoms in the
sodium flame, but, for lack of better information, that may be
assumed as a first hypothesis, to be corrected, if necessary, by
facts ; and so Ave initially suppose e/m to equal 419 in ordinary
C.G.S. units of the electromagnetic system.

A great induction density to get even between i)ointed poles is
30 000 hnes to the square centimetre, and when we Avant to see
a very small effect we may aim at this ; if Ave haA'e to put up Avith a
weaker field it is easy to apply a proportional alloAvance.

Thus, then, +efi/47rw comes out 419 x 30 000 h- 47r, or, say,
a million vibrations per second, increase or decrease of frequency,
due to the magnetism.

Now, the natural rates of A-ibration corresponding to the two
D lines are 509'3 and 508'8 billions per second respectively; that
is to say, the distance betAA'cen the D lines corresjionds to a range of
Aibration of fiA^e hundred thousand million A'ibrations per second ;
Avhereas we haA'c just calculated, on the strength of a bare assump-
tion Avith regard to the value of e/m, that the Avidening of either
line by the assumed magnetic field would only amount to one
milhon A'ibrations per second either way. Such a Avidenmg, only
the 1/250 000th part of the interval between the D lines, could
not be seen.

Note E. 1922. This arithmetic is rather interesting histori-
cally, since it shoAvs the })revailing uncertainty as to what
inertia the radiator actually ]wssessed. The calculation
proceeds on the stated assumption that the atom is the radiator :
an assumption which the Zeeman result proA'ed to be Avrong.
But this must have been the kind of thumbnail calculation
which Larmor made when he decided that the result he expected

♦From The ELEcTaiciA.N, Vol. XXXVIII, p. 643, March 12th, 1897.

February 17, 1922

Ths Electrician.

185

theoretically would be probably too small to observe, as
mentioned near the beginning of the preceding article.

Zeeman had not then given any arithmetic of this kind,
but had said that he estimated the broadening of one of the
sodium lines as about one-fortieth of the distance between
them. This was all the data I had to go on in what follows.

Zeeman's Estimate of e/m.

[1897] The effect observed by Zeeman is much greater than
this, consequently it would appear to follow that the value of ejm
in the flame is much greater than the customary electrolytic value.

Supposing his estimate correct, viz., that he has witnessed a
widening of each line equivalent to one-fortieth of the D line
interval, in a field which we will suppose contained 15 000 lines
to the square centimetre, we should have :

e B 5x10" .^ ,. ,

- . -— = — STT - Vibrations per second,
m 47r oO

whence

i.?:^^" lxlorc.G.S
m 15 000 2 '

(or fifty million coulombs per gramme).

Zeeman's own estimate for e/m is 10', though he does not give
any details ; and accordingly I suppose that he considers his field
had the moderate intensity of 8 000 C.G.S. ; though twice that
strength would have seemed more Ukety to be used in so notable
an attempt.

The remarkable and immense discrepancy between the order of
magnitude for e/m, deduced from the first rough measurement by
the discoverer, and the ordinary well-knowTi value obtained in
accordance with Faraday's law from exact experiments in the
liquid state of salt solution, viz., 10" on the one hand and 419 on
the other, seems to me at present a considerable outstanding
difficulty.

[N.B. — The 419 is for sodium, or about 10*^ for hydrogen.]

Too Hopelessly Small to Observe.

No wonder that previous contemplators of the possibility of some
such effect, led thereto by purely theoretical considerations, should,
like Dr. Larmor, have come to the conclusion that it was probably
too hopelessly small to observe.

The most likely direction in which to look for an explanation of
the remarkably high value of e/m, as compared with the electro-
lytic value, is probably that which has just been suggested to me
privately by Professor Fitzgerald, viz., that the whole inertia of
the particle is not concerned with the radiation motions, but only
a very small fraction of the whole mass.

The electric charge being supposed the usual monad ionic charge,
if the effective inertia is only 4 x 10"^ or 0'00004 of the whole atomic
mass, the discrepancy would be explained.

Note F. 1922. This paragraph shows that we did not
then know, what everyone knows now — thanks to workers
in the Cavendish Laboratory, .Cambridge — what the mass of
an electron was, even if it had a separate existence. It is
here estimated, on the basis of the Zeeman effect alone, which
had then been only known in this country for a couple of
months, that the mass of the radiating part of an atom was
the twenty -five-thousandth part of a sodium atom, or about
the thousandth part of a hydrogen atom ; which is the right
order of magnitude.

Fitzgerald's Comments.

[1897] Professor Fitzgerald also adds a line which indicates
how simply the theory can be put if a frankly circular orbit is
assumed for the motion of the radiating particle, revolving with
angular velocity w=27r/y=27r«, under the action of a force
directed towards a fixed centre and proportional to the direct dis.
tance ; n being the frequency. For the centrifugal force is mro)-,
while the centripetal force is in two portions, one the ordinary
undisturbed force, which we may write as 7nk-r, and the other the
magnetic force, normal to the motion and therefore also radial,
viz., ±eBv, which we may write as ±2m.cu>r, where c = eB/2m.
Hence we have as the equation to express the circumstances of
the motion:

Tij)~ = Jc^rziz2cwr,

from which r cancels, showing that the result is independent of
the amplitude, i.e., independent of the brightness of the light; and
the solution for the angular velocity is :

(u = ,/(i-~-|-c2)±C.

This is approximately the same as

so the normal frequency is A-/2rr, and the disturbance of frequency
either way is c/27r, that is eB/iirm.

or d(i

Another, and the shortest possible mode of putting the elementary
theory, is to say that the radial magnetic force, eBorr, causes a
change in the centripetal force, mrdt>r^,

whence a<o^r .

Note G. 1922. This is certainly the simplest and shortest
mode of expressing the main part of the theory of a magnetic
perturb.-tion applied to orbital motion of an electrically
charged body, if it be passed as sufficiently valid for elementar\'
exposition ; and as it is intended to be absolutely simple I
repeat it here rather more fully. The centripetal force that ha.s
to act on a particle m revolving in an orbit of radius r with
velocity v or angular velocity oj and frequency n, so that
v = rw = 2irrn, is mo^r ; while, if the particle is charged with
the quantity e, the magnetic force exerted upon it by a
magnetic field of induction density B (that is to say with B
lines per unit area) is eBv. This will cause a change in the
centripetal force such that

d {niruj^) = eBv
so if r is constant, or the orbit a circle, we get
2 mr<ad<D = eBroi
eB^
2m
Whence the change of frequency is

dn = ±7 —
47rtti

[1897] This, indeed, applies straightway to orbits of all shapes,
and emphasises the independence of the effect from radius of
curvature.

The most remarkable circumstance is, as Zeeman points out,
that the radiation appears to be due solely to the motion of a
positively-charged particle ; at least, in the case of such substances
as sodium and lithium. This is ascertained by the sigi of the
circularpolarisation at either edge of the widened Hne ; for if the
magnetic force is such as to accelerate the speed of a right-
handed circular positive current, then the edge of the line which
is widened towards the violet consists of right-handed circularly
polarised light, while the edge of the widened line facing towards
the red end of the spectrum consists of left-handed polarised light.

A Curious and Instructive Error.

Note H. 1922. This is a curious and instructive error, made
at first by Zeeman himself when stating the sign of the efEect.
It is so easy to interchange right for Irft, and the mistake was
speedily corrected. But it shows how little certain anybody
was then that the electron or radiating particle was a unit
negative charge. It was eo^ually easy at that time to suppose
that a ''^ery light positive unit was the mobile entity, and the
sign of the" Zeeman effect had to be carefully attended to and
re-criticised in order to give us the true fact ; which elev^.t^d
the negative charge into a position of importance from which
onlv quite recent researches into the constitution of the
nucleus of an atom has partially dethroned it.

[1897] If it had been a rotating yiegativ charge of electricity to
which the radiation was due, this state of things would have been
just reversed. It is not, indeed, likely that the molecule contains
no equal opposite charge, nor is it likely that this oppositely-
charged portion of the molecule is perfectly statianarj- : but it is
possible that its motions may be unconcerned wiMi the production
of the particular radiation "wliich goes to produce the sodium
lines, and although the radius per se does not affect acceleration,
yet great mass, Avhich accompanies small radius, does.

Here, at anv rate, is ample field for experiment.

The magnetic action on an electric charge revolving in an orbit
round the hues is quite analogous to the strengthening of any current
flowing in a circuit coincident with the orbit and enclosing the
same lines. A material circuit would have resistance, and in that
case the strengthening of the current would be only temporary-,
and a cessation of the magnetism would be accompanies! by an in-
verse current : but with a molecular or ideal circuit it will not be
so; the rise of current caused by the magnetism will continue as
long as the lines persist, and when these are removed the current
wilf simplv sink to its original undisturbed value.

There being no resistance, it is self-induction which controls
the rise of the current ; and the additional number of hnes will
equal the rise of electromagnetic momentum, in other words :
dX^LdC.

18G

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

Note J. 1922. This is what happens in a lead ring
at or near absolute zero, according to the remarkable
recent discovery of Kamerlingh Onnes ; and it may be
regarded as a "foreshadowing of the ring electron, to whicli
Dr. H. S. Allen has devoted so much attention. It was
evidently possible even at that date to contemplate the
electric constitution of matter, so that the whole of the
mass of the radiating body might be due to its electric
charge. See also the concluding paragraph below, where the
size of an electron is reckoned merely from the Zeeman effect.

I suspect, however, that it did not strike me, at that time,
that a ring electron Avould not radiate, at least not by reason
of its own constitutional motion, and that even two electrons
situated at either end of a diameter would radiate extra-
ordinarily less than either of them separately.

Moreover, the law of force contemplated above was that of
the direct distance, whereas it is now customary to consider
it as obeying the inverse square law. And the radiation
responsible for spectral lines appears really not to be due to
any regular orbital motion, but to a perturbation of that
motion, or to a fall from one orbit to another. Nothing of
that kind is here foreshadowed : though the fact that radia-
tion is only excited by some kind of '"' chemical clash," or
violent shock, was not by any means unsuspected, and in all
probability was already known to a few ; to Sir J, Larmor
certainly.

Identification of the Moving Charge.

[1897] The simplest way of identifying the moving charge with
a current is to suppose it distributed uniformly all round its
orbit, -with a linear density X = e/2Trr, in which case the sum of
all the current elements (or moments of current, as they are
sometimes called) is given by either of the two following expressions :

or, what is the same thing,

Introducing this into the equation of centrifugal force (see above)
we get

eB _ eN __eLclC _ e L eclu)

~2m 2mA 2mA m A i-n-
whence

L = 4TrA-=4^7r^m-=m{ — ) =

m OTT/X

TTV,

which gives the electromagnetic inertia coefficient ; the penultimate
term taking a material view, the last term an electrical view, of
inertia. To check it we may observe that the energy of the current
\LC~ = \Le^(xr 1 4!Tr~^^\ {mr~)u)^ as it ought.

The velocity of an ion or electron revolving in an orbit of mole-
cular dimensions sufficiently fast to give sodium light is not small,
for it must rotate 5x10'^ times per second, and so its speed is
M = 27ran=n-ax 10'^, which, if a=10~\ gives 3 X lO'' cm. per second,
or one-thousandth of the speed of light.

Not an Ultimate Explanation.

Note K. 1922. This sort of speed for an electron is now
known to be quite reasonable.

The attribution of electrical inertie to displacement currents
set up in the ether, which follows a few lines lower down, is
correct ; and this accords with the view, which though
inevitable is often masked, that the electrical explanation of
inertia is not an ultimate explanation, but postulates an
unknown property, akin to tremendous massiveness — a
property responsible for all observed atomic inertia — as
existing unexplained in the continuity of the ether of space

[1897] So long as the motion is not still more rapid than this, it
was shown in 1881, by J. J. Thomson, that a moving charge beliaved
as if it had a constant inertia ; so that, in addition to whatever
inertia the body holding the charge may possess, the charge itself

has an inertia which is expressible as ., — , where a is the radius of

the sphere ^lolding the charge. As the speed of motion approaches
the speed of light the inertia increases, and assumes a much more
complicated form (see Heaviside, " Electrical Papers " ; vol. 2,
pp. 495, 514, &c.). But at 1 /1000th the speed of light, this compli-
cation need hardly be taken into consideration.

Now it is just possible that this electrically-explained inertia,
due to the displacement-currents which are set up in the dielectric

by the motion of any charged body, may be the only inertia concerned

in radiation at all. That is, that it is the motion of the electron

only which is em tting the observed spectrum lines. '•-«' -{

If so, Zeeman's rough measurement for e/m, viz., 10'' C.G.S.

means that

e X 3a 3a , , , ^.„ -, a-
— . — T = —-=:z4^b X 10~ia = 10',
Zfjie- Z/xe

since /xe = ^ x 10'^'^^ C.G.S. units ; wherefore, the size of the electron
which will suffice to attain Zeeman's quantitative result, without
the necessary motion of any "matter " at all, is a=^-^x 10 '"■ cm. ;
about a millionth of the linear dimensions of the sphere of molecular
activity commonly known as the " size " of an atom.

Conclusion by Sir Oliver Lodge. [1922.]

On seeing my article in " Nature," of Jan. 19th, 1922,
reviewing the reprint of his Papers which had just been issued
by his friends in Holland as a memorial of the discovery, and
of which the title is given above in the editorial introduction
to this historical reproduction, Dr. Zeeman favoured me
with a letter, from which a few extracts will be of interest
to readers of The Electrician :

" Your announcement in ' Nature ' of the reprint o^
my magneto-optical Papers has taken me back to a
happy time, and made me feel twenty-five years
younger. A reprint of your early articles on the subject,
as they appeared in The Electrician, would be
interesting to the younger generation of physicists.
Could they not appear in a new edition of your book,
' Electrons ' ?

" It is rather remarkable that the new theory of quanta
is still at a loss to understand some of the complicated,
extremely regular, magnetic separations, such as the
nqnet of the green mercury line, or the cadmium line 5086.

" In the ' Zeitschrift fiir Physik," recently, important
Papers on the subject, by Lande, have appeared, but
there is still something wanting.

" February, 1922. P. Zeeman."

It is in accordance with Dr. Zeeman's wish, therefore
that the Editor of The Electrician has reproduced the
twenty-five year old article above.

Telegraphy, Telephony and Wireless.*

This book forms one of a series entitled " Common Com-
modities and Industries." The author has had the difficult task
of condensing into a small book of 120 pages the main features
of telegraphy, telephony, and wireless. The difl&culty was
increased by the fact that the author could not assume that
his readers already had a fair knowledge of electrical units and
phenomena.

The first chapter necessarily deals with Elementary
Electricity. It is astonishing to find that it is possible to cover
so much ground in a chapter of twelve pages. The matter is
concisely put and well connected together. Mechanical
analogies are used at times, and were it not for the necessity
for the utmost brevity it would have been desirable to extend
their use when explaining the behaviour of condensers,
inductances, &c.

The Telegraphy section contains brief but " pithy " descrip-
tions of most of the important instruments and methods of
working, from Cooke and Wheatstone's needle to the Baudot.
(5ood descriptions of the Wheatstone automatic and Baudot
systems are given in two and three ])ages respectively, inchisive
of illustrations. The only fault to be found is in the statement
that the perforated tape in the Wheatstone transmitter is fed
forward in " very rapid jerks."

The information on Submarine Telegraphy is not in keeping
with the rest of the book. Lord Kelvin's siplion recorder for
" The newly-laid Atlantic cable " is described, Ihe pattern being
a very early one with electrified ink. No attempt has been
made to indicate the modern methods of working and relaying.
The above criticism does not apply to the Telephony section,
which is w-ell covered from the Bell telephone to automatic
exchanges. The Wireless Telegraphy and Telepliony chapters
are good, and the principle that no important feature should
be omitted is well upheld.

♦TelegraAy, Telephony and Wireless. By J. Poole, Wh. Sch.,
A.M. I.E. E. (London: Sir Isaac l^itman, & Sons). Pp. vii. + 120.
8s. net.

The Electrician — February 17, 1922

187

Flux Distribution in Air Gap and Teeth of Dynamos.

By ALFRED STII,

(Concluded from page \'>'.i.)
This article deeds with the flux: distribution in the air gap and teeth of dynamos from the siandpoinl of fun/lumenlal laws an-l princ'ples, it being
found that in presenting such problems to engineering students it is as well to avoid many of the methods u^te/l by ihe pract'cal designer.
The subject is dealt with under the headings of permeance of the air paths, the air gap, awl of the c^jruHtioTis in highly saturated teeth.
Calculations of the tooth densHy in terms of air gap densty and m.m.f., unth a correction for Ihf tapering of the teeth are made, the whole

argument being illustrated by a numerical example.

Correction for Taper of Teeth.

The assumption of parallel sides to the tooth is justified
only when the diameter of the armature is large relatively to
the slot pitch, or when taper slots are used in order to provide
a uniform cross-section throughout the whole length of the
tooth. The dimension t in formula (4) should preferably be
the width at the centre of the tooth. When the field system
revolves, as in most alternators, the armature teeth will
usually be wider at the root than at the top, and but little
error will be introduced by taking for t the average width
for the purpose of calculating the average tooth density and
the corresponding ampere turns required for the teeth.

The case of a tooth with considerable taper, in which the
density at the root is in excess of (say) 12 000 gausses, may be
dealt with by the application of Simpson s Rule. Owing to

Fig, 5.

the fact that a portion of the flux enters the tooth at the sides,
the flux density in the top of the teeth will not be very high,
and the reluctance of |he tooth over the portion of its length
equal to the difference d — d^ (see Fig. 5) may be neglected ;
the tooth will, therefore, be considered as having a total
length d^ with a width t^ at the top, t,. at the root, and a mean
thickness of t,„ half way between these two sections. In
order to simplify the calculations, the assumption is now made
that the total flux in the tooth remains unaltered through
all other cross sections. f

The value of the magnetizing force H (or, if preferred, the
ampere turns required per unit length) can then be deter-
mined for any section of the tooth by referring to the B-H
curves for the iron used in the armature. It is sufficient to
determine H for three sections only. If these values are :

H^, at the narrowest section

//^ at the widest section

B+B\
//„, at the centre section (i.e., where the value of B is )

then, on the assumption that the portion of the B-H curve
involved is a parabola, Simpson's approximation is :

average lZ-=^lf,-ffif„ + iIf, (7)

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that H, is taken at the
section which would be the top of the tooth if the air gap
were increased from 8 to the " equivalent " value 8,.
This is recommended as a good practical compromise, and
the m.m.f. in gilberts required to overcome the reluctance of
the tooth is Hxd^ where d^, the " equivalent " length of tooth,
must be expressed in centimetres. Obviously, the formula (7)
can easily be modified to give an average value for the ampere
turns per inch.

* Professor of Electrical Design, Purdue University, iT.S.A.

iThis is not a correct assumption when the root density is very high,
because in that case flux will leak out from the sides of the tootli to the
bottom of the slot, and at some distance from the bottom of the slot
(the taper being as indicated in Fig. 5) the total flux in the tooth will be
greater than at the root cross section.

Numerical Example.

In order to illustrate this method of calculation, numerical
data will be assumed and the manner in which a curve may be
plotted giving the relation between the average density (5,)
in the air gap and the field ampere turns neces.sar\' to over-
come the combined reluctance of air gap and tooth will he
explained. The assumed quantities are :

Outside diameter of armature core = 19"o in.

Gross length of armature core = 11 in.

Net length of armature core (iron only) = 9 in.

Length of air gap 8 = 025 in.

Depth of slot d = I in.

Width of slot s = 0-5 in.

Width of tooth at top t = 0-576 in.

The calculated slot pitch is A = 1-076 in.

The equivalent air gap as calculated by formula (2) is :
8. = ..,. .^'^l' .-^-^ =0-288 in.

"0;5^6
0-25

V5 X 0-25 + 0-5 j

The next step is to plot a curve giving the connection
between air-gap density and tooth density at the centre of
the tooth. The calculated values of tooth width at the four
sections indicated in Fig. 5 are : ^=0"576, t,=0'572, t„=0b\9,
/, -0-466.

The value to use for t in the formula (4) is preferably the
thickness at the centre, or 0-519 in.

■ Now select arbitrary values of B, and make the calculations
as indicated in the table. Note that fx is supposed to be obtained
from data referring to the particular sample of iron used for
the armature punchings. The air-gap density B^ is calcu-
lated from formula (4), but for tooth densities below 14 000

Zc.OOO

24.000

(0 22.000

^3
^20,

000

ft5

IB.OOO

^ 14,

,000

000

12.000

10,000

' /

l/i '

0 2000, 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Air -gap Densitt{, J3g (gausses).

Fig. 0.

14000

wausses the simpler formula (5) may be used, as the difference
m the values given by the two formulas is then negligible.

B,
(assumed)

(by formula 4)

12 000
18 000
21 000
25 000

210

5 500 (by

formula 5)

12S

8 340

!(;-T

9 870

ii'-:.

12 530

188

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

The curve, Fig. 6, which has been plotted from the figures
in the Table, gives the relation between the flux density in
the air gap and the corresponding density in the iron at the
centre of the tooth for any value of the air-gap density.
Ampere Turns for Air Gap and Teeth.

The final step is to calculate the ampere turns required for
the air gap and teeth, and plot a curve which shall give this
relation for all values of air-gap density. The results of these
calculations are given in tabular form. Taking the columns
in order, we have :

First column. Any assumed values of air-gap density
including the highest value likely to be attained under full
load conditions.

Second column. The corresponding values of flux density
in the iron at the centre of the tooth (read off curve of Fig. 6).

Third column. The corresponding magnetizing force,
read ofE B-H curve (not reproduced here).

Fourth column. The flux density at root of tooth, being

1 • 1- . n 1 • t<n 0-519

values m column 2 multiplied by the ratio j — TvZ^

Fifth column. The corresponding value of H.
Sixth column. The flux density at top of tooth, being

t 0"519
values in column 2 multiplied by the ratio f=K:Kfo

Seventh column. The corresponding value of H.
Eighth column. The average magnetizing force of gilberts
per centimetre for the iron in the teeth calculated by applying

11.000

. laooo

5 9.000
pq* 8,000

a 7.000

J: 6.000

s.ooo

4.000

lt<'

:i/

k«

1000

2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
Ampere Turns per Pole,

7000 8000

Fig. 7. — Saturation Curves for Air-Gap, Teeth and Slots.

Simpson s Rule (formula 7), except in the case of the last line
of figures where this calculation is not necessary because all
values of B are. below the " knee " of the B-H curve.

Ninth column. The ampere turns required to overcome the
reluctance of the teeth, being :

where d„ in this example, has the value (1 +0-25) — C'288
=0-962 in.

At middle

At root

At top.

{TI),

-Bm

//m

H,.

11000

10 000

8 000

5 000

22 800
21 200
17 300
10 900

900

490

25 400
23 COO
19 250
12 150

2 30C

1 190

230

20 700

19 200

15 GOO

9 900

400

225

1050

5G2

109

2 040
1 090
212
9-7

The final step in this method of procedure is to plot the
curves of Fig. 7. Here the curve marked " Teeth " is plotted
from the values in the Table. It gives the ampere turns to
overcome the reluctance of the teeth for any value of air-gap
density B^. The ampere turns to overcome the reluctance of
the air gap of " equivalent " length 8, =0288 in. are :
(TT^ - ^.X0-2o8x2s54

= 0-58iJZ?„

a relation which is represented by the dotted straight line in
Fig. 7. All that is now necessary is to add the ampere turns
for the tooth to those for the air gap, in order to obtain the
final curve giving ampere turns required to overcome the
joint reluctance of air gap, teeth and slots for any value of
the average flux density, B^, in the air gap over the space of
one tooth pitch.

Hydro-Electric Installations of the Barcelona
Traction Li^ht and Power Company.*

By H. F. PARSHALL.

The more important installations are situated on the Pallaresa
river at Talarn and Tremp, at Camarasa, and at Seros on the river
Segre, a branch of the river Ebro.

The Tremp Power House, which derives its power from the
Talarn dam, is equipped with four 7 000 kW horizontal-type
turbo-generators, one turbine at each end of the generator. The
average annual flow of the river Pallaresa over a period of years
is about 49 100 million cub. ft., and the output of this power-house
in normal years is about 110 000 000 kWh. At high-water level
the working head is 249 ft., and at lowest level it is 118 ft. The
results for the year 1917 show an efficiency of 72 per cent., or a
water- consumption of 259 cub. ft. perj kWh with a head of 196
to 229 ft. The water utilised in an average year at this power-
house is 26 593 million cub. ft. The cost of the Talarn and Tremp
installation was £1 826 700. The installation at Aytona, or Seros,
on the river Segre, of which the rivers Pallaresa and Ribagorzana
are tributaries, was the first constructed. The water is taken to
the power-house by a canal 12 miles in length, while the diversion
dam is at Lerida. The power-house is designed to accommodate
five vertical-type generating-units of 8 000 kW (four of which have
been installed), and is designed to work with 160 ft. head, the out-
put being in an average year 130 000 000 kWh. The cost of this
installation is approximately £1 852 260.

The Camarasa Installation.

The most important and more recent installation described in
the Paper is that at Camarasa, sometimes called the " Confluence."
The dam at Camarasa is about 105 ft. long at the base, 492 ft. long
at the crest, and 318 ft. high from the bottom of the cut-off wall
to the footway. It is 246 ft. thick at the base and contains
2 SO 000 cub. yds. of concrete.

The power-house at Camarasa, which is built of reinforced
concrete, is designed to accommodate five generating-units of
12 500 kW each, two of which have been installed. The capacity
of this power-house completed will be 182 000 000 kWh, and it
is designed to utilize the 12 -hour discharge at Tremp in 6 hours,
should the demand for power so require. The cost of the Camarasa
installation, with two units installed, is approximately £1 370 776.
With five units installed the cost will be mcreased by £375 000
and the capital cost per kW will be £27-9. The combined output
of the Tremp, Camarasa, and Seros installations is approximatelv
430 000 000 kWh, and the nominal h.p. is 180 000. The storage
capacity of the reservoirs is such that 90 000 000 kWh can be
contributed to the combined output of Tremp, Camarasa and Seros.

Phase-Compensation Devices.

Results obtained from phase-comptiisation by means of syn-
chronous condensers are shown in tabular form. This gives the
losses before and after phase-compensation, and shows a gross
saving of 24 450 000 kWh per annum, and a net saving, after
deducting the losses in the condensers and distribution, of
18 9f 0 000 kWh. The increased reveniie derived from the saving
in energy effected augments the possible net income by £80 000
per annum, rreliminary calculations showed that, by the use
of synchronous condensers, the power-factor could be mcreased
in the ratio of 1 to TS, and the terminal voltages increased in the
ratio of 1 to 1-2. All the advantages predicted have been fuUv
realised in practice.

Transmission Line Details.

The first transmission lines were equipped with pin type insulators
with four petticoats, but these gave a great deal of tiouble and were
unable to withstand the stress of storms. The line from Seros to
Barcelona, which was constructed under the author's direction,
is equipped with suspension insulators, seven in series, and has
stranded conductors of 250 000 cir. mils section. The line from
Camarasa to Igualada has been reconstructed in order to use the
sus])onsion type of insulator, and it is equijiped with six in series,
of the Hewlett tA-pe. The standards are designed for straight runs
with average spans of 650 ft. They are equipped with two
guard wires of f in. diameter, and are designed to withstand
a wind-pressure due to a velocity of 100 mil^s per hour with \ in.
of sleet on the wires, the towers to remain stable with two wires
broken.

* Abstract of a Paper leid before the Institution ■•! Civil Engineers.

The Electrician — February 17, 1922

189

The Coming of Age of Witton.

Interesting Developments and Progress at an Important Engineering Works.

On February 7, 1022, the Witton Works of the CenoraljElectric
Company celebrated their twenty-tirst anniversary. P'or on
February 7, 1901, the work of buildint; was commenced on what
was then nothing more than meadow land. To-day the works
occupy many acres of ground and comprise numerous shops
of more than ordinary substantial projjortions. They employ
the labour of some thousands of skilled workers who are engaged
in the production of electrical plant and switchgear of e^ery
description for all quarters of the globe.

A Broadening Basis.

This development has been accompanied by a broadening basis.
For in the very early days the General Electric Company were
mainly what would now be called factors. Then they began to
manufacture in a limited way and soon became justly celebrated
for smaller articles. But in recent years they have turned their
attention to the construction of heavy electrical engineering plant
and have achieved that success in this wider field which has never
been wanting from their endeavours. This expansion, &'i is well

of what was going on, and it is imjK>38ible in the space at our di-rKi-al
more than to touch on the interesting evidences of progress that w •'■^.
displayed.

Recent Extensions.

We may begin by saying that the Witton Works now rrr-fr nr;
area of about KX) acres and that recent deveiopm'-'
tated the construction of seven new buildings for -
(Fig. I ), standard motor works, administrative otficf->, ;i
department, moulded insulation works, and enameilincr
works. In addition a most luxurious club hous- *- t

and new bays have been added to the foundry-, the
works and the small motor works. These extensioi. ,... ., - ■. ..v
rather more than doubled the works in size, but by providing
greater facilities for modern organisation have increased
the efficiency in a considerably greater ratio. Among these
improvements may be mentioned the large number of sj>f-f\?\
machine tools that have been installetl, the adoption of th-
ui)-to-date transport' methods, the liberal provision of gai^ .

Fig. 1. — General View of the New Switchgear Works, Wittox

known, has gone hand in hand with useful amalgamations and
working arrangements until now the company is a self-contained
organisation made up of some twenty large works, each one of
which is devoted to the specialised production of a class or classes
of electrical or mechanical apparatus. In this co-ordination it
will be admitted lies great strength. It is a co-ordination which
enables the largest contract.; for engineering equipment to be
undertaken without it being necessary to use anything but the
resources of the Company's own shops.

Prophecy and Realisation.

f ]\Ir.*Hugo Hirst, speaking at the annual meeting of the Company
on July 9, 1918, said, ' I have always cherished the hope that I
might some day be the instrument of building up an electrical
concern of such magnitude that it would be respected not only in
this country but all the world over. We have sat still too long
and looked admiringly at the progress of our foreign rivals. 1 see
no reason why there should not be two, three, or four great electrical
concerns in this country, grouping themselves into big vmits out of
the mass of electrical material at their disposal in order to play a
better and more important part in the world's work." With the
revival of trade and the obtaining of the important contract for
the electrification of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
there seems no reason to doubt that this ideal is on its way to
fulfilment. So wide indeed have become the activities of the
General Electric Company, as illustrated at Witton alone, that on
the occasion of our visit it was not possible to see more than a little

in the shops and roadways between them and the excellent
accommodation provided for the staff in the new office buildings.

The Heavy Engineering Shops.

Taking the main engineering woiks as our starting point, these
are divided into four extensive bays where all classes of electrical
machines with outputs exceeding" 1(X) h.p. are constructed, as
well as smaller machines if these are of special design or construction.
One bay is devoted entirely to the construction of turbo-alternators.
This is\'quipped with a range of specially designed machine tools
for turning or milling the solid rotors which have always been a
feature in the design" of the G.E.C. alternator and for boring ami
slotting operations on the statoi-s. Subsequently, both stators
and rotors pass to the winding section and thence to the
assembly, test, and despatch departments. It may be notet* that
all the "tJ.E.C. turbo-alternators of ti tXX) kVA and upwards are
provided with embedded temperature indicators. A view in the
turbo bav is given in Fig. 2.

^\'e noticed in this bay a 10 000 kVA turbo-alternator for the
borough of Marylebone, "which will nm at 3 tKX) revs, per min..
another for the Bury Corporation with an output of 12 cOO kVA
at the same speed, and yet another Nnth a capacity of
22 ;"00 k\\\, a j>eriodicity of 25 and a speed of 1 500 revs, per min.,
which is being built for the Birmingham Corporation. G.E.C.
activities, however, are not contineil to the home market, and as
evidence of this we may mention three 3 500 kVA sets which are
being built for the city of Pretoria and three others of rather

190

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

greater capacity for the- city of Auckland. The rotor of oi:e of
these machines is shown in Fig. 3.

Rotary Converter Design.
Rotary converter design and^manufacture is now a burning

Fig. 2. — View in the Main Turbo Bay.

question in electrical engineering circles. There is plenty of
evidence at Witton of the attention that is being paid to this class
of electrical equipment. Four 2 000 kW machines have recently
been supplied to the City of London Electric Lighting Company,
while two 1 nOO and two 2 000 kW sets are now in process of con-
struction for the Charing Cross, West End \- City Electric Company.
The value of the rotary converter made by the Com])any is much
enhanced by the self -synchronising pane' «vhich, it is claimed,
offers many important advantages over other types, the ojicrations
being extremely simple and mistake proof. A rather unusual
machine which we noticed is the rotary converter which is being
sup])lied to the British Mannesmann Tube Company. For this
machine a current of 5 000 A is required on the direct current side,
thereby necessitating the use of a double commutator. Passing
from rotary converters to motors, a large range of motors for rolling
mill drive and other steel works equipment were to be seen going
through the shops. The features of the design and construction
of the motors manufactured by the G.E.C. for this class of work
were fully dealt with in our recent Iron and Steel issue.

The Switchgear Works.

Next in importance and interest to the main engineering sho])s
are the switchgear works, which are conducted under the suju-r-
intendence of Dr. C. C. Garrard. These works are most spacious.
The lay out covers an area of 100 000 sq. ft. and is so situated as
to have a main road on two fronts. The stores extend down the
centre of the building, and are so arranged that the accommodation
and handling of material gives a high degree of ciliciency. The
grouping of the benches and machines also tends to allow a very
rapid progress of work through the shopo. This is facilitated by
the excellent arrangements for both the natural and artificial lighting,
Generally speaking, in one main bay switchboards are erected.

while starters and controller gear occupy a second bay on the other
side of the stores. Ironclad and heavy SAvitchgear is turned out
in a third bay, where a section is also set apart for the many machine
tools required. Auxiliary processes, such as plating, enamelling,
slate drilling, and cementing, are carried on in a series of small
shops, while a fully equipped test room runs
across one end of the works with a packing and
despatching department adjoining. The univer-
sality of the products of the General Electric
Company, to which we have referred above,
is well exemplified by comparing the orders
Avliich were being dealt with in the main
engineering shop and in the switchgear shops
respectively. This comparison shows that pur-
chasers of motors and other equipment are
also obtaining their switchgear from Witton.

An Important Contract.

An important switchgear contract which is
now being undertaken at Witton is for the
complete equipment of a new switch house for
the IMetropolitan Railway generating station at
Neasden. The main section of the contract
calls for 11 000 V gear to control one 12 000
kVA alternator, five 5 000 kVA alternators, and
fifteen outgoing 300 A feeders. This switchgear
house will be constructed in three storeys with
the 'bus bar chambers on the top floor, the
oil switches in the middle, and the instrument
transformers below. All the switches are to be
electrically remote controlled from specially
operated panels on the tliird floor, and the high
tension gear will be in brick cubicles. The oil
switches will have a breaking capacity of 350 000
kVA. These switches are, however, not the
largest which are built by the Company, for
only a short time ago a switch Avith a breaking
capacity of 800 000 kVA was sent to a South
American mining company for use on 33 000 V
circuits. Also on exhibition were the truck
tvpe cubicles which are now being made by
the Company, and many interesting t\^es of
oil immersed switchgear of various kinds. |A
special type of panel noted on the test bed
\vas that for testing the apparatus of the G.E.C.
bias differential system of protection.

The Development Department.

It is hardly necessary to say that those [re-
sponsible for the policj^ of the G.E.C. have
always realised the need for digging deep in
order to build liigh. Few industrial concerns
have paid so much attention to the importance
of keeping abreast of the advance of scientific
knowledge, and its proper application to
practical manufacturing purposes.

Some years ago, therefore, the foundation was laid of what is

Km. 3. — Rotor of 7 500 kVA Turbo Alternator. Coils
BBiNa Dropped into Position.

February ly, 1922

The Electrician.

191

to-day a highly developed organisation for scientific research, with
a Central Research Laboratory, which is now being established at
Wembley, near London. This organisation undertakes the investi-
gation of the more abstruse manufacturing problems encountered
by the various G.E.C. associated factories, whilst to fill the gap
between research and production the Company has established
Development Departments at its various works, which act as a
liaison between the two sets of activities.

Following out these principles, everything that is done at Witton
is based on careful experiments carried out in the Development
Department, which is situated near the noithern border of. the
Company's estate. Each section of this Department possesses
the latest scientific apparatus needed for the development work.
Thus the electrical and magnetic section has standards of the
highest degree of accuracy for calibration work, and the mechanical
branch has a 30-ton Buckton testing machine for tensile and com-
pression tests, a Brinell hardness testing machine, and schleroscope
and fabric testing apparatus. There are also two electrically

Fig. 4.

-Part of the Electrical Testing ^Station in the
Development Department.

heated ^ovens, the temperature of which is controlled by adjustable
thermostats, which are used for ascertaining the effect of prolonged
heating on insulating materials and varnishes.

High Tension Testing.

The workshop has also a suitable equipment of machine tools,
and ample bench accommodation, so that models may be
expeditiously produced. In this workshop the first model for any
new line of manufacture is made.

The Development Department also contains a sub-station with
a large distribution board and various motor generator sets from
which all voltages, periodicities, &c., likely to be required are
available. For high voltages a special transformer cubicle is
provided ; this gives testing voltages up to fiO 000. (In the switch-
gear works test bed 100 000 V is available.) One niost useful
accessory is a special photographic dark room, with a photo-
micrographic camera for investigating the structure of materials.
Among the apparatus being tested on the occasion of our visit
was the 1 ii.p. Pelaphone semi-automatic lighting set. A view of
the electrical part of this Department is shown in Fig. 4.

Social and Welfare Work.

Last, but not least, the social work carried out by the Welfare
Dejjartment at Witton among the workers is on a scale seen in few
works, even in these modern days. These activities have for their
home the magnificent new Club House, and the playing fields which
cover many acres on the eastern side of the G.E.C. estate. The
Club was built by the Com]jany, in memory of the many who went
from Witton to the Front and did not return.

Some idea of the enormous capacity of the works may be
gathered when it is stated that the total combined capital
of the company up to date is in the neighbourhood of £8 000 000,
inclusive of the cost of post-war developments, while the assets
as disclosed in the last balance-sheet are over £11000 000.
With this financial backing and the enterprise which is bvJiiii;
sho>vn in the development of all branches of electrical manufacture,
the futu"e of the G.E.C. should be rosy.

Comparative Tests on 13omestic Heating
and Cooking Apparatus.l

By J. RUTISHAL'SKR.*

t- Experiments on various typf;s of cooking apparatos were carried
out at Davos (Switzerland), and comparLson.s were made betwe<?n
the costs with different forms of energy. In the first place the
efficiency had to be determined — for which puryK)se tests on beating
and on 1 oiling water were made. Representatives of the gaa and
ele<;tricity works at Davos took part in the tests ; while practical
cookery tests were also made. Good agreement l^etween the
results was obtained.

In order to obtain comparative results, the Swiss and German
gas and water engineers in 1913 adopted definite standards — as
a result of careful experiments — in orde- to determine the efficiency
of gas boilers. These standards have [»roved to be verj- suitable
and are still in use. They require that in determining the efficiency
of a gas boiler, water shall be heated from 20 to 9.5 'C, and that there
shall be a definite relation between the size and contents of the
pot and the energy supplied (hourly gas consumption of the burner).
In Davos the water was heated from 1.5 to 90'C., because 95'C. at
that altitude corresponded to boUing temperature.

~: Tests on Electrically-Heated Hot Plates.

For the tests, two stoves, each with two hot plates, 22 and
18 cm. in diameter, were used. The rating was 1 460 W and there
were three steps. Since no standards were available for boiling
tests with hot plates, series of tests were first carried out with
different hot plates and pots of various sizes and amounts of water*
in the pot, in order to determine how the efficiency was atfected
by the amount of water in the pot. The results are set forth in
tables and curves, and it is seen that the efficiency depends largely
on the pot-content being verj' low for small quantities of water.
In this respect the conditions %%-ith electrically-heated plates are
worse than with gas burners. The efficiency also faUs otf when
the current is not cut off until boiling begins. If pots under these
conditions are placed on one side when boiling commences the
stored-up heat in the plate should be utihsed by heating another
vessel. Thus it was found that 3*5 Utres of water could be heated
from 15 to 'S'SX\, thereby increasing the efficiency some 10 to
15 per cent. The cost for heating one Mtre of water from 15 to
90X\ with2kg. of water in the pot was r44 to I'TT centimes (Swiss),
corresponding to a consumption of 0-246 to 0'291 kWh. Boiling
was cheapest with a medium-sized covered pot when the water
was heated with full current on up to nearly boiUng temperature.
With the hot plate the temperature of the water only begins to
rise after a few minutes since time is taken to heat up the plate
and the vessel — on the other hand, heat is given off after the energy
is switched off. This efiEect is much less with the gas flam°, which
is superior as regards regulation.

Tests with Gas Boilers.

For the gas tests a Junker stove with rings of 48 mm. diameter,
having a gas consumption per hour of olX) and 300 Utres respectively
•was used. The bottom of the pot was 21 mm. above the burners.
With gas at 60 centimes ^>.;r m' and electricity at 12 centimes
per unit, the average costs of heating a htre of water from Ip to
90"C. and boiling for one hour, are''2-02 centimes for electricity
and 2'78 centimes for gas.

Average Efficiencies.

Hot plate (electric), including contmucd heating after cutting
off current, 75-5 per cent. ; during period when current was switched
on, 66 "o per^cent.

Oas 6oi/er,' including continued heatin:, after gas is turned off,
56-1 per cent. ; during period when gas is burning, oTvo }>er cent.

Electric rapid coo.er (boiler), 84-3 per cent. In this ^^a*« J'^e
efficiency fell off much less when the pot was only half fiOl than
with the hot plate.

Electric rina (a 5 cm. vride ring, enclosing the neating resistance,
for clampmg" outside the pot) : efficiency about the same as for

hot plate. J . . -I tK

Results are also given for radiator-ovens and tip- boilers— tne
latter being more costly to work with gas than electricity.

Comparative Cooking Tests.

Cooking tests were made in two households. A definite menu
was observed for 14 davs with cooking by gas and by electricity.
All the hot water needed in the first house was heated on the ex-
])erimental stoves, and the average daily consumptions were
3-54 kWh and 950 Utres of gas respe«.>tively. This worked out
at 14-3 centuucs for gas and 107 centimes for electricity per person
per day. This meant that for et^ual costs, with electric energy
at 12 centuucs per unit, gas would have to cost 44-4 centimes per
m' ; whereas the actuarcost was 60 centimes per m*. The costs

♦Abstracted from '^ Schweizerische, Elektrische, Verein Bulletin,'"
Vol. xii., p. 370.

192

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

did not differ much so long as stoves (cooking and hot plates)
■were used, but the gas cost rose rapidly when the oven was used.
On the other hand, the electric hot plate was inferior to gas for
heating independently small quantities of milk, coifee, &c. For
the second household, where the water for domestic requirements
was heated independently, the results were very much the same.
A pre-war comparison showed that Avhen gas was replaced by
electric cooking, the average daily consumption changed from I'Q
m^ to 8-92 kWh.

With the apparatus tested, it was found that, for boiling water
and for domestic cooking, one cubic metre of gas with a calorific
value of 5 228 kg.-cal. per m^ at O^C. & H. = 760 mm. was
equivalent to 3 '48 to 3-7 kWh of electricity.

Telephone Line Work in the United States.

Mr. E. S. BjTig's Paper on " Telephone Line Work in the United
States," which was given in abstract in The Electrician of
Nov. 25, was recently discussed at Manchester, Alderman W.
Walker being in the chair.

Mr. W. J. Medlyn said that the financial studies of development
schemes were undertaken in this countrj^ as in America. He
enquired whether the Americans used 1 per cent, of antimony in
their undergroimd cables as with aerial lines. In this Country
the lead-antimony alloy was used for the latter, but pure lead for
the former. The spacing of jioles, 3.5 to 50 yds., was less than the
60 yd. standard used in this country. It was difficult to appreciate
why imtreated poles, lasting eight ancj a half years, should be used
in preference to creosoted poles, which lasted thirty-two to thirty-
five years. Motor transport and machinery were used less in this
country, but, when all factors were taken into account, our telephone
rates compared favourably with those in the United States.
American Methods Criticised.

Mr. T. E. Herbert emphasised the difference in climatic condi-
tions between the two countries, and said this influenced open line
construction. The methods of construction used in the States
would, in this country, lead io utter disaster. The short span
adopted was probably the cause of immunity from destruction.
A line on Glossop moors with a 20 yd. span failed in two years,
because the rate of vibration of the wire was four times as rapid
as in a 40 yd. span. They hoped in this country to avoid open
routes as much as possible. Glass insulators had never found
favour in this country. His experience with aerial cables had been
disastrous. He enquired whether the speeds of jointing and pulling
in cables were really practical or whether they Avere spectacular.

Mr. J. Shea thought that the author had brought home the fact
that this country could be too conservative in methods of construc-
tion. He believed greatly in aerial cable work, and he thought
there was a field for that class of work in this country. He agreed
with the author as to the high percentage of faults found in the last
span in drop wiring.

Telephone and Poiver Lines.

Mr. G. H. A. WiLDGOOSE thought that the principles underlying
. construction were the same in the two countries, and that differences
were due to differing conditions, not only geographical, but to
the volume of work and attitude to the telephone system of the
public and the authorities. Underground development schemes
were simple in a country where cities and towns were laid out
systematically. With reference to the joint use of telephone and
power lines, he asked whether any limit to the voltage of power wires
was fixed and whether workmen received shocks.

Mr. G. Waj.lace said that the Manhattan scheme for concentrating
testing and localising apparatus would be found unsuitable and
uneconomical in cities served by the largest English exchanges. The
British method of compiling fault statistics was comparable with that
of any other administration in the world. Before comparing
English and American fault durations the number and duration
of each class of fault should be available.

Speed of American Workmen.

Mr. A. E. White commented on the high speed of jointing and
asked for details, the English figures being only one half the
American. The cost in England was no greater, and the workman-
ship would be better. The statement of time given for drawing
in cable also needed amplification.

Mr. C. E. Morgan thought that the author described the best
conditions, and asked whether any trouble was experienced in work-
ing open wire circuits with repeaters through difficulty in maintain-
ing accurate balances.

The Author, in reply, said he held no brief for the Americans.
He saw the speeds of working mentioned actually caviied out in
some cases. Uncreosoted poles were those cut in neighbouring
forests. Paint-brush treatment was often adopted and gave a life
of five to ten years, the tank treatment giving \ry years. The
important point was to protect the wind and water line. The
maximum voltage allowed for supply wires was 5 000 V between
wires, or 2 900 V between wire and earth.

Electric Vehicle Considerations.

At the last meeting of the Informal Section of The Institution
OF Electrical Engineers, Mr. R. J. Mitchell, in opening a dis-
cussion on " Electric Vehicles," defined the electric vehicle as one
driven by accumulators or batterj^, not by engine-cum-dynamo
nor trackless-trolley.

In spite of the simphcity of control the electric vehicle had not
made the progress expected of it ; in the past this was due largely
to the low cost of fuel for the petrol vehicle, while the high first
cost of the electric vehicle was to-day made to seem extravagant
by the very low prices obtainable for second-hand lorries. Yet
the electric vehicle was particularly suitable for town transport.
To the objection that it was extremely slow, he replied that this
did not matter at all. Nor was it any longer true that the battery
did not joermit a reasonable day's work from one charge.

Street Widening.

With conditions in most large towns where widening of the
streets was a counsel of perfection all too impracticable, the electric
vehicle which did not commit the nuisances of smoke, smell, and
noise must ultimately become supreme. Another important
consideration was its greater conservation of road surfaces. The
electric vehicle was easily adapted to special equipment such as
tipping gear, cranes, elevating apparatus, &c., which with other
vehicles could only be obtained in a roundabout way.

He read testimony to the merits of electric- vehicles from the
experience of many corporations and large commercial users, showing
in some instances most remarkable saving in time and handling,
and he appealed for fuller co-operation and help in the matter of
charging facilities from supply engineers.

Battery Design.

In regard to improvement in electric vehicles the last word in
battery design had not yet been said, and he thought the
B.E.A.M.A. should offer £100 000 prize for a batterj^ giving, say,
40 Wh per lb. If a share in the royalties on this battery were
stipulated, there would be no need to set aside a reserve for the
prize money. The chassis was not perfect either, it could be
enormously improved and lightened by better materials. Further,
he had found wheels that could with safety, even improvement,
be pared down 2^ cwt. per set.

Municipal Virtues.

Mr. A. W. Blake, of Willesden, opened the discussion with a
glowing testimony to the virtues of electric vehicles on municipal
duties. He spoke from experience of many years and at present
was associated with eighteen electric, as weU as several petrol,
vehicles. Every electric vehicle was working every day, and his
figures of working hours showed an astonishingly good service,
and freedom from even minor breakdowais. Questions of runiung
cost and of speed could not be answered summarily as conditions
and duties varied, but he was able to let out 5 ton electric vehicles
on liire to the surveyors' department at 45s. per day (including
driver and all charges), and make a profit on it. ]\Ir. Blake thought
that one of the first duties of the electric vehicle was to abohsh the
tramcar ; and it was notable how few friends the trams had among
subsequent speakers.

Mr. N. Mtjrphy continued the appeal for less apathy from supply
engineers. He reminded them that the consumer came to the
door for supply and he declared that if this veliicle was not taken
seriously, the vehicle makers would perforce provide their own
charging facilities.

Mr. A. G. Whyte recalled the statement that the Cleansing
Superintendents had done more for the electric vehicle than all
the station engineers.

Mr. F. Jackson said the early failures of the electric vehicle that
still prejudiced opinion were with cabs and motor buses, requiring
relatively higher speeds, but the commercial vehicle was not a
touring car and could return to its base. Further, the electiic
veliicle user would probably employ a fleet and could consequently
arrange his own charging. He spoke of the railway companies in
London each employing 10 000 to 12 000 horses on local transport.

Mr. W. E. Warrilow did not agree that the station engineer was
always apathetic. He recalled a long journey years ago where
charging points had been arranged. At one station their arrival
was so keenlj- anticipated that the charging leatls were passed out
to them already ali\e.

]\Ir. R. J. Mitchell, in his conclusion, dealt with the question of
regenerative control on electric vehicles. His opinion was that if
you can ensure that the driver will take the fullest advantage of
the opportunities it may afford, this system may be desirable.

The Royal Comsiission on Awards to Inventors will, as from
March 1st next, sit in two divisions, the eecoiul division sitting on
Wednesdays during term time at Martlett House, Bow -street,
W.C. 2.

February 17, 1922

The Electrician.

193

Correspondence.

MECHANICAL AND KI.KCTRICAI. KIFKCTS OF LARGF,
CURRENTS ON H.T. SWITCHGEAR.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — In your issue of January 20th appeared a reproduction of
the notes by Dr. C. C. Garrard, dealing with the cinematograph
films of Mr. Torchio's tests which Dr. Garrard recently exhibited
at the Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Dr. Garrard's comments are very pertinent, so far as they go,
but they do not by any means cover the wliole subject of burnt
contacts on oil switches. Our engineers have had the opportunity
of studying the original reports of the New York Edison Company,
on which Mr. Torchio's paper was based. In every one of the
tests the parallel studs were found to move outwards, frequently
to such an extent as to take up a permanent set. In such cases
even the mutually attracting wedge contacts do not avail to prevent
burning at the contacts, although they are more satisfactory than
the brushes in Fig. 1 of Dr. Garrard's paper. It has been found
necessary to stiffen considerably the studs of the switches tested,
or in the case of the G.E. Company's " pot " switch, to brace
the pots.

Since the New York tests, which were taken just three years
ago. a great deal of other work on contacts has been carried out.
In Mr. Torchio's paper before the American Institute of Electrical
Engineers he showed forms of brush contact which were unaffected
by heavy currents, other than that in Fig. 2 of Dr. Garrard's notes.
These have been tried out and the most successful is undoubtedly
that illustrated herewith.

In this contact the main element is a brush, the leaves of which
are continuous from one contact block to the other. Internal

:zT

A Successful Form of Brush Contact.

I-R losses are therefore a minimum, and. moreover, the brush
type of contact can be bedded in at a higher pressure and gives
a lower contact surface drop than the wedge form. The two
halves of the brush element take a Y formation in the end view,
so that they attract one another, and increase the bedding pressure
when heavy currents are carried.

The arcing contacts are of the wedge type, shown in Dr. Garrard's
Fig. 3.V. We do not agree that the contacts shown in Fig. 3b are
an improvement on this, because at the moment the wedge is
withdra\^^1 the two controller fingers will spring together and
stand a good chance of being welded together by the arc whicli
surrounds them. The fingers on the arcing contact shown herewith
are so mounted that it is physically impossible for them to touch
and freeze together.

Another factor definitely excluded from Mr. Torchio's programme
of tests is the effect on the switch mechanism produced by the
repulsion on the moving contact as a whole. In most of the larger
switches now on the market, the mechanism would spring during
the initial cycles of a short circuit corresponding to the rated
breaking capacity of the switch. The current during the first
half cycle may be four times the arc amperess.

Finally, it should be clearly understood that given rigid
E

mechanism, rigid tftnd«, and a form of conta*^* .v'li h do*^ not

deflect under current, burning at the main c

in still inevitable uhIchh the re«iijtance of the .

be kejjt hiw. SjK-cific data on this point iy

certainly the re«i.stanee of the arcing path -i

than five to ten times that of the main contact pa*;.. \% •■ ar*-, ■ ':.,

Til E M KTKOI'OMT.\ N - \' If K ER.S

Manchester, Ei-ectbical r ...-..- r-.

Feb. 6th.

RATF^ AND RATE AID.
To the EdUor of THE ELECTKICIAX.

Sir, — I have read with much interest your article on page |.>1
of this week's issue of The Elkctkician in connection with this
undertaking.

With reference to your remarks ah to reduced cbarees. I beg to

inform jou that my Committee have air- ' ' ' - t to

the confimiation of the City Council, to r the

supply of electrical energy in this city a.-, i....... n-. ±^^..r tu'tjcr,

1921, quarter as follows :

1. For ordinary consumers, 25 per cent, off the increased charge
over basic rates of 100 per cent., making the net incnaae 75 i»cr
cent.

2. Rateable value consumers, 50 per cent, off the increa.>ie<l
charge on the rateable value of 100 per cent, and 25 per cent, off
the increased charge on the ba.sic rates per unit of 100 per cent.

3. Consumers taking large supplies and having special agree-
ments containing coal clauses, etc., 15 j»er cent, off the increased
charge of 40 per cent, on the basic rates, making the net increase
25 per cent.

With regard to tliis latter class of consumer, there will aato-
matically be a large reduction in the charge due to the reduced
cost of coal, in addition to the percentage recommended above. —
lam, ^'f., H. DicKDisos,

Liverpool. City Electrical Engineer.

Feb. 14th.

[We are glad to learn that the Liverpool Electricity Committee
are taking such enterprising action: It is the only right and sound
policy. — Ed. E.]

THE REVO ELECTRIC IRON.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir. — With reference to the matter of an 1(X) V electric iron which
was used on a 200 V circuit, and Mr. Davis' reply to my letter
appearing in your issue of the 3rd February, it appears that your
correspondent chooses to be rather more personal than precise in his
remarks.

However, after condensing the statement made by ^[r. Davis,
we are able to discover the " nigger " in this apparently " wonder-
ful " performance, which is. that the current was only applied to the
iron for a few minutes at any timf'. being switchetl off before
becoming red hot, all of which goes to prove that the performance
was not in the least wonderful. In fact, any iron of well-known
British make would have given the same or quite probably better
results than that attribui.d to the iron in question.

Your correspondent states that an electric iron '" is never in use
continuously during ironing operations." The fact that an electric
iron can be used continuously is one of the prime arguments ir. favour
of using electric irons in preference to any other, since they are usually
designed and loaded in order to promote a saving in time and prr-
vention of heat loss in the iron during the process of ironing. It is
evident that if an electric iron is to be switched off every few
minutes to prevent over-heating and burning of the material,
ironing under these conditions would oecome not only laborious
but extremelv dangerous.

\Vith regard to the supposed incorrect statements of loading and
face area on which my calculations were bastxl, I bog to remind
Mr. Davis that the original article on this subj<xt was devoid of any
technical details, and some presumption was necessary in order to
arrive at a concrete argument. The loading applitxl. however, to
well-constructed irons of 4/5 lb. size is approximately 4<.M1 W. As to
face area, I agree with him that this was probabI\
incorrectness was distinctly in his favour — the
of this size of iron being IS.' 20 sq. in, which woulu .•;
to considerablv more than 64 W jH>r sq. in. V^'"^ .'
does not favourablv influence his argument by bickeri!.
be very interesting' to know what cleitrioal heating apjv* rat us (other
than water-heating appliances) are loaded to " 64 ^^■ jht sq. in. and

more." i» * t

It is quite clear that Mr. Davis is availing hmiseJi of the
opportunity of cheap advertisement to the fullest extent as will be
seen by the further " testimonial " include<l in his letter, which has
nothing whatever to do with the subjet.t uii' ' ' ^>n. " I repeat

that many irons of well-known British n could with-

stand even more strenuous tests than either I'l nn-v .lO quotes.
In conclusion. I would like to submit that if every manufacturer

but the
ice area

1— ling
.1 nt
idd

19i

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

•were to inset in your columns tlie many testimonials they receive
from their various customers, there Avould be very little room left for
any real items of interest in your valuable journal. I am, &c.

London, W. 9, February 13. Wm. B. Scourfield.

[It is difficult to discuss a subject of this kind vdthout doing a
little of the advertising to which Mr. Scourfield objects. He will,
however, agree that even with this drawback, the matter is of
sufficient interest to be ventilated in the columns of a technical
journal. — Ed. E.]

ELECTRICAI, versus MECHANICAL ENGINEERS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — Neither a mechanical nor an electrical engineer, but an
engineer nevertheless, and having I hojje the best interests of the
profession as a whole at heart, Mr. W. B. Pinching's letter in your last
issue gave me much satisfaction, as raising the tone of the discussion
to its proper plane.

I have no special knowledge of railway administration, but it
seems to me inconceivable that there should not be someone to
co-ordinate the mechanical and electrical branches of the engineering
organisation, and the great thing is that he should be an " engineer."
I fail to see why a man trained as a mechanical engineer should be
suspected of inability to hold the balance evenly.

To suggest that the heads of both branches should have direct
access to the directors and possibly present conflicting views seems
to be asking for trouble. That is the sort of thing which gives the
lay " administrator," who is never tired of extolling his impartiality
of judgment (which arises from knowing nothing in particular), the
opportunity of saying " evidently the 'experts' cannot agree, so you
had better let me decide for them," and of getting himself pushed in
over both professional men.

It is high time that engineers recognised that the growth of
specialisation is a source of weakness to the profession, and made
efforts to build bridges rather than open chasms. In your issue of
the 27th ult., you call on the Institution of Electrical Engineers to
take the matter up. I liope they will and remind their members that
they are engineers first and electrical engineers afterwards, and that
by strengthening the engineering profession as a whole, they wiU be
strengthening every branch of it including their own. — I am, &c.
Nabia.

The Geddes Penknife.

By ERNEST J. P. BENN.

The Geddes Report and the fuss that has been made about it is
only another illustration of the shortness of the public memory.

Mr. Gladstone, in introducing his last Budget, entered upon an
elaborate apology for a national expenditure amounting to
£95 000 003, and expressed the fervent hope that that sum might
never be exceeded. It would be useful if we could compare the
value which we as a nation secured for Mr. Gladstone's £95 000 000
with the value which we are now obtaining for rates and taxes
which are very little short of £1 500 000 000. The Geddes Axe
offers a reduction of £75 000 000, a figure which will be very much
reduced when all the vested interests have had fuU opportunity
to work up their agitations. Traders and taxpayers generally will
take the view that the much-advertised axe is nothing but a small
penknife scratching at the surface of the greatest of modern abuses.

A Seven and a Half per Cent. Reduction.

In a word, what Sir Eric Geddes has done is to knock down
public extravagance by 7.^ per cent. The tradesman who could
show no better reduction than that on the highest war-time figures
would have to close his shop. The process of deflation in so far
as it has been left to individuals to accujnplish has gone ahead with
remarkable rapidity. This is obvious from the cost of living index
figure, where the war-time advance has been reduced by half.
How is it possible for the Government to suggest that wages and
prices must continue to fall when everything which they themselves
control, from postage stamps to Labour Exchanges, is still on the
highest war-price scale V The utter futility of Labour Exchanges
was pointed out in The Electrician years ago, and what is true
of Labour Exchanges is true of many other Government depart-
ments. The best that can he hoped of the G<"ddes Report is that
it will set a fashion and that the public enthusiasm for economy
will at last begin to be real and effective.

Economy or Value for Money.

Economy is not altogether a happy word in this connection.
Public expenditure is not, after all, so much a matter of economy
as of value for money, and sooner or later it will be generally recog-
nised that the most ineffective, the slowest, and the most extrava-
gant way of securing any object is through public action.

It would not be difficult to show that the rate of social progress
has been in inverse ratio to the rate of pubUc expenditure. Before
the war, thanks to private enterprise and personal initiative, we
were achieving general social advancement at a rate which was not
generally realised. Within a few days we flew across the Channel,
we cut the Atlantic journey down to four days, and we knocked

ten minutes off the trip frbm London to Liverpool, and every day
witnessed some big advance in human knowledge and personal
comfort. Housing gives us a perfect example of the sort of value
which we get from money when it is spent through the pubUc purse.
The Geddes Report makes this clear. For every £16 worth of
housing provided, there is a deficit of £59, £4 of which comes out
of the pocket of the ratepayer, and £55 from the unfortunate
taxpayer.

We are all in favour of education, but is there anybody willing
to argue that the quaUty of education to-day is four times better
than a few years ago ? And yet, that is the measure of its cost.
It would be very instructive to compare the operations of the
Department of Overseas Trade with a body Uke the Federation of
British Industries. I do not doubt that such an investigation would
show that the latter gives better value for a thousand pounds than
does the former for a million.

The Geddes Report is a lengthy document, but every Une of it
should be read by every serious citizen. Practical men know that
pubUc activity not only usually acliieves nothing, but that it always
dries up at the source private activities that are badly wanted in
these days.

" Exide " Battery Service.

On Wednesday there was a Press visit to the Chloride Electrical
Storage Company's showrooms, Daimler House, Shaftesbury-
avenue, London.

Amongst the special features were the imepillable batteries for
aircraft, field service and police lamps. The platee in the smallest-
sized cell are 1/16 in. in thickness, the gi'ids are staggei-ed, and the
active material is laced between them, and the wood separators in
these, as well as in the larger batteries, are corrugated, so that acid
will run down. The company also supply a miner's safety lamp
battery to fit a circular lamp case. It is stated that these batteries
will give the necessary 1 c.p. for ten hours and that their life is at
least eighteen months. A standard battery for motor-car startmg
and lighting is the six-cell 12 V XC battery. In these cells the
positive and negative peaks stand upon separate feet, to obviate
short circuits, which might be caused by deposit in the bottom of
the box. The battery boxes supplied include glass, lead-lined wood,
lead, ebonite and celluloid. Ebonite boxes are considered the best
thing so far for motor-cai's, but the Lorival Company's material is
also useful, as it can be patched up in case of injury.

At. a luncheon which followed, Mr. D. P. Dimne (director and
sales manager) said the company had not utilised the Press so much
as other battery makers had done because its business had been
mainly with engineers and contractors, and until batteries had come
to be so much used by motor-car people publicity had not been zo
necessary. The company had, however, in the last few years don©
more than any other battery company outside America in spreading
the doctrine of electric starting and lighting on motor vehicles.
They appreciated the co-operation of the Press, and invited any of
its representatives to visit their works at Clifton Junction. At
Daimler House they supplied the requirements nofc only of motor-
car users, but of the trade. It was not their intention to supplant
their service agents or other people in the trade, but to support them.
The history of the " Exide " battery went back many yeai's, to the
time when the Electric Storage Battery Company of Philadelphia
first co-operated in providing a battery for self -starting of motor-
cars. Self-starters were now generally used in America and on the
Continent, and he thought few cars would be turned out without
them in this country in the coming season. The company found that
the necessary service must be supplied practically on the doorstep of
the users, and therefore they had appointed over 200 agents in this
countiy, who were tested as to their ability to execute repairs, and
also (in addition to the company's establishment in Sydney) distri-
butoi's in Australia, India, and South Africa, while in the United
States and Canada the sister company, the Electric Storage Battery
Company, took care of the '" Exide " situation. When he was m
America the Ford Company used 4 000 " Exide " batteries a day,
and the same company in England, when they were somewhat busier
than at present, used 1 200 in a week. The batteries were also used
on aircraft, on farms, by the Ministry of Munitions, and the Army
and Navy. The Admiralty sent the company a letter on Nov. 30,
1918, acknowledging that the use of the company's batteries in sub-
marines was one of the factors which led to their success. The
submarines which the company had helped to equip had sunk fifty-
four enemy warships and 274 other enemy vessels, and there was no
record of any of the batteries failing. The chief cause of the com-
panj^'s success was that theij' and the Electric Storage Battery
Company had made batteries, and nothing but batteries, for thirty
years, and no expense for research had been spared.

The'^Fuel Research Board of the Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research have appointed a committee to advise upon the
SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS OF COAL. The personnel of the committee is
as follows : — Prof. Thomas Grav (chairman). Prof. J. W. Cobb,
Messi-6. J. T. Dunn. J. S. Flett^ G. Nevill Huntly, S. Roy Illing-
worth. J. G. King, C. 11. Lander, R. I^essing, C. A. Sevier, F. S.
Sinnatt, and Prof. R. V. Wheeler. It is intended that the methods
recommended by the committee shall be adopted in connection with
the physical and chemical survey of the national coal resources.
Communications should be addressed to the Secretary (Miss N.
Renouf), 16 and 1^ Old Queen-street, Westminster, London. S.W. 1.

February 17, 1922

The Electrician.

19.0

Electrical Imports and Exports.

Imports. — The following are official values of electrical machinery,
Hpnaralus and material imported into this country during January,
1922, with increase or decrease compared with January, 1921 : —

Electrical machinery, £46 871 (decrease £64 130) ; telegraph and
telephone cables, submarine, nil ; other than submarine, £3 497 (de-
crease £12 354) ; telegi-aph and telephone apparatus, £17 195 (de-
cre.'Lse £11621); other electrical wires and cables, rubber insulated,
£4 607 (increase £2 129) ; with other insulations, £3 533 (decrease
£5 827) ; carbons, £2 647 (decrease £15 460) ; glow lamps, £19 036
(decrease £683); arc lamps and electric search-lights, nil (decrease
£3 902); parts of arc lamps and searchlights (other than carbons),
£567 (increase £409) ; batteries, £3 650 (decrease £14 114) ; electrical
itihtruments, commercial and ecientific, and electricity meters,
£5 833 (decrease £10 496); switchboards, £945 (increase £727);
other electrical goods and apparatus, £50 200 (decrease £59 741).
Total of electrical machfnerv, apparatus and material (other than
uninsulated wire), £158 581 '(decrease £195 063).

Exports. — The e.xports of electrical machineiy, apparatus and
material during January, 1922, with increase or decrease compared
with January, 1921, were as follows : —

Electrical machinery, £567 264 (increase £122 132) ; including rail-
way and tramway motors, £15 878 (decrease £17 409) ; other genera-
tors and motors, £344 499 (increase £101 102) ; other electrical
machinery, £206 887 (increase £38 439) ; telegraph and telephone
cables, submarine, £3 393 (decrease £90 105) ; other than submarine,
£81663 (decrease £105 819); telegraph and telephone apparatus,
£221 071 (increase £79 218) ; other electrical wires and cables, rubber
insulated, £56 120 (decrease £129 187); with other insulations,
£123 966 (decrease £82 977) ; carbons, £6 743 (decrease £12 032) ;
glow lamps, £29 010 (decrease £13 855) ; arc lamps and searchlights,
£951 (decrease £344) ; parts of arc lamps and searchlights (other
than carbons), £537 (decrease £127); batteries, £33 394 (decrease
£52 614) ; electrical instruments, commercial and scientific, and
electiicity meters, £36 466 (decrease £12 675); switchboai'ds,
£85 975 (increase £63 567) : other electrical goods and apparatus,
£122 920 (decrease £125 739). Total of electrical machinery,
material and apparatus, other than uninsulated wire, £1369 473
(decrease £370 557).

The Illuminating Engineering Society.

The annual dinner of the Illuminating Engineering Society, on
February 10th, was notable for the variety of aspects of illumination
touched on by the guests of the evening. Sir Herbert Jackson,
representing the Royal Society, in proposing the toast of the Illumi-
nating Engineering Society, recalled that its President, Sir John
Parsons, initiated a discussion on " glare " at one of the first meet-
ings in 1910, and remarked that there was still need for educational
effort in this direction. Mr. Lawford, President of the Council of
British Ophthalmologists, endorsed the necessity of closer study of
the effect of light on the eye, and the number of distinguished
ophthalmic surgeons present showed the interest now taken by the
medical profession in illumination. Mr. F. W. Goodenough,' Mr.
Thomas Hardie (President of the Institution of Gas Engineers), and
Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton (Vice-President of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers), all referred to the growing recognition of
future possibilities of co-operation between gas and electrical under-
takings. ^Ir. L. Gaster, in proposing " The Guests," acknowledged
the sympathetic attitude taken by various Government Depart-
ments when approached regarding lighting problems. Mr. C. R.
Groves, H.M. District Inspector of Factories, and the Right Hon.
William Brace (Mines Department), in responding to the toast,
spoke appreciatively of the influence exerted by the society in the
fields of industrial lighting and illumination in mines. Mr. H. E.
Blain, well-known for his work in connection with the " Safety
Fii-st " Movement, referred to the importance of good illumination
as an element in safety, both in connection with traffic, and indus-
trially. Among others present mav be mentioned Major-Gen.
Sir Frederick Sykes (Controller of Civil Aviation), Sir William
Lister. Mr. H. Fisher (Presidert of the Ophthalmological Society).
Mr. Joseph Orringo (President of the Electrical Contractors' Associa-
tion), and Alderman George Clark (Chairman of the Society of
British Gas Industries).

Extensions at Stepney.

Stepney Borough Council on Monday adopted the recommendation
of the Finance Committee that application i)e made to the Electricitv
Commissioners to sanction a lean of £300 000 for extensions of
the electricity undertaking, made up as follows :— Sub-station plant
and switchgear, £27 640; e.h.t. transmission cables and switchgear.
£94 543; l.t. feeders and .switchgear. £59 150 ; l.t. distributing
mains and street boxes, £45 000; service lines, £20 000 ; meters,
£7 000; buildings, switch gallery. S:c, £6 000; machinery. £13 505:
contingencies (at 10 per cent.), "£27 162. Application is' also to be
made for £31 650 for additional expenditure incurred over the esti-
mates approved by the Council in 1919 and 1920 for plant at the
Mile End, Limehouse and Whitechapel sub-stations. In regard to
the items for e.h.t. cables and the l.t. feeders and switchgear. the
Commissioners have been allowed to suspend the repayment of capital
for five years.

The Council are supplying the London Hydraulic Power Companv
with electricity for working the motor-driven pumps <at their
premises in Wapping. Payment is to be made at bulk supplv rates,
and the company guarantee an annual minimum pavment of £l 000.
E 2 '

Novel Applications of Electricity.

Nearly each week sees sijme new appl»catios{ or ele'.tuicitt, and
among the m<jst recent uses to wlii^!' • • '■• • .,■.-■■. , .(

new mown grass into hay, and an ar*
ing to reports, a method has been

pre.serving newly-mown grass without drying ii in li.e r.un
jrass is placed on metal sheets in silos of al>oat 400 cnbic ft. cafj.

he top of the .silo is closed by another metal
at the top of and bottom are connected wit

Alternating current at a pressure of from 20C . .

through the grass for several days. It is said that "
kills all the microbes whose presence would cause the dan
decay, and it is claimed that the prfXiess enables the gra^o ".
preserved in its natural state until required, and that it cor.
twice the nutriment of an equnl quantity of hay. It is claim*':
from 130 to 200 kWh are sufficient to treat five ton.s of gra-
the claims made prove to be correct, then farmers will be rem.:-... ,:
independent of the weather for haymaking purposes.

The question of an electrical salmon barrage was dealt with in
a recent issue of the " Pacific Marine Review." It i« said experi-
ments have been made in order to di.scover means of keeping fish
out of the irrigation ditches on the Pacific Coasf. The irrigation
ditch, as at present operated, is a considerable menace to the salmon
fisheries. It is estimated that each year between 3 000 000 and
4 000 000 young salmon pass into these ditches and are left to die
when the water is drawn off. Numerous devices have beeii tried.
Screens, with a fine mesh, placed at the head of the ditches, proved
ineffectual. The drift and waste clogged the meshes, and the
waters carrying the young fish would flow over the top of the
screen and out on to the adjacent ground. Several other means
were tried, but only with partial success. After making experi-
ments, Mr. C. D. Hessey, Garni Commissioner of Yakima County,
in Eastern Washington, worked out an electrical barrier or fish-
stop, which was placed across the head of the irrigation ditch. A
small water-wheel and an electric generator furnish electric current.
Small iron bars, set 4 ft. apart on the front of the device, extend
down into the water. By a system of wiring and a vibrator lo
regulate the current, the water is charged with electricity for a
distance of about 4 ft. from the bars. Fish coming down stream
with the current strike this charged water and immediately whirl
around and, continue on their way instead of going on into the
irrigation ditch. It is claimed that the electric barrage is a success-
ful solution of the problem.

Electricity Supply in Malaya.

Among the developments which have resulted from the transfer
from Siam to Great Britain in 1909, of Kedah. one of the native
States in the Malay Peninsula, is the introduction of electric light-
ing in the town of Alor Star, the capital of the State. The town
is now well lighted, and electricity is also being introduced into
public and private establishments. Many of the natives had never
seen electric lighting before, and others travelled long distances by
boat along the rivers and canals to join till nearly dawn in the
parades in the streets which followed the inaugu.'atioD of the new
illuminant.

The installation was supplied by a British firm, and the material
and machinery came from England. The generating etatio;
steel building, designed on the truss principle, and
a floor space of 4 ?20 sq. ft. The prime movers l . .. .
of four sets of twin-cyiinder Tangle semi-Diesel engines, each set
being capable of driving the generatore to their full rated capacity.
Cooling of the engine cylinders is effet^'ted by pumping water from
the adjacent river through settling and storage tanks. Duplicate
sets of Tangve's electricallv-driven pumps supplv the nee-- -
water. The 'three E.C.C. dynamos, of 60 kW each 600 re^
mill., generate direct current at 230 V. The dynamos are >•:
three-bearing type, with commutating interpoles. The Electric Coti-
struction Company also supplied the switchboard of oiled slate,
moiuited on ai\ iron frame, three generating panels and two •
buting panels. Power is distributed on the overhead syster
main feeders consisting of heavy stranded bare c^"-'- "•■^
on insulators carried on wotxlen cross arms. The i
of tubular steel set in cast-iron bases, and they aro
street light standards.

The strict lamp fittings are of a type specially deigned by the

contractors and were made by the Wardle Y- --- ■■ - *" -

The main streets are lit bv lamps of 200 .

streets by 100 c.p., and in the residential qua.: , ■-

able lightning arresters are provided to ^lard against, the heavy

lightning dischai'ges experienced in a tropical country. Cnrrer' !<

supplied to private houses and Government buildings .. '^

(about 8id.) per unit, and to shop-houses at a flat rate

A large demand has already arisen for power, and it is ._...> .^„...

that it will soon bo necessaiy to install additional plant, lor which

provision is already made in the power-house,

Tho supply of ail the maohinerv- and electrical gear, as
work of installation, were undertaken by Hutteiibach. I.
Sons. Limited, who operate tlie plant and generate ehv.iA:i._'. i-;
distribution to consumers luider licence from tlie Kedah Govern-
ment.

Owing to the meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers
taking place on Wednesday afternix>n. Februarv 22nd, the British
Electrical Development Associ.\tiox have altered the time of
their annual m'ncheon at the Hot**! Cecil, to 1.0 for 1.15 p.m.
instead of 1.30 p.m.

190

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

Le^al Intelligence.

Municipal Omnibus Competition with Tramways.

Pleadings liave been closed in the action brought by the Dundee,
Brought^ Ferry and Dietrict Tramways Company to reetrain Dundee
Corporation from running a motor omnibus service between High-
street, Dundee, and Brouglity Ferry. Prior to the Dundee Boundaries
Act (1913) no part of the company's undertaking was within the city,
but in 1913 the city was extended so as to include Broughty Ferry.
At present the Corporation, Avho own and work a tramway system,
have limited powers to provide and run omnibuses. Last year they
made application for a Provisional Order for {inter alia) powers to
rmi omnibuses on any route within the city without restriction and
also beyond the city. The clauses relating to omnibuses were struck
out of the Order, "but in October last the Sub-Committee of the
Tramways Committee, with a view of testing the amount of traffic on
the route, agreed to run an omnibus service. The company contend
that the service is ultra vires. The route of the omnibus seryices
extends to over four miles, and part of it would be in competition
with the company's tramways, which form a junction with, and act
as an extension "of , the Corporation system. The Corporation is
empowei-ed to purchase the tramway lines at certain specified periods,
upon paying the fair market value of the undertaking as a going
concern." It is contended that the Corporation motor omnibus ser-
vice would seriously depreciate the value of the company's under-
taking and reduce the price payable by the Corporation when they
exercised their power of purchase. The company maintain that the
proposed service cannot be a test service to decide if the Corporation
should apply for powers to construct a tramway along the route.

The Corporation's contention is that the company, as statutory
tramway undertakei's, have no right to complain of the 'bus service,
and that the service is within the statutory powers of the Corpora-
tion. The service is experimental, and is being run solely for testing
the amount of traffic on the route. It is also alleged that the com-
pany do not possess any monopoly under their statutory powers, and
are not entitled, as tramway undertakei's, to object.
The Gasfilled Lamp Patent.

I\lr. Justice Eve, on Friday, granted an injunction to the British
Thomson-Houston Company, restraining the B.T.T. Electric Lamp
and Accessories Company from supplying ^-W lamps (which it wa^
alleged were an infringement of the former's letters patent) until
further order. •

Sir Arthitr Colefax made the application, and this motion, was
opposed by Sir Duncan Kerley on behalf of the B.T.T. Company.

Sir Arthur Colefax explained that the patent was the subject ot
litigation between the present plaintiffs and the Corona Lamp
Works, which subsequently went to the House of Lords. Their
lordship.s' decision had been given in favour of the plaintiffs^ sup-
porting the patent and holding it to be valid, and to have been
infringed. With i-egard to the present action, it seemed to him
that the infringement was, in fact, admitted. What defendants
said was that if certain facts were proved, it would be held that
the patent was invalid. It was not said that the facts could be
proved, although the question raised was merely that of validity,
which had been in question for eight years before being held to be
valid after very protracted litigation. It was also said by present
defendants that the patent had been declared valid on the assump-
tion that the discovery, on which it was bashed, was new, whereas
they say it was not. With regard to that. Sir Arthur pointed out that
he had himself protested against the subject matter of the patent
being regarded upon any such limited basis, and on that their lord-
ships had been in his favour. They had looked at the patent irre-
spective of whether it was new or not. The present defendants
were in an extensive way of business; they had branches in all
parte of the country, and offered Dutch ^-W lamps for sale. Having
referred to their advertisement in the " Electrical Review," counsel
said defendant had made an a-rangement with the Stella Lamp
Woikfi for the latter in future to supply ^-W lamps. He sub-
mitted that such action was lan infringer .it of the patent.

Sir Duncan Kerley, for defendants, observed that the patent hac
been granted as long ago as 1913. These so-called ^-W lamps had
been sold ever since by people other than those who claimed to be
the patentees. It was perfectly obvious that in the circumstancps
a gr-AT^t trade had been built up. which plaintiffs now asked his
lordship to say must be snmmarily stopped without any further
trial. _ "Furthermore, plaintiffs had waited for six weeks after the
decision of the House of Lords before taking anv action against de-
fendants. The advertisements were inserted before the date of the
House of Lords decision, and counsel thought it only right to say
that in those circumstances it was not a case where the matter
should be brought to a point which might be disast-ous to the people
he represented. It was a practice of the court in circumstances such
as these not to ma.ke any order where the validity of the patent was
really going to be contested. In the previous action the whole
argument on subject matter was the alleged discovery made by Dr.
Langmuir, but the defendants had now ascertained that the alleged
discovery had been published before the date of the specification in
question. He had not been able to make use of that fact, in the
arguments of the old ^-W case, but he was now in a position to
submit to the court that it would have made an appreciable differ-
ence in the way the whole matter had been looked at. On those
grounds he contended that no order should be made.

His LoRDSTTip said he had no evidenci- before him that the grant-
ing of an injunction would cause irreparable damage to defendants.
In the absence of such evidence he could not interfere with the ordi-
nary practice of the court in such cases. There would, therefore,
b-.- an injunction granted until further order.

B. T. H. Company v. Corona Lampvt'orks, Limited.

The hearing of this action for an injunction to restrain an alleged
infringement of plaintiffs' patent for " improvements in and relating
to vitreous containers, having sealed in conductors," has been
continued before Mr. Justice Astbury.

Prof. C. Vernon Boys said he had read and considered
plaintiffs' specification and the various documents that were relied
on in defendants' particulars of objection, and he did not find the
two elements in plaintiffs' invention, viz., the feature of proportion-
ing a composite wire so as to get the same coefficient of expansion
as glass, and taking a metal for the outside or coating whose oxide
was soluble in glass at a relatively -low temperature, in any of the
prior documents. At the date of plaintiffs' patent there was no
common kncnvledge which would have led one to proportion a com-
posite wire in the way in which the specification clid.

Dr. Otho Oberlander, consulting chemist, gave the result of
tests he had made with 10 of the alleged infringing lamps, and of
the result of analyses of defendants' wire.

Mr. A. E. GiMiNGHAM, technical director of the Edison Swan
Electric Companv, said that for a long time it was most essential,
in order that they might make a successful seal, that they should
have platinum for a leading-in wire, and platinum or platinum-coated
wire was universally used down to the date of the plaintiffs' patent.

On the 9th inst. Sir A. Colefax, K.C, summed up the case for
plaintiffs, and said it seemed to him that their specification was a
clear and well-drawn document from the standpoint of clearly
stating what the invention was, and he did not think any difficulty
arose on the construction of the documente. It was not important,
however, to notice defendants' particulars of insufficiency in the
case. He supposed at one time the issues would narrow down to
want of subject matter.

Mr. R. Frost (for defendants) said they were not going to rely
on the first three of the particulars of insufficiency.

Sir A. Colefax said in that case defendants were apparently still
to place some reliance on the last particular, which was a very curious
one. " No directions are given as to whether the expansion of
the wire is to be measured in a radial or longitudinal direction."
The short answer was that one did not measure the expansion m
any direction at all. One would construct a wire in accordance with
the specification and its directions.

His Lordship said he supposed what was meant by defendants'
plea was that no directions were given in the specification as to
whether one was to get the equivalent co-efficient by the ordinary
longitudinal test or whether one was' to take it on the crose section.

Sir A. Colefax said he believed his lordship's statement was the
correct one, but the plea of defendants was a bad one. If, as plain-
tiffs said, the lateral expansion was what mattered and not the longi-
tudinal expansion or extension, according to the evidence of Mr.
Swinburne and Prof. Boys, then the first thing to see was whether
or not plaintiffs' patent worked on that basis.

His Lordship said if they were to get into a, maze of ecience
over a simple document like plaintiffs' specification, he did not
know where they were to get to in the end. The specification was
addressed to people who prima facie would be able to put it into
practice, and it told them to take a core and cover of tungsten and
copper, so much of one and so much of the other, so that the average
coefficient of expansion would be about the same as glass. If
they assumed that, what had the longitudinal or lateral expansion
to do with it?

Sir Arthur Colefax next addressed the court on the issue of
infringement, and contended that the lamps (12 in number) sold by
defendants fell within the claim in plaintiffs' specification.

His Lordship said he was not at present troubled with any of
the anticipations, but the thing that did trouble him was the con-
struction of the specification with regard to claim three. Claim one
incorporated the proper coefficient of expansion ; claim two expressly
claimed a coating of copper provided they had got the combination
of claim one, but claim three simply claimed a core of timgsten
and a sleeve of copper, and it did not say that it had to be pro-
portioned as in the patent.

Mr. Frost, who opened the case for defendants, said the
issues were subject matter and infringement. Before that patent
wires of nickel iron core covered with platinum were known and
worked, and he submitted that at the date of the patent defendants
had a perfect right to take that wire and substitute for the platinum
something else which was known to have the property oi getting
the wire to stick.

His Lordship said prior to the patent the common practice was
to make the leading in wire of platinum or something covered with
platinum, and that was for the reason that platinum was a non-
oxidising clear-face metal to which the glass would readily weld,
and they thought it would not weld if they had a surface which
would oxidise. There were certain alternatives to platinum sug-
gested, but there was not a single document in the case which
suggested that one could take off a platinum covering from a com-
posite wire and substitute for it the very thing that platinum was
used to avoid.

^Ir. Frost said the question was whether the inventor in that
case was the first man to place at the disposal of the public the free
and unfettered use of metal whose oxide was soluble as a means
of sticking glass on a composite wire. If he was not, then he could
not have his patent.

The hearing was contiiuied on Tuesday and Wednesday, wlien evi-
dence was given for the defence.

The case had not concluded when we went to press.

February 17, 1922

The Electrician.

197

A New Electro-Plating Outfit.

The TuNGAR Battery Cuarger, which was originally designed for
the charging of accumulators on alternating current, is now being
employed with success for the operation of electro-plating vate. In
the case of the retail jeweller and others who may desire to execute
electro-plating on a small scale, the Tungar is a convenient and
economical device.

Briefly, the Tungar \e, a self-contained apparatus, which, when
connected to the ordinary a.c. lighting circuit, converts the a.c.
into d.c. and transforms it down to a voltage suitable either for
battery charging or electro-plating. I'he conversion to d.c. is
effected by means of a special Tungar bulb, which operates on the
same principle as the valve used in wireless telegraphy. There are
no moving parts in the Tungar, and it does not require oiling.

Several sizes of Tungar are made, ranging from 2 A 7'5 V d.c. to
12 A 7"5 V d.c. For most jewellers, however, the 2 A Tungar is
stated to be quite strong enough. The 2 A Tungar set illustrated is
of the half-wave type. With the set operating at 2 A, and reckoning
4 oz. of silver to a gro.s6 of teaspoons, the operation of plating this
quantity takes approximately four hours. A feature of this method
of plating ie that, due possibly to the pulsating character of the

Flood Lighting at Selfridges.

TuNiiAR Battery Charger connected on the

PRI3IART SIDE TO AN ORDINARY LAMP HOLDER AND
ON THE SECONDARY TO A SMALL ELECTRO-PLATING VAT.

current, the surface of the finished article is, it is claimed, much
more shiny than when plated by the steady current from a battery.

The 2 A Tungar set has also been used with success in gold plating
and gold colouring, or washing, such as is required for the insides
of cups, &c. In washing cups, a small amount of the solution is
poured into the article to be plated. A gold anode is held in the
solution and slightly agitated, and the gold is deposited on the
inside of the article. A small cup was gold-washed by this method
in about a minute. The voltage across the vat ordinarily required
for both gold and silver plating is not more than i V, so that it is
necessary to have a small rheostat connected in series with the set.

Full particulars will be gladly supplied on application to the
makers, the British Thomson-Houston Company.

Quick-Make Switches.

The rapid growth during the last few years of the use of elec-
tricity for industrial purposes, entailing the use of high capacity
switches by non-technical persons, has intensified the demand for
fool-proof switch gear.

One of the mo.st frequent causes of damage, and sometimes break-
down, has been caused by bad contact. The unskilled person, in
switching on, will often slowly " inch " the blades into coitact, or
will leave the switch in circuit when the blades are in slight or half
contact. In either case arcing is liable to be set up, with immediate
damage, and eventual breakdown of the switch.

To avoid this trouble, the Midland Electric Manufacturing
Company have introduced a range of switches which they call the
"Glasgow-Premier" and the "Paragon-Premier," and they claim
that in using these switches the above troubles can never arise.

Immediately tJie operator begins to switch on, the blades " chop
in " to instantaneous full contact, quite independently of any action
on his part, and in switching off the cii'cuit is just as fully and
rapidly broken, so that there is never ait any time danger of arcing
or damage to contacts or blades. The blades cannot remain in any
intermediate position. The quick action in both the make and break
is efi'ected by a powerful and unbreakable coil spring, thus removing
all operating strain from the switch movement and all possibility
of error from the operator. To make assurance doubly sure, the
" follow on " of the handle by the operator effects a positive make
independent of the spring.

The accompanying illustration, taken
section of the new Selfrtdge buildlT"/
W., where a complete system of fl
installed. The flr<odlight8 are of a
by the Oeneral Electric Company, an

,, r

rJ C

nieht, shown
"■"Tiard rtre*'*
^ haa be-
lesign, ma
.liitist of a 50>

the firrt

r ^ , ,1, „

.}.[,

Part of Selfridge's New Building Photogeaphed at Night.

body lined with sectional parabolic reflectors of mirror glass. They
are equipped with 400 \V Osrair- gasfilled projection-tj-pe lamps,
with specially concentrated filaments. The installation was designed
by the illuminating engineering department of the company, and is
the fust example of flood lighting as applied to large London stores.

New D.C. Motor Starter.

VViLLWM Geipel & Company have recently put on the market a
new type of d.c. motor starter which we illustrate herewith. The
case and cover aa-e of st-.^l, and no cast iron whatever is used in its
construction. The no volt and overload coil maijnet frames are of
specially annealed steel, with a consequent minimum of refiiidu.^l
magnetism to cause faulty working of the starter. 'I'he conlatt- t:o
of verv 'heavy section, renewable from the front, and the ci •: >• r

"William Geipkl k Company's Nbw Motor Starter.

shoe is of large area and has « positive spring presisure directly
above the centre of the contact. The resistances arc of t' ■ •'■"'-
well-known patented plate pattern. .\11 l>a«.k cotiiuvtinn-
of copjHir strip machine- formed to stxindard size and ii
throui^hout.

The complete apparatus is ve^-y light and exfcremelv robust, being
piactic<ally unbreakable, and is claimed to be specially suitable for
export.

198

The Electrician*

February 17, 1922

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Imports from Germany, 1921.

Mr. Baldwin stated in reply to IMe. Doyle (House of Commons.
Februai-y 15th, 1922) that the imports from Germany m 1921 of
electrical machinery amounted to 241 tons, valued at £44 996.
Merchandise Marks BUI.

In reply to Mr. G. Terrell (House of Commons, February 13th,
1922), Mr. Baldwin stated that the Government intended to mtro-
duce this Session a Bill based on the recommendations of the Mer-
chandise Marks Committee, but it was not possible yet to have a
date for its introduction.

Effect of Increased Telephone Rates.

In reply to Mr. Percy (House of Commons, Feb. 14, 1922), ]\Ir.
Kellaway' said that since the increased telephone rates were im-
posed, 61 500 telephone subscribers had discontinued, and 55 000 ex-
tensions had been surrendered. More than half of these were due to
normal causes, such as removals, death, or bankruptcy. During
the same period there had been 67 500 new subscribers and 60 000
new extensions.

Wireless Telegraphy.

In reply to Sir H^ Norman (House of Commons, February 13th,
1922), Mr. Kellaway stated that the number of wireless licences
issued to amateurs for experiments in reception was 6,986 and in
transmission 286. The annual revenue derived from the fees was
at present £3 265 and £355 respectively. The annual expenditure
incurred in connection with the issue of the licences and the inspec-
tion of the stations was about £5 200.

Telephone Cabinets : Euston Station.

Replying to Mr. Gillis (House of Commons, February 13th, 1922).
who called attention to the fact that the Post Office telephone ser-
vice from Euston Station call-box is 4d., Mr. Kellaway stated
that the telephone cabinets at the station were the property of the
railway company, and the calls were dealt with by the operators
at the company's private exchange. The Post Office was not in a
position to prevent a railway company or other subscriber from
charging more than the Post Office call office fee for the privilege
of using the subscriber's telephone installations.

Safeguarding of Industries Act.

In the House of Commons on Tuesday, Capt. Wedgwood Benn
presented a Bill to repeal the Safeguarding of Industries Act of
1921. He contended that the Act had done nothing to build up
British trade. It had raised prices, diminished employment, created
great irritation with France, and impeded the work of European
reconstruction.

Sir Richard Cooper contended it was unfair to repeal the Act
until it had had a fair chance of getting into operation.

On a division, the motion to introduce the Bill was rejected bv
170 votes to 92.

Omnibus and Tramcar Traffic.

Major Glyn asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry
of Transport (House of Commons, February 13t'ti, 1922) yvhether,
in the opinion of the expert advisers to that Ministry, motor-omnibus
traffic was preferable to tramcar traffic in all congested cities and
areas ; and whether the overhead trolley system had any consider-
able merit in comparison with the slot system ?

In reply Mr. Neal said the first part of the question could not
be answered without reference to local circumstances ; as regards
the latter part, if by " slot system " was meant the conduit system
of electric traction, the overhead system was, he understood, the
cheaper in respect of cost of installation and maintenance.

North Metropolitan Electric Supply Company.

Mr. G. Loc'ker-Lami'son asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the
Ministry of Transport (House of Commons, February 13th, 1922),
whether they had made a permanent Or^ "r, which could not be
revised for five years, increasing the maximum price of electricity
to be charged by the North Metropolitan pjlectric Power Supply
Company in Southgate to 8d. per unit without holding any public
inquiry, although the temporary Order had another eighteen months
to run, and in spite of the fact that since the temporary Order was
made wages and prices had fallen and were still falling, the benefit
of which the public might reasonably be expected to share.

Mr. Neal : The Minister of Transport, on the application of the
company mentioned, and after considering the representations made
against the application by Southgate Urban Council and the County
Council of Middlesex has made an Order fixing tlie maximum price
at 8d. per unit. This price is the same as that .-authorised by the
temporary Order which would have expired in A.igust, 1923. In
the c'rcumstaiices, it was not considered necessary to put either the
company, the local authorities, or the Department to the expense
of a public inquiry. The opportunity for revision of the maximum
price will occur in five years' time, or in three years if a Bill
similar to that inti'oducod last session is passed into law.

Private Bills.

The following Bills passed their fir-st readini; in the House of
Commons on Feb. 10 : — Birmingham Corporation Bill. Bristol
Corpoi'ation Bill, Bristol Tramways Bill, IMetropolitaii Railway Bill,
Neath Corporation Bill. Nottingham.siui<- and Deibyshire Tramways
Bill. St. Marylebone Borough Council (SuperaniiuaticMi) Bill, Siiore-
ditch and other Metropolit-an Borough Councils (Su})era.nnuati(>n)
Bill, Swansea Corporation Bill, Worthing Corporation Bill, London

County Council (Tramways, Trolley Vehicles, and Improvements)
Bill.

The Chairman of Ways and Means of the House of Commons and
the Chairman of Committees of the House of Lords have decided
that the following Bills, which have been certified as having com-
plied with the Standing Orders, shall originate in the House of
Lords : — Black Country Tramways and Light Railways, Bolton
Corporation, Doncaster Corporation, Kingston-upon-HuU Corpora-
tion, London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, North Metro-
politan Electric Power Supply, South Wales Electrical Power Distri-
bution Company, Yoi-kshire Electric Power.

In the case of the Blackburn Corporation Bill, the Standing
Orders have not been complied with.

It is to be regretted that the directors of the London, Brighton
& South Coast Railway Company have found it necessary to drop
their Bill for further financial powers, as it will mean a postpone-
ment of their big scheme for the further electrification of their main
line to the south coast. It is understood, however, that arrange-
ments are being made in other directions with a view to settling the
financial question, and there is very little doubt that the further
electrification scheme will be proceeded with in the not distant
future. The postponement will not affect in any way the contract
which the General Electric Company has secured for the electrifica-
tion of part of the Brighton line. The contract is for the provision
of the whole of the electrical equipment for twelve additional motor
coaches, each of 1 000 h.p., to enable the section of the line from
Balham through Thornton Heath to Selhurst and West Croydon to
be operated electrically.

I.E.E. Commemoration.

It is announced that the following speakers will contribute to the
discussion at the three sessions which are to be devoted to " Remini-
scences and Experiences in Electrical Engineering," at the
Institution of Electrical Engineers' Commemoration Meeting next
week.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 3.30 p.m.. Col. R. E. Crompton will
open the meeting, and will be followed by IMr. S. Evershed, ilr. E.
Garcke, Mr. W. Judd, Dr. G. Kapp, Sir Alexander Kennedy, Sir
Oliver Lodge, and Lord Parmoor.

On Thursday, Feb. 23, at 3.30 p.m., the meeting will be opened
by Sir Charles Parsons, who will be followed by Mr. Frank Bailey,
Sir T. 0. Callender, Dr. S. Z. de Ferranti, Mr. J. H. Holmes, Mr.
W. H. Patchell, and Mr. J. Swinburne. At the evening meeting on
that day Mr. J. E. Kingsbury will open, and will be followed by
Mr. Llewelyn Atkinson, Mr. B. M. Drake, Sir William Noble, Mr.
G. W. Partridge, Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton, Mr. A .H. Wharton,
Mr. C. H. Wordingham, and A.Wright.

The remarks of the above speakers and written contributions from
Mr. Baldwin, Mr. G. Balfour, Sir Charles Bright, Mr. R. A.
Chattock, Mr. H. Edmunds, Sir K. Elphinstone, Mr. W. B. Esson,
Sir R. T. Glazebrook, Mr. F. E. Gripper, Mr. H. Hirst, Sir J.
Kemnal, Mr. Faraday Proctor, ]\Ir, A. Siemens, Mr. C. B. Sparks
and Mr. J. C. Vaudrey will be published in a special Commemoration
Number of the "Journal."

A Devon Electricity Scheme.

An agreement has been reached between Torquay and Newton
Abbot Councils in regard to electricity supply, and the Torquay
Town Council have decided to proceed with the scheme and to
acquire the power station at Newton. The Dart scheme has been
definitely rejected. Mr. H. F. G. Woods, the Torquay electrical
engineer, explains that the undertaking of the company at present
supplying Newton Abbot (the Lrban Electric Supply Company) will
be purchased, and it is proposed to supply Newton, Torquay, and
the intervening rural areas with electricity. The plant at the
Beacon Quay generating station will be removed to Newton Abbot
and further plant purchased. High ten&ion transmission linee will
be carried, partly underground and pai'tly overhead, from Newton
to Torquay, terminating in a new sub-station in Lymington-road.
The estimated capital expenditure is £143 177 (from which £5 000
may be deducted as the scrap value of the Torquay plant), including
£96 277, cost of re-equipment and extension of the power station.
£2 500 for transmission lines, and £6 000 for a new main sub-
station. The total annual working costs are estimated at £54 150,
or an average of 39d. per unit for a sale of 3 350 000 units. Taking
4'2d. as the price per unit sold in Torquay and Newton Abbot,
although at present it is considerably more, the luidertaking would
sliow a credit balance of £4 475 for the year's working. Steps are
to be taken to obtain powers to carry out the scheme.

Trolley Omnibuses in Canada.

Six trolley omnibuses are being used by the Toronto Transporta-
tion Commission on suburban routes for experimental purposes.
The view is held that they are more economical than petrol 'buses
where there is an increasing, but not sufficiently dense, traffic for
tramwa.vs. One of the vehicles has been built by the St. Louis Car
Company, and the electrical equipment is by the Westinghoiu.e
Company. The body is built directly on to the chassi.* frame : the
wheel-base is 16 ft. 2 in., and the overall length of the 'bus is 26 ft.
The driver is located at the front on the left-hand side, and the
entrance and exit door is directly at his right. Foot-operated hand
brakes are provided on all four wheels, and a separate pair of hand-
operated emergency hand-brakes are supplied on the rear wheels.
There are two 25 h.p. motors, and the series parallel control apparatus
is underneath the hood. The control is operated by means of a foot
pedal, pivoted at a point under the centre of the foot, so that a sligiht
rocking motion backwards and forwards controls the various steps.

February I'j, 1922

The Electrician.

109

Electricity Supply.

A Methodist chapel in Giafton-ro.id, Keritieh Town, is Wing
converted by the St. P^rtJC-RAS Bf)rougli Couucil into a sub-fctation.

Lincoln City Council have decided on many salary reductions as
from March 1, including a 5 per cent, reduction of the remuneration
of Mr. S. Clegg, the city electrical engineer.

The Minister of Transport has extended for one year from July 31,
1921, the periods allowed by the Rickmansworth and Chokley
Wood Electric Lighting Order, 1914, for laying maine.

Acting on the advice of the Electricity Committee and the Ministi-y
of Transport, Cardiff Parliamentary Committee has decided to
withdraw ite opposition to the St. Mellon '« Electricity Order.

In submitting the report of the Electricity Committee to the
Stafford Town Council on Monday, Councillor Meade stated that
the department was now within 5^ per cent, of the maximum output.

Watford Urban Council and Herts County Council will both
oppose the Order of the Electricity Commissioners placing a con-
siderable part of the county in the London and Home Counties dis-
trict.

Soxrrm'ORT Town Council has instructed the Borough Electrical
Engineer (Mr. E. Moxon) to prepare a report on the electricity
undertaking, particularly in regard to the generating plant, and to
state what alterations, if any, are required to obviate the constantly
recurring breakdowns in the supply.

The Long Eaton electricity undertaking appears to be in need
of reorganisation, if the statem.ents made by the chairman of the Elec-
ticity Committee (Mr. J. Pegg) are accurately reported. Mr. Pegg
alleged that the new Babcock boiler is not required, that many meters
have not been registering the consumption of electricity, that no
tools are available, and that the works are in a shabby condition. It
has been decided to appoint a capable male clerk to assist in cost-
ing, &c., and a' fitter to maintain the works in a more efficient con-
dition, and to provide necessary tools.

The. London County Council have authorised the substitution of
gasfilled lamps for inverted arc lamps at the L.C.C. Central
School of Arts and Crafts and the London Day Training College.
No material saving in the consumption of energy is anticipated
a& a result of the change, but tnere will be a great saving in
labour, as, apart from the necessity for the occasional attendance of
electricians, the trimming of the existing arc lamps occupies from
one hour a day in the spring to four hours a day during the winter
months. The estimated cost of carrying out the work is £410.

It was reported at a meeting of Cardiff City Council, on Monday,
that the number of applications received from proposed consumers
of electricity were so numerous that many had been refused, because
the generating plant was insufficient. The Electric Lighting Com-
mittee recommended that £59 300 be spent on extensions to boiler-
house plant at Roath station, including the installation of three
new water-tube boilers with mechanical stokers, economisers. coal
handling plant, &c. Mr. Morley New, the City Electrical Engineer,
said that the grooosed expenditure was based on the normal increase
of output of electrical energy, and explained that the present plant
was inadequate to meet the increase of output, and was partly
obsolete. The pppHcations received in the quarter ending December
was 20 per cent, more than for the corresponding quarter for the
previous year, and he consFdered that it was desirable to get on with
the work during the summer months. The recommendation was
then adopted.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Aldersiiot Urban Council has received sanction. to borrow £6 857
for electricity purposes.

Maidenhead Town Council propose to install a 200 kW semi-
Diesel engine at the electricity works.

AsicFORD (Kent) Chamber of Commerce has petitioned the Urban
Council to establish electricity works in the town at the earliest
possible moment.

Lirri.EHAMPTON Urban Council have decided to sign the agree-
ment with the Sussex Electricity Company for the supply of electri-
city to the town.

The North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Company have
informed WAkE Urban Council that they propose to erect overhead
cables for the supply of electricity to the town.

DuNLEARY (better known as Kingstown) Urban Council has ap-
pointed J. P. Tierney and Company, their consulting engineers in
connection with the new electrical scheme for that town.

Tlie electricity scheme for Coleraine should soon take definite
shape as the Irish Society is giving the use of the water power at
the famous " Salmon Leap " on the Lower Bann for generating
electrical energy.

With a view to extending the electric light to the smaller houses,
Eastbourne Corporation have approved a scheme for wiring and
fitting such premises on a rental basis. An experiment will first be
made with fifty cottages.

The Electricity Commissioners have informed Boston Riu'al
Council that March next has been fixed as the date for the com-
mencement of the Provisional Order of 1915, which has been held
up on account of the war

Crompton & Company have entered into an agreement for supply-
ing electricity to Bidefoid, Northam, and Westward Ho! and into a
provisional agreement to supply Torrington. The estimated charges

will bo lOd. [>er unit for lighting, and o<l. for power. It i« prr'po^ed
to use overhead mains.

Triko Town Council have ' ^ - ; ^, ^y^^ j.-', - ■ '"ommie-
sioners an ele<;tricity hupj>Iy - ■iHTf-.d by I • and an

amended offer from the Corn v i- .': Power L . . > tupply
electricity in bulk. A canvass oi Vhe district is to be made to aecer-
tain the probable demand.

Reporting U> St. Annes Council on the e.xteiuiions of mains in the
Lytham area, Mr. J. H. Clothier, electrical engineer, stated that
7 000 ya-ds of cable had been laid up to January 30th, and another
2 000 would shortly be ompleterl. One hundred and twenty-five
new applications for supply had been received.

Monmouth Corp^nation have applied to Hereford Electricity
Committee for a supply of electricity in bulk on terms to be agreed.
The chief electrical engineer of Hereford (Mr. W. T. Kerr) haa been
authorised U> act in an advisory capacity in connection with the
erection of the necessary transmission line and switchgear.

The North Metrrajolitan Electric Power Supply Company have
asked Luton Town Council for a supply of electricity in bulk for a
period of twentv-one years from Oct. 1 ne.xt. The company offer to
pay a fixe<l capital and standing charge of 15s. per quarter per kW
of the maximum demand, a charge per unit equal to the actual cost
of fuel used per unit' generated throughout the quarter, plus 25 per
cent. The capiUil outlay for additional plant needed to provide the
supply will be £12 000.

At the monthly meeting of Dover Electricity Committee last
week it was suggested in a report by the engineer that bomethin^
might be done in the way of co-operation between Dover, Deal and
Folkestone in connection with the supply of electricitv that might
solve the financial problem with which Dover was faced. The
electricity supply powers of the Deal Gas Company will lap^^e in three
months' time, and the engineer at Dover (Mr. R. C. Harper) has
been instructed to see the engineer of the Deal Gas Company, and
report.

WiGAN Corporation has decided to carry out a scheme of electricity
plant extensions in two stages. A 5 000 kWgenerating set is re-
quired at once, which will cost about £50 000. The set will be
available in December next, when the load on the station will be
about 9 000 kW. There are, however, a number of large firm.*
awaiting supply, but the full scheme which the committee have in
view will have to be examined by the expert engineers of the South-
East Lancashire District Electricity Committee. It is anticipated
that the Bradford-place station will be developed to its fullest capa-
city, and a new super-power station erected.

Alteration of Charges.

Pending a complete revision of electricity charges at M.vlvern, the
Urban Coiuicil has decided to charge consumers of 5 000 units or over
per annum for lighting purposes at Id. less than the price charged to
ordinary consumers, but no discount will be allowed.

Newcastle (Staffs) Electricity Committee recommend that as
from the March meter readings the price of electricity for lighting
be reduced from 66| per cent, to 50 per cent, above pre-war prices.
If in May the Committee find themselves in a better position they
will make a further reduction.

The following reductions have been made in the prices of electricity
in Dudley : — Lighting (including street lighting) from 80 per cent, to
60 per cent, over pre-war prices as from Jan. 1, and power over 600
units per quarter from 80 ner cent, to 60 per cent, from March 31
next. No further reductions are to be pressed for at least six months.
A reduced minimum charge of 10s. 6d. per quarter for each of the
two summer quarters and the present minimum charge of 15s. 4d.
for the two winter quarters has also been agreed upon.

DoNCASTER Town Council have reduced the charges per unit for
electricitv from Jan. 1 as follows -.—Private lighting, trom 7Jd. to
7d. ; theatres and cinemas, from 5id. to ^d. ; churches, chapel.= . &c..
from 6^d. to 5id. : special rates, from S^d. to 4|d.-: for a consumption
per quarter not exceeding 200 units per kW demanded, from 3d.
to 23d. Above 200 units per quarter, 23d. to 2^A. : 250 units. 2jd. to
2^d. : 300 units. 2id. to 2d. ; 400 units, 2d. to Ifd. : 500 units. Ijd. to
l^d. ; 600 units, l|d. to l|d. ; and above 700 units, l^d. to Ijd. ;
tramways, 2 Id. to l|d.

of
•n ,
lul

G.E.C. Labour-Saving Devices.

The General Electric Company gave sfxxial
labour-saving devices at their showrooms at K
last week. The efticiencv of the wide range of < ... -^ ...
other t<x>ls made bv the companv was well demonstrated, and oth-c
specialities shown were the " Time-Savet " electric washer Uil«-ing
irons which swit<-h off the current when replaced upon the hot plate.
" Mao-net " sealing wax heaters, cooper electric urns, hot-water
radiators with immersion heater.-^, explosii^i-pr^x^f minmg telephone
set?, the •• Kingsway No. 2" miners' safetv lamp, and the
" Witton " fractional hoi-se-power motors, from 0 02 U-» 05 h.p.

Apart frmn the nioving-p.-vrt labour-saving appliances, there were
sho\\ni " davlight " ga.«ifilied lamps with blue bulbs, which are «x<>el-
lent for colour matching, and have been supplied in considerable
numbers to Selfridtje'e and ether stores for the purpose, and abo
the companv's well-knowni fli^-id-lighting lamps.

In addition to the above- mentioneii exhibits, there weie splendid
displays of alabaster and other lighting fittings, silk shades,
heaters, &c.

200

The Electrician

February 17, 1922

Electric Traction.

For the nine months ended Jan. 5, Reading Corporation tramways
receipte showed a decrease of nearly £3 500 compared with the same
period last yeai'.

Penny fares for short distances are to be reintroduced on the
Burton-on-Trent tramcars for an experimental period of . three
months, commencing on April 1.

AccRiNGTON tramway receipts for the year ending January
showed a decrease of £5 700, but a saving of £7 600 on the perma-
nent way repairs and wages, left a credit balance of £1 900,

At the meeting of the London County Council, on Tuesday, Mr.
W. J. Squires, Chairman of the Highways Committee, said that
from Dec. 31. when penny fares were reintroduced on the tramways,
the average loss of revenue worked out at £10 000 a week.

On the recommendation of the Electricity and Tramways Com-
mit t^ee, Cardiff City Council have decided not to proceed with any
tramways extensions at present. The Tramways Committee has
appointed a sub-committee to consider tramway extensions in every
part of the city.

At a dinner attended by members of the House of Commons on
INIonday evening, the question of the electrification of railways
in the London area was considered, and it was decided to hold a
meeting of the Industrial Group of the House'on Monday next 1o
give further consideration to the matter.

With the announcement of a large reduction in the price of elec-
tricity for all purposes at Salford it was hoped that a reduction
in trajn fares would follow, but at the last meeting of the Council,
the Tramways Committee stated that this would still be impossible
as the receipts were down by £1 200 a week as compared with the
same period last j^ear.

The Joint Industrial Council for the tramways industry, which
should have met in London last Thursday to discuss the report of a
special committee appointed to consider the revision of the national
agreement of INIarch, 1919, has been postponed until this week. The
normal working week of forty-eight hours is to be retained, but the
companies seek other modifications, and particulai'ly an examination
of the guaranteed week clause, which, they declare, has been found
in practice to be unworkable.

A series of accidents, brought about by an electric car getting out
of control on an incline, occurred in High-street, Glasgow last
week. The car, which was being driven southward, failed to answer
to the brakes when at Rottenrow and rushed down the incline to
Duke-street. At that crossing it collided with a railway lorry, and
though the front of the car was wrecked and the driver was thrown
off, it continued down High-street. When near Glasgow Cross it
collided with a heavy motor van.

It is reported that the trial trips on the 55-km. stretch, Bellinzona-
Chiaeso, of the Gotthard line, have been satisfactory, and the line
is to be opened for public traffic. The section Bellinzona-Chiasso,
which formerly took 72 minutes to run, will in future only take
59 to 60 minutes. The section Giubasco-al-Sasso will be opened as a
double line probably in September next, the "Railway Gazette"
states, as soon as the necessary bridges have been widened. The
line Lugano-Taverne is to be doubled.

Seventeen persons were injured in a tramway accident at Roch-
dale last Thursday. A Corporation tramcar, rimning from Facit to
Rochdale, had reached John-street, where there is a steep gradient
of 1 in 14, and when half-way down the descent the brakes failed.
The driver applied the magnetic brake, but this also failed. At the
foot of the hill the car left the rails, mounted the pavement,
crashed into a store, and then overturned.

INLr. F. H. Rudd, the borough electrical engineer, who was among
the passengers, received injuries to his head, and was unconscious
when taken to the infirmary, but happily he soon recovered.

Exhibition Notes.

The Design and Indu.stries Associati' •- is holding an exhibition
of LABOUR-SAVING APPLIANCES at 6, Queen-square, Bloomsbury. The
exhibition, which is entitled " Deliverance from Drudgery," will
remain open for a month.

The promoters of the British Empire Exhibition have decided
to postpone the exhibition at Wembley Park from the year 1923 to
1924. The decision was come to on account of representations made
by India on the short time available to prepare their exhibits. The
Dominion Governments were consulted and all have approved of
the postponement.

Following upon representations made by the Society of Motor
Manufacturers & Tradei-s, the proprietors of Olympia have made
arrangements for the construction of a new ilux on similar lines
to the existing one, with which it is to be connected, the entrance
being in the Hammersmith main road. When the enlargement is
completed, the available floor area will be over 300 000 sq. ft. The
intention is to complete the enlargement, if possible, in time for the
shows to be held this autumn.

An International Technical Exhibition of Engineering will be
held at Liege diu'ing June ajid July under the organisation of the
Association des Ingenieurs de I'Ecole de Liege. It is understood
that French engineering interests will be well represented, and a
certain amount of American participation is anticipated. The
exhibits will include machines and machinery equipment, instru-
ments, models, books, plans, diagrams, and all documents relating to
engineering. Applications for space should be addressed to the
Secretary, 16, Quai des Etats-Unis, Liege, before the end of March.

Personal and Appointments.

Mr. T. A. Edisox celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday Last
Saturday.

Captain R. J. Wallis-Jones O.B.E. , T.D., was present at a
Levee held by the King at St. James' Palace last week.

Swindon To\\ti Council has appointed Mr. Nicklin as electrical
and mechanical engineer at a commencing salary of £500 per
annum.

Mr. H. Cardwell Day has been appointed borough electrical
engineer and tramways manager to the Heywood Corporation at i
salary of £400 a year.

Mr. Lincoln Chandler has resigned his position as managing
director of the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon and Finance Com-
pany, and his seat on the directorate.

Capt. H. Hooper has been appointed honorary secretary of the
South Midland Centre of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, in
succession to Mr. J. D. Morgan, who is relinquishing the post after
ten years' service.

The Leyton tramways now form part of the L.C.C. system, and
Mr. J. Duncan, Leyton traffic superintendent, and Mr. E. J. Ham-
mett, Leyton car-shed superintendent, now become L.C.C. district
traffic superintendent and car inspector respectively.

The public subscription initiated by the " Echo de Paris " in
order to make a presentation to Prof. Branly has now been closed.
The total sum, which amounted to 218 253 francs (£4 385), is to be
applied by the distinguished scientist for research work.

Mr. W. T. Upton, electrical engineer, of George-street, Oxford,
has been elected to the committee of the Oxford branch of the
National Citizens' Union. At the annual meeting of the Oxford-
shire Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons Mr. Upton was deco- -
rated by Lord Valentia.

Mr. J. M. Calder, general manager of Reading Corporation Tram-
ways, has been appointed to represent the tramway undertakings m
the east, south-east, and part of the south coast areas on the special
consultative committee established by the Municipal Tramways
Association to consider the question of revising the agreement of
March, 1919, for regulating and controlling the working conditions
of tramways.

The position of Mr. J. M. McElroy, general manager of the Man-
chester tramways, in relation to his continued ill-health was con-
sidered by a sub-committee of the Tramways Committee on Tuesday-
Nothing was decided, but it is probable that the sub-committee will
again have the matter before it. In the event of Mr. McElroy 's
resignation from the position of general manager, it has been sug-
gested that it would be to the interest of the tramway undertaking
that his services should be retained in an advisory capacity.

Business Items, &c.

Smith, Roberts & Company have started business as electrical
engineers at Horsmoriden (Kent).

HiGGS Brothers announce that they will shortly open a branch at
84, Albion -street, Leeds, to deal wath all their sales in Yorkshire.

The London Factors & Agents, Ltd., 39, Parliament-street,
London, S.W. 1, announce that their registered cable address is
" Lonfacgent, London," and for inland telegrams, " Lonfacgent,
Pari."

The Westinghouse Electric Internationai. Company annomices
the removal of its office in Cuba from Edificio Banco del C-anada to
Edificio Banco Nacional de Cuba at Havana. Mr. J. W. White is
the manager of this office.

The Midland Counties District Office of Ferguson, Pailin, Ltd.,
has been removed from Guildhall Buildings, Navigation-street, Bir-
mingham, to Daimler House, Paradise-street, Birmingham. The
new telephone number is " Midland 2 594."

Edward Holme & Company have removed their electrical depart-
ment and offices from Moss-lane, Altrincham, to Hartington-road,
Broadheath, Altrincham, and have erected an extension to their die
casting foundry at Broadheath which will enable them to concentraie
the whole of tlieir manufactures imder one roof. The new telephone
number is " Altrincham 776."

An interesting inexhaustible pocket torch has recently been placed
on the market by the Leverlite Lajips Cosipany. Current is
generated by a small six-pole alternator, the permanent magnet of
which is rotated by hand-power through a train of wheels. Tlio
generator supplies energy at 3'5 volts, and a good light is obtained
by even a sligiit pressure on the lever. The chassis carrying the
movement is separate from the pressed aluminium case of the lamp.

As the result of research work carried out by Mi\ H. H. Ashdown
and others at their Openshaw works, Armstrong. Whitworth & Com-
pany liave produced a steel, known as " Vibrac," which is claimed to
have the property of never tempering brittle and of being absolutely
reliable and consistent in its behaviour under any normal treatment.
In addition to responding satisfactorily to even higher mechanical
requirements, particularly in respect to elastic limit, than thofio
obtained from nickel chrome steels, " Y'ibrac " may, subject to any
normal treatment, after tempering, be either furnace cooled or cooled
in air, thus cutting out all risks of distortion, and yet give higlier
impact values than nickel chrome steel treated under the most
favourable condition^

February 17, 1922

The Electrician.

201

Institution Notes.

Arrangenients are being made by the iNSTinrriON of Electkical
Es'iJiNEEUs for the erection of a i>erinaiient aerial on the vooi of the
Iiifalitution building.

The first World Power ConKlrence, which is being promoted by
the British Electrical & Allied Manufacturers' Association in co-
operation with other associations, will meet in London at the British
Empire Exhibition in 1924. Mr. D. N. Dunlop, director of the
B.E.A.M.A., 36, Kingsway, London, W.C., is the organising
director.

Ml'. T. Britten, of Crompton & Company, presided at a meeting of
the Chelmsford Engineering Society on Feb. 2, when Mr. H. G.
Allen, managing direct^jr of Queen's Engineering Works, Bedford,
read a Papertm " The Design and Operation of Condensing Plants."
An interesting series of lantern slides was shown, and a long discus-
sion followed the lecture.

The first National Committee for India of the International
Electro-Technical Commission consists of Mr. A. 0. Coubrough,
Mr. A. Cochran, and Mr. C. D. M. Hindley, all of Calcutta. It is
anticipated that there will be developments in the near future
justifying the formation of a committee that can correspond with the
Commission on electrical matters of interest to India. In future
the newly-constituted Institution of Engineers (India) will make the
appointments to the newly-formed committee.

Sir Charles Bright represented the Institution o*' Electrical
Engineers at the recent Air Conference, moving a resolution to the
following effect : — That (1) for the purpose of economy, the Navy,
Army and Air Force be absorbed under a Ministry of Defence, and
(2) that civil aviation — aerial transport in particular— be dealt with
by the Ministry of Transport or some other Civil Department. The
necessary notice not having been given, this resolution could not be
put to the meeting in the usual way. It, however, preceded the
publication of the Geddes Economy Report.

A large number of members of the Instittjtion of Post Office
Electrical Engineers were present at the meeting of the Institution
held at the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy-place, last
week, when a series of films were shown illustrating telephone inven-
tions of to-day and other electrical apparatus in operation. Pictures
were shown of the first Bell telephone in 1875, the first telephone
switchboard for five subscribers in 1877, a present-day switchboard
for 10 000 subscribers, and the assembling of the parts (no fewer
than 205) which go to make an ordinary house telephone.

At a general meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers
on the 8th inst. , a large audience listened to a paper on " Engine
Lubrication " by Mr. E. L. Bass, a gi-aduate of the Institution.
The Paper, which was awarded the Daimler Premium for the
1920/21 session, was followed by an excellent discussion. Lieut. -Col.
D. J. Smith, has unanimously been elected president of the
Institution for the ensuing session, and Messrs. H. G. Bxrrford and
L. H. Honnsfield have been elected to fill the vacancies in the list of
vice-presidents. According to present arrangements, the following
(among other) Papers will be read during the next session : — " Rail-
less Trolley Traction," " The Electric Vehicle compared with the
I.C.E. Vehicle from the Builders' Point of View," the same from the
Users' Point of View, " Ignition," " The Present Position of the
Diesel Engine in Relation to the Automobile," " Dynamometers," &c.

A Paper was read at the Birmingham and District Electric
Club last Saturday by Mr. G. C. A. McDonald (member), on " Illu-
mination from the" Users' Point of View." The lecturer stated that
observation of private houses, offices, works, and shop windows
showed what a vast and practically untilled field there was for elec-
trical engineers who would specialise in scientific illumination. Many
well-known firms had spent large sums in investigation, in the pro-
duction of scientifically designed fittings, and in the education of
the public, but so far as he could see the effect had been small,
largely owing to the indifference of electrical engineers, contractors
and fittings manufacturers. Mr. McDonald gave a deta,iled account
of recent investigation of the known laws dealing with the use cf
light reflectore. He emphasised the correct diagnosis of the quantity
and quality of light required for each specific purpose, and gave the
methods upon which sound lighting schemes could be devised. He
dealt at some length with the rival claims of direct, indirect, and
semi-indirect forms of lighting, giving relative efficiencies and values
for special purposes of each system, his personal view being that
for most purposes the indirect system was the best. The lecture was
illustrated with lantern slides, diagrams, and mathematical formulae.

Obituary.

The death is announced of Mu. James Liversey Dyson, Chief
Engineer of the Rangoon Tramway service since 1905, who carried
out the conversion from steam to electric power.

We regret to record the death of Mr. T. W. Clakk, late Chief
Electrician of the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Com-
pany, which took' place at Worthing, "Sussex, on Jan. 19, after a
short illness.

The death took place on Siuiday, in his 77th vear, of Mr. Gavin
Alexander Cuthbertson, who for more than ^ yeais was York-
shire District Manager for the Pulsometer Engineering Company, of
Reading.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

Trim Li ban Council have applied to !.'.•• 1' /slmx-.t.^ G«j«ral for
a lele|>hone service in the U>wn.

As the res ilb of the economic agreement between Italy ant
Russia, telegraphic and wireleus communications are to be restuned
this week.

In preparation for the Genoa Contebenci the Italian Governm":.:
last week tested a direct telephone between Brooeek and Genoa. Th».-
conversations were stated to be quite clear.

The Directfir-General's report of the workingB of the Ixdiax
Posts and Telegraphs for the year ended March 31 Ia«t states that
telephone exchanges and connections numbered 255 and 10 703
respectively.

A Renter's meseage from Reval states that the Great Northern
Telegraph Company \b engaged in restoring its Cofexhagen-
Petrograd-Peking line. Owing to cable defects between Petrr^
grad and Copenhjigen communication has been provisionally eetab-
fished by way of Finland and Sweden. The Petrograd-Peking line
has been restored as far as Irkutsk.

It is announced that ae soon as possible after the conclusion of the
debate on the Address, steps are to be taken to 6tt up again the
Select Committee on the management and future of the Post Omcz
Telephones, over which the Right Hon. Sir Evelyn Cecil
presided. It will be remembered that Sir EvHyn 'and his
expert assessor (Mr. W. W. Cook) conducted perso' " -,

into the telephone systems of the Scandinavian cou

Cook visited Canada and the United States. Sir L.^. c..= ^.kh

engaged for some time in preparing a draft report.

In Italian commercial circles there is a movement in favoar of
direct submarine telegraph communication with South America,
and a project has been put foi-ward by an Italian company for a
cable from Italy to South America, touching the Spanish ooaet
en route. The Barcelona Chamber of Commerce recently asked th
Spanish Minister of State whether it could be arranged that the
cable should be laid so as to afford direct communication between
Ban"celona and South America, but the Minister replied that 'he
company's plans did not permit of the adoption of tnis .sug^-'
The Italian company will obtain financial support from its _■
ment, and the projected cable will start from Fiuminca, at trie
mouth of the Tiber, and connect Malaga, Gape Verde. Fernando
da Noronha, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, and Buen^- Air.^-

Wireless Notes,

A wireless service between Stockholm and Petrograd was inaugu-
rated on Saturday.

It is reported that the Marconi Company in London is in negotia-
tion with the Danish authorities concerning the establishment of a
wireless telephone service between London and Copenhagen.
Experiments are shortly to be carried out.

Mr. Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, is to preside over a
ference at Washington this week to discuss plans for the f .

Governmental control of the wireless telegrai-ii " —

It is complained, the '" Daily Telegraph " correspoi
the amateur and commercial Ui>e of wireless has dev^ ^
extent that the " air is full of chatter," and ether trathv.
and possible ether policemen, will be required to :• ,
situation.

The first of a series of reguuur wireless telephone tr.\nsmission.*
FOR the benefit of English wireless .\mateurs took place on Tu. '
evening. The Marconi Scientific Instrument Companv prep i
fifteen-minute musical programme for tlie occasion. The firs'. ■-
phonic item was radiated from the Marconi station at Writtlt. at
7.35 p.m. (Greenwich), on a wave length of 700 metres. This wa.-
preceded by a series of telegraphic signals for calibration purpo^ee•
on 1 000 metres. The power employed for telephony is limited to
250 \V. in accordance with the terms of the Post Office licence.

Imperial Notes.

The formal opening of the new electricity supply station at
Kroonstad (Orange Iree St.\te) recentiv took place. The cost of
the plant and equipment was about £60 OOO. The a;m'.i.il output h.x?
grown from 75 000 units in 1905 to over 1 000 000 I'liis last ye>i:

It is stated that the Ai:strvll\n Governmlni has deciii
R.usE the embargo on the importation of goods from ox
countries on Aug. 1 next, when a Tariff Board will be
to determine theduties to be imposed on goods coming frc
having a depreciated currency, and on goods likely to Iv iiunip- ■■
to the disadvantage of local traders.

There is distinct evidence of an incre.\se in the EXivBT Dr>'<v"
for ELECTRic.u, suri'LiES, especially hydro-electric and ti ,.
purposes. It is satisfactory to see that the New Zealand Gc •
ment have decided to admit electrical machinery for new mdi;-
gold recovery. &c., free of duty, provided it is of British ma:
ture. and as there is a 10 {hh- cent, duty on i:
countries. British goods will enjoy an advantn_

turers are anxious to see their products din . - -

markets on a weight instead of an ad vah^rfm basis. British ..: .i
German goods have to pay duties on an <»(/ valorem basis, the Lit. or
in effect enjoy a great advantasre over the more highly vaiiiod
manufactures. ' Electric lamps entering Australia are now dutial" o
on a weight basis, with the result t'"'* ]iv,i,<)i iimii t^r., Queers are
competing more successfully.

202

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

Foreign Notes.

Four electric cranes are being installed at Abo (Finland) Harbour
to expedite loading operations.

The Tyssefaldene Company have purchased the Alby United
Company's factories at Odda, Norway, for 50 000 kroner. The
Tyssefaldene Company, together with the English syndicate, will
restart the factories " within six months for the production of
ammonium sulphate.

For the past year the gross profit of the Siemens & Halske Aktien-
Gesellschaft was 54 480 939m., against 25 778 925m in 1919-20, the
net profit being 37 008 494m., against 16 435 763m. A dividend of
20 per cent, has been declared, against 14 per cent., but over
7 500 000m. has been placed to reserve, 1000 000m. to disposal frmd,
and 1 000 000m. carried forward.

The net profit of the Siemens Schuckert Werke A.G. was
22 502 195m., against 12 769 752m. The dividend is 16 per cent.,
against 10 per cent, last year, but 5 000000m. is put to reeerve,
1 000 000m. is credited to disposal fund, and over 2 000 000m. carried
forward. The reserve funds of both companies now amount to
94 000 000m.

The Government of French West Africa intends to adopt
electric traction on the railway from Kayes to the Niger. It is
thought that waterfalls on the Niger and Senegal will be utilised
to provide the necessary electrical energy and to supply poweT
for industrial purposes, and the Societe Generale des Enter-
prises has been entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed
scheme.

It is stated that five 40 000 kW turbo generators, three of which
will be water-cooled, are to be installed in the large power station
which is now being built at Gennevilliers to supply Paris. These
turbines will work on a steam pressure of 320 lbs. per sq. in. and a
super-heat of 350 deg. F. The generators will be connected to
6 000/60 000 V transformers, without intervening low-tension 'bus
bars.

The new Spanish customs tariff came into operation yesterday
(Thursday). The duty on most articles has been greatly increased,
but a feature of the new tariff is the creation of ad valorem duties
which are applied as follows : Motor-cars and cycles, 25-30 per cent. ;
agricultural machinery, 10-30 per cent. ; internal combustion en-
gines, 15-50 per cent. ; and drilling and stamping machines, 15-60
per cent. The duty on coal is unaltered, but there is an increase
of 10 per cent, on cables.

The results of investigations, recently made by Drs. Zimmern,
Langlois and Balthazard into the electric voltage likely to prove
fatal, Ihave been communicated to the French Academy of Medicine.
It is reported that there were a dozen fatal oases caused by
contact with domestic circuits conveying enengy at 110 V a.c, but
there were exceptional circumstances to account for the accidents.
In one case a girl in a bath, the water of v/hich contained mineral
salts, was killed by touching an electric radiator ; after washing a
floor with potash, a domestic shared a similar fate on touching an
electric lamp, and in the Paris Tube a workman, who seized a lamp
while standing in water impregnated with mineral matter, was also
killed.

A start has at last been made on the big scheme for harnessing
THE Skagit river, which is to provide electric power for the city
of Seattle and neighbouring towns and settlements. The work will
cost several million dollars and will take three years. A commence-
ment has been made with the construction of a tunnel through
which the waters of the Upper Skagit river will be diverted during
the building of a big concrete dam. This tunnel will then be used
as a penstock in which turbo-alternators will be installed, but it
will not be completed until next winter at the earliest, and will
be 2i miles in length. The scheme includes the construction of '
about 100 miles of electric railway in and around Seattle, and the
work of installing the transmission lines has also been begun.

_ An important piece of railway electrification work is to be car-
ried out by the Western Railway Company of Buenos Aires,
which has recently raised £2 000 000 l)y means of debentures for
adopting electric traction on its suburban services. The short
tunnel line between the company's terminus and the port elevators
is already operated electrically, but when the suburban railways are
converted to electric working the facilities for handling grain and
goods will be much greater and increased revenue should be eained.
It is also proposed to introduce electric traction on the Great
Southern loop line to La Plata, and as there are various other big rail-
way schemes which are likely to l)e cai;ied out in the" near
future there should be a good prospect ot securing some of the
orders for plant and rolling stock by Britisii engineering firms.

The German Patent Office have dismissed the objection of the
Fried. Krupp A.G. to the grant of a German patent applied for
by H. H. Thompson & A. E. Davies (of the Rapid Magnetting
Machine Company) for an invention relating to an electro-magnetic
separator for separating feebly magnetic ores from other ores, and
from each other, by means of a high-intensity magnetic separator.
Patents have already been granted in England, America, France,
and other countries. The opposition of "Krupps w-as successful
in the Examination Department, but the inventors appealed, and the
higher court decided that there was a patenta,ble invention, but they
required a practical demonstration of tlie machine to prove tliat it
was commercially possible to do what was claimed. After a series of
experiments the decision of the tribiuial was reserved, but it has
now been issued, and is in favour of allowing the patent.

' Water
W. J.

Hvdro-

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY, Feb. 17th (to-day).

Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

6 j).m. At Storey's-gate, St. James's Pai'k, London, S.W.

Annual General Meeting and Paper on " Electric Welding
Applied to Steel Construction, with Special Reference to.
Ships," by Mr. A. T. Wall.
British Electrical Development Association.
7.30 -p.m. At the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, Staple
Inn-buildings, W.C. Salesmanship Conference. (No. 4.)
" Salesmanship in Relation to Electric Lighting." Speaker,
Mr. H. Harrison.

Junior Institution of Engineers.
8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecture on
Purification for Boiler Feed Purposes," by Mr.
Leaton.
MONDAY. Feb. 20th.

East India Association.
3.30 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Paper on '
Electric Power in India," by Mr. A. T. Arnall.
Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Informal IMeeting.

7 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Discussion on " The

Emergency Use of Oil Fuel during the Recent Coal Strike,"
opened by Mr. E. F. Hetherington.
Liverpool Sub-Centre of North-Western Centre.

7 p.m. At the University, Liverpool. Lecture on " An Oscillo-

gi-aph Investigation of the Gulstad Relay," by Dr. S. S.
Richardson.

RoY'AL Society of Arts.

8 p. 7)1. At John-street, Adelphi, London, W.C. Cantor Lecture

on " The Mechanical Design of Scientific Instruments," bv
Prof. A. F. C. Pollard.
INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS.
Commemoration Meeting.
At Savoy-place, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.

Tuesday, Feb. 21st.

3 p.m. Experimental Lecture on '" Michael Faraday and the
Foundations of Electrical Engineering," by Prof. J. A.
Fleming, F.R.S.

7 p.m.. At Hotel Cecil, London, W.C. Annual Dinner.

Wednesday, Feb. 22nd.

3.30-6 p.m. Short discourses on " Reminiscences and Experi-
ences of Electrical Engineering in both its Technical and
Legislative Aspects."

8.30 p.m. Prof. Fleming will repeat his lecture of the previous
day.

Thursday, Feb, 23rd.

3.30-6 p.m.. Continuation of Discourses on Electrical

Engineering.
8-10 p.m. Conclusion of Discourses on Electrical Engineering.

TUESDAY. Feb. 21st.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(North-Western Centre.)
7 p.m,. At the Engineers' Club, ^lanchester. Discussion on
" The Utilisation of Waste Heat from Electrical Generating
Stations," with Introductorv Papers bv Messrs. C. I.
Haden and F. H. Why sail.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22nd

British Electrical Developjient Association.
12 noon. At the Hotel Cecil, london, W.C. General Meeting.
followed by luncheon.

Institition of Electrical Engineers.
(South Midland Centre.)

7 p.m. At the University, Birmingham. Lecture on " Rotary

Converters with Special Reference to Railwav Electrifica-
tion/' by Mr. F. P. Whitaker.

Industrial League and Council.
7.30 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecture on " A Pro-
posed Solution to the Transport Problem," by Mr. R.
Horniman.

THURSDAY. Feb. 23rd.

National Liberal Clitb : Political and Economic Circle.

8 p.m. At Whitehall-place. London, S.W. Lecture on " Brain?

in Industry," by Mr. C. J. Melrose.

FRIDAY. Feb. 24th.

Electrical Power Engineers' Associ.\tion.

7 p.m. At the Engineers' Club, Coventry -street, London, W.

Informal discussion on " Boiler Troubles."
Nortic-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders.
7.30 p.m. At the Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle-
on-Tyne. Paper on " Running, Costs of Diesel-Engined
Ships," by Mr. T. Madsen.

Junior Institution of Engineers.
S p.m.. At Caxton Hall, Ix)ndon, S.W. Lecture on " Curved
Beams, Rings and Chain Links." by Prof. E. G. Coker.
Edinburgh Electrical Society.

8 p.m. At the Philosophical Institute, 4, Queen-street, Edin-

burgh. Paper on " Some Exneriments in Electrical Sound
Detecting." by Mr. B. A. Pilkington.

February 17, 1922

The Electrician.

'1<)^

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

IItn,i. CoRWJHATioN. Feb. 20. — 500 or 1 000 tone girder tramway
rails. Forms of tender, &c., from the City Engineer.

Dublin Electricity Committee. Feb. 20. — Traneformers for one
or two years. Specificatione, &c. , from the City Electrical Engineer,
Fleet-street, Dublin.

Great Western Railway. Feb. 20. — Stores for three months
from March 1st, including telegraph instruments, electrical
apparatus (insulators), &c., electrical wires and cablee, telegraph
ironwork, and tools, telegraph drysalteries, and electric lamps.

DoNCA-STER Corporation. Feb. 22. — Wiring and fitting sixty
houses on the Carr House-road site. Forms of tender, &c., from Mr.
R. E. Ford, 3, Priory-place, Doncaster.

Bitrton-on-Trent Corporation. Feb. 22. 6 000 kW three-phase
turbo-alternator, with condenser and switchboard ; and two 40 000 lb.
water-tube boilei-s, with economisers, coal-handling plant, &c.
Specifications from the Borough Electrical Engineer.

Metropolitan Water Board. Feb. 23. — Electric lamps, &c., for
three, six, or twelve months. Forms of tender from the Chief
Engineer, 173, Rosebery-avenue, London, E.G. 1.

East Grinstead Urban Council. Feb. 24. — Oil engine driven
generators, motor balancer, motor booster, steam engine and dynamo,
storage batteries, main switchboard, super-heater, feed-water heater,
cable system, street lamps and travelling crane. Specification from
tho Clerk of the Council, 102, London-road, East Grinstead.

Skipton Urban Council. Feb. 25.— Supply, laying, &c., of four
core, paper insulated, lead covered, steel tape armoured cable.
Specification, &c., from Mr. W. Emmott, 35, Commercial-street,
Halifax.

Liverpool Select Vestry-. Feb. 27. — Overhead electrical
installation at their Olive-mount Institutions, Wavertree. Par-
ticulars from the Clerk, Mr. G. W. Coster.

Leeds Corporation. Feb. 27. — One year's supply of stores and
materials to the Tramways and Highways Departments, including
copper bands, electrodes, electrical sundries, engineers' furnishings,
ironmongery, &c. Specifications from the General Manager, Tram-
ways Department, 1, Swinegate, Leeds.

EsTON. Feb. 28. — The erecting and providing of plant in con-
nection with the overhead lines, underground cables, transformers,
sub-station equipment, and public lighting fittings required under
Eston Electricity Special Order, 1921. Particulars from the Clerk,
Mr. T. Belk, Cleveland House, Grangetown, S.O., Yorks.

Belfast Tramways Committee. Feb. 28.— Six or twelve months'
supply of stores, including electrical accessories, cable, lamps, insu-
lating tapes, carbon brushes, controller fingers, spares for Westing-
houfio controllers, armature and field coils, trolley heads, trolley
wire, galvanised wires, suspension cars, &c. Forms of tender from
the General Manager, Napier-street, Sandy-row, Belfast.

Edinburgh Corporation. March 14.— Steel tramway poles.
Specifications, &c., from the Tramways Manager, 2, St. James-
squaro, Edinburgh.

Hampstead (London) Borough Council. March 15.— Supply of
▼arioua stores for six or twelve months, including electrical
engineers' stores and oils for the electricity station. Form of tender,
&c. , from the Town Clerk.

Aylesbury Corporation. — 300 kW converter, with e.h.t. and l.t.
switchgear. Specifications, &c., from the Borough Electrical
Engineer.

Aylesbltiy Corporation.— 1 500 kW or 1 000 kW turbo-alternator,
condenser and switchboard. Specification from the Boi-ough Elec-
trical Engineer.

Accrington Corporation.— Supply, delivery, and complete erec-
tion of 25 000 lb. water-tube boilers, economisers and brickwork.
Particulars from Mr. A. W. Clegg, Engineer and Works Manager.

Cheshire County Mental Hospital. — Six months' supply of elec-
trical goods, ironmongery, &c. Forms of tender from the Clerk.

AUSTRALIA.

Commonwealth of Australia. Feb. 23. — 144 tons of copper wire,
30 000 copper tapes and binders. Particulars from the Supply
Officer, Australia House, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbanb. April 19. — *
Supply and delivery of testing and telegraph instruments, including
d.c. ajnmeters, a.c. bridge condenser coil, condensers, cross-talk
meters, detectors, milliammeters, polaa-ised relays, and aitificial
telephone cable boxes. (Stores Schedule No. 549.)

Municipal Council of Sydney (Electricity Dkpartmknt).
April 24.— 'Supply, delivery, and erection of two 2 000 kW rotary
converters ; one 10 000 to 12 000 kW turbo-alternator.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Durban Corporation Electrical Department. April 12. — *
Two 500 kW rotary converter automatic Bub-atation *-<\n\umc.nX».
Alternative tender* for mercury arc rectifiers may be =• ityrrnlted
instead of rotary converters, the switchgear to be completely auto-
matic and suitable for their proper operation and control.

BULGARIA

Bulgarian Department of Posts. March 8.— •Porcelain insnUt-
ing tubes for telephones (10 000), insulating tubinz (impregnated
paper) for telephones (2 200 metrea), ebonite caps (1 VOO), anil inau-
lated copper wire (1 000 metree).

Bulgarian Post and Telegraph AxrrHOBiriEs, March 15.— *

The supply of 1 A fuses, cartridge fuses for protection from light-
ning, 3 A fuses, line annunciatorB, carbon ligntning arresters.

Bthlgarian Postal Authorities, March 21. — 'Telephone, pole-
line hardware (4-pin carriers for insulators, bolts, etc.).

Bulgarian Postal Authobities, March 27. — "S 000 junction
pieces for batteriefl. Delivery required within four months.

SPAIN.

Spain. — H.M. Consul at Vigo etates that the heavy gale
recently experienced on the coast there fleetroyed the comroerciaf
wharves of the port, together with the plant, such as hand, '^team
and electric cranes. He states that tenders will possibly be invited
at an early date, and suggests that United Kingdom firms interested
should communicate through their agents in Spain with the Ministry
of Development (Ministerio de Fomento), >Iadrid, or to the Port
Works Office (Obras del Puerto) at Vigo, the authorities in charge
of the reconstruction, giving full particulars of their latest designs.
Firms not represented in Spain can obtain the name of a suitable
agent on application to the Department )f Overseas Trade. (Refer-
ence D.O.T. 5 394/F.L./S.C.)

* Particulars from the Department of Overttas Trade.

Glasgow Corporation has accepted the tender of D. 4 J. Gilmoor

for wiring and fitting houses at Craighton, at £3 769 17s.

Swansea Housing Committee has accepted the tender of W. Alban
Richards, of London, for wiring 119 houses, at £65 557.

Stepney Borough Council have accepted the tender of A. Rey-
roUe & Company for a feeder panel on the switchboard of Wapping
sub-station at £384.

Stepney (London) Borough Council have also placed the following
orders : — Sutton & Company, one mile 3 in. earthenware pipes, £306,
and troughs and covers, £234; G. W. Neale, solder, £106.

Worthing Corporation has accepted the tender of the Enfield
Ediswan Cable Works (lowest tender received) for cable, £1 591.
Ten tenders were receivetl, the highest being £2 043.

Lewisham (London) Gu.^rdi.ans have accepted the tender of the
Star Electric iLiintenance Company for repairing electric wiring.
&e. , at the Children's Home, Goat House Bridge, Norwood Junction,
at £148.

Alderley Edge Urban Council has accepted the offer of the
Alderley & Wilmslow Electric Supply. Ltd., for street lighting in
connection with the housing scheme, at £1 18s. per 30 c.p. lamp per
annum, and for standards and time switches at £18 2s. 6d. per lamp.

Cannock Urban Council ha^ <^ accepted the following tenders :
F. Pickering (lowest tender), for the erection of a new tr
station, £1,650. (Sixteen tenders were received, the hip:

£2.332): General Electric Company, for the coupling up .:

cables, £354.

In face of severe competition. Ruston & Hornsby have sectireri
a contract from the South African Government for thirty-eight heavy
oil engines. The engines are to be supplied to the South African
Railway and Harbour Department for driving grain elevators and
for electric lighting purposes in different part- of the Union. Thd
order is luiderstood to amount to 2 500 b.h.p.

Bermondsey (London) Coimcil have accepted the following
tenders ;— Enfield Ediswan Cable Works, cable. £430^ W. T:
Henlev's Telegraph Works Company, three feeder pillars, £6 6s. 6d.
each ;"Svket; & Sugden, house service boxes, £1 8s. ; ai.d end division
boxes, £1 16s. each : Pontifex & Company, lamp columns. £3 16s. 6d.
each. _^

Trade Inquiries.

An Englishman in Canada, who is :\ civi! eneinewr. destrfti to
repret;ent. on a commission basis. United K
enuipment, tools, or machinery, particulai

mines, power plants, &c. Agencies would I. .- .

Canada or the whole of the Dominion, according to the nature ^ » "»«
iToods. Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade. (Ret.
No. i60.)

An Engush-man ro.^idin^ in Toronto, already represent ini: »
Canadian firm for battery separators, desires to repres«it ^' '«>'*<]
Kiu'^dom manufacturers of automobile parte and accessories, hard
rublHM- or glass lottery jars, galvaniseii products, electric meters.
fireles<^ cookers. &o.. on a commission basie, for the province of
Ontario. Particulars may be obtained from the Department of
Overseas Trade. (Ref. No. 161.)

204

rhe Electrician.

February 17, 1922

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.

Frederick Braby & Company annoance an interim dividend of
5 per cent., less tax, on the ordinary shares.

An interim dividend of 2^ per cent, has been declared by
Greenwood and Batley on the ordinary shares.

The North Metropolitan Electric Povi^er Distribution Com-
pany has declared a dividend of 4 per cent, on the ordinary chares
for the year 1921.

The directors of the Liverpool Overhead Railway Company
recommend payment of a dividend of 5 per cent, for the year 1921
on the preference shares.

The Metropolitan District Railway announces a dividend of
1 per cent, on the ordinary stock for the year 1921. This is the first
dividend to be paid on this stock since 1882, when the rate was
3-16 per cent. £65 000 has been placed to reserve, leaving £60 550
to be carried forward.

Swansea Corporation are this week offering for subscription
£850,000 5^ per cent, redeemable stock at 98. Part 'of the proceeds
will be utilised for extensions of the electricity supply and other
municipal vmdertakings.

Subject to final audit, the revenue of the London and SuBtTRBAN
Traction Company will enable it to pay 3^ per cent, in respect of
arrears on its 5 per cent, cumulative preference shares, with a carry
forward of £11 523, compared with £1 205 brought in.

Subject to audit, the directors of W. T. Henley's Telegraph
Works Company recommend a final dividend on the ordinary shares
of 2s. per share, less income tax, making, with the interim dividend
of Is. per share paid on Sept. 1, 1921, Zs. per share for the year.

Mather & Platt, Ltd., recommend a dividend for the year 1921
of 10 per cent., tax free, including the interim distribution of 3 per
cent. This is the same as the dividends for the last two years, and '
the balance carried forward is increased from £105 457 to £287 661.

The income for 1921 of the Montreal Light, Heat, & Power
Company, after deducting expenses and taxes, depreciation and re-
newal reserve, &c., was $4 222 742. The sum of $20 000 has been
set aside for pensions, and, subject to income tax, $975 053 is carried
forward.

The revenue of the Pennsylvania Water and Power Company
for 1921 was $1 962 252, and the divisible balance was $843 028.
Dividends amounting to 7 per cent, were declared, $170 125 was
added to depreciation, and $75 000 to sinking fund, leaving $3 254 to
carry forward.

After providing for interest, sinking fund, income-tax, etc., the
profit of the Paisley District Tramways Company for the year
ended December 31st, 1921, amounted to £34 736. A dividend of
4 per cent, on the ordinary shares is recommended, leaving £8,032
to be carried forward against £6 545 brought in.

The South Metropolitan Electric Tramways & Lighting
Company recommend a dividend on the ordinary shares for the year
1920 of 7^ per cent. The sum of £15 000 has been placed to reserve
(an addition of £4 500 compared with the previous year), leaving
£2 864 to be carried forward, against £1 556 brought in.

The City and South London Railway recommends a final divi-
dend on the consolidateid ordinary stock of 1^ per cent., making 3^
per cent, for the year. After placing £36 000 to reserve (an increase
of £11 000), £25 000 remains to be carried forward, compared with
£18 820 brought in. The dividend for 1920 was 1^ per cent.

The transfer books and register of members of the South INIetro-
poli'ian Electric Light and Power Company will be closed from
the 18th to the 28th inst. (inclusive), for the preparation of warrants
for dividends payable in receipt of the 7 per cent, cumulative first
preference 6 per cent, cumulative second preference, and ordinary
shares.

The final dividend recommended by the London Electric Rail-
way Company on the ordinary shares is la per cent., making for the
year 1921 Z^ per cent. The sum of f l5 000 has been placed to reserve
(an addition of £20 000 compared with 1920), leaving £39 700 to be
carried forward, compared with £22 350 brought in. The dividend
compares with 1^ per cent, last year.

The County of London Electric Supply Company has declared
a final dividend at rate of 11 per cent, on the ordinary shares, mak-
ing 8 per cent, for the past year, after providing £180 000 for
reserves and carrying forward abont £21 000. Li 1920 the dividend
was at the same rate, £50 000 was placed to reserve for renewals,
depreciation, &c., £62 500 to general reserve, and £18 595 carried
forward.

The Central London Railway Company recommends final divi-
dcndts on the undivided ordinary and preferred stocks of 2 per cent.,
making 4 per cent, for the year, and a dixidend for the year on
the deferred ordinary stock of 4 per cent. It is proposed to place
£29 000 to reserve ("an increase of £9 000), leaving £59 600 to be
carried forward, compared with £15 161 brought in. For 1920 the
dividend on the ordinary stock was at 2^ per cent.

The Metropolitan Electric Tramways, Ltd., recommend a divi-
dend of 7 per cent, on the 5 per cent, cumulative preference shares,
being the balance of 4^ per cent, for the year ended Dec. 31, 1919.
and 2j2- per cent, on account of the year ended Dec. 31. 1920. The
sum of £67 500 has been placed to reserve for reconstruction and
renewals (an addition of £57 500 compared with previous year),
leaving £2 420 to be carried forward, compared with £1 538
brought in.
The accounts of Cambridge Electric Supply Company, Ltd., for

the year ending Dec. 31 last show a total profit for the year of
£13 064, which, added to £2 112 brought forward from 1920, makes
£15 176. After deducting debenture and other interest (£2 379) and
placing £5 000 to depreciation, there remains a balance of £7 797.
The directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 5 per cent,
for the year, which will absorb £4 955 10s., leaving a balance to carry
forward of £2 841 lOs.

Subject to final audit of accounts, the revenue of the Under-
ground Electric Railways Company of London will enable it to
pay the full interest to Dec. 31, 1921, on its 6 per cent, first cumula-
tive income debenture stock and to pay interest at 2 per cent., free
of tax, on its 6 per cent, income bonds of 1948 for the half-year
ended Dec. 31, 1921, with a carry forward of £26 600, compared with
£20 137 brought in. For 1920 interest at 2 per cent., free of tax,
was paid on the 6 per cent, income bonds.

After placing £10 000 to general reserve, the North London
Railway Company recommend a final dividend to Dec. 31, 1921, of
£3 15s. per cent, on the consolidated (ordinary) stock, making £6
per cent, for the year, carrying forward about £14 700. Consequent
on the ordinary dividend being at rate of 6 per cent., the holders of
the preferential consolidated stock, 1866, become entitled to an addi-
tional lOs. per cent. For 1920 the dividend was £5 10s. per cent.,
with £10 000 placed to general reserve and £14 565 carried forward.

At the annual meeting of the Dublin United Tr.\mways Com-
pany in Dublin last week, Mr. L. A. Waldron, who presided, stated
that the passenger receipts had increased by £74 063 over the pre-
vious year, and in the parcels department by £1 700 odd, and by a
similar sum for the carriage of minerals. With regard to the over-
crowding of the cars, they were doing all they possibly could to
meet the complaints, and to assist the long-distance passengers on
the Dalkey line they were running in the rush hours a couple of
cars upon which the minimum fare was 3d. , with a view to preventing
passengers using the long-distance cars for short journeys.

The net revenue of the North Metropolitan Electric Power
Supply Company for 1921 was £125 333, compared with £96 174 for
1920. Adding interest and dividends received and the balance (f
£4-433 brought forward, the total is £135 128, less mortgage and
other interest £31 979, reserye fund for 5 per cent, mortgages
£2 000, redemption fund for 7^ per cent, debenture stock £1 142,
contribution to reserve £25 000, leaving £76 007. The directors pro-
pose a dividend on the ordinaiy shares at the rate of 10 per cent,
per annum, carrying forward £5 006.

In the annual report of the South-Eastern & Chatham Railway
Companies for 1921, it is stated that the Managing Committee has
for some time past been considering the means of providing adequate
accommodation for the traffic on its lines, and has ai'rived at the
conclusion that the only method of doing so is by the introduction
OF electric traction. Up to the present time there has been no
opportunity of raising the necessaiy capital for the work, but the
Committeei has now approached the Advisory Committee appointed
under the Trade Facilities Act, 1921, with the object of obtaining
capital under the guarantee of the Government.

The net profits of the St. James' and Pall Mall Electric Light
Company for the yeai' ending Dec. 31, 1921, applicable to divi
dends on shares, amounted to £31 232, to which £5 887 brought in
from 1920 was added, making a total of £37 119. From this sum
£10 500 was paid out in interim dividends for the half-year ending
June 30th, leaving £26 619. which the directors propose to deal
with as follows : a dividend at the rate of 7 per cent, on the prefer-
ence shares for the second half-year, £3 500 ; a dividend on the
ordinary shares for the second half-year of Ss. 6d. per share, making
a total distribution of 12 per cent, for the year, £17 000; leaving
£6 119 to be carried forward. The connections, which at the end of
1920 were 19 904 kW, have been increased during the year to
21 167 kW, and 13 464 418 units were supplied to consumers.

The report of the London Electric Supply Corporation for the
vear ended Dec. 31 last shows a profit for the year of £102 286.
against £99 487 last year. To this has to be added £14 256 brought
in less interest on temporary loan (£2 116), making a total of
£114 427. From this sum the following have been deducted : —
Interest on debenture stock to Dec. 31, 1921 (£23 494), sinking fund
for redemption of debenture stock in 1931 (£16 580), leaving a
balance of £74 352 15s. lOd., which the board propose to deal with
as follows : — Payment of a dividend of 6 per cent, on the preference
shares (of which an interim dividend of 3 per cent, was paid on
Sept. 1, 1921), £26 952 ; payment of a dividend of 4 per cent, on the
ordinary shares, £13 320; to rcvserve, £15 000; to contingencies,
£5 000 : leaving £14 080 15s. lOd. to be carried forward. The supply
has been efficient.lv maintiiincd during the year. Unite sold num-
bered 47 490 802, as against 47 366 351; the total costs per unit sold
being 147d. (138d.) The average receipt per unit sold (lighting
and power) w.if^ l'91d. (181d.).

The report of the ]\1etropolitan Railway Company for 1921 shows
gross receipts of £2 236 166 and expenditure of £1 727 090. Includ-
ing miscellaneous receipts (net) from rents, interest, &c. , £241870,
and £15 416 brought in, the total net hicome is £766 362. A divi-
dend is recoinmended at the rate of £3 5s. per cent, per annum for
the half year ended Dec. 31, 1921. niak'ng £2 5s. per cent, for the
year, leaving £17 797 to be carried forward. The amomit trans-
ferred to \\\o general renewals fund is £50 (XK). The sui-plus land
dividend is £3 per cent, for the year, compared with £2 17s. 6d.
per cent, for 1920. The number of passengers carried, excluding
season ticket holders, totalled 75 172 423, against 95 275 887 in I929.
The additions to the rolling stock include" forty-seven new electric

Februiry 17, 1922

The Electrician.

205

cars. Three of tlie electric locomotivets have been re-equipped with
higher-power motors, and all the other electric locomotives are gradu-
ally being dealt with in a similar manner. A switch-house to
acconinKKlate the new switcbgear required for the augmented generat-
ing plant at Neasden i.s l>eing erected, and the work of installing the
])huit is progre-sfting satisfactorily.

The report of the London & South- Western Kau.way Company.
fr>r 1921 stales that the expenditure on capital account for the year
w;iK £172 004. Gross receipts amounted to £13 354 530, as compared
with £13 315 258. and e.xpenditure to £11 497 653 (£11 242 248). In-
cluding miscellaneous rccei{)ts £216 387, an appropriation from the
£1 046 161 received from the Government under the allocation
hiheni(>. £250 000, and balance from last account £65 555, the total
net income is £2 388 819 (£2 362 358). After deducting the interim
dividend of 2 per cent, paid on the ordinary stock and placing
£60 000 to the credit of revenue susjienee accounts for loss on sale of
invetstmente in Government securities, Feltham marvshallintj sidings
and electrification of suburban lines, there remains £652 941, which
admits of the payment of a dividend of 4 per cent, for the second
half of the year, making 6 per cent, for the year (same as in 1920),
and leaving a balance of £71 920 to be carried forward. The divi-
dend on the preferred converted ordinary stock is at the rate of
2 per cent, for the past half-year, and on the deferred converted
ordinary stock at the rate of 2 per cent, for the whole year 1921.

For 1921 the net profit of the York.sictre Electric Power Com-
pany amounts to £74 316, against £64 739 in 1920. The 1920 oi-dinary
di\idend of 8 per cent, is repeated, £15 000 is again placed to general
reserve (raising it to £104 000), and £23 259 carried forward, com-
pared with £20 938 brought in. The report states that the exten-
sions of the Thornhill and Barugh power stations were delayed by
the coal stoppage, but are now proceeding satisfactorily, and will be
available for supply within the next few months. Extensions of
mains and substations have been made for supply in bulk to the
Corporations of Dewsbury and Todmorden and the Urban District
Councils of Elland and Honley. In this part of the company's area
there are two important municipal undertakintrs, those of the Shef-
field and Rotherham Corporations. With both these the company
has entered into arrangements for joint working in the interests of
cheap production. An inter-connection' has already been made with
the Sheffield Corporation undertaking for a substantial amount of
current. Underwriting arrangements have been made for an issue of
£558 360 6 per cent, preference shares of £5 each at £4 per share.
The issue will probably be made next week.

The annual meeting of the British Columbia Electric Railway
Company was held in London on Tuesday, Mr. J. Davidson (deputy
chairman) presiding in the absence, owing to ill-health, of Mr. R. M.
Horne-Payne. In moving the adoption of the report and accounts,
the chairman said that the gross earnings, which exceeded $9 500 000,
constituted a record in the history of the companv. In 1920-1921 they
carried 71 065 275 passengers, compared with 66 411 030 in 1919-1920.
In 1920-1921 they delivered 140 285 620 kW of electricity for light
and power, against 120 173 919 kW the previous year. The only
department which had fallen backward slightly was the freight de-
partment, where 412 534 tons were carried, c<>mpared with 430 931
tons. Owing to their purchase in 1920 of the undertaking of the
Wostern Power Company of Canada, they had a present arid poten-
tial supply of power sufficient to meet the requirements of the com-
munities they served for many years to come. A recent expert
examination of their power plants indicated that for a relatively
moderate capital expenditure they might reasonably expect to add an
additional 10 000 kW to the capacity of the plants."^ They were erect-
ing an additional unit of 7 500 kW in the Western Power Company
of Canada, and it should be possible for them to obtain 80 000 h.p.
from the development of the second power site owned by the Western
Company. The management were actively considering plans to
make available those water-power resources, but the time at and
extent to which development work could be imdertaken would depend
upon the growth of the demand for power.

Books Received.

"Electrical Engineers' Pocket Book." (London: International
Correspondence Schools, Ltd.) Pp. xiii.-^437. 10s. 6d. net.

" Continuous Wave Wireless Telegraphy." By B. Mittell.
(London : Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons.) Pp. xv +114. 2s. 6d. net.

" Electrical Installation Rules and Tables for Rapid Reference."
By W. S. Ibbetson. (London : E. & F. N. Spon.) Pp. ix+60.
Is. 6d.

"Research in Industry." By A. P. M. Fleming, C.B.E., and
J. G. Pearce, B.Sc. (London : Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons.) Pp. xvi.+
244. 10s. 6d. net. ^

" Work of R.E. in the European War, 1914-1919." (The Signal
Service. Frsnce.) Bv Major R. E. Priestley, M.C., B.A. (Chatham :
W. and J. Mackey & Co.) Pp. xvi-i-359.

" Switching Equipment for Power Control." By Stephen
Hayes. A.B., E.E. (London : Hill Publishing Companv.) Pp.
viii. •!• 463. 20s. net.

" Factory Accounts in Principle and Practice." By E. Garcke
and J. M. Fell, C.B.E. Seventh edition. (London : Crosbv Lock-
wood & Son.) Pp. XX. -f- 290. 15s. net.

The Failure of Metals Under Internal and Prolonged Stress." A

feneral discussion before the Faradav Societv. Edited by F. S.
piers, O.B.E. (London : Faradav Society.) Pp. 215.

Social Notes.

A s'Krial and dance, on a large itcalc, organised by th<>
Edison Swan Elkcfric Comfajuy, and open Uj a!! 'the P
oniployee.s, was held at the works la-ist S
900 were present, and the girls' dihinc h
sealing about 1 500, was transformed ■• •
long programme was enjoyed. The
were two concerts, one by Mr, A. P.

by the Edijwari (girls) Musical S^jciely and OrciivTitra, and an up-lo-
date cinema which showed two splendid prot;r^rr'rri«»«. Th<» .jf}^
attractions included X-ray ' " '

a party of the foremen, in

their own back " by endea. ., . , „... , .,, ,_,.._ ..,..,

men with tennis balls.

The staffs of Pritchett & Gold and E.P.S. Compa.vt. Lto.. ,-15, d
of their incorporated firm, Peto & Radfobd, spent an
evening at the Grosvenor Hotel on Wednesday last week. I
evening the chairman of the company. Sir Archibald G. '
Lady Gold were presented, in celebration of their silver
with a silver rose bowl by Mr. Charles Pritchett, nn '"■■
directors and staff. Mr. Pritchett, who is also a
firm, said that while the company had sustained a g;-
death of his brother, Mr. G. E. B. Pritchett, the founder and firet
chairman of the company, they could not have found a more eaitable
successor as chairman than Sir Archibald. Sir Archibald Gold eaid
in reply that the very handsome presentation had come as a great
surprise to him, and,' in thanking the staff for their kindr,«>=^ v>.
assured them that their gift would always be among the m
of his possessions. An excellent mnsical programme was v.
members of the staff and their friends, the items being i;.-
with dances, one of which, the " Lucky Spot Waltz," w.
Mr. C. H. J. Aldworth, advertising m^^ager of The El£. ir.i. ji.s.
and Miss Emile Smith. ,

The Brighton Railway Contract.

As announced in The Electrician last week, a contract in connec-
tion with the ex^^nsion of the electrification of the London, Brighton
and South Coast Railway Company has been placed with the General
Electric Company, who will undertake the necessary manufacture s»t
their Witton Engineering Works, Birmingham. Work will begi;i
within the next two months, and will be completed within twelve
months.

It is understood that the contract is one of several which will
probably arise out of the grouping system consequent upon last year's
Railway Act, and is for the pro\-ision of the whole of the electrical
equipment for twelve additional motor coaches, each of 1000 h.p.. to
enable the section of the line from Balham. through Thornton
Heath to Selhurst and West Croydon, to be operated electrically.
The equipment is for employment with single-phase alternatinc
current, and as the manufacture of this class of apparatus was
formerly mainly in the hands of Germany, the importance of the
contract, from the British national standpoint, cannot be over-
estimated.

It is a matter for congratulation that the enterprise and manu-
facturing facilities of the G.E.C. have enabled them to eecore a
contract of this nature, which should open up countless possibilities
for the future.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

TtJKSDAY, Feb. 14.

Copper — Price. Inc. Dec.

Best selected per ton £65 0 0 — £0 10 0

Electro Wirebars . . „ £69 0 0 — £10 0

H.C wii'e, basis per lb. Os. lOy"^. — id.

Sheet Os. 9Jd. — Jd.

Phosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone) —
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis Is. 2^'^d. — id.

Br(Uis 60 40 -

Rod. l)asis Os. 7,<d.

Sheet, basis (»s. lOd. jl

Wire, basis t^s. lOsid. ^d.

Pij Iron —

Cleveland Warrant.*! . per i^u £4 l."> 0 — —
Galvanised steel
wire, basis 8 S\\'(!
Lead Pi']—

English '--'- ■

Foreign or (.'olonia! .. ,, i-\ i' "' i"
Tin-
Ingot £l.'^:{ 7 6 —

Wire, basis jH'r lb. I's. l]d. —

Aluminium Ingots £120 DO —

Salammoniac. — Per cwt. 6.1S.-60S. Coppi-r Sulphale. — Per ton £2»

Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 lOs. Boric Acid (Crystals).— Per ton

„ (Roll-Brimstone). — ^Per ton £65.

£10 10s. Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5J«L

Sulphuric Aci,i (P>rites, 16S^).— Sodium Chlorate.— Ter lb. S^d.
Per ton, £l> 17s. 6d.
J?«Wtr.— Para fine. llAd. ; plantation 1st latex, 8Jd. to 8|d.

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Hdsbv Cables,
Ltd.

206

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot' be responsible for any errors that may occur.

London Gazette.

Partnerships Dissolved.

HEATH, Leonard James, RICHARDSON, Alfred Charles, and
KETLEY, Leonard, electrical engineers, &c., at Wood-street
and Bawtry-road, Doncaster, York, under the style of HEATH,
RICHARDSON, & COMPANY, by mutual consent as from
Oct. 31, 1921. Debts and claims received by Bell & Watson, 2, St.
Sepulchre-gate, Doncaster.

MARSH, Arthur Harold, and SANDERSON, John William, elec-
trical engineers and contractoi's, &c. , Station-road, Ossett, Co.
York, under the style of MARSH & SANDERSON, by mutual
consent as from Jan. 7, 1922. Debts received and paid by A. H.
Marsh, who will continue the business.

OGDEN, Harold, and DYSON, Leonard, electrical engineers, under
the style of DYSON & OGDEN, 16, Savile Park-terrace,
Halifax, by mutual consent as from Dec. 31, 1921.

Bankruptcy Information.

HURWORTH, Walter, and WATMOUGH, Arthur Applebv, in
co-partnership under the style of HURWORTH, WATMOUGH
& COMPANY, 41, Town-street, Horsforth, and 1, Back James-
street, Harrogate, electrical engineers. First meeting, Feb. 23,
11 a.m., 24, Bond-street, Leeds. Public examination, March 21,
11 a.m., County Court House, Albion-place, Leeds.

INCE, Arthur Courtenay, 21, Fenkle-street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
formerly under the style of THE NEWCASTLE ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING COMPANY, now with a partner under the
style of THE TYNE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES, electrical
contractor. Receiving order, Feb. 6. Debtor's petition. First
meeting, Peb. 22, 11 a.m., PearrBuildings, 4, Northumberland-
street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Public examination, Feb. 23,
11 a.m.. County Court, Westgate-road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Notices of Intended Dividends.

WATKINSON, Matthew, WATKINSON, Harold, and WATKIN-
SON, Arthur, trading as WATT & COMPANY, 22 and 24,
Palmer-road, Sheffield, electrical engineers, &c. Last day for
receiving proofs, Feb. 25. Trustee, T. C. Parkin, jnr., 36, Bank-
street, Sheffield.

WORMULL, Frederick Alfred Stanley, carrying on business at 273,
High-street, Lewisham, as THE LEWISHAM ELECTRIC
WIRING COMPANY. Last day for receiving proofs, March 1.
Trustee, T. Gourlay, 29, Russell-square, W.C. 1.

WORTHINGTON, Vincent Broughton, Ellesmere-yard, Walkden,
CO. Lancaster, electrical engineer, &c. Last day for receiving
proofs, Feb. 25. Trustee, J. G. Gibson, Byrom-street,
Manchester.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as deS'Cribed therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
£hall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, bul such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

LLANELLY & DISTRICT ELECTRIC LIGHTING & TRAC-
TION COMPANY, LTD. Registeied Feb. 6. Trust deed
dated Jan. 24, 1922, securing £125 000 debenture stock; charged
on electricity supply and light railways undertakings of the
company and hereditaments as set out in trust deed, also general
charge. *£78 331. April 22, 1921.

Satisfaction.

REYROLLE (A.j & COMPANY, LTD., Hebburn-on-Tyne, electri-
cians. Satisfaction registered Feb. 8. £7 500, part of amounts
registered June 13, 1907, &c.

Deed of Arrangement.

WILKINSON, Guy, 16, Oxford-street, Harrogate, and Shott House,
Spofforth, electrical engineer. Composition of 10s. in the £,
payable by three equal quarterly instalments, oonmiencing
April 1 next; secured by a surety. Filed, Feb. 8. Trustee,
C. H. Baker, 1, Albion-street, Leeds. Liabilities unsecured,
£543; assets, less stx^ured claims, £270.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

FAWCETT, Ernest, 20, St. Anne-street, Liverpool, electrical and
heating engineer. The public examination of this debtor was
held on February 13th at Liverpool. The statement of affairs
showed un.secured liabilities of £349, against net assets 14/11.
He served an apprenticeship as an electrical, heating and

hydraulic engineer, and afterwards for some years he worked
for various firms of engineers. In August, 1920, he became
connected with an electrical company, in which he invested
£500, and of which he was appointed a director. The com-
pany carried on business at 20, St. Anne-street, Liverpool. It
was not successful, and went into voluntary liquidation on June
1st last year. Debtor believed that the liquidator had realised
the whole of the assets. He stated that he found out that the
company was not a success about January or February last
year. It had improved considerably when the heating depart-
ment was taken on, and debtor became surety for a bank over-
draft of £500, along with two other directors. He estimated
that £250 of that would rank against his estate for dividend.
In August, 1921, he commenced business in partnership with
another gentleman, who found all the capital of £250. The
business was similar to that of the company, and it was success-
ful until January this year. Accordmg to the terms of the
partnership, it was to be dissolved on the bankruptcy of either
partner. The condition was that The surviving partner should
take over the business with all the debts and assets. Proper
books of account had not been kept. The whole of the house-
hold furniture was claimed by debtor's wife. The examination
was closed.
FIGGINS, James Victor, 3, Pottery-terrace, Alexandra-road, New-
port, electrical engineer. The first meeting of creditors was held
last week. Ranking liabilities were returned at £753, while net
assets were estimated at £39. Debtor attributed his failure -o
bad debts, loss on a contract, and strike. He started business
in partnership at Newport in November, 1919. Since February
last the business had been carried on in his o-wti name. The
matter was left in the hands of the Official Receiver as trustee.

Private Meetings.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily imply failure.

Many private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the

debtor consulting his creditors as to his position when he may not

be insolvent.^

GOSS, Frederick Charles, 64, Gloucester-road, Bishopston, Bristol,
electrical engineer. The creditors of the above were called
together in Bristol a few days ago, when a statement of affairs
was presented which showed liabilities of £1 221, all of which
were due to the trade. The assets were estimated to realise £539,
from which had to be deducted £15 for preferential claims,
leaving net assets of £324, or a deficiency of £897. The assets
consisted of stock expected to produce £150; book debts valued
at £40; cash in hand, £14; fxirniture, £75; and motor-car, £60.
There were also fittings, fixtures and utensils amounting to
£22 6s. 6d., on which no realiseable value was placed at the
moment. Debtor started in business in partnership with another
with a capital of £50. The partnership was dissolved in
October, 1919, and a little later the debtor started on his own
account with a borrowed capital. The present position was
attributed chiefly to the general slump in trade. The drawings
had been about £6 a week. An offer had been received for the
purchase of the stock, motor-car and furniture for £200. The
matter was discussed at some length, and eventually it was
decided that attempts should be made to obtain a better offer
and one which would enable a composition of 4s. in the £ to
be paid. Failing such an offer being forthcoming, the opinion
was expressed that the matter should be dealt with in bank-
ruptcy. The following are creditors : W^holesale Fittings Com-
pany, Ltd., Bristol, £47; Newtons, Taunton, £82; Mackintosh
Cable Companv, Derbv, £28; Edison Swan Compajiy, Ltd.,
Bristol, £36; Metropolitan-Vickers, Ltd., Bristol, £62; Betters,
Ltd., Yeovil, £37; Simpson Baker & Company, Bristol, £463;
London Lamp Company, London, £23.

WILSON-WOLF ENGINEERING COMPANY (THE), LTD. (in
voluntary liquidation), 172, Thornton-road, Bradford. At the
recent statutory meeting of creditors it was resolved to confirm
the voluntary liquidation, with Mr. R. S. Dawson as liquidator,
and an advisory committee was appointed, consisting of repre-
sentatives of Clement Talbot, Ltd., the Hoffman Manufacturing
Company, Ltd., and the Concordia Electrical Wire Company.
Ltd. The statement of affairs showed ranking liabilities of
£9 545 (£3 142 to trade creditors) and a deficiency of £8 138.
The present position has been brought about by the moulders'
strike and the coal strike.

Liverpool Electricity Accounts.

The total income of the electricity supply department of Liverpool
Corporation for the year ended Dec. 31 last was £995 988. including
£760 981 from sales of electrical energy for lighting and power
and £202 603 for traction. In the expenditure, which amounted to
£662 157, are included two items for now services (£15 300) and
meters (£15 254). The gross profit was £335 831. out of which
int-erest (£110 335) and sinking fund contributions (£86 550) were
paid, ami after placing £86 946 to renewal fund, the balance
(£60 000) has been devoted to the relief of rates. The capital
expended during the vear was £392 696. making tlie gross capital
expenditure £3 092 135, but loans amounting to £856 019 have beeai
redeemed. The amount at credit of sinking fund is £690 532, the
reserve fund is £209 924, renewal fund ^59 572, cancelled debt
account £650 445, and cancelled stock account £205 574.

February 17, 1922

The Electrician.

207

New Companies.

Consolidated TRADist; & MANUtAf ti;kini; Company, Ltd.
(179 577). I'livate company. Kegistered Feb. 9. Capital, £500 in
£1 ^iiaies. Electrical and general engineere, &c. Sulibcribers (each
with one share) : J. D. 11. Bryant and L. D. Stears. Secretary, C.
Nickol.s. Uegi.stered office, Cromwell House, Iligh llolborn, W.C.

Deben Construction ComI'any, J.,td. (179 521). Private company.
Registered Feb. 7. Capital, £5 000 in £1 shares. To acauire the
businecs<j carried on by W. F. Wc&ton, V. J. T. Weston, R. Parr and
Frances M. Emuas, at Woodbridge, Suffolk, ah the Ueben Construc-
tion Company, and to carry on the business of civil, mechanical and
electrical engineers, &c. First directors : H. J. Emu^,s (managing
director), A. E. Farr (chairman). Qualification, £10. liegieterert
office, Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Engineering & Mercantile Company, Ltd. (179 554). Private
company. Registered Feb. 8. Capital, £5 000 in £1 shares. To
carry on the business of electrical engineers, &c. , including the con-
struction, laying down, altering and maintaining building worke
and machinery, and to acquire the business carried on at 61-62, New
Stoiie-buildingb, Chancery-lane, W.C, as " llothstein, Izchakin &
Company." Firet directors : Chanaan Izchakin, Samuel Rothstein,
and Mordchel Mazower (all permanent, subject to holding £200
shares). Registered office, 61-2, New Stone-buildinge, Chancery-
lane, W.C.

Engineers' Supply Association (Norwich), Ltd. (179 467).
Private company. Registered Feb. 3. Capital, £5 000 in £1 shares.
Subscribers (each with one share) : F. C. Harbott (first and sole
governing director) and S. E. Parish. Registered office : 17-18,
Basinghall-street, E.G. 2.

Freeland WinTB and Company, Ltd (179 611). Private company.
Registered Feb. 10. Capital, £3 000 in £1 shares. Electrical, tele-
phone and general engineers, electricians, etc. Subecribers : P. F.
White (1000 shares), J. Rifivnolds (50). Solicitors: Chamberlayne,
Hackins and Company, 83, "Pall Mall, S.W.

Indltstrial Intelligence, Ltd., has been registered as a company
limited by guarantee, without a capital divided into shares. The
objects are : — To promote publicity and propaganda of all kinds,
especially such as may be calculated to foster production, manu-
facture and trade in and between all parts of the Bidtish Empire
and other countries ; to promote and assist the production and distri-
bution of literature, prnited matter, photographs, illustrations and
advertisements, and billposting of all kinds; to organise meetings,
lectures and e.xhibitioiiB ; to establish and conduct commeroial
•agencies, &c. The company is to be governed uy a council of not
more than si.\ members, two being elected annually at the general
meeting and one nominated by each of the following bodies : — The
Federation of British Industries, the British Electrical and Allied
Manufacturers' Association, the Cable Makers' Association, and the
British Engineers' Association. First members : — Llewellyn B.
Atkinson, Roland T. Nugent, D. A. Bremner, and D. N. Dunlop.
Registered office, 24, Chancery-lane, W.C. File number 179 507.

Irish Automatic Telephone Installation Company, Ltd.
Private company. Registered in Dublin Feb. 11. Capital, £10 000
in £1 shares (5 000 8 per cent, cumulative preference): First
directors : T. Win. Delany, K. J. Kenny, land J. P. Dillon. Secre-
tary, A. Channing. Registered office : 8, Nassau-street, Dublin.
^ Kinecessities, Ltd. (179 589). Private company. Registered
Feb. 9. Capital, £500 in £1 shares. Electricians, mechanical and
electrical engineers, manufacturers of cinematogi-aph films, dealers
in and providers of machines and instruments of all kinds, including
iiutomatic machines, seating indicators for theatres, cinemas and
railways, and accessories of all kinds, &c. First directors : C. F. 0.
Hamley and A. B. M. Gray. Qualification, £1. Registered office,
iZ, Charing Cross-mansions, W.C.

Leicester Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd. (179 533). Private
company. Registered Feb. 9. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. To
acquire the businesses of electrical engineers carried on (1) by T.
Baker at 93, Upper ton -road, Leicester, as " T. Baker and Com-
pany," and (2) by W. H. French at 346, H umber stone-road, Leicester.
AS '■ W. H. French," and to carry on the business of manufacturers
of and dealers in electrical material, goods and appliances, electrical
.and other automobile accessories, etc. Permanent directors : T.
Baker and W. H. French. Qualification, £100. Secretary, W. C.
■Quinn. Registered office : 11, Bowling Green-street, Leicester.

Metal Electrical Syndicate. Ltd. (179 561). Private compai.v.
Registerecl Feb. 8. Capital, £7 500 in £1 shares. To acquire
interests in anv invention relating to electrical deposit of metals, and
to carry on the business of electro-platers, &c. Subscribers (each
with five shares) : A. E. Mawn, S. J. Quin, G. P. Millard, and
A. E. Brain. . Registered office, Westminster House, 7, Millbank.
S.W. 1.

OssoRtTM Foundry Company, Ltd. (179 537). Private companv.
Regi.stered Feb. 7. Capital, £15 000 in £1 shares. To take over the
business of a manufactui-er and caster in brass, gunmet^l, aluminium,
phosphor bronze, and other non-ferrous metals, carried on bv M. T.
lliggins at 28-32, Totterdown-street, Tootuig, S.W., "as the
"Alumina Foundry Company," and to adopt an agreement with
A. D. Hunter for the acquisition of a secret process for the maini-
factui-e of an alloy of alluminiuni and /or other non-ferrous motals
known as '' Ossorum Metal." Subscribers (each with one share) :
A. D. Hunter and F. A. Dandor. Subscribers to appoint first direc-
tors. Qualification, £250. Remuneration not more than 5 guineas
•each per meeting attended. Registered office, 28-32, Totterdown-
street, Tooting, S.W.

Rock .Safety Gkyhers, Ltd. (179 512). Pri .
tered Feb. 6. Caj)ital, £300 in 1*. sharfv K
scril>«rs (ea^jh with one share), Ivy )L i I V/. T. J

Sub.scribors to aijooint the first directors. kjo, £5. ~

tors, R. S. ShacKioford, Broad-«treet Hou->»;, r. v^

Skirvino Rutherford Institute, Ltd. (179 499). Privat* crmt-
nany. Registered Feb. 4. £500 in £1 bhares. To carr-. ,,u •- .,
rjusiiiess of medical electricians, makers of and dealer**
electric light bath.s, and other apparatus. Subscribers : \'. - ^

Rutherfoi'l, and Amy Bernard. Regifitered office : 17, BiiLopi-ruad,
Paddington, W.

Alfred E. Wikei (L«.i-ghboiioigiii, Lid. (179 548). Private
company. liegistered Feb. 8. Capital, £2 500 in £1 shares. To take
over the businehs of a painter, decorator and ^i", .i rif^-r ,:.rr;.-.( ..f
by A. E. Walker at 16, Devonshire-square, I
and to carry on the .same and the business of •
engineers, &c. First directors, A. E. Waiker
managini^ director and chairman whilst holding 200
A. H. Walker. Remuneration until firot genf-ral -
Walker £6 per week, A. H. W^alker £5 per wetk. - .':

Walker. Registered office, 16, Devonshire-Square, 1. . ^

COMPANIES INCORPORATED OUTSIDE THE U.K.

Particulars of the Nortu-East Service Inc. have V^een filed pur-
suant to Sec. 274 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act. The
capital is S25 000 in SlOO shares. The company waa

incorporated in the State of New York on Nov. 17, 1920. to carry
on the business of dealers in electric motors, dynamos, electric
supplies, &c. The British address is London. W. Frost, of 179.
Queen Victoria-street, is authorised to accept service of process and
notices. Directors : J. W. Tracy, C. W. Coopman. J. S. Fitch, and
V M. Swan, all of Rochester, N.Y. File number 2 069 F.

Particulus of Unipressure. Ltd., have been filed pursuant to
Section 274 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act. The company
was incorporated in Jersey on Oct. 8, 1921, with a nominal capital
of £50 000 in £1 shares, to adopt an agreement with G. Le Mar-
chand and to carry on business as financiers, concessionaires, miners.
mechanical and electrical engineers, suppliers and transmitters of
electricity and electric energy for lighting, heating power, tele-
graphic, telephonic, or other purposes, general agents. &c.
Directors : A. S. Elmore, The Grove, St. Lawrence. Jersey.
engineer ; R. H. Bingham ; F. W. Brackett : and Dr. Friedric n
Esser. The Bntiah address is 701, Salisbury House, E.C. 2. where
J. A. Stocker, chartered secretary, is authorised to accept service
of process and notices on behalf of the company. File number,
2 066F.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

The Cheltenham Works, Ltd., are circulating a new edition of
their illustrated catalogue containing details of Reljlac and Sctkr
Reno lathes and accessories.

The latest trade price list of M.K. wall plugs and sockets, issaed
by the Heavy Current Electric Accessories Company, shows a
reduction in prices of from 14 to 25 per cent.

Special features of the " Edlswan " primary batteries are given m
the leaflet published by the manufacturers, the Edison Swan-
Electric Company. A useful list of addresses of the company's
twenty-four depots is given on the last page.

Peyton & Peyton, Ltd., lave issued a supplementary catalogue
and price list of their latest electric light fittings. The Sloan Elec-
trical Company, which represent the firm in the London district.
the West of England, and on the South Coast, will be pleased to
send a copy of the cat,ilogue on application.

An illustrated catalogue of the Kestner P.atent W.ater Tt-BE
Boiler has jiust been brought out by Raiisomes. Sims & Jefferic*.
Ltd.. who, as we announced in our issue of Jan. 6. have l>een
appointed sole manufacturers and licensees in the United Kingdom.
the Colonies and Dependencies, South America, Dutch Indies, and
China.

The Clyde Electrical Company have published a list of their
" Clydelco " cable sockets, which are made to conform to B.E.S.A.
specifications. Tlie advantages claimed for these scx'kets are that
they are considerably heavier than those at present oji the market ;
thev are pressed from solid drawn copper tube, ind are heavily
tinned all over. The prices range from Is. 3d. to £4 15s. per dozen.

" Notes on Ai'tom.\tic Telephony." issued by the Relay Auto-
matic Telephone Company, is a nicely ^ot-up pamphlet, setting out
some of the advantages of automatic telephones in con»nari*;on with
the old-fashioned systems still in use in m.i' '" *

interest the business man are de.nlt with, dei:

%vhv the ■■ Relav " automatic telephosie is " the ^ : : .-_. .1

of "the future."" A number of intei-esting illustrations are given.

Simple.x Conduits. Ltd., has issued a supplement (List No. 91"^
to their general catalogue of conduit and conduit fittings. It is
8olelv a provisionnl ine;ins of giving the current prices, as. in
the course of the next few weeks, the firm hope to issue a new and
cHimnlete edition of the c^italoirue. Particular attention is drawn
to tne recent introduction of certain distinctive features in the
Simplex condi.it. For instance, every length of conduit, after being
finally approved, is now marked with a distinctive red label; and
every length of sci^w conduit sent out is fitted at one end
with a screwed coupler, and at the other end with a cap of
suitable material completely covering and protecting the clean
throads which are cut after the eivamellii.g of the conduit.

208

The Electrician.

February 17, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED. ~

The following ahxtract Irom some of Ike *Ve<^%«*^^'l\^^'^%C^jii'^*i^Z
been specially compiled by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent
Agents. 70 and 72. Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

Complete Specifications.

140 451 SiEMENS-ScHUCKERTWERKE Ges. Menus of cliangins: the poles oi

four-phase windings of alternating current dynamo-electno

141 364 Industrial Eesearch Corporation. Electrical generating systems.

142 105 Lincoln Electric Co. Electric arc systems, and particularly

electric arc welding systems. (26/2/15.)
145 436 SiEMEN.s-ScHUCKE'fTWERKE Ges- Protective arrangements for alter-
nating-cu -rent systems. (20/12/18.) (Additions to 138 367) .

148 964 Ges. FIjr Nautische Instrumente. Electrical contact device.

149 ''05 Mylo E'. Inclined carbon lamp piovided with magnetic regula-
tions of the arc. (28/6/18.) ^ ^ , . . y -„„i^

149 920 Akt. Ges. Brown, Boverie et Cie. Apparatus for starting single

armature converters from the alternating current side. (16/8/19.)
151 962 Western Electric Co., Ltd. Repeaters for high-frequency electric

signalling systems. (30/9/20.)
160 431 FoRSHEE. J. K. Electrodes. (18/3/20.) .. , , . • ,

160 730 BoucHEROT, P. Electric relays especially suitable for wireless

telegriphy, l24/3'20.) . ,, ^ , ■,• r, j

161 548 MegerI.e E. Electro-magnetically operated sounding horns and

thelike. (10/4/20.) ■ ^ ^ -r,,' . • i ♦ n

166 618 Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Electrical controllers.

168 723 Cliffe, J. W., & Eutter, T. B. ' Automatically operated electric
switch mechanism for use in connection with cinematograpli
apparatus to cut off the current in case of breaking ot a him.
(30/6/20.) ^ ^ X . X II" HI

168 741 West & Co.. Ltd., A., & Page, G. Contacts for. electric switches
and other circuit closing devices. (12/7/20.) ... „ ,

163 804 Igranic Electric Co., Ltd. (Cutler Hammer Manufacturing Co.).
Controllers for electric motors. (2/11 '20.) , , ■, ■

168 812 Wickett, J H. Electrical treatment of ferreous metals during

casting. (3/6/20). (Divided Application on 154 711.)

169 191 Holslag, C. J. Electric arc welding systems. (25/3/20.)
169199 Clover. H. K Electric faucets. (18/5/20) , -r., , . ^ ,
169 208 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.).

Systems of Electrical control for dynamo-electno machines.
'20/5/20) ,...-, X J iu VI

169 239 Twiss, G. V. Fittings for electric pm insulators and the like.

169 243 Lazarus,' S. A. Telephone instruments. (18/6/20.) (Cognate
Application 6 285/21.) ^ ,, .^ nv^r x * • /- ^

169 246 Igranic Electric Co., Ltd. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Co.).
Charging-appartus for electric-storage batteries. (18/6/20.)

169 250 Radio Communication Co., Ltd., & Lea, N. Production ot
electrical oscillations by means of thermionic valves. (19/6/20.)

169 257 Stockwell, E. J., & Falk, Stadelmann, & Co. Method of secur-
ing metallic contact or electrical continuity between unscrewed
tubes and fitting in conduit wiring systems. (21/6/20J

169 280 Coates, W. A., Davies, D. R., & Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical
Co., Ltd. Electrical switch-gear. (22/6/20.)

APPLICATIONS FOE PATENTS
November 19, 1921.
.30 907 Sullivan. Duplex, &c., telegraphic systems.
30 930 Schierwater. Electric smoothing irons, kettles, &c.
.30 935 Aspden. Incandescent lamp holders.
30 959 English Electric Co. Packing device for use between fixed and

rotating parts.
30 968 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric heaters. .

30 973 Marks (S. A. A. E. Soc. Anon.). Protecting devices for electric

installations.
30 983 Lawson. Electric bells, gongs, &c
30 984 Aymard. Electrically operated lioins.
30 993 Brown. Electrical recording and reproduction of sound.

30 994 Marks (S. A. A. E. Soc. Anon.). Multiplication of phases of a.c.

network.

November 21, 1921.

31 006 Hyland. Portable electric lamps.
31 014 PiLKiNGTON. Electric transmitters.

31 021 Railing, Owen & Quance. Insulated connector for electric
conductors.

31 027 Sykes. Electro-magnetic apparatus for recording sound.

31 033 Fuller. Storage Ijattery containe,?

31 043 SHEAtiER. Electric ignition timv;r8 or distributors for internal
combustion engines.

31057 CiiuicKSHANK. Electrodes or anodes for prevention of con-osion
in boilers. &c.

31069 MuLLER. Excess voltvrre cut-out.

31 080 Chambfj{lain & Hookham & James. Instruments for measuring
wattless component of alternating cuiTents

31 083 Ellis & Vines. Electric heat radiators.

31 095 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Telephone instruments. (7/12/20,
U.S.)

31 096 Carles Apparatus for overcoming effects produced upon tele-
graph, &c., lines by vicinity of s.p. currents. (4/3/21, France.)

November 22, 1921.
Forges et Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Jeumont.

Mounting armatures of electrical machij.^8. (23/11/20, France.)
Forges et Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Jeumont.

Commutation of d.c. machines. (23/11/20, France)
Summers. Terminal ends for electric wires and cables.
Dalgleish & Schattner. Electric cookers and radiators.
B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric in.struments.
Myers. Automatic switches.

Western Electric Co. Switches. (26/11/20, U.S.)
Haddan (Neumeyer Akt. Ges.). Electric starters for internal

combustion engines.
Weeks Piioto-Enghaving Co. Apparatus for electrical etching.

(2/4/21, U.S.)
Seidner. Liquid-cooled electric machines. (29/ 1'2/17, Germany.)
Monnot. Electrical switching devices for sound warning signals.
Weeks Photo-Eno raving Co. E'ectrical etching. (25/4/21, U.S.)

31 121

31122

31 147
31 169
31 225
31 229
31249
31252

31270

31271
31274
31275

November 23. 1921.
31 325 ScEUiL. Fuses or cut-outs.
31 312 Turton. Electric horns.
31 332 Railing & Wilson. Liquid rheostats.

h frequency telephony.
Wireless direction finding
Thermionic generators,
cilla-

31 353 Radio Communication Co. & Lea. Production of unidirectional

currents from alternatinsr currents.
31 376 CooMBE & Webber. Holders with locking devices for incandescent

lamps. .

31 387 Meijer. Coupling a.c. generators m parallel.
31 394 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.) Switches.
31 395 Engl & Massole & Vogt Electro-static telephones
31 407 Neumann. Accumulators. (17/8/21, Germany.)

November 24, 1921
31 432 Hitch. Motor for utilising electro-magnetic energy of the earth.
31 437 Borland. Electrically-driven gear for conversion of hand-operated

knitting machines to power driven.
31 461 Bull. Steam wagon electric lighting set.
31 490 Siemens Bros & Co. & Humphries. Selecting de\ices for au'

raatic, &c., telephone systems.
31 502 Contell. Alternator.
31 509 Western Electric Co. Applying magnetic material to electrica!

conductors. (8/12/20, U.S.)
31 510 Weste^in Electric Co. Electro-magnetic relay.
31 511 Western Electric Co. Signalling systems.
31 517 Krausse:^. Electric lamps. (20/12/20, ^Germany.)

31536 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie.

(5/2/21, Germany.)

31 537 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie.

apparatus. (14/12/20, Germany.)
31 538 Ges. fitr Drahtlose Telegraphie

(11/1/21, Germany.)
31 539 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Circuits for electrical

tions. (25/11/20, Germany.)
31 544 Steele, McCarthy & Martin. Arc welding.
-81 545 Davis. Electric telegraphs.

November 25, 192i.
31 568 Bosch (R.) Akt. Ges Ignition apparatus. (25/11/20, Germanv.i
31 572 Tant. Electric wall-plugs, &c.
31 595 Ide & Painter. Electric switches.
31 597 Sparks & Tonks. Electric switches,
31 604 Helmore. Electric switch locator.
31622 Krupp (F.) Akt. Oes. Process for producing electrically insulating

and mechanicallj adherent coating on metal. (13 '12 '20,

Germany.)
31 642 Harrington. Goldfarb & Bottom. Fuses.
31 646 Hunt. Battery case carrier for road vehicles.

November 26, 1921
31 664 Simpson. Anti-vibration device for electric lamps.
31730 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Switches

November 28, 1921.

31 754 Hope. Electric fuses or cutouts.

31 755 ^' 31 753 Hope. Ironclad switches.

31 772 Tepine. Switch and distribution boxes, &c.

31 793 Crompton & Co., & Houston. Wooden poles for carrying overhead
wires.

31 816 Dixon. Telegraphy.

31 824 Noble. Telephone sub-station metering and/or tolling.

31 834 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Electrical measuring instru-
ments. (7/12/20, U,S.)

31 839 Sondure Antogeone Francaise. Electric welding of cast iron.
(24/12/20, France.)

31 843 Sayers. Windings for armatures of electric machines, &c.

November 29, 1921.
31 873 Forges et Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Jeumont.

Power integrating and limiting systems. (3/12/20, France.)
31 879 Macaulay. Electric lighting systems.
31 884 LiNFooT. Electric pipe. &c., lighter.
31 900 Williams. Electric fuses.

31 927 Fuller's United Electric Works & Welch. Galvanic batteries.
31 936 Knapp (F.) Akt. Ges. Overloa4 switches for protection of motors.

(30/12/20. Germany.)
31 938 White. Electric motor for gramophones, &c.
31 948 Owen. Radio receiving systems. &c.
31 950 Jensen. Multi-wire safety fuse.

31 960 Silica Synd, King. & Reynolds. Mercury, &c., vapour lamps.
31976 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.) & Pollock. Electric motor controllers.
31 982 Yerbury. Cooling apparatus.

31 997 DucKENFiELD, Ross, & Jubb. Electro-magnetically locking railway

carriage doors, &c.

November 30, 1921.

32 019 Taylor. Reducing capacity cur- ent losses in cables.
32 025 MoNSON. Therapeutic arc light projector.

32 058 Bramley-Moore. Apparatus for electro-therapeutic use.

32 059 Bramley-Moore. Instrument to bend rays from an arc.

32 066 & 32 067 Doring. High-frequency transformers.

32 094 Phi-Kappa Synd. & Kluitjmans. Electric irons, ovens, hot-

32 101 Baynha'm. Electric power transmission mechanism.

32 107 Frost. Thermionic valves.

32 122 Hood. Distributors or commutators of electric ignition system ^

32 139 Price. Electric switching or commutating devices.

32 140 Previer Electric Welding Co. & Paterson. Electric arc weldin^-.

December 1, 1921.

32 159 Heurtley. Working of telegraph cables.

32 160 Turner. Wireless telegraph receivers.

32 184 Mather. Gas and electric heaters, &c. , ^ • m

32 188 Cox. Apparatus for cooling electric resistances or electrical!y
heating fluids.

.32 211 Phi-Kappa Synd & Kluijtmans. Electric fuses. , ^ .

32 212 Phi-Kappa Synd. & Watson. Electric heaters and commutators for
use therewith. ^ -r^ ■ t t-h i • j

,32 236 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. (WestinghouVe Electric apd
Manufacturing Co.). Switches. . , . , ,

,32 241 Sevfferth & Hansen Ges. Electro-magnetic devices for heavy
current switches. (R '12/20, Germany.)

32 252, 32 253, 32 254, & 32 255. Bryan. Electric heaters.

32 277 Alloy Welding Processes, Ltd., & Jones. Electrodes for solder-
ing and depositingr metals.

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishinfj Offices of " Thk
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.O. 4. TtU
fjranix: Bcnbrntric, Fleet. London. Telenhone : Citii 9852 (5 lim:'
' The .'tub.icription to " The Electrici.an " is £2 12 0 per an7ium
in the United Kingdom, and £2 14 0 per annum Ahroad. Advertise-
ment Hates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
tisement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday fjecedmcf
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

KSTABMSIIKD 1861.
THE OLDEST WKEKLY IIJ.USTRATKD JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2284. [v,,,.

No. H.
LXXXVIII

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1922

per;

.\^,t ,■!■'.., 1 1+1.

Price I -

CONTENTS.

NOTB8 OF THE WbKK ,, 209

The Industrial •S'uture in India . 211

Helpinu the Textile Indcstrt 213

The Textile Industry and Public Electricity Supply. By

W. J. H. Wood 21*

Review 2.6

Electric Driving in Scottish Woollen Mills. By A. W. Stevenson,

B.Sc. (Edin.), Wh.Ex. Iliiistrat-'d 217

Artificial Daylight. By J. S. Dow. Illustrated 220

The Industrial Future in India. By J, F. Crowley, D.Sc, B.A.,

M.I.E.E. Illustrated 222

Electricity in the Laco Industry. By J. P. Crowley, D.Sc, B.A.,

M.IE.E. Illustrated : 225

Ball Bearings for Textile Work 228

Mechanical Storage of Water Power as a Factor in Textile

Production. lUu-trated 229

Recent Developments in Textile Drives. Illustrated 233

The New Oerlikon Geared Individual Drive for Looms.

Illustrated 235

Hvdro-Electiic Power in India 237

Te.xtile Mill Motors. 238

The Coming Electricity Bill 23^

The B.E. A.I. Research Association 238

Institution Electrical Engineers' Dinner

Duke of York at Oarara Lamp Works

The Wimbled n Emeute

Post Olbce Engineering Progress

Tradi Terms and Conditions

Legal Intelligence

Exhibition Notes

Obituary

Trads Inquiries

Parliamentary Intelligence

Social Notes

Electricity Supply

Telegraph and Telephone Notes

Electric Traction

Personal and Appointments

Institution Notes

Wireless Notes

Business Items, &c

Companies' Meetings, Reports, <5:c

Tenders Invited and Accepted

Arrangements for the Week

Commercial Intelligence

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c

239
2:i9
240
210
240
240
241
241
241
241

242
24-'
243
243
243
243
243
244
245
245
:;46
246

Notes of the Week.

" The Electrician " Sixpence Again.

Beginning v^rith next issue, the annual subsci-iption to
The Electrician will be reduced from 52s. to 25s., and
single copies will be obtainable at 6d. instead of Is. each.
Existing subscribers will receive immediate benefit from
these reductions by having the unexpired balance of their
subscriptions spread over an additional period, the exact
length of which will depend on the amount of prepaid sub-
scription standing to their credit on March 1. The
Electrician has long been regarded as an impartial mii'ror
of the doings and views of the electrical industry as a
whole. The electrical industry, perhaps more than any
other, is dependent for its progress on constant research
and investigation, and it is felt that the conclusions of
scientists engaged in such work, as well as questions of
policy and the latest news, should be available to every
student of electrical matters at a price suited to his purse,
be it fat or be it slender. The Electrician contains,
week by week, information which is absolutely indispensable
to its readers. Indeed, for the man who takes his pro-
fession seriously it is not a question of whether he shall or
shall not read it : he knows perfectly well he must read i I
if he is io keep abreast of the times. The appeal of The
Electrician has been greatly widened during the past few
years, and abundant evidence reachas us that in its present
form the paper provides just the medium of expression
which members of the electrical profession and industry
everywhere are seeking.

The Institution Jubilee.

Once again The Electrician has distinguished itself by
being in advance of the times — in this case nearly twelve
months. For in our issue of May 13, 1921, we called atten-
tion to the fact that on May 17, 1871, was held a meet-
ing which resulted in the formation of the Society of Tele-
graph Engineers, and to the development in subsequent

years of this small body into the Institution of Electrical
Engineers, with a Royal Charter and a membership of
over 10 000. We confess that at the time wo were sur-
prised that we were almost alone in celebrating this event,
and that the Institution itself took no particular steps to
mark its birthday. It now appears that though May 17,
1871, was the true date of birth, the first council meeting
was only held on June 30 of that year, while several months
were spent in collecting materials for the meeting of the
opening session, so that the '" working life " of the body
did not begin until February 28, 1872. "While it may be
ai-gued that any body has a perfect right to celebrate its
anniversaries when and how it pleases, it may also be
pointed out that the policy adopted on this occasion creates
a new terror for biographers. In accordance with this law
a mah's career starts, not with his birth, but with the
beginning of '' his working life " — rather a nebulous mile-
stone. This foreshortening will often deprive us of much
entertainment, and will add both simplicity and complica-
tion to the preparation of the chronicles of the men and
doings of future times.

Fathers of Electrical Science and Industry.

In arransrin? the Jubilee Commemoration of the Insti-

.J
lution the Council took a wise course. Fo^ history and

tradition were the foundations of the meetings that have
been held this week. The lessons that can be learnt from
the remarks of the vai-ious speakers are that the enter-
prise, foresight, and optimism of the pioneers — qualities
which have assisted much to make the electrical industry
what it is to-day — will be requireil in ever greater measure
in future, as the hill we have to climb seems to become
ever steeper, and the field that it is bur duty to till opens
6ver more and more upon our view. Prof. Fleming spoke
pointedly and instructively on the theme of Faraday, a
name which will ever be honoured among electrical engi-
neers as connoting all that is best in human nature, whether
it be considered from the point of view of the scientist or
the man. Subsequent speakers, whil^" dealing with their

210

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

own experiences, did honour to Kelvin, Clerk Maxwell,
Bright and Siemens, to take as typical the many names
that are household words in the electrical industry. Espe-
cially do we commend the remarks of Mr. Wordingham on
HoPKiNSON, a man who, as Faraday was the father of elec-
trical science, was the father of the modern electrical indus-
try. It is by considering the work, no less than the per-
sonality, of such men that electrical engineers may gain
encouragement to deal with the tasks that lie before them.
In this connection we should do well to remember, as the
" Westminster Gazette " reminds us, that " The Institu-
tion of Electrical Engineers is our own," though we wel-
come the idea that " its celebration of its fiftieth birth-
day is a matter which the world at large may well be
inclined to share with us.'- In fifty years the Institution
of Electrical Engineers has erected a great tradition. It
is for electrical engineers of the present to do all they can
to increase the brightness of its glory. It may then be said
that the commemoration was a great success, and that the
only regret of those prijsent was the forced abstention of
the President from the proceedings. The commemoration
was Mr. Highfield's idea. He must console himself with
the fact that he is not the only creator who has failed to see
the culmination of his work.

The Revision of Electro-magnetic Laws.

In a Paper recently read before the Franklin Institute,
Dr. Carl Hering points out that some so-called " univer-
sal ' ' laws require restatement. At all events, experiments
can be devised which apparently violate some of the rules
of electromagnetism. One old and well-known law, given
in every text-book, is that " like currents attract and
unlike currents repel.' Dr. Hering contends that the law
so stated is incorrect. Interpreted literally, it would lead
to the inference that the current density in a conductor
was greater at the centre than at the periphery, and,
further, that in an electro-plating bath there would be a
denser deposit at the centre of the anode that at the edges.
This is not the case. The law should accordingly be re-
worded to state that attracting and repelling forces act on
the conductor, not the current per se. Another interesting
problem is the " pinch effect," i.e., the tendency of a
liquid conductor carrying a sufficiently high current to con-
tract at the centre, breaking the circuit. The contraction
is accompanied by marked movement of the liquid con-
ductor in the direction of the axis, and there appears to
exist a self-produced stretching force, which is utilised in
elex5tric furnaces to expei the molten metal. There is also
evidence of a force tending to st.retch a conductor axially,
thereby tending to increase its length, and its existence can
be illustrated by experiments with mercury troughs.

Maxwell's Law Doubted.

Some physicists maintain that all electromagnetic forces
influencing a conductor must of necessity be pei*pendicular
to its axis, not axial. The obse^-ved effects, however,
require some explanation. Dr. Hering also questioned
the usual version of Maxwell's familiar law, based on the
alteration of the magnetic flux in a circuit. He has
devised circuits which, when unlinked, give no induction
because the cii'cuit cuts the flux, but the conductor does not.
This distinction Dr. Steinmetz has attempted to observe
in a new version of the law. A number of other ingenious
experiments are described in Dr. Hering's paper. All indi-
cate some degree of revision in the usual wording of electro-
magnetic laws. Dr. Hering, however, appears to have
evolved one general law, " that a current-carrying circuit
will tend to produce any and only such motions of its con-
ductors as will produce a counter E.M.F. somewhere in that

circuit " (though not necessarily in the moving part). "We
commend the Paper to the notice of educationi'-.ts, who
may find some of the experiments, mostly easy to repeat, a
valuable aid in promoting knowledge of the principles
underlying electromagnetic phenomena, and possibly as an
indication that a revision of the customary wording of rules
and laws is desirable. "

Electric Traction— A Distribution Question.

In the course of the discussion on Mr. F. P. Whittaker's
Paper on *' Rotary Converters with Special Reference to
Railway Electrification," Major A. M. Taylor delivered
an oration on single-phase and direct-current traction from
what may be called the mains engineer's point of view. It
is true that his remarks were not very closely connected
with rotary converter design, nevertheless they were highly
interesting, and as pressure on our space, caused by the
Textile Issue, prevents our dealing with the Paper this
week, they may be referred to here. This is Major
Taylor's argument: For the section of railway between,
6ay, London and Birmingham, 1 500 V is nothing like a
high enough pressure to employ, as, with the present traffic,
the natural and proper spacing for the sub-stations would
be thirty-six miles, and at that voltage no siub-station could
economically feed a length of more than six miles, and even
then there would be a transmission loss of 10 per cent.
In other words, to deal with a total train load of 6 000 kWj
36 000 kW of sub-station plant would be required, of which,
under the worst conditions, only 6 000 kW would be in
active operation.

The Advantages of Single Phase.

On the other hand, by employing single-phase traction at:
11 000 V, only three static sub-stations would be required,
with an aggregate capacity of 6 000 kW, at one thirty-sixth
of the price that would be necessary for direct- current trac^
tion. Thus, though a little efficiency on the locomotives
might have to be sacrificed, there is every argument for
employing single-phase rather than direct-current for main
line working. We agree. But w^e must also point out
that Major Taylor's comparisons are not quite fair.
A.ccording to him, traffic between London and Birmingham
consists only of express passenger trains. But at both ends
there is a fair, and growing, suburban traffic, while the
freight load, a most important factor, must not be neg-
lected altogether. Taking these additional influences into
consideration, it could be shown that an aggregate sub-
station load factor would be much betteor than that given by
Major Taylor, though his arguments in favour of single-
phase on the rural sections would equally stand. We are
glad this point has been raised, for it is often forgotten
in traction discussions. The sub-station and distribu-
tion problems are just as important as the locomotive and
track equipment, and are more purely electrical questions.

Yorkshire Electric Power Progress.

A satisfactory account of progress and of development]
was placed before the shareholdei-s of the Yorkshire Electric]
Power Company at the annual meeting on Tuesday.!
Though the company, whose area of supply is a mining and
industrial one, w^as seriously affected by the coal strike,
yet its net revenue is about £10 000 more than in the
previous yeai*. Notwithstanding the strike, the output
was practically the same as in 1920, but under tlie operation
of the coal clause there was a decrease in consumers' charges
and also in revenue. However, the economies effected in
generation and distribution more than counterbalanced this
drop in revenue, with the result that the directors have been
able to pay the same dividend (eight per cent.) as in 1920

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

211

on a largely increased capital. In addition, there is the
same allocation to reserve and a larger amount is carried
forward. This is an excellent record for a year full of
difficulties, and it reflects the greatest credit upon the policy
and management of the company.

Projected Extensions.

The chairman, Mr. A. G. Lupton, referred in cautious
though confident terms to the inquiry into the organi.sation
of electricity supply in the Aire and Calder district, and
he announced that the directors had in mind the provision
of a full and economical supply of electricity for all in-
dustries in the West Riding and for electric traction when
the railway companies needed a supply. The growth of the
company will shortly involve the erection of a new power
station at Ferrybridge and the laying of heavy trunk mains.
Yov these pui7)oses and for plant extensions at Thornhill
and Barugh and other works, the company want more
capital, and therefore an issue of preference shares is being
made. The terms of the issue are attractive, and as the
prospects of the company are so good we have no doubt the
public, will subscribe the money as readily as for recent
electrical issues. In fact, electricity supply securities are
now looked upon with particular favour, and we are con-
fident that the investing public will bo juotified in their
choice.

The Company's History.

Though the company's revenue in 1905, the first year of
its operation, was only about £1 000, the figure has now
grown to nearly £370 000, every year bringing increased
revenue and profits. There are now 440 miles of mains,
and during the past year extensions of mains and sub-
stations have been mad© for giving a bulk supply to the
Corpoi-ations of Dewsbury and Todmorden and to the
Urban Councils of Elland and Ilonley. An-angements
have also been made with Sheffield and Rothevham for
- joint working in the interests of cheap supply. These facts
prove conclusively that the company is facing its public
responsibilities in the right way and in the right spirit,
for with closer co-operation between the various supply
authorities in the District the era of a cheap and abundant
supi^ly of electricity, so essential to industrial progi-ess, will
be brought within reach, and when this happens there will
be a reduction of production costs, bringing in its train
increased output and prosperity to the West Riding and
to the country as a whole.

The Owner's Risk Scandal.

The principle of heads I win, tails you lose, which is
generally applied in dealings between Government Depart-
ments and private individuals must now be extended to
dealings with the railway companies, for the judgment
delivered by the House of Lords last week in the case of
Smith V. The Great Western Railway Company proves con-
clusively that ledress cannot be obtained for the loss of
goods carried on railways at the owner's risk rate. The
dispute arose over a parcel of . goods handed in at Bir-
mingham for delivery at Wilton, but not only did the
goods never reach their destination, but all trafee of them
was lost. As our readers are aware, an owner's risk con-
tract relieves the railway company from all ordinaiy risks
except on proof of wilful misconduct by its servants, so
that, as Lord Buckmaster pointed out in the course of
his judgment, even the apparent protection of the trader is
• illusoiy, for it is exceedingly difficult to prove wilful mis-
conduct, especially as evidence of such misconduct must
rest exclusively with the railway company. In practice,
therefore, railway companies may carry goods or lose them
as they choose, and tradei-s have no redress.

A Premium on Pilfcrajje.

The matter i.s of more than u.sual conse-'iuenoe at the
present time, when good.s pilferage has increased enor-
mously, a practice which i.s not likely to be suppressed until
transport undertakings are compelled to take greater care
of the gfxjds entrusted to them. But the present is alwj an
opportT'ne time for a change in legislation, for equitable
provisions could be in.serted in the amalgamation schemes
under the Railways Bill which will shortly be before Par-
liament. If this is not done we fear that matters will go
from bad to worse, as the larger the undertaking, the
greater its inertia. The tVJeration of British Industriee,
the B.E.A.M.A., the British Engineers' Association, and
other trade organisations would do well to take the matter
up so as to compel the companies to take some responsibility
for their servants' acta. This could best be done by alter-
ing the law to throw upon the companies the burden of
proving that reasonable care has been taken by them and
their servants in the handling of goods.

* Heaviside " Reprinted.

Matured readers of The Electrician will be inierH-t.-.i
to learn that Bexx Brothers, Ltd., have made arrange-
ments to reprint a small edition of Oliver Heaviside's
" Electromagnetic Theory." The edition will be limited
to 250 copies, and the three volumes will be sold only in
sets, at a price of five guineas net. Aeronauts in the
upper air of electrical theory are aware that this woi-k
has long been out of print in a complete form. Its value,
however, is undiminished, and to those engaged in wireless
research its unobtainability is a loss which our publishers
are now about to make up. It may indeed be said that,
like wine, " Heaviside " improves with age, and we are
glad to see that the date of its publication figures in the

Brief Chronology of Electrical Discovery and Invention "
which has been issued by the Institution in connection with
the Jubilee celebrations.

The Industrial Future in
India.

Even those who do not take a close and expert interest
in Indian matters know ihat that country is at present a
storm centre. That this should be so is not unnatural. For
though India escaped from the main influences of the «ar,
the clash of the conflict and the spread of education have
in recent yeap disturbed the even tenor of its immemorial
way and are, in fact, the heralds of profound changes iu both
political outlook and industrial development. Of the politi-
cal aspect of these changes it is not for us to speak, but as
Dr. J. F. Crowley shows, in an article which we publish
on another page of this issue, the industrial fac<?t of this
change is one which engineers, and especially electrical
engineei"s, will soon have to contemplate and to which,
therefore, they should lose no time in giving their uudiWded
consideration. Especially is the problem one of power.
For while India is mainly agricultural, in its large towns
industry is growing and in this issue it is particularly
interesting to note tliat the production of textiles is rapidly
increasing.

Hydro-Elcctrio Power in ladi*.

Now power in India means wealth, and we have, there-
fore, often woudereii at the comparativeJy slow progress
made in the development of hydi-o- electric power in that
Empire. Though vast resources are available, as the hvdro-
electric sur\'ey of the Government has disclosed, only a small
percentage is as yet being titilised. Several grave obstacJes
to progress provide an explanation of this. Among them

212

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

are obsolete laws, bureaucratic metliods and conserva-
tive native customs. This is clearly brought out in the
paper read by j\Tr. A. T. Arnall, before the East India
Association, which appears in abstract on another page of
this issue, and in the article by Dr. Crowley to which
we have already referred.

Legislative Amendments Necessary.

It is clear for instance that amendments of the Acts
relating to the acquisition of land and to the supply of
electrical energy are necessary to bring about a desirable
stimulation of hydro-electric development. At present
before a water power concession is granted the Local
Government insists upon the submission of a definite
scheme, and before land can be acquired there is a pre-
liminaiy inquiry to ascertain whether the land is " needed
for the construction of some work," and whetheir the work
is " likely to prove useful to the public." If both qiies-
tions are answered in the affirmative the promoting com-
pany must enter into an agreement with the Secretary of
State for India in Council, which contains the conditions
on which the land is held. There is no definition of a
public utility undertaking in the Act, and, as usually
happens when there is no standard of comparison to serve
as a guide, the interpretation of Government officers differs
widely, with the peculiar result that it is at present doubtful
whether electro-chemical and other subsidiary industries
which would greatly assist in the development of a large
hydro- electric scheme would be covered by the provisions
of the Act . Great ohstacles are placed in the way of trans-
mission schemes where power tO' supply in the area traversed
has not been obtained.

Working in the Dark.

As power developments depend upon private enterprise
it is necessary that the conditions on which land can be
acquired should be quite definite and known to the invest-
ing public before the flotation of a company. At present
the public are asked to subscribe to a power co^mpany on
the concession of the Government, and it is only after this
that the Agreement with the Secretary of Stat© for the
purchase of land can be drafted and signed. It is there-
fore not surprising to learn that there has beem little eager-
ness on the part of financiers to invest their capital in these
enterprises.

Some Other Obstacles to Progress.

Other obstacles in the path of the hydro-electric pioneers
in India are the absence of the right to pay suitable interest
out of capital during the construction period, and the terms
upon which an undertaking can be purchased. At present
a registered company may pay interest not exceeding four
per cent, on its paid-up share capital, but this rate is quite
inadeqiiate under present conditions, and as private bill
legislation is unknown in India, the only way out of the
difficulty is to amend the Indian Companies Act of 1913.

Compulsory Purchase Difficulties.

As regards purchase, the local authority or the Local
Government has the option of purchasing compulsorily a
licensed undertaking after a period not exceeding fifty
years at the fair market value of the lands, works and
plant, but excluding the " generating station," unless the
latter is declared in the licence to form a part of the under-
taking for compulsory purchase. Apart from the fact that
it is not clear what the " generating station " of a hydro-
electric scheme would include, this " concession " is quite
inadequate to attract capital except in a limited number
of cases where there is a good local demand for power. As

is well known, it usually requires about five years to con-
struct such works, and subsequently some years are needed
to develop the demand for electricity so that the remunera^
tive life of a concession would, under present conditions,
be less than forty years. It is clear, therefore, that the
Government must revise its policy without delay and grant
concessions for .water-power development which will be
more attractive than they have hitherto been. That is, of
course, if they want such development to take place. The
best way to do this would be to appoint a Committee upon
which would be placed not only those who are familiar with
Indian conditions, but those who have had up-to-date
experience of modern power generation and transmission
problems.

Bombay Cotton Developments.

How necessary this is is shown by the fact that over 130
water pov'er sites were disclosed by the Government water-
power survey, and it is estimated that there is a total of
1 774 000 continuous electrical horse-power in sight, though
even this is only a small fraction of the actual available
power. ;The total capacity of the existing hydro-electric
plants is only 91 325 e.h.p. and 148 750 e.h.p. is
under construction. Out of this total 79 per cent, is for
the supply of power to Bombay city, the centre of the
cotton spinning and weaving industry in India. Already
the great majority of the mills in this area use electric
power, and as the hydro-electric schemes promoted and
managed by the Tata. Company will ensure an abundant
supply of cheap power to the city, considerable develop-
ment is likely to take place in the next few years. The
Tata companies will eventually be capable of supplying
915 000 E.H.P. for 3 600 hours a year at a maximum of
|d. a unit. So great is the demand for power that one of
the companies (the Andhra Valley Power Supply Com-
pany), though not yet in a position to give a supply, has
contracted with the mill owners for the whole of its output at
0-735d. per unit. Its generating plant consists of six
8 000 kW sets and energy will be generated at & 000 V,
50 cycles and transmitted at 10 000 V to the city where
it will be transformed down to 2 000 V, the standard
pressure for local mill driving.

Further Reasons for Encouragement.

There is a further reason for the encouragement of trade in
India in the bold bid which is being made by other countries,
especially Japan and the United States, to capture the
import market. As it is the curves which Dr. Crowley
give show how the textile industries are growing, while
even the iron and steel industries and heavy engineering
manufacture are on the upward grade. Apart from power,
however, sociological conditions need special study. The
weavers in the State of Madras claim to be of the Brahmin
caste, and cannot be induced under any circumstances to
work in factories. This at present rules out the use of the
electric drive, though with mere education and modified
conditions that may come in time. Handspinning is, how-
ever, uneconomic, and here therefore lies a great opening
for modem methods. There are, it is obvious, ample pro-
blems for solution, and it is to be hoped that the Indian
Government will tackle them in a public-spirited way.
There is the more reason for this as such developments
will increase the earning powers of the country, and by
increasing prosperity blunt the weapons of the agitators
whose only object is to do hann. Given his way on the
other hand, the engineer can do the greatest good. There
can be no difference of opinion, therefore, on the choice of
course to be taken.

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

213

Helping the Textile Industry.

This issue of The Electrician is the fourth which we
have specially devoted to a consideration of the application
of the eleotrio drive to the operation of textile machinery.
On this occasion the question is dealt with on the broadest
lines by various contributors. Mr. W. J. H.Wood, of Bolton,
discusses the various factors which will enable a mill owner
under present conditions — which are very different from
those of a few years ago — to decide whether he should use
the electric drive in his mill, and whether, should he decide
in favour of the electric drive, he should obtain his supply
from the public supply mains or from private generating
plant. Mr. A. W. Stevenson deals with the electric driv-
ing of Scottish woollen mills. These mills are a class of
textile factoi-y where special conditions rather favourable
to the electric drive are present, principally for the inter-
esting reason that water has long been used as a source of
power. The presence of water, however, encourages rather
than rules out the use of electricity supply, as will be appar-
ent from the article on the installation at Ballantyne and
Company's Walkerburn mills, which appears on another
page of this issue, and from the details which Mr. Steven-
son gives of the equipment in P. and R. Sanderson's mills
at Galashiels.

Textiles and Hydro-Electric Storage.

In the former mill water-wheels were used for over sixty
years to supply the necessary power, but owing to exten-
sions, the inefficieinoy of the transmission within the mills
and the hydraulic losses it was decided as soon as the neces-
sary rights could be obtained to adopt electricity supply ob-
tained from modem water turbines for driving the machin-
ery. To do this economically meant the solution of a
number of interesting problems, and especially did it
necessitate the storage of power on lines which the Severn
Barrage Scheme has made familiar. Fortunately, topo-
graphical conditions made this possible, and the result is
a most interesting scheme on which the millowners and
the contractors, Boving & Company, are equally to be con-
gratulated. Though this is not primarily a textile ques-
tion, the way in which this work is carried out is a gratify-
ing indication that the possibilities of the employment of
what water power we possess are not being neglected.

Textiles and Daylight Standards.

The problems of the textile manufacturer do not, how-
ever, stop at the spinning or weaving of the materiaj,
matters with which we have dealt exhaustively in former
textile issues. There remains the great difficulty of dye-
ing the product, and beyond that again the even greater
difficulty of selling it. With dyeing, as dyeing, the elec-
trical industry has not much concern, except that we may
express the hope that the work and enterprise which has
in recent years been put into attempts to recover a lost
industry will not fail of success. But one of the chief
problems of dyeing is not so much to colour the material,
as to colour it to an exact tint which can be reproduced
with accuracy as often as may be required. Modern tastes
for variegated and brilliant colours, both in dress mate-
rials and in furnishing, therefore impose a dual problem
on the textile manufacturer — the production of a hard-and-
fast colour and its accurate matching with material of the
same colour that has been placed on the market or used
as a sample. This problem is not simple. For one thing, it
is immensely complicated by the limited nomenclature used
to identify colours and tintvS. It is further complicated

by the fact that there is no standard illumination for
matching purposes, and that fabrics of certain colours
present quite a'^different appearance in artificial light from
what they do in daylight.

A Standard of Illumination Necessary.

Some standard of illumination which shall be stable,
and shall correspond as closely as possible to " north-sky "
illumination is required. The problem has received a
good deal of study, and, as Mr. Dow shows in his article,
is now in a fair way to be satisfactorily solved. In quite
another way than in the matter of driving can electricity
be of use to the textile industry, for such artificial daylight
can obviously only be obtained by electrical means.

Electricity as a Factor in Production.

The information which we publish in this issue will, we
hope, therefore interest, if not convince, the textile manu-
facturer of the advantages of using the many ways in which
electricity can help him to cheapen his production and
thereby the more readily to sell his product. As is only
too well known, the textile industry is passing through a
period of grave depression. The cost of production is high,
raw materials and selling prices follow suit, and demand
naturally dwindles. Under such conditions, to advise the
textile manufacturer to embark on fresh expenditure for
motors and other electrical equipment is rather like offerint^-
ing the man who requires bread a suit of clothes. But there
is this about a suit of clothes given to a starving man —
it can be turned into money. Equally would the adop-
tion of the electric drive mean money to the textile manu-
facturer, and the relief from burdens which are inseparable
from the use of steam plant. Nor must the gain to the
amenities of the Lancashire towns and the improvements in
the health of the workers which would be made possible by
this means be forgotten.

The Electric Heating of Mills.

All this is clear enough from Mr. Wood's careful
analysis of the various methods of dri\'ing and power pro-
duction that the textile manufacturer may employ.
From the electrical point of view the matter is compli-
cated by the need for steam in the textile factory. To
remove the boilers, therefore, is to deprive the manufac-
turer of a commodity that he needs, and at once mitigaies
the use of electricity supply, at any rate when it is drawn
from the public mains. But as Mr. Wood hints, even for
heating textile mills, it is possible to use electricity, and we
shall look forward with interest to tho publication of the
details of the installation in which this is done.

The Electrical Industry in a Strong Position.

Fortunately for real progress, the electrical industry is
in a stronger position with regard to the textile issue than
it was twelve months ago. For one thing, the prices of
supply are falling, though this movement might well be
accelerated. For another, the generating plant in. the ceJi-
tral stations is no longer overloaded, and deficiencies are
rapidly being made up. For a third, electrical manufac-
turers are in a position to give speedy deliveries of the
necessary equipment. All these, in conjunction, should
result in steadv progress. As Mr. Wood points out, there
is no need to exaggerate the claims of the electric drive.
It is not pert'ect, but it is a good deal better than anything
else, and it can give advantages to tJie textile manufac-
turer which are obtainable in no other way.

214.

The Electrician — February 24, 1922

The Textile Industry and Public Electricity Supply.

By W. J. H. WOOD.

Manager, Bolton Corporation Electricity Department.

The textile manufacturer, Mr. Wood points out, wishes to be convinced that in adopting the electric drive he will gain advantages which cannot be

obtained in any other way. The problem has many sides, and Mr. Wood considers the particular cases of an existing steam-driven mill changing

over to the electric drive and of a new mill; and in both cases the relative economies of private generation and public supply. The heating

problem, which is in many cases the determining factor, is shown to be capable of solution by electrical means.

Only those who dwell in industrial districts, and especially
in Lancashire, within a fifty-mile radius of Manchester,
can fully realise the advantage it will be to the general
community if the long-promised, and so much talked-of,
cheap and abundant supply of electricity materialises, and
ia generally applied, as a form of energy, for all industrial
purposes.

It is only necessary to stand and observe, from some of
the heights of the beautiful, rugged moorlands, so often
to be found Within a few miles of the centres of industry
in Lancashire, fully to appreciate the enormous advantage
it would be, from a health point of view, quite apart from
any commercial consideration, to remove that depressing
blanket of smoke which hangs like a pall over the vista at
one's feet.

Lancashire's Staple Industry.

It must be generally known to readers of The Elec-
TEiciAN that the staple industry of Lancashire is cotton
spinning and the resultant tecxtile trades. Consequently it
must be equally well known that Lancashire, as the home
of the textile industry of the world, must also present great
possibilities for improvements in power production. The
greatest advantages to all are, of course, those resulting
from a centralisation of power and a cheap and abundant
supply of energy, for all purposes, so essential to every
manufacturer. Consequently the subject of electricity
supply, as applied to the textile industry, much as we have
heard of it during recent years, must be of interest hot
only to the electricity supply engineer, but to the manufac-
turer of electrical machinery, and especially to the user of
energy — the textile manufacturer.

Those who have had experience in pushing the sale of
electrical equipment for textile purposes, and those who
have canvassed the manufacturer to become a user of elec-
trical energy, perhaps alone fully appreciate the diffi-
culties that have been overcome, to attain even the present-
day demand for electrical driving in this industry.

A Cheap Supply of Power Essential.

The Lancashire textile manufacturer is generally a
shrewd business man who knows what he wants. One of
the chief things in which he is interested is a cheap supply
of power for operating the machinery he uses to manu-
facture the textile goods he deals in, whether it is cotton
or any other industry connected with cotton. Whether
this power is supplied to him from an outside source, or
whether he produces it himself, f'epends upon how much it
will cost him to produce, compared with how much it will
cost him to buy.

Although in very many instances the stumbling-block
has been prejudice against something new, yet it must
be admitted that, in most cases, it has been due
to the cost. It has been impossible for the seller
of electrical equipment and the j^roducer of electrical
energy to convince the teixtile manufar-turer tliat it would
pay him to buy power rather than to produce it himself.
Hence we are still constantly faced witii such remarks as :

Yes, I should like to drive my mills by electricity, but
it is much too expensive as compared with steam." And
yet, is it too expensive as compared with steam driving ?

The Proof of the Pudding.

Surely the maxim that the proof of the pudding is in
the eating is applicable here, because in every part of Lan-
cashire— and we are dealing with the textile industry,
whose home is Lancashire^— if there is an efficient public
supply authority available, there is an increased demand
for electricity for textile mill driving, and the number of

factories already equipped is proof that it must pay the
user. On this point there can be no possible argument,
for if it did not the Lancashire cotton- sj^inner would have
" nowt " to do with it.

Many who are not conversant with the conditions obtain-
ing in a modem well-designed and laid-out cotton mill are
inclined to underrate the high standard of efficiency that
is obtained from the power-producing plant, and one very
often comes up against a snag when negotiating for a
supply of electrical energy to drive a modern mill already
equipped with a modern steam engine ininning at its most
efficient load and under the most favourable conditions.

It is equally true that in many instances, and especially
in the case of old-established concerns, antiquated steam
engines and boilers are found still grinding out the energy
required for operating the factory. But the conclusion is
soon reached that there are many steam-power plants in
use whose owners will take a great deal of convincing that
it will pay to convert and buy electrical energy from a
public supply authority.

Does it Pay to Take a Public Supply ?

The question is often asked whether it pays the textile
factory owner to drive his works electrically, and to pur-
chase the energy from a public supply authority. In
answering this question there are many factors to consider
and conditions to investigate, because in almost every case
these vary. Consequently the question as to whether it
pays depeinds entirely upon the capital outlay involved, the
state and performance of the power plant already installed,
the adaptability of the factory to electrical driving, and,
most essential of all, the price at which energy can be
purchased from the public supply authority.

The Advantages of a Public Supply.

Let us, therefore, consider the advantages of a public
supply of eleictricity for the purpose of textile mill driving.
So many articles have been written at diffei'ent times, and
so many arguments have ah'eady been used, that it becomes
difficult to treat the siibject with any degree of originalit}' ;
but the fact remains, providing a public supply of elec-
tricity is available at a figure tc-day round about a Id. per
unit, it does pay to use it. Not only will the textile manu-
facturer find that the annual capital charges on the elec-
trical equipment are less than those on a steam-driven
plant, but there is also a saving in operating costs.

In the case of an electrically driven mill the space occu-
pied by the electrical equipment is negligible, as compared
with that required for boilers and auxiliaries, engine, biiild-
ings, reservoirs, &c. This allows considerably more pro-
ductive, or manufacturing, machineiy to be installed on
the same ground space. Another outstanding advantage
of purchased energy is that the power is delivered at the
point of use, consequently friction losses are cut down to
a minimum ; and, further, the supply being switched on and
off as required, the user only pays for what is productive,
all stand-by losses being eliminated. The energy require*.!
is always available, and the question of providing spare
})lant does not concern the user, the supply authority
relieving him of that responsibility. The consumer is not
interested in the many difficulties that arise in running a
central power-producing ])lant, such as obtaining fuel
supply, labour complications, breakdowns and other
troubles.

The Reliability Factor.

Reliability must be a main feature of the public supply,
and, therefore, the public generating station carries spare
plant, wliich is always ready for use in the event of break-

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

21;

down. And no matter what happens at the station, or
what difliculties the supply authai-ity may have to contend
with, it does not concern the consumer. For, as he is pre-
pared to pay for the energy he uses, this must be available
whenever he chooses to operate a switch.

It is often difficult to obtain from the textile manufac-
turer any reliable figures of the operating costs of his
power-producing plant, or, rather, of what factors he in-
cludes when comparing them with the cost of purchased
energy. In comj^aring the ccst of purchased energy with
the cost of self-produced power, all capital and standing
charges on plant, reservoirs, buildings, &c., must be
iucluded, as well as repairs and maintenance costs, wages,
stores, insurance, rates, and, of course, fuel, cartage of
ashes, and water. The purchase price of electrical energy
is the net cost of power delivered at the factory, practi-
cally at the point of usage, to which must be added the
capital and standing charges, and only those items quoted
above which, apply.

A Definite Example.

Let us take the case of the manufacturer owning an old-
establi.shed works, who' finds it necessary to replace an obso-
lete steam engine and boiler-house plant, because, owing to
many years of seiTice, these are no longer coinpetent
efficiently to supply the power required. Naturally, it
occurs to him that, as he has to renew the whole, or any-
way the larger part, of his steam-power plant, the time
is opportune to consider purchasing electrical energy, and
he makes inquiries to determine whether it will pay him.

In order to make a comparison at prices obtaining to-day,
let us assume that the net cost of electrical energy pur-
chased is 0-75d. per unit, with coal at 20s. per ton, and
for a demand equivalent to 1 000 h.p. indicated on steam
engine, and 2 350 running hours per annum. The cost of
coal, to (he mill owner, being 25s. per ton, including the cost
of handling and removing ashes.

Assuming that the existing engine and boiler-house
buildings, with minor alterations, will be suitable for
housing the new steam plant, then it is reasonable to esti-
mate that the cost of the new engine, boilers, economisers
and auxiliaries, together with the cost of alterations to
foundations, rope drive, &c., will amount to £18 700.

The complete electrical equipment required for this mill,
including the necessary sub-station and motor tower, with
switchgear, cables, alterations to gearing, and coupling up,
will amount to £10 500. This shows a saving of £8 200
in capital expenditure, or, say, £820 per annum. The esti-
mated running costs, taking into account fuel, labour, oil,
stores, water and maintenance and capital charges, amount
to £7 032 per annum in the case of the steam j)lant, as
against £6 797 per annum, the cost of purchased electrical
energy, plus wages, stores, maintenance and capital
charges, showing a saving of £235 per annum, making a
total saving in favour of purchased energy of £1 055 per
annum.

Thtf Case of the New Mill.

Then there arises the case of the new mill, which it is
proposed to build on a suitable site within reasonable dis-
tance of a railway siding, with ample land available for
condensing water reservoirs, &c. Again a comparison has
to be made as to whether it will pay to install steam-power
plant or to purchase energy from the public supply
authority. The proposition is rather different, although iii
effect similar to that dealt with above. For comparative
purposes let us assume that the horse-power i-equired will
amount to 1 500 i.h.p. and the purchase prices of electricity
and coal are the same as before.

In this case, starting on an entirely new scheme, it is
possible to design the lay-out of the steam-power plant and
the electrical installation in such a manner that the greatest
efficiency would be obtained from either. In addition to
the engine and boilers, &c., the estimated capital outlay
will have to include, for engine and boiler house buildings,
a chimney and foundations, a rope race, together with rope
drive and gearing, a condensing water resei-voir and pipe
connections, at a total estimated cost of £36 960. The

electrical equipment required will be a.s before, excepting
that it will have to be of greater capacity, and plant must
be included for steam heating, so that the e«timated cost of
the scheme amounts to £16 375. So that we show a
saving on capital expenditure of £20 585, or, say, £2 058
per aniuim.

The operating or running costs of the steam plant, taking
all charges into account, will amount to £10 700 per
annum, c.s against a running cost of the electrical scheme
of £10 218 per annum, showing a saving in running costs,
and, added to the annual saving on capital, making a total
of £2 540 per annum.

The Private Generating Station.

Then we have a third case, where the manufacturer who
is erecting a new factory may already be aware of the
advantages to be derived from electrical driving, and is
considering installing his own private electrical generating
plant. Where an efficient public supply is available there
is no difficulty in proving that it will not pay to install a
private electrical generating plant. The capital outlay in-
volved in electrical equipment for the actual motive power
for driving the manufacturing machineiy is the same in
both cases, and it is therefore a matter of comparing the
purchase price of electrical energy with the standing and
capital charges on the complete private generating plant,
buildings, <kc., plus the running c^st of such plant.

If the manufacturer is determined to produce his own
power, then by all means let him u.se the ordinary steam-
engine drive, and leave electricity out of the question,
always assuming that the alternative of a reasonable public
supply is not available.

The Heating Question.

It is assumed that in each of the foregoing comparisons
the cost of steam for mill heating has been included, which
brings us to consider this most important subject.

When a textile factory, or mill, has been converted from
steam to electrical driving, and especially in the case of a
new factory, equipped in the first instance for electrical
driving from the public supply mains, there is always the
difficult problem of heating the factory to be overcome.
As readei"s of The Electrician know, it is essential
in the case of cotton spinning that a certain even tempera-
ture should be maintained at all times, and, as a rule, this is
effected by means of steam heating throughout the factory.
There is considerable diversity of opinion with regard to the
aiuouut of steam required for mill-heating purposes, and
this is quite understandable, as it so much depends upon
the design of the factory, its locality, and the particular
quality of yarn manufactured, the temperature in some
cotton mills having to be maintained higher than in others.
The fact remains: textile mills must be artificially heated,
and, consequently, if a steam-driven mill is electrified, or
if a new mill is built for electi'ical driving, some provision
must be made for heating.

In the case of the converted factory, pai-t. of the existing
steam-raising plant, as a general rule, is retained for mill-
heating purposes, and in the case of the electrically driven
mill a special heating boiler has to be provided, so that
really the manufacturer, even after deciding to adopt pur-
chased electrical energy for dri\ang pui-poses, is not entirely
free from the inconveniences appertaining to boiler-house
plant, which he still has to retain purely for heating
purposes.

The Electric Heating of Mills.

The writer is of the opiuion that in order to obtain the
fullest advaiitage of purchased electrical motive power in
cotton mills it Ts necessaiy to go a step further, and heat
the mills elect I'ically. Although the ordinary methods of
electrical heating, we know, to-day are costly, and may not
be comparable with the cost of heating by means of steam,
the fact cannot be ovei"looked that there is an urgent
demand for some efficient method of electrically heating
electrically di'iven textile mills, and it is a question requir-
ing the fullest investigation.

Th^ price at which energy can be purchased is certainly

216

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

one of the governing factors, but, seeing that mill-heating
is chiefly required at night, or after the ordinary running
hours of the industi-ial load on the generating station — in
other words, it is a heating load which tends to improve
the load factor of the electricity supply undertaking--it
would be possible to offer special low rates for a mill-heating
supply. As a matter of fact, if electrical energy is pur-
chased on the maximum demand plus unit charge basis, the
actual units used for heating purposes after ordinai-y work-
ing hours would be charged for at the unit rate only, as
the maximum demand charge would already be provided
for during the ordinary working hours, and the effect would
be a reduction in the average price per unit for the whole
supply to the mill.

An Electrically Heated Mill.

The waiter hag been concerned in the installation of
equipment for electrically heating a cotton mill, and
although, owing to the general disorganisation of the cotton
ti'ado, it has not yet been possible to obtain reliable figures
of the cost of operating the plant over any length of time,
the experiment so far has proved to be most satisfactory.

The cotton mill is the usual type of about 68 000
spindles, and special attention has been given tO' the ques-
tion of supplying each floor with purified and humidified
air, by means of a very complete ventilating and humidify-
ing system, such as is found in any modern well-equipped
mill. The electrical heating system has been specially
designed to work in conjunction with the ventilating
system, and for this purpose specially designed heating ele-
ments, or radiators, have been installed on each floor of the
mill, in the main air ducts supplying each room.

The heating eleiments are made up in suitable groups,
or units, each of 40 kW capacity, and in sufficient numbers
to heat up to the desired temperature the purified air"
required, special attention having beein given toi the co^ntrol
of the radiators. These are automatically switched in and
out, within certain desired temperature limits, and they are
also arranged to switch off automatically in the event of
the ventilating fans being stopped for any purpose, to pre-
vent overheating when no air is passing through them.
Arrangements have also been made that at night, or dur-
ing the time when it is not essential tO' have a supply of
fresh air, there is a continuous circulation of heated air
throughout the factory, on a closed system, and due to the
effect of therm O'static control, a constant temperature is
maintained.

The experiment is being watched -with keen interest, and,
if commercially successful, will overcome what is now a
difficulty to the textile manufacturer who electrifies his
mill — the question of heating.

Labour Conditions and Electricity Supply.

The tendency during recent year?; has been to reduce the
number of working hours in the textile and other trades,
and, in fact, reductions have been made. Whether the
result has been, or will be, beneficial to the industry as
a whole remains to be seen. It has certainly not tended
to reduce the price of electrical energy, which, to a large
extent, must be governed by the load factor of the supply,
as, naturally, it is more efficient to run the generating
plant on a steady, even load, twenty-four hours a day if
possible. In this case the capital or standing charges on
the plant are covered by the greater number of units
generated, consequently tending to cheapen the supply.

Of course, it is known that existing factory regulations
do not permit of overtime being worked in cotton mills in
this country, but it is difficult to see why shift working,
covering twenty-four hours a day, should not operate in
the textile industry, especially as cotton spinning is a con-
tinuous process. The capital and standing charges on
any mill or works must be paid for twenty-four hours a
day, so why not work the plant during the sam.e period, and
increase its revenue-earning capacity proportionately ?

Labour, surely, has nothing to fear, because it will
actually increase employment, as it would certainly double

the number of hands required, and the output would be
doubled, at a considerably lower cost of production.

Advice to the Supply Authority.

In conclusion, let the public supply authority study the
requirements of the user, and especially the cotton spinner,
to whom a cheap and reliable supply of electrical energy is
essential if he is to continue holding the field for cotton
goods, in competition with other countries, which are daily
gaining ground in the textile markets.

On the other hand, it is the duty of the manufacturer to
take advantage of the public supply of energy offered, espe-
cially in view of the fact that it will pay him to do so,
and to co-operate with the supply authority, so that the -
latter can Use his plant to the greatest advantage, thereby
tending to cheapen the price of the commodity.

Centralisation of power production means coal saving,
and it is essential, in the national interest, to economise
coal, because it is our natural source of energy, and, in fact,
the capital of the country, limited in quantity. From the
point of view of the health of the peoplei, one has only to
obsei-ve the clearness of the atmosphere over an industrial
area after a . holiday week stoppage to realise the better
living conditions that would obtain if our industries were
supplied with power from central producers instead of from
individual plants.

Common Battery Telephony Simplified.*

By W. H. GRINSTED.

Since 1912, when the first edition of Mr. Atkins' book was
published, the modern manual exchange plants with which the
telephone services of London and all our large towns are conducted
have been pretty weU standardised. There has been httle change in
principle, but much has been done to consoHdate and unify practice.
Mr. Atkins deals with only one branch, namely, the circuits, and has
taken the opportxmity of a new edition to include the changes in
that branch. The scope of his book is thus hmited, but the treat-
ment is thorough. As many as 157 diagrams are included illustrat-
ing the essential elements of the numerous circuits associated with a
common battery exchange.

We feel that there is something lacking in this method of explain-
ing the operation of an exchange plant. The electrical arrangements
are brought out clearly, but we are left with a very vague idea of the
construction of the various pieces of apparatus and their positions
on the switchboard and in the exchange building. Those who are
employed in exchanges and are familiar with the arrangement of the
plant will probably not experience this difficulty. They wiU desire
to study particularly how the apparatus is associated electrically,
and in this respect they will find Mr. Atkins' book most useful. The
fact that four editions have been called for is evidence that they have
found it useful in the past.

Practically every circuit met with in manual common battery
practice is described, including subscribers' instruments, extensions
and private branch exchanges. The explanation of the C.B.
instrument circuit is better than those given in other text books, but
is based, as usual, on direct-current principles. Why not treat this
as an alternating-current circuit, as it really is ? The circuits of desk
and testing equipment are dealt with fully.

Diagrams and explanations are in general dear, but more careful
revision, keeping in mind the case of the reader ignorant of telephone
practice, would have improved the book. For example, in Figs. 5, 6
and 9 the same lamp is successivel}'^ referred to as the " home or line
lamp," " caUing lamp," " home lamp," and in Chapter III., in
describing Fig. 6, it is called the " answering lamp." On p. 67 the
following sentence occurs : " As this relay is in the speaking circuit it
has an additional non-inductive resistance to allow the speech
currents to pass." The con^'ention used for the relay in the diagram
does not show the windings. The reader without prior knowledge
will not easily deduce that the non-inductive resistance is added in
parallel with the inductive winding. The examples on p. 128 are
by no means clear, and in one case " amperes " is misprinted for
" miUiamperes." Fig. 64 is incorrectly drawni. These and similar
cases of loose expressions and minor mis-statements are small but
definite blemishes which should be carefully removed in a future
edition.

The printing is very good and the binding excellent, almost too
good for a technical work of this class. Is this the cause of the
increase in price to 8s. 6d. ? For a book of hmited scope such as this
it is a very high price, M^hich will tend to restrict its sale among junior
students of telephony.

* Common Battery Tklephony SiMPLiFrED. Walter Atkins.
(London : Benn Brothers, Ltd.) 4th edition ; pp. 139. Price 8s. 6d.

The Electrician — February 24, 1922

217

Electric Driving in Scottish Woollen Mills.

By A. W. STEVKNSON, B.Sc. (Kdin.). Wh.Ex.

(British Research Association for the Woollen and Worsted Industrie*.)

The author generally considers the conditions which obtain in the Scottish woollen mill,. This is a hmlised industry in a district where uaUr-

power is often available in sufficient quantities or can be economically supplemented by the public electricity supply. The claims of steam driiing

under these conditions are considered and the various processes necessary to j/roduce the finished wool j/roduct are described in detail.

The outstanding feature of the Scottish woollen indus-
try is the number of comparatively small mills engaged
in the making of high-class cloths, in most cases from pure
new wool. The bulk of the product finds its way to West-
End tailors, though a considerable proportion is exported
to America and to tropical countries, and before the war
there was also a large trade with Germany, Austria, and
the Balkans.

The majority of the mills are located on the Tweed and
its tributaries, but the name of the staple product does
not originate from the river, but from the misreading of
the word " tweels " on a consignment note many years
ago. The mills of the north and west work, as a rule,
the rougher tweeds, but vicunas are made at Elgin and
best overcoatings at Aberdeen, to name two exceptions.

Sometimes spinning, weaving and dyeing are carried on
by separate firms, but a more general rule is to find the
whole process, from fleece to fabric, carried on within the
same gates. -

Power Sources — Water.

At one time water was the only power, and for this
reason, and to obtain a supply of scouring water, all the
older mills were located on streams. In most cases power
requirements have far outstripped the low-fall watei*
supply, though a few mills are still driven mainly by
water. There is usually a steam engine as a stand-by for
drought or frost, and, in some cases, this engine is run con-
tinuously for governing purposes, carrying perhaps 10 per
cent, of the load. Many more mills could be driven, by
water-power at the cost of a few miles of electrical transmis-
srion, and last year's strike has made many manufacturers
wish to be less dependent on coal .

A firm at Walkerburn,* on the Tweed, has put an interest-
ing scheme into operation recently. The river water being
of large volume and low fall, dii*ect storage was out of
the question. While the mill is standing, the river tur-
bines are used to pump water to a reservoir on the top
of a neighbouring hill, 1 000 ft. up, this water returning
when the mill is running to a Pel ton wheel, in parallel
with the river turbine.

A Hawick firm obtain more from their water-power in
a different way. During the day a considerable portion
of the mill is driven from the public supply by a large
d.c. motor, and at night, when the town lighting load is
on, tliis motor runs as a dynamo in parallel with the power-
station engines.

Public Electricity Supply.

In a few towns public electricity supply is available,
mostly direct current, which is not too suitable for textile
purposes. Nevertheless, Hawick, from its d.c. supply, runs
three-quarters of the hosiery v/arerooms, woollen spinning
and weaving mills in the town. Galashiels is more for-
tunate in having a three-phase supply laid down specially
for mill requirements. The supply network has recently
been extended to Selkirk, and will in time be extended to
some of the other manufacturing towns.

The Position of Steam Driving.

Whether the transinissiou is mechanical or electrical,
steam still holds a strong place as prime mover in woollen
mills, for the very good reason that most mills require steam
for other purposes than power. Where there is a dye-
house the steam for process purposes may exceed that used
for power. There is here a good field for the pass-out
or heat-extraction engine or turbine, or, where public
supply is available to supplement the steam povver, a plain
back-pressure engine or turbine. As an alternative to a

* See page 229 of this issue.

generator in parallel with the public supply, one or more
of the larger motors might be of the simplified synchronous
type, and a simple two-cylinder high-speed engine coupled
to each, the throttle being, of course, controlled by the
pressure in the exhaust main.

Existing Millgearing.

While individual driving has strong claims where capital
is available, most existing mills, and some new mills, will
be group-driven, in the former case by using the existing
millgearing as far as convenient. In the older mills the
drive was invariably by spur gear from the engine to the
second-motion shaft, and from this to the other main shafts

Fia. 1.

-Motor with Chain and Belt Kkduction
Driving Mill-House Shaft.

by bevel gearing, upright and " hing " sliafti,. In the
newer mills, and, by alterations, in many of the older ones,
rop&s have superseded gearing. Where the shaft speed
is so low that double reduction is already necessary an
existing rope pulley may be utilised for the motor drive,
btft even then the diameter of the motor rope pulley is
liable to be much smaller than that given by the \vell-kno\\Ti
" thirty diameter " nile. Silent chains form a goo<1 drive
when the ratio is suitable. I.e., when the shaft- speed exceeds
150 revs, per min., or where the cost of an eight- or ten-pole
motor is not objected to. INlost shafts ^^ ill be foujid to run
under this speed, common practice being 130 revs, per
min. for weaving and finishing, rathei* less for spinning,
and 80 revs, pei-^min. for cai'ding. Millhouse shafts some-
times run as stow as 55 revs, per min. Such speeds mean
double reduction, even with a slow-speed motor, and
probably the most efficient combination is that of silent
chain and belt. Vsing a belt for the second drive on to
the linesliaft gives both freedom in the original alignment
of the motor and protection against subsequent movement.

218

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

The intermediate shaft should be carried in ihe base-plate
of the motor. Alternatives to the chain are worm- and
spur-gear drives, but the former are of doubtful efficiency
at low loads, and the latter, unless fcnclosed in an oilbath,
are noisy and far from durable.

Wool Scouring, Willeying and Teasiag.

The wool from the bales, after being sorted into its
various grades, is passed slowly through long tanks of soap
solution, the excess liquor being squeezed out under heavy
rollers fixed on the end of each tank. After being dried,
either on racks or in a mechanical drier, it is opened out in
the willey or teaser before going forward to the card-
ing machines. In some mills, willeying precedes scouring
and teasing follows it. Oil is applied to the wool either

Fig 2.-

-Individual Driving of two sides of Twisting
Frame.

before teasing or by an attachment oii the teasing machine,
and, for fire prevention, willey and teasers are frequently in
a separate building. Direct-current motors and the slip
rings of induction motors should be totally enclosed for
the same reason. As in cardiny machines,, the drive is
heaviest at starting, though the ra,tio of starting to running
torque is not quite so high. Wool scouring is a fairly light
drive, but the motors should have damp-proof im-
pregnation.

Carding.

In the carding process the wool fibres are separated from
one another, cleaned, remixed and placed more or less
parallel, perhaps ratheir less than more. There are usaiaily
three machines in series, the essential feature of each being
one or two " cylinders " about 4 ft. in diameter and 5 ft.
long, running at 80 to 90 revs, per min., and surrounded
by a number of small rollers — " workers " and
" strippers." All these are covered with fine wire teeth,
and run a few thousandths of an inch clear of each other,
the clearance diminishing as the wool progresses. The
delivery from the first two machines is in the form of a
loose rope or " sliver," which either ])asses over a small
conveyer ('" Scotch feed ") to the next machine, or is
wound in a " ball," sixty balls being placed in a " bank "
to supply the next machine of the series. Wheii the ball

and bank feed is used the machines are independent of
one another, but where the Scotch feed is used the
machines so connected must keep the same speed ratio
throughout the day. From the third machine of the series
the wool is delivered in a large number of small slivers,
each containing sufficient wool to make one strand of yam.
To give this small sliver more cohesion it is rubbed between
leather aprons, which oscillate cross-wise while travelling
forwards, this part of the machine being known as the
" condenser." The most modern form, and the heaviest
to drive, is that in which the slivers — twice as many as in
the older tyj^es — are each carried on a narrow leather tape,
but it has not found great favour in the high- class trade.

The old millw)-iglits' rule for a set of cards was 10 h.p.,
but this is well on the top side. Five or six would be
nearer the mark, with a starting torque of two to three
times normal.

Spinning.

Spinning is almost entirely by mule, the woollen ring
frame finding only a limited application. The action of
a woo'llen mule, or, for that matter, any spinning mule,
looks almost human in its complexity. The " condenser
bobbins " — about 5 ft. long and 8 in. in diameter — from
the carding machines are mounted on the stationary part
of the mule, part of which is the " headstock " containing
the gearing and clutches for the various motions. The
moving part or carriage bears the spindles. In the first
part of a cycle the carriage runs sharply out, sliver being
delivered from the bobbins during the first half of the run.
During the second half the sliver, or rather the partially
made yarii — for the spindles have been running all the
time — is drawn out, the thick parts, curiously enough,
stretching most. At the end of the outward travel the
speed of the spindles is greatly increased, the carriage
remaining stationary or moving slightly inwards in response
to the shortening of the yarn as twist is put m. When
twisting is completed the spindles are given a few reverse
turns to release the loose coils from the spindles, the car-
riage moving out again a few inches, this time by power.
The final operation of the cycle is tO' return the carriage
to the starting point, the spindles being driven slowly in
a forward direction to coil on the completed length of yarn
under guidance of the faller wires.

An Irregular Power Curve.

It will be obvious that such a cycle of operations gives
rise to a very irregular power curve, the highest peak being
three or four times the average. Further, steadiness of
speed during the spinning period is veiy important in the
high-class fine yarns common in the Scottish trade. Indi-
vidual driving is well worth while, but, if for reasons of
economy group-driving is installed, the groups should be
as large as possible. Even with a large group there is
always the possibility of a number of mules getting into
synchronism, causing severe variations in speed, and even
pulling the motor out of step. The practice occasionally
adopted of driving the mules in pairs from one motor is
the worst possible, as a peak load from one mule, due
to the acceleration of the spindles or the running in of the
carriage, is bound sometimes to occur during the spin-
ning period of the other mule, when it is essential that the
speed should be undisturbed.

Twisting, Winding, Warping.

Twisting or doubling is invariably done on ring frames,
usually known as " throstles." The load is a steady one,
and fairly heavy. Practically all the yarn is rewound be-
tween sj)iiniing and weaving, warp yarn being wound in
" cheeses " or on large double-ended bobbins, and weft
yarn on pirns .somewhat similar to those used on the mule,
but of smaller bore and more tightly wound. INfost wind-
ing machines are light, steady drives. Warp mills, which
wind the yarn in proper sequence on the loom warp beams,
take up a large amount of space, but are qiiite light.

Weaving.

Space does not permit de.scription of the fundamental
mechanism of the loom, and, iu any ca.se, it is common to

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

219

all textile trades, and familiar to most engineers. The

typical loom of the Scottish trade has a 90 in. " ree<J-

space," or maximum width for material, and jjuts in 90

to 100 picks or "shots " of weft p<r niinuU".

This is not always the si)eed of th.; drivinj^

imlley, as there is often a bevel or spur

reduction gear embodied iu the loom.

Sheddin<,', or movement of the warp threads

for correct interlacing, is invariably by

(lobby, this having usually capacity for

twenty-four shafts or healds. Picking

is always of the " under " variety, and the

shuttles for fancy coloured wefts are carried

and controlled by drop boxes, usually with

four compartments each. The favourite

uiiikes are Dobcross, Hattersley and

Hodgson. The actual power taken by these

looms is sometimes over 1 h.p., but about

hiilf this is a sufficient allowance in group

driving. For individual drive they are

a fairly tough proposition, though less so

than the heavy .lacquard looms of the

Belfast trade, which have been successfully

dealt with by at least one firm. The

Scottish Held would appear to be a good

one, as, in addition to the well-known

advantages of regularity, beneficial in so

high-class a trade, there may be a

substantial saving in power. As pointed

out by Dr, Crowley some years ago, the

saving in power with individual driving

increia.ses rapidly as the percentage of staiiding time of the

machines driven increases. A fancy loom has more and

longer stoppages than a loom weaving plain goods, and all

the time it is standing its little bit of shafting, its belt

and its loose pvdley are absorbing power in a group-drive

scheme.

Scouring and Milling.

After leaving the loom the " piece " undergoes inspec-
tion, also picking and darning — hand processes. From
these it pa.sses to the " mill-house " for scouring and
milling. Scouring machines take a heavy torque at a slow
speed — about 50 revs, per min., the hor.se-power being
about three. IMilling machines, or " box mills," take con-
siderably more power at higher speed, and, in addition,
are a somewhat jerky drive. In a few mills the old-
fashioned fulling stacks, or " wauk mills," large wooden
hammers, lifted by cams like tilt hammers, are used, but
most firms whose work requires this type of milling use

fast stocks," in which the hammer heads are driven posi-
tively. Where both milling machines and stocks are in-

case for individual drive, preferaV^Iy by a .self-contaiDed
motor.

Mill lif.n-.. iTK.t/^.rv i,,ii-» have damp-proof impregnation,

Fig. 3.— Motor

Fia. 4. — Finishing Fl.\t Drivk with Raising Gio in the Fokegroind

stalled they are to some extent alternative processes, and
need not be provided for simultaneously in a group drive.
Most mill-houses have a hydro- extractor, which is a good

WITH Double Keduction Driving Warp Mills (backgbocsd)
ANX) Winders (fokegkound).

starters, slip-rings and d.c. machines being totally en-
closed .

Finishing.

Leaving the mill-house partially dried, the pieces are
fully dried and stretched to width on the tentering
machine. The power taken by this machine is from 2 to
3 H.P., but its location often makes it worth a motor of its
own, which should be placed outside the tentering-room,
the temperature inside often reaching 180'' F.

The finishing house contains an assortment of machines:,
varying with the class of trade, all very light to drive, and
seldom all running. The cropping machine, or " Yankee,"
which cuts the loose fibres much as a lawn-mower cuts
grass, is the chief item in most finishing sequences, some
pieces returning to it several times. Other machines are
brushes and raising gigs, both of which vary widely in
(icsign. Steam blowing machines, fitted with a vacuum
pump, are fairly heavy to irive, but not so much so as the
pulleys on some would indicate. Pressing is invariably
hydraulic, with belt-driven pump.

Photographs.

Tlie illustrations accompanying this
article show some of the driving arrange-
ments adopteil iu tL*. conversion to elec-
tric drive of Tweed Mill. Galashiel!'.
belonging to P. and K. Sanderson, one of
the leading firms iu the Scottish twetd
trade. The drive was previously from a
I. orliss steam engine through the usual
uears and ropes, but is now electric il
throughout from the mains of the
(lalashiels and District Electric Supply
Company through a t? 000 500 V trans-
former. It was converted from steam to
nioclianioal drive in 19U by Dr. J. F.
Crowley, the plant Wing installed by
Sit mens Bros. I>ynamo Works (now The
English Electric Company). The instal-
lation is remarkable for the arrangement
(^f the drives and the large amount of shaft-
ing that was eliminated iu the conversion through careful
attention to lay-out details. There are over twenty motors
in the installation, ranging from 1 to 37 h.p. in output.

220

The Electrician — February 24, 1922

Artificial Daylight.

Its Applications in the Textile and Dyeing Industries.

By J. S. DOW.

In this article the antJior considers the development of " artificial daylight " and hoiv the advances that have been recently made, especiallj the
invention of Chance's " daylight glass " and the Sheringham daylight, are likely to be of use in the textile and dyeing industries.

" Artificial daylight," like many other new develop-
ments, was the subject of early pioneering work in this
co'untry, was aiterwards siubjected to comparative neglect,
but has recently been taken up dc novo. The idea of modi-
fying the spectrum of artificial illuminants so as to secure
a quality of light closely resembling daylight in colour-
revealing qualities was first applied to the arc lamp. The

/nner-
^r/srnaf'C yfef/ec/c

C anoAy

Oype £0

um/nram

C^oifer Cover

Ccyay//qh/- G/ass

Sdrass ffJonU

Fig. 1. — Showing Component Parts of Holophane Daylight
Unit.

Dufton-Gai'dner lamp, in which light from an arc is trans-
mitted through a special tinted glass, originated in 1895,
and is stated to have been used to a considerable extent
by dyers. Mr. A. P. Trotter, in a contribution in the
" Journal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers " in
1892, also dealt with the problem. The idea of applying
a suitable tinted screen to the carbon filament incandescent
lamp was obviously scarcely practicable owin^
to the low efficiency, small candle-power, and
the yellow tint of the light, which would
involve considerable absorption in the con-
version process. However, a metal filament
lamp equipped with a tinted gelatine screen,
stated to give very faithful reproduction of
daylight, was shown before the Tiluminating
Engineering Society in 1912, and attempts
were also made to manufacture metal filament
lamps with blue glass bulbs for the same
purpose.

Possibilities not Realised.

For some years, however, the idea of obtain-
ing artificial daylight from incandescent lamps
was little developed. Probably the candle-
power available and efficiency were still incon-
veniently low, and the possibilities of artificial
daylight were not sufficiently realised. Witli
the coming of the gasfilled lamp, with its
whiter light, higher efficiency and higher
range of candle-powers, the work was taken up
again, chiefly in the United States, where (|uite
a variety of " daylight " fittings, equipped with special
blue-tinted glass, were developed. According £o INIr.
Luckiesh, about 15 000 " north-sky " units were already
in use in the United States in 1920. The method of grad-

Chance's Daylight Glass.

In this coiuntry the manufacture of suitable " daylight "
glass for use with gasfilled lamps has been energetically
taken up by Chance Bros. & Company and others, and such
glass has recently been incorporated in the Holophane day-
light unit, a view of which is shown in Fig. 1.

The lamp is enclosed in a Holophane aluminium-
covered reflector terminating in a shallow diffusing tinted
glass dish. A curve issued by the company showing the
resemblance between the corrected spectrum curve, and
that of average daylight, is shown in Fig. 2.

Mr. F. E. Lamplough has recently stated that with a
500 W lamp an efficiency of 40 per cent, is obt-ained with
a thickness of Chance glass giving the correction to average
daylight preferred by dyers. Where very great accuracy
is desirable, the interior of an upper reflector may be
painted with heat-resisting blue pigment, and a somewhat
thinner bowl of daylight glass used. This is stated to
to have relatively little effect on the over-all efficiency.

Sheringham Daylight.

An entirely different method of obtaining artificial day-
light is adopted in the Sheringham daylight, which has
been described recently before the Illuminating Engineer-
ing Society. In this case the conversion of the light to a
resemblance to daylight is effected, not by transmission
through tinted glass, but by reflection from a suitably
coloured upper diffusing surface, placed above the lamp.
This surface takes the form of a large shallow reflector, all
direct rays from the lamp downwards being screened by
a bowl, with silvered inner surface, placed beneath it. The
Sheringham daylight is thus an indirect lighting unit, with
the wide diffusion of light characteristic of such fittings.
The design of the coloured surface of the upper reflector
involves the use of thr«e pigments, selected with a view
to permanency and heat-resisting qualities which have
been the subject of much study. The main part of the
surface is occupied by ultramarine blue. Originally small
discs of emerald green, and a veiy few discs of vermilion
were introduced on the blue field to obtain the desired

ing unit? in degrees of accuracy had also been adopted.

Fig. 2. — Corves Illustrating the Approach of Distribution of Light in
THE Spectrum of the HoLopHiNE Daylight Unit to that of Average

Daylight,

colour-correction. Later it was found that by substituting
a yellow pigment (about 5 per cent.) for the small amount
of red (about 2 per cent.) a more accurate imitation of day-
light was secured. At the same time it has been found
{)cssible to obtain satisfactory colour effects with pigments

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

221

of smaller absorption, with the result that the amount of
light obtained for a given consumption of energy has been
approximately doubled.

The Fittings Employed.

Fig. 3 shows a general view of the usual pendant type
of Sheringham unit. Fig. 4 shows a convenient form of
portable unit for demonstration purposes. The sfmall fitting
at the side contains an ordinary unscreened lamp. By
switching on either light alternately the difference in
appearance of coloured objects may be conveniently noted.

The loss of light involved in the conversion of ordinary
artificial light into " artificial daylight " is necessarily
considerable. But the advantage of having a form of
illumination suitable for colour-matching work that can
be used at any time, night or day, irrespective of climatic
conditions, is so great that this would doubtless outweigh
the relative low efficiency in a luminous sense. Much con-
sideration has been given to the degree of accuracy neces-
sary in units of this kind . So far, experience with the best
types appears to be favovu'able. They have been used for
such varied purposes as dyeing, colour-printing, grading
wheat and tobacco by colour, matching artificial teeth and
preparing artificial eyes, &c. In the dyeing and textile
industry, where a high degree of accuracy is required, the
sacrifice of light in absorption is greater than in the case
of units designed for work where only fairly good imita-
tion of daylight is needed. For instance, accurate tests
in dyeing works make greater demands in this resp*ect than
units employed for demonstration in showrooms and large
stores devoted to coloured silks and fancy goods.

Standards of Correctness Necessary.

"V^Gth a view to the future a common understanding on
this point is highly desirable. Standards of correctness for
artificial daylight should be arrived at, so that so-called
" daylight units " can be graded according to the pur-

FiG. 3. — General View of Sheuingham Daylight Pendant.

pose they are intended to serve. This may be effected by
a spectrophotometric examination of the light, supple-
mented by practical tests of the effect on dyed fabrics by
colour-matching experts. One point recently emphasised
by I\Ir. Lamplough is that a light may appear to the eye
to resemble daylight very closely, but may revertheless
give quite misleading effects when applied to the testing of
delicate shades of colour — especially if there are " kinks "
at certain points in the spectrum. It is possible to find
dyed fabrics which appear to the eye identical by day-
light, but appear widely different under a " spurious "
artificial daylight of this description; conversely, tints
which are very different by day may be brought into
apparent agreement under artificial illuminants.

At the same time it must be remembered that we
have as yet no absolute standard of white light,
and that the quality of daylight differs within wide

limits at different times of the day and in different
periods of the year. Daylight may be influenced by
climatic conditions, and also by the addition of more or lees
coloured light reflected off surrounding objects, either
within or without the room. A room devote<^l to accurate
colour matching should therefore be lighted by a window
that receives a clear view of the sky, and does not receive
light reflected off the coloured wall of some adjacent build-
ing, or trees, &c. The interior of the room should prefer-
ably be decorated in neutral tints. Needless to say, win-
dows encrusted with dirt also tend to colour the daylight
admitted.

Advantages of Artificial Daylight.

The great advantage of artificial daylight is that, once
adopted as correct and pro-
perly controlled, it should be
subject to much less variation
than dayligit. Indeed, it has
recently been stated that some
dyers already consider artificial
daylight preferable for this
reason. The applications of
artificial daylight in the textile
industry are probably much
wider than is generally sup-
posed. Apart from the evident
use of such apparatus in work
where dyed fabrics are dealt
with, there are some varieties of
stain which are not readily
detected by artificial light. By
artificial daylight, however, it
should be possible to distinguish
much more easily when the
process of scouring crude wool,
&c., is complete.

Fig. 4 — Two-Unit Standabd.
Besides the Shekingham
Daylight, a Sjiall Lamp is
mounted in a reflector at
the side. so that either
mat be switched on and
the effect on cot.orked

OBJECTS COMPAKEi).

Quality and Intensity.

In such processes it should
be understood that not only
the quality but the intensity
of the hght should be con-
sidered. One reason for the
belief that natural daylight

is essential for many processes is probably the fact that
the intensity o^ illumination derived from daylight* is so
much greater than is readily obtained by artificial means.
Hence the tendency is towards the use of high candle-
power lamps, 500 or even 1 000 W types, with artificial
daylight units, as in these circumstances it is practicable
to obtain up to 50 foot-candles by bringing the light fairly
near the work. Hitherto the flooding of an entire room
with artificial daylight has rarely been attempted, though
some picture galleries are said to have been lighted in this
fashion. Provided considerations of economy are not para-
mount, general lighting of this kind is feasible. But it is
more usual to aim at local lighting in a small booth, set apai-t
from the rest of the room, and devoted to colour-match-
ing. An enten^risins merchant, for example, might well
provide a series of such booths, equippetl with artificial
daylight and various forms of ordinaiy ai'tificial light-
ing, in order that customers may compai-e the eifect of
dresses by daylight and artificial light. This is an impor-
tant consideration in view of the fact that dresses for even-
ing wear must be selected with a \-iew to their appearance
by electric or gas light. Artificial daylight units are now
being introduced in a number of London stores, and in the
United States their use on the counters of shops dev.Mt^d
to coloured goods of all kinds is already familiar.

TIio third sivumi of the Report of H.M. Chief Inspector of
Mines for 1320 stiites th.it 427 445 000 tons of coal were raised, of the
vahie of £116 220 000. compared with 314113 000 tons, of the value
of £116 545 000 in 1919. The coal available for home consumption
amounted to 185-8 million tons, and the quantity used for electricity
generating stations (not including private stations) was 7 356 757
tons.

222

The Electrician — February 24, 1922

The Industrial Future in India.

By J. F. CROWLKY, D.Sc, B.A., M.I.E.E.

Dr. Crowley has recently returned from a twelve months' engineering and lecture tour in India and Egypt, when he visited most of the large industria
concerns, hydro-electric plants, d-c, and we are glad to have been able to induce him to give his impressions of a country that is so much in the

public eye at present.

Remote as India was from the more serious and active
operations of the war, it did not escape the many after-
effects of that great struggle. Unrest, both political and
industrial, interferes to some extent with development,
while, at the same time, stagnant waters have been use-
fully stirred up, and India is to-day px'obably as alive to
industrial development as most European, countries.

Reference is made in the important Report* of the Indian
Industrial Commission in 1916-18 " to the considerable
change in public opinion regarding industrial questions
brought about by the war, a change which we also> see
reflected clearly in the policy of the Government."

In considering the development of a country in accord-
ance with Westeiii ideas the first requisite is power. It has
gradually coine to be recognised that power is the primary
need of an industrial community, and that the limit to the
industrial development is usually set by the availability
of cheap power.

Pow^er Possibilities.

Generally speaking, the amount of coal available in India,
relatively to the size and the needs of the country, is very
limited, the chief sources being on the eastern side of the
peninsula. To the north and west, on the other hand, lie
many -fine water-powers, those in the north being, on the
whole, too remote from existing industrial activitieis tO' be of
immediate value to existing industrial centres. There is at
present some 95 000 kW of plant installed in licensed elec-
tricity supply undertakings in British India, fully 90 per
cent, of this being in Calcutta and Bombay. The total
number of units genea-ated amounts to 235 millions per
annum, and of this total one large hydro-electric under-
taking provides nearly one-half. Some 56 per cent, of the
electrical energy is geuerated from water, 41 per cent, being
generated from coal. In addition to the installations in
British India there are, including a large hydro-electric
plant in Mysore, some 30 000 kW of plant for public elec-
tricity supply installed in Native States, from which 102
million units are generated per annum. From the above
figures it is a natural and safe deductiou that outside Cal-
cutta and Bombay, with the addition of Ahmedabad and
the great iron and steel works at Tatanaga, there are no
really important industiial centres in India.

Froin the followiiig extract from a recent Reportf it
would appear that Indian electricity undertakings are, on
the whole, not in a flourishing condition : —

The total working expenses allowing again for Rangoon are some
97 lakhs, or about 50 per cent, cf the total revenue. This leaves
a balance, before providing for depreciation, reserve, or a return on
capital, of 97 lakhe, or 7'6 per cent, only The report goes on to
eay that " the wonder is that the undertakings generally have been
as successful as they have been."

It is not quite easy to understand this statement, at any
rate so far as the larger and better-managed undertak-
ings are concerned, as the Calcutta Electric Supply Cor-
peration, for instance, are paying a dividend of about 11
per cent., the Bombay Electric Supply and Tramway Com-
pany pay 18 per cent., while the hydro-electric undertakings
generally are doing very well.

Large Hydro-Electric Schemes.

Of these the largest is the Tata Hydro-electric Power
Company, which supplies electric power tO' Bombay from
water stored in the Ghats. This company paid a dividend
of 7 per cent, in 1920. Small municipal undertakings, on
the other hand, are not well managed, and in many cases
pay no dividend at all. The existing water-power develop-
ments in India total slightly over 90 000 h.p., the Tata-

* Rei)ort of Indian Industrial Commi.ssljn, 1916-18, Superintendent
Crovernment Printing, India (Calcutta, 1918).

t Third Supplement to List of Electricity Undertakings in India,
October, 1921. Govt. Central Branch Press, Simla.

Hydro-Electric Company, to which reference has been
made, contributing 50 000 of this, and the Cauvery Power
Scheme in the State of Mysore some 22 000 h.p. The
remainder is scattered throughout Bengal, Bombay, Kash-
mir, Madras, the United Provinces, and the Punjab. The
Cauvery Falls Schemei, which the writer had an oppor-
tunity of visiting, is a well-run undertaking, and the
example in initiative it set might well be followed in other
Native States. Two further projected schemes in the neigh-
bourhood of Bombay are the Andhra Valley Scheme,
totalling 65 000 h.p., and the Tata Power Scheme, with a
total ultimate development of 150 000 h.p.

Possibilities of Development.

A systematic sui^vey of the possible water resources of
India is now being undertaken under the control of Mr.
J. W. Meares, C.I.E., M.I.C.E., and the following esri-
mate of the possibilities based on the so-far published
reports, and taken from a recent Paper, J may be of
interest : —

The Indian water-power survey has up to the present disclosed
the existence of over 130 possible water-power sites, of which, how-
ever, only a small percentage have been thoroughly examined. It is
estimated that there is a total of 1 774 000 continuous electrical
horse-power already in sight in India. This is vastly below the
actual available power that the final results of the survey will disclose.
Many millions of horse-power could certainly be obtained from the
Himalayan Mountains and the great rivers of Burma. For example,
the combined minimum discharges of the Indus, Chenab, Jhelum,
Sutlej, Beas, Jumna, and Ravi Rivers amounts to over 36 000 cub. ft.
a second where they enter the plains, which is equivalent to over
3 000 000 H.p. per 1 000ft. of fall; and these rivers and the tribu-
taries that feed them rise in mountains up to 20 000 ft. more in
altitude.

Similar considerations apoly to the Ganges, the Sarda, and many
rivers rising outside Britisli India to the east up to the Brahma-
putra, and again in Burma to the Irrawaddy and the Salween.

While, of course, it is not possible tO' agree that the total
fall of a river should be taken in combination with its flow
where it enters the plains as a basis for the power avail-
able, it is, however, equally true that the minimum dis-
charge from the rivers referred to forms but a very small
percentage of the maximum discharge, and that in cases
where suitable storage can be arranged for, a much higher
horse-power than that based on the minimum discharge
may be looked for.

The general impressions created by the existing power
conditions in India were : —

(a) That every encouragement should be given to the develop-
ment of the available coal resources of India, in connection with
which there has recently been some activity, big concessions being
opened up in Bihar and Orissa.

(b) That steps should be taJien in the use of coal to conserve it
in the light of experience gained in other countries, and to reserve
it, as far <as possible, for metallurgical and other processes in con-
nection with which there is no available substitute.

(c) That the development of water-power should be facilitated by
simiplifying and standardising the procedure in connection with the
granting of concessions for the sites themselves, and for land acqui-
sition in connection therewith.

(d) That a broader policy should be adopted by existing power
undertakings so as to popularise to a greater extent the use of
electricity frmi central supply stations.

Further Facilities Necessary.

As regai-da facilities for watei'-power development, atten-
tion should be drawn to the Paper, to which reference has
alreadv been made, in which the important suggestion is
made that rules should be drawn up defining —

(a) The terms and conditions whicii properly belong to water-
power concessions, and

(b) The terms and conditions which should properly be inserted in
agreements for the compulsory acquisition of land for water-power
schemes.

In connection with this matter, it should be noted that

X Hydro-Electric Power in India, by A. T. Arnall, M.I.C.E.,
East India Association, Feb., 1921.

February 24, 1922

The Electrician*

223

the usual procedure for the development of a water-power
site in India is first to obtain conditional prior claim to the
power site for a period of three years, which carries with it
the necessary authority to enable the promoters to frame
a definite scheme of development for submission to Govern-
ment with a request for a concession. On obtaining the

3,000,000

2.500,000

2,000,000

1,500,000

1,000,000

500,000

100.000

—

/•

■^

*■

^-^

•"

1870

1880

1900

1910

19Z0

1890
Yean I
Fig. 1. — The Growth in Jute Spinning in India and in
Co'iTON Spinning in Bombay.

concession the promoter can proceed with the flotation of a
company to undertake the work.

Legislative Restrictions.

If, in order to secure the necessary land for the develop-
ment, it is necessary to apply the provisions of the Land
Acquisition Act, the concession should contain some sort of
guarantee that the Act will afterwards be applied for that
purpose. Further, there should be no doubt as tO' the terms
and conditions governing the compulsoay acquisition of the
land under the Act, since before the provisions of the Act
can be put into force the company must be formed. The
company is formed on the basis of the concession granted
by Go'veirnment, and before applying the provisions of
the Land Acquisition Act, an inquiry has to be held by an
officer appointed by the Local Government to decidre^ —

{(i) Whether the " acquisition is needed for the construction of
6ome work," and

[b] Whether the " work is likely to prove useful. to the public."

If the Government officer reports in the affiraiative on
both points, then, and then only, can the company enter
into the necessary agreement with the Secretary of State, so
that the powers of the State to acquire land compulsorily
can be brought into operation, and the land passed over
to the concessionnaii'e with the terms and conditions it is
decided to enforce.

One of the difficvilties in connection with the application
of this Act is the lack of definition of what constitutes " a
work likely to prove useful to the public." This matter, in
particular, requires definitely clearing up, and the Act,
perhaps, amending, if public developments of this type in
India are to be facilitated, and the terms and conditions
properly belonging to the Land Acquisition Act Agreement
should also be made clear, as well as the terms and con-
ditions that properly belong to the concession.

In addition to the concession, if electricity is to be sup-
plied to the public generally throughout specified areas, a
licence is required under the Indian Electricity Act of 1910,
but, generally speaking, there is not much difficulty in this
connection. It is suggested, however, that the Land
Acquisition Act should be made applicable here, even if
the transmission of power is not for the purpose of a public
utility undertaking in the literal sense of the words, but for
a private undertaking of public interest.

A further point militating again.st the development of
water-power is the low rate of interest, viz., 4 per cent.,
that it is at present permissible by law to pay on the money
subscribed during the period of con.struction. Under the
Lochaber Power Act, 1921, which was a private power Act,
it is permissible for the directors to pay rate of interest
on this money as high as 8 per cent., and this certainly
constitutes a distinct advantage in promoting a company
for power purposes.

A Bad Practice.

In connection with policy of existing power undertakers,
it may be pointed out that some public supply authorities
in India so arrange the terms on which they supply current
as to offer strong inducements to manufacturers to avoid
the installation of transformers and apply high-tension
current direct to the motors. This is a practice which, in
general, cannot be too strongly deprecated. Motors de-
signed for high-tension work have perforce to be of large
size. With such a system it is, therefore, not prac-
ticable to install small motors, and the development
of a modem system of driving is severely handicapped.
Further, because of the element of danger attending the
use of high-tension motors, it is not always possible to place
them in the best position from a driving point of view.
These advantages tend to nullify the flexibility in applica-
tion of electricity for driving, which, in the author's
opinion, forms its greatest claim to consideration.

Penalising the Manufacturer.

The practice also appears to be developing in connection
with electricity supply* in India of unduly penalising the
manufacturer if the power factor of his installation fails
to reach a certain figure. This clause in electricity supply
contracts works out in practice in a manner which the
supply engineers can scarcely have anticipated. The manu-
facturer, knowing that he is liable to suffer a severe penalty,
if not to havQ^his power cut off, if his power factor does not
reach the value fixed by the supply undertaking, and, being
informed that large motors have a higher power factor than
small motors, and high-speed motors than slow, is
induced to put down large, and frequently high-speed.

60,000

55,000

50,000

45,000

40,000

,-35,000

Q 30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5.000

. , ,

1 )

/i !

;

1 [

■■

syJ

—

5"'

1870

1880

1890 1900

Year.

1910

1920

Fig. 2. — The Cteowth in Jute Weaving in India and in
Cotton We.a.ving in Bombay.

motors where these are not suitable from a technical point of
view. This, again, destroys flexibility, and opei^ates in-
directly against the more universal employment of elec-
tricity on modern lines.

A moi-e general adoption of the system in use in Cal-
cutta by which the rwluctiou in power costs that would

224

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

accrue to the supply undertaking from an increase in power
factor is calculated, and the greater part of the saving is
credited to the customer in the fonn of reduced charges,
is desirable, a corresponding provision being made for an
increase in charges for a low-power factor.

The writer was informed that under the present terms of
tliis arrangememt it would pay a customer to install
apparatus to raise his power factor, since by so doing he
would obtain a reduction in current charges sufficient to

Fig. 3.

-Typical Handlooms in the Industrial
School, Madura.

pay a dividend on his investment. Without such an equit-
able contract the supply undertaking stands in a narrow
sense to gain, and the manufacturer to lose, by a too rigid
adherence to standards which militate against good
engineering.

Industrial Developments.

The staple industry of India is agriculture. Of other
industries textileLS occupy by far the most important posi-
tion. In 1917-18 raw cotton exports amounted to 18 per
cent., and raw jute and manufactured jute exports to 21
per cent, of the total exports, while of the remainder, food,
tea, and seeds together amounted to 35 per cent. Of im-
ports in the same year, cotton manufactures, including twist
and yam, amounted to 38 per cent., and machinery to only
3 per cent, of the total.

Of these imports, the United Kingdom supplied 54 per
cent., other parts of the Empire 10 per cent., Japan 12 per
cent., and the United States 8 per cent., as compared with
pre-war figures of 63 per cent, for 'h.& United Kingdom,
7 per cent, for other parts of the Em}>ire, 2 per cent- for
Japan, and 3 per cent, for the United States.

As indicated in the After- War Report of the Senior
Trade Commissioner,* " India was, before the war, and
still is, the most important market in the world for United
Kingdoim manufactured goods."

In 1913, 16 per cent, of the total exports of the United
Kingdom of a total value of £70 000 000 went to India, 96
per cent, of this total represeinting manufactured articles.
In 1917, notwithstanding the inflation of prices in the
interim, this figure had fallen to £60 000 000, but was still
13 per cemt. ol the United Kingdom export trade. It is
easy to understand in this coinnectiou the comment of the
Trade Commissioner that " The prosperity of the countiy
and the maintenance of the purchasing power of the Indian
people is, therefore, of vital importance to the United
Kingdom."

Of British exports to India, textiles amount to not less

* Report on the Conditions and Prospects of British Trade in India
at the Close of the War. Cmd. 442, 1919. T. M. Ainscough, C.B.E.

than £40 000 000, or 60 per cent, of the whole; metals and
machinery cover £17 000 000, or a further 25 per cent.

Japan and the United States as Importers.

A notable feature of Indian trade since the war has been
the almost complete elimination of the importation of goods
from the Central Powers, and the very great development
in the importation of goods from Japan and the United
States. These latter countries now export to India goods
which were formerly obtained ecxclusively from the United
Kingdom. As an indication of this increase, it may be
pointed out that in 1913-14 American shipments to India
amounted approximately to £3 000 000, while in 1917-18
they stood at nearly £8 000 000.

The improvement in the position of Japan in the Indian
markets is still more remarkable. That country now
occupies a place in the Indian import and export trade
only second to the United Kingdom. The Japanese im-
ports to India in 1918-19 amounted to £22 000 000, as com-
pared with £51 000 000 for the United Kingdom in the
same year In 1913-14 it is the remarkable fact that the
Japanese imports amounted only to £3 000 000, as com-
pared with £78 000 000 from this country. There has, on
the other hand, of recent years been a very definite
development in Indian manufacturing industries, notably
in the textile industries. The centre of the cloth industry
is Bombay, while the jute industry is almost wholly con-
fined to Calcutta.

Jute and Cotton Developments.

A glance at the curves shown in Fig. 1 will show the
growth in the development in jute spindles, and the remark-
able development in cotton spindles in Bombay in recent
years. Similarly, Fig. 2 shows the growth in jute looms in
India, and in cotton looms in Bombay. The more rapid
increase in cotton looms as compared with cotton spindles
should be noted.

Since nearly one-half of the Indian cotton industry has
its centre in Bombay, the curves showing the development
of the industry there give quite a good indication of its
general development throughout the country. Until quite
recently very little engineering work of any kind was
carried out in India, practically the whole of the engineer-
ing material being imported. The development of the
Great Tata iron and steel works at Tatanaga, where some

Fig. 4. — Warp-Sizing in Madura.

10 000 men are employed, has, however, made a difiFerence
in this connection, and there now appears to be a definite
tendency towards manufacturing heavier engineering
machinei-y in the countiy and even towards manufacturing
the heavier parts of more complicated machines, working in
conjunction in this case with the home manufacturer.

There is every reason to think that the development in
this direction will continue. Further industrial develop-

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

225

meuts in India comprise the putting down of oil mills,
sugar plants, cement works, and chemical industries on a
small scale.

The Indian Textile Industries.
In connection with the textile industries it must always

Tig. 5. — A Hbald Maker in Madura.

be remembered that there still exists in India a large hand-
loom industry, and that a certain amount of hand spinning
is still done. The writer had an opportunity of visiting

this industry as carried on under native conditions, and
was very struck with the efficiency of the system so far aa
the weaving side is concerned, and the good character of
those engaged in it.

Madura, in the Presidency of Madras, is one centre of
this industry, in which many thousands of weavers are em-
ployed, and it is interesting to note that the weavers there
claim to be of the Brahmin caste, and cannot be induced,
under any circumstances, to work in factories.

Fig. 3 shows the type of native hand loom which is
employed in ^Madura, and is from a photograph taken in
the Industrial School, Madura, in which Lord Willingdon
has taken a keen interest. Fig. 4 shows cotton warp being
sized in Madura, and Fig. 5 shows a native heald maker
manufacturing the harness for a loom. The work is carried
on in watertight compartments, the spinning being carried
on by one group of people, the warping and sizing by
another, the weaving by a third, and the dyeintr by a
fourth. "

There is no reason to think that, in the near future, the
development of weaving in the factorv will destroy the
native industry. This is largely because of the small
difference in efficiency between power-loom weavin<y as
carried on in an Indian factory and hand-loom wec^ring
as carried out in an Indian cottage. In this connection it
does not seem to be fully realised that it is only compara-
tively recently that the last hand loom was employed in
the Scotch woollen industry, and that there are even to-day
people who consider that, provided proper arrangements
could be made for supplying warps to the weavers and dis-
posing of the finished goods, hand-loom weaving need not
die out in this country.

{To he concluded.)

Electricity in the Lace Industry.

By J. F. CROWLEY, D.Sc, B.A., M.l.E.E.

There is a close association between cloth as manufactured
in the loom, hosiery as made on the knitting machine,
lace on the lace machine, or by hand, and embroidery. In
the case of weaving on the loom, weft threads are caused
to cross and interlace with the longitudinal and parallel
warp threads. In the case of hand-knitting, on the other
hand, loop after loop is formed out of a single thread, while
in machine knitting the machine, instead of making one
loop at a time, makes many loops across the width
of the fabric, which is, therefore, manufactured at a more
rapid rate.

Evolution of the Knitting Maehine.

The first machine for knitting was invented by William
Lee, in ♦he sixteenth century. With this machine a flat
fabric was made, which had afterwards to be joined together
along its length to form a circular hose. Many improve-
ments were stibsequently introduced, the most notable of
which was the invention by William Cotton, in 1868, of a
machine capable of turning out 70 dozen pairs of hose per
day, at a cost of fourpence per dozen pairs, instead of
twenty-nine pence per dozen pairs, as was previously the
case. To-day greatly impioved machines are employed,
some of them suitable for making flat hose, some for making
circular hose, some again designed for hand operation, but
the majority for ))ower operation.

Lace in its original and simple form is a cord or naiTow
band, of which the familiar boot lace may be taken as an
example, and in this fonn it is very old. The real deve-
lopment of lace, however, came in the middle of the six-
teenth century, when " needle-point " lace and " pillow
lace " are first meintioned definitely, and instructions for
making them found.

" Needle-point " lace is so called because it is made with
needle and thread, while " pillow lace," or " bobbin
lace," as it is sometimes termed when manufactured by
hand, is made by twisting and intertwining threads which
pass oyer pins fixed in a hard pillow, or cushion. The two
types of manufacture are sometimes employed to produce a

combination lace. Embroidery, which is the ornamentation
of a cloth cr a net base with suitable designs, is a very old

Fig. 1. — View showing Lace Looms dkivkx by 3 b h.p. Motor.

art, embroidered linen fabrics having been found in the
tomb of Thotmes IV., in Thebes {circa 1500 B.C.).

Machinc-Madc Lace.

The fi.rst machine-mado plain lace net was produced about
1768, upon an adaptation of Lee's knitting frame, the

220

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

machine being arranged to form open looped fabrics with
the appearance of net, the open spaces being in regular
order, and the nat-like fabric being afterwards ornamented
by the needle.

Frames for making " needle point " nets by machinery
were first used at Mansfield about 1786, and later at Not-
tingham. Later still these machines were modified so as

Fig. 2. — View of 3| h.p. Cop Winder.

to permit of the introduction of meshes into the point nets,
which were then termed " figured nets." It was not until
1809, however, that any real advance was made in the
manufacture of machine-made lace. In that year John
Heathcoat patented his machine for making " bobbin "
net, or " pillow lace," employing for the purpose a simpler
mesh and one easier to make than that of the point net
just mentioned. The first factory of John Heathcoat was
put down at Nottingham, but he removed later to Lough-
borough, and when, owing to labour troubles, his factory
was destroyed, in 1816, Heathcoat transferred his works
to Tiverton, in Devonshire, where he installed improved
machines, the factory being driven first by water power and
afterwards by steam.

This historic factory sitill exists, and is, to this day,
driven partly by water power, improved modern water
turbines being now employed. The writer carried out a
series ol experiments on the driving of lace machines there
a few years ago, and installed a r amber of electric motors
for the individual driving of lace and auxiliary machines.
Most of the lace machines used were designed oai the
premises, and, in many cases, even made there.

A Complicated Machine.

The making of lace by machine presented many diffi-
culties to the inventor, and the lace machine to-day is, vm-
do'ubtedly, one of the most coniplicated in izse in industry.
Heathcoat's own comment on one single aspect of the
problem he had to face may be of interest —

The single difficulty of getting the diagonal threads to twist in
the allotted space was so great, that if now to be done, I should,
probably not attempt its accomplishment.

Heathcoat was also responsible for inventions for making
ornamental designs in the net during the course of manu-
facture.

In 1813 the lace machine was improved by Levers, and
later by other inventors, but it was not until "the Jacquard,
which enabled complicated pattern and design work to be
done, had been iritrcduced to lace machines that real pro-
gress was made, and lace manufacturers were able to pro-
duce designs of all kinds, and so imitate the best hand-made

lace. The Jacquard, prior to its introduction into lace
work, had already become a familiar feature in the produc-
tion of woven fabrics on the loom, and the success it met
with there has been continued in the lace industry.

Machines of the Levers type for " needle point " lace are
largely used in this countiy, and em^^loy flat bobbins to
enable them to pass between the stretched warp threads,
the bobbins being designed to carry a large quantity of
thread.

When the last Census of Production for the United
Kingdo'id was taken, in 1907, from replies received from
85 per cent, of the lace manufacturers in the country, it
was found that they employed 1 438 lace net machines,
2 147 Levers lace machines, 692 lace curtain machines, 294
warp lace machines, 669 muslin and other looms, and 248
embroidery machines. The gross output of the lace in-
dustry in the United Kingdom, according to the census
referred to, was £10 718 000, employment being given to
36 840 operatives. The total horse-power installed was
10 399 H.P., of which approximately one-third was con-
verted into electricity for driving motors and for lighting,
while, in addition, 586 000 units of electricity per annum
were purchased. The net output of the industiy was
£3 595 000, or £98 per operative employed. Of the above
United Kingdom figures, approximately one-tenth would
represent the figures for Scotland.

Defails of Lace Machines.

The principal features of a lace machine from the point
of view of the power engineer are : («) The high starting
torque required; (h) the great cyclic variation in the
torque-; and (c) the delicacy of the mechanism of the
machine, and the liability to serious and expensive
" smashes."

Ijargely because of these conditioais, the drive ^j«/' ex-
cellence for a lace machine is the individual electric drive.
The machine is usually long, occasionally as much as 40 ft.,
and has heavy reciprocating parts. For such machines a
steady drive, unaffected by causes external to the machine
tending to producevariations in torque orspeed, is essential to

Fig. 3. — 2.1 h.p. 86-Spool Winder.
good production. The electric drive with three-phase motor
provides this, and if the application is coiTectly made the
conditions produced by the cyclic variation in toi-que of the
machine itself can be satisfactorily met. Attempts have
been made by Continental engineers to meet this latter

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

227

condition by providing springs which cushion the motor
through a gear drive and permit it to adjust itseli tor
varying torque during the cycle. So far, however this
arrangement, a feature of which was the frequent breaking
of the springs, has not proved satisfactory. Experiments
carefully carried out show that with a suitable design of
motor and a mounting designed to meet the difficult driving
conditions, such cushioning is not necessary.

Fig 1 shows the type of drive designed by the writer for
an important lace factory in the Scottish lace centre of
Darvel Ayrshire. The motor is strongly mounted on a
specially designed support, the adjustable mounting being
through the end-shields, so that any shocks due to driving
are communicated direct to the supports, and not through
the register between the motor and its end-shields, as would
be the case if the motor were mounted from the stator
frame in the ordinary way. This arrangement has the
further advantage that the points of support are almost m
the same plane as the point of application ol the driving
torque. The drive is by machine-cut gears, and full pro-
vision is made for the ready changing of pinions if ditfererit
speeds are required. The whole of the motor mounting is

" anticipate " a " smash," and so no part of the frame
mechanism cart be brought into play to shut off the power
before the " smash " actually recurs. The stopping

Fig. 4. — IGO Beaming Machine driven by 2 b.h.p. Motor.

arranged to be rigidly bolted to the frame of the lace
machine to prevent any rerative moveiment.

" Smash " Difficulties.

As regards the third condition, it should be pointed out
that tlie bobbins in a lace machine frequently number from
10 to 30 per inch, while a single lace machine may have as
many as 30 000 threads. The carriages and bobbins
generally pass through a slottea comb, and if thro'Ugh any
irregularity in the drive, or fault in the mechanism, a
bobbin misses its allotted path at entry to the comb, the
result is a " smash," which, apart from loss of production,
is generally an expensive matter to put right It is, there-
fore, essential to arrange that the ]}0'wer is cut off at the
earliest possible moment if such a " smash " arises. This
is secured in the installation in question in two ways.
A patented slipping coupling is inserted between the
motor and the driven machine, and graded fusible cutouts
designed to have a uniform rating are also employed.
Should the fuses not cut the power off with sufficient
rapidity when the excess load caused by a " smash "
comes on, the coupling slips until the operator shuts the
motor down, or until the fuse melts on the continued
overload. It can also be arranged that the motor is shut
down through an independent mechanical automatic trip
on the no- voltage release of the starting switch.

It may be pointed out here that it is not possible to

PiQ, 5.— View of Sewing Machine Benches .arranged in
Groups of 12, driven by 1 b.h.p. Motor.

mechanism, however, responds with such rapidity that
little or no advantage would accrue from such " anticipa-
tion," even if it were possible.

Advantages of the Individual Drive.

In addition to the steadier drive and consequent increase

Fig. 6

hand corner

J BHP. Rolling M.\chine Moiob in top right
driving Hydr.ulic Pcmps to supplt
Presses behind.

in production which follows from a proper application ot
the individual drive principle to lace machines, there i3
also a considerable saving in power. With machines of

228

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

unusual length it is, in the majority of cases, difficiilt to
arrange a shafting drive without employing shafting of
considerable length.

With the individual drive, on the other hand, shafting
and belting are eliminated, and power is only taken during
the period when the machine is actually running.

Individual dx"ive also lends itself veiy well to the driving
of the other machines in a lace factory.

Illustrations.

As regards illustratioiis, Figs. 2 and 3 show an in-
dividually driven cop winder and spool winder respectively.
A beaming machine 160 in. wide is shown in Fig. 4. This
is di-iven by an individual motor through cone pulley re-
duction gear, the whole being mounted on the floor. Fig. 5
shows the driving of semng machine benches, twelve slewing
machines being driveu from one motor. In Fig. 6 is shown
a rolling machine driven by an individual motor, while at

Fig. 7. — PoLDiNjj Machine driven by 1 b.h.p. Motor.

the back can be seen a motor driving hydraulic pumps for
the operation of the baling presses. A folding machine is
shown in Fig. 7. This is also driven by an individual
motor.

Embroidery Machines.

The driving ol embrcideiry machines is an even more com-
plicated matter than the dri\ii)g of lace machines, two
motoirs being generally employed for each machine in Con-
tinental practice.

The drivi)ig of lace machines furnishes oue more
example of the importance of a detailed study of the pecu-
liarities ot particular machines if the application is to
bring all the advantages that should follow from it. On
the Continent, and latterly in the United States, consider-
ably more attention has been given, in making electrical
applications to industry, to the study of the conditions of
the industry, ot" the i^eculiarities of I'esiign, and of the
operating conditions O'f the individual machines, than has
been the case here. It is to be hoped that the problems
associated with the correct application of electricity
to industry will meet with greater attention than has
hitherto been the ca^. in this country, and so help to secure
that in this connection also we attain the high reputation
that the manufacturers of industrial niachineiy, and par-
ticularly of textile machinery, have maintained for the
country.

The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to
The English Electric Company for the use of the photo-
graphs illustrating the plant. ,

Ball Bearings for Textile Works.

As evidence of the advantages to be gained from the employment
of ball bearings in textile work, Mr. John Squires of the Skefko
Ball Bearing Company sends us details of a series of tests conducted
some months ago on two 80 sjiindle jute frames spinnir^ 7^ lb.
jute warp yarn. Both frames were by the same maker, but one
was fitted with ball bearings on the tin roller and spindles, while
the other was equipped with ordinary bearings. The ball bearing
frame had been running for five months and was lubricated with
grease, which is replenished every three months. This had been
done fourteen days previous to tests and the frame had not been
prepared in any way fcr the tests. The plain bearing machine had
been in operation nine months, so was right at the top of its form,
and to make the comparison still more favourable to plain bearings
it was thoroughly flushed with oil before the tests started, and
was oiled twice during each day's run. After four hours running
the plain bearing frame recorded an increase of In per cent, in power
consumption : —

CJyI. aad spindles
only

Frame empty . .

.Spinning empty
to full bobbin

Ball Bearin<js.

] -5 H.P.
1-8 H.P.

25'23 spindles
per H.P.

Plain
Thoroughly
flushed with oil

Beai iugs.
Good average
condition.

1-8
2-2

23-18 spmdles
per H.P.

2-5

2-8

16 to 18 spindles
per H.P.

It was unfortunate, Mr. Squires points out, that the auxiliary
or band tension cylinder of the ball bearing frame was on plain
bearings, which rather detracts from the value of the figure for
cylinder and spindles only in comparison with the plain bearing
frame. Production tests were also run using the same spinner,
and rove from the same machine in each case. Speed was increased
from 2 700 to 2 850 revs, per min., and the ball bearmg frame
produced 2S'5 lb. of yarn in 37 min. against 27 lb. in 38 min. in
the case of the plain bearing frame — average figures being given in
each case.

Of course, tests of short duration have little practical significance
except to point the way, and encourage installations on a reason-
ably larger scale. Production must be recorded over a long period
to establish so great an increase definiteh'. The smooth easy start
on ball bearings is claimed to be of great value. For no matter
whether the operation is spinning, winding, dressing or weaving,
a smooth jerkless start is of the first importance.

Ball Bearing Motors.

As is well known, the development of electric motors has reached
such jjerfection that even small motors of i h.p. and less are made
having a very high efficiency. This has largely been made possible
by ball bearings. The extreme accuracy of the bearings and their
resistance to wear, reduces vibration to a minimum and permits
a very narrow air gap. In effect these motors are greatlj^ superior
to the usual commercial motor. The efficiency and power factor
of a 1 H.P. loom motor so equipped is 87 per cent, and 0*8, as agamsc
66 per cent, and 0*69 of the commercial motor of the same type.
The starting torque in adcUtion is 2 times greater.

The temperature rise of the loom motor is only 33 deg. as against
50°C of the same type of commercial motor. In addition, their
greater compactness recommends their installation in places where
space is at a premium, as the overaU length of the ball bearing motor
is from 10 to 20 per cent, less— a verj' material saving in floor space
or aisle room.

Individual Driving of Machines.

The individual motor drive of most types of textUe machines,
Mr. Squires continues, will develop sooner or later — the sooner the
better for the textfle trade. So far, the electrical engineer has been
handicapped by the high capital cost involved, due prmcipally
to the fact that the textile machinist has given very little considera-
tion to the matter of making machines suitable for such driving.
On all, or nearly all, of them the effort required to start is from
three to five times greater than that required to keep running, and
most of the machines running light (without material in process)
require 75 per cent, of the power required to maintain them in full
opeiation, i.e., the design and .construction of the machine is
responsible for 75 per cent, of the power consumption, and of two
machines of the same tyY>c one may require 35 per cent, more power
than the other, and one machine may var\- as much as 30 per cent,
in mechanical efficiency during a day's run. The electrical engineer
either has to risk overloading his motor for considerable periods
and risk a very heavy overload at starting, or sacrifice his power
factor by providing a motor of far greater capacity than should
be necessarv.

The Electrician — February 24, 1922

229

Mechanical Storage of Water Power as a Factor in Textile

Production.

This article describes the hydro-electric installation at Henry Ballantyne & Son^' Tueedvale and Tweedkolm MilU. A special feature of the
equipment is the method adopted for ivater storage, whereby, during non-working hours, water is pumped into the high level reservoir, whence, it drives
the turbines during the day. In this way the 220 h.p. available by ordinary methods is increased by 230 ii.p. Attenticm is called to the admniage

of an hydro-electric supply from the textile manufacturer'' s point of view.

A water power installation which possesses many novel features
has lately been put into operation, and is now supplying the neces-
sary power for driving the Tweedvale and Tweedholm Mills at
Walkerburn, Peebles-shire. It is interesting to note that this
village became a thriving community when these two mills were
CBtablished in 1854-, and that they owe their existence to the water
power which was available in the Tweed. For a long time this
was the only power used in the mills.

The fall available was divided between the two mills, the water
leaving the wheels of the upper mill and passing through the wheels
of the lower mill before returning to the river. The falls utilised
were respectively 5 ft. 3 in. and 5 ft., for although a total head
between the intake and the point of return to the river was 15 ft.,
nearly 5 ft. was lost in the long head and tail races. The mills,
which covered a considerable area, had long grown beyond the
power available from the old breast wheels, which together yielded
only about 110 h.p., and other means of driving had from time
to time been added to supplement this water power. A great loss
of power in transmission to the scattered buildings by means of
long lines of shafting and bevel gearing was also unavoidable

Utilising the Power to Advantage.

FuU development of the water power was impossible until the
ownership of the rights for the whole of the fall passed into the
hands of one owner. Heistry BALLij^xyNE & Sons, Ltd., owners
of the Tweedvale Mills, purchased the Tweedholm Mills in July.
1918. They decided to utilise the water available to the best
advantage and to eliminate the heavy losses of transmission by
introducing electrical drive. Boving & Company (London), Ltd.,
were asked to prepare a suitable scheme, and their proposals were
adopted.

The first point decided was that the head available should be
developed in one place. The obvious advantages of this are that
an economical head is available for driving the turbines, and the
duplication of plant and operating staffs is avoided. It was decided
to concentrate the fall at the upper mill by deepening the race
between the two miUs, as it was impossible to concentrate it at the
lower mill in view of the flooding of the intermediate buildings which
would have occurred. This involved a considerable amount of
excavation. The head anticipated was 10 ft. 6 in., but further
improvements in the hydraulic conditions have been made, and
the operating head is now, under normal conditions, slightly over
1 1 ft. The size of the existing races is such that their carrying
capacity is limited to about 240 cub. ft. per second, and it was not
found economical to increase this. Whilst this quantity is normally
available throughout the year, there are especially dry j^ears
when the flow falls below this figure, so that further expenditure
in increasing the capacity of the races was not desirable.

The power available under these conditions was 220 h.p., which,
it will be noted, is exactly double that given by the old breast
wheels. A survey of the power requirements of the two mills showed
that a total of 4i50 i:.P. was required, and the problem was then to
find the balance required, i.e., 230 h.p.

Mechanical Storage of Power.

The mills work for about .50 hours a week, so that for two-
thirds of the week the power available would not have been used.
With the low head of 10 ft. 6 in. tho storage of the water was quite
impossible, as the quantity would have been so great it would have
involved the flooding of valuable lands. Electrical storage of the
surplus power was also deemed impracticable, and it was finally
decided to store the power mechanically in the following v.ay :
During the idle hours the turbines were to be run for the purpose
of driving pumps. The water from these was to be delivered to
a high level reservoir and stored for use during the working hours.
During these working hours the water would run downi from the
high level reservoir through the same pipe as it flowed up, and
by driving a Pelton wheel Avould generate the extra power required.

A survey of the conditions proved this to be quite feasible, for
the hills immediately behind the mills rose up steeply to a height
of over 1 000 ft., offering an ideal site for the reservoir in contem-
plation. Fig. 1 shows the general plan of the site ; the two n\ills
standing on the mill lade close to the bank of the Tweed are clearly
shown, as are the positions of the reservoir, 12 in. cast iron pipeline,
surge tank, and steel riveted 9 in. jiipcline.

Pipeline and Reservoir.

The 9 in. high pressure pipehne, to save expense, was brought
as steeply as possible down the hillside. The reservoir had to be
G 2

placed on a saddle some little distance away, and it was connected
to the top of the high pressure pipeline by a 12 in. cast iron pipe
running practically on the level round the contour of the hilL A
surge tank is necessary at the junction point to provide or absorb
water at times of change of load, for the 9 in. pipe being on a steeper
slope will more readily accommodate itself to changeii of load,
and on increasing loads will draw off more water than the 12 in-
pipe can immediately supply.

This scheme provides the extra 2.30 h.p. required, for in spite
of the fact that a good deal of the energy available during the idle
hours is absorbed in the pumps, in pipe friction and in losses in
the Pelton wheel, the fact that the idle hours are more than the
working hours fully compensates for this and enables the effective
power to be more than doubled.

Pow^er-Station Arrangements.

The general arrangement of the power station is shown in Fig. 2,
whilst side and end elevations are given in Figs. 3 and 4. The
low pressure turbines consist of two large double runner, horizontal

OKirnle Law
Reservoir

^piEBLES.'lNVERLElTHEN » GALA5HIEL5 BRANCH

Fig. 1. — Plan of Hydro-Electric Power Scheme,
Walkerburn, Peebleshire.

Francis turbines of 110 h.p. each, running at a speed of 200 revs.
per min. It will be seen that between these turbines is left a water-
tight chamber.

Each turbine is furnished with a large flat-faced belt pulley of
double width, the diameter being UX) in. The outlets from these
turbines are inclined at an angle to reduce the amount of disturb-
ance to existing buildings, and also to give a cleaner exit for the
water. Both these low pressure turbines chive on toa single generator
of 14.") k\\' running at (?(X> revs, per min.. each end of the generator
shaft having an overiuuig crowned pulley for the purix>se. Under
normal operations the low pressure turbines are run on hand
control. During the day all variations of demand are met by the
high pressure turbine. Thus the low pressui-e turbines rim on full
load, and only the balance of power is drawn from the reservoir.
At night, since the piuuping load is constant, hand control suffices.

The duplication of the low pressure turbines has a considerable
advantage apart from that of overhaul. On occasions it is neces-
sary to work overtime ; the central generator would be driven by
one low pressure turbine, and for this purpose one turbine is

230

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

; y^ I ~f-9 "d!a. Length = S667ft L

Fig 2. — ^Plan Showing General Arrangement op Plant.

Fig. 3. — Longitudinal Section of Hydro-Electric and Accumulating Power Plant.

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

231

provided with a governor, the other turbine on hand regulation
drives its pump ail the time.

In lino with the generator driven by the low pressure turbines
are shafts carrying crowned pulleys exactly similar to those on
this generator. These shafts drive the high pressure pumps which
are necessary to create the head of 1 050 ft. which is required.
During the idle hours the belts are changed over from the generator
pulleys to the pump pulleys.

The Pump Drive.

Since the quantity of water delivered by each pump is relatively
small, i.r., 220 gallons per minute, it would have been quite im-
practicable to have run at a speed of 600 revs, per min., and there-
fore a gear drive had to be resorted to, and the pumps themselves
run at 3 000 revs, per min. To isolate the gear case and prevent

wheel. The needle is then allowed to move slowly forward to reduce
the jet to the size corresponding with the new load, the deflector
meantime taking up its position immediately above the reduced
jet. In this way the waste of water only takea place during the
few seconds of the regulating period. The rapidity of the action
of the deflector and the economic control by means of the needle
are thus combined.

The Pelton wheel runs at I 000 revs, per rain., and \a coupled
direct to a 1.5-5 kVV. generator. The whole electrical system is
direct cur.ent, the pressure adopted being 2.50 V. The switchboard
for distributing this is accommodated at the end of the machine
room.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 make^the general lines of the scheme clear, but
the interior view in Fig. .5 will be of some interest. This shows
a view taken from the switchboard end; the belts coming

FiQ. 4. — Cross Sections ojc the Walkerburx Station'.

any side pull interfering with the correct meshing of the gears,
flexible couplings are provided on each side of the gear boxes.

These pumps deliver through 4 in. pipes into a bus pipe imme-
diately outside the power-house wall, and this bus pipe is connected
both to the 9 in. high pressure pipe leading up the liill to the
reservoir and to the 6 in. pipe for supplying the high pressure
turbine. This high pressure turbine is of the Pelton type, and
under an effective head of 897 ft. develops 2.30 k.p.

Owing to the long pipeline, precautions had to be taken for
dealing with the water hammer effect on shutting down the turbine
suddenly in the event of the load coming off, and Boving's patented
system of combined needle and deflector regulation has been
incorporated. On the load coming off, the deflector cuts into the
jet of water issuing from the nozzle and throws the power off the

up from the low pressure turbines and driving the central
generator can be clearly seen. On the right hand side will be
seen one of the high pressure pumps and the gear box through
which this is driven.

It is intere.>ting to contrast the size of the 230 h.p. Pelton
wheel, with its generator and governor, ydih. that of the low
pressure turbines, each of which is only half the h.p. of this small
Pelton wheel.

Constructional Pipeline Work.

Leaving the interior of the little power-station, we come to the
9 in. pipe through which the water is pumped to the reservoir,
and which brings the water down to the Pelton wheel. Fig. tJ
shows this pipeline being laid in the trench up the hillside. For

232

The fileccrician.

February 24, 1922

(he upper portion where the head is less than 300 ft. an ordinary
slip joint is satisfactory, but as seen in the photograph, for higher
heads the pipes are flange jointed, the faces of the flanges being
machined and rubber packing rings provided to make the jomts

tripped and slowly closes under the control of a dashpot, thus
cutting off the waste of water and preventing any possibility of a
washout occurring. The surge tank and 12 in. cast iron pipe
going to the reservoir have already been noted. In the design of

Fig. |5. — Interior View of the Walkerburn Station.

watertight. The static pressure at the lower end amounts to 455 lb.
per sq. inch. As the pipes are buried underground except for a
small portion near the mill, and as the water will either be floAving

Fig. 6. — View of the Pipe Line.

up or coming down tlirough the pipe, practically the whole time,
no danger from frost is anticipated.

At the outlet from the surge tower an automatic butterfly valve
is fitted. If by any accident a burst should occur in the 9 in.
pipe this valve is operated by the increase of velocity ; the valve is

the surge tank, which is 4 ft. 6 in. square, a 12 in. rectangular
gauge has been incorporated through which the whole of the dis-
charge from the pumps can be diverted by closing down the valve
to the reservoir. In this way the efiiciency of the pumps can be
checked from time to time. The top of this surge tank has been
covered in with expanded metal to provide against the possibiUty
of children throwing in stones, which might work down the pipe
and damage the Pelton wheel.

The Reservoir.

One of the biggest Avorks in connection with the whole installation
is the reservoir, and a few figures may be of interest. The longest
period of pumping is from midday on Saturday till ^Monday morning,
i.e., 42 hours, and at their rated capacity the pumps will in this
time deliver 1 108 800 gallons. During the working hours of any
one day, if the Pelton wheel were kept continuoush'^ on full load
it Avould consume 546 750 gallons in 9 hours. AUowmg that one
hour of the remaining 15 hours is lost each day in changing over
and at mealtimes, the pumps could run 14 hours and' replace
.'}69 600 gallons, the deficit being 177 150 gallons per night. This,
with the 5 hours' draw off on Saturday, would lead' to a total
deficit when the week's work was finished of 1 189 500. It will
thus be seen that the water used during the M'eek in the reservoir
would slightly exceed the quantity pumped into it. It must be
noted, ho-vevcr, that this would only occur if the Pelton wheel
was kept on fuU load during the whole of the working hours, which
is a contingency that cannot normally arise.

Theoretically, then, a reservoir capacity of sUghtly under
1 200 000 gallons would be adequate. A certain margin has to be
allowed to provide against the pumps being stopped for overhaul
of any part of the plant, and in times of exceptional drought it
might not be possible to run the pumps at full capacity. It was
therefore decided to enlarge the reservoir so as to provide a surplus
storage to carry over from favourable to unfavourable weeks, and
a reservoir of 3h million gallons was ultimately decided upon. The
reservoir is 192 ft. square by 15 ft. 6 in. deep.

Coostructional Details.

Owing to the possibility of the ground not being watertight, the
bottom of the reservoir was formed of a 9 in. slab of reinforced
concrete laid directly on the solid ground. This slab contains a
light mesh of steel reinforcement to provide against any upward
stresses due to changes of temperature or to hydrostatic pressure
from the outside when the reservoir was empty.

The walls, which vary from 8 in. thick at the top to 21 in. at the
bottom, are heavily reinforced, the reinforcement being tied into

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

233

die lioor, so that the walls can distribute their load on the cantilever
principle. The taper of the walls was increased near the foot to
provide against the bending moment which increases more rapidly
as the floor is approached. The tensile stress in the vertical rods
of the wall was limited to 6 tons per sq. in., with a view to
minimising the possibility of surface cracks taking place. A
mixture of 1 to 2 to 4 was used, and great care was exercised in the
selection, grading, and mixture of the constituent parts. During
the recent test no leakage or sweating in any part of the reservoir
was observed. This is particularly satisfactory in view of the very
difficult conditions obtaining at this altitude during construction.
The plant has been in successful operation now for several weeks.
As has already been pointed out, the scheme was proposed by
Boving & Company, Ltd., who have acted as main contractors
for the supply of the hydraulic equipment, including turbines,
governors, generators, pumps, gears, pipes, and valves. The genera-
tors were supplied to them by Bruce Peebles, the pipes by Mechans,
Ltd., and the valves by Glenfield & Kennedy. The reservoir was
designed in detail by the Considere Construction Company, Ltd.
Melville, Dundas, k Whitson, Ltd., were contractors for the con-
struction work. Mr. J. Sharp, of Glasgow, acted as consulting
engineer during the construction and erection of the whole of the
scheme.

From the Textile Manufacturer's View Point.

From a textile manufacturer's point of view the main advantage
of a hydro-electrical scheme of power generation, such as the
foregoing article describes, is steadiness of drive in the highest
obtainable degree. This steadiness of drive is one of paramount
importance to manufacturers of fine woollen goods. It is well
known in the trade that an irregular drive produces not only
defective yarn, but a very high proportion of waste ; the one
affecting the quality of the cloth, the other, as may easily be seen,
the price or profit.

In comparing this power (the hydro ';-lectrical drive) with that
generated by other means it will be apparent that departments
such as carding, spinning, weaving, finishing, Ac., can be worked
individually much more economically than where it is necessary
to start up, or maintain the running of a plant consisting of steam,
gas and other engines.

The firm who have had the enterprise to install the particular
system that we describe, Henry Ballantyne k Sons, Limited,
of Walkerburn, Peeblesshire, have already realise^l these advan-
tages in a very marked degree. Being manufacturers of only the
highest class Scotch suitings they use a large proportion of very
fine yarns. These, under the old drive, were apt to come from the
spinners " pointy " and defective, and no amount of subsequent
picking or mending of the cloth would bring it to the .same state
of perfection as that in which it is now being produced. At present
the taste in tweeds, being largely in the direction of " pick and
pick " styles in strongly contrasting shades, level yams are of the
utmost importance.

The Effect of Short Time.

To take the second point. The woollen trade is suffering at
present from very acute depression in sympathy with most other
trades, and it is, unfortunately, frequently necessary to run short
time. This is most effectively done by running departments in
rotation, and producing only the electric curreqt necessary for the
time being ; a great source of economy and tending to minimise the
loss in running short hours.

Water power being very reliable, the comparative immunity from
breakdowns is a great boon. In finishing operations a piece may
be seriously damaged by a machine stopping at an inopportune
moment.

It may be added that this scheme is the only one of its kind in
Great Britain, and there are probably not more than two or three
others in operation in the world.

Recent Developments in Textile Drives.

The requirements of the' textile industry have always been
closely studied by the Society Anonyme Brown, Boveri & Cie.,
and a considerable amount of research and experimental work has
been carried out by this concern with the object of evolving
designs of textile driving machinery which will give the most
economical working results commensurate with low initial costs
and unfailing reliability in service.

The Economics of the Electric Drive.

As an example of the saving that can be effected by taking
advantage of recent progress in electrical design, the case of the
S. A. Tissage Mecanique de Soie may be quoted. This firm recently
decided to extend its miU, and, on completion of the extension, tests
were made to ascertain the efficiency of the newly-installed Brown-
Boveri motors as compared with that of the motors supplied for
driving the original plant, which, although they have seen over
twenty-two years' service, representing three quarters of a million
working hours, are operating to-day in a perfectly satisfactory
manner. It was found by the engineers of the S. A. Tissage
Mecanique that the current consumption of the new motors was no
less than 42 per cent, lower than that of the old ones working under
the same conditions.

The Application of the A.C. Commutator Motors.

The improved economy effected in recent installations is largely
due to the use of alternating-current commutator motors, which
possess the great advantage of a high starting torque combined with
economical and easy speed regulation by moving the brushes.
The efficiency of these motors is almost constant for any working
speed.

The principle of speed control by brush displacement was first
embodied in the single-phase Deri motors buUt by Brown, Boveri,
but this firm has for many years been building three-phase motors
which embody the advantages of the Deri type, and are so wound
that the phases of the circuit to which they are connected are
as equally balanced as when induction motors are employed.

Having regard to the fact that no hard and fast rule can be laid
down in the matter of textile drives, so much depending on the
individual case, Brown, Boveri have developed a number of different
types of motor, to cover the whole range of the requirements of the
industry. Although it has been found that individual drive of
looms, ring frames, and presses has often resulted in more
economical working and the avoidance of a large amount of mill-
wrights' work in erection, it has always to be considered, the firm
points out, whether the saving thus effected will compensate for the
higher initial costs involved. Very often it is found that a com-
bination of individual and group drive gives the best results.

Again, in certain cases, it may pay to construct special motors
to meet the prevailing conditions.

An Efficient Textile Motor.

It so often happens that the speed of the machine to be driven
is at variance with that at which the most suitable motor will

1'k:. 1.

-SIM;1 E-I'HASE Tl MMITATOR Ml Ti
BlILT-OX RElIVTIO.s Gj.\r.

run economically, that Brown. Boveri have developed a tj-pe of
motor in which an enclosed reiluction gear is built on to the frame.
This gear has ground pinions and runs in an oil bath, and has
an efiicienoy of 98 to 99 per cent. Although originally designed
for motors to be direct coupled to ring spinning frames, it has proved

234

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

so satisfactory in service that similar gears are about to be designed
for loom and other motors. The gain in safety and cleanliness
over the crude open reduction gear is obvious. Fig. 1 shows a
single-phase commutator motor with a built-on gear of this type,
and Fig. 2 a 4 in. lift dry-spinning machine (constructed by
Fairbairn, Naylor, Macpherson & Company), in the mill of the
S. A. Industrie Liniere Suisse at Niederlenz, driven by two three-
phase commutator motors in this Avay. Another advantage of

Fig. 2. — 4 in. Lift Dry-Spinnikg Machine with Two Spindle
Shafts, driven by Two Independent Three-Phase Com-
mutator Motors, with Built-on Reducing Gear.

this type is that it permits of the independent drive of each
shaft of the ring spinning frame, as motors with built-on gears take
up far less space than if they were not so fitted. This is illustrated
by Fig. 3, which shows two single-phase commutator motors with
reduction gears and a hand speed-controlling device built-on.

Ring Spinning Drives.

Automatic variation in speed has jjroved to be of great advantage
in the case of ring spinning machine drives, and some 4 000 motors

FlQ. 3. Two SiNGLE-l'HASE COMMUTATOR MoTORS, WITH BuiLT-ON

Gears and Hand Speed -Controlling Device.

have been supphed to various mills on the Continent and elsewhere
equipped with Brown, Boveri automatic speed-regulating gear.
This gear ensures that the tension on the thread is kept constant,
the motor speed being kept low during the initial stages of the for-
mation of the cop, and gradually "increased as the diameter
grows by altering the position of 'the brushes, thus giving a very
evenly-wound cop, and minimising the breakages of the thread. For
driving machines in which only an occasional decrease in speed

is required, a very much cheaper and simpler arrangement can be
made use of. The motor is belted to the machine to be driven,
and the belt is kept taut by means of a jockey pulley which is kept
pressed against the belt by means of a weight. If it is desired to
decrease the .speed of the machine, it is only necessary to lift up the
pulley and allow the belt to shp. It has yet to be seen whether this
very simple device will always give good results, but it has operated
with complete success in a number of cases. Fig. 4 shows an
induction motor driving a frame in this way in a Swiss mill.

It is not too much to say that no Continental mill of recent
construction employs anything but the electric drive, and, in some
cases, mill owners themselves generate locally the necessary power.
For instance, the mill of the S. A. Industrie Liniere Suisse has its
own power house, the equipment of which comprises a three-phase
alternator of 150 kVA, distribution panels, and panels for the
alternator and incoming line from the Argovic power station.
This Company recently reconstructed its mill, and converted its
equipment to independent, instead of group, drive. For this
I^urpose Brown, Boveri three-phase commutator motors with built-on
reducing gears were ordered, together with a number of motors
for the direct drive of the frames.

These alterations have resulted in a vast improvement in the

Fig. 4. — Belt Drive of Spinning Frajie, with movable
Jockey Pulley.

working efficiency of the mill, and the S. A. Industrie Liniere
Suisse have reported that not only has a large increase in production
been obtained, but also the amounb of skilled attention necessary
for the operation of the various frames, &c., has been considerably
reduced.

British Non-Ferrous Metals Research
Association.

Of the several research associations, wliich, apart from the British
Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association, interest
the electrical industry, none ie more important than the BritisKNon-
Ferrous Metals Research Association. The annual report of this
association for 1921 has recently been issued, and shows a gratifying
record of progcoss achieved during the year. Several important
electric^.l firms are members of the association, and users as well as
manufacturers are admitted to membership.

Apart from the researches, of chief interest to those in the non-
ferrous industry, even to those possessing' small foundries, such as the
investigations on brass casting and on tne electrical melting of non-
ferrous metals, we note a number of investigations in progress of
particular interest to electrical manuiacturers. notably those on
metal polishing and grinding, the jointing of metals, including
soldering, brazmg and welding, the last named being conducted by
the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company. Of fundamental im-
portance i.s tile investigation being conducted by Dr. W. Rosenhain
at the National Physical Laboratory on the influence of impurities
up t-o 1 per cent, on the working properties of copper. The
increased speeds and stresses in modern electrical apparatus are such
as to render increased knowledge of non-ferrous metals and alloys of
enormous importance to electrical manufacturers, and we trust that
the jussociation will continue to show its present interest in
electrical affairs.

The Electrician — February 24, 1922

235

The New Oerlikon Geared Individual Drive for Looms.

In this article is described a geared individual drive for textile work which has been devi.v^l bi^ the Oerlikon Coirqxmy to combine the ad^antnfjea oj
ordinary gearing and at the same time to eliminate the difficulties xvhich occur when the loom is sv/ldenly slopped. The device employed conjfiMs
of a centrifugal coupling with a fast and loose part which, at starting, begins only to grip when approximately normal speeA is rejiched nod when

running adjusts itself automatically to the normal torque.

In general, it may be said that the speed of looms ranges between
80 and 220 revs, per min., the actual speed dejiending upon the
construction of the loom and the class of fabric it is to produce.
Consequently, with a loom motor running at 950 rev.s. per min.,
the speed ratio between loom and motor will have any value between
1 to 12 and 1 to 4%3. In view of the limited space available for
driving, it is not advisable, as a rule, to exceed a ratio of>l to 6
in the case of belt drives, otherwise the angle of contact of the belt
on the motor pulley would be too small. This would not only render
the drive unreliable, but would also mean large losses due to belt
slip and friction in the bearings. It therefore follows that the overall
efficiency of an individual drive by a belt decreases rapidly as the
speed ratio increases. Attempts have been made to obviate to
a certain extent the disadvantages encountered with this type of
drive when used for high speed ratios, by utilising large pulleys
and belt tightening pulleys. No success has, however, been attained
in this direction, for the provision of larger pulleys has proved
impracticable owing to the short distance between the shafts. On
the other hand, it has been found that, in the case of drives fitted

to avo'd damage to the warp lying above and below the shuttle.
In the case of looms with the fast reed arrangement, the loom is
brought to rest by a stop rod and tongue engaging in the shoulder
of the frog, the latter releasing the starting handle and rendering
the drive inoperative. When the loom is stopped in this way the
kinetic energy in tha rotating parts of the loom and motor is abruptly
degraded so that a heavy and sudden strain is thrown upon the
gearing. This check inevitably results, especially in the case of
looms with a fast reed, in the ripping off of the gearing teeth or
in the deformation of the shaft or even in the breaking of the loom
frame. It will, therefore, be obvious that when the motor and loom
are rigidly connected together by means of gearing, it is impossible
to ensure the flexibility required for the safe operation of the loom
and drive that c^n be attained with belt drives.

The Oerlikon Coupling.

The Oerlikon Company has, however, been successful in over-
coming the difficulties mentioned above in a very simple and
satisfactory way, and has brought out a geared individual drive

Fig. 1. — New Oerlikon
Geared Individual Drive,
WITH Motor arranged
symmetrically between
pillars.

Fig. 2. — New Oerlikon Geared

Individual Drive, with Motor

projecting on outer side of

gear support.

Fig. 3.— Drive with Motor swung out and

LOOSE part OF COUPLING REMOVED.

A^■ith a belt tightening pulley, the strain thro^vn upon the loom,
in the event of the latter coming to a sudden standstill through
the shuttle being trapped in the shed, is sufficient to break both
the loom frame and shaft.

Gearing the Most Rational Solution.

Under these circumstances, the adoption of a gearing instiead
of a belt drive seemed the most rational solution of the problem,
more especially in view of the fact that very efficient gearing can
be built for the speed ratios in question. Furthermore, such an
arrangement ensures sharp and reliable starting up, and perfectly
.steady speed, owing to absence of slip between the motor and the
loom.

All these advantages, which are obtainable by the use of gearing,
have, it is true, been, universally known for some time, but the
design of a geared individual drive presented very serious diffi-
culties. It was found quite possible to build such drives, under
the most favourable conditions, for looms fitted with a loose reed
arrangement or for ribbon looms. These drives were, however,
found entirely inadequate for looms of heavy construction, and
more especially for the tj'pe of loom with a fast reed as are most
generally used. The following considerations will explain wherein
resided the main difficulty.

Difficulties of the Gear Drive.

In all looms it is necessary, in the event of a shuttle failing to
reach a shuttlebox, to bring the loom to rest immediately so as

which constitutes a notable advance in this class of design. This
tj^pe of diive is shown in Figs. 1 to 5. It has, we understand,
been in continuous service for a period of two years imder severe
working conditions and has given ex'.ellent results. The main
feature about this drive is the Oerlikon patent automatic centrifugal
coupluig, which is illustrated in Fig. 3. This coupling consists of
a loose and fast part and is mounted on th^^ motor shaft. On the
loose portion is fitted a pinion working with a gear wheel on the
main shaft of the loom. The motion of motor is commimioated to
the loose part of the coupling, and consequently to the loom, by
means of two shoes on the fast portion of the coupling, which
are pressed against the friction surface of the loose portion by
the centrifugal action of two weights.

Operation of the Coupling.

At starting, the coupling begins to grip only when approximately
normal speed is reached. The loom, therefore, starts up
very quickly, with the result that the same tension is obtainable
for 'the first pick of woft as for any of the others. When the loom
is runnins, the coui)ling adjusts itself automatically to the normal
torque, A^iich is about I'S to 2-.') times less than the starting torque.
With this coupliniT, it is claimed, the stresses in the gearing between
the motor and the loom never exceed those encountered in normal
service, even though shocks should occur or the loom should stop
suddenly ; tliis is due to the fact that whenever these stresses tend
to increase, a slip takes place in the coupling. If any temporary

i3()

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

irregularity in the movement of the loom takes place, there will be
a slip between the motor and the loom as long as these conditions
obtain. In this way the necessary flexibility of drive is ensured.
This coupling also aJEfords effective protection for both motor and
fuses, as, in the event of an overload lasting any length of time,
the speed of the loom drops and the irregularities in its motion

Fig. 4.-

-LOOM FITTED WITH THE NeW OERLIKON GEARED

Individual Drive.

are thus brought to the notice of the weaver before the fuses melt
or the motor is damaged. In cases of sudden stoppage, where the
motor circuit is broken at the same time, the coupling slips until
the rotating masses of the motor come to rest. During this gradual
slowing down, which takes place without shock, the various parts
of the coupling gear return to their original position. The coupling,
therefore, ensures a very rapid starting up of the loom and effectively
prevents breakage of the gearing teeth or distortion of the shaft
in the event of the loom being stopped suddenly. It is claimed for
the Oeiiikon coupling that , it is extremely simple and requires
no attention during operation, as it acts entirely automatically
after having been set once for all.

Arrangement of the Equipment.

In spite of its very substantial construction, the new Oerlikon
geared individual drive has a pleasing appearance, as will be seen
from the illustrations reproduced herewith. The motor is mounted
on two strong pillars of best quality steel, which are pressed into
a wide base. At the top of pillars is fitted a yoke, which is provided
with bearings to serve as the end bearing for the loom shaft. This
yoke has also the effect of strengthening the whole structure
supporting the motor and gearing. Both motor and yoke can also
be clamped, independently of each other, at any level. In this
way this type of individual drive can be mounted at any desired
distance between the loom and motor shaft and with any height of
motor shaft above lloor level, these dimensions varying neces-
sarily with the type of loom and the speed ratio. Furthermore,
the arm fitted to the motor frame is provided with a slot, by means
of which it is possible to ensure that the pinion and gear-wheel
are engaging exactly. This slot i" so dimensioned that four con-
secutive pinion sizes, between which there is a difference of one
tooth, can be fitted, and the speed of the loom thus altered. In this
way the same looms can be used for various fabrics, and the speed
necessary in each case can be obtained. The pinion can be replaced

rapidly and without trouble ; this is done by means of a simple
device for drawing out and driving in of the key. It will be seen
from Figs. 3 and .5 that by unscrewing a nut it is possible to make
the motor pivot about one of the pillars, so that, even when the
space available is limited, the coupling and pinion can be inspected,
without dismantling the whole drive. Furthermore, by removing
a screw, the loose portion of the coupling on which the pinion is
fitted can be withdrawn from the motor, the whole coupling gear being
thus entirely uncovered (see Fig. 3). As will be seen from Figs. 1
and 2, the motor can be arranged symmetrically or unsymmetrically
on its support, this being, in many cases, a further advantage
when adapting this drive to various tj^pes of looms. It is, there-
fore, possible, even in weaving sheds where looms of different tj^pes
are in use, to have individual drives similar in design and appearance,
thus greatly facilitating their supervision and maintenance.

Efficiency Figures.

Owing to the high efficiency of the gearing and the low friction
losses in bearings, the current consumption of this type of drive
is, it is claimed, considerably less than that of a belt drive, all
conditions being equal. Even in the case of the most favourable
speed ratio for belt driving, a saving in current of 6 to 10 per cent,
can be effected by using the geared drive, while with a speed ratio
of 1 to 9-5 tests have sho^\^l that a saving of about 26 per cent,
could be ensured. Furthermore, as the motor starts up fight, it
reaches normal speed very rapidly, and then sets the loom in motion
immediately.

In the foregoing, only the main features of the new Oerlikon
geared individual drive have been considered, as a complete study
of its various parts would hardly be possible within the limits of
this article. A detailed description of this interesting di'ive will,
however, appear shortly in one of the numbers of the " Bulletin
Oerlikon," where full particulars of the Oerlikon patent automatic

Fio.

-Niiiw

SHOWING J^ooM Motor
Inspection of Gear.

swvNG out for

centrifugal cou])ling will be found. Mr. C!. AA'iithrich. M.I.E.E.,
General Manager and Chief Engineer of Oerlikon. Ltd., 34 -S.").
Norfolk Street, London, W.C. 2, will be j^ieased to forward tliis
Bulletin to all interested in the matter and also to give any informa-
tion that may be desired regarding the textile specialities of the
Oerlikon Comjiany.

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

237

Hydro-Electric Power in India.*

By A. T

The development of the water-power resource) of a country
depends not only on the facilities provided by Nature, but also on
the facilities afforded by its Government for the exploitation of this
national asset. It also depends on the demand that exists for power
within an economic transmission distance of the power sites. But
many successful schemes have been promoted where no demand
existed for power and an outlet was provided for the energy by the
establishment of new industries. In British India the necessary
authority to develop water power is obtained in the form of
concessions from the Local Governments ; and the Native States,
speaking generally, have power to grant water-power concessions
within their territories on their own terms. Before a con-
cession for a water-power scheme is granted, the applicant must
submit a definite scheme, and for this purpose the Local Govern-
ment will usually grant a conditional prior claim to the power site for
three years. In order to put the provisions of the Land Acquisition
Act into force, there must be an enquiry by an officer appointed by
the Local Government into (a) whether the proposed acquisition is
needed for the construction of some work, and (6) whether such
work is likely to prove useful to the public. If the officer reports
affirmatively on both points, the company must then enter into an
agreement with the Secretary of State for India in Council. The inter-
pretation of the words " likel}' to prove useful to the public " has been
the subject of much discussion and it would also appear desirable that
rules should be issued on {a) the terms and conditions which properly
belong to water-power concessions, and (b) the terms and conditions
which should properly be inserted in agreements for the compulsory
acquisition of land for water-power schemes.

Licence for Supply of Electricity.

In addition to the concession and the land acquisition agreement,
the power company in most cases will need a licence under the
Indian Electricity Act of 1910. Such a licence would be required by
a company supplying electric energy to the public generally within
specified areas, but it would not be required by an undertaking
supj)lying power exclusively to a number of electrochemical factories
located adjacent to the generating station. For transmission Unes
from the generating station to distant areas of supply, the Governor-
General in Council has authority to confer upon a Licensee such
powers as may be necessary. These powers cannot be conferred
upon non-licensees, and if a company desires to transmit power in
bulk to distant towns and electrochemical factories, it may be
necessary for the company to obtain a licence, although it does not
contemplate the actual distribution of the power to the public.
For important lines, transmitting power to large industrial centres
or to railways, it will generally be found desirable to purchase a
strip of land on which to erect the line.

Interest During Construction.

The Local Government has power under the Indian Companies
Act4o sanction the payment by a registered company of interest out
of capital during the period of construction, on the share capital paid
up, at a rate not exceeding 4 per cent, per annum. The Act now
requires amendment to permit of a higher rate of interest being paid.

Compulsory Purchase.

The local authority, or, in certain circumstances, the Local Govern-
ment, has the option of purchasing compulsorily a licensed under-
taking after the expiration of a period not exceeding fifty years,
at the fair market value of the lands, buildings, works and plant of
the undertaking, but excluding the generating station, unless it be
declared in the licence to form part of the undertaking for
compulsory purchase. The Indian Electricity Act is not clear as to
whether the term " generating station " includes all the lands,
reservoirs and other hydraulic works of a water-power undertaking.
The author believes the more expeditious way of encouraging the
development of Intlia's water-powers lies in inducing Govt riunent
to review its policy regarding water-jjower concessions, with the
object of seeing how it can be stablisecl and how water-power con-
cessions can be made more attractive in future. If the Government
is in a position to render financial assistance in the development of
the covuitry's water-powers, that assistance could best be given in
the construction of the roads and railways, which are usually in an}-
large scheme.

Water Power Resources.

The Indian water-power survey has up to the present disclosed
the existence of over 130 possible water-power sites, of which only a
small percentage have been thorouglily examined. It is estimated
that there is a total of 1 774 000 continuous e.h.p. already in sight,
but this is much below the actual available power that final results
will disclose. Many millions of horse-power could certainly be
obtained from the Himalayan MountaiifS and the great rivers of

* Abstract of a Paper read before the East India Association.

Burma. For example, the combined minimum diiichar^»^ of the
Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Sutlej, Bca.s, Jumna, and Ravi Kivfrrs
amount to over 36 (XM) cub. ft. a second, where they ent«-r tht plain.>),
which is equivalent to over 3 fKK) fKXJ h.p. p^r 1 fKif) ft of fall ;
and these rivers and the tributaries that feed th'
up to 20 fXK) feet or more in altitude. Similar
to the Ganges, the Sarda, and many riven* i
India to the eastiip to the Brahmaputra, and a.

Irrawaddy and the Salween. In a table the a. .. /. .■•- ^ ■:- -A
the existing hydro-electric plants in India, totalling 91 ^'ITt k.h.p.
installed, and in another table a li.st of olantn being installed, totalling
148 750 E.H.P. Out of a total capacity of 240 07-5 e.h.p. of
plant installed and under con.stniction, 189 (X¥) f.h.p. or 79 per
cent, of the total for India, is for the supply- of p<^>wer to Bombay
City, and is due to the enterprise of Tata, Sons & Comfiany.*

Objects of the Survey.

The objects of the survey for the present are hmji*-*! to a -
— (1) where water-power can be developed, (2) how much t
be developed, (3) on what lines the development should pr
(4) whether a particular development will be (comparati
ing) a cheap one, or otherwise. Information valuable to :..
power engineer already exists in India, in maps publisheci by the
Government Surrey, and in the rainfall and river gauging records of
the Meteorological and Irrigation Departnients. The new .survey
sheets give definite contours from which, generally »■ rough idea can
at once be formed of the possibilities of a water-power site when
studied in conjunction with available rainfall records. In a few
years all essential information for the development of India's water-
powers should be available in a concise form for general public U3e.

Western Ghats Schemes.

The hydro-electric schemes constructed and under constTUCtion
in the Western Ghats constitute about 80 per cent, of the total hydro-
electric undertakings in hand in India and Burma. There are four
hydro-electric schemes under the managing agency of Tata, Sons
& Company — namely, the Andhra \'alley Power Supply Company,
the Tata Hydro-Electric Power Supply Company, the Tata Power
Company, and the Koraa River project. These four schemes
completed would be capable of supplying Bombay City and neigh-
bourhood with 915 000 E.H.P. (for 3 600 hours each year) at a
maximum of three-farthings per unit. The Igatpiuri project, which
is not as yet designed in detail, may find an outlet for its power in the
electrification of the Thull Ghat section of the G.I. P. Railway near
Igatpuri, and in providing power for industries at Igatpuri, in the
Deccan. The writer believes that a catchment area of about 60
square miles can be utihsed, with a head of 1 000 ft. on the turbines
and an available storage crpacity of some 3 000 million cub. ft. in the
proposed reservoirs. The scheme is probably capable of an output
of 20 000 E.H.P. ex power-house for 3 600 hours per annum.
The Andhra Valley Power Supply Company's undertaking which
has been under construe' "on about five years is now nearing com-
pletion. The entire project was designed by .Mr. H. P. Gibbs,
and the generating plant consists of six S 000 k\V sets, generating
cunent at 5 000 V, 50 cycles. The energy- will be transmittetl to
Bombay City at 100 IKX) \', over a transmission line 5o miles
in length, where it will be transformeti down to 20 000 V and
distributctl at that pressure to consumers by underground cablc>\
The company was able through co-operation with the Bombay
mill-owners to secure a contract price of 0-725 arma per unit for
the supply at 20 000 V. The mill-owners will bear the cost of
transforming from that pressure to 2 tXX) V, the standanl pressure
for mill-tlriving in the city, anil proviile and install their own
electrical equipment for driving the mills. The whole output of
the undertaking is sold and the success of the enterprise well assured.

The Tata Company and the Textile Load.

The Tata Hydro- Electric Power Company's undertaking has been
in operation for six years, and was designeil by Mr. .Aifnxl Dickinson,
consulting engineer to the comiwny. It was the first scheme of
such magnitude to bo undertaken in India, and its success is largely
responsible for the extensive development of water-power in the
Western Ghats now in progress. It is supplying the cotton indu^ :
of Bonibav with an average loail of about 40 000 h.p. A c!.
of 0-5 anna (Id.) per unit is made for the supply at 2iXk< "».
and 0-55 annl* per unit for supply, including the equipment
of the mills by the i)ower company with motors, cables,
switch-gear. &c.,' and their complete upkeep. The comjwny
is paying a dividend on its ordinary shares of from 7 to 8 per cent,
per aimrm. The construction of the Tata Power Companys under-
taking, also originated and designetl by Mr. Gibbs, was commenced
in lOfO, and is being carrietl out by the company's own constructional

• Particulars of these plants have '»^^ < j..iMslu>,i in The Elbc-

TRICIAX.

238

Th'i Electrician.

February 24, 1922

etatf under the advice of the Tata Engineering Company. It is
designed for the ultimate supply of 150 000 h.p. to Bombay, but for
the present only sufficient plant will be installed for the supply of
75 000 H.p. Applications aggregating 50 000 h.p. have already
been registered on the waiting list of the undertaking, which,
inter-connected with the Andhra Valley and Tata Hydro-Electric
schemes, will assist in the supjDlj^ of power for the electrification of
the Bombay Citj% suburban and Ghat sections of the railways.
An unfortunate delay has occurred owing to the opposition of the
inhabitants of the lands that will be submerged by the storage
reservoir to the acquisition of their properties.

The Koyna River Project.

The Kojna River project, originated and investigated by the
writer, is capable of an output of 650 000 e.h.p. (for 3 600 ^ours each
year), and is intended to provide energy for electrometallurgical
and electrochemical industries near the power stations, for pubUc
electric supply in Bombay City (as an extension to the supply by the
existing three power-supply companies) and for pubUc electric
supply to all towns Avithin economic range of transmission. The
proposal to estabUsh electrometallurgical and electrochemical
industries at Koyna is the first comprehensive scheme of its kind
thoroughly investigated in India.

Development of Bombay.

Bombay City is the premier port of India, has a population of
about 1 200 000, and is by far the most important centre of cotton
spinning and weaving in India. The chief industry of the city is
the spinning and weaving of cotton, but there are many important
woollen and flour mills, general engineering and railway workshops,
oil-mills and chemical factories. In 1916 there were 266 cotton
mills in India, containing 6 839 877 spindles and 110 268 looms, and
emplojdng on an average 274 361 hands dady ; of these, Bombay City
possessed eighty-six mills, containing 2 984 575 spindles and 53 205
looms, and emploj^ed 118 303 hands. If this number of spindles
and looms, in Bombay City in 1916 had been driven electrically,
they would have required a supply of approximately 100 000 e.h.p.
At present about 1 000 000 bales of cotton are consumed annually by
the city mills, and in addition about 1 700 000 bales are exported
from its port. It is obvious that this industry will expand in-
definitely, if proper industrial town-planning schemes are carried
out, for Bombay City and its neighbourhood offer aU necessary
facilities in an abundant and cheap supply of raw materials, cheap
power, a suitable climate, experienced labour, low transport charges
by sea and land, and in possessing one of the largest markets for
cotton goods in existence.

Textile Mill Motors.

As we show in other articles published in this issue there is every
reason to suppose that the future hydro-electric development in India
will be very great. Some progress is, however, being made at the
present time in which we are glad to learn British electrical manu-
facturers are taking part. As an example we may quote a recent
order obtained by Bruce Peebles & Company for textUe mUl
type slip-ring induction motors which are to form part of a com-
plete hydro- electric installation of an important mill in India.

Fig. 1 shows these motors which collectively have an output of
400 H.p. Each machine is fitted with textile mill enclosing covers,
and Peebles' patent short circuiting and brush lifting gear.

The motors are all of Peebles standard construction, the stator
and rotor cores being of electrical steei iaminations of the highest
permeability, each carefully insulated while
the slots are of nearly closed form. Each
core is rigidly clamped between heavy cast-
iron end-plates, and spacing discs are in-
serted at frequent intervals to provide
ventilation channels. The end-plates are
secured by keys the use of through bolts
being thus avoided.

The windings of both stator and rotor (the
motors illustrated are all of the slip-ring
type) are either of the wire or bar tyjie,
depending on the amount of current ; the
core slots are lined with insulating tubes
of such composition that ample mechanical
strength is combined with the best insulating
properties. All windings are thoroughly
treated with insulating varnish by a special
process which ensures every part of the
windings being thoroughly imjjregnated.

All motors are provided with air gap
adjusting an-angements, each enc^ cover
being fitted with four set-screws, by means
of which a very fine adjustment can be
obtained at each end of the machine. The
motor shafts are of special mild steel

designed so as to operate ^safely under the most severe working
conditions.

All the motors on the installation in question are fitted with
Peebles patent short circuiting an(> brush lifting gear, which is
claimed to be the most efficient and simple device of its kind on the
market. Both the functions are performed with one continuous
movement of the lever handle, a safetj'^ catch being provided, by
means of which the operating lever is locked in either the " starting "
or " running " position.

The Coining Electricity Bill.

Speaking at the annual luncheon of the British Electrical
Development Association on Wednesday, Mr. Arthur Neal,
Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, made the
interesting announcement that Lord Peel would shortly introduce
a further Electricity^ BUI in the House of Lords. This would be a
non-controversial measure designed solely to clothe the joint
authorities with the necessary financial powers, and to deal with
other matters uiwn which the electrical industry desired legislation.
Mr. Atkinson speaking earlier had said that one of the things
that the electrical industry most earnestly needed was stability.
Rumours that electrical legislation on a drastic scale was in con-
templation made it impossible for those concerned with the larger
issues to move. It had been amply demonstrated recently that
capital was plentiful for the development of the electrical industry,
and that, given stability, there was no reason why it should not
move forward more quickly than any other. Mr. Arthur Neal
also remarked that given good will no further legislation was con-
templated by the Government, and that the industry had nothing
to fear from Government interference.

The B.E.A.I. Research Association.

The annual general meeting of the British Electrical and Allied
Industries "Research Association was held on Feb. 3, at the
Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Mr. W. 0. Smith (elected to the chair) expressed regret at the
unavoidable absence of Mr. C. H. Wordingham, and appreciation of
his many services in the past. During the course of his remarks in
introducing the first annual report he referred to the good work
done by some fifty committees, and the indebtedness of members to
those gentlemen who gave so much of their time to this service.

Mr. D. N. DuNLOP, in seconding the adoption of the report,
referred to Mr. Wordingham's indefatigable interest and assistance
in all the work of the Association, and the indebtedness of members
to those firms who had allowed members of their staffs to give so
much time to the work of the Association. He mentioned Mr.
A. R. Everest in particular, without whose help the B.E.A.M.A.
Research Committee would have laboured under great disadvan-
tages. Whilst a good beginning had been made — and the manu-
facturers had agreed, in a public-spirited way, to find £8 000 per
annum for co-operative research for five years for the benefit of all
concerned with the electrical industry — it was becoming exceedingly
difficult to find money for such purposes whilst orders were being
placed with foreign competitors. He thought that purchasers did
not properly appreciate what manufacturers were doing to advance
the common interests, and how difficult the position was, due to the
conditions of international exchange and foreign competition.

Mr. C. P. Sparks, in seconding the adoption of the accounts and
balance-sheet, which had been mo\'ed by the chairman, expressed
appreciation of the continuous services of the Finance Committee,
of which Mr. W. 0. Smith was chairman, and of the invaluable
assistance of the B.E.A.M.A. in finding-the sinews of war, and the
personal services of Mr. D. N. Dunlop in establishing the Asso-
ciation.

Fig. 1. — Bruce Peebles Textile Motors for Indlv.

February " 24 , 1922

The Ellectrician.

•r.y.)

Institution of Electrical Engineers' Dinner. Duke of York at Osram Lamp Works.

The annual dinner of the Instititiux ok Kle< trkal En(u.nei;k.s
was held at the Hotel Cecil on Tuesday night in connection with the
Jubilee Commemoration. In the absence of the President, which
everyone deplored, the chair was taken by Dr. W. H. Eccles,
F.R.S.

Among those present were the Postmaster-General (Mr. F. G.
Keliaway), Lord Southborough, Air-Marshal Sir H. M. Trenchard,
Mr. Justice Sargant, kSir Charles Parsons, Sir A. Bowlby (President of
the Royal College of Surgeons), Dr. H. S. Hele Shaw (President of the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers), Sir William Pope (Acting President
of the Society of Chemical Industry), Sir A. Durrant (Office of Works),
Sir W. H. Bragg, Sir R. T. Glazebrook, Dr. S. Z. de Fcrranti, Prof.
E. Barker (Principal of Kings College), Prof. A. W. Porter (President
of the Faraday Society), and Prof. J. W. Nicholson (President of the
"Rontgen Society).

At the commencement of the proceedings a telegram was sent
from those present to Mr. Highfield, and an answer reciprocating
the wishes expressed for his speedy recovery was received
during the course of the evening.

Congratulatory Messages.

A letter from H.R.H. the Duke of York regretting his inability to
be present was read by the President. The Duke expressed his hope
that the Institution would continue to prosper and render the same
yeoman service in the future as it had done in the past for the
benefit and advancement of the science, commerce and industry
of the country.

Greetings were also read from kindred societies in America, Italy,
France and Holland, from Mr. T. A. Edison and from the Institution
of Gas Engineers.

Fifty Years' Progress.

The Postmaster-General proposinglthe toast of the " Institution
of Electrical Engineers," said that it was not unfitting that the head
of the Post Office should propose this toast, because during the fifty
years of the Institution's existence the relations between it and the
Post OfHce had been close and nearly always friendly. In that short
period the membership had not only grown from 100 to over 10 000
but the science and art of the electrical industry had made one of
the most remarakble developments in the whole history of human
endeavour. At the time when the Society of Telegraph Engineers
was founded nothing was known of telegraphy, and nothing of course
of wireless telegraphy and telephony ; and no man in those early days,
however audacious his imagination, could have foreseen the changes
which that period of fifty years had produced.

If such advances had been made in fifty years no limits could be
placed on the progress of the science and the art in which the
Institution of Electrical Engineers was engaged. They had a right
to be proud of the fact that the greatest contributions to the science
of electricity had come from Britons, and comparing the electrician's
work with that of the politician's he had to admit that the electrician
had the more excellent part to play, a sentiment with which his
listeners uproariously agreed. The politician's task in relation to
electrical engineers was to see that their energy and genius was set
free to develop under the most favourable conditions.

Dr. W. H. EccLES, in reply, called attention to the fact that this
was the first dinner which had been held since the Royal Charter was
granted and the King had become their patron. The Institution of
Electrical Engineers was the largest professional institution in the
country, and the reason perhaps was that electrical engineering had
many more varied apphcations than any other kind.

Electricity and the Air Services.

In replying to the toast of the " Visitors " which was proposed by
Mr. Llewelyn B. Atkinson, Air-Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard
remarked that the youngest of the nation's armed services depended
entirely for its development upon electricity, for without wireless
it would be impossible to develop all the power there was in the air,
and they therefore hoped to receive in the future the most valuable
assistance from the Institution.

Mr. Justice Sargant, who also replied, said he had come very
closely into contact with electrical engineers as chairman of the War
Inventions Board. His difficulty had been to hold the balance
between claims of the inventors and the claims of the taxpayers, and
he hinted that both as regards scientific and financial ability there
was not much to choose between electrical engineers and other
classes of the community.

The evening concluded with a crowded reception in the Victoria
Hall, and it may also be noted that the cloak room arrangements
were rather worse than they were last year.

The Di.KE OF York paid a vibit ia.st, wet-k to the Ubram
lamp works of the General Electric Company, Ltd., at Brook
Green, Hammersmith. He was attended by Wing Commander
Louis Greig, and was received on arrival at the works hy Mr. C.
Wilson and Mr. J. Y. Fletcher, direct^>rs of the company i'ln the
unavoidable aljsence through illnes.s of Mr. Hugo Hirst), and other
members of the Board and officials of the company.

The Duke of York proceeded to make a tour of the works,
displaying throughout the keenest interest in the workpeople, 1 500
of whom out of a total of 2 100, are girls. -All the principal
processes connected with the making of Osram lamps were inspected,
from the making of the filament from scheelite, through the various
departments to that in which the finished article was seen. Of all
the processes none appeared to impress him more than the ease
and skill with which the work girls handled the extraordinarily
fine tungsten wire for use in the lamps.

Throughout his tour the Duke chatted freely with the workpeople
and asked them about their length of service, their hours, and
their general conditions of employment. Noticing an invalid-
carriage, he inquired what possible use they could find for an
appliance of that kind in their lamp works, and learned with
satisfaction that wherever it was possible to do so disabled ex-
service men were employed in the works, and the invalid carriages
were provided for them. His Royal Highness' attention was called

Duke uf Yokk at the Osram Works.

to two volumes prepared by the firm, a Roll of Honour giving
the names, short histories, and the photographs of the men who
fell, and a record of the various war activities of the G.E.C., a
copy of both of which he accepted.

As President of the welfare movement he emphasised the im-
portance of welfare work in so extensive an industrial concern ;
at the same time expressing his appreciation of the admirable
arrangement which he had inspected daring his tour. His Royal
Highness went to the Red Cross department, to the dining rooms,
and to various other departments connected with the welfare of the
workers.

When he was about to leave the Duke of York told Mr. Wilson
that he had inspected many industrial concerns, but never one
that afforded him greater interest than these works. He expressed
regret that he could not go into every section, but explained that
he was due to leave London for hunting in Warwickshire. He
hoped, however, that opportunity might arise for a further visit.
Hundreds of girls thronged the exit and gave an enthusiastic
farewell to the Prince. So persistent were they that it was found
difficult to get his car away.

" Sweet are the uses of advertisement." One of the first remarks
passed by the Royal visitor to INfr. C. Wilson, upon arrival, was
" Your lamp is the one advertised with the Elephant, is it not"

On Wednesday next (March 1) Princess Alice will open the
"Daily Mail" Ideal Home Exhibition at Olj-mpia at 3.30 p.m.,
when admission will be by invitation only. The building will be
opened to the public at 5 p.m., but each other day (until Maich 25)
the exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., at a charge of
26 The varied display includes a vast working demonstration of
newest devices and inventions for houses and gardens.

At the Gloucester Sprixc. As.>;i?.es recently the manager
of Messrs. Peaiks' branch shop at Cheltenham, who was proeecuted
bv the G.W.R. Company for causing an attempt to be made to
obtain certain earns of money, with intent to cheat and defraud, was
found guilty and sentence"d "to three months in the second division.
Railway companies have been freriuently the victims of misrepre-
sentation and fraud, and it has Veen found necessary to inaugurate
a system whereby these malpractices are brought to light. In the
Ccise in question the accused made claims upon the company for loss
and pilferage, but a special examination and check of the consign-
ments prior to delivery proved that such claims were false.

:240

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

The Wimbledon Emeute. -

There is evidence thai public opinion in Wimbledon has been
roused by the Council's action in summarily dismissing their chief
electricaf engineer, Mr. Tomlinson Lee. As soon as the decision
became known, a petition was started asking that a town's meet-
ing should be called to consider the subject, and in a short time over
1 600 signatures were obtained.

This illustration of public opinion has, however, failed to move
the Mayor, who, in a letter acknowledging the petition, gives it as
his opinion tliat public discussion upon the question whether the
Council should or should not dispense with the services of one of
their officials can lead to no useful results, and he does not think
it desirable in anybody's interest to debate in public an official's
qualifications for his office, or the reasons which have led up to
and culminated in the decision complained of. He goes on to poinf
out that the members of the Council are elected by the ratepayers
to look after the town's business, including the electricity under-
taking. If the actions of the Council do not meet with the approval
of the electors, the latter may exercise their constitutional rights
and refuse to re-elect thorn when thiv next offer themselves for
re-election. But whilst they are the representatives of the town they
must act according to their be«t judgment, and they must face the
consequences, pleasant or impleasant.

The Mayor points out that the termination of Mr. Lee's ejigage-
ment was unanimously decided upon by the Electricity Committee,
in consultation with the General Purposes Committee, and that the
decision was carried into effect in a way which would give rise to
the least possible friction. Mr. Lee refused to resign except upon
financial conditions which were impossible, and no other course was,
therefore, left open to the Council.

A Public Meeting.

This restatement of the case, which throws a little further light
on the inner workings of a municipal body, has, however, failed to
satisfy the petitioners, who have issued a notice calling a public
meeting to discuss the whole question. This meeting will be open
to all, and will be held in the Baths Hall, Wimbledon, at 7.45 p.m.
on Monday next, Feb. 27. We shall be interested to see the result.
but in the meantime we call attention of the electors of Wimbledon
to the hint given by the Mayor on how to deal with the matter. The
procedure suggested, though slow, will be nevertheless sure, and is
one which should be more widely adopted in local affairs than has
often been done up to th© present.

Post Office Engineering Progress.

Proposing the toast of the " Post Office Engineering Depart-
ment " at the annual dinner in London last Friday, Mr. H. Pike
Pease, M.P., said the Department had made great strides in the past
year, and the future seemed very bright. There had been increased
efficiency all round. With regard to main underground wires, good
progress continued to be made. Seven himdred ajid twenty miles of
eingle duct were laid, and 116 730 miles of double wire drawn in.
In connection with the extension of local telephone facilities. 1 000
miles of eingle- way duct were laid and 100 000 miles of double wire
drawn in. About 500 overhead trunk telephone circuits were pro-
vided, involving the erection of approximately 10 000 miles of double
wire. Referring to automatic telephones, Mr. Pike Peaee said auto-
matic exchanges were of an enormous advantage, and plans had been
prepared for six new exchanges with 11 000 lines, and 3 500 <;xten-
6ione to fourr other exchanges. With regard to the telegraph develop-
ment, the chief feature had been the installation of machine printing
apparatus. He had no hesitation in saying that the telephone system
in this country to-day was far ahead of any other country in the
world. A new method of automatic through-switching on telegraph
circuits had been devised on the same principle as the automatic
telephone switching. This was being develoiped and promised good
results.

Trade Terms and Conditions.

An informal m.eeting between representatives of the principal
ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY, which was recently
convened by the E.D.A., took place last week at the En-
gineers' Club. Some of the more important commercial issues be-
tween the differenti branches were discussed freely, and although
the proceedings were private, we are able to say that the representa-
tives went away with something of interest to '•eport to their associa-
tions. There is also reason to believe that newtiations now in pro-
gress will be assisted by the interchange of views which took place.

It is possible that this conference may be followed by others of a
similar character, and it is hoped that problems which may occa-
sionally be beyond the " give and ta.ke " limits of a purely sectional
meeting will appear less difficult after they have been examined for
further points of view of the whole industry.

This method of handling the more oljstinate difficulties will
increase understanding and sympathy between the se\'eral groups
who after all must, to enjoy individual success, achieve a common
end.

After further considering the application for a reduction of 6s.
per week in wages, the Joint In fustrial Council for Electrical
Workers in South Wales and Monmouthshire, meeting at Cardiff
last week, decided to forward it to the National Joint Council.
The application had previously been referred to arbitration, but this
wae found to be the wrong procedure.

Legal Intelligence.

Dispute About a Petrol-Electric Lighting Set.

In the Shoreditch County Court, on the 16th inst., Louis New-
mark sued Semco, Ltd., for the recovery of £99 15s. for fraudu-
lently misrepresenting that a 2 kW air-cooled petrol electric generat-
ing set was practically new, and had only been run for two hours,
whereas it was old, and in an unfit condition. It was explained
that the set was required for a house plaintiff was having built at
Rickmansworth, and was sold at the end of December, 1920, for £80.

Herbert Newmark, plaintiff's son, said that early in December,
1920, he went to defendants' premises with a Mr. Jay, an electrical
engineer, and saw the generating set. He was told it was practi-
cally new, and had been run for only two hours. After it was
installed it was continually misfiring, and usually stopped. He was
never told it was second-hand. Later, after his visit to defendants,
his father saw it with an architect and an electrical engineer, and
the purchase was decided upon. When it was supplied it was
guaranteed to carry a full load. In April, an unsuccessful attempt
was made to work the engine. A second attempt was made in May,
when it was found that, owing to faulty wiring there were some
dead shorts. Captain Wood had the matter in hand for defendants,
and in August there was a fairly successful trial. After that, wit-
ness (aged seventeen years) was running the plant. He denied that
Captain Wood told him constantly that it was under-lubricated.
About this time the fly-wheel broke, and later the crank shaft. He
agreed tliat Captain Wood complained that the concrete bed was not
right, but he understood it was put right.

Mr. H. Brine, architect, said he heard the representative of
defendants say it was practically, new, and run only two hours; and
Mr. King, electrical engineer, gave similar evidence, the latter
stating he put the faulty wiring right in half an hour.

Mr. L. Newmark said he understood the plant to be unused war
stores. Before buying, he asked if it was in perfect condition, and
got the same said to him as the other witness had deposed to. The
machine had never done its full load. He concluded he had been
defrauded when the crank shaft broke.

Mr. Wm. Payne, general manager to Jones & Sons, electrical
engineers, said he was asked to look at the set, and advised a lot
of things to be done, which would certainly not have been necessary
had it have been in perfect running order. Defendants had those
carried out by Messrs. A. Thompson & Son, electrical engineers.

For the defence, Mr. Clarence Rapson, managing director of
defendants, said the set was purchased in September. 1920, and he
had never authorised anyone to make the representations suggested ;
and Ernest Anderson, the salesman, denied using the words attri-
buted to him.

Captain N. Wood said that not a word was said by him about
guaranteeing the set. He gave directions as to the concrete bed
which were not carried out, so that it was impossible to ensure
sufficient cooling. In April, when started up, the engine back-fired,
and so hurt his arm that he was unable to go on with the work for
some time. On Aug. 9 he got a perfect test, and it took a full
load for the required time. After that the Newmark family took it
over. He saw it after, and it was under-lubricated. On Oct. 1 he
gave it an economy test, when it ran well for twelve hours on paraffin.

In giving judgment. Judge Cluer said he did not think defendants
had satisfied their guarantee that it was in perfect running order,
and although it was tested up to two hours, that did not mean it
was to just do that and stop. On those grounds only he should
award plaintiff £35 damages and costs.

B.T.-H. Company v. Corona Lamp Works.

The hearing of this action was concluded on Thursday last, and
Mr. Justice Astbury reserved judgment.

Mr. Horatio Ballantyne gave evidence for defendants. He had
read the plaintiffs' specification, and it certainly conveyed to him
the meaning of obtaining a coefficent of expansion corresponding
to that of glass. He thought he appreciated what the patentee
had in view in aiming at getting the same coefficient of expansion
in the wire and glass, and he knew what to do to carry that out.
The procedure, as he understood it, was to ascertain the co-efficient
of expansion of the wire — that was to say. to take a length of wire,
heat it, measure it, and note ite increase in length throughout the
period of heating. That was the standard method of ascertaining the
CO efficient of expansion of the wire. That was what he supposed
was intended to be done in that specification.

His Lordship. — In taking a metal or an alloy there is absolutely
no difference in measuring the co-efficient, whether you do it longi-
tudinally or laterally? — No.

In answer to Sir D. Kerly, witness said, assuming that the speci-
fication was addressed to a lamp-maker, the latter would be" familiar
with the fact that wire and glass might have different expansions.
It was common knowledge that one must have a wire with
the appropriate expansion of glass. Cross-examined by Sir A. Cole-
fax, K.C.. for plaintiffs. ^Do you agree with this, that you do not
find dificlosod in any of the alleged anticipations the subject-matter
of the plaintiffs' patent? — I certainly do not find in them anything
about proportioning so as to get the coefficient of expansion of a
certain kind.

The answer is that you do not find the subject-matter disclosed? —
If that l>e part of the subject-matter. I do not.

Dr. Holst. head of the physical labor.atory of Meissrs. Phillips'
Lamp Works at Eindhoven, Holland, said they began making coppor-
clad nickel-iron core Icading-in wire for their lanps in 1914. He did

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

nob know at that time of plaintiffs' specification. They came to iujc
copi>er-clad niokel-iron core leadiiig-in wire in consefjuence of a com-
munication they had that it was used by other factories, and so they
began to try it themselves, without any assistance as to how they
were to make it.

Mr. AuGUSiTJS C. Hyde, a maker of leading-in wires, said he
was with the late Sir Joseph Swan. He and the Vactit© Company
worked on friendly terms with the Societe Fourchambault, whose
patent had also been put in, and they were both concerned with
nickel-iron leading-in wires.

Mr. Cecil M. Masters, stores manager of the Corona Lamp
Works, gave evidence as to* identifying certain lamps complained j)f
as infringements. They had been dealt in by his company, and they
had been got from America, being delivered to them by the Express
people.

Edison Accumulators, Ltd. v. Cox Bros.

In the Outer House of the Court of Session (Edinburgh) on Satur-
day last, Lord Blackburn delivered judgment in this action for the
recoverv of £702, 7s. bd., the price of an electric tractor and other
apparatus which defendants purchased from plaintiffs on May 6,
1920. The tractor was intended to be used for transport purposes
within defendants' works, for which hitherto they had used horse
traction. An essential and important part of the work for vk^hich
the tractor was desired consisted in the backing of wagons or
lorries into bays. Defendants said that some time after the tractor
was delivered it was found that it could not push an ordinary horse-
drawn lorry backwards into the bays, which, they alleged, was con-
trary to what plaintiffs' representative had led them to believe,
and they rejected the tractor. Plaintiffs submitted that the
machine was sold as a tractor, and could not be used for backing, for
which it was not intended.

Lord Blackburn gave judgment for plaintiffs, with costs. He held
that no warranty was given that the tractor would b© suited for
pushing ordinary lorries into the bays.

Charges of Alleged Fraud.

At Leeds, on Tuesday, Wm. Aaron Davis, electrician, of Farnley,
was committed for trial on five charges of obtaining money from
persons in different parts of the country for investment in alleged
bogus companies. It was stated for the prosecution that about
£10 000 was involved, and at the previous hearing the magistrate
had decided to convict on four charges of obtaining sums, ranging
from £2 to £250. On Tuesday he decided to commit on a fifth
charge of obtaining £10, and he declined an application for bail.

Exhibition Notes.

One of the features of the exhibition of modern homes, which
was opened at Harrods on Monday, is a model laundry, in which all
the work is done by electricity.

Special excursions at greatly reduced fares are to be run by the
railway companies in connection with the British Industries
Fair, which will be held concurrently at the White City, London,
and Castle Bromwich Aerodrome, Birmingham, from Monday next,
February 27th to March 10th. The fare will in most cases be
approximately the price of a single ticket for the double journey
where passengers making use of the special excursions, return on
the same day. For passengers who desire to make a stay of from
twp to six days the cost of a return ticket will be about' one-third
more than the usual single fare.

Obituary.

The death is announced, from pneumonia following influenza, of
Dr. James Francis Bottomley, at the age of forty-seven.

\ye regret to record the death of Mr. H. Eeles, secretary of the
Oxford Electric Company, Ltd., which took place suddenly while he
was addressing a meeting at Oxford on Tuesday.

The death is reported, at the age of seventy-seven years, of Mr.
Wm. E. Kenway, who formerly, for eleven years, was general
manager of the Birmingham and Midland Tramways.

Trade Inquiry.

A Canadian Company desire to receive quotations, with samples
and particulars of delivery, from United Kingdom manufacturers of
the following materials :—i-in., |-in., 1-in., l^-in. cotton tapes, in
36-yd. rolls. (Approximate quantity at a time, 100 gross yards):
0005-in., 0010-in., 0015-in., 0020-in. press-board or press pahn insu-
lating paper. (Quote in 100 lb. loteh 0005-in., 0010-in., 0020-in..
0 030-in. sheet flexible mica, for moulding piu-poses, also for commu-
tator use. (Quote in sheets, giving dimensions, 50 lb. lots.) Red and
black fibre sheets and tubes in all sizes. (Varying quantities required) ;
0005-in., 0010-in. oiled cambric cloth and tapes cut on bias. (Quote

ger gross yards.) Particulars may be obtainea on application to the
•epartment of Overseas Trade. (Reference D.0.T.7 866/E.D./
S.C.2.)

The Stock Exchange Committee have ordered the following
securities to be quoted in the Official List .—£750 000 6 per cent,
second mortgage debenture stock of the Newcastle-upon-Tvne Elec-
tric Supply Company, Ltd., and £300 000 7^ per cent, debenture
stock of the Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric
Power Company. Dealings in 200 000 £1. fully paid, 8 per cent,
cumulative preference shares of the Scottish Power Compajiy have
been specially allowed.

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Scottish Private Bills and Orders.

It has been decided that the following Scottish Provisional Orders
are to be proceeded with as private Bills : — The Grampian Elec-
tricity Supply and the electricity part of the Ayr Burghs Order.

The following Provisional Orders have complied with the Stand-
ing Orders : — Aberdeen Corporation, Ayr Burgh (Electricity, Tram-
ways, &c.), Glasgow and Rutherglen Corporations, and dlrampian
Electricity Supply.

In the case of the Glasgow Corporation Order the general orders
have not been complied with, as the consent of the local authorities
beyond the city of Glasgow has not been proved as regards the whole
of the proposed tramways Xos. 6 and 7, and so much of tramways
Nos. 1 and 5 as are beyond the city of Glasgow.

Railway Electrification Schemes.

A meeting of the Industrial Group at the House of Commons on
Monday discussed railway electrification schemes in the South of
England from the point of view of providing employment. Sir
William Pearce presided, and among those present were Sir William
Forbes, representing the Brighton Railway, and Mr. Tempest, repre-
senting the South-Eastern Railway. After a long discussion a com-
mittee was appointed to investigate the propoi^als put forward, and
report to a further meeting of the group to be held on Monday. The
committee consists of Sir Alexander Richardson, Mr. A. M. Samuel,
Mr. Frederick Wise, and Mr. P. J. Hannon.

Tramcar and Omnibus Stopping Place%

In reply to Mr. Gilbert (House of Commons, Feb. 20), Mr. Xeal
stated that it had been suggested that a regulation should be made
requiring vehicles passing on the near side of a stationary tram-
car to slow down whilst so doing, but it was doubtful whether the
Ministry of Transport had power to make such a regulation, and in
any case it seemed undesirable to do so. It would be difficult to
enforce it effectively in view of the large number of tramcar stop-
ping places, and in the opinion of the police authorities it would
probably increase the number of accidents rather than prevent them,
and would also lead to further congestion.

Telephone Service (Isle of Man and Jersey).

In reply to a question by Mr. R. Richardson, the Postmaster-
General (Mr. F. G. Kellaway) stated that as the telephone systems in
the Isle of Man and in Jersey are self-contained, it was not essential
that they should be administered by the Post OflBce in common with
the telephone system of the United Kingdom. The terms on which
he was prepared to issue a licence to the Insular Government for the
conduct of telephone business in the Isle of Man were communicated
to the Lieut. -Governor some months ago; but an application for a
licence had not yet been received.

The Telephone Service.

On the motion of Colonel Gibbs, the House of Commons have re-
appointed the Select Committee to inquire into the organisation and
administration of the telephone ser\4ce and the method of making
charges. The members of the Committee are Sir Evelyn Cecil, Mr.
Hayward, Mr. Hodge, INIr. Hohler. Mr. Holmes, General Sir Archi-
bald Hunter, Sir Evan Jones, Mr. L\'Tin, Sir W. Lane-Mitchell.
Capt. Moreing. Mr. Perring, Sir Alex. Richardson, Mr. Rodger, Mr.
Royce, and Mr. Waterson.

Social Notes.

Mr. W. E. Warrilovv will take the chair at the third ANNTr.\L
Smoking Concert of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (In-
formal Secti(m) on Monday next, at the Engineers' Club. Coventry-
street, London, W.

The Far.\day House Old Students' Associ.ation will give a
smoking concert on March 17, at 8 p.m., at the Queen's
Hotel, Leicester-square, London. In viejv of the fact that the
accommodation is limited, members are advised to applv earlv to
the hon. secretary of the F.H.O.S.A., F.-iaday House, W.C. 1," for
tickets.

The foremen of Johnson & Phillips, Ltd., held their annual
dinner at the Shakespeare Hotel. Woolwich, last Saturday, the pro-
ceedings being presided over by Mr. J. Bayne. This year, for the
first time, the managing director with his depaitmental heads and
other staff members were invited. Between fifty and sixty members
of the company were present, and after dinner an excellent musical
programme was given.

In connection with the recent transference of the Airprie and
Co.^tbridge tramway system to Glasgow Corporation, a luncheon was
given in the North British Hotel. Glasgow, last week \>y Mr.
P. N. Gray, a director of the Tramway Company. The guests in-
cluded Provost Lavelle, Coatbridge: Provost Kennedy. Airdrie: Mr.
James Dalrymple. tramway manager. Glasgow : Bailie M'Whirr.
convenor ; and Bailie Laing. sub-convener, of Glasgow Tramways
Committee; and Mr. Archibald R»>bertson. ex-manager of the Airdrie
and Coatbridge Tramways. A number of si.>eeches were mi.de. in
the course of which it was pointed out that within the last decade
the tramway receipts in the Airdrie and Coatbridge district ha*i
increased tureefold, and the ho|^>e was expressed that when through
running was established with Glasgow tliis expansion would be main-
tained. In the evening at Coatbridge Mr. Archtb.ald Robertson,
who has btM>n manager of the Airdrie and Coatbridge Tramway
Company for twelve years, was presented by the staff with a silver
rose bowl, suitably inscribed.

242

The Electrician.

Fehniary 24, 1922

Electricity Supply.

Preston Electricity Committee recommend that Mr. J. A. Robert-
sou be retained as consultative engineer for the construction of the
new generating station.

DouGL.\s (Isle of Man) Electricity Committee has adopted the
two-rate system of payment, a smaller charge being made during
the daj-time, in order to encourage the use of electricity for power
and other purposes.

An amendment that the proposal to transfer £60 000 of the electri-
city supply profits to the consolidated rate be referred back, as bein^
a financially unsound move, was defeated at last week's meeting of
Liverpool City Coimcil.

Mr. H. A. Howie, electrical engineer and manager of Walsall
Electricity Department has intimated to the General Purposes
Committee his willingness to accept their proposal of a 10 per cent,
reduction on his salary as from April 1 next.

The London County Council have decided to oppose the application
of Stepney Borough Cormcil for a Special Order so far as it relates
to the provision to exempt the Borough Council against proceedings
for nuisance created by the operations of its generating station.

The Electricity Commissioners have practically concluded the
task of provisionally determining the area of the East of Scotland
Electricity District which will include the county and city of
Edinburgh, the county of Midlothian, East Lothian, and certain
parts of the counties of Linlithgow and Peebles.

Mr. G. Morley New, the Cardiff City Electrical Engineer, Mr.
R. L. Horsfield, the City Tramways Manager, and Mr. O. S.
Hosgood, the Station Superintendent, conducted a large number
of delegates of the Cardiff Trades and Labour Council over the
Roath Power Station last Thursday, and explained to them the
plant and machinery.

Colonel Sinclair, Chairman of Swansea Electricity Com-
mittee, at the Council meeting last week stated that during the
year 1920-21, Swansea generating station held the record for
the lowest consumption of coal per unit generated (2-501b.) for
all the towns in the Kingdom whose consumption was between three
and fifteen million units.

The Carlisle Electricity Committee have made unsuccessful
attempts to purchase coal direct from the collieries. The chairman,
Mr. Dalton, states that four collieries refused to deal with them
direct, but the Committee have entered into a couple of contracts
with two firms for a six months' supply of coal at a reduction
on pi;evious rates of 14s. a ton.

At Wolverhampton on Tuesday the Electricity Commissioners (Sir
John Snell, Sir H. Haward, Mr. H. Booth, and Mr. W. W. Lackie)
opened the inquiry into the proposals for the reorganisation of elec-
tricity supply in the North- West Midlands Electricity District.
Mr. Tyldesley Jones, K.C., appeared for the Conference of
Authorised Undertakers, and after counsel's opening statement, Aid.
H. Leese, of Stoke-on-Trent, gave evidence. The inquiry is pro-
ceeding, and a report will appear in our next issue.

A serious condition of affairs has arisen in connection with the
Hull Corporation Electricity undertaking, which, it is stated,
shows a big loss on the year. When the report of a special sub-
committee, appointed to consider the matter, was discussed by the
Electricity Committee, the Chairman (Aid. J. Pybus) tendered his
resignation, and that of his son (Mr. H. Pybus), a member of the
clerical staff, was also accepted. The sub-committee recommended
that the whole committee should resign, but this was rejected by
seven votes to four. The assistant engineer was asked to resign
on purely personal grounds, and a consulting engineer will be called
in to report on the undertaking

New Schemes and Me'.x:^ Extensions.

Aylesbury Town Council has applied for loans of £5 000 for
meters, and £2 400 for the wiring of houses.

Llandrindod Wells Urban Council are in negotiation with the
local Electric Light Company with a view to purchasing the under-
taking.

RomiDAT.E Electricity Committee is making' application to the
Electricity Commissioners for sanction to borrow £36 198 for mains
and house services.

Shoreditcii Borough Council have decided to lease their electric
light standards for the display of illuminatid advertisement signs
at an annual rental of £30 each.

The Ministry of Transport have grant ea the Westgate and
BiRCHiNGTON Gas & Electricity Company an extension of fifteen
months, to May 26, 1922, to* carry out their statutory electric
supply powers.

Swadlincote Urban Council has authorised Burton-on-Trent
Town Council to lay electric cables for the supply of electricity
to the Britty Colliery, the Hearthcote Potteries, and Thomas
Wragg & Sons.

Experiments are to be made in the illumination of the ereat
clock in the City Hall tower at Cardiff, and Mr. G. Morley New.
the City Electrical Engineer has been authorised to instal two
projectors for throwing light on the dials.

Chasetown Parish Council has, subject to the sanction of the
Electricity Commissionois and the approval of County Council,
accepted the offer of the Cannock Chase Colliery Company to supply
electricity for public lighting at £3 per 120 c. p. .lamps per annum.

Barry Urban Council held a private meeting last Thursday
to receive a letter and report from Sir Charles Bright on the
proposed electricity schemes, and to meet the electrical engineer of
the Barry Railway Company on the question of the provision of
a supply of electricity for the district.

Runcorn Council has approved of plans for a new electricity
sub-station to be erected at Latchford Without. Some members
took exception to the building being erected in a residential district
and although the plans were passed, it was decided to ask the
Warrington Corporation to consider erecting the building on an
alternative site.

Ly'nn Town Council has approved a cable extension from the
Docks main to Pattrick and Thompson's, at a cost of £368, and is
considering the extension of a cable from the Customs House to a
sub-station in Saddlebow Road, at £4 812, so that the overhead
cable can be removed- It is also proposed to lay a distributor
along High Street, fed from a sub-station at Purfleet Quay,
at a cost (less buildings) of £2 592 10s.

In connection with a big coal development scheme in Ogmore
Valley, estimated to cost about one million pounds, Messrs. Cory
Brothers propose to erect a large power-house and transmission lines
for conveying electricity to three or four new pits. For the supply
of electricity from the Ogmore Vale power station electric light
cables will be carried on concrete standards to the various
collieries. Steel transmission lines, claimed to be the first example
of the kind in the United Kingdom, will run from Ogmore Vale
through the mountains for a distance of about six miles. Electricity
will be used to drive the haulage plant, elevators, fans, &c., and
will also provide the energy for the steel lattice tower carrying
an aerial rope with buckets for tipping rubbish. In the Rhondda
a rubbish aerial road is in course of construction at Pentre.

Alteration of Charges.

Taunton Electricity Committee announce a reduction of 10 per
cent, on the price of electricity.

Newport (Mon.) Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution
on Friday asking the Corporation to follow the Gas Company's
example and reduce the price of electricity, which is at present
100 per cent, above pre-war rates.

Rochdale Electricity Committee recommend the following re-
duction in the charges for electricity, as from April next.
Lighting from 7d. to 6d., heating and domestic purposes from
2^A. to l^d. per unit, and power, over 15 h.p. 055d. to 0"5d. per
unit.

Huddersfield Town Council have decided to reduce by 2d.
a unit the price of electricity for lighting supplied from the sing'"
phase circuits, but firms under power agreements for 3-phase
current are excepted. The reduction takes effect from the December
meter readings.

Farnborough Urban Council has decided to protest against i
action of the Aldershot Gas, Water, and District Lighting Com-
pany, in increasing their charges for electricity for power and
heating to 6d. per unit, and also against the manner in which the
notification was made. It is alleged that this was only given in
an advertisement in the local press.

Darlington Electricity Committee recommend the following
reductions in electricity charges, amounting to about £6 000 in
yearly revenue : lighting ^d. per unit decrease from April 1st,
which will bring the price down to S^d. per unit, the" pre-war
charge; power, 12^ per cent, reduction, which will leave the figure
12^ per cent, above the 1914 standard, or Ad. against Jd. The
Committee also recommend a reduction of ^d. per unit to con-
sumers for heating purposes.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

A new telephone call office has been opened at Cholsev.
Oxfordshire.

It is stated that the propoeed international conference to c-onsider
the allocation of the Atlantic Cables formerly ownied by the Deutsch
Atlantische Telegraphen-Gesellschaft will be convened at Washington
this week.

Subject to legal formalities, the Commercial Cable Company has
received permission of the Cork Harbour Commissioners to establish
a cable base at Queenstown, where a cable ship with a crew of
sixty-five will be permanently stationed for repairs to the company's
Atlantic cable.

As from March 1. the prices of official telephone directories will be
as follows :— " London Directory " (Vol. I.), cloth bound 2s. 6d..
pafwr cover Is. 6d :. Provincial directories. East. South, and West
of England (Vol. II.), 2s. 6d. : North of England and Midlands
(Vol. III.), 56.: Scotland (Vol. IV.), 2s. 6d. ; Ireland (Vol. V.)
will remain at 2s. The charge for the complete set of fiN'c volumes
will be reduced from £1 to lOs.

The telegraph cable connecting the Outer Hebrides with the
mainland having been interrupted during recent storms, the Post-
master-General announces that arrangements have been made for the
establishment of a temporary wirele.s<; service between the wireless
stations at Tobermory, ^full! and Loch Boisdale, South Uist. Post
office wireless stations are also available for use in the event of cable
difficulties at Guernsey and Lerwick for communication with ccwre-
sponding st^itions on the mainland.

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

243

Electric Traction.

Tipton Urban Council have decided to oppose the Bill now being
promoted by local tramway companies.

Since penny fares were reintroduced on the BraMiNGHAM tram-
ways at the beginning of this month, the returns show an average
decrease of £765 per week of six days.

Kirkcaldy Corporation has approved the recommendation of the
Tramways Committee to borrow £93 000 for new plant. This eum
includes £7 000 already spent and £4 000 for d.c. feeders to relieve
the overloaded Porthhead district.

The London County Council have put on record an expression
of regret at the decision of the Minister of Transport not to take
any practical steps at the present time for dealing with the regula-
tion of omnibus and other traffic at tramway stopping places.

Newcastle-on-Tyne Corporation are applying to the Light Rail-
way Commissioners for an amendment of their application for a
Light Railway Order in respect of which a local inquiry was held on
July 22nd, 1921, by providing for the construction of an additiona-
line.

The deputation recently sent by Dover Corporation to Yorkshire
towns to inspect the railless tr^ley system have reported favourably
on it, especially for opening out routes for traffic not covered by the
present electric tramways. The Corporation are applying for a Pro-
visional Order to instal the railless system.

The Sunderland district tramcar men who went on strike nearly
three weeks ago are still holding out. A new staff has been engaged
by the company, and it was expected that the strikers would in
consequence want to resume work, but the miners' lodges in the
area now threaten to boycott services run by men who have taken
the place of the strikers. The directors have, therefore, decided to
reconsider the position.

Walsall Tramways Department is able to contribute £8 500 to the
relief of the rates, in spite of the fact that the number of passengers
carried since last April has shown a decrease of 3 023 137. So far the
results of the recent reinti'oduction of the penny fare has not proved
successful from the financial point of view, and the situation is to
be reviewed in three months' time. The undertaking was one of only
five in the country which managed to pay its way last year.

Traffic receipts on the Cardiff electric tramways from April 1,
1921, to the 11th inst. show a decrease of £10 269. At a meeting of
the Committee last Friday, Mr. R. L. Horsfield, the tTamway>s
manager, attributed the loss entirely to trade depression. If it had
not been for football matches the decrease would have been very
much greater, as a home match meant an increase of £150 to £200.
The distress tickets sold in- the cars had produced £694 for the Lord
Mayor's Fund.

Personal and Appointments.

We are pleased to learn that Senator Marconi, who has been
suffei'ing from bronchial trouble, is progressing favourably.

Mr. Douglas Hay has been appointed to the Chair of Mining at
Sheffield University, rendered vacant by the death of Prof. E. F.
Armstrong.

Mr. T. M. Johnson, late of the English Electric and Siemens
Supplies, Ltd., has been appointed branch manager of Drake &
Gorham Wholesale, Ltd., at their Liverpool office, 61a, Bold-street.

M. Gaston Roux, directeur du Bureau de Controle des Installa-
tions Electriques of Paris, has resigned in order to be able to
devote his whole time to consulting work. M. Leon Arnand succeeds
M. Roux. ,

Capt. A. R. H. MoRRELL, of the West India and Panama Tele-

fraph Company's service, has been elected acting Elder Brother of
'rinity House, in the vacancy caused by the retirement of Capt.
A. S. Thomson.

The Rouville quinquennial prize of 10 000 frs. for the most
important technical work has been awarded by the French Minister
of Public Works for the years 1916-20 to M. Blondel for his work
and discoveries in optics, sound and electricity.

Manchester Tramways Committee on Tuesday accepted with
regret the resignation, owing to ill-health, of Mr. McElroy, manager
of the depai'tment since 1899. Mr. J. A. S. Wood, the assistant
manager, is retiring on superannuation after forty-nine years' service.

Hackney Borough Council have appointed Councillor C. W. Jack-
son, chairman of the Electricity Committee, and Mr. L. L. Robinson,
borough electrical engineer, to represent the Couneil at the forth-
coming annual convention of the Incorporated Municipal Electrical
Association.

Owing to ill-health, Mr. Ernest Hatton has decided to retire in
three months time from the position of manager of Newcastle-on-
Tyne Corporation Tramways, which he has held for seventeen
years. Under his management the undertaking has contributed
materially to the relief of the rates, a sum of £14 000 having been
given in this way for several years in succession. The system has
been greatly extended during his tenure of office. When the war
broke out a considerable number of the staff joined the army, and
Mr. Hatton organised a system of volunteer drivers and conductors
to assist in the transport of the thousands of munition workers
employed in the district.

Institution Notes.

On Saturday, March 4, Sir Ernest Rutherford will begin a
course of six lectures on Radioactivity at the Royal Institution.

Tha Electrical Federation (Victoria) was formed in December
last, and Mr. T. Malcolm Ritchie, managing director of Electric
Equipment Manufacturers Pty., Ltd., of Melbourne, was eI»K;iea
President.

A general survey of what wireless telegraphy and telephony ia
doing and is capable of doing was given by Major J. Erskine Murray
last week m the course of a lecture on " The Uses of Wireless, Paet
and Future," which he delivered in Glasgow to the ScomsH Centre
OF THE Institution of Electrical Engixxers.

The Assocution of Engineers -in- Charge is holding an informal
discussion on Saturday, Feb. 25 (to-morrow), at 7.30 p.m., at St.
Bride's Institute, Bride-lane, Fleet-street, E.G. 4, to discuss
" Mechanical Stokers v. Hand Firing, both with forced draught."
Visitors are invited to be present and take part in the discuseion.

Owing to the growth of the organisation and the work entailed,
Mr. A. G. Beaver, who has been hon. secretary of the Electrical
Wholesalers' Federation for the past seven years, finds that he is
no longer able to devote the time necessar%- to look after the Federa-
tion interests. Mr. Reginald Cooper, who has had considerable
experience in association work, has, therefore, been appointed general
secretary, and the registered office© will now be located at 19-21,
Hatton Garden, E.C.*

Dr. S. S. Richardson read a paper on " An Oscillograph In-
vestigation of the Gulstad Relay," before the Liverpool Sub-
Centre of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, on Monday.
The paper was illustrated by lantern slides of oscillograms and
details of circuits. Dr. Richardson also exhibted and operated
a Gulstad relay and a new form of frequency meter. Mr. T. E.
Herbert, Dr. Marchant, and Mr. Reeve were among those who
contributed to the discussion.

At the annual meeting of the Physical Society of London,
held on Feb 10, the following officers and members of council were
elected: — President, Dr. A. Russell; Vice-Presidents, Lord
Rayleigh, Prof. T. Mather, Mr. T. Smith, and Prof. G. W. 0.
Howe; Secretaries, Mr. F. E. Smith, " Redcot," St. James's
Avenue, Hampton Hill, and Dr. D. Owen, 62, Wellington Road,
Enfield ; Foreign Secretary, Sir Arthur Schuster ; Treasurer, Mr.
W. R. Cooper ; Librarian, Dr. A. 0. Rankine ; other members of
Council, Mr. C. R. Darling, Prof. C. L. Fortescue, Dr. E. Griffiths,
Dr. E. H. Rayner, Mr. J. H. Erinkworth, Mr. J. Guild, Dr.

F. L. Hopwood, Dr. E. A. Owen, Dr. J. H. Vincent, and Dr.

G. B. Bryan.

Wireless Notes.

A " Central News " message states that a powerful radio station,
capable of direct communication with Germany, England, Denmark,
and Norway, is nearing completion at Dietskoye Selo. It has been
planned entirely by Russian engineers and erected by Russian
labour.

A meeting of the Wireless Section of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers will be held in the Lecture Theatre of the
Institution, Savoy Place, Victoria Embankment on Wednesday,
March 1, at 6 p.m., when a paper on " The Thermionic Triode as
Rectifier." by Messrs. E. B. Moullin and L. B. Turner (member)
will be read.

A NEW radio-telegraph office was opened on Sunday by
Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company at Radio House, L-12,
Wilson-street, E.C. 2. This will be the principal office for the receipt
of Marconigrams, and will also be the company's traffic headquarters.
Radio House, which is claimed to be the most up-to-date office of its
kind in the world, is in direct communication with all the company's
wireless stations, and also with its telegraph offices at Marconi
House, Fenchurch-street, and the Baltic E;-vJiange.

Communication has been established between the Leafield
(Oxfordshire) and the Abu Zabal (Cairo) stations, but no conmier-
cial facilities are yet available. In reply to a question in tiie House
of Commons on "Tuesday, the Postmaster-General said that experi-
mental transmission had been commenced between the two station?,
and as soon as the preliminary trials were completed a public service
would be inaugurated. The Leafield station had been working satis-
factorily for some months, and its messages were regularly picxed up
practically ail the wav bv liners on the Australian route. The total
cost of the two stations was estimated at £250 000. The cost of the
remaining five stations of the Imperial Chain is estimated at
£853 000, but without provision for patent royalties.

Business Items, &c.

The business known as the Thanet Electrical Company. 262.
Northdown-road, Margate, will in future be knowTi as the Margate
& District Electrical Comp.vny, Ltd., and will be under the
control of Mi. J. M. Keenan.

The Electro-Mechanic.\l Brake Company have received an order.
per the English Electric Company, for seventy-five car sets, and per
Metropolitan-Vickers Electric Company, for fifty car sets of
" E.MTB." unbreakable resistances for above equipments.

244

The Electrician.

February 24, 1932

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c. -i

The Yorkshire Electric Power Company.

The thirtieth ordinary general meeting of the Yokkshire Electric
Power Company was held at the Hotel Metropole, Leeds, on
Tuesday, Mr. A. Greenhow Lupton, J.P., presiding.

In the course of his remarks, the chairman said : — The year under
review has been an anxious one. The dispute in the coal induetry
came in the first half of 1921, and during three whole months no
coal was obtained from the collieries. For this period the use of
our current was much reduced owing to the general stoppage of
industry. The company's supply was maintained throughout, and
was of essential service, though the large reserve stock of coal held
by the company had to be supplemented by additional supplies at
high prices.

In spite of this three months' set-back, and of the slump which
has persisted for the whole year, the output of current has been
practically the same as for 1920, which, as you know, was a great
increase on any previous record of the company. The company's
scale of charges for current are based on a sliding scale, varying
with the price of coal, and the great and satisfactory decrease in this
charge which has taken place in the latter part of the year has
resulted in a reduction of revenue.

On the costs side a still greater reduction has been made, which
enables the company to declare the same satisfactory dividend of
8 per cent, on the ordinary shares, after tiaying interest upon a
capital which has been largely increased to meet the growing
demands on the company and after putting the same amount as
before to reserve and leaving a slightly larger amount to carry
forward.

To fulfil our duties to the area it has been necessary to make con-
siderable additions to our mains and to the plant at Thornhill and
Barugh, which will bring in proportionate additions of revenue
during the present year from customers already connected or con-
tracted with. As the company's business grows, generating
machinery of a larger size is brought into use, and with its use there
is a substantial saving of coal and other items which affect the cost
of electricity. The extensions now in progress at the company's
stations should, therefore, not only deal with the increasing demands
foi electricity, but should also result in substantial saving of cost.

In view of future needs, power is also being asked for the com-
pany to double its present authorised capital from £2 000 000 up to
£4 OOO 000, as the money may be required.

The growth of the company will shortly involve the erection of our
new station at Ferrybridge and the laying of powerful trunk mains;
but I may remind you that, although the first year of supply given
by our company was 1905, when the whole revenue for the year was
about £1 000, in the sixteen years that have since passed our revenue
has grown to very nearly £370 000, that we have now 440 miles of
mains, and that every expansion has brought increased revenue and
profits to the company.

At subsequent meetings held after the ordinary meeting, the share-
holders approved the issue of 111 672 6 per cent, cumulative pre-
ference shares of £5 each, the promotion of a Bill in Parliament to
convert both the ordinary and preference shares into shares of £1
denomination, and the increase of the capital of the company from
two to four millions, with proportionately increased borrowing
powers.

North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Company.

The North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Company held
its annual meeting on Thursday. Mr. E. Garcke, who presided, stated
that the net revenue for 1921 reached the record figure of £131 695.
With the amount brought forward there was a total of £136 128 at
the credit of the net revenue account. There was available for
dividends and reserve £101 007, compared with £82 695 for 1920.
The directors had placed £25 000 to reserve, and recommended a
dividend on the ordinary shares of 10 per cent, for the year, com-
pared with 7^ per cent, for the precluding year, carrying forward
£5 006, as compared with £4 433 a year ago. In the course
of two years the balance of the company's net revenue had more
than doubled, while during the past twelve months, described as
a " period teeming with difficulties," there had been a gain of
over 20 per cent., and this in spite of the fact of the coal strike.
The capital expenditure during the year had amounted to
£240 000. This had been mainly in connection with the new
generating plant, main transmission lines and distribution mains.
The company was affording bulk supplies to eight separate local
authorities and companies, who themselves distributed electricity
to their consumers. In addition they weie operating, in con-
junction with their allied distribution comi)any, no fewer than
thirteen separate undertakings, and supply -vas given for power
and general industrial purposes to manufacturers of every de-
scription throughout the area of supply. The result of the inquiry
held by the Electricity Commissioners during the year in connection
with the London and Home Counties Electricity District had now
been published. Although this company's area would be included
in the district of the proposed joint electricity authority,
the rights of their company would not be interefered with, and
the supply powers of the joint authority within the company's
limits of supply would be carried out by the company. Their rights
were thus confirmed and their interests safeguarded. During the
past year an additional 5 000 kW turbine had been installed, and it
was anticipated that a further 15 000 kW of modern and eflicient
plant would be in service during the present year. Further mains
extensions were carried out. During the past year nine new sub-.

stations had been erected and put into service. Under the Bill
which the company was promoting in the present session of Par-
liament they were seeking powers to revise the methods of charge
and prices for electricity, and to take over the undertakings of their
distribution company. The report was unanimously adopted.

London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.

Referring to electrification schemes at the annual meeting of the
London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Company last week,
Mr. C. C. Macrae (the chairman), who presided, stated that the
extension of the company's electrical system to the railway from
Balham Junction to West Croydon was nearing completion, and it
was hoped that this section would be open for electrical traction by
Sept. 1. This section, however, formed only a very small part of
the scheme submitted to the Minister of Transport, which included
the electrification of the whole of the company's suburban area,
extending to Coulsdon towards Brighton and to Cheam towards
Portsmouth, as well as the equipment of the main lines, with which,
in course of time, it was hoped to proceed at any rate as far as
Brighton and Lewee. The outlay of capital would, of course, be very
considerable, and as the present time was not opportune for raising
money, the board had determined for the present to confine electrifi-
cation to those sections oj^ the suburban system where the needs
were greatest.

If they were independent, they could carry out the entire scheme
now, but they were hampered by the Railways Act, which had a
paralysing effect on independent action. The Act provided that the
company should be amalgamated with the London and South-
western, the South-Eastern, and the Chatham and Dover Railway
Companies to form the Southern Group, and those companies were
given to the end of this year to arrive at an agreement for amalga-
mation. For some months past commimications had been taking
place between the companies to endeavour to arrive at terms upon
which the details of the amalgamation could be worked out, but at
once they were confronted with the contention that no electrification
work involving large expenditure should be undertaken by any one
of them without the consent and approval of the others. On the
surface this appeared perfectly reasonable, but when it transpired
that each of these companies had a different system of electrification,
and naturally thought its own the best, the result was that the condi-
tion placed a distinct veto on their company going ahead with its
own programme. ' ,

The Scottish Power Company announce a dividend on the
ordinary shares of 7 per cent.

Bruce Peebles & Company recommend a dividend on the ordinary
shares for the year ended Dec. 31 last at the rate of 10 per cent.,
less tax, together with a bonus of 5 per cent., less tax. ,

The Telegraph Construction & Maintenance Company
announce a final dividend of 7^ per cent., tax free, for 1921. In
July an interim dividend of 2^ per cent, was paid. The dividend
for 1920 was the same.

The North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Company on
Monday offered for public subscription £250 000 8 per cent, cumu-
lative second preference stock at par. The issue was over-sub-
scribed in a short time.

Kensington & Knightsbridge Electric Lighting Company'
recommended a dividend of 6 per cent, on the ordinary shares for
the half-year ended Dec. 31, making, with the interim dividend
paid in August last, 10 per cent, for the year.

Bournemouth & Poole Electricity Supply Company is paying
a balance dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 7 per cent,
per annum, less tax, for the half year ended Dec. 31, 1921, making

6 per cent, for the year (same as for the previous year).

Charing Cross, West End & CitY Electricity Supply Company-
recommend a dividend on the ordinary share capital of the West
End undertakings of the company, for the half-year ended Dec. 31.
1921, at the rate of 6s. per share, making, with the interim dividend
already distributed, 9 per cent, for the year 1921.

The City of London Electric Lighting Company recommend,
subject to final audit, the payment of the following dividends :

7 2d. per share on the 6 per cent, cumulative preference shares,
making with the dividend paid in September, 6 per cent for the
year 'ended Dec. 31 last; 9 6d. per share on the 8 per cent,
cumulative second preference siiares, being 8 per cent, for the half
year ; Is. 9-6d. per share on tlio ordinary shares, making, with
the dividend paid in September, 14 per cent, for tiie year. These
dividends are subject to income tax.

The report and accounts of the Westminster Electric Supply
Corporation for the year 1921 states that the total power of the
lamps, motoi-6 and apparatus connected to the company's mains,
which on Dec. 31, 1920, was the equivalent of about 56 652 kW, had
increased by Dec. 31, 1921, to the equivalent of about 59 132 kW.
An interim dividend at the rate of o per cent, per annum on the
ordinary shares and the dividend on the 4^ per cent, preference
shares, for the half-year ending June 30, 1921, have been distributed.
After allowing for depreciation, sinking fund and other charges, the
balance is £65 036, from which must be deducted the second half-
year's dividend on the preference shares, which absorbed £12 375,
leaving a balance of £52 661. Out of this the board recommend the
payment of a dividend at the rate of 12 per cent, per annum, less
income tax, for the past half-year, making 10 per cent, for the year^
carrying forward a balance of £7 324.

February 24, 1922

The Electrician.

245

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

West Hartlepool County Borough. F«b. 27. — Supply, delivery,
and erection of material for the electric lighting of fifty houses now
in course of erection. Particulars from the Borough Engineer, Mr.
W. F. Dennis, Municipal Buildings, West Hartlepool.

Stockton-on-Tees Corporation. Feb. 28. — Extra high-tension,
low-tension and pilot cables. Specification from the Manager and
Engineer, Electricity Worke, Stockton-on-Teee.

Clacton-on-Sea Urban Council. March 1. — 900 yarde paper-ineu-
lated, lead-covered and armoured cable and joint boxes. Specifica-
tion from the Electrical Engineer.

Metropolitan Asylums Board. March 1. — Electric lighting and

Sower, telephone and fire alarm installations at the Eastern Fever
[ospital Extension, Homerton, E. 9. Specifications can be obtained
at the Board's offices, Embankment, E.C. 4.

Islington Guardians. March 4. — Six months' supply of electrical
supplies for several institutions. Particulars from the Clerk, Mr.
A. King, Guardians' Offices, St. John's-road, Upper HoUoway,
London, N. 15.

Standing Joint Committee of Glamorgan Quarter Sessions and
County Council. March 4. — Electric wiring and fitting (Henley
system) of Bridgend Police Station and Court, Cilfynydd Police
Station and Llanharan Police Station. Specifications can be ob-
tained at the Police Station or at Glamorgan County Hall, Cardiff.

Mertiiyr Tydfil Guardians. March 5. — Electrical fittings for
six months. Particulars from the Clerk, Mr. F. T. James.

St. Pancras Borough Council. March 7. — E.h.t. three-phase
switchgear for two sub-stations. Particulars from Mr. C. H. F.
Barrett, 57, Pratt-street, Camden Town, N.W. 1.

Wigan Corporation. March 13. — Steam turbine, 5 000 kW three-
phase alternator, exciter and surface-condensing plant. Specification,
&c. , from the Manager of the Electricity Department.

Croydon Corporation. March 14. Crushing plant for house
refuse, with conveyers, motors, switchboards, &c. Speciiication, &c.,
from the Borough Engineer.

Edinburgh Corporation. March 14. — Steel tramway poles.
Specifications, &c., from the Tramways Manager, 2, St. James-
square, Edinburgh.

Blackpool Corporation. March 16. — Supply, delivery and erec-
tion of h.t. switchgear and switchroom equipment for West Caroline-
street power house, and Bispham and Cleveleys sub-stations, suitable
for controlling 6 600 V, three-phase, 50 periodicity supply (section 4) ;
h.t. armoured transmission three-core cables suitable for above
supply ; 12 miles 02 sq. in. three-core feeder, 5 miles 0'175 sq. in.
three-core feeder, and Sg miles six-core pilot cable (section 5). Parti-
culars from the Borough Electrical Engineer and Tramways Manager,
Mr. C. Furness.

Bristol Docks Committee. March 17. — Four 30 cwt. movable
electric jib cranes. Specification, &c., from the Engineer, Avon-
mouth Docks.

Edinburgh Corporation. March 20. — Auxiliary plant and pipe-
work for Portobello power station. Specifications from Sir A. B. W.
Kennedy, 17, Victoria-street, Westminster, S.W. 1.

AUSTRALIA.

Municipal Council of Sydney (Electricity Department).
April 24. — *Supply, delivery, and erection of two 2 000 kW rotary
converters; one 10 000 to 12 000 kW turbo-alternator.

State Electricity Commission of Victoria. April 29. — 22 000 V
three-core cable and accessories for Morwell Power Scheme (Spec.
No. 200). Copies of tender from and specification available on appli-
cation to the Agent-General for Victoria, Melbourne-place, Strand,
London, W.C. 2.

Siemens Bros, have secured a contract for 6 000 telephone lines
at Winnipeg.

Liverpool Board of Guardians have accepted the tender of the
Electrical Contracting and Motor Company for an electrical instal-
lation at £21 000.

Leyton Urban Council have placed an order with the Brush
Electrical Engineering Company for a motoi--generator for the electric
vehicle garage at £410.

Llandudno Urban Council have accepted the tender of Bnice,
Peebles & Company for 500 kW and 330 kW converters, at £2 450
and £1 725 respectively.

Aylesbury Town Council has accepted the following tenders : —
Hackbridge Cable Company, for cable, at £295 : British Electrical
Transformer Company, for transformers, at £168 ; General Electric
Company, for transformer plant, at £2 739.

In addition to the large order for electrical equipment for the
Brighton Railway recently obtained by the General Electric Com-
pany, big contracts have been secured by the companv for the supply
of generating plant in China and India, one being for the Bombay
and Baroda Railway, and three lesser orders, of the total value of
£40 000, for the Colonies, including a £15 000 contract for Pretoria.

* Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. Feb. 24th (to^lay).

Pi/jyal Society of Arts.
4-30 p.m. At John-street, London, W.C. Paper on " Brown
Coals and Lignites," by Prof. W. A. Bone, F.R.S.
Physical Society.
5 p.m. At the Imperial College of Science, London, S.W.
Papers to be read : " The Number of Radio-active Trans-
f ">rmations as Determined by Analysis of the Observationa,"
by Dr. H. Levy ; " A Graphical Method of Treating
Fresnel's Formulae for Reflection in Traneparent Media," by
Prof. C. H. Lees, F.R.S. ; Demonstrations of a Sensitive
Method of Determination of Density, &c., by the General
^ Electric Company's Research Department; and Demonstra-
tion of the Physical Properties of Cellactite, by Mr. F. C.
Dyche-Teague, B.Sc.

Electrical Power Engineers' Association.

7 p.m. At the Engineers' Club, Coventry-street, London, W.

Informal discussion on " Boiler Troubles."
Technical Inspection Association.
7.30 p.m. At the Royal Society of Arts, .John-street, London,
W.C. Lecture on " The Extrusion of Metals," by Mr. R
Genders, M.B.E.
North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuildehs.
7.30 p.m. At the Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle-
on-Tyne. Paper on " Running Costs of Diesel-Engined
Ships," by Mr. T. Madsen.

Junior Institution of Engineers.

8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecture on " Curved

Beams, Rings and Chain Links," by Prof. E. G. Coker.
Edinburgh Electtic.al Society.
S p.m. At the Philosophical Institute, 4, Queen-street, Edin-
burgh. Paper on " Some Experiments in Electrical Sound
Detecting," by Mr. B. A. Pilkington.

MONDAY, Feb. 27th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(North- Eastern Centre.)
7.15 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Discus-
sion on " Starters," introduced by Mr. J. Anderson, and
* " Some Notes on the Design of Liquid Rheostats," bv Mr.
W. Wilson.

Royal Society of Arts.
8 p.m. At John-street, London, W.C. Cantor Lecture on " The
Mechanical Design of Scientific Instruments," by Prof.
A. F. C. Pollard. (Lecture II.)

TUESDAY, Feb. 28th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(North Midland Centre.)
7 p.m. At the Film Trade E.xchange Theatre, Leeds. Exhibi-
tion of Cinematogi'aph Films, by Dr. C. C. Garrard and Mr.
F. Gill, O.B.E.

Junior Institution of Engineers.
(North-Eastern Section.)

7 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-T\-ne, Paper on

" Drop Stamping and General Forge Work," by Messrs.
E. F. Lough and R. N. Richardson.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(North- Western Stxtdents' Centre.)
7.3Q p.m. At Houldsworth Hall, Deansgate, Manchester. Paper
on " The Application of X-Rays to the Engineering
Industry," by Mr. A. F. Steel.

Illumiitating Engineering Society.

8 p.m. At the Royal Society of Arts, John-street, London, W.C.

Discussion on " Industrial Lighting : Ideal Requirements
(Legislative and Otherwise) and Practicsi Solutions,"
opened by Mr. L. Gaster.

WEDNESDAY. March 1st.

Newcomen Society.

5 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Paper on " Timothy

Hackworth and the Locomotive," by Mr. R. Young.

Institution of Electricvl Enginixrs.

(Wireless Section.)

6 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Paper on " The

Thermionic Triode as a Rectifier," by Messrs. E. B. Moullin
and L. B. Turner.

Industrial League and Council.
7.30 p.m. At Caxton Hall. London, S.W. Lecture on " The
Purpose of Economic Activities," by Mr. H. Cousens.

THURSDAY, March 2nd.

Institution of Electric.\l Engineers.
6 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Discussion oa
" Starters," with Introductory Papers on " The B.E.S.A.
Specifications for Starters," by Mr. C. H. Wordinfrham;
" Electric Motor Starters." by Sir. J. Anderson ; and " Some
N,>tes on the Design of Liquid Rheostats," by Mr. W.
Wilson.

Liverpool Engineering Society.
(STiroENTs' Section.)
7. SO p.m. At the Royal Institution, Colcmitt-street, LiverpooL
Paper on " Wireless Telegraphy," by Mr. T. E. Daniel.

246

The Electrician.

February 24, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The followinq information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot' be responsible for any errors that may occur.

London Gazette.

Bankruptcy Information.

POLLARD, Claud. 12, Corporation-street, Halifax, electrical
engineer Feb. 14. Debtor's petition. First meeting, J?eb. ^4,
10.1.5 a.m., and public examination. March 24, 10.30 a.m., County
Court House, Prescott-street, Halifax.

TRUELOVE, Harold (trading as H. TRUELOVE & COMPANY),
19 Shepley-street, Stalybridge, co. Chester, electrical engmecr.
First meeting,- March 3, 3 p.m. , Official Reeciver's Offices,
Byrom-street, Manchester. Public exammation, March 6,
11.15 a.m., Town Hall, Ashton-under-LjTie.

Company Winding-up Voluntarily.

RUSHMORES (1919) LTD. T. D. Addis, of 26a, Peterborough-
road, Parsons Green, London, appointed liquidator. Meetmg of
creditors at the liquidator's office on Feb. 23 at 4 p.m.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgments" does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the oases. Judgments are_ not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

BARNETT, Barnard, 100, Bethune-road, Stoke Newington, electri-
cian. £18 17s. lid. Dec. 8.

CASS, M., & COMPANY, 25, Upper Parliament-street, Liverpool,
electricians. £13 Os. 3d. Dec. 8.

CUFFE, Mr. F., 200a, Regent-street, Hull, electrician. £27 IQs. 4d.
Dec. 8.

GREENLING ELECTRIC SUPPLIES, LTD., manufacturers.
£10 8s. Dec. 13.

HAINES, J. M., 252, Hackney-road, E., electrical engineer.
£29 18s. Id. Dec. 7.

HOPKINS, Hopkin, Bryneithin-terrace, Morriston, Swansea, elec-
trical engineer. £11 Os. 6d. Dec. 5.

HURLINGHAM ELECTRIC COMPANY, 283, New King's-road,
Fulham, S.W., electrical engineers. £23 66. lid. Dec. 2.

LOWER, A. & E., 670, Seven Sisters-road, N., electricians.
£20 9s. 9d. Dec. 6.

REGAN BENNETT & COMPANY, LTD., R/0, 32, Charing-cross,
S.W., electrical engineers. £25 16s. lid. Dec. 16.

SHAW & COMPANY, 172, Oxford-street, Manchester, electrical
contractors. £21 196. Dec. 6.

SOHO ELECTRICAL WORKS, 125, Islington, Liverpool, electri-
cians. £14 12s. 2d. Dec. 19.

WOUTERS, HERBERT, & COMPANY, 14a, Beaumont-road, West
Kensington, electrical engineers. £30 3s. Dec. I.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Aci also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify ^the tptal amount of debt due *rom the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which wr;uld, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each CMe the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since suoh date.]

MITCHELL'S ELECTRICAL & WIRELESS, LTD., London, S.E.

Registered Feb, 4. £550 debentures; general charge. *Nil.

Sept. 13, 1921.
MORGAN EBONITE COMPANY, LTD., Failsworth. Registered

Feb. 10, mortgage, to Manchester & Liverpool District Banking

Company, Ltd. *Nil. Oct. 27, 1920.
VICTORIA ELECTRICAL (MANCHESTER), LTD. Registered

Feb. 7, £7 000 debentures, present issue £6 250 ; general charge.

Satisfaction.

WINN (Charles) & COMPANY, LTD., Birmingham, manufactures
gas and electric fittings. Satisfaction registered Feb. 14, £9000,
part of amount registered Sept. 26, 1918.

Deed of Arrangement.

BARDSLEY, James Nelson, 179, Katherine-street, and 254, New-
market-road, Ashton-under-Lyne, electrician. Trustee, A. T.
Eaves, 15, Fountain-street, Manchester, C.A. (Filed by order
on terms.) Liabilities unsecured, £1287; assets, less secured
claims, £385.

Private Meeting.

RAWCLIFFE, FRANK, & COMPANY, LTD., electrical factors,
8, Nun-street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. A meeting of creditors was
held in London last week, when a large number of creditors
-attended, and the chair was taken by Mr. W. Brittain, the
voluntary liquidator of the company. A statement of affairs
showing the position as at Jan. 30 last disclosed liabilities to
unsecured creditors £14 325 and estirftated assets (after allowing
for preferential claims) £11 329. There was therefore an esti-
mated deficiency of £2 996, while as regards shareholders the
total deficiency was £11 466. The company had been formed in
April, 1921, and took over the business successfully carried on
for some years by Mr. Rawcliffe, who was now a cash creditor
for £3 500. The liquidator said he was instructed on behalf of
the directors to submit an offer to the meeting of 10s. in the £,
and it was proposed that there should be a scheme for the
transfer of the whole of the assets to a new company, and that
a debenture should be issued in respect of those assets for an
amount necessary to pay the composition referred to by instal-
ments of 2s. 6d. each at three, six, nine and twelve months.
The debentures would no doubt bear interest at 5 per cent, or
some similar rate. After some discussion it was resolved, on
the motion of Mr. Houstoun, representing the Stella Conduits,
Ltd., seconded by Mr. C. G. Poppleton, representing other
creditors, that the liquidation should be continued with a com-
mittee of inspection, consisting of Mr. Maurice (Catchpole &
Maurice) ; Mr. E. A. Ingold, and the representatives of the
Stella Conduits, Ltd. ; Mr. Joseph, of Messrs. Joseph & Com-
pany; and CaFlenders Cable & Construction Company, Ltd. The
following are creditors : — Favell & Company, Newcastle-on-
Tyne, £154; B.T.C. Electric Lamp & Accessories, London,
£591; Cable Accessoi'ies Company, London, £135; Callenders
Construction Company, London, £820; Catchpole & Maurice,
Ltd., London, £234; British Driver Harris Company, London,
£486; Efanden Company, Wolverhampton, £120; Enfield
Ediswan Cable Company, London, £148; Joseph & Company,
London, £188; Canning, W., & Company, Ltd., Birmingham,
£372; Cryselco, Ltd., Bedford, £251;" Electric Accessories
Company, Leeds, £81: Ingold, Ltd., Shipley, £628; Kent &
Company, Burslem, £210; Stella Conduits Companv Bilston,
£247.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

Leaflet No. 2 676, published by the General Electric Company,
contains revised catalogue prices of the automatic circuit breakers
appearing in Section X 3 of the firm's complete catalogue.

A recent catalogue of Thomas Broadbent and Sons contains a
large amount of interesting information regarding the electric cap-
stans made by them. A special point is that the control gear is of
the automatic contactor type, which, it is claimed, is absolutely fool-
proof, besides being of sound and substantial construction. It
consists of a time or current limit self-starting rheostat, which
embodies no-volt release features.

The Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi,
whose London offices are at 56, Victoria-street, S.W. 1, have just
issued a general booklet descriptive of their works and manufactm-es.
This booklet is exceptionally well illustrated, and contains, among
other photographs, two aerial views of the works at Marcinelle
Villette, near Charleroi, and at Ruysbroeck, near Brussels. Two
photographs show respectively the main shop and the cable depart-
ment in the condition in which they were found at the date of the
Armistice and one year after, when the machinery which had been
removed by the Germans had been reinstalled. The publication is
divided into twelve sections, and covers practically the whole range
of electrical manufacture. It is interesting to note that, although the
works were situated in that part of Belgium which was occupied by
the Germans during the war, since the Armistice it has been possible
to re-establish the factory to such an extent that at present about
5 000 people are employed.

Receiver ship.

APPLEBY CRANE & TRANSPORT COMPANY, LTD. Sir
William B. Peat, of 11, Ironmonger-lane, E.C., ceased to act as
receiver or manager on Feb. 10, 1922.

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Offices of " Thk
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.G. 4. Tele-
grams: Benbrotric, Fleet, London. Telephone: City 9852 (5 lines).

The subscription to " The Electrician " is £2 12 0 per annum
in the United Kingdom, and £2 14 0 per arwurn Abroad. Advertise-
ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
tisement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2285. [

No. 9
Vol. LXXXVI

".]

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1922.

Prepaid Sabscription U.K., £1 ;s.
perann. ; Abroad, £1 los.

Price 6d.

Notes op the Week

The Jubilee Commemoration

rotakt conveetbr practice

It is My Privilege to Introduce ... By Alan Sullivan ..

Review

The Institution Jubilee Commemoration

Eotary Converters with Special Reference to Railway Electrifi-
cation. By F. P. Whitaker. Illustrat^'d

Modes of Ferromagnetic Induction. By Sir J. Altred Ewing,
K.C.B., F.R.S. Illustrated

The Contractors' Coming-of-Age Dinner

COREBSPONDENCB

Beginning and Growth of the E.P.E.A

East of Scotland Electricity District

British Industries Fair, Birmingham

Ideal Home Exhibition

Supervising Electricians

International Scientific Conference

Prize for Moving Platform

The Late Mr. Thomas Clark

Power Developments in Nuremberg

CONTENTS.

247 North- West Midlands Electricity District 264

251 Improved Street Lighting in Oxford Street , 265

252 Social Notes ^ ..'. 26-5

252 Legal Intelligence -. 266

253 Personal and Appointments ii66

254 Parliamentary Intelligence 266

Institution Notes 266

258 Electricity Supply 267

Electric Traction 267

260 Wireless Notes 267

261 Business Items, &c 267

261 Obituary 267

261 Imperial Notes 268

261 Eui-opean Reconstruction .....^ 268

262 Foreign Notes 268

262 Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 269

263 New Companies 27t

263 The Electrical Trades' Diiectory 274

263 Commercial Intelligence 1:75

263 Tenders Invited and Accepted 276

263 Arrangements for the Week 276

Notes of the Week.

The Latest (and Last?) Electricity Act.

At a certain place in Mr. Arthur Neal's speech at thb
annual luncheon of the British Electrical Development Asso-
ciation last week, an almost audible sigh of relief arose
from his audience. It was not that the speech was too
long and uninteresting, or that the speaker was about to
sit down, but that he had announced that the Government
would do everything to remove obstacles from the path of
the electricity supply industry, and so make clear the way
to progress. If we did not know it already, the baleful
effect of legislation on the electrical industry was obvious
from the remarks of many of the speakers at the Institu-
tion Commemoration; and we may, therefore, be forgiven
for believing that once that burden is removed the
machine will revolve more easily. Unfortunately, that state
of things cannot at once be attained. The electricity supply'
industry is uneasily poised on the top of a barbed wire
entanglement, and just one more little act (which we hope
will really be the last) is required to bring it down on the
right side of the fence.

A Non-Contentious Measure.

We are, therefore, glad to see that a non-contentious
measure has so quickly been introduced into the
House of Lords, whence we hope it will receive an
easy passage through all stages. The measure, which
appears to contain all the clauses, especially those relat-
ing to charging, which we have recently advocated, will
confer on the Commissioners further powers, powers which
far from meaning greater autocracy, should really lead to
a lubrication and easier running of what is, through
nobody's fault, a rather creaking and iiisty piece of
mechanism. This is a matter of both urgency and im-
portance. Uneasiness and uncertainty about the future
are preventing extensions boing made by supply undertak-

ingSj are resulting in money which would otherwise be used
to feed the electrical industry going elsewhere, and are bid-
ding fair to bring about a condition when the public will be
demanding electricity and there will be none to give them.
The sooner, then, that this measure is passed, and we can
all once more settle comfortably to business, the better for
everyone.

The North-West Midlands Inquiry.

The scheme for the reorganisation of electricity supply
in the North- West Midlands Electricity District which has
been under investigation during the present week by the
Electricity Commissioners, appears to have been put forward
solely in the interests of the municipal undertakers, and
they would like the proposed Joint Electricity Authority to
be representative of them. Thei"e are, however, two power
companies in the district, viz., the ^Midland Ele<^rc Cor-
poration for Power Distribution and the Shropshire,
Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company,
and it is proposed to purchase the inghts of these so as
to make the authority an exclusively municipal one. In
addition, railways and tramways, and other large con-
sumers of power would have no representation, as it is
thought by the promoters that " only the people who find
the money^ should be represent^." Apart, from the fact
that it seems to be in conflict with the spirit and objects
of the Electricity (Supply) Act,, we believe this to be a
mistaken attitude, for a few representatives of the rail-
ways and other power consumers would be of great service
in keeping the authority in touch with impending develop-
ments, while questions relating to charges for electricity
and other matters could also be settled readily by direct
negotiation.

Discordant Municipal Councils.

In regard to the scheme itself, there appears to be some
conflict of opinion between the municipal authorities. There
are fourteen generating stations owned by ten authorised
undertakers, and it is suggested that these should be

248

The Electrician.

March

3, 1922

aoqiiired by the Jodnt Authority, aad three new power
stations erected at Kugeley, Stoke and Ironbridge respec-
tively. Walsall objects to the U'ansfer of its station at
Birchills, which it considers to be well placed for conver-
sion into a bulk supply station. Newcastle-under-Lyme
is also opposed to the transfer of its station, and in the
absence of compulsory powers of purchase the Joint
Authority will, therefore, find some difficulty in carrying
out their programme. "We are pleased to notice that the
Commissioners intend to do everything possible to exond
the use of electricity, for, in the course of a discussion on
a clause imposing an obligation to provide a supply of cur-
rent for collieries and industrial works. Sir John Snell
intimated that it was competent for the Commissioners to
impose such an obligation in the event of an authorised
undertaking raising unreasonable objections to the giving
of a supply.

Power and Traction Prospects.

Industrial developments in the area between Stoke
and liichfield are expected to result in heavy power
requirements, and an early electrification of some of the
local railway lines is also anticipated. The evidence ten-
dered on behalf of the railway companies showed that there
is a heavy and a growing passenger and goods traffic, and
electrification would be a remunerative policy to adopt. No
doubt when the railway amalgamation scheme is com-
plete the subject will be considered, but apart from the
traction supply there is likely to be an increased demand for
power from the railways in the near future, while there
is also an excellent colliery load in prospect. It is,
therefore, to be hoped that a suitable scheme will be
formulated by the Commissioners, in order that there
may be no delay in making the necessary preparations for
meeting the demands, immediate and prospective, for elec-
tricity in the district.

Telegraphy in the Background.

Though generally filled with admiration at the arrange-
ments made for the oommemoration of the Jubilee of
the Institution of Electrical Engineers, we may be, perhaps,
allowed one small criticism — the preponderating amount of
time given to matters connected with electricity supply,
and, consequently, the very small amount of time given to
telegraphy. This is the more astonishing when we recall
that in 1872, the date the Institution was celebrating, elec-
tricity supply did not exist — telegraphy was the electrical
industry — and, though in the intervening years the supply
side has far outgrown the weak-cuirent section, the greater
claims of the latter to longevity might well have been more
stressed. Telegraphy was, in fact, represented by two
speakers only. Sir W. Noble and Mr. Judd, and, though
at the present time it goes so evenly on its way, both techni-
cally and commercially, as almost to be forgotten in the
clash of battle on the supply side, there are incidents in its
early days which would not only make good reading, but
from which useful lessons can be learnt.

Some Forgotten Pioneers.

Though we have no wish to swim the troubled waters,
where this or that invention or this or that piece of work
is definitely ascribed to one person, it is rather strange
that the whole of the credit for early submarine telegraph
progress should have been given by Mr. Judd to Sir John
Pender. Sir John Pender, as w-^ have reason to know, was
an enterprising and far-sighted business man, who did
much for the development of submarine telegraphy, but
he was in no sense an engineer; and it would, therefore,

have been better in a gathering of engineers to have
laid greater stress on the work of Kelvin, Bright and
Fleeming Jenkin, to mention only three names. Kelvin
himself and Sir Henry Mange, in their respective presi-
dential addresses to the Institution of Electrical Engineers,
gaye, it may be noted, the credit for tiie engineering side of
the early submarine telegraph work solely to Bright.

The Engineers' Dispute.

It is regrettable! that a grave crisis, which may develop
into a national stoppage of work, should have arisen in the
engineering industry, and we sincerely hope that every pos-
sible avenue to peace will be explored between now and
March 11, the date fixed for the beginning of the lock-out.
The present dispute, which has arisen out of the interpreta-
tion of three clauses of the agreement made in September,
1920, only relates to overtime and the working of night
shifts. It would be a disaster, not only for those immcf-
diately concerned, but for the country, if the matter were
allowed to take its normal course.

Wiser Counsels.

Fortunately, there are indications that wiser counsels
will prevail, and that mutual explanations may lead to an
understanding. Neither the employers nor the men desire
overtime, but there are occasions when it may be necessary
to work it, and as the men appear to have conceded
this point, the real question is what is " necessary "
overtime. The employers maintain that they alone shall
decide, but the men claim that they, or their representa-
tive, should also be " consulted." Clearly it is right and
proper that the employer, who alone bears the risk of loss or
profit on a contract, should have the right to decide this
important point, though it would be good policy to give
an explanation to the men when it is necessary to work
extra hours. At present nearly one-fourth of the members
of the men's union are out of work, and as it has adopted
a conciliatory attitude so far, it is to be hoped that it will
be able to make its members take a sane view of the matter,
and not push matters to extremes.

The Hull Electricity Undertaking.

The report of the Special Sub-committee appointed to
investigate conditions in Hull Corporation electricity de-
partment discloses such an unfortuuat-e state of affairs that
we are not surprised at the heavy deficit of £16 000 on the
year's working. Some of the trouble appears to be due t<-
a lack of that co-operation which ought to exist between
the engineer and the chairman oT the Electricity Com-
mittee and between the engineer and his chief assistant;
and the remainder may be ascribed to the war, and to
a want of due appi'eciation of its consequences. It was
almost impossible to carry out adequate repairs between
1914 and 1918, and now they have proved mudi more
costly than was anticipated. The resei-ve fund wa^ inade-
quate, and instead of devoting it to repairs, it was em-
ployed Tor purchasing new plant for which borrowing
powers could not at the time be obtained. The result is
that the undertaking, which has a capital expenditure of
about £800 000, is now without a resei-ve. For many years
we have been urging the provision of an adequate reserve
by all municipal electricity supply undertakings, and we
should like to see the maintenance of a minimum reserve of
5 per cent, of the outstanding capital made compulsory.

Cause of the Trouble.

But matters do not end there, for the efficiency
of the generating plant is poor, the ooal consump-
tion being given as 6 7 lbs. per unit generated. This

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

249

is attribut-ed to the absence of economisers on the
new water-tube boilers, to inefficient mechanical stokers,
and to inadequate chimney shafts. Certain recommenda-
tions were made by the engineer in order to improve
matters, but as there was a conflict of opinion between
him and his chief assistant it has been decided to call in a
consulting engineer to advise the Committee. Serious errors
were also made in estimating the cost of some new plant
and of extending the supply cables to Melton. In addi-
tion, it is alleged that the charges for electricity were not
increased sufficiently to cover the increasing cost of supply,
and, to complete the list, during the period from 1914 to
1919 the number of employees of the undertaking increased
from 140 to 220, though, it is pointed out that the reduced
hours of working would only have necessitated an increase
of from twenty-five to thirty men. Under the circum-
stances we think the Committee are wise in calling in
an independent investigator to put the undertaking on a
sound financial position, and to restore order out of the
present chaos. The Hull undertaking has been fairly suc-
cessful in the past, and we hope that as soon as the present
domestic dispute is settled things will rapidly become
normal once more. For continued success an engineer must
have the support of the Committee, and he must also' have
the loyal co-operation of the whole of his staff. In brief,
organisation and discipline must be maintained, though in
the present case the root of the trouble can be traced to
the absence of the engineer at the war.

An Unsuccessful Proposal.

It will be remembered that a Special Conference, repre-
senting the various branches of the electrical industries was
i-ecently convened to deal with the question of unemploy-
ment. They accomplished their task successfully and very
amiably, and subsequently it was proposed that the con-
ference, instead of being a temporary body, should be con-
verted into a permanent association under the imposing
title of the Conference of Joint Industrial Councils and
Other Bodies in the Electrical Industry. This association
was to comprise the three Joint Industrial Covincils, viz.,
those dealing with cable-making, contracting, and electrical
supply, together with representatives of the British Elec-
trical Development Association, the Electrical Wholesalers'
Federation, and the B.E.A.M.A. As the purpose of the
Conference was publicly to represent the interests of the
whole of the electrical industries, the proposal was naturally
taken seriously by the bodies concerned. Now we hear
that the electricity supply branch, through the National
Council, have refused to be parties to. this pennanent
organisation, explaining that, although they are willing to
co-operate on special matters, they do not agree^ to the
formation of a permanent and independent body. This is
not surprising, for, though the constitution of the Coifer
ence is, of course, adequate for dealing with a special maiter
like unemployment, it is obviously weak as a fully repre-
sentative body, since neither of the four associations of the
electricity supply industry is directly represented. See^
ing that the proposed permanent conference is largely
political in aim, it is hardly to be wondered at that the
electricity supply industry refuses to delegate such impor-
tant powers to any one of their own associations.

Two Important Exhibitions.

The immediate effect of exhibitions on trade is rather
hard to gauge. For large crowds and the optimism of
salesmen, based upon interested inquiries, do not always

lead to the orders which alone make the enterprise and
money expended worth while. The indirect effect i.s, how-
ever, good. For it cannot be denied that the firm that
never exhibits, though it may not lose any definite orders, is
failing to take advantage of that psychological aid to in-
creased business which is known as keeping one's name
before the public. We are, therefore, glad to learn that the
electrici-l industry is well represented both at the Birming-
ham Section of the British Indu.stries Fair and at the Ideal
Home Exhibition at Olympia. The former of these, which
was first held in 1915 for the purpose of enabling Briti.sh
manufacturers to show goods which had not previously been
made in the United Kingdom, has since grown to include ^
practically every British industry. It has a' direct appeal
to trade buyers, and is, in fact, only open to them.

Striving for the Ideal Home.

On the other hand, the Ideal Home Exhibition throws
the widest net. Its aim is to show how a house fit not
only for heroes, but for ordinary people, can be built,
equipped, and run. To approach to within even a long dis-
tance of idealism the employment of electricity is neces-
sary, and we are not surprise to find that the uses
to which electricity can be put in bringing about the utmost
quantity of labour saving and comfort in the home are being
adequately displayed. Indirectly, electricity will also play
a great part. For lighting schemes and decorative effects,
which help so much to display goods and attract attention,
would be impossible without its aid. Nevertheless, we ask
electrical engineers to approach the exhibition in a spirit of
criticism. The display will be adequate, but we fear it will
be little more. It is their duty to see that another year it
is verv much more. Last year an often-heard complaint
was : " It i^ very nice, but it is so expensive. ' ' We fear the
complaint will be repeated with equal justice this year.
That is one of the things w-hich the electrical industry should
set about altering by all the means in their power.

Geddes-Vol. III.

To readers of The Electriciax the most interesting part
of the third and final Geddes report will be that which deals
with the Post Office. The conclusions of the committee are
that a regular and systematic check should be instituted
on the postal services, that the cost of the staffs can be
reduced by nearly £400 000 per annum, and that the piovi-
sional estimate can be reduced by nearly £2 500 000. Now,
Post-Office finance must be approached in a different way
from that suitable for other Government Departments. For
the Post Office not only spends, but should earn money. As
we have so often stated in the case of the municipal elec-
tricity supply departments, its aim should be, not to make
a profit, but to give the best service possible at the lowest
possible cost withoxit a deficit on the year's working. This
does not mean stinginess, for a well-paid staff and wise
expenditure on material are sound finance, but it does
mean a careful check on all outgoings, and guarding against
inflated staffs. The appreciable reduction in postal traffic
since 1913-14 shows that one of these essentials is not being
fulfilled, while the increase of staff in the same time indi-
cates a failure to deal with another. These are certainly
matters which shoidd receive close attention, and we are
glad to see that INlr. Kellaw.w hopes to go £10 000 000
better than Sir Eric Geddes. It is, however, to be hoped
that he will also be able to remove some of the restrictions
upon postal facilities which are such a burden upon busi-
ness. One thing is as important as tie other, for without
easy and cheap communications trade cannot flourish.

250

The Electrician.

March

3. 1922

The Jubilee Commemoration

The Jubilee' commemoration of the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers has primarily resulted in the production
of a mass of material which it is impossible tO' deal with at
length in the columns of The Electrician. Had it been
necessary for us to' do so we should have failed in our
duty; but. fortunately, a special edition of the Institution

Journal " is to be published, which will contain not
only the speeches made at the various meetings, but also
communications from a large number of understudies which
the Council, perhaps warned by past experiences, pro-
vided. This will enable those interested in electrical his-
tory, as everyone should be, to examine the various
reminiscences in a way which was not possible at the meet-
ings themselves. We shall look forward toi study-
ing this official account. For it will be not only a
valuable and interesting document, but a record of oppor-
tunities seized and lost, of shifts, of ingenuity, and, not
least, of humour. It is a poor heart, unworthy of the
adventurer, that cannot see what Meredith called the
comic spirit playing over the most anxious of these early
experiences, and our early rac(ynteu?'s were obviously not
lacking in the possession of this valuable quality. Often
enough they needed it.

Personality the Keynote.

It may be said with a good deal of truth that personality
was the keynote of the Commemoration. The various
speeches were not only accounts of adventures, but were,
generally unconsciously, reflections of human nature as
exhibited in the engineer. " The nature," says Shake-
speare, " is subdu'd to what it works in." And this is
equally true of the engineer's nature as of the dyer's.
This point is etxcellently made by Mr. Alan Sullivan
in his attempts in the article which we publish
elsewhere to discover the ingredients which go tO' make
up the composition of the successful engineer. What he
has to say will be studied with blushing interest; we only
hope it is not too complimentary. He also recommends that
the engineer should endeavour to break down the insula-
tion which exists between him and his fellow-men, by
communion with " a large-minded bishop, a manufacturer,
a stockbroker, and a dealer in sporting goods." This
advice might well be taken for the good of all the parties
ooncemed .

It was inevitable, in pioceedings like these, where the
personal element was so much t^ i.he fore, that the names
of famous joast and living workers should have come up over
and over again in the debates. It was not only inevitable,
but just. For progress and the acquisition of knowledge
are in the limit the result of human endeavour, and it is
therefore fitting that the names of those who made that
progress and acquisition possible should be suitably
honoured. A Commemoration could have no better aim
than this.

Faraday and Heaviside.

Now, if those who attended the meetings will review the
proceedings from the human point of view they will dis-
cover this result: That the two names most frequently
mentioned, and in the highest terms of honour, were first
Faraday (which is not surjirising) and secondly Heaviside
(which is). For there can be no doubt, as Dr. Fleming
pointed out, that all glory .nust be given to the man
who not only made the discoveries which have ren-
dered modern electrical engineering possible, but who

examined and collated the work of others and put it for-
ward afresh in a form in which it could be used. Both as
a scientist and a man, Faraday was an example which
none of us to-day would lose by following. The Roman
Church lays down a period of years after death before one
of its members can be canonised. This is a wise provi-
sion. It allows the brightness of the good qualities to be
toned down, and mercifully glosses over the black patches.
If, at the end of the time, the man seems worthy of that
apotheosis, it is felt that the honour is fitly due. So with
Faraday; and the Institution were therefore only giving
him his due in raising him to the highest place in their
Commem oration .

Lightening Obscurity.

Now. in Heaviside's history there are points both of
similarity and dissimilarity with that of Faraday. His
early work did not receive that attention which it
merited, but, unlike Faraday, some share of general recog-
nition is still lacking. Perhaps it is too soon, and, in
any event, it is not unnatural that this should be so. The
problems with which Heaviside dealt, and the way in
which he treated them, are both remote from the intel-
lectual processes of the average electrical engineer. It is
recognised in a vague sort of way that he did some very
good work, but what and where are equally unknown. A
good deal of this obscurity is now cleared up by Dr.
Eccles' remarks in proposing the resolution which, on the
suggestion of Sir Oliver Lodge, the Council submitted to
one of the Commemoration meetings, and now no one who
belongs to the Institution need have excuse for doubting
Heaviside's place among the electrical immortals. It is
now some years since he had conferred upon him the highest
honour which it is in the Institution's power to bestow. But
that was no more than his due, and the additional honour is
but a graceful act.

The Turbine and Electricity Supply.

We were glad to see another of the Institution's short
list of honorary members present at the Commemora-
tion. Sir Charles Parsons gave a most interesting
and modest account of the development of the steam
turbine that beeurs his name. That development is once
again a history of failure, disappointment, and ultimate
success. How great its effect on the progress of
electricity supply has been is vaguely known to all
electrical engineers. To gauge that effect in a more
material form it is only necessary to visit a station like
Bankside, and compare the space once occupied by the
reciprocating sets with that taken up by turbines of a much
greater output. When to this saving in space is added
a reduced steam consumption and higher thermal efficiency,
the advance that has been made possible by Parsons'
researches is amply demonstrated.

Inventive Curiosity.

In connection with the Jubilee celebration, only one
other name need be mentioned — Ferranti. Dr. Ferranti
gave a most interesting account of his early devotion to elec-
tricity, and of how that inventive curiosity which he then
displayed was turned to practical use later on. With him,
we learnt, lay the premature conception of the idea of the
large electi'icity district, an idea unfortunately killed by
myopic legislation. It was his, and his devoted assist^its',
work to face the task of inventing a new industiy, of find-
ing material to do things which had never been done before,
and they successfully won through.

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

251

The Re-birth of the Institution.

We seldom hear Dr. Ferranti speak without his pro-
pounding some idea which is worth consideration. His
remarks at the Jubilee Commemoration were no exception.
In 1910, he said, when he became President of the Institu-
tion, he found it slow, quiet, and ready to die out or pro-
ceed in a way that made its future uncertain. He saw
what a ^reiat good the Institution might be, and how much
it oould do for electrical science and for those who gave
their lives to it. He felt it wanted life, and he tried to
infuse life into it. This, we think, is the lesson of the Com-
memoration. Dr. Ferranti 's energy galvanised the Insti-
tution into life when it was becoming moribund, until at
the end of fifty years of existence it is running more strongly
than ever before. Moreover, it has no lack of talent within
its ranks; in fact, Mr. Swinburne would have us believe
the talent available is greater than it ever was. It is for
us all to see that that talent is utilised in a way which will
redound to the greatest good of the profession, and assist to
the greatest possible extent iu the development of the
industry.

Rotary Converter Practice.

The rotary converter is at once the Cinderella and the
spoilt child of the electrical industry. For while, like its
fairy prototype, it performs a series of useful functions,
there are not wanting those who would like to see its em-
ployment dispensed with altogether, and who contend that
it is more trouble than it is worth. It is true that these
attacks are not made directly on the rotary converter. The
real point at issue is whether direct-current distribution
should not be discarded in favour of the alternating-cur-
rent system, or, for those who are not prepared to go as far
as this, whether the mercury-vapour rectifier could not do
as much or more at a lower first cost and with less main-
tenance than either the rotary converter or the motor
generator. If either or both these schools have their way,
and they are rapidly gaining recruits, Cinderella will dis-
appear into depths from which rescue by any fairy prince,
however emterprising, will be impossible.

History Repeating Itself.

That this should happen would in many ways be a pity.
But in the electrical industry we are not unused tO' seeing
much work and money put intO' inventions and improve-
ments which subsequent developments have rendered
entirely nugatory. The direct-current turbo-generator is a
case in point. For many years much skill and labour were
expended in iJie design and manufacture of these machines.
Experience brought forth improvements and better work-
manship, until finally a perfected machine was obtained.
Then the direct- current turbo-generator disappeared from
mortal view, not because it would not work, but because it
was not wanted.

As a spoilt child, the history of the rotary converter is not
dissimilar. The early machines, especially those designed
for the higher frequencies were far from satisfactory. The
use of auxiliary poles, of damping windings, and of other
devices, gradually did something to briiig about an improve-
ment, which, together with the inherent advantages of the
rotary machines, over which we do not wish to gloss, has
made it a class of electrical equipment from which but few
improvements may be expected. Th s much, however, could
be said about the direct-current turbo-generator, and we
D 2

have .seen the sequel. Will history repeat iteslf, and the
rotary disappear because its place can be filled in some other
way? •

Rotaries and the Frequency Problem.

Though Mr. F. P. Whitaker, who recently read a Paper
on " Rotary Converters, with Special Reference to Railway
Electrification " before the Institution of Electrical Engi-
neers, neither asks this question nor supplies an ans-wer, yet
his contribution is of special interest in view of his saving
clause. As is well known, the standard frequency of the
future is to be fifty. A rotary converter does not work
without difl&culties on a traction load with this and higher
frequencies. For reasons connected with the commutator
a fresh set of difiiculties arises when 1 500 V, which is
to become the standard traction voltage, is employed, and
these difficulties will be increased if the voltage is raised
to 3 000 V.

Qualities for Admiration.

Even on 1 500 V the difficulties are sufficiently great to
make it hard for us to decide which to admire most, Mr.
Whitaker' s continued advocacy of this type of machine in
general or the enterprise and care which have been ex-
pended in bringing the equipment to its present state of
usefulness. Both these qualities are well illustrated by the
history, given in the Paper, of the design and operation of
three 800 kW 1 500 V d.c. rotary converters supplied to
the North-Eastem Railway for operating the Shildon-
Newport line. These machines work on 40 periods, and
consist of two 400 kW 750 V rotaries connected in series.
To allow for the severe short circuit conditions which, might
reasonably be expected, the machines were bviilt with a
completely insulating and fireproof screen between the com-
mutator and the rest of the machine, good clearance was
provided between the positive and the negative brush arms,
and the operating details of the brush gear were well pro-
tected.

Commutation Conditions.

Commutation was satisfactory up to three times the full
load, while to reduce the severity of the flash overs, which the
illustrations in the Paper show to have been pretty severe,
instantaneous trips were fitted on the a.c side. Later a step
further was made with a 1 200 kW unit consisting of two
600 kW machines in series in which the diameter of the com-
mutator was practically the same as that of the armatare,
the brush gear is carefully protected, and in the case of
flash over the damage is almost negligible. Other features
such as clearances, insulation, and commutator protec-
tion, have received special attention. These machines
have been in operation for four years, their per-
formance has been excellent, and their cost of maintenance
low, while further improvements in the direction of mak-
ing the machine itself more robust and self-protecting have
been carried out.

A Live Subject or a Swan Song ?

All these details go to show that rotary converter design
and manufacture is on as high a plane as any other pro-
duct of the electrical industry. Mr. Whitaker is, there-
fore, to be congratulated on bringing a very live subject
before the Institution, and especially on the clearness with
which he has stated his case. For his sake we hope it is
no swan song. But we confess we have our doubts. We
now speak primarily of the traction field. Are we really
going to use high-tension direct current traction on any
lai-ge scale ? If we are, Mr. Whitaker will be amply justi-
fied ; but we rather wonder.

252

The Electrician — March 3, 1922

It is My Privilege to Introduce . . .

By ALAN SULLIVAN,

.1 have beeu listening to pioneers, and searching a
technical audience meanwhile, to try and discover whether
there are any noticeable attributes that differentiate the
man of science from the every-day ruck of humanity. But
no externals are visible. He is, I think, rather more qmet.
He is apt to be more casual about his dress. He has
moments of abstraction more frequently than his fellows.
I take it that he puts his back into his play — if he indulges
in play to any extents — as much as into his work. I can see
him at golf — but not at ping-pong.

His memory is good, sometimes painfully so. Outside
of his own peculiar province he does not seem much
interested. His political knowledge will probably turn on
legislatiooi affecting the industry, and he will recall the
names of the men who did the foul deed.

Modesty, Self-induction and Insulation.

He is, however, modest. This is, no doubt, because he
realises how little he actxially knows, and how much
remains to be done. Temperamentally he varies a good
deal, being at some times capable of self-induction, and, at
others, unaffected by neighbouring potentials. As to his
methods of working, he may be either series or shunt
wound. But, whichever it is, he can usually be trusted to
carry the load. Some engineers are too highly insulated.
You know what is meant by this. Most of them ache at
times to discard their covering and expose the bare conduc-
tor, but they experience what amounts to nothing less than
a dread of personal nakedness, and jog along insiie the
unprofitable coating. It is, as a matter of fact, quite
possible for an engineer to be more sensitive than a
debutante — much more than some debutantes.

The Human Hawk —

Getting back to the pioneers. I have been listening —
and thinking. One of them, a slight man, lean, with a
projecting chin, and still energised in advanced years by
the fluid in which he dealt, reminded me of a scientific
hawk. With aquiline nose, a sharp, incisive gesture, eyes
that still flashed with the romance of his own past, he
seemed a sort of human dynamo. More than this, it was
evident that he valued his failures as much as he did his
unnumbered successes. One got the idea that he found in
them a greater incentive. It was easy to visualise him in
his prime, dashing here and there, almost emitting sparks,
and darting from the short circuit of the impetuous attempt
to the smooth pressure of achievement. This man found
humour in it all — even in his battles, and he had many.
He might be checked, but never defeated. He has too
many facets of intelligenco ready to be turned in any direc-
tion ever to allow him to be quite confounded.

— and the Olympian.

Another pioneer gave the impression of an Olympian,
who moved in contemplation amongst the eternal verities.
Here was a different composition. He built up systems
and indisputable analogies, but not dynamos. His field
was the empyrean one of thought. One could picture him
collaring some nebulous and half-developed theory, drag-
ging it off to the country, pushing it into a chair acroiss the
hearth, and reasoning it into almost conscious existence.
He had, too, a placid quality. It struck me that he might
talk on one subject while he thought about another, and
both with entire success. One cannot divest oneself of what
information may be possessed, but this pioneer seemed to
have established a hunting-ground of his own, where he
found his chief delieht, and from which he periodically
emerged, urbane and impressive, trailing clouds of mys-
terious ether from regions remote.

The Coastructor and the Tactician.

A third was again different. He suegested work-forges-
trip hammers and tilting furnaces. His was the sort who

waits till others have spoken, then hits the nail on the head
with a single sentence. He was the constructor, the
builder, the contractor. It did not appear that he would
be much interested in anything that weighed less than
a ton. A job might go wrong, and serious mistakes be
made (by others), but I take it that he would silently
unravel the tangle, then dismiss the culprit in tones erf
silk.

Again a different make-up. Conscious rather of obstacles
than of opportunities — and therefore the complement of his
fellows — he seemed the man of tactics; a shrewd man, far-
sighted and presumably relentless in pursuit. He would
I fancv, lick his lips at a legal difficulty, and turn in dis-
taste from one in dielectics.

They followed each other, these pioneers, with whimsi-
cal recollections of old rivalries and battles. They did not
say so, but it seemed that to their minds the engineer of
to-day has easy going. That is a matter of question. They
themselves were, fifty years ago, like children playing on
some strange and fascinating shore, picking up a medley of
multi-coloured pebbles, and staring wistfully seaward, won-
dering what lay just over the horizon's rim. Prophecy
must have been there, but the prophetic instinct must also
have been confused by the multiplicity of new marv'^els they
found on this mysterious strand. " Why not? " must
have constantly been on their lips.

A Perfect Exhibition of Detachment.

Another, a man of great achievements, was impersonal
to a degree, and had a marked distaste for the usage of the
first person singular, holding his own remarkable record, so
to speak, at arm's length, till it was hard to associate him
with the thing at all. It was a perfect exhibition of detach-
ment. The cultivated voice recounted triumph after
triumph, with lingering little touches from which he
turned with a manner, which, if not apologetic, seemed at
any rate to disclaim any personal credit. That was notice-
able all through the meeting. The pioneers left it appar-
ently to others to secure the credit — of both kinds. Then,
too, we heard of scientific encounters between Saxon, Gaul,
and Teuton. The Saxon held his own, but gave rather
more than he got.

The Ageless Electrical Era.

Many of these men looked surprisingly young, consider-
ing their period of service. One is prone to accept the elec-
trical era as something ageless, whereas it is the latest fledg-
ling in the scientific incubator. Can it be that electricity —
which one is now tempted to call a quality, and not merely
energy — infuses its devotees with something of its own
baffling and ubiquitous power ? It is quite imaginable.
Why should not the man who moves in an ionised sphere
acquire thereby a species of psychopathic purging that
eliminates from his body certain undesirable elements of
decay ? I noticed the same thing in America. Sprague,
Edison, Brush, Thomson, and Bell, they all betray a sort
of rejuvenation. If the gland of an anthropoid ape can
rehabilitate the human body, in the approved Transatlantic
phrase, " What is the matter with electricity? "

Nature's Camouflage.

As to the general run of engineers, it seems that Nature
has displayed a good deal of camouflage. They have no
distinctive personal insignia, which is, perhaps, fortunate.
It would only arouse suspicion. Their brows are not more
burdened with thought, nor do they display any particular
profundity. Their fingers are apt to be square, and one
could not call their shoulders round. They seem self-
possessed, and that is often all they possess. They carry
thera.selves in a manner that might be described as undis-
turbed.

As to monetary success, the rich engineer is a financial
anomaly. He is too busy making — >>r spending — other

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

25:3

people's money to accumulate much for himself. He has
an insurance policy, and leaves an estate of £2 748 — with
practically no liabilities. The latter is due to his wife, who
knows that in her case she will never be able to regard lia-
bilities with a light heart. The engineer, if he is a good
one, marnes young, and leaves to his real managing direc-
tor everything but his own job. The managing director
usually leads a one-handled life, and not infrequently asks
why he is not more particular about his clothes, also if
there is any reason why he should not make friends with
the men whose wives she desires to meet.

Artifex Creator.

The true engineer accepts all this without a murmur,
and the acceptance is one of his earthly triumphs. Pos-
sibly it is the greatest. He is what the Greeks called their
poets — a creator. The thing — the ultimate, perfect thing
— is glimmering in his eyes, and he hears a redteranb
whisper of " Will it work ? " It is, in consequence, a little
difficult to appreciate the true importance of the Ponsonby
Smythe's dance on the 22nd.

One doets not expect that a common purpose, however
aspiring, will eliminate temperamental differences. I
think it accentuates them ; and if an engineer differs, he is
apt — believing that his creed is threatened— to differ
seriously. I would be much more comfortable discussing
a point with a 'bus driver. The engineer is, too, likely to
be a shade contemptuous, and evidences a touch of either
pity or contempt for those whose views are divergent from
his own. He cannot help this, because he believes that
his own knowledge is founded on bed rock.

The Inferior Professions.

His admiration — whenever he harbours an emotion so
spontaneous — is largely reserved for those of his own tribe.
He considers that other professions — excepting only medi-
cine— are inferior. He is unmoved by the sight of a mil-
lionaire, even though the latter be his own employer, and
declines to admit that the man who rises to a baronetcy on,
let us say, waves of resurgent yeast, can be either an orna-
ment or an asset to his country. And yet he may be both.
This, T think, is where many engineers fall short in the
humanities of life. Their own job is so serious, so respon-
sible, their failures when they occur are so obvious, their
successes are so often to the profit of others, that they raise
unconsciously an imaginary wall between themselves and
the large, easy-going, and, on the whole, good-natured
world. Every engineer should try and have amongst his
friends a large-minded bishop, a manufacturer, a stock-
broker, and a dealer in sporting goods. This would do
much to enlarge his client He, and soften his mental
asperities. He will find that the gentlemen T have men-
tioned are quite agreeable to the suggestion. They think
far more of him than he realises.

Electrical Engineering.*

By J. PALEY YORKE.

])r. Wall states in his preface that this book is intended
♦'» give a survey of the principles of electrical engineering
v.iJoh shall be as complete as is practicable in one volume
of moderate size. He makes that clear too on the cover-
sheet, but we do feel that the time has come when the
title " Electrical Engineering " shall be declared as insuffi-
cient. For example, this book and Dr. G. W^ O. Howe's
book have the same title, but the treatment is quite differ-
lent. T)r. Wall's book is much more engineering than Dr.
Howe's, but on the other hand, Dr. Howe's book is much
more technical than Dr. Wall's.

On turning ever the pages of the book one's first im-
pression is that it is simply a text-bock in magnetism and
electricity suitable for a student reading for his final. We
wonder where the electrical engineering oomes in, except in

* Electrical Engineering. Bv T. F. Wall, D.Sc. (Ix)n'on:
Methuen & Co., Ltd.) Pp. xl.-|-491. 21s. net.

so far as electrical engineering is eeaentially based on the
phenomena of nature, usually described under the title of
magnetism and electricity. But when we settle down to
read the book we realise that whilst it is a text- book on
magnetism and electricity it is also a text-book which deals
especially with those phenomena which are applied to
modern electrical engineering practice, and which deals with
them fa*- more exhaustively than they are ever dealt with
in a pure science book, and more exhaustively than they
have been dealt with in any single volume of our acquaint-
ance. We may at once express the opinion that the book
is an excellent standard work on the principles of electrical
engineering. It is intended for ««tudent3 in universities,
and in the advanced classes of technical schools, and prac-
tising electrical engineers should find it useful as a reference
book.

The work is divided into six main sections, dealing suc-
cessively with static electricity, magnetism, direct-current
electricity, eleotromagnetism, alternating currents and
units.

Electrostatics and Magnetism.

The section on electrostatics covers 98 pages, and will, as
is usual, cause the gi'eatest amount of difficulty and the least
amount of enthusiasm. But we agree with Dr. Wall when
he emphasises its rapidly increasing importance to engineers
and we hope that more recognition will be given by students
and teachers to this previously much despised " sealing-
wax and flannel " branch of the subject. The chapters on
potential, capacity and energy of the electric field are
particularly good, dealing especially with the capacities of
cables of differing tyj^es and in differing circumstances ; with
dielectric strength and with electric stresse8 in cable
dielectrics.

The section on magnetism is very complete, and the
information given about magnetic alloys, cobalt, steel (fee,
and about ion losses appears to be quite up to date. In
the direct-current electricity section, there are chapters
dealing with first principles, electric resistance, electrolysis
and secondary oells, and thermo-electricity. We are almost
sorry to see the " Best arrangement of Cells " perpetuated
— but this appears to be irresistible. We should like to sug-
gest that in the next reprint some mention of the Benedick
effect — the converse of the Thomson effect — should be made
in the thenno-electricity chapter, and that credit should
be given to C. V. Boys for the main idea of the thermo-
galvanometer, even though he used it chiefly for radiation
work.

Sparttfulike Treatment.

The alternating-current section covers 150 pages, and in
addition to the fundamentals has chapters dealing specially
with harmonic analysis, magnetic fields due to alternating
current, transient electric currents, and the use of complex
quantities in a.c. problems.

Special attention has been given to the properties of
magnetic shells and to Ampere's theorems of the equivalence
of electric circuits and magnetic shells.

Altogether, as we have said, the b<3ok is a ver^- complete*
and excellent work on the principles of electrical engineer-
ing. The treatment is certainly Spartan-like in its avoid-
ance of stre.ssing the practical application or importance of
any special point. Dr. Wall will say that it is all impor-
tant, and that the student who counts will not require any
stimulus by direct reference to the immediate application
of every point. We agree that it would be impossible to do
this without producing an enormous encyclopedia; but on
the other hand the majority of us are of baser clay, and
most of us do work better for an occasional glimpse of the
promised land, in spite of the lesson of Moses. We fe^tl.
for example, that we would have been stimulated quite a
lot if Dr. Wall had just given us a peep at an electrostatic
voltmeter after we had carefully and con.-^cientiously waded
through tne theorv of the quadrant electrom'-ter. We
hope that Dr. Wall will smile if he should read this — even
though the smile be sadly indulgent.

We congratulate the publishers on having produced the
book so well, and at such a reasonable price.

254

The Electrician — Marcli 3, 1922

THE INSTITUTION JUBILEE COMMEMORATION.

Fifty Years of Audacious Progress — Two Outstanding Pioneers — Many Great Workers —
Reminiscences of the Early Days — Honouring Heaviside — The President's Illness.

The Jubilee Commemoration of tlie Institution of Electrical
Engineers, which was founded in 1871 as the Society of
Telegraph Engineers, and whose first ordinary general meeting
was held on February 28, 1872, took place on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday last week. It was a happy idea
to celebrate this fifty years of electrical progress by reviewing
the efforts of the early electrical workers and, with the
assistance of representative pioneers, who are still living,
to give present-day members of the Institution some idea
of the difficulties that had to be overcome and the mistakes
that were made before that great machine, as we now know
it, could be fairly started. Pressure on our space prevents
us from dealing, except in an abbreviated form, with the
remarks of the speakers, but these will be found in full in
a forthcoming special issue of the " Journal " of the Institu-
tion. They will form not only an interesting but a useful
record, for as the Postmaster-General said at the annual
dinner, great as have been the advances in the past fifty
years, who can place any limit on the possibilities of
electrical science and art.

An Opening Tragedy.

The proceedings opened Avith a tragedy. For it became known
on Tuesday morning that the 1 resident had been suddenly stricken
down by illness and would be unable to play his full part in the
proceedings. Apart from depriving the Jubilee of its principal
figure, this was the more distressing as the conception of the
commemoration in the historical form was Mr. Highfield's own.
He can, therefore, be equally commiserated and congratulated, for
the whole function was an entire success.

Quite rightly the name and work of Faraday were the first to be
honoured, and quite rightly Prof. Fleming was called upon to carry
out this appropriate task. On Tuesday afternoon and again on
Wednesday evening he gave a lecture on " Michael Faraday
and the Foundations of Electrical Engineering," in his own
inimitable style. The lecture was a triumph of delivery and
stage management.

Tuesday, Feb. 21.

On Tuesday afternoon the room was not crowded when Mr. A. A.
Campbell Swinton took the chair and briefly opened the proceed-
ings by saying that Prof. Fleming required no introduction as his
invention of the thermionic valve had made him known over the
whole world.

Michael Faraday.

Prof. Fleming began by throwing on the screen a photograph of
Foley's fine statue of Michael Faraday, which stands in the entrance
hall of the Royal Institution, and reminding the audience that
Faraday became connected with that institution as the assistant of
Sir Humphrey Davy in 1813, when he was twenty-two years old.
His earliest research work was chemical in character, but when in
1820 Oersted made the discovery of tlie magnetic field round a
wire conveying an electric current Faraday solved in a very neat
manner the experimental problem of making a magnet rotate
continuously round a curi'ent-carrying wire and so gave us the first
electric motor. He was thereby stimulated to endeavour to produce
a current by the action of a magnet. After failing in his first efforts
in 1824, 182"), and 1828 he at last succeeded on August 31, 1831,
in his epoch-making discovery.

The Most Famous Ten Days in History.

He wound on an iron ring two tajie-covered co])])cr wires and
found (1) that the passage of an elcctiic current through one wire
created a brief current in the other wire at the instant of starting
or stopping the primary current. Following the clue in a series of
experiments made in perhaps the most famous ten days in history,
he discovered (2) that when a permanent magnet was approached to
or drawn from a helix of wire so that the lines of magnetic force
" cut " the convolutions of the coil it created in it an elet'tric current ;
(3) that when a cop])er disc was rotated between the poles of a
permanent magnet radial electric currents were set flowing in the
disc, and could be drawn off by proper contacts. These three great
discoveries developed in course of time in the hands of numerous
inventors into the induction coil, and magneto-electric macliine,
and later on into the transformer, alternator and dynamo. I'rof.

Fleming showed all these facts experimentally to his audience, and
also Faraday's experiment of obtaining an electric spark from a
magnet and coil of wire. He also exhibited the ring magnet with
which Faraday had conducted his early experiments, describing it
as an almost sacred relic. The value of Faraday's work, he pointed
out, lay not only in its intrinsic importance, but in the way he had
collated the researches of still earlier pioneei's, peptonising them and
clarifying them in away which made us forgetful of the genius which
unravelled and enumerated the most fundamental electrical facts.
His most valuable investigations were conducted with no other goal
than a disinterested desire for scientific progress, and it was worthyjof
note that Faraday told us not only of his successes, but of his failures
and his lines of thought. An instance of this was the way he
developed the idea of self-induction from a chance question made to
him by one of his audience after a Royal Institution lecture, the
only occasion, he himself said, when a question from such a source
had started a useful train of thought.

Faraday's Electrostatic Discoveries.

He then explained and showed experiments to illustrate some of
Faraday's discoveries in connection with electrostatics, especially
that of the specific inductive capacity of insulators, which, however,
had been anticipated sixty-six years previously by Henrys Cavendish,
but were not published until some years later, when they were
discovered by the Duke of Devonshire.

Following this attention was directed to Faraday's great investiga-
tion in connection with electrochemistry, and especially his two laws
of electrolysis (1) that when a current flows through an electroh'tic
cell the mass of the ions deposited on the electrodes is proportional
to the quantity of electricity which was passed, and (2) that when a
number of electrolytic cells are joined in series the masses of ions
dejDOsited in each are proportional to their chemical equivalents.
Von Helmholtz pointed out in 1881 that these laws of Faraday
prove that electricity was atomic in structure.

Electro-Optical Work.

Referring then to Faraday's electro-optic and magnetic work,
the audience were shown the great experiment Faraday called the
" magnetisation of a ray of light." A ray of plane polarised light
was transmitted through a bar of Faraday's heavy glass, a boro-
silicate of lead, which was placed between the poles of a powerful
electro-magnet. On exciting the magnet it was seen that the plane
of polarisation was rotated. Both Kelvin and Maxwell considered
that this discovery of Faraday proved that some kind of rotation
was taking place along lines of magnetic force. J^ome of Faraday's
leading investigations on magnetism were next described, a view of
his large electromagnet being shown on the screen.

Faraday and Wireless. .

Prof. Fleming then alluded briefly to Faraday's theoretical view s
on lines of electric and magnetic force and showed how the transla-
tion by Clerk Maxwell of those views into mathematical language
led the latter ultimately to enunciate his celebrated theory of the
electromagnetic nature of light, and tlius paved the way for the
discovery of electromagnetic waves and the invention of wireless
telegraphy.

Faraday's opinions and researches on a possible connection
between gravitation and electricity were then mentioned, and
it was pointed out that Einstein's theorj'^ also had predicted a
connection of this kind, which was confirmed at the total solar
eclipse of May 29, 1P15), where it was found that a ray of light,
which was an electromagnetic wave, was deflected sliglitly by the
mass of the sun.

Faraday the Man.

Eulogising the character of Faraday, Dr. Fleming said that he
had made posterity his debtor not only by his achievements, but by
his personality. He therefore ap]ieaied to tlie audience to support
the research work of the Royal Institution. That institution was
without rival in the woild for tlie enormous value of the scientific
discoveries which have issued from its laboratories, and the
ridiculously small cost at wliieh these results had been attained. Sir
.lames Dewar staled lately that the whole cost of maintenance of
the institution during the last 120 years has been littie more than
tlOO OCW, not a twentieth part of the cost of one battleship. Vet
the discoveries of Faraday alone, Professor Fleming concluded,,
had put untold wealth into the excheipiers of nations and laid
the firm foundation on which rests to-day the entire work of the

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

255

modern electrical engineer. He therefore appealed to the largest
and one of the youngest of scientific institutions to help one of
the oldest.

A Founder Member on Faraday.

Sir Herukrt Jekyll, who is one of the founder members of the
Society of Telegraph Engineers, in proposing a vote of thanks
to Prof. Fleming, said that he had attended as a boy Michael
Faraday's Christmas lectures at the Royal Institution. He had been
struck by the extraordinary simplicity and kindness of the man
himself, and his willingness to answer the questions asked by eager
youngsters at the end of the lectures. To those youngsters he had
always something to give, even if it was only a little piece of
magnetised wire. His essential kindness was also shown when at
the end of a dull lecture he had spoken for half an hour on the
lessons of the halfpenny and sent away a bored audience in a state
of good humour. But great as Faraday was as an inventor, he was
equally great as a man, so that not only by his achievements, but by
his personality, had he made posterity his debtor.

By tlio kind permission of the Royal Institution some of Faraday's
original apparatus was exhibited in the Lecture Theatre and Common
Room, while models of a number of early dynamo-electric machines,
and one of the first Parsons steam turbines, which were lent by the
Sfipncc MiiscuiTi at Soutli Kensington, were also on view

Wednesday, Feb. 22.

On Wednesday afternoon Dr. W. H. Eccles, presided over the
meeting and expressed regret at the continued absence of the
President. If Mr. Highfield had been present he would have treated
them from the store of his memory to some introductory address
upon the Commemoration, but without having had any opportunity
of preparing such an address, and without, indeed, the experience
Mr. Highfield possessed, he (Dr. Eccles) did not propose to touch
on the subject, but recommended every person present to peruse
the programme, which gave some particulars of the Institution's
history and objects. He called on Colonel Crompton to give liis
reminiscences.

Colonel Crompton's Reminiscences.

Colonel R. E. Crompton began by referring to the fact that there
was at least one older member than himself present, viz., Mr. A. P.
Lundberg, aged ninety-one..

Continuing, Colonel Crompton mentioned that he had installed
Gramme dynamos and Serrin lamps as early as 1878 at the
Stanton Ironworks, obtaining the necessary technical knowledge
for the purpose from the telegraph engineers. Some of the ideas
were strange, notably the impression that a certain internal
resistance was essential to the production of an E.M.F. In 1878,
he went to Paris and joined in a discussion on electric lighting, and
in 1879 he met Emil Burgin, of Basle, and took up the manufacture
of his form of dynamos, which were undoubtedly better from a
mechanical standpoint than the Gramme machine. Very soon they
were turning out several Burgins a week at Chelmsford, and they
always sold several Crompton arc lamps with each dynamo. Then
the works were enlarged, and Gisbert Kapp was taken on as manager.
Subsequently he met Swan, who was developing his lamp company,
with which the Edison interest was ultimately amalgamated. The
first regular installation of electric light in a country house was
apparently at Berechurch Hall, belonging to Coope the brewer.
A number of bell-hangers were turned on to electric wiring and
eventually became electrical contractors. The remarks that had
been appearing in the papers recently about the first electrically
lighted house were all wrong. His own house had been lighted
before either those of Sir Wm. Crookes or Lord Randolph Churchill.

Early Magnetic Calculations.

Ideas of calculating magnetic fields were very vague at that time.
He (Colonel Crompton) believed that bigger cores of softer iron
should be used for arnuitures and magnets, but Kapp did not agree.
In the latter's absence he made a machine with gigantic wiought
iron field magnets. On Kapp's return it was tried and proved a
success, and the modern ilynamo was born. Meantime, Hopkinson
had been working on the same problem, and they both exhibited
at Kensington.

The burning of the Ring Theatre in Vienna led to the Imperial
Continental Gas Company in \ienna taking up electric lighting,
and he had joineil with IMonior, a French engineer, in devising a
suitable central station. The Allgemeine was then just starting,
and he often metRathenau and Deutsch in \ienna, with the result
that he tried to apply his Continental experiences in lighting parts
of London. Want ofx-apital hindered these projects, but eventually
the Kensington Court Electric Lighting Company (the first real
lighting company) was formed. About the same time, Ferranti
and Lord Crawford started distributing alternating current from the
Grosvenor Gallery. At the latter many extinctions occurred, but
he (Colonel Crompton) had accumulators in reserve at Kensington
and they scarcely ever had a failure.

The Dynamicables.

In 188.3, a dining society, the iJ^namicables, wa* forme<J, and
practically every man of note joined. (One duly elect*ifi member
was found, when he died, to be a woman !) At the Dynamicables
many interesting problems were diHcu.H.sed. About this time the
potentiometer was evolved. Interesting comjifttitions between
rival dynamo-makers took place on the test be<l at Willans' works
at Thames Ditton, yielding valuable data on efficiency, and showing
that England at this time was in advance of any nation in this form
of machinery. When mains were first laid in the Kensington Court
subway, bare copper conductors were stretched over porcelain
insulators. Many miles of small subways under the pavements
were constructed, and after forty years were still in use. There were,
however, troubles in the surface boxes — especially in the neigh-
bourhood of leaky gas mains.

Electricity Supply in Westminster.

Sir Alexander Kennedy began his remarks by paying a tribute
to the assistance given in the early days by Colonel Crompton,
who had put his experience at the service of everj'one, which was
more than most people did. Electricity supply in Westminster
began in a small shanty in Dacre Street, another in Chapel Street,
and a third in the Stone Yard of the Houses of Parhament, from
which a supply was given to the building. This was in 1890. In
1891 the company had a total income of £2 6(KJ, and their greatest
energies were employed in fighting Ferranti. One of the few
notes of the combat that he had found remarked that in Millbank-
street 7*75 lb. of coal per kW were being used, which was less than
half the best " high tension " result.

Early Interconnection Problems.

The great question in those days was whether two stations could
be paralleled. As a mechanical engineer he could not see why not,
but electrical engineers were very doubtful about it. Colonel
Crompton knew perfectly well that it could be done, but had not done
it — apparently because he did not want to. In February, 1891, the
great experiment was carried out of connecting the Dacre Street
and Stone Yard stations, but notliing happened — to many people's
great astonishment. In December, 1891, the conversion of the
old two-wire system into the three- wire system was completed. At
that time a 112 kW machine cost from £1 700 to £2 3(X). and there
were only two makers in the country who were prepared to tender
for 250 kW dynamos.

Vibration and Psychology.

Noise and vibration were great troubles, and gave rise to some
amusing incidents. There were loud complaints from residents
in Milbank of the vibration and noise from machines which had
never been run. A doctor in Brook Street complained of smoke,
but when asked to say when he had seen any smoke he repUed he
had never seen any, but there must be some because there was a
chimney. In this district vibration tests were made which gave
the extraordinary result that the greatest vibration occurred when
the station was shut down, i.e., it was caused entirely by wheeled
traffic. A doctor's house.aaid stated that whenever she opened
the door she could hear the current roaring in the mains underneath
the pavement, while another doctor complained that the current
supplied caused showers of sparks in the incandescent lamp^. He
did not realise that his lamps were broken.

On another occasion one of the engine-drivers broke off the stop
valve of his engine and said nothing about it. As the lamps were
turned off the engine went faster and faster and the voltage went
up and up, with the result that Mr. Grimshaw and his assistant
spent the next day going round with a basket replacing the lamps.

Dynamos and Early Electric Traction.

Sir Oliver Lodge gave some of his cxperieneos as an electrical
engmcer, a role in which he is rather unfamili.-.r to readers of Tub
Eleitriclvn. In early days they discriminated between the
dynamo-electric machine which had electromagnets and the
magneto-electric macliine which had Tiot. The term " dynamo " was
first adopted bv Lord Kelvin in a Paper which he read before the
British Associat'ion. Lord Kelvin was extraortlinarily immune
from electric shock. On the occasion when he. Fitzgerald and Sir
OHver were inspecting the first ekv trie railway between Portnish
and Bushmills, on ^which the working pressure was 500\',
Fitziicrald ami Sir Oliver suffered from shock, while a cow was
killed. Lord Kelvin, however, could fet>l nothing at all and asked
them what they were jumping about for. It was only after he had
sravely placed "his hand on the rail that he said after a pause : " I
think I do feel a something." reminding one irresistibly of the
cheese and the charwoman in " Three Men in a Boat."

Sir Oliver also gave his recollections of the first battery vehicle
which refused to take a bend in the road and went straight across
the street into a shop window opp<isite. The next day it took
the bend but caused trouble with a horse-driven milk cart, as the

256

The Electrician.

March ,3, 1922

horse could not understand why it went along without any visible
means of propulsion.

Heaviside and "The Electrician."

Resistance units, current units, voltage units, all came in gradually.
Sir Oliver continued, but it took a little time to get the idea of
self-induction into the minds of early workers, especially those
in the telegraph service. -Pir William Ireece was very much
annoyed vdih. Oliver Heaviside for emphasising the importance of
induction in cables, and it was certain that the work of Heaviside
had not received even now its due share of recognition. For while
Lord Kelvin gave the theory of cables, and made the tirst cables
possible, he did not attempt to take self-induction into account.
Heaviside did, and showed that whereas resistance and capacity
together were a bugbear and distorted the signals so that they
travelled at different rates and had different frequencies, and
therefore speech through a long cable was impossible and ordinary
signals were liable to be greatly confused, the effect of self-induction
would be just the opposite. It would neutralise the effect of
capacity, and by loading the cable by introducing self-induction
on purpose the damage done by capacity and resistance would be
reduced. Everyone knew now that loaded cables were used
for telephonic purposes, but a great deal more could be done bo-
using self-induction in cables to increase the speed.

Fitting Recognition of a Great Work.

Concluding, Sir Oliver remarked that Mr. Heaviside was still
living in Devonshire in very bad health and he understood in poor
circumstances. At this anniversary of electrical engineers it
would not, therefore, be improper to suggest that a message be
sent to him expressing the Institution's recognition of the mathe-
matical work — the very brilliant mathematical work — which he
had done, and which appeared for many years in The Electeiciax
and in his book. His work was far in advance of his time, but
it had borne practical fruit in the hands of practical men. Mr.
Heaviside himself was not a practical man, but a theoretical
genius of a very extraordinary t^^e.

Mr. Cambpeli, Swtnton said that during the last week or two
the Institution had been in touch with Mr. Oliver Heaviside, with
a view to doing him some honour. They were not yet in a position
to say what he would like or what he would accept, but the point
would be raised later. The question of sending a greeting to him
from one of these Commemoration Meetings would be considered.

A Broad View of Electricity.

Mr. Gabcke commented on the remarkable fact that, notwith-
standing the millions of pounds expended on appUcations of
electricity, we still knew little of its essential nature. It was
conjectured that all matter was electricitj^ and the Institution,
true to its broader policy, provided opportunities for the discussion
of these philosophical speculations. Electricity was not invented
by man. It never was " in its infancy." But its application had
been gradually developed. It was difficult, therefore, to see why
it had been treated in such a narrow parochial manner. Electric
supply was usually dated from the Electric Lighting Act of 1882,
but this Act was based on the earlier Tramways Act (1870), and
to understand this we must go back about 100 years.

The Tramways Act.

After the Napoleonic wars the prevailing distress necessitated
the stimulation of industries and the progress of invention. The
extension of public utihties was encouraged, and simultaneouslj'
an impetus was given to local government. Hence horse tramwaj's
were controlled by the Tramways Act, which had unexpected
consequences. It contemplated municipal ownership, but not the
operation of tramways by municipaMties. The latter extension
occurred afterwards. But m connection with electricity supply
the precedent was followed. Thus the pernicious Act of 1882 was
conceived. Politicians were stupid in their legislation, but were
the scientists wise in their outlook ? The basic trouble of
electricity supply arose from having to open streets to lay con-
ductors, which necessitated a bargain A^-ith the community. Had
we been able to think more in terms of electromagnetic waves and
less in terms of conductors subsequent developments might have
been different.

The Story of Electrical Legislation.

The Act of 1882 was not amended until 1888, and then only
imperfectly, and the Light Railways Act, which might have been
helpful, was interpreted in the terms of the Tramway Act. The
story of electrical legislation had been often told. Perhaps the
best general description was that conveyed in Mr. Campbell
Swinton's address to the Royal Insiitutioii in 1912. The future
depended on the breadth of view we were able to apply to our
interests. Structures developed were often unequal to the
functions undertaken. International arrangements were needed

for the stabilisation of currencies, the rehabilitation of confidence
and credit, for better distribution of raw materials and for intensive
production. Apart from such international arrangements, the supreme
need of the nation was for better and more sympathetic all-round
co-ordination. How could electricity help in the work of rehabili-
tation ? The 'Ministry of Reconstuction two years ago gave us a
lead, remarking that the public mind had been prepared for a
large development of electricity supply which would conserve
coal and human resources. Power and transport were fundamental
agencies of modern economic Ufe. Adequate and cheap power
supply, wideh' distributed throughout the country, would open up
possibilities comparable vnih. those of the industrial revolution of
a centurv ago.

"The" Electric Light.

Mr. Sydney Evershed stated that forty years ago his work lay
outside the electrical field, but as a spectator he was even theia
impressed by the vision of the strange new world of electricity
developing in the seventies and eighties. He proposed to select
from a crowd of memories three disconnected incidents.

In those daj's people always spoke of " the " electric hght in
the singular, because they seldom saw more than one arc hght.
One could not Ught one's house with arc lamps, but everyone
talked of the time when electric light would be available in more
manageable units. He remembered reading an excited cablegram
from America aimouncing that Edison had solved the problem
by the invention of an incandescent platinum filament. According
to popular accoimts, the great inventor spent months of fruitless
effort, never going to bed, until the problem solved itself — by the
accidental dropping of a screwdriver or something of that kind.
In contrast with this feverish picture, a quiet man in England was
working patiently at the invention of the carbon filament lamp.
He woidd never forget his first sight of the Swan lamp, when some
leather mUls in Godalming were lighted in this way in 1881. More
Swan lamps were used in the smaller streets, but the main streets
were lighted by arc lamps. The cables were merely laid in the
gutter with no protection against the wheels of carts or the hooves
of horses. Ultimately, of course, they were put under the pavement,
but this was not permissible until the passing of Chamberlain's
notorious Electric Lighting Act, with its unfortunate arresting
influence on future developments. In the long list of past- presidents
of the Institution there was no name more honoured than that of
Swan, the father of domestic electric lighting.

Telegraphy and Telephony.

Telegraphy, Mr. Evershed next remarked, had had a long and
curious history. It began as a wireless telegraph, an optical
system. His first recollections of electric telegraphy were in
1866 when each morning his father used to read out from the
newspaper the account of progress of the ship laj-ing the Atlantic
cable. It was good to remember that this pioneering M-ork was
done almost entirely by our own countrymen.

It was in 1876, the year of the Centenary Exhibition at Phila-
delphia, that he first heard of Graham Bell's telephone. A year
later he saw a drawing of the apparatus and marvelled at its sim-
plicity, and at once set to work to make one for liimself. A young
lady eleven years old acted as girl telephone operator. How
wonderful it was when her small voice answered him quite dis-
tinctly! Since that day much of the glamour has been rubbed off
the telephone. Its defects had been attributed ^o the authorities
for mismanaging it, but it would be nearer the iruth to say that
our telejihone service, with aU its shortcommgs, was a faithful reflec-
tion of our national temperament. But the marvel of this invention
remained. Was ever so profound an influence on our daily life
brought about by such simple means ? He could think of no
invention made by man that approached it.

Gordon's System of Electricity Supply.

Mr. A. H. Walton, recalling the old discussions on the relative
merits of d.c. and a.c. supply, referred to the historic work of
J. E. H. Gordon in putting down a single phase a.c. lighting
installation at Paddington in 1884. Their only a.c. instruments
in those days were the Siemens d^^lamometcr and a Cardew hot
wire voltmeter, and calibration was difficult. In fact, it was usual
to rely on the judgment of observers as to when a standard lamp
was fully incandescent.

Mr. Walton described the generators installed, which were of
about 400 kW, at 150 \., running at 180 revs, per min., and giving
42 cycles per sec. The speed. howcA er. was reduced to 146
revs, per min. owing to engine troubles. The machines were
direct coupled to compoimd tandem engines and the field, or
rotating part, weighed some 22 tons. It consisted of o6 drum type
coils, twenty-eight being mounted on each side of a wrought iron
disc built up of boiler plates. The stator consisted of Mcdge shaped
coils wound on a hollow core of wrought iron, twenty-eight coils
beinc used on each circuit of each side of the marl line. The hollow

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

■lol

cores enabled internal water-cooling to be used. The weight of
eaeh machine was about 45 tons. Three exciters each of about
25 kW were used, their speed being varied according to the load
on the alternators. Paralleling alternators was certainly tried,
but without much success, the circuits being divided and connected
to different machines. A feature of the wiring was the use of
Gordon's multiple or " divided main." The voltage drop in feeders
to passenger and goods cent»cs was 20 per cent., and to the loco-
motive centre about 33 per cent. To obtain this drop the section
of the divided main was varied by cutting in or out the individual
strands of the cable. This method of keeping voltage constant at
a given point bj' altering the section of the feeders seemed M-orth
oonaideration even in these days.

Early Arc Lamps.

For the lighting of offices and the Great Western Hotel 4 115
incandescent 25 c.p. lamps were used ; in the passenger and goods
stations and various yards 98 arc lamps each of 3 500 c.p. In
addition two arc lamps were installed at the four corners of the
Great Western Hotel. Difficulty was experienced in finding a
suitable arc lamp, and the mechanism of the original Crompton
d.c. lamps was altered, the positions of shunt and series coils being
reversed, and two laminated cores substituted for a single one.
Lamps were operated two in series with an inductive steadying
resistance. Carbons were originally obtained from Vienna, after-
wards from Le Carbone, of Paris. Even at that time the incandescent
lamps were subjected to elaborate photometric tests before contracts
were awarded.

The plant was started up in 1885 and various alterations had to
be made in the generators, one event being a complaint by neigh-
bours of excessive vibration, as a result of which Mr. Justice North,
who was hearing the case, paid a surprise visit and inspected the
plant. There were other difficulties, and the running of plant during
the experimental period usually involved 12 to 15 hours per day
attendance on the part of the staff. The old and historic plant has
now been replaced, but it would always retain a place in the pioneering
of electric lighting in this country.

Submarine Telegraphy — 1869-1919.

Mr. Walter Judd then reviewed progress in submarine
telegraphy from 1869-1919 — fifty years during which he had been
intimately connected with the subject. In March, 1869, the only
ocean cables were three, across the Atlantic, but later in the year
communication was established with Egjrpt, in 1870 with India,
Malaya and Japan, in 1871 with Cochin China, Hong Kong and
Australia ; in 1876 with New Zealand ; in 1879 with South Africa.
With these enterprises the name of Pender would always be
identified. Other countries also entered the field. The Pacific
Ocean had been spanned from North to South, and from East to
West, and there were now 305 000 miles (71 000 Government
owned) as compared with a possible 10 000 in 1869. This included
all submarine cables, the great bulk of which were manufactured
in this country.

Cables to-day were of the same general type as in 1866. But
developments, recommended by Heaviside, had increased the
ratio of copper to gutta-percha from 300 (copper) to 400 (gutta-
percha) in 1866 to 700 (copper) to 360 (gutta-percha)— the highest
known to-day. In shallow tropical waters cables were attacked
by boring worms, a difficulty overcome by lapping the cable with
thin brass tape. The inclusion of inductances m deep-sea cables
had l)pen considered. It had been also suggested that if a con-
sistent constant and weatherproof insulator with a dielectric re-
sistance of a few hundred thousand ohms instead of many thousands
of megohms could be found, a cable with small retardation and
distortion without excessive attenuation could be secured.
Apparently neither method had yet been used, but finality had
vloubtless not yet been attained.

The Work of Kelvin.

-ord Kelvin, in 1865, .solved the problem of operating cables
when laid. His mirror galvanometer was for some years in general
use, until dis])laced by the siphon recorder. Both instruments
were sul)stantially unaltered to-day. Jlodern ai)]iaratus for operating
cal)les had, however, lost its pristine sim])lioitv. The first sreat
change was the introduction of duplex, but after laying an artificial
line having the closest reproduction of the electrical constants of
the cable, the art of obtaining balance on a long cable still depended
greatly on the skill of the operator.

After referring to progress in relays and magnifiers, Mr. Judd
remarked that there was a tendency to revert to the Morse code
instead of the cable code hitherto universal on long cables by
adapting the Gulstad principle to more sensitive a])i)aratus.

Finally, ]\Ir. Judd declared that only those present at the first
landing of a cable connecting new areas of the globe could realise
the excitement and pleasure produced. The social effects of such
connections in lessening feeling of distance and isolation had been

very marked. Submarine telegraph-s playofl a most important
part in the war, and great credit wa.s due to those who faithfully
carried on this essential work.

On Wednesilay evening Prof. J. \. Fleming again delivered
his lecture on " .Michael Faraday and the Foundations of Electrical
Engineering," an account of which is given above.

Thursday, Feb. -IZrd.
On Thursday afternoon the reminiscences of the elder brethren
of the electrical industry were continued, but before these began
Mr. C. C. PATER.SON', who was in the chair, called on Dr. W. H.
Eccles to move a resolution.

A Tribute to Heaviside.

Dr. W. H. EfTLES said that Sir Oliver Lodge had sugjrested, at
the meeting on the previous day, that a message should be .sent to
Mr. Oliver Heaviside conveying the appreciation of the electrical
engineering profession of the important theoretical work that he
had done. After an informal discussion the Council agreed
with Sir Ofiver's suggestion. Continuing, Dr. Eccles said that Mr.
Oliver Heaviside's work consisted in introducing Maxwell's theory-
to a public who were not schooled in Maxwell's methods, by the
vehicle of a vector algebra which was simpler than the orthodox
mathematical methods of Cambridge. Unfortunately, orthodox
mathematicians found Heaviside's methods more difficult than
their own and poured cold water upon them. This lack of recog-
nition was assisted by the neglect the work received in our engineer-
ing colleges. On the Continent matters were different. Lorenz
had at once adopted Heaviside's methods, and now even pure
mathematicians were employing them.

Telegraphy and Wireless.

It might in fact be said that both on the mathematical and
physical sides Heaviside was forty years ahead of his time. The
phenomena of submarine cable telegraphy were badly understood,
and his suggestion that self-induction might be incorporated in
cables in lumps so that conversation could be effected without
distortion over a three or four times greater distance than when
such methods were not employed had now been proved amply
justified. It was only right to point out that Heaviside gave his
information to the world at large \sithout any attempt to make
money out of it. In wdreless telegraphy, too, he had done pioneer
work. There had been much scoffing at the suggestion that wireless
communication between, say, England and Canada was possible,
it being thought that the mountain of water 150 miles high that
lay between the two countries would be an effective obstacle. It
had now been shown that the upper atmosphere was permanently
ionised and was as good a conductor as water. He (Dr. Eccles)
had termed this section of the atmosphere the HeaWside layer as
some recognition of its discoverer's labour. He therefore
moved :

That the members of the Institution of Electrical Engineers
assembled at the Commemoration Meetings being held to celebrate
the fiftieth anniversary- of the first meeting of the Society of
Telegraph Engineers (now the Institution of Electrical Engineers),
with their thoughts directvd to all those who in earlier days laid
the foundation of the science and industry which the Institution
represents, desire to send a message of greeting and remembrance
to Mr. Oliver Heaviside, F.R.IS., Honorary- Member uf the
Institution.

In the course of the meetings they have been again reminded of
aiul have recognised the great importance of the classic work
achieved by Mr. (). Heaviside, and published by him in his pa{)ers
and writings from 1887 onwards, and especially of his discoverj- of
the importance of inductance in circuits for the transmission of
telegraphic and telephonic signals without distortion, and of him
as the originator of the methods now being universally H])plieil
for this purpose ; and in no less measure of his invest;, ■ I

discoveries relative to the propagation of electro ma_;
ui space, the results of which are now being uti'ised i;i r

space telegraphy and telephony.

They are convinced that, as now so in the future, the name of
Heaviside will be one of the names which will rank among those
of the great founders of the science of applied electricity.

Mr. Llewellyn Atkinson, who seconde*.! the resolution, said
that he remembered Heaviside's Papei-s when they were published
in The Electkk l\n in 1S87. .Afaxwell had said that every advance
in pure nmthematics hail resultetl fix>m attempts to solve practical
problems. In attemi)ting to solve successfully certain physical
problems the classical methods of mathematics had failed, and
Heaviside had spent much tinu' in suggesting a new vtvtor algebra
to deal with tlicm. It should be pointtxl out that even nou-
mathematicians could learn from his statements of results even
though tlu>y might not understand his mathematics. It was
obvious that Heaviside had not been rei-ognised as he ought to
have been.

The resolution was carried with acclamation.
(To be concluded^

258

The Electrician — March' ^y 1922

Rotary Converters, with Special Reference to Railway

Electrification.*

By F. P. WHITAKER.

Introduction.

The consideration that is being given to railway electrification
makes this an opportune time for i-eviewing the problems of con-
version. Success in such involved schemes depends largely on
the supply of power at low cost, making it essential for power to
be generated with a high load factor. It will thus be advantageous
in this country for the frequency of supply to railways to conform
to the standard frequency of 50 per sec. wherever possible. Fre-
quencies of 25, 40 and 50" per sec, and a d.c. pressure of 1 500 V
are probable. Abroad requirements may demand an operating
pressure of 3 000 V (d.c). •

Converting apparatus for railway substations, besides being
economical in first cost, maintenance and floor space, should
preferably possess the following characteristics : —

High efiSciency :

Capacity for carrying large overloads, more especially if situated
in outlying substations ; reliability and power to withstand ordinary
overloads and short-circuits incidental to railway working :

A d.c. voltage as free as possible from ripples and undulations,
so as to avoid interference Avith telephone and other circuits ; high
power factor, preferably unity or leading at loads above three-
quarter load ; d.c. voltage be maintained^t a reasonably constant
value up to heavy overloads :

Plant should be capable of being built for operation on systems
of 25 to 50 per sec, whether from local supplies of 6 000 to 10 000 V

segment, the Author suggests approximately 13 V for the higher-
frequency rotary converters, and 15 V for the lower-frequency
machines. Peripheral speeds of 6 000 ft. per min. have been adopted
and have proved quite satisfactory. Speeds of 8 000 ft. per min.
have been used experimentally over prolonged periods with heavy
loads with excellent results ; if advantageous, such speeds may
become common in the future. If we assume 13 for the maximum
permissible value of the average voltage per commutator segment,
and 8 000 ft. per minute as a Limiting value for the peripheral speed
of the commutator,

^. „ 8 000 X 13 50 000

then F = -^j = — j- — approx .

i.e., the maximum d.c. voltage that can be conveniently generated
in a rotary converter with a single commutator is approximately :

Periods: 15 25 33 40 50

Pressure : 3 500 2 000 1 500 1 300 1 000

Frequency and Machine Units.

On 25 periods the generation of 1 500 V direct current has been
accompHshed in single-armature converting units, and such practice
can be extended up to approximately 33 periods. Above this
frequency it is necessary to connect two 750 V rotasy converters
in series, or one single-unit motor converter could be used for such
duty, as in that case the frequency to be taken in the above formula
is that of the armature of the motor converter, and not
that of the supply.

In the case of series connection of rotary converters, the
capacity of each machine will be half that of the complete
unit, and the machine wiU be suppUed from a separate
winding on the secondary of the transformer. For
complete unit of about 1 200 kW capacity and above,
series working is suitable, but below this capacity the
individual machines become too smaU for the satisfactory
generation of 1 500 V direct current.

The series connection increases the floor space required
per kW, and this may be a Hmiting condition in some
cases, but in other cases it may be advantageous on
account of the reduced weights of each part.

The generation of 3 000 V d.c. will generally be
associated with a supply frequency of 50, and with
relatively long a.c. transmission. For such dutj' the
s5rnchronous motor-generator set is the most serviceable
unit. The voltage of 3 000 could be generated on one
commutator, bi;t it is more economical to generate such
a pressure by connecting two 1 500 V generators in series,
each generator operating at about 25 periods per second.

Fig. 1. — View of a 1 200 kW unit. Two 600 kW Machines in Series.

or from extra high-tension feeders it still higher voltages, with
practically equal efficiency ; should be suitable for the application
of automatic control.; should be simple to operate and capable of
being started up and connected to the d.c. bars in a short time.

If regenerative braking is found to be advantageous in a particular
district, the equipments must be suitable for inverted operation.

The rotary converter has become the recognised conversion
unit on 600 V railwjiy systems operating from 25, 33 and 40 period
systems, and the Pajier aims at showing how far the modern rotary
converter specially developed for the more exacting requirements
of 1 500 V d.c. can fulfil these conditions of service even when
operating from 50 period systems.

Effect of Frequency and D.C. Voltage.

There is a practical limit to the average voltage that can exist
between adjacent commutator segments ; the number of segments
will increase with the d.c. voltage to be generated, and likewise the
distance between brush-arm centres. Further, for a given distance
between brush centres the peripheral s])eed of the commutator
will increase proportionately to the number of periods. Thus the
distance between brush-arm centres and, therefore, the peripheral
speed of the commutator will increase with the d.c voltage, and,
further, the peripheral speed of the commutator will increase with
the number of periods.

For the maximum permissible valuo of the average voltage per

* Abstract of a Paper read before the Institution of Electrical
Engineers.

The Effects of 1 500 V D.C. on Converter Design.

The effects of 1 500 V d.c on the detail design of con-
verters are that the general jiroportions of both 25 and
50 period converters will not be seriously changed with
the increased voltages ; a larger nmnber of conductors of smaller
section will have to be accommodated on the armature ; increased
space will be required for insulation ; creepage distances will be
increased, and the peripheral speed of the commutator will bo
higher.

These modifications will no doubt lead to slightly larger dimen-
sions for the same rating and speed as compared with, say, 600 \'
machines, but the general operating characteristics such as com-
mutation, efliciency and power factor will remain unchanged.

A limiting condition, however, in railway working is that of
short-circuit. Liability to flash over is to some extent controlled
by detailed design, but even when the most conservative figures
are used, high-voltage machines will flash over when subjected to
short-cii-cuits, if protected by the ordinary type of switchgear.
If the load is increased beyond a certain limit, serious sparking
results. Also, if large loads be very suddenly apjilied, the normal
balance between a.c. and d.c. armature reaction is upset and this
tends to produce sparking.

Under partial or complete short-circuits the machine has
momentarily to withstand currents beyond the commutating
Umit, and the armature reactions are seriously unbalanced. This
resvdts in an arc being drawn between the commutator segments
and the brush-tips and adjacent metal parts.

Such operation would prove a serious limit to the generation of
high -voltage d.c. with the ordinary apparatus, and it would seem
necessary to modify the normal design so as to make machines more
self-protecting.

March 3, 1922

The Electrician,

•259

The N.E.R. Rotaries.

Manufacturers have approached this matter in various ways.
Three 800 k\V 1 500 V rotary-converter equipments were origmally
supplied to the North-Eastcrn Railway for operation on the Shildon-
Newport electrification, from the local supply system at 40 periods.
Each unit consisted of two 400 kVV, 750 V rotary converters con-
nected in series. It was recognised that the chort-circuit conditions,
especiaUy in the early days of the electrification, might be severe,
and consequently, the machines were built with a completely
insulating and fireproof screen between the commutator and the

Fig. 2. — View of Machine under complete short ciecuit.

rest of the machine, so that, in the event of flash- over, the
arc would not penetrate into the more delicate parts of the
machine.

Good clearance was provided between the positive and negative
brush arms, and the operating details of the brush-gear were well
protected.

The commutation was quite satisfactory up to three times full
load. Originally the a.c. side of the machines was protected by
a time-limit device with a view to clearing all short-circuits on the
d.c. side. In practice it was found that these machines would take
partial short-circuits up to about five times full load without
flashing over, but above that point flashing over would
result, and it was found advisable to reduce the severity of
the flash by the use of instantaneous trips on the a.c. side
of the machine.

I^ater an opportunity was presented for installing a larger
set, viz., a ] 200 kW unit (two 600 kW machines in series)
having various novel features. The diameter of the com-
mutator was made practically the same as that of the
armature, the armature bars being sweated directly into the
commutator. It is impossible for the conducting vapour
produced under short-circuit to penetrate inside the armature
and cause subsidiary short-circuits. A propeller fan at the
back of the commutator directed a strong blast of air axially
over the commutator surface. The d.c. brush-gear was
completely enclosed inside cast metal brush-holders which
are practically immune from damage due to Hash-over.
Fig. 1 illustrates one of these mach.ines.

Advantages of this construction are: The conducting
vapour ])roduced under short-ciicuit is rapidly swept away
by the blast of air, thus reducing the chance of tiash-over
when the d.c. voltage is restored on the opening of the d.c.
circuit breaker. In the case of fiash-over the resulting
damage is almost negligible. The arc has not been known
to restrike. The conducting vapours are blown away from
the important parts of the machine, so that subsidiary
short-circuits are not produced. The short-circuit is cleared
so quickly that, in most cases it is cleared by the d.c. circuit
breaker, and the machine is left running on the a.c. side.

Special Features of the Design.

The following features were incorporated in the design of these
machines : The distance between the centre line of the armature
and the base-plate was made as large as possible, so as to give a
large clearance between the brush arm and the base-plate and pro-
vide for air space all around the commutator. The distance between
the commutator and the bearing pedestal was made large, and the
pedestal and base-plate were shielded with insulation, to prevent
the arc striking to earth. No part of the yoke for the brush
brackets projects over the commutator, and this yoke is separated

from the commutator and brush brackets by a thick layer of
insulating material. The commutator segments are provide<l with
arcing tifw to jjrevcnt the deterioration which takes place at the
ends of the commutator bars during tia.sh-over.

When on test at the works this machine was coupled to a large
turbo-alternator, and loaded up to full load on a water lx»x. It
was found possible to '" dead short circuit " this machine, cU^r
the short circuit on an ordinary circuit breaker, and leave the
machine ninning on full load. Immediately after several short-
circuits the machine would carry three times full load with gcKxi

commutation. Fig. 2 shows the appearance of machine

under complete short circuit.

These machines have now been in operation for

approximately four years; their performance has been

excellent, and the cost of main^^enance is very low.

Magnetic Removal of the Arc.

We have recently experimented with a construction for
magnetically driving the arc from the commutator surface.
This scheme was applied to a T.'O kW, 1 r.(X) V compensated
generator. When protected with an ordinary tj-pe of
circuit breaker, it was found possible to short-circuit this
generator completely when separately excited on the shunt
winding, with or without the compound winding, without
the slightest damage to the machine (see Fig. 3).

All the above developments have been in the direction of
making the machine itself more robust and self-protecting.
The high-speed circuit breaker is an external apparatus to
protect the machine. Its successful operation depends on
limiting the period of short circuit and derangement of
commutating conditions to such a small fraction of a
second that very little conducting vapour is produced
around the commutator and there is [little danger of the
arc striking when the pressure is restored by the disconnec-
tion of the short-circuit.

In the original article the author presents a |diagram
illustrating the performance of a 1 .500 kW, 1 500 \ unit,
operating on either 2o or LO periods. The cur\-es relating
to regulation, power factor and efficiency are based on the fulfilment
of the following requirements : Full load continuously with less
than 40 C. rise ; 25 per cent, overload for 2 hrs ; .10 per cent,
overload for 15 min. ; 100 per cent, overload for 3 min. : 200per,cent.
overload for 20 sec.

The Importance of High-Power Factor.

Importance is attached to a high-power factor. Provided
reactance between the h.t. line and slip rings of the rotary- is
not too large, the power factor of rotarj'-converter equipments
on the h.t. side can be maintained at unity power factcr. even

Yio, 3._A 750 kW 1 .j^) V Compens.^ted Gknkrator.

up to three times full load, without apprtviablo loss m efficiency.

The ratio between slip-rimz anil d.c. voltages on a rotarj" converter
is practicallv fixed, and can be varieii only within smaU limit*,
bv variation of the field. The d.c. voltage can be controlled
independent Iv of the h.t. voltage by inserting reactance between
h.t. line nud sli]) rings. The author discusses, in the origin^
Paper, the efiect of ditferent values of reactance, illustrating the
problems bv apjuopriate vector diagrams.

The author also discusses the origin and effect of these various
ripples in detail, illustrathig the problem by oscillographic diagrams.
The oscillations on the d.c. side may also be broadly classified as

200

The Electrician.

March 3, 1922

followa: 11) Tooth ripples. (2. Undulations with a fre<4uency of
6 per period. (The oscillation.'? of twelve times normal frequency
are usually very small.)

The tooth ripple on rotar>' converters for traction purposes need
not exceed ± per cent, of the d.c. voltage ripple, troviding the
supply conforms to a sine wave, undulation.'* of six times normal
frequency need not exceed ± 2 j>er cent, of the mean d-c. voltage
on full load, the de\-iation being .slightly greater on overloads.
In cases of interference noted the deviations have been consider-
ably great'-r than the a>Kjve, and it i.s not to V^ expected that any
appreciable interference will occur on well-balanced telephone
lines with ripples and undulations of this magnitude and freqaency.

Wave-Shape of Primar>- Current-

The departure of the primary current from approximately a
sine wave-shape Ls u.sually associated «ith extra loss in transmission
or generation- In cases where the supply to converting apparatus Is
likely to form an appreciable percentage of the output of a generating
station, the current wave-shape should approximate to a sine wave.
Otherwi.se increased losses and heating may result in the generating

equipment. Further, if the primary' network contains overhea'i
transmission, interference with communication circuits may resul".
from the dtstortion of the current wave.

The wave-shape of the primary- current on load and overload
on modem eqoipments will be found to approximate closely to a
sine wave.

Automatic Sub-Stations.

The introduction of the automatic substation coiLsiderably reduce-;
the cost of attendance, but provision mu.st be made for interest
and depreciation on the extra control equipment required,
item increaiiea with the number of equipments p^r substation,
this is not so with the cost of attendanc-e. Hence the best fi(
for automatic working is the single-unit substation.

In the past, however, on account of the coot of attendance, t
tendency has been to group the converting apparatus, so that a
will arise in which automatic working will allow of a wider di-'
tion of the converting plant, with resultant economy either in :
copper or in copper losses, and consequent improvement u;
distribution of voltage on the track.

Models of Ferromagnetic Induction.

By Sir J. ALFRED EWING, K.C.B., F.R.S.

In giving a detail account of his more recent work in magnetism,
the author developed the theory- of magnetic induction put forward
by^him in 1S90, and discussed the reasons which have led him to
modify the theory in an important particular.

Weber's Conception
The theory was based on Weber's conception that a substance

Fig. 1. — Model Showing Acnox in Oxe Plase.

capable of strong magnetisation, such as iron, owes its magnetic
quality to the presence within it of ultimate magnetic particles
capable of being turned, and that the process of magnetising consists
in compelling these particles to face more or less completely in one

Fig. 2.— Model Showix., .Action ix Three Dimensions.

direction. When all the Weber particles are facing one way. the
iron is magnetically saturated. \Miat the author showed in 1S?0

• AbfltrtM:t of a Paper read before the Koyal ."Society of Edinburgh.

was that the control under which the Welder particles turned was a
magnetic control, and that, in turning, they fell over from one
position of stable equilibrium to another, through an unstable
phase, thereby producing the phenomena of magnetic hysteresis.

This funadamental feature of the theor\- is retained, but the
author has now abandoned his further idea that the control of the
particles was due simply to their mutual magnetic forces acting
from atom to atom, because a quantitative examination of the
forces produced in that way has convinced him that other forces
are also involved. These other forces are those which exist within
each individual atom, between the Weber particle and the rest
of the atom. We now know the atom to be a very complex whole,
comprising many moving electrons. In a substance such as iron,
each atom contains a Weber particle, a thing that turns under the
inrtuence of an external magnetising force. It is not the atom as a
whole that tum.s, but only a part of it. According to the author's
view, there is magnetic control exerted between the part that turns
and an outer shell which is held fixed in relation to neighbouring
atoms. He now shows that all the characteristics of the magne-

FiG. 3. — Model or RrTBBRFOKD-BoHK Cosceptios.

tising process can be accounted for on this basis, and may '
reproduced by means of illustrath'e models.

Equilibrium of I^voted Magnets.

The first part of the Paper was a study of the ei^uilibrinm ■ •
pivoted niagnets, undertaken with referenc-c to the author's
of IStO, in which the Weher particlfs were represented as r
little magnets controlling one another by their mutual
only. It was shown that this model fails quantitatively b
when the magnets are placed near enough together to gi
correct form to the curve of magnetisation in its several -
the det'ecting force which is required to break up the row L- ..
mously ereater than that which suft ces to produce strong magne-
tisation in iron. The stability of the row is far too great. In
the new model the stability can be reduced to any desired extent.
for it depends on the balance of attracting and repelling forces du«
to the action of opposite portions of the outer shell of the atom on
the Weber particle within.

March 3, 1922

The Electrician,

261

The New Models Described.

Several forms of the lu'W model arc described, some with pivoted
magnets to represent the Weber particles, and fixed magnets to
represent the controlling portions of the atomic shell. In the
8implei»t model (Fig. 1), which shows the imaginary action in one
plane, the Weber particle is a pivoted magnet in the middle of a
group of four fi.ved magnets, all of which have their north poles
facing inward. The pivoted magnet has four possible stable
positions, pointing towards one or other of the fixed j)oles. The
model of Fig. 2 represents the action in three dimensions. In it
the Weber particle is a group of eight magnetic poles, turning is a
whole within a group of eight fixed magnets. The arrangement is
a cubically s\'mmetrical one appropriate to a metal, such as iron,
in the crystals of which the space lattice is known to be the centred
cube.

The Rutherford-Bohr Conception.

In another model (Fig. '^) the Kutherford-Bohr conception of an
atom with large electron orbits is realised. The orbits are repre-
sented by elliptically shaped coils, with the nucleus of the atom
at their common focus : one of them is circular and turns under the
control of the others, which are fixed. fSir Alfred Ewing went on
to show that with these models it is possible to imitate known
features in tiie magnetic behaviour of metals, including effects of
stress and tempe'"ature. It was pointed out that the new model
preserves all the advantages in this respect of his model of IS! 0,
and at the same time escapes the quantitative discrepancy which
had made it necessarv to amend the former theoi-y.

The Contractors' Coming-of-Age Dinner.

The comiag-of-age dinner of the Electrical Contractors'
Association, which was founded on Feb. 1, 1901, was held at the
Hotel C^cil on Monday, under the presidency of Mr. J. Orringe.

Mr. J. MacGregor, in proposing the toast of the " Allied Asso-
ciation and Honorary Officials," congratulated the Association on
arriving at its majority. At twenty-one everything looked rosy, and
there was no doubt that the future was bright for the Association.
Such l>odies were not trusts nor extortionists, but were formed with
a desire to improve trade and to help people who had put money
and brains into the industry to accumulate A'ealth and resist foreign
competition. In the past jealousy had cut the trade to pieces, but
they were now in a position to maintain the British electrical
business and entirely to keep the foreigner out. The various associa-
tions in th« trade must be brought closer together, and if this were
done thej' might look forward to a brighter future.

The Duty of the Contractor.

The Chairman in reply gave an interesting historical account of
the Electrical Contractors' Association, whose formation was due
te a sugcieetion by Mr. Alabaster. He felt the Association was now
making neadway in the direction most likely to assist the develop-
ment of the electrical industry. The importance of everyone be-
longing to a trade association must be stressed, and certainly every
electrical contractor should belona to the Contractors* Association,
which now had a membership of 750, representing the cream of the
contractors in tlie country. Contractors were free canvassers for
the supply eide and were in a position to discover outlets from the
manufacturers' products by the establishment of sales departments.
Wiring, Standardisation and Hiring.

In responding to the toast of the " Guests " proposed by Mr.
T. E. Alger, Mr. C. H. Wordinoham said that everything \\3^ to
be gained by closer union between contractors and the Institution.
Many of their body had done yeoman service on institution com-
mittees, especially in connection with the Wiring Rules. In formu-
lating these rules he had often wondered what ground should be
covered, for at present there was a tendency to write a treatise on
wiring rather than to put forward regulations. In this matter they
wanted a lead from contractors, and he hope] there wiinla l«
ample opportunity for discussing the draft rulee before they were
c<iiifirnied. Another question on which he felt very strongly was
standardisation. At present there was a multiplicity of patterns
of accessories, which was a grave evil, as it increased costs. His
experience on the B.E.S.A. had not been encouraging, and the work
had Wen largely alwrtive because a standard fitting had not neei-.
taken up by the manufacturers. Closer work between electricity
supply authorities and contractors was essential. In future supply
engineers would have more time to devote to commercial develop-
nit-nt. and this sJiould give very great re~';u!t«. More demonstration
of apparatus wa« wanted in each town, and more should be done in
the way of hiring out. He agreed that nninicipalities should not
sell apparatus or wire buildings, but though the 1919 Act gave them
power to hire, it gave them no power to sell. This was unjust to
the consumer, as he could not hire-purchase. I'his defect might
be overcome by allowing hire-purchsise to be effected through the
contractor.

Mr. Councillor E. C. Ransome, who also replied to the toast,
said that associations such as theirs were for the good not only of
the industries concerned, but for the public generally, as they
meant standardisation and improved design and quality. In dealing
with Government departments they were also useful, as repre^
sentations from a body carried a vast deal more weight than tho«e
from individuals.

Correspondence.

THE INSTITUTION LIGHTING.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

8iu, — All members of our Institution are feeling very proud juat
now. Our fifty years' celebratioYl with its mo-st interesting features
of our 10 (KXJ nu-mbership roll and our Royal Charter, certainly
entitle us to swell with pride, but, still, let us never be content whilst
there are po.ssibilities of improvement.

On this ground, I venture to express the opinion that it is
regrettable, now we are again in pos-scssion of our Embankment
house, that the illumination of the lecture hall is open to severe
criticism. When the lighting was originally installed, under the
advice of Alessrs. Handcock Dykes, conditions were different, the
half-watt (inert gasfilled) lamp had not arrived at a commercial stage
and the Illuminating Engineering Society, founded by our greatly
esteemed past president. Dr. Silvanus Thompson ("the Doctor"),
was still unborn. The intense illumination of the white cove« and
the very dull appearance of the matt surfaced panelling make the
haU unpleasant to be in after dark. The illumination of our building,
seeing that so many of our members are professionally interested in
electric lighting, should be a lesson in good electric illumination, bo<h
to members and to visitors. The illumination of the hall of the
Society of Arts must be revised when that society rebuilds, as it
shortly will, its famous home. The lecture hall of the Roj-al Institu-
tion possesses no dimmers. Let us hope the managers of neither
society will come to our lecture hall for in-spiration for improvement.

Funds are not lacking for improvement in illumination methods
in our really fine home, and I suggest the immediate formation of a
small committee of illumination experts, empowered to investigate
and charged to make recommendations to our Council in sufficient
time for the alterations to be made before next autumn. — I am, ac.

London, W. Justus Eck, M.I.E.E.

Feb. 25.

Beginning and Growth of the E.P.E.A.

At the meeting of the Informal Section of the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers, on Feb. 13, Mr. F. Pooley was in the chair when
Mr. J. H. Parker opened a discussion on " The Evolution of a Staff
Trade Union." Mr. Parker kept a large gathering keenly interested
while he told at considerable length the story of the beginnings
and the growth of the Electric.\l Power Engineers' Association.
He declared this organisation was given impetus by the invidious
situation of the engineering staff of the electric supply authorities
at a time when the wages of the manual workers were being revised
in view of the cost of living He told of protracted negotiation
with the councils and authorities over the wages schedule, and of
temporising and evasion by these bodies, who in many cases have
yet to honour their agreement.

He protested against misrepresentation of the aims and inten-
tions of the E.P.E.A., which on occasions of acute public interest
are often sensationally proclaimed by the lay Press. He declared
that the policy of the E.P.E.A. is to secure the welfare of the
whole industry, to avoid strikes, and. above all, the lightning strike,
and he explained the past a t^ion of his organisation in declaring in
advance of disputes which might involve their members, a readiness
to support the side willing to arbitrate in that dispute. Bearing
on this claim of moderation, he read one of the vital rules of the
.Association, which states that in case of any dispute calling for
extreme act'on. 70 per cent, of the whole membership must agree to
the proposed action, and he urged that this was ample safeguard
against any impulsiveness.

East of Scotland Electricity District.

The Electricity Commissioners h.^ve provisionally determined
that the undermentioned area, shall be cont-tituted a separate electri-
city district : — The county of the city of Edinburgh ; the county of
Midlothian : tho county of East Tx>thian : so much of the county of
Linlithgow as is included in the Royal hingh of S wth Quocnsferry ;
the pari^ihes of Aber«)ni, Dalmeny, Ecclet<maohan. Kirkliston (part
of) and Uphall ; and so much of the county of Peebles as is included
ill tho parishes of Eddloston, Newlands and West Lint<-Hi.

Objections on account of the inclusion of any area in, or the
exclusion of any area from, the district provisionally determined
should be addressed to the Secret.-u-v. Electricity Commission.
Gwvdvr House, Whitehall, London, S.W. 1. not later than July 31.

Two experimental houses have been built by Glaseow Corporation
at their housing scheme district — Ripprie— where 1 000 dwellines are
l>eing erected. The two houses are all electric : there are no coal
fires and no sras. Tho houses are two storey high, and consist of
five apaj-tmentfi with a large scullery. In oo«t of construction there
is a .saving of £80 per block, owing' to the absence of chimneys and
other adjunct* of coal fires and gratee. Everything for lighting.
h*\ating and c<H^king is p»'rformed by electricity. There is an electric
dish-washing boiler, and a clothes-washing rnaciiine operated by a
motor is also providotl, with a standard hot-water cylinder heated
bv electricitv.

262

The Electrician.

March

3, 1922

British Industries Fair, Birmingham.

The Birmingham section of the British Industries Fair was
opened on Monday at Castle Biomwich Aerodrome Buildings, and it
will be continued until Friday, March 10. It is, as previously, under
the auspices of the Board of Trade, and is conducted by a council of
Midland business men, representing the Birmingham Chamber of
Commerce and the Birmingham City Council.

The Lord Mayor (Aid. David Davis) presided at luncheon on
Monday, making allusion to the extraordinarv diversity of Midland
industries, which are largely represented in the Birmingham section
of the Fair, and to the maintenance by manufacturers of a high
quality standard (despite the temptation to accept other classes of
business during the prolonged period of trade depression), and
expressed the hope that the Fair would give a real impetus to over-
seas business. ... . ,

Mr. H. 0. WoRRALL, chairman of the council, who is associated
witii the leather industries, said there were many evidences in the
Midlands that the rock bottom of trade depression had been reached
and the upward swing of the pendulum commenced.

Development of Mass Production.

The exhibitors number 500, and there are 60 000 ft. of stands ; tlie
entries show a little falling off, but more of the larger firms are
represented this year, and, by reason of an enlarged schedule, the
Fair is particularly comprehensive. New groups provide for the
inclusion of mining, colliery and quarrying machinery and appliances,
and also equipment for the needs of agriculture, brewing and dis-
tilling. The agricultural group includes displays of agricultural,
dairy and horticultural machinery and implements, and poultry
equipment. The leading features are the groups devoted to general
engineering and to brass foundry and hardware. Very representa-
tive, too, are the sections devoted to gas and electrical equipment
and accessories.

There is much evidence in the Fair of the development in manu-
facture of mass production methods (making for economy as well as
for the standardisation of parts), of a general desire on the part of
makers to produce precisely to overseas specifications, and of an
increasing application of science to industry.

The Electrical Section.

The display of electrical equipment is unci uestion ably one of the
largest and most interesting in the Fair. There are twenty-four
stands devoted very largely to electric light and power fittings,
thirteen to electric accessories, and a good deal of space is given to
the display of electric fires and (domestic) electric fittings. Some
attention, too, is directed to the industrial aspects of electricity, and
we observe stands displaying electric arc welding plant, electric
furnaces, dynamos, motors, elevators and control gear. Lighting
sets and ships' fittings are also attractive features.

Up-to-Date Switchgear,

A. Reyrolle & Company, Ltd., Hebburn-on-Tyne, are exhibiting
in Birmingham for the first time (Building B, Stand 201), and have
a varied display of switchgear. This has attracted much interest
among the general public, small power engineers, and electricity
supply engineers, for the types of switchgear range from 5 A wall
plugs to the large 20O00 V modern armour-clad high-tension switch-

standard 3 000 V 400 A Class "E " mining pillar gear, and 600 V
200 A Class " F " gear. The illustration is of the former, and
from this can quite easily be seen the substantial and sturdy con-
struction, easy manipulation, complete isolation of the switch,
and the immunity from any possible shock. This gear contains
the common principles of all Reyrolle flame-proof mining gear and
complies with the regulations of the Mining Act.

The motor engineer will be interested in the Reyrolle drum starter,
while other apparatus shown include patent self-alignment fuses,
quick break oil switches, and distribution and telepnone dividing
boxes. A varied selection of plugs and switches have the same
characteristic careful attention to earthing and complete immunity
from shocks. The switchgear may be described as water-proof,
flame-proof, dust-proof, and vermin-proof, features which ensure
complete safety.

Electric Lighting and Heating.

The display of electric lighting and heating equipments is very
large, and is especially noteworthy on the decorative side. There
are many beautiful designs, both in the metal fittings and also in the
materials, be they minerals or textiles, used as shades. Chandeliers
and candelabra are of infinite variety, and considerable novelty is to
be observed. There are examples of fittings in various period styles,
Jacobean in oxidised silver being among the most popular. For large
brildirgs there is a wide choice for both exterior and interior light-
ing, and the indirect methods of illumination, while a large number
of English alabaster bowls are on view. Some of the flambeau are
remarkably effective, and are characterised by consummate artistry
in design. A restraint in ornament, together with careful balancing
and proportioning, form an important part in these charming lighting
fittings. On the industrial Fide the display is of a very representa-
tive kind, but compar^vtively few new features are to be noted.

Domestic Electric Devices.

The Metropolitan-Vickers Company, Ltd., Manchester (Building
B, 183 Stand), make a very extensive show of their " Cosmos " electric
devices, and in this connection their Radiant fire and lamps are
largely featured, as well as fans, for desks or brackets, vnth
12 in. and 16 in. blades. Flashlight, vacuum, and gasfiUed lamps
occupy a good deal of space. Other features on this stand are kettles
of heavy gauge, spun sheet copper, polished, or with nickel-plated
finish on copper, being in each case pure tinned inside. The heating
elements consist of a nichrome resistance wound on mica, and are
firmly secured to the bottom of the kettle. The " Cosmos " com-
bined grill and toaster, useful for preparing quickly meals on the
dining-room table or sideboard, attracts much attention ; this
appliance is supplied with a two-pin terminal standard connector.

Gent & Company, of Leicester (A Building, Stand 31), show a
variety of electric clocks (for industrial and marine purposes), time
discipline apparatus, and turrent clocks and chimes. Mining and
shaft signals are good features, and in regard to the latter, the
' Tangent " system (which is entirely electrical), it may be mentioned
that no stepping mechanism is employed, that there is a relay for
each signal with a single interrupter, and that the number and
nature of the signal shows at the first stroke of the bell. Moreover,
any error on the part of the signaller is at once apparent to the
engineman, owing to the disagreement between visual and audible
signals. The system is operated at the standard signalling pressure
of 25 V. _

Another exhibit of considerable industrial interest is an idle-
machine recorder, on the " pulsynetic " system. The object is to
give a record of the time during which a machine has been idle,
and so assist the management in keeping the productive machinery
fully occupied during working hours. On a machine becoming idle,
even for half a minute, a mark is made on a record chart in a
column against the number of the machine, and if the idleness is
continued, a line is traced for the appropriate idle period. The
recorder drum is electrically driven by a " pulsynetic " transmitter.

The London section which was opened on the same date is
not of the same importance to electrical engineers as the Birmingham
section, but there are attractive exhibits of scientific instruments.
glassware, toys, clocks, &c.

[To be concluded.)

Reyrollk's Ironclad Mining Switchgear.

gear.

^ Particularly striking is a complete 20 000 V (" A J " type)

electrically-driven switchgear, with remote panel control, the whole
being in working order, and open to the closest inspection. There
is much here to interest the mining engineer. Two excellent exhibits
are the mining type of switchgear, which consists of ReyroUe's

Ideal Home Exhibition.

At this exhibition, which is being held at Olympia, London, until
tlie 25th inst., and which was opened by Prince^ss Alice (Countess
of Athlone) on Wedne-'^day, (here are, in addition to the exhibits
connected with tlve building and furnishing trades, and the beautiful
gardens in the Annexe, designed by the Queens of Holland, Spain,
Belgium, Norway, and Roumania, Queen Alexandra, Princess Alice,
Princess Mary, Lady Patricia Ramsay, and Lady May Cambridge,
a large number of stands occupied by makers of electrical appliances,
with which we shall deal in subsequent issues.

Frequent conferences upon housing, furnishing, gardening, fruit
growing, poultry. &o.. are being held during the period of the
exhibition, and cinematograph exhibitions are being given daily.

The " Daily Mail " Model Village at Welwyn Garden City, Herts,
will also l>e on view until March 25.

In the Exhibition Catalogue, the names are given of the winners
o? the " Dailv Mail " Lal>our-Saving House Competition. The
prizes are £300, £125. and £75.

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

203

Supervising Electricians.

The National A.sHoctATioN ok Hiji'Krvising Electkicians held
their annual meeting on February 14 at the St. Bride's Institute,
E.G. 4, wlien Mr. F. W. Smith, the chairman of the association,
pre,si(led over a well-attended gathering.

The Chairman, in his address, complimented the meml>erfl on the
improved position of the association, and gave a brief resume, of
the as.sociation's activities. The appointment, |)f a full time general
secretary had been fully jufltified. The finances of the association
were sound, new members were continually being enlisted, and the
general position was better than it had ever been. Enquiries were
being received from all parts of the country, and the formation
of district branches was well in hand. The necessity forj-he associa-
tion in the electrical indu.stry had been fully demonstrated, and the
educational work had been of great benefit to tfiose concerned. It
was necessary that they should safeguard the interests of their
members and see to it that the workers got an adequate return for
their laliour. The agreement with the National Federated Electrical
Association was a step in the right direction, and prepared the way
for greater advancement.

The ballot for the declared vacancies on the Board of Control
resulted in the following being elected : — Messrs. F. J. Alldread,
C. Burrows, J. F. Chapman, P. N. Hindell, J. Hudson. H.
Manning, S. Nicholle, T. E. Pinder, F. W. Smith. A. Tucker. S.
Smith, R. W. Whitley T. H. Windibank and C. G. Wright, and
Messrs. H. Rooke and J. H. Hall were elected as meml^er^' auditors.

The affiliation io the National Federation of Professional, Techni-
cal, Administrative and Sujiervisory Workers i« to be further
developed. New rules, to cope with the increasing activities of the
association, were adopted.

International Scientific Conference.

On the occasion of the seventy-fifth annivereary of its founda-
tion, the Association des Ingenieurs Sortie de I'Eeole de Liege will
organise an International Scientific Congress from June .11 to
16 ne.xt, to which the engineers and scientists of Belgium and the
allied countries will be invited. There will be seven sections, viz.,
electricity, metallurgy, mining, mechanics, civil engineering, indus-
trial chemistry and geology. In the domain of electricity the ques-
tions suggested for treatment and discussion comprise progress in
the design of large turbo-alternators, organisation of large power
stations and of hydro-electric works, the transmission of electrical
energy at voltages over 100 000 V, material used for overhead trans-
mission lines and overground sub-stations at pressures over 100 000 V,
local distribution networks, protection of h.t. and e.h.t. linee, manu-
facture of e.h.t. underground cables, automatic sub-stations,
mercury-vapour converters, improvement of power factor of net-
works, railway electrification (d.c, s. and three-phaee, &c.), poly-
phase motors, electric propulsion of ships, the use of aluminium m
electrical work, electricity tariffs, lamp manufacture, electric heating,
automatic telephony, wireless telegraphy and telephony, &c.

Prize for Moving Platform.

The Municipal Council of Paris are offering prizes for the best
design of mechanism for a moving platform for the conveyance of
foot passengers. The suggestions must fit in with e.xisting means of
underground communication. The idea is to have a series of plat-
forms moving parallel to one another, each one travelling faster
than that ne.xt beside it. The first is to have such a speed that a
passenger can easily step on to it from the ground or from a fixed
platform, and the fastest is to have a speed of 15 kilometres (9^ miles)
per hour. The increase of speed between adjacent platforms must
not be too great to prevent passengers stepping from one to the other
without shock. There are to be three prizes, of the value of 100 000,
50 000, and 30 000 francs respectively. If the authorities eventually
decide to install one or other of the systems which receive prizes,
then, even if no amicable understanding can be arrived at, the
invoiitor \yill receive a further sum of 500 000 francs, which tho
Municipality covenants to pay as forfeit for adopting the design,
lacking an agreement. Particulars may be obtained from the
Direction des Travaux, 98 Quai de la Rapee, and technical con-
ditions from the Service Technique due Metropolitain, 48, rue do
Rivoli, Paris.

Mr. Henry Jackson has resigned his position with the London &
North-Western Railway Company on reaching the age limit. Mr.
Jackson was telegi-aph superintendent and electrical engineer for the
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company for a period of thirty-
tAvo and a hali years, and was transferred to the North-Westeni
Company on the amalgamation of the two companies.

Interesting letters have appeared in the " Times " during the
week regarding the EARtt experiments o» Davii Hughes. In
Saturday's issue Sir Joseph Larmor suggested, in the interests of
scientific history, the publication of extracts from the notebooks
of Hughes. On Monday a letter from Prof. J. A. Fleming
appeared, pointing out that the evidence for which Sir Joseph
asked (as to the early experiments of Hughes on electric radiation)
already existed in the form of a letter written bv David Huo-hes
bimself to The Electrician of Mav 5, 1899 (Vol. XLIII , p 40)

The Late Mr. Thomas Clark.

We recently announced the death of Mi. Thoma- f':\\:y.. w.h'> waa
chief electrician of the Telegraph Cfxistruclion & ' c Com-

fany until his retirement in 1919. Mr. Clark, v. kindly

ace v/as known to .vi many in all parts of ti!<- .•. >:. ; died at
Worthing on Jan. 19 la.st at the age of seventy year.>>, and the deep
regret at his death which i.s felt by his colleaeue.s in thie company
will no doubt be shared by many of the fetaflf of the varirnjh cable
companies in stations abrf>ad. ife entered the service of the Tele-
graph Construction Company in June, 1865, a.s a junior electrician,
and served the company for fifty-four years, his first work being (ki
the " Great Ea-stern " during the laying of the first su're«*fu!

The Late Mr. Thomas Clark.

Atlantic cable. This was followed by a long course of sea work, in
the testing-room, on cable laying and repairing expeditions in the
Chiltern. Scanderia, Belgian, Edinburgh, Hawlc, Hibernia, Minia,
Wm. Corj', Kangaroo, Robert Lowe, Calabria, Seine, Scotia, Anglia,
Colonia, and Telconia.

During his career at sea Mr. Clark is computed to have travelled
660 000 miles, averaging over 14 000 miles a yeai" for forty-seven
years, and he was present at the laying of 108 000 miles of cable.
He was appointed chief electrician of the Construction Company in
1891, and was in electrical charge of the testing during the laying
of over 72 000 miles of submarine cable. His 6€a work finished in
1912, since when he remain d as cliief electrician at the company's
Greenwich works until he retired in June, 1919. Our illustration
is a reproduction of a recent portrait of Mr. Clark.

Power Developments in Nuremberg.

Nuremberg is a good example of how a town can render itself
independent of transported fuel supplies, and can become an im-
portant industrial centre by means of hydro-electric power. Co*l
has still to be brought from Westphalio &ilt«ia and Saxony, but
about ten or twelve years ago a few leading industrialists and
bankers combined with the Town Councils of NrREMBERc. and FCbth
in order to establish two, large hydro-electric st,itions. The capacity
of the older station is about 30 000 kW. and there i.< a network of
cables and distributors extending over nt\jrlv fifty miles. The station
only supplies consumers of at least 60kW, the disirihntion to smaller
oustomei-s being undertaken by subsidiary conipanies or municipal
sub-stations. A larger centriu station was establishes! in 1913,
serving the whole of Middle and a large part of T>»wer Francviia.
including nearly 700 towns and villages. Us ■ ' ' .e

than 900 square mikY; and supplv electric mot.' ri

50 000 K.p. and well over 200 0(50 electric lam^, ! .., of

the cheap and excellent electric servii^e, the mdusirial jtrowth of
Nuremberg and the surroiuiding country has been rapid, and a
nuinl>or of new industries, have b*en de- elii;>ed. In addition, il ha«
greatly assisted in the increase of rural factories rnd domeetic
worksnops.

The resignation of Mr. J. A. RoBixsoy. the S '• 'ctrical

engineer, i.< announced. As a consultant ho has a _ ■: work

in hand, and it is understtxxl that this circumstaiiv ■ iienced

his resignation. He has, however, expressed willingnt^s to help the
Corporation as consulting engineer — an offer which is of special value
in view of the erection of a super -stAtion at Agecroft.

261.

The £lecit;riciaii.

March

3> 1922

North-West Midlands Electricity District.

The inquiry into the scheme for the reorganisation of electricity
supply in this district was commenced on the 2l6t ult. The chair-
man of the Electricity Commissioners (Sir John Snell) presided, and
the other Commissioiiers present were Sir Henry Hawaord, Mr. H.
Booth and Mr. W. Lackie.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones. K.C, on behalf of the Conference of
Authorised Undertakers, who submitted the scheme, said that there
was no opposition to the main principles involved. The conference
consisted of the Corporations of Stoke-on-Trent. West Bromwich,
Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Stafford, and the Midland Electri-
city Supplv Corporation, 'in regard to the formation of a joint
electricity "authority, the view of the conference was that the
authority should make an application to the Comrrftssioners for the
termination of the power companies in the area. However, he did
not maie the application, and he did not intend to put any evidence
before the Commissioners bearing upon that issue, for it was not his
duty to introduce anything at that stage which might prejudice them
when the application was made. The Conference of Authorised
Undertakers took the view that if the proposed joint authority was
to be a success it ought to own and work generating stations. There
was no power in the Act, however, enabling the authority to accjuire
compulsorily, and in the absence of compulsory powers acquisition
could only be carried out by agreement. Besides the fact that there
was no joint authority in existence with which an agreement could
be made, there was " the difficulty that in addition to the local
authorities they had one company in the conference and one outside
it, and there were differences as to the methods of financing the
undertakings. The conference did not include Walsall Corporation,
as it did not agree to the transfer of its generating station. There
were fourteen generating stations in the area operated by ten
authorised undertakers, and if those stations were to remain the pro-
perty of the original owners the conference failed to see where the
joint authority would come in. The view of his clients was that the
joint authority .should be representative of the authorised under-
takers in the district. They did not want the Commissioners to
constitute a body which would consist of representatives of people
who had powers' that they did not use and merely sat upon. The
promoters did not propose to levy a deficiency rate, as they tliought
any deficiency should be carried forward. It was proposed to erect
three new generating stations — at Rugeley, Stoke and Ironbridge
respectively. It was suggested that the Rugeley should be the first
to be erected, but it might subsequently prove that Ironbridge wa-s
the proper site to start with. It was, however, a question for the
joint authority to settle. A difference of opinion on the subject had
emerged between the conference of undertakers and Walsall Cor-
poration, but he submitted that the question should be postponed for
the discussion of the joint body.

The Ch.mrman intimated that before the Commissioners gave their
consent to the erection of any station they would reouire to be placed
in possession of all the facts.

Constitution of the Joint Authority.

Walsall Corporation also objected to the proposed allocation of the
voting power of undertakers on the joint authority, and they
required that, having regard to geographical and other reasons, the
area should be divided for the purposes of financial administration.
It would be very inconvenient, however, if there were to be two
financial autonomous divisional districts. Newcastle-under-Lyme
objected principally to the taking over of the generating station and
raised the question of compensaticn, but as there was no compulsory
power to make them transfer their station unless the terms satisfied
them, Newcastle need have no fear. Cannock would get representa-
tion, as they proposed to take their supply of energy from Wolver-
hampton Corporation. Tettenhall was one of a large body of local
authorities who a<sked for representation, but counsel pointed out
that if the Provisional Order sanctioning the extension of
Wolverhampton municipal boundaries passed through Parliament,
Tettenhall would cea.se to exist as pn independent authority. The
scheme, however, left such local authorities the right to buy the
undertaking of the power company in their area, which now con-
sisted of distribution mains only.

Promoter's Views.

Aid. Harry Leese, chairman of St oke-(rn -Trent Electricity Com-
mittee, gave a history of the conferences which led xip to the pre-
paration of the scheme. It had been carefully considered and was
unanimously adopted. The supply of current under the scheme
could be commenced at once. Ar to representation on the joint
authority, he thought that only the peonle who found the money
should be represented. He agreed that il the scheme was a failure
the consumer would have to pay.

The CirAiRMAN here intimated that he thought it reasonable that
.1 clause under discussion should be extended so as to make it clear
that it was competent for the Commissionei-s to impose an obligation
to provide supply in the event of an authorised undertaker raising
unreasonable objections to give such a supply.

On Wednesdav Sir Harry Haward asked whether the Conference
of Authorised Undertakers were absolutely wedded to the proposed
constitution of the joint authority with regard to voting powers.

Aid. Leese said he did not think there would be any difficulty in
ensuring that the smaller authorised undertakers should V>e given
their proper weight on the authority. The feeling of the conference
was very strong that the only people to be represented should be
authorised undertakers. As to the terms on which the generating
statioiicj would be transferred, he did not believe there would be
any serious prospect of disagreement.

Engineering Details.

Mr. JoiEN H. Rider, said he had acted as technical adviser to the
engineering suTj-commiltee appointed by the Conference of
Authorised Undertakers. As a matter of commercial advisability,
the whole of the single-phase alternating plant in the district would
be shut down, and the two-phase plant now existing would continue
for a period to which he could het no limit. He put in some financial
statistics which gave the average cost per unit generated (exclusive
of management charges) as 0"96d. The figures varied from 3'647d. at
Shrewsbury to 0'745d. at Wolverhampton, the latter being the lowest.
The total cost for the whole of the proposed district, including
distribution, street lighting, management and capital charges, would:
be l'552d. The chances were strongly in favour of a continued
increasing demand for electrical energy. The total load connected to
the six priwcipa! generating stations in the district in 1921 was
104 228 kW. which he estimated would increase to 250 000 kW in
1925. To meet that increased demand adequately he thought three
new generating stations would be required, and t^e first one, which
should be ready by 1926, should be erected at Rugeley.

Mr. R. Harker (for Walsall Corporation) said that the authority
he represented considered that no new generating station would he
necessary for some time, and that the growing demand could be met
by the extension of the existing Corporation mains.

The Chairman remarked that the Commissioners had considered
the matter, and had decided that in the interests of the district
they ought to hear the counter-propoeals of Walsall Corporation.

Mr. Rider, continuing his evidence, said that Rugeley was the
most suitable site for the first power station in the district. It was
midway between the northern and southern parts of the district, and
as it was necessai'y to have a river for the cheap generating of elec-
trical power, they would be practically tied to that side of the River
Trent. It was proposed that the Rugeley station should be worked
at the highest possible load factor, relying upon the plant at the local
stat.ions as a stand-by. There was less chance of expansion in the
southern than in the northern part of the district. The proposed
generating station at Rugeley was intended to provide the greater
part of the supply for the south-eafitern district, and Stafford and
Stoke would obtain their supply from that station.

In cross-examination by Mr. Harker (for Walsall), witness
declined to agree that the extension of the Birchills generating
station would be as advantageous as Rugeley, as there was only a
limited supply of condensing water and the facilities for coal
delivery were not so good. If th(nse difficulties could be overcome,
Birchills would have the most appropriate site for generating.

Replying tol\Ir. Tyler (for the railway companies), Mr. Rider said
he regarded the inclusion of a representative of the railways upon
the joint authority as undesirable. It was better that the joint
authority should be in a position to deal with the railway companies
as outside bodies.

The Shropshire Power Company.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones, K.C. (for the promoters), said that in his]
opening statement he said that so far as the Shropshire, Worcester-
shire & Staffordshire Electric Power Company was concerned, they'l
were sterilised until August. 1923, and that thev were therefore not/
entitled to be represented on the joint authority. It now apoearedj
that the company were providing certain supplies in the southern
part of the district, and that constituted the Shropsliire company an ^
authorised undertaker, and as such they were entitled to representa-
tion. That did not. however, alter the view of the Conference of.
Authorised Undertakers that an application should be made to thej
Comniissioners in due course for the termination of the rights of thei
power company in that area.

In answer to Sir Harry Haward, witjiess exoressed the opinion
that if the local authorities owning the various generating stations!
would agree without, reservation to put the whole operation of the!
stations, the system of management and the administration of the
staffs in the hands of the joint authority, the actual ownersliip of thej
stations would not be desired.

Mr. C. Meades, chairman of Stafford Electricity Committee, saidJ
they could install at Stafford 2 000 additional 11. p.'. but that was thel
maximum, and it was, therefore, obvious that Stxifford would needf
some help. He thought tho purpose could best be served by the!
district being constituted <as a whole for electricity supply ratherj
than by the area being divided into two, as proposed by Walsall.
There would be a gieat development in the near future in tht
district between Stoke-on-Trent and Lichfield.

Mr. Arthitr Collins said he estimated that if the proposed]
scheme came into operation the joint authority would be able toj
supply the increased oua.ntity of energy- required at a cost much lesaf
than would be possible under present conditions. The saving 'OJ
cost to the consumer ought not to be less than £120 000 a year.

Railw^ay Companies* Position.

Mr. Tyler (for the L. & N.W., C.W.. Midland, and North
Staffordshire Ra.ilway Companies) .said he was unable to give details
as to (he likelihood of electrification upon those lines in the near
future, but goods and passenger traffic was dense, and electrification
would no doubt soi>ner or later present itself for consideration. In
the ca.se of the Potteries Railway the subject was gone into in 1910,
but the project was not proceeded with on account of cost. It
would, however, be again considered wiien the railwav grouping
scheme was completed. The total consumption of electrical energy
by tho companies amounted to 700 000 unitvs per vear, the whole of
it for power, nearly the whole being used by the North Staffordshire
Railway, If a cheaper supply were available, the demand for
current for power, as distinct from tr.Hion, would increase

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

2»i

en<>rmou.sly. Th« railway companies ap{>r(>ache(l the qut.sliori of
electricity supply j)urely ^rom the commercial asi>ect ; they were out
to got their current at the cheapest price. The companies desired,
however, to advance certain views on two questions of principle.
The firet wius the obligation upon the joint authority to give a
supply, and the second the right of tlie companies to representation
upon that body. There was no precedent for the precise form of
constitution proposed for the joint authority, but the companies
regarded it as important that there should be somebodv on it repre-
aentative of the consumer. The railways' demand for electricity
would bo one of the greatest in the district and it would be in the
interests of the joint authority that it should be kept aware of
developments in that direction by representatives of the railways.

On Friday the case for the promoters closed, and counsel for
Newcastle pointed out that the Corporation was not concerned in
the question of coal deliveries, as their generating plant wa£ oil
driven.

Colliery Requirements.

Mr. II. II. Joy (for Cannock Chase Coalowners' Association)
directed the Commissioners' attention to the probability that in the
near future electricity would be applied to winding and ventilating
of the collieries, and the coalowners felt strongly that when thai
time came they ought to be satisfied that they had the amplest
possible safeguard against the failure of the supply.

Mr. Frank Anslow said he had advised the Cannock Chase Coal-
owners' Association that, in principle, the scheme was one which
should bo adopted. The area included fourteen colliery firms or
companies owning thirty-five pits, with an output of about 5 000 000
tons of coal per annum. Practically all the collieries were equipped
with some electrical plant. Some of the privately owned generating
plants had reached such proportions that they should nave con-
sideration in the final settlement of the scheme. The demand io
meet the present and immediate future requirements of the district«i
he estimated to be from 10 000 to 11 000 kW. The annual con-
sumption would in the immediate future be from 30 000 000 to
40 000 000 units per annum. Electric winding and ventilation was
a matter of development which, in other coalfields, had been shown
to follow the provision of a cheap and abundant supply of electric
power. It might be assumed, therefore, that with this provision
there would be an additional demand of at least 5 000 kW. There
would be a net saving in coal of at least 200 000 tons per annum.

The extensions at Birchills would include the erection of two
boiler-houses and other buildings, together with the provision of a
railway siding. The existing station depended for condensing
water upon the canal, and if the extensions were carried out it would
mean the admission into the canal of a much larger volume of hot
water than at present. The station was designed for an output of
12 000 kW, but the extension would increase it to 20 000 kW. It
would not be possible to obtain water at a sufficiently low tempera-
ture from the canal for condensing purposes if the extensions were
carried out, and it was proposed to erect cooling towers. The
total current generated at Birchills when extended would be 109^
million units, and the quantity of water pumped would be 1 200 000
gallons per day.

Mr. II. A. HowrE, borough electrical engineer of Walsall, reply-
ing to the chairman, said that during last year it was necessary to
shut off part of the load at Birchills owing to the temperature of
the condensing water becoming too high, and the tramways had to be
temporarily stopped. The canal was several inches lower than normal
at the time, and a considerable quantity of mud was drawn into
the condensers.

On Saturday Mr. E. M. Lacev gave evidence on behalf of Walsall
Corporation, and said he believed there was a sufficient supply of
water for condensation purposes at the Birchills station. The'col-
lieries would be better assured of security of supply under the pro-
posals put forward by Walsall than by "those nf the conference of
authorised uhdertakers. The linking up of the Walsall generating
station with that at Wolverhampton would be a inuch cheaper and
more adequate undertaking than the erection of a new station at
Rugeley.

On Tuesday evidence was given bv Mr. Lacev as to the capital
expenditure involved in the extension of Birchills station and other
matters.

Mr.^ Rider was recalled, and expressed the opinion that Mr.
Lacey's estimates were inadequate. Referring to turbo-generators
mentioned in Mr. I.,aoey's evidence as having been quoted for by a
foreign firm at £3.7 jjer kW, he said reliable machinery could not be
obtained at such a price in this country. Comparing the proposed
now station at Rugeley with the Birchills extension scheme, he said
that on the .same load factor the cost of coal per unit would be less
at Rugeley than at Birchills because at the former they had cold
river water for condensing instead of recirculated canal w.iter as r.t
Birchills.

Counsel having addressed the Commissioners. Sir Harry Haward
said they were much gratified at the public spirit shown bv the
authorised undertakers in preparing the scheme and presenting it
with so much precision. It was a happy augury for a cheap suppiv
of electricity in the area. The Commissioners would give most care-
ful consideration to the scheme and to the countor-pro^xisals of
Walsall Corporation.

Improved Street Lighting in Oxford-street.

The Borough of St. Maryldy^ic ha.-. *;iated wiUi

gfKxl street lighting, and Oxff>rd-5treet j, 1(,t many

years enjoyed the reputation of Ijeing ,.. .. .,-; : illuminat«'i

streets in the metropf>lis. WherMner new (ieveir/piD«nt» in lamp
manufacture or illummatirig engineering liave fx.t-urred, MaryMj<^iL
has taken the fullest advantage of them.

Earl^ in January* of this year the lightincr ia Oxfr/rd-«treet wa-v

recMisidered with a view Ut brin:-- - •'^ - •- " • - » >.

standard demanded bv modern tra" 'i-

sideration ami expt-i iini-nl. it '.v;i/ .:

Fi... 1.

500 W units by 250 V 1 500 W Osram gasfilled lamps, suppfied by
the General Electric Company. Ltd., and mounted in new lanterns
of octagonal fonn fitted with diffusing glass panels, designed by
Mr. Haydn T. Harrison. This combination yields an illumination
remarkable for its uniformity and freedom from glare, as will be
seen from the photograph reproduced in Fig. 1.

rOOT 25

CANDLES ZO

r 5

r 0

■s

,,01^

' ^

so 90 lOO

IIO 1» MO

Owing to the necessity for reduction in public expenditure, the
Department of Overseas Trade announce that as from April 1 the
following Lmperial Trade corresponoents will be recalled : — Bris-
bane, Dunedin (N.Z.). East London, Durban and Bloemfontein.

Fig. 2. — Curve showing the Distribution bktvtkbn two
Adjacent Standards.

The lanterns are moimted at a height of 25 ft. above street level
and at an average distance ..part of 160 ft. The average intensity
of illumination is 21 ft. candles, the maximum value under the
lamp l)ein^ 40 ft. candles, and the minimum value between poets
l)eing 02 ft. candles. Fig. 2 is an illumination ciuve showin^ the
intensity of light on an horizontal plaaie 3 ft. above the road enmare
between two posts.

Social Notes.

The first meeting of the Golf Circle of the Engiseers* Cli-b will
be held, by the courtesy of the Sandy Lodje Golf Club Coaimitt««.
at Sandy Ijodge on Wednesday March 8. " There will be a medal
round in the morning and a bogey round after lunch. Lonoh will be
provided at the clubhouse. The green fee is 6s. for the day. lunch
and caddies extra.

About 1 200 persons were present at the Queen's Hall, I^ngham-
place, London. W.. on Friday, on the occasion of the nineteenth (the
first since 1915) annual smoking cvwcert of the staff of Babcock 4
Wilcox. A long and enjoyable programme was given. Mr. C. S.
Davy (manager of the l^t^ulon othce) preside<l. and among thoee
present were Sir John Dowranoe, K.B.E. (chairman of the compauiy)
and Sir James Kennal (managing direcU>r).

The fourteenth annual dinner" of the technical and administrative
staff of Cardiff Electricity and Tramways Department* was held
hist Friday. Coiuicillor S.Jenkins (chairman of the electricity and
tramways committee) presided, and was suppt^rted by Messrs. C. G.
Morley Now (city electrical engineer). K. L. Horslield (city
tramways general m;uiager), H. J. David (traffic superinten-
dent), A. Ellis (late engineer and manager of the combined
departments). H. Ellis (late chief of Southampton tramways>, J. E
Teasdel, W. J. Radley and J. Preston. Councillor Jenkins, in pro-
posing the " City of Cardiff Electricity and Tramwavs Depart-
ments," said the past year had lH>en one of stress, and they had
suffered considerably from labour trimbles. but they were hoping
that there were better things in store this year. Messrs. Morley
New and R. L. Horsfield respwuled. Other toasts followed, after
which an excellent musical programme w.\s rendered.

'2(y(}

The Electrician.

March 3, 1922

Legal Intelligence

Electric Furnace Dispute.

Mr. Justice Sankey has been ocoapied for some days in hearing an
action arising out of the sale of an felectric steel furnace by the
plaintiffs. Electro- Metals, Ltd., to the defendants, the Malleable
Steel Castings Company (1909), Ltd., for £3 300. The purchase
monev was to be paid in three instalments, aavd plaintiffs now sought
to recover one of these sums (£1 100) and a further sum of £139,
representing materials supplied in connection with the furnace.
Defendants counter-claimed to recover various amounts.

Plaintiffs' case was that they had supplied a number of these
furnaces to varioufi Government departments and other concerns,
and that they had met with considerable success. The contract for
the furnace in question, of 30 cwt. capacity, was made in May, 1918,
following interviews between Mr W. Bibby, who at the time was
joint managing director of plaintiff company, and Mr. Edward Y.
Walsh, managnig director of defendant company. An undertaking
was given that the furnace would be capable of producing steel to
the defendants' satisfaction. The furnace was installed about the
middle of 1919, and the first trial run was made on July 29. There
were a number of minor mishaps consequent upoji broken electrodes
and such matters, but they were^ in course of time rectified. The
trials were made imder the supervision of the plaintiffs' engineer,
Mr. H. Needham, and heats were continued under his direction
down to November, 1919, when it was impossible to go on owing
to the moulders' strike. Plaintiffs claimed that they had performed
the contract and were entitled to the balance of the price. It was
also said that defendants' workmen, having been accustomed
hitherto only to iron casting, did not possess the necessary experi-
ence and skill for steel casting.

Defendants said the furnace never worked to their satisfaction.
Plaintiffs had not completed their contract, and the furnace could
not be run commercially. Mr. Walsh said he told IMJr. Bibby he
wanted steel of 40 tons tensile strength to the square inch, with
15 per cent, elongation, and Mr. Bibby said it could be got, and
the furnace was the latest thing in steel production. Instead of a
current consumption of 800 units to the ton of metal, which defen-
dants had been told would be the figure, the furnace consumed
twice that amount. Plaintiffs replied that no guarantee of the
tensile strength was ever given, and they denied that defendants'
figui'es regarding electricity consumed were accurate.

In the counterclaim defendants sought to recover in respect of
wages paid in working the furnace, metal alleged to have been
spoilt, electricity consumed, and the cost that would be entailed in
putting the furnace in order.

The hearing was adjourned until a date to be fixed.

Hamilton v. Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company.

This action was in the list for hearing on Friday last by the Lord
Chief Justice and a special jury, but Mr. Douglas Hogg, K.C.
(appearing with Mr. Bevan for the Marconi Company) took a pre-
liminary objection, and asked his Lordship to look at the pleadings,
from which he would find that plaintiff could not open his case
without committing a contempt of court in view of an undertaking
which he had given In former Chancery proceedings, that a certain
agieement between him and the company should not be published.
Counsel quoted authorities in support of his action.

Mr. Hamilton, who appeared in person, contended that the under-'
taking was obtained by misrepresentation, and that he did not
fully understand its purport when he gave it.

The Lord Chief Justice pointed out that he could not get over
the fact that the undertaking had been given, and before the case
could proceed plaintiff would have to go to the Chancery Division to
get the undertaking set aside-
After some argument the case was stayed, with costs against
plaintiff.

Personal and Appointments.

Mr. C. G. Lamb has been appointed Reader in Electrical
Engineering at Cambridge University.

Mr. W. Burrows, of the British Insulated & Helsby Cable Com-
pany, was presented last week with a case of cutlery subscribed for
by the office staff, on the occasion of his marriage.

Mr. Frank Wright haa been appointed chief electrical engineer
to Matthews & Yates, Ltd., in succession to Mr. Wm. Inglis, who
now represents Laurence Scott & Company, Ltd., in the Lancashire
area.

Mr. James Makin, chief electrical engineer of Bexley, and
engineer and general manager of Bexley Council Tramways and
Dartford Light Railway Joint Undertaking, has been appointed
chief electrical engineer of the City of Hereford.

Following the resignation of Mr. J. W. Hame as electricity
engineer and tramways manager, York Electricity Committee have
decided to appoint a whole-time engineer for the electricity depart-
ment, and a whole-time manager (preferably an engineer) for the
tramways undertaking. . They recommend the appiontment of Mr.
E. J. Nichols as City Electrical Engineer, at £650 a year, and that
a tramways manager be appointed at £600 a year.

Mr. Ronald Grierson, for twelve and a half years chief electrical
and mechanical engineer to Provincial Cinematograph Theatres,
Ltd., and its associated companies, hae resigned his appointment in
order to take an active interest in a new contracting firm, details of
which will be available shortly. In the meantime manufacturers of
cables, conduit motors, switchgcar, fittings, &c. . desiring to get into
touch with Mr. Grierson, should address correspondence, care of 197.
Wardour-street, London, W. 1. 'Phone, Regent 2 226.

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Engineering Trade Dispute.

In a written reply to Commander Bellairs (House of Commons,
Feb. 27), Dr. Macnamara said there had been two recent ballots of
the members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union in connection
with matters that were under discussion in the present dispute. The
first was taken on a provisional agreement relating to overtime and
nightehift conditions in September, 1920, and resulted in a majority
of 43 151 for the agreement. At that time the total membership of
the Amalgamated Engineering Union was about 460 000, inclusive
of members on superannuation benefit and members of branches
overseas. The resiilt of a second ballot, which was taken on the
provisional agreement of Nov. 17 and 18, 1921, interpreting the
agreement of September, 1920, was a majority of 14 715 against
acceptance. The present membership of the union was approxi- -
mately 409 000. His information did not enable him to state
exactly what percentage the majority in each case constituted of the
membership of the union eligible to vote, as certain classes, such as
members abroad, did not take part in the ballot.

The Proposed Barking Station

In reply to Capt. Martin (House of Commons, Feb. 27), Mr. Neal
stated that it was not possible to say when the C^iinty of London
Electric Supply Company would commence the construction of their
generating station at Barking. The Company's Act of 1921
empowered the Electricity Commissioners, when giving their consent
to the construction of the station, to prescribe the terms on which
the undertaking might be acquired by the proposed joint electricity
authority for Greater London. With the object of facilitating the
commencement of the work, the Commissioners had communicated
the terms to the company, and it was anticipated that formal sanction
to proceed with the work would be given shortly.

Private Bills.

Blackburn Corporation Bill passed its first reading in the House
of Commons on Friday.

A number of petitioners have lodged petitions against the Black
Country Tramways & Light Railways Bill. The majority of
these are by local authorities, who object to the proposed lengthening
of the concession and to the increase of fares.

Petitions have been lodged by the Caerphilly and Abersychan
Urban and Llantrisant Rural Councils, and the Aberdare and Abera-
man Consumers' Gas Company and other gas companies in South
Wales against the Bill of the South Wales Ei,ECTRiCAL Povv^r
Distribution Company.

Railway Electrification.

The Industrial Group of the House of Commons have appointed
11 deputation consisting of Sir Allan Smith, Sir William Pearce, Sir
Philip Dawson and Mr. P. J. Hannon, to wait upon the Parlia-
mentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and invite his
assistance in suggesting such amendments in the Railways Act as
will enable the London, BrigTiton and South Coast Railway Co.
to proceed with its scheme of electrification without delay.

Select Committee on Telephones.

This committee decided at their meeting last week to call no
more evidence. They adjourned for a fortnight, when they will
again meet to consider their draft report.

Institution Notes.

A Paper on " High-speed Wireless Telegraphy " was read before
the Chelmsford Engineering Society on Feb. 16 by Mr. C. H.
Ford, who fully explained the Wheatstone automatic telegraph plant
as used to work the wireless sets sending messages at high speed.
Mr. Ford then dealt with the more obsolete spark sets as they were
used to send high-speed wireless messages, and the signalling keys
which interrupted the power supply at 12 000 V. The pre.sent type
of wireless plant was then explained, in which valve transmitting
and receiving stations with directional aerials are used.

At the annual dinner on Friday of the Birmingham Electric
Club, Mr. Gilbert C. Vyle (Messrs. Avery'sJ referred to the diffi-
culties of the industrial position, and stated that the cost of produc-
tion, which rested at the door of labour, and nowhere else, affected
the situation seriously. Mr. H. K. Beale, chairman of Bimiingham
Electric Supply Committee, stated that in 1895 half a million units
of electricity were generated as compared with 137 millions last year.
By the time the committee had developed all their schemes. Birming-
ham would, he thought, be the largest generating authority in the
country. Developments were about to t,ake place on the eastern side
of the" city. With a bigger output it might be possible to reduce
charges.

The annual dinner of the North- Western Centre of the Instttu-
tion of Electrical Engineers will be held at Manchester on Friday.
March 24, in the large banqueting hall of the Midland Hotel at
7 p.m. for 7.15 p.m. The President has signified his intention of
being present. It is intended to have a short toast list to allow time
for a musical programme, and to give members an opportunity to
meet one another. Tickets (price 12s. 6d., exclusive of wine) may bo
obtained from the following ^L^.ncheste^ members : — Messrs. W.
Walker (chairman), 20, IMount-street ; A. S. Barnard (vice-chairman),
Monsall Lodge, Preetwich ; A. G. Livesay, Lloyd's Bank Buildings.
King-strtvot ; S. L. Poaroe, Corporation Eiectr^icity Works. Dickin-
son-street; C. D. Taite, Lancashire Electric Power Company, 196,
Deansgate ; A. G. Ellis (hon. secretarv), Metropolitan-Vickers
Electrical Company. Ltd.. Trafford Park; A. L. Green (assistant
secretary), 8. West'minster-avenuo. Whalloy Range, Manchester.

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

207

Electricity Supply.

Bbntley and Doncaster Councils have agreed to er«ct on the
Victoria-road housing site twenty-four standards, each fitted with
electric lamps of 100 c.p. each, at a coet of £9 per lamn per annum.

The deputation recently sent by Glasgow Corporation to visit
British and Continental refuse destructor works have issued a
report in which they recommend delay in the erection of plant until
the results are known of the experiments which are being made in
refuse disposal in Berlin. At Rotterdam the deputation state that
the deetructor works are capable of dealing with 450 tons of refuse
a day, and the whole of the electric current required for operating
the tramways is produced by steam generated from the burning of
the town'fl refuse.

Recently several contracts for the supply of electricity meters
have been let to continental firms by companies and by municipal
electricity supply undertakings. Among those who have placed
orders abroad are the Watford and Leede Electricity Committees. At
Leeds considerable feeling has l>een aroused, but a labour member
of the Electricity Committee who was challenged on the question
allegee that "there is a rihg in this country which is demanding
45s. 6d. per meter, whereas in Germany meters can be bought for
23s. Id. carriage paid, in Switzerland for 27s. 4d.. and in France
for 32s. 6d."

Aid. Walker, speaking at Stretford on Monday on the work of the
Manchester Electricity Department, said the principal thing in an
electricity station was not coal, but water. He gave particulars of
how Manchester Corporation had become involved in somewhat
costly litigation a^ a result of using water from the canal at Stuart-
street works, which, when turned back again, had become much
warmer, so warm, in fact, that the pitch in the canal barges melted
and caused damage to the boats. In order to obviate the trouble
they had t-o have recourse to the cooling tower. At Barton they
would use the canal also, but not the cooling tower.

A public meeting, attended by nearly 2 000 ratepayers of Wimble-
don, was held at the Baths Hall on Monday evening, to discuss the
action of the Town Council in summarily dismissing Mr. H. Tomlin-
SON liEE, chief borough electrical engineer. Alderman H. W. Simpson
presided. On the motion of ex-Councillor R. D. Pond, seconded by
Mr. A. Webb, a resolution was carried, with only a few dissentients,

Erotesting against the action of the Electricity Committee and the
orough Council in dismissing the electrical engineer without any
statement of their reason, and demanding a public inquiry before any
further action was taken. It was decided that copies of the resolu-
tion should be sent to the Mayor of Wimbledon, the Minister of
Health and the Minister of Labour, and the Electrical Power
Engineers' Association.

In the report of the special sub-committee on the present condi-
tion of the Hull electricity undertaking (referred to in our last
issue) it is stated that the main defects ol the generating plant are.
according to the engineer. Major Bell : — (a) Want of economisers to
new water-tube boilers; (b) mechanical stokers to same not being
efficient ; (c) inadequate shafts or chimneys. He recommended the
installatirfh of economisers with future boilers, the employment of a
special combustion engineer, and an alteration of the mechanical
stokers as soon as possible. The committee also found that plans
prepared by Major Bell were not adhered to by Mr. Magoris, who
acted in Major Bell's absence. Major Bell and Mr. Magoris
differ on the question of suitability of such plans, and these as well
as other matters will be referred to a consulting engineer.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Port Talbot Town Council have decided to proceed with an appli-
cation for a Special Order to supply electricity for light, heat and
power.

TEiGNMOirrH Electric Lighting Company have received more than
the amount required to go to allotment, and are taking steps to
proceed with the work of laying the mains.

Waterford Public Lighting Committee have recommended the
appointment of Mr. Sean McEntee t-o draw up a report on the
proposed electric lighting scheme for the city.

Ealing Electricity Committee are considering the possibility of
removing the transformer sub-station at the corner of Station-
approach, Ealing Broadway, and have instructed Mr. Knight, the
borough electrical engineer, to make inquiries regarding a new fite.

Navan (Ireland) Urban Council have decided to erect electricitv
works at a cost of £9 970. The water power of the River Boyne will
be employed. Electricity for light will be supplied at 9d. a unit
and for power at 3d. It is estimated that tlie income will.be £3 415
a year. The Council is to apply for a loan of £12 000.

At la«t Thursday's meeting of Preston Town Council it was
.stated that the Governmerit had offered to pay 50 per cent, of the
interest on money spent on contracts completed up to a certain date
at the new generating station. The Electricity Committee con-
sidered it was a generous offer, and the Council have accepted it.

Birmingham Electricity Committee have approved a scheme for
extending the supply cables to the outside areas on the east and
south side of the city, at a cost of about £100 000. The proposal is
to run a h.t. main through Ward End, Stwhford, Yardlev. Acotk's
Green, Hall Green, Alcester Lanes End, King's Norton, Cotteridge.
Northfield and Selly Oak, to Weoley Park. Pressure will be reduced
at transformer stations for local consumption. Good progress is
being made with the Nechells power station.
E 2

Electric Traction.

For the nine months ending Dec. 31, 1921, Halifajc Corporation
Tramways show a profit of £1 136.

Birmingham Tramways Committee have extended the hours of the
tram and 'bus services from 11 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.

The Ministry of Transport have granted a Provisional Order to
Doncaster Corporation for a loop tramway line above Trafford-
street and Factory-lane.

Mr. A. J. Smith, C.A., Glasgow, wTio was appointed arbiter by
the SheriT in a dispute between Greenock Corpohation and thi
Tramways Company, regarding the rates for electricity, has
issued his award, which is favourable to the Corporation. The
latter maintained that the company should make a payment of
£9 (X)0. The company had paid £5 000, and the award is to the
effect that the company's payment shall be over £8 000.

Newcastle tramway men came out on strike on Saturday evening
against the proposal to institute a 48-hour week instead of the
present 44 hours. At the moment of going to press there seems to
be little likelihood of an early resumption of work. The men have
rejected an offer by the Tramways Sub-Committee along the lines of
increa.sed pay for the additional four hours and " other advantages
arid improvements in conditions of working." Although the depots
have been open for any of the men to resume work on the Com-
mittee's condition of a 48-hour week at the old rates, not a single
man has presented himself, and the pickets at the various depot«
have had nothing to do.

The Highways Committee of the London County Coxtncil have
entered into a three-years' agreement under which the company
shall continue to operate the lines transferred to the Council in
Hammersmith, the Council running one service from Hammersmith
to the County boundary and thence along the conipany's lines to
Kew Bridge, or such other point on the company's system as may
be agreed. The Council will operate the whole of the ser^'ice en
the company's lines between the County boundary at Merton and
Wimbledon, each party retaining the receipts from its own cars.
An estimate of capital expenditure (£1 550) for the connection of
the tramway tracks of the company with those of the Council, the
extension of the overhead wires and standards, and the installation
of a change point at Merton terminus has been approved.

Wireless Notes.

The Vazdai Press Agency at Amsterdam began its wireless tele-
phone NEWS SERVICE for the Dutch Press last week.

The United States Senate has passed a resolution, already adopted
by the House of Representatives, e.xtending the privileges of the
naval wireless service to the Press for five years.

A 500 kW radio station is being erected at Ruysselede, near
Bruges, by the Societe Independante Beige de Telegraphic Sans Fils.
It will be able to communicate with North and South America and
the Congo, and four simultaneous messages can be received. Another
big radio station is to be constructed by the Government at Elisa-
bethville, in the Congo.

Business Items, &c.

We are glad to leai'n that the Lorival M.\NUF.\CTrRrxG Comp.any
(1921), Ltd., has secured a substantial contract from the Admiralty
for the supply of submarine accumulator containers. Hitherto the
supply of these articles has l<^en, more or less, a foreign monopoly.

Reavell & Company armounce that owing to the growth of their
business they have moved their London office to larger premises at
47, Victoria-street. Their telephone number, " Victoria 5 955."
remains as before. The head office of the business is still at Rane-
lagh Works, Ipswich.

On Saturday, Feb. 18, a party of members of the Association of
Engineers in Charge visited the Benj.ajhn Electric. Ltd.'s. works
at Tottenham, where the company's manufactures and methods were
explained. The party numbered over thirty, and, in addition to
an explanatory tour of the works, a short lantern lecture was
given on " Industrial Illuniinatiori."

Obituary.

We regret to learn that Mr. Druitt Halpin. M.I.C.E..
:\I.I.Mech.E.. died on Feb. 27. after a long illness. Mr Halpm was
a consulting engineer, an authority on l>oiler-hou5e equipment and
refuse destruction, and was for some years managing director of
Halpin's Patent Thermal Storage, Ltd.

The death is announced of Pkof. J. FiscHER-HiNNtN, the well-
known Swiss electrical engineer and author of several works and
papers on dvnamos and motors. Born in Zurich in 1869, he soort
developed a" liking for physical science and electrical engineering
studies. At the age of 19 lie joined the staff of the Maschinenfabrik
berlikon, and, with two short intervals, during which he visited
Spain and the Chicago Exhibition, he remained with the company
until 1895, being engaged on electric generator and motor design, and
on electric railwav\voik. He succeeded the late Prof. E. Arnold
at> chief designer "of the company, but later he spent five years in
Paris and three in Prague. In 1905 he returned to the Oerlikon
Company as head of their small motor department. In 1914 he
Iteoame profest<or of electrotechnics at the C-antpnal Institute at
Winterthur and director of the Electrotechnical Institute.

268

The Electrician.

March

3. 1922

Imperial Notes.

CoLLiNGWOOD (Victoria) Council are considering the adoption 01
electric driving at their colliery instead of steam. The first cost of
the change will be nearly £1 000.

ScoTTSDALE (Tasmania) Council are carrying out a water and
electric supply scheme. The reservoir has been constructed, and
approved by the Minister of Public Works.

The programme of the Parliament of the Union of South Africa
includes meaeuree relating to railway construction, weights and
measures, the consolidation of company laws, and the production of
electricity.

Owing to the cheap supply of power provided by the Southern
Canada Power Company, seventeen new industries have been
established in the eastern part of Quebec during the past three
years with an invested capital of $10 000 000.

A manufacturers' agent in Montreal desires to obtain, on a com-
mission basis, the representation of United Kingdom manufacturers
of electrical specialities and shelf hardware of all kinds for Eaetern
Canada. Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.
(Reference No. 203.)

Seventy-three miles of the Melbourne Suburban Railways had
been converted to electric traction by the middle of January. In addi-
tion to these, the Oakleigh and Glen Huntly to Melbourne sections
were expected to be opened by about the present time. Up to
date about £4 000 000 has been expended on the electrification.

A report is being prepared on a proposal to adopt electric traction
on the lines of the Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway
Commission. The main line is about 252 miles in length, and runs
from North Bay to Cochrane. In connection with the scheme an
investigation is being made of water-power resources of Northern
Ontario.

Bathurst (N.S.W.) Coaincil have received a communication from
the Premier of New South Wales to the effect that the question
of proceeding with the construction of the power-house to supply
electrical energy to railway stations and towns west of Blue
Mountains is being carefully considered by the Railway Commis-
sioners, and the site for the power-station has been decided upon.

The site of the Victorian Electricity Commissioners' new
power station at Newport (Victoria) has been prepared, and the first
turbo-generator is expected by June next. The site of the Morwell
power-house is almost ready. This month a start will be made to
remove the overburden at Morwell preparatory to producing
coal, which should be practicable about the middle of the present
year.

Ey Imperial Preference Order (No. 1), of 1922, the following
territories are now included within the definition of the British
Empire for the purposes of Sec. 8 of the Finance Act, 1919 : — (a)
The South-West Africa Territory (formerly GJerman South-West
Africa) ; (h) the territory of New Guinea (the former German posses-
sions in the Pacific Ocean situated south of the Equator' other than
German Samoa and Nauru) ; and (c) the territory of Western Samoa
(formerly German Samoa).

Owing to a sympathetic strike of the electricity works staff at
Johannesburg, in support of the miners, there was no electricity
supply on Monday, except at a few places of amusement possessing
their own plants. The Strike Committee decided that the Council
must not use " scab " coal, and the result is that industries depen-
dent upon the municipal power station are at a standstill and no
tramcars are running. The Government will run the lighting ser-
vices by means of volunteers. ,

A HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME was prepared four years ago by an
engineer of the Ceylon Public Works Department, and " Indian
Engineering " understands that such a scheme is likely to be carried
out in the near future. The Government is acquiring the Harden-
huish Valley forty miles from Colombo, for the intake reservoir.
The Government has favoured the proposal for the generation of
electrical energy from the Aberdeen-Laxapanagalla scheme which
will combine the flow of two streams into the Hardenhuish Valley,
and permit of the generation of 200 000 e.h.p.

European Reconstruction.

As the result of last week's London Conference of the Organising
Committee of the Central International Corporation and National
Corporations, steps are to be taken to re-establiih national corpora-
tions in various countries affiliated together (with a central Inter-
national Corporation in London), for the pur^'Ose of assisting,
financially and otherwise, the work of European reconstruction.
The capital of the National Corporations will be the equivalent of
£20 000 000, of which 25 per cent, is to be immediately called up.
Government guarantees will be requested where necessary to enable
the capital to be raised. The initial capital of the Central Inter-
national Corporation (£2 000 000) will be provided by subscription;,
by the National Corporations of approximately 10 per cent, of their
original capital. The following countries have been invited to sub
scribe 20 per cent, of the total £20 000 000 proposed to be raised,
viz., Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. It i&
also propo.sed to ask the United StatL, Japan, Denmark. Holland,
Switzerland, and Czechoslovakia to participate, and the Central
International Corporation will have power to allow other countries
to come in if they so desire.

Foreign Notes.

About 13 000 electricians and metal workers have gone on strike at
Mayence.

In order to facilitate the transport of workers in the new mining
region of Limbourg, Belgium, a number of light electric railways
and tramways are being constructed.

Efforts are being made to improve the Paris tramway system,
and the Surface Transport Company is to build 600 new electric
tramcars, 300 trailers and 300 motor-omnibusee.

It is officially announced that the Illinois Central Railroad
Company will create |50 000 000 7 per cent, preferred stock, which
will be convertible with common stock, and the proceeds devcTed to
electrifying the Chicago lines and the reconstruction of the terminals
there.

A decree has been issued by M. Le Trocquer that after Jan. 1
next no gas lighting will be permitted on express trains. After
Jan. 1, 1924, electricity must be used for lighting on suburban
trains, and by 1925 all trains operating in France must be lighted
by electricity.

The supply of electricity in Athens is given by the Societe
Anonyme Hellenique du Gaz d'Athenes et Autres Villes, a French
company. The consumers' voltage is 110 d.c. , and only metal fila-
ment lamps are used for public lighting. The price of electricity is
20 lepta per unit.

In consequence of the general increase in prices of raw materials
and advances in wages and salaries, the Union of Manufacturers
OF Electric Heating and Cooking Apparatus, of Charlottenburg,
Berlin, has authorised substantial increases in the prices of electric
irons, cookers, etc.

The manufacture of incandescent electric lamps is now one of the
most important industries of Holland, and during the first seven
months of 1921 the value of the export of lamps was about
£1 000 000. The exports were mainly to France, Great Britain,
Spain, Argentina, Belgium, Italy and Sweden.

According to recent reports, there has been a drop in the internal
demand for electric cables and wires, motors, meters, and installa-
tion material in Germany, but the activity in large steam and hydro-
electric plants and for telegraph and telephone apparatus continues
unabated. There has been a decreased demand for incandescent
lamps for export.

According to the Christiania Press, it is proposed to commence
immediately preliminary work on the two electric railways, for which
concessions have been granted to A/S " Akersbanerne." The
Ostensjo line, which is to cover a distance of 5'2 km., is calculated
to cost 720 OOOkr. per km., while the estimated cost of the Sogns-
vand line is 700 OOOkr. per km.

Tenders are being invited for the supply of electric cables in
connection with the scheme for the electrification of the Swiss
Federal Railways, and foreign tenders will be considered on the
present occasion. The scheme will involve the ultimate electrifica-
tion of a network of 3 000 miles, and the adoption of electric traction
on branch lines is also being considered.

According to the Automobile Bureau of the New York Edison
Company, the total number of electric passenger automobiles in
use in America in 1920 was 16 641. Of these, 4 500 (or 27 per cent,
of the total) were in Chicago, and 2 500 (15 per cent.) in Cleveland.
The demand for this type of vehicle is said to be on the increase,
and the output is soon expected to reach the record of 1918, which
was 7 COO cars. Recent reductions in prices have brought the level
close to that of 1910.

Bitter comment is made in the " Electrical World " on the para-
lysis of the United States Patent Office, with the result that
patent applications are held up for a year or more. In 1918 the total
number of applications was 57 000, but in 1921 it was 109 238. In
the same period the examining staff was increased by only 5 per
cent., because technical men could not be found to accept the salary
scale offered. The result is that there are now arrears of 60 000
applications, and the situation is not likely to improve without legis-
lation. The House of Representatives has passed a relief Bill, but
the Senate is holding it up.

The total value of the electrical exports from the United States
in December, 1921, was $5 177 276. an increase of nearly $1 000 000
over the preceding month, the total for the vear 1921 being nearly
$96 000 000, a decrease of over $6 000 000 in" value. Prices showed
an average drop of 1^ per cent, compared with 1920, but the volume
increased :,lightly. There were substantial increases in the export
of dynamos and generators, motors, transformers, insulated wire and
cables, carbon filament lamps, meters, and telegraph and telephone
apparatus. There was, however, a marked decrease in batteries,
carbons, wiring supplies, and in heating and cooking apparatus.

The Societe dee Agriculteurs de I'Oise tire organising an important
electrical EXHiBmoN, which will be held in June next at Com-
piegne. The use of electricity is extending rapidly in the north and
east of France, not only for lighting, but for industrial power and
agricultural purpo.ses. Several co-operative societies have sprung up
for the distribution of electrical energy, and in the Oise alone there
are six of these in full operaton, and two more are about to be
formftd. It is anticipated tliat in a few years quite two-thirde of
the communes of the Department will enjoy the advantage of a good
supply of electricity. "The last date for entering is Feb. 25, and
particulars can be obtained from the Commissaire-Gen^ral (M.
Tjefevre), 7, rue du Palais de Justice, Beauvaie.

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

269

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.

London Electric Supply Corporation.

Mr. R. H. Benson (chairman) presided at the annual meeting of
the London Electric Supply Corporation last week.

Referring to the report and accounts (see Electrician, Feb. 17),
the Chairman said that the company's net revenue increase during
1921 was from £99 487 to £102 286. After putting aside the sinking ,
fund of £16 580 per annum to extinguish their debenure stock, fixed
charges, and £20 000 more for reserve and contingencies, the
directors recommended 4 per cent, dividend on the ordinary capital,
against 2^ per cent, last year, leavijig to be carried forward £l4 080,
against £14 256 brought in. The pact year was the year of the coal
strike — high cost of fuel, high wages, and higher rates and taxes.
When complaint was made that private enterprise blocked the way
to cheap power the public should remember, among other factors,
the increase of rates — £48 400 in their case in 1921, compared vnth
£11 845 in 1914. If they had stood at Uie 1914 figure the ordinary
shareholder could have received 12 per cent. The increase in rates
took 66 per cent, of the return they should have received. Should
not local authorities expend their utmost energies in trying to give
ratepayers some relief before attempting to take on their shoulders
the provision of electricity at the risk of still further increasing the
rates? They had received a very gratifying: letter from the general
manager of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway testify-
ing to the value of the company's supply during the strike, whicii
enabled the railway to continue its electrical service unrestricted.

Why wa.T it that the vital industry of electrical supply had been
treated like a football, continually kicked about and never getting
through the goal-posts ? He (the chairman) did not suppose Parlia-
ment mtended to keep the companies, its creatures, poor so that the
municipalities might buy them up cheaply in 1931, owing to their
credit gradually becoming impaired as that date approached. But
that was the way it worked. The company's capital account was'
overdrawn by £244 089. They needed the money for more plant to
meet the annual increase of demand and to cheapen the supply.
But until the Parliamentary uncertainty was removed they could
not get it. What was reeded was an immediate settlement of the
London County Council's option of purchase in 1931 and an extension
of tenure long enough to make it possible to borrow at a reasonable
rate of interest, and repay by a moderate sinking fund spread over
so many years as would not penalise present consumers.

From 1888 to 1903 the shareholders' money went in pioneering
experiments, by which the public benefited. The first dividend,
which was 3 per cent, was in 1904 : and the total dividends up to
date (including 1921) amounted to 44^ per cent., or an average of
13 per cent, per annum. Could anyone sav that the shareholders
had had too large a share of the price paid by the consumer for light
and power? Out of every pound paid to-dav by the consumer,
labour now received 12s. 3|d., against Ss. lOd. in 1914; rates and
ta.xes 3s. 5|d., against Is. 9d. ; and the shareholders Is. 5^., against
3s lOjd. in 1914. Obviously costs of production were too high.
Cheap power depended on increased output and increased consump-
tion. Between 1903 and 1915 at least fourteen private electrical Bills
were deposited in Parliament. Very few passed. The cost of pro-
moting and opposing them must have been at least between £200 000
and £300 000. What was there to show for it? The technical
improvements recommended in the Act of 1919, especially bulk
supply, were the same as those proposed by companies nearly twenty
years ago, and they might have been carried out by this time, and
much more cheaply than now. They would have kept the industry
well ahead of the demand for power, instead of, as it now was,
behindhand.

St. James's and Pall Mall Electric Light.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the St. James's & Pall Mall
Electric Light Company, Ltd., on Tuesday, Mr. Walter Leaf
(chairman) said the report showed a very profitable year, and the
tide of prosperity for the company was on the flow. The last half
of 1921 was distinctly better for them than the first, and the figures
Oi the first two months of 1922 continued and emphasised this
improvement. The rebuilding of Rt gent-street promised to their
company a large increase in business in the near future ; they seemed
to be as far as ever from "saturation point." With all the uncer-
tainty and diflficulty caused by the coal strike, they did not feel
justified in making any reduction of price during the year, but they
expected to be in a position shortly to announce concessions in light-
ing power tariff. The increased capital expenditure under the head
of machinery arose from the continued process of conversion of
Carnaby-street from a generating to a transforming station. That
was now approaching completion, and it would not be long before
they would take the whole of t.heir current from Grove-road.

A large scheme of reconstruction and extension to the Central
Company had been carried out during the year. The new repair
workshop had been completed and fully equipped with machine
tools. The main structure of the new boiler house was nearing com-
pletion. An additional large cooling tower for 7 500 kW had been
completed in time for this winter's load. The first of the two
10 000 kW turbo-generators, to which he referred a year ago, was
finished and put to work in the summer, and was running at full
output during the last quarter of the year, enabling both the parent
companies to close down their old steam plant. The erection of the
second 10 000 kW set was completed by the end of the year. The
first two B. & W. 50 000 lb. boilers, the delay in the erection of
which caused them serious anxiety, were completed in time to
enable them to make full use of the first large turbine. The second

pair was also considerably delayed, so that they wer© not in time
for the winter load, but they were also approaching completion.

The output from the Grove-road works amounted to 39 857 000
units, an increase of 1 611 000 units, due almost entirely to the extra
sr.pply given to the Horseferry-road station of the Westminster
Company during the coal strike. The maximum load increased by
6 000 kW to 22 600 kW, covering the whole requirements of the two
parent companies, exce^jt the Horseferry areju The plant had been
run with an improved economy during the year; the gain on the
new turbir.i, which was running only for the last quarter, was esti-
mated at a saving of 2 900 tons of coal, or about £6 000. This the>-
hoped to improve upon very much during the current year, when
both turbines would be running. The station was, in fact, now the
most efficient of any public supply in the south of England. An
agreement had been made with the Chelsea Company for a largely
increased supply direct from Grove-road, and it was expected that
the supply would be available within the next six months. The
cost of the extension made it necessary to seek fresh capital, and in
April last an issue was made of £500 000 8 per cent, five-year not«s.
A claim had been made on them for corporation profits tax. This
they were disputing, and they had made no provision for it. In
common with other companies, they were taking steps to represent
to the Government the injustice of this particular form of taxation.
An abstract of accounts appeared in our issue of Feb. 17.

South Metropolitan Electric Light and Power.

The annual meeting of the South Metropolit.\x Electric Light
and Power Company was held on Tuesday, Mr. H. St JoS:.
Winkworth (the chairman) presiding.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts,
said the net revenue amounted to £100 315, against £50 509 in 1916
and £2 150 in 1901. The tot.al horse-power connected at the end of
the year was 32 387, against 30,726 in 1920. Compared with 1920.
the new services numbered 436, against 539 ; lamp connections (in
35W equivalents) 44 319, against 56 553; the tot-al consumers and
h.p. connected at December 31, 1921. were 8 489 and 32 387 respec
tively. The number of units sold was 18 697 606 (17 643 122), an<l
the average price obtained from all classes of supply was 2-65d. per
unit (2-55d.). The units sold to the larger works and factories were.
generally speaking, less than last year owing to the depression in
industry. Receipts from sales of current (le-ss rebates) amounted
to £206 690 (£186 775). Rentals of meters and apparatus on hire
were a little up. Sundry receipts, contract work, &c., were £2 500
down, which was accounted for by a smaller turnover in the showroom
and wiring department. The gross receipts from all sources were
£216 808, against £199 037 in 1920. There was a decrease of
£12 400 net sum. Oil, waste and water, salaries of engineers, wages
in generation and distribution were all higher. The expenditure on
repairs was £3 660 more, and the plant was now all in good and
efficient working order. Rates showed a considerable increa.'-e
(£4 430). Management expenses were £9 491, against £7 844, the
addition being due to the increased business, except in the case of
general establishment charges, where the increase was entirely caused
by higher postal charges. The total amount of the expenditure was
£116 493, compared with £116 216 for the previous year, repre-
senting a ratio of cost to gross receipts of 54 per cent., compared
with 58 per cent. The amount carried to net revenue account was
£100 315 (£82 821), which, with £18 260 brought in and £1 (XX). the
dividend on the companv's holding in the West Kent Electric Com-
panv, made a total of £119 576 (£96 146). It was proposed to place
£24000 to depreciation (£23 000), £25 000 to reserve (£10.000).
pay a 10 per cent, dividend on the ordinary shares (against 8 per
cent.), and carry forward £21497 (£18 260). The capital ex-
penditure for the year, after crediting £500 to electrical instruments,
tools and loose plant, and £1 000 to installations account, was
£37 882.

Mather & Piatt, Ltd.

Mr. L. E. Mather (chairman), addressing the shareholders at vhe
annual meeting of ]\[ather & Pl.att, Ltd., on Monday, said that the
results cf 1921 had proved considerably better than any previous
vear, and that they were able not only to recommend payina: tne same
dividend as last vear, but to increase the carry forward by a large
amount. This satisfactorv state of affairs, in spite of the present
depression, was due, in the first place, to a large increase in the
volume of turnover, and, secondly, to the profit on the large amount
of work in progress brought in from the previous year. No profit
on work in progress was taken to the credit of 1920, aj^d it con*e-
quentlv increased the profits of 1921. The percentage ot profit on
turnover in 1921 actually was slightly less than in the previous year.
The increased turnover was made possible by the firms new ex-
tensions with their increased tool capacity, which were completed in
time to augment the output considerably. Thus they were able to
make deliveries l>efore selling prices had fallen or their stocks had
depreciated to anv serious extent. Although the profit was much
larger than in the previous vear, the directors considered that the
pre'sent time did not justifv a larger dividend, and therefore con-
sidered it nrudent to recommend the same dividend and to increa^se
the carry forward in view of the uncertainties of the future. The
capital account of the companv was increased by £156 000, due to
the pavment of the final call, on INfarch 1. 1921. on the new share.?
issued at par in 1920. The fixed assets at £918 000 showed an
increase of £106 000. due to the completion of the extensions at
Park Works. War loan and investments in preferred stocks were
increa,«ed bv £10 000 to bring them up to market value at the end of
tlie vear. The item stocV in trade, which included the work in •
progress, showed a reduction of £375 000, which showed that they

270

The Electrician.

March

3, 1922

were not canvmg forMiard to the current year as large a volume of
work in hand as they did a year ago, and the value was also
reduced by the lower prices now ruling. Sundry debtors at
£535 000, showed a reduction of £200 000, notwithstanding the
increased turnover. The bank overdraft of last year had been
changed to a considerable balance on the assets side. The item of
sundry creditors had been reduced by £250 000. ^ t^.

After paying a tribute to the memory of the lat-e Dr. Edward
Hopkinson, the chairman eaid that last year he was able to report
that the company had more men employed in their shops than ever
before. Tlie result of this was shown in the results of the year, but
for the last few months their company, too, had been feeling the
trade depression. Their output per man was decidedly increased
over that of the preceding year, and although that was to some
extent due to the more settled condition of labour, he considered
that the system of payment by results which they adopted v/herever
possible had contributed also to that result.

The Works Continuation School continued to prove its value. All
boys attended the school for eight hours a week from the time they
entered the works up to their eighteenth birthday, and he was
glad to say that even when suspended for lack of work in the shops
they continued to attend school voluntarily. The Research Labora-
tory, which had now been in exist-ence nearly two years, had justified
the expense incurred, and had enabled them to improve the standard
of their products and to keep up to date in all departnients.

He did not intend to discuss the threatened engineering lock-out,
except to say that they regretted it should have been necessary, and
earnestly hoped that agreement might still be possible on a principle
that all employers considered vital. As regards future prospects at
home and abroad, they were obtaining their share of such home
contracts as were being placed, but they were not extensive. In
France, where they had now established their own French company
for sales purposes, business was affected adversely by the rate of
exchange, causing their former customers to await improvement, or
sometimes even to accept the tempting offers -of German firms.
Russia was still a closed book, and would remain eo until the
Government there, adopted a sound policy which would attract
traders and provide something to exchange other than useless paper.
In India they had made good progress. They had also work in
their shops from other important countries, such as Italy, Egypt,
China, Japan, Brazil, Scandinavia and Canada.

Central London Railway.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the Central London Railwav
Company last week, Lord Ashfield said that the year 1921 was the
first year during which the extension railway from Shepherd's Bush
to Ealing had been continuously worked. Under agreement, the
G.W.R. Company maintained the railway and stations, and the
Central London worked the train service. For working the train
service the company received a share of the traffic receipts attribu-
table to the extension railway. This share, however, had barely
been sufficient to meet the expenses incurred during the year. The
results of working the extension were very disappointing. It was
impossible to give exact figures, but the number of passensers using
the extension during 1921 was estimated at only 3 200 000, against
9 000 000 passengers using the Ealing group of stations upon the
Metropolitan District Railway and travelling to and from the central
and western areas of London. This was due to the hisher fares
charged for journevs on the route, which was necessitated bv the
fact that the railway from Shepherd's Bush to Ealing Broadway was
part of the Great Western Railway, upon which the fares were based
upon the pre-war rate of fare increased by 75 per cent. Their com-
pany were in negotiation with the Great Western for an adjustment
of the fares situation which would enable them to treat all routes
from Ealing Broadway into central London alike.

Expectations raised by the revision of fares in Sept., 1920, had
not been realised. Experience had shown the general correctness of
the level of fares then introduced, but the financial results had fallen
somewhat short by reason of the .• cute depression of trade and
industry, which, commencing with the coal strike of last year, still
continued. There had been a smaU additional expenditure during
the year, mainly for the completion of the connection with the
Ealing Extension. Progress was being continued with the
transfer of the power supply from the generating station at
Wood-lane to the Lot's-road power house, and further expenditure
amounting to £11 900 was contemplated in this conneciion. The
Jast steam locomotive belonging to the company had been removed
from the active list. The number of cars available for passenger
service had been reduced by four, and two electric locomotives had
also been transferred from the active list !'> service vehicles. An
attempt had been made to deal with the mointenanc© work, which
got into arrear during the war period, and a full programme wa«
now in operation. There had been an increase in train mileage, due
to the working for a complete year of the Ealing and Shepherd's
Bush extension. There had been a decline in passengers from
50 millions to ASj millions, or. 13 per cent.

The receipts from railway working after the operation of the
Common Fund were £661479. an increase of £83 096 on 1920;
expenditure a.rnounted to £468 428 (£16 704), leaving net receipts of
£193 051 (£99 800). Miscellaneous receipts amounted to £68 071
(£5 247), making a total net income of £261 122 (£94 553). Adding
balance from last year (£15 161) and deducting interest, rentals and
other fixed charges (£46 039), appropriation to reserve (£29 000),
dividend on preference stock (£21600), the balance available for
dividends on ordinary, preferred and deferred ordinary stocks was
£179 644, against £96 984. The interim dividends of 2"pei- cent, on
tlie ordinary and preferred ordinary stock in August last absorbed

£46 925, leaving £132 719 available, out of which the directors pro-
posed to pay final dividends of 2 per cent, on the ordinary stock and
of 2 per cent, on the preferred ordinar-"- stock for the year, together
with a dividend of 4 per cent, on the deferred ordinary stock for the
whole year, making in the case of the ordinary stock and the pre-
ferred ordinary stock 4 per cent, for the year, and leaving to be
carried forward £59 644. The sum of £29 000 had been placed to
reserve, an increase over the previous year of £9 000. The dividends
for 1920 were 2^ per cent, on the ordinary stock, 4 per cent, on the
preferred ordinary, and A per cent, on tne deferred ordinary stock,
w^ith £15 161 carried forward.

Metropolitan Railway.

The annual meeting of the Metropolitan Railway Company was
held last week. Lord Aberconway presiding.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts,
said the net receipts from railway working w-ere £509 076, against
£451 495 in 1920. The interest on the debenture stock and the full
dividends on the several preference stocks amounted to the same
figure as last year, and after providing for these and transferring
£50 000 to the general renewals fund, as they did last year, they
had a balance available for dividend on the ordinary stock of
£185 202, against £127 020. Out of this balance the board recom-
mended the payment of a dividend on the ordinary stock for the year
at the rate of 2^ per cent, per annum carrying forward the sui'plus
of £17 796. As they paid an interim dividend of I3 per cent, per
annum for the half-year ended June, this would mean a further
payment at the rate of 35 per cent, per annum in respect of the
second half of the year. They had now over £550 000 set aside for
reserve and renewal purposes without taking into account the
£206 440 which the Government had recently paid as the first instal-
ment of the amount due in satisfaction of outstanding claims arising
out of their control. They had spent during the year just over
£400,000 on capital account. Having regard to the way in which
land was being developed down the line, and to the prospects they
had of a large goods and passenger traffic to and from Wembley
Park commencing with next year, and a large passenger traffic to
and from the projected exhibition and sports ground, their fore-
sight in adding to their rolling stock and locomotive and power plant
had been more than justified. They looked for a still further reduc-
tion in their journey times as they got delivery of the new higher-
powered electric locomotives. The company's wages bill in 1913 was
£295 926 ; in 1921 it was £924 578, an increase of over 200 per cent.
In 1913 their coal cost them £65 000 ; la«t year it cost them £223 000.
The latter figure was abnormal on account of the strike and its
consequences. The number of passengei-s originating on the line in
1921, apart from season ticket holders, was fewer by about 20 000 000
than in 1920. Compared with 1913, the last normal year when they
were working on their own account, the number of passengers
originating on the line in 1921 showed an increase of some 10 000 000,
and their season ticket traffic had practically doubled iteelf. So far
as fares were concerned, while the increases made did not at present
recoup them for the increased working expenses, they thought that
they were on a correct economic basis.

The Wembley Park Estate Company had recently sold about
120 acres of their land at Wembley to the authorities of the British
Empire Exhibition with a view to that exhibition being held there
in 1924. The company would undoubtedly reap very considerable
benefit from the exhibition traffic and, as it was the intention to
make Wembley the future centre for many of the annual trade and
other exhibitions held in London, and also to establish there a sports
centre, it was likely to be a source of additional revenue to the
compa.ny for a long time to come. As a company they were in an
infinitely stronger position financially than they had ever been before,
and their revenue-earning capacity was greater than it had been
hitherto.

The report and accounts were adopted, and the following resolu-
tion was passed : — " That this meeting, while willing to bear income
tax in common with other H.jNI. subjects, objects to the payment of
an additional income tax or super-tax upon that part of their incomes
derived from the profits of railways, or other public utility com-
panies, whose charges are fixed or regulated by statute, and calls
' upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Government to
exempt for all time the companies mentioned in Sec. 52 (2). para-
graphs (i.) and (ii.), of the Finance Act, 1920, from corporation
profits tax."

S.E. and Chatham Railvt'ays.

The annual meeting of the Soutii-Eastern and London, Chlatham
and Dover Railway Companies was held last Thursday, under the
presidency of l\Ir. H. C. 0. Bonsor (the chairman).

Tlie Chairman said that on Aug. 16 last the Government gave them
back their railways, after seven years of State control. To put it
in the mildest possible form, the damage done to the company as a
commercial undertaking was serious. The compensation allotted to
the company was £1 031 000. They had had to draw £382 000 of that
to make up the revenue of 1920. There was a further sum of some-
thing over £1 000 000 to come when the accounts were made up next
year. Large economies had taken place all over their system. Wages
were lower, both coal and materials were cheaper, "the managing
committee was ordered under the Eailways Act to be a constituent
company. It had no shareholders, no capital, and yet it was ordered
to be a party to the fusion of the Southern group. The Act was " a
most extraordinary production." For the first time in Parliamentary
history, he said, commercial businesses were ordered to amalgamate
whetlier tliey liked it or whether they did not.

Regarding the electrification proposals, Mr. Bonsor said that when

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

271

tho Working Union Act was paseed the principal afiset of the
Chatham Company wae their short distance metropolitari traffic.
That asset no longer existed ; competition by tram and omnibus had
killed it. and their revenue was derived from the area outside the
metropolis. That revenue was now threatened by an extension of
road competition, and before the war broke out they were preparing
plans for the electrification of their system within a twenty-mile
radius of London. The war postponed any scheme of that descrip-
tion, and at . the end of the war Government control had' so
diminished railway credit that it was impo.ssible to raise the capital
for that most neces.sary undertaking. The Trades Facilitiee Act
pa-ssed last session gave the company the opportunity of asking for
the financial afvsistance of the Government. They were able to show
that with seven London central stations they had a splendid position
for distributing their passengers in the business areas of London ;
that besides finding immediate employment for a large number, they
would be benefiting the public and increasing development in the
counties of Surrey and Kent. Their proposals met with favourable
consideration, and their explanation that it was impossible to ask
the shareholders under present circumstances to consent to a direct
obligation by the issue of capital was also accepted by the Govern-
ment Committee,

In order to comply with the requirements of the Act it would
be necessary that a " private " construction limited company should
be formed ;" its capital would be small, sufficient to cover preliminary
expenses ; it would not trade for profit ; and it would have borrow-
ing powers sufficient to cover the cost of construction. The money
borrowed would carry the Government guarantee, both as to
principal and interest, and be obtained on the most favourable terms
as the work progi-esses. The works would be the property of the
Construction Company, and when complete would be let to the
managing committee on lease for twenty-five years at a rent sufficient
to repay capita'l and interest at the expiration of the lease when
the works would become the property of the managing committee or
its successors. They were satisfied that the electrification would be
a considerable and valuable asset to their railways. An agreement
with the Government would be necessary, and would be submitted
to the shareholders at .special meetings to be convened for that
purpose.

London Electric Railway Company.

At the annual meeting of the London Electric Railway Com-
pany last Thursday, Lord Ashfield (the chairman) said that the year
1921 marked the turning point in expenditure. The reductions in
wages obtained during the year were equivalent to a saving of about
£240 000 a year for the four railways. And with the reductions still
in prospect the total saving in expenditure on this account in 1922
would be about £400 000. Many economies had been inaugurated.
A committee of officers had been sitting from week to week reviewing
in detail the whole of the company's organisation and methods. A
new experimental train with air-worked doors had been put on the
Piccadilly section of the company. Alterations to rolling stock
■were being carried out to provide ten trains of this type, which
increased the .speed of operation by the additional and wider doors
and reduced the number of men required per train. At Kilburn Park
station a new type of booking office had been installed, which
enabled the sale and check of tickets to be carried out at one point
instead of two as previously. The experiment was to be extended to
several other stations almost immediately. In the coming year there
should be appreciable savings in the cost of materials. The average
price paid diu-ing 1921 for coal (including the oil used experi-
mentally) worked out at about 52s. 6d. per ton. For the current
year to date the cost was less than 32s. 6d. per ton, with a definite
promise of a still lower price. The ratio of working expenses to
receipts on the railways during 1921 was 70 per ceflt. There was a
lively hope of this being reduced to a more normal proportion,
though they could not expect to reach the 50 per cent, of 1913. The
company received as its snare of the common fund £320 552, against
£106 348 in 1920. The debenture capital had been increased by
£200 000. The net expenditure on capital account during last year
amounted to £66 121. The receipts from railway working, after

r ration of the common fund, amounted to £2 040 000, an increase
£223 000. Working expenses w^re £1369 000, or £19 000 less
than in 1920, leaving net receipts of £671 000. The miscellaneous
receipts were approximately the same as last yea.r and the total net
income was £808 000 an increase of £243 000. * The balance brought
forward from last year's account (£22 000) made the sum to be dealt
with £830 000 approximately. Interest, rentals, and other 'ixed
charges amounted to £296 000 very little more than in 1920.
£65 000 was set aside for renewals as against £45 000. The divi-
dend on the preference stock was £127 000, the same as last year.
When all these deductions were made there was a balance available
for dividend on the ordinary shares of £343 000, an increase of
£216 000. An interim dividend of 1^ per cent, had been paid upon
the ordinary shares in respect of the first half of the year, and it was
now proposed that a further dividend of 1|- per cent, should be
paid, making 3^ per cent, for the year. This left £40 000 to be
carried forward, compared with £22 000 brought in.

Lanarkshire Tramways Company.

At the annual meeting of the Lan-^rksiilre Tram\v.\ys CoJir.vNY
Mr. A. R. Monks (chairmaji of the company), who presided, stated
that the traffic receipts for the year amounted to £226 260, against
£228 272 in the previous year. It was anticipated in the early
months of the year that there would be a very material increase,
but the coal strike and general trade depression which followed
had caused their receipts for several months past to be lower than

at tho corresponding period last year. There was aUo a amail
decrease in the sundry revenue, which made a net decrease in the
gross revenue for the year of £2 096. They wero ' able to

effect substantial reductions in operating exjjenses, .-,188 510

for the year, showed a reducti<xi of £9 457 on I'j.; ^ '^ wae a
reduction of £248 in the cost of electricity, and but for the coal
stoppage costs would have been very much lower. Repairs and
traffic showed a reduction of £13 883, due, firstly, to the fact that
their repairs were not so extensive as in 1920 ; tecnidly, to the fall in
the cost of materials; and thirdly, to reductions in wages to the
staff owii.g to the continued fall in cost of living. General e.Tpeoees
were £4 770 in excess of the previous year, local rates showed an
increase of £700, accidents and other insurances an increase of
£3 800, and Insurance Act contributions an increase of £7£0. A
decrease of £2 096 in the revenue and of £9 457 in operating expense^
left an increase in gross profit of £7 36T. Payments to kjcal
authorities and debenture interest were about the same figure as in'
the previous year. General interest charges at £2 698 showed aji
increase of £864 but interest charges in connection with the Lanark
County Tramways, the purchase of which was completed last May,
showed a reduction of £1 595. In the 1920 accounts there was ako a
debit of £1 809 for income tax, whereas there was no such charge for
the past year. The company was therefore left with an increase of
£9 909 in the net revenue, which enabled them to transfer £10 000
to reserve for depreciation as compared with £9 000 for 1920, and
to pay a dividend of 6^ per cent, per annum for the past half-year,
which made with the interim dividend for the first half-year a total
distribution for the year of 5| per cent, as compared with 5 per
cent, for 1920. After allowing for the additional remuneration to
the directors there was a balance to carry forward of £2 183. as com-
pared with £1131 brought in. Track renewals during the year,
amounting to £5 977, had been debited to depreciation reserve.
Capital expenditure during the past year had been very small, and
the reserve for depreciation stood ab £186 140, representing 36 per
cent, of the total capital expenditure.

City and South London Railway.

In the course of his speech at the annual meeting of the City anh
South London Railway Company last Thursday. Lord Ashfield.
who presided, stated that the revision of fares instituted in Sep-
tember, 1920, had proved to be successful and justified, though
owing to the coal strike and the continued and growing depression in
trade the expected results were not secured. Conditions had not
been favourable for making a stai't with the reconstruction of their
line. The company had joined with the London Electric Railway
Company in putting forward an application to the Government under
the Trade Facilities Act for a grant of sufficient money to enable
the reconstruction to be carried out and the line to be re-equipped
with modern rolling stock and of larger size. During the year the
traffic had declined by more than 9 300 000, which represented a
drop of 23 per cent. These figures hardly represented the full extent
of the decline, as if the comparison were taken back to the year

1919 the drop was still more. Looking to the future, he saw no
reason why the position of the company should not improve. If the
volume of" traffic should once more show signs of expansion, there
would be a speedy amelioration in its prospects. While the traffic
was at the present time regrettably reduced, the working expenses
showed signs of at least an equal reduction to the traffic earnings.
Receipts from railwav working after the operation of the Common
Fund amounted to '£446 999, an increase of £19 008 over 1920.
expenditure was £301441 (£20 470), leaving net receipts of
£145 558 (£39 478). MiscelU .eous receipts (net) from rents, interest.
&c.. amounted to £34 309 (£2 000), making a total net income of
£179 867 (£41 478). To this sum was added the balance from last
vear (£18 820), making £198 687. After deducting interest, rentals
and other fixed charges (£46 811), appropriation to reserve (£36 000).
dividends on preference stocks (£42 500). the balance^available for
dividend on consolidated ordinary stock was £73 376, against
£32 356 in 1920. The interim dividend paid in August last on the
consolidated ordinarv stock was 2 per cent. This absorbed £29 600.
and left £43 776 available, out of which it was proposed to pay a
final dividend for the vear 1921 on the ca.isolidated ordinary stock
of li per cent., making 3i per cent, for the year, leaving to be
carried forward £25 276. The dividend on the consolidated ordinary
stock for 1920 wa,s 1^ per cent., with £18 820 carried f'>r/^?i;f ^"^
sum of £36 000 had been placed to reserve, an mcrease of £11 000.

Metropolitan E(istrict Railway.

Lord Ashfield (the chairman) -presided at the annual meeting of
the Metropolitan District Railway last week. I« or the year ending
Dec 31 last, the receipts from railway working after the operation
of tiie Common Fimd amounted to £1 849 581. and expenditure was
£1351208, leaving net receipts of £498 373. against i; 164 041 m

1920 Miscellaneous receipts (net) from rent*. mU^rest. Sc.
amounted to £164 180 (£41328). niaking a total net mcome of
£662 553 (£122 713). With balance (£20 537) from last year, the
total was £683 090. After deducting interest, rentak and other
fixed charges (£326 760), appropriation to r^^^^r^'^f (f o^ "»). divi-
dend on guaranteed and preference stocks (£198 430). a balance of
£92 900 (£72 363) wa^ available for dividend on ordinary stock.
The interim dividend of 2^ per cent, on the second preference stock
absorbed £36 750, leaving £129 650 available, out ot which the
directors recommended a final dividend of 2^ por cent., making the
full 5 per cenL due for the veai and leaving £92 900 available for
distribution on Uie ordinarv stock. The directors recommended
pavment of a dividend of 1 per cent, for the year on that stock,
le.-iving £60 550 to be carried forward. The dividend paid on the

272

The Electrician.

March

3, 1922

second pretVience stock for tlie year 1920 was 3 per cent with
£20 537 carried forward, no dividend being declared on the ordinary
stock. Having regard to the increased cost of all plant and equip-
ment used in railway working, the directors have carried £65 000 to
reserve, an in crease 'over 1920 of £20 000. The net capital expendi-
ture for the year amounted to £772 892.

The Chairman said the Government had rejected a scheme sub-
mitted bv the company last autumn which would provide employ-
ment for 'a large number of men and secure for London much-needed
additional traffic facilities, but they had invited the company to
make new proposals under the Trade Facilities Act, which they had
already done. Briefly, the scheme put forward was to prooeed at
once with the construction of the Edgware and Hampstead section
of the London Electric Railway, and of a junction line at Camden
Town between the City and South London Railway and the Hamp-
stead section of the London Electric Railway ; the modernisation and
re-equipment of the City and South London Railway to take rolling
stock of larger dimensions ; and with the construction of a connecting
line at Wood-lane between the Central London Railway and the
Richmond line of the London and South-Western Railway.

As was feared, the unsettled state of labour and the bad trade
conditions adversely affected the revenue of the Weft Kent Com-
pany, which was mainly derived from industrial supplies. This fell
off from £60 200 to £50 880, the net revenue being reduced from
£13 579 to £10 85i?. The dividend had, however, been maintained
at 10 per cent., and £5 000 had been placed to reserve, as compared
with £8 000 for 1920 ; and £2 440 (£1 740) had been carried forward.

It was difficult to forecast results for the current year. There
were indications of improvement, and the position up to the present
had been well maintained. The units sold for the month of January
showed an increase over last year, while there was a reduction in
the amount of coal consumed, and the price was, on the average,
lower.

Sunderland District Electric Tramways.

Presiding over the annual meeting of the Sunderland District
Electric Tramways, Ltd., on Feb. 23. the chairman (Mr.
H. R. Hogg) said the company had not been able to earn sufficient
to pay anything to the preference or ordinary shareholders, and
since the end of the financial year there had been a further
disastrous falling off in the receipts. The gross and net losses
averaged £327 and £181 per week respectively for the three months.
Part of this might be attributable to the heavy snow, but the
chief portion was due to the lack of funds in the district generally.
If the company was to pay its expenses, it must reduce them all
round, and unless labour costs conformed to the surrounding con-
ditions, it was the lesser evil to shut down than to run the trams
on their present basis. They had made the men the best offer cir-
cumstances allowed, but as the men had stopped work rather than
accept them, there had been no alternative but to close the sheds.

The men had been told for some time that there must be reduced
wages. A meeting of employers and employees of the tramway
undertakings in the country had been held in London, as it had
been urged that all wages should be the same in the industry.
Their company had always protested against that, because there
must be a great difference between large tovras and outlying
areas. The conference had agreed on a reduction of 3s. a week
on the average, but their company had to go further, and ask for
a bigger reduction. They were always ready to put the wages
up when they could afford it, but they could not work at all at
present except at a heavy loss.

Paisley District Tramways.

At the annual meeting of Paisley District Tramways Company
last week, the chairman (Mr. 0. H. Smith) said that the result of
the year's trading was a profit on working of £34 737. After pro-
viding for general interest, income tax, interest and sinking fund on
debentures, the usua,! appropriation to general reserve with interest
together amounting to £12 139, and further providing the 5 per
cent, dividend and sinking fund on the preference shares, the direc-
tors recommended a dividend of 4 per cent, on the ordinary shares,
and increasing the amount carried forward from £6 546 to £8 033.
The amount added to general reserve for the year was £12 139, to
the sinking funds £5 754, and to the carry forward £1 487— in all
£19 381. The total reserve* held by the company at Dec. 31, 1921,
amounted to £194 909. The capital expenditure during the year
amounted to £1 721, bringing up the total cost of the undertaking
to Dec. 31 to £431 309. During last year they had renewed the
track, and done special work at Paisley Cross. A considerable amount
was being spent on rolling stock. Since the Armistice repair work had
been steadily progressing, and by another year they expected tr>
have overtaken the arrears of this work, and the expenditure should
then return to a more or less normal amount.

They had been for some time past in negotiation with the Corpora-
tion of Glasgow for the sale to them of the company's undertaking.
Should Glasgow decide to offer a price that the company considered
fair and reasonable, they hoped to complete an agreement for the
sale.

Liverpool Overhead Railway.

The accounts of The Liverpool Overhead Railway Company for
the year ended Dec. 31, 1921, show gross revenue receipts (in-
cluding the amount receivable und.r the agreement with the Govern-
ment in respect of the control of railways, for the period Jan. 1
to Aug. 15), to be £199 861, and the working expenses, including
appropriation to reserve funds, £191 993, leaving £7 868 ; from this
sum Vad to be deducted interest on debenture stock (£6 755).

leaving £1 112, lo which was added £6 818 10s., proportion of the
amount receivable under Sec. 11 of the Railways Act, 1921, and
£5 577, the balance brought forward from 1920, leaving £13 503
available for dividend. The first instalment of the Compensation
payable, under the Railways Act, 1921, to this company amounted
to £17 937, and the directors have found it necessary to appropriate
£6 818 10s. of this sum to pay the dividend on the preference shares.
The directors regret that they could not see their way to declare an
interim dividend, but recommend the declaration of a dividend
for the year ending Dec. 31, at the rate of 5 per cent, on the
preference shares, payable on and after March 3, leaving a balance
of £5 577 to be carried forward to next year. The total nunriber
of passengers carried during the year was 13 389 857 against
21 020 839 in 1920.

Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire.

The accounts of the Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire,
Ltd. , for 1921 show a net profit, after payment of interest, of £8 086
against £5 426 in 1920. The sum of £1 571 was brought forward,
making a total of £9 655 19s. 7d. (£6 578 17s. lid.). The directors
recommend a dividend on the ordinary capital at the rate of 6 per
cent, (tax free) for 1921 (of which 3 per cent, was paid in August),
which will absorb £4 722. The sum of £2 000 has been added to the
reserve fund (increasing this fund to £10 000), and £2 934 remains
to be carried forward. The works have been fully maintained out
of revenue. The demands in the districts served by the company
for lighting, heating, and power continue to grow, and during the
year substantial extensions of mains have been made to meet these
demands. The Minister of Transport has made an order authoris-
ing the company to proceed with the supply of electricity in the
districts of Selby, Stanley, Featherstone, Garforth, Horbury, Otley,
Penistone and Rawdon, and the Order now awaits confirmation by
Parliament. During the year applications have been received for
13 234 ordinary shares of £1 each, bringing up the issued share
capital to £83 234. At extraordinary general meetings held on Feb. 22
and March 15 last year, a special resolution was passed and con-
firmed increasing the nominal capital of the company from £100 000
to £150 000.

Costa Rica Electric Light and Traction.

The accounts of the Costa Rica Electric Light & Traction
Company for the year ended June 30, 1921, show the net earnings in
Costa Rica, after charging all expenses incurred, to be £25 727, as
compared with £24 519 in 1920. The net profit for the year of
£3 709, against £12 691 8s., of last year, wipes out last year's deficit
of £330 and leaves a surplus of £3 379, of which the directors pro-
pose to vrrite off the balance of £745 standing to the debit of
" discount and commission on debentures," and carry forward the
remainder. The gold premium has averaged 214 per cent, (or C15'70
per £) during the year, as against 160 per cent. (C1300 per £) last
year, and 112 per cent, (or C1060 per £, the normal equivalent of the
gold " Colon ") in the year (1913-14) before the war. At the last-
mentioned rate the net profit in Costa Rica for the year under review,
which amounts to C403 916"78 (an increase of C95 168 on that of
year ending June, 1920) would have been £38 105, as against £25 727,
the difference between the cm'rent and normal exchange representing
a loss of £12 378. All buildings, machinery, plant, &c., have been
kept in good working order. The first two deferred warrant issues,
amounting, with interest accrued, to £5 417, were paid on March 1
and July 1 last respectively.

Tyneside Tramways & Tramroads.

At the annual meeting of the Tyneside Tramways & Tramroadc
Company, the Chairman (Dr. J. T. Merz) said that during the
past six months, and during the whole of 1921 things had been
very difficult. In the first three months of the j'ear the takings
had gone up : after that came the coal trade stoppage; and traffic
receipts had gone down very considerably. They had, for the
whole of the year, been 6 per cent, less than in 1920. The car miles
run were about 7 per cent, less, but the passengers carried were
15 per cent. less. They had taken out of reserve for permanent
way repairs and rolling stock over £6 000, but they had placed in
reserve, out of the profits of the year, £2 700. He regretted that
the ordinary dividend would be the smallest paid since 1912. As
to the prospects of the company, he thought that, on the whole,
there was a slight indication of improvement. They could not be
certain that that improvement would continue, but if they went on
as they were doing now, they should have a better year than last
year.

Lancashire United Tram'ways.

The Lancashire United Tramways' report for 1921 shows a
profit, less working expenses, cost of generating electrical energy
sold, general charges (including direction, management, etc.), and
rent of leased lines, of £28 217. Receipts show a decrease of
£14 B8X. and expenditure an increase of £7 754. Interest and
dividends from operating company, plus motor coach and sundry
receipts, was £69 761. Deducting motor coach and other expenses
and interest on prior hen debenture stock, there remains a balance
out of which interest at 2^ per cent., less tax, will be paid on the
second mortgage debenture stock for the year, leaving £1 126 for
depreciation. The balance on the working of the operating
company, after payment of interest and dividend, was £10 248.
Depreciation and renewal account (after writing off £5 000 for
depreciation on motor coaches and omnibuses) and amounts carried
forward in combined companies now amount Lo £183 642.

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

273

Rushden and District Electric Supply Company.

In the ajinual report of the Rusiiden and District Electric
Supply Company the directors state that, in spite of the depression
in trade during the past year, the output of electricity has been
practically the eame ae during the previous year. Lighting jind
heating connections have increased by the equivalent of 2 131 32-W
lampe, making a total of 9 483. Motors have increased from 761 ii.p.
to 776i, of which 292 are lot out on hire. The ma.Kimum load on the

Elant was 440 kW, and the number of units sold wa« 580 615. Distri-
uting mains have been laid to the extent of 728 yards, making a
total of 6 miles 600 yards. The sum of £2 000 has been added to the
depreciation fund (out of which £100 has been allocated to motors),
and the balaflce of the preliminary expenses (£500) has been written
off. The directors propose a final dividend of 4^ per cent., making
with the interim dividend of 3 per cent, already paid, 1^ per cent,
for the year, compared w^ith 65 per cent, for the j)revious year.
This will amount to £1 125, and there will remain £805 10s. to be
carried forward.

London and South-Western Railway.
In the course of his remarks to the shareholders at the
annual meeting of the London and South-Western Railway
Company, last week, the Chairman, Brigadier-General H. W.
Drummond, stated that although the alterations at Waterloo
Station were now nearing completion, it was not im-
probable that in another ten years' time it might be necessary
to make further extensions, as even now the station was barely
equal to the enormous increase of traffic brought about by the elec-
trification of the suburban lines. In regard to fares, the board
wcrtild be only too willing to make reductions at the earliest oppor-
tunity. Referring to the congested state of the line between Clap-
ham Junction and Waterloo and on the Waterloo and City Railway,
he stated that it would be a matter of only a few weeks before the
new rolling stock was placed on the line.

Llandudno & Colwyn Bay Electric Railway.

The profit for the year to Nov. 30, 1921, of the Llandudno &
CoLWYN Bay Electric Railway, after providing for operation and
administration costs and for interest on debenture stock and loans,
amounts to £6 194 10s. , to which is added £2 548 brought forward
from 1920, making a total available balance of £8 743. Out of this
sum £2 040 has been appropriated for redemption of debenture stock,
leaving £6 703, which the directors recommend should be applied as
follows : — £2 500 to reserve for repairs and renewals, £2 783 in pay-
ment of a dividend of 4 per cent., less income tax, requiring £5 283,
leaving to be carried forward £1 420. In accordance with the practice
adapted for several vears, the sinking fund instalment due on Jan. 1
has been charged against the revenue for the year, and no further
provision has been made for depreciation of the system. The total
of the fund now amounts to £18 793.

W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works.

The report and accounts of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works
Company, Ltd., for the year 1921 show a profit of £263 079, from
which £38 339 has to be deducted for directors' and auditors' fees,
debenture interest, and amount written off for depreciation on build-
ings, machinery, &c. , leaving £224 740. To this sum has to be added
the amount brought forward from 1920 (£183 538) and the reserve
against Government loans and trustee securities written back
£7 559 10s. , making a total of £415 837. After deducting income
tax (£26 214), transfer to reserve (£22 879), dividend on preference
shares to Dec. 31, 1921 (£9 000), and interim dividend on ordinary
shares (£32 500), there remains an available balance of £325 244. The
directors recommend a final dividend on the ordinary shares of 2s.
per share, less income tax, making 3s. for the year. This will
require £65 000, leaving £260 244 to be carried forward to next year.
Northampton Electric Light & Power.

The Northampton Electric Light & Power, Company's
report for 1920 shows a net revenue, before paying debenture
interest, of £38 142. A sum of £19 681 has been added to depreci-
ation, out of which £1 681 has been allocated to motors, £7 000
to reserve and £2 000 to battery suspense fund. It has been
decided to form an employees' benevolent fund, and £500 has been
put aside for this. The directors propose a balance dividend on
the ordinary shares at the rate of 5^ per cent., making, with the
interim dividend 9 per cent, for the year, compared with 8 per
cent, for the previous year. Ther^ will be £4 564 to be carried
forward, against £1 500 brought in.

Toronto Railway.

The gross earnings of the Toronto Railway to Aug. 31 last, being
the end of the fi-anchise, were $5 130 431, and operating charges,
maintenance, &c., totalled $4 782 490. leaving $347 941. After pro-
viding for various charges, including bond interest ($]13 625), war
and provincial taxes ($38 890), percentage on earnings to citv
(.f 1004 894), general taxes ($121999). a deficit of $997 299 is car-
ried forward. The report states that the proposed sale to the Hydro-
Electric Commission of Ontario of power and radial raihvay interests
of the company has been unanimously approved by the shareholders.
An agreement may be completed within a few weeks, when it will
require to be submitted to trustees for bondholders in London for
ratification.

London & North-Westem Railway Company.

At the annual meeting of the London & North-Western Rail-
way Company, last week, the Chairman (the Hon. Charles Napier
Lawrence) said that with regard to capital expenditure, they had
spent during the vear £1 703 000. of which £912 500 was in respect

ui steamers, £521000 in C(innection wish the electrification of the
Euston to Watford line, and the balance for hundry works. He
was glad to be able to say that, for some time past, the company's
financial position had been appreciably improving, and it had never
stood higher than it stfKjd at the present moment.

The National Boilee & General Insurance Company has
declared a dividend of 20s. per share.

Consolidated Gas, ELEcritic Light & Power Company of Balti-
more anr, ounce the regular quarterly dividend of $2 per share on
the preferred and common stock.

The issue la.st week by the Yorkshire Electric Power Company
of £558 360 jn 111 672 six per cent, cumulative preference shares of
£5 each, fully paid, at £4 per share, was immediately over-
subscribed.

The Chelsea Electric Siipplt CoMPA.n announce a dividend at
the rate of 7 per cent, per annum for the half vear, making 6 per
cent, for the year ended Dec. 31 last. I'he sum of £415
is carried forward.

Belfast Corporation are this week issuing £1 000 000
5^ per cent, redeemable stock at 96. This loan ia to provide the
capital expendituie necessary to complete the new electricity station,
the first portion of the reconstruction of the tramways track, &c.

ViCKERS, Ltd. have declared final dividends for the hadf-year
ended Dec. 31 of 2^ per cent, on the preferred 5 per cent, stock (less
tax); 2J, per cent, on the 5 per cent, preference shares (less tax);
and 2^ per cent, on the cumulative preference shares (free of tax).

The Metropolitan Electric Supply Coilpant recommend a final
dividend of 5s. per share, which, with the interim dividend of 2s.
already paid, makes a total of 7s. per share, or 7 per cent., for the
vear 1921. The amount set aside for depreciation and reserve i«
£94 892 and the carry forward £3 609.

After appropriating to depreciation and reserve accounta sums
amounting to £15 100, the directors of the Brompton .and Kensing-
ton Electricity Supply Company propose to pay a final dividend on
the ordinary shares at the rate of 15 per cent, per annum, making
12 per cent, for the year, less ta.x, carrying fonvard £3 732.

Traction & Powej* Securities Co.mpaxy recommend a final
dividend for 1921 at the rate of 4s. 6d. per share, free of lax,
making 8s. per share, free of tax. The net revenue was £35 5iC
plus £12 722 brought forward, making £48 300. The sum of
£14 136, subject to corporation tax, is carried forward.

The annual meeting of the Lanarkshire & Ay-rshtre Railway
Company was held in Glasgow last week, Mr. H. E. Gordon, chair-
man, presiding. The report for the year ending Dec. 31 last was
adopted, and it was decided to pay a di\'idend of 2 per cent, for the
year, inclusive of the interim dividend paid in September last.

The report of Notting Hill Electric Lighting Comp.oty for
1921 shows available profit of £41 866, less depreciation, renewal
and reserve fund £3 000, special reserve £3 000, income tax £6 469,
and excess profits duty £1 118. A dividend is recommended on the
ordinaiy shares at the rate of Ss. per share, free of tax, leaving
£5 920 to be carried forward.

The traffic receipts of the London United Tr.vmways for 1921
totalled £575 83'7. Adding advertising and sundry receipts, the ctoss
revenue was £584 030, an increase over 1920 of "£51 288. Wodrking
expenses were £473 573, a decrease of £9 024. The balance on
working was £110 456, an increase of £60 312. After charging
debenture stock and loan interest, there is a surplus of £59 474
as reduction of deficiency of £70 882 brought forward.

The net revenue of the Oxford Electric Comp.\ny for -921,
including £108 brought forward, was £15 466 (against £11779 in
1920, when £186 was brought forward). After providing debenture
interest, &c.. the balance available is £11 357. It is proposed to pay
a dividend for the year on the ordinary shares of 5 per cent, (of
which 2^ per cent, has been distributed), to place £3 588 (against
JS457) to reserve and renewal of plant, and o carry forward £20.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of the North
London Railway Company, last week, the Chairman, the Hon.
A. H. HoUand-Hibbert, said that they had a valuable concern; the
line was in a thoroughly efiicient state, electrification had tempted
back manv of their lost' passengers, and they hao been building up
their reseVves until to-day they were on a decidedly satisfactory
financial basis.

The 1921 revenue of the Mersey Railway Co>ip.\ny available for
pavment of interest amounts to £53 890. and is sufficient to meet the
full interest on the various classes of debenture stock, with a
balance of £207 carried forward. The total passengers carried.
exclusive of season ticket holders, was 11 046 955. against 12 637 552
in 1920. There has been no dividend on the preference or ordinary
stock for many years, but the position has been greatly improved
by the introduction of electric traction.

The report of the BRmsn Mannesman^ Tube Comp.knt for year
ended June 30. 1921. statt>s that the amount of the twentieth drawing
of first mortgage debentures wa^ £4 000. Profit, including excess
profits dutv adjustment, after deducting works chargee and deprecia-
tion, was '£101 948. plus interest and dividends, royalties, rents,
&c.. £10 557. and the balance brought in. £76 318. lees general
administration expenses. £49 656. making £139147. The directors
recommend a dividend of 4 per cent., free of income-tax, carrying
forward £55 914.

274,

The Electrician.

March

3, 1922

New Companies.

A. P. T. Ltd. T. , .,

APT Ltd. (179 633). Private company. Registered Feb. 11.
Capital', £3 000 in £1 ehai'€& (750 " A " and 2 250 " B "). To adopt
an agreement with A. F. de Fraine, S. J. Clark and G. A. L.
Sartoris, trading as " de Fraine & Clark," of 23, Old Que«n-street,
Westminster, to acquire all or any of the inventione and patents
referred to therein in respect of the variable hydraulic transmiseion
system and improvements in the said inventions, and to carry on the
Ixusiness of meclianical, general and electrical engineers, &c. Sub-
scribers (each with one share) : C. A. Browning and C. T. Twort.
R.egietered office : 5, Fenchurch-street, E.G.

Auto-Electrical Services, Ltd.

Auto-Electrical Services. Ltd. (179 760). Private company.
Registered Feb. 17. Capital, £2 500 in £1 shares. To ta.ke over
an agreement made between C. A. Vandervell and Co., and R. V.
Steward to acquire a process of manufacturing dry batteries, and
to carry on business as manufacturers, sellers or agents for the sale
of dry batteries and accumulatorsj manufacturers of electrical appli-
ances, etc. Permanent directors : N. F. Steward, and R. V.
Steward, with power to appoint other directors. Secretary, C.
Brassington. Registered office : 14, Lichfield-street, Wolverhampton.

Brasse, Ltd.

Brasse, Ltd. (179 842). Private company. Registered Feb. 21.
Capital. £10 000 in £1 shares. To acquire the businees carried on
by E. P. Brasse, and to carry on business as electrical cable and
surgical instrument manufacturers, electrical engineers, metal
workers, &c. First directors : E. P. Brass© and E. W. Brasse.
Qualification (except oi'iginal directors), 100 shares. Registered
office : Calvert Works, South Tottenham, N.
Foundation Company, Ltd.

Foundation Company, Ltd. (179 870). Private company.
Nominal capital, £250 000 in £1 shares (150 000 8 per cent, cumula-
tive preference and 100 000 ordinary). To acquire (upon the terms
of an agreement with the Foundation Company, of New York) the
goodwill and rights referred to therein; to acquire, build, work, or
control in any part of the world railways, tramways, hydraulic, elec-
tric, engineering and improvement works, and to carry on the
business of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and general engineers
and contractors, &c. Subscribers (each with one share) : — F. D.
Billett' and W. J. Hill. Registered office : Windsor House,
Kingsway, W.C.
Kay Models, Ltd.

Kay Models, Ltd. (179 774). Private company. Registered
Feb. 17. Capital, £5 000 in £1 shares (3 000 preference and 2 000
ordinary). Mechanical, electrical, agricultural, constructional and
modelling engineers, etc. Permanent directors : A. Goodlett, J. K.
Goodlett, A. K. Goodlett, and H. H. Bowyer. Qualification. £50.
Registered office : 65, Park -road North, Acton, W. 3.

Kaye & Company (Huddersfield), Ltd.

EIaye & Company (Huddersfield), Ltd. (179 644). Private com-
pany. Registered Feb. 11. Capital, £10 000 in £1 shares. To take
over the business of ironfounders carried on by J. Firth and J. E.
Lunn, as " Kaye & Company," at Crosland Moor, Huddersfield, and
elsewhere, and to carry on the business of ironfounders, mechanical
and electrical engineers, &c. First directors : J. Firth, J. E. Lunn.
R. Carrick, and H. Cotton (all permanent, subject to each holding
500 ordinary shares). Solicitors : Hall, Walker & Norton, Hudders-
field.
H. S. Kemp & Company, Ltd.

H. S. Kemp & Company, Ltd. (179 718). Private company. Regis-
tered Feb. 15. Capital, £1 200 in £1 shares. Electrical engineers,
manufacturers of electric lamps and fittings, &c. First directors :
W. F. Bond (or such other person as shall be nominated by Belco,
Ltd., of Windsor House, Kingsway, W.C); E. A. Boxali, H. S.
Kemp, and A. E. Cage. Registerct office : 25, Stephen -street,
Tottenham Court-road, W.C.I.
Metallisation, Ltd.

Metallisation, Ltd. (179 721). Private companv. Registered
Feb. 15. Capital, £75 000 in £1 shares. To acquire any inventions
relating to the coating of surfaces with metal, and /'or applying
deposits of metal or metallic compounds to surfaces; and to adopt
agreements (1) with W. J. Thompson and (2) and (3) with E. T.
White. Subscribers: C. Tilt, Wembley Dene: C. P. N. Raikes.
First directors : W. J. Thompson (chairman). E. T. White (managing
director), and G. Dennison. Solicitors : I'vancis & Johnson, 19,
Great Winchester -street. E.G.
James Moores & Co. (Sundries) Ltd. •

James Moores & Co. (Sundries) I/td. (179 790). Private com-
pany. Registered Feb. 18. Capital £5 000 in £1 shares. To acquire
the business carried on by J. Moores at 14 Ridgefield, John Dal ton-
street, Manchester, as " James Moores & Company," and to carry
on the businees of manufacturers of, dealers in, and /or agents for
electric lamps, accessories, cables, wires, flexibles and glassware for
electrical, gas, lighting and other purposes, engineermg sundries,
&c. First directors : J. Moores, Dr. R. H. King. J. Higginbotham
and P. Moores. Registered office : 14, Ridgefield, John Dalton-
street, Manchester.
National Sii!ns, Ltd.

National Signs, Ltd. (179 824). Private companv. Registered
Feb. 20. Capital, £42 000 in £1 shares. To acquire the business of
National Signs, Ltd. (in liquidation), to adopt an agreement with
the, said old company and W. H. Worrall (their liquidator), and to

carry on the business of electrical and illuminated sign manufac-
turers, glass process workers, manufacturers of and dealers in
advertising and other signs and novelties, &c. Subscribers (each
with one snare) : W. H. Worrall, H. H. Scott (chairman) and G. M.
Scott. Registered office : Factory-lane, High-road, Tottenham, N.

Pace Engines, Ltd.

Pace Engines, Ltd. (179 792). Private company. Registered
Feb. 18. Capital, £10 000 in £1 shares. To adopt an agreement with
T Andrews and to carry on the business of engineei-s, electricianfi,
makers of internal combustion and other engines, &c. First directors :
T. Andrews and H. Singleton. Registered office : 20, Buckingham-
street, Strand, W.C. 2.
Reynard Electrical Company, Ltd.

Reynard Electrical Company, Ltd. (179 910). Private com'^
pany. Registered Feb. 23. Capital, £500 in £1 shares. Manufac-
turers, importers, and exporters of, agents for, and dealers in, lamps,
brackets, shades, connections, switches, ceiling roses, plugs, cable
conduit motors and all electrical apparatus and accessories.
First directors : J. Cowan (chairman) and W. J. R. Fox. Regis-
tered office : Dickinson-street, Manchester.

Sbeepbridge Stokes Centrifugal Castings Company, Ltd>

Sheepbridge Stokes Centrifugal Castings Company, Ltd.
Private company. Nominal capital. £50 000 in £1 shares (7 500
" A " and 42 500 ordinary). Manufacturers of and dealers in
machinery, castings, motors, tools and hardware, iron and st-eel con-
verters, mechanical and electrical engineers, &c. , and to adopt an
agreement with the Stokes Castings, Ltd. First directors : W. B. M.
Jackson (chairman), J. T. Goodwin, and F. W. Stokes (nominee of
Stokes Castings, Ltd.). Secretary : T. E. Haslam. Registered
office : The works of the Sheepbridge Coal & Iron Company, Ltd.,
Chesterfield, Derbyshire. File number is 179 750.

The Electrical Trades' Directory.

The fortieth edition of " The Electrician " Electrical Trades'
Directory and Handbook, the well-known Blue Book, is now avail-
able. The new issue, which has undergone careful revision, has
grown in size by about fifty pages ; about 1 000 more firms and
names have been included in the Alphabetical Section, and corre-
sponding additions have been made to the Classified Trades portion.
In the alphabetical section will be found the name, trade or pro-
fessional description and address of practically everyone engaged
in 01* connected with the important and rapidly expanding Electrical
and Allied Trades, while under the headings in the Classified Trades
there are very full and representative lists of persons and firms
engaged in the manufacture, supply or erection of electrical plant
and apparatus. The Colonial and Foreign sections have also under-
gone similar expansion and revision.

The Handbook Section contains much valuable technical, com-
mercial and legal information relating to the electrical industry, but
space will only permit of the enumeration of some of the more
important features. There are a number of electro-technical tables
and data, particulars of resistance materials, electric supply cables,
wire gauges, aluminium data, illumination notes, &c. Particulars
are also given of the work of ihe British Engineering Standards
Association and of the International Electrical Commission, the
Imperial ohm, ampere and volt, the Standardisation Rules of the
British Electrical and Allied Trades Association, details of the
import duties leviable on electrical machinery in the British
Dominions and Colonies and in foreign countries, &c.

The Telegraph and Telephones Section contains the International
Telegraph Convention, particulars of the work of the International
Telegraph Bureau, the International Service Regulations, statistics
of the submarine cables and landlines of the world, telegraph tariffs,
the world's cable-laying fleet, the International Radio-Telegraph
Convention, British Wireless Telegraph Regulations, International
Call Signals, technical details of Anglo-Continental telephone cables,
and a digest of the law relating to telegraphs and telephones.

Particulars are included of the constitution and officers of all
British, Colonial, and Foreign Engineering, Scientific and Industrial
Societies, the names of the professors and teachers of" engineering
and scientific subjects in univereities, university colleges and
technical schools, the chief officials of the engineering and technical
sections of the British, Colonial and Foreign Government Depart-
ments, the Rules of the Institution of Electrical Engineers relating
to ele<?tric wiring and the electrical equipment of ships. &c.

A special feature of the Handbook Section of the Directory is the
full D'gcst of the Law of Electricity Supply and Electric Traction,
and the present issue includes all the latest Regulations. Orders and
requirements of the Electricity Commissioners and of the 'Ministry
of Transport relating to electric supply powers and the operation of
electric tramways. The Regulations as to the use of electricity in
Mines and Factories are also given.

The Directory and Handb<x>k has now reached its fortieth year,
and with each succeeding issue its utility, influence and circulation
have grown. For many years the Blue Book has been the recognised
work of reference for the wliole of the electrical industry, and it is
felt that the improvements effected in the present edition will ensure
for it an even warmer welcome than that accorded to previous issues,
and that it will continue to be indispensable to the supply engineer,
to tlie consulting, contracting and manufacturing electrical engineer,
as well as to suppliers of and dealers in electrical plant and
apparatus. It is published at 26s. net by Mft^srs. Benn Brothers,
Ltd.. 6 and 8. Bouveric-stroet , Fleet-street, Tx)ndon. E.G. 4.

March 3, 1922

The Electrician.

275

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following information ts taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors t/ial may occur.

London Gazette.

Bankruptcy Information.

LIDDELL, Robert Henry, under the style of LIDDELL k
McINNES, at 4, The Crescent, Carlisle, electrical engineer.
Receiving order, Feb. 21. Debtor's petition.

WILLIAMS, Aneurin Tudor, and BEVAN, William John, trading
as THE ELECTRICAL & GENERAL ENGINEERING
COMPANY, ab 49, Commercial-street, Aberdare, _ electrical
engineers. Receiving order, Feb. 21. Creditor's petition.

Notice of Intended Dividend.

BENNETT, "William, Back Sitwell-street, Derby, electrical con-
tractor. ' Last day for receiving proofs, March 17. Trustee.
E. W. Humphreys, 4, Castle-place, Nottingham.

Company Winding-up Voluntarily.

WAKELINS, LTD. P. J. Goodchild, 16, Tokenhouse-yard, Loth-
bury, London, E.C. 2, appointed liquidator. Meeting of credi-
tors at 7, Tottenham-street, Tottenham Court-road, London,
W. 1, on Wednesday, March 8, at 12 noon.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgments" does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the oases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

BRADBEER, John Edward, 2c, England 's-lane, Belsize Park, elec-
trical engineer, and BARRETT, Edward, 97, Maiden-road,
Kentish Town, furniture dealer. £20 16s. Id. Dec. 8.

BRADBEER, Mr. W., 2a, England's-lane, Hampstead, electrical
engineer. £11 10s. lOd. Dec. 22.

CALDWELL, WILLIAM, & SONS, Victoria-road, Hale, electrical
engineers. £11 13s. Id. Dec. 21.

CLYNE & DEAKIN, 84, Tilton-road, Small Heath, electrical manu-
facturers. £22 10s. 5d., Dec. 7; and £22 6s. 9d., Dec. 5.

ELECTRO MOTOR REPAIR & MAINTENANCE COMPANY,
252, Hackney-road, E. 2., electricians. £14 Os. Id. Dec. 7.

FORSTER, George, 33, Barkley-road, Beeston', Leeds, and
PRINCE, George Edward, 34, Balkan-grove, York-road, Leeds,
electricians (late trading as FORSTER & PRINCE). £13 6s. 2d.
Dec. 22.

GIBBONS, A. R., 8, The Parade, New Eltham, S.E. 9, electrical
engineer, &c. £31 2s. 6d. and £20 15s. 8d. Dec. 19.

HARRIS, Sydney Henrv (trading as MANCHESTER MAGNETO
REPAIRING COMPANY), 191, Chapel-street, Salford, elec-
trical engineer. £108 3s. lid. Dec. 20.

LONDON ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, 2,
Finsbury-avenue, E.C. 2. £66 15s. 8d., Dec. 16; and
£33 17s. 4d., Dec. 5.

MACAULEY, Mr. R. A., 48, Ash ton New-road, Beswick, Man-
chester, electrical contractor. £27 15s. lid. Dec. 21.

MORETON & LUSH, 10, Tower-chambers, Church-street, Cardiff,
electrical engineers. £21 12s. 8d. Dec. 8.

TUFFNELL, MONTAGUE H., & COMPANY;, Brighton Railway
Chambers, Clapham Junction, S.W'. , electrical manufacturers.
£21 15s. 9d. Dec. 21.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

BENNETT, Charles Godolphin, engineer and agent. 66, Mark-lane,
London, E.C. The public exainination of this debtor was
held at the London Bankruptcy Court last week, when a
statement of his affairs was submitted, showing liabilities £2 133
and an estimated deficiency of £1 174. The debtor stated that
in March, 1916, he was approached by another person with a
view to his taking an interest in an electrical business, the par-
ticular line being the manufacture of electric switch holders. He
provided £2 000, which was used in experimenting and in part
payment of fifty gross of switch holders which he ordered to be
manufactured. In order to complete payment for them he
approached his brother, who had previously financed him, but
owing to losses incm-red in Russia he was unable to help him.
The orders for the switch holders were placed by him (debtor)
personally, and there was now owing £620 to various firms who
supplied tnem. The Official Receiver : Why should you l>econK'
interested in this venture? You are not an electrical engineer.
The debtor : No; but I know more about it than a good many
electrical engineers. (Laughter.) The debtor added that his
creditors had accepted his offer of a composition of 7s. 6d. in tlio
£. The examination was concluded.

SCOTT, Thomas, and CAMPBELL, James (trading as T. SCOTT
& COMPANY), 42, Uandyaide's-arcade, Percy-street, New-
castle-on-Tyne, wholesale electrical suppliers. The first meeting
of creditors of the aVK)ve was held !a.st week at Newcastle-on-
Tyne. Debtors commenced business in March, 1920, Campbell
managing the business, while Scott, who was in a situaTion.
assisted with the book-keeping. The statement of affairs showed
liabilities of £1 179, assets were estimated to realise £402, or a
(loficiency of £777. In August last a writ for £66 was served on
debtor and paid ; in December e.xecutions for £73. £20, and
£10 were levied and paid. A further'execution levied on Jan. 27
last was the immediate cause of failure. The creditors decided
to appoint Mr. Wm. Brittain, of 15, Pilgrim-street, Newcastle-
on-T^-ne, as trustee, with a committee of inspection. At the

Eublic examination, also held last week, debtor Campbell said
e was in the army between September, 1914, and June, 1919.
when he returned to his situation as an electrical engineer until
March, 1920. He was then joined by Scott, and they traded at
their present address as wholesale electrical suppliers. Thev
had £100 capital, and borrowed £160 from friends, of which
£10 had been repaid. They became aware of their position about
July, 1921, but continued trading in the hope that business would
improve. Proper books of account had been kept. The exami-
nation was adjourned to be closed. The following are creditors ;
B.T.T. Electric Lamp Company, London, £55; Campbell, J. W.,
Gateshead, '£50; City Electric Company, London, £192; Fullers
United Electric Works, Ltd., Chad well Heath. £39 ; Foster
Engineering Company, Wimbledon, £28; General Electric Com-
pany, Newcastle-on-Tyne, £49; Gledson, J., & Company. New-
castle-on-Tyne, £255;' Jeary Electric Company. Ltd., London,
£16; Lee. "a., & Company," Newcastle-on-Tyne, £24; North of
England Engineering and Electrical Manufacturing Company,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, ^13; Metropolitan-Vickers Electric Com-
pany, Ltd., Majichester, £24; Stella Lamp Company, Ltd.,
London, £38.
SLAUGHTER, Mihill Loraine, 91, Victoria-street, S.W. This
debtor attended at the'I-ondon Bankruptcy Court last week for
public examination, on a statement of affairs showing gross
liabilities £12 683 (unsecured £10 893) and assets valued at
£2 210. The debtor said that in March, 1920, a company was
registered as M. L. Slaughter & Company, Ltd., to acquire and
carry on certain agencies belonging to him. In August, 1921,
the company bought from the Astral Inten5ifier, Ltd.. the
exclusive British rights for five years relating to the manufacture
of an intensifier or reflector for electric lamps, of which th^
Astral Company held the patents. His company agreed to manu-
facture and sell 250 000 intensifiers per annum and to pay a
royalty of fourpence on each one to the Astral Company. Later
on his company appointed Overseas Contracts, Ltd., to be their
selling agents for the whole of Great Britain, provided that they
sold 300 000 intensifiers per annum. The retail price was fi.xed
at 3s.. and they manufactured the intensifier at Is., out of which
they had to pav the royalty, and sold it to the Overseas Co.'j-
tracts, Ltd.. for 2s. If' this contract had been carried througti,
the company's profit would have reached £10 000 a year, but
^ the Overseas Contracts, Ltd.. failed to complete it. and went
into voltmtary liquidation in April last. Owing to that failure
his company also went into liquidation, and that in turn brought
him down, 'as he had incurred heavy liabilities on behalf of the
company. The examination vtas ordered to be concluded.

Private Meeting.

\Iiichision under tliis heading does not necessarily imply failure.
Many private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the
debtor consulting his creditors as to h's position when he may not
be insolvent.'^

GOODALL ELECTRIC. LTD. (in voliuitaiy liquidation), convened
by notice. At the statutory meeting of creditors held recently
at Liverpool, tiie voluntaiy'liquidation wae confirmed, with Mr.
A. G. Turner as liquidator. The company was formed in 1920
to take over the Standard Electric Company, under which style
T. J. Staplev, W. J. Mills and T. G. Jones traded from an
address in S'outh Castle- street, Livei-pool. This firm beme >a
difficulties over a country house contract towards the end of
1919 asked S. Chetter & "Son to complete the contract on thevr
behalf, and so became indebted to the latter firm to the extent
of £123. The Stiuidard Electric Company prevailed upon S.
Chetter & Son to purchase necessary ulant. tools and raw
materials, which were intended to bo taken by the Goodall
Electric, Ltd., for producing " splitters " of vaiious numbers of
ways, invented bv Mr. Staplev, Chetters to be reimbursed out
of sales and profits. Premises were acquired, and when the
first case of " splitters " were completed the ct^npany submitted
samples to the Electric Brasswares. Ltd., who concluded an
afTieement whereby they were to take up the output of the
a'lwdall Electric, L'td. the failure of Uie Goodall Electric Ltd..
is solely attributed to the repudiation of the contract on the
pai-^t. of* Brasswares, Ltd. Mr. Chetter made an offer to various
crtiditors of a compc>sition of 2s. 6d. in th £ o:i the amount of
their debt. Two firms refused to accept the offer made to them
and one commenced proceedings. The liquidator's statement
of affairs shows liabilities £1 116 and assets eetimated to realise
£101.

276

The Electrician.

March 3, 1922

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Great Northern Company (Ireland). March 8. — Six months'
supply of (14) electrical fittings, lamps, &c. ; (15) electric cable and
wire. Particulars from the Secretary, J. B. Stephens, Amiens-
street Station, Dublin.

Nxjneaton Co-operative Society. March 8. — Electric lighting of
Stockingford and Whittleford branches. Specifications from the
General Manager, Abbey -s treet , Nuneaton.

Rathmines and Rathgar Urban Council. March 11. — Electric
lamps, meters, oils, engine-room stores, &c. , for the Electricity
Department.

Edinburgh Corpor.\tion. March 14. — Manufacture and supply
of 130 tons of steel tramway rails. Specification, &c., from the
Tramways Manager, 2, St. James-square, Edinburgh.

Shoreditch Guardians. March 15. — Six months' supply of elec-
trical goods. Particulars from the Clerk, Mr. J. C. Clav, Clerk's
Office, 213, Kingsland-road, E. 2

Blackpool Electricity Committee. March 16. — One natural
draught-cooling tower for a duty of 300 000 gallons per hour. Par-
ticulars from the Borough Electrical Engineer and Tramways
General Manager, Mr. C. Furness.

Cardiff Corporation. March 17. — 40 000 lb. water-tube boiler,
with mechanical stokers and accessories. Particulars from the Elec-
trical Engineer, Central Offices, The Hayes, Cardiff.

Rhondda Urban Council. April 3. — House-service a.c. meters,
€able, joint boxes, cutrouts, &c., for one year. Specification, &c.,
from the Engineer, Electricity Works, Porth, Glam.

Leeds. — H.M. Commissioners of Works. April 12. — Electrical
engineering labour-in-daywork in the Leeds district. Particulars
from the Contracts Branch, H.M. Office of Works, King Charles-
street, London, S.W. 1.

CANADA.

Canadian Firm. Immediately. — *Hoist, electrically operated and
arranged, to be driven by a 200 h.p. , three-phase, 550 V, 485 revs,
per min. induction motor, which will be supplied by the company.
The drive from the motor will be through a Francke flexible coupling
and Wuest-type herringbone gears.

AUSTRALIA.

Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbane. April 19. — *
Supply and delivei-y of testing and telegraph instruments, including
d.c. ammeteirs, a.c. bridge condenser coil, condensers, cross-talk
meters, detectors, milliammeters, polarised relays, and artificial
telephone cable boxes. (Stores Schedule No. 549!')

East Ham Corporation have accepted the tenders of Bruce, Peebles
& Company for a motor converter, £5 749, and A. Reyrolle & Com-
pany, for switchgear, £1 627 10s., plus £116 for additional items if
required.

SiiOREDiTCH (London) Council have accepted the tender of the
Stirling Boiler Company for a water-tube boiler of 33 000 lbs.
evaporative capacity. Six offers were received, ranging from £10 180
to £14 463.

Hull Corporation Tramways Committee have accepted the tender
of Messrs. Scott, of Leeds, for 1 000 tons of steel rails at £12 per
ton, plus 12s. 6d. for special treatment. The lowest German tender
was £11 15s., with £1 per ton for special treatment.

London County Council have accented the tender of Clayton f.nd
Shuttleworth (lowest tender) for tliree water-tube boilers, super-
heaters and economisers, with multiple retort stokers, at £61 392.
Seven tenders were received, including stokers, the highest being
£84 664, and one tender, exclusive of stokers, was £65 345. Five
tenders for stokers and fans only varie i from £9 755 to £12 490.

London County Council have also accepted the tender of Walter
Scott, Ltd., for 2 600 tons of track rails and fastenings at £28 667,
or 4 700 tons, £50 307 5s., subject to negotiations with the company
as to the quantity of rails required. Ihe accepted tender was the
lowest of those from British manufacturers, the highest l>eing
£36 354 14s. and £67 108 9s., for 2 600 and 4 700 tons respectively.
The three lowest tenders varying from £26 972 16s. to £28 002 5s.
for 2 600 tons and from £48 175 7s. 6d. to £50 065 12s. for 4 700
tone were for rails made on the Continent.

In connoction with the big contracts recently obtained by Spencer
& Company and Henry Simon, Ltd., for the erection of elevators
in Durban, Cape Town, and elsewhere in Souih Africa, a number
of sub-contracts have already been alloc.nted. The order for oil
engines goes to Ruston & Hornsby, for electric motors to the English
Electric Company, electric lifts to A. & P. Steven, hopper scales to
W. & T. Avery, hydraulic machinery to Fielding & Piatt, conveyor
and elevator belting to Leyland & Birmingham Rubber Company,
capstans to the New Switchgear Construction Company, and driv-
ing chains to Hans Renold. The Messrs. Ruston & Hornsby con-
tract is for thirty-eight heavy oil engines (of about 2 500 "b.h.p.
aggregate) for the South African Railways and Harbours Depart-
ment, for driving grain elevator machinery and for electric Hgnting
purposes in different parts of the country. The order, which is
understood to be for approximately 2 500 b.h.p., was secured after
vei'y severe competition.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. March 3rd (to-day).

Junior Institution of Engineers.
8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecturette on " Factory
Administration," by Mr. E. T. Elbourne.
MONDAY, March 6tb.

Society of Engineers.
5.30 p.m. At the Geological Society, Burlington House, London,
W. Paper on " The Testing of Small Electrical Plant," by
Dr. C. V. Drysdile.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Western Centre.
6.30 p.m. At the Merchant Venturers' Techaical College,
Bristol. Paper on " Induction Tvpe Synchronous Motors,"
by Mr. L. H. A. Carr.

Informal Meeting.

7 p.m. At Savoy-place, London W.C. Diecussion on

" E.H.T. Cable Testing," opened by Mr. E.. Ambrose.
Royal Society of Arts.

8 p.m. At John-street, London, W.C. Cantor Lecture on " The

Mechanical Design of Scientific Instruments," by Prof
A. F. C. Pollard. (Lecture III.)
TUESDAY, March 7th.

Institution of Civil Engineers.

6 p.m. At Great George-street, London, S.W. Paper on " The

Improvement of the Port of Valparaiso," by Messrs. A. C.
Walsh and W. F. Stanton.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
East Midland Sub-Centre.

7 p.m. At the Technical College, Derby. Paper on " The X-Ray

Examination of Materials," by Mr. J. F. Driver.
South Mtdland Students' Section.

7.30 p.m. At the University, Edgbaston. Paper on " The
Measurement of Flux Density in the Air Path of a Magnetic
Circuit," by Mr. W. P. Conty, B.Sc.
RoNTGEN Society

8. 15 p.m. At Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy-
place, London, W.C. Papers on " Comparisons Between
the Therapeutic, Photographic and lonisation Effects of
Ultra-Violet and of Beta Radiation," by Messrs. L. H.
Clark and B. D. Watters, and " Apparatus for Deep X-Ray
Therapy." Mr. E. E. Burnside.

WEDNESDAY, March 8th,

Industrial League antj Council.
7.30 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. lecture on " The
Pereonal Factor in Industry," by Miss B. Voysey.
Association of Engineeiis \n Charge.
7.30 p.m. At St. Bride's Institute, Bride-lane, London, E.G.
Paper on " Thermal Efficiency of Small Power Stations and
Methods of Comparison," by Mr. A. H. Seabrook.
Royal Society of Arts.

8 p.m.. At John-street, London, W.C Paper on " The Proper

Functions of Trade Unions," by Mr. W. A. Appleton,
C.B.E.

THURSDAY. March 9th.

National Liberal Club. Political and Economic Circle.
8 p.m. At Whitehall Place, London, S.W. Lecture on " The
Interests of Consumers," by ISIr. J. A. Hobson.
FRIDAY, March lOth.

Junior Institution of Engineers.
North-Eastern Section.
7 p.m.. At Armstrong College, Newcastle. Special meeting.
Paper on " Some Impvessions of America, with Special
Reference to Engineering Practice." by Dr. J. R. Beard.
Institution of Electrical Engineers.
North- Western Centre.

7 p.m.. At the College of Technology. Manchester. Exhibition

of Cinematograph Films, by Dr. C. C. Garrard and Mr. F.
Gill, O.B.E.

Scottish Centre. Students' Section.
7.30 p.m.. At the Royal Technical College, Glasgow. Annual
General Meeting and Paper on " Electricity in Mines," by
Mr. J. C. Stewart.

Irish Centre.

8 p.m. At the Royal College of Science, Upper Merrion -street,

Dublin. Paper on " Wireless Communications in the Cam-
paign in France," by Prof. R. Stanley.

Junior Institittion of Engineers.

8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Paper on "Friction."

by Mr. C. H. Plant.

Royal Institution.

9 p.m. At Albemarle-street, London. W. Discourse on " Prob-

lems in the Variabilitv of Spectra." bv Prof. T. R. Merton.
F.R.S.

* Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Oifir.f.s of " Thi
Electrician " are at 8, Bmiverie Street, Lonclon. E.C. 4. Tele-
grams: Bcnhrotric, Fleet. Lo'idon. Telephone: City 9852 (5 lines).

The .•fiihscripfior. to "The Electrician" is £15 0 per annum
in thr United Kincjdojn itnd £1 10 0 /)fr annum .Abroad. .Adi'ertise-
ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
tisement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2286. [

No. 10.
Vol. LXXXVII

..]

FRIDAY, MARCH lo, 1922.

Prepaid Subscription U.K., /i 55. p_- „ /J
perann.; Abroad, /I los. iriCC UU.

NOTKS OF THE WkEK

The Electbicitt Supply Bill

Railways and Electrification

The Industrial Future of India. By J. F. Crowley, D.Sc, B.A

M.I.E.E. Illustrated

Reviews

The Institution Jubilee Commemoration

The Home Idealised. Illustrated

Correspondence

Electric Light Salesmanship

Turbo-Alternator Transport

British Industries Fair, Birmingham

U.S. Electrical Exports in 1921

Legal Intelligence

Parliamentary Intelligence

Company Legislation in Australia .

Wimbledon's Electrical Engineer .

Oxford-street Lighting

Southampton Technioal Staff Dispute

Commercial Morality

Electrical Developments in Poland

CONTENTS.

277 Electricity Supply 298

280 Growth ot Liverpool Electricity Undertaking 298

2gj Obituary 298

Electric Traction 299

Social Notes 299

Business Items, &c 299

285 Personal and Appointments 299

286 Institution Notes 300

290 Exhibition Notes ^ 300

291 Telegraph and Telephone Notes 3U0

292 Wireless Notes 300

292 Electrical Machinery for British Malaya 300

293 Unbreakable Glass 300

294 Miscellaneous 301

295 Catalogues, Price Lists, &c 801

296 Tenders Invited and Accepted 301

296 Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 302

297 New Companies 301

297 Commercial Intelligence 304

297 Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c ... 305

297 Arrangements for the Week 306

297 PatentRecord 306

Notes of the Week.

The Electrical Industry and Exhibitions.

In our last issJue we gave some reaaons why the electrical
industry should be represented, not only at exhibitions
which are primarily arranged to foster British trade, but
at those which are at once of a wider and more limited
appeal, in that they attract the general public aaid allow
campari&oug to be made between electrical and other
methods of doing the same thing. On both these counts
the British Industries Fair at Birmingham, which closes
to-day, and the Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia, which
remains open until jNIarch 25th, may be written down as
successes. At each there is an adequa,t€i and generally good
display of eleotrioal equipment, and at each -therei is not
wanting opportunity of showing that on the scores of attrac-
tiveness, reliability and convenieinoe, electrical methods un-
doubtedly lead. The design of the equipment has been
improveid and the quality of manufacture is excellent.

Still Room for Improvement.

But the end is not yet. There is room for improvement.
For there still pergista the idea that the display and sale
of the products of individual firms is better than a
thoroughly comprehensive exhibit organised by the elec-
trical industry as a whole. We admit that this idea is not
wholly wrong. Competition isi the soul of business, and the
sight of a rival on a neighbouring stand interviewing
visitors and booking orders is like a tonic to one's own
efforts. But against this must be set the undoubted fact
that, especially at a show like the Ideal Home Exhibition,
an embai-rassment of choice is a disadvantage. The public,
eager but uneducated, when shown such a variety of ways
of doing the same thing, is first puzzled and then saispicious.
The result is that neither individual flnng nor the industry
profit as they ought. This failure is assisted by the too
la,vish equipment of the stands. A natm-aJ failing, but a

failing nevertheless ! The result is that even the electrical
engineer, who has s^ufl&cient knowledge to pick and choose,
becomes bewildered. What we should like to see at the
next of these exhibitions is a centrally situated electrical
stand distinguished by the slogan, if no one can think of a
better one, " Electricity in the Home." Perhaps Mr.
Beauchamp will arrange.

A Glaring Evil.

But whether this proposal is adopted or not, there is one
weakness which should be improved without delay. The cry
now is for a " Brighter London." If some of the methods
of illumination ( !) adopted at the Ideal Home Exhibition
continue to be used brigh<^ues3 will be superfluous; for we
shall all be blind. The fault is not, we are sorry to say,
confined to the non-electrical stands; and, as we indicate in
the criticisms which we publish on another page of this issi^e,
something must be done to alter this. It is not
inappropriate, therefore, that the saibject of debate at the
la&t Salesmanship Conference was " Salesmanship in Rela-
tion to Electric Lighting." The debate was opened by
Mr. Haydn Harrison, who made the important point for
our pui-pose that " to ensure that electric light produced a
bright and plea5.ant result, it was necessary to do something
more than fix a few electric lamps." The endeavour should
be, in his opinion, to obtain the same low intrinsic brilliancy
which gladdens the eye when looking at the light source,
and yet produces that light which tends to make every
occupation a pleasui-e. To obtain this effect not only were
suitable shades necessaiy, but for economic reasons stan-
dardisation to some extent was desirable, decorations t-hould
be studied, and oheei-f ulness aimed at. All these are words
of wisdom, which we hope will not fall on stony ground.

Industrial Lighting.

Ix a Paper read before a recent meeting of the Illumina-
ting Engineering Society, Mr. Gaster gave a useful sum-
mai-y of progress towards definite i-ecommendations ou
industrial lighting. In this country the framing of suoh

278

Tbe Electrician.

March

10, 1922

regulations has been the care of the Departmental (Honiei
Office) Committee, which was formed in 1913, and Great
Britain may fairly claim to have taken the lead in this
matter. Two reports have been issued, in 1915 and last
year, and a statutory provision requiring adequate and
general lighting has been recoinmendeid. Values of illu-
mination requisite in the interests of safety and coixveiiience
in factories were suggested in 1915, while the 1921 report
contains px'pvisions for avoiding glare. The United States,
being for some years little affected by the war, ha& pushed
ahead of us on this road, and there are already seven
States which apply "codes" of industrial lighting more
elaborate than the proposals in this country, but based on
similar principles, though in the latest code issued by the
American Illuminating Engineering Society the rule® are
extremely simple, and the explanations and educational
addenda are veiy full.

Ideal Requirements and Practical Solutions.

Ide.\l conditions are naturally not always realisablei in
practice, and, though conditions enabling work to' be done
with the same ease and safety as in good daylight might
be defined in practice, we must be content to' devise regula-
tions which will prevent a serious abuse of industrial light-
ing, without imposing hardship on the manufacturer. We
are completely in accord with Mr. Gaster when he em-
phasises the principle of " government by oonsjent." Inter-
ference by authorities is naturally resiented by manufac-
turers ; but. in view of thei educational work that has been
done in illumination they will probably readily acquiesce' in
recommendations made for their own benefit. We under-
stand that the somewhat complex problem of deciding the
value® of illumination requisite in diifeir^nt indusitirial proi-
cetsses is to be attacked in co-operation with representatives
of the' industries concerned. Thisi is a wise step. Although
such procedurci will naturally take time, it should result in a
more ^ientific and authoritative statement of the necessary
lighting conditions than is at present available. It must
be remembered that the mere provision of enough light is
not the whole proWem. The avoidance of glare, and parti-
cularly the problem of securing the right direction of light
for a. particular process and the consideration of the nature
of the surface illuminated, are equally important. Mr.
Gastek paid a tribute to the sympathetic attitude of the
Home Office in this matter. We are inclined to think that
official action in technical matters would often be more ■
judicious if authorities werei to seek expert advice, as has
been done in this instance.

The Engineers' Dispute.

At the time of going to press settlement has not been
achieved in the Engineers' dispute, trouble still exists in the
shipbuilding industry, and at Sheffield the blacksmiths,
assistied by the E.T.U., are running a, little show of their
own. In the first and most important disagreement neither
side wants trouble, but neither side wai;ts to give way, and
so inevitably we reached the stage we know so well, " when
a calamity can only bei prevented if the Prime Minisifcer
uses his great influence to bring the parties together."
Unfortunately the Prime Minister is ill and that hope
therefore seems rather illusory. However, the Ministi-y of
Labour has taken the matter in hand, and we understand
that conferenqes between the parties in the disputes are
being arranged.

Official and Unofficial Causes.

The official cause of the trouble, as we mentioned last
week, is the refusal of the employers to concede their mana-

gerial functions on the question of overtime. Here they
are undoubtedly in the right, and as the men are concilia-
tory it seems a little' strange that' no settlement has been
reached. But behind this lies the much more difficult ques-
tion of the position of the shop sitewards, and it is stated to
be the intention of the emplo'yers to rid themselves of the
system which the presence of theise men implies. If this
really is the issue it' would be best to say so, as only by~a
clearly stating thei differences between the parties can-l
settlement be reached and disaster averted. ^

Rental Wiring at Eastbourne.

Though public electricity supply undertakings are now"
well established concerns, and are daily adding to the
number of their consumers, still only a small percentage of
the possible demand has been tapped. Of the middle-ciass
houses, small residential property and workmen's dwellings,
it is safe to say that not one per cent, enjoys the advan-
tages of electricity supjDly, partly because of the
tenancy agreements and partly because of the inability
of the occupiers tO' bear the co'st of the initial instal-
lation. Prior to the war many municipal authorities had
devised hire' purchase or a&sisted wiring schemes for dealing
with this class of property, but when hostilitiee broke
out in 1914 the restrictions imposed soon broiight the
good work to a standstill. Subseiquently the greatly
increased demand for power and the heavy cost of wiring
and fittings made further progress impo'ssible. Now the
prices of materials are falling, and attention is therefore
once' more being paid tO' suitable methods for extending the
benefits of electricity supply to this class of the community.
This is all to- the goo'd, and the best method of attack
would, we think, be for supply authorities and local wiring
contractors to co'mbine toi cultivate it properly. In this
connection it is interesting to note an experiment now being
made by the Eastbo'urne Corporation.

Details of the Arrangements.

It is significant that the Corporation have made this
departure at the instance of the Labour Party, though all
the arrangements for wiring and fittings have been pre-
pared by Mr. J. K. Brydges, the borough electrieal
engineer. At the outset an applicant who desires his house
wired must fill up a form of agreement and get his
laitdlord to sign it. The installation, not less than four,
nor more than six points, remains the property of the Cor-
poration, and the wiring rental is sevenpence per point
per quarter. We are glad to notice that the Corporation
have decided not to establish a wiring department, as private
enterprise should be capable of dealing with any orders
that may come aloaig. Indeed, there axe plenty of con-
tractors at Eastbourne to undertake wiring work. Each
applicant will be at liberty to select -any local contractor
for carrying out the work, and when finished the bill will
be paid by the Corporation. It is estimated that a
six-light installation, inclusive of plain pendants with
lam])s and o]>al shades, will cost £9, and as the rental
charge would be 15 per cent, upon this figure, the annual
rent will be 27&., or 6s. 9d. per quarter, the equivalent of
Is. lid. per lamp point. These figiires have been modified,
but they seem to us still rather high, and we are
afraid that the experiment ^^^ll not be a great success unle«^
there is more flexibility about the airangements.

Hire-Purchase Arrangements Desirable.

We believe that a hire-purchase, rather than a pure-
rental scheme, would be less burdensome and be much more-

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

279

attractive to householders. Experience has shown that
when customers are satisfied with an electric light or power
experiment they desire to purchase the hired fittings
and apparatus. Though the Electricity (Supply) Act
does not contemplate this, we think that, perhaps, the
Corporation could come to an understanding on the matter
with the local contractors. Anyhow, we shall await with
interest the results of the Eastbourne experiment.

Electric Lamp Patent Litigation.

Elsewhere we report an important judgment uphold-
ing the validity of the patent frequently refei-red to as the
leading-in wire pateiit. The owners, the British Thomson-
Houston Company, have recently been involved in a good
'deal of patent litigation, and though they have been suc-
cessful in both the gasfilled lamp and the present case, a
great deal of expense must have been incurred, as such
proceedings are very costly. The series of episodes, in
fact, form a good illustration of the difficulties which beset
the path of the inventor, especially the poor inventor
who has made a valuable discovery and is himself unable
to develop or protect it. Fortunately, in the present case,
the plaintiffs are a wealthy company, able to employ
counsel and patent experts, and to take all necessary
steps to vindicate their rights.

The Points at Issue.

As is well known, for over 30 years platinum was almost
exclusively employed as the leading-in wire in vacuum
lamps, as its coefficient of expansion was almost equal to
that of glass, and it was also non-oxidising. But owing to
the high cost of this metal frequent efforts have been
made, more particularly since' the nineties, to discover a
cheaper substitute with similar properties. Though some of
the specifications, alleged to be anticipations of the patent,
indicate that the inventors were working on somewhat
similar lines, though none of them achieved the desired
object. In the plaintiffs' patent, which has become a great
commercial success, the leading-in wire consists of a core of
a nickel-iron alloy with a coating or sheath of copper, which
is oxidising, and whose oxide is easily soluble in the glass
used in the opeiration of sealing. In~ the specification of
the patent the alloy consists of 46 per cent, of nickel and
54 per cent, of iron, but in the infringing lamps there
was 29 per cent, of copper, about 28'45 per cent, nickel and
42'5 per cent. iron. In the result the Judge held this to
be an infringeiment and granted the usual relief.

Power Companies as Distributors of E'.ectricity,

It will be remembered that the early Power Acts
authorised companies to supply electricity in bulk or for
power purposes only, the right to supply for lighting and
in retail to ordinary consiumerg being specdfioally "withheld.
To overcome this difficulty, several of the power companies,
including the North ]\retropolitan Electric Power Supply
Company, formed subsidiary undertakings which obtained
provisional orders in towns and districts and took a
supply in bulk from the parent Company. Though
a fair amount of success has attended this indirect
and complicated procedure, it has been costly from the
administrative point of view. The North Metropolitan
Company has, therefore, introduced a Bill to simplify the
position by taking over the seven supply undertalcings
authorised by the provisional orders held by the North
Metropolitan Electrical Power Distribution Company. The
whole of the loan and share capital of the latter concern
is held by the Power Company and it also supplies all the
energy consumed in the seven districts. As far as we can

see, the only objection that can be made to this arrange-
nuent is that undertakings established under provisional
orders can be purchased by the local authorities, who may
not wish to lose this right. But in view of the extensive
reorganisation of electricity supply which must take place,
and especially if a Joint Electricity Authority be formed,
this is not likely to be a very valuable privilege.

The North Metropolitan Power Company's Bill.

There is a good deal of indignantly earnest petitioning
to the " Lords Spiritual and Temporal" over another
clause in the North Metropolitan Company's Bill. This
is Clause 15, in which the company desire to reverse a
previous prohibition, and to be allowed to supply in the
administrative County of London any electricity they pur-
chase from the London & North- Western or the Metro-
politan Railways. How, when, or where they are going
to do this is the conundrum over which both the London
undertakers and the County Council are exercising them-
selves. Some of them apparently have a vision of the
Metropolitan Railway Company forming a " river of elec-
tricity ■' through London, which will be diverted into the
premises of private consumers all along the line by the help
of the North Metropolitan Company as an intermediary.
Some of them also fear that one of their confreres is up to
no good, since they refer with alarm to the possibility of the
North Metropolitan Company obtaining possession of one
of the London company's undertakings and performing
thereby all kinds of illicit operations. Altogether, most of
the petitioners seem to be fighting in the dark, and we
suggest that the North Metropolitan might say exactly
what they intend doing. For the only section of the popu-
lation to whom such disputes give unequivocal joy is the
legal fraternity, for whose pleasure the poor consumer has
ultimately to pay.

A Startling Discovery.

A STARTLING discovery has recently been made, and, like
many great discoveries, it has been independently discovered
in two different quarters. At the Annual Dinner of the
Institution of the Electrical Engineers, Mr. Llewellyn:
Atkinson included "The Technical Press" among the
guests on that occasion, and furt-her reference to this-
modest and cloistered body were made at the Commemora-
tion meetings and at the lunch of the British Electrical
Development Asaocriation . Almost simultaneously ^Ir.
AcFiELD, in his presidential address to the Institution of
Railway Signal Engineers, referred to the Technical Press*
as an educative foroei. It ia not for us to say whether these
encomiums are desei-ved, all we ask is that the Electrical
Press should be recognised as part of the electrical industn,-,
and to say that its one aim is the development of the
iudustiy of which it is part.

A Ministry of Communications.

That war baby the Ministry of Communications ha-^
turned up again. In his recent speech on the Geddet-
reports the Chancellor of the Exchequer remarked-.
' ' There would be much to be said for uniting the Ministry
of Transport, with the Post Office and having a
]Ministry of Comnuuiieationa. I do not know whether that
recommends itself to anybody." Frankly it does not
recommend itself to us. We cannot think of one reason
why it would be an advanlage, while we can think of several
why it would not. We shall not ti-ouble to detail
these, as our readers will easily think of them for themselves,
but sliall samply express the hope that this idea will receive
a speedy burial without further waste of time.

280

The Electrician.

March lo, 1922

The Electricity Supply Bill.

Though tlie Electricity Supply Bill which was intro-
duced into the House of Lords last week by Viscount Peel
is fundamentally the same as the No. 2 Bill of last year,
there are certain material omissions and additions. The
more contentious clauses of last year's measure have, of
course, been abandoned, while additional provisions have
been iiiserted. The Bill, in its present form, is practically
permissive throughout, and no compulsion is to be applied
to anyone, either company or local authority.

Financial Arrangements.

Unless important parts of the 1919 Act are to remain
dead letters' some such Bill as the present isi, of course,
necessary, in order that Joint Electricity Authorities may
perform their functions effectively . These dead letteirs are
mainly financial, and it is now proposed to allow a Joint
Authority to borrow money for the purchase of generating
stations, main transmission lines aiid permanent works, or
for working capital, and toi charge the bori'owed money on
the undertaking and revenues of the Authority. Stock or
other securities may be issued in discharge of the purchase
price of a generating station or main transmission line
acquired from an authorised undertaker provided the
latter agrees; and the usual sinking fund arrangements may
be susjaended in the case of a loan for new works for a period
of five years.

Nothing Revolutionary.

There is nothing revolutionary in all this; in faot, many
municipal authorities already possess wider powers. As in
last year's Bill, there is a provision enabling authorised
undertakers within the district of a, Joint Authority, as well
as consumers and prospective consfumeirs, whoi obtain a
supply of electricity from it, or the Council of any County
or Borough tO' give financial assistance to the Authority by
loans, by subscribing for securities, or guaranteeing the in-
terest on loans; but all Councils (except the London County
Council) must first obtain the consent of the Ministry of
Health before exercising these powers. This precaution is
insei'ted in the interests of economy and as a safeguard for
ratepayers.

New Glauses.

Amo'Ug the new clauses is one einabling the Commissionerg
to include in a scheme constituting a Joint Authority a pro-
vision that tho'se represented on the Authority shall contri-
bute towards its administrative expenses, which seems only
fair. There are three fresh clauses dealing with the appor-
tionment of the expenses of the Electricity Commissioners.
Thesei enable a revision of the apportionment tO' be made
where necessary, and intierest tO' be charged, if the sum is
not paid within two moaiths. Sums due froni a Joint
Authority or an authorised undertaker can bei recovered by
the Commissioners summarily as a oivil debt. "We also
notice a small but important extension of Clause 8 relating
to the use of transmission lines by agreemeiit. It is pro-
bable that colliei'y, railway, and private company lines are
in contemplation, and as the clause is purely pennissive no
objection can be raised to it.

An Extended Stand-by Clause.

It is proposed to amend Sec(ion 15 of the 1909 Act (the
" stand-by " clause) and make the expression " premises'
having a separate supply" include premises "with a
separate supply of electricity, gas, steam or other form of
energy applicable for the purposes for which electricity is

demanded or received." This will enable the Authority to
insist upon such a payment for extending the supply cables
as will cover the capital charges on the extension in all
cases where there is any independent source ol power.

Supply from Railway Power Station.

Important amendments have been made in the claust"
relating to the supply of electricity from a railway or
tramway power station to a Joint Authority or authorised
undertaker. No such supply is to be given to authorised
distributors in the area of a power coanpany or of a Joint J
Authority without the consent of the latter. This seems
to us toi be quite equitable and should remove at least one
source of opposition from the Bill. The scheme for the
revision oif prices and metho'ds of charging are practically
the same as those in the No. 2 Bill, though the London
County Council are now included in the list of those who
may make representations on prices and methods of charg-
ing. This clause alone, which makes three years the standard
period of revision, would be a most welcome and desirable
. amendment of the existing law. We hope, therefore, that
the Bill, now that it has been shorn of practically every-
thing to which exception could reasonably be taken, will
be placed on the Statute Book without further delay, in
order that the re- organisation of electricity supply, so essen-
tial for industrial progress, may proceed on accelerated
lines. It was read a second time in the House of Lords
on Tuesday.

Interested Opposition.

That being so, we regret to notice that one of the financial
journals has declared against the Bill, in ill-informed
articles, from a " well-informed correspondent," full of in-
accuracies and exaggerations, and calls for its withdrawal.
It quotes the late Lord Moulton, a pronounced gas advo-
cate, in support of its attitude, and attempts to scare the
public by putting the cost of the transmission lines alone at
£150 000 000 ! In an excess of fury, such as is usually
kept for serious matters like football, it holds up the Bill
as an attempt to extort money from the pockets of an
unwilling public, oblivious of the fact that the public is
anxious to^ invest in electricity supply and does so whenever
it getst a chance. It complains that compulsion is still a
feature of the Bill. We cannot agree; but even if it were
there are people in thei electricity supply industry who
need compulsion if there is to be any development at all.
These arguments may bei good enough for the man in the
street, but our readers will know that this fantasy is either
an emanation from the brain of a director of a gas company
or of someonei who is not interested in or is even opposed to
tlie progress of electricity supply. Finally the cloven hoof
, is displayed. Let the present companies go on. We
thought so. Now though the companies ha,ve not had a
fair field their enterpinse has not always been what it might.
We prefer the J. E. A. idea. For suffice it to say that
there exists a large and a steadily inci-easing demand for
electricity, and that this must be met eithei* by the Joint
Authorities (or some similar organisation) or by existing
supply undertakers. If the latter have to meet their legal
obligations the capital ex})enditure entailed ^rill be greater
by millions of pounds than if the Joint Authorities under-
take the work, while the financial and economic results will
not be nearly so good. Thus there can be no choice of the
method that should be adopted, especially as the Com-
pany question is mainly confined to London, and it cannot
be seriously contended that a particular difficulty should
be a basis for general legislation.

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

281

Railways and Electrification.

Now that all the British railway oompanies have held
their annual meetings it is interesting to find that, while
the speeches naturally dealt with a variety of topics,
including amalgamation problems and the great increase
in operating costs since 1913, a special point was made of
electrification. This is not surprising; for transport charges
are one of the principal obstacles to a real revival of trade,
and, though grouping will make possible considerable sav-
ings, much further effort is necessary if reduced charges
are to be realised in the near future. For it is obvious,
from the published statistics, that not only have fares
passed the economic limit, and that their reduction would
be greatly to the companies' advantage as well as tO' that
of trade and industry of the country, but that some means
must be taken to overcome congestion. Electrification is
that means, especially from the econoonio point of view.

Electrification Pays.

It is, therefore, gratifying to record that the group of
railways controlled by the Undergi-ound Company were
able to declare higher dividends. The Metropolitan Dis-
trict Company made a payment of one per cent, on
its ordinary shares for the firsts time for 39 years, ajid the
amount carried forward wais £40 013 more than in the
previous year. Since the line has been worked electrically
steady progress has been made year by year and now it
would appear as if the shareholders were at last to reap
some reward for their directors' foresight and skilful
organisation and their own patience. The North London
Railway, too, which was in sore straits before it adopted
electric traction, now pays 6 per cent, on its con-
solidated stock, against 5| per cent, in 1920, and for
the first time since 1903 the holders of the preferential
consolidated stock receive their maximum rate. Another
instance of the combined good effects of electrification and
of a progressive policy is the Metropolitan Company, which
is able to declare a higher dividend as the result of greatly
increased net revenue. In fact, the past year's record of
the Company was the best for 15 years, and the prospects
are decidedly good.

A Dismal Contrast.

When we turn to the meetings of purely steam railways
such as the South-Eastem and Chatham Railway Com-
panies, we find a marked contrast to this dawn of pros-
perity. This system, more especially the sections within
30 miles of London, is eminently suitable for electric
traction and should have been converted years ago.
Financial difficulties, coupled with a conservative policy,
prevented this being done; though it is just to say that
the directors had adopted an electric traction scheme in
1913, but the outbreak of war prevented any real progress:
being made. Now the chairman, Mr. Cosmo Bonsor,
a little inconsistently, complains that the principal asset
of the Chatham Company, their short- distance Metro-
politan traffic, no longer exists; and that even the com-
pany's revenue from outside the Metropolitan area is
threatened by an extension of road competition. Truly,
an unfortunate position, but wailing will not improve
it.

Electric Traction the Only Remedy.

The only effective way to cope with this trouble is to
give a better and cheaper service by the introduction of
electric traction, and we are pleased to see that probably
the companies may be able, by means of the Trades
Facilities Act, to do now what should have been done long
D 2

ago. In order to comply with the i>rovi.,i'jn.s of the Act it
is proposed to form a ' ' private ' ' construction company,
with a capital soifficient to meet preliminary expenses, but
with borrowing powers to cover the cost of construction and
electrical equipment. The money borrowed will carry the
Government guarantee, both as to principal and interest,
and will be obtained on the most favourable terms as the
work progresses. When complete the works will be let to
the Managing Committee on lease for 25 years at a rent
sufficient to repay capital and interest at the expiration
of the lease, when the works will become the property of
the Managing Committee or its successors.

Where Electrification Should Pay.

We have already given particulars of the company's
electrification scheme, and we have no doubt that, if it
can be carried out, the results wOl be as satisfactory as in
the case of other electrified lines. For though
the company's stations are well placed for the distri-
bution of passengers, it cannot run more steam trains
in the busy hours, morning and evening, and the only
remedy by which increased accommodation for the public
and increased revenue can be obt&ined is, therefore, elec-
trification. The chairman recognises that a change from
steam to electric traction would give faster and more fre-
quent services, and would attract those who, owing to
overcrowding and inconvenience, now use other means of
transport. It would also assist the development of Outer
London and so ease the housing difficulty.

The Progressive Brighton Line.

But matters do not end there. The London, Brighton
and South Coast Railway is continuing its policy of
extending electric working, though it has withdrawn its
Bill for additional financial powers. The Great Eastern
is another railway that would greatly benefit by adopting
electric traction on its suburban lines, and though its
ultra-cautious and conservative chairman. Lord Cl.aud
Hamilton, made no pronouncement upon the subject, no
doiibt the force of circumstances and the increasing compe-
tition of motor traffic will soon compel it to adopt this form
of traction. Other companies are also considering the pos-
sibilities and advantages of .>lectric working, and when the
amalgamation schemes ai'e out of the way we shall doubt-
less witness a considerable increase of activity in this
connection.

Underground Extensions.

This is the more necessaiy, for as Lord Ashfield
pointed out at the meetings of the " L"'^nderground "
Electric l^ailway Companies, improved 'ind extended trans-
port facilities are essentiaJ. In the case of the " Under-
ground " a revised scheme has been prepared at the instance
of the Government, and, if advantage can be taken of the
provisions of the Trade Facilities Act, no doubt it will be
carried out. In the case of the City and South Loudon
Railway there is urgent need for modem equipment and
enlarged tunnels, as anyone who travels on it knows.
Last year the traffic declined by more than 9 300 000 pas-
sengers, or 23 per cent. There was also a decrease of over
17 millions in the number of passengei-s carried on the
INIetropolitan District, of nearly 32 millions on tie Loudon
Electric Railways, and of nearly 7 millions on the Central
London Electric Railway. No doubt the enlargement of
the City and South London tunnels, coupled \dih. through
running arrangements at Euston, would have very beneficial
effects, but we hope that tie directors will also bear in
mind that a reduction of fares, whenever this is possible,
will have an equally good influence on the traffic and
revenue of the company.

282

The Electrician — March lo, 1922

The Industrial Future in India.

By J. F. CROWLKY, D.Sc. B.A-, M.I.E.E.

{^LoncUided jrom 'page 225.)

In the second pari of his article, though referring to the Indian textile industry. Dr. Crowley deals more generally with labour organitalion
and its difficulties in that country. Unrest is an important problem, not the least because the native fields it difficult to separate disputes that
arise in connection with purely trade matters from political feeling. A good deal of the trouble that has arisen in these disputes would. Dr. Crowley
thinks, be minimised if the men were organised into responsible unions and educated by legitimate methods. Details of the devdopmeni of welfare
work and of technical education in India are given, while the importance of rapidly developing the available power 6n electrical lines is stressed.

Hand Spinning Uneconomic.

As regards hand spinning, which is being strongly
advocated by Indian politicians, and an illustration
of which is given in Fig. 6, it is a wholly un-
economic proposition, and one that is more likely to
lead eventually to distress than to any improvement in
the lot of the people. There is no comparison possible, in
quantity or quality, between the output of the hand spin-
ning wheel and the modem spinning frame. It might be
pointed out here that the counts spun in Indian mills
generally vary betw^een I's and 30's, while the counts
used by the native weavers run very much higher, and
consist, in most cases, of yam imported from this country.

There is a definite market for Lancashire goods, and
there is reason to believe that, if Lancashire manufacturers

Fig. C-

-Using the Charka or Spinning Wheel in
Mtsore Village.

wo'uld devote some little attention tO' encouraging the hand-
loom industry in India by improving the types of loom
employed, &c.. they would improve the Indian market for
their goods.

It is also true, on the other hand, that Indian mills
are, in most cases, contem]>lating extending in the direction
of fine spinning:, and in course of time would, no doubt,
become competitors in this also.

The following extract from a report of Mr. C. R.
Palairet, now Director of Indvistries tc the State of Indore,
and dealing with his work in the State of Hyderabad, may
be of interest irt this connection : —

In spite of tlie introduction of large spinning and weiivwig mills,
there is, and there probably always will be, room for weaving undei"
cottage conditions. The work lends itself to cottage working,, and
the low value attached to labour allows of production on lines
profitable enough to workers. The industry provides work in this
Stato (Hyderabad, Deccan) for 61 000 persons. Notwithstanding
advances in outside places like Sholapur, little or nothing is known
here of the fly-shuttle slay ; in Hyderabad some weavers are familiar
with it, but are too conservative to use it, and cling to the old form
of pit loom. The fly-shuttle loom may not be so flexible as the old
looms, but could be used, at least, by 75 per cent, of the weavers,
who do not have to do work which the fly shuttle cannot do. If
unable to handle solid boi'der cloths, it can, at any rate, increa.se

the output in spun cloths threefold without increase in labour. This
is the weaver who needs help. Solid border cloth weavers are in
competition with themselves only. There is good reason to think
that, if proper assistance wei'e given to improving the systems in
use among these native craftsmen, ajid particularly towards improv-
ing and simplifying the loom, a great deal of good could be done,
particularly in the country districts, and, incidentally, an opening
would be maintained for the fine counts of yarn.

With this comment the writer is in complete agreeonent,
and, in his opinion, it applies to many other parts of India
besides Hyderabad.

Labour Organisation.

It was estimated that there were fifty million workers
in India in 1916. Of this number, farm servants and field
labourers formed 52 per cent., hand craftsmen 35 per cent.,
transport workers 5 per cent., domestic servants 5| per
cent., and factory employees 2 per cent. The growth in
factory employees between 1892 and 1919 will be seen from
the fodlcwing table*: —

1892 1905 1919

Men 254 000 501000 928 000

Women 44 000 93 000 177 000

Juveniles 19 000 39 000 67 000

Total

317 000

633 000

1 172 000

The organisation of workers in India is still in a very
elementary position. The first Trade Union Congress to be
held in India was held at Bombay on Oct. 31, 1920, and
was attended by representatives of some forty organisa-
tions. An office was established at Bombay, and a com-
mittee of forty members was appointed, twenty-four of
whom had no definite qualifications to represent labour.

Workers* Committees in State Factories

In the latter part of 1920 the Government of India dis-
cussed the advisability of establishing Workers' Com-
mittees in State factori-js, and they subsequently estab-
lished committees in the Government printing ofiices jointly
representative in equal numbers of workers and managei'^.
It has also' been reported f that a joint ccmmittee has been
established as an experiment at the Tata, Mills in Bombay.

The tendency towards organisation does not exist only
among workers. A meeting of representatives of em-
ployers' organisations from all India wa^ held in December,
1920, in Bombay, at which it was decided to form a
federation.

Trades Union Movement.

In January, 1921, it was stated that twenty-seven traJi-
unions existed in Madras. These were, however, unregis-
tered, and had no definite constitution. They were not
recognised by the employers on the ground that their con-
stitutions were unsatisfactoi-y, and that they were con-
trolled by people outside the Labour movement, who used
that movement to serve political ends. The workers, on
the other hand, endeavoured to get the unions recognised
as they were, on the grounds that they themselves wei-e
incapable of conducting them, or of stating their position
properly in a dispute. They, held, also, that the worker
who was a trade union official might be liable to trade
victimisation.

In April, 1921, the Government of the Bombay Presi-
dency established a Labour office, (a) to compile statistics,
and to publish reports on wages, hours, cost of living,
strikes, trade unions, and other labour questions, (b) to
organise a comprehensive labour intelligence senuce, (r) to^

* Labour Overseas, Vol. 1, No. 4. March,
t " The Times of India," Jan. 5, 1921.

1921.

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

28.3

advise Government in connection with the settlement of
industrial disputes, and (d) to advise in connection with
the introduction of new and amendment of new legislation.
In May, 1921, the Government promised legislation to
l^alise trade unions, and undertook to encourage their
formation. Finally, to complete the twelve months'
survey, it should be noted that a movement was started in

Fio. 7. — Warping, Winding, etc., in the Industrial
School, Maduea.

Bombay for eight unions to form a Central Labour Boaxd
on American lines, while a meeting was also held with a
view to providing a constitution for a Bengal Federation
of Labour.

Unrest.

There is little doubt that the rapid industrial develop-
ment of India is being seriously delayed by the unsettled
political situation there, the frequency with which indus-
trial troubles arise, and the aouteness of these troubles
when they do arise. As regards political issues,
matters are changing from day to day, and it would
scarcely be wise after a visit of something under a year
to ofEer comments or make suggestions regarding matters
so complex.

As regai'ds the industrial side, however, some comment
seems to be called for. That the situation is not very
satisfactory will be gathered from the fact that not fewer
than two and a half million working days were lost in
the first quarter of 1921 by 185 000 workpeople through
strikes or lockouts, fully half of these being in the Province
of Be)/igal.

Unsatisfactory Working Conditions-

The conditions under which the Indian workman lives and
works are by no means as satisfactory as they ought to be.
On the other hand, there is little doubt that one of the
chief troubles with labour in India is that strikes are likely
to arise from causes that have really no connection with
the ordinary relationships that should exist between em-
ployers and employed.

The writer made the suggestion to several responsible
people that it would be a very wise step to encourage the
formation of reliable and stable trade unions in each and
eveiy industry. Many of the employers of labour are
opposed to this idea, but there is reason to think that their
attitude in this matter has undergone radical alteration.
The advantages that should result from the formation »f
trade unions on proper lines among tlie workers would be, in
the first place, that they would get educated in legitimate
trade union methods, and in the part that arbitration and
the absence of violence plays in the legitimate settlement
of disputes; and, what is of great importance, they would
learn to distinguish between matters that properly arise

in wjnnection with their employment and have to be
adjusted between their employers and themselvee, and
matters that should really be kept outside the works
altogether.

One of the great difficulties in connection with indus-
trial disputes in India is that many of these disputes arise
from causes that have no connection with trade union
matters.

Recent Trade Disputes.

In connection with recent trade disputes in Bengal, the
Director >f Industries matle the following remarks*: —

Partly from their non-doniicile in the Province, and partly
through lack of education, the workmen of Bengal cannot be eai'l
to constitute a class, in the sense of a social group, aware of any
corporate personality, and they are unpractified in the organisations
that make for the common articulation of coirmon desiree. The
strike as a means of obtaining concteeions was not unknown before
1920, but it had appeared only in isolated cases, and the demands
had more commonly been non-economic in character.

This summary of the situation in Bengal is applicable to
many other areas in India, and the two points put for-
ward, viz., that workmen at present are inexperienced in
organisations that make for the articulation of their desires,
and that their demands up to recently have been for things
properly outside the scope of a trade dispute, form the
basis of the contention that the writer puts forward for the
thorough organisation of Indian industries on trade union
lines, with all the assistance that could be given from
experience in more advanced countries.

As has been pointed out, the Government have now taken
cognisance of the necessity for such organisation, and
legislation has been definitely promised to legalise" trade
unions and encourage their formation. A notable factor
in connection with present trade disputes in India is that
the men, through lack of responsible leaders from among
themselves, are generally guided by leaders who have no
connection with the industry, and to whom, in many cases,
notoriety is not unwelcome. On the other hand, there are
some notable exceptions to this, and some of those who
have taken a leading part in connection with some of the

\r^'

Fig. ts. — Dyeixg in the Open-air. Mapi ka.

industrial disputes have adopted a sound trade union atti-
tude, and one worthy of general emulation in India.

Violent Methods.

As regards the use of violent methods, the following com-
ments in the article just referred to are pertinent : —

The bulk of strikes have boon accompanied by picketing and
solidarity has been achieved in individual concerns by methods of
intimidation, which have proved, as al\vay3. difficult to combat. It

* " Trade Disputes in Bengal," by Director of Industries, Bengal.
" Journal of Industries and Labour,'" Vol. I., Part 1, Feb. 1921.

2Si

The Electrician.

March lo, 1922

has been sufficient generally foa those most interested in the strike
to place anyone who might be recalcitrant under vei-bal threats of
violence to person or property. Actual violence has not been
commonly resorted to.

Violence is by no means always absent, however, from
strikes in other parts of India, but there is little doubt that
greater control would be exercised if the men were
organised into responsible unions and educated in legiti-
mate trade union methods.

The suggestion is made that it would be well worth while
inviting out to India responsible and eixperienced trade
union leaders with a view to educating and organis-
ing the Indian w^orkers on these lines. It is believed
that the course proposed would have a stabilising effect on
the relationship between employer and employed, and if,
in addition, efforts were made to improve the lot of the
worker, particularly in his home life, the benefits to
industiy generally would be very great.

The Development of Welfare Work.

Much has already been done in this connection in Bom-
bay and in Calcutta, where welfare work — as understood in
this country — has now been taken up. The Social Se-rvice

Fia. 9. — Welfare Work in a Calcutta Jute Mill

League in Bombay took the* initiative in starting the
Currimbhoy Ebrahim Workmen's Institute, and the Tata
Sons Workmen's Institute, which are carrjring on welfare
work for the operatives under the agency of these two
firms. I

Much is also being done in coi.uection with the jute mills
in Calcutta, which are really admirably organised concerns,
and reflect the greatest' credit on those responsible for their
control or management.

Fig. 9 shows an illustration of the medical service pro-
vided for operatives in a Calcutta jute mill.

As regards maternity benefits and child welfare, India,
owing to its special social conditions, was exempted for
the time being from coimpliance with the " draft conven-
tion ' ' of the Internatioail Labour Conference of the League
of Nations. The position of India generally in regard to
these matters is not good ; in a few cases only is financial
assistance given to^ mothers. The Bombay and Nagpur
mills of the Tata Company have established such a system,
and also the Sholopur Spinning and Weaving Mills. iThe
whole question is a difficult one, and it is further com-
plicated by the dearth of women doctors.

A notable feature of welfare work, particularly in Bom-
bay, is the establishment of co-operative credit societies,
which are formed to enable the worker to be independent of

Marwari and Pathan moneylenders, who charge the exorbi-
tant interest on loans of anything from 1 to 4 annas per
month per rupee. While it takes some time to educate the
workers to new ideas, these societies are already meeting
with distinct success.

As regards the work of oo-operative societies generally,
the following statement* is interesting : —

The co-operative movement in India made rapid progress in 1919,
and its beneficial effects upon the character of the inhabitants are
very marked. In the sphere of agriculture . . . much good has
been done in helping to reduce debt. ... In the Madras Presi-
dency, where the movement has advanced considerably, there are at
present nearly a quarter of a million members of co-operative
societies. . . . The membership of the societies in Bengal rose
f rcxm 126 000 to 135 000.

Education.

The future of industry depends to a very large extent
on the facilities provided for the technical training of the
youth of the country. It is not possible, however, in a
brief survey ol this character, to do anything like justice
to the educational position in India.

The Public Works Department provides the greatest
number of openings for trained engineers. There are four
principal colleges which prepare engineers
for this department, viz., Eoorkee in the
U.P., Madras, Sibpur, and Poona. The
training is generally of a civil engineering
character, though latterly efforts have been
made to develop the teaching of mechanical
and electrical engineering. Thus, a Chair
of Electrical Engineering was recently
founded in Madras. Electrical and mechani-
cal engineering are also taught at the
Engineering College, Bangalore, and at an
institution which successfully fills a veiy
useful function — the Victoria Technological
Institute at Bombay, under the direction
of Professor Turner. Higher training in
electrical engineering is given at the Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore, established
primarily for research under Dr. Fowler
and Dr. Alfred Hay, which the writer had
an opportunity of visiting. Generally
speaking, the training in civil engineering
provided in Indian colleges is altogether
superior to that provided in mechanical
and electrical engineering, largely, no doubt,
due to the fact that the principal demand
in the public services is for civil engineers.
The training in electrical and mechanical
engineering is not very satisfactory, and
many of the students Avho wish to take iip
these courses have at least to complete their education outside
the country.

Practical Training.

Education in textile subjects is provided at Serampore,
near Calcutta, and in the Victoria Technological Institute
at Bombay, ^.nd of an elementary character in the trades
})reparatory schools referred to below.

There are scattered througliout the country in British
India, aiid in Native India, schools of the trades prepara-
tory type, such as the Industrial School at Madura, to
which reference has been made.

Universities exist at most of the important centres, a*;
Bombay, Calcutta, Madi-as, Mysore, &c., and the courses
seem toi be of a i-easonably high standard.

There is apparent throughout India fai- too great a
tendency to regard a degree or a diploma as an end in itself —
a marketable label. This attitude naturally lowers the
respect in which tnie education is held, and the I'espect
for knowledge. Notwithstanding this, the Indian student
is keen and hardworking, and cue found Indian student
audiences observant and attentive, and genei^ally differing
little from their fellow students in Europe, with whom one
would like to see them in closer touch.

* The Intornational Co-oi>erative Bulletin. January, 1921.

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

285

As regards the practical side of the training of elec-
trical and mechanical engineering students, it is worthy of
note that, owing to the lack of facilities provide<l by Bntish
works, much of this training is given outside the United
Kingdom. The result of this is clearly seen on the return
of the young engineers to India, when their predilections
for material manufactured in the country where they
received their training militates very seriously against
British trade. This is a matter, however, that could
readily be remedied by joint effort between Indian educa-
tional authorities and engineering works in this country.

General Impressions.

The writer left India with the feeling that it was a
country with a great industrial future, and that while
development at the moment was being retarded, pai'tly by
unrest and partly by the rate of exchange, great develop-
ment in the near future was inevitable.

The appointment cf UirecLors of Industry in British India
and in native states sihows a proper sense of reisponsibility
on the ])art. of Govei'nment in these raattersj. It is note-
worthy that thei writer found that the directors who' had
had an engineering or manufacturing training much more
successful than those without such training or experience.

It is regrettable that in the application of electricity to
industry much of the work carried out is not on the most
modern lines, due, no doubt, to the remoteness of the
country from the chief engineering centres, and to the
absence, in many cases, of highly skilled engineering
advice. There is a tendency — on the whole a sound one —
more and more to employ Indians in connection with the
running of factories and plants, and particularly in all
junior positions. As one European of experience in the
country put it, " The day of the Chota Sahib in India has
ended."

On the other hand there is, and will continue to be,
great scope for Europeans in connection with the design
and layout of new central power stations, factories, and
industrial equipments, and in connection with certain
higher technical and administrative appointments, in all
of wjiich the longer and greater experience, and the
sounder judgment on account of such experience, of Euro-
peans, should be of great value to Indians. Co-operation
between the European and Indian ou this basis will make
for the rapid deivelopment of the country, lead to the main-
tenance of sound feeling and mutual respect betM'een the
t"7o i)eoples, and be of advantaere to both.

RevieAvs.

Absolute Measurements in Electricity and Magnetism.

By Andrew Gray, LL.D., F.R..^., M.l.E.E. Second edition.
( J ..on don : Macmillan & Company, Ltd.) Pp. 'xix. -t- 837.
Price 42s.

The first edition of Volume I. of this work was printed as long ago
as 1888, and the first edition of Volume II. was printed five years
ater. Both of these works have played an important part in
increasing our knowledge of electricity and consequently in develop-
ing the electrical industry. The theorems given clearly explained
how it was possible to make very exact electrical measurements,
riiey therefore stimulated further research. Tlie establishment
of well-equipped physical laboratories in Euro])c and America
capable of defining and constructing electrical standards has been a
great boon to the industry. The consequent easy verification of
sub-standards also has been of thd greatest value in research work.
Prof. Gray's name will alwaj's be associated with the early pioneering
work in absolute measurements.

To everyone who wants a sound foundation on which to build
his theoretical knowledge we can confidently recommend this book.
Man}' of the problems which have to be discussed in electricity
need for their solution not only an accurate knowledge of physics,
but a thorough knowledge of some ofj the theorems in higher
dynamics. We know no one better equipped with tl\is knowledge
than the author. Without it much of the most important work
of Kelvin, Maxwell, and Rayleigh cannot be imderstood. In
particular a knowledge of Lagrange's dynamical metliod is of the
greatest value, but the knowledge must be accurate as the method
has limitations.

In his preface the author laments the fact that the stndy of
higher dynamics seems to be rapidly dropping out of our University

curricula. He comments as follows : " An it is, we have now an
army of .students and others talking glibly of Einstein and of
quantum theory, whose attention to the fundamentals of dynamics
and physics has been wofuUy slight." Many of those who are now
trying to understand P^instein's theorj' would he better employed
in trying to understand the more advanced theorem.'! of dynamics.

In bringing this volume up-to-date considerable omissions and
additions had to be made. Some of the omi.ssions will be found in
the author's treatise on " Magnetism and Electricity," which can
be used advantageou.sly as a supplementarj' volume. Amongst
the additions, we note many neat formulae for the mutual inductance
between circular and cylindrical currents. As the radio engineer
is always studying problems of this nature, he will find these
solutions of immediate practical value. He will also find s^jlutions
of the problems of the high-frequency resi.stance and inductance of
cylindrical and strip conductors.

A full description is given of the Gray absolute electrodyna-
mometer and the formula for it is proved This dj-namom'eter
was used by the Bureau of Standards when measuring the electro-
motive forces of standard cells. The standard historical method.s
used for the absolute measurement of resistance are described and-
the limits of accuracy obtainable by the latest methods are given.
Chapter XVI. on the comparison of units is of special value. The
author points out that the accuracy of P». Shida"s result for v,
namely, 2-955 x 10'" cm. per second has been mistakenly called
in question. It was a wonderfully accurate result to be obtained
by a young Japanese student at Glasgow University forty-one
years ago. The mean of the values of v obtained by electrical
methods is given as 3-0001 x 10"* cm. per second. This compares
very satisfactorily with the velocity of light, 2-9986 x 10'" cm.
per second, measured experimentally by Perrotin in 1902.

In Chapter XVII. electrostatic measrrements are described. We
were pleased to notice a description of Snow Harris's electrometer.
This was one of the first electrometers ever made, as it dates from
about 1834. Few are aware of the high accuracy Snow Harris
obtained in his measurements with this instmment. It is well
worthy of study. The concluding chapter on the effect of the
inductivity of the medium on electric phenomena will be found
helpful by students. Beginners alwajs have difficulty in under-
standing advanced electrostatic theory. The extended use that
is now made of high electrical pressures for power transmission
makes a knowledge of this theory essential to the engineer. In
an Appendix Prof. E. Taylor Jones gives a clear account of a useful
working theory of the induction coil.

The standard nomenclature of electricians is practically adopted
throughout. This is a great help to the tecluiically trained engineer,
as it enables him to understand the theorems much more easily.
This work will prove of great value to all electricians who have to
leave the beaten track in order to explore the economy and efficiency
of new methods. We can congiatulate the author on having
completed a work which will for many years be a standard book of
reference. Alexander Rcsseij .

A Catalogue of British Scientific and Technical
Books. Prepared by a Committee of the British Science
Guild. (London : British Science Guild, 6, John-street,
Adelphi.'W.C. 2.) Pp. x^ iii. -f- 376. IOs.net.

To all who have to keep up-to-date in any department of science
and learning, this comprehensive catalogue will prove indispensable
as a guide to the published volumes that are obtainable on a"^y
specific subject. It is at times a sheer impossibihty to find a' fairly
complete list of books on any section of science ; this catalogue will
help to make the task easier.

The volume contains more than six thousand titles, the classifica-
tion of which demanded most careful consideration. There are
fortj'-nine main groups, and these are el<.j.sified into just over
460 sub-classes. For example. Physics and Electrical Engineering
are divided into sixteen sub- and twenty sub- lieadings respectively.
Under each sub-heading full details of each book are given — author,
full title, size, number of pages, date and number of the last edition,
as well as the name of publisher and the present price. Only books
that are obtainable through bookseller.^ in the ordinary way are given.

The volume is well printed on a %ery good tough paper, with a
clear type, and the general " get up " is a credit to the printer and
the binder ; the binding appears to be done for strength, as a work
of reference should be.

The Central Office of the Intern.\tion.vl Elecirotechnicu. Com-
mission informs us that the verbatim report of Xhe Conference on
High-Teiisiori Trajisniission Systems, hebl in Paris last November.
wifl 1h> published next month in French and in EncHbh by the Union
des Svndicats de I'Electrieite. The price of the report will be
60 fcs! if ordered before April 1. or at lea^t 75 fos. if ordered after
that date. The Union would l>o glad if those who wish to procure
the report woubi inform M. Tribot Laspitrre, general secretary of
the Union. Boulevard >bilesherbe6. 25. Paris, of the number of
copies required, specifying whether the conies desired are to be in
French or English

280

The Electrician — March lo, 1922

THE INSTITUTION JUBILEE COMMEMORATION.

Turbine History — The Boyhood of an Inventor — A Short Way with Legislation — The
President on the Commemoration — Early Telephony — The Battle of the Systems.

{Concluded from page 257.)

Thursday, February 23.
The Evolution of the Turbine.

After the resolution of congratulation to Mr. Heaviside had
been passed, Sir Charles Parsons, who was called upon by the
chairman to give his reminiscences, said it was about the year 1884
that he determined to attack the problem of the steam turbine with
a very Iiigh speed dynamo or alternator directly driven by it. The
electrical side involved quite as much work as the turbine, and
at that tine the data available was very scanty. Little was
kno\\Ti quantitatively about hysteresis or eddy current losses, and
considerable margins were therefore necessary when designing for
■periodicities from thirty to fifty times greater than those then in
practical use. A speed of 18 000 revs, per min. was chosen, and
the estimated output was 10 h.p. To guard against periodicity
difficulties a field density one-half that of the Edison machine was
aimed at and the E.M.F. was calculated as being directly pro-
portional to the surface speed and the total length of active wire
between the ends. The voltage was 100, the length of core 8 in.
There were ninety-six conductors of 0"08 in. over the insulation.
These were laid on a smooth core composed of thin sheet iron of
0"015 in. thick, which was insulated with paper throughout and
threaded on to a hollow steel shaft through which lubricating
oil passed for cooling purposes. The end wires were spiralled in
two laA^ers and the whole was bound with phosphor bronze wire
of 60 tons tensile strength. The commutator had twelve sections
with twelve convolutions per section. The current density in the
armature at fuU load was about 9 000 A per sq. in. Thanks to
the small radial depth of copper the current was not excessive.

The efficiency of this dynamo was about 80 per cent, and the
steam consumption of the plant, about 150 lb. per kWh. This set
worked satisfactorily and the only important alterations which
had to be made were in the commutator, which was finally con-
structed of bars in short sections held by dove-taUed steel rings
with asbestos insulation which stood up well against the great
centrifugal force. The machine worked regularly for some years,
and its electrical constants had been re-examined recently and
found to agree closely with modern dynamo practice modified to
suit the speed of 8 000 revs, per min.

The D.C. Turbo-Generator.

In the four following years about 360 turbiues of from 1 kW to
75 kW output were made to similar patterns, these being chiefly
used on board ship. From 1885 onwards alterations were made to
improve the efficiency of the turbine. The ratio of expansion was
increased, the curvature and formation of the blades modified
and the velocity of ratio of blade to velocity of steam raised so that
in 1888 the consumption of a 32 kW turbine with 90 lb. steam
pressure and non-condensing had fallen to 34*5 lb. per kWh.

Early Turbo-Alternators.

The first high-speed alternator driven by a non-condensing
turbine was made in 1888. It had a revolving single-phase
armature for 75 kW at 4 800 revs, per min. 80 cycles. The armature
body was a smooth laminated cylinder and the conductor was wound
in a single layer roimd six longitudinal wooden slabs keyed into
the core so as to cover the whole remaining surface, and this after
an insulating covering had been apphed was boimd tightly with
piano wire.

It was soon recognised that the efficiency of the turbine could be
doubled by using condensers and that the efficiency would increase
rapidly with the size at a greater rate than in the reciprocating
engine. The first condensing turbo-alternator to be buUt was for
120 kW in 1891. These machines had a consumption of 27 lb. of
steam per kW at 100 lb. steam pressure at 465°F. and 28 V in.
vacuum. In 1899 two 1 000 kW turbo-alternators at 4 000 V 1 500
revs, per min. were ordered for Eberfeld. The consumption at
full load was 18-25 lb. per kW with steam at 125 lb. and 14°C. of
superheat. These were the first turbines to be used in Germany.

Insulation Difficulties.

As sizes and voltages increased it became difficult to secure
satisfactory armature insulation and to provide sufficient copper
to reduce the heat gradient through the thickness of the insulation.
For these reasons since 1903 revolving fields had been adopted. The
first revolving field alternator was installed at Neptune Bank, New-
castle-on-Tyne in tliat year, and was of the salient pole rotor type
for 2 000 kW 6 000 V., three-phase, 1 200 revs, per min. 40 cycles.
In later years fields of the barrel type had been adopted with the

exciting coils sunk in slots and retained in position by dove-tailed
keys and the end windings held by caps of bronze or by non-mag-
netic steel alloy forms which were found to lend themselves more
readily to the requirements of the rapidly increasing sizes of alter-
nators which by 1911 had reached 25 000 kW at 750 revs, per min.
in the turbo- alternator supplied to the Fisk Street Station of the
Commonwealth Edison Company of Chicago. In the construction
of these machines the finely stranded type of armature conductor
was used which was stranded, insulated and spiralled several times
in a conductor length. In this way eddy currents were reduced
to a minimum. With the increased outputs at high speeds the
cooling by ventilation had become a very important matter, and it
had been found that the separately driven fan was in every respect
preferable to a fan mounted directly on the rotor, as it more
effectually ehminated hot spots. The water cooling of rotors
had been satisfactorily carried out, but owing to the increased
comphcation involved it was found better to keep to the usual
means of air ventilation.

Ferranti's Boyhood.

Dr. S. Z. DE Ferranti began by expressing a word of appreciation
of the work of Oliver Heaviside, which he described as being of
the greatest possible value. Continuing he gave an interesting
account of his early mental gropings in the electrical dii-ection.
At the time the Institution was holding its first meeting he had-not
reached the age of eight and took no interest in electrical matters,
in spite of the fact that he had slept peacefully when the house
he occupied had been struck by lightning. What effect this manifest a -
tion might have had on his after work he did not try to estimate,
but if his contact with the demonstration had been closer it woidd
have been his last electrical experience. At that time he was
exceedingly interested in the steam engine, and Sir Charles Parsons
would be amused to know that his first model was a turbine. It was
not until he was about eleven years old that he became in any waj'
connected with electricity. In Pepper" s " Play Book of Science "
he found described an oxy-hydrogen light, and he remembered
telling his father that he wovdd like to have an apparatus to make
it. When his father said that a much better light was the electric
light, he, however, became much more interested in that.

The Magnetic Engine.

Another early idea he had was that of a magnetic engine which
should work by the attraction and repulsion of permanent magnets.
This involved the insulation of magnetism, and he remembered trj'-
ing to find out what would insulate magnetism. He conceived brass
as being such a material, and an optician in Hatton Garden agreed
with him. This was all now quite absurd, but if a permanent
magnet working without apparent expenditure of power was con-
ceived it did not seem more ridiculous than obtaining energy from
the dissociation of the atom. An early experience of a Siemens
dynamo with a two-part commutator gave him more food for thouglit
and he tried to improve the machine, with the result that he evolved
one practically identical with th.-^t of Paccinotti. The machine
worked pretty weD, and its sale when he came upon hard times tided
him over until he was able to start earning for himself.

Later on he went to University College and had the great advan-
tage of studying under Carey-Foster, Lodge, & Kennedy, but he
learned very little from these teachers as he was all the time wanting
to get on and do something of a practical nature for himself. In
1881 after two fruitless attempts he succeeded in getting into
Siemens' works. Here he was surrounded by djTiamos and had the
desire of a hfetime satisfied.

Early Arc Lamp Installations.

In those days electric light installations generally consisted of one
dynamo supplying one arc lamp. In the City of London there were
three systems, that of the Brush Company with a number of sixteen
lamps circuits, that of the Maxim Companj^ which worked in much
the same way, and the Siemens mstallation consisting of a number
of masts carrying very big lamps which were each fed from their
own djTiamos.

What Might Have Been !

Later, Dr. Ferranti continued, he became associated with tlio
Gaulard & Gibbs' high pressure alternating system which in a ver\
fehort time was supplying .'iO 000 lami)s. He then aimed at light in-
tlie whole of the north side of the Tliames, over an area similar \o
that of the Gas Light & Coke Company, and to secure his
position laid mains running from the City in the east to Chelsea in
the west, and to the Thames right up to the points adjoining Haniii-

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

287

stead. Legislation, however, came along and knocked this schema
on the head.

Here Dr. Ferranti paid a tribute to the devoted men who had
worked with him all through the difficult times of starting a high
tension electricity supply in London and particularly mentioned
Mr. C. P. Sparks, Mr. Vesey Brown, Mr. Arnott, Mr. Colley, Mr
Addenbrooke, Mr. R. Wilson, Mr. Partridge, Mr. Wordingham
and Mr. Hawtayne. The greatest difficulty in the new work that
they undertook at Deptford was not only want of knowledge and
experience, but the lack of satisfactory insulating materials. Though
they had to build alternators, transformers, switchgear and mains,
the only materials available were porcelain and ebonite. Whatever
else they needed to complete the system had to be found and adapted,
and the gear had to be so designed that they could carry out the
results \nih. the only material available. It was hard to think to-
day what a handicap that really was, and it was interesting to know
that such common things as brown paper and wax candle refuse
were used to construct mains which carried 10 000 V and many
miles of which after all these years were still giving just as good
service as ever.

The Re-flowering of the Institution.

In 1910 Dr. Ferranti continued, he had the great honour of his
life, in being elected president of the Institution. He found the Insti-
tution somewhat slow and quiet, and inclined to die out or proceed
in such a way that he felt its future was uncertain. He saw what
a great good the Institution might be and how much it could do for
electrical science, and for those who gave their lives to it. He felt
that it wanted hfe and he tried to infuse that life into it. He
pleaded, he did everything he could do, he stated his views, but
really personally he did nothing, but where he thought he had
succeeded was in giving a lead to the presidents who followed
him. They really did the work of making the Institution the great
society it was to-day.

Early Ship Lighting-
Sir Thomas Callender said one of his first experiences with
electric lighting was when he went to the United States on one of the
old Cimard ships which was lighted by oil lamps which had done duty
for generations. Coming back he was passenger on the "Cynthia"
which if not the first electrically lighted vessel to cross the Atlantic
was certainly the first which claimed to have an effective
installation. He remembered great crowds of people coming down
to the docks to see this wonderful ship, and it was there he first met
Mr. J. F. Allbright, associated with Crompton & Company, and in
charge of the dynamos. Shortly after that he started his work
in connection with electricity. One of the first installations
they carried out was the lighting of Buckingham Palace. A great
deal of work was also done for the Jablockov Company for Covent
Garden and the preliminary lighting of part of the Embankment.
Ketumiag from a visit to Russia he came across Jablockov himself
in the Customs House, and there began a friendship which lasted
for a considerable period.

Main Laying Extraordinary.

The first supply business he undertook in this coimtry was in
connection with the Chelsea Electric Supply Company. This was
the first real undertaking that had seriously entered into the field of
supplying electric light in London on orthodox lines. The difficulties
that this company met with were not so much engineering as
financial, for even in that rich neighbourhood they- could not get any
monetary support. In spite of its old-fashioned plant and old-
fashioned ways this company was stiU an independent company
waiting, he presumed, to be absorbed in the great scheme which
would be brought out for London.

Sir Thomas gave an amusing account of his connection with
Mr. Bailey and the Whitehall Court Company when they had run a
series of mains about Charing Cross and the Strand Avithout rights,
powers, or permission, acting as pirates and puUing up roads. The
engineer in charge of the work was discretion itself and he spun
yarns which were interesting and fanciful with the result that nobody
quite understood what they were doing. It was, of course, necessary
to make arrangements with the local govenmients and obtain certain
permissions, but these were" given with considerable misgivings. Sir
Thomas also described the laying of mains across Waterloo Bridge
on a Bank HoUday, a date chosen because the courts were closed, and
there was no one to grant an injunction. These mains remained in
position for a number of years before the Charing Cross Company
regularised their position, and obtained the necessary Provisional
Order.

Pioneering Electric Light Work.

Mr. F. Bailey reviewed Institution history from the year 1883
onwards, remarking on the disappearance of matters relating to the
laying and manufacture of submarine cables. He then alluded to
the pioneering work of those associated with the Telegraph Con-
struction and Maintenance Company, whom he joined in 1883.
This company showed great enterprise in entering the field of electric

lighting at a most critical period. An interesting event wa.s the arrange-
ment by the Chairman of the company of a contract for the
lighting of the Great Western Railway on the Gordon system. This
enterprise had a marked effect on the future of flfctric lighting.

At this time much difficulty was experienced in deaUng with self
and mutual induction, matters that were still imperfectly understood.
Want of instruments also led to considerable trouble, the Greenwich
works of the T. C. & M. Company being compelled to regulate
pressure by the aid of a rough photometer in the engine room.

The Paddington engines made by J. and G. Rennie were the last
constructed by this firm, and the Willans 3-cylinder engines for
driving *he exciters at Paddington were the last of this type prior to
the introduction of the central valve. The Whitehall station, erected
1887-1888, used the first central valve engine with solid eccentrics
on the crank pins.

Sotaie Early Experiences of Mr. Swinburne.

Mr. J. Swinburne remarked how strange now appeared the
ignorance of forty years ago. There was then an idea that there
was some curious problem awaiting solution called " the sub-
division of the electric light." Dynamos then were series wound,
compound winding unknown and shunt winding a mystery.
Each dynamo commonly ran one arc lamp. The problem was
how to make it supply a number of small lamps.

Mr. Swinburne recalled a visit to Antwerp and Paris in order
to start making Swan lamps. There were no rational text-books, no
satisfactory measuring instruments. The best were electro-dynamo-
meters. Voltmeters were obtained eventually, but as the power
wasted bj'' the instrument was comparable with that used by a
lamp, calculation was necessary to obtain rational results.

E^rly Carbon Lamps.

The earUest suggestion for carbon filament lamps m vacuo was
in Belgium in 1836, the subject being a safety lamp for mines.
Swan made the first lamp, but Edison realised that lamps must
be of high resistance arranged in parallel. Homogeneous cellulose
for filaments was due to Weston, who also devised flashing under
low pressure. Swan invented squirting. L. S. Powell squirted
zinc chloride solution of cotton. C. H. Steam worked with squirted
viscose and with, ultimately, artificial viscose silk — perhaps the
first viscose silk ever made.

Mr. Swinburne was inclined to suggest that the giants of old
were really pigmies. We had now an industr)^ emploj-ing
thousands of trained minds and a large number of scientific and
business men of exceptional ability. It was therefore exceedingly
difficult to rise to the top. Biit forty years ago things were only
at the beginning, and then it was relatively easy to rise.

The Electrical Engineer and Education.

One cause of the different mental equipment of the electrical
engineer of to-day was the advance in real education. !^Iatters that
were difficult to imderstand in the early 'eighties were now quite
elementary. As an instance Mr. Swinburne recalled the discovery,
about 1884, that the product of volts and amperes in an alternating-
current circuit was not necessarily the watts. On one occasion,
at Brighton, when an alternator was on an inductive circuit, they
found the indicator diajrram smaller than the apparent watts
indicated. " Someone told one of the esteemed past-presidents
of this. He regarded his informant severely, but thoughtfully,
and said, ' You're a liar.' "

In conclusion, Mr. Swinburne mentioned that the electri -al and
engineering papers, not to speak of the Institution, did much to
remedy the poverty of good text-books. The Electrician and
" The Electrical Review " had both done splendid work in this
direction.

A Letter From the President.

At Thursday evening's meeting Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton
presided, and opened the proceedings by reading a letter from
the President, expressing his great disappointment at being
unable to preside over the Commemoration. He thanked ^Ir.
Swinton, and the other vice-presidents and his many kind
colleagues for the special efforts they had made to take over his
job. The Commemoration meetings wei-e devised to serve manifold
ends. Just as there was only one really true and just reason for
drinking wine — that was because one liked it, it was the first
end of these meetings to give pleasure by meeting old friends
and hearing them recall past days, with their failures, trials, and
at length, successes. In short, the noble pleasure of hero-worship.
Againto realise the supreme pleasure of visualising the still growing
enterprise that had emerged from fifty years of work— team work
carried out often by men. who did not at the time realise that they
were on the same job, in fact opposing one another in every way,
and now finding they were really working to the same end.

The second object' of these meetings was to produce a living
history of electrical engineering in all its appUcations. and to pre-
serve this history by producing a specisd number of the " Journal

288

The Electrician.

March lo, 1922

cvutaining the contributions, spoken and written. The historj'
of eUvtrioal ongineerinu began with Vo! :."- discovery of the primary
battery, and Oersted's moving* compas; needle. Faraday's dis-
coveries provided means of converting mechanical into electrical
energy, and to preserve its value, as the development of these
primary discoveries proceeded, measurement of quantities and
constants became necessary, and from the work of Kelvin, Maxwell,
Raylcigh. Joule, Carey-Foster. Wheatstone. Bright. Latimer
Clark, and many others from about ISoO to 1S70. arose not only
the system of electrical units now in international use. but also
knowledge leading to the better understanding of heat and its
applications.

A Cyclic Advance.

It was interesting to trace the many instances where a notable
advajice in one device led to advancement in unexpected directions.
In 177o. Watts steam-engine patent was renewed in the same
year tliat Arkwright patented his invention of the cotton-spinning
mill. The steam-engine made possible the large mill, and the
mill led to the development of the steam engine. The development
of the electric generator produced the high-speed steam-engine,
and later the work of Parsons in building the steam t\irbine led
to the so-called super-power station of to-day. The alternator
and turbine developed side by side, the one depending on the
other. There would be no use ashore for the large turbine apart
from electricity supply.

Dr. Fleming's Co-operation.

They were truly fortunate when Dr. Fleming threw himself
so heartily into the spirit of the Council's Commemoration Scheme.
They owed liim a great debt. He had made clear the fomidations
of electrical engineering. The last tifty years of its history Ayas
in fact the history of their Institution. It started with a trilling
apparatus used with dehcate skill, and a growing army of keen
men pursued the new idea, ever broadening its application, bringing
in their train armies of skilled assistants and craftsmen, who during
fifty years had built up the latest enterprise of to-day. The
foundations laid by a master mind turned strength and security
to kinetic energy. They held the principle of light, which was
the prmciple of growth. That was the precious heritage they
must preserve, and it could be preserved only in an atmosphere
Avhere freedom of growth was possible. Legislation had hampered
their freedom, and he hoped tlie record of their meetings might
serve to spread a wider knowledge of the history of electrical
engineering, so that future legislation might be guided bj' wiser
hands.

Thanks to the Press.

Mr. Campbell Swixtox. on behalf of the Council thanked ^^lessrs.
A. H. Allen. F. H. Masters, E. Slatei' and A. 0. Whyte for the
invaluable work they had done in condensing for- Press purposes
the remarks of the various contributors of the discourses at those
meetings. The Council also thanked the daily Press for the large
amount of space they had devoted to tlic meetings.

The Inception of Telephony.

Mr. J. E. KiNGSBVRY remarked that it was something of a coinci-
dence that the year they were celebrating. 1872. saw the origm of
Bell's experiments. His OAni first experience of telephonic speech
was in 1878, through the Edison carbon transmitter, which gave
more powerful effects than the early magneto form. It was almost
impossible to convey to those who had always been familiar with
the telephone, the feeling of awe that was excited by first hearing
human speech by tliis means. Public demonstrations of the
telephone in those days were always interesting and sometimes
exciting. At the firet demonstration of Edison's loud-spealving
receiver it broke do\\Ti completely. He (Mr. Kingsbury) admired
the coohiess with which Edison's nephew took the instrument to
pieces and replaced it whUe an excited crowd of scientists were
waiting at the door for admission.

It was really as exchange organisations that the Bell and Edison
companies started. Existing telegraph lines were mostly along
roads and railways. Xew methods of carrying increasing numbers
of wires had to be developed. Pioneers in England had no statutory
powers, and depended on permission from private persons to fix
their fittings. The switching system was a new antTmost difficult
thing to evolve.

The Difficulties of Adaptation.

It was less difficult to create something new in itself than to adapt
the new to work with the old. Yet this must be done in all tele-
phonic advances, otherwise there would have to be immediate
duplication or cessation of service. Let it be recalled that in 1878
the telephone was first used in exchange service. To-day there were
about 21 milUon telephones connected to v"rious exchanges through-
out the world. In 1S77 Bell aimed at conveying speech " through
nstruments not more than twenty miles apart." To-day conver-
sation had been accomplished over 5 tXXl miles. America was

spanned from East to West more than seven years ago. Given
commercial conditions to justify it, the Continent could be equally
well spanned from north to south. Scientifically, an Indo-European
telephone was possible, though it might not be a commercial
probability. Yet conversation between London and Constanti-
nople was by no means an idle dream.

Telephone Legislation.

In the latter part of his address Mr. Kingsbury dealt with legis-
lation, remarking on the narrow view originally conceived. More
regard should have been paid to what the nation might gain by
improved communication as a set off against a possibly reduced
revenue from telegraphs. The artificial difficulties that impeded
early growth have had far reaching consequences. It was useless
decrying legislation which was not spontaneous, but represented
roughly the public opinion of the moment. So far as the telephone
was concerned the period of divided interests M'as over. There
was doubtless leeway to be made up. but much criticism was ill-
informed. Broader views were needed all round, and not the least
among the critical subscribers.

Early Experiences of Electricity Supply.

Mr. G. W. Partridge mentioned that with the Brush series
arc lighting system pressures up to 3 OCX) V were used, and the fact
that so few people were injured could only be explained by the
awe \\'\i\\ which electricity was regarded. The Earl of CraA\-ford,
on his return from the Paris Exhibition, decided, in conjunction
with Sir Coutts Lindsay, to install a portable plant in a yard behind
the Grosvenor Gallery. The go and return a.c. mains were run
side by side to obviate induction effects. ]Mr. Ferranti afterwards
introduced tlie parallel system of transformers and reconstructed
the generating plant. Power was conveyed to the neighbourhood
by an overhead s\stcm of mains. The London Electric Supply
Corporation was formed in 1887, and the Deptford station started
soon afterwards. The a.c. system was looked upon with much
dislike and suspicion. There were numerous accidents, and ulti-
mately the whole installation was shut down in order that under-
ground mains might be substituted. Dm-ing the period of shut
dowii (four montlis) the consumers had no electric light. Meantime
the rival d.c. companies were busy connecting up their consumers.
Trouble was experienced from interference with the telephone
circuits, and newspapers commented upon the " mysterious magnetic
storms " which affected the telephones not only in London, but
in Paris.

Legislative Difficulties.

Mr. Partridge gave a list of improvements in a.c. work that
followed, and remarked that work was very well executed in spite
of the limited knowledge of electric phenomena. Under Dr.
Ferranti's guidance much ingenuity was shown in overcoming
difficulties, and the directors personally found large sums of money
to perfect and carry on the work.

Many difficulties were due to legislation, and it had always
seemed remarkable that electricity supply should be treated so
differently from water, gas, railways and other pubhc ser\nce under-
takings. Association or actual electrical connection between
different companies was forbidden by law, so it was not siu-prising
that each company adoptetl whatever system it thought best. It
was not until the 1908 Act that companies were empowered to
assist one another and to supply railways. The troubles during
the twenty years prior to this had had a most serious effect on
electrical developments. His own company in 1906 risked its
capital to install the plant for supply to the Brighton railways,
though it had no legal power to undertake this supply.

Considering the extraordinary pioneering work carried out by
London sxipply companies it seemed a great hardship that this
comitry had not benefited more from these efforts. The futiure
was still uncertain, and the industry had still to release itself from
the stranglehold perpetrated by the legislative errors of forty years
ago.

In the Land of Don Quixote.

Mr. M. Bernard Drake recalled his experience of the installation
of electric Ught in Spain, where he was arrested as a smuggler on
the ground that the coil of "rope'' he carried contained hidden
copper. Eventually he \\as able to show the first arc lamp in
Madrid. On one occasion a shortage of cables was made good by
iron hurdles suspended from trees — this was regarded by German
engineers at work in the city as an essential part of the Brush
system and caused them nuich puzzling. The next event was a
dispute with a Spaniard who wished to take over the working. In
order to prevent interference Mr. Drake pocketed a brush, which
again led to arrest for theft and a challenge to a duel.

On his return to England Mr. Drake was responsible for the
lighting of the railway stations at Bristol and Cardiff. The next
step was an appointment as managing engineer of the Electrical
Power Storage Company, when the batteries did not last well.
Many of the" later improvements in batteries such as the use of
wood separators. wer(\ ln^wcvcr. tritxl in these oarlv days. The

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

289

long life now obtainnl wma due as ranch to increaseil knowle<lL'<'
of use as iinprovt'inenta in the plat«>^ themselves. Until ^onie
entirely now tlejiarture wa.>» ramie not very much more could be
expecte*! fmni lead baiteries. said Mr. Drake.

Fifty Years of the Electric Teletmph.

Sir Wii.u.\M XoBi.E, in his atldress on the " Kltvtne Telegraph. '
recalled that several distinct telejrraph companies were in operation
up till 1S70, when they were taken over by the (Tovemmeut.
^ubsetjuent developments had been rapid^showini: that a State
monopoly does not n«H"e.<».oanly retard advances. Efforts were
:»o«in made to attain unifonnity m apparatus, and the suide neetile
was displa*'eii by the sotmder on all important ciiTUit.s.

Methoils were adopttnl to improve the carr>inc capacity of lines.
Duplex workiniT, invented by Cintl in IS.'):?, vva.s intvoduce<l by the
Post l)tlice in IST.'l : nuatlrtiplcx: workinir. independently devised
by Heaviside in 1ST.'? and Edison in IST4. came mto use soon after
iSTti. Post OtTice ensiin»H»rs ha»l climinate<l many radical deftvts
in all these methods, and had prai-tically evolveii a new system.

Another outstamliiisi invention, the Wheatstone automatic
system, was likewise developt^l and improved. Other advances
indudetl improvements in methods of repeatinsi sismals and retine-
meiits in Imlancing duplex circuits. In li>lO <i7H Wheatstone
automatic sets were in use by the Post Office.

Printinit Tele](mphT.

The Husihes Frintiuir Tdciiraph was us«h1 in the British Tost
Ottice in 18Si>, and hait been much improvetl. Multiplex telejrraphv
had revolutionise«l tele»n"aph practice. In 188(5 it wa-s used as a
siuiile current 3\*stera. but two P.O. ensiint^trs, J. l^'hapman jind
R. Hendrie. enable<i it to work double current, luid later on S. A.
Pollack, also a P.O. eiiiiineer. applieil diplex. either operators workmg
simultaneously, four in each direction. The atloption of a rive- unit
code in place of the Morse ' dot and dash "" cnableil multiplex
to be use<l on circuits of much lo-wcr line speeil : this was substan-
rirtlly the Baudot system tlevclope<i in France and successfully
iuplcxtnl in by A. l\ Booth in IIUV;. with most important results.
Ihc twelve-channel set workiuii on one circuit between Lomion
and Birminsiliam had caiTieti more than 8 (MH) messasies in a day
of twelve working houi-s. Vet luiother outstaniliiiii achievement
was the design of the multiple intercommunication switch by T. F.
Purves, adopttnl in London in l'.H>2, which greatly expetlited the
transmission of telegnvms within the London area.

It hail always b»vn the practice of the Post Office, concludeil
Sir William, to encourage iiiventors. The Cree<l. and Murray
appaaratus illustrate the success of this policy. Important work
had btvn done in rei'cnt years in improving primaiy batteries, anil
their disphicement by secondary cells in large ottices. The British
Post (.)tbce htui always been piv-eminent in metho«is of line-
construction, and underground construction had also made rapid
progress.

Edriy Ellectricity Supply in Briiihton.

Mr. .\. Wrights coramimicatiou consisted of an interesting
chronological survey of electricity supply in Brighton up to the
year 1S81>. .\n exhibition of Brush are lighting was given in ISSl.
and Robert Hammontl %vas persuaded to leave the plant there
for experiment. Finally a ft^w enthusiastic constimers were found
who were willing t<> pay lis. per wt>ek per arc lamp, ;uid permanent
supply commenceii in IS82, when sixteen lamps were contracted
for. In 1S83 business increavsed, and a tariff of lis. per arc lamp per
week and Is. (uL for each carbon consumer was tixed. This
meterless tariff atti-actetl consumers. In 1884 a method of metering
combined arc and incandescent lamps waj? deviseil. lUid by the end
of the year the Brighton Electric Light Company was formtMl.
The result of the tirst years trading was a 4 per cent, tiiviilend
on a capital of £7 240 and the supply to foi-ty customers taking
twenty-seven arcs and 874 incaudescents. In 188o a tariff of Is.
to Is. 4d. per unit, imder specified conditions, was adopted. By
1888 the constant current system was replaced by the more elastic
a.c. s^-stem with transformers.

Elarly in lS8i> Mr. Wright severed hia connection with the Brighton
Company and joined Mr. Ferranti's staff in London. Early develop-
ments at Brighton were fully liescribeil by the late ilr. SneU in
the twcnricrh volume of The Electru'lk^n in 1887.

The Work of John Hopkinson.

Mr. C. H. WoRDEfGHAM said that he was articled to Dr.
Hopkinson in 188.1, but that great man had earlier aroused his
interest by the prediction that a.c. machines would work in parallel.
This was verified by Prof. Grvils Adams at the South Foreland
with some lighthouse machines, on the occasion of some tests of the
relative merits of gas. oil. and electric light for lisxhthouse purposes.
Dr. Hopkinson was responsible for several epoch-making Papers,
notably that written with his brother on d\Tiamo electiic
machinery-, and that deliveretl ;\s his inaugural address to the
Junior Institution of Engineers (189o>, on the principles governing
the cost of production and methods of charging for electricity.

The Battle of the SyMcms.

Ml
Man.

.1,.^...

• and Whitehaven s^-stemsr '\

'!> of a multiple wire network
This doulitless caused most of the
ownng to the maintenance of a pre>-

and f*arTh. which forced the current liinai^ :he Ucin :nc. In
tho.se days the " battle of the ^vatem>» ' wa* in full swuuj. It
was hardly cretUble rhe laruest

of which was of 24(' remendoua

machines and referre<i to i> luiiu-'^.

Meter Difficahica.

Mr. Wordin^tham also reealletl the intn>ducrion of metefs on the

system of the London EL ation. A* ' ••.

188;>, Ferranti was the p >• restUta <-

duction of meters were Kiuiiiix.nii . - - ;r

consumption reduced to a third while n

increase, leadim: to stormy interveiws. ... s

raiaetl doubts iif the merits of contract rati r

panacea for pro<lucinir revenue. "' There is n
of charging and Hopkinson is its prophet," said V

In conclusion the speaker paid a tribute to Dr. n

tnlucationist. His mind was so clear and -o

directly to the point. ;uid he was always et| »-.

High as hia reputation was much more would iic .{

the fnll extent of his work and in\'entive nenius ^ .v
known.

Mr. .\tkin<ion\ Summing Up.

Mr. Atkixsi^n' said that the Presiflent ha<l <wked him to say a few
words at the close of the meetings by way of siunminc in. Tlit-re
was no doubt that the meetimrs had been a <zrvtkt - it

the audience had been carrietl into :vnother )iye. but ai; ir

to our owm, that many of tho.se who had worked in il

taking an acrive part. It was well that on the fiftieth \-

of their tirst meeting they should collect ivnd visua^ e

pa.st age bet^ause he believeti that they were now ..:

of another age. a tremendous era when the use of rlu- Uiin imi ts
energ}" would probably replace all the generating .ippliances they
iuul been considering.

Mr. Atkinson recalle«l a few of those who were of this ace. but who
had gone, includinix Thomas Parke- ■ '>■- '"-^ K..i;..,-...i „ .,. ,., r,,;^^
ironmonger, travelling showman. : ;.

Hughes, whose name had been ;; ii

the electric telegraph, and Ayrton. who wa.- e

of the i(hosyncracy that he claimtnl every in^ p-

ment as a child of his own or Perry's.

The I^oranee of the Early Workers.

During these meetings it had come t«) liim with great lieameas
how tremendously ignorant the early workers were ;ind what
ditfictilties they had had to overcome. In (^rompton. Kennetiy.
Raworth. luid Kapp they had examples i>t t»3rpert

engint>ers who had had to begin to learn eh :n the

middle of their professional and commercial lite. L;.<a -,,cre were
Hopkinson, Forbes. Oliver Lotlge. ."^ilvanus Tliompson. men of
university trainimr, knowing the mathematical -;ide. h\r ' -*!e
of that practicid knowletlge of cuiiintH'nns; which pnv a

actual contact with things. A third t>-pe such a-- L<.i.iiiei.
Mortiev. and Ravenshaw trained themselves and a siood manv

OtluT^"

Three Different Ldn^ua^es.

in the electrical world in those davs they had three

liifferent languages. In a lecture at the Insritntion of Civil

Engineers. Hopkinson had treate*! the et^uation of the

motion of two parallel connecte<l alternators as :va et^uation

ot the motion of x\vo moving bodies \vith a ' r,.-....,^

them. He proved by itpiations that the

and therefore they would rtui in pam!'- ' d

him. WTien Kapp gave a Paper at

trical Enginet^rs on transformers, »it ;i

and put a few differential etiuations on the board wr i

iiave the whole theory of transformers, bnt he was i

iansruage that transformer makers did 'i

Blakesiey showeii by graphic vector ai , n

idtemating current circuits, but it wa.-

besides, the alternator did not give the ri i

stress on these matters because the\ t

the ilifficulties that had arisen. A> -<•

were joyous da}-g. An expi v, ^,.1 . ,.,.i.i.i

alw-avs give more pleasure th.i heon,-.

This concluded a most -u. n.

'290

The Electrician — March lo, 1922

The Home Idealised.

No doubt many electrical engineers, either in their ofiBcial or
domestic capacities, will visit the Ideal Home Exhibition which
opened at Olympia on Wednesday of last week, and remains open
until Saturday, March 25. .If up to the present they have not
arranged to do so they should change their minds, for there is
on view a good deal which is of real electrical interest, of educational
value and of suggestion for future action.

The Householders' Aim and Object-

This exhibition, indeed, is not as other exhibitions. Its appeal
is general rather than specialised, particularly in these daj'sof housing
problems. For everyone has to have a home of some sort, and
everyone can, therefore, visit Olympia with advantage and obtain
hints how their present methods of living and house equipment
may be improved. Incidentally, they may learn a httle what to
avoid. The present aim and object of every householder, and
particularly of every householder's wife, are to discover and install
labour-saving apphances which shall reduce to a minimum the
work which is of the most tedious kind, because it has ever to be
repeated and never leads to any tangible results. From this point
of view the exhibition is an education, and the only reasons which
prevent our homes being bettered on the lines suggested by various
exhibitors are the infinity of choice of method, an innate con-
servatism and the high prices that must be paid before the goal
can be reached.

Solely from the electrical point of view the exhibition does not
display anything that is startlingly novel. At one end of the
scale there is a wide assortment of small country-house Ughting
plants, which their manufacturers assure us are better designed
and more economical than anything else of the kind on the market,
but the cynically-minded have heard that before, and turn away
with the reflection that, if the plutocrat wishes to Ught his house
electrically — and, of course, all plutocrats do — he has ample choice
of many sorts of equipment which do not really diJSer very much
from each other either in price or efficienc3^ It is with the middle
class that we, as electrical engineers, should be mainly concerned.
There lies the demand and there Ues our strength.

Help for the Middle Classes.

In the more purely domestic section, i.e., on the stands where
heating and cooking apparatus are shown, the same tale holds
good. There is little of novelty, but much of interest. For electric
cooking and heating apparatus is becoming at once a more en-
gineering job and a piece of apparatus which can be safely entrusted
to ordinary domestic hands. This is not a paradox ; but an
eternal verity. On these stands also there may be found a large
variety of approaches towards the same end, though designs differ
both in scope and in detail, for while there are some who worship
at the shrine of soUdity, others believe in the goddess of cheapness.
Generally, however, the apparatus on view is much more capable
of its work than it was oiJy two years ago, and there is also a
pleasing recognition on the manufacturer's part of the fact that
price has been in the past a real obstacle to electrical development.

Out-of-Date Illumination Methods.

We first visited the exhibition at a time when it was comparatively
empty, and took the opportunity of visuahsing generally
the various exhibits so as to try and discover tendencies. A large
majority of the stands are not, of course, officially of electrical
interest, but as all of them, except those which are occupied by
the gas industry, are electrically Ughted. a few remarks on the
systems of illumination adopted may not le out of place. Primarily
it is interesting to note that the aisles of the exhibition are still
lighted by arc lamps of an antiquarian pattern. This, of course,
has nothing to do with the exhibition organisers, but must be ]aid
entirely at the doors of those who own Olympia. On most of the
stands, as might be expected, gasfiUed lamps are prominent, and,
though these are generally properly shaded there are a few glaring
instances to the contrary, and it is regrettable to notice that
electrical firms arc among the sinners. What can be said of the
man who illuminates (save the mark) his stand v. ith gasfilled lamps
protected by no shades whatsoever, and so arranged that anyone
approaching down a neighbouring aisle receives the light from
the unshaded filaments hkc a whip-lash across his face ' Almost
worse, if that is possible, is the man who " protects " his gasfilled
lamps by plain shades as exiguous as a ballet dancer's skirt, and
who places these lamps so low that they are really an interference
with those who wish to see what he is exhibiting and with those
who rent neighbouring stands.

Illumination as it should be.

These criticisms are necessarily severe, but we do not thereby
wish to detract from the excellent Ughting schemes which are
to be found on a number of the stands, mostly the electrical ones.
Interesting, i.s being novel, is the free use made of neon lamps

for sign purposes, and the schemes in which these lamps are employed
are often very well worked out. There are bowl fittings innumer-
able, most of them excellent from the illumination point of view,
and many of them of high artistry in both design and execution.
In some cases, however, the illumination of the more decorative
stands occupied by furnishing and other similar firms is too low,
and is therefore hardly calculated to show the exhibits up in the
way they should be shown up. This is a matter which, in these
modern days, the furnishing trades, might take up with advantage
for good illumination is most necessary for the adequate display
of their goods.

Royal Gardens and Daylight Illumination.

Excellent use has, we are glad to see, been made of modern
illumination methods in the ten gardens which have been designed
by various Royal ladies. These gardens, which occupy the annexe,
are illuminated by a special fighting scheme consisting of Mazda
gasfilled lamps and Chance Brothers' colour- matching glass.

The installation was designed by the British Thomson-Houston
Co.'s illuminating engineers to illuminate the model gardens in such a
way as to obtain a permanent sunlight effect, and to preserve the
natural r.oloursof the flowers. These objects have been successfully
achieved, and it may be claimed with justice that the installation
represents an important advance in the production of artificial
dayUght on a large scale. •

The equipment consists of 60 concentrating tjrpe Mazdalux
refiectors, fitted with Chance's sunlight glass rectifying screens,
and each reflector contains a 1 000 W Mazda gasfilled lamp. These
units are suspended at a height of 20 ft., so that the bottoms of
the reflectors project just below the azure blue muslin-cefling,
which forms the " sky " of the annexe.

Turning to the more purely electrical exhibits this year as the
exhibition organisers have discarded the use of model houses which
were so prominent a feature of the exhibition two years ago,
many electrical firms have been prevented from showing their
domestic apparatus in a wholesale fashion. Nevertheless the same
end has generally been arrived at in different ways.

Nine Years' Specialisation.

A firm who have been speciafising for no less than nine
years in the manufacture of electric fires and cooking apphances
are Belling and Company. The latest outcome of all this con-
centrated work is a 2 kW fire which we illustrate herewith (Fig. 1 ).

This consists of a small dog grate with electric fire bars well to the
front, the top of the fire being cleverly shaped and coloured to
represent glowing embers. But this is a delusion, for the top is
really illuminated by suitable lamps in the body of the fire, the
light being thrown upwards and downwards by aluminium reflectors.
The effect is cheerful, more psychologj^ ! In this fire Belling' s

Fig. 1. — The Belling " Imitation Coal ' Fire.

new multi-paraboUc bar is employed. This consists of the usual
base of vitreous material, wliich is given a fixed curvature and the
face of which consists of a large number of wells of parabolic
shape, in which the wire is seated at the correct focus. This
arrangement, it is claimed, is verj' efficient, as the curved formation
results in the heat being well distributed throughout the room.

Switches for the Lazy.

As will be noted from the illustration, three switches are pro-
vided, one tor the lamps and two for controlling the heater. These,
which are so arranged that they can be worked by the foot, are of

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

291

the MK pattern, f^iving a free and positive make and break. They
are so designed that no lateral motion of the switch handle is
possible even if the foot be placed not quite centrally upon the
handle, or if the handle be kicked rather than pressed. In con-
struction these switches, which are of the double-bladed knife
type, are very robust, and mica has been largely relied upon for
insulation. We are interested to learn that Belling & Co.
are adopting this switch as standard throughout their fires, not
only for the sake of sohditj', but to simplify the connections.

Another interesting fire ^ shown in Fig. 2 This is a combined
radiator and air warmer, the volume of circulating warm air passing

Fig. 2. — The Imperial Fire.

behind the bars being controlled by a regulator. The design of
frame also conforms to the latest parabolic principle for throwing
the heat forward, and in addition the fire is fitted with foot switches
described above, and with a trivet which can be placed either above
or below the bars.

Among the cooking apparatus on this stand we noticed a three-
heat griller and boiler with a loading of 1 200 W and fitted with a
three-heat switch. This griller has a range of rings so that utensils
of various sizes may be used. Accessory to it is a sheet bodj-
fitted with a top element so that roasting, grilling and boiling can
be carried on at the same time at a low cost from a combined
apparatus. Needless to say the " Modernette " cooker is in evidence
and is now fitted with a hinged top and with a double* grill which
can be turned into a boiler by the employment of a reflector plate.
The enamel drip tray at the bottom of the cooker collects all the
fat which drops right through the element. As before, a most
useful accessory is the plate warmer chamber which is fitted at the
side.

Sturdy Switches.

^,^ Also to be found on this stand are a selection of MK plugs and
sockets, noticeable among which is the combined foolproof switch
and plug and the D.P. main switch for small houses. This exhibit
is really an offshoot of Belling Ik Co.'s new showrooms at
18, Bemers Street, and we are interested to learn that all business
done at the exhibition will be executed through contractors in the
purchaser's district.

Jackson Junior Joys.

If anyone says Jackson, we all think of cooking. This time we
are not far wrong, for the Jackson Electfic Stove Compaxv are
showing an example of their well-known No. 21 cooker, in which the
hot plates are fitted with open elements. They arfe also displaying
a number of electric heating, cooking, and labour-saving devices
whose details are so familiar to readers of The Electrictan that we
need say no more. We, however, did note a 750 W electric fire
designed for hanging on the wall, and specially intended for use on
board sliip or in nurseries, where a certain amount of foolproofedness
and untouchableness are desirable qualities. One of the pieces
of apparatus on this stand which should cause the greatest attention
among " small house " wives is the No. 19 cooker, which consists of
two hot plates and an oven, and which in spite of its diminutive
size will, we are assured, cook a fuU size dinner for four full-sized
people. No more worrying about whether the fire will burn or
burn too well and carbonise the joint! A display of irons, com-
bined grills, and boilers and enamelled iron fires at very moderate
prices, should send the anxious housewife away envious and deter-
mined to use nothing but electricity in her ideal home.
{To he Continued.)

Correspondence.

ELECTRICAL ver.us MECHANICAL ENGINEERS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTKICIAN.

Sir, — "Nabia's" letter in your Issue of February 17 cannot be
allowed to go by default as a verdict against the electrical engineer' .h
independence.

His letter is balanced and judicious, and I have considered
carefully in consequence the probable reasons for his concluiiioni<.
The first reason is, I think, what he himself states : that he has
" no special knowledge of railway administration," but it is not
so much, I think, the want of knowledge of railway adminLstration
as the want of conception of the size of railways, the action of which
has given rise to this correspondence.

In a small firm, and possibly in a small railway, the work of
the different engineering branches is not of sufficient size to warrant
a special independent sectional engineer. This is a disadvantage
to the small railways, as they fail to gain the advantages of the
imagination and initiative of each engineer, wliich quaUties are only
properly fostered and used to the gain of the company if the officer
is independent of any control except that of " policy " control ;
in fact, that of the general manager in the case of a railway.

There are at least ten railways in England large enough to enjoy
the great advantages not only of independent civil engineer and
independent mechanical engineer, but of an independent electrical
engineer.

The argument appUes to all three sections of engineering, but it
applies with greater force to the electrical side, as modem develop-
ments have been and will continue to be almost entirely develop-
ments accomplished by electrical means, requiring an electrical
engineering knowledge and imagination of a very high order. That
such high imaginative work will not be carried out except with an
absence of other engineering control I regard as a law of human
nature, and am quite prepared to verify it from actual experience.

There can never be a strict line drawn between any of the sections
of engineering, and certainly not between electrical and mechanical
engineering, but no difficulty should be experienced bj- a first-
class commercial man, having directly under him three independent
engineers (one for civil, one for mechanical, and one for electrical
work), in apportioning their activities so that each could be doing
the work for which he had been mostly trained and for which his
imagination best suited him ; the work therefore for which he would
give the best results to his company. I am, &C.,

" Railwayman."

[" Railwayman " asks us to state that he is not accustomed to
being anonymous, but that under the circumstances it is
inevitable. — Ed. E.]

THE "REVO" ELECTRIC IRON.

To the Ediior ol THE ELECTEICIAN.

Sir, — We note your correspondent's further letter with reference
to the above. He now says there is nothing wonderful in the
performance, although he stated in his previous letter that
the result was imposs.lle of achievement and by calculation
pro\ ed this to his own satisfaction ; that his calculation was incorrect
as well as his statement does not apparentlj- matter. His main
idea appears to be to beUttle the result somehow ; that yo\ r corres-
pondent did not make sure of his ground is his own fault, and " the
nigger " he has discovered is, to use another simile, " his own
baby."

Your correspondent made the mistake of assuming that the
electric iron overloaded 150 per cent, would be left on circuit con-
tinuously even when too hot to use Tor ironing, knowing full well
that it is one of the easiest things imaginable to disconnect an
iron from the supply.

We submit also that it is not fitting for Mr. Scourfield to complain
that we are not precise and then deliberatelj^ to misquote from our
letter. We certainly did not say that an electric iron " is never in
use continuously during ironing operations.""

Your correspondent says that " if an electric iron is to be switched
off every few minutes to prevent overheating and burning of the
material, ironing under these conditions would become not only
laborious, but extremely dangerous,"' certainly, but is not the user
who puts 100 V appHances on 200 \' circuit '" asking for trouble "' ?
Then j'our correspondent's remarks tend to show that he is not
conversant with modern irons, or else pretends not to be. for they
do not lose their heat in a few minutes. We are, Ac,

Cable Accessories Company, Ltd.

Tipton. P. W. Davis, Engineer.

February' 20.

ROTARY CONVERTER PRACTICE.
To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — With reference to the article on " Rotary Converter
Practice "' in the last issue of The ElecYricl\n. it may be of interest
to your readei-s to know that there are at present two 1 500 V
50 cycle 375 kW traction rotary converters in operation in Switzer-
land which have given excellent results. These machines are at

292

The Electrician.

March lo, 1922

the Rosental sub-station of the Frauenfeld-Wil Railway, and
have been supplied by the Oerlikon Company. Though the
machines are now working at a pressure of 1 350 V thej' are designed
for 1 500 V, and have been subjected to exhaustive tests at the
latter pressure. The Rosental sub-station is, we beheve, the first
installation on the Continent to be equipj^ed with SO-cjcle rotaries
for snch a high pressure. We are, &c.,

Oerlikon Ltd.
London, W.C. 2. G. Wuthrich,

March 6th. General Manager & Chief Engineer.

Electric Light Salesmanship.

At a conference of the Electrical Development Association
on Feb. 17, Mr. HadjTi Harrison read a Paper on " Salesmanship
in Relation to Electric Lighting." Mr. J. W. Beauchamp presided
in the absence of Mr. S. T. AUen, who was prevented from attending
owing to his work in connection with the N.W.-Midland electricity
inqiury.

First Line of Attack.

Mr. Hakrison said that creating a market for anything was
generally done hy making people dissatisfied with what they already
possessed. Just as the advent of the oil lamp had made our fore-
fathers dissatisfied with candles, and the advent of gas made them
dissatisfied with oil lamps, so electric light had made many dis-
satisfied with gas. Even now, however, electric light was far from
universal. This was nearly always due to the initial expense, and
this should be therefore the first line of attack in order to gain busi-
ness. Electricity supply undertakings at one time did not encourage
lighting as much as they might have done on account of the poor
load factor, but now that it had become such a small proportion
of their load they no doubt realised that lighting at the present
rate was to be encouraged in every way. If the supply authorities
had the powers or the means they would probably go in for free
wiring and prepayment meters, but this was seldom the case,
and the salesman must find some other way of circumventing
the difficulty.

The Louver Middle Classes.

The greatest field yet untouched lay among the lower middle
<>lasses, the majority of whom lived in houses which were not their
own property, and who, therefore, hesitated to install electric light
unless the landlord would assist with the expense in some way.
The landlord was therefore the man to be tackled. He complained
that he was not earning enough on his investment, which was often
true, but by spending the necessary capital to wire the house he
4:'0uld increase the rent, for the tenant would be prepared to pay
xnore for the additional advantage of electricity.

In order to ensure that electric light produced a bright and
pleasant result it was necessary to do something more than fix a
few electric lamps. The endeavour should be made to obtain the
same low intrinsic brilliance which gladdened the eye when looking at
the light source and yet produced that light which tends to make
every occupation a pleasure. The lecturer particularly warned
his audience against using too large a shade for the power of the
lamp, because the bright appearance would immediately disappear,
though the lighting be ample. He also warned them against
the use of indirect and semi-indirect fittings, consisting of alabaster
or other bowls, unless the cost of electrical energy was of no im-
portance. The " Denzar " fitting used in America was, perhaps,
the most suitable for nearly all purposes.

Standard Designs of Shades and Fittings.

Mr. Harrison was in favour of the introduction of a few good
standard designs, because the present multitude of inefficient
types of shades and fittings confused prospective users of electric
light to such an extent that they chose something unsuitable.
A salesman should know what he was selling, and a man selling
a few lines or even one article, of which he knew the caiiabilities,
was in a better position to do good than the man who brought
a hundred and one things to the notice of a customer and knew
little about them.

The chief difficulty, however, was to turn scientific facts into talking
points, to create the electrical idea. When discussing the proper
use of shades, &c., it was best to explain that a saving would Vie
effected in the quarterly bill which would soon wipe off any extra
expenditure on the installation. The same applied to cost of
electric lighting generally, and it was better to talk of the average
cost of an electric lamp per annum than of the total cost of an
installation. Mr. Harrison then referred to the difficulties ex-
perienced by salesmen with regard to the power of lamps required.
Such terms as candle-power, lumens, foot candles, &c., were bandied
about in a most careless way by many people who had not in-
vestigated what they really meant.

The Study of Decorations.

It was also worth while for an electric light representative to
study decorations, and the influence of liglit and colours upon
them. Good artificial lighting, by the influence it had on the
appearance of furnishings, ^c, would often change the appearance

of what was in day-time a dreary room and make it, when lighted
artificially, bright and cheerful. Other valuable selling points
included the saving in cost of decorating and cleaning, purity
of atmosphere and convenience. But all these advantages required
to be inculcated by Hterature or word of mouth, whereas light
and brightness spoke for themselves. In order to advance the
adoption of electric light every firm or salesman should make
certain of marketing sometliing which w^ould help to advance
the industry as a whole. It was a mistake to claim too much, as
nothing was suitable for every purptjpe, and claims of such a
nature did more harm than good.

I The Gasfilled Lamp Criticised.

In the discussion which followed Mr. Ra\vlings said that it
was a scandal to the industry the way the gasfilled lamp was
being sold. Because it started as a half-watt lamp, the public
thought it would only consume half as much current as a one-
watt lamp, and the result was that the current consumption was
increased, the light was so strong that it almost blinded everybody,
and the industry had suffered. If salesmen were a little more
careful in advising their clients of the defects as well as the advan-
tages of lamps it would be better.

Mr. Simon criticised the practice of lamp manufacturers of
advertising so extensively their own individual lamps. Valuable
space was occupied in that way which could be used for educating
the public on the advantages of electric lighting. His experience
of contractors — he was a contractor himself — was that they v ere
a self-centred body, and the direction in which they failed was
in not helping to develop the industry as a whole. The writing
of non-technical articles on electricity in the daily Press would
help t^emendoush^

Mr. Campbell dealt with educational work and blamed the
central station people for not approaching consumers as often
as they ought. The average consumer was not served properly
by any branch of the industry with regard to improving his lighting.
He agreed that a standard of some sort should be set up of what
a man really wanted.

Supply Engineers' Failings.

Mr. Rogers dealt with the point that central station people
did not approach their consumers. Speaking as a supply station
man he could say that, as a rule, the"supply stations were condemned
and damned for suggesting anything of the sort. He had "been
struck by the state of some showrooms which contained a con-
glomeration of fittings, and there was absolutely no chance of
showing what any one of them would do.

Mr. Bush did not agree with Mr. Harrison as to opalised bulbs.
If a filament were too bright why bottle it up ? Why not put
up an efficient reflector ? He did not agree %Wth standardising
fittings. The Denzar fitting might be very useful in an office,
but it was hopeless in a house.

Cheap Current.

Mr. Young said that contractors were doing their best under
existing conditions, and pointed out that it would be of great
assistance if supply companies gave them current at reasonable
rates to enable them to demonstrate their goods in the proper
way, and so increase the sale of electricity. He asked that con-
tractors should be registered.

Mr. Beauchamp stood up for the contractors, and said that as
a body they were expanding electrically. Co-operation was growing,
and that only would enable them to take advantage of expert
advice in connection with their advertising. He pointed out the
immense advantage of articles such as that which Mr. Simon had
mentioned, and asked that others should try to support the industry
in that way.

Mr. Harrison in the course of his reply said he had been mis-
understood with regard to, standardising. He did not suggest a
standard fitting, but that we should if possible have a few standard
types of fittings which would give good results. Mr. Simon's
suggestion of standardising particular types of illumination, was
extraordinarily good. They would then be able to say a reading
illumination would be put into one room, a dining illumination
in another, and so on. He agreed with the suggestion that
electrical contractors should be registered.

Turbo-Alternator Transport.

The York wagon works of the North-Eastern Railway have pro-
duced a new 70-ton bogie tholley wagon for the conveyance of
siATOUs FOR TUUBO-ALTERNAToiis froni the Tyne. The wagon is
mounted on two six-wheeled bogies, with plate-side frames, and will
carry a load up to 70 tons, eitiier concentrated in the centre or
distributed over the well, and is fitted with triuisverse and longitu-
dinal beams for securing the load. The total length is 67 ft. 6 in.,
with 54 ft. 6in. over the head stocks ; the wheel base of each bogie is
12 ft... the length of well at main girders 14 ft. 6 in., tlie width
8 ft. lOin., and lai'e weight 38 tons 16 c\\i. 3 qrs. The wagon, it
lis stated, will shortly convey its first load, a stator from C. A.
Parsone & Company, for Shanghai, which will weigh 60 tons.

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

293

British Industries Fair, Birmingham.

Domestic Electric Fittings and Fires.

The display of domestic fittings at the Birmingham Section od'
the Fair is sufficient illustration of the remarkable progress that has
been made, particularly since the Armistice, on the artistic side.
" Period " styles occupy a leading position, and so do examples
of indirect methods of illumination, alabaster being among the
most popular of the materials employed. There is also a com-
preheiieive dieptay of electric radiators and cookers, while kettles,
boilers, irons, toasters and similar equipment ai'e to be seen in
increased quantities.

Electric light fittings, in most artistic designs and of superb finish,
are shown by David Shanks & Company, Ltd., of Birmingham
(A Building, Stand 20), who have also on view an extensive display
of fittings of a specialised kind such as are required in cinema
theatres and on snips. Among domestic illumination fittings, the
English alabaster bowl occupies a prominent place, these bowls being
carved in many beautiful designs. In regard to cinema lighting,
specialisation has been greatly developed, and some of the goods
displayed show a nice appreciation of t.he novel requirements of
pictur« houses. Electric signs are also specialised, and may be seen
m a very wide range.

The "Angelas Ray" Element.

The British Brass Fittings, Ltd., Birmingham (which includes
the firms of Sperryn & Co., Charles Joyner & Co., Ingram & Kemp
and Player & Mitchell, all of Birmingham), makes a very repre-
sentative display of the brass goods produced_ in the four factories
of the amalgamated firm. The range includes electric light
fittings, electrical accessories, and tram and railway fittings. Electric
heating on the " Angelus Ray " principle is shown to be thoroughly
effective in a number of applications, the principle being that the
whole of the radiant heat is concentrated and thrown forward by
means of reflection. The " Angelus Ray " element consists of
an open frame made of ndckel-plated steel, which is fitted with a
detachable reflector and a double row of small insulators ; the latter
are of highly refractory material, and between them the resistance
wire is suspended. Many artistic patterns of frames of " Angelus "
fire are displayed, as well as pedestal fires with a parabola reflector,
with surface highly polished, and giving an intens'O concentrated
heat.

On the stand (No. 21, Building A) of William Whitehouse &
Co., Ltd., Birmingham, electroliers of beautiful design and in solid
brass cast, in oxidised silver, are an arresting feature, and among
■many other things the firm gives prominence to an elaborate fitting
with 12-light Huntalite candles. This exhibit is in itself a fine
piece of workmanship and solidity, weighing about ^ cwt.

T. R. Carpenter, Ltd., of Birmingham (Building A, Stand 3)
are responsible for a good display of electroliers, shade pendants and
bowl fittings, as well as for table and floor standards, many in
oxidised silver. Among the table lamps shown the Georgian and
Jacobean styles predominate.

Superior Electric Fires.

May & Padmore (Building A Stand 69) feature their

Miaymoi-« " electric fires, irons and electric cooking apparatus.
These have evidently been designed to conform to the decorations
of better-class homes, the colours being carefully selected and
the work carried out in vitreous enamel finish. The elements are
carried on good-class heat-resisting porcelain, and are designed to
give maximum heat in proportion to the current consumed. Th-^
stock voltages are : 100/110 V, 200/220 V and 230/250 V, the
loading being 375 W and 500 W per element bar. A capital
range of electric fires include one, two and four bars, and a new
bowl fire is displayed ; this tips up and provides a rest for a
kettle. A useful immersion heater, loaded at 250 W, is also given
prominence.

The Premier Heaters, Ltd. (Building A, Stand 36) display a
wide range of electric heating and cooking apparatus, electric fires
and radiators, and there are handy and efficient contrivances for use
in tailors' and laundry workshops.

On the stand of Evered & Co., Smethwick (Block A, Stand 23),
there is a very fine display of electric fittings, which are excellent
examples of decorative art. One is an ornate cast brass fitting of
the French style, from the cenk'e of which emerges three large
alabaster shells. The flambeau for hotel halls and picture houses
is also very effective.

For another exhibit of more than ordinary interest. Best &
Lloyd, Ltd., Handsworth (Building A. Stand 32) are responsible:
it is noteworthy by reason of the artistry that is shown and for
the beautiful finishes. Many of the samples are in the Period
style. Indirect illumination methods are predominant, English
alasbaster bowls being an excellent fe-ature. Other items of interest
include the " Best " electric heaters.

The Falkirk Iron Co., of Falkirk, have a representative display
of their well-known electric cooking apparatus. As this is also being
shown at the Ideal Homes Exhibition, we shall describe it in due
course under that heading.

Country House Plants.

Engines of various types are displayed on Stand 176 (B Building)
by the Heatly-Gresham Engineerinu Co.,LTD.,Letchworth. Among
the combined sets shown are .some' compact models suitable for
country house and farm lighting and power requirements, for

working cinemas and for the supply of elwliu; iigra ana \)<,/.>-r in
any isolated situation. The dynamos of these seti have been lent
by" Electromotors. A standard battery charging swiuhU^ard, by
Crompton & Co., is also exhibited, together with a model storage
ijattery manufactured ljy Pritchett & Gold and Electric Power
Storage Co.

The Austin Motor Company, Northfield, Birmingham (Build-
ing A, Stand 49), make a feature of their automatic lighting eet*
(whicu are seen in motion), and which are suitable for private instal-
lations in country houses, hotels, farms, and the like.

Electric Hoisting Gear.

Holt & Willetts, Cradley Heath and Lye (B Building,
Stand 163), make a feature of electric power machines of various
kinds. One, a hauling winch, is fitted with warping drums and
driven by t<^>tally enclosed electric motors, capable of lifting 3 tone
at a speed of 50 ft. per min. All gears are machine cut, the pini''»ns
being of mild steel. Attention is also attracted to a direct coupled
electric hoist gear for passenger or goods lifts, which is of the
totally enclosed worm-geared type, with phosphor bronze worm
wheel and steel worm. It is fitted with mechanical or electro-
mechanical brakes, and either hand rope, switch in car, or full
automatic push-button systems of control. The rope drum is of
either the winding type or grip sheave type. This gear is made
in various sizes to deal with loads from 5 cwt. to 5 tons. The firm
also make heavy duty goods or platform hoiste for loads up to
50 tons. An electric overhead travelling crab is shown, suitable
for double girder electric overhead travelling crane, capable of
lifting 3 tons at a speed of 25ft. per min. and travelling along the
crane bridge at 75 ft. per min. This crab is of standard type, as
supplied with 3 and 4 motor elec'ric overhead cranes, and can be
made of any span to suit the centres of gantry rails. Pulley block
and friction hoists also command attention.

Controllers and Resistances.

The Electro-Mechanical Brake Co.. Ltd.. has an exhibit
consisting of many examples of controllers and grid-t\-pe
resistances. A range of steel-cased drum-type controllers for deal-
ing with loads of from 5 to 100 h.p. are included. A special feature
of these is the ease with which the drum can be withdrawn by
simply loosening back four bolts. There is ample space for cables
and entry at the back, side, or bottom of the controller can be
arranged. For ships' winches a special watertight design has been
produced. The " Midget " controllers shown are similar in some
points of construction to the larger type, but are for single pole
only a,nd suitable for series motors, being especially adapted to the
control of hoists, wall cranes, pulley blocks, or telphers. The frame
consists of two cast-iron end plates supported by mild steel bars :
the cover is of heavy-gauge sheet steel, and is secured in position
by substantial quick-releasing latches. As in the large controller,
arc shields are fitted between all contact fingers. These shields
are mounted on a pivoted arm, allowing the whole to be swung
out. The drum consists of a series of cast-iron sections clamped to
a square mild steel shaft and insulated from it by mica. The drum
contacts are of hard-drawn copper, fastened to the drum casting
liy countersunk headed screws, permitting easy replacement. A
number of jointless and rustless grid lesistances of various sizes are
shown. These ai^ made of wire of uniform cross-section and con-
tinuous length, with a tenperature coefficient and current -carrying
capacity similar to those of cast-iron. The insulation is mica and
micanite, tested to 3 000 V. a.c. Resistances designed for special
purposes such as battery-charging, locomotives, traction and
kiuema regulating are also exhibited.

Electric Furnaces.

The Aj.^x-Wy.att Fitrn.\ce Company. 17, Victwia-street, London.
show their electric induction furnace for melting brass. &c. . on
Stand 195 in Building B. This furnace is of exceptional interest in
a centre like Birmingham, as it is specially designed for melting
brass and alloys containing zinc and other volatile metals. As the
heat is actually generated in the metal, and not conveyed by con-
duction or radiation, it is clainietl tliat melting costs are much
reduced. CleaJi scrap melted shows a loss of lees than 1 per cent.
of the total melt charged, while the loss of zinc is less than ij per
cent, of the metal charged in the case of ordinary yellow brass.
Other advantages claimed include the complete mixing of the metals
in the alloy. These furnaces, which were originally of American
origin, are now being made in England by Ca.mpbell, Gitford &
Company. On the same stand the firm is showing the Soderbergcor-
tinuous self-baking electrode, which, ir is claimed, marks an
important improvement in the manufacture of electnxles. eliminating
breakages and consequent trouble. Its cost is said to be about half
that ot the best quality amorphous types, and the consumption is
slightly less. There are two types, one for tilting steel furnaces and
the other for ferro-alloy, carbide, and other fixed furnaces. It is
hoped that one effect of its use will be the cheapening of carbide
and of ferro-alloys.

Hancock & CbMP.\NY (Engineers). Ltd.. of Wallington. Surrey,
show on Stand 169 in B Building their high-temperature electric
furnace*;, which may be seen working at temperatures up to 2 000* C
hardening high-t^peed steel, melting steel, &c. The furnace is a
muffle-type furnace of the rt^istance type, the resistances running
longitudinally up and down the outside of the muffle tube and being
sealed l>etween this and the refractory tube. The muffle and outer
refractory tubes are made of a special grade-of carborundum, which
is capable of withstanding excessive temperature without damage.

294

The Electrician.

March lo, 1922

The tubes have, we understand, a Ions; life, and will not crack
unless subjected to very rough usage, "the resistances are made of
a special caibon rod.- The aim of the designers has been to produce a
furnace which is, to all intents and purposes, indestructible.

The Premier Electric Welding Comp.\ny, Ltd., of St. James's-
street, London, S.W. 1, are showing on Stand 1, Building B, a
particularly comprehensive exhibit of electric arc welding apparatus.
The firm's plants are operated in accordance with their patent
design, whereby series resistances have been done away with. They
embody a special form of reactance which materially assists the
welder in obtaining a steady arc.

" Apex " Switchgear.

An interesting e.xhibition of welding transformers, spot welders
and switchgear of tbe quick " make " and " break " pattern is made
by the Foster Engineering Comp.\ny, of London (Building A,
Stand 39). The principle of this latter action is embodied in the
" Apex " switchgear, consisting of knife switches, ironclad switch-
fuse gear, and mine-type switchgear. In the " Apex " ironclad
switch, wihich is extremely small, the switch blades make and break
contact at the same time, and the action, being a parallel one, en-
sures, it is claimed, the arc being distributed evenly over all four
contacts. The switch blades are mechanically held off the contacts
by the cover when the latter is open. Prominence is also given to
the "Apex" water-tight fused switch, which is made in three
sizes — 30, 60, 100 A — the removable switch blades and fixed contacts
being a self-contained imit in a box, so that their relative position
is not altered when the cover is removed.

Mining Switchgear.

William McGeoch & Co., Ltd., of Birmingham, have a very
comprehensive stand (No. 22, Building A), where electrical switch-
boards, switches, switch gear, fuseboards and couplings for electric
railways and tramways are to be found. Prominently displayed is a
combined ironclad switch and fuse box suitable for circuits up to
500 V. The switch is of the firm's standard S.D.B. type, the
blades break simultaneously from both contacts and are dead in th^
"off" position; the contacts are mounted tn porcelain, and the
fuses can be withdrawn without the operator's hand coming in
contact with " live " parts. There is also on view a variety of
equipment for coal mines and for marine work, and among the
former reference may be made to flame-proof switches and fuses
for use in fiery mines. These switches are fool-proof and are fitted
with steel coupling bars, insulated by micanite, mounted in cast-
iron cases, the cable holes being fitted with glands for insulated
linings. Otlrer switches to which special attention may be directed
are provided with cable-dividing boxes, and popular interest centred
also on the Morse code electric flashing apparatus, for night signal-
ling at sea, and on the navigation light indicators. By means of
the latter, should a navigation light go out, the corresponding lamp
in the engine-room lights up and a bell is rung, so that the fault
is at once detected. The firm's display includes a wide range of
electrical fittings, artistic and ornate, for use in the home or in
theatres and other public buildings.

Power Presses.

Hollings & Guest's exhibits include their hydraulic tyre press
for removing and fixing the solid rubber tyres of comm.ercial
vehicle wheels. Another important exhibit is a bending press
for bending plates cold up to 6 ft. in width, as used for making
safe bodies, tanks, conveyors, colliery tubs, and similar work.
A hydraulic scrap bundling press is also exhibited by this
firm. The press consists of a rectangular cast-iron box, 27 in. by
15 in. by 30 in. deep, with a hinged cover. The hydraulic ram is
arranged underneath this box, with a table, which fits closely inside
the box. The whole apparatus is let into the ground 450 as to bring
the top of the box to a convenient height for throwing in the
material. The box is filled with old tins and other material to be
dealt with. The lid is then swung over, and the pressure turned on
by the valve. As soon as the maximum pressure is reached, as
shown by the pressure gauge, the operator releases the valve and
swings off the cover, and the ram ejects the baile from the press.
The operation is then repeated. For driving these machines — which
are in actual working operation on the stand — a set of two-
throw hydraulic pumps is supplied. These pumps ])resent a novel
feature, as they consist of a vertical two-throw pump built up on a
bed plate and driven by means of chain gears from an electric
motor. This gives a quiet and efficient drive, superior to the ordinary
noisy spur gear drive.

New^ Range of Ironclad Switches.

J. H. TucKLR & Company are exhibiting (No. 38, Building A)
four examples of an entirely new range of small moderate-
priced accumulator switchboards, specially designed for use
with modern small private plants using low volt^ige metal
filament lamps on the latest wiring systems, in addition to
pvamples of their genera,! switchboard components and various typev«
of fuse and distribution boards. T'ley are also showing an entirely
new range of ironclad switches, without and with fusee, combined in
the same box, embodying several jiatonted imiirovonients. A repre-
'ientative selection of fusegear for supply services and industrial use,
♦o comply with Home Office requirements, will be on view. In con-
nection with tumbler switches, a special demonstration is given
of the numerous controls for electric light obtainable with " Tucker "
switches. Though pioneers of this type of switch, several novelties

show that the company are keeping in the forefront of modern
progress.

Miscellaneous Exhibits.

Fuller's United Electric Works, Ltd.. display on their stand
(Building A, Stand 48) electric wires and cables, ebonite mouldings,
and a complete stand of miners' electric hand lamps. The last named
are fitted with block accumulators; they are claimed to be fool-
proof and capable of withstanding very rough wear. The firm also
show a mine signalling set, and over the stand appears a replica of 3
miner's electric safety lamp.

There are many interesting electrical contrivaaces, and one which
will appeal to motorists is an inspection lamp (the Kendrick), the
exhibit of the Neale Magnet Construction Co., Ltd., London,
in A. A. Building, Stand 24. It takes the form of a combined
lamp and electro-magnet, which adheres firmly to any iron
or steel surface, thus enabling the light to be thrown on any
particular point required. The base, which is magnetised, con-
tains a coil connected to the ordinary circuit from the car lighting
set ; a push switch in the base facilitates rapid removal without
putting out the light. The lamp is supplied for 6 or 12 V circuits,
with bulb, flexible cord and box, and for 1«0 to 120 V and 200 to
250 V circuits for garages, engineers and shipbuilders.

The Ebonestos Insulators, Ltd., London (Building A, Stand 43).
are well represiented bv moulded insulators for all classes of electrical
work, specially adapted for terminal blocks and nuts, switch handles.
V>ushes and bases. They are made in heat, alkali and acid-resisting
grades, the material being in all cases impervious to moisture.
Before the war this material w^as imported largely from Germany.
but little has since arrived in this country.

Industrial Appliances, Ltd., of 38, Victoria-street, Westminster
(Block B, Stand 255, and in the corridor leading from Block B to
Block C), display their " Railodok " industrial freight truck. The
reliability of these vehicles is generally recognised, and much help
was given to exhibitors for the conveyance of their products from
railway sidings to the various stands.

The Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Co., Ltd., London (Build-
ing B, Stand 13) make a feature of electric drills for drilling,
reaming, tapping and tube expanding ; also portable electric
grinders and polishers and electric hoist, winch and saw. Electric
welding plants on the resistance system, with examples of the work
performed, are also shown, on which spot, seam and butt welding
may be effected on one machine.

At the stand (133) of W. Canning & Company, Birmingham (A
Building), one is able to appreciate by the wide range of goods
there dLsplayed how great has been the development in electro-
plating and polishing. There is on view a good collection of low-
voltage plating dynamos from 6 A to 500 A, though the firm supply
complete sets in outputs up to 3 000 A. Space considerations w-ill.
of course, not permit of the display of these. Rotating plating
barrels and polishing machines in motion give an, added interest to
this exhibit.

On the stand of Geo. Salter & Co., Ltd., West Bromwich
(Building B, No. 236), there is displayed the Salter improved tension
Indicator and draw tongs for use in fixing and joining up telegrapli
and other electric lines.

Readers of The Electrician will be intierested to learn that ail
the electricity meters used on the stands in this Fair were supplied
by Chamberlain & Hookham, Ltd., of Birmingham.

On Friday last a party of representatives O'f the Electbical
Wholesalers' Federation visited the Fair. They were entertained
to luncheon at the invitation of the British Electrical and Allied
Manufacturers' Association, many members of which are exhibiting
A cordial welcome was given by Mr. H. 0. Worrall. the chairman
of the Fair Council, who expressed the hope that all the electrical
manufacturers would eventually participate in the Fair, and put un
exhibits so extensive and of so attractive a character as to make
the exhibition indispensable to those associated with the Whole-
sale Federation. Mr. A. G. Beaver, the newly -elected president of
the Wholesalers' Federation, joined in the hope that some such
arrangemenii might be brought about, and that they would all come
in a body to view the exhibits. He believed it would l)e of mutual
benefit.

U.S. Electrical Exports in 1921.

Exports of electrical goods from the United States in December.
1921, ameunted in value to $5 177 276, making the tot.al preliminary
figure for tiie entire year $97 935 597. The following information
taken from the U.S. " Commerce Reports " sliow the preliminarv
figures for 1921 with comparative data for 1920 : batteries S3 831 738
($6 633 542) ; carbons .S433 869 ($1 477 831) : dvnamos and generators
$7 942 473 ($7 796 305) : fans SI 270 253 (S1364 742) : heating aud
cooking apparatus. SI 637 450 (SI 801 127) ; insulated wire and
cables,' $8 573 820 (S8 208 539) ; interior wiring supplies, §1848 793
($3 386 068): arc lamps, S 13 795 (§25 098): carbon filament lamps.
.$125 045 ($114 542) ; metal filament lamps. S3 148 635 ($4 051 835) :
magnetos, spark plugs. $1313 614 (S3 601 419): meters and
measuring instruments, $2 726 446 ($2 676 538): motors $15 444 024
($13 421 '550 1 : rheostats and controllers. SI 044 393 ($707 719):
switches and accessories, $4 033 299 ($4 438 773); telegraph appara-
tus, including wireless, $1 010 891 ($713 798> : telepltones, $4 798 923
($3 898 987): transformers. $7 988 440 ($4 803 158); all other.
$28 628 982 (S32 868 433): total electric machinery. $95 814 885
($101990 004): ele<'tric locomotives. $2 120 712 ($880 430); total.
$97 935 597 (S 102 870 434).

March lo. 1922

The Electrician.

295

Legal Intelligence.

The Lodge Tuned Wireless Patent.

On Monday the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors, pre-
sided over by Mr. justice Sargant, conimonced the hearing of
claims by Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company and the Lodge
Muirhead Wireless and General Telegraphy Syndicate for an
award in respect of infringement by the Admiralty of Sir Oliver
Lodge's patent. No. 11575 of 1897, the validity of which was estab-
lished in 1920 before the late Lord Moulton. .

Mr J Hunter Gray, K.C, for Marconi's Company, said they
and the Lodge Muirhead Syndicate had come to an agreement and
were really supporting the same case. The Lodge Muirhead
patents had been sold to Marconi's Company. The late Lord
Moulton had found that the Lodge Patent was valid, and that
certain instruments used by the Admiralty were infringements, and
all the Commission had to do was to assess the amount of royalty
to which the applicants were entitled. Lord Moulton s award
provided that an amount should be paid by the Admiralty (over
and above the amount already agreed for the use of Lodge s patents
referred to in the schedule to the award), and that the Royal
Commission should be requested to divide their award into three
parts to cover the period (1) from the date of the patent (May 10,
1897) to March 31, 1903, (2) April 1, 1903, to Oct. 20. 1911, and
(3) April 3, 1914, to Mav 10, 1918. On April 1, 1914, the Marconi
and Admiralty agreenient expired, and May 9. 1918. was the end
of the 21 vears of the Lodge patent, as extended by Mr. Justice
Parker. On Oct. 20, 1911, the Lodge Muirhead Syndicate assigned
the patent to the Marconi Company. From Oct. 24, 1911, to 1914
there could be no claim, because it was a patent vested in the
Marconi Company. The claim of the Marconi Company was for
£1 037 736, and that of the Lodge Muirhead Syndicate for
£160 600. The royalties charged to the Admiralty and other pur-
chasers had been for a long time £100 per ^ kW for large sets, and
various figures down to £25 per ^ kW for very small sets.

The Chairman, being informed by Mr. Gray that the Admiralty
had paid the same charge for instruments when there were 14
years of the patent to run as when there was only one year to
run, expressed some doubt whether it was right that the
Admiralty, who v.'ere statutory licencees, should pay the same
amount in both cases. /

Sir ARTinjR Colefax, K.C. (for the Admiralty) said the
Admiralty claimed that they ought not to have to pay on the
kilowatt per annum basis.

Mr. Gray said he was concerned at present with amounts that
the Government had paid in later years. They paid £200 for
1^ kW or l:j kW. The Admiralty bought apparatus from the
Marconi Company and paid a royalty of £200 per kW or part
thereof, and he submitted that no other basis was so correct.

Sir Duncan Kerly, K.C. (for the Lodge Muirhead Syndicate)
also addressed the Commissioners, and made a point of the fact
thai Sir Oliver Lodge and Dr. Muirhead made nothing out of the
invention, and to this moment Sir Oliver Lodge had only made
out of it a retaining fee of £1 000 a year for seven years, while
the late Dr. Muirhead and his representatives had made out of
it something like "a negative sum of £10 000."

Sir Oliver Lodge's Statement.

At this stage a statement by Sir Oliver Lopoe (of which the
following is an abstract) was read by Counsel : — In the early st^age
of wireless telegraphy the method of signalling was bv sudden
jerk — an electric pulse of whip-crack suddenness was emitted, and
its effect at a distance was detected bv the sudden snap of an
insulating film in a receiving coherer. The emitter was an elevated
wire excited bv a spark, and the collector was a similar or the
same wire attached to a coherer. Under these conditions no selec-
tion was possible. It could be done only by the introduction of
self-induction in com'unction with capacity. Up to the time of
my patent, neither of these ideas had entered wireless telegraphv.
I arranged that the emitter should have both capacity and self-
induction, which are essential to a tuning fork and every per-
sistent vibrator. The use of self induction was at that date not
really known, even to some telegraphists of eminence, though the
theorv of electrical vibrations by aid of self-induction and capacity
was known to Lord Kelvin and pure science ever since 1853. Self-
induction, a name invented by Clerk Maxwell, was ignored by
practical men as an unnecessary intrusion. Heaviside had applied
it theoreticallv to cables, but neither he nor Lord Kelvin thought
of applving the idea to wireless. The princinles of persistent
vibration being known, the noveltv consisted in the practical appli-
cation of these principles to wireless. It h<id rot occurred to
anyone to apnly them, nor was it obvious how to do it. My own
experiment of the resonating Leyden jars had given me the clue.
T arranged that the oscillations should accumulate in a, condenser,
associated with a self-induction coil, until it overflowed. The over-
flow wo"ld give the necessarv jerk and stimulate the coherer, but
no overflow would occur unless the electric oscillations had been
graduallv worked un by resonance. And for (hat there must
be tuning. _ The emitter must send out a long series of waves,
therefore, instead of a single pulse. So I enlarged it into a
capacity area, or nnir of capacity areas, and I inserted a coil of
variable self-induction between the two areas, or between one ot
them and the earth. Thus I gave both emitter and receiver
canacitv and self-induction, the essentials to durable electrical
vibration. . Emitter and collector forthwith beoa»iie vibrator and
resonator respectively. By the device of signalling on different
wave lengths, all the complexify of modern wireless telegraphy

became possible, and any one station could henceforth be listened
to, to the exclusion of all others. The principle of resfmance thus
utilised is so powerful that there is no real loss of efficiency wd
the range of signalling i» even increased by this device ; for
though each pulse may be insif^nificant, an accumulation of 30 or
40 pulses is wonderfully effective. The res^mator picks up the
vibrations intended for it, works them up to the desired intensity,
overflows, and di.sturbs the detector and gives the signal. Vibra-
tions of any other wave length cannot be worked up by sympa-
thetic resonance, so they are powerless to di.s-turb unless they are
very strong, like occasional atmospherias. There is no other way
of achieving this end electrically than by the use of self-indnction
and capacity, and my patent shows exactly how to use thera, and
therefore how to do "it. It further shows how to modify the self-
induction, so as to get oscillations of different wave lengths at will.
It also shows how to construct a suitable resonator on the principles.
of the resonating jars, how to connect up the coherer or other
detector, and how to tune the resonator accurately so as to pick up
the desired station and ignore all others.

Sir Oliver Lodge accepted Sir Arthur Colefax's statement that
at the time of the application for prolongation of the patent the
accounts showed expenditure £33 167, which exceeded the receipts
by £5 882. The patent was sold in October, 1911, to the Marconi
Company, and the syndicate was liquidated. The consideration
paid for the patents was £18 000 to the Muirhead Company, and
he was to be retained as scientific adviser to tfie Marconi Company
at £1 000 per annum.

Mr. C. F. WiLKiNS, director and manager of Muirhead & Co.,
gave evidence, which was chiefly directed to show that the amount
of business done under the patent had not been very extensive,
and that the charges made for royalties had been substantially on the
same basis as those which were now claimed from the Admiralty.

Mr. Wilkins was still under examination when the Court
adjourned.

B.T.H. Company v. Corona Lampworks.

On Tuesday Mr. Justice Astbin-y delivered his reserved judgment
in this action to restrain an alleged infringement of plaintiff's
patent (No. 23 775 of 1912) for improvements in and relating to
evacuated vitreous containers having sealed-in conductors. The
defence was a denial of novelty, want of subject matter and utility,
anticipation and insufficiency of directions in the specification.
After an elaborate survey of the evidence his Lordship found that
the patent had been infringed, and granted the desired relief, with
costs.

In the course of his judgment his Lordship said that
the alleged invention included (inter alia) incandescent lamps.
Prior to plaintiffs invention in 1912, platinum was almost universally
used for the leading-in wires. Efforts had been made to find a less
expensive substitute for platinum, and when it was remembered
that 300 000 000 lamps were now sold every year, the importance
of a substitute for commercial purposes would be realised. Plaintiffs
claimed to have solved this problem and to have invented a snb-
titute possessing commercial advantages far exceeding any alterna-
tive previously used. That substitute had displaced platinum
almost entirely, and the cost of the new leading-in wires was trivial
in comparison. In construing plaintiffs' specification it must be
borne in mind that the first essential. was that the wire should seal
in the glass fo as not to leak. The length of the wire was about
thirty-two times its width and when the glass cooled and enclosed
the wire the expansion and contraction of the wire would be largely
controlled by the glass, and as the wire, when cold, must keep the
hole stopped up, it was vital that the co-efticient of the wire =honld
approximate to that of the glass. He construed the specification as
showing an aggregate co-efficient which was what plaintiffs con-
tended for, and if he were right in that construction
and the patent was valid defendants' lamps were a clear
infringement. On the question of the validity, his lordship
examined the alleged prior publications, and said he did not find
plaintiffs' invention or anHning like ii published in any of (iie
prior specifications relied on. The next ground on which validity
was attacked was that on insufficient or mi-leading directions. It
was said that no directions were given as to whether the exp.insion of
the wire was to be measured in a radial or longitudinal direction.
Having heard the evidence of the exports as to the interpretation
of those directions, he was. of opinion thot defendants' objection on
this ground was unsound. The patent was likewise attacked on_ the
grouiid th.at the invention was not useful, but this plea also failed.
The plea ot want of subject matter was hopeless, and in his jadge-
nient plaintiffs' p.Ttent was valid, and claims I and 2 of the specifica-
tion had l>oen infringed by defendants. There would be judgment
for plaintiff's for the "relief claimed, with costs.

Sir Dcn-can Kerly (for defendants) asked for a stay with a view
to an appeil

Sir Arthur Colefax. K.C. (for plaintiff-), opposed, and said
defendants were not manufacturers of those lamps : they were dealers,
and plaintiffs had had litigation with them before, and there was a
matter of costs which had not yet been settled.

His Lordship : If Chat is the fact, Sir Dunc^in, things must
remain as thev arc.

The ^^arch issue of " The Cost Accx»rsT.ANT." the official journal
of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants, contains a fall
report of the Costing Conference, held under the chairmanship of
Ijord Weir of Eastwood. Specimen copies may be obtained from
38. Grosvenor-gardens, Is. 7d., post free.

296

The Electrician.

March lo, 1922

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Electricity (Supply) Bill.

The second reading of this Bill was moved by Viscount Peel in
the House of Lords on the 2nd inst. He explained that it was
an amendment of the 1919 Act, and unless the Bill or some similar
Bill became law it would render futile and ineffectual a great
number of tlie provisions of the original Act. The controversial
provisions and clauses in last year's Bill had been omitted, and, so
far as the Electricity Commissioners knew, there was now no con-
troversial clause left. As a result of their general survey of the
country, the Electricity Commissioners had come to two main con-
clusions, namely : (1) The general wastefulness and inefficiency of
the present organisation for supply ; and (2) the urgent need for
joint action among the supply authorities in order to economise in
coal, to make better use of capital and to produce, as a result, a
cheaper article. The Commissioners had delimited sixteen electricity
districts, and when they had finished their work the number would
probably be something like twenty. In eight of those districts
schemes for re-organisation had been provisionally approved. In
the first four of these eight it had been decided, to set up joint
electricity authorities. In two more joint electricity authorities had
been proposed, and in the next two an advisory board and an
advisory committee had been respectively suggested. The general
note running through the Bill was consent, and not compulsion.
There had been found to be a general desire for co-operation, both
among companies and authorities, and powers of compulsion were
unnecessary. Every encouragement was given throughout the Bill
to private enterprise. One of the main objects of the measure
was to give powers of raising money to joint electricity authorities.

The debate was adjourned.

(On Tuesday) The Earl of Be.<^sborough eaid that in spite of
two years' constant work by the Commissioners, in no single instance
had any Order yet been issued nor any sdheme which they had pro-
pounded, and he was informed that not a single scheme had been
accepted by any of the electricity supply authorities concerned.
Clause 5 (4) compelled authorised undertakers to contribute towards
any administrative expenses of the joint electricity authority, and
to meet deficiencies in the fund established under the Act of 1919.
He could not agree tTiat where the Bill was permissive it was neces-
sarily innocuous. Snme limit should be placed on the amount which
local authorities were to be allowed to raise for the purpose of
loans to a joint autihority. The proposal which required authorised
undertakers to contribute to the expenses of the authority and to
m'ake up their trading lo«ses was as highly objectionable.

Viscount Haldane thought that thei'e was a tremendous case
for the proposition before the House, in view of the serious position
which the country found itself in and the crippling of its industrial
powers compared with other nations. The consumption of coal
for industrial purpo-^es could be greatly reduced if reasonable care
was taken Small generating stations were always very wasteful.
In London there were seventy generating stations, fifty different
systems of supply, twenty-four different voltages, and ten different
frequencies. How could they have efficiency in that way? If they
in that House prevented the public and industries from getting the
■advantage of a cheap supply of electricity it would be a day of ili
omen. He suggested that London might well have one generating
station, say, near the mouth of the Thames. Under the conditions
that existed, how could it be said that we were in a satisfactory
position in this country ? There were 600 generating authorities in
the country, and their production was ridiculous when compared
with modern standards. In the United States of America and on
the Continent generating stations were enormously greater than ours
and their prices much less.

Lord Monk Bretton, speaking on behalf of the London County
<!ouncil, said they attached the utmo.^t importance to the second
reading of this Bill.

Lord Gainford was convinced that, in spite of the severe handi-
cap which the large London companies had to meet last year owing
to the coal strike, there was a steady improvement going on in the
way in whicli j)rivate enterprise was dealing with the matter. The
fact that there was no more popular investment than thoisc companies
showed that the public had. confidence in private enterjirise. He
knew of one of the large companies which recently offered to sup|)ly.
a London borough with electrical energy at 20 per cent, less than the
council could produce it, but the council preferred to charge the
ratepayers the 20 per cent, moi-e because they preferred to have the
supply in their own hands.

After Viscount Peel's reply, the second reading was cariied by
Ti fly-nine votes to forty.

Admiralty Electricians.

In reply to Sir C. Kinlocu-Cooke (House of Commons, March 6),
Mr. Amery said the Admiralty were fully aware of the lack of
promotion in the Electrician Branch, which was due to the present
authorised establishment being considerably overborne. This po«si-
tion was not peculiar to any one branch. ' The two officers of the
Electrician Branch serving in his Majesty's ships " Ambrose " and
" Lucia " were withdrawn, as the complement of these vessels did
not provide for warrant electricians being borne; these withdrawals
did not cause vacancies. During the last 18 months four retire-
ments of officers of the Electrician Branch had taken place, but,
as the numbers now borne were considerably in excess of the autho-
rised establishment, it was not possible to make any promotions
in the vacancies. The whole question of the establishment of

warrant officers to be maintained would be further considered
shortly. The Admiralty were of opinion that no sufficient argu-
ments had been advanced for electrical artificers to have the same
allowance as engine-room artificers. The engine-room artificer had
to show himself capable of using his knowledge in exercising dis-
tinct responsibility in taking charge of moving machinery without
the direct supervision of a superior officer, whereas the electrical
artificer, except in rare cases, did his work, which was entirely
manual, under the direction of an officer. The chief engine-room
artificer's allowance was given to him for having proved himself
capable of taking complete charge of propelling machinery of a
small ship where no engineer officer or warrant officer was borne.
There was no parallel in the case of a chief electrical artificer.

German Wireless Press Service.

In reply to Mr. HuRD (House of Commons, March 6), Mr.
Chamberlain said his attention had been called to the anti-British
and anti-French propaganda which was being scattered over the
globe in English by the German wireless Press service from Nauen.
With regard to the British wireless means available to counteract
this mischief, three wireless messages containing British news were
prepared daily by the News Department of the Foreign Office and
sent from the General Post Office wireless station at Leafield. They
were picked up and widely reproduced in most European countries
and by ships at sea. The completion of the wireless station at
Cairo would, he hoped, enable these messages to be retransmitted
and similarly used in the Far East.

Railw^ay Electrification.

Replying to Mr. Gilbert in the House of Commons of Monday,
Mr. A. Neal said he was not aware of any of the London railway
or tube companies applying for a grant from public funds for
extending or electrifying their lines, and no grant had been
made. Applications for guarantees under the Trade Facilities Act
had been made by the South-Eastern and Chatham and the London
Electric Railway companies and referred to the Advisory Committee
appointed under the provisions of that Act, and they are under con-
sideration.

Amateur Wireless Costs.

In a written reply to Sir H. Norman (House of Commons, Feb. 22).
Mr. Kellaway stated that the annual expenditure on amateur wire-
less of £5 200 is made up as follows : Correspondence and inquiries
relating to the issue of licences, alteration and removal of installa-
tions already licensed, and maintenance of records (including tj^je-
writing), £3 575; inspection of stations bv engineering officers.
£1000; accounting, £625.

The Urgent Cable Service.

In reply to Sir G. Renwick, the Postmaster-General (Mr. F. G.
Kellaway) stated in the House of Commons on Monday that the
'' urgent " service was introduced as the result of repreeentations
from the commercial community ; and while the delay remained
aibnormal, and an urgent service was available in foreign countries,
he did not think it would be in the interes*s of British cab!e users
to abolish it.

Dover's Claim Against the Admiralty.

Mr. Amery stated, in reply to Sir T. Polson (House of Com-
mons, March 6), that a settlement of the claim made by Dover
Corporation against the Admiralty, for payment of an account for
electricity supplied, would probably be reached at an early date.
He added that, pending such settlement, advances on account had
already been made, the last of which, amounting to £600. was paid
on Feb. 22.

Underground Railway Extensions.

In reply to Mr. Erskine (House of Commons, March 2) Sir
Robert Horne stated that Lord Ashfield's scheme for the improve-
ment and extension of the Underground and Tube Railwaj* system
had not been finally rejected.

Grampian Electricity Supply Bill.

The Grampian Electricity Supply Birx passed its first reading
ill the House of Commons last week.

Company Legislation in Australia.

The Commonwealth House of Representatives has passed a Bill
to Amend the War Prk( autions Act Repeal Act of 1920. Section
19 of tiie latter act, which has now been repealed, required the
agents in Australia of all overseas companies and firms to furnish
particulars regarding the business of their principals to the
Collector of Customs in the State in which their chief place
of business was situated. The particulars included the name,
address, capital, and balance siieet of the company or firm. Under
the Companies and Firms Acts of the States all companies and
firms carrying on business in Australia in their own names must
be registered, irrespective of whether their head offices are estab-
lished in Australia or abroad, and the effect of Sec. 19 was to
require them to re-register with the Department of Trade and
Customs. This obligation imposed a great deal of trouble, and
strong exception was taken by British companies, especially to
the provision requiring them to furnish particulars of their
financial position to their agents in Australia for submission to the
Department of Trade and Customs.

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

207

Wimbledon's Electrical Engineer.

Mr. ToMMNSON Lee's dismissal from the poeitioii of Electrical
Engineer after twenty years* service was again discu.ssed at a meet-
ing of the Wimbledon Town Council last week, when Councillor
A. W. HiCKMOTT, chairman of the Electricity Committee, stated that
the reason for the Commitee's action was that they had lost confi-
dence in Mr. Lee. The Committee deliberately came to the conclu-
sion that Mr. Lee should either resign or have notice. He refused
to resign, however, unless the Council agreed to pay him £3 000.
There was no ill-feeling against Mr. Lee. The Committee thought
a change in the management ought to be made, and it was their
unpleasant duty to say so to the Council, and, having got their
approval, to act. The plain fact was that for some years past Mr.
Lee's conduct had not been satisfactory to the Committee. He did
not show any desire to work cordially with his Committee or to
co-operate with them in what he knew they had much at heart — the
greatest economy possible in the working of the undertaking.

In the lengthy discussion which followed Councillor Hickmott's
e.xplanation, Councillor Bellingham said that with regard to the
alleged difficulties of Mr. Lee working harmoniously with the
Committee, and that these difficulties had been accumulating foi-
years, such an explanation was absolutely ludicrous. The Com-
mittee was constituted only last November, and at least five new
members were upon it who could not have had any knowledge what-
ever of the way in which Mr. Lee had conducted the department.

Acting on the recommendation of the Electricity Committee, the
Council have authorised the appointment of Chief Electrical Engi-
neer to be made by the Staffing Committee and the Electricity
Committee jointly.

While the Council meeting was being held & protest meeting was
takmg place outside the Town Hall, and a deputation waited on
the Council with a view to urging them to postpone all steps with
the object of filling the vacant position until after a public inquiry
had been held and a report had been published concerning the facts.
They got no satisfaction, however, from the Council.

Oxford-street Lighting.

Those who watch the signs of the times will note that Oxford-
street, always a well-lighted street, has now become one of the best —
lit not the best — lighted street in London. The St. Marylebone
IBoROUGH Council have every reason to be proud of this striking
^improvement in this important shopping centre, and also of their
enterprising Electricity Department, who carried out the work, with
so much success and in such a miraculously short time in order to
be ready for the Royal wedding festivities. When the idea was first
put forward of making this an example of the most perfect street
lighting possible the Electricity Committee consulted tneir electrical
engineers, who caused samples of new street-lighting lanterns to be
erected, among which w^as a type suggested by Mr. Havdn Harrison,
who i-ealised the importance of not only lighting the roads and
pavements, but also the shop fronts, for •which this street is justly
famous. It was apparent from the first that this lantern was the
most suitable in every way, and was selected by the Council and
Lighting Committee and their engineers, who are to be congratu-
lated on the excellent results obtained.

The work of producing a sufficient number O'f these lanterns in so
short a time was undertaken by the Electric Street Lighting
Apparatus Company, who manufacture Mr. Haydn Harrison's
designs at their works in Canterbury. The special feature of this
lantern is the large light-radiating surface, which is produced by
using thin sheet glass, ground on the inner surface, the light absorp-
tion of which is very low ; this at the same time completely screens
the light source from the eye. The lanterns are also very sub-
stantial, only cast iron and copper being used in their construction.
The former provides a very large area of cooling surface, which,
supplemented by an efficient ventilating system, allows of gasfilled
lamps of nearly any power being adopted. The reflector being of
enamelled earthenware, no diminution m efficiency takes place due to
heat, and all parts ai'e easily cleaned.

Southampton Technical Staff Dispute.

A serious difference has arisen between Southampton Corporation,
the E.P.E a. and the E.T.U., as the organisations representing the
technical itaff of the electricity undertaking, owing to the following
decisions with respect to all salaries and wages not governed by
awards. : 1 (a) that a reduction of 20 per cent, be made on all
salaries not exceeding jB499 per annum, 17^ per cent, on salaries from
£500 to £699, 15 per cent, from £700 to £949, 12^ per cent, from
£950 to £1249, and lO per cent, over £1250. 2 (a) all awards to
opci^ate under present conditions until Oct. 1 next (when the sub-
ject will again be corrsidered), except {h) the technical and the
electricity works clerical staffs electricity award, where special reduc-
tions are proposed, but if these do not become effectual by April 1
the above reduction of 20 per cent, shall apply in these instances.

The ^bove rec<,immendations of the Parliamentary and General
Purposes Committee were adopted by a majority of eight on the
"2nd ult., and notices have been served upon all members of the
technical staff, and, in consequence, the executives of the organisa-
tions concerned take a serious view of the position created by such
a challenge to the prestige of Joint Boards and Joint Industrial
Councils. Southampton Corporation put into operation in July,
liWO, the schedule of salaries and conditions of employment recom-
E 2

mended by the N J.B. for the technical staffs of electricity under-
takings.

The decision oi the Corporation is not applicable to any awards
in operation, except those in respect of the electricity department,
and the decision was come to without consulting, or endeav r -:■
to oVjtain the views of the employees. In other undert;..-
v'liere difficulties have arisen, an amicable settlement ha.s
arrived at, either on the District or National .Joint Board. Although
the E.P.E. A. have addressed several communications to the Cor-
poration upon the matter, no reply has been vouchsafed.

The E.P.E. A. referred the matter to the District Joint Board
on the 27th ultimo, when it was decided to ask the Corporation to
suspend the notices pending the consideration of the matter bv
the N.J.B. The E.P.E. A. look upon the matter as a blow-
aimed at the foundations of Industrial Councils and the National
agreements pronailgated by such bodies, which have proved their
\alue to the industries concerned. The dispute can .still be referred
to the Board, and it is to be hoped that the wisdom of such a
ste)) will i)e seen by the Corporation.

Commercial Morality.

Mr. C. H. WoRDiNGHAM, national president of the Junior Insti-
tution of Engineers, at the annual dinner of the Sheffield and Dis-
trict Section of the Institution, in the King's Head Hotel, Sheffield,
on Friday, said the young engineers of to-day were having a ba<l
time, and it must be difficult for them to know what to do. To
the young man who could not get employment he would say, go
abroad. There was more likelihood of getting a position of superior
responsibility abroad than at home, because there was less competi-
tion owing to the fact that a good many people were not prepared
to go abi-oad. As one who had Lad some experience in examining
papers, he (Mr. Wordingham) found that the young man who had
gone abroad possessed superior intelligence. In addition, the pay
was very often better, and, at any rate, promotion would be more
rapid. Continuing, Mr. Wordingham appealed to the young men
of the profession to uphold the reputation of Englishmen in foreign
countries for straight dealing. It was well known abroad, he said.
that an Englishman's word was his bond, and in that re.spect he
stood higher than other nations. He was not favourably impressed
with the changes wrought in regard to commercial morality during
the last fifteen years. He hoped his judgment was not warped by
age, but it did seem to him that there was not the high standanl
of commercial morality among engineers that there was fifteen or
twenty years ago. If that were true it was very regrettable, because
a man who was not straight could not look everybody in the face,
and he was doing a disservice to his profession and his countrv.

Mr. S. E. Fedden, president of the Sheffield Section of the'lnsti
tution, proposing the toast of " The Institution." said that
the membership was now 2 069^an increase <,i 215 over 1920
Referring to the slump in trade, he said its effects were perha^
felt more acutely in Sheffield than elsewhere, because not only were
the whole population of the city engaged on war work, but a large
number of people had come into the city during the war. Their
own country was not alone in its industrial troubles : the whole
world was out of gear, and, until general action was taken to remove
the obstacles to international trade, he could not foresee any improve-
ment in trade. Some European cou^itries had paper money which
oould not be negotiated outside their own borders There could
not be a revival of interi. itional trade until financial confidence was
established. At home, too. they must have confidence. Labour
should remove the canker of declining to give a fair day's work for
a fair day's wage. Sacrifices should be made by all sides. The posi-
tion was desperate for thousands of their citizens, and it could on!\
be remedied by desperate measures.

Electrical Developments in Poland.

In a recent article in the "■ Manchester Guardian Commercial " it
is stated that the need for the application of electricity in Poland
on a larger scale than hitherto is making it^ielf more and more
felt. A special Electrobank lias been lately organised, with a sub-
scribed capital of 150 milliard marks, for the ourpose of de\-eloping
electricity supply. It has acquired patents and concessions for
building and exploiting electric railways, tramways, power stations.
&c. The l^ank is forming special companies for the management
and financing of thevse undertakings. . The Electrobank is in
possession of the majority of shares of the first Polish electric lamp
factory of Cyrkon. The building of a suburban electric railway
between Warsaw and Modiin is in progress, and the line will, it is
stated, be opened for traffic this spring. This is intended to he
the beginning of a pi^gramme for the construction of a suburban
network of electric railways round the capital. The bank has taken
steps to exploit the water power of Silesia, and plans for the con-
struction of hydroelectric stations on the Rivers San and Dunajec
have Wen presented to the Ministry of Public Works for approval.
Together with four other Polish banks, the Electrobank has formed
a concern for taking over from the Government the telephone
factory in Warsaw. Under the title of " Polish Electrical Under-
takings Brown-Boveris Companies." a new joint stock company
has been formed to take over the Warsaw branch of Brown,
Boveris & Company. It is proposed to manufacture djTiamos,
motors and other electrical machinery in Poland, and the company
has acquired large estates in the vicinity of Warsaw.

298

The Electrician.

March lo, 1922

Electricity Supply.

The Propaganda Sub-Committee of Glasgow Electricity Com-
mittee have been instructed to report upon the feasibility of hiring
out electric motors for manufacturing and industrial purposes.

The Disposals Committee of the Ministry of Munitions have agreed
to cancel £141 000 of the loan of £150 000 to Rotherham Electricity
Committee in connection with the construction of the new power
station erected during the war.

The Electricity Commissioners, being of opinion that the sum of
£2 500 for the conversion of boilers at Hackney generating station
for the burning of oil fuel should not be made the subject of a
loan, the Council has decided to proceed with the work and to
pay for same out of the reserve fund.

After a three hours' discussion last Thursday on the electricity
undertaking, Hxjll City Council decided to disband the old Electri-
city Committee and to elect a fresh one of eight members. Seven
of these served on the old committee, from the chairmanship of
which Aid. Pybus recently resigned. The facts of the situation
wei'e given in our last issue.

Hackney Electricity Committee have now completed the arrange-
ments for the Electrical Exhibition they propose to hold from
April 24 to 29, and inform us that the whole of the space
has been taken up promptly by a number of representative firms,
who will together display all the practical apparatus available to-day
for lighting, cooking, heating and power in the home.

In connection with the scheme for the reorganisation of elec-
tricity SUPPLY in South-East Lancashire, which was recently
investigated by the Electricity Commissioners, the organising com-
mittee have now agreed to accept the decision of the Commissioners
i 1 any appeal made to them, provided it does not involve the con-
stituent authorities of the committee in any capital expenditure
they may be unwilling to incur.

A recommendation by the Leeds Electricity Committee to the
City Council that £1 600 should be paid to a firm of contractors,
over and above the fixed contract price, to make good, to a certain
extent, a loss sustained because of increases in wages and in the
prices of material since the agreement was entered into, has been
rejected on the ground that it would be setting up a vicious
precedent, and the matter has been returned to the committee for
further consideration.

We are glad to learn that the scheme for the reorganisation of
electricity supply in the North-West Midlands Electricity
District is not to be an exclusively municipal one. The Midland
Electric Corporation for Power Distribution, which owns an
important supply undertaking, and has done very useful pioneering
work, will have a larger representation on the proposed Joint
Authority than any other individual imdertaking. The Joint
Authority will acquire the generating stations, but the supply
powers of the various undertakers in their existing areas will not
be affected.

Responding to the toast of " The Town and Trade of Skipton,"
at the annual dinner of the Skipton Tradesmen's Association last
w^k, Mr. J. W. Broughton (chairman of the Urban District Coun-
cil), at the request of the chairman, made reference to the Council's
electricity scheme. The Electricity Commission, Mr. Broughton
stated, had practically approved the Council's scheme, and had
luthorised the borrowing of £11 800 for the expenses of the dis-
tributing mains and stations in the town. The old Grammar School
would be used as a sub-station, and electricity would be supplied by
Keighley Corporation. The Commissioners', approval of the Coun-
cil's agreement with Keighley was held over, pending the completion
o? the local scheme for the reorganisation of electricity supply.

The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor F. H. Turnbull, addressing
the Cardiff Rotary Club on Monday, replied to the protests in the
Press against the allocation of £15 OCO of the electricity depart-
ment surplus profits to the reduction of the rates, instead of it being
applied to the reduction of charges to electrical consumers. He said
that the £15 000 did not represent sums provided out of the rates to
meet deficits on the electricity undertaking in the past. But even if
all such deficits had been repaid, ho would still claim that the rate-
payers were entitled to relief from the profits, on the ground that
the undertaking itself was set up in the first place for the ratepayers
generally ; the money to establish it had been provided at a cheap
rate on the credit of the ratepayers, and it was only fair to make
them some return. Although the tramways hid a trading loss for
the past half-year, owing to high wages and co^il prices, the electri-
city and tramways undertakings were both flonnshing concerns, and
in the twenty-two years of their existence 55 anu- 49 per cent, of the
capital respectively had been set aside for redemption.

Nevf Schemes and Mains Extensions.

B\RNSTAi'r,E Electricity Committee are applying for sanction to
borrow £2 341 for condensing plant at the electricity works.

Watford Electricity Committee have applied for sanction to
borrow £38 940 for extension of plant at the electricity workn.

Derby Electricity Committee recommend the Town Council to
apply for sanction to borrow £11 OOCfor new plant and extensions.

Harrogate Town Council ha« rccei .ed sanction to a lotin of £3 250
for h.t. mains.

The Electricity Commissioners have decided to issue a Special
Order for providing electricity supply in Cookham and Cookham
Dean.

Matlock Town Council are to lodge a protest with the Electricity
Commissioners against being included in the North-East Midlands
electricity district.

A municipal scheme for lighting the town of St. Heliers has been
adopted, and application is to be made to the States for permission
to raise a loan not exceeding £100 000.

The Electricity Commissioners have made special orders to
authorise (1) RiscA, (2) Mynyddislwyn, and (3) Bedwas and
Machen Urban Councils to supply electricity in their respective
districts.

Croydon Corporation Electricity Committee has decided to
expend £2 400 out of Reserve and Renewals on a pump and repairs
to two cooling towers, and £23 000 out of capital for a new boiler
and equipment.

The recommendations of Birmingham Electricity Committee lo
extend the supply Gables to the outside areas on the east and south
side of the city, mentioned in our last issue, were approved by the
City Council on Tuesday.

Nevfark Town Council have decided to apply for powers to
supply electricity. A revision of the scheme submitted in
November, 1920, has resulted in a reduction in the estimated cost
from £200 000 to £140 250.

— The Electricity Commissioners have sanctioned a loan of £80 000,
on account, in respect of the Accrington scheme of electricity
extension. The Commissioners add that they will be prepared to
consider the sanction of any further sum when the actual cost of the
work intended has been ascertained.

Growth of Liverpool Electricity Undertaking.

It is estimated that users of electricity in Liverpool will benefit
to the extent of £227 000 by the reductions in electricity charges
announced in our issue of the 10th inst. Since 1913 the demand for
electricity has grown from 37 765 000 to 88 188 000 units. In his
report Mr. H. Dickinson, the city electrical engineer, stiatea that
the load is growing so rapidly at the Lister Drive power station
that it may be necessary to add to the generating plant this year.
Provision has been made in the estimates to cover the cost of one
generating set. The maximum load at present is about 14 000 kW.
and when the plant on order is in operation this station will be
capable of dealing with a load up to 50 000 kW.

Good progress is being made with the erection of a second
generating set at Lister Drive No. 3 power station. Alterations
have been in progress at several of the sub-stations to provide for
the rearrangement of plant and additional switchgear. An addi-
tional 1 500 kW rotary converter has been put into service at both
the Paradise-street and Fairclough-lane sub-stations. Provision has
been made in the current estimates for four 1 500 kW rotary con-
verters which will be installed in sub-stations, and for an auto-rotary
sub-station in the Walton Town Hall or adjacent district. Provision
will also be made for the installation of transforming plant and
switchgear for static sub-stations on consumers' premises, and also
additional switchgear in sub-stations. Some further provision will
have to be made in the outlying districts to meet the increasing
demands. The h.t. mains from Paradise-street sub-station to the
Herculaneum Dock, for the supply to the Dock Estate, are to be
completed.

Application is to be made by Liverpool Corporation for sanction
to borrow £200 000 for the provision of a sub-station, electrical
plant, &c.

In regard to Bootle, the transference of the Bootle undertaking
will not involve any immediate change in present arrangements, but
the intention of Liverpool Corporation is ultimately to change the
whole system to three-phase. As Liverpool contemplate the erection
at an early date of a new station to meet the increasing demands,
the decision as to the closing of the Bootle station will probably
be deferred. The Liverpool Corporation have run to the boundary
of Liverpool and Bootle two 3 sq. in. 6 600 V three-phase caljles, and
Bootle Corporation have extended the mains from the boundary lo
Marsh-lane station, and these mains will be sutficient for some time
to come to meet the demands of Bootle.

Obituary.

We regret to record the death, which took place on Feb. 27.
at his residence, Cleveland House, Gainsborough, of Mr. James
Marshal:., chairman and mapaging director of Marshall, Sons &
Company. Mr. Marshall was in his 86th year.

We regret to announce the death last week from an accident in
the hunting field t)f IMr. Randal Beresfoud Slacke, manager and
publisher of " The Engineer." Mr. Slacke, who was a son of Sir
Owen Slacke, joined the staff of "' The Engineer " in the spring of
1919 to fill the place occupied for many years by Mr. Sydney White,
and brought to his work a long experience of commercial engineer-
ing. He was for some years manager of the London office of
Messrs. Galloways, but left in January, l917, to take a commission
in tlie Royal Engineers, and after serving for a few montlis with
Inland Waterways and Docks he was lent to the Admiralty for
duty as Deputy Assistant Director and Assistant Director of
Materials and Priority.

It is stated that Metropolitan- Vtckkrs Electric Company are
considering a superannuation scheme for their staff, with
contributions from the employees and the company.

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

299

Electric Traction.

Tlie Ministry of Transport has decided to hold an inquiry on
the subject of centre poles in Princes Street, Edinburgh.

Over a million more passengers were carried on the L.C.C.
tramcars during the two weeks ended Feb. 15th, compared with
the corresponding period last year.

It is estimated that five million passengers were carried by the
Underground railways on- Princess Mary's wedding day last
week. On the L.C.C. tramcars about two and a half millions were
carried.

Hull Tramways Committee have decided to contribute £10 000
out of the Tramways' compensation account to the relief of the rates.
The chairman, in making the announcement, said he did not agree
with the principle of applying profits to the relief of the city rates,
but in the exceptional circumstances, and with the rates 20s. in the
£, he thought it only fair to make the proposal.

Proposals for varying the 1919 agreement were considered by
the Joint Industrial Council of the Tramway Industry last Thurs-
day. The chief question considered was the suggestion to abolish
the 48-hour guaranteed week. Common ground was reached upon
several points, but equally important matters were adjourned until
this week. It is understood that the crisis that had arisen on the
question of the guaranteed week is regarded as practically over.

The strike of the Newcas'1x.e-on-Tyne tramway men still con-
tinues. A ballot has been taken on the terms offered by the Tram-
ways Sub-Committee on Sunday, but as we go to press the result is
not yet to hand. The terms offered are : — (1) That the working
hours shall be forty-eight, and in all respects the terms of the
National Agreement shall be observed. (2] The rates of wages to be
as at present and to be subject to the National Wages Agreement.

The Minister of Transport has extended for a further year from
Aug. 28, 1921, the periods allowed by the Swansea Corporation
Light Railways (Extensions) Order, 1914, for compulsory pur-
chase of lands for railway No. 2, and for completion of railways 1, 2
and 3, and has also extended for a further year from Sept. 14, 1921,
the time allowed by the Swansea Corporation Light Railways
(Extensions) (Revival and Extension of Time) Order, 1918, for
compulsory purchase of lands for railways 1 and 3.

At Scarborough recently two local tram drivers, T. Ramsbottom
and T. Morley, were fined 5s. for exceeding the speed limit of four
miles per hour down Eastborough on Feb. 4. The limit of four miles
per hour between Leading Post-street and Palace Hill is fixed by
the Board of Trade regulations, and the police evidence showed that
one driver was driving at the rate of nine miles an hour and the
other at the rate of 9| miles an hour. Both defendants urged that it
was far more dangerous to drive down the hill at four miles an houi-
than at eight miles, as with the latter speed they were able to use the
electric instead of the hand brake. They said that when the rails
were greasy it was impossible to drive at four miles an hour. The
attention of the Board of Trade is to be drawn to the statementa
made by the drivers, so that some modification may be made in me
regulations if necessary.

Social Notes.

The tenth annual dinner of the staff of Ferranti, Ltd., was held
on Friday, March 3, at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, and was
followed by a dance. The chairman of the company, Mr. A. W.
Tait, received the guests and presided over the dinner. The arrange-
ments were admirably carried out, and after an excellent dinner
the usual toasts were interspersed with musical items, including the
song " My Old Shako," with chorus, by Mr. Campion, rendered
for the tenth year in succession, and now known as the Ferranti
anthem.

The G.E.C. Travellers' Dinner was held on Friday, Feb. 24.
at the Old Falstaff, in Cheapside. Mr. H. W. Roberts (London
sales manager) occupied the chair, and was supported by Mr. M. J.
Railing (general manager of the G.E.C), Mr. L. C. Gamage (secre-
tary), and several of the London departmental managers. After
interesting and humorous speeches by the chairman, Mr. Railing,
Mr. Gamage, Mr. Riley, and Mr. Joyce, a select musical programme
under the dire'Son of Mr. Ashman was given, and the meeting
dispersed in excellent spirits.

On the 1st inst. the Electricity Supply Commercial Association
(Greater London Division) held their second Bohemian concert at
Anderton's Hotel, and Mr. D. C. Clark (Chairman of the London
Divisional Council) occupied the chair. We learn from the General
Secretary (Mr. G. R. Smith) that the influence of the Association
is still increasing, but, as its activities are not usually attended
by any great degree of publicity, the practice of holding "these occa-
sional concerts has been resorted to, with the object of calling
attentionto the Association and increasing the spirit of camaraderie
amongst its members and the classes of workers which it represents.
The entertainment provided at last week's concert spoke well for the
organising ability of Mr. T. J. Archer (Secretary, Greater London
Division) and Mr. S. George (hon. musical director), and, as the
entertainment was, in our opinion, at least equal to that given in
some public entertainment halls for a higher charge, similar
functions organised in future by the Association should be well
attended.

The marriage of Mr. Christopher Wilson, manager of the
General Electric Company's Osram Lamp Works, to Miss Jessie
Wilson, sister-in-law of the bridegroom, took place recently at the
church of St. Sepulchre, Holborn.

Business Items, &c.

The address of A. W. BEL^TELL, Ltd., is now 53, Victoria-«treet
S.W.l. Telephone, Victoria 7789.

The Urban Electric Supply Company, Ltd., have transferrer!
their offices and showrooms at Grantham from East-street to 34
St. Peter's-hill.

The name of the Union Cable Company, Ltd., was inadvertently
omitted from the advertisement of the Cable Makers' Associ-ation
which -ppeared on page xxxvii. of our last issue. We are asked to
state that the Union Company is a meml>er of the Association.

Electrical Components, Ltd., have taken Nos. 88 and 89, Great
Charles-street, Birmingham, premises adjoining those already occu-
pied by the firm. After alterations the new premises will be opened
as warehou.ses and showrooms. The companv announce* a further
reduction in their manufacturers.

A large number of orders for the " Invincible " (wet) air filter
have been executed by Wm. Grice & Sons, of Birmingham, for
electricity supply stations, both municipal and company owned.
Contracts have also been carried out for collieries, iron and steel
works, &c., and, in addition, a numl)er of the machines have been
exported to France, India, and elsewhere.

The Westinghouse Morse Chain Company have added to their
range of inverted tooth chain drives a l|-in. pitch. Westinghou&>3
Morse silent rocker-joint chains are therefore now made in tne
following twelve pitches : — ^ in., | in., f in., 0'9 in., 1 in., 12 in.,
1;25 in.. 15 in., 40 mm., 1| in., 2 in., 3 in. Each of the above
sizes is m^de in two distinct types, and in widths according to pitch
from I in. to 30 in

Alfred Danks, Ltd., of Gloucester, have purchased the Emlyn
Works, to which, it is understood, the operations now carried on
at the Westgate Iron Works in the name of Alfred Danks, Ltd.,
and the Kingsholm Foundry under the style of J. M. Butt & Com-
pany, will be transferred. The Emlyn Works were formerlv utilised
as an iron foundry and engineering works by Mr. C. D. "Phillips,
from whom they were purchased three years ago by the Avon Malle-
able_ Iron Fomidry, Ltd. This firm went into liquidation, but the
liquidators have continued to run them as a going concern until
their purchase by Danks, Ltd.

Personal and Appointments.

Mr. Horace Warren has been appointed superintendent of the
Sydney station of the Eastern Extension, Australadia & China
Telegraph Company.

Mr. Alex. Spencer has been appointed vice-chairman of the
Metropolitan-Vickei-6 Electrical Company, Ltd., in succession to the
late Sir Francis Barker.

Mr. C. 0. Mailloux, consulting engineer and president of the
International Electrotechnical Commission, has been raised from
the rank of chevalier to that of officer in the French Legion of
Honour.

Mr. H. J. Cash has been nominated a representative of the Insti-
tution of Electrical Engineers on the Council of the British Electrical
Development Association in the place of Mr. B. Welbourn, who is
unable to attend the meetings.

ToNBRiDGE Urban Council has appointed Mr. F. Springate, instal-
lation inspector, assistant engineer at the electricity works, in
succession to ]\Ir. E. G. Staygle, who has been appointed assistant
engineer at the Worthing Electricity Works.

Mr. William Stephens has been appointed general manager of the
Electrical Federation (Victoria), the successor of the Electrical
Traders' and Contractors' Association of Victoria. Mr. Stephen.-^
has held during recent years the positions of editor of the " Indus-
trial Australian " and editor of the " Commonwealth Engineer."

Mr. H. C. Anthony, who has been on the Newcastle office staff of
Merz. & McLellan for many years, has relinquished his engage-
ment with the firm in order to take up the appointment of con-
structional engineer to the Shanghai ^lunicipality. Mr. Anthony
was entertained by his colleagues before leaving Newcastle and
presented with a token of their friendship and esteem.

Mr. Charles I. B.m<er, traffic superintendent and chief e.recu-
tive officer of the Blackpool Corporation Tramways, has been
appointed general manager of the Ashton-under-Lyne Tramways
in succession to the late Mr. Ernest Holt. A native of T}-ne-
mouth, Mr. Baker first held an appointment with the Newcastle
Corporation Tramways Department. Since he came to Blackpool
great developments have taken place in the department, the revenue
of which has grown from £58 699 to £284 472. whilst the passengers
carried have increased from 9 013 540 to 55 700 000.

Sir Willia5i Clegg is to receive the Freedom of the City of Shef-
field on April 21, to mark the anniversary of his 70th birthday.
Ever since 1896, when, on the introduction of the municipal tramway
service in Sheffield, he was elected chairman of the first Tramways
Committee, Sir William's services to the citv can hardly be over-
estimated. In 1898 ho accepted the office of "Lord Mayor". In 1902
he was elected chairman of the Education Committee, and since
the inception of Sheffield University he has represented the Shef-
field Education Committee on the University Council. In 1912 he
received from the University the Honorary Degree of Doctor of
Laws, and in 1918 was made "a C.B.E. in recognition of his work as
chairman of the local munitions tribunal.

300

The Electrician.

March lo, 1922

Institution Notes.

Dr. C. Chree has been elected president of tlie Royal
Meteorological Society for the ensuing year.

At the annual meeting of tlie Royal Astronomical Socieiy Prof.
A. S. Eddington was elected president for the ensuing year.

The annual conversazione of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers will be held at the Natural History Museum, South
Kensington, S.W., on Thursday, June 29.

Among the fifteen candidates selected by the Council of the Royal
Society for election as fellows are : — Dr. F. W. Lanchester, Prof.
Geo. A. Schott and Sir Alfred Yarrow, Bart.

A new List of Members of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers has just been published. Members desirous of having
_ a copy can obtain it on application to the Secretary.

Mr. W. C. Acfield, O.B.E. , of Derby, has been elected president
of the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers for the year 1922.
The hon. secretary is Mr. M. G. Tweedie, G.W.R. Signal Depart-
ment, 80, Caversham-road, Reading.

The annual meeting of the Elektroteciinischer Verein was held
in the Technische Hochschule, Charlottenburg, Berlin, on Tuesday,
Dr. Adolf Franke presiding. It was reported that the membership
of the Verein was 2 450, compared with 2194 at the end of 1920.
State Secretary Dr. Bredow was elected president for 1922.

The Council of the Institution of Electrical Engineers have
agreed to the inclusion of the counties of Flint, Denbigh, Merioneth.
Montgomery, Carnarvon and the Island of Anglesey in the area
governed by the North-Western Centre. The North-Western
Centre have agreed to allocate this area to the Liverpool SuL-centre
of the North -Western Centre.

The annual Report of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
for the year 1921 shows the total membership to have increased
by 491 to 7994. The accounts for the year show a balance of
revenue over expenditure of £50. The " total assets amount to
£161 400, and deducting £34 025 debentures, and other liabilities,
together with the total amount of the four reserve funds (£57 408),
there is a credit balance of £66 285. The report contains a
summary of the year's work of the five research committees.

The annual dinner of the Birmingham and District Electric Club
was held at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham, on Feb. 24, Mr. Norman
Deykin (president) being in the chair. Councillor H. K. Beale
(chairman of the Corporation Electric Supply Committee), reply-
ing to the toast of " The City of Birmingham." remarked that
enormous developments had taken place in the production of elec-
tricity in Birmingham during the past twenty-five years. In 1895
half a million units of electricity were generated, as compared with
137 millions last year. By the "time the Committee had developed
all their schemes the city, he thought, would be the largest
generating authority in the country.

At the first ordinary meeting of the newly-formed Electrical
Society of Glasgow the constitution framed by the special
committee was, with certain modifications, approved by the
members. A committee was elected representative of the
electrical contractors, supply authorities, manufacturers, factors,
and consulting engineers, with Mr. R. A. Ure, of Allan
Arthur & Ure, as chairman, and Mr. G. Morgan, deputy engineer
and manager, Glasgow Corporation Electricity Department, as vice-
chairman. The objects of the society are the promotion of the
interests of its members, their advance in new, progressive and
successful business methods, the interchange of technical informa-
tion relating to eledtrical practice, and to afford members an oppor-
tunity of co-operating in social, commercial and industrial develop-
ment. Memberhip of the society is open to all engaged in the elec-
trical industry. Mr. R. B. Mitchell, engineer and manager of the
Glasgow Electricity Department, stated that the organisation should
act as a feeder to the Institution of Electrical Engineers, the parent
body of all electrical men.

Exhibition Notes.

Owing to the depressed state of trade, the directors of the
British Trade Ship have postponed the scheme until the latter
end of 1924.

At the International Model Housing Exiubition, to be held in
Turin from April 8 to 21 inclusive, there will be a section devoted
to electric lighting, heating and domestic appliances. The address
of the Secretary is 8, Via Goito, Turin.

The electrical industry is well represented at the Ideal Homes
Exhibition, which was recently opened by Lord Provost Hutchison
in Waverley Market, Edinburgh. The Corporation Electricity
Department have taken a large central stand, and a considerable
number of electrical contractors in Edinburgh have combined in their
association to make an official exhibit on a large double stand.

A booklet, entitled " Central Station Voltages and Charges,"
issued by S. Rentell & Co., at Is. net, contains in a
condensed form sofie of the useful information given in our own
Electricity Supply Tables, the details being confined to the name
of engineer, the voltage of supply, system, and prices per unit.
As far as we can see, the information given is substantially correct,
though it is a little unfortunate, from this point of view alone, that
the prices in many cases have now been revised in the downward
direction.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

The Swedish telegraph service in 1921 showed a surplus of
19 070 000 kroner.

It is announced that the Swedish Cedergren Telephone Com-
pany, which owns the Warsaw telephone system, comprising about
33 000 subscribers, will be taken over by a new concern, which will
acquire the Warsaw system as well as the State systems in Looz,
Lublin, Lemberg, Bialistok, Sosnowice, and Drobowiez, and gradu-
ally other systems. The combine has received a concession for
25 years.

A Renter's message from Berlin states that, according to the local
newspapers, the German Atlantic and German South- American
Telegraph Companies ha^•e concluded an arrangement with the
American telegraph companies, whereby the German companies will
be enabled to resume cable traffic. The German companies will work
the Emden-Azores section, while the Azores-New York section will
be worked in conjunction with the American concerns.

Bishopsgate, the new London telephone exchange, was opened
ofi Saturday, when 750 numbers from Clerkenwell, City, Central,
London-wall, Avenue, and Bank were transferred, while by the end
of the month another 500 will follow. The new exchange, which is
in the Clerkenwell Exchange Buildings, Ironmonger-row, Old-street,
is temporary, pending the equipment of a new building in the
vicinity of Bishopsgate-street. It is equipped for 1 500 numbers.

Wireless Notes.

Mr. Walter Addy, of Buxton, has given his private wireless
installation, which has a 1 200 miles radius, to the Town Council.
This will enable the council to receive each morning weather
reports from the Meteorological Office.

The Marconi wireless high-speed service with France which was
affected by the recent flooding of an underground cable conduit
in Cheapside, has now been restored. There is also no longer any
delay on Marconigrams to North and South America. Australasia,
Spain, &c.

Electrical Machinery for British Malaya.

There is a growing demand for electrical machinery in the
British portion of the Malay Peninsula. Imports in 1920 were
valued at £241 923, against £60 525 in 1917, and exports increased
to £51 002, against £18 795 in 1917. Though classified as exports.
the electrical goods sent out of the Straits Settlements do not, to
any great extent, leave the Peninsula, but find their way into the
Federated and Unfederated Malav States — in 1917 to the value of
£14 823: in 1918, £10 317; in 1919. £22 818: and in 1920, £32 497.

Of the machinerv imported in 1920, the United Kinudom supplied
£123 122, against £50 430 in 1919; the U.S.A.. £46 985 (£74 593);
Canada, £25 398 (nil): Japan. £11963 (£811): Holland. £8 675
(nil): Hongkong, £7 816 (£592); Italv. £5 724 (£857): Denmark.
£4 777 (nil): France, £1773 (nil); Australia, £1024 (£1074); and
China, £898 (£4 651).

It is gratifying to not« that the imports from the United Kingdom,
which were in 1919 some £15 000 below those of the LTnited Stat-es.
were in 1920 £76 000 above the American figures.

In the Federated Malay States the supervision of electrical
machinerj^ is entrusted to the Senior Warden of Miners, and, accord
ing to Mr. A. R. Mynott's report, the number and capacity of the
installations of eenerating plant in 1918, 1919 and 1920 were as
follo\ys :— 106 (9 360 kW), 109 (9 544 kW), and 110 (10 376 kW). In
addition there were 45 self-contained low-voltage lighting plants in
private houses, and alx>ut 900 kW of plant were in course of erection
at the close of the year. The motors emploved aggregated 10 047 kW,
against 9 067 kW in 1919 and 8 911 kW in 1918.

The generating plant emploved in 1920 was classified as follows ; —
Mining, (power) 9 551 kW, (light) 217 kW : agriculture, (power)
56 kW, (light) 214 kW : general, (power) 109 kW. (light) 170 kW :
and Government, (power) 331 kW, (light) 2 469 kW, making a total
of 13 117 kW.

In the report for 1920 of the Director of Public Works, it is
stated that uuring the greater part of the year many houses in Kuala
Lumpiu-, the capital of the Federated Alalay States, were without
meters, but by December meters were installed in all the houses.
The supply in the town, considering the. shortage of material and
the condition of the plant, was well maintained, and only one serious
stoppa^o took place. Sale of current brought in £31 019. against
£23 567 m 1919.

Unbreakable GlavSS.

A correspondent of th(,> " Times Trade Supplement." writing from
Prague, states that at one of the oldest of tlie glass factories in
Bohemia, after many years of experiment, a glass has been
produced which, it is claimed, is absolutely unbreakable.
Receptacles made from the material, it is said, can be thrown
about, made red hot and then put into cold water, and yet do not
break. It is claimed that hamniprs made from the material can
be used for ordinary purposes. It is difficult to cut.- even with a
diamond, while the ordinary carborundum stones are useless fo".
the purpose. It is important to note, however, that this invention
can only be placed upon a commercial basis when a special kind
of sand has been found and is available in large quantities. At the
present time this sand is said to exist only in the neighbourhood
of Dresden, in comparatively small quantities.

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

:i01

Miscellaneous.

Among th« first ALLOCATIONS of money from the fund constituted
under Section 20 of the Mining Industry Act, 1920, is £12 000 to
provide for important research work in connection with (a) miners'
safety lamps, both flame and electric, and [b) coal dust dangers;
also the preparation of abstracts of research data both in this
country and abroad.

'J'he Board of Trade have issued an Order exempting from the
German Reparation (Recovery) Act, 1921, any "publication in
the German language which is proved to the eatisfaction of the
Commissioners of Cufiloms and Excise to be a periodical publicatio:i
of a German learned society, or other scientific or philosophical
periodical publication."

The fourth annual report of the Works Committee of the
Chloride Electrical Storage Company show.s that much useful
work has been done by the committee for the welfare of the
employees. Grants from the Employees Benefit Fund have been
made in several necessitous cases, and the recreation of the staff
lias also been well looked after. At the end of the financial year
a sum of £5000 was voted to the Employees' Benefit Fund by the
shareholders.

A Shopping Week and Trade Pageant is to be held in Cardiff
from May 1 to 6, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor,
Councillor F. H. Turnbull. The competitions will include window
displays in various classes and sections, a free gift scheme, spotting
competitions, in addition to special prizes which are being offered
by various wholesale houses. One of the special features is the
trade pageant. Prizes are being awarded for the best advertisement
or display of goods by retailers as well as wholesale houses.

The FiNSBURY Technical College Old Students' Association,
whose recovery from moribundity we noticed a short time ago, has
now issued a magazine, which not only contains a large amount of
information of interest to past and present students, but is inherently
a sufficient indication that the Association is going very strong.
With it is published a list of members, and, more striking still, a
list of known non-members. We should suggest that this list be
sent to every defaulter concerned, when we feel sure that the jump
in the membership curve would be very satisfactory.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

Nos. 5 and 6 of ' Transformer Abstracts," published by
Johnson & Phillips, deal respectively with the despatch, installa-
tion and maintenance of O.I.S.C. transformers, and the "drying
out " which must precede the installation of a transformer plant.

The Jeary Electrical Company have just issued the tenth edition
of their L. and B. catalogue, containing illustrations and prices
of the chief accessories used with electric bells, fittings, telephones,
also electric light accessories, conference lamps, cables, wires, &c.

The A.C.E.C. (Ateliers de Constrnctions Electriques de Charleroi)
have resumed the publication ol their interesting " Bulletin," whicli,
owing to German occupation of their country during the war, had to
be suspended for five years. The January number, just to hand,
contains an article, e.Kcellently illustrated, on the company's works
before, during, and after the war.

John M. Henderson and Co. are among the few firms who are
sufficiently enterprising to publish their catalogues in other than
the English language. We congratulate this company on the illus-
trated booklet they have lately published of their electric over-
Iiead travelling crane, in which full explanations are given in
English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

The delicate and varied colours of the silk lamp shades manu-
factured by Charles Selz are well shown in a coloured leaflet we
have recently received from this firm. Thirty different designs of
lamp shades are shown, and among the latest novelties put on the
market by Mr. Selz is a combined trinket box, pincushion, watch-
stand, electric light stand and shade carried out in beautiful
colourings.

The catalogue of Galsworthy, Ltd., contains a number of very
choice designs of electric light fittings, table and candle lamps, in
a variety of finishes. The company specialise in adapting glass or
china ornaments and metal fittings for electric lighting. The designs
in the present catalogue are registered, and though the fittings are
intended for electric lighting purpo.ses, they lend themselves readily
to treatment for other methods of lighting.

The various tj'pes of Prescot meters manufactured by the British
Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd., are described in Booklet
No. P172, which is being circulated by the firm. Among the meters
which are fully described and illustrated are the Prescot a.c. energy
meter — house service type P. A., two wire, single phase ; the a.c.
prepayment meters — " Prescot " type, two wire, single-phase, up to
250 V, and electrolytic prepavment meters for direct current, tvpes
"B"and"C."

Campbell & Isherwood, manufacturers of electrical machinery
for marine and industrial use since 1898. have recently published a
new illustrated catalogue of their various manufactures, including
" C and I " d.c. generating sets, up to 250 kW, with cither steam
or combustion engines, d.c. and a.c. electric motors, electric cranes,
capstans and winches, patent silent electric hoists for ashes, baggage
or warehouse use, electric portable tools, noiseless gearing, in paper
or raw hide, up to 3ft. diameter, and machine cut gearing — spurs,
bevels, spirals, &c., up to 8ft. diameter.

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Leeds Eoccation Committee. March 13. — Electric .. .,,1,^ work
for twelve months. Forms of tende^ from the Architecta' Section,
Education Department, Calverley-street, I-eeds.

Dl^blin Guardians. March 15. — Supply of electric fittings, Ac.
for three months. Form.s of tender can be obtained at th« Union
Offices, 1, James'-street, Dublin.

Hampstead (London) Borough CotrNCiL. March 15. — Supply of
various stores for six or twelve months, including electrical
engineeis' stores and oils for the electricity station. Form of tender,
&c., from the Town Clerk.

Blackpool Corporation. March 16. — Supply, delivery and erec-
tion of h.t. switchgear and ewitchroom equipment for West Caroline-
street power house, and Bispham and Cleveleys sub-6tations, suitable
for controlling 6 600 V, three-phase, 50 periodicity supply (section 4) ;
h.t. armoured transmission three-core cables suitable for above
supply; 12 miles 02 sq. in. three-core feeder, 5 miles 0'175 M. in.
three-core feeder, and 85 miles six-core pilot cable (section 5). '^'arti-
culars from the Borough Electrical Engineer and Tramways Manager,
Mr. C. Furness.

Belfast Electricity Committee. March 16. — Supply of various
materials, including v.b. insulated cable, v.i.r. cables and wire-,
electrical accessories, lamps, carbon brushes, bitumen, rubber tapes.
fuse wires, troughing, meters, m.d. indicators, cut-outs, &c. Forms-
of tender from the City Electrical Engineer.

Dublin Electricity Supply Committee. March 16. — Two water-
tube boilers, &c. Specifications from the City Electrical Engineer.

Bristol Docks Committee. March 17. — Four 30 cwt. movable
electric jib cranes. Specification, &c.. from the Engineer, Avon-
mouth Docks.

Edinbxirgh Corporation. March 20. — Auxiliary plant and pipe-
work for Portobello power station. Specifications from Sir A. B. W.
Kennedy, 17, Victoria-street, Westminster, S.W. 1.

West Sissex County Ment.al Hospit.u,, Chichester. March
24th. Six months' supply of electric lighting sundries. Particulars
from the Clerk ?nd Steward at the hospital.

Cheadle and G.4TLEY U.D.C. April 3. — Extra high-preseure,
medium-pressure, and low-pressure mains and street-lighting accec-
sories. Particulars from the Council's Engineer, Mr. C. H.
Wordingham, either from 11, Mosley-street, Manchester, or 7,
Victoria-street, Westminster, London, S.W.

London County Council. April 10. — (a) .\sh-conveyor of the
water immersed, drag-link type; {h) ash-hop]ier. Both for Green-
wich Power Station. Particulars from the Clerk of the Council,
County Hall, Spring Gardens, S.W.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Standerton (South Africa) Mi-nicipal Council. March 24. —
H.M. Senior Trade Commissioner in South Africa reports that
Standerton Municipality invite tenders for electric power plant.
including two water tube boilers (4 600 lb. per hour evap.
capaoity), two feed pumps, feed tanks, two 100 kW steam alterna-
tors (three-phase alternators, 08 power factor, frequency of 50
and voltage of 3 300 between phases), switchboard, distributers, &o. :
the d.c. two-wire system is to be altered to the three-phase four-wire
system, 240 and 420 V. Specification and blue prints may be seen
on application at the D.O.T., 35, Old Queen-street (Room 49). up
to March 11, after which date it will be available for loan to firms
in the provinces. Tendei- to the Town Clerk's Office, Standerton.

Municipal Council of Johannesburg. March 27. — Supply and
delivery of spares for Brill tramcar trucks.

BULGARIA.

BrLGARi.\N Direction of Posts and Telegr.\phs. April 5. —
*Supply of the following telephone pole-line hardware : 36 OCO
sti'aight supports for insulators (German type) : 35 000 bent sup-
ports for insulators (German type) : 5 500 fixing clamps ; 6 500 yokes.

Bulgarian Government. April 21. — 'Switchboards.

York Electricity Committee have accepted the tender of the
A. E. G. Company, of Berlin, for the supply ol meters.

Clayton & Situttleworth have secured a contract ^from the
London County Council tramways for patent boilers of 70 000 lbs.
steaming capacity, able to develop 10 OOO u.p.

Liverpool Electric Power and Lighting Committee have accepted
the offer of Belliss & :*Iorcom for tlie installation at Charters-street
Destructor Station of a 500-kW generating set.

Callender's Cable and Construction Company have secured the
annual contract for the supply of cables and ,a<^^!fsi"''^* ,**^ _,^."^
Liverpool Corporation for the year enduig March. 1923. The City
Council have also accepted the tender of the Metropolitan-\ ickers
Electrical Company for four 1 500-kW rotary converters, with switci-
gear, accessories, and spare transformer, &c.

Gloucester Citv Council have accepted the tender of the English
Electric Company, amounting to £22 414, for supplying, erecting
and maintaining for twelve months two of their geared turbo-
generators of 1 500 kW capacity each, with Cole. Marchant &
^[orloy's condensing plant. Thirty-two tenders were received.
twenty-six from British aud six from foreign firms. The tender of
Byard & Son. at £2 687, for building extensions was also accepted.

♦ Particvlars from the Department o* Ov^rsms Trade.

302

The Electrician.

March lo, 1922

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.

Midland Counties Electric Supply.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the Midland Counties
Electric Supply Company on Tuesday, Viecount Chilston (chair-
man of the company) said that notwithstanding the coal strike and
the trade dejjression, the output from the generating and distribu-
tion stations throughout the areas of supply of their two poM'^or
coniii)aiiies largely exceeded that of the previous year. The total
units sold amounted tn 15 131 938, compared with 11 640 266 for
1920, and the number of consumers totalled 3 ^89 (3 098) The total
load connected in t,he various power and lighting undertakings
amounted to 19 611 kW (14 823 kW). The gross receipts of the
power and lighting companies amounted to £167 561 (£129 323).

During the year steps were taken to obtain special orders for
cei-tain dista-icts in the areas of supply of the power companies. It
was found that whenever a supply was introduced in any of the
small townships for power there was almost an immediate demand
for a«6upply for lighting, which suj^ply the power companies could
not give at rates which were remunerative. Of the four applica-
tions made, two special orders had been grar.ted and confirmed by
Parliament, viz., (1) for Belper and district, and (2) Bedworth and
Bulkington. The third order, the Wigston Magna and District
Special Order, had been made by the Electricity Commissioners,
approved by the Ministry of Transport, and only awaited con-
firmation by Parliament. The fourth order, dealing with the
distric! between Hinckley and Tamworth, and including Ather.^tone,
was delayed by the attitude of one or two local authorities.

The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Electric Power Company
was still seriously prejudiced by the refusail of the Electricity Com"^-
missioners to allow that company to erect a new station on the
River Trent. In July, 1920, the Council was pei-mitted to erect a
large station, but the turbine plant for that station was only ordered
a few weeks ago, and the corporation was temporising with the
situation by constructing a temporary station to deal with its own
immediate requirements.

With regai'd to their traction undertaking, these had naturally
suffered from the effects of the coal strikes and trade depression.
Compulsory travelling was curtailed and pleasure travelling con-
siderably diminished. The gross receipts for the year from the
traction properties amounted to £112 676 against £117 562 for 1920.
The number of passengers carried was 9 167 304 (11949 134), and
the oar-miles run 1 148 130 (1226 605). Taking the combined power,
lighting, and traction undertakings, the gross revenue for the year
amounted to £280 247, compared wtlh £246 885, the inca-ea<e being
wholly due to the development of the electric supply business.

The revenue received by the company from its various subsidiary
undertakings amounted to £65 602, against £58 194. After payment
of administration expenses, there remained £60 296 available
(against £53 697), and with the amount brought forward the total
was £62 555, out of which the following appropriations and pay-
ments had been made : loan and debenture intei'est (less tax)
£29 461 ; debenture and redemption account, £4 653 ; reserve. £5 000,
Out of the balance of £23 440 it was proposed to pay a dividend
oa the ordinary shares at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum (less tax)
leaving £2 440 to ibe carried forward. ,

County of London Electric Supply.

The report for the year 1921 of the County of London Electric
Supply Company states that the net capital e.xpended during the
?.^n ^^^^ ^" account of the company's districts amounted to
£195 749, and the net total expenditure amounted to £2 929 751 10s.
After adding the balance from the last account, after payment of
the final dividends on the preference and ordinary shares for the
half-year ended Dec. 31, 1920, less income tax (£18 595), and the
balance from revenue account No. II., after deducting generation
and distribution costs, repairs, general establishment and other
charges, and a proportion of salaries and Vages (£342 201), there
is a total amount available for the year of £360 795. From this
sum has to be deducted interest on debenture stock and temporary
loans to Dec. 31, 1921, less income tax (£64 384), amount written
ott expenses and discount on 1921 debenture stock issue (£25 000)
amount carried to reserve for taxation (£20000), amount carried
to reserve for depreciation, renewals, &c. (£60 000), and amount
earned to general reserve (£100 000). leaving £91411 for distribu-
tion. Interim dividends have been paid, less income tax, on 65 000
SIX per cent, fully-paid preference shares for the half-year ended
June 30, 1921, and on 75 578 ordinary shares for the same period at
the rate of 5 per cent, per annum, which ha.s absorbed £26 876, and
leaves £64 535 for further distribution. The directors now recom-
mend a further dividend on the 65 000 six per cent, fully-paid pre-
ference shares for the half-year ended Dec. 31, 1921, less income
tax ; and on 75 578 fully-paid ordinary shares for the same period
at the rate of 11 per cent, per annum, less income tax. making 8 per
^Jio'7/i4""-,n^^° r^""- '^^'^ last-mentioned payments will ab.sorb
£42 747 10s and leave a balance of £21 787 10s. to bo carried for-
ward. Applications received during the past vear amounted to the
equivalent of 6 908 kW. making the total at Dec. 31. 94 000 kW •
total units sold numbered 51220 079, as against 49 553 223. The
consumers Gupplied directly or indirectly by the company now
nurnber over 43 000. Mr. J. A. Hosker has been appointed to suc-
ceed the late Mr J. Atherton on the board ; Sir Bernard E. Green-
well, Bart., has also been appointed to a seat on the Board. In order
to provide for the normal capital renuirements of the company an
issue of £500 000 seven per cent, redeemable debenture stock was
made in October last. The issue was heavily over-subscribed The

directors propose to submit resolutions at the forthcoming annual
meeting for dividing each of the existing preference and ordinary
shares of £10 each into 10 shares of £1. As to the associated com"-
panies, the directors of the South London Electric Supply Cor-
poration, Ltd., have declared a final dividend on the ordinary
shares at the rate of 9 per cent, per annum, making 7 per cent, for
the year. The directors of the Bournemouth and Poole Electricity
Supply Company have declared a final dividend on the ordinary
shares at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum, making 6 per cent, for
the year. The business of the Coatbridge and Airdrie Electric
Supply Company, L/td. , continues to progress.

Charing Cross, West End and City Electricity Supply.

In their report for 1921 the directors of the Charing Cross, West
End and City Electricity Company state that the gross earning.s
of the West-End undertakings from sales of current, rents, &c.,
were £312 532, against £311045. in 1920; expenses, including
depreciation, were £212 116 (£208 214), and the net earnings,
£100 415 10s. (£102 830). Adding the balance brought forward
from the previous year (£12 391), and interest accrued for 1921
£6 506 10s.), the total available amounted to £119 313. After pro-
viding for interest on debenture stock (£17 829), and setting aside
for depreciation £22 000, there was a balance of £79 483, out of
which has been paid the dividend on preference shares for the year,
amounting \o £18 000, and an interim dividend for the first'half
of the year at the rate of 3s. per share on the ordinarv shares,
amouniting to £12 000, leaving £49 483 to be dealt with. The
directors lecommend that a final dividend be paid on the ordinary
shares for the second half-year at the rate of 6s. per share, making
9 per cent, for the whole year, absorbing £24 000, that £12 500 be
carried to reserve, and that £12 983 be carried forward. The com-
pany has now connected to its West-End mains a total equivalent
of 847 060 (30- W.) lamps: in lighting, 490 245; in heating, 104 481;
and in motive power, 253 334 (10 147 h.p.).

The gross earnings of the City undertaking from sales of cur-
rent, rents, &c., were £439 772, compared with £418 746 in 1920:
expenses were £328 493 (£355 062), and the net earnings £111 27J
(£63 685). Adding the balance brought forward from the previour;
year (£4 491), there is a total available of £115 770. After provid-
ing for interest on debenture stock. 65 per cent. 5-year secured
notes, loans, and advances (£47 889), there is a balance of £67 880.
out of which has been paid the dividend on the preference shares.
amounting to £18 OPO. leaving £49 880. The directors recommend
that £32 181 be transferred to reserve, and that £17 700 be carried
forward. The company has now connected to its Citj^ mains the
total equivalent of 982370 (30-W.) lamps: in lighting. 360 811; :n
heating, 164,233; and in motive power, 457 326 (18 391 h.p.).

W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works.

In the course of his remarks at the annual meeting of W. T.
Henley's Telegraph Works Company last week, Mr. George
Sutton (chairman and managing director), who presided,
stated that the balance-sheet showed the falling-off in trade they
had experienced, notwithstanding that the result of the j-ear's
■\vorking showed the largest net profit the company had made in
its long history, and that the assets had a higher value compared
with the liabilities. The item of creditors was down by £100 000
aft^r deducting from the previous year's figures £100 000, which
as he then informed them was the amount of a bank loan included.
On the other side the debtors were down by £145 000, and the stocks
by £179 000. Those items w^ere a sure indication of the falling-off
in business and the pace had l^een accelerating during the entire
year. How, in spite of this fall in trade, they were able to produce
a profit in excess of the previous years was mainly due to the fact
that the value of the orders they had brought into 1921 was a
high record, so that in the earlier months of the yeav those orders,
together with the current orders coming in, kept them busy ; but
gradually, as the year advanced ana those old orders w-ere com-
pleted, their factories became less busy. With regard to the present
position of trade, he could not see any immediate prospect of im-
provement in the foreign trade. There was a demand in foreign
countries, but they were unable to meet the low prices due to low
wages and depreciated exchanges. What foreign orders they ob-
tained were taken at nnremunerative prices to enable them to give
as much employment as they possibly could. With regard to the
home trade and trade with the British Overseas Dominions, there
were decidedly signs of improvement. The demands for quotations
had considerably increased in the past two months, and were many
more than they were receiving in the latter months of last j-ear.
He did not think the home trade was going to boom yet,
but it was satisfactory to be able to see signs of improvement.

Woking Electric Supply.

Mr. M. W. Ashby (chairman) presided at the annual meeting of
the Woking Electric Supply Company last week. The total
revenue for the vear amounted to £44 219. le«s expenditure of
£25 717. leaving a! balance of £18 502, to which was added £1201
brought in. making a total balance of £19 703. After deducting
various charges, including over £4 000 for payment of dividends,
there remained a balance of £12 014, out of which the directors
propose to pay a dividend of 7 per cent, on the ordinary shares.
to place £6 000 to depreciation, £2 000 to reserve. &c., and to carr.v
forward £1 222. In the course of his remarks the chairman said
there had been a saving on coal of £1 930, due very largely to the
new plant and machinery. The turbo of the new boiler had been
working very satisfactorily, and was undoubtedly a most useful
addition to their equipment. During the year lonsumers had in-

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

303

creased by 127, and the number of lamps connected by 5 343. The
number of units generated was 2 614 521, compared with 2 771743
the previous yeaa-, a decrease of 157 222,. clue almost exclusively to
the abnormally light and warm year, and also to the industrial
depression which had prevailed. There had been an increase in the
sale of both lighting and cooking units. As to the future, all the
company asked was to be let alone. Given freedom from induistrial
unrest, i-estrictive legislation, excessive rates, and what had been
described as " Poplar " finance, the outlook was bright, and they
hiight look forward to a period of increased prosperity.

Metropolitan Electric Supply.

In the course of his remarks at the annual meeting of the Metro-
politan Electric Supply Company on Tuesday, Mr. A. W. Tait
(chairman of the company), who presided, said that the revenue
from sales of current for the year was £520 802, as compared with
£497 675 in 1920, being an increase of 46 per cent. In the number
of units sold, 26 945 465, there was a decrease of 3-1 per cent., which
was accounted for by the falling off in the demand of power con-
sumers, due to trade depression. The units sold for lighting and heat-
ing showed an increase of 294 050. There was every reason to believe
that the consumption for lightihg and heating purposes would con-
tinue to show expansion, but he was doubtful whether the power
load would increase to any extent in the current year. It was, how-
ever, satisfactory to be able to record that the development in the
company's western area of supply continued, where fresh industries
were being established. The costs of generation and distribution of
electricity showed an increase of approximately £4 000 over the
previous year. The company had already commenced to make
certain reductions in their general power rates for small consumers,
and he hoped that before long they would be able to give some con-
cessions to their general consumers. The increase in charge so far as
lighting consumers were concerned had not risen above 25 per cent,
at any time since the commencement of the war. This was only
rendei'ed possible by the increase in efficiency of generation by the
introduction of up-to-date plant. The directors recommended a final
dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, making a total distri-
bution for the year of 7 per cent., and leaving £3 609 to be carried
forward. Apart from maintaining the dividend, they had applied
an additional sum of approximately £5 000 out of revenue to the
depreciation and reserve account.

Chelsea Electricity Supply.

The report for 1921 of the Chelsea Electricity Supply Company
shows a profit for the year of £43 437, to which was added
£2 249 10s. brought forward and £2 424 interest, making a total
of £48 110 10s. After deducting interest on debenture stock
(£4 260), interim dividend on the preference shares at the rate
of 6 per cent, per annum (£900), and interim dividend on the ordi-
nary shares at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum (£6179 10s.), there
remains a balance of £36 771, which the directors recommend shall
be appropriated as follows :— To reserve, £17 000 ; to writing off
the balance of the cost of extinction of founders' shares, £9 804 ; to
final dividend on the preference shares at the rate of 6 per cent,
per annum, making 6 per cent, for the year, £900; to final divi-
dend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum,
making 6 per cent, for the year, £8 651 ; leaving a balance to be
carried to the next account of £415. The number of 30-W lamp
equivalents connected on Dec. 31 was 359 278, an addition of 5 763
during the year, and the total number of units sold was 4 828 604,
being 87 524 less than that for the previous year.
Westminster Electric Supply.

Sir Edward Goulding (deputy chairman), presiding at the annual
meeting of the Westminster Electric Supply Corporation last
week, said that the erection of the new plant at the Central Com-
pany's station enabled them to shut down Davies-street station, and
as this building (which was held on a lease) would no longer be
required for the purpases of the company, it had been sold, together
with the plant, at a satisfactory figure. The whole of the expendi-
ture on this station had been written off, and the shutting down of
the station would lead to greater economy in generation. It was
not until the last quarter of the year that the new plant erected at
Grove-road and Horseferry came inl/O use. Since then the cost.s
of generation had been substantially reduced. After prolonged
negotiations they had been able to come to terms with the City of
Westminster as to the replacement of the arc lighting with modern
incandescent lamps. These lamps, without using any more current,
had a greater illuminating power. The change over was completed
early in February. An abstract of the accounts was given in our
issue of Feb. 24.

City of London Electric Lighting.

The report of the City of London Electric Lighting Company
shows a balance available for dividends on preference and ordinary
shares, and for " carry forward " to 1922, of £132 243 10s. Divi-
dends amounting to £97 044 were paid in September last, and the
directors now recommend that balance dividends be paid, making
a total distribution for the year on the first preference shares of
6 per cent, per annum, on the second preference shares of 8 per
cent, per annum, and on the ordinary shares of 14 per cent, per
annum. These dividends will absorb £67 200, leaving a balance to
be carried forward to 1922 of £29 844. The company's service during
the prolonged coal strike was maintained with great difficulty and
expense, and, in May, recourse was had to oil fuel, the use of which
the directors have determined to continue as an alternative source of
fuel supply. The additional plant, referred to in the last report, has
now been completed.

The Globe Telegraph & Trust Company have declared a quarterly
dividend of 53. (net) on the ordinary shares for the current year.

Stavely Coal and Iron Co.mpany announce a dividend of 5 per
cent, per annum, tax free, for the half-year, payable March 31.

For the half-year to Jan. 31, 1922, Aberdeen Suburban Tram-
way Company rnade a profit of £1 050, making, with £2 293 brought
in, £3 343. ' ,

The directors of 0. C. IIavvkes, Birmingham, recommend a final
dividend on the ordinary shares at 10 per cent, per annum, less
tax, mailing 8 per cent, for the year.

The Clyde Valley Electrical Power Company recommend a
final dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, lees tax,
making 7^ per cent, for the year, the same as last year.

The net profits for 1921 of the Wemyss and District Tramways
Company were £5 840, and £1 154 was brought forward. A divi-
dend of 6 per cent., tax free, on the ordinary shares is recom-
mended, leaving £401 to be carried forward. ,

The directors of Newcastle-on-Tyne Electric Supply Cosipany
recommend, subject to audit, that, in addition to the final dividend
on the 7 per cent, cumulative preference shares, a dividend at the
rate of 5 per cent, for the year be paid on the 5 per cent, preference
shares.

Clarke, Chapman & Co. announce a dividend of Is. 6d. per share,
less tax^ on the ordinary shares for the half-year, payable Mar. 15,
making 2s. 6cl. per share for the year. The sum of £20 000 is
placed 'to reserve, £5 000 to reserve for workmen's compensation,
£27 917 for depreciation, and £15 719 is carried forward.

The profit of Electro Bleach and By-Products for 1921, less re-
pairs, standing charges, depreciation, and making reserve for income
tax, excess profits duty and corporation tax, was £13 115, plus £5 921
brought in, making £19 036. The directors recommend a final divi-
dend of 3^ per cent, on the preference shares, making 7 per cent.,
writing off patent account £4 957, and carrying forward £79.

The directors of the Western Telegraph Company have declared
the second quarterly interim dividend of 5s. per share, free of
income tax, for the year ending June 50, 1922, payable to share-
holders registered on March 11, being at the rate of 10 per cent.
per annum. The transfer books of the Company will be closed
from the 11th to the 17th inst. inclusive.

The Report of Hastings and District Electric Traaiways
Company for 1921 shows a profit of £11 044, plus £1 000 brought in.
The directors recommend the payment of 1^ per cent., being the
balance of arrears of preference dividend for 1919, and a dividend
of 6 per cent, on the preference shares for 1921. The sum of £5 000
has been placed to depreciation and £1 044 carried forward.

The Stock Exchange Committee have ordered §294 720 common
stock of the Canadian General Electric Company and §1 750 000 first
and second refunding mortgage 5 per cent. 30-year gold bonds of the
Montreal Tramways Company to be quoted in the Orficial List, and
have specially allowed dealing;^ in 28 654 10s. fully paid ordinary
shares of Fellows INIagneto Company and £250 000 b per cent, cumu-
lative second preference stock of the North Metropolitaii Electric
Power Supply Company.

The revenue of the London & Subxirbvn Traction Company for
1921 was £112 598, plus £2 100 brought in, making £114 697.
Deducting administration and general expenses, interest on deben-
ture stocks and deposits, 5 per cent " A " debenture stock service
fund and corporation tax, he balance is £67 644. The directors
propose a balance dividend of 2^ per cent, in respect of the year
ended Dec. 31, 1917, on the cumulative preference shares, and 1 per
cent, on account of the year ended Dec. 31, 1918, carrying forward
£11 523.

In moving the adoption of the report and accounts of the FifE
Tramway Light & Power Comp.\ny at the annual meeting last
week, Mr. W. Low, who presided, said that the gross receipts of
all properties owned by the company amounted to £326 634 for the
year ended Dec. 31, 1921 as compared with £303 904 for the previous
year. The gross revenue from the company's properties amounted
to £78 394, against £72 801 in 1920. The' directors recommended
payment of a dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 8 per
cent, per annum, less tax.

For 1921 the gross revenue of the Undergrottnd ELEcrrRic Rail-
ways Company of London was £770000, an increase of £190 322.
The balance available for interest en the 6 per cent, income bonds
and for reserves was £387 958, an increase of £186 963. The interest
on the income bonds is 4 per cent, for the year, and the balance of
£26 241 is carried to the special reserve for equalisation of interest.
For 1920 2 per cent, was paid on t!ie income bonds. The loss in
exchange owing to the encashment of coupons in New York and
Amsterdam was £82 925, agiiiust £58 171 in 1920.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the Liverpool Overhe-xd
Railway last week, the chairman, Mr. H. C. Woodward, said that
the decrea-se of 7 000 000 passengers during the past year was caused
by the serious loss of trade and dock work of all kinds in the
port, together with the departure of several big steamers from
Southampton instead of Liverpool. Tlie railway was entirely
dependent upon the trade of the port for its prosperity, and for
the past twelve months that trade had been almost in a state of
paralysis. The ordinary weekday at the docks nowadays looked as
Sunday once did. The general tone of commerce. .however, led them
to hope that things wei-^e on the turn, and he hoped that the tide of
trade might take a rapid turn in the rijtht direction. The accounts
of (he company were dealt with in our issue last week.

30J.

The £lecicrician.

March lo, 1922

New Companies.

Cardiff Electrical Repairs. Ltd.

Cardiff Electrical Repairs, T.td. (178 894). Private company.
Registered Feb. 23. Capital, £1000 in £1 shares. To take over
the business of electrical and mechanical engineers carried on by
E. A. Waugh and T. Richmond at Northcote-lane, Cardiff, as the
Cardiff Electrical Repairs Company, and to carry on the business
of electrical, mechanical, motor, and general engineers and con-
tractors, &c. I'ermanent directors : A. E. Waugh and T. Rich-
mond. Solicitor : T. J. Shackell, 2, Church-street, Cardiff.

Donaldson & Kelso, Ltd.

Donaldson & Kjelso, Ltd. (12 067J. Private company. Reg. in
Edinburgh Feb. 23. Capital £1 500 in £1 shares. Electrical,
mechanical, consulting and contracting engineers, &c. Subscribers :
J B. Muir, W. R. C.Murdoch. C. Murdoch. Secretary : W. R. C.
Murdoch. Registered office : 98, West George-street, Glasgow.
Guaranteed, Ltd.

Guaranteed, Ltd. i'179 993). Privat* company. Registered
Feb. 28. Capital, £100 in £1 shares. Electrical manufacturers,
supply agents and wholesale factors, electrical engineers and con-
tractors, &c. Permanent directors : C. Seymour and H. Feneron.
Qualification, £1. Registered office : 1 and 3, Sun-street, Finsbury-
square, E.C. 2.

Henderson, Clifton & Co.

Henderson, Clifton & Company, Ltd. (179 995.) Private com-
pany. Registered Feb. 25. Capital, £1 500 in £1 shares. To take
over the business carried on by A. J. Henderson at 35, Sackville-
street, W. 1, as "' Arthur Henderson & Company," qnd to carry o.i
the business of consulting, mining, mechanical, electrical, petro-
leum, mining, and general engineers, &c. Permanent managing
directors : A. J. Henderson and Major E. H. Clifton. Registered
office : 35, Sackville-street, W. 1,

Matthew Wylie & Co., Ltd.

Matthew Wylie & Company, Ltd. (12 065). Private company.
Registered in Edinburgh Feb. 22. Capital, £50 000 in £1 shares.
Engineers, machine makers, machinery importers, electricians, iron
and brass founders, &c. Subscribers (each with one share) : G. F.
Todd and J. McKechnie. Registered office : 81, Portman -street,
Kinning Park, Glasgow.

Seico, Ltd.

Selco, Ltd. (179 702). Private company. Registered Feb. 14.
Capital, £100 in £1 shares. Consulting, mechanical a.nd electrical
engineers, &c. Subscribers (each with one share) : Mackie Galstaun
and Nellie Schofield. Solicitors : Gisborne, Woodhouse & Company,
Temple Chambers, Temple-avenue, E.C. 4.
Southall Engineering Company.

SoxiTHALL Engineering Co., Ltd. (180 058). Private company.
Registered March 2. Capital, £3 000 in £1 shares. To adopt an
agreement with A. Bailey, J. C. Weber and E. J. Selby, and to
carry on the business of manufacturing mechanical and electrical
engineers, &c. First directors : A. Bailey, J. C. Weber and R.
Carter. Registered office : Pioneer Works. Hammond-road,
Southall.
R. B. Wilson, Ltd.

R. B. Wilson, Ltd. (N.I. 15). Private company. Reg. in Belfast
Feb. 18. ■ Capital £1 000 in £1 shares. Electrical and heating
engineers, &c. First directors : D. Thompson and R. B. Wilson.
Registered office : 103, Roden-street, Belfast.

COMPANIES INCORPORATED OUTSIDE THE U.K.
Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways Company, Ltd.

Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways Company, Lvd. Incorpo-
rated in India on Oct, 1, 1920. Capital. Rs.3 90.00.000 in 600 000
ordinary and 180 000 preference shares of Rs.50 each. To acquire
the undertaking and all or any of the p^^as and liabilities of the
Bombay Electric Supply & Tramways Company, Ltd., incorporated
in England in 1905, including the benefit of a deed of concession,
dated Aug. 7, 1905, between the Municipal Corporation of the City
of Bombay, W. D. Sheppard (Municipal Commissioner for City of
Bombay), the Brush Electrical Engineering Company, and the
Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company, to acquire certain
licences granted to tho Brush Electrical Engineering Company and
the Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company, &c. British
address is 3-4, Clement's Inn. Strand, W.C. 2, whore F. C. Austen
(London secretary) is authorised to accept serv-ice of process and
notices on behalf of the company. Directors a* date of incorpora-
tion : Sir Sa.sso(>n David, Bart., Sir Fazulbhov Currimbhoy. F. E.
Dinshaw, A. H. Froom, Chunilal V. Mehta, Sir Stanley Reed, F. C.
Remington, and R. D. Tata. File number, 2 071f.
Clatworthy & Son, Ltd.

Clatworthy & Son, Ltd. (2 083F.). Particulars filed Feb. 27.
Capital 40 000 dollars in 100 dollars shares. Incorporated in Canada
or Nov. 28, 1908, to manufacture, import and sell display fixtures,
shop fittings, electric fixtures and appliances, &c. British
address : Poland House, 167, Oxford-street, W. 1, where II. R.
Hollinshead is authorised to accept service. Directors : G. Clat-
worthy, C. G. Clatworthy, W. F. Putt and Mrs. K. Clatworthy, all
of Toronto.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgments " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the oases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]
BAILEY (GEORGE) & SONS (WOLVERHAMPTON), LTD.

Registered office : 170, Stafford-street, Wolverhampton, electri-
cians. £37 10s. lid. Nov. 3.
BALL & BROCKHURST, Meridian Works, Chingford, electrical

engineers. £23 12s. Jan. 3.
BRANSON BROS., 56, Australia-road, Cardiff, electrical engineers.

£10 15s. lOd. Jan. 9.
CAREY TRANSMISSION, LTD., Arneway-street, Horseferrv-

road, S.W., engineers. £28 16s. 7d. Dec. 19.
GRAY. Arthur, 9, Denmark-street, W.C, electrical engineer.

£23 Os. 8d. Nov. 24.
LAWRENCE, Mr. W., Rock-road, Torquay, electrical engineer.

£11 4«. 9d. Nov. 29. '
LIMBREY, F., & COMPANY. 38, Gondar-gardens. West Hamp-

stead, electrical engineers. £13 13s. 5d. Nov. 14.
RIGBY, J. H., 22, Higher Hillgate, Stockport, electrical engineer.

£16 10s. 8d. Dec. 22.
ROTHWELL, Peter (the elder), and ROTHWELL, Peter (the

younger) (trading as PETER ROTHWELL & COMPANY), 64.

Hr. Bridge-street, Bolton, electricians. £13 lis. 7d. Jan. 11.
THOMAS, Mr. J., 16a, Albion-street, Tunbridge Wells, electrical

engineer. £36 10s. Id. Dec. 23.
ULTRA MARINA TRUST, LTD.. 8, Poland-street, W., magneto

manufacturers. £78 9s. 7d. Nov. 11.
WESTON, Mr. G. A., 330, London-road, Westcliff-on-Sea, elec-
trician. £14 19s. 4d. Jan. 3.

Bills of Sale.

[The undermentioned information is from the Official Registry.
It includes Bills of Sale registered under the Act of 1822 and under
the Act of 1878. Both kinds require registration every five years.
Up to the date the infoi-mation was obtained it was registered
as given below ; but payment may have been made in some of the
cases, although no notice had been entered on the Register.]

GILL, Frederick John, Electric House. 26, Hardwick-street. Buxton,
CO. Derby, electrical engineer. Feb. 21. £150.

JOHNSON, Norman, 20, Stirling-road, Enfield, trading as
NORMAN JOHNSON & COMPANY, at Hop Poles Engineer-
ing Works, Daker-street, Enfield, manufacturing mechanical and
electrical engineers. March 4. £50.

KELLS. Joseph, 13, Abbev-road, Anfield, Liverpool, electrical
engineer. Feb. 28. £100.

MATTHEWS, Henry Grindell. 2, Harewood-place. Oxford-street,
W., electrical engineer. Feb. 28. £400.

An order was made on Feb. 9 restoring Patent No. 19 851/1910
granted to Alphonse Constant ReyroUe and A. Reyrolle & Company.
Ltd., for " Improvemontfi relating to electrical cut-outs."

Receivership.

BISHOPS CASTLE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER CO.,
LTD.— W. H. Thomson, of 19a, Co>eman Street. E.C, was
appointed as receiver and manager on February 23, 1922, under
powers contained in debentures dated February 8, 1915.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any cieditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
ix)tal debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

BODRnX ELECTRIC LIGHT .\N1) SUPPLY TOMPANY. LTD.

Ue-isieivd Feb. 21, £2 000 debenture-s present issue £1900;

general chars. o *Xil. Dec. 31, 1920.
BOULTON MAGNETOS. LTD., Wolverhampton. Registered

Feb. 17, £800 debentures: general charge, » . Nov. 21. 1921.

BRiriSH i\[ICA COMPANY," LTD., Bedford. Registered Feb. 16.

£800 debentures, balance of £1500; general charge. •£700.

April 21, 1921.
ELECTRIC BRASS WARES, LTD., Liverpool. Registered

Feb. 15. £500 del>eiitures : general charge. • . Sept. 19. 1921.

II VRRISOX BKOTHERS (ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS) LTD.,

Middlesbrough. Registered Feb. 22. £2 000 debentures to

Branch Xor.iinees. Ltd., 15, Bishopsgate. E.C. ; general charge.

*Xi! Amu 1 1921.

March lo, 1922

The Electrician.

:505

McBEAN (J. 11.), LTD., Batley, electrical engineers. Registered
Feb. 18. £1 000 (not ex.) debentures, to National Provincial &

Union Bank of England, Ltd. ; general charge. * . April 18,

1921.

MELBOURNE ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY, LTD. (late
ELECTRIC LIGHTING & TRACTION COMPANY OF
AUSTRALIA, LTD.). London. E.C. Registered Feb. 7, trust
deed dated Jan. 31, 1922, securing .$2 500 000 in gold currency
of the U.S.A. ; charged on freehold properties of company in
Australia, ako general charge. *£702 178. Feb. 21, 1921.

PEWSEY ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, LTD. Registered
Feb. 13, £2 000 debentures ; general charge.

Private Meeting.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily im/ply failure.
Many private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the
debtor consulting his creditors as to his position when he may not

be insolvent.]

GROVER, SMITH & WILLIS, electrical and mechanical engineers,
Sarum Hill, Basingstoke. A circular has been issued in this
matter stating that a conference of the larger trade creditors has
been held, when it was stated that an offer might be forth-
coming for the business at a figure sufficient to satisfy the claims
of the creditors in full, the assets being £2 765, subject to
realisation, and the liabilities £2 694. The circular further
stated, " Unfortunately this offer has not been obtained, and at
such conference it was resolved that in that event the debtors
should execute a deed of assignment to Mr. E. H. Hawkins
(Poppleton, Appleby & Hawkins) as trustee, together with a
committee of inspection consisting of three of the principal
creditors — ^Brown Brothers, Ltd., United States Rubber Com-
pany, and W. & A. Bates — and in accordance with such resolu-
tion the debtors have now assigned their estate to the trustee."

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

MIDLAND ELECTRIC ROTARY BLOWING COMPANY, LTD.

J. W. Massey, of 46, Cherry-street, Birmingham, appointed
liquidator. Meeting of creditors at 32, Curzon-street, Derby,
on Thursday, March 9, at 12 noon.

READ, F. 0.. & COMPANY, LTD. C. H. N. Nathan, of Norfolk
House, Norfolk-street, Westminster, appointed liquidator.
Meeting of creditors at Donington House, Norfolk-street.
London, W.C. 2, on March 14, at 12 noon. Particulars of
claims by April 15 to the liquidator.

SEMCO, LTD. F. B. Darke, of Darke. Robson & Battv, 146,
Bishopsgate, London, E.C. 2, appointed liquidator. Meeting
of creditors at the Abercorn Rooms, Great Eastern HoteL
Bishopsgate, London, E.C. 2, on Thursdav, March 16, at noon.

THANET ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD.' H. Kirby, of 840.
Salisb'iry-house, London, E.C. 2, appointed liquidator. Meet-
ing of creditors at the Institute of Chartered Secretaries, 59a.
London-wall, E.C. 2, on Monday, March 20, at 11 a.m.

Bankruptcy Information.

GOSS. Frederick Charles. 32, Windsor-road, St. Andrew's Park,
Bishopston, and at 71, North-road. Bristol, electrical engineer.
Receiving order, Feb. 28. Debtor's petition. First meeting
March 10. 2.15 p.m., 26, Baldwin-street, Bristol. Public exami-
nation, April 21, 12 noon, Guildhall, Bristol.

HASLIN, John Joseph. 30, Nestfield-street, Da.rlington. Co.
Durham, electric welder. Receiving order. March 1. Debtor's
petition. First meeting. March 17, 2.15 p.m.. 80. High-street,
Stockton-on-Tees. Public examination, March 29, 11 a.m..'
Court House, Bridge-street, Stockton-on-Tees.

LIDDELL. Robert Henry, carrying on business under the name of
LIDDELL & McINNES, at 4, The Crescent, Carlisle, electrical
engineer. F;rst meeting, March 15, 12 noon. 34, Fisher-street.
Carlisle. Public examination, March 20, 11 a.m. Registrar's
Chambere, 32, Lowther-street, Carlisle.

Notice of Dividend.

DRYSDALE, William, 24, Paxton-street, Barrow-in-Furness, elec-
trician. Amount per £ Id., final. Payable, March 11, 4.
Ramsden-square, Barrow-in-Furness.

Partnerships Dissolved

CLARKE, Charles Henry, and DAVEY. William Charles, elec-
trical and telephone engineers, under the style of W E
WEEKES & COMPANY, by mutual consent as' from Jan. 31.
1922. Debts received and paid by W. C. Davey, who will
continue the business.

HERNE, Charles Thomas, and PITT Frederick George, elec-
tricians, etc , 17, Motcomb-street. London, S.W., under the
style of HERNE & COMPANY, bv mutual consent as from
Dec. 31, 1921. Debts received and paid by C. T. Heme, who
will continue the business.

RUSSELL, Arthur Stanley, and MOORE. Harold Foster, electrical
engineers, at Shafton-lane, Holbeck, Leeds, under the style of
FIRTH & RUSSELL, by mutual consent as from Jan. 20." 1922.
Debts received and paid hy H. F. Moore, who will continue the
business.

Edinburgh Gazette.

GRAFTON DYNAMOS, LTD. J. W. MacKinnon, Giaegow,
appointed liquidator in voluntary winding-up of company.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

INCE, Arthur Courtenay, trading as the Newcastle Elec-
trical ENGiireERiNG Co., late in partnership with another as
the Tyne Electrical Industries, 21, Fenkle Street, Newcastle-
on-Tyne, electrical contractor. The first meeting of creditors
was lield last week. The statement of affairs showed liabili-
ties of £413, against assets £170. The Official Receiver stated
that there were several matters to h»e inquired into and he sug-
gested that they should remain over until debtor's public
examination on the following day. He proposed to ask for an
adjournment of the examination. The creditors- decided to
adopt this course. The following are creditors : English Elec-
tric and Siemens Supplies Ltd., London, £40; General Electric
Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne, £18; Lee, A. and Co., Ltd., Newcaslle-
on-Tyne, £36; Newcastle and District Electric Light Co., Ltd.,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, £10.

HOPKINS, J. Howard, formerly trading as the ELECTRIC.\E
MAINTENANCE COMPANY, 140, Wardour Street, W. The
above debtor, with total liablities £6 575 of which £956 is
unsecured and no assets, attended at the London Bankriiptcy
Court, on the 3rd inst. for public examination. The Official
Receiver elicited from the debtor that from 1906 to 1918 he
was in employment latterly as managing director of a cinemato-
graph company. In July of the latter year with a capital of
£1 000 he commenced business as an electrical engineer at 87,
Shaftesbury Avenue under the above style. The ousiness was
originally intended to maintain Cinema Electrical plants but
developed into a Cinema Equipment Company. In or about
"March, 1919, he was joined in partnership by a "Mr. C. A. Hale,
who introduced £3 000 capital, of which witness received per-
sonally £1 200, and £1 800 went into the business, and in
August, 1919. the business was transferred to the above ad-
dress. Unfortunately he was unable to agree with his partner,
and in September, 1920, the partnership was dissolved, witness
purchasing his partner's interest for £5 000, payable £500
down and the balance by instalments of £40 a week. Unhappily
he was not conversant with the equipment part of the-business.
and various mistakes which were made resulted in loss of orders
and loss on contracts, and he admitted that the latter part of
his trading was carried on at a loss. He consulted his solici-
tors, and on December 20, 1920, a meeting of his creditors was
held, and as a result he executed a deed of assignment to Mr.
0. Sunderland and Mr. A. F. Stoy as trustees for the benefit
of creditors. The claims of the creditors who assented to the
deed were £20 000, and they comprised the whole of his credi-
tors with the exception of the petitioning creditor, Mr. Ray-
man, who did not join in the deed. Under the deed up to the
present dividends aggregating 2s. in the £ had been paid, and
he believed a further 2s. or 3s. would be paid. He attri
buted his failure to his liability under a judgment obtained
against him by the petitioning credtor for cash advanced. The
examination was ordered to be concluded.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

TUESDAT, M.ARCH 7.

Copper — Price. Inc. Dec.

Best selected per ton £62 5 0 — —

Electro Wirebars .. „ £6tJ 10 0 £1 0 0 —

H.C wire, basis per lb. Os. lOid. id. —

Sheet „ Os. d{yd. — —

PJiosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone) —
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis „ Is. 2Jd. -Jd. —

Brass 60 '40—

Rod, basis ,, Os. lid. — —

Sheet, basis ,, Os. 9jd. — —

Wire, basis „ Os. 10|d. —

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants . per ton £4 15 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wue, basis 8 SWG „ £10 0 0 -- —

Lead Pig —

English £22 5 0 £0 10 0 —

Foreign or Colonial . . .. £20 15 0 £0 2 6 —

Tin—

Ingot £14o 0 0 — £3 0 0

Wire, basis per lb. 2s. Od. — lil.

Aluminium Ingots }>er ton £120 0 0 — —

Spelter.- Pi^r ton £25 2s. 6d. Sulphuric Acid {Pyrites, 168"). —

Mercuri/.—Per bottle £12 Per ton £9 17s. 6d.

Salammoninc. — Percwt. 65s.-60s. Copper Sitlfhate. — Per ton £27

Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 10s. Boric Acid (Crystals).— Per ton £65

„ (Roll-Brimstone). — Per ton Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 54d.

£10 10s. Sodium Chlorate.— Fer lb. 3id.
Bubber. — Para fine, lid. ; plantation Ist latex, 7^d. to 8id.

The metal prices are suppUed bv B^iti^h Insulated \- Helsbv Cables,

Ltd.

306

The Electrician.

March lo.

1922

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. March 10th (to-day).

Physical Society.
5 p.m. At th© Imperial College of Science, South Kensington,
London, S.W. Papers on " The Electromagnetic Screening
of a Triode Oscillator," by Mr. R. L. Smith-Rose; " A
New Form of High Vacuum Automatic Mercury Pump,"
by Dr. H. P. Waran ; and " Viscosity Determination by
Means of Orifices and Short Tubes," by Mr. W. N. Bond.
Institution of Electrical Engineers.
North- Western Centre.
7.30 •p.m. At the College of Technology, Manchester. Exhibi-
tion of Cinematograph Films, by Dr. C. C. Garrard and
Mr. F. Gill, O.B.E.

Scottish Centre. Students' Section.
7.30 p.m. At the Royal Technical College, Glasgow. Annual
General Meeting and Paper on " Electricitv in Mines," by
Mr. J. C. Stewart.

Irish Centre.
S p.m. At the Royal College of Science, Upper Merr ion -street,
Dublin. Paper on " Wireless Communications in the Cam-
paign in France," by Prof. R. Stanley.

Junior Institution of Engineers.

5 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Paper on " Friction,"

by Mr. C. H. Plant.

Electro-Harmonic Society.

8 p.m. At Cannon-street Hotel, London, E.C. Smoking Concert.

Royal Institution.

9 p.m. At Albemarle-street, London, W. Discourse on " Prob-

lems in the Variability of Spectra," by Prof. T. R. Merton,
F.R.S.

SATURDAY. March 11th.

Royal Institution.

3 p.m. At Albemarle-street, London, W. Lecture on " Radio-
Activity," by Sir Ernest Rutherford, F.R.S. (Lecture II.)
Birmingham and District Electric Club.
7 p.m. At the Grand Hotel, Colmore-row, Birmingham. Paper
on " Ball Bearings," by Mr. A. Macaulay.
MONDAY. March 13th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Dundee Sub-Centre.
7.30 p.m.. At University College, Dundee. Papers on " Electric
Motor Starters," by Mr. J. Anderson, and " Induction-Type
Synchronous Motors," by Mr. L. H. A. Carr.
North-Eastern Centre.
7.30 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle. Address on
"Primary and Secondary Educiation of Engineers," by Mr.
J. S. Highfield.
TUESDAY. March 14th.

Women's Engineering Society,
6.15 p.m. At 26, George-street, Hanover-square, London, W.
Lecture on " Women's Place in Industry," by Mr. F. S.
Button.
National Association of Supervising Electricians.
6. .1^5 p.m. At St. Bride's Institute, Bride-lane, London, E.C.
Paper on " The Determination of Heat Loss from Buildings,
with Special Reference to Electrical Heating," by Mr.
W. W. Nobbs.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Scottish Centre.
7 p.m. At the North British Station Hotel, Edinburgh. Paper
on " Telephone Lin© Work in the United States," by Mr.
E. S. Byng. ^

North- Western Students' Centre.
7.30 p.m. At Houldsworth Hall, Deansgate, Manchester.
Paper on " Commutation, Armature Reaction, and the
Selection of Carbon Brushes for Dynamo Electric Machi-
nery," by Mr. J. W. A. Abernethy.
WEDNESDAY. March 15th.

South Midland Centre.
7 p.m. At the University, Birmingham. Paper on " Electric
Motor Starters," by Mr. J. Anderson.
Sheffield Sub-Centre.
7.30 p.m. At the Royal Victoria Hotel, Sheffield. Paper on 33 099
" Notes on the Practical Operation of E.H.T. Protective
Gear," by Mr. F. Langley.

Industrial League Councul.
7.30 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecture on " Psy-
chology in Industry," by Mr. W. Piei*oey, C.B.E.

THURSDAY. March 16th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.

6 p.m.. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Paper on " Phantom

Telephone Circuits and Combined Telegraph and Telephone^
Circuits Worked at Audio Frequencies," by Mr. J. G. Hill.
FRIDAY. March 17th.

London Students' Section.

7 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Paper on "The

Electron Theory," by Mr. C. C. H. Wade.
Britlsh Electrical Development Association.
7.30 p.m. At the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents Staple
Inn-buildings, London, W.C. Salesmanship Conference.
No. 5, " Salesmanship in Relation to Showroom Displays
and Demonstrations." Speaker : Mr. A. C. Bostel.

Patent Record.

32 321
32 342
32 352
32 363

32 364

32 365

32 377

32 380
32 381
32 385
32 386

32 421

32 422
32 447

32 493
32 499

32 501
32 502

32 523
32 527
32 530
32 549
32 580
32 583
32 595

32 596

32 597
32 621

32 628
32 693
32 715
32 716
32 725
32 726
32 732

32 780
32 805

32 808

32 872
32 874
32 875
32 876
32 892

32 872
32 893
32 904
32 917
32 930
32 963

32 971

32 976
32 977
32 981
32 982
32 987

32 997
32 999

33 047
33 051
33 060
33 098

33 116
33 119
33 129

tubes for electrical

machines. (13/12/20,

intensity of illumina-

33 132

33 135
33137
33 151

33 153
33 154
33 160

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS

December 2, 1921.

Amberton. Electric control systems.

Tayler. Sy.stem of electric lighting in combina,tion with piano, &c

Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Switches. (2/12/20, U.S.)

Ges fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Thermionic generators. (3/12/20,
Germany.)

Ges FtJR Prahtlose Telegraphie. Generation of electrical oscil-
lations by thermionic valves. (4/12/20, Germany.)

Ges FtJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Calling apparatus for -high-
frequency telegraphy. (4/12/20, Germany.)

Akt. Ges. Brown, fovERiE et Cie. Apparatus for preventing
occurrence of higher harmonic currents in working of metal
vapour rectifiers. (6/12/20, Switzerland.)

B. T.-H. Co. & Farmer (G. E. Co.). Electric motor control.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Switches.

Detmold. Coupling electric leads to terminals.

Detmold. Electric terminals, adaptors, &c.

December 3. 1921.
CoLEBRooKE & Williams. Vacuum, &c.,

discharges.
Jackson. Motor control systems.
BuDD Mfg. Co. Automatic electric welding

U.S.)
Vatjdervell. Electric machines.
RuNBAKEN & Torrance. Means for varying

tion of road vehicle electric lamps.
Sterling Telephone & Electric Co. Indicator systems for lifts, &c.
Sefton-Jones (Lorenz Akt. Ges.). High-frequency telephony.

December 5, 1921.
EoLLER. Electric generator. (4/12/20, Germany.)
CoLLiNGH.\M & Owen. Driving mechanism of electric generators.
Depree & HoKER. Electric heaters for internal combustion engines.
Beresford. Combined electric heating and lighting apparatus.
DoRNiG. Wireless telegraph antennae.
PoLLAK, Siemens & Halske A. G. Telephone systems.
Maschinenfabrik Schiess, A. G. & Becker. Driving machine

tools with independent electi-ical drives. (6/12/20, Germany.)
Mitchell. Anti-climbing devices for posts carrying electric wires,

&c.
Eegan. Electric train control systems.
Shawmut Machine Works, Inc. Thermostatically-controlled

socket switches. (3/12/20. U.S.)

December 6, 1921.
Watson. Electric pianoforte-driers.
Charlier. Heating devices and electric furnaces.
B. T.-H. Co. & Whitaker. Electric machines.
B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric lamp fittings.
Ferranti. Fastening transformers in their oil tanks.
Ferranti. Supporting devices for transformers, &c.
Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie. Method of installing turbines
for driving dynamos. (7/6/21, Switzerland.)

December 7, 1921.

Sutherland, Ltd. & Cooke. Switches and contacts.

Becker & Degge. Dimming switch for lighting system of auto-
mobiles.

Arthur, Sprosen & Hardy. Dimmer switches for headlights cf
motor-cycles, &c.

McLachlan & Langridge. Wireless telegraph receiving apparatus.

Bryan. Electric radiators.

Buckley. Multi-pole switch.

Buckley. Electric starting motor for engines.

MouLLiN. Measurement of alternating voltages.

December 8, 1921.
Langridge. Wireless telegraph receiving apparatus.
Lymburn. Electric lamp bulbs.
Lewis. Magnetos.
Fox. Electric torches.
RoHNiSR & SiMic. Incandescent lamps.
Optische Anstalt C. p. Goerz A. G. Electromotive devices for

calculating machines. (11/12/20, Germany.)
Moody. Variable inductance and transfonner coils for wireless

circuits.
Western Electric Co. Oscillation generators. (22/12/20.
Western Electric Co. Telephone iystems.
Inggs & Lucas. Electric horns for motor vehicles.
Sibils. Incandescent lamp holders.
Sayers. Connection of windings to commutators

machines.

HuTCHESoN. Devices for registering telephone calls.
Ges. ptJR Drahtlose Telegraphie & Geweske. Higli-freQuency

telephony. (26/1/21, Germany.)

December 9, 1921
Strong. Railway or tramway rail joints. '

Veri-^y's, Ltd., & Pipkin. Switches, and operating gear therefor.
Cable Accessories Co., Reeves & Crawford. Fuse boards.
Callender's Cable & Construction Co., Mather & Hunter.

Feeder connectors for contact rails on electric railways.
Callender's Cable & Construction Co., McCallum & Macalistej.

Supports for cables, pipes, &c.
Western Electric Co. Microphones. (24 12/20, U.S.)
White. Mounting and driving magnetos.
Coventry Automatic Telephones, Ltd., Peei.-Comer

Works & McBEfjTv. Machine-switchin.:? telephone

systems.
Skfton-Jones (Lorenz Akt. Ges.). Process

frequency.

DoNNiSTHORNE. Production of h.t. unidirectional currents.
Fox & Hayes. Electric he.iting systems.
SiEMENS-ScHUCKEHTWERKE. Electrical precipitation of suspended

particles from fluids. (28/6/21, Germany.)
Cross (Mordey). Electricity meters.
Strohmencter. Arc welding appliances.
Vf.duvelli. Transformers.

U.S.)

electric

Telephone
exchange

increasing

7'Ac Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Offices of " Tbm
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4. Tele-

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THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1S61.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance,

No. 2287.

r No. II

LVol. LXXXVI

...]

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1922.

Prepaid Subscription U.K^ /i 5^.
per ann. ; Abroad, / 1 i^s.

Price 6d.

CONTENTS.

Notes of the Week

SUPI-LY CO'PANIES IN IQil

InSTITCT I IN A FFAIBS

Regenerative Braking and Single-Phase Commutator Motors.
By B. Nordefeldt. Illustrat.^d

Revi E w

Directional Transmission of Electrom.agnetic Waves for Navi-
gational Purposes. By J. Eiskine-Muiray, D.Sc, and
J. Robinson, Ph.D. Illnstrated ..

The Determination of the Decrement of a Distant Station. By
J, Erskine-Murray, D.Sc, and B. Williams, B.iSc.
Illustrated

The Manufacture of the MuUard Valve. Illustrated

Warm Rivers or Warm Houses?

The Home I'iealisod. Illustrated

Industrial Electrical H-ating

Changing Tungsten to Helium Gas

Institute of Patentees

A Wireless Dinner

Electric Lorries for Calcutta

The British Industries Fair, Birmingham

The Southamption Dispute

Hull and Hessle Tram Extension

Te'ephone Overcharges

307
309
310

312

314

31.T

316
317
319
320
322
322
322
322
322
322
322
323
323

Parliamentary Intelligence 323

Wireless at the Institution ,... 323

Legal Intelligence 324

Trade Improving 32t

Electricity Supply 325

Institution Notes 325

Electric Traction 326

Personal and Appointments 326

Business Items, &c ... 326

Telegraph and Wireless Notes 326

Obituary 326

Staidard Starters '. 326

Companies' Meetings, Reports, Ac 327

Electrical Imports and Exports 329

Tenders invited and Accepted 329

Foreign Notes 330

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c 330

Commercial Intelligence ".30

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c .. 331

New Companies 332

Growth of U.S. Industrial Power Load 332

Electricity in Farming : 332

Arrangements for the Week 332

PatentRecord 333

Notes of the Week.

Electricity Bill Propaganda.

Now that the Electricity Bill has passed the second
reading in the House of Lords the virulent propaganda to
which we drew attention last week has publicly died down,
though we have no doubt it is still being conducted under
the surface. We suspect that this opposition emanates
from certain private interests. It is therefore local
rather than national and of a stertorousness out of
all proportion to its size. If it wins the day it may
improve its own position, though that is by no means
certain, but it will inevitably retard the progress of the
electricity supply, and therefore malevolently affect the
electrical industry. We are not sui-prised to learn that
its course is being watched with airxiety in official circles
and by those who recognise that the passing of such a
measure is vital to electricity well-being. We are pleased,
however, to notice that Sir Harby Renwick, chairman
of the County of London Company, and one of the soundest
authorities on electrical legislation and finance, recognises
that the Bill contains many useful provisions, though he
hints at certain amendments being necessary. These ai-e
surely a matter for arrangement, not propaganda.

The Financial Bogey,

Watching is not enough, however. And it is high time
the supporters of the Bill were up and doing. Articles
and speeches such as those to which we called attention last
week, ill informed though they be, will inevitably do a great
deal of harm unless the fallacies they contain are promptly
exposed. Especially is it necessary that municipal authori-
ties should take action, as they stand to lose most if the
Bill fails to pass. This is the more essential, as the principal
and most subtle argument against the Bill is that voiced
by Lord Buckmaster, who complained that granting a
local authority free powers to finance a Joint Electricity

Authority would tend to the multiplication of local burdens,
a thing, of course, which we all wish to avoid. But the
frenzied finance which Lord Buckmaster fears can be
adequately prevented not only by the ratepayers themselvfc*>
but by the policy of the Commissioners. Incidentally, the
grouping of stations and the extended control over the
electricity supply in a large area, which the establishment
of Joint Electricity Authorities will make possible, is likely
to be cheaper for the ratepayei-s than continuing ou
present lines, interested arguments to the contrary not-
withstanding. If, however, these safeguards are con-
sidered to be insufficient, a provision might be inserted
whereby the contribution of each municipality is based on
the proportion that its own a.'^sessable value bears to the
assessable value of the district of which it foiTus a part.

The Real Danger.

These, however, are details, and we would ask the
opponents of the Bill to pause and consider what will
happen if the present measure is dropped. It is certain
that development will be at once stunted, and uncertainty
will continue to I'eign, with all its disadvantage;?, while in
the not uixlikely event of a Labour Government coming
into being private enterprise will be replaced by bureau-
cratic control. Even from the most selfish point of view,
therefore, it would be as well for the opposition to take
what is now given than to wait longer and then to receive
nothing. We therefore hope that those who are respousibU
for this propaganda will see the error of their ways and
realise that not only the development of the whole industry
but their own well-being depends on the passing of this
measure. If with that measure could be combined a
modification of the purchase clause, great good would be
done, and we suspect that much of the present opposition
would be neutralised. But while objection may be rightly
used as a means of gaining concessions, care must be taken
that it is not pushed too far. In this case that is a real
danger.

308

Tbe Electrician.

March

17) 1922

Unfair Criticism.

Most unfair in this connection is Lord Bessborough's
complaint tJiat the Commissioners have done nothing. In
truth they have done a great deal. That they have not
done more is solely because their powei-s have been limited,
a limitation which is one ol the things that the Bill designs
to remove. In addition, their task is a gigantic one, beset
with difficulties and complications. The view may be taken
that the official conception of eJeotricity supply reorganisa-
tion is wrong, in which case both the present Bill and the
Electricity Supply Act are unnecessary, but it is hardly fair
to give the Commissioners a blunt chisel and then complain
that they have not turned out a finished sculpture.

London "Underground" Extensions.

The announcement made by Lord Ashfield at the
meeting of the Underground Electric Railways Company
last week, that the Government had now agreed to
guarantee the principal and interest upon a capital sum
not exceeding £5 000 000 means that the amended scheme
of tube railway extension and improvement has been
accepted in principle. This is a very welcome decision, as
it will mean a conside'rable addition to the transport
facilities of the metropolis in the immediate future. Some
of the projected improvements, such as the enlargement
of the tunnels of the City and South London Railway and
the provision of a connecting link between it and the
Charing Cross Railway at Euston, are long overdue, but
financial and other difficulties have hitherto prevented pro-
gress being made with them. Others include the exten-
sion of the electric railway from Golders Green to Edgware
and the linking up of the Cemtral London Railway
with Richmond. The latter will afford an alteTnative
route between the City, Keiw and Richmond and relieve
the congestion on the District Railway. In addition to
providing increased transport facilities the scheme will give
a good deal of employm.ent at a time when it is badly
needed.

Early Railway History.

The history of the pioneer electric railway is a striking
illustration of the slow, though certain, development of
British schemes. Originally incorporated in 1884 as the
City and Southwark Subway Company, the title was altered
in 1890. The first section of the line was opened for
traffic in December of the latter year, and was at once a
pronounced success. The con?ii!ting electrical engineer
wasi the late Dr. E. Hopkinson, and Mather and Piatt
supplied the locomotives and rolling stock. Extensions
have since been made at both ends of the line, but, like
all pioneer undertakings, it has been affected by the march
of progress. Other tube railways, with larger tunnels and
better rolling stock, followed in due course, and for a long
time it has been evident that improvements were essential
in order to enable it to cope with modern conditions.

Regenerative Braking and Single Phase Traction.

A SHOKT time ago we drew attention to the economic and
opei^ating advantages which might be obtained by the intro-
duction of some system of regenerative braking on the
London Underground Railways. These advantages would,
however, be accompanied by the disadvantages (hat extra
equipment would be required and that the average speed
would be reduced. On the other hand, where long down
grades have to be negotiated energy can be returned to' the
line in sufficient quantities, if some system of regenerative
braking is employed, to make the use of one of the systems

available worth consideration on at least some of the sections
of railway in this eountry. The possibilities of re-
generative braking depend to some extent on the system of
traction employed, and at a time when opinion in this
country is beginning to favour single-phase working the
article by iVtr. E. JSTordefeldt on " Regenerative Braking
and Single-Phase Commutator Motors," which appears on
another page of this issue, will be of interest.

Disadvantages of the Series Motor.

Mr. Nordefeldt, who discusses the question ex-
haustively, begins by pointing out that for regenerative
braking on the single-phase system the use of series motors
has been found impracticable. This may be a grave dis-
advantage in the light of past experience with this type
of motor in traction work, and, if Mr. Nordefeldt is to
be believed, would necessitate the employment of a shunt
motor in which the phase angle of the field is rotated. A
better arrangement, however, seems to be to employ a
separately excited motor, but Mr. Nordefeldt holds the
balance very equally between these varieties, and by means
of diagrams compares their properties, especially with
regard to braking at variable speeds. On the score of
utilisation of the regenerated power and ease of control the
most suitable type of machine is one whose excitation is
independent of the speed and whose phase angle varies by 60
degrees from that of the transformer. To provide such
conditions meang the use of a special converter, and
therefore a certain addition to the weight and cost of the
locomotive. It may, however, be that these disadvantages
are more than set off by the advantages gained.

Commutation Difficulties.

Commutation is always a bogey in such cases. But Mr.
Nordefeldt' s analysis of the problem shows that devices
for obtaining the proper phase on the commutating field
at all speeds can be provided without any great difficulty.
Obviously this is a problem which cannot be decided with-
out excursions into more practical fields than those explored
by Mr. Nordefeldt. For local conditions will play a great
part, as will the cost of onergy and the density of the
traffic. But regenerative braking is a device for which a
good deal can be said, and we hope that traction companies
will not neglect its possibilities in working out the schemes
which we hope are to come into being in the near future.

Industrial Electrical Heating.

The strenuous and organised efforts made by advocates
of gas to obtain a heating load have not yet been paralleled
in the electrical iiidustry, but with the continued gi'owth of
E.D. A. we may look for^vard to an equally earnest presenta-
tion of the electrical case. In the meantime the lecture
given by Mr. J. G. Pearce to the Sheffield Gas Consumers'
Association is an admirable example of the service which
can be rendered to the industry by its members. Sheffield
is ah enormous consumer of industrial gas and a great
stronghold of gas users. It is significant that they should
seek light on electrical heating, and we urge Mr. Fedden
and the salesmen of the Electricity Supply Department to
lose no time in following up the matter. We are so pre-
occupied with questions of lighting and power that we may
well question whether engineers as a body realise the full
advantages of electrical heating. But when every electrical
engineer's house is an all-electric house, when every electrical
factory is a standard example of the advantages of electrical
industrial heating, we may exj)ect more progress in other
industries.

March I'j, 1922

The Electrician.

:500

Heating an Ideal Load.

Mr. Pearce's restraint in dealing with gas is specially
commendable, for a statement which bears all traces of fair
and impartial treatment is worth more than an unlimited
amount of partisan propaganda, but the influence of elec-
trical developments on the future price of power, the
efficiency and convenience of electrical transmission, and
the efficiency of the application of electrical heating cannot
be ignored. When these advantages are combined with free-
dom from products of combustion, ease of temperatvire
control, and absence of spoiled work the case for electricity
for precision heating is unanswerable. Furthermore, the
resistance furnace offers an ideal load both from the point
of view of power factor and load factor, and station en-
gineers might with advantage give preferential rates to
consumers installing such furnaces for large outputs even
where the ordinary power rate is already low. American
experience suggests that such a load will become an appre-
ciable fraction of the total output.

The Use of Light as an Aid to Aerial Navigation.

The use of light as an aid to traffic, particularly on motor
vehicles, has been much in the public mind of late. At a
recent meeting of the liluminatiug Engineering Society a
more novel and highly intricate problem — the use of light
in aerial navigation — was discussed. Lieut. -Colonel L. F.
Blandy, who read the introductory Paper, first described
the lighting arrangements on the aircraft itself and after-
wards passed on to the illumination of aerodromes. Light
for the use of the crew and passengers is derived from a
generator driven by the engine and is thus necessarily
limited. "We observe that in the passenger accommodation
48 lamps of 8 c.p. are contemplated, while in the body of the
airship devoted to the crew's quarters, etc., there are ten
lights of 3 c.p. An interesting development is the attempt
to follow the usual procedure in the case of ships at sea
by providing a white light forward, a green light on the
right side, and a red light on the left side. In view of the
high speeds attained by aircraft (approaching 200 miles
per hour, or 33 miles per minute), the design of such
lights is obviously important, for from the time of sighting
the head lights to the moment of collision would be only
90 seconds !

Landing Lights.

As regards light .=; to facilitate landing, we observe that
both chemical flares and electric lamps have been developed,
the concensus of opinion being that the electric leiinp is as
serviceable as the chemical one. Aerodrome lighting in-
volves three distinct problems — (1) obstruction lights, i.e.,
lights used to indicate buildings or other obstructions; (2)
illumination of the actual landing ground ; and (3) fixed
illuminated signs to show direction of wind, etc. Groups
of coloured lights may also be used to identify particular
aerodromes. The International Aircraft Convention has
occupied itself with these problems, one recommendation
being the arrangement of lights in the form of " L's " to
facilitate landing; such lights have been installed at the
Croydon aerodrome with fair success. It would appear that
the aerial lighthouses have now reached a fair stage of de-
velopment; apparently these are commonly supplied by dis-
solved acetylene, but doubtless electric light may be used in
localities where electricity is readily available. It is
evident that finality in such methods has not yet been
reached, but the Paper furnishes a useful review of existing
methodT and future possibilities.
D 2

The Lock-Out.

In spite of eleventh-hour efforts of the kind to which we
have become accustomed, the lock-out of members of the
Amalgamated Engineering Union by federated firms came
into operation at midnight on Sunday. At the time of
going to press little has been done to overcome the dead-
lock, and the activities of both sides have been mainly
engaged in re-stating their case and refuting each other's
arguments. This is not likely to lead to peace, and is the
more deplorable since the men's leaders have adopted a
conciliatory attitude throughout, and their present position
is the combined result of the strategy of the employers and
the hot-headedness of certain of their followers. As we have
already argued, the contention that managerial functions
can be exercised by a trades union mtist fail, but with its
failure may go the fall of the present moderate leaders and
the appearance of a condition of things which will only be
welcomed by the extremists of both parties. At a time
when increased trade is essential to the well-being of the
country the dispute should never have been allowed to reach
this acute stage, and we hope that the moderates on both
sides will see that it is composed without delay, and that,
at any rate, it is not allowed to spread to other unions.
Unfortunately, the extremists are active, and the E.T.L"^.
especially seem anxious to join in the fray.

Supply Companies in 1921.

If dividend-earning capacity be treated as the criterion
of success of public companies, then those engaged in the
business of electricity supply must be looked upon as among
the most successful of undertakings. For in the great
majority of cases the results for 1921 show a marked im-
provement over those of the previous year. With a few
exceptions, the ordinary dividend has been maintained at
the same level as in 1920, and in some instances there has
even been an increased distribution. At the present time
the stock and shares of electricity supply companies are
readily taken up by investors, and the developments likely
to ensue upon the reorganisation of the industry are sure to
enhance this attractiveness. For nowhere is there any
indication that the dema;id for electricity has yet reached
the saturation point, and the next few years should witness
considerable expansion, more particularly of the power and
domestic loads.

London Companies.

Among the companies serving the London area five have
declared a higher rate of dividend on their ordinary shares
than in 1920. These are the Charing Cross, the Kensington
and Knightsbridge, the London Electric, the North Metro-
politan Electric Power, and the South Metropolitan Electric
Light and Power Companies. The remainirg London cou.-
panies, while maintaining the same rates of distribution as
in the previous year, show improved results as indicated by
the larger sums placed to reserve and depreciation and the
increase in the amounts carried fonvard. Generally speaic-
in- the gross receipts, the net profit, the units sold, and the
connections all showed appreciable advances, but in four
cases-the Westminster, St. James's, Kensington, and
Metropolitan companies-there was a slight drop in the
number of units sold. It will be noticed that all these com-
panies are supplying in high-class residential areas, and ^e
restrictions imposed during the coal strike, coupled with the
fine summer, would be more than sufficient to account for
this slight falling off in the consumption, which was mainly
in the lighting and heating units.

310

The Electrician.

March 17, 1922

Reductions in Charges.

It is, however, satisfactoiy to notice that these eompanies,
as well as the other undertakings, report that the demaoid
for new services and connections is as great as eveir it ha^
been, and that the prospect is exceptionally bright. Some
of them have wisely decided to make a reduction in the
price of electricity, and this should still further increase
the consumption and also the receipts. With the fall in the
cost of fuel and with the reductions in the price of materials
and other expenditure the question, of a substantial drop
in electricity charges should now be seriously ooinsidered by
all supply undertakings. It would have a most beneficial
eifect upon demand and it would gi'eatly assist industrial
development by reducing the cost of manufacture.

The Year's Anxieties and Troubles.

Though the year's results have been so satisfactory,
success was only achieved after a good deal of anxiety and
by the exercise of constant vigilance. The long and disas-
trous coal strike seriously affected all undertakings by in-
creasing the price of fuel and by limiting the consumption.
Many of the undertakings were fortunate in having reseirves
of coal, and a few were able to use oil fuel as a tetmporary
expedient, and thus the storm, which had such disastrous
effects on industry as a whole, was successfully weathered.
As might be anticipated, the tendency to employ larger,
more efTicieut, and more economical turbo-geneirating sets
continues, but we notice that complaints of delay in the
delivery of plant are still being made. Whatever justifica-
tion theire may have been for belated deliveries in the past,
there should be none now, and it is to be hoped that manu-
facturers for their own sakes will make every effort to work
off outstanding orders.

Rising Rates and Heavy Taxes.

Many of the chairmen, naturally, made reference in the
course of their speeches to" the increasing and almost unbear-
able burden of rates and taxes. Mr. R. H. Benson, chair-
man of the London Electric Supply Coi-poration, made use
of a diagram to show graphically the increase in the rates
since 1914. In the latter year rates, etc., accounted for
Is. 9d. out of every pound of the company's gross revenue,
but in 1921 they represented 3s. 5jd. This is a very good
way of bringing home to the man in the street the incidence
of these public biardens, and other companies might follow
his example. The Corporation Profits Tax, another heavy
and unfair burden, came in for gejneral condemnation. In
effect this will mean an addition to the cost of electricity,
and is a clog upon progress. Therefore we wish the ooaii-
panies success in their endeavours to get it abolished.

Future Prospects.

Notwithstanding these difficulties and troubles, general
optimism was the prevailing note at the meetings. Pro-
vided the companies obtain, as the result of the scheme
of reorganisation at present under consideration, an ex-
tended tenure of their distribution business, we feel sure
that the receipt.-? will continue to expand in a satisfactory
manner, and that the shareholders can look foinyard with
confidence to increased prosperity and higher dividends in
future. We are pleased to notice that the companies fully
realise the necessity for the reorganisation of supply, and
though there are two main problems — management and
engineering — to be solved, the engineering question is by
far the more important. As INIr. Fladgate, of the Choiring
Cross Company, rightly points out, unless the engineering
details are worked out on sound and economic principles

the success of any scheme is impossible. Having regard to
the knowledge and experience of their joint advisers, he
was not willing to advise any serious departure from the
engineering scheme they had prepared. No doubt there
are exceptional difficiilties to be solved before the London
supply problem can be settled, but with patience and skill
we believe that the Commissioners will overcome all
obstacles, though it may eventually be necessary to pass
special legislation to deal with the case properly.

Provincial Companies.

In the main the results obtained by the provincial com-
panies are quite as good as could be expected under the
circumstances. A few of them, such as the group controlled
by the Midland Counties Electric Supply Company, which
operates in industrial areas, were badly affected by the
restrictions imposed by the coal strike, and do not show
up as well as in the previous year. The majority, however,
including the Yorkshire and Clyde Valley Electric Power,
the Fife Tramway Light and Power, the Oxford, Bourne-
mouth, Northampton, Rushden, and Woking companies,
record an increase in both gross and net revenue, and the
previous year's dividends have also either been maintained
or increasod. The new consumers and connections to th©
mains have been up to the average. It is also gratifying to
ieam that there is now a decided downward tendency in
generating costs, and, provided there are no industrial
troubles, the current year's records should show a marked
improvement in sales, revenue, and connections.

Developments.

Though the Northampton and Rushden Companies serve
highly industrialised areas, they have been able to increase
the ordinary dividend by one per cent . , mainly through the
good demand for power. Both companies have in operation
a useful scheme for the hiring out of motors, and so suc-
cessful has this been and so extensively is it talcen advantage
of by small manufacturers that nearly half the motors in
use are on hire. This is an example which might be fol-
lowed by other companies with advantage. We also notice
that the power companies controlled by the Midland
Counties Company are gradually transforming themselves;
into retail distribution authorities, for four special orders
for the supply of electricity have been secured by them.
This is also a development that might be expected, though
it will eventually lead to a transformation in the
character and duties of power companies. Hitherto thetee
have been too restricted by their statutory authority, and
greater flexibility and freedom of action would be an ad-
vantage to all concerned. It should certainly lead to an
expansion of electricity supply in small urban and rural
districts. _ _

Institution Affairs.

The special general meetings of the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers which are to be held on Thursday next
to transact certain business necessitated by the granting of
the Royal Charter, may or may not be seized as an oppor-
tunity by persistent critics of" the Councirs policy to come
into the limelight and air their views on tilings in general
and themselves in particular. There will, however, be
little excuse for the exercise of oratory at the first meeting,
where the business is innocent enough both in intention and
in fact. It should therefore be easily transacted in the
fifteen minutes allotted.

At it the Council will ask permission to transfer lo the
Chartered Institution the remainder of the liabilities of the

March 17, 1922

The Electrician.

;}ii

old Institution, such as the mortgages on the building in
Savoy Place and the property in Tofchill Street, West-
minster. It may be thought that in these days of high
land values there is an excellent chance of getting
rid of the Tothill Street site at a good price, but no doubt
the advantages and disadvautages of this course have been
duly weighed. There is this to b© said for it that the site
is a valuable one, and, with the demand for increased office
accommodation in the Victoria-street area, )nay even
improve in this respect as time goes on.

The New Bye-Laws.

Proceedings at the second meeting, which is confined to
Corporate members, may, however, be a little more interest-
ing. The granting of a lloyal Charter has necessitated the
conversion of the Articles of Association intoi Bye-Laws,
with consequent more or less formal changes in wording in-
volving no questions of principle. But the Council have
not resisted the temptation tO' make other changes, and
criticism may therefore have a slight chance in dealing
with these alterations wherei they affect the supposed in-
terests of meimbeirs.

Critics may, for instance, object to the deletion from
Bye-Law 12 of " prominent association with the objects
of the Institution " as a qualificatio'n for full membership,
if in the opinion of the Council such membership would con-
duce to the interests of the Institution. But they should
have short shrift. For we agree with the Council that this
alteration is essential to preserve the strictly technical
character of the qualifxcations for membership, and that
those whose connection with the Institution can only be
evaluated on such a profit and loss basis must be dealt with
by other methods than by election to full membeirship. As
it stood the Article provided a temptatioo to which it was
sometimes only too easy to give way to, as anyone who
glances through the membership lists of twenty years ago
can discover for himself.

Isolation of Associates.

Again, transfers to the class' of Associates from other
classes of membership is not in future to be permitted, and
Associates who wish to transfer to other classes will have to
go through the usual procedure of election. The modified
procedure of transfer from Associateship to the other classes
which is now to be dropped was a relic of the time when
the former class contained members with technical quali-
fications, whose progress into fields where they more
properly belonged it was desired to facilitate. But now
it consists almost entirely of those who are " interested "
in the work of the Institution, but are without the neces-
sary 'technical qualifications for the other classes, and no
difference in procedure is necessary. This class should, in
; fact, more and more become a haven for the non-professional
'■ members of the electrical industry whence they can mutually
assist and be assisted.

Life Membership Payments and Expulsion.

The subject of life membership and the payment therefor
have always been irritating to some people, and there may
therefore, be a storm over the suggestion to calculate the
sum to be paid for a life composition on the candidate's
expectation of life. But the idea is theoretically sound,

though it will not encourage younger men to provide the
Institution with capital. Democrats will doubtless, also,
'objecti to the Bye-Law which places the authority for
expulsion in the hands of the Council instead of depending
on the vote of a General INIeeting. We hope, however,

there will be few cases where this will be necessary, and even

for those it is kindest and best for the proceedings to be
conducted in camera.

The office of honorary solicitor is to be abolished. This
may upset the economists, but it is considered that the
time has come when the Institution should pay the cu.s-
tomary remuneration for any legal work. We agree. At
the same time we view with regret the passing of an oflBce
that, whatever its disadvantages, did at lea.s-t proride an
answer to the slur that a solicitor's first consideration is his
own pocket and that his clients' interests are only
secondary.

Council Elections.

But the main storm will, we feel sure, rage round Bye-
Laws Nos. 44 to 51, which deal with the election of the
Council and alter present procedure not a little. In future
only British subjects will be eligible for election, while
vice-pi-esidents and members of the Council will be elected
for a definite term of three years. This fixed term is
considered preferable to the former system, under which
a certain number of vacancies were created each year, with
the result that members sometimes had to retire before
they had served their full term.

The Honorary Treasurer will, as now, be re-elected every
year, but he can only hold office for a total of three years.
We are not certain whether this is altogether progressive.
The finances of a body such as the Institution are a com-
plicated matter, and it is not true economy which permits
the honorary treasurer to retire just when he is really
becoming familiar with their working. An Associate will
now be eligible for this ofiice.

Extending the Powers of Nomination.

On the other hand, the proportion of three Associate
Members and three Associates now ser\'iug on the Council
will be altered to four of the fonner to two of the latter
class. A more startling change is that in future the
Council will nominate only for the number of vacancies,
though the obligation that three of those nominated should
not have previously served on the Council still remains, with
the modificatiou that they can belong to any class of Cor-
porate INIember. Associate Members, as well as ^Members,
will now have the privilege of nominating those of their own
class to sen^e on the Council, and the nomination and
election of new officers will take place between May 31st and
July 8th instead of between March 31st and May 8th as at
present, to avoid pressure on the staff.

These alterations tend to throw the responsibility of
electing a Council which shall carry out their wishes on
to the general body of members, and to that extent are
an advance in the right direction. x\t the same time they
will more cleai-ly differentiate between unofficial and official

nominees.

Less Democracy-
Less democratio is the placing of the carrying out of the
affairs of the Institution more securely in the hands of the
Council by making reference to the general body of members
only necessary when questions relating to the sale of the
building or sinking fund policies have to be decided, though
this is probably more apparent than real, as the general
body of members have a fairiy good check on the Council's
doings at the annual election if tbey would only take
advantage of it. That being the case it is to be hoped that
these changes, which do not amount to very much, will be
adopted so that the Institution can settle down to its new
career. W^e shall look forward to t£e discussion with in-
terest and hope that the various speakers will stick to the
point.

312

The Electrician — March 17, 1922

Regenerative Braking and Single-Phase Commutator Motors'

By B. NORDEFELDT.

The author discusses regenerative braking on electric railways, especially from the point of vieiv of the problems ivhich arise when thi-^

is employed with single-phase traction. He points out that regenerative braking is of two kinds, that required as a speed check on long

doiun grades and that required for bringing the train to a standstill. He describes the various methods of single-phase regenerative braking

that have been used or suggested, and indicates the various advantages and disadvantages of each from the technical point of view.

One of the advantages of electric traction is the possibility of
regenerating a good deal of the energy which would otherwise be
lost by braking. In direct-current systems, such regeneration
necessitates the use of a special exciter, but this complication
has not prevented its use on a large scale, as, for instance, on the
Chicago, M Iwaukee and St. Paul Railway in the U.S.A.

The prob em of regenerative braking on single-phase railway
sj'stems using commutator motors has long been studied. It has.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

Diagram of Connections and of Vectors, pure shunt excitation

however, not been put to practical use until recently on the Erstfeld-
Bellinzona St. Grotthard line in Switzerland. As the question
single-phase versus direct-current traction is now of great
interest in many countries, an outline of the most important
systems of single-phase regenerative braking will not be out of place.
The question whether such braking is economically warranted
depends upon a number of circumstances, such as power economy,
topography and traffic arrangements. The price of each unit
saved must of course be sufficient to compensate for the increase
in first cost. Whether the regenerated energy can be utilized
depends in some degree upon the intensity of traffic. Long grades
are an important factor in the economy of such a system. In
direct-current (as also in three-phase) systems it has not generally
been possible to regenerate energy otherwise than on long down
grades. It will be shown below that the single -phase system,
on the contrary, can be advantageously arranged in such manner
as to regenerate a good deal of the energy by braking to a standstill.
In such cases regenerative braking may be useful even when the
topographical conditions are not favourable, for instance on local
lines with frequent stops.

Different Systems of Regenerative Braking.

In describing the different systems hitherto proposed for re-
generative braking, experiments with series excitation are excluded
as being of only negative interest. Theoreticallyf as well as prac-
tically it has been proved that the single-phase series generator
is unstable without the insertion of large olimic resistances, which
consume the major part of the generated energy. This system
is, therefore, not applicable to regenerative braking in the proper
sense, but only to a combination of such braking with resistance
braking.

The methods of true regenerative braking comprise various
schemes, from pure shunt to separate excitation, inclusive. The
best survey of these systems is obtained by starting from the pure
shunt machine and regarding the others as modifications thereof.

Pure Shunt Excitation.

The diagram of connections for the shunt generator in its simplest
form is shown in Fig. 1. A is the, armature, K the compensation,

* Abstract of an article in the " Teknish Tidskrift."
t See F. Rusch, " Uber die Nut/.brcmsung der wiohtigsten Kollektor-
niotoren, ' Elektrotcknik und Maschinenbau 1911, p. 1.

winding (which may include a separate commutating winding),
M the magnet winding and T the secondary of the transformer.
As the magnet winding has only a small number of turns, it cannot,
of course, be connected in parallel with the armature and com-
pensation windings, but must be connected to a poition only
of the transformer winding. The result with respect to the machine
characteristic is, however, the same.

If the ohmic resistance and other losses are neglected and atten-
tion is paid only to the reactance, the voltage and current diagrams
of the machine are shown in Fig. 2. Here Ej, is the transformer
voltage on the armature circuit, and Ej^^ the voltage on the magnet
winding, which is exactly in phase with the former. The excitation
current /j,„ the flux 4> and the armature E.M.F. Ej^ are 90 deg.
behind Ej^. The armature E.M.F. combines -with the trans-
former voltage Ej, to give a resultant voltage E, and thereby an
armature current / which is determined by the resultant reactance
of the circuit and is in quadrature with E.

It is obvious that to keep this armature current within reasonable
limits the circuit must contain several times the reactance which
is permissible from the power-factor point of view. If it is to be
possible to use the pure shunt motor, it is therefore necessary
to insert a large additional reactance in the armature circuit (in
Fig. 1 referred to as B). If it is assumed in a certain case that the
two voltages E j, and E^ are equal, their resultant will be E^\^2.
For keeping the current at the normal value of the machine the
additional reactance must then be provided for a kVA value which
is above that of the transformer.

and

The Braking Torque.

The braking torque is determined by the product of the flux
the projection of the current on that flux. With the

above assumption it will be proportional to -^. It is obvious

that a change in the speed does not alter the torque. For 4> being
constant, E ^ varies in proportion to the speed, but, as / is increased
or decreased, its angle with respect to $ varies so as to keep the

Fjg. 8. — \' ECTOR Diagram cokkesiondinu to Fio. 8.

projection thereon constant. This property — of gi\ing a constant
braking torque at all speeds, if the impressed voltage and the flux
are constant — is a characteristic not only of the pure shunt generator,
but alFO of the modifications which are described below. TIi'"

March 17, 1922

The Electrician.

313

ohmic and other Josses must, however, be negligible in comparison
with the reactances.

In the machine described this condition can be regarded as
practically fulfilled, because the reactance of the magnetic circuit
is always large and that of the armature circuit is increased by
artificial means. It is, therefore, superfluous to consider the case
where the ohmic losses or the ion losses cannot be neglected,

too

Isc

^Is

-^9

-'^lOC

-'-8U

i""

>
I

COS

V100

• 1

)(J

\ ,

1 1

§1

/ ,

J.M.P.

cos if

100%

0 10 20 30 40 SO 60 70 80 90 100%

/.—Current. Jtf.— Torque. P.— Power.

Fig. 4. — 7 Characteristic Curves for connection in Fig. 8.

especially as this case will be reviewed in connection vdth the
general theory of the generator with a phase displacement between
the excitation and armature voltages.

If the excitation is assumed to be such as to give a generated
voltage equal to the normal transformer voltage at normal speed,
the ratio of the braking torque to the normal motor torque
of the machine (at the same excitation) is as that between

n — rrp =^^ and the normal full load current /„. If it is further

assumed that the generator current is limited to the value

Er2

of the normal full load current, we obtain J„ =

The

constant braking torque will thus only be = — ^ of the motor

torque at the same excitation, while on the other hand L^ + L ,

Er^2

must be

27rcJ„

all normal series motors is

only a small fraction of this value, the additional reactance must
be practically equal thereto, i.e., it must be designed for 40 per
cent, more kVA than the transformer. If this reactance is reduced,
the result will only be that the transformer voltage as well as the
excitation must be reduced to keep the current within reasonable
limits. As stated above, the braking torque is equal to the product
of these two factors. If the main object of regenerative braking
is to save the mechanical brakes on long downward grades, it is
not advisable to make the braking torque less than 0'7 times the
motor torque at a corresponding speed.

Braking Torque and Speed.

As already stated, the braking torque at constant excitation and
transformer voltage is independent of the speed (because E^ is
directly proportional to n). The generated power is, therefore,
by the same assumption, directly proportional to the speed. The
current vector in Fig. 2 moves with its end along the straight line
0—0 which thus can be referred to as the current diagram. The
minimum will be at the state of rest when <? is 90 deg., as no
power can be transmitted to the line.

The necessity of using a reactance coil designed for more kVA
than the transformer is obviously a disadvantage of this system.
Another disadvantage is that the power factor of the regenerated
current will usually be low. In the example above referred to
it will not exceed O'T at full load. By increasing the excitation
25 per cent, and reducing the transformer voltage in proportion

it can be increased to 0'84. This necessitates, however, a 5 per cent,
increase in the reactance to keep the current within reasonable
limits.

In spite of the necessity of the large reactance, which both in-
crea.ses the weight and necessitates additional space on the loco-
motive, this system Is the only one which has hitherto been
used iti practice. The explanation Ues in its great simplicity, which
must be sacrificed if the other disadvantages are to be lessened.

Phase Displacement of the Machine Flux.

^ It is obvious from the diagram in Fig. 2, that the resultant voltage
E is considerably reduced for constant values of Er and jB,, by
increasing the angle between the latter above 90 deg. An example
of a diagram thus modified is shown in Fig. 3, where the supplement
angle of that just mentioned is called a. In this diagram the
losses in the armature circuit have also been taken into
account. Its angle of losses is y. Fig. 3 can then be considered
as the general diagram of a single-phase commutator generator
with constant excitation, operating on constant voltage.
If the same symbols are used as before, we obtain :

sin /? = . ^ . sin a ;

'yEJ + E/-2E^ErCos a

E r sin a

2irc(Lg + L^) sin f3

30.

braking torque M= — E^J sin ( ft + y)

{JEf sin (a— y) -^E ^ sin y"

irn 27rc{Lji+L^)

9 = a+^-fy— 90' ;

regenerated power P = Ej.I sin (a +ft -i-y).

The expressions derived in the last section are easily shown
to be special cases of those above, by putting a =90' and y = 0.

Torque at Constant Excitation and Voltage.

At constant excitation and transformer voltage the torque will
no longer be constant, but will increase with the speed. It is
easily found to be a linear function thereof, which vrill also be the
case with the regenerated power. The ciurent diagram will still
be a straight Une, a — a forming the angle 90 —y with E_i. Its
distance from the origin depends on the scale chosen and will ob-
viously represent the minimum current which is obtained for
/3=90°, i.e., E_4^Er cos a. The current may also lead the
transformer voltage in phase, so that the generator delivers

0 10 20 30 40 SO 60 70 80 90 100%
Spec^

Fig. .1.

reactive power to the line. The condition, therefore, is that
a-|-^4-y<90°. As a and y are constant, o solely depends on )8,
which grows when the speed decreases. It is thus only at the
higher speeds that reactive power can be delivered.

The characteristic cun'es for a machine with excitation of this
type for different values of a are sho\^^l in Figs. 4 to 7. The
angle y is in all cases equal to 11 deg. 30 min. which corresponds

;^l I

The Electrician.

March 17, 1922

to an ohmio resistance equal to 1,5 of the total impedance. Q'he
angle a in Fig. 4 equals y, in Fig. 5 sin ' OS, in Fig. 6 sin ' 0"5
and in Fig. 7 sin -' OS.

The curves for current 7. torque M, cos 9 and regenerated power
P as functions of tJie speed are drawn for a certain excitation and
different transformer voltages. The values are given in percentages
of the normal ones. Indices for the different quantities represent
the corresponding transformer voltage as a percentage of the
normal.

In Fig. 4 six different values of the transformer voltage are
assumed". The total impedance in the armature circuit is chosen

010203040 50 60708090 100%
Speed.

Fig. 6.

80 as to make the current about equal to 1 "3 times the normal at 1 '3
times the normal speed. The impedance voltage in tliis case will
be 0"2S8 of the transformer voltage, or onl\^ about 1/5 of what is
required with the connections shown in Fig. 1. This advantage
is, however, compensated to a certain extent by a sliarpening
of the minimum of the current curve so as to cause large current
fluctuations for comparatively small speed changes. Instead of
at rest, as in Fig. 1, the current minimmn is in tliis case obtained
at nearly full speed ■nitli full transformer voltage, and below this

IMP.

cos if
100%

i : i

\ i i !

' ^ jAm\

^— -**^ ' / \ 'coa

.-^

/>-■

*"' j

— """

' :

■■<>

70
60

40
30
ZO
10

0 10203.0405060 70 8090 100%
Speed,

Fia. 7

speed the value rises as fast as above it. Braking with an excitation
at this phase angle therefore necessitates the use of several voltage
steps for the armature or for the excitation, and the motorman
must be relied upon to shift the controller position at the right
moment so as not imduly to overload the machine. For braking
down, three controller positions can he employed corresponding
to 100, 80 and 50 per cent, of the normal transformer voltage. A
speed of 1 2 per cent, of the normal speed can thus be reached without
exceeding the normal current by more than 30 per cent.

A remarl-able feature of this diagram is that the braking torque,
instead of being constant, as in Fig. 1, varies in exact proportion
to the speed and at the same time is independent of the trans-

former voltage. Tliis is due to the fact that the angles a and y
are equal, as can easily be seen from the expression for the torque.

Torque Variation Questions.

Whether a variation of the torque with tlie speed is desirable
or not depends on whether the main object of the braking is to
pro\ide safct^• on doAvnward grades or to utiUse the energy in
stopping. In tlie former case, a braking torque increasing with
the speed has the advantage of stabilising the action, but in the
latter it should be as nearly constant as possible.

The power factor and regenerated power are shown in Fig. 4
only for the three transformer voltages 100, 80 and 50 per cent.
The first named one is found to have its maximum (=1) at the
speeds which make E A = Ti'01 Er. Above tliis speed there is
a leading current. At lower speeds the power faetor sinks rapidly
to zero, the whole power being degraded in ohmic losses. This is
as might be expected. The curves for the regenerated power are
straight lines, Avhich are easily found to be tangents of a parabola
which in turn touches the current curve for fuU voltage at
the point where cos 9 = 1.

In Fig. 5, which corresponds to a=sin"' 0"3 and an impedance
voltage of the complete armature circuit equalling 03T5 of the
transformer voltage, two controller positions should be sufficient for
braking down from 1"3 times normal speed to rest. The power
is, however, better utilised and the machine more lightly loaded
if one or two intermediate positions are added.

In Fig. 6. which corresponds to a = .30^, and an impedance
voltage of 55 ])er cent., the conditions are still more favourable for
braking to standstill. Fig. 7, with sin a = 0"8 and an impedance
voltage of 89 per cent., approximates to the condition sho\^'n in
Fig. 1. The full transformer voltage may here be used down to
rest without inconvenience.

( To be conchtded )

Review.

The Absolute Relations of Time and Space. By

A. A. RoBB, Sc.D., D.SC; Ph.D. (Cambridge: Universitv

Pre>s.) Pp. viii + 80. rs. net.
This little book is intended as an introduction to the author's
" Theory of Time and Space (1914)," and also as a summary
which will convey to a larger circle of readers the main results
arrived at in that work, whicli was prompted by his dissatisfac-
tion with Einstein's foundations, more especially his view
that events could be regarded as simultaneous to one observer
and not to another, which seemed to destroy all sense of reality
of the external world and to convert the physical universe into
a nightmare. Assuming the correctness of the proofs, given
only ill the larger "work, the author has succeeded in formally
developing a theory of time and space based upon twenty-one
postulates involving only the relations of before and after, and
leading to the conception that spatial relations are to be
regarded as the manifestation of the fact that the elements of
time form a system in a corical order which is capable of
analysis in terms of the relations of before and after. The
conical space-scheme, which forms, as it were, a scaffolding,
guiding the author in the selection of his postulates and in the
general development of the formal argument, and greatly assisting
the reader in following the latter, is so suggestive from the
very beginning of the geometry of the ^Minkovski space-time as
to make it a question ot interest to the reader whetiier^or no it
was suggested — consciously or s'lbconsciously — by the latter.

With respect to simultaneity, the view developed and shown
to be logical is that of the instants corresponding to two events
of which an observer is directly conscious, or pertaining to the
same particle, one must be after the other, but that otherwise
an instant may be neither before nor after a given instant
without being identical with it ; that, in fact, the present
instant does not extend beyond here. The logical or mathe-
matical development, which demands no more from the reader
than a knowledge of Euclid's Elements, leads to a fourfold
space-time, containing within it a threefold formally identical
with ordinary Euclidian space, and two other threefolds
corresponding to the two types of Lobachevsky geometries.
Co-ordinates are then introduced, stiU by merely descriptive
methods, employing only the relations of before and after, and
being physically interpreted in optical terms, or by means of
any physical criterion of before and after, such that the
relations denoted by these terms satisfy the postulates, there
emerges a fourfold Euclidian space-time, in which there is no
absolute distinction between rest and motion, and is^n fact,
the ;Minkovski space-time. The author sJiows that the various
complex geometries of Einstein's gravitation theory may be
derived from this by simple modification of the measure of
interval in the space-time, from which he concludes that the
space-time is the essential thing and that the complex geometries
are merelv analvtical developments useful for special purposes.

G. W. i>E T.

The Electrician — March ij, 1922

:n.

Directional Transmission of Electromagnetic Waves for

Navigational Purposes.*

B) J. ERSKINE-NJLRRAY. D.Sc , and J. ROBINSON. Ph.D.

The Paper criiicises (he differences between directional (ranemission and reception as used in navigation and describes in particular a
number of direc'ioJial iransviismon mdhods which hare been developed by the Hoyal Air Force. The methods include several in which the
determina'ion r/ n bearing depends on the timing of the moment of e'luality of signals as heard in the receiver, and also a new rla^s
ofdirec'ional transmitters in u-hich a characteristic of theradiation, such as a particular wave-length, is allotted to each direction in azimuth.

In directional reception special apparatus is carried by the
craft by means of which the bearing of any ordinary- transmitting
station within range .can be obtained. On the other hand, the
determination of the bearing of a directional transmitter can
be made either, as in some of the new methods described below,
with the ordinary ■wireless receiving gear alone, or, as in others,
with on!}- the addition of a stop-watch or some equally simple
accessory. The entire directional part of the system is in the
transmitter.

So far the results obtained with directional transmission systems
recently tried in the R.A.F. indicate that there is a prospect of
obtaining as great an accuracy of observation as with the recep-
tional systems.

The usual methods of direction finding depend on the assumption
that the electromagnetic waves travel with the electric vector
vertical and the magnetic vector horizontal, and in consequence
the directional apparatus has an axis of rotation which is vertical.
If the magnetic vector is not horizontal there will be errors of
observation when using such a system.

Another factor on which accurate observation of direction from
ordinary transmitting stations depends, is that the waves should
be simple plane waves. It is known, however, that in many cases
the waves are not simple, but that reflection or refraction occurs
in the atmosphere,t thus causing a complex wave to arrive at the
receiving station. The receiving apparatus does not resolve these
various influences, but gives a result depending on the relative
intensities, directions of propagation, orientation of the vectors
and phases of the various components which may or may not
coincide with the true bearing.

In the case of directional transmission, on the contrary, orienta-
tion of the electric and magnetic vectors has no direct influence
on the accuracy of bearing, assuming that the waves are simple.

Types of Directional Transmitter.

The methods available for giving a directional system capable
of rotation are as follows : (1) A loop aerial which is rotated. (2)
A series of horizontal aerials radiating from a centre, a switch being
used to change from one to the other. (3) A single horizontal
aerial which is capable of rotation. (4) The Bellini- Tosi system of
aerials. (5) Braun's or BouthiUon and Pettit's arrangements in
which complex radiation curves may be obtained by variation of
phases in the aerials. Experiments were made with the Bellini-
Tosi system, but the difiBculty of obtaining the accuracy required
was so great that work on it has been postponed. \A'ith regard
to the Telefunken system, the fact that the aerials are separated
by 4 deg. introduces discontinuities which are objectionable. The
use of rotating loops is limited by the fact that the radiation from
loops is much smaller than with open aerials.

Timing Methods.

The first method of timing is one in which the directional beacon
radiates waves which are a maximum in one direction and a
minimum in another direction. The whole system is made to rotate
in a definite period, say, 60 seconds. A special signal is sent out
when the maximum or the minimtun radiation is in some predeter-
mined direction. This special signal should preferably be sent out
by an aerial system which radiates equally in all directions. A
distant observer will record the interval between the special signal
and the instant of his maximum or minimum radiation, and thus
obtain his bearing from the beacon. Accuracy cannot be obtained
by using the maximum signal, and the observer must observe the
minimum signal, noting usually the instant when the signal dis-
appears and that at which it appears again, and taking the mean
of these two observations as the instant of his minimum. The
Bellini-Tosi radio-phares erected in France, and the German
" B and C " stations are examples of this method.

If it were possible to concentrate wireless energy of ordinary
wave-lengths into one direction, i.e., into a form of searchlight
beam, it would be possible to determine a bearing by the maximum
signal. Using very short wave-lengths such a method is possible
and has been realised by Round and Franklin, but involves the

* Abstract of a Paper read before the Wireless Section of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers.

t J. Erakine-Murray : Proceedings of the Wireless Societv, " Wireless
World,'" 1920, Vol. 7, p. 651.

installation of special receiving aerials and apparatus on ships and
aircraft.

The Use of Audible Signals.

Instead of using the minimum signal it is possible to use audible
signals for purposes of observation, and such a method is very
advisable for aircraft purposes, and is used in all the new methods
described below. One manner of doing this is the reverse of the
R.A.F. receptional system of direction finding. Two loops a
and a' at right angles to each other (see Fig. 1) are u<«cd for trans-
mitting piuposes. These loops are joined in series through a
reversing switch r, and have also in circuit a tuning condenser t
and the secondary- coil s of an oscillation transformer. Power is
led to the aerial system through the coupling system p. The
aerial system a and a' is made to rotate at a uniform rate, say,
60 seconds per complete rotation, and the reversing switch con-
rinuously operated, say, two to four times per second. A distant
observer will hear a series of signals which will usually be in the
order : loud, quiet, loud, quiet. However, when either of the
aerials a or a- is pointing towards him the successive signals will
be of equal intensity. This instant of equality of signals is what
he requires for observation purposes. A special signal wUl be
required when either of the aerial coils a or a' is in a predetermined
direction. This special .signal may be made by the aerial coils or
by a special equi-radial aerial system. In this case, however, the

^ ^ r

>a^

r*33M^$mMMSiky-

y<<

I 6

Fig. 1.

equi-radial system is scarcely necessary, as signals are audible
in any case in aD directions. To prevent the ambiguity of 90 deg.,
which is present if the two aerials are of the same dimensions, it
is advisable to make one of these aerial coils of larger dimensions
than the other.

Revolving Aerials at Right Angles.

Another method which enables signals .o be heard continually
makes use of two revolving aerials at right angles radiating wares
of slightly different wave-lengths. In the case of continuous
waves" the difference in wave-length is so small that the waves
lieterod_%-ne one another and a note is heard in any receiver. If
a local heterodyne is added a chord is heard constantly, except
when one of the aerial coils is at right angles to the line from the
observer. Instead of recording a minimum, the observer Ustens
for the disappearance of the chord. By making the two wares
differ only very sfightly, instead of a chord being heard in the
receiver it can be arranged that a beating note is heard.

The disadvantage of the preceding methods hes in the fact that
a considerable time may elapse before a bearing can be obtained.
In order to obtain accuracy of observation it is essential to make
the period of rotation fairly'long. not less than 2 minutes for 36«) deg.
For aircraft whose speeds are large this may be troublesome.

An automatic timing method has been suggested to make the
observations more or less instantaneous.

Special Characteristic Methods.

The principle employed in special characteristic methods is
to radiate waves having some special physical characteristic for
every orientation of the transmitting system.

One example of the new method is to vary the wave-length

;io

The Eleccrician.

March 17, 1922

continuously during rotation of tlic beacon, and here we have the
introdxiction of a new principle in directional transmission, for in
this case the physical characteristics of the wave depend on the
orientation. Suppose that tlie form of the aerial is such that the
enersy is bemg radiated in the ordinary figure-of-eight diagram.
The aerial is rotated carrying its beam of radiation with it ; as the
bearing changes, however, the wave-length emitted is altered.
In this case the arrival of any given portion of the radiation curve,
such as the maximum or minimum, at a given bearing, will always
take place on a definite wave-length. If the receiver is therefore
able to distinguish either a maximum or a minimum its bearmg
from the transmitter can be determined by measurement of the
wave-length. By recording at the observing station the waye-
lencth of the minimum or maximum signal, or for any other definite
position on the directional curve, the bearing is at once known.

It must be noted that although the wave-length of the radiation
from a variable-wave beacon may be varying through quite a large
range, it does not jam this range of wave-lengths at all, as the
radiation on any given wave-length is only emitted for an infinitesi-
mal fraction of the time of each revolution.

The Determination of the Decrement of a
Distant Station.*

By J. ERSKINE-MURRAY, D.Sc, and B. WILLIAMS, B.Sc.

The determination of the decrement of a distant station depends
on the equahsation of received currents without measurement of
their absolute values. If a loop is placed with the plane of its
winding pointing in the direction of a transmitting station the
electromotive force induced in it is a maximum. If the loop is
inclined at an angle to this direction (hereafter called the bearing)
the induced E.M.F. is proportional to E„„_,cos6. If ^=45°
then JE?45o=j&„,„j;\/2, or if the coil is in resonance with the
transmitter /4-,.=/„„i\/2.

In the ustfal method of determining the decrement of a trans-
mitter a receiving circuit consisting of a coil, condenser, and
thermometer is coupled to the transmitter, and the two valves
of capacity C„ C^, are noted ^t which the current in the circuit
ig I^ax "^2, where Imax is the current at resonance.

then

dj= decrement of transmitter and
d= decrement of apparatus,

The Loop Aerial.

(1)

In the case of the loop aerial (assuming the signal strength to
be proportional to the received current) inclined at 45 deg. to the
bearing, the signal strength is / \/2 times the signal strength when
the loop is on the bearing — it being understood tliat resonance
is obtained in both cases. If now the loop on the bearing be
detuned on either side of resonance until the signal strength is
equal to that obtained with the loop at 45 deg. and in resonance,
then the capacity values so obtained may be substituted in
Equation (1) and the total decrement of the transmitter and
apparatus be determined. The conditions to be fulfilled and the
general procedure to follow are therefore :

(1) Find the bearing by any suitable method.

(2) Set the loop at 45° to bearing and tune accurately. Note the

signal strength.

(3) Set the loop on bearing and detune on either side of resonance

until signal strength is equal to that obtained in (b).
Note the capacities C, and Go and hence determine d^ + d.

(4) Find d ( = the decrement of the apparatus) by a continuous-

wave method, di is then determinate.

Determination of Total Decrement.

Two possible methods can be adopted, namely : ( 1 ) The visual,
and (2) the aural.

(1) Visual method. — This is the more accnrate method and is
less complicated than method (2) ; it is, however, only applicable
to strong signals of a regular character where there is no
appreciable interference. One coil and one condenser are required.
The signals on the bearing are equaUsed with those obtained on
the 45° to bearing position, by making them produce equal effects
in a recording instrument. Using a 7-valve amphfier across the
coil and tuning condenser, the two signals may be said to be equal
if they produce the same drop in the anode current of the last valve.

(2) Aural method. — In this method the signals on the bearing
are made equal to those obtained on the 45" position by comparison
in telephones.

* Abstract of a Paper read before the Wireless Section of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers.

This method is not so easy or accurate as the visual method >
it can, however, be employed on weak signals and, with good
operation, can be used on ordinary routine transmission. It is the
only suitable method where there is appreciable interference.

Two coils and two condensers are required, as it is obviously
impossible to keep in mind the strength of the signal on the 45 deg.
position during the time it takes to turn the loop back on to the
bearing. The two coils must {a) have the same inductance and
decrement, (6) have the same area-turns, (c) be set accurately at

To 7 valve
amplifier

Junction
of coils

Grid
Filament

M Coil 1

Coil 2

Fig. 1. — Teledecremeter Circuits.

45 deg., and (d) be provided with a change-over switch which
renders one coU dead when the other is in action, thus preventing
any mutual induction effect.

There are various methods of determining the decrement of a
circuit ; of these the easiest of appUcation is that of determining
the resistance of the circuit, using as excitation continuous waves
of the required wave-length. A description of these methods has
been given in " Circular of the Bureau of Standards," No. 74,
entitled " Radio Instruments and Measurements.

DISCUSSION.

The above Paper was discussed jointly with, one on
" Directional Transmission of Electromagnetic Waves for Navi-
gational Purposes," an abstract of which appears on page 315 of
this issue.

In opening the discussion Capt. H. J. Round questioned
the accuracy and novelty of the methods suggested in the Paper
for the measurement of decrement. The definition of decrement
with which he was famihar was the logarithmic ratio of two succes-
sive maxima in any wave train. The formula given in the Paper
depended upon a comparison of R.M.S. values. Actually the
method relied upon equality of signals, and these being rectified
did not vary as their R.M.S. values. He considered that the
apparatus' was no more than a decroscope. In 1908 he had pro-
duced a similar instrument which had been criticised by Prof.
Fleming for reasons similar to those which he now put forward.
Another point to remember was that for the useful measurement
of decrement the whole resonance curve must be investigated ;
the taking of only two points was useless. At this stage of develop-
ment sometliing was wanted with a good theoretical basis.

Major H. P. T. Lefroy emphasised the need for selective receivers
in connection with the methods described in the second Paper,
not only on account of jamming but also for use with the system
in which the wavelength was varied as the beacon rotated. For
standardising receivers for use on various wavelengths he advocated
heterodyniag all incoming signals to one standard supersonic
frequency.

6s. 8d. an Ounce.

Wing Commander J. B. Bowen explained that the origin of the
decremf^ter described by Major Ersldne-Murray lay in the need felt
by the Services for information regarding the degree of interference
caused by stations, and the number that could be placed in a given
area. They wanted figures for tonic train and high-speed trans-
mitting stations. There was much to be said for the Robinson
directional receiver, but there was a fly in tlie ointment, he might
even say there were nails in the wood ! And they were due to the
added weight when this system was applied to aircraft. In the
unlikely event of his brain being examined when he was dead, he
thought there would be found upon it the words "6s. 8d. an ounce," •
for that was the extra cost of construction of engine and machine
for every additional ounce which had to be carried. The direction-
findmg gear had presumably to help a pilot find his landing ground
when visibility was bad, and he could picture a machine coming
towards an aerodrome equipped with one of the beacon stations
descril)(>d. lender probable conditions tlie machine would circle
round the station about once in two minutes, and would therefore be

March 17, 1922

The Electrician.

317

putting up quite a sporting race with the signal which was to guide
it!

Capt. J. HoLLiNGWOKTii Considered that the use of a 2 V cell
and a potentiometer was simpler than an extra valve for balancing
the d.c. component in the anode circuit when measuring the
drop of anode current in the determination of decrement. He
doubted whether a receiver had the same decrement for tonic
train as for C.W. He did not find decrement to vary with
signal strength.

Practical Difficulties.

Mr. R. L. Smith-Rose pointed out a number of difficulties in
the rotating beacon method of direction finding. It was not suited
to the aircraft requirement of receiving on a maximum, and
minimum readings were not symmetrical, since it was easier to
hold on to a signal than to get it again. Also there was an error
from vertical effect ; and jamming was liable to make a reading
impossible. With the crossed coil method the disadvantages
were slow speed and lack of accuracy. He considered the change
of wave-length method to be better for getting bearings quickly,
but in this everything depended upon the accuracy of caUbration of
the receiver. He questioned the effect of a trailing aerial upon
the tuning of the receiver, and consequently upon the possibility
of making the latter very selective. Night errors were greater
with a closed coil transmitter.

The Hard-Worked Ether.

Capt. P. P. EcKERSLEY Considered that warlike considerations
had been made unnecessary by the Washington Conference.
Beacon stations were not necessary for commercial work where
ground stations could give a machine its bearing on request. If
the machine was to take its own bearing he preferred the gear in
the machine, so that it might take bearings upon all transmitting
stations. The ether was a hard-worked medium, and if the pro-
posed beacon stations were erected he would, instead of having
6s. 8d. engraved upon his brain, have hopeless jamming impressed
upon his ears.

Dr. J. Robinson considered that the apparatus described in the
second Paper, whether decremeter or decrescope, had its uses.

Dr. G. W. O. Howe took the flicker photometer as an analogy to
the two coil transmitter and reasoned that there was, therefore,
a best speed at which to work. He queried what one actually
measured in the described decremeter method and advised taking
the decrement of a station when actually working and not when the
key was held down.

Replying to the discussion. Major J. Erskine-Murray admitted
that he did not clearly understand the theoretical basis of the
decremeter. By its means one got some kind of a useful measure.
Someone had to start. He agreed that there was a critical speed
of rotation for the beacon stations, and that a very selective receiver
was not practicable with a traihng aerial.

The Manufacture of the MuUard Valve.

The references to the design, output and production of the
thermionic valve in the recent report of the Imperial Wireless
Commission and especially the comparisons of valves contained in
glass and sihca containers respectively have aroused much interest
in the manufacture of this important apparatus. Indeed, the wide
use of the thermionic valve for both wireless telegraphy
and telephony makes it necessary that close attention should be paid
to its manufacture, as it presents problems which are just as
interesting as those which have been found and overcome in
more teclmical fields. As electrical engineers we are convinced
by this time of the necessity of employing proper organisation
and well thought out processes in manufacturing equipment of all
kinds, and though we cannot perhaps claim that high efficiency
of mass production which is seen, for instance, in motor-car and
margarine manufacture, there is no doubt that definite economies
can be obtained by careful attention to detail and a well thought
out line of progress through the shops.

A Lamp Analogy.

That this has been done in at least one case is evident from a
visit we recently paid to the works of the Mullard Radio Valve
Company, Ltd., where the valves, to which such interesting reference
was made in the report, are now being turned out in large quantities.
While the company will doubtless be among the first to acknowledge
the debt they owe to those pioneers who thought out the processes
necessary for the production of the vacuum and gasfilled lamps
on a large scale the special problems which have to be met in
producing a valve, which wiU operate satisfactorily under ordinary
working conditions and with relatively unskilled supervision, has
meant that many steps have had to be taken along the hnes we have
just indicated.

Mullard Valves for Reception.

We may first deal with the small valves which are manufactured
by the Mullard Valve Company for receiving purposes. These
valves are made in a variety of patterns of which we illustrate
examples (Figs. 1 and 2). Type R, which has an overall length,
including pins, of 4-|- in. and a bulb diameter of 2\ in. works best
with about 4 V on the filament, and 60 to 80 V between anode and
filament. In the K type, which is rather more compact, aboat
3*5 V are required on the filament and 20 to 30 V between the
anode and filament. This particular type of valve is suitable for
use in high frequency amplifiers. The D tj^pe valve is a slightly
soft valve designed for use in detecting or rectifying signals prior
to low frequency magnification. It operates best at about 5 V
on the filament and 20 to 30 V between the anode and filament.
The essential parts of all valves of this kind are, of course, the
glass bulb, the grid, the anode and their supports, the leading-in
arrangements, and the metal cap.

Manufacturing Details.

The problems connected with the manufacture and assembly
of the bulb and cap of the valve are not dissimilar to those met
with in lamp manufacture and are therefore well known. We may,
therefore, confine our description to deaUng with the methods
employed in manufacturing and mounting the more peculiarly
wireless portions of tlie apparatus.

Referring particularly to the small type of valve, as is of course

usual, the leading in wire is of platinum. To the outer end of this
leading in wire is welded a copper wire by which external connections
are made to the valve cap, while to the inner end is welded a nickel
wire which is used for supporting the electrodes inside a closed
stem. The valve electrodes are made from sheet nickel and
molybdenum and tungsten wire. The former is stamped out to

Fio. 1. — View of the " K ' Valve.

the correct size and is welded to one of the nickel supporting
wires by means of a small electric welder. It is then shaped round
to give it the desired cj-lindrical shape.

The Grid.

The grid to which the other nickel wire is connected is built 'up
of molybdenum wire, which is coiled into a spiral. For the proper

318

rhe Electrician.

March 17, 1922

Fig. 2.
The " K " Valve.

production of both tlietie \k\v\.s, well designed jigs and tools are
employed so that exact reproduction in every essential is secured.
For instance, the molybdenum wire is wound on a special machine
in the form of a spiral A\hich subsequently passes into a closed
tube for protection. Lengths can then be cut off as required. An
automatic device is employed for cutting oflf uniform lengths of
glass tubing to form the sealing stems for the valves. These
lengths of glass are then fed by^ hand into
a flanging machine which consists of two
chucks Avhich in turn grip the piece of
tubing and bring it into the blow pipe
flame where the flange is worked on to
it. The four supporting wires for the
electrodes are sealed into one end of this
flange tube so as to form the stem.

^ Filament Construction and

'^ Mounting.

After the grid and anode have been
mounted on their supporting wires the
filament is threaded doAvn the centre
of the grid and seciu'ed to the terminal
wires by pinching. The necessary tension
on the filament is maintained during
Avorking by placing a small flat spring
between it and its support.

The grid, anode and filament, wliich
are mounted together on then- glass sup-
port, are then inserted in the bulb, which
is cither of a spherical or elongated
cylindrical shape, being afterwards ex-
hausted by a vacuum pump in a way
similar to that used in lamp manufac-
ture. During this exhaustion the valve
is subjected to electrical tests so as to
drive out the occluded gases from the
metal electrodes and to indicate the state
of the vacuum. This is effected by employ-
ing extremefy Ingh voltages which heat up
the electrodes by electronic bombardment. The total occlusion of
the gases is indicated by the disappearance of all the blue glow,
and the valve is then sealed off from the pumps. In connection
with this high voltage work which, of course, is a special feature of
the valve manufacture great care is taken bj^ means of automatic
devices to prevent any danger of live high tension parts being
touched by the operator. The valves themselves and the high
tension terminals are protected by specially constructed cages,
which can onlA^ be removed when the current is off.

Testing Arrangements.

Subsequent to exhaustion the valve is subjected to a short ageing
run, and afterwards to careful testing. In these tests the filament
current is adjusted until the required total emission is obtained when
using a given anode voltage. The filament voltage and current are
then read off by appropriate instruments, and the results must fall
within certain predetermined limits, or the valve is rejected. The
grid current is then measured by applying a voltage to the grid,
which is negative with respect to the negative terminal of the
filament. For hard vacuum receiving valves this current (or back-
lash) must not exceed 0"2 micro-ampere. The grid voltage is then
reversed, and the value of the positive grid current is noted. This
must not exceed 2 micro-amperes.

Transmitting Valves.

So far it will be gathered that the manufacture of these small
receiving valves does not differ much from that usual in the prepara-
tion of incandescent lamps. Owing, however, to their larger size
the construction of valves for transmission purposes necessitates
the introduction of certain modifications. These transmitting
valves are made in a variety of ranges from the smaller sizes where
the anode dissipation is from 20 to 30 W with an anode voltage
of 200 to 400 V and from 600 to 1 200 V respectively to those with
an anode dissipation of 100 to 150 W and even up to 250 to 500 W,
with corresponding increases in the anode voltage and filament
current. It is interesting to note, in view of the remarks in the
Wireless Commission's report, that, although the details we give
below apply to valves made with glass bulbs, successful experiments
have been successfully carried out using silica for tliis purpose with
a great accession of strength and consequently Lfe..

The Advantages of Silica.

The employment of silica not only reduces danger from breakage,
but owing to th^fact that the ma^^srial can be brought nearer to
the grid and filament a small container can be employed. The
special construction used in the larger type of JVfullard transmitting
valves produces, we are informed, exceptionally long insulating
paths between both the anode and grid and the "filament. It also

has the great additional advantage of making it possible for the
vahe filaments to be renewed by the makers, thus reducing the
maintenance cost of valve installations. This is also dealt with in
the report.

Constructional Details of Large Valves.

The filament in the case of these large valves is of loop form, and
is mounted on two nickel strips which are fitted onto a special glass
stem. This glass stem is of such a diameter that it will pass freely
up the centre of the iimer glass tube of the stem on which the grid
is mounted without coming into contact with any of the grid sup-
ports or coimections. The two are therefore insulated from each
other not only by an air gap but by what are actually two sets of glass
insulators. The grid is formed of a spiral of the molybdenum wire
laced on to straight molybdenum supporting wires which themselves
are carried by chaimel- shaped nickel strips held in place by friction on
the inside of the glass tube of the grid stem. The flange end of the
glass stem carrjang the filament is ultimately sealed on to the outer
end of the inner glass tube of the grid supporting stem. This
enables the whole of this part of the apparatus to be kept com-
pletely outside the valve bulb proper, which bulb is sealed on to the
flanged outer part of the grid stem. Similarly the tension spring
which supports the loop-filament from the other end of the bulb
is attached to a narrow glass tube which passes centrally up and is
separated from the inner glass tube which supports the anode of
the valve from the opposite end of the bulb. This arrangement
enables the filaments to be replaced as mentioned above, for on

/ #

Via. 3.— View of o 'M) \alve.

cutting through the tubes which project at the opposite ends of the
valve the two small stems supporting the loop filament and its
tensioning spring may be withdrawn from the valves and a new
filament inserted in place, sealed in position, and the valve re-
exhausted. An assembled valve of tliis tj'jw is shown in Fig. 3.

" Silica Valves."

In the case of the silica enclosed valves mentioned above the
anodes are very much larger than those in the glass enclosed

March 17, 1922

The Electrician.

;ii)

valves. Ihese anodes are built up of narrow molybdenuui strij)
which is plaited into a hollow cylindrical form. Illustrations
of these valves are given herewith, Figs. 4 and '). The whole
is a most interesting milestone in the development of valve
manufacture.

In regard to the silica valves, it should be stated that these are
made under an agreement with the Admiralty — who are joint owners

\\\

Fig. 4.— Silica Valve without
Holder.

Fig.

-Silica Valve in
Holder.

of the patents involved — most of the pioneer work in connection with
the development of this type of valve having been carried out at
H.M. Signal School, Portsmouth.

The large power output, and consequently aerial current, which
can be obtained from a wireless transmitting installation of com-
paratively small dimensions by the employment of silica valves
renders the employment of this type particularly advantageous on
board ship. This is one of the reasons why H.M. Signal School, in
conjunction with the Mullard Radio Valve Company, Ltd., has
developed the silica valve to its present state. Silica valves of
2'o kW and 4 kW rating are now being produced in considerable
numbers and up to the present the whole of the output of the
Mullard Radio \'alve Company, Ltd.. for this type of valve has been
in fulfilment of Admiraltv orders.

Warm Rivers or Warm Houses ?

The discussion at MANfHESTER on the two Papers by Messrs. Haden
and Whysall on " The Utilisation of Waste Heat in Generating
Stations " * was a model of M-hat such discussions should be. The
authors made their remarks commendably brief and pointed.
Every speaker spoke well, and each contribution was relevant and
rich in practical experience and suggestion, frequently enlivened
with humour. Various points of view were presented. Altogether,
Manchester again vindicated the value and necessity of these e.xtra-
metropolitan discussions and the delighted appreciation of the
authors was no sUght consolation to those who have to live in or near
the city. The general attitude of the power-station engineers was
one of distinctly qualified sympathy. The theoretical attractions
were admitted, but the practical difficulties of commercial applica-
tion were stressed. Altogether the meeting indicated a distinct

^See The Electrician,^!. CXXXVIII., p. 94, January 27, 1022.

tendency away from the super-station idea, an engineering reaction
against centralisation not without its parallel in the political world.

.Methods of Heat Distribution.

Mr. S. L. Pearce, who incidentally questioned some of
Mr. Haden's figures, pointed out that in comparing energy coo-
versions the efficiencies of transmi.s.sion and application were
involved. For a given amount of heat to the consumer, less coal
would be destroyed at a modem super-station than at a ga-swork.s.
There were three methods of di.stributing heat, the first being to
draw steam from a condensing engine or turbine after partial
expansion, the station being considered primarily as a means of
generating electricity rather than heat. Secondly, a special boiler-
plant and a number of non- condensing sets giving exhaust steam
for heating might be in.stalled, the strtion being primarily a heating
station with electricity as a bye-product, additional electrical load
coming from a condensing station. In the third case, live steam
might be supphed direct, as was the practice in American
.stations. No single method would satisfy all conditions or all
locaUties. The first was suitable if the main station were in the
centre of the heating load. The second was best for old stations
where the capital cost had been written down. The main diffi-
culties were the market for heat, the co-ordination of heating and
lighting loads, the distribution of steam and the cost. There was no
coincidence between the heating and lighting loads, and live steam
had to be used at times — at Dickinson-street 2.5 per cent, of the time.
Basement way leaves had to be negotiated, and the costs of tunneling
were considerable. A pre-war subway of .50 sq. ft. at .Stuart Street
cost £27 per yd. To-day a steam main subway lU to 12 sq. ft.
area would cost £30 per yd. Rates charged for steam should take
account of varying load factors. A judicious combination of all
methods of heating would be necessary in a commercial scheme.

Benefits of Central-heating Stations.

Mr. J. Frith said that offices, houses and works needing process
steam formed the demand for heat, and a Unison should be formed
between heating and electricity suppUes to ensure the best service
to the community as a whole. It was necessary- to use the latent
heat of steam, and the super-station idea was only tenable if the
station were prepared to absorb surplus power from heat plants a.s
well as to give power. The diminished consumption of domestic
coal and the absence of smoke would benefit the whole community.

Mr. F. Biggin said that the use of a central-heat station was
equivalent to concentrating boilers and heaters in one place, and
would, by diminishing lo.sses and labour involved, increase efficiency.
In an actual case, a block of seventeen bmldiugs on an area cf
9J acres saved £7 000 per annum by installing a combined heating,
lighting and power plant. The same economies could be obtained
on a larger scale.

Warming Rivers.

Mr. D. Brownlie emphasised the low efficiency of the average
boiler plant, *nd considered that if that proportion of coal used in
steam raising in the United Kingdom were empoyed in efficient plants
3 000 000 H.P. would be available. It would be better to give new
plant to inefficient work, rather than to erect it in super-stations.
Power could not be generated in Great Britain in one particular
way, and all methods had to be correlated. It was absurd to talk
of objections to central heating, which had been used for for^y years
in the U.S.A. What English people needed was radiant heat,
and homes should, therefore, be centrally heated throughout, with
an open fire in the living-room and gas-cooking. The objection of
condensation in steam distribution pipes coxAd also be met. A
modem air-insulated, lagged and buried pipe lasted twenty years
and lost 0-04 lb. per sq. ft. per hour.

Co-ordination of Heat and Other Loads.

Mr. H. C. Lamb thought Mr. Brownlie ignored progress in tlie last
twenty-five years. Coal consumption for power generation had been
quartered, and if tliis progress could be maintained we should do well.
He agreed with Mr. Haden about keeping open old stations. It
was impossible to balance the heating and electrical loads. Man-
chester was one of the best areas for central heating. Yet out of a
winter demand of 20 000 kW, 17 oOO kW would have to come from
a condensing station, using Mr. Haden's figure of llo lb. per kW hour.
The summer steam demand was only 10 per cent, of the wmter
demand, while the electricity figure was So per cent.

Heat Supply and Electricity Departments.

Mr. Nelson Haden suggested that if central heating developed, it
should be connected with electrical rather than with any other
branch of municipal activity. Electrical heating had its uses,
but he did not think this would cause electrical engineers to be
prejudiced asainst steam heatuig. Heating, electricity and gas
making and refuse destruction might be carried on in one station,
the chairman of the committee to say which soua^e of heat was
best for given conditions. Over five hundred American towns had
central heating stations, all run by the electrical authorities.

320

The Electrician^March 17, 1922

The Home Idealised.

{Continued from pi<ge 291.)

" Tricity " Truisms.

On the stand of the British Electric Transfobmer Company
is to be found a plethora of "Tricity" electrical apparatus, from
which it is difficult to pick out points for special notice. But the
newest, and presumably therefore the best, of the apparatus is
the "Tricity" cooker for small families, which we illustrate
herewith (Fig. 3). This is a combination cooker, the outstanding

Fig. 3.— The Latest " Tbicity " Cooker.

feature of which is its light loading compared with the work i^ will
do. The loading of cooking apparatus is f^ ^^f ^^^^^^ J?,°;i,^^''^
a discussion can always be generated, and the ^ Jricity view m
contradiction to some others, is that it is better to spend your
money on the material, and especially the lag-
ging of your oven, than in buying current all ot
which will not be economically used. The load-
inff of this " Tricity " production is 3-3 kW, and
it is claimed that it wiU do all the cooking opera-
tions necessary for a family of six. The overi
has a loading of 1 400 W, 600 W in the top and
800 W in the bottom element. It consists of a
sheet-steel body with double walls, between which
is a plentiful supply of slag wool lagging. There
are three heats on each of the elements. Even
with this low loading it is claimed that a suffi-
ciently high cooking temperature can be reached
as quickly as with a cast-iron body owing to the
efficient lagging. The top of the oven is of bright
cast iron and is also lagged with slag wool. The
internal dimensions of the oven are 14 in. by
14 in. by 12 in., and it can therefore take a joint
and a sweet at one operation sufficiently large
for the size of family mentioned. The elements
are protected by trays and can easily be
changed, being each held in place by three
screws, to remove which is a simple operation.
The elements themselves consist of nichrome
wire wound on mica and are connected by means
of bare wire carried on asbestos bridges to the con-
trol panel at the left-hand side of the oven as
shown in the illustration. The switches are of
the rotary type, and the fuses of the Kantark
type which, it is claimed, have advantages of
simplicity and easy changeability over any other
on the market.

The cooker is completed by two hot-plates,
one of the open type with a loading of
1 200 W and one of the closed-in type with a loadmg ot UUO VV,
each with three heats. These hot-plates work in conjunc-
tion with a reflector plate. Tliis, when placed under the element,
allows boUing to be carried on on the top of the hot-plate, while,
when placed over the element, the heat is thrown down, so that
grilling can then be carried on in the space between the hot-plates.
This space is also useful for many plates and dishes.

The British Electrical Transformer Company are also, it may be
noted, advocates of control by thermometer, and one of these
instruments is provided in the door of the oven. Further, it need
only be added that the price of the complete equipment is 118.
The boiling plate portion of this apparatus can be supplied separ-
ately, and, in addition, are to be found on the stand a wide range of
irons kettles, fires, grillers, ovens, boiling plates, pastry ovens,
hot cupboards, and so forth, all eloquent of the " Tricity idea.

How to Keep Your Bed Warm.

Another stand which absolutely teems— or should it be steams?—
with electrical domestic appliances is that of the Dowsing Radiai^t
Heat Company. Here are to be found electric boiling plates,
cookers of various descriptions, hot cupboards, hotplates, irons,
kettles, milk heaters, radiators, toasters, and urns, while for com-
mercial use there are electric branders, belt trimming knives, glue
pots soldering irons and wax heaters, and for medical use there are
aU sorts of apparatus for giving radiant heat treatment and electric
fight baths. But the thing which attracted our notice was the
stone bottle bed warmer. This is an interesting reversion to the
days before the mdia-rubber hot water bottle was myented and the
chiUy went to bed accompanied by a pre-heated brick, ihese
heaters are in appearance very similar to the stone hot water bottle
sometimes used, and consist of a stoneware contamer surrounding
an element. Pre-heating for about ten minutes or a quarter
of an hour is necessary, and when the bottle is carefuUy wrapped in
a flannel it will, it is claimed, keep itself and others warm for a
considerable time. For thechiUy, again, a small radiant bowl fire
which is to be found on this stand may be recommended. It is ot
a pattern now weU known in electrical ckcles. and from the excited
comments which were being made by passers-by who suddenly
came within its range it fulfils its purpose very weU. It can be
put anywhere.

Artistry in Illumination.
On the Metropolitan Vickers Electric Company's stand is
to be found a good selection of their weU-known Cosmos domestic
electric apparatus, including a new pattern of 2 kW radiant fire
designed on scientific principles both as regards reflection and
radiltion, and contaming four elements which can be switched on m
pairs. Anyone looking at this fire will agree that the element is
?iily accessible, and we understand that it can be removed by

Fig,

4.— The Metropohtan-Vickkrs Stand at Olympia.

releasin<T two screws. But the more striking display on this stand
s the artistic exhibition of lighting fittings which ^a- ^ -
designed and made by Harcourts, one of ^ '^l^''' }^^^-\^''^^l^''^
firms These fittings are produced in a number of st\lcs such a^
'Adams and Lods XV., bul the actual designs have been j^repare^
bv artists working sneeiallv for the end in view, and their ideas
have receh'JdspedaUreatnumt. with results which are lughly satis-

March 17, 192^

The Electrician,

;i21

factory. We arc informed that concentration i.s bein<< specially
made on the Adams period, but we noticed in addition candle
fitting in the Baroque style, such as was lart^ely used by Sir Alfred
Gilbert and many others, and a bowl fitting of the Gothic school,
which has the advantage of hiding the lamp entirely'. The brackets
are cunningly held from the back by means of a wail plate and hook
so that no screws are visible, and as far as the fitting proper is
concerned are unnecessary. The aim of the company is to apply
art to everyday uses, and while the fittings are not cheap they
indicate a desire to educate the public in art and to perpetuate the
designs of the best periods and styles during these modern days.
To those interested in beautifying their homes — and who is not? —
this is a stand to linger on. Fortunately this is made more
easy, as overcrowding has been avoided, and those responsible
are to be congratulated on the general arrangement. How good
this is is evident from Fig. 4,

Carron Cookers Collected.

On the Carron Company's stand is to be found a display
of electric cooking and heating appliances of this firm's v/ell-
known manufacture. Among these is the Carron 1922 model
cooker, which is designed like a Globe-Wernicke bookcase
to the extent that all the parts are separate, but can be
easily pieced together to form a complete whole. An im-
portant point in this new_ design is that the oven is on the same
level as the boiling table, being raised from the ground on a special
stand, thus avoiding any necessity for stooping. The oven door
is fitted with a special spring handle, and both it and the walls
are^suitably lagged in accordance with the usual Carron practice.
It contains elements top and bottom, the former having a loading
of 1^500 W, and the latter a loading of 1 000 W. There are three
boiling plates of the usual Carron design, one 6 in. in diameter
with a loading of 600 W, one 8 in. in diameter with a loading of
1 000 W, and one 10 in. in diameter, with a loading of 1 500 W.
Over these hotplates is placed a plate rack — a useful addition, as
all cooks know. In all the apparatus the element can be easily

Fig. 5. — The 1922 Carron Cooker.

exposed for replacement (though that is seldom necessary), and the
wiring is also easily " get-at-able." This cooker is shown in Fig. 5.

Another new " Carron " is a hot-water cii'culator which is made
in two sizes, with capacities of 30 and 60 gallons respectively, the
loadings being 4 and 8 kW. The circulator proper is made of gun-
metal, the body being screwed at each end to take the necessary
piping. This body is suitably lagged, and the whole is enclosed
in a sheet-iron case. It is very neat and compact, and can be
tucked away in some corner without anxiety. The circulator
can be fitted with a thermostat if desired, and once more the whole
of the apparatus is easily accessible when the sheet-iron casing
has been removed, and this is not difficult.

The Carron Company have long been known as manufacturers
of artistic coal-grates of various designs, as well as producers of
electrical appliances. Now the two activities are apparently
being combined, for Carron dog-grates are shown fitted with electrical

elements. The illu.sion is made the more complete- by the uae
of two ruby lamps which give forth a plea-sing and psychological
glow. These " electrogrates " are made in any f>eriod, and for
any loading up to a maximum of 0 kW with two heat regulation.

Stanoos and the Home.

SiK.MKN's Bi:oTHi:i'..s & Co3ii'ANy are showing a room wired for
electric lighting, heating, &o., on the Stannos system and also a
model in which the application of this system of wiring to housing

\
1

■

* r

Fig. 6. — Siemens' Stand at Olympia.

schemes is demonstrated. This explanatory model shows a tran.s-
former installed in the nearest cottage to the main power cable.
From the low tension side of this transformer a Stannos conductor
is carried along the outside wails of each group of cottages and the
supply tapped to each cottage through the main wall. Between each
group of cottages the Stannos main is buried directly in the ground.

One of the leading advantages derived from introducing electric
current into groups of cottages by tlijs means is, it is claimed,
reduction of cost (a not unimportant feature) as the system dispenses
both with the necessity for opening the road and laying a main
cable as well as opening trenches for laying the service wire into
eacli of the cottages, the interiors of which can be wired on the
Stannos system. We understand that in several housing schemes
which at present are in progress tliis economical method of introduc-
ing electric supply is being adopted. A view on this stand is
given in Fig. 6.

A Boon to Amateurs.

Amateur electricians, and professional ones too, for that matter,
owe a debt of gratitude to the inventoi-s of the wall plug variations
which, in all their glory, are exhibited by the RAWLPLra Compant.
This simple and ingenious piece of apparatus is, as our readers
probably know, invaluabk in the home for such jobs as fixing
shelves, bell pushes, bathroom fittings, hangers, coat hookers, wall
plugs, flower-pot stands, etc. Examples of fixtures made by Rawl-
plugs are compared with horrible results of employing th? old
methods. These are enough to drive anybody who does not already
use Rawlplugs to do so at the earliest possible moment.

Rashleigh Pi ipps iV Company have a large stand on which
is shown one of the only methods of solving the fighting problem
in the country house, that is by means of the Rashleigh Phippa
standard plant, which is designed on siaiple and refiable fines to
provide electric light at a low cost, and people with country' houses
might therefore do w^orse than use it.

The AosTiN Motor Company exhibit a range of their well-known
Austin automatic electric fighting sets, including the 0"75 kW
auto-plant, and the 2 kW auto-plant and auto-d^-namo. The
principal feature of aU these sets is their entirely automatic charac-
ter, though they can easily be made semi-automatic or even con-
trolled by hand,

R. A. Lister X- Company are showing a full range of their
Liston-Bruston fighting plants, which are suitable for all sorts
of installations, ranging from a cottage to a mansion. An automatic
plant suitable for cottages and bungalows is also on view. No need
now to be without the electric idea, even if you live in the country.

The Suekingham Da^t-igi t Development Cosipany are
exhibiting their system of obtaining artificial dayUght by means
of an orclinary electric lamp in conjunction with a simple inexpen-
sive piece of apparatus requiring no alteration of existing installa-
tions. Details of this system have already appeared in T. E Elec-
trician, and it is claimed, with some trutli. that the fight is
invaluable for avoiding eyestrain in the home, for fine needlework,
colour embroidery, stamp collecting, and all hobbies where colour
values are important.

(7*11 he ci>nf i»iu<rd.)

322

The Electrician.

March 17, 1922

Industrial Electrical Heating.

A lecture on the present position and future proepect-s of indus-
trial ELECTRICAL HEATING was givcH at the University of Sh<=ffield on
Monday by Mr. J. G. Pearce, of the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical
Company," to the Sheffield Gas Consumers' Association. Sheffield is
one of the largest consumers of gas for industrial purposes in the
United Kingdom.

Aft«r indicating the influence on electrical heating development of
the nickel-chromium resistance alloys, the lecturer considered tho
relative positions of gas and electricity for heating purposes, and
stated that, for a given amount of heat required by a consumer, a
modern super-power station used less fuel than w^as required in any
other form of fuel conversion. The recent improvements which had
been made in the manufacture of high-speed and high-capacity tur-
bines, together with projected schemes for linking up power stations,
would enable electrical energy to be procured at rates much more-
favourable than had hitherto been possible.

For precision heating, electricity was unapproached by any othei"
heating agent^it was rapid, practically any desired temperature
could be obtained over a very wide range, and temperature control
could be obtained within extraordinarily fine limits. Electrical
heating did not distort the material, and spoiled work was almost
entirely eliminated. Heaters occupied a minimum of floor space and
were less detrimental to workers than other forms of furnace. It
was particularly important that those who were considering the
installation of electrical heaters should not compare merely the cost
of electrical energy with the cost of gas at the power station and
gasworks respectively, as the efficiencies of distribution and applica-
tion had to be considered. In electrical heating no heat was wasted
through warming up the air used for combustion, and radiation losses
could be cut down to a minimum.

Mr. Pearce then described a number of modern heating appliances,
ranging from low-temperature applications, in the form of ovens,
soldering pots and irons, cooking and heating equipment for works
canteens, &c. , up to the largest electrical furnaces of the resistance
type, which had been developed for the heat treatment of gun
forgings, &c., taking loads up to 2 800 kW and able to heat steel up
to 150 tons; in such furnaces the resistance ribbon is inside the
furnace and radiates heat directly on to the charge. The lecture
was illustrated with lantern slides.

Changing Tungsten to Helium Gas.

An interesting experiment was described at the conference of the
American Chemical Society at Chicago on Saturday, states the
" Times " New York correspondent.

By exposing it to the temperatme of 50 000 de». F., Dr. Gerald
Wendt and Mr. C. E. Iron, of the University of Chicago, succeeded
in CHANGING TUNGSTEN TO HELIUM GAS. The feat of transmuting
the metal in itself involved the generation of a temperature far
exceeding anything hitherto achieved. To produce such a degree
of heat the experimenters utilised an apparatus recently designed
by Dr. C. P. Steinmetz for producing artificial lightning. It con-
sists in charging an electrical condenser to 100 000 V and then sud-
denly releasing the charge.

Dr. Wendt and Mr. Iron, according to their report, discharged it
into an extremely fine tungsten wire. It exploded with a deafen-
ing report, says Dr. Wendt, as if struck by lightning, producing a
flash 200 times as bright as sunlight, with a momentary t.emperature
of over 50 000 deg. After the flash he found atoms of tungsten
decomposed into simpler ones, and the result was the change of
metallic tungsten into gaseous helium. The experiment had its
genesis in the fact, remarked by astroiromers, that the number of
materials composing the stars grows fewer as the temperature of
the stars increases, till the hottest stars appear composed entirely
of hydrogen and helium. Adopting the theory that this fact is due
to the decomposition of other materials by the great heat. Dr.
Wendt and Mr. Iron produced a temperature nearly equal to twice
that of the hottest star, and found ordinary metals decomposed
into simple gases, particularly helium.

Institute of Patentees.

At the second annual meeting of the Institute of Patentees on
Friday it was reported that there were 281 full members and 396
associat-e members. The technical committee had examined and
reported on 245 inventions during the year. The Executive Com-
mittee fo'md that a small proportion of the inventions submitted
were really commercial propositions.

Mr. GoM.HEY Cheesman complained that too many British
employers failed to give support to employees who made inventions.
A man of brain and initiative was an asset to employers worth
encouraging. Mr. G. II. Skinner advocated an Imperial patent for
the whole Empire.

At the annual dinner of the Institute in the evening, Sir IIarhy
Foster j)resided, and among otpers present were Sir William Grey-
Wilson, Sir Charles Bright, Jjord Morris, and Major the Hon. Hugh
Fletcher Moulton. Lort) Morris", who responded to the toast of
"Our Gupsfs," urged that the law should be amended to protect
inventors. In Italy, the Unit^ed States^ .and Germany inventors were
honoured, but in Great Britain the in\'cntor had a hard road to
travel.

A Wireless Dinner.

A wireless remiion, inaugurating what it is hoped will become an
annual event, was held at the Trocadero Restaurant, London, last
Saturday, when Admiral of ttie Fleet Sir Henry Jackson took the
chair at a Wireless Dinner. The company, numbering about 150,
was composed entirely of those who had served during the War as
wireless officers of one of the Fighting Services, or in an equivalent
capacity, and included a large number of senior officers of the
Services, the General Post Office, and the leading scientific and com-
mercial interests.

After honouring the toast of" The King," the chairman proposed
the health of Mr. Marconi in an interesting and reminiscent speech,
outlining the growth of the youngest of the practical sciences from
its very small beginnings to its establishment as the greatest medium
for a system of world communications.

Mr. Marconi, in reply, referred in moving terms to his early asso-
ciation with Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Jackson (or Capt. Jack-
eon as he then was), who had passed from the role of Inspecting
Officer to that of active collaborator, and to whose enthusiastic
support the early adoption of wireless by the British Admiralty was
largely due. He also paid a glowing tribute, based on personal
inspection over various War fronts, to the efficiency of the British
wireless organisation during the Great War, and to the skill and
devotion displayed both by land and sea.

The Chairman, in complimenting the Organising Committee
responsible for the arrangements, proposed the health of its Chair-
man, Colonel L. F. Blandy.

Colonel Blandy, in reply, explained the origin of the idea of hold-
ing a reunion, and proposed that a Wireless Dinner Club should be
formed, and an annual dinner arranged on the lines of the present
dinner. He proposed that, in the first instance, qualification for
membership should be the same as that which guided the committee
in arranging the dinner this year, i.e., that membership of the club
should be confined to those who had done wireless woi-k during the
War as officers or in an equivalent capacity.

The proposal was welcomed, and everyone present at the dinner
joined the newly-inaugurated Wireless Dinner Club, Admiral of the
Fleet Sir Henry Jackson kindly consenting to be the first president.

Electric Lorries for Calcutta.

The question of refuse disposal in Calclttta has been for some
time a source of trouble to the Corporation. There is a municipal
railway for carrying the refuse 'out of the town, but some months
ago the Corporation began experimenting with motor wagons for
refuse removal. According to the " Municipal Journal," petrol-
driven vehicles were introduced at first, but more recently the elec-
trically-propelled lorry has been tried. At present there are ten
petrol lorries and two electrics in service, each type having the same
carying capacity, viz. , 3g tons. The provision of additional vehicles
has recently been under consideration, and in connection with the
proposal a report has been submitted in which it is pointed out that,
excluding interest and depreciation, the running cost of an electric
lorry is only about half that of a petrol lorry. In Bombay, where
electric vehicles are employed, there has been very little trouble with
batteries. The Calcutta Corporation has therefore decided to obtain
tenders for eight more electric lorries, and to make provision for the
cost in next year's estimates. By having the same number of each
type of vehicle it is hoped to be able to obtain reliable figures of the
relative working costs.

The British Industries Fair, Birmingham.

The British Industries Fair (Birmingham Section), which closed
on Friday, was visited by 40 000 persons, including overseas buyers
from all parts of the Avorld. This is considered satisfactory, as the
general public was not admitted this year. Mr. H. 0. Worrall (the
chairman of the council of the Fair) reported at the close that the
amount of business transacted and the prospective business was mTJre
than last yf^ar, and that in regard to overseas trade especially there
hid been a notable increase. The improvement in business was speci-
ally marked in the small tool section, and satisfactory reports had
been received in regard to hollow ware (aluminium of superior
makes), electrical goods, general ironmongery and hardware. Mr.
Worrall added that he was sufficiently optimistic to believe that the
next few months would see a profound change in the position of
British trade. Many exhibitors had booked stands for next year's
Fair, and in some instances the space had been increased.

The Southampton Dispute.

After negotiations lasting over the week-end. the Parliamentary
Committee of the Southampton Corporation recommended that the
matter in dispute with the staff of the electricity works should be
referred to tlie National Joint Board, and that the Corporation
should agree to abide by the decision of the Board. On this under-
standing the E.P.E.A. and the E.T.U., the organisations represent-
ing the technical staff of the electricity undertaking, agreed
temporarily to withdraw their notices, reseiving themselves the right
(mce more to present thom should the Corporation fail to confirm tho
recommendation of their Parliamentary Committee.

We learn, however, that the proposed cut of 20 per cent, in salaries
has ninv been withdrawn.

March 17, 1922

The Electriciaoc

323

Hull and Hessle Tram Extension.

A PUBLIC ENQUIRY was held last week at Hull by the Ministry of
Transport into the application of Hull Corporation for a Light Rail-
ways Order to extend the electric tramway from the Pickering
Park extension to Hessle. Mr. Alan D. Erskine was the presiding
Commissioner, and with him were Mr. M. Kissaiie and Mr. Kenneth
J. M. Teasdale.

Mr. W. B. Clode appeared for the Corporation, and said there
was considerable opposition, including the North-Eastern Railway
Company, Heesle Urban Council, and others. The proposed line
would be one and a half miles long. At present Hessle was served
by the North-Eastern Railway and two motor-'bus proprietors, but
they contended that passengers were not adequately served. A better
service could be given without involving any charge upon the rates.
It was not until city boundary extension was mentioned that opposi-
tion appeared. Mr. Bell claimed compensation for " injury and
damage by competition," but Mr. Bell did not run his 'bus until
application was made for the Order. Mr. McMaster's objection was
based upon the assumption that a fixed tramway track was obsolete.

Mr. F. W. Bricknell, Hull City Engineer, thought there would
soon be need for both trams and 'buses, and he described as ridicu-
lous the suggestion that the trams would restore the congestion that
formerly existed at Hessle.

Mr. E. S. Rayneb, manager and engineer of Hull Corporation
tramway undertaking, said the running of a tramway to Hessle was
a very sound financial proposition. A volume of traffic would be
served which was not served by the railway. The capital cost would
be £30 000, and he estimated that they would have to carry one
million passengers per annum at an average fare of 2d. to make the
undertaking pay.

The Hon. Evan Ch.\rteris, K.C. (for the North-Eastern Railway
Company) said if the scheme was intended to be supplementary to
the existing service, he submitted that it would be redundant and
superfluous. If, on the other hand, the scheme was intended to
substitute existing services, it raised an extremely serious question
from a public point of view. It was proposed that the tramcars
should do the journey in half an hour, but the railway journey only
took ten minutes. The North-Eastern Railway paid one-tenth of the
whole rates of the city. If, therefore, the application succeeded, the
company would suffer by a depletion of traffic ; if the scheme were
carried out, and it became a loss, they would suffer as ratepayers.

Mr. F. G. Thomas, K.C. (for Hessle Urban Council), said the
local authority were unanimously of opinion that the tramway exten-
sion was not needed. Evidence was called to show that the public
were satisfied with the 'buses.

The result will be announced in due course.

Telephone Overcharges.

In their report on the registration of telephone calls the London
Telephone and Telegraph Advisory Committee state that a large
number of communications have been received complaining of over-
charges. This might be expected of a system under which each call
is separately charged. The Committee cite eleven examples of a dis-
crepancy between the number of calls noted by the Post Office and
by private record. In one case there was difference in favour of the
subscriber of 3 273 calls, and in another of 1 132. Up to the present
the pure message rate has not been universally adopted. Conferences
with officials of the Post Office have taken place with regard to the
questions involved.

Besides directing attention to overcharges and to the need for
establishing a satisfactory basis for adjusting differences, the Com-
mittee also raised other points of administration, such as the method
of calculating the 5 per cent, reduction (2 000 calls or over) where a
single subscriber had more than one line ; the arbitrary manner in
which demands are made for payment where charges are in dispute,
&c. The Committee visited, by invitation, the Central Exchange in
order to see the system in operation, and some particulars are given
of what was observed. Every effort appears to be made to render
the service as expeditious as possible and to improve organisation
and installation. The meters are of a pattern used in the United
States of America and elsewhere, and, though they may occasionally
get out of order, they can scarcely be held responsible for the dis-
crepancies. Stringent instructions are given to operators and great
care is given to the question of correct registration. The Committee
think that sufficient use is not made of the Department's slip entitled
" How to avoid the risk of Overcharges." It was also pointed out
that the Telephone Department undertake, if required, to train
operators for subscribers and to send officers to advise with regard to
the best methods of private registration, &c. The Committee, while
satisfied that the Department is anxious to do everything to ensure
accuracy, recommend that the Department be urged to continued
efforts at improvement; but they also feel that some of those
employed by subscribers to record calls lack technical knowledge and
experience.

The " Mechanical World " Electrical Pocket Book, 1922,
which is published by Emmott & Co. at 2s., hardly requires any
introduction to our readers. There is now a lengthy section on
power station construction and operation, while the section on switch
gear and switchboards has been rewritten and extended so as to cover
the latest developments in this important branch of the subject. A
further example of modernity is the new section on electric hoists.
The book is of a convenient size, and tha type and illustrations are
pleasingly clear.

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Wireless Receiving Apparatus.

In reply to Mr. Hurd, who asked the Postmaster-General (House
of Commons, March 7) if he were aware that the number of wireless
telephone receiving sets in the United States had increased in one
year from 50 000 to 600 000, and the entire country had been plotted
into circ'its with a central station so that every rural and urban
home might obtain, at a cost below that of an ordinary gramophone,
weather forecasts and business information as to prices and market
conditions, as well as records of sermons, lectures, and entertain-
ments; and whether he would endeavour to provide comparable
facilities under th« Post Office monopoly in this country, Mr.
Kellaway said that he was aware that there had been a consider-
able increase in the number of private wireless installations in the
United States. He understood, however, that, in consequence of the
danger of interference with Government and commercial communica-
tions, the United States Government were considering the restric-
tion of the use of wireless telephone for other purposes. Permission
to use wireless receiving apparatus for experimental purposes was
granted with comparative freedom in this coimtry, the number of
installations authorised being at present 7 500. The provision of
facilities for broadcasting messages by wireless was under
consideration.

Montevideo Tramways.

In reply to Colonel Newman (House of Commons, March 7), Mr.
Harmsworth said a strike for increased wages had stopped the
working of the tramways of Montevideo for three weeks. Tne com-
pany was unable to pay the increased wages demanded by the men
unless permission were granted to thpm by the Government to raise
their tariff. A Bill to authorise this increase was for some time
before Congress, but was not passed. It would come up again at
the meeting of Congi-ess on March 15. On Jan. 28 the Municipality
assumed control of the tramway company. The British manager
was invited to remain at his post, and the Municipality appointed
an " interventor " to control gross receipts. Two accovmts were now
t> be opened. One would provide for payment by the company of
wages on the old scale, the other for the increased wages which the
men demanded. These were to be paid by the Municipality from
the company's gross receipts. The company had protested, and it
was understood that they were now taking legal action against the
Municipality. Uruguay was a member of the League of Nations.

Miners' Safety Lamps.

The Secretary for Mines (IMr. Bridgeman), replying to Major
Kelly in the House of Commons on Monday, stated that no fresh
regulations governing the use underground of safety lamps were
contemplated at the moment. He was awaiting recommendations in
the matter from the Miners' Lamps Committee. As regards
danger from choke-damp, he was advised that flame safety lamps
or open lights (where used) gave sufficient warning to enable the
miner to withdraw in safety. The electric safety lamp, however,
could give no warning of the presence of inflammable or noxious
gases, and the question what steps should be taken to provide safe-
guards in the general use of electric lamps by the workmen in a
mine was now under consideration by the Miners' Lamps Committee.

Artificer Apprentices.

Replyiiig to Mr. R. Young in the House of Commons on March 3.
Mr. Amery stated that the details of the new scheme for training
officers for engineering and electrical duties had not yet ^een
approved, and no artificer apprentices, therefore, had so far been
sent to Keyham, but when the scheme came into operation, probably
in September next, it was the intention that a few artificer appren-
tices who showed sufficient promise (not exceeding one or two a
year) should be chosen to undergo the course of training under the
same conditions as the other officers.

Underground Railway Extension.

In the House of Commons on Monday, Mr. Hilton Young, in
reply to Mr. Gilbert, said the Treasury, on the recommendation of
the Trade Facilities Advisory Committee, had agreed to guarantee
a loan to be raised by the London Undergroiuid Railways for the
purpose of extending and improving their Tube railways. Full
details had not yet been completed, but he hoped to make a complete
announcement very shortly.

Wireless at the Institution.

Those proceeding across Waterloo Bridge northward have a gooil
view of the roof of the Institution, and the more observant have
recently noticed the erection of a wireless mast, leading them to
suppose that the Institution is celebrating its return to its own
building by making arrangements for the reception of wireless
messages. " These suspicions are confirmed by the notification we
have received that a permanent wireless aerial has now been installed
for reception purposes. The details of this equipment are a?
follows : —

Span between strain insulators. 113 ft. : down lead from aerial to
leading insulators outside, 63 ft. : do^\^^ lead from leading-in insu-
lator, to floor of lecture theatre. 44 ft. ; making a total down lead of
107 ft. The effective length of the aerial (down lead plus half the
span) ia, therefore, 1635 ft., giving a natural wave length of approxi-
matelv 200 metres. /

324

The Electrician.

March ly^ 1922

Le^al Intelligence.

Scottish Machinery Assessment Appeals.

An important judgment has been delivered by the Valuation
Appeal Court (Lords Salvesen, Cullen and Hunter) in a series of
appeals by fourteen firms of iron and steel makers in Lanarkshii'e
against decisions of the Valuation Committeee of the Middle and
Lower Wards of the county. The Assessor undertook a revaluation
of all the steel and iron works in the county, and the parties were at
issue with the Assessor as to whether the contractors' principle
should have been applied to certain plant and machinery, and as to
whether the Assessor was entitled to apply that method in arriving
at the annual value of the works as a whole. The appellants con-
tended that the annual values for 1919-20 represented full valuations,
and that the Assessor had failed to adduce any evidence to justify
the increases he had made. The committees approved of the method
adopted by the Assessor, but were of opinion that the percentages
suggested were rather high. They were of opinion that, having
regard to the whole circumstances, a reasonable abatement would be
30 per cent. ; and the Court affirmed the decision of the committees.
In giving judgment, Lord Salvesen said the questions raised were
of unusual importance, but he had no difficulty in rejecting the
Assessor's contention that a building was not a building which was
not enclosed by walls as well as by a roof. His Lordship also found
it impossible to accept the Assessor's view that certain machinery
was attached to the heritage, and he overruled the Assessor's objec-
tion to the exclusion from the heritable subjects of the rails laid
across certain transverse walls in the foundations of one of the
buildings for supporting bars of steel while undergoing cooling and
also the plain floor plates and sleeper floors.

His Lordship said the Assessor had raised certain questions which
turned upon the meaning of "first motive power." The first related
to electricity, which was generated by means of steam-driven
machinery. It was not disputed that steam-driven machinery was
rateable, as well as the boilers. But the Assessor claimed that the
dynamos actuated by the steam-driven machinery should also be
included as heritable, apparently on the ground that the electric
current so produced was used to operate machines in appellants'
works. In his Ix>rdship's view, the Assessor's view was negatived
by the Guai'dbridge Paper Company case of last year, where their
Lordships held that the boilers, the steam engines and the main
shafting all fell within the definition of plant or machinery for pro-
ducing or transmitting first motive power, but that when that power
was transmitted by secondary shafting to the manufacturing
machines it ceased to be first motive power. His Lordship thought
this view governed the other matters raised by the Assessor.

Dealing with the main subject of the appeal, his Lordship took one
case (the Dalzell Steel & Iron Works) in which the yearly rent or
value was £105 236, against £27 000 in 1919-20. The result was
undoubtedly startling, and appellants were right in their contention
that there was a heavy onus upon the Assessor to justify so revolu-
tionary a change. After an exhaustive analysis of the facts, their
Lordships decided that the 30 per cent, abatement allowed by the
committees should stand, though Lord Salvesen was of opinion that
the allowance should have been 50 per cent.

The Lodge Tuned Wireless Patent.

The Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors continued on
Monday last the hearing of the claims of Marconi's Wireless Tele-
graph Company and the Lodge-Muirhead Wireless and General
Telegraphy Syndicate for an award in respect of the infringement by
the Admiralty of Sir Oliver Lodge's Patent No. 11 575 of 1897.

Mr. C. F. WiLKiNS (director and manager of Muirhead & Com-
pany) and Mr. J. S. Vn^C^iNT Pletts (consulting engineer to
Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company) gave evidence, the former
dealing with the prices of and the royalties on apparatus supplied
by the Lodge Muirhead Syndicate, and the latter with specific sets
supplied to the Admiralty, and for which, it was stated, the
Admiralty had paid or agreed to pay at rates corresponding to those
now claimed.

The Attorney-General (Sir Ernest Pollock, K.C.) opened the case
for the Admiralty, and said if the Marconi agreement with the
Admiralty were cleared of its other liabilities, one arrived at a figure
of £11 per kW for the whole period from 1903 to 1911. Taking the
wattage of the whole of the sets, they had to deal with a figure of
6 846 kW-years, and by dividing that into £75 000, the result was
£11 per kW per annum. Those who made that agreement, taking a
just estimate of the very important user that would be made, were
prepared to accept that sum. But when they came to the period of
the war, it was said they were entitled to make those enormous
claims on the Crown. It was true that a patentee had a statutory
right to claim conupensation from the Crown, as he could in the case
of private persons, but the Crown was given the right, as against
him, that he could not stop by injunction the use of the invention
by the Crown, provided compensation were paid.

The Chairman said the Commission had already given it as their
opinion, in their report, that the Crown, having availed itself of the
statutory licence, compensation should be such as would be given in
the case of a willing licensor and licensee.

The Attorney -General said that the Commission would be ready
to disregard the Marconi Company's table, in which the selling price
of £805 per kW had been arrived at by selling to foreign Govern-
ments, which he did not think had any possibility of providing
themselves with the necessary sets. Nearly all the relevant figures
in the company's tables had been made use of for enhancing the

proposed royalty. In one item (No. 1 003) the price was given as
•£300, but it had to be admitted that where tnere were a large
number of sales the price was £165.

The Attorney-General had not concluded his speech when the
Commission adjourned until Monday next.

Hamilton v. Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company.

In this case plaintiff appealed to the Court of Appeal (Lords
Justices Bankes, Warrington and Scrutton) on Monday and Tuesday
against an order of the Lord Chief Justice staying all proceedings
in the action.

Mr. Hamilton, who appeared in person in support of his appeal,
said the Lord Chief Justice had refused to allow the action to be
tried in his court before the jury were sworn.

Mr. Hogg, K.C. (for defendants), said that was on a preliminary
objection. He (counsel) objected to the action being tried before
the jury upon the gi'ound that the action was to rescind the agreement
of May, 1920, made between Mr. Hamilton and the defendant, and
that that agreement had been the subject of an action in the Chancery
Division, in which defendants had sued Mr. Hamilton to restrain
him from referring to the agreement or certain other documents in
breach of his covenant, and that there had been an undertaking given
by Mr. Hamilton (who was then represented by Mr. Upjohn, K.C.)
to the court under which Mr. Hamilton undertook that he would
not refer to the contents of the agreement or publish it, or repeat
any part of it to anybody. His (counsel's) objection was that as long
as that undertaking stood it would be contempt of court to break
it, and that Mr. Hamilton's right course must be to get rid of the
undertaking before he sought to open an action in which he was
attacking the agreement itself.

In the result their Lordships held the order of the Lord Chief
Justice was too wide, and made an order staying the proceedings in
the present action for one month to enable Mr. Hamilton to bring a
fresh action in the Chancery Division, if he thought fit, for the
purpose of getting relief from his undertaking and for rescission of
the agreement. A special order as to costs was made.

Collision ^th Unlighted Tramcar.

At York County Court recently, Robt. Whitehead, a taxicab
])roprietor, was awarded £100 damages against York Corporation on
account of a collision with a tramcar. Plaintiff's case was that on
the night of Nov. 11 one of his drivers was going round a sharp
curve into Holgate-road andcrashed into a stationary tramcar with-
out lights. The trolley pole had become detached, and the head
had fallen, disconnecting the overhead wire and extinguishing all
the car lights. It was submitted that the Corporation were liable
through the negligence of their servants in not taking steps to ensure
the safety of people lawfully using the highway.

For the defence it was argued that if plaintiff's servant was
driving so fast that he could not pull up it was not fair to mulct the
Corporation in damages. Not ten seconds lad elapsed before the
(;ar was plunged in darkness and the collision, and the Corporation's
servants had not had time to do anything.

His Honour (Judge McCarthy) said the first dut-"^ of defendants'
servants was to go to the corner and warn the traffic. He accepted
plaintiff's story that there was time. He thought defendants were
liable, and gave judgment for plaintiff accordingly.

Miller v. Lanarkshire Tramways Company.

Sheriff Shennan has awarded £60 to William Miller, miner, as
damages for injuries sustained through being knocked dowm by one
of defendants' tramoars. Miller, who was marching with a band,
was struck from behind and knocked down. His Lordship found
negligence by the tramway driver in trying to pass the band at
the wrong moment.

Trade Improving.

The pessimism which has been expressed on the publication of
the export and import FiGirRES FOR Februaky seems a little unjusti-
fied, for though, compared with January, both imports and exports
have declined, it must be remembered that February is the shortest
month in the year, and this year had two working days less than
January. This difference largely discounts the reduction recorded,
even when the continual fall of prices is taken into consideration.
This fall in prices is an important factor m any comparison that
is made with the figures of the corresponding month last year, and
to make such comparison except on the basis of quantities is alto-
gether misleading. On this latter basis the figures are, in certain
respect, very satisfactory. The export of coal has risen from
1 729 148 tons in February last year to 4 014 334 tons in February of
this year. Iron and steel scrap nas risen from 289 tons to 4 754 tons,
a figure in excess of that obtained in February, 1920, when the
boom was still in being. The export of copper is slightly in excess
of that of the corresponding month of last year, though it is below
the figure reached in February, 1920. Rlathinery, on the other
hand, is still slightly below that of February, 1921, the figures being
34 884 tons as compared with 41 917 tons. In the staple industries,
in which electrical engineers are not directly interested, but which
are indirectly of great importance to them, far greater consignmente
of their products were sent abroad last month than in 1921. The
outlook therefore gives rise to no pessimism, and if labour troubles
could be composed the development should be correspondingly satis-
factory during the coming months.

March 17, 1922

The Electrician.

325

Electricity Supply.

Blackpool Electricity Works are expected to realise a eurplus
of ±)10 000 on the current year's working.

The Galvvay electricity plant has been destroyed by fire, damage
to the extent of £15 000 having been caused.

Mr. J. H. Clothier, electrical engineer to St. Anne's Council,
reports that during January the department connected fifty-six new
lighting and thirty-four power consumers.

Teiunmouth Urban Council have accepted the offer of the newly-
formed Electric Lighting Company for public lighting for five years,
at £4 per 100 c.p. lamp per annum and £6 per 250 c.p. lamp.

Waterloo-with-Seaforth Council are pressing Liverpool Corpora-
tion for the same terms for the supply of electricity as they are
charging in Liverpool, Bootle, and other districts within the
extended area of supply.

Mr. T. McLeod, the Sheriff, has been appointed chairman of the
newly appointed Electricity Committee of Hlxl Corporation. Mr.
Pearlman, who took a prominent part in the impeachment of the
old committee, has accepted the position of deputy-chairman.

It is reported that there is every likelihood of an amalgamation
between the Wirral Railway and the London and North-Western
Railway. According to the " Liverpool Courier," the scheme for
electrification proposed by the Wirral Railway in 1900, when they
were empowered to raise £300 000 for the purpose, will very pos-
sibly follow the taking over of the line by L. and N.W. Railway.

Burnley Paper Works Company have applied to the Corpora-
tion for a supply of electricity. Special terms have been quoted
for 300 H.p. during a 24-hour6' day, and the engineer will lay the
mains should these be accepted. A revised supply agreement has been
made with J. Hargreaves, Ltd., of Bank Hall Colliery. The price
per unit has been increased from 0'8d. to l"02d., and a coal clause
has been inserted in the agreement.

Belfast Ministry of Commerce has appointed the following to
be Electricity Commissioners for Northern Ireland under the Elec-
tricity (Supply) Acts, 1882 to 1919 :— Mr. Cecil Litchfield (chair-
man), permanent secretary. Ministry of Commerce; Mr. Walter
Abbott; Mr. G. H. Edmiston Parr. Mr. F. W. Parkinson has
been appointed electricity consultant and adviser to the Commis-
sioners and the Ministry of Commerce.

The deputation from Glasgow Corporation, which recently visited
London for the purpose of inspecting the lighting arrangements, has
issued its report. After describing the methods employed in the
City of London, it is pointed out that little or nothing has been
done in the way of improvement on the system adopted in 1914,
though that was good. In the City of Westminster experiments
are made with gasfilled electric lamps in refractor bowls, but
their method of use did not give the best results from the appliances
installed. In many of the smaller London boroughs experiments are
also being made with gasfilled lamps for public lighting. In
Glasgow nearly 500 miles of streets have to be dealt with. Liver-
pool approximates to the position at Glasgow so far as street light-
ing is concerned, but it has no stair lighting, and the stair lighting
forms a big part of Glasgow's lighting responsibilities. The deputa-
tion note with satisfaction that Glasgow lighting, taken as a whole,
is equal to any lighting seen in the United Kingdom, except some
of the main London thoroughfares, where the traffic is heavy.

Newr Schemes and Mains Extensions.

The scheme to supply Mumbles with electricity has been deferred
for three months.

Warrington Corporation has received sanction to borrow the
money required for the erection of a sub-station at Latchford
Without.

Southport electrical engineer (Mr. E. Moxon) has been authorised
to alter the supply to two local companies from single-phase to Ihree-
phase. An additional transformer is to be obtained from the Brush
Electrical Engineering Company at a cost of £360.

Torquay Corporation are seeking leave to introduce a Bill for
powers to acquire the Newton Abbot undertaking of the Urban
Electric Supply Company, to extend the Corporation's area of electri-
city supply to Newton Abbot and the adjoining rural district, &c.

Accrington Town Council are about to supply the residents of
Oswaldtwistle with current on terms 5 per cent, higher than the
charges made in the borough to cover the additional cost incurred.
Steps are now being taken to obtain the necessary statutory authority.

Alteration of Charges.

Fulham Council propose to reduce the charge for electricity from
7d. to 6d. per unit.

Walthamstow Urban Council have reduced the charge for electri-
city from 8d. to 7^d. per unit.

Hampstead Borough Council are reducing the price of electricity
to private consumers from 8d. to 7d. per unit.

Canterbury Town .Council have reduced the charge for current for
power by ^d. per unit, as from April 1 next.

Electricity charges at Long Eaton have been reduced from 8d. to
7d. for lighting and from 3d. to 2^d. for power.

The price of electricity at Hebden Bridge is to be reduced by Id.
per unit for power and ^d. per unit for lighting.
E 2

Stockport Town Council have increased the minimum charge to
consumers of electricity to £2 IDs. per annum.

Toneuidge Urban Council have reduf^ed the price of electricity for
lighting by Id. per unit for six months from April.

The price of electricity for lighting in Plymouth is to be reduced
by a halfpenny a unit from the March meter readings.

Leici ster Electricity Committee recommend a reduction in the
charge for power from 133^ per cent, to 100 per cent, over pre-war
rates.

Heywood Corporation have reduced the charges for lighting from
70 to 50 per cent, and for power from 80 to 60 per cent, above pre-
war rates.

Sheffield Town Council have agreed to make a standard charge
of 2d. per unit for all buildings and institutions in the city
supported by the rates.

Lynn Town Council have agreed, as from the March meter
readings, to reduce by ^d. per unit the charges for lighting and to
cancel the last increase of 5 per cent, made to power consumers.

As from April 1, the charges for electricity at W^eymouth will be
reduced as follows: — Lighting, from lOd. to 9d., with discount;
power, from 32d. to 3d., with discount; public lighting, from 5' 3d.
to 4-9d.

Hammersmith Borough Council have made a reduction in the
charges for electricity for lighting and power from the March meter
readings. In future a minimum yearly charge of £1 per consumer
will be made.

Poplar Council Electricity Comirittee recommend that from the
meter readings in March the present charges for electricity of
85 per cent, above pre-war rates for power and public lighting and
70 per cent, for private and domestic supplies be reduced to an
all-round charge of 50 per cent, above pre-war rates.

Sunderland Corporation have reduced its charges for electricity
by I85 per cent, to h.t. and II5 per cent, to certain l.t. consumers,
and by 65 per cent, to the tramways. The chairman of the Electri-
city Committee has given an undertaking to consider a reduction to
ordinary domestic consumers after the end of the financial year.

Glasgow Electricity Committee have decided to reduce the
charges for electricity as follows {—Lighting : maximum demand
from 6d. to 5d. and from 2d. to l^d. for rebate rate. Domestic
consumers, churches and schools : from S^d. to ^^A. Power : maxi-
mum demand from 2|d. to 2^A., and for rebate rate from l|d. to
Ijd. and from Ijd. to l^d. These reductions vary from 17 per cent,
to 25 per cent, on present rates, and will amount to £217 000. They
will take effect as from the May meter readings.

As from the March meter readings the following charges for electri-
city at Stepney will become effective : — (a) The secondary charges
for lighting purposes under scales A, C and F, and the charge under
scale G, to be l^d. per unit; [h) the charge for power and heating
under scale B to be l^d. per unit; (c) the charges for electricity
supplied and meter rent for lighting to be 35-5 P^r cent., instead of
50 per cent, above pre-war charges; and [d] for power, heating, and
private bulk supplies 25 per cent, instead of 50 per cent.

Dublin Electricity Committee recommend the following alterations
in the electricity charges, as for the March meter readings : —
(a) Abolition of the 10 per cent, addition to accounts, where in
force ; (b) reduction of the fixed rates (for theatres and other
special consumers) by approximately Id. per unit; (c) reduction of
the special charges for large consumers by approximately 10 per
cont., this being in addition to the 10 per cent, already mentioned:
(d) increase of the allowance for combined lighting and heating
from ^d. to ^d. per unit ; (e) the fixing of the maximum price at
9d. for all general consumers. With regard to power charges, there
will be a reduction of ^d. per unit in a'most all cases, and the
Committee also recommend substantial reductions in the meter rents.
&c. The reductions represent a decrease in total revenue of
£30 000 for the twelve months, apart from a reduction in street
lighting of £3 000.

Institution Notes.

At a meeting of the West of Scotland and Ayrshire branches of
the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers, held in Glasgow,
on Saturday, a paper on the Clyde Valley Electrical Power Com-
pany's system was read by Mr. A. E. !M'Coll.

A meeting of the Electrical Soctety of Glasgow will be held in
Reid's Tea Rooms, 34, Gordon-street, Glasgow, on Tuesday next, at
7.30 p.m., when a Paper on "Organisation" will be read by Mr.
Percy J. Sims, manager for Scotland, General Electric Company.

A special general meeting of the members and associates of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers will be held at the Institution
Building, Savoy-place, London, on the 23rd inst., at 5.45 p.m., for
the purpose of passing formal resolutions authorising the Council
to borrow from the Alliance Assurance Company the sums of £16 340
and £7 500 by way of mortgages on the Institution Building at
Savoy-place and on the freehold and leasehold property of the Insti-
tution iii Toth ill-street, Westminster, respet^-tively. in substitution
for the. present mortgages to the comparv, upon which the same
amount is now due. Subsequently a further meeting confined to
corporate membere \v\\\ be held to consider and adopt bye-laws for
the Chartered Institution.

320

The Electrician.

March 17, 1922

Electric Traction.

For the nine months ended Dec. 31 tliere was a loss of £17 000
on the East Ham Municipal Tramways.

The Beach Committee of BoiiRNEMotrrH Corporation again recom-
mend the provision of two electric runabouts, as they would be
cheaper and more convenient than petrol vehicles on the front.

The petition of Wandsworth Borough Council against the Bill
promoted by the L.C.C. to introduce trackless trolley 'buses at
Lewisiiam was disallowed by the Court of Refereee at the House of
Commons last week.

The net amount, taken on the St. Anne's tramways for the year to
the end of January last was £45 666. against £47 481 for the pre-
vious year. A sum of £24 581 was paid to Blackpool Corporation in
respect of the service in their borough.

At the International Railway Congress, which is to be opened
in Rome on April 18, under the presidency of M. Tondelier, of the
Belgian State Railways, a large number of subjects relating to the
improvement and development of railways will be discussed. The
work of the Congress will be divided into five sections. Section II.
includes electric traction, and in Section V. various aspects of light
railway working will be dealt with. Various excursions have been
arranged, and on Saturday, April 22, the delegates will visit the
steel, hydro-electric, and carbide of calcium works at Terni.

A deficiency of £18 000 on the L.C.C. Tramways account was
carried to the accounts for 1920-21, but counsel has advised that the
Council had no power to raise in the rates levied in the year moneys
to meet an estimated future deficiency on tramways. The district
auditor, supported by the Minister of Health, maintained that the
deficiency should have been transferred forthwith to the special
county account, and it has, therefore, been decided to adopt this
course, but the Highways Committee remain of opinion that their
former practice was, from the point of view of accountancy, correct.

The Joint Industrial Council for the Tramways Industry decided
last week to revise the 1919 agreement. Under the new arrange-
ment, which will take effect from the first full pay period after
April 17, the average duty schedule will be forty-eight hours for a
week of six days. No schedule will be less than forty-four hours,
nor more than fifty-two. On the question of spread-overs, each
authority is to deal with the matter in conference with the local
representatives of the trade miion. With regard to "spare men,"
when a man is called out he is to be paid for a minimum of four
hours for the first call and two hours for each succeeding call in the
day. Holidays have been fixed at eight days annually, with pay,
after twelvemonths' continuous service, Christmas Day to be worked
when required, and double ordinary week-day rates paid for time
actually worked. The new overtime rates are time and a quarter for
the first two hours, land time and a half afterwards. The agreement
will be terminable upon three months' notice from either side.

Personal and Appointments.

Capt. F. H. Masters, O.B.E., T.D., has been gazetted Major in
the Territorial Army Reserve.

Dover Town Council has appointed Mr. D. Powell junior charge
engineer at the electricity works.

Sir Arthur Whitten Brown (who made the memorable Atlantic
flight) has been appointed consulting engineer to the Instone Air
Line.

A new lectureship in the Faculty of Engineering in the utilisation
of water power has been instituted at University College, London,
and Mr. Theodore Stevens has been appointed.

Mr. F. R. Anderton has been elected Chairman of the London
County Council for the ensuing year. Mr. H. C. Gooch is vice-
chairman, and Miss Nettie Adler deputy-chairman of the Council.

Business Items, &c.

As from the 20th inst. the address of Holder-Harriden, Ltd
will be Noble House, 35-37, Noble-street, London, E.G. 2.

From to-day (Friday) the address of the Enterprise Manu-
facturing Company will be Electric House, Grape-street, Shaftes-
bury-avenue, London, W.C. 2. Telephone : Gerrard 3 018 and 3 019.

In connection with the liquidation of the Wilson-Wolf Engineer-
ing Company, Pooley & Austin announoe that un ler the reconstruc-
tion scheme they have been re-appointed tiie sole J/Oiidou agents for
the new firm, and will continue to supply fract onal horse-power
motors from stock in London or direct from the works as hitherto.
They hope to have the complete original programme, which embraces
all sizes for both a.c. and d.c. from 1-30 h.p. up to ^ h.p., in pro-
duction within the next few months.

The Spearing Boiler Company, Ltd., and Tinkers, Ltd., Daisy-
field Boiler Works, Hyde, near Manchester, have come to an arrange-
ment under which the Spearing Boiler Company acquire the con-
trolhng interest in Messrs. Tinker's. The Spearing water-tube
boiler will in future be made at the works of Tinkers, Ltd., where
it is proposed to carry out large extensions to cope with the
rapidly growing demand for the boiler. Mr. Spearing will join the
board of Tinker's, Ltd., as chairman, and Mr. Frank Tinker will
continue to act as managing director.

Narrandera (N.S.W.) Council have taken over the eloctricitv
works from Wise Brothers, who have supplied electricity in the town
under a contract for the last seven years.

Telegraph and Wireless Notes.

The director ,of the Military Wireless Service has informed the
Academy of Science that the transmitting energy of the Eiffel
Tower Wireless Station will shortly be made much more powerful.

During the violent gales which swept over Southern England and
the English Channel on Tuesday night and Wednesday last week
wireless was the only method of communication with the Conti-
nent, and was not interrupted. The steamboat and air services were
suspended, and telegraph and telephone communications were re-
duced to very small dimensions.

In connection with the proposal of the President of the United
States to issue regulations regarding amateur wireless telegraphy,
General Squiers, head of the Army Communications, states that
within a few hours he had received formal protests from the Govern-
ments of Australia and New Zealand against the activities of a
Californian amateur, who, in broadcasting the dulcet notes of a
concert held in Santa Catalina, had brought the official communica-
tions of these Governments to a standstill for many hours.

Plans for the distribution or all the ex-German cables have been
presented to the Ambassadors of Great Britain, France, Italy, and
Japan by INIr. Fletcher, \he U.S.A. Secretary of State, in his capacity
as chairman of the International Conference upon Communications.
The proposal has not. yet been made public, and it is understood that
its acceptance depends largely upon the attitude of France, as
apparently it is acceptable to the other members of the Conference.
It is understood that Italy will be allotted the Liberia-Brazil cable,
and will be allowed a sufficient cash grant to lay a branch line con-
necting it up with Genoa. Japan is not taking part in the discus-
sions, as she will accept any agreed division of the cables.

Obituary.

The death is announced of Mr. Percy Foulds, who was in busi-
ness as an electrical engineer and contractor, at Heaton Moor,
Stockport.

The death has occurred, at Port Glasgow, at the age of 73, of
Mr. Matthew Blackwood, one of the pioneers in West Scotland
of X-ray and electrical treatmertt. Mr. Blackwood was the founder,
and latterly principal partner, of Blackwood and Co., saw millers.

We regret to announce the death of Dr. Augustus D. Waller,
F.R.S. , M.D., Director of the Physiological Laboratory, Univer-
sity of London. Deceased, who was a great authority on electro-
physiology, was the inventor of an electro-cardiograph. He
conducted many researches, and he was the author of several
publications on physiology. Dr. Waller was born in Paris, and was
68 years of age.

The death is announced, at the age of fifty-two, of Mr. J. J.
Walklate, General Controller and Town Clerk of Auckland, New
Zealand. He went out to New Zealand to take charge of the City of
Auckland Electric Tramways, Ltd., a concern that was later
absorbed by the City of Auckland Corporation. Mr. Walklate was
associated with the early development of electric street traction,
having been engaged under Mr. Alfred Dickinson, of London and
Birmingham, in the construction of the Darlaston and Walsall Tram-
way, claimed to be the first overhead electric tramway in this coimtry.
Later he was I'esident engineer for the Douglas and Laxey Electric
Tramway, the Kidderminster and District Tramways, and the
Potteries Electric Traction Company, He was a Staffordshire man.

Standard Starters.

At the last meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers
valuable Papers on " ^lotor Starters " were read, and the opportunity
was taken by INIr. C. H. Wordingh,\m to present for discussion six
draft British standard specifications for motor starters. These were
submitted to members for criticism, and some useful points were
raised. It was decided to adjourn the discussion of the specifica-
tions until Thursday, March 23. It is hoped that as many as possible
of thase interested in the manufacture, use and export of motor
starters will make a point of attending and giving tbeir views on
these specifications in order to assist the committee to complete
them on a satisfactorv basis for all concerned.

German Engineers in Australia.

The Chief Victorian Electricity Commissioner (Sir John Monash)
has issued a statement regarding the refusal of the Australian
Federal Government to permit German experts to enter Australia
and supervise the erection of the coal briqueti'ing plant, which
has been ordered from a firm at Halle (Germany), at a cost of about
£100 000, for the Morwell Coaij'ield. The EJectricity Commission
have satisfied themselves that the undertaking cannot be launched
without such guidance, in the absence of w^iich there would bo
danger to the workmen and the plant. Sir John Monash adds that it
is high time the public of Australia realised that the growth of
native industries depends far more upon the acquisition from abroad
ot expert and scientific knowledge and experience than upon t-ariffs.

Since the above statement was issued, the Commonwealth Govern-
ment has given permission for six German engineers to enter
Australia and supervise the erection of the plant, as proposed by the
Commis6ionei"6.

The annual meeting of the Batti-Wallah's Society will take place
on Monday, jNInrch 20, at 2.30 p.m., at the Holborn Restaurant, and
will be preceded by the abandoned (revived?) monthly lunch at
one o'clock.

March 17, 1922

The Electrician.

327

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.

County of London Electric.

After dealing with the report and accounts (Electrician,
March 10) at the annual meeting of the County of London Electric
Supply Company on Tuesday, Sir Harry Renvvick (chairnnan and
managing director), who presided, speaking of the general progress
of the company, said that the units sold during the year were
51 220 079, an increase of 1 666 856 over 1920. The applications re-
ceived for new business amounted to the equivalent of an additional
6 098 kW. The company was now rapidly approaching a total of
100 000 kW, and the total number of consumers supplied directly or
indirectly was now well over 43 000. A further stage had been
reached regarding the proposed station at Barking, the Commis-
sioners havmg at last issued their draft consent for the company to
proceed with the work. Their new Act had materially strengthened
the company's position, and would be of great assistance in raising
of funds and in disposing of certain difficulties in carrying out the
actual works at Barking. Referring to the Electricity Bill, the chair-
man said there was much in it that was useful, and should assist in
the development of the electric supply industry, particularly in the
provinces. The clauses dealing with finance would no doubt be the
subject of much discussion and, possibly, amendment. The clause
dealing with the erection of railway generating stations would, how-
ever, give rise to direct opposition, and certainly as the clause stood
drastic amendments were needed. The clause, so far as it permitted
the erection of separate generating stations, was obviously an anomaly
in a Bill the principal aim of which was centralisation and pooling of
supplies. He was confident that the Government and the Electricity
Commissioners realised the great work that private enterprise had
performed hitherto in developing electricity supply, and that recent
events had taught them that the wheels of trade could only be set
going, and the industries of the country developed, by encouraging
private enterprise. The Electricity Commissioners were admittedly
rendering a great service to the community. The task they had
entered upon of reorganising the electricity supply of the countr%'
presented enormous difficulties, and all who had the real interests of
the industry- at heart would give Sir John Snell and his colleagues
their most loyal support. He, the chairman, had taiken a personal
interest in the Trade Facilities Act, and had been actively engaged
in securing for electric supply companies participation in the benefits
and advantages given under that Act. At the present moment the
Advisory Committee had before them applications for assistance from
electric supply companies to the extent of several millions, and some
of those applications put forward by himself on behalf of the pro-
vincial undertakings had already been granted.

Telegraph Construction and Maintenance.

In the course of his speech at the annual meeting of the Tele-
graph Construction and Maintenance Company last week, Mr.
Colin F. Campbell, who presided (in the absence of the chairman,
who is in Africa), said that the heavy fall in the price of raw
materials which had taken place in 1920 had continued in a lesser
degree throughout 1921, but none of the raw materials with which
they were most concerned had yet reached the pre-war figures. It
might be argued that this fall was all to their advantage, which in
a sense was true, but in a company such as theirs considerable stocks
had always to be maintained, with the consequence that if prices
continued to fall from one level to another, confidence in the stability
of prices was apt to be shaken. They were fortunate last year in
being able to keep their works and ships fairly well occupied, and
they had little doubt that when trade revived they should be able
to secure a fair share of the business to be done. Turning to
the report and balance-sheet, the Chairman said the net profit was
£120 880, an increase of £10 693 on 1920. The capital was still at
£896 400. Debts owing by the company and reserves for insurance
and contingencies (£1528 331) were lower by £354 220 than last
year. The reserve fund was £160 000, and it was being built up
at the rate of £20 000 a vear. The balance at credit of the profit and
lo.ss (£213 858) was £11 241 better than last year. On the other
side of the balance-sheet, property, including stocks, amounted to
£1 149 208. This was £402 770 down, mostly the result of the fail
in prices of materials, which still continued.

The company's output of submarine cable was less thsm in 1920,
due to the coal strike, which for some time restricted supplies of
wire, and their turnover was also down, both from the same cause
and from the general fall in prices. The good result of the year's
working was due to appreciation of investments. During the war
and since, every year had shown a fall in the value of the company's
securities, averaging about £50 000 a year, which had to be allowed
for before arriving at their net profits. That absorbed all the divi-
dends or interest on the investments, and in some years considerably
more. "The beginning of 1921 seemed to have been the low-water
mark with gilt-edged securities, and by Dec. 31 last there was a
general rise, which had helped verv much with this year's accounts.
Out of the profit of £120 880 they" proposed to pav £89 640 in divi-
dends, adding £20 000 to reserve" and £10 000 to the pension fund,
which would leave £1 240 to increase the carry forward.

Underground Electric Railways.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the Underground Electric
Railways Company of London last week. Lord Ashfield (the chair-
man of the company) said that the year 1921 had been a successful
one for the operating companies, especially if compared with those
which preceded it, and in particular with 1920. The present year
would show a substantial fall in expenditure, as within the last few
months there had been a decided drop in various items. Tyres had

dropped 23 per cent., coal 41 per cent., and petrol 10 per cent.
If expenditure was falling, so also was the traffic. The first 6e\en
weeks of 1921, compared with the same period of last year, showed
that passengers had fallen by about 4 660 000 and traffic receipts by
about £189 000. The fall of nearly 10 per cent, in receipts wais
explained l>y the continuing depression in trade and industrj', by
the lowering of the fares on omniljuses and tramways, and by the
widespread lack of money to spend upon anything but the necessities
of livelihood. lieferririg to the propf)sais made on behalf of the
London Electric and the City and South London Railways to the
Advisory Committee under the Trade Facilities Act of fast year,
Lord Ashfield said these proposals aimed at securing from the
Government a guarantee as to principal and interest upon a capital
sum not exceeding £5 000 000, which was to be expended upon the
reconstruction to a larger size and re-equipment of the City and
South London line, the construction of connecting lines at Camden
Town with the Hampstead section of the l^mAon Electric Railway,
and the extension of the latter railway from Golders Green to
Edgware. He could not disclose the terms, as thev were etill undw
discussion, but he assured the shareholders that, taken over the series
of years to be covered by the proposals, they should not be disadvan-
tageous to the railway companies. The problem, which rested with
the boards of the companies to decide, was whether the possible
additional cost of the works carried out at once was offset by the
reduced interest cost of the capital attributable to the Government
guarantee, for the final cost to the companies was a combination of
these two factors. There was no question that the works themselves
were essential parts of a complete scheme of traffic facilities for
London and were much overdue.

Mersey Railw^ay.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of the Mersey
Railway Company, Mr. James Falconer (the chairman) said that it
was a special satisfaction to the board to be able to report that the
company had at last reached the stage of being able to pay in full
the interest on all its debenture stocks. The debenture holders
would, he hoped, recognise that the board, so far as the debentures
were concerned, had carried out the programme laid down in 1900.
when it was resolved to adopt electric traction, and the scheme of
arrangement was entered into. On the other hand, the shareholders
must recognise the sacrifices made by the holders of the contingent
debentures in reducing the interest upon their stocks and making its
payment contingent upon the profits of each separate year, without
which the scheme could not have been carried out. The result now-
reached had been arrived at by a continuous process of development,
accomplished in the face of many difficulties. The development
began in 1903 with the adoption of electric traction, and was main-
tained down to 1913, when they were within sight of being able to
pay their interests in full. In 1902 the surplus of receipts over
working costs was only £3 715. In 1913 the corresponding figure was
£58 345, an increase of £54 630. In 1914 came the war and Govern-
ment control, and the financial progress of the company was arrested
for seven years. The installation of automatic signalling was now
completed, and had been in operation for several months. It had
proved itself to be of importance in increasing the capacity of the
train service and maintaining its punctuality, and the company was
advised that it provided an additional safeguard against the risk of
accidents. Continuing, the Chairman said he thought they had
placed the company upon its feet financially, and had established
what had been authoritatively described as a world's record for the
benefits to be derived from electrical working. The accounts of the
company were dealt with in our issue of March 3.

British Mannesmann Tube.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the British M.\nntesmann
Ti^BE Comp.\ny last week, Mr. R. S. Guinness, the deputy-chairman,
said that the offer made by Baldwins, Ltd., to their shareholders
had been accepted to the extent of upwards of 91 per cent, of 'he
issued capital, but the reconstituted board had only been in charge
of operations for a small part of the year under review. The stocks
had been written down heavily to bring them into line with market
values at June 30, 1921. An adveroe balance on profit and loss
account would have resulted, but the amoiuit they were able to bring
to the credit of revenue through the adjustment of excess profits duty
had counteracted the abnormal depreciation of stocks. In their
profits there was a decrease of some £95 000. due largely to the
heavy depreciation he had referred to. Duri.ig the first half of the
year operations had been very successful, but in the second half the
company had suffered very much from depression in trade, with the
consequent cutting of selling prices. They had. however, been able
to keep their works in operation, although output showed a consider-
able falling away. The board were doing everything possible to
bring down expenses and so reduce the cost of production. Orders,
however, were both scai'ce and keenly competed for, and it was
difficult to see any signs of encouragement at present. The whole
question with regard to writing off allowances on capital expenditure
had been finally arranged with the Inland Revenue.

Charing Cross, West End and City Electricity Supply.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of the Ch.*rikc.
Cross, West End and City EiJ:cTRtcrrY Supply Comp.vny last week.
Mr. W. F. Fladgate (chairman of the company), said that against
the difficulties of the last year it was satisfactory to record that
on the combined undertakings there had been an addition
of over 90 000 lamps connected and an increase in sales of
over half a million units, and the cost of generation had
been materially reduced since the delivery of the new plant.

328

The Electrician.

March 17, 1922

After dealing with the accounts, an abstract of which we gave in
our last issue, the Chairman referred to the corporation tax. He
said that up to the present the company, being a public utility com-
pany, was exempt from this tax, but after December it became
operative upon them. Having regard to the fact that they were
subject to a fixed rate of charge, it appeared extremely unfair that
electricity companies should be saddled with the tax, and they were
taking joint steps to endeavour to get a further exemption.

Harrow Electric Light and Power.

Mr. J. N. Stuart presided at the annual meeting of the Harrow
Electric Light and Power Company. The balance to the credit
of the net revenue account, including the sum of £662 brought for-
ward from 1920, and after deducting debenture interest and the
interim dividend on the preference shares, was £3 674, which the
directors recommended should be dealt with as follows : in payment
of the final dividend on the preference shares, £375; in payment of
a dividend on the ordinary shares at the rat© of 7 per cent, per
annum, £2 333, leaving a balance to be carried forward of £965. ,
The chairman said there had been an addition of about 200 new
consumers during the year, a record number, and an increase in
the sales of electricity of 87 000 units above the last or any previous
year, while the revenue had increased £3 180 above that of 1920.
The gross profit was £9 530, against £7 765, or 8^ per cent, on the
capital expenditure. During the year they had substituted for the
old steam-driven plant three rotary converters, driven off the bulk
supply obtained from the North Metropolitan Company, The new
plant purchased cost £7 500, but this had been met out of the sums
put aside for depreciation in previous years, to which £5 000 was
added during the current year. A further generating set was on
order, to be m readiness for next winter's load, and the heavy work
of strengthening their mains was continuing to be carried out.
During the past few months there had been a few short interrup-
tions of the supply, due to old bitumen cables laid many years ago
breaking down. The company had for some time past been gradually
replacing these cables with new paper-insulated and steel-armoured
cable, which had proved to be more durable in Harrow soil.

London and Suburban Traction.

In moving the adoption of the report and accounts at the annual
meeting of the London KiiiT> StrBURBAN Traction Company last week,
Lord Ashfield, who presided, said that the directors were able to
recommend a dividend on the five per cent, cumulative preference
shares for the first time since 1917 at the rate of Z^ per cent, in
respect of arrears, being the balance of 2^ per cent, for 1917 and
1 per cent, on account of 1918. This improved position of the com-
pany was due to the increased net earnings of the tramway and
omnibus companies in which they were interested. The traffic
receipts of the tramways increased from £1 566 000 in 1920 to
£1 722 000 in 1921. The operating expenses were only slightly
higher, with the result that the operating balance of the three com-
panies was £350 000, compared with £214 000. The passengers
carried were 190 000 000 in 1921, being nearly 17 000 000 less than
in the previous year. This falling off was largely due to the general
trade depression and the prolonged coal strike. The fact that, not-
withstanding the fall in traffic, the net earnings showed a substan-
tial improvement was attributable to the increase in fares which took
place in 1920, and the considerable economies which had been effected
in general working. The decrease in wages which took place towards
the latter part of the year, the introduction of labour-saving and
power-saving devices, and generally improved methods of working
had not only counteracted the loss in traffic, but had increased the
net income of the companies.

Oxford Electric.

Presiding over the meeting of the Oxford Electric Company on
Friday, the chairman (Sir Henry Manoe) congratulated the ehare-
holders on the company's increased revenue. They were maintaining
the dividend at 5 per cent, and placing £Ji 000 to reserve, against
£2 000 last year. The long-continued coal strike cost the company,
one way and another, £4 000 to £5 000. Up to the present no eteps
had been taken to form an ek'ctrical area in their part of England.
They occupied an isolated position, and he did not think there was
any probability of their being approached by the Electricity Commis-
sioners for a considerable time, but any suggestions made to them
in the future would receive the directors' careful consideration. If
the Commissioners should desire, in the course of a few years, to
supply them with electricity at a cheaper rate than the company
could generate it themselves, they would natural'y wish to become
their customers, but if this were not to be they v.ould have to take
timely precautions to provide themselves with generating plant to
meet the increasing demand. He took it that the company would
always remain the distributing agency, and so, as the demand
increased, they would have to go on extending their mains.

Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire.

Presiding at the annual mooting of the ELECTUifAL DiSTRiinTTiON
OF YoHKSiriRE (Ltd.) last week, the chairman, Mr. R. W. Wickhani.
said that during the year over £40 000 had boon expended in capital
extensions, and in order to cover their commitments to bankers, and
to provide for furtlier extensions, it was proposed to issue about
50 000 shares of £1 each, being the balance of the authorised nominal
capital, and, as they had close business iclations with the Yorkshire
Electric Power Company, it was proposed to extend the privilege of
taking an inteiest in the distribution company to shareholders of the
power company. This was the tenth year in succession for which a
dividend of 6 per cent., fre^ of tax, had been paid. The increase in

the rate of income tax had, in effect, meant an increase in the rate
of dividends, but the board had carefully reviewed the position
established by the company, and intended, vuiless the unexpected
happened, to recommend a higher rate of dividend next year. An
abstract of the accounts was given in The Electrician of March 3.

The American Telephone & Telegraph Company announce a
quarterly dividend of 2^ dollars.

The Mirrless Watson Company recommend a dividend of 10 per
cent, and a bonus of 2^ per cent., less tax.

The Shawinigan Water & Power Company have declared a divi-
dend of If per cent, for the quarter ending IMarch 31.

The directors of Stothert & Pitt announce an interim dividend
of Is. per share, tax free, on the ordinary shares.

The Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribxjtion
announce a dividend of 6 per cent., making 10 per cent, for the
year 1921.

The Mississippi River Power Company have declared a dividend
of I5 per cent, on the preferred stock, payable to holders of stock
on the 17th inst.

A meeting of the Argentine Tramways & Power Company is to
be held on the 22nd inst. to consider a scheme for the reorganisation
of the capital of the company.

The Brazilian Traction, Light and Power Company have
declared a quarterly dividend of 1^ per cent, on the cumulative pre-
ference shares to holders of record on March 15.

The Manilla Electric Corpor.^tion announce a quarterly dividend
of 1^ per cent. ($1.50 per share) on the common stock, payable in
New York to stockholders of record on the 20th inst.

The directors of the Direct Spanish Telegraph Company recom-
mend dividends for 1921 of 10 per cent, on the preference shares,
less tax, and 10 per cent, on the ordinary shares, tax free.

UxBRiDGE AND DISTRICT Electric Stjpply COMPANY rccommeud a
dividend of 8 per cent, on the ordinary shares for the year, against
4 per cent, last year. The sum of £10 000 is placed to depreciation
and £393 carried forward.

The following companies will be struck off the Register of
Joint Stock Companies unless cause to the contrary is shown before
June 10 : — Bright's Light & Power, Drycells, Electric Floor Machine
Company, London & Provincial Electric Company.

British Insulated and Helsby Cables annotmoe a further divi-
dend on the ordinary shares of 6g per cent, and a bonus of 5 per cent.,
making 15 per cent for 1921. The sum of £35 000 has been placed to
reserve for depreciation, leaving £362 000 to be carried forward.

The National Trust Company, 18, King-street East, Toronto, u
trustee for the 5 per cent, first mortgage thirty-year gold bonds of
the Electrical Development of Ontario, is prepared to receive up
to April 11 offers for the sale of the bonds to an extent to absorb
$78 205.

The report for 1921 of the Commonwealth Edison Company shows
gross income of $9 527 330, less deductions $1326 503, leaving
$8 200 827. Interest on funded debt amounted to $2 834 042, leaving
$5 365 785. Dividends paid absorbed $4 307126, leaving $1059 659
to be carried forward.

The accounts of the Mackay Companies for the year to Feb. Isl
show income from investments $4309 25 2. Dividends paid absorbed
$4 180 340. Operating expenses, including Federal income-tax,
transfer agents, salaries, etc., amorfnted to $82 771, leaving $46141
to be carried forward.

The net profit for 1921 of the Guernsey Railway, after allowing
for depreciation, renewals, income-tax, and various other charges,
was £2 255. After providing for the preference dividend, the direc-
tors recommend a dividend of 7^ on the ordinary shares, leaving
£602 to be carried forward.

The directors of the Canadian General Electric Cojipany, in
Toronto, have declared a quarterly dividend on the common stock
of 2 per cent, for the three months ending the 31st inst., being
at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, and a dividend on the pre-
ference stock of 3^ per cent, for the six months ending the
31st inst., being at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum.

Thos. W. Ward have decided not to pay an interim dividend on
the ordinary shares for the half-year ended December. The directors
state that various matters affecting taxation accounts remain to be
settled, and having regard to the depression in trade they consider
this course tr) be in the best interests of the company. Quarterly
dividends at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum on first and second
preference and employees' shares will be paid on the 31st inst.

The directors of Stew.\rts & Lt.oyds, after setting aside £70 000
for depreciation and providing for income and corporation taxes,
recommend, subject to audit, dividends for the half-year on the 6 per
cent. ]n-eferenco sliares and 10 per cent, preferred ordinary shares,
hotli less tax, on the deferred shares (fully paid) 2s., and a bonus of
6d. per share for the year, both free of tax, and on tlie deferred
shares, fully paid from Sept. 30. 1921, Is. 6d. and bonus of 4id.,
both free of tax. The sum of £230 000 has been placed to reserve,
£10 000 to employees' benefit reserve, leaving £180 000 to be carried
forward.

The accounts of Davis & Ti.mmins for 1921 show a loss of £12 850,
duo to depreciation in the value of stock. A claim for repayment of
excess profits duty in resard to this depreciation has been made to
the Inland Revenue aut^iorities. but no amount in respect of the
claim has been taken credit for in the present accounts. "The balance

March 17, 1922

The Electrician.

:^>29

brought in was £53 535. Deducl iiig loss, interim dividend on pre-
ference sharee and on ordinary shares at 6 per cent, per annum for
the half-year to June 30, and after placing £15 585 to income tax-
account in respect of 1920, there remains £21 891. The directors
propose to pay a balance dividend at 10 per cent, per annum on the
ordinary shares for the half-year to Dec. 31, making 8 per cent, for
the year, free of tax, carrying forward, subject to taxation, £17 741.

The net profit of Ferguson Pailin for the year ended Nov. 30 was
£19 638, making, with £7 937 brought in, £27 575. The directors
recommend a further dividend of 4^ per cent, on the preference
shares, making 7 per cent, for the year, and a further dividend of
9^ per cent, on the ordinary shares, making 13 per cent, for the
year. The sum of £2 000 has been placed to reeerve and £15 264
carried forward, subject to excess profits duty for two years to
Nov. 30, 1920, and corporation tax for two years to Nov. 30, 1921.

The accounte of Bruce, Peebles and Co. for 1921 show a profit,
including balance brought in, of £119 616. The sum of £82 221
has been placed to reserve, leaving £57 395 to be carried forward.
The directors recommend a dividend of 7^ per cent, per annum
on the preference shares for the half-year to December 31st, less
tax, with a further dividend of 2^ per cent, for the year, less tax,
making the full dividend of 10 per cent., and a dividend on the
ordinary shares for the year of 10 per cent., plus bonus of 5 per cent.,
less tax, leaving £7 919 to be carried forward.

Negotiations are taking place for the sale of the Toronto Power
Company to the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.
There has been competition between the company and the Com-
mission. The shareholders of the Toronto Street Railway Company
(who at present control the Power Company), realising the effect
of the competition upon the company's revenues, have approved the
proposed agreement. If the Power Company debenture-hoiders also
acquiesce they will, in the event of the sale being completed,
exchange their exis'ting guarantee for that of the Commission,
coupled with an unconditional guarantee from the Government of
Ontario.

Electrical Imports and Exports.

Imports. — The following are official values of electrical machinery,
apparatus, and material imported into this country [a) during
February, 1922, and {b) the aggi'egate figures from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28,
^ith increase or decrease compared with corresponding periods of
1921 :—

Electrical machinery, (a) £198 163 (increase £134101), [b) £245 034
(increase £69 971); telegraph and telephone cables, submarine, nil:
other than submarine, (o) £2 600 (decrease £7 069), (b) £6 097)
(decrease £19 423) ; telegraph and telephone apparatus, (a) £8 629
(decrease £17 248), (b) £25 824 (decrease £28 869); other electrical
wires and cables, rubber insulated, (a) £3 566 (decrease £41), (b)
£8 173 (increase £2 088); with other insulations, {a) MlQil (de-
crease £5 560), (b) £8 240 (decrease £11387); carbons, (a) £2 485
(decrease £7 833), [b] £5133 (decrease £23 293); glow lamps, (a)
£22 127 (increase £474), (6) £41 163 (decrease £209) ; arc lamps and
electric searchlights, (a) nil (decrease £829), (6) nil (decrease
£4 731); parts of arc lamps and searchlights (other than carbons),
(a) £571 (decrease £3 032), {b) £1138 (increase £2 623); batteries,
(o) £3 365 (decrease £8 494). {b) £7 015 (decrease £22 608); elec-
trical instruments, commercial and scientific, and electricity meters,

(a) £4 810 (decrease £20 886), (b) £10 643 (decrease £31382):
switchboards, [a] £20 (decrease £932). [b) £965 decrease £205);
other electrical goods and apparatus, (a) £36 561 (decrease £56 343).
{b) £86 761 (decrease £116 084). Total of electrical machinery,
apparatus, and material (other than uninsulated wfre), (a) £287 605
(increase £6 308), (b) £446186 (decrease £188 755).

Exports. — The exports of electrical machinery, apparatus, and
material {a) during February, 1922, and (b) from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28.
with increase or decrease compared with corresponding -periods of
1921, were as follows : —

Electrical machinery, (a) £384 015 (decrease £8 511). (b) £951 279
(increase £113 621) ; including railway and tramway motors, (a)
£15178 (increase £2 259), (b) £31056 (decrease £15 250): other
generators and motors, (o) £177 240 (decrease £58 393). (b) £521 739
(increase £42 709); and electrical machinery unenumerated, («)
£191597 (increase £47 623). {b) £398 484 (increase £86 062); tele-
graph and telephone cables, submarine, («) £61 084 (decrease
£45 667), (b) £64 478 (decrease £135 772); other than submarine, (a)
£34 234 (decrease £117 917), {b) £115 897 (decrease £233 736);
telegraph and telephone apparatus, (a) £139 732 (decrease £10 971).

(b) £360 803 (increase £68 247) ; other electrical wires and cables,
rubber insulated, [a) £40926 (decrease £102 854). [b] £97 046 (de-
crease £232 041): with other insulations, (n) £114 983 (decrease
£60 452), (b) £238 949 (decrease £143 409): carbons, (a) £2 363
(decrease £9 788). (b) £9 106 (decrease £21820); glow lamps, (n)
£29 583 (decrease £16 192). (/;) £58 593 (decrease £30047); arc ■
lamps and searchlights, (a) £141 (decrease £994). {b) £1092 (de-
crease £1538); parts of arc lamps and searchlights other than
carbons), (a) £244 (decrease £1042). {b) £781 (decrease £1169):
batteries, (o) £24 999 (decrease £48951). (b) £58593 (decrease
£39 047) ; electrical instruments, commercial and scientific, and
electricity meters, (n) £35 728 (increase £4 755), {b) £72 194 (de-
crea.se £7 900); swtichboanls. {a) £24 389 (increase £14 883), (b)
£110 364 (increase £78 450) ; other electrical goods and apparatus.
(a) £100 356 (decrease £119 988). (f"^) £223 276 (decrease £245 627).
Total of electrical machinery, material, and apparatus, other than
uninsulated wire, {a) £992 778 (decrease £523 549), ib) £2 362 251
(decrease £894 106).

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

LoNDONDVP.RY CORPORATION. March 14." — 1 000 kW rotary con-
verter equipment with switchgear, panels, &c. Specification from
the City Electrical Engine^.

Belfa-st Guardians. March 21. — Wiring and fitting fever hospital.
Specification from the Clerk at the Workhouse.

Briotton Guardians. March 21. — Electrical fittings. Particulars
from the Clerk, Guardians' Office, Prince's-€treet.

Portsmouth Guardians. March 22. — Three months' supply of
electrical fittings. Particulars from the Clerk, Mr. H. C. Morrell,
Guardians' Offices, St. ^lichael's-road.

Dublin Guahdians. March 28. — Electr'c lift at. Brook-street
Infirmary. Specification from the Clerk, Brook-street, Kennington-
road, London, S.E.

Commissioners of H.M. Works, &c. April 12. — Electrical
engineering labour-in-daywork in Leeds district.

Edinburgh Corporation. April 15. — Converting plant for light-
ing and traction and d.c. switchgear for Portobello station. Specifi-
cation, &c. , from Sir A. B. W. Kennedy, 17, Victoria-street. West-
minster, S.W. 1.

Batley Co-operative Society. — Electric light installation. Speci-
fication from the Secretary.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Durban Electrical Department. Postponed from Jan. 18 to
April 19. — *Supply of 372 consumers' W-hour meters, including 37
d.c. meters; 275 single-phase, 50-cycle, induction-type meters; and
60 three-phase, 50-cycle, induction-type a.c. meters for unbalanced
loads.

Municipal Colt^cil of Johannesburg. April 12. — *Supply and
delivery of six (or more) h.t. metal cubicles suitable for 3 000-3 300 V
two phase, 50 cycles, 200 A normal working load, and for, alterna-
tively, similar equipment for 500 A. (Contract 887.) Fifteen mil3s
0 000 S.W.G. (04 in. diameter) round section hard-drawn trolley wire
of a conductivity not less than 98 per cent. Mathieson's standard on
stout wooden drums, each containing half-mile of wire. The drums
are to have a hole 3 in. in diameter through centre for mounting on
bar for rolling off. Tenders are to be based on electrolytic copper
at £69 per 2 240 lb.

Wimbledon Corporation have accepted the tender of the English
Electric Company for h.t. switchgear for Raynes Park sub-station.
£859 10s.

Stockton-on-TEes Corporation have accepted the tender of British
Insulated & Helsby Cables, Ltd., for e.h.t., l.t. and pilot cables.
£2 968 14s.

Birkenhead Corporation have accepted the tenders for the Pirelli
General Cable Works for 4-core cable, £1007 lbs.; and the
Macintosh Cable Company for single cable, £1 183 lOs.

Kensington (London) Borough Council have accepted the tender of
Rawlings Bros, (lowest tender received) for wiring and fitting the
Town Hall. Four tenders wvre received, the highest being £1 473 5s.

Wallasey Corporation have accepted the tenders of L^nited Water
Softeners, Ltd., for water-treating plant for the electricity depart'
ment, £1368; and Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company for
switchgear, £2 600 10s.

Hammersmith Borough Council have accepted the tender of the
Hackbridge Cable Company for 1 000yds. of 7/22 twin cable for
the Wormholt Housing Estate at £88 10s. Eight tenders were
received, the highest being £111.

ToDMORDEN Corporation have accepted the tenders of General
Electric Company for switchgear and cubicle, £555 ; New Switch-
gear Company for sheet steel cubicle, £191 ; and Brush Enginering
Company for two transformers, £1 080 19s.

Stepney Borough Council have accepted the following tenders : —
Maclennan & Company, for 1 000 rolls 1 in. white tape, at £97 10s.
(three tenders were submitted, the highest being £113 15s.) ; W. T.
Henley's Telegraph Works Company, for 500 gallons of resin oil, at
£162 iOs. ; A. Reyrolle & Company," for meters, at £166.

Blackpool Tramways Committee have accepted the tender of the
General Electric Company for the supply of one 1 000 kW rotary
converter, and that of Lho English Electric Company for two 500 kW
rotary converters, as well as the tender of Higginb<>ttom & Mannock
for the supply of one 25-ton overhead electric travolling crane.

Leeds Corporation have accepted the following tenders : — Tram-
ways Supplies, Ltd., one mile of trolley wire: J. W. Hinchliffe.
4o H.p. motor; English Electric Company, ten partial electric equip-
ments for tramcars ; British Thomson-Houston Company & Fergu-
son, Pailin, Ltd.. switchgear; F. W. Brackett & Company, circu-
lating water screens, £1020; Enfield Ediswan Cable Works, cables.
£12 434 ; W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Company, cables.
£10 975. , , .

jManckester Corporation have accepted the following tenders : —
Hall Bros., wiring Embden -street, Bangor -street, and Every-street
schools; Bruce Peebles & Company, 1500 kW motor converter;
Ferguson, Pailin, Ltd., l.t. switchgear; British Insulated & Helsby
Cables. Ltd., and Pirelli Genera) ""Cable Works. Ltd.. cable: Holt
& Willett, one ton electric hoist for Barton power station; Metro-
politxon-Vickers Electrical Company, induction motor generator:
J. V. Pyatt, wiring ninety houses.

• Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

330

The Electrician.

March 17, 1922

Foreign Notes.

All important electric power station has ju?t been opened at
MoTALA, in Central Sweden, with a capacity of 21 000 kW.

It is reported that the Uruguayan Government has received an
offer from an Austrian bank lo supply tramway electrification

MATERIAL IN EXCHANGE FOR WOOL.

In consequence of the prolonged drought in Northern Italy,
which caused aehortage of hydro-electric power, many manufacturers
are reported to be using brown coal for generating electricity.

A 5000 c.p. light on a tower 75ft high has been installed at Cuatro
Vientos Aerodrome, near Madrid. It will flash the Morse code
for H T I when the arrival of aeroplanes by night is expected.

The business of the Cie. des Forge et Acieries Electriques Paul
Girod ha-s been amalgamated with that of the Societe d Electro-
CHiMiE et d'Electrometallurgie, of Paris, and in consequence the
capital of the latter company has been increased to 36 400 000 frs.

Interesting tests were recently carried out by the Southern
Californian Edison Company in connection with the proposal to
convert their two twenty-four-mile Big Creek transmission lines from
150 000 to 220 OOOV. Only about twenty-seven miles of line were
tested, and although limited in duration, the " Electrical World "'
reports that the results of the t-ests show that only a relatively
simple modification of the lines will ^be needed to meet the new
conditions. The original insulation consisted of nine lOin. cap and
pin suspension units, but it has been concluded that eleven units
will be required at the higher voltage. In the experiments shield
rings were installed at the bottom of all strings and 280 kV applied,
and one flashover occurred under rainy conditions. As only one
bank of high voltage transformers was available, it was not possible
to transmit power, the lines being merely energised.

Owing to the cheap power available and the transport facilities
available on the Rhine, both Alsace and Lorraine are becoming
popular as industrial centres. Many French and foreign firms pro-
pose to erect new metallurgical and engineering works. The re-
organisation of electricity supply is being carried out in all the?
districts, so that the surplus electrical energy of one may be utilised
by the other. The Societe Electrique de Siderurgie Lorraine, with
a capital of eight million francs, has been formed by the principal
metallurgical companies. A 65 000 V transmission system will
supply Mont St. Martin, Micheville. Algrange, the Moselle Valley
above Thionville as far as the Orne Valley, Auboue, Landies, Rehon.
Longwy and Mont. St. Martin. It will be connected with the State
system along the north-eastern frontier and with the La Houve
system, which is being constructed by the Societe Alsacienne et
Lorraine d'Electricite (Salec).

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

The A.C.E.C. (Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi)
have issued their March stock list of motors and dynamos.

An up-to-date price list giving particulars and illustrations of the
" Helios " electric kettles and other table devices has just been
published by the manufacturers, Wm. Soutter & Sons.

A new catalogue (List W3) of wireless apparatus for reception
and transmission has been received from H W. Sullivan. The
booklet, which consists of sixty-four pages, is well produced and fully
illustrated.

Pamphlet F2 694, recently issued by the General Electric
Company, contains details and illustrations of English alabaster
bowls of various designs for semi-indirect lighting. This firm are
also circulating Leaflet No. L2 713, giving revised prices of Wittom
primary cells and parts appearing in L (2) section of their 1920
catalogue.

Apart from their large sale of miners' electric safety lamps and
accumulators, Oldham & Son, Ltd., carrv on an extensive business
in accumulators for motor-bus and coach lighting, and their accumu-
lators for this purpose have now been exclusively adopted by many
of the most prominent motor vehicle buildiers and proprietors for
starting, lighting and ignition purposes. E"ull particulars of the
various types of accumulator manufactured by the firm are contained
in an illustrated booklet (Price List No. 124) lately published.

A new and third British edition of the Michell Bearing Book
has recently been brought out. The booklet was first published in
1916 for the purpose of explaining, in simple language, how the oil
film in a bearing can be made to carry the highest possible load with
the least frictional resistance. It is not a trade rajtalogue, but rather
a short introduction to the modern science of lubrication, illustra^ted
by practical examples. Supplements to this publication, dealing
moie specifically with particular applications of the principleti
described, can also be obtained on application to the firm.

The Record Electrical Company inform us that they are now
manufacturing a complete series of Cir.scale instruments, the standard
sizes being 2|in., 4in., 6in., 8in., and IGiii. dials, and the scale length
in each case more than twice the dial diameter. Apart from the
increased scale length, the " Cirscale " is, they claim, in all respects
superior to the usual bi-polar type, the magnetic system which is
astatic rendering the instrument indispensable where strong magnetic
fields are present, the error being less than 1-12 that of th.? ordinary
moving coil instrument. The revised prices are only a little
in excess of the ordinary moving coil type. The company have
also developed a miniature Cii scale instrument for use in confined
spaces, such as motor-cars, airships, submarines, &c.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgments" does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

COX ELECTRIC ENGINEERING COMPANY, 21, Third-avenue,
Bordesley Green, electrical engineers. £14 lis. 6d. Jan. 12.

DE COSTER & COMPANY, LTD., registered office, 102. Boundary-
lane, St. John's Wood, electrical engineers. £30 146. Id.
Jan. 11.

MALLINSON, H. E., care of Ipswich Corporation, Ipswich, elec-
trical engineer. £34 18s. 8d. Jan. 11.

NORVALL, G., & COMPANY, 242, Goswell-road, E.C., electrical
engineers. £57 2s. 5d. Oct. 3.

STEEL, GEORGE, & COMPANY, Sprowston-road, Forest Gate,
el?ctrif'al engineers. £18 18s. 7d. Jan. 11.

TILLOTSON, Mr. S., 52, Kennington Park-road, S.E., electrical
contractor. £22 16s. 5d. Jan. 13.

VENN RROTHERS, 39, Turnham Green-terrace, Chiswick, elec-
trical engineers. £19 lis. 9d. Jan. 10.

Deed of Arrangement.

JOWETT. Charles Eric (trading as C. E. JOWETT & COMPANY),
Lowther-arcade, Harrogate, electrical engineer. Filed March 10.
Trustee, C. H. Baker, 1, Albion -street, Leeds. Liabilities unse-
cured, £750: assets, less secured claims, £294.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — ^marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but sucii total may have been
reduced since such date.]

CORDOBA LIGHT. POWER & TRACTION COMPANY. LTD..
London, E.C. Registered Feb. 25. Trust deed dated Feb. 10,
1922 (supplemental to trust deed registered March' 13, 1909),
(Securing £572 602 debenture stock, making with the sum of
£427 398 debenture stock outstanding under trust deed registered
March 13, 1909, £1 000 000 ; general charge (with special provi-
sions in regard to certain shares held bv companv). *£ 429 500.
Jan. 3, 1922.

HENDERSON & THORNTON, LTD.. London, W.C, electrical
apparatus dealers, &c. Registered March 4, £500 debentures;
general charge.

INSULATING PRODUCTS, LTD., East Boldon. Registered
Feb. 27, £8 000 debentures, to Branch Nominees. Ltd., 15,
Bishopsgate, E.C. ; general charge. * . Jan. 2, 1922.

KEMP (H. S.) & COMPANY, LTD., London. W.C, electrical
engineers. Registered March 2, £300 debentures, to Belco, Ltd.,
Windsor House, Kingsway, electrical engineers; general charge.

Satisfaction.

HEXHAM «: DISTRICT ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY.
LTD. Satisfaction registered March 7, £10 000. registered
Feb. 17, 1921.

Private Meetings.

DUROLITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY. LTD. (in volun-
tary liquidation). Hardinge-lane, Pcnge. A meeting of creditors
was held last week. The liquidator said that the liabilities to
unsecured creditors amounted to £2 774. while there were partly-
secured creditors for £891. the security held being valued at
£25. The asset.s consisted of cash in haiid £17. furniture £135,
and there were 3 000 ordinary shares in a company called Clydo,
Ltd., but it was uncertain what the shares would realise, and
the liquidator said that it would be safe to assume for the time
being that the assets were some-\vhere l>etween £300 and £400.
It was said that tlie Clydo Company had been run in conjunc-
tion with the Durolite Company, and the patents of the Clydo
machines, which consisted of an illuminating Mgn. were believed

March 17, 1922

The Electrician.

331

to be of very considerable value. In the result it was decided
that the liquidation should be left in the hands of Mr. II. C.
Merrett with a committee of inspection.
NOYES, STOCKWELL & COMPANY, LTD., Lennox House,
Norfolk-street, Strand, London, W.C. A meeting of creditors
held recently confirmed the voluntary liquidation of the com-
pany, with Mr. A. W. Ilealo as liquidator. Total liabilities
were reported as £8 876, and net assets £647. The liabilities
included £1 500 due to English trade creditors, while £4 125
was owing to the General Ordnance Company, Ltd., of New-
York. The bank were partly-secured creditors, as also were a
guarantee corporation, who held tractors as part security. The
company was formed in January, 1920, with a nominal capital
of £5 ObO, and it took over certain concessions, which were paid
for by the issue of shares. It was believed that the company
had never been very successful, and latterly had traded at a
heavy Iocs.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Company Winding-up Voluntarily.

PORTPATRICK ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY (THE),
LTD. James Purves appointed liquidator. Meeting of creditors
at the Dunskey Estates Office, Portpatrick, on March 24, 1922,
at 12 noon.

Bankruptcy Information.

HALLETT, Graham Moore, 7, King-st. , Frome, co. Somerset, elec-
trical engineer. Receiving order, March 7. Debtor's petition.
First meeting, March 22, 12 noon, 26. Baldwin-street, Bristol.
Public examination, March 28, 11.45 a.m.. County Court Offices,
Frome.

WILLIAMS, Aneurin Tudor, and BEVAN, William John, trading
as the ELECTRICAL & GENERAL ENGINEERING COM-
PANY, 49, Commercial-street, Aberdare, electrical engineers.
First meeting, March 22, 11.30 a.m., 34, Park-place, Cardiff.
Public examination, April 21, 10.30 a.m., Temperance Hall,
Aberdare.

Notices of Dividends.

WATKINSON, Matthew, WATKINSON, Harold, and WATKIN-
SON, Arthur (trading as WATT & CO.), 22 and 24, Palmer-
road, Sheffield, electrical and mechanical engineers. Amount
per £, 6s. 2d., first and final. Payable, March 20, Parkin &
Company, 36, Bank-street, Sheffield.

WORTHINGTON, Vincent Broughton, Ellesmere-yard, Walkden,
CO. Lancaster, electrical and mechanical engineer. Amount per
£, 5|d., first and final. Payable, March 20, Official Receiver's
Offices, Byrom-street, Manchester.

Notices of Intended Dividends.

DAVIS, William Aaron, 14, Basinghall-street, Leeds, electrical
engineer. Last day for receiving proofs, March 29. Trustee,
H. C. Bowling, 24, Bond-street, Leeds.

OWEN, Joseph (trading as J. OWEN & SONS), 186, Westcombe-
hill, and 3, The Grove, Greenwich, electrical engineer. Last day
for receiving proofs, April 3. Trustee, Official Receiver, 29,
Russell-square, W.C. 1.

RAWSTHORNE, Thomas, 67b, Paradise-street, West Bromwich, co.
Stafford, electrical engineer. Last day for receiving proofs,
March 25. Trustee, E. E. Deane, Ruskin Chambers, 191,
Corporation-street Birmingham.

Application for Discharge.

KERSHAW, Arthur, and WOOD, Charles Herbert, carrying on
business in partnership together at 9, Bradford-road, Dewsbury,
under the style of KERSHAW & WOOD, electrical engineers,
&c. Hearing, April 5, at 11 a.m., County Court House,
Dewsbury.

Partnership Dissolved.

GOSLING, Albert Newland, and ARNALL, Jabez Christopher,
electrical and mechanical engineers, 1, Thomas-street, Smeth-
wick, CO. Stafford, under the style of J. C. ARNALL & COM-
PANY, by mutual consent, as from March 8, 1922.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

GOSS, Frederick Charles, 64, Gloucester-road, Bishopston, late 71,
North-road, Bishopston, and 32^ Windsor-road, St. Andrew's
Park, Bishopston, electrical engineer. The receiving order in
this matter was made on Feb. 28, on debtor's own petition. The
statement of affairs shows liabilities of £1 291, while the net
assets are estimated to realise £268, or a deficiency of £1 022.
Debtor attributes his failure to sliunp in trade, depreciation in
value of stock, e.xpenses in connection with agency for auto-
matic lighting plant, and expenses in connection with the illness
of his wife. He commenced business in May, 1919, as an elec-
trical engineer in partnership with another. In October, 1919,
the partnership was dissolved, debtor taking over the assets and
liabilities. Subsequently debtor traded on his own account, and
for the first two years the business was fairly successful, but
during the last year, by reason of the slump in trade and falling
prices, he traded at a loss. On Feb. 8 a meeting of creditors was
held, when it was resolved that efforts should he n ade to realise

sufficient from the assets to provide a composition of 4s. in the
£, but as the creditors were not unanimous, the petition was
filed. Debtor became aware of his pfjsition in August last.

INCE, Arthur Court^nav (trading as the NEWCASTLE ELEC-
TRICAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, formerly the TYNE
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES, in c/>-partner6hip with another
person), 21, Fenkie-street, Newcastle-on-Tvne, electrical con-
tractor. At his public examination last week debt<^>r stated that
he was b<^rn in Barbados, West Indies, and came to England in
July, 1915, to enlist. He was in the Army until November,
1919, and then had between £500 and £600. He commenced
the Newcastle Electrical Engineering Company in Octol>er, 1920,
with another man. In May, 1921, this man left the business,
and on Aug. 16, 1921, debtor was joined by another man. At
that time the business was in difficulties. The name was
changed to the Tyne Electrical Induetries, and debtor took over
responsibility for the debts of the old firm. Debtor attributed
his failure to bad trade and losses on trading. He stated further
that he had very little experience of business in this country
and had to depend upon others.

MAIDMENT, Percy Charles, builder and electrician, 13, Beau-
champ-place, S.W. The first meeting of creditors under a
receiving order made against this debtor wae held at the London
Bankruptcy Court before Mr. Vyvyan, Official Receiver. The
debtor, in a preliminary examination, had stated that he began
business as a builder and electrical engineer in partnership in
1916 at 164, Sloane-street, S.W. A few months later, owing -to
disagreements, the partnership was dissolved, the debtor paying
his partner £4 250 and assuming the liabilities. To enable him to
pay out his partner he borrowed £3 600 from bankers, £1000
from his father, and £600 from a brother. He continued the
business at a loss until March, 1921, and then sold it for £4 500,
out of which he repaid his loans. He afterwards took premi-ses
at 13, Beauchamp-place, and started a similar business, which
he carried on until Jan. 26, when the Sheriff took possession
and sold his effects. The debtor, who said he had done a good
business in electrical apparatus, attributed his failure to the
general depression in trade. He estimated his liabilities at
£1 658, against assets £157. The case was left with the Official
Receiver for administration in bankruptcv.

PUGH, Herbert John (trading as H. J. PUGH & COMPANY).
electrical engineer, 38, Broadway-parade, Crouch End. N. This
debtor, who failed in December last, attended at the London
Bankruptcy Court last week for public examination on a state-
ment of affairs showing unsecured debts of £470 and no assets
of value. Debtor said that he began business at 1, Hornsey-rise.
in May, 1914, removing to 37, Broadway-parade, Crouch End,
in the following November. He was joined soon afterwards
by a partner, who retired in the middle of 1916, and he had since
traded alone. He took additional premises at 38, Broadway-
parade in October, 1917, and twelve months later gave up
No. 37. In February, 1921, he took premises at 76, Fore-street,
Edmonton, to which he transferred £100 of his stock, but the
business there was unsuccessful, and two months later he closed
it and disposed of the remaining stock from a stall in Club-row,
E. His failure was due to bad trade and the stoppage of his
business during the execution of repairs to the premises. The
examination was concluded.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, M.^rch 14.

Copper — Price. Inc. Dec

Best selected per ton £64 10 0 £2 5 0 —

Electro Wirebars . . „ £68 0 0 £1 10 0 —

H.C wire, basis per lb. Os. lO^d. ^d. —

Sheet „ Os. I0|id. Id. —

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone)
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis „ Is. 2^d. -^d. —

Brass 60 40—

Rod, basis „ Os. 7.W. — —

Sheet, basis „ Os. 9£d. — —

Wire, basis „ Os. 10]d. — —

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants . per ton £4 15 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £19 0 0 — —
Lead Pig —

English , £22 5 0 — —

Foreign or Colonial . . „ £20 17 6 £0 2 6 —
Tin-
Ingot „ £143 12 6 — £17 6

Wire, basis per lb. 2s. Od. — —

Aluminium Ingots per ton £120 0 0 — —

Spelter per ton £25 12 6 £ ) 10 0 —

Mercuri/ per bottle £11 0 0 — £10 0

Salammoninc. — Per cw-t. 65s.-60s. Sodium Chlorate.— Ver lb. 3.1d.

Sulphur (F\oA-e:rs).— Ton no lOs. Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°).—

„ (Roll- Brimstone). — Per ton Per ton £9 17s. 6d.

£10 lOs. Copper Std/hate. — Per ton £27

Sodium Bichiomate.—Ver\h. 6Jd. i?orir. 4c*'/ (Crystals).— Per ton £60
Bubber. — Para tine, lid. ; plantation 1st late.x, 8d
The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby Cables,
Ltd.

332

The Electrician.

March 17, 1922

New Companies.

General Electro-Motives.

General Electro-^Motives. Ltd. (180 239). Private company.
Reg. March 10. Capital, £5,000 in £1 shares. To acquire the
benefit of an agreement between Electromobile, Ltd., and J. A.
Popplewell and F. E. Popplewell, and to carry on the business of
electrical, mechanical, and general engineers, &c. Life directors :
J. A. Popplewell and ^. E. Popplewell. Registered office : 62,
Hunslet-road, Leeds.

OIso-Light.

Olso-Ltght Cobipany, Ltd. (180 211). Private company. Reg.
March 9. Capital, £6 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers, importers,
and shippers of and dealers in merchandise, including electric light-
ing and heating requisites, &c. First directors : J. 0'M>alley-Davies
(chairman and managing director) and C. B. Liddell. Registered
office : 47, Victoria-street, S.W. 1.

Radio-Constructa, Ltd.

Radio-Constructa, Ltd. (180 126). Private company. Registered
March 6. Capital, £500 in £1 shares. To adopt an agreement witri
G. H. Moody and to manufacture and deal in wireless telegraphic
and telephonic apparatus and appliances and electrical apparatus and
accessories, &c. First directors : H. D. Butler and G. H. Moody.
Solicitor : W. I. Thomas, 32, Chancery-lane, W.C.

Unvrin-Soar Agency.

Unwin-Soar Agency, Ltd. (180 191). Private company. Reg.
March 8. Capital, £2 500 in £1 shares. Mechanical and electrical
engineers, iron and steel workers, &c. Life directors : F. Unwin and
M. Soar, Housley Park. Registered office : Orchard-chambers,
Church-street, Sheffield.

Webb & Wilson.

Webb & Wilson, Ltd. (180 257). Private company. Reg.
March 10. Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. Constructional, mechani-
cal, electrical, heating, lighting, and ventilating engineers and
consultants, kc. First directors : G. L. Wilson and H. E. Webb.
Secretary, G. F. Broadway. Registered office : 523, High-road
Tottenham. N. 17.

Growth of U.S. Industrial Power Load.

The rapid growth of the industrial power load in the United
States is proved by some figures given in a recent issue of the
"Electrical World." On Jan. 1, 1915, the number of stationary
motors in use was 575 000, with a connected load of 6 100 000 h.p.;
but by January, 1920, the figure for motors had doubled, and the
load wae 12 900 000 h.p. By January, 1925, it is anticipated that
the load will be 20 800 000 h.p. The units sold indicate that only
34"5 per cent, was for lighting in 1915 and 28-4 in 1919, but the
power figures (including the street railway load) were 511 and 57-2
per cent, respectively. The use of the electric steel furnace is also
extending rapidly. In 1915 only forty-one steel works employed
them, when only 62 000 tons of electric steel were produced. The
capacity of the electric power plants installed in steel works was
25 000 kW and the electrical energy used was 45 000 000 units, but
in 1919 there were 287 steel works, which produced 566 084 tons, the
plants installed having a capacity of 240 000 kW and the electrical
energy consumed was 260 000 000 units. In 1921 it is estimated that
there were 336 steel works employing electric furnaces and the
capacity of the generating plants was 320 000 kW.

Openings for Trade in the Netherlands.

The " HandeLsbelangen " of Feb. 15 and 22 gives particulars of the
following contracts for which tenders are likely to be invited in the
near future :- The Limburgsche Groene Kruis (Rijksweg Z.Z. 7,
Sittard) intend building a modern hospital on the road Sittard-
Heerlen, with accommodation for 250 patients. Estimate,
Gld.1250 000. Building will probably begin this summer. The
granting of the concession for the electrification and extension of the
Gooische Stooratram (director, F. M. Augustijn, Watergraafsmeer)
may be e.xpected this year. The line Amsterdam-Hilversum will
be the first to be electrified, and a power station and annex buildings
will be constructed. The Zeeuwsch Vlaamsche Tramweg Mij, of
Axel (Z), intend to lay a new tramline, with stations, sheds, &c., in
Zealand. The plans will probably be drawn up by Ingenieursbureau
W. E. Kramer and H. Polano, Noordeinde 18a, The Hague.

Electricity in Farming.

An interesting example of the use of electricity in farming is
given in the "Industrial Australian." Mr. J. C. Fredericksen, of
Rous Mill. Richmond River, N.S.W., has constructed a dam on a
small creek near his farm, and has erected a Pelton water wheel,
giving 17 ir.p. with the water applied as at present through a 3-in
nozzle. This drives a d.c. dynamo of about 5 kW, which supplies
current for lighting and for fans and radiators in five homes on
the farm and in the dairies, &c. , while it also supplies power to a
5 H.p. motor operating milking machine, .separator, lathe, grind-
stone, chaff-cutting, corn-shelling and bushnut-shelling machines. A
sawmill for heavy work is driven directly by the Pelton wheel, the
electrical plant being temporarily disconnected. A novel feature of
the electrical installation is that no battery is used, the speed of the
generator being regulated by means of wires extending from the
farm to the Pelton wheel, a quarter of a mile away, and attached to
the valves controlling the water supply to the wheel.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY, March 17th (to-day).

Institlttion Of Mechanical Engineers.

6 p.m. At Storey's Gate, London, S.W. Paper on " British

and American Locomotive -Design and Practice," by Mr.
P. C. Dewhurst.

Institution of Electrical Engineers
London Students' Section.

7 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Paper on' "The

Electron Theory," by Mr. C. C. H. Wade.
British Electrical Development Association.
7.30 p.m. At the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, Staple
Inn-buildings, London, W.C. Salesmanship Conference.
No. 5, " Salesmanship in Relation to Showroom Displays
and Demonstrations." Speaker : Mr. A. C. Bostel.
Junior Institution of Engineers.
S p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecturette on " Power
Factor Improvement," by Mr. G. H. Ayres.

SATURDAY, March 18th.

Royal Institution.

5 p.m. At Albemarle-street, London, W. Lecture on " Radio-

activity," by Sir Ernest Rutherford, F.R.S. (Lecture III.)

MONDAY. March 20th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Liverpool Sub-Centre.)
7 p.m. At the University, Brownlow -street, Liverpool. Paper
on "The Interconnection of A.C. Power Stations," by
Messrs. L. J. Romero and J. B. Palmer.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
(Graduates' Section.)
7 p.m. At Storey's Gate, London, S.W. Paper on "Hydro-
Electric Course at the University of Grenoble," by Capt. H.
Whittaker.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Informal Meeting.

7 p.m. At Savov-place, London, W.C. Discussion on " The

Importance of Studying Finance in Connec'ii>n with Electri-
city Undertakings," to be opened by Mr. A. Wright.
Institution of Civil Engineers.
7.30 p.m. At the Hotel Metropole, Leeds. Paper on " Modern
Methods of Water Purification," by Mr. N. K. Holmes.
Royal Society of Arts.

8 pm. At John-street, London, W.C. Lecture on "The Con-

stituents of Essential Oils," by Mr. G. Radc iffe.
TUESDAY, March 21st.

Institution of Civil Engineers.

6 p.m. At Great George-street, London, S.W. Paper on " All-

Electric Automatic Power Signalling on the Metropolitan
Railway," by Mr. W. Willox.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
North- Western Centre. Informal Meeting.

7 p.m. At the Engineers' Club, Manchester. Paper on " Specifi-

cations and Estimates," by Mr. J. Frith.
Rontgen Society.
8.15 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy-
place, London, W.C. Silvanus Thonipson Memorial Lectuie
delivered by Sir Oliver J. Lodge", F.R.S.

WEDNESDAY. March 22nd.

Industrial League and Council.
7.30 p.m.. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecture on " Some
Common Fallacies on Trade and Industry," bv the Right
Hon. G. N. Barnes, C.H., M.P.

THURSDAY, March 23rd.

Electrical Power Engineers' Association.
Derby and District Section.
6./f5 p.m. At the " Flying Horse " Hotel, Poultry, Nottingham.

Paper on " Power Station Efficiency," by Mr. J. N. wliite.
National Liberal Club. Political and Economic Circle.

8 p.m. At Whitehall-place, London, S.W. Lecture on " Revolu-

tion by Consent," by ]\lr. J. A. Hobson.
FRIDAY, March 24th.

Electrical Power Engineers' Associ.\tion.

7 p.m.. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers. Savoy-place,

London, W.C. Lecture on " Electric Control of Large
Amounts of Power," by Dr. C. C. Garrard.
Edinburgh Electrical Society.

8 p.m,. At the Philoeophical Institute, 4, Qneen-street, Edin-

burgh. Paper on " Magnets," by Mr. J. M'Ewan Brown.
Royal Institution.

9 p.m. At Albemarle-street, London, W. Discourse on " Auxil-

iary International Languages," by Prof. F. G. Donnan.
F.R.S. ^ _

It is announced that Sir Evelyn Cecil, chairman of the Tele-
phone Select Committee, has completed the draft of the report on
the telephone .service. Recommendations are to be made the effect tf
which, if adopted, would be to reduce expenditure on the service
without impairing its efficiency. By this means it "S believed that it
will be possible to lower telephone rates by 10 per cent.

i^:

March 17, 1922

The Electrician.

333

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The folloiving abstract from tome of the Bpeeification$ recenllti published have
been specialty compiled by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Cftartered Patent
Agents, 70 and 72, Chancery-lane. London, W.C.

Complete Specifications.

146 474
146 520

146 529

146 881

147 428
147 436

147 610

147 849

148 221

149 330

157 909
169 285

169 295

169 297

169 305

169 324

169 330
169 340

169 359
169 361

169 377

169 395

Cameron, W. J. Incandescent electric lamps. (14/2/16.)
Western Electeic Co., Ltd. Telegraphic ciphering and decipher-
ing mechanism. (13/9/18.)

Radio Corporation op America. Receivers of electrical oscilla-
tions. (18/6/14.)

Western Electric Co., Ltd. Wireless signalling apparatus.
(1/12/15.)

Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Arc transmitters for wireless
telegraphy and telephony. (3/7/14.)

Ges. fur Drahtlose TELEaRAPHis. Wireles? transmitters.
(6/12/13.)

Western Electric Co., Ltd. Telephone systems. (20/2/19.)
Ges. FiJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Generation of electric
oscillations. (29/9/17.)

Allgemeine Elektricitats Ges. Choking coil with variable
inductance or transfonner for doubling frequency. (10/7/14.)
Nolle, J. A. van der. Absorbents for use in galvanic batteries.
(19/7/19.)

Kruger, F. High ohmic resistance. (27/11/19.)
Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Savin, J., &
Mercer, R. (partly communicated by Automatic Electric Co.).
Telephone systems. (23/6/20.)

Sanders, H. C. Electrical quick make-and-break switclies.
(26/6/20.)

British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.).
Electrical regenerative control apparatus and systems. (28/6/20.)
Parsons, I. H., & Ball, A. E. J. Apparatus for the reception of
electro-magnetic waves. (2/7/20.)

Wade, H. (Concordia Elektrizitats Akt.-Ges.). Portable electric
hand lamps. (13/7/20.)

Bella Veneria, Z. R. Electric switches. (16/7/20.)
Igranic Electric Co., Ltd. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Co.).
Electric switches. (21/7/20.)

Booker, H. Bromide electric printing boxes. (23/10/20.)
SiLBERMANN, F. Electric letter-forming apparatus for adver-
tising and the like. (10/8/20.)

Atkinson, C. L. Rotary electric distributors for internal com-
bustion engines. (6/9/20.)
Armstrong. A. W. Sparking-phigs (2/11/20.)

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33 634
33 635
33 617

33 64S
33 649
33 654

APPLICATIONS FOE, PATENTS

December 10, 1921.

CoCKERiLL. Electri:;al flooder and tell-tale for carburettors of
internal combustion engines.

Pollard. Boards for charging torch accumulators.

Large. Electric kettle, &c.

Magneta Time Co. & Webber. Intermittently operating electrically
actuated devices.

December 12, 1921.

Waterhouse. Combination couplings for electric condensers.

Richards. Electrolytic rectifiers.

O.ATES. Commutators for eenelators and motors.

Latimer. Dimming electric hand lights for cars, &c.

French-Brewster. Driving means for electric mechanical pockei
lamps.

Prince. Means for obtaining telephonic modulation of high fre-
quency oscillations.

Cole. Interrupter for metal vapour apparatus ignited by h.t.
impulses. (11/12/20. Austria.)

Johnston. Electric clocks.

Pfifpner. High tension condensers. (5/1/21, Germany.)

December 13, 1921.
Ellis. Aerials for wireless signalling.
Bosch (R.), Akt. Ges. Magneto-electric devices. (13/12/20,

Germany.)
Hancock & Russell. Switches.
Collingham & Owen. Electric lighting plants for motor

vehicles, &c.
Jacob. Device for lockins; lamps to sockets
Railing, Garrard, & McColl. Switches.
Hopkins. Electric resistances.
Paul. Numbering machine for telephone calls.
Della Riccia. Auto transformer. (14/12/20, Germany.)
Kahn. Automatic cut-outs or interrupters. (13/12/20, Germany.)
Chambers. Electro-magnetic wave receiving and amplifying

systems.
Powell & Miles. Electric clocks, time recorders. &c.
Westinghouse Lamp Co. High Temperature electric furnaces.

(13/12/20, U.S.)
Renaudin. Insulator for high pressure electric lines. (15/12/20,

France.)
Hoffman Mfg. Co. & Barden. Electrical measuring of sounds

or mechanical vibrations.
Reid. Cleaning plates of accumulators, &c.
Pollock. Thermionic valve relay.

December 14, 1921.

Onward. Valves for controlling supply of current to anode of
valve of continuous wave transmitter.

Wheeler. Automatic metering of telephone calls.

Bosch (R.), Akt. Ges. Slip rings for generators. (20'12/20,
Germany.)

Anderson & Huntsworth. Telephone call counting, registering,
&c., apparatus.

Da vies & Son (Derby) & Dawson. Means for unlocking mag-
netically locked Limps.

British United Shoe Machinery Co. Electric heating of tools
of edire setting machines.

Mynnr Model electric motor.

Hill. Connections for electric cables, &c.

Hanson Traction motors.

Darsey. Prevention of removal of lamps from sockets.

Hall. Coin collecting means for telephones.

Hall. Meter registers and control devices for telephones.

Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. Motor-control systems.
(14/12/20, U.S.)

Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Flexible couplings.

B. T.-H. Co. Incandescent lamps. (18/1/21, U.S.)

Marsollier. Electrical connecting devices and lampholders.

33 657 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & Fletchee. Armatures of

electrical machines.
33 663 Map.shall. Electrical device for destroying rats.

December 15, 1921.

33 701 Electric Construction Co. & Close. Safety vents for elecirio
motor cases, switch boxes, &c.

33 706 Williams. Marking conductors of multi-conductor cables, &c.

33 717 Amberton. Electric resistances.

33 744 Langdon-Davies & Soames. Bringing into and out of circuit an
inductive resistance or choke.

33 747 .'er & McGregor. Electric drive for talking machines.

33 762 Planer. Localisation of faults in cables. &c. (3/12/21, Germany.)

33 779 Clark. Electric fuses.

33 785 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Fusible devices for protect-
ing electric circuits; (21/1/21. U.S.)

.33 792 Morgan & Saynor. Electrical adapters, plugs, &c.

33 796 Thor Electric Lamp Co. & Jones. Electric lamps-

33 807 Pratley & Lovell. Electric couplings.

33 814 Laboratorio Elettratecnico Ing. L. Magrixi. Electric contro; of
distant installations. (28/2/21, Italy.)

33 819 Schaufelberger. Electric heater. (20/12/20, Switzerland.)

33 820 Barsby. Electric motor.

December 16. 1921.

33 852 Donnithorne. Production of h.t. unidirectional currents . of
electricity.

33 860 Cable Accessories Co., Reeves & Crawford. Electric fans.

33 879 Farrell. Automatic transmitter for wireless and land tele-
graphy, &c.

33 907 Sykes. Electro-magnetic apparatus for recording sound.

33 925 Best & Lloyd & Spittle. Electric light, &c., fittings.

33 927 Abel. Electric immersion liquid heaters.

33 928 Sie.mens-Schuckertwerke. Impregnating insulating bodies made
in layers. (20/12/20. Germany.)

33 941 DE Vries de Waal. Electric couplings.

33 966 Tennant. Wireless receiving apparatus.

December 17, 1921.

33 977 Whittaker Bros. (Accrington) & Duckworth. Electric wringers

and Mangles.

34 023 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. & Gillings. Telephone systems.
34 024 Hacking. Electro-magnetic engines.

34 033 Stephens. Telephone receivers, &c.

34 041 Butler & Moody. Insulating stands and holders or plugs for hold-
ing coils, &c., for use in electrical apparatus.
34 054 Shuter & Smith. Coating electrical conductors.
34 057 Cranston & Le Bar. Electrolytic cells.

December 19, 1921.
34 060 Cummins & Poulton. Means for counting and recording number

of telephone calls.
34 064 Wilkinson. Automatic electric circuit breakers.
34 083 MoNSON. Electro-magnetic manufacturing appliances.
34 087 Shearer. Magneto and self-starter.

34 098 Roberts & Willmot. Electric time-recording apparatus.
34 108 Croll. Electrical adapters and wall plugs.
34 125 Bartel & Happel. Apparatus for cooling and ventilating electric

machines. (17/12/20, Germany.)
34 138 Akt. Ges. Brown, Boverie et Cie. Mercury vapour air pumps.

(31/12/20. Switzerland.)
34139 Rushen (Bing Weike). Toy wireless telegraphic or telephonic

apparatus.
34 140 Brown. Wireless telegraphy.
34 142 Watts. Resistances, &c.
34 145 Claremont & Scholes. Electric joints.
34 149 Forde. Electric lugs.

34 156 King. Electric motors, dynamos, or generators.
34 166 B. T.-H. Co.. Warren & Clough. Electric current .collectors.
34 170 Soc. de l'Accumulateur Tudor. Storage batteries. (18/12.20,

Belgium.)

December 20, 1921.
34 187 Grib'fiths. Electric filament lamp holders.
34 188 Crabtree. Switcnes.
34 193 Edwards. Portable electric apparatus for attachment to domestic

baths.
34 205 Lovelace & Walster. Plectrically operate.rl indicators. &c.
34 206 Colman & Lees. Supporting clip for cables, (kc. ,
34 222 & 34 223 Western Electric Co. Telephone systems.
34 224 Langdon-Davies & Soames. Electric welding.
34 240 Igranic Electric Co. (Cutler-Hammer Mfg. Co.). Themally

operated circuit controllers.
34 254 Hausen. Accumulator. (4/10/21. Denmark.)
34 262 Chance Bros. & Co. & Lamplough. Glass for use with electric

lamps. .

34 286 Fuller's United Electric Works & Welch. Galvanic batteries.
34 293 Veifa-Werke A. G. & Kress. X-ray installations.
34 297 B;iORNE. Electrodes for arc welding. &c.
34 300 Anderson & Huntsworth. Telephone c:-ll counting and registering

apparatus, &c.

December 21, 1921.
34 307 WiGLEY. Adapters or carbon holders for kinematograph work.
34 330 Strong. Switches.

34 345 Croom-Johnson & Tudsbery. Electric rail bonds.
34 348 Coventry & Rushton. Galvanic cells.

34 349 Western Electric Co. Magnetic cores. (21/i2/20, U.S )
34 385 Walton. Device for heating filaments in hot cathode X-ray

34 398 Callen'. Electric vaporising arrangement for using heavy fuel oils

in motor-car engines.
34 399 Haddan (Hastings). Mechanism for use in telephony.
34 405 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Insulators. „ „„ .rr o ,

34 408 Westinghouse Lamp Co. X-ray tubes. (21/12 20. U.S.) .
34 431 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co. Magnetic control devices tor

electric arcs. (21 '12/20. U.S.)
34 435 Brown. Artificial lines for cable telegraphy.

December 22. 1921.
34 448 Waterhouse. Circuit connection fittings for electric wiring

systems.
34 454 Tucker. Switches. , ,, ,. , ^ ,

34 474 Dowey & Vella. Flexible c( unhng for magneto. <Sc ^

34 481 Brolt. Ltd.. & Holt. Automatic switches for electric system- o.

motor vehicles.
34 502 Davis. Switch boxes.
34 503 Eustis. Electrolytic iron.

34 504 Rogerson. Incandescent lamps. . , . ,

34 510 Automatic Telepho.ve Mfg. Co. Impulse sending devices for tele-
ohone. t'vrc. systems. ,nr,.inifv i- c v

34 511 Klein'SCHmidt Electric Co. Printing telegraphs. (22. 1? -20, L .».)
34 518 Western Electric Co. Electro-magnetic devices.
34 525 Bauon (Aldendcrff). Automatic telephone systems.
34 538 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co.. Field & Miller, indicat-
ing devices for a.c. generators driving induction motors.

334

The Electrician.

March 17, 1922

34 540 Siemens Bros. & Co., Barker & Collyer. Prepayment devices for

telephone system.s.
34 550 Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveeie et Cie. Mercury-vapoyr pumps for

high vacua. (8/1/21^ Switzerland.)
34 559 Sefton- Jones (Lorenz A. G.). Method for multiple high-frequeucy

telephony and telegraphy on wires.

December 23, 1921.

34 569 Bulpitt & Sons & McGregor. Switches.

34 578 Wilde. Electric signalling and recording device.

34 605 Veritys, Ltd. & Allen. Starter and speed regulator for elec-
trically-driven fans, motors, &c.

34 022 Angus. Devices for enabling forces due to variations in electrical
energies to be used.

34 628 Standard Motor Co., Johnson <k Maudslay. Electric lighting
circuits for motor vehicles, &c.

34 645 ATTTOicATic Telephone Mf3. Co. Telephone systems. (21/1/21.
U.S.)

34 657 Blondel. Wireless direction finding. (23/12/20. France.)

34 662 British Lighting & Ignition Co., Turner & Tuppen. Ignition
magnetos.

34 670 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Switch operating mechanism.

34 672 General Electric Co. & Gossling. Electron discharge apparatus.

34 675 Mollerhoj. Testing insulated wires. (15/1/21. Denmark.)

34 686 Parsons & Rosen. Electric machinery.

34 701 LouBiiiRE. Electric heaters for water, &c.

December 24, 1921.
34 706 Thurgood. Terminal for electric wires and cables.
34 718 Lucas & Turner. Switches.

December 28, 1921.
Holt. Dimming device for electric lamps for motor vehicles, &c.
Lymburn. Incandescent lamps.
Peck. Electrical condensers.
Oswald. Electric lamp bulb fitting.
Hosie. Propeller shaft to drive dynamos.

Abraham. Method of interrupting powerful alternating currents.
Heil. Galvanic eel!. (27/12/20, Germany.)
Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Arrangement for obtaining low voltage

current from high voltage networks. (30/12/20, Gei-many.)
Ferguson. Trolley poles. (18/5/21, Australia.)
Blathy. Setting rotating electric meters. (14/4/20. Hungary.)
Blathy. Setting rotating electric, motors. (29/12/20, Hungary.)

December 29, 1921.
Holland. Combined temperature and switch-controlled regulator

for electric fans, &c.
Bell. Electric timing device.
Electric Control, Ltd., Ellefsen & Brooke. Controllers for

electric motors, &c.
Wallace. Electrically controlled scoring apparatus, &c.
Gill-Knight. Electro-atmospheric multiple unit control for elec-
tric railways.
Creedy. Windings for a.c. machines.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. (Westinghouse Electric and

Manufacturing Co.). Machines for washing dishes, &c.
DiDiES. Accumulators.

B, T.-H. Co. (G. E. Go.). Circuit breakers.
Becker. Electric driving mechanism foj: sound recording

machines.
Powell & Smith. Control switches for electrically propelled

vehicles.
Sefton-Jones (Lorenz Akt. Ges.). Electrode holder for arc

generators for production of high-frequency waves.
Palmer. Telephone transmitters, &c.

December 30, 1921.
Fellows. Holders for incandescent lamps.
Blades. Electric plug connecting devices.
Steyer. Electric lift.
Siemens & Humphries. Automatic, &c., telephone exchange

systems.
Krupp (F.) Akt. Ges. Overload switches formators started by

starting resistance. (3/1/22, Germany.)
Cadett. Electrical apparatus for starting internal combustion

engines.
Bellini. Directional aerials for wireless receiving stations.

(2/5/21, France.)
Soc. Francaise Radio-Telegraphique. Electrical calling devices.

(22/3/21, France.)
Soc. Francaise Radio-Telegraphique. Wireless telegraph receivers.

(30/3/21, France.)
Pfiffner. Earthing choking coils or voltage transformers for

high voltages. (5/1/21, Germany.)
Anselini & Sernicoli. Arc light stage lighting apparatus.
Sefton-Jones. Key connection for wireless transmission.
Quarzlampen-Ges. Irradiation lamps for medical purposes.

(30/12/20, Germany.)
Huth (E. F.), Ges. & Schwarz. Electric transmission of

messages along conductors. (30/12/20, Germany.)
Blathy. System of pole charging for polyphase induction motors.

(8/6/20, Hungary.)

December 31, 1921.
Blathy. System of pole changing for polyphase induction motors

(9/4/21, Hungary.)
Forges et Ateliers de Constructions Electric de Jeumont.

Alternating current motor groups. (26/1/21, France.)
MoNSON. Electric treatment of liquids.
QuARZLAMPEN Ges. Mercury vapoui apparatus. (31/12/20,

Germany.)

January 3, 1922.

A. Kirk & R. C. Milliken. Cleats and cleat cases for electric
conductors, &c.

J. H. CoLLiNGS, C. W. Saunders & M. J. Railing. Electric bell,
&c., indicators.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Motor controllers.
^- ^. Taylor. Instrument for measuring capacity and inductance.

C. J. Evans. Intermittently operating circuit closing devices.
P- Alexander & C. W. C. Beckman. Electrical apparatus.
J?r- T.S"*^^'^^- Combined electric radiator and projector.
W. W. Burnham. Switches.

BitusH Electrical Engineering Co. Propulsion of toi-pedoes, &c.
^- -^i^- ^^- 'v,-, ^- Co.). Couplings for insulators.
J. a. iucKER. Electric make .md break connections.
h,. Pollock. High-frequency telephony, telegraphy, &c.

34 786
34 790
34 825
34 829
34 832
34 843
34 848
34 865

34 868
34 871
34 872

34 892

34 898
34 904

34 905
34 909

34 934
34 937

34 940
34 944
34 947

34 959

34 982

34 986

35 000
35 009
35 036
35 037

35 045

35 054

35 056

35 057

35 058

35 078

35 079
35 084
35 087

35 088

35 089

35 098

35 101

35 128
35 156

18
44

71
86
131
132
146
168
179
200
202

273 W. B. Sayers. Dynaiuo electric machines.

297 E. C. R. Marks (Goodman Manufacturing Co.). Controlling

devices for electric locomotives.
30S E. DE Vries. Combined phonograph and electric lamp.

January 5, 1922.

337 H. W. Cqx. Electric apparatus for separating or classifying
finely divided materials.

350 C. B. Buchanan & C. C. Johnson. Current collectors.

356 C. F. Shanks. Electro-magnetic clutches.

362 W. Gee. Fuse-carrier for distribution boards.

374 F. C. Raphael. Electric fittings and means for fixing same.

385 E. W. Lancaster. Anti-vibration devices for electric lamps. &c.

395 E. C. R. Marks (Fabbr. Apparecchi F. E. R. T.). Theiino-electrio
lamp.

397 R. Herzog & C. Lorenz Akt. Ges. Wireless telegraph and tele-
phone apparatus. (2/7/21, Germany.)

407 G. P. SYMONg. Heating element for radiators, cookers, &c.

416 W. Cunningham & F. L. Shaw. Incandescent lamp holders.

4l8 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Telepnone systems.
(16/3/21, U.S.).

421 A. VAN T. Day. High-frequency electric signalling. (25/1/19,
U.S.)

423 Naamlooze Vennsotschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Electric dis-

charge tubes. (13/6/21, Holland.)

424 Naamlooze Vennsotschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Eltctric dis-

charge tubes. (16/8/21, Holland.)

425 Naamlooze Vennsotschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Electric dis-

charge tubes. (5/11/21, Holland.)

426 Naamlooze Vennsotschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Electric le-

sistances. (14/1/21, Holland.)

427 Naamlooze Vennsotschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Electric in-

sulating sheets, &c. (8/12/21, Holland.)

January 6, 1922.
462 T. M. Ryan. Automatic recorder of telephone calls.
475 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Automatic sub-stations.

(14/3/21, U.S.)
482 G. H. Boot. Trolley wheels for current collectors.
486 Scintilla. Electric starters for engines. (15/1/21, Switjerland.)
488 Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Electro-magnets. (16/2/21, Germany.)
496 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Telephone systems.

(3/5/21, U.S.)
500 A. VAN T. Day. High-frequency electric signalling. (17/7/16,

U.S.)

January 7, 1922.
513 C. Oliver. Switches.

516 P. C. Hanks. Drive for dynamos or mignetos.
518 G. Wilkinson. Automatic valves or switches.

522 J. P. Annacker & S. Fildes. Electric tumbler switches.

523 A. R. Angus. Devices to utilise forces due to variations in elec-

trical energies.
526 J. Wilson. Electric lamps.

530 S. J. Vaughton. Clocks for operating switches, &c.
567 Elektrizitatswerk Lonza. Improving electrolytic mercuric oxide.

(8/1/21, Switzerland.)

January 9. 1922.
604 H. V. Owen, M. J. Railing & F. G. Quance. Electric junction

boxes, &c.
613 W. Buckley & A. Mansell. Suspension of electric lamps.
625 A. Willmott. Electric switch.

630 Callender's Cable & Construction Co. & G. S. Boothroyd. Elec-

trically bending metallic sheathed cables, &c., in junction boxes.

631 Callender's Cable & Construction Co. & G. S. Boothroyd. Elec-

trically bending metallic sheathed wire^ or cables.
633 A. M. & H. Dickinson. Electrical instrument for automatic
detection of smoke.

654 Western Electric Co. Electj-ic coils.

655 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., A. B. Field & L. Miller.

Alternate current machines.

662 J. Stone & Co. & C. E. Adams. Eiectro-magnetic switches for

train lighting installations.

663 D. A. Evans & H. Hodgson. Cooling or ventilating of enclosed

electric motors.
667 S. D. White. Locking device for electric lamps.

January 10, 1922.
699 W. & C. W. Fennell. Electric lighting apparatus for vehicles.
703 A. M. Taylor. Joints for underground h.t. cables.
709 Whittaker Bros. (Accrington) & W. Whittaker. Electric

wringers and mangles.
711 H. F. Carey. Electrical automatic omnibus signs.
719 Hague & McKenzie & A. Hague Electric kettles, &c.
750 P. G. A. H. VoiGT. Attachment to low-frequency amplifiers.

764 L. BussEREAU. Contact mr.ker for l.t. i'jnition circuit.

765 Soc. Anon le Carbone. Brushes of agglomerated graphite for

electrical machines. (7/4/21, France.)

781 ASTRA Dynamo -Co., F. U. Y. Weldon & C. T. Freeman. Means
for dimming light from electric lamps.

783 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Protective devices for electric circuits.

800 S. Dallaway. Electrically illuminated scenic displays for adver-
tising, &c.

808 H. W. F. Ireland & H. Lucas. Electric machines.

814 S. 0. CowPER-CoLES. Telephone receiver cases.

815 S. O. CowPER-CoLES. Electrolytic apparatus for production of

seamless articles.
821 M. Meinhardt & E. Viz. Production of themio-induction currents.
826 Newton Bros. (Derby). Direct current machines.

January 11. 1922.

857 C. Roller. Electric generators. (21/1/21, Germany.)

858 R. Bosch Akt. Ges. Electric generators. (14/2 '21, Germany.)
903 C. H. Burt. Method of applying designs to lightinc bowls.

911 Metropolitan-Vicker.s Electrical Co.. R. Bro6ks & E. H. Croft.

Railway electric motor control systems.

912 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & W. T. Gray. Couplers

for conductors of electric railway vehicles.

913 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & N. E. North. Switches.
916 A. W. Sharman. Apparatus for controlling and regulating electric

currents.
9.32 L. P. Fiander. Electrically controlled signalling apparatus.
939 T. N. Whitehead. Means of enabling l.t. current to flow across

surfaces of two conductors in contact.

January 4, 1922.
207 F. E. Pernot & L. J. Rich. Phase adjustment of electrical
systems.

Ic? 4- ?■ ^'^^n°^<,^J^-.JJ'- Wallr-i, Electrical apparatus.
267 B. T.-H. Co. & A. P. Young. Magneto-electric machines.

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Offices of " Trai
Electrician " are at 8. Bnuverie Street, London, B.C. 4. fele-

(jrams: Benbrotric, Fleet . London. Telephone: Ciixj 9852 (5 lines).
The .^iihj^cripfion to "Tire Electrician" is £15 0 per annum
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ti.'^ement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2288. [

No. 12.
Vol. LXXXVII

..]

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1922.

Prepaid Subscription U.K., /i 5s.
per ann. ; Abroad, (_\ lOi.

6d.

CONTENTS.

Notes of the Week ., 335

The Great Stoppage ^ 3;i7

The Nobth-West Midlands Inquiry 338

A Brighter Institution 339

Regenerative Braking and Singie-Phase Commutator Motors.

By B. Nordefeldt. Illustrated 340

Review 341

Elec* ric Motor Starters. By J. Anderson. Illustrated 342

The Institution of Electrical Engineers 344

Islington's Electric Veliicles 815

Rotary Converters, with Special Reference to Railway

Elpctrification 346

The Home I'lealisod. Illustrated , 348

Cobrbspondbncb 3 9

The Silvanus rhompson Memorial Lecture 349

High Voltage Outdoor Switchgear 350

Industrial Conditions in Norway in 1921 350

Theoretical and Practical Engineering 351

Ball Bearings in Electrical Machinery 351

Bringing Victorian Economics Up-to-Date 352

Telephone Developments in the North 352

Low-grade Coals for Electric Power 352

Eastick Lampholder Adapter 353

Co-Operative Non-Ferrous Research 353

LEE. Summer Meeting 353

Higrh Electric Ordnance Crane 353

The Newspaper Press Fund 353

Legal Intelligence 354

Parliamentary Intelligence , 354

Electricity Supply 355

Electric Traction 355

Personal and Appointments 356

Business Items, &c 356

Exhibition Notes 356

Telegraph and Telephone Notes .• 356

"Wireless Notes 356

Institution Notes 356

Social Notes 357

C. and Gr. Examinations 357

Railway Electrification Proposals 357

Imperial Notes 357

Foreign Notes . 357

Obituary .- 358

Recent Wills , 358

Miscellaneous 358

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 358

Commercial Intelligence ::i60

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c 361

New Companies 361

Tenders Invited and Accepted 362

Arrangements for the Week 362

Patent Record 363

Notes of the Week.

More Criticism.

Sir Habry Renavick's announcennenxt, to which we
referred last week, that the Coiinty of London Electric
Supply Company are prepared to support the Electricity
Supply Bill hag caused much perturbation in certain quar-
ters. It has inspired the financial contemporary, to whose
fulminations we have already called attention, to issue
in parallel columns Sir Harry's statements on this
subject in 1921 and 1922, and to inquire acidly the reason
of his change of heart. Surely the very nadir of
criticism! For 1922 is not 1921, and if ' the electrical
industry has learnt nothing else in a short twelve months,
it has at last realised that the best, if not the only, way
out of the present sloughs of uncertainty and depression is
by mutual help and not by internecine strife. Moreover,
tie 1922 Bill is not the 1921 Bill, and the differences are
more than sufficient to explain and justify Sir Harry's
change of opinion. We wish, therefore, that more would
follow his example and reconsider their views. This recon-
sideration is, perhaps, most necessary among the smaller,
privately-owned undertakings, who have suffered much in
the past and have the most to gain from any change.

Our Electrical Bourbons.

One of the points made by Sir Harry Ren wick's critic
is that the most conspicuous case of failure of the Com-
missioners' policy is to be found in London, " where the
deadlock in the situation has arisen from the refusal of the
companies to subscribe capital for a scheme under the
control of a joint authority." We know; and we blame
the companies for that state of things rather than the Com-
missioners. They argue, we think mistakenly, that if the
purchase clause were extended, they could develop on more
economical lines if left to themselves than if included in
a Joint Authority, and that some such treatment is

their due for the obstacles that have been placed
in their way in the past. But this is parochialism
at its worst. It leaves out of consideration the lessons
of modem electrical experience, it ignores the fact that the
London electricity problem, overwhelming as it is, can best
be dealt with as a whole, and it forgets that development
by sections is the cause of much of the present trouble.

Local Authority Propaganda for the Bill.

We are glad, however, to see that the London County
Council, through the Special Committee on Electricity, and
the London Conferenc;* of Local Authorities have both
issued reasoned statements in support of the Bill. This
will, we hope, have beneficial results, and it shoulc' cer-
tainly tend to remove the misunderstandings and doubts
in the public mind which have been sedulously propagated
by not wholly disinterested persons. On Tuesday, too, the
County Council passed a resolution welcoming the intro-
duction of the Bill, and urging upon the Government that
in the public interest it should take every step in its power
to ensure the passing of the measure in the present session
of Parliament. The Conference of Local Authorities,
which represent all shades of political opinion, have gone
further and have forwarded a statement to members
of the House of Lords, in which it is pointed out that Joint
Authority schemes contemplate a development of electricity
supply in the interests of authorised undertakers, con-
sumers and the general public, but that in order to secure
proper results the provisions of the new Bill are essential. It
is to be hoped that their lordships will give due weight to
the considered opinion of these elected authorities, and
that they will not stand in the way of industrial and social
progress by rejecting or mangling such a useful measure a«
the present Bill.

Standard Starters.

From many points of view the discussion of the British
Engineering Standards Association starter specifications at
a recent meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers

336

The Electrician.

March 24, 1922

missed fire, aud it is, therefore, fortunate that the dis-
cussion was adjourned. For the subject is most important,
aud, perhaps, more than othea- problems dealt with by stan-
dardisation, may be divided clearly into two principal
sections : What to do and how to do it. With starters, the
second of these sections is the simpler. Given a standard
rating, which would enable purchasers to make a fair coan-
parison between types of starter, theore remains the neces-
sities of good workmanship and attention to detail which are
common to all properly designed and manufactured appar-
atus. To take an example under the heading of " Joints,"
it is stated that no soldering shall be used on the connections
between units, and that all joints must be meohanioally
secure. That is a point upon which agreement will be
instant among all well-conducted manufacturers, and is,
therefore, in a very different category from the controversy
which arises when the vexed question of rating is
mentioned.

Compromise, Not Revolution.

That this is a vexed question can also be shown by
example. In the specification for contactor starters, the
maximum currents which shall pass both, on the first steps
and on each of the subsequent steps is stated. For 10 h.p.
starters the maximum current permissible is two' and a half
times full load current on the first step and three times full
load current on the subsequent steps. Yet many municipal
electricity supply' departments in this country object to
such high currents, and it would be interesting to know
whether they will accept the change. To do so would only
mean tho alteration of regulations. On the other hand, as
Mr. J. T. Mould pointed out in the discussion, each starter
maker has his own standard (for rating among other things),
which he may be forgiven for thinking quite as good as
those of the B.E.S.A., with the sole exception that they
are employed particularly rather than generally. The work
of the B.E.S.A. has, therefore, been one of co-ordination
rather than erection, and of compromise rather than re-
volution. As yet the specifications are in a draft stage and
are, therefore, in a form inviting and convenient for dis-
cussion. It is the duty of those interested to play their
part in welding them into a final form. This, as Mr.
WoRDiNGHAM pointed out, may be a matter of years, but
if it is well done it will be none the worse for that.

An Impudent Claim.

As we have often pointed out, of all the forms of taxa-
tion the Corporation Profits Tax is the most pernicious and
inequitable in its incidence, for, though it is nominally
levied on companies, its burden really falls on the ordinary
shareholders, one class being thus singled out for special
taxation. But„ bad as it is when fairly and equitably
assessed, it is worse when claims such as that made upon the
Central Electric Supply Company becon\e common. This
is, in fact, a clever, though a most unwarranted, attempt
to extend the operation of the tax. Public utility com-
panies are exempt from the tax until December 31 necxt,
provided that their charges to the public are limited by
statute. The Act which established the Central Company
has no such express limitation, but as the Company does
not give a retail supply to the public, but only a bulk
supply to the St. James' and Pall Mall,' the Westminster
and Chelsea Supply Companies, whose charges are limited,
we cannot see the justice of the claim. The companies are,
we are glad to see, resisting the demand, as it really amounts
to the taxation of something which is definitely exempted
by statute.

160 000 kVA Turbo- Alternators !

America has long been recognised as the home of every-
thing that is gargantuan, from oratory and skyscrapers to
the production of motor cars, but according to information
given in the " Times Engineering Supplement," the palm
for turbo-alternators will now have to be conceded to
Germany. For Prof. Reichel has designed a real super-
station to contain six 160 000 kVA units ! Such a
station would have a possible annual output of 2 000 million
kilowatt hours,aud five of them would be able to supply
the whole country. As regards details, the proposed station
will contain 100 steam boilers, each with a heating surface
of 10 750 sq. ft., producing steam at a pressure of 285 lb.
per sq. in. and a temperature of 350 deg. C. The
quantity of cooling water needed would be from 1 200 to
1 400 cu. ft. a second. The annual coal consumption ;would
be some 2\ million metric tons, and in close connection with
the boiler house there would be a coal store capable of hold-
ing 100 000 tons, sufficient for two weeks. The coal would
be transported to the power station in trains composed of
thirty forty-ton trucks, which would be constantly working
between the station and the coal mines. The ash would
be removed in tipping cars by battery locomotives. In the
boiler house, which would measure about 490 ft. by 590 ft.,
the boilers would be arranged in ten rows of ten each.

Generator Details.

The total -weight of the generator of a 160 000 kVA unit
would be about 6U0 tons, of which 222 tons would go to the
rotor and the remainder to the stator. The weight would
thus be about 8| lb. per kVA. The diameter of the rotor
would be nearly 9 ft. and its length over 13 ft., while
the outer diameter of the stator would be over 18 ft.
The two bearings would be 28^ ft. The turbine is de-
signed as a double-flow machine, with steam admission in
the centre and exhaust at both ends. We shall be in-
terested to learn the future developments of this scheme.
It seems to be advancing rather fast on a road of which
some electrical engineers are a little fearful.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Company's Results.

We regret to notice that the operations of the progressive
and well-managed Newcastle-upon-Tyne Electric Supply
Company have been so affected by the coal strike and by the
industrial depression on the North-East Coast that the
ordinary dividend has had to be passed. For the past four
years the distribution has been at the rate of eight per cent,,
and it is unfortunate that an excellent record should be
broken. When, however, it is remembered that the in-
terest charges on additional debentui*e capital required for
extensions absorbed £48 500 more than in the previous
year, and that there was a drop of nearly £48 000 in
revenue from the sale of current the position will be under-
stood. We are convinced tliat the set-back is merely tem-
porary, and that tho company and its associates will recover
rapidly as soon as trade begins to revive once more. The
company is the largest supply authority in tlie kingdom,
and it has been obliged to make heavy issues of debenture
stocks to provide for extension work in hand and for the
general expansion of business. This additional capital has
not yet become remunerative, but as soon as the tide of
industrial prosperity turns, as assuredly it will, the com-
pany will reap tlie reward of its foresight and bold enter-
prise. Within the last few days the company has sus-
tained a more personal loss in the death of its present vice-
chairman and former chairman. Dr. J. T. Merz. Dr.

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

337

Merz was, in fact, one of the founders of the company, and
it3 undoubted success was largely due to his careful
direction.

B. and K. Progress.

We have often contended that the policy adopted years
ago by the Brompton and Kensington Electricity Supply
Company ought to be more widely followed, if only oii
account of the fact that it has been justified by results.
What that policy is need not be stated here, and we may
confine ourselves to saying that in 1921 the company con-
nected more consumers than in any previous twelve months,
excepting only 1919 and 1920, that they sold more current
per lamp installed than in the previous year, and that the
gross receipts showed an increase of 1\ per cent, over the
record of 1920. This continued progress is due mainly to
conversion of the larger houses in the area into flats and
maisonettes, to the growing use of labour-saving devices,
and to the low charges imposed. There will be those that
contend that the B. and K. Company are very lucky, but
then luck has been defined as the child of hard work and
enterprise. Incidentally, it is interesting to learn that
saturation is still far off even in this well-developed area.

A Great Railway Amalgamation.

The announcement that a provisional agieeiment for
fusion has been reached between the extended London and
.North Western and the Midland Railway Companies will be
interesting to electrical engineers from several points of
fview. After the end of the present year this combination
will result in the elirnination of competition for goods and
passenger traffic in a wide area of the country, and will
.erect a gigantic organisation whose operations, we hopei,
J will bo neither too oppressive nor too slow moving to affect
f adversely the development of the country's trade. The effect
of this fusion on the progress of electric traction in this area
will also be watched with interest. The present London and
North Western Railway has already two systems in opera-
tion on different parts of its line, while the Midland, as
we showed a littlei eiarlier in the year, has made somei
interesting experiments with single-phase working, which
were intended to lead to more fruitful results.

Its Effect on the Electrical Staff.

More important than these, however, is the effect the
reorganisation is likely to have on the staff of the two
systems, and especially on those concerned with carrying
out the electrical work. We have already called attention
to the retrograde step taken by the extended London and
North Western Railway in practically placing their elec-
trical department under the ordei-s of the chief mechanical
engineer. Is this policy to be extended in this further
amalgamation, or is an opportunity to be taken of repaii-
ing a mistake and once again establishing a separate elec-
trical engineers' department under the leadership of a man
responsible solely to the directors? We sincerely hope the
latter.

The Great Stoppage.

We are afraid that the debate, which took place in the
House of Commons on Monday, on the lock-cut of the
members of th© Amalgamated Engineers Union by the
Engineering Employers' Federation has not brought peace
much nearer. We scarcely expected it would. For these
debates are too often conducted in an atmosphere of un-
reality and acrimony, and are seized by doctrinaires and

interested persons as an opportunity for putting forward
all sorts of impossible ideas and arguments, which, if they
do nothing worse, generally serve to cloud the issue. Never-
theless, some important points were made to which attention
may be drawn, for their consideration has effected what the
debate itself failed to achieve — a meeting together between
the Joint Labour Council and Sir Allan Smith, with what
we hope will be satisfactory results.

A Breach of Faith ?

Mr. Clynes derided the employers' contention that to
carry on their business they mu?t be the authority to decide
when overtime shall and shall not be worked — and all that
decision implies. He found in the employers' action a
breach of faith, but as Mr. Gould pointed out, the condi-
tion which the trade unions wished to enforce would inter-
fere with the management, and was therefore contrary to
the terms arranged. Industry wai; paralysed by present
conditions, and the lock-out had only anticipated by a lew
weeks what would inevitably have come about for other
reasons. Comparisons of pre-war and existing costs in the
shipbuilding trade, and examples of the opposition that the
employers have to face in reducing production costs in
order to increase trade, which he gave, combine to form a
dark picture of both the present and future chances of in-
dustrial recovery, and indicate the extraordinary ignorance
to their own interests which exists among the workers.
This is shown particularly in their indifference to the
ballots, with the results that harmful decisions are come to
by a small minority of the trade union membership. One
speaker on the Labour side seemed to think that when
21 per cent, of the total membership had voted, a good
showing had been made. The proper organisation of the
ballots and the careful explanation to the voters of the
issues are both mattei*s which Trades Union leaders would
do well to- deal with without delay.

Mr. Hopkinson on the Situation.

Mr. Austin Hopkinson's criticism was that the
niembeirs of the Engineering Employers' Federation were
not at present exercising managerial functions, the Federa-
tion doing that for them. But even if that be so it is
surely better for these functions to be exercised by a body
which is working in the employer's interests rather than
by a Trade Union, or by shop stewards, whose policy,
through ignorance, is antagonistic. This point was
stressed by Sir Allan Smith, who pointed out that to give
the men what they wanted would be to introduce a right
of veto which would prevent employers in practice from
managing their own factories, whatever it might do in
theory, and that it was only on the abrogation of the
demand for that right that employers would consent to
negotiate. This attitude was not taken up in any spirit
of opposition to the Trade Unions, whom the Employers'
Federation wished to see in the strongest possible position.
This is the olive branch to which we have already made
reference.

The Industrial Court Difficulty.

But the most important part of the debate was the
position disclosed by Dr. Macnamara, as a result of appeals
made by a number of speakers to set up an enquiry under
the Industrial Courts Act. This is a weapon which, as Mr.
Clynes pointed out, has been forged for such an occasion
as this, but it is a weapon which the Government is very
reluctant to use until it is, as often as not, too late. Dr.
Macnamara said he had done his best to bring the parties
together, but that he could not set iip ihe Court until the
ballots now being taken were completed ; in the hope appar-
ently that they would be favourable to peace and that the

338

The Electrician.

March 24, 1922

Court would theu be unnecessary. Nevertheless, he urged
both parties of their own motion to come together and com-
pose their differences. It is, having in view all the circum-
stances, an extraordinary attitude to take up — and nob a
little puzzling.

The Results of it All.

Meanwhile, the dispute goes on, and every day matters
go from bad to worse. Mr. Gould tells us that trade can
never recover under present conditions, but with a lock-
out in progress it cannot recover under any conditions.
We are face to face with overpowering foreign competition.
A lock-out will not help us to resist that. A lock-out will
mean increased unemployment, not only among those who
work with their hands, but among those who work with
their brains. It will mean decreased expenditure on
research at a time when every available sum should be
spent on increasing our knowledge of the materials with
which we work. It will mean the stamping out of that
spark of reviving trade which we have been long expecting
at a time when it is just appearing amidst the smoke. It
is nob much credit to either side that a stoppage of work
and production has occurred at such a time.

The North- West Midlands
Inquiry.

The scheme for the reorganisation of electricity supply in
the North-Wesb Midlands District, which was recently in-
vestigated by the Electricity Commissioners, is one of the
best and most complete that we have seen, both from the
administrative and technical points of view. The report of
the proceedings at the inquiry gave us the impression that
it was pub forward purely in the interests of the municipal
uudert.akers, bub we are pleased to find that this is far from
being the case, and that the scheme, which was backed by
all the supply authorities in the district, gives equitable
representation to both companies and local authorities.

Representation on the Authority.

Each undertaker will be entitled to appoint one member
on the proposed Joint Electricity Authority for each
£200 000 of gross revenue per year, and the representation
is so graduated that five members are given for a gross
revenue not exceeding £200 000, with an additional member
for each £100 000 in excess of this amount. One vote will
be allowed for each £20 000 of gross revenue. On this
basis The Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distribu-
tion will have a larger representation and voting power
than any of the local authorities, and the small supply
companies operating at Church Stretton and Market Dray-
ton will also be represented on the Joint Authority.

Very little exception can be taken to any of the adminis-
trative provisions, as they seem to be designed with a view
to the mutual co-operation and assistance of the whole of
the undertakers rather than to secure any special advantage
for any class. This has always been our opinion, as we
believe that until the causes of friction between the muni-
cipal and company undertakers have been removed no satis-
factory progress can be made.

Powers of Authority.

The Electricity Authority may exercise any of its powers
and duties through any undertaker, and it may act in an
advisory capacity in respect of the generation, transmission,
end distribution of all electrical energy in the district. In
regard to areas not at present supplied with electricity, the
Authority is to provide for this as the demand arises and it
is economically possible to do so, by recommending the Com-

missioners to extend the area of supply of existing distribu-
tors or by the creation of new authorised distributors. This
is a very seiisibie way of dealing with a subject which ha»
been greatly misrepresenbed by interested parties.

Financial Clauses.

The clauses relating to finance are mainly based on the
powers to be conferred by the new Electricity (Supply) Bill,
and will enable authorised undertakers, local authorities,
and consumers to render financial eissistance to the Joint
Authority. The provisions governing the application of
revenue are very full, and we are pleased to see that the
charges for electricity supply are bo be regulated with a
view to securing that receipts shall meet expenses, and
that in fixing prices regard is to be had to the annual load
factor, bhe queinbity taken, and the cost of transmission.
With a policy carried out on these lines there will be little
risk of a deficit on the year's working and, therefore, there
will be no need to fall back on the rates. This point needs
emphasising because certain unfriendly critics have so mis-
represented the facts that the public have very erroneous
views on the subject of Joint Aubhoribies.

Technical Details. -

The technical side of the scheme seems to have been pre-
pared with as much care as the administrative. The pro-
posed system of supply is the standard three-phase, with a
periodicity of 50 cycles. Generation is to be at 6 000 to
6 600 V, main transmission at 30 000 to 33 000 V, and
secondary transmission at 6 600 to 11 000 V. The
generating stations at Ocker Hill, Stafford, Hanley, Walsall
(Birchills), West Bromwich, and Wolverhampton, are to be
transferred to the Authority, but later ib is contemplated
to acquire the stations ab Shrewsbury, Leek and Market
Drayton. None of the e^xisting generating stations is to bo
shut down immediately, bub after certain interlinking trans-
mission cables are laid and economic conditions warrant ib,
all the d.c. stations and plant, and, when conditions justify
it, the most uneconomical of the existing alternating current
plant will also be shub down.

New Generating Stations.

The erection of three new capital stations (at Rugeley,
Ironbridge, and near Stone) is contemplated, and the sites
have been chosen because of the transporb facilities, availa-
biliby of cooling water and coal supplies, and their proximity
to the heaviest load centres. For the first five years the
capital expenditure will be £2 913 000, and this figure
includes the erection of the first section of the Kugeley
Station, about 38 000 kW of plant ab the existing stations,
the first section of the transmission mains, together with
the estimated cost of transformer plant and the purchase
price of the two other station sites. The ultimate capacity
of the three new stations would be 260 000 kW, viz., 80 000
kW at Rugeley, 150 000 kW at Ironbridge, and 30 000 kW
at Stone. Provision is also made for the supply of energy
for electric traction and power to the Railway Companies
when required, and for the supply in bulk to the two tram-
way generating stations at Stoke.

Conservative Estimates.

Though no figures are given, it is clear that if existing
undertakers were required to meet their obligations in their
own areas, without regard to other districts, it would be
necessary to erect several new stations, and the aggregate
capital expenditure would be much greater than that of
bhe Joint Authority, which, it is calculated, wi'l be able to
save 100 000 tons of coal per annum in the first stage. The
maximum load on the local station feeders five years hence
will be 76 105 kW, the units required per annum

March 24.. 1922

The Electrician.

339

will be 191 068 500, and, after debiting all charges and
supplying the authorised underta-kers at an average of
115d. per unit, there will be a balance of £22 107 for the
creation of a reserve fund. If anything like this result can
be achieved there can be no question of a deficit to be met
out of the rates, while the present distributors will gain
a decided advantage.

The estimates appear to err on the side of caution, and
we are not siurprised to learn that there was no opposition
to the main principles of the scheme. There was, however,
a claim for representation of large consumers on the
Authority, and frankly we think it would be a good thing
for both parties if this were conceded. Walsall also put
forward a scheme of its own, but as this would cover only a
small part of the Electricity District it cannot be treated
aa a serious attempt to find a solution of the problem set by
the Electricity Commissioners.

A Brighter Institution.

Events at a reoe^nt meeting of the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers point to the necessity for a change in the
procedure followed at these gatherings. On the occasion
in question three Papers were down to be read, and their
exposition was to be followed by a general discussion. The
first of these Papers was short and generally explanatory.
It took but a few minutes to read. The second dealt in an
exhaustive manner with the high technicalities of the design
of certain electrical apparatus, and was long and involved.
Its author therefore wisely refrained from attempting to
read it, even in abstract, and contented himself by giving
a short illustrated lecture on the ideas with which he had
dealt at length in the Paper. This was interesting enough,
but would have been better if the speaker's elocution had
been of a higher quality. The third Paper had already
been read and discussed at one of the Territorial Centres,
and had been published in the " Journal." Nevertheless,
the author took up a considerable amount of time giving
another illustrated lecture on its subject in which slide fol-
lowed slide so rapidly that mental indigestion set in.

A Feast and its Results.

The result of this feast of good things was that it was
seven o'clock (one hour after the opening of the meeting)
before th^ discussion, which is after all the main object of
these gatherings, could be started ; and by that time the
meagre audience were obviously becoming exhausted. An
appeal from the chair that speakers should be brief had a.
further withering effect on the eloquence of those taking
part, and finally the meeting came to the usual, but rather
disappointing, full close at a late hour.

Change in Procedure Necessary.

We have given the history of this affair at full length
because in exaggerated form it is what too often occurs at
these Thursday evening meetings, and because its effect
on those present and on the work of the Institution is so
unsatisfactory that it is worth while making an examina-
tion to discover whether matters cannot be improved . For
interesting discussions are, we fear, the exception rather
than the rule. It appears to us, indeed we know it to our
cost, that the chief thing wrong with the Institution meet'
ings is bad elocution. Elocution, we are aware, is not a
subject of instruction at technical colleges, but where
speaker after speaker rises and mutters in tones which can
just be caught by those near him, or reads rapidly from
manuscript in an almost inaudible voice, we heartily wish
D 2

it were. There are, we admit, speakers who can speak,
but they are very few. This, obviously, is a matter in
which the Council can do little or nothing; but members
themselves ought to take it in hand, and remember that an
argument is doubly cogent when it can be heard.

Publication in Advance.

The Council might, however, consider whether the time
has not arrived when Papers for discussion should be pub-
lished in the " Journal " sufficiently far ahead of the meet-
ing for their contents to be available for any member who
wishes to study them. It would not then be necessary for
the Papers, or even abstracts of them, to be read at the
meeting, and the discussion could be begun at once. If this
plan is considered too iconoclastic, it might be modified by
permitting the author ten minutes in which to explain any
points in his Paper which were not clear or had been modi-
fied by the lapse of time since publication. But this con-
cession should be granted sparingly, as such points could be
as well, or better, dealt with in the reply. The speakers in
the discussion should be required to speak extempore or
from notes, and should not be permitted to read Papers. A
rigid time limit should not be imposed, but irrelevancy and
the discussion of points not dealt with in the Paper should
be severely checked. If more speakers than could comfort-
ably be dealt with in one evening desired to take part in the
discussion a second evening should be allocated. And the
meetings should not be too long. For it must not be
forgotten the prime object of the meetings is instruction,
and that learners soon get tired.

The Disadvantages of Stage Management.

It is generally known that with a laudable desire to
improve the interest of the meetings a certain amount of
stage management is in force. That is, members who are
interested in the particular subject to be discussed are
asked to take part, and human nature being what it is,
doubtless consent even when they have nothing particular
to say. The result is a welter of speakers, a pointless dis-
cussion, and not a little disappointment because some of
those who have been requested to speak have not been given
an opportunity of doing so. It is organisation in excelsis
with the usual results.

Some Suggestions.

We have tried to make these criticisms constructive as
well as destructive, for attending as we do practically e^ery
meeting that is held, we feel a miasmic atmosphere gradually
creeping over the proceedings at Savoy Place. We realise
that some stage management of the meetings is necessary,
but we also feel that it is being conducted on the wrong
lines. The Papers Committee must have no lack of choice
of Papers, and this year they have done wisely in making
the subjects discussed at the meetings cover as wide a range
as possible. They could do more in this way by grouping
Papers on related questions and having them discussed to-
gether. This would allow more time for discussion. It is
also a matter for consideration whether fewer Papers should
not be publicly discussed, giving more time for the discus-
sion of those that do receive that treatment.

But whatever methods are adopted for bringing about a
brighter Institution the success of those methods must lie
with the members themselves, and especially with those
members who take part in the discussions. When the in-
formal meetings were started it was stated that they would
be a useful school for the younger members. It is our
experience tliat it is time some of the members who take
part in the formal meetings attended that school not to
speak but to listen and learn.

340

The Eltctrician — March 24, 1922

Regenerative Braking and Single-Phase Commutator Motors'

By B. NORDEFELDT.

'{'Concluded from page '.314.^

Arrangements for Rotating the Phase ol the Excitation.

For producing phase displacement between the armature
and excitation voltages different methods may be employed. Those
hitherto employed have been either to use a special exciter of the
commutator tjqje, the field of which is fed with sing le-phase current
from the transformer, or to create an auxiliary phase by means
of a two-phase asynchronous motor driven by one phase only, or
by means of a jJhase converter of the commutator type. The use

Fio 8. — Excitation by Phase Convertob.

of an asjmchronous motor is a very simple method, especially as
the motor can also be utilised mechanically on the locomotive.
A diagram of such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 8, where the
asynchronous machine F has a short-circuited rotor and two stator
windings F j and F n. The transformer voltage is introduced on
F I, and the quarter- phase field produced in rotation induces a
voltage in Fj, -Rhich leads that of F in phase. These two voltages
combine to give an excitation voltage of suitable phase.

Commutator machines may also be used as phase converters,
although asynchronous macliines would be better. On a loco-
motive constructed for the experiments on the French Midi Railway
by the Compagnie du Nord et de I'Est de Jeumont (where the jihase
of the excitation was rotated fully 90 deg., and the phase of the
transformer voltage was regulated accordingly) compensated re-
pulsion motors were employed both for biaking and for driving
ventilators and compressors.

As already stated, a separately excited single-phase generator
can also be employed. This however involves a considerable
addition to the weight unless, as has been proposed by the A.E.G.,
one of the motors in a two or more motor locomotive is used as
exciter, and the other as the main generator or generators. Fig. 9,
which is reproduced substantially from an article by L. Monath
in the " Elektrotechnik und Mascliinenbau," 1919, No. 41, shows
the arrangement. The speed characteristics of such a connection
differ rather widely from those already described, due to the
fact that the excitation decreases proportionally witn the speed.
The required characteristics are most easily obtained by replacing

n hy — where n, is the normal speed i i the above expressions.

Samples of such curves are given in Fig. 10. The angle a is here
assumed constant and equal to 30 deg., but the excitation of the

Separate Excitation.

exciter is increa.sed for each step in the same proportion as the
transformer voltage is reduced. Thi.. is necessary to avoid too
large fluctuations in the current and braking torque. The curve for
cos 9 is here drawn only for the highest voltage step.

A comparison with Fig. 6 shows what much more pointed current

♦Abstract of an article in the "Teknish Tidskrift."

curves and how much more rapid a decrease of braking torque
with the speed are produced by this arrangement. It is obvious,
therefore, that this method cannot be employed for braking to rest,
as this would necessitate too many voltage steps in both the
main and excitation circuits.

If, however, the main purpose of the braking is to prevent a
certain speed being exceeded on long down grades, the fact that
the braking torque increases rapidly with the speed may be an
advantage.

Control of the Braking Action.

The question of controlling the generators during the braking
period, wliich has been touched on in the preceding paragraphs,
will now be treated more fully in comparison with the diiect-
current system such as is used on the Chicago, Milwaukee and
St. Paul Railway.

When the direct-current machine is running as a series
motor, it adapts its speed automatically to the excitation, or its
excitation to its speed. If it is reconnected as a generator with
separate and controllable excitation, the latter must be regulated
very exactly with respect to the prevailing speed to avoid a rush
of current. As it cannot be supposed that a motorman will know
the speed of the train exactly, the problem has been solved by
placing the excitation winding permanentl)' in series with the
armature, but successively impressing a voltage thereon from
outside which keeps the exciting current constant or slightly in-
creases it, although the armature current will gradually change
its direction. The armature of the exciter is then traversed by
the sum of t!ie exciting and armature currents of the main machine

I.M.B

cos if

100%
90
80
70
60
SO
40
30
20
10

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100%
Fig. 10.

and must be designed apcordingly. Even this arrangement has,
however, not proved sufficient to prevent dangerous rushes of
current, as a recent accident on the Chicago, Milwaukee and St.
Paul Railway showed. To avoid such rushes, the motorman
was prohibited from using the regenerative braking on freight
trains at speeds below fifteen or above twenty miles per hour. The
speed was sUghtly in excess of the latter value when the braking
was begun, with the result that the cut-out came into action, and
as the air brake also failed, nearly the whole train was wrecked.

Current Rushes on S.P. Systems.

A connection of the kind just described cannot be regarded as
practically possible on the single-phase system, at least, not if a
separate machine is employed for rotating the phase of the excita-
tion. For the reason that the exciting power is mainly reactive
power, the machine delivering it will be ratlier large for
its own current and cannot be increased to carry the vector
sum of this current and the armature current, which sum approaches
the algebraic sum for small values of a. There is, however, no
need for such a connection in the single-phase system, as the start
of the braking operation can be made sufficiently smooth without
it. If, for instance, an a value of 30 deg. and an excitation in-
dependent of the speed are chosen (Fig. 6), it is obvious that not
even connecting the generator to the full transformer voltage

T&o'

I'lOO

100

leo

/
1

II .

c.cos0,Xn

M,ol

; /

J /

/
1

/
r

1
1

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

341

at full excitat^ion will give an undue rush of current if the speed
is between 1 "4 and 0"35 times normal. (These two limits correspond
to 30 per cent, excess current, which is a very moderate value.)
If a full braking torque cannot be avoided for mechanical reasons,
the controller may therefore be shifted directly from the off position
to a position corresponding to full voltage on both the excitation
and the armature circuits. A transition step with, for instance,
3/4 voltage on both circuits will, however, give smoother braking,
as the torque will be only half normal during that period. A really
dangerous rush of current will never occur.

Siagle-Phase Gives Smoother Braking.

It is thus found that the passing from motor to generator action
is not more, but rather less difficult in the single-phase than in
direct-current systems. Moreover, the former, as already
stated, has the advantage of permitting the braking down to low
speeds, which would be very difficult in the continuous-current
system, and therefore, probably, has not been practised. Even with
the single- phase system, mechanical braking at the moment of stopping
can, of course, not be avoided, but the main advantage lies in the
possibility of rurming at widely variable speed on the same controller
position without unduly loading the machine. This advantage
is, however, characteristic only of the system with direct excitation
from the transformer or with a phase converter ; with the A.E.G.
system such large variations of the speed cannot be permitted.

Further, it should be noted that the latter system cannot be
employed in locomotives having only one motor, while in two-motor
locomotives the motors are not uniformly, and therefore not com-
pletely, utilised. It has l^een proposed to interchange their functions
occasionally, but this would make the apparatus stiU more compli-
cated.

Heating Conditions in Regenerative Braking.

In connection with the last-mentioned question it may be asked
whether the use of regenerative braking increases the cost of the
motor equipment owing to heating. This question involves many
factors and must therefore be examined. Traction motors of
substantia] size are now almost always provided with forced cooling,
which brings the time-constant down to a rather low value. The
larger the motor, the greater care must be paid to the cooling,
whence the time-constant can be regarded as about equal for large
and small motors, or about 10 to 20 minutes. This means that
90 per cent, of the final temperature is reached in 25 to 4.5 minutes.
As it is often necessary to run the motors at full load during
such periods, they must generally be dimensioned for nearly
continuous full load, whether they are utilised for regenerative
braking or not. Under such circumstances braking does not
necessitate more expensive motors.

Increase in Weight.

The additional devices on a locomotive necessitated by the
regenerative braking are : In the Oerlikon system, a rather large
reactance coil and some small controlling apparatus; in the system
with a special exciter or phase converter, this machine, together
with a small reactance coil and some controlling apparatus; and
in the A.E.G. system, a small reactance coU and some rather com-
plicated apparatus. The reactance coil in the Oerlikon system
must be dimensioned for more kVA than the transformer, but,
it is stated, that by reason of its low voltage and high space factor
its weight can be reduced to less than 4 per cent, of the total weight
of the locomotive. In systems having phase converter, the latter
will be greater the smaller the reactance coil. The total weight
will always be greater thati in the Oerlikon system, but, on the other
hand, the advantages of a better power economy and more efficient
braking are obtained.

The Commutation Problem.

An important matter in the operation of single-phase machines
is the question of commutation. As is known, there is induced in
the coil short-circuited by the brush— besides the usual reactance
voltage caused by the commutation, which voltage, from the
viewpoint of the line frequency, is in pliase with and in the opposite
direction to the current — a transformer voltage induced by the main
field of the machine. This latter voltage, in a motor, is 90 deg.
behind the former in phase, but in a generator is behind
the field, which leads the current by the variable angle
(90*^— /? — y). During generator operation, the correct phase of the
commutating field cannot thus be obtained by shunting the winding
by an ohmic resistance, as in motor operation, but other methods
must be tried.

The most obvious of these, which, however, gives the correct
pha«e to the commutating field only at a certain speed, is to impress
on the commutating winding a voltage proportional to and in phase
with the armature voltage. A method of this kind has been employed
in the A.E.G. system and is illustrated in Fig. 9. The current
component generated by the said voltage lags practically 90 deg.
behind the machine voltage, and this is the case also with the
corresponding field, while the main field is in phase with the machine
voltage. The field component added in this way has thus the

correct phase, but its strength varies in direct proportion to the
speed of the machine, instead of inversely, as it ousrht.

A field component which is constant, independently of the speed,
is an improvement hereof and can be obtained by connectins an
ohmic resistance to the terminals of the magnet winding in Heries
with a current transformer, both of sufficient size to substantially
determine the phase of the secondary current of the latter, which
current is introduced into the commutating winding. It is also
possible, by special means, to provide a field component which
varies inversely as the speed of the machine.

The conmiutation problem can. therefore, be regarded as solved
in regenerative braking, although it wiU not be so simple as in
motor action.

Review.

Electrical Rates. Bv G. P. Watktns, Ph.D. (New York
^ D. Van Nostrand Company). Pp.228. ^3.

' While what is railed a " multipart tariff " is very generally
approved, the basis of the fixed charge in such a tariff is the subject
of much discus.siop and difference of opinion. It is generally
considered that ultimately load factor should govern the charge,
but other considerations have to be taken into account such as
(o) the capital cost of the services required by, and the special
charges directly due, to a particular consumer, and ( ' ) the proportion
of the cost of the distributing network properly chargeable to the
supply.

The items included in {n) termed " consumer cost," by Dr.
Watkins, can be readily calculated and are of considerable importance
in the case of a small consumer ; those under (h) are not so easUy
ascertainable, but are nevertheless of vital importance in these
days of high costs of mains. The author analyses the efect of
this item of cost, and proposes that it should be dealt with in the
" rate schedule " by means of discounts based on " density factor."
While the solution may not be satisfactory, there is no doubt that
" density factor " (or units sold per yard of frontage) as well as
" consumer cost " have an important bearing on cost of supply, and
may under certain conditions entirely swamp the effect of " ],oad
factor " in an allocation of costs.

It is not to be thought that " density factor " is brought into
account in all American tariffs, or rate schedules ; on the contrary, this
is a new suggestion on the part of the author of this book, but one
that undoubtedly deserves careful consideration.

The book is a careful survey of the whole question of fixing the
price, or rather prices, at which electricity can be sold by an
Electricity Supply Undertaking, written from the standpoint of
an economist. Though the book is naturally based on American
practice, the author having been statistician to the New York
Pubhc Service Commission, it is full of interest, and while from the
nature of the subject it is not light reading, it is ably written and
is evidently the result of a great deal of thought and experience.
Dr. Watkins claims to be ft non- technical man, but his grasp of a
complicated subject is complete, and the book will repay careful
study by Supply Engineers in this country.

We naturally turn to see how American practice differs from
British, and, though it is not directly connected with tariffs in
England, it is interesting to note that " The substantial displace-
ment of other types (of lamp) by tungstens has already, in 1919,
become an accomplished fact." Surely in most tovms in Britain
it was an accomplished fact in 1914 ; probably the reason that the
change over in the States was slower, is that a great many if not most
of the American Supply Undertakings provide lamps free of
charge. ■• v

Apparently the difficulties in the States in framing a " rate
schedule," are very similar to, if not identical with, tliose on this
side of the water, and the author discusses the " minimum charge,"
" consumer cost," " Wrig'it system," " Hopkinson svstem," in
addition to the " density factor " mentioned above. " load
factor," and all the other problems that are so famiUar to the
Electricity Supply Manager, but which are so difficult to deal with
satisfactorily in a tariff of charges.

The author's suggestions for a model rate schedule are full of
interest, but it would be quite as complicated as any tariff in force
in English undcrtaldngs.

The terminology employed in the book is very precise, and
appears to be based on definitions published by the National Klectric
Light Association, as the result of the work of their Rate Research
Committee. The B.E.D.A. might undertake similar work in
England ; at present anyone writing on this subject is in great
difficulty owmg to the absence of a<;cepted terms.

For the benefit of the Britishers who read this review, it may
be mentioned that the book is written in excellent English, with an
entire absence of " Americanese " (wliich, aft^r all, is no worse than
our "journalese"), and that the amourt of "new" spelling is
neghgible.

W. A. ViGNOLES.

342

The Electrician — March 24, 1922

Electric Motor Starters.'

Bv J, ANDERSON.

The author deals with the developmenl of an dec'ric mofor starter from first principles, defining what is meant by starting, acceleraling,

and using torques, and referring to the lack of data regarding starting conditions. Having given a means of estimating the accelerating

time or torque, the author considers the application of these facts to step-hy-step starters.

To obtain a clear idea of the action of a step-by-step starter,
acceleration may be conveniently classified as natural regular
acceleration, natural irregular acceleration, forced regular accelera-
tion, or forced irregular acceleration. When rotation commences,
the speed rises until the back E.M.F. cuts dowai the current to an
amount which gives rise to a torque just sufficient to overcome
the running friction or load at that speed. When the starter
arm is moved to the next notch to cut out resistance there is a

Determination of Accelerating Torque.

Reverting to Fig. 1 , it is necessary to indicate how the accelerating
torque over the period is determined. If the running torque is
66 per cent, the excess torque in the time available for acceleration
is represented by the area of the peaks. The average over the
period works out at one-quarter of the excess of the peak over the
vaUey, giving in t'lis case 8"5 per cent.

It has been found that, as a working basis, the breaking capacity
required from notch to notch is given by the maximum current
at the maximum pressure. The law connecting amperes and volts
for a given quick break switch and a given breaking distance in air
is of the order of

(Amperes). r(Volts)iT'^
(Amperes), L(Volts)oJ

At the " off " position, two conditions have to be considered ;
first, making and breaking on the first notch, with the motor
" stalled " ; and second, breaking to " off " position when the
starter arm is allowed to fly back from the full " on " position. In
the first case, the power to be broken is the current on the first
notch at line pressure. This is an onerous condition, particularly
as the circuit is inductive, and no ordinary starter should be sub-
jected to it. In the second case, practicall)' no load is broken.

Form and Rating of Resistance Elements.

The next stage is to determine the form of the resistance elements,
the method of support and cooling, and how the taps are to be
taken off, &c. Then comes the real difficult^', that is, rating
the element. Rating falls into two main divisions, continuous
and intermittent. Continuous rating need scarcely be considered
in the case of a pure starter, as it affects speed regulation only. But
some starting conditions require a rating that is practically
continuous.

The continuous rating of an element offers a fairly difficult

Fig. 1. — Torque/Time and Speed/Time Curves for 7-notch
Starter passing 100 per cent, current on last notch

WITH motor having 66-6 PER CENT. LOAD. STORED ENERGY :

1 000 ft.-lb./b.h.p. Motor resistance : 8-8 per cent.

current-rush, the peak of which is determined by the ratio of the
first resistance to the second, and which gradually dies away as the
speed and back E.M.F. rise until balance is restored and the current
corresponding to the running torque at the new speed is flowing.

If this is repeated on the third and subsequent notches and all
the peaks and valleys are equal, the acceleration is called " natural
regular."

Fig. 1 is drawn for a load of 66 '6 per cent., the stored energy
being 1 000 ft.-lb. per b.h.p., the motor resistance B'S per cent.,
ratio of resistance from notch to notch 1 '5, and the current on the
first notch and on subsequent peaks I ting 100 per cent.

Data for Correct Accelerating Time.

It is drawn for the correct accelerating time on each notch and
these times are in proportion to the ratio'of the resistances.

It is essential to know the motor resistance, that is, the resistance
of field and armature for a series motor, and of armature only for
a shunt motor. Armature resistance includes brush gear, com-
mutator and connections. The starter maker, in the absence of
this data, has to underestimate the motor resistance, and this
frequently means the addition of another notch or two on the
starter, with correspondingly increased sellin<^ price. There is no
correct number of notches for a given horse power because, in general,
the greater the number of notches the better the starter.

Fig. 2 shows a good example of natural irregular acceleration ;
it is drawn for a centrifugal pump load starting at 1\ per cent,
and ending at 1 00 per cent.

A great deal has been written on the relative merits of current
relays and pressure relays. In Fig. ,'3 the relays on notches 2,
3, and 4 must be set for 32'48, fi9'i8 and 87'0.{ per cent, pressure
respectively to realise that diagram on full load. It would seem
that there is no advantage in a pressure setting versus a current
setting ; on the contrary tho relays must be more difiicult to
standardise, wind and adjust.

* Abstract of a I'aper read before the Institution of Electrical
Engineers.

Fig. 2. — Torque/Time and Speed/Time Curves for
7-NOTrH Starter, passing 100 per cent, current
ON first notch, with motor having centrifugal-
pump load starting at 1}, PER TENT. AND RISING TO

100 PER CENT. Stored energy : 1 000 ft.-lb. /b.h.p.

'jMOTOR RESISTANCE : 88 PER CENT.

problem. The main requirement is ability to dissipate energy
with a reasonable temperature- rise.

The temperature-rise, in continuous rating, obtained depends
primarily on the watts dissipated per unit surface of the wire ;
the way the wire is shielded bj' the supports and frame ; the
proximity of one turn to another ; the numb* i of turns vertically
above each other ; the horizontal distance apart of the elements ;

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

343

and the side draughts which are difficult to exclude while permitting
free access of air. The slightest shielding or side draught causes
the temperature to rise or fall erratically, yet the conditions existing
in still air must be taken as the basis, for there is no alternative.

Curiously varying results are obtained with low and high final
temperatures, owing to the different radiant components at the
two temperatures, and quite dilTerent results are obtained if the
element is horizontal instead of vertical, even when the total wire
surface swept by the air is equal in both positions. The highest
temperature-rise occurs at the middle of each element, whether

27D

210
180

Resistance specification ^-^^

%-af,. l-'S 0-7J5 0375 0188

CcsitractoT cdntrdller witK cu-Tient
relays set for 92%/ 1 30% T
Wcstinghcii.se motor, ishu.'too volts,
675T.i)jn.',Vi-h(mr tateC Armatare
resistance ■♦%. Field 4-6%. Stored
enrigy i30tt-llDiA.h.pa.t ftdl speed
HoijAing controUer passing '
ee%/s 50% Ton first aotcK

motoi on normAl

—full load = so%

iiated fuU. load

Fig. 3.

long or short. The temperature rise at the middle of the short
element is roughly the same as that one-quarter the way up the
longer one ; the temperatures from element to element do not add
up. The same sort of phenomenon occurs with elements immersed
in oil. The temperature- rise observed at the top of the oil depends
also on the head of oil above the elements.

Rating Difficulties.

There are thus numerous difficulties with continuous rating.
Those with intermittent ratings are vastly greater, because if the
heating is complex, the cooling is equally so, and heating for one
short period with cooling for a different period makes the problem
one of the most difficult that can be imagined.

It seems going rather far to have one type with low thermal
capacity and high dissipating capacity for continuous rating,
another with high thermal capacity and poor dissipating capacity
for infrequent starting, and a third intermediate type for running
on a consecutive cycle. The element already described-is a satis-
factory compromise ; it dissipates heat readily because the spirals
are scrubbed by the air or oil, yet it has a high thermal capacity
l)ecause the spirals are in close contact with the stoneware.

One of the difficulties is that with shunt magnets the number of
watts falls as the temperature rises, while with series windings the
watts rise with the temperature.

The study of oil-immersed resistances is full of difficulties and
perplexities, and yet starters are rated on the basis of watt-seconds,
and the specific heat multiplied by the total weight of the oil.
This might be correct if the whole of the oil were in intimate contact
with the resistance element, but this is not possible in practical
designs.

Fig. 4 shows a standard three-phase rotor starter with three
elements, i.e., one element per phase, and a series of brass pockets
soldered into the side of the tank. Particulars are given of tests
on such apparatus in the original Paper.

An interesting point to note is the lag of the temperature-rise
after switching off.

Rating Resistances.

It seems best to rate resistances in the same way as motors and
brake magnets, that is, by a definite temperature-rise in a definite
time, and then to work out curves for cycles so that the capacity
on any given cycle could be read off. The next step, after rating
the resistances on a more or less rational basis, is to arrange the
results in tabular form suitable for the salesman, and there again
another difficulty arises. The currents corresponding to the
standard d.c. motor horse-powers rarely agree with those which
give the maximum permissible temperature-rise of the elements,
so that, for the most part, the resistance units are running far
below the maximum.

A table of horse-powers and resistance sizes correctly worked
out presents the apparent paradox of the smaller horse- power
frequently requiring the larger and more costly resistance ; a
correctly worked out table is practically impossible for alternating

current slip-ring motors, because there are no standard fuU-Ioad
rotor currents. These currents vary enormously for the same
horse-power from one motor maker to anotHer, and from Continental
to British practice.

One result of such low standard temperatures is that British
gear is practically unsaleable on the Continent and in South America,
and in pre-war days was very difficult to sell in the Overseas
Dominions against German and American competition. The same
remark apphes to cable connections and switchgear generally. The
waste of cable in connecting starters is sometimes grotesque ;
people apply the I.E.E. Wiring Rules, overlooking that these rules
are based on an extremely conservative temperature-rise.

A.C. Starters.

The remarks on step-by-step starters apply generally to both
alternating and direct current, but starters for alternating-current
motors present certain problems peculiar to themselv&s. The
resistances are generally connected in the rotors of slip-ring motors
but they may be, and sometimes are, connected in both rotor and
stator. They are connected in the stator of squirrel-cage motors.
Resistances in the rotor may be cut out of each phase equally or
unequally and may be either star or delta connected ; the former
is the more usual.

There is no correct number of notches for alternating-current
starters, but the greater the number the better the performance
of the starter or controller.

It is far more difficult for the user to appreciate the ^ect of
increased notches and diminished out-of- balance rotor currents,
because the rotor out-of balance current is not shown as being out
of balance on the stator ammeters, whether the stator is star or
delta connected.

The rotor out-of -balance current may be so great that the motor
is running as practically a single-phase rotor, but the stator currents
are nearly balanced. This balancing transformer effect is so great

B was placsd

as close a?
possible to C

Fio. 4. — No. 11 Oil Starter. G 100 «V per phase. SOsecs.
"on" ; 7i jnNS. "off." 335 Watts in."- surface of wirb.

1 68 TURN POT PER PHASE WOUND WITH TWELVE TURNS 1(5 S.W.Q.

"Heckrum." Tank capacity : 1 370 in.-' gross, or 103 i.v. per I in.
DEPTH. Each pot 405 in.^ (approx.), or 569 in.-' per I in. pepth.

Oil to top of pH = 64'8in.3 Oil E to S = 140 0 in »

., Top of put to C . . = 7.Vlin.s „ S to P = l<>9-5 in.^

C to D = 150-2in.3 Slat* = 77 5 ia.' (approx. >

D toE = 1290 in.3

that even the rotor current-rushes on changing from notch to notch
are averaged and represented in the stator by quite small swings.
There are probably many ways of calculating the notches and
sections for unbalanced resistances, and the author has used sexeral
from time to time with more or less satisfactory results, but eventually
an original method was developed, and this is described at length
in the original Paper.

The Quebec Legislature have approved Bills promoted by the
Montreal Tramways and Canadian Light and Power Company to
purchase the power station of the National Hydro Electric Company
at Carillon (Quebec), with the right to sell electric power in i3
counties. The scheme will take four or five years to complete, and
will cost between $30 000 000 and §40 000 000 for constructional
work, plant, etc

The Electrician — March 24, 1922

The Institution of Electrical Engineers.

At the meeting of the Institution on Thursday, March 2, Papers
on " Electric Motor Starters," by Mr. J. Anderson, and on ' Design
of Liquid Rheostats," by Mr. W. Wilson, were read in abstract.
Some notes on the " British Standard Specifications for Motor
Starters," by Mr. C. H. Wordingham, were also read, and these
specifications, together with the lapcrs, were discussed conjointly.
We publish, on another page, an abstract of Mr. Anderson's i'aper.
Mr. WOson's Paper has already appeared in the Institution " Jour-
nal." Mr. Wordingham's notes are given in abstract below.

British Standard Specifications for Motor
Starters.

By C. H. WORDINGHAM, C.B.E.

On the formation by the British Engineering Standards Associa-
tion in 1 )14 of a committee under the chairmanship of the author,
considerable difference of opinion was found to exist in regard to
the distinction between a motor starter and a motor controller.
It was finally agreed that the differentiation should be made on the
basis of performance and not on construction, and the following
definition of a motor starter was adopted :

The term " Motor Starter " denotes a device arranged for starting
and accelerating a motor to normal speed, but not adapted for use in
positions intermediate between the " off " position and the " full-on "
position.

The term " starter " includes the following : (a) Rheostatic
starters — (i) face-plate starters, (ii) drum starters, (iii) multiple
switch starters, (iv) contactor starters, (v) liquid starters ; (h)
auto-transformer (compensator) starters ; (c) switch starters for
induction motors.

The corresponding definition of a motor controller is as follows :

A Controller is a device having several steps, contacts or positions,
sometimes called notches, used with or without resistances, for regulating
the speed of a motor or motors, aad may or may not be used for starting.
The term " Controller " does not include the resistances or other means
of control employed therewith.

Simple shunt regulators are not included in this definition.

Face-PIate Rheostatic Starters.

A Specification for face-plate rheostatic starters was prepared
and issued first. It was found necessary to discriminate between
ordinary duty and heavy duty starters, the frequency of starting
being the same in both, and the difference being in the starting
periods. There was considerable discussion as to the starting
periods before these points were settled, and the committee was
greatly helped by Mr. G. H. Roberts, C.B.E., who dealt with the
matter by the practical expedient of making trials on starters
actually in use and known to behave satisfactorily under conditions
of service. As a result of this investigation the objections which
had been put forward were withdrawn.

t Tactically all specifications for motor starters prior to the work
of the B.E.S.A. Committee incljided statements as to the number
of contacts a starting switch should have, as well as the minimum
resistance. Careful consideration, however, of the underlying
theory of motor starting will show that the limitation of the current
peaks as given in the specification provides all tha^ is necessary
in this respect.

Other Specifications.

On completion of the specification for face-plate starters the follow-
ing specifications were commenced : Drum starters, liquid starters,
switch starters, multiple switch starters, contactor starters, and
auto-transformer (compensator) starters. These specifications
are still in draft form.

Each draft specification is divided into four main parts, namely :
(i) General definitions; (ii) rating, sizes and marking; (iii) design
and construction; and (iv) tests. Mr. Scott Ram was consulted
with regard to Home Office requirements, and he pointed out that
as the degree of protection necessary for a mo;or starter to enable
it to pass the requirements of the Home Oii.cs. depended entirely
upon the location of electrical a])paratus, it ^' as not possible to
indicate in a specification whether a starter would or would not
comply with the regulations of his Department.

The provision of an overload release on a standard starter has
been made optional. It is recognised in the specification that motor
circuits should be protected by independent fuses or overload safety
devices, and that means should be provided, independent of the
starter handle, foi' opening the main circuit of the motor.

DISCUSSION IN LONDON.

After the reading of the Papers, which oecui)ied about an hour,
the chairman, Mr. Camphell SwraroN, asked a long list of speakers
to be brief, and called up Major Gunton to open the discussion.

Major A. C. Gunton said that Mr. Anderson's complaint of the
scarcity of information available for the starter maker might

possibly be met in future editions of the " British Standard Specifi-
cations." It had been found useful in other specifications to detail
the information that should be supplied to the manufacturer, but
care had to be taken not to encroach on the rights of the user nor
to restrict the manufacturer in the evolution of new designs. In
tliis particular series of specifications they were introducing clause*
dealing with construction and testing and a way of making greater
use of type tests was pointed out, though the principle of the typ»
test could only be applied when the National Ir roving House wa«
established. If the specifications were tried and made as full use
of as possible, and the experience obtained embodied in representa-
tions to the B.E.S.A., the best way of improving the specifications
woiild have been found.

Electrolyte Problems.

At the beginning of his remarks, Mr. J. M. L. Slater dealt witk
the question of electrolytes. He had found washing soda to be th«
best, and though salt was useful when a low resistance was required
it crept badly. Potash alum and potassium bichromate were also
useful, colliery engineers preferring the former, as it gave steadier
speeds during main and tail haulages. No allowance had been
made in the rating calculations in the Paper for the variations
in the form of starter ; but in some the electrolyte was of different
temperatures in different parts of the tank, and in others the whole
of the liquid round the pots was heated uniformh^ The only
way of determining exactly what happened in large starters was t«
make a model and to discover the power absorbed per unit volume
or weight of electrolyte.

No-Volt Release Troubles.

Mr. Llewelyn Foster dealt mainly with the question of no-volt
releases, saying it was not generally appreciated what troubles
these gave on oil starters, whose operation depended on shunt coils
which varied considerably with different makes of motors. When
no- volt release coils failed the damage was not confined to the starter,
but by causing inductive effects in the shunt coils it probably
brought on a motor breakdown.

Ideals — Possible and Impossible.

Mr. J. T. Mould said that the specification of standards for
starters was obviously a compromise between the ideal and the
practical. Before the panel started work each starter maker had
his own standards with which it would have been unwise to interfere,
so that what had to be done was not so much to evolve new standards
as to co-ordinate those which existed in a form which would be
accepted by everyone. The ideal of the user was often higher
than that of the manirfacturer, but it was not always possible to
give the user all he wanted. In fact, it would not be good for
him as the cost would be probably so tremendous that he would not
be able to pay for it. A great point had been made of American
standards, but some of the things the Americans allowed would
hardly do over here, and, in fact, they had to choose between British
reliability and American optimism. In the draft specification they
claimed to have effected a reasonable compromise and to have laid
a foundation on which others could build after apparatus produced
according to the specification had been tried over a number of years.

Rating Methods Criticised.

Mr. T. Carter made a number of criticisms of the rating methods
followed in the specifications. If a motor to exert a 100 n.v. was
required, a motor capable of giving 200 ii.r. was not specified.
Nor was it tested at half its rated output, but that was what clause
21 in specifici,tion No. 1 0 rather implied. A starter was capable
of doing far more ii.r.-min. than the specification permitted, and ho
suggested that there should be successive starts, but with long
cooling periods between them. This would lead to the selection
of a starter really suitable for the motor it was going to work with.

As it was, the B.E.S.A. tests set far too high a standard and would
hinder development and restrict trade by making the starters
too expensive. As regards temperature rise limits for conductor
coils tests he had recently undertaken showed a wide difference in
the temperature given when a thermometer and the rest of the
resistance methods were used. The figures given in the specification
were therefore confusing, and it would be better to l)e independent
of the limit of 72 deg. and put in the correct figures from experiment.
He did not think it was practical to give starting currents or full
load currents for the motors, and there was also no need to mention
efficiencies or power factors in the specification.

Electrostatics and Coils.

Mr. J. R. Blaikie said that the high jieak shown in the middl*
of Mr. Anderson's curve probably had to do with the electrostatia
state of the coils. In the case of series coils it was quite possible
that the top one was nearer earth potential than the bottom one,

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

345

and the difference of temperature between the centre and the two
ends was therefore considerably flattened out. The effect of dust
on the (low of convection currents must also be taken into considera-
tion, as this altered the rate of cooling. He would like to know
whether Mr. Wilson was satisfied that the experiments on small
apparatus, which he had conducted under a head of electrolyte,
would be applicable to other types where a larger part of the action
took place near the surface.

Mr. A. Dover called attention to the B.E.S.A. specifications in
which the maximum peak of the current was specified. In that
way, he said, with practical standards the whole of the resistance
sections and the grading of a given rheostat could be expressed in
terms of the percentage voltage drop in the motor at full load.
Charts which he exhibited showed how the grading co-efficients
for different conditions for given numbers of sections could be
obtained. J ,

Carbon as a Liquid.

Mr. H. Brazil said that Mr. Wilson's honesty with regard to the
defects of liquid rheostats had led him to wonder whether it would
not be better to use a material intermediate between solid and liquid,
that was a solid broken up into powder. E>cperiraents made on
these lines had been perfectly successful, as the powder tlowed as
easily as liquid, and the resistance could be as easily regulated ; there
was no trouble on direct current and the range of temperature
possible was so much larger that a very much bigger rating could
be allowed. While the space occupied by powder and liquid
was practically the same it was possible to obtain li'5 h.p. per lb.
of powder as against 7 h.p. per lb. of liquid, the figure given by
Mr. Wilson.

The Authors* Replies.

Mr. Anderson in reply, said that the conditions that starters
and motors had to meet at starting were indefinite, and to attempt
to set up standard rules to meet such indefinite conditions would
be ridiculous. It would be better to give information to the starter
maker so that he could intelligently supply a starter for the job.
All that was needed in the standard specifications was an advance
of the maximum temperature rise in certain classes of material.
They could do the rest themselves.

Mr. Wilson, who also replied, said that his experience led him
to consider ordinary washing soda as the best electrolyte. He had
made no allowance for the variation of the temperature of the
solution as it descended, but unless it was boiling he did not think
it would interfere with the rating. He hoped that the specification
was going to do a great deal of good, but if it did not go hand in
hand with development it would mean stagnation. It was, there-
fore, a good thing that it was going to be revised every year. The
rating formula was a very bad one and should be eliminated. He
was aware of the discrepancy between his results and those in the
text books, but he had repeated liis tests and they came out the
same every time. The difference seemed to be a matter of condi-
tions. Mr. Brazil's suggestion with regard to the use of powder
was well Avorth trying. His only doubt was as to contact, as there
would be a possibility of arcing.

DISCUSSION AT NEWCASTLE.

Mr. And3rson's Paper was also discussed at Newcastle, and we
give below an account of the various speakers' remarks.

Mr. -). SCHUIL pointed out that the practice of installing bloAV-
out coils connected across the mains had the advantage of main-
taining the field constant, and that further advantages could be
obtained by the distributed effect of using several small blow-out
coils instead of one lai-ge one. A series hold-on coil could also be
utilised as a combined blow-out coil and no- volt release.

The Importance of Contact Design.

Mr. T. Carter considered that liquid starters were on the whole
more useful for alternating than direct current working, but the
development of the d.c. liquid starter was a matter of importance.
Liquid starters he regarded as sound and satisfactory ajjparatus ;
where troubles were encountered they were usually due to particu-
larly bad treatment. An advantage of the liquid starter over the
resistance starter was the ease with which it could be seen if any-
thing was going wrong. In the case of resistance starters too much
importance could not be attached to the tyi)e, condition and shape
of the contacts, as the slight roughening which was likely to occur
under operating conditions would rapidly upset all test bed data.

Mr. G. Mallinson said that the user frequently saw defects which
the designers had never thought of, and mentioned that although
a starter might give satisfaction in a power station, the same
starter would probably be the cause of heavy maintenance charges
if used in a plater's shop. For shipyard work starters required
to be particularly robust. If cast-iron resistance grids were used
it was necessary to employ the proper grade of cast iron. He advo-
cated a definite stop in the off position for barrel controllers on d.c.
cranes in order to prevent the operator moving his handle straight
over to the reverse position. Enamelled wire resistances were

variable, and he instanced a 'case of a wire resistance wound on a
tube, covered with clay and subsequently baked, which gave a
speed variation of uO per cent, on imhing, according to the day,
the resistance being affscted by the amount of moisture in the
atmosphere.

Mr. ■]. GfBBiNS found the reluctance of motor manufa/^tarers in
giving the needful information to the starter makers to be increasing,
and cften the information could not be obtained until the motor
was on the site. Starting switchgear was often regarded aa a side-
line, which was a great mistake. The importance of suitable switch-
gear could not be over-emphasised, as it was a sound investment
and was a form of insurance.

Mr. A. P. i'v-NE emphasised the necessity for the development
of push button control, as labour became continually more rough.
He was confident that the use of contactors could solve all control
problems if the contactors were properly designed for the job.

DISCUSSION AT BIRMINGHAM.

In the discussion on ^Ir. Wilson's Paper at Birmincrham, Mr. J.
Anderson said the liquid starter wa.s ideal, theoretically, because
the desired accelerating torque could be obtained with the minimum
current from the line, but in practice the ideal was far from being
realised. The author referred to the iniquities of the standard
specifications, and rightly so. As regards temperature rise, " Why
not let the stuff boil ? " generate and condense steam and work
under pressure at temperatures of .'jOO^F. to 400"F. It was a
criminal waste of material to try to dissipate energy at lOO'F. rise,
and to throw away the possibility of utilising the latent heat of
steam in short-rated starters.

Importance of Electrolytic Action.

Mr. H. C. Fox said that the tests did not establish that with
alternating current of any periodicity electrolytic action was
negligible. The point was of importance when the rheostat was
in series with the rotor circuit of a lightly loaded induction motor.
Here the frequency was of the order of 1 or 2 cycles per sec. unless
the resistance value was very high, and in such circumstances a
certain amount of electrolytic action might be anticipated eis d.c.
conditions are being approached.

Mr. C. Sutton said that a sound Paper on the design of liquid
rheostats had been long overdue and this Paper would have ser\'ed
a very useful purpose if it convinced users that the liquid rheostat
was a permanent article instead of only being of use in a test room.

Mr. B. A. M. BoYCE asked whether there had been any diiTiculty
with high voltage between electrodes just before they were short
circuited.

Plain Water.

Prof. Cramp said that the deductions which the author made
from his experiments would be rendered much more clear if he
would add for each experiment the analysis of the electrolyte.
He had referred to the use of " plain water." This was a verj
hazy term. Throughout the Paper the basis for the calculation
of the surface densities was unsatisfactory, for the protection
of the backs of the plates with insulation did not mean that there
would be no current therefrom. .

Islington's Electric Vehicles.

The cleansino; superintendent of Islington Borough Cdimcil (Mr.
H. F. Wigfield) has published interesting figures of the comparative
cost of collectinE; house refuse by electric vehicles and horse vans.
The coFt was 15s. 7d. and 17s. 4d. per ton for horse traction and
electric vehicles respectively. The advieability of substituting
motors for horse traction depended on local conditions, but there
was no doubt that it was a forward movement to employ electric
vehicles for dust collection, arwl this method would bo pretty uni-
versal in the near future. He found that less outside supervision
was required for this class of vehicle than for horse-drawn vehicles.
Those who were seriously thinking of adopting electric tractiou
should go fully into local conditions as to electricity supply. In
the metropolitan area no two places were exactlv alike in their
charges, which ran between Id. per unit at Woolwich to 25d. in
Islington. If direct current was not available large sums would
be required for converting plant.

Mr. Wigfield states th;it allowance must also be made for the fact
that the running of the plant would consume as much electricity is
the vehicles themselves; consequently there was a big initial outlay,
and lar<Te sums were required for depreciation, interest on capital. ,
and a bfll for practically three units of electricity for every mile run.
Manufacturers of electrical vehicles and users in some places would
say that the usual consumption was about 1^ units per running mile,
but that only applied when direct current was available. II local
authorities and electrical engineers would only get a move on and
provide a direct current supply, so that all electric vehicles could be
supplied from a charging panel and plug only, without the need of
converting plant, more than 50 per cent, of the present cost of
charging Vehicles would be saved, electric vehicles would be ueed
more' generally, and an enormous revenue would accrue to the
electric supply undertakings.

316

The Electrician — March 24, 1922

Rotary Converters, with Special Reference to Railway

Electrification.

We give below an account of the discussions which took place in
London and Newcastle on the Paper recently read before the
Institution of Electrical Engineers by Mr. F. P. Whitaker on
" Rotary C onverters, with Special Reference to Railway Electrifica-
tion." An abstract of the Paper appeared on p. 2r)S of our issue
of March \\.

DISCUSSION IN LONDON.

Mr. Roger T. Smith prefaced his remarks by saying that it was
an opportune time to discuss rotary converters for railway purposes.
Continuing, he remarked that short circuits would probably always
occur in railwaj' work, and it was therefore more important to secure
converting apparatus that would withstand them without inter-
fering with the traffic rather than to work for slightly better
efficiencies. The d.c. part of the rotary converter was never
intended as a generator, though on short circuit it became one and
played its part very badly. With all its faults, the cheap cost and
high efficiency of the rotary converter on low frequencies made it
very attractive, but the space required by the transformers and by
two machines in series necessary to get 1 500 V d.c. on a 50 cycle
supply was a disadvantage. As nearly all the capital stations would
be using a frequency of 50, the employment of motor converters,
of synchronous motor generators, or of mercury arc rectifiers must
therefore be considered. His own sixteen years' experience with
600 V motor converters had been entirely satisfactory, and he
thought the machine would be equally satisfactory on 1 500 V with
an a.c. supply at 11 000 V. In addition, such machines with
50 periods were much cheaper and as good as, if not better than,
on 25 periods. They were stable on short circuit, and after short
circuit came up excited in the right way. Their annual efficiency of
output to input was as good as that of the rotary converter, although
on isolated tests the latter might show figures 3 or 4 per cent, higher.

Criticism of the Rectifier.

Mr. J. R. CowiE supported the use of the sjmchronous machine
or the La Cour converter in preference to the rotary, at any rate
on 3 000 V circuits. He considered, however, that the mercury arc
rectifier, in spite of its attractiveness in theory, required a good
many mechanical improvements before it could be satisfactorily
used on traction circuits. The maximum short-circuit current
of 14 000 A given by the author could be kept down to 6 000 A by
the use of high-speed diverter switchgear, and the maximum peak
could be reached in less than half the time given by the author.
One of the things omitted from the Paper were slip ring difficulties.
Personally, he had not found a satisfactory a.c. shp ring brush.
The dust from the wire brushes powdered the whole of the windings
and this, when a short came on, rose up in a cloud.

Experiences with H.-T. Rotaries.

Col. H. E. O'Brien said that at first they had a good deal of
trouble with the 1 250 V, 25 cycle rotary -converters used on the
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, which were designed about
1915, but when they removed the compounding not much further
trouble had been experienced. Were it not for the batteries installed,
however, the interruptions to traffic would probably have been
serious, and Mr. Whitaker therefore deserved a good deal of
gratitude for indicating methods by which rotary troubles could
be prevented. The flash-overs they had experienced were not very
serious, being generally confined to a particular pair of brushes, and
the brush gear, which had been working since 1916, was only
now beginning to show signs of heavy wear. The suggested
improvements in 1 500 V rotary converters would enable them to
increase the load factor of the sub-stations. The rotary converter
had a rival in the mercury arc rectifier, which functioned well on
very fluctuating loads, though it had the grave disadvantage that
it was no use for sudden increases in load, as it required from 20 to
25 min. for warming up.

Reliahility Rather than Efficiency.

Mr. G. A. JuHLiNsaid that reliability rather than efficiency should
have taken first place in the author's schedule. The limit of 13 V
per bar for 50-cycle machines was rather low, as there were hundreds
of thousands of kilowatts of 50 a ,d (iO-cyclc plant operatin«; at
15 or 16 V per bar, and there were macliines in London with bars
not more than 0'14 in. in thickness. In regard to commutator
speeds, Mr. Whitaker erred on the other side. He doubted whether
fhere were any machines other than d.c. turbo-generators which ran
at 8 000 ft. per min., though by the use of a radial commutator a
higher speed than that could be safely obtained. Machines Avith
radial commutators were already operating without difficulty at
speeds up to ll 000 ft. per min. If, therefore, 15 V per bar with
a speed of 9 000 ft. per min., and a thickness of commutator bar
of 0"l7o were taken as criteria there should be no difficulty in
producing a 1 500 V 50-cycle rotary converter. For 3 000 V it would

still be necessary to use two machines in series or to employ
synchronous motor-generator sets. The direct-current side could
be protected from flash-overs by short-circuiting the machines across
three slip rings on the shaft. These sUp rings were put in circuit
by an automatic switch as soon as a heavy overload occurred. He
showed a slide illustrating a set operating under these conditions and
carrying seven-and-a-half time's normalload, in which brush flashing
was only just discernible. The time lag on the " suppressor " was
0"008 sec, and the current rose to about ten times the normal before
it acted. With this method the voltage was taken off the machine,
and, although the current rose rapidly, there was no flash-over on
the machine itself.

Will History Repeat Itself?
Dr. S. P. Smith said that the author catalogued numerous
difficulties, but did not indicate the way in which they could be
overcome. Every designer tried to keep the pressure between the
segments as low as possible, but they would have gradually to
approach whatever the possible limit was, and it was no good trying
to keep down to a figure of 13 V on the highest frequency, especially
as satisfactory machines had been built with 20 V between the
segments. The thickness of the mica was also an important point.
Machines had been built with bars as narrow as 3 mm. with 1| mm.
of mica between them. Possibly when all these improvements had
been made the same thing would happen to the rotary converter
as had happened to the direct current generator, which, directly
it could be satisfactorily built, had been ousted by the rotary
converter. Now the rotary might in its turn be ousted by the
mercury rectifier. Col. O'Brien said that his machines had been
better since he had cut out the compound winding. They would
probably have been equally successful had he reversed the compound
winding, as the great thing was to bring down the voltage and keep
the current from rising above the normal value.

Llneconomic Overload Ratings.

Mr. P. R. Wray said that with rotary converters the overload
capacity was a most important consideration. Enormous sums _,
were spent in providing overload ratings which were never used.
Where a number of sub-stations fed into a common system, as was
usual in railway working, there was no justification for sustained
overload ratings.

Complications v. Simplicity.

Mr. W. E. Highfield said that it was extraordinary how many
enemies the rotary converter had and yet how many of them were
used. Two or three years ago the question of rotary design was
fully ventilated in America, and the causes of the short-circuits were
isolated, but the resulting design was decadent and retrograde, as
the spaces between the brush arms were filled up with flash guards,
wire netting, and other devices which defeated the object for which
they were designed. Insulation used in tliis way carbonised after
a time and damaged the commutator, while the machine was so
completely masked that it could not be readily cleaned or inspected,
Mr. Whitaker's design, though a great improvement in these respects,
had the disadvantage that it was very conservative. He had built
machines with air-insulated commutators which ran at an average
pressure of 90 V per bar and showed no flash overs. Commu-
tator speed was a question of the design of the brush holder. He
had seen brush holders that ran at 10 000 ft. per min., and others
which would not run at 3 000 ft. per min.

A Single-Phase Advocate.

Major A. M. Taylor said that 1 i!.00 V was by far too small
a voltage for main-line electrification. Between Birmingham and
London fifteen main-line trains ran each way during twelve hours.
At '45 miles an hour that gaA'e a 36-mLle headway. Dividing the
lines into three sections there would be in each section two trains,
one going each way. With (i-raile sections, and with trains taking
1 OOO H.p. each, eighteen rotar^^ converter sub-stations would be
required. This would necessitate a tremendous capital outlay
which could be avoided with single-phase working, especially if the
trolley voltage were raised to 15 000 \' with transformers on the
locomotives, for the sub-stations could then be 20 miles apart.
With the eighteen rotary converter sub-stations there would be a
large amount of running at zero efficiency unless automatic devices
were used.

The Designer's Point of View.

Mr. R. Jakeman said, fittuig a fan to blow out the arcs seemed
rather primitive. He ]ircfcrrod a magnetic blow-out arrangement.
A high-speed circuit-breaker described in an American paper some
years ago was said to have a s]iring compressed to '^ 000 lb. pressure,
which was released by a plunger in O'OOl sec. This seemed hardly
possible. While it was true, aa the autho"- said, that rotary
converters were not much larger than motor generators the increased

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

34.7

amount of insulation with which the conductors were' wrapped
|)revented the heat being got rid of so quickly, and the current
densities had therefore to be kept lower. It was not necessary to
supply the two rotaries in scries as shown by the author with two
separate secondaries on the transformer. Harm from tooth ripples
could bo decreased by keeping the number of slots as large as possible
so that the tooth ripple was above the ordinary speed ripple on the
telephone. The mean air gap should also be made large, but these
two things resulted in a larger machine.

Rotaries and Telephones.

Mr. S. C. Bartholomkw discussed the 1 aper from thejtelephone
engineer's point of view, and said that the old idea that direct
current traction was not harmful to the telephone had had to be
changed in recent years. He was, therefore, pleased to find that
Mr. Whitaker could produce puch insignificant ripples on direct
current circuits. Unfortunatdy *he rotary gave a ripple of between
fOO and 1 00 per sec., a rtige which had the greatest effect on
speech, while the fact that the_> W- re used on an unbalanced power
circuit with an uninsulated return also had serious consequences.
Those engaged in power supply often overlooked the fact that a
telephone circuit was effected by a very few microwatts, and that the
effect was cumulative If the ripples could be reduced to 1 or 2 per
cent, there was little fear of interference with the Post-office circuits.

The Author's Replv.

Mr. F. P. Whitaker, in reptying to the discussion, exhibited a
slide of a 1 000 kW, '00 revs, per min., 1 / 00 V machine which was
to be employed on the Victoria Railways. This would stand three
times the full load for 20 sec, and when from seven to eight times
full load current was thrown on the machine there was only a small
amount of arcing if a high-speed circuit-breaker were employed.
With a low-speed circuit-breaker there was rather more arcing.
Turning to the discussion in detail, he said that for railway work
rotaries were the most economical machines to employ, because any
high-tension voltage could be handled without transformers.
Whether electrification was accomplished by means of motor gener-
ators or rotary converters, the fashing problem had still to be
solved. A good machine could not be made out of a bad one by the
introduction of a high-speed breaker, but if the vapour present were
reduced the f'ashover was also reduced, and that was what the high-
speed circuit-breaker permitted. If the slip rings were well spaced
there was no need for special protection. With regard to
Col. O'Brien's remarks, the more heavily a machine was damped the
more easily would it take the full field excitation. To obtain
1 £00 V from a single armature meant encroaching on the margins
of safety, and at present it had not been proved that there was the
same factor of safety with a single as with a double armature. The
same applied to the voltage per bar. In this connection spontaneous
flasliing was the most serious, and the higher the voltage between
the bars the nearer the spontaneous f'ash point was approached.
Mercury arc rectifiers eliminated many of the good properties
of the rotary converter — a machine which already had practically
unity power factor. There was, besides, no ready means of
compounding rectifiers, and the train equipment, therefoie, had to
work over a bigger voltage range than it would if constant voltage
could be maintained.

DISCUSSION IN NEWCASTLE

Prof. W. M. Thornton remarked that the cause of flashovers was
originally thought to be a rise in voltage, but it was later ascertained
that they were actually due to a fall in resistance. The question
then arose as to whether the fall of resistance was due to the presence
of copper vapour or carbon dust. It had since been traced and
confirmed by experience that it was due. to the presence of carbon
dust, compared with which the conductivity of copper vapour was
low. The presence of such dust would obviously lower the resistance
of the surrounding air and render a fashover more likely. The
practice of fitting wipers on the surface of the commutator
immediately behind the brushes had invariably been found effective
in preventing fashovers ; this confirmed that f ashovers were due to
the presence of dust or solid particles, which could be collected, as
such wipers would not be able to collect or remove vapour.

Rotaries for Automatic Sub-stations.

Mr. W. T. Daltok considered the improved designs of rotary
converters, which after a flashover would be able to start up again
without damage to the commutator or brush gear, would be
eminently suitable for automatic sub-stations where no attendance
was provided. Unless such machines were used there would be a
danger of a machine being started up in a damaged condition. In
order to provide for regenerative braking it would be necessary to
reverse the series winding; on a rotarj' converter he thought it was
improbable that this would be done. The question of telephone
interference was very important, and although some telephone
systems were more sensitive than others, railways were generalh*
in a more favourable position than tramways in this respect due to
the rails being insulated from earth.

The Author's Cautiousness.

Mr. F. T. TovTNEND thought the limits of voltage per bar and
peripheral npeed given in the Paper to be on the safe side. To
increase the d.c. voltage obtainable it was necessary to increase the
peripheral speed, with an axial commutator it was not desirable to
exceed 8 000 ft. 7)er min., but if a radial tyyie commutator be adopted
the speed could be increased considerably and might be the means of
obtaining 1.00 V on a single unit machine at .'0 periods. In
addition a radial commutator was much more simple. He also
considered an air draught due to an axial fan to be far more
effective than any magnetic blow-out for blowing the arc cff the
commutator. He gave a description of the ".'rtorer" arc suppressor
which had proved satisfactory in the prevention of fa-shovers.
To intercept the short circuit on the d.c. breaker took time, and
before the breaker coWd operate a f'ashover on the machine occurred.
It took much less time to close a circuit than to open one and the
suppressor, working on this principle, short circuited the slip ringt
in 0008 sec., thereby killing the voltage on" the armature before
the d.c. f ashover could occur. The field circuit was also interrupted.
.Slides were shown of a short circuit on a machine with and without
the suppressor, from which it was obvious that when the suppressor
was used no damage to the machine occurred. These suppressors
were exceedingly useful on motor generators, but not to be
used on rotary converters owing to the fact that they would pull
the machine out and it would have to be started up afresh.

Mr. C. Sykes described some recent short circuit tests on a
1 COO kW rotary converter which he had witnessed, in conjunc-
tion with which high speed circuit breakers were used. He was
impressed by the absence of any sijE,n of burning on the commutator
or brushes after thirty-seven short circuits had been applied.

Commutator Wear.

Mr. J. E. Beard gave some interesting figures regarding the
wear of commutators. On railway machines the commutators
frequently had to be cleaned up and- considerable wear would be
expected. It had been found that in seventeen years service only
\ in. of wear had resulted, which was equivalent to si.\ty-eight yearg
per in., a very reassuring figure. The Jsewport-Shildon rotary
converters, operating on 1 200 kW were very satisfactory in clearing
short circuits on the d.c. side, continuing to run and being ready to
resume load when the d.c. breaker was again closed up.

Mr. H. B. I OYNDEE added that only three times in the life of the
machine referred to by Mr. Beard had the d.c. circuit breaker opened
on short circuit and on each occasion this was due to the breaker being
out of adjustment. Experience with the rotaries at Ayecliffe
showed that all the f ashovers were to the bedplate or to the pedestal.
i.e. to earth. In this connection it was found that a coating of paint
was quite a large deterrent, apparently due to the resistance being
considerably increased. When a circuit breaker opened on overload
a ti ashover frequently followed, and bethought that the requirements
were not so much a liigh speed circuit breaker as a circuit breaker
which had a high speed of opening, but finished its movement
slowly.

The Use of Divertcrs.

Mr. H. W. Clothier suggested a high speed diverter switch should
be utilised to protect a rotar\- converter where the conditions were
severe, the diverter switch limiting the duration of the short circuit
by inserting resistance in the circuit. When the current reached
three times its normal value the diverter switch would operate and
insert the resistance within 0-3 sec, so limiting the current until
the ordinary circuit breaker of a deliberately slow break type had
time to operate. It was undesirable to allow high tension s^^-itches
to operate when a d.c. short circuit occurred, the duration of the
short circuit should be limited without interfering with independent
switches, thus leaving the machine ready to take up load again.

Mr. J. Rosen, said the t' ashover problems with rotary converters
were similar to the problems encountered ir the days of Ac.
generators, where compensating windings were found very useful.

Mr. P. F. AiXEN believed that the experimental results with
increased speed and radial ventilation of rotary converters had
shoAvn a reduction in the liability to flashover, and in the damage
done to the machine.

The Author's Reply.

Iklr. F. P. Whitaker in reply, emphasised that the important point
was to get the f'ashover arc off the commutator. Rotary converters
had been installed for regenerative breaking, being fitted with a
special form of contactor gear to provide for the reversal of the
series winding The addition of Hash barriers to a machine was not
desirable as thev simply added to the maintenance. He agreed that
the short circuit current should be limited as quickly as possible iti
order to reduce the quantity of conducting vajiour produced, but
the final break should not be rapid. The fastest circuit breaker he
had seen limited the current in the circuit in OOOi sec. but it was
doubtful whether it would be possible to guarantee that the current
would be limited on a cO or CO cycle circuit. To instal reactance in
the d.c. circuit was not commercially feasible.

318

T^he Electrician — March 24, 1922

The Home Idealised.

{Continued from page 321.)

" Sun "-ny Domesticity.

An excellent array of labour-saving apj^liances is to be found
on the stand of the Sun Electric CompatvY, which is divided into
two main portions, one of which is arranged as a modern kitchen,
and the other as an imposing dining room. In the former are to
be found in working order the ABC electric laundicss, types of the
"super-electric" washer and wringer, one of which is of aluminium

Fig. 7. — View on the Sun Electrical Company's Stand.

with 12-in. rollers. These rollers swing in a complete circle round the
base and automatically lock rigidly in any one of twenty positions.
Then there is the oscillating electric washer and wringer in which
the tub is given an effective oscillatory motion, so ensuring
thoroughly clean work in the shortest time possible. While it
may be said that the dolly electric washer and wringer, which is
also on view, is pre-eminent because of the care taken in its con-
struction and the high grade materials used. It is interesting to
note that no gears or motors are attached to the tub, all of them
being fitted to the underneath framing. The dolly is self-locking
and takes up the correct position for washing irrespective of the
clothes placed in the tub.

Dish Washing Revolutionised.

Next there is the Holiday electric dish washer — a piece of
apparatus most aptly named. This is an automatic appliance
which, we are told, wdll handle the average six-piece dinner-service
comfortably at one loading, and really does wash the dirtiest
dislies in three minutes, which is, after all, what a washer is for.
Not only does it wash the dishes, but it also rinses them and dries
them before ejecting them, so that the harassed housewife con-
templating this piece of apparatus will almost be persuaded
that the millennium has come.

Lastly in this section is to be found tlie " Reco " kitchen table
unit, which is a kitchen table equipped with an electric motor,
connected to a gear-box and couplings of patented construction.
With this simple and ingenious piece of apparatus the housewife
can make cakes, beat eggs, whip cream, mash potatoes, drive
food choppers, sharpen cutlery, clean silver, and, in fact, do almost
every domestic operation except dress and undress the baby.

" Sunco" Fires.

In the dining-room section are Sunshine electric cleaners and
representative models of Sunco electric fires. Among the latter
we specially noted one of Tudor de ign with an armoured bright
finish, which is placed in a fire grate in the position usually occupied
by coal fires, principally, so tlie Sun Company tell us, 'because a
good many people in their conservatism still prefer to sit round a
fire instead of on it. A view on this part of the Sun stand is
given in Fig. 7

Wireless in the Ideal Home.

No home is ideal Avithout its wireless equipment. At least,
this is the opinion of the British Thoovison-Houston Company,
who are showing in working order their portable wireless receiving

set. This, though not actually designed for the purpose, is admirably

adapted for home use, as it is simple and by means of three easy

adjustments can be employed to

pick up signals from all sorts of

interesting stations. We gave some
detaQs of this equipment in our

account of the Shipping and

Machinery Exhibition last autumn,

but it may be added that the

equipment is contained in a highly-
finished cabinet which is as artistic

a piece of drawing-room furniture

as any gramophone. The set

requires no aerial or earth wires,

and has a range of reception from

300 to 20 000 metres. It can be

used as a direction finder, and

wave meter, and, becoming more

technical for the moment, can also

be emplo3'ed to locate an earth on

a.c. or d.c. cables. If, moreover, an

aerial can be begged, borrowed or

stolen and connected to the ter-
minals fitted on the set wireless

concerts and wireless tele-
phone conversations can be

excellently received.

In these days when time

is money a wireless flashing

device which is also exhi-
bited is of interest. This

alloA\s the wireless time

check from the Eiffel Tower

or other stations to be

flashed in plain figures to

the public four times daily.

This time is guaranteed to

1 /100th of a second. For

spectacular purposes in the

shop window this device

may be made up in the form'of a small Eiffel Tower, as shown in

Fig. 8, whUe more suited for outdoor indications is the large

box-form illu.strated in Fig. 9.

^ Another exhibit is a small motor generator with a range of output

from 50 to 150 W. This can be connected to a lighting circuit or

driven separately by
a belt for wireless
transmission purposes
or for charging accu-
mulators, while, as it
is readUy portable, it
can be put to a variety
of other uses which
need not be detailed.

It may be pointed
out that a successful
demonstration of wire-
less telephony and
music wliich are being
given by the British
Thomson - Houston
Coni])any at the exhi-
bition has not been
acliieved without diffi-
culty, as Olympia is
bc-sprinkled with steel
structures whoso
screcrfing effect is
pretty noticeable.

" Universal " Labour
Saving.
The stand of L. G.
Hawkins Compant
is crowded with Uni-
versal domestic labour-saving appliances, ranging from washing
machines to electric kettles through a variety of stages. The
various features of these appliances are so weU known as not to
require any further description, though special attention may be
called to the lighting standards shoAATi. These include a Georgian

Fig. 8.— B. T.-H. Wireless Time
Indicatok.

Fig.

!). — Another Time Indicator
FOR Outdoor Work.

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

349

pedestal candle fitting and canopy shade in one, which carries two
metal filament lamps, and by the colouring provided gives a soft
mellow light which is most pleasing and comforting. The same
idea is applied to pendants. In all cases the lamps are controlled
by switches in the lamp-holders, which are operated by positively
pulling a chain. A view of one of these lamps is given in Fig. 10.

Needless to say the "Universal" electric washer also finds a place
in full working order, and it wiE be remembered with some interest
that the motor of this is so arranged to cut out on overload. A
reciprocating motion is given to the drum containing the
clothes by means of a cam device. A modification in the
" Universal " toasters consists of a special carrier for the piece of
bread undergoing the operation. This works on a reciprocating-
reversible principle, so that the toast can be turned round without
being touched by the hand. This is not only an advantage from
hygienic reasons, but prevents burnt fingers, loss of temper, and
deposition of the toast on the floor.

We were also shown a new iron whose special feature is its round
heels, which prevent the material rucking up when the iron is
brought back. The Wallis adjustable bed raU lamp, too, is an
exceedingly compact piece of apparatus, which should not only

Fig. 10.

-A Tasteful Fitting on L. G.
^^ Company s Stand.

Hawkins

be in the possession of all those who follow the pernicious habit of
reading in bed, but is equally useful for placing on the piano,
for excursions by night into the wine cellar, if any, or for employment
in any place where it is necessary to have a portable light and at
the same time desirable to put it down when both hands are required
for some other operation. This lamp will stand and hang anjTvhere,
has the further advantage that it takes to pieces very easily and
pack.s up into a very small space. Then there is the 40 W bed
warmer, which contains three heats operated by a most ingenious
push switch with an indicator, all so small as to be almost a watch-
maker's job. The plunger, which is operated by the thumb, is
cut with spiral grooves, which give it a rotary motion round the
various contacts when pressed. In decorating the stand consider-
able use has been made of Hawkins' colours of yellow and gold,
»nd the general effect is very pleasing.

The Olipel Heater.

Mr. Herbert Hogg is showing the Olipel water-heater, which is
an electrical means of obtaining hot water without any further
difficulty than connecting an adaptor or a wall plug to the electricity
supply main. The heater itself is constructed of nickel-plated
copper heavily tinned on the inside and weighs 6i lb. It has no
oomplications to get out of order, and it consumes only 0'76 kV\ h
in twenty-four hours.

The BtRMi.vo I AM GaiLD, Ltd., have ai» artistic display of all
types of metal fittings for the home. These of course include
electric light fittings, of many pleasing designs and efficient execu-
tion.

{To he concluded.)

Correspondence.

MECHANICAL AND HLKCTRICAI. EFFECTS OF LARGE
CURRENTS ON H.T. SWITCHGEAR.

To th^ Ldiior of THE ELECTEICIAN.

Sir. — In your issue of February 17th there appeared a letter from
the Meropolitan Vickers Electrical Company, commenting upon my
notes on the above subject contained in your .January 20th number.
Absence abroad has prevented my giving attention to this before.
The switch mechanism illustrated by the Metropolitan Vickers
Company contains many excellent features, although I assume,
seeing that it embodies a wooden operating rod, which is a type of
design now abandoned by modem designers, it is shown mainly for
its historical interest. The shape of the brushes, however, is
certainly in accordance with the principles laid down by Mr. Torchio
as a result of his experiments.

In my opinion, however, nothing can compare for efficiency in oil
switch contacts with the controller finger form. For one thing such
contacts are very much easier and cheaper to renew than are brushes.
I do not think any designer would use a brush form of contact for
high tension oil switches unless he is forced to do so by reasons of
lack of space to accommodate the finger type.

Many American designs of oU switches in the past have utilised
relatively very small oil tanks and it is easy to see why brush
contacts have been used with these tanks to such a large extent.
The British practice, however, of using very much larger oil tanks is,
in my judgment, the better one.

With reference to the statement that the finger contacts shown in
my Fig. .3B can " freeze " together, this is quite impossible.
" Freezing " only occurs between contacts when an electric arc
plays between the contacts. As the two fingers in Fig. 3B however,
are always at the same potential there is no possibility of an arc
occurring between them.

I quite agree as to the desirability of keeping the resistance of the
arcing path as low as possible as compared with that of the main
contact path. — I am, &c.

Sutton Coldfield, Charles C. G.\rrard.

March 20, 1922.

The Silvanus Thompson Memorial Lecture.

The fifth Silvanus Thompson Memorial Lecture was delivered
before the Rontgen Society on Tuesday, March 21, by Sir Oliver
Lodge, the subject being " Magnetism — and the Ether." The
first part of the lecture was devoted to an appreciation of the late
\ rof. Silvanus Thompson, who was first t resident of the Rontgen
Society, ^ir Oliver referred at some length to the high qualities
of Prof. Thompson, and summed him up by the remark that he
was a good friend in every sense of the word.

The Nature of Magaetism.

After mentioning the work of pioneers in radio-activity and its
application to medicine, Sii Oliver considered the problem of
magnetism and the ether. We could not generate magnetism,
or electricity, or matter ; but could only set it in motion or re-arrange
it. Many still thought that they could generate magnetism, and
certainly they could make any number of magnets, but always by
the aid of an initial magnet ; the specific germ of life had to pre-
exist. He admitted that an electric current could be generated
by the process of setting an electron in motion, but the evidence
went to show that the magnetism which accompanied an electric
current v/as sometliing pre-existing in the tiher, and was not called
into bemg out of nothing. Heat, light and sound were forms of
energy, but magnetism was no more a form of energ^• than was
electricity or life.

Magnetism and Current Inseparable.

Dealing with the ether. Sir Oliver said that matter was not
necessary for a magnetic field. Iron and other magnetic substances
had a large number of magnetic loops in their own constitution,
so that when these were opened out they added themselves to the
loops which existed independently of matter and thus produced
a stronger field for a given magneto-motive force. But such extra
loops were not essential, for nothing had yet shown that an equally
strong magnetic field could not be produced in empty space, that is,
in the ether, if a sufficiently strong current were available. Sir
Oliver then went on to discuss the prodigious intensity of the
circular fields surrounding the equator of a rapidly moving electron,
besides which there were the loops which could be opened out in
the process of magnetisation, but even when opened out the loops
remained perfectlv closed curves, passing through the core of the
magnet and never terminating on its surface. An electric current
was also continuous and circuital, but when the current stopped,
the portion inside a conductor ceased to be. [Magnetic lines were
alwavs closed complete curves. A magnetic loop and a current
loop "were alwavs linked together, and one seemed to be just like
the other, but the difference was that the current circuit could be
cut, and when the current stopped the circulation stopped dead.

850

The Electrician.

March 24, 1922

leaving, if any residue at all, an electrostatic field between the cut
ends. But the magnetic loop behaved differently. When the
generating current strengthened it expanded, when it weakened
it contracted, and when it stopped the magnetic loop shrank so
that it enclosed only an infinitesimal area. The amperian circuits
remained, and though they existed in matter, they existed also in
empty space, so that magnetism was an affair of the ether.
Magnetic Circulation.
As to possible circulation, there was an obvious possibility that
something was circulating round a circuit always closed. The
working hypothesis was that there was a slow etherical circulation
or How along the lines in a magnetic field, the flow being in orbits
of considerable size, so that a beam of light might be sent along
against the How, and a measurement made to see whether the light
was accelerated or retarded. It was becoming customary in a few
quarters to doubt the existence of the ether of space, and to suppose
that Einstein had exploded it. That was contrary to the truth,
and, so far as Sir Oliver knew, no great authority on relativity
really supposed that. Certainly Einstein himsei did not. On
the contrary, his discovery, linking gravitation with light for the
first time, strengthened the position of the ether.

High Voltage Outdoor Switchgear.

The Metropolitan-Vickeks Electrical Company have shown
their belief in the need for switchgear for high voltages, and parti-
cularly for outdoor gear, in the moet practical manner by laying
themselves out to build it in their works at Trafford Park. In the
accompanying illustration is shown a 73 000 V oil switch in course of
construction in their shops. The line of high voltage outdoor switch-
gear which they are constructing is practically identical with that
built by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company in
America. It is thus in no sense an experiment, "but a series of
thoroughly tried-out engineering designs.

The particular switch illustrated is intended for outdoor use, and
has an assigned breaking capacity of 300 000 kVA. Duplicate butt

A 300 000 kVA Switch for Outdoor Work.

contacts are employed, these being housed in metal castings of
smooth profile to avoid corona trouble. For the purpose of the
photograph these shields have bern omitted in one case, as have also
the porcelain sleeves v.hich are fitted to protect from damage by the
arc the lower ends of the condenser terminals. On the bench to the
right of the switch will be seen the magnet frame and coil for
the elertncal operating mechanism. When assembled this stands
on the flrK>r at tne near end of the switch. The long lever shown on
the mechanism bracket is removable, and is mainly used for setting
up the contacts during assembly.

Industrial Conditions in Norway in 1921.

The year 1921 for Norway, as for most other countries, was a
time of crises. In his annual review of the industrial and economic
conditions, Mr. C. L. Pans, H.M. Commercial Secretary at
Christiania, states : " The readjustment of values has proceeded
apace, and many persons have succumbed to the resulting losses,
while the fate of others st'll hangs in the balance. The national
finances are also severely strained, and the sources of taxation have
begun to fail, at a time when extraordinary funds are urgently
required for the payment of debts and the relief of unemployment.
Although the excess of imports over exports is much less than in
1920, the balance of trade remains very unfavourable and Norwegian
currency is at a heavy discount, but the general feeling is, whether
justifiably or not, more hopeful than it was a year ago."

Requirements of Manufacturers.

The requirements of manufacturers in respect of raw materials
and instruments of production fell very far short of the normal
owing to acute industrial depression, and the capacity of merchants
to absorb further quantities of imported manufactures similarly
maintained an unusually low level, owing to the existence within
the country of large stocks of such commodities, the abnormal
condition of the International exchanges and diminished purchasing
power on the part of the public. Currency questions played a most
important part in determining the sources from which the small
demand for new imports should be satisfied. In this respect
German exporters enjoyed a very great advantage, and they were,
therefore, in a position to book most of the business in current
commodities, although, at the same time, buyers hesitated to place
in Germany special orders for large machinery, &c., which involved
late delivery and advance payments. British traders, on the other
hand, found themselves in a most unfortunate situation, sinoe the
high value of sterling ps compared with that of Norwegian kroner
rendered trading exceedingly difficult, if not altogether impossif)le.

Slow British Deliveries.

The demand for British goads is stated to have fallen off very
greatly owing to slow delivery and the abnormal rate of exchange,
so that only specialities, such as particular kinds of steel and patent
machines, which cannot be procured elsewhere, are now purchased
in the United Kingdom. German expoiters appear, by virtue of
their low prices, not only to have regained their former position in
the market, but to have excluded all competition, although, during
the earlier part of the year, a good trade was done from Austria.
A large importer considers that, when the sterling exchange returns
to a more normal level, British manufacturers will have little diffi-
culty in recovering their old trade in such commodities as drills,
files, screw-cutting tools, wrenches, &c., which have a good namo
in Norway, but that they have little prospect of doing business in
machinery unless they have improved upon pre-war patterns.

Electrical Machinery and Insulated Cables.

Owing to the depreciation of the mark, German manufacturers
dominated the market for all kinds of electrical machinery and
cables. British, American, Swedish and Swiss firms, therefore, ex-
perienced great difficulty in doing business. For the same reason
Norwegian factories secured a very small portion of the trade : they
worked at only about half their capacity and sold at prices which
probably entailed a loss.

Owing to the prevailing general depression, and particularly that
of the electro-chemical industry, the demand for new supplies for
industrial purposes was ve'y small. It is anticipated, however, that
1922 will see a fnir demand for small transformers and motors and
for cocjking and heating apparatus in connection with the realisa-
tion of municipal power schemes. It has not hitherto been found
that the fall in the price of coal has affected the demand for
electrical cooking and heating appliances.

At the present moment German manufacturers are do-ng a good
trade, and it is expected that they will continue to secure the bulk
of the business unless the mark recovers in value.

Both the electro-chemical industry and the electro-metallurgical
industry have suffered severely. The production of carbide is practi-
cally at a standstill, as demand is small and it is found impossibl*
to compete with German pr ces, particularly in overseas markets.
The nitrate factories controll'^d by Norsk Hydro Elektri-^k Kvaelstof
Aktierelskab have maintained a good level of production, but have
suffered from the German competition. The prospects for the
engineering industries are described as poor, but it is hoped that
an improvement will result from a rveduction of wapes this spring,
when the rates fixed by compulsory arbitration in 1920 lapse.

Water Power.

The Commission appointed by the Storthing in 1918 to enquire into
the question of a national plan for the supply of electricity over the
whole of Norway has concluded its preparatory work, and draft
proposals will sho tly be submitted for satisfying the requirements
of practica'ly the whole co"ntry in respect of energy for lighting
and domestic purposes, and for the u=e of farmers, craftsmen and
small industries, on the basis of 250 W per ind vidual. It is esti-
mated that, without including the cost of suppl'es already avail-
able, it will l>e necessary to expend a fu'-ther sum of
Kr. 300 000 000 to this end. It is apparently intended, the renort
states, to suggost that the nub'ic anthoriti ■ . of each county snail
in the main be made responsible for. and shall be given the necessary
powers to undertake, the provision and distribution of electricikl

March 24, 1922

The Electrician*

351

energy within th« country in so far as the smaller towns and country
municipalities are concerned, while the larger towns will be required
to organise their own supply, as, in fact, they h-ave already done.

During and immediately after the war a large number of schemes
were initiated by various municipalities with a view to providing
electrical energy for domestic and agricultural consumption and for
the use of minor industrial concerns, and many waterfalls were
harnessed to this end. Arrangements for the distribution of the
power which has thus become available are now being made. In
view of the prevailing industrial depression and the fact that new
supplies of energy are required only for domestic service, it is
generally felt that power already harnessed will satisfy the demand
For the next few years, unless the electro-chemical and electro-
metallurgical industry should receive some at present unforeseen
impetus.

Government Povrer Schemes.

It has been arranged that the municipalities of Christiania and
Drammen shall receive from the Rjukan Power Station 12 500 kW
and 2 500 kW respectively, while the Buskerud county is to receive
4 000 kW from the same source. The scheme for extending the
Labro power station with a view to the delivery of an additional
3 600 kW to the Drammen municipality has been suspended for the
present. The Norwegian Government will undertake the con-
struction of the transmission line from Rjukan to Kongsberg, while
the Buskerud county and the municipalities of Chrietiania and
Drammen will undertake the transmission for the remaining dis-
tances. The construction of this transmission line was commenced
in the spring of 1921, and it is expected that the power will become
available for use in October this year.

Operations are being continued in connection with the power
scheme at Nore, where the tunnel and catchment basin are in
process of construction and the site for the pipe line is under
preparation. A grant of Kr. 4 500 000 has this year been made to
the scheme. Work is also proceeding on the railway from
Aongsberg to Nore, upon which Kr. 4 500 000 has now been
expended.

Work upon the Hakavik installation, which is to supply power
to the Christiania-Drammen railway, is nearing completion, and it
is now hoped that electric traffic may commence between Christiania
and Sandviken *or Asker early this year. It will be necessary,
however, to construct a new bridge over the Drammen River before
the whole journey can be made by electric train, as the existing
bridge is not strong enough to carry the heavy electric locomotives.

At Glomf jord, in the Nordland county, 50 000 h.p. has been
installed and the installation of an extra pipe line for 27 000 h.p.,
together with the necessary electr'cal equipment, is nearing com-
pletion. The State is prepared to consider proposals for the applica-
tion of this power. A zinc-smelting works controlled by Swedish
interests, which has rented 50 000 h.p. from this source, has experi-
enced difficulty in fulfilling its contract, and the State has hitherto
received no return for the large capital invested in the power station.

The harnessing of Solbergfos, on the River Glommen, has been
continued, and is expected to be completed in 1924. Of the power
obtained from this scheme, which has been estimated at
50 000 H.P., one-third will be taken by the municipality of
Christiania, two-thirds by the State.

Municipal Power Schemes.

The harnessing of the Raanaasfos on the River Glommen is near-
ing completion, and it is expected that the Chrstiania Municipality
will shortly take delivery of 12 000 kW from this source.

The offer of power to Christiania from Tysse has not been
accepted.

The Bergen Pen'nsula Power Company, an amalgamation of the
Bergen Municipality and a number of small mun-cipalities in the
Bergen district, is considering the construction of a 100 000 h.p.
station at Dale with a view to the delivery of energy to the mem-
bers of the comnany. The scheme of the Bergen Municipality to
procure 6 000 kW from Herlandsfos has, therefore, been suspended.

The harnessing of the Hoge waterfalls, owned by the Aust Agder
county, has now been completed.

Work has continued on the following schemes :

That of Nord Trondelag county for harnessing the Folia water-
course. It is expected that the delivery of power will commence
in about a year's time.

The scheme for the harnessing of the Tafjord watercourse in the
Romsdal county.

The scheme of the town of Kristiansand S. for the harnessing of
the Nomeland fall.

That of the town of Fredrikshald for power stations on the
Brekke and Krappeto waterfalls.

The Troms cointy has initiated a scheme to procure 2 000 h.p.
from the Bardo waterfall.

The scheme of the Aalfot Power Company for harnessing the
Aalfot waterfall is still in suspense owing to financial difficulties.

Private Power Schemes.

No new private power schemes have been initiated.

As regards old schemes, the position is as follows :

The carl)ide fnctories for which the power from the Saude Falls
was intended have not yet been put into operation, but several
thousand kilowatts form this source are now deliNoied to local
municipalities.

A/S Bremanger Kraftselskap have completed their power station
*• Svaelgen, and the Nordre Bergenhus county have nearly finished
the construction of the transmission net.

A/S Bjolvefossen are now delivering 8 500 kW to the Bergen
municipality.

The iijorkaasen Mining Company have completed the harnessing
of 7 000 H.p. for their own use.

State Aid to Municipal Power Sclieraes.

On Februaiy 23, 1921, the Norwegian Ministry of Finance con-
cluded wiih a syndicate of No.wegian banks a loan of
Kr. 50 000 000 to be devoted to a-ssieting various municipalities in
completing power schemes which had been interrupted owing to
financial difficulties. From this fund advances have i>een made of
Kr.6 003 000 to the Aust Agder Municipality, Kr.l4 000 000 to the
Tafjord Power Company and Kr.9 000 000 to the Nord Irondelag
County in aid of schemes mentioned above. A number of other
municipalities have also received assistance.

Export of Hydro-Electrical Power.

The commission cons sting of members appointed by the
Norwegian, Swedish and Danish Governments to consider the
possibility of transmitting electrical power from Norway to
Denmark has continued its deliberations during the present year.
Norwegian experts are of op nion that the scheme will eventually
be realised, although financial and technical difficulties have first to
be overcome. It is expected that by the end of 1924, which is
considered the earliest date at which the transmission line could be
completed, Norway will be in possession of a considerable surplus
of power available for export. The question whether the power
should be carried overland through Sweden or by a submarine cable
direct to Denmark remains unsettled, but the" former alternative
seems to be regarded with most favour.

Railway Electrification.

The electrification of the railway line from Christiania to
Drammen is nearing comoletion, and it is hoped that it will b»
possible to open the section Christiania-Asker (about 26 kilometres)
for electric traffic early this year.

Work is proceeding upon the electrification of the Ofct Railway
(from Narvik to the Swedish bordsr).

The question of the electrification of other sections of railway it
still under consideration.

Theoretical and Practical Engineering.

Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir George Goodwin Engineer-in-Chief
of the Fleet, delivered an address on Saturday night as honorary
president of the Engineering Society of the University Collegb
OF Southampton. Mr. John Smith, of Thornycrofts, the retiring
honorary president, was in the chair.

Sir George Goodwin said that college societies in engineering
centres where practical work could be associated with study ana
research must be productive of a great deal of good^both to the
students and to the experienced engineer. Perhaps the connection
between the school and tho shop had not been sufficiently thorough.
In many cases the effect had been to produce two different types of
engineers, one regard ng himself as highly accomplished in
theoretical engineering and being somewhat disdainful of operative
and manipulalivo skill ; the other equally proud of his practical pro-
ficiency, and especially cl" the fact that no one could possibly
accuse him of being an " x chaser." The differences sometimes
became acute, and the result was very unfortunate. As an example
of the advantage of a student combining theoretical and p.actical
knowledge. Sir George Goodwin referred to turbine reduction
gearing. The idea of it emanated from theoretical considerations
alone, but it would never have materialised except through the skill
of the workman. The responsibility that engineering education and
training proceeded on proper lines rested with the university authori-
ties and other bodies who controlled the respective syllabuses. He
did not find much fault with their syllabuses, but hedid wish that
those who drew them up would include just sufficient to ensure due
appreciation of the interdependence of theory and practice.

Ball Bearings in Electrical Machinery-.

At the Birmingham and District Electric Club on March 11
a paper on " Ball Bearings, with Special Reference to Electrical
Machinery," was read by Mr. C. Allen, of the Skefko Ball Bearing
Company. The lecturer gave an account of the physical, mechani-
cal and mathematical considerations which govern the design and
construction of ball and roller bearings, with special reference to the
investigations of Hertz, Striebeck and Goodman. Single row and
double row self-aliarning bearings were explained, with the thrust
cap.icity of each type. A number of figures were given, bearing
upon transmission efficiency of plain and ball bearings, the co-
efificient of friction of ball bearings being given at 0 001, and of plain
bearings, under gcx>d conditions, of at least ten times this figure,
thereby m-'\kiiig possible an economy of power loss of 93 per cent.
In electric motors ball bearings were extensivelv used in small
powers, but in shafts over 2iin. diameter trouble ^ad been experi-
enced. Some of the causes of the trouble were analysed, and an
account was given of recent experience and practice on the Con-
tinent and in America, where large m-^tors and rotary coiiverters
were being constructed with ball bearings with very satisfactory
results, and the larger British nianufaclurers were now making
serious investigations into the subject.

352

The Eleccriciaa.

March 24, 1922

Bringing Victorian Economics Up-to-Date. Telephone Developments in the North.

By ERNEST J. P. BENN.

Since the War everybody is talking of economics and the interest
in the dry-as-dust science has spread to every part of the community.
Politicians, industrial leaders, and students of economic questions
generally have, mider war pressure, rushed at the writings of the mid-
Victoj'ian era and accepted the sayings of Adam Smith, Karl Marx,
and their contemporaries almost as if they were revealed truth, and
based their arguments and actions upon them almost without further
enquiry. But surely a science of economics which was formulated
before the days of electricity may be as useless as a science of
medicine which overlooked the discovery of the circulation of the
blood. Karl Marx told us that wealth arises from land and labour,
Sidney Webb has widened the meaning of the term "labour" to
include forms of toil which do not soil the hands, and that is
really about as far as manv of us have got in the science of econo-
mics. It is indeed questionable whether we have begun on
economics, properly so called, at all, and whether such thoughts as
we employ in this direction would not be more correctly described
as " Sidney Webbics." So little has the science of economics
advanced with the times and taken cognisance of human develop-
ment, that Professor Ramsey Muir is at this moment busy saying
in the language of 1920 almoet exactly what Karl Marx said 'n
1860 and Sidney Webb in 1890. England is becoming a mass of
Socialism, and unless we realise that fact the present process of
universal limitation will continue, the standard of living will get
lower and lower, and the glorious era of wealth production which is
really England's contribution to humanity may be said to be
drawing to a close.

A Fresh Start.

We must start again, and there could not be a better time to
start. The first big fact which must be accepted from the house-
tops, and written in capital letters in the front of our minds, is
that we live by exchange. If only we would digest that one big
truth we should be able to get the others into true perspective.
Capital and labour would cease to occupy the whole of the stage a.s
they have hitherto done, and we should realise that the prime
factor in the creation of wealth is neither capital nor labour, bu'
exchange. The War has given us our first real chance to grasp and
understand this. Commodities are not in themselves wealth. They
may be the raw materials of wealth, but they only become the real
thing when they are exchanged. If the Isle of Wight were heaped
up sky-high with pianos there would be a good deal of labour and a
good deal of capital involved in the process, but there would be
nothing which could be recogni.sed as wealth. Capital and labour
would in that case both have performed their functions, and both
no doubt, would be engaged in arguing as to their respective pro-
portions of the property ; the argument would be the only music
arising from this wonderful plethora of pianos.

We talk of the laws of supply and demand, but we forget that
both supply and demand require making, and demand often requires
more making than supply. The man who can bring supply and
demand together is performing a higher function than he wno can
make supply or he who possesses demand.

The Land of Practical Economics.

America is the land of practical economics. They seem to be
gifted over there with an understanding of the science of wealth
creation. They spend a far higher percentage of the price of an
article upon the selling of it than is usual in any other country cf
the world. That does not mean that American prices are high ;
their successful competition in foreign markets proves the contrary.
By providing adequate remuneration for the sellers or exchangers
the Americans succeed in exchanging goods at a quicker rate tnan
the rest of us, which is the whole secret of mass production wit.l
its high wages, high profits, and low prices.

The new economics which cannot now be long delayed will classify
us in a more scientific manner and correct our sense of proportion.
Instead of a Ijabour Party we shall have an Exchange Party, into
which will congregate all the people who really carry the bulk of
the responsibility for wealth creation. The Exchange Party mem-
bership will consist of merchants, shopkeepers, travellers, salesmen,
advertisers, and demand-creators generally. It will embrace all
those brains which Mr. Sidney Webb has made such frantic efforts
to secure for Labour. Everyone who is engage 1 in doing anything
to facilitate exchange, which means everyone w'.o takes an interest
in his job and really does his duty, will be an enthusiastic member
of the Exchange Party. Behind this front rank of the industrial
army will range themselves side by side the old-fashioned Capital
and Labour, each recognising that they are necessary, but subsidiary,
functionaries.

In some such way as this we shall be able to support our popula-
tions in ever increasing comfort, and provide for larger populations
yet to come; but unless we do take some such steps, unless we learn
in time the lesson of Russia, then we shall assuredly have to face a
steady reduction in the standard of living, and the corresponding
necessary reduction in the numbers of the nunian race.

Mr. J. R. M. Elliott, Superintendent Engineer at Newcastle Post
Office, delivered an address on " Telephones " to the Newcastle
RoTAHY Club last week, dealing particularly with developments in
the northern district. In Newcastle, he said, the necessity for a
new exchange, to take the place of the existing City and Central Ex-
changes, had for some time past been under consideration. A site
was available for the erection of a new building, and investigations
were proceeding with a view to determining whether the system to
be adopted should be manual or automatic. In the event of the
decision being in favour of q,utomatics, it would be necessary to
convert all the exchanges within a radius of a few miles of
Newcastle to automatic also.

In this connection it might be of interest to know that the
private branch exchange system of one of the largest engineering
works on Tyneside had been converted by the department to
automatic working.

Extensive Programme.

The programme of new underground cables which was in hand
was extensive. At Gateshead eleven miles of new cable were being
laid, comprising 1 100 miles of wire, and on completion 600 miles
of open wire on congested pole routes would be taken down.

In Newcastle twenty-seven miles of cable, comprising 5 000 miles
of wire, were being added in seven different areas to the existing
plant, and the work was nearing completion.

For Wallsend and Walker area the work of laying seven miles
of cable, comprising 650 miles of wire, was also progressing ; and
at Jarrow and Hebburn work of a similar character was nearing
completion, whilst at North Shields, Tynemouth, and Whitley Bay
the existing cables were being augmented

Since the war new cable plant had been provided or was in course
of provision for local develooment purposes at forty-two different
centres throughout the district. The cables reached an aggregate
of ninety-three miles, and comprised 11 000 miles of wire, the total
cost having been £150 000.

In addition to these local development woi-ks, a main cable route
was at the moment being constructed between Newcastle and
Durham, and thence to West Hartlepool, a distance of thirty-two
miles, and, when finished, would increase the trunk facilities to
the Durham and Hartlepool areas. The cables would contain over
5 000 miles of wire, and the cost of the work would be about
£142 000. _

The open line trunk facilities of the district had been increased
during the past two years by eighty-four new circuits, involving the
erection of 1 300 miles of wire, at a cost of £47 500.

A new cable route between London and Glasgow had been decided
upon, having repeater stations at sixty-mile intervals. The route
would pass through Catterick, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle. Otter-
burn and Jedburgh. When this cable was completed, the local long-
distance trunk facilities, now available, would be greatly augmented,
as the new route would provide for the industrial centres of the
North-East Coast. The cost of this particular work would be
about £500 000, a development in which Newcastle directly
participated.

The Aotir» British Coneul-General at San Francisco reports that
a local firm of dealers in china, glassware and household appliances
are desirous of buying household electric appliances direct from
United Kingdom manuiacturers. Further particulars cnn be obtained
from the Department of Overseas Trade. (Ref. D.O.T.
14 359/F.W./S.C.2.)

Low-grade Coals for Electric Power.

In a paper read before the Society of Arts recently, Professor
W. A. Bone discussed the utilisation of broavn coals and
LIGNITES, and the steps which are being taken in Australia towards
the production of cheap electric power by this means. In the
Latrobe Valley, Victoria, there is an area which is estimated to
contain, within 1 000 ft. of the sui-face, over 31 000 000 tons
of brown coals and lignites. These are low-grade fuels, which contain
something like 50 per cent, of water in the raw state, but by •
drying process the water content can be considerably reduced.

Researches have been carried out by Prof. Bone in the direction
of the heat ♦reatment of these fuels below 400° C. as a possible
method of enhancing their fuel values, and it has been found that
such treatment affords a ready means of up-grading such coals, and
of improving their fuel values generally. The Underfeed Stoker
Company have designed and patented an apparatus for both drying
and up-grading the fuel continuously in one operation, using only the
sensible heat in the burnt gases passing away from a boiler.

One of these specially fitted mechanical stokers has been installed
at Morwell, and is now undergoing systematic trials there under the
supervision of Mr. H. R. Harper, their Chief Engineer. One of the
principal advantages of such a fuel provider in connection with big
power-station boiler installations, such as at Morwell, where low-
grade brown coal must be used, is that by so drying and up-griding
the fuel before burning in the boiler grato, it will give a much hotter
and more radiant fire than it would otherwise do, with consequent
increase in both the st-e-'^m output per boiler and the thermal
efficiency of the system as a whole. Th? Underfeed Company
guaranteed that nine boilers fitted with their new fuel improver
attachmejit would give the same steam output as twelve boilers fired
with the untreated fuel, and with a greater thermal efficiency.

During the discussion which followed the reading of the paper, Mr.
John McTV^ae. Agent-General for Victoria, said it was anticipated
that early in 1924 electrical energy would be supplied from Morwell
throughout the whole State. It was calculated that thev would be
able to supply eicctricai energy tc p.Anufaciurers at £4 8s. per H.P-
year, and at the mine moutli at £2 17s. 6d. per h.p. year.

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

358

Eastick Lampholder Adapter.

This lampholder adapter, which is marketed by J. J. Eastick &
Sons, 4, Belfast-road, Stoke Newington Station, London, N.16, is
becoming popular with users of electric lighting appliancee, because

The Eastick Lampholder Adapter.

the plugs are at an angle, and they can be easily attached without
removmg the lampshade. Wiring contractors and supplies dealers
can obtam further particulars, including trade terms, of this device
from the makers.

Co-Operative Non-Ferrous Research.

At the second annual meeting of the British Non-Ferrous
Metals Research Association at Birmingham, the chairman, Mr.
T. Bolton, detailed the progress of the aseociation during the year,
and referred particularly to the organisation of the body, the work
in progress, and to the proposed establishment of research fellow-
ships at the Universities. The aseociation was one of the very few
which admitted users or consumers to membership on the same
terms as manufacturers or producers, and they hoped to obtain
support from the engineering and other great industries. The
majority of the work in hand referred to copper, as most of the
support came from that section of the trade.

Dr. W. Rosenhain, of the National Physical Laboratory, stressed
the fact that many non-ferrous troubles could not be solved because
there was insufficient fundamental knowledge, to secure which men
and money were necessary. He thought the Research Association an
ideal channel through which such research could be arranged, be-
cause it provided the means whereby research could be applied in
industry after having been carried out in the laboratory. He also
instanced recent advances in the ferrous industries, which would
necessitate non-ferrous manufacturers making efforts to regain thtir
position.

Sir Frank Heath, Secretary of the Scientific and Industrial
Research Dept. , congratulated the association on the extraordinary
expansion which had taken place during the past year in its mem-
bership and activities, and illustrated the way in which the user
and producer could aid each other by proper co-operation. He
considered the establishment of an intelligence service one of the
most valuable things an association could do, and offered the aid i'f
his department in working out a scheme of research fellowships, [t
was significant of the view now taken by business men that the
Geddes Committee had not recommended any cuts in his depart-
ment, but he hinted that manufacturers should use the million
pound fund for research as expeditiously as possible.

Other speakers included Vice-Admiral Sir George Goodwin,
Engineer-in-Chief to the Admiralty and President of the Institute
of Metals ; Sir Henry Fowler, Chief Mechanical Engineer to the
Midland Railway ; Sir Gerard Muntz and Sir Richard Threlfall.

I.E.E. Summer Meeting.

The summer meeting of the iNSTrruTTON of Electrical Engineers
will take place in Scotland from May 30 to June 2. The programme
is substantially the same as that of the meeting arranged for last
year, which was abandoned on account of the coal strike.

On the firs* uay a visit will be paid to Dalmarnock generating
station. This will be preceded by a Paper by Mr. R. B. Mitchell on
the station, and subsequently a lunch will be held at the Municipal
Building by invitation of the Corporation of Glasgow. In the after-
noon visits will be paid to the works of John Brown & Company,
the Clyde's Mill power station of the Clyde Valley Eleo'trical Power
Company, and some of the Glasgow Corporation reservoirs. In the
evening a reception will be held at the Municipal Buildings by the
Corporation of Glasgow.

On the morning of May 31 a Pap«r will be read at the Glasgow
University by Prof. Magnus Maclean on "The Hydro-Electric
Resources of the Scottish Highlands." In the afternoon a visit will
bd paid to the works of Babcock & Wilcox at Renfrew, which will l.e
followed by a steamer excursion on the Firth of Clyde by the invita-
tion of the firm.

On Thursday, June 1, the party will leave Glasgow, breaking their
journey at Tulloch to inspect the sources of supply of the Lochaber
water power scheme, and arriving at Fort William in the evening.
On Friday a steamer excursion will be made to Kinlochleven, where
the works of the British Aluminium Company will be inspected, and
the party will afterwards proceed to Oban.

High Electric Ordnance Crane.

The Cleveland Cbanb and Engineering Company, Wickliffe,
Ohio, have recently built a 75-ton electric travelling crane for
handling naval guns of the larger sizes during heat-treatment
operations at the U.S. naval ordnance plant at Charleston, W. Va.
Ihe run-way, states the " Times Trade Supplement," is 165 ft.
above the ground, and the lift is believed to be the highest ever
arranged for in a crane of thia type. An exceptionally high lift
ii required, because the guns, which, with their test piece, are
87 ft. long, have to be handled in a vertical position. The guns
are brought to the plant on railway trucks, placed in a vertical
position in a heat-treating furnace, and after being heated are lifted
from the furnace and placed vertically in a tempering tank, 108 ft.
deep. These tanks extend into a oit 60 ft. below the floor and
project 48 ft. above the floor level, so that the upper end of the
gun must be raised at least 135 ft. to permit the lower end to
clear the top of the tank.

The crane run-way, being the height of an average 15-storey
office structure, a building of unusually massive construction is
required to carry the load. A locomotive crane with a 250 ft.
boom was used in handling the steel during the construction period.
In addition to the height of lift, the outstanding features of the
crane include a high speed of lift and a .span which is exceptionally
long, 104 ft., for the capacity. The hoisting speed is 50 ft. a
minute and the lowering speed double that figure, both these rates
being with a full load. In this way the guns can be handled
between the furnace and the quenching tank very rapidly. Another
interesting feature is that when lowering the rated full load at
the maximum speed the braking equipment provided will stop the
load within 1 ft. The crane has an automatic limit switch that
stops the loid 110 ft. below the c.*ane rail. Should it be necessary
to lower the gun farther, the operation is continued by the use of
a push button.

The trolley and the bridge each travel at the rate of 50 ft. a
minute, rapid bridge travel not being required, as the crane run-
way "is comparatively short and only of sufficient length to cover
the furnaces and the tempering tanks. The crane is operated
from a pulpit, and magnetic control is provided throughout. Five
motors aggregating 550 h.p. are used in its operation — two 200 h.p.
motors on the ma,in hoist, a 50 h.p. motor for the trolley travel and
two 50 H.p. motors for the bridge travel, there being one motor
on each bridge girder. The hoist has brakes on each motor and
on the second reduction shaft. On account of the high lift the
hoist requires 2 600 ft. of 1^ in. rope.

The Newspaper Press Fund.

The announcement that Lord Leverhulme is to preside at the
fifty-ninth Annual Dinner of the Newspaper Press Fund on April 27
draws attention to an organisation of which the outside world
knows but little. By the very conditions of his occupation the
journalist ie, for the most ftart, anonymous. Consequently, de-
pendent though we are all upon him for news of the happenings of
the day, it is inevitable that, if in tlie stress and competition of
modern life he " goes under," very few lieyond his immediate circle
and those dependent on him are aware of his distress.

It was to help the journalist who has fallen on evil days, and the
widow and children he m .y leave behind him unprovided for, that
the Newspaper Press Fund was founded in 1864, and for nearly
sixty years it has done splendid work in relieving sickness and
want among the journalistic profession. Last year, owing to the
general depression, the claims were exceptionally heavy, and the
fund distributed in grants and pensions the record sum of over
£10 000.

The regular income of the fund, from members' subscriptions and
interest on investments, covers less than half .this sum. and if it is
to meet the calls upon it, to say nothing of extending its beneficent
operations, a large amount of money has to be found from outside
sources every year.

It is undoubtedly merely lack of knowledge which has prevented
the public in the past from coming more generously to the support
of the men, who not only in their ordinary vocation render valuable
service alike to the business and the social vorld, but who are
themselves always among the first to give their services freely in
any worthy charitable cause.

Cheques should be made pavable to the Secretary, Newspaper
Press Fund. 11, Garrick-street.,"W.C. 2.

The extension of electricity supply to the communes and rural
districts of Belgiuji is attracting much attention at present, and
in the case of East Flanders the Provincial Governor (Count
Kerchove) has put forward a scheme under which th« Provincial
Coimcil and the communes would provide the necessary capital for
the distributing corapanie*!. Of the 297 communes in the province.
101 of the most populous have electricitv supply, and a credit of
five million francs has been voted for tlie proposed extensions of
mains, &c. Most of the other provinces have taken somewhat similar
steps to provide a supply of electrical energy. ^ The communes
of Houdeng-Gcpgniea, Houdeng-Aimeriee and StrepyBracouegnies
have just decided to provide a supply of electricity for lighting
and power. They will lay the distributing network and purchase
high-tension three-phase current (50 periods^ in bulk. It is pro-
posed to enter into a thirty years' contrac'. and at the outset 250 kW
will be required. The town of Dinant is also inviting tenders for
a supply.

354i

Tlie Electrician.

March 24, 1922

Le;$al Intelligence.

The Lodj>e Tuned Wireless Patent.

The Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors continued on
Monday the hearing of the claims of Marconi's Wireless Telegraph
Company and Lodge Muirhead Wireless and General Telegraphy
Syndicate in respect of the infringement by the Admiralty of Patent
No. 11 675 of 1897.

Tho Attorney-General said that the Admiralty had paid the
Marconi Company £257 000, of which £77 000 was for thirteen
strategic stations'. He submitted that the balance, £180 000,
sufficed to liquidate the claims.

Mr. J. HiXNTER Gray, K.C, said that if the Commission meant
to take into account the amount already paid the company would
not submit to arbitration. They were only prepared to discuss the
question of what was due on installations for which no royalty had
been paid.

The Chairman said what had been referred to them for decision
was the amount to be paid by the Admiralty for the use of the
patent in the whole of the installations, whether royalty had been
paid in respect of them or not. That would be a preliminary step
to ascertaining what was the amount finally due.

An adjournment to permit of consideration of the legal position
was granted on the application of Mr. Gray, who said in the event
of an agreement he would call Mr. Marconi as a witness.

Theft of Electric Lamps.

Two young men, James Young, a porter, and John Sheldrake,
painter's mate, were charged on remand at the Mansion House on
Tuesday with being concerned in stealing 3 100 electric lamps,
value £490. the property of the B.T.T. Lamp and Accessories
Company. On Feb. 9 the padlock staple was removed from the
door of the company's premises and the lamps were taken away.
Both prisoners pleaded guilty to the theft and made statements.
They alleged that they sold the lamps for £85 to an engineer named
Kelly.

Mr. Reader, the contractor whose horse and van were used, denied
that he had received £5 from the accused, and Mr. Kelly Baid he
dealt principally in sewing machines and motor-cars; he did not
sell many lamps. He did not buy any from the accused, and he
had no warehouse in Old Montague-street, where they were alleged
to have been taken. Counsel for Kelly said the latter had a recol-
lection that some time since Sheldrake asked him to buy some
lamps at a very low price. He communicated with the police, and
that perhaps was the ground of this wicked suggestion of prisoners.

The Lord Mayor sentenced Young to six and Sheldrake to two
months, each in the second division. With regard to Reader, he
could not help thinking he knew more about the matter than had
come out, but he did not believe the accusation against Kelly.

A. E. Wall y. Falcke.

On Tuesday Mr. Justice Branson heard this action, brought by the
plaintiff to recover £250 from Mr. Cecil D. Falcke, secretary of the
B. E. Company {of London and Birmingham), Ltd., manufacturing
electricians.

It appeared that plaintiff took over the business of Witehall k
Company (electric switch manufacturers) after the war, and he came
to an arrangement with defendant to have the use of his company's
selling organisation. Plaintiff said part of the arrangement was that
he should take £250 worth of shares from one of the defendant com-
pany's shareholders, a Mr. Baylis. He alleged that though he had
?iaid his £250 he had. not received the shares, and therefore he asked
or the return of his money.

The defence was that it was never proposed that plaintiff should
have 250 shares, but that his payment was an instalment in part
payment for £750 worth of shares. In his evidence defendant said
he did not stand to make or lose anything Dut of the transaction, and
Mr. Baylis knew that witness was selling the shares to plaintiff.

His Lordship accepted plaintiff's version, and gave judgment for
plaintiff for the amount claimed and costs. The counter-claim for
£500, the alleged balance for the 750 shares, was dismissed.

A Disputed Settlement.

On Tuesday Mr. Justice Swift heard an action by the Christian
Bergh Electric Company, Ltd., against the E. C. Brooks-Voss k.
Company, of Birmingham, to recover £10 12s. 8d., the amount of
two bills of exchange, dated Dec. 1 and Jan. 7 last. It wae stated
that the bills were part of a series of ten given in settlement of an
action brought by plaintiffs against the defenriants in May last.
Defendants agreed to pay £36 on account and he balance by ten
monthly bills of £80 each.

For defendants it was stated that they desired to raise a counter-
claim to set aside the agreement of settlement.

His Lordship said he must give judgment for plaintiffs for the
amount claimed with costs, but defendants could bring another action
to set aside the agreement.

Patent Cases.

An interesting amendment of Patent No. 142 934, relating to elec-
trodes for soldering and depositing metals by an electric arc wound
with asbestos yarn, subsequently coated, was recently authorised by
the High Court. An application for the revocation of the patent
was made, but we learn from " Engineering ** that the judge allowed
the cancellation of two claims and the deletion of parts of the speci-
fication, so as to make the amended document cover only tho
original invention claimed. According to the modified claims, tho

electrodes are wound with asbestos yarn in open spirals, coated with
a silicious compound, and a fluid slag-forming mixture containing
lime is afterwards added, with or witnout a suitable proportion oi
powdered aluminium.

Another interesting case which raised the question of what is a

Fatentable invention came before the Solicitor-General on appeal
rom the decision of the Comptroller-General of Patents that an
application disclosed no " manner of new manufacture." The s})eci-
fication described the use in a high-compression internal-combustion
engine of a hydrocarbon fuel having a high heat value and a higli
critical compression, namely, a cyclic compound of the naphthene
group, for example, cyclohexane. The claim was for the method of
using the fuel, and it was argued for appellants that, although cyclo-
hexane was a known compound, it had formerly been known only as
a laboratory substance, and that they were the first to discover its
advantages as a fuel.

The Solicitor-General held that it was a well-established principle
of patent law that once a substance is known, its methods of pro-
duction ascertained and its characteristics well defined, a patent
cannot be granted for its mere application to an unknown purpose.
The specification gave no indication of any special feature of novelty
in the engine in which the fuel was to be used, beyond that it was a
" super-duty " engine. The use of such a known substance in a
known type of engine might be a useful discovery and have valuable
results, but it was not invention within its statutory meaning.

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Special Orders.

The House of Commons have approved the Special Orders made
by the Electricity Commissioners and confirmed by the Minister of
Transport in respect of part of the parish or township of Wye, in
Kent ; the urban district of Wigston Magna ; parts of the rural dis-
tricts of Blaby, Hinckley and Lutterworth, in the county of Leicester ;
the urban district of Cheadle and Gatley, in the county of Chester ;
the urban districts of Haywards Heath and Cuckfield, and parts of
the rural districts of Cuckfield and Chailey,in East Sussex ; the burgh
of Johnstone, in the county of Renfrew ; the burgh of Milngavie
and part of the parish of New Kilpatrick, in the county of Dun-
barton ; the urban districts of Bromyard and Kington and the
rural districts of Bredwardine, Bromyard, Dore, Hereford, Kington,
Leominster, Ross, Weobley, Whitchurch and Wigmore, and part of
the rural district of Ledbury, all in the county of Hereford, and
for the amendment of the Hereford Electric Lighting Order, 1898 ;
the county borough of Preston, the urban district of Fulwood, and
the townships of Broughton Lea Ashton Ingol and Cottam Wood-
plumpton Barton and Penwortham, in the rural district of Preston.
They have also approved the Special Order amending certain
Provisional Orders granted to the Electrical Distribution of
Yorkshire, Ltd.

French Telephone Service.

Mr. Pike Pease (Assistant Postmaster-General), in reply to Sir
J. D. Rees (House of Commons, March 20), who asked whether be
had information to the effect that a Bill had been introduced into
the Frenqh Chamber to transfer the national telephone back to a
private company, said, so far as he was aware, the answer was in
the negative. A Bill was introduced by the Minister of Public
Works and the Minister of Finance on Jan. 12 this year to abolish
the flat rates and substitute a general message rate on the grounds
that a more equitable basis of charge, by which subscribers paid
according to the use made of the service, would tend to develop the
system, enable an improvement in the service to be effected, and at
the same time restore the balance of expenditure and receipts.

Water-Pow^er Developments.

In the House of Commons last week, in reply to Mr. Perkins,
Mr. Baldwin stated that the Government did not see their way at
present to introduce legislation dealing with the control of water-
power developments or constituting a Water Commission, as pro-
posed by the Water-Power Resources Committee, but the Minister
of Health had taken certain administrative measures, and was
setting up an Inter-Departmental Committee, as recommended by
the Committee, to co-ordinate the work of the several Departments
responsible for the different water interests.

Marconi Bonds (China).

In reply to Colonel Wedgwood (House of Commons, March 17),
Mr. Harmsworth stated that H.M. Minister at Peking had been
and was continuing to press the Chinese Government for the payment
of the interest due on these bonds.

The Toll Exchange.

In the House of Commons last week Mr. Pease stated that there
was no intention at present to extend the toll area for telephone
calls.

The Education Estimates for the coming financial year show
decreased grants for scientific investigation and industrial research.
Scientific and industrial research salaries are £9 945 lower; the Fuel
Research Board salaries are £1 393 lower, and the grant for experi-
mental plant is reduced by £8 000. Expenses of research boards and
committees are £26 880 and development grants £39 500 lower than
in 1921-22. "The National Physical Laboratory salaries are down
by £21 035, and the sum for new researches is reduced by £10 156.
Grants in aid for universities and collegea are also £247 000 less.

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

355

Electricity Supply.

At Salford Council mf^eting on Wedneeday morning last week's
decision was reversed on the Electricity Committee's recommenda-
tion, and the question of Mr. J. A. Koberteon's appointment as
consulting engineer was referred to a special committee of the
Council.

The Finance and General Purposes Committee of Hammersmith
Borough Council recommend that £7 300, part of the estimated net
surplus on the electricity undertaking for the current year, be
carried to the credit of the Borough General Rate for the ensuing
half year. This is equal to a 2d. rate. •

The Minister of Transport proposes to confirm the Special Order
made by the Electricity Commissioners authorising Hull Corpora-
tion to supply electricity in Sculcoates Rural District. Any objec-
tions must be sent to the Secretary, Ministry of Transport, 6,
Whitehall-gardens, London, S.W. 1, by April 10,

Beckenuam Electricity Undertaking, which has been run at a loss
for several years, and last year made a loss of £3 156, has this year
made a gross profit of over £19 000. In announcing the fact at the
last meeting of the Council, Councillor Oliver said that the success
was chiefly due to the new machinery which had been installed
and which enabled them to save 56 per cent, in the consumption of
coal. In addition, the cost of labour and materials both snowed a
decided reduction.

The appointment of an expert to report on Hull electricity under-
taking, as recommended by the Inquiry Committee and confirmed by
the City Council, was considered by the newly-formed Electricity
Committee last week, when it was decided that the chairman
(Councillor T. McLeod), deputy-chairman. Lord Mayor, and the
Town Clerk should be empowered to make a selection from four
experts nominated by Mr. J. S. Highfield, president of the Institu-
tion of Electrical Engineers.

A committee of representatives of electric supply undertakers in
the West of Scotland Electricity District has been formed in
order to prepare a scheme of reorganisation. The committee con-
sists of one representative each from the counties of Renfrew, Ayr,
Dumbarton, Lanark and Stirling; Glasgow Corporation Electricity
and Tramways Departments ; the burghs of Paisley, Greenock, Ayr,
Kilmarnock, Hamilton, Motherwell and Wishaw, and each of the
authorised electrical companies in the district. The engineers and
town clerks are to prepare a draft scheme or schemes for the
committee.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

The Norchard Syndicate, Ltd., Lydney, have applied to the
Electricity Commissioners for permission to erect an electricity
generating station adjoining the Norchard Colliery.

Taunton Town Council has applied to the Electricity Commis-
sioners for a loan of £1 500 to meet extras on contract for the
installation of a new turbine plant. The estimated cost was £12 000
and the actual outlay £13 497 lis. Id.

EsTON Urban Council has agreed upon a scheme of electricity
supply for the town. Since the scheme was first proposed the con-
tract price of the plant and mains is £14 000 below the original
estimate.

Crieff Town Council have asked Mr. J. E. Sayers, of Glasgow,
to act as consulting electrical engineer for their electricity supply
scheme. The Burgh Special Order has been granted by the Electri-
city Commissioners and now awaits the formal approval of
Parliament.

Alteration of Charges.

The increased charges for electricity which were made at Coventry
to meet the additional expenditure incurred by the coal strike last
year are to be withdrawn as from Jan. 1 last, to both bulk and
private consumers.

Ramsgate and District Electric Supply Co. has reduced the price
of electricity for power, heating and cooking by J^d. per unit. The
charges now are : Power, first 100 units per quarter, 7d. ; next 3 000,
4d. ; beyond, 3d. ; heating and cooking, first 100 units, 4d. ;
beyond, 3d.

A further reduction in the price of electricity in Sheffield is
notified. This latest concession dates from the present quarter's
reading, and, together with the reductions made in June and
September last, means that about one-half of the maximum increase
imposed as a result of the war has now been swept away. A year
ago the increases on the pre-war rate were : 50 per cent, on all units
over 2d. and 150 on units of 2d. and under. These rates are now
reduced to : 30 per cent, on all units over 2d.' and 75 on units of 2d.
and under

Reduced scales of charges for electricity supply have been adopted
by Hackney Borough Council. In future every lighting consumer
will make a minimum payment of 10s. a quarter, and he can pay
either £3 15s. per quarter per kilowatt demanded, plus Id. a unit,
or a flat rate of 6d. or if by prepayment meter 8d. per unit. For
power the charge will be £1 12s. 6d. per kW demanded, plus |d.,
or a flat rate of 6d., or if by prepayment meter 8d. per unit for
June and September quarters and 2d. in December and March
quarters. For domestic supply, where the premises are wired
throughout, the tariff will be a fixed charge of 2s. per quarter per
60 W lamp equivalent, plus Id. a unit. For chargmg batteries of
electric vehicles the standard scale will be Id. a unit, but the Council
reserve the xight to cut off supply between 4 and 6 p.m. from October
to February, and for charging batteries at 90 to 110 V the charge
will be 2d. per unit.
£ 2

Electric Traction.

Burnley Town Council have set aside £10 020 to provide the
amount expended by the Tramways Committee in relaying the
permanent way.

Sir William Marwood and Colonel Peingle, on behalf of the
Ministry of Transport, will conduct the inquiry into the system of
traction to he used in Princes-street, Edinburgh.

Cardiff City Council have given full powers to the Electricity
and Tramways Committee in connection w^ith the proposed purchase
of the Llandaff North and Whitchurch motor omnibus undertaking.

Since the reintroduction of penny fares on the Brighton tram-
ways there has been a large increase in the number of passengers
carried, and the falling off in revenue is also stated to be less than a
month ago.

The Minister of Transport has extended until August 7 next the
period allowed by the Swansea Corporation Act, 1912, for the com-
pletion of the tramways authorised by that Act, and for the
compulsory purchase of lands for Part IV. (Electricity) of the said
Act.

Traffic on the whole of the Underground railway system (except
the Central London Railway, which has its own power plant) was
" held up " for twenty minutes last Thursday afternoon owing to
the FUSING of a high-tension switch at the Lots-road Power
Station, Chelsea.

The Minister of Transport has extended until May 31, 1923, the
period allowed by the Chesterfield Corporation Act, 1914, for the
completion of tramways, and that allowed by the Chxstekfikld
Corporation Railless Traction Act, 1913, for the completion of
overhead equipment, and other apparatus for working trolley
vehicles.

At the annual meeting of Glasgow Subway Railway Company
last week the chairman said that the Corporation had offered to
purchase the subway, but at such a price that the directors did not
feel they could ^ven put it before the shareholders. It was probable,
however, that further negotiations would take place both with the
Corporation and with other parties. The directors recently had a
report on electrifying the subway, and it was estimated that the
cost would be £100 000.

Acting on the advice of Mr. E. W. Cockerlyne, highways and
permanent way engineer of Leeds, Keighley Tramways Committee
recommend the Council to apply to the Ministry of Transport for
power to borrow £40 000 for the purpose of reconstructing about
two and a half miles of single track. The Committee also recom-
mend that as from April 1 the ordinary fare on each stage be
increased from Id. to l^d., provided that the fares for children and
workmen, and the hours of the issue of workmen's tickets, shall
remain as at present.

Newcastle-on-Tyne Tramway men, after a twenty-two days'
strike, decided on Sunday to accept the employers' terms, which
included the working of a 48-hour week and lull observance of the
national agreement. A ballot was taken on Saturday, which resulted
in 887 votes for and 185 against the offer. But the question arose
as to how the men of the other unims out on strike would be
affected by this decision. At a meeting on Sunday, however, the
following resolutions were put, and the former was carried by a
fairly large majority : (1) " That we accept the ballot vote as taken
on- Saturday, and return \c> work to-morrow. In the event of any
of our members being instructed to do the work of the men on
strike, they shall be instructed to refuse to blackleg." (2) " That
this mass meeting decides to remain out on strike in conjunction
with the members of other unions in order to assist them to get a
satisfactory settlement to their claims."

Edinburgh Corporation give notice of intention to apply to the
Secretary for Scotland on or before April 18 for a Provisional Order
authorising the Corporation to construct certain new tramways in
the City of Edinburgh ; to run coupled and trailer cars on the' new
and existing tramways; to acquire certain lands and to carry out
specified works; to authorise tne local authorities of Musselburgh,
Prestonpans, and Cockenzie and Port Soton respectively, and the
local authority of the County of East Lothian, or any of them who
possesses the right of purchase of any of the undertakings of the
Musselburgh and District Electric Light and Ti action Company .o
transfer to tho Corporation such undertakings, upon exercise of their

Furchase rights; to authorise the Corporation to suspend the sinking
und in connection with the money borrowed for the Portobello
station and sub-stations and mains in connection therewith ; to
borrow money for the conversion of the Corporation tramways to
electric traction, &c.

The ELECTRIC vehicle is steadily increasing in popularity, and is
being used in a wider field for transport purposes. A London firm
of brewers have decided, after tests of steam, petrol and electric
vehicles, that horse traction is too expensive to be maintained, and
to dispose of the steam lorries, of which several five-tonners have
been in service. For the longer journeys 40 h.p. petrol-driven four-
ton vehicles will be employed, but electric batterv vehicles will be
used for London deliveries within a radius of eig)it miles, as these
have proved themselves to be eminently suitable. The operating
costs, including depreciation, maintenance and other charges, but
excluding interest on capital, were lOd. per vehicle mile cheaper
than the petrol or steam vehicle. The firm have provided a well-
equipped garage for repair work. .^c. In the loading of the lorriea
electric elevators and other mechanical d"vi-es are employed, and it
has been found possible to finish the dail deliveries over a con-
siderable area in an eight-hour day.

356

The Electrician.

March 24, 1922

Personal and Appointments.

Mr. T. J. Aitkin has been appoinbed electrical representative of
Dalgleish & Baird, electrical engineers, Riccarton, Kilmarnock.

The engagement is announced of Mr. Trevor F. D. Rose (late
R.F.A.) and Miss Irene Hirst, younger daughter of Mr. Hugo
Hirst, chairman of the General Electric Company.

Mr. H. T. Kerr is now no longer connected with the City of
Hereford Electricity Department, and for the next few weeks his
address will be Netherwood, Tupsley, Hereford, where all com-
munications in regard to the West Gloucestershire power scheme
should be addressed.

Middlesbrough Electricity Committee has decided to place on
record its high appreciation of the services of Mr. R. H. Scotson,
the engineer, in connection with the taking over of the electricity
supply to the tramways. The chairman (Aid. Calvert) said the
work had been carried out with ability and ingenuity. The trans-
ference had resulted in Mr. Scotson effecting a saving of a large
capital outlay, and an annual saving of at least £600 to the
Tramways Department.

The retirement, in May, is announced of Sir William Noble,
Engineer-in-Chief to the General Post OfRce, who succeeded Sir
William Slingo in May, 1919. Sir William, who is 61, has passed
the retiring age of 60, but is remaining at the Post Office in order
to complete three years as Engineer-in-Chief. Sir William Noble
entered the service of the Post Office in 1877, and acted as a tele-
graphist in the Aberdeen office for some years. He was early
attracted by the technical side of his work, and, having won medals
for telegraphy and telephony, lectured for some years in Aberdeen
on those subjects as well as on magnetism and electricity. In 1901
he was made an assistant superintending engineer in the Central
Metropolitan District, and. as second in command, he was respon-
sible for a large share of the work of the " telephoning of London."
In 1905 he was promoted to a first-class staff engineership, and had
charge of the telegraph section at headquarters. In 1907 he became
superintending engineer of the Central Metropolitan District, and
in 1912 Assistant Engineer-in-Chief. Sir William, who rendered
very valuable services on many technical committees, was knighted
in 1920. He is a member of the Council of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers.

Business Items, &c.

The Electrical Specialities Company are opening a branch a(
67, Briggate, Leeds. Mr. Sherwood will bo in charge.

Mr. F. G. Titchmarsh, 23, Soho-road, Handsworth, Birmingham,
is now representing the Jeary Electrical Company in Birmingham
and the Midlands.

The British Thomson-Houston Company have removed from
their offices at 83, Cannon-street, to Crown House, Aldwych, London,
W.C. 2. Telephone, Regent 8 040.

With a view to increasing the efficiency of their organisation, the
Premier Electric Welding Company have decided to concentrate
a numlier of their departments in the London area. Arrangements
are being made to transfer the head office, technical and research
laboratories, and electrode factory to Abbey Wood, London, S.E. 2,
to which address all communications should in future be sent. The
telephone is Woolwich 866, and the telegraphic address,
" Premelwel, Abwood, London."

Electric Control, Ltd., announce that after April 1 their London
office address will be Hastings House, Norfolk-street, Strjuid,
W.C. 2.^^ Telephone, City 2 487; telegrams, " Elecontrol Estrand,
London." Tnfornriation regarding " Empire " automatic control gear
for both alternating and direct current, and "Empire" S/C high-
tension fuses, may be obtained immedi.'tely by communicating witli
this address. The firm arc- now acting entirely independently of any
other manufacturers of switch gear or control gear.

Exhibition Notes.

Kingston-on-Tiiames Corporation have arranged to hold an elec-
trical exhibition at the Baths Hall, Wood-street from April 3 to
18 inclusive.

It is hoped that British manufacturers will visit the sixth Swiss
Industries Fair, which is to be held at Basle from April 22 to
May 2. The following are among the gro.ips of exhibits : — (4)
Lightinj^ and heating; (6) inventions and patents; (8) advertising;
(18) delicate mechanical instruments and appr.ratus; (19) elot'trical
industry.

Among the exhibitors of electrical appliances at the National
Trades Exhibition, which was opened at Birmingliam on Monday,
are the City of Birmingham Electric Supply Department, the British
Thomson-Houston Company, Caliender's Cable & Construction Com-
pany, the General Electric Company, Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical
Company, and W. S. Vaughan, Ltd.

The Milan correspondent of the " Times Trade Supplement " state*;
that at the International Sample Fair, which will open in Milan
early next month, a section will be applied to the dispky of imregis-
tered inventions, and the space let at a nominal charge. Exhibits
will be safeguarded by the Italian law, which gives temporary pro-
tection to unregistered ideas. This section will be devoted particu-
larly to improvements in industrial machinery, labour-saving devices,
internal-combustion engines, factory equipment, &o. The committee
hope that scientific instruments especially will be shown by English
manufacturere.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

A new telephone call office has been opened at Old Marston, near
Oxford.

Guernsey State Telephone Department made a net profit of £811
last year.

Work has at last been begun on Sheffield's new telephone
exchange.

An automatic telephone exchange was brought into operation at
Devonport Dockyard on Monday.

The REPORT of the Select Committee of the House of Commons
on Telephones was laid on the table of the House of Commons on
Monday. It is understood that the principal recommendations are :
(1) The message rate of charging to be continued, but with bn
elasticity of application where such would help telephone
development, particularly in rural areas ; (2) appointment of
a director-general and a general administrative board on the Swedish
m.odel ; (3) telephone administration to be separated from that of
mails ; (4) improved business methods.

It is hoped that the London-Manchester underground telephone
cable will be in operation next month. The cable, which is 183
miles long and contains 160 pairs of wires, is the first trunk cable
to be equipped with telephone repeaters, and on that account it has
been possible to reduce the weight of the copper conductors to 401b.
per mile. At the outset there will be one temporary repeater station
at Leicester. Later two permanent repeater stations will be intro-
duced, at Derby and Fenny Stratford, and when they are working
it will be possible to switch right through from London to Liver-
pool, Leeds, and other places farther north. Under the present
system a call between London and Liverpool has to pass through
fifty-seven circuits ; with the repeater system it is expected that
this will be done on one circuit.

Wireless Notes.

Router's Paris correspondent states that a wireless telegraph
station is being established on the summit of Mont Blanc.

Mr. Wm. Le Queux has consented to become President of the
newly-organised Wireless Scientific Society for Reading and
District.

It is stated that in order to avoid the erection of competitive
WIRELESS stations in ARGENTINA the German Telefunken Company,
whose share capital is held half by the Berlin A. E.G. and half by
the Siemens and Halske Company, is transferring a portion of its
hitherto dominating holding in the Transradio Argentina to the
Radio Corporation of America, Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Com-
pany, of London, and the Societe Generale pour Telegraphic sans
Fil. The Transradio Argentina is erecting a large wireless station
in the vicinity of Buenos Aires, which it is expected will be brought
into service in 1923.

Dealing with the Question of Wireless messages in a lecture
on Monday to the students of journalism at King's College,
London, on " The Function of the Press in Empire Building," Mr.
Percy Hurd said we seemed to be entering upon a fresh clash of
nations in the matter of words. It was not a very happy future to
contemplate when nations were sending out into the air their own
version of current events, to be contradicted, also in the air, by other
nations. It would be far better if, when news was carried over the
world by the wireless system, it should be scattered by journalists
and not by Government officials. Mr. Hurd added, " We want to
establish a free wireless."

The council of the Empire Press Union, at a meeting on Tuesday,
presided over by Mr. Robert Donald, and attended by many repre-
sentatives of newspapers at home and overseas, including the
president. Viscount Burnham, unanimously adopted the following
resolution : — " That this meeting views with anxiety the continued
lack of adequate telegraphic communications within the Empire, and
records, on behalf of the newspaper Press of the Empire, its deep
concern at the prolonged delay in securing the full advantages of
inter-Imperial wireless telegraphy ; further, it understands that the
Post Office scheme does not meet with the approval of the Dominions
overseas, and presses H.M. Government, aa a matter of urgent
importance, immediately to carry out or support such a scheme for
establishing an Imperial wireless chain as will obtain general
approval throughout the Empire."

Institution Notes.

The TinRTEENTH Kelvin Lecture will be delivered by Prof. Sir
Ernest Rutherford, K.B.E., F.R.S., before the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers on May 18, instead of on May 11 as previously
announred. The subject is " Electricity and Matter."

The North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Ship-
builders invite all members to communicate suggestions of papers
for next session. They are specially invited to offer papers them-
selves. Those who fo«l unable to do so are asked to suggest (1)
subjects for papers; (2) suitable authors. Replies should oe made
as early as possible, and before April 30.

The second annual dinner of the North or Ireland Section or
the ELFrrnrrAL Powf.u Engineers' Association was held m
Thompson's Restaurant, Belfast, on Saturday, when, under the
presidency of Mr. J. S. Grah.am, the members of the section enter-
tained various local gentlemen connected with t^-* electrical industry
and representatives from the South of Ireland Section. A vari«d
and excellent musical programme, interspersed with toaste, was
thoroughly enjoyed by all present

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

357

Social Notes.

The third social gathering of the season of the SouTirpORT Electri-
city Mains Department was held last Thursday, when after a hot-
pot eupper various members of the staff contributed to a musical
programme. Mr. E. Moxon, the borough electrical engineer, who
responded to the toast "Our New Chief," spoke of the need of co-
operation if the department was to be made a success.

The landowners and farmers in the Amman Valley, over whose
land Swansea Electricity Department's new overhead transmission
line to the Amman Valley has been erected, were entertained to
dinner at the Hotel Metropole, Swansea, on Friday, Toy Callendek's
Cable & Construction Co., who carried out the work. Mr. G. W.
Burr, Swansea Borough Electrical Engineer, presided. The lino
extends 16^ miles from the sub station at Manselton, Swansea, to
the sub-station at Gelliceidrin Colliery, Brynamman, and there are
three transmission lines and an earth line carried on 158 poles.
Contracts have already been entered into with three collieries for
the consumption of about four million units, and negotiations are
proceeding with other collieries. The bulk of the requirements of
the Gorseinon Electric Lighting Company will also be supplied by
means of this extension.

The Batti-Wallah's Society, which, in common with other
societies and recreative organisations, has met with the prevalent
difficulties since the War, held its annual general meeting at the
Holborn Restaurant on Monday. A goodly gathering, jepresenting
all the different personalities that this lively society includes, was
presided over by Mr. W. F. Ireland, the retiring president. Mr.
Pooley, who has been the hon. secretary for the past twelve years,
and Mr. A. J. Greenly, the hon. entertainment secretary, both very
busy men, who have wished to retire, but felt unable to do so while
the society's affairs languished, now relinquish their poste. They
are succeeded by Mr. M. Whitgift as hon. secretary and Mr. F. G.
Bait as hon. entertainment secretary. Mr. Edgar Barralet is the
new president, with a strong committee, and it has been resolved
that the meetings shall now be recommenced, and an active season
is in contemplation.

The Chelmsford Engineering Society held its annual conversa-
zione at the Hoffmann Manufacturing Company's Works on
Saturday. The president, Mr. G. F. Barrett, and Mrs. Barrett
welcomed the large company of guests, including the Mayor and
Mayoress. The society, which has concluded a most successful
season of lectures, held for the encouragement of students for whom
a competition was- arranged. The president's prize was won by Mr.
P. Matthams, and Mr. G. H. Johnson's prize by Mr. E. L. Tomalin.
The secretary, Mr. Wise, reported a membership of 181, and thanked
the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company, Crompton & Company,
and the Hoffmann Manufacturing Company for the use of apparatus
and for lectures. A capital musical programme was carried out ;
experiments and demonstrations were made showing some of the
principal processes of the three firms referred to, and in another
room there was a cinematograph display illustrating the develop-
ments in wireless telegraphy and telephony.

C. and G. Examinations.

In a communication, dated the 17th inst., Mr. Gus. C. Lundberg
points out that during the past three years he has in various quarters
drawn attention to the fact that after nearly forty years' successful
and progressive work, the City and Gutlds Examinations in all
electrical subjects. Grades I. and II., were cancelled at the instiga-
tion of the Board of Education. For some unknown reason the
Board felt that such a course was good for the general public, but
considered that certain Government employees should not partici-

fiate in this decision for the common good, and therefore permitted
hem to carry on ae before. Although practically everyone realised
the retrograde step the Board had taken, no decided protest was
made by either education authorities or the electrical Press. How-
ever, it is proposed to reinstate the examination in "electrical
installation work," which is to be held on May 2 and 6 next.
This is a very satisfactory beginning, and Mr. Lundberg hopes that
it will soon be followed by the reinstatement of all the remaining
examinations in electrical subjects. The best thanks of the industry
must be accorded to the Electrical Contractors* Association for their
jpersonal efforts in this matter.

Railway Electrification Proposals.

The scheme for the electrification of the suburban lines of the
South-Eastern & Chatham Railways has been advanced a stage
during the week. As our readers are aware, the S.-E. Company
contemplate an expenditure of £5 800 000 on electric traction. The
first stage will cover 210 track miles and extends to Orpington,
Hayes and Addiscombe-road (Croydon). The second stage will
extend to Gillingham, Tonbridge and Dorking, and the third will
be mainly sidings in the same areas. The London, Brighton & South
Coast Company propose to extend the electrification of suburban lines
north of Coulsdon and Cheam, thus adding 300 track miles to the
111 miles already electrified. The full cost of converting the main
and suburban lines will be £10 000 000. It is announced that the
L. & S.W. Company have withdrawn their objection to the technical
scheme of the South-Eastern Company, and the Ministry of Trans-
port have forwarded the electrification proposals to 'the Trade
Advisory Comrpittee, whose early consent is anticipated.

Imperial Notes.

Renmark (South Australia) Council have decided to invite esti-
mates of the cost of extending their electrical generating plant.

Melbourne Electric Supply Company have applied for an Order
authorising them to supply electricity in portions of the shire cf
Bellarine (Victoria).

MuswELLBROOK (N.S.W.) Council are usine the accumulated profit
on the ^as undertaking (£3 000) to meet the cost of establishing
electricity supply works.

TiNTENBAR (N.S.W.) Shire Council have been compelled to defer
consideration of the question of establishing electricity works owing
to the present high price of money.

It is stated that on nearly nine thousand farms in New Zealand
the cows are milked by electricity at rn annual cost for current of
between £25 and £30 per farm.

The erection of the po^ver house at the Wangabatta (Victobia)
woollen mills, which will also supply current to the municipal council,
has been commenced.

The transmission line being erected by the T'Smanian Govern-
ment Hydro-Electric Department from Waddamana to Launceeton
is expected to be completed before next August, and several new
factories at Launceeton will be ready to take power from the line
by the time it is available.

Works at Launceston (Tasmania) have been reopened by Austra-
lian White Lead, Ltd., wno propose to manufacture a non-poisonocs
white lead by means of the Gitsham-Evershed process, in which
an electric furnace is used to vaporise the metallic compounds,
atmospheric oxygen is added, and the resulting acids produce the
pure white lead. Mr. Gitsham is to be retained as managing
director for at least three years.

Machinery and appliances of iron or steel, of a class or kind not
made in Canada, and elevators and machinery, and machinery of
floating dredges for use in alluvial gold mining, may be imported
free of duty. On electric motors and electrical aDoaratuB. and all
machinery not otherwise provided for, and iron or steel integral part«
of all machinery specified in this item, there is a British preferential
tariff of 15 per cent, and a general tariff of 27^ per cent, ad valorem.
A sales tax is also levied on the duty-paid value as follows : — 2^ per
cent, on importations by manufacurers or wholesalers, and 4 per
cent, on importations by users or retailers.

Foreign Notes.

It is reported that the Czecho-Slovak Government intends founding
a radium institute at Prague.

Efforts are being made to arrange for the development of water
power in the Dutch East Indies in order to provide cheap electric
power for industrial purposes. Already plans of some schemes have
been prepared, but they are being held up for financial reasons.

There has been an increase in the tax on patents in France, and
iu place of 100 frs. a year, 125 frs. must be paid for each of the first
five years, 200 frs. for each of the succeeding five, with a fee of
300 frs. for each of the remaining five years of the life of a patent.

The amalgamation of the Spanish company, Aceros Electro
Rapidos, of San Sebastian, with a German (Cologne) combine is
announced. The Spanish coi.ipany owns metallurgical and machinery
works, while the German group is engaged in railway wagon and
material construction.

Two additional 30 000 kW generating sets are to be installed at
the Windsor (W. Va.) electricity works of the West Penn Power
Company, which also owns stations at Springdale (4 200 kW) and
Connellsville (56 500 kW). The new units will bring the total rating
of the company's plant to over 180 000 kW.

As the result of a questionnaire recently sent out by the German
Metallurgical Society to electricity undertal'ings u£in^ aluminium as
overhead conductors, it is announced that out of fifty-nine replies
only eighteen reported deterioration due to corrosion at points wnere
the aluminium was in contact with other metals. In general, alumi-
nium conductors have given satisfaction, though special precautions
against atmospheric influences are required at ioints. Insulating
tape or varnish is usually employed for this purpose.

The Bureau of Standards, Washington, is endeavouring to
standardise American dry-cell specifications. At a recent con-
ference of manufacturers and users of batteries, 17 sizes of the
larger cells were considered, and 7 were recommended as standard;
of 30 different sizes of flaehlight batteries 8 were adopted as stan-
dard, and 2 sizes were selected for radio apparatus. It is stated
that 150 000 000 dry cells are sold each year, and it is considered
that the elimination of many of the little-used sizes will result in
a considerable saving in the cost of manufacture and a reduction
of prices.

The American Railway Express Company, which claims to be th«
largest user of electric trucks in the world, and has at present
more than 1 200 of these vehicles in service, has recently given an
order for an additional 104 trucks for New York, Piuu^delphia.
and Btn-FALO. Twenty of the trucks are of 5-ton size, for New
York; 50 2-ton, for Philadelphia; and 34 of 2- and 3-ton sizes, for
Buffalo. For New York the trucks are (according to the " Electrical
World ") to be on a 24-hour basis, and standardised interchangeable
batteries are to be used. Each truck is provided with two storage
batteries, and at the end of the first shift the exhausted battery will
be removed and a freshly charged on?) put in it« place.

358

The Electrician.

March 24, 1922

Obituary.

We regret to announce the death of Dr. Geo. B. Mathews, F.R.S.,
Professor of Mathematics at the University College of North Wales,
Bangor, from 1884 to 1896. Dr. Mathews was the author of works
on the theory of numbers, algebraic equations and projective
geometry, and with Prof. A. Gray he wrote a treatise on Bessel
Functions.

The death is announced of Mr. Richard Rice, manager of the
Lynn plant of the American General Electric Goinpany. Deceased,
who was 59 years of age, joined the company in 1903 as a con-
Buitant on steam engineering, and was in charge of the steam
turbine department of the vorlcs «atii 1918, -when he became manager
of the plant.

The death occurred at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on March 21 of Dr.
J. T. Merz, vice-chairman of the Nev/castle-upon-Tyne Electric
Supply Company. Dr. Merz, who was born at Manchester in 1840,
at first devoted himself to chemistry, although he was also a mathe-
matician of a high order. But in addition to his other extensive
scientific and philosophical work, he was from an early date
interested in the development of electrical supply. He was one of
the founders of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Electric Supply Company,
established in 1889, of which he was for many years chairman.
Dr. Merz was closely connected with and took the deepest interest
in the expansion of this company from an electric lighting company
into one of the most important power undertakings in the country.
He was also, in 1881, a director of the Swan Electric Light Com-
pany, the first electric lamp manufacturers in this country. In,
addition to all his business interests, he also took a close interest
in the question of technical education, and was for many years closely
associated with the work of the Armstrong College, Newcastle.
Among his numerous important literary works, the most notable
were " A History of European Thought in the Nineteenth Century, '
"Religion and Science," and " A Fragment on the Human Mind."

Miscellaneous.

It is proposed to employ the electrolttic process for the PRO-
DTTCTiON OF ZINC out of the huge dumps of material at the inactive
zinc and lead mines in North Cardiganshire.

A deputation from Edinburgh Electricity Committee visited
Glasgow last week and inspected the mechanical soot-cleaning appli-
ances in operation at Dalmarnock Electricity Works.

A DISASTROUS ffre broke out in the Galway Electrical Lighting
Company's premises in Galway last week. The fire started in the
power station machine room, and the building soon became a mass of
name. The damage is estimated at £15 000.

The most imposing architectural feature of the new Waterloo
Station, which was opened by the Queen on Tuesday, in the absence,
through indisposition, of the King, is the new Victory Arch, in the
centre of which is an electrically driven clock, supplied by the
Synchronome Company. Over 200 electric dials have been supplied
by this company for the station and the adjacent offices.

An examination for first and second class certificates of com-
petency as Manager and Under Manager of Mines will be held on
May 24 and 25, 1922, at Edinburgh. Newcastle-on-Tyne, Sheffield,
Wigan, Cardiff and Birmingham. The written part of an examina-
tion for certificates of qualification as Surveyor of Mines will be
held at the same places on May 25. Candidates must, on or before
April 2. send their names, stating also the district in which they are
employed, to the Secretary, at the Mines Department, 46, Victoria-
street, London, S.W. 1, from whom all particulars can be obtained.

A meeting of the British Organising Committee formed in con-
nection with the International Navigation Congress is to be held
at the Institution of Civil Engineers this week, when the follow-
ing, among other subjects, will be considered : — The location and
construction of lighthouses and of marks at sea; illuminating
apparatus, fog signals; working through the air, under water, or by
Hertzian rays; advances made and new principles; the utilisation
of tides for the production of power for the working and lighting of
ports and for maritime work (working of lock gates, &c.); the
improvement of rivers for navigation and the production of power ;
new types of dams for canalised rivers.

Licenses of right have been granted to Norsk Alkali A/S for
patent No. 121460 (18135/18) for "apparatus and process for the
electrolysis of chlorides and of alkaline metals " ; to Peter Ford &
Sons, Ltd., and another for Patents Nos. 3 030/15 and 4 289/15 for
" a new or improved process and composition for moulding or form-
ing articles such as light reflectors or shades, v^aes, or the like, or
decorative slabs for partitions, wall or ceiling covering or the like " ;
to C. D. Ehret for Patent No. 123 081 (2 585/19) for " improvements
in or relating to apparatus for electric wave transmission, particularly
applicable to telephony " ; to Splitdorf Electrical Company for
patent No. 131899 (21067/19) "for operating mechanism for elec-
trical generators and magnetos."

Recent Wills.

Mr. James Copland Glegg, a director of the Aberdeen Electrical
Engineering Co., has left, in addition to real estate, personal estate
in the United Kingdom valued at £50 840.

Dr. EnwARD Hopkinson, vice-chairman of the Chloride Electrical
Storage Company, a director of Mather & Piatt and past-president
of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, has left estate valued at
£141 675 (net personalty £137 904).

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Electric Supply.

The report of the Newcastle upon-Tyne Electric Supply
Company for the year to December 31 last shows a profit of
£347 219, against £392 643 in 1920. From this has to be deducted
£10 C03 for " Reserve for plant renewals," leaving £337 219.
After adding £13 091, the balance brought in, there is a total
available profit of £350 310 (£372 241), against which has been
charged interest on debenture stocks, loans, &c., amounting to
£106 442, transfer to " res?rve for special depreciation and con-
tingencies, other than equalisation of dividends," £50 000, leaving
a balance of £193 868, which the directors recommend should be
appropriated as follows : In the payment of a dividend of 3^ per
cent, on the 7 per cent, cumulative preference shares, making, with
the interim dividend of 3^ per cent, paid on September 30 last,
7 per cent, for the year (subject to income tax), £105 000; in the
payment of a dividend of 5 per cent, on the 5 per cent, preference
shares for the year (subject to income tax), £74 885. The sum of
£13 982 10s. remains to be carried forward, against £13 091 last
year. The expenditure on plant renewals and improvements during
the year amounted to £9 441. The three months' stoppage of the
coal mines and the general depression in trade caused a serious
reduction in the Company's output, and this, together with a con-
tinuance of high labour costs, has materially affected its profits. As
a result, the directors are unable to recommend the payment of a
dividend on the ordinary shares. The additional capital expendi-
ture on works for the year amounted to £801 862 10s.., and repre-
sents power station extensions and addition to the Company's
transmission and distribution system. During the year £1 ^3 109
of first and £850 000 of second mortgage debenture stocks were
issued.

Chelsea Electricity Supply.

Comparing the present position of this company with its position in
1913, the chairman, Mr. W. R. Davies, who presided last week at
the annual meeting of the Chelsea Electricity Supply Company,
said that an immense improvement was shown. The profits had not
increased very largely, but the intrinsic position of the company
was bettered out of all knowledge. The gross receipts had risen from
£72 500 to £120 400, but the costs had gone up from £35 000 to
£77 000. The balance of profit, after providing for depreciation,
had risen from £17 900 to £24 600, and this notwithstanding that
rates, to mention only one item, had risen from £5 874 to £11 196.
The improvement in the capital j)osition was even more striking.
Nine years ago the debenture stock outstanding was £175 000, but
this had been reduced to £89 670. The depreciation fund, notwith-
standing they had withdrawn heavy amounts for olant which had
been scrapped, had risen from £124000 to £205 000. In 1920 they
dismantled and sold a considerable amount of uneconomical genera-
ting machinery, and an agreement had been entered into with the
Central Electric Supply Company for a bulk supply to meet all the
company's requirements in excess of that provided by the Diesel Plant,
which it was intended to continue to use. They had found this
plant both economical and reliable, and it was useful to have an
oil plant to set off against coal-using plant, so that, whichever form
of fuel was the cheaper, they could make use of the plant accord-
ingly. The capital commitmenJ.s consequent on this bulk supply
would amount ultimately to between £35 000 and £40 000, for wnich
they had plenty of funds in hand available. An abstract of the
accounts was given in our issue of March 10.

Brompton and Kensington Electricity Supply.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of the Bromp-
ton and Kensington Electricity Supply Company last week the
chairman, Mr. H. R. Beeton, who presided, stated that the company
had connected more consumers than in any previous twelve months,
excepting only last year and the year before. They sold more current
per lamp installed than in the previous year, and although the average
price was somewhat lower, the gross receipts showed an increase of
7^ per cent, over the record year of 1920. This continued progress
was due mainly to the conversion of the larger houses in their area
into flats and maisonettes and to the growing use of electrically-
operated labour-saving devices, and partly to the reasonable rates at
which the company supply electricity for heating and cooking, as
well as for lighting. Their new 1 500 kW turbine alternator was
installed during the year, but, owing to delay in delivery, they only
enjoyed the benefit of it for less than a month By its installation
they had provided all the plant likely to be rentiired for a long
time. The cost of this and other developments (£39 000) the Com-
pany intended to provide entirely out of profits. With regard to the
Brompton and Kensington Accessories Company, he could only
repeat what he sjiid last year, namely, that its assets continued to
be worth their book value, that it constituted one of their best
customers, and that its work contributes effectix-ely to the business
of supply in their area. Our issue of March 3 contained an abstract
of the accounts.

City of London Electric Lighting.

In moving the adoption of the report and accounts at the annual
meeting of (he City of London Electric Lighting Company last
we^k, Mr. J. B. Braithwaite (the chairman), who pros'ded, said
that (he receipts from the sale of current and from other sources
amounted to £676 455, compared with £649 390 in 1920. The total
generating costs were £270 885 (271604), the distribution costs
£303 685 (£311785). There was. however, an i>crease of £12 675
in rates and taxes, and also an increase in rents and wayleaves,
making an increase of £7 010 in the total expenses and a net

March 24. 1922

The Electrician.

359

increase of £27 065 in revenue. The reserves now stood at
£412 664, showing an increase of £41 000. They naturally hoped
last year that they would have a record output this year, but owing
to the prolonged coal strike and other factors their actual output
was about three-quarters of a million units less. But owing to the
economies introduced into the generating station and in other
ways, although the output had been less, the profit had been
increased, and they hoped that, now that costs oi coal and other
things were inclined to come down, there would be increased economy
this year, which would enable them to do something for their
consumers. The new plant was now installed, and they hoped to
have it in operation within the next week .or two.

British Insulated and Helsby Cables.

The report of the British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd.,
for the year ended December 31, 1921, shows a profit for the year
(after making provision for estimated liability for Corporation
Profits Tax to date) of £502 524. to which has to be added
£116 854 brought in, making a total of £619 388. From this sum
have to be deducted directors' and debenture trustees' fees and
remuneration to works' committee (£9 665), interest on first deben-
ture stock (£22 500), interest on second debenture stock (£10 000),
dividend on preference shares to December 31, 1921 (£30 000),
interim dividend on ordinary shares to June 30, 1921 (£37 500),
which leaves a disposable balance of £509 723, of which the directors
have appropriated £30 000 to depreciation and £5 000 to first mort-
gage debenture stock redemption account, leaving available for divi-
dend a balance of £474 723. The directors recommend the payment oi
a further dividend of 65 per cent, on the ordinary shares, together
with a bonus of 5 per cent. , making, with the interim dividend already
paid, a total d'stribution of 15 per cent, for the year ended
December 31, 1921, which will absorb £112 500 and leave £362 223
to be carried forward. The directors report that, though fully
employed during the first half of the year, the factories were not
60 busy during the second half, and there had recently been a decided
diminution in the value of orders received.

Para Electric Railvrays and Lighting.

The gross receipts of the Para Electric Railways and Lighting
Company for the year ended Nov. 30 decreased from £296 898 to
£267 310, and operating expenses from £175 032 to £163 891 ; the
difference in exchange rose from £9 ,741 to £58 796, on account
of heavy fall in exchange from the average remitting rate of
14"93d. in the previous year to 8'39d. this year, leaving net revenue
at £44 623, compared with £112 124. Adding interest and transfer
fees £37, against £5 347, deducting London expenses £4 604, pro-
vision for income-tax £11 000, loss on investments £3 322, Deben-
ture interest and sinking fund £38 500, and adding £18 157 brought
in, the balance was £5 391, against £81 057, transferred to depre-
ciation and renewals reserve. A further factor which seriously
affected the net revenue was the inability of the municipality to pay
accounts for public lighting. Interest on sterling Treasury bills held
by the company in respect of lighting accounts of previous years
Remains unpaid, consequently bills have been written down to
present market value from reserve created against this contingency.
The directors regret that dividends on preference and ordinary
shares cannot be paid this year. As preference shares are cumula-
tive, accrued dividends will be paid when possible out of future
earnings.

Llanelly and Pistrict Electric Lighting and Traction.

The report of the Llanelly and District Electric Lighting
AND Traction Company for the year to December 31, 1921, shows
available profit, includ'ng the balance (£1341) brought in, of
£25 895. Loan and debenture interest, less tax, absorbed £8 326,
and after allowing; for debenture stock redemption (£1 216) and

general reserve (£4 500) there is an available balance of £11 853.
lut of this sum dividends amounting to £5 931 have been paid,
and the directors furlher recommend the payment of a dividend on
the ordinary shares of 7 per cent, for the year to December 31 last,
le6s tax (£5 449), leaving £473 to be carried forward. Although
adversely affected by the coal strike and industrial depression,
which was severely felt in the South Wales district, the result of
the year's working shows improvement as compared with former
years. The power business continues to develop satisfactorily, and
the new plant recently intalled is being used to its full capacity.
During the year £125 000 7^ debenture stock, 19 760 preference
shares and 46 830 ordinary shares were issued to provide funds for
capital expenditure incurred to the end of 1921.

Kensington and Knightsbridge Electric Lighting.

Th« report of the K^ensington and Knightsbridge Electric
Lighting Company for the year 19?1 shows net profit available for
diridend of £18 147, to which £1 857 is brought in from previous
year, making a total of £20 014. From this sum has to be deducted
£9 700 for dividends already paid during the year, and the directors
recommend payment of a further dividend at the rate of 12 per
cent, per annum for the last half-year, which will absorb £6 300,
making 10 per cent, for the year on the ordinary sharee, and
leaving £4 014 to be carried forward. The balance of the renewal
and reserve fund now stands at £176 525, of which sum £102 540
is the amount expended in excess of capital received, the balances
being represented by working capital, investments and cash balances.

The directors of Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company
recommend the payment of a dividend on the ordinary shares of
12^ per cent.. I'-js income tax, for the year ended December 31, 1921.

Ransomes, Simms & Jeiteibs have passed the dividend on the
preference shares.

Philips' Lamps Works, of Amsterdam, announce a dividend of
11 per cent, for 1921.

The Western Union Telegraph Company have declared a
quarterly dividend of If per cent.

Hadfields, Ltd., have declared a final dividend of 6d. per share,
making 5 per cent, for the year, free of tax.

The Jutland Telephone Co. offered for public subscr.ption thi»
week £500 000 6^ per cent, sterling bonds at £93. The issue was
over-subscribed.

Halifax & Bermudas Cable Company announce an interim divi-
dend at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, tax free, for the half-
year ending Dec. 31 last.

"The Stock Exchange Committee have ordered 20 000 £1 fully
paid ordinary shares of Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company and
75 571 £1 fully paid ordinary shares of the Cordoba Light, Power
& Traction Company to be quoted in the Official List.

The Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power Company's nH
earnings for the quarter ended Dec. 31 last, including those of tke
Rand Mines Power Supply Company, amounted to £205 682, before
providing for taxation in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

The profit of the County of Durham Electrical Poweb
Distribution Company for 1921 was £60 952, plus £1 274 brought
in, making £62 227. A dividend of 11^ per cent, is announced on
the ordinary shares for the year, leaving £842 to be carried forward.

In regard to the issue of £1 500 000 7 per cent, debenture stock of
the British Thomson-Houston Company, allotment letters and
scrip certificates should be forwarded to the Company's office. Crown
House, Aldwych, W.C. 2, for exch..nge for definitive certificates.

Pritchett & Gold & E.P.S. Company have declared a dividend
of 10 per cent, on the ordinary shares. The sum of £2 000 has
been added to the workmen's compensation reserve, and £10 000
to the general reserve, leaving £29 063 to be carried forward,
subject to taxes.

The National Electric Supply Company have declared dividends
at the rate of 4 per cent, for the year on the preference and 6s. 6d.
per share on the ordinary shares for the half-year, making with the
interim dividend paid in July, 9s. for the year, and £5 8s. 6d. on
the founders' shares.

BiDEFORD AND DISTRICT ELECTRIC SuppLY COMPANY are offering
for public subscription 7 500 7 per cent, preference shares of £1 each
and 17 500 ordinary shares of £1 each. The company has not yet
been registered, but will be incorporated on the necessary capital
being obtained. The issue closes on March 31.

The net earnings of the Bell Telephone of Canada for 1921 were
.'5;2 276 421, after providing 5>2 549 715 for depreciation and
.$595 000 for taxes. Interest charges absorbed SI 168 800, and after
providing for a dividend of 8 per cent, a dePciency remains of
|776 009. Surplus and reserves stand at $22 501 399.

The accounts for 1921 of the Carmarthen Electricity Supply
Company show a profit of £886, to which is added £644 brought
forward. The half-year's preference dividends absorbed £252 lOs.,
and the directors recommend that £545 be transferred tothe deprecia-
tion fund, leaving a balance of £753. Out of this sum they
recommend a dividend of 5 per cent, (less income tax) on the
ordinary shares, leaving £497 to be carried to next account.

The net profit of Browett Lindley & Company for 1921, after
charging debenture and bank interest, writing off £6 244 for depre-
ciation of buildings, machinery and patterns, and making prevision
for income tax, corporation tax and contingencies, was £14 059, plu6
£9178 brought in, making £23 237. The directors propose a further
dividend of 11^ per cent., less tax, on the preference shares (dis-
posing of all arrears), a dividend of 10 per cent., less tax, on the
ordinary shares, carrying forward £10737.

Presiding over the meeting of the Hastings and District
Electric Tramways Company, Ltd., Mr. Geo. Kitchin said that
the traffic receipts for 1921 had increased by £1 855 and the expenses
were £950 less, but power was up bv £950 owing to the conversion
of two boilers for oil fuel burning. After meeting debenture interest
they were able to pay the preference dividend for the year and to
wipe out the arrears of I5 per cent, on those shares. The overhead
equipment on the front line had been working very satisfactorily.
Tne company was successful in the appeal against the decision of the
arbitrator on the question of the new lamps and cables on the front,
and the threatened further appeal by the Corporation had been
abandoned.

The Report of the Urban Electric Supply Company for the year
ended Dec. 31, 1921, states that the balance carried to net profit
and loss account amonnts to £95 563. as compared with £86 6iB5 in
1920, and after deducting the amounts required for interest, deben-
ture stock, redemption and income tax amounting to £60 856, there
is, with £2 163 brought forward from last year, an available balance
of £35 869, which the directors recommend should be applied as
follows : To reserve for depreciation, £25 000: to dividend for one
half-year on the cumulative preference shares, £6 250 ; to balance to
be carried forward, £5 619. The total load connected to the thir-
teen undertakings of the company is 48 120 kW, compared with
46 882 kW in 1920.

It is jtated that a company is being formed at Nairobi, Kenya
Colony, called the East African Powztr and Lighting Co., to
acquire the undertaking of the Nairobi Electric Power and Light-
ing Co., Ltd , and other electrical interests in the Colony.

360

The Electrician.

March 24, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note.— The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgments " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons najned. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the oases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

BURGE, Mr. H. J., 8, Fernhead-road, Paddington, master elec-
trician. £10 4s. lid. Jan. 10.
MITHAM, Mr. D., Tenace-road , Walton-on-Thames, electrical

contractor. £23 Is. 3d. Jan. 6.
REYNOLDS, Mr. W. A., 2, Aldgate East-chambers, Aldgate,

electrical engineer. £33 Is. Jan. 13.
THURLOW WHOLESALE ELECTRIC SUPPLIES, LTD.,
(trading as Herberts), registered offioe, 337, Norwood-road, S.E.
£16 6s. lid. Jan. 14.

Deeds of Arrangement.

CARTER, William Henry, trading at Manchester and Salford, and
residing at 30, Thomas-street, Cheetham Hill, electrical
engineer. Trustee, L. Taylor, 4, St. Ann's-square, Manchester.
Liabilities unsecured, £639; assets, less secured claims, £67.

KNIGHT, Wilfred Lempriere, trading as W. L. KNIGHT &
SONS, 6, Oak-end-waye, Gerrard's Cross, electrical engineer
and contractor. Trustee, W. A. J. Osborne, 119, Finsbury-
pavement, E.C. Liabilities unsecured, £850; assets, less secured
claims, £525.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after ita creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
ehall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

B. E. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD., London, E.C,
electrical apparatus manufacturers. R/Cgistered March 7, £3 000
debentures, present issue £2 350; general charge. * .

.' June 29, 1920.

BURNHAM & DISTRICT ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY,
LTD. Registered March 8, £750 debentures: general charge.
*£8 308 8s. 6d. Oct. 6, 1921.

CESCO, LTD., Cardiff, electricians. Registered March 8, £2 000
debentures ; general charge.

COOPER & SMITH, LTD., Maldon, electric motor and cutter
manufacturers. Registered March 8, £3 000 first debentures
and £9 500 second debentures ; general charge.

HEXHAM & DISTRICT ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY,
LTD. Registered March 9, debenture and mortgage securing
£23 000 ; general charge. *£7 650. Aug. 20, 1920

INDIA RUBBER, GUTTA PERCHA & TELEGRAPH WORKS
COMPANY, LTD., London, E.C. Registered March 10,
£250 000 debentures to bank. *£400 000. Dec. 14, 1921.

LONDON FACTORS & AGENTS, LTD., Tx)ndon, S.W., electrical
and general merchants. Registered March 10, £5 000 deben-
tures, present issue £660 ; general charge. *Nil. July 19, 1921.

WOKING ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY, LTD. Registered
March 7, £110 debentures, part of amount alreadv registered.
•£64170. June25, 192L

Satisfaction.

DUBILIER CONDENSER COMPANY, LTD. (late DUBILIER
ELECTRICAL SYNDICATE LTD.), London, W. Satisfaction
registered Maich 9, £20 000, registered Feb. 23, 1920.

Private Meetings.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily imply failure.
Many -private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the
debtor consulting his creditors as to his position when he may not
be insolvent.]

PITKIN, JAMES, & COMPANY, LTD., 28, Hatton -garden, E.C,
scienfcific instrument makers. A meeting of creditors was held
at 28, Hatton-garden, E.C, to consider a scheme of arrangement
proposed between the company and the unsecured creditors. An
informal conference of the principal creditors was held in
January last, and the creditors had been requested to agree to a
scheme by signing a form accepting immediate part payment.
The great majority of the creditoi* had accepted, but the

present meeting had become necessary in order to get formal
approval. The necessity for the scheme had arisen entirely
through the Aladdin Renew Electric Lamp Corporation, Ltd.,
having failed to pay a large sum of money owing to the company.
The Aladdin Company, it was alleged, ordered a number of
machines involving thousands of pounds, and refused to take
delivery and pay for more than a small proportion. The pro-
tection of the court was sought, but by the time the final judg-
ment in Pitkin's favour was obtained the Aladdin Company
went into liquidation. The verdict was for £3 400 and costs,
totalling over £4 000, and of this sum only £1 100 was obtained.
Under the scheme now proposed at least 5s. in the £ would be
paid promptly, and it was confidently hoped that a further sum
would be paid, assuming the company could carry on business
and dispose of its stock and assets.
SEMCO, LTD. (in voluntary liquidation), electrical engineers,
19, High-street, Shoreditch, London, E. At a meeting of
creditors held last week Mr. F. B. Darke, the liquidator of the
company, submitted a statement of affairs which showed
liabilities of £5 952. After allowing £155 for preferential
claims, the assets were estimated to realise £2 583, or a deficiency
as regarded the creditors of £3 369. Mr. Darke reported that
tho company was registered on Sept. 10, 1919, to acquire a
business from the Standard Electrical and Maintenance Com-
pany. The goodwill was valued at £2 000. In the twelve
months to Aug. 31, 1920, there was a loss on the trading of
£870, the turnover being approximately £19 000. In the fol-
lowing year the turnover was £19 555, and there was a loss on
the trading of £4 780 accounted for chiefly through unre-
munerative contracts and the electrical strike. In addition the
company opened a foundry at Forest Gate, on which money was
lost, and it had since been closed down. The company also
lost on the manufacture of the Semco Sparking Plugs. In
answer to questions, it was stated that the issued capital of the
company was £6 200, of which £2 200 was issued for cash. The
company had carried out a substantial contract for the Islington
Borough Council, and work to the extent of about £2 000 re-
mained to be completed. It was a profitable contract to com-
plete. A resolution in favour of the voluntary liquidation cf
the company being continued with Mr. Darke as liquidator was
carried unanimously, and an informal committee was appointed
consisting of the representatives of the General Electric Com-
pany, Phoenix-Tester, Ltd., and the Cable Accessories Com-
pany. The principal creditors are : B. T.-H. Electric Lamp
Company, £327 ; Metallic Electrical Engineering Company,
£115 ; General Electric Company, £104 ; Metropolitan-Vickers
Electric Company, £64 ; Vulcan Electric Company, £81 ;
Phoenix-Tester, Ltd., £82; Cable Accessories Company, £99;
Wholesale Fittings Company, £75.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Companies Windini*-up Voluntarily.

BRITISH SWITCHGEAR, LTD. T. D. Marshall, of 10, Bush-
lane, Cannon-street, London, appointed liquidator.

ELECTRIC BRASS WARES, LTD. T. Edgar A. Killip appointed
liquidator. Meeting of creditors at 21, Tempest Hey, Liverpool,
on Tuesday, March 28, at 3 p.m.

MIDLAND ELECTRIC COMPANY (SOUTHPORT), LTD.
W. F. Brown, of Southport, and J. A. Bond, of South port,
appointed joint liquidators. Meeting of creditors on Monday,
March 27, at 3 p.m. , at the offices of Davies & Crane, Hoghton
Chambers, Hognton-street, Southport. Particulars of claims Dy
April 30 to the liquidators.

Notice of Dividend.

BAKER, Reginald Percival, and STUBBS, Frederick Clarence,
trading together in co-partnership as the SHEFFIELD ELEC-
TRIC CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, at 124, Pond-street,
Sheffield. Amount per £, 4s. lO^d. First and final. Payable,
March 22, 14, Figtree-lane, Sheffield.

Notices of Intended Dividends.

MATHERS, Ernest Edward, 10c, High-street, Doncaeter, electrical

engineea-. Last day for receiving proofs, April 5. Trustee,

L. J. Clegg, 14, Figtree-lane, Sheffield.
WILLCOX, Albert John, The Garage, Farnham Common, Bucks,

electrical, &c. , engineer. Last day for receiving proofs, April 5.

Trustee, F. W. Davis, 28 Theobald's-road, Bedford-row,

London, W.C 1.
WOLLMAN, Harry Michael, late 9, Greasbro'-road, Parkgate, near

Rotherham, Co. York, electrical factor. Last day for receiving

proofs, April 3. Trustee, L. J. Clegg, 14, Figtree-lane, Sheffield.

Partnerships Dissolved.

BARCHAM, Constance Wormald, and EDWARDS, Christophe,
manufacturers and repairers of electrical accessories. &c. . at 29,
Portman-mews South, London, under the style of EDWARDS
& BARCHAM, by mutual consent as and from Feb. 3, 1922.

ROLLINSON, Joseph Ernest, and GREENSMITH, Ernest Joseph,
electrical engineers, at Tavistock Chambers, Beastmarket Hill,
Nottingham, under the style of ROLLINSON & GREEN-
SMITH, by fnutual consent as from Feb. 12, 1922. Debts
received and paid by J. E. RoUinson.

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

361

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

BARRETT, Bernard, electrical engineer, 104, Whitechapel-road, E.
A general meeting under the receiving order made against thia
debtor was held last week to enable the creditors to appoint a
trustee. A statement of the debtor's affairs showed gross
liabilities £2 203, of which £1 475 was expected to rank for
dividend, against assets valued at £1 146. The debtor began
business in 1911, and in May, 1920, after spending £800 on
plant and machinery, he began to manufacture electric switch-
boards. Owing to foreign competition this venture proved a
failure, and in January last he sold the whole of the plant and
machinery for £400, which he applied in payment of certain
debts. He continued as an electrical engineer, and in March
last was joined by two partners, who each provided £250
capital. A branch shop was opened at 17, Maddox-street, W.,
under the style of the Regent Electrical Installation Company,
but in July last the partnership was dissolved and a receiver
was appointed at the instance of his partners. He afterwards
traded on his own account as an electrical engineer at 104,
Whitechapel-road, until September last, when he sold the
business to a company of which he became managing director.
Debtor valued his interest in the late partnership at £781, and
had returned it as an asset to realise that amount. The
creditors appointed Mr. William Osborne, of Balfour House,
Finsbury-pavement, as trutee of the estate.

HALLETT, Graham Moore, 7, King-street, Frome, Somerset, elec-
trical engineer. The receiving order in this matter was made on
March 7, on debtor's own petition. The statement of affairs
ehows liabilities of £881, while net assets are estimated to realise
£358, a deficiency of £523. Debtor attributes his failure to loss
on contracts through lack of experience in estimating, deprecia-
tion of stock through falling market, and bad trade. He com-
menced business at 7, Alexandra-road, Frome, in April, 1919,
with £65 capital. In Novembej, 1920, the business was removed
to his present address. Debtor became aware of his position in
December last. A fair set of books has been kept,

LIDDELL, Robert Henry (trading as LIDDELL & McINNES),
4, The Crescent, Carlisle, electrical engineer. The receiving
order in this matter was made on Feb. 21 on debtor's own peti-
tion. The statement of affairs shows gross liabilities of £359,
of which £333 is expected to rank for dividend, and there is a
deficiency of £181. Debtor attributes his failure to bad trade
ever since the coal strike, and tendering for contracts at too low
a price, partly to keep on his workmen. It appears that be
commenced business snortly after the armistice, going into
partnership with another. This partnership was dissolved m
April, 1919, debtor receiving £125 as his snare. Later in the
same year he started at his present addret-s in partnership with a
relation, but this was dissolved in February or Marcn, 1921.
Debtor had no capital on starting the last partnership, but his

Sartner brought in £370, of which only £231 had been repaid,
lebtor became aware of his position in April last year.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, Maeoh 21.

Copper — Price. Inc. Dec.

Best selected per ton £64 0 0 — 10 0

Electro Wirebars .. „ £67 15 0 — 5 0

H.G wire, basis per lb. Os. lO^d. ' — ^^d.

Sheet „ Os. 9H<i- — Id.

Phosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone)
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis Is. 2^d. — ^d,

JBrcwa 60/40—

Rod, basis Os. 7id. — —

Sheet, basis Os. 9|d. — —

Wire, basis „ Os. lO^d. — —

Pig Iron — -

Cleveland Warrants . per ton £4 15 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £19 0 0 — —

Lead Pig —

English , £23 0 0 £0 15 0 —

Foreign or Colonial . . „ £21 12 6 £0 15 0 —

Tirtr—

Ingot £143 15 0 £0 2 6 —

Wire, basis per lb. 23. Od. — —

Spelter per ton £22 15 0 — £2 17 6

Aluminium Ingots per ton £120 0 0 — —

Mercury per bottle £11 0 0 — —

Salammoniac. — Per cwt. 65s.-60s. Sodium Chlorate. — Per lb. 3 Jd.

Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 lOs. Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°).—
„ (Roll-Brimstone).— Per ton Per ton £9 17s. 6d.

£10 lOs. Copper Sul} hate.— Per ton. £26 lOa.

Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5Jd. .Boric ^Icti/ (Crystals). — Per ton £60
Rubber. — Para fine, lid. ; plantation 1st latex, 8d.
The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated ^t Helsby Cables,

Ltd, and the rubber prices by ^W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works

Company.

New Companies.

Dalgetti Electric.

Daloetti Elkctric, Ltd. (180 308). Private company. P^eg.
March 14. Capital, £500 in £1 shares. Electrical engineers for
dealing in all contracts and sales of electrical fittings and materials

Eertaining thereto, &c. First directors : W. E. L. Bury, R. H.
limming and J. G. White. Registered office, 10, Conduit-street, W.

Elite Electricians.

Elite Electricians, Ltd. (180 386). Private company. Reg.
March 17. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. To carry on business as
indicated by the title. Subscribers : E. H. Lewis and F. S. Munn.
Solicitor : C. Crowther, 23, Abingdon-street, Westminster.

London Lamps.

London Lamps, Ltd. (180 314). Private company. Beg.
March 14. Capital, £500 in £5 shares. Manufacturers of and
dealers in electric*il and other lamps and apparatus, &c. Sub-
scribers : G. C. Walsh and J. Macjiay. Secretary : J. Mackay.
Registered office : 69, Hatton-garden. E.G. 1.

London Radio College.

London Radio College, Ltd. Private company. Nominal
capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. To establish schools for instruction
in radio telegraphy or telephony or other methods of inter-communi-
cation, &c. Subscribers : A. E. Fournier and J. Ball. Solicitors :
Amery-Parkes & Co., 12, Fleet^street, E.C. File number, 120 296.

Leiios Lamp Co.

Lelios Lamp Co., Ltd. (180 339). Private company. Reg.
March 15. Capital, £2 500 in £1 shares. To acquire the business
of A. de Jong carried on at St. Andrew's House, 32-4, flolbom-
viaduct, E.C. 1, and to carry oa the business of electricians,
electrical engineers, manufacturers of, dealers in and agents for all
kinds of electric lamps, &c. Subscribers : W. J. Woodhouse and 8.
Groves. Registered office : 32-4, Holbornviaduet, E.C.

Perfecta Electric.

Perfecta Electric, Ltd. (180 298), Private company. Reg.
March 13. Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. To acquire " The Per-
fecta Cinema Shutter " from the patentee, J. H. Greenfield, and to
carry on the business of cinema, theatrical and general maintenance
work, electricians, mechanical engineers, &c. Permanent directors :
J. T. Hall. J. H. Greenfield and A. G. Hides. Solicitor : J. Baker,
29, Bank-street, Sheffield.
Ride & Bell.

Ride & Bell, Ltd. (180 401). Private company. Reg. March 17.
Capital, £10 000 in £1 shares (9 000 ordinary and 100 founders').
Electrical and water engineers, &c., and to adopt an agreement with
Ernest Newell & Co., Ltd. First directors : J. A. llide, G. Bell
and E. Newell. Registered office : Misterton, Notts.

Scrck Tubes.

Serck Tubes, Ltd. (180 353). Private company. Reg. !March 15.
Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. Tube makers, general, mechanical,
electrical and water supply engineers, &c. Subscribers : P. 0. Serck
and H. Ashford. Solicitors : Speechly, Mumford & Craig, 10, New-
square, Lincoln's Inn, W.C. 2.
Welsteads, Ltd.

Welsteads, Ltd. (180 359). Private company. Reg. March. 15.
Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. Motor, electrical and general
engineers, &c. Subscribers : C. F. Welstead and F. T. Shearcroft.
Directors : C. F. Welstead and Agnes Welstead. Registered office :
27, New-ro^d, Richmond, Surrey.

Workington Electric Power.

Workington Electric Power Co., Ltd. (180 361). Private com-
pany. Reg. March 15. Capital, £25 000 in £1 shares. Manu-
facturers and suppliers of electrical energy, &c. First directors :
S. Kelly, Mrs. M. Kelly, S. Moss and T. S. Durham. Secretary :
W. Addison. Solicitor : 0. F. Ormrod, Whitehaven, Cumberland.

York Shiplev.

York Shipley, Ltd. (180 377). Private company. Reg.
March 16. Capital, £10 000 in £10 shares. Mechanical, electrical
and general engineers and contractors, &c. Provisional directors :
J. B. Parish and R. C. Bolton. Solicitors : Bristows, Cooke &
Carpmael, 1, Copthall-buildings, E.C.

PROSPECTUS.
Bideford and District Electric Supply.

BiDEFORD AND DISTRICT ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY, LtD. Pr06-

pectus of a company to be formed to acquire the benefit of two
agreements entered into by S. I. Knill, of Barnstaple, sanctioning
the construction of work for the supply of electricity in Bideford
and Northam, &c. Capital. £25 000 in £1 shares (7 500 7 per cent,
preference and 17 500 ordinary). Proposed directors: Major W.
Ascott; E. W. S. Bartless, J. U. Fulford. J. N. A.
Houblon, Sir Robert M. Hyslop, H. N. G. Stuceley and G. C.
Smyth-Richards. Engineers and contractors : Crompton & Co.,
Ltd., London and Chelmsford. Solicitors : Hole. Seldon & Ward,
Bideford. Secretaries and office {pro teni) : Robert and Richard
Blackmore, Alexandra House, The Quay, Bideford.

Damage to the extent of about £700 has been caused by a fire at
the premises of SMrrn & Giix, electrical engineers, of Nelson, Lanes.
The outbreak was caused by the fusiug of an electric wire and the
subsequent ignition of a number of accumulators. The stock was
destroyed before the arrival of the fire brigade.

362

The Electrician.

Mar en z4, 1922

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

West Derby Guardians. March 27. — Electric supplies, engine

Eackiiigs, &c., for three months. Particulars from the Clerk,
rougham-terrace, Liverpool.

Belfast District Asylum, PuRDYSBtTRN. March 27. — Three or
six months' supply of electrical fittings, oils, &c. Forms of tender
from th« Clerk to the Committee, Saintfield-road, Belfast.

London County Coxtncil. March 27. — Wiring and fitting Stam-
ford Hill Stores Depot, Portland-avenue, N. 16. Specification from
the Chief Engineer, 19, Charing Cross-road, W.C. 2.

Kettering Electricity Committee. March 27. — Two-feeder
cables. Specification, &c., from the Engineer and Manager, Electri-
city Works, Kettering.

Belfast Guardians. March 28. — Renewal of wiring in Nurses'
Home and other works. Form of tender, &c. , from the Clerk, at
the Workhouse.

Hove Corporation. March 31. — Low-tension feeder switchboard.
Specification, &c. , from the Engineer and Manager, Electricity
Works, Davigdor-road, Hove.

WiGAN Corporation. April 3. — Circulating water conduit, engine
foundations, &c. Particulars from Mr. R. B. Donald, Municipal-
buildings, Library -street, Wigan.

Bedford Corporation. April 5. — Supply of e.h.t., h.t., and l.t.
underground cables for one year. Specification from the Borough
Electrical Engineer.

Corporation of Douglas (Isle of Man). April 10.— Six miles l.t.
three-core lead-covered and armoured cable. Particulars from Hand-
cock & Dykes, 11, Victoria-street, London, S.W. 1.

Loughborough Electricity Department. April 14. — Extra high-
pressure switchgear and extensions to d.c. switchgear. Particulars
from Mr. • C. H. Wordingham, 7, Victoria-street, Westminster,
London, S.W. ; or 11, Mosley-street Manchester.

Hull Guardians. — Extension of wiring at Anlaby-road Institu-
tion. Specification, &c., from the Clerk, 182, Anlaby-road, Hull.

INDIA.

High Commissioner for India. March 31. — Electric cable.
Particulars from the Director-General, India Store Department,
Belvedere-road, Lambeth, London, S.E. 1.

High Commissioner for India. April 7. — (o) Cells, electric,
inert; (6) cells, Leclanche, and spare parts. Particulars from the
Director-General, India Store Department, Belvedere-road, Lambeth,
S.E.I.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Municipal Council of Johannesburg. April 12. — *Supply and
delivery of six (or more) h.t. metal cubicles suitable for 3 000-3 300 V
two phase, 50 cycles, 200 A normal working load, and for, alterna-
tively, similar equipment for 500 A. (Contract 887.) Fifteen mil2«
0 000 S.W.G. (04 in. diameter) round section hard-drawn trolley wire
of a conductivity not less than 98 per cent. Mathieson'e standard on
stout wooden drums, each containing half-mile of wire. The drums
are to have a hole 3 in. in diameter through centre for mounting on
bar for rolling off. Tenders are to be based on electrolytic copper
at £69 per 2 240 lb.

Rand Water Board. May 5. — *Two-ton overhead travelling crane,
machine tools, electric motors, &c., for the Board's Vere#niging and
other pumping stations; also two portable electric grinders and
four electric drills. All the power-driven plant is to be ©quipped
with individual electric motor drives. The electricity available for
driving the machine tools, &c., will be 3 phase current at 500-550 V,
50 cycles per second. (Reference D.O.T. 8148/E.D./P.N.)

Dover Town Council has nccepbed the tender of Mr. J. Martin
for electric wiring at tiie Isolation Hospital at £103 3s.

Warrington Corporation have accepted the tender of the British
Thomson-Houston Company for main e.h.t. switchboard extension.

Bradford Corporation have accepted the tender of the Kirksta!!
Forge Company for front and rear axles for railless electric vehicles.

Berkshire County Mental Hospital Committee has accepted the
tender of Mr. Wheeler for the reinstatement of the electric wiring
at the hospital at £5 862 6s. lOd.

Metropolitan Asylums Board have accepted the tender of the
Chloride Electrical Storage Company for a battery for an electric
vehicle at Queen Mary's Hospital, at £219.

The French Thomson-Houston Co. is reported to have obtained
an order for 1 000 dynamos for the French State Railway, these being
required in connection with the lighting arrangement of local trains.

Burton-on-Trent Corporation have accepted tenders for elec
tricity works extension amounting in the asfgregate to £78 726. "The
largest tender was that of Babcock & Wilcox, Ltd., for boilers,
at £40 180.

Glasgow Corporation has been recommended to accept the tenders
of the British Thomson-Houston Company for five sets of rotary
converters and transformers, £36 283; Ferguson, Pailin, Ltd., for
switchboards, £2 422; and British Insulators & Helsby Cables for
insulated bolts for tramway purposes.

• Particulars from the Department of Overaeat Trade.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY, March 24th (to-day).

Physical Society of London.
S p.m. At the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington,
S.W. Guthrie Lecture, "The Effect of Electric and
Magnetic Fields on Spectral Lines," by Prof. N. Bohr, of
the University of Copenhagen.

Electrical Power Engineers' Association.

7 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy-place.

London, W.C. Lecture on "Electric Control of Larg.-
Amounts of Power," by Dr. C. C. Garrard.
North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders.
7.30 p.m. In the Lecture Theatre of the Library and Philo-
sophical Society, Westgate-road, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Paper
on " Standardisation : Its Fundamental Importance to the
Prosperity of our Trade," by Mr. C. le Maistre. The
nomination of candidates for the Council will also take place.
SATURDAY. March 25th.

Royal Institution of Great Britain.
3 p.m. At the Institution, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, W. 1.
Lecture IV., "Radioactivity," by Sir Ernest Rutherford.
MONDAY, March 27th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
North-Eastern Territorial Centre.
7.15 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Paper
on " Protective Apparatus for Turbo- Alternators," by Mr.
J. A. Kuyser.

Royal Society of Arts.

8 p.m. At John-Street, London, W.C. Lecture on "The Con-

stituents of Essential Oils," by Mr. G. Radcliffe.

TUESDAY. March 28th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
East Midland Sub-Centre.
6.^5 p.m. At the College, Loughborough. Paper on " The
Future Aspect of Power Generation," by Mr. A. H.
Seabrook.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
North Midland Centre.
7 p.m. At the Metropole, Leeds. Paper on " Protective
Apparatus for Turbo-Alternators," by Mr. J. A. Kuyeer.
Junior Institution of Engineers.
North-Eastern Section.
7 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Paper on
" Utilisation of Waste ETeat," by Mr. G. H. Martin.
Institution of Electrical Engineers.
North-Western Students' Centre.
7.30 p.m. Houldsworth Hall, Deansgate, Manchester. Address
by Mr. W. Walker, the Chairman of the Centre.
Illuminating Engineering Society.

5 p.m. At the Royal Society of Arts, John-street, London,

W.C. Discussion on "The Lighting of Public Buildings;
Scientific Methods and Architectural Requirements."
THURSDAY. March 30th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
G p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Paper on " Applica-
tions of Electricity to Agriculture," by Mr. R. Borla£e
Matthews.
FRIDAY, March Slst.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

6 p.m. At the Institution, Storey's-gate, St. James's Park

S.W. Extra General Meeting. Paper on " "The Milling of
Screws, and other Problems in the Theory of Scre^r-
Threads," by Prof. H. H. Jeffcott.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
London Students' Section.

7 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Address by the Preei-

dent, Mr. J. S. Highfield.

Junior Institution of Engineers.

8 p.m.. At Caxton Hall, Westminster, S.W. Lecturette «i»

"The Steel-melting Shop," by Mr. D. P. Dickinson.

Dictionary of Applied Physics.

Macmillan & Company announce that the first volume of " The
Diction;>ry of Applied Physics," edited by Sir Richard Glazebrook,
will be published this month. Succeeding volumes will appear at
intervals of from two to three months, it being expected that the
publication of the work will be completed before the end of the
year. The work is arranged in five volumes, as follows : — Vol. I.,
Mechanics — Engineering and Heat; Vol. II., Electricity; Vol. III.,
Meteorology, Metrology and Measuring Apparatus; Vol. IV., Optice,
Sound and Radiology; Vol. V., Metallurgy and Aeronautics. Pro-
duced under the editorship of Sir Richard Glazebrook and written
throughout by experts, it would be difficult to over-estimate the
importance of " The Dictionary of Applied Physics." It is the first
attempt which has been made to bring within the compass of a single
work the latest results of research and the most approved methods
in all branches of the subject. It constitutes, therefore, a unique
work of reference, containing a mine of information which most
prove invaluable, not only to those engaged in educational work, but
also to all manufacturers who are vitally concerned with the question
of physics as applied to industry. The price of each volume is 63s.
net, but orders for the complete set of five volumes will be accepted
through a bookseller at the price of £14 14s. net, payable in advance.

March 24, 1922

The Electrician.

363

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The foUotnng ahstraci from tome o) ihe ipenficatton$ recently publithed ?iave
been tpeciMly eompUed by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent
Agent*. 70 and 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

Complete Specifications.
144 305 GuiNET, L. Vacuum tubes. (26/12/18.)

144 720 Breisig, F. Syste.-n fo the convertiion of continuous or direct

currents into alternating currents. (11/3/19.)

145 030 SiEUENS-ScHUCKERTWERKE. Metal vapour electric discharge

apparatus. (18/6/18.J

146 122 Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges. Telegraphic reception. (27/9/18.)

146 991 Western Electric Co., Ltd. Telegraphic ciphering and decipher-

ing mechanism. (9/12/18.) (Addition to 146 520.)

147 555 Telbgraphon Ges. Telephonographs. (17/7/19.)

168 925 Macrorie, A K., *AiafiY, H., & Morris-Long, S. H. Wireless
reception, and particularly methods and means whereby the
direction of the incoming waves can be determined. (16/3/20.)

168 935 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd., & Shuttleworth, N.
Electric motor control. (15/4/20.)

168 936 Cope, H. A. (Haefely et Cie., Akt.-Ges., E.). Dynamo-electric
machines. (20/4/20.)

168 944 Houston, K. C. Secondary or storage batteries. (10/5/20.)

168 947 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.).
Methods of and means for producing alternating currents.
(10/5/20.)

168 954 Marcel's Permanent, Ltd., & Kerka, F. Electric heating
apparatus for waving or curling the hair. (13/5/20.)

168 955 Watkinson, J., Francis, N. C, & (Juennell, A. E. Resistance
switches for controlling the intensity of electric currents.
(13/5/20.)

168 964 Scholes, G. H., & Claremont, E. A. Tool for electric cable strip-
ping. (3/6/20.) (Addition to 149 739.)

168 965 Berry. F. E. Reactance or choke coils. (4/6/20.)

168 966 NoTTAGE, W. H. Land line and wireless telephony. (5/6/20.)

168 967 Western Electric Co., Ltd. (Western Electric Co. Inc.). Method
of signalling in systems generating high-frequency oscillations.
(7/6/20.)

168 989 Dooley, J. Handle for electric arc welding. (11/6/20.)

1002
1004
1026
1027

1029
1046

1050
1065

1067

1070

APPLICATIONS FOE PATENTS

January 12. 1922.

A. E. Knowles. Electrolyic cells.
R. Amberton. Electricity meters.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). High-frequency signalling systems.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., R. Brooks & N. E. North.

Electric railway motor equipments.
A. Buck. Connector for electric wires.
Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. & Hudd. Indicating

devices for electric signalling systems.
F. H. Larnder. Grapnels for submarine cables.
and 1 066 W. A. Tester & S. Thompson. Power supply controlling

means of a.c. motors.
Ges. fuk Drahtlose Telegraphic. Wireless telephone transmitters.

(13/1/21. Germany.)
J. £. PoLL&K (Siemens & Halske Akt. Ges.). Telephone systems.

January 13. 1922.

1 093 H. Lomath. Electric conduit box.

1 110 A. Hickman. Electric lamp for police lanterns.

1 152 F. G. Parks. Electric lighting device.

1 126 R. Bosch Akt. Ges. Electric starters for heavy oil engines.
(17/1/21. Germany.)

1 129 R. Bosch Akt. Ges. Electric ignition apparatus. (14/2/21.
Germany.)

1 137 Ransomes & Rapiee & P. D. Ionides. Electric vehicles.

1 149 L. G. De Kermor. Regulation of heat generated by electricity.

1 161 L. G. De Kermor. Self-regulating electric-steam generators.

1 158 H. Zangers. Electro-magnetic releasing device. (24/1/21, Ger-
many.)

1 167 E. Granat. Electric distant control apparatus. (14/1/21, France.)

1 170 R. H. Barbour. Electricity meters.

1 171 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Switches.

1 190 C. Bourgeois. Electric warp stop motion.
1 203 J. W. Hall. Magnetic clutches.
1 207 J. T. Robin. Incandescent lamps.
1 208 T. N. Whitehead. Electro-magnetic compasses.
1 209 T. N. Whitehead. Electric relays.
1 212 British Electric Transformer Co., Huber & Roothaan. Trans-
formers.
1 216 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Telephone systems.
(23/2/21. U.S.)

January 14, 1922.
1 216 A. M. Taylor. Electric power transmission systems.
1 218 H. W. Sullivan. Submarine telegraph cables.
1 230 R. Amberton & R. H. Barbour. Electricity meters.
1 235 E. Pollock. High-frequency telephone systems.
1 239 A. J. Cheyne. Electric terminal.

1 253 O. Frick. Electric induction furnaces. (15/1/21, Sweden.)
1 270 W. S. Smith. Electric conductors.

1 279 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & D. R. Da vies. Switches.
1281 Chamberlain & Hookham, Ltd. & James. Electric current meters.

January 16, 1922.

1 826 G. P. Grenfell & J. Robinson. Wireless navigation apparatus.

1 327 C. B. Wardman. Telephone apparatus and installations.

1 339 F. W. Hampshire. Means for audibly signalling upon sounds being
reproduced in a telephone receiver^

1 345 C. Saunders, L. Ebelman, & F. E. Pratt. Electric rheumatic
spring foot support.

1 356 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Insulating sheet materials.
(26/1/21, U.S.)

1 360 T. Lenaghan. Automatic telephone systems.

1 363 Naamlooze Vennootschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Gasfillsd
electric discharge tubes. (10/2/21, Holland.)

1 364 J. H. Runbaken & W. Torrance. Commutators or current dis-
tributors of electric ignition systems.

1 381 A. H. Hunt. Combined electric lamp holder and switch for vehicle
lamps.

January 17, 1922.

1 392 V. A. Keller. Automatic switches for control of current.

1 894 W. M. Edwards. Portable electric apparatus for attachment to
domestic baths.

1 433 Drake & Gorham & A. H. St. C. Watson. Combination of dynamo-
electric machines io maintain constant loads on water wheels,
turbines. &o.

1 435 J. W. I^ALL. Electro-magnetic clutches.

1 442 V. J. HiNKLEY. Variable electric condensers.

1 458 Metropjlitam-Vickers Electrical Co. & E. A. Binney. Control of
electric motors.

1 459 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & J. P. Campbell. Air con-
nections for electro-majnetically actuated valves.

1 460 (fe 1461 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & W. A. Coatu.
Switchgear.

1 463 R. Hansen. Wireless signalling systems.

1 470 G. & J. Oldham. Portable electric lamps.

1 481 F. S. & T. H. S. Jones. Electric organ actions.

1 488 SiEME.vs-ScHucKERTWEiKE. Electrical commutator machinef.
(17/1/21, Germany.)

1 500 J. R. West. Electric alarm signals, &c.

1 503 J. B. Bower. Joints or couolings for electric conduits.

1 604 O. T. Banks. Electric candle lamps.

1 600 S. L. Price. Incandescent lamps.

January 18, 1922.

1 509 A. M. Taylor. Elimination of currents in lead sheathin^s of cables.

1 512 G. S. Hynes. Device for preventing theft of electric vehicles.

1 568 Radio Communication Co. & J. Scott-Taggart. Wireless tele-
graphy. &c.

1 574 H. G. Matthews. Photographic sound recording and Hg-ht
telephony.

1 583 Ges fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. High frequency telephony.
(11/2/21, Germany.)

1 599 V. Martinetto. Automatic maximum and minimum current circuit
breakers. (15/3/21, Italy.)

January 19, 1922.

1 609 Veritys, Ltd. & F. W. Thorpe. Bulb and reflector fittings of elec-
tric lanterns, &c.

1 610 E. A. C'.A'iEiio.N'T & G. H. Scholes. Electric fuse box.

1 611 F. H. Eeles. Thermal switches or automatic cut-outs for incan-
descent lamps.

1 621 F. C. Tipping. Electric signalling devices.

1 628 E. J. Quinn. Signal transmitting device for wireless, flashlight,
and land line telegraphy.

1 648 A. C. Smith. Spring contacts fcr electric switches, fuse holders, &c.

1 651 Siemens Bros. & Co. & H. G. Wood. Electric fuses, cut-outs. &c.

1 655 R. Tilley & W. T. Wilkinson. Electric lighting on motor vehicles.

1 661 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & J. P. Campbell. Electric
ship oropulsion systems.

1 666 W. S. Graff-Bakeh. Electric relays, &c.

1 677 W. Seck. Electric boms, &c.

1 700 A. T. Padmore. Dimming switches.

January 20, 1922.

1 704 D. Macadie. Coil v/indlng machines.

1 707 H. J. Carey. Electrically operated trucks.

1 714 Callender's Cable & Construction Co. & C. W. Kay. Fault
localisation for underground cables.

1 717 Brookes, Ward, & Co. & G. Brookes. Suspension chains for elec-
tric light fittings.

1 730 BucKLOw & Montague. Electric projector lamps for advertis-
ing, &c.

1 739 A. Wilson. Electric heaters for incubators. &c.

1 756 J. W. Hall. Electro-magnetic clutches.

1 762 A. E. & K. S. Mills. Electro-mechanical relays.

1 763 W. S. Jeal & M. Payne. Accumulators. &c.

1 769 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., W. A. Coates. & D. R.
Davies. Potential transformers and fuses used therewith.

1 770 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Protective relay apparatus.
(20/1/21. U.S.)

1 774 Sachsenwerk Licht und Kraft A. G. Three-pole oil switches.
(21/4/21. Germany.)

1 784 Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Mounting commutators of electric
machines. (20/1/21, Germany.)

1 785 J. F. MoNNOT. Electric switching devices.

1 790 B. T.-H. Co. Systems for producing oscillating currente.
(18/15/21. U.S.)

1 791 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Leading in wires.

1792B. T.-H. Co. Electron devices. ('20/8/21, U.S.)

1 793 B. T.-H. Co. Electron discharge devices. (1/7/21. U.S.)

J^Txuary 21, 1922.

1 834 J. F. SuTTON. Machines for making coils of insulated wire, &c.

1 838 J. F. Sutton. Induct 'uce coils for wireless teieiraphv. &c.

1 840 A. E. J. Ball & I. H. Parsons. Electro-magnetic hammers for
bells, &c.

1 847 H. W. Rush. Incandescent lampholder.

1 848 E. Pollock. Radio telegraphy, &c.

1 862 Siemens & Halske Akt. Ges. Telephone systems. (21/1/21,
Germany.)

1 864 H. Leitnes. Accumulators.

1 865 J. H. CoMPTON. — Electro-pneumatio relays and sustaining device*
therefor.

I 875 General Electric Co., A. E. Angold, lit F. L. Castle. Electro-
motive apparatus for track circuit relays or electricity meters.

1 878 E. G. Harcourt. Electric switches.

1 880 Chamberlain & Hookham & S. James. Power factor me.isuring or
indicating instruments for alternating currents.

1 891 O. S. Corbett. Electric control switch.

January 23, 1922.
1 910 J.- L. Gurnet. Ampere-hour meter.

1 925 H. Wolfe, G. Griffiths, & W. Slack. Insulators for aerial line*
1 936 R. TuLL. Aerials for wireless signalling on steamships.
1 938 H. Leitner. Systems of electric supply.
1 979 G. C. & G. C. N. Beall. Regulating telephone calls.

1 981 Westivghouse Brake & Saxby Signal Co. Electric lamps for 8i»-

nallinsr, &c. (24/8/21. U.S.)
1988 Naamlooze Vennootschaf Philips' Gloeilampknf»br GasfiUeA glow
discharge devices for amplifying current variations. (9/2/21,
Holland.)

2 003 J. V. Poll. Submnrine telesraph. &c.. signalling apparatus.
2 008 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Train control systems.

January 24. 1922.

2 020 T. P. Howard. Telephone mouthpiece dust-proof cover.

2 0.33 W, L. Spsnce. Electro-magnetic friction brakes.

2 035 W. Wilson, C. C. G.arrard, & A. H. Railing. Electric motor con-
trolling apparatus. .. _, . » »• ^ , .v

2 063 Refardt & Nagle ELEKTRizrrxTS Ges. Automatic guard for three-
phase asynchronou:" motors. &c.

2 069 Refardt & Nagle Elektrizitats Ges & A. Naglb. Direct acting
magneto-electric driving mechanism for pumps.

2 081 J. Wilson. Filter for electric lamps or shades.

2 088 F. Krupp Akt. Ges. Overload circuit breakers. (19/2/21.
Germany.)

2 089 F. Krupp Akt. Ges. Control of motors of electrit vehicles.
(4/2/21. Germany.)

2 097 Babcock & Wilcox & A. R. W. Richardson. Electrical indication
of impurities in feed water.

304

The Electrician.

March 24, 1922

2 107
2 122

2 123
2 125

2145
2 149

2 150
2 151
2 152

2163

W. Gee. Switchboards and busbars therefor.

Cambridge & Paul Instrument Co. & W. H. Apthorpe. Pivoted

moving-coil electrical measuring instruments.
CiE. Electro-Mecanique. Automatic startins of motors.
A. G. T. CusiNs & Whittake,<-Swinton. Vacuum or thermionic

tubes or lamp bulbs. _ ,„ , , . /^,„,r>i tt o ^

Telephone systems. (9/2/21, U.S.)
& L. G. Preston. Thermionic

Thermionic vacuum tubes.
Thermionic valves, &c.
& L. G. Preston. Thermionic

Thermionic valve transmitting sets

2 157

2 180

2 213
2 214
2 235
2 242
2 258
2 260

2 261

2 266
2 267

2 277

2 280
2 281
2 287

2 294
2 295

2 351

2 352

2 355
2 370
2 375

2 379

2 394
2 395

2 399
2 400
2 401
2 412

2 416
2 430

2 438

2 458
2 511

2 513

2 516

2 517
2 521

2 523
2 525
2 536

2 560

2 581
2 589
2 620
2 632
2 641

2 676
2 686
2 689

2 698
2 699

2 706

2 712
2 717
2 728
2 735

2 736

2 738
2 748

2 757
2 762

2 764
2 769
2 778

2 782

2 785
2 797

Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co.
G. Shearing, G. A. Irving,

valves, &c.
B. Hodgson & L. G. Preston.
B. Hodgson & L. G. Preston.
B. Hodgson, H. G. Hughes

valves, &c.
G. Shearing & L. G. Preston.

for wireless telegraphy, &c.

January 25, 1922.
P. J. Gates. Switchboards. „ . ,

Radio Communication Co. & J. Scott-Taggart. Wireless receiving

apparatus, &c. _ „ ,„,,„,„„ . . . >

D von Mihaly. Selenium, &-c., cells. (9/12/20, Austria.)

D. von Mihaly. Oscillagraphs. (9/12/20, Austria.)
Efandem Co. & J. Eton. Electrically-driven sirens.

Z. Trotzer. Electric water heaters. (24/11/20, Hungary.)
Crypto Electrical Co. & H. G. Sharp. Induction motors for a.c.
& 2 262 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & L. H. A. Care.

Electric ship propulsion systems.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & L. H. A. Care. Alternate

current motors.
A H. Railing & A. E. Angold. Magneto-electric lamps,

A. Wirth.— Electric lighters. (26/1/21, France.)

Bayerische Elektrizitats-Industrie Rott & Co. Automatic elec-
tric fuse switches. (25/1/21, Germany.)

E. A. Graham. Diaphragms for teleohone receivers, &c.
H. J. MoNSON. Electric treatment of liquids.

Aktiebolaget Ferrolegeringar. Product of metals and alloys poor
in carbon and silicon in electric furnaces. (29/1/21, Sweden.)

B. T.-H. Co. Recording and reproducing sounds. (20/6/21, U.S.)
B. T.-H. Co. <& a p. Young. Magneto-electric machine.

January 26, 1922.
E. W. Pattison (Dictagraph Products Corporation). Extensible

E. W. Pattison (Dictagraph Products Coi-poration). Telephone
transmitters.

G. H & H. F. Collins. Electric connectors.

A. Edgar. Appliances for registering telephone calls.

Vulcan Motor & Engineering Co. (1906) & C. B. Wardman. Elec-
tric cable attachments.

Quasi Arc Co. & A. P. Strohmenger. Arc welding systems
operated with a.c.

Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & D. R. Da vies. Switch gear.

& 2 396 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company. Electric relays.
(26/2/21. U.S.)

B. T.-H. Co. & A. P. Young. Magneto-electric machines.
B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Lightning arresters, &c.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Incandescent lamps.

F. R. Bull. Electrical sorting machines for sorting perforated
statistical, &c., cards. (28/11/21, Norway.)

W. Gee. Electric wall-plug.

F. Chiantore. Machines for coating current-conducting wires and
cables with asbestos, &o.

L. 6. Preston, H. G. Hughes, & S. R. Mullard. Thermionic
valves, &c.

January 27, 1922.

G. F. Evans. Electric egg tester.

Akt. _Ges. E. Haefely et Cie. High tension transformers. (9/2/21.
Switzerland.)

Western Union Telegraph Co. & J. V. Foll. Synchronous tele-
graph systems.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Current producing seals for electric
apparatus.

Western Electric Co. & G. Deakin. Telephone systems.
Western Union Telegraph Co., A. H. Railing, & J. V. Foll.
Telegraph transmitters.

C. C. GAaRAHD. Electric propulsion of ships.

I. Panza. Electric foot warmer for vehicles. (31/1/21, Italy.)
Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Radio receiving systems.

(3/1/21, Germany.)
General Electric Co., Ltd. Incandescent lamps. (4/2/21,

Germany.)

January 28. 1922.
H. Green. Signalling and telephoning without special conductors.
T. S. Rogers. Electric horns.
F. D. Maclean. Tuned wave transmission.
L. G. W. Guest & H. O. Merriman, Eelctric signs.
A. MacCallum. Electric lamps.

January 30, 1022.
U. Beaton & Kersting. Windings of electrical coils.
W. J. Minton Relay or magnetic circuit for relays, «fec.
P. J. Gumbley. Apparatus for ascertaining and indicating
capacity of accumulators.

E. A. Hailwood. Electric lamp bulbs.

L. BussERRAU <fe R. Thorne. Junction box, &c., for l.t. circuits of
motor-cars, telephone bells, &c.

F. Krupp Akt. Ges. Electro-magnetic- overload circuit breakers.
(24/2/21, Germany.)

V. BoscATo. Ignition starting devices for iragnetos.

R. Cavedoni & E. Marinelli. Incandescent uimps.

A. C. Hyde. Electrodes for arc welding.

Electric Fires, Ltd., C. H. Smith, & F. L. Newhouse. Electric

fires, &c.
Siemens & Halske A. G. Telephone systems. (31/1/21, Germany.)
H. Baron (Aldendorff). Automatic electric switching systems.
Whitecross Co., H. D. Lloyd & W. W. Wilson. Electrodes for

welding, &c.

G. & J. Oldham. Galvanic batteries.

Johnson & Phillips & H. M. Lacey. Voltage regulator for a.c.

circuits.

J. B. Regan. Induction train control systems.

A. D. Mackenzie. Dynamos

Soc. INDUSTRIELLE DES Proci^.dISs W. A. Lo'TH. Electrically steering

movable objects at a distance.
Allgemeine Elektricitats Ges. Connecting insulator for high

voltages. (31/1/21, Germany.)
L. Satchwell. Electric controllers.
& 2 798 H. E. Sunderland. Electric switches, switch fuses, &c.

2 859 H. B. Swift, E. E. Daglish & W. Lorkin. Electric machines.
2 871 B. T.-H. Co. & F. H. Clough. Protective device* for enclosed

electrical apparatus.

February 1. 1922.
2 897 A. R. Page. Thermo-electric pyrometeru.

2 9.30 W. B. Topp. Electric heating and cooking. (5/2/21, Australia.)
2 934, 2 935 & 2 936 Cable Accessories Co., F. H. Eleves, & P. W. Davis.

Switches.
2 940 W. H. Clinkard & E. Nicholls. Current collectors for tramways,

&c.
2 952 H. Leitne;i. Accumulators.
2 963 English Electric Co., J. W. Howard & J. A. St. C. Richardson.

Electric transformers.
2 964 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Telephone systems. (19/2/21,

U.S.)
2 976 B. T.-H Co. & A. P. Young. Magneto-electric machines.
2 977 P. G. Brown. Electric circuit controlling devices.
2 991 Metropolitan-Vickers Electric Co. & R. Brooks (Westinghous*

Electric & Mfg Co., partly). Control handles for electric devices.
2 992 Western Electric Co. & G. Deakin. Selecting switch mechanism.

2 997 F. C. Curtis. Regulating switches. •-

3 009 W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co. & Dunsheath. Sealing ends

of electric cables
3 013 H. Lahr & V. Bornkessel. Leading in wires for incandescent

lamps, &c. (2/2/21 Germany.)
3 025 L. S. Palmer & L. G. Preston. Wireless receiving systems and
apparatus.

February 2, 1922.
Antennae systems for wireless communication.
Vacuum tubes.
Christian. Impulse senders for automatic tele-

3 033
3 034
3 080

Insulators
Electro-

Maatschappij Deibbebgen,
telephonograph. (7/2/21,

E. Y. Robinson.
E. Y. Robinson.
J. Berry & D. A

phone systems.

3 081 Siemens Bros. & Co. & H. G. Wood. Electricity supply systems.
3 102 B. T.-H. Co. & H. Trensham. Oil circuit-breakers.
3 103 Western Electric Co. Telephone systems.
3 110 C. Kratt Electric water heaters.

3 IIG H. F. Wheeler. Securing shades to electric lamp holders.
3 117 Thermal Electric Works (Hackbridge) & E. Swainson. Heat

deflecting device for rheostats, &c.
3 126 British Electric Transformer Co. & S. C. Mount Electrical and

mechanical connections or joints.
3 129 Siemens & Halske A. G. Telephone systems. (19/2/21, Germany.)
3 134 C. A. Vandervell & Co. & F. L. Hollister. Magnetos.

February 3, 1922.
3 201 Callender's Cable & Construction Co. & C. W. Kay. Telephone

and signalling systems on transmission lines.
3 210 Callender's Cable & Construction Co. & A. E. Wilson

for transmission lines.
3 219 British L. M. Ericsson Mfg. Co. & W. M. Crowe.

magnetic relays.
3 221 G. Castagnoli. Wireless reception apparatus.
3 228 A. df G. Spino. Voltaic cells.

3 232 i<\ E. Pernot. Laying and picking up submarine cable, &c.
3 233 S. Davies. Switches.
3 240 R. Longue. Preserving electric motors from prejudicious surround

ing medium.
3 256 Naamlooze Vennootschap Financieele

Telephone station equipped with

Germany.)

3 258 J. W. Hall. Electro-magnetic clutches.
3 204 W Clark. Electric fuses.
3 266 W. Clark. Electric switches.
3 268 Grafton & Son & W. P. Grafton, Adjustable supporting bracket

for electric lamps, &c.
3 270 H. G. H. de G. d'Avenas. Apparatus for charging accumulators.

(15/2 '21, France.)
3 273 H. F. Joel & T. W. Simpson. Electric generators.

February 4, 1922.
3 280 Lancashire Dynamo & Motor Co. & R. S. McLeod. Electric

motors.
3 281 L. M. Waterhouse. Supporting electric cables, &c.
3 285 H B Cornish. Electric fitting.

3 286 H. J. Brearey. Coil or windirig for electric appaiatu.**.
3 327 T. Scott & R. K. Robertson. Electric foot warmers and heaters.
3 332 B. T.-H. Co. Indicating instruments.
3 333 H. Baron (Signal Ges.). Determining distances by means of

reflected sound waves.
3 345 Radio Communication Co. Signalling systems.
3 347 General Electric Co., Ltd., O. Durdle & C. F. Trippe. Electron

discharge apparatus.
3 349 J. H. Reeves. Wireless receiving apparatus.
3 363 E. E. G. Boite & W. H. Edridge. Negative electrodes for

batteries, &c.

February 6, 1922.
3 364 H. J. Adams. Electric light and gas fittings.

3 377 C. S. Goode. Vs.cuum tube for receiving and transmitting con-
tinuous wave oscillations.
3 378 J. Simpson. Induction coil or transformer for transmission of

speech.
3 413 Callender's Cable & Construction ^o. & P. V. Hunter. Electric

cables
3 416 London Label Co.. T. H. Green & N. C. Headland. Mechanically

recording and checking telephone calls of different values.
3 420 P. W. CoRLESS. Magneto brush rotor.

3 423 E. A. Claiemont & C. J. Beaver. Glands of electric joint boxes.
3 432 Smith & Sons (Motor Accessories) & A. C. Lock. Electric lighting

apparatus for motor-cars, &c.
3 433 Smith & Sons (Motor Accessories) <fc A. C. Lock. Ignition

apparatus.
3 436 Signal Ges. Means for translating vibrations. (7/3/21, Germany.)
3 446 H. J. Round & G. M. Wright. Radio receiving systems.
3 449 T. Harrison. Indicators for ships' electric signal lamps, &c.
3 452 H. G. Wagner. Storage batteries.
3 453 H. G. Wagner. Positive and negative elements for storage

batteries.
3 457 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Interrupters for electric

circuits. (25/4/21, U.S.)
3 459 Fekranti, Ltd., & A. H. Higgs. Protective arrangements for

electric generating, transmission, and distribution systems.
3 460 & 3 461 Fekranti, Ltd., & A. H. Hig&s. Protective arrangements

for electric switchgear.

January 31, 1922.
2 791 E. S. Gray. Electric resistances.
2 824 K. H. Deiry. Electrically operated slop motions for textile

machines. &c.
2 856 H. C. Hodges. Electric generator field regulators, &c.

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Offices of " Thi
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, B.C. 4. TtU-
grams: Benbrotnc, Fleet, Lo'idon. Televkcne: City 9852 (5 lints).

The subscription to " The Electrician " is £15 0 per annum
in the United Kingdom and £1 10 0 per annum Abroad. Advertise-
ment Hates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
tisement copy and blocks should be received on tnt Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2289. [

No. 15
Vol. LXXXVI

...]

FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1922.

Prepaid Subscription U.K., £1 55.
per ann. ; Abroad, £\ 105.

'rice IS.

CONTENTS.

NoTKS OF THE Wbkk 365

Trade Promotion 368

The Telephone Report 369

The Hiring of Domestic Electric Apparatus. By W. F. T.

Pinkney 370

The "Xcel" Electric Iron 371

Recent Electrical Developments in Glasgow. By R. Hardie.

Illustrated 372

A Male Mammal at Olympia. By Alan Sullivan 374

American Domesticity Through English Eyes. By Margaret

Dyer 375

The Wider Application of Electricity and Electrical Apparatus

to Domestic Life. By Alfred Williams, F.R I. B. A 376

The Use and Future of Electrically Equipped Furniture. By

Earl E. Whitehorne. Illustrated 377

The Heist. y Twin Wiring System. Illustrated 379

Modern Wiring — The Surflex Safety System. By L. M. Water-
house. Illustrated 380

The Home Idealised. Illustrated 381

An Electric Conduit and Pipe Clearing Device. By E. Georges

Cheuvreux, Jr. Illustrated 383

All-Electrij Houses at Glasgow. Illustrated 38*

COBRBSPONDBNCE 385

Institution Business 385

El ctricity Supply to a Garden City 386

Showroom Displays and Demonstrations 387

A New Submarine Telephone Gable 390

Telephone Committee's Report 393

Legal Intelligence 394

Parliamentary Intelligence 394

I.E.E. Manchester Dinner 394

Electricity Supply 395

Electric Traction 395

Personal and Appointments 396

Business Items, &c 396

Institution Notes 396

Educational 396

The Wimbledon Appointment 396

Wireless Notes *.. 396

Telegraph and Telephone Notes 396

Imperial Notes 397

New Companies 397

Foreign Notes 397

Exhibition Notes 397

Commercial Intelligence 398

Books Received 398

Forthcoming Books 398

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, «&c 398

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 399

Arrangements for the Week 400

Tenders Invited 400

Patent Record 401

Notes of the Week.

The Electricity Bill Opposition.

It is often a littla difficult to gauge the exact amount of
opposilion to a Parliamentary measure when it deala with
industrial questions ; and the Electricity Bill is no eixception
to that rule. For opposition, whether great or small, is
always " full of sound and fury," but how much this*
" sound and fury " signifies is another matter. An analysip
of the opposition to the Electricity Bill (and we mean
opposition that would like to throw out the Bill al together ^
may not therefore be out of place. In the first place, the
London County Council not only support., but definitely urge
the adoption of the Bill. So do the Municipal Electricity
Supply Authorities of Greater London and the I.M.E.A.
Indeed, all the municipal undertakings are either active or
tacit supporters. And as regards the electricity supply
companies, a large majority of them, too, are offering no
opposition. The West End of London group of companies
do not seem to have given any strong public indication of
disapproval, and, as in June last they were parties to a pro-
posal to form a Joint Electricity Authority for London, it
would surely be anomalous to find them now active in the
ranks of the other side, to say nothing of their interest in
extended tenure, which only fresh legislation can provide.

Analysis of the Remainder.

This leaves us with only the power companies, and of
these the number who are actually in opposition are pro-
bably few. For instance, we can assume that the North
Metropolitan Company are not among them, as the Com-
missioners have assigned them a very important part in
the scheme for London. The Cornwall Power Company we
also assume are not militant, being out of schemes alto-
gether. The Lancashire Power Company, seeing that they
co-operate with the Manchester Corporation, are likely to
feel nothing but a languid interest in the proceedings. The

Newcastle-on-Tyne Supply Company is not interested in any
schemes; and if there should at any time be a scheme for
the North-East Coast, Bill or no Bill, it is obvious that
they wo'uld dominate the district. As regards the North
Wales Power Company, seeing that they hold the field in
the scheme for North Wales and Chester, they may certainly
be assumed out of the fight. The Shropshire and Wor-
cestershire Power Company are parties with the Bir-
mingham Corporation for a scheme for that district, so
again here militant action would hardly seem to be indi-
cated. This leaves the Yorkshire Power Company, tne
South Wales Power Company, the Derbyshire and Notting-
ham Company, the Leicestei'shire and Warwickshire Power
Company, and the four Scottish Companies, some at least
of whom seem to be in strong opposition to the Bill. But
this is quite a smeill section of the industry, even giving the
opposition one or two we have not enumerated. We can
certainly say with propriety that the Bill is not opposed
by the industry as a whole, and, if we are right in our
analysis, not by even an important section of it. Parlia-
ment should therefore pass it without delay.

Institution Affairs.

Proceedings at the special general meetings of the
Institution ot Electrical Engineer last week were a little
dull. The formal transfer of the liabilities of the old
Institution to the chartered body was effected as quickly
as a high-speed circuit breaker does its work, and the new
by-laws were passed after a short discussion, in which only
two points of any impoi^^nce were raised. The first of the-e
criticisms, if that is not too strong a word, was made by
Dr. S. P. Smith on the delicate question of the procedure
to be followed in cases' of expixlsion. The effect of the new
by-law is to make the deciding body the Council, instead of
the general body of membei*s, with a possible appeal to a
special court of three past-presidents. It is easy to fiud
weak points in this ; and Dr. Smith found most of them.

36(5

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

But it is not so easy to suggest a means of dealing with the
difficulty which shall be at once democratic, fair, and avoid
that publicity which is not only iindesirablp but dangerous.
But it may be pointed out in such cases the Council is the
court, not the prosecutor (that office is performed by the
small body of coraplainautf^), and that it is better and fairer,
both in practice and theory, that a courts should be small.
It would not be small if it were formed of the general body
of members. If substantial injustice is done (and we have
reason to hope it never will be done) the members have
their remedy in the Council elections.

Council Election Procedure.

The point made by Mr. F. C Raphael had more sub-
stance. Criticising the procedure suggested for the election
of the Council, he pointed out that it was a reversion to
methods which had been successfully combated years before.
While we see the force of Mr. Atkinson's remark, that it
is undesirable to ask members to stand on the Council's
nomination when that body cannot give all of them its full
support, yet this is surely a lesser evil than to revert, to a
system where nomination to the Council is automatioally
followed by election. We are glad to have Mr.
Atkinson's assurance that the Council have no such retro-
grade object in view; that, in fact, they welcome outside
nominations. It therefore rests with^the general body of
members to make nominations freely and to ensure that
each year there is a well-contested election. This would not
only be true democracy, but would overcome Mr.
Raphael's objections. The only alternative ia some form
of negative vote, such as that suggested by Mr. Austin
Hopkinson for Parliamentary elections. But that would
be a big experiment.

The South-West Midlands Decision.

Approval has been given by the Electricity Commis-
sioners to the scheme of electricity supply reorganisation
for the South- West Midlands Electricity District which was
put forward by Birmingham Corporation and the Shrop-
shire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire Electric Power
Company at the public inquiry in November last. Instead
of 3. Joint Electricity Authority there will be a Joint
Advisory Committee of four, two from each of the pro-
moters, and practically the whole of the district has been
divided into two spheres of influence, one of which will be
governed by the Corporation and the other by the company.
Worcester Corporation, bedrg in a remote part of the dis-
trict, will develop its own electricitv undertaking, and so
will Malvern and Sutton Coldfield — at least for some years.

No Joint Authority.

As this is the first case in which a Joint Authority ha<i
been dispensed with we shall watch the outcome with in-
terest. A small homogeneous committee of four will start
out with undoubted advantages over a larger body, for there
will be no conflicting interests to reconcile, and decisions
can be promptly made and executed. But, though the
parlies are working harmoniously at present, there is a
danger that later on there may be a two-and-two division
of opinion on the committee. There will, however, be an
appeal to the Commissioners in this event, and it is probable
that the latter may be able to obviate the development of
any acute differences. Certain adjustments of the
boundaries of the district have been made in accordance
with the wishes of the parties interested. Stourbridge,
Rowley Regis, Lye and Wolleecote have been excluded, and
Tamworth and parts of Dudley, Seisdon, and Tewkesbury
rural districts have been included A draft Order, em-

bodying the scheme, is in course of preparation, and it is
hoped to hold the fiirther inquiry in May. This would
seem to indicate that little local opposition is apprehended,
and it is probable that the South-West Midlands may be
the first district in which an approved scheme is put into
operation. It is a good example of what co-operation can
do, and it is also an answer to those who assert that the
Commissioners are bent upon the stereotyping of adminis-
trative methods by setting up Joint Electricity Authorities
throughout the country.

University Education.

The report of the Royal Commission on Oxford and Cam-
bridge Universities, which was issued at the end of last
week, will leave electrical engineers a little cold. It is true
a fortunate few of them have studied in the ancient shadows
of the latter Univea-sity, and still fewer in the rather un-
sympathetic atmosphere of the other " home of lost causes,"
but the large majority, when they have received any Uni-
versity education at all, have belonged to one of those newer
bodies, where youth and enterprise to some extent compen-
sate for age and tradition. Some, too, have given their
attention to the great technical Universities abroad. Apart
from this, however, the report is really a domestic affair.
The members of the Commission were all either Oxford or
Cambridge men, and might therefore have been expected
to view, as they do, the idiosyncrasies of old age with a
loving eye. The criticisms are, indeed, very mild, probably
because the Royal Co^mmissioners find that both Universities
are adapting themselves with readiness and vigour to the
demands of a new age. We are glad to hear that this is
the case. As Mr. Highfield said last week, science with-
out commerce is as nothing. And it is none the less true
that a closer union between pure and applied science is
essential for the well-being of both.

The Financial Difficulty.

TfiE chief difficulties that face all Universities — not
Oxford and Cambridge alone — at the present time is, of
course, finance. The report is in the main a plea that it
should be made possible for the institutions financially to do
as they are doing, and for that reason it is suggested that
the present grant of £30 000 should be increased to
£100 000, in addition to £10 000 a year for special pm*-
poses. A large part of this increase would go in improving
salaries and pensions, and to this no exception can be taken.
But we hope that this grant will be accompanied by con-
ditions which will open the doors of the Universities to all
deserving students. At present the doors are not so open.
Sometimes voluntarily, and sometimes involuntarily, there
is discrimination. This is not only undesirable from the
educational point of view, but it prevents that intellectual
intermingling of all classes of young men and young women
for the good of themselves and their country in the way the
term University properly connotes. Oxford and Cambridge
have advantages of tradition and environment possessed by
few other educational institutions. These advantages
should be placed at the disposal of all.

The First Wireless Telegraph Prosecution,

The Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Act of
1919 and the Board of Trade Regulations made thereunder
are presumably deigned for safeguarding life at sea, but if
the position of affairs disclosed at the first prosecution
under the Act, which we record elsewhere, is present on
other ships, it is time the Rules were made more stringent.
The actual offence, to which a plea of guilty was entered,
was not having a wireless operator or certificated watcher

March 31, 1922

The Electrician*

367

on board the s.s. " Clan Malcolm " on the night of October
8th last. It was stated that the wireless room was so
situated that it would take four or five minutes to receive a
message and call the operator, and that it would take seven
or eight minutes to communicate with the bridge of the ship.
The evidence seemed to show that even if there had been
an operator on board at the time, the unfortunate collision,
which occurred off Wigtownshire, and resulted in the loss
of over 30 lives, would probably have taken place, but it is
clearly possible to make better arrangements for wireless
telegraph signalling, and it should be the duty of the Board
to see that they are made and complied with. Under the
circumstances, though the master of the ship may not be
responsible for the staffing arrangements, we think that the
fine of £25 inflicted is a light penalty.

The ** British Insulated "—Record Year.

It is a pleasure to be able to record, despite the depressed
condition of most branches of trade and the serious indus-
trial strife, the continued success of that old-established and
prudently managed company, the British Insulated &
Helsby Cables, Ltd. The profit made in the past year
reached the record figure of £502 524, or an increase of
£161 811 over that for 1920, and this highly satisfactory
result must be attributed to the foresight and sound policy
of the directors and managers. At the last annual meeting
the chairman, Mr. James Taylor, announced that the
company had to face a large capital expenditure for the
purpose of reorganising their works after the war. This re-
organisation ha^ been carried out to good purpose, and tJie
increased expenditure has been fully justified. For with
the developments in electricity supply has come a demand
for high-tension cables, and it is claimed that there is no
firm in the country in a better position to meet the require-
ments of the industry in this respect.

Prudence and Progress.

At the annual meeting on Monday Mr. Taylor's task
was, therefore, easy and pleasant, and he was able to stat-e
that the company had completed the orders on their books
a year ago, and to ecxeoutei promptly other orders sub-
sequently received. Two years ago the directors were
empowered to raise fresh capital, but they have been able
to pass through the exceptionally trying intervening period
withoijt exercising those powers. They were one of the few
companies which has not required to increase capital at
a time when the rate of interest was high. It will
thus be seen that the happy position of the company
is due to prudent financial methods in the past and to
a judicious expenditure on tools and equipment in order
to keep well abreast of the times. After paying debenture
interest and the preference dividend, and making provision
for reserves and depreciation, the ordinary shareholders get
a return of 15 per cent, for the year, leaving £362 223 to
carry forward. Though there are indications of a falling
off in trade tlie position of the company is a strong one. and
they are able to face the situation with confidence.

Low Pressure at Nottingham.

That keen and persistent critic of the Nottingham Cor-
poration Electricity Department, Mr. H. W. Cox, seems
at last to have discovered a genuine grievance; and, as
usual, he has written to the papers about it. Having satis-
fied himself of the theoretical advantages of electric heating,
he had a radiator installed in his office, but the practical
results were so unsatisfactory that he instructed the dealer
who supplied it to take it away. Instead of doing so the
latter tested the pressure of the Corporation supply and
found it to be only 186 V instead of 200 V, the declared

pressure, which explains both the milk in the oocoanut
and the lack of heat, in the radiator.

The Consumer's Remedy.

But while Nottingham is unique in possessing Mr. Cox,
we are afraid it is not alone in supplying at a too low
pressure, and we may therefore indicate to Mr. Cox and
to other consumers in similar circumstances the remedv
that is open to them. By No. 3 of the Regulations of the
Electricity Commissioners the supply authority must
declare the constant pressure at which it proposes to supply
energy at the consumer's terminals, and that pressiire must
be maintained, subject to a variation of four per cent.
Failure to comply with this regulation involves a penalty
of £5 for each default, with a daily penalty of £5. Mr.
Cox might therefore have recourse to the Police Coiirt if
his supply continues to be unsatisfactory. At Nottingham
the pressure limits would be 192 and 208 V, and there
would, therefore, appear to be a clear cause of complaint.
Such action as we suggest would tend to discourage supply
at low pressures, and this would be a good thing, as it
militates against electrical progress, more especially in the
domestic supply field. If there is a shortage of generating
plant or the supply mains are overloaded, no more customers
should be connected until a proper supply can be given.

The Contractor and the Showroom.

The electrical contractor has for long been exposed to
much criticism from other branches of the industry. Some
of this is, we fear, justified, and some of it arises from his
position in the vanguard of the advance into the domestic
field. We forget the exact duties of the leader of a van-
guard, but without reference to military textbooks we do
recall that- they are pretty strenuous ; and that upon their
proper performance depends much of the success or failure
of the campaign. We are therefore glad to see that one
firm, Troughton & Young, have realised this, and that
by inaugurating an exhibition of a showroom character on
their premises have taken a step which we hope will be more
widely followed. The duty of a contractor is not to make
things, but to secure installation orders and to sell electrical
goods. If, therefore, he has on view in his showroom the
products of various manufacturers, and advises his clients
judicially on what to buy to satisfy their peculiar needs,
he is not only likely to reap the reward of his own enter-
prise, but will do a great deal to benefit the electrical
industry generally.

Reduction of Charges Spread- ng.

We are glad to see that the movement to reduce charges
is spreading among electricity supply undertakings. We
hope it will continue to spread, both in area and in depth,
for this is the most certain way of ensuring that expan-
sion of trade we so sorely need. An interesting example
of this tendency is to be found at Hackney, where energy
consumed for domestic purposes, other than lighting, is
to be charged at Id. in the June and September and at 2d.
in the December and March quarters, instead of at l^d.
and 2^d., as at present. In addition, the two-rate domestio
tariff is to be altered from £3 4s. per kW per quarter plus
Ud. per kWh to 2s. per quarter per 60 W lamp plus Id.
This is not only a substantial reduction, but is a more
equitable method of charging for small installations.
Power and lighting scales and the amounts charged for
electric vehicle charging are also to be altered in a lower-
ward direction, so that we may perhaps expect a migration
towards Hackney, and even a demand that the marshes
should be built over in order that full advantage may be
taken of cheap electricity.

368

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

Trade Promotion.

An electrical engineer, who is in charge of an undertaking
which supplies what is generally considered to be a well-
developed area, recently told us that as a result of a
canvass it had been found that only 10 per cent, of his
consumers used electricity for any other purpose than light-
ing. In this area practically every house and flat is con-
nected to the mains, and an energetic and continuous cam-
paign is maintained to secure cooking and heating con-
nections so as to increase the output and improve the load
factor. If this is the condition of affairs in such an area,
which — we emphasise the point — is already exceptionally
well developed because those supplying it see in the increase
in the domestic load the one chance of salvation, what must
it be in areas where numerous inhabitants do not use elec-
tricity for any purpose, and where those who do use it for
lighting are not encouraged, and are sometimes even dis-
couraged, from employing it for other purposes.

Why the Domestic Load Must be Increased.

These facts are put forward in no carping spirit. But,
as we have pointed out on other occasions, the power load,
which in many areas has long been the revenue producer,
can almost be allowed to develop itself. Arguments in
favour of the electric drive are hardly required ; its advan-
tages are self-evident. The same may be said of lighting,
though an increase in the lighting load unaccompanied
by other uses brings difficulties to the undertaking
which almost makes its room preferable to its acquisi-
tion. The moral, then, is (if we may intrude it
so early in the story) that the domestic field is the one
which the electrical industry must till and continue to till
at every season so as to obtain its bread and cheese, not to
speak of those other amenities which make existence worth

the endurance.

A Not Surprising Neglect.

The neglect of that field in the past — even in the present
-—is not surprising. There have been grave difficulties in
the way, wliich are known to us all ; there have been
obstacles to overcome of policy, technique, and commerce,
but the road is now compeiratively clear; we are ready to
advance, and it is not, therefore, out of place to examine
what is before us and to see what preparations can be made
to render the journey as oomfortable and profitable as we
can.

Possible Domestic Load — Infinitely Large.

The first thing that strikes anyone who looks into the
matter is that the possible domestic load is as nearly related
tx> infinity as anything can be. Some figures from the
United States make this clear. In that country, while
7 000 000 homes are wired for electricity, 14 000 000 still
remain to be wired. These figures do not take new houses
into account. Of the houses that are wired elec-
trically 36 per cent, have electric washers, 71 per cent,
electric irons, 40 per cent, electric vacuum cleaners, 2 per
cent, electric dish washers, and only 2 per cent, electric
cookers. We have not been able to obtain similar figures,
which we could put forward as accurate, for this country,
but we have reason to believe that not only would the gross
figures be smaller (that is only natural), but that the per-
centages of electrical apparatus other than lighting used
in wired houses would be much smaller too, as the ratio of
electrically wired houses to those not so treated would also

be less.

A Reason tor Booming the Cooker.

It will be noticed that electric cookei-s are among the least
used of electrical apparatus, and that electric irons are em-
ployed most. Yet in an average household cooking is

carried on for about 25 hours a week, and ironing for only
about five hours. As a consumer of electrical energy, too
(which is, after all, the object which the supply engineer
and the electrical industry has in view) the cooker is in-
finitely superior to the iron. One explanation of this may
be that the sale of irons has been pressed more vigorously
than that of cookers, and that in so doing the electrical in-
dustry has been fighting against its best interests.

Price and Timidity.

We think, however, that there are other explanations —
price and timidity among them. The cooker has been up
to the present inevitably an expetnsive apparatus. Apart
from increases in the cost of labour and materials the re-
search work which has necessarily had to be carried on to
convert experimental equipment into a finished article could
not be performed without a reflection in the selling price.
We hope that the downward tendency which has recently
become visible will continue; it is necessary for development.
Timidity on the part of the electrical industry has, however,
been a contributing factor to this state of affairs. To
develop the domestic load, it is agreed, is all very well, but it
is better to begin with small things like irons rather than
with such a mighty experiment as a cooker. When a short
step is taken it is so much easier to retract. We hope' that
is another thing which is going to be changed.

Public Eagerness for Electricity.

One grave obstacle, however, the electrical industry has
not had to feice — public prejudice. As a result partly of
education by somewhat slow-moving and lethsirgio propa-
ganda (this is no reflection on E.D.A.) and partly by
instinct the pubUc is already interested in domestic electric
equipment, and would be much more interested were that
equipment cheaper or money more plentiful. It is argued
that cheapness is a fetish, and that the public will always
pay a good price for a good article. We agree. But at
present there is a great gulf fixed between the price asked
and the price that can be given. As we have said, we hope
that will be changed not only by electrical manufacturers,
but by electricity supply authorities. We are glad to see
that the tendency is all in that direction.

The Need for Using Hiring Powers.

Development on the lines we all desire will, however, be
much assisted by the utilisation by electricity supply
authorities of the hiring powers they now possess and by the
granting of further powers for the hire piirchase of
apparatus in conjunction with local oontractors. This
co-operation, coupled with a reduction in the price of energj'
for domestic purposes and by well-thought-out propaganda
campaigns, cannot fail to assist progress. That tJiis is so
is confirmed by the details of the hiring scheme recently
undertaken at Glasgow, which Mr. Hardie gives on another
page of this issue. The policy is enlightened, and the tariff
is low, and it is not to be wondered at that success has been
obtained. We hope it is an example which will be widely
followed. Mr. Pinkney's careful analysis of the same
subject shows what can be done in this direction with

success.

The Future of the Domestic Load.

Matters cannot, however, rest a5 they are. The figures
we have given above rtfer only to existing houses. They do
not take into account the new houses which are being built
and will be built in years to come. In these houses it should
be possible to apply past experience in the most efficient
way and make the use of electricity more convenient than
it is even at present. One way of doing this is by the means
of special " electrical furniture," such as that described by

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

369

Mr. Earl Whitehorne, on another page of this issue. This
overcomes what is undoubtedly a disadvantage of present
methods — trailing wires and the necessity of frequent dis-
connections. In this arrangement the plugs and sockets
are placed on the furniture itself, and though connection is
made, as heretofore, from wall plugs, as furniture is only
infrequemtly moved this is no grave disadvantage. On the
other hand electrifying the furniture allows electrical ap-
paratus to be employed in a number of ingenious and un-
usual ways.

There is, therefore, every reason for optimism in the
situation, though that is not to say there are no difficulties.
They are, in fact, numerous enough. They include ques-
tions of price, tariff, design, and manufacture, and, above
all, they include the need for electrical engineers to believe,
and act as if they believed, in their own specifio.

The Telephone Report.

Of all the branches of public administration probably
none has been subjected to such severe and general criticism
as the telephone service. Inefficiency, due to shortage of
plant and other causes, and excessive charges, caused by
the political situation, recently engcindered such a strong
agitation that a Select Committee was appointed to in-
vestigate the methods of organisation and of fixing charges
employed. This Committee, of which Sir Evelyn Cecil
acted as chairman, held 33 sittings and examined many
witnesses, including telephone engineers, representatives of
commercial and business organisations, telephone users, and
others. In addition, the chairman and tiie Committee's
assessor, Mr. W. W. Cook, visited Scandinavia and Switzer-
land, while Mr. Cook journeyed to America in search of
information. The result of this investigation is a business-
like and instructive report containing a number of recom-
mendations which, if adopted, should lead to a cheaper and
improved service and should also assist in removing that
prejudice against the telephoaie which is a serious obstacle
to progress at present.

Separation of P.O. Departments.
The Committee's recommendations are printed in another
column, and they may be grouped under two main heads,
viz., organisation and methods of charging, though the
two are inter- related.

It is suggested that the ' ' reorganisation of the telephone
administration on more commercial lines is the fundamental
requirement for efficient development, and that it will
prove a solution of most of the failings which have been
disclosed." It is, therefore, proposed that the mails branch
of the Post Office should be separated from the telegraph
and telephone departments, and that an administrative
Board should be formed of the heads of depaiianents under
the Postmaster-General. There is much to be said in
favour of this division, which appears to be working satis-
feujtorily in Sweden and Norway, though, as the same
buildings are used for the three services, there may be some
difficulty in making a fair allocation of the cost of main-
tenance and upkeep.

Need for Commercial Accountancy and Business Methods.

The Committee also think that the accounts should be kept
in a more commercial form, that the transactions generally
display a parsimony of business method, and that there is
a tendency to a cast-iron application of regulations in an
improper way. It is these rigid, cast>iron methods which
have engendered the strong public feeling against the Post
Office, and we feed sure that a little sympathetic feeling on
the part of telephone officials would arouse a readv response
F 2

in those who have to use the telephone. It should be re-
collected that the telephone is now an absolute necessity
for business, and that human beings are not " mere auto-
mata for making telephone accounts balance." On the
other hand, the public are asked for a fuller appreciation
of technical difficulties and a less chronic suspicion of the
Post Office. Both are necessary if the telephone is to
improve and be used as it should be.

Reduction of Charges Proposed.

One of the most welcome recommetadations is an imme-
diate reduction of ten per cent, in telephone charges. This
would be made possible by the abolition of the annual
charge for extra depreciation, the revision of the charge
for ordinary depreciation, and by debiting salaries and over-
head charges for new construction work and renewals to
capital and depreciation respectively and not to revenue,
as has hitherto been the practice. We understand that
the Post Office authorities have already made the last-
mentioned change, but the others are to be referred to
accountants for report. Proper provision should un-
doubtedly be made for depreciation, but we are inclined to
agree that the present scale is unnecessarily high. Apart
from these matters, there is room for a reduction in charges
as wages and the cost of materials have come down, and as
further falls in these are likely there should be a gradual
lowering of the telephone rates.

The Message Rate Approved.

We are not surprised to see that the Committee pronounce
in favour of the message-rate system of charging, though
it is stated that the flat rate has much in its favour,
especially in smaller centres, but these must be exceptional.
It is also proposed that the extra mileage charge should
be reduced from £10 to £5 a mile, and the reduced charge
on trunk calls after seven p.m. shotild apply after two p.m.
on Saturdays and all day on Sundays. On the question
of automatic telephony the Committee are cautious, as they
do not recommend an unduly hasty adoption of the system
until the commercial results cf the automatic apparatus
installed by the Post Office have been ascertained, though
they have no doubt it would give a faster service on a
majority of calls.

Technical Staff Not to Blame for Defects.

Whatever the defects of the telephone service may b«
we have never attributed them to the shortcomings of the
technical staff, and, therefore, we are glad to see that the
Committee have been impressed with the capacity,
assiduity and single-mindedness ci the officials of the Post
Office who gave evidence. They are described as men
devoted to the public service, keenly watchful for its wel-
fare, well skilled in their calling and with an intimate know-
ledge of their duties.

We have no doubt that the suggestions and recom-
mendations made in the report will have a stimulative
effect, and, whether it be possible to adopt the whole of
them at once or not, some changes must be made, and we
hope that these will inaugurate a reform movement which
will provide a telephone service adequate to the country's
needs. At present the telephone is not so extensively used
here as in America and in certain European countries, and
it should be one of the tasks of the Post Office, or, perhaps,
of the new telephone Beard, to make up for this defect by
giving a much cheaper and better ser\Hce. In this way,
and in this way alone, can there be that expansion of the
telephone which will enable this country to compare favour-
ably wiih other commercial nations.

370

The Electrician — March 31, 1922

The Hiring of Domestic Electric Apparatus.

By W. F. T. PINKNEY.

' Until some tea years ago eleotricity supply authorities
which hired out motors made rapid strides in obtaining con-
sumers for motive power purposes, but with the firmly
established recognition that electricity is the premier form
of power the necessity of hiring out motors has ceased to
exist. Hiring served its purpose in establishing confidence
in the prospective consumer, who was more ready to give the
electric drive a fair trial when his initial expenditure was
reduced to a minimum, and when he knew that if unsatis-
factory he could revert to other power, and that his experi-
ment would cost him little.

The Present Domestic Position.

In the domestic field we ai'e in the same position in
regard to uses of electricity other than lighting that we
were in years ago with regard tO' motive power. Until the
domestic user has had an opportunity of trying it, he does
not recognise the enormous advantages of electricity for
all purposes, and is not prepared to purchase apparatus for
what he looks upon as an experiment, without any real
confidence that all a salesman tells him is true.

Apart from the faot that hiring domestic apparatus is
the easiest method by which to' obtain profitable consumers,
the hire figures themselves may be arranged to yield a
reasonable profit. There is a great advantage in the hiring
of domestic apparatus over the hiring of motors, in that
to supply motive power the Supply Authority had, as a
rule, to expend a considerable sum in laying in service
cables, and therefore did take some risk of loss if the use
were discontinued. With domestic apparatus it almost
invariably applies to premises where electricity is already
installed, and yields extra revenue without further initial
expenditure, so that if for any reason the use is discon-
tinued no loss is incurred.

Class of Apparatus to Hire.

The pieces of apparatus most valuable for hire purposes
are irons, kettles, fires, and cookers. Water heaters and
wash boilers may also be considered. Such apparatus as
vacuum cleaners, washing machines, dish washers, polishing
machines, etc., should not be hired out, as, apart from the
rentals, they yield practically no revenue, and if main-
tenance is included in the hiring system they necessitate
holding a small but very varied stock of replacements.

It may be mentioned here that cookers must be con-
sidered as a class apart from other apparatus. It is not
possible to obtain the same relatively high rental from
cookers as from other apparatus. Owing to the high
diversity factor the load is a profitable one, and it is
desirable to keep the rentals as low as possible in order to
encourage the use of cookers.

Hire Service and Maintenance.

Hiring should include maintenance and prompt service,
for then the consumer feels that the Supply Authority shows
its confidence in its apparatus if maintenance is included in
a reasonable rental. With most modern apparatus main-
tenance is so low in cost that there shouM be no hesitation
in undertaking it. It is very desirablo io keep down the
stock of replacement parts and to limit it; range, and with
this in view the writer advises that hired apparatus should
be limited to as few makes of each class of apparatus as
possible.

Irons and Kettles.

One type of iron is quite sufiicient, and kettles should
be limited to the most popular size — that is 2 pint, or at
most 2 pint and 3 pint.

To avoid the necessity of immediate re]:)air of irons or
kettles, one or two complete spares may be kept ready and
a few fleicibles and connectors kept wired U]) ; the con-
sumers can be supplied immediately with a replacement
when occasion demands, and the faulty iron repaired at any
convenient time.

It is a good plan to keep apparatus for this purpose which
is serviceable but a little shabby in appearance, as the con-
sumer is more ready to take back his own when repaired,
and it is thus easier to keep track of the particular
apparatus hired to' consumers.

Fires and Cookers.

In the case of fires it will be found advisable to hire a
few different types of varying capacity, but they should
be of the cheaper designs, and of as few different makes a^
reasonably possible. The design should admit of quick
replacement of parts.

It will be seen from the maintenance figures given below
that cooker maintenance is relatively costly at present,
but it is likely to be considerably reduced from now onwards,
and from figures available to the writer, it appears that
the radiant hot plate will prove cheaper to maintain than
the non-radiant type.

Maintenance Hints.

Maintenance of cookers, in particular, must be prompt
if they are to receive the rapid adoption amongst consumers
which they merit. The design of the oven should be such
as to einable elements to be replaced quickly, and when
replacing hot plates the writer strongly advises the replace-
ment of the faulty plate by a new one, and not to replace
elements in hot plates " on the job." The average house-
wife dislikes a workman hanging round for any longer time
than is necessary. Also in the repair of non-radiant plates
some experience and considerable care is necessary in the
clamping up of the elements if further bum-outs after a
short period are to be avoided. It is inadvisable to replace
a portion only of the elements of a burnt-out hot-plate and
leave any old ones in. The used ones probably won't last
long and will lead to another fault after a relatively short
period.

The Newcastle Company has recently entered into an
arrangement with one manufacturing firm whereby a stock
of new spare plates is held in readiness, and in the case of
failure new plates are installed and the old ones are returned
to the makers, who allow a reasonable credit, and this
arrangement is proving very satisfactory in reducing the
amount of maintenance and keeping down the labour cost.

Wherever a cooker is hired out a self-contained kettle
should accompany it. In the Newcastle district the kettle
is separately hired, but the question of making a self-con-
tained kettle part of the stand ara cooking equipment is re-
ceiving considetation, and is an arrangement which has
proved satisfactory in other districts.

Form of Agreement.

The agreement or application which the consumer must
sign should be as short and simple as possible, but should
contain the following provisions: — ■

(1) That the Supply Authority shall only maintain
against fair wear and tear, so that mechanical damage or
breakdown due to carelessness is repaired by the Supply
Authority at the cost of the consumer.

(2) Six months' notice should be required to terminate
the hire.

If no such provision is made, the hii-iug of fires, in par-
ticular, will frequently be tenuinated in the sjimmer
months, and application for re-hire received in the winter.
Kettles and irons would be hired for short periods, and the
rentals received for such short periods might not pay the cost
of any re-polishing which might be necessary before send-
ing out again on hire. Also frequent i*e turns of hired
apparatus of this nature would increase the cost of recording
and book-keeping, and would necessitate larger storing
accommodation.

In some districts the hirer is required to undertake the
hire for a minimum period of one year or two years, but

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

371

in the writer's opinion many prospective hirers may hesitate
to be bound for so long a penod.

An alternative to provision 2 above might be as follows :
Six months' notice shall be given to terminate the hire,
except that in the event of the hirer vacating the premises
one month's notice will apply. If the hirer shall terminate
the hire within twelve months from the date of hiring he
shall pay the cost of any overhaul which may be necesTSaiy.

Basis of Rental.

As the object of a hiring system is to obtain as consumers
those who are not prepared to purchase apparatus outright,
the basis for a rental system must in some measure be
governed by the value of service to the consumer. On the
one hand, it is unnecessary toi hire out, say, electric irons at
the lowest possible rental, as this would discourage direct
sales. On the other hand, the rental of cookei's must be
kept as low as possible in order to encourage so valuable a
load, and on account of the fact that the present high cost of
cockeirs prevents direct sales.

The writer suggests assessing a rental for kettles, irons,
and heaters to give reasonable interest on the expenditure,
depreciation at 10 per cent, per annum, and to cover main-
tenance costs. The result will give a very low figure, which
can be increased to such a figure that it will not discourage
direct sales, but at the same timei will be satisfactory to the
user.

With cookers a life of fifteen years can be reckoned on, but
even then it will only be found possible to obtain a rental
which is economic in itself in wealthy residential districts.
The real benefit from the hire is to be obtained from the
sale of current.

The table below shows the cost of apparatus and rentals
received in the Newcastle district.

Hiring is a meajis of publicity and a most valuable one,
and when cookers are better known and the demand in-
creases in consequence, the initial cost will be reduced and
a more favourable rent in relation to cost can be obtained.

Apparatus.

Nett
Cost,

Retail
Price.

Average
Mainten-
ance cost
per annum.

Eental

per
annum.

Approx.

units sold

per item

per

annum.

£ s.

£ s. d.

Iron

0 12

1 1 0

0 10

0 6 0

Kettle, 2 pint

0 16

1 10 0

0 2 8

0 8 0

do. 3 „

1 10

2 10 0

0 2 8

0 10 0

Fires

1 10

2 12 6

0 2 7

0 12 0

500/1000

Cookers

12 10

22 0 0

1 0 0

1 10 0

1600

16 0

25 0 0

1 0 0

2 0 0

1750

It should be noted that with most irons and many kettles
the current is paid for at lighting rates.

Rental on a basis of an increased price per unit is some-
times advocated, but the writer is convinced that any such
basis would be even more foolish with heating apparatus
than it has proved in the past in hiring lighting installa-
tions. Such a basis discourages use, whereas the whole
object of hiring is to encourage use.

Hired Wiring.

Hiring the wiring for cookers and fires should be con-
sidered, but except in poor districts it would not appear to
be necessary at present. The hirer recognises that the
Supply Authority which is prepared to hire is confident of
its apparatus, and he therefore feels there is little risk in
spending a few pounds en wiring. If it is decided to hix'e
wiring the rental should be such that the cost is paid off
in a short period — say two years— otherwise loss will be
incurred when changes of tenancy take place, due either to
the new tenant not using or requiring the wiring altered
to suit his different domestic arrangements.

Tariffs.

It is not the purpose of this article to deal with tariffs,
but it may be mentioned that it is not necessary nowadays
to sell at such very low rates for domestic heating and
cooking as were charged in some districts some years ago.

Looked at merely from the point of view of value to the
user, heating at l^d. per unit and cooking at 2d. per unit
is quite reasonable at the present time. In actual fact,
one rate is usually charged for both purposes and is
generally round about the first-named figure wherever this
class of bu.siness is cultivated. A two-part tariff is very
necessary where any serious effort is made to obtain this
load.

Recording of Hired Apparatus and Maintenance.

A card index system of records should be kept, with a
separate card for each piece of apparatus, stating all par-
ticulars, including the maker's number. The date of any
faults should be recorded on the card, together with the
details of repair and cost in labour and material. These
cards can be analysed monthly and the total monthly cost
obtained. This method enables the nature of the most
frequent faults to be traced, and steps can then be taken
to reduce them as far a^ possible.

Keep in Touch with the User.

It is very desirable to employ a tactful lady demonstrator
who is a good cook. She may be employed solely on
demonstrating irons, kettles and cookers, and it should
be her duty to visit every cooker user at definite periods.
The rest of her time can be employed in leaving kettles or
irons on trial with non-users, and a few irons and kettles
can be kept for this purpose. If she knows her job she
will soon know the consumers well. Arrangements should
always be made beforehand for any demonstrations of this
nature, either by a polite letter or by personal interview.

Publicity.

Some publicity is, of course, necessary, especially in in-
augurating a hire system. The method which gives the best
return is by periodical mailing letters, followed up by calls,
and a record kept of all such calls. Slides in picture-
theatres are a very valuable form of advertising, and can
very often be used with advantage in connection with
occasional advertising in the local Press.

The "Xcel" Electric Iron.

With the introduction of a new type of plug connector on the
" Xcel " electric iron, the manufacturers, the AirroMATic Telephone
MANUFACTimiNG COMPANY, announce a considerable reduction in the
price of the iron.

When the " Xcel " iron was first put on the market in 1919 we
gave a short illustrated description of it (The Electricl\n, July 14,
1919), but since then various minor improvements have been effected,
and the following details of its manufacture are of interest : —

The sole plate is made c'' specially fine-grade cast iron, entirely
free from flaws ; the surface in contact with the element is machined
on a special electric grinder to a dead level, giving accuracy to
2/1000 in. The ironing face is also ground level to prevent any
concavity of the surface, and is afterwards glazed, polished, and
nickel plated.

The element ia pressed down by a cast-iron clamp, also ground
dead level, and is further secured by two substantial nuts on 5/16 in.
screwed studs. This ensures intimate thermal contact. The heating
element is composed of picked mica plates gauged to a thickness to
give perfect insulation when hot. After considerable research, all
known types of micanite were discarded owing to the insulation
being low when the iron was at full heat. This is dangerous, parti-
cularly on a.c. circuits. The resistance ribbon used is the be^t, and
the contact tags are of pure nickel.

Considerable experiment was made to arrive at a self-aligning
contact that would be unaffected by heat, and always take up proper
contact position on the element tags. This has been satisfactorily
obtained by the special shape and metal used. With this arrange-
ment of contacts no electrical connections have to be made when it
is necessary to change an element. Absolute certainty of contact
is ensured,' which is not always the case in irons where contxict
is made between the brass terminal ends and the tags on the element.
The brass in time oxidises, and eventually gives bad contact. Tne
stamped steel top is of substantial thickn<>ss, about twice as
thick as in American practice. The attached stand and terminal
guard are in one subst-antial piece, entirely enclosing the terminals.

The pluc connector is of a novel type, and is designed to prevent
the user from pulling the plug of! by the flexible, and also to keep the
flexible away from the user's arm when ironing. The flexible entere
at the side cf the connector instead of at the top. the top being used
as a grip. Owing to the type of contacts employed, the circuit is
made and broken quickly, "so that it is quite safe to use this new
connector to switch on and off. The handle remains quite cool in
operation, being perfectly insulated by reducing the area of metallic
contact with the surface "of the iron top.

The whole of the components, except the mica and wood handle,
are made in the company's works.

372

The Electrician— March 31, 1922.

Recent Electrical Developments in Glasgow.

By R.
Hiring of Electric Cookers.

The Glas-ow Corporation Electricity Department recently
obUined sanction to instil in consumers' preoms^ witlun
their area of supply, 200 electnc cookers, ^^^her (a) on
simple hire, or (b) hire-purchase terms /<>-<i^yJj^^^
S>okers are at work, and while at this early stagei sufficient

HARDIE.

hesitate to instal any number of gas appliances either
free of charge or on easy terms. It was felt, therefore,
that in Glasgow, if business was to be competed for on
anything like equal terms, the Electricity Department
should be at liberty to instal electric cookers on reasonable

terms.

Queues for Cookers.

As already stated, the 200 cookers have been insta.lled
with ease, and without the sHght^st attempt at Boh(a-
tation The decision of the Electricity Committee to
" hire " synchronised with the date of the recent Ideal
Homes Exhibition, at which the Electricity Department was
represented, and the mere announcement that " Electnc
cookers may now be had on hire " was sufficient to swure
a flood of applications. One reason for the spate of in-
quiries may be the fact that Glasgow gas is not so good
as it might be, nor is its price as low as the public would
like This combination of bad quality and high pnoe
undoubtedly contributed to the rapid success of the^

experiment. /,x mi. -c n • i

Two types of cookers were msUlled : .(1) J-he J^aikirk
Iron Company's No. 5 280/1922, and (2) The Jackson Elec-
tric Stove Company's No. 20. These cookers differ funda-
mentally in several respects, and obviously, in the event
of an extension of the scheme, it will be necessary to con-
sider the adoption of a standard type of cooker to ensure
cheap and easy replacements of def-ctive or worn out

parts.

Hire Charges.

The hire charge is at the rate of £2 per annum, which
includes the cost of maintenance. It also covers the cost

Fig. 1.

-Gas and Electric Cookers at 19, Westbournb
Terrace.

data have not been gathered to warrant anyone dogmatis-
ing on the results, it is quite safe to say that the cookers
installed are giving satisfaction. Consumers have not
shown any anxiety to take advantage of the hire-purchase
method, but are content to operate on the simple hire

It may be of interest to recall the circumstances which
led the Electricity Department to make this experiment.

Advantages of the Cooking Load.

It is recognised in Glasgow, as elsewhere, that the cooking
load is a most desirable one from every point of view. The
average cooker will easily yield a greater revenue than an
installation of merely lighting, iron, vacuum cleaner or
other small appliances. It is, moreover, less subject to
abuse than, say, a 3 kW electric fire, which, if left on cir-
cuit for a long number of hours unnecessarily, might cause
the presentation of a bill which would frighten the
oonsumer.

An electric cooker in use in the average household may
be expected to consume from 1 500 to 2 000 kWh per
annum, and even at the cooking rate in force in Glasgow
and most large towns, forms a very desirable nucleus for
a consumer's account. Further, the load in Glasgo^w,
where the midday meal at home is the rule, is necessarily
" off-peak." In the opinion of most authorities, this
valuable daily, seven days per week, load need not be ex-
pected to materialise in the absence of hiring facilities — not
even monied people will in large numbers spend from £20
to £50 on the purchase of an electric cooker (plus cost of
the necessary wiring). Apart from other reasons, they
have been too long spoiled by gas undertakings, who, in
their anxiety to secure this remunerative business, do not

Fig. 2. — Electric Cooker at Jordaxhill.

of installing the special wiring between the point of supply^
and the cooker, usually from 10 to 20 yds. in length (con-
sisting mostly of lead-covered cable of 7/20 S.W.G. or equi-
valent), and the provision of a 30 A switch and fuse to con-
trol the cooker independently. A 3-pint electnc copper

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

37:i

kettle, with self-contained element, is also supplied as part
of the equipment. This is found to be a valuable adjunct
to the cooker in the speedy provision of hot water, particu-
larly in the early morning. The wiring has, in every case,
been carried out to the order of the Department by local
contracting firms.

The Canny Scot.
Cookers have been placed in houses of all sizes. Fig. 1
shows installation in a 3-apartment house in one of the new
Government housing areas. This house, which has been
occupied for about six months, was at first equipped with
a gas cooker, installed as part of the original fittings, free
of cost to the tenant. The gas cooker was removed at the
request of the temant, who is now paying the Electricity
Department a rental of £2 per annum for the electric
cooker illustrated. Within a stone's throw of this house,
there are ten others in which electric cookers are installed,
in idemtical circumstances, the tenants throwing out free
gas apparatus. In one block of six houses three gas cookers

Fig. 3. — Cookek at Langside Road.

have been displaced in a period of three months and three
electric cookers have taken their place. The gas cookers
were of the latest type. The gas mains were modem and
presumably of adequate dimensions. Yet, in spite of this,
these people, without canvassing or pressure of any kind,
choge the electric cooker.

Displacing Ges Cookers.

In passing, it may be said that the majority of the electric
cookers installed have displaced gas cookers, and the change
over was not effected without strong efforts on the part of
the opposition to convince the consumer of the folly of
meditating any change. In fact, in certain undertakings
throughout the country there appears to be a group of
selected men whose duty is to interview consumers who re-
quest the removal of a gas cooker, and denounce and criticise
bitterly everything electrical on the score of prohibitive
cost, unsatisfacto'ry service, etc. The average consumer
realises the position, and the gas man's errand is usually
fruitless.

The original of the following bona fde and tjrpical letter
has been furnished to me by a representative of an electrical

supply undertaking which is in keen competition with a gas
undertaking working in the same town.

" With reference to my requeet for an electric cooker to replace
the gaa at my house at the above address, I desire to aay that a
representative of the Gaa Department called and endeavoared to
convince me that the gas fittings for cooking and heating were much
superior to and much more economical than electricity. I felt,
however, that he was speaking from a ' gas man's ' point of view,
and informed him that I had decided to give the electric cooker a
fair trial. He ha«, therefore, promised to remove the gas appliances
on Wednesday or Thursday."

Another amusing instance of this type of propaganda
can be vouched for. The gas representative called at the
residence of one of the cookery demonstrators employed by
a certain electrical undertaking, where obviously an electric
cooker was at work, and in all seriousness engaged in the
customary declamation of electric cooking apparatus. The
audience gave him a most attentive and respectful hearing,
being glad to have first-hand confirmation of the methods
employed.

Old Dogs and New Tricks.

Still another authenticated instance has just been
brought to my notice. In this case the consumer was
offered a new gas iron, free of charge, on condition that she
allowed a new gas cooker to be installed in place of an un-
satisfactory one which she had ordered to be removed. It
is proverbially difficult for old dogs to learn new tricks and
unlearn old ones, but the opinion is widely held that
niuch of the energy expended in trying to sweep back the
tide might with profit be directed elsewhere. The argu-
ments now being used against electricity for cooking are on
a par with those used against electricity for lighting a de-
cade ago : it costs three or four times as much as gas, etc. ,
etc. They are being used by the same people, and thev
will prove as futile.

The rate for electricity for cooking is Id. per unit and gas
costs 4/7d. jper 1 000 cub. ft., but a reduction in the price
of both services is promised in the immediate future. Elec-
tricity, therefore, is fighting on advantageous terms.

The 200 cookers referred to may, I think, be regarded
merely as an introduction, and there is no good reason whv
eventually there should not be thousands of cookers con-
nected to the mains in Glasgow. While the stress of com-
petition will doubtless compel improvements in gas cookers,
who can place a limit to the development of the electric
cooker?

Electrical Homes for Electrical Men.

The slogan " Electrical Homes for Electrical Men " i?
bearing fruit in Glasgo?/ as elsewhere. Nearly all respon-
sible members of the staff of the Gla^ow Corporation Elec-
tricity Department can now iirge tie advantages of electric
cookinfy backed by personal experience in their own homes.
The same may be said of many of our electrical contractors.
This is as it should be, for how can we make our appeal to
the general public until we have by our own example
proved that we have a real belief in our own apparatus in
coimplete electric service?

Every effort should be made by electrical men to show
their real belief in their own apparatus and in complete
electric service. Let at leiast the salaried employees of all
Electricity Supply Authorities, Members of the
B.E.A.M.A., the Electrical Contractors' Association, the
Electrical Wholesalei^s' Federation, every electrical manu-
factxiring concern — in short, everyone making his living in
the industry, decide at the earliest possible moment to have
an electrical home, and the electrical business will reoeive
an immediate fillip.

The "Handilite" Flash Lamp.

The " Handilite " is an inexhaustible pocket flach lamp, just put
on the market by the General Electric Company. The source of
electrical energy is a small dynamo machine, with permanent mag-
nets completely enclosed in a well-finished and serviceable case, and
operated tnrough a train of strong gear wheels by a conveniently
shaped lever pivoted to the case. A retaining catch holds the
operating handle close to the case when the apparatus is carried in
the pocket. A " Bull's Eye " lens is fitted so as to give a concen-
trated beam, but by removing the lens — which can very easily be
done — a wide angle beam can be obtained. The apparatus only
weighs 15 oz. , and is claimed to be the only lamp of its tj-pe manu-
factured in Ensland.

374

The Electrician — March 31, 1922

A Male Mammal at Olympia.

By ALAN SULLIVAN.

I once knew a mail who was called by his intimates
" Black Aleo, the Home Destroyer." He earned this
sobriquet because whenever he gained admission to an inti-
mate domestic circle, that circle stood in danger of gradual
but persistent dissolution. Black Alec was large in my
mind as I walked through the Ideal Home Exhibition at
Olympia. He seemed to come back with a conundrum
which might be put this way, " Is it the spirit that makes
the Home or vice versa? Does the thing that one can buy
create the atmosphere ? Does woman know what she really
wants, or does shei wait till the male mammal demonstrates
the thing? " All through the afternoon I kept om wonder-
ing whether Black Aleo would have had any chance in a
homo fitted out with the pick of the exhibits I saw.

The Realities of Life.

You will argue possibly that the two thoughts have
nothing to do with each other. That is where we differ.
About the only real thing in life is, curiously enough, that
which is seemingly unconnected with anything we buy or
use, but, in all actuality, is founded on them. I refer to
a state of mind, or, in other words, the human factor. And
a " state of mind " is generally produced by our surround-
ings. If you think that this begins now to read like an
advertisement for Ideal Homes, you are only partly right.
It is merely an attempt to get at the bottom of what makes
a home.

There were, of course, to be seen an amazing number of
devices — so many, in fact, that they left the mind in a
whirl, and one escaped to the Queens' Gardens with thank-
fulness. Furthermore, if you invested at one booth you
were apt to see something more to yoiur taste a little further
on. Most exhibitions are bound to suffer from over exhibit-
ing, and the various rooms put up for show purposes
generally have too much in them. This is inevitable, and
due to lack of space. At the same time I doubt if ever there
has been brought together before such an assemblage of
things that really help, and against which Black Aleo would
exert his charms in vain. I think the woman would have
been too contented to be much impressed.

What the Electrical Man Knows.

As to the electrical end of it, there was every evidence
that the male mammal really did know what his superior half
should have to help to make her happy, and had given much
thought to providing it. Of all the money that passes over
the world's counters, woman spends some ninety per cent.
This is a solemn thought for most men, and it seems that
the electrical people are determined to hold on to as large
a fraction of that ninety per cent, as possible. Had I been
a young groom, swelling with primo dial pride, and visiting
that Exhibition with the fairest creature on earth, there is
every probability that my house would have been so
equipped that I would have met an early death by electro-
cution. There were so many appliances that meant sudden
cessation of physical effort that one wondered just how long
the two million sui-plus females in England proposed to put
up with the old-time and back-breaking way of doing things.

No Need for Dirt.

We take it, and quite rightly, that dirt is the doorstep to
disease. There is no reason now why the average home
should not be as sanitary as a hospital — and more so. I
was not impressed by the exhibitor who poured sand on a
carpet — and sucked it up with a vacuum cleaner. Such
things don't happen in anyone's home. If the caqiet had
been in the aisle, and he had cleaned it after a thousand
people had walked over it, the point had been better made.
But I was impressed by the fact that there is now no reason
why a home should ever get realh, dirty. And that stands
for a good deal.

The Enemy of Disease.

Another point is light, and here, again, is an enemy of
disease. I was talking last week to one of the foremost of

British scientists, who dwelt on the therapeutic value of
light. It is, seemingly, the sworn foe of certain bacteria
without which we are all much better off. Where sunlight
is possible it is the most healthful thing in the world;
where it is not there is but one substitute. One does not
mean that man should bathe in brilliancy, but that both
the bodily and mental process are aided by proper illumina-
tion. There is in London a glaring instance of how
not to do it. I refer to a small shop where unfortunate
girls, who will inevitably have eye- trouble — if they don't
go mad — are forced to serve customers while intensely
bright lights shine directly in their own faces. Charles
Brush, of arc light fame, once told me that when his first
lamp was exhibited in Cincinnati the public objected to
it because it dazzled them. " Do you stare at the sun? "
asked Brush. From what I saw yesterday there is no
reason why the average home should not be perfectly
illuminated.

Washing and " Dry "-ing.

Then there was wasiiing of clothes. Had I been the
above-mentioned bridegroom, I should probably have
worn two shirts a day for the sheer pleasure of hurling
them into an electric washer. It was, perhaps, the most
interesting exhibit of all. Behind it moved the indistinct
images of women, their arms white with suds, bending over
steaming tubs of reputedly clean water and unquestionably
dirty clothes. In California, a couple of years ago, I saw
bottles of concentrated grape juice, bearing the label, " If
you add to the contents three times their weight in water
you will be breaking the law." The explanation was that
California, being in the first throes of prohibition, was
feeling very dry, and had produced some grape compound
that gave every heaven-bom citizen a chance to become his
own distiller. Well, it seemed that those mechanical
washers were breaking some unwritten law proclaiming that
clothes must not be washed without sweat and fatigue. I
am certain that a household thus equipped will have a
prodigious weekly washing — and will be much the better
off for it — and so will the clothes. Can anything be more
distressing to a housewife than to see some husky and high-
priced woman exercising all her destructive force on linen
which will, as a result, demand mending?

Domestic Secrets Revealed-

So on through cooking, sewing, and all down the line to
the curling of hair. What a multitude of things go to
make a home ! How many of them do we desire, and
never knew we needed them till suddenly we found them
attainable ! As a male mammal I felt almost a sense of
shame at the revelation of so many domestic secrets ; then
realised that they should nevei" have been secrets.

One Kind of Ideal Home.

The average man goes to his office, say, at ten o'clock,
reads a few lettei-s, dictates a few more, and it is time for
lunch. After lunch he plays fifty up, strolls back to his den
of toil, reads the letters he has dictated, talks to people
about things in which he is interested, breaks off his duty
to sip tea, puts in another hour or so, and turns up at home
with an expression suggesting that the situation has been
saved — and solely by his pei-sonal and intense effort. His
wife knows perfectly well that this is a bluff, but he doep
not know that she knows. She asks solicitously whether
he has had a heavy day, and, being assured that this is some-
thing less than the truth, immediately forgets her own weari-
ness to make him very comfortable. She has merely done
some washing to keep down the laundiy bill, supervised the
cooking, mended the socks — his socks — bullied the butcher,
browbeaten the grocer, looked after the children, put in
an hour on a dress with which she hopes lo surprise her
husband, done her housekeeping accounts — and a few other

March

31, 1922

The Electrician.

6 1 J

things. But for all of this, her face is placid; she does
not claim to have saved any situation, and — God save her!
— she hopes he has not been, working too hard. That is the
man who says he has an ideal home.

Anglo-Saxon Fair Play.

Here, it seems to me, is where that exhibition at Olympia
oomes in. It suggests that a good many of us, and perhaps
some of those others who take up the collection on Sunday,
have rather lost sight of a certain Anglo- Saxon quality of
fair play. We accept too much without asking how the thing
was brought about. We only see the results, and, because
they are good, let it go at that. Not one man in forty

could do a woman's work for a week. It ia not because his
brain is too fine an instrument for such utility, but because
he simply has not got the staying quality for small, inter-
minable, and uninteresting duties. Olympia suggested to
me an opportunity for giving back — perhaps in a selfish
manner — just a little of what we all receive and take for
granted. The man who thinks privately that the dearest
creature on earth is looking hardly so attractive now as she
did when Mendelssohn's March sent his heart into his
mouth, might turn this idea over in his mind. If he does
so conscientiously, he has the opportunity to really save a
situation. If he won't and doesn't, he is three kinds of a
skunk.

American Domesticity Through English Eyes.

By MARGARET DYER.

Having recently returned from America I have noticed
h.ow very much more slowly domestic innovations have been
adopted in this country than over there, and I thought it
might, therefore, be of use to readers of THe Electrician
if I told them some of th.e ways in which knowledge of new
appliances is spread in the United States.

The chief requirement of the English home is comfort,
and no tro'uble is spared by domestic workers to make the
h.ome comfortable for the chief resident, th.e master. In
America the master does not hold such an important posi-
tion; the woman, who, after all, spends all her time in the
home, looks more to her own comfort., with the result that
ease of working the home becomes paramount. The two
aspects are not necessarily antagonistic, but the latter has
not received much consideration in tlie past owing to the
ease with which cheap domestic labour could be obtained.

Grades of Residence.

In America there are the same three grades of place® of
residence as in England : The city, where the living condi-
tions are congested, but electricity is available; the small
towns (which may become cities in an incredibly siiort space
of time), where it is usual to have most of the amenities
of city life for the home and more space as well ; and the
isolated farms, which may be very primitive indeed, or, if
on the direct line from town to town, may have most of the
amenities of town life, including electricity.

The City Menage.

In the cities the majority of people live in small apart-
ments (flats). It is customary for them to prepare their
own breakfast by the aid of electric grills or hot-plates, to
clean their own apartments by the aid of a vacuum cleaner
(which may be centrally installed), and to press their own
clothes with an electric iron. The apartments are very
small, but in some cases it is possible to find room for an
electrical washer. It is customary to lunch and dine out,
often in a cafeteria attached to the building, and in the
kitchen that supplies the meals are the bigger pieces of
electrical equipment — the mincer, the mixer, the potato
parer, and the dish-washer.

Electricity in the Small Towns.

In the smaller towns it is almost universal to find the
washing machine for the laundry work, the small elec-
trically driven calendar for flat ironing, and the electric
iron. Commercial laundries are very expensive, if they
exist in these smaller places, and the alternative, hand-
washing done by Chinese labour, though cheaper, is not
looked upon with favour by many who wash at home without
very great labour with the assistance of electricity.

Advertising as a Factor in Development.

There is no doubt in my mind that the widespread use
of these machines in a comparatively short time is very
largely due to the excellent advertising. There is an
enormous amount of propaganda work being done through
the schools and colleges that have departments for teaching

home economics. (This is the term used to include all
forms of instruction given in domestic work.) The stan-
dard of living is generally distinctly higher in America than
it is in England, but our policy seems to have been
of making do with what we have rather than spreading
knowledge of better, newer ways. For instance, in large
numbers of secondary schools in England, ordinary flat-
irons are used because the students have not got, or may not
have, electric irons at home. But why have they not got
them 1 Because in manj cases they have not heard of them
or seen them, and are frightened to use them.

If electric irons were generally introduced into schools,
where it is possible to explain something about their con-
struction, this fear would probably quickly pass. A girl
guide at a recent laundry test in a large manufacturing
town in Great Britain demanded an electric iron. She was
provided with it, but the examiner felt she was hardly
being brought up in a thrifty manner. But why, in a
town of that description, was not everybody using electric
irons ?

How Manufacturers Can Help and be Helped.

In Amei^ica a home economics department is usually pro-
vided with electrical equipment, free of charge or at a veiy
low rate. Such a place has often only to express a desire
for a new piece of equipment and they are offered it on
loan for an indefinite period. Or in some cases a new
make will be sent to th- school in order that its approval
may be assured. In one school for training teachers in home
economics that I visited, the laundry class were running
six different electrical machines (all loaned free), one against
another. A really bad machine will suffer from this com-
petition, but for the majority of machines a backing was
found. The class seemed to be fairly di\dded in its opinion
as to which was the best machine, and argued amongst them-
selves as to the superiority of the mcike they particularly
affected. The experience gained by the class of the best
manner of using each machine is most useful to the makers,
and is often incorporated in the directions given to the
public. The great difficulty is to provide a fool-proof
machine, and the advantages of having one tried by
numerous intelligent, but not specially trained, people are
veiy great.

The manufacturers or store-keepers are also most generous
in placing their staff and merchandise at the disposal of the
schools and colleges. The class will visit and perhaps be
given as much as two hours' instniction on the electrical
appliances that are obtainable and the relative cost of run-
ning. I think many firms over here would not consider it
profitable to spend two hours explaining and giving a great
deal of informtion to a class who may not have amongst
them the wherewithal to purchase a machine. However,
if it is considered what a large number of people may be
reached by such a visit, it may be more advantageous than
can be estimated.

The "Scrap the Lot" Policy.

The Americans are particularly given to explaining to
their English friends that they are a veiy young nation, and

376

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

too much must not be expected. This youthfulness is par-
ticularly apparent in their fondness of pulling everything
down and beginning all over again. " Scrap the lot " is con-
sidered a normal thing to do, and they are perfectly willing
to replace old machines with new ones as the improvements
take place. In England there is very often great difficulty
in obtaining any allowanoe even on the out-of-date
appliances.

Lack of Interest.

Another reason that militates against the employment of
electrical appliances in England is the lack of interest in
the use to which the article is to be put. A school running
its own laundry wished to install electric irons. The local

electrical shop was approached and lent some irons for a
week's trial. They were then returned, and no order was
given, as the workers objected to them as giving so much
work. Small irons of a pattern suitable for the house-
holder who does the fine things at home had been pro-
vided instead of a heavier iron suitable for expert use. The
latter are in use in many places, but in this case did not
reach the possible user.

There is a great deal of distrust and conservatism to be
overcome in the schools of domestic science in this country,
but I believe if manufacturers would do more to help the
schools by lending apparatus and helping to interest the
students in thedr possibilities a greatly increased demand
would follow.

The Wider Application of Electricity and Electrical

Apparatus to Domestic Life.

Bv ALFRED WILLIAMS, F.R.I.B.A.

Great attention is being given at the present time to the
question of " Domestic Economy." This, of course, in-
cludes the management of the house, especdally in relation
to domestic service, which in recent times has been radically
changed, not only as to the manner in which the service
is rendered, but also in the largely increased cost.
Anything, therefore, that can be efficiently and per-
manently done with advantage to meet these new conditions
will be a great public benefit.

Electricity en Immense Gain.

It is the writer's experience that the introduction of elec-
tricity into the dwelling-house has proved to be an immense
gain not only in the increased cleanliness and in the pre-
servation of decorations on walls and o&ilings it permits,
but financially, and also in promoting the personal comfort
of the occupants and in economy and contentment in the
service. Up to the present time, however, excepting in a
few instances, the use of electricity heis been almosit entirely
restricted to lighting, though I believe that a further
extension of electricity for other purposes would substan-
tially promote domestic economy.

Heating Problems.

The present system of warming a dwelling-house is
generally by the open coal fire, which, though bright and
cheerful, has the disadvantage of bringing in its train
accumulations of dirt and smoke, causing damage and
rendering necessary much labour in renovation. The
use of a coal fire means that the materials for lighting
the fire — wood, paper, and coal — have to be obtained,
and then the coal for maintaining the fire must be
easily available at all times, if not actually in the^ room.
Even when the fire is alight, the hearth requires attention
from time to time to keep it tidy. Afterwards the fireplace
has to be cleaned out, the dust removed, the stove cleaned,
and the fire relayed. This is all dirty and heavy work,
involving considerable labour, whereas with an electric
fire all that is required is to switch the current on. There
is no preparation beforehand, and nc^ cleaning up after-
wards— a very great economy of labour in all ways.

Objections to Gas Fires.

Gas fires have been substituted in many cases, and,
although convenient, are not free from fumes and the
tarnishing of bright metal objects near them. They also
injure decorations by the deposit of small dirt and an oily
surface. A gas fire also compares unfavourably with a
coal fire financially as regards the attainment and main-
tenance of a proper temperatu"e in an apartment.

Electric Heating and Cooking.

The manufacturers of electric fires have introduced to the
public many artistic and efficient forms of grates at a reason-
able cost that can be most easily manipulated, requiring
little or no service from the domestic, but at the same time

giving a bright, clean, and efficient warmth in the room.
As a system of warming, also, it strongly recommends
itself for adoption by reason of its convenience and
portability.

For cooking purposes useful stoves are on the market.
They are very efficient and more cleanly than any other
form. The labour in the kitchen is materially reduced.
By the adoption of the numerous small appliances which can
be placed on a sitting-room table for Qgg and water boiling
and bread toasting, etc., service is again greatly reduced.

Advantages of the Vacuum Cleaner.

For cairpets, curtains, chair seatings, etc., the electric
vacuum cleaner is a great acquisition, more efficient in its
work, is quicker, and effecting much saving of time. Here,
again, a great gain to domestic economy. Where it is
possible to have a laundry in or near the house remarkably
efficient machines for washing and wringing clothes
can be readily worked by electric power, and the electric
iron cannot be too highly recommended. Electric power
may also with great advaoitage be applied to a sewing
machine, leaving both hands of the worker free, effecting
a saving of time and improvement in the work executed.
In cases where the kitchen is in the basement below the
dining-room floor, electric power attached to a dinner lift
would facilitate the service at the top and bottom.

To the above list may be added electric bells and internal
telephones from sitting-room, etc., and the principal bed-
rooms, giving instant communication with the servant,
economising her time and journeys for attendance. The
introduction of automatic switches on all doors to dark
storerooms or closets would avoid the loss of time in hunting
for matches and candles.

Architectural Necessities.

Of course, to obtain all the advantages above described a
complete installation must be made. The wiring should be
duplicated and sufficient capacity as carrier of current to all
the fittings, and care taken in all the connections for fittings.

The cost of current taken from a public main must, of
course, be taken into consideration, and would probably be
thought by many to be prohibitive to its adoption, yet it
must be remembered that a very great saving in the housing,
boarding and wages of domestic services would be effected,
and in many cases halved. Should, however, current be
obtained from a private dynamo the cost of the extension
of its use would not be so largely increased.

In addition to the comfort to the occupants of a house
completely installed by electricity as above enumerated,
which would be great, the writer, who is much interested in
the subject and has had considerable experience in dealing
with residential property, has no hesitation in saying that
in his opinion a medium-sized house suitable for occupation
of members of the professional classes well and suitably
eqviipped as indicated above would be more readily disposed
of should it be placed on the market

The Electrician — March 31, 1922

377

The Use and Future of Electrically Equipped Furniture.

By EARL E. WHITEHORNE.

Commercial Editor, "Qectrical World."

Electrified furniture is something new under the sun. It was
talked about in 1915, but during the war there was no time to
think of it. Last June, however, the subject was revived by
Mr. J. F. Becker, sales manager of the United Electric Light &
Power Company, New York, He exhibited a full set of miniature
household furniture before a meeting of the N. E. L. A. Com-
mercial Section executive committee at Association Island and
discussed the situation. He was appointed chairman of a committee
and received an appropriation to develop a set of specifications for
wiring furniture. Mr. Becker thereupon, at the expense of his
company, proceeded to purchase and electrically equip a complete
set of household furniture, which was exhibited first at the New

attached to the electric outlet while in use. If there are not an
adequite number of conveniently located outlets to which the fan
or toaster or heat pad may be connected, it is not easy to use them,
and from the beginning that has been a serious obstacle to their
habitual use and popularity. People naturally want to use these
devices right where they happen to be sitting. The griU, the
percolator and the other small cooking appUances are commonly
used at the dining table or the sideboard. The vibrator, hair dryer
and curling iron are commonly used at the dressing table. The fan
is almost always standing upon a bureau or sideboard or table. The
heat pad and bottle warmer are needed usually beside the bed.
The convenience of th^ vacuvim cleaner depends upon being able to

Fig. 1. — Scale Drawings of the " Chifferobe," Serving Table, Dining Table, Buffet and China Closet.

York electrical show last autumn and thereafter in the furniture
departments of various large New York department stores.
Electrified furniture, therefore, is not only being talked about ; it
has been produced.

What the Furniture Man Thinks of It.

Now, the point that interests me most about this idea is not what
the electrical man thinks, nor even what a woman says when she
first hears of it. It is the opinion of the furniture people. For they
know furniture. And they have said that the electrical equip-
ment of household furniture is a real inspiration which is going to
win a great popularity. Mr. R. Braun, president of the New York
Furniture Exchange, has put it this way :

There is no doubt in the world that electrified furniture will sell,
provided only that the cost of electrifying it is brought down to a proper

plug it in at any point where you want to clean. But few houses,,
at present, have more than one or at most two outlets in the
principal rooms, and most of these were installed before the furniture
was in place and are not as handy as they should be.

Provides More Handy Outlets.

There is the condition. And the equipping of the furniture itself
with convenience outlets is the best idea that has ever been suggested
to relieve it. For in this way we can automatically provide a large
number of additional receptacles exactly where they can be reached
most easily at the precise point where they will always be wanted,
no matter how the furniture is moved. Each piece of furniture
connects by an attachment cord directly to the house wiring by
plugging into a socket, and its O'wn more accessible receptacles are
used to connect the apphances by short cords. There is no stooping

Fig. 2. — Diagrams showing how the Kitchen Table, Tea Wagon, Vanity Table, Bed and Dresser were Wirsd.

level. I beheve that the furniture trade will welcome this innovation.
It will provide a style appeal that should produce much business. I
believe that electrified furniture has a big future.

The Right Idea.

Therefore, as far as the furniture aspect is concerned, the idea
is apparently right. Electrified furniture will sell. And it wUl
sell even though some men and women when they first hear about it
are not enthusiastic. Furniture has never been electrified, and the
thought is somewhat startling. They do not at once see the
necessity for it. But, by the same token, the use of electrical
appliances is in itself new, and this further step in making their
use convenient will not be thoroughly understood until it is
explained. It is an idea that at first wiU have to be " sold."

Inherent Inconveniences.

All electrical appUances, of course, have one inherent and
unescapable feature of inconvenience. They must for ever be

down therefore each time some device is to be used. The bed or the
table remains plugged in.

There are ten pieces of walnut furniture in the model set which
has been prepared by Mr. Becker's company. The photographs
and diagiams reproduced here show how tlie receptacles have
been installed, although to make them A-isible in the half-tones
it has been necessary to make these receptacles more prominent
and conspicuous. The purpose in wiring each has been very
definite :

The Bed.

The bed is provided with three receptacles, placed under the left-
side board at the head of the bed to connect a heat pad, the bedside
lamp, the fan, the baby's bottle warmer, or a grill for the bedside
breakfast. In addition, a toggle s^^•itch operates a lamp beneath
the bed which illuminates the floor sufficiently to make it comfortable
to walk about without disturbing a sleeper or making the interior
of the room visible from outside. All this equipment has been

378

fahc^rTl. 4. "r, ""^ ocuuon oi tne dedstead, so th
taken apart without interference with the wiring.

TJ, « 1-^ Chifferobe and Dressing Table.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician

tl^:^±t *3f."„"^A^«5-? <>^ the bedstead, so that the bed may be The dresser ha. fn

or fan. ^' ""^ ^^^rator or hair dryer or curling iron

^. Vanity and Sewing Tables.

The vamty table has two receptacles for use with any of the

Fig. 3.-V1EWS o. "Electkikzeo Fubnituhk" kxhzbitkb at the Nkw Yokk- F

HIE p,Kw York Electrical Show

accepts the dark • J^lectrical Show.

p or ev ening sewing, the sewing machine motor, or a fan.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

379

The Dining Table.

The dining table is undoubtedly the one article of furniture most
greatly in need of its own wiring. Although it is not usually possible
to operate more than one table appliance at a time owing to the
excessive load, as a matter of practice it is not necessary or
customary. The percolator is started as soon as the first member of
the family comes in to breakfast, or by the maid before that. By the
time the fruit and cereal are finished the coffee is done and the grill
or toaster has come into service. So only one appliance is needed at
a time, but to be convenient it should be possible to disconnect the
one and connect the other without getting up, and this is rarely
possible where the table itself is not wired.

Too often an indirect-lighting fixture over the dining table
makes it impossible to connect an appliance without running a
tangled cord across the rug and risking an unwary foot that may
jerk the toaster off the table ; and the attachment of table appliances
to any type of lighting fixture on the table is an abomination because
the hanging cords are both unsightly and troublesome. A Avired
table, however, may be connected to a floor receptacle through
parted fibres in the rug, and the appliances, with shortened cords,
are plugged into the receptacles in the skirt of the table. Meanwhile
the lighting arrangements are not disturbed.

Buffet and Serving Table.

The buffet is fitted with two receptacles which may be used for
connecting electric candles or any cooking appliance which might be
operated by the maid at the sideboard or at the table. Also in
summer a fan often stands here.

The serving table is equipped in the same way as the dresser as
an alternative or supplementary convenience for attaching the same
appliance or candles.

China Closet.

The china closet is wired to provide light with both an ornamental
and a utilitarian purpose. Beautiful glass and china is most attrac-
tive when lighted and low-powered tubular lamps within a cabinet
bring out the fire of cut and iridescent glass and the colouring of china
most effectively and without undue display. This light also
serves to prevent breakage when glass is being taken out or put back
by making it easier to gauge the space and distance. On the top of
the china closet are two receptacles to connect a fan or clock.
Tea Wagon.

The tea wagon is another case where wiring has a great practical
value. The wagon is taken about the house to any room or on the
porch, to be used beside the fireplace or at the chair where the hostess
may be sitting. On it may be a samovar or percolator and also a

chafing dish, grill, toaster, or waffle iron. Yet seldom is it con-
venient to connect two appliances and perhaps a little table lamp
just at that point. With a wired tea wagon the attachment cord in
carried to the nearest baseboard outlet and the appliances, with
shortened cords, plug into the tea wagon's own two receptacles. A
hook is provided to coil the wagon's cord when not cormected.

Kitchen Equipment.

The kitchen table is the main domestic workbench, and more and
more electrical equipment is becoming available for use on it. Two
receptacles have been installed to connect the electric mixer, the
grinder, the polisher, or the flat-iron. The kitchen cabinet has two
receptacles for connecting the same devices listed above for use on
the table and in addition a heating receptacle for attaching a flat-iron
or a fireless cooker.

Future Developments.

In the equipment of this original set of electrified furniture, of
course, it was necessary to use available standard fittings which are
in many cases larger and more conspicuous than are appropriate.
New fittings for furniture will undoubtedly be developed having
smaller plates and other characteristics more suitable for this use,
and this will naturally stimulate the wiring of furniture. One lead-
ing furniture manufacturer has said that if smaller fittings were
available he would begin to electrify his dining-room tables, tea
wagons and some other pieces at once, and other producers will
follow suit. It offers both the maker and the dealer a new style in
furniture, a new idea that can be talked about and advertised and
sold. It is something that they aU want and will gladly push. And
every sale of wired furniture brings more outlets into some home,
more places to use appliances, and nothing influences the purchase
of more appliances so much as a handy waiting outlet. Such a
piece of electrified furniture will add from one to four more outlets
and increase the use of every kind of a household device.

A Big Idea.

It is a big idea, and it has a big future, and electrical men will do
well to push it energetically. To-day it sounds like a radioal
innovation that will not have wide popular appeal, but the furniture
man knows better than we do about that. Motor cars were con-
sidered complete before the first self-starter came, but we know now
that a car was but half an automobile as far as convenience was con-
cerned before that further refinement was introduced. We are
going to find that -wiring will bring just this kind of a convenience
to our furniture and that people will adopt it gladly once they see
how much it wiU do for them in comfort. And the electrical
industry will benefit tremendously.

The call, apparently, is still for surface wiring systems, and there are
not lacking those who are willing and anxious to reply to the demand.
Among the latest ways of surface wiring is the Helsby twin wiring
system produced by the British Insulated akd Helsby
Cables, ltd. This system, of which the salient features
are shown in the accompanying photograph illustrating a
demonstration board, is, it is claimed, suitable for both
direct and alternating current supply, and comprises essen-
tially single, twin or three-core rubber insulated metalUc
sheathed wires and a range of fittings and accessories for
fixing and using them. The single wire is of circular
section, the twin and three-core having a flat section. In
all cases the metallic sheathing is composed of a special
metal alloy of considerable strength, which, without im-
pairing flexibihty, provides a good protective covering
for the cable and prevents sagging. It is claimed that
the whole system is quickly and cheaply erected with a
minimum of labour and that no special tools are required.

Details of the System.

The fixing clips which can be seen in the left-hand top
comer of the exhibition board are composed of tinned
brass with countersunk holes so that the head of the
fixing screw is flush with the clip. The fixing saddles
which are shown below them are also of tinned brass drilled
with holes to take a No. 3 wood screw. The junction box
which is shown in its normal position at the right-hand
bottom corner of the board and in an inverted position
at the opposite bottom corner comprises a tinned brass
back plate, an annular bonding clamp of special alloy and
a tinned brass cover. The back plate is placed inside
the annular bonding clamp, and the whole is secured to
the wall by means of a screw through the whole of the
plate. The bonding clamp has four slots, so that it may
be used as a two, three or four- way fitting, continuity of
the metal sheathing of the cable being secured by screwing
down the small clamping pieces on to the sheath. The
metal of the bonding clamp is of the same composi-
tion as that used for sheathing the wires, and cables and
the slots can easily be opened out when it is necessary
to use a larger cable than 7 0"079 flat twin.

An important point is that there are no loose screws
loose parts to worry about, as the fittings are all supphed assembled,
and it is never necessary to completely remove any of the

The Helsby Twin Wiring System.

screws. The covers for the fitting are simply sprung on to the
base portion so that simphcity and eas-y erection may be said to
be outstanding features of the system, among whose advantages

small

How THE Helsby Twin WmrxG System Works.

the makers claim that it is inexpensive, easily and rapidly erected,
needs no bolts and thoroughly efficient electrically, and requires no
special tools.

380

The Electrician — March 31, 1922

Modern Wiring— The Surflex Safety System.

By L. M. WATERHOUSE.

For the past twenty-five years the screwed metal conduit system
may be said to have been standard practice in this country, but
owing to the high cost of material and increased labour charges
wiring development has been very much restricted of late years, as
would-be consumers are not in a position to pay the prices demanded.
Undoubtedly there are many cases of installation work where the
conditions demand mechanical protection of the high order afforded
by metal conduits, but there are a much larger number where such
protection is superfluous, and where a heavy metal system entails

Fig. 1. — The Surflex Base and Pressure Plate.

an upheaval and upset of working conditions that is unnecessary.
In the majority of private houses and business establishments
considerable economy could be introduced without in any way
adversely affecting efficiency.

The Economy View Point.

The question is how to bring the economy axe into operation
without affecting efficiency. An analysis of wiring costs clearly
demonstrates the increased cost of material as well as labour, but
in reference to conduits themselves, the increase is not marked, but
the many costly component parts which go to make up a conduit
system render it almost prohibitive except where conditions demand
soUd mechanical protection. It is these boxes and fittings which
affect the question to such a degree and inflate the wiring costs to
such an appreciable extent. It is clearly in this connection that we
must look to effect the saving, for, so long as high-class screwed
conduit work remains in the vicinity of £3 a point, so long will
development be retarded. Another factor that cannot be over-
looked is the high price charged for energy by many supply
companies. In most cases, a considerably lower scale is offered
for heating, cooking and power circuits, but the present high
charges for wiring practically prohibit such new circuits being
installed, and consequently the development of domestic appliances

Fig. 2. — Wiring at a Lighting Point.

iB retarded. I suggest that if the Electrical Development Associa-
tion concentrated their attention entirely oii the two factors —
reduced installation wiring costs and redui ed rates for energy
both for lighting and heating circuits, they would do more effec-
tive service to the development of electricity in this country
than by the consideration of methods of salesmanship, and by
endeavours to educate a public which cannot afford to be educated
so long as the present rates exist.

Slow Development of Surface Wiring.

For some years past, lead-sheathed and solid-rubbcr-sheathed
wires and cables have been produced for surface wiring by some of
our leading cable makers, and they have met with a measure of
success Oiving to the marked economy of such methods of wiring,
both in prime cost and in simplicity of erection. It is also found
that the protection afforded is more than sufficient to meet most
installation requirements, and they have theadvantage of being

free from aU condensation troubles, are not unsightly or cumbersome
and are easilj^ and expeditiously erected without specially skilled
labour and, a most important point, their erection causes a minimum
of inconvenience and disturbance to decorations and interference
with the work of a household, office or works. It is somewhat
surprising that development along these lines has not been more
rapid and pronounced, but whereas the conduit system has been
elaborately developed, possibly too far extended in its large range
and multipUcity of fittings, these sheathed-cable systems have, to a
large extent, been neglected in the direction of useful accessories. It
is true there has been no dearth of actual boxes, but the majority of
them are not mechanical, being too often composed of thin metal
stampings with separate bondings for each wire, with many small
nuts and screws, and they have therefore not appealed to
engineers as a sound mechanical proposition. The boxes for solid-
rubber-sheathed cables being usually manufactured of moulded
materials are also lacking in mechanical strength ; in short, those
wires and cables which possess marked advantages both as regards
efficiency and economy have not been converted for want of sound
accessories into a concrete system of wiring.

A New System.

To meet the present day requirements of economical yet efficient
wiring, the Surflex Safety System has been introduced. Although
still a staunch upholder of conduits for installations necessitating
stout mechanical protection, I am of opinion that, for the majority
of installations in private houses and pubhc buildings, a decidedly
less costly, yet nowise less efficient method of wiring can be installed

Fig. 3. — A Straight Through Connection.

either in its entirety or in conjunction with conduits, a pronounced
saving being foimd in connection with all sub-distribution work.

Details of the System.

The Surflex Safety System consists of universal metal bonding
and insulating fixing plates and boxes for use with aU metal-sheathed
or solid-rubber-covered wires and cables — single, twin or three core,
circular or flat. The metal plates can be employed for both lead and
solid-rubber sheathed, the insulating variety being for rubber
sheathed only. In aU cases wires can radiate to and from the plates
at any desired angle relative to each other. The bonding is secured
by direct pressure of a single nut on a central stud, and this pressure
bond is lasting, so that all strain is taken off the terminals.

The base plate being fixed in position, the pressure plate when
screwed down fixes the position of the circuits, the wires being held
in position whilst the necessary connections are being made. Surflex
plates form the basis of all points, whether they are lighting or switch
points, junctions or connections. In the former case they are used
in conjunction vrith an accessory mounting wood block for the 5 A
type of fittings, and with a fibre box for the 3 A accessories.

Suspensions and Bondings.

Two other features of the Surflex System claiming attention are the
Surflex adjustable suspensions and Surflex adjustable bondings.-
Surflex brass suspensions are small sleeves made from drawn brass
tube, th''ough which extruded lead strip is drawn in a bight after
encircling the single or multiple circuits ; the bight is then drawn
tight and a screw through the centre of the sleeve secures the circuit
in position. These suspensions can be used in a variety of ways,
such as for multiple saddles. The Surflex bondings are a development
of the suspensions, but the wood screws arc replaced by No. 3 BA
bolts, nuts and washers, and they can be employed with lead strip or
tinned brass strip. The use of Surflex suspensions and bondings
is not confined to lead and solid-rubber-sheathed wires and cables,
but they can be usefully employed in connection with conduit runs
and all metal circuits, and they form a very convenient method of
bridging across a wood block used on a conduit run.

The whole system is condensed into a few parts, the idea being
to provide the contractor with a complete outfit to carry out his
installation wiring with a minimum of stock outlay, to enable him
to save time so often expensively lost in these jobs and to complete
any installation according to contract.

The Electrician — March 31, 1922

381

The Home Idealised.

{^Concluded from page 349 )

Fresh Falkirk Apparatus.

The^'electrical part of the Falkirk Iron Company's stand
consisted of a model electric kitchen which contained their No. 5 280
domestic cooker, together with a wash boiler, kettle and iron. This
cooker, of which we give an illustration (Fig. 11), has been designed
to meet the needs of the modem home occupied by a small or
medium-sized family, and it has already received a wide appUcation ,

Fig. 11. — The Latest Falkirk Cooker.

especially in'Glasgow, as will be seen from Mr. Hardie's article which
is pubhshed on another page of this issue. It has ample oven
accommodation, two radiant type boiling burners and a griller and
hotplate with switches and fuses, thus forming, it is claimed, a
compact and reliable cooker at an extremely low price. It is worth
noting that the head is hinged at the back and so can be easily lifted
to expose the whole wiring. The oven is ready for toasting or
baking within twenty-five minutes of turning on the high heat.

Another interesting piece of apparatus on this stand was the double
ray heater and toaster. This transmits heat over an angle of
100 deg., thus distributing rather than concentrating the heat.
It effects this with a small loading of 600 W, and from it not only
can room heat be obtained, but toasting can be easily effected with
good results. Moreover, it is a handsome piece of apparatus, being
made wholly of polished copper, with brass trimmings, ebonised
handle and fibre legs. It weighs less than 2 \ lb. and can be readily
attached to any lamp socket and conveniently placed in the trunk
for travelling.

Western Washers.

The star turn on the Western Electric Company stand was the
combined dish-washer and kitchen table. This equipment consists
essentially of a sheet-iron chest mounted on legs so as to be at a
convenient height for the worker. The top of this chest is divided
into two parts, the larger of which is hinged and acts as a lid which
can, however, be held securely in the open position when dishes
are being placed in the interior. The lid is very thin and fle.'iible,
so that there is no danger of kinking, and the whole is finished in
enamelled iron, and is therefore easy to keep clean.

The electrical portion of the apparatus consists of a motor-driven
paddle which sprays two gallons of hot water over the crockery in
three directions. The dishes must bs scraped before they are put
into the washer, and are then kept separate from each other in Tsore
racks, so that there is no danger of chipping or cracking owing to
mutual contact. Separate holders are provided for the silver- ware.
When washing is completed a continuous spray of hot water rinses,
the articles ; if the water is hot enough drying takes place automatic-
ally. The washer is provided with a drain so that the plates can be
left in the trays to dry.

Washing Day Simplifled.

The Western clothes washer was also prominent on tliis stand.
It consists essentially of a hard maple revolving cylinder, which is
perforated round its periphery so that soapy water is driven on to
the clothes inside. This cylinder is operated by a :! h.p. motor
through an ingenious arrangement of gearing and dog clutches,
which cause it to reverse its direction of revolution once every 6 '.
revs. A friction clutch ensures that if the cylinder is overloaded

the motor runs free and no damage is caused. A safety device is
fitted within ea.sy reach, so that if any accident occurs the motor
can be immediately shut down. Combined with this washing
machine is a wringer which is driven from the same motor, the
latter .^eing of suiiicient size to allow both wringer and washer to
be operated simultaneously. This wringer can be operated in any
direction.

The motor is tucked away under the washer, and is well protected
against damp or drips. Incidentally it is provided with a spare
pulley so as to allow it to be used to drive a small unit for other
work. The washer is mounted on castors and can easily be moved
about for filling or emptying.

The Western ironer consists of a 40 in. roller, which can be either
electrically or gas heated, and there is, in addition, a rufHing
attachment for dealing with collars and cuffs that cannot easily
be operated on a straight roller. The ironer has both foot and
hand control, one of whose features is that the roller can be entirely
disconnected from the driving circuit and moved round easily by
hand for the preliminary arrangement of material. After the
material has passed through the ironer it falls in even folds on to
a special dropping board underneath.

Touehbutton House Translated.

Aladdin's genie has been at work, and for the time being Touch-
button House was transferred to Olympia, and in a very credit-
able, though condensed, form attracted numerous visitors to

Fig. 12. — A New "Maoicoal" Fire.

No. 106 standi This is not surprising, because Touehbutton House
the Second contained a very complete display of electric heating,
cooking, and plate-washing and clothes-washing apparatus or the

FiQ. 13. — The " Mulparvo ' Washing iUciaxE.

kind with which Berry's Electric, Ltd.. have long tempted the
electrical and lay public. It is hardly necessary to add that the
Magicoal files, one of which we show in Fig. 12, and the Colex

382

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

system of house heating were given considerable prominence
among most artistic surroundings.

In addition was to be found the Mulparvo electric servant, an
apparatus which will do practically everything that is required in
the kitchen and its subsidiary places, from plate washing to laundry
work, including brass polishing, batter mixing, cake making, ice
cream freezing, meat chopping, and boot polishing. This machine
is very compact, being 41 in. by 24 in. by 34 in., and is illustrated
in Fig. 13.

Another new invention which was on show is that devised for
table glass decoration for fruit and flowers. This brings into play
all the beautiful coloured effects of the solar spectrum in their
proper sequence so that the illuminated fruit and flower vases are
continually changing their appearance.

The "Ventiheta."

The Ventiheta, which was shown by the Ventiheta United
Kingdom, Ltd., is an apparatus for supplying a constant stream
of fresh warm air to the interior of a building. It is claimed that
those who use it will not only escape draughts, but
have the pleasure of hving in an even tempera-
ture. It seems worth trying not only from this
point of view, but because it gives no obnoxious
fumes or smells. We can imderstand this when
the electric model is used, but we beg leave to
doubt it if gas or oil is the heating agent. As our
illustration (Fig. 14) shows, the whole apparatus
is strongly constructed in sheet iron, which is
finished artistically to comply with various forms
of decoration. The height is 4 ft. 6 in. and the
base measures 13 V in. by 10 in. The electric
model is fitted with four Genii glowers with regu-
lating switches adjusting the consumption from
0-5 to 2 kWh per hour. It is stated from 2 000 to
5 000 cub. ft. of fresh-warmed air are induced
hourly by convection.

The Blue Bird washing and ironing machines
shown by the Blue Bird k Simplex Electric
Company at least has an attractive name, and if
their operation is only half as attractive from the
point of view of the company the exhibition
should have been an entire success. It is claimed
for the Blue Bird that it washes clothes spot-
lessly white. Perhaps this is because the tub
is very large and is made of copper tinned
inside. This tub is given an oscillatory motion
and cleansing is effected entirely by the action
of water and soap. The tub is controlled by one
lever alone and can be drained by pulling up a flexible rod. It is
stated that it is possible to wash £1 sterhng worth of laundry in
fifteen minutes, while the equivalent of 120 table napkins can be
ironed in the course of one hour without fatigue.
Hotpoint Appliances.
The Hotpoint Electric Appliance Company's stand should have
appealed strongly to the housewife who is interested in time and
labour-saving apphances. Here was to be found a range of all the
weU-known Hotpoint domestic electric apphances, including
electric irons for all sorts of uses, and one we especially noticed was
adjustable to any voltage. Turning to a rather more attractive
question we find many elegant designs of Hotpoint electric tea
kettles, teapots, and coffee percolators aU fitted with automatic
safety switches which are self-operated if the apparatus is inadvert-
ently left on circuit, and can be re-set merely by pressing a catch.
We must not forget electric toasters, griUs, immersion heaters, bed
warmers, fires, sewing machines, &c., all equipment tending to make
the home more comfortable and the housework hghter. This being
the aim in view, a special display was somewhat naturally given
to the latest model of Premier electric suction cleaner wliich
embodies a sensitive beater device by means of which the carpets
are beaten gently and rapidly at the same time as they are cleaned
by powerful suction. Then there is the AcrobeU electric clothes
washer, which embodies the vacuum comb principle whereby the
soapsuds are forced through the clothes, thus loosening and removing
the dirt without scrubbing, and then again, there is the Walker dish
washer, which not only saves labour but breakages as well —
altogether a representative exhibit of how electricity can assist in
solving the domestic problem.

What "Z" Means.
The " Z " Electric Lamp & Supplies Company, Ltd., had a
very complete exhibition of their indirect fighting bowls, panels,
friezes and plaques. The bowl fitting exhibited has been introduced
to overcome the dead and unsightly effect of the ordinary metal
indirect fighting fittings. It is formed from plaster castings to w hich,
by a patent process, the projjcrty of translucence is given. The casts
are reinforced by fabrics, and consequently any flower or other
colours desired can be introduced into the fitting. By day the bowl
has the appearance of white marble, but when illuminated the
colours become visible with very beautiful results. The bowl

Fig. 14.
A Typical
Ventiheta."

retains a soft degree of opacity to prevent the coloured rays entering
the roc mj s ) that a perfect white soft diffused Ught is, it is claimed,
obtainea. The panels and friezes, which are also translucent, are
highly artistic, and when illuminated the results are most effective,
especiaUy for the decoration of cinemas and pubfic halls, &c.

Panel Warming.

Richard Crittal k Co. had on view examples of their panel
system of warming, which has been designed to obtain the full
effect of radiant heat with all its advantages in contradistinction to
local warming by convection. It is claimed that by this method
not only may walls, floors, and cedings be heated in a simple and
unobtrusive way, but that curtains, screens, footstools and quilts,
and even chairs and settees may be used as heat transmitters, and
so form an efficient and convenient supplement to other methods of
heating. Only extremely low temperatures are employed, and the
maintenance of the apparatus is therefore claimed to be negUgible.

More Washing Machines.

The Northern Steel & Hardware Company were showing
their " Laundry Queen " electric washing machine which, it is
claimed, will wash all the clothes of an ordinary household at a cost
of under 2d. for electrical energy and, what is more, wash them
better and cleaner than can be done by hand ; while, thrown in as
a sort of makeweight, it will wring, rinse them and blue them — in
fact, do everything but place them on the line. All these wonderful
things are done without damage to the clothes, owing principally
to the gentle action of the dolly, which passes hot soapy water
through the mesh of the clothing.

The wringer which is fitted has an automatic adjustment so that
it will take any thickness of material, and can be swung to any
position, so that the wringing of one batch of clothes can be done
whilst the second is being washed.

Also on this stand was the Northern electric vacuum cleaner, which
performs all sorts of useful cleaning operations. It works not only
by suction, but when reversed blows dust from heavy pieces of
furniture such as wardrobes and sideboards.

Floor Polishing.

The Electrolux floor poUsher is, as its name implies, a useful
piece of apparatus, which has been particularly designed to do away
with a particularly back-breaking form of domestic labour in
medium-size houses. Its loading is only 140 W and it can therefore
be run from any fighting circuit. The power of the motor is ^ h.p.,
and the speed is 7 000 revs, per min. Two sets of brushes are
provided, one with hard bristles and one with soft bristles, and in
both sets there are two parts which run in reverse directions, the
outer brush running at half the speed of the inner brush.

Spring Cleaning Simplified

The Electric Suction Cleaner Company (proprietors, Scholey
& Company, Ltd.) were exhibiting their well-known Croydon electric
vacuum cleaner, which, it is claimed, provides an example of one
of the latest features of electric vacuum cleaners, which is wholly
British made. The machine is standardised for all voltages, and
demonstrations, which attracted a good deal of interest, M-ere
held at frequent intervals.

The Hoover Suction Sweeper Company were showing their
weU-known equipment, a distinguishing feature of which is that
it beats the carpets as they fie on the floor, sweeps them electrically,
and cleans them by air. Its utUity is not confined to carpets,
however, and it will with equal effect clean curtams, hangings,
upholstery, clothes, etc., without raising any dust. In these
spring days a cheap way of getting one's carpet cleaned is to register
your name with the Hoover Suction Cleaner Company, and they
wdlJ give you a free demonstration in your own home on your own
carpet. How they make a profit out of it we don't know.

Gillespie a Beales were showing a number of their " Nilfisk "
electric suction cleaners ; while an exceUent range of electric labour-
saving apphances, including several types of electric vacuum cleaners
and a fine range of portable electric cleaners for all purposes, were
show n by Duncan, Watson & Company. On this stand were also to be
found the " Rotapex ' electric clothes washer and double ironer and
the Alafort electric gramophone. Play a tune while you wash — not
a bad idea !

The Aster Engineering Company were sliowing one of their
25 V British light semi-automatic countr\'-house lighting plants
complete with 170 A hour 13 cells storage batterj', the engine in
this case being arranged to run on town gas. Automatic pumping
sets for country house work were also to be found.

Studebaker, Ltd., were exhibiting the well-known Lalley power
plant, of which many thousands arc in operation to-day in country
houses and other similar places.

Elcctrically-tiriven sewing machines were to be found with many
interesting attachments on the stand of the Singer Sewing
Machine Company, Ltd.

The Eureka vacuum cleaner, which is tfistinguished h\ having
2 mile a min. suction and thereby is capable cf doing all household
cleaning of carpets, hangings, beddings, cvc, was shown by the
Electrical Appliances Company.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

383

An Electric Conduit and Pipe Clearing
Device.

By E. GEORGES CHEUVREUX. Jr.

Few effective methods are available for blowing down obstructions
in pipes, particularly electrical conduits, that are placed in the walls
or other positions during the construction of a building. Most of
these conduits are laid in position before the cementing or plastering
is completed, and during the time that such work is being accom-
plished. Experience shows that it is not practical to cap the ends of
these pipes, although sometimes wooden plugs or waste rags arc
placed in the exposed ends, but oftentimes these plugs or rags, or
cement are forced into, the tube to such an extent that when the pipe
is sealed into position by the completion of the walls, the pipe is
practically useless, until a great deal of labour has been employed
to extract these obstructions.

There is no tool made at present that can be placed in the tool kit
that will work effectually against all clogging in pipes. In many
cases, conduits have had to be abandoned and others erected.

An American .Device.

A device has, however, been patented in the United States, and
wUl probably be placed on the market in the near future, that will
blow down any foreign matter in conduit, such as wooden plugs,
waste, cement, plaster, and even ice. On a test it blew through 200 ft.
of conduit, and round the elbows, and carried before it all the
obstructing material. The principle of the device is concussion,
and the tool itself is simple in construction, easily handled and safe.
Conduit is usually provided with screw threads on the exposed ends
to wkich fittings are screwed. It is on these exposed threaded ends
that the device is attached.

Details of the Device.

Fig. 1 shows a fitting which may be a casting finished in black
enamel or galvanised, or it may have its exterior knurled. Fig. 2
shows a sectional view and details of the device. The interior of one
end has screw threads (2) while the other end is reduced and pro-
vided with screw threads (3) and (4). Communicating with (2) is a
small bore (5). Member (6) is similar to member (1) and is also
provided with screw threads (7) into which member (1) is screwed.
Member (6) is provided with a reduced portion (8), having a
longitudinal passage through which the firing pin (10) passes. The
firing pin consists of a knob (12) and a firing point (11). The knob or
firing plate is screwed (13) to the pin itself. The pin operates freely

4 7

Fig. 1. — Diagram of Pipe Clearing Device attached to Pipe.
Fig. 2. — Sectional View and Details.

in the passage (9), so that there is no effective pressure until it is
required. There is also a spring used on the firing in, so that it
rebounds after discharging cartridge, but this is not shown in the
sketch.

The Operation.

The device is operated as follows : Member (1) is screwed to the
pipe, and this member can be made any size to suit the diameter of
the pipe, and can be used on two sizes of pipes by means of reducers,
^nd also on elbows or any fitting attached to the pipe. A blank
cartridge (14) of 0-32 cahbre is then placed in the passage (5) with
its flanged end resting on the face of the passage. Member (6) is then
firmly screwed to this, and a blow of a hammer, on the knob wiU
explode the cartridge. The explosion in the pipe will cause sufficient
pressure to blow out all foreign matter. If a single cartridge does
not accomplish the work effectuall}% a second or even a third cart-
ridge may be used, but as a rule it will be found that one will do the
work.

A committee of Liverpool citizens has been formed to make
preparations for the 1923 m€<?tii)g of the British Association
which will be held in that city. The council of the Association hae
decided to nominate Sir Ernest Rutherford as president for 1923.
G

" Igranic " Theatre Dimmers.

Igbanic theatre dimmers have been used ever since electricity was
firet employed for etage lighting. Stage electricians will remember
the large and heavy " Igranic ' dimmers first used for electrically
illuminated stage effects. Subsequent developments, however,
resulted in the production of a circular plate dimmer, known as the
"Igranic" Simplicity dimmer. With this tyj>e of dimmer it was
possible, to secure much better and more convenient control, and the
present day " Igranic " dimmers are of the same type, with various
improvements. One installation of the old type, however, has ncft
only been continuously in service since 1900, but on one occasion
was submerged entirely by a flood.

The latest design of dimmer plate has a great many more contact
segments, so that the resistance of the plate can be cut in or out of

A Eecent Theatre Installation.

the lamp circuit in smaller quantities, thus allowing much smoother
and more gradual variations and graduations in the lamp brilliancy.
Instead of having resistance on one side of the plate only, aa in the
earlier type, the new plates can be provided, where necessary, with a
resistance on each side of the base. This really makes one plate
equal to two of the earlier type. Each side can be used as a dimmer
for a separate group of carbon filament or tungsten lamps. Or one
o? these plates may be useu as a complete two-wire or a complete
three-wire dimmer.

The contact buttons are of punched copper and ground smooth, so
that there is very little friction between them and the c ntact
lever. Operation "is consequently very easy. The terminals are of
brass, mounted on the circumference of the plate, and are easily
accessible. The wires connecting the terminals to the resistance are
arranged in grooves in the soapstone base under the malleable iron
frame. The contact lever is bolted to an insulating disc, which in
turn is mounted on the shaft carrying th'? operating pinions. All
current carrying parts are therefore perfectly insulated from
operating levers, shafts, rack rods, pinions, iron base frame, and the
frame work in which the plates are assembled.

The terminals for making the connections are accessibly located,
and the well-known rack and pinion drive, first employed on
" Igranic " dimmers, is used for moving the brushes over the contact
segments. The length of the operating levers makes it possible to
obtain very gradual movement, eliminating jerky motions and conse-
quent poor dimming effects.

Osram Axial Type Lamps.

The Osram axial type lamp is specially designed for uee where
a concentrated downward li^ht is required The filaraent i^
mounted at right angles to tTie axis and the light is therefore
thrown do'vnward instead of honzont.dly.

This downward illumination is increased by the use of an opal
reflector, which fits closely to the upper half of the bidb, and is
held in position bv a br-iss ring. ^\ ith the opal reflector a 50 \N
Osram axial type lamp gives a maximum of nearly 50 c.p. at
ancles up to 30 decj. from the vertical. Lamps of 30 and 60 \N
are obtainable in all standard voltage ra.nges between 100 and
259 V.

The Genkr.*l Elfctric Comf.vny have just issued an illustrated
leaflet, No O.S 2.F44. -n whirh these lamps are fully described and
priced .

384

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

AU-Electric Houses at Glasgow.

Mr. R. Hardie, of the Glasgow Electricity Department, sends
us some details of the " all-electric " houses at Riddrie which were
open for public inspection between Feb. 15 and March 8. During
that period the houses were visited by 28 000 people, the average
daily attendance being 1 470. The lowest attendance on any one
day was 366, when a heavy snowstorm took place, and the highest

2 316.

Riddrie is situated in the north- east of Glasgow about 3 miles
from the centre of the city, and the only public advertisement of
the exhibition was an announcement which was placed on all the
tramcars.

General Details.

Pig. 1 affords some idea of the interest created in these houses,
and, in fact, it was found physically impossible to deal satisfactorily
\dth the large numbers on a few of the busiest days, especially as
something more was desired than merely allowing the people to
pass through the houses. Endeavours were made to give sufficient
time for the visitors to become interested not only in the general
get-up of the houses, but in their special features, such as the
absence of fireplaces in the bedrooms, the advantages of electric
fires, &c. The kitchenette or scullery, containing the electric cooker,
clothes and dish washing machine, electric hot water circulator,
ironing table and electric iron, was perhaps the most attractive
apartment in the house, the dish washer somewhat naturally making
a special appeal to the ladies. This kitchen is illustrated in Fig. 2.

Installation Features.

' It may be mentioned that the two houses on view were semi-
detached, each containing five apartments and including on the
ground floor a living room, parlour, commodious scuUery, larder,
pram house, and on the upper floor three bedrooms and a bathroom.
The houses were not especially designed as " all- electric " houses,
but were similar to those now being erected at Riddrie with the
exception that the fireplaces and the necessary flues and chimney-
heads were omitted from the parlours and bedrooms, but were
retained in the living rooms. One of the houses had a complete
installation for lighting, cooking, heating, hot water supply and
washing by electricity. The other house was similar, with the
exception that a coal fire was provided in the living room with a
copper boiler behind it which was connected to a copper hot water
tank in the scullery for providing a hot water supply. In the case
of the " all electric house," the hot water supply was given from a
calorifier set, comprising a 20-gallon copper storage tank and a

3 kW circulator..

In the second house, an open fire was fitted to heat the living
room and provide hot water. Smokeless fuel was used in this open
fire, and unlike some smokeless fuels of former days, this was literally
smokeless, and confirmed the claim that if all houses were equipped

Fig. 1, — QuEtJEs Waiting Admissio'j to House.

after the fashion of either of the Riddrie hous.'S Glasgow would be
a cleaner and healthier place in which to live, and the perpetual
smoke pall which overhangs Glasgow, like most large cities, would
be a thing of the past.

The Omission of Fireplaces.

The omission of fireplaces was one of the features that received
favourable comment from the visitors. Convention dies hard,
but it was demonstrated, Mr. Hardie thinks, beyond argument that
the provision of fireplaces with grates, flues and chimney-heads is
an unnecessary expenditure, quite uncalled for in a modern dwelling.
The argument that the coal or gas-fire flues are indispensable for
ventilation or changing the air of the room received its quietus.
The rooms were ventilated satisfactorily by means of small openings
in upper part of walls.

The lighting fixtures throughout were of the latest type, and in
addition a choice selection of floor and table standard lamps were

Justified by Results.

Proof of the wide interest created is evidenced by the large
numbers who travelled from all parts of the city, often in inclement
weather, and departed obviously delighted with their visit.

As to permanent results, the department is j ustified in considering
the Electric House Exhibit one of the best propaganda efforts
made by them^^ and certainly the cheapest. The department set

Fig. 2. — Scullery showing Washing Machine, Wash
BoiLEE, Cooker, &c.

out to prove the claim previously made by them, that a modern
electric house, although worth infinitely more, costs no more to build
than the average house with its coal fires and other relics of former
days. They are satisfied that the majority of the visitors left with
the conviction that an electric house is the ideal, their only obstacle
being the difficulty of securing one. Many of the visitors regretted
the fact that they did not at present enjoy electric service, but the
department are content in the knowledge that they have in many
cases induced dissatisfaction with their present environment, a very
necessary first step to reform.

Women nowadays are desirous of reducing housework to a
minimum, and to this end electricity has no rival. The electric
house idea will in all probability extend. When one reads of the
experience of American towns where in one year eighty electric
homes in as many cities were built, equipped electrically and opened
for public inspection and visited by close on 1,000,000 visitors,
Mr. Hardie points out that many within the electrical industry do
not even now appreciate the magnitude of this achievement.

Houses V. Showrooms.

As a result of close personal observation of the Glasgow
experiment, Mr. Hardie is of opinion that such an exliibit is bound
to be productive of a growing desire for electric service in many
homes. No matter how well laid-out the showroom may be, no
matter how seductively the various pieces of electrical apparatus
may be displayed therein, nothing can compare for direct appeal
with the electric home exhibit, in which all the appliances are shown
in actual working operation, each in its proper place.

As is fitting, both houses are now being rented by members of the
Glasgow Corporation Electricity Department Staff, and careful
comparative records will be taken to ascertain actual running costs
of all apparatus. The houses will also be open at any time for
interested visitors.

L. Q. Hawkins & Company have issued a descriptive leaflet of
their new Vio Ray high-frequency outfits. This deecribes the
"Baby" model, which is supplied complete v'th one surface elec-
trode, and is specially manufactured for use in the home. Various
other applicators are available for such complaints as pyorrhoea,
catarrh, throat troubles, nervous disorders, &c.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

385

Correspondence.

"A BRIGHTER INSTITUTION."

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICJAN.

Sir, — I wish, as a result of my recent experience, to endorse in
general the remarks you make. I suggested, when I knew that
three subjects were to be taken in one evening, that my Paper be
taken as read, but was told by the secretary that was not allowed,
and I was forced to attempt in ten minutes a hurried and breathless
survey.

I would like to correct the report of my reply. I think I said,
and I intended to say, that starting conditions were infinite (not
indefinite as reported), and to attempt to set up standard rules to^
meet infinite conditions was ridiculous. That is why any rules
drawn up by the B.E.S.A. will be ignored in practice unless they
confine themselves to a statement regarding temperature rises for
various classes of material and a statement regarding the information
to be given the starter maker. — I am, etc., J. Anderson.

Birmingham, March 25.

THE INSTITUTION BUILDING.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — Immediately following the Faraday Celebrations you
inserted my letter calling attentioti to the bad illumination of the
lecture hall.

Since then the member of CJovmcil who, together with our
immediate past-President, was responsible for the alterations
announced at an ordinary meeting of members, has informed me
that at the Faraday Celebrations the top lights were not turned on,
and showed me the details of the altered illumination which was
used at last Thursday's meeting.

It is good to know the council were not satisfied with the illumin-
ation when we returned " home," but it is to be regretted that the
altered lighting cannot be called a real improvement or form an
object lesson in good practice. The cove lighting, above the Council
table, has been abolished and the illumination of the side coves
tapered from zero to maximum in the 10 or 15 ft. adjoining it. The
back cove is fully illuminated. To compensate for the resultant
lack of light around the President, four high candle-power half -watt
(inert gasfiUed) lamps have been fixed above the glass ceiling so
that the President is fully aware of " the fierce light that beats
upon a throne," for he suffers from glare both from the opposite
cove and especially from the direct rays of the ceiling- hid lamps.
The improvement is a shuffle and not radical.

The illumination in other parts of our home is apparently having
attention, for newly erected milk glass hemispheres of an obsolete
and inefficient type are being tried in one room apparently regardless
of the fact that this form of semi-indirect illumination is already
dying out.

As destructive criticism should always be supported by con-
structive suggestions, I am sending to the council a scheme that
wiU be an improvement on what we have at present in our lecture
hall, and the object of this letter is to get others who have the
interests of correct Ulumination at heart to do the same so that the
whole question can be reconsidered and a model up-to-date
illumination be obtained. — I am, &c., Justus Eck.

Chiswick, March 25.

RENTAL WIRING AT EASTBOURNE.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — The editorial notes on the rental wiring at Eastbourne
appearing in your issue of March 10th have interested me con-
siderably, but I note that the figures which you quote as the cost
for wiring these houses are based on some preliminary estimates
and not on the actual figure for which the vriring contracts have
been let. The cost of £9 per house for wiring a group of six-light
houses with the simplest possible fittings is clearly on the high
side, even allowing for the contractors' profit and an overhead
charge by the Corporation. The actual price, however, at which
the successful contractors, Messrs. A. C. Burton & Sons, have
quoted for the work was 18s. per point, including a pendent, opal
shade and lamp and ironclad D.P. combined switch and fuses for
each house into which the Corporation will lead direct.

This extremely low price is partly accounted for by the fact
that the Ediswan wiring system will be employed. — I am, &c.,

F. Charles Raphael,
Manager, Cable and Wire Department,
Edison Swan Electric Co., Ltd.

Ponders End, March 22.

MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL EFFECTS OF LARGE
CURRENTS ON H.-T. SWITCHGEAR. .

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.
Sir, — While we have no desire to carry on a lengthy discussion
in your columns, there are one or two points on which we feel
comment on Dr. Garrard's letter of the 20th iust. is desirable.

We cannot agree that the wooden operating rod is a ty^e now
abandoned in face of the fact that it is used in the apparatus built
Q 2

by both the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company and
the General Electric Company in America, certain Continental
Companies, and to some extent by ourselves. The prejudice
which exists in some quarters is entirely due to experience with
wood rods which have been improperly treated. It seems hardly
fair to imply that the practice is obsolete in face of the above
examples to the contrary.

In regard to the type of contacts this is entirely a matter of
opinion, since each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
The space question is so often the determining factor that the
brush type of switch appears to be increasingly popular, especially
for the heavier currents. It is certainly not possible entirely to
eliminate either the brush or the controller fingers when considering
the wide range of designs now demanded.

In conclusion, we would like to .state that contacts similar to
Dr. Garrard's Fig. 36 have been known to freeze together. This
is due to the arc between the moving wedge and the tips of the
two contacts which are drawn together by reason of the current
passing through the two parallel flexible paths. — We are, &c.,
Metropolitan-Vicker.s Electrical Company, Ltd.

Trafford Park, March 27.

Institution Business.

The business at the special general meetings of the Institution
OF Electrical Engineers on Thursday, March 23, was performed
fairly quickly before a meagre audience.

Financial Matters.

The first of these special general meetings was called to pass a
resolution authorising a formal transfer of the debt of the old
Institution to the new chartered body. This was passed without
either remark or dissention.

The By-Laivs.

The second general meeting, which immediately followed, was
called to consider and, if thought fit, to pass draft by-laws. It
was opened by the President formally moving the adoption of the
by-laws as submitted. In doing so, Mr. Highfield referred to the
excellent work of Mr. Atkinson and Sir James Devonshire in securing
the Royal charter and exhibited copies of the Institution's new seal.

The Proposed Changes.

Mr. Llewelyn B. Atkinson, in seconding the adoption of the
draft by-laws, gave a detailed account of the proposed changes and
their probable effects. In dealing with by - law 9. which sets
out the initials that may be used by the different classes of members,
he remarked that it had been hoped to bring in the words " chartered
electrical engineer," but the Privy Council were averse to this,
and it appeared that the historic case of the term " chartered
accountant " being permitted was a mistake, as it was the members
as an institution which received the charter and not the members
individually. With regard to by-law 41, which deals with the
expulsion of members, ilr. Atkuison pointed out the great difficulties
of the whole question. If the general body of members were the
deciding authority in matters of this kind, as had been the cise,
it was obvious in equity that a detailed statement wovdd have
to be issued to each member, a course which presented obvious
difficulties. While as the most crowded meeting could only represent
a small proportion of the membership it might be easy more or less
to pack the gathering on the behalf of the member concerned. If
the Council used proxies to carry their r^'olution. as they were
perfectly entitled to do. they might be accused of prejudicing the
defendant's case. The Council, in such matters, were really a court
and not the prosecutors, and under the new by-law there would
still be an appeal from them to a special body of three pa^t-
presidents. In detailing the new policy for tlie nomination and
election of the Coimcil, he mentioned that the nomination of
associate members need not be done by associate membeis alcne,
but by members and associate members together, so long as the
nomination paper was not signed by more than ten people.

The Expulsion Dilemma.

Dr. S. P. Smith commented adversely on the proposed alterations
in the by-laws with regard to expulsion. He was afraid that by
the procedure suggested the Council might place itself in an invidious
position. For, subsequent to their decision, the offending member
might obtain sufficient support to call a special protest meeting or
a feeling mieht arise that injustice had been done so that idtimately
a vote of no confidence in the Council might be passed. Even if
an offending member could obtain sufficient support at a general
meeting to keep him in the Institution he (Dr. Smith) thought that
would be the less of the two evils.

Mr. C. Le ^LiiSTRE. however, supported the Council's proposal
on the grounds that in such cases there were often reasons for
expulsion which it would be impossible to give at a general meeting.
This line was also taken by Mr. P. M. Baker, who said that the

386

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

procedure followed by various"^^mcdical associations was very
similar to that now suggested by the Council.
Election Difficulties.

Mr. F. C. Raphael also endorsed the remarks of Mr. Le Maistre
and Mr. Baker. He, however, objected to the retrograde step
which the Council proposed to take on the election question.
During Dr. Ferranti's presidency it had been proposed that members
should send in nominations from which the Council could fill the
vacancies. There was an outcry against this because as a result
the existing rule had been adopted. The Council could not be
expected to place its finger on every likely candidate, and he was
afraid that unless there was a distinct statement that outside
nominations would not only be tolerated but welcomed, the Council's
nominations would be regarded more or less as having the force
of election and no one would care to put up any opposition.
The Official View.

The President, in replying to the criticisms, said that the
question of expulsion was a most delicate one, but it was better for
the person expelled that there should be no publicity,
t Mr. Atkinson said that the nomination of suitable members for
the Council by those outside the Council was certainly welcomed.
It Avas one of the ways in which the new and unsuspected merit
might be found, particularly from the territorial centres.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.

number of men in all gangs employed amounting to sixty and the
maximum to seventy-nine.

Vernier copper braid and Vernier patent baffle plates were

Electricity Supply to a Garden City.

A little disturbance was caused in these columns some time ago
by criticisms of the supineness of the Weiwyn Garden City and the
North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Company in providing
a supply of electricity for the inhabitants of Weiwyn. This
difficulty has for some time now been overcome' by the supply of
energy from the North Metropolitan station at Hertford to a
special and very handsome sub-station on the land of the Weiwyn
Garden City through a 20 000 V cable. The cabling, which was
carried out by the British Insulated & Helsby Cables, Ltd., con-
sisted of the laying and jointing 6^ milee of O'OS sq. in. three-core

Fio. 1. — A Typical Joint.

single-wire armoured 20 000 V cable and the same length of com-
bined screened pilot and telephone cable, botli laid in theeame trench.
The feeder so formed is protected by means of the Merz-Beard
protective system. The cable, besides supplying the Garden City,
forms part of an inter-connector between Hertford and the North
Metropolitan Company's generating station at St. Albans. Both
cables were laid direct in the ground with a protective covering rf
creosoted boards. The normal depth of trench gave 24 in. of cover
throughout. One mile of the route lioe alongside the Great Northern
Railway Company's branch line to Hertford, and includes three
river crossings, for which special girdei-s had to be provided. The
remainder of the route follows the Hertford-Welwyn road and
henoe across arable land to the sub-station.
The whole work took nine weeks exactly to carry out, the average

Fig. 2. — Laying the Heetfokd-Welwyn Cable.

used for jointing, the joints being protected by creosoted boxes
with sheet iron tops. The cable was tested for fifteen minutes by
means of a Delon unidirectional testing set, with 80 000 V between
the cores and 60 000 V between cores and earth.

B.T.-H. " Trutint " Colour-Matching Unit.

The "Trutint," Unit, recently produced by the British Thomson-
Houston CoMVANY, consists of a Mazdalux reflector fitted with a special
daylight glass screen, and equipped with a Mazda gasfilled lamp. This
screen, by absorbing most of the red and yellow rays, produces an
illumination which, to all intents and purposes, is identical with day-
light from a north sky.

The success of the "Trutint" Unit dejjends of course upon the com-
position and colour of the glass screen. The development and produc-
tion of this glass have involved a large amount of research and experiment
spread over a long period. The actual apparatus is simple enough —
so simple, indeed, that many people
might think it possible to achieve
the same results by filtering the light
through an ordinary piece of blue-
tinted glass. Although artificial light
modified in this way might have the
appearance of daylight, the colour
test would immediately expose its
inaccuracy.

The British Thomson - Houston
Company have fitted up demonstra-
tion cabinets to prove this point.
Each cabinet consists of several com-
partments, one compartment being
lighted by a bare carbon lamp, another
by a bare metal filament lamp, a
third by a gasfilled lamp in a reflector
fitted with ordinary blue glass, and
a fourth by a Mazda gasfilled lamp
in a "Trutint" unit. Bibbons of
various colours are stretched along
the floor of the cabinet, and one may
see at a glance how the colours are
affected by the different forms of
lighting equipment. The variations
are startUng, and there is a very
perceptible difference between the
effects produced respectively by the
"Trutint" unit and the ordinary
blue glass.

"Trutint" iniits are made in two
forms. One consists simplj' of the

reflector and screen, which is contained in a metal ring secured by
thumbscrews to the reflector. This form is for pendent use in industrial
and commercial establishments, and it is supplied in three sizes, for
lOOW, 200W and oOOW Mazda gastilled lamps. The other miit is only
made in one size — for a lOOW lamp, and coiisists of the reflector and
screen lifted to a standard ecjuipped with a switch in the base, the
entire imit being linishod in antique copper. This standard type of
"Trutint" is intended for use encounters, desks, &c., where it
is desired to have local daylight illumination without interfering with
the general lighting scheme.

One of the most interesting of the many "Trutint" installations that
have been carried out was the temporary equipment of sixty large
"Trutint" Units employed to light the Royal Gardens at the Ideal
Home Exhibition, referred to in our issue of ilarch 10

B.T.-H. "Trutint" Unit

FOR pendent use, SHOWINO

special daylight glass

screen detached from

reflector.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

387

Showroom Displays and Demonstrations.

The fifth and last of the Salesmanship Conferences to be held
this season by the E.D.A. took place recently, when Mr. A. C.
Bostel, of Croydon, read a paper on " Salesmanship in Relation to
Showroom Displays and Demonstrations." Mr. H. Marry at
occupied the chair.

Mk. Bostel dealt with the subject from the central etation
•engineer's point of view, and assumed a case where the authority
had full powers to hire, sell and hire-purchase. Although he was
firmly of the opinion that all supply undertakings, however
restricted their powers might be, should have a showroom to
demonstrate the uses to which electricity could be put. A large
number of showrooms for the display of electrical apparatus, he
said, were very poorly equipped and even in some large stores he
had found an amount of shoddy apparatus offered for sale and
the assistants quite at a loss to give definite information of the cost
of running them.

Windovir Display and Arrangement.

Dealing with window display and arrangement, Mr. Bostel said
that the space inside the window of a showroom should be such as
to allow on© or two of each article which was of use to be shown,
so arranged that everything could be seen from outside. Each
article should have a card, stating what it was, its price, and the cost
of running per hour or per operation. The display should be as
varied as possible and not overcrowded nor mixed up with wiring
accessories. He emphasised the importance of maintaining the
lighting up till about eleven o'clock at night, so that the display
should not be hidden from the public when the showroom was closed.
A simple and inexpensive time-switch controlling a few lights in each
window gave an attractive advertisement. The inside lighting
of the window should be so arranged that different systems might
be switched on. Outside lighting could also be demonstrated, but
the outside lamps should only be switched on for demonstration
purposes, as otherwise they would seriously contrast with the
window display.

Showrooms should be divided up into sections, each section
being devoted to a particular purpose. For example, one section
to take cookery, toasters, grillers, kettles, &c. ; another section
showing heating apparatus, vacuum cleaners, and so on. The power
section should have one or two direct-driven machines. Most manu-
facturers would be pleased to loan these machines, provided their
representative could bring his prospective client in. It was
important to have a comfortable chair for a client, because once
he was in this the salesman's art was easy.

Avoidance of Too Many Makes of Apparatus.

It was a mistake to show many different makes of apparatus, and
a salesman should carefully investigate the various makers' goods,
thoroughly test them, and decide which was best.

Another section of the showroom should be devoted to lighting,
and a darkened partitioned cupboard showing the effect of various
reflectors fitted, as well as different types of fittings. Each section
should be wired on a different system, giving some idea of the effect
of each, and each section should have a wattmeter, calibrated in
pence per hour, fixed so that the consumption of any apparatus
could be given. Then, if space permitted, a hall containing 200 or
300 people should be set aside for talks and demonstrations.

Coming to the selection and management of a showroom staff, the
greatest care should be exercised in this connection. He had found
that girls possessing the necessary personality, appearance and
address made idea.1 assistants.. For selling domestic appliances in
a showroom they were far more efficient than men, were more eager
to please, and showed unlimited patience.

The Sho^vroom Staff.

Mr. Bostel then went into the question of keeping records. All
sales and monies received should be kept distinct from the accents
for energy sold, so that an accurate record of the results of a depart-
ment might be maintained. All goods bought should go into stock
in the stores and be o-iven a serial number, and each class of apparatus
should have a distinguishing letter. He favoured the American
system of carton packing for small accessories. Particulars of each
sale should be recorded, with the name and address of the pur-
chaser, for the benefit of the outside staff, so that, when working
a road, they could see what each householder had. At Croydon he
used cards arranged in roads, numerically, giving the name of each
householder, the installation existing, apparatus used, &c., so that
the outside staff practically knew what apparatus each householder
had.

Careful Investigation of Complaints.

Dealing with the investigation of complaints, the author pointed
out how necessary it was to deal carefully with each one. To
satisfy a consumer was just as important as obtaining new business.
They should not be afraid of showing how economies might be
effected, because although revenue might be lost on that pai'ticular
consumer, it came back two or three-fold in other directions.

DISCUSSION.

Mr Seaman spoke from the point of view of the ordinary con-
tractor. It was often beyond the contractor to have a showroom
of the size dealt with by the lecturer, and he suggested the
stimulation of public interest by holding popular lectures on
electricity and. its uses, especially if accompanied by lantern slides
or kinematograph displays. Something might be done by manu-
facturers, contractors and supply authorities, through the E.D.A.,
in the direction of running such public lectures during the winter in

large puVjlic halls. Apparatus could be loaned, and demonstrations
given. He also suggested that contractors in various districts should
combine together and run a sort of permanent exhibition, supported
by the supply companies in the districts. He was very much
against manufacturers opening showrooms themselves, and also
urged that supply authorities should supply current to contractors
at a nominal rate, because the authorities would reap any reward
from the sale of apparatus for which current had to be used.

Contractors* Difficulties.

Mr. Young complained of the difficulties contractors had to face
through manufacturers giving discounts to the public ; such a policy
on the part of manufacturers was short-sighted. If the industry
were to develop as it should, then the retailer must be encouraged.

Mr. Mann agreed that saleswomen phould be encouraged ; they
were a help in dealing with their own sex. He also disagreed with
wholesalers having showrooms, because if they sold to the public
direct they were earning two profits.

Showrooms for Education.

Mr. W. a. Gillott pointed out how many contractors were
albe thoroughly to demonstrate all classes of cooking and
heating apparatus in their showrooms. In his opinion there
were very few. His firm (Jackson Electric Stove Co.) had a show-
room, and it was mainly used for educational purposes. If anyone
came into it he was asked for the name of his contractor, and if th»
client paid cash for whatever he had purchased the contractor was
informed that a discount had been placed to his credit. No par-
chasers, except those connected with the trade, were allowed
discount. He was not sure that he was in favour of exhibiting the
price of each article, because, in the case of a washing machine, if
a client saw it priced at £50 or £60 he would not consider it. It
was better to tell a customer how much a machine would cost to
run. With regard to saleswomen, from the domestic point of
view they were the best sellers, and there was a peculiar
understanding between women in this connection.

Mr. F. W. Leevers referred to the difficulty that some con-
tractors would not carry stocks. As to saleswomen, he would like
to know whether Mr. Bostel had tried older women, because if a
woman were too young she did not carry sufficient weight with a
householder.

Mr. Hxjghman pleaded for more co-operation, especially among
contractors in their own districts. He believed the day of the
small man was rapidly passing.

Window Display Questions.

Mb. Bush advocated the changing of window displays frequently,
and also the dealing with one kind of article at a time. It was
also advisable to make a display look seasonable by concentrating
on radiators, &c., in the winter, and fans in the summer. With
regard to manufacturers loaning goods to contr ctors, he did not see
why they should. There seemed to be an idea in the industry that
manufacturers should set contractors up by lending them ^oods, but
if that were done all over the country it would mean siniing a lot
of money. Again, he maintained that if a contractor bought a
thing he would exert himself more to sell it, whereas if it were
merely loaned to him he would not be so keen. Contractors did not
carry enough stock, and he was quite sure that in his own district
the contractors had not an iron in stock bstween them.

Organisation of Public Lectures.

The CHArRM.'^N, dealing wita the organisation of public lectures,
&c., to further public interest in electricity, said that the E.D.A.
was considering this matter at the present time, and hoped to do
more. It chiefly remained for contractors, manufacturers und
supply authorities to provide the wherewithal. He also referred to
the activities of the Electrical Contractors' Association with regard
to the opening of showrooms. As to the i^cording of the names of
householders and the apparatus used by tliem, he mentioned that in
Cincinnatti an electrical firm had mapped out every house in the
city, so that any man who entered the showro-, m could be told within
a very few minutes exactly what it would cost to wire his house.

The Author's Reply.

Mr. Bostel, replying to the discussion, said it had not lieen his
experience that inspectors, &c., were more enlightened than the
salesmen and could deal with consumers better. At Croydon they
had inaugurated a scheme whereby these men were given com-
mission on any new business they might introduce, but the business
obtained was very small and the information given by the men
was bad. He would like to see something done to prevent manu-
facturers supplying goods at trade price to those not connected with
the trade. He' asked contractors to get it out of their heads that
supply authorities wished to sell apparatus. They were really not a
bit interested, but merely wanted to see people buying electricity.

Electrical Freemasonry.

Mb,. J. W. Be.vuchamp, responding to a vote of thanks, said there
was one feature in everything the E.D.A. undertook, and that was
that all associations in the industry were represented. He wanted
the Association to be used as a machine for goodwill in the electrical
industry : it was out for what he described as a sort of electrical
freemasonry.

Licences of Rioirr have been granted to N. E. Dufty, for Patent
No. 122 290 (2 549/18), for "centrifugal t\-pe of mercury cut-
out for dvnamo electrical machines " : and to Constructions Elec-
triques de" Belgiciue, Soc. Anon., for Patent No. 148 569 ^20 573 20),
for "an improved process for regenerating energy in d.c. electric
motors."

388

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

Troughton & Young's New Showrooms.

The interest shown by the pubhc in the exhibition of domestic graph wLU give some idea of the variety of fittings exhibited,
electrical apparatus at Trouchton and Young's new showrooms in The hot water radiators for heating the premises are prominently
Knightsbridge, indicates the value of such an exhibition, and shown, but the firm point out that the heating was included in the
we are very glad to hear that the initiative of this firm of rent and they cannot spend an additional £50 a year on electricity,
contractors has met with success. It required
a little courage and a great deal of thought
to launch out on expensive premises in the West
End just now when rents are very high, rates
nearly as high, and profits on electrical apparatus
are smaller than those on goods usually shown
in the West End. But we understand that as a
direct result of this exhibition, many inquiries
have been received, and apparatus has been sold
to chance customers in various parts of the country,
and in W'ales and Scotland as well as London. The
firm state that their experience is that most manu-
facturers give fair and reasonable discount to the
retailer, and that the few who do not will either
have to change their ways or lose business.

Popularising Electricity in Home.

The object of the new showrooms was, of course,
to popularise the use of electrical appliances in
the home, and the firm took a very great deal
of trouble in selecting those which they considered
the best all-round articles and the most likely to
suit their prospective customers. This was no
easy task. Many points had to be considered,
including bulk, weight, consumption, amount of
labour required to keep clean, and, above all,
the price.

The accompanying illustration shows some
of their choice, though the Jackson stoves and
ABC and Elko washers cannot be seen. The
Hoover vacuum cleaner is visible in the forefront.
The number of " Universal " appliances on view
was a splendid testimony to their popularity. Among
the other exhibits were Berry's " Magicoal "
fire, Henley's wiring system, Armstrong- Whitworth
lighting sets, Crompton switchboards, Tudor
accumulators ; and a glance at the photo -

CORNfiE OF TkOUGHTON & YoUNG'S SHOWROOMS AT KnIGHTSBRIDGE.

Maconite." A New Insulating Material.

One of the features of the current year has been the commence-
ment of the production, on a commercial scale for general purposes,
of cable insulated with a dielectric known ae " Maconite."

Maconite " dielectric, we are informed, possesses some remarkable
properties which have not previously been found in combination in
any one substance, and cables insulated with it have been used for
some years by one of the principal railway companies in this country
in long tunnels, where corrosive fumes and fluids are always present.

" Maconite" is a compoimd of specially selected materials scientifi-
cally blended, and is the outcome of many years' experiment and
research on the part of the Macintosh Cable Company, Ltd., and
their parent firm, Chas. Macintosh & Company, Ltd., Manchester.
In appearance and texture the material resembles a black rubber.
In toughness, according to grade, it varies from something rather
stronger than ordinary vulcanised insulating rubber up to a point
not far short of that possessed by the tough rubber known as C.T.S.
It must not, however, be confused with these productions, in which
mechanical strength is the predominant factor. Whilst the strength
of "Maconite" may approach that of the rubbers referred to, its
elasticity and durability is, it is claimed, much greater.

Mechanical Strength and High Insulation.

For many years attempts have been made to modify rubber com-
pounds BO as to ^et increased mechanical strength and elasticity
without sacrifice of insulating properties. Likewise, many attempts
have been made, both by the design of special coverings and modifi-
cation of the structure of the rubber insulator, to obtain immunity
from the attacks of acids and alkalies. From a study of the recorded
causes of cable deterioration, it will be realised that the first requi-
site is that the cable covering, insulating or external, shall be abso-
lutely non-hygroscopic. It is. of course, preferable that the
infiulating material itself should have these properties in addition to
a high degree of dielectric resistance.

The difficulty of the problem is discussed a', length in Mr. C. J.
Beaver's classic Paper on " Cables," read before the Institution of
Electrical Engineers in December, 1914.* In this paper the author
states that with the vulcanised rubbers, in the present st^ate of the
art, maximum strength and elasticity are not compatible with
maximum insulation resistance or dielectric strength. He states
that this is especially true as regards the former, and gives quanti-
tative illustrations, besides drawing attention to the way in whicli
hardened vulcanised rubber is affected by immersion in water. It
is well known that even the softer insulating qualities of vulcanised
rubbers are hygroscopic to some degree.

Properties of " Maconite."

Now, whilst the measurable insulation of " Maconite " is lower
than that of some vulcanised rubbers, this insulation resistance is
constant, and is unaffected by prolonged immersion in water or in a
saturated solution of caustic soda. Furthermore, its dielectric

• See The Electrician, "Vol. LXXI"V., p. 186.

strength, i.e., resistance to breakdown pressure, is high under
ordinary, and many extraordinary, conditions of use, aai it 's
becoming recognised that it is by dielectric strength and resistance
to physical change over a long life that insulating materials must
be judged. Its resistance to the action of a wide range of chemical
reagents must appear to be remarkable to anyone familiar with
ordinary rubbers.

Some details of the tests to which " Maconite " has been satia-
factorily subjected will perhaps better indicate the degree of success
which has been obtained. It must be understood that, except where
specifically mentioned, no tests of less duration than some thousands
of hours have been considered.

Extremes of Temperature.

To test its resistance to extremes of temperature "Maconite"
cable was frozen in a block of ice for several days, and tested at
1 000 V a.c. for thirty minutes. It was then thawed out in running
water and again tested at 1 000 V a.c. Subsequently it was boiled
in water and for three hours in a weak solution of caustic soda,
and exposed for several months in temperatures of 100° F. above
boilers and brass furnaces. In all these cases, not only did the
cable withstand the tests, but its flexibility was found "to be abso-
lutely unimpaired.

Exposure to Chemical Action.

" Maconite " was also immersed in dilute uric acid, in copper
pickling acid, in a 50 per cent, solution of sulphuric acid, in a 5 per
cent, solution of nitric acid, in a 50 per cent, solution of hydrochloric
acid, in slaked slag water, in two samples of corrosive pit waters, in
a saturated solution of caustic soda, a saturated solution of common
soda, a 10 per cent, solution of ammonia, a saturated solution cf
common salt, and in sea w.ater. In all these cases the cables were
carrying direct current at 250 V, two cables being on test m each
solution, and being connected to the positive and negative poles of
the system respectively. This was done in order to be certain that
the material would withstand osmotic action.

These tests, and others too numerous to mention here, serve to^
indicate that a most useful material has been produced.
Uses of " Maconite."

To those responsible for the installation of cables in such places
as chemical works, steel works, dye works, long railway tunnels, Ac.
where corrosive fumes or liquids are always present, it is felt by the
makers that " Maconite" will be of the greatest interest.

It is obvious that a substance such as this, in addition to forming
a valuable dielectric covering for small cables to take the place of
V.I.R. in bad or difficult situations, possesses great possibilities as
a sheath for other classes of cables in the place of lead alloys or
bitumen. It is already being used as a sheath for a surface wiring
system which requires no bonding or earthing, in addition to other
advantages.

Experiments are also being conducted with a view to using
" Maconite " sheath on paper-insulated cables.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

389

Flood Lighting and Holophane Reflectors.

A good deal of interest has recently been centred on the attempts
that are being made with flood lighting in this country. Whilst
some of the results have been fairly creditable there is much still
to be done before complete success is achieved from both the archi-
tectural and artistic points of view, and especially from the point of
view of uniformity.

A serious drawback to some forms of flood lighting projectors is
the difficulty of varying the light distribution curve over suffi-
ciently wide limits to ensure uniform lighting over the area to be
treated. Often, if the focus is altered to improve this factor, the
efficiency of the equipment suffers in consequence. In many cases,
also, the flood lighting projectors have to be placed fairly close up
to the building to be illuminated, with the result that the units do
not possess sufficient covering power to ensure uniformity of illumina-
tion.

An installation which is worthy of notice, because these disad-
vantages have been overcome, is the lighting of Alders' premises at
Croydon, a photograph of which we reproduce. The scheme was
carried out by J. and T. Robinson, electrical contractors, of Croy-
don, in collaboration with the Holophane Company. The way in
which the architectural features of the building are emphasised is
obvious, as are the uniform results obtained over the entire surface
of the stonework.

The equipment comprises six units mounted in a trough and placed
on each side of the building. These units are equipped with 200 W
gasfilled lamps, and Holophane reflectors mounted horizontally, the

Flood Lighting applied to Shop Fremisbs.

angles and setting being carefully calculated and adhered to, so that
there is no perceptible diversity in the intensity. By changing the
character of the distribution curve it is possible to reproduce similar
results from greater or lesser dist-ances (which is generally governed
by circumstances), thus meeting all requirements in this direction.
A further fact worthy of mention is the few points necessary to
achieve such results, and the energy consumption, i.e., 2-4 units per
hour, represents a very economical figure for this class of spectacukr
lighting.

The " Practical Engineer " Electrical Pocket Book and Diary,
1922, published by the Technical Publishing Company, contains a
revised section on electric traction. This matter"^ is of such
importance at the present time that it is as well that close atten-
tion should be given to it, even in pocket books, and we are glad
to see that further additions are to be made next year. This is
necessary, as traction to the authors of the pocket book apparently
connotes tramways alone, and little space is given to the more
important subject of railways and the allied problems of the electric
vehicle.

The " Atrax " Projector.

The Atrax Projector is a new advertising device recently pat on
the market by the General Electric Company, by which a
brilliantly-coloured illuminated image can be projected in any direc-
tion without the use of a screen, the image being derived from an in-
serted slide on the principle of the magic lantern. Hitherto the

The "Atrax" Projector.

problem of creating a sufficiently powerful light behind the lens by
simple means has baffled all attempts at solution, but this difficulty
has now been overcome by the introduction of a new type of Osram
gasfilled electric lamp, which is rated at 100 W. The apparatus
can be connected up to any convenient lamp-holder or wall-plug, and
calls for no skilled attention or special technical knowledge. It is
equally effective on alternating or direct current circuits, and a
universal adjustment is provided so that the direction of the beam
can be varied at will.

The image thrown by the Atrax Projector is so brilliant that it is
visible in diffused daylight. At night, even when surrounded by
other artificial lighting, it commands instant attention. The diameter
of the image can be varied between 5 in. and 4 "ft. approximately,
but the best results are obtained by adjusting the projector to give
a picture of moderate size, when the concentration of ligl»t gives
great brilliance and clear definition. The possibilities oi such a
handy and simple device as an aid to publicity are innumerable.

Attractive Table Standard Lamps.

A standard lamp is usually a predominant feature of a room iu
which it is placed, and the decorative possibilities of such lamps
have only recently begun to be realised. In the circumstances, the
range of genuinely beaunful table standards recently placed upon
the market by the British Thomson-Houston Company represents
an important and welcome development.

The four standards comprised in this new range are made of metal,
beautifully chased and finished in antique bronze. One of them is a
reading desk lamp, and is fitted vn\h a metal shade, key-switch
lampholder, flexible cord, and a combined plug and lampholdcr
adapter. The other three are more ornamental in design, and are
equipped with shades formed of amber-^lass panels fitted into a
metal framework. Three pull-chain switch-holders are fitted in the
largest standard, which is 22| in. high, and has a shade diameter
of 19 in. The middle-sized standard has two pull-chain
holders, and the smallest a single pull-chain holder. All three
patterns (they differ in design as well as in size) are provided
with bronze-coloured flexible cord to match the metal work, and a
combined plug and lampholder adapter. Thert. is a dignified charm
in the contour and embellishment of the metal work, while the illu-
mination, reflected, transmitted and subdued by the aml>er-glas6
shade, is rich and restful in its effect. For the many householders
who are looking for something better and more distinctive than the
usual type of domestic lighting equipment, this new line of table
standards should provide a welcome relief from the polished brass-
cum-silk shade convention.

We have received a useful booklet on "Electrical Inst.vlla-
TioN Rui.ES .\ND T.\BLES," by Mr. W. S. Ibbetson, which has been
published by E. and F. N. Spon, Ltd. These tJibles are intended
to provide a" ready and convenient means of reference for architects,
contractors, engineers and wiremen in the preparation of specifica-
tions and the carrying out of electrical installation of all kinds.
The scope of the book is necessarily limited, and, while it does
contain information which is usually found in electrical pocket
books, it also contains details, such as the sizes and capacity of
wood casing, which are not often found elsewhere. It is a matter
for consideration on a future occasion whether it would not be
as well to enlarn;e the format, as, though convenient in its present
size, it necessarily means the use of verj- small type.

390

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

The " Anti-Break " Lamp Economisers.

Vai"ious spring devices liave been put on the market to counteract
the effect of vibration on inetallic filament lamps ; but, instead '.f
lengthening the life of the lamp, thev often accentuate trouble,
which is not surprising when the hair-like nature of the filament,
which is at white heat, is compared with the dimensions of the
springs used to support the lamp-holder.

The " Anti-Break " lamp economiser, produced by the Engineer-
ing AND Lighting Equipment Company, is claimed to have over-
come all the difficulties in this connection. It does not depend upon
springs^ but consists of a number of strips of phosplior-bronze
gauze, cut on the bias with the warp and weft strands disposed
obliquely so that the diagonal of the mesh runs in the direction of
the length of the strip. A suspension is thus provided which is
inert to the transmission of vibration, as there are no wires run-
ning direct from the miter fitting to the suspended lamp through
which vibration can pass ; in other words, the interrupted mesh of
the gauze strips destroys or damps out the waves of vibration before
they reach the fragile filament. At the same time, the lamp is held
rigidly in place, and even under the most severe shock the natural
resilience of the disc damps the swing or rebound owing to the
interwoven mesh, and so prevents the filament being destroyed.

The device possesses the further advantage that it is not affected
by the heat of the lamp or atmospheric conditions. It has been
tested under the most severe conditions, viz., under vibration from
running machinery in engine rooms, over propellers on board ship,
and under vibration set up by a pneumatic hammer on a steel plate,
to which the fittings have been attached, and in no instances have
the metal filament lamps been broken, although metal and carbon
lamps placed under the same tests without the device have been
destroyed.

West of England Firm's New Premises.

In spite of the serious difficulties of the past year, the business
of Simpson, Baker & Company, electrical manufacturers and sup-
pliers, of Bristol, has grown to such an extent that the firm have
recently acquired extensive new premises in Nelson-street, where

Simpson, Baker & Company's "New Premises.

they have opened a fine showroom, some idea of which can be seen
from the accompanying illustration. Thv electrical industry in the
West of England generally seems to be in a flourishing condition.

New Submarine Telephone Cable.

Telephonic communication with Northern Ireland will be
considerably improved within the next few days by a new sub-
marine cable which has been laid by the telegraph ship "Monarch."
The landing places of the cable are at Port M'-ra, Scotland, axid
Port Patrick, Donaghadee, Ireland, and its length is approximately
22 nautical miles, equal to about 2b^ land miles.

Tests are now being carried out on the cable, and if they are
satisfactory, the land lines will be joined up ut once and two addi-
tional trunk circuits provided between Glasgow and Belfast.

The laying of the cable has been greatly impeded Ly tlie Ixad
weather during the past three months ; but the " Monarch " was held
in readiness to cojnplete the work at the first favourable oppor-
tunity, and the task is now finished.

Telephone cables laid previously were of the " coil-loaded " type,
but the new one is " continuous-loaded." It contains four copper
wires, each weighing about 170 lb. per nautical mile. The wires
are insulated by balata, weighing nearly 200 lb. per n;iuHcal mile.
The four wires will provide two "physical " circuits. In addition,
a '■ phantom " circuit will be added when required. It is anticipated
that the new cable will be found suitable for the provision of further
independent trunk channels in the future by the method of " high-
frequency carrier-wave" telephony.

**Kingsway" Combined Switch and Plug.

For the control of radiators, motors, banks of lamps, and other
appliances which necessitate the use of a temporary connection to
the mains, a combined switch and plug is undoubtedly the meet
satisfactory apparatus.

The " Kingsway " automatic combined interlocked switch and
plug (patent No. 136 006), recently introduced by the General
Electric Company, is strongly made, and is capable of dealing with
currents up to 15 A. The mechanism consists of a rapid rotary
action double pole switch interlocked with a substantial plug.

The "Kingsway" Switch-Plug.

On the plug being inserted and turned in a clockwise direc-
tion the circuit is made, and the switch is automatically
locked in the "on" position. The switching off may be
carried out either by withdrawing the plug (when the switch
automatically breaks the circuit before the plug pins leave the socket
tubes) or by pressing the small plunger on the front of the socket
cover, when the switch flies rapidly off. The latter method allows
the plug to be left in the socket in the " off " position, often a great
convenience.

Earthing connections on both plug and socket and a third pin
for earthing are provided, the latter ensuring correct polarity, as
the plug can only be inserted in one particular way. Two patterns
are supplied, one for surface fixing and one for sinking flush in the
wall or skirting board.

Full particulare can be obtained on application to Magnet House
or at any of the provincial branches of the General Electric Company.

The Meta Electric Copper Kettle.

The Metallic Electrical Engineering Co. have placed on
the market a new electrical copper kettle, which they are able to supply
for either a 000 W or a I 000 W rating and for the usual voltage
ranges. It is strongly made and beautifully finished in polished copper.
The capacity is 2^ pints, and the 600 W kettle boils in fifteen minutes

and the 1 000 VV in nine
minutes. Made on mass
production principles it is
eminently suitable for firms
who require heating and
cooking appliances in large
quantities.

The two years" electrical
guarantee, which goes with
each kettle turned out,
should be sufficient evidence
of the makers' confidence in

The Meta Electric Kettle.

the quality and efficiency of this line. Incidentally a two years'
guarantee creates, we believe, something of a record in guarantees,
most domestic electrical appliances not carrying more than a twelve
months" certificate. 1 he const ruction and design have been so
arranged that the makers particularly recommend it for export purposes,
and point out that it is unaffected by extreme climatic conditions.

The accompanying illustration gives a good impression of the kettle,
the price of which is competitive.

It is expected that the plant for the electric lighting of Rawal-
pindi (India) will be ready to commence working in a few months.
Poles to carry the overhead cables for public lighting have been
erected in several loads.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

391

" Utility " Cooker-Radiator.

The laccompanying illustrations show the "Utility" icooker-
Tadiator, both as a radiator and as a j;ri)ler or toaster. The
manufacturers, Electrical Utilities, . Ltd. , claim that when lofied

as a radiator it heats a room of
2 000 cub. ft. It measures 12 in. by 6 in.
by 4:\ in., and weighs only 4J lb.
The cooking space is Sin. by 6 in., and
the grilling space 6 in. by 6 in. The
consumption is 750 or 1 000 W, and
it can be used on all voltages.

The frame is of sheet steel with

cast iron feet, and is fitted with

polished aluminium plates on top.

The small amount of metal employed

ensures that the normal working

temperature is quickly reached and

produces the maximum amount of

radiant heat. The heating coil is

. mounted on a set of eyeleted mica

supports which are supported in

\ mild steel channels. A movable

reflector plate of polished aluminium

is provided, which throws^ the heat

outwards or upwards but which can

be drawn out and placed above the

element when "downward" heat is

required for grilling, etc. Thiscooker-

Tadiator is the forerunner of a series of heating and cooking appliances

•to be produced by this firm.

This cookea'-radiator seems to form one of what may be called

As A Radiator.

As A Cooker

the propaganda class of apparatus, containing in one piece of equip-
ment several features which combine to illustrate the part that
may be played by electricity in the home.

New Electric Suction Cleaner.

By putting on the market an electric vacuum cleaneo" at ten guineas,
the Jeary Electrical Company are meeting a long-felt wajit, and
there win, undoubtedly, be a great demand for this appliance. The
firm claim that the cleaner is capable of doing work equal to any

improvements. The lamp has paeeed H.AL Home Office teste, and
has been approved by that office for use in collieries and mines.

The steady brilliant light given by the Fuller lamp is an out-
.standing feature; the illumination it gives is claimed to be superior
to that of any other lamp at preeent on the market.

An important structural feature of the lamp ie ite massive, etrong
construction, combined with extremely low weight (5 lbs.) and free-
dom from projections liable to catch in the clothing of those carrying
it T1.3 light is switched on and off by taming the top of the lamp
relatively to the bottom, a perfectly smooth and positive action being
obtained. The contacts have a large area, and no objectionable
variation in light, due to imperfect contact, is possible. Lam^ps can
be supplied for issuing from the lamp cabin already lighted and
locked in that position, a procedure which prolongs the life of the
cells by ensuring that they are main..ained in a level condition by
receiving uniform discharges and charges.

" Genii " Genius.

The latest electrical device to emanate from the brain of George
NoBBS, Ltd., is the miniature " Genii " immersion heater which we
illustrate herewith. This device, which is a small edition of the large
coil immersers that the firm used to produce some ten years ago, is
intended as a substitute for the deadly and inconvenient gas ring in
living rooms, nurseries, bedrooms, and kitchens when small quantities
of water or other hquid are required to be
boiled or heated up. By its employment
shaving water can be heated in 30 sec.
on the coldest mornings, and glasses of
water, milk, or plates of soup may be pre-
pared in the shortest possible timt. No
better means, it is argued, can be devised
for boihng water for the early morning
cup of tea, while still reclining in bed, or
for the preparation of the hot water-bottle
so beloved by the luxurious before retiring
at night.

The apparatus is fitted with an adjust-
able voltage connector, which allows it to
be connected to any lighting circuit with a
pressure between 100 and 250 V. As will
be seen from the illustration, the heating
coil is compact, being 2 in. in diameter by
2 in. high, so that it will go into an
ordinary teacup, hot water jug or small
kettle. The heater is seamless, no solder
being used at all, and the radiating
surface, it is claimed, is equivalent to about
tAvice that of the ordinary electric kettle
and four times that of most other makes
of immersers. As regards current con-
sumption, it is very economical, as not
only is its efiiciency 98 per cent., but it is
only rated at 450 W. The element is in the coil portion only, and
consists of nickel chrome wire for the high voltage circuit and of copper
nickel wire for the low voltage circuit.

Financially the apparatus is equally desirable as its price is only 21s.,
and there should, therefore, be a great demand for it in the ideal home.

The " Jeary " Electric Suction Sweeper.

madhine costing double the price. It weighs only 6 lbs., and there
is no exposed dust-bag to contaminate the air when the cleaner is
in use. The loading is 150 W, and, as will be seen from the illustra-
tion, there are no cumbersome hose for the upholstery attachments.

Fuller's Safety Lamp.

The Fuller patent electric safety lamp has been in demand for
many years, and the latest type embodies the practical experience of
electrical and colliery engineers of repute in addition to the com-
puny's own staff. The development of the lamp has been in the
direction of simplification, the number of destructible parts being
reduced to a minimum and their replacement being rendered
extremely simple. Its constructional design includes the best
features of those Fuller lamps already in use, together with numerous

' The Genii ' Ijimer-
siox Heater.

Universal Combination Bell.

The Universal Combination Bell, which has just been put on the
market by Mason & Brown, has been designed to provide a reliable
complete electric bell at a low cost, and at the same time one that
can be cheaply and quickly recharged without tools or previous
experience.

The bell consists of an enamelled iron frame, with the parts fitted
under the dome, which is 3 in. diametei, mounted on a polished
walnut-coloured pattress, having an aperture at the back with metal

contacts on the sides, to contain
the battery. The aperture has
a fibre cover to exclude dust.
The battery is the one used
for flash lamps, which for
ordinary work will ring the belj
a considerable time. The only
ti.xing required is to connect the
wires from push or contact to
the two termiuals on the bell
frame.

The method of recharging ia
to remove the cover on the
pattress, bend the two brass
strips on the battery outwards.
This is then slipped into the
r„ „ r> aperture, and the bell is again

The Combination Bell. ^f^^^. f^^ ^,^ The whole oj^ra-

tion can be done under a minute without any tools. The
pattress, as will be seen from the illustration, is provided with two
ears for fixing on the wall, or the bell can be used for portable
purposes, ringing well in any position.

Tne firm supply for export, if required, inert batteries, which are
moi-o suitable tlian ordinary flash lamp dr" cells, especially for hot
climates, a small quantity of water being added to the battery whea
required for use.

392

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

Flood-Lighting at the Maypole Works.

One of the most interesting of the many sign installations
employing B.T.-H. floodlight projectoks is that recently carried

out at the Maypole
Margarine Works,
Southall. The sign is
simply a painted board
— white letters on a
black ground — measur-
ing 100ft. long by 6ft,
deep. It is illuminated
by means of three type
793 projectors, each
containing a 500 W
Mazda gas filled pro-
jector lamp. These three
projectors are fixed
50ft. away from the
sign.

In the ordinary way,
the beam of light from
a projector is circular in
section. To attempt to
light a sign 100ft. long
by 6ft. deep with three
circular beams of Hght
would be absurd. This
difficulty has been sur-
mounted in the case of
the Maypole sign by the
use of special spreading
glass fronts on the pro-
jectors, which give an
elliptical form to the
beam. An illustra-
tion, which has been
reproduced from an
untouched photo-
graph, taken by the
unaided light of the
projector installa-
tion, shows that there
is no waste, and that
practically all the light is confined within the limits of the sign-
board. A typical projector is shown herewith.

B.T.-H. Floodlight Projector.

The "Priory" Iron-Glad Cut-Out.

W© have received from the Priory Electrical Engineering Com-
pany particulars of the " Priory Iron-clad Cut-out," which em-
bodies the following new features : — (1) The complete unit can be

The Priory Iron-Clad Cut-Out.

mounted direct on a switchboard or wnll without dismantling the
porcelain interior. (2) The case can be supplied with cover to open
in either direction — right or left — thus making it possible to arrange
two cut-outs side by side, so that only one cover can be opened at
a time. As will be seen from the illustration, the interior comprises
the well-known Priory fuse.

The case is strong and neat in appearance, being finished in rich
brown unchippable enamel. Three capacities are at present made,
15, 30 and 60 A, and the cut-out oan also be supplied in water-tight
patterns if desired.

G.E.C. Cardiff Showrooms.

The accompanying illustration illustrates the main fittings show-
room at the Cardiff branch of the General Electric Company.
These premises, which comprise offices, warehouses and show-
rooms, are situated in the centre of the city, entrance being

Main Fittings Show-Eoom at G.E.C, CARDiFi^ Branch.

gained either from Womanby-street or from the Castle-arcade. The
warehouse occupies one section of the building, and its five floors
are served by a lift manufactured by the Express Lift Company.
Anyone interested in electrical plant or appliances i« cordially
invited to visit these showrooms.

The Norley Bell Indicator.

An improved type of electric bell indicator has recently been placed
on the market by Nobris & Holley. It is claimed for this apparatus
that mechanical details have been cut down to a minimum, with a
result that the usual troubles experienced are entirely eliminated.
The illustration which we reproduce herewith shows tnat the indi-
cator has one moving part, which is absolutely free from latches
and springs of any kind. This moving part serves the double pur-
pose of armature and flag, and is placed on an axis above and parallel
to the bobbin of the electro-magnet, with armatui-e members in
planes at right agles to the flag member, so that when the electro-
magnet is energised the attraction of the armature members tilts the
flag into a position in which it can fall over the bobbin into the
position of rest. The magnetic core operating this armature is com-
pletely enclosed in the bobbin, in a way which so limits the action
of the field that both sides of it are equally operated on, the arma-
ture being thereby rendered extremely sensitive to electrical influence.

Owing to the arrangement of the flag the indicator is unaffected
by shock or by vibration, and, as no screws or studs are used in its

The Norlky Bell Indicator.

construction, the parts are not liable to become loose and fall out.
The C41S© in which the indicators are contained is fitted with an
iron back to render it damp-proof, and the movements are indi-
vidually fitted to an apron which hangs vertically and clear of the
base. Resetting is effected by a downward pull, which allows the
indicator to be fixed out of harm's way.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

393

Auto-Caution Signal Device.

The accompanying illustration shows the auto-caution signal
device for night driving which has recently been produced by
Harvey & Spencer, Ltd., who are prepared to negotiate the manu-
facturing and eales rights for Great Britain, the Continent, and for
British Empire territory. The device, which is simplicity itself, has
received the approval of the London Safety First Council, who are
of opinion that, if generally adopted, a reduction in traffic accidents
at night should follow.

The device consists of a light metal casing, which can be incorpo-
rated in the back of a driving glove or attached with a flexible
spring clip to the back of the hand. This casing contains a small
battery^ reflector, and lamp, illuminating the caution signal, and is

Diagram of Auto-Caution Signal Device.

fitted with an auxiliary switch to prevent accidental discharge of
the battery when the device is taken off the hand. To operate the
signal it is only necessary to open the hand and ex.tend the fingers
out straight, wnich is the natural and intuitive method of signalling.
By doing so the back of the fingers press against a switch-plate,
causing the lamp to illuminate the signal word or colour.

This little device is very light and convenient, and can be sup-
plied in different capacities, the smallest of which is not much larger
m diameter than a lull-size watch.

Metropolitan-Vickers Company and
Contractors.

The policy of the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company of
opening showrooms in various parts of the country has raised the
question of the attitude to be taken towards electrical contractors
and others in regard to supplying the public. Speaking at an inspec-
tion of the showrooms last week, Mr. P. F. Crinks, the London
manager, said he wished to make it clear that the policy of the com-
pany in opening showrooms was to help the trade. He invited
electrical contractors and others to regard the company's showrooms
as an extension of their own showrooms, and to send their customers
there. Cards of introduction would be supplied, and the electrical
contractors would get the full 25 per cent, discount off list price if
sales were effected. Where the customers of electrical contractors
came to the showrooms, even though they were not directly sent by
the electrical contractor, the company was prepared to allow, say,
half the discount off the list price to the contractor. In no case
would the ordinary public be supplied at anything below list price.
Electrical contractors, added Mr. Crinks, need have no fear that the
company would endeavour to make eales direct to any customer
whom iJiey might send to the showrooms, and so deprive the oon-
traotor of his discount.

Telephone Committee's Report.

The Report of the Select Committee on the Telephone Service,
of which Sir Evelyn Cecil is chairman, has been issued, and makes
various recommendations for the improvement and cheapening of the
telephone service. Over 100 pages of the Report are devoted to a
memorandum on the visits of the chairman and Mr. W. W. Cook to
Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and of Mr. Cook to the United
States and Canada, to statistics of the telephone service in those
coun'ries, and to a record of the proceedings of the Committee.

Subject to approval of their conclusions, the Committee recom-
mend " an immediato reduction of 10 per cent, oo subscribers'
accounts provisionally, and without prejudice to any subsequent re-
arrangement to carry out our recommendations."

The following is a summary of the recommendations : —

Reorganisation on more commercial lines, and separation of the
telegraph and telephone departments from that of mails, and con-
stitution of an administrative board of heads of departments under
the Postmaster-General or Minister of Communications.

Division of the country into tolephone areas for healthy competi-
tion and financial comparison, with local consultative committees
and co-ordination as far as possible of community of interests.

Greater encouragement of co-operative enterprise where the Post
Office do not see tneir way to develop, notably in rural areas, under
Government supervision, with sanction in each case of the Railway
and Canal Commission.

Telephone charges should be reduced with the reduction in the
cost of living and cost of materials.

The setting aside of £200 000 annually for extra depreciation
should be discontinued, and the charge for ordinary depreciation
should be revised, which would result in a further reduction in
1922-23 of £276 000, with proportionate reductions in future years;
salaries and overhead charges for new construction work, and for
renewals should be debited to capital and to depreciation accovmts,
not to revenue, which would have meant savings on revenue account
of about £400 000 and £186 000 in 1920-21. These changes represent
£1 062 000 a year, or at least 8 per cent, off existing charges.

The telephone accounts should be kept in a more commercial form.

The basis of the method of charging should b« the message rate
The flat rate, although theoretically objectionable, may be admitted
as the means of accelerating development in very small places or for
residences in certain restricted areas.

The extra mileage rate should be reduced from £10 to £5 a mile.

A certain differentiation or elasticity of rate is sometimes advisable
where it assists development, and there should be a lower annual
installation rental for residences than for business premises.

Judicious extension of automatic telephony ; more trunk lines and
less steeply-graded scale of trunk rates for the shorter distances ;
more latitude in standard of materials to allow of cheaper extension
into rural districts.

Following on reorganisation (a) disappearance of the office cf
surveyor from the telegraph and telephone department, (6) transfer
of the Holloway and Birmingham factories from the Department of
the Controller of Stores to that of the Engiueer-in-Chief, and (c)
special care not to detail an vmnecessary number of men on one piece
of work or to put it through a needless multiplicity of channels.

Extension of public call-boxes. Fuller permisison to the public lo
employ existing Post Office telephone wires when not in use officially.

Other recommendations include the use of hand-mirco telephones
for Press-reporting purposes; retention of telephones on changes of
tenancy; lower charges 'Uien no night service is given: reduced
charge on trunk calls on Saturday afternoons and Sundays : and pro-
longation of interrupted trunk calls.

Birmingham National Trades
Exhibition

The accompanying illustration is a reproduction
of a photograph and shows the stand which has
been organized by the City of Bikmikgham
Ele'^tric Supply Department at the National
Trades Exhibition, Bingley Hall, Birmingham,
to which we briefly referred in our issue last
week.

A large selection of table lamps, domestic electric
apparatus, accessories and fittings is on view.
Among the articles exhibited are a variety
of electric radiators, fires, ovens, grills, hot
plates, toasters, kettles, saucepans, irons, fans,
water heaters and vacuum cleaners. The exhibits
also include medical violet ray apparatus, electric
drills, electric blower for blacksmiths' hearths,
"Fors" batteries, high tension insulators, Kaleeco
cables, specimens of various grades of electric
cable, and a board showing different systems of
electric wiring.

The apparatus has been loaned by the British
Thomson-Houston Co., CaUenders Cable &
Construction Co. and Metropolitan-Vickers Elec-
trical Co.

There are several additional exhibitors of elec-
trical apparatus at the Exhibition, including the
General Electric Co., which has a representative
display.

The Exhibition will remain open until the begin-
ning of May. ^

Birmingham Electric Supply Department's Stand at the N.T.E.

394

The Electrician.

March, 31, 1922

Le^al Intelligence.

Ratcliff V. Shard.

Last week Mr. Pollock, Official Referee, heard an action in which
Mr. George Frederick Ratcliff, electrical engineer, sued Mr. W. J.
Shard, of Bracknall, Berks, for £350, balance of charges amounting
to £565, for work and labour done and materials supplied in con-
nection with an electrical installation at defendant's house.

Defendant admitted having employed plaintiff, but pleaded that
he failed to do the work properly and nad charged unreasonably.
Defendant also counter-claimed £20, the value of certain fittings
removed from his London house and not accounted for, and £63 for
money alleged to have been paid to make good and complete certain
alleged defective work.

Plaintiff's case, as stated by his counsel and disclosed by his
evidence, was that, having done a great deal of work for defendant
extending during a period of over twenty j-ears, he was a^ed ~n
Januaiy, 1916, to carry out the installation work in respect of the

f resent claim. The work occupied from January, 1916, to January,
917, when, owing to the wai- conditions, it was difficult to obtain
labour or materials, which would account for the higher charges.
Defendant was one of plaintiff's best customers, and had never
entered into any formal contract with him. Thei'e had never pre-
viously been any dispute, and it was left to him to do what he
thought proper. The installation in the house was very old, and
much of it had to be renewed. He was not told to put in an
entirely new installation, which would have cost about £1 000, but
to make as much use of the old as possible, and the work was made
more difficult because the house was full of furniture and he had
to keep the light going. He experienced great difficulty in getting
materials and obtaining delivery. Some he got from the Simplex
Company, and the cable he got from the Indiarubber Company. Tn
consequence of the difficulties in getting materials, and in order to
carry out the job, he had to sacrifice other customers. All the
principal fittings were removed from defendant's London house.

In cross-examination, the plaintiff said that the old electric
lighting was working satisfactorily, but he had to put in new work
in consequence of an increase in the number of lights. According
to tests he made, he did not think there was any danger of fire. He
denied having told defendant that it would be a £400 job.

After the men who had done the work had given evidence, the
Official Referee expressed the opinion that plaintiff's charges were
excessive, and gave judgment for him for £104, and for defendant on
his counter-claim for £10 for lamps taken away. He gave plaintiff
costs on the High Courts scale.

Breach of Wireless Telegraph Regulations.
At the Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday, William Harris, master
of the s.s. "Clan Malcolm," was charged, at the instance of the
"Board of Trade, with having failed on the night of Oct. 8 last to
have a wireless operator or watcher on watch, contrary to Rule 7
of the Rules made under the Merchant Shipping (Wireless Tele-
graphy) Act, 1919.

Defendant pleaded guilty, and his legal representative explained
that just after midnight on Oct. 8 the " Clan Malcolm " ran into a
fog off Corsewell Point. At once she reduced speed to slow, and two
minutes after the lights of the s.s. "Rowan " were observed, and
the helm was put hard aport in an endeavour to avoid collision. It
was learned later that prior to the " Clan IMalcolm " striking the
"Rowan " the latter had been in collision with an American vessel,
the "West Camak." The time of the sending out of the S.O.S. by
the "Rowan" was 12.17 a.m. The collision with the "Clan
Malcolm " took place at 12.19. Had the watcher been on duty on
the "Clan Malcolm," the wireless room on the vessel was so situated
that it would have taken him four or five minutes to get the operator
to take off the message, and then it would have taken the operator
seven or eight minutes to have got the messages and communicate
with the bridge. It was, therefore, obvious that the failure to
receive the message on the " Clan Malcolm " could have had no effect
in avoiding the collision. Sheriff Fyfe imposed a fine of £25.
American Patent Litigation.
Major-General George 0. Squier, of Washington (D.C.) has filed
a suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District
of New York against the American Telephone and Telegraph Com-
pany for infringement of his patents for " wired wireless " or " line
radio." It is alleged that the Americ^in company is using the
system of transmission revealed in Squier's patents Nos. 980 356,
980 357, 980 358 and 980 359 of Jan. 3, 1911. General Squier's inven-
tion applies the radio art to telegraphy and telephony over wire
systems ; by it the messages, instead of being " broadcasted " into
space as in ordinary radio, are guided by the wire. Under the old
system of telegraphy and telephony only one telephone message could
be transmitted over a wire at one time, but by the use of General
Squier's system many messages (telephone, telegraph, or both) can
be transmitted over the same wire at the same time.
A Motor Generator Dispute-
In the King's Bench Division, Dublin, last week, Mr. Justice
Pim made an order for the discovery of documents in the action
brought by the Irish Kinematograph Company (1920) Ltd., against
Wm. Coates & Son, Ltd., for damages for breach of a contract made
m March, 1920, for the sale by defendants to plaintiffs of motor
generators (with accessories), and for damages caused to plaintiffs
by the defective character of the generators, for breach of warranty,
and for the return of the purchase money. A sum of £500 is claimed
36 damages in consequence of decreased takings at plaintiff's box-
office.

Parliamentary Intelligence.

South Wales Electrical Power Bill.

The South Wales Electrical Power Distribution Company's Bill
came before a Select Committee of the House of Lords last week,
the Earl of Kintore presiding. The Bill, among other things, seeks
authority to reduce the ordinary capital of the company from
£610 120 to £152 530.

Mr. Tyldesi.ey Jones, K.C. (for the promoters), said the Bill
would also enable local authorities who were authorised to supply
electrical energy, and who entered into an agreement to take energy
from the company, to contribute to the company's capital. The local
authorities were satisfied, and the only opposition was from certain
gas companies. The capital originally authorised was £1 000 000,
three-quai'ters by shares and a quarter by borrowing. Ordinary
capital of £600 000 was issued and also debentures of £^0 000. From
the start the company was overburdened with capital. In 1907 the
company was in great difficulties, and large consumers came to the
rescue and formed a company called the Treforest Electrical Con-
sumei's Company. They entered into an agreement with the Power
Company and the debenture holders by which in substance the
undertaking was to be carried on by the Consumers' Company for
the benefit of the consumers, who agreed to find the money. The
Bill would be the means of saving a large amount of money to local
authorities, who would otherwise have to provide their own supply.

Mr. Clode, K.C, for eleven gas companies, said his clients took
exception to the ratepayers' money being put into an alien concern
over which they had no control.

The Chairman said the circumstances were unusual, and the Com-
mittee were of opinion that the Bill should proceed.
Railway Electrification Loan.

In the House of Commons last week, Mr. Hilton Yotjng, replying
to Mr. Gilbert, said the agreement between the Treasury and the
Underground Electric Railways of London (for the extension and
improvement of the tube railways) was not yet finally completed, and
full details could not therefore yet be published. In substance, and
subject to various conditions, the Treasury guaranteed principal an.l
interest of issues of debentures to be made by the company and the
City and South London Railway Compnay up to a total amount of
£5 000 000. There was no question of a capital advance by the
Government, which would be outside the terms of the Trade
Facilities Act.

The I.M.E.A and the Bill.

The Council of the Incorporated Municipal Electrical Asso-
ciation, representing undertakings that have capital involved to
the extent of some £80 000 000, nave sent a letter to all members
of the House of Lords, containing the following resolution :" That,
in the opinion of the Council of the Incorporated Municipal Electri-
cal Association, the Electricity (Supply) Bill, 1922, should be carried
into law at the earliest possible date in the interests of the
industry."

Electricity Supply Bill.

The House of Lords committee stage of this Bill will be taken on
Tuesday, April 4.

I.E.E. Manchester Dinner.

The annual dinner of the North- Western Centre of the Institu-
tion OF Electrical Engineers was held at the Midland Hotel,
Manchest/er, on Friday last, Alderman W. Walker being in the
chair.

In responding to the toast of " The Institution of Electrical
Engineers," proposed by Mr. Clare Lees, president of the Man-
chester Chamber of Commerce, Mr. J. S. Highfield said they were
all proud of the Institution and the way it was getting in touch
with the commerce of the country. The passing of the new bye-
laws was now accomplished, and it was gratifying that so large a
change in the history of the Institution had taken place so smootnly.
The Council much appreciated the help which had been' given by
the local centres in preparing the new bye-laws.

The Foundation of the Industry.

Continuing, Mr. Highfield remarked that electricity supply was
the foundation of the whole industry. If it flourished, the whole
industry flourished, and it was interesting to see at the recent
commemoration, which had made the Institution known all over the
country, how speaker after speaker had referred to the hampering
effect of legislation. Now the Institution had a larger voice it was
their duty to see that hampering legislation should not be an
obstruction to future development. In South -East Lancashire, when
suggestions were made for improving the electricity supply by setting
up a Gilbertian authority consisting of all sorts of people, responsible
neither to the ratepayers nor to the shai-oholders, they had said
no, and he thought they were right. Electricity to-day had a better
chance than ever, not perhaps of riches, but of keeping ite head
above water.

The Lock Out.

Aid. W. Walker, who proposed the toast of " The Visitors,"
referred to the engineering lock-out. Speaking with some knowledge
of both sides of the dispute, the trouble arose, he said, largely frojn
a misunderstanding of the true facts. There was no doubt that a
large number of men sincerely believed that an attempt wafi being
made to injure the trade unions, but he could assure them that such
a thing had never entered the heads of the employers.

To this toast Dr. H. F. Parshall, chairman ol the Lancashire
Electric Power Company, briefly replied.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

Electricity Supply.

Last week Cardiff City Council approved the recommendation to
place £5 000 of the estimated profits of the electricity department
to relief of rates.

The outstanding debt on the Hotlake electricity undertaking i^
only £28 000, and when this has been paid off the profits will be
available for rate reduction.

The new 12 000/15 000 kW turbo-generator at Bradford Electri
city Works was formally opened last week by Mr. J. W. Longley,
deputy-chairman of the Electricity Committee.

Mr. Arthur Ellis, of Arthur Ellis & Partners, consulting
engineers, Cardiff, has been appointed by the Hull Corporation
Electricity Committee to report upon the efficiency of their under-
taJcing from a technical and commercial point of view.

Milnrow Urban Council have applied for a Special Order to
authorise the Council to generate and distribute electrical energy in
Milnrow. Any objections should be sent to the Secretary, Electricity
Commission, Gwydyr House, Whitehall, S.W. 1, by April 8.

Tynemouth Electricity Department shows a, surplus on the past
year's working of £2 895, against a loss of £293 in the previous
year. The number of units sold has increased by 1 700 000. The
average charge for electricity for all purposes is 1.62d. per unit sold.

Newton Abbot Urban Council have applied to the Minister of
Transport for a further extension, until July 31, 1923, of the time
within which they may give notice to the Urban Electric Supply
Company of intention to exercise their right to acquire the com-
pany's undertaking in the dietrict. Any objections must be sent to
the Ministry of Transport by April 17.

Liverpool Corporation have applied for a Special Order to extend
their area of electricity supply so as to include the Borough of Bootle
and the Urban Districts of Litherland. Waterloo-with-Seaforth. and
Great Crosby ; to acquire the electricity undertakings of Bootle
Corporation and the Liverpool District Lighting Company, &c.
Objections must be sent to the Secretary, Electricity Commission.
Gwydyr House, Whitehall, S.W. 1, by April 22.

Nevv^ Schemes end Mains Extensions.

St. Marylebone Borough Council has received sanction to borrow
£15 000 for mains and services.

AsHFORD (Kent) Urban Council has decided to apply for a Pro
visional Order for electric lighting.

Ormskirk Electric Supply Company have extended their cable to
Greetby Hill, a point near the Lathom boundary.

Reading Electric Light Company have been asked by Twyford
Parish Council to extend their mains to that district.

Grays Urban Council has applied to the Electricity Commissioners
for sanction to a loan of £3 500 for additional generating plant.

Brailes Rural Council has granted permission for the erection of
overhead wires for the supply of electricity to the parish church £t
Pillei'ton Hersey.

In connection with the proposed electric supply scheme for
AxivoNSTER, Johnson & Phillips have informed the Urban Council
that the cost of the plant and mains would be £5 000. The
Council have decided to offer no opposition to the scheme.

Bristol Electricity Committee have decided to apply for sanction
to a loan of £4 275. Owing to the number of house connections
being 50 per cent, greater than estimated, the sum of £36 000
sanctioned in 1920 will be exhausted next month. It is calculated
that the new loan would meet requirements to March, 1925.

Preston Town Council have approved of application being made
for sanction to borrow £305 000 for the purchase of the under-
taking of the National Electric Supply Company, Preston, in pur-
suance of the agreement already made, and authorising a scheme for
the Mid-Lancashire district, to be prepared jointly by the Black-
bum and Preston Corporations.

The Cannock Chase Colliery Company are offering facilities to
the residents of Chasetown and Brownhills by which they may be
supplied with current. Last week demonstrations of electric light-
ing were given, and different types of wiring, lamps and fittings wero
exnibited and explained, and the various usee to which electricity
could be put were demonstrated. Mr. Sopwith (general manager of
the Cannock Chase Colliery Company, Ltd.) said that at the recent
electricity enquiry at Wolverhampton the Commissioners were sur-
prised and pleased to find there was such a big electricity plant on
Cannock Chase. He thought that if anything from 100 to 200 con-
sumers were secured that the local council would be justified in
adopting electricity for public lighting.

Alteration of Charges.

Bath Electricity Depai'tment has decided to reduce the price of
electricity to private consumers from 9d. to 8d. per unit.

Sevenoaks and District Electricity Co. has introduced a new two-
part domestic tariff as an alternative to the flat rate, namely, a fixed
annual charge, payable in quarterly instalments, plus 2^A. per unit.

Portsmouth Council have decided to supply cinema theatres with
electricity for their lanterns at half the cost specified in the
tariff for lighting purposes, the charge to vary in accordanc* with
the scale.

Dublin Corporation has adopted recommendations of its Electri-
city Committee by which it is hoped the charge for electricity may be

reduced by 10 per cent., and by 20 per cent, for exceptional lighting
and power consumers.

Users of electricity at Streatham, tradesmen in particular, are
complaining that there has been no reduction since tne war in the
price of electricity, and the matter is being taken up by the local
Chamber of Commerce.

Hoylake Town Council have decided to reduce the price of elec-
tricity for lighting from 9d. to 8d. as from the end of this month.
The price for heating and cooking will remain unaltered, namely,
4d., but for power the rate will be slightly reduced on a sliding
scale.

The following reduced scale of charges for electricity has been
adopted by Bedford Town Council : — Lighting, flat rate, from 92d.
to Sjd., less gd. per unit discount; two-rate systems, Sjd. and 6^d.,
less Ijd. discount; pre-payment meters, ICd., less l^d. discount; all
lighting accounts to be subject to a minimum charge of 5s. per
quarter. The charge for heating has been reduced from Ijd. per
unit net to l^d. for the first 250 units per quarter, l^d. for the next
500, and Id. beyond. For power the maximum price is now 2id.,
less 5 per cent., and cinematographs and photographers will be
allowed ^d. per unit off the price figure.

Electric Traction.

Reading Corporation Tramwav receipts from April 1, 1921, to
Feb. 2, 1922, amounted to £69 431, compared with £73 187 for the
corresponding period of 1920-21.

A new type of tramcar, having overhead trolley arms in addition
to the underground connection, Ls being run by the London County
Council on the Clapham, Balham and Tooting route.

After a heated discussion, Hull City Council last week adopted
the minutes of the Finance Committee, in which it was recommended
that £10 000 from the tramways profits should go towards the relief
of the rates.

Newcastle Transport & Electricity Committee, which has been
considering taking over the Gateshead and District Tramways with
a view to the through running of the cars between the city and
Gateshead, has decided against the purchase.

The strike of employees at the Newcastle-on-Tyxe Tramway
Department is now completely ended. The remaining 240 strikers —
skilled and semi-skilled men employed in the maintenance depart-
ment— returned to work on Monday, but not until their places were
being rapidly filled from the ranks of the unemployed did they
accept the 47-hour week.

At their meeting last week Chester Towti Council decided that
the tramways should be maintained as at present laid out for a
period of seven or eight years, when the full life of the track would
have been obtained, and that the recommendation set out in Mr.
Fearnley's report be carried out, and that the surveyor be authorised
to proceed with the work at a cost of £12 000.

A fresh agreement has been entered into by the London County
Council and the Metropolitan Electric Tramways, Ltd., for the
THROUGH running OF TRAMCARS. All short-runniug cars turning it
Finsbury Park have been withdrawn and through services substi-
tuted. The company will pay to the Council 10'5d. a car mile in
respect of the car mileage ' un by the Council in excess of its propor-
tion under the existing through running arrangements. The arrange-
ment will remain in force for six months and be terminable on
Sept. 29, 1922, on one month's notice on either side, or there^Jter on
three months' notice on either side.

The strike of the Sunderland and District Tramway Company,
which started on Feb. 22, is still no nearer settlement. A con-
ference, which was called last week at the instance of the Industrial
Relations Department oi the Ministry ot Labour, between the
managers of the company and the men's representatives, broke
down. Alternative terms were offered by the manager, Mr. J.
Stratton, to the men's representatives, and a meeting was imme-
diately called, and the terms submitted. On a vote being taken, the
men refused to accept them by a large majority. The conference
broke up without any arrangements being made to continue
negotiations.

The London & North- Western Railway are conducting trials en
a turbo-electric locomotive constructed by Armstrong. Whitworth &
Company for the Ramsay Condensing ttocomotive Company. The
engine, the " Times " states, has a length overall of 69 ft. 7 in., and
weighs 130f tons, including coal and water. The front part contains
the boiler (which generates steam at 200 lb. pressure and 300^ F.
superheat), the main three-phase turbo-alternator, and the auxiliary
exciting turbo-generator. The current is taken to four 275 h.p.
electric moitors, two of which drive the wheels of the front part and
two those of the back part or tender. In both cases there are six
coupled wheels. The exhaust steam is conducted to the tender,
where it is condensed in a condenser of special construction. The
hot condensed water returns to the hot well and thence to the boiler.
The object sought by the designer, Mr. D. M. Ramsay, is economy
of coal and water. '

The Industrial Welfare Society is now arranging the second of a
series of annual conferences, to be held in the society's offices at 51,
Palace-street, Westminster, on Friday April 28, to discuss the
essentials for success .in works and st.\ff journals. It is esti-
mated that more than 200 firms now publish such magazines.

396

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

Personal and Appointments.

Prof. K. ViCKERS has been appointed principal of the University
College, Southampton.

Mr. Hurst has been appointed engineer, manager and secretary
of the Teignmouth Electric Lighting Company.

Mr. R. S. Johnson has been appointed managing director of
Cammell, Laird & Company's works at Birkenhead.

Mr. J. A. FoRDE, engineer and manager of the Isle of Thanet
Electric Tramways & Lighting Company, Ltd., has been appointed
a Justice of the Peace for the Cinque Ports Division of Kent.

Mr. C. Mitchell has resigned his position as works manager of
the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company at Chelmsford, and Mr.
H. B. TiLLEY, who for nine years has been assistant works manager,
has been appointed to succeed him.

Owing to the closing of the Naval Signal School at Devonport,
Lieuts. Abel F. Alston, port wireless telegraphy officer, and H.
Watts, visual signalling officer, have been reappointed to the
" Vivid," additional, for port duties.

The King has appointed Sir Gerald Edward Chadwyck-Healey,
Bart., to be a member of the Royal Conunission on Awards to
Inventois, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Lord
Rayleigh.

Mr. A. G. Marsh informs us that as from the 31st inst. he i&
retiring from the board of directors of the Z. Electric Lamp &
Supplies Company in order to start business as a wholesale electrical
supplier and manufacturers' agent. Further details will be
announced later.

Business Items, &c.

Mr. Harold Parr, electrical engineer, has opened new premises
at 1, Back Jane-street, off Station-square, Harrogate.

A partnership has beon entered into between E. H. Phillips and
Kent Brothers Electric Wire Company as from March 1, and has
been registered under the title of Kent Brothers Electric Wire
Company & E. H. Phillips, for the manufacture and supply of
silk, cotton and enamel covered copper wires. Their London office
is at 37, King-street, Covent Garden, W.C. 2.

F. W. Brackett & Company have been appointed buying agents "n
England for a very large and important group of mines in South
America. Their clients wish to have complete catalogues of mining
machinery, general engineering plant machine tools, electric motors,
woodwork tools, and general stores, and interested firms are asked
to send same to the company at Hythe Bridge Ironworks, Colchester,
for fowarding to the mines.

institution Notes.

Mr. S. Chadwick has been elected chairman and Mr. B. M. Bubt
vice-chairman of the North-Western Studente' Section of the Institu-
tion of Electrical Engineers.

The March meeting of the council of the Electrical Wholesalers
Federation was held in Birmingham recently at the invitation of
the members of the Midland Section. Mr. A. G. Beaver (Sun Elec-
trical Company, London) was elected president and Mr. A. Holman
(Holman & Company, Glasgow) vice-president for the ensuing year,
1922-3. The members of the Federation were specially invited to
the British Industries Fair at Birmingham, and were entertained at
lunch by members of the executive council and the electrical
exhibitors.

Educational.

The Chair of Civil and Mechanical Engineering in the Univer-
sity of Leeds will shortly be vacant owing to the resignation r.f
Prof. J. Goodman, who has held the chair since 1890. Prof. Good-
man proposes to give his time to research, and the University Council
have assigned to him accommodation for this purpose. A committee
has been appointed to recommend a successor to tne post.

The Governors of the University of Nancy have arranged for a

SUMMER HOLIDAY COURSE IN ELECTP0-TECHNIC3 tO be held from

July 18 to Aug. 22, provided at least twenty students join. The
fee for the course and practical work is IS'* francs. ' Further
particulars may he obtained from the hon. secretary, British Bureau,
Office National des Universites, Engineering Dept., 45, Great Marl-
borough-street, London, W. 1. '

The Wimbledon Appointment.

Mr. A. E. Mackenzie, of Messrs. C. P. Sparks & Partners, has
been appointed borough electrical engineer of Wimblodon in succes-
sion to Mr. H. Tomlinson Lee, as from June 1, at a salary of £1 000
per amnum. It will he remembered that Messrs. Sparks & Partners
were called in as consulting engineers to report on the condition of
the electric'ty undertaking at Wimbledon recently, and that this
report was among the matters at issue in the dispute which arose
between Mr. Tomlinson Lee and the Council. Before his connection
vvith Messrs. Sparks and Partners, Mr. Mackenzie was for some
time with Manchester Corporation electricity department.

Wireless Notes.

An International Wireless Telegraph Conference opened at
Cannes on Tuesday under the presidency of Signor Marconi.

A Renter's message states that in connection with the proposal to
establish wireless telephone communication between Norway and
England, a prominent official connected with the telegraph service
stated on Saturday that, as the Government had a monopoly of the
telegraph and telephone in Norway, it could not allow private com-
panies to establish a wireless telephone service in competition with
the telegraph.

It is reported from Santiago that the Chilean Navy are insti-
tuting a wireless zone in the southern territories of Chile for th«
assistance of merchant shipping. Wireless stations are to be erected
at Castro (Chiloe), Huafo Island, Rio Aysen, Cape Raper, Puerto
Bories, Evtingelistas Island, Faro Felix (Felix Light), Punta Arenas
(Lena Dura Inlet), and Mocha Island. Three of the above are
already operating, Huafo, Raper and Bories ; one. Faro Felix, i&
being constructed ; those at Evangelistas, Porvenir, Rio Aysen.
Castro, and Punta Arenas (Lena Dura) are without their installa-
tions owing to lack of necessary funds.

The agreement between the Federal Government of Australia
and the Amalgamated Wireless Limited has now been signed, and
provides that the Commonwealth shall subscribe £500 001, thus
securing a controlling interest. The company takes over the existing
Australian radio stations. Three high-power stations are to be
erected within two years in Britain, Australia, and Canada, to pro-
vide direct communication, also feeder stations to connect capital
cities. Rates are not to exceed per word, for full-rate messages 2s.,
deferred messages Is., week-end messages 6d. , Government messages
Is., Press messages 3d. The company is always to remain an inde-
pendent British business, and is to give preference to goods manu-
factured in Australia and preference in employment to ex-soldiers.

Writing from Nairobi on Feb. 27, the " Times " correspondent
states that tests in connection with the Kenya link in the Imperial
wireless chain have begun with the arrival in the coimtry of Com-
mander Watson, R.N., and Major Ward, R.M.A. These officers
have taken with them apparatus for the preliminary investiga-
tions, but will be more concerned at the outset with the physical
geography of this part of Africa. They state that, in addition to
the known difficulties of wireless work in the tropics, the presence
of Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro and the obstructive effect
of large deposits of ironstone in Uganda will cause the selected site
on the Thika River to present many additional difficulties (more
especially in the work of picking up messages) as compared with the
other links in the chain. It is understood that it will be about two
years before active operations will be possible, although it is not
anticipated that the physical difficulties will be in any way-
insuperable.

In a letter to the " Times," Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton states
that, in addition to David Hughes' notebooks, containing an
account of his experiments in wireless telegraphy in 1879, recently
bequeathed to the British Museum, the Museum has even more
recently acquired a further set of these notebooks, containing
Hughes' own illustra.ted account of his invention of the microphone.
Still more interesting, he states, is the fact that a search, suggested
by himself to Colonel H. G. Lyons, of the Science Museum, made
amongst the contents of a room full of Hughes' personal effects
that for the last twenty years have been stored in a furniture
repository in London, has revealed the existence of a number of
electrical instruments, comprising the original first microphones
invented by Hughes, and the actual apparatus with which he made
his early wireless experiments, all obviously constructed with his
own hands. The several instruments can easily be identified by
the illustrated descriptions in the notebooks.

The collection is on view in the Western Hall of the Science
Museum, South Kensington.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

It is reported from Copenhagen that the Jutlandic Telkphonk
Company have accepted an offer of a loan of half a million sterling
from a London financial house.

A message from Peking states that the Tbans-Siberian telegraph
traffic has now been opened. The regular commercial messages
to Europe from Tientsin take one hour and twenty minutes.

Trade Inquiries.

An old-established Johannesburg house, specialising in mining
material, desire to secure agencies for electrical machinery and elec-
trical cables and fittings. Particulars may be obtained from the
Department of Overseas Trade. Ref. No. 2>30.

H.M. Trade Commissioner in Winnipeg reports that a Western
Canadian company desire to receive from United Kingdom manu-
facturers full particulars and illustrations of (a) electric cranes and
other unloading and loading equipment for docks; (b) steel conveyor
belting (for conveying hot clinkers), 18 in., 20 in., and 24 in. wide,
thickness of metal 0035; (c) H type sawmill chains and buckets.
All purchases made by the firm, it is understood, are for cash.
Particulars may be obtained on application to th« Department of
Overseas Trade.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

307

Imperial Notes.

An electric tramway and electric supply scheme for Wanganui
{N.Z.) has been approved by the ratepayers. The Council have
received sanction to a loan of £50 000 for theee purposes.

The Taemanian Division of the Council of the Inetitution of Eiiei-
neei-s, Australia, have decided to submit to the Council a reeolu-
tion urging support by the Institution of proposed legislation making

BBGISTRATION OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS AND WIREMEN COmpulsory.

Amongst amounts recently voted by the Tasmanian Parliament
were £930 000 for the Tasmanian State Hydro-Electric Depart-
ment, and £3 000 as a first instalment of the £33 200 required for
an electrically-propelled ferry boat to ply between Hobart and
Bellerive.

The Melbourne Tramways Board has authorised the preparation
of plans for the conversion of the whol* of the cable lines to electric
traction, and the first portion to be undertaken will be the extension
of the present electric termini to the city. Statutory powers for the
work will have to be first obtained.

Newcastle ^N.S.W.) City Council have passed a resolution that
they are of opmion that the £58 000 which was placed recently on
the estimates of the State Parliament towards the cost of the
ei.ectrification of the Newcastle tramways is totally inadequate.
The Muyor stated that as the work would cost considerably more
than a million pounds, the amount voted was too small to convince
anyone that the Government were in earnest.

New Companies.

A. P. Ma^len.

A. P. Maglen, Ltd. (180 562). Private company. Reg. March 24.
Capital, £100 in £1 shares. Manufacturers, importers, and distri-
butors of electric lamps, electric light fittings, electrical appliances
and apparatus, &c. Subscribers : W. R. Preston (first and per-
manent director) and S. H. Buckland. Registered office : Sicilian
House, Southampton-row, W.C.

Automobile & Electrical Equipments.

AtrroMOBiLE & Electrical Equipments, Ltd. (180 460). Private
company. Registered March 21. Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. To
take over the business of suppliers and repairers of motor and elec-
trical equipment for motor engines, cars, and craft of all kinds
carried on at 1 and 2, Marylebone-passjige, Wells-street, Oxford-
street, W., as the Automobile Electrical Equipment Company, and
to adopt an agreement with C. de Winter and R. A. Roberts. First
directors : R. Herbert-Smith and R. Cooke-Jones (joint managing
directors). Secretary {pro tern.) : R. Herbert-Smith. Registered
office : 1 and 2, Marylebone-passage, Wells-street, W. 1.

Butler, Spragg & Company.

Butler, Spragg, & Company, Ltd. (180 430). Private company.
Registered March 20. Capital, £30 000 in £1 shares (10 000 7^ per
cent, cumulative preference and 20 000 ordinary). To acquire i-hs
undertaking of Butler & Spragg, Ltd., and to carry on the business
of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and general engineers, &c.
First directors : A. Spragg, T. Butler, A. Harris, J. Crouch, and
H. N. Whittington. Registered office : 128, Cambridge-street,
Birmingham :.
Engineers (Penge) Ltd.

Engineers (Penge), Ltd. (180 466). Private company. Regis-
tered March 21. Capital, £5 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturing,
electrical engineers, &c. Subscribers : F. J. Pyne.and E. G. Pyne.
Secretary : F. H. Briggs. Registered office : 50, Croydon-road,
Penge, S.E.
L. C. Engineering Supplies.

L. C. Engineering Supplies, Ltd. (180 472). Private company.
Registered March 21. Capital, £6 000 in £1 shares (3 000 preference
and 3 000 ordinary). Electrical, hydraulic, mining, mechanical
engineers, contractors, &c. Subscribers : L. Contamm and W. L.
Watkins. Solicitors : Wansey, Stammers & Company, 52, Coleman-
street, E.C.

Motolite Dynamos.

Motolite Dynamos, Ltd. (180 416). Private company. Registered
March 18. Capital. £3 000 in 2 000 preference snares of £1 each
and 4 000 ordinary shares of 5s. each. Dynamo manufactui'ers, elec-
trical engineers, electricians, &c. First directors : L. S. Cnallis,
H. C. Pontet and H. C. H. Smyth. Office : Landor-road Works,
Landor-road, Askew-road, Shepherd's Bush, W. 12.
Norchard Syndicate.

Norchard Syndicate, Ltd. (180 553). Private company. Regis-
tered March 23. Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. To construct, main-
tain, and work electric generating stations, to produce and use elec-
trical energy, and supply the same to towns, collieries, buildings,
factories, mines, railways, tramways and others, &c. Permanent
directors : W. T. Kerr and G. C. Woods. Registered office : 3, New-
court, Lincoln's Inn, W.C.
North-Western Electrical.

North- Western Electrical Company, Ltd. (180 477). Private
company. Registered March 21. Capital, £100 in £1 shares. Elec-
trical engineers and contractors, &c. First directore : T. C. Hartley
and J. T. Storey. Secretary : J. T. Storey. Registered office : 55,
Strand, Barrow-in-Furness.

The Dynamicables' Anniversary Dinner will be held on Tues-
day, April 4, at the Trocadero Restaurant, London, W. Mr. A. A.
Campbell Swinton will preside.

Foreign Notes.

The capital of the Compagnie Fhancalse des Cablcs Tele-
fUiAPiiiQUES, of Paris, has been increased from 16 to 24 million

francs.

According to the " Iron Age," of New York, out of 22 409 tons of
steel castings produced in Canada last year, 13 984 tons, or 62 4 per
cent., Arere made in electric furnaces. "The best record in the pro-
duction of electric steel castings in the United States was in 1920,
when the castings made in electric fornacas were only 12'4 per cent,
of the total.

From Jan. 1 last the metric system has been employed in official
transactions of the Russian Soviet Go^'ernment, and from the
beginning of 1924 it must be adopted tor all commercial transactions.
On the 1st prox. the system will be introduced into Japan, and
after five years it must be used in towns, and after fifteen years
in the rural districts of the Empire.

It is stated that the railway system of Guatemala is being
extended by the construction of an electric line into the highlands
of Los Altos. The current will be derived from hydraulicpower.
The cost of the undertaking is estimated at about £450 000, and
this sum is to be raised by means of a special excise duty on arguar-
diente — a spirit distilled in the Republic.

At Radom, in Poland, there are electricity supplv works of 913 kW
capacity, and electric current is supplied on ttie d.c. three-wire
system at 220 and 440 volts. The plant is practicallv all German.
There are two 235 kW and four 40 kW A.E.G. and one 283 kW
Siemens-Schuckert dynamos. There are two Diesel engines of 350
and 400 h.p. respectively, two Wolf locomobiles and one Borsig
steam engine. The total connections are about 2 040 kW, and the
price of electricity for lighting is 140 marks and for power 94 marks
per unit.

In an article in the " Times Trade Supplement" on the develop-
ment of Palestine, the writer states that the Government of P.\les-
TiNE has already granted a provisional concession for the use of the
falls of the Upper Jordan and its affluents and of the river Tarmok
for the generation of electrical power, and for its distribution
throughout the country. Preliminary work, it is stated, is likely to
be begun within the next few months. When fully e.xecuted it
should, if the anticipations of the engineers are realised, furnish
Palestine with an abundant supply of cheap power, as well as with
a surplus of water for irrigation.

The permanent Commission of the Swiss Federal Railway
Administration has decided to return to the Council of -Administra-
tion, for its favourable consideration, the plans for the enlargement
of the electric power station at Amsteg, which will be fed to an
equal extent by the mountain torrents Kerstelen and Etzeli.
According to the " Gazette de Lausanne," the credit required for
the execution of these plans amounts to 6 000 000 francs.

Plans for the electrification of the line Lucerne- Oltex-Basle
(for which a credit of 28 300 000 francij has been asked) have been
approved by the permanent Commission and have been transmitted
for approval to the Council of the Administration of the Federal
Railways.

There appears to be an abundance of water power in Paraguay,
according to a correspondent of the " Times " Trade Supplement,
but so far there has been no hydro-electric development. It is
thought 40 000 h.p. could be obtained from the river Aca-av at
Puerto Embalse, and there are several other sites available. There
are few manufactures in the country, but cheap hydro-electric power
would greatly assist the mining, saw milling and logging industries,
and there would also be a steady demand for electric traction.
Transport and railway facilities are very poor, and it is anticipated
that future railway "construction would be designed for electric
working, so that there are reasonable prospects for any electricity
supply schemes.

Statistics of electrical progress in Fr.\nce show that in 1920 the
capacitv of manufacturing firms had greatly increased over that of
1913. The number of persons employed was 170 OOO, compared with
50 000 in 1913. and the relative value of manufactured goods had
been doubled. In electricity supply 2 230 million francs were in-
vested, against 1350 millions" in 1918", the number of employees bemg
15 000 against 9 COO, the length of the distribution hnes over
12 000 km., and the capacitv of the plant 820 000 kW. In hydro-
electric schemes over 1 700 "million francs have been sunk, against
1 514 millions at the end of 1920. and the plant mstalled, which
totals 1 100 000 h.p. (against 965 000 in 1920), supplies districts with
a population of over five millions, and the undertakings have over
19 000 km. of transmission and distribution lines.

Exhibition Notes.

Arrangements aie beitis; made to hold an exhibition of wireless
telegraphy shortly in Rome. Eighteen firms will be represented,
and different types of instruments, including the latest develop-
ments, will be shown working.

An electric vehicle show is to be held in New York from
April 5 to 15 under the auspices of the Automobile Bureau of the
New York Edison Company. The first week will be devoted to a
display of pleasure cars, trucks and batteries, and the second week
to an "exhibition of industrial trucks and batteries.

398

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922:

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note.— The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgments " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

B J. 0. ELECTRICAL SUPPLY COMPANY, Pershore-street,
Birmingham, electrical goods manufacturers. £28 5s. 9d.
Jan. 19.

BURGE. A., & COMPANY, 300-304, Garratt-lane, Earlsfield, elec-
trical engineers. £18 36. 7d. Jan. 17.

HURWORTH W., 41, Town-street, Horsforth, electrical engineer.
£20 Os. lOd. Jan. 26.

LONGBRIDGE ENGINEERING COMPANY, Great Darkgate-
street, Aberystwyth, electrical engineers. £16 86. 9d. Jan. 18.

MASKELL, WILLIAM, University Laboratories, Downing-street,
Cambridge, electrical engineer. £16 lOs. Jan. 25.

ROBINSON David, 65, Hockley-hill, Birmingham, master electri-
cian. £25 IBs, 9d. Jan. 25.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
Uie commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
ehall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

BOURNE END & DISTRICT ELECTRICITY CORPORATION,
LTD. Registered March 13, £1102 8s. lOd. debentures, dated
Feb. 28, 1922, part of £20 000; charged on land at Bourne End,
also general charge. *£15 122 86. lOd. March 2, 1922.
EVANS (ELECTRICAL), LTD., London, E.C. Registered
March 17, £300 first debentures ; also registered March 17,
£1040 second debentures: general charge. '£1100. Dec. 31,
1921.

Satisfactions.

EVANS (ELECTRICAL], LTD., London, E.C. Satisfaction regis-
tered March 17, £1 lOO, registered Jan. 3, 1922.

OLDHAM, ASHTON & HYDE ELECTRIC TRAMWAY, LTD.
Satisfaction registered March 14, £15 800. registered from
Nov. 11, 1901, to April 7, 1905.

Private Meetings.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily imply failure.
Many private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the
debtor consulting his creditors o.« to his position when he may not
he insolvent.^

KNIGHT, W. L. (trading as W. L. KNIGHT & SON), 6, Oak-end-
way, Gerrard's Cross, electrical engineer. A circular has been
issued to creditors stating that a meeting was recently held,
and an investigation into the position has now been completed
by Corfield & Cripwell, accountants, Balfour House, Finsbury-
pavement, E.C. The statement of affairs showed liabilities of
£806, while, after allowing £46 for preferential claims, the
assets were estimated to realise £331, or a deficiency of £475.
Assets comprised cash at bank, £2; stock at cost, £274,
expected to produce £100; book debts, £393, estimated to realise
£150; work in progress, £20; plant, machl'iery and loose tools,
£100, valued at £50; and office furniture, £5. With regard to
the stock, this is stated to be of a very misi ellaneous character,
and at a forced sale might realise poorly. Tne book debts were
owing from some sixty or seventy customers, and were all for
small amounts. In accordance with a I'osolution adopted at the
meeting, the debtor "had executed a deed of assignment with Mr.
W. A. J. Osborne as trustee. Mr. Osborne reports that the
business is being carried on for the time being, pending an
offer being made for the concern.

THANET ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD. (in voluntary liquida-
tion). Margate. At a meeting of creditors held recently in
London, it was reported that an extraordinary general meeting
of the shareholders had previously been held in London, when
a resolution in favour of voluntary liquidation was passed, and
Mr. IT. Kirby, of 840, Salisbury House, E.C. 2, was appointed
as liquidator. The liquidator stated that the liquidation was a
formal matter, and the business had been purchased by a well-
known trader at Margate, who intended to carry it on. The
whole of the liabilities have been or would be paid in full-.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but tre

cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.
Winding-up Petition.

SWIFT ELECTRICAL, LTD. A petition for winding-up has been
presented by Watshams, 33, King-street, Covent Garden,.
London, electrical engineers, and is to be heard at the Royaf
Courts of Justice, Strand, London, W.C. 2, on Tuesday,
April 4,

Bankruptcy Information.

DICKEN, William John (trading as W. DICKEN & SON), 2,
Upper High-street, Bargoed, Glamorgan, electrical engineer.
Receiving order, March 21. Debtor's petition.

RAWCLIFFE, Frank (trading as FRANK RAWCLIFFE & COM-
PANY), 8, Nun-street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, electrical engineer.
Receiving order, March 21. Creditor's petition.

Partnership Dissolved.

KINGHAM, William Allan, and PURCELL, Samuel, electrical
engineers and contractors, at 75, Pasture-road, and 176, Booth-
ferry-road, Goole, York, under the style of KINGHAM & PUB-
CELL, by mutual consent as from Nov. 26, 1921. Deb^«
received and paid by S. Purcell.

Books Received.

"Isotopes." By F. W. Aston, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. (London:
Edward Arnold.) Pp. viii.+152. 9s. net.

" Manuale per il Collando delle Macchine Elettriche." (Milan i
Ulrico Hoepli.) Pp. xiv. -1-463. L.18 :50.

" Chemistry and Civilisation." By Dr. A. S. Cushman. (Boston t-
The Gorham Press.) Pp. 151. $2.50 net.

" Mechanical World " Electrical Pocket Book, 1922. (Man-
chester : Emmott & Company.) Pp. 326. 2s. net.

" tleport on Series in Line Spectra." Bv A. Fowler. A.R.C.C.,.
F.R.S. (London : Fleetway Press.) Pp._ 183. 12s. 6d.

" Analogies Mecaniques de I'Electricite." Bv J. B. Pomey.
(Paris : Gauthier Villars et Cie.) Pp. xiv.-t-150. ISfr.

" Principles of Alternating Currents." By R. R. Lawrence^
(London : Hill Publishing Company.) Pp. xiv. -1-432. 20s.

" Sharing Profits with Employees." By J. A. Bowie, M.A^
(London : Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons.) Pp. ix. -1-222. 10s. 6d.

Forthcoming Books.

Benn Brothers are publishing almost immediately " The^

STRUCTTmE OF THE AtOM : NoTES ON SOME ReCENT THEORIES," by

Dr. Stephen Miall. This little book sets forth in a popular and
breezy style, but not the less scientifically, some modern ideas, which
should prove of great interest, not only to the scientist, but also to-
the general reader.

The firm will also shortly publish a " Life of George Westing-
HOUSE," by Henry G. Prout. This volume is a record of a life of
wonderful activity, an intimate disclosure of heretofore unreveale'i
industrial episodes, and an interesl-ing analysis of the engineer's p£irt
in modern civilisation.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday. March 28.

Copper — Price. Inc. Dec.

Best selected per ton £62 10 0 — fl 10 0

Electro Wirebars .. „ £65 15 0 — £2 0 0

H.C wire, basis per lb. Os. lO^d. — ^5^.

Sheet Os. 9H<i- — —

Phosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone)
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis „ Is. 2^^d. — ts'^

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis , Os. lid. — —

Sheet, basis „ Os. 9Jd. — —

Wire, basis Os. 10.}d. — —

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants . per ton £4 15 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £19 0 0 — —
Lead Pig —

English „ £23 0 0 — —

Foreign or Colonial . . „ £21 12 6 — —
Tinr—

Ingot £143 15 0 — —

Wire, basis per lb. Is. ll|d. — id.

Aluminium l7}gots per ton £120 0 0 — —

Spelter per ton £25 5 0 £2 10 0 —

Mercury per bottle £110 0 — —

Salammoniac. — Per cwt. 65s.-60s. Sodium Chlorate. — Per lb. 3Jd.

Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 IO3. Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°). —

„ (Roll-Brimstone).— Per ton Per ton £9 I7s. 6d.

£10 10s. Copper SuJrhate.—Per ton £26 lOs.

Sodiurn Bichromate. — Per lb. 5?d. Boric Acid (Crystals). — Per ton £60
Rvl)hcr. — Para fine, 10 Id. ; plantation 1st latex, SJ

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby Cablev
Ltd.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

399

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c,

British Insulated & Helsby Cables Ltd.

The twenty-sixth ordinary general meeting of shareholders of
British Insulated & Helsby Cables, Ltd., was held on Mond^ at
the Exchange Station Hotel, Liverpool, Mr. James Taylor, J. P.,
chairman of directors, presiding.

The chairman, in proposing the adoption of the report and
balance sheet, said the year's profit of £502 524 was an increase of
£161 811 over the previous year, a result which the directors con-
sidered highly satisfactory. This amount of profit waa the largest in
the history of the company, but in view of the present unfavourable
business conditions it was perhaps needless to say that it would Le
difficult to maintain this high level. At the last annual meeting
he told the shareholders they had to face very large capital expendi-
ture in order to reorganise their works after the war to bring them
completely up to date. This expenditure, he claimed, had oeen fully
justified.

There was a special demand to-day for high-tension cables, and
no firm in the country was in a better position to supply this demand.
Not only were they the largest manufacturers of nigh-tension and
other cables in the country, but they had many subsidiary industries
which also had been brought up to date. The facilities provided by
the company's large capital expenditure in 1920 enabled them
during the last year to execute important orders on their books a
year ago, and further promptly to execute other orders subsequently
received. The profits were largely due to the improvements carried
out in the factory, to the completion of old contracts, and to the
judicious purchase of raw material. Two years ago the directors
were empowered to raise fresh capital should this be considersd
necessary. Shareholders would be pleased to note the company had
passed through the exceptionally trying intervening period without
exercising these powers. They were fortunately one of the com-
paratively few companies which had not required to increase capital
at a time when the rate of interest was high.

The addition of last year's carry forward of £116 863 to this
year's profits gave a total balance of £619 388 on profit and loss
account. After the payment of debenture interest, preference and
interim ordinary dividends, directors', trustees' fees appopriation of
£30 000 to depreciation account, and £5 000 to debenture stock re-
demption fund, there remained a balance of £474 723. From this a
further dividend of 6^ per cent, on the ordinary shares, together
with a bonus of 5 per cent., was recommended, making with the
interim dividend already paid a total distribution of 15 per cent,
for the year. This would absorb £112 500, leaving a balance >o
carry forward of £362 223. The sum placed to depreciation was
£20 000 less than a year ago, but in view of the large amount spent
on repairs and renewals, the works were in first-class condition, and
the lesser appropriation was adequate.

A year ago, under the heading of Stocks and Work in Progress, an
increase of £269 000 was recorded ; this year there was a decrease of
£404 000, accounted for by the smaller volume of trade and the
decline in the value of materials. A decrease of £423 813 in sundry
debtors represented a great falling off in trade, as also did the fact
that they owed their bankers nothing and had in hand £519 893,
but the latter figure indicated the company's strong cash position.
Referring to concerns in which the company had large holdings, the
chairman said the Midland Electric Corporation had done well
during a trying year; the Electric Supply Company of Victoria,
Ltd., was conducting negotiations with the Corporations of Bendigo
and Ballarat, with favourable hopes of a settlement; and the Auto-
matic Telephone Manufacturing Company, Ltd., was. In his opinion,
steadily strengthening its position.

Nothing was to be added to the reserve account, which stood at
the substantial sum of £250 000, but the carry forward was being
increased in order to consolidate the company's position financially.
The opinion of the board was that 1922 probably would be a year of
difficulties, not only in their own special trade, but in that of the
country generally. Under such circumstances they felt that a firm
which had ample cash resources was in the best position to face the
unknown future, and they trusted the shareholders would approve
of the policy of carrying forward the large sum of £362 223, whicli
the board believed to be entirely in the company's best interests.

Sir Harmood Banner, M.P. (vice-chairman), seconded the adoption
of the report and balance sheet, and after brief speeches by sliaro-
holders expressing satisfaction at the company's position, the motion
was carried unanimously.

A resolution declaring a further dividend of 6^ per cent, on the
ordinary shares and a bonus of 5 per cent., making, with the
interim dividend already paid, a total distribution of 15 per cent, for
the year, was also carried unanimously.

On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. J. Carlton Stitt,
Sir Harmood Banner and Sir Alexander Roger were re-elected
directors.

The meeting closed with a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman
and directors.

Midland Electric Corporation.

In moving the adoption of the report and accounts at the annual
meeting of the Midland Electric Corporation for Power Distri-
BxrriON, Ltd., on Monday, Mr. James Taylor (the chairman of the
company) said that the profit of the company this year amounted to
£105 857, against last year's record of £109 419. "The gross revenue
for current sold was down about £51 000, but against this they had
earned in interest on cash in hand of £15 600, the one being gross, the
other net. To the net profit of £105 857 was added £18 517 brought
forward, making a total of £124 375. The reserve account had been

increased from £20 000 to £45 000. The addition was in respect of
the usual item of £5 000 which was being provided in each year, and
£20 000 transferred from credit balancee. This was in reepect of an
amount which had in previous years been set aside for eandry
liabilities which might have had to be met, but which would not Le
required. The directors recommended a further dividend on the
ordinary shares of 6 per cent, which, with the interim dividend of
4 per Cent., made a total or 10 per cent, for the year, leaving
£30 604 to be carried forward. He would like to point out that the
ordinary dividend 4>f 10 per cent, last year took £17 711, against
£28 000 this year. This was owing to the new shares issued last year
being now entitled to a full year's dividend. On capital account,
during the year they had spent £193 946, and this would have been
heavier had the new plant ordered been delivered to date.

The yeai- had been one of great difficulty. First, early in the y?ar
they had a serious breakdo^vvn at the generating station, but, thanks
to the forbearance of their customers and the hard work of the
engineers, they kept running, but with a reduced load. Then came
the coal strike; again they kept running, but at a very heavy cost,
and supplied all the demands made upon them. Then came bad
trade, the result of which all wer« still feeling. Taking those facts
into consideration, he trusted the shareholders would consider the
results satisfactory. He was afraid that, owing to heavy taxation,
labour charges, &c. . it would be a long time — if ever — before they
could come back to pre-war rates. The inquiry by the Electricity
Commissioners into the delimitation of the South-West Midlands
area, which included a portion of the company's districts, was
successfully opposed, but at rather heavy cost in legal expenses. The
inquiry into the scheme for the North-West Mdilands area, in which
the company would be included, had recently been held. Under that
scheme it was proposed to set up a joint authority to control the
supply of energy for the whole area, and it might be necessary for the
company to transfer its generating station to that body, on terms
and conditions to be agreed, but the distribution of supply energy
would remain in the hands of the company. "The directors were
watching the company's interests, and if and when the scheme took
definite shape full particulars of the steps to be taken would be laid
before the shareholders.

Davis & Timmins.

The annual meeting of Davis & Timmins was held last week
under the presidency of Sir Henry C. Manoe (the chairman). The
chairman having dealt with the report and accounts (see Thi
Electrician, March 17), Mr. G. E. Davis (managing director) spoke
at length on the present strike in the engineering industry. Their
works, he said, were closed for the first time since the business was
started in 1876. The firm was on the most amicable terms with
their employees and the employees with the firm. They (tho
employees) belonged, of course, to a union, and the firm as employers
also belonged to a union — the Engineering Employers' Federation.
The dispute was a very clean-cut one. It was not a question of
wages or bonus or overtime, or a desire on the part of employers
to smash the union, but simply one of whether works should" be
managed by skilled and expert knowledge in the shape of the
employers or by a committee of employees who, collected together at
random, had no qualifications for the task of management.

Out of 400 000 members of the Amalgamated Society of Engi-
neers only 50 000 voted — jus", one-eighth of the whole — and this
number plunged the entire 400 000 out of work, not to mention an
even larger number of more or less affiliated or sympathetic members
of other unions. The general opinion of the men themselves — pnd
their emploj-ers in particular — was against this suicidal policy.
Fortunately the majority in this country was composed of men aiid
women of sterling common sense, and it was up to the labour leaders
to relieve their members from the influence of hotheads who in no
way represented labour. It was absurd to suggest that the employers
were out to smash the imions. The employers were out to manage
their own works, and nothing more. Since '..e Armistice there had
been no fewer than 4 000 strikes, with a loss to the nation of
180 000 000 working days.

With regard to the future, his opinion was that they had touched
rock bottom as far as tJie slump was concerned. "Their financial
position was particularly sound. They had the siiews of war in
the shape of liquid cash, and they had valuable stocks at their dis-
posal. All they required were trade winds set fair, and their
recovery would, if slow, be sure and, he hoped, lasting.

Waste Heat and Gas Electrical Generating Stations Ltd.

The report of the Wasth Heat & Gas Electrical Generating
Stations, Ltd., for the year ending Dec. 31 last shows a profit, after
deducting administration expenses and interest on loans, of
£35 620. compared with £34 439 in 1920, less £16 000 (£14 000).
which has been transferred to reserve. The sum of £12 603
(£17 764) was bron£;ht forward from the previous year, making
profits available of £52 222 (£38 203). The directors recommend a
dividend at the rate of 6 per cent (8 per cent.) for the year, amount-
ing to £19 200 (of this an interim dividend of li per cent, was paid
in August, 1921, amounting to £4 800), leaving a balance to be car-
ried forward of £13 022 9s. 9d., against £12 603 last yeai-. The
amount standing to the credit of the reserve account is now £143 851,
including tlio amount transferred from the profits of the past year.
The redemption funds in respect of plant supplied on hire-purchase
terms amount to £21360. Capital expenditure during the year
amounted to £20 664. £15 001 of which was in connection with the
new power station at Horden. A farther sum of £10 000 will
probably be required finally to complete this station and the exten-
sions in connection with the gas engine plant at Weardale. To meet

400

The £lecirician.

March 31, 1922

the above expenditure it has been necessary to borrow temporarily
from the company's bankers, and this arrangement will continue
from time to time during the current year. The results of the past
year were greatly affected by the miners' strike, the whole of the
stations being closed down during the three months from April to
June, 1921. The plant at the Horden power station was put into
operation again in August, and the Teesbridge and Ayresome power
stations started up in September, since when these thre^ stations
have been running satisfactorily. It is hoped that the Newport plant
will be running again at the end of this month. Both the Clai'enoe
and Weardale stations are still completely shut down. The aggre-
gate output from all the company's generating stations showed a
reduction of 59 per cent, on the previous year.

Tyneside Electrical Development Company announce a final
dividend on the preferred ordinary shares of 3 per cent., less tax,
making 6 per cent, for the year.

The directors of the Soxjth Staffordshire Tramways Company
recommend a dividend of 4 per cent, on the preference shares for the
past year, carrying forward ±;462.

Reading Electric Supply Company announce a dividend of 4 per
cent, on the ordinary shares for the year. The sum of £5 500 has
been placed to depreciation and reserve, leaving £1 779 to be carried
forward.

The Isle of Wight Electric Light & Power Company have
declared a dividend of 10 per cent, on the preference shares for the
two years ended April 30, 1920. The sum of £10 000 has bee-
placed to the renewal fund and £583 carried foi"ward.

The report of Rotherham Tramways Committee for 1921 states
that recent economies have resulted in a saving of £23 000 per annum,
but owing to a loss of £10 000 per annum previous to 1910, and extra
charges for rates, current, &c., this sum is not available for use.

The accounts of the Swansea Improvements & Tramways Com-
pany for 1921, after setting aside £20 000 for renewals, show a
surplus of £11 913. The sum of £2 099 is brought forwai-d, making
£l4012. It is proposed to pay a dividend on the ordinary shares for
the year of 6 per cent, and to carry forward £3 613.

The directors of the Singapore Electric Tramways state that
since the offer from the Municipality of Singapore for the purchase
of the company's undertaking was submitted to a meeting of
debenture holders on Feb. 17 last, and rejected, negotiations with
the Shanghai Electric Construction Company have been commenced,
and are now proceeding.

The annual report of the Siemens Elektrische Betriebe states
that the company has been severely hit by the appreciation of foreign,
especially Swiss, exchange. The company's debts on this account,
the report states, amount to 183 000 000 marks, part of which can be
covered from the reserve fund, but there remains an uncovered loss
of more than 162 500 000 marks.

The net profit of P. & W. Maclellan for 1921, after debiting
had and doubtful debts, directors' remuneration, and various other
charges, making provision for taxes and contingencies, and includ-
ing £29 578 brought in, was £81080. The directors recommend a
dividend of 8 per cent, on the ordinary shares, payable 4 per cent,
on March 31 and 4 per cent, on Sept. 30 next, carryine forward
£27 039. ' J &

The net profit of the British Engine Boiler & Elect-bical Insur-
ance Company for 1921, after paying an interim dividend of 7s. 6d.
per share (less tax), reserving JBl 241 for income and corporation
taxes, ahd adding £5 030 to pension fund, was £24 126. The direc-
tors recommand a final dividend of lis. per share and the usual
bonus of 4s. (both less tax), carrying forward £13 416.

The report of the Clyde Valley Electrical Power Company for
1921 shows profit of £106 389, plus £69 693 brought in. After trans-
ferring £50 000 to the contingency fund, the directors recommend
a final dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, p-cr annum on the ordinary
shares, making 7^ per cent, for the vear, transferring to second pre-
ference share special reserve £1 000, writing down cost of second
preference share issue £6 463, and carrying forward £51 547.

Presiding at the annual meeting of tlie Newcastle & District
Eleci-ric Lighting Company last week, Lieut.-Col. F. R. Simpson,
T.p., said that the total receipts showed a decrease of £16 954^
which was accounted for by the three months' coal strike and the
general trade depression. The net profit for the vear, after allowing
£14 000 for depreciation, was £8100, and with the amount brought
forward from 1920 there was an available balance of £22 055. For
the first two months of the current ye;ir the -ilgures showed an
improvement on the latter part of 1920. A dividend was declared
at the rate of 4 per cent., less tax, for the year.

Referring to the adverse conditions of the past year at the annual
meeting of the Llanelly & District Electric Lighting & Traction
Co. last week, Mr. Alfred R. Holland (chairman), who pr«iided, said
it spoke volumes for the recuperative power of the business tliat thev
were again able to recommend payment of the same rate of dividend
upon tne ordinary shares as m the preceding two years — namely,
7 per cent., and to place to the credit of reserve accounts approxi-
mately £2 000 more than in the previous year. Tiie total units sold
during the year 1921 amounted to 9 2^6 618. as compared with
6 760 839 in the previous year, an increase of 2 535 679 unite. The
results of the current year, so far as they had gone, sliowcd an im-
provement, and with a revival in trade and a return to more normal
conditions the directors looked forward with confidence to tlie future
progress of the business. Details of the accounts appeared in our
last issue.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY, March 31st (to-day).

Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

6 -p.m. At Storey's-gate, London, S.W. Paper on " The Mill-

ing of Screws, and Other Problems in the Theory of Screw-
Threads," by Prof. H. H. Jeffcott.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
London Students' Section.

7 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Address bv the Presi-

dent, Mr. J. S. Highfield.

Junior Institution of Engineers.

8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London. S.W. Lecturette on " The

Steel-Melting Shop," by Mr. D. P. Dickinson.
MONDAY, April 3rd.

The Farmers' Club.
Jf p.m. At 2, Whitehall-court, London, S.W. Paper entitled
"Electric Power as an Aid to Agriculture," by Mr. B.
Matthews.

Royal Society of Arts.
8 p.m. At John-street, Adelphi, London, W.C. Cantor Lec-
ture, " The Constituents of Essential Oils," by Mr. G. Rad-
cliffe. (Lecture III.)

TUESDAY. April 4th.

Institution of Civil Engineers.
6 p.m. At Gre^t George-street, London, S.W. Paper on
" Corrosion of Ferrous Metals," by Sir Robert HadfieM.
Bart., F.R.S.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
South Midland Centre, Students' Section.
7.30 p.m. At the Grand Hotel, Colmore-row, Birmingham.
Lecture on " With the Wireless Signal Company, R.E. , in
E. Africa, 1916-1918," by Mr. J. A. Cooper.
Runtgen Society.
8.15 p.m.. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Paper on " Electrical
Measuring Instruments Commonly Employed by Radio-
logists," by Major K. Edgcumbe.

WEDNESDAY, April 5th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Wireless Section.
6 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. Paper on " Provision
of Power for Wireless Telegraphy," by Capt. J. H.
Whittaker-Swinton, R.E.

THURSDAY, April 6th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
6 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C Paper on " Prot«ctive
Apparatus for Turbo-Alternators," by Mr. J. A. Kuyser.

FRIDAY, Am-il 7th.

Institute of Cost and Works Accountants.
7.30 p.m. At the Chamber of Commerce, New-street, Birming-
ham. Public Lecture on ' The Functions of Works
Accomitancy," by Mr. J. A. Lacey.
Royal Institution.
9 p.m. At Albemarle-sireet, London, W. Discourse on "The
Evolution of the Elements," by Sir Ernest Rutherford.
F.R.S.

Tenders Invited.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Midlothian and Peebles District Asylum. Rosslynlee. April 1.
— Si.K months' supply of electric fittings and fittings for machniery.
Forms of tender from the Clerk and Treasurer, 19, Heriot-row.
Edinburgh.

Birmingham Electric Supply Dep.xrtment. April 7. — Electric
motors, approximately 100. Tenders to include starting panels and
sundry spare parts, the sizes of the motors ranging from i b.h.p. to
15 b.h.p. Particulars from the City Electrical Engineer, 14, Dale-
end, Birmingham.

Edinburgh Corporation. April 8. — Contractors are invited to
apply for inclusion in the list of firms with whom orders may b«
placed for engineering work and maintenance of telephones during
the ensuing year. Forms of offer from the City Architect.

Ashton-Under-Lyne Corporation. April 12. — Eight e.h.t. equip-
ments for 6 600 V three-phase 50-cycle system. Specifications irom
the Borougli Electrical Engineer.

Wolveriia.mpton Guardians. April 12. — Installation of electric
cables and mains .at the Poor-Law Institution, Heath Town. Parti-
culars from the Clerk to the Guardians, Poor Law Offices, Wolver-
hampton.

Wandsworth Guardians. April 12. — Installation of electric light-
ing at the Intermediate Sclux)ls, Swaffield-road, Wandsworth.
Particulars from the Clerk, Mr. F. J. Curtis. Union Offices, St.
John's Hilt, Wandsworth, S.W. 18.

Walthamstow Urban Council. April 12.— Extra high-tension
feeder cable and low-tension distributor and public lighting cables.
Specifioations. &c. , from Mr. G. R. Spurr, Electricity Works, Priory-
avenue, Waltliamstow.

Dundee Corporation. April 20.— One 12-panel d.c. switchboard,
four 3 000 A d.c. circuit-breaker panels, and three starting panel.--
for rotarii^. Specific<ations, &c., from the City Electrical Engineer.

DuMB.vRTON County Council. — Electric wiring and fitting work in
flie County Buildings. Dumbarton. Specifications from Mr. J
Weekes, 88. r(>llon:*>-Oi .vt . Dumbarton.

March 31, 1922

The Electrician.

401

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The foUomng abstract from some oi ihe spen/ications recently published have
been spectaity compiled by Mkssrs. Mewbuun, Ei.lis & Co., Chartered Patent
Agtntt, 70 arui 72, Chancery-lane, London, W .C,

COMPLBTK Specifications.

147 046

147 602

147 699

147 758

147 884

147 934

147 939

147 942
147 943

147 944

147 948

148 129

169 007
169 008

169 032

COMPAGNIE POUR LA FABRICATION DES CoMPTEURS ET MATERIEL

d'Usines X Gaz. Testing-sets, including electric current trans-
formers, for use with measuring instruments. (30/6/19.)
KoRTiNG & Mathieson Akt.-Ge.s. Electricity meters for indicat-
ing the wattless consumption in alternating-current and three-
phase current installations. (11/12/18.)

Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Wave telephone systems.
(17/1/19.)

]jATOUft, M. Thermionic tube amplifying devices. (4/12/18.)
(Addition to 127 318.)

Siemens-Schuckehtwerke. Voltrametric electricity meters.
(11/3/19.) (Addition to 147 879.)

Signal Ges. Receiving device for subaqueous sound signals.
(16/12/14.)

Signal Ges. Submarine sound transmitting and receiving
apparatus. (10/3/17.)

Signal Ges. Submarine sound-producer. (25/2/18.)
SiGiNAL Ges. Device for preventing disturbing noises in polarised
electro-magnetic sound apparatus. (4/5/18.)

Signal Ges. Device for preventing disturbing noises in polarised
electro-magnetic sound apparatus. (30/5/18.) (Addition to
147 943.)

Signal Ges. Arrangement for avoiding disturbing noises in
listening devices caused by changing circuits associated there-
with. (20/4/17.)

British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. Means for obtaining uni-
directional potential differences or current of constant value.
(22/12/15.)

Macrorie, a. K., & Shearing, G. Transmitting circuits for wire-
less telegraphy and telephony. (15/6/20.)

Larsen, a. Sinding-. Process for obtaining an increased light
electrical effect in light electrical cells with alkali metal cathodes
and other cells of a similar nature. (15/6/20.)

RusHEN, P. C. (Knorr-Bremse Akt.-Ges.). Automatic compressed
air-brake controlled electrically and by compressed air, particu-
larly for trains composed of several motor-vehicles. (26/6/20.)

APPLICATIONS FOE PATENTS

February 7, 1922
3 482 E. Y. Robinson. Generation of high frequency currents.
3 521 T. McKenna (Dictagraph Products Corporation). Telephone signal

service.
3 522 T. McKenna (Dictagraph Products Corporation). Signal systems

for telephones.
3 523 T. McKenna (Dictagraph Products Corporation!. Sectional switch-
board frame.
3 524 T. McKenna (Dictagraph Products Corporation). Battery carrier

and connector.
3 529 Electrical Apparatus Co. & E. N. Bray. Switch mechanism.
3 532 W. J. Webb. Cleaning inside of lamp bulbs.

3 534 W. R H. Tingey. Inductance coils for currents at radio frequency.
3 553 Western Electric Co. & G. Deakin. Telephone call distribution

system.
3 554 Western Electric Co. Telephone exchange sj stems.
3 555 W. L. Hoffmann, C. E. Funnell & A. O. Garrett. Storage

battery grid.
3 575 Betters, Ltd., G. B. Petter & T. G. Grundey. Electric beating of

engines of hot-bulb-type before starting.
3 593 M. H. Petersen. Effecting automatic continuous operation of

copying telegraphs. (17/2/21, Norway.)
3 594 Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie. Anodes for mercury vapour

rectifiers. (18 '2/21, Switzeriand )
3 611 & 3 612 F. H. Robinson. Single phase induction motors.
3 616 G. Bojdou. Electrically heated air waving appliances.
3 630 Martingnoni. Accumulators.

February 8, 1922.

3 645 L. B. Turner. Wireless telegraph receivers. •

3 653 S. George (J. H. George). Rotary contact devices for electric
ignition.

3 673 R. Maclaren. Automatic regulator for electric radiators, &c.

3 689 R. M. Radio, Ltd., W. H. Merriman & H. R. Rivers-Moore. Wire-
less call device.

3 695 Phi-Kappa Synd. & D. Watson. Electric toasting or heating
apparatus.

3 697 Naamlooze Vennootschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Glow dis-
charge lamps. (9/2/21, Holland.)

3 698 Naamlooze Vennootschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Gasfilled dis-
charge tubes. (9/2/21, Holland.)

3 701 S. E. & L. C. & D. Ry. Companies & G. Ellson. Live rails in
electric traction.

3 703 J. R. p. Lunn. Electric tubular annealing, &c., furnaces.

3 704 J. R. P. Lunn. Connectors for concentric cables.

3 723 &: 3 724 Berry's Electric & H. H. Berrv. Switches

3 725 E. Urbain & C. Seal. Magneto. (8/2/21. France.)

3 728 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & I. N. Whitesmith. Com-
mutators for electric machines.

3 736 Siemens & Halske A. G. Alternating current generators. (8/2/21,
Germany.)

3 741 G. Verdonk & D. Lodder. Electric plug contacts. '9/2/21,
Holland.)

February 9, 1922.

3 760 Fuller's United Electric Works & A. P. Welch. Fixing covers
for switches, &c.

3 775 L. R. Lee, H. J. Chaytor & H. Hawkins. Means for protecting
joints of undersrround cables.

3 805 L. M. Waterhouse. Circuit connection fittings for electric wiring
systems

0 o"^! S- HowsoN. Automatic switch stands for electric irons.

1 ei^ & Y- Brown. Electric circuit controlling devices.
3 849 H. Leit.ier. Accumulators.

3 862 Soc. DiTE LE Materiel. Radiating surfaces in electric heating

apparatus. (12/2/21, France.)
f o^« Y- ORTEGA. Thermo-electric apparatus for heating water. &c.
3 870 A. Zaccanti. Electric apparatus for destruction of insects. &c.

February 10, 1922.
3 914 J. J. Lepime. Switch boxes.

lo?5 o ^- ?• ^- Ellis. Changeable electric code switch.
.^937 Boc. Anon. Le Carbone. Batteries. (19/4/21, France)

3 969 W. Williams & Co. & J. R. Middletox. Device* for oimmini;
incande.-.cent l^mpa.

3 975 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E Co.;. Electric motor contiol eyKtemii,.

3 980 New British Electric Eupply Co. & H. C. E. Jacoby. Electro-
magnetic devices.

3 982 H. G. Barthow^mew & M. L. G. McFarla.ve. Telanto^irHphy.

4 009 G. Natoli. Magneto-electric machine.

, February 11, 1922.

4 028 E. D. You.SG. Electrical trans^mitter microphoneo.

4 029 W. Wilson, C. C. Garrakd & M. Soujkon. Motor controlling

switchgear.
4 030 W. WiLso.v, C. C. Ga"&.hard & A. H. Railing. Motor starting and

controlling switchgear.
4 053 Associated Equipme.st Co. & C. K. Edwards. Control gear for

electric driving mechanism.
4 058 Reyk'jlle & Co. & H. W. Clothier. Switches.
4 061 E. Y. Robinson. \V ireleis receiving systems.
4 063 A. J. Dean. Electric in.spection apparatus for interiors.
4 068 r. H. KiNMAN. Receiving a^rangementB for electro-magnetic

waves.
4 109 J. N. Chaviara & J. F. Gill. Electro-dynamic power transmitting

mechanisms.

February 13. 1922.
4 116 C. L. Arnold & C. R. Belling. Electric terminals for wall plugs

and sockets, switches, &c.

4 119 L. H. HouNSFiELD. Electric ignition gea*.

4 132 A. Page. Magnetos.

4 139 E. L. & A. E. Ward. Means for threading telephone, &c.. cables
through conduits, &c.

4 157 F. H. L. HoLWECK. Impermeable electric apparatus. (11/2/21,
France.)

4 171 K. Kaisser. Electric contact devices working with mercury, &c.

4 179 J. Robinson & J. Spenser. Electric time switches.

4 191 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., A. B. Field, & L. Miller.
Alternating current machines. .

4 200 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. & A. E. Hudd. Electro-magnetic
mechanisms.

4 203 F. Creedy. Alternating current machines.

4 219 A. H. Railing, C. C. Garrard, A. E. McColl, & W. Wilson. Pro-
tective systems for alternating current circuits.

February 14," 1922.

4 270 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Electric switches. (14/2/21.
U.S.)

1 282 B. H. N. H. Hamilton. Inductance coils, «Scc

4 291 L. W. J. Firth. Mechanical cut-out dynamo.

4 300 P. Kemp. Electric power systems.

4 302 E. F. Joyce & C. C. R. Wray. Telephone number indicator.

4 305 J. P. Haworth. Electric clocks, &c.

4 318 Western Electric Co. Repeater circuits. (11/6/21, U.S.)

4 319 Western Electric Co. Electrical networks.

4 332 B. T.-H. Co. & C. T. Hanna. Electric current controllers, <kc.

4 334 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Electric switches. (26/2.21.
U.S.)

4 337 General Electric Co., Ltd.. & R. Le Rossignol. Incandescent
lamps.

4 339 P. EvERSHEiM. Metallic vapour lamp.

4 351 D. C. Crowe. Telephone systems.

4 363 O. Karz. Electric supply arrangements for electrically propelled
vehicles. (7/3/21, Austria.)

4 367 Macintosh Cable Co. & D. D. Watson. Dividing box for multi-
core cables.

4 368 L. T. C. Russell. Electric meters for a.c.

4 378 W. F. RowLA.VDSON. Regulating switch for starting motors, &c.

liquids. (9,6/21,

(15/2/21,

(13/8/21.

February 15, 1922.

4 384 O. Meyer-Keller & Co. Electrodes for heating

Germany.)

4 411 S. T. Jeffreys. Electrically illuminated signs.
4 413 A. Reyrolle & Co. & W. M. Thornton. Lightning or surge

arresters of electric conductors.
4 447 H. Ackermann & P. J. Barnes. Apparatus for periodical inter-
ruption of electric current.
4 463 Metropolitan-Vickel-- Electrical Co. Electric speed regulator

systcius.
4 467 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Circuit controllers.
4 468 H. G. Hughes & S. R. Mullard. Thermionic valves.
4 470 Western Electric Co. Multiplex submarine cable.
4 481 T. W. S. Hutchins. Electro deposition of metals.
4 485 Hart Mfg. Co. Switches. i24/2/21, U.S.)
4 488 A. & O. Neumann. Accumulators. (5/1/22, Germany.)
4 494 A. W. Burke. Motor starters and circuit controllers.

U.S.)
4 495 A. W. Burke. Motor starters and circuit controllers.

U.S.)
4 509 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. T( legraph and telephone systems.

(17/2/21. Germany.)
4 510 Ges FtJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Thermionic generators of electric

oscillations. (16/2/21, Germany.)

February, 16, 19'22.

4 527 Albion Motor Car Co. & T. B. Murray. Rheostat for controlling

vehicle lights.
4 542 E. Schroder. Electric welding of high speed steel to tool

shanks, &c.
4 574 S. W. Hamlyn. Electric lamp suspender.
4 587 E. L. BuRNE. Charging secondary batteries.
4 602 Siemens & Halske A. G. Closed circuit magnetic switches.

(3/3/21, Germany.)
4 609 P. Me'^GUIn. l!.iectn<- o-vitch'-o. 'lS/2 21. Fr-Te <
4 615 A. W. MXthys (Wilson-Maeolen Co.). Electrical resistanc*

thermometers.
4 618 Siemens S^hucke jtwerke. Electro-m.ignets. '1( 2 21. Germany.!
4 620 E. W. Lancaster. Electric conductors and wiring for electno

circuits. ,. ... , . -

4 621 E. W. Lancaster. El«ct'-ic innlnnces 'or cleaning, fanning. &c.
4 637 F. Weatherill. Single fluid primary cell.

February 17, 1922.

4 650 A. J. Trott & E. L. J. Weight. Electrically heated incubators.
4 716 F. W. Sturgess & A. O. FrexchBrewster. Means for auto-

maticallv actuatin:: switch.
4 718 English Electric Co. & C. F. Barnholdt. Control of electric

vehicles.
4 723 C. F. Johnston. Electric clocks.
4 734 M. P. Favre-Bulle. Regulating amplitudes in electromagnetic

clocks.
4 766 H. Vogt. J. Engl. & J. Massolle. Amplifier connections for wire

less telegraphy. (182 21, Germany.)

402

The Electrician.

March 31, 1922

February 18, 1922.
4 777 S. W. Amphlet. Electric switches, adapters, &c. ,,,.., ^
4 791 G. W. Humphry. Device for short-circuiting flow of electricity to

sparking plugs, &c.
4 797 C. Oliver. Electric wall plugs. .

4 824 G. F. SvioTTER. Electric ireasunng instruments.
4 835 E. A. ASHCROFT. ElectroJvsing fused salts of metals and recover-

ins metals and acid radicles, &c. , . . ., ..

4 862 M. Benson. Mercury power plant for electncity generating.

February, 20, 1922.
4 923 J. B. BoLiTHO. Apparatus for reception of signals in wireless

telegraphy and telephony, &c.
4 925 A. R. Angus. Electric control of trains.

4 937 G. R. Judge. Obtaining characteristic curve of thermionic valve.
4 938 G. R. Judge. Loud sounding telephones.
4 943 B. T.-H. Co. & A. P. Young. Regulating speed and voltage of

electric machines having pennanent field magnets.
4 944 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electro-magnets.

4 946 A. Hewer & A. A. Sharples. Means for generation of electricity.
4 959 R. S. Allen. i"ime lag electric switch.
4 961 F. L. HoLLiSTER. Maenetos.

4 963 R. L. Chasselon. Universal current tapping connector.
4 982 Soc. Francaise Radio-Electrique. Printing telegraphs.
4 983 Pulsometer Engineering Co. & F. C. Norton. Means for securing

electric lamps in holders.

February 21, 1922.

4 992 A. Challinor. Tramway trolly head.

5 048 E. G. BuDD Mfg. Co. Jigs for assembling and electrically welding

parts of automobile bodies. &c. (15/3/21, U.S.)
5 051 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Railway signalling systems.
5 060 A. H. Railing & R. J. Kaula. Insulators for supporting electric

conductors.
5 069 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Synchronous dynamo-electric machine.
5 070 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Incandescent lamps.
5 073 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & G. A. Cheatham. Electric

automatic regulators.
5 085 F. H. Watts. Electrically controlled direction indicators for

vehicles.
5 091 H. J. Round. Wireless telegraph receiving systems.'
5 093 G. Ellison & J. Anderson. Magnetic blow-out devices for electric

controlling awparatus.
5 096 J. H. Whittaker-Swinton. Thermionic tubes, &c.
5 115 M. W. Woods. Electric motors.

February 22, 1922.
5 157 L. F. E. Ferrette. Incandescent safety lamps for mines.

(23/2/21, France.)
5 165 E. E. FouRNiER d'Alre. Producing \dsual effects by sound
5 170 C. P. Ratcliffe, W. K. Barker, & S. G. Jones. Electrical intru-

ments, &c.
5 193 J. B. Belcher. Bonding device for metal covered wires.
5 207 B. T.-H. Co. fG. E. Co.). Electric switches.
5 208 J. F. G. P. Hautmann. Oscillographs.
5 209 C. J. Coleman. Transmission of messages through cables having

high electro'static capacity.
5 236 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Electric switch gear.

'30/6/21, U.S.)
5 237 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. (Westinghouse Electric &

Mfg. Co.). Temperature regulating devices.

February 23, 1922.
5 251 K. E. Edgeworth. Device, for tuning high frequency oscillating

circuits.-
5 253 A. M. Taylor. Electric transmission systems.
5 291 L. J. Rich. Loading submarine cables.
5 309 R. D. Archibald. Electric machines.

5 315 L. J. Steele, A. E. McCarthy, & H. Martin. Electric arc welding.
5 321 A. W. Shatman. Aoparatus for production of hish voltage currents

applicable to thermionic valves, &c.
5 351 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electrically heated tools.
5 369 W. R. James & A. L. Nickerson. Electric indicators for doors.
5 373 L. Walker. Apparatus for testing electrical spark producing

a'^pliances under pressure.
5 376 E. Schattver. Electric heating devices.

5 378 H. G. C. Fi.iR\VEATHER (Dubilier). Selectively transferring electri-
cal o-:cillitory enera-y.
5 379 Radio Communication Co. & J. Scott-Taggart. Generation and

modulation of electrical oscillations.
5 380 Radio Communication Co. & ?. Scott-Taggart. Radio frequency

si'inallin'T systems.
5 392 G. N. Cadbury & A. W. Maley. Trackless trolly vehicles.
5 398 E. Santuahi. Recovery of energy in electric railway systems.

(12/10/20. Germany.)
5 399 & 5 400 F. C. B. CHASf:. Fitments. &c., for electric wiring systems.
5 409 P. JXCER. Indicators illuminated by electricity. (23/2/21,

Switzerland.)
5 411 H. Fret. Alternating current machines. (23/2/21, Switzerland.)
5 415 J. H. Reeves. Couplin;; of inductance coils for wireless apparatus.

February 24, 1922.
5 434 J. F. Sutton. Automatic circuit breakers.
5 472 E. D. Young. Electric transmitter microphones.
5 489 M. Y. L. Duf?)Ur. Automatic commutators or switches.
5 498 J. R. Quain. Electric -contacting device.
5 523 Metropoiitan-Vickers Electrical Co., A. Stubbs, & J. F. Perry.

Electric mining plant.
5 541 Meirowsky & Co. Akt. Ges. Tubes and leads for high electric

tensions. (19/3/21, Germany.)
5 542 W. Prior & C. E. Riley. Selenium cells.
5 545 Wbste'' ^r Electric Co. Telephone exchange svstema.
5 553 H. T. WonRALL. Electric meters.
5 555 W. J. Goode'Udge. Electric horns.
5 563 C. Oliver. Electric switch wall plugs.

February 25, 1922.
5 590 T. T/. Cahbone. Arc lamps.

5 593 R. Bos"H Akt. Ges. Switches. (28/2/21, Germany.)
5 619 A. E. Osborne. Electric alarm bolts.
5 620 Mid' AND Electric Mfg. Co., W. G. H. Cox, «fe W. L. Barber.

J*diu5table time lags for circuit breakers, &c.
5 629 T. H. KiNMAN & H. J. Warner. Wireless telegraph and telephone

systems.
5 630 W. E. Barber & H. J. Warner. CoiU for wireless apparatus. &c.
5 637 General Ele'Thic Co., Ltd. (Just). Electric gasfilled lamps. &c.
5 662 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Telephone systems. 16/3/21,

U.S.)

February 27, 1922.
5 722 P. J. Monks. Telephone call indicator combined with sounder.
5 749 H. Booth. Electric laundry irons.

5 751 G. A. Revdle. Multiple-way connectors for electric conductors.
5 791 T. E. D.'^iLDE. Push-button switches. (21/3/21, Sweden.)

5 800
5 801
5 802
5 815

5 833
5 836

5 842
5 843
5 849
5 850
5 870
5 909
5 924
5 925
5 928
5 929

5 948

5 951

5 980

5 982

6 007
6 027
6 049
6 059

6 072
6 073
6 074
6 092

6 101
6 102
6 103
6 112
6 113

6 120
6 122
6 141

6 143
6 151
6 179

6 188
6 192

6 202
6 205

6 222

6 232

6 239
6 250
6 255

6 253

6 262
6 270
6 283
6 289
6 323
6 329

6 330

6 332
6 337

6 358
6 363
6 367

6 372

6 380
6 381

6 423
6 436
6 437

6 465

6 467

6 495

6 518
6 521
6 536
6 554
6 561
6 574

6 582
6 583
6 587
6 598

6 608

Western Electric Co. High-frequency signalling apparatus.
Western Electric Co. Carrier wave transmission systems.
Western Electric Co. Telephone systems.
E. Dobson. Oil trip and refused switches.

February 28, 1922.
H. Hawkins & L. R. Lee. Jointing of stranded electric conductors.
Forges et Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Jeumont.

Regulation of polyphase commutating motors. (5/4/21, France.)
R. A. Macaulay. Electric switches.
T. Clarke. Supnoris for incandescent lamps.
T. Cooper. Method of connecting up and driving dynamos.
C. V. Drysdale. Windings for electrical apparatus.
G. McKinnon. Junction boxes.

H. Gennings. Revolving dome electric alarm push bell.
H. Baron (Aldendorff). Automatic telephone exchange system.
B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Thermostatic electric circuit controllers.
Watson & Sons (Electro-Medical). Diagrams for Rontgenology.
Chamberlain & Hookhau & S. James. Instruments for measuring

wattless component of energy in a.c. system.
English Electric Co. & J. C. Wilson. Protective arrangements

for electric machines.
H. H. Berry & C. A. Painton. Decorative electric devices.

March 1, 1922.
J. Burn. Ship's telegraphs.

J. G. Stirk. Electric motor for power traverses, &c.
E. Melano. Electric bells.
Singer Manufacturing Co. Rheostat. (20/7/21, U.S.)

A. A. Sandbrook. Electric lamps for road veliicles.

K. Kando. System of pole changing for polyphase induction
motors. (2/3/21, Hungary.)

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.); Thermostatic electric circuit controllers.
B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric circuit controllers. ...

B. T.-H. Co. & A. P. Young. Magneto-electric machines.

G. W. Harris, L. G. Preston & C. E. Horton. Direction finding

ajiparatus for wireless telegraphy.
H. C. Braun. Electric conductors.
H. C. Braun. Electric contacts.
H. C. Braun. Signals and alarms.
H. J. Round. Reception of wireless signals.
J. Bethenod. Electric railway signal repeating system. (2/3/21,

France.)
J. B. Bower. Electrode holders for high-frequency apparatus.
J. B. Bower. Electric interrupters or make and break switches.
H. F. J. Thompson. Dynamo-electric machinery.

March 2, 1922.
H. McKiNNON. Ships' telegraph systems.

T. R. Stancombe. Combined electric cooker and water heater.
R. P. FoRSTER & J. W. Taylor. Brake blocks, electric collector

shoes for railway vehicles, &c.
W. E. Bladon. Electric lamps.
H. Marcussen. Method of controlling electric battery used with

instruments for assisting the deaf.

C. W. Denny. Switches.

(jr. V. Twiss. Meins for supporting and insulating conductors of

electric overhead distribution, <S:c., lines.
B. "T.-H. Co. (Cie Francaise Thomson-Houston). Motor control

systems.
Hart Manufacturing Co. Reciprocating rotary electric switches.

(3/5/21, U.S.) . • . .

E. Green. Thermionic generators of high-frequency oscillations.
North & Sons & A. Massey-Allen. Magneto-electric machines.

p. Kurz. Electric driving apparatus for vehicles. (2/3 '21,

P. P. Berthet. TiolW wheels. (2/3/21, France.)

March 3, 1922.
W. M. Edwards. Electric light baths.
J. C. Lee. Cable joint boxes.

F. G. Warbrook. Reflectors for electric lamps for vehicles, &c.
J. C. White. Electric switches.

M. A. CoDD. Electrical instruments in vacus.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Governing mechanism for

multiple motor power plants. (3/3/21, U.S.)
Metropolitan-Vickers Ele?trical Co., A. E. L. Scanes & E. E. I.

Pilcher. Cubicles for enclosed electric switchgear.
R. BoMBORN. Electric hoisting device.
R. A. S. Paget & J. R. Quain. High-frequency therapeutic

applicators.
T. (IJrackne'l. Electric light fittings, &c.
Sir C. a. Parsons & J. Rosen. Electric machines.
London Electric Railway Co. Turnstiles for registering and

checking passengers' luggage.
K. KttPFMtJLLER & K. W. Wagner. Arrangement for increasing

speed of teleTraphing over long lines. (4/3/21, Germany.)
B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electro magnets.
B. T.-H. Co. Arc welding apparatus. (27/7/21, U.S.)
March 4. 1922.

G. T. Smith-Clarke. Wireless telegraphy and telephony.
G. CoMBONi. Electrical hot air stove.

J. Stone & Co. (Bury). Locking devices for incandescent lamps,

&c. ■
Ges. FiiR Drahtlose Telegkaphie. Radio antenna system. (5/3/21.

Germany.)
L. Satchvell. Grid resistances.

March 6, 1922.
Apparatus for testing electrical apparatus and instal-

G. C. Lang

lations.
W. Muller
J. Watson

Telephone systems. (4/3/21, Germany.)

Electric reading lamps, &c.

H. D. Pyne. 'Telephone instrument apparatus, &c.

A. C. Hyde. Incandescent lamps.

J. F. Broom. Electric burglar alarm systems

Marconi's Wireless Telegkaph Co., E. W. B Gill & J. H.

Morrell. Generation of high frequency electrical oscillations.
R. B. Ransford 'Smith). Electrical conductors.
C. H. Klyne. Automatic voltage regulators.
S. G. Brown. C;ible telegraphy.

B. T.-H Co. (G. E. Co.). Oil-filled electrical devices. -"

K. KtJPFMULLER & K. W. Wagner. Shortening duration of tele-
graph signals on long lines. (7/3/21, Germany.)

H. MARLifeRE. Apparatus for electrical ringing of bells. (7/3/21,
Belgium.)

The Ediforinl, Advtrtisfment and PvhU.^hing Ofjirm of " Tmt
ELBCTRiriAN " are at 8. Bmiverie Street, London, EC 4. TtU-
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THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2290. [

No. 14.
Vol. LXXXVII

..]

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1922,

Prepaid Subscription U.K., /T 5s. p^.V*. Arl
perann.; Abroad, /I los. rriLCUU.

CONTENTS.

NOTBS OF THE WeBK

Trade and Trade Associations

Electro- Farming

Modern Telephony Technically Considered.
Illustrated

By J. G. Hill.

Eadioactivity. Illustrated

Specifications and Estimates

British Electrical and Allied Manufacturer's Association

Recent Extensions at Stoke-on-Trent

Thi Daysohms Utility Arc Welder. Illustrated

London County Council Tramways

Electricity D is tricts

Tyneside Tramway Systems

Electricity for Domesticity

Edinburgh Tramway Inquiry

Brighton Tramways Inq uiry

Kingston-on-Thames Electrical Exhiibition

Industrial Films

Parliamentary Intelligence ;!.

Metallurgical Aspect of Electric Welding

Legal Intelligence

The Engineering Lock-Out

403 Cobalt Steels 421

406 Institution of Engineers, India 421

^QY Electricity Supply 422

Electric Traction - 422

.„„ Personal and Appointments 423

Business Items, &c 423

411 Institution Notes , 423

413 Telegraph and Wireless Notes 423

414 Exhibition Notes 423

41.5 Obituary 424

416 Social Notes 424

417 Trade Inquiries : 424

418 Electrical Activities in China 424

418 Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 424

418 Commercial Intelligence 426

418 Tenders Invited and Accepted 427

418 Openings for Trade in the Netherlands ,. 427

419 Imperial Trade Correspondents 427

419 New Comp.inies ... 428

419 Forty Tears Ago 428

420 Arrangements for the Week 428

421 Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c 428

421 PatentRecord 429

EASTER HOLIDAYS.

Giving to the Easter holidays "The Electrician" next week
vi^ill be published on Thursday, April 13th, instead of on Friday
as usual.

Notes of the Week.

Electricity Supply Bill.

The Committee stage of the Electricity Supply Bill was
commenced on Tuesday in the House of Lords. The pro-
ceedings, we fear, clearly indicate that dilatory and
obstructive tactics are being resorted to in order to defeat
or mutilate the measure. Though a motion to refer the
Bill to a Select Committee was defeated by' 42 votes to 40,
there are sixteen pages ol amendments, only a ferw of which
are constructive, and it looks therefore as if few of the
original clauses will remain if the opposition have their
way, as seems likely, for Lord Peel is singularly com-
placent. From the remarks of some of the noble lords it
is evident that they are ignorant of the most elementary
facts conoeiming electricity supply.

The Opposition Analysed.

For instance, Lord Ask with wanted to exclude local
authorities from being classed amozig the undertakers who
are empowered to lend money to joint electricity authorities.
He appears to be unaware of the fact that the majority
of the supply authorities in this countiy are local authori-
ties which have been in possession of their powers for years.
Fortunately, this foolish amendment was negatived without
a division. We regret, however, to see' that an amendment
limiting the operation of the clause to districts having a
population of upwards of 50 000 was accepted by Lord
Peel and agreed to. This will have the effect of ex-
cluding- a number of the existing municipality electricity
undertakers and so render the Bill practically unworkable,
and therefore useless. We do not object to the amendment
limiting: the liability of Councils which are not authorised

undertakers to the amount of a penny rate, because we
believe there will be no general need to call upon the rates
to make up any deficit.

The Institution— New Council.

As was recently announced, the election of the Council
of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, which will take
office on Septembea- 30th, 1922, will be held under the old
dispensation, whereby the retiring Council nominates more
names than there are vacancies, and the general body of
members are left to make further nominations if they
wish. This year, nevortheless, the Council breaks new-
ground in more than one way. In the first place, ^Ir. F.
Gill, whom we are glad to welcome as President-el-^ct, is
at present only an ordinary member of Council, though
he has, of course, served one term, if not two, as vice-
president. Mr. Gill, as readers of The Electriciax
know, has had a distinguished career both as chief
engineer of the National Telephone Company and, more
recently, as European chief engineer of the International
Western Electric Company. When the business of the
National Telephone Company was taken over by the Post
Office it \\'as decreed that those in the more responsible posi-
tions should not pass into Canaan . Had a different policy been
followed subsequent histor>^ might also have been different.
Who knows? Mr. Gill is the first telephone engineer who
has been president since the days of Sir .Iohx G.wey. That
is an additional reason for welcoming him at a time when
so much fierce light is being thrown on telephone organisa-
tion and when the technical problems in that branch of
electric science are being both more interesting and more
difficult.

A Useful Working Body.

Dr. W. H. Eccles, ]\Ir. A. A. Campbell Swinton, and
Sir James Devonshire, who are nominated for the two
vice-presidencies and the honorary treasurership, are
already serving in those capacities, and therefore require
no introduction. Mr. J. W. Beauchamp, Mr. A. C. Cramb,

404

The Electrician.

April 7, 1922

Major K. Edgcumbe, Dr. C. C. Garraed, and Mr. W. M.
Selvey are nominated for the three vacancies among full
members on the council; Mr. F. W. Crawter, Mr. A. B.
Hart (of the Post Office), and Mr. W. 11. Kawlings are
nominated as associate members, and Mr. D. N. Dunlop is
nominated, after a minimum period in retirement, as an
associate. This, it will be agreed, is a useful working list,
and Mr. Beauchamp's nomination, no less than Mr.
Dunlop' s, is a triumph for the new ideals that the Insti-
tution has in view. Mr. Cramb should be able to establish
a useful limsoii between the Institution and the I.M.E.A.,
and manufacturing and contracting interests will also be
well looked afteir. Whatevei- the resvilts of the election, we
should have a good strong progressive Council drawn from
those younger members who have up to now had little ex-
perience of Council work.

Gable Manufacturers' Results.

In our last issue we analysed the past year's accounts
of the British Insulated and Helsby Cables, and were able
to congratulate them on a record profit. But other cable
and wire manufacturers also appear to have had a successful
year, for W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Company's net
profit in 1921 was the largest in its long history, and the
total of the London Electric Wire & Smith's was only
£4 900 less than in 1920. No doubt the cable makers are
the best organised branch of the electrical industry, and
the good results of the past year's working are the direct
result of this organisation, coupled with conservative
methods of finance. The Henley ordinary dividend is
maintained at 15 per cent., but the amount carried forward
(£260 244) is nearly £80 000 more than the sum brought
in. This company complains of the great difficulty, owing
to depreciated exchanges and competition, of dealing with
the demands from foreign countries. Signs of improved
home and colonial trade are, however, reported, but such
foreign orders as were obtained were taken at unremunecra-
tive prices. The London Electric Wire dividend (7J per
cent.) is the same as in 1920, but the amount carried for-
ward is greater by £5 600.

T. C. & M. Progress.

The Telegraph Construction & Maintenance Company,
whose speciality is the manufacture and laying of sub-
marine cables, has also been able to maintain its dividend
of 10 per cent.. The past yaar was one of great difficulty
for the company, as for all undertakings which have to
maintain large stocks of raw materials. When the market
for these materials is falling a great responsibility is laid
on the management, but in this case the problem was dealt
with so satisfactorily that the profit was £11 241 higher
than in 1920. This result was obtained in spite of the
turnover being less owing tO' the coal strike restricting the
supplies of wire and other materials. The company's
financial position is a strong one, and with thei return of
stable prices and better trade we feel sri-re will come in-
creasing prosperity.

Electrical Engineering Companies.

Few reports of heavy engineering firms have been pub-
lished, but most of those that have indicate satisfactory
results, despite the industrial situation. Mather & Piatt's
experience was better than in any preWous year; for
the same rate of dividend as in 1920 has been maintained
on a larger capital, while the carry-forward is much
higher. The percentage of profit on the turnover was
slightly less than in 1920, but higher machine capacity
enabled the firm to increase the output and to show a larger

profit. This firm has always followed a progressive, en-
lightened policy, and the extensions to the tools and works
equipment have been amply justified by the results shown.
From the report of the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical
Company we learn that the profit was £440 300, an increase
of £38 100 over the previous year, and that after paying de-
benture interest and providing an increased amount for
depreciation there is a net profit of £337 100, or £28 000
more than in 1920. The dividend is at the same rate (12|
per cent.) as in the previous year, and the amount carried
forward is £92 800, or £34 000 more than the sum brought
in. The Brush Electrical Engineering Company's profit is
£319 000, or £33 700 more than in 1920, and again a divi-
dend of 15 per cent, has been declared on an increased
capital. There have also been heavier appropriations to
reserves and depreciation, and the balance carried forward
is up by £70 800. Bruce Peebles & Company are making
a distribution of 15 per cent, (of which 5 per cent, is a
bonus); Mirrlees Watson are paying 12J per cent. (10
per cent, as dividend and 2i per cent, as bonus) ; Browett,
Lindley & Company have declared an ordinary dividend of
10 per cent. ; and Stewarts & Lloyds one of 10 per cent.
on the preferred ordinary and 12^ per cent, on the deferred
shares. Among the better-known companies in the lighter
branches of the industxy may be mentioned the Pritchett
& Gold & E.P.S. Company, which is paying an ordinary
dividend of 10 per cent. ; while Ferguson Pailin's distribu-
tion is 13 per cent.

A Few Sufferers from Depression.

On the other hand, a few firms have been badly hit by
depreciation of stocks and raw materials. In this category
may be mentioned Davis & Timmins, who report an actual
loss on the past year's working. The Edison Swan Electric
Company's experience has also been painful, for the
directors' report announces that the debit balance for the
year ended June 30 last was £344 000, so that after using
the reserve of £55 000 the adverse balance is £289 700.
The company appears to tiave been badly affected by strikes
and by restricted trade. In addition, there has been a
heavy depreciation in stocks, which have been written down
by £346 000. In fact, depreciation of stocks is said to be
responsible fo^r most of the year's loss. It is, however, satis-
factory to be able to record an improvement since November
last, and it is claimed that with a moderate revival in
trade the outlook would be much more favourable. Im-
portant changes have taken place in the directorate, and
there is a prospect of litigation with the Philips Glowlamp
Works.

" Listening-in.'*

There are legal and illegal ways of using the telephone;
but the number of calls which can with justice be placed
in the latter category certainly form only a negligible per-
centage of the total. On the other hand, the number of
calls in which it is desirable that the information paissiug
should only be heard by the two person.^ communicating,
not because the purpose of the conversation is in any way
illegal, but because it is privatjg, is certainly much larger.
The question, Iherefore, arises to what extent do operators
habitually listen-in on subscribers' conversations, and if
this undesirable practice is general what means other than
disciplinary action can be taken to prevent it. It may be
said that, apart from automatic systems, there are no
means of preventing listening-in, though there are schemes
in which the requirement of strict privacy is approximately
met — more or less as a side line.

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

405

The Technical Difficukies of Prevention.

Thus, when keyless cords are employed the insertion of
the answering plug puts the operator's telephone in circuit
with a caller's line. But when the calling plug is in-
serted in the multiple jack of the calling party, and the
called subsori'uer has answered, the operator's telephone is
cut off and she cannot reconnect it in the ordinary way of
business. Even so it is possible for her to listen-in by
inserting the answering plug of another pair into another
multiple jack of the called party or into a jack of the
calling party and so satisfy her curiosity and perhaps gain
useful inforxaation. Theoretically, however, even this
action can be prevented by using a device to short circuit
the operator's telephone when the answering plug is in-
serted in a multiple jack, though this would introduce
considerable complications, making it practically impossible
of employment on existing boards.

The Chief Safeguard.

The chieif safeguard against such curiosity on local lines
is that normally the operator is too busy with her own
work to worry about other people's business. At other
times it is a habit — if it be a habit — which should be
strenuously discouraged by the authorities. For even high
rates and a service that is not perfect will not more quickly
give the telephone a bad name than the idea that it is not
private. On trunk lines — and it is because of certain
recent happenings on trunk lines that the question has
arisen — the operator must " listen-in " on occasion to ask
whether a subscriber will break his local call to take up a
trunk, so that there has to be at least one position on
which an operator can overhear. At the same time, the
end of the call must be notified, and this applies equally on
automatic as on manual exchanges. The maintenance
staff, too, are sinners, inasmuch as from time to' time they
must enter circuits and can then, of course, overhear any
conversation so proceeding if they wish to do so. In
practice, however, the attraction is not so great as to make
it worth while, and it is therefore a case where for many
reasons discipline is better than eilectricity in effecting the
cure.

Electric Welding and Ship Construction.

Electric welding is now a familiar and established pro-
cess in ship construction. We therefore notice without sur-
prise that Mr. A. T. Wall, in a Paper read recently before
the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, speaks highly of
its advantages in replacing rivets, always a source of latent
weakness. For the assumption that plates are only
weakened in proportion to the area punched out is not con-
firmed by facts ; the weakening is so much greater that^ when
special strength is desired flush joints with riveted straps
are usual; but even with this arrangement theoretically
only 81 per cent, of the strength of the intacti plate is
obtained. Electric welding, on the other hand, allows the
use of practically 100 per cent, of the material for strength
purposes, and has other economic advantages. For in-
stance, the saving in weight by the use of electric welding
methods amounts to 5 per cent, of the total weight of
steel in the ship. The author also remarks that welding,
while resvdting in a more efficient stnicture, should not cost
more than riveting. The saving in weight is of special
value in warships and high-speed merchant vessels, because
the horse-power needed for propulsion can be materially
reduced. One point of great importance, however, is the
liumaji element. Welders should not only receive a
specialised training, but should be men who are morally
incapable of doing scamped work or covering up defects.
D 2

The L.C.C. Trolley Omnibus Proposals.

Misfortune seems to attend every attempt of the London
County Council to improve its tramway system or to
increase the transport facilities in the Metropolitan area.
A couple of years ago a somewhat ambitious tramway ext<;n-
sion scheme was wrecked by the borough councils insisting
upon exercising their right of veto, and this year's Bill,
containing powers to experiment with trolley omnibuses in
the Lewisham area, has met with a s-imilar fate. The
Lewisham Borough Council refused to give its consent on
the ground that overhead wires were unsightly, and,
though the Ministry of Transport were favourable, the^
House of Commons, by 86 votes to 72, supported the
Borough Council and have refused to allow^ the Bill to pro-
ceed. This is to be regretted, for undoubtedly the trackless
trolley is much cheaper than the conduit system, and it has
other advantages in areas where traffic is not heavy. The
episode is a further illustration of the chaotic condition of
local government in London and of the urgent need of a
central traffic authority to deal with all questions relating
to transport in the Metropolitan area. For the veto of
the Borough Councils is used to obstruct, and should be
treated as befits obstructions.

Glasgow's Tramway Undertaking— A Contrast.

To compare the fate of the London County Council Bill
with that of the Provisional Order of the Glasgow Corpora-
tion is to be convinced of the difference in treatment that
is vicariously meted out to legislative projects. As we
have noted, the Bill has been rejected unceremoniously,
but the Order of the latter has been passed, after slight
modifications only, by a Joint Committee of the House of
Lords and House of Commons. It is true that the omnibus
clauses aroused strong opposition from railway and tram-
way companies and other private interests, but the County
Councils supported them as they preferred to deal with the
Corporation rather than a number of private companies.
After a full investigation the Commission sanctioned the
running of omnibuses on any route within a ten-mile radius
of the city in extension of the existing tramway system,
with the consent of t'le Minister of Transport and of the
local authority. There is a right of appeal to the Ministry
of Transport.

Municipal Manufacturing Scotched.

But the Corporation, we are glad to see, failed to secure
the right to manufacture motor omnibuses, and a limit has
also been imposed on the capital expenditure which may
be incurred in the purchase of these vehicles. On the
whole, this seems to be an equitable decision, and it will
enable the Coi-poration to test the utility of omnibuses on
a limited number of routes and to link up ceiiaiu of the
tramway termini, a right which has been more than once
denied to the London County Council. Surely what is
good for Glasgow cannot be bad for London, and there-
fore we deplore last week's decision of the House of
Commons, which places the ^Metropolis in a less favourable
position than the city on the Clyde.

Electricity Supply Regulations.

In the new edition of the Electricity Commissioners'
Regulations for {a) securing the safety of the public, and
{h) for ensuring a proper and sufl&cient supply of electrical
energy, the only alterations appear to be those rendered
necessary by the changes in administration made by the
Electricity (Supply) Act. Hitherto four forms of these
Regulations have been in use, viz., two for the provinces
and two for London, in each case one being for companies

406

The Electrician.

April 7, X922

and one for local authorities; but only the provincial
Regulations have been issued on this occasion, as the
whole of Loudon is already supplied by electricity under-
takei-s, and no Special Order authorising the supply of elec-
tricity is likely to be issued for this area. In the past,
when companies have desired to change the system of
supply or the pressure or frequency, the consent of the
local authorities, as well as the sanction of the Commis-
sioners, has been necessary, though in the ultimate resort
the consent of the local authority could be dispensed with.
In, view of the necessity for developing a national system
of electricity supply, we cannot see that any useful pur-
pose is sei'ved by going through the formality of obtaining
the consent of the local authority, and wei hopei that the
Commissioners, who are in the best position to judge of
the merits of any proposed changes, will now abolish a
useless practice. Hitherto it has, as far as we know, only
been used for dilatory or obstructive purposes, and in the
supply industry there is now no place for any formality
which can be employed as a check upon progress.

Trade and Trade
Associations.

What, it may be asked, are the proper functions of a
trade association ? And what, it may be propounded as
a corollary question, are the best methods of determining
whether a particular association is efficiently fulfilling those
functions or no?

Starting at the bottom of the ethical scale, it will perhaps
be agreed that the first of the functions is to> achieve some
form of price-maintenance for the sale of produotsi, but
above that we place both as more important and on a higher
ethical scale the co-operative dealing with matters that arise
to affect and influence the well-being of the association in its
relations with the Government, the community, the trans-
port undertakings and other trading bodies. While giving
its members full scope to carry on their business in the way
that seems to them best, providing only that that way does
not include actions which will react harmfully on those
with whom they are combined, any association can do
most useful work in watching the actions of the bodies we
have named and in placing beforei them views of those for
whom they are working, (not as individuals but as
corporations.

The Highest Duty of an Association.

More than that, it should be the aim, and the highest
duty of such a body, to inaugurate research and to pro-
vide funds for carrying on that work, which, though not
immediately remunerative, is by the strength which it gives
to the foundations of the industry of the very greatest im-
portance. Especially is this the case in the electrical in-
dustry (for while arguing generally we are, of course, think-
ing particularly) where the connection betweien pure science
and commerce is closer and more visible than is usual in
other cases.

Examined from these points of view, how do the opera-
tions of the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers'
Association, as disclosed in their annual report, indicate
the extent to which the functions of an ideal association
are being performed or neglectec ? We think it will be
agreed that the marks scored are very high.

Research and Scholarship.

Dealing first with research, the B.E.A.M.A. is giving
adequate support to the Electrical Research Association,

which, as readers of The Electrician well know, is, after
the troubles inseparable from infancy, now performing
useful work. The association's own research committee
has also been reorganised and enlarged so as tO' represent
directly the interests of the sections and to facilitate com-
munication with the E.E.A. The association is play-
ing its part in the operations of the B.E.S.A., on whose
various committees and sub-committees it is adequately re-
presenteid. It is watching the situation with regard to
education, and has itself endowed scholarships to assist
research in certain subjects and has taken steps to facilitate
the introduction of students from overseas into the works of
members. In the performance of this, the highest of its
functions, the evidence is all that it is doing very well.

Relations with the Government.

Nor are the results less gratifying when we descend the
scale a step. A close liaison has been established with the
Board of Trade, so that the intea'ests of members under the
Safeguarding of Industries Act, the Overseas Trade
(Credits and Insurance) Act, the Trade Facilities Act, and
the Local Authorities (Financial Provisions) Act are being
watched. In conjunction with other similar associations
much good work has also been done on the problems of rail-
way rates, claims for damage, demurrage tariffs, and con-
ditions of contract. Here, again, it is obvious that views
will be heard and concessions obtained more easily in com-
bination than by individual action. Last, but not least,
the establishment of a Conference of Joint Industrial
Councils and Other Bodies in the Electrical Industry, in
which the B.E.A.M.A, is taking an active part, should
be of much assistance in presenting the views of both
employer and employed to Government Departments and
other interested bodies with a single voice. A most im-
portant matter in these troublous days?

A Lesson that Need Not be Repeated.

While direct reference to the first function of a trade
association, which we have detailed above, is not made in
the report, the chairman, Mr. W. O. Smith, in moving its
adoption, remarked in no uncertain terms that, though com-
bination was easy in times of prosperity (when, it is not
greatly needed), its responsibilities imposed a great strain
in times of depression, when the temptation to obtain work
at any price was almost too great to be resisted. He
pointed out quite rightly that if that temptation is not
resisted the electrical industi-y will find itself in the same
unsatisfactory position as when the B.E.A.M.A. was
started, and that surely is an experience which even the
most individually minded will not wish to repeat. For
while association has meant remunerative prices, it has also
inspired confidence (where before there was distrust) which
it would be suicidal to dispel in view of the better times
which must surely oome.

We are glad indeed to find that Mr. Smith is an optimist.
There are those who consider that the electrical industry
has not seen the worst of the slump. But the chairman
of the B.E.A.M.A., putting his faith in the Stock Exchange
bai'ometer, declares that though there may not be an im-
mediate boom .there should be a slow, solid, and durable
improvement. We sincerely hope this cheerful prophecy
may be justified.

One Critici!>ni.

Speaking generally, then, there seems every reason to
suppose that tlie British Electrical and Allied Manufac-
turers' Association is performing its functions to the satis-
faction of its members; and therefore for the "^ood of the

April 7, 1922

The Electrician

407

electrical industry. It is true the report is an tx parte
statement, and that there will not be lacking critics both
of the association's policy and its action^. On one small
point we are numbered among that band. Why is it neces-
sary for the B.E.A.M.A. to hold its annual general meeting
in almost Masonic secrecy, not to issue its report until
twelve days after it has been confirmed, and then to do so
on a day which prevents most of the electrical journals
from dealing with it for yet another week ? There may be
occasions in the history of any such association when secrecy
is necessary, but this is surely not one of them.

Electro-Farming.

Searching arooind eagerly for fresh worlds to conquer, the
electrical engineer has not unnaturally turned his atten-
tion to the possibilities offered by the farm and all that
term implies. We say not unnaturally, for the agricultural
industry is the largest industry in this and most other
countries. Like other industries, small and large, it has
been adversely affected by war and post-war financial con-
ditions, and . by the claims of the worker, often well
founded, to improved wages and surroundings. If then
the use of electricity, by reducing labour costs and in-
creasing output, as it has done in other industries, can
widen the margin between income and expenditurei its
employment is worth serious consideration by the farmer.
And if the farmer can be persuaded of these things the
matter is equally worth consideration by those supply
undertakings which operate in rural areas and whose
power load is therefore small and not likely to be anything
else for some time to come.

As is well known, a certain amount of progress has been
made in applying electricity to farming, notably by Mr.
W. T. Kerr in Heireford and its neighbourhood, and in
France, Norway, Germany, Canada, and the United
States, where opportunity has been taken to tap trans-
mission lines and so give a supply to farmers at a trifling
cost.

A Useful Piece of Propaganda.

The paper read by Mr. R. Borlase Matthews before
the Institution of Electrical Engineers on Thui-sday last
weiek is therefore a useful piece of propaganda. Deserting
the dusty and crowded roads of the electrical industry, Mr.
Matthews has taken up farming for himself, and has,
moreover, introduced the electric idea into farming opera-
tions. What this connotes will be easily realised by a
study of the paper. Electricity, it appears, has so many
possible applications in the farm buildings, in the farm
house, on the land and in treating the gathered crops that
one has only to cudgel one's brains to think of some farming
operation and then turn with confidence to the Paper to
see how it is done electrically.

Electricity and Agricultural Production.

Leaving out of account for the moment the much dis-
cussed possibilities of electro-culture in stimulating the
growth of crops, Mr. Matthews is able to show that elec-
tricity can be of real use in increasing the production of a
farm. To take one example, which is in some sort a
reply to the criticisms to which we shall refer later, the
lighting of the farm buildings electrically not only allows
operations to be carried on in comfort which without
it can only be carried on with difficulty or not at all, but
leads to a direct increase in productiveness in such opera-
tions as egg laying, chicken farming and milking. The

use of the small portable electric motor also means an in-
creased production and a saving in labour on chaff cutting,
sewage pumping, churning, threshing and such operations,
while under certain conditions electric ploughing is an
economy which makes its employment well worth con-
sidering.

The Electrical Engineer Turned Farmer.

It is here that some examination must be made of the
devastating criticisms of Mr. Matthews' arguments and
results which were advanced by Mr. Llewelyn Atkinson'
and Mr. Bernard Jenkin. The electrical engineer is often
by nature a pessimist. The same description may be
applied with justice to the farmer. When the two are
combined in one person we mathematically obtain a mental
outlook whose gloom can be better imagined than described.
The actions of one with such an outlook are clouded by
a Cimmerian darkness which needs a vast deal of dispelling,
and the result is he is fearful where others would be willing
and even anxious to make a trial.

Disadvantages of Electricity.

Nevertheless, Mr. Atkinson, being Mr. Atkinson, we
must admit that his detailed arguments that it will pay
neither the electricity supply undertaking nor the farmer
to use the electric device in the extensive way advocated
by Mr. Borlase Matthews cannot be lightly dismissed by
calling him a pessimist. He contends that the duties per-
formed by an electric motor on the farm can be equally
well, and more cheaply, performed by a petrol-paraffin
engine, that though both these devices save labour they do
not save one labour unit — a man — and that the chief chance
for electricity on the farm lies in electro-culture, which
though a poor load does not cost much to install and does
do something which cannot be done in any one way. Not
a very cheierful outlook, it will be admitted.

But Mr. Atkinson's pessimism was nothing to Mr.
Jenkin' s. Indeed, we began to think Mr. Jenkin was
a sort of super-electrical engineer. In his view
the horse is the most efficient machine to have on
a farm (and even it is very inefficient), and all machinery
is not only expensive to buy but fails to earn its keep by
doing things too quickly. Between them th^e two
speakers put up a heavy barrage of anti-propaganda which
must have astonished the meeting as much as it must have
discouraged the speaker if he were not an inveterate
optimist.

Are Things Really So Bad ?

But having recovered from the first shock of the attack,
it may be as well to enquire whether things are really as
bad as these two speakers would have us believe.

It seems to us that both Mr. Atkinson and Mr. Jenkin
made the mistake of comparing ancient with future farming
methods. In towns the lighting load is becoming to be
looked on as a necessary evil. In obtaining the farming
load it may be the deciding factor, both financially and
as a weapon in the selling armoury. For a considerable
period of the year many essential operations on the farm
have to be carried on in darkness made visible by the light
of a lantern. Dii^ect savings might easily be ejected by
employing more modem methods. Mr. Matthews has
sliown how. The start having thus been made, the
advantages and economies of the electric motor on the farm
would be magnified in the view of both the farmer, pure
and simple, and the electrical engineer turned agriculturist,
lie could then start to reap those advantages by co-
c;peratiug with his neighboui-s so as to reduce initial outlay
oil equipment and to improve its total "hours of use.

408

The Electrician — April 7, 1922

Modern Telephony Technically Considered.'

Phantom Telephone Circuits — Combined Telegraph and Telephone Circuits Worked at Audio
Frequencies — The Effect of Loading and Amplifiers — A Review of the Present Position.

By J. G. HILL.

In a Paper entitled " Phantom Telephone Circuits, and Combined Telegraph and Telephone Circuits, worked at Avdio Frequencies," which
was read at a recent meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers by Mr. J. G. Hill, the author deals with the effect of loading and
the use of thermionic amplifiers in providing efficient long-distance telephonic communication by means of small gauge conductors in
underground cables. This constitutes a revolution in modern circuit provision, and makes it an opportune time for a review of the theory

of superposed circuits worked at audio frequencies.

The methods most generally emploj^ed to provide'extra channels
for telegraph or telephone communication may be classified imder
the following heads : (1) The impedance or retardation method of
combined telegraphy and telephony over the same wire or wires,
and (2) the equipotential method of providing simultaneous
channels for telegraphic and telephonic communication over the same
wires, and the application of this method to the balancing of
telephonic relayed circuits.

Impedance Method.

This method was first introduced by F. Van Rysselberghe in 1882-
Combined working is rendered possiisle by the different impedance
of inductance coils and condensers respectively to high- and low-
frequency currents. A condenser is placed in series with the
telephone and an inductance coil in series with the telegraph branch.
The condenser permits the speech frequencies to pass readily in
the telephone branch, but opposes a high impedance to the lower
frequencies of the telegraph currents. The inductance coil reduces
the shunting effect of the telegraph branch on the telephone branch
and also reduces the rate of rise of line voltage when telegraph
signals are sent, thus minimising the disturbance caused by these
signals in the telephone branch.

Van Rysselberghe System.

A high inductive impedance RL is placed in the path of the
telegraph apparatus and a condenser C in the path of the telephone
apparatus, the two sets of apparatus being joined in parallel and
connected to the line as indicated in Fig. 1.

It is of interest to study more closely the effect of the inductive
impedance and the condenser in order to find to what extent (if any)
the retarded telegraph signals cause disturbance in the telephone
set, and, further, how far the retardation affects the telegraph
signals themselves. On account of the variable characteristics
of the iron cored telegraph apparatus, experiment is usually preferred
to calculation in determining the best values of the inductance and
capacity required. The fundamental effects may however be
studied with advantage from the mathematical point of view.

Let ^ be a constant applied voltage at A ; v be the voltage at
the terminals of the condenser at the time t ; Rhe the resistance of
the retardation coU ; L be the inductance in henrys of the retardation
coil ; R be the unvarjdng resistance of a long line supposed to be
non-inductive ; C be the capacity of the condenser in farads ; t be
the time in seconds after the application of the voltage E to the
circuit.

Then the equation connecting the voltage v with the time during
the transient period when the E.M.F. is rising from zero to its steady
value E, is

jponding equj
plication of 1

The corresponding equation for the value of v at any instant t
after the application of E, is

EB, r/ 1 a \ (-«+P)' /a 1\ (-a-/3)'

iJ! + jB

/a 1\ (-«-/3)' ~\

where

l/B

^y^4^/[(^-^Bj-rc] •(^)

If R/L^ljCR-i and R=R^ the equation for v may bo written

r'^'^sin (//CE + ^Tr] (4)

imaginary the equation assumes a form

' = ^^[1-

In any case, if y3 is
similar to (4).

Examination of these equations shows that the rate of rise of
the voltage is logarithmic, and that by arranging suitable values of
R, L, C, and R^ the rate of rise of the volts may be either advanced
or retarded.

If R and L represent the reactance and inductance of a relay
at the receiving end of the line and C a condenser shunted by R,
at the same point we have the well-known ari'angement of the
shunted condenser.

♦Abstract of a Paper read before The Institution of Electrical
Engineers. '

Fig. 2 gives an oscillogram of the normal rise of current in^an
unshunted Wheatstone telegraph receiver, and Fig. 3 shows the
more rapid rate of rise obtained by adding the shunted condenser
to the same apparatus, the adjustment being made to produce a
signal as nearly square (flat-topped) as possible.

In the case of the combined telegraph and telephone circuit the
values of R, L and C must be chosen to reduce the rate of rise of

Line

crt

Telephone Telegraph
set set

Tdegrdph TdepTiout
set set

Fig. 1.

voltage at the condenser terminals. It is not practicable with this
simple arrangement to eliminate entirely the disturbing effects of
ordinary Morse signals in the telephone cii'cuit.

Effect of Retarding Devices.

The rate of telegraph working is largely influenced by the
electrical sensitivity of the apparatus employed, as well as its
mechanical inertia, so that in practice the rate of working depends
on the combined apparatus and line. From another point of view
it also depends on the technical nature of the service utilised. For
example, in simplex working a higher all-round speed per channel
is possible than in duplex working, and, again, a higher speed is
obtainable per channel in duplex working than in quadruplex
working.

In order to provide a working niargin of safety the Van Ryssel-
berghe system is in fact generally worked only at hand speed. If
this is assumed, electrical filters may be used to cut off the currents
of higher disturbing frequencies.

Composited Circuits.

Fig. 4 shows an arrangement used in England and elsewhere
for utilising the two wires of a double-wire circuit to form two duplex
circuits. This arrangement is known as composited working. In

-<5}-0006
O 001

002 003 004 005 006 OOl

Seconds
Fia. 2.

this covmtry the arrangement is sometimes used to superpose
telephone call wires worked by telegraph upon junction circuits
worked on the common battery system (see Fig. 4), or, alteniatively,
one wire is used as a telegraph call wire, and the other for automatic
signalling on the junction circuit. A transmission loss of about
one mile of standard cable is usually involved for each set of
apparatus.

It may be mentioned that simplexed and composited sets have
been used in this country for many years. (A simplexed circuit
is a telegraph circuit worked in parallel over the two wires of a
telephone circuit.) And as far back as 1908, 200 ciicuits on the
simplexed sjstem were in use in this countrj-. \.t the same time
a large number of circuits were in use for local telephone circuit
working on a method devised by Mr. W. J. Medl\Ti.

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

409

According to this method, which is described and illustrated in
the Paper, use is made of a length of a main telegraph circuit to
form the second wire of a local double wire telephone circuit running
on the same route.

Relative Efficiency of the Side and Phantom Circuits.

The Paper next outlines the relations determining transmission
efficiency and shows that in the case of open wires arranged on the
pole arms at the four comers of a squaj;e the transmission efficiency

001 002 0-03 004 005 0-06 0-07

Secoricls
Fig. 3.

of the phantom circuits is slightly less than that of the side circuits-
When the four wires are arranged horizontally on the same pole arm
the reverse is the case. On unloaded underground circuits also the
phantom circuit is of a higher transmission efficiency than the
side circuit, so that by superposing we actually obtain an additional
circuit which is more efficient than the circuits on which it is super-
posed.

The transmission efficiency of circuits in submarine cables is also
considered. In these cables a secondary phantom circuit is possible
over the four wires to earth. The metallic loaded phantom circuit
has approximately the same efficiency as the side circuit. The
earthed phantom circuit, however, is materially less efficient than
the other two circuits, owing to the increased effective resistance,
which is observed in such circuits — e.g. an increase of about 2"5 O
per naut per wire at 800 periods per second — owing to the inter-
action between the field of the conductor and the metallic sheath
of the cable, and the effect of the return path consisting of sea water.

Relative Transmission Efficiencies.

In practice, the relative efficiency of transmission of the side
and phantom circuits is largely determined by commercial conditions
as well as electrical possibilities, the main considerations being as
follows :

It is economical to space loading coils as widely apart as possible
in order to obtain a given average inductance per mile, but it can
be shown that the wider the spacing the more the higher frequencies
which enter into the composition of speech are cut off, and beyond
a certain cut-off point telephonic speech becomes indistinct and
impossible. Owing to the indeterminate nature of the frequencies
entering into speech, it is necessary to make experiments to deter-
mine the widest permissible spacing. The rule hitherto obtaining
as a result of experiment in Great Britain is as follows :

CDL = 25
where C is the capacity of the cable circuit in microfarads per mUe,
D is the distance in miles separating the coils and L is the inductance

Repeating
coil

Fig. 4.

of the loading coil in millihenrys. This rule applies to circuits
of length not exceeding, say, 350 mUes.

Again, in practice it is economical to have only one set of man-
holes to accommodate both side and phantom loading coils. The
most economical an-angement for the two side circuits generally
leads to the greatest total economy of the four-wire combination,
and the position of the manholes is therefore made to suit the side
circuits ; this means that there is no choice of spacing for the
phantom coils. The only thing that can be done for the phantom
circuit is to increase its inductance above the hypothetical value
of one-half that of the side circuit up to the limit permissible
by the spacing rule, and this procedure gives a phantom circuit

having a lower attenuation constant, and therefore a higher trans-
mission efficiency, than the side circuit, usually to the extent of
1.') to 2') per cent, (owing to the relatively smaller capacity of the
phantom circuit and its higher degree of loading).

The cheapest possible combination of loading coil and cable
(including side circuits and phantom circuits) which will produce
the required transmission efficiency is obtained from the
formrla

where P is the combined cost of one mUe of cable pair and its
loading ; A is HP^ where R is the resistance of one mile of a known
and selected conductor pair and P, its cost ; B= \/{z/R)Pj where
x = Iy>n/L. Lm is the maximum loading of the conductor of
resistance R and L is the loading which when combined with R
gives the required attenuation constant ft. P.2 is the cost per mile
of providing Z- and includes coils and manholes. C' = /Z(x-f 2-t-l/ar)
=R.2{2\2 + 2+l/x2). Here r2=//W2/-^2» which is the maximum
loading Lm., for R.^ divided by an inductance L2, which inductance
when associated with R^ina, cable pair gives the required /?. i?j and
L.2 are the unknown values which may be derived from x^

Over-hearing and Cross-Talk.

If the circuits are long enough, the mean voltage in a loaded circuit
with the same applied E.M.F. is greater than in an unloaded one,

(a) Capacity relations in a phantom circuit

(6) Symmetrical drrangement of the above

Conditions in 4-wire quad for no overhearing and no cross-talk.
p=iv-x=0 I s=x-y=0

q=z-y=0

2=0

=a-b=0
--c-d=0

Fig.

and any want of equality in the constants of the A and B lines wil/
result in a greater difference of potential between them, resultintr in
greater overhearing between the side and phantom circuits, and in
cross-talk between the side circuits.

In order to secure a perfect balance, the resistance, capacity,
inductance, and leakance of the four wires of a phantom circuit must
be theoretically equal. It is possible to a large extent to control
the equality of the conductor resistance of the cable in the factory.
The inductance and effective resistance of the loading coils in a
coil-loaded cable can also be verj' closely balanced.

A variation of not more than 0-2.') per cent, between the
inductance of the two halves of the same loading coil and not more
than 0-1 O between the direct-current resistance of the two
halves of the same coil is guaranteed. A variation of not more
than 2 per cent, in the inductance of different coils is required and is
possible. The leakance of the cable can also be efficiently controlled
in manufacture, siipplemented by care in laying the cable, and it
does not cause appreciable ditVculty. The electrostatic capacity
of each mro in a four-wire core of the cable cannot, however, he
sufficiently equalized in an economical manner in the factory.
Special steps are therefore taken to equalize the capacity of the
wires in each four-wire group during the process of laj-ing.

Since the mean disturbing voltage in the circuit is much higher in
the case of the relayed than the unrelayed circuit, a degree of
capacity balance is now required which was not considered necessary
for loaded phantom circuits without relays.

410

The Electrician.

April 7, 1922

Effect of the Introduction of Telephone Relays.

The capacity system of a four-wire core maj'' be represented by
10 capacities between different wires and between wires and earth,
and it can be sho\vn that from six capacity measurements the
necessary combinations to avoid over-hearing and cross-talk can be
deduced, (see Fig. 5). These measurements are made by means
of a double-bridge specially designed for use on the road. Apparatus
is also designed for the rapid measurement of the degree of equality
of the resistance of the conductors. Special steps, however, are
required in the factory to reduce the out-of-balance of resistance
as far as possible, and this is considered much preferable to
compensation on the road by crossing. The reduction of
road balancing of resistance to a minimum is therefore aimed
at. Incidentally it may be mentioned that it is highly im-
portant that the cable constants, including capacitj', shoidd be
made as uniform as possible in the factory, in view of the exacting
requirements of modern developments and the difficulty in replacing
non-uniform cables when faulty. The amount of out-of-balance
of capacity and resistance which can be permitted depends essentially
on the relation between these quantities and the corresponding
amount of cross-talk and overhearing resulting from them ; tests of
these quantities are therefore necessary.
DISCUSSION.

Sir Andrew Ogilvie said that the Van Rysselberghe system
was originally welcomed by the telegraph authorities as a chance of
obtaining a share of the telephone traffic. But these hopes were not
fulfilled as it could not be employed for ordinary exchange working.
It was mainly useful for railway purposes, though the Post Office
had employed it to extend the telephone system into rural districts
by converting vUlage telegraph offices into telephone call offices. The
simplex and composited methods described by the author had not
been largely used in this country, probably because the telephone
and telegraph business had developed separately. But in a new
country the best policy would be to provide telephone circuits and
to use them for telegraph working. The super-position of phantom
telephone circuits on telegraph circuits was important, and was
likely to become of still greater importance in the near future,
owing to the employment of thermionic relays on loaded cables.

Limitations of the Van Rysselberghe System.

Mr. S. A. Pollock said that the limitations of the Van
Rysselberghe system were fundamental, for it was wrong to
depreciate one circuit to gain another. One of the difficulties was
that a pure inductance could not readily be obtained without
capacity across it, and a very small capacity was sufficient to short
circuit the inductance when the instantaneous voltage was
impressed. This could be overcome by using a pure resistance
associated with a condenser to earth, with the result, however,
that the rate of rise of current, and 'therefore the speed of the
telegraph circuit, was adversely affected. Resistance was an
essential condition for even partial success with this system, and
could not be replaced by inductance as Mr. Hill seemed to think.
The winding of the coil provided a capacity between the windings
which short circuited both the resistance and the inductance to a
certain extent, and even a small capacity was sufficient to disturb
the telephone and make the system unworkable. On the other
hand, the employment of telegraph phantom circuits on telephone
lines provided a field for further development, though it was probable
that only a relatively small percentage of the telephone trunk lines
in this country could be utilised for such siiper-position.

Conditions in Composited Circuits.

Mr. A. B. Hart remarked that the curve given by Mr. Hill of the
rise of current in a composited circuit did not really represent what
happened. The current did not increase smoothly from zero to
a maximum value, but was of an oscillatory character. It was
necessary in composited circuits to know the maximum frequency
which had to be transmitted in order to give satisfactory telegraph
working and then to cut off what was unnecessary.

Mr. A. E. Thompson said that the composited method was being
used by the Danish and French administrations, while between
Copenhagen and Hamburg the American compo-site method Avas
being employed. A combined phantom and composited ciicuit was
used by the American army between Tours and Chaumont with
repeaters at Autun in 1918, a distance of 306 miles, and since then
the system had made great progress in America, not only under the
Bell companies but by the railway companies. Compared with
American methods, the l*ost Office arrangements seemed to have the
disadvantage that the telegraph signals passed through one AvincUng
of the repeating coil, which must introduce a certain amount of
thump in the telephone. This might be overcome by making the
condensers tapped to earth of large capacity, but if these condensers
were of greater values than six microfarads the efficiency of
telegraph transmission would be reduced.

A Japanese Representative.

The President said he felt sure that members would welcome
Mr. S. E. Inada, of the Japanese Department of Communications,
who was present at the meeting.

Mr. Inada complied with the President's invitation to speak,
and though his knowledge of spoken English makes it difficult to
report his remarks, it probably compares favourably with that of
his hearers' knowledge of Japanese. ]\lr. Inada said that the
Institution had been a great help to Japanese engineers, and they
were making progress on the Unes indicated in Mr. HUl's Paper and
the Paper read by Mr. Byng earlier in the session. He was
particidarly interested in the subject under discussion in view of the
change from the overhead to the underground system.

Nomenclature Difficulties.

Mr. W. AiTKEN objected to the term " side circuit." These
were more often called physical circuits, which was a much more
pregnant phrase. Telephone relays were now of two kinds, non-
circuit-closing and circuit-closing, and there should be separate
terms for each. There were speech-repeaters and impulse-
repeaters. These should also be differentiated. Nowadays
telephone circuits were becoming coriiplicated, what with loading,
superimposing and amplifiers. They were also to have means of
calling over these circuits, and shortly they would be discussing
automatically impulsing them. What the circuits would be like
in the end it woidd be difficult to forecast, and still more difficult
to understand.

Railways and the Van Rysselberghe System.

Mr. W. J. Thorrowgood did not agree that the Van Rysselberghe
system was moribund. Superimposing telephones on telegraphs,
and vice versa, was not the delicate operation some of the speakers
seemed to believe. The Bath-Bournemouth circuit was 7(5 miles
long, with a spur near Glastonbury to Highbridge, making the
distance from Highbridge to Bournemouth 72 mUes. On that single
wire there were fourteen telegraph and sixteen telephone irLstruments,
and it was possible to speak from one end of the line to the other.
On the line from Waterloo to Southampton there was a single
needle telegraph instrument at each end, and twelve telephones
at various places. The separating apparatus consisted of a line
from earth to the single needle instrument with two bridge coUs,
each with a resistance of 750 O. The circuit was connected to
the telephone switchboard at Waterloo, on which there were 250
lines, and to the switchboard at Southampton, where there Tfere
200 lines, and each of those extensions could speak over the
line. Battery-ringing had been arranged so that any station could
call another without interfering with the Waterloo SAvitchboard.

Filter Design.

Mr. C. Robinson said the Post Office had worked out a system
of automatic signalling for phantom circuits and side circuits which
it was hoped soon to have in commercial practice. The first
consideration in designing a filter was the calculation of its cut-ofE
point, but the Paper gave no expression for that.

Mr. C. C. Marris asked how the various machine units of the
telegraphs compared with the curves given for the Wheatstone, and
what the maximum speed found practicable on circuits with the
transformers used in phantom telephone circuits was. He wanted
to know how the limit for the magnification of the single relay
could be arrived at, and whether that limit was mainlj'^ one of cross-
talk or of balance, or whether it arose from the possibility of deflec-
tion of the repeater. Was there any particular difficulty in balancing
phantom cu'cuits for relay purposes ?

Capt. F. Reid said the variation of the capacity in cable circuits
was given by Mr. Hill as li per cent., but variations of from 10 to
15 per cent, in single lengths with 5 per cent, on complete coQ-loaded
section were often obtained. Specifying a certain mean figure
sometimes resulted in all the circuits being of low capacity, while
in others cases some circuits were very much higher and some very
much lower than the mean. It would therefore be as well for cable
manufacturers to standardise the capacity for a specified type of
cable and fix the limits of capacity variation.

The Author's Reply.

The ArTHOR, in reply, remarked that though the sine-wave
system woiild be very valuable in certain conditions, it would be
difficult to apply it to circuits when the reactance of the apparatus
was considered. The use of filters was an alternative method.
Although tlie telegrajih current had a slow periodicity, its rate of rise,
particularly with a square signal, was very rapid and made it
equivalent to a very high f requeue}' signal. It was the normal
thing for the capacity of the phantom circuit to be double that of
the side circuit, and that was the variation of the capacity that
caused the effect. The filter method was the best way of dealing
with tlie composited circuit using the wires of a double wire circuit
to form two duplex circuits. This worked very satisfactorily. He
agreed with ^Ir. Aitken regarding nomenclature, and had followed
the terms given in a Paper issued by the American Institute of
Electrical Engineers. American conditions did not apply over here,
and it was a question how much noise the gen*»ral public would
stand. The price of an approximately silent circuit was the
reduced speed.

The Electrician — April 7, 1922

111

Radioactivity.'

In the first three of a series of six lectures which Sir Ernest Rutherford, Cavendish Professor of Physics at Cambridge, is delivering
before the Royal Institution, reasons are given why radium has been singled out from many radioactive j/roducts for practical use. The
work of a committee appointed for testing radioactivity is considered, and some practical applications of this stibstance are detailed. The
law of radioactive changes is discussed, the delicacy of radioactive analysis being demonstrated by experiments, as were the

characteristics of the products of radio-emanation.

Having, in the introduction to his first lecture, dwelt on the fertile
developments that physics owed to the study of radioactivity,
the transformations and disintegrations of atoms, the emission of
flying particles endowed with undreamt-of energy, by means of
which we could probe the structure of the atoms, the discovery of
thirty new elements, the shedding of new light on atmospheric
electricity and on the age of the earth. Prof. Rutherford
remarked that the detection of radioactivity had a history of
dramatic interest. In the period of intense activity following the
discovery of the Rontgen rays late in 1895, the association of the new
rays with phosphorescence suggested to some experimenters that the
generation of the rays was itself connected with phosphorescence.
Henri Becquerel placed various substances (wrapped in paper),
which had been previously rendered phosphorescent by exposure
to light, on photographic plates, among them some twelve-years-old
crystals of uranium-potassium sulphate. These crystals gave out

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) C8)

Fig. 1.

a radiation affecting the photographic plate. Fresh exposure to
light made no difference, and the property was common to all
uranium compounds, as he showed in the " Comptes Rendus " of
Feb. 24, 1896.

The Work of Mme. Curie.

The new rays also discharged an electroscope. For his demonstra-
tions Sir Ernest either used a Zeleny arrangement, the gold leaf of
which is so suspended from the horizontal plate at the top that it
hangs edgeways in front of a vertical plate kept charged from a battery
and oscillates at a rate proportional to the rate of leakage from the
top plate; or a simpler electroscope in which the substance was fixed
underneath a base plate of lead so as to stop aU but penetrating
radiations. With the help of similar devices Mme. Curie found that
the radioactivity was proportional to the amount of uranium in
the compound, and was thus a property of the atom of uranium, U,
but that Joachimsthal pitchblende (with 70 per cent, of U) was
five times as active as it would be if wholly consisting of U. By
precipitation with Hg S she then precipitated from the solution of
the pitchblende an exceedingly active constituent which she called
polonium ; she further observed that the barium sulphate
precipitated from the solution of the mineral was radioactive,
and by fractionation she finally isolated a salt the metal of which,
radium, had an atomic weight Ra = 226, against U = 238. The
metal could be electrolyticaUy deposited and had a melting point of

I'O

U^'

+» -

I ;

T'lmei

Fia. 2.

about 700°C. If a piece of pitchblende were represented by a line 380
miles long, the amount of radium in it would correspond to
4 in., the polonium to O'OOl in., and the Ra C to 0-0000001 in.

Why Radium is Used.

But why was radium itself singled out from the manj' pro-
ducts, some of which were much more radioactive ? Because
radium was easUy obtained ; it had a long life (half -period, 1 650
years), and gave rise to a large family of descendants of compara-
tively short life under the emission oi a, /3 and y rays. Fig. 1 is a

*Ab3tract of the first three of a course of six lectures delivered
at the Royal Institution by Sir Ernest Rutherford, F.R.S., of the
Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge.

diagram of the radium family; the member.s, the life period, and the
ranges of the a particles in air, were: (I) Ra, I 6i)() years, 3'5 cm. ; (2)
emanation, 3-5 days, 4'3 cm. ; (3) Ra A, 3 min., 4"8 cm. ; (4) Ra B,
26-8 min. ; (5) Ra C, 19-5 min., 7-06 cm. ; (6) Ra D, radium lead,
16-5 hours ; (7) Ra E, 5 days ; (8) Ra F polonium, 1.36 days. Ra A
to Ra C are the active deposits of rapid change ; Ra D to Ra F active
deposits of slow change. As regards the minerals, .Sir Ernest
remarked, the pitchblende (uraninite) contained up to 80 per cent.
of uranium oxides, and the primary uraninite from verj' ancient
rocks was simpler in composition to the secondary blende (from
Johanngeorgenstadt, Saxony), in which verj' small proportions
of very many elements seemed to be lumped together. Joachims-
thal now produced about 2 grams of radium per year. There was
a little pitchblende in the tin mine dumps of Cornwall. Antunite
was a complex uranium- calcium phosphate. Most of the uiranium
now came from the carnotite of Colorado, a yellow vanadate of
potassium and uranium, which might contain 51 per cent, of
uranium. Though .500 tons of the carnotite-sandstone would
yield only 1 gram of radium, the treatment of the ore (dissolution
in hydrochloric acid, ard precipitation vrith sulphuric acid) was
relatively simple, and the Standard Chemical Company of Pittsburgh
had already produced 85 grams of radium (16 grams last year) from
this ore. Europe had altogether produced 40 grams of radium, the
world, 160 grams ; and of that only 5 grams had gone to physicists
for research.
Thorium and its first descendant, mesothorium, discovered by

100
80
60
40
20

. llviisL

— "

,"«

i«I

K<*.

fe;

,. .

8 12 16 20 24
Number of Dac^s,

Fi . 3. — Thorium Curves.

Hahn (an isotope of radium, differing from it in its radioactivity),
was another important radioactive element. Mesothonum cost
only half as much as radium, which was now froin £20 to £30 per
milligram, but had only a life of 6*7 years (mesothorium I.,
mesothorium II., 6*2 hoiu-s). One-fourth of the activity of radium
preparations might be due to mesothoriimi. Thorixun occurred in
monazite (phosphates of the rare earths, the raw material of the
incandescent mantle industry), and .ome 300 000 kg. of thoriimi
nitrate, equivalent to 5 grams of radium, were produced annually.

The Radioactivity Committee.

A committee for testing radioactivity had been appointed in
1912 (Prof. Rutherford was chairman). Mi.ie. Curie had prepared
(at the expense of Sir George Beilby) a standard of 22 mg. of Ra CL ;
secondary standards were made in the RatUum Institut, Vienna,
and sub-standards issued. Test^ within 0-5 per cent, of Ra were
possible without opening the glass bottle, because the tests were made
by the y-ray method, and because the decay of different mixtiu-es
of Ra and Th varied with those proportions largely owing to the
shorter life of mesothorium. Such measurements of mixtures took
months ; for rough tests the a rays affordetl guidance, because those
of Th had »> longer range than the Ra rays. The penetrating
chai-acter of the X-rays had made it possible to recover £1 000
Avorth of radium, it was said, from a rubbish heap on which the
sweepings of a hospital had been piled. First, the respective heap
was identified with the aid of electroscopes ; then the portions of
the heap ; and, finally, buckets charged with the refuse were
individually examined.

Some Practical Applications.

Radium salts, added to zinc sulphide to render compass sights,
etc., visible in the dark. Sir Ernest continued in the second lecture,
bombarded the sulphide with their a rays, so that the sulphide

412

The Electrician.

rlpril 7, 1922

structure was destroyed, and the pliosphorescence decayed at a
fairly rapid rate. The radium itself did not suffer, and nearly
1 gram Ra was said to have been recovered after the war from
superfluous gun sights. Mesothorium might profitably replace
the radium in such preparations. The a rays were positively
charged atoms of helium moving at about 10 000 miles per sec. ;
the P rays were swift electrons ; the y rays were of the most pene.
trating X-ray type. Owing to their greater mass, the a rays carried
much more energy than the others, and produced 100 X the
ionisations of (3 particles ; but they lost their speed rapidly, and
their range in ordinary air did not exceed 7 cm. It was demon-
strated that the a rays from polonium were stopped by a sheet of
notepaper interposed between the electroscope and the copper-
plate on which the polonium had been deposited.

The Nature of Radioactive Elements.'

P To account for the expulsion of these particles, Rutherford and
Soddy had, nearly twenty years ago at Montreal, suggested that
radioactive elements differed from others by not being permanently

100

c..^

5"^

^£^^

-—

40 , 69 ,80 100
Time In Minutes 1

120

140

Fig. 4. — Relative Number of Atoms of A, B, C, D

PRESENT AT ANT TIME. (CaSE I.)

stable. At any moment a certain fraction became unstable, an
explosion occurred, particles were shot out, and the atom left behind
was entirely different from the original element. Radium mass
226, lost an a particle (see Fig. 1) ; the resulting emanation was a
heavy gas (not a solid metal), and was itself unstable, emitting
another particle, and turning into Ra A once more or a solid metal
of mass 218. This broke up into Ra B, which emitted both an
a and a fi particle, and yielded Ra C, and so on. As regards the
rate of change, observations on polonium had shown that the activity
dropped to half in 136 days ; in another 136 days again to half, i.e.,
to a quarter of the initial activity, and so on ; and that the ex-
ponential law had been found still to hold when the activity had
diminished to one millionth, no matter what the chemical con-
ditions and the temperature (furnace or liquid helium) were.
In a series of successive changes, the equilibrium required that
for each atom — e.g., of Ra — an atom of emanation should be
produced, while at the same time another atom of emanation
was exploded. Supposing we started with pure radium, having
removed all accumulated emanation. For each atom disintegrating
an atom of emanations was formed, ana when the Ra had died
down to half, the emanation would also represent half of the
activity, the sum remaining constant. Thus the decay and re-
covery curves were the same, as the ordinates in Fig. 2 indicated.
The Law of Radioactive Changes.
The law which they had first' worked out for thorium (see
Fig. 3) was the following : If N„ represented the number of initial
atoms, Nt the atoms left after t seconds, then N,/No=e.~^*
where X was the radioactive constant. T, the time for half!
transformation, was 0-693/A. second, and L the Average life = l/X
seconds ; further, dN/dt=--\N, X representing U>e fraction of the
total number of atoms changing per second. If the decay were
A->B->C, P, Q, R being the numbers of atoms of each present,
and Aj Xo X.5 the respective constants, then (1) dP/dl^ — Xj p ,•
(2) dQ/dt=\iP-XoQ ; (3) dR/dt ==XoQ~\.^ R, and those three
equations gave the. P, Q, R at any subsequent time when the initial
values were known. The L might amount to a few seconds or
many years ; L was always = 1 /X, and Q could bo found from P by
(2). As regards radium. Fig. 4 represented the number of atoms
of Ra A, Ra B, Ra C, Ra D present after certain numbers of minutes ;
each of these curves passed through a maximum. The rate of
change, on which the number of atoms of A, B, C present at any
instant depended after removal of the emanation, were indicated
in Fig. 5. In order to elucidate these relations, Sir Ernest
arranged three vertical glass tubes, partly filled with coloured water,

in cascade, tube A communicating by a horizontal pipe (of small
bore) near its bottom with the middle of B, and B similarly with C,
which had an outlet into D. When the tap between A and B was
opened, the level in A fell ; in B it rose to a maximum (depending
upon the respective heads of water) before A was empty ; then the
B level went on falling until A was empty. If A had been replenished
so as to keep itF level constant, the levels in Band C would also have
remained steady. That illustrated the decay of a radioactive series —
e.g., of Ra in equilibrium with its emanation, exactly the same
number of liquid molecules leaving each of the three tubes in each
unit of time.

Delicacy of Radioactive Analysis.
Having demonstrated that the electroscope came to rest much
more rapidly when excited by actinium emanation (hfe, 3 "5 sec.)
than with thorium emanation (54 sec). Sir Ernest demonstrated
the delicacy of radioactive analysis in some striking ways. Actinium
would deposit its emanation on platinum foil held above it. In an
electroscope there would be no visible film ; yet 10~^' milligrams
would suffice for electroscopic analysis as well as a kilogram.
Sir Ernest had prepared such a piece of platinum foil ; he cut it
in three pieces with a pair of scissors, after having shown it to be
strongly radioactive. The first piece was placed in warm hydro-
chloric acid, then dipped into alcohol and dried over a Bunsen flame ;
the radioactivity was practically gone. The second piece was
heated in the flame ; the deposit was volatilised, and the radio-
activity lost. The third piece was washed in water only ; the
activity was retained, because the dejiosit was insoluble in water ;
but a similar specimen, exposed to chlorine before the lecture, lost its
activity in water because the chloride formed was soluble in water.
When the emanation was kept sealed up in thin glass tubes for long
periods, only the long-period products survived and coated the glass,
which they discoloured. Breaking such a polonium tube up and
placing it in warm hydrochloric acid. Sir Ernest dissolved the
deposit, which settled again on a piece of copper held in the solution.
The solution electrolysed with two small electrodes in circuit with
few cells deposited more polonium on the kathode (not on the anode).
Another piece of copper exposed to radium emanation proved very
highly active ; yet there was nothing like a continuous film on it,
perhaps 1 atom of Ra C for every 50 atoms of copper in the surface.

The Products of Radio Emanation.

Of the products of radium emanation. Prof. Rutherford stated in
the third lecture, Ra A, B, C were the most important. Ra A was
very short-lived (3 min.) ; B could be volatilised at 700 deg., so that
C was left behind. This was best done by dissolving the deposit
formed on the walls of a glass tube (as just mentioned), and by placing
a piece of nickel foU or nickel wire in the warm solution ; Ra C
was then obtained almost pure, free from Ra B. Thorium emana-
tion (life, 54 sec. only) could similarly be treated, and two-thirds

100

■A

^-^-.

--^

Time In Minutes 1

100 120

140

Fig.

-Relative Number of Atoms of Matter A, B, C

PRESENT AT ANT INSTANT. (CaSK II.)

of the Th C in it would be deposited on nickel. In studying the
properties of Ra emanation, Soddy and he had first tried to condense
it by the aid of solid CO.j ; they had no licjuid air machine at the
time, but with the first 25 cm^ of liquid air, they later produced, they
condensed an emanation at —150 deg. at very low pressure. To
prepare the emanation, the Ra salt was dissolved in water in a
flask joined to a pump ; the rays decomposed some of the water
into hydrogen and oxygen (which partly recombined also under the
action of the rays) ; these gases were removed by sparking, and the
remaining emanation was condensed in a IJ-tube. One gram of
Ra would, in about 30 days, generate a volume of 0'6 cub. mm. of
emanation (in equilibrium at nonnal pressure and tempera-
ture), and with sucli quantities they had made their studies.
Radium salts themselves should not be used for experiment><5 ;
they were too costly and contaminated the laboratory ; in hospitals,
emanation confined in tiny glass tubes of common pin size was also

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

413

preferable. The very difficult purification of the emanation was
effected in delicate glass apparatus as in gas analysis. In order to
determine the true boiling point at atmospheric pressure the emana-
tion had been drawn into an exceedingly fine capillary, 1 in. long ;
there it boiled at —65 deg., and solidified to an orange speck.
The atomic weight of Ra emanation was 222 ; the atomic number,
86 ; the half-period, 3 "85 days. It was the heaviest gas known, the
density of the solid being about 5 or 6, and it formed the highest
member of the helium-argon group of inert gases. It had a spectrum
of some fifty bright lines, quite distinct from helium and other
elements, and was strongly absorbed by charcoal, oils and water.

Characteristics Demonstrated.

To demonstrate the character of the gas, Sir Ernest made use of a
horizontal glass tube (connected at the one end withaGaede pump),
from which branched off a charcoal tube and three smaller tubes,
containing respectively willemite, a mineral giving a red phosphor-
escence and zinc sulphide. The emanation was introduced into
the main tube through a tap and another branch tube dipping
into a mercury basin. By wrapping cotton wool round different
parts of the apparatus, soaking the wool in liquid air and immersing
the charcoal in liquid air, the emanation was condensed first into
the tube phosphorescing red ; it was then driven by gentle heating
into the willemite tube and finally into the zinc sulphide, where it
was left, causing the sulphide to phosphoresce with a brilliant green
glow in full daylight all through the rest of the lecture.

In the early days it was thought that radium was the direct
offspring of uranium. But Soddy did not succeed in growing
radium. Boltwood then discovered the intermediate product
ionium (period, 100 000 years), which was separated like thorium.
To explain the decay. Sir Ernest used, as he had done before, three
glasses containing balls of different colours, representing uranium U,
ionium lo, and radium Ra. When three ionium balls were trans-
ferred to the third glass to indicate that 3 lo had changed into
3 Ra, three radium balls had also to be taken out of their glass,
because the radium had itself changed. jgg

If any uranium mineral and the chain, of transformations U— ^lo
^Ra ... is considered all the members of the chain would
be present in the mineral and would be present in equilibrium
amounts, such that, NJTi=N^/T^=N3/T3 . . . where the
N indicated the numbers of the respective atoms present in the order
stated {N^ referring to U, N^ to Ra) and the T their respective half
periods. How we could, by chemical analysis, determine the actual
amount of Ra in the mineral ; we could not control the growth of
Ra by chemical analysis, but we could control it by the electroscope;
thus we found the radioactive constant A3 for radium, and knowing
A3 in that case we could determine it for the other transformations ;
for ^j Ai = iVj A2 = N^ A3. . . . Further we knew, that the
proportion of radium in uranium was N._^/N^ = 3"4/10'' as to atoms,
and 3 •6/10'^ as to parts by weight. The A gave for radium a half
period of 1 650 years, the corresponding life period for uranium
would then be 5 000 million years.

The Term Life Explained.

What did that life of 1 650 years mean ? It meant that of 1 gram
of radium which we now possessed there would, in 10 000 (6x1 650)
years, be left only 1/2^=1/64 grams = 16 mg. of Ra. The Hfe of
uranium would be 5 000 million years — a long time, certainly, but
there was not much doubt. If uranium had decayed much faster there
might be none left in the world. On the other hand, actinium. Act,
had a period of only 0'002 sec. ; that was the other extreme. When
we looked at the three radioactive families of Ra, Th, Act, they
showed great similarities. AH gave emanations and deposits
and similar bodies showing the usual periodicities of elements in their
properties. The nomenclature was not systematic, because workers
in different parts of the world had met with new products at
different stages of their work. An international congress would
settle that. Yet it was extraordinary that all the 0 products were
analagous in their peculiarities. Normally a product gave off an
a particle of a definite speed, the same for all the particles of that
product. But the C products broke up in two (possibly three)
ways ; there was, hence, not one uniform way, and it might be a
chance whether the one or the other change would take place.
Though these questions remained speculative, it seemed that Ra C
first sent off a /8 particle, passing into Ra C, and then an a particle,
leading Ra €3 ; whilst Th C and Act C first gave the a particle
and then the fS. He had, however, recently obtained evidence —
not unexpected — of a third body in Th C, possibly in the other cases,
too, and the changes were certainly complicated. Atoms might exist in
more than one state of temporary equifibrium, however. The recent
researches made the existence of isotopes of the heavy elements very
probable, and the different nuclei of different isotopes would break
up in various ways. Actinium, in particular, could not belong
to the main branch of the uranium-radium family ; its radioactivity
was only 4 per cent, of what it should be in that case. Where the
branching actually occurred was not quite certain ; the genesis

(2xl0«year8) Un

seemed, however, to be of the following t3rpe, starting from
uranium II.

96% To (2 X 10* years) -> Ra (1 6.^0 years)

^ 4% Uy (2.5-.5 years) -> Protoact ' !</

yearsj— >Act (25 years)

All these transformations of uranium into actinium were accom-
panifcl by the expulsion of a particles, except in the case Uy-^
Protoact, where a ft was ejected.

The discovery of further side branches did not appear likely.
(To be concluded.)

Specifications and Estimates.

At the second informal meeting of the I. E. E. North-Westem
Centre this session, Mr. Julius Frith opened a discussion on
" Specifications and Estimates."

Mr. Frith dealt with the whole machinery by which engineering
plant is bought and sold, including the specification prepared by
the purchaser or his engineer, the manufacturer's estimate and
tender, and the subsequent contract between them. The purchaser
and even his engineer might be unable to adjudicate correctly from
tenders received owing to omission of particulars necessary to
enable them to be compared on the same basis. Two methods of
specifying overcame the difficulties arising from merely describing
the result desired, the first comprising a precise statement of how
the result was to be obtained ; the second asking for information
from the various manufacturers and selecting the best scheme. A
combination of these methods was also used, i.e., an exact descrip-
tion of both results and system to be adopted was specified, coupled
with permission to the manufacturer to put forward an alternative
scheme. To reap the advantages of standardisation, the purchaser
must aid the manufacturer by leaving him free to use his standard
materials and methods of manufacture. Tests should be specified
in advance, particularly with regard to the quality of materials,
the adequacy of the plant in size or temperature rise, and for
efficiency. In addition, a penalty or bonus for an efficiency lower
or higher than that guaranteed should be given, together with any
delivery penalties desirable. Finally the terms of payment should
be detailed. Engineering plant designed to effect a given result
might differ in first cost, running costs, delivery period, convenience
of working, space occupied, weight and appearance, and, Mr. Frith
subsequently added, reliability.

The preparation of the tender, which normally followed on the
distribution of the specification, was vital to the whole business.
Its importance could scarcely be over-estimated. In a large
engineering scheme there was always a great deal of purely engineer-
ing work, and subsequently a firm had to decide which parts of the
tender could be covered by standard products and w hich parts would
require to be made outside. The technical departments having
estimated the amount of material, the works departments would
require to estimate the amount of labour and other charges.
Reason and Rhyme.

To the subsequent discussion Messrs. S. J. Watsox, G. A.
Cheetham, a. B. MALi.rssoN, W. Kidd, H. C. Lamb, A. S. Barnard,
R. E. Gruie, H. Midgley, and W. Eccles, contributed, while a
rhymed contribution by Mr. J. H. C. Brooki>"g was read by the
Chairman. The general trend of opinion was that the manufacturer
shoiUd be as free as possible to achieve the results required in any
way he chose, and a number of amusing illustrations were given
of the absurdity of many specifications and of the manner in which
they still embalmed ancient requiremcts. Considerable emphasis
was also laid upon the importance of purchasers conveying to
manufactvurers the purpose of their inquiry, and examples were cited
of schemes which were unduly costly through the manufacturers
not being in a position to offer the most suitable arrangement.
Some speakers said that a specification should be confined to half a
sheet of notepaper, others that all essential points should be covered.
The meeting was generally of the opinion that the I.E.E. Model
General Conditions should be as widely used as possible. Rirchasers
were also urged to specify when they wanted an approximate pnce
for the purpose of estimating the cost of a scheme in its preliminary
stages and when detailed competitive figures were required. Manu-
facturers were asked to state in advance whether they proposed to
depart from the specification.

The Consulting Engineer Peptonised.

After licaring Mr. Fritu's reply we came away from an extra-
ordinarily illutmnating and valuable discussion with the impression
of the "considting engineer, abnormally vigilant, omniscient,
sittmg on the fence, holding the scales of justice evenly between
the contending factions on either side. In so far as the
metaphor is a little mixed, it is unfair to Mr. Frith, but Ms own
fertile mind is responsible. Ruling out the ordinal^' significance
of the phrase the precariousness, prominence, and judicial character
of the position will perhaps refiect the consulting engineer's
responsibility.

41i

The Electrician — April 7, 1922

British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers' Association.

Record of a Year's Work.

The annual general meeting of the British Electeicai. and
Allied IManufactueees' Association was held on March 16, when
]\Ir. W. O. Smith, Chairman of the Council, presided over a large
attendance.

The Chairman's Address.

In proposing the adoption of the Annual Report of the Council
for the 5'ear 1921, the Chairman said at that the last general meeting
he was compelled to deal with the then existing situation in a
pessimistic tone. In the Ught of subsequent events it would be agreed
that his pessimism had been justified. In March, 1921, the industry
was in a bad state, but it was nothing to what it had been since.
For the coal strike had been followed by a business depression
such as had never been experienced in the Ufe of the electrical and
allied industries.

The Stock Exchange Barometer.

At that time he had remarked that the tone of the Stock Exchange
was one of the best indications of the state of the country's trade,
but whereas a year ago the Stock Exchange was in the depths of
depression, to-day there was buoyancy and optimism all round;
and he was convinced that that feeling of optimism would gradually
permeate other branches of business so that those who had been
nolding back would seU out gilt-edged securities and utilise the
money so reahsed to finance new enterprises. A fair proportion
of that money should find its way into the electrical and aUied
industries in the shape of orders, and though the start might be
slow, so long as it gradually increased, the improvement was likely
to be both solid and durable.

Competition and the Future.

It was easy to run an association like the B.E.A.M.A. when
everybody was busy and profits were being made, but it was a
difierent matter when work was scarce, for it was then individual
firms were tempted to act for themselves. If the course were
generally adopted there would be a scramble] for any work and
the industry would find itself in exactly the same unsatisfactory
position as it had been before the B.E.A.M.A. was started, when
only the consumer benefited from a cut-throat poUcy. If
the B.E.A.M.A. had done nothing else it had done splendid work
by bringing individual members together to know and trust each
other. If this happy state were to be continued patience must be
exercised, for better times were coming when the benefit of the
bonds of union would surely be reaped.

The Council had authorised the Director to promote a World
Power Conference, which by permission of the Executive Council
of the British Empire Exhibition would be held at Wembley during
1924. The Association was inviting technical institutions and
trade organisations in this and other countries to co-operate, and
the exhibition authorites had agreed to give free use of a conference
liaU and to provide certain entertainments for guests from other
countries.

A Personal Explanation.

- Continumg, Mr. Smith referred to the fact that he had filled
that position of chairman of the Assoc; ition for three years. He
felt that his retirement would be both for the good of the B.E.A.M.A.
and of himself. Three years was quite long enough for anyone
to hold the chairmanship, and after nearly fifty years of business
life he was beginning to feel the need of a little more leisure and
less responsibihty. Those tluee years, during which he had not
missed a single Council meeting, had been very pleasant years, and
it had been a great satisfaction to assist in fostering those great
principles of co-operation for which the B.1*].A.M.A. stood.

Mr. Smith concluded by tendering his special thanks to the staff
of the Association for the willing and prompt Hianner in which thej'
had invariably carried out his wishes.

THE ANNUAL REPORT.

In the Annual Report of the Council, A\hich was presented at the
meeting, it was pointed out that the cures for the disease from which
the Avorld was suffering could only be effected by the expiration
of time. The steadiness and patience of members under
adverse conditions and the highest taxation of any country
in the world were sufficient proof that the qualities necessary for
taking the fullest advantage of the opportunities of restormg
British prestige in the world's markets were present.

A significant indication of tlie state of world finance was the
sudden move during 1921 on the part of almost all countries towards
a revision of tariffs. The Association passed under review during
the year the tariffs of New Zealand, India, Canada, Spain, and
South Africa, and had been successful in the case of New Zealand
in securing the admission, duty free, of British electrical apparatus.

and in the case of India in obtaining a reduction from \\\ per
cent, to 2J per cent, ad valorem of the duty on high tension switch-
boards, oil swdtches, motor starters, controllers, regulators, rheostats,
and transformers.

It was now the practice throughout all the Dominions that the
value according to the current rate of exchange should be the
value upon which import duties were chargeable, Avhile an Imperial
Conference of Dominion customs authorities which sat during the
spring had recommended the general adoption of a standard form
of declaration which, however, the Dominions had not yet found
it practicable to adopt.

Legislative Work.

The B.E.A.M.A. technical code, which was pubhshed during
February, represented one of the most comprehensive and complete
technical codes in existence. By its use the cost of cabling messages
connected with tenders and contracts would be very greatly reduced.
Reference is made in the report to the Safeguarding of Industries
Act, to the Overseas Trade (Credits and Insurance) Amendment
Act, to the Trades Facfiities Act, and to the Local Authorities
(Financial Provisions) Act. As regards the second and third of
these the relations of the Association with the Board of Trade are
such as will allow any member desirous of availing himself of
facilities to obtain the best confidential advice and assistance.

Co-operation and Unemployment.

During the year Mr. L. B. Atkinson happily seized the moment
when the industry was most divided as to the representations which
should be made to the Government on the subject of unemployment
to form one of the most important of the industrial organisations
estabUshed in this country, the conference of Joint Industrial
Councils and Other Bodies in the Electrical Industry. Thus the
industry as a whole can speak to Government Departments with a
single voice, a fact appreciated by no one so much as those Govern-
ment Departments especially concerned with the industrial questions
arising out of the present exigencies.

The Electrical Research Association.

The year 1921 was the first complete year of work of the Electrical
Research Association. It has now entirely cleared the ground and
built the foundations for the superstructure. At the end of the
Association's financial year eleven sections divided into thirty-nine
committees had been formed, retaining the services of 150 experts
in the various branches of research, and it is clear that the estab-
lishment of a central body to secure the help and win the confidence
of all interested parties from the premier Departments of State to
the smallest manufacturing firm is gradually making its way to
success. Meantime the Association's own Research Committee
has been coirespondingly re-organised and enlarged, so as directly
to represent the interests of the sections of the Association and so
facilitate freer and more expeditious communication of members'
research proposals direct to the E.R.A. The Comicil are of opinion
that the present year should see the macliincry both of the E.R.A.
and the Association's Committee in perfect working co-ordination
and giving the fullest satisfaction to all those who have enrolled
as members of the E.R.A.

Standardisation.

The Council recall with satisfaction that the interest of members
in standardisation has been well maintained during the jear.
This is an encouraging sign, for notliing is better calculated to
consolidate the position of the British electrical industry in foreign
markets than the adoption by those markets of British standards.

Reference is made to the stricter interpretations given bj' the
Home Office of the regulations for the installation and use of
electricity in mines which had as a resxilt the publication of regu-
lations regarding the safeguarding of surface switchboards.
Committees of the Association recommended draft specifications
for underground machinery and apparatus, which may result in
new B.E.S.A. specifications for mining motors, switchgear, phigs
for coal cutters, and other portable apparatus. Reference is also
made to the revision of the B.E.S.A. specifications on electrical
machinery, the commencement of the work on slow speed steam
engine, gas and oil engine and Diesel engine specifications, and to
the nomination of representatives to B.E.S.A. sub-committees
and panels on various subjects relating to electrical and allied
work.

Work of the Traffic Committee.

The Traffic Committee of the Association during the year have
concentrated practically their whole attention upon the revision
of the general railway clas.<!itication of goods, which is being imder-
taken by the Ministry of Transport and the railway companies.

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

115

and lodged causes of objection, both in particular and general,
to the provisional proposals made by the railway companies on
this question. These proposals have also been combated by other
branches of industry, and it was found necessary to set up a Co-
ordinating Committee with headquarters at the 1\B.I. The Rates
Advisory Committee found it expedient to recognise this Committee
and to suspend its sittings for the time being to permit of its con-
ferring with a committee of the railway companies. This con-
ference resulted in the gradual reduction in the number of objections
and the breaking down in great measure of theifeeling of antagonism
between the traders and the railway companies. Nevertheless,
notwithstanding a reduction in the wages of railway workers and
a material reduction in the cost of railway plant and material, no
reduction has been made in the rates for general merchandise,
though a small reductioh was made in the rates for fuel, limestone,
and lime for iron and steel working.

Railway Rates and Trade Revival.

The Association has been represented on several deputations to
the railway companies to urge the importance of a general reduction
of rates in the interest of trade revival. The attitude of the railway
companies is that they are entitled to make a certain profit regard-
less of the state of trade and that a reduction in rates would not
bring aboiit such an increase of traffic as would enable them to do it.
It is satisfactory to note that the Railways Act 1921 embodies a
principle of charging which the Traffic Committee of the Association
have throughout strenuously advocated, namely, that all rates shall
be disintegrated, showing separately the rates for conveyance,
station terminals at each end and service terminals for loading,
unloading, covering and uncovering. The Traffic Committee also
opposed the attempt of the railway companies to obtain the right
to carry goods by road, but the attempt was frustrated by the
Speaker's ruling that the proposal did not come within the scope
of the Bill. Companies are now seeking the same powers in a
separate Bill and the Traffic Committee is still continuing its oppo -
sition in co-operation with other traders. Several claims of members
for damage and non-delivery and warehouse rent charges have also
been discussed and attempts have been made to get the question
of demurrage dealt with on equitable lines.

Contract Conditions.

The Revising Committee carried through several important
amendments to the text of the I.E.E. Model Form of General
Conditions and have presented to the I.E.E. a new text based on
the model text purporting to cover export work so as to provide
for cases where the customer particularly specifies " I.E.E. con-
ditions so far as they may apply." An I.E.E. special committee
is now considering the text with a view to recommending their
Council to sanction it.

The text of the Association's Conditions of Sale "A," covering
sales without erection, suitably amended is now under discussion
between the Association and the I.E.E. with a view to joint adoption^
and the Association are also co-operating with the F.B.I, to obtain
an amendment of the sets of conditions issued by Government
Departments where they are considered inequitable.

Assisting B.E.D.A.

The British Electrical Development Association, of which the
Association is a founder member, has in the past year considerably
increased its membership and consolidated its position. The
Council of the Association recommend members to acquaint the
secretary of the B.E.D.A. with any new devices and developments
in their branch of the industry so that the public may be kept aU\ e
to the best and latest practice.

Extending the I.P.S.

The financial year of the Industrial Publicity Service, Ltd.,
ending April, 1921, showed a substantial development, and prepara-
tions are now completed for giving a separate establishment to the
propaganda side of the activities of this organisation by means of
a new company registered under the name of Industrial Intelligence,
Ltd. This organisation which is also supported by the F.B.I. ,
• the British Engineers' Association, the CM. A., and the E.L.M.A.
is not intended to be a trading company, but will carry out the
distribiition throughout the world of news matter of British industrial
and commercial interest. Recent reference in the Press to the
activity of competing countries and the dissemination of propaganda
confirms the opinion that this scheme is very well worthy of support
by British trade interests. The main source of funds for the
purpose is the profit derived from the advertising agency work of
the Industrial Publicity Service which affords another reason why
that organisation should be used by members.

The Council have under consideration proposals for participating
in the British Empire Exhibition, 1924, and the suspension of the
standing rules as to exhibitions has been extended to December 1,
1922.

The number of members on the register of the Association at the
end of the year was 200 compared with 224 at the end of 1920.

Recent Extensions at Stoke-on-Trent.

Before electricity districts were thought of, a start towards
the co-o])eration they envisage had been made in that part of
Staffordshire, commonly known as the Potteries, by the
appointment in 1910 of Mr. C. H. Yeaman, who had j^re-
viouslv been Borough Electrical Engineer of the Hanley under-
taking, to control and develop electricity supply in the new
Borough of Stoke-on-Trent, which comprised the townships
of Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, .Stoke and Tunstall.

It will probably be remembered that at that time a direct
current supply was given from small stations at Burslem,
Longton, and Stoke, and a single-phase supply from a station
at Hanley. These soon were supplemented by a supply in bulk
from a new power house at Stoke which originally consisted of
two 1 500 kW turbo-alternator sets, together with the necessarj"
water tube boilers, cooling towers and auxiliaries.

Result of War Conditions.

Three-phase supply from this station was first given in
the summer of 1913, and when war broke out the new system
was fully at work. Development continued satisfactorily
throughout the war, the load reaching 4 240 kW in 1915, and it
soon became evident that it would be necessary to increase the
generating plant. A 3 000 kW set and two boilers were there-
fore started in 1919. Meanwhile Sir John Snell had recom-
mended a further extension of the power house by lengthening
the engine room to accommodate a fourth generating set, and
the addition of larger boilers and double the cooling tower
capacity. This advice was taken, and a further 3 000 kW set
and auxiliaries purchased. This extension was put to work on
Thursday, March 30. It consists of a 3 000 kW three-phase
51^ period 6 000/6 600 V Metropolitan Vickers turbo-alternator,
with surface condensing plant and switch gear.

Details of the Plant.

In design the set follows the standard Metropolitan Vickers
practice very closely, and operates with a steam pressure of
170 lbs. at the turbine stop valve, and a super-heat of 200 deg.
F. The temperature of the circulating water is 80 deg. F.
The condensing plant is of the Leblanc type, and is situated
directly below the turbine, the auxiliaries being driven by
squirrel cage induction motors provided with auto transformer
starters and control pillars. The condenser is provided with
a circulating water pumjj driven by a 110 h.p. motor running
at 1 000 revs, per min. The main air and condensate extrac-
tion equipment consists of a Leblanc rotary valve dry air pump
coupled to a centrifugal condensate extraction pump, the two
being driven by a 28 h.p. motor running at 1 500 revs, per
min. A duplicate air and water extraction equipment com-
prising a steam-operated air ejector, and a further centrifu|;al
extraction condensate i)ump driven by a 8 h.p. motor running
at 1 500 revs, per min. has also been installed, pipe connec-
tions being arranged so that the ejector can be used either
simultaneously with the air pump to assist in starting up or
independently, while the separate motor-driven extraction pump
can, with the ejector, form a complete standby.

Steam Raising Plant.

The boilers are of the Stirling five drum type, working at
200 lbs. steam pressure. Those installed in connection with
No. 4 turbine extension have self-cor tained fans and double
grates, and are fitted with Underfeed " A " type stokers.

Two cooling towers supplied by the Davenport Engineering
Company form part of the new extension. They are capable of
dealing with 400 000 gallons per hour, and reducing the tem-
perature from 95 deg. to 75 deg. F., with ihe atmosphere at
55 deg. F. and .75 per cent, hiimidity, One of these cooling
towers has a capacity of 228 000 gallons, and the other a
capacity of 172 000 gallons.

Coal Supply.

Coal delivery is effected by three electric automatic end tip-
ping vehicles. On arrival at the station it is tipped into four
outside receiving hoppers, and thence passes by a series of con-
veyors into the overhead storage bunkers. The ashes are dis-
charged from the hopi^ers under the boilers into a set of buckets,
which run through to the boiler house and discharge into a re-
ceiver pit which is fitted with a crusher. The soot is dis-
charged in a similar manner from separate hoppers into a low-
level bin, and both ashes and soot are extracted from these
hoppers into wagons for conveyance to a suitable dump.

The switchgear is an extension of the system first installed
in 1913, the apparatus employed generally following that
supplied with the original equipment. The principal exception
is in the type of oil-circuit breaker used. The generators are
equipped with the Merz-Price balanced potential protection
and automatic field-breaking apparatus.

416

The Electrician — April 7, 1922

The Daysohms Utility Arc Welder.

Although we have akeadj^ described the Daysohms low tension
a.c. arc welder (see The Electrician, Vol. Ixxxiii., p. 522), we think
it will be of interest to our readers to give details of the latest pattern

Fig. 1. — The Daysohms Automatic Choke.

of this machine, especially as it has been designed to supply a very
large, but hitherto much neglected market. This market is among
the medium and small iron-working shops, such as the motor-car

Fig. 2.-

-The Daysohms Automatic Choke.

SHOWING DaSHPOT.

Half-side View,

have usually dealt with large and impressive operations such
as erecting ships' bulkheads and constructional iron work for
huge buildings, with the result that the small man is not aware
of the vast amount of profitable work that he can imdertake by
this means. In fairness it must be added that owing to the con-
sequent lack of demand, a simple outfit which may be installed
upon such a small circuit as indicated above is hard to come by.

Details of the Equipment.

The Daysohms utility welder is, however, designed to work on
ordinary a.c. supply circuits, with a maximum demand of 5 kVA.
It can therefore be installed on any Ughting circuit ; its current range
being from 20 to 80 A on the secondary circuit at an open circuit
pressure of 55 V. This is sufficient for any normal make of electrode
on the market, and work from No. 19 gauge sheet to \ in, thick,
can be handled as well as larger work in way that is described later.

The outfit consists of a stepdown transformer of 5 kVA capacity
and a Daysohms automatic choke, the essential feature of which
is that a much lower choke is in circuit when the arc is struck than

repairing shop where only two or three men are employed and
where not more than 6 or 7 kW for light and power is required.
Most published accounts of work done by electric arc welding

Fig. 3. — A Cobbugator built up of Strip and Angle Iron
BY Electric Welding Methods.

when it is running. The amount of choke in circuit'When striking
the arc may also be adjusted, quite irrespective of the amount
in circuit with the arc when welding, both these adjustments being
continuous and not by steps.

The Importance of Proper Regulation.

Regulation of this kind is of the highest importance when welding
thin material, such as No. 19 gauge steel plate. For if a fixed
choke is used to regulate the current, the rapidly -falling volt-
ampere characteristic produced across the arc space makes it
practically impossible to get an arc on striking, with so low a pressure
as 55 V on open circuit. If on the other hand the open circuit
volts are raised to the normal amount for a.c, welding, viz,, 100 to
110 V, the sudden rush of current on striking, in the case of thin
material, pierces a hole in the work, whereupon, however small
the hole, the electrode, having an edge to work on, starts cutting,
instead of welding.

The general construction of the macliine is the same as we have
already described, with the diflference that all the Daysohms

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

417

automatic chokes are now fitted with an arm moving over a scale,
and a hand screw for locking the arm in position (see Figs. 1 and 2).
This arrangement, it is claimed, enables a better adjustment of
the welding current to be made, while the scale enables the operator
to return to any known position. The standard machine is de-
signed to work at an open circuit pressure of 55 V and on a current
range of from 50 to 150 A. The dashpot in aU the machines has
now been modified by giving it a conical bore, thus reducing its
action as the current is reduced, an arrangement which greatly
improves the capabiUties of the machine for welding thin material.

Advantages of Thin Work.

In the case of No. 19 gauge sheet there is no trouble from
buckUng, as there would be with acetylene welding, while the
current consumed is only 30 A at 55 V, or 1"65 kVA, i.e., an actual
consumption of appreciably less than 1 kW, a result that we
beheve has not been hitherto accomphshed.

As the managing engineers of Daysohms Ltd., point out
such a welder as we have described when installed in a small
but growing iron-working shop would probably rapidly pay for
itself by enabUng much of the odd gear and fitments required
about the shop to be expeditiously and cheaply made up on the
spot. That there are grounds for this statement we may show
by giving a few examples of this class of work with their cost in
labour and materials, which has been executed by The Foster
Engineering Company, of Wimbledon, for use in their own factory.

Examples of Work Performed.

]Fig. 3 shows a machine for corrugating up to 6 ft. No. 1 8
gauge steel sheets for welded transformer cases. With the exception
of the bearings, which are standard plummer blocks bolted on to
the framework, the whole machine was welded up of strip and
angle iron, the gear wheels being taken from a dismantled crab.
The labour and materials on this machine came to £36, whereas

Fig. 4. — Flt Press, strengthened for Larger Work by
Datsohms Methods.

to buy such a machine would have cost at the time it was mad«
about £300, the saving on this one job being sufficient to pay for
the welder more than twice over.

Fig. 4 shows a fly-press which has been strengthened, and the
whole stand from which the bolts have been removed welded up
and strengthened with angle iron diagonals to take the torque.

Fig. 5 illustrates a 6 ft. 6 in. iron door of a transformer house

Pig. 5. — Welded Transformer House Dook.

welded in position. The frame consists of angle iron, welded up
and fitted inside'with angle plates fitting round the end of the bricks.
In all the illustrations the welds have been chalked to throw
them upj in practice they are quite unobtrosive.

London County Council Tramways.

The District Auditor's report on the accounts of the L.C.C. Team-
ways Department for 1920-21 was presented to the Council on
Tuesday. The total income on revenue account was £4 904 427, and
the total working expentes were £4 623 654, showing a surplus <f
£280 773; deducting the net cost of renewals (£215 W9), the credit
balance was £65134. After providing for debt charges (£590 665).
income tax (£125 000), interest on overdrafts (£23 322), and other
smaller charges, the deficiency to be met out of the special county
rate was £590 579. There was an increase during the year in revenue
receipte of £608 581, attributable, to the extent of £600 965, to
larger passenger traffic receipts. On the other hand, the expenditure
showed an increase of £942 755 over 1919-20. Since the inception of
the undertaking in 1897, the net contribi tion out of the rates to meet
the deficiency has been £315 802.

Commenting upon the sanction of the Treasury to the transfer
of one-half the cost of renewals of trackwork from revenue to capital
to be treated as repayable within twelve years, and the repa\Tnent i>f
outstanding debt charges on the basis or a Z{ per cent, cumulative
annuity system, instead of on the instalment system, the auditor
states : " There is something to be said in favour of the repa\Tnent of
loans on the annuity system in the case of a new trading concern by
reason of its lighter charges on the earlier revenues, which facilitate
the creation 01 a reserve; but when, as in the present case, the
undertaking has reached a definite stage of matiu-ity, it means the
postponement of charges upon the revenue to future years. This
arrangement, together with the transfer of half the cost of renewals
to capital account, will be pai-ticulai-ly burdensome in view of the
fact tnat the renewals and reserve funds have now disappeared, wiih
the result that the revenue will be saddled not only with these post-
poned charges, but also with the additional debt liability arising
from fresh capital ouUay."

Harland and Wolif, Limited, have placed ordebs for electrical
EQUIPMENT to the aiuouut of over £52 000 with A. Chaplin & Co. in
connection with the new site at North Woolwich yard. This includes
two 3-motor 20 ton cranes, five 3-motor 10 ton cranes, one 4-motor
overhead travelling crane, four 5-mo*^or 3 ton slewing mono-rail
cranes, and the necessarv runs of longitudinal conductor. The two
20 tonners will cost £5*536 16s. ; the five 10 tonners £11 792, the
4-motor overhead 10 tonner £4 200, and the four 3-motor slewing
cranes £7 .T24.

418

The Electrician.

April 7, 1922

Electricity Districts.

A scheme prepared by Blackburn and Preeton Corporations for the
supply of electricity in a portion of the Mid-Lancashire ELECTBicrCY
District is to be submitted to the Electricity Commissioners. The
area extends from Fleetwood to the industrial area of East Lanca-
shire. It is suggested that capital power stations be erected at
Blackburn, Preston, Burnley and Rawtenstall, with "peak load "
stations at Blackpool, Burnley, Accrington and Nelson, and distri-
buting stations at Fleetwood and St. Anne's. At the outset the
stations at Preston, Blackburn and Burnley would be linked ap
through Accrington, the cables to be laid before 1926, after whicn
extensions in other towns will be carried out. The proposed authority

will consist of representatives of the local authorities concerned.
The scheme provides that during the years 1922-31 existing stations,
except those at Blackburn and Rawtenstall, are to be gradually
closed down, and normal supplies will be available from the large
stations at Blackburn, Preston and Burnley. The capacity of the
Blackburn plant is 20 000 kW, but this will be extended to
30 000 kW; Preston will have 20 000 kW, to be extended to
40 000 kW. ; and Burnley 20 000 kW, to be extended to
30 000 kW. It is proposed that Preston should be in a position to
supply electricity not later than 1924. An estimated saving of
£95 622 per annum would be effected by the scheme.

Reference I

Electricity District Boundary mh^^mm*
Count Lf Boundaries ^-— .-^

Parish do,

burfh do. ■ - - -

South QuejensferRy

'■■■' 1

Scale<

s
-i I . I I

joMlles '^SELKIRK/ - ^ ^

East Scotland Electbicitt District.

Tyneside Tramway Systems.

Now that important tramway developments and extensions are to
be carried out between Newcastle and Gateshead, the " Newcastle
Chronicle " urges the advantages to be gained by amalgamation rf
at least some of the Tyneside tramway cc i;panies.

Under existing conditions the tramway systems in the district
are owned by tne following authorities : — Newcastle Corporation
Tramways, Tyneside Tramways & Tramroads Company, Ltd ,
and Tynemouth & District Electric Traction Company, Ltd., on
the north side; Gateshead & District Tramways Company, Jarrow
& District Electric Traction Company, Ltd., and South Shields
Corporation Tramways on the south side.

On the north side the three tramway systems are adjacent, and
through running exists to a certain "extent between the Newcastle
Corporation Tramways and the Tyneside Tramways & Tramroads
Company, Ltd. Through running is not, however possible at
present with the Tynemouth & District Electric Traction Company,
as that company has a narrow-gauge line.

On the south side, although the South Shialds Corporation Tram-
ways and the Jarrow & District Electric Traction Company
are adjacent, there is at the moment no through running, although
the Ministry of Transport has now proposed the provision of this
through service. Between the Gateshea'd tramways terminus at
Heworth and Jarrow — a distance of about four miles — no inter-
communication exists.

The case for amalgamation therefore seems pretty strong.

Electricity for Domesticity.

Referring to our editorial note in The Electrician of March 10
on the subject of the electrical industry and exhibitions, Mr. F. M.
Spry, of the Cardiff Electricity Department, suggests that a better
slogan than "Electricity in the Home" would be "Electricity for
Domesticity." He thinks that the latter phrase is more euphonious,
if not more apt.

Edinburgh Tramway Inquiry.

The inquiry by Sir William Marwood and Colonel Pringle, of the
Ministry of Transport, into the vexed question of the system of
traction to be adopted for Prince' s-street, Edinburgh, was opened
on Wednesday of last week and concluded on Saturday. The
Corporation, by a resolution passed some weeks ago, are committed
to the erection of centre poles, and evidence in favour of this system
included that of Mr. R. S. Pilcher, Edinburgh tramway manager.
Chief Constable Ross, Superintendent A. Bassom, Mr. Alfred Baker,
general managr of Birmingham tramways ; Mr. Dalrymple, general
manager of Glasgow tramways. Those in favour of the cwiduit
system included Councillor Guest, on behalf of the Scottish Com-
mercial Motor Users' Association ; Councillor Thomson, general
manager of the Scottish Motor Traction Company ; Mr. A. R.
Hoare, civil engineer, of Westminster, Ix)ndon, and Lord Salvcson.
chairman ol the Citizens' Protection Committee.

Brighton Tramways Inquiry.

The report of the Tramways Inquiry Sub-Committee, appointed
to consider various points regarding Brighton tramways raised at
recent meetings of the Council, completely vindicates the manage-
ment of the undertaking, and the few recommendations made should,
if carried out, help to put the undertaking in a better financial
position. The committee find that the price charged to the under-
taking for electricity supplied is in excess of that charged to other
power users, and recommend that the Lighting Committee be re-
quested to consider a reduction as from the Ist inst. They also
recommend that the cost of repairs of the road surface between the
two sets of rails beyond the distance of 18 in. from the rails be
charged to the district fund in exoneration of the tramways under-
taking, and that for the future, until the financial position of the
undertaking is greatlv improved, all surplus inco'-. e arising in any
year should be applied to tne reserve and renewals fund, and no part
in relief of rates, and that after the accident reserve fund has
reached £10 000 no further sums be transferred thereto frwn revenue.

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

419

Kinj^ston-on-Thames Electrical Exhibition.

A comprehensive exhibition of Electiucal Labour-Aid Appli-
ances is being held under the tcgis of Kingston Corporation at the
Baths Hall, Wood-street, Kingston, this week, and will remain open
until 10 p.m. to-morrow (Saturday). Although the show is dwarfed
by comparison with that at Olympia, it has the advantage thai
visitors especially interested in electrical appliances can see every-
thing necessary without the trouble of searching for the stands.
An orchestra and an abundant supply of refreshments add to the
amenities of the exhibition, which was well attended en
Monday, the opening day, in spite of the weather. There wars
plenty of B.K.D.A. literature in evidence, and Mr. J. W.
Beauchamp himself attended to give the show a good
send-off, and moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor (Dr. W. E. St.
Lawrence Finny), who performed the opening ceremony.

The Mayor expressed his pleasure in officiating, and referred to
the progress that had been made by the town in general and by the
Electricity Department in particular. The latter, thanks to the
technical skill and business acumen of Mr. T. A. Kingham (the
borough electrical engineer) amCThis staff, had now been placed on a
sound financial basis, instead of being a source of loss, as it had been
in the past, and he trusted that it would become a still more valuable
asset to the ratepayers.

What Is to be Seen.

A detailed list of the exhibits would perhaps be superfluous, r.s
inevitably the goods shown are largely the same as those to be seen
at other electrical exhibitions. The stands include those of the
General Electric Company, who show heaters, cookers, irons,
alabaster bowl fittings, and the " Time Saver " washing machine;
the Sun Electrical Company, suction cleaners, washers and wringers,
table lamps, bowl fittings, &c. ; W. H. Gaze & Sons, lustre and
candle fittings, radiators, &c. , and a fine collection of silk shades:
Thames Electric Company, " Eureka" cleaners, table lamps, shades,
&c. ; and the British Thomson-Houston Company, floodlights,
coloured lighting for shop windows, which eliminate glare in the
customers' eyes, theatre lamps with wheels, holding various coloureil
films, which are easily and quickly brought before the light, and an
interesting exhibit of daylight lighting, produced by a glass rectify-
ing screen, and contrasted with the ordinary carbon and gasfilled
lamps. Geo. Nobbs, Ltd., show "Genii " geysers, coil boilers, cook-
ing ranges, and the " Rayvac " cleaner; Bentall's, of Kmgston,
"Universal" cookers, irons, coffee pots, hot plates, *c., and some
very attractive alabaster table lamps ; the Metropolita; -Vickers Elec-
trical Company electroliers with candle fittings, artistic silk shades,
an automatic cooker, which can be set to work by an alarm clock at a
pre-determined time in the owner's absence. A new Metropolitan-
Vickers' speciality is a 1 kW or 2 kW electric fire, which roasts or
boils and also gives a good floor heat. The Foster Engineering
Company exhibit the " Universal " electric washer, radiators, and
table lamps with attractive silk shades ; G. W. Jones & Company
(Kingston), table and hanging lamps, also with silk shades, and an
a-ssortment of kettles, radiators, irons, &c. ; the Hotpoint Electric
Appliances Company, radiators, cookers, immersion heaters, &c. ; the
Ridgway Storage Battery Company, " Hart" portable cells, ignition
batteries, batteries for wireless h.t. circuits, cell inspection lamp out-
fits; and Brame's, electro-platers, of Kingston, have interesting
specimens of their goods on view, and give continual demonstrations
of their work.

Demonstrations of electric cooking and of the use of electric
washers and suction cleaners are also given frequently, and visitors
are invited to complete their education in regard to the advantages
of electricity in the home by visiting the Corporation's electricity
showrooms in Downhall-road.

Industrial Films.

Through the kind permission of Mr. Catterson-Smith, chief elec-
trical lecturer, the students and staff of the engineering faculty of
.FiNSBTTBY Techkical COLLEGE have again been able to enjoy the
advantage of industrial films loaned by the British Thomson-
Houston Company.

The first film exhibited showed the application of electricity in the
iron ore mines and in the calcining operations preceding the smelting
of the ore. The drilling of holes in the face of the ore for explosives
was shown, the collecting of the ore and the taking of the tubs to
the station by accumulator tractors, the hauling of the ore to the
surface by mining locomotives, and the taking of it from the surface
into hoppers by elevators, and hence by way of the charging cars
into kilns to be calcined. The various operations are electrically con-
trolled, and this reduces the manual labour to a minimum. The film
also showed the electric traction work, the lighting of the mines, the
power station, the chemical laboratories, and several electrically
driven accessories of the kilns.

The second film, on " Electricity in Steel Works," dealt with the
manufacture of steel from the raw material to the finished product,
and the processes involved in making steel wire and plates. It
included^ excellent views of the furnace^ the pouring of the metal,
the soaking pits, the cogging, and rod mills in operation.

The Royal Society of Arts has bought the freehold of its
Society's house in John-street, Adelphi, I/ondon. The purchase has
been made possible by the gift of £30 000 from an anonymous
donor, which with other subsci'iptions has brought the total amount
subscribed to £42 000, out of the £50 000 appealed for. It is-
hoped that the entire sum will be secured at an early date.

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Electricity (Supply) Bill.

The House of Lords commenced the consideration of the committee

stage of this Bill on Tuesday. After a motion to refer the Bill to a
Select Committee had been defeated.

Lord AsKwiTH moved an amendment to prevent local aathoritiew
from entering into the various monetary transactions set forth in
Claiisb b. If those electricity schemes were so good as was repre-
sented, let private companies take them up and if private companies
did not consider them good, why should the risk be put upon the
already overburdened rates ?

Lord MoN'K Brktton said the Bill would break down if the amend-
ment were accepted. The Bill had been considered and agreed to
by all parties in the London County Council, but it wa« absolutely
essential that an amendment of this kind should be put on one side
if the County Council were to be free to transfer to a joint electricity
authority the powers it had in regard to the purchase of electricity
undertakings. Lord Bessborough had an amendment on the paper
limiting the charge on the rates to Id. in the pound. He wa-*
authorised, on behalf of the London County Council, to say that they
were willing to accept that limitation, though it ought to be made
clear that the County Coimcil had no idea of spending anything like
that amount from the rates in connection with this Bill.

The amendment, which was opposed by Viscounts Haldane and
Peel, was negatived. ,

An amendment by the Earl of Bessborough, providing that the
council of a county district to which the clause wae to apply should
have a population of not less than 50 000, was agreed to, as was
another amendment limiting the annual liability to the proceeds of a
rate of Id. in the pound in the case of a local authority which is not
an authorised undertaker. In the case of an authorised undertaker
the liability will be limited to the estimated annual amount of capital
charges of which it would be relieved by reason of taking a supply in
bulk from the joint electricity authority, such estimated amount to
be determined by the Electricity Commissioners.

A new clause, moved by the Earl of Bessborough, defining the
power of joint electricity authorities to lease undertakings to
authorised undertakers and vice versa, was accepted, and Clause 9
was added to the Bill.

The debate was adjourned.

Glasgow Tram-ways Provisional Order.

During the week Lord Oranmore and Browne, K.P. (chairmaiil.
Lord Meston, Sir Henry Craik, M.P. . and Mr. J. A. M. Macdonald.
M.I*., sat as Commissioners for considering a series of Provisional
Orders, including those of Glasgow Corporation and Ayr Burgh, for
tramway and omnibus powers.

Mr. M.ACMiLL.\N, K.C. (for Glasgow Corporation), explained that
Part II. of the Order related to tramways, tramroads. street works
and omnibuses. The tramway system of Glasgow was a singularlv
successful undertaking. It had 200 miles of single track, of which
150 miles were in the city and 50 were in the three counties surround-
ing Glasgow or passed through burghs in these counties. The revenue
last year was £2 408 094, rnd the number of passengers carried was
over 447 million. The capital expenditure upon the system up to
May, 1921, had been £4 054 892. and the remarkable achievement was
attained in 1917 of paying off the entire debt on the system by
sinking fund. At present the indebtedness of the Tramways Depart-
ment was £126 000, a remarkably small sum for so very large an
undertaking. The department now asked for authority to construct
certain additional tramways, and in regard to these there was no
opposition. The matter which would perhaps provoke controversy
was contained in Clause 12 and the following clauses, which asked
power to provide and run omnibuses. It ./as originally proposed t.>
run omnibuses on thirteen routes, but five of these had been dropped.
The sanctioning of omnibus services had become a matter of common
form in England, but in Scotland hitherto, beyond certain limited
powers to run omnibuses within municipal boundaries, authority had
not yet been conferred on any mimicipality to ruL omnibuses outside
their boundaries. In a tramway undert^ing such as that cf
Glasgow, which had its radii extending in all directions and concen-
trating in the centre of the city, there was necessarily territory which
was really in a sense suburban, largely peopled by families the heads
of which' carried on business in Glasgow, and who at the close of
their day's work went out to the surroimding districts. Many of <
these districts were ulaces to which in the course of time the Corpora-
tion would extend their tramways. At present tramway construction
was almost prohibitive in cost, and the proposal was tliat instead
of tramwav construction vai-ious routes should be authorised on
which by the cheaper method of omnibuses a service would be run to
link up "the different portions of the tramway system and to act as
feeders to the tramways.

After hearing evidence (including that of Mr. Ja.mks Dalrymple,
tramways general manager), for the Order and for the opponent.s. the
Commissioners gave their decision. Of the eight routes for which
powers were sought, the Corporation abandoned that of Dalmuir to
Balloch Park, while the Commissioners found the preamble not
proved in the case of the following routes : — Bnrnside to Eastwood
Toll. Eastwood Toll to Kewton Mearns, Millerston to Mollinsburn.
Clarkston to Eaglesham. and Kilbowie to Canniesburn. They found
the preamble proved as regards the general powers, and, in connec-
tion with the manufacture of omnibuses, they favoured the insertion
of the model clause, which prohibits the manufacture of omnibuses
by oorpcratioue. The general powers to run 'buses within a ten
miles' limit of the city boundary are made conditional upon the

4.20

The Electrician.

April 7, 1922

consent of the local authorities and the Ministry of Transport, with
the right of appeal to the latter against the refusal of the local
authorities. Th« amount for the purchase of omnibases is not to
exceed £50 000. The preamble as regards routes Burnside to Mount
Florida and PoUokshaws (West) to Paisley were foimd proved.

Worthing Corporation Bill.

Part IV. of this Bill, which enables Worthing Corporation to
extend its electricity supply area to Durrington, was considered by
a Select Committee of the House of Commons last week.

Mr. Jeeves, K.C, for the promoters, stated that the Corpora-
tion had been approached by people living in Durrington to ^ive
them a supply of electricity. Their electricity undertaking ■was
established in 1903, and the capital amounted to £120 000, of which
sum only £69 000 was now outstanding. In 1903 they had 189 con-
sumers, and in 1922 twelve times that number. The units supplied
had grown to 818 000, and the gross revenue from £5 000 to £20 000.
Since the end of December list they had increased the number of
consumers by 235, and to-day the undertaking had 2 191 consumers.
Of thirteen towns in the South of England, there were only three
that had a less charge than 8d. a miit, and not one of them had
a lower maximum than Worthing, and all but two had a higher
maximum. The Ministry of Transport made no observations on the
extension of the area, but they thought that the Corporation should
have some obligations with regard to streets and the laying of
mains. There was one petition against the Bill, viz., that of the
Worthing Gas Company. It was somewhat pitiful to find a gas
company objecting to a supply of electricity. They had heard a
lot about it in the earlier days, but he submitted that they had not
been interfered vdth, and that they had had an era of prosperity
which had gone on until the war, when it was interfered with, as
was everyone else. He contended that if the Corporation had been
able to carry on during the war without inci'easing the charges they
would be able to do so in the future.

Mr. Geo. Porter, borough electrical engineer, gave technical and
financial particulars of the electricity undertakmg. He was of
opinion that it was desirable that the Corporation should have power
to supply electricity in Durrington, a district in which there was
considerable development. During the last two or three years the
Corporation had had a number of applications for electricity from
the parish, and one gentleman, who was anxious to form a company,
wanted to take a supply in bulk for an estate, and it was estimated
that the amount required would be 10 000 units. There had also
been an application for supply for the Offington Garden City, where
it was anticipated there would be about 500 good-class residences.

Mr. Wm. Cash, chairman of the local gas company, gave evidence
in opposition and asked for protective clausas, as the company were
large ratepayers.

Ultimately the Committee decided that the clauses in the Bill
should stand, and the clauses suggested by the company were
rejected. The other clauses were then dealt with, and one, con-
ferring power to supply electricity in bulk outside the area of supply,
was withdrawn.

Doncaster Corporation Bill.

The CONSIDERATION OF this Bill has been concluded by a Select
Committee of the House of Lords. The provisions include light
railw^ay extensions, the running of omnibiises by the Corporation
within and outside the borough, and further powers with reference
to the electricity undertaking.

Mr. W. J. Jeeves, K.C. (for the Corporation ). said that in the
tramway undertaking the Corporation had something in which their
responsibility to outside districts was recognised. The Corporation
commenced to establish the tramway undertaking by obtaining wn
Order in 1899 for ten miles, half of which were in the borough and
half outside it. From the outset the Corpi ra.tion were given power
to provide not merely for tht-mselves but for the outside districts.
Since 1911 va.rious powers for the construction of tramways had been
obtained and a large proportion of the cost had been i'ncm-red for
oul«ido districtis. The Corporation felt that if they were to continue
to operate their tramways successfully those powers to run motor
omnibuses wore essential. The motor "'buses were needed for work-
men going to and from work beyond tlio present tramway termini.

After evidence in support of the Bill had been given, witnesses
were heard on behalf of the opponents, Underwood, Ltd., and Auto-
mobiles Services, Ltd., which provide omnibus services in the
district.

The Biirhas now been reported for third reading;

The Post Office Tube Railtvay.

In reply to Mr. }'erring (Mouse of Commons, March 29), Mr
Pease stated that the sum provided under the Post Office (London)
Railway Act, 1913, for constructing the Post Office tube from
Spring-street, Paddington, to Aldgate was £1100000. The account
up to the end of March, 1921, had just been issued (Command
Paper 13). The sum exjwnded to date was approximately £1 127 000.
He could not estimate the cost of the work remaining to be done;
it would, of course, be very largely in excess of the original esti-
mate. It was not anticipated that the construction of the railway
would effect any appreciable saving. The intention was to expedite
the transmission of the mails and relieve the congestion of street
traffic.

Wireless Telephony.

In reply to Sir D. Newton, who asked the Postmaster-General
(House of Commons^ April 3) if he would sanction and promote the
daily broadcasting, by established and suitably equipped radio
stations, of wireless telephone messages likely to prove of value (o

trade and industry in this country or being of general public interest,
Mr. Kellaway said he was entirely sympathetic towards this pro-
posal. The whole question was being referred to the Imperial
Communications Committee in order that the views of the other
departments concerned might be obtained as early as possible.
Imperial Cable Rates.
Replying to a question by Mr. Hurd, the Postmaster-General
(Mr. F. G. Kellaway) stated in the House of Commons on Tuesday
that specially low rates are already given on the " Imperial " cable
service for non-urgent traffic. The " Im.perial " is the only cable
route providing a deferred Press service to Canada at 25d.a word,
and to Australia and New Zealand at 4^d. ; a deferred service for
general traffic to Canada at 42d. a word ; and a week-end service
to Australia and New Zealand at quarter rates. A large amount
of traffic is sent by these cheap rate services, but it is held over
whenever necessary in favour of full-rate traffic.

Orkney Islands Cable.

In the House of Commons on IMarch 28, in reply to Sir Malcolm
Smith, Mr. Kellaway stated that the two submarine cables between
Kirkwall and the North Isles of the Orkneys became faulty on
Jan. 31 and Feb. 6 respectively. The Post Office cable ships were at
present employed on repairs to important cross-Channel cables.
Every effort would be made to restore communication with the l^orth
Isles at the earliest possible date. He could not at present name a
date when the Orkney cables could be repaired.

East of Scotland Electricity District.

In reply to Mr. W. Graham in the House of Commons on
March 28, Mr. Neal said that the Electricity Commissioners had
provisionally determined an electricity district for the East of Scot-
land. The Musselburgh and District Electric Light and Traction
Company had applied to the Commissioners for a Special Ordar
extending their area of supply. The Corporation of Edinburgh were
opposing the grant -of this Ordei', and would have an opportunity
of stating their case before the Commissioners.

Wireless Service Betiiveen India and England.

In reply to Mr. Hurd (House of Commons, March 28), Earl
Winterton said he understood that an Indian application had been
made to the Indian Government for a licence to work a direct wire-
less service between India and England, but that the Government of
India did not consider it desirable at this early stage to disclose the
name of the applicant. No licence to private persons or companies
for wireless communications between India and England was being
granted at present.

Railvray Electrification at Midland Coalfields.

In reply to Major Kelley (House of Commons, March 29), who
asked whether any preliminary survey had been made for the electri-
fication of railways in the coalfields of South Yorkshire, Nottingham-
shire and Derbyshire, and whether any railway route in these areas
was to be electrified, Mr. Neal stated that he was informed that the
railway companies concerned were not at present considering any
project for the electrification of any of their lines in the area
referred to.

Yorkshire Electric Power Bill.

The Standing Orders Committee of the House of Lords have
granted the application of the Yorkshire Electric Power Company
for leave to introduce ^nto this Bill an additional provision
to authorise an increase of the capital and borrowing powers, and to
authorise them to raise additional moneys by the creation and issue
of ordinary and preference shares, and by borrowing, or by the
creation and issue of debenture stock, &c.

Minister of Transport.

In reply to Major Kelly (House of Commons, March 27), Mr
Chamberlain said it would be nect^sary to appoint another Minister
of Transport, though the post would carry no salary.

Metallurgical Aspect of Electric Welding.

A general meeting of members of the Sheffield Society of Engi-
neers AND Metallxhigists was held in Sheffield last Friday, when
Mr. J. H. Paterson, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, lectured on "The
Metallurgical Aspect of Electric Welding. '

To a large extent the lecture was devoted to a considera-
tion of nitrogen and oxygen in steel. Mr. Paterson referred to the
various processes of welding, and laid da%vn the assertion that the
correct current-strength at which to weld was the highest possible
— certainly the higher the current-strength the more perfect would
be the weld. Ihe percentage of oxygen varied according to the
strength existing in globules in the metal, and, though generally
nitrogen had a bad etfect on the steel, it had at the same time a
tendency to strengthen. His own experiments at Newcastle had
been conducted with the help of a specially propaivd iron box, with
glass front and four openings for experiments, and he had found
tiiat by this means he could obtain any strength he wished, often
without the leaS't trace of foreign or objectionable matter. It was
possible even then to find occasionally that nitrogen could not bo
wholly excluded, but at the most it was no more than 0025 per
cent., so that it was practically negligible.

The Right Hon. F. Huth Jackson, a director of the London 4
South-Western Railway, has left unsettled property of the gross
value of £169 907, with net personalty £101677.

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

421

Le^al Intelligence.

Dumfries Burgh v. Dumfries Electricity Supply Company.

Lord MORISON has cloeed the pleae in this action, brought by the
Provost, Magistrates and Councillors of the Royal Bui-gh of Dumfries
against the Dumfries Electricity Supply Company for a declara-
tion that the company is not entitled to charge any private consumer
for energy supplied to him more than 7d. per unit for lighting and
3d. per unit for power and heating ; that the company is not entitled
to apply to the Ministry of Transport for an Order under the Statu-
tory Undertakings (Temporary Increase of Charges) Act, 1918, for a
modification of tne statutory provisions regulating the charges to be
made by them for electricity supplied by them under the Dumfries
Electric Lighting Order, 1899, and in particular that the company is
not entitled to apply to the Ministry of Transport for an Order
authorising them to charge any consumer Is. per unit of energy
supplied. The Council obtained a Provisional Order in 1899 to
supply electrical energy within the burgh, and the following rates
per quarter are permissible under the Order — for any amount up to
20 units 13s. 4d., and for each unit over 20 units 8d. The Order
was first transferred to the India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Tele-
graph Works Company by an agreement approved by the Board of
Trade on Jan. 16, 1906, but the India Rubber Company were
entitled to sell, assign, or otherwise dispose of the undertaking, or
any part thereof, and to transfer their powers, duties and liabilities.
By a collateral agreement between the Council and the India Rubber
Company, dated Dec. 5, 1905, the maximum price to be charged by
the company to private consumers was fixed at 7d. per unit for
lighting and 3d. for power and heating. Subsequently the India
Rubber Company transferred the undertaking to defendant com-
pany, the capital of which was almost entirely held by the India
Rubber Company. Notwithstanding the terms of the collateral
agreement, the company has applied to the Ministry of Transport
for an Order authorising them to charge any consumer Is. per unit
of energy supplied, and it is asked that the company should be
interdicted from charging any consumer rates per unit in excess cf
those stipulated in the agreement and from applying to the Ministry
of Transport to impose any increased charges in excess of those
stipulated in the collateral agreement, and in any event from
increasing the maximum charges fixed by the Provisional Order.

Defendant company admits the transfer of the Order, and that it
has made representations to the Ministry of Transport on the sub-
ject of charges; it pleads that Sec. 71 of the Order of 1899 entitles
it to the benefits of any general Act relating to electricity or to the
supply of or price to be charged for energy which might be passed
after the commencement of the Order. The company is the under-
taker under the Order, and is, therefore, entitled to the benefits
conferred by the Statutory Undertakings (Temporary Increase of
Charges) Act, 1918.

Serious Fraud Charges at Leeds.

At the West Riding Assizes (Leeds) on Saturday, William Arthur
Davis, a tinsmith, of Wortley, was founa guilty of obtaining invest-
ments for the Leeds Battery Company, of which he said he was
proprietor, when he had not actually purchased the company. The
police statement was to the effect that Davis first obtained £400 to
start a business at Ilford, but never gave any of the money back.
He got a staff of fifty-five,, from most of whom he obtained money.
When the business closed down he became a manager at Chadwick
Heath, but he did not pay in the money he received from clients,
and the firm went into liquidation. He came to 'Leeds in February,
1919, and started in the name of W. A. Davis. As a result of
advertising he obtained £500 from three persons. In April of the
same year he obtained other premises and traded as W. A. Davis &
Company. He advertised for capital, and obtained £1550 from six
persons. In November, 1919, the company at Coronation-street was
registered as the Leeds Alliance Electric Manufacturing Company,
and he then obtained £2 650 from ten other people. During the early
part of May, 1920, he sold the firm of W. A. Davis (Coronation-
street) to the Leeds Alliance Company (although it had been pre-
viously registered as part of the company) for £2 000 in shares and
£1 000 in cash, and shortly after he made a return that he and his
wife were the only shareholders, except a Mr. Morris, who held 200.
This Mr. Morris had previously invested £600, and had issued a writ
against Davis. Prisoner gave back £400, and promised £200 'ii
shares to Morris. Continuing to advertise, Davis obtained £2 415
from six other investors, and in Decenibor, 1920, he went to Basing-
hall-street, Leeds, and obtained goods from London firms to the value
of £2 126. Before that he had made a false return, and secured oU
overdraft from the National and Provincial Bank for £516. The
total amount involved since prisoner came to Leeds, and which had
not been returned, was £10 150.

The judge, in sentencing the prisoner to four years' penal servi-
tude, said Davis was a thorough scoundrel.

Wiring Contract Dispute.

At Marylebone County Court on Tuesday Henry Edward Childs.
electrician, sued Philip Greenberg, for £49 10s., the cost of goods
sold and work done.

Plaintiff's case was that defendant asked him to do certain
wiring at his house, this including wiring for lighting and heating
purposes. The work was completed on Nov. 4 last, and defendant
paid £10 on account. There were several items for extra work, such
as erecting pendents, &c. For the wiring steel tubes were used.
Plaintiff said he agreed to put the steel tubing down the walls, but
B 2

not to chase it to the walls. lie had heard nothing of not having
done the work in accordance with the requirements of the IoceiI
electrical supply company.

Defendant gave evidence, and said big complaint was that the
work had not been carried out according to contract, adding that
plaintiff promised to put the tubing in the walls and ceilings so that
it would not show. Otherwise it was to be chaaed, so aa to be
invisible.

Judge Scully held that defendant was right as to the method of
erecting the steel tubing. It seemed to him that it was the usual
way of carrying out such work. He would not say that the manner
in which plaintiff put in the tubing was unsafe, but in his opinion
it was not according to contract. He gave judgment for plaintiff for
£35 5s., the amount paid into cou.-t, with costs up to the time of
payment in.

Black Smoke Nuisance.

At West Ham Police Court on the 29th ult., the Charing Cross,
West End and City Electricity Supply Company were summoned at
the instance of Poplar Borough Council for permitting black smoke
to issue from their electricity works at Marshgate-lane, Stratford,
in such quantity as to be a nuisance. For the Poplar Council, it was
said that when the wind was in a particular direction the company's
smoke drifted into Poplar.

Mr. F. A. S. Stern (for the company) urged that they used 80 COO
tons of coal a year. I-atterly they had been receiving all sorts and
conditions of coal, and at tLooes it had been difficult to avoid a
nuisance.

Mr. Ratcliffe Cousins made a formal order to abate the nuisance
forthwith, and ordered the company to pay £5 5s. costs.

The Engineering Lock-Out.

Though at the moment of going to press the lock-out of the
members of the Amalgamated Engineering Union does not seem to
be any nearer settlement, there are features which make for optimism.
As a result of the Prime Minister's intervention, the delegates of the
forty-seven unions, which were expected to support the A.E.U., have
accepted the proposals for the resumption of negotiations rs
arranged between the National Joint Labour Council and Sir Allen
Smith, and discussions have been resumed.

The leaders of the A.E.U. , however, are stated to h&ve said that
they would fight on to the bitter end, though it ie to be hoped that
more sober counsels will prevail.

Cobalt Steels.

Mr. F. W. Kayser, lecturing on Cobalt Steels before the members
of the Sheffield Association of Metallurgists and Metallurgical
Chemists last week, gave some interesting particulars with respect to
one of the most recent- aevelopments of research work in Sheffield in
steel. The addition of cobalt to magnet steel, he explained, enabled
magnets to be made which were less than half the weight of the
magnets made of ordinary tungsten magnet steel. The credit for the
discovery should not go to Japan. It was quite true that the
Japanese had brought out a magnet steel containing from 20 per
cent, to 35 per cent, of cobalt, but a short time before this was
patented a Sheffield steel was patented containing a much less per-
centage of cobalt, with a hi^h percentage of chromium, which was
practically the equal of the Japanese material and less than half the
price. Tnis new steel was practically revolutionising the magneto
mdustry and also the telephone industry. People had not previously
realised to what a tremendous extent the whole shape of a magneto
or a telephone depended upon the magnet steels they were using.
The soul of the instrument was the permanent magnet.

Institution of Engineers, India.

In the course of his presidential address at the second annua]
meet ins of the Institution of Engineers (Indl\), Major G. H.
Willis said that the Government of India, in addition to entrusting
the work on Engineering Standards for India to their Institution,
was preparing to hand over that of the Electro-Technical Commis-
sion also, when the Institution had completed its third year of
existence as a corporate body. In the meantime they had nomin-
ated a committee of three of the Council of the Institution— Messrs.
Conbrough, Cochran and Hindlev — to deal with the subject.

Continuing, Major Willis stafed that one great corporation— he
was not at liberty to give names — employing many engineers, had
decided to insist on all its Junior engineers qualifying for Associate
membership of the Institution either by passing the Institution
examinations for Associate membership or such other examinations
as the Institution might accept. These were only beginnings in the
vast sphere of usefulness to India and to their profession, which
thev, as an Institution, hoped to fill.

The first volume of the Proceedings of the Institution, recently
to hand, opens with an account of the inausrural ceremony performed
by Lord Chelmsford on February 23, 1921. The opening address
by Sir Raiendra Nath Mookerjee, the first president, is then given,
and is followed by the first annual report. The succeeding pages
are devoted to the papers read during the session. The subjects
dealt with inchided " Light Railways." by ^Ir. F. G. Royal-
Dnwson : " Electro-chemiral Industries." by Mr. L. L. Fermor ;
"Driving Belts," bv Mr. A. T. Weston; and "The Patent
System." Sy Mr. V. Lough.

422

The Electrician.

April 7, 1922

Electricity Supply.

A proposal that the dual administration of the Blackpool elec-
tricity and tramways undertakings shall cease, and that two depart-
ments b« set up. is to be placed before the General Purposes
Committee at a special meeting.

The Electricity Committee recommend Dundee Town Council to
consider favourably a proposal to combine the Grampian hydro-
electric scheme with the municipal electricity undertaking, provided
financial terms favourable to the city can be obtained and the muni-
cipal interests are otherwise safeguarded.

Belfast Electricity Committee has made several recommendations
with regard to the supply of current for lighting and power, and
these will be considered this week by the Corporation. The recom-
mendations include a reduction of Id. per unit for lighting and
power purposes, and a larger reduction for big consumers, picture
houses, &c.

A special meeting of East Grinstead Urban Council was held last
week to consider the estimates for the first three years of the pro-
posed electrical undertaking. For the first year a deficit of £643 wae
estimated, for the second year £235, and for the third year a
profit of £138. An amendment to take a canvass of the ratepayers
before proceeding further with the scheme wae rejected, and the
Council accepted tenders totalling £17 186.

Ogmore .\nd Garw Urban Council are applying to the Electricity
Commiseioners for a Special Order authorising the Council to provide
and supply electricity in their urban district, to purchase electricity
from the South Wales Electrical Power Distribution Company, Cory
Brothers & Company, the Ogmore Valley Electric Light & Power
Supply Company, or other body or person. Any objections must be
sent to the Electricity Commission by May 1.

The Ministry of Health have sanctioned a loan of £517 for ten
years, and another of £2 593 for twenty -five years, in respect cf
electric lighting on the Promenade at Morecambe. The Ministry
have authorised the removal of portions of the Lancaster and
District Tramways Company's rails within the borough of Mora-
cambe, thus completing the legal formula in connection with this
transaction. The motor firms who were granted powers to run services
subject to certain conditions, have appealed to the Ministry of Trans-
port against these conditions.

The Visiting Committee of the Dundee Town Council are making
inquiries into the working of the various municipal departments. A
report issued on the Electricity Department deals exhaustively with
the various branches, and concludes : " The Committee was much
impressed by the whole organisation, evidently giving the Engineer
an oversight and grip throughout, and yet without the useless
redundancies of organisation that are in some modern systems. They
were also very pleased to observe the good spirit and the conspicuous
interest in their work shown by the staff throughout. They spoke
as if they and the undertaking were one. The custom observed of
having a monthly meeting of the staff for discussion of methods and
suggestions for improvement is typical."

Ne^v Schemes and Mains Extensions.

A.SKFORD Urban Council has decided to obtain a Special Order to
supply electricity in the area.

SiDMOUTH Urban Council ha* decided to apply for a loan of
£12 000 for carrying out an electric light scheme.

Plymouth Electricity and Street Lighting Authority have decided
to carry out cable extensions in the district amoimting to nearly
£3 000.

Rexgate Town Council has applied to the Electricity Commis-
sioners for a loan of £48 100 for the installation of three new 350 kW
Diesel sets, &c., at the electricity works.

Leyton Urban District Council has received sanction to borrow
£27 500 in respect of the application for a loan of £34 454 for the
erection of the electricity sub-station at Waterloo-road.

Ilford Urban Council has applied for a loan of £6 609 for excess
expenses in respect of the Grove-road sub-station and plant, £2 918
for sub-station extension, coal elevator, oil fuel plant. &c., and
£10 000 for mains and house services.

Truro Town Council has received from the I'.lectricity Commis-
sioners approval of a scheme for obtaining a .-.uiiply of " electricity
in bulk from the Cornwall Electric Power Comj).-ny. The Council
will now continue negotiations with the company for a supply of
current.

Hawaupen Rural Council has applied for a Special Order to
supply electricity in the parishes of East Saltney, Higher Kinnorton,
Hope, Llanfynydd, Sealand and Tryddyn, and part of the parish of
Hawarden, and to authorise the Council to purchase electricity in
bulk from the North Wales Power & Traction Company, Ltd.

W^ithout prejudice to any future action they may toko, Chester-
field Electricity Committee have approved t"lio revised represent^v-
tion of Sheffield Corporation's scheme for the formation of a North-
East Midlands electricity district. Under this revised scheme
Sheffield and Rotherham (jointly) liave twelve members, Chesterfield
two, Doncaster two, and Worksop one.

A scheme of electricity extensions, estimated at £105 000. hns boon
drawn up by Mr. Christie, the Brighton borougli electrical engineer
and manager, and is at nreeent niulor the consideration of the
Lighting Committee. Tn the meantime application is to oe made to

the Electricity Commissioners for sanction to a loan of £42 000 <o
cover the cost of a new 600 kW turbo-alternator and a 400 kW d.c.
turbo- generator, for which tenders are being invited.

At a public meeting on March 28 of Bideford ratepayers a resolu-
tion was carried in favour of the electric lighting scheme prepared
by the newly-formed Electric Light Company. The engineer, Mr.
J. N. A. Houblon, emphasised the importance, if possible, of the
town providing sufficient capital to enable the complete scheme,
involving £25 000, to be carried out, as they would then be in a
position to supply not only Northam, but also to give a
supply to Torringtion. The system of overhead wiring is being
adopted.

Alteration of Charges.

Maidstone Town Council has decided to lower the charge for
electricity by ^d. per unit as from April 1.

Blackpool Electricity Committee have decided to reduce the price
of electricity from 50 to 40 per cent, over pre-war rates.

The price of electricity at Bury is to be reduced by 20 per cent,
for lighting and tramway purposes, and 30 per cent, for power.

Barking Urban Council has reduced the charge for electricity for
lighting by 25 per cent, to 8d. per vmit, and by 27^ per cent, for
power, cooking, and other purposes.

Electricity charges at Horsham have been reduced from 8d. to
75d. per unit for lighting purposes, and a reduction of 3d. per unit
has been made on all power accounts, including contra/Cts which
exceed 100 units per quarter.

The Electricity Commissioners have made an order that the maxi-
mum price to be charged by Ammanford Urban Council shall be 15s.
per unit up to 15 luiits, and Is. per unit over 15 units, for the
quarters ending March 31 and Dec. 31, and 10s. per unit up to
10 units, and Is. per unit afterwards, for the quarters ending
June 30 and Sept. 30.

Electric Traction.

The Minister of Transport has extended for one year from Aug. 7
next the time allowed for the completion of tramway No. 2 authorised
by the Leeds Corporation Act, 1914.

One of the reasons why Southport Council has been recommended
to discountenance the running of motor-' buses is that the electricity
department would lose revenue by a drop in the traction load.

Burnley Tramways Committee recommend that the relaying of
the track be carried out at a cost of nearly £13 000. The lines to be
relaid include sections on the Rosegrove, Manchester-road, and
Townley routes, whilst a double line is to be placed on the Rosehill-
road section.

Owing to the recent heavy snowstorms the tramway services in
many districts have been interrupted. The service between Merthyh
and Dowlais was stopped on Friday night and was imable to resume
until mid-day on Saturday. At Bournemouth also the service was
disorganised owing to the deep drifts.

Leicester City Council have approved of a recommendation by th."
Tramways Committee that the Welford route be completed, and that
the section be opened as early as possible. The work was authorised
in 1913, and after the completion of the track and certain overhead
equipment the work had to be suspended on account of the war.

Belfast tramway system shows a falling off of no fewer than
278 152 passengers in the last two weeks ending the 24th ult. , as
compared with the corresponding period of last year, and a decrease
of £1 947 in revenue. This was largely owing to the repeated
attacks by bomb and revolver on the trams, particularly those
carrying workmen from the Queen's Island shipyards.

The sum of £301000 has already been expended on the recon-
struction of Cardiff tramways track, and as the fund of over a
quarter of a million sterling, set apart by the department for the
purpose, has been expended, it is necessary to obtain a loan of
£160 000 to finish tlie work. The additional sum is required owing
to tho enhanced cost of labour and material. Although many of the
men engaged in the work are of the unemployed, only £7 000 has
been received from the Government, and the Department has decided
to put in claims for a larger contribution.

Mr. R. L. HoRSFiELD, the tramways manager, has been
instructed to prepare a report as to the reintroduction of Id. fares
and on the introduction of special fares for children.

The Ministry of Transport held an inquiry last week into the
application by Newcastle Corporation to amend the Newcastle-on-
Tyne Light Railway Order by including an additional tramway. The
Town Clerk stated that the proposed line is situate near the western
boundary of the city, and when constructed would, in conjunction
with Tramroad No. 2, now in course of construction, form a means
of communication to the centre of the city for passengers from the
west and south-west of the city. The length was six furlongs, and
the total estimated cost of construction and of acquisition of land
and buildings was £13 564. It was felt that the present necessities
of the public could adequately be served by the proposed light rail-
way, in conjunction with Tramroad No. 2, and that it might well
serve to assist in the development of the Fenham district of the
city. Details of the proposed construction were given by Mr. Erne?!
Hatton. engineer and general manager of the tram'vays, and ifajor
Stoelo. cilv enginet-r. At the close of tlie inquiry the chairm.an, Mr.
AliHi D. Erskino, stated tliat he would report upon it to the Minister
of Transport, and he hoped there would be no delay in making the
Order.

April 7. 1922

The Electrician.

423

Personal and Appointments.

Major-Genera 1 Sir Frederick Svkes has joined the board of the
Anglo-Argentine Tramways Company.

Mr. E. R. Dunn, electrical engineer, has been elected chairman of
the committee of Ramsgate Chamber of Commerce.

Lieut. L. S. King, from the London Electrical Engineers, hae been
posted to the Reeerve of Officers of th© Territorial Army.

Commissioned Telegraphist W. S. Bloodsworth has been
appointed to the battle cruiser "Queen Elizabeth " from the 16th
inst.

Mr. G. W. Spencer Hawes, secretary of th© Reading Electric
Supply Company, Ltd., has been elected to the committee of the
Reading Athenaeum Club.

Councillor E. C. Ransome has been elected president, and Mr.
LiiwELYN B. Atkinson chairman, of the British Development
Association for the ensuing year.

Mr. Frank Marsh, formerly of Curran's Cardiff Foundry &
Engineering Company, hue been appointed public lighting inspector
by the Cardiff Electricity Committee.

Mr. W. J. Webb, one of the representatives for Rotherhithe on
the London County Council, has been appointed a member of the
Electricity Committee of the County Council.

Consequent on a naval officer being put in charge of the Bermuda
Wireless Station, Lieut. E. C. L. Bearcroft has been ordered to
return home to join th© Chatham Division, R. M.L.I.

Mr. A. C. Gorton has retired from the firm of Gorton and Smith,
electrical engineers, St. Swithen-street, Winchester, and the business
will be continued by Mr. Rowland Herbert Smith.

Major G. H. Willis has been elected president of the Institu-
tion of Engineers (India) for the ensuing year in succession to
Sir R. N. Mookerjee, w^ho has held the post from 1920-22.

Colonel H. MacCallum, of the Marconi Company, has, at the
request of Mr. Wm. Le Queux, president of the Reading Radio
Research Society, consented to serve on the committee of th© society.

Mr. B. F. Kerridge, formerly under-surveyor of Baldwin's
collieries, and later H.M. Inspector of Mines at Newport, sailed
for India last week to take up an appointment as the first Electrical
Inspector under the Mines Department of th© Indian Government.

Mr. John Bernard, manager of the Bolton Tramways Depart-
ment, has been elected on© of the employers' representatives on the
National Joint Industrial Council for the Tramways Industry in
succession to Mr. J. M. McElroy, the retiring manager of Man-
chester Tramways.

We are glad to be able to announce that Mr. Ernest Hatton will
continue in his position as engineer and general manager of New-
castle-on-Tyne Corporation tramways. Sine© we announced, in our
issu© of Feb. 24, his intention to retire in three months' time, Mr.
Hatton has had further medical advice, and has received a more
favourable report. The Transport and Electricity Committee have
agreed to the withdrawal of his notice.

Mr. C. E. Skinner, manager of the research department of the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, Pittsburg, Pa.,
has been appointed assistant director of engineering in that company.
Mr. Skinner is known throughout the electrical world for his exten-
sive research work, especially on insulation, and his efforts in this
direction have had a marked effect on th© development of electrical
machine design. Mr. Skinner has contributed frequently to the
literature of the electrical industry, and is well known for his
researches. In 1915 he was a special representative of the Ameri-
can Institute of Electrical Engineers, of which he is a Fellow, li
the International Conference on Electrical Standards held in London,
and he is now a member of the committee representing the Institute
of the International Electrotechnical Commission. He was chairman
-of the American delegates to the Brussels meeting in 1920.

Mr. S. M. KiNTNER, vvfho is well known for his research
and engineering work in the development of radio apparatus, has
heen appointed manager of the research department in succession to
Mr. Skinner.

Business Items, &c.

The telephone number of Sir Charles Bright & Partners is now
Bishopsgate 1 120 (two lines).

The Alfo Electrical Engineering Company announce that they
are closing down their branch business at Telegraph-road, Heswall.

A reduction in the price, of Royal " Ediswan " Kingolite lamps
ifl announced in our advertisement columns. This reduction amounts
to as much as Is. 9d. per lamp in some cases.

Mr. H. B. Turner has taken over the complete control of Hall
& Turner, wholesale factors of electrical goods, and will be glad
to receive manufacturers' and agents' price-lists for cables, switches,
lamp-holders, &c., at 79, Playford-road, London, N. 4.

The A. & A. Electrical Company announce that as from April 1
they have taken over the business of Spicer & Company, Ltd., 41,
Red Lion-street, Clerkenwell, E.C. 1, with all cash assete and liabili-
ties, and that they will collect all outstanding cash assets of that
<x)mpany and satisfy all liabilities. They have also been successful
in securing th© services of Mr. S. J. Levi as manager, who is joining
the board of directors of their company.

Grapton (N.S.W.) Council have decided to equip electricity works
which will be capable of subsequent working in co-operation with the
Nymboida hydro-electric scheme.

Institution Notes.

Among the Papers to be read at the annual meeting of the Iron
and Steel Institute, which \a to be held on May 4 and 5 at the
Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George-street, London, is one
entitled " Recent Developments in Power Production," by Mr. D.
Selbv-Bigge.

Mr. J. A. Kuyser'e Paper on " Protective Apparatus for Turbo-
Alternators " will be read and discussed before the Ixstitt-TIon of
Electrical Engineers on April 27, instead of April 6, as already
announced. The joint meeting with the Rontgen Society and the
Electro-Therapeutic Section of the Royal Society of Medicine, pre-
viously announced for April 27, has been postponed.

A ballot for the election of members and student members of the
Institute of Metals will be held at no*;n on Wednesday, April 19.
in connection with the twelfth annual May Lecture. This lecture ifl
to bo delivered on Wednesday, May 3. by Prof. Sir Ernest Ruther-
ford, of Cambridge University, on " The Relation of the Elements."
Membership application forms and cards of invitation to the lecture
may be obtained on application to Mr. G. Shaw Scott, M.Sc, the
secretary of the Institute of Metals, 36, Victoria-street, London.
S.W. L

The opening meeting of the 1922-23 session of the British Section
of the Societe des Ingenieurs-Civils de France will be held at
5.30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, Storey's Gate, S.W. 1, when Mr. W. Noble Twelvetrees
will deliver the presidential address, opening a discussion on " Co-
operation between Engineering Institutions in France and Great
Britain." Ladies will be cordially welcomed. Several well-known
engineers have already announced their intention to take part in the
discussion, and we are informed that members of all Britisn engineer-
ing institutions and societies are invited to attend the meeting.

The Council of the Optical Socif.ty' is arranging a programme of
papers dealing with motor headlights, having reference more par-
ticularly to the optical problems involved. The question of
"glare " or " dazzle," and the methods proposed tor overcoming it.
will be considered, both from the point' of view of the optician, the
lamp manufacturer, and the road user. The meeting will be held
at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, South Kensing-
ton, on May 11, and anyone desiring to contribute to the discussion
or to exhibit models or give experimental demonstrations is requested
to communicate with the honorary secretary of the Society. Mr.
F. F. S. Brvson, Glass Research Association, 50, Bedford-square,
W.C. 1. '

Telegraph and Wireless Notes.

Direct telegraphic connection from Gothenburg to Peking via
Petrograd and Irkutsk has been re-established by the Great Northern
Telegraph Company.

A loud-speaking wireless telephone installation has just been com-
pleted at Laus.\nne, which will be in communication with the Eiffel
Tower telephone each evening, and will be able to record communica-
tions from London, Berlin, and even America.

Sir Thomas Watt, the South African Minister of Public Works
and Posts and Telegraphs, states that the Government intends to
acquire a wireless station *or the purpose of establishing an adequate
service wath other countiu^s of the world, and is at present con-
sidering several propositions in this connection.

Arrangements have been made by the Postmaster-General to
enable telephone subscribers to book "Trunk calls in advance. The
calls, which are effected at or about a sptcified hour, as desired by
the subscriber, are known as " fi.\ed time" calls, and the booking
may be either for a single call or for a daily call for a minimum
period of a week, including or excluding Saturdays and Sundays.
The calls are number to number, not person to pers<->n calls:. A
tiingl© "fixed tim© " call should, if p'- isible, be booked at least
thr©e houis before the time at which it is required, such as stock
exchanges, corn exchantres, etc.

Maryland Telephone Exchange, which replaces the Stratford and
Broadway Exchanges, was opened on Saturday. The equipment at
Stratford Exchange was of an obsolete type, anJ there was no spare
capacity, while Broadway Exchange was oniyof a temporary character.
Accommodation is provided for approximately 2 000 subscribers and
460 junctions to other exchanges in Ijondon. Ample external cable
plant exists in the neighbourhood, and the new exchange will be
capable of extension to meet the needs of the district for a number
of years ahead. INfaryland Exchange is the twelfth new exchange to
be opened in London since the Armistice.

Exhibition Notes.

The thirteenth International Building Trades Exhibitiox will
be held at Olymnia from the 11th to 27th inst

A Mining and Industri.-xl Exhibition is to be held by th© Chemical.
Metallurgical, and Mining Society of South Africa in October.
Firms interested are advised to communicate with their local agents,
or the secretary of the society, 100, Fox-street, Johannesburg. South
Africa.

At a meeting of members of the Council of the Birmincham
section of the British I.vdustries Fair and the leading exhibitors
on Thursday last, it was proposed that the Fair at Castle Bromwich
next year be held in May instead of earl/ March : also that there be
no standardising of stands, and that the public be admitted on two
days (Saturday and the second Wednesday) at a small charge, whicn
will probably be fixed at Is. These matters will now be dealt with
othciallv.

424

The Electrician

April 7, 1922

Obituary.

The death has occurred of Mr. Philippe Guye, Professor of
Physical Chemistry at Geneva University.

We regret to record the death, which took place on Monday,
of Mr. E. A. Claremont, chairman and managing director of W. T.
Glover & Company.

The death has taken place at Bournemouth of Mr. James N.
Paxman, in his ninety-first year. Mr. Paxman was born at
Colchester, and at the age of fifteen entered his father's engineering
business. Four years later he became joint manager with Mr. C.
Marriage of Catchpool & Sons' engineering and ironfounding busi-
ness, and two years later he wae appointed to the entire charge. In
1865 he resigned this position to commence business with C. M.
and H. M. Davey at Colchester. In 1869 he patented the " Pax-
man " vertical boiler, and in 1878 his a.utomatic out-off gear, com-
bined with a governor for effectually regulating and controlling the
speed of a steam engine. The same year the Messrs. Davey retired
from the business, their interest being taken over by Mr. Paxman
and his partner. At the International Electric Exhibition at the
Crystal Palace in 1882, Mr. Paxman's engine was retained by the
jury for carrying out their experiments ; they commended it for its
efficient and regular performances, and awarded him a gold medal.
The firm's business continued to develop, and in 1898 it was con-
verted into a private limited company, and to-day ranks as one <>f
the leading firms in the kingdom. Mr. Paxman was elected Mayor
of Colchester for 1887-1888, and for 1897-1898. He had served as
High Sheriff for the County of Essex, and was a Justice of the Peace
for Colchester as well as for the county of Essex.

Social Notes.

The eleventh annual dinner of the Batti- Wallahs' Society was
held at the Holborn Restaurant last Friday, with the president, Mr.
Edgar S. Barralet, in the chair. After dinner an excellent musical
programme was rendered, during the intervals in which the toast
of " The Society " was proposed by Mr. Elmhirst, one of the
half-dozen men who met together and formed the Society in 1906,
and that of " The Ladies and Visitors " by Mr. W. Riggs. These
toasts were replied to respectively by the President and Mr. L. C.
Gamage, secretary of the G.E.C.

Past and present members of the Board of Control of the National
Association of Supervising Electricians and their friends, to the
number of about seventy, met at a whist drive and dinner at
the Mecca Cafe, Ludgate Hill, London, on Saturday, March 25.
During dinner Mr. R. W. Whitley, in a humorous speech, proposed
the toast of " The Ladies," to which Mr. W. J. Revell responded.
A musical programme, followed by an enjoyable whist drive, with
Mr. _A. J. Stiling acting as M.C., added to the success of the
evening. Mr. T. H. Windibank, as chairman, caused much merri-
ment with his humorous remarks when distributing the prizes, and
delighted his guests with the manner in which he earned out his
duties.

Trade Inquiries.

A manufacturers' agent in Vancouver desires to obtain the repre-
sentation of United Kingdom manufacturers of electrically galvan-
ised metal strip, on a commission basis, for the province of British
Columbia. Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade, 35,
Old Queen-street, London, S.W. 1. (Reference No. 360.)

_A manufacturers' agent in Montreal wishes to represent, on com-
mission, United Kingdom manufacturers of electrical specialities for
sale in Eastern Canada. Particulars fro;,! the Department of Over-
seas Trade. (Reference No. 362.)

Electrical Activities in China.

C. C. Nieh, Lu Er-kia, and other Shanghai merchants propose
to organise the Yeii Chung Maciune Manufacturing and Engineer-
ing Company in Shanghai, for manufacturing electric fans, electric
lamps, dynamo, motors, and all other electrical goods. Its capital
will be .15300 000 in 3 000 shares of $1 000 each.

The Ta Tung Company, Ltd., h;vs recently been organised oy
Chang Chien, Jr., and others, with a capit"al of $1000 000, at
Garden-road. Tungchow. The company will spovialise in engineering
and electricity contracts and work.

The Siemens-Schuckert Company, of Berlin, is establishing works
at Shanghai, in co-operation with Chinese interests, for the manu-
facture of electrical fittings and supplies for domestic purposes. It
is proposed to form a joint stock company which will embrace the
pre-war China organisation of the Siemens companies and represent
the Rhein-Elbe-Union (Stinnes) interests.

The Yau Hua Electric Company, of Hsuohow, was established
in 1905. Three new plants have been installed and a now building
erected, which was completed on Dec. 27. It is estimated that the
three plants supply 30 000 lights.

Chung Hsih Electrical Company, Soochow, Kiangsu. has bee-i
amalgamat.^d with the Soochow Electric Company. The latter was
established in 1920 to compete with the Chin ShLng Electrical Com-
pany, a part of which is ovraed bv Japan.

A company to be known as the Ming Yuan Electric Light Com-
pany is being established at Chuchow, Anwhei.

The merchants of Hokow, Yunnan, have raised $20 000 for th«
establishment of the Hokow Electricity Company, Ltd.

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.

Edison Swan Electric.

The accounts of the Edison Swan Electric Company for the year
ended June 30, 1921, show, after providing for various adjustments,
a balance to the debit of profit and loss of £344 720. The board
recommend that the sum of £55 000 now standing to reserve be
transferred to profit and loss account, thus reducing the debit
balance to the sum of £289 720. The directors regret that the opera-
tions of the company should have resulted in the loss shown, but
the effect of the coal strike resulted in the company's business being
practically brought to a standstill in many parts of the country.
Under these circumstances the works could only be operated on a
scale considerably below their full capacity, and various workshops
were not able to carry their due proportion of overhead charges,
but every effort has been made to reduce them to the lowest figiu'e.
A searching valuation of stocks of raw materials and manufactured
and partly-manufactured goods hae been made, and it has been
found necessary to write £346 445 off as depreciation, this account-
ing for the gi'eater portion of the loss. Since November last the
position of Lhe company has slowly improved, and with a moderate
revival of trade the outlook for the company should become much
more favourable. Since the date of the balance-sheet, loans from
the bankers have been increased by £90 150, making tie total loan
advanced by them to date £313 950. A meeting of shareholders in
November authorised an increase in the borrowing powers, and to
provide the necessary security for the advances made the board
have issued to the bank £100 000 Second Debenture stock, together
with a further specific charge of £66 000 upon certain of the pro-
perties of the company. Mr. A. F. Philips and Mr. G. L. F.
Philips, of Philips Glow lamp works, have retired from the board
as technical directors. Subsequent to such retirement the boar,i,
under legal advice, commenced proceedings against Philips Glow-
lampworks with the view of determining tne agreement existing
between that company and the Edison Swan Electric Company, and
also in relation to other matters. Mr. C. E. Hunter resigned nis
position as managing director in January, 1921, and Mr. C. J. Ford
has been appointed in his stead.

British Aluminium.

The annual meeting of the British Aluminium Company, -was
held last week, Mr. A. W. Tait (Chairman), presiding.

The Chairman said that the net profit for the vear was £221 506,
compared with £428 157 in 1920, and the trading profit was £183 041,
against £373 779. This substantial decrease, while very disappoint-
ing, was not unexpected. The trading for 1920 was a record, but
at the last annual meeting he ?aid that a sudden falling off in
demand had become evident in August of that year. This depres-
sion assumed serious proportions about the end of the year and
continued with increasing severity throughout 1921. The result
was an over-production of metal. They closed two aluminium
plants and one alumina plant, and reduced production at the works
in the early part of the year. So far there had been no great im-
provement in the position, and the aluminium works in Norway were
still closed down, although output at the works in Scotland had
been somewhat increased. He could not see how they could expect
business to show definite improvement until there was a more or less
general return to normal trading conditions.

Having alluded to taxation as a great source of weaknese in
industry and to the need for drastic and immediate reduction cf
the burden, the Chairman said that the Lochaber Water Power
Scheme was approved by both Houses of Parliament, and received
the Royal Assent on July 28, 192J. The Act granted to a statutory
company (which would be controlled by the British Aluminium Com-
pany) one of the largest water powers in the United Kingdom, and
when this was developed it would give power for the further expan-
sion of their industry in a district contiguous to the Kinlochleven
works, and which would also provide power for llie development of
local industries. The scheme would not be proceeded with until the
general cond'tions of trade and the expansion of their own industry
warranted it. The total reserves wei-e approximately £967 000, or
very little short of the issued ordinary share capital. After meeting
debenture interest, placing £20 000 to reserve for depreciation ana
£10 000 to reserve account, and paying the preference dividend and
5 per cent, on the ordinary shares a sum of £14 791 wae carried
forward.

Torquay Tramways.

In moving the adoption of the report and accounts at the annual
meeting of the Torquay Tramways Company^, Ivtd. , last week, Mr.
H. T. Barnett (chairman of the company), who presided, said that
although the coal strike seriously affected the receipts at one time,
the year ended with an increase in revenue of £710. creating
another record, and the number of passengers carried was the higheat
in the history of the company. The progress of the motor-'bus under-
taking had been up to ♦'xpectations, and the directors had every
confidence in the future. Referring to the heavy taxation, the
chairman stated that ho thought the company was the only tramway
company in this country tbat had been liable for excess profits duty,
and that lax l>eing now gone, (he burden would be considerably
eased in tlie future. It was imjwrtant to bear in mind that the
increased revenue was not due to increased fares, as the' faree at
Torquay were still on practically a pre-war basi^ The accounts of
the company disclosed a strong financial position. Although by
Dec. 31 last an expenditure of £45 828 had been incurred on the
motor-'bus undertaking, they finished the year with investments,
cash at bank, &c. , amounting to £43 089. The reserve and renewals

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

t25

account had been increaeed from £48 000 Lo £59 000, and rescivn
for equalisation of dividends from £4 000 to £5 000. TIjo niotor-
'busefi capital account now stood at £45 828, as compared with
£16 485, the increased expenditure being represented bv additional
rolling stock and the new garage. On the revenue side there should
be a considerable decrease in the cost of current during 1922, in
view of the subetantial fall in coal. The balance carried to net
revenue account was £26 397, compared with £24 968, and the addi-
tional profit in operating motor-'buses had been £8 188, compared
with £2 582. The profit was £36178, and after providing for deben-
ture service and for the above reserves there was a balance of
£11 370, out of which a dividend of 8 per cent., free of income tax,
was recommended, carrying forward £2 206. The directors had
under consideration the advisability of forming a subsidiary com-
pany to operate the raotor-'bus undertaking, in view of the consider-
able expansion in the services which must take place, and
shareholders' claims in that event would be taken into consideration.

Hadnelds, Ltd.

Sir Robert Hadfield, Bart, (chairman of Hadfields, Ltd.), was
unable to preside on Monday at the annual meeting of shareholders,
but sent a message to the meeting from the Riviera, where he is
recovering from an illness.

Sir Robert pointed out that the iron and steel industries through-
out the world had felt the depression most acutely. The British
output of pig-iron dropped from 8 000 000 tons in 1920 to 2 500 000
tons in 1921, the steel output from 9 000 000 tons to 3 500 000 tons,
compared with 10 250 COO tons of pig-iron and 8 000 000 tons of ste-el
produced by Great Britain in 1913. The strange fact was that, not-
withstanding this acute depression, the world wanted and must have
iron and steel on a large scale. A well-known American authority
computed that the world to-day is short of no less than 200 000 000
tons of iron and steel. There must, therefore, be a large demand
before long, or modern civilisation would receive a check, for the
world's progress depended on ample supplies of the metal iron and
on a much greater scale than the present production.

Mr. Peter B. Brown (managing director), in moving the adoption
of the report and balance-sheet from the chair, said their post-war
progi'amme of reconstruction and extension was almost completed,
and they were now eagerly awaiting an opportunity to put the new
departments into operation. That oould only be accomplished when
the demand for their products matured. At the beginning of last
year they had on their books a large volume of orders which had
accumulated, some of them since before the war. The world slump
in trade did not therefore affect them seriously until the latter part
of the year. Its continuance, however, was naturally a source cf
anxiety to the directors.

The report and accounts were adopted, and a final dividend
declared, making 5 per cent, for the year, free of tax.

Novmarket Electric Light.

The annual meeting of the Newmarket Electric Light Companv
was held last week, Mr. F. E. Gripper (chairman) presiding. During
the past year the equivalent of 1 633 33-W lamps was connected to
the mains, making the total connected at the end of 1921 40 566
lamps. The gross profit on the year's working was £3 435, compared
with £2 953 in 1920. After providing for debenture interest (£710^
and adding £249 brought in, a balance of £2 974 remained. The
directors recommend that a dividend of 3 per cent, be declared,
that £1 750 be carried to general reserve, and that the balance of
£427 be carried forward. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of
the report and accounts, said the company could have comfortably
paid a 5 per cent, dividend this year if it were not for the restriction
which existed owing to the Increase of Charges Act. The Govern-
ment had introduced a Bill which would give the Electricity Com-
missioners power to deal with this point, and in the next few
months they hoped to have an Order made by the Commissioners
which would relieve them of this limitation. He thought they could
look forward to a very much more satisfactory report next year ;
first, because the restriction as to dividend would have been
removed ; and, secondly, because there was a very substantial reduc-
tion in the cost of coal.

The Metropolitan Railway Companv are making an issue of
£600 000 5 per cent, preference stock at 87 in order to provide for
additional power, plant and rolling stock.

Whitehall Electric Investments, Ltd., on Monday offered for
public subscription £2 500 000 6 per cent, first mortgage debenture
stock (1925-49) at £87 .^ per cent., and 1 500 000 7^ per cent, cumu-
lative preference shares of £1 each at par.

The accounts of W. Canning & Company for 1921 show a loss of
£23 671, after charging all expenses, including maintenance and full
depreciation of properties, plant and fixtures, less surplus of £1 452
brought in, leaving deficiency of £22 218 carried forward.

ToRPOiNT Electric Supply Company, Ltd., announce that they are
issuing 950 7^ per cent, first debentures of £5 each at par. Further
particulars can be obtained from the Secretary, 3, Fore-street. Tor-
point, or from Mr. J. A. Pearoe, 5, St. Aubyn-street, Devonport.

The profits of A. Reytiolle and Company for the past year,
including balance bi'ought in, amounted to £64 662, and a dividend
of 12^ per cent, is recommended on the ordinary shares. £15 000
has been placed to reserve, leaving £12 190 to be carried forward.

The accounts of the London Electric Wire Company & Smiths
for 1921 show profit, after placing £50 000 to roserv?, of £83 924.
making available, with £38 267 brought in, £122 851. General
reserve is now £150 000 ; special reserve remains at £20 000. The

directors recommend a final dividend on the ordinary shares, making
7^ per cent., less tax, carrying forward £44 545.

The SoTTTH London Efectkic Supply Company haa paid a dividend
of 4^ per cent, on the ordinary shares, making 7 per cent., placing
£12 500 to reserve for depreciation, &c., £17 MO to general reserve,
£5 000 to reserve for contingencies, leaving £5 661 to be carried
forward.

The receipts for 1921 of the Taunton Electric Traction Company,
including £611 brought in, totalled £2 749. After deducting all
expenses and debenture interest, there was a debit balance of £225
to be carried forward. During the year £2 000 5 per cent, debentures
were redeemed. Further negotiations with the Corporation for the
purchase of the undertaking naving failed, steps have been tak^i to
remove the tramways and realise acsets.

At a special meeting of the shareholders of the Northampton
Electric Light and Power Company last week it wa^ decided to
increase the capital of the Company to £350 000 by the creation of
100 000 additional "B" shares of £1 each, to be issued by the
directors either as ordinary or preference shares as the directors may
determine. This capital is required in connection with the extension
of the works at Hardingstone Junction.

The revenue of the Bristol TaAMWAYf & Carriage Company for
1921 was £1022 208 and working and general expenses and renewals
£951 589, leaving with the balance brought forward, together with
an amount recoa'ered on an adjustment of income tax, net revenue of
£104 100. It is proposed to pay a final dividend on the ordinary
shares of 4 jjer cent., free of tax, making 7 per cent, for the year,
carrying forward £3 668. After charging expenses of the issue <'f
new ordinary shares and adjusting the value of investments at
Dec. 31 last, the reserve fund a.-nounts to £339 557. Receipts of the
tramways department show an increase of £112 188.

The annual meeting of the Mirrlees Watson Cosip.any was held
last week in the company's offices, Glasgow. The profit and lose
account showed a profit for 1921 of £46 6^6, and, after providing for
depreciation and directors' fees, a balance of £41 443 remains, to
which is added the balance brought forward — namely, £14 409 —
leaving a sum of £55 853 at the credit of profit and loes. The meet-
ing resolved that £15 942 be applied in payment of a dividend at
the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, and a bonus at the rate of 2^ per
cent, per annum, both less income-tax, and that £25 000 be trans-
ferred to general reserve account, leaving £14 911 to be carried
forward.

The report of the Brush Electrical Engineering Compant for
1921 shows, after providing for general charges, maintenance of
plant and buildings and interest on debenture stocks and loans, a
balance of £232 602. plus £141 983 brought forward, subject to
excess profits duty for 1920 and previous years, income and corpora-
tion profits taxes, and di'ectors' additional remuneration. The
directors have allocated to depreciation of buildings and plant
£14 400, and to patents and goodwill £600, further 4 per cent,
interest on the prior lien participating second debenture stock
£2 044, general reserve £73 191. and recommend a dividend at 15 per
c-ent. on the ordinary shares for the year, directors' additional re-
muneration £2 267, carrying forward £214 074. Thegeneral reserve
accoimt has been increased during the year by £1 809. the profit on
purchase of debenture stocks for sinking fund purposes. Th'*
£73191 now appropria;°d to this account r;iises the general reserve
fund to £150 000. The sum of £92 809 has been expended on capital
account during year.

The annual report of Metropolitan- Vickers ELECTR^c.tL Com-
pany for the year ended Dec. 31 last shows that the profit available
for the year, including the balance of £58824 brought in, amounts
(after providing for taxation) to £395 926, which has been appro-
priated as follows : — To special depreciation on plant, macbinery,
&c., £35 000: to general reserve account, £100 000; to dividend on
preference and ordinary shares to Dec, 31, 1921, at 8 per cent, and
122 per cent, respectively, less income tax, £168 111; leaving a
balance of £92 815 to be carried forward. Orders received during
the year, owing to the prevailing trade conditions, show a falling
off as compared with the previous year. The works have, neverthe-
less, partly due to orders carried forward from 1920, been kept
well employed. During the yeai- 25 523 preference shares ha\^ been
converted into 51 046 ordinary shares, making a total of 68 475 pre-
ference shares so converted. An application for a quotation of the
ordinary shares resulting from the conversions in 1921 is now before
the Stock Exchange.

The accoimts of the Bromley (Kent) Electric Light & Power
Coaipany, Ltd., for the year to Dec. 31 last show a gross profit of
£17 575, compared with £12611 in 1920, and after payment of
debenture interest, trustees' fees, &'c,, amounting to £3 002. writing
off £3 000 of the cost of investments, and adding £1 314 10s. brongnt
forward from last vear, there is a balance of £12 887. The directors
recommend the pavment of a dividend of 10 per cent, for the year,
which will absorb £7 500, that £4 500 be placed to depreciation and
renewal reserve account, and that the balance of £887 W- earned
forward. During the year the connections have increased from 5 479
to 5726 kW. To meet" the increasing demand for electricity a supply
in bulk has been arranged for from the works of the West Kent
Electric Companv. Additional machinery and mains are being laid
down to utilise this supply, nt a cost of about £15 000, which sum ie
bein"- provided from the general reserve fund, and it is proposed to
capifnlisa this amount bv the issue uf bonus shares to the valoe tf
£15 000 to the existing "shareholders in proportion fo their present
holdings.

426

The Electrician.

April 7, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note.— The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgments" does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the oases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

ALLIES ELECTRIC LAMP REPAIRING COMPANY, LTD.,
Montgomery - street, West Kensington, manufacturers.
£61 12s. lid. Jan. 31.
BARRINGTON W. Mead, 37-8, Strand, W.C, electrical engineer.

£21 13s. 2d. Feb. 2.
BEADLE BROTHERS, 5, Coleridge-street, Burmantofts, electri-
cians. £17 13s. 7d. Feb. 2.
DOWELLS ACCUMULATORS (1920), 79 Uxbridge-road, Hau-

well, electrical engineers. £11 17s. 7d. Feb. 1.
VENN BROTHERS, 39, Turnham Green-terrace, W. 4., electrical

engineers. £18 Os. 3d. Feb. 2.
WHITE, Mr. Francis G., 68, High-street, St. John's Wood, elec-
trical contractor. £13 lis. lid. Jan. 31.

Bill of Sale.

[The undermentioned information is from the Official Registry.
It includes Bills of Sale registered under the Act of 1822 and under
the Act of 1878. Both kinds require registration^ every five years.
Up to the date the information was obtained it was registered
a« given below ; but payment may have been made in some of the
cases, although no notice had been entered on the Register.]
EVERSON, James Albert, 5. Carisbrooke-road, Walton, Liverpool,
importer of electric globes, &c. March 21. £55.

Receivership.

CHASE BROTHERS, LTD. W. Peet, of 39, Mark-lane, E.C., wae
appointed receiver and manager on March 18, 1922, under powers
contained in debenture dated Oct. 25, 1920.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]
COUNTY OF DORSET ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY,

LTD., Dorchester. Registered March 23, £500 debentures,

balance of £2 500 ; general charge. * . Dec. 31, 1920.

MODERN ELECTRICAL SUPPLY COMPANY, LTD.. London,

E.G. Registieied March 23, £5 000 debentures: general charge.
WITTING (W.). LTD., Hull, electro-platers, &c. Registered

March 23, £1 700 debentures and mortgage. *£1 800. Dec 31

1920. ^

Private Meetings.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily imply failure.

Many 'private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the

debtor comulting his creditors as to his position when he may not

be insolvent.l

BEDESCO. LTD. (in voluntary liquidation), manufacturers of elec
trie lighting sets, London. The creditors of the above wero
called together on April 3 at the offices of IMessre. Quaife &
Tuke. accountants, 155, Fenchurch -street, ^.ondon, E.G. Mr.
A. E. Quaife occupied the chair, stating tb.t; the company had
pafised the usual resolution in favour of voi mtaiy liquidation,
and had appointed him to act as liquidalor. Ho added that l>e
had ascertained ttiat the liabilities amoum-cd to £1169, while
the net assets wero expected to produce £139. The creditors
passed a resolution confirming the voluntary liquidation of the
company, with Mr. Quaife as the liquidator.

COATON, T. G. (trading as T. G. COATON & COMPANY), elec-
trical engineer, 16, Humberstone-road, Leicester. The creditors
of the above were called together recently, when a statement <f
affairs was presented which showed liabilities of £2 479. Of
that amount £2 227 was due to unsecured creditors, and there
were partly secured creditors fo- £396, who held securities
valued at £144. After allowing £27 for preferential claims, the
assets w^re estimated to realise £798, or a deficiency of £1 681.
It was reported that the debtor commenced business in 1912 in
partnership with his brother, the capital being auout £300.
Subsequently they were joined by another partner, who brought
in £100. In 1919 the partnersliip was dissolved. At the date of

the dissolution a balance-sheet prepared showed a capital of
£1700. After discussing the position, a resolution was passed to
the effect that the debtor should execute a deed of composition
to Mr. E. H. Hawkins, of Poppleton, Appleby & Hawkins, 4,
Charterhouse-square, London, E.G., to secure the payment of a
composition of lOs. in the £, payable as to 5s. in three months,
2s. 6d. in six months, and 2s. 6d. in nine months. A committee
was also appointed, consisting of the representatives of Messrs.
Drake & Gorham, British Thomson-Houston Company, and the
General Electric Company.
HERBERT D. CARTER, LTD., electrical contractors and iron-
mongers, Edison House, Colw^yn Bay. In response to a circular
issued by the company, a meeting of the creditors of the above
was held recently at Colwyn Bay. No statement of affairs was
submitted, but it was stated that the company was a private
limited liability concern, which was formed in March, 1915,
with a capital of £5 000, divided into 4 000 ordinary and 1000
preference shares of the face value of £1 each. The whole of
the preference shares had been issued, while 3 000 ordinary
shares has been issued. Of the issued capital of £4 000, the
greater amount was for a consideration other than cash. In
September, 1917, Mr. Carter advanced £1 100 to the business
and was given a first debenture. In September, 1921, a second
dtibenture for £1 500 was created. Until 1920 the company
carried on business as electrical engineers, and the three largest
creditors were for goods supplied in connection with such con-
tracts. Since the date mentioned the company had also carried
on business a& ironmongers. A receiver had been appointed on
behalf of the debentui'e holders. The meeting had been called
for the purpose of a report being submitted as to the position,
but no definite resolution was passed.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Bankruptcy Information.

COOKSON, Eugene (trading as W. TURNBULL & COMPANY),
carrying on business at the Express Magneto Repair Works,
Elizabeth-street and Charles-street, Blackpool, electrical, &c.,
engineer. Receiving order, March 28. Debtor's petition.

DICKEN, William John (trading as W. DICKEN & SON), 2,
Upper High-street, Bargoed, co. Glamorgan, electrical engineer.
First meeting, April 13, 12 noon, 34, Park-place, Cardiff. Public
examination, April 27, 11 a.m.. Town Hall, Merthvr Tydfil.

LUDLOW, Jesse Frederick, and LUDLOW, Robert Redvers. in co-
partnership as LUDLOW BROTHERS, at 196, Church-road,
Redfield, Bristol, electrical contractors. Receiving order,
March 29. Debtor's petition. First meeting, April 12, 12.45 p.m.,
26, Baldwin-street, Bristol. Public examination, April 21,
12 noon, Guildball, Bristol.

NASON, Charles Frederick, 93, Butt^road, Colchester, electrician.
Receiving order, March 27. Debtor's petition. First meeting,
April 13, 12.15 p.m., 5, Butter-market, Ipswich. Public
examination, April 26, 11.45 a.m., Law Courts, Town Hall,
Colchester.

RAWCLIFFE, Frank (carrying on busmess under the style of
FRANK RAWCLIFFE & COMPANY), 8, Nun-street, New-
castle-upon-TjTie, electrical engineer. First meeting, April 11,
12 noon. Official Receiver's Office, Pearl-buildings, 4, North-
umberland-street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Public examination,
May 4, 11 a.m., Coiuity Court, Westgate-road, Newcastle-upon-
Tyne.

Partnership Dissolved.

PYNE, Harry Davies, and CLARK, Percival Francis, electrical
engineers and manufacturers, at Latimer-road, Teddington, co.
Middlesex, under the style of the PYNE MANUFACTURING
COMPANY, by mutual consent as from March 18, 1922. DebtP
received and paid by H. D. Pyne.

Edinburgh Gazette.

M'COSH, Townley Johnson, and DEVINE, John M'Kinney, elec-
trical, &c. , engineers, 57, Peel-street, Mile End, Glasgow, under
the style of M'COSH & DEVINE. Firm dissolved by mutual
consent as at March 29, 1922.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

PRINS. Nathan, merchant and agent, late 74, Forest-road. Dalston,
N.E. Described in the receiving order made on March 16 upon
the petition of Export Traders, Ltd., as above, the debtor nad
traded in electrical accessories. A Dutch subject, debtor came to
this country in 1912. He was afterwards employed by a firm
dealing in electric lighting appliances until the middle of 1919,
when I10 began buying and selling electrical accessories on hie
own account at 74. r'orest-road, Dalston. He possessed no
capital, and managed to make £3 or £4 a week profit from the
business. The claim of the petitioning and only creditor
amounts to £143, and is in resp)ect of goods supplied to the
debtor in October, 1920. They obtained judgment against him
in November last. The debtor is now employed by a firm of
exporters and importers, and attributes his failure to slackness
of trade and drop in the price of goods. He > lues his assets at
£10. There was no proposal before the meeting, which was
closed, and the case remained in the Official Receiver's hands.

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

427

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Gravesend Town Council. April 12. — Wiring fifty-eight houses.
Particulars from the Borough Electrical Engineer.

Bury (Lancs) Electricity Committee. April 15. — Supply anl
laying of about 1 000 yds. c.i. 3 ft. 6 in. pipes, conetruction of intake
chamber, &c. Specifications from Borough Engineer.

Warrington Electricity & Tramways Committee. April 18. —
Supply of h.t. and l.t. paper and lead covered cable. Specifications
from Engineer.

HoRNSEY Town Council. April 20. — Cooling tower, &c. Specifi-
cation from Borough Electrical Engineer.

Stepney (London) Electricity Committee. April 20. — Three
1 000 kW converting plants, 50-ton electric gantry crane, &c. Speci-
fications from Borough Electrical Engineer.

Edinburgh Corporation. April 24. — Supply of 70 trucks and
electrical equipment of cars ; also wheels and axles. Specification
from the Tramways Manager, 2, St. James-square, Edinburgh.

Metropolitan Asylums Board. April 26. — Two electric auto-
matic passenger lifts and two electric automatic service lifts at
Tooting Bee Mental Hospital. Specifications, &c., can be obtained
at the Board's Offices, Embankment, E.C. 4.

Glasgow Electricity Department. May 1. — Supply of (1) cables
(including small IR cables and flexibles) ; (2) meters ; (3) carbons,
for a period of twelve months. Particulars from R. B. Mitchell,
Engineer, 75, Waterloo-street, Glasgow.

H.M. Commissioners of Works. May 4. — Supply of engineering
labour for three years in the following districts : — Leeds (mechani-
cal) Newcastle (electrical and mechanical), Southampton (electrical
and mechanical). Particulars from Contracts Branch, H.M. Office
of Works, King Charles-street, London, S.W. 1.

Brighton Corporation. May 8. — Supply, delivery and erection <•!
(1) one 6 000 kW normal rating turbo-alternator and exciter, with
condenser, complete with all necessary accessories ; (2) one house
service turbo-driven d.c. generating plant, comprising two 200 kW
230-280 V shunt wound generators in tandem, complete with all
accessories. Particulars from the engineer and manager, Mr. John
Christie, Electricity Department, North-road, Brighton.

Salford Corporation. — Electrically-driven detritus dredgers and/
ov reciprocating pumps for sewage works. Specifications from James
Diggle & Son, 14, Brt>wn-street, Manchester.

Wesley Church, Falmouth. — Electric light installation. Parti-
culars from Rev. T. B. Hindsley, Wesley Manse, Falmouth.

AUSTRALIA.

Postmaster-General's Department at Melbottrne. — * Sulphate
of copper (Schedule No. 16), dry cells (Schedule No. 18). Tenders
by April 11; ammonium chloride (Schedule No. 15), porous cells
(Schedule No. 17). Tenders by April 23.

Postmaster-General's Department, Perth (W.A.). May 24. —

* Supply and delivery of various accessories for telegraph instru-
ments, including condensers, induction coils, receiver cords, fuses,
&c. (Schedule No. 731.) (Ref., D.O.T. 8 273/ED/PN.)

Victorian Government Railway Commissioners. May 31. —

* Two double-wheel lathes, including motors and control gear. (Con-
tract 35 010. )

SOUTH AFRICA.

Municipal Council of Krugersdorp. April 24. — 'Carrying out
of the necessary work and the supplying of material for the conver-
sion of the d.c. electric light system at Krugersdorp to a.c, viz.,
a.c. transformers, voltage regulators, cables, overhead transmission
lines, switchgear, low-tension feeders and distributoi's, motors and
meters. Alternate tenders are invited for the completion of tlte
whole scheme and for taking over the electrical plant at present in
Pretoria-street Power Station.

SOUTH AMERICA.

Local Authorities in Buenos Aires. June 28. — *Supply of com-
plete machinery for hydro-electric generating station and transform-
ing sub-station.

Skipton Urban Council ha« accepted the tender of the Western
Electric Company for the supply and laying of electricity at £7 864.

St. Pancras (London) Council have accepted the tender of the
Underfeed Stoker Company for ash conveying plant for King's-road
station, £2 555.

Liverpool Corporation have accepted the tender of Tilling-Stevens
Motor, Ltd., for a petrol-electric chassis for the turntable fire
escape, £1 080 10s.

Hui.L Corporation Telephones Committee have accepted the tender
of the Western Electric Company, £2 237 10s., for an automatic
exchange in East Hull.

Chester Corporation have accepted the lender of the Metropolitan-
Vickers Electrical Company for switchgear in .iooinection with
electricity supply to lloole. at £915.

Bermondsey (London) Council have accepted the tender of Gillett
and Johnson (lowest tender) for synchronising clocks in the Council's

• Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

buildings at £236 4s. 6d. Two other tenders (£262 and £290) were
received.

Dundee Town Council has accepted the tender of a Berlin firm
for the supply of cables for the electricity undertaking, the same
quality cable being 10 per cent, cheaper than the lowest Brilieh offer
at £851.

London County Council have accepted the tender of Medway's
Safe y Lifo Company for electric passenger lift at Geoffrey House,
Tabard Garden Estate, at £775. Eleven tenders were received,
ranging from £715 \a> £1 550.

Dundee Corporation have accepted the tenders of the British
Thomson-Houston Company for converting machinery at £16 927,
and suj>ply of switchgear, £1413 lis., and the Yorkshire Henne-
bique Company for circulating watei -pipes, &c., £11 Oil IBs. 6d.

EsTON Urban Council has accepted the tender of Clough, Smith
& Company for the supply and erection of the overhead equipment,
comprising 700 polee, &c. , and the supply and laying of about
45 miles of underground mains in connection with the town lighting
of South Bank, Grangetown, Norman by and Teesvill*.

Glasgow Corporation have accepted the tenders of Hackbridge
Cable Company for e.h.p. cable for Pinkston station, and English
Electric and Siemens' Supplies for switches for Parkhead Depot.
The tender of R. J. Sinclair for electrical installation work in 750
houses at Mosspark, at £8 933, has also been accepted.

Hammersmith Borough Council have accepted the following
tenders for the year commencing April 1 : Enfield Edison Cabks
Works, Ltd., insulated wires, £140 18s. 8d., less 2^ per cent. ;
Albion Clay Company, stoneware conduit, £140 18s. 8d., less 2^ per
cent. ; W. Lucy & Co.j draw boxe", frames and covers, &c., £319 14s.

Edinburgh Tramway Committee, by a majority, recommend the
acceptance of the quotation of a German manufacturer in Cologne for
130 tone of tramway rails and 5 tons of fishplates. The German firm
quoted, through their British agent, £1 365, and the nearest British
offer was £1 495. Bailie Sleigh and Councillor Couston opposed
acceptance of the foreign quotation. The Committee also unanimously
agreed to accept the tender of another German firm for steel poles.
The British quotation was £7 977, as against £5 436 by a Dusfieldorf
firm.

Openings for Trade in the Netherlands.

According to the Dutch Press, the N.V. Electriciteitsfabriek
IJsselcentrale at Zwolle are drawing up plans for the extension of
their power station. A large new boiler house will be built. Work
will commence in the com'se of this summer. The Limburgscne
Tramweg Mij. (technical manager, A. P. Zuurendonk, Grasbroeken-
weg 4, Heerlen ; engineer, J. M. Meijer, of Kruisstraat 26, Heerlen)
have plans in hand for laying a large tramway system in South
Limburg, of which several lines will be put into execution this year.
It has been decided to build a current-redressing installation with
a capacity of 1850 kW. The firm of Aaldijk " De Groene Molen,"
of Zuidwal, Delft, intend converting their windmill into a mill
driven by electric power. Work will probably commence this
summer.. The " Provincial Electriciteitsbedrijf van Groningen "
(Provincial Electric Supply Company, of Groningen) intend e.xtend
ing their electric power station by building a big new boiler house.
Work will probably comrience next autumn. A proposal has been
put forward in Rotterdam Town Council to grant a credit of
Gld. 65 000 for the transport by means of mechanical device of the
ash at the refuse destructor works.

Imperial Trade Correspondents.

With reference to the suspension of certain Imperi.al Tbadb
Correspondent posts in the Dominions announced in our columns
recently, the Department of Overseas Tvude state that the following,
who previously served as Imperial Trade Correspondents, ha%-«
volunteered to continue their services in an honorary capacity : —

C.\NADA. — Mr. J. B. Sutherland, Lougheed Bulldiui^ Calgary,
Alberta; Mr. R. N. Frith, 200, Moser-Rvder Building, Edmontou,
Alberta; Mr. W. E. Anderson, 162, Prince Will lam -«t.reet. St. John.
New Brunsvvick; Mr. E. A. Saiuiders, Board of Trade. Halifax.
Nova Scotia; Mr. G. B. Ramsev, 53, Dalhousie-street, Quebec.

New Ze.\l.\nd.— Mr. W. T. Monkman, Bond-street, Dunedin.

Arrangements have been made for Mr. G. R. Stevens, the Cana-
dian Trade Commissioner stationed in Jam.uca, to act as honorary
Trade Correspondent to the Department of Overseas Trade in that
colony, instead of the Colonial Secretaiy, who has hitherto acted m
that capacity. Trade inquiries for Jamaica should accordingly b«
addressed in future to Mr. G. R. Stevens, Canadian Trade Conxmis-
sioner, 17, Port Royal-street. Kingston. Jamaica. Cable address :
" Cantracom " (Bentley's five-letter code).

I^Ir. Hu"h Home. Commercial Secretary to H.M. Embassy at
Tokio who is at present in this country, will shortly be returning to
Jai'an. He will be in attendance at the Department of Overseas
Trade until April 13, and will be pleased to interview any firms in
the London area who desire information or assistance in connection
with export trade with Japan.

A petition to the King in Council for a charter of incorporation
for the Feder.uion of British Indt-stries has been referred to a
committee. Petitions for or agairst the erant must be delivered by
I\Iav 5

428

The Electrician.

April 7, 1922

New Companies.

Heno' Summers & Sons.

Henry Summers & Sons, Ltd. (180 666). Private company.
Registered March 28. Capital, £3 000 in £1 shares (1 300 8 per cent,
cumulative preference and 1700 ordinary). To take over the busi-
ness of electrical and general engineers, &c., carried on at 1a, Eseian-
street, and 13a, Anchor-street, Stepney, E., by H. Summers, W. D.
Summers and L. Summers who are the first directors of the com-

gany. Secretary : L. Summers. Registered office : 1a, Essian-street,
tepney, E 1.
Jowitt Engineering Company.

Jo WITT ExGiNEERiNG COMPANY, Ltd. (180 713). Private company.
Registered March 29. Capital, £750 in Is. shares. To take over the
business carried on by th© Jowitt Engineering Company, to adopt
an agreement with J. E, Hackford and R. F. Power, and to carry on
the business of manufacturers of gas producers and rotary and
reciprocating engines of all kinds, whether for oil, gas, steam, water,
electricity or other motive power, &c. Permanent directors : J. E.
Hackford (chairman) and R. F. Power. Solicitors : Warren, Murton
& Company, 45, Bloomsbury-square, W.C. 1.

Light & Power Company.

LiCxHT & Power Company, Ltd. (180 591). Private company.
Registered March 24. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. Electricians,
mechanical engineers, manufacturers, workers of and dealers in
electricity, motive power and light, &c. First directors : W. Cussens
and H. R. Brown. Secretary : W. Cussens. Registered office : 39,
Norfolk-street, Sheffield.

Milliken Brothers.

MiLLiKEN Brothers, Ltd. (180 722). Private company. Regis-
tered March 29. Capital, £10 000 in £1 shares. To adopt an agree-
ment with the Milhken Brothers' Manufacturing Company, Incor-
porated, of New York, and to carry on the business of wireless,
electrical, mechanical and mining engineers, electricians, suppliers of
electricity, manufacturers of and dealers in and letters on hire of
the unit system of structural steel as described in Patent No. 17 136
of 1915, &c. First directors : C. T. Wilkinson, W. H. P. Gibson and
C. T. Clack. Registered office : Amberlev House, Norfolk-street,
Strand, W.C.

Spensers, Ltd.

Spensers, Ltd. (180 818). Private company. Reg. March 31.
Capital, £12 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers of and dealers in elec-
trical plant, machinery, meters, apparatus and appliances, pro-
ducers and suppliers of electricity, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic,
and general engineers, &c. First directors : H. E. Smith, K. Smith,
and C. K. Black. Secretary : C. Kennedy Black. Registered office :
6, London-street, Paddington.
Whitehall Electric Investments, Ltd.

Whitehall Electric Investments, Ltd. Registered March 30.
Nominal capital, £6 500 000 in 1500 000 7^ per cent, cumulative
preference and 5 000 000 ordinary shares of £1 each. To acquire
certain bonds, debentures and debenture stock comprised in an agree-
ment (not filed) with the Whitehall Securities Corporation, Ltd., to
subscribe for, underwrite, acquire, hold and deal in the shares,
stocks and securities of any electrical undertakings, and transport
and_ public utility services, to acquire any licences or concessions for
or in connection with the generation, utilisation, distribution and
supply of light, heat, sound and power, by electricity or otherwise,
or with the construction, equipment and control of railways, tram-
ways and electric lighting and power supply works, and the carriage
of passengers and goods; to- supply electricity for all purposes, lo
carry on business as electrical engineers and contractors, &c. First
directors : Hon. Clive Pearson, Sir Clarendon G. Hyde, Vincent W.
Yorke, J. H. Macdonald and A. E. Worswick. Secretary : J. Lister
Walsh. The registered office is at 47, Parliament-street, S.W 1.
File number, 180780.

Forty Years Ago.

" '■-' '-i... "The Electrician," April 8, 1882.

' ^T^^- — The Western Counties were on Monday last
, J HliNDERSTo-j^re thunderstorm, accompanied by hailstones of
visited by a s^^, _

unusual size. At7._"V^it,h reference to the correspondence 'n

i^RiVACY OF Telegraais- -^ ^h« Contents of a telegram addressiid
t-ne public Press relating' to'^J'" T. Wright having been divulged,
oy Lolonel Fred Burnabv to i^> Office has no powers in respect
trthf^J^fi'^H*^.^^^* the Post^''"^^ ^^^ Submarine and other

(T'eoent meeting of the Court

to the 'secrecv of 1^1^ '^^ Post^'-s

foreign teleZni; .^^'^'?' ^^"<^ thV

Frl/^ ?^ P" companies. Aa,^^„„ „xc^^ui^ v^x ....c v^v^u.i,

iiLECTRic LiGHTiNTHE CiTY — Af t»,^''^' ^he clectnc lighting in

of Conjinon Council Mr. Fdton ^nJ? .^^'t^-^P'^ed at about the same

No. 1 district (the Brush hVhn L^ I ^^^^"c) at about twice the

price as gas, in No. 2 (thf Trvnr ^T.^^'H ^t about 3| the cost

cost of ga^, and in No 3 (the S,'^" ''^H*;' /'' Brush Com'pany had

of gas. On the last occasion h! S /"f.l^'^^^^han the cost of gas.

^."PPlf d the electric hgh ^^^ if f ^^ ^^""^ t^'<ce then the complnv

About £40, he believed ^vvas^thed;r' """^^^ ^.P^^^ to about JC12b

had sent in a contract whLh wonf k'--'"'^^- Sin'.templated increas-

more than gas. The SiemenT ci ""^ "P ^^« in the sa,

"^? their estimate to fiie tTme« rP^"^ ^'l^ ««• the use oi ga,

With regard to a better li^hTt.-^ ''?^^-''^ gas here, he migbt

an improved system r.u,..^.. , . -.. ^

that the cost of the

same area.

'.ve inserted the sic

"." "'gd'a lo a better hVVit i^„- -■^^•^.^^ gas here, he might say
an improved system, afin $iee^^'t,lf '''^l hyfour'times tie cost
that the cost of the gas i" pEt f ^.*^ """"^ elsew-ve inser " " '
of the Brush .system^of dectJl H [ k^ ^^ '^^^'^ Hght."
above, as we beHeve it ^l^l^l^^l^^^ ^^

Arrangements for the Week,

FRIDAY, April 7th (to-day).

Institute of Cost and Works Accoitntants.
7.30 p.m. At the Chamber of Commerce, New-street, Birming-
ham. Public Lecture on " The Fimctions of WorSs
Accountancy,"' by Mr. J. A. Lacey.

Junior Institution of Engineers.
8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecturette on " Engi-
neering in Southern Persia," by Mr. J. W. Maple.

Edinburgh Electrical Society.

8 p.m. At Philosophical Institute, 4, Queen-street, Edinburgh.

Lecture entitled " Notes on A.C. and D.C. Plant," by Mr.
J. Walker.

Royal Institution.

9 p.m. At Albemarle-street, London, W. Discourse on "The

Evolution of the Elements," by Sir Ernest Rutherford,
F.R.S.

SATURDAY, April 8th.

Royal Institution.
3 p.m. At Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, London, W. Lecture
on " Radio-Activity," by Sir Ernest Rutherford, F.R.S.
(Lecture VI.).

Birmingham and District Electric Club.
7 p.m. At the Grand Hotel, Colmore-row, Birmingham. Paper
entitled " Notes on Marine Salvage," by Mr. V. H. Pears(Hi.

MONDAY, April 10th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
North-Eastern Centre.
7.15 p.m. At Armstrong College, Newcastle. Annual General
Meeting.

TUESDAY. April 11th,

National Association of Supervising Electricians.
6.j^5 p.m. At St. Bride's Institute, Bride-lane, London, E.G.
Lecture on " Temporary Expedients," by Mr. W. E.
Highfield.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
North- Western Centre.
7 p.m. At the Engineers' Club, Albert-square, Manchester.
Discussion on "High-Power Mercwry Arc Rectifiers,"
introduced by Mr. R. L. Morrison.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Scottish Centre.
7.30 p.m. At 207, Bath-street, Glasgow. Annual General Meet-
ing. Paper on " Rotary Converters, with Special Reference
to Railway Electrification," by Mr. F. P. Whitaker.

WEDNESDAY, April 12th.

Association of Engineers-in-Charge.
7.30 p.m. At St. Bride's Institute, Bride-lane, Fleet-stre«t,
London, E.G. Paper entitled " The Artesian Wells and
Geological Strata of London," by Mr. R. Langton Cole,
F.R.LB.A.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, Apbil 4.

Copper — Price. Inc. Dec.

Best selected per ton £61 10 0 — £1 0 0

Electro Wirebara .. „ £64 10 0 — £1 5 0

H.C wire, basis per lb. Os. 9i|d. — id.

Sheet Os. 9f«d. — |d-

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone)
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis , Is. ^r^d. — ^A.

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis „ Os. 7M. — —

Sheet, basis „ Os. 9|d. — ^d.

Wire, basis „ Os. 9f d. — |d.

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants . per ton £4 15 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £18 0 0 — £1 0 0

Lead Pig —

English £23 0 0 — —

Foreign or Colonial . . „ £21 15 0 2s. 6d. —

Tinr—

Ingot £143 10 0 — 58.

Wire, basis per lb. Is. ll?d. — Id.

Aluminiiun Ingots per ton £120 0 0 — —

Spelter per ton £25 12 6 7s. 6d. —

Merruri/ per bottle £11 0 0 — —

Salammoniac. — Per cwt. 658.-608. Sodium Chlorate. — Per lb. 3Jd.

Svlphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 los. Sulphuric. Acid (Pyrites, 168°).—

„ (Roll-Brimstone).— Per ton Per ton £9 17s. 6d.

£ 1 0 15s. Copper Sulphate.— Per ton £26 lOfc

Sodium Bichromate.— Ver \h. 6|d. 5oric.(4ci^ (Crystals). — Per ton £60
Rubber. — Para fine, 10 \d. ; plantation 1st latex, 8Jd
The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby Cables,

Ltd, and the rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works

Company.

April 7, 1922

The Electrician.

429

Patent Record,

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The following abstract from some of the tpenfieatumt reeerUly pttblUhed have
been tpenalty complied by Messrs. Mewbukn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent
Affentt, 70 and 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

Complete Specikications.

144 319 HUBERS, G. X-iay plant. (8/4/16.) (Addition to 144 318.)

145 073 SiEMBNS-ScHUCKERTWERKE Ges. Sparkless disconnection of con-

ductors traversed by electric currents. (9/11/15.) (Addition to
145 072.)

145 084 LiLiENFELD, J. E. Process and apparatus for the production of
Rontgen rays. (9/4/18.)

145 589 Oesterreichische Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Method of starting
continuous current motors. (29/1/16.)

145 629 Ges. FtJE Drahtlo.se Telegraphie. Electro-masnetic wave re-
ceiving arrangements. (6/5/18.)

145 676 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Vacuum electric discharge
apparatus. (13/8/15.)

145 677 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Anodes for vacuum electric dis-

charge apparatus. (29/10/15.) (Addition to 145 676.)

146 136 Duplex Engine Governor Co., Inc. Electrically-operated speed-

regulators. (23/6/19.)
146 155 Fessenden, R. A. Methods and apparatus for use in locating

submerged vessels and other submerged and subterranean

magnetic bodies. (12/12/18.)
147 147 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. Wireless signalling

-systems. (29/10/13.)
147 177 Vapor Car Heating Co., Inc. Electric contact thermostats.

(19/1/18.)

147 592 Krupp Akt.-Ges., F. Overload electric switches. (15/5/19.)

147 783 Apple, V. G. Contact members for vibrating current controlling

regulators. (14/2/18.)
147 788 Apple, V. G. Armature consti-uction. (27/4/18.)

147 818 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. Dynamo-electric machines.

(13/10/15.)

148 418 Signal Ges. Arrangement for avoiding disturbing noises in

listening devices caused by changing circuits associated there-
with. (30/3/17.) (Addition to 147 948.)

148 424 Signal Ges. Sound-receivers. (29/11/15.)

148 426 Signal Ges. Sound apparatus. (15/3/16.)

148 427 Signal Ges. Soi nd-signalling device for dense propa.gating
mediums. (3/3/17.)

148 458 Krupp Akt.-Ges., F. Electric resistance connections. (21/11/18.)

148 951 Latour, M. C. A. Receiving-arrangement for the reception of
electro-magnetic waves. (21/10/16.)

148 952 Latour. M. C. A. Inductances. (12/12/18.)

148 969 Neufeldt & Kuhnke (Firm of). Electric connecting devices for
floating and submarine vessels, and for diving armour. ■ (21/7/16.)

148 982 Signal Ges. Sound-signalling device with two plates for dense
mediums. (27/4/17.) (Addition to 148 427.)

148 987 Signal Ges. Submarine sound transmitter. (3/5/18.)

148 988 Signal Ges. Receiving device for submarine sound signals.

(19/5/17.) (Addition to 1995/13.)

149 325 Signal Ges. Reception of submarine sound signals. (25/1/17.)
149 331 Western Electric Co., Ltd. Telephone repeating circuit.

(31/7/19.)

149 348 Adamczak, L. Alternating current meter. (22/7/19.)

150 673 Gyueis, J. Manufacture of electric heaters. (22/8/19.)

150 730 Metropolitan- Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Time-limit relays for

use in electrical supply systems. (3/9/19.)
151 615 Cummiskey, W. M. Timing or distributing mechanism for the

electric ignition of internal combustion engines. (24/9/19.)
152 970 Latjt, p. J. Sending devices for radio-telegraphic stations using

a continuous sequence of waves generated by an arc. (23/10/19.)
154 545 Soc. Anon. Brown, Boveri, et Cie. Electric transformer for

feeding metal vapour rectifiers. (27/11/19.)

154 877 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Electric suspension insulators.

(29/11/19.)

155 796 Remy Electric Co. Magnetos. (17/12/19.)

156 492 Eustace, A. L. Electric cartridge fuse. (23/7/14.)

157 567 Siemens Schuckertwerke Ges. Electric suspension insulators.

(6/1/20.) (Addition to 154 877.)
159 130 Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Arrangement 'of the high tension

insul.itors of electric precipitating installations. (11/2/20.)
159 902 Signal Ges. Method and device for the electrical na^•igation of

ships. (12/3/20.)
■ 165 037 Soc. Francaise Radio-Electrique. Electric-magnetic wave trans-
missions systems. (16/10/19.) (Divided application on 147 465.)

(Addition to 147 465.)
167 145 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Control of alterna-
ting current electric motors. (30/7/20.)
169 060 Sieurin, S. E. Burning of carbon electrodes in electric furnaces.

119/7/20.)
169 063 Cherry, L. B. Electrical apparatus for the electro-chemical

treatment of hydrocarbon vapours. (20/7/20.)
169 071 RUNKEL. A. C. Electric lamp supports. (28/7/20.)
169 078 Renzi, W. de. Electrical current plugs. (30/7/20.)
169 082 Oldham, O., Oldham, G., & Oldham, J. Gas exits for galvanic

batteries. (9/8/20.)
169 085 Payne, V. J. C. Alternating current electro-magnetic engine.

(13/8/20.)
169 093 Brooks, H. B. Electric transforming systems or devioes.

(6/9/20.)
169 105LOIJA. M. R. Electrically-propelled boat. (27/9/20.)
169 482 Whitehorn, H. K. Dynamo-electric machinery. (26/5/20.)
169 489 Turner, F. Attachment for telephones. (8/11/20.)
169 494 Sullivan, H. W. Telegraph cables. (22/6/20.)
1G9 503 TuRQUAND, F. J. Electric battery lamps. (23/6/20.)
169 510 Schattner, E. Electric circuit making and breaking device.

(25/6/20.)
169 535 Railing, M. J., Saunders, C. W., & Collings, J. H. Electric

bell and the like indicators. (2/7/20.)
169 538 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.).

Electric welding electrodes. (2/7/20.)
169 541 Saunders Electrical Co., Ltd., & Saunders, C. Electrical

accumulators. (5/7/20 )
169 546 General Electric Co., Ltd., & Thompson, M. Electron discharge

devices. (6/7/20)
169 548 Rickets, W. J. Electrical systems and apparatus for inducing

chemical action. (8/7/20.)
169 653 British Electric Transformer Co., Ltd., & Rooteaan, J. Manu-
facture of coils suitable for use in the construction of static

transformers. (12/7/20.)
169 563 Schattner, E. Apparatus for the distance control of electric

switches by means of light radiations (19/7/20.)
169 564 Pillon, L. Secondary electric clocks. (19/7/20.)
169 575 Renzi, W. de. Electrical switch gear for controlling the supply

of electricity to operata machinery and the like. (27/7/20.)

169 582

169 604
169 609

169 610

169 t27

169 649

169 735

169 744
169 756

169 761
169 767

Nerbonve (n£e Aemagnat), Veuve, C. M. A. de. Abmagnat,
S. M. T., & Armagn.vt, p. J. Method of measuring the lengths of
electric waves. (30/7/20.)

Ellisto.n, E. R. Electric service lifts. (21/8/20.)
Metropolitan-Vicxkrs Electrical Co., Ltd. (Westinghouse
Electric & Manufacturing Co.) Automatic electric sab-station
systems. (26/8/20.)

Igranic Electric Co., h'm. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Co.).
iMeans for regulating alternating currents. (26/8/20.)
Shanghai Elecrtic Cokstructio.v Co., Ltd. (McColl, D.) Trolley
heads for electric traction vehicles. (29/9/20.)
Anti.voro, E. Safety fuses for electric circuits. (14/12/20.)
(Addition to 151 523.;

Hitchcock, S. I. Permanent magnets and permanent magnet
motors. (6/4/20.)

Scott, W. H. Electrically-driven winches. (6/5/20.)
Morgan Crucible Co., Ltd., & Payne, G. I. Electrically-heated
tubes, muffles, and the like. (2/6/20.)

Oldham, G., &, Oldham, J. Electric lamps particularly adapted
to be carried or supported on the person. (4/6/20.) ! Cognate
Application, 29436/20.)

Latour, M. C. A. Two-pha«e high-frequency electric alternating
current generators. (23/6/20.) (Patent of Addition not granted.)

APPLICATIONS FOE PATENTS

March 7, 1922.

6 622 Fuller's United Electric Works & L. Fuller. Galvanic batteries.

6 633 A. FoRTESCUE. Anti-vibration fitting for electric light.

6 637 T. F. Wall. Induction motors.

6 651 A. L. Davis. Electric switches.

6 685 R. L. Wood. Driving means for car-lighting dynamos.

6 709 D. TiNLOT. Electric switches.

6 713 EuRAL Patents, Ltd., & H. J. Waller. Electric contact makers for
steering wheels of motor vehicles.

6 715 J. T. M. Morris & F. R. F. Ramsay. Obtaining polar diagrams of
alternating electro-motive force or current.

6 717 T. N Whitehead. Electro-n-agnetic compasses

6 723 W. F. Higgs. Induction motors.

6 732 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Tag blocks, temiinal strips, &c.

6 734 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & N. G. Langrish. Con-
trollers for electric cranes, &c.

6 736 C. H. Vidal. Electric drilling machines.

6 740 H. P. R. Rees. Wireless telegraph and telephone receivers.

6 741 A. PiJscHEL. Incandescent lamp holders.

6 747 D. Forrest. Apparatus for remagnetizing magneto magnets and
recharging batteries.

6 755 Etab. de Dion-Bouton, Soc. Anon. Regulating devices for electric
installations. (14/4/21, France.)

March 8, 1922.

6 793 R. F. WooDBURN. Electric resistance weldin?.

6 821 Metropolitan Electric Tramways, Ltd., & L. B. Hewitt. Electric

vehicles.
6 822 Humber, Ltd., J. A. Cole & L. J. Shorter. Electrical starting

mechanism for fluid pressure engines.
6 827 A. L. Oliver. Waterproof electric blasting cap.
6 833 A. E. Beattie. Magneto detectors and actatic end directional

magnetic compasses.
6 849 R. Arraya. Producing electro-anaesthetic current ior treatment cf

nervous diseases.
6 854 A. S. Cachemille ( Westinghouse Electric and Mfg. Co.). Control

of electric machines.
6 857 R. Amberton. Electricity meters.

6 858 R. Amberton & R. H. Barbour. Electrical testing apparatus.
6 862 P. d'Aigneaux. Converting d.c. into high frequency a.c.
6 867 J. HiGGiNSON. Electric ignition systems.
6 898 Relay Automatic Telephone Co. & B. J- C. Rousseau. Automatic

telephone systems.
6 905 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Telephone systems. 20 2 21,

U.S.)
6 909 W. J. Keadett. Electric machines for heating rivets, &c.

March 9, 1922.

6 919 H. S. Rogers & W. Preston & W. Walker. Electric switches.
6 955 R. M. Beard. Electric lighting fixtures.
6 962 J. & A. Morgan. Lead connectors for electric terminals.
6 994 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric switches.

6 998 J. H. Nicholson. Electric talking machines, &c.

7 001 C. J. Aston & A. G. T. Cusins. Wireless masts.

7 008 R. Miehl. Synchronous motor for electrjc drive of clockwork*.

March 10, 1922.
H. L. MoiSELLE. Electrical shop sign.

S. O. CowPEa-CoLES. Leading in wires for incandescent lamps.
A. M. Taylor. Joints of h.t. cabL-s.
A. A. Bull. Current collecting apparatus for electric railways i«nd

tramways.
& 7 107 C. W. Kay. Current collecting apparatus for railways und

trainways.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & K. Balmann. VentiLiting

or cooling electrical machines.
A. Reyrolle & Co. & R. W. Biles. Protective arrangements for a.c.

circuits.
Electrical Improvements, Ltd., & R. W. Grfgory. Electric

switch fuses.

E. Vari;. Elements for storage battery cells. (10/3/21, Belirium.)
Naamlooze Vennootschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Carbon

bodies. (12 3/21, Holland.)
Soc. Anon des Ateliers de Secheron & C. J. Belli. Couplings for

machines of high voltage d.c. series system. (16/4/21, Germany.)
Ges. FtJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Antenna systems for wireless

signalling. (12/3/21, Germany.)

March 11. 1922.

F. W. Pellant. Contact legs for thermionic valves.
I. H. Parsons. Electric horns.
F. T. Asfiton. Projection arc lamp.
Electrical Improveme.\ts. Ltd., R. W. Gregory & L. C. Grant.

Protective devices for d.c. circuits.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & G. A. Ceeetham. Electric

fuses.
General Electric Co., Ltd., & J. J. Gracie. Incandescent lamps,

&c.
P. C. RusHEN (Siemens-Schuckertwerke).

suspended particles from gases.
E. Sommerfield. Locking devices for

(12/3/21. Germany.)

March 13. 1922.
Cable Accessories Co. & P. W. Davis. Wall plugs.
Forges et Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Jeumomt.

Cascade rotary converters. (5, 4; 21, France.)

7 041
7 047
7 048
7 105

7 106

7 121

7 125

7 126

7 142
7 152

7174

7 176

7 197
7 210
7 229
7 240

7 252

7 258

7 260

7 265

7 270

7 278

Electrical separ.ition of

electric cT>t^- lamp?.

430

The Electrician.

April 7, 1922

7 295 W. J. GooDERiDGE. Electric horns, &c.

7 297 British Insulated & Helsby Cables, Ltd. & F. J. Brisler.
Electric cables.

7 309 P. T. Hayes. Telegraph typewriting machines.

7 317 A. Howes. Electric switches.

7 320 A. J. D. Kraitse & A. H. Railing. Electric cut-outs.

7 321 J. B. Belcher. Connector for insulated wires and cables.

7 326 M. F. Fisher & B. E. TnoMPSOi*. Apparatus for electrical treat-
ment of baldness, &c.

7 332 H. Baran (Aldendorff). Automatic, &c., telephone switching
systems.

7 336 Radio Commttnication Co. & N. Lea. Method for determining
direction of electro-magnetic or electro-static fields.

7 345 Western Electric Co. Printing telegraph receiver.

7 346 Buckley, Saunders & Co. Uniting metal bodies electrically.

7 358 A. Negromanti. Thermo-electric fabric.

7 366 E. P. Barfield & L. W. Wild. Electric furnaces.

7 369 Watliff Co., A. O. Hinchliff & S. J. Watson. Producing
commutator bars.

7 371 V. Parvopassu, G. Gallo & R. Lenner. Unfusible electro-thermic
safety devices.

7 378 A. Watts. Registration of telephone calls.

March 14, 1922.
7 411 C. E. P. Gabriel. Portable electric lamps.
7 416 W. C. Mitchell. Identification labels for cables.
7 437 Plantation Rubber Manufacturing Co. & M. M. Dessau. Devices

for attachment to mouthpieces of transmitters.
7 446 A. T. Scorey. Apparatus for testing strength of permanent

magnets.
7 471 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Electric circuit interrupters.

(14/3/21, U.S.)
7 472 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co.. B. S. & W. Whiteley &

A. P. M. Fleming. Electrical insulating cylinders.
7 476 L. A. Cordenot. Manufacture of electric insulators from ceramic

paste. (21/3/21. France.)
7 483 Ever Ready Co. (Great Britain) & C. S. Mummery. Inert cells.
7 484 F. Schuster. Electrically heated mould for finishing stockings,

gloves, &c.
7 494 J. M. Miller. Amplifiers. (15/3/21, U.S.)

7 509 E. C. R. Marks (Bennett). Telephone mouthpiece disinfectant.
7 .510 E. C. R. Marks (Colonial Lamp and Fixture Works). Portable

lighting fixtures.
7 513 G. A. Bartholomew. Electric power accumulator.

March 15, 1922.
7 532 T. F. Wall. Induction motors, &c.
7 536 E. R. BiCKLEY. Call recorders for telephones.
7 541 B. J. Baker. Electric control of a number of telephones.
7 548 R. H. Playfoot. Accumulator and accessory cases for motor cycles,

7 621 Soc. 'Le Carbone. Electric cells. (3/6/21, France.)

7 622 Soc. Le Carbone. Wet electric cells. (9/12/21, France.)

7 632 W. H. Gwynn. Glass electrodes for high-frequency currents.

March 16, 1922.
E. Temple. Attaching wires to sparking plugs.

E. W. Reed. Electric lighting systems of motor vehicles, &c.
Implitico, Ltd. & H. S. & W. R. Lambert. Electric advertising

signs.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & A. Stubbs. Control of

turbine-driven electrically onerated winding plant, &c.
D. C. Crowe. Electro-magnetic relay.
Magnet Motoren Akt.-Ges. Air-cooled cylinders. (22/3/21,

Germany.)

B. T.-H. Co. & H. W. Taylor. Electric machines.
A. P. Welch. Transformers for wireless circuits.
Park Royal Engineering Works & W. J. Davis. Switch gear of

the truck type, &c.
British Power Railway Signal Co. & J. Ashton. Electric switch

point detecting apparatus.
7 778 and 7 776 A. Baderna. Electric cut-outs. (17/3/21, Italy.)

March 17, 1922.
A. E. Honey & L. Snellgrove. Electro-magnetically operated
switch mechanism.

C. J. Gordon. Electric vehicles.

F. J. HoLTOM, T. Taylor & M. J. Railing. Electric switch and
fuse boxes.

Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Switching mechanism

for telephone systems. (28/3/21, U.S.)
A. J. H. Elverson. Electric contact breakers.
W. Clark. Electric switches.
Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co Telephone systems.

(26/4/20, U.S.)
J. Stone & Co. Electro-magnetically operated switch mechanism.
Radio Communication Co. & J. Scott-Taggaht. Electric signalling

systems.
Radio Communication Co. & J. Scott-Taggart. Oscillating vah-e

systems, &c.
Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie. Multiple control apparatus for

electric railways. (17/3/21, Switzerland.)
T. J. T. Hodgkinson. Electric massage apparatus.
y. G. Murray. Electro-magnetic locks. (19/3/21, British India.)
J. C. N. Graafland. Radio-electric relay and electric signalling

(23/9/21, Holland.)

March 18, 1922.

7 902 R. MacGrsgor & F. W. Raisin. Self-propelled floating electric

power station.
7 933 S. J. Levi & H. Rottenburg. Portable electric standard lamps.
7 939 S O. CowpER-CoLES. Zinc cylinders for primarv batteries.
7 947 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & T. Ferguson. Control of

electric motors for traction.
7 969 B. T.-H. Co., H. W. Taylor & K. R. Hopkirk. Electric machines.
7 970 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Alternating current machines.

7 987 R. Dell. Controlling railway signals of the electric light type.

March 20, 1922.

8 007 R. Bosch Akt. Ges. Electric hooter. (17/10/21, Germany.)
8 011 F. Addie & a. G. Hartley. Electric control gear.

8 026 T. J. Hedley. Materials for use as electric conductors.

8 036 W. H. Slaughter, E. R. Beckwith & H. T. Hall. Electric

couplings.
8 056 N. A. Block & J. W. Coward. Coil ignition systems for internal

combustion engines.
8 064 I. Calvete. Remote control switches.
8 066 A.F. R Cotton & E. W. Russell. Conversion of musical sounds

into electricity, or vice-versa.
8 078 Wireless Speciality Apparatus Co. Electric condensers. (30/3/21.

f 2!i ir^^'^'^l ^ Co. & A. H. Darker. Train lighting dynamos.
8 082 W. B. Sayers. Electri? machines, &c.

7 651
7 674
7 684

7 708

7 735
7 738

7 739
7 753
7 770

7 771

7 774,

7 785

7 814
7 830

7 842

7 846
7 847

7 852

7 855
7 859

7 860

7 870

7 881
7 890
7 893

8 115
8 143

8 148
8 182
8 187

8 188

8 191
8 210

8 211

8 215

8 237

8 244

8 245

8 247
8 248
8 249
8 262
8 343

8 271
8 303
8 304
8 305
8 306
8 333
8 341
8 348

8 352
8 354
8 368

8 369
8 371

8 372

8 381

March 21, 1922.
C. J. R. Alsford & E. F. Turner. Oscillating circuits.
W. R. BuRNE. Inter valve high-frequency transformers.
S. D. Be.^nett. Sound producing horns for telephone receivers, &c.
J. Raper. Brush holder for electric machines.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & C. S. Best. Electric

soldering irons, &c.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & C. S. Best. Electric
- heating apparatus.

P. G. A. H. VoiGT. Electric accumulators.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Electric circuit interrupters.

(23/3/21, U.S.)
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. (Railway & Industrial

Engineering Co.). Electric insulators.
J. H. VAN ViERSEN. Joiiits of electric cables, &c. (1/11/21,

Holland.).

A. J. .TuLLiN. Regulating device for dynamos. (26/3/21, France.)
Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie. Apparatus for feeding polyphase

mercury-vapour rectifiers. (24/3/21, Switzerland.)
Scintilla. Magneto-electric ignition apparatus. (29/4/21, Switzer-
land.)

B. T.-H. Co. & H. C. Hastings. Control of electric vehicles.
M. F. H. GouvERNEUR. Insulators. (7/4/21, U.S.)

M. F. H. GouvERNEUR (G. E. Co.). Electric switches.

A. Verner. Transformer of three-phase into monophase current.

Felten & GuiLLEAUME Carlswerk Akt. Ges. Measuring intensity

of cross-talk between lines of multiple wire telephone system.

(26/5/21, Germany.)

March 22, 1922.
W. J. Cole. Telegraph systems.

E. Schroder. Electric welding and heating devices.
H. W. Clothier. Electric switches.

A. "^Reyrolle & Co. Electric switches.

A. A. Sandbrook. Electric lamps.

H. M. Macnaughton-Jones. Telephones.

F. McClarence. Deals for telephone services.

A. Reyrolle & Co. & R. W.- Biles. Protective systems for electric
conductors.

W. C. Karasek. Synchronising electric safety lift lock.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Automatic electric motor starters.

Glow discharge tube

(24/3/21,

(26/3/21,
Electric

H. Vogt, J. Engl & J. Massolle.

Germany.)
Newton Bros. (Derby). Electric driving of compressors.
G. Newbury & H. F. Thomas. Lock for electric lifts.
H. Andre. Alternate current rectifying apparatus.

France.)
DuBiLiER Condenser Co. (1921) & W. H. Goodman.

condensers.

March 23, 1922.
L. R. Lee. Connectors and couplings for electric cables.
A. Fletcher. Continuity clip for electrical slip conduit pipe and

fittings.
H. W. Underbill. Electric automatic weighing machines.
W. Langdon-Davies & A^. Soames. Electric welding on a.c. circuits.
A. Onwood. Inductances.

A. Drummond. Electric ignition systems.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric drives for sound-producing
machines.

H. Vogt, J. Engl & J. Massolle. Cathode delivery tube for re-
cording electric frequencies free from inertia. (24/3/21,
Germany.)

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Arc welding.

F. Portal. Change-speed device for electric drive of underwear
looms.

L. J. Hooper & C. L. Pratt. Electric switches.

C. S. Franklin & B. J. Witt. Wireless telegraph receiving systems,
L. H. M. HUYDTS. Electric clocks. (30/9/21, Holland.)

March 24, 1922.
& 8 513 O. Morgan. Collector for electric cranes for collecting

current from trolly wires.
H. J. S. Thomas. Electric contac's.
E. K. Bedlington. Electric contacts.
A. B. Brothwell. Automatic electric illuminating device for alarm

clocks.
A. F. Marsh. Telephone transmitter mouthpieces.
A. H. CuLLEY & L. MoTT. Electric accumulator.
M. T. Williams. Terminal electric connections.

G. H. Mottershead. Commutators or distributors for electric
ignition circuits.

London Electric Railway Co. & J. P. Thomas. Turnstiles for

registering passengers, &c.
C. J. RixEN. Protecting device for electric motors, &c.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Electric circuit interrupters.

(24/3/21, U.S.)
L. F. R. Fell. Power generating and transmission systems.
T. R. & L. J. Hancock. Electric resistance furnaces.
T. R. & L. J. Hancock. Preventing oxidation of electric conductors,

&c.
Western Electric Co. Loaded transmission lines. (4/6/21, U.S.)
Western Electric Co. & L. Polinkowsky. Telephone systems.
H. H. Berry & W. J. Markham. Fuse carriers.
E. Haefely et Cie. Akt. Ges. High-tension transformers. (26/7/21,

Switzerland.)
J. Bethenod. Maintaining constant speed of d.c. machines.

(25/3/21, France.)
P. Lavender. Registering telephone calls.
E. H. Ni^wton. High-frequency electric generators.
H. St. G. Anson. Method of magnifying intermittent electric

impulses.
Electricars, Ltd. & J. P. Kemp. Electrically propelled coke trucks.

March 25, 1922.
8 646 W. H. EccLES. Electric insulator.*.
8 670 F. D. Denner & L. J. Lepines. Electric switches. &c.
8 671 H. B. Prentice. Electric distribution for fuse boards, &c.
8 673 T. A. W. Robinson. Winding coils for inductances for radio

telegraphy, &c.
8 687 C. G. Hayward. Electric time transmitters.
8 710 Westinghousb Brake & Saxby Signal Co. (Union Switch and

Signal Co.). Electric signalling systems for railways, &c.
8 718 E. B. Moullin. Measurement of alternating potential differences.

8 421
8 426

8 455
8 457
8 462
8 463
8 465

8 469

8 471
8 494

8 502
8 504
8 507

8 512

8 523
8 526
8 534

8 535
8 540
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8 555

8 573

8 578
8 583

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8 619

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8 639

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THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance,

No. 2291. [vol.LXXxVlII.]

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1922.

Prepaid Subscription U.K., /i 55. p^.Vp f.A
perann.; Abroad, /I los. rriCC UU.

CONTENTS.

Notes of the Wbkk 431

The Electricity Supplt Bill 434

Speaking With One Voice , 435

A Simple Generator of High Frequency Current for Measure-
ment Purposes. By J. M. Illustrated 436

Eeviews 438 and 441

Electro-Farming. By E. Borlase Matthews 439

All-Electric Automatic Power Signalling on the Metropolitan

Railway. By W. Willox 440

The Thermionic Triode as Rectifier. By E. B. MouUin, M.A., and

L. B. Turner, M.A. Illustrated 442

The Institution of Electrical Engineers 444

Books Received 445

The Properties and Uses of Micas 446

Belfast's New Electrical Engineer 447

The Ignition of Fire Damp 447

Obituary 448

COBRBSPONDBNCB 449

New Railway Rates for Electrical Goods 449

English Electric Rotary Converters 449

Industrial Research 450

Rugby War Memorial 4.50

The Greater London Scheme 450

A Large Eleotric Steam Generator 450

Latin-American Engineering Notes 451

London Traffic Reform 451

Electrical Plant for Japan 451

Electric Pumps in Marine Salvage 451

Resources of the Crown Colonies , 451

Legal Intelligence 452

Parliamentary Intelligence 452

Electricity Supply 453

Electric Traction ■• 453

Trads Inquiries 453

Personal and Appointments 454

Business Items, &c - 454

Institution Notes , 454

Telegraph and Wireless Notes ,..• 454

Exhibition Notes 454

Institution of Engineers, Australia 454

Imperial Notes 455

I'oreign Notes .. 455

Miscellaneous 455

The Fuel Problem in Germany 455

Forty Years Ago 455

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 456

Tenders Invited and Accepted 458

New Companies 458

Commercial Intelligence 459

Catalogues, Price Lists. &c : « 459

Arrangements for the Week 459

Patent Record 460

Notes of the Week.

Sir John Benn.

It is with the greatest regret that we have to record the
■death of Sir John Benn, Bart., chairraan of Berui
Brothers, Ltd., the proprietors of The Electrician. Sir
John, who was in his seventy- second year, died early on Mon-
day morning after a short illness. Though the close touch
which he has maintained with eilectrioal matters through
the medii:m of The Electrician has only been of a few
years' duration, his connection with the industry which we
serve is of a much more ancient character. He will be
remembered as an ardent supporter of municipally owned
electric trams for London, and it is largely owing to his
energy and enterprise that a wide network of communica-
tion is now spread over so much of the metropolis. Had
Sir J OHN fulfilled his desires the network would have been
wider, but for many years his party in the County Conncil
was not in power, and those who have controlled
these matters, both in that body and in Parliamenti, have
been averse to the extensions which he would himself have
pushed forward. In non-electrical matters, such as
housing, welfare measures, and sanitation. Sir John's influ-
ence was wholly towards the goal of better municipal govern-
ment in London. His long eLxperienoe (at the time of his
death he was Father of the Connty Council) was of the
greatest use both to his colleagues and tOi the officials, and
it is not too much to say that the London of to-day is
largely his creation. London, therefore, will miss him, but
those of us who knew him as a chief and a leader will miss
him much more:.

Automatic Signalling Progress.

The part that electricity can play in handling an increas-
ing railway traffic in a more efficient and more expeditious
manner than by steam working is emphasised by implica-

tion in a Paper read by Mr. W. Willox before a recent
meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers. An abstract
of this Paper will be found on another page of this issue.
As is well known, the high acceleration of the electric motor
makes it possible to run trains on a shorter headway than
is possible with the steam locomotive. On the other hand,
a shorter headway necessitates an increased number of signal
movements in a given time, and therefore practically im-
poses the use of automatic methods of control in place of
the older manual system. The order of these increases is
well illustrated by the figures given by Mr. "Willox for the
Metropolitan Railway In 1905, when electric traction
was first used, the number of trains between Praed-street
Junction and Aldgate (the busiest section) was 621 per day
on both roads, with 49 signal sections, while in 1913 the
number of trains was 863 between these two points and no
less than 983 between Bakei"-street and Aldgate (owing to
trains coming in from the Aylesbury extension), with 91
signal sections.

A Record of Success.

The design and installation of equipment for successfully
controlling this enormous traffic naturally required a great
deal of thought and careful workmanship, which are
reflected in the details given by Mr. Willox. No less is
it reflected in the small number of failures incurred, almost
all of which were due to the operation of the train stops
and so caused but a short delay. Only once has a signal
failed to return to the danger position, and if such a thing
should happen again the signal in rear would go to
danger in its turn and remain there, so that ?af etyis practic-
allv assured. But there is more than this to be said. For, as
Mr. WiLi^ox points out, automatic signalling, besides having
the traffic advantages detailed above, also means a direct sav-
ing in wages, about £325 per annum being the order of the
economies on the IMetxopolitan. It is interesting to note,
moreover, that both a.o. and d.c. are used for operating the

432

The Electrician.

April 14, 19M

signal?, a.c. track circuiting being, naturally, used through-
out. It would be useful to have comparative figures of the
operation of the two sets of equipment, and we hope these
may be made available so as to render the history of an
interesting piece of work complete.

Standardisation — Pros and Cons.

It might be argued that on the balance standardisation,
whether we consider its broad, underlying principles or its
practical results, has as many disadvantages as advantageis.
In the electrical industiy we have recently had a striking
example which falls within the former class, and doubtless
others could be found without much trouble. In general
engineering, on the other hand, where design and manufac-
ture are more stabilised, the advantages probably outweigh
the disadvantages, as was convincingly shown by Mr. C. Le
Maistre in a Paper read recemtly before the North Coast.
Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders. Mr. Le Maistre
quoted Mr. H. J. Skelton to the effect that the sa.vings
effected in the production of rolled sections had reduced the
costs of production by £100 000 per annum. Even in
1914 95 per cent, of the sections rolled at the five largest
steel works in thei kingdom were British Standard Sections,
while the tramway rail sections had been reduced in number
from 75 to 5. These examples indicate two' of the many
directions in which, from the consulting eingineer's, the
buyer's, the designer's, and the manufacturer's points of
view, standardisation is a real economic advantage.

Excellent Voluntary Effort.

Mr. Le Maistre righly congratulated the industry on
the organisation of the Standards Association. It is, as he
pointed out, practically a voluntary body, both as regards
financial siupport and eixpert assistance. Witho'Ut wishing
to be uugraoioius, however, it nlay be eimphasised that
expenditure of this kind is really an investment and not
a charity, and must be returned many fold. For the work
of examination and recommendation which the Association
undertakes after due external pressure enables the ground to
be cleared in a way that makes cheaper productioin possible.
It must be emphasised, too, that this spade work is carried
on with the assistance of every sectioin of the industry, and
how widespread that assistance is may be gatteired from the
statement that there are now no less than 385 committees,
gub-committees, and panels engaged in the work of initiat-
ing or amending standards. The main committee' itself
does not initiate standardisation, but waits for pressure
from outside, and then calls a represeiiitative conferemoe to
ascertain whether there is general agreement as to the need
for fixing an official standard. In this way the industry
regulates the advance and false' steps are avoided. This
good work is likeily not only to continue, but to expand for
the general benefit. *

Temporary Expedients.

There is a right appliance or an appropri&'-.e tool for evei-y
job in engineering. And if new apparatus is developed new
tools are devised for its manufacture. But every engineer
encounters jobs that have to be performed when appropriate
tools or appliances are lacking. A consideration of the
expedients that then have to* be adopted foirmed the subject
of comment in a useful Paper read recently by Mr. W. E.
HiGHFiELD before the National Association of Supervising
Electricians. The case of a nevv generating station was
taken as ar example. Here the constant anival of goods,
not always in perfect condition, on a site which may be in
a state of chaos, calls for method and ingenuity on the part

of the engineer-in-charge. If he has heavy machinery to in-
stall, it pays him to lay a good road from the railway-siding
to the site, and this can be conveniently constructed from
sleepers or lengths of heavy timber. Hints were also given on
the use of jacks and cranes and the levelling of bedplates.
Lining up by the aid of spirit-level and a stretched steel
wire as a test of alignment is important, and care should
be taken that middle bearings take their share of the
weight. Hydraulic gear is preferable for pressing on shafts
as the pressure can be measured . On no account should the
hub be heated, to get the shaft on, this expedient being left
for future withdrawal.

Drying Out Insulation.

Mr. Highfield also gave some useful advice on drying
out insulation. Foundry core ovens, he said, were unsafe, as
the heat may greatly exceed a safe value. Transformer oils
were best dried in the tank by the aid of a few standard
tramway resistance grids. Balancing engines was at once a
highly necessary and difficult problem. Finally, some hints
were given on emergency repaiirs. Problems of this kind form
a good test of the resource and practical efficiency of an
engineei', and one of the first lessons a man on installation
work has to learn is the art of doing without useful and
customary tools and apparatus. The practical advice given
in this Paper is well worth attention not only by ©ngineers-
in- charge, but by engineers generally.

The Lighting of Public Buildings.

At a recent meeting of the Illuminating Engineering
Society a detailed account of the installations in a number
of public buildings was read by Messrs. E. H. Rayner,
J. W. T. Walsh and H. Bucklev, of the National
Physical Laboratory. Sixteen installations in all were dealt
with. Semi-indirect lighting seems to have been generally
used, and the illumination recorded varied from 2-9 to 4-7
foot-candles, the general standard being thus considerably
in advance of that customary a few years ago. To obtain
3 foot- candles, the minimum aimed at, consumption of
enei'gy varying from 0-38 to 063 W per sq. ft. were*
recorded. One good feature of the installations is the care
devoted to the screening of filaments, glassware being used
to diminish the brightness to quite a moderate figure (06
to 2-5 o.p. per sq. in.). While the discussion revealed some
differences of opinion on certain points — for instance, the
wisdom of the general adoption of semi-indirect methods —
the measures taken in these installations appear to have
been such as to ensure adequate lighting, and the data
therefore form a valuable record. We wish that the
illumination of public offices was always planned in such
a thorough iiianner, and it is interesting to observe that, a
new building, especially designed for experiments in
illumination, is being erected at the Laboratoiy.

Lighting Decorative Interiors.

Following the account of this work in public ofticee,
another aspect of the subject, the lighting of more or less
decorative interiors, was dealt with by Capt. J. W.
Liberty, Public Lighting Inspector to the City of London .
A number of photographs, taken by Mr. J. S. Dow entirely
by the artificial light provided in each installation, were
shown. In many oasea pleasing effects were illustrated, one
striking view being a passage leading to the Council
Chamber at the jNTarylebone Town Hall, where the lighting
is effected by concealed lamps placed in a dome, situated
between pillars. It would appear from the oniate character
of the decoration in many of these rooms that expense has

April 14, 1922

The Electrician.

433

not proved a deterrent factor, and wo should, therefore,
expect lighting of an imposing kind. On the other hand,
decorative aspirations are not always favourable to illu-
mination. For instance, when walls are panelled in veiy
dark walnut the contrast between the brightness of the
lighting, the fittings, and the siurroundings imposes great
difficulties on photography, and is probably not desirable for
eye comfort. A complete contrast to these methods is
afforded by the main office at the Port of London Building,
now in course of completion. Here lamps totalling 20 000c. p.
are assembled in a vast white dome. This gives an excel-
lent diffusion of light, and the installation, when completed,
should be worth a visit. In decorative interiors it is natural
that the architect should have a considerable voice in the
lighting arrangements, and we do' not wish to restrict his
methods unduly by insisting on purely technical considera-
tion. Nevertheless, in rooms that are used as offices, for
meetings of committees, councils, &c., utilitarian aspects
must be considered, and there is occasionally a tendency for
undue weight to be attached to the decorative side of the
problem. The Illuminating Engineering Society, in pro-
moting this joint discussion with the R.I.B.A., has, we
hope, exercised a useful influence in favovxr of a balance
being struck between these consideratioi?.-;.

Tramway Change-Over Arrangements.

If we are to judge by the letter which we publish in our
Correspondence columns to-day, Mr. M. J. E. Tilney is of
the school that believes tliere are some things which " they
order better in France." Paris, he points out, is not only
in the throes of tramway reconstruction, but it endures, as
we do in London, more than one system of tramway opera-
tion. Some means of easily and quickly changing over from
one syste'm to another are theirefore necessary, if through
running is tO' be possible, and, from the details that Mr.
Tilney gives, it seems that the London tramway
undertakings have something to learn from the Paris
tramways authorities in this respect. We are inclined
to agree with this view; as there seems no rea.son
why the pre-historio, man-handled apparatus, which
may be seen in use where the conduit is
replEiced by the overhead systeim — e.g.\ at Plighgate —
should not be replaced by some simple, mechanical or elec-
trical device which could be easily operated and save both
time and labour. The probable answer to the question
propounded by Mr. Tilney in the last paragraph of his
letter is that capital expenditure stands in the way. At the
same time, in these labour-saving days the advantages and
disadvantages of ,the apparatus which Mr. Tilney
deecribes might well be examined to see whether its
adoption is nob possible.

The Circle of Delimitation.

The draft of the Brentwood Electric Lighting Special
Order recently issued by the Commissioners exhibits a new
method of determining an area over which statutory powers
are sought. Generally, the area, in such Orders is 00-
terminus with some existing boundary, and this is a ready
and practical means of delimitation. But the promoters
of the Brentwood Order have invented another method.
They have disregarded every existing boundary and have
fcpeciiied simply that the area shall consist of the plot which
lies within a circle whose radius is two miles from a peir-
ticular spot in Brentwood. A circular area like this cer-
tainly has the advantage that anyone can mark it out for
hirciiself on a map. On the other hand, when it comes
D

bo practice this simplicity di&appearg and many difficultiee
simultaneously arise. To determine such an area in tit it
is by no means easy. It cannot be done direct as when
parish boundaries, which are known to all and sundry, are
pic'-.ed out. To find just where this hypothetical circle
actually runs is only possible by the use of a large scale
ordnance map and from calculations made on the spot. In
a rural area like Brentwood it is, perhaps, more tedious
than difficult, but would be a very awkward matter in a
district entirely built over. We hope this example of
ingenuity will be the last.

The Plaint of the Passenger.

We have the highest authority for the statement that to
every action is an equal and opposite reaction, and
this is equally true in many other spheres than the purely
physical. The latest example is to be found on the London
Underground Railway, where the laudable efforts, from the
management's point of view, to prove by poster and asser-
tion what a wonderful service is being provided is being
counteracted by suggestions that improved facilities would
be really more welcomed by the public than this wealth
of illustration based largely on supposition. We hear, nay,
we all experience too often, the doubtful joys of using
lifts which will miss trains, of travelling in connecting
trains that do not connect, of hanging suspended from
straps when we have paid for seats, and of enjoying the
conversation of officials whose language recalls that of the
cowboy of fiction. Could only a few of these drawbacks
be removed we would gladly forgo even Mr. Heath
Robinson's pictures of what an ideal Underground should
be.

The Domestic Load and Thermal Storage.

The domestic load is at once an opportunity and a night-
mare to the electricity supply engineer. He sees in it a
chance of expanding his output and revenue, but is a little
fearful of risking capital, as it must be risked, which will
not become immediately productive. From the consumer's
point of view, and frca the engineer's, too, for that matter,
electricity as a domestic aid has the disadvantage that it
is not, as at present used, a means of providing th^t cheap
and abundant supply of hot water which is a necessity in
every household. It may be noted that it shares tliis
disability with gas, and that therefore some sort of ooal-
heated boiler must be installed. This installation rather
outs at the roots of the all-electric nome of which we dream,
and it therefore behoves electrical engineers to seek a sohi-
tion of the hot- water problem. Thennal storage seems to
offer that solution. It is not a new idea — indeed, to some
it is an exploded idea. But its past failure may be written
down to its infancy, and there is no reason why ultimate
success should not be gained. The thing bo remember is
that it is not a small quantity of very hot water that is re-
qiured in the house, but a large quantity of warm water.

Trackless Trolley Results.

Those tramway engineers who are flirting with the track-
less trolley system will be interested to read an article which
recently appeared in the " Elektris«he Kraft Betriebe und
Bahnen," giving the results of ten years' experiences wiih
a system which had been in operation between Hamburg
and Marienhohe. The run was 2^ km. e«ch way, the cars
weighed 3 150 kg., and could carry 12 seated and 10 stand-
ing passengers. The wheels were fitted with solid rubber
tyres, and the cars were driven by 15 h.p. motors with a
silent wcrm drive. The tiolley was pivoted on the roof

434

The Electrician.

April 14, 1922

of the car in such a manner as to give a free swing through
a full circle, so permitting the cai to deviate as much as
three metres from the route. The author of the article
makes the following claims for the system : That the
operating cost-s, including depreciation and renewals per
passenger carried is the same as for rail traction ; that the
building cost of the trackless trolley system is only
a third of that for the ordinary tramway; while the
wear and tear on the road is less with the trackless trolley
system, and the traffic obstruction is also far less. If this
be so there is much support with the author's view that
in the majority of cases it would be possible to install a
trackless trolley system over existing well-kept-up roads
with a minimum of invested capital and a maintenance cost
about equal to that of the ordinary tramway.

The Electricity Supply Bill.

Unexpectedly good progress has been made with the
Electricity Bill in the House of Lords. For, notwithstand-
ing sixteen pages of amendments, numbering sixty in
all, two days sufficed for the proceedings in Committee, and
the Report stage was taken on Tuesday. The result is that
the measure in its amended form now stands a reasonable
chance of being passed thia session. The alterations made
are not so extensive as at one time we feared might be the
case; and with one or two exceptions tJiey do not appear
to be of a vital character. Perhaps the worst part of the
business was the way in which the speeches of many of the
noble lords betrayed not only woeful ignorance but a total
disregard of the interests of the supply industry. If some
of them had had their way, in fact., each scheme for the
organisation of a district would have to run the gauntlet
of Private Bill procedure, with its heavy expensie and its
attendant worries and unoertaintiee, a course which, is with-
out any advantage except to the obstructionists.
Fortunately, also the Minister in charge (Viscount Peel)
resisted a proposal which was embodied in thie
foolish amendment of Lord Askwith to exclude local
authorities from the category of those who could give finan-
cial assistance to Joint Electricity Authorities.

Convenient Forgetfulness.

The noble legislators seemed, indeed, to have forgotten
that the provisions of the Bill are entirely permissive, and
not compulsory in character, and that Joint Authori-
ties are not to be exclusively entrusted with the reorgani-
sation of electricity supply. In some areas, such as North
Wales and the South-West Midlands, po\v€r companies will
be in a dominant position, and in the remainder of the
country, which has been provisionally detea-mined intot elec-
tricity districts, companies will have equitable representa-
tion on any authorities that may be formed . Moreover, orders
setting up Joint Authorities must bo approved by both
Houses of Parliament, and yet noble legislators spoke as if
none of these safeguards existed. The majority seemed to
be actuated by a spirit of antagonism to municipal trading,
and by a fear of increased rates, which quite destroyed all
thedr usual sense of logic.

Amendment of the Bill.

To placate these critics, concessions were made by Vis-
count Peel, In the first place, local authorities with a
population of less than 50 000, who are not. authorised
undertakers, were excluded ; in the next place, the liability
of other councils who are not undertakers is limited to a

penny rate; and, finally, those municipal councils who are
undertakers will not be called upon to meet more than the
estimated annual amount of any capital charges, from which
they will be relieved by taking a supply of electricity in
bulk from the Joint Authority.

It may not be easy to make the last-mentioned calcula-
tion, but inasmuch as we believe Joint Authorities will be
able to function without late-aid, the point will not arise
in practice. A new clause was inserted authorising a Joint
Authority to take a lease of the whole or any part, of the
undertaking of authorised undertakers, and slight modifi-
cations were made in Clause 8 relating to the use of main
transmission line® by Joint Authorities, and in Clause 10
relating to wayleaves.

Suspension of Purchase Powers.

An important new clause is olie authorising the sus-
pension of the purchase powers of the Joint Authority,
London County Council, or local authority, provided
consent to such suspension has been obtained. As the pre-
cise form of the clause could not be agreed, to, it was post-
poned to the Report stage. This is an important amend-
ment of the existing law, and will go far to remove the
obstacles toi the formation of a Joint Authority in the
Greater London area.

A new clause, amending Sec. 12 of the 1919 Act, was
also accepted, and provides full protection for power com-
panies where an additional demand arises in any
part of their area. Some alterations were made
in Clauses 14 (revision of prices, &c.) and 16 (power of
persons not being undertakers to supply electricity), and
after an unsuccessful attempt had been made to amend
Section 16 of the principal Act, which provides compensa-
tion for the loss of office, the remaining clauses were passed,
certain amendments being reserved for the Report stage.

The Removal of Objections.

It will be seen that, while the main provisions of the Bill
as introduced into the House remain, the alterations made
should go far to remove the objections of the power com-
panies as enunciated in their recent pronouncement. Many
of these companies have rendered signal service to the in-
dustry, and no one desires to seri them deprived of any
advantage which their enterprise and energy have secured.
We cannot, however, appreciate their claim that., while no
local authority or County Council within the area of a power
company should be allowed to give financial assistance to a
Joint Electricity Authority, they should be enabled to par-
ticipate in the financing of the power company. We can-
not see the reason for this differentiation, and we hope that
the Legislature will not adopt the suggestion. It must be
remembered that power companies' ar^is do not cover the
whole of the country. Joint Authorities will be occupied
with the generation and supply of electricity at as near cost
as possible, and we hope and believe that they can do this
more cheaply than the existing undertakings. Local
authorities (and supply companies, too), where they
are undertakers, will be quasi-partners in the authority;
they will be concerned m'itE the retail distribution
of the electricity they receive in bulk, and though
the presec'^ Bill places limitations upon their
liability on account pf any financial assistance they
may give to the authority, they may make a profit out of
the supply of electricity. In many cases local authorities are
as likely to get electricity as cheaply from a Joint Authority
as from a power company, and, therefore, it would be as
advantageous to them to support the former as the latter.

April 14, 1922

The Electrician,

435

Speaking With One Voice.

The final informal meeting of the presemt session of the
Instiditiou of Electrical Engineers may be said to have been
distinguished in two ways. The first was that, in spite of
the high interest of the subject for discussion : ' ' The
Importance of Considering Finance in Electrical Under-
(akings," the attexidance was small, and therefore the
spectacle of two famous members attempting, somewhat
inarticulately, to propound plans for the construction of a
new electricity supply industry was observed by but a
meagre audience. The excuse of those who were not present
might M'ell be : Why put forward plans for such a recon-
struction in such a way ? That is the second surj^rising
thing. For though both speakers accorded praise to the
work of the Commissioners, they implied that that hard-
working body are ploughing the sands, and that unless we
revert to undiluted private enterprise in every sense of the
word we shall soon have to set about reaping the whirlwind.
The electricity supply industry in this country, they both
would have us believe, is in a bad way; and unless we are
careful Avill never be anything else. Here is more than
sufficient food for thought, and we are not surprised thai
the discussion was a little ill-sustained.

Rectifying Old Defects.

The opener of the debate, Mr. Arthur Wright, admitted
that the Government was endeavouring to rectify so^me of
the old defects which have prevented the development of
the industry in the past. But he went on to say that
nothing was being done to remedy the real cause of O'Ur
backwardness, the continual discouragement of private
capital and enterprise from entering the electricity supply
field. Though the Commissioners were doing a great deal
to consolidate electricity supply ajreas, no one had discovered
the source whence would come the enormous amount of
capital required to carry out the extensive development
foreshadowed, and without that capital there could be no
real development.

Private Enterprise the Sole Solution.

Further, Mr. Wright argued, only private money and
enterprise could be relied upon to achieve the necessary
progress, and this woidd not be forthcoming unless the
financiers who provided it were assured of the entire control
of their expenditure. Ratepayers, too, would not allow
the rates to be mortgaged for enterprises operating mainly
outside their own towns, enterprises in which they would
not have the sole voice in questions of management and
policy. With these arguments Mr. Highfield expressed his
hearty agreement. The solution of our present difficulties
must originate, he said, from the industry itself, and it
must tell the politicians with one voice what the right line
to take was.

Whose Voice ?

Now it is quite open to Mr. Arthur Wright and to
Mr. Highfield to hold the opinion that private enterprise
is the best, and indeed the only way of developing the elec-
tricity supply branch and so the electrical industry at the
present lime. Recently we expressed much the same view,
and it is also widely held in other quarters. We are also
of the opinion that it is desirable that the electrical industry
shovdd speak with one voice in this as in other matters.
The difficulty is how to square what is desirable with what
is possible, and especially are we doubtful at the present
time that if the electrical industry did speak with one voice
D 2

that voice would be the voice of Mr. Arthur Wright and
Mr. Highfield. Manufacturing interests, for instance,
are anxious to move forward without delay and see in the
support of the Commissioners the best way of doing this.

Past History.

If we retrace our steps with Mr. Arthur Wright into
the past history of the electricity supply undertakings we
do not find that enterprise waw or is the entire prerogative
of the companies. Considering the conditions under which
they have had to work perhaps it is not altogether their
fault, but that does not alter facts. To deal purely with
finance the municipalities have, in general, supplied elec-
tricity more cheaply than private enterprise, and have done
so with advantage rather than disaster to the undertakings
they own and to the ratepayers who have backed them.
Thepe municipalities have encouraged the development of
both the power and domestic loads, the show-room idea and
the more technical advances in a way which the companies
have often either not cared to do or have not been success-
ful in doing. Moreover, until about ten years ago
financiers were shy of the electricity supply industry, as
represented by the private enterprise, and even the fact
that money can now be more easily obtained at a high
interest is not on Mr. Wright's own showing necessarily
an encouraging sign.

The Brighter Municipal Prospect.

On the other hand, money raised on the security of the
rates has generally been easy to obtain at a low interest,
and even now flows in in a stream of gratifying volume
when it is required. So that on the financial side the
promise is apparently brighter for electricity supply when
it is under municipal than when it is under private control.
If, therefore, we tabulate the arguments for and against
the official methods of reorganising the electricity supply
of the country, and similarly tabulate the arguments and
results for and against handing over the whole of that great
development to private enterprise, we find, remaining aa
unbiassed as we pof5sibly can in the meantime, that there 13
at least as much to be said for one course as the other ; that
there is at least as great a weight of opinion on one side
as the other, and that municipal management of electricity
supply is usually as enterprising as when the conduct of
affairs is in private hands.

A Comparison for Example.

In another branch of human affairs at the present time
where much active disagreement is found as to the best
solution to adopt each side emphasises its desire for peace
and promises to give up warfare — directly it gets what it
wants. The parallel is rather close to the matter now under
discussion. For both Mr. Arthur Wright and Mr.
Highfield stress the importance of the electrical ind'istry
speaking with one voice, and we agree that it is most impor-
tant that there should be one voice. But we find on
examination that it is to be their voice with which they
wish the industry to speak, and it is not sui-prising there-
fore to discover a reluctance among municipal electrical
undertakings to sink their individuality in quite so whole-
sale a way. Neither do we quite see why they should. For
with friendly rivalry real prc^ess will come from real co-
operation, whose foundation the Commissioners are working
hard to lay. A real co-oj>eration means each side working
together, not one side dominating and the other side blindly
following.

436

The Electrician — April 14, 1922

A Simple Generator of High Frequency Current for

Measurement Purposes.

By J. M.

Postulating the importance of high freqwincy measurements in modern radio researches, the author goes on to detail the requirements of a
generator of high frequsnoy current for this class of work and to describe apparatus which has actually been used for the purpose. Examples

of tJie mzasurem^nts that have been undertaken are also given.

The use of a small oscillating arc for making measurements at
hiffh frequencies is by no means novel, and in fact the type now to be
described has been used for this purpose for several years. Its
proved usefulness, however, is such that it deserves to be more
widely known, and these notes are written to that end. After a
brief description of the construction of such an arc, the important
conditions for its stable operation are outlined and three examples
are given with full values of the constants of the various circuits
employed.

The Importance of High-Frequency Measurements.

In the solution of everyday problems in high frequency engineering
the experimental method has necessarily to be used to a much
greater extent than when dealing with continuous currents or
alternating currents of low frequencies. The increase of frequency
makes prominent a number of additional factors in the electrical
circuit and greatly complicates calculation, so that although
measurements are also less simple at high frequencies they are
usually more practicable than direct calculation.

Moreover by making certain measurements at the correct
frequency, but at reduced power, it is often possible to obtain results
of sufficient accuracy by further calculation.

Requirements of a Generator of H.F. Current for Measurements.

The lower limit of power is chiefly determined by the energy
consumption of the measuring apparatus. This energy consump-
tion ought to be practically negUgible in comparison with that of the
circuits in which the measuring apparatus is inserted, and the latter
should itself be small compared with the power of the generator.

A generator capable of delivering 30 W of high-frequency energy,
over a large range of frequencies, is sufficient for a very considerable
number of measurements, in fact its sphere of usefulness may be
compared with that of a battery in direct current measurements. In
conjunction with sucli a generator, portable hot wire instruments,
or thermo-couples with direct-reading moving coil instruments, may
be used.

Since the invention of the Poulsen rtrc a number of types of small

nffrifiniii linnnfin

gfi,.

Base sectioned to show
fixing and connections

Fig. I.— Sketch of Type "O" >\rc.
C. F. Elwell, Ltd., London, Makers.

power arcs have been constructed by different experimenters with
the object of obtaining not only a pure sine wave form and constant
frequency, but also uniform ampUtude.*

A small arc of this kind has advantages over a triode valve as a
generator of oscillations, inasmuch as it is extremely simple and
compact ; its hfe is indefinite and there is nothing to get out of
order ; it is unbreakable and renewals of electrodes (which last a
long time) are very cheap ; it requires no special sources of supply,
but can be runoff an ordinary direct-current supply at 110 V or
more. At the same time, it is possible to obtain from the small arc,
provided suitable circuits are employed, the necessary power over a

* Zenneck — Wireless Telegraphy. VoUmer — ^chwankungen der
Frequenz und Intensitat in der Liohtbogenschwingungen. Jahrb. de
Drahtl. Telgr. 3, p. 117.

wide range of wavelengths, with a stabiUty amply sufficient for
many practical purposes.

Details of Construction.

In the case of the small arc illustrated in Fig. 1 , it has been found
possible to simphfy the apparatus without detriment to its satis-
factory operation by dispensing with the magnetic field and
water-cooUng used in the larger Poulsen arcs, while a suitable
atmosphere is produced by pouring into a dish surrounding the anode
a little alcohol, which is vapourised by the heat of the arc.
The arc is instantly struck, and works for long periods without
adjustment. It is enclosed under a bronze cover A, having
fins for effective air-cooling, which is bedded, with a joint on to a
ring B, mounted on an insulating base. With the ring B
is cast dish C which is fed with liquid alcohol from time

-Nmr

D.C.Supp/y

Hgh — w

-m^

•MAAr

<2H

Fig. 2.

to time by the funnel and cock D ; fixed to the centre
of (' is the copper anode E. The carbon cathode F, which
is of sufficient section to ensure its uniform wear without the
necessity of rotation (as in larger Poulsen arcs), is held in a carbon
holder G, the stem of which passes through a hoUow adjustihg-
screw H, and terminates in a knob K. The spring L keeps
the carbon holder O up against the lower end of the adjusting
screw H by means of which the gap between the anode and
cathode is regulated ; the arc is struck by pressing K
momentarily. In the cover is a small relief- valve M. Two pairs
of terminals, marked + and — are connected to the anode and
cathode respectively, one pair for the d.c. supply, and the other for
the oscillator^' circuit.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of connections. The resistance Rnc in the
d.c. supply circuit should, generally speaking, have a value such
that the voltage drop across it should be at least equal to that across
the terminals of the arc itself. The iron-cored choke coil Lj of
about 01 henrj-, helps to steady the supply, especially when this is
from accumulators, and the air-cored chokes La protect the d.c.
supply circuit against high frequency in cases where the latter might
cause trouble, although the H.F. voltage is never likely to exceed a
few hundred volts.

The arc can deal with about 120 W d.c. continuously, without
excessive heating, or with rather more for short period. The d.c.
supply current is about 2 A, and the \ oltage across the arc between
.50 and 100 V. The oscillating current should have a value equal to

-,- times that of the d.c. supply current, and this condition wil.

be obtained when the inductance /~ capacity C^ and resistance
lis of the oscillatory circuit have suitable values.

'l:

-- should be greater than 100 O, and the value of if 5 as laiige
as possible compatible with the maintenance of the arc, which goes

out if i?.s- exceeds a certain limit ; the correct ratio I "^ I of oecilla-

\v2 /
ting current to d.c. supply current will then be obtained, and at the
same time a good H.F. output, with pure wave-form and constant
amplitude and frequency. The latter will be very close to the
natural frequency of the oscillatory circuit, and its constancy will be
improved by keeping the capacity (\ small.

When the arc is working on the true Poulsen cycle, with the ratio
H.F. current I .

,. Y " . '^ ~7T7' ® ^^ ^^ extinguished once per period and

re-ignited at the moment when the charge of th© condenser hae
reached the voltage required to jump the arc gap. Now, the interval
between extinction and re-ignition is the least well-defined portion
of the period, and ihf shorter this interval i.s made, the more ooafit«nt

April 14, 1922

The electrician.

437

will be the length of the period. The smaller the capacity of the
oscillatory circuit, the more quickly will it be charged up to the
ignition voltage, the shorter wUl be the interval of extinction and the
steadier the frequency.

Very good results are obtained for frequencies varying between
15 000 and 100 000 periods. Between 100 000 and 300 000 the
oscillations are a little less pure, but it is still possible to carry out
over this latter range, a large number of measurements in which
purity of wave form and constancy of frequency are not of great
importance. A number of working points are shown in the table.

Table of a Few Working Points of the Arc.
The supply volts should be about twice the volts across the arc.

Oscillatory CSr

cuit.
R

Supply.

Volts

Remarks.

Metres.

AtFds.

Ohms.

across Arc.

Amps

780

■001

1500

•001

2 000

■0035

2000

•00175

2 2

2 000

•0035

r85

2 000

•0035

1^7

Arc overloaded.

2 450

•002

1-65

2 500

•001

1-75

3 100

•0014

3 300

•00175

3 700

•007

4 950

•0035

7^5

1-7

5 900,

•007

115

13000

•0105

100

1^8

Arc overloaded.

The curve in Fig. 3 shows an example illustrating the extent to
which the wave length of the oscillations may fluctuate when the same
frequency is obtained with different values of the capacity of the
condenser.

The Use of the Small Arc.

Among the me^jsurements for which the small-power arc is
suitable, the following may be mentioned :

High frequency resistance of conductors, inductances and
capacities. High frequency tests of dielectrics and condensers, by
the use of suitable step-up high-frequency transformers. Calibration

1 , 1

X ve

ni^s

mal

Zs=7ot

;.->

•00s fxF

Fig. 3.

Circuit Xo. 1.

IruJuctance Coil L^. — 83 turns, wound in a single layer on a woodeo
cylinder.

Diameter of turns — 20 cm.

Number of turns per cm. — 1-4.

Wire— No. 27 SWG. D.C.C.

High frequency resistance for = 4 500 m., 10 0. approx.

Inductance — 1 830 microhemys.
Coil l^ — Square single-layer coil, 10 cm. side.

Total number of turns, 20 ; several taps.

Turns per cm. = 1'4.

Wire— No. 27 SWG. D.C.C.
Condenser C; — 3 milhmicrofarads.

t, = r2A.

ia; = 767 0.

Lwl = 924 V.

Power absorbed by the circuit, 15 W. appro.x.

Coupling between the circuits No. 1 and No. 2.

Ml = 2 microhenrys.

M^a> = 084 O.

M-^uIx = 1 V. (E.M.F. induced in circuit No. 2 by circuit No. 1)

of high-frequency ammeters, for currents up to about 30 A, using
suitable step-down transformers, and measurement of antennae
constants, lecture demonstrations of resonance phenomena, &c., &c.,

Detailed Measurements.

The following examples of some measurements actually carried out
with the type of arc generator described and illustrated above may
be found useful : ^r|

Example 1. — Measurement of a non-inductive resistance wave-
ength, 4 500 metres (Fig. 4).

Circuit Constants.
Arc Supply Circuits :

Supply voltage — 140 V.
Voltage at arc terminals — 80 V.
Series resistance — 17^5 O.
Supply current — 1^75 A.

H.F. Circuits. ;

(A = 4 500 m. ; a. = 2ir/==419 000).

(fl§^ I,

Circuit N°1.

CircuitN°2 Circ^S. Circ^4.

Fig. 4.

Circuit No. 2.

Inductance Coil i.,. — 21 turns, woimd in a single layer on a wooden
cylinder.

Diameter of turns — 20 cm.
Number of turns per cm. 1^4. '

AVire— No. 27 SWG. D.C.C.

High frequency resistance for A = 4 500, of the order of 7-5 Ohms.
Inductance — 275 microhenrys.
Coil 1-2 — Square coil, 9 cm. side.

Number of turns, 5 (in a single layer).
Wire— No. 27 SWG. D.C.C.
Two turns are used, giving an inductance of one microhenrj- This
coil was placed inside coil Z, it was turnable about its diameter.
Coil l-i- — Same as coil /o.

Capacity Co consists of a fixed condenser in parallel with a variable
condenser. Total capacity at resonance — 00 208 microfarads.

Resistance i?^ and Re .— Re consisted of constantan wire, 20 0, per metre
two parallel strands of which were wound close side by side, the length
of wire in circuit being varied by a sUding contact. The resistance
was varied until the substitution of R^ for the unknown resistance
i?! produced no variation of current in the circuit. The value of Ri found
by this measurement wa. —2^8 0.
i.2 = 0^2 A.

LnOl = 115 O.

L\(^I. = 23 \.

Power absorbed by the ciicuit — about 0^3 W.

Coupling between the circuits (2) and (3).

M.2 =1^2 microhenry.

M.-,<^ = 0o 0.

if-Wo = 0-1 V.

Ciicuit No. 3.

Coil /j — same as Coil li.
Coil l^ — was movable inside coil /j.
Resistance of thermo-couple, 10 O.
ul^—lOo 0.

ifvoil-i

couple

Power absorbed by the circuit, about Oo milliwatts.

Circuit No. 4.

Resistance of thermo-couple, 10 0.
Diiference of potential at the terminals of the used thermo-couple fa.
a heating current of 10 mA. 2^2 mV.
Galvanometer resistance, 8 0.

Galvanometer constant, 100 divisions = 120 microamperes.
For I-i = 7mA. the difference of potential at terminals of thermo-
couple is 108 mV.

1 -54 mV . _ QQ microamperes. The galvanometer thus gave
^* ~ 18 ohms. . „

a deflection of 50 divisions when the unknown resistance Rz was
inserted in ciicuit No. 2. , , , ,• u ^

It can be seen from the data given above that the couplmgs between
the coils were very loose and the power absorbed by the succeeding
circuits diminished rapidly. Reaction between circuits was quite
negligible. The power furnished by the arc permitted of accurate
measurements being made.

438

The Electrician.

April 14, 1922

Example 2. — Measurement of the resistance of_au inductance coil.
Wave-length A = 4 500metres.

The resistance to be measured was of the order of 10 0., and the
inductance of the coil about 2 100 microhenrys.

The same circuits as Fig. 4 were used except for circuit No. (2).
Constants of circuit No. (2). (See Fig. 5.)
Coil Xo= 2 900 microhenrys.

Capacity C,, variable air condenser, of 1*96 millimicrofarad.
Rc = Q 0. '
Coils lo and l^ similar to those described in the preceding example,
except for re-adjustment of the coupling Jf , and ifj-

Procedure. — On short circuiting the added resistance Re the galvano-
meter gave a deflection of 100 divisions. On inserting Re the deflection
« as^43 divisions. Consequently :

Rx +Rc /lOO

-rt^n

■Re

' 0-625

-■ 1 525, from which

= 11-5 0.

The losses on the coils L<! and L«" and the condenser Cj "^^y be
^

M-zy

I, i

mm —

Fig. 5.

neglected. The reaction between the circuits is stronger here than m
the first example, but the resulting error is still quite negligible.

Example 3. — Calibration of a High-frequency Ammeter.
Standard ammeter —

Full scale reading— 35 A.
Resistance— 0-009 0.

Inductance, between the terminals, of the order of 0-1 microhenry.
A mmeter to be calibrated —
FuU scale reading — 30 A.
Resistance — 0-01 O.
Inductance between the terminals, of the order of 0-1 microhenry.

Circuit Constants and Calibration Conditions (Fig. 6) = 2 200 metres.

Arc Supply circuits —
Supply voltage— 220 V.
Supply current — 2-15 A.
Resistance R — 57 O.

Voltage across terminals of the arc — 98 V.
Power absorbed by the arc, 210 W.
(The arc was in this instance somewhat overloaded, but it would
stand this for the short period required to carry out the calibration.)

■m^^ — I — (a\

D.C. Supply

■^sfc-

^ 38$

strip 12 X 1 mm. wound round the middle of the coil ij ; diameter of
turn, 20-5 cm.)

Inductance in the leads was reduced to a minimum by avoiding the
formation of loops with the connections.

Pig. 6.

Circuit No. 1.

Capacity d = 3-5 millimicrofarad.

Inductance coil Li, 600 microhenrys.

Cylindrical coil — 20 cm. diameter.

40 turns.

J 2 turns per cm.

Diameter of wire, 0-45m/m.

Total resistance of circuit No. (1) for A = 2*200 metres, 7-5 O.

Current Ij = 1-5 A.

Power absorbed in circuit 1, 17 W.

Coupling between circuits (1) and (2).

M = 12-5 microhenrys. ^

E.M.F. induced in the secondary by the primary Muli= 16 V.

Circuit No. 2. (Fig. 7.)

Inductance Coil I about 5 microhenrys (one turn was variable and
consisted of a spiral coil of 5 turns of bare copper strip 1 x 12 mm.
outside diameter 20 cm.). This inductance was used to regulate the
current tj.

Inductance Coil Lj about 0-4 microhenry. (One turn of bare copper

Fig. 7.
Current /.j.

First case, ^ = 0.

Total resistance of circuit No. 2 = 0-019 0.

Total inductance of circuit No. 2 = 0-58 microhenrys.

Total impedance of circuit No. 2 = 0-5 0.

Then 72=. ^ = 32-2

Power absorbed by circuit No. 2 = 18 W. approx.
Total power furnished by are == 35 W. high frequency.
Second case, I ---■ 5 m. henrys.
Total impedance of circuit No. 2 — 4-28 0.

Then/2=i^ = 3-75A.

The reaction of the secondary on the i^rimary has a considerable
effect on the wave-length, therefore when I is adjusted, the inductance of
ii should be adjusted to keep the wave-length the same as before, this
being checked by measurement on a wavemeter.

Three Useful Text Books.*

The first two books here noticed mark a breaking of new ground.
Their object is to wed the elementary facts of chemistry and physics
to their everyday applications in ordinary life, and to illustrate
the facts of science by examples culled from the street and factory
rather than from the laboratory. Thus in the book on " Chemistry "
filtration and evaporation are illustrated by references to modem
centrifugal fUters, drying machines, and evaporators, while in the
chapter on Combustion and Heat we are shown what Sheffield looks
like on Sundays and on week days respectively, and thus draw the
useful conclusion that the gas fire is a non-smoke producing heater
which ought to be more widely usod. Why electric heater should
be left out it is best perhaps not to pause and consider. However,
electricity comes into its own in the chapter on Combustion and
Light, while in that on Oxygen and Nitrogen some details are
given of nitrogen fixation processes.

In the book on " Heat " the same method is followed, and here
a whole chapter is devoted to the electrical production of heat with
illustrations of modem electric fires, electric kitchens, and other
accessories, while electrical methods of measuring temperatures
are given adequate space. The books are weU and interestingly
written, clearly printed, and adequately illustrated. Thej' should
fulfil the useful task of appealing to those who like their knowledge
applied rather than pure. In the copy on " Heat," which we
received pp. 1^9 to 156 were issued as a slip-in supplement, but we
hope this is not usual.

The aim of the authors of the " Electrical Engineers' Pocket
Book," which now reaches its second edition, is something
more than a collection of tables and formulae. Nevertheless there
are a good many of both, and though the information which is
given both in them and in the rest of the book is good and accurate,
and the general get up, though the type is small, cannot be criticised,
we really wonder at the increasing production of this type of work.
The need for co-operation among the various branches of the
electrical industry to avoid cut-throat competition is constantly
being dinned into our ears. We suggest that a small association
of those engaged in the publication of electrical books might be
formed with the same end in view, as at present part of the ground
is being trampled over by pressing crowds, while other parts upon
which information is sadly required are being inexplicably left
untillecL

*Heat, Part I., and CnEMiSTRY, Part I. By George Thompson

and George H. Leslie. (London : Cassell «S: Company.) Pp. xii.

+ 160 and Pp. xi. + 159.
Electrical Engineers' Pocket Book. Second edition.

(London : International Correspondence Schools.) Pp. siii. +

487. lOs. 6d.

The Electrician — April 14, 1922

439

Electro-Farming.'

By R. BORLASE MATrHEWS.

Agriculture is the largest industry in this country. In England
and Wales alone there are 418 000 farms and small-holdings, of which
36 000 have each an area of over 150 acres. There are 13 500
farms of over 300 "acres each. Hence, there should be an enormous
demand both for electrical apparatus and for current.

In this Paper it is proposed to give the results of an experimental
investigation into the practical possibilities of the use of electricity
in agriculture. The problem has been studied from a commercial
standpoint, and the experimental work has been carried out on the
lines of actual working farming. Nearly all the author's experiments
have been carried out on his own farm of 600 acres at Greater
Felcourt, East Grinstead, and at the same time Continental methods
have been studied.

Various Facets of the Problem.

As in aU other industries, the successful solution of the application
of electricity is not merely a matter of belting a standard motor to
existing machinery. The conditions and circumstances of farming
are peculiar. The seasonal use of much of the machinery is limited
and a large proportion of the labour available is prejudiced against,
and unused to, machinery in any form. Special varieties of farming,
e.g., mixed, dairy, breeding, differ much in the requirements.
The author considers that in future, for the most successful operation
of farms, the use of electricity wiU be essential. If the efficiency
of farming is to be improved, a change from present methods is
imperative, and an increased efficiency, including the circumvention
of adverse weather conditions, is easily obtained by electrical
methods. Incidentally, the application of electricity to agriculture
will do much to raise the status of the labourer.

The opportunities afforded for applying electricity on any farm
naturally depend on its size. For farms of under 150 acres care is
needed to ensure an adequate return for the capital expended, as
the number of hours of use of each machine is limited. On larger
farms, as the hours of use are longer, it is not so easy to make
a mistake in this respect.

Electrical Applications on the Farm.

In the farm buildings electric Ughttng can be usefully employed in
dairies, cow bams orbyres,buLldings, yards, &c., and for the intensive
feeding of sheep, pigs, poultry, etc., during the winter. Electric
driving may be appUed to chaff-cutters and dust extractors, root
pulpers and slicers, cattle cake breakers, corn crushers and grist
mills, maizesheers, buskers and shredders, meat grinders and
mincers, i c.

In the dairy there are many forms of machinery that can be
electrically driven, including milk or cream separators, butter
chums and workers, refrigerators, ice breakers, milk-churn
transporters and elevators, milk-bottle cleaners, milk cooling and
circulating pumps. Sterilisation of milk may be effected by
an electrolytic bath and mercury vapoiu" lamps. Incubators
for testing bacterial contents of milk may be electrically heated.

In regard to poultry, electric light may be installed in the laying
houses to increase egg production. There are electrical egg testers
and electrically-heated incubators ; opportunities exist for the use
of electric fans and the electric driving of bone grinders, grain
crushers, seed cleaners, sorters, and mixing machines.

General applications of electric power include pumping for
domestic use, pumping liquid manure and sewage, and driving
winches, hay hoists, elevators and transporters and milking
machines. The workshop for repairs to farm machinery will
contain much machinery that can be electrically driven.

Irrigation, Electro-Culture and Silage.

On the farm land there is irrigation by electric pumps, the
distribution of artificial manure, ploughing by electric tractors,
and cultivation and harrowing by similar implements, hay mowing,
hay elevating, com cutting and binding, and many other processes
that may be effected by the electric drive.

The treatment of growing crops includes electro-culture by high
tension, high frequency electric discharge, ozcne treatment or
mercury lamp treatment for stimulating growth, destrojdng insect
pests, or strengthening plants and enabling them better to withstand
changes in weather. Milk vans and lorries may also be electrically
driven.

There are many processes in connexion with gathered crops
which are assisted by electrical apparatus, such as the electrolytic
conservation of greenstuffs, hay-drying and grain-drjnng by electric
fans ; desiccation of vegetables and fruit for supply to jam-makers.
There are many machines, such as automatic silage stackers,
threshing machines, grain graders, winnowers, and balers, potato-

* Abstract of a Paper read before The Institution of Electrical
Engineers.

sorters, hop- dryers, flailing and malting machinery, clover, pea
and bean hullers, which can be driven electrically. While
finallj% electricity can be used for lighting, heating and domestic
ufi'^s in the farmhouse.

Some Radical Changes Necessary.

Most of these applications of electricity are closely allied to
procedure in other industries. Most problems a&sociated with
electrical drives inside the farm buildings are now solved — but in
some cases radical changes will have to take place in the design of
the actual machines. The biggest demand will always be for
machinery which is practically self-contained and fool-proof.
However, for the next few years the portable motor will serve
most requirements.

On the land slower progress has been made in applying electrical
methods, and certain changes wUl have to be made in British
methods of agriculture, such as the gradual adoption of more
intensive cultivation, the institution of soiling crops, inter-cropping,
and the greater employment of artificial manures. These changes
wiU favour the use of electricity on arable land, since the work
will be more regular, and idle fallows wiU be eliminated.

Only a few days' work each year is required in any one field and
even this short time is occupied with such diverse operations as
ploughing, cultivating, harrowing, roUing, hoeing, reaping and
gathering. Electrical methoas of performing these operations
have now passed the experimental stage. But few engineers have
sufficient knowledge of the intimate details of farming methods to
develop electrical methods. The problem might be simplified if
the farmer were regarded as a manufacturer who, commencing with
certain raw materials, puts them into a more refined condition—
with possibly a second process if he converts his refined materials
into the form of animal flesh. All by-products are — or should be —
fully utilized. Present farming is based upon an abundance of
cheap labour and a disregard for time. However, there are diffi-
culties in modernizing a business in which the load factor of each
machine is so low, though a completely electrically- equipped farm
may have quite a satisfactory load factor.

Current Consumption.

The annual consumption of electricity in farm buildings alone
averages 10 kWh per acre.

Figures may work out as follows : —

Area of fapm.

Usual farm Farm bldgs.,

buildings, ■ | kWh per
max. demand annum.

Farm hand,
kWh per
annum.

Acres.

150

300

600

H.P.

10
1500
3000
6000

6600
13 200
26 400

The Supply of Electricity to Farms.

As the outcome of experience, practice in electric power distribu-
tion for agricultural purposes is settling down to a simple standard.
While the main distribution may be at any pressure over 50 000 V
in Europe, a sub-distribution of 10 000 V, three-phase, 50 periods,
is becoming usual.

For economic and other practical reasons the number and size
of transformers are reduced to a minimum. For farm work 50 kVA
is a useful minimum size. From this tranpformer, supply distribu-
tion lines can be conveniently rim in any direction for a distance
not exceeding 2 500 yds. Every farm within reach of this local
distribution is connected, and a good load factor is obtained. In
Denmark, overhead lines of 0-39 sq. in. are usually employed for
farm supply. To allow for pressure-drop, motors installed at tho
ends of the lines are wound for a voltage 10 to 15 per cent, below

Unquestionably the best and cheapest method by which the farmer
can obtain power is from a public distribution network, but where
this does not exist he must install a properly designed independent

plant.

The author has devised an arrangement whereby the farmers
oil tractor can be made to give effective service until a peraianent
plant is available. The scheme comprises a special reinforced
concrete runway, having strong side guiding kerbs. These kerbs
always ahgn the tractor in the same position facing the dynamo,
which is momited on a suitable pedestal and driven by an endless
belt from the tractor pulley. The dj-namo is attached by cam-
clamping bolts to belt-tightener raiL. The latter are provided with

410

The Electrician.

April 14, 1922

an adjusting screw operated by a crank liandle. Thus the belt
can be very quickly adjusted as the tractor is taken away or
brought in.

Power Rates.

It is to be hoped that central power supply undertakings will not
•stipulate for rates based on the horse-power of the motors connected.
Such rates discourage a fanner from installing a number of motors.
With the aid of suitable technical advice it can be demonstrated to
farmers that they can obtain better terms on a self-restricted
maximum demand. Agricultural-implement manufacturers are
already catering for this requirement by providing such machines
as tlu-eshers in such a form that the work is carried out in two
separate stages. In one machine the corn is threshed and cleaned
sufficiently for the farmer's OAvn needs. In the second machine
that portion of the corn from the thresher that is intended for the
market is finally dressed, cleaned and sorted. Either of these
machines can be driven by a 5 p.p. electric motor, as compared with
the 12} H.p. motor required for a standard full-size thresher.

Electrically operated farm machinery should be of a design
and construction as rarely to need overhaul. A trouble often
encountered with farm electric motors is damage by moisture, due
either to rain or to condensation. Motors should be as waterproof
as is feasible. Ball-bearing electric motors are to be preferred, if
provided with good felt packings, as frequent lubrication is
eliminated. Undoubtedly the most j^ractical motor for farm use
is the three-phase squirrel-cage type. For farms of over 300 acres
the author favours three-phase power installations on this account.

Motor Problems.

On a farm where other than manual power is employed in the
barns the machines most commonly in use are hay chaffers, root
cutters and pulpers, grinding mills, cattle-cake breakers, and
firewood saw benches. These are chiefly used during the winter
time, and even then for only a few hours daily. At first thought,
the load factor does not appear attractive. However, if electricity is
available it will soon be employed for a variety of other purposes.
An important use, where water is not already laid on, is for driving
the water pump for general farm purposes and also for domestic
use. Another essential service is the driving of a liquid-manure
pump. If a dairy herd of more than ten cows is kept, it is advisable
to employ a motor-driven cream separator and also a milking
machine. For the driving of the milking machine 2 to 3 h.p. is
required. Over 9 000 farms in New Zealand employ milking
machines. The milking load comes on very early in the morning
and again in the afternoon. The preparation of food for the live
stock is usually carried out in the morning. If a threshing machine,
and also a hay and straw transporter and elevator are added to the
above equipment, there will be a fairly heavy load for twelve hours
each day during the winter. In addition, electric lighting will be
needed in the early morning hours and again at night. At the hay
and corn-harvest periods, the driving of the barn machinery would
be replaced by the operation of an electric fan for curing the hay and
sheaves of corn, also for elevating hay and silage crops ; in addition
a chaffing machine would have to be driven for cutting silage. If
a number of sheep were kept, an electric shearing machine should
be employed. Among the uses on the land that should be seriously
considered nowadays are electric ploughing and cultivation, electro -
culture of growing crops, and electric treatment of silage. After
all, the requirements of each farm have to be specially studied, as
the form of farming so often differs, as does also the arrangement of
the buildings.

Sizes of Motors Required.

On a small farm of under 150 acres the barn machinery required
can usually be driven by a 1 h.p. motor. However, for the chaffing
machine it is preferable to employ 3 h.p. motors, as this size will
do the work more quickly and provide an ample margin for
the counter-shaft losses. On a farm of 150 to 300 acres a 5 h.p.
electric motor is most suitable, as the barn machinery on these
farms is slightly larger. On farms of over 300 acres at least 15 11. p.
motors are required, as still heavier machinery has to be driven,
inclusive of a full-size threshing set. The latter in itself requires!
about 12} H.P., and in addition a small margin is required for
driving a small trusser and possibly a feeder in conjunction with
the thresher. Where the electric di'ive is available on the larger
farms, it will also be found advisable to incorporate with the chaffer
a cyclone dust-extractor.

An air-pressure system for the supply of the water will be found
to be the most efficacious. With a well 1 to 25 ft. deep, a pump of
.) H.P. will deliver 360 gallons per hour. With wells 50 to 600 ft.
deep, f to 3 h.p., delivering 200 to 1 500 gallons per hour, is usual.

Portable Motors.

With a view to eliminating counter-shaft drives and enabling
each piece of barn machinery to be placjd in the most convenient
position, portable electric motors are now favoured. However,
it is a moot poiiit as to whether, in the course of the year's use, the
value of the time lost in adjusting and fixing them would not pay

the interest and depreciation on a direct -connected motor.
Difficulty is often experienced with the installation of a suitable
counter-shaft drive, owing to the fact that it has often to be placed
in somewhat antiquated buildings. On some of the more up-to-date
farms, counter-shafts fitted with baU-bearings are employed, and
arranged for seH-ahgnment. It is difficult to get farm labourers
to keep the belts in order, especially as the machines are not in
constant daily use. Where counter-shaft drives are employed on
farms, it woiUd be a good plan to mount the driven machines on
slide-rails, like those used for an electric motor, as this would save
much belt trouble.

Portable motors have one great point in their favour, I'.e.j they
enable new drives to be tried and experimented with in cases of
doubt. For work outside the farm buildings they are often
invaluable.

Portable motors for use on farms should preferably be provided
with starting switches and fuses or circuit breakers mounted on the
side of the motor frame. The flexible leads from the source of
supply should form a cable in which an extra earthing wire is
included. A convenient standard length of cable is 40 ft. If a
longer length is necessary a light wooden reel should be supplied
upon which to coil any excess length not in use. A double-width
pulley on the motor spindle enables the alignment of the portable
motor to be quickly made. The motors should preferably be of
drip-proof type.

Small motors complete with starters and flexible cable can be
obtained ready mounted on handle bars, enabhng them to be
carried from place to place by a couple of men ; alternatively the
motors are mounted on timber skid frames or on wheeled frames,
on which they can be drawn into convenient positions, being ready
for service in their new location as soon as the belt is attached.
Continental practice favours very substantial 3-point suspension
horse-drawn enclosed vans, for motors of 15 to 40 h.p. For smaller
motors, the author advocates a wooden platform, suitable for use with
transporter or lifting trucks, as employed under modern factory
conditions.

All-Electric Automatic Power Signalling on
the Metropolitan Railway.*

By W. WILLOX.

In 1905 when electric trains commenced to run on the Metro-
politan Railway, the system of signalling was mechanically controlled
by Spagnoletti lock and block. The number of trains between
Praed-street Junction and Aldgate — about 5 miles — was then
621 per day on both roads, and the number of signal sections was
forty-nine. When the number of trains was increased, it was found
necessary to introduce automatic signaUing controlled by track
circuits. The system chosen was all-electric, and the work was
begun in 1908. This section was completed in 1909. Two power
frames were installed, one at Praed-street Junction and one at
Aldgate, to deal with the traffic at these places, but the existing
mechanical boxes at the intervening stations were retained for
shunting purposes, with the" addition of the safeguards afforded by .
track control. The number of trains in 1913 at Praed-street
Junction was 863, and from Baker-street to Aldgate 983, and the
number of signal sections ninety-one.

Present Traffic Conditions.

There are about twenty hours daily of continuous passenger
traffic, but from 7.30 to 10 a.m., and from 4.30 to 7.30 p.m., the
traffic is so dense as to necessitate forty booked trains to and
forty from the City per hour, and the automatic signalling deals
with these successfully. Similar signalling was therefore installed
between Baker-street and Neasden in 1911, the number of signalling
sections being increased from twentj-four to fifty-one. At this
date there was only one through line at Baker-street dealt with
by two signal boxes, one at the north end of the station and one
at the Circle end. This through line was track circuited, and full
protection was afforded to train movements, allowing forty-eight
through passenger trains to be run to and from the City. All the
current used in these installations was direct.

First Automatic Installation.

In 1913 the new Baker-street Station was completed, and auto-
matic signalling was installed between the Circle lines and the
north end of the station. For this purpose a small signal box
was constructed on a retaining wall so as to be out of the way,
and in it a power frame of thirty-six levers (six spare) was installed.
This power frame deals with over 1 500 trains a day. and it is
interesting to note that the signalman has no view of the trains
except those within station limits immediately in front of his box.
Through the station all signals and points are controlled by d.c,
but the track circuits are a.c. In 1913 'two iiow fast lines were
constructed alongside the old or local lines from Finchley-road

♦Abstract of a Paper read before the Institution of ^ivil Engineers.

April 14, 1922

The Electrician.

4 a

to Wembley Park, a distance of "> miles. Through the jimction
at Finchley-road and on to Wembley Park a.c.' track circuits were
installed, but the signals are worked by d.c. as far as Neasden
Power House. From this point to Harrow-on-the-Hill a.c. is used
for the signals as well as for the tracks, and from the same point
a.c. is used both for tracks and signals on the local lines to the
junction north of Wembley J^ark vStation where the fast and local
lines converge. From Baker-street to Harrow-on-the-Hill before
automatic signalling there were thirty-nine signalling sections,
now there are sixty-nine, and on the through fast lines there are
twenty sections. In 1919 the signalling from Praed-street Station
to South Kensington, which was an automatic bar and treadle
system controlled by d.c, was track circuited with a.c, but the
signals continue to be controlled by d.c.

Power Supply Arrangements.

C-'urrent for the supply of power to operate the power frame
at Praed-street Junction and at Baker-street is obtained from
two 130 V 5 kW motor- generators through suitable cables. These
supply power for the operation of the points, the signal lamps and
train stops, the electro-magnets for back-locks and for the constant
indication of power-worked points at Praed-street Junction, and
also for working the power frame at Baker- street, the total required
for both boxes being 2-08 kW.

For operating the track circuits, automatic and semi-automatic
signals, and train stops, between Praed-street, Bishop's-road, and
Edgware-road stations, and also between Edgware-road, Great
Portland -street and Marlboroiigh-road, and for the four large
illuminated train indicators at Baker-street, power is obtained
from one 15 kW and two 12 kW 70 V motor-generators in Baker-
street sub-station, the maximum power taken being 14 kW. The
mechanical locking in the power frames is ordinary miniature
tappet locking controlled by levers in the ordinary way, the electric
locking frame being behind the levers. lUuminated continuous
diagrams are placed behind the frames lighted by 75 V 5-candle-
power lamps.

Interlocking Devices.

All signals at junctions are electrically back-locked, an important
safety device which in the further development of electric signalling
has enabled point locking bars to be dispensed with. At all running
stop-signals there are train stops which are not connected to the
signals mechanically, but electrically, and are controlled by the
track circuits in the same manner as the signals, coming to clear
and going to danger with the signal. They are also controlled by
the track circuit independently of the signal, so that, if a signal
failed to go to danger, the arm of the train stop would still go to the
danger position.

All electric signals are either automatic or semi-automatic, the
former being controlled through the track circuits by the
passage of the trains, and the latter from signal box when this
is in use, but becoming automatic when not so controlled. Inside
the tunnels the signals are lamp signals, outside they are upper
quadrant semaphores worked by electric motors. Signals are held
normally in the clear position by electric power ; they go to danger
by gravity. All signals are lighted electrically, and stationmasters
light the signals halfwaj' to the next station on either side by a
switch at their station. One hundred yards behind each stop
signal in the open fog repeater signals have been erected, the lights
■of which are placed at the level of the driver's eyes and as near as
possible to the running line. By this means an indication is given
to the driver whether the stop signal ahead is at clear or at danger,
and if at danger he can slow up and avoid being tripped suddenly.
The signalmen have fog repeater switches in the signal box by
means of which they can light the fog repeater lamps when necessary.

Train Describers.

Between junctions it is possible to have a number of trains —
e.g., between Finchley-road and Baker-street it is possible to have
ten trains — and Mackenzie Holland and Westinghouse Company's
magazine train describers are installed, by which the signalman
at Finchley-road is enabled to indicate to the Baker-street signal-
man whether the train terminates there or is a through train to
the City. All points where there are power frames are worked
by the Mackenzie Holland and Westinghouse all-electric point
machines. These machines are enclosed in a water-tight cast-iron
case divided into three compartments. At one end is the motor,
in the centre are the gear Avheels and motor switches, and in the
other end the worm drum that operates the points and the bolt
that locks them both ways. Both point blades, as well as the bolt
lock, are individually detected tlurougli an electric detector fixed
in the four-foot way before the signalman can get his signal for a
train to pass over that route. These point machines are most
successful.

Track Relays.

.The track relays at Baker-street are of the single element vane
type, the shunt by a train averaging 0'9 O. The relays used on the

d.c. .system are of the .'J-coil polarised type, the shunt of which
by a train averages 0'15 O. Where a.c. is used the track relays
arc of the two element galvanometer type and the shunt of these
by a train averages O'O O. The most recent type of relay u-sed is
a two element vane relay, the shunt of which by a train averages
3-4 O. The cost of maintenance of this system of signalling is
not excessive. Before automatic signalling was installed there
were 045 levers in use, whereas at present only 311 levers are in
use, while the number of signalmen were reduced from 86 to .2".
Thi. meant in 1908 a saving of £127 per week in signalmen's ^ges,
which at the present date would amount approximately to £."125
per week. During 1920 the whole cost of maintenance — wages
and materials — of the signalling of the electrified lines amounted
to £123 per route mile.

Charts have been kept from the commencement of automatic
signalling in order to ascertain the number of delays to train.s as
compared with delays to trains with ordinary- signalling, and the
comparison comes out very favourably to automatic signalling.

Tests have also been made with a 3-position hght signal as used
on the Pennsylvania Railway in the United States of America.
The cost of maintenance is about the same as with 2-ix>3ition
semaphores, but the light signal would appear to have advantages
in some respects, e.g., the entire absence of mechanical parts, and
in the power of penetration of the light rays both in sunshine and
in fog.

RevievT.

Practical Electricity. By W. E. A\-rtox, F.R.S., and
T. Mathep, F.R.S. (London : Cassell & Company, Ltd.)
Fourth Edition. Pp. xv. + 547. 15s. net.

^ This is an old friend — a friend to be treated with affection and
respect, and one whose very failings have the savour of virtues.
It was first published in 1887, and this is its twenty-third reprint
and its fourth revision. On this occasion Professor Mather has
taken the opportunity of bringing' the symbols used into line with
the recommendations of the International Commission — a valuable
revision step. He has also rewritten the section on dry cells, and,
according to the preface, has amplified that dealing with storage
cells.

It is generally known, we presume, that the book is intended to
be a laboratory and lecture course, and that the title " Practical
Electricity " was designed to indicate that the subject matter
dealt with the applied side of the science, and was not to be inter-
preted in the same sense as such titles as " Practical Physics "
and " Practical Chemistry." The book under review covers a
much wider area than a laboratory coiu-se, though in the main it
does converge upon work in the laboratory and particularly upon
Avork in the laboratory of the Central Technical College at South
Kensington.

The course is intended for " first year " students — that is to say,
for the type of students in the fii-st year of the course at the Central
Technical College, and not for absolute beginners. It also follows
that it is intended for students who are full time students and who
have time to cover the wide course which tliis book covers in a single
year. This is not to suggest that other students cannot use the
book jjrofitably — they can, but they must take a longer t'me.

There are eleven chapters dealing in turn with current measure-
ment, magnetic fields, galvanometers, electrod}"namometers, and
ammeters, difference of potential and resistance, galvanic cells,
the laws and measurement of resistance, energy and power, quantity
and capacity, induced currents, and the magnetisation of iron. The
whole is a very excellent foundation course, although our view,
given with all the deference due to a work which is classic, is that
some of it could be cut with advantage. We can quite umderstand
that Professor IMather had the feeling of a vandal when he armed
himself with a blue pencil, though he might agree, in private,
that more ruthless treatment with that weapon would not have
weakened the tree of knowledge which the book represents. One
of the \ ery strong features of the book is the careful explanation of
the principles and action of the various measuring instnmients
used in electrical work. We feel that this is too often neglected,
and there is no doubt that students can take a much more intelligent
view of the tests which they perform if they are thoroughly con-
versant Avith the instruments they use. At the same time we feel
that much of the work on the tangent galvanometer might have
been cut advantageously. We think, too that there is more about
primary cells than is necessary, and we wish that IVofessor Mather
had extended the section on storage ceUs very much more than he
has done.

But, from the point of view of the educationist, our opinion of
the book as a whole may be gauged from this : That it must be very
pleasant and very comfortable to take a class of " second year "
students all of wiiom have read, performed, marked and inwardly
digested the contents of this first year course of " Practical
Electricity." j^" . J- P-vley Yorke.

The Electrician — April 14, 1922

The Thermionic Triode as Rectifier.*

By E. B. MOULLIN, M.A., and L. B. TURNER, M.A.

The performances of the triode rectifier arrangements used in vnreless telegraphy, with signals of various strengths and with or without a

superposed local heterodyne oscillation, are investigated theoretically and experimentally. The results are illustrated numerically by

reference to a certain ivell-knoun pattern of triode, and in the more fundamental cases the theoretical deductions are compared with precise

experimental measurements made at low frequency. The agreement is found to he very close.

In the present Paper, the peiiorniances of the various triqfie
rectifjong arrangements have been calculated fairly exhaustively
in terms of the parameters of the triode as exhibited in its static
characteristic cui-ves. The theoretical lesults obtained are in all
cases illustrated hy numerical calculations for a single typical
pattern of triode, the well-known " R " triode, and they have been
experimentally checked in the more fundamental cases by precise
measurements -with signal E.M.F.'s of low frequency (CO periods
per sec. ).

The rectifier arrangements investigated with these signals are
classified as follows ;

(Rl). — Rectification by curvature of anode characteristic, called
" anode rectification " ;

(R2). — Rectification by curvature of grid characteristic, called
" grid rectification " ;

(R3). — The same wiih. grid condenser, called " cumxilative grid
rectification."

Theory of RectiHcation of Sustained C.W.

The theory is well known, but may be. stated briefly as follows
(Fig. 1) : Let the asymmetric conductor (the rectifier) have a curved

h- %

Fig. 1.

characteristic of the general form i = f (v), and suppose, moreover,
that it is possible to represent this function by an infinite series.
Then v = Vo-\-e,

and ^=/K) + e/'(ro) + |^/"K)+|^/'"K)+ • • •

Let e = a sin pt-^a^ sin Zpt^-a-^ sin Sp^-f . .

then i=f(vo) + (a smpt + ag sin Spt + a^ sm 5pt + . .)f'(yo)

+ 2j (a sin^f + tts sin '6])t-\-ar, sin hpt-\- . . .ff'{vo)+ . . .
If the change of mean current due to the signal e is I .,

(a' + at + al+. . . + 2aral+ • • •) ,.„„, ,

Now suppose that the values of a, a^, a^,&c., and/"" (?;„), A c, are
such that

(a*+al+at+ . . . +2a^a|+ . . .),.„„, ,

IQ J (Vo)

is small compared with {ci'^+al + al+ . . .)f"(i\,) ; tlien

(1)

mean- square e . ir dS

^'= 2 -^ '^'«)"¥.x

Hence unless the characteristic curve is such that dHjdv* is very
large, the rectified current from a very weak signal is proportional
to the rate of change of the slope of the characteristic, and to the
square of the strength of the signal P.D., whether the latter contains
harmonics or not — a point not alwaj^s noticed.

In the original Paper are shown curves relating to observed rectified
current with the square of the vii'tual value of the signal E.M.F.
They are all straight lines so long as the applied E.M.F. does not
exceed 1-3 V (R.M.S.).

The rectified current from a 1 V signal is almost independent of
mean grid potential over a wide range, and the rectified current is

* Abstract of a Paper read before the Wireless Section of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers.

nearly ICiJ:^. The anode current characteristic of an " R " valve
is very nearly a parabola and is therefore given by the equation :

i,-=a + Pv^ + yvl

If the signal much exceeds about 0'5 V (R.M.S) the terms involving
£,*. d*ijdv*, S^c, assume importance ; but that if the signal is les-s
than 0-5 V the rectified current varies very closely as the square of
the signal strength. If, therefore, a constant weak signal is applied

Fia. 2.

and the rectified current is measured with various mean grid
potentials, it should be possible to deduce the value of cPiJd'ir'
for any mean grid potential.

Cumulative Grid Rectification.

In the method which goes under the name of cumulative grid
rectification the grid is partially insxilated by the insertion of a
" leaky " condenser, as in Fig. 2. The signal current is now the
change of mean anode current accompanying change of mean grid
potential due to rectification in the grid circuit. The method is
well known, but its quantitative theory has not been clearly set out.
It is best approached graphically, as the significance of the necessary
approximations made is then more clearly appreciated. The two
methods of connection shown in the figure are electrically equivalent,
and in each case the steady non-signal grid potential is found from
the simultaneous solution of the equations.

^»=/K) and ig=—vjB

The shape of the grid current curve f{v^) is such that its analytical
treatment is impracticable, and the solution can best be found
graphically as shown in Fig. 3. The steady grid potential is given
by OA, the abscissa of the point of intersection B of the grid and
resistance characteristics.

Function of the Condenser.

The function of the condenser in the two methods of connection
is slightly different. In Fig. 2 (a) its function is to interrupt the
circuit ROe so far as steady cuiTents are concerned ; and C is

supposed to be so large that
the alternating current flow-
ing through it produces no
sensible alternating P.D.
across it. In other words
the full signal E.M.F. may be
considered to be applied be-
tween grid and filament.
In Fig. 2 (b) the function of
C is to provide a high-
frequency shunt across jB, so
that again the full signal
E.M.F. may be considered
to be applied between grid
and filament. The alter-
nating potential of the grid
makes the mean grid cur-
rent increase ; and since, in
either method of connection,
tliis increased current must
flow through R, the mean
grid potential is tliereb\-
lowered. The accompanying reduction of mean anode current is
utilised to operate an indicating instrument.

Theory of the Method.

.Suppose that the E.M.F. applied to the grid produces a rectified
current /^. Find a point F on the line OB such that the intercept
FE of the ordinate FD between the resistance line and the grid
curve is equal to I^ on the scale of the diagram. The new mean
grid current is DF, which may be analysed into two parts, FB

Fig. 3. — Cumulative Grid
Rectification.

April 14, 1922

The Electrician.

413

called the rectified current, and FD the steady grid current
associated with the new mean grid potential OZ).* The fall of mean
grid potential is evidently DA, and hence the fall of mean anode

ill

current is BA X t-^^= Q . DA.

The method checks closely with careful experimental veiifica-
tion. The fact also arises that it matters little whether the leak is
connected to the positive or negative end of the filament, provided
only that R is large, say at least 5 megohms.

The function of the condenser is that of a high-frequency shunt.
In order to keep the time-constant of the circuit as Ioav as possible,
the capacity should be kept as small as is compatible with its
efficient action as a shunt.

The condenser may safely be reduced to (say cOfJ-p-F. ; and as the
equivalent resistance of grid and leak in parallel is about I'o
megohms, the time-constant of the circuit can be reduced to about
75 micro-seconds. With these values, if signals of 3 000 metres
wave length are being received, the signal current will attain its
•calculated value in about 40 periods.

In the circuit of Fig. 2 (b) it is possible to omit the condenser
altogether. In this case calculation gives :

di„
S=55& a — ^ = 300 micro amperes per volt.
dvg

Table I.

Strength of signal

Signal current in micro-amperes,
with

Ratio.

€ volts (R.M.S.).

Anode
rectification.

Cum. grid
rectification.

<01

0-25 to 2

>10

162.^

16^2

100 £-800

5002,2
150£
1000

30
5 when £=2
1 when £.=20

These values may not appear to agree to the results obtained with
practical wireless receivers, and this is due to the effect of a number
of factors which are distinct from those now treated.

Anode Rectification with Heterodyne of Moderate Strength.

With the signal potential difference e = a sin pt and the super-
posed heterodyne potential difference b sin qt, the amplitude of P.D.
across the rectifier varies between {b + a) and (b -a) at an acoustic
frequency small compared with the wireless frequency p/2Tr.
Hence the high frequency mean of the anode current ranges from

^(h + aY . dHJdvl to K^-«)'-^iW
The signal current is therefore

l^i [ (^ + «)^-(&-«)^[ =«&^" as before.

But the formulae

mean i^ = i(h±ay . fP^/cZv^

are applicable only for values of £ = (6 + a)/y/2 up to about
2 V, and over this range for an " R" triode dH^/du^ = constant
= 32 micro-amperes per volt per volt. Hence the best signal
current with a weak signal (namely, when b + a :^ b is adjusted
to be about 2 x/ 2 V) is

S = 128 £ micro-amps.

Anode Rectification ivith Very Strong Heterodyne.

The signal current tends towards the value 0*45g' X \/2a = 0-90gr£
as the heterodyne strength is increased, provided that the filament
emission is adequate to prevent Q from reaching the convex upper
end of the curve.

In most " R " triodes g is about 300 micro-amperes per volt ;
so that with a very strong heterodyne we have a signal current

>S = 0-90 X 300 £ micro-amps.
= 270 £ micro-amps.
This value is to be compared with the value 128 £ found in the last
section for a heterodyne amplitude of 2 V. It is thus clearly worth
while to use a heterodyne of adequate strength. A heterodyne
strength of some 15 V would be suitable, and would give a sensitivity
slightly exceeding the above 270£ micro-amps.

Cumulative Grid Rectification with Heterodyne.

Owing both to uncertainty as to the equation of the ijvg
characteristic and to difficulties of the integration involved in the
cumulative action, it is not possible to \\Tite down an expression

for the instantaneous anode current, as has been done in the case
of anode rectification.

Admitting a number of as.sumptioD£,

S=Kab= V2KhL.

The value of K already found for a small potential difference
on the grid is, for an " R " triode, 1 000 ; and if we take 6 = 0-14 V,
which is the highest value for which the formula ia applicable, we
get

5 = y/2 X 1 000 X 0-14 £ micro-amps.
= 200 £ micro-amps.

If on the other hand b lies between 1 \ and 5 V, the mean anode
current (from Fig. 19) fluctuates between l.o0(6 -\- a) v/2 and
150(6 - a)/y^2. Hence

£f=150v/(2)a micro- amps.
=.300£ micro amps.

Comparison Betiveen Anode and Cumulative Grid Rectification.

Table IE.

Strength*'of ' heter-
odyne (volts,
R.M.S.).

Signal current in micro -amperes,
with

Ratio.

Anode Cum. grid
rectification. rectification.

2
>15

6£ 200£
128£ 300£
270 £ Very small.

Very small

Taking'^an example of rectification by curvature of the anode
characteristic in comparison with damped waves of a frequency
" n" of 10* periods per sec, decrement " S " 0"1, and 500 sparks
per sec. " a;," the signal strength is only one-fortieth of what it
would have been had the wave been undamped and of maximum
value equal to the first maximum of the damped train.

The ratio of signal current when working with heterodyne to
signal current when receiving a damped train of the frequency
and decrement already stated is (200o)-t-o^/5 = 1 OOO/o. If,
for example, a has the value O'l V, this ratio is 10 000" .

Probably a fairer comparison is between undamped waves and
spark trains having the same R.M.S. value, rather than the same
initial amplitude. The R.JM.S. value over one spark period of the
damped train e=a€~'"' siapt is

£=Jay(ar/n8)
= ^y(l/20) in the numerical instance
=0-lla

The signal current with a heterodjmed undamped signal of this
strength is therefore

S=-270£
= 270xO-llo=30a

The ratio 1 000/a found for equal initial amplitudes thus becomes,
for equal R.M.S. values,

30o/(c-/5) = 150 o
With o = 0-1 V as before, this ratio becomes 1 500.

In the largeness of this figure, it is suggested, lies the chief expla-
nation of the much superior ranges of continuous- wave transmitters
as compared with spark transmitteis of equal radiated power.

DISCUSSION.

In opening the discussion Dr. W. H. Ecoles thanked the authora
for entering and enforcing order in a chaotic subject. He proceeded
to show that for a theorv based upon the static characteristics
with constant anode potential there was a simpler method than
that used by the authors, which avoided the use of Taylor's theorem.
He pointed out the dangers of arg^iing from low frequency to Wgh
frequency. The apparatus in the anode circuit had a great effect
at high frequencies. The authors had, by the use of a low frequency,
grasped an ideal set of conditions but they had not proved that
their theory fitted the high fre<iuoncy case. He expre^ lus
pleasure at the precision of meaning and good English used m the
Paper and wished that patent specifications more frequently
exhibited these qualities. The Paper, both in matter and ui <tvle.
was worthy of the University of Cambridge.

Reaction or Slope.

Prof. C. L. FoRTESOrE said that at first sight the Paper confirmed
already accepted views, but the figures given showed iu\ioh greater
differences between different methods than were found in practice
to bo the case. This might have been due to the authors' reliance
upon the static characteristic. Ihrobably the reaction between

44-4

The £leccriciaii.

April 14, 1922

portions of the circuits which almost inevitably took place in
ordinary receiving sets had more effect than the slope of the charac-
teristic curves. Reaction in a receiver would draw out a damped
wave train and so reduce the difference between them and C.W.
There was controversy over the relative efficiencies of cumulative
grid-leak versus anode rectification. Grid rectification did not
respond to as large variation as anode rectification. The authors
did not seem to have considered rectification at the top of anode
characteristic curve. By combining cumulative grid rectification
with rectification at the top of the curve there was a distinct gain
in sensitivity.

Mr. J. HOLLINGWOKTH queried the effect of the time constant of
the grid circuit for cumulative grid rectification and Mr. F. J.
Chambers gave particulars of experiments he had carried out to
show how the anode potential actually behaves.

Mr. L. B. TtTRNEB claimed very littld credit for his share in the
Paper. He had only made suggestions for work to be carried out.

Rectification.

The Chaii-mah (Prof. G. W. O. Howe) appreciated the Paper
and its discussion. It was a good thing to have a variety of Papers
and the present one came between two which contained no mathe-
matics. Referring to the author's remarks on assymetric conductors

he questioned the use of the word rectification and whether they
were getting real physical rectification. Prof. Fleming's patent
specification claimed rectifying properties due to the electrodes
being in different states. The current could pass in one direction,
but not in the other. Nevertheless, it was a fact that in use the
Fleming valve had an anode battery and did not operate under
conditions in which there was any attempt to pass current in a
reverse direction. He (Prof. Howe) had used two hot filaments
as electrodes, and thus made the device symmetrical. By the
use of an anode battery he had obtained rectification by curvature
of the characteristic curve. If he were to criticise a very excellent
Paper it would be on the grounds of its absolute disregard of any
previous work. Van der Bijl had shown the characteristic curve
to be a parabola and had done much of the work covered by the
Paper. Barkhausen also had done useful work. The Paper should
have indicated what was old and what was new.

Mr. E. B. MouLLiN, in reply, engaged Dr. Eccles in argument
over processes of mathematical expansion, and questioned whether
the ordinary sets mentioned by Prof. Fortescue used voltages so
negative as those of which the Paper treated. It was important
to note that the Paper aimed at elucidating the problems only of
plain recuficalion. He objected to Mr. Turner's modest disclaimer
of credit for the Paper. His help had been very valuable.

The Institution of Electrical Engineers.

At the meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers
on 3Iarch 30, i\Ir. R. Borlaee Matiliews read a Paper on
" Electro-Farming," which was illustrated by cinematograph
films. Attracted either by the interest of the subject or the
•call of the pictures, the attendance was rather larger than
usual. Considering the stuffiness of atmosphere that some-
times occurs in the lecture theatre, a praiseworthy attempt
<at ventilation Avas made by keeping all the doors open until
the proceedings started. The attempt was certainly successful,
as it was an hour later before we began to feel comfortably
warm.

On the conclusion of tlie Paper and cineanatograph demon-
sti'ation, which together took about an hour, the President
announced that the discussion would be adjourned until the
following Thursday so that the speakers might have full scope.
The lantern operator, who is usually so deft and speedy, on
this occasion started Mr. Matthews' slides at the wrong end,
and was only after some difficulty and long-distance elocution
persuaded to alter his procedure.

All-Electric Milk.

Passing from theory through illustrative practice to actual
practice, Mr. Matthews exhibited a bottle of milk which he
said was the first supplied in this country by all' electricail
methods. The cows which produced it had been fed by elec-
trically-cut roots, had been milked by electrical machinery,
the bottle had been cleaned by an electrically-driven brush,
and the cap had been fixed by heating a small quantity of
casein electrically to form an efficient seal.

Unrelieved Pessimism.

Mr. Llewellyn B. Atkinson, in opening the discussion,
said that in considering the desirability of adopting elec-
tricity as a motive power on farms, the '-mail output in pounds
sterling which could be obtained from a certain area of land
and the small amount of time that any machinery would be
re<iuired to work in a year must be remembered. Foi' the
seven years' cycle ending 1914 the average income per acre
per annum from farms in this country was £5 15s. A lai'ge
majority of the farms were less than 150 acres in extent, so
that the revenue would be between £750 and £1 000 per annum.
All the threshing on an ordinary farm in a year could be done
in about thirty hours. The author placed the consumption
of a farm of this kind at about 1 500 kWh per annum, with
a maximum demand of 3 kW. That meant about one and a
half hours' use of the maximum demand per day, and a total
consumption of 4^ kWh per day. It must be remembered that
for such operations as Mr. Matthews described, the small
petrol and paraffin engine was a close competitor with elec-
tricity. Such an engine would cost about £16 a year for fuel,
a sum that was the sort of revenue a supply undertaking
might expect to get from such a consumer. It they took (he
author's figure of 4d. a unit the Supply Comjjany would gel
£30 or £40 a year, but figures which had been given before
the Agricultural Commission showed that the earning power
of a 150 acre farm was only £112 a year, so that every item
of expenditure had to be carefully considered. Another diffi-
culty was that the number of men employed on a farm was
so small that unless one could be dispensed with altogether
a great deal of saving was not achieved. He thought the

greatest use of electricity on the farm was to be found in
electro-culture. Here the difficulty again was that the con-
sumption was so small that no supply undertaking would want
to be troubled with it. If, however, it increased the crop
production to an appreciable extent the farmer would be
tempted to adopt it.

The Electrical Engineer as Farmer.

Mr. Bernard Jenkin was even more pessimistic than Mi\
Atkinson as to the economics of electric driving on farms,
this attitude being the result of seven years' experience as a
farmer. He gave detailed figures showing the useful hours
worked by horses in ploughing and other farm operations, and
the useless hours worked in hauling empty carts and going
to and from work. For such operations it seemed to him
electricity was eminently unsuited. Electric ploughing equip-
ment, for instance, would have to be hauled about the farm
by horses and would take considerable time to instal in the
various fields, an operation which would have to be repeated
about every two days. On the other hand a steam plough
or a tractor could move from field to field by its own power,
and, while he agreed that electricity was useful for driving
machines in or about farm buildings, a small oil engine did
it just as well. His remarks about electric ploughs were
equally applicable to electric threshing machines, which had
to be taken into fields, and it was more economical to use a
common threshing machine or silo cutter than for each par-
ticular farm to purchase one. As regards the electrification
of crops, the difficulty was supporting the overhead wires.
Production depended more on the farmer than the methods
used.

Mr. Ayton in a New Role.

Mr. Frank Ayton, appearing in a new role, gave a short
lecture on the design of plough-shares. It was a fallacy that
the higher the speed of the plough the better the production.
There was a well defined limit to the speed at which land
could be economically ploughed, for as the speed was increased
the pull required increased in a very much greater proportion.
Increasing the speed also meant an inci-ease in the size of the
plough breast, so that while a breast 6 ft. long would be neces-
sary at three miles an hour, that length would have to be
doubled at four miles an hour. No demand for electric
ploughs exirted at the moment.

Electro-Culture in Practice.

I\rr. J. E. Newman agreed that petrol was a formidable
competitor to electricity for abnost all jobs on the farm.
Turning to discuss his own subject of electro-culture, Mr.
Newman said he had first been attracted to the subject by Prof.
Lemstrom's book, published by the proprietoi-s of The Elec-
trician. Very complete experiments which he had undertaken
in Warwickshire over a period of ten years showed that by the
use of electro-culture an increase in the crop production of over
twenty per cent, could be obtained. This included one year of
drought when there was no increase. These figui-es had been
confirmed by the Electro-Culture Committee, but he did not
regard them as the maximum increase that could be obtained.
The point to notice was that it was possible to jver-stimulate
the crops, and it was also an open question whether in a dry

April 14, 1922

The Electrician.

year negative electricity might'^not give better results than
positive.

An Unusual Retort.

The hour had been late when Mr. Newman started, and was
still later when he showed no signs of concluding. The Presi-
dent suggesting that some consummation might be ad-
visable, Mr. Newman retorted that he was not used to that
sort of thing. Perceiving the combined horror and amusement
among the audience he hastened to explain that he did not
refer to being pulled up, but to public speaking, and added
that iJie best thing he could do was to eit dowm. This he
accordingly did, and the somewhat pessimistically-toned
entertainment came to a conclusion at a late hour.

The Discussion Continued.

When the discussion on Mr. Matthews' Paper was resumed
on Thursday, the 6th, though the attendance was much
diminished, this was more than compensated for by the note of
optimism sounded by the various speakers.

Perhaps this was due to the fact that the President
amiounced that he was looking forward to hearing that
electricity could be used on a large scale on tJie farm. Farming
was a very old industry, and though we were apt to think that
scientific methods in connection with it were a modern idea, they
were in reality exceedingly old. The Institute for Research
iin Dairy Farming had issued instructions fo.r the milking of
cows and for the presei-vation of milk in a clean condition. The
Bimyaro tribe in Central Africa had similar dnst ructions, with
the addition that failure to obey tihem v/as pxuiiehable by death.

An Optimist at Last.

After the author had exhibited some furtJier slides of electric
farming apparatus, Mr. H. W. Richardson said he had hardly
recognised the Institution of Electrical Engineers at the
previous meeting. Many of tlie troubles that had been
enumerated had been overcome in other countries, and could
also be overcome by British electrical engineers. The position
of electro-farming was now much the same as that of electric
cooking and heating a few years ago, and there Avas, in fact,
no wider field to which the industry could devote its attention.
There were 418,000 farms in this country, and if 60 per cent,
of them used 2 kW for five hours a day, tliat would be
1 000 000 000 kWh per annum. The annual consumption of
electricity in farm huildings lalone on the Continent averaged
10 kWh per acre, which meant more than the total number of
units, supplied in this coiuitry in 1910. Among the advantages
of electro-farming was the milking load, which came on early
in the morning a,nd late at night and was greater in the siunmer
than in the winter. Electric fans in the cowsheds meant a
great degree of cleanliness. Manufacturers should pay atten-
tion to switcligear. With regard to electro-culture, he was of
opinion that it operated owing to some action on tlie ground,
and experiments might be tried to see whether the ground itself
before the crops were sown would be stimulated hy wires placed
close to it. Many farms made more than the £112 per 150 acres
mentioned by Mr. Atkinson ; and a gi-eat deal oould be
done by co-operation.

Mt. W. R. Cooper said the difficulty was the conservatism
of the British farmer. He would want to know the actual
results in £ 6. d. In dealing with the plant at the Harper-
Adams College the author had said the consumption was
1^ kWh per acre, but no time was given. To show the com-
mercial value of electro-culture the author might give the normal
yields of certain crops per acre, and the normal value of the
crop might also be indicated, whether the increase was for a
certain crop or generally through each year.

Electro-Culture on the Continent.

Dr. J. F. Crowley said that an examination of the electro-
culture results obtained on the Continent would make for
optimism, but Continental methods and machinery would have
to be re-designed for use in this country. There was an increas-
ing demand for power plant on the farm, and experience on
the Continent had shown that where electricity supply existed
it could meet that demand. In some parts of southern Germany
almost every farm used electricity. In Germany a heavy tj-pe
of plough was used, and in France a much lighter one, proibably
an intermediate weight would suit tliis country best.

Electric Pig Rearing.

Mr. H. A. Carney said that to obtain low prices and cheap
living we must have efi&ciency, and he looked to an extended
application of electricity as the best method of bringing about
the disappearance of inefficiency in farming. Electric lighting
permitted the prolonge<l feeding of animals, and would there-
fore produce greater i-esults than electro-farming. It was

wjuaily useful in pig rearing, where it was a great advantage
to reduce the time, the pig being brought to maturity in four
months instea/l of six, meaning a re^iuction in cost owing to
the less consumj)tion of food. The smallholder was in greater
need of cheap power than the large grower, and electricity was
the only sort of power that would fulfil his requirements.
Even if such a man were capable of looking after a petrol
eng-.ne, he would be spending time in engineering which would
Ije better spent in farming.

Mr. L. G. Hyde said that when a suburban railway was
electrified, more traffic was obtained, and the same result would
l)e obtained in electrified fanns, as experience in Germany and
Sweden had proved.

Fact or Prophecy.

Mr. C. J. Hopkins said the Paj)er was a representation of
what farms might be in the future, while !Mr. Atkinson's
! ©marks described what they were at present. If farmers could
Ije induced to install electric lighting he was sure they would
never want to dispense with it, and if one or two progressive
farmers adopted electric working, the rest would follow. There
was a chance for electric ploughing when the com was shocked.
Unbroken furrows were not required when ploughing was done
to kill weeds.

Mr. E. K. Scott suggeete<l tihat farmers might make their
own nitrates by the arc process. and so save themselves hundreds
of pounds.

The Author's Reply.

The Author, in reply, said that more than half the output
of electric motors on the Continent since the war had been for
use on farms. This country was the chief centre of distribution
for agricultural implements for the world, and we should, there-
fore, be in the van as regards electro-farming. On his own
farm the cost of one horse, including a proportion of the
driver's time, worked out at £147 per annum, and electricity at
2d. per unit v;ould have been cheaper for work to Vhich it was
applicable. The object of using electricity should not be to
decrease the number of men, but to increase the produce by
more intensive farming.

Books Received.

"The Structure of the Atom." By Stephen Miall. (London:
Benn Brothers, Ltd.) Pp. 26. Is. 6d. net.

" Marine Wireless Pocket Book." By W. H. Marchant. (Lond.^-i :
Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons.) Pp. vii. 4-180. 6s. net.

" Model Questions and Answers on the Thermianic Valve." By
Clifford Jones. (Glasgow : James Miuuo & Company.) Pp. 44.

' Kinematograph Studio Technique." By L. C. Macbean.
(London : Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons ) Pp. xii. + 109. 2s. 6d.' net.

" Space— Time— Matt*-!-." By Heiniann Weyl. Translated by
Henry L.^rose. (London : jSIethuen & Son.) Pp. xi.+530. ISe. net.

The " Practical Engineer " Electrical Pocket Book and Diaiy.
1922. (London : Technical Publishing Company.) Pp. xcix.+610.
2s. 6d.

" Notes and Examples on ths Theory of Heat and Heat Engines.'*
By John Case, M.A. (Cambridge : W. Heffer & Sons.) Pp. 138.
7e. 6d.

" Electrical Engineering Testing." By G. D. Aspinall Parr, M.Sc.
(London : Chapman & Hall, Ltd.) Pp. xii. + 691. 16s. Fourth
edition.

" Electric Accumulators, their Construction and Management.'
By Bernard E. Jonee. (London : Cassell & Company, Ltd.) Pp. 152.
Is. 6d. net.

" Protective Relavs. Their Theorv, Desigi. and Practical Opera-
tion." By Victor H. Todd. (Tendon : Hill Publishmg Company.)
Pp. xii.+274. 12s. 6d.

"Physico-chemical Problems Relating to the Soil." A ^General
Discussion held by the Faraday Society. (London : Faraday bociety.)
Pp. 153. IDs. 6d. net.

" Land Magnetic Observations. 1914-1920." By L. A Bauer, J. A.
Fleming, H. W. Fisk, and W. J. Peters. (Washington : Carnegie
Institution.) Pp. vi.-t-475.

" Year Book and Export Register of the Federation of British
Industriee for 1922." (London : Industrial Publicity Service. Ltd.).
Pp. 454, 339 advertisements. 25s. net.

•Mechanical Testing." Vol I Testing of Materials of Con-
struction. Bv R. G. Bat.«<on, M.I.C.E., and J. H. Hyde. A.M.I.CE.
(I^ndan : Chapman & Hall.) Pp. xm. + 41o. 213.

Report of the Int^r-Departmental Committee on Methods of Deal-
iiiK with Liventione made by Workers, Aided or MainUined from
Public Funds. (London : H.M. Stationery Office.) Pnce 7d.

"The Dynamo: Its Theory. Desigi. and Manufacture." Vol. I.
By C. C. Hawkins, M.A.. M.I.E.E.. A. Amer.I.E.E. (London : B»r
Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd.) Pp. xxiii.+615. Sixth edition, ais. net.

446

The Electrician — April 14, 1922

The Properties and Uses of Micas.

A report on Mica Research covering the properties and uses of
Was material has now been issued bj'^ the British Electrical and
Allied Industries Research Association. While a great deal
of work has been done, and the investigation is by no means com-
pleted, as some of the results already obtained should be of
immediate value, this report is issued.

Classification of Micas.

Great difficulties were met with owing to the absence of uniformity
of nomenclature for the different kinds of mica. Considerable
attention was, therefore, given to classification. The classification
i-ecommended by the Association is set forth in Table I., and it is
urged that all investigators making tests on mica should adopt the
nomenclature therein. Much of the work done in the past has
suffered in value owing to the absence of adequate information as
to the exact nature of the material tested. This will be appreciated
when it is noted that the Association finds there are ten principal
classes of mica and a large number of sub -varieties.

A large collection of representative micas has been prepared
from materials supplied by F. Wiggins & Sons and Startin &
Company, and the specimens have been named in accordance with
Table I. This collection has been presented to the Institution of
Electrical Engineers.

Table I. — Trade Descriptions of Micas and Corresponding Characteristics.

Class.

Mineralogical

General

Relative

Group.

Characteristics.

Hardness.

Ruby

Muscovite.

Colour, pale reddish
brown (ruby red in
pi ates 15 mm.
thick).

Hard.

Soft White ....

" Altered "

Slightly yellowish.

Softer than ruby

Ruby

Slightly calcined

Muscovite.

appearance.

Silver

" Altered "

Slightly calcined

Hard as rubv.

Muscovite.

(silvery) appear-
ance. Wavy sur- •
face.

Green

Muscovite.

Inclined to have

In greater cry-

internal cracks.

stalline tension
than ruby.

Brown

Muscovite.

Ditto.

Amber

Phlogopite.

Colour, very pale
yellow to dark or
opaque. Wavy
surface. Great ex-
pansioif at right
angles to lamina-
tions.

Soft.

Altered or

Phlogopite.

Naturally altered

Softer than un-

Silver Amber

amber. Colour
same as unaltered
amber, but more
metaUic. Silvery
and opaque.

altered amber.

£lack Amber . .

Biotite.

Very dark green or

More brittle

brown in thin

than amber.

sheets (about

0-003 in.). Black

and opatjue in

thicker plates (O'Ol

and up).

Lithia Mica

Lepidolite.

Light mauve, yellow

Very hard and

gravish white or

brittle.

white. Will not

stand heat and

fuses at ordinary

flame temperature.

Sub-Divisions.

Any class may, if required, bo sub-divided as follows : —
Variety. Quality.

C Free from stains and spots C A. Free from all defects.

Clear ] (inclusions). \ B. Contains gaseous in-

i_ (. elusions.

Slightly Stained Free from spots (inclusions).

Stained Free from spots (inclusions).

Heavily Stained Free from spots (inclusions).
Spotted With solid inclusions. , :j

Specifications for Mica.

It has been found that the tests and characteristics required for
mica which is intended to be employed for the various industrial
uses have received very little attention in the past. It often
happens, for instance, that the mechanical characteristics of mica
are of a much greater importance than its electrical properties, but
so far as has been ascertained these have seldom received much
consideration, and there have been no generally recognised tests
for mechanical properties. The suitability of the different kinds

for high grade electrical work has never been investigated in a
systematic way with a view to the definition of tests which can be
applied for the purchase of materials for such purposes.

Specifications for mica too often fall back on the requirement
that " only the best clear ruby mica shall be used," the obvious
reason being the non-existence of any recognised tests to prove the
suitability of the various classes of mica which might be available
for the purpose in question.

In view of this absence of recognised tests, it has been found
impossible to define with precision the test clauses suitable for a
general mica specification, and the only course has been to schedule
the principal uses to which mica is to be put, and for each of these
uses to define the special characteristics required in the mica,
leaving to further research the task of elucidating the standard
tests to be applied for proving such characteristics.

Special attention has been given to the requirements of mica
and micanite for commutators, and this is dealt with below.

Identification Tests.

Identification tests have been studied and are classified in Table II.
A quantity of data has been obtained, but further study is required.

Preliminary researches have been made on the surface hardness
of different varieties of mica, and whilst these tests are not
promising as a means of classification according to kind, they may
be of value in classifying according to use. Hardness and other
mechanical tests are receiving further attention.

Table II. — Identification Tests for Micas.
The following are identification tests which may be supplied to micas
described in Table I. : —

Calcining Temperature at which calcination occurs.

Colour Characteristics ... . Colour by diffused daylight (through
thickness 0"5 mm.) in a direction normal
to plane of plate.
Nature of surface.
^ Foreign matter (inclusions).

Optical Axial angle and relation of its plane to the

plane of symmetry.
Percentage absorption of light.

Chemical Nature of surface after acid treatment.

Electrical Dielectric constant (Sp. Ind. Cap.).

Dielectric loss.
Selection of Micas.
The numerous uses of mica in the electrical industry, as, for
example, in commutators, condensers, sparking plugs, and pyro-
meters, have been classified, together with the appropriate charac-
teristics so far as these are known.

A study of the above has already shown that certain kinds of
mica are peculiarly suitable for certain purposes, and that the range
of kinds suitable for some purposes is larger than has been recog-
nised. Preliminary suggestions are made in Table III. which should
prove of immediate service, but much further research is necessary
to complete the schedule and to establish definite limits for pur-
chasing purposes.

Table III. — Micas Suitable for Speciji'd Purposes.
Commutators.
Flush Segments Amber and Silver Amber. Green and

Brown.* Certain Grades of Soft White.
Undercut Segments .... (Any sound micas which will cleave readily.

Rings and Cones ^ Black Amber.*

Wrappings, Cliannds, Tubes and Washers.

Extra High Tension .... 7 000 V and over : Ruby Clear A and B.

Below 7 000 V ; Any mica not spotted.

High Frequency

Condensers.

High Frequency Ruby Clear A. Green or Browni Clear.*

(above 2 000) ,, „ B, not considered suitable.

High Temperature Purposes.
Spark Plugs Ruby Clear, Ruby slightly staiued or

stained.*
Pyrometers Green or Brown.*

Ruby Clear A, and possibly other micas.*
Furnace A\'ork Insulation : Any mica which haw the

necessary mechanical characteristics.
Arc liesisliri'i : Muscovite where mechanical

requirements predommate. Phlogopite

where ability to resist great heat is

required.
Heating and Cooking .... Muscovite where mechanical requirements

predominate. Phlogopite where ability

to resist great heat is required.
MccJmnical and Optical.

Diaphragms Lithia mica. Ruby Clear A.+

Windows and Spectacles . Any clear mica.
Dials, Vanes, and Compass Any uniform flat mica.

Cards.

* Subject to research.

t Subject to research, especially in regard to fatigue.

April 14, 1922

The Electrician.

447

Mica and Micanite for Commutators.

The leading manufacturers of commutating machinery have
furnished full information of their practice and experience, and
this has been reviewed in detail. A number of representative large
users of commutating machinery have also been approached, their
experience ascertained and opinions carefully sifted. As a result
the Association is now able to present a comprehensive statement
of facts ascertained. It is doubtful if any further conclusions can be
reached on the evidence now available, but the Association has still
in hand experimental work which should throw further light on some
of the problems which have to be faced.

Commutator Segment Separators.

Pure Mica. — The materixl used for pure mica commutator
segments is mostly stained and spotted, brown and green, light
and dark in colour. Soft white and amber is also largely used.
^Separators in one length are obtainable up to about 16 in. or
more, but on first cost it pays to use built-up material or micanite
when the length needed exceeds about 6 in. In the smaller sizes
pure mica is cheaper than micanite.

Built-up Mica. — With built-up separators, the pieces being stiff,
a good deal of adhesive is required, and it is questionable if there
is much benefit as compared with the use of a micanite specially
made for the purpose. The built-up segment is preferred by some
designers who have had trouble with micanite. It is essential to
use a minimum of adhesive so that the material shall not " give "
when hot.

Micanite. — Micanite separators should not contain more than
•2 or 3 per cent, of adhesive, whereas ordinary micanite may contain
10 to 15 per cent. The micanite is made from clear mica, and from
amber mica where called for. There is no reason why micanite
for separators should not be made from spotted and stained mica,
supplies of which are readily available. The price of clear mica is
100 per cent, more than spotted and about 25 per cent, more than
-stained.

Flush and Undercut Mica Separators,

Some makers undercut all commutators, but flush segments are
still largely employed, especially on small machines, where hard
brushes are used. Commutation on most modern machines is so
good, that the machine may run for years on the first undercut.
On important machines, however, where soft brushes are generally
to be found, some makers use soft separators, so that, even if the
-commutator is worn down and undercutting is neglected for a time,
trouble will not ensue, and are willing to pay the extra cost of
•amber mica to ensure this result. Where flush separators are used,
the buyer sees the material is uniform and not too hard. The
danger from hard spots is greatly reduced where the separators are
built up in any way. Further research is in hand on the abrasive
hardness of mica in order to determine what micas will give satis-
«<!tion with flush separators.

Mica versus Micanite.

From information obtained from large users and leading manu-
facturers of commutating machinery, the following conclusions
have been arrived at with regard to the relative merits of the use of
pure mica, built-up mica or micanite.

All three kinds of separators can be obtained finished to a
sufficient degree of accuracy for the purpose. In general * 1 mi^
can be guaranteed without difficulty on mica segments and * 2 mils
on built-up mica and micanite, but micanite is bought also xmder
guarantee of * 1 mil. Pure mica makes the best mechanical job, is
less liable to flake or change under the influence of heat. Micanite
properly compressed and with a minimum of adhesive is successfuUj'
^nd extensively employed in both large and small machines. It is
cheaper, except in small sizes. The cost per square foot varies but
Jittle with the size, so that in large sizes considerable saving may
be effected. It is less liable to give trouble through hardness and
is free from hard spots. Difficulty has been experienced where oil
has got on to the micanite as the oil and adhesive together get
oarbonised, necessitating taking the commutator apart to remedy
the defect. This applies also to built-up mica. This trouble,
however, is one within the province of the designer to remedy and
the user to avoid.

Rings and Cones : Materials Employed.

Rings are sometimes made up of the more flexible grades of mica
butt- jointed or lap- jointed, but micanite is the principal material
•employed, the cones being built up from suitably cut pieces stuck
together and pressed hot into shape. The adhesive left in may
be kSi the order of 10 per cent. The thicker sijlittings are cut from
block, but the thin splittings are the regular article of commerce.

Thin Splittings.

Splitting of Indian mica is more cheaply done by Indian labour,
before shipment to Europe. It is a trade developed solel}' for
the electrical industry, and the tendency of the individual buyer
to play for safety in a matter over which he has no control and
imperfect information, has resulted in the supply consisting almost

exclusively of clear mica, whereas for many purposes there m no
doubt that stained, spotted and dark coloured material could be
used with considerable economy in first cost.

The A.ssociation is not prepared to make definite recommendation.s
until the results are available on the nature and incidence of inclu-
sions and impurities in mica from the electrical standpoint, showing
ther effect as conductors on breakdown voltage, surface leakage
and dielectric losses. Research on this is now being put in hand.

Belfast's New Electrical Engineer.

Belfast City Council have appointed Mr. JohSstone Whigut,
M.I.E.E., of Bradford, to the post of city electrical engineer and
businese manager, at a salarv of £1400 per annum, in succession to
Mr. T. W". Bloxam, who has retired on eaperannuation. There
were five candidates on the short list — Mr. Wright, Mr. P. J.
Robinson (Liverpool), Mr. C. W. Salt (Carlisle), Mr. Edwin E.
M'Kenzie (chief engineer of staff of Charles P. Sparks k Partners),
and Mr. Robert Owen (Wigan). Mr. Robinson withdrew hie appli-
cation, having made a new arrangement with Liverpool Corporation.

Mr. Wright received his general education at Perth Academy and
his technical training at Glasgow Technical College. He served a
five years' apprenticeship with D. Stewart & Company, Glasgow,
passing through the various departments of their works, including
the pattern shop, outside erection, and drawing office. In 1903
he left Glasgow to join the staff of the British Electric Plant Com-
pany (Alloa) as testing engineer, and was subsequently promoted
to take charge of outside contracts. He was appointed assistant elec-
trical engineer to the Oban Corporation in May, 1905, and held this
position until December in the following year, when he joined the
staff of the Cleveland & Durham Electric Power Co. This company
were then just about to commence giving supply, and during the
following thirteen years Mr. Wright filled several important posi-
tions with them, and took an active part in the whole development.
He supervised the erection of five waste-heat power stations and
large extensions to coalfields stations, including the Newport station.
Middlesbrough, which was the first station erected to operate
entirely upon exhaust steam by any public service undertaking in
this country.

When the Newcastle-on-Tyne Electric Supply Company acquired
a controlling interest in the Cleveland Company, Mr. Wright was
appointed superintendent engineer for the ten power stations
operated by the Cleveland and Durham Company, and held this posi-
tion until September, 1919, when he was appointed chief assistant
electrical engineer at Bradford. In June, 1920, he was promoted to
the position of deputy city electrical engineer, since when the plant
has been practically remodelled throughout and large extensions have
been made, including the installation of two 15 OOOkW turbo-alterna-
tors. A third set has been provided for, and will be ordered in the
near future. A complete new boiler house is at present under con-
near future. _

The Ignition of Fire-Damp.

After the reading of a paper oii " Stainless Steel " by Lt.-Col.
H. Rhodes, before the Midland iNSTmrrB of MrvncG, Cmx ani>
Mechanical Engineersi at Barnsley on Saturday, there was a dis-
cussion on Prof. R. V. Wheeler's recent paper on "' The Ignition cf
Fire-Damp." Replying, Prof. WTieeler said that there was a need
for further experiments on a larger scale, so that they c<^uld know
one way or another whether it was possible to get an ignition .f
fire-damp by means of frictional sparks. With regard to the sugges-
tion that the flame lamp was a danger, it did not follow a& a natural
law that they must exclude the flame safety lamp. The inventor
of an electrical device for the detection of fire-damp (Mr. Williams)
had brought his apparatus into a convenient and practical form.
It had already proved capable of accurately indicating the presence
of fire-damp, and was, therefore, quite a suitable substitute for
the flame lamp. The only point against this was that this form
of electrical fire-damp indicator would only show the fire-damp if
this was looked for, whereas the flame lamp gave warning of fire-
damp.

The members spent the morning in visiting the works of the Ceag
Miners' Supply Company, Ltd., manufacturers of electric safety
lamps for mines. This firm, which has been in existence for three
years, was originally a German concern, the shares of which were
bought by the present company from the Public Trustee. It is now an
all-British firm, with M€«srs. "R. J. Plumnver and C. A. Longbottom
as directors. At the Barnsley and their other work^ the company
turn out 700 lamps complete a day.

Salford's Electricity Supply.

Salford Town Council have agreed, on the recommendations of
the Special Committee appointed to reconsider the question, to con-
tinue with the erection of the super-generating station at Agecroft,
a suggestion of the Lancashire Electric Power Company to obtain a
bulk supply from Manchester's Barton station being rejected, it
has also been decided to retain the services of Mr. J. A. Robertson
as engineer to design and construct, &c. , the new station at an
inclusive remuneration of £14 000 plus travelling expenses. Mr.
Roberston is also to be retained for twelve months, as from the
1st inst. , as consulting engineer in connection with the existing elec-
tricity imdertaking, at an inclusive fee of £500, plus travelling
expenses.

The Electrician — April 14, 1922

OBITUARY.

Sir John Benn, Bart., D.L., J.P., L.C.C.

We greatly regret to announce the death, on Monday, April 10,
of Sir John Williams Benn, Bart., D.L., J.P., L.C.C., of "' Stone
Wall," Limpsfield, Surrey.

Sir John Benn, " Father " of the London County Council, and
Chairman of Benn Brothers, Ltd., was seized with hemorrhage of
the brain on March 31, and succumbed ten days later to pneumonia.
He was in his seventy-second year.

Eldest son of the Reverend Julius Benn, Sir John, who was born
at Hyde, in Cheshire, started his business life in London as an
office boy, and rose to be the head of the firm of Benn Brothers.
Ltd., the Leader of the Progressive Party in London, Chairman of
the London County Council, Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of
London, a Baronet and a Member of Parliament. His career in
Parliament was confined to the years 1892 to 1895, when he repre-
sented St. George's-in-the-East, and 1S04 to 1910 when he sat as
the member for Devonport. He was the last surviyor amongst
serving members of those who were elected in 1889 to the First
London County CouncU, of which Lord Rosebery was Chairman.
Twelve'months ago at a luncheon
given in his honour as "Father " of
the L.C.C., his thirty-two years of
municipal work was referred to
in a message from the King, which
expressed His Majesty's interest
and pleasure at hearing of the
recognition of Sir Jolin Benn by
his friends and admirers for his
long service in the government of
London.

A Romance of Journalism.

When questioned about the
foundation of the firm of which
he was the head. Sir John Benn
always attributed it to his love of
drawing. The story of the incep-
tion and launching of " The
Cabinet Maker " in 1880 is, indeed,
little short of a romance, the more
so because'of the complete justifica-
tion which later years brought to
the young enthusiast who had, in
fact, sacrificed all he possessed to
an ideal. As a youth John
Williams Benn recognised the
importance of cultivating his
artistic talent, and by studying at
South Kensington and devoting
most of his youthful leisure to the
subject he acquired a very
thorough knowledge of architec-
ture, decoration, and furnishing.
To supplement his abilities , on
the technical side he served succes-
sively as draughtsman, salesman,
manager, and eventually partner
in a large furniture manufacturing
concern. During this time he was
a constant contributor to " The Furniture Gazette," and reviewed
and illustrated the furnishing side of the Paris Exhibition of 1878.
He subsequently abandoned cabinet manufacturing for journalism.
It was a bold step and regarded at the time by cautious friends as
highly imprudent, but it was characteristic of Sir John, who all his
life had a habit of taking risks in pursuance of cherished ideals.
Those were the days of the worst features of Victorian furnishing,
and the young journalist consistently advocated a return to tradi-
tion and a development of the eighteenth century work of Chipjien-
dale, Heppelwhite, and Sheraton.

At the outset most of the illustrations in " The Cabinet Maker "
were the work of Sir John's own hands, and he was later joined by
his brothers Julius Taylor Benn and R. Davis Benn, both of whom
have passed away, and Mr. H. P. Benn, who survives him. They
devoted their attention to the business which their elder brothoi'
had founded, and left him free for liis municipal and I arliamentary
activities. Sir ,!ohn lived to sec the business whicli lu- established
grow to be the largest trade and technical publishing house in the
sountry. He had, in spite of the calls on his time made by his
public work, found time to inspire, if not to direct, constant fresh
developments in the firm of which he was the Chairman.

Expansion of the Business.

In 1900 " The Hardware Trade Journal " was purchased, and
imin»diat>dj became a power in the industrj' it represents. This

SrR John Benn, Bart.

was followed at short intervals by " INIarine International Engineer-
ing " and " The Export World." Among the properties which
have been acquired may be mentioned " Ironmongery,"
" Commercial Intelligence," and " El Comerciante." More recent
developments include the acquisition of The Electrician, " The
Fruit Grower," '" The Gas World," " Farm and Home," " Gardening
Illustrated," and "' The Chemical Age." Side by side with the
growth in the trade and technical journal publishing bu.siness there
has also been developed a very large business in the highest class of
technical and art books. This department first confined its atten-
tion to the well-known series of standard books dealing with
electricity, gas, horticulture, cabinet making, and aeronautics, but
more recently it has published fine art books in every branch of
science, technology, and art.

A Pioneer of London's Tramways.

Apart from his connection with the electrical industry as proprietor
of The Electrician, Sir John Benn wiU best be remembered by

our readers as an ardent advocate
of electrical tramways for London.
For initiating and carrying through
a forward policy for a municipally
owned system, he displayed all his
talents of enterprise and vision
and soon succeeded in bringing
London level with other large cities
in this respect. It is not to be
Avondered at that many of the
necessary changes were only
effected after considerable con-
troversy. The adoption of the
conduit system was admittedly at
that time an experiment, while
the troUey system had been well
tried out. The former was also
more costly, and at first its opera-
tion gave considerable trouble.
But, taking into account the
special conditions of tramway
working in London, it maj- now
be said that the experiment was
justified.

Sir John Benn's name will also
be remembered in connection with
his denunciation of the surface
contact system, which was experi-
meiitally adopted in the Mile End
Road against his advice. Certain
letters which he addressed in 1908
to the Times and Daily Chronicle
on this subject involved him in a
libel action with the inventors.
A special jury awarded the plain-
tiffs £12 000 damages, but Sir Jolm
was successful in having the verdict
set aside in the Court of Appeal.

Connection with the Argentine.

Sir John Benn travelled widely and took a leading part in the
Argentine Ceuoenary Celebrations in 1910, traversing the whole
of the continent to the Pacific coast. He was frequently abroad
at the art centres on the Continent in search of material for
the pages of the journal which he founded.

In the year 1874 he married Lily, the youngest daughter of
the late John Pickstone, of "' Silver Hill," Hyde. There were three
sons and two daughters of the marriage. Of the former Mr.
P^rnest J. P. Bcjm, the present managing director of Benn Brother.>j.
Ltd., succeeds to the title, Captain Wedgwood Bonn, M.P., D.S.C)..
D.F.C., is Member of Parliament for Lcith, while the youngest
son. Captain Oliver Benn, was killed in Galli])oli in 1917. Lady
Benn, who survives Sir John, has been an enthusiastic supporter
of his public work.

Those of us who carry on the business which Sir John founded
have sustained a great blow by the loss of his inspiring personality.
He was amazingly versatile, successful not only as a newspaper
proprietor and publisher, but in many other walks of life as well.
During his allotted span of life he has played his part as a de-
signer, playwright, lecturer, artist, journalist, sportsman, as one o
the most energetic political personalities in London, and as th»
friend of hundreds of people who will sincerely regret his loss.

The funeral will take place at noon to-day (Thursday) at
Limpsfield, Surrey. A memorial service will be held at the same
hour at Christ Church, Westminster Bridge Road, London.

April 14, 1922

The Electrician.

449

Correspondence.

TRAMWAY CHANGE-OVER ARRANGEMENTS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — During a recent trip abroad my attention was drawn to
the very simple arrangements in use in the streets of Paris for
changing from the underground conduit system to the overhead
trollejf. This seems such an improvement on the practise in and
around London that I am astonished it has not been adopted by
the London County Council.

At the present time many, I was going to say most, of the streets
in Paris are under reconstruction in some way or another, and
this necessitates the diversion of the trams off the centres of the
boulevards and main streets for longer or shorter detours. There
are also many points where the overhead and underground systems
meet all round the centre portion of the town.

There is also, at least, one point where the cars cross from the
south side of the river on to the 1 lace Notre Dame, where they
not only carry overhead collecting and conduit gear, but are also
fitted with batteries to pass over certain gaps between the two
systems where neither are possible. Here if I am not mistaken
it is customary for the " skate '" to be entirely taken off the cars
at points of change over, and this occupies some time.

In Paris at each of these connecting points the conduit is provided
with two hinged doors operated by a " point " lever. On the car
coming to rest the man in charge of the points takes the controller
key from the driver, opens the doors which are now mider the body
of the car, disconnects the skate electrically by means of a switch
■on the under side of the car for which he has a key, and with another
key raises the skate till it lies parallel under the car, by means of
a worm or rack, so that the skate is still fixed to and carried by
the car, but clear of the track in every way. Meantime the con-
ductor has released the trolley and got it on to the overhead wire.
The key is then given back to the driver and he can proceed. The
whole business takes less time than it has taken to describe and I
repeatedly timed it at between 30 and 35 seconds from the time
of stopping to starting again.

The men did not seem to be hurrying themselves in the least,
and frequently found time for a joke, especially when the conductor
was a woman as was frequently the case.

I do not know if this letter is of sufficient interest for you to
publish it, but I should like to know how it comes about that we
are so backward in our developments on the conduit system which
I believe was first introduced in London. — I am, A.C.,

Watford, Api-il 8. M. J. E. Tilney.

New Railway Rates for Electrical Goods.

For some time past the Railway Rates Advisory Committee of
the Ministry of Transport has been considering the New Railway
Rates Classification proposed by the railway companies, and has
been hearing objections by various traders concerning particular
classes of goods. Under the present classification goods are
divided into eight classes, leaving out of consideration exceptional
rates in special cases, and the railway companies now propose
that there should be twenty classes. Class 1 being the lowest rate,
the rates increasing as the numbers progress. The question of the
gerreral classification of machines and machinery has been before
the Committee, and after careful consideration it has been decided
that machines and machinery should be charged at the Class 12,
14 and 16 rates, i.e.. Class 16 for consignments of less than 2 tons.
Class 14 for consignments between 2 and 5 tons, and Class 12 for
consignments of more than 5 tons. This leaves it open for objections
to be made in respect of particular goods.

During the hearing of a number of objections on Thursday,
April 6, Mr. Broadbent, of the British Electrical and Allied
Manufacturers' Association, brought up the question of iron-clad
switchgear and meters for electric lighting and power. In the first
place, with regard to the switchgear, he asked for concossi<:ns with
regard to packing. With the development of the trade, he said,
various descriptions had crept into the classification which were
causing considerable confusion between railway companies and
traders. The B.E.A.M.A. considered it was time for grouping
certain types of articles under the one generic heading of iron
clad switchgear Owing to the increased pressures now employed,
and the very severe conditions imposed upon the electrical ^trade by
insurance companies, the Home Office, and the Board of Trade,
switchgear was now very much more robust than when first
classified. This branch of the industry had grown tremendously
of late years, and the Association had collected data from the
principal manufacturers over a period of twelve months, which
showed that the traffic in iron clad switchgear during that period
was 15 752 tons. The average rate per ton was £3, making a total
of £47 256 paid in carriage. The claims on tliat amount ot switch-
gear were only £504 5s. Id., or 1 per cent, of the amount paid
in carriage, and the bulk of the goods were carefully packed.
Switchgear provided good loading, up to 4 or 5 tons per truck,
and the traffic was of a regular character. Tlie Association
suggested that there should be an entry in the new classification

for " iron clad switchgear, with or without meters, Class 18." The
shipping companies had agreed to class switchgear for use in
connection with dynamos and motors as electrical machinery.
Therefore, the Association would have been justified in claiming the
machinery rates for switchgear from the railway companies. Mr.
Broadbent explained that non recording meters to-day were carried
at Class 3 rates, equal to Class 18 in the new classification, and
recording meters at the present Class 4 rate. The trouble was that
wh n a switch was sent with recording meters — iron clad switch-
gear was at present in Class 3 — it would have to be sent at a higher
rate.

Mr. Pike, representing the railway companies, said that
apparently they were asked to include meters with iron clad switch-
gear. He pointed out that meters were delicate pieees of machinery,
and it was not reasonable that they should be included with
switchgear, which was less damageable.

Mr. Broadbent, dealing with meters, said that the trade suffered
severely from American and Continental competition. The
Association had obtained information from t«n of its members
who specialised in meters, and had found that in twelve months
740 000 instruments had been sent, representing a tonnage of 3X00.
including packing. The average rate was £3 per ton, making
£9 300 paid in carriage. Owing to the very efficient methods of
packing the claims for damages on that amount did not exceed
£50, or about half of 1 per cent, of the freight cost. The railway
companies proposed that meters should be in Classes 19 and 20 in
the new classification, for the non-recording and recording types
respectively. This represented an increase on the present rates^
and he contended that the rates should not be raised. He handed
to the Chairman a number of meters to show that they were
quite strong, and- not very liable to damage.

Mr. Pike said that the meters were first put into Class 3 of the
present classification. The companies had applied to the Board
of Trade, who had put them into Class 4, the entry being " Electrical
Instruments for Electric Lighting and Power." The railway
companies had asked for Class 5.

The Committee said the classification should be maintained in
both cases. Switchgear, iron clad, sent without meters, should
be at the rate proposed by the railway companies, but with meters
they should go at a higher rate, as proposed by the railway com-
panies. With regard to the meters themselves, these should be in
Classes 18 and 19 for non-recording and recording respectively, and
not 19 and 20, as proposed by the railway companies.

English Electric Rotary Converters.

The illustration shows a number of rotary converters in various
stages of construction. The frame oh the right-hand side belong*
to a very heavy current low-voltage machine designed to give a
supply for rolling-mill work. The armature belonging to it can b«
seen at the extreme left-hand side of the photograph. This is
designed to carry about 6 000 A, and the special double commutator
construction can be clearly seen.

Next to the frame ot this machine are a number of parts of a
1 500 kW machine for municipal service, deeigned to run at 428 revs.

A Group of English Electric Kotakiks.

per min and still furtlieo- to the left can be seen machines of
1 100 kW, 1 000 kW. 500 kW, 250 kW, and 200 kW.

In addition to the above, four or five more machmes were runnui^
on the test bed at the time the photograph was taken, varying in
output from 1 500 kW down to 200 kW.

We underetand that the Engush Electric Comp.any mt^no to
build all their rotary converters tor industrial or municipal service at
the Siemens works," Stafford. Another part of the same works i?
devoted to the manufacture of the whole of the a.c. and d c. switch-
gear for the Totarv converters, while the step-down transformers
for working in conjunction with the converters are manufactured
by the company at their Covent'-y works.

J.5U

The Eleetrician.

April 14, 1922

Industrial Research.

The several researches undertaken by the British Electrical
AND Allied Industries Research Association are now reaoliing
the stage at which a number of i-eports and technical publications
can be announced, and several more will shortly be available. The
publications on insulating materials include one giving instructions
for the study of untreated pa.peis for purposes other than cable
manufacture. A full account of the researches on which these
instructions are based is also to be published. In addition, there
are similar reports upon the mechanical and physical testing of
press-boards, press-spahn, &c., and on vulcanised fibres. The
electrical testing of fibrous insulating materials is covered compre-
hensively by lanothea- publication; the scope of the research on
electrical tests of all these materials is being extended to include
standardised methods suitable for all insulating materials. Sheets,
rods and tubes of composite insulating materials are dealt with in
anothei- publication. The researches upon which this is based have
already proved of great value to the co-operating manufactuirers,
and marked improvements in their products are reported ; a full
account of these researches will shortly be issued. Work on the
composite class of insulators (still under consideration), include
the evolution of test methods for fire and dieat-resisting propei-ties,
the practical application of these methods to materials on the
market, and work on moulding properties and on the action of
solvents and hot oil.

Synthetic Resins.
The Committee on synthetic resins has prepared a technical
publication giving directions for the study of synthetic resin varnish-
paper and varnish-fabric boards, and also reports on the
possibility of establishing and safeguarding in this country manu-
facture of raw materials for these resins. Other work in this
section includes a report on the requirements of Government
Departments with reference to synthetic resin products, and tests
upon moulded products. Samples of varnish-paper and varnish-
fabric boards and of moulded products are being collected.

Mica for Condensers and Commutators.

The uses of mica for condensers and commutators is the subject
oi a report issued by the committee on mica and micanite. The
report deals with the classification, identification and properties
of mica; investigations are still proceeding on the mechanical and
electrical tests of various kinds of mica. Steps have been taken
to clear up the e.xisting confusion in the classification, manufacture,
and use of micanite, by bringing in close touch all parties interested
in this material.

Insulating Oils.

The researches on the electrical strength and resistivity, and on
the thermal properties of insulating oils are progressing. The
former are to be carried out in close co-operation with Professor
J. A. Fleming at London University, where a programme of research
has been mapped out. In addition to these specialised researches
on insulating materials, the general researches on dielectrics are
being actively pursued. New work in this direction includes an
investigation of the cathode ray tube as an instrument for the
measui^ment of dielectric losses at high frequencies, and an
e.\amination of these losses at high voltages by the use of an
electrostatic wattmeter.

Conductors.

Three reports are in preparation in the section dealing with
conductors. The first will clear up outstanding points on the
heating of buried cables, except dielectric loss problems ; the second
report will suggest material improvements, arising out of tests on
standard wood poles for overhead lines. The tliird report in this
section will treat with test results obtained on long overhead copper
tables ; the work on aluminium and steel cables is nearing
completion.

Electrical Control Apparatus.

Several valuable researches, on a practical scale, are progressing
in connection with electric control apparatus. These include tests
on oil circuit breakers (for which the 6 000 kW alternator has now
l)een prepared and its characteristics determined), on mining switch
gear, fusible cut-outs and air-circuit breakers for d.c. This last
research has the practical co-operation of the London County
Council and the London and North -Western Railway Company, Ltd.
A forthcoming paper by the National Physical L.iboratory is also
announced, giving the results of tests on the conductivity of joint.s
in copper and aluminium bars.

Turbine Blading.

Recent researches on stainless steel have necessitated a revision
f)f the programme previously mapped out for research on turbine
blading. Good progress is reported in the tests on turbine nozzles
at Manchester University. It is interesting to learn that Professor
Callendar is undertaking reeearches on turbines and on the
properties of high-pressure and high-temperature steam. Amongst
tile miscellaneous researches and new enquiries undertaken bv the
Association may be noted tests on the relation of the permissablo
wiriations of supply voltage to " ilicker " ot incandescent lamps,
conferences with Government Dejjartments on accumulators and
batteries, and researches on the wave-form of generators. A full
review of the progress of all the activities of the Association may
be found in the Quarterly Progress Report for April.

Rugby War Memorial.

"For three nights after the recent unveiling by Field-Marshal
Lord French of the War Memorial Gates at Rugby they were
flood lighted by the British Thomson-Houston Co. The lighting
was particularly effective in this case, as, by day the beauty of
the gates, owing to their surroundings, is liable to be overlooked.
For the lighting, two B. T.-H. Floodlight projectors, equipped with

Rugby War Memorial Gates.

■' Mazda " gasfilled lamps were employed, and to avoid any un-
evenness of light which might be caused by the reflection of the lamp
filament diffusing mirror reflectors were used, which, in addition to
reflecting the light, break up the rays in such a way as to eliminate
striation. To keep the illumination within the limits of the monu-
ment, each projector was fitted with a spill shield — a device specially
designed to give a definite cut-off to the beam.

The Greater London Scheme.

We regret to notice that attempts are being made by some of the
local authorities in London to organise opposition to the draft
scheme of the Electricity Commissioners for the Supply of
Electricity in Greater London. A private conference was held
at the Town Hall, Bermondsey, on Friday last, to which the
Borough Councils of Poplar, Bethnal Green, Stepney, Hackney.
Southwark, Woolwich, Shoreditch, Camberwell, Dept'ford, Green-
wich, Lambeth, Lewisham, Stoke Newington, and Bermondsey; the
Town Councils of West Ham and East Ham; and the Urban
District Councils of Walthamstow, liford, and Leyton were invited.
The agenda included consideration of the scheme, and also the
steps necessary for securing the reversal of : (1) Over representa-
tion of private companies, (2) the complete ignoring of the claim
for Labour representation, (3) the failure to examine the advantages
which may accrue if tlie existing undertakings weie thoroughly re-
organised, (4) the refusal of the Government to advance loans for
schemes involving large expenditure of capital that are problematic
regarding their utility, (5) the extension of tenure as part of the
settlement with the private companies throughout London.

Some of those invited (including Stepney) did not attend, as it
was considered that the existing conference of local authorities
was the properly constituted body to deal with the question.

A Large Electric Steam Generator.

The Beloo-Canadian Pulp & Paper Company is, according to the
" Electrical World," producing its proc-ess steam with a 20 000 kW
electric steam generator; 60 0d01bs. of water are being evaporated
per hour with a thermal efficiency of 98 per cent., including losses,
in 100ft. of ])iping. It is reported that the company ifi saving
$4 000 per month with the new system, which saves 75 tons
of coal a day. Installation costs (about §25 000) were 40 per cent,
less than the cast of the coal-burning plant replaced. Three-phase,
6 600 V power from the Shawinigan Water and Power Company i?
utilitsed directly in the tanks. The amount of steam generated and
tlie pressure and amount of power used are governed by the depths
of immersion of the electrodes in the tanks. .Already generators
of this type, with a tota' rating of 100 000 kW," have been
installed or contracted for, according to F. Hudson, presi-
dent of the Electric Furnace Construction Company, Philadelphia,
wlio thinks that the most importa.nt applications of electric steam
generators will probablv be in industries situated with-n convenient
transmission range of hydro-elect ric plants. Where savings in initial
cost, space occupied, and operating expense are important the
electric steam generator will have, it is claimed, n^any points mi
its favour.

April 14, 1922

The Electrician.

451

Latin-American Engineering Notes.

A commission of engineers has been appointed by the Bolivian
Crovernment to consider plans for the electrification of the Yungas
Railway, in Bolivia. At present the line is of little importance, only-
two passenger traing and one freight train being operated daily. The
cost of electrifying the line, with a view to future development, and
providing 1 800 h.p., is estimated at 246 000 gold dollars (£49 200).

Work has almost be-en completed upon an electric plant in the
city of Leon, Nicaragua, power being derived from a waterfall in
the vicinity. The plant will supply all the- streets and buildings
with electricity.

In Ypacarai, Paraguay, an electric plant has been installed, the
first of its kind, which it is hoped to duplicate in a neighbouring
town at an early date.

The town of Comayagu, in Honduras, is completing an electric
light and power station, while a contract has lately be«n entered
into for the construction of a new radio station in the neighbourhood.

A new 536 h.p. 400 kW turbine has been added to the existing
electric light plant installed at Maracaibo, Venezuela.

It is expected that the electrical plant of 2 000 kW capacity, under
construction in Cardenas (Republic of Cuba), will be completed this
month.

Satisfactory progress has been made with the erection of the two
electric Gronwal furnaces, each of 3 000 kW capacity, now being
installed by a Brazilian metallurgical company, which holds the
exclusive Brazilian rights for this furnace.

After considerable competition, the contract for lighting the
grounds of the Brazilian Centennial Exhibition has been awarded to
the General Electric Company, of New York, the estimated cost
being $1 000 000 (£200 000). The company's chief engineer (Mr.
W. D. O'Ryan) is in Brazil, making the necessary arrangements for
starting the work. Mr. O'Ryan directed the illumination services of
the San Francisco Exposition.

An electrically operated converter plant for refining all the matte
and copper blister on the spot, instead of shipping it abroad for
refining, is being erected at Santa Rosalia, Lower California, at a
cost of over %\ 000 000 (£200 000).

In Costa Rica a contract has been signed for the purchase of land
for the construction of an electric light and power plant for the
municipality of Alajuela and the surrounding towTis. The installa-
tion contract has not yet been awarded.

Reuter's Trade Service.

London Traffic Reform.

A long report on the present position of the London traffic
PROBLEM was presented to the London County Council on Tuesday
by the Highways Committee. The time is considered opportune for
raising the matter again, inasmuch as the Treasury have agreed io
guarantee interest on the capital which will be expended by the
Underground Electric Railways Company of London on widening
and extending the tube railways. The report deals at some length
with the various efforts made by the County Council to improve its
tramway system and to co-ordinate traffic arrangements in Greater
London. Extracts from the reports of the Royal Commission on
London Traffic, Select Committees, &c., are included, and statistics
are also given of the passengers carried by the tramways, omnibusefi,
tube and other railways in order to show the importance of the
facilities offered by the tramways and the effects of competition.

The Committee state that, although they have been influenced in
submitting the statement with regard to the present traffic position
in London primarily by reason of the announcement recently made
of the guarante-e proposed to be given by the Government to certain
enterprises of the underground companies, they have also felt that
on other grounds the time has arrived for seeking from the Govern-
ment a clear declaration of its policy and intentions on a question
that is all-important to the people of London. They regard the
matter as one of such pressing urgency that they think the time has
arrived when the Council should place the position before the
Government, and ask it to take the matter in hand without further
delay, without indicating in any precise way the action which the
Council suggests should be taken to provide a remedy for the present
difficulties. Therefore, they recommended that the attention of
H.M. Government be again directed to the resolutions of the Council
on the subject of London traffic arrangements ; that the Government
be informed that, in the opinion of the Council, the organisation of
London traffic on satisfactory lines is endangered by the continued
delay in adopting measurf'S to give effect to the repealed declarations
of Royal Commissions and Select Committees as to the pressing need
for reform ; and that the Government be further informed that the
Council considers that the difficulty of reaching a settlement of the
traffic problem as a whole will be enhanced by any steps that may be
taken by the Government that have the effect of assisting particular
traffic undertakings operating in London and the surrounding
districts, without recognising the essential community of the traffic
interests of the entire area.

Electrical Plant for Japan.

Referring to the recent large contracts secured by the
Metropolitan- Vickers Electrical Company, in connection with the
electrification of the South African railways, a correspondent of the
" Manchester Guardian Commercial " states that : " Further large
ccntracts could he secured if British firms would turn their atten-
tion to Japan. The greatest open market in the world to-day for
high-grade electrical apparatus iiea in the project of the Japanese
authorities for the Electrifiotion of the Imperial Government
Railways and in the schemes for hydroelectric developments
throughout the empire. The estimated cost of these plans is
$1 000 000 000 (gold).

As Japan may be unable to carry the load of financing these huge
new industries there is a hope in Japan that past successful Anglo-
Japanese co-operation will now be reciprocated in part by British
participation in financing the projects. The Japanese promoters are
ready to offer bonds paying 10 and 12 per cent, on the investments,
which are both substantial and stable.

Water power is not a new experiment in Japan. It has been
utilised for centuries in a primitive way. Modern hydro-electric
plants are now seen perched on the hillsides draining the maximum
amount of power out of the many small but swift rivers. Over
1 000 000 kW are furnished from this source for railways and
industries. Even when this amount of energy is enormously"
increased as planned it will not, according to Mr. Kyuchi Hasegawa.
chief of the Rivers Section of the Home Department, supply enough
power to dispense with coal for power purposes."

According to the " Yokohar.ia Chamber of Commerce Journal "
the Electricity Bureau of the Department of Communication has
reported a striking development of the electrical industry in Japan
in 1921. In the investment in the industry there was an increa.se
up to the close of October of approximately 166 million yen.

At the end of October, 1921, there were 830 electrical enterprises
including 728 electric power supplying concerns, 52 electric tram-
ways and railways, and 50 other companies transacting similar busi-
ness. The total number showed a decrease of four as compared with
the close of 1920, which means the consolidation of electrical power
supply companies during the year through merging, amalganaation,
or the formation of trusts more or less in response to Official en-
couragement. Eleven plants were absorbed by larger interests in
October alone. There was a decrease in the power generated during
the year, however, attributed to the decrease in power consumption.

The Minister of Communication recently gave an exposition
of his policy toward electrical enterprises in Japan, which was
plainly meant to accelerate the combination of such enterprises.
According to him, Japan's electrical industry stands out as one of
the most prominent of all industrial lines in the country, it having
absorbed 'capital to the amount of 1 600 million yen, while its
capacity to supply power is up to 1 340 000 kW. It was beyond
doubt that the combination of and systematisation of enterprises in
the line was one of the prime conditions for its further development.

Having observed that his repeated utterances to urge their amalga-
mation had been well responded to, and that an increasing number
of combination schemes were reported, he went on to remark that it
was necessary to give crreater impetus to this tendency among the
electrical enterprises, wl.ile at the same time urging those engaged
in the electrical industry to attain the prime object in view of those
favouring combination "by re-adjusting power transmission systems
of management of plants," and thereby increasing their efficiency.

Electric Pumps in Marine Salvage.

Addressing the meml>ers of the Birmingham and District Elec-
tric Cll^ on Saturday on the progress made during the war in the
method of salvaging sunken vessels" by means of electrical apparatus.
Mr. V. H. Pearson gave as an example the transport " Admiral
Cochrane," which was torpedoed by a German submarine off the
South Coast of England. In this case the vessel had taken on a
list of 33 deg., the whole of the after-decks being submerged. It
would hav,> been impossible to salve the ship by means of ^team
pumps owing to the degree of list. Tlie electric pump could be
lowQred into the hold of the ship and could be kept running under
water. The transport was lifted within seven days and placed on
an even keel on the beach. After slight repairs m dry dock the
vessel was put into commission again.

The International Railway Congress, the first to be held since
1910, will take place at Rome from the 18th to the 28th inst. Every
aspect of- railway and light railway construction and administration
will come in for consideration, and rerports will be presented on the
technical and financial sides of electric traction. There will also
be papers and reports on permanent-way construction, locomotive
design, signalling, &c.
E 2

Resources of the Crown Colonies.

The Council of the British Empire pRODrcERs' Organisation
have decided to appoint a Committee of representative producers
from all the Crown Colonies and Dependencies to consider what step*
should be taken : (a) To promat<> the development of natural re-
sources and encourage the investment of British capital in the Crown
Colonies • (b) To improve means of communication between the said
Colonies 'and other parts of the Empire: (c) To re-adjust tariff
arrangements so as to ensure that the products of such colonies ui
cases Vhere import duties are imposed in Great Britain should be
admitted on special terms, and that the tariffs of these colonies
should be re-adjusted so as to give the largest preference possible to
imports of goods produced in 6reat Brit.ain.

In order to ensure effective representation on the Comniittee rf
the principal interests of the Crown Colonies some little time will
be taken in selecting members.

452

The Electrician.

April 14, 1922

Lej^al Intelligence.

Litigation Over Telephone Poles.

Last week the Railway and Canal Commission (Mr. Justice Lush,
Mr. Tindal Atkinson, K.C, and Sir Lewie Coward, K.C.) heard
an appeal by the Postmaster-General from a decision of Judge
Crawford awarding an Essex landowner rental against him of from
5s. to 20s. each for poles on his properly. The Postmaster-General
said there were nearly a million poles on private property in this
country, and, on the precedent of this decision, landowners had
been sending in asking for 10s. for each pole, and the thing would
create a revolution in the public service.

For the Postmaster-General, Mr. Harold Murphy explained that
the appellant (the Postmaster-General) sought a new trial of the
case because of the fixation of rent of six telegraph poles on land
of Mr. H. E. Brooks, of Stafford Lodge, near Grays, Essex. For
three other poles Judge Crawford, at Romford, apparently said
there should be no charge because, under a judgment of Mr. Justice
Lush, those poles were upon a road. Counsel thought Mr. Brooks'
main defence was that, having given up his right to the telephone
owing to increased charges, he deemed himself entitled to exact a
much heavier rental thai, the National Telephone Company, which
paid Is. a pole. The Postmaster-General contended that the rates
he should pay should depend on the present damage, and there was
jio damage whatever to Mr. Brooks.

Mr. Justice Lush : So he is to be paid nothing ? You are in
occupation of his land. You cannot put up poles on somebody else's
land and say, " You ought not to have any acknowledgment for the
user."

Mr. Murphy : I am given a statutory right to place polas on the
land, and of coming to you if he fails to give consent. What you
have to consider is whether such conditions as he seeks to impose
are contrary to public interest. If there is no detriment or loss of
amenity the imposition of anjr pecuniary payment would be contrary
to public interest, and the imposition of a heavy rental would be
ruinous to a public service.

Mr. Justice Lush : It would be contrary to public interest that
you should pay him nothing. I dare say you would like to pay
him nothing.

Counsel went on to explain that the judge's award worked out at
60s. for six poles. There were 818 000 poles on private property, and
the average payment was Is. 4d. Thirty per cent, were free ; 95 per
cent, were less than Is. More was paid for telephone standards
with stays on the top of buildings and in private gardens. The
rent proposed would be a revolution of the whole system, and on its
precedent landowners were coming in with demands of 10s. a pole.

For the appellant, Mr. Charles J. Eve said there were nine
heads of damage under which he usually assessed damage, and in
Mr. Brooks' case he could find no damage under any of tnem. The
poles took nothing from the plough ; they were in a wood ; they huit
no grass, growing crops, fences, or hedges; there was no risk of
telegraph men leaving gates open for cattle to stray ; there were no
gat^ ; there was no game to be disturbed and no cover ; no hedge io
plash ; no spoiling of com.mercial value, or any other damage, and
as to unsightliness, there was no house near to see the poles. The
only development value of the property was in minerals and
forestry. If Mr. Brooks was going to build, quarry, or make an
avenue he could give notice to have the poles removed.

Stating his own case, Mr. Brooks contended that there was pre-
sent damage, and that he should receive payment in respect of his
interest in the land and its amenities. He was director of a cement
company, and that chalk land would eventually be worked for
cement. He had been in negotiation with his colleagues for the
purchase of the property. When he gave the Postmaster-General
notice to move the noles, three weeks passed and then he was pre-
sented with a polite bludgeon — told, in effect, " We will not get out
and we are going to use our compulsory powers, and we give you
notice accordingly." Such a threat of litigation did not attract a
purchaser. He wanted to sell the estate as a whole, but if a pur-
chaser shied at the telegraph poles 11 acres would be cut off from
the property on the other side of the road, and he should be left
with those 11 acres and £2000 or £3 000 worse off than if he had
sold it all. Nobody would buy the 11 acres for building. Ten shillings
a pole was not adequate compensation for " putting this fear in the
heart of a purchaser." If the Postmaster-General was presented
with a notice to remove on account of quarryii g he might be
expected to be just as obstructive and litigious as now.

On the subject of the price paid for rents, Mr. J. Sinnot, engi-
neer to the Post Office engineering department, put in returns of
consents to the erection of poles.

In closing the enquiry, Mr. Justice Lush said the situation was
an interesting one, and it was the first of its kind that the court
had had since the Telegraph Construction Act of 1916. There was
the question whether a capitalised sum should not be paid instead
of rent. He understood Mr. Eve had mentioned a period of 16 or
20 years for capitalisation. The court desired to look into the
matter, and, as that was the first case of its kind, judgment would
be delivered next term.

Dawson v. Douglas.

This action, ',:\ which Sir Philip Dawson, M.P. , sued Lord A.
Douglas for libel, was mentioned to Mr. Justice Horridge on
Monday, when it was announced that the parties had arrived at a
settlement.

Mr. Croom-Johnson (for the plaintiff) said that in August
last Sir Philip Dawson was Conservative candidate for West

Lewisham; the defendants were Lord Alfred Douglas, then
editor of " Plain English," the directors of the North British Pub-
lishing Company, wno published the newspaper, and Messrs. G.
Holder &Sons, the printers. On Aug. 27 " Plain English " published
an attack on Sir Philip, and the gravamen of the charges was that
he was a naturalised alien and that in the course of his duties he
advised people who consulted him, as an engineer, to employ persons
who were not British subjects. Lord A. Douglas now assured him
that at the time that the libel appeared he was away, and had ro
knowledge that the article was going to appear, and that he did not
authorise or consent to it in any form, and this assurance the plaintiff
had accepted. At the same time. Lord A. Douglas had recognised
his responsibilities as editor and director, and in his defence he
expressed regret that the article ever appeared. The other parties
concerned apologised at once and paid a sum of money into court. It
had been agreed that there should be judgment for Sir Philip
Dawson for an agreed amount of damages and costs.

His Lordship. — The plaintiff's character has been absolutely
vindicated, and judgment, was entered on the agreed terms.

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Electricity (Supply) Acts.

The House of Commons has approved the following Special
Orders made by the Electricity Commissioners and confirmed by
the Minister of Transport in respect of the urban district of Amble
in Northumberland ; the parish of Distington, in the rural district
of Whitehaven ; the urban district of Ammanford ; part of the
borough of Wareham ; the urban districts of Great Har\v'ood and
Rishton and the parishes of Wilpshire, Clayton-le-dale, and
Ramsgreave, in the rural district of Blackburn.

Electricity (Supply) Bill.

The 'Committee stage of the Electricity (Supply) Bill was con-
cluded in the House of Lords on the 5th inst.

Viscount Peel moved an amendment to Clause 10 (Power to
continue way leaves) in order to reserve to railway companies the
protection afforded to them under the Act of 1919. These were
agreed to.

Lord Monk Bretton moved a new clause to follow Clause 11,
dealing with the power to make agreements as to working of generat-
ing stations, authorising the Electricity Commissioners by order to
suspend for such period as they thought fit the powers of purchase
of a joint electricity authority, or the London County Council, or
any local authority in the case of any transfer or lease to a joint
electricity authority of any part of an authorised undertaker's
undertaking, provided that consent to such suspension had been
previously obtained.

Viscount Peel accepted the amendment, and it was adopted.

Some other amendments were made, and the Bill was reported to
the House.

Ayr Provisional Order.

The Ayr Burgh Provisional Order, which seeks power to extend
the Corporation tramways and to carry out street improvements, &c.,
has been considered by a Parliamentary Commission (Lord
Chalmers, chairman. Lord Meston, Sir Henry Craik, M.P., and
Mr. J. A. Murray MacDonald, M.P.)

Mr. H. P. Macmillan, K.C, said the Order originally contained
important provisions relating to the Loch Doon electrical scheme;
but the Chairman of Ways and Means had directed that that por-
tion of the Order should be dealt with by private Bill, as schemes
for the supply of electricity for lighting and other purposes were
not included in the topics with which the Commissioners might deal.
The Order now consisted of nine portions, but the only portion
which had aroused controversy was that dealing with tramway
extensions and the widening of certain streets. It was proposed
to acquire strips of garden ground in Carrick-road to enable th.^t
thoroughfare being widened to 46 ft., so as to permit the doubling
of the tramway track. At present the traffic caused considerable
congestion, and the doubling of the tramway track was dependent
upon the widening of the street. By acquiring the land proposed
is would be possible to have the statutory prescribed distance <.f
9 ft. 6 in. between the kerb and the nearest tram rail. The pro-
prietors and occupiers were objecting to portions of their land being
taken for widening the road. The maximum amount to be taken
at any point was 1 ft. 8 in. The promoters had been advised that
the tram rails in the thoroughfare must be relaid. It would be
unfortunate if they had to relay the single rails again, and their
opinion was that advantage should be taken of the opportunity to
have the road put into a proper state. Several witnesses gave
evidence in support of the Order, and ultimately the preamble was
found proved.

Centre Poles for Princes-street.

Replying to Mr. W. Graham, in the House of Commone on
Monday, jNIr. Neal said that he had received the report of the
Commissioners appointed to inquire into the tramway problem in
Princes-street, Edinburgh, and he had decided to adopt the recom-
mendation contained in it, namely, that the request of the Corpora-
tion for j>ermission to put up centre poles to carry the overtiead
electrical equipment, and to alter the position of the rails on the
northern side of the street, should be granted.

April 14^ 1922

The Electrician.

463

Electricity Supply.

Hawarden Rural Council have applied for a Special Order to
extend the area for the supply of electricity under their 1914
Electric Lighting Order so as to include East Saltney, Higher
Kinnerton, Hope, Llanfynydd, Sealand, and Tryddyn, and so much
of the parish of Hawarden as is not included under the principal
Order ; to make new provisions as to maximum prices ; and to
authorise the Council to take a supply of electrical energy from the
North Wales Power and Traction Company, or any other company,
authority, or person. Any objectiona must be sent to the Electricity
Commission by May 4.

The Mayor of Swansea on Thursday opened the new Amman
Valley extension of the Corporation electricity department by
switching on the current from the Man&elton Sub-station. The new
undertaking, which will provide power for the growing anthracite
coal district of the Amman Valley and Gorseinon, will cost £45 000.
Already the Gorseinon Electric Lighting Company, the Gelly-
oeidrim, New Cwmgorse, and the North Amman (Cawdor) Collieriss
hav<e contracted to take current to a guaranteed mmimum of
£11000 a year, whilst an ultimate revenue of £25 000 is in eight.
For a short distance the cables are underground, but overhead cables
have been erected as far as Gellyceidrim Colliery in one direction
and the Gorseinon Colliery in the other. When the system is
extended right round the valley there will be a circular route
covering "tbout forty miles. The supply voltage is 33 000.

A petition, signed by a large and -representative body of con-
sumers of electricity for both power and lighting, has been
forwarded to the Electricity Commissioners and the Town Clerks
of LiverpiJol and Bootle, protesting against the proposed sale of
the Bootle electricity undertaking to the Liverpool Corporation.
The agreement has been signed by both corporations, and awaits
■confirmation by the Electricity Commissioners. The petitioners
maintain amongst other things that the agreement leaves the future
prices to be charged for electricity for private and public lighting
nd trade purposes in the absolute discretion of the Liverpool Cor-
poration and does not provide lor a cheap and abundant supply ;
and that if it is advisable for the two electricity undertakings to
become a joint undertaking (which they submit is not necessary),
then they should be worked on a partnership basis.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Maidenhead Towii Council has applied for a loan of £5 300 for
extensions to the generating plant.

An inquiry into the application of Navan Urban Council for a
loan of £10 000 to carry out an electricity supply scheme is to be
held by a Dail Eireann inspector in the Council Chamber on the
■22nd inst.

Kilmarnock Town Council have been granted a Provisional Order
authorising them to supply electricity to places outside the borough,
including the burghs of Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Kilwinning Stewarton,
and Cumnock.

A scheme of extensions to Guildford electricity undertaking,
amounting to £20 000, has been drawn up by Mr. Spencer Hawes,
consulting engineer, and approved by the Town Council. Applica-
tion is to be made to the Electricity Commissioners for their
approval and for sanction to borrow the money.

In connection with the loans of £40 000 and £12 473 sanctioned
by the Electricity Commissioners, for plant and buildings in connec-
tion with Stepney electricity undertaking, the sums of £20 000 and
£12 473 are to be taken up on loan from the trustees of the Union
^Savings Bank at £5 10s. per cent, per annum, repayable within
twenty and thirty years respectively. The Council's scheme of
extension at Limehouse generating station has been generally
approved by the Commissioners, but they are of opinion that the
extension should be limited to the installation of two 10 000 kW sets
and boilers instead of three.

Alteration of Charges.

Bootle Electricity Committee have decided to reduce by
25 per cent, the additional charges made for electricity during the
war. The reduction is to take effect from Jan. 1 last.

Burnley Electricity Committee have reduced the price of elec-
tricity supplied to the Tramways Department from 2'lcL to 2d. per
unit. The charge will be again reviewed at the end of three montlis.

Watford Urban Council has reduced the price of electricity for
power from 70 to 50 per cent, above the pre-war rate, and for light-
ing from 8d. tp 6d, per unit, after the minimum number of units
used during the summer and winter quarters.

The recommended revision of the charges for electric lighting and
power in Belfast have been approved by the Corporation. It is
announced that the feared deficit of £38 000 on the last half-year's
trading has been converted into a surplus of £16 000. This was
chiefly effected by saving on coal charges and increased charges for
current to consumers. Tne revised rate is as follows : — For lighting
supply imder maximum demand, first hour 8d. per imit as at pro-
sent, but subsequent hours charge to be reduced from 7^d. to 5d.
The general flat-rate charge is to be reduced from 8d. to 7d. per
unit ; for power, the charge is to be reduced from 6d. per unit for
the first hour and 4d. afterwards to 5d. for the first hour and 2^d.
afterwards ; for combined light and power, it is proposed to fix
the charge at 2'4d. per unit, subject to a minimum consiunption, the
present price being 6d. for tlie first hour and 4d. thereafter.

Electric Traction.

Liverpool Tramways Committee has received from the Ministry
of Transport sanction to the borrowing of £132 200 for the recon-
struction and doubling of the Liverpool and Prescot Light Railway.

A strong opposition i« being offered to the Railways (North-
western AND Midland Group) Bill, which enables the railway
companies to run road vehicles, and its second reading in the House
of Commons was only carried by five votes on Tuesday.

Aid. Higham, chairman of Blackburn Tramway Committee,
stated last week that it was not proposed to revert to penny fares.
Experiments in this direction elsewhere had ended in disaster, an3
if tried locally they would lead the department to bankruptcy.

By a majority of 13 votes, it was decided last week at a joint
meeting of Glasgow Tramways, Statute, Labour, and Lighting Com-
mittees to recommend that the electric standards in Great Western-
road should be removed from the centre to the side of the roadway.

Blackpool Tramways and Electricity Committee has decided to
advertise for a successor to Mr. C. I. Baker, the chief traffic euper-
intendent, who, as we announced in our issue of March 10, has been
appointed general manager of the Ashton-under-Lyne Tramways.
The Committee's report for February shows an increase of 117 440
units compared with last year. The Education Committee have
made a grant towards the cost incurred by school children using
the cars.

The Ministry of Transport has informed Newport Corporation
that the reasons given by the Corporation do not adequately justify
their refusal to grant a licence to the South Wales Commercial
Motors, Ltd., to run their Newport-Chepstow omnibus service to
the centre of the borough. The Alinistry consider the licence should
be granted on conditions, one of which is that the terminal point
of the coanpany's service should be Clarence-place, Newport. The
Tramways Committee have decided that their chairman should
interview the Ministry of Transport on the subject.

Writing from Paris last week, the correspondent of the " Daily
Telegraph " states that reference to the death of M. Bulot, Pro-
curer General, who was fatally injured by a vehicle when alighting
from a tramcar, led to a discussion of Traffic Rules at a meeting
of the Municipal Council. The Prefect of Police said that all
vehicles were required to proceed slowly past tramway halts, but
he could not have police at every point to enforce the law. It
is proposed to institute a system of signals to be applied by the
tramway and omnibus companies, so that following traffic will be
warned of impending halts.

The minutes of the Highways Committee, submitted to the London
County Council on Tuesday, referred to several tramway matters.
It was agreed to apply the agreement of the 31st ult., between the
Metropolitan Municipal Tramways Council, the E.T.U.. and the
Transport and General Workers' Union, as to rates of pay of elec-
trical workers on tramways rolling stock work, to thke employees
concerned in the tramways department, including the light and power
attendants in the permanent way branch. The revised rates will
mean a saving of £4 950 a year. The following estimates were
approved : £1 000 for the electric lighting of the central repair depot
at Charlton, £1 500 for the provision of protective relavs ot a modern
type on the tramways distribution system, and £1^85 for excess
expenditure on the lay-by at Stamford Hill and junctions at Tooting
Broadway and Stockwell.

Trade Inquiries.

A limited company established in Tunis since 1901 desire to be
put in touch with United Kingdom manufacturers of mechanical and
electrical supplies, agricultural and industrial plant, building
supplies, &c. Particulars can be obtained from the Department of
Overseas Trade (Reference No. 395).

H.M. Trade Commissioner at Winnipeg (Mr. L. B. Beale) has
received an inquiry from Vancouver, British Columbia, for supplies
of electric light meters. The annual consumption of electric meters
used in Vancouver is; stated to amount to about 5 000, delivery
of which runs into about 400 per month all the year round. The
type required is a bottom connected single-phase watt hour meter.
the sizes ranging from 10 A to 800 A. The 10 A size is in greatest
demand and now costs $8.75 laid down at Vancouver, all charges
paid. The inquirers are anxious to receive in duplicate from
United Kingdom manufacturers full particulars and lowest prices.
Further particulars can be obtained from the Department of
Overseas Trade.

A firm ot mechanical and electrical engineers at Melbourne.
with branches at Sydney and Adelaide, who represent United
Kingdom manufacturers of electrical switchgear. are desirous of
representing manufacturers of the following lines, viz. : — cables,
and wires, lamps, a.c. and d.c. motors, insulating and jointing
material, electrical porcelain, including insulators, consumption
meters, dynamos and alternators, and general accessories. The
firm are also desirous of acting as local agents for the presentation
of tenders for Australian Government and Municipal contracts,
being well accustomed to tiiis class of service. A director of the
firm is now in this country and will be pleased to discuss matters
personally witli firms who are interested. Application for names
and addresses must be sent to the Department of Overseas Trade
(Reference No. 379).

454

The Electrician.

April 1^, 1922

Personal and Appointments.

London County Council have appointed Mr. E. T. Bancroft motor
school superintendent in the tramways department.

Mr. I. C. Brown, electrical engineer to the Oudh and
Rohilkhand State Railway, has resigned his appointment.

Mr. H. Dickinson, Liverpool City electrical engineer, is to under-
take the duties of city lighting engineer and official inspector of
existing electric meters.

Our readers will join us in tendering to Mr. J. A. Robertson,
borough electrical engineer of Salford, our sympathy on the death of
his wife, which took place laet week.

Mr. E. E. Ho.ADLEY, Maidstone, electrical engineer, has been
re-elected one of the two representatives for the smaller towns of the
country on the Council of the Electrical Development Association.

Mr. W. II. Wardle, principal assistant in the Liverpool Electric
Lighting Department, has been recommended for an increase in his
present salary from £300 per annum, plus E.P.E.A. bonus, to £350,
plus Corporation bonus.

Mr. R. H. Pitts has been appointed to act as Staff Officer for
the Underground Companies. He will hold this post in addition
to his duties as Secretary to the Joint Standing Committee of the
Companies.

The retirement in July is announced of Mr. H. J. Spooner, head
of the Polytechnic School of Engineering, London, for the past
forty years. A presentation is to be made to him, and old students
desiring to contribute should communicate with Mr. F. R. S. Rice
at the Polytechnic, Regent-street, London, W. 1.

Prof. J. A. Fleming has been compelled, on account of illness,
to cancel all engagements for the present, and will consequently be
unable to deliver the course of lectures on " Modern Improvements
in Telephony " at University College, which has been announced
to begin on April 26. It is hoped that Prof. Fleming will be able
to deliver the course in October.

Business Items, &c.

The telephone number of the Sheffield Branch of English Electric
AND Siemens, Ltd. has been changed to Central 3 535.

As from the 1st inst. the address of Mr. L. B. Eeale, H.M.
Trade Commissioner at Winnipeg, is 703, Union Bank Building.

Owing to ill-health Sir Edward Capel Cure has resigned his
appointment of commercial counsellor at Rome. His successor has
not yet been announced.

Barimar, Ltd. are now granting licences to responsible engineering
companies, founders, &c., to operate the Barimar Metallurgical
(Patented) Process for recovering scrapped castings in their own
shops.

C. A. Vandervell & Company have turned their magneto factory
at Brighton into one for the production of small tools, the magnetos
now being entirely manufactured at Acton, where all communica-
tions relating to these apparatus should be addressed.

Mr. Ralph M. Siiterley announces the establishment of his offices
at 149, Broadway, New York, where he will act in the capacity of
foreign sales manager of American manufacturers of electrical speci-
alties, marine supplies, automotive products and equipment.

Institution Notes.

At the meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers on
the 6th inst. the President announced that arrangements had been
made for members to dine together at the Engineers' Club,
Coventry Street, alter the meeting on April 27, and he asked
members who proposed to attend to send in th'f u names beforehand.

Glasgow Electricity Department Engineering Society brougtit
a successful session to a close on Monday evening, the 3rd inst., in
the Lecture Room, 75, Waterloo-street, Glasgow, when a paper on
" Heat Balance " was read by Mr. John Bruce. This paper won
the prize offered at the beginning of the session by the management
for the best essay on the subject named submitted by a member.
The Society, which has a membership of 300, is serving a usefid
purpoive in providing an opportunity for the discussion of those
problems which confront engineers in the performance of their
duties, and this cannot but be to the advantage of the member.s
and of the department.

Obituary.

We regret to record the death of Dr. Andrew MoWilliam, iiead
metallurgical adviser to the Government of India from 1911-1920.
and previously I'rofessor of Metallurgy in Sheffield University.

The death took place at Sidmouth on the 7th inst. of Mr. J. J.
Easton. Mr. Easton entered Siemens Brothers' offices at 3. Great
George-street, Westmin.ster, in 1868, at the age of nineteen, and
remained with the firm and with the succeeding company — Siemens
Brot/hers & Company. Ltd. — until June 30, 1919, when "he retired.
During this period of fifty-one years he was largely instrumental 'n
furthering the growth of the company's business, and for many yeais
had charge of itvs commercial organisation 'n relation to all classes of
cables and telegraphy.'

Telegraph and Wireless Notes.

A new telephone e.xchange to accommodate 400 subscribers was
opened last week at Cambuslang (Lanarkshire). This is the third
new exchange to be opened in the Glasgow district within a few
months.

It is reported that negotiations between representatives of the
Finnish and Swedish telephone administrations have resulted in
a preliminary agreement, under which the two countries are to be
connected by a cable between Helsingfors and Stockholm comprising
nine lines.

Mr. A. W. M. Dyke, of Neath, delivered an address last week 0:1
'■ Elementary Principles of Telephony " at a joint meeting at the
Wireless College. Cardiff, of the South Wales Wireless Society and
the South Wales Section of the Permanent Way Institution of Engi-
neers. Mr. W. M. Drysdale gave a wireless demonstration, and my.
H. F. A. Sanderson, using nis set, enabled the audience to hear
signals from the large European commercial stations and music
picked up from The Hague.

A dispute has arisen between the Association of Wireless and
Cable Telegraphists, which has a membership of 5 000 to 6 000
(95 per cent, of the total of British wireless operators), and the
London District Association of Engineering Employers, represent-
ing the shipowners and the wireless companies. The men's secre-
tary states that, in addition to a reduction of wages, the telegraphists
were to be called upon to perform " other duties " besides tele-
graphic work. They had attempted to get a definition and a con-
fei-ence, but only a vague r^iy was given which would leave them
entirely at the mercy of the shipowners and the captains. The
question of wages alone could no doubt be satisfactorily settled.
The men had been instructed to refuse to sign on any ships, and
already 300 to 400 men were "out."

Exhibition Notes.

It is proposed to hold an International Exhibition of Ideas,
Inventions, and Discoveries at Amsterdam from June 24 to July 23.

In view of the interest at the present moment in the housing
question, our readers will be interested in Stand 128, Row G, at the
Building Trades Exhibition, where Vickers, Ltd., are exhibiting
their portable concrete machinery, which includes brick machines,
roofing tile machines, partition slab machines, and colour mills.

The first official commercial Fair to be held in Luxemburg will
take place from Aug 14 to 22. The Fair is divided into thirty trade
groups covering nearly every product except the heaviest metal
goods Applications for space, forms for which are available at the
Department of Overseas Trade, must be sent to the Organising
Committee, by June 15.

A Bureau of Information will be maintained by the Trade Com-
missioner Service in Canada at the Annual Canadian National
Exhibition which is to be held at Toronto from Aug. 26 to Sept. 9,
and United Kingdom manufacturers are invited to send for free
distribution catalogues of electrical machinery, appliances, and
equipment, electrical railway equipment, chemical plant, scientific
instruments, &c. Catalogues should be sent direct to H.M. Trade
Commissioner. 24, West Adelaide-street, Toronto, not later than
June 30. Firms who desire space at this year's exhibition should
apply at once to the Secretary, Canadian National Exhibition,
Lumsden Buildings, West Adelaide-street, Toronto.

Institution of Engineers, Australia.

At the Engineering Conference arranged by the Institution oy
Engineers, Australia, and held early in February, Prof. R. W.
Chapman, one of the organisers of th# Institution, was installed
as its president for the current year. The annual report sete out
the numbers of members in the principal to^\^ls in the Comnion-
vvealth, the total of all grades being 2 020. Mr. W. J. Newbigin,
the retiring president, said, in the course of his presidential address,
on the inauguration of the Federal Engineering Council, they
might look forward within a short period, to having from four 10
five thousand trained engineers banded together for the technical
and scientific development of their country. It was necessary to
induce the younger men to join the Institution, and he suggested
tiiat employers should give a preference to members of the Institu-
tion, lie contrasted the methods of'engineers and politicians, saying
that the fonner worked upon a basis of reason and calculation,
while the latter depended for their success upon an apjieal to th©
emotions. Engineers could do something towards improving
Government Departments. Engineers had enabled Australia to
reach iier present position, and her future would also depend upon
them. During the Conference the Lord flavor received the mem-
bers at the Melbourne Toiwn Hall, and in the course of the meetings
Sir John Mona.sh (chief of the Victorian Electricity Commissioners)
delivered a lecture on " The Victorian State Electricity Scheme,"
Mr. H. N. May read a paper on ' The Jolimont Workshops and
Sub-Station " — a part of tiie Melbourne and Metropolitan Railway
electrification sclieme — and Mr. R. Lawson .a paper on " The
Collingwood (Melbourne) Automatic Telephwie Exchange.'

The French Minister of Public Works is introducing info the
Chamber a. l?ill authorising the construction, at I'Aber Vracli (Finis-
tere Department) of a tidal power station.

April 14, 1922

The Electrician.

455

Imperial Notes.

Work has been commenced on tfie carrying out of the St. Georgb's
(N.S.W.) County Council's electricity supply scheme for Bexley.

Electrical imports kito South Africa last year amounted to
approximately £2 000 800, compared with £1 680 000 in 1920 and
£1 040 000 in 1913.

" The British and South African Export Gazette " states that
there is a considerable demand in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanga, and other
towns for electric lighting and heating apparatus.

The Customs Duty on electric ligiit bulbs imported into British
Honduras in now 5 per cent, ad val under the British Preferential
Tariff, and 10 per cent, ad val under the General Tariff.

The Reid-Newfoundland Railway Company has withdrawn its
PROPOSITION for extensive water-power development and the estab-
lishment of paper-making and other industries along tiie Humber
river, on the West Coast of Newfoundland. The proposition called
for Government guarantee of certain securities.

Batiturst (N.S.W.) Council have engaged Mr. R. J. Franki to
report on the desirability and the best means of providing electricity
supply for the town. The Council have approached the Kendos
Cement Company with regard to a supply by the company, but this
would necessitate transmission over about 50 miles.

During the nine months ended Dec. 31 last the total imports into
India of fxecttiical apparatus advanced from 243 to 335 crores.
British shipments advanced from 181 to 2 32 crores, American from
0-39 to 0-71, and Italian from 004 to 014 crores. There was a falling
off in imports from Japan.

The South Gippsland Creamery and Butter Factory Company's
electric supply powers lor Yarram (Victoria), have been transferred
to the Yarram Hydro-Electric Company. A condition of the trans-
fer is that the Hydro-Electric Company will bear the cost of sub-
stituting a.c. for d.c. motors on consumers' premises.

Tenterfield (N.S.W.) Council's electricity imdertaking has not
been paying its way. Mr. Corin, chief electrical engineer of the
Public Works Department, has been consulted on the question of a
hydro-electric supply for the district, and calculates that^ this could
hi provided by means of power from either Tenterfield Creek or
Boonoo-Boonoo for an expenditure of from £30 000 to £35 000.

The chairman of the Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australia
(Mr. W. L. Baillieu) states that the daily average output of zinc is
68 tons, and a production of 80 tons would be reached within the
next two or three months by making arrangements with the Hydro-
Electric Department for a further supply of power over and above
the 15 000 h.p. now available. It is anticipated that the full
30 000 h.p. will be available in August or September next, by which
time the Risdon plant would be completed and the production will
be 120 tons daily.

Montreal Chamber of Commerce has ranged itself among the
opponents of the St. Lawrence canalisation scheme. It is said that
dual control of the scheme would probably lead to friction between
the United States and Canada. The estimated cost (.$252 728 2t'>
exclusive of interest during construction and cost of improvements
to poi'ts on the Great Lakes) is so high that leading business
houses are doubtful of the financial position. The standing charges
(Ml the Lake Ontario-Montreal section alone will amoimt to over
$20 000 000 annually. INIore than 60 per cent, of the water-power
available is on the Canadian side of the river, but all the proposed
locks, dams, and other water-controlling devices will be placed on
the American side.

Foreign Notes.

It is announced that the Siemens-Schuckert Werke, of Berlin,
have made an arrangement with the Furukawa Mining Company
under which the Siemens Company will construct a large factory in
Tokyo for the manufacture of electrical machinery. Twenty German
engineers, accompanied by techni-al experts, have left for Japan.

According to the " Journee Industrielle." Prof. Otto, of the
Sorbonne, has invented a process for sea.^oning timber by the u»e
of ozone. The process ia said to give the same result in about
20 days as would naturally be obtained in the course of several
years. The wood is subjected to the action of a current of air
containing a certain percentage of ozone. Samples of oak and
walnut, wliich have been treated by the process, are said to show
tile same characteristics as seasoned wood. The treatment tiofts
not chancre the colour of the wood. The Otto process is being worked
by a French Company at Serengo, near ililan, but new works v;ill
shortly be built in the neighbourhood of Paris.

A correspondent of the " Times Trade Supplement " states that
the representative of a British engineering firm, after making a
tour of inspection of Mauritius sugar estates, has reported that
a great saving would be effected if the owners of the factories
made use of electricity generated by water power, instead of steam
raised by coal, wood, or cane refuse for operating their machinery.
He contends that " thousands of horse-power of electricity are going
to waste and that this ought to be developed to electrify the
Government railways and also to operate all the sugar mills from
a central power station." The scheme drawn up by Mr. G. McAlpine,
when he was Official Electrical Adviser, for the electrifica,tion of the
local railways using the waterfalls at Tamarin as motive power, has
recently been revived and is now engaging the serious attention of
the authorities.

Miscellaneous.

The late Mr. H. 8. J. Bvjth, managing director of tbe Electro-
phone, Ltd., has left estate valued at £6 929 (net personalty £6 030).

Mr. G. Washington Talbot, of Anerjey-road, Penge, Poetmaster-
General and Directf>r of Telegraphs, Burma, ha* left estate valued
at £2 732.

In view of the need for economy in public expenditure it has
been decided to suspend the post of commercial secretary (Grade II.)
for Chile. 'J'he post will be closed on May 1.

The offer of a company to pay £5 per sign per annum for illu-
minated electric signs affixed to tramway and gae standards has
been approved in general principle by the Swansea highway
authorities.

Speaking at the annual dinner of the Institution of Mining and
Metallurgy last week, Mr. W. C. Bridgeman stated that, in spite of
the recommendations of the Geddes Committee, it had been decided
not to abolish the Dei'ARTment of Mines.

Birmingham University has received from the Trustees of the
James Watt Memorial Fund the sum of £5 000 towards
the establisfiment of a Chair of Research in Mechanical Science,
to be known as " The James Watt Chair."

The revenue from advertising on Trffe Cardiff Cobpobation
TRAMCARS for the past year amounted to £3 161, an increase of over
£1000 on the receipts for 1920. The tramways manager hae been
authorised to rearrange the spaces let for advertising with a view to
bringing in a still larger revenue.

The Select Committee of the House of Lords' Offices report, with
reference to the suggestions in the third report of the Geddes Com-
mittee that the fees for private Bills should be increased by
50 per cent., that it is inexpedient to make any further increase
in the ordinary fees for private bills.

A FATAL accident occurred at the Worcester Electricity Works on
the 8th inst., W. J. T. Whitehouse (26), a fitter's mate, being
caught by a sprocket wheel on some shafting while tightening a
" grub screw " in a " collar " on a rod which worked the grates. A
verdict of accidental death was returned at the inquest. ■

Sir William Mackenzie, K.C., sat as an arbitrator appointed by
the Minister of Labour at Cardiff, on the 4th inst., to investigate a
claim by the employers' side of the South Whales & iloNMOxnusHiRE
Joint Industrial Council for the electricity supply industry for a
reduction in wages of the skilled and semi-skilled men by 6s. a week
and the unskilled men by 4s. Mr. Moxon, chairman of the Newport
Corporation Electricity Committee, conducted the case on behalf of
the employers, and Mr. J. L. Davis and Mr. F. Quick represented
the interests of the employees. Sir William Mackenzie reserved his
decision. ^__^

The Fuel Problem in Gerirany.

Owing to the internal industrial situation, it is interesting to see
how Germany's power requxrements are being increasingly met by
the use of water and lignite. In 1913 about 75 per cent, of the
whole of t.he electricity supply was produced by ordinary coal,
water-power and brown coal (lignite) accounting for about 15 per
cent, of the balance. It is now 'stated that only about 50 per cent.
of black coal is used, the proportion of lignite having increased
to nearlv 35 per cent. The annual production of lignite in Germany
was 111635 000 tons in 1920, that of black coal being 131428 000
tons. In eight or ten years it is calculated that, by an . xtension
of existing hydro-electric stations, together with new water-power
projects, it will be possible to generate 50 per cent of the whole of
the power required for industrial and private uses and for traction
by means of water-power alone. In Bavaria and the South German
States hydro-electric developments will enable the use of ordinary
coal for "industrial work to be almost entirely dispensed with, and
make possible the electrification of the whole of the railways of
South Germany. ____^___

Forty Years Ago.

" The Electrician." April 15. 1882.
. A Long Telephone Line. — News from Ameiica says that tele-
phonic communication hae been effected between Alpena and Bav
City on the telegraph wire between those places. The line worked
well, though the distance between the two cities is 130 niiles.

American Patents. — An American contemporary says : "Taking
the subject of electrical patents as a whole, the most activity has
been exercised with the following during tiie past three years : 1.
electric li'^hts ; 2 dvnamo machines; 3. telephones and their appli-
ances Prior to Jan. 1, 1878, there were only twenty patents on
electric lights: Julv 1, 1881. there were 192. Prior to Julv 1.
1879. there were only nineteen dynamo and magneto machine
patents; Jolv 1. 1881. "shows 111." . , ^ ,,

Quick Work.- On Thursday last a letter was i^-eived by Messrs.
Cronipton & Conipai.v. electric light, engineers, asking them to light
Woolpit Church, in 'Norfolk, for Easter Sunday. The firm wrote
on Thursday evening to their Norwich engineer. Mr. S. Ba\-nes.
aiviii<T the iiecessarv instructions. He succeeded in taking over.
mstafiing, and getting to work a §et of tackle, and the church was
successfully lighted for the evening service on Easier Sunday. Ae
iPriday and Saturdav were the only two working days, and as
traffic" w;is givatiy impeded on those days by the holiday maker*.
this is smart work.

Aof?

The Electrician.

April 14, 1922

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.
Brush Electrical Engineering.

Th« thirty-third general meeting of tlie Brush Electrical
Engineering Company, Ltd., was held on Monday at 88, Kingsway,
London, W.C, Mr. E. Garcke presiding.

The secretary (Mr. F. M. Hodson) having read the notice con-
vening the meeting.

The Chairman eaid that the dii-ectors were glad to be able to
report a further substantial improvement in the general prosperity
of the company. Including the amount brought forward from the
previous year, they had a total profit balance of £374 585 to deal
with. It was proposed to apply to depreciation of buildings, plant,
patentfi, &c., £15 000, to pay a further 4 per cent, interest on the
prior lien participating debentui'e stock, to add to the reserve fund
£73 190, bringing it up to £150 000, and to pay a dividend on the
ordinary shares of 15 per cent, for the year. The amount to be
carried forward — namely, £214 074 — was subject to the settlement of
the excess profits duty for 1920 and previous years' income and
corporation profits tax. The cash position was a strong one, and
since the close of the year their liquid cash resources had been etill
further increased. Last year he mentioned that the directors thought
it advisable, owing to change of values, to have a valuation made
of the capital assets of the company, and he was glad to say that
the valuation showed a considerable appreciation — nearly double the
amount of the book figure.

Record Output in 1921.

They were fortunate in entering 1921 with a good order book,
so that the trade depression which prevailed so generally during the
year did not affect their activities in the same degree as those (vf
many engineering undertakings. All departments of the works were
fully employed, and although the deplorable coalminers' strike in
the spring arid summer of the year was a disturbing factor, they
were able to carry on without s.erious dislocation, with the result
that tli^ output for the year was the largest in the history of the
company. They were concentrating on specialities which, to some
extent, placed them outside the rigours of extreme competition, and
the greater the need for fuel economy in industrial enterprises, the
greater was the inducement of users of electrical plant to install the
company's Ljungstrom turbine. There was no doubt that last year
some orders wei'e lost, not because of the depression in trade, but
because they were unable to quote sufficiently early dates for deli-
very. With the inci'eased manufacturing facilities they had now
provided this difficulty would be remedied to a large extent in the
future.

At present they had a very substantial amoimt of work on hand,
and with the anticipated revival of business they were justified
in looking to the future with confidence, provided that the labour
unions recognised the altered circumstances of to-day and settled
down to production under conditions which permitted of successful
competition for work both at home and abroad. If the members of
the Amalgamated Engineering Union did not return to work soon it
would become a question with many firms either of shutting down
completely or endeavouring to replace the skilled men by training
others to do their work.

Progress of the Brush Ljungstrom Turbine.

On previous occasions he had referred to the development of the
company's Brush Ljungstrom turbo-generator plant, and had drawn
attention to the change which the installation of this plant had
brought about in the fortunes of certain electricity supply under-
takings. The merits of the design were now generally recognised,
and evidence of the economies which it effected in steam consumption
continued to accumulate. Taking, for instance, the Loughborough
Corporation Electricity Supply undertaking, which was equipped
throughout with turbine plant of the company's manufacture,
although some of it antedated the introduction of the Brush Ljimg-
strom type, this station, which had an output of 3 736 296 units sold

in 1921, occupied the third most favourable place for low working

pply undertaking ~

having an output of between 3 000 000 and 15 000 000 units, and

costs in a group of 114 electric supply undc

igs in Great Britain,

was first among such stations in the Leicestershire area. Of course,
the bigger the output, the larger margin there was for saving on
generation costs. An examination of tlie published lists of electri-
city supply undertakings disclosed many similar cases. With the
advantages he had mentioned, he thought they might look forward
with confidence to the further development of this section of their
business.

The company's output in transformers was also a record for the
year, and the product of this department appeared to have given
general satisfaction to buyers, both as regarded efficiency and relia-
bility. On the rolling slock side the output was well maintained.
They were well equipped for securing their fair share of any business
offering, not only for tramcars and trucks and motor-'bus bodies, but
also for railway rolling stock.

The report and accounts were unanimously adopted, and the
Chairman annoixnced that the dividend warrants would be posted
that evening.

A full abstract of the report and accounts appeared in our last
issue.

Edison Swan Electric.

The thirty-eighth ordinary general meeting of this company was
held on Tuesday, Mr. C. Jekmyn Fobd (chairman and managing
director), presiding.

The Chairman, in the course of his speech, said : "The period
covered by the accounts has been the most disastrous for industi-y
which this country, and the commercial world has ever known. The
strike of the moulders, and the coal strike, caused losses of millions
of pounds. These strikes were followed by the strike of the ship-
wrights, which in turn was followed by that of the ship joiners,
which continued for nearly twelve mouths, until August last. The
loss shown by the accounts is largely attributable to the un-
precedented fall in values of all raw materials and manufactured
goods, and to stagnation in trade. The fall in values of all raw
materials and manufactured goods varies from 20 per cent, to 7& per
cent. We have made the most careful and minute valuation of our
stocks, and the figure at which they appear in tlie balance sheet
(£618 000), represents bedrock prices; the depreciation amounts to
£346 000, and is responsible for the greater part of the loss shown.
" Our sales department and our depots throughout the Kingdom
have lost no possible opportunities to stimulate sales, and I am
satisfied that we have had our full share of such trade as was
available. The board have explored every avenue in the company's
organisation, and savings have been made, aggregating between
£50 000 and £70 000 per annum, but the accounts before j'ou have
only benefited by these to a very small extent. This company in
common with other manufacturers of electric lamps reduced the price
of lamps by 15 per cent., and this involved allowances to traders,
which cost the company £26 000 in hard cash. One of our subsidiary
companies recently tendered to an Indian Railway Company for goods
to the amount of £6 000, and this was absolutely rock Ijottom price.
What happened ? — the Germans took the contract at £2 500. This
figure would not pay even for the labour on the job in this country,
and we are meeting with this class of competition everywhere.

"We are now laced with the lock-out of the Engineers, and have
had no option but to lock out certain employees.

■ We have, during the last few months, introduced two new types
of lamp, one is the " FuUolite," an opal lamp, designed to obviate
the glare, and this has caught on beyond our most sanguine ex-
pectations. The other is a daylight lamp, constructed of special
tinted glass, which gives a daylight effect. Considering the slack
times we are moving in our lamp sales have been good, and this
branch of the business should largely develop.

" It has been suggested in certain quarters that far too heavy
stocks have been held. When these stocks were originally acquired,
trade was extraordinarily active, and prices were booming, and the
stocks did not appear to be excessive. In numerous cases, by the
time we had obtained delivery of materials and manufactured the
goods the slump had arrived, and orders were cancelled by
customers, and this all helped to increase our stocks. The balance
standing to debit of profit and loss is £344 720, and the board
recommend that £55 000 now standing to reserve, be transferxed to
profit and loss account, thus reducing the debit balance to £289 720.
The board have been asked how they propose to treat this debit
balance, and whether they intend to bring forward a reconstruction
scheme, embracing a rednction of capital, in order to wipe it out.
They have obtained the views of some of the largest shareholders,
and it has been agreed that no good purpose would be served by
bringing forward any scheme at this juncture. Mr. A. F. Berry,
chairman and managing director of the The British Electric Trans-
former Company, has consented to join the directorate. It is also
suggested that a further addition be made, but a final decision ha;
not yet been come to with regard to the gentleman wlio will go on
the board. Mr. EUioe-Clark and Mr. Quilter have signified their
willingness to retire from the directorate. I shall part with these
two colleagues with the deepest regret, as their sound judgment
and knowledge of the business have been of incalculable assistance.
The company has, I am convinced, a marvellous reserve of recupera-
tive strength, centered mainly in its widespread sales organisation,
represented by its twenty-six important depots in the United
Kingdom and A':stralia, and I am convinced that with a moderate
revival in trade, we ought to do fairly well."

He concluded by moving the adoption of the report and accounts,
and the motion was seconded by Mr. E. C. Quilter and carried
unanimously.

A number of questions were asked, and in reply the chairman
said the action against the Philips company was snbjudice and
could not be discussed.

Metropolitaa-Vickers Electrical.

In the course of his speech at the annual meeting of
Metropolttan-Vickers Electrical Company last week, the chairman
(Mr. J. Annan Bryce), who presided, said that the output of tlie
year had been the largest during the iiistory of the company,
exceeding by 35 per cent, the output of 1916. This high degree
of efficiency was obtained in spite of a decrease in the number
of workmen and of delay caused by the coal strike, to meet which
some of the boiler furnaces were converted to oil firing. The
average rate of wages showed a slight decrease from that of
1920, but was still about double the pre-war rate. The benevolent
fund had now been running for twleve months, and the number
of members had increased considerably. It had proved of great
benefit in relieving many necessitous cases which '^ould not have
been assisted in other ways. There had lately been formulated
a provident fund scheme for the benefit of all the employees ol

rLpni 14, 1922

The Electrician.

457

the company. The number of accidents showed a steady decrease.
Thoy were now less than half as numerous as in the year 1916.
This happy result had been accompanied by a corresponding
reduction in cost to 3s. 7d. per cent, of the wages paid — by far the
lowest figure ever reached.

The activities of the Researc' 1 and Education Department con-
tinued unabated. The new resen.xh buildings had been fully staffed
and equipped during the year. It was believed that they probably
comprised the best-designed and equipped laboratories for in-
dustrial research in the kingdom. A special feature of the
Research Department was the Intelligence Branch. It aimed at
providing iniormation drawn from world-wide sources about all
matters concerned with the company's technical and commercial
interests. It possessed a library which all the employees were
encouraged to use. Improvements were constantly being made in
the methods of training the works apprentices, who numbered
over 1 000. The works foremen had shown their interest
by presenting a valuable trophy for competition among the ap-
prentices, and the first award had recently been made. The courses
of instruction for University and Public School students were
maintained, and a comprehensive scheme of evening classes had
been conducted during the winter to prepare the junior female
staff for more responsible work. Special facilities were now
provided for the instruction of adult workers to fit them for pro-
motion^ and special study was made, particularly in the case of the
younger people, as to the possibilities of selection for particular
vocations.

Folkestone Electricity Supply.

The accounts of the Folkestone ELECTPaciTY Supply Company for
the year ending December 31 last, including the receipts from liired
installations, show a. profit for the three undertakings
amounting to £17 681, an increaee of £2 767 over last year's gross
profit. This amount, with the sum of £832 brought forward and
mtereet on investments, &c., and after allowing for interest on
debenture stock and bank overdraft, and dividend on preference
shares, shows a balance of £12 317. Out of this the directors have
carried £7 561 to the depreciation fund, bringing it up to £69 324,
and £1 525 to the reserve fund, bringing it up to £12 600, and they
recommend the payment of a dividend at the rat© of 4f per cent,
(lees income tax) on the ordinary shares for the year, which will
require £2 375, leaving a balance of £855, which it is proposed to
carry forward. The payment of the dividend recommended is
subject to the consent of the Electricity Commissioners. Application
has been made to the Commissioners for extended powers in the
district by incorporating the urban district of Cheriton and the
parishes of Saltwood, Newington and Hawkinge in the company's
area of supply, but the formal Order has not yet been obtained.
Since the last annual meeting the board have approved a scheme
entailing substantial extensions to plant, and orders have been
placed for additional machinery. Some portion of this has already
been installed and the remainder is due for delivery during the next
few weeks, and will, it is hoped, be running in time for the season
load. Up to Dec. 31, 1921, the equivalent of 212 180 eight-candle
power lamps was being supplied, being an increase of the equivalent
of 13 372 eight-candle power lamps over those connected at Dec. 31,
1920.

Urban Electric Supply.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the Urban Electric Supply
Company on March 28, Mr. P. D. Tuckett (chairman of the company)
said that most of the undertakings showed very satisfactorily in-
creased earnings, and but for the set-back experienced by the Corn-
wall Power Company and by Hawick, the increase would have been
3ome £12 000 larger. Last year's output fell by nearly 1 000 000
units, a drop of over 40 per cent. While it was a satisfaction to them
that they were able to recommend the resumption of a dividend
payment, they deplored the necessity of adding still further to the
Arrears of cumulative dividend. After payment of this half-year's
dividend there would be four years' preference dividend (a total of
£50 000) in arrear. He calculated that their inability to
conduct the business on a commercial basis had deprived
them of something not far short of £160 000. Now, how-
ever, with the higher rates which they had at last been
conceded, and with falling costs, they would be disappointed if they
could not resume payment of the full preference dividend a year
hence; but, in face of their limited cash resources, and the necessity
of conserving them till their position was «till further strengthened,
they were unanimous in feeling that they could not prudently recom-
mend a larger distribution on this occasion.

London Electric Wire Co. & Smith's.

Presiding last week at the annual meeting of the London Electric
Wire Company & Smith's, Ltd., Sir G. H. Fisher (chairman) said
that, although the profit for the year showed a slight decrease, tho
balance available for distribution, after the interim and final divi-
dends on the preference shares and an interim dividend of I4 per
-cent, on the ordinary shares had been paid, was higher by £5 619.
It was proposed that a final dividend be paid on the ordinary shai'es
of 6^ per cent., less ta.*:, making a total of 7^ per cent., less tax,
for the year, and leaving £44 546 to h% carried forward into 1922.
There had been a considerable falling off in customers' orders, and
the good showing was to a great ext-ent due to customers' orders
carried forward irom 1920 into 1921. It was not easy to forecast
the future, but it was hoped that the Government would insist
upon rigid economy and reduce taxation, and all must endeavour to

remove the existing industrial unrc'st. He had no hesitation in
saying that, with a revival of trade, the electrical industry would
be one of the first to reap the advantage, so that their company had
gfx>d reason for hope in the future.

The Montana Power Co.mpany has declared a quarterly dividend
of 3i per cent.

LisTOWEL Electric Light and Power Company recommend a

dividend of 10 per cent., tax free.

The net income of the Consolidated Gas, ELEcmic Light, &
Power Company for the past year amounted to $3 064 045.

The Central Argentine Railway has declared an interim divi-
dend on the consolidated ordinary stock of 2 per cent., less tax.

The directors of the Madras Electric Tramways (1904) Company
recommend a final dividend to holders of preference share warrants
to bearer at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, less tax.

The total earnings for 1921 of the New York Telephone Company
amounted to §21 393 035, less $8 148 492 for interest charges, leaving
a net profit of §13 244 543. Dividends amounting to 8 per cent, have
been paid, leaving $403 296 carried forward.

The Anglo-American Telegraph Company announces a dividend
for the quarter ended March 31, 1922, of 15s. per cent, on the ordinary
stock and £1 10s. per cent, on the preferred stock, less tax, pavable
May 1, to holders registered March 31, 1922.

An extraordinary general meeting of the Rangoon Electric
Tramway and Supply Comp.\ny will be held in Rangoon oa. April. 20
to pass resolutions to increase the capital of the company to
£800 000 by the creation of 300 000 new shares of £1 each, and to
make various alterations in the articles of association.

An offer of £110 000, it is stated, has been received by the North
Melbourne Electric Tramways & Lighting CoiiPANY from the
State Electricity Commission of Victoria for the undertaking, and in
addition certain stores are to be taken at a valuation not to exceed
£4 000. Payment will be made of £25 000 in cash, and tha remainder
in Victoria Government 6 per cent, debentures, having a currency of
twelve to thirteen years, at par. As the price offered is insufficient
to pay the debenture holders in full, there will be nothing left for
shareholders.

The Railway Commissioners for New South W.ales have issued
their report on the working of the Government railways and tram-
ways for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 1921. Theie was an increase of
two and a half miles open on the tramwavs. Revenue amounted to
£920 715, an increase of £40 683, while expenditm-e rose £66 014 to
£795 258. The number of tram miles run were 7 482 043, an increa.se
of 202 687 miles. Earnings per tram each mile rose jd. to 26. Sgd..
but e.xpenditure increased \^A. to 26. Ijd. The percentage of expen-
diture to earnings was 3'50 higher at 86"37. A decrease of 1217 161
occurred in the number of passengers carried.

The report of the Chiswick Electricity Supply Corporation
for 1921 states capital expenditure on works at Chiswick and
Aberystwith was £3 893. Revenue for the ye^ir was £43 722.
against £41 987. After paying sinking fund premium and trustees"
fees the profits were £17 373, compared with £15 770. After
deducting interest on first mortgage debenture stock the balance
to the credit of net revenue was £14 029, making with the
balance brought in £16 064. The directors recommend a
dividend of 8 per cent. The sum of £8 000 had been placed to de-
preciation reserve, leaving £3 040 to be carried forv. ard.

The net profit of the British L. H. Ericsson Manupacturxng
Company for 1921. after writing down stocks to present-day values
and charging £22 107 for annual depreciation of buildings, plant.
&c. , £9 977 for income-tax, £9 122 for interest on debentures and
loans, and £600 for debenture issue expenses (balance), was £68 997,
making, with £43 897 brought in, £112 894. The directors recom-
mend the payment of 10 per cent, (free of ta-x) on the ordinary
shares ; to reserve account, £30 000; to special reserve, to meet future
contingencies, £15 000; carrying forward £51895 (subject to Cor-
poration Tax). Loans in last year's balance-sheet, totalling £109 727,
have been paid off.

The Eastern Telegraph Comp.any. .and The Eastern Extension.
Australasia & China Telegraph Company, Ltd.. announce that,
owing to unavoidable delays in obtaining the necessary returns from
foreign stations and administrations, it will be impossible to issue
the audited accounts and balance-sheet for the year ended Dec. 31.
1921. in time to allow of the annual general meeting being held next
month, but the directors will convene the meeting as soon as the
full accounts can be submitted. The directors have, however,
decided to pay on May 15 next a final dividend for the year 1921
of 2^ per cent", free of income tax on the ordinary stock. This will
make the distribution for the year 10 per cent., free of income tax,
the same rate as was paid for the previous year.

The report for 1921 of the Canadi.^n Geneh.al Electric Company
shows a net profit of S706 092. Undivided profits at December 31,
1920. were §778 672. Deducting dividends paid — 7 {.>er cent, on the
preferred and 8 per cent, on the common stock — there is a balance
at the credit of the profit and loss account at the end of December
last of S557 726. The sum of S3 800 000 (portion of appraised depre-
ciated values of plants reported by the Canadian Appraisal Com-
p;my in exces<s 01 book values) was added to reserve. Deducting
SI 800 000 for rtook dividend of 20 per cent, to common share-

458

The Electrician.

April 14, 1922

holders, the reserve account at the end of December stood at
$1 000 000, making, with the balance of the profit and loss, a eurplus
of $7 557 726.

The gross revenue for 1921 of the Windermere & District Elec-
tricity Supply Company amounted to £8 382, an increase of £1 725.
Working ©xpensee amounted to £5 677, an increase of £818. Keswick
Electric Light Company has again paid 5 per cent, on account of
arrears of interest on its debentures, and this company's net revenue
account has l>een credited with £334 on its holding. The balance of
the revenue account, including the interest on Keswick debentures
and the balance brought forward from last year, amounted to
£3 364. Debenture hiterest and bankers' charges amounting to
£1 083 have been paid, free wiring rents written off capital account
(£90), depreciation reserve account (£1000), leaving £1191. The
bank overdraft was reduced at the end of 1921 to comparatively
small dimensions, and the directors recommend that a dividend of
3 per cent, he paid on the preference shares, amounting to £750, and
that the balance of £441 be carried forward.

The report of the Argentine Tramways and Power Company for
the year to September 30, 1921, states that the gross receipts of the
tramway departm^it were $690 657 paper, an increase of $128 271
paper. The gross receipts of the light and power department were
$336 314 paper, an increase of $66 447 paper. The net receipts from
operation totalled £28 028, an increase of £5 442. The profit en
exchange was £255. Including interest and transfer fees, revenue
was £28 559, against £26 893. After charging interest and sinking
fund on debenture stock and London expenses, and transferring
£5 000 to reserve for renewals, there remains £10 245. A scheme •' f
arrangement approved by holders of preference and ordniary snares
on March 22 provides, iiifpr a/ia. that £18 323 standing to the credit
of the revenue account at September 30, 1920, shall be carried to
reserve and shall not be treated as profit available for dividend.
Subject to the scheme being approved by Court and to £50 000 of
the Five per Cent. Debenture stock, sulDscriptions for which have
been conditionally promised, being allotted, the directors propose
a dividend at rate of 5 per cent, (less tax) on the preference shares
in respect of the past year, carrying forward balance, subject to
income-tax and corporation tax (if any).

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Glasgow Corporation. April 17. — Electric wiring and fitting of
Blackfriars Parish Church, Dennistoun. Specifications, &c. , can be
obtained at the Office of Public Works, 64, Cochrane-street. Glasgow.

Glasgow Electricity Departaient. May 1. — Supply of (1) cables
(including small IR cables and flexibles) ; (2) meters ; (3) carbons,
for a period of twelve months. Particulars from R. B. Mitchell,
Engineer, 75, Waterloo-street, Glasgow.
ASIA.

Department of Posts and Telegraphs, Bangkok. June 5. — Tele-
graph and t-elephone materials to the value of £10 000. Tender
forms can be obtained from the Chief Electrical Engineer, Tele-
phone Exchange, Bangkok.

Liverpool Corporation have accepted the tender of the Engli^-h
Electric Company for 100 40-h.p. D.K. motors, including roller
bearings.

Ferranti Ltd. have lately been entrusted by the Public Works'
Department of the New Zealand Government, with a contract
for the supply of seven 4 000 kVA, 110 000 V single-phase, oil
immersed, forced-cooled transformers, in connection with the
Mangaho Hydro Electric Power Scheme.

Stepney Borough Council have accepted the following tenders : —
The Enfield Ediswan Cable Works, Ltd., at £20 917 13s. 4d., for the
supply of cable during period ending March 31, 1^23: Cambridge k
Paul Instrument Company, for an indicating outfit for measuring
the discharge of carbon dioxide from one of the boilers at Limehouse
station, at £52 13s.

Benai.la (Victoria) Council have accepted tenders amomiting io
£13 056 for plant and material for their electric supply undertaking.
The bulk of the orders have been given to AuKtralian firms. Wm.
Adams & Company have the contract for power plants, £6 400;
A. H. Frast & T. "Dolan, poles, £800; Ilolmwood & O'Neill, bare
cojjper ctbles, £1200; and Thomas Bros., meters, £1250.

Maidenhead Town Council have accepted the following tenders : —
Ruston & Hornsby, four-cylinder oil-engine set of 250 kW capacity,
for the electricity works, at cost of from £5 224 to £5 239 accord-
ing to the make of dynamo finally selected ; Drake Si Gorham
Wholesale, Ltd.. " Xoel " electric irons, for liiiing out, at
14s. 4d. each; Ferranti, Ltd., for transformers.

Wolverhami'Ton Electricity Committee have accepted the tender
of the Stirling Boiler Company for two 40 000 lb. water-tube boilers
with superheateis, complete with the necessary accoutrements, to
be erected ready for the raising of steam, at over £8 000, and
a further tender of the Underfeed Stoker Compauy for f<nir self-
contained draught travelling grate stokers and four cast-iron
hoppers for the sum of £5 122.

The Government of New Zealand has accepted the tender of the
.^^etropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, amounting to £30 764. for
the supply of swit'^hgear for (he INLangahao liydro-electric installa-
tion, which will provide the Wellington district and city with elec-
tricity. The installation will have the highest electrical pressure in
Australasia, and the best and most reliable controls were necessary.
Trie lowest tender received was one for £24 666 from America.

New Companies.

Anti-Vibration Electric Lamp.

Anti-Vibr.\tion Electric Lamp Company, Ltd. (180 973). Private
company. Reg. April 6. Capital, £500 ir. £1 shares. Manufac-
turers, exporters, and importers of and dealers in electric goods
and accessories, etc. Subscribers : W. Lennard and R. C. Radeglia.
Solicitors : H. Crafter & Company, 7, Southampton-street, W.C. 1.
British Horo-Electric.

British Horo-Electric, Ltd. (180 855). Private company.
Registered April 3. Capital £50 000. in £1 shares. To adopt
agreements (1) with H. Binggueley and F. G. Trollope and (2) with
the Compagnie Generate Horo-Electriques ; to develop and turn to
account the inventions, patents and rights comprised in the first
agreement and to carry on the business of manufacturers of, and
dealers, in electrical and other watches, &c. First directors : F. G.
Trollope, L. W. N. Hickley, M. P. Favre-Bulle, H. Binggueley. and
Lieut-Col. H. W. Snow. Secretary : V. G. Frohman, 34. Waldgrave
Road, Ealing, W. 5. Solicitors : Clowes, Hickley and Heaver, 10,
King's Bench Walk, Temple, E.C.
Burndept, Ltd.

BuRNDEPT, Ltd. (180 745). Private company. Registered
March 30. Capital. £20 000 in £1 shares. To acquire from Burn-
ham & Company, of St. Paul's Wharf, Deptford, S.E. 8, the benefit
of certain existing inventions relating to wireless telegraphy or tele-
phony, &c. Subscribers : A. W. Slade and F. A. Saxon. Registered
office: 391, Strand, W.C. 2.
Cambrian Electrolytic Zinc Company.

The Cambrian Electrolytic Zinc Company, Ltd. Registered
March 30. Nominal capital of £50 000 in 185 000 participating pre-
ference shares of 5s. eacli and 75 000 ordinary shares of Is. each. To
acquire the undertaking of the Lisburne Development Syndicate,
Ltd., and the Welsh Mines Corporation, Ltd.. to acquire any mines.
oil, or nrining rights and metalliferous or other land in the U.K.
or elsewhere, to adopt the process knowrr as the " Electrolytic deposi-
tion of zinc," and to carry on the business of miners, preparers for
market of ores, metals, precious stones and minerals. &c. First
directors : Newman Goldman, C- S. Quartermaine and E. A. Wake-
field, Registered office : 80, Bishopsgate, E.C. 2 The file number
is 180 746.
Globe Supplies (Electrical), Ltd.

Globe Sl'pplies (Electrical), Ltd. (180 704). Private compauy.
Registered March 29. Capital, £500 in £1 shares. To carry on busi-
ness as indicated by the title. Subscribers : F. Bruce and J. R.
Whitehouse. Solicitor : C. H. R. Tavlor. 17, Charing Cross-road.
W.C. 1.

C. E. Heinke.

C. E. Heinke, Ltd. (180 856). Private company. Registered
April 3. Capital £50 000 in 49 950 ordinary shares of £1 each, and
1 000 eiuployees' shares of Is. each. To enter into an agreement with
F. H. Sprang, E. C. Lacey, and J. H. Blake, and to carry on the
busirress of manufacturers of internal combustion and other errgines.
manufacturers of vacuum, compression and other pumps, mecharri-
cal, scientific and surgical instruments and machinery, electrical arrd
chemical engineers, &c. First directors : F. H. Sprang, E. C. Lacey,
and J. H. Blake. Secretary : W. Norman. Registered office. 87.
Grange-road, Bermondsey, S.E. 1.
Hill & Boll (Bridport). Ltd.

Hill & Boll (Bridport), Ltd. (180 935). Private company.
Reg. April 5. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shai-es. Mechanical, electrical,
and consulting engineers, engineerirrg coirtractors. '&c.. and to adopt
an agreement between F. W. Boll and S. R. Edwards. First direc-
tors : F. W. Boll and S. R. Edwards. Secretary : T. W. Cockeram.
Registered office : 71-73, East-street, Bridport.

Kilrush Electric Lighting and Power.

KiLRUSH Electric Lighting and Power Company. Private
company. Reg. in Dublin INfarch 31. Capital, £5 300 in £1 shares.
To carry on at Kilrush the business of an electric light company in
all its branches. Subscrilyers : D. Rvair (500 shares), T. J. Alahonv
(1 000 shares), G. Br >w, J. Sauirders, P. O'Shea, P. Tubridy. and
G J. Cairtwell. Registered office: Burton-str-eet , Kilrush.
Neon Lights.

Neon Lights, Ltd. (180 617). Private company. Regi.st©red
March 25. Capital, £10 000 in 7 500 10 per cent, cumulative partici-
pating prefererrce shares of £1 aird 5 000 ordirrary shares of IDs. each.
To acquir-e the rights arrd other interest! ir the agency and concee-
sioir for the U.K. granted to E. Bailey, tradiirg as the Electrograph
Compairy, of 9, South Side, Clapham Conrrrrorr, S.W. . under an agrce-
rneirt betweeir hinrself and Paz & Silva, of Paris, for 3 500 fully paid
10 per cerrt. prefererrce arrd 3 000 firlly paid ordinary shares, arrd to
carry on in the U.K. or elsewhere the busirress of marnrfacturers and
factor's of, ageirts and advertisement corrtractors for. and dealers i'l
Neorr lanrps arrd lights arrd airy electrical, scientific, mechanical air 1
other device irr which the said lamps arrd lights carr Ims used. &c. Life
directors : A. G. Re'ad (Read & Ivetiey, advertisirrg agent and nuurag-
ing director) arrd E. Bailev. Registered office: 115. Baker-streel.

w: 1.

A . Peckston.

A Peckston, Ltd. (180 849). Private company. Registered
April 3. Cajiital £1000 in £1 aliares. To take over the business of
an electrical errgirreer carried orr by Austin Peckston at 42. Wilson
street. Middlesbroirglr. Pernranerrt directors, A. Peokstorr.
(managiirg director), and A. W. Fostei". ' Registered office : 42,
Wilsorr-street, Middlesbr-ough.

April 14, 1922

The Electrician.

459

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
Ccmnty Court Judgmentfl " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the oases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

BLISS, Mr. E. H.. 19, Weetbourne-crescent, Canton Bridge,
Cardiff, electrical goods dealer. £42 2s. lid. Feb. 10.

CALDWELL & SONS, 26, Victoria-road, Hale, electrical engineers.
£11 14s. Feb. 10.

CLYNE & DEAKIN, 84, Tilton-road, Smail Heath, electrical engi-
neers. £18 8s. 2d. Feb. 8.

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY COMPANY, 22, Pownall-square,
and 36, Smithfield-street, Liverpool, electrical engineers.
£39 16s. lOd. Feb. 7.

ENGINEERING PLANT CONTRACTORS, LTD., 377, Water-
loo-road, Cheetham Hill, machinery merchants. £17 15s.
Jan. 31.

FRANCIS. Mr. W. , 4. Prospect-place, Cheam. elecliical engineer.
£16 4s. 6d. Feb. 7.

RAWLINGS & COMPANY, 33, Broad-street, Hereford, electrical
engmeers. £28 66. Id. Feb. 10.

VENN BROS., 39, Tui-nham Green-tenace, W. 4, electrical engi-
neers. £18 Os. 3d. Feb. 2.

WELLINGS, J\Ir. H. R.. Ironmarket. Newcastle, electrical and
sanitary engineer. £23 76. Feb. 7.

Receivership.

BRITISH DIATORIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
W. J. Keishaw, of Talbot House, 9, Arundel-street, Strand,
W.C, ceased to act as receiver or manager on Feb. 22, 1922.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Company Winding-up.

SWIFT ELECTRICAL, LTD. Registered office, 6, Cork-street,
Old Bond-street, London. Winding-up order, April 4.

Bankruptcy Information.

BATE, Douglas Clavell, 16, John Dalton -street, Manchester, elec-
trical manufacturer and supplier. Receiving order, April 4.
Debtor's petition.

CAMP, William, Carr-lane, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, under the
style of WILLIAM CAMP & COMPANY, electrical engineer.
Receiving order, April 4. Debtor's petition. First meeting,
April 21, 1.15 p.m., and public examination. May 8, 11 a.m.,
County Court House, Queen-street, Huddersfield.

OLDFIELD, Herbert, 51, Milton -terrace. High-street, Heckmond-
wike, electrical engineer. First meeting, -April 20, 10.45 a.m.,
and public examination. May 4, 11 a.m.. County Court House.
Dewsbury.

Notice of Dividend.

WORMULL. Frederick Alfred Stanley. 17, Bellingham-terrace.
Bromley-road, Catford, S.E. , electrical engineer, and at 273,
High-street, Lewisham, as the LEWISHAM ELECTRIC
WIRING COMPANY. Amount per £, 4s. lOfd. First and
final. Payable, April 24, 29, Rnssell-square, W.C. 1.

Notice of Intended Dividend.

BECKETT, Samuel, Junior, 50, Deane-road, Bolton, Co. Lancaster,
electrician. Last day for receiving proofs, April 22. Trustee.
J. G. Gibson, Byrom-street, Mianchester.

Partnerships Dissolved.

LEITCH, John, and SMITH, Thomas, designers and manufac-
turers of electric light fittings, 4, Ramillies-place, Oxford-
circus, under the style of THE MARYLEBONE ELECTRIC
FITTINGS COMPANY, by mutual consent as from March 13.
1922. Debts received and paid by J. I^eitch, who will continue
the business.

THORPE, George. WILLERS, Hugo Hermaim Carl Johaini
Ludwig, PRECIOUS, Halliday, and PRECIOUS, Alfred,
general importers of electrical goods, &c., at 78, Olvnipia-street,
Burnlev, under the style of THORPE, WILLERS & COINI-
PANY, by mutual consent as from Feb. 24, 1922.

VINCE, Henry James, and HUNT, Henry James, electro platers,
at Whippet .Works, Falcon-terrace. Clapham Junction, S.W. 11,
under the style of JAMES VINCE & COMPANY, by mutual
consent as from Jan. 1, 1922. Debts received and paid by
H. J. Hunt, who will continue the businesfi.

Edinburgh Gazette.

BRASH James, and RUSSELL, Robert M., trading as BRASH &
RUSSELL, electrical, &c., engineers, 438, Baltic-street, Bridge-
ton, Glasgow. Firm dissolved, bv mutual consent, as at
March 31, 1922.

M^KINNON, Hu^h, and BUCHANAN, John R., under the nam©
of THE AUTO ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY.
at 119 and 121, Bothwell-street, Glasgow. Firm dissolved
March 18, 1922. The business will oe continued by J. R.
Buchanan, who will receive and pay all debts.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

KERSHAW, Arthur, anrl WOOD, diaries Herbert, trading as
KERSHAW & WOOD, 9, Bradford-road, Dewsbury, York-
shire, electrical engineers and merchants. The application for
discharge of these debtors was heard last week. The Official
Receiver stated that they filed their petition in 1920, when the
ranking liabilities amounted to £4 796 and the asset* realised
£1437. A first and final dividend of 4s. in the £ was paid.
and the debtors now offered to pay jointly a sum of £25 a
quarter for two years, making a tot'al of £^00, for the benefit
of the ci'editors. The discharge was granted, subject to the
jjayment of the quarterly sums of £25 lor two years.

LUDLOW, Jesse Frederick, and LUDLOW, Robert Redvers, in
partnership as LUDLOW BROS., 196, Church-road. Redfield.
Bristol, electrical contractors. The receiving order in this
matter was made on March 29 on debtors' own petition. The
statement of affairs shows liabilities of £307 agamst net assets
of £53. a deficiency of £254. Debtors attribute their failure
to want of capital, bad trade, and depreciation of stock. it
appears that in October, 1919, with a total capital of £15. they
started business as electrical contractors at their present
address. The business does not seem to have been successful
from the start, and they became aware of their position in
March, 1921. A full set of books has not been kept.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

A new price list of Simplex Electrical Accessories (List No.
939), has just been brought out by Simplex Conduits, Ltd.

An illustrated leaflet has been received from J. H. Jerrim i Com-
pany, giving details of the " FixiE " grips manufactured by the
firm. The stock sizes vary from 7^ in. by 3^ in. to 34^ in. by 13 in.,
and the prices from £2 14s. 6d. to £29 5s.

A new illustrated list of l.t. Ironclad switch and fuse ge.ui for
lighting and power purposes has just been published by the Midland
Electric Manufacturing Company, and includes many entirely new-
designs and many improvements on old patterns.

The Rawplug Cojipany iiave just issued an attractive sixteen-page
booklet, in which the use and application of Rawplugs, as applied
to the various trades interested, are fully described and enumerated.
A substantial reduction in the price of Rawplug toolholders is
announced.

In view of the great variety of pur-poses for which P.\RSONS*
engines are now used as power units, the firm have published in
book form a collecti.jn of illustrations and designs of engines
employed for d\Tiamo driving, pumping, &c. The book does not
deal with prices, weights, and other technical information, all of
which the firm will forward on application.

The latest pamphlet of the Electric CoNSTRrcnoN. Compaky
deals with the multi-speed induction motors which are now l^eine
manufactured by the firm under Creedy's patents. The general
design and the advantages claimed for this machine are well known
to readers of The Electrician, and it is not unlikely that for
certain applications it will find an i icreasing use. especially with
the development of three-phase distribution. The pamphlet con-
tains a gr.eat deal of both technical and commercial information,
and should be referred to by all those interested in the subject.

Arrangements for the Week.

TUESDAY, April 18th.

Institi'tion of Electrical Engineers.
East Midl.and Sub-Centre.
6.J5 p.m. At Loughborough College. Loughborough. Le.^turo
on ' Electric Vehicles," by Mr. R. J. Mitchell.

WEDNESDAY. April 19th.

Institltion of Electrical Engineers.
(Sheffield and District Territori.^l Sub-Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At Roval Victoria Hotel. Sheffield. Visit of the
President. Mr. J. S. Highfield, and Smoking Concert.

FRIDAY. April 21st.

Electrical I'ower Engineers' Association.
7 n.m. At Essex Hall, Strand. London, W.C. General
Meeting.

.Junior Institction of Enginfers.
c<? p.m. At Caxton Hall, London. S.W. Paper entitled " Con-
denser and Choke Coil Protective Apparatus," by V
S. A. Stigant.

4*60

The Electrician.

April 14, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

Ttie foUoicmg abstract fom some 0/ the tpeeifieationt recently published have
been specially compiled by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent
Agents, 70 and 72, phancery-lane, London, W.C.

CoMPLF.TE Specifications.
145 698 Balslev, J. V., & Thode, A. Automatic maximum electric

switches. (15/12/17.)
145 755 Ohio Brass Co. Electric insulators. (29/5/16.)

145 778 SiEMENS-ScHUCKERTWERKE Ges. Electrodcs for vacuum electric

discharge apparatus. (7/12/18.) (Addition to 145 676.)

146 517 Western Electric Co., Ltd. Telephone systems. (14/6/19.)
146 532 Eadio Corporation of America. Methods of and apparatus for

radio signalling. (6/1/16.)
146 534 Eadio Corporation of America. Apparatus for dealing with

feeble electric impulses as in wireless telegraphy. (24/2/15.)
146 535 Radio Cohporation of America. Receivers of electrical oscilla-
tions. (25/4/14.)
146 537 Radio Corporation of America. Thermionic valves. (10/3/17.)
146 353 Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges. Electric amplifiers. (7/7/16.)
146 357 Stoekle, E. R. Thermionic vacuum tubes. (13/6/17.)
146 864 Compagnie General d'Electricite. Electric lamps, particularly
those for motor vehicles. (4/2/19.)

146 903 Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges. Method of detecting the effects

induced by alternating currents flowing through conductors laid
in fai>-ways for vessels. (18/12/18.)

147 013 Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges. Method for reducing the overtalking

and overhearing in long-distance two or four-wire circuits.
(22/3/19.)

147 434 Ges. fIjr Drahtlose Telegraphie. Wireless telegraph trans-
mitters. (20/10/17.)

147 465 Soc. Francaise Radio Electrique. Electro-magnetic wave trans-
mission systems. (9/7/19.)

147 554 Marks, E. C. R. (Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges.). Electric arc
welding apparatus. (2/7/20.) (Convention date not .granted.)

147 821 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. Brush shifting apparatus
for alternating current electric motors. (13/2/18.)

147 831 Gross, F. Method of and means for manufacturine electric
incandescent lamps. (29/6/20.)

147 837 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Multiplex telephony.
(14/12/18.)

147 949 Cohn, Sen. A. (Firm of). Secret combination electric selecting

or like devices. (22/4/19.)

148 134 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. Electron discharge appara-

tus. (29/12/13.)
148 312 Huth Ges., Dr. E. F., & LoEWE, S. Telephony. (31/12/15.) '
148 315 Huth Ges., Dr. E. F. Aerial conductors for wireless telegraphy

and winding apparatus therefor. (1/7/15.)
148 319 Huth Ges. Dr. E. F. Reels and the like for winding and

unwinding aerial conductors. (16/5/18.)
148 401LORENZ Akt.-Ges. C, & Schmidt, K. Methods and circuit

arrangements for generating pure continuous electric currents

by means of machines. (13/2/19.)
148 423 Signal Ges. Electro-magnetic vibratory devices. (12/7/15.)
148 444 Ges. pur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Multiplex telephony.

(27/5/19.) (Addition to 147 837.)
148 530 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Antenna systems for receiving

electric waves. (18/6/18.)
152 327 Etablissments Deesse. Distributor for magneto. (8/10/19.)
158 215 Rail Welding & Bonding Co. Electric arc welding. (26/1/20.)
164 298 Herrmann, H. Electric insulators and their manufacture.

(4/6/20.)
169 768 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Bates, P. T., &

Newall, a. V. Arrangement for controlling the length of con-
versions for telephone or like purposes. (23/6/20.)
169 772 Barker & Sons, Ltd., J. & Saxton, J. Locking devices for

electric and other hoists. (24/6/20.)
169 773 Plant, J. W. Method of electrically welding steel. (24/6/20.)
169 788 CoDD, L. B., & Martin, C. Holders for electric incandescent

lamps. (2/7/20.)
169 795 SIMMS, W. H. (General Railway Signal Co.). Electi-ically

operated switch machines for railways. (2/7/20.)
169 812 Haines, L. F. Automatic distant control of hydro-electric and

other machinery. (6/7/20.)
169 817 Murray, J. Erskine-. Electrical resistances of the thermionic

type. (6/7/20.)
169 818 (^arney, H. a., Bowden, J. H., Thompson, H. F. J., Sr. Johnson

& Phillips, Ltd. Protective devices for electric alternating

current distribution systems. (P/7/20.)
169 822 Ziegenberg, E. Galvanic batteries and electric safety lamps.

169 845 Ree, J., Radio Communication Co., Ltd., & Turner, L B Three-

icno^o-^ °m® ionic tubes. (13/7/20.) (Addition to 139 867.)

169 849 Hill, T. H. Wireless directional transmission and reception

apparatus,, (16/7/20.)
169 853 Conner, M. S., &Puckette, C. C. Driving of magneto-ignition

, „ apparatus for iniernal combustion engines. (19/7/20.)

169 889 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.).

Vacuum tube devices, especially such devices in which an elec-
,„^„«« w" current is controlled by a masrnetic field. (25/8/20.)
169 899 MoY E. F., & Bastie, P. H. Automatic electric circuit-breakers.

169 904 Hunt, A. H., & Goddard, J. W.. Electric lamp holders.

169 915 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. (Westinghouse Electric
& Manufacturing Co.). Electrical tninsfoimc 1 •• (4/11/20.)

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS
March 27, 1922.

A. M. Taylor. Regulation on long distance transmission lines
Petro-Flex Tubing Co. & A. E. MacDonald. Insulated wires. &c.
J. H. Broome. Device for transmitting electrical impulses by

means of balls, discs, &c.

J. H. Broome. Device for receiving and transmitting electrical
impulses.

P- Krupp Akt.-Ges. Overland circuit breakers. (25/4/21,
Germany.)

W. Morell Akt. Ges. Counting and indicating device for tele-
phone calls, &c. (17/10/21, Germany.)

Western Electric Co. Vacuum pump.. (20/6/21, U.S.)

Metr^opolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Systems of electrical dis-
tribution. (3/6/21, U.S.)

Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges. Telephone systems. (31/3/21.
Germany.)

S. G. Barker. Multi-filament electric lamps.

B. T.-H. Co. (G E. Co.). Vibration indicators.

C. F. Killar. Short-circuiting devices.

8 721
8 756
8 763

8 765

8 773

8 785

8 786

8 787

8 793

8 811
8 813
8 822

March 28, 1922.

8 825 E. Y. Robinson. Systems of reception for modulated wave tele-
graphy and telephony.

8 830 H. S. Hutchison. Sparking electrode for sparking plugs.

8 842 E. Marchesi. Electric furnaces.

8 848 H. T. BooTHROYD. Reversing gears operated by electro-magnetically
actuated friction clutches.

8 880 P. W. CORLESS. Self-indicating sparking plug.

8 881 W. S. Kelly. Electric switches.

8 887 F. Krupp Akt.-Ges. Overland circuit breakers. (20/6/21,
Germany.)

8 890 F. Krupp Akt.-Ges. Overland protective systems. (26/5/21,
Germany.)

8 899 E. E. Kleinschmidt. Indicating mechanism for printing
telegraphs.

8 904 B. T.-H. Co. (Cie Francaise Thomson-Houston). Braking systems
for electric machines.

8 906 M. J. Railing & C. W. Saunders. Locking device for securing.
lamps to holders. *

8 909 Coventry Automatic Telephones, Ltd. (Adams). Terminal banks.

8 910 Coventry Automatic Telephones, Ltd. (Arter). Machine switch-
ing telephone systems.

8 914 Western Electric Co. Telephone exchange systems.

8 915 C. A. YouLDON. Electric motor for gramophones, &c.

8 917 G. C. Reed. Electric signalling system.

8 941 Felten & GuiLLiAUME Carlswerk a. G. Equalising pairs of coils
for loading pupinised 4-wire telephone lines. (22/10/21,
Gei-many.)

8 943 Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges. Telephone systems. (7/14/21, U.S.)

March 29. 1922.
8 952 S. P. Christie. Ignition circuit makers.

8 953 L. J. Rich. Three-electrode thermionic valves. (2/4/21, U.S.)
8 965 V. R. Nicholson. Electrically-driven lathes.
8 966 J. TiMMS. Storage batteries.

8 973 R. W- DoBSON. Devices for wireless telegraphy, &c.

9 005 H. CooPEa & B. Radley. Multiple-way switch for signs, &c.
9 009 L. T. & G. A. Walsh. Electrical illuminating machine.

9 021 Franco-British Electrical Co. & A. H. Brackensey. Time

switches.
9 023 Cosmos Lamp Works & J. A. Orange. Metal filament incandescent

lamps.
9 032 J. E. Calverley & W. E. Highfield. Electric converting

apparatus.
9 034 P. T. Nielsen. Hand tools for connecting telephones, &c., wires

to insulators.
9 063 P. C. RusHEN (Siemens-Schuckertwerke), Electricity meters of

electrolytic type.
9 083 H. Kennedy & Co. & P. Davey. Electric spark-gap apparatus.
9 084 L. S. ScHER. Telephone mufflers. (21/4/21, U.S.)

March 30, 1922.

9 109 A. J. R. Riley. Electric lamps for cycles, &c.

9 114 F. L. Heppell. Electric egg tester.

9 122 Imperial Engineering Co., G. W. Close, & W. T. Pearson. Elec-
tric water heaters.

9 125 E. H. Cardwell. Electjric ignition apparatus.

9 133 W. J. Beaver. Electrolier chains.

9 143 V. Hutchinson. Intercommunication telephone systems.

9 154 C. E. Garratt. Electric heaters or stoves.

9 159 Bartons & Sons & R. E. Barton. Electric conduit fittings.

9 178 E. Peruzzi & S. Preti. Multiplex printing telegraphy and radio
telegraphy. (31/3/21, Italy.)

9 179 M. J. Railing, F. J. Holtson, & T. Taylor. Electric switches.

9 180 M. J. Railing & A. E. Angold. Speed control of electric motors.

9 210 James Antifouling Appliances, J. B. Wilkie, & H. Neville.
Mounting electrodes or electric discharge points in hulls 01
ships, &c.

9 219 B. T.-H. Co. & K. F. Hingwell. Telephone apparatus.

9 231 Soc. La Metallurgique Electrique. Electric installations
28/12/21, France.)

March 31, 1922.

J. Greenhalgh. Coupling for electric cables.

W. A. Powell & J. E. Price. Insulation for conductors.

H. Fletcher. Electric incandescent lamps.

Callender's Cable & Construction Co. & A. C. Wilson. Insulators.

G. V. Twiss. Means for attaching conductors to insulators.

M. Zeiler. Electric pocket lamps. '

G. Alfani & L. Mazza. Commutators for automatic telephone
exchanges. (1/4/21 Italy.)

H. Richardson. Trolly heads.

E. W. Hill & G. F. Shotter. Alternating current instruments.

Western Electric Co. & L. Polinkowsky. Call indicator circuits.

T. DoBSON. Terminals for electric couplings.

Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd. & H. K. Whitehorn. Electric trans-
mission for vehicles.

A. C. Goolden, a. G. Warren, & V. E. Pullin. X-ray lubes.

Ferguson, Pailin, Ltd., & G. Pailin. Automatic air and oil break
switches.

Fuse-wire holders.

Regulation of hydro-electric power stations. (1/4/21.

9 252
9 275
9 291
9 294
9 296
9 298
9 302

9 306
9 311
9 320
9 326
9 333

9 350
9 353

9 355
9 364

J. McGrath.

O. Poching.

Germany.)

9 378

9 401
9 412
9 419
9 435

9 442
9 454
9 459
9 463
9 464

9 467
9 469

April 1, 1922.

Fuller's United Electric Works & R. E. Beswick. Galvanic
batteries.

A. J. Wheeler. Automatic metering for telephone calls.

J. Russell. Mugnetic lifting apparatus.

N. A. Block & J. W. Coward. Electric switches for motor vehicles.

E. Elmes. Device for indicating burn out or failure of electrical
apparatus.

C. M. E. Franklin. Automatic devices for charging accumulators.

C. RuFFiN. Electric fly-killer.

Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Telephone systems. (1/4/21, U.S.)

G. W. Humphry. Tubular metal casings for conductors.

W. Brandt. Measurement of high electrical resistances or ioniza-
tion strengths. (2 4/21, Austria.)

E. Y. Robinson. Antenna systems for wireless communication.

S. Strauss. Measurement of high electrical resistances or ioniza-
tion strengths. (2/4/21, Austria.)

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Officet of " Tm
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4. 7'e<t-
grams: /ienbrotnc, Fleet. London. Telephone: City 9852 (5 lines).

The subscription to " The Electrician " is £15 0 per annum
in the United Kingdom and £1 10 0 per annum Abroad. Advertise-
ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
tisement copy and blocks should be received on the Fuday jtrectdinq
(tat* of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2292. [

No. 16.
Vol. LXXXVI

n.]

FRIDAY, APRIL

1922,

Prepaid Subscription U.K., {_\ $s.

per inn. ; Abroad, /i los.

Price 6d.

CONTENTS.

Notes op the Week 4(51

Imperial Water-Power Progre.ss 464

Tho Electrostatic Wattmeter. By G. L Addenbrooke.

XI lustrat ed 466

Reviews 469

Auxiliary Features in Automatic Telephone Systems. By W.

Aitken, M.I.E.E 470

An Electri ally Controlled Bascule Bridi^e. Illustrated 471

The Electrical Equipment of the D.E.Cotton Mills. Illustrated. 473

Electric Traction in Italy 474

The Automatic Control of D.C. Motors. Illustrated 475

Rotary Converters 476

Correspondence 477

Metropolitan- Vickf-rs' New Zealand Contract 477

Lancashire Electricity District 477

Political Finance 478

Oswestry's Electricity Charges ... 478

Grampians Electricity Supply Scheme 478

The Societe des Ingenieurs-Civils de France 479

Mr. Gillott and Domestic Electricity 480

Guarantees Under the Trade Facilities Act 480

Wireless on Pishing Vessels 480

British Electrical Orders from Calcutta 480

" Caeg " Miners' Electric Lamps 480

Ban on Non-union Labour 480

Chinese Notes 481

Parliamentary Intelligence 482

Institution of Civil Engineers Awards 482

Loijal Intelligence 482

Funeral of Sir .John Benn 482

Electricity Supply 483

Electric Traction . 483

Personal and Appointments IW

Business Items, &c 484

Institution Notes 484

Trade Inquiries 484

Tt'legraph and Telephone Notes 484

Wireless Notes 484

Exhibition Notes 484

Foreign Notes 486

Miscellaneous 485

Tenders Invited and Accepted 486

Openings for Trade in the Netherlands 486

Forty Years Ago 486

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 487

New Companies 487

Tele-Photography 487

Commercial Intelligence 488

Catalogues, Price Lists. &c , 489

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c 489

Arrangements for the Week 489

Patent Record 490

Notes of the Week.

The Straight Tip. *

Placated by the concessions granted by Lord Peel and
jierhaps soothed by the shadow of the coming Easter holi-
days, the opposition to the Electricity Supply Bill died
down into a distant rumble, which we hope presages the
departure of the storm. If, however, it is but the calm
before the renewal of the attack, we should like to draw the
attention of those who are operating the thunder equipment
behind the scenes to Lord Monk Bretton's straight tip.
" Unless," he said, " the Bill went through in its present
beneficial form the [London County] Council would have
to consider whether the London companies should be
granted an extension of tenure." Now the London elec-
tricity supply companies have always claimed, with some
justice, that the menace of purchase in 1931 militated
against their development. The Bill would remove that
meinaoe, and, as we showed the other day, the London oom-
pames are not definitely opposing the Bill. The oppositioin
comes from anoither quarter, and, if persisted in, will bring
punishment to the guiltless and leave the guilty much whei'e
they were before. This is realised by those oonoemed, to
some extent, for the suggestion is now made that London is
a sepaorate problem which should be treated separately. This
is a little ingenuous and will not excuse the opposition if
their efforts bring about an impasse.

South-East Lancashire Electricity District.

With slight modification the Electricity Commissioners
have sanctioned the scheme for the reorganisation of elec-
tricity supply in the South-East Lancashire Electricity
District, and have thus made a concession to the indepen-
dent, self-reliant Lancastrian spirit of which we hear so
much. This has not been done without question, for the
Commissioners evidently have a doubt, which we share,
whether the proposed Advisory Board will be in as good a
position as a Joint Authority to undertake comprehensive

schemes of extension, or be able to pro\dde adequate supplie*^
in unoccupied areas. It has, however, been decided, in view
of the almost unanimo'us support given to the voluntai-s-
arrangements made by the supply authorities, to set uj) an
Advisory Board, though the number of representatives sug-
gested is to be reduced, and the newly added areas of Bux-
ton, Macclesfieiid, and other urban and rural districts are
to have representation. If the parties cannot agree as to
this necessary modification, the Commissionera will provide
a scheme of their own.

Details of Technical Scheme.

The Engineer of the Staly bridge, Hyde, Mossley and
Dtikinfield Tramways and Electricity Board is to be a mem
ber of the Engineering Advisory Committee for limited
purposes, and the Yorkshire Electric Power Company wall
not be required to submit plans of new works, but only such
statistics as may refer to supplies in the company's areas in
Saddleworth and Springhead. General approval has been
given to the technical scheme, but it is thought that the
actual layout of the lines and the method of working inter-
connected stations so as to produce the most eoonomicaJ
results will be best effected by an offioea* of the Board
appointed for that purpose. This officer would carry out
the programme laid down by the Engineering Committee
and approved by the Board. A scheme embodying this sjug-
gestion, which seems to us a necessary one under the circum-
stances, will have to be submitted for tie approval of tlie
Commissioners, and the Board are also r€<iuired to submit,
within two years, proposals for sectuing a supply in areas
at present without one. It will thus be seen that the Com-
missioneis' decision, while conciliatory towards conflicting
interests, is eminently practical and joins up the loose ends
of the administrative side of the original scheme.

A Useful Entente.

The subject of the closer co-operation or federation
(whichever term is preferred) of engineering institutione

4.62

The Electrician

April 21, 1922

was toyed with by Mr. W. Noble Twelveteees in his
recent presidential address to the British Section of the
Sooiete des Ingenieurs-Civils de France. This sectio'n, it
will be remembered, was founded some two years ago from
those engineers who reside within the British Empire and
yet are meniberg of the parent society, the premier
engineering institution of Fi'anoe. Its objeict is the fur-
therance of intercourse between British and French
engineers, and the recrmtment both of British engineers
into the French Society and of French engineei's into the
corresponding British institutions by modifying the quali-
fications for membership to include equivalent British and
French diplomas.

Federation or Progress,

These objects are most laudable, and we wish thei sectioai
every success in its emdeavour, as the mutual permeation of
French eind British ideias in this way must not
only be for the good of' the profession, but may also have
the prof ovind est effect on the world's peace. But Mr.
Twelvetkees, rather led away by natural enthusiasm for
his theme, wishes to go a step furthei- and bring about a
federation of engineering institutions in this country with
the same idea of advancing emgineering progress. But
though we agree most heartily as to the desirability of the
end, we are not so sure about the means. Mr. Wordingham,
in fact, called attention to the serious difficulties in the way
of producing workable schemes for the federation of the
engineering institutions in this coxtntiy, but ascribed these
to the jealousies and opposition of the smaller societies. But
there is something much bigger than that in the way. For
though concerned with the progress of engineering, the views
of the three principal engineei*ing institutions on how this
progre'ss is to be attained are widely dissimilar. To federate
them would mean an emulsion rather than a mixture, and
what is nxore important, a check to the advance of the more
j)rogressive among them. Though such federation would
bring undoubted advantages in the establishment of a
central library and other relatively minor matters men-
tioned by Mr. Wordingham, we are rather afraid that its
disadvantages would outweigh them.

Mid-Lancashire Electricity District.

With two exceptions, schemes for the reorgaiiisatiou of
electricity supply in the whole of the Electricity Districts
have now been })iepared, and inquiries have been held by
the Electricity (Commissioners into the majority of them.
So far there has been no local investigation by the Commis-
siomers into any of the draft orders issued, though a start
will be made next month, when the scheme approved for
the South-Wesit Midlands will be furthei- considered. This
slow i>rogress is partly due to the absence of suitable legis-
lation, and partly to the difficulty of getting the supply
authorities to agree upon definite proposals. In the case
of Mid-Lancashire, though the district was provisionally
determined in May, 1920, it was only last week that a
scheme, prepared by Blackburn and Preston Corporations,
waa submitted to the Commissioners, and even now the sup-
port of all the local authoritiea has not been secured, as
some of the supjjly undea-takings in the area from Accring-
ton to Bawtenstall are submitting a scheanei for a poi-tion
of the di. strict.

The Parish Pump at Work.

In this district the position is not complicated by any
company undertakers, and the delay has arisem solely owing
to the lack of agreeonemt between the local authorities. Even
now the scheme, from the administrative point of view.

is somewhat nebulous, and the responsibility jfor
its ultimate shape rests upon the shoulders of the Commis-
sioners. For instance, a Joint Electricity Authority may,
and, if required by the Commissioners, shall be established,
and the number of representatives appointed by each
local authority is also left for the Commissioners to
determine. The Authority may provide and maintain a
capital generating station or stations on sites to be
approved by the Commissioneirs, as well as main transmission
lines or cables, transforming plant, and other incidental
works, and it may provide for the supply of electricity in
areas not at present supplied, either by including them in
the district of adjoining distributors or by supplying such
areas direct. The italics are ours.

Technical Details.

The technical side of the scheme, for which Mr. J. A.
Robertson is responsible, is much more definite and more
satisfactory. The supplies available in the district, which
is an important industrial and manufacturing centre, are
obtained from old stations, equipped with reciprocating sets,
and nearly all produce direct current, though some of the
works have modern turbine plant. Neaily all the stations
are badly located for cheap generation, and it is, therefore,
proposed that during the next nine years the whole of them,
with the exception of Blackburn (Whitebirk) and Rawten-
stall, should be gradually closed down, and that the nonnal
supplies for the entire district should be furnished by three
capital stations, at Preston, Blaokbiirn and Buiniley.
These three stations will be intercomiected, and when fully
extended will be capable of meeting all the anticipated
requirements, though for a time several of the existing works
will be retained as peak load or emergency stations.

Possible Extensions.

The plant at Whitebirk will be extended from 20 000 to
30 000 kW during the period 1926-31 ; the initial capacity
of the new Preston station will be 20 000 kW (to be
extended to 40 000 kW before 1931), and of the Burnley
works 20 000 kW (to be extended to 30 000 kW). It is
hoped that Preston will ^e able to supply electricity by
January, 1924, and the main transmission line between
Preston and Blackburn will also b© pi-ooeeded with, but the
Burnley station will not be erected until the 1926-31 period.
The system of supply is the standard 3-phase, at a frequency
of 50 cycles per second. The main transmission pressure
will be 33 000 V, and the local secondary transmission
6 600 V, to coincide with the pressure at present in use. It
is statied that it may be possible in three or four years to
adopt a 66 000 V pressure between Preston and Blackpool.
A group of schedules give statistics of the existing
undertakings and of the cost of the projected developments.
The capital cost of the first portion of the scheme is
estimated at £741 875, and of the second portion at
£1 290 225, or a total of £2 032 100; but if individual
development be permitted, the cost will be £2 234 000.
The scheme would thus effect an annual saving of £22 710
on capital charges, £47 912 on coal, and of £25 000 on
wages, stores and repairs, or a total saving of £95 622 per
annum.

Help for the Electrical Industry.

It is not a little significant of the trend of industrial
progress that out of a total of £14 958 145 guaranteed up
to March 31 by the Treasury under the Trade Facilities
Act no less than £12 020 100 is for schemes that are wholly
or partly electrical. The largest sum of all is £6 500 000,
which ig guaranteed for twenty-five years to the South-

April

21, 1922

The Electrician.

4(33

Easleiii and Chatham Kailways for the electrification
of their Loudon suburban lines, and next to this
come« .£5 000 000 for fifty years (a very long term)
(o the Londoai Undt.iground Railways for the en-
largement of the tunnels of the City and South
Londo'U Railway, the imi)rovement of stations, the
provision of new rolling stock, and the extension of the Lon-
don Electric Railway from Golder's Green to Edg^vare.
Details of all these schemes have already appeared in The
Electrician. In addition, £500 000 for twenty-five years,
})ut redeemable after fifteen years, has been guaranteed to
I he Calcut<a Electric Supply Corporation for the purchase of
additional generating plant, buildings, transformers, and
high and low tension mains, £15 600 for twenty years to
the Kent Electric Power Company for the provision of
mains, transformers, and generating plant, and £4 500 foi-
twenty-five years to the Minehead Electric Supply Company
for the })rovision of generators and mains.

A Necessary Restriction.

The other grants, though not apparently electrical, are
not unlikely, commercial knowledge and industrial condi-
tions being what they are, to find their way in part into
the coffers of electrical manufacturing firms, and so give
a much-needed stimulus to the concerns in which we are
most interested. There has been some criticism of the grant
to the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation on the ground
that this fund is intended to relieve British labour. This,
however, is a short-sighted view, as the plant will probably
be purchased in this country, and its erection will be carried
out under British supervision. On the other hand, we hope
it will be made a condition of all these grants that the
whole of the money shall be spent within the British
Empire. For though it has been shown in certain oases
that such restrictions are a bar to technical progress, no
such obstacle need be expected in this case. British firms,
British skill, and British labour are quite capable of carry-
ing out all the work involved in these schemes. They should
be given a chance to do so, especially as the British taxpayer
is providing the money.

Provincial Supply Companies.

Though the majority of provincial electricity supply com-
paiues seem to have done moderately well during the past
year, a few of them, especially those supplying towns
seriously affected by trade depression, suffered a temporaiy
setback. This is clear from the report of the Urban Electric
Company, which controls no less than thirteeiu such under-
takings in varioius parts of the country. The year's net
profit of this concern showed an increase of about £9 000,
mainly owing to an increase in the charges for electricity,
but the company has only been able to pay a half-
year's dividend on the preference shares, leaving four years'
dividend in arrear. The result would have been better but
for the serious drop in the output from the Hawick and
Cornwall undertakings. In the former town the depression
in the tweed trade, and in Cornwall tJie serious position of
tin mining industry, resulting in the shutting down of prac-
tically all the mines, caused a great diminution in the
demand.

Onerous Conditions Still Imposed.

It may truly be said that the position of some of the
provincial undertakings during the War and since the
Armistice has not beein an enviable one. They are tied down
by rigid price agreements with local authorities, and faced
with great opposition to applications for increased charges
to correspond with the higher costs. Even now, five of the

Urban Company's undertakings are still being operatetl
under the hampering conditions imposed by the Statutory
Undertakings ("Temporary Increase of Charges) Act of 1918,
and though steps are being taken to obtain relief by means
of special orders, it is probable that the Electricity (Supply)
Jiill, which makes provision for the periodical revision of
charges and has now an excellent chance of success, may
render this cf>urse unnecessary.

An Unfair Handicap.

It will be seen that the L'rban Company hap,
like some other supply undertakings, been unfairly handi-
capped in the conduct of its business, but with falling prices
and lower costs there should be a gradual return to the oon-
diticns of 1914, when, though the majority of the undertak-
ings only paid an exiguous dividend on the ordinary shares,
they did at least pay something. If, however, the company
is to earn an adequate rate of intere.st and is to
secure permanent prosperity greater efforts will have to be
made to increase the domestic load, and i.s the present high
charges militate against progress in this direction, there
must be a reduction in the prices charged as soon as possible.
In many urban areas, as we have often pointed out, the
domestic field has hardly been tapped, but with suitable
propaganda and an attractive tariff considerable progress
can and should be made.

Iniquity of the Corporation Profits Tax.

The outlook would, however, be brighter were it not for
the Corporation Profits Tax and the rising rates and assess-
ments. Though the Corporation Tax will not affect the
company until the end of this year, it is a particularly
vicious form of taxation, inequitable and discriminating
in its incidence. As local authorities who own electricity
supply or other public utilities are exempt from the tax, it
is manifestly unjust to impose it upon companies. The
latter are, many of them at all events, operating under a
limited tenure and other restrictive conditions, and unless
the tax is abolished, or a further period of exemption is
granted, the result will be that the ordinary shareholder
and the electricity consumer will have to bear the burden
between them, and electrical and industrial progress will be
checked. Where a '.ax is unfair in its incidence it should
be abolished, and we hope that this will be the fafe of this
obnoxious impost.

The Law Regarding Supply Services.

The question whether electricity supply undertakings
shonid make a charge for connecting installations to their
mains is one which has been exuaustively debat-ed from all
sides. But whatever the opinion held, it is just as well to
know the law on the matter, for even some undei'takers do
not seen, to be clear on the legal ]x>sition. The obligations
cf an undertaking to connect installations is laid down in
Section 27 of the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act, 1899.
Undei-takings must give a supply to all premises within
50 ydi of any of their distributing mains. But the under-
taker may in.sist on the j^rospective consumer paying for
that part of the sei-\"iees which runs through tlie private
property. In other woi-ds, the undertaker, at most, is only
legally obliged to bi-ing the saipply just inside the gat€s, and
the consumer is liable for the rest. But this is not all : if
the distance from the distributing main to the gate is over
60 ft., then the undertaking can also insist on the consumer
paying for all the excess. That is, the undertaking is obliged
to pay for, at the most, 60 ft. of service cable along tie
public highway, and the consumer can be asked to pay for
the remainder.

464

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

The Newspaper Press Fund.

The technical Press is, by its organisation and duties,
rather a hybrid piece of mechanism. It has, as it were, to
travel towards two goals at the sanie time; one of which is
the acceleration of engineering progress, and the other the
maintenance of all that is best in journalism. To its readers
it turns mainly the first of these faces, but, privately, those
who are responsible for its conduct are not the less associated
with its other aspect. It is, therefore, without the least
diffidence that we call attention in these columns to the
claims of the Newspaper Press Fund, which was founded
in 1864 for the relief of necessitous members of the literary
departments of the Press, and for the widows and families
of such persons. This fund follows tradition to the extent
that each year it appeals by means of a dinner to the
pockets of the widest possible public for the assistance and
the recognition of a body of men whose work is not only
useful, but is carried on under conditions of stress that
make premature breakdown a frequent occurrence. This
year the dinner is to be held on April 27, at the Hotel
Victoria, London, under the chairmemship of Lord Lever-
HULME, and the occasion will be seized to make an attempt
to meet a serious deficit in the receipts, which now amount
to little more than half the amount distributed in grants
and pensions. The Honorary Secretary is Mr. S. G.
Smeed, 11, Garrick-street, London, W.C. 2. Verb. sap.

Imperial Water-Power
Progress.

Notwithstanding the universal trade depression, the em-
ployment of hydro-electric power in Canada continues to
develop, for it is calculated that the amount of new plant
installed in the past year was 300 000 h.p., a figure which
is above the average. This additional plant represents both
extensions to existing stations and a fair amount of new
construction work, and it is satisfactory to learn that the
additional power available is due to Government, municipal,
and private enterprise.

Rapid Progress in Canada.

In Ontario nearly 174 000 h.p. in new units were in-
stalled, making the total development of water power in
that province about a million and a quarter horse-power;
in Quebec 89 290 h.p. were added, bringing the total to
over one million horse-power; and substantial increases
were also recorded in Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova
Scotia, making the aggregate developed water power in
Canada at January last 2 755 980 h.p. This figure is lens
than a sixth of the estimated available power at ordinary
minimum flow, so that there is still plenty of room for ex-
pansion even when allowance is made for the large amount
of construction work in hand and projected. The recorded
power available throughout the Dominion, calculated on
the basis of 24-hour power at 80 per cent, efficiency, and
under conditions of ordinary minimum flow,. has been cal-
culated at 18 255 000 h.p., while 32 076 000 h.p. can be
depended upon for at least six months of the year.

Co-operation in Survey Work.

As regards organisation, each of the provinces appears
to have its Power Commission, and very useful work is
being done in completing surveys a'^d in settling questions
of general policy. The Dominion Water Power Branch is
oo-operating with these Provincial Commissions, and the
results are reported to be most satisfactory. For the in-

creased uniformity in methods of investigation has led to
greater efficiency and economy. Excluding; the Province of
Quebec, and apart from special investigations of water-
power sources, there are now about 570 stream measurement
stations in the Dominion. This figure will give an indica-
tion of the importance attached to hydro-electric power
in Canada and is a proof of the earnest desire of the Govern-
ment to utilise its natural resources as far as possible in the
best and most scientific way.

Large Units More Used.

There is an increasing tendency to use large units. For
instance, on the Queenstown-Chippawa development the
turbines will be of 55 000 h.p., and are stated to be the
largest of the kind in the world, while at the Du Bonnet
Falls on the Winnipeg Kiver the Manitoba Power Co.
proposes to erect six units of 28 000 h.p. each. Turbine
sets of 5 000 to 16 000 h.p. are now quite common through-
out the Dominion. This, though not up to the German
standard, is getting on.

Another interesting feature is the fact that a large
amount of power is being taken by paper and pulp, lumber,
and saw mills, mining and other industries. In fact, new
work is mainly undertaken in order to meet industrial re-
quirements. Another development is the increase in the
number of rural transmission lines and the extended use
which is being made of electricity in farmhouses and in
agricultural operations. In the Province of Ontario legis-
lation has been passed to allow a bonus of 50 per cent, for
rural power distribution, and as this enabled the Hydro
Electric Commission, which supplies a large number of
m.unicipalities and rural areas, to quote special rates for
rural serx-ices, there has recently been a great demand for
a supply from farmers. In fact, at the end of the financial
year, 1920, the Commission had 1 120 farm services, and it
is reported that as a result of special propaganda about
3 500 rural contracts were signed in the latter half of 1921.

Some Financial Details.

Naturally, it would be interesting to have figures of the
financial results of all this activity, but so far only the
accounts of the Hydro Electric Power Commission for 1920
are available. The annual report states that the results of
the year's operations were the most successful in the history
of the Commission, though business depression affected ad-
versely the Eugenia and Severn systems. On the large
Niagara system the drop in the industrial load was more
than compensated for by the increased demand from the
municipalities, and towards the end of the year the general
growth in business was such that there was not sufficient
power to meet the demand, and new customers could not
be connected. The total revenue of the Commission was
$4 5l3 404, and after deducting the cost of power, interest,
depreciation, and maintenance there was a balance) of
$714 735 for renewals and contingencies, but when all ex-
penditure was met and the statutory reserves were provided
there was a deficit of $147 464, the cost of ser\nce to all
municipalities exceeding the year's estimate by only 3-16
per cent.

By means of connecting links between the various systems
operated by the Commission the surplus power of any one of
them is supplied to make up the deficiency of the others, and
in this way a more normal and reliable service is main-
tained.

State versus Municipal Enterprise.

It is generally claimed that electricity supply is cheaper
in the area served by the Hydro- Electric Commission
of Ontario than elsewhere, but in a long and elaborate

April

21, 1922

The Electrician.

465

report of over 225 pages to the National Electric Light
Association Mr. W. S. Murray, the American expert,
asserts that it is not so cheap or so reliable as that given
by privately-owned companies in Canada and the United
States. The report, which deals with the history and
development of the Commission, was prepared in order to
obtain economic data of Government and private enterprise
in Canada for the guidance of those entrusted with the
control and development of water power in America. As
the system of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of
Ontario is the largest Government-owned electricity under-
taking in existence it naturally came in for close examina-
tion, but Mr. Murray's conclusion is that no such system
should be employed in the United States, his grounds being
that it is subversive of American policy and custom, and,
moreover, it is inefficient, expensive and wasteful. Pretty
definite this ! There is a natural predilection in favour of
private enterprise in the United States, though we think
that Mr. Murray has proved his case.

Government Service More Costly than Private.

In Ontario, of the total utility income in 1920, two-
thirds was derived from those owned by the Government,
but in Quebec, where the income from the same class of
utilities was only five per cemt., the cost of power is 32 per
cent, lower, while the productivity of salaries and wages
is 325 per cent, higher. In capital cost the Commission
also compares unfavourably with private undertakings.
Formerly it purchased 100 000 h.p. from the Ontario
Power Company at about $9 per h.p. -year, and in 1920
the municipalities weire supplied with power at $1765 per
H.p. -year, but from the new Queenstown-Chippawa de-
velopment the cost will be $2805 per h.p. -year. In conse-
quence of these higher charges and for other reasons the
Provincial Legislature has now decided tO' appoint a Royal
Commission to investigate the administration and working
of the Hydro-Electric Commission.

General Principles.

Mr. Murray concludes by affirming certain principles,
which, though invoked in support, of American policy,
apply equally well to this country. He states that
" accomplishment by individuals in control of private en-
terprise is under keener observation than is the case when
those in charge are Governmental or municipal officers.
Governmental ownership eliminates all incentive for gain
and throttles initiative. The Hydro-Electric Power Com-
mission is judge of its own acts, and a commission cannot
fairly be the. judge of its own (and others') rights in dis-
putes. The Commissions of the States fully realise that
protection to the people lies in protection to the electric
utilities from which they are receiving power. The
authority delegated to them to regulate rates, and the
constitutionality of the law standing behind any action on
their part or on the part of the electric utilities, provides
a structure constructively balanced to do justice to all
parties."

Principles Not Applicable to Canada.

There will be few who will challenge the main conclu-
sions of Mr. Murray, though the situation in Canada is not
analogous to that of the United States. The us© of water
power and industrial development have reached a more
advanced stage in the latter country than in Canada, where
many large falls occur in remote and uncultivated districts.
In remote areas, where there is little or no demand
for power, private enterprise cannot be induced to com-
mence operations. Consequently, Government or muni-
cipal aid may be necessary for developing the natural
resources of Canada, when it would not be required in the
D 2

United States where the public utility commissaons seem to
be giving satisfaction to all parties.

The Situation in India.

Turning to India, where extensive hydro-electrical de-
velopment is also being undertaken, though in actual con-
struction work it cannot compare with Canada, yet we are
pleased to see that progress is being made with the hydro-
electric survey, under the superintendence of Mr. J. W.
Mf.ares. In India, as we have recently pointed out, there
is really greater need of water-power and industrial develop-
ment than in other parts of the Empire, for it has been
acutely affected by trade depression, and no small part of
the present unrest is attributable to unemployment. For
economic reasons it has been decided that outlay on water
storage and water power shall in future be a provincial
charge, and we are therefore afraid that the good work
which has been done by Mr. Meares may suSer a set back.
The third triennial report has recently been published and
is divided into two main sections. The first gives technical
information and data on development for the guidance of
engineers engaged on the actual wcrk of survey, and in the
second part 118 pages are devoted to a forecast of the water-
power possibilities of the provinces.

Results of Survey.

In the preliminary forecast of the water power at present
investigated it i? stated that the total power, based on
figures of the minimum continuous power available, amounts
to 5 582 000 kW, or 7 400 000 e.h.p. Of this total only
213 140 kW has been developed, but four plants of
55 640 kW are under construction. Only in Bombay,
Jammu and Kashmir, and in Mysore has there been any
serious attempt to utilise water power, though Bihar and
Orissa, with an estimated output of over one million horse-
power, the >l&rth-West Frontier Province, with about a
million horse-power,- Burma, with nearly a million, and the
Punjab, with about 800 000 h.p., are richer in waterfalls.
Bengal and Bombay are respectively credited with 670 000
and 644 000 h.p., and there are also substantial amounts
to be developed in Assam, the United Provinces, Jammu
and Kashmir, and the Central Provinces. Of 1 125 sites
and projects listed only 52 have been investigated, and it
is probable that the estimate given will be greatly exceeded.
In fact, it is stated that the probable ordinary minimum
power will amount to over 7 500 000 kW, and the maximum
power i? put at 12 680 000 kW. If a substantial portion
ot this large amount of power were developed it would have
a most hentficial effect upon the industrial and social posi-
tion in India, and ii would alsa provide a useful market
for British hydro-electric plant and apparatus.

Fresh Legislation Required.

Progress cannot, however, be made until the legislation
relating to water-power concessions has been amended so
as to attract capital to the industry, and, in addition.
Government support and sympathy will be needed for some
time in order to encourage the establishment of subsidiary
industries. Many of the estimates given in the present
report are not final because the survey has not yet been
completed on account of the magnitude and difficulty of the
work. It must be remembered that, excluding Russia,
India is equal in area to the rest of Europe, and as the
transport facilities in certain places are very poor we think
that the work accomplished by Mr. Meares and those under
him is highly creditable, and in due course it will prove of
great value to the Indian Empire and the electrical in-
dustry.

466

The Electrician — April 21, 1922

The Electrostatic Wattmeter,

By G. L. ADDENBROOKE.

The author glides an hislorical review of the application of the quadrant electrometer to the measurement of alternating currents and
dielec'ric losses and de'ails improvements which he has recently introduced into a new set of ins'.ruments. After studying the theory and
action of the instrument at some length, he points out thai it is mathematical rather than electrical in character, and shows how it may

he applied to modern precision measurements.

Historical.

It is difficult to say exactly what the sensitiveness of the
Kelvin electrometer was, but in 1882 Hopkinson read a Paper
before the Physical Society, from which it may be gathered
that working under normal conditions, the constant of his
instrument was about 0-33 — that is, with 100 V on the needle
and 1 V between the quadrants, the deflection would be of
the order of 33 mm. on a mm. scale at 2 m. distance. In
concluding this Paper, Hopkinson says :

The invention of the quadrant electrometer by Sir W. Thomson
may be said to have marked an epoch in electrostatics, and the instru-
ment from time to time iinds new uses. It therefore seems well worth
while to make known observations made upon it in which the instrument
itself has been the only subject studied.

Application to A.C. Measurements.

Although Hopkinson does not say so, I know he had in
his mind in this study the question of the application of the
instrument to alternating measurements. Some three years
later, I built and began to study an instrument of this type
myself. Consideration satisfied me that there were primarily
two desirable alterations needed to adapt the instrument for
alternating measurements. The first was to get rid of any
uncertainty implied in charging the needle alternately through
sulphuric acid, as in the Kelvin and other instruments of
the time. Secondly, an increase in sensitiveness was very
desirable.

It was not until several years later, viz., about 1898, that
Colonel Crompton, who was working at improving the
D'Arsonval galvanometer gave me some phosphor bronze
strip finer than had been obtainable so far. This met the
first of the above points, and at the same time the sensitive-
ness of the instrument could be increased about three times,
that is, under the above conditions, 1 V between the quad-
rants with 100 V on the needle, could be made to give 100
scale deflections readily.

It was on this basis that the instruments were constructed
which I described in the paper I read at the Paris Electrical
Congress, a copy of which appeared in The Electrician
in 1900*. I mention this because a certain number of these
instruments are still in use.

Application to Measurement of Dielectric Losses.

About 1900 dielectric losses in cables and other insulating
materials were beginning to attract attention. Having men-
tioned the matter to the late Dr. Muirhead, he was good
enough to place at my disposal at this time a condenser of
five separate microfarads as built by h'Ui for submarine cable
work. I had means of generating alternating voltages of 83 ~ up
to 1 200 V, and it was found that these condensers would
stand this P.D. without strain. The instruments were there-
fore connected up in circuit with these condensers by
means of a shunt with a ratio of about 10, and with a drop
of about 15 V in the series resistance inserted between the
quadrants. Everything seemed in order, but the wattmeter
gave a minus reading.

On looking into Maxwell's formula it seemed correct that
it should do so with a shunt of such iiiultiplyiivg power if the
power factor was below a certain value, but to make sure I
wrote to Dr. Russell, who came to see the experiment and
some variations.

Measurements at Low Power Factors.

Dr. Russell on the data obtained then suggested the formula
which I used in two articles in The Elkctrician in 1901,
which covered a preliminary investigation of the working of
the instrument at low and high voltoges and at high and low
power factors. This formula Dr. Russell describes in his book
on alternating currents.

*The Electeician, Vol. XLV., p. not.. Oct. 5th, 1900.

Working in America, Miles AValker, in June, 1902, in
the .Journal of the A.I.E.E., described exj)eriments on some-
what similar lines, and made a number of suggestions for
coupling up the instrument to circuits which are worthy of
attention.

Since then not much has been published on the use of the
instrument at low power factors, until Mr. Parry's Physical
Society Paper last year, though I have continued to use it
in my work on dielectrics.

In 1902 I was asked to experiment on high tension paper
cables for Henley's Telegraph Company, as uneasiness on the
subject had arisen owing to a Paper by Mr. Mordey at the
Institution of Electrical Engineers, which provoked a long
discussion. These experiments, which were very complete
for the date, showed power factors a little under 1-75 per cent.,
though to get them, working with 100 V on the needle and
a shunt of about 60 ratio, we used as much as 20 V droji
across the quadrants.

The instruments were not arranged to the best advantage ;
it was a case of doing the best at short notice. Subsequent
experiments showed, however, that the results were closely
correct, and therefore gave confidence in the method.

Need of Greater Sensitiveness.

Consideration, however, showed that better results and
greater accuracy would be secured by making the instrument
more sensitive. This would also adapt it for obtaining results
on lower capacities. I will not detail the steps by which
this was gradually accomplished, but at the end of 1909
I had constructed a workable instrument with a constant of
from ten to twelve, or, say, ten times as sensitive as the one
already mentioned and about thirty times that of the Kelvin
instrument. With 100 V on the needle, one could get now a
deflection of 100 to 120 mm. under the above conditions, with
1/10 V drop between the quadrants at unity power factor.
At the same time good coincidence of the electrical and
mechanical zeros was attainable. As this instrument was
sufiiciently sensitive for the work on dielectrics I was con-
templating, I left the matter, effecting detail improvements
from time to time, until the war put an end to experimental
work.

Recent Results.

Within the last year I have had a new set of instruments built
embodying a number of further desirable points and taking
advantage of some improvements in drawing fine metal strips.
The result is that I have now for some months been using
a workable instrument with good control of the electrical
and mechanical zeros which has a constant of over 40, or
with 100 V on the needle and 1/10 V between the quadrants
gives a deflection of over 400 mm. at 2 meters at unity
power factor. This is on a par with the sensitiveness of
the Dolzalek instrument using a quartz fibre suspension and
with a fixed charge on the needle. The period under these
circumstances is rather long, but the instrument is nearly
dead beat, and easily workable for experimental purposes.
Such sensitiveness is, however, seldom necessary, and
therefore I shall only assume a constant of about half this.

Theory of the Instruments.

The simple form of Maxwells equation,

which is used in practice is readily turned into :

R\L 2 /

Where IF =^ watts expended in circuit, 8 deflection. L inat.

April

21, 1922

The Electrician,

407

constant, R = ohms in series non-inductive resistance and

— — = loss in half series resistance. This is for an instrument

2
directly coupled across the circuit.

The position for very low power factors can be seen by
taking the limiting case that W, or the watts expended in the
condenser, = 0 which can be very nearly attained practically
with the highest class of air condensers kept in a dry
atmosphere.

For simplicity take i? as 1 0, we then get :

I/O cm\

From which

6_r~R

Or there is still a plus deflection, but it is due to the equivalent
of the loss in half the series resistance being included in the
measurement under all circumstances.

Let us consider what this means from a practical point of
view with an instrument with a constant of 20, an alternating
circuit P.D^ of 100 V on the object on which the measurement
is to be made, and assuming the current through R is 1 A
and its resistance 1 0, or there is 1 V drop between the
quadrants, the instrument being directly coupled across the
'Circuit.

At unity power factor the loss in such a circuit with 1 A
flowing and 100 0 across the circuit measured would be
100 W plus 0-5 W for the loss in half the series R, and the
instrument would give a deflection of 100 x 20 x 1 = 2 000 mm.
plus 10 mm. for the loss in half the series resistance.

Action with Perfect Condenser.

But if a condenser ivithout loss instead of the resistance is
now substituted across the circuit, still taking the same
current, the charge will equal the discharge, and the two
opposite forces impressed on the needle owing to the capacity
effect balance. The only deflection which results is now due
to the loss in half the series resistance, which is 10^, and this
deflection evidently is equivalent to the loss due to 05 of
1 per cent, power factor.

Suppose we now assume our condenser itself has a power
factor of only 01 of 1 per cent, or a loss of 1 part in 1 000.
The deflection of the instrument will be due to 0-5 per cent,
plus O'l per cent, or 0-6 per cent, power factor, and will

be increased by — -= 2° or to 12 mm. This means that out of
•^ 5

the total deflection obtained 5 parts are due to the loss in

half the series resistance, and 1 to the loss in the condenser

itself.

Assuming that we can read to |- mm. on the scale, we should

be able to read the power factor of 0-1 per cent, to about

10 per cent, accuracy, everything else being taken as equal,

but there is the difficulty that under these conditions the

current flowing must be measured separately ; we are therefore

on the verge of what we can do with such a power factor.

Effect of Varying Condenser Losses.

Suppose, however, the loss in the condenser is 0-2 per cent,
instead of 01 per cent., we should get now 4 mm. deflection
for this, while the loss in the series resistance would remain the
same, we have therefore doubled the deflection for the condenser
loss, and at the same time reduced the ratio of the condenser
loss to that in half the series resistance to one half. We
might now with a little care measure such an actual condenser
loss of 0-2 of 1 per cent, and take the power factor found as,
say, between 0-215 per cent, and 0-185 per cent.

Every increment of O'l per cent, in the condenser loss
makes the position correspondingly better. At 05 per cent,
power factor the loss in the condenser becomes equal to the
loss in half the series resistance, and the deflection is 10 mm.
for each of these factors, or 20° actually. Now, outside a
very narrow range of conditions, in practice 05 per cent, is
a ver}- low power factor indeed. I have dealt with the above
conditions at some length because they also cover the con-
ditions under which zero methods must work. In these

we balance out the deflections and read the results in terms
of resistances.

Improved Working Conditions.

We will now consider what possibilities are open for
improving the working conditions. The most obvious is to
increase the drop across the series resistance. This is what
Mr. Parry did in describing his zero method ; he increased the
drop to about 2-5 V. This increases all the deflections
proportionately. It still, however, leaves the ratio of the
loss in half the series resistance to the loss in the condenser
the same.

There is, however, another alteration we can make. We
can raise the P.D. on the needle to 200 V. The instrument
mentioned above will stand this for approximately the same
constant — 200 V is a very convenient voltage for this class
of work.

This, if everything else is left the same, doubles the current
and increases the condenser and series resistance losses four
times, and consequently the deflection. We can, however,
reduce the series resistance to half, which will still leave us
with double the deflection we had before for the loss in the con-
denser, but the deflection for the loss in the series resistance
alone will now be the same, so that we have reduced the
ratio of the two to one half.

Assuming that under these conditions, viz., with 200 V
on the needle and 2 V between the quadrants, we now exainine
the figures, it will be seen that at 0-1 per cent, power factor,
while we shall get 20^ deflection for the loss in half the series
resistance, we shall now get 8'' deflection for the loss in the
condenser. We should now with care be able to get results
for a i)ower factor of 0-1 per cent, within something of the
order of 5 per cent, accuracy.

Higher Voltage and Constants.

It is also possible to go further in the direction of raising
the voltage on the needle without proportionately reducing
the constant, the quadrants being set further apart. Again, I
have mentioned that it is possible to get a higher constant
on the instrument than has been assumed above, which
enables the proportionate drop across the series resistance to
be still further reduced.

I think, therefore, it is not going too far to say that with
a sufiiciently sensitive electrostatic wattmeter, directly
coupled across the circuit, under conditions which can be
reproduced practically, it is possible to measure power factors
of 01 per cent, to .m accuracy of less than 10 per cent.,
and that for each 1/lOth of 01 per cent above this, the
accuracy and facility of making measurements increases
almost as the square of the power factor.

Having gone so far, it is desirable to turn to other sides
of the question, but before doing so I would add that it is
assumed that a fairly good wave form is used. Also, if the
capacities are very small and high series non-induction
resistances must be used, the loss in the leads connecting
and operating switches, mostly surface leakages, become a
factor to be reckoned with, particularly in damp weather.

Measurable Capacitie.>.

I have been able to get lesults of value on capacities dowa
to 1/1000 m.f. working on a 100 V circuit at 50 periods and
down to power factors of the order of 01 per cent., but
the ease and certainty with which one works rapidly increase
as both the circuit P.D. and the capacity are increased.

The capacities met with in testing 6 in. sheets of thin
dielectrics are much in excess of this, while outside a very
small range of dielectrics, power factors under IS to 2 per
cent, are rarely met with. Many materials are u^ed for
insulation and other purposes for physical apparatus, and in
engineering, the power factors of which range from the above
to 5, 10, 20 or even 80 per cent. For instance, high pressure
paper oil cables have usually power factors not much under
2 per cent. The condensers used for correcting power factors
in motors are guaranteed as having power factors some-
thing under 0-5 per cent., but outside these and air and
standard mica condensers one seldom meets with these very
low power factors in practice. The real question is to have

468

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

a relatively simple reliable method of reasonable accuracy
to attack all the problems met with in these materials under
the different conditions under which they are employed in
science and in practice.

Low P.F. Measurements with Shunt of Tw^o Ratio.

Returning, however, to our subject, for very low power
factor measurement there is a second method of proceeding,
viz., to employ a shunt across the circmt and connect the
wattmeter needle to the middle point. The actions occurring
then balance out the loss in half the series resistance, and the
instrument readings give directly the loss in the condenser
or other apparatus tested alone.

The possibility of doing this was first pointed out by
Dr. Russell in the memorandum he sent me after seeing the
experiments mentioned at the beginning of this Paper. I
mentioned it in my Electrician articles of 1901, and have
made a practice of using it since for measurements of less
than 0-5 per cent, power factor. At the same time Dr. Russell
pointed out that this was an advantageous method of using
a shunt, as it would be symmetrical if properly constructed.
These direct readings can now, by the help of Dr. Owen's
extension of Mr. Parry's suggestion, be turned into zero
readings if required.

Theoretically we can also now increase the drop across the
series resistance as much as we like, but in doing this to a
very considerable degree another question arises which was
raised in the debate on Mr. Parry's Paper, and which I am
inclined to think is the really fundamental one in the work-
ing of the electrostatic wattmeter at very low power factors.

Action of Instrument.

In the view of the physical actions occurring in the instru-
ment which I have always taken, it must, as Mr. Parry also
stated in his Paper, be looked on as two separate instruments
in one when used on low power factors. Take the case when

A B

Case of Condenser with No Fower Factor.

the condenser has no power factor. The greatest difference
of potential between A and B (see Fig.) will occur when there
is no E.M.F. in the generator circuit, consequently C is short
circuited to A, and the instrument is connected as a voltmeter
across A B with half the heterostatic constant and the
maximum current flowing in. A B. Now the voltage across

A B on the basis — measures the watt loss in .4 .B if it is
A

non-inductive or if we use the heterostatic constant of the

instrument the watt loss in half A B. The deflection in the

diagram above for this will be to the right, while any deflection

as a wattmeter due to loss is to the left (the leads are crossed

in practice).

The actual deflection of the needle is due to the resultant

of these two opposite torques. That is, the deflection is

proportionately less than the watts expended m the condenser

. ■ . V ~

and the series resistance by -~ the physical effect of this

being in the negative direction.

Effect of Doubled Voltage.

Taking the action with a shunt of 2. Doubling the voltage
under these circumstances does not increase tho potential
on the needle, but doubles the current through the series
resistance. This increases the wattmeter plus deflection
corresponding to the actual loss in the resistance to double,

but it increases the minus deflection due to the -— component

four times. The result is that in this case the positive deflec-

tion for the loss in the series resistance is exactly balanced
by the negative deflection due to the voltmeter action and
the actual needle deflection is due to the loss in the condenser
alone.

With higher values than 2 of the shunt, if the loss in the
condenser is nothing or very small, we now begin to get
negative readings, increasing as the multiplying power of
the shunt is increased until finally in the limit the deflection
is due to the voltmeter action alone and is in the minus
direction.

Take the formula I have found most convenient for such
readings : —

--f{^-a-M)}

Where W = watts expended in condensers. N = value
of shunt. 0 = deflection. L = heterostatic constant.
A~ = oquare of volts drop across series resistance.
We can write : —

n~\l

+ A^

(2 n)j

Assume that W=0 then -^r=r-=^0.

Consequently

= -A

<^^)

Take for example L = 20, A = 3 ox A^=9, '!<[=20

I _ _9 9_

20~ 2"^ 20

6^ =-81.
The full minus deflection apart from the component of the loss
in the series resistance included would be — ~ — - 80' .

Useful Preliminary Calculations.

I find this method of looking at the actions occurring
physically convenient, as it enables one to calculate beforehand
the approximate deflections which will be obtained under any
given set of conditions. For this purpose I first assume
what the loss in the circuit would be at unity power factor
with a given convenient series resistance and current. For
low power factors the loss will be directly proportional to the
power factor; say, for 1 per cent, power factor we divide the
loss at unity power factor by 100 and take the result as our
watts in the above equation. Knowing the constant of the
instrument, we can then take different values of the drop in
the series resistance and find what drop will give, on the
whole, the best result with any given sensitiveness of the
instrument.

Basis of the Instrument's Action.

Assuming that this view of the actions is sound, the ultimate
correctness of the instrument seems to depend on whether
the torque due to an E.M.F. generated by the current alone
can under all conditions which may practicably arise be
correctly balanced against a torque dependent on the same
current, but multiplied into the pressure across the circuit.

As regards this it is clear that we have not to do with instan-
taneous effects, but to the integrated efi'ects over a whole
cycle in each case ; as far as I can see, the two will always be
directly proportional, and can therefore be correctly balanced
against each other, so long as the conditions of symmetry
are^not too far departed from and the deflections are moderate.

A Zero Method.

Assuming that this is so,, it will be seen that when shunts
of a value higher than 2 are employed we arc really balancing
the loss in half the series resistance multiplied by iV against
the loss in the condenser as far as it will go, and by suitably
adjusting the series resistance a complete balance can be
obtained resulting in a zero reading.

April 21, 1922

The Electrician.

469

Practically this can be done under good working conditions
for power factors of, say, 05 of 1 per cent, to about 3 per cent.,
which it happens are the power factors met with in cables
and over a wixle range of the higher class of dielectrics.

It will be seen that under these circumstances a balance
can be secured under very perfect conditions ; we balance the
loss in the condenser against the loss in a non-inductive
resistance in series with it, the same current acting on both.
The value of this resistance will be accurately known, and the
current flowing in it can be measured to less than half of 1 per
cent, accuracy. No extra apparatus is needed and the sanae
arrangement permits results being got either on the basis
of actual deflections or by balancing out to zero. The constant
of the instrument as a wattmeter is easily and quickly
obtained under working conditions and remains substantially
the same for long periods, but obviously when using the zero
method this is eliminated.

The Instrument as an Ammeter.

Again, as regards measuring the current, with a constant
of 20, the wattmeter with the needle short circuited to one
of the quadrants becomes a voltmeter with a constant of 10,
the deflection increasing as the square of the voltage. Con-
sequently a drop of 2 V will give a reading for the current in
the series resistance of 40 mm. and 3 V drop a reading of
90 mm., these deflections altering as the squares are easily
read to less than 1 per cent. The wattmeter may, therefore,
be also thus used as an ammeter, without alteration of the
arrangements, for measuring the circuit current, and therefore
the single instrument will give all the necessary data for
calculating power factors and measuring capacities as well
as actual losses. For careful measurements of capacities
I have, however, found it better to supplement this arrange-
ment by putting a throw over switch in the testing leads,
and balancing the capacity current into the dielectric tested
against the same current into a set of standard variable con-
densers. This gets rid of the difiiculty of wave form, and the
capacity to a close degree of accuracy can be read off the
variable capacity directly and without correction up to power
factors of say 8 per cent.

The Electrometer To-day.

The instrument is now really what used to be called a
mathematical instrument rather than an ordinary electrical
instrument. The principles in its modern construction have
much affinity to those needed in the chemical balance. In
fact, it is a very delicate and accurate torsion balance for
weighing the difference of two electrical pulls in place of two
gravitational pulls.

To measure a power factor of O'l per cent, we are measuring
1/1 000 th of the forces operating in the circuit. Suppose
we can measure, this 0*1 per cent, power factor to 5 per cent,
accuracy, we are measuring the difference in these forces to
1 part in 20 000, and this while these forces are alternating
at say, 50 ~, or there are 200 charges and discharges per
second. Looking at the matter from a thermodynamic
point of view, we have in the charge and discharge of a high
class condenser probably the most perfect reversible action
in nature.

Applications of the Instrument.

In what I have said above I have dealt with the most
difficult work to which the instrument can be put, viz., the
losses in high class condensers. But it is equally applicable
to the measurement of induction. For instance, suppose we
take an air core transformer wound on the best principles,
the lowest loss which can be got in such a case, owing to
the resistance of the copper, is about 2 per cent, at ordinary
frequencies. If we put in iron we can reduce the copper loss
to very small proportions, but instead we have the iron
losses, and it is very difficult to keep the losses even in large
transformers below 2 per cent, on open circuit. Consequently
working on circuits having inductance no power factors less
than about 2 per cent, are met with under ordinary circum-
stances, and what has been said above regarding condensers
of 2 per cent, power factors applies here also.

Reviews.

Experimental Wireless Stations. By Philip E. Edelmax,
E.E. fj.ondon: Henry Froude and Hodder & Stoughton).
Pp. :J92. Ifis. net.

It may be a little haxsh. to say that this volume is super-
flrous, but nevertheless, there is nothing in the book which
has not been said before, and said a great deal better, The
author, though no doubt widely-read, betrays every now
and again an imperfect grasp of his subject and an ignor-
ance of relative values which is thrown into relief by his
occasional attitude of authority and almost patronage.

The result of an attempt to cover nearly all branches of
wireless is that many sections are very briefly described and
often consist of three lines and a diagram. Chapter I.
gives an account of the nature of wireless transmission.
This account is weak in parts and hopeless in others, as
when discussing the " condenser theory of propagation,"
and the Heaviside layer theory. On p. 18 we are told
that the condenser formed by the two aerials becomes leaky
when it rains, and that this is why signals are worst in
wet weather (a questionable fact).

The second chapter brings us to aerials. Local telephone
or light companies are given a very good character, for not
only do they allow you to use their poles but some " will
even give aid if properly approached." The touching
spectacle of a Post Office lineman " giving aid " would
soften the hardest heart.

Chapter XII . contains desci-iptions of arcs, high-frequency
alternators, &c. Chapter XIV. deals with valves. The
Fig. 74 circuit for obtaining curves shows the milliammeter
A measuring not only the anode current but also the current
through the anode voltmeter. Fig. 84 shows a collection of
miscellaneous valve circuits. Circuits VII. should show
the telephones in the anode circuit of the last valve in place
of R. Grid leaks are omitted in all circuits. Fig. 90
omits a connection between B and the line beneath it.

The author states: " A crystal will even detect signals
from arc and undamped wave sets under favourable con-
ditions. The author has heard such signals when using
a detector in a receiving circuit containing a variometer
coupler, which caused the necessary reaction in the cir-
cuits." Comment would be superfluous.

Chapter XV. brings us to radio-telephones. Fig. 101
shows a valve transmitter in which the power is taken from
the grid oscillatory circuit instead of from the anode
circuit.

The U.S. Army set of Fig. 108 is reproduced incorrectly.
The battery in the grid circuit of the oscillator is in an
ineffectual position. The anode battery is shorted and
a condenser should appear between the anode of the
oscillating tube and the aerial inductance.

Chapter XIX. shews a number of crystal circuits.
Fig. 131 will not work as the potentials across L and C
will neutralise each other. The other circuits show the
telephones directly across the crystal. In Figs. 133 and
134 the telephones should be across C. Fig. 136 is im-
possible. The detector is directly shorted. Fig. 137 is
worse if anything, the detector being shorted and the tele-
phone circuit being open. .

While there is much matter in the book, there 13 httle
which is desen'ing of praise, and the recuiTent fault, apart
from multitudinous inaccuracies, is that eveiything is so
sketchily described as to render it almost valueless.

•^ John Scott-Taggabt.

Lexique Technique AnjSlais-Francais. By G. MArGORS.
(Paris : Gauthier Aillars et Cie.) Pp. xxi. -f- 216. 10 francs.
This book, the publishers' announcement teUs us, fulfils a real
want as the best En-ilish and French dictionaries do not translate
sufficiently well technical words and expressions. This, of course,
is the case, but there are now on the market a large number of
technical dictionaries which do fulfil this want as far as it ever can
be fulfilled. Everv technical dictionary is at best but a guide, and
the translator's experience must be the final court of appeal.
Within these Umits the book may be recommended and seems to
contain exceedingly few mistakes or weaknesses. ^^ e notice that
no translation is given of the terms gasfilled, zigzag transformer, nor
phase advancer, but perhaps we are asking too much for ten franca.

The Electrician — April 21, 1922

Auxiliary Features in Automatic Telephone Systems.'

By W. AITKEN, M.I.E.E.

Branch Offices Calling Locally without Utilising a Trunk to the Main Office.

The method of operating branch, satellite, and other small
offices in connection with a multi-office system is an interesting
problem. It is not considered expedient to place a first
selector at a small office with another first selector at the
main office, as this would mean an extra digit as a prefix for
the numbers appertaining to the small office. Usually the
trunks are connected to the second selectors at the main

Rotart^ Line Switcl

Rotary Swltc,
Trunks to
Main Office,

PBx Calling liOCALi-v withoit usinij Thinks through Ckntu.xt,. A. T. M. Co.

office, but this necessitates, when the calling and the called
parties are in the same small office, that two trunks are used
between the small and the main office. This may mean that
the equipment is expensive.

Several devices have been suggested to render the use of
main office trunk in a local call unnecessary, and the diagram

* All rights i(>sorvod.

shows one of the Automatic Telephone Manufacturing

Company's methods of achieving this end.

A rotary switch is used in combination with a selector at

the branch office. The operation of the rotary line switch

shown in the diagram is assumed to be known.

On lifting the receiver the calling line is extended to the

selector and the rotary switch selects an idle trunk to

the main office. The
impulses of the first
digit operate the selector
shown and also a first
selector at the main
office. In the latter case,
if the level to which the
wipers are raised corre-
sponds to a branch office
number the terminals
will be " dead," and the
trunk is at once released
and succeeding impulses
are received on a selector
and connector in the
branch office over a local
circuit.

If the level first selected
corresponds to a main
office number the selector
shown takes a single
rotary step only and
subsequently acts as a
repeater to lepeat the re-
maining impulses Busy
tone is given if all the
trunks to the main office
are busy.

The rotary switch has
no normal position, and
is arranged to take a
step forward when re-
leased so that, should a
caller have been con-
nected with a faulty
line he can, by replac-
ing the receiver moment-
arily, immediately con-
nect with another idle
trunk.

The circuits on a local
call are as follows : —

1. When the receiver is
lifted the caller is extended
to a selector in known
manner and Rl energises.

2. K2 (guard) energises.

3. Polarising circuit of R3
(this is neutralised bv circuit
6).

4. R4 energises,
o. K4 locking circuit.
»). HO energises (line relay

of rotary switch).

7. R6 locking circuit.

5. Rotary switch step-
l>iug magnet SMS connected
to test wiper. The rotary
switch xdvances until it

of an idle trunk. R9 has been

linds an unearthed te.st terminal
short-circuited over circuit 8.

S). R9 energises, opens circuit 0 and R6 slowly do-energises.

10. RIO of an idle trunk energises and engages the trunk over a circuit
8 to earth. Earth is cut off the starting wire (5 of the group of
rotary switches. Earth remains connected at some other point while
a trunk to the main office is idle.

11. The vertical magnet VM 1 1 is energised on the let series of impulses.

12. R12 energises in parallel with \'M11.

April 21, 1922

The Electrician.

471

The windings of R3 and R18 in circuit G are short-
circuited to give the impulses a clear path to trunk over
a and h.

13. Impulse circuit to trunk referred to above.

After the impulses R12 de energises. The rotary relay R14 and
rotary magnet RM15 co-operate in known manner to rotate the
wipers.

14. If the first trunk is busy R14 energises.

15. RM15 energises and the wipers take one step. Circuit 14 is
open and R14 de-energises.

Circuit 15 is open and RM15 de-energises, and so on. At the first
energisation of RM15, circuit 5 is opened, but R4 remains energised
over the wiper r. All the terminals are earthed on the levels serving
the second selectors of the branch office.

16. When the test wiper d reaches the unearthed terminal of an
idle trunk the switching relay R16 energises (maintained in series
with R14 which does not energise), and opens circuit 1 so that
Rl de-energises, then R2, R6, R9 and RIO de-energise. In the
interval between the de-energisation of the last three relays, earth,
over circuit 8, is connected to M8 to step the wipers to the next
trunk.

A Call to the Main Office.

Tlie operations are similar to those described up to the
point where the .selector shown takes its fir.st rotarv step.
114 then de-energi.ses because all the terminals corresponding
to main office connections are blank. R14 circuit is open
. t R4. R16 circuit is al.so open and the rotary movement is
brought to a stop at once. Relay RI is in circuit so that
succeeding impulses are repeated at contact y (circuit 13)
over the trunk a, h.

17. When the call is completed and answered the reversal of current
in the trunk a, b, causes the pola-ised relay R3 to energise, because the
currents in the two circuits now assist each other instead of neutralising.
R17 then energises and reverses the current to the calling station.

Busy Signal when all Trunks are Busy.
If all trunks to the main office are bu.sy no f-arth is connected
to the wire Ch and no circuit 6 completed when Rl Is energised.
The switch is not set in motion.

18. When R4 de-energises busy tone is through R18, which vibratee
and induces a tone in the lower winding.

An Electrically Controlled Bascule Bridge.

An interesting example of the application of the electric drive to
such heavy and intermittent work as bridge operation, is to be
found in the bascule bridge which has recently been installed at
the King George V. Dock, North Woolwich, by the Port of London
Authority. A good deal could be written about the advantages of
electrical operation for this class of work, but we may confine
ourselves to a description of the control gear, which contains some
unusual details owing to the fact that the bridge is designed for
automatic working.

The contractors for the bridge, which is shown in Fig. 1, were
Sir Wm. Arrol Company, Ltd. All the control gear for opening and
closing the locking bolts, the main leaves of the bridge, and for
operating all the auxiliary motors, was supplied by Electric Control
Ltd. .Ml thf^f o (■'•n<:i<^)r:s aro canied out froJii oriP po'iition hv

The electricity supply Is taken from the mains through
a meter and fuses to the main supply panel. This panel
has mounted on it distribution switches and fuses for the various
power and lighting circuits, and overload protection relays and
regulators for the sump motors. A set of indicating meters for
current and volts and water levels are fixed in a convenient position
on this board.

The Master Controller.

The master controller (Fig. 2) is fixed so that the operator can
control all the operations from one position, in which position he
has full view of the whole bridge and waterway. He can also, from
the same position, follow the operations from the indicating board.

Describing ^!io o- ora^inn'^ i!i rho n>;ial <*■ i'i^nr«> in whifh th»»v

Fio 1. — Oenkuai. View of Bascule Bkjdoe, Kino George V. Dock.

means of master controllers in the control tower built beside the
bridge.

The two leaves of the bridge are driven independently, two motors
being employed in each case. These operate through dog clutches
and suitable reduction gearing. The motors are mounted two on
each side of the waterway, and one contactor controller on each
side operates the two motors and also controls the electrically
operated brakes for holding the bridge in any definite position.
The locking bolts are o])erated by reversible motors mounted
adjacent to the bolts in the bridge leaves, each motor being con-
trolled separately by the master controller in the control tower,
which operates contactor controllers installed in the motor room
below the bridge. The motors which drive the jjumjis for supplying
oil to the main bearings and the sump ]iumps for the bridge, are also
operated from switches on the main supply panel in the control
tower.

occur, the operator after energising the main distributing panel by
closing the supply switch starts up the motors driving the oil
pumps. By operating the master controller for the bolt motors he
switches them on to the line, one after the other, through a buffer
resistance. The motors, it may bo added, are stopped automatically
by the withdrawal of the bolt (sc^ Fig. 3). This latter action is
accomplished by a tappet switch which is fixed alongside the motor
and operates a tappet on the bolt (see Fig. 4). The tappet switches at
the same time reverse the connections for the armatures of the
motor, so that they are ready for st-arting up in the reverse direction
by the master controller, when it is operated again. When the last
bolt is withdra^^^l, and not before, the operator can operate the
controllers for the main motors, a*? they are electrically interlocked
witii the controller for the bolt motors, and cannot be energised
before they are all in position for the safe operation of the
bridge. By operating the contactor controllers by means of the

472

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

master controllers the main motor is started through a diverter
resistance, which allows the motor to run at a very slow speed only.
On the succeeding steps the speed is gradually increased, but the
connections of the main controller are such that on each step of the

operator can, however, perform the same operations and thus stop
the bridge before it reaches its extreme position, but he has no mean*
of delaying this operation beyond the pre- determined safe limit.
When it is necessary to close the bridge again, the operator has full
control over the motors and can accelerate them up to full speed
independently of the position of the leaves. As soon as they
approach the closed position the control is again taken out of the
operator's hands and is effected automatically by the operation of
other tappet switches, which first slow down the motion of the bridge
to a pre- determined slow speed and then finally stop the motors and
applv the brakes.

Having closed the bridge, the operator can then, but not before,
operate the bolt motors and close the locldng bolts. The bolt
motors, as in the opening operation, stop automatically as soon as the
bolts are closed, quite independently of the position of the master

Fig. 2. — Master Controllers in Operating Cabin. Each of
the small master controllers operates one of the con-
TACTOR PANELS CONTROLLING TWO OF THE MAIN MOTORS. THE
LARGER MASTER CONTROLLER OPERATES THE CONTACTOR PANEL
CONTROLLING THE BOLT MOTORS.

master controller the motor will run at a fixed pre-determined speed,
which is practically unaffected by the wind pressure on the bridge or
other variations in the load.

Operations on Closing.

When the bridge approaches its final open position, the control is
automatically taken out of the operator's hands, the bridge being

FiG.

3. — Contactor Panel controlling the Bolt Motors
which are series wound reversible.

then controlled by tappet switches operated by the bridge leaves.
These tappet switches automatically slow down the bridge to a
very slow speed before it reaches the final position, and iinally stop
it, the brakes being api^lied independently of the operator. The

Fig. 4.— Limiv Switches, showing operation by travel-
ling SCREW TAPPET, WHICH OPERATES THE SWITCHES IN
correct SEQUENCE ACCORDING TO POSITION OF BRIDGE.

controller in the control room. The electrical interlocking is, there-
fore, so arranged that the operator cannot start the main motors
before all the bolts are actually withdrawn, neither can he start
closing the bolts before the bridge is completely closed and the mam
motors stopped.

Conditions at Night.
Durmg the opening and closing of the bridge, the tappet switches
also control indicating lamps on^the indicating board iji the control
room, thereby enabling the operator to see the position of the bridge
even in the dark. A special depth indicator is lised in the control
room for showing the water level in the recesses for receivmg
the counterweights and the tail ends of the leaves in their open
po-sition. This indicator is operated by a lloat and counterweight,
which, through a chain, operates contacts for a voltmeter connected
as in a potentiometer across a variable portion of a resistance which
is permanently connected to the line. Tliis meter is graduated
directly in feet so that the operator can see at a glance the depth of
the water and when he is required to start the sump pumps.

The Electrician — April 21, 1922

473

The Electrical Equipment of the D. R. Cotton Mills.

Modern Methods in Tyre Manufacture.

In an article by Mr. J. T. Randies, which appeared in the 1921
Textile Issue of The Electrician, a reference was made to the
electrical equipment which was being installed in the D. R. Cotton
Mills, Rochdale, of the Dunlop Rubber Company. Through the
kindness of the English Electric Company we are now able
to give some further illustrated particulars of this modem electro-
textile installation.

These miUs, which consist of both spinning and weaving sections,
were built in 1914 to produce the fabric, &c., used in the manufacture

Fig. 1. — 250 h.p. Motor Driving Doubling Frames.

of Dunlop tyres, and during the last two and a half years extensions
considerably larger than the original mills have been added to meet
the growing requirements of the company. Power is obtained
from the Rochdale Corporation, the transmission pressure being
10 000 V (three-phase, 50 periods), and two transformer sub-
stations, 10 000/400 V, are provided in suitable positions, one with
an ultimate capacity of some 10 000 kVA, for supplying the
spinning section and the other of rather smaller capacity for the
weaving section. From the low-tension switchboards in these sub-
stations three-phase feeder cables run to low-tension distributing
switchboards of the ironclad industrial type.

The new spinning mill is a ring spinning and doubling miU of
seven storeys, square in form, covering about three-and-a-quarter
acres. The first flat or basement is arranged partly as a store and
partly as a blowing room, the second flat as a doubling room, the
third, fourth, fifth, and sixth flats as carding and spinning rooms and
the seventh flat as a finishing room.

The Cable System.

Owing to the large power involved (some 9 000 h.p.), the satis-
factory installation of the cables would have been a very difficult
matter unless proper provision was made while the mill was being:
buUt ; the cable sj'stem was, therefore, planned in detail, all fixings,
conduits through walls, &c., being built in as the building proceeded.
The final running of the cables was thus greatly facilitated, and
masons' attendance, cutting away and making good, was reduced
t(j a minimum.

For the main power feeders and distributors it was found
convenient to use only three sizes of cable — 0"3 sq. in., 0*2 sq. in.,
and 0"1 sq. in., all three-core ; in the case of the feeders three or four
0'3 sq. in. cables were run in parallel in preference to using larger
sizes, as above this size the permissible current density per sq. in.
of area is considerably reduced and the cable becomes very unwieldy
from the point of view of installation. Further, this arrangement
permits any feeder to be conveniently duplicated in future if
required. The cables are all paper-insulated, lead-covered and
single-wire armoured, and the armouring is galvanized (left bright)
and provided with a spiral binder wire to keep it in place during
installation. This type of cable, it is claimed, is very suitable
for use in cotton mills, as it is more easily kept clean and free from
fluff than a served or braided cable, and it is unaffected by the
fairly high temperature sometimes found in textile mills. The
cable was manufactured and installed by Siemens Brothers &
Company.

Sub-Stations.

The larger of the two sub-stations referred to above abuts on one
of the staircase towers of the mill, and switchrooms for accommo-

dating the distribution switchgear are incorporated in this tower,
one switchroom being provided for each flat. One of the walls
of the tower is utilised for carrying the main feeder cables from
the sub-station to the various switchrooms. As these cables weigh
nearly 30 lb. per yd. run each, it was necessary to provide secure
means for supporting them in the vertical position, the vertical
run in the case of the seventh flat being approximately 30 yds. To
effect this a horizontal row of cast-iron bricks provided with T slots
was built into the wall at suitable intervals, to which the cables
were fixed by cast-iron clips. This construction has proved very
satisfactory.

Distribution Methods.

The distributor cables which connect the various motors or
groups of motors in the flats with the distribution switchgear in
the switchrooms are carried on " Rigifix " fittings, to which the
cable cleats are bolted. These were incorporated as required in
the reinforced concrete floors of the switchrooms and under the
staircases to the flats, while cast-iron conduits were provided for
the passage of the cables through the mill walls where necessarj'.
In the miU itself the cables are nm on the ceilings of the flats, Ught
beams bridging the lower flanges of the floor girders being provided
to carry the cable cleats. Fig. 3 illustrates this method of supporting
cable runs, which has obviously many advantages over the ordinary
method of cutting holes and grouting in fixing bolts when the
installation is a large one. A separate circuit is provided for every
motor of 70 b.h.p. and upwards, corresponding to a line current
of approximately 100 A or more. In the case of the 50 h.p. motors
referred to below, a group of three motors is supplied from one
distributor, the motors being connected to the cable through link
boxes. Distribution boxes fitted with fuses are only used for
supplying groups of the smallest motors, 20 h.p. and less.

Motor Design.

The motors installed in all the rooms except the basement are of
the pipe-ventilated sHp-ring type, fitted with brush lifting and short-
circuiting gear, the drives being arranged on the group system.
Broadly speaking, there are two systems which may be adopted when
installing motors for group driving in a cotton miU ; that of placing

Fig.

A View Showing Arrangement ok Vbntilatinj
Ducts.

the motors in a separate motor tower or corridor, and that'of placing
the motoi-s on suitable clevateti platforms inside the mill rooms.
In the case of the D. R. Mills, o\ving to the size of the mill and
consequently the number of shafts to be driven in each room,
the former system was not suitable. It was found possible in
adopting the latter system, however, to place all the motors adjacent
to the waUs of the mill, thus, allowing the use of pipe-ventilated
motors provided with ducts to draw cooUng air from out-side ; this-
arrangement eft'ectively avoids the disadvantages which follow

0.74

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

from placing open or protected-type motors in an atmosphere
containing cotton fibre or fluff.

The Card Room Installation.

For the card rooms three standard sizes of motor were adopted,
oO H.p. for driving cards, 70 h.p. for driving roving frame shafts, and
150 H.p. for driving ring frame shafts ; in each card room there are
six 50 H.P., four 70 h.p., and four 150 h.p. motors.

In the case of the roving frame and ring frame shafts, the motors
are direct-coupled through flexible couplings and run at 485 revs.
per min., but the card shafts are driven by laminated leather
belts, the motors being of the three-bearing-bedplate type, running
at 585 revs, per min.

Particular attention was given to the design of the motor supports
to ensure satisfactory alignment between motor shafts and line
shafting and also to enable any motor to be replaced as quickly as
possible if necessary.

The motors were manufactured at the Bradford Works of the
English Electric Company to their standard designs and are fitted
with ball and roller bearings ; the flexible couplings, which are of
the " pin " type, were also made by the same firm. The perform-
ance of these machines up to the present has more than justified
the adoption of the type of motor and drive decided upon.

The control gear for each motor is mounted on the motor staging
alongside its motor and consists of a triple-pole oil switch, interlocked
with an oil-immersed metalhc type rotor starter, the oil switch in
every case being fitted with no- volt and three overload releases and
ammeter. Push buttons for readily stopping any motor in case of
emergency are provided at suitable points in the rooms.

The Doubling Room.

The equipment in the doubling room is similar to that described
above, but the motoi's are each 250 h.p. and are fitted with ring
oiling sleeve bearings.

IP Amongst the illustrations which show typical views of the
installation, special mention may be made of Fig. 4, showing the
individual drive system applied to a doubling frame, one of a number

Fia. 3. — 50 H.p. 3-Bearing Type Motok Driving Carding
Engines. One op 24.

so equipped in one of the weaving sections. These motors are of the
•squirrel-cage type, specially designed for ha-ge pull-out torque,
and drive the frames through clutch coupHngs.

The photographs of motors in the spinning mill were taken very
shortly after erection was completed, and in the case of the 250 b.h.p.
motor. Fig. 1 , ventilating ducts had not been fitted, and the hand-
railing, &c., on some of the motor stagings was not quite completed.
i"Mg. 2 and Fig. '^, however, clearly show the arrangement of the

ventilating ducts, the 50 h.p, motors being arranged to discharge
their cooling air into the room and the larger motors being provided
with an outlet duct in which suitable provision is made for
discharging into the room when required, so that the warm air from
the motors may be utilised in the cold weather to assist in the
heating of the mill.

In conclusion, it may be said that the design of this mill would
have been impracticable but for the electric drive. The miU shows

Fic

1. — 10 H.p. Motor Driving Doobling Frame through
Clutch Coupling.

very decided advances upon the usual design of mill for ring spinning,
and by incorporating electrical driving in the original design it has
been possible to take full advantage of the facilities obtained by the
use of electricity in a manner which can rarely be acliieved when
converting to electrical drive a mill originally built for mechanical
drive.

Electric Traction in Italy.

To mark the holding of the ninth Congress of the International
Railway Association at Rome this week, the " Railway Gazette "
has issued a special Italian Railway number, printed in English
and Italian in parallel columns and forming a complete account of
the history, development, and technical progress of the railway
system in that country. The iijsue is excellently illustrated wiiu
a number of typical views on Italian railways, iunong which we
are glad to see several of electrical interest.

One of the main articles is devoted to the electrification
of the Italian railways, it being recalled that attempts to use elec-
tric traction date back to 1899, when experiments in the hauliige of
trains fitted with accumulators were made on the Bologna-San Felige
and Milati-Monza lines, with direct current on the third-rail system
cm the M ilan-Varcse line, and with overhead wire on the Valtellina
lines. As is well Known, the overhead system has been generally
adopted, and there are now 683 km of State railway electric lines..
mainly double track.

Electric Traction and Coal Economy.

It is estimated that during and since the war the u^e of '.^lectrii-
railways has saved .a million tons of coal, and it is therefore not
surprising to find that an extensive electrification programme is
foreshadowed, and that about 5 116 km will be so worked by 1926.
The lines selected for electrification are tho^e with the heaviest
traflic, though the necessity for an organic and con'iiuious system
has been borne in miiul Taking the e.^isting figures for eoal con-
sumption, it is estimated by the electrification of less than one-
third of the State lines it will be possible to effect a saving of
tn\ o-thirdfi of- the coal necessary for steam locomotion. This, of
course, is due to the fact that tlie electrical energy is practically
entirely obtained from w.ater-nower stations.

It is noted that tliere are difficulties in obtaining electrical equip-
ment, which caiu;ot be ju'oduced in sufficient quantities bv Italian
manufacturers, and the Government does not allow the railways to
})lace contracts abroad.

The Electrician — Afyril 21, 1922

475

The Automatic Control of D.C. Motors.

For certain classes of electric drive the advantages of automatic
in place of hand control, need very little emphasis. For instance a
pumj) maj' be started and sto])ped according to the level of water in a
tank entirely without supervision and without the possibility of the;
motor running a moment longer than is necessary. For other
applications, as for example the control of machine tools, a certain
amount of personal attention — limited to the pressing of one or
more push buttons — becomes necessary. The benefits derived from
automatic control are, however, no less important. In the first
])lace, the automatic system is mistake-proof ; that is, it is
im})ossible, owing to carelessness on the part of the operator, for
either he starter or the motor to become damaged. The corollary
of this is that the operator is freed from any responsibility for
operating in a specified manner an apparatus which he does not
understand, and is thus able to devote himself more completely to the
task in hand, with beneficial effects upon the output. Moreover, the
operations of starting and stopping are so easy that, although the
possibility remains, he is seldom tempted to leave the motor running
unnecessarily and so to waste current. Then, again, automatic
control allows the use of push buttons at the working position, i.e.,
ail waste movement is avoided. The actual control panel, on the
other hand, may be placed in any out of tlie waj'^ corner with
increased safety to itself and a saving of valuable space round the
machines.

Ho much for general features ; in the present article is described a
novel form of automatic starter made up with circuit breaker and
isolator in an ironclad panel as illustrated in Fig. 1. The general
form of the panel is that employed with the hand-opeiated control
gear manufactured by Brook Hirst <v Co., the only difference
being in the starter. But the design of the latter constitutes, it is

claimed, a marked
departure from exist-
ing practice both in
the movement and
the timing.

Design of the Move-
ment.

To appreciate the
value of the first of
these features it is
necessary to have in
mind existing auto-
matic starter move-
ments. These fall
broadly into two
classes, the sliding
contact type and the
contactor type. . The
first of these com-
prises the face plate,
cros^ head and other
forms of starter in
which a single sole-
noid causes a moving
bar or its equivalent
to slide over the sur-
face of a number of
fixed contacts. This
design has the advan-
tage of providing a
large number of start-
ing steps in a com-
paratively simple and
inexpensive form. On
the other hand, owing
to the .sliding move-
ment, there is a ten-
dency for the con-
tacts to become pitted.
With the contactor
type of starter, the
provision of a separate
electrically operated
contactor for each step
tends to limit the
number of steps and
may possibly involve
iniduly high current
peaks. The butt con-
tact whose employment is possible with this design is, in most
respects, ideal, and wlien the initial contact is followed, as it
usually is, by a sliding and self-cleaning movement, the pitting of
the contacts is negligible.

The Solenoid Type Starter.

In the Brook Hirst .solenoid type starter, which it is claimed
combines the advantages of both tj-pes without their disadvantages,
the fixed contacts are of carbon mounted in stamped holders.
Behind each carbon is a spring which en.sures the requisite pres.sure
between the fixed and moving contacts. The moving contacts
consist of a bar actuated by a single .solenoid, but in such a way that
it approaches each carbon with a direct butt movement, so that
contact is established instantaneouslv over the whole area of the

Fig. 1. — Solbnoid Type Vakiaim.!: ^^ieed
Panel (Automatic Acceleration), wiI'h
Ammeter, in Pillar Type Case.

Fig. 2. — The Contacts and Movements in the New Beook
Hirst Starter.

carbon (see Fig. 2\ In the course of its further movement the bar
presses the carbon home into the holder, and subsequently there is a
slight sliding movement which tends to clean the contact surface?.
This action is repeated on each step and, there being one solenoid
only, it is possible to provide economically an ample number of
steps.

The advantages claimed for this movement are several. With
designs emplojdng a sliding contact, there Is a noticeable tendency
when starting up for the starter arm to stick owing to the contacts
becoming pitted. Such a tendency is said to be impossible ^^^th the
design under consideration, and the necessity for constant super-
vision and adjustments is thus avoided. The number of starting
steps being alwajs adequate to the output, the acceleration of the
motor is gradual and it benefits by the elimination of excessive
current peaks. The absence of arcing on the contacts means that
they require renewing at rare intersals only.

The Timing of the Movement.

The timing of the .starter movement is effected by an eddy
current retarder. The solenoid plunger acting through a rack and
train of gears causes an aluminium disc to revolve between the poles
of an electro magnet which is excited by the main armature current.
The eddy currents generated in the disc exercise a brakiiig effect
upon it and upon the plunger. As this effect varies in direct
proportion to the s+arting current, the retarder provides the vital
characteristic of quick starting with light loads, and slow starting
with heavy loads. Unlike the oil da^hpot the retarder is unaffected
by dirt or temperature changes, nor does it continue to exercise a
braking effect when the starter arm is returning to " off." Since
the contact springs also tend to force the arm to the "off" position,
there is, the makers claim, a positive return and no possibility of the
arm sticking on the backward movement. Apart from the auto-
matic variation of the braking effect with the load, it can also be
adjusted for normal starting conditions by regulating the distance
between the poles of the electro magnet.

Reliable Governing Obtainable.

The possibility of governing the movement of the starter electro-
magnetically in" this way, instead of by a dashpot. means a great
increase in reliability. A heavy overload during starting may result
in a complete interruption, temporarily, of the starting operation,
thus avoiding an excessive rush of current such as might
damage the motor. And finally the lack of necessity for constant
attention and adjustment effects a by no means negligible saving
of time on the part of maintenance staff.

The starter is not normally arranged for " inching," though this
may be carried out by the use of the "starter" and "stop" buttons
in sequence. Where, however, the operation is to be an important
function of the starter, a special " inching " device can be employed.
This enables " inching " to be effected without the starter arm

4,76

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

coining into action. The " inching current " can be varied within
prescribed limits bv means of the linksand terminals provided.

Operation on Overload.

It will be seen, then, that the starter is designed to prevcnt'damage
to the motor during starting, since it slows down or interrupts the
starting operation on an overload. Under any given conditions of

load the time in which it will start up
the motor can be predicted, the
element of unreliability being thus
eliminated. Finally its movement
permits an adequate number of
starting steps to be employed while
retaining a butt contact, and the
consequent absence of sparking and
incidental difficulties. As has been
previously indicated, this starter con-
stitutes the central feature of an
ironclad panel which cor prises in
addition a double-pole circu 1 1 breaker
and a double pole isolating switch.
The former, consisting of two mag-
netic blowout contactors and two
solenoid type overload trips, pro-
vides, it is claimed, complete pro-
tection for the motor both during
starting and running. The overload
trips may be adjusted to trip at any
given overload, and they may also, if
desired, be arranged with an adjust-
able timelag, so as to avoid the cir-
cuit being opened by reason of a
momentary excess of current. The
isolating switch, which is fitted in
a sealed compartment w'th external
operating handle, is interlocked with
the doors in such a way that the
latter cannot be opened or left open
unless the isolator is " ofi " and the
p.inel " dead"

Application to Printing Presses.

For certain applications (e.g. to
printing presses) it is not, as a rule,
necessary to effect speed changes at
the work itself, but the speed having
once been set it must be possible to
start; stop, and " inch " the motor
frequently, the speed at each restart
always reaching and finally remain-
ing at the set speed. In such a case
a regulator of the automatic acceler-
ation type provides the desired faci-
lities. In this case the regulator is
adjusted by hand t6 the required
speed, if necessary while the work is
in progress. On restarting, after
normal speed has been reached, the
motor automatically accelerates to
the speed which has been set. The
accelerator bar and contacts which
achieve tliis objt?t also cut out the
whole of the shunt resistance on
stopping, so that on restarting or
" inching " it is not necessary previously to bring the regulator
handle to the " all resistance out " position. ^

Complete Control of Speed.

While for a wide variety of services the speed regulating facilities
outlined above are ideal, there are some conditions where it is
desirable to have complete control of the speed by push buttons at
the working position. For these applications a panel nach as that
illustrated in Fig. 3 is employed. The regulator in this case, is of
the automatic tjrpe, operated by two solenoids, and it is possible
from a convenient push button station to start, stop, " inch,"
accelerate or retard the motor.

It is also possible to employ a third system of speed regulation,
using a constant speed panel as shown in Fig. 1 The regulator can
then be arranged either with a pedestal, as shown, or for wall
mounting, and can thus be placed in close proximity to the
work.

This arrangement is intended for applications where it is necessary
to effect speed adjustments at the work itseli, but not to start and
stop frequently. Each time the motor is .start d or " inched," the
regulator must be brought to the " all resistance out " position, and
when normal speed is again attained the regulator must be readjusted
to give the required speed.

Fig 3. — Solenoid Type
Variable Speed Panel
(Automatic Kbgulation),
WITH Ammeter, in Pillar
Type Case.

Rotary Converters.

We give below an account of the discussion which took place
at Birmingham on Mr. F. 1'. Whitaker's Paper on "Rotary
Converters, with Special Reference to Railway Electrification." An
abstract of the Paper appeared on p. 258 of our issue of March 3.

Mr. R. A. Chattock said that Mr. Whitaker apparently put
efficiency before reUabiUty. To supply station engineers, however,
reliabiUty was of the first importance and railway engineers would
probably think the same. With reliability was wrapped up
simplicity and he was convinced that it woidd be better to sacrifice
1 or 1-| per cent, efficiency if greater reliabihty and simpUcity of
operation could thereby be obtained. Mr. Whitaker had pointed
out how the maximum direct current voltage obtainable increased
with the reduction of the frequency. This was an important point
in favour of 25 periods, as the number of substations required would
be reduced. To run two rotary converters in series meant complica-
tion, especially for automatic operation. He considered that high
speed circuit breakers would cause surges and insulation breakdowns,
unless special steps were taken to prevent voltage rises. Mr.
Whitaker had rather hinted that something was to be gained by
using 50 periods, and he would like to know what that was, as
although the initial cost of low frequency plant might be heavier, it
would not really affect the working results and in other ways it had
distinct advantages. He considered that automatic operation
would be a necessity for railway work, and the initial cost of the
automatic rotary equipment was about double the cost of the
ordinary equipment. This might seriously miUtate against its
adoption when compared with the mercury arc rectifier.

Short Circuit Phenomena Explained.

Dr. M. Kahn said that short circuits were the principal point to
consider in the design of traction rotary converters. When a short
circuit occurred on the direct current side of a rotary protected by
ordinary circuit Ijreakers, the current increased from five to twenty
times normal full load current in about 1 /2 OOOths of a second.
This overload caused a deceleration of the armature, so that a con-
siderable part of the energy given out was supplied by the moving
mass, and not from the alternating current side. This meant that
the alternating current did not increase so rapidly as the direct
current, and thus caused a large increase in the armature
reaction, and the putting out of action of the commutating poles,
unless special precautions were taken. Thus violent sptrking
occurred. When the direct current circuit breaker opened the
heavy current on the direct current side was interrupted. The
voltage between the brush arms rose and a flash over w=i« caused,
partly owing to the unbalancing of alternating current and direct
ciurrent in the armature in the opposite direction from that just
described. At the same time there was a rush of alternating
current, and this caused a considerable increase in the armature
reaction and violent sparking. The phenomena was akin to
hunting, and flash overs might occur in rapid succession until the
machine was cleared on the alternating current side.

Ill-Fitted for A.-G. Traction.

Prof. W. Cramp said that the Paper demonstrated that compared
with the motor converter, the rotary converter was ill fitted for
traction work. The autjjor had omitted all mention of trans-
formers and connections, and he was not sure whether they were
included in the efficiency and power factor curves in the Paper.
The author gave too lew technical data " to make it possible to
criticise his oscillation limits, but it was difficult to see how
distinctions could be drawn between flux pulsation and flux
swinging, and what was meant by saying that reactance tended
to keep the tooth oscillation up so that the tooth ripple need not
exceed J per cent, of the voltage ripple.

The 12-Phase Rotary.

Mr. F. W. Cartee asked whether Mr. Whitaker had considered the
12-phase rotarj', which gave an armature loss of 21 per cent, of that
due to direct current alone, while the 6-phase rotary gave 27 per
cent. The loss m the coils next to the taps was 18 per cent, greater
than the mean in the 12-phase rotary, against 57 per cent, in the
6-phase machine. Ueactance voltage was more uniform, so that the
conditions for commutation would be better, though against this
must be set the disadvantage of having twelve slip rings instead
of six.

A Word for the Rectifier.

Mr. F. FoRRKST considered that the mercury vapour rectifier was
a much more desirable unit for high voltage traction than the rotary
converter. It was more eflicient, cheaper in first co.«t, and perfectly
reliable for a period of years. The modern rotary converter was the
product of twenty 3'ears' experience, while the mercury vapour
rectifier had only been on the market for a comparatively few years.
The maintenance of the proper \acuum was imdoulitedly a proolem,
but that was certain to be overcome. The cost of a fully automatic
rotary converter substation was twice as great as the m^mual con-
trolling, and it was difficult to see how this cost could be justified.

April 21, 1922

The Electrician.

477

Correspondence.

TRANSMUTATION OF ELEMENTS AND ATOMIC ENERGY.

To the Editor oj THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — Notices have recently appeared in both the lay and technical
press referring to the recent experiment of Dr. G. Wendt and
Mr. C. E. Irons of the University of Chicago, in which a temperature
of 50 000°F. is stated to have been obtained and a transmutation
of the tungsten atom into heUum to have been effected.

It would appear that some of the great heat and very intense
light generated should be due, theoretically, not only to the original
energy of the large highly-charged condenser used, but also to the
atomic energy set free in the transformation from tungsten to hehura.

One wishes to suggest that the method which is described as
being employed by these experimenters may also be used to hasten
the disruption of the radium atom.

By using a small tube of tungsten having a very fine bore as the
conductor to be disrupted by a sudden large condenser discharge,
and by enclosing in this bore a small quantity of radium salt, this
material should be caused, one beUeves, to evolve aU its stored
energy in a short time, possibly leaving heUum alone or together
with lead as its sole survivor.

The experiment may be one of very great danger and some form
of remote control gear operated from a distance might be used to
cause the discharge of the condenser, the whole apparatus being
located in a somewhat remote spot to ensure safety to the
surrounding district. Also the possibUity of the spreading of an
atomic disruption, when once started to other masses of matter
in the vicinity should be kept in mind. — Yours, &c.,

Brixton, April 18th. W. J. Riokets.

Metropolitan- Vickers' New Zealand Contract.

We are able to give further particulars of the announcement in our
last issue of- the contract secured by the Metropolitan-Vickers Com-
pany from the New Zealand Government for generators and switch-
gear for the new Mangahao Power Station. This station forms the
first of a series dotted throughout the whole of the North Island,
which will finally be linked up by transmission linee at 110 000 V and
roughly form a ring round the southern portion of the island. The
order includes the supply of three 6 000 kVA and two 3 000 kVA
water-wheel generators working at 11 000 V, three-phase, 50 cycles,
08 power factor, and driven by overhung water-wheels with
horizontal shaft running at 375 revs, per min. Each generator
will have its own direct-driven exciter, and in addition
provision is being made for a stand-by motor-driven exciter,
set so that when necessary the excitation of one or more
generators can be transferred to an auxiliary exciter bus.
Cooling air for the generators will be drawn through a separate
ventilation tunnel, circulation being maintained partly by a separate
blower and partly by the usual fans on the rotor, the blower being
designed to keep 2 in. pressure. The generators are desigtied for an
overspeed of 80 per cent, and will have a regulation of 21 per cent,
at 08 power factor. Provision will be made for sliding the stators
so as to facilitate access to the rotor when necessary for inspection
and cleaning work.

Switch Details.

The current from the generators will be taken through automatic
oil switches of the Metropolitan-Vickers " H.F. 2 " type, through
selector switches to duplicate 11 000 V bus-bars. . Both bus-bars will
be sectionalised in the middle, and this sectionalising is carried out
correspondingly on the 110 000 V bus, so that the whole system can,
if necessary, be split into two entirely independent portions. From
the generating voltage bus-bars supply will be taken through two
12 000 kVA transformer banks to the 110 000 V bus-bars, and
thence to the four outgoing 110 kV feeders. There will be four
local feeders at 11 000 V. The 11 000 V equipment will be located
in a conventional moulded stone cubicle structure. The e.h.t.
switches for controlling the transformer sides will be indoors, while
the isolating switches, oil circuit breakers, and lightning arresters
for the feeder circuits will be accommodated on the roof of the
power station In this way the total ground space occupied is kept
down to the minimum. Each generator and transformer unit will be

frotected by the usual circulating current system, while on the
10 000 V feeders there will be fitted the new Metropolitan-Vickera'
compensated overload relay, which is designed to give an inverse
operating time characteristic with a definite adjustable minimum. In
addition the pairs of feeders will be protected by balanced biased
relays, which will operate in the event of the failure or short-
circuiting of either feeder.

This order marks a definite period in the history of switchgear
development in this country, in that it is, it is claimed, the first
placed for British-built material for so high a voltage. We have
already referred in our columns to the developments which the
Metropolitan-Vickers Company are making in this direction, and at
a later date hope to publish more complete details of the scheme
now referred to.

Mr. Robert McDougall has intimated his desire to defray the cost,
£5 000, of equipping a Radiological I<epart.ment at Manchester
Roval Infirmary as a memorial to his father, the late Mr. Arthur
McDougall

Lancashire Electricity District.

The Electricity Commissioners notify that, having considered the
evidence given at the inquiry held in January last into the scheme
for the establishment of a Sodtii-East Lancashire ELEcTRicrry Board
and the representations made by various bodies for the inclusion in,
01 exclusion from, the district of their respective areas, they have
come to the following conclusions :

The Commissioners entertain some doubt as to whether the pro-
visions by which the Advisory Board will make representations to
constituent authorities, with a right of appeci to the Commissioners,
whose decision (within strictly defined limits) will be binding on
the constituent authorities, will enable sufficiently comprehensive
works to be undertaken. They apprehend that there may be a ten-
dency to proceed by piecemeal extensions of stations and inter-
connecting lines at an ultimate increased cost to the constituent
authorities and the consumers concerned. An Advisory Board may
also experience difficulty in securing supplies in unoccupied areas,
more especially in those contained in the enlarged district south of
the Manchester Ship Canal, for which a Joint Electricity Authority
would be empowered to make provision. In view, however, of the
unanimous support given to the scheme by the authorised under-
takers, and of their strongly expressed opinion that this voluntary
arrangement is the best in the part'cular circumstances of the
district, the Commissioners are prepared to make an Order
embodying the arrangements which the constituent authorities have
agreed to carry out.

Area and Administrative Scheme.

The Commissioners confirm the area provisipnally determined,
subject to the exclusion of the urban districts of Lymm (Cheshire)
and Hay dock (Lanes), both of which are now included in the
Mersey and W. Lancashire district, and the inclusion of the urban
district of Adlington (inadvertently omitted) and of the municipal
boroughs of Buxton and Macclesfield, the urban districts of
BoUington, New Mills and Yeardsley-cum-Whaley, the rural dis-
tricts of Macclesfield, Hayfield and Disley, and the parishes of
Chapel-en-le-Frith, Chinley, Bugsworth and Brownside, Fernilee,
Gieen-Fair field, Hartington-upper-Quarter, Kingsterdale, Peakforest
and Wormhill.

The title " South-East Lancashire Electricity Board is
inappropriate and is liable to be misinterpreted, having regard to
Sec. 8 of the Electric Lighting Act, 1909, and the more appropriate
title would be " South-East Lancashire Electricity Advisory Board."
The number of representatives on the Board is unnecessarily large.
If the authorities in the district are unwilling to reduce the size
of the Board, the Commissioners will be prepared to include in
their Order the proposal submitted in the second schedule to the
amended scheme, subject to certain modifications consequent upon
the agreed representation of the Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and
Dukinfield Tramways and Electricity Board, and upon th©
increased area of the district. Having regard to the representation
to be given to local authorities who are not authorised undertakers,
as provided in the scheme, the Commissioners consider it unnecessary
that county councils should be represented on the Advisorv Board.
The engineer of the Stalybridge, &c.. Electricity Board should be
a member of the Engineering Advisory Committee, but, having
regard to the non-standard frequency of the Stalybridge system he
should be entitled only to attend the meetings of the Committee
when electrical developments and proposals are to be considered
which may affect the area of the Stalybridge Board and the areas
contiguous thereto. The Yorkshire Electric Power Company will
not be required to furnish plans of new works to the Board, but
only to furnish such statistics as may refer to supplies given by
the company within the urban districts of paddlesworth and
Springhead.

Technical Scheme.

The Commissioners approve generally the technical scheme
submitted to them, subject to a provision that modifications thereof
may hereafter be made %vith the approval of the Commissioners.
The scheme includes provision for the giving of advice and
assistance to the Board by the Enginef^ring Advisory Committee
on (inter alia) the adjustment of running hours of the generating
stations in the district in such manner as to secure maximum
economy of production, and on the principles which should govern
the charges to be made by, or between, constituent authorities for
reciprocal, stand-bv and bulk supplies. In the event of disagree-
ment between the Board and any constituent authority th^re is a
right of appeal to the Commissioners, whose decision, subject to
specified reservations, is to be binding on the parties.

Notwithstanding these provisions, the Commissioners are of
opinion that the actual direction of the times and method of work-
inii of inter-connected stations so as to produce the most economical
results will be best effected by an officer of the Board appointed
for that purpose, who would carry out the programme of working
laid down by the Engineering Advisory Committee and approved by
the Board ; "a scheme of control of generating stations following the
above-mentioned lines should be submitted for the approval of the
Commissioners. The Commissioners will include in :he Order a
provision requiring the Bo.ird, within two years frcm the date of
its establishment, to submit proposals for securing a supply in area.s
within the district which are not at that date within the areas of
supply of authorised distributors and in which there is a reasonable
prospect of such supply being remunerative.

478

The Electrician.

April

21, 1922

Political Finance.

Its Devastating Effects on Trade.

The interest for the business man in the Genoa Conference is
not in the wav in which the various delegates are manoeuvring for
position or in' the extraordinary rapidity with which the political
kaleidoscope revolves and changes, but rather in the emergence (f
the long-delayed hope that an economic sense, a return to financial
sanitv, seems" at last to be in prospect.

It will indeed be a strange, if a fitting, conclusion to the mixture
of drama and comedy which goes to make up the history of Europe .'n
the last few years if the Bolsheviks should for a time occupy the
centi-e of the stage and complete their mission, giving to the world
one brief, great, and awful demonstration of the utter futility of
what may be described as "political finance." These madmen, at
the frightful cost of millions of their own people, have already
given to humauity an object lesson of the result of infringements
of economic law, from which the world of the future must derive
untold benefit, and if now they add to their ruthless exposure of the
idiocy of communism a practical demonstration of the impossibility
of the economic war, they may be recognised in centuries to come as
important constructive factors in the development of civilisation.

The Object of the Genoa Conference-

Th© Genoa Conference is assembled to discuss economic questions
and to debate once again how much money certain countries shall
pay and how much other shall receive, a discussion, the absurdity
and impracticability of which I have never ceased to argue. Trade,
industry rnd commerce cannot again resume the full measure <f
their service to mankind until the politicians cease meddling with
the medium of exchange. So long as political conferences continue
to discuss the allocation of large sums of money between different
nations and different parties, so long will money fail to exercise its
proper functions, and so long will trade and commerce remain
almost an impossibility.

The difficulty is that politicians, like, indeed, most human beings,
have the flimsiest conception of the character of this thing calle<l
money, about which they talk so glibly and decide so lightly. If
the Prime Ministers of Europe were to collect all the violins in
existence and distribute them among professors of mathematics, they
would be acting with about as much sense as when they attempt to
settle political problems through the medium of exchange. Money is
a medium of exchange which was created and perfected by com-
mercial men for the purposes of commerce ; it has no real use except
in connection with the exchange of commodities ; it ceases to be
money when it fails to represent realities. The trouble is that the
machinery of exchange has been brought to such a pitch of scientific
perfection that it is possible for people for whose use it was never
intended, like gamblers or politicians, to get hold of it and use it
for purposes for whjfh it is utterly unsuitable; and the worst of it is
that in so using it the politicians or gamblers cannot avoid the
exercise of a very damaging influence upon all those who are con-
.cerned in the use of money for its proper and legitimate purposes.
We are gradually learning our lesson; the next generation will
accept as an article of faith the unalterable truth which this genera-
tion is not yet quite able to see — that, the divorce of money from
exchange is a crime, and the worst form of crime, inasmuch as H
damages not only those immediately concerned in its perpetiation.
but every human being in existence at the time that it is done.
There is no difference between some of the decisions of the Allied
Conference and the realm of finance and Kruger's historic demand
for moral and intellectual damage.

The true import of Kruger's innovation was not realised at the
time because he was dealing in very small figures; but when thf
Bolsheviks put forward a claim for £1 500 000 000, the essential
fallacy of the whole business becomes apparent. The error is ct
bottom exactly the sam.e as that contained in such proposals as the
capital levy, or work, or maintenance, and 1:; seen in a slightly
different form in the iniquity of the printing press.

Ad Impossible Situation.

The business man, who as a business man is not in the least
concerned with the political maiicieuvres at Genoa, can see these
things a little more clearly than the general public. Por instance,
if it is right and proper that Czecho-Slovakia, which may, without
offence, be described as the Ireland of Austria, should receive
financial consideration in respect of the part which it played in the
war, there can surely be no objection to interpretang in terms of
money the service rendered in the same cause by the Kussian steam-
roller. The truth is, of course, that neither case can be settled on a
cash basis. The absurd results which have already accrued from this
attempt to assess war claims in the medium of exch.ange are demon-
strated for the benefit of all who care to study the matter of the
present price of money in Central Europe.

I journeyed through six counti'ies a f<»w weeks ago, and changed
sovereigns for 48 francs in Franco, 55 francs in Belgium, and 850
marks in Germany, but the gross stupidity of it all is illustrated
still better by the position of the old Austrian crown. The same
crown which a few years ago was worth, roughly. Is., stood in
Austria proper at 32 000, in Hungary at 3 500, and in Czecho-
slovakia at 320. The difference between 32 000 and 320 was imt even
a difference of form, the same piece of papei serves for both crowns,
the mere addition of a red ink stamping impressed to the order of
the politicians makes one paper chit worth 320 and the other wortli
32 000.

If the traveller will board the Ostend-Constantinople express,
which now runs daily, he can drink a cup of coffee out of the same

pot, or eat a slice of meat off the same joint, without even changing
his seat, and pay nine or ten different prices for the same article, the
price being regulated by the country into which the train happens
to have wandered. I know of no illustration which more graphically
exposes the impossibility of the situation.

The Germans and the Bolsheviks may have been guilty of
treachery, they may be devoid of all sense of honour in negotiation,
they may be unworthy to sit at the same conference table with more
orthodox diplomats. These are questions of which I am no judge ;
but in deciding, as they appear to have done, to wipe out between
themselves all indemnities, all reparations, and all sums of money
which do not represent exchange for value given, they have set an
example which, sooner or later, the rest of us, although we may not
yet have reached a state of mind in which we are prepared to realise
it, will be bound to follow.

We are now nearer than ever to the happy day when money aiKl
finance will be understood as the special province of the business
man : when the world will understand that war has nothing to do
with business, and that the machinery of business cannot be made to
clear up the messes of war ; the two things are as wide apart as the
poles. When we have learnt that lesson, and it seems as if we ai'e
now beginning to do so, trade, commerce, industry, and all that
makes for civilisation, will once more resume their beneficient service
to mankind. E. J. P. B.

Grampians Electricity Supply Scheme.

Some progress has been made by the Grampians Electricity Bill,
which has now passed its second reading in the House of Commons,
and it will probably come before a Select Committee in the first
week in j\Iay. The promoters (The Hydro-Electric Development
Company) have made arrangements with some of the petitioners
against the Bill, and negotiations are being conducted with other
opponents.

For some time informal discussions have been proceeding between
the promoters and representatives of Dundee Corporation in regard
to the proposals submitted by the Company. These included an
offer by the Company to pay the Corporation £25 000 per annum to
cover annual charges for sinking fund and interest on the capital
expended on the power station, and to supply electricity at £3 7s. 6d
per annum per kW of maximum demand up to a maximum of
25 000 kW, plus 0'2d. per unit delivered, all demands above the
maximum to be supplied at £3 5s. per annum per kW, plus 0'2d.
per unit. The agreement would be for a period of twenty years,
each party to have a right to call for the revision of charges at the
end of five years. The Corporation should grant a lease to the
Company of Carolina Port Station at a rent of £25 000 per annum,
and the Company would supply the whole of the electrica.l require-
ments of the Corporation in bulk from the station, or partly from
the station and partly from certain sub-stations. tlie Corporation
guaranteeing a maximum demand of at least 12 000 kW.

The suggested agreement contained other conditions, but at a
special meeting of Dundee Town Council last week it was decided,
on the motion of Mr. R. F. Sturrock. convener of the Electricity
Committee, to i-eject the Company's offer as the inducements offered
were not sufficiently favourable to the Corporation.

Oswestry's Electricity Charges.

The application of the Oswestry Eleci-ric Light & Power Co.
for power to increase their maximum charges for electricity from 8d.
to Is. 3d. per unit was the subject of an inquiry last week by Colonel
T. C. Ekin, a commissioner appointed by the Electricity Commis-
sioners. Opposition was offered by the Corporation and Oswestry
Traders' Association. For the Corporation, the Town Clerk pro-
tested that the company had already increased its charges to the
maximum amount now asked for without sanction having been given.
and that for the past three years consumers had had to pay more
than the statutory price authorised by the company's Provisional
Order. The maximum price now asked for was in excess of the
charge for electricity in other towns in the district. It was important
that the period for any increase, if granted, should not exceed three
years. Firstly, because it was reasonable to suppose that the cable
from Dolgarog, No- th Wales, would be laid in Oswestry before the
end of next year, when the price for current in the town would be
2d. per unit or less. Secondly, because the Corporation had the
power to acquire the undertaking in 1929. at the then fair market
value, subject to a payment in addition to the value of the works
of a sum equal to the net profits of the undertaking for the then
preceding three years. If this increased maximum charge was
sanctioned, enabling the company to charge this maximum during
the last three years, it might cause the price to be paid by the
Corporation to be a sum considerably in excese of the actual value
of the work and plant.

IMv. W. K. MiNSiiALL, for the company, said there had been no
profiteering, and the increase alre,).dy made in the charges was not 'n
any way in proportion to the increased cost. The charges (net) in
1914-15 for light was 64d. per unit, raised in 1921 to a net charge
of Is. 2|d., an increase of 111 per cent. On the other hand, tno
costs had increased 244 per cent. He hoped the Commissioners would
grant the application, and make it retros)>ective to 1918.

The Commissioner : Tliat is quite impossible. No order can be
made retrospective.

Alderman E. Bremer Smith, engineer to the company, said he
was sorry to hear that. If they had to reimburse what they had
o«ercharged the last three years it would come to over £8 000. Their
capital was only £8 000. and it would mean that the company must
go into liquidation.

April 21, 1922

The Electrician.

479

The Societe des Ingenieurs-Civils de France.

In his presidential address to the British Section of the Societe
DES Ingenieurs-Civils de France last week, at the Institution of
Mechanical^ Engineers, London, Mr. W. Noble Twelvetrees said
that the essential objecte of the British Section were to provide
for the establishment of closer relations between members resident
in different parts of Great Britain and the British Empire, and to
encourage professional and friendly intercourse between French
and British engineers gerierally. The first President of the British
Section was Mr. C. H. Wordingham (Past-President of the Institu-
tion of Electrical Engineers). The Section was formed soon after
the war, and at its first meeting it was pointed out that it might
help towards the attainment of intercourse between French and
British engineers by drawing into the ranks of the French Society
as many members as possible of the engineering institutions in this
country, and, at the same time, by working for the recruiting of
French engineers as members of British engineering institutions.
The first of these suggestions had met with a most promising
response, for the membership of the Section was now approxi-
mately three times that existing at the date .when the Section was
formed. Further, the membership was thoroughly representative
of all classes of engineers, and included, in addition to Mr. Word-
ingham, Mr. Roger T. Smith and others on the electrical side. The
suggestion that French engineers should be invited to offer them-
selves for membership of Briti.sh institutions was one that the
Section would gladly at-
tempt if the idea were
approved by the institu-
tions concerned. One diffi-
culty which had in the
past prevented many
young French engineers
from joining British insti-
tutions was that the
qualifications for associate
membership usually in-
cluded the passing of
examinations or the pos-
session of an approved
diploma or certificate
exempting candidates
from examination. It
was desirable, therefore,
that the equivalence of
French and British en-
gineering diplomas and
certificates should be de-
termined, with the object
of preparing a list of
French qualifications
which would be accepted
by British engineering
institutions, in every case
with due regard to special
requirements, as exempt-
ing candidates wholly or
in part from the examina-
tions prescribed.

be federated together in the Grand Council of the whole engineering
body of this country. During the war a Committee of the Con-
joint Board of Scientific Societies was formed, under the chairman-
ship of Sir Robert Hadfield, which made great efforts to acquire
the site of the old Stationery Office for the purpose of erecting a
central building for the engineering institutions of the country.
He (Mr. Wordingham) was a member of that committee. The site
in question was the only one that would have enabled a joint
building to be erected in conjunction with the existing buildings of
t..e Institutions of Civil and Mechanical Engineers, which it was
felt were too recently erected to think of abandoning, and also it
was felt that such a joint building should be in Westminster, the
office home of engineers. The Government, however, would not part
with the site.

A Central Library.

Not the least of the many advantages of such a scheme would be
a central library, to which could easily be attached a bureau «>f
technical information, because at the present time there was a
lamentable waste of effort in connection with the abstracting of
articles of an engineering and technical nature. As to co-operation
with other countries, he advocated a start with the Allied nations.
Also, it was' important that British firms should take French pupils,
and that the qualifying examinations of British and French institu-
tions should be rearranged, so that a British engineer, having
passed the qualifying examination for an institution in this count)

would be accepted at

On Mr. Matthews' Farm ?

The

Work of
Section.

the

"Oh, Sib, something has gone wrong with the electric milker,
and one of the cows has got charged with electricity."

(By kind permission of the proprietor- of '" Punch.")

Dealing with the work
of the Section, Mr. Twelvetrees said the President of the
Section had represented the parent Society at various meetings
and functions of engineering institutions and societies in
London and the provinces, and arrangements had been made
with engi.neering firms in Lorraine to accept a few British engineer-
ing students for periods of three months during the summer, so that
some experience might be gained of French engineering practice.

After dealing with the intcichanges between French and British
engineers, and euggestina that they might be more frequent, the
President said it appeared to him that if the engineering institutions
on both sides of the Channel were once effectively organised, the
next step should be the formation of a Franco-British committee,
whose special business it would be to consider all possicie means
of bringing into closer touch the engineers of the two nations. Such
a scheme could well be spread to other countries, and he mentioned
that an American Section of the Society des Ingenieurs-Civils de
France had been formed.

In response to an invitation from the President to express their
views on this question of co-operation and federation, a number of
engineers took the opportunity to do so.

Difficulties of Co-operation.

Mr. C. H. Wordingham said there were serious diflRculties in the
way of producing a workable scheme for the federation of engineer-
ing institutions in this country, mainly due to the jealousies and
opposition of the smaller societies, who felt they should not be left
out. Whilst he agreed that they should not be left out, it was not
practicable that all of them could be represented on a central body
directly. Therefore he suggested the grouping together of these
smaller societies so far as they dealt with a particular branch of
engineering, and then federating the groups representing that
branch under a main institution. The main institutions could then

once as a member of a
similar French institution
and vice versa.

Captain H. Riall
Sankey (Past-President,
In.stitution of Mechanical
Engineers) said that pro-
gress had been made at
the conference between
the Institutions of CiviJ,
Mechanical, and Elec-
trical Engineers and
Naval Architects, and
that details of a scheme
of co-operation would be
published before long.

Mr. W. H. Patch ELL
referred to the intention
of the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers to
hold its summer meeting
in Paris this year, and
said that the latest infor-
mation made him rather
doubt whether the Insti-
tution would be able to
carry out its intention,
because the prices charged
by hotel-keepers in Paris
were rising so enormously
Whilst he upheld the
principle of federation,
he did not think that we
in this country could get

_^ I anything approaching the

federation that existed in
America, which would be
altogether too unwieldy for us, and he believed it would soon be too un-
wieldy for America. He believed the tendency in all countries in future
would be for the engineering institutions to" pay more attention to
men than materials. He agreed with Mr. Wordingham as to the
amount of money misspent in abstracting, notwithstanding which
it was impossible to get decent absti acts.

The next meeting of the British Section will be held in June,
when the projected lateral canal to the Rhine will be discussed.

The Stylolectric Pen.

The STYLOLEcrRic Pen, which has recently been on view at
Selfridges, is a most attractive and useful device. It is no larger
than a fountain pen, and is so insulated that neither the user
nor the material can be harmed. Only the point of the
pen is heated, the holder never even gets warm. For use, it
simply has to be attached to any ordinary electric light socket. It
operates equally well on any voltage — a.c. or d.c. circuit — and its
heat can be regulated to any degree. For marking wooden packing
cases, leather goods, tennis balls, &c. , it is invyiuable, and is
becoming recognised in the jewellery and electri' a1 trades as the
smallest, eflRcient, self-heating soldering iron. .\s a cauterising
instrument it is also finding favour with doctors With the aid or
coloured transfer papers, which are supplied by tue makers, the Post
Electric Company, New York, artistic patterns in colour can be
burnt into materials of every kind, including hard rubber, bakelite
paper, celluloid, &c.

An ELECTROPHONE has been installed in Sefton Park Presbyterian
Church, Liverpool, to assist deaf members of the congregation to
hear the sermons. A receiver has been placed in the puTpit, and
from this wires are laid along the aisles and into certain pews.

480

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

Mr. Gillott and Domestic Electricity.

We understand that, owing to reorganisation, Mr. W. A. Gillott
16 relinquishing his position as sales manager and engineer with the
Jackson Electric Stove Company.

Mr. Gillott is well known throughout the electrical industry as
a champion of the cause of electric cooking and heating, but it is
only those who have his intimate acquaintance who are aware of
the enormous amount of work he has put in in enlightening engi-
neers and consumers alike as to the advantages of usmg electricity
for these purposes. A few more engineers of his experience and
energy on the domestic side of our industry are necessary, and we
hope that Mr. Gillott at least will not be lost to that field.

Mr. Gillott, after serving his apprenticeship with the Electrical
Company, in 1906 joined the staff of the Newcastle-on-Tyne Electric
Supply Company a« assistant engineer for the design, erection, and
maintenance of high-tension transmission lines, low-tension net
works, and sub-station equipment. In 1910 he entered the con-
sumers' and development department of the company and concen-
trated his attention on propaganda work for the extended use cf
electricity. So successful were his activities that it was necessary
in three months to erect a new sub-station in what had been a.i
unprofitable residential area in order to handle the increasins;
demand. In 1912 he was given a free hand to establish and work
a department, with showrooms, to test the possibilities of develop-
ing the heating and cooking load over the whole area of the com
pany, some 1 500 sq. miles.

]Nothing more need be said on this point except that at the time
of his leaving the company in 1920 its heating and cooking load was
15 000 kW, and was an entire financial success. It will be remem-
bered that Mr. Gillott was invited by the late Lord Rhondda to
take control of the electrical work for the National Kitchens and
Restaurants of the Ministry of Food, and held the position until
the Department closed shortly after the Armistice. Since his con-
nection with the Jackson Electric Stove Company in 1920 Mr.
Gillott has given close attention to the design of electrical and
heating apparatus of all descriptions, a particularly interesting
piece of work for which he was responsible being the equipment
which is installed in the Great Northern Railway dining cars. Mr.
Gillott has been closely connected with the Electrical Development
Association since its formation, and is at present a member of the
Council and of the E.xecutive, Domestic, and Publicity Committees.

Mr. Gillott's present address is " Dunsinane," Hadley-road, New
Barnet, Herts.

Guarantees Under the Trade Facilities Act.

A White Paper was issued last week containing a statement of
the guarantees which the Treasury stated its willingness to give
up to March 31 last. The total is £14 958 145, and includes :—

South-Eastern and Chatham Railway Company, £6 500 000 (25
years). Electrification of suburban lines.

Underground RAILVi^\y, £5 000 000 (50 years). Enlargement of
tunnel of the City and South London Railway, improvement of
stations and provision of new rolling stock, and extension of London
Electric Railway from Golder's Green to Edgware.

Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, £500 000 (25 years ;
redeemable after 15 years). Purchase and installation of additional
generating plant and buildings, additional high-tension cables and
transformers, and additional direct-current mains.

Kent Electric Poweh Company, £15 600 (20 years). Provision
of mains, transforming apparatus, and station plant.

Mtnehead Electric Supply Company, £4 500 (25 years). Provi-
eion of generator and overhead mains.

Wireless on Fishing Vessels.

The Fishery Board for Scotland draw a* cation to an article on
the use of wireless on board B'rencji fisidng vessels which appeared
in the Bulletin of the Oceanographical So<:iety of France dated
Jan. 15 last. Despite the interruption due to the war, considerable
progress appears to have been made in the extension of this means
of communication to the French fishing fleet, as in the space of
ten years wireless apparatus has been installed on some 200 vessels.
In order to have the messages from the fishing vessels transmitted
as rapidly as possible, the French postal authorities have them tele-

f (honed direct from the coast wireless station to the owners. La
lochelle is the only fishing port of importance which is not yet
provided with a wireless station, althougn almost forty trawlers of
that port are equipped with wireless. At St. Pierve and Miquelon
there is not yet a sufficiently powerful coast etatio. , but an up-to-
date apparatus with a radius of 600 miles is expected lo l>e put in
commission during next season.

British Electrical Orders from Calcutta.

Orders for electrical plant, amounting in value to £500 000,
are being placed with British engineers by the Calcutta Electricity
Corporation under a Trade Facilities Act guarantee. Contracts in
connection with this scheme, totalling about £250 000, have already
been placed. Among firms to secure ord-^s are, states the " Indus-
trial Daily News, the English Electric Company, for a
15 000-kW turbo-generator; Stirling Boiler Company, Glasgow, for
60 000 lb. boilers ; the British Thomson-Houston Company, for trans-
formers; Hicks, Hargreaves & Company, of Bolton, for condensing
plant; knd Henley's Telegraph Works, for cables.

" Caeg " Miners' Electric Lamps.

Owing to pressure on our space we were unable last week to give
more than a few particulars regarding the visit, on the 8th inst. ,
of members of the Midland Institute of Mining, Civil and
Mechanic.\l Engineers to the works of the Caeg Miners' Lamps
and Supply Company at Barnsley. The party were shown all over
the works, which occupy about three acres and employ some 300
workpeople, and saw the lamps in their various stages of manu-
facture.

The lamp consists of three main component parts, the accumulator,
accumulator holder or body, and lamp-holder. The holder and body
of the lamp are, in the main, made of a high-grade steel, the cj'lin-
drical portion being made from solid drawn tubes cut tnto correct
lengths and slotted at the top. The base of the body and shoulder
and top of the lamp-holder are stamped from sheets and pressed
to shape in 60-ton presses, as are the brass contacts and brass lock-
ing arrangement. The base of the case is then spot-welded to the
cylindrical portion of the body; at the same time the shoulder and
top of the lamp-holder are assembled, using the four guards protect-
ing the glass globe as rivets. The assembled body and lamp-holders
are then pickled and tinned. To the body the brass guide ring is
riveted, all brass parts being machine made to gauge.

The accumulator portion of the lamp is assembled at Barnsley,
but the plates are made by the company at their Lancashire works.
The plates are of cylindrical form for the hand lamps and flat for
the cap lamps, in which case the accumulator is carried strapped
to the miner's back.

The positive plates are die cast in cylindrical form and are then
pasted. The negative plates are produced by rolling, being bent
to shape and burnt to form a cylindrical plate. After placing the
plate in the celluloid containers and fitting the top, the whole is
placed in a small lathe and the top chamfered to ensure as flat a
joint as possible when the cementing strip of celluloid is placed in
position. This also facilitates dismantling the cell. On com-
pletion of the cell it is filled with standard battery acid and given
three forming charges, the acid removed and Jellac substituted, and
two further forming charges given. It is claimed that Jellac only
reduces charging effect by 1 per cent.

All bulbs are tested for c.p. before assembly, 5 per cent, by grease
spot photometer and standard, the remainder by comparison with
a sub-standard, visually. One per cent, of all bulbs purchased are
run continuously until burnt out under artificial working conditions
(i.e., in periods of 8 hours, with intervals of 8 mine.), hence the
life of a lamp is approximately found. This is claimed to be 500-
600 hours. The glass of all lamp bulbs is tested for stresses by
a polariscope. Any showing stress of any kind are rejected.
The life of cells is also tested by repeated charge and discharge
through a lamp. Contacts in the lamp are tested for wearing by
clamping the lamp to a bench and the lamp-holder to an oscillating
arm, the oscillations per hour of which is known.

Charging stands are made by the company, also charging con-
tacts, racks, and resistances for charging boards. All drilling of
component parts is done by jig, thus ensuring interchangeability. In
addition to the standard type of lamp made of tinned steel, this type
is also made up in brass, copper, and, for presentation purposes, in
silver. Smaller types of lamps are made for official use, having
cells running for 7 hours. These are, however, of a special pattern.
All lamps are fitted with either magnetic locks or the old type of
lead rivet, whichever is preferred.

Ban on Non-union Labour.

We regret to notice that the question of connecting consumers'
premises which have been wired by non-union labour has been
raised once more. On this occasion Chelmsford has been selected by
the Electrical Trades Union as the place for putting a ban on work
not executed by union men, for they claim to bar any of its members
from connecting up to the mains of the local supply company (the
Electric Supply Corporation) premises which have been wired by
non-union workers.

The dispute raises points of great importance to the industry, and
it has now beer referred to the Nation<al Joint Industrial Cfouncil
for the Electricity Supply Industry. When the E.T.U. delegates
placed a ban on the connection of the premises the matter was
referred to the District Industrial Council, but as the trade union
representatives were unable to remove the veto, the employers' repre-
sentatives on the Council withdrew in a body, and the matter is now
one for the National Council.

American Steam Turbine Tests.

According to the " Electrical World," recent tests made on the
60 000 kW cross-compound, triple-cylinder steam turbine installed
in 1918 at the Soventy-fourth-street station of the Interborough
Rapid Transit Company, show that a steam consumption of 11 lb.
per kWh can be obtained under normal conditions. With the
high-pressure turbine and one low-pressure turbine in service the
lowest consumption was 1125 lb. per kWh. When operating in
tliis wav the consumption is l)ettt'r than that for the complete set
at loads l>elow 25 000 kW. The 60 000 kW turbine is of the West-
iiighouse tyi>e, and consists of one high-pressure and two low-pressure
elements, each element driving a separate generator. The normal
steam pressure at the throttle is 220 lb. absolute, with a super-
heat of 150 deg. Fah., and the machine exhausts into a vacuum of
29 in. roforred to a 30 in. barometer at 581 deg. Fah. The speed
of all tliree element* is 1 500 revs, per min.

April 21, 1922

The Electrician.

481

The "Briarton" Washer.

Arton & Walton, the manufacturers of the " Briarton " washing
machine, claim that it washes, boils, rinsee and wrings the clothes
at a running coet of under 2d. per hour with electricity at 8d. per
unit, and that a day's wash can be completed in an hour and a
half. The firm have had fourteen years' experience in the design
and manufacture of such machines, and the designer of the
" Briarton " was closely associated with the design and manufacture
of the greater part of the machinery installed by the British War
Office in the huge laundry at Etaples, near Boulogne, which washed
the clothes of the British Army during the War.
The " Briarton " is fitted with a special gas burner and air blast

apparatus which reduces
the time required for boil-
ing the clothes to a mini-
mum when compared with
the older and less eflBcient
form of burner with which
some foreign machines are
fitted.

Special attention is called
to the capacity of the
power-driven reversible and
swivelling wringer. Its
1 5 in. long by 2 in. diameter
best quality rubber rollers
are claimed to be of 50 per
cent, greater capacity than
many machines now on the
market, and the largest
household articles in the
wash can be comfortably
wrung.

Ihe washing cylinder is
20 in. diameter by 20 in.
long, and is built up of
heavy gauge perforated
zinc ^ sheet with tinned
brass ends. It has five
hardwood rubbers and lifters, and is rust and verdigris proof,
and runs in antifriction bearings. The motor is totally
enclosed and of ample capacity (^ h.p.). It runs on ball bearings
and drives the machine direct through the special design of friction
clutch which prevents overloading. It can be arranged for any
voltage, either d.c. or a.c. circuit. There are no belts to stretch
and slip. The speed-reduction box contains all gears except bevel
gears driving the wringer. All fast running gears are machine cut,
with helical teeth, and run continuously in an oil bath. The
bearings are arranged for automatic and continuous lubrication.
The control is by one switch and two levers only. The washing
compartment and wringer may be driven together or separately, as
desired. The floor space occupied is only 2ft. lOin. by 2ft. 3in.

The "Bri.\rton" Washer.

The "Creda" Kettle Protector.

A patent safety device to prevent the possibility of a kettle boiling
dry hae recently beem put on the market by the Credenda Conduits
Company. The device, which can be fitted to all " Creda " kettles
and water boilers, automatically cuts off the current when the wat©r

The " Creda " Kettle Protector.

is exhausted. The arrangement of the spring connector makes it a
simple matter to disconnect the article from the supply, it only being
necessary to press a flat spring, ^vhich releases the connector, thus
preventing any damage to the flexible cord.

The device, which we illustrate, functions as follows : — A tube
containing a special metal is fixed between the heating elements and
the bottom of the utensil. From the end of the tube projects a
small knob, which is allowed to come forward and upward as soon
as the article reaches a certain temperature. The sockets of the
connector are fitted with spiral springs which are compressed by the
terminals on the article, and the connector is prevented from flying
off by means of a flat spring, the end of which engages with the
protector knob. When the kettle is boiled dry the protector knob
releases the connector, and cuts off the current. Immediately the
device has functioned it automatically re-sets itself and the article
is again ready for use.

A New Line of Motors.

Fig. ] represents a new line of motors which the LoNDoy ELEf.TBic
Firm are now manufacturing in sizes from \ to 10 h.p,, the

smaller ones being
bipolar, and the
larger machines
having 4 poles.
The frames are
of cast iron with
steel poles, and
the bearings a re ring
oiled (except where
ball bearings
are used). The
design and c o n-
struction are on
the most modem
lines through-
out. One of
these machines
was coupled
to a dynamo
of the fir m 8
make, to gene-
rate the current
supplied to the
Pilot House ."Search-
light, which was
such a feature at the recent Shipping, Engineering and Machin*"^
Exhibition at Olympia.

In numerous cases where the speed must be reduced for eflBcien \
driving, the firm
make worm re-
duction gears, as
shown in Fig. 2.
This is a totally
enclosed gear, pro-
vided with east-
iron oil bath cas-
ing. The worm is
of special high
grade steel, and
runs in ball journal
bearings, and is
also fitted with ball
thrusts. The wheel
is of phosphor
bronze, accurately
bobbed. A u t o -
matio lubrication
is provided, and
any reasonable
ratio of gear can
be given. Many
sizes are made.

Fig. 3 shows the
special flexible
coupling made by
the Company for
coupling dynamos
and motors to-
gether. Laminated

metal links are used to comiect the flanges, no perishable materia
being employed. It is claimed to be specially suitable for coupling

Fig. 3.

motors, to reduction gear, pumps, blowers, hoists, etc., and is made
in a comprehensive range of sizes.

The war memorial tablet to the memory of employees of the
Westminster Electric Supply Corporation was unveiled on Wed-
nesday, the 12th inst., by the chairman, Capt. E. I. Bax.
B 3

Chinese Notes.

The Civil Governor of Chihli has reported to the Ministry of Agri-
culture and Commerce that the establishment of the Pettaiho
Coastal Hydro Electric Company by Chu Chih-chien will do no
harm to the place.

The original Chinese Merchants' Electric Light Company, at
Chungking, has been advised by the authorities to purchase new
machinery and to take immec^iate ste{>s to reorganise the company
on a more profitable and efficient basis. Preparations are proceeding.

482

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Electricity^ (Supply) Bill.

This Bill has now been through the House of Lords and hae been
read a first time in the House of Commone.

On the Report stage in the Lords, the Earl of Bessborough
moved an amendment to Clause 1, providing that when the amount
to be borrowed by a joint electricity authority exceeds £100 000 an
order by the Electricity Commissioners should be provisional only,
and should not have effect until it had been confirmed bv Parliament.

Viscount Peel said that the effect of the amendment would be
that joint electricity authorities could not borrow at all. They
would be bound hand and foot, and so would the Electricitv Com-
missioners because nothing could be done without '^oing through
a course 01 procedure whic6 would involve tremendous delay. Local
authorities at present could borrow millions from the Electricity
Commissioners, but if they joined together and wanted to borrow
they could not borrow more than £100 000 without going through
a most extraordinary elaborate procedure. However, he proposed
the following amendment : — " A scheme constitutinir a joint elec-
tricity authority shall fix, with reference to the estimated capital
expenditure of the authority, the maximum sum which may be
borrowed by the authority, and the authority shall not have power
to borrow under this section sums in excess of the amount to
specified unless authorised to do so by subsequent special order."

To Clause 15 (Limitation on prices charged) an amendment was
made, on the motion of Viscount Peel, providing that if there was
a deficiency in revenue in any year, such deficiency should be
divided among the members of the joint electricity authority who
took pupply, and who v/ould pay in accordance with the number
of units supplied. Those who did not take a supply of electricity
would not oe called upon to make good any of the deficiency.

Lord Bessborough withdrew his amendment, and Lord Peel's
amendment was agreed to.

Telephone Service .

Sir H. Brittain asked the Postmaster-General (House of Com-
mons, April 11) whether, with a view to popularising the trunk
system, he was prepared to give instructions for time to begin to run
when communication had been established with the individual re-
quired, and not, as at present, when the number asked for had been
obtained ?

Mr. Kellavv^ay : I regret that I am unable to entertain this pro-
posal, which would involve a considerable increase in the number
of trunk lines and operators, and would virtually convert all trunk
calls into what are known in the United States as " particular per-
son " calls, where an extra charge of 25 per cent, or 50 per cent. :s
made for this service.

Sir_H. Brittain asked whether the Postmaster-General was aware
that in many instances it was impoesible for a tenant to obtain a
lease for a full period of twelve months ; that a telephone contract
must be undertaken for the minimum period of one year; and
whether he could see his way to modify such a contract in the case
of those desiring a telephone service, but whose tenancy did not
hold good for that length of time?

Mr. Kellaway • Where service is required for a short period, .t
can be provided on payment of a proportionate rental plus the cost
of providing and recovering the necessary wires and apparatus or
at a year's rental, whichever is the less.

Replying to Lieut. -Colonel Willey, in the House of Commons on
April 12, Mr. Kellaway said that he understood the system of
reversal of trunk telephone charges in the United States was only in
connection with " person to person " calls. It had not been
practicable as yet to introduce a service of " person to person "
calls in this country, but when the numerous trunk lines now in
course of construction were completed further consideration would
be given to the matter.

Yorkshire Electric Powei Bill.

The Yorkshire Electric Power Bill, which provides for altera-
tion in and addition to the capital of the company, passed its third
reading in the House of Lords last week.

Institution of Civil Engineers Awards.

The Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers l^ave made the
following awards for papers read and discussed during the
session 1921-22 :—

Telford Medals to Sir Henry Fowler (Derby), Mr. H. N, Gresley
(Doncaster), and Mr. H F. Parshall (Ivondon) ; a Watt Medal to
Mr. William Willox (London) ; an Indian Premium to Mr. F. G.
Royal-Dawson (London) ; Telford Premiums to Mr. A. W. Rendell
(Bournemouth), Mr. W. F. Stanton (Chile), and Mr. A. C. Walsh
(Chile).

The awards for papers printed, without discussion, in the " Pro-
ceedings " for this session will be announced in the autumn.

The Council have also made the foll'^wing awards for papers
printed, without discussion, in the "Proceedings" for the session
1920-21 :—

A George Stephenson Medal to Mr. J. H. Tavlor (Buenos Aires) ;
Telford Premiums to Mr. F. H. Hummel (Belfast), Mr. E. J.
Finnan (Belfast), and Mr. Herbert Chatley (China); and a Tre-
vithick Premium to Mr. G. E. Lillie (Reigate).

Legal Intelligence.

Municipal Election Sequel.

An unpaid electricity account for £2 5s. 2d. was responsible for
an unusual application by Blackpool Corporation at the local
County Court last week.

The Deputy Town Cierk asked that an amount of £2 5s. 2d.,
for electricity supplied to Mr. James Kay, be allowed to be sent
in and paid by the respondent, as provided by the Municipal Elec-
tions (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Act of 1884. Mr. Kay waa a
candidate at the November municipal election and his committee
room was supplied by the Corporation with electricity, in respect
of which the debt was incurred. The Act provided that all expenses
incurred by him had to be paid within twenty-one days, but the
County Court might, on the application either of the candidate or of
a creditor, allow any claim to be sent in or any expenses to be paid
after the time limited by the Act. Mr. Kay had paid all his other
bills and had made a return to the Town Clerk, but he had omitted
to pay or obtain the account for the electricity due to the Corporation.
It had, apparently, been done without any intention to evade
payment, and he presumed it was forgetfulness.

The application was allowed.

A Telegraphist's War Bonus.

Last week the Court of Appeal (Lords Justices Bankes and
Scrutton, Lord Justice Atkin dissenting) reversed the decision 'A
Mr. Justice Darling in favour of a telegraphist (Mr. Sutton), who
brought a test action against the Crown by way of petition of right.
The suppliant, relying on a document issued by the Postmaster-
General in 1914, left the Post Office for military service. The
document stated that postal servants who entered the Army would
be allowed " full civil pay in addition to military pay." During
the absence of the suppliant bonuses were given to those of the Post
Office staff who remained at home, and he claimed the amount <>f
these bonuses. In the court below the suppliant succeeded, but the
Court of Appeal reversed the decision by a majority.

American Wireless Patent Litigation.

The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Cir-
cuit has given judgment in the appeal of the De Forest Radio Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company against the decision of Judge Mayer,
of the United States District Court for the Southern District of
ISlew York, in the action brought by Major E. H. Armstrong against
the De Forest Company for the alleged infringement of his patent.
No. 1 113 149, for a wireless receiving system. The facts were given
in our issue of August 19, 1921, and the present judgment, which
affirms the earlier decision, awards to jNIajor Armstrong the credit
of having invented the Feed-back or Regenerative-valve Circuit as
early as January, 1913.

Funeral of Sir John Benn.

The funeral of Sir John Benn, Bart., head of the firm of Benn
Brothers, took place at Limpsfield, Surrey, last Thursday. The
first portion of the service was held in Oxted Congregational Chapel,
and was conducted by the Rev. Bernard J. Snell, of Brixton
Independent Church, and the Rev. Wilton Rix, the pastor at
Oxted. In addition to the chief mourners, who included Lady
Benn, among those present were Sir Ernest Clarke, Sir Arthur and
Lady Spurgeon, the Rector of Oxted, and several representatives
of the editorial, publishing, and commercial departments of Benn
Brothers, six of whom acted as pall-bearers. Mr. Gillespie, who
was at the organ, plajed " 0 Rest in the Lord " and Schumann's
" Dream " as voluntaries, and as the cortege entered the church
" I know that my Redeemer Liveth," from Handel's "Messiah,"
while at the close he rendered " The Hallelujah Chorus."

At the memorial service at Christ Church, Westminster Bridge-
road, London, a large congregation was present including : —
The Marquess of Lincolnshire, Lord Riddell, Sir Godfrey
Baring, Sir Stephen Collins, Sir Lulham Pound, Sir W. Lancaster,
Sir Willoughby and Lady Dickinson. Sir Arthur Roberts, Sir W.
Collins, Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke, Lady Beachcroft (Sir Melvill
Beachcroft was ut.able to be present through indisposition). Mr.
and Mrs. Pickstone, Mr. C. W. Bowerman, Mr. John Burns,
Mr. G. H. Hume, Mr. St. John Morrow, Mr. W. C. Copper-
thwaite, Mr. G. W. Humphreys, Mr. J. Rolls Hoare, Mr. and Mrs.
J. Benson, Mr. Edward Rice (representing the Kennington Con-
servative Association), Mr. John Ames, Dr. Scott Lidgett, Captain
Albert Larking (secretary of the Early Closing Association), the
Rev. Stewart Headlam, Mr. Seth Howard, Mr. Frank Atkins, Mr.
J C. Knicht, Mr. A. P. Comvns, Mr. H. J. Greenwood, Dr. and
Mrs. Chappie, Captain Swinton, Mr. H. D. Smith, Mr. John
Osborne. Mr. O. Mitehell. Mr. H. B. Knight Chorley, the Rev. R. H.
Hutchinson, Mr. Arthur Warne Browne, Mr. F. R. Anderton (chair-
man of the London County Council), and many members of the
Council.

The service, at which the Rev. J. D. Jones, the Rev. F. B. Meyer,
and the Rev. W. C. Poole officiated, was choral, and included the
hymns " 0 God, our help in ages past," " Praise, mv soul, the King
of Heaven," and "For all the Saints." HandeVs "Hallelujah
Chorus " was also rendered, and an address was given by the Rbv.
J. D. Jones.

The King and Queen sent the following message to Lady Benn
from Windsor Castle : " The King and Queen are grieved to hear
of the irreparable loss which you have sustained, and desire me to
offer you their heartfelt sjinpathy in your sorrow. — Privat*
Secretary."

April 21, 1922

The Electrician.

483

Electricity Supply.

The co6t of th« administration of the Electricity Commissioners'
DErARTMENT for the year ending March 31 was approximately
£44 000.

Tiio National Electric Supply Company has been fonnally taken
over by Preston Corporation, who now own every public service
except the gas undertaking.

Sai.jord Town Council have sanctioned the renewal of an agree-
ment with the Manchester Corporation to supply a certain amount of
electricity in bulk during the next two years.

The electricity supply works built by the Portrush Urban
Council were opened on the 13th inst. by Mrs. Kelly, wife of Mr.
Andrew Kelly, chairman of the Urban Council. About £17 000 has
been expended on the scheme, and the majority of the business and
private houses have their connections.

Considerable discussion took place at the last meeting of Reading
Town Council on the proposed repairs to the electric lighting
system at the Berks Mental Hospital, for which the Council :s
called upon to contribute over £1 000. The Finance Committee
recommended payment of the sum, but the Council referred the
matter back for further consideration and report.

Glasgow Electricity and Tramways Department* are in favour of
a project to generate electricity at the proposed new refuse destructor
works for the south side of the city, and recommend that, if the
plan is carried out, their departments take the supply at not less
than the then existing cost of production of electricity to these
departments.

A. & R. Appleton, flour millers and corn merchants, Hull,
have intimated to the Electricity Committee that owing to the
high charges for electricity they are placed at a great disadvantage
in competing with millers of York, Leeds, Sheffield, Middlesbrough,
&c., and that unless this unsatisfactory state of affairs can be
remedied they will be compelled to change over to steam or gas. or
to transfer their provender plant to Leeds.

The Irish Society have refused to continue negotiations in regard
to proposals put forward by the Coleraine Urban Council to rent the
water power at the Cutts, on the River Bann, for the purpose of
generating electricity for the lighting of the town, and also proposals
to give a reasonable indemnity against damage to the fisheries. The
society state that, having consulted the lessees of the fisheries, the
loss so caused to the salmon fishing would be considerable.

Burnley Electricity Committee have decided to support New-
port Corporation in their effort to secure an alteration in the basis
upon which salaries are calculated in the E.P.E.A. schedule from
that of "plant capacity" to "output." and to effect a re-grading
of the basic rates with the object of obtaining a material reduction
therein. The electrical engineer (Mr. J. E. Starkie) reported thai
a second reduction of salaries took effect from April 1, whilst
workmen suffered a reduction of Id. per hour.

At a meeting of Sheffield Electric Supply Committee the general
manager of the Electricity Department (Mr. S. E. Fedden) reported
that the accumulated profits realised in the installation and motor
department, working under " The Sheffield Corporaion Act, 1912,"
after paying all charges, including interest and sinking fund and
income tax, amounted to £32 010, and that year by year these
trading profits had been carried to the general appropriation account
of the electric supply department. It was resolved " That a sum of
£30 000 of this amount bo transferred to the relief of the rates."

Glasgow Electricity Committee recommend that, failing to obtain
more satisfactory terms, the Corporation should take steps to oppose
the resolutions m the House of Commons and the House of Lords
approving the Renfrew and District Electricity Special Order, 1922,
with a view to the modification of the proposed area of supply.
Under one of the proposals the Corporation would be permitted to
supply electricity for domestic and shop lighting and heating (but
for no other purposes) in Cardonald and Hillington, including the
Corporation's housing scheme at Cardonald so far as south of the
Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway, on condition that no cables or
wires of a working pressure exceeding 550 V are laid in, through.
OT over the area described m the Order.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

SitREWSBURT Town Council have decided to increase the plant at
the electricity works by the introduction of oil engines at a cost of
£15 000.

DuNDALK Urban Council has asked the Irish Minister of
Economics to sanction a loan of £18 000 to extend the municipal
electrical works.

Application is being made by Thos. Hy. Thompson to the Electri-
city Commissioners for a Special Order authorising him to generate
and supply electricity in Budleigh Salterton (Devon).

In reply to an inquiry from Hazel Grove and Bramhall Urban
Council, Stockton Corporation have intimated their willingness to
famish a supply of electricity in bulk for distribution by the Council.

Hemel Hempstead Urban Council has accepted the terms submitted
by Watford Urban Council for a supply of electricity. Watford is to
apply for a Special Order, under which the Corporation will have
the option of purchasing after twenty-one, twenty-eight and thirty-
five years, and afterwards at the end of each ten years. The maxi-
mum charge to be inserted in the Order is 9d. per unit, but as to

actual charges, consumers in the borough are to pay during the first
ten years 12^ per cent, above the prices at Watford, and during the
next eleven years 5 per cent, above.

Portsmouth Town Council has decided to applv for a Special
Order to extend the area of supply to the Havant Urban and Rural
Councils and the Warblington Rural District. The estimated cost is
£15 800, and it is proposed that the charge to consumers in the new
area shall be 2d. per unit above that at Portsmouth for lighting and
^d. above for power.

Alteration of Charges.

A reduction from 7d. to 6d. per unit for lighting and from 2 Id.
to Ifd. for power has been made by Battl-rsea Council in the
charges for electricity, the reduction to take effect from the March
meter readings.

As from the June meter readings electricity charges at Dewsbury
are to be reduced from 7|d. to 7^d. per unit to lighting consumers,
and from 120 to 100 per cent. o\'er pre-war rates to power consumers
on the maximum demand system.

St. Helens (Lancs) Electricity Committee have reduced, as from
the 1st inst., the charges for electricity to ordinary consumers for
lighting, power and heating from 80 to 60 per cent, above the pre-
war rates.

Worcester Electricity Department have decided to allow a dis-
count of 10 per cent, from all electricity accounts (including the
rateable charge under the Norwich system) which are paid before
the last day of the month on which the accounts are rendered, except
the accounts for supplies in bulk rate terms, which include coal and
labour clauses, and accounts for public lighting.

Southampton Electricity Department announces considerable
reductions in charges for electricity as from the 1st inst. The light-
ing rate has been reduced from 8d. to 6d. per unit; heating and
cooking from 2d. to l^d. per unit; power, the old sliding scale of
6^d. to Ifd., reduced to 2^3. sliding scale to Ifd. Premises supplied
with current at the heating and cooking rate of Isd. per unit must
have a lighting installation of not less than six independent points.
No rental is charged for the extra meter required for the heating and
cooking supply. With regard to power supplies, it is proposed that
when the total amount, as calculated on the basis of tne sliding
scale, is more than would have been due had the consumption been
greater per h.p. installed, the amount shall be calculated at the
next lower rate.

Electric Traction.

The Minister of Transport has made the Doncaster Corpor.ation
Light Railways (Extensions) Order, 1922.

It is stated that the Birmingium Corporation Tramways Com-
mittee is losing £800 per week on the Id. short-stage fares.

St. Helens Tramways Committee proposes to make application for
a loan of £40 000 for tramway purposes. In percentage of working
costs to revenue, St. Helens works out, witJi one exception, the
lowest in the country.

Wolverhampton Town Council have adopted the recommendation
of the Tramways Committee to reduce the minimum ordinary tram
fare from 2d. to l^d. It is estimated that this reduction will result
in a deficit of £3 562, but it is hoped that reductions in costs may
balance the account.

The Minister of Transport has extended the period allowed by the
Western Valleys (Mon.) Railless Electric Tbaction Aci, Oct..
1913,for the completion of trolley vehicle equipment for one year from
Feb. 15. 1922; and the period' allowed by the Western Valleys
(Mon.) Railless Electric Traction (Extension) Order, 1914, for
similar work, for one year from Ju^y 8, 1922.

Manchester Tramways Committee have received thirty-eight
applications for the position of general manager to the tramways,
which has become vacant through the resignation of Mr. J. M.
McElroy. The applicants have now be^n reduced to three : Mr.
E. S. Rayner, general mana^r of the Hull Tramways : Mr. J. S. D,
Mofiet, general manager of Belfast Tramways; and Mr. H. Mattin-
son. the chief civil engineer to the Manchester Corporation Tram-
ways. Theee three are to attend the committee meeting on April 25.
when the final selection will be made.

In a recent letter to the "Scotsman," " D. R. P." gives BOme
particulars of the official trial trip last month by an electric express
train of ten carriages, or 300 tons, from Genoa to Turin .and Modane
(Mount Cenis route). Over the section from Genoa to Turin. 104
miles, electric trains have been i-egularly run for more than a year,
but it is only recently that the electrification and the supply of
hydro-electric power have been extended to the Turin and ^lo<^ane
section (64 miles). Owing to the heavy gradients, up to 1 in 70. on
some of the sections of both lines, steam-propelled trains have often
necessitated the use of two engines, but the electric trip was accom-
plished by a single locomotive "at the high mean speed of 60 miles an
hour over the whole distance of 170 miles. This is. so far, the
longest electric main line in Europe. With the regular running
of 'electric trains, the Mount Cenis route will, at least on the
Italian side, beat He Simplon rivql by something like an hour, and
the saving of time will be further extended to tne line from Genoa
to Spezialind Pisa (for Florence and Rome) when, six months hence,
the electrification of that section will also be completed.

"^10

484

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

Personal and Appointments.

Dr. F. Johnson has been elected chairman of the Birmingham
section of the Institute of Metals for the ensuing year.

The Earl of Crawford has been appointed Minister of Trans-
port, without salary, as well as First Commissioner of Works.

]\Ir. Charles Collinge, permanent way superintendent of
Coventry Corporation Tramways, who is leaving for Rochdale, has
been presented by the staff with a suit case.

Swindon Town Council has referred back to the Finance Com-
mittee for reconsideration a recommendation to reduce the salary of
the electrical engineer, Mr. A. Nicklin, from £500 to £475 per year,
and that of Mr. T. Medcalf, manager and secretary of the tramways,
from £520 to £494.

Business Items, &c.

Gillespie & Beales announce a considerable reduction in the price
of the models A, B, C, and D of the " Nilfisk " electric suction
cleaner.

The SoLiPiTE Manitfactitring Company has been formed to take
over the business of the Improved Solidite Company ^ Ltd., of Wands-
worth. Large, up-to-dat<' premises have been acquired at Mitcham,
which will enable the company to cope more easily with the orders.
All correspondence should be sent to the head office of the company,
28, John-street, Bedford-row, London, W.C. 1.

Mr. H. E. Barringer has been appointed manager of the Cardiff
officft of Simplex Conduit*, Ltd., in succession to Mr. J. Entwistle,
who was recently appointed manager of the Newcastle and District
branch of the company. Mr. Barranger has been connected with the
company's Bristol depot for a considerable time, after twenty-one
years' previous experience at the head office and works.

Institution Notes.

The annual general meeting of the Electrical Trades Benevolent
Institution will be held at flie offices of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers, Savoy-place, Victoria Embankment, London, on Monday,
April 24, at 2.30 p.m.

The Paper to be given before the East Midland Sub-Centre of
the Institution of Electrical Engineers by Mr. R. J. Mitchell,
on "Electric Vehiclee," has been postponed from the 18th to the
25th inst., when it will take place at Loughborough College at
6.45 p.m.

The Institute of Physics, of which Sir J. J. Thomson is presi-
dent, is arranging a course of public lectures with a view to indicat-
ing the growing importance and place which physics now hold in
industry and manufacture. The first of the lectures, "Physics and
Engineering Science," will be delivered by Prof. A. Barr, of Glas-
gow, on Wednesday, April 26, at 8 p.m., in the Hall of the
Institution of Civil Engineers, Westminster, London.

The eighth meeting of the 1921-2 session of the South Midland
Centre of the Institutjon of Electrical Engineers was held at
the University, Edmund-street, Birmingham, on the 5th inst., when
Dr. C. C. Garrard gave a lecture and showed cinematograph films cf
the effect of very large currents and heavy short circuits on oil
switches, current transformers, potential transformer fuses, &c. Mr.
F. Gill showed three reels on " Telephone Inventors " and t.wo on
" The Audion." The meeting was very successful, some 250 members
and friends being present.

Trade Inquiries.

A loan of Gld.2 400 000 (divided into 2 4j0 7 per cent, bonds of
Gld.lOOO each) is being raised by the Oost-Java Stoomtram Maats-
ohappij (Dutch East Indies) for the purpose of completing the
electrification of their lines at Sourabaya. A double track will be
laid down with a total length of about 21 kilometres. (Reference,
Department of Overseas Trade 771/15/F.G./P.N.)

A firm of manufacturers' agents in Winnipeg desire to obtain the
representation of United Kingdom manufacturers of electrical house-
hold appliances, automobile accessories, &c., on a commission basis,
for Western Canada (Fort William, Ontario, to Victoria, British
Columbia). Particulars may be obtained from tho Department of
Overseas Trade. (Ref. No. 100.)

A consulting mechanical and electrical engineer in Vancouver,
British Columbia, who for some years acted as chief engineer to a
large colliery company, and has a fairly extensive connection with
the coal mining industry in British Columbia, desires to obtain
catalogues and prices, particulars and literature on the latest practic<?
in the utilisation of the latest type of coal mining machinery and
equipment, coal cutters, electrical switchgear, pumps and small
motors, with a view to representing suitable United Kingdom manu-
facturers, on a commission basis. Particulars from the Department
of Overseas Trade. (Ref. No. 405.)

Palmers' Shipbuilding and Iron Company recently accepted the
tender of Sir John Jackson, Ltd., for the construction of a dry dock
AT Swansea in connection with the large ship repairing and engi-
neering works they are establishing. This is the first of two parallel
docks which the company intend to construct on the south side of
the King's Dock at Swansea, and powerful electrically-driven centri-
fugal pumps are to be installed for emptying the dock.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

A new telephone exchange was opened in the Liverpool district
last week. This exchange will be known as Willaston (Birken-
head), and will serve a portion of the existing Bromborough, Hooton,

and Neston exchange areas.

In view of the complaints of delays in the transmission of Con-
ference NEWS FROM Genoa, the Italian Telegraph Administration
states that the Genoa telegraph offices despatched on April 10 tele-
grams containing 210 000 words. On the same day the outgoing
telephone calls from Genoa to other Italian towns showed a total
of 1C8 hours, and to towns abroad a total of 22 hours, equivalent
to 2 600 conversations of three minutes each.

The London Telephone Advisory Committee passed a resolution
last week commending the report of the Select Committee, and
urging that prompt effect be given to the report as a whole, and
especially to the portions relating to the reduction in charges, the
separation of the administration of telephones and telegraphs from
mails, the division of the country into separately administered
districts, and the securing of better co-ordination throughout the
department.

Wireless Notes.

The International Wireless Conference, which opened at
Cannes last month, has been transferred to Paris.

A new high-speed commercial wireless service between Berne
(Switzerland) and Engl.\nd was inaugurated last week.

It is reported that the German Wireless Transatlantic Company
is increasing its capital by 30 000 000 marks, which are to be used
for the extension of the stations at Nauen and Eilvese.

The Vancouver correspondent of the " Times Trade Supplement "
states that the three daily newspapers of that city have each installed
a high-power wireless sending apparatus, by means of which every
isolated camp and farm is being brought into touch with the happen-
ings of the outside world. Statistics recently published in the
United States show that, whereas five months ago there were less
than 50 000 receiving outfits in the whole of that country, and
40 000 of these within 100 miles of New York, to-day there are at
least 700 000 of them, and the demand continues to be so great that
the factories cannot cope with it. There are thirty-five broadcasting
stations in eighteen different States in the Union.

At a conference last week of airway managers and pilots to draw
up rules to prevent a recurrence of such an air collision as that
which took place over Northern France on April 7, the following,
among other, resolutions were passed : — That every commercial aero
plane must be equipped with wireless telephones; that additional
ground wireless and weather reporting stations should be estab-
lished at Poix and Noailles on the French section of the London-
Paris airway ; that the terminal air stations of Croydon and Le
Bourget should now be in constant communication with each other
by wireless telephone as well as by ordinary wireless ; that the
question of "interfering" with wireless telephony by the powerful
Eiffel Tower wireless station should now be investigated ; that the
ground wireless station at St. Inglevcrt, on the French coast, which
was destroyed by fire recently, should now be replaced.

Exhibition Notes.

A sample fair will be opened in Padua ^ext June. At last year's
fair 2 000 Italian firms exhibited and 500 foreign, the greater
number of the foreign firms being German. This year the fair will
occupy an area of 1700 000 sq. ft., and there will be a special
exhibition of scientific instruments, particularly of electrical instru-
ments, electro-magnets, electro-meters, electric ovens, and wireless
telegraphic and wireless telephonic equipment.

Under the auspices of the British World Trade Expedition, the
9 000-ton STEAMsriip "British Trade" will sail in June from the
T'ort of London on a cruise round the world with an exhibition of
representative British manufactures and industries. It was origin-
ally intended that this ship should leave London on May 1; out
the engineering dispute caused a postponement of the date of sail-
ing, and it has not yet been definitelv fixed. The cruise will occupy
267 days, of which 119 will be exiiibition days at various ports,
including Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, and the chief
ports in South Africa, Australia, Tasmania, the South Sea Islands,
Japan, the Straits Settlements, India, Egypt, and the Mediterranean.
It is hoped that upwards of 150 British firms will be represented in
the ship, which will contain every convenience for carrying on
business. Cinematograph films depicting exhibitors' works and
specialities will be shown at every port or call.

The accounts of King's Lynn Electricity D'^p.irtment for the vea»
ending March 31, 1921, show a gross profit of £3 700. After avow-
ing for interest on loans (£1227), repayment of capital (£2 017),
income tax (£555), and bad debts (£7), "a deficit of £106 remains.
Capital expended during the year amounted to £25 703, bringing the
total capital expenditure to £84 202. The units sold numbered
882 314, against 786 201 in 1920; maximum demand, 736 kW
(586 kW) ; load facior, 13-68 per cent. (15-32 per cent.) ; private
connections, 1 144 (1087). The total inclusive cost per B.T. unit
was 455d. (384d.), and tiie average price obtained 406d. (389d.).

April 21, 1922

The Electrician.

485

Foreign Notes.

Calcutta Corporation have approved of the proposed expenditure
of R300 000 (£200 000) for eight electric lorries.

The Niagara Falls Power Company haa been allowed by the
Federal Power Commiseion to amend its plans so as to enable it to
erect thre« hydro-electric units of 70 000 h.p. each and one fore-
bay, inetead of five units of 37 500 h.p. each and two forebays as
originally proposed.

The volume of German trade with China continues to increase,
and the value of machinery imports into Shanghai alone in 1921
compares favourably with imports into the whole of China in 1913
and 1914, while aniline dyes represented a higher value than the
whole of Germany's trade in pre-war days.

For the purpose of scientific reeearch and medical usee, the
CzECiro-SLOVAKiAN GovFJRNMENT proposes to rctserve to itself thi^
sole right of exploiting the radio-active resources of the Eepublic.
Since 1919 the mines at Jachymov have produced 65 grammes of
radium, which is eaid to be the purest in the world.

According to a correspondent there is a growing demand for
machinery and electrical supplies in Manchubia. The horse tram-
ways in Mukden are to be converted to electric traction, Messrs.
Okura & Company furnishing the capital. Orders have been placed
in Germany for electrical machinery for the Patahao Mines, near
Hulutao Harbour, and a telephone service between Mukden and
Tientsin is being contemplated.

President Harding is stated to be on^ of the most enthusiastic
of the American wireless enthusiasts. The Navy Department hae
recently installed a receiving set foa him which can use a wave-
length of 25 000 metres. Under ordinary conditions the President
can hear not only all the stations in the United States, but also those
in Hawaii and Panama, although these overseas stations do not send
in voice, but in the Morse code.

The Hidroelectrica Fispanola, the second most important company
in Spain, has, the "Engineer" states, nearly completed the con-
struction of its station at Dos Aguas, the junction of the Rivers
Jucar and Gabriel, to the south-west of Valencia. This station will
give some 100 000 h.p. when completed, and will help to improve the
inadequate power and light service of Madrid, where the existing
stations are quite insufficient to meet the increased requirements.

The second Annual Electric Vehicle Show, organised by the
New York Edison Company, was held from April 3 to 15 inclusive,
and is reported to have been liighly successful. A number of new
cars as well as the oldest "electric" in existence were exhibited.
The first week was devoted to road trucks and pleasure vehicles, and
during the second industrial trucks and trailers were on view. The
storage battery and accessory sections were strongly represented.

A resolution has been introduced into the American House of
Representatives calling for an investigation into the charge that the
General Electric, the Westinghouse, the American Telephone and
Telegraph, and the United Fruit Companies have combined with
the Radio Corporation of America for controlling the mantjfac-
TXJRE AND sale OF RADIO EQUIPMENT. The cross-licensing of patent
rights and the combination of the various interests are considered
to be a conspiracy in restraint of trade.

Under the Customs Union, which has recently been instituted
between the Free City of Danzig and Poland, the former has the
right to allow the import of certain quantities of specified goods at
rates lower than those prescribed in the Polish Customs Tariff, on
condition that goods imported under this provision are imported
before Sept, 30. The list includes installation material for electric
plant, telegraph, telephone, &c. , apparatus, on which the duty is
reduced 25 per cent., the maximum quantity to be imported at
reduced rates being 40 tons (metric).

The estimated cost of the new steam station, the trunk lines, and
feeders required for the National Electric Supply Scheme of
Czecho-Slovakia is put at 1 500 000 000 crowns. As already
announced, it is proposed to erect capital stations near the coalfields,
and later to construct hydro-electric works. The first part of the
scheme will take twenty years to carry out, but it is not expected
that the water-power development proposals will be completed for
fifty years. All the supply undertakings will be linked ip. and the
trunk lines will transmit three-phase energy nt 100 000 V, 50 cycles.

Tramway Rails and Fishplates.

A revised edition of British Standard Specification and Sec-
tions FOR Tramway Rah.s and Fisieplates has been published by
the British Engineering Standards Association. The following are
some of the more important modifications which have been made : —
(1) Separate analyses are given for the manufacture of rails by the
Bessemer and open-hearth processes, both acid and basic, a higher
minimum carbon content being specified, and in the case of basic
rails added silicon has been provided for ; (2) the position in the
head of tho rail from which the drillings and test pieces for the
chemical analyses and tensile tests are to be taken is now defined :
(3) the minimum tensile strength of the rails has been increased
to 45 tons per sq. in. ; (4) the falling weight test is required to be
made from each cast, the use of crop ends of rails being permitted,
and is to be carried out on the British Standard falling weight
testing machine, the specification for which is inserted as an
ap{>endix ; (5) the testing procedure before rejection, both for rails
and fishplaf^, has been set out in detail ; and (6) a standard series
of short lengths is given. The brand or mark of the Association
now indicates only that the rail i.s of British Standard section.

Miscellaneous.

The death has occurred of Mr. P. A. E. Dowling, Registrar « f
the College of Science, Dublin.

The late Mr. J. T. Allingham, of the British Mannesman Tube
Company, has left estate valued at £6 170.

The late Mr. Hugh Bramwell. chairman of the Treforest Elec-
trical Consumers' Company, has left estate valued at £21 465.

The late Sir Francis Barker, a director of Vickers, Ltd., Cana-
dian Vickers, Ltd., Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company,
Electric Holdings, Ltd., British Lighting and Igniticm Company,
Compagnie Electro Mecanique, &c., has left estate valued at
£118 801.

At Burnley Quarter Sessions last week, Edwin Growden Langs-
ford, an electrician, was remanded until the next sessions on charges
of OBTAINING MONEY BY FALSE PRETENCES. The Recorder said tn:.s
would give him an opportunity of repaying the money as he had
promised and to test his sincerity.

An interesting feature of the special Laudee Performance at the
Princes Theatre on April 26 will be the presence of prominent
leaders of both organised capital and organised labour. The per-
formance is to be under the personal patronage of H.R.H. the Duke
of York, and the proceeds will go to the Indniitrial Welfare Society,
of which he is president.

Thirteen men were injured, seven seriously, by an explosion
which occurred in one of the mines of the Viewp.uik Colliery.
Uddingston, near Glasgow, l?st week. At first the cause was thought
to be due to firedamp, but later the belief was current that one of
the electric cables of the coal-cutting plant fused and ignited an
accumulation of gas.

The Metropolitan Asylums Board, states the " City Press," pro-
vides a remarkable instance of the vag.vrtes of tendering. For m>
straightforward and simple a job as the installation of the electric
light at a certain hospital, the prices submitted by contractors
ranged, it states, between £943 and £5 600. The latter figure was
£3 600 above the one next to it !

The librarian of the R. Istitnto Lombardo di Scienze e Lettere of
Milan is anxioui to find the letter? of Alessandro Volta to De
Luc, and of any other letters and MSS. of Volta. for the national
edition of Volta's works, which is being prepared under the auspices
of the Italian Government by a commission attached to the Istitut*^
Ix)mbardo. Information on the subject should be sent to Mr. Paget
Toynbee, Fiveways, Burnham, Bucks.

It has been decided to reduce the grade of the Commercial Diplo-
matic posts at Rome from Commercial Coimsellor and Commercial
Secretary (Grade II.) to Commercial Secretary (Grade I.) and Com-
mercial Secretary (Grade III.) respectively. The senior post, which
was vacant owing to the resignation, which we announced last week.
of Sir E. Capel Cure, has been filled by the promotion of Mr. J. H.
Henderson, the present Commercial Secretary (Grade II.) at Rome;
and the junior post by the transfer of Mr. H. C. A. Carpenter,
Commerical Secretary (Grade III.) at Washington.

A case at the Dudlfa' Police Court last week is a good illustration
of the damage that van be caused by small boys when tools are
left lying about. Two boys, named Aston and Hicks (thirteen years
of age), were charged with causing damage at Messrs. Goodyear &
Sons' works. The works are connected with the G.W. Railway by
a private electric tramway, and a tramcar, which was left on the
line, w^as set in motion by one of the two boys using a loose spanner
for switching on the electric current from a switch-box. The tram-
car, having been started do^vn an incline, dashed into an embank-
ment and was smashed. The damage was estimated at £1 000. One
of the boys was ordered to receive six strokes with a birch-rod and
uhe other was discharged.

The 1922 Year Book and Export Register of the Federation of
British Industries has been divided, for easy reference, into four
sections. Section I. gives a general survey of the scope and activi-
ties of the Federation, the qualification and specific service? gamed
bv membership, &c. In Section II. the manufactures and products
of F.B.I, firms and Associations are arranged in alphabetical order.
Under each heading is given a list of the firms manufacturing the
article indicated in the heading. In Section III. all members
whether firms or Associations, are listed together in alphabeticaj
order. After each name is given, in the ca^e of firms («) a brie.
description of their business. (6) head office, works, and cable
addresses, and (r) names and addresses of agents overseas. In the
case of an Association the name and address of the secretarv 's
driven, a brief statement of its objects, and. m many cases, a list
of members. Section IV. contains 340 i>ages of members adver-
tisements. In addition U^ the advertisements the l>ook contains
454 pages, and is on sale at 256. net.

Owing to the high cost of the Queenstown-Chippawa hydro-electric
development and of the consequent higher charges for power by the
Ont.xrio Hydro-Electric Commission, the Ontario Legislature have
decided to appoint a Royal Commission to conduct a full and impar-
tial investigation into the expendinire and estimates of the Com-
mission, of which Sir Adam Beck has been chairman for many years.
About a month ago Colonel Carmichuel. Minister without portfolio
in the Ontario Cabinet, resigned from the Commission l>ecause last
year's ^«timat«»s h.nd been exceeded by over £3000 000.

486

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Falkirk Parish Council. May 1. — Six months' supply of elec-
tric lamps, ironmongery, &c., to Blinkbonny Home. Schedules, &c.,
from the Governor.

Douglas (Isle of Man) Corporation. May 8. — Ten-ton travelling
crane, two oil engines, with oil storage tank, cooler and piping,
two 210 kW d.c. generators and balancer-booster set, main switch-
board and storage battery. Specifications from Messrs. Handcock a
Dykes, 11, Victoria-street, London, S.W. 1.

H.M. Commissioners of Works. — Erection of a telephone re-
peater station at Taplow, Bucks

ASIA.

Department of Posts and Telegraphs, Bangkok. June 5. — Tele-
graph and i/elephon© materials to the value of £10 000. Tender
forms can be obtained from the Chief Electrical Engineer, Tele-
phone Exchange. Bangkok.

Manchester Corporation have accepted the tender of Walter Scott,
Ltd. , for steel girder tramway rails. >

Kettering Corporation have accepted the tender of the Union
Cable Company for two feeder cables.

Halifax Corporation have accepted the tender of Crompton & Com-
pany for a d.c. switchboard, £1 665.

Leeds Corporation have accepted the tender of W. T. Henley's
Telegraph Works Company for cable, £1 187.

Cannock Urban Council has accepted the tender of Raybould &
Ancott, Darlaston, for wiring the Council offices at £98.

Manchester Corporation have accepted the tender of Ferguson,
Pailin, Ltd., for a 200 A 6 000 V oil switch for Stuart-street station.

Portsmouth Town Council has accepted the tender of Babcock
& Wilcox for a Green's economiser for the electricity works at
£3 726.

Birkenhead Corporation have accepted the tender of Holden &
Brooke for electrically-driven turbo pumps at Flaybrick Hill and
Tranmere reservoirs, £1 896.

Dublin Corporation have accepted the tender of the British Elec-
tric Traubformer Company for twelve months* supply of trans-
formers, estimated at £7 000.

Glasgow Coporation have accepted the tenders of the British
Thomson-Houston Company for converting plant, £11 012, and
switchgear, £1414; and Johnston, Park & Company for electrical
work in the municipal buildings extension.

Marylebone (London) Council have accepted the following
tenders : British Electric Transformer Company, transformers,
£3 537: Ferguson, Pailin, Ltd., switchgear, £2 688.

Bradford Corporation have accepted the tenders of Thompson &
Compaiiy for 500 5-A s.p. meters, and Jessop & Baydell for wiring
and fitting the Electricity Department's new offices and showrooms.

Edinburgh Corporation have accepted the tender of Dorman,
Lcng & Company for tramway rails rnd fishplates, £1527 10s., and
Craven's Railway Carriage & Wagon Company for tramcar top
covers, £4 300.

Barrow Corporation have accepted the tenders of the Metropoli-
tan-Vickers Electrical Company for insulating tape, &c. ; British
Insulated & Helsby Cables, Ltd., insulating compound; A. P.
Lundberg & Sons, pin-phigs ; General Electric Company, lamp-
holders, switches, &c. ; Edison Swan Electric Company, fuse wire
and half -watt and carbon filament lamps ; Chamberlain & Harkham,
meters ; Downes & Davies, casing and capping.

Sunderland Electricity Department have accepted the foUowin'^
tenders :— British Insulated and Helsby Cables Company, 600 yards
0154 cables; Callender's Cable and Construction Company, 1^ ser-
vice boxes and 5 link boxes; Armstrong, Addison & Company,
creosoted redwood capping; Ferguson, Pailin, Ltd., two l.t. switch
panels; Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company, temperature and
flue-gas recorders; Consolidated Pneumatic Tool Company, electric
drilling machine.

The Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East
Pittsburg, Pa., have received contracts, amounting to approximately
$250 000, from the Commonwealth Edison Company, of Chicago, and
from the Con.solidate(l Gas, Electric Light and Power Company, of
Baltimore, for five large booster converters, with transformer' and
equipment. This company have also been awarded the contract for
electrical equipment for a new power-house, to be constructed by the
Southern California Edison Company, and to be known as Big
Creek, No. 3. The contract gives to the company all switching
equipment, both h.t. and l.t., for this station and all h.t. switching
equipment at three sub-stations— Magunden, Eagle Rock and VestaL

Edinburgh Town Council recently decided, by 30 votes to 19, to
accept the tender of Dorman, Long & Company for steel tramway
railways and fishplates at £1 527 10s., in preference to the offer of
the Equipment & Engineering Company, Ltd., London, at £1 425,

the rails to be of Grerman manufacture. A recommendation by the
Tramway Committee to accept the tender of Mannesmanrohen
Works, Dusseldorf , amounting to £5 436, for one-piece tramway
poles was defeated, an amendment by Mr. Gorman to accept the
lowest tender for three-piece poles — viz., that of Stewart & Lloyds
(Ltd.), Glasgow, being adopted by a majority.

Islington (London) Council have accepted the following tenders : —
Chamberlain & Hookham and British Insulated & Helsby Cables,
Ltd., meters; British Electric Transformer Company, transformers;
Johnson & Phillips, steel transformer tanks ; Hackbidge Construction
Company, c.i. tanks ; General Electric Company, carbons; the British
Central Electrical Company, arc lamp globes ; British Insulated &
Helsby Cables, Ltd., h.t. insulated cables; Enfield Ediswan Cable
Works, Ltd., l.t. paper-insulated cables and h.t. and l.t. rubber-
insulated cables; Callenders Cable & Construction Company, joint
and cable boxes, h.t. fuse and l.t. service boxes and dividing boxes;
British Insulated & Helsby Cables, dividing boxes ; Lucy & Com-

Sany and Johnson & Phillips, fuse boxes ; W. Lucy & Company and
[. Hughes & Son, l.t. service boxes; Dussek Bitumen Company;
W. T. Henley's Tele^jraph Works Company and India Rubber Gutta
Percha & Telegraph Works Company, compounds, tapes, &c. ; British
Insulated & Helsby Cables, carbon and m.f. lamps; Edison Swan
Electric Company and L. Andrews & Company, wiring accessories.

Manchester Corporation have accepted the following tenders :
Dyer & Young, commutator segrhents, &c. ; Metropolitan-Vickers
Electrical Company, commutator segments, coils, spindles, brushes,
brake shoes, motor and controller parts, &c. ; Manchester Armature
Repair Company, coils ; P. R. Jackson & Company, coils ; British
Thomson-Houston Company, pressure-arms and tension-springs,
motor and controller parts, &c. ; L. Andrew & Company, fuller board
mica bushings, tapes, &c. ; Fairless Engineering & Supplies Com-
pany, controller fingers, &c. ; S. Gratrix, Jun., & Brother, con-
nectors, cells, shades, muranese glass, &c. ; General Electric Com-
pany, lamps, switches, &c. ; Drake & Gorham (Whole-
sale), lamps and filaments; Commercial Electric Company, lamps;
Edison Swan Electric Company, cells; A. Wiseman, Ltd., overhead
equipment and insulating material; Tramway Supplies, Ltd.,
trolley-wheel bushes; R. W. Reeves, Ltd., electro-mechanical brake
parts ; W. T. Glover & Company, power and lighting cables ; F.
Smith & Company, Inc., copper cable, string and wire; F. Smith &
Company, Ltd., steel tinned wire; Edgar Allen & Company, points
and tongues, &c. ; Quasi Arc Company & Alloy Welding Processes,
electrodes ; Chamberlain & Haskham, car meters ; English Electric
Company, controller parts.

Openings for Trade in the Netherlands.

The following extracts from the Dutch Press of recent dates may
lead to openings for British trade : —

Plans have been drawn up by J. Vrijman, Parkstraat 16, The
Hague, for the building of a new laboratory for scientific instru-
ments at Groningen. Work will begin next year.

The Town Council of Deventer have decided to lay an electric
cable along the left bank of the Ijssel.

The managing board of the starch factory, " De Beijenkorf,"
formerly M. K. Honig, of Koog aan de Zaan, intend adding to their
works a new water pump station with electric motors. Work will
commence in a few months' time.

The municipal electric power station at Haarlem (address, Harmen
Jansweg 131) is to be extended. Estimate Gld.248 000. Work will
be begun as soon as possible.

A proposal has been laid before the Towm Council of Nijmegen to
take the transport of house, street, and factory refuse under their
own management, starting with 1923. For this purpose several motor
vehicles would have to be purchased.

A loan of Gld.2 400000 (divided into 2 400 7 per cent, bonds of
Gld. 1 000 each) is being raised by the Oost-Java Stoomtram Maats-
chappij for the ourpose of completing the electrification of their
lines at Soerabaja. A double track will be laid down, with a total
length of about 21 kilometres.

Forty Years Ago.

Electric Light in Belfasi-. — The Town Council have accepted
the offer of Mr. J. H. Greenhill, of Belfast, to light a portion of
Castle and Mill Streets with the electric light, free of charge.

Eleciric Light in Sheffield. — We believe that Messrs. Tasker,
Sons & Company, of Sheffield, and well known in connection with
telephonic work, are about to form a local company for the intro-
duction of the el*>ctric light into that town.

City and Guilds Institute. — We are glad to find that Mr. J.
Perry, j\I.E., has been elected to the Chair of Mechanical Engineer-
ing at the City and Guilds of London Technical College Finsbury,
this week. We know of no one more fitted for the position.

Action of Electric-Magnets on Minerals.— Experimenting with
electro-magnets on various minerals, Professor Doelter has made
the interesting observation that the absolute amount of iron present
does not determine the degree to which the minerals are attracted, for
sulphides and sulphate>s,containing much iron, are very iittle attracted,
while the attraction of oxides, carbonates, and silicates is strong.
This varying amount of attraction, it is pointed out, may be of
service in mechanical separation of natural mixtures of ores,
purifying ores, &c. — "Nature."

April 21, 1922

The electrician.

487

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.

The Direct United States Cable Company has declared a final
dividend of 46. per share, lees tax, making 4 per cent, for the year
ended March 31, 1922.

The Indo-European Telegraph announce a final dividend for the
year ended December of £1 2s. 6d. per share (making with interim
dividend already paid 7 per cent, for year), free of tax.

Letters of allotment and regret have been posted in reepect of the
Metropolitan Railway Company issue of £600000 5 per cent, pre-
ference stock, which was enormously over-subscribed, applications
having been received for more than £8 000 000.

An extra-ordinary meeting of the Hydro-Electric Power &
Metallxtrgical Company is to be held in Melbourne after the
ordinary meeting on April 2l, to consider a resolution that the name
of the company be changed to Carbide & Electro Products, Ltd.

The report for 1921 of Brolt, Ltd., states that the year's trading
has resulted in a loss of £23 808, after providing for depreciation of
buildings, plant, and machinery, and making due provision for all
bad and doubtful debts. Deducting the surplus of £1 758 brought
forward from last year, there is a net deficiency of £22 049 to be
carried forward.

The report of the City of Santos Improvements Company for
1921 shows net revenue of £86 958, plus £13 431 brought forward,
making £100 389, compared with £120 301 in 1920. The directors
have transferred £5 000 to reserve, and, having set aside £6 000 to
tramways renewal account, they recommend a final dividend of 3 per
cent, on the ordinary shares, making 5 per cent., less tax, for the
year, carrying forward £11 519.

The following companies will be struck off the Register of Joint
Stock Companies unless cause to the contrary is shown before July 11
next : — Denton Electrical Construction Company, Denton's Foreign
Patents, Derby Lamp Works, Electric Timekeepers, Electro
Galvanisere, Holmquist Electric Company (1911), Londonderry-
Moville Electric Railway Syndicate, Sandbanks Railless Electric Car
Company, Swanage Electricity Supply Company, United States Rail-
less Electric Traction Company.

The report of the Shawinigan Water and Power Company for
1921 shows gross earnings of .$4 224 046, against $3 943 559 for the
previous year, and net revenue of $1 590 813, against $1 609 043.
After making usual appropriations and paying a dividend on the
common shares of 7 per cent., there is carried forward $155 406.
Owing to the depressed industrial conditions of last year the new
power development at Shawinigan Falls will not he completed until
September.

The Stock Exchange Committee have granted or ordered the
following securities to be quoted in the Official List : £823 300 7 per
cent. 50-year prior lien A bonds of the Barcelona Traction, Light &
Power Company ; 755 780 £1, fully paid, ordinary shares and 650 000
£1, fully paid, 6 per cent, cumulative preference shares of the
County of London Electric Supply Company ; and £350 000 6 per
cent, guaranteed debentures of the Thames Valley (N.Z.) Electric
Power Board.

The report of the Western Union Telegraph Company for 1921
shows gross operating revenues $104 155 112. After deducting
operating expenses, including repairs, reserve for depreciation, rent
for lease of plants, taxes, &c., $93 959 083, the sum of $10196 029
remains, plus income from dividends and interest $1 072 962. Interest
on bonds absorbs $1 635 183, leaving balance transferred to the
surplus account of $9 633 808, which,, with -$40 685 211 brought in.
makes $50 319 019. Dividends paid and declared took $6 982 622.
and adjustments of surplus (net) $272 703, leaving surplus at Dec. 31,
1921. $43 063 692.

In accordance with the terms of the trust deed of the Submarink
Cables Trust, tenders are invited from the certificate-holders of
certificates to be redeemed out of surplus income, accrued to the
15th inst. , at a price not to exceed £120 per certificate, the ceitificate-
holder retaining the coupon of reversion attached to any certificate
which may thus be redeemed. Certificate-holders desirous of sur-
rendering their certificates on the above-mentioned terms should
communicate with the secretary, Mr. Sidney Collett, Electra House,
Moorgat^, London, E.C. 2, stating the lowest price they are willing
to accept.

The Rangoon Electric Tramway and Supply Company recom-
mend a dividend of Rs. 1 per share, tax free, to shareholders in
India or Burma on the ordinary shares, making Rs. I5 for the year.
The sum of £30 000 has been placed to reserve for renewals ; £2 927
for depreciation on sundry assets in Rangoon ; £7 333 for Indian
Income-tax; £3 359 for Corporation Tax; £3 641 for employees'
provident fund and bonus ; £2 927 for depreciation of sundry assets ;
£3 224 for loss on exchange and expenses of new issue; £26 305
for repairs, renewals, and maintenance, leaving £12 969 to be carried
forward. It is proposed to increase capital to £800000.

The total receipts of Rothesay Tiiamways Company for 1921
amounted to £22 335. After providing for all expenses chargeable
to revenue, including £1 920 for debenture and other interest, pay-
ment to local authoritiets amounting to £270. and providing £2 310
for the renewals fund, there is, with £1 609 brought forward, a
balance of £7 301, which the directors propose to dispose of as
follows : reserve, £2 000 ; dividend of 5 per cent, on the preference
shares, £500; dividend of 4 per cent, on the ordinary shares for the
year, £3 270 ; leaving £1 530 to be carried forward. The dividend
on the ordinary shares for the preceding year was 3 per cent.

The accounts of the City Electric Light Company, Ltd., of
Brisbane, for the year ended Jan. 31 last show, after making addi-

tion to the sinking fund and renewal and contingencies account,
and an amount to the employees' provident fund, a credit balance
£77 359, which, with the balance brought forward, makes £77 541.
Out of this year's profits the directors paid an interim dividend
with dividend duty in September last amounting to £34 506, and
a further dividend on March 15 of 3 per cent, on the 6 per cent,
preference shares, SA per cent, on the 7 per cent, preference shares,
aiid 5 per cent, on tne ordinary shares, in proportion to the amount
paid thereon, free of tax, leaving a balance of £109 10s. to bo
carried forward, against £181 last year.

The accounts of Wycombe (Borough) Electric Light and
Power Company for the year ended Dec. 31 last show, including
balance from contracting business, a gross profit of £l7 004, com-
pared with £16 993 in 1920, and after paying interest on deben-
tures, loan, and outstanding accounts, and adding the amount
brought forward from last year, there remains a balance of £14 276
to be dealt with. The directors recommend that a dividend of
10 per cent, be paid for the year, which will absorb £5 000. that
£5 000 be placed to the renewal reserve fund and £4 000 to general
reserve fund, leaving a balance of £276 to be carried forward. To
meet the increasing demand for electricity, additional generating
plant is now being installed at a cost of about £15 000. "ro provide
the necessary capital for this extension it is proposed to i?^ue 3 000
£5 cumulative 10 per cent, preference shares. The connections
during the year show an increase of 142 kW.

New Companies.

J. B. Bower & Company.

J. B. Bower & Company, Ltd. (180 937). Private company.
Registered April 5. Capital, £10 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers
of and dealers in electrical apparatus, machines, accessories, &c. , at
Wimbledon or elsewhere, and to acquire the business carried on by
the Wimbledon Electrical Company, Ltd. First directors : J. P.
Wallis Trevone, J. B. Bower (both directors of Wimbledon Elec-
trical Company, Ltd.), and 0. 0. Dale. Registered office : 15,
Kingston-road, Wimbledon, S.W. 19.
Electric House Cafes.

Electric House Cafes, Ltd. (181 072). Private company. Reg.
April 11. Capital, £3 000 in £1 shares. To carry on in the United
Kingdom shops, cafes, &c. Subscribers : H. Wintle, A. C.
MacWhirter, W. A. Chamen, J. H. P. Herthow, T. E. Alger, C. T.
Allen, and H. T. Ellis. Solicitor : R. W. Nicholas, 31, Queen-street.
Cardiff.
Electricity Concessions (Ireland).

Electricity Concessions (Ireland), Ltd. Private company.
Registered in Dublin. April 8. Capital, £1919 in 380 shares of £5
each and 380 shares .of Is. To acquire the business of electrical
engineers and contractors carried on by A. D. Brown, at Municipal
Buildings, Blackrock, ae the " Irish Overseas Direct Trading &
Engineers Association." First directors : A. Brown and D. J. Byrne.
Secretary : G. J. Crowe. Registered office : Municipal Buildings,
Blackrock, co. Dublin.

Haywards Heath & District Electri* Supply.

Haywards Heath & District Electric Supply Comp.\ny, Ltd.
(181 143). Registered April 13. Capital, £30 000 in £1 shares. To
acquire from E. A. Bridge, H. Dearden, H. Finch, T. White and
E. Prior, with the lonsent of and on such terms and conditions a.s
may be approved by the Electricity Commissioners, the under tiking
authorised by the Haywards Heath & District Electricity Special
Order, 1922, and to carry on the business of suppliers of electricity
in all its branches. First directors : E. A. Bridge, H. Dearden,
H. Finch, T. White and E. Prior. Registered office : Hornbeam,
Perrymount-road, Haywards Heath, Sussex.

Lighting & Power Finance Corporation.

Lighting & Power Finance Corporation, Ltd. (181 031).
Private company. Registered April 8. Capital, £2 000 in 1800 pre-
ference shares of £1 eac'n and 4 OCC ordinary shares of Is. each. To
carry on any trade connected with electric lighting, electrical distri-
bution for light, heat and power electrical and general engineering,
building and contracting, for the supply and construction of electri-
cal and engineering works, &c. Subscribers : R. E. Lenon and W. C.
Green. Registered office : 20, Abchurch-kne, E.C.

Plant and Supplies.

Plant and Supplies, Ltd. (181 109). Private company. Reg.
April 12. Capital, £4 000 in £1 shares. Electrical and mechanical
engineers, dealers in electrical and mechanical plant and engineer-
ing supplies, &c. Subscribers : A. P. Pope and J. P. Southwell.
Registered office : 12 and 13, Henrietta-street, W.C. 2.

Tele-Photography.

According to " The Times," M. Edouard Belin has communicated
to the French Academy of Sciences a description of the modifica-
tions he has recently made in his process of transmitting photo-
graphs by electrical means. The account states that the photo-
graph to be transmitted is printed on gelatine impregnated with
bichromate, the film being mounted on a revolving metal cylinder.
A stylus, which is connected to a special microphone, records the
variations in the thickness of the gelatine print and causes corre-
sponding variations in the resistance of the electrical circuit. At
the receiving end a minute spot of light from the special arc lamp
is focussed on to the mirror of a Blondel oscillograph. Variations in
intensity are produced by using a glass screen with a scale rang-
ing from complete opacity to complete transparency, and the varia-
tions are focussed on to a sensitive film, which moves in complete
harnionj with the gelatine print in the transmitter.

488

The Electrician.

April 21, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of 'extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgment*" does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Regist^ed judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

ELLARD-STYLES & COMPANY, LTD., 287, Upper-etreet,

Islington, electrical engineers. £21 15s. 5d. and £10 126. 6d.

Feb. 16.
GILL & WHITE. 26, Hardwick-street, Buxton, electricians.

£11 9s. 4d. Feb. 21.
KIRBY, Mr. R. J., 62, Oxford-street, W., electrical engineer.

£23 lis. lOd. Feb. 17.
SOUTH WALES ELECTRIC WELDING COMPANY, King's,

Dock, Swansea, electric welders. £30 Os. 6d. Feb. 4.
WENMAN, Harrv Orlando, Electrical Works, Ludlow, electrical

engineer. £31 176. 9d. Feb. 7.

Deeds of Arrangement.

TUCKER, Spenoer John (trading as TUCKER & BATESON). 55,
Bemers-street, Oxford-street, electrical engineer. Filed,
April 13. Trustee, T. L. Summers, 64, Victoria-street, A. A.
Secured creditors, £135; liabilities unsecured, £1157; assets,
lees secured claims, £253.

WEBSTER, Erneet Walter, and WEBSTER, Walter George
Frederick, trading at 48-50, Rendezvous-street, and the Harbour,
Folkestone, as WEBSTER & SON, automobile and electrical
engineers. Filed, April 7. Trustee, W. J. Bennett, 173, Fleet-
street, E.G. Liabilities unsecured, £4 610; assets, less secured
claims, £3971.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from 'printed reports, hut we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Company Winding-up.

BISHOPS CASTLE ELECTRIC LIGHT & POWER COMPANY,
LTD. A petition for winding-up has been presented by the
Premier Accumulator Company (1921), Ltd., of Cattle Market-
road, Northampton, and is to be heard at the County Court,
Leominster, Hereford, on May 8 at 10 a.m.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

B E. COMPANY (OF LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM), LTD.

F. Rowland, 70, Queen Victoria-street, London, appointed liqui-
dator. Meeting of creditors at the Cannon-street Hotel, Thurs-
day, April 20, at 3 p.m. Particulars of claims to the liquidator
by April 20.

EVANS, DEWHURST & COLLEY, LTD. A. Shankland, 82,
Queen-street, Cardiff, appointed linuidator. Meeting of credi-
tors at 82, Queen-street, Cardiff, Tuesday, April 25, at 3 p.m.

HUBERT D. CARTER (BANGOR), LTD. W. Rowley-Redwood.
Strand Buildings, Abergele-road, Colwyn Bay, appointed
liquidator. Meeting of creditors at the offices of A. Mclntyre
& Company, Strand Buildings, Colywn Bay, at 12 noon, Friday,
April 21. Particulars of claims to the liquidator by May 8.

NATIONAL ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY, LTD. W. H.
Ainsworth, 11, Winckley-street, Preston, appointed liquidator.
Meeting of creditors at liquidator's office, Tuesday, April 25, at
3 p.m. Note. — This notice is given to comply with the Com-
panies Acts. All creditors have been or will be paid in full.

PORTARLINGTON ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COM-
PANY (THE), LTD. Michael Crowley, 16, College-green,
Dublin, appointed liquidator. Meeting of creditors at
liquidator's office, Saturday, April 22, at 11 a.m.

Bankruptcy Information.

COOKSON, Eugene (trading as W. TURNBULL & COMPANY),
the Express Magneto Repair Works, Elizabeth-street and
Charles-street, Blackpool, electrical, &c. , engineer. First
meeting, April 20, 10.30 a.m., 13, Winckley-street, Preston.
Public examination, April 21, at 3 p.m., Court House. South
King-street, Blackpool.

HOLMES, Samuel, Palatine Chambers, Halifax, under the stvlo of
HOLMES & COMPANY, electrical contractor. Receiving
order, April 11. Debtor's petition. First meeting, April 28,
10.15 a.m., a.:d public examination, May 19, 10.30 a.m., County
Court House, Prescott-street, Halifax.

ORMONDE, Frank Sinclair (in co-partnership with another), under
the style of the SOHO ELECTRICAL WORKS, at 125.
Islington, Liverpool, electrician. Receiving order, April 8.
Debtor's petition.

VIVIAN, Albert, 180, Gray's Inn-road, London, W.C, electrical
engineer. Receiving order, April 10. Creditor's petition.
First meeting, April 26, 12 noon, and public examination,
June 20, 11 a.m.. Bankruptcy Buildings. Carev-street,
London, W.C. 2.

Partnerships Dissolved.

DUNSTER, Cecil George, and BACON, Vincent Edward, under
the style of DUNSTER & BACON, 19, North Holmes-road,
Canterbury, Kent, electricians, by mutual coneent as from
April 8, 1922.

FAVELL, John Edward, and MARTIN, Thomas Dawson, electrical
merchants, 2. North-street, Newcastle-upon-Tvne, under the
style of JOHN E. FAVELL & COMPANY, by" mutual consent
as from March 29, 1922. Debts received and paid by J. E.
Favell, who will continue the business.

MALLIN, Matthew, MALLIN, James, and MALLIN, Luke,
electro-platers and polishers, 29 and 30, Raglan-street. Wolver-
hampton, under the style of THE CROWN PLATING COM-
PANY, by mutual coneent as from April 11, 1922.

WOOD, Lionel, and MEARNS, Henry, under the style of SLEIGH
& WOOD, electrical and mechanical engineers, of Consett
Chambers, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as from March 27, 1922.

Edinburgh Gazette.

J. L. BROWN & COMPANY, electrical engineers, 920. Pollokshaws-
road, Glasgow (J. L. BROWN, trading as). A petition for
sequestration of the estates of this firm and sole partner has
been presented at the instance of Johnstone & Gilmour, 606,
Eglin ton-street, Glasgow.

LIVINGSTONE & MALCOLM, electricians, 7, Canal-street, Coat-
bridge (JAMES LIVINGSTONE & FRANK MALCOLM,
trading as). A petition for sequestration of the estates of this
firm and partners has been presented at the instance of the
Edison Sviran Electric Company, Ltd., 123-125, Queen Victoria-
street, London.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

BENNETT, Charles Godolphin, engineer, 66, Mark-lane, E.C. The
affairs of this debtor, who had been interested in an electric
switch-holder, and against whom a receiving order was made
on Dec. 13 laet, came before Mr. Registrar Hope at the London
Bankruptcy Court on Wednesday, April 12, on the hearing of
his applicatioir to approve a composition of 7s. 6d. in the £.
which had been accepted by his creditors. The Official Receiver
estimated the total liabilities at £1 422, but said that since
the date of the I'eceiving order two claims for £104 and £69
had apparently been paid. The assets were estimated by the
debtor at £103, and in his (the Official Receiver's) opinion,
apart from court fees, a sum of £551 would be required to
pay the composition and attendant expenses. In 1906 the
delDtor began business in partnership at the above address, bui
later on he carried on business by himself. Since March, 1916, he
had been associated with another in experimenting and putting
on the market an electric switch-holder, which he had financed
to the extent of £2 000. The debtor attributed his insolvency
to loss in connection with that project and to lack of capital.
He admitted that he was not a professional engineer, but he
claimed to have been interested in eloctrical subjecte all his
life. He estimated his loss in connection w-ith the switch -
holder at £2 847, and admitted that probably if he had not
entered into that venture he would not have been insolvent.
The Official Receiver reported that the debtor's assets wei'e not
of a value equal to 10s. in the £, that he had omitted to keep
proper books of account, and that he had contributed to his
failure by rash and hazardous speculation. With regard to the
proposal, the Official Receiver considered that it was reason-
able and calculated to benefit th? creditors. The Official
Receiver added that the application had stood over from the
date it was originally before the Court to enable the debtor 10
lodge the rest of the money. It was largely a question of a
proof of debt Jor £267, in which the creditor had not included
the security that he held. His Honour now made an order
approving the composition.

U.AWCLIFFE, Frank, trading as FRANK RAWCLIFFE & COM
PANY, 8, Nun-street. Newcastle-on-Tyne, electrical engineer.
The statement of affairs shows liabilities of £3 866 againi^t
assets of £11. At the first meeting of creditors the Official
Receiver stated tha*, a limited company had been formed in
August, 1921, to take over the liabilities. This company was
now in voluntary liquidation, and there had been a suggestion
of a payment of 10.<;. in the £ by means of debentures liqui-
dated every three months. Debtor stated that the whole of
the creditors could claim against the limited company and get
10s. in the £. The meeting was adjourned.

Tile Internationat. Western Electric Company reports that 1921
was the best year in its history, and the total sales of the com-
pany and its associates amounted to $41000 000. Tiie associated
companies in England and Bt^lgium were operated at full capacity,
and the export busine*;s compared favourably with that of 1920. The
demand for telephone equipment all over the world continues to
increase.

April 21, 1922

The Electrician.

489

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

Two illustrated loose-leaf pamphlets are to hand from Meldrums,
Ltd., describing in detail their forced draught furnaces and
mechanical stokers.

In No. 7 of the series of Transformkr Abstracts, published by
Johnson & Phillips, the question of " Switching-in Current Rushw "'
ie dealt with in detail.

The latest stoCTc list of motors and dynamos of the A.C.E.C.
[Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Charleroi), received
from the firm's London offices in Victoria-street, ehows that the
company hold a stock of between 1 100 and 1 200 a.c. and d.c. motors
from which immediate delivery can be given. The pamphlet is well
illustrated, but it would doubtless add to its value if it were printed
in English as well as in French.

The Electric & Ordnance Accessories Company, of which the

{)roprietors are Vickers, Ltd., are circulating a new abridged cata-
ogue of their porcelain insulators. Numerous designs of h.t. bush-
ings, bus-bar insulators, telegraph and telephone insulators, cleats,
threaded tubes, leading- in tubes, h.v. ceiling roses, &c., are illus-
trated, the firm's patent " fireite " heat-resisting and insulating
material being employed in their manufacture.

No better way of showing the wide range of trucks manufacured
by the firm of H. C. Slingsby could have been chosen than the
sheet recently issued, which measures 2 ft. 8^ in. by 3 ft. 6 in., and
every square inch of which, on both sides, shows trucks of various
types for every conceivable purpose. Several types of electric trucks
are illustrated, such as electric crane trucks, electric tractors, electric
lifting-tiering trucks, electric lifting platform trucks.

We have received from Archibald Baird & Son, manufacturers i.f
high-grade steel castings, a loose-leaf booklet of illustrations,
measuring 9 in. by 11 in. After excellent photographs of the works
at Hamilton, near Glasgow, including a general view of the outside,
the interior of the moulding, dressing, and engineering shops, and
the power house, illustrations are given of the firm's manufactures —
ship castings, gear wheels and blanks, mill spindles and coupling
boxes, machine-moulded spur wheels, colliery castings, &c.

The Runbaken Magneto Company have issued a leaflet describing
their new Ford ignition system, which gives two distinct forms or
ignition (battery and magneto), and uses the magnsto system
installed on the cars The system, they claim, can be installed by
anyone, without special tools, in forty minutes. Instead of four
coils, with their troublesome tremblers, complicated connections,
&c., a small transformer coil takes their place. There is one contact
breaker and one h.t. distributor, both of which are quite accessible
and simple in construction.

In an illustrated booklet entitled " Steam Generation," Babcock
& Wilcox, Ltd., deal with some of the developments which have
taken place in their manufactures since the outbreak of the war in
1914. Among the more important of these are those in connection
with their C.T.M. and W.I.F. boilers, chain grate, and forced and
balanced draught stokers, traversing coal chutes, portable boilers,
special furnaces, &c. In addition to the natural and forced draught
chain grate stokers mentioned above, the company have acquired
the right during the last twelve months to manufacture the Riley
Underfeed stoker.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, April 18.

Cofjter — Price. Inc. Dec.

Best selected per ton £63 0 0 — —

Electro Wirebars .. „ £66 10 0 — —

H.C wire, basis per lb. Os. lOJ^d. — —

Sheet „ Os. 9^^± — —

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone)
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis Is. 2^d. — —

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis „ Os. 7Jd. — —

Sheet, basis Os. 9Jd. — —

Wire, basis , Os. lOd. — —

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants . per ton £4 15 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £18 0 0 — —

Lead Pig —

English „ £24 0 0 lOs. —

Foreign or Colonial . . „ £22 15 0 7s. 6d. —

Tinr—

Ingot „ £151 15 0 — I5s.

Wire, basis per lb. 23. Id. — —

Aluminium Ingots per ton £120 0 0 — —

Spelter per ton £26 12 6 5s. —

Mercury per bottle £110 0 — —

Salammoniac. — Per cwt. 658.-60s. Sodium Chlorate. — Per lb. 3ld.

Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 iSs. Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168').—

„ (Roll-Brimstone). — Per ton Per ton £9 lOs.

£10 153. Copper Su/;)We.— Per ton £26 10s.

Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5Jd. Boric Acid {CTyat&la). — Per ton £60
Rubber. — Para fine, 10 Id. ; plantation 1st latex, 8,'d
The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby Cables.

Ltd, and the rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works

Company.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. April 21st (to-day).

Electrical Power Engineers' Assocution.

7 p.m. At Essex Hall, Strand, London, W.C. General

Meeting.

Junior Institdtion of Engineers.

8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Paper entitled " Con-

denser and Choke Coil Protective Apparatus," by Mr. S. A.
Stignant.

MONDAY. April 24th.

institxmon of electrical engineers.
(Liverpool Sub-CentreJ
7 p.m. At the Laboratories oi Applied Electricity, the Univer-
sity, Brownlow-street, Liverpool. Paper entitled " Engineer-
ing Advertising and the Work of the E.D.A.." by Mr. .1. W.
Beauchamp.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
7 p.m. At the Institution, Storey's Gate, London. S.W. Paper
entitled "Jigs and Tools," by Mr. B. A. C. Hills.
TUESDAY. April 25th.

Institution of Civil Engineers.

6 p.Tn. At Great George-street, Westminster. London, S.W.

Annual General Meeting.

Institution of Electrical EbrGiNEERS.

(East Midland Sub-Ce>;tre.)

6.45 p.m.. At Loughborough College. Loughborough. Paper on

" Electric Vehicles," by Mr. R. J. Mitchell.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.

(North-western Centre.)

7 p.m. At the Engineers' Club, 17, Albert-square, Manchester.

Annual General Meeting. Lecture on " Advertising and the
Work of the British E.D.A.," by Mr. J. W. Beaucnamp.
Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(South Midland Centre.)
7 .SO p.m.. At the University, Edmund-street. Birmingham.
Annual General Meeting.

WEDNESDAY, April 26th.

Royal Institution of Great Britain.
S p.m. At Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, London. W. 1. A
Lecture on " Industrial Relationships," by Prof. D. H.
Macgregor.

Royal Society of Arts.

8 p.m. At John-street, Adelphi, London. W.C. 2. Lecture on

" The Use and Advantages of Electric Power in the
Factory, as Illustrated by its Application to the Jute
Industry," by Mr. John Francis Crowley.
Liverpool Engineering Society.
8 p.m. At the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street, Liverpool.
Annual General Meeting.
THURSDAY, April 27th.

Royal Institution of Great Britain.
3 p.m.. At 21, Albemarle-street, London. W. 1. Lecture on
"Audition and Colour Vision," by Prof. E. H. Barton.
The NEWco\rEN Society.

5 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Papers on " A Note on

Brunton's Walking Engine, 1813." by Mr. L. St. L.
Pendred : " A Note on Heaton's Steam Carriage, 1828." by
Mr. A. Titley; " Gurney's Railway Locomotives." by Mr.
E. A. Forward.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.

6 p.m. At the Lecture Theatre of the Institution, Savoy-place.

Victoria Embankment, W.C. 2. Lecture on "Protective
Apparatus for Turbo- Alternators," by Mr. J. A. Kuyser.
Liverpool Engineering Societt.
7.30 p.m. At the Royal Institution, Colquitt-street, Liverpool.
Students* Meeting. Paper entitled " The Uniflow Steam
Engine," by Mr. E. Cockshutt.

The Illuminating Engineering Society.
8 p.m. At Royal Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi, London.
Discussion on " The Use of Light in Hospitals.
FRIDAY. April 28th.

Royal Society of Arts.
4.30 p.m. At Royal Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi.
London. Indian Section Meeting.

Electrical Power Engineers' Associ.\tion.

7 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers. Savoy-place,

Victoria Embankment, London. Lecture entitled "Some
Notes on the Design of Generating Plant." by Mr. C. F.
Hewitt.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(North- Western Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At the College of Technology, Manchester. Public
Lecture on " Recent Developments in Atomic Research," by
Prof. W. L. Bragg.

institunon of electrical engineers.
(Scottish Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At Technical Institute, Dundee. Paper entitled
" Single and Three-Phase Alternating Current Commutator
Motors with Series and Shunt Characteristics." by Prof.
S. Parker Smith.

Junior Institutioi: of Engineers.
S p.m. At Caxton Hall, London. S.W. Lecturette. "Some
Notes on the Utilisation of Water Power," by Capt. H.
Whittaker.

490

The £lectrician.

April 21, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The foUotcing abstract from some of the gpecifieation* recently published have
been specially compiled by Messrs. Mewbubn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent
Agents, 70 and 72, Chancery-lane, London. W.C.

Complete Specifications.

142 870 NiENHOLD, J. Apparatus for rectifying high and low-frequency

alternating cun-ents. (15/5/17.)
144 318 HUBERS, G. X-ray plant. (27/3/16.)

144 738 Moses, W. B. Electricity generating and ignition apparatus for

internal combustion engines. (29/6 '17.)

145 018 JuNGER, E. W. Primary galvanic batteries and electrodes for

such batteries and methods of manufacturing such electrodes.
(17/6/19.)
145 042 MetAllurgique Electriqtje. Suspension of electric traction
wires. (19/2/14.)

145 422 SiEMEMS-ScHUCKERTWEaKE Ges. Arc lamps, more especially for

searchlights. (20/8/17.)

146 354 Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges. System for controlling relays by

means of wave trains especially for wireless high-speed tele-
graphy. (27/5/19.)

146 530 Eadio Corporation of America. Wireless signalling apparatus.
(5/4/15.)

146 531 Eadio Corporation of America. Thermionic valves for use in
wireless signalling apparatus. (5/4/15.)

146 536 Eadio Corporation of America. Apparatus for radio signalling.
(1/2/16.)

146 538 Eadio Corporation of America. Thermionic vacuum valve
devices. (10/3/17.)

146 946 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. Generation of electrical

oscillations. (8/7/19.)

147 148 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. Electron discharge devices.

(29/10/13.)

147 153 Seibt, G. Telephones. (1/3/16.)

147 225 Vaile-Kimes Co. Automatic cut-out for electric motors.
(16/6/15).

147 430 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Wireless telegraph transmis-
sion. (24/12/15.)

147 439 Ges. for Drahtlose Telegraphie. Coarse and fine adjustment
suitable for tuning and coupling devices for wireless telegraph
apparatus. (10/11/17.)

147 445 Ges. FiJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Means for signalling to rail-
way trains in motion. (4/2/19.)

147 446 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Wireless receivers. (21/5/19.)

147 457 Ampere Ges. Process for producing ferrotungsten. (6/5/18.)

147 616 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. Electron discharge appara^
tus. (16/10/13.)

147 627 Frankfurter Maschinen-ebau- Akt.-Ges. vorm Pokorny & Witte-
KIND. Electro-motors. (18/3/16.

147 663 KoHLER Co. Electric generating systems. (20/8/17.)

147 702 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Production and control of
high frequency currents in static transformers with auxiliary
magnetisation, especially for use in wireless signalling. (26/2/14.)

147 718 Jacoviello, F. Combined resistance with hollow conductor*.
(21/12/17.)

147 756 Latour, M. Telephone and like systems. (23/5/19.)

147 772 Apple, V, G. Terminal bending tools for armatures. (11/12/16.)

147 773 Apple, V. G. Method of constructing armatures and stators for
dynamo-electric machines. (30/12/16.)

147 775 Apple, V. G. Method of building commutators for dynamo-
electric machines. (22/1/17.

147 776 Apple, V. G. Method of uniting armature terminals adapted for
building commutators for dynamo-electric machines. (22/1/17.)

147 779 Apple, V. G. Starting and lighting apparatus for self-propelled
vehicles. (23/4/17.)

147 780 Apple, V. G. Method of Joining separated armature conductors
and of making commutators from said conductors. (14/2/18.)

147 787 Apple, V. G. Dynamo-electric machines. (21/3/18.)

147 789 Apple, V. G. Methods of making armatures, and armatures pro-
duced thereby. (7/5/18.)

147 790 Apple, V. G. Method of connecting conductor bars of dynamo-
machines. (20/5/18.)

147 792 Apple, V. G. Tool for bending the terminals of armature con-
ductors. (23/12/18.)

147 802 Soc. Francaise Eadio-Electriqce. Electro-magnetic wave-receiv-
ing systems. (1/6/15.)

147 806 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. Means for controlling elec-
tric currents and potentials by the use of electron discharge
apparatus. (5/2/14.)

147 807 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. Dynamo-electric machines.
(16/1/17.)

147 808 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd.

147 811 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd.
(15/6/18.)

147 812 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd.

for interml-combiiotion engines. (16/1/17.)

147 813 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. High-frequency alternators.

147 814 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. Means for transforming

direct current. (29/12/13.)
147 816 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd.

(11/10/17.)
147 819 B-fiTisn Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd.

'31/10/17.)
147 823 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd.

'29/12/13.)
147 836 Soc. Francaise Eadio Electrique.

(24/2/17.)

147 851 Ge.s. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Thermionic valve generators

'9'1/18.)

148 127 Kruh, O. Airtight metal cap connection for conducting electric

current into hollow glass bodies. (6/7/17.)
148 130 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. Production of metal films,

particularly for use as electrodes in vacuum electric discharge

apparatus. (6/6/14.)
148 131 B"itiSh Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. Generation of high Ire-

nuenoy o=rill'itions. '."i/G/lS.)
148 180 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telfgraphie. Transmitters of high-frequency

oscillations. (6/11/18.)
148 321 HuTH Gr;.^., Dr. E. F. & Loewe, S. Wireless receiving apparatus.

'20/12/15.)
148 324HUTH Ges.. Dr. E. F. Electric coils for high-frequency pur-
poses. (29/11/16.)
148 334 ScHLOTTER. M. Process for the electrolytic production of dense

and firmly adhering tin deposits. (15/3/17.)
148 522 Kruh, O. Airti^-ht met.il can connection for conducting electric

current into hollow glass bodies. (15/1/19.)

Electric motors. (14/2/lh.)
Wireless receiving systems.

Electric starting systems

Wireless receiving systems.

Electron flischarge devices.

Wireless signalling systems.

Wireless telephony systems.

148 524

148 786
148 805

148 872
148 913
148 978

148 979

149 236

149 268
149 345
149 973

151 243

Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Electric conducting colls.
(4/3/18.) (Patent of Addition not granted.)

Goldschmidt, E. Ground connections for wireless stations.
(21/3/17.)

Allgemeine Electricitats Ges. Coin-freed meter for electricity,
gas, water or the like, provided with a device for making a
minimum charge. (13/7/17.)

Schmidthammer. G. L. Production of electric carbons. (20/3/18.)
GUTMANN, K. Holders and brackets for electric lamps. (14/2/19.)
Signal-Ges. Electro-magnetic submarine sound-signalling
apparatus. (1/11/18.)

Signal-Ges. Electro-magnetic sound-transmitting and receiving
apparatus with two exciting windings. (18/11/18.)
Allegemeine Electricitats Ges. Three-arm choking-coil cr
transformer with inductance variable by continuous or alter-
nating current of low frequency. (17/9/14.)
Coninck, M. E. de. Electric propulsion of ships. (15/7/19.)
Philipps Akt.-Ges. Magneto-electric lamws. (24/7/19.)
Bardeloni, C. Becei\'-ins methods of radio-telegraphic and radio-
telephonic signals. (10/1/18.)

Apple, V. G. Method of constructing armatures for dynamo-
electric machines. (15/9/19.)

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS

April 3, 1922.
Electro-magnetically

operated hooters.

9 489 K. Bosch Akt.-Ges.

(18/4/21, Germany.)
9 519 O. L. Klerer. Printing telegraph machines.
9 521 Patent Tre'^hand-Ges. fur Elektrische GLtJHLAMPEN. Electric gas

lamps with glow discharge. (4/4/21. Germany.)
9 526 Western Electric Co. Telephone reneater systems.
9 527 Western Electric Co. Telephone exchange systems.
9 529 E. W. Dorez. Electrostatic condensers.
9 532 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Supporting devices for pointers,

needles. &c.
9 547 Aeronautical Instrument Co. Earth inductor devices. (13/8/21,

U.S.)
9 560 J. S. Eoss. Devices for recording telephone calls.
9 569 Soc. Anon, pour l'Exploitation des Propedes M. Leblanc-Vickers.

Hi.Qih speed electric machines. (16/4/21. France.)
9 579 W. H. Meyrick. Anchoring conductor rails.

April 4, 1922.
9 590 J. E. C. August & E. K. Hunter. Electric control means.
9 593 G. W. Hawksley. Device for magneto testing.
9 640 Woods-Gilbert Eail Eemodelling Co. Machines for dressing rails.
9 6«5 W. F. Topley & F. H. Eobinson. Electric railway signals.
9 686 F. W. Le Tall (Westinghouse Electric Supply and Mfg. Co.)
Frequency regulators for a.c. circuits.

April 5, 1922.

9 742 W. J. Newman. Cycle dynamo lamps, &c.

9 763 T. F. Wall. Means for rectifying alternating currents, &c.

9 768 A. A. King. Electric torches.

9 770 N. Clough. Systems of electric traction and suspension of over-
head conductors.

9 775 S. W. Bligh & E. L. Crowe. Amplifying wireless signal currents
to work recordins instruments.

9 786 CiE Franc, pour l'Exploitation des PROcfiDf s Thomson-Houston.
Safety devices for switch hooks of telephone instruments.
(8/4/21, France.)

April 6. 1922.

9 842 F. Addie & A. G. Hartley. Electrical control gear.

9 874 W. E. Macdonald. Electric motors.

9 876 H. E. Holman. Electric mincer.

9 886 Measurement, Ltd., & F. Holden. Prepayment electricity meters.

9 902 F. C. B. Chase. Insulating device.

April 7, 1922.
9 911 A. M. Taylor. Eeducing self-induction and eddy current losses in

underground electric cables.
9 912 W. E. Eoberts. Devices for ensuring electrical continuity in steel

conduits.
9 924 L. J. Vann. Electric machines.
9 925 Fuller's United Electric Works & E. E. Beswick. Vents for

storage batteries.
9 926 J. G. Thomson. Utilising tidal energy for generating power.
9 929 Townshends, Ltd., & E. Townshend. Detachable connectors for

connecting flexible cables to kettles, &c.
9 931 P. G. Barden. Automatic time switch for electric light.
9 941 Parker, Winder, <k Achurch, & J. F. Pennefather. Incandescent
' lamps.

9 947 Crompton & Co. & W. F. Jones. Automatic circuit-breakers.
9 960 F. E. Pernot & L. J. Eich. Selective reception of alternating

currents.
9 968 P. Eombach. Electric pocket lamp.

9 970 O. E. C. Sherwood. Amplifiers for wireless telegraphy, &c.
9 982 B. T.-H. Cc, H. C. Hastings. & C. T. Hanna. Motor control.
9 902 A. J. Church. Carbon holders for arc lamps.

9 997 Western Electric Co. Long telecrraph cables. (16/8/21. U.S.)

10 002 A. E. O'Dell 'Lorenz Akt.-Ges. & Scheppmann). Method of

receiving in telephony and wireless telegraphy and telephony.
10 003 ScHwEi7ERiscnE Gasapparate Farr. Solsthurn u. Elektra Fabr.
Elek Heiz u. Kochapparate. Electric regulating resistances for
switches, &c. (13/4/21, Switzerland.)

April 8, 1922.
10 016 E. Bosch Akt.-Ges. Battery ignition devices. (17/6/21,

Germany.)
10 028 O. Zinke. Anparatus for recording telephone conversations.
10 031 Stamping & Spinning Works, Ltd., & N. L. Penn. Dimmer

Switches for motor vehicle lamps.
10 043 J. Hampson & R. Olsen. Electric switches.
10 058 F. E. Pernot & L. J. Rich. Multiplex telegraphy.
10 082 C. O. Bastian. Positively indicating completion of magnetic

change in carbon steel under heat treatment.
10 084 Telegraph Condenser C^. & W. J. Cole. Electric condensers.
10 088, 10 092, 10 093, & 10 094 II. S. Conrad. Telephone systems.
10 089 H. S. Conrad. Apparatus for automatic telephone i^ystenis.
10 090 & 10 091 H. S. Conrad. Telephone switching mechanism, &c.

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Office* of " Thi
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4. Tele-
grnmK: Rfvhrnfric, Fleet. Lo'idnn. Telephone: City 9852 (5 lines).

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THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2293.

r No. 17
Lvoi. Lxxxvm,

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1922.

I>Tepaid Subscription U.K., ^\ 55.
perann. ; Abroad, j^i 101.

Price 6d.

CONTENTS.

Notes of thb Week 491

International Electric Traction 495

Practical Armature Winding Formulae. By L. WoUison.

Illustrated 496

The Sea Eeturn Impedance of a Submarine Cable. By John E.

Carson and J. J. Gilbert 499

High-Power Mercury Arc Rectifiers 500

Eadioactivity. Illustrated .....'. 501

Counterbalancing the Slump. By W. A. Gillott 505

An Interesting Type of Switchgear. Illustrated 505

Miners' Blindness 506

Correspondence 506

A Metallurgist on the Electric Furnace 506

Electric Traction in South Africa 507

Electric Safety Lamps 507

Stonework Cubicle Gear at Southport Power House 508

"Heatrae" Fires 508

Wind-Power for the Generation of Electricity 509

Tucker Switches 509

Faraday Entrance Scholarships 509

Building Hydraulic Machinery Electrically 510

Electric Butt- Welding 510

Country House Lighting Sets 510

Legal Intelligence 511

Gosforth All-Electric House 511

New Meth'^d of Packing Eubber Wires

Hackney Electrical Exhibition

I.M.E.A. Yorkshire Centre : Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting of the E.T.B.I

Electric v. Petrol Vehicles

Electricity Supply

Electric Traction

Personal and Appointments

Business Items, &c ■..

Wireless and Telephone Notes

Institution Notes

Obituary

Opening of Anglo-Egyptian Wireless Service

Miscellaneous

Imperial and Foreign Notes

Possible Trade Openings .

Electrical Imports and Exports

Tenders Invited and Accepted

Commercial Intelligence

Companies' Meetings, Eeports, &c

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c

New Companies

Exhibition Notes

Arrangements for the Week

Patent Eecord

511
512
512
512
512
513
513
514
514
514
514
515
515
515
515
515
516
516
516
518
518
519
519
519
520

Notes of the Week.

The Great Question.

Is taxation going to be reduoeid ? That is the question
ol' the moment to which the answer will be supplied by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer on Monday. Like all
questions of its kind, the answer will not depend solely on
financial or industrial considerations, but will be influenoed
by those political undercurrents which are the evil genius of
our time. Taxation cannot be reduced, say the Treasury
officials, without resourcei to unsonnd methods of financei.
If taxation is not reduced, say Lord Inchcape and the
City of London, we shall land, " unless we act promptly
and resolutely, in the ditch." How are these two expert
opinions to be reconciled ? Lord Inchcape supplies the best
answer : By a reduction of expenditure, a simple course to
which the Government are as averse as ever was Naaman
the Syrian when he was told what to do.

A Bold Course the Best.

But even if expenditure be not drastically reduced, and
only allowed to fall by the soft and easy methods beloved
of the Government, the reduction of tax:ation is a course,
bold it may be, but sitill essential for the end in view.
The present high rate of income tax, the Corporation tax,
the penal excise duties are not only strangling trade but
are failing to produce the CLxpected revenue. Were the
income tax to be reduced, and the Corporation tax
abolished, it might be that the stimulation given to trade
would re>.5ult in no falling off in revenue. Sir Robert
Peel tried the experiment about eighty years ago, and it
was successful. It would certainly be worth repeating.

The Intricacies of Armature Winding.

Thebe are some branches of electrical activities whicli
ever remain a mystery to those not intimately engaged in

them. When questions coiuiected with t*hem crop up the
only difference between the average electrical engineer and
the rest of the world is that the former is distressed because
he feels he ought to know, while the latter proceeds on his
way in blissful ignorance, or the certainty which
ig akin thereto, but genei'ally in still more blissful
indifference. We might cit-e as an example of what
we mean much of the modera complicated work in tele-
phony into which Mr. Aitkex periodic<illy gives readers
of The Electrician an insight, but more to the point will
be the contents uf the article on " Practical Armature
Winding Formulae," which Mr. L. Wollisox contributes
to this issue. Outside the specialists' drawing; office and
the designers' den the armature winding diagram is a thing
of mystifioation to most. Little less mystifying is the
armature actually being wound in the shops. It is tliere-
fore a relief to find that many of those who wind armatures
do not understand the theoretical diagrams, and it is to
their rescue, and incidentally to the rescue of the more
general reader, that Mr. Wollison therefore comes.
Equally true, of course, is it that many of those who can
design armature windings cannot wind armatures, but that
is another story.

A Plea for Simplicity.

Summarised, Mr. Wollisox's arguments are a plea for
simplicity. The winder, he says, when given an armature
containing a certain number of slots and commutator seg-
ments requires only to know the pitch between the two sides
of any coil in the slots, in terms of the slots, and the pitch
between the two segments of the commutator, to which the
two ends of any unit are connected, in terms of the seg-
ments. It is possible to express any type of sea-ies drxun
d.c. winding of any degree of multiplicity or re-entrancy in
terms of the se^nents by a simple formula for which is
necessary to know notliing beyond the number of segments
in the commutator and the type of winding. Mr. Wollison

492

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

supports his arguments by means of numerous examples and
makes out so good a case that we feel sure he will bring
relief not ouly to those for whom he primarily writes but
fo'r electrical engineers at large.

Pure Science and its Applications.

The series of lectures on " Tladioaotivit0^," jecen.tly
given at the Royal Institution by Sir Ernest Rutherford,
of which we conclude our account to-day, not only bring
together in readable form much information on an im-
portant subject, but indicate how our knowledge of the
disintegration of substances, which were at one time thought
indivisible, both into new substances and into those already
known in another form, is increasing. It is a branch of
investigation which has always had a fascination for
soientifio workers since the days of the early alchemists,
though the methods employed and the fate meted out to
those engaged in it are vastly different. For with investi-
gators in x-adioactivity like Sir J. J. Thomson and Sir
Ernest Rutherford disintegration has been an incident
in a genuine search after further knowledge rather than a
means to eai-thly riches and power. It is not unlikely,
however, that these researches in the purest of pure physics
may have some considerablei application. Such a thing
has happened before and doubtless will happen again until
we are almost led to contend that th,eire is noi field of theo-
retical investigation from which some useful data of prac-
tical application may not be derived.

Amateur Wireless.

Progress in wireless communication assumes different
forms in accordance with the different viewpoints of the
observer. To the expert this progress is reflected in patent
specifications, in articles in technical journals, or in Papers
read before scientific societies. To the amateur, progress
means an increasing facility in reading signals owing to a
development in his own aural skill or in the discovery of the
idiosyncracies of his apparatus. To the newspapeir man,
wireless progress means the more speedy and more general
dissemination of news. For thei amatenxr and for thei news-
paper man, therefore, improveanent in wireless telephony
especially opens up new vistas of enjoymemti and neiw possi-
bilities. Some of these are not without their drawbacks,
and the newspaper man is more than a little fearful of one
phase at least of this possible deN^elopment.

Wireless Telephony and Civilisation.

The statement of JMr. Godfrey Isaacs that wireless tele-
phony is destined to play a great part in every country in
future has therefore had as an immediate result the pub-
lication of all sorts of special articles and opinions on this
inaportant question from the two points of view we have
just mentioned. Technical opinion is naturally silent in
these discussions, though without its help these develop-
ments will be quite impossible and can only progress with
its continued assistance. Here, however, there should be no
great diffiovilty. Equally easy should be the path of the
amateur, and contentment should be his lot, providing he
can resist the temptation toi think life incomplete without
a licence for transmitting, a facility which we hope will be
most sparingly granted. For there are already complaints
in this country that important wireless services are being
interfered with by messages from privileged amateiurs, and
in America the confusion has been so great as to cause the
Government to appoint a Committee to consider the whole
question. Indiscriminate, even limited transmission, is
unnecessary, and should be strictly controlled. Our streets

are crowded and noisy enough to make us wish that the
Heaviside layer should be kept free from similar distrac-
tions.

News, Not Comment, •

This limitation however imposes this great responsibility
on Government : that, the information sent out by wireless
telegraphy or telephony to bei picked up by innumerable
newsij:)aper or amateur stations, as Mr. Isaacs envisages,
should be news in the truest sense of the word uncoloured
by comment and free from the suspicion of propaganda.
If the wireless amateur finds it difficult to resist the tempta-
tion to transmit, much more difficult will the Government
find it to resist, as they must resist, the temptation to use
wireless news service for anything biit pure news. If,
however, that is done, not only will the propagation of in-
formation be possible with an accuracy, speed and fulness
unknown to-day, but the wireless industry will enter an era
of unbounded prosperity, which is, of course, the matter
with which we are most concerned.

Railways and Electrical Men.

As we recently pointed out, the organisation of electrical
work on our main railways is not without its injustices and
its illogicalities. The " Railway Gazette " emphasises
this by recalling that on the London and North Western
Railway the signal department was for some time under
the chief mechanical engineer, but is now under the chief
engineer (on railways the officer who' looks after civil
engineering work). For a time the telegraph department
was a separate unit, then it came under the signal superin-
tendent, and finally under the electrical engineer when Col .
CoRTEZ Leigh was appointed to that position. Now the
chief engineer once more holds sway over its destinies, as is
the case on most other railways except th.6 Great Western,
where Mr. Blackhall supervises both the signals and the
telegraphs. On the Midland there is a different division
of duties, the telegraphs, telephones and overhead work
connected with electric traction coming under Mr. Sayers,
as telegraph superintendent, and the generating plant and
electrically equipped rolling stock under INIr. Dalzell, of
the chief mechanical engineer's department.

The Need for a Railway Electrical Engineer.

In px-actice px-obably the confusioxx is xxot so gx^eat as in
theory. Nevertheless, we hold to our opinion that all elec-
trical work on a railway should be placed under an electrical
exxgineiex", who should be a- chief officer with direct access to
the general xxxanager . If the telegx-aph and telephone systems
are so closely conixected with the signalling that the signal
superintendeixt must exercise super\'isioxx over them in
practice, the whole of the electrical work should certainly
be carried out in coixsultation with the electrical exxgineer.
It is time the electxncal department ceased to be considered
as a Cinderella and be made what it is, one of the ixxost
important links in the whole ixxachine.

The Engineers* Dispute.

' The condxict of xxegotiations between the pai-ties to i-ecent
industrial disputes have followed a well trodden path.
Both sides have vievv'ed with appax-ent indifference a move-
ment towards a stoppage of wox-k, and even after that
stoppage has occuxTed, though coxxiere^noes innuxxxerable
have beeix held, there has been an equally appai'ent reluc-
tance to come to terixxs, until a longer or shorter period of
stagnation of production has elapsed. Meanwhile, much
damage is done to both sides, aixd ixx the x-esuli either side
is little, if any, the better. It is not nxuch of an adveii;ise~
inent of the taot and diplomatic capacity of either side or

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

493

of the much vaunted national characteristics of sanity
and levelheadedness.

Qualities for Settlement.

The engineers' dispute seems about to run the same disas-
trous course. After days of alternate hopes and fears it looks
at the time of writing as if the lock-out, far from being
raised, will be extended to the members of the other forty-
seven unions concerned, and that 1 000 000 workmen in the
engineering and shipbuilding industries will be rendered
idle. This is to take place at a time when trade is said to
be reviving, and when high hopes of still further stimulation
from reduced taxation are in everyone's mind. And the
worst of it is it all seems about so little. For even the
lengthy statements which are issued by both sides are but
reitieration'and embroidery of the simple fact that no
formula can be found which gives employers control in their
own works and at the same time safeguards the workers
against apprehended injustice and O'ppression. We fear
that the reason why such a formula cannot be found is that
stubbornness is prevalent on both sides, that goodwill is
lacking, and that fatalism is stultifying that moderate
opinion which should be working for peace. But the
present state of deadlock cannot go> on indefinitely, and the
sooner, therefore, that it is resolved the better for all
parties. As Sir Charles Macara says : "It is high time
an end was put to the folly."

Storms in Teacups.

Is there something in the electricity supply industr}^
which makes for a highly-charged atmosphere? It cer-
tainly seems so, for quite small matters have a way of
suddenly expanding out of all semblance to their initial
proportions. The latest example is the Chelmsford dis-
pute, where a jointer, in a way jointers have, refused to
connect up non-union wiring to the mains. The District
Council forthwith passed a resolution of the high- explosive
type and transmitted it to the National Council for dis-
charge. Now we hear rumblings which we are meant
apparently to regard as the crackings of the foundations
of the Whitley Connoil movement. But we decline to
visualise the edifice rocking. For in our opinion the
industrial councils are far too firmly set on their founda-
tions to be endangered by such surface vibrations.

What is the Issue ?

But, after all, what is the issue in all these cases from
the trade union side. Merely an attempt to force a few
small wiring contractors to observe union conditions. Often
these contractors are merely " one man firms," and are not
woi-tli powder and shot. On the other hand the trade
unions have everything to gain by relinquishing their
present doubtful methods of refusing to connect up the
work done by such people. For such a policy puis the
electricity supply undertakings in a difficult legal position.
The vriiions must realise this; and realise too that their
policy must in the long run endanger that goodwill which-
has been so vastly augmented by the three years working
of the industrial councils. As a matter of fact, it speaks
volumes for the goodwill existing between both sides, that
this guerilla-warfare, carried on by the unions in the
territory of the undertakings, has not resulted in an open
breach of the peace. The dispute is, in fact, still in the
realms of friendly negotiation. We certainly hope that
the trade unions will concede this point, especially in view
of the fact that the mere settlement of an awkward dispute
of this kind by the Council will give added prestige to the
Whitley movement, and establish it more firmly than
ever.

British Electric Transformer Progress.

The Beports of a manufacturing company like the British
Electric Transformer Company may be taken as a good
index of the steady advance of the electricity supply in-
dustry, for the company manufactures equipment and
domestic apparatus to meet the demands of new consumers.
It is therefore satisfactory to learn that the past year's
working of the Company is a record, the net profit being
£91 417, compared with X70 267 in the previous year, and
£48 053 in 1919. After placing £15 000 to reserve

(against £10 000 in 1920), the directors are able to
pay an ordinary dividend of 10 per cent, with a
bonus of 2^ per cent., as in the three previou.s
years, while a sum of £12 700 is carried forward, or £6 500
more than in the previous year. It should be noted the
growth cf the net profit has kept pace with the increase
in the capital, and the figures in the accounts therefore
indicate that the Company's business is sound and ex-
panding. As progress is made with the reorganisation of
electricity supply, and as the charges for electrical energy
are lowered there should be an increasing demand for the
Company's products, and even better results may, there-
fore, be anticipated in future years.

South American Ideas of Justice.

The actions of the Governments and municipal authori-
ties of South American republics are sometimes as weird and
peculiar as those of the heathen Chinee. The latest per-
formance of the Monte Video Council, therefore, only adds
one more chapter to a history which is not without ite
purple patches. Swayed by strange influences as our local
authorities sometimes are, they do not go about seizing the
undertakings of the private companies. Yet this is what
recently happened to the United Electric Tramways of
Monte Video, and to another tramway company operating
in the same city. It is obvious that if this sort, of thing
is going to occur often, no British company, or company of
any other nationality, will rush to own and operate elec-
tricity supply, electric tramways, or other public under-
takings in South American towns, and that, as the manage-
ment of these undertakings does not seem to be within tlie
capacity of the local inhabitants, the facilities for trans-
port and lighting in these cities will suffer considerably.

How the Trouble Arose.

What makes the matter more interesting to English com-
panies is that the trouble apparertly arose over the fares
question. The company's concession contains provisions
fixing the fares that might be charged ; but during the war,
and since the Armistice, no increase to meet the great rise
in the cost of materials, and of higher wages paid to em-
ployees, has been permitted, in spite of the fact that about
four years ago, when the company applied for sanction to
such increases, the matter was fully discussed, and a
Government Committee made a favourable recommendation.
To make matters worse, the Government has recently been
dabbling in social reform, which, as our own experieiu»
has shown, has added heavily to the expenses of the com-
pany; while, adding insult to injury, the company's em-
ployees canie out on strike recently for a still furtiier
wage increase, which the company naturally refused to
grant. When the strike commenced, the Gilbertian muni-
cipality ordered the company to resume its services, or in
default to pay a fine of |50 a day for each car that was not
running. The company, however, did a little refusing on
their own account, and after the strike had lasted over three
weeks, the municipality instructed the defaulters to retxuTi

490^

The Electrician*

April 28, 1922

to work, and promised them the increased wages at the com-
pany's cost, thus successfully fulfilling the creed of the
modern socialist of being generous at somebody else's
expense. The underaking is now being operated
under municipal control, the wages required being
forcibly taken from the company's receipts. We should
imagine there would be no great rush to obtain tramway
concessions in South America, or even to emigrate there if
the Geddes axe fails to fulfil its functions.

The Miners and Electric Coal Cutters.

The Miners' Fedei-ation, fresh from more or less suc-
cessful attempts to settle the wages question in their indus-
ti*v, are turning their attemtion to electrically operated
coal cutters, whose use, they contend, should be confined
to mines where no gas is present. This is very subtle. For
in effect it would practically prohibit the employment of
coal-cutters, and is therefore significant of the unenlightened
attitude with which I>abour still regards the employment
of machinery generally. With their contention that such
machineiy should be faultlessly designed and properly
operated by skilled workmen we can, however, agree. That
the second condition is not always fulfilled is clear from
the evidence recently given in a compensation case at Glas-
gow. Here the coal-cutter was a specially designed flame-
proof machine, in perfect working order; but an accident
occurred owing to a workman neglecting, as so often
happens, to exercise ordinary care.

An Unwise Decision.

The cause of the accident was the failure of a workman
to screw down a switohbox cover, so that the gas was ignited
by the flame. The sheriff held that taking off and fixing
such switchbox covers was not a skilled electrician's work,
but could be performed by a man operating the coal-cutter.
This decision seems to us to be unnecessarily general, and
is, in fact, in the letter, and not in the spirit, of the regu-
lations for the use of electricity in mines. Taking off of a
switchbox cover in a gaseous mine is a dangerous if not a
difficult operation, and should, therefore, only be effected
by a skilled person, especially as the safety of the workers
largely depends on proper precautions being taken, and on
no unnecessary risks being incurred.

The Relief of Rates Again.

One of the principal arguments against municipal elec-
tricity supply is that the committee in charge of
the undertaking may allow its political bias to direct
its actions to gain some temporary financial advan-
tage in a way which no prudent board of ;direotors
would sanction. For instance, in pre-war days
it was a common practice to raid the tramway and
electricity accounts for sums which should have beem
allocated to reserve or deprecaation in ordor to i-educe the
rates or to wipe out deficits elsewhere. We regret to notice
that this practice is being revived, for it is finance of the
worst kind to takei sums from the ' ' profits ' ' of the elec-
tricity supply department until a substantial reserve has
been provided and until the price of electrical energy has
been reduced to as low a figure as possible.

Cardiff's Unwise Action.

We regret, thereforb, to see that Cardiff City Council has
again agreed to the proposal of its Finance Committee that
£5 000 of the estimated electricity profits be applied for
the " relief of the rates." It is true that in the past the
undertaking has made contributions to the, rate fund

because it owed money which had been lent to meet defici-
encies in its early years. There is no objection toi this, but
relief ad hoc from ' ' profits ' ' is another matter, especially
as in 1921 the Electricity Committee contributed £15 000,
a sum which more than repaid the outstanding debt. The
Finance Committee now, however, wish to adopt a settled
policy of a regiilar annual contribution out of the profits.
This is most retrograde;

The Argument for Relief.

It is argued in support of this procedure that if the elec-
tricity department had gone to the public as a private
enterprise to get £400 000 capital it would not have been
able to borrow at anything like so low an interest as it is
paying. The difference is put at about I2 pe-r cent., and
the Council were, therefore, asked to adopt the principle
of requiring their trading departments to contribute at the
rate of IJ per cent, on the capital raised. This is a plausible
but not very convincing argument, and though the elec-
tricity department will have to part with £5 000 this year
the question of applying the general principle, which was
strongly opposed by some members, has been deferred for
further consideration.

A Matter for the Ratepayers.

In the meantime we hope that the consumers who pro>,
vide the money out of which the contributions are to be
made will organise opposition to the proposal. We contend
that the first duty of the electricity department is to pro-
vide a cheap supply for its customers, and next to develop
the undertaking by extending the service to the remainder
of the city. This cannot be done if any surplus is to be
periodically raided to provide doles. In a city like Cai'diff
£5 000 cannot represent a penny rate. On the other hand,
if this sum were devoted to reducing the prices, which is
still, 75 per cent, above the pre-war rates, or even in exten-
sions of the mains, the city would reap a far greater advan-
tage. We hope, therefore, that the Corporation will not
sanction the principle of a regular annual contribution to
the rate fvmds.

Australian Industrial Arbitration.

Compulsory arbitration in industrial disputes has been
in operation in Australia since 1904, and though it has been
obvious for a long time that the system was breaking down,
it has only now been acknowledged to be a failure by tlie
Commonwealth Premier. It will be remembered that the
awards of the Conciliation and Arbitration Court were bind-
ing on employers and nominally on the employees, but the
militant unions frequently flouted the decisions of the
court; strikes continued, and in the end recourse had to be
had to special tribunals. Australia has made itself con-
spicuous by its experiments in advanced labour legislation,
but, as we learn by the failiu"es as well as the successes of
others, it will be interesting to watch the fate of the sub-
stitute which Mr. Hughes proposes to adopt instead of com-
pulsory arbitration. It is now suggested that these tribunals
be composed of equal numbers of employers and employees,
with an independent chairman, who is not to be a lawyer.
This is a body not unlike the Victorian Wa^ges Board, which
is claimed to be simple in operation, and has proved fairly
satisfactoiy in industrial disputes in that State. It will be
agreed that anything whicli would put a stop to or minimise
industrial strife, the bane of modern civili.sation, should
receive careful and sympathetic consideration, and we shall
watoh with interest tlie outcome of Mr. Hughes's new
idea.

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

495

International Electric
Traction.

TiiK meeting of the International Railway Congress in
Rome last week was fortunately seized as an opportunity
for putting forward a collection of up-to-dato information
on the position of electric traction in the various countries
of the world. Reports which have already been published
by the Association were presented and contained accounts
of the conversion work now in hand in the United States,
Italy, Switzerland, Great Britain, Holland and Scandi-
navia. From these, and more from the comments en
the design, practice and performance of the equipment
employed on electric railways, it is possible to draw con-
elusions and so construct a useful leaping-off place for
future progi'ess.

It is quite evident that in all its phases eleotrio traction
is still in a state of fluidity. Owing to great differences of
opinion on questions of practice and performance, it has not
begun to crystallise, and should not be allowed to do so.
For with our present limited knowledge of its problems,
if we try to dogmatise we are likely to be led into errors
which future experience will show to be profound, and
from which the escape will not only be difficult but
expensive.

The United States.

Turning first to th.e United States, as the countiy wherei
both the theory and performance of electric traction are
more advanced than elsewhere, we find Mr. George Gibbs
reporting that all railway conditions have been successfully
met by electric traction, including city terminal operation,
long tunnel operation, passenger and goods haulage,
suburban passenger services, heavy grade freight traffic,
and main line operation. Mr. Gibbs, we know, is an
enthusiast, but the facts and figures which he puts forward
seem effectually to dispose of the argument that there are
certain classes of traffic with which electric traction cannot
deal, and throws us back on the much more difficult problem
of determining whether and when it is possible, economic-
ally, to bring about the conversion which, as abundantly
appears, is an advantage in all countries, and highly re-
munerative in the savings it allows in others.

King Charles Again.

On the question of the system which permits the greatest
advantages to be obtained, that King Charles' head which
cannot be kept out of any discussion on electric traction, Mr.
Gibbs is less definite. To some of tliose who are enthusiasts
for electric traction he even may appear less sound . Surely,
some will argue, the experienoei whidi has been gained in
the United States with electric traction should have made
it possible by this time to say that one or other of the
numerous possible systems is the best. The fact that it has
not been possible is itself the answer to this implied ques-
tion. No " best " system has yet been found because there
is none to find. The most that Mr. Gibbs can do to help
towards that impossible ideal is to ban rather mildly the
3 000 V direct current system on the score of difficulties
in current collection, to bless hardly more enthusiastically
the 11 000 V alternating current system on the grounds
that it can meet all the conditions of current collection on
Ameiican railways, and to point out that the overhead con-
duotor is likely to blossom, while collection by contact rail,
though it can provide sufficient current carrying capacity
even at low voltages, is likely to fade.
D 3

Italy and Switzerland Favour Overhead.

Inferential ly the same conclusion has been reached in
Italy, where in fact the increasing use of the three-phase
system leaves little choice, and very much more definitely
has it been reached in Switzerland, where the single- phase
system is considered, under Swiss conditions, the mo«t
favourable, both technically and economically, for main and
other lines. In Scandinavia the single-phase system has
also been adopted, of course with overhead equipment,
though France and Holland have decided in favour of high
tension direct current traction. In the latter ca-se the
choice was made because the advantages were more patent
where there is only medium density of traffic, and especially
because the numerous level crossings and bad soil are
against the use of the contact rail.

The British Position Through Dutch Eyes.

The position in Great Britain is, of course, well known.
We have standardised, and yet we* have not standardised.
We are apparently wedded to a system to which most other
countries object, in spite of the fact that, as Mr. Van
LoENEN Mentixet, chief of electric traction on the Nether-
lands State Railways reports, there is no material difference
between the systems in costs of installation, upkeep or
efficiency ; and though, as we have pointed out, the single-
phase system has great advantages in simplicity of genera-
tion, transmission and transformation. On the other hand
we have, it is believed, a loophole by which, with the sanc-
tion of the Ministry of Transport, a railway company may
adopt any system that meets its own needs best, a loophole
of which full advantage is not unlikely to be taken.

How Far is Standardisation Necessary.

We hope that one of the questions which the International
Congress will bring out clearly is how far standardisation
of system is economically necessary, not only for an entire
country but for the whole area covered by one large railway
group. Because, for instance, the new London and North
Western Railway group finds it best to use the conventional
d.o. system in the London suburban area, and between
Liverpool and Southpoi-t, and the high-tension d.c. system
between Manchester and Bury, is it to be debarred from
using the single-p tiase system over Shap Fell or between
Derby and Manchester because, though that sjrstem has
been proved best for such difficult sections, it runs counter
to the gospel of standardisation'^

Very Nearly the Whole Truth.

In this connection we thint Mr. Gibbs' words are worth
a moment's pondering. It is " too early to fix the features
of any one system to the extent required for purposes of
standardisation without restricting development."

It is, therefore, to be hoped that the greatest result of
this useful Congress will come from the intei-flow of ideas
which it will render possible. Each enthusiast — and most
electric traction engineers are enthusiasts now-a-days —
will be able to learn from supporteis of opposite views
something which will bring about the softening of prejudices
and make the reception of new ideas easier. Each
problem, be it connected with system, design or perform-
ance, can be dealt with de iu>vo, and the solution
sought will be the one most likely to satisfy the require-
naents of particular needs. In electric traction we are only
beginning. It is too early to say what is the best, thoueh
we should be right to be satisfied with nothing less. From
this point of view we are glad to see that more technical
matters than the choice of system were taken up in the
reports and discus-sed at the meetings, and to those we shall
refer in a subsequent issue.

496

The Electrician — April 28, 1922

Practical Armature Winding Formulae.

By L. WOLLISON.

The object of this article is the simplification of the usual armature vnnding formvlce for the benefit of the man in the workshop. The
operative is chiefiy concerned with two practical considerations, the pitch between any two sides of a coil in terms of the slots and the pitch
between the segments of the commutator, to which the two ends of any coil unit are connected, in terms of the segments. Taking these as his
basis Mr. Wollison works out a number of practical examples, and shows that for any type of series drum d.c. winding it is possible to
express the ccmimutator pitch in terms of the segments without knotving anything beyond the number of segments and the type of vnnding.

^Yhile lecturing on the subject of " Practical Armature
Winding " to students engaged in that trade, the writer has
been impressed with the extreme difficulty which confronts
the average worker who seeks reliable information in simple
practical terms, regarding the principles which underlie the
various modern types of d.c. armature windings.

In the majority of text-books this subject is dealt with
largely, if not entirely, from the design point of \dew, and in
terms which necessitate a fair knowledge both of mathematics
and the general principles of electrical engineering. In
particular, the methods of determining the winding pitches —
the all-important subject both theoretically and practically^
are usually involved in terms and formulae which are as Greek
to the man in the workshop ; especially is this so in the case
of multiplex d.c. windings of various re-entrancy.

The Drawbacks of Prevailing Methods.

The prevailing method of explaining the winding pitches
in terms such as " Front," " Back," and " Mean " pitch
{y^; y^: and y) as measured in "coil sides" or conductors is

Fig. 1

needlessly confusing to the man who has to do the actual
winding. He is chiefly concerned with two practical considera,-
tions. Given an armature containing so many slots and
commutator segments he seeks two pieces of information ;
first, the pitch between the two sides of any coil in the slots,
in terms of slots ; and second, the pitch between the two seg-
ments of the commutator to which the two ends of any unit
are connected, in terms of segments. In other words, if one
side of a coil is placed in slot 1, in which slot should the other
side be placed ? and, similarly, if the one end of a unit is joined
to segment 1, to which segment should the other end be
connected ?

A little consideration will show that these two factors
completely determine an armature winding of any modern
type. In point of fact, the multij)licity, re-entrancy, progres-
sion and number of circuits are all determined in any d.c.
armature winding by the commutator pitch alon'\ It may,
therefore, be of interest to show that these pitches for any
type of simplex or multiplex winding can be simply expressed
in terms of slots or segments, without involving anything more
than simple arithmetic.

Two Initial Definitions.

For this purpose two initial definitions are necessary :

UNIT = One or more turns (each of two conductors) in series, the two
ends of which are joined to certain commutator segments.
Fig. 1 shows a one-turn unit.

COIL = One or more units assembled together in the same two slots
of the core. (Thus with a winding containing 125 units in
twenty-five slots, each coil would consist of live units.)

From this it will follow that as each commutator segment

is joined to one end of each of two units there will be as many
segments as there are units in any winding.

In dealing with the pitch of the winding in the slots of
the core, the winder is necessarily chiefly concerned with coils
and slots. As it is essential that for good commutation and
maximum efficiency the pitch of the coil should correspond
as nearly as possible with the pole pitch of any machine, the
pitch of the coil or the core-pitch, as it is generally termed,
will be the same for any type of winding, and in the vast
majority of cases may be expressed :

Core-pitch = |=J^ (1)

or where necessarv :

^±1
P '

■■N

(2)

in terms of slots; where S = slots, P = poles and ^ = any
whole number. A certain amount of latitude is possible
with the core-pitch, a little variation one way or the other
having only slight efEect on the capacity of the machine.
For fully 90 per cent, of machines of British manufacture
the above two expressions will serve. Three examples will
suffice in this respect.

Example (a). An armature for an eight-pole machine has
144 slots. The core-pitch will be :

144

= 18 = Step of 1—19

{i.e., the coil will occupy the bottom half of slot 1 and the top
half of slot 19 or vice versa).

Example {b). A four-pole armature contains thirty-nine slots :

Core-pitch = ^-^ = 10 = Step of 1—1 1 ,

Example (c). The windings of a four-pole armature are
arranged in twenty-five slots :

Core-pitch =

25-1

= 6 = Step of 1—7.

Some Examples of Series Drum Windings.

With the span of the unit across the commutator (or the
commutator-pitch) absolute accuracy is required as the slight-
est alteration may enormously affect the rating of the machine

Fig. 2.

In any of the following examples only series drum windings
will be referred to. Consider first an ordinary simplex re-
entrant winding (Q). This is of the type shown in Fig. 2,
which represents a portion of a four -pole series winding. Here
it is obvious that, as all the imits are equal in every respect

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

497

and are of equal pitch, the entire segments of the commutator
plus or minus 1 (according as the winding is progressive or

retrogressive) are spanned by ^units.

Hence for all simplex re-entrant series windings :

Commutator pitch = - = iV
P

(3)

where [7 = total effective units in winding, or commutator
segments ; j) = pairs of poles, and N = any whole number.

Example (d). A four-pole progressive winding has 125 units
(or segments) :

Commutator pitch = ^^^"^^ =63 = Step of 1 - 64

in terms of segments, i.e., the winding starting at segment 1
will pass through the first unit to segment 64 ; through another

FiQ. 3.

unit to segment 2 ( = 127 — 125) and so on until it finally, closes
at segment 1. It is, of course, obvious that all commutator
pitches must be whole numbers, as the end of a unit cannot
be connected to the fraction of a segment.

Duplex Doubly Re-entrant Series Winding.

Next consider a duplex doubly re-entrant series winding
(O O)- "^^is ^^ effect is two separate simplex windings inter-
spaced in the core and commutator (Fig. 3). In this case it
will be found that one winding connects with all the segments
of odd number, and the other winding to segments of even
number. The two windings are electrically separate. It will

P
follow, therefore, that — units will span the entire segments

of the commutator plus or minus 2.

The formula for any duplex doubly re-entrant series
winding is therefore :

IT 1 2

Commutator pitch = — —— = 2JV (4)

1\
(Since the commutator pitch for a simplex winding = N, it
should be clear that for a duplex winding, consisting of two
separate windings, the commutator pitch must =2 iV).

Example (e). A six-pole duplex doubly re-entrant retro-
gressive winding contains 122 units (61 per winding).

The commutator pitch is — |ll^ = 40 (i^ = 20) = Step of 1^41 .

Winding A passes round the commutator in the order :

1—41—81—121 &c, and winding B :

2—42—82—122 &c.
Similarly for a triplex trebly re-entrant series tvinding
(O O O) (tbree electrically separate simplex windings), as
each winding is connected to every third segment, it follows
that :

Commutator pitch = = SN.

(5)

Example (/), A four-pole triplex trebly re-entrant progressive
series winding contains 297 units (or segments).

The passage round the commutator will be :

Winding A 1—151—4 = (301- 297) &c.
Winding B 2—152—5 = (302—297) &c.
Winding C ,3^-153— 6 = (303— 297) &c.
From the foregoing three formulae 3, 4 and 5, it follows
thu-t for all series windings of this type where the re-entrancy
is equal to the multiplicity {i.e., where the winding consists of
so many electrically separate simplex windings) we may
develop the general formula :

Commutator pitch = =MN (6)

Where iltf = the multiplicity (i.e. = no. of pairs of circuits).

Unequal Multiplicity and Re-entrancy.

We have next to consider the type of winding in which
the multiplicity and re-entrancy are not equal. Fig. 4
illustrates a duplex singly re-entrant series winding {(q))-
It will be seen that this winding is very similar to the duplex

doubly re-entrant (O O) in that in ^ spans the winding

covers the whole of the segments plus or minus 2. The
essential difference, however, is that, after advancing along
segments 1, 3, 5, &c., it reaches segment 2 and proceeds
along the segments of even number, finally re-entering at
segment 1). This is due to the fact that the commutator
pitch is one less or more than a multiple of two, so that after
passing through one half of the units the winding, instead of
closing on itself at segment 1, passes to one beyond that point
and thus reaches segment 2 and the remainder of the segments,
finally closing at segment 1 .

Similarly in the retrogressive example given in Fig. 4 the
winding, starting at segment 1, recedes two segments after

Fig. i.

P
passing through ^ units, its psssage round the commutator

being as follows :

1—6—11—4—9—2—7—12—5—10—3—8—1

For all duplex singly re-entrant series windings ((2)) it

follows :

I7±2
Commutator pitch = = 2iV± 1 (7)

P
Example (g). A four-pole duplex singly re-entrant series

progressive winding contains sixteen units.

Commutator pitch =

16+2

= 9 ; (2^ = 5) =Step of 1—10

The winding will connect te the commutator in the following

order :

1_10_3_12— 5— 14— 7— 16— 9— 2— 11— 4— 13— 6— 15—

8—1.

Next consider what happens at the commutator of a triplex

singly re-entrant series winding ((^^). This is very similar

to the triplex trebly re-entrant winding (O O O) ^'^^ ^0'''-^"

p
in - spans the winding covers the whole of the segments plus

Commutator pitch = '^^^^^ = 150 = (iV = 50) = Step 1—151. or minus 3, but here, again, the commutator pitch has to be

i9S

The £lectrieian.

April 28, 1922

one less or more than a multiple of 3 so that the winding may
advance from the one set of segments previously associated
with winding A to those in winding B and so irom those to
winding C.

Hence for triplex singly re-entrant series windings .

Z7=b3
Commutator pitch = ={3N±l) (8)

Example (k). A four-pole triplex singly re-entrant pro-
gressive series winding contains nineteen units.

19 +3

Commutator pitch = — ^^— = 11 ; (iV = 4) = Step of 1—12.

The passage of the winding round the commutator will thus
be as follows :

1—12—4—15—7—18—10—2—13—5—16—8—19—11—3—

14—6—17—9—1.

It will be seen that for multiplex, singly re-entrant series
windings the commutator pitch must not be a multiple of M,
otherwise the winding would close after one tour and so result
in a winding where M = R. It will also be seen later that the
commutator pitch must not contain a factor (greater than
unity) of 31, otherwise the winding will not be singly re-entrant.
We may, therefore, say that for all multiplex series windings
Avhere ^ = 1, and is less than M :

Commutator pitch = =MN±B (9)

P
where 5 is a whole number (usually 1) not containing a factor
of, and less than, M.

Multiplex Winding.

We have finally to consider the multiplex winding where
R is greater than 1 but less than M', ((q) (q); M = 4:,R = 2);

(® (S) (a) ; ^ = 6, i? = 3); (Cao) (5^ ; i!f = 6, 22 = 2) ; &c.

These are the most complicated to deal with, but upon
analysis they will be found to be simply combinations of two
or more similar sections, each of which may be expressed by
formula 9. That is to say the commutator pitch for any
Avinding of this final type is simply a multiple of the commu-
tator pitch for one of its separate sections.

Example (i). Consider a quadruplex doubly re-entrant
series progressive winding for a four pole armature containing
ninety-six units {(q) (q) ; i/ = 4, i2 = 2). This winding will be
seen to consist of two similar sections, each of which is a
duplex singly re-entrant {(q)), winding with forty-eight units.

For either section, in terms of its own segments only we
may therefore say

Commutator pitch = — - — = 25

■■ (2iV± 1 as per formula 7).

But as there are two sections to the winding interspaced in
the core and commutator (i.e., the one section connecting to all
segments of odd number and the other to those of even number,
just as in the case of the duplex doubly re-entrant (Q O)
winding, the only difference being that each section is now a
duplex singly re-entrant, instead of a simplex winding), it
follows that as the number of segments and units is doubled
the pitch must also be doubled. This will easily be under-
stood if the winding is imagined as consisting in the first place
of one section only, a certain unit having its ends joined to
segments a pitch of twenty-five apart, the commutator then
being opened out to receive the segments of the second section.
As the number of segments is now twice as great it follows that
the distance between any two segments has been doubled,
consequently the segments to which the unit is joined are now
a pitch of fifty apart.

For the combined {(^ (q)) winding, therefore, in terms of
the total segments in the commutator :

96-1-4
Commutator pitch = —^ =50-2 (2iV±l) (10)

The windings will connect to the commutator in the following

order :

Winding^. 1—51— 5— 55— 9— 59— 13, &c (1)

Winding 5. 2— 52— 6— 56— 10— 60— 14, &c (2)

From the foregoing it follows that the general formula for

this final type, where R is greater than 1 but less than M,
can be easily developed from formula 9, which gives the pitch
for any separate section.

Since i2= number of separate sections, £7 = total segments
in the commutator, and M = total miiltiplicity, we may say
that for any one section in terms of its own segments only :

U M

— D~ ±5 as per

Therefore, for the combined winding, consisting of R sections

Commutator pitch =

(9)

(V^M

Commutator pitch = 72^^-^-^ =^b[^N ± b\ (11)

P
P

= MN±BB (12)

where i^ is a whole number not containing a factor of, and less

than ^.
It

We thus see that all multiplex series windings fall under
one of two classes, (a) those consisting of one or more, simplex
singly re-entrant windings, and (6) those consisting of one or
more multiplex singly re-entrant windings. The commutator
pitch in each case is simply R times the pitch for one section.
It is for this reason that in formula 9, B must not contain a
factor of M in order that R = l.

For suppose that the commutator pitch for a sextuplex
singly re-entrant {M = Q, R = l) series winding were to be :

MN±2 or 3 ; {i.e. B containing a factor of M)
= 6iV±2or3.

But this may be expressed

(a), 2 {3N±1) or (b), 3 {2N±1),
which means that in (a) the winding would contain two
sections each of which would be a triplex singly re-entrant,
or as in (b) three sections each a duplex singly re-entrant (see
formula 7). Hence it follows that B must not contain a
factor of M.

Three Simple Rules.

We have thus reduced the commutator pitches to three
simple rules which may be usefully summarised :

Commutator pitch ■

= MN

Where M = R (Q) ; (Q O O' &t'-

" P
Where R = l and is less than M {(q))', {(oqq)) ^^■

U±M

Commutator pitch =

MN±B

(6)

(9)

&c.

Where R is greater than 1, but less than M ((^^ (S5)) »

Commutator pitch ^

= MN±RB.

(12)

From all of which it will be seen that the greatest factor
common to the commutator pitch and the multiplicity is
equal to the degree of re-entrancy ; which fact may be
expressed as

A Fourth and Final Rule.

4. The G.C.F. of Y and M = R, where 7 = commutator pitch.

It will also be seen that in each case the commutator pitch is :

Y=:

Where V = Total units = total segments in commutator.
M = Multiplicity = Number of pairs of circuits.
p = Pairs of poles.

R = Re-entrancy = Number of electrically separate sectious4
N = Any whole number.
B = A Avhole number (usually 1) less than, and not containing a

factor of -5

It will thus be seen that for any type of series drum d.c.
winding of any degree of multiplicity or re-entrancy, the
commutator pitch may be easily expressed in term'-, of segments
by a simple formula for which it is necessary to know nothing
beyond the number of segments in the commutator and the
type of winding.

The Electrician — April 28, 1922

499

The Sea Return Impedance of a Submarine Cable.

By JOHN R. CARSON and J. J. GILBERT.

American Telephone and Telegraph G)mpany and Western Electric Company.

The transmission charactorisfcics of a conducting system, such
as a submarine cable circuit, are determined by its propagation
constant, T, and characteristic impedance, K, which may be
calculated for the frequency p/'i-n- from the formula) :

T=^(R + ipL) (G + ijjC) (i;

^ G + ijjC

where R, L, 0, and G are the four fundamental hnc parameters,
resistance, inductance, leakance, and capacity, all per unit length
of the system, including the return conductor. These formulae
are rigorous for all types of transmission systems ; but the deter-
mination of the line parameters is not always possible by elementary
methods, and may indeed be a matter of considerable complexity
and involve rather diflSc.ult analysis.

Effect of Sea Water on Transmission.

It is the practice in submarine cable telegraphy to employ an
earthed system, in which the earth and the sea water surrounding
the cable are made a part of the cable circuit. It is obvious that
even where very low frequencies are involved the return current
will not be distributed uniformly through the sea water, but wiU
show a tendency to concentrate in the vicinity of the cable core.
This effect, together with the comphcations introduced by the
presence of the armour wires, makes the computation of the resistance
and inductance of the " sea return " a difficult problem, and no
satisfactory solution is to be found in the literature of submarine
telegraphy. There is, therefore, an element of uncertainty
introduced into the theory of C3.ble transmission, since the sea
return plays the same part as the core conductor and its resistance
and inductance are involved in the determination of the character-
istic impedance and the propagation constant of the cable.

This uncertainty is not always very serious. In the case of slow
speed cables, for example, it is safe to assume that the resistance
of the sea return is small compared with the resistance of the core
conductor, and that the cable inductance has a negligible effect
upon transmission.

Where Exact Information is Necessary.

There are many cases, however, where these assumptions do not
hold and where exact information regarding the resistance and
inductance of the sea return is desirable. In duplex operation,
for instance, unbalance disturbances of a certain type are encoun-
tered due to failure to correct, in the artificial Une, for the inductance
and resistance of the sea return at frequencies much beyond the
transmission range of the cable. Also, in the case of telephone
or high speed telegraph cables the sea return impedance becomes
a very important and even controlling factor in transmission, and
this fact has led to a modification of cable design, so that cables
of this type are furnished with conducting sheaths composed of
copper tape laid on the cable core, which provide a low resistance
path for the return current.

The writers have made a study of this problem as part of an
, investigation* of submarine cable transmission, in connection with
the research programme of the American Telephone and Telegraph
Company and the Western Electric Company, the object being, not
only to develop methods of predetermining cable characteristics,
but also to furnish a theoretical guide for analysing the effect of
the various factors involved, for interpreting and supplementing
exp(>rimental studies, and thus to furnish a basis for a sound and
economical design of the cable.

Mathematical Difficulties.

In taking up the analysis of the propagation of alternating
currents over a submarine cable, the problem was first simplified
by replacing the armour wires by a continuous iron sheath concentric
with the core. This appeared to be a reasonable approximation
that would not introduce any serious errors, and in fact it has
been made in every prior study of the problem. This assumption
faciUtated the mathematical analysis, since, in the simplified
structure, everything is symmetrical with respect to the axis of
transmission. The mathematical solution offered no difficulties
beyond those of computation, which were considerable, because
of the facts that the solution involved Bessel functions and
that the investigation was extended so as to include the
effect of metallic sheaths in addition to the armouring. The main

* See " Transmission Characteristics of the Submarine Cable,"
John R. Carson and J. J. Gilbert. Journal of the Franklin Institute,
vol. 192, p. 705. December, 1921.

feature of this preUminary study is, that by introducing direc-tly
the engineering concepts of linear resistance, inductance, capacitance
and leakance it was possible to express the solution in the usual
engineering form. As a consequence, the formuLf admit of con-
siderable direct interpretation without computation, and it is possible
to determine directly the impedance of the group of conductors,
including the sea water, which constitutes the path for the return
current. Tliis is of advantage, inasmuch as prior studies along
similar lines, such as those of J. J. Thomson, leave the analysis in
such shape as to require considerable further work to reduce the
formula? to a form suitable for engineering calculations.

The results of the calculations based on this preUminary study
in which the armour wires are replaced by a continuous sheath
showed that the effect of this sheath ^ as so surprisingly large, even
at moderate frequencies, as to make the simplifying assumption of
very doubtful validity. For example, in one calculation it was
found that at a frequency of less than 36 cycles per sec, 90 per cent,
of the return current was carried by the sheath, and at 100 cycles
per sec. the return current was completely excluded from the sea-
water, which, therefore, played no part in the electrical system.
These effects were accompanied by a pronounced increase in
attenuation.

Effect of the Armour Structure.

These results made it evident that in order to arrive at a rehable
solution a more thorough analysis of the problem was essential,
with particular reference to the actual structure of the armour.
The simplifying assumption regarding the armour wires was aban-
doned, and the general problem was attacked, in which the armour
wires were taken as they actually exist on cables, and no special
assumptions were made regarding their geometry or their electrical
properties. This greatly increased the analytical difficulties, since
the structure lacks the circular symmetry which was the essential
simpUfying property in the previous solution, and it was found
necessary to develop several novel mathematical methods in order to
arrive at a solution.

Concentration of Return Current.

Numerical solutions, obtained by this general method, of a
number of problems involving existing types of cable and their
possible modifications have furnished a considerable fund of infor-
mation which throws much light on the phenomena of cable

Table I. — Percentage of Return Current carried by Armour Telegraph

Cable.

Frequency

Armouring.

p.p.s.

Continuous Sheath.

Wires.

17-5

100

31-5

conduction and is of great value in ^.ansmission studies. As may
be seen from Tables I and II, the return current shows a decided
tendency, 6ven at comparatively low frequencies, to crowd in
towards the core and thus concentrate in the iimermost of the group
of return conductors. In these particular instances the imiermost

Table II. — Percentage of Return Curreni carried by Armour Wires
Seattle-Sitka Cable.

Structure of Armo\mng.

Frequency
p.p.s.

100

■100

;k)o

400

500
(it)0

conductor was the armour sheath, and the effect of seemingly sUght
changes in the structure of the armouring can be seen by comparing
the results in the various cases.

Since the armour wires are of Iiigh impedance it would be expect«i
that lar>^e values of return resistance would result ; and such is

Open

Closed

43 0

55-0

611)

75-0

79-5

82-5

73*5

86-5

760

88-5

77-5

91-0

500

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

the case, as may be seen from Tables III and IV. In fact, these
results indicate that the return resistance would be reduced to a
«mall fraction of its value in the range from 25 to 100 cycles if the
iron armour mres were removed from the cable.

In a similar manner, it can be shown that if a thin copper sheath
be interposed between the core and the armour wires of the cable

Table III. — Resistance and Lnduclance of the Sea Jietvrn.

Ariuouring.

Fie-

Sheath.

Wires.

None.

p.p.s.

Res.
ohms/
km.

Ind.
mh./
km.

Res.

ohms/
km.

Ind.

mh./

km.

Res.

ohms/

km.

Ind.
mh.
km.

100

0-74
1-15
1-35
1-49

4-00
3-22
2-70
2-50

0-075
0-175
0-278
0-450

1-90
1-70
1-60
1-51

0 025
0-050
0-075
OiOO

2-25
1-85
1-76
1-75

it would tend to carry the major portion of the return current
as the frequency increased. This would result in a considerably
diminished return resistance, on account of the low resistance of the
sheath compared with the armour wires. This improvement is

Table IV. — Resistance and Inductance of the Sea Return Seattle-Sitka

Cable.

Frequency

Resistance

ohms/km.

Inductance mh./km.

p.p.s.

Open

Closed

Open

Closed

100

0-41

0-51

1-54

1-80

200

0-77

0-92

1-15

1-29

300

0-95

1-12

0-96

1-08

400

1-06

1-25

0-88

(,-98

500

1-16

1-35

0-82

0-95

600

1-25

1-45

0-80

0-91

especially noticeable in the audio and carrier ranges of frequency,
and in fact conducting sheaths are an essential feature of cables
designed to transmit such frequencies.

Theory and Practice Agree.

RTAs a check of the method, calculations of the resistance and
inductance of the Seattle-Sitka cable were compared with the
results of measurements made upon that cable. Considering the
error involved in measurements of tliis sort, the check between
theory and experiment is remarkably good. A further comparison
was made of the return resistance at 3 000 and 10 000 cycles per sec,
employing measurements made by the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company upon the Vancouver cable. The results are
shown in Table V. Here, again, there is good agreement between

Table V. — Resistance of Return Conductor ohms/mi Victoria-
Vancouver Cable.

Frequency
p.p.s.

Computed.

Experimental.

3 000
10 000

2-87
4-45

2-92
4-60

the measured and calculated values ; and it is saio to say that the
method which has been described is exact for all frequencies which
are likely to be transmitted by submarine cables.

The conclusions that have been drawn as a result of this study
are : (1) The resistance of the sea return of a submarine cable is by
no means negligible, even at low frequencies, and it has a consider-
able effect upon transmission ; (2) the resistance and inductance
of a cable are greatly dependent upon the geometrical arrangement
and the electrical properties of the armour wires ; (3) the return
resistance at high frequencies can be decreased by providing the
cable with a thin metallic sheath in electrical contact with the
armour wires.

In addition, the method furnishes rigoious formuLT for computing
the resistance and inductance of cables with structures of various
degrees of complexity, and indicates the modifications that must be
made in the methods of cable design in order that the elements of
the cable external to the core may function efficiently as part of the
conducting system of the cable.

High-Power Mercury Arc Rectifiers.

At a recent meeting of the North- Western Centre of th
Institution of Electrical Engineers at the Engineers' Club, Man-
chester, the subject of " Mercury Arc Rectifiers " produced a most
interesting informal discussion. Mr. R. L. Morrison, who intro-
duced the sub] ect by a very able paper illustrated by lantern slides,
outUned briefly the theory of operation and the various difficulties
encountered in commercial manufacture,* the chief of these being
probably that of consfhicting an arc chamber, which must be both
accessible and absolutely gas-tight. It is claimed that this difficulty
has been completely overcome by the invention of the mercury
seal, but the fact remains that a mercury vapour pump for main-
taining the vacuum is stiU the indispensable first of a number of
auxiliaries necessary for working these installations efficiently.

A Multiplicity of Second Cousins.

This " multiphcity of second cousins," as INIr. A. Gr Ellis
humorously described the auxiliaries, received, together with other
features of the apparatus, a good deal of adverse criticism. Mr. H. A
Ratcli^fe, who opened the discussion, suggested that the object
of the meeting was to gain information on a new subject, and perhaps
the best method of obtaining this from the manufacturer was by
criticism of his product. Criticism certainly was keen, and
Mr. Morrison, who said he had been warned that the I\Ianchester
meeting would be " a hard nut," found his arguments and figures
assailed on all sides. Mr. Ratgliffe doubted whether the rectifier
could substantiate any claim on the grounds of price, space or
simplicity. Price figures were not given, the space necessary was
not small. The simplicity, he thought, was questionable. In reply,
later, Mr. Morrison said that the price of a rectifier installation
would be somewhat higher than that of rotary converter equipment
and with auxiliaries included the space needed might also be a
little more. In answer to other questions, Mr. Morrison explained
that the efficiency figures claimed were overall efficiencies, from
high-tension a.c. to d.c. busbars, thus including auxiliaries. The
comparative weights given, however, did not include auxiliaries.

Rectifier and Converter Efficiencies.

Mr. R. Townend claimed that the maximum efficiency, 90 to 92^
per cent., attributed to the rotary converter was too low; 93 to 93^
per cent, was often attained, and efficiency much below this wotdd
not have much chance in competitive markets. He thought the
power rectifier was good in its simplest form, as for a 2-wire system
of fairly constant load where fine voltage regulation was not essential.
This granted the rectifier a field of service in high voltage traction
work, but for lighting services there would be additional expense
of automatic regulators. In replj' to questions, I\Ir. Morrison gave
the natural regulation of power rectifiers as 12 per cent., which
could be reduced to 4 per cent, by the use of a suitable cathode coU.
The addition of an automatic regulator would allow regulation of
1 per cent.

The necessity of providing a transformer of so much higher power
than the output of the rectifier set provoked some criticism. Takmg
the output of the rectifier as 100 the power of the attendant trans-
formers was stated to be 135 for three-phase, 155 for six-phase, and
184 for twelve- phase.

Use in Automatic Sub-Stations.

The question of suitability of rectifiers for automatic sub-stations
received a good deal of attention. Mr. Morrison had mentioned
that a rectifier resuming operation after some hours of inaction
might need from 12 to 15 min. working of the vacuum pump,
and this possible delay was quoted by several speakers as a serious
objection. In reply, however, it was stated that a recently
developed electrical system of vacuum indication and pump control
would enable the plant to be kept ready automatically for immediate
operation at any time. Many other points were dealt with, of
which, perhaps, the most important was the behaviour of rectifiers
in the event of short circuit.

The general tendency of opinion was to admit the probable
usefulness of rectifiers for certain kinds of traction work. Mr.
Paxton emphasised several points in this connection, especially
the absence of flashing at heavy loads and the advantages resulting
from the elimination of magnetic circuits from converting apparatus.
One disadvantage quoted by several speakers was the non-reversible
natvure of the rectifier, which renders it unable to co-operate in
schemes of regenerative braking. For this reason an installation
for the French Midi railway included 16 1 200 kW rectifiers and
4 1 200 kW rotary converters, the latter for purposes of regeneration.

The power rectifier has undoubtedly made an impression, and in
spite of the keen criticism of some of its claims there was a marked
desire to consider this new development with an open nund and to
remember, as Mr. Morrison pointed out in his reply to the discussion,
that the apparatus has scarcely yet emerged from the " teething
troubles," having but some five years of developnient as against
the twenty-five of its competitor, the rotary converter. i

* See The Elkcteician, Jan. 2, 1920, p. 10.

The Electrician — April 28, 1922

501

Radioactivity.

(ConcluJed from page 413.)

Ill the second three of a series of six lectures which Sir Ernest Rutherford, Cavendish Professor of Physics at Cambridge, delivered

before the Royal Instiintion, the properties of the members of radioactive familie< vere dealt vnth, and it was pointed oui that the stvdy of

radioactive disinteqrat on had forced the idea of isotopes upon us. Methods of delecting radioactive discharges -trere described and Ihe

determination of nature^ velocity and radioactive heat dealt with. In the final lecture a concise account of recent developments uxis given.

Dealing in hia fourth lecture with the properties of the
members of the radioactive families, Sir Ernest Rutherford
pointed to the peculiar differences in the characters of successive
members. Radium, a metal of distinct chemical aflfinities, gave
emanation, an inert gas. Was there any order in these changes
and any connection with the chemical properties of ordinary
elements ? Radioactivity was an atomic property, and we had
to consider the structure of the atom. An atom, it was now estab-
lished, resembled the solar system. The mass was concentrated
in the nucleus, the diameter of which was yet very small compared
with the diameter of the atom. That diameter was determined by the
rings of electrons surrounding the nucleus. An electron was simply
an atom of negative electricity, and in the neutral atom the sum
of the negative charges balanced the positive charge -©f the nucleus.
In the case of oxygen we had 8 electrons, 2 near the nucleus, 6
in a ring further out, and the positive charge was 8 units. That
charge, or the number of electrons, determined the whole
properties of the atom. Hydrogen had one unit charge, helium 2,
lithium 3, and so on, to uranium, the heaviest known atom, with
92 units. These numbers were the Moseley or atomic (ordinal)
numbers. The whole structure was held together by the forces
between the positive and negative units ; the properties would
also depend upon the distribution of the charges, but the lecturer
did not propose to deal with that. The nuclei of certain atoms,
though having the same nuclear charge, or excess of positive over
negative electricity, might yet differ as to nuclear mass. All the
atoms of that element would then have the same properties, in
spite of their different mass, and these bodies were called
isotopes ; chlorine had such an isotope, and mercury had several.

Radioactivity and Isotopes.

The study of radioactive disintegration had forced this idea of
isotopes upon us. In the changes a, /3, or y particles were
expelled, and they came from the interior of the nucleus, which
must itself therefore be of a complex structure. The a particles
were atoms of heUum, carrying each two positive charges ; the /?
particles were electrons ; the nucleus therefore must contain botli
hehum and electrons and be a Uttleworld in itself. The resultant
nuclear charge was the excess of the positive charge over that
of the electrons. In the subjoined diagram, Fig. 6, the number

[S2)-{83)r{84)-(^
238 234 234 234 230 226 222 218 214 214- 210 210 210 206
UI UX, UXz UE Ion Ra tman RaA RaB RaC RaD RaE RaF Pb

Fig. 0.

within the circle expresses that resultant charge or ordhial number,
as determined by X-ray analysis, and the number underneath is
the atomic weight or mass. Uranium UI had the mass 238 "2
and the ordinal number N = 92. By losing an a particle or atom
of helium of mass 4, it turned into UX, of mass (238— 4) = 234
and number N (92 — 2) = 90, because the UI had lost 2 unit charges.
UX, lost one ^ particle of very small mass, only 1/184.5 of the
mass of an a particle ; hence that loss could be neglected. UX.,
(the new product) had mass 234, but its N was 91, by
1 greater than 90,- because the loss of one electron increased the
resultant positive charge bj^ one unit. UX., again lost a /8 particle
in passing into U II ; the mass therefore still remained 234, but
the N rose once more by unit back to 92.

When U II next changed into ionium, an a particle was lost ;
the mass therefore decreased by 4 to 230, and the N by 2 to 90.
With U II we had thus come back to U I as to the resultant charge,
but not as to mass, and these two bodies were isotopes, bodies
which — as had been proved in other cases — could not be separated
by chemical means. With the next change we came down to
radium, Ra, mass 226, N=88; both these figures had been con-
firmed by analysis and by X-ray study respectively. The la^st
member of this family was lead, called radium-lead, in order to
distinguish it from ordinary lead. As the successive changes
from uranium to this lead involved the loss of 8 a particles, the
mass of radium-lead should be 238—4 x 8=206; but ordinary
lead had the atomic weight 207 •2.

Changes in the Thorium Family.

Sir Ernest then traced the similar changes through which the
members of the thorium family passed, leading finally to a thorium -
lead, which, accepting the evolution outUned, ought to have an
atomic weight 208. When actinium was also considered, and all
the radioactive members were tabulated together, the possibility
of many isotopes was at once apparent. When it was observed
that ionium and thorium had the .same properties and were
inseparable, and that similarly radium and mesothorium should
be the same, except for a difference in their radioactive properties,
Russell, Fajans, and Soddy simultaneou.sly suggested in 1913
the generalisation that the loss of one a particle would take an
element by two steps down th'j periodic table, in which the elements
were arranged in the order of their atomic weights, and that the
loss of one /3 particle would raise it by one step. Thus elements
might both come down or be raised to positions already occupied
by other elements ; hence the name " isotopes." The suggestion
naturally appeared strange to chemists. But as regards the
end-products mentioned, the experimental confirmation was
striking.

These experiments were particularly difficult because in the
radioactive minerals uranium and thorium were generally mixed.
The thorite found in very ancient rocks of Ceylon was fairly- free
from radium, however, and the relatively younger pitchblend
of Joachimsthal contained very little thorium. From the»e
minerals Soddy and Honigschmid had independently isolated
two kinds of lead of the following properties, differing from ordinary
lead :

Ordinary lead atomic weight 207-19 density 11-337

Radium lead „ „ 206-08 (206) „ ' 11-280

Thorium lead „ „ 207-9 (208-12)

the figures in brackets being the masses calculated according to
the theory of radioactive disintegration.

Further, ordinary thorium had an atomic weight 232-12 ; thoriiuu
from pitchblende gave 232-5, probably because it contained some
ionium. Ordinary lead might be a mixture of the two lead-
isotopes ; but it might also have an origin of its own. With regard
to further possible elements and isotopes, elements of the atomic
numbers N=43, 61, 75, 85, and 87 were still unknown, whilst
one of the numbers 81, 82, 83, 84 was represented bj- as many as
8 isotopes ; lead had 7 isotopes, thorium 5, radium 3.

Detection of Discharges.

Coming to the numbers of particles discharged. Sir Ernest
remarked that each a particle passing through its limited range of
air surrounded itself with a cylinder of ionised molecules ; but the
electric change so produced was just on the verge of dettction.
The wa}^ to magnify the effect had been shown by Townsend.
In their first experiments on these lines Sir Ernest and H. Geiger
had made the a particle enter through a small bore an exhausted
vessel in which a high potential difference was maintained between
an axial wire (connected to an electrometer) and the walls of the
vessel ; any ion was thus speeded up ; it ionised other molecules.
_^and thus magnified the effect thousands of times. AA'ith, say, four
particles entering per minute the coxmting ->f the electrometer deflec-
tions was, however, very laborious. Geiger therefore made the
apparatus photographicallj- recording with the aid of a string
electrometer consisting of a silvered quartz fibre or a very fine
Woliaston wire or string (used in the demonstration). The string
was joined to the axial wire at one end and earthed through a

To Motor Generator

jnnr To Electrometer

Fia. 7.

very high resistance at the other; it was vertically stretched
between the plates of a condenser, and was bodily deflected
(shifted to right or left) each time a particle entered. In the final
form the axial wire (a polished needle) faced with its sharp point
the small opening in the tube, which had the size of a thimble
(Fig. 7). The needle was connected to the string electrometer.
In the demonstration the tube was charged to 1 400 V from a

502

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

motof generator. The source of the a radiation was a speck of
polonium on a foil, the frame of which was slowly pushed up to
the hole in the box. The range of those a particles was 3*86 cm.,
and when this approach was reached the string began to kick.
Then the polonium was replaced by thorium, which gave a par-
ticles of a range of 8 cm., andthe kicking began at that larger distance^;
in both cases all effects stopped when a piece of paper
was interposed between the source and the box. The numbers
of particles thus counted were not constant ; the kicks did not
succeed one another at regular intervals,
and sometimes two were almost simul-
taneous ; the number was subject^to
the laws of probabiUty. A gram of
radium alone, free of other radioactive

Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

materials, would give 3-6 x 10'" a particles per sec, and when
that amount of radium was in equilibrium with the other products,
the number would be 4 times greater. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate_the
kicks due to a and /3 particles.

Another way of demonstrating the 'a particles was to put a speck
of radium on a fine needle and touch the photographic plate with
the'needle for a short time ; the developed plate then showed the

Fig. 10.

splash of Fig. 10 (highly magnified), in which each ray represented
the path of one a particle through the gra'ns of the plate emulsion.

Detection by the Scintillation Method.

In the fifth lecture Sir Ernest Rutherford stated that the number
of a particles could also be determined by the scintillation method

of Crookes. Each a particle hitting a screen of zinc sulphide
(the sulphide was dusted on a glass plate) produced a very
intense flash lasting only 1/40 000 of a second. In order to
make the microscopic field of these obser^'ations large, Messrs.
Adam Hilger had constructed a pecuhar - looking microscope
which gave a field of view of 40 sq. mm., on which up to
25 a particles might fall per minute. The counting of these scintilla-
tions was a very trying operation, even when the eye had first been
rested in the dark for half an hour, and since the emission of the
particles was governed by the law of chance, many countings had
to be made to arrive at a fair average ; the error varied as the
square root of the number of observations.

In the method of determining the numbers of particles due
to C. T. R. Wilson the particles were sent through air saturated
with moisture, which they ionised. On passing through moist air
an a particle from Ra C (range 7 cm. in air at ordinary pressure)
would produce 235 000 pairs of ions, each of which might serve
as a nucleus for the condensation of water vapour in tiny drops.
Those drops were very crowded in the case of a particles, and less
crowded when ^ particles were used ; the former gave a straight
track, the latter a crooked track. In another photograph
exhibited a trace of emanation had been put into the moist
air ; the a particle track looked remarkably straight and long
(though the real length was only ^ mm.), and the track showed
the recoil of the air molecule from which it had started at
its origin.

Determination of Nature and Velocity.

The nature and velocity of the particles had since 1903 been
determined, for some years with httle success, by experiments
on their deflection by electric and magnetic fields. In magnetic
fields the deflection depended upon the velocity u of the particle,
in electric fields on u-, and in both cases also on the mass of the
particle m. The particle was made to hit a photographic plate ;
if deflected first upward and then, by reversing the field, downward,
the particle would describe two curved paths and strike two spots,
the distance between which would represent twice the deflection ;
from that the E/m, the ratio of the charge on the particle to its
mass, could be deduced. These experiments were very much
more difficult with a particles than with (3 particles or kathode
rays, and the deflections for the a were very small, unless fields
10 000 times the intensity of those required for kathode rays were
used. Yet Geiger and Rutherford had found that range B of
the a particle varied approximately as the cube of its velocity u,
so that u^=kB. Any screen interposed in the path of the a
particle reducing its velocity u by ^ would reduce the range R
by |. By such experiments with very intense fields they had found
that for a particles the E/m was 4 823 electromagnetic units.
If the a particle were, as we believed, an atom of helium carrying
two electric charges, the ratio
should, from electrochemical
considerations, be • 4 826, a
very striking agreement. From
experiments with RaC (yield-
ing a particles of range 7 cm.)
Rutherford and Robinson had
deduced wm/E = 3"985 x 10\ or
u = 1"922 X lO^cm. or roughly
20 OOO km. per sec. From this
velocity and the Geiger iv^
rule, the velocities and energies
of the other particles of known
ranges had been determined
for the members of the uranium
series.

Radioactive Heat.

Passing to the heat con-
tinuously given out by radio-
active bodies. Sir Ernest men-
tioned that the first measure-
ments of Pierre Curie and A.
Laborde had been made in Fu;. 11.

1903 with the aid of a Bunsen

ice calorimeter. The calorimeter shown in Fig. 1 1 , used for
Sir Ernest's demonstration, was more suitable. Two equal
fine platinum spirals (resistance thermometers) wound on glass
tubes formed two arms of a Wheatstone bridge ; the source
of heat was placed inside the one tube, and the other tube was
surrounded (see small diagram of Fig. 11) by a compensating coil
through which a current was sent to balance the deflected galvano-
meter of the bridge. In order to prove that this evolution of heat
continued at the low temperature of liquid air and was independent
of the surrounding temperature, Sir Eniest made use <>i the method
of Sir James Dewar, who measured the amount of liquid oxygen
(within a Dewar vessel) vaporised by the respective body or

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

503

radiation ; the rate of liberation of oxygen lor oxygen remained
unchanged, as the radium salt used (once cooled) remained in the
api^aratus during the course of the lecture.

Shares of the Rays in Heat lEvoIution.

With the aid of the above-mentioned electric calorimeter and
the ladium deposit collecting on the wall of emanation tubes
(previously referred to) it was possible to approportion the shares
which the a, fi, and y rays had in the heat evolution. The
emanation was drawn off and condensed ; theRa A decayed quietly,
and after about 30 minutes, when the heat curve dropped strongly,
practically only Ra C would be left. The y rays finally remaining
could be absorbed by lead, though that would require 6 in. of
lead, and so H. Robinson and Sir Ernest had arrived at the following
table of heat effects in gram-calories per gram of radium per
liour :

Total.

Radium

25-1

Emanation . .

27-6

—

27-6

Ra A

30-5

—

30-.5

Ra B-fC...

39-4

4-3

6-5

50-2

Total

123-6

4-3

6-5

134-4

Thus 1 gram of Ra in equilibrium with its descendants would
liberate 134-4 gram-calories. The figures showed that the a rays
contributed the main share of the kinetic energy ; the observed
heat effect of Ra C seemed, however, to be a little too small, and
that was an interesting problem. That the a particles were really
charged atoms of helium had been known long before these deter-
minations of the Elm. Each gram of Ra gave 1-36x10" a
particles per sec, or 4-28 xlO'^a particles per year ; the cub. cm.
of helium contained 2-74 xlO''^ atoms, and the gram of radium
should then give 158 cub. mm. of helium (at normal pressure and
temperature) per year. Similarly uranium gave 2-75 x 10~^ cub. mm.
of helium per year, thorium 3-1, and uranium mineral in equilibrium
11, all expressed in lO""' units. In some compact minerals of
ancient formations the helium accumulated, not being able to
escape ; carnotite, which was not compact, and the relatively
young pitchblende, contained little helium, whilst 1 gram of
saraarskite (very old mineral) contained 1-2 cm^ of helium per
gram. Sir Ernest demonstrated the evolution of helium from
pitchblende by heating this mineral strongly in a quartz tube
and leading the gas into a spectroscopic tube after condensing all
the gases present, except helium, by charcoal.

Recent Developments.

Opening his last (sixth) lecture, Sir Ernest remarked that he
had intended to refer to the conclusions which the helium contents
of minerals enabled us to draw as to their ages. But he would
rather speak of recent developments in the study of ^ and y rays.
The fi rays were very swift electrons ; the y rays highly penetrating
X-rays. We could work discharge tubes at potentials of 150 000 V,
but it would take two or three milUon volts to produce electrons
of yS ray speed and energy, and the energy equivalent to that of
the a rays would require forces of four million volts. Using the
string electrometer and the pointed-needle tube (with hole) as before*,
Sir Ernest showed that the (i rays from radium D strongly deflected
the electrometer, but not when the magnetic field turned the
)8 particles off. When the source was held in such a position that
the particles could not pass directly through the hole there was
no deflection; but when a plate of some metal (aluminium)
was held Uke a mirror so as to reflect the particles roughly in the
right direction, deflection was at once observed again, because
the p particles were easily scattered. A lead plate leflected
better than aluminium. In the further experiments, the source,
6 mg. of radium, was held several feet away from the electrometer,
and the effect was yet very strong — too violent almost for the instru-
ment, in fact. A screen of aluminium interposed in the path of
the rays weakened the effect ; but some particles penetrated even
through 2 in. of lead.

The Nuclear Structure of the Atom.

This last effect now was not due to any direct /3 or y7particles
of the radium, but to secondary fi particles released in the lead bj'
the y rays from the radium. The same effect, though very much
weaker, was known in X-ray experiments. The y rays passed
right through the 2 in. of lead and caused the ejection of swift
/3 rays from the far surface of the block. The primary fi rays
could not force their waj' right through that thickness of lead,
and if the secondary rays had come directly from the lead surface,
they would have the same speed as the primary y8 rays ; if they
were excited at some depth within the metal, their speed was smaller.
What was the wave-length of these highly-penetrating 7 rays ?

To answer that question we had to consider the nuclear structure
of the atom, and these recent studies had enabled us to investigate
the nucleus of the heavy atoms which we had so far been unable
to attack. The nucleus was supposed to be surrounded l>y succes-
sive rings (not necessarily circular) or shells of electrons, known as
the K, L, M,N rings (see Fig. 15, to be explained presently).
A /3 particle shot out from the nucleus might occasionally collide
with an electron, e.(j., in the K ring, and drive it out. But the
external (ring) system would rapidly return to its former state,
we believed with Bohr, and pick up an electron from outside which,
in falling back into position, would emit radiations characteristic
of that particular K ring. Thus we should anticipate occasionally
to observe, in addition to the characteristic radiation Cm this case
the K radiation), a much more penetrating nucleus radiation.
Prof. Rutherford came back to this point at the end of his k-r^'ire.

Sorting the y Rays.

In order to sort out 7 rays, Rutherford and H. Richardson
placed, within a box mounted in a magnetic field, some Ra B and
C behind one or several absorbing .screens of aluminium and
allowrf] the radiation to enter an electrometer chamber filkd

1'9
1-3

I
J

1'5 2 2'S 3 , 3-5
Cms. of Aluminium.

Fig. 12.

4-S 5

either Avith air or with a heavier vapour, methyl iodide. Curves
A (air), Fig. 12, and B (methyl iodide) showed in both cases, but
particularly in B, an initial drop indicating first a rapid absorption,
and then a steady diminution in the rate of absorption, though not
quite the same ^diminution in the two cases. By these means
three components of the 7 rays were distinguished, of absorption
coefficients 230 cm.-\ 40 cm.-', and 0-51 cm."', the last bemg the
most penetrating rays. The former two coefficients were also the
characteristic M and L racUations of lead which, it was noteworthy,
was not known at that time to be an isotope of Ra B. The smallest
coefficient found for 7 rays

from Ra C was 0-115 cm."'. Arrangement for -)(- Ray Spectrum.
Wave-length measurements were
made with the aid "f the
apparatus illustrated in Fig. 13,
representing a modification of
Bragg's X-ray method. The
source, an emanation tube, was
at A, the B were blocks of
lead, and C was the crystal of
rock salt, mounted on an arm
which supported the photo-
graphic plate PP; the whole
was placed between the power-
ful electromagnets MM.

The long exposures required,
a day or more, were apt to fog
the platefc, and some of Sir
Ernest's early photographs of
1903 showed only two distinct
strong lines (others less dis-
tinct) at deflections of about
12 dec and 10 deg. But these
and other lines were found by
the later work of Siegbahn and
Friman to agree exactly with

characteristic X-rav lines of lead. The agreement was not quite
so good for the more penetrating 7 rays, reflected at ahuost grazmg
incidence, down to 42 minutes of arc and corresponding to a wave-
length of 0-71 X 10--' cm. The method was not suitable for measure-
ments at still smaUer angles, and the spectrum was evidently
verv complex-, as we micht expect from the fact that experiments
Awth X-rays at about UK) 000 V could only give us the low-frequency
ranae of radiations, wliilst the shortest 7 rays would reqiure poten-
tials of 2 000 000 V or more for their excitation.
iS Ray Spectra.

Passing to B ray spectra. Prof. Rutherford said that, with the
arrangement of tig. 14. where

BB.

Emanation Tube.

Lead B/ock.
.. . Crystal.
MM. Electro -Magnet.
PP. Photographic Plate.

Fig. 13.

was the source of the rays fixed

504

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

rw»Mh^AM/^}vw/M^>;^/wMW.-A

w ithin the wide slit of a tnick block of lead, and PP a photographic
plate, all in a strong magnetic field, the y rays would shoot up
up in a conical pencil, whilst the yS rays would be bent off in
circular paths, the wider, the swifter the particles. When the

source was Ra F. which gave

few y particles, the spectrum

was practically continuous ;

when Ra B C were used, in

which y rays were prominent,

bands could be distinguished

in the /3 spectrum, and these

bands (the strong lines of Fig.

15) arose from the conversion

of y rays into secondary /?

Fio. 14. rays (previously spoken of) by

the collisions between y rays

and the shells of electrons surrounding the nucleus. For

this conversion the quantum relation held: £=fev. But some

be expended in removing the electron

in the shell, and the equation should

therefore be within 'hvy=E&-^ia.

When the source was an emanation tube placed in a lead cylinder
(or wrapped with foil), most of the ^ rays would be stopped or
scattered, but the y rays would be able to pass, and they would

Electron Electron/

Energy E/= hv- 78O0O Energy E2 =/hv- 89000

energy, (
from its

would
position

y- ray 7 - rau

Energif Tw Ener^Jtv

Ei -E2 = 89000 - 78000
= 11000

PlQ. 15.

generate secondary y8 rays yielding diffused bands, sharp on their
high-frequency side and diffused on the other ; the sharp edge
would correspond to the swiftest rays from the outer lead surface,
the diffused edge to rays from inner layers.

Change in Absorption Spectra.

The absorption spectra changed with the metal through which
the y rays were shot (the cylinder material). Sir Ernest showed
some photographs referring to cylinders of tungsten, platinum,
lead and iiranium. Each spectrum consisted of a rectangle, dark
black on the left and less dark on the right, and the edge of the
dark portion receded more and more to the left in the order stated.
That showed that ^ particles from the lighter metals* travelled
more swiftly than particles from the heavier metals. The relations
would better be understood from the two atoms, one of platinum,
one of lead, in Fig. 15. In both cases a y ray of frequency v
collided with an electron in the K ring ; to rem )ve that electron
required (as we knew from X-ray experiments) 78 000 V for Pt
and 84 000 V for Pb. The energy with which U e (3 ray would
emerge from Pt, i.e., the (hvy — w), would hence be (/n -78 000),
and in the case of Pt it would be [hv - 89 000), that is, the energy
would by 11 000 V be less in the case of the heavier element ; in
other words, the particle lost more energy in escaping from the
element of greater mass.

Energy of the y Rays.

Modifying the arrangements of Fig. 14 in such a way that the
particles of the same speed were brought to the same focus, C. D.
Ellis had found last year in the Cavendish Laboratory that each
of the four heavy metals just referred to gave 3 strong Unes in the

/3 ray spectra," of the foUoAving energies (in 10' V) : tungsten W
(atomic number 74): 1-66, 2-20, 2-76; Pt (78): 1-58, 2-12, 2-69;
Pb (82) : 1-49, 2-03, 2-60 ; U (92) : 1-22, 1-74, 2-31 ; some of these
lines had previously been determined by de Broghe. If each of
these Lines were excited by a yray, as Prof. Rutherford had sug-
gested, the energy of the respective y ray should be greater than
the above figure by the energy required to remove the respective
electron from the atom ; these removal energies w were
known from the X-ray work of Siegbahn, and they amounted to :
W 0-693; Pt 0-762 ;Pb 0-891 ; U M78. Adding these w terms
to the first fisurcs, we obtained for the 3 lines : W 2-35, 2-89, 3-45 ;
Pt 2-36, 2-91, 3-46 ; Pb 2-38, 2-92, 2-49 ; U 2-40, 2 92, 3-79, that
is to say, the same y energies for each of the three lines of the
four elements. That proved that the various secondary (3 raj^s
observed were really excited by three y rays coming, not from
the respective metal, but from the radioactive source.

Deduction of Wave Lengths.

From the energies of the y rays the frequencies v and hence the
wave-lengths could be deduced by the Planck relation, and in this
way Ellis found that the M^hole of the six /? rays (three faint lines,
in addition to the three strong ones spoken of) could be accounted
for by six y radiations ranging in wave-length from O'O 519 down
to 0-0308 Angstrom unit. Now the energy relations were also
known from other researches, and it was thus possible to calculate
in which regions, rings, or levels in
the atoms the (3 rays originated. The
first of these levels (Figs. 15 and 16)
was the K ring ; instead of the single
L ring indicated in Fig. 15 we had, from
Sommerfeld's work on the fine structiu-e
of the spectrum lines, to assume three
levels, that made the 4 levels above
zero level 0 marked by the numbers
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in Fig. 16. The drop
from 5 to 1 would cause the emission
of a ray of energy 4-025x10'' ^ ; the
drop from 4 to i would correspond to
3-636, and so on ; there would have
to be y rays corresponding to these
transitions, and rays of those respec-
tive energy differences had actually been measured by Rutherford
and Andrade in 1914, as the following figures showed : ^

Nuclear Levels RclB
5 -n ^025 xio^

.3-636
■3-492

f'107

Fig. 16.

Origin 5 to 4

energy 0*389

A calculated 0-318 obs. 0-324 A. U

5 to 3

0-533

0-231 0-229

7 to 3

0-144

0-857 0-853

2tol

1-107

0-112 0-115

* Sir Ernest's terms " light and heavy " do not refer to density, but
to atomic weight ; the atomic weights of the four elements are, AV «= 184,
Pt=196, Pb=207, U=238; the densities are in ascending order,
Pb=ll-3, U=18-7, W=19-l, Pt=21-5.

Another noteworthy relation had been pointed out by Ellis. The
six y lines from Ra B consisted, as mentioned, of three strong
lines and three weak Unes. When we tabulated their energies
in pairs like this

4-000 3-639 3-492

2-918 2-529 2-385

1082 1-110 1-107
we saw that the difference between the strong and the weak line of
a pair was constant. That should be so if the drop was not from
5 to 1, but from 5 to 2, e.g.

The Origination of Gamma Rays.

Finally, Sir Ernest came back to the question why we believed
these y rays to originate in the nucleus and not perhaps in the
space between the innermost K ring and the nucleus. The two
isotopes, Ra B and lead, of atomic number 82, were identical
also as to the K and L rings, and Ra B emitted the full K and L
spectrum of a body 82 (Rutherford and Andrade). If the y rays
were emitted previous to the actual disintegration of the Ra B
nucleus, the atomic number should be 83. That there were, in
lead, no electrons inside the K ring was proved by bombardment
experiments ; since Ra B differed from lead only as to the constitu-
tion of the nucleus, that argument of Elhs would also apply t<i
Ra B, and the y rays must hence come from the nucleus. There
was then strong evidence. Sir Ernest remarked iii concluding, that
we had a system of very high-frequency oscillations inside the
nucleus, as well as the system of electronic oscillations outside the
nucleus with which Bohr had dealt. For these reasons experi-
ments with the highest possible discharge potentials had become
so desirable, and he hoped that we should, in the eyurse of a few
years, advance considerably beyond the million volts of the most
recent experiments.

Mr. G. R. Crowe assisted in the demonstrations.

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

505

Counterbalancing the Slump.

The Electricity Supply Authorities' Opportunity.
By W. A. GIIJ.OTT, A.M.I.E.E.

In many districts, the industrial areas in particular, the central
station engineer views with mixed feelings the lessened output due
to slackness of trade, lock-outs, &c. It is evident that some
measures must be taken to improve present conditions, and place
us in a better position should these unhappy circumstances recur
at a later date. Industrial troubles and fluctuations are ever
present ; therefore, a profitable load that is stable under practically
any condition is to be desired and fostered. Such a load is waiting
at the door of every central station, and by proceeding in the right
direction it can be connected to the mains, and will bring a sub-
stantial reward. I refer to domestic electrification.

Many authorities have, and some still do, look upon the domestic
load with indifference, thinking it not worth while. This is a
great mistake, and I repeat, as on many previous occasions, that
with a well-planned campaign and the " will to do," the domestic
load can be made to reach the proportions of a moderate industrial
load. Difficulties ! Of course, there are difficulties, what " worth
while " object is reached without meeting obstacles. If one cannot
jump over them, one must go round or under them so long as the
other side is reached.

Realising there are various matters to adjust, plans can be made
to meet them. Let us take the case of cables, this being, in all
probabiUty, the most difficult matter, as many existing networks in
the residential areas were laid out for Ughting. In the very bad
cases there is no other alternative than strengthening. But why
delay ? — it must be done some day. Prices will not fall to such a
degree that it wiU pay to lose the load awaiting this problematical
time. Experience teaches that it is advisable to extend cables
gradually to meet this class of business ; the increased revenue will
provide capital for further extensions.

Diversity of Electric Cooking Load.

It is extremely doubtful, however, if all the districts of any under-
taking, particularly the large ones, are overloaded, and a good deal
of the fully loaded networks are only apparently so. Cases have
arisen in the writer's knowledge where certain networks were stated
to have reached saturation point, but wishing to connect new
load, many hundreds of kilowatts of cooking were added without
strengthening the cables or meeting trouble. Why ? Because
electric cooking load is of high diversity. There is a certain village
where over 200 6 kW cookers are installed, yet the maximum load
on the feeders at any one time does not exceed 120 kW, this demand
occurring at a time when the central station needs the load,
i.e., midday. There are many instances of this nature, but those
given will suffice for the moment. Station capacity very seldom enters
into the question, as this is usually adequate for immediate needs.

The Question of Cookers.

What of the cookers, how are these to be disposed of — sold, hire-
purchased, or hired ? This, of course, depends upon local con-
ditions. If load is rapidly required, hiring should be adopted.
These powers are given to aU undertakings in the 1919 Act. If
slower progress is desired, cookers may be hire-purchased, and if
the district permits it, and stiU more moderate progress is the order,
selling only should be adopted.

If it is decided to secure load quickly cookers should be supplied
by simple hiring. Substantial and reliable cookers for families
of four to six persons can be obtained in reasonable quantities from
£9 to £12 each, rentals from 30s. to 40s. per annum are a sound
proposition. The maintenance is not very serious ; on a number,
100 or over, it wUl average approximately 10s. to 12s. per cooker
per annum. Certain cooker manufacturers are prepared to support
electricity supply authorities by offering maintenance schemes
which, to a large extent, relieve the authorities of anxiety. This is a
step in the right direction. Upon this basis the rental pays the main-
tenance costs and returns roughly 10 per cent, upon the outlay.
Not this, however, but increased consumption is the direction in
which substantial gain should be looked for. From careful observa-
tion, extended over a long period, it is found that the electric
cooking load provides a return of approximately,320 to 350 kWh per
annum per kW installed. Therefore, taking as an illustration, a
station with 500 6 kW cookers on the mains, this will account for
roughly 1 000 000 units per annum, the M.D. being approximately
300 kW amd off peak. The greatest advantage of tjie cooking load,
however, is in the fact that slackness of trade and industrial troubles
do not materially effect it, as people must eat, and it is the
electricity supply industry's business to see that as many people
as possible eat food cooked by electricity. Compare this load
with a works providing an M.D. of 300 kW, when a strike or lock-
out occurs, and the whole load is lost until the difficulties are
settled. We cannot afford to proceed along these lines, as it
allows too much capital to lie idle.

Result of Cultivating the Domestic Load.

If we inspect the load curve of an'average gas works it] will be
found that Sunday's load is, in the majority of cases, heavier /.han

any week day. This is a result of cultivating the domestic load.
A similar condition cannot yet be expected in the electricity station,
but there is no reason why a start should not be made to bring about
such a tendency. It will not cost the householder more to cook
electrically than by his present method, providing, of course,
tariffs are designed to stimulate progress, and this being one of the
essential features there should be no doubt about it. The
resta. rants, hotels, &c., also offer a good proposition, and it is worth
the effort to secure their business.

No doubt, the question passing through the minds of my readers
is, how are we to secure this business '! By carefully planning the
district, concentrating upon its development by practical demon-
strations in the showroom and the home, the free use of suitable
literature from E.D.A., the " will to do " and showing the courage
of our own convictions by employing electricity freely in your own
home, as an encouragement to others.

Briefly these are the outlines to follow. Every supply authority,
however small, could add a little to its mains and, even if only for
experience to base future developments upon, let a start be made.
It's worth whUe.

An Interesting Type of Switchgear.

A correspondent who has recently visited " Jaarmarkt," Utrecht,
Holland, gives some details of a number of outdoor sub-stations
for the 10 000 V system installed in that district. The system covers

Fig. 1. — A Small Outdoor Sub-Statiox.

a fairly jlarge area and the cables are run to feeder points, -w here a
three-unit switch allows a branch cable to be taken off and any
of these cables to be connected or disconnected. About forty of

Fig.

-The Switch Ready vok Operation.

506

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

these small self-contained sub-stations are in use in the district,
some in buildings, but the majority are simply placed by the
roadside in the splendidly wooded neighbourhood.

The arrangement employed seems to be entiiely rainproof, and
many of the pillars are erected with a simple wrought-iron cover,
which must be removed before the switches can be worked, but most
of them are housed in neatly- designed pillars allowing the handles
to be exposed as soon as the door is opened. There is room in the
pillar for a testboard and a telephone. It is stated that automatic
devices can, if desired, be fitted to the switches. We understand
that this gear is not only popular in Holland, but also in Belgium

Fig. 3.— a " Close Up " of the Switch Used.

and Denmark, and in all there are about one hundred of these
sub- stations in use.

The makers claim that the coft of this gear is so reasonable that
it will be employed where, up to now, the expense of a building
has made a project impossible.

From the illustrations it will be seen that each switch is fitted with
three cable sealing boxes, where the three three-phase cables are
brought in. Inside at the back of the tank are fixed three busbars,
to which the three cables are connected through the three pole
switches, the unit is therefore a complete sub-station in itself. Five-
unit switches and single-unit switches are also standard, and the
gear is made up to 10 000 and 20 000 V. Fig. 1 shows one of the
simple switches by the roadside. Fig. 2 shows a similar switch
with the cover lifted, ready for operation ; and Fig. 3 gives some
further details.

Miners' Blindness.

The committee recently appointed by the Medical Research
Council to inquire into the causes and prevention of miners'
nystagmus have publiehed a first statement of their findinge. They
are unanimous in the opinion that the chief cause of the disease
IS deficient illumination, due to the low illuminating power of the
safety lamps generally used by coal-miners, and they recommend
that everything poesible should be done to make the standard of
illumination of tno objects looked at by the miner equal to that
of an open-light pit by greatly increasing (to about two or three
candles) the illuminating power of safety lamps as ordinarily used,
or by the use of an electric light capable of being fixed on a miner's
head, belt, or other convenient position, so that the light is auto-
matically brought nearer the working area and does not impair
clear vision by shining directly into the eyes. Such a lamp, in fact,
has lately been perfected by Mr. F. J. Turquand, of Turquand &
Kew, and w© propose to give full details of it in a subsequent issue.

Correspondence.

CHANGING TUNGSTEN TO HELIUM GAS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — Apropos of the note on " Changing Tungsten to Helium
Gas," in the issue of The Electeiclan of March 17, 1922, p. .322,
it may be interesting to quote one paragraph of my Vice-Presidential
address, delivered at the Columbus, Ohio, meeting of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science, in August, 1899, and
pubhshed on p. 778 of the issue of The Electkician of Sept. 22,
1899. The statement quoted follows a consideration of electric
furnace temperatures.

A superior limit is, however, already set for u» oy the vaporization
of all known substances, no materials for lining the furnace being avail-
able, not subject either to fusion or vaporization, thus using up the energy
which would otherwise go to increase the temperature. A suggestion
as to a possible extension of temperature range may be made here. It
may be requisite to work with closed receptacles under i^ressure, and
to discharge through them electric currents of so great energy-value
as to attain almost instantaneously the highest temperatures, to be
maintained for only a very short time. We may imagine a huge con-
denser charged to a potential of, say, 10 000 V as discharged through
a Umited body of gas contained in a small space within a strong steel
tube which has a lining of refractory non-conductor. The energy may
thus possibly be deUvered so suddenly to a very limited body of material
as to result in a momentary elevation of temperature passing aU present
known limits and capable of effecting profound changes in molecular
constitution. We need aU possible extension of the hmits of research
in this direction in order to discover some clue to the relations which
the chemical elements bear to each other. The limit of possible strength
of the containing receptacle, or some unforeseen factor, would probably
set the new bounds. The point to be here enforced, however, is that
far beyond any increase of working range in temperature obtained in
any way, there must still exist a further range unattainable by our
best efforts and possibly for ever outside of the field of experimental
research. Our knowledge of this higher range can alone be derived
from a study of the actions going on in the stars and nebulae.

It may be interesting, also, while on the subject, to call attention
to the fact that very early in the history of electricity, very heavy
condenser discharges were produced and known, and a special
instance of which was the production of the so-called " Tylerian "
machine used by Van Marum, and weU known to the students of
the early stages of our science. It is recorded, in connection with
this machine (which was a large example of the plate tj'pe frictional)
that the battery used by Van Marum with the machine consisted
of 100 jars, each 13 in. in diameter and 2 ft. high, the total coated
surface of which aggregated 550 sq. ft. It instantly deflagrated
smaU iron wires 25 ft. long, and vaporized various metals placed
in the path of the discharge." Blocks of hard wood 4 in. square
were spUt into fragments. This is interesting as probably the first
instance of the use of a large capacity discharge. — I am, &c.,

West Lynn, Mass., April 11, 1922. Elihtj Thomson.

A Metallurgist on the Electric Furnace.

Mr. F. Rowlinson, lecturing on the present and future scope of
the electric furnace in the manufacture of tool steel before the
members of the West Yorkshire Metallurgical Society recently,
said that it was no exaggeration to say that the electric steel furnace
had had, and would have, as great an influence on the metallurgy
of steel as had the processes of Huntsman, Bessemer, Siemens,
Martin, and Thomas. In this country at least the electric furnace
was at present under a cloud — more particularly because of the high
cost of energy, because of unsatisfactory work turned out by half-
trained operators who had not the experience in electric steel that
the old-timere had in other proceeses, and chiefly because of the
extravagant claims of some of the pioneers. It was still true that
quality of the finished steel depended mainly upon the ingredient*
put into it, and not on jyhat was refined out of it. The old crucible
steel-makers, therefore, chose their materials from the beet in the
world — the beet eteel-making Swedish irons, the best Sheffield
blister bar, every piece hand-fractured and graded, the beet
Swedish white irons, and the best Sheffield tool scrap. To this
day the finest tool st^eel in the world — Sheflield crucible steel — WHS
made only from the most expensive materials of unquestioned purity
and quality. Comparing conditions in the electric tool-steel indus-
try, the lecturer said the electric furnace was a superb refining
agent. Material of only moderate purity was charged, and a steel
was produced which on analysis and in appearance was exactly
equivalent to the best crucible st^. But trial soon showed that
it was deficient in quality. It lacked that indefinable " body "

fossessed by a high-class crucible steel. The claims that the electric
urnace could be charged with any old scrap, provided it was steel,
and that by clever chemical manipulation and elaborate refining a
tool steel of the finest quality could be producet^, had done in-
calculable harm. Tlie electric furnace could produce tool steel equal in
every respect to the finest crucible steel, but the necessary precau-
tions must be those taken in the making of crucible steel.

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

:>()!

Electric Traction in South Africa.

A White Paper issued by the Government of the Union of South
Africa contains reports on the Electkification of the Natal Main
JjINK by the General Manager of Railways and Harbours (Sir Wm.
Hoy), and by the consulting engineers (Messrs. Merz & McLellan),
together with estimates of cost, annual charges for working and
maintenance, &c. In our issue for December 9 last we were able
to announce that the Government had decided to proceed with the
electrification of the Pietermaritzburg-Glencoe section, and at the
same time we gave some particulars of the engineers' proposals.

In his report Sir Wm. Hoy supports Messrs. Merz & McLellan's
recommendation to start with the section from Glencoe Junction to
Pietermaritzburg (a distance of 171 miles), instead of the Durban-
Pietermaritzburg portion, and he also endorses the view that the
best means of improving the capacity of the Natal main line is by
electrification. The line north of Pietermaritzburg is very con-
gested, and relief is urgently needed, but the section between Durban
and Pietermaritzburg is not so urgent, and it can be undertaken
when financial considerations permit.

Duplication No Remedy.

The duplication of the railway north of Pietermaritzburg would
enormously increase the capacity of the line, but it is not a remedy
for present difliculties. Electrification would give practically the
same relief as doubling and in as short a time as if the latter remedy
were chosen, and, in addition, electrification offers the advantages of
improved working conditions and reduced operating costs. Messrs.
Merz& McLellan estimate that the electrification of the Pietermaritz-
burg-GIencoo Junction section would save £237 510 a year in working
expenses, compared with steam traction. The cost of electrifying
the section on the basis of a down load of 30 000 tons gross per day
is estimated at £4 453 690, with a liberal margin for development.
During the four months of last year which showed the highest traffic
movement, the average traffic carried in a downward direction over
the busiest section of the main line was only 18 369 tons gross per
day. It will, however, be possible, over short periods, to carry a
greater tonnage than 30 000 tons per day, and the power station
will be designed so that it can be readily extended as required.

Sir William Hoy thinks it inadvisable to purchase locomotive
equipment to deal with more than 20 000 tons at the outset, and
new electric locomotives can be ordered as required. The locomo-
tives that will be ordered will be able to deal with a greater traffic
over short periods. This reduction in the number 01 locomotives
reduces the cost of locomotives, plus contingencies, to £1 005 000
and the total expenditure to £4 183 000. Provision is, however,
being made for the fhll scheme so that additional locomotives may
be obtained as required.

The power station will be equipped to meet the industrial as well
as railway requirements. It is thought that the power station
and transmission lines will be taken over by the proposed electricity
authority in the Electricity Bill, which will be introduced into Par-
liament this session. By providing for an industrial load the
Administration (or the electricity authority) will be able to supply
current along the route of the railway and at Pietermaritzburg for
municipal and industrial purposes. The site of the power station
has not yet been determined, but it will be conveniently situated
in relation to the section of line to be electrified and to possible
future expansion. If the power station and transmission lines
(estimated to cost £1 534 690) are taken over by the electricity
authority, and as locomotives would have to be purchased in anv
case, the total additional capital cost to the administration of the
electrification scheme will be £1 643 310.

Branch Lines to be Electrified.

When the proposed electrification is finished, other sections, such
as that from Glencoe Junction to Tendega and from Durban to
Pietermaritzburg should also be electrified. The sections Glencoe
Junction to Pietermaritzburg and Glencoe Junction to Tendega are
the only sections on which, in the absence of electrification, traffic
developments will entail heavy expenditure in the near future on
track improvements beyond those already in hand. The Glencoe
Junction— Tendega line is ideal for electric traction. If develop-
ment continues on this section at the rate at which it has been pro-
ceeding recently, relief will be needed at a comparatively early
date, because of the heavy grades and the difficult conditions of
working under steam traction. The estimates provide for electri-
fying both tracks between Pietermaritzburg and Merrivale and^a
suigle track beyond to Glenco? Junction, except for the short length
of double track between Ladysmith and Daimana Junction, and the
proposed double track between Umbulwana and Ladysmith. A
doublo track is not a necessity for through traffic under elecrtifica-
tion, and, except where parallel doubling alreadv exists the old
route between Pietermaritzburg and I\Ierrivale will not' be used
except for local traffic. It cannot bo abandoned because of the
vested interests and residences that have grown up around it The
old line can, however, be lifted between Merrivale and Nottino-ham-
road and between New Leigh and Estcourt, though the latter sTiould
be retained for a time as a safeguard against further landslides
or washaways on the new line. The Nottingham-road— Merrivale
improvements had to be taken in hand in view of the delay in
proceeding with electrification.

Advantages of Electric Traction.

There are numerous tunnels on the Natal main line which render
electric traction necessary, and with electric working the liability
to grass fires will cease. When the main line is electrified, it will bo
possible (Sir Wm. Hoy thinks) to equip at a comparatively small
expense some of the more important and difficult adjoining 'branch

lines. Overland coal fur the Cape Province has to be sent via
Volksrust — Germiston — Fourteen Streams whenever the traffic
exceeds a certain tonnage, owing to the difficulty of working trains
over the Van Reenen Pass. The time-table load for a coal train up
the Pass is 300 Ujns with a branch line Mallet. If the line over
the Pass were electrified it would simplify and considerably cheapen
through working between Natal and the Orange Free State. On the
Gieytown branch difficulty has been experienced from time to time
in working the traffic. This line is heavily graded, and if traffic
continues to expand, it will be necessary to spend large sums in
re-location and regrading. This line could be electrified at com-
paratively small expense, and the cost of re-location and regrading
saved. The Cape — Natal line is a very expensive line to work, be-
cause of severe grades and curves, and the advisability of elec-
trifying it should be investigated. The short Howick branch (2^
miles in length) could be electrified very cheaply as no sub-stations
would be required. This line is very expensive to work under
steam, and it should be electrified as part of the present scheme,
'i'he cost is comparatively small, about £7 500.

Delays through derailments and engine failures would be avoided
by electric traction, and other advantages would also accrue. In
addition, the national aspect of electrification is very important.
The industrial advantages will also be great. Electrification will
provide all along the railway a trunk electrical line, from which
power can bo distributed for industrial and other purposes. It will
also open up great possibilities for by-product production at the
power stations from waste coal ; and Sir William Hoy recommendo
that jNIessi's. Merz & McLellan be asked to consider the advisability
of designing the power station so that the necessary plant can be
added for by-product recovery as soon as practicable.

Electric Safety Lamps.

The " Vag " ELECTRIC SAFETY LAMP has been approved for use in
all mines, subject to the conditions set out in the Order of March 31.
Including the lamps in the present list, there are now twenty-six
approved lamps for general use and thirteen for use by officials or
for special purposes only.

The " Vag" miners' electric safety lamp comprises : (1) An accu-
mulator case of pressed steel, lead lined and strengthened by trans-
verse ribs. A steel ring at the top of the case provides a bayonet
joint for attachment of the cover. (2) A two-cell accumulator, with
casing of celluloid or of ebonite with celluloid top, for use with
either (a) semi-solid electrolyte, or (6) liquid electrolyte; in the
latter event it is fitted with a device for preventing the escape of
liquid whatever the position of the lamp, whilst allowing for the
release of gases. The terminals ai'e of the spring-plunger type, and
the capacity of the accumulator is 4'5 Ah with a voltage drop
to not less than 36. (3) A cover or lantern, which can be attached
to the case by a bayonet joint. The lantern carries a lampholder
with dome-shaped reflector moimted on a disc of ebonite or other
non-inflammable insulating material, in which are embedded con-
tact pieces of brass, which make electrical connection with the
terminals of the accumulator. The lampholder is held in posititHi by
a bayonet ring. The lamp-bulb is protected by a dome-shaped cover-
glass, with four steel pillars and a steel crovra piece. The current
consumption of the bulb is 045 to 0'5 A. (4) A magnetic lock.

Approval is subject to the further conditions : — (i) That the to*al
weight of the lamp is not more than 6 lb. 10 oz. (ii) That the
etren^th of material and attachments throughout the lamp is not less
than in the samples submitted for official test, (iii) That the lamp
shall be capable of maintaining a light of not less than 1 c.p. all
round in a horizontal plane for not less than nine hours, and also
of giving a light of not less than 1"5 c.p. over an arc of 45° in a
horizontal plane, (iv) That the lamp has been made at the " Vonta "
Accumulator Works (Leipzig), (v) That the integral parts of each
lamp shall have marked upon them the name or distinguishing mark
of the lamp; and that the case shall also bear the name of the maker.

Lamps for Special Purposes.

The following electric safety lamps have been approved for use by
officials, or for special purposes only : —

The " Wefco " officials' electric hand lamp (Watts, Fincham, &
Company, Ltd.) has an alkaline accumulator with a steel casing and
fixed spring terminals. The current consumption of the bulb is
095 A, and the lamp is capable of giving 1'5 c.p. over an angle
of 45° in a horizontal plana for nine hours.

The " Ce:\g " bull's-eye lamp No. 2 ("Ceag" Miners" Supply C-om-
pany, Ltd.) is a modification of the " Ceag " electric lamp bull's-eye
type, and the specification of that lamp applies generally, except that
the case is shorter, and the accumulator is therefore snorter and of
smaller capacity. The capacity of the battery is not less than
45 Ah, with a voltage drop to not less than 1"9 V. and the current
consumption of the bulb is not more than 05 A.

The '■ Ceag " bull's-eye lamp, t\-pe 3 ('" Ceag " electric torch), is
intended to be used in conjunction with another approved lamp
capable of maintaining the required light during the required
number of houi's.

The Minors' electric hand lamp, type H 1 (Patterson & Company;
comprises a cylindrical accumiUator case of cast aluminium screwed
at the top to receive the cover ; a cover or lantern of aluminium, con-
t^iining tne bulb-holder and contact-plate. The current consumption
of tile liulb is 050 A. There is a two-volt lead-acid accumulator, with
celluloid casing, so constructed as to prevent escape of liquid what-
ever the position of the lamp whiist allowing escape of gases. The
capacity of the accumulator is not less than 5 Ah, with a voltage
drop to not less than 18 V. A lens is held by a screw from within
the cover, and a lead plug lock is similar to that approved for
Pattersons' miners' electric safety lamp, type G 1.

508

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

Stonework Cubicle Gear at Southport
Power House.

Owing to the increasing demand for electric power in the South-
port district considerable extensions were recently made to the Cor-
poration station. In connection with these extensions an order wa.s
placed with the General Electric Company for a large quantity
of h.t. switchgear to be installed in stonework cubicles, two 500 kW
rotary converters, together with the necessary synchronising panels
and a c. switchgear for these machines. The h.t. switchgear was

Fig. 1.— General view of 6 600 V G.E.C. cubicle Switch-

GEAE AND MECHANICAL ReMOTE CoNTROL OPERATING BoARD.

required for the control of three 3 000 kW turbo-alternators, the h.t.
side of the transformers supplying the two 500 kW rotary converters,
three 1 500 kW, and two smaller feeders. The voltage of the apparatus
was 6 600, and, as already indicated, the busbars, isolating links,
instruments, transformers, oil switches, &c., were accommodated in
stonework cubicles. These were erected in a semi-basement, the oil
switches being operated from a mechanical remote control board

Fig. 2. — Interior view ov cubicle controlling h.t. side
OF Transformer.

on a gallery immediately over the cuoicles. A good 'idea of
the arrangement can be obtained from Fig. 1, which also shows
part of the rotaxies in the foreground, and the rotary switchgear
on the left of the control board.

Isolation Arrangements.

In accordance with the general practice for this type of switch-
gear the cubicles were divided into compartments by stonework

partitions in order to isolate the various units of apparatus to the
greatest practicable extent, thereby ensuring the highest possible
degree of safety. Thus, the top compartment contains the busbars,
this compartment being sub-divided by stonework slabs so that each
bar is in a separate cell. Immediately below the busbars is a com-
partment with isolating links, while the two lower compartments
contain instrument transformers and oil switches respectively. The
above arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the cubicle shown con-
trolling the h.t. side of the transformers supplying power to one of
the rotaries.

A Fume -Tight Insulator.

An interesting accessory used between the various compartments
is a special type of fume-tight insulator, which effectively prevents
any gas which may be generated in the oil switch compartment, due
to a short circuit, spreading to the other compartments. The oil
switches are of the G.E.C. type III., with the usual overload trips
and time-limit fuses. The speed of break of such a switch is over
10 ft. per second. Careful attention has been given to the
mechanical design of these switches, so that they may be able to
withstand the heavy stresses set up should a short circuit occur on
the system. It should be noted that no porcelain is used in tension.
The instrument transformers were made at the G.E.C. Chamberlain
& Ilookham Works. They are bolted to stout bars fixed in the
appropriate compartment. The secondary l.t. connections are run
in conduit to the instruments on the control board. The cubicles
are protected with strong steel doors, each fitted with a stout
padlock.

A slate flat-back type of operating board was adopted. On this
is mounted the oil switch operating handles, also the necessary
indicating and measuring instruments. Connection is made from
the operating handles to the oil switches by a system of bell cranks
and levers. The 500 kW rotary converters are of the standariJ
G.E.C. self-synchronising design for reactance control, the d.c.
voltage being 500/550 and the speed 1 000 revs, per min. On the
left of Fig. 1 is the switchgear for these converters. The G.E.C.
patent self-synchronising panel affords an extremely simple method
of starting. Only two elementary operations, controlled by a correct
sequence device, are necessary. Another valuable point in the start-
ing arrangement is that the main rotary current does not pass
through the starting motor, but external reactances are provided on
tlie back of the panel.

We are indebted to Mr. E. Moxon. the Borough Electrical
Engineer to Southport Corporation, for permission to publish the
information and photographs in this article.

"Heatrae" Fires.

The extensive range of stoves manufactured by Electric Fires, ltd.,
Norwich, is designed to meet every conceivable requirement, whether
it be for the house, hotel, cabin, public hall, factor}-, or garage. The
fires, which bear the trade mark " Heatrae," are manufactured in a
modern factory, specially equipped for mass production, and care has
been taken to ensure complete standardisation and interchangeability
of parts.

A successful_eftort^has been made to break aAvay from the common

Interior of "Hkatkae ' Boiling Ring.

practice of usiiig a solid mass of porcelain or fire clay as the basis of
the heating unit. The body of the " Heatrae " fire-bar is constructed of
a metallic alloy. It is claimed that the metal does not tarnish,
and materially adds to the working efiicienc}'. Another novel design
is an electric boiling ring, the interior of wjiich is shown in the illustration.
It is made of steel, with fine cast-iron top grid, and embodies a reflector
that^increases the heating power.

At the Chapel-street Congregational Church, Southport, on Satur-
day, a demonstration was given of an instrument known as THK
ACOUSTicoN, which enables the sermon to be lieard by persons of
defective hearing. It is claimed that, whilst this invention is in
general use in America, so far only one other chuich in Great Britain
has had it installed, namely. St. Andrew's, Edinburgh, though one
has been fixed at the Lyric Theatre London. A small microphone
is placed immediately behind the Bible desk in th"? pulpit, and
att^ached to each of the pews in which the receiver is fixed ia a
miniature switchboard, which may be manipulated so as to
strengthen or increase the volume of sound according to the degree
of deafness of the user.

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

509

Wind-Power for the Generation of Electricity.

The problem of generating electricity by means of wind-power has
always been an attractive one, and many attempts have been made
to solve it. Some of tjie reasons that have, however, militated
against the more general use of this form of power are that it has
been necessary to employ large and expensive slow-speed windmills
mounted upon towers of heavy construction, entailing considerable
erection costs, and to drive the dynamos by means of gearing, with
a con«jequent loss of power.

While it is true that, providing the wind wheels are of large
diameter, power can be obtained with moderate winds, it is neces-
sary for arrangements to be made to stop the machine when
the velocity of tne wind exceeds 20 to 25 miles per hour to obviate
the possibility of wreckage, and also to prevent the storage battery
from being damaged by reason of it being charged at a higher rate
than that for which it is designed. It has been impossible, there-
fore, to take advantage of the power available from high winds
and gales, which is obtainable from v/indmills in proportion to
the cube of the velocity of the wind, without the great expense
of construction of the windmill, battery, and dynamo.

Dynamos of High-Speed Winds.

In order to overcome these disadvantages a system for the genera-
tion of electricity by means of automatic high-speed wind
DYNAMOS has been designed by F. A. Wilkinson & Partners which.

A Typical Wind Installation with Ovbkubad
Line to Battery.

while the output obtainable from the dynamos is not a large one,
becomes appreciable when used for charging storage batteries over
long periods the result being exactly the same as that of corre-
spondnigly charging a storage battery at a normal rate for a short
period.

The general arrangement of the automatic high-speed wind
dynamos for battery charging is shown in the illustration. Tlio
system comprises a number of dynamos with direct-coupled
impellers, mqunted upon a tubular crossbar, fitted with a swivel
head and wind-direction vane, which causes the impellers always to
face the wind.

The improvement, which is a vital one, consists mainly in tlie
employment of a dvnamo having a field magnet system, wh'ch
rotates in the opposite direction to the armature under the agency
of its own direct-coupled impeller. This is found, in practice, lo
result in an output very considerably greater than that obtainable
from the ordinary rotating armature dynamo of the same size. Tho

installation is supported by a vertical tube, which may either t>e
sunk in the groand or mounted upon the roof of a building.

Technical Details.

Each dsiiariii^ 1.-, iau;<l at 100 W, and battery charging is com-
menced in winds of 15 miles per hour, the output and speed increas-
ing with the velocity of the wind. The dynamos have laminated
fielcs, and are self -regulating for battery charging purposes. They
are of the ventilated type and are enclosed in removable steel cases.
Ball bearings are fitted to both the armatures and also to the
revolving field magnet systems, the lubrication of the machines thus
requiring but little attention. To enable the rotating connections
of the armature and field magnets to be readily coupled up to the
batteiy, each dynamo is provided "vith a multiple contact plate and
a terminal board, upon wnich carbon brushes fitted in spring holders
are mounted.

A feature of the system is an automatic cut-out which requires
no electrical energy for its operation, the connection and discon-
nection of the dynamo to and from the battery being automatically
effected and governed by the velocity of the wind, thus saving
some three or four W required by the usual type of automatic
cut-out. One of the dynamos of the installation' is arranged as a
"control" dynamo, and upon its armature shaft is fitted a slee/e
free to move in a lateral direction. Mounted upon this sleeve is a
contact plate, while a terminal board provided with adjustable
contact fingers is attached to one of the end plates of the machine.
When the velocity of the wind is sufficient the contact plate is
forced against the contact fingers, making the necessary connectiwi
between the dynamos and battery, and conversely Breaking the
connection when the wind falls below a predetermined value.

The New Switch.

Tucker Switches,

The switch which we illustrate has recently been placed on the market
by J. H. Tucker. It shows a marked advance upon the type of quick
make and quick break switch in which the action relies entirely upon
the spring, or which has only an " initial " positive action which may
allow the switch arm to be withdrawn from the contacts, but only
sufficiently just to clear them without breaking the " arc." Recognising
the " necessity " of a complete positive make and complete positive
break, the firm, for the past two years, have been engaged on producing
a combination embracing these features.

The spring is of the compression type, enclosed in a specially-designed
chamber, forming in itself a complete " spring unit." In the unlikely
event of the spring breaking, it is still contained within the chamber
and continues to function. A
direct drive (quite apart from the
spring or the spring chamber) is
obtained from the switch " dolly"
to the contact arm, in such a
manner as to cause the latter to
travel its full extent in either
direction. The switch can conse-
quently be placed in its correct
" on " or " off " position, even if
the entire spring mechanism is
removed.

In addition to the features
already mentioned there are many
minor improvements in this new-
switch. The contact clips are
specially designed to give even
contact to the switch arm, and are
of flexible hardened copper, permanently fixed in their correct position by
heavy brass clamping plates. To prevent the possibility of arcing across
the contacts, an exceptionally high and wide di\-iding wall of china
has been employed. The contacts are placed well away from the
switch bridge and cover so that arcing on to any dead part of the
switch is impossible.

With the object of obtaining a clear wide break, the cable clamping
screw in the terminal has been reversed, so that it is impossible for
this to shorten the arcing distance when the s^dtch breaks, as it does
not project towards the contacts. The reversing of the screw will
also be appreciated by contractors generally, as it gives ample room
for manipulation by an ordinary screwdriver without the risk of damag-
ing the china.

Faraday Entrance Scholarships.

As a result of the Entrance Scholarship Examination held at
Faraday House Electrical Engineering College on t-he 11th, 12th,
and 13th inst., the following awards have been made: —

R. W. Griffin. County School. Beckenham, the " Faraday "
Scholarship of fifty guineas -^v annum, tenable for two years in
college, and one year in works.

D. Moody, Central Foundation Boys' School. London, the " Max-
well " Scholarship of fifty guineas per annum, tenable for one year
in college, and one year in works.

W. Swindells, Municipal Secondary School, Brighton, an Exhibi-
tion of thirty guineas per annum, tenable for two years.

J. K. Watts. Aldenham School, an Exhibition of thirty guineas
per annum, tenable for two vears.

J. W. Bailey, Elizabeth College. Guernsey, an Entrance Prize
of twenty guineas

D. F. Gover, Dulwich College, an Entrance Prize of twenty
guineas.

510

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

Building Hydraulic Machinery Electrically.

The lay-out and organisation of a modern engineering shop so as
to get a maximum of production is a subject of much interest, and
we need not apologise for giving some details of a large erecting
shop in the works of Hollings & Guest, Ltd., Birmingham. This
shop, which we illustrate, is 200 ft. long, and 60 ft. wide. It
IS well lighted and well equipped for the purpose of dealing with
the erection of hydraulic presses, pumps, and accumulators of all
kinds in which this firm specialise. The shop is served by a 20 ton
electric overhead travelling crane, with an available head room of
25 ft. under the crane. In addition to this the shop is also fitted

One of Hollings & Gtuest's Ekectinc* Shops at Uibmingham.

with fourteen light jib cranes spaced at intervals down each side
of the shop, and these cranes are capable of dealing with loads up
to 30 cwt. so as to prevent any delay in waiting for the large crane.
This ensures that there is no tvaste of time in the production of the
work. The shop is also equipped with a well-laid-out marking-off
table of a large size, and also testing apparatus for testing hydraulic
cylinders of all capacities and pressure. It is further equipped
with a light erecting pit, which can be uncovered in sections for use as
required.

A variety of machines in the course of construction can be seen in
the illustration. In the foreground are a number of the firm's well-
known hydraulic tyre presses, some completely finished, and others
Eartially so. In the centre of the shop can be seen a belt-driven
ydraulic pump, and at the far end, towards the left, may be seen
another large and powerful press used for joggling plates, as used
in the shipbuilding trade. A number of hydraulic girder fram.e
baling presses, of which details have been given in The Electrician,
in various stages of progress can also been seen. It may be men-
tioned that Hollings & Guest, Ltd., specialise in the girder frame
type of hydraulic presses, as well as being makers of the old type
of four-column press.

One corner of the shop is entirely devoted to the manufacture of
gas-heated enamelling stoves, which is an important branch of the
firm's activities, and is fitted for this purpose with power-driven
punching and shearing machines.

Electric Butt-Welding.

The Whitlock Coil Pipe Company, Hartford, Conn., who for
about two years have been employing electric butt-welding for steel
and wrought-iron pipe, have found, states the " Times " Trade
Supplement, that the time required to make the welds is practically
dependent upon the current only, the higher currents requiring the
shorter time and also giving the strongest welds.

The cost of a typical butt-weld in I4 in. extra-heavy pipe was
15c., including labour, material and energy. By the hand methods
formerly employed approximately 45 minutes were rvxjuired, as com-
pared with an average of 38 seconds when butt-welding with 180 A.
Another advantage of this method over arc or oxy-acetylene welding
is that the original material is used for making the joint. In a
number of tensile tests on butt-welds made at these shops the pipe
was torn in every instance before the weld was damaged in any way.

The butt-weld is made by cutting a female scarf in each pipe and
then pressing the ends together under an oil pressure 01 5 tons
w hile the current is passed through the joint. As the current heats
the ends to be welded the scarfed portions are forced outward and
the area of the weld is increased over the annular area of the pip«.
The inside of the pipe is left smooth a-^d clean without any con-
striction. The only objection is that the outside diameter of the
pipe is increased at the weld, and it is thus impossible to use the
pipe in spiral or other coils made on a former which is shaped to fit
the ordinary outside diameter of the pipe. Lap welding with a
mandrel is employed where it is necessary to obtain a weld without
any reduction of the bore or enlargement of the outside diameter.

Country House Lighting Sets.

The design of country house lighting sets seems now to have
settled down to well-recognised standards, and it is seldom that any
strikingly novel features are developed. But the semi-automatic
switchboard which forms part of the set made by the Alden
Engine Company has a certain number of features which differ
from the usually accepted standard for small plants. Briefly, the
sets are made in four sizes, namely model "A," | kW, 25 V, with
120 Ah battery, rated for 30 lights; " B," 1^ kW, 50 V, with
120 Ah battery, 60 lights; " C," 2 kW, 50 V, with 200 Ah battery,
100 lights; "D," 2^ kW, 100 V, with 120 Ah battery, 130 lights.

The engines employed are o2 the vertical paraflfin type, but run
at the comparatively slow speeds of 500 to 600 revs, per min.,
making them suitable for general work in addition to generating.
The usual arrangement is a belt drive to the dynamo, though as an
alternative the generating sets can be supplied direct-coupled. The
capacity of the batteries is at lO-houi* rate down to 1'85 V. The
glass boxes have open tops, and the plates are Plante type.

The Alden plants are supplied either hand-operated or semi-auto-
matic, the makers favouring the former method ; but their semi-
automatic board differs appreciably from the usual run of such
boards with their rather meagre equipment of instruments, in that it
embodies quite as full a range of mstruments as a hand-operated
board, viz., 33-in. dial ammeter (charge), Sj-in. dial ammeter (dis-
charge), voltmeter, 2-way and " off " voltmeter switch, 6-way
regulating switch (charge), 6-way regulating switch (discharge),
s.p. dynamo switch and fuse, s.p. lighting switch and fuse, shunt
regulator, semi-automatic starting switch.

The illustration shows a 1 kW switchboard which is designed for
50 to 55 discharge V. By its means the following operations can be
performed : charging the battery, starting the generating set off the
battery, lighting from the battery, simultaneous charging and
lighting, direct lighting and power from dynamo.

To start the engine from the battery, both knife switches are
closed and the left-hand (charge) battery switch is turned on to the
top stud. The starting switch arm is then moved slowly and
steadily over the contacts until it is held by the series " hold-on "
coil. The dynamo, working as a motor, will now begin to run.

The 1 kW Switchboard.

and when the engine picks up will start to charge the battery.
When the battery becomes fully charged the series coil becomes
de-magnetised, and allows the starter arm to fly back to the first
stud, this aim being fitted with a phosphor-bronze brush, which,
when tiie arm is in the " off " position, locates between and short-
circuits two brass studs connected with the magneto.

The overall size of the panel is 21 in. by 16 in., and it is mounted
separately upon an angle-iron frame from the floor, not upon the
dvnamo or engine. Although the range of instruments and the
means of regulation on this switchboard are so full, the total price
of the set is not increased on this account.

An invention designed to make the detection of fire-damp pos-
sible with the electric hand lamp is at present undergoing tests
at the Home Office. The invention comprises a small attachment
for use with the lamp which enables the user to note the actual
amount of fire-damp, which can be easily read from a scale. In
tlie development of the invention there is a device ^vhich gives an
automatic alarm, either by flashing a signal light or operating a
bell or hooter, as soon as tne fire-damp reaches a dangerous point.

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

511

Le^al Intelligence.

Fraudulent Consumption of Electricity.

Gideon George Grieve and Archibald A. Manges, carrying on
business as electrical and mechanical engineers at Weet Bute-street,
Cardiff, were charged at Cardiff Police Court on Friday last with
laying an electric wire to the Corporation supply main so as lo
obtain electricity without it passing through the meter, with using
such electricity, injuring the meter and the fittings, and with
culpable negligence and wilfully injuring the fittings and using the
electricity without the consent of the Corporation electricity
department.

Mr. Kenvyn Rees, who prosecuted on behalf of the Corporation,
stated that defendants made application for a meter to be installed.
There was a meter on defendants' premises, and this was connected
up and the various fittings and fuses sealed up. The first reading,
up to Dec. 8, showed that they used 15 units, on Jan. 15 the metre
recorded 64 units, but on Feb. 13 the meter recorded nothing. It
was then found that the meter was " blown," and it was evident
that defendants had tried to get through the meter more power
than it would carry, with the result that the coil burst. The seals
on the Corporation fuses had been broken and a fuse,
capable of carrying more electricity, had been substituted. A wire
had been connected by which electricity could be consumed without
passing through the meter. By another wire defendants could get
electricity for heating purposes. The men sold electric supply and
electric heating apparatus, and it was assumed they had been
demonstrating these goods to probable purchasers without paying
for the current.

Frederick Geo. Barnard, electrical engineer employed by the Cor-
poration, said the reason the meter burnt out was because an over-
load of current had passed through it. If consumption had gone
on at the same rate as before there would have been appro.ximately
£2 worth of electricity used for lighting only, but that did not
include any current which might have been used for heating or
any of the e.xtra supply which burned the meter out. The cost
of replacing the meter would be £3 10s.

Defendants pleaded guilty to fraudulently and feloniously con-
suming the current, and on this count the stipendiary magistrate
(Sir Tnomas Lewis) fined them £50 each, or three months' imprison-
ment, and ordered the withdrawal of the other charges.

Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company v. Hamilton.

On Tuesday the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of Mr.
Hamilton against a refusal of Mr. Justice P. 0. Lawrence to relieve
him from an undertaking given by ^im in a former action. On May 3,
1920, Mr. Hamilton entered into an agreement with the Marconi Com-
pany and Mr. Godfrey Isaacs for compromising certain litigation.
The agreement contained a clause by which he covenanted not to dis-
close tile contents of the pleadings. On June 6, 1920, the Company
and Mr. Isaacs commenced proceedings against Mr. Hamilton to
enforce by injunction the covenant so entered into. The action
was tried on October 20 without Mr. Hamilton pleading that the
covenant restrained him in the exercise of his business or was con-
trary to public policy, and an order was made substantially in
accordance with the relief asked for. Mr. Hamilton subsequently

started an action to have the agreement set aside, alleging that it
was obtained by certain misrepresentations by the Marconi Com-
pany and Mr. Isaacs; and that it was in undue restraint of his trade
and against public policy. The Lord Chief Ju.stice stayed these
proceedings, but Mr. Hamilton was given an opportunity of taking
proceedings in Chancery for the relief asked. Before taking those
proceedings he moved Mr. .Justice P. 0. Lawrence in the original
action to be relieved from the undertaking for the reasons stated.
The Judge refused to make the order asked for, and Mr. Hamilton
nov appealed. The Master of the Rolls, in dismissing the appeal,
said it would be unheard of to allow such an appeal where the
contention was that the clause complained of was only on the border-
line of public policy.

German Wireless Inventor in Trouble.

A German, named William Brantjes, was charged at Sunderland
on Saturday with having unlawfully broken the conditions of land-
ing in the United Kingdom, and was remanded for a week in
custody.

The police statement was to the effect that Brandea waa the
inventor of wireless apparatus for ascertaining the movements and
distances of ships at sea, and for some time he had been in corre-
spondence with persons in London, from whom he wanted JB15 000
for the invention. He had come over on a schooner by working
his passage, and got permission at Hartlepool to go to London on
business. From correspondence found on him, his price of £15 000
was under consideration. He had gone back to Hartlepool too late
to board the schooner for Germany. In the hope that a German
ve«sel would be at Sunderland he had gone there, but, being unable
to find one, he went to the police station and gave himself up. The
man's invention was said to be a clever one, and it had impressed
the persons to whom it had been submitted.

Gosforth All-Electric House.

An all-Electric Exhibition House has been open to the public
in Gosforth since the 8th inst. The house is a semi-detached villa,
and is one of fourteen villas which are being erected on the out-
skirts of Gosforth, one of the residential areas of Newcastle. The
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Electric Supply Company had to extend their
mains a short distance in order to g'ive supply to these houses, but
all the builders concerned agreed to wire the houses, and also put
in one electric heating circuit before offering them for sale.

Following their usual practice, the Supply Company obtained the
co-operation of a local furnishing firm and a firna of electrical
contractors, and have given the house the title of The Home
Ideal. The whole of the electrical installation has been carried out
by Robson & Coleman, of Newcastle, who have wired all the houses
for the builders, and supplied all the small electrical apparatus.
The Supply Company have put in the large apparatus, such as
electric cooker, electric clothes washer, dish washer, hot-water cir-
culator, wash bojler, &c., and are giving daily demonstrations of
electric cooking, vacuum cleaning, &c.

A luncheon was given at a private inspection for the exhibitors
and press, the entire cooking for eight people being carried out on
a Jackson No. 21 electric cooker.

New Method of Packing Rubber Wires.

From the beginning of the electric cable industry coils of vulcanised
indiarubber wire have been wrapped for delivery in strips of hessian
wound spirally around the coils. This method of wrapping has
become, from long use, almost a part of the business of electric cable

manufacture, and it, therefore, would
seem to require a bold man to make
a change. However, for some months
now W. T. Henley's Telegraph
Works Company have been experi-
menting with the packing of coils

CABtES

The New Method of Packing.

of V.I.R. wire in cartons and containers of strong fibre-board, and
they now announce that all qualities in sizes 1/0-044 in. (0 -015 sq. in.)
and 3 0-029 in. (0002 sq. in.) will be delivered in this improved
manner in future. It will be extended to other sizes subsequently,
and as soon as arrangements can be made.

To such an extent had the wrapping of coils in hessian become a
custom of the trade that its disadvantages seem to have been
generally overlooked. It undoubtedly costs the contractor. a con-
siderable sum per annum in wireaian's time spent in slowly un-
wrapping the coils, and it also produces Utter which must involve
further cost in clearing up. Once a coU is unwrapped it
is extremely unlikely ever to be wrapped up again, and
so parts of coils left unused may suffer damage. In any
case they would deteriorate in appearance and probably in
value

,^A'ith cartons, the coils are very quickly unwrapped,
the litter is infinitesimal and the carton can be used
again for keeping portions of unused coils.
"^The company inform us that the cost to them of this new
method of packing is higher than packing by hessian, but
they are convinced that it will be such a great advantage
and convenience to their customers that they are going on
with it. Each coil is packed in a separate carton, and
these in turn are packed in containers holding respectively
three, four or five cartons.

The containers comply \i-ith the railway companies'
conditions, and they can be sent by rail anywhere without
further protection. Both cartons and containers are clearly
marked with their contents, so the taking of stock at any
time will be easy.

We show an illustration of the cartons and containers,
and are informed that the same method has been adopted
for packing " Henley " tape. In this case the cartons
each contain 7 lb. of tape, and four of them go in a
container.

B 2

512

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

Hackney Electrical Exhibition.

An interesting exhibition oT electrical appliances for household
use, organieed by the Borough Council's Electricity Department, was
opened at the Baths, Lower Clapton-road, on Monday, and will
remain open until to-morrow (Saturday). A charge of 6d. is made
for admission, which prevents overcrowding, but does not deter
interested people from attending.

The Mayor (Councillor W. J. Parker), in performing the opening-
ceremony, referred in terms of admiration to the excellent progress
made by the Council's electricity undertaking and the progressive
policy carried . out under the direction of the borough electrical
engineer, Mr. L. L. Robinson. The department's charges for energy
were now the lowest in the country.

The department's new tariff offers several alternative methods of
charging, and one which is being especially pushed at present is the
following : " In consideration of the premises being wired through-
out for electric light, and a fixed charge of 2s. per quarter being
paid for each 60 W lamp or equivalent installed, any quantity of
electrical energy used per quarter will be supplied at Id. per unit."

An announcement has been issued that the first twenty cookers
ordered from the department will be supplied on trial for three
months without any financial liability upon the consumer except to
pay for the electricity used. Orders for ten cookers under this
system were taken on the opening day of the exhibition.

Lectures have been given during the week by Mr. S. M. Hills
and Mr. J. W. Beauchamp.

Some Particulars of the Exhibits.

Demonstrations of electric cooking are given at the stands of the
British Electric Transformer Cosipany and the Jackson Electric
Stove Company. The former company shows, in addition to
" Tricity " cookers, a variety of hot plates, radiators, irons, kettles,
&c., while the latter exhibits electric fires and radiators, suction
cleaners and other appliances. Other exhibitors are the Sun Elec-
trical Company, who show the "Sunshine" electric cleaner, the
" A.B.C. " super-electric washer and wringer, table and hanging
lamps with silk shades, and illuminated signs; Geo. Nobbs, Ltd.,
electric cookers, the " Genii " distilling apparatus, and electric coil
boiler (which boils a quart of water in ten to fifteen minutes), an
electric foot warmer, and the " Ray vac " electric cleaner; the
Falkirk Iron Company, " Falco " cookers and double-ray table
heaters and toasters, boilers, radiators, kettles and irons ; the
Carron Company", 2 kW electric fires, which, we are informed, were
sold at the rate of 300 a day last autumn, a 6 in. boiling plate, sold
at 20s. complete with flex and adapter, a 6 in. boiling rmg, which
consumes three-quarters of a unit per hour, and also larger rings
and a hot-water circulator system ; the Wholesale Fittings Com-
pany, a fine collection of hanging lamps with alabaster and opal
bowls and silk and glass bead shades, flambeaux lamps supported
by bronze figures on pedestals, the " Alto " ventilated enamelle 1
steel shades, and the " Reflect© " semi-indirect light fitting with
opaline bowl and white enamelled reflector ; the British Thomson-
Houston Company, sign lighting by floodlights, spotlight projectors
with revolving and slide colour screens, a comparison of the
" Trutint " artificial daylight unit, for colour matching, with
ordinary carbon, gasfilled and vacuum lamps, pedestal and table
lamps, and opal and alabaster bowls for semi-indirect lighting ; the
Hart Accumulator Company, batteries for motor-car starting and
lighting, wireless telephone and other purposes, and portable nand-
lamps, with a 4 V accumulator giving 45 hours' light on one charge ;
HoTPOiNT Electric Appliance Company, cookers, washing and
sewing machines, suction cleaners, radiators, &c. ; Metropolitan-
ViCKERS Electrical Company, electroliers and wall sconces with
shaded candle lamps, pedestal and table lamps with silk shades,
cookers, hot plates, &c. ; Belling & Company, electric fires, cookers,
hot platee, irons, " M.K." wall plugs and s. /.Kets, switch plugs and
connectors; Holophane, Ltd., the " Holophane " daylight colour-
matching unit contrasted with a light from a bare bulb, and a
demonstration of "Holophane" light control, which has the effect
of securing a better distribution of light on a given surface than
that obtained with bare lamps, and a variety of Dowls and shades;
Frank Feesey & Company, the "Cascade" electric washer and
" Cascade " electric ironer. The ironer is made with 44 in. and 50 in.
rolls. Although the stands are confined to manufacturers, Messrs.
Linzell Dickinson, & Company, of 7, Cazenove-road, Stoke
Newington, are in attendance to hold consultations with visitors
requiring the services or advice of contractors.

The Orwell Electric Truck.

A noticeable feature of the exhibition is Ransomep, Sims, &
Jefferies' " Orwell " electric truck, which carries two tons at five
miles an hour on the level, and is driven by chloride batteries of
129 Ah capacity. A special advantage of these trucks is the small
radius in which tliey can turn.

Mr. Robinson states that these trucks have been found so useful
for refuse CDllection that Hackney Council is buying a fleet of thirty.

There is a good assortment of literature on electricity for the house-
hold available attheexhibition, and there is on view a letter from Sir
John Snell (the Chief Electricity Commissioner) praising (ho pro-
gressive policy of the Hackney undertaking, and referring specially
to the pamphlet on "An Electric House" issued by the depart-
ment, and consisting of a letter from a Hackney consumer which
apfveared originally in the " Electrical Times." This sets out the
benefits the consumer ha.s obtained by choosing the telephone system
of charging, the saving secured on the butcher's bill oy means of
electric cooking, the reduction of coal consumption from eight tons
a year to two tons, &c.

I.M.E.A. Yorkshire Centre : Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting of the Yorkshire centre of the I.M.E.A.
was held in the Town Hall, Bradford, on Wednesday, April 5.
Representatives were present from Barnsley, Batley, Bradford,
Dewsbury, Doncaster, Halifax, Holmfirth, Hull, Leeds, Shipley,
Spenborough, Wakefield, and apologies for absence were received
from Bridlington, Grimsby, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Lincoln, Mex-
borough, Rotherham, and Sheffield. Mr. C. N. Hefford (Leeds),
Vice-Chairman of the Centre, took the chair, in the absence of
Mr. S. E. Fedden (Sheffield), the Chairman of the Centre, who was
unable to attend owing to the death of a near relative. Councillor
Longley, the Deputy Chairman of the Bradford Electricity Com-
mittee,' apologised for the absence, owing to indisposition, of Alder-
man Turner, the Chairman of the Committee. He welcomed the
Centre to Bradford, and extended to those present a hearty invita-
tion to inspect the Bradford works during the course of the after-
noon. The Chairman of the meeting suitably replied. The report
of the Centre Committee for the year ended March 31, 1920, was
taken as read, and adopted, and the election of the committee
for the ensuing yeas resulted in a member of the Electricity Com-
mittee and thr. engineer of each of the following undertakings being
elected : — Large towns : Bradford, Hull, and Leeds ; medium-size
towns: Barnsley, Halifax, and Wakefield; small towns: Batley,
Harrogate, and Spenborough. The election of officers for the ensu-
ing year was left in the hands of the newly-appointed committee.

At the termination of the annual meeting, a meeting of the newly-
appointed Centre Committee was held, at which the following officers
were elected for the ensuing year : Chairman of Centre : Mr. W. M.
Rogerson (Halifax) ; Vice-Chairman of Centre, Mr. E. A. Parker
(Barnsley) ; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. S. Derwin Jones
(Batley). Mr. W. M. Rogerson was re-elected to represent the
Yorkshire Centre on the Council of the Incorporated Municipal
Electrical Association.

Annual Meeting of the E.T.B.I.

The annual meeting of the Electrical Trades Benevolent Insti-
tution was held on Monday at the Institution of Electrical
Engineers.

Mr. Highfield, President of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers, who presided, said that it was a great pleasure to preside
over the meeting, because he appreciated the way in which this
Fund, and the Benevolent Fund of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers, were acting hand-in-hand. The two funds were clearly
desirable, and by working harmoniously together were able to assist,
not only those who were members of the I.E.E., but also the large
number of employees of the staffs of members of that Institution,
and of the staffs of manufacturing concerns, who were not qualified
to be members of the I.E.E.

In moving the adoption of the report of the committee and the
accounts, Mr. Highfield pointed out the gratifying increase in mem-
bership of nearly 100. The sum of £3 707 had been invested in
the course of the year, bringing the total investments at cost to
£18 063. Although every person who was qualified for assistance
had been helped, the number of those helped and the amount given
in grants was still small, but, none the less, it was more than
double that paid out in the previous year, and the largest amount
paid otit since 1915.

The retiring members of the committee were all re-elected. Price,
Waterhouse & Company were reappointed hon. auditors, and a
hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Electrical Press for the
valuable assistance they had given to the Institution. Votes of
thanks were also passed to the honorary solicitors, the Institution
of Electrical Engineers, and the hon. secretary, and the meeting
concluded with a vote of thanks to Mr. Highfield for presiding
over it.

Electric V. Petrol Vehicles.

Mr. F. Ayton points out, with reference to the recent reports in
the daily Press on the discussion which followed Mr. R. J. Mitchell's
address on Electric Vehicles before the Western Centre of the
I.E.E. at Swansea on the 3rd inst. , that his remarks have been
wrongly reported in some instances. He believes that the advantages
of the electric vehicle, in the way of economy, reliability, &c. , are
such that, whatever may be the price of petrol, it is bound to be
increasingly cvdopted in the sphere of town delivery and transport
work. In the discussion he put forward these views, and referred
to recent statements in technical journals in the U.S.A., foreshadow-
ing the likelihood of supplies of petrol falling short of the rapidly
growing demand, and the probable concomitant increase in the price
of that commodity. He pointed out that, where petrol vehicles
were at present used for short-distance work in towns and cities,
they coyld with advantage be replaced by electric vehicles.

Silver Medal for Electric Cooker.

On Wednesday, April 19, at the Princes Restaurant, London, the
Countess of Carnworth presented the awards made at the recent
Cookery and Food Exhibition. Among the recipients were the
Falkirk Iron Company, who received a Silver Medal for their
domestic electric cooker, this being the highest possible award in
the Commercial Class. This firm nave also received an order for
electric hot cupboards for the liner "The Empresf^ of Scotland,"
which is being refitted at Portsmouth. Although these hot cup-
boards had several alterations to their standard pattern, they were
made and despatched in five days from the receipt of the order.

April 28, 1922

The Electrician,

113

Electricity Supply.

Menai Bridge Urban Council have decided to purchase the local
electricity undertaking on the terms offered by the company—
namely, £700.

Notice is to be given Hove Corporation that, owing to other
developments in the district, the Brighton Corporation's arrangement
for the supply of electricity in the Aldrington area (which has been
a separate service in bulk for eome yeare) is to be discontinued.

The Minister of Transport proposes to confirm the Special Order
.anted to Lord Weston, Sir George Young, Mr. R. N. Caught, and
Ar. H. E. Cooper, and authorising the supply of electricity in Cook-
ham, Berks. Any objections must be sent to the Ministry of Trans-
port by May 13.

Redditcii Urban Council is inviting tenders for loans amounting
to £92 670. The money is required for various purposes, but mainly
for the electricity undertaking. The loans have been sanctioned
by the Electricity Commissioners and the Ministry of Health, and
are available for trustee funds.

Mr. C. G. Morley New. Cardiff city electrical engineer, reported
to the Electricity Committee last Friday that for the year ending
March 31 last the units generated showed an increase of approxi-
mately two millions, that there were 997 additional consumers con-
nected, and that the total increase in connections was 4 350 kW,
including 202 motors of 2 026 h.p. The maximum load on the
system shows an increase of 858 kW.

Col, T. C. Ekin will hold an inquiry at Blackpool, on May 2,
into the application of the Corporation for sanction to borrow
£220 000 for plant and extensions in connection with the Electricity
Department. The inquiry will have additional interest in view
of the propoeals of Preston and Blackburn Corporations for a joint
electricity scheme for the whole of Mid-Lanca&nire, stretching from
Blackpool to Bacup. Blackpool regards the scheme as too unwieldy.
The scheme provides for the retention of the Blackpool station for
peak load purposes only.

The National Industrial Council for the Electricity Supply Indus-
try considered last Friday the dispute, mentioned in our last issue,
which has arisen over the refusal of a jointer employed by the
Chelmsford electricity undertaking to connect a house to the supply
mains on the ground that the wiring had been installed by a man
who was not a trade unionist. We understand that there is a reason
to hope that some mutually satisfactory solution will be reached
before the next meeting of the National Council in the latter part
of May.

Fochabers power-house had a narrow escape last week. A heavy
rain fell in the district, and the Fochabers burn became flooded.
Breaking its left bank at the lowest fall in sight of the Spey, the
swollen stream, curving to the left, threatened the electric power-
house, which stands at its junction with the Spey. By the time
assistance could be summoned the burn had scooped out its bed
till within about 3 ft. of the power-house to a depth of fully 3 ft.
Fortunately, the flooded stream began to abate fis the workmen
arrived on the scene, and a hastily-constructed bulwark staved off
any immediate danger.

Nevir Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Dundalk Urban Council have applied to the Minister of Economics
for sanction to a scheme for extending the municipal electricity
works at a cost of £18 500.

Lynn Electricity Committee have decided to apply for sanction
to a loan of £10000 for various alterations and additions in con-
nection with the electricity works.

Porthcawl Council has decided to appoint a sub-committee to
examine a scheme for supplying the town with electricity. The
total cost is estimated at £10 000.

Stroud Rural Council have decided to offer no opposition to an
electricity scheme for the district proposed to be cai'ried out by the*
Norchard Electric Power Company.

Guildford Corporation has been authorised to borrow £20 000
for a scheme of extensions of the generating plant and mains pre-
pared by Mr. G. W. Spencer Hawes, consulting enginee) .

AccRiNGTON Council passed a resolution last week authorising
application for powers to borrow money in order that the service
of electricity may be extended to Oswaldtwistle and other districts.

The secretary of the Walmer Gas Company has informed the
Urban Council that the company have decided not to carry out the
proposed electric light scheme, owing to the altered circumstances
since the War.

Weston-super-Mare Urban Council has granted permission to the
Electric Supply Company to erect an overhead line from their
station to the Great Western Railway Company's premises for the
supply of electricity for power.

Barry Chamber of Trade on Monday considered a report from
Sir Charles Bright & Partners regarding the proposed electricity
scheme, in which it was suggested that the mains should be laid
in the principal thoroughfares. The estimated cost of the scheme
is put at £40 000. The Chamber have decided to call a special
meeting to deal with the matter, and their obsei-vations will then
be put before the Council.

Llandudno Council have granted the use of the Town Hall to
the Electricity Commissioners on or about May 25 next for a further
inquiry required by section 5 (4) of the Electricity Supply Act,

1919, in regard to the supply of electricity in bulk for the North
Wales and Chester district. The Commissioners held an inquiry
at Llandudno in May, 1921, into the scheme submitted by the Nortli
Wales Power Company and the Chester Corporation, and later
made an order in favour of the former company.

Following up an interview with the Electricity Commissioners,
the directors of the Cannock Chase Colliery Company have decided
to proceed with their scheme for the provision of a supply of elec-
tricity for Chasetown, Chase-terrace, Bumtwood, and Hammerwich.
The current will be carried from the Colliery Company's power
station at Chase-terrace by means of overhead cables, and the voltage
will be 440 for power purposes and 240 for lighting. A sub-station
will be erected at Watling-street, and if Brownhills Urban Council
require a supply there will be another sub-station at Brownhills.
It is proposed to charge a maximum of 8d. per unit for lighting,
and for public lighting £3 per lamp per year for Brownhills West,
and £3 5s. for the remainder of the Brownhills area. The Colliery
Company has intimated to Brownhills Council that if that authority
adopt electricity for street lighting, and 100 private consumers can
also be secured, the company will supply the necessary current.

Electric Traction.

The manager of the West Ham tramways, in an analysis of the
result of cheap midday fares, points out that the increased number
of twopenny riders has not even equalled the falling off in the
threepenny and higher fares. He says, however, that, having
regard to the present financial position of the undertaking and the
uncertainty of the future, he cannot recommend any alteration in
the fares at present.

After a strike of over three months a settlement has been reached
between the employers and employees of the Sundebland and
District Tramw^ays Company, and the car service has been
resumed. At the suggestion of Mr. Robert Richardson, 51. P. for
Hough ton-le-Spr in g, both sides agreed to a conference, and at this
meeting the employees agreed to accept a reduction of 5s. per week
in wages. Eleven weeks ago the men were asked to accept reduc-
tions up to 10s. a week over and above the national reduction of 3s.
a week.

Mr. R. L. Horsfield, manager of the Cardiff Corporation Tram-
ways, submitted a report to the Tramways Committee on Friday
which showed that the passenger receipts for the year ended
March 31 amounted to £277 855, a decrease of £13 054 compared
with last year. Total car mileage was 2 894 286 miles, a reduction
of 92 592 miles, and the number of passengers carried 37 589 443,
against 40 114 (i75. Mr. Horsiield attributed the decrease of
receipts to the depression in trade and the interference with traffic
by the reconstruction of the tramway track. The wages bill for
the year shows a decrease of £5 651.

In a paper read before the Institute of Transport last week, Mr.
J. K. Bruce, traffic manager of the L.C.C. Tr.\mw.\ys. stated that
cars fitted with a new type of motor were capable of an increase in
speed of 10 per cent. If this increased speed were maintained
throughout the service of, say, fifteen hundred cars, it would mean
a saving of approximately 170 cars, and this would effect a saving,
in repairs alone, of £70000 a year. If one second were saved at
every stop made by the cars the total daily saving would be 220
hours, which would cT.able about 2 000 additional miles to be run
each day without increase in the number of cars.

Manchester Tramways Committee have decided to contribute
£50 000 towards the relief of the rates. Last year 1;he undertaking
was expected to make what was then an annual contribution in relief
of rates, and the sum required of it was £115 000. The under-
taking was not then in a position to make such a paymeni, but
since then it has been decided not to make demands on the trading
departments for rate relief. The £50 000 now voted seems to be a
breach of this understanding. Th'^ approximate expenditure for
the vear ended March 31 last was £1 994 551, or £43 449 le^ than
the estimate. The estimated revenue for the new year is £1 894 495
— a reduction on last vear. in view of the probable loss on the new
fares, of, roughly, £100 000.

The draft financial statement of the Leeds City tramways for
the year ended Maich 21 last was presented at a meeting of the
Tramways Committee on Mondav. The income for the year was
£959 702 or an average of 24-695d. per car-mile, compared with
£995 638. or 23-480d. the previous year, the decrease therefore,
being £35 935. The total working expenses were £702 -^50, an
average of 18070d. per car-mile, the corresponding e^P«"/V,^'" J"l«
previous year being £729 345 and 17-2d., a decrease of £27 095.
The gross profit left to be carried forward was £257 453, a decrease
of £8 840 The war charges, income-tax. rent of lines, perm^ent
way renewals, &c., exceeded the gross profit earned forward by
£43 266 This deficit is accounted for by the fact that during the
vear £140 561 has been expended on permanent way renewals and
£63 556 on permanent way repairs, a total of £204 000. compared
with £155 000 in 1920. The amount m the reserve fund on
March 31 was £56 818. £36 818 being to general reserve and
£20 000 in respect of third-party risks. Wage reductions of all
clas^ses of emplovees amounted to £23 000 approximately. The Com-
mittee adopted "the statement. A year ago it was estimated that
there would be a loss of over £100 000, whereas it has proved to
be £43 266. This is the first time in the history of the under-
taking which dates back to 1897. ihat there has been a deficit, and,
on the other hand, the total contributed by the tramways depart-
ment by March 31. 1921. to the relief of rates was £1 514 492.

514

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

Personal and Appointments.

Mr. W. J. Smither has been appointed electrical engineer to the
Dorchester Town Council.

Faversham TowTi Council has reduced the salary of the electrical
engineer (Mr. G. Somerville) from £450 a y«ar to £416.

Mr. J. C. Austen, managing director of Austen & Barnes, Ltd.,
electricians, has been elected chairman of the Tonbridge Urban
Council.

Mr. Frank B. Jewett, of New York, has been nominated
president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers for
1922-3.

Mr. P. RoBSON, of Clayton & Shuttleworth, has be€n appointed
by the Federation of British Industries to go to the Genoa
Conference in the capacity of expert on agi-icultural machinery.

Mr. J. A. Bromley, manager of the Keighley Corporation Tram-
ways, has been appointed tramways manager at York at £600 a
year in succession to Mr. J. W. Harne. Mr. Bromley went to Keigh-
ley from Leeds, where he was chief assistant rolling stock super-
intendent, about eighteen months ago.

In recognition of his many and long services for the benefit of
Sheffield, the Freedom of the City was conferred on Sir William
Clegg last Friday, the anniversary of his seventieth birthday.
Among the many positions held by Sir William is that of chairman
of the Tramways Committee since the introduction of electric
traction.

Mr. II. C. ToFiELD has resigned his position as managing director
of Tofield & Robinson, Ltd., electrical engineers, of 165, Edmund-
street, Birmingham, and has commenced business on his own account
at Temple-passage, Temple-street, Birmingham, to which address all
correspondence should be sent. He has been appointed sole agent
for " Delco " electric lighting and pumping plants for the county
of Warwickshire, and will be exhibiting these at the Birmingham
and Midlands Industrial and Commercial Efficiency Exhibition to
be held at Bingley Hall from May 25 to June 3 next.

Major Henry Mattinson, chief civil engineer to Manchester
Tramways Department, has been appointed general manager in
succession to Mr. J. M. McElroy, who has resigned owing to ill-
health. Major Mattinson's salary will be £1 400 a year, and he will
begin his new duties on July 1. Manchester tramways system covers
220 miles of single track in the city and surrounding districts, and
Major Mattinson has been responsible for the construction of
practically all of it. He accompanied Mr. McElroy on his visit to
America and the Continent to study traffic conditions, and collabo-
rated with him in reports on tramway traffic congestion. During
the war, as construction engineer of light railways, he built over 100
miles of light railway from Gaza to Aleppo, and after the Turks
were defeated in 1918 he took over the restoration of the 600 miles
of captured railway from Haifa to Damascus, Beirut and Aleppo.

Business Items. &c.

Horace Green & Company have opened offices at Amberley
House, Norfolk-street, London, to deal with home and export busi-
ness in London.

Mr. C. G. Dunster announces that in future he will carry on alone
the business of Dunster & Bacon, electrical engineers, of 19, North
Holmes-street, Canterbury.

Important orders recently received by the Underfeed Stoker
Company include travelling grate stokers for Eastbourne, St. Mary-
lebone, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Liege, and Cossipore (India)
electricity undertakings.

In reference to the No. 10 model 50-top +yre press recently intro-
duced for small garages and overseas depots, by IIollings & Guest,
which is listed at £120, the makers now stalo that they are prepai'ed
to quote a special discount on tliis model. Also, each of these
presses will be tested up to 80 tons pressure before leaving the
works. •

In addition to manufacturing all classes of electrical machinery
and cables, the A.C.E.C. (Ateliers db Constructions Electriques
DE CiiARLEROi) specialise in the production of moulded insulating
materials for switch handles and bases, brush spindles, terminal
covers and bases, arc shields. &c., and have recently built a new
factory for the mass production of these parts.

From Monday next, May 1, the London offices i.nd stores of J. H.
Tucker & Company will be removed from 217, Sl.aflesbury-avenue.
to 101, Dean-street, W. 1, close to Frascati'r; R.es(aurant and three
doors only from Oxfnrd-stroot. The telephone number remains the
same as hitherto, nninely, 3 215 Gerrard. In addition to greatly
increased stock accommodalion, the new premises will also provide
showrooms, in which a representative display of " Tucker " acces-
sories, ironclad gear and switchgear will be permanently displayed,
as well as a series of practical demonstrations by the many different
controls available by the use of different typos of " Tucker "
switches. The trade are. cordially invit-ed to visit the firm 'it their
new address.

Mr. J. W. Beauchamp read a paper on Monday before the Liver-
pool Sub-Ckntrk of the Institution of Electrical' Engineers entitled,
"Engineering Advertising and the Work of tlie E.D.A." The pa|>er
was well illustrated by lantern-slides showing various form.'s of adver-
tising. Amonc those who took part in the discussion which followed
were Messrs. Dickinson, Clothier, Hansom, Collie. Holttum. Collin,
and Nisbett.

Wireless and Telephone Notes.

The extension of the Bergen wireless service, for which the Stort-
ing has voted 100 000 kroner [about £4 000], is expected to be com-
pleted in June. The radius of the wireless telephone will enable
it just to reach the North of England.

The Grimsby telephone exchange, which was the first complete
automatic installation in the country, is to be equipped this month
with an extension providing 550 additional lines. A new under-
ground cable between Grimsby and Hull is being laid.

It is reported from Mosccfw that the Council of People's Com-
missaries have granted a concession for telegraphic communication
between India and Elt^ope. Communication will be through
Russian territory, and there will be connection with Turkey. Egvp..
Persia, and the Mediterranean countries.

Owing to numerous , requests from amateur users of wireless
receiving sets, the two daily weather messages sent out from the
Air Ministry are now being distributed at a slightly lower rate
than previously. Investigation of the requests showed that a
number of amateur wireless users situated in remote rural localities
are carefully picking up the Air Ministry weather forecasts, and
are handing them on at once to neighbouring farmers.

It is stated that the Marconi Company has proposed to the
Mexican Government a scheme whereby the company would control
for fifty years all wireless stations built or to be built on Mexican
territory. After the expiration of the fifty years the wireless stations
would be tui'ned over to the Government or the concession renewed.
The Government regards the offer in its present form as unaccept-
able, but it is believed would be prepared to give it favourable
consideration if modified.

A wireless-telephonic service, claimed to be the longest line of its
kind in the world open to public use, was opened between Peking
AND Tientsin on March 7. The equipment was supplied by the China
Electric Company and was manufactured exclusively by the Inter-
national Western Electric Company (Inc.), New York. The system
as perfected in the Peking-Tientsin service ensures transmission
when connected with telephone central offices. The tests that were
applied at the opening ceremony were entirely successful. The
distance between Peking and Tientsin is 80 miles.

The " Cornell Special," an express train which runs between New
York and Ithaca, has just been fitted with a complete radio-tele-
phone INSTALLATION Capable of receiving and transmitting messages
over a considerable distance. In the buSet car there is a loud-
speaking telephone, and receiving sets are affixed to the chair of
each passenger. Referring to experiments made before the present
apparatus was fixed, the "Radio Globe" says it was found that
while the train was moving through cuttings and over bridges the
signals frequently ceased entirely, while they were invariably weaker
than when on the ordinary open track. This defect has not been
entirely overcome, but is being corrected. In tunnels the apparatus
worked excellently, but again, when in the train sheds in Hoboken
all signals slopped, due to the great quantity of steel used in the
construction of the buildings.

Institution Notes.

The annual convention of the Canadian Electrical Association
will be held in Ottawa from June 15 to 17 inclusive. .

The 69th anniversary festival of the London Association of
Foremen Engineers will be held at Cannon-street Hotel, London,
on Saturday, May 6, at 6 p.m. Mr. F. W. Bellamy will take the
chair.

The Association of ENGmEERS-iN-CHARGE will hold an informal
meeting on Saturday, May 6 (7.30 p.m.), at St. Bride's
Institute, Bride-lane, Fleet-street, E.C. 4, to discuss " Uniflow v.
INIultiple Expansion Steam Engines." Visitors are invited to be
present and take part.

The Sessional Examinations of the Institute of Cost and
Works Accountants will take place on June 19, 20, and 21, and
will be held in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glas-
gow, and Bristol. Application should be made on Form " C,"
obtainable from the Secretary, 38, Grosvenor-gardens, at least
twenty-one days before the date of examination.

At the Congress of the Institute of Transport, which will be
held in London from the 17th to the 20th prox., all branches of
transport will be represented. Delegates will attend from the
British Dominions, the United States and the Continent. On the
mornings of the first three days papers will be read and discussed
at the Institution of Civil Engineers. Great George-street, and
the afternoons as well as the Saturday following will be devoted
to visiting places of special interest. The third dinner of the
Institute will be held on R!ay 18.

Members of the West of Scotland Branch of the Association
OF Mining Electrical Engineers last Saturday afternoon visited
the Clydesmill Power Station, Cambuslang, of the Clyde Valley
Electrical Power Company. They were shown over the station, and
the plant and general arrangements were fully explained by the
resident engineer and other officials of the company. The following
officers have been elected for the next session of the Branch : — Presi-
dent, Mr. D. Martin, Glasgow; vice-presidents, Messrs. D. M'Queen
and D. L. Frew ; treasurere, Messrs. C. L. Brown and Melville,
C.A. . Glasgow; secretary, Mr. D. S. Baddeley, 50, Wellington-
street, Glasgow.

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

515

Obituary.

The death took place on April 2 of Mr. Walter Joseph Brink, of
Old Charlton (late of the Western Brazilian Telegraph Company),
aged 70.

Wo regret to record the death of Mr. James Bird Garnham, head
of the firm of J. B. Garnham & Sons, metal merchante. Mr.
Garnham was eighty years of age.

We regret to record the death, at the age of thirty-five, of
Mr. Harold Emmott, the only son of Mr. Walter Emmott, consulting
engineer of Halifax, who died suddenly in his father's office last
Thursday. Mr. Harold Emmott was educated at the Higher
Grade School and Technical College, Halifax, and at Wood-
house Grove School, Aperley Bridge. He was apprenticed
with Mr. Shaw, City Electrical Engineer, Worcester, and
afterwards acted as assistant to Mr. Busby, of the British
Insulated & Helsby Cables, Ltd., on London cable con-
tracts, and with the L.C.C. Electricity Department. He
joined his father in March, 1913, his first work being the installa-
tion of electricity supply to the town of Bingley. He was a member
of the 6th London Field Ambulance (T), transferring to the 2nd
Northern General Hospital, Leeds, and on the outbreak of war he
was mobilised, promoted sergeant, and was in charge of the X-Ray
Department at Beckett's Park, Leeds, until the end of 1915. He
then applied for and obtained a commission in the R.E., and served
in France until March 23, 1917, when he was invalided home. He
then obtained a position as constructional engineer with the Bradford
Corporation, rejoining his father some two years ago. Mr. Emmott
was an Associate Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers,
being admitted a student in 1903.

The death took place on Sunday, at the Red Cross Hospital for
officers at Brighton, from tuberculosis contracted on service in the
Near East, of Capt. L. C. Carus-Wilson, M.C, R.C.S., assistant
experimental officer at the S.E.E., Woolwich, Associate of the
Institute of Radio-Engineers of America. Capt. Carus-Wilson, who
was only 25 years of age, was the second son of Prof. Ashley Carus-
Wilson, late Prof, of Electrical Engineering at McGill University,
Montreal. In February, 1914, he passed into Woolwich second on
the list as a prize cadet, receiving his commission in the Royal Engi-
neers in November, 1914. He served continuously throughout the
war in France, Belgium, and Italy, and received the M.C. " for
invaluable services rendered at the Battle of Messines, where, under
heavy shell fire during seven days, he showed the greatest skill
and i"esource " in using, for the first time in action, the lateet
invention in wireless signals. Through the summer of 1918 he com-
manded the Signal Company of the 9th (Scottish) Division, which
led the victorious march to the Rhine. After lecturing on electricity
to the British troops at Oblige, he was recalled, and appointed by
the War Office in 1919 to be the representative British officer at
I'Ecole Superieure d'Electricite of Paris. There he won the diploma
in radio-telegraphy, &c., of the University of Paris, and passed
out of the wireless school first on the long list of foreign officers
who completed the course. He was then attached to the W^ireless
Headquarters Staff at the Horse Guards, and later on, when engaged
in original research at Woolwich, was appointed to represent the
War Office during the installation at Cairo of the first link of the
Imperial Wireless XiJhain.

Opening of Anglo-Egyptian Wireless Service.

The Anglo-Egyptian wireless service via the Imperial wireless
stations at Leafield and Cairo commerced on Monday. Telegrams
are accepted at any post-office for Egypt, Palestine, and Syria for
transmission, and a corresponding service is available in the opposite
direction. The rates of charge are 3d. a word less than the corre-
sponding cable rates for full-rate traffic, and l^d. a word less than
the corresponding cable rates for deferred traffic. Press messages
may be sent to and from Egypt (first region) and Palestine at 2^d.
and 3^d. a word respectively. Telegrams intended for transmission
by this route should be marked " via wireless." In addition,
arrangements have been made, pending the provision of further
stations of the Imperial wireless chain, for telegrams addressed to
places beyond Egypt, served by the system of the Eastern Tele-
graph Company, to be forwarded by wireless to Cairo nnd thence
by the company's service to their destination at the normal throush
rates of charge.

Miscellaneous.

In view of the need for economy in public expenditure the post oi
H.M. Trade Commissioner at Singapore has been suspended.

The late Mr. Alexander McGeogh, of William McGeogh & Com-
pany, brass founders and electrical accessories manufacturers, has
left estate valued at £37 631.

The Salaries and Wages Committee of Edinburgh Town Council
have decided that all Corporation officials receiving more than £400
a year should be asked to submit to a voluntary reduction of 5 per
cent, of their salaries.

Mr. Wm. Ogilvie, an electrical engineer, was found dead last
week in the Rothwell sub-station of the Yorkshire Electric Power
Company. At the inquest it was stated that Mr. Ogilvie had suf-
fered from insomnia, and had lately been very much depi-essed. A
verdict was returned that deceased electrocuted himself whilst tem-
porarily of unsound mind through neurasthenia.

Imperial and Foreign Notes.

The West Maitland (N.S.W.) municipal electrical plant, which
cost £15 000, was put into operation on Feb. 22.

Broken Hill (N.S.W.) Council, who have their own generating
station, have under consideration a proposal to obtain a supply of
electricity from a local mining company.

Hobart (Tasmania) a;id neighbouring municipalities recently dis-
cussed a proposal to establish a metropolitan and district water and
sewerage board. It was suggested that the engineering works should
be designed with the dual purpose of water and electric power
supply in view, and a committee has been appointed to deal with
the question of funds for the necessary surveys.

The Tasmanian Public Works Committee is inquiring into the
proposal to provide the Zeehan inNiNG district with electric
POWER to the extent of 375 kW. The Mount Lyell Company offer
to supply the energy required at £6 per H.p.-year, and the trans-
mission line would cost £20 000. The annual capital charges are
estimated at £2 500, and the working expenses at £2 000.

The reorganisation of the French Telegr.vph and Telephone
Service is provided for in two bills before the Council of Ministers.
The accounts of each service will be kept separate, and 1 675 000
francs are to be allocated for telephone line extension and the intro-
duction of automatic telephony.

The fortieth anniversary of the New York electricity supply ser-
vice is to be celebrated on September 4 next.- The originiQ Ediaon
Company had sixty customers, with 1 200 lamps, connected, but at
present there are 296 560 lighting consumers using about 9 million
lamps, and, in addition, supply is given to 680 000 h.p. in motors
and 12 800 kW for heating.

The Great Western Power Company has completed the installa-
tion of two 30 000 H.p. double-hung impulse turbines, operating
under a head of 1 008 ft., at the Caribou power-house on the Feather
River, California. Another 30 000 h.p. hydro-electric unit is to be
installed in order to complete the first half of the scheme, but
ultimately 180 000 h.p. will be developed at the station.

A new steam-driven power station, which will have an ultimate
capacity of 240 000 kW, is to be erected in East St. Louis (Mo.)
by the Union Electric Light & Power Company. The plant will
supply the rapidly-increasing demand for electricity in St. Loais
and vicinity. The station will be named the Cahokia steam-power
plant, and will have an initial capacity of 60 000 kW. The first
two units will be of 30 000 kW each, supplied with steam at 300 lb.
pressure at the throttle, and will deliver electrical energy at 13 200 V,
50 cycles.

Electric and petrol as well as horse-drawn vehicles are being used
by Abraham & Strauss, owners of one of the largest stores in
Brooklyn, for transport purposes. Horse vehicles are employed for
trips of less than 10 miles, electric trucks for a daily mileage of
10 to 40, and petrol for journeys of 40 to 130 miles. The firm have
employed twenty-one electric vehicles for some years, and thej-
report that the electrics are cheaper per unit hauled than any
other vehicle, and besides being cheaper, they are much more satis-
factory from every point of view. In Chicago 106 electric trucks are
now employed for ice-cream deliveries, against one in 19j . The
average mileage is 16 to 30 per day. In every case satisfac ion has
been given, and one firm reports that the delivery costs were halved
by the electric vehiclo--.

Possible Trade Openings.

An old-established firm of good standing, with suitable connec-
tions throughout Austr.vlia and New Ze.\land, desire to secure the
representation of United Kingdom manufacturers of electrical
machinery, motors, dynamos, copper cable, &c. The finn have their
own offices in Melbourne, Sydney, and Port Adelaide, and agencies
in Brisbane and Fremantle. Further particulars can be obtained
from the Department of Overseas T'lde. (Ref. No. 431.)

The British Consulate at Casabl.\nca reports that concessions for
electric light and power stations at the towns of Marrakesh,
Mazagan, and Saffi, in Morocco, have recently been granted. The
station at JMarrakesh is apparentlv to have an initial capacity of
1200 h.p., the station at Mazagan'750 h.p , and that at Saffi 1 200
h.p., for the generation in each case of three-phase cuirent at
50 cycles, with a consumer's voltage of 115 for lighting and 200
for heating purposes.

H.M. Agent and Consul-General at Tangiers reports that a con-
cession has also been gi-anted for the supply of. electric light and
power to the town of Rabat and its sui-roimdings. the supply
station to have a capacity of 1 000 kW for the generation of three-
phase current at 50 cycles and 55 000 V, which is transformed down
to a consumer's voltage of 110 for lighting and 190 for motive-
power purposes. Cuttings from the local " Bulletin Officiel," giving
details of the concession and the proposed scale of chaiges, can be
consulted by firms interested at the Department of Overseas Trade.

II. M. Consul at Cluj (Transylvania, Roijiania) reports that the
^Municipality of Cluj is trying to arrange for the construction of
a pipeline for the supply of natural gas from the Kissarmas district
(60 k.m. distant) for doraestic, commercial, and industrial purposes
in Cluj (previously known as Klausenburg or Kolozsvar), and that
it is possiole that the extension of the electric-power station and the
introduction of an electric tramway system may be combined with
the project. Full particulars ai-e not yet available, but preliminary
information mav be obtained from the Department of Overseas
Trade.

516

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

Electrical Imports and Exports.

Imports.— The following arc official values of electrical machinery,
apparatus and material imported into this country [a) during
March, 1922, and (6) the aggregate figures from Jan. 1 to March 31,
with increase or decrease compared with correspondmg periods <f
1921 •

Electrical machinery, (a) £136 511 (increaee £64 658) (6) £381545
fincrease £134 629) ; telegraph and telephone cables, other than sub-
marine, (a) £4 818 (increase £2 599), [b) £10 915 (decreaee £16 824) ;
telegraph and telephone apparatus, (a) £13 463 (decrease £20 276),
(6) £i39 287 (decrease £49 145) ; other electrical wires and cables,
rubber insulated, (a) £11 188 (increase £9 504), [b) £19 361 (increase
£11592); with other insulations, (a) £8 269 (decrease £10 801|, (6)
£16 509 (decrease £22188); carbons, (a) £5157 (increase £512), [b)
£10 290 (decrease £22 781) ; glow lamps, (a) £11 547 (decrease
£9 755), [b) £52 710 (decrease £9 964) ; arc lamps and electric search-
lights, («) £50 (decrease £10), (&) £50 (decrease £4 741); parts
of arc lamps and searchlights (other than carbons), (a) £1 031
(decrease £361), (6) £2 169 (decrease £2 984) ; batteries, (a) £8 670
(decrease £11545), (6) £15 685 (decrease £34153); meters and
electrical instruments, commercial and scientific, and electricity
meters, {a) £3 674 (decrease £22 440), (6) £14 317 (decrease
£53 822); switchboards, {a) £414 (increase £414), [b] £1379
(increase £209) ; other electrical goods and apparatus, (a) £47 229
(decrease £47 740), [b) £133 990 (decrease £163 824). Total of elec-
trical machinery, apparatus and material (other than uninsulated
wire), (a) £252 020 (decrease £45 241), (6) £698 207 (decrease
£233 996).

Exports. — The exports of electrical machinery, apparatus and
material (a) during March, 1922, and (6) from Jan. 1 to March 31,
with increase or decrease compared with corresponding periods of
1921 were as follows : —

Electrical machinery, {a) £485115 (increase £67 %2), {b^
£1436 394 (increase £181583); including railway and' tramway
motors, (a) £22 554 (increase £13 605) (b) £53 610 (decrease £1 545) ;
other generators and motors, (a) £277 451 (increase £48 208), (6)
JE5799190 (increase £90 917) ; and electrical machinery unenumerated,
(a\ £185110 (increase £6149), {b) £583 594 (increase £92 211);
telegraph and t-elephone cables, submarine, (a) £17 773 (decrease
£68 909), [b) £82 251 (decrease £204 681) ; other than submarine, (a)
£29 839 (decrease £101301), (6) £145 736 (decrease £335 037); tele-
graph and telephone apparatus, [a) £180 266 (increase £27 181), (b)
±5541069 (increase £95 428); other electrical wires and cables,
rubber insulated, (a) £48 527 (decrease £106 049), (b) £145 673
(decrease £348 090); with other insulations, (a) £98 510 (decrease
£119 718), (b) £337 459 (decrease £263127) ; carbons, (a) £3 502 (de-
crease £6 030), [b) £12 608 (decreaee £27 850) ; glow lamps, (a)
£38 349 (decrease £11154), (&) £96 942 (decrease £14 201); arc
lamps and searchlights, [a) £1753 (increase £1353), {b) £2 845 (in-
crease £15) ; parts of arc lamps and searchlights other than carbons),
(a) £611 (increase £544), (b) £1392 (decrease £625); batteries,
(a) £47 520 (decrease £9 998), [b) £105 913 (decrease £111563);
meters and electrical inst'-uments, commercial and scientific, and
electricity meters, (a) £33 747 (decrease £2 372), {b) £105 941
(decrease £10 272); switchboards, (a) £15 501 (increase £1355), {b)
£125 865 (increase £79 805); other electrical goods and apparatus,
(a) £113 573 (decrease £121 149), (6) £336 849 (decrease £366 776).
Total of electrical machinery, apparatus and material, other than
uninsulated wire, (a) £1114 586 (decrease £458 285), [b) £3 476 837
(decrease £1 352 391).

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Manchester Tramways Committee. Mav 9. — Trucks for tram-
cars. Specifications, &c. , from the Manager, 55, IMccadilly,
Manchester.

Providence Congregational Chuuch, Middleton. May 1. —
Electric wiring and fitting. Specifications from the Borough Elec-
trical Engineer.

Glasgow Lighting Department. May 1.— Electrical fittings and
accessories, lamp pillars, &c. Specification can be obtained at the
Lighting Department, 20, Trongate, Glasgow.

Pembroke (co. Dublin) Urban Council. May 2. — Two 250 kW
rotary converters, with switchgear, cable connections, &r. Speci-
fication, &c., can be obtained at the Council offices.

York Corporation. May 5.— 500 kW rotary cnverUn-, trans
former, switchgear, &c., for Wellington-row sub-sta: on. Specifica-
tion, tVc, from the City Electrical Engineer.

Preston Electricity Department. May 30.— (a) twolO 000/12 500
kW turbo-generator sets, complete with condensing plant, au.xili-
aries, and piping connections; (h) house service plont. comprising
one 1 200 kW turbo-generator, and two a.c. 6 600/220 V d.c. genera-
tors. Particulars from the Town Clerk, Mr. A. Howarth. Town Hall,
Preston.
ASIA.

The Acting British Consul at Bangkok i-eport-s that the date for
the presentation of tenders for telegraph and tolephono material
for tno Department of Posts and Telegraphs (see The Electrician,
April 14, p. 458) has been extended to June 28.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

engineer. £10 18s. lOd. Feb. 14.
CLARKE, E. E., & COMPANY, Lancashire-street, Morecambe,

electrical engineers. £16 6s. 8d. Feb. 27.
HOLMES & CROWTHER, Palatine-chambers, Halifax, electrical

factors. £20 48. Feb. 22.
HURLINGHAM ELECTRIC COMPANY, 283, New King's-road,

S.W., electricians. £13 6s. 6d. Feb. 21.
MACAULEY, Mr. R. A., 48, Ashton New-road, Beswick, electrical

engineer. £11 156. Feb. 23.
SPURBER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 1a, Luxor-street,

Camberwell, electrical engineers. £25 13s. lid. Feb. 14.
STUBBS, Arthur, 200, Midland-road, Bradford, electrical contrac-
tor. £17 6s. 4d. Feb. 22.

Bills of Sale.

[The undermentioned information is from the Official Registry.
It includes Bills of Sale registered under the Act of 1822 and under
the Act of 1878. Both kinds require registration every five years.
Up to the date the information was obtained it was registered
as given below ; but payment may have been made in some of the
cases, although no notice had been entered on the Register.]

JACOBS, Ernest, 2, Sidworth-street Hackney, electrical engineer.

April 21. £35.
DEXTER, Robert Hart, 270, Penistone-road, Sheffield, electrician.

April 24. £30.

We regi-et that in our list of " Tenders accepted " last week the
name of Chamberlain & Hookham was incorrectly spelt in two
paragraphs.

Deeds of Arrangement.

GRIFFITH, Benjamin, trading as EXCEL ELECTRIC COM-
PANY 30, South Castle-street, Liverpool, electrician. Filed,
April 22. Trustee, T. W. Stanfield, 24, Sir Thomas-street,
Liverpool. Secured creditors, £50; liabilities unsecured, £1708;
assets, less secui-ed claims, £550.

ROWE, Walter William, trading as M. ROWE 26 Augusta-street,
Birmingham, electro-plater. Trustee, A. Cripwell, 12, Cherry-
street, Birmingham. Filed April 19. Liabilities unsecured
£628, assets, less secured claims, £200.

WEBSTER, E. W., and WEBSTER,- W. G. F., trading at 48-50,
Rendezvous-street, and the Harbour, Folkestone, as WEBSTER
& SON, automobile and electrical engineers. In this matter
(see last week's Electrician) the following are creditors : —
Sloan Electrical Company, Ltd., London, £397; Clark, Hunt
& Company, Ltd., London, £254; Callander's Cable and Con-
struction Company, Ltd., London, £110; General Elec. Com-
pany, Ltd., London, £69; Baxter & Gaunter, Ltd., London,
£67; Vulcan Elec. and Mechanical Company, Ltd., London,
£55; Rogasine & Company, London, £51; Harper, Geo. R.,
& Sons, Birmingham, £51; Edison Swan Elec. Company, Ltd.,
Render's End, £52.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after it* creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act. require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

COUNTY OF LONDON ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY.
LTD., London, E.C. Registered April 4, Trust Deed dated
March 23, 1922, securing £500 000 debenture stock ; general
charge, excluding cert-ain lands and premises at Barking, subject
to existing Trust Deed securing first and second debenture
stock. '£1 000 000. I^larch 29. 1921.
SCIENTIFIC TRADERS. LTD. (late TELEPHONE THIRD
HAND. LTD.). London W. Registered April 10, £2 000 dolien-
tures, present issuo £500: genelral charge. "Nil. March 30,
1921.

Satisfactions.

NAIROBI ELECTRIC POWER & LIGHTING COMPANY,
LTD., London, E.C. Satisfaction registered April 6, £12 000,
balance of amounls registered Sept. 29, 1913. and July 30 1915.

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

517

SPICER & COMPANY, LTD., London, E.G., electrical engineers.
Satisfaction registered April 10, £800, balance of amounts
registered Feb. 26, 1915, and March 17, 1922.

SUN ELECTRICAL COMPANY, LTD., London, W.C. Satis-
faction regietered April 12, £275, part of amount registerefl
April 19, 1911.

Private Meetings.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily im/ply failure.
Many ■private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the
debtor consulting his creditors as to his position when h\ may not
be insolvent.]

THE B.E. COMPANY (OF LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM),
LTD. (in voluntary liquidation), wholesale manufacturing electri-
cians,57^ Upper Thames-street,London,E.C., and at Birmingham.
A meeting of creditors was held last week at the Cannon-street
Hotel, London, when the representative of the General Acces-
sories Company, the principal trade creditors, was elected to
the chair. Mr. Frederick Roland, C.A., of 70, Queen Victoria-
street, E..C., stated that the usual resolution for voluntary
liquidation had been passed, and he had been appointed as the
liquidator. He proceeded to read figures from which it appeared
that the liabilities tottjled £9 959, made up as follows : — Trade
creditors, £7 240 ,- cash creditors, £2 294 ; and unsecured balance
due to bank, £425. Assets were estimated to realise £7 400,
from which had to be deducted £310 for preferential
claims, leaving net assete of £7 090. The assets
consisted of cash in hand, £17 ; stocks, £2 864,
estimated to realise £2 500 ; office furniture and
fittings, £1 340, expected to produce £500 ; book debts, £3 541,
valued at £2 500 ; lease of London premises, £20 ; and unpaid
calls, £1 850. The company had two branches in Birmingham —
a sales depot, and an assembling and manufacturing shop. The
Birmingham premises were valued in the books at £3 381, but
they were charged to the bank to secure £2 425. The premises
might not realise sufficient to discharge the bank's claim, and
they had been included as unsecured creditors for £425. The
company invested £2 000 in a subsidiary company called The
B.E. Maimfacturing Company, which had a nominal capital of
£6 000, and which manufactured articles for the parent company
to sell ; at the moment no value had been placed upon those
shares. The B.E. Company (London and Birmingham), Ltd.,
was registered as a private company on June 22, 1916, with a
nominal capital of £2 000, and it acquired for £1 000 the stock
and fixtures of a business previously carried on by Mr. Fauke
in London and Birmingham. In January, 1919, the capital was
increased to £10,000, and, finally, the whole of the capital was
issued, and the company seemed to have received £9 000 for
shares. On November 15, 1920, the capital was increased to
£20 000, by the creation of 10 000 cumulative preference shares
of £1 each, bearing interest at the rate of 8 per cent., free of
income tax. A number of those preference shares had also been
issued for cash. During the year to June, 1917, the company
made a net profit of £308, and a dividend of 10 per cent, was
declared. The following year the profit rose to £1 062, and there
was a dividend paid of 15 per cent. During the year to June,
1919, the profit dropped to £475, but there was a dividend
declared at the rate of 15 per cent. Since the inception of the
company the total amount paid in directors' fees was only £21.
The period to June, 1920, was the most successful in the history
of the company, the net profit being £2 412. That amount,
however, was not available for dividend, owing to the liability
for E.P.D., which, however, was never paid, owing to the sub-
sequent losses. The troubles of the company began about that
time. There was some difficulty in regard to the output, and
the factory was purchased in Birmingham. During the year
to June, 1921, there was a loss of over £4 000 on the Birming-
ham factory, and the trading of the company generally for that
year showed a loss of £7 000. The present position of the com-
pany was due to the loss at Birmingham, and the slump in
trade. The company was only a small one, and when it met
with misfortune it had no reserves to fall back upon. In answer
to a question, the liquidator said he did not think there was
any prospect; of a reconstruction scheme being brought forward.
On the motion of the chairman, a resolution was passed con-
firming the voluntary liquidation of the company with Mr.
Roland as liquidator, and a committee of five of the principal
creditors was also appointed.

TUCKER, Spencer John, trading as TUCKER & BATESON.
wholesale electrical suppliers, 55, Berners-street, London, W.
In response to a circular letter issued by Mr. T. L. Summers,
accountant, of 64, Victoria-street, S.W., a meeting of the credi-
tors of the above was held recently at Winchester House, Old
Broad-street, E.C. The statement of affairs presented showed
liabilities of £1 108, of which £866 was due to the trade and
£242 to cash creditors. After allowing for preferential claims,
net assets were estimated to realise £133. It was stated that
the debtor commenced the business in 1919 with a capital of
£40, but he had since borrowed from relatives, who were now
creditors to the extent of £377, but one held securities valued
at £135. The business had been carried on at a loss, and the

E resent position was due to that fact. A deed of assignment
ad already been e.xecuted owing to pressing creditors. It was
stated that if the deed was accepted by the creditors the cash
claims would be withdrawn. A resolution was passed confirm-

ing the deed already executed. The following are creditors : —
Davies, Kent & Stewart, Ltd., London, £70; Kent, William,
Burslem, £61; Falk, Stadelmann & Company, London, £25;
Johnson & Jorgenson, London, £24; Electric Heating Compjiny,
Croydon, £20; Boyton, Charles, & Company Ltd., London,
£16: Marshall Electric Company, London, £14.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but v>*
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Winding-Up Petition.

HUBERT D. CARTER (BANGOR), LTD. A petition for tfie
winding-up of the above-named company has been presented by
Higgin, Ltd., Manchester, and is to be heard at the Court
House, Bangor, May 8, at 11 a.m.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

ECLIPSE CARBORUNDUM & ELECTRITE COMPANY, LTD.
George Lord, Capel House, 62, New Broad-street, London,
E.C. 2, appointed liquidator. Meeting of creditors at the
liquidator's office on Friday, May 5, at 12 noon.

SOLECTRIC COMPANY, LTD. F. N. Clarke, 4, PavUion
buildings, Brighton, appointed liquidator. Meeting of creditor*
at liquidator's office on Fridav, April 28, at 10.30 a.m.

STAR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING
COMPANY, LTD. W. R. Boyd, 67, Cleethorpe-road, Grimsby,
appointed liquidator. Meeting of creditors at the RovaJ Hotel,
Grimsby, on Friday, May 12, at 3 p.m. Particulars of claims to
liquidator by July 1.

Bankruptcy Information.

MAYNER, Robert Victor, lately carrying on business at Narrow-
street and Went worth -street, Peterborough, electrical engineer.
Receiving order, April 20. Debtor's petition.

MORRISON, Roy Thomas, 82, Lumb-lano, Bradford, electrical
engineering contractor. Receiving order, April 22. Debtor's
petition.

Notice of Intended Dividend.

DOYLE, Herbert, carrying on business as ACCESSORIES
SUPPLY COMPANY, at 56, Hardman-street, Deansgate,
Manchester, factor in electrical accessories. Last day for re-
ceiving proofs, May 10. Trustee, J. G. Gibson, Official
Receiver, Byrom-street, Manchester.

Edinburgh Gazette.

BROWN (J. L.) & COMPANY (J. L. Bro^vn, trading as), elec-
trical engineers, 920, Pollokshaws-road, Glasgow. Estates
sequestrated April 21. Meeting to elect trustee £nd commis-
sioners on Friday, May 5, Faculty Hall, St. George's-place,
Glasgow, at 12 noon.

HANNAH (A. W.) & COMPANY (Alexander Wilson Hannah and
Thomas Hutton Scott, trading as), engineers' mill furnishers
and electrical engineers, 46, Old Sneddon-street, Paisley.
Partnership dissolved as at April 17, 1922, by mutual consent, by
the retiral of T. H Scott. A. W. Hannah will continue the
business.

KELVINDALE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
LTD. Company to wind-up voluntarily. A. S. Brown,
chartered accountant, 121, West Regent-street, Glasgow,
appointed liquidator. Meeting of creditors at office of Wm.
Murdoch & Son, solicitors, 98, West George- street, Glasgow, on
Tuesday, May 9. at 12 noon.

SCOTTISH ELECTRIC LAMP REPAIRING COMPANY, LTD.
Company to be wound up voluntarily. Meeting of creditors
at the Gieorge Temperance Hotel, Paisley, on Monday, Mav 8,
at 12 noon. R. Stephen Milne, C.A., liquidator, 16, ifoss-
street, Paisley.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

WILLIAMS, Aneurin Tudor, and BEVAN, William John, trading
as THE ELECTRICAL AND GENERAL ENGINEERING
COMPANY, 49, Commercial-street. Aberdare. Liabilities are
returned at £1 708, and there is a deficiency of £1 272. At their
public examination debtors stated that they started business in
partnership in December, 1919, with £100 canital, contributed
in equal snares. For the first few months the business went
ou all right, but the moulders' strike in 1920 caused much diffi-
culty in "obtaining materials and involved them in loss of work.
The coal stoppages of October, 1920, and April, 1921, also
affected them, and later prices had to be cut considerably in
order to meet keen competition. In August, 1921. they became
aware of their insolvency, but they continued to trade and con-
tract fresh debts in the' hope that matters would improve. At
this period they were asked by the bank manager to submit
a statement showing precisely their position. In that statement
they indicated that they expected to receive £1 212. This repre-
sented the total value of contracts plus tlieir profits. TTiey
did not explain this to the bank because they thought the
statement would be understood in that way. They denied,
when closely questioned, that^ey had anv intention to mislead.
The examination was adjourned u> enable debtors to amend
their deficiency account.

618

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

Companies' Meetinj^s, Reports, &c.

British L. M. Ericsson Manufacturing

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of the British
L. M. Ericsson Manufacturing Company last week, Mr. W. M.
Crowe (chairman and managing director) eaid it was a pleasure
to be able to come before them with a balance-sheet which j in spite
of all the evidences of trade depression, was extremely satisfactory.
If the Post Office would only now go ahead and place some orders
for new material they might expect another good year in 1922, but
ae things were at present there was little in the shape of new
orders coming from that quarter. One would have thought that,
after so many years during which little was done in tne way of
telephone expainsion, there would be sufficient work for all telephone
manufacturers. But this was far from the case, every telephone
factory in the country was not only working short time, but it had
been necessary to part with a large proportion of tjie workpeople,
thus adding to the long list of unemployed. Had it not been for
the orders received from abroad their company certainly would
have had to reduce their staff of experts, as well as the workpeople,
to a minimum. Ordei-s from abroad had, however, so far pre-
vented this. They expected a few years ago that by this time
operators would have been superseded by the automatic exchange
system, but it appeared that tney must wait for a few years longer
bJefore this system became common. Their Stockholm friends had
received many orders for exchanges of their system of automatics.
Their own company had the right to use that system, and they
were not without hope that the British Post Office would give it
a trial. They also had a syatem of automatics at Beeston factory
which they hoped would make a mark in the telephone world. It
was unlike any other system, and its working was much more simple
than anything else so far invented. An aostract of the accounts
appeared in our issue of April 14.

The net income of the American Waterworks and Electric
Company for 1921 amounted to $724 493.

The Kaministiquia Power Company annoimce a quarterly divi-
dend at the usual rate of 2 per cent, on the common stock.

The Montevideo Telephone Company has declared an interim
dividend of 6 per cent, per annum, tax free, on the ordinary shares.

The directors of the Ever-Ready Company (Great Britain),
Ltd., recommend the payment of a final dividend of 5^ per cent, on
the preference shares, making 9 per cent, for the year, and 9 per
cent, on the ordinary shares.

The Stock Exchange Committee have ordered 248 075 £1, fully
paid, ordinary shares of the Brush Electrical Engineering Com-
pany, and £535000 7^ per cent, prior lien debenture stock of the
Lancashire Electric Light & Power Company to be quoted in the
Official List.

The directors of Bell's United Asbestos Company recommend
the payment of a balance dividend of Is. 6d. per shai-e on the ordi-
nary snares, which, with the interim dividend paid in October last,
makes a total distribution of 10 per cent, for the year. The amount
to be placed to reserve is £8 000, and the sum of £34 013 remains
to be carried forward.

The directors of the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation
recommend the payment of a final dividend on the ordinary share
capital of the company, for the half-year ended December 31, 1921,
at the rate of 6 per cent, actual, making 10 per cent, for the year,
plus a bonus of 1 per cent. Relief will be given as heretofore in
respect of Indian taxation.

The Board of Referees appointed to deal with Excess Profits
Duty have, on the application of the P'.a,a Telephone Company,
ordered that the statutory percentage as i-egards the business of
supplying public telephone service in Brazil shall be 7^ per cent, in
the case or a company or other body corporate, and 7^ per cent,
plus 2 per cent, in the case of any other trade or business.

Tha directors of the Oriental Telephone & Electric Company
recommend the payment of the following final dividends for the
year ended December 31 last :'3 per cent, on the preference shares
(less income tax), making a total of 6 per cent, for the year; 6 per
cent., on the ordinary shares (free of income lax), making a total
of 10 per cent, for the year, free of tax ; and a honus of 2 per cent,
on the ordinary shares, free of income tax.

The report of the North of Scotland Electric Light and Power
Company for 1921 shows a credit balance of £7 776, which, with
£634 brought forward from last year, leaves £8 410 to l)e dealt with.
The directors recommend the payment of a 10 per cent, dividend on
the preference shares, absorbmg £2 500; 1^ per cent, dividend on
the ordinary shares, absorbing £625 ; placing £4 500 to renewal
reserve account, and carrying forward £/85.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the British Automobile Trac-
tion Company last week, Mr. C. Shirreff Hilton said that the past
year had been one of the most successful in the history of the com-
pany. Including the amount brought forward, there was a surplus
of £49 637, out of which it was proposed to place £10 000 to reserve
and to pay a dividend of 10 per cent, on both the participating
preference shares and the ordinary shares, carrying forward £19 706.
subject to Corporation Profits Tax. The net traffic receipts and
other i-evenues amounted to £56 269, compared with £44 932 in the
previous year. Administration and general expenses showed hji
increase of £867, which, in view of the largely increased turnover,
was a very small percentage.

The accounts of the British Electric Transformer Company,
Ltd., for the year ended Dec. 31, 1921, show that, after paying all
manufacturing costs and expenses of administration, there remains
a net profit of £91416 10s., to which is added the amount brought
forward from last year (£6 178), making a total available balance
of £97 594 10s., which the board recommend be allocated as follows :
To reserve account, £15 000 ; to depreciation reserve, £4 000 ; to
payment of preference dividend of 7 per cent, for the year ended
Dec. 31, 1921, £21000; to payment of a dividend of 10 per cent,
on the ordinary shares (3 per cent, of which was paid as an interim
dividend on Sept. 1, 1921) and bonus of 2^ per cent., £40 625; +0
extra remuneration to the directors in accordance with the articles
of association, £4 261 6s. ; leaving 12 708 4s. to be carried forward.

The net revenue of the River Plate Electricity Company for
1921 (including arrears of interest for the years 1914-19 upon the
5 per cent, obligations of the German Trans-Oceanic Electric Com-
pany, £35 458) amounted to £80 693 (against £62 025J, and the sum
bought forward is £6 982. The directors have transferred £30 000
to general reserve, as well as other sums amounting to £10 654 held
in suspense to cover certain contingencies, and that fund now totals
£161 234. A dividend is proposed of 7 per cent, for the year on the
ordinary stock, a sum of £10 000 is reserved for taxation, and
£9105 is carried forward. For 1920 the dividend was at the same
rate. The directors propose to increase the capital to £500 000 by
the creation of 25 000 ordinary shares of £1 each, ranking in all
respects jxiri passu with the existing ordinary stock and shares. It
is further proposed to capitalise £49 573 of the reserve fund and to
issue 49 573 fully-paid ordinary shares of £1 each to the stock-
holders in the proportion of one ordinary share for every £6 stock
held.

Meetings of the Southern Brazil Electric Company six per
cent, mortgage debenture holders, eight per cent. 10-year note-
holders and shareholders are to be held to-day (Friday) to consider
a scheme of arrangement which provides as follows : — (1) The
redemption of the first debentures to be suspended for a period
of four years ; (2) the £182 800 eight per cent, notes to be converted
into £182 000 ten per cent, cumulative preference shares, ranking
for dividend as from July 1, 1926, and preferential as to repayment
of capital and arrears of dividend in a winding-up. In considera-
tion of the noteholders agreeing to forego dividends up to July 1,
1926, the prefei-ence shares are to carry a cumulative dividend of
10 per cent, as from that date, and no part of the profits earned
prior to July 1, 1926, is to be applied in pajinent of dividends on
the oi'dinary shares without the sanction of a separate meeting of
the preference shareholders ; (3) the present paid-up share capital
— namely, £650 000 — to be reduced by 50 per cent., making the
present £1 shares 10s. shares fully paid, and the amount thus
written off — ^namely, £325 000 — with tne whole or part of the sum
of £70 050 standing to debenture redemption reserve, together
£395 050, to be utilised for writing off or writing down the follow-
ing : — The debit balance on profit and loss account to Dec. 31, 1920,
of £37 850; the estimated loss for 1921, £30 000; preliminary
expenses, £25 000; discount on issue of debentures and expense of
further issue, £36 087; eight per cent, notes issue expenses, £440;
depreciation reserve, to be applied in writing down investments and
assets in Brazil, £265 673.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

'^'^ Tuesday, April 25.

Copper — I'rice. Inc. Dec.

Best selected per ton £63 0 0 — —

Electro VVirebars .. „ £66 10 0 — —

H.C wire, basis per lb. O^lOy'^-d. — —

Sheet 03. 9iVd- — —

Phosphor i Bronze Wire (Telephone)
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis Is. 2-^d. — —

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis „ Os. 7Jd. — —

Sheet, basis Os. 9 jd. — —

Wire, basis , Ob. lOd. — —

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants . per ton £4 15 0 — —
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £18 0 0 — —
Lead Pig —

English , £25 5 0 £1 6s. " —

Foreign or Colonial . . „ £24 2 6 £1 7s. 6d. —
Tin-
Ingot , £153 10 0 £1153. —

Wire, basis per lb. 28. 0| d. — |d.

Aluminium Ingots per ton £120 0 0 — —

Spelter per ton £27 5 0 I2s. 6d. —

Mercury per bottle £11 0 0 — —

Salammoniac. — Per cwt. 65s.-60s. Sodium Chlorate. — Per lb. S^d.

Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 los. Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°).—

„ (Roll-Brimstone). — Per ton Per ton £9 10s.

£10 1.5s. Copper 5u//;/ia/c.— Per ton £261 Cs.

Sodiuyn Bichromate. — Per lb. 5]d. Boric Acid (CrysraXs). — Per ton £60
Rubber. — Para fine, lOld. ; plantation 1st latex, 8j'd

The metul prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby Cables,
Ltd.

April 28, 1922

The Electrician.

519

New Companies.

Bideford and District Electric Supply.

BiDEFORD AND DISTRICT ELECTRIC StTPPLY COMPANY, LtD.

(181201). Reg. April 19. Capital, £25 000 in £1 shares (7 500
preference and 17 500 ordinary). To acquire from S. I. KniU the
rights, benefits, and interests referred to in three agreements, and
to adopt three agreements with the said S. I. KniU, Crompton &
Company, Ltd., and Bartlett, Bayliss & Company, Ltd., and to
carry on the business of suppliers of electricity in Bideford and
elsewhere. First directors : Major W. Ascott, E. W. S. Bartlett,
J. U. Fulford, J. N. A. Houblon, Sir Robert M. Hyslop, H. N. G.
Stuckley, and G. C. Smyth-Richards. Secretaries : R. and R. B.
Blackmore. Registered office : Alexandra House, The Quay,
Bideford, Devon.

James Gordon & Company.

Jamks Gordon & Company, Ltd. (181 247). Private company^
Reg. April 21. Capital, £15 000 in 8 000 7^ per cent, preference
shares of £1 each and 14 000 ordinary shares of 10s. each. To adopt
agreements with J. Gordon and J. J. Lassen, and to carry on the
business of founders, mechanical, electrical, and marine engineers,
manufacturers of water turbines, governors, pipe lines, and other
water-power machinery, &c. Subscribers : S. Pennells and B. H.
Gower. Life directors : J. Gordon (chairman) and J. J. Lassen.
Registered office : Windsor House, Kingsway, W.C. 2.

Instrument Screve.

Instrument Screw Company, Ltd. (181 233). Private company.
Reg. April 20. Capital, £3 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers of
screws and parts for electric and scientific instruments, and smalj
engineering and scientific apparatus, &c., in the United Kingdom
or elsewhere. First directors : E. Homberger (managing director
and chairman), H. Booty. Secretary : H. C. Booty. Registered
office : Stanley -road, South Harrow.
Kohler.

KoHLER Company, Ltd. Private company. Regd. April 20 by
H. C. Davies & Son, 222, Strand, W.C. 2. Nominal capital, £10 000
in £1 shares. To act as agents, importers and exporters of goods
manufactured or sold by the Kohler Company, of Kohlei;, Wisconsin,
U.S.A. ; to manufacture and deal in Kohler automatic
power and light machines, plant and accessories, electrical and
other machinery, internal combustion, gas, and other engines and
dynamos, &c. First directors : W. J. Kohler, W. B. Clark, and J.
Peacock. Registered office is at 329, High Holborn, W.C. File
number, 181235.
Level-Protractor Engineerinig.

Level-Protractor Engineering Company, Ltd. (180 100).
Private company. Reg. April 12. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares.
Scientific instrument makers, mechanical, civil, and electrical
engineers, &c. First directors : J. Sutter, E. H. Newton, and
W. C. J. Schlie. Registered office : 3, St. Georges-terrace, Brearley-
street, Birmingham.

Peacehaven Electric Light and Power.

Peacehaven Electric Light and Power Company, Ltd. Public
company. Reg. April 21. Nominal capital, £20 000 in 15 000
10 per cent, preference shares of £1 each and 20 000 ordinary shares
of 5s. each. To acauire certain plant and machinery and the right
to supply electric light and power to owners, leaseholders, and
tenants on the " Peacehaven " Estates and elsewhere, and to adopt
an agreement with the South Coast Land and Resort Company, Ltd.
First directors : Rt. Hon. Lord Teynham, C. W. Neville, and C. F.
Gold. Registered office : 4, Vernon-place, W.C. 1. File number :
181 255.

Power and Traction Finance.

Power and Traction Finance Company, I/td. Reg. April 20.
Private company. Nominal Capital, £250000 in £1 shares. To
seek and secure openings for the employment of capital in any part
of the world ; to apply for and turn to accoimt any Act of Parlia-
ment, decree, concession, right, or privilege; to carry on, finance,
assist, or participate in trading, financial, commercial, industrial,
manufacturing, mining, and other businesses, works, contracts, and
undertakings, and to carry cm business as exporters and importers
of any articles, and as general engineers and contractors, and any
business usually carried on by trust, finance, land, mortgage, and
agency companies and bankers; to promote companies, to deal in
investments and securities, and to acquire, construct, equip,
administer, and control public works of all kinds. First directors :
Wm. L. Hichens. Sir John Hunter, the Rt. Hon. Lord Meston,
P. J. Pybus, Sir Hugh Read, Bt., and J. Sampson File niunber :
181 220.

Exhibition Notes.

The Foreign Samples Exhibition, organised by the Department
of Overseas Trade, is now held at 7-11, Old Bailev (first floor),
E.G. 4 (Tel. : 1866 City), where 13 500 sq. ft. of exhibiting space
are available. It is open to British manufacturers only from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. daily and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

An Exhibition of National Industries is to be opened in Santiago
on Sept. 16, under the auspices of the " Sociedad de Fomento
Fabril " (Society for the Development of National Industries), and
will remain open for two months. Exhibitors of machinery will be
permitted to show samples of foreign manufacture, which will
remain out of competition. British firms desiring to exhibit indus-
trial or other machinery should communicate with their local agents,
instructing them to make the necessary arrangements.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. April 28th (to-day).

Physical Society of I^ondon.

5 p.m. At the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington,

London. Papers will be read on : —

1. " The Position of Best Focus in the Presence of Spherical
Aberration," by Mr. T. Smith, B.A.

2. " The Determination of the Absolute Stress-variation <Jf
Refractive Index," by Mr. F. Twyman and Mr. J. Perry.

3. " An Experimental Comparison of the Viscous Properties
of (a) Carbon Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide, and (6) Nitrogdn
and Carbon Monoxide," by Mr. C. J. Smith;

4. Demonstration of the Optical Sonometer, by Mr. F.
Twyman.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

6 p.m. At the Institution, Storey' s-gate, St. James's-park.

London, S.W. Paper entitled " An Account of some
experiments on the Action of Cutting Tools," by Prof.
E. G. Coker and Mr. K. C. Chakko.

Electrical Power Engineers' Association.

7 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy-place.

Victoria Embankment, London. Lecture entitled " Some
Notes on the Design of Generating Plant," by Mr. C. F.
Hewitt.

insnttjtion of electrical engineers.
( North-Western Centre.)
7. SO p.m. At the College of Technology, Manchester. Public
Lecture on " Recent Developments in Atomic Research," by
Prof. W. L. Bragg.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Scottish Centre.)
7.30 p.m. At Technical Institute, Dundee. Paper entitled
" Single and Three-Phase Alternating Current Commutator
Motors with Series and Shunt Characteristics," by Prof.
S. Parker Smith.
North -East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shu-
builders (Newcastle-on-Tyne).
7.30 p.m. In the Lecture Theatre of the Literary and Philo-
sophical Society, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Paper entitled, " Cor-
rosion— with Special Reference to the Ferrous Metals and
the Deterioration of Ships," by Mr. A. Pickworth.
Junior Institution of Engineers.

8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecturette, "Some

Notes on the Utilisation of Water Power," by Capt. H.
Whittaker.
MONDAY, May 1st.

Society of Engineers.
5.S0 p.m. At the Geological Societv. Burlington House, Lon-
don, W. Part II. of Paper on " The Testii-g of Small
Electrical Plant," by Dr. C. V. Drysdale.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Western Centre.)
6 p.m. At South Wales Institute of Engineers, Park-place,
Cardiff. Paper on "Electric Motor Starters." by
Mr. James Anderson.

TUESDAY, Mav 2nd.

Institution of Civil Engineers.
6 p.m. At the Institution, Gt. George-street, London. S.W. 1.
James Forrest. Lecture entitled. "Some Post- War Pro-
blems of Transport," by Sir John Aspinall.

WEDNESDAY, May 3rd.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Wireless Section.)

6 p.m. At the Institytion, Savoy-place. London, W.C. 2. Lec-

ture on " Short Wave Direct:' nal Wireless." by Mr. C. S.
Franklin.

The Institution of Met.\ls
8 p.m. At the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Storey's-
gate, London, S.W. 1. Lecture on " The Relation of the
Elements," by Sir Ernest Rutherford. F.R.S.

THURSDAY. May 4th.

The Iron and Steel Institute.
10 a.m. At the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George-
street. London, S.W. 1. Annual meeting.

FRIDAY. May 5th.

Royal Society of Arts.
J^.SO p.m.. At John-street, London. W.C. 2. Lecture on
"Imperial Wireless Communication," by Prof. W. H.
Eccles, D.Sc, F.R.S.

The Iron and Steel Institute.
10 a.m. At the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George-
street, London, S.W. 1. Annual meeting.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(London Students' Section.)

7 p.7n. At the Institution, Savoy-place, London, W.C. 2. Lec-

ture on "Electrically Oscillatory Discharges," by 'Mr. R. P.
Howgrave-Graham.

The Junior Institution of Engineers.
S p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecturette on " Gold
Casting under Steam Pressure," by Mr. E. N. Ching.
Edinburgh Electrical Society.
S p.m. At Philosophical Institute, 4. Queen-street, Edinburgh.
.Annual meeting.

620

The Electrician.

April 28, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The follomng abstract from tome of the speeifieationt recently published have
hem speoiaily compUed by Mkssrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered PaitM
AgetiU, 70 arul 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

CoMPLETB Specifications.
142 126 Dictograph Products Corporation. Telephone seta. (21/8/17.)
142 845 SiEMENS-ScHUCKERTWEREE Ges. Reversing of alternating-current

shunt motors. (8/4/14.) (Addition to 2 409/14.)
145 400 FiLippo, H., Lely, j0N., D., & Naamlooze Venootschap Philips'
Gloeilampenfabhiken. Electric glow discharge lamps. (20/6/19.)
145 421 Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges. Vacuum electric discharge

apparatus having an incandescent cathode. (31/5/16.)
145 468 SiEMENS-ScHUCKERTWERKB Ges. Dynamo electric machines.

(10/11/14.)
145 528 BoscH Akt.-Ges. R. Construction of commutators. (29/4/19.)
145 587 Marsollier, C. J. Electrical connecting devices and lamp-
holders. (8/2/16.) _ ^ ,, . , ^ ,^

145 741 CoRADi, O., & Buchler, H. Graf-. Magnetic work-holders.

(19/6/19.)

146 241 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Totally enclosed dynamo-electric

machines. (7/10/14.)
146 311 Krupp Akt.-Ges. F. Arrangement for the excitation of con-
tinuous current generators in Ward-Leonard systems. (6/1/15. >
146 425 Western Electric Co., Ltd. Telephone exchange systems.

(29/12/16.)
148 313 Huth Ges. Dr. E. F., & Loewe. S. Methods of and apparatus

for wireless telephony. (28/11/16.) (Additior to 148 312.)
148 316 Huth Ges., Dr. E. F. Device for checking and recording at the

sending station messages transmitted by wireless telegraphy.

(21/10/14.)
148 323 Huth Ges., Dr. E. F. Vehicle stations for wireless telegraphy.

(4/12/14.)
148 415 Signal Ges. Electro-magnetic subaqueous sound producer or

receiver. (11/7/18.) (Addition to 147 935, modified by 148 411

and 148 413.)
148 528 Conradty, C. (Finn of). Bow collectors for electric vehicles.

(17/6/18.)

148 531 Conradty, C. (Firm of). Bow collectors for electric railways in

which the slip-piece is adapted to turn upon its longitudinal
axis. (28/4/16.)

149 282 Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co., Ltd. Reception of wireless

signals. (28/7/19.)
149 351 Alber, E. Electric batteries. (26/7/19.)
149 975 Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. Synchronous motor for polyphase

current. (26/8/19.)
151253 Trort, S. O. E. T. Wireless telegraphy. (18/7/19.)

151 609 Lafeuille, J. L. Electrical resistances. (22/9/19.)

151613 La Pichardais, D. M. G. R. de. Electric switches. (23/9/19.)

162 345 Rohde, F. Suspension insulators for electric wires and cables.

(12/10/20.) (Convention date not granted.)

152 658 Volet, R. A. L. Dynamo-electric machine commutators and

similar electrical apparatus. (13/10/19.)

153 908 Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. Electrical heating device. (13/11/19.)

164 908 Soc. Francaisr Radio Electrique. Means for regulating the

frequency of alternating currents. (6/12/19.)

165 297 Ges fIjr Teerverwertung. Process for the manufacture of fur-

naces electrodes of large cross-section. (27/11/19.)

156 673 Bergmann Elektricitats Werke Akt.-Ges. Construction of con-

ductors for electrical machines. (26/11/17.)

157 103 Wederstand Akt.-Ges. fur Elektro-Waerme-Tecknik. Frames

for the windings of electric resistances or heating elements.

(12/9/18.)
157 438 Soc. Anon, des Ateliers Brill^ Fr^ires. Relays and synchronised

clocks or other apparatus actuated thereby. (26/9/19.)
160 799 Levy, L. Electric oscillation generator. (29/3/20.)

160 813 Cohn. Sen. A. (Firm of). Electric switching or like devices.

(23/4/19.) (Divided Application on 147 949.)

161 954 Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget. Means for reducing

the ground current in electric high-tension transmission systems.
(16/4/20.)
161 983 Bayerische Vereinsbank. Electric fire, burglar and like alarms.
(20/4/20.)

163 288 AoAMS, A. H. Telephone exchange systems. (13/5/20.)

163 298 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Ltd. Electrical controllers.
(17/5/20.)

163 324 Siemens-Sohtickertwerke Ge.:,. Process and apparatus for con-
,«i ™nr meeting additional transformers to a supply circuit. (14/5/20.)

164 725 Soc. D Electro-Chimie kt d'Electr • Metallurgie. Process for
,«,„ obtaining deposits of iron by electrolysis. (9/6/20.)

165 072 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Control of alter-

nntint,' current, electric motors. (l(/G/20.)

166 878 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Control of alternat-

ing current electric motors. (19/7/20.)

167 496 Akt -Ces. Brown, Boveri, et Cie. Oil-cooled transformer boxes.

( 5 / 8 / 20. )

168 860 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Ltd. Protective apparatus

for eleetncal systems. (8/9/20.)

168 893 British Thomson-Houston Co.. Ltd. Electron discharge ampli-

fiers. (29/10/13.) (Divided application on 147 l-IS )

169 936 Raphael. F. C, & Edison Swan Electric Co., Ltd Means for

fixing electric cables and wires. (22/11/20) (Divided Applica-
tion on 32 934/20.)

170 016 Browning. W. H. Electrically heated solder! ig irons. (16/7/20 )
170 021 Marks. E. C. R. (Nagel Electric Co., W. G.; Electric measurine

instrument. (7/4/20.)
170 039 Holslag, J. Electrodes for electric arc welding and like opera-
tions. (4/6/20.) uyciu
170 043 Monnot, J. F. Storage battery plates. (8/6/20.)
170 048 Hackett, p. J. Signalling circuits, particularly applicable to

telephony. (9/6/20.)
170 049 Walker, C. L. Electric signalling or control systems. (10/6/20.)

(Cognate Application, 15 692/20.)
170 052 Bullen, A G. & Jenkinson, R. L. Electric switch automatically

operated by heat. (11/6/20.)
170 072 Macrorie, A. K.. Airey, H.. Morris-Shearing, G.. and Mullard.

B. R. Supports for filaments used in thermionic valves and

similar apparatus. (7/7/20.)
JZ2 5^n ^c^"""™^"*' F- H. Dynamo-electr-'c machines. (10/7/20.)
170 096 Macrorie, A. K., Airey, H., Morris-Shearino. G., & Mm-URD,
,»««„„ r/ I^- Thermionic valves. (10/7/20.)

170 097 Mac^c, IE. A. TC. AIREY. H.. Morris-Shearing, G.. & Mullard,
S" J, f of JMulti pie seals with silica thermionic valves and a

method of attaching the conductors from the seals to a valve

electrode. (10/7/20.)
\lnW> ^^}^^'^^- ^i,Ei, Manufactur(9;pf furnace electrodes. (12/7/20.)
170 112 Gardner. E. R Appliance or instrument for testing magnetos

and sparking plujs m actual use. (14/7/20.)

APPLICATIONS FOE, PATENTS «

April 10. 1922.

xO 117 A. C. Barton & F. H. Leffler. Electric switch.

10 122 E. G. Craven. Rheostat, &c. ,

10 137 W. McGee & Son & J. B. & T. White. Enclosed electnc machines.

iO 142 J. H. Reeves & J. Taylor. Method of locking lamps to holders.

10 143 & 10 144 C. E. Wood, H. R. Jones, & W. E. Lawton. Lifting
magnets.

10 146 F. Richardson. Drying paper on fibre insulated cables.
.10 188 W. G. Turner. Instrument for indicating simultaneously values
of two variable readings.

10 207 B. T.-H. Co., H. C. Wheat, & W. Millner. Electric lamp fittings.

10 214 Relay Auto. Teleph. Co. & B. B. Johnson. Automatic, &c., tele-
phone systems.

10 215 Soc. d'Etudes pour Liasons Telephoniques et Telegraphiques a
LoNGUE Distance. Long distance telephone installations.
(8/7/21, France.)

10 220 Ransomes, Sims, & Jefferies, & Mossay & Co. Controlling
mechanism of electric vehicles.

10 224 Siemens & Halske Akt.-Ges. Telephone systems. (9/4/21,
Germany.)

10 234 W. H. Christie & F. N. Denison. Electric recording and sound-
ing device.

April 11, 1922.

10 243 W. P. Durtnall. Electric locomotives, tramcars, road vehicles, &c.

10 245 A. C. Barton & F. H. Leffler. Automatic switch.

10 246 C. H. -W. Brown. Electrically heated treeing iron for boot

manufacture.
10 257 F. A. Milward. Rotating contact switch for bayonet holder

fitting.
10 282 A. J. Gregory & J. Nicol. Electrically controlled indicating

device.
10 300 J. K. Catterson-Smith. Alternating current circuit models for

educational purposes.
10 311 M. a. Renison. Diaphragm for sound recording telephone

instruments, &c.
10 343 A. H. Maitre & V. H. G. Martin. Damping device for switch

contacts for electro-magnetic vibrating members. (18/4/21.

France.)
10 348 Landis & Gyr Akt.-Ges. Prepayment meters for electricity, &c.

(12/4/21, Switzerland.)
10 371 Chloride Electrical Storage Co. (Kershaw). Storage batteries.
10 373 A. Melotte. Electric brush holders, &c.
10 382 C. C. Garrard, M. J. Railing, & W. Wilson. Charging accumu-

10 393 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.)'. Regulators 'or electron discharge
device*

10 397 E. F. Wiederholdt. Means for connecting conductors to spark-
ing plugs.

10 401 A. H. Pehrson. Rotating or oscillating electric furnace plants.
(12/4/21. Sweden.)

10 402 C. B. Kersting. Holders and adapters for radio telephonic and
telegraphic apparatus.

■ April 12. 1922.
Fullers' United Eleck Works & L. Fuller. Galvanic batteries.
J. A. Davies. Device for application of electric power to agricul-
tural machinery.
G. H. Moody. Thermionic valve holders.
Siemens Bros. & Co., H. T. Body, «Ss W. H. Grinsted. Automatic

telephone systems.
W. Prior & C. E. Riley. Selenium cells.
W. Sandford. Battery lamp.

F. Krupp Akt.-Ges. Time switches. (23/5/21. Germany.)
Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. & H. H. Harrison. Transmission

of telephone numbers, &o.
Edison Swan Electric Co. Advertising device.
& 10 499 J. B. Tucker. Electric switches.
General Electric Co., Ltd., & G. C. Marris. Telephone repeater

circuits.
Sterling Telephone & Electrical Co. Indicators for lifts, &c.
E. P. Barfield & L. W. Wild. Electric furnaces.

Morrison. Rectifiers for electric currents. (12/4/21, U.S.)
Parodi. Contact rail for electric traction.
L. Down & W. A. Hole. Electric discharge tubes.
Hernaman-Johnson. Single-flash radiography.
A. Vandervell. Electric installations on motor cars.
W. Humphry. Devices for connecting electric wires, &c.
W. Humphry. Electric wiring systems for lead-sheath*d
cables. &c.
A. Helfenstein.

10 421
10 427

10 462
10 469

10 471
10 472
10 474
10 480

10 486
10 498
10 507

10 510
10 512
10 513
10 518
10 520
10 525
10 527
10 538
10 539

10 548

Closed electric furnace. (12/4/21, Austria.)

10 572
10 580
10 585
10 598
10 612

10 628
10 629

10 649

10 650
10 656
10 660
10 666

10 671

10 674
10 677

10 678
10 700

10 704

10 714

April 13. 1922.
T. G. P. Healey. Electric horns.
J. Clement & L. Gillard. Electric switches.
& 10 586 J. A. Crabtree. Electric switches.
J. F. ScHLEPER. Jointing electric conductors.

A. G. Bullen & R. L. Jenkinson. Adjustable clips for electric
wiring.

F. Krupp Akt.-Ges. Permanent magnets. (29/6/21, Germany.)

F. Krupp Akt.-Ges. Electric overload protective systems.
(2S/5/21. Germany.)

Bureau d'Organisation Economiqub. Cooling of electrical appara-
tus. (13/4/21, Germany.)

R. Pechkranz. Electrolysis of water.

N. Togami. Distributing systems.

S. M. Townsend. Electric cooking devices.

Vickers, Ltd., & J. Etchells. Electro-magnetic regulating devices
for dynamo electric machines.

Ferranti, Ltd., & A. H. Higgs. Alternating current distributing
systems.

Chloride Electrical Storage Co. (Ford). Storage batteries.

Scintilla. Apparatus for preventing operation of electric
appliances on motor vehicles (20/5/21, Switzerland.)

S. J. Frost. Incandescent lamps &c.

W. S. Graff-Baker & E. T. Brock. Electric apparatus for pro-
ducing Ozone.

B. T.-H. Co. & E. F. W. Alexanderson. Radio transmitting
systems.

H. R. Wriqht. Circuit arrangements for electric relays.

Tht Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Officet of " Thi
EutcrrRiciAN " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, B.C. 4. Tele-
grams: Btnhrotric, Fleet. Loudon. Telephone: City 9852 (5 lines).

The subscription to " Thk Electrician " is £15 0 per a7inurn
in the United Kingdom and £1 10 0 per annum Al:oad. Advertise-
ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
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aatt of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2294. [

No. iX.
Vol. LXXXVII

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1922.

Prepaid Subscripiion U.K., /i
per ann. ; Abroad, /i los.

6d.

Notes of the Week

SwiTCHQEAR EVOLUTION

Transport Problems

High Voltage Switchgear Design. By W. A. Coates. Illustrated.

Reviews

Protective Apparatus for Turbo-Generators. By. J. A. Kuyser.

II lustrated

The Institution of Electrical Engineers

Phy.sics and Engineering Science

Correspondence

S 'Uthend's Diesel Sets

Electric Clocks

Automatic Ba? tery-Charging Plant

lE.E.: North Midland Centre

Flame-Proof Mining Boxes

LE.E. : North- Western Centre

The Reform Club Kitchen

Economic Conditions in Germany

P O. Programme of Extensiors

Expansion of Hydro-Electric Business

Factory Magazines

Che.stei- Electricity Enquiry

Legal Intelligence

CONTENTS.

521 Parliamentary Intelligence .540

524 Electricity Supply in South- Western Victoria 540

525 Electricity Supply 541

Institution Notes 541

^"^^ Electric Traction .. 542

530 Personal and Appointments 542

Telegraph and Telephone Notes 542

531 Wireless Notes .542

533 Business Items, &c 542

535 Imperial Notes r 543

535 Foreign Notes 543

535 Miscellaneous 543

535 Obituary .543

536 Possible Trade Openings 543

536 Openings for Trade in the Netherlands 543

536 Catalogues, Price Lists, &c ' 543

536 Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c 544

536 Tenders Invited and Accepted 545

537 Books Received 545

537 Commercial Intelligence 546

537 Arrangements for the Week 547

538 New Companies 547

538 Patent Record 548

538 Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c ... oiS

Notes of the Week.

The Budget.

Now that the first eoithusiasm at the reduction of taxa-
tion has died down, the Budget is being criticised from a
more sober point of view than was possible in the atmosphere
of rumour and petition of a few days ago. A lower income
tax and the postal and telephone concessions will mean a
direct saving in industrial as well as private circles, and will,
therefore, be all to the good, and the customs reductions, by
lightening domestic expenditure, may assist in the revival
of other branches of trade. The taxpayers of the country
ought therefore to be thankful for what they have been
given, but the fact remains that they are not thankful, and
are eager for still further reductions. There is justice in the
claim. For it will be agreed that after nearly four years of
peace the burdeox of taxation is much too heavy. Even now
the income tax is at the very high figure of 5s., and for traders
there is still that, inequitable charge, the Corporation Tax,
except in the case of public utility companies, who are, we
are glad to see, exempted for another three years, though
we hope it will have disappeared long before that. Postal
and telephone rates ought to' be still lower, and many of the
other taxes are unjustly heavy and are becoming increas-
ingly difficult of collection. Even the concessions have only
beein po&sible by the adoption of methods which are not too
sound, and it is a gamble whether details on both sides of
the balance-sheet will coane out at anything like the figures
estimated. The cure of all these ills is, of course, reduced
expenditure, but this is a policy which the Government are
as unwilling as ever to adopt. It is not surprising then
that the Federation of British Industries are demanding
another " Axe " Committee, or that Mr. Bonar Law
should say : ' ' The main duty of the Government is to realise
that the revenue will fall, and that everything that human
energy can do' should be done toi keep our expenditure at the
lowest level."

The Protection of Turbo-Alternators.

The Paper on ' ' Protective Apparatus for Tiirbo- Alterna-
tors," by Mr. J. A. Kuysek, which has beeai read and
discussed before various centres of the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers during the past feAv weeks, deals with a
.subject which is not only important in it^f, but upon
which mo'st electrical engineers have decided views. It is
not, therefore, surprising that the discussions generally
wera interesting, critical, and well sustained. Mr. Kuyser
argues that, for economic and operating reasons, turbo-
alternators must be protected, and that it only remains to
determine what system of protection to use. Most of the
existing systems have their drawbacks, and he, therefore,
proposes a new method for overcoming these. Cou} led up
with this is a consideration of the phenomena which occur
when the field system is opened, and the different methods
at present in use also come in for criticism. A great part
of the discussion was influenced by a natural desire to
controvert these ^arguments, and we are led to the
opinion that while no doubt turbo-alternators can be pro-
tected, there is no general agreement as to how it can
best be done.

Why Protection at All ?

The most interesting part of the discussion dealt, how-
ever, with another phase of the subject. Why, said more
than one speaker, have protection at all? Design your
machine, both mechanically and electJ^cally, to vrithstand
all conditions, and then discard all external aids to safety.
To do otherwise is a confession of failure. In any event,
it is a bad policy to hang about your turbo-generator, which
is, after all, a more or less engineering job, all sorts of
flimsy apparatus, which will probably faO when they are
most required. The operating engineer is particularly
insistent on this argument, which must not be considered
simply as a iurvival from the clays when circuit-breakers
were tied-up with stinng.

522

The Electrician.

May 5, 1922

Insurance Not Engineering

The question is one rather of insurance ttan engineering.
If at the present time we know all there is to be known
about the vagaries and effects of short-circuit phenomena,
then it is. surely better to design self-contained plant to
withstand thos,e conditions. If we do not it is better to
insure expensive plant by providing it with protective
apparatus. But as time goes on the progress of both these
schools must be toward each other, and when they meet
protective apparatus will have become very simple, if it is
not unnecessary altogether.

Education Estimates.

The discussion on the vote for the Board of Education,
which took place in the House of Commons last week,
brought out the fact that the total amount allocated for
education in the current year is £6 104 653 less than in
1921-22, but this saving is unfairly distributed over elemen-
tary, and higher education and research. It is unfortunate
that the financial condition of the country necessitates
drastic cuts in the amounts allocated for the education ser-
vices, but, in our opinion, these economies should be effected
in such a manner as to cause the least damage to educational
progress and efficiency. On the ordinary services of the
Board of Education it is proposed to spend about £4 900 000
less than in the past year. This represents a cut of about
10 per cent.; but the grant to universities and university
colleges is down by £300 000, or a reduction of 20 per cent.,
and there is a similar cut in the grants for technical colleges.
There is to be a further saving of £118 486 on scientific
and industrial research, or a cut of 28 per cent., and as
there was a substantial reduction in the amount allocated
for research last year, it looks as if it were intended that
this imporant work should be left to private initiative and
enterprise, and therefore W6) shall soon be again enjoying
oasy-godng pre-war conditions. The lessons taught by
the War are in danger of being lost, and higher education,
technical training, and research are to be sacrificed for the
sake of economies which do not in the aggregate amount to
a half-million ! In our opinion, this is not economy; it is
a reckless disregard of the best interests of the nation and
of the Empire.

Hot and Cold.

We have indicated above tha attitude of the Government
towards technical education as evidp.ioed by the tightening
of the national purse strings. But this apparently is not
the attitude of Mr. Herbert Fisuer, the Minister for
Education. Speaking at the first of a series of lectures on
" Physics and Engineering Science," which are being
delivered before the Institute of Physics by Prof. A. Barr,
Mr. Fisher said " the industrial progress of the country
was insecure unless it was based on a wide knowledge of
science. . . . Science, and science alone, could enable us
to maintain and extend our industrial prog- ess." We sup-
pose that to the educationist turned politician this is an
excellent argument for reducing the support given to tech-
nical education. But if Mr. Fisher really feels like that,
and the education estimates are passed as they stand, he
ought to resign.

Foreign Engineering Contracts.

Any organisation which helps to develop the export trade
of the country deserves encouragement and support, and
therefore we welcome the formation of the Brilisli Power
and Transport Finance Company, which is primarily
intended to obtain and execute comprehensive engineering

contracts, involving civil, mechanical and electrical work.
There are a number of large railway, hydro-electric,
and harbour schemes in prospect, but contracts for these
are usually let subject to conditions as to finance and date
of completion, which preclude (individual firms from
undertaking them. The new company has been
formed in order to overcome these difficulties, and it pro-
poses to concentrate the experience and financial power of a
number of engineering firms and financial organisations into
one association. It will thus be in a position to undertalce
and carry out the largest contracts and projects. The
directors of the new company are Mr. W. L. Hichexs
(chair.man of Cammell, Laird & Company), Sir JoHX
Hunter (managing director of Sir William Arrol & Com-
pany), Sir George May (Prudential Assurance Company),
Sir Hugh Keid (managing director of the North British
Locomotive Company), Mr. John Sampson (director of John
Brown & Company), Lord Meston (a director), and Mr.
P. J. Pybus (managing director of the English Electric
Company). It will be seen that the manufacturing resources
of the companies concerned will be equal to any calls that
may be made upon them, and the co-operation of engineer-
ing and finance, which is foreshadowed, should be capable
of meeting the competition of any foreign amalgamation
or combination.

The Lighting of Hospitals.

Advances in technical equipment and method in
hospitals during recent years have no doubt been consider-
able, but it would appear, from a discussion before a joint
meeting of the Illuminating Engineering Society and the
Royal Society of Medicine on April 27, that the methods of
lighting employed in these institutions are not always ideal.
Mr. John Darch, who read an introductory paper, even
warned the audience of Florence Nightingale's trenchaxit
observation that " the very first requirement of a hospital
is that it should do the sick no harm ! " One of the com-
monest faults, according to Mr. Darch, in the lighting of
hospital wards is the liability of the lights to distract the
eyes of patients, owing to the glare from imperfectly shaded
filaments within the range of vision. We have no doubt,
however, that the problems only need to be clearly stated
to receive attention, and the intention of the Illuminating
Engineering Society to form a small joint committee to
deal with them should have good results.

Illumination of Operating Tables.

IMethods used in operating theatres show great variety,
some being extremely elaborate, others rather makeshift.
The lightirg tof the operating-table is a difficult
problem. A relatively liigh illumination, not less than
25 foot-candles, is needed. The lights should be so
arranged that the surgeon, bending over the table, is not
hampered by inconvenient shadows from his head or arms.
Scrupulous care must, of course, be taken to avoid dust
falling on the table, and accordingly some believe that
lighting fittings should not be immediately overhead.
Further, the use of lamps of high candle-power is apt to
engender an amount of heat, which is trying to the surgeon
and possibly harmful to the patient. One interesting
possibility mentioned in the discussion is the use of " ai'ti-
ficial daylight " in cases where the coiTect judgment of
colours is important. This occurs, for instance, in certain
opei-ations^ in exaanining affections of the skin, and in bac-
teriological work. The lighting of microscopes, touched upon
by Mr. Conrad Beck, is again a special problem to which
alone an evening's discussion might be devoted. Another
feature of hospital lighting is the necessity for providing

May 5, 1922

The Electrician.

523

plug outlets for inspection lamps, the design of whicli also
presents interesting optical problems. It is not easy to get
a sufficiently intense and even illumination from a lamp
capable of being inin on an ordinary supply voltage, but
some new forms of compact lamps shown at the meeting
suggest that considerable progress has been made in this
direction. The discusssion raised many interesting points,
and should form a useful basis for further research.

The Engineering Dispute.

Two important events in the history of the engineering
dispute have occurred during the past week. The Govern-
ment have at last appointed Sir. Wm. Mackenzie to hold a
Court of Inquiry under Part II. of the Industrial Courts
Act, and the employers announced that the shops were to
be opened from Wednesday to those men who undertake to
conform to certain instructions. It is too early to say what
will be the result of these moves, but we hope they will
both bring nearer the settlement which is urgently neces-
sary. We are glad that the inquiry will be open to
the Press and to the public, so that as much Light as possible
may be thrown on the argximents of both parties. There
is not wanting the feeling that something is being kept
back, that selfish interests are being used to prevent agree-
ment, ajid that politics are being allowed to prevemt produc-
tion. At a time when trade revival is necessary and pos-
sible this should not be allowed.

The Institution Council.

The general body of members having exercised their right
to make further nominations to some purpose, the election
O'f the Council of the Institution of Electrical Engineers
this year promises to be hotly contested. In addition to
the six official nominations for three vacancies among the
members of the " Ordinary Members of Council," three
unofficial nominations have been made, so that voters
will have to erase noi less than, six names from the ballot-
paper. The three additional nominations are Mr. R. A.
Chattock, city electrical engineer, Birmingham, who is
nominated by an influential Midland group, Mr. R. H.
Fletcher, of Cardiff, who obtains similar support from
South Wales, and Mr. A. M. Sillar, who receives recogni-
tion from both London and Manchester. If all these
oandidates are elected the local centres will ha,ve no right
to complain of under representation, Mr. A. F. Harmer
is also nominated for a vacancy among the associate mem-
bers, but here no erasion is necessary. Mr. Harmer has
done good work, both in public and private, in connection
with the informal meetings, and we are glad his activities
will now have wider scope. All that remains is to recom-
mend members to show their interest in Institution affairs
by voting, so that the Council, as elected, may truly
represent the general body of the Institution.

Revision of Prices.

It is announced that the Electricity Commissioners have
granted, and the Ministry of Transport proposes to con-
firm, the Special Order amending the Brechin and Montrose
Provisional Orders. The announcement has aroused con-
siderable feeling in the miinicipal circles of the affected
burghs, and opposition to the Special Order will be con-
tinued, though, we hope, without success. The attitude
of these Scotch municipal fathers is tuireasonable, for they
are really endeavooiring to enforce rigid agreements entei'ed
into and orders issued in the yeeir 1898. The maximum
price was then fixed at 8d. a unit, but two years ago per-
mission was obtained under the Statutory Undertakings
(Temporary Increase of Charges) Act, 1918, to raise the
D 2

charge to Is. a unit for private supply. The company now
desires to make permanent provision for the periodical
revision of the charges, somewhat on the lines of the Elec-
tricity (Supply) Bill, and the Commissioners have, natur-
ally, granted the application, which is quite a reasonable
o^e, and will operate as much in favour of the consumers
as the company.

Bumbledom a TEcosse.

The contention of the Brechin Council is that as they
transferred the original Order to the company on special
terms as to the charges for electricity, " they should have
the absolute right to fix prices without the interference of
the Electricity Commissioners," and they would, therefore,
like to limit the company to the pre-war dividend, which
was only about 1§ per cent. We doubt if the Council could
have made a greater success of the undertaking than the
company, but if they think they can we feel sure they can
obtain possession of it upon reasonable terms. Many of
the old provincial provisional orders were transferred to or
secured by companies upon harsh terms, and it is for the
good of the industry as a whole that these should be now
revised, so that a reasonable r3tum may he earned on the
oapi tal i nv est ed .

The Indo-European Telegraph System.

There is now a good prospect of the telegraph service
of the Indo-European Telegraph Company, which has been
completely interrupted for nearly eight years, being
restored, as the company has secured the necessary conces-
sions from Germany, Poland, and the Soviet Republic of
Russia, the latter having been signed on April 12. Sub-
stantial progress has also been made with the work of repair-
ing and renewing the telegraph poles and lines. Parts of
the system, especially in Poland, have had to be rebuilt, and
the task of restoration has been difficult and costly. How-
ever, we congratulate the company upon the success of their
long and delicate negotiations, and we hope that their tele-
graph service to the Near East and India will soon be
available for commercial and business purposes. It will
add greatly to the existing telegraph facilities, and, by
giving an alternative route to India, wiU relieve the conges-
tion on the Eastern Company's cables, and thus minimise
the risk of delays to Indian and Eastern cablegrams.
Though the company has not been earning anythinc; since
the outbreak of the War, dividends have been regularly
paid, as a joint purse arrangement exists with the compamew
engaged in the Eastern business, and there was also a sub-
stantial dividend equalisation fund. The latter, however,
is now exhausted, but as the current year should see the
company again earning money from international traffic, the
return to the shareholders may not suffer in consequence.
We notice that the Odessa-Constantinoplo cable is in work-
ing order, and this is a good augury, for we believe it
portends the extension of the ser\ace to Southern Russia,
the Black Sea ports, and the adjacent teiiitories.

"The Electrician" and the British Museum.

A PLEASANT task, which hardly a day passes but we are
called upon to perform, is to advise readers of the where-
abouts in ancient Electricians of some article whose con-
tents will prove useful to them in their present work. This
pleasant task is, however, not without its unpleasant
corollary. For we ai-e often unable to supply the particular
copy demanded— a copy which may be dated ten years ago,
fifteen years ago, or even in the early 'nineties. We are,
therefore, grateful to a correspondent, well known in news-
paper circles for his reseai-ch work, for pointing out that

524

The £lectriciaii.

May 5, 1922

The Electkician has been regularly filed and boxind at the
British Museum since its issue of May 25, 1878, thus pro-
viding what can only be described as a wonderful budget of
electrical history.

The Law and its Application.

To those who have anything to do with publishing this-
may not seem extraordinary, but although it has been the
law since the early 'forties that a copy of every newspaper,
book, or pamphlet publicly offered for sale should be for-
warded to the British Museum, that statute until compara-
tively recent times was more honoured in the breach
than the obsei^anoe, so that there is but a small minority
of periodicals of which anything like a complete file exists.

" There is no doubt," our correspondent continuee, " that when
the paper first came into existence it supplied, to use a hackneyed
phrase, ' a long-felt want,' and a study of these priceless volumes
shows that from 1878 The Electrician had ite fair share of public
support and advertising patronage, both of which, as the years have
gone on, have continued to increase, until it has become a question,
the war notwithstanding, whether at any time your periodical ever
enjoyed so large a meaeure of popularity as it owns to-day."

Seekers after electrical truth, as mirrored in the columns
of The Ei.ectrioian, will, therefore, be glad to know where
thhj may refer to a complete file of all our issues, always
excepting those less than a year old, which, by the mles of
the Muse.um, may not be irLspected. It may be added that
veiy complete files of The Electrician are also to be found
in other places in London and the provinces, notably in the
librarieia of the Institutions of Electrical and Civil
Engineers and at the Patent Office.

Switchgear Evolution.

The details of the evolution of switchgear design and con-
struction form an interesting chapter in electrical history.
In the early days, when low voltages were general, heavy
currents were broken in air by means of hand-operated
switches, which made connection on rubbing contacts of
elemental simplicity. Conductors were festooned about these
switches in a manner more artistic than safe, and the fires
which naturally were not uncommon were extinguished by
drastic, though effectual, means, which, however, carried
wreckage in their train. The switchboards themselves were,
of course, fixed in buildings to protect them from atmos-
pheric influences, but in other ways protection, as it is
undersitood to-day, was conspicuous by its absence.

First Steps Towards Safety.

As the operating voltages inoreasea, a movement towards
a safer condition of things was made in two ways. First
the switches themselves were placed in separate compart-
ments or oubiclciS and other live-metal work was protected
from unauthorised contact by barriers of suitable design.
Then with the coming of the oil switch the contacts at wliich
the circuits were broken were themselves protected and the
equipment itself was fixed in places remote from human
contact under normal conditions. This p1 :ige in evolution
was a step towards greater safety and ceilainuy in operation,
but at the same time was a step towards greater complica-
tion.

The Coming of the Ironclad Switch.

The ironclad switch, which may be said to fonn the na\t
stage, was therefore a step in that cyclic change towards
simi)licity which is characteristic of all engineering advance-
ments This switch, by concentrating the protection
afforded, at the same time eliminated many complications
and allowed the production of a type of equipment which
was not only electrically safe and mechanically sound, but
was immune from atmospheric influences in a way which was

not thought possible in the early days of the rubbing-contact
switch. In other words the ironclad switch was a self-con-
tained piece of apparatus which could be used anywhere
and for any purpose.

A Courageous Step.
These conditions led quite naturally to a further step
forward. It was a step which was taken with so much
diffidence that Mr. Coates, in an article on the subject
which we publish on another page of this issue, is quite
correct in calling it courageous. It was in fact nothing
less than placing oil-break switchgear out of doors and so
saving not only the cost of sub-station buildings, but gaining
advantages from better observation and greater security.
This was indeed a great step forward. Twenty years ago
it was a step which would have been rege^rded with horror,
and oven ten years ago it was considered a fit subject for
comic treatment. At present it may be stated with truth
that the outdoor sub-station has come to stay. For while
not much progress has been made with its application in
this country, that is more due to our conservatism and to
other conditions that have more recently influenced elec-
trical progress than to anything inherently wrong with the
outdoor sub-station itself. For in the United States, where
the climatic conditions are, if anything, worse than in this
country, and on the Continent it has been largely developed
with considerable success. This development has also been
helped by an abatence of the restrictions we labour under
in this country.

Insulation the Deciding Factor.

The details which Mr. Coates gives in his article make
it easy to see why this should be so. The whole problem
is insulation. And transmission lines at pressures exceeding
anything we have considered for practical purposes in this
country have long been used with success elsewhere, so that
the insulation problem has been solved. That disposes of
everything but the switches, and in them, as Mr. Coates
points out, insulation is a mechanical rather than an
electrical matter and in some ways becomes easier as the
pressure is increased. Instrument transformers introduce
some difficulties, but these can be overcome by the use of
water-tight terminal boxes and careful workmanship, a
remark wo imagine which equally applies to the sealing off
of the transmission cables where these are employed instead
of overhead lines.

Even as regards the switches which introduce the only
novelty into the situation, Mr. Coates points out that there
is nothing to fear. As we have already stated the modern
tendency is to place ironclad protection closely round the
switches and to strip everything else away. From its
design and construction, therefore, the standard oil switch
seems quite applicable to outdoor work with the addition
of larger clearances and a careful attention to such minor
points as erection and painting. This attention is made
easier by the fact that a greater generosity in space is
generally permissible, though the total ground area of the
two types of sub-station does not usually vary greatly.

An Idea Worth Consideration.

Economically, as Mr. Coates shows, in the details he
gives of a 33 kV scheme, the idea is well worth close con-
sideration. A number of alternative designs are of course
possible, but in every case a saving amounting to about
25 per cent, of the total can be obtained by adopting outdoor
methods. This saving is, of course, obtained on the
buildings alone, the cost of switchgear for outdoor work
generally being rather more than for indoors owing to tlie
reasons mentioned above. The difference is not, however,

May 5, 1922

The Electrician.

52o

important. These figures have recently been oonfirmed in-
dependently from the results of Swiss practice and indicate
therefore that the question is one which, in these days of
high voltages and linking up, should be closely considered by
our electricity supply engineers.

It is also a question which should be closely considered
by designers and manufacturers. For like many other
branches of electrical progress the evolution of outdoor
switchgear has largely been in the hands of American and
Continental engineers. Conditions over here are not,
however, the same as in these two countries, and it will be
necessary to strike out a line for ourselves. We are glad
to think that this is being done.

Transport Problems.

" Michael Angelo," remarked Sir John Aspinall in
the James Forrest Lecture which he delivered before the
Institution of Civil Engineers on Tuesday, " once said:
' Little things make perfection, little things mar perfection,
and little things are the greatest part of perfection.' " The
lecture dealt with " Some Post-War Problems of Trans-
port," and ranged big and large over the many phases of
tliis important question, which, as the lecturer pointed out,
has been tackled with enthusiasm, vision and wrongheaded-
ness at various times since 1855. All these atteanpts at
solution are, however, alike in two things : they all envisage
the enormity of the work and the great costliness which
any scheme of improvement will involve, and they have all
been pigeonholed in somebody or other's desk. And still
the London traffic problem grows like an abnormal infant,
gaining power and strength every day, and still optimists
and lecturers, at loss for a subject, put forward schemes
for its solution. But nothing is done, and it does not look
as if anything ever will be.

Herculean Qualities Required.

Ihis is not to say that Sir John Aspinall' s address is
not worth study. It ig very much the reiverse. It is
worth study because it brings out so clearly how Herculean
must be the qualities of the man whoi undeirtakes toi summon
order out of the chaos of London traffic, and how little the
much-vaunted increased facilities have contributed to' bring
about any improvement. It might indeed be said that
these facilities have made matters worse. They have en-
couraged travelling and increased the flow of traffic at a
greater rate than the means provided for dealing with that
flow. This, of course, is not the whole story. For the
conversion of London into a workshop with its dormitories
outside has not been entirely caused by the larger number
of trains (not the greater ease) i:)rovided for travelling to
and fro, though the two movements are inseparably Dound
up. Both have increased the difficulties which were so
obvious in 1855, and even earlier, that suggestions for their
improvemeint were already being made. And it is a little
difficult to see how matters can be improved.

Cold Comfort for the Suburbs.

For, preaching on the text we have already quoted. Sir
John Aspinall has but cold comfort for the suburban
passenger. Matters might be bettei-ed, he thinks, by more
attention to the methods of platform approach, by the use
of plain, well-lighted direction signs, by the better design
of rolling stock, by thinking out other methods than those
employed for supporting standing passengers, by con-
structing separate platforms for entrance and exit, and so
forth, and so on. But he says: " It is a mere Utopian

vision to hope that seating room can ever be so ample that
straphanging will be abolished in rush hours," and those
whose daily travel is by means of that suspensory and un-
comfortable method, while thanking Sir John for making
their treadmill more scientific and luxurious, may well
think modern engineering barren if this is the best it can do

for them.

New Lines Wanted.

The difficulties, which Sir John suggests might be solved
by the above methods, are nevertheless very real and are
becoming every day harder to solve. As we have already
pointed out, the schemes for linking up existing suburban
systems, though good in themselves, will only mean greater
congestion on the central lines, and will therefore tend to
make travel more crowded, more troublesome, and less
speedy than it is at present. The only real solution for
this is the construction of relief lines designed, not for the
present-day traffic but for futiire traffic, and built in the
light of experience to include all the time-saving devices
which we now know to be necessary. Especially might an
outer-circle railway be built on which goods and passengers
between tM^o outlying districts covdd be carried without
coming into the central area. To undertake such relief
work will require courage and money, but it will in the
long run provide a truer solution of the difficulty than any
attempt to improve existing methods.

In a greater or lesser degree the same problem is present
wherever sxiburban traffic is handled, and the two most
promising solutions are electrification and well-thought-out
methods of handling the traffic wdth all that the phrase
implies. Electrification, as Sir John rightly points out, is,
for economic reasons, also the best way of handling the main

line traffic problem.

Another Solution.
There is oiie aspect of the traffic problem, which Sir John
touches upon by inference, which may in due time prove
to be the right road for escaping from many of our present
difficulties. A large amount of our railway and road
traffic is indispensable in order that the government and
industry of the country may be properly carried on. But
were oui- life ordered differently the traffic problem would
also assume a different shape. At present a vast amount of
train mileage is expended in taking passengers from their
homes to their work and back again, in carrying goods from
factories to distributing centres and then to the places
where they are consumed. All this means a waste of time,
rolling stock and energy, w^hich has to be put down in plain
figures to be believed. If this co^ild be prevented, or at
any rate reduced, one great section of the traffic problem
would be solved almost by a stroke of the pen. In a word,
if men and women lived where they worked we could reduce
what are in reality unnecessary movements and give our
present railway system a margin for useful expansion.

The Garden City Idea.

Sir John rather hints at some such solution in his remarks
on the supply of electric current, and the idea is, of course,
the essence of the garden city movement. If by the help
of the Electricity Commissioners and the railway companies
cheap electricity can be supplied along the length of our
existing lines of communication tlie establishment of fac-
tories and dwellings under better conditions than we know
at present would be easily possible. We should have a
movement of divergence rather than concentration, a move-
ment which should solve the traffic problem in the best
possible way. Failing that it is a little difficult to see what
can be done, especially in view of the reluctance of those
most concenied to do anything but drift.

526

The Electrician — May 5, 1922

High Voltage Switchgear Design.

By W. A. COAXES.

The problem of building electrical equipment for the high voltages which are now becoming common is mainly one of insulation. Two
main types of insulation are required, that ivhich merely supports the conductor and that which insulates the conductor where it passes
through an earthed body. In high voltage work the limitations in design are mechanical rather than electrical, and in other ways greater
simplicity is possible than at lower pressures. Though high voltage gear was at first contained in cubicles, it was soon found that this was
unnecessary, while in 1908 the advantages of placing the gear out of doors was discovered. Mr. Coates discusses at length the details^of
modern outdoor switchgear compared with i^idoor equipment, and points out its economic and engineering advantages.

We liave reached tiie stage in this countiy where it is
necessary to reconsider the nomenclature applied to system
pressures. This need is accentuated by the large Colonial
developments and by the fact that certain British concerns
are actively catering for this specialised market. The
British Plome Office rules have established the tenns :

" Low Pressure" for systems not exceeding 250 V,
" Medium Pressure" for systems between 250 and 650 V,
" High Pressure " for syetems between 650 and 3 000 V, ajid
"Extra-High Pressure" for anything over 3 000 V at the
receiving point.

What, then, are we to call a system working at 66 000 V ?

Confusion has already arisen, due to the use of present
phraseology, on systems which include high-voiltage trans-
mission, and it is suggested that the time is ripe for the
adoption of some new term to meet the occasion. But super-
latives in technical phraseology are undesirable, and in the
title for this article the simple description " High Voltage"
is applied to systems above the generating voltage. An
adequate alternative term would be " super-generating
pressure." This has the advantage of being self-explana-
tory, although it may perhaps be a trifle indefinite. There
are systems which generate at 650 V or 2 200 V, and then
step-up to 6 600 V for transmission.

The great majority of the world's high- volt age trans-
mission systems are in North America, and it. is a natural
consequence that the two great American manufacturing
concerns have led the way in the construction of suitable
transforming and switching apparatus. Between them
they have probably built 75 per cent, of the high-voltage
equipment in the world, the balance having been supplied
by some half-dozen Continental manufacturers. Within
the past year at least one British concern (that with which
the writer is connected) has entered the market and has
laid down equipment enabling it to ouild apparatus for the
highest commercial voltages.

Insulation and Switchgear.

Since high-voltage design problems; are, in the main,
insulation problems, a brief review of the position from
that point of view is justifiable. Two main types of
insulation are required : that which merely supports a con-
ductor and that which insulates a conductor where it
passes through an earthed body.

For indoor work, supporting insulators are comparatively
simple to design and construct. The ordinary porcelain
post insulator, proportionately enlarged, is customarily
employed. Great mechanical strength is not of so much
importance as on lower voltages, since the mutual repulsion
between the coinductors on short-oii'ouit varies directly with
the square of the cui-rent, and inversely as ;he distaaioe be-
tween conductors. These tall porcelains c-an, therefore, be
made hollow, with v/alls sufficiently thin to be thoroughly
vitrified during the firing process. The longer insulators
are usually thrown and turned in two parts, and are then
jointed before fixing. To this there is no objection, since
puncture- resisting qualities are not I'equired.

Insulator Dimensions.

Full standards for insulator dimemsions do not exist. In
general, it will be found that for a given system voltage Con-
tinental insvdators are appreciably shorter than those of
British or American manufacturers. The following table
gives usual values for the axial length of indoor post
insulators :

Table I.

Axial Length, inches.

System

kV.

British or American.

Continental.

22
So

7^
10

55
66

19^
23

14^
17

110

Profiles Adopted.

The profiles adopted for insulators of this type vary con-
siderably, although irregularities are usually a matter of
taste rather than scientific design. In fact, it is not infre-
quent for the addition of flanges or ornamental projecting
rings to reduce the flash-over voltage of an insulator by
providing points for stress concentration. The question of
smooth versus corrugated surfaces has been thrashed out
to a conclusion in favour of the former long ago. • In their
somewhat rare indoor installations, American designei's still
use corrugated high-voltage insulators, apparently because
they do not consider the advantage gained sufficient to make
it worth changing eixisting standards.

Insulators and Outdoor Work.

For outdoor work the problem is practically the same a*
for supporting the transmission line. The ordinary pin-
type insulator ceases to be a commercial proposition on
systems over 66 kV, as the size and weight of porcelain
increase out of all proportion to the voltage. The unit
construction — wherein several porcelain discs or sheds,,
separated by jointed metallic fittings, are used in series —
is almost universal above that pressure, and is often em-
ployed for lower pressures.

Limitations Mechanical Rather than Electrical.

Where the busbars or connections can be suspended, the
ordinary flexible string of line-insulators is employed. For
holding the contacts of isolating switches, or other appara-
tus, rigid constructions on similar lines have been adopted.
With these the limitations of design, so far, have been
mechanical rather than electrical, although when working
at 220 kV changes in the electrical design also may become
necessai'y. In general, these tall, unit-type, post insulators
should not be subjected to bending loads of any magnitude,
but should rather be worked in compression, tension or
torsion. Operated in this way no trouble is experienced.

Bushing Insulators.

Bushing insfulatoi-^ for high voltages are of three general
types: (1) Compound-filled porcelain shells; (2) oil-filled
porcelain shells; (3) condensers built of concentric layers
of micarta, with metal-foil plates at intervals. To some
extent bulk bushings made of bakelised micarta are
employed also.

All three forms have been successfully applied to both
indoor and outdoor working, the vast majority being of the
oil-filled or condenser type. The fonner has the disadvan-
tage of being somefvvhat delicate to handle, since at least
one (usually three) oil-tight joint must be maintained, and,
in the nature of tilings, the potential distribution across its
surface is inferior to that of the oondeJiser terminal.
Against this, the porcelain shell can readily be moulded so
as to incorporate rain sheds for outdoor work, whereaa
separate sheds must be fitted over the condenser type.

May 5, 1922

The Electrician.

527

For a given working voltage, the radial thickness necessary
at the ground band is a maximum with the compound filled or
bulk bushings, and a minimum with the condenser types.
Ring-type transformers will thus be more accurate when
used over a condenser than on any other type of terminal.

Apparatus Design.

Apart from the special design of terminal, to which refer-
ence has been made, and from the fact that greater clear-
ances to earth must be allowed, there is little difference
between the apparatus used on the highest pressures and
that employed on our usual British voltages. The probable
gas pressures developed in a high-voltage oil switch are
less than with one on low voltage, so that the tanks,
although much bigger, do not have to be stronger in pro-
portion. When they are placed out of doors, the bottoms
of all tanks should be raised sufficiently from the ground
to permit the under- surface to be painted. This, of course,
applies equally to power and instriune'nt transformers.

Cost considerations prohibit the use of potential trans-
formers on pressures over 66 kV. Metering can usually be
done equally well on the low-tension side of a transformer
bank. Some very desirable systems of automatic protec-
tion necessitate potential connections, but these must be
put on one side in favour of protective systems, not quite
so perfect, which can be worked from series transformei"s
only.

Where the secondary load on series transformers is small,
and the normal full load H.-T. current is of the order
of 100 A, ring- type transformers round a coTidenser or oil-
filled terminal can be used . The ring transformer is housied
on the under-side of a switch or power-transformer cover,
and thus takes up no extra space.

If conditions make wound primary series transformers
essential, they are built as separate units, the twoi high-ten-
sion leads, lightly insulated from ome another, being taken
through the tank-cover in a single bushing. To avoid
trouble, due to the inductance of the primary winding,
when high-frequency surges occur, a shunt resistance is
commonly bridged aci-oss the high-tension leads.

On all apparatus placed out of doors, to which small wir-

. ing ig run, a watertight terminal box must be provided,

with a downward outlet for screwed conduit. Plenty of

space is desirable in such boxes, since connections may have

to be changed or made with cold fingers.

Lightning Arresters Questions.

Lightning arresters for high- voltage work are a fit subject
for a separate article, or indeed a book. It may be noted,
however, that on pressures over about 50 kV neither the
Wurts (multi-gap) type nor the condenser type are prac-
tical. The arresters in use are all either of the electrolytic
type, or else a more or less elaborate modification of the
original horn arrester. The chief point to be watched in
installation is conseqiiently the provision of adequate clear-
ance above and around the horn gaps, since the arcs may rise
to considerable heights.

There is a growing tendency to omit lightning arresters
altogether on lines ol 80 kV or more, and to rely solely on
the pi'otection of a ground wire run above the transmission
lines. This is quite a logical proceeding, and has appar-
ently been quite satisfactory on those systems treated in
this way. Probably the majority of engineers will continue
to instal the most efficient protective apparatus available,
however.

Layouts.

In the layout of switching equipments marked variations
occur in the practice followed in different countries. For
apparatus working at generating voltage, some form of
cellular construction is provided almost universally. In
most large power-stations the- fact of cubicle work being
present does not materially increase the space occupied by
the switchg€a.r, since circuit centres are determined rather
by the dimensions of the oil-switch. This does not hold
good at super-generating voltages.

It is unsound to consider as an insulator the material of
which cubicles are built, since in nearly every case such
material is hygroscopic. It follows, then, that the clearance
from live metal to cubicle wall must be as great as to earth.

If the system be insulated, or have the neutral earthed
through a resistance, it is necessary to reckon on the pos-
sible voltage to earth being the same as from phase to phase.
The distance between conductors in different phases will
thus be the thickness of the barrier which separates them,
plus twice the air distance which would be safe were no
barrier present.

Cubicle Design.

Cubicle work is intended (a) to limit the fire hazard ; (6)
to protect from adjacent live conductors men working on a
dead circuit; and (c) where phase barriers are used to pro-
tect from accidental phase-to-phase short circuits.

The increased spacings essential with high voltages auto-
matically reduce the risks under (c), and, to a degree, those
under (6) also, leaving only the nre risk. Complete sub-
division of phases is very rard.y adopted on high voltages.
Most Continental designers employ some cubicle work,
applied like the flavouring in a cooking recipe, " to taste."
Thei-e is no uniform practice. " A " employs full circuit
barriers and also phase barriers between busbars. " B "
does the same thing, but forgetting that fire control is the
primar}-- object of cubicle work, saves money by taking con-
ductors through large holes in the cell walls, instead of
through insulators which close the orifice. " C " encloses
all the gear for a single circuit in a fire-proof room which
is not subdivided in any way.

Safety Without Cubicles.

When American designers first approached this problem
they took the bold step, and omitted all cubicle work.
Safety was secured by guard-rails round the equipment for
each circuit. The fire hazard was accounted negligible, for
not only are accidental short-circuits less probable, but also

150

2 100
5

•^ 50

<,^'0*

10 20 30 40 50 60

Inches Clearance, Phase to Phase.

Fig. ].

high-voltage oil-circuit breakers are less likely to burst when
opening on short-circuit than those on lower voltages.

Experience has shown their action to be fully justified,
as on these open structures very few accidents have hap-
pened which would have been avoided or minimised by
cubicles. So far as the writer is aware, the sending and
receiving stations on the Shawinigan system constitute the
only outstanding exception to this practice. Here each
circuit has its equipment in a separate fire-proof room .

Some of the most recent Continenlal installations have
been planned to omit all cubicle work, and it seems reason-
able to expect that in the comparatively near future cubicles
will be confined to generating voltages only.

The Beginning of Outdoor Work.

In 1908 another courageous step was taken, when for the
first time, oil-break switchgear was placed out of doors.
The first large installation of this type was erected near
Hamilton, Ont., Canada, in 1909. As an extra precaution,
snow-sheds were erected above the oil-circuit breakers, but
the first winter demonstrated conclusively, first, that the
sheds did not protect the switch terminals from the snow,
and second, that thei-e was no need to do so, since they
functioned just as well when buried in snow as when clean.

For outdoor work it is preferable to use rather larger
clearances between phases and to earth than indoors. In
Fig. 1 are indicated desirable st-andard clearances for the

528

The Electrician*

May 5 ig22

Fig. 2. — Exterior Elevation of Typical Indoor Sub-station, shewing Transformer in Cubicle, with' Shutter of Latter

Removed. Section "AA" shewing Feeder Switches.

two conditious. These are given for normally located instal-
lations at or near sea-level. Where the plant is at a high
altitude the spacing should be varied inversely as the air

density. For instance, at an altitude of 10 000 ft. the air
density is 068, and the spacing should be increased by 47
per cent.

As witness to the foregoing comments on the various
types of layout, a large number of typical cases were studied
recently, and the following approximat-e relationships deter-
mined for plants of pressures from 30 kV to 110 kV :

Type of Layout.

Per

cent.

Space Occupied.

Sinsjle bus

Continental cubicle

layout ..

100

Double „

!' >>

115

Single „

American indoor

))

Double „

Sinole „

., outdoor

Double „

140

Fig. 3.— End Elevation of TYPiCAL''i33 kV Transformbb
Sub -station.

Since cubicle structures for super-generating voltages
may be regarded as obsolescent practice, it is proposed to
discuss more fully the open indoor equipment as against
the outdoor station.

The Space Question.

In the first case it will have been noted in the above
table that the outdoor equipments occupy more space than
tho'sei indoors. Primarily, this was not due to neces.^arily
inci'eased conductor spacing, but rather because, in the
majority of instances, ]>lenty of cheap ground was avail-
able. The whole outfit has been spread out for better and
safer handling of equipment, and because so doing has not
materially increased the total cost. As a rule, it is possible
to get an outdoor switching equipment on to practioally the
same ground area as the con-e.sponding indoor gear. This
is demonstrated hereafter.

As regards cost, the equipment itself — i.e., power trans-
formers, oil switches, instrument transformers, and isolat-
ing switches — when built for outdoor service, will cost about
7 per cent, to 10 per cent, more than the corresponding

May 5, 1922

The Electrician*

529

indoor types. This ratio being approximately fixed, in the protection. In small sub-stations these may be housed in a
typical cases following only the costs of buildings or steel- small, sheet-steel, lock-up cubicle, carried from the frame-
work structures are separately estimated. work provided for the high- voltage gear if there is no
Outdoor equipments at generating voltages are not usu- actual switchgear required on the L.-T. side.

Fig. 4. — End Elevation and Section through One Feeder and Transformer Circuit.

ally feasible, since the space occupied is greater than with The writer is of opinion that this voltage limitation is

indoor equipment. In two cases recently studied, where not insuperable, but, for the time being, we may confine

the pressure was 11 kV, the outdoor scheme required two our attention to those outdoor stations where the pressure

or three times the space of an indoor equipment, although is above that of generation.

Fig. 5. — Section through Febdee Cibcuits and L.T. Switch-Housb.

there was an appreciable price advantage in favour of the Protection Against Rust.

former. A matter of prime importance is the means to be adopted

A further point is that on the L.-T. side quite an array to prevent rust on steel structures exposed to the weather,

of instruments is required which needs adequate weathea: One solution is to galvanise the steel and assemble with

530

The Electrician.

May 5, 1922

sherardised bolts. Unless tte work be done really well,
however, and no drilling or reaming of holes on site be
necessary, deterioration will occur in time. Those parts
adjacent to live conductors are probably best treated in this
way. Ordinary paints are generally useless, because in
time they dry hard and crack or flake off, particularly at
the vulnerable joints.

The most satisfactory protection for surfaces readily
accessible is to apply two or three coats of a paint having a
bitumen or graphite base. These do not dry dead hard,
but always remain flexible to a degree, permitting slight
movements without injury to their surfaces.

It has been suggested that ferroi- concrete should be used
for supporting stinictures toi avoid this anticipated trouble
due to rust. The const.ruction generally necessary does not
leind itself to this class of work, which would be extremely
heavy and costly. In fact, the design would probably end
as a steel structure, encased in a concrete shell, which also
would crack and admit moisture if there is any ' ' working ' '
under wind pressure.

To give a clear idea of the possibilities in high- voltage
switohgear design two schemes are presented.

Details of a 33 kV Scheme.

In Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are shown 33 kV transformer sub-
stations, such as may became common requirements in this
country when our super-station schemes are developed.
Since in most oases (at least, at the urban terminal end)
cable transmission will be essential, it has been assumed
that the 33 kV line is brought underground to the sub-
station.

Considering first the indoor sub-station. Figs. 2 and 3,
a single three-phase O.I.S.C. transformer is housed in an
isolated cubicle, which is accessible from outside the build-
ing only. Such a construction serves to limit the spread
of fire, should one occur

The L.-T. switchgear might be accommodated on the
main floor, adjacent to the transformer cubicle, or if this
space can be employed advantageously for stores or ofiices,
advantage may be taken of the height of building by plac-
ing the H.-T. switchgear and control panels on top of the
transformer cubicle. In an alternative arrangement the
door to the transformer cubicle could open into the build-
ing, so that for repair work the transformer can be run
from its cell into the main building.

The H.-T. switchgear is shown arranged entirely with-
out cubicle work, a rolled -steel or pipe- work structure being
employed to carry the selector switches. The spacei allowed
for the operation of the selectors is unusually small, and
niight with advantage be increased, sincei it is not easy to
withdraw a link from a position almost immediately below it.

In the particular case studied there were two incoming
feeders and one outgoing feeder on the H.-T. side, in addi-
tion to the transformer circuit.

Floor Space.

The floor space occupied by the complete^ sub-station is
24 ft. by 48 ft. 6 in. (1 160 sq. ft.), and the cost of build-
ing may be put at £1 280. The cost of switchgear and
traiisformer of indoor type erected would be approximately
£3 570, giving a total cost for the indoor station of £4 850.

The corresponding outdoor arrangement is practically
self-explanatory. The H.-T. circuits are arranged back to
back. On one side of the structure the outdoor transformer
is mounted on a concrete plinth of such height that, when
necessary, the transformer can be skidded direct on to a
lorry for removal. Beside this plinth is provided a small,
lean-to building to house the L.-T. switchgear and control
instruments. To prevent the access of unauthorised per-
sons a corrugated-iron fence surrounds the whole structure.

In this case the ground space occupied is 36 ft. 6 in. by
26 ft. (946 sq. ft.). The cost of steel structure, concrete
plinth, lean-to, concrete flooring, and fencing would be
approximately £225, and the switch and transfoi-mer gear
£3 900, giving a total for the outdoor scheme of £4 125—
i.e., an economy of 15 per cent.

(To he concluded.)

Reviews.

Thermionic Tubes in Radio Telegraphy and
Telephony. By J. Scott-Taggart. (London : The Wire-
less Press, Ltd.) Pp. xxiii-t-424. 25s. net.

The volume under consideration appears to be a record of th&
development of the use of thermionic valves in radio telegraphy
and telephony.

A short section at the beginning is devoted to a descriptive
explanation of the phenomena occurring in thermionic valves and
is followed by descriptions of the two electrode and three electrode
valves. The use of these valves is described in follomng chapters
as detectors, as ampUfiers, as retroactive ampUfiers and as high
frequency and low frequency single and multistage amplifiers.
Succeeding portions of the book deal with reception of continuous
waves, the transmission of continuous waves, the use of valves in
oscillators and wavemeters, and in wireless telephony. The two
final chapters deal with the dynatron and with misceUaneous
vacuum tube devices.

The author appears to have obtained much of his information
from patent specifications. Much useful information can be
obtained from this source both from the complete patent specifica-
tions and also from the volumes of abridgements published by the
Patent Ofiice. Though it is necessary to bear in mind that the
granting of a patent does not insure its vaUdity, nor does it imply
that it will work. On p. 57 the author refers to an appendix giving
a list of vacuum tube patents and original papers, unfortimately
this appendix has been omitted.

It is thought that the book will be of greatest interest to the
wireless amateur as it is couched in simple language and the majority
of its statements and explanations are neither supported nor
encumbered by any mathematical reasoning. The book is provided
with circuit diagrams to an extent almost bewildering and we
consider that much unnecessary repetition occurs both in the
diagrams and in the text. As an example of the latter we notice
that heterodyne reception is fuUy described on p. 252, it is again
described on p. .339 in connection with wavemeter measurements,
and once again on p. 348 in connection with measurement of capacity.

A defect in the book is the loose wording which frequently occurs.
For example, on p. 150 we are introduced to a " step up " trans-
former, the resistance of whose primary winding " should be as
high as possible." Resistance is not an advantage in a transformer
it is an unfortunate accompaniment to a winding with a large number
of turns, and statements Uke this have in the past inspired enthusi-
astic amateurs to rewind their apparatus with eureka wire. Again,
on p. 244, an aperiodic anode circuit shown in Fig. 208 is described
as oscUlatory. Another instance, on p. 292, *' It is unnecessary
to have a separate aerial circuit loosely coupled to the anode
oscillatory circuit. The reasons which necessitate this latter arrange-
ment in an ordinary spark set do not apply."

In dealing with the methods of keying with valve transmitters
Mr. Scott-Taggart falls into a common error in describing the
marking and spacing wave method as " most undesirable since
two wavelengths are beine emitted and cause considerable inter-
ference with other stations." As a matter of fact this system will
usuaUy cause less interference than any other, since it ia the only
system by which undamped waves are radiated.

Costing for Manufacturers. By W. H. Hazell. (Nisbet

& Company, Ltd.) 12s. 6d.

The war has given us quite a Uterature of costing. The Ministry
of Munitions set up the most elaborate machinery for arriving at
the cost of the products that it needed, and, at the same time,
created a large class of costing experts, several of whom have since
the war put their experiences into print, and given to the world
their ideas on the science of costing. The volume now published
from the pen of Mr. W. Howard Hazell, under the above title, will,
therefore, be the more welcome because the author can speak on
these matters with an authority greater than that of most writers.
]\lr. Hazell discusses very briefly the general principles underlying
a true costing system, and then dives into detail. The essential
features of costing are discussed one by one, and practical advice on
the ascertaining, collecting, and application, of costing figures
is given under appropriate headings. The matter is copiously
supported with diagrams, and specimen accounts, while models for
seventeen ditTcrci.t forms appear as appendices.

]Mr. Hazell fails, however, in a curious and remarkable way to-
understand the true purpose of the art wliich he is teaching. He
thinliS a business is carried on with the intention of charging to the
customers the total cost of producmg the goods, to which should be
added a reasonable profit. The fact is, of course, that a business ia
carried on witli the object of producing goods at a price which the
pubUc will readily pay. The latter definition makes a costing
system far more important, and puts it on to a higher plane than
Mr. Hazell appears to understand.

The Electrician — May 5, 1922

531

Protective Apparatus for Turbo-Generators.*

By J. A. KUYSER.

The author details ihe causes of declrical breakdotvns on turbo-all ernalors, and discusses several well-known methods of preveniing
damage to the eiuipm.ent when trouble ocags. He also describes a new system which aims at eliminating some of the shcrt-
comings of existing methods. The need far, and points in the design of, automatic field switches are discussed at some length, and

a m,eans of localising fires is given.

The increase in size of distribution systems, power plants and
generating units involves new problems in protection. Many
improvements have been made in oil switches, automatic tripping
devices and in the arrangement of protective reactances to control
and limit large amounts of power. So far as the distribution system
is concerned, satisfactory protection can now be obtained. Formerly
it was not possible to secure the same degree of protection on
turbo- generators and supply apparatus, but great advances have
recently been made. Electrical breakdowns have frequently
occurred on large turbo-generators where the resulting arc has
ignited combustible material on the end windings ; or, if in the slot
portion have burnt the laminations, rendering a complete rewinding
and even core rebuilding necessary, and resulting in a prolonged
interruption of the supply.

Electrical Breakdowns in Alternators.

The majority of breakdowns in turbo-alternators are due to :
(1) Faults between turns in the stator end-connections, or between
conductors in the slot ; (2) faults between phases on the stator end-
connections ; (3) faults to earth on the stator end-connections ;
(4) faults to earth in the stator slot conductors ; (5) short-circuits
or earths in the rotor winding..

Most serious breakdowns occur on the end-connections of turbo-
stators, which are exposed to various prejudicial effects from the
cooling air, even though the latter may be cleaned by wet- washing
apparatus. Dirt may deposit, free moisture may be carried
over due to defective action or freezing of air washers, and condensa-
tion of atmospheric moisture may also give trouble. Owing to
the complicated shape of core windings the same high grade insula-
tion as on end- connections may be impracticable, and faulty
connectors cannot be eliminated by a high-flash test of 50 to 100
times operating voltage when the machine is completely wound.
Earths inside slots are rare when mica wrapping has been used,
but may occur on older machines and cases of deterioration or slot
insulation owing to vibration have been recorded. Faults in rotor
windings are usually due to broken connections, displacement of
end-windings through centrifugal force, or to the use of combustible
material in slots. Such faults, however, do not jeopardise the whole
machine.

Precautions for preventing stator breakdowns include (1) care
in design and maniifacture, (2) installation of suitable air- cleaning
apparatus, (3) care in operation, and (4) protective reactances.
In dealing successively with these items the author emphasises
the necessity of using insulation capable of withstanding the tem-
perature met with, and the dielectric and mechanical stresses.
Very few cases of breakdown due to temperature rise have been
noted. Bracing the stator winding, especially the end-connectors,
and efficient lamination of conductors in large machines are of great
importance. Interchangeability of individual coils is sometimes
specified, but this feature is of no avail unless protective gear, to
localise damage, is provided.

The air-circulating system, which avoids the diawbacks of wet
and dry-air filters, is mentioned with approval. The use of internal
and external reactances for protective purposes greatly reduces
shocks on generators, but Kcvertheless breakdowns occasionally
occur, and in such cases the best that can be done is to isolate the
machine and " kill " its field as soon as possible so as to limit the
damage. Means for extinguishing fire should also be available.

Alternator Protective Devices.

Modern protective gear should operate on all possible faults
in the generator or in the cables between the generators and busbars,
but should be inoperative for faults and short-circuits external to
the generator and cables. The gear should operate the main
circuit breaker, interrupt the field current and reduce the generator
voltage to a small value in the shortest time. J^urther, it should
not introduce new weak points and so increase the risk of break-
downs.

The system most commonly used is the Merz-Price balanced
protective gear, whose most serious drawback is that if a fault
occurs between different turns of the same phase winding the fault
currents are purely internal and will not cause unbalancing of the
currents in the phase terminals. No protection is therefore
obtained for such faults until they develop into an eartli
or into a short-circuit between phases ; moreover, two current
transformers seldom have identical magnetic characteristics,

and perfect balance is therefore seldom obtained. A heavy
magnetisation due to a short-circuit may upset the magnetic
balance. This defect is evident on heavy overloads. The difficulty
may be overcome by a coarse setting of the relay, but in this case
the earthing resistance must have a low value. Hence with a
fault to earth the fault current may not be sufficient to trip the gear.

Self-Balancing System.

The self- balancing system, proposed by Mr. J. R. Beard to over-
come some of the defects in the Merz-Price system, has been adopted
in several power stations. Current balance is obtained by a single
transformer, thus eUminating the difficulties in obtaining a perfect
balance mentioned above. But as regards faults between turns,
the conditions are the same as in the Merz-Price gear.

Mid-Point Protective Gear.

A proposal (by the author and Mr. J. R. Beard) for a protective
gear which will operate for all possible faults, including faults
between turns, is illustrated in Fig. 1. The protected generator
A, B, C, D is provided with tappings E, F, G from the mid-point of
each phase. Reactance coUs (or potential transformers) are
connected in parallel with each phase and also provided with mid-
point tappings M, N, O. The mid-point of the generator and that
of the reactance coils are connected together. Current transformers
are inserted in the mid-point connections and the secondaries of
these transformers are connected to the relays.

When the machine is in normal operation the inter-connected
points of generator and reactance are at the same potential and no

* Abstract of a Paper read' before the Institution of Electrical
Engineers.

T Edith
Fig. 1. — Mid-Point Protective Gear.

current will flow in the mid-point connections. If a fault occurs
between turns, for example betweoa points K and L (Fig. 1), the
number of active turns between points A and E tnIU be reduced
and at the same time the flux wiU be weakened by the demagnetising
action of the fault currents. Both actions will reduce the voltage
between A and E and, to a smaller extent, the voltage in ED. The
voltaged in AE and DE vriH therefore be different, whereas the
voltage of HM and NP will remain equal, being generated by the
same flux. A current will therefore flow in the mid-point connection
EM, The voltage and current induced in the mid-point connection
is used to operate a tripping relay (b}- means of a transformer).

The unbalancing of the voltages in the phase halves or the shifting
of the mid-point in tlie generator phase -winding occurs not only
on a fault between turns, but also when a fault occurs to earth or
between phases.

The system will therefore deal ^\ith any fault in the generator
winding, including faults between turns, and ^vill give more complete
protection than has hitherto been obtainable. A fault outside the
generator, for instance, in the cables leading from the generator,
will rot cause unbalancing, and the generator leads would therefore
not be protected. To include the leads m the protection, the cables
can be provided with a conducting shield surroimding the central
core and insulated for half the phase voltage from the core and
from the armour. This shield is connected to the mid-point at the
generator end. The reactance cc'ls in this case are located at the
switchboard and their mid-points connected to the shield. A fault
from one of the cores to earth must be preceded by a fault from the

532

The Electrician.

May 5, 1922

core to the shield which forms the mid-point connection, and such
a fault will operate the gear.

A Simplified Arrangement.

A simplification of the arrangement can be'made in the case of a
generator where the phases are wound in two parallel circuits. In
this case the mid-points of the two parallel windings can be inter-
connected over the transformer which operates the relay. This
system is, however, very limited in its application, as few generators
are wound in two parallel circuits.

Automatic Field Switches.

As previously mentioned, a complete generator protective
equipment should include an automatic field switch to interrupt
the field circuit immediately the fault occurs. The automatic
field switch may be located in different parts of the field circuit
and may take the form of (1) a switch in the exciter field circuit,
(2) a reversing switch in the exciter field circuit, (3) a circuit breaker
in the main field circuit, (4) a switch to short-circuit the slip-rings
and exciter.

Hitherto, in order to limit the voltage-rise on breaking the
induction circuit, it has been standard practice to provide a non-
inductive field-discharge, resistance or " kicking coil " where a field
circuit was to be opened. The normal operation of the field-
discharge switch is to connect the field winding in parallel with the
discharge resistance and subsequently to open the current supply
from the exciter armature. Thus after the switching operation
the field circuit is not interrupted, but the current circulating
through the winding and the resistance is allowed to die out
gradually. The ohmic value of the discharge resistance is, as a rule,
roughly equal to the field resistance.

Time Required for Field Discharge.

An appreciable time elapses before the field current decreases to
a reasonable value ; thus in the case of a 8 900 kVA 2-pole machine
a current of 10 per cent, of no load value is attained in 11 sees. For
a 23 500 kVA machine the time might be 30 sees, or even 1 min.

It is evidently necessary in the case of a stator breakdown that
the voltage shall disappear as quickly as possible. The present
arrangements apjiear unsatisfactory. The discharge is too slow
and the voltage is maintained for a sufficient period to cause
appreciable damage. The first remedy is to use a high discharge
resistance, as the discharge time is inversely proportional to the
total resistance in the discharge circuit. But the use of such high
discharge resistances may lead to a high voltage-rise on the rotor
winding during the switching If, as is usual, the discharge resistance
is equal to the field resistance, the voltage-rise is equal to the
excitation voltage, but if a high discharge resistance of, say, 19
times the field resistance is used, the voltage-rise would be theoretic-
ally 19 times the excitation voltage.

Influence of Damping Currents in Rotor Body.

The next factor to consider is the damping action of the closed
circuits formed by the rotor slot-wedges and the rotor body. The
effect of such currents is to reduce the high voltage-rise if a high
discharge resistance is used, but to retain the sluggishness of the
discharge. The damping circuit may be represented by a separate
field winding short-circuited on itself, having the same number
of turns as the field winding and lying in the same slots. If the
resistance of the main field is equal to By, the ohmic value of the
discharge resistance to lir, and vho equivalent resistance of the
damping circuit to R,i, the equivalent resis< \nce of the two circuits
combined will fulfil the conditions

1 J[

The equivalent resistance R^ determines the discharge current
and voltage. J{,, can bo determined experimentally by makixig
two discharges for difl'crent values of Ji,. and recording the
current/time or voltage/time curves.

In a case where /i*,.=30 Jij a damping effect equivalent to a
discharge resistance of 38 times rotor resistance wus recorded. An
observed voltage rise of 25 times the excitation v(>!tage on opening
rotor circuit was recorded. This is less than Ihv value derived
from consideration of time-constants because tliC circuit was not
opened absolutely simultaneously. The discharge resistance which
has hitherto been used in conjunction with automatic field switches
is therefore unnecessary, there being no danger of an ins\ilation
breakdown if the main field is opened by means of an ordinary
circuit breaker. The eUmination of the discharge resistance will
greatly increase the value of the protection obtained, save the
unnecessary expense of resistance units and special switches, and
reduce the number of moving parts, thus increasing the reliability
of the switch.

In the previous considerations the field SAvitch has been assumed
to be located in the main field circuit. Another method is to
provide a small automatic switch in the exciter field circuit.

Switch in Exciter Field. A Suicide Connection.

4 third method is to use a reversing field switch in the exciter field

so that the field circuit is opened and subsequently reversed. The
reversal of the field has the advantage that the remanence of the
exciter is destroyed, and the remanent voltage on the a.c. terminals
reduced. The discharge time depends only upon the total resistance
in the discharge path, and in this respect there is no advantage over
the simple exciter field switch.

An advantage could be obtained from the use of a reversing
switch, by exciting the exciter field coils separately from an
independent source and allowing the exciter to generate reversed
voltage.

The main field switch produces a more rapid reduction of the
current during the first period of the discharge, whereas the separ-
ately-excited reversed exciter would give a more rapid reduction
for the final part of the discharge.

Slip-Ring Short-Circuiting Sw^itch.

A fourth method of interrupting the field current is to establish
a dead short-circuit between the two slip-rings. This wiU short-
circuit the exciter armature, and some (though not excessive)
sparking will therefore occur on the exciter commutator unless a
preventive resistance is used. The rmethod is quite practicable.
The disadvantage lies in the fact that the resistance in the discharge
path is smaller than in any other method, and the discharge time
is correspondingly lengthened.

Method of Tripping Auto-Field Switch.

The field switch can be tripped in different ways, viz., (1) direct
from' the fault-current relays, (2) by means of an auxiliary s-Rdtch
on the main a.c. circuit breaker, (3) by means of a combination of
methods (1) and (2), (4) a time-lag may be introduced after the
tripping of the main switch.

If aU apparatus in the protective system could be depended upon,
that method (1) would doubtless be preferable, on account of the
more rapid action. It happens sometimes, however, that the relays
operate for a fault outside the generator ; or reverse-power relays
may operate for a failure in the motive power. The field switch
would then be tripped and, if the main breaker failed to operate
due to a defect in the tripping mechanism, the sound machine will
remain connected to the sj'stem with the field out of circuit. Even
so, nothing serious usually happens if the field circuit of one of
several parallel-running alternators is interrupted for a short time.

The next possibility is that in the case of faults occurring in the
machine the main a.c. breaker fails to open. If the field is not
interrupted the system wall feed into the fault, as will also the
defective generator itself. If the field is interrupted the faulty
machine wfil not contribute to the fault currents. The energy
flowing into the fault, and the damage, wdll therefore be appreciably
reduced, particularly if the faulty machine is large compared with
the other plant in parallel to it.

The object of method (4) is to prevent large voltages being
induced in the rotor due to the inductive effect of the fault currents
in the stator. For the same reason it has also been proposed to
connect over-tension devices between the rotor slip-rings. Experi-
ments carried out by the author on a machine with a solid rotor
have shown that the voltages induced in the rotor in the case of a
stator fault are of even smaller magnitude than those observed
for a direct opening of the main field circuit undeir no-load conditions,
and are therefore not of a dangerous natuie.

The conclusion is, therefore, that operation directly from the
fault-current relays is the most satisfactory method, although
there would not be much to choose between methods (1), (2) or (3)
if the main breaker is very quick-acting apd is periodically tested
to eliminate all possibility of " sticking."

Extinguishing of Fire.

Although the mstallation of electrical protective devices greatly
reduces the possibilitj- of fire in the windings, it is still advisable to
provide means for extinguishing a fire in the extreme case of the
protective gear failing and the winding becoming ignited. The
usual method of extinguishing is to apply a hose or a fire extinguisher
through the inspection covers in the stator end guards. This is a
very drastic method and should be used only as a last resort ; also
there is usually so long a delay in applying the extinguisher that the
winding is ruined. If serious damage is to be prevented, extin-
guishing must be done immedialely after the accident and preferably
automatically by the action of the fault-current relaj-s, and an
extinguisher must be used which will not ruin the insulation. It is
sound i^ractice to provide air dampers in the air inlet and outlet,
which are autouiaticallj' closed by means of solenoids energised
from the protective relays.

Another advantage of dampers in the air ducts ia that the air
circulation can be positively stopped while the generator is not in
operation, thus preventing a condensation of luimidity due to the
natural draught in the buUding. Such condensation may also take
place when a cold machine is started up and the air temperature
is above the temperature of the machine. When this condition
occurs it is therefore advisable not to open the dampers before
starting up, but to leave the dampers closed until the generator has
attained a temperature above that of the cooling air.

The Electrician — May 5, 1922

533

The Institution of Electrical Engineers.

At the meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers on
Thursday, April 27, a Paper on '• Protective Ajjparatus for Turbo -
Generators " was read by Mr. J. A. Kuyser. An abstract of the
Paper will be found on another page of this issue. We give below
an account of the discussions which took place in London, Man-
chester and Newcastle.

DISCUSSION IN LONDON.

The President, in opening the discussioH, said the Paper raised
a subject of great interest. He was inclined to think that when they
had Papers on protective gear it would be a useful thing to be
given some idea of the cost of the gear, but far more important
than that was an idea of the value of the property that the gear
was to protect. In ordinary electrical installation work there must"
be many thousands of pounds' worth of gear put in to provide
against faults that happened, he would not say once in a century,
but once in a great many years. The protective gear described in
the present Paper was not of that class ; it was a gear providing
protection against an enormous amount of possible damage that
could be valued at thousands and thousands of pounds, and those
who had to run big turbine plants knew the great amount of
damage, loss, and annoyance that was caused because there was
no really effective protective gear.

A Desigaer Unsympathetic.

Dr. S. Parker Smith said he had not very much sympathy
with the Paper on general lines. He could sympathise with the
station engineer who desired to protect his machinery against
damage, but from the designer's point of view they should be a
little more critical of their own work. They ought to be able
to design turbo-alternators — in fact, he was sure it could be done —
so that protection against external faults was unnecessary. It
ought to be possible to have a short across the terminals without
injuring the machine. If the machine would not stand that, then
we had not reached perfection. This involved the question of
how much we were prepared to pay for reliability. A good
deal could be done to prevent the destruction of machines by
paying greater attention to mechanical details. The bracing
of the overhang, for instance, was now done very much better than
it used to be. He mentioned this question of mechanical design
because he had not very much faith in the idea of breaking the
field rapidly. The effect of cutting off the field current was not
to destroy the field, but it was the existence of the field that was
going to cause the damage once the short circuit started. When
they broke the field circuit the flux might continue for a
considerable time ; and it would be interesting to know how long
the flux did persist inside the alternator. He felt it was wrong to
rely on cutting off the field current as sufficient protection until
we had more evidence of the time taken by the flux to die away.

Breaking by Relays.

Major K. Edgcumbe said he was pleased to notice that the author
strongly recommended the breaking of the field by the relays
instead of by circuit breakers. His own feeling was that it was
better to chance the remote possibilitj* of having the machine
left on the bars without its field, than to have the certainty
that they were wasting valuable fractions of a second before they
started breaking the field. The author seemed throughout to have
assumed that he had done his job when he had reduced the voltage
to zero, but that was not really so.

A Candid Admission.

Mr. H. W. Clothier said the significant general feature of the
Paper was the candid admission on the part of an alternator building
expert that automatic protection could not be put on one side
as an unwarranted appendage, and the user who was content
to ignore the study of tliese automatic protective devices on the
plea that they were more bother than they were worth was, to
say the least, taking unnecessary risks. The author brought the
weight of his experience to bear on three features : (1) The fault
between turns; (2) the earth fault near to the neutral end ; and
(.'J) the extent to which an alternator would damage itself after the
oil switch had isolated it unless the alternator field was suppressed.
As regards the fault between the turns, hitherto with the balanced
systems of protection we had been satisfied to allow such faults
to develop to leakage faults to earth. This thej' must do, and
thereby they disclosed their locality, and could be isolated without
incurring much injury to the machine. As to the earth faults
near to the neutral end, these might be so reduced in current by
the neutral resistances that they were insufficient to operate the
relays until they developed to faults between phases. Much
depended upon the permissible setting of the relay and the amount
of resistance inserted in the neutral. The proper way to shorten
the unprotected part of the alternator winding was to use a larger
neutral resistance, and so increase the amount of current which
it would allow to pass. It was a mistaken practice for these to

be installed to pass less than full load current ; twice full load current
would be better in most cases. With regard to the suppression of
the field circuit, exciter field switches had been made to operate
simultaneously with the Merz-Price balance protection for some
yea'-s, but latterly it had been shown to be advantageous to operate
by means of a circuit breaker in the main field. He submitted
that no serious case had been jjroved against the fifteen-year-old
Merz-Price balanced system or the five-year-old self-balanced system,
but he agreed with the author that the mid-point or between
turns system should be given a trial. The objectipn>s to the system
were the introduction of the potential element in the protective
gear transformers ; the extra tapping on the stator coils ; and the
absence of protection for the alternator terminals. All these,
however, could be overcome by carefid design of the detail parts.
The insulation of the transformers must be made very sound and
with a much higher margin for safety than was usually allowed
on potential transformer dfesigns. He was assured by two alternator
makers that there was no difficulty in finding a suitable place for
the tapping on the alternator winding or for taking a well insTilated
conductor away from this place to a terminal. The author's
proposal to screen the terminals and cable by a mid-point connection
to the switchboard depended mainly for its success on a good
design of terminal box mounted on the alternator frame which would
combine high tension and mid-point screen conductors, preferably
compound filled. An alternative method would be to use, in
addition to the mid-point protection system, a balanced leakage
protection. He felt it was most important on all such protective
systems that there should be an ample margin in the sensitive-
ness of the relays between the test room results and that promised
or put into use in actual practice. Just as we had a factor of
safety in the strength of a structure, so should we have it in
reliability of operation, and it was for this reason that he specially
urged that the earth current should not be cut too fine for the
sake of saving £100 or so on the cost of the earthing resistance.

Temporary Expedients.

Mr. A. D. Sloan said that as a designer he was inclined to agree
with Dr. Smith's remarks, but at the same time it had reluctantly
to be admitted that breakdowns did occur, and that we were not
absolutely immune. He understood the author's apparatus had only
been tried in the factory, and he woiild like to know if it was
sufficiently quick acting to isolate the machine and kill the field
before the incipient fault developed into a fault. If itdid not do
that it was no use, and they might just as weU rely on the Merz-
Price gear. Endeavours must be made to secure sufficient reliability
in the machines themselves to obviate the use of protective gear
altogether.

Necessity for Simplicity.

Mr. H. Brazil said that what staggered him in connection with
the author's new system of protection was the number of potential
transformers which had to be used, things which we were always
endeavouring to get a^Yay from. That was a very grave objection.

The Operating Engineer's View.

Mr. L. ]M. JooKEL, speaking from the operating engineer's point
of view, said the author's new system was exceedingly ingenious
and was worthy of further research. At present it seemed to be
exceedingly complicated, and would add corisiderably to the
capital expense of the alternators in the case of verj- large machines.
^Moreover, he doubted whether many operating engineers would
care to tackle the system until it had been fmiher tested in practice.
His own experience of faults between turns was that they were
never evident, and they usually became a fault between phases
or a fault to earth. It was, however, refreshing to have a Pajier
of this nature from an alternator builder. He did not think many
operating engineers would | tolerate the second arrangement
suggested by the author. It seemed to be totally bad from the
reliability point of view, and it had several theoretical dis-
advantages. ^Moreover, his experience had been that the less
potential gear they had in a power station the safer they *elt.

Mr. L. Andrews recalled that when he read a Paper before the
Institution twenty-five years ago on protective devices for a.c.
apparatus the topic of the'criticism, particularly from the generator
makers, was that the devices were very pretty, but if only generators
were desiuned properly they would not be needed. That still
seemed to" be the criticism now, after that period of twenty-five
years. What was wanted was generator makers and switchgear
makers to work in parallel with the object of tackling this question,
and it was gratifying to see a Paper from a designer treating the
whole problem of tlie generator and the switchgear as oqjb engin-
eering proposition.

More Bother than Worth.

Mr. E. T. Williams said his experience was that in the majority
of cases the troubles involved ift-ith the protective devices were

534

The Electrician.

May 5, 1922

greater than those they were put in to protect. As had aheady
been stated, what was wanted was greater simplicity because that
would of necessity bring with it greater rehability, and if the
advice of Dr. Parker Smith was foUowed by designers, and more
attention given to the machines and less to the protective devices,
we should be on the right lines.

DISCUSSION AT MANCHESTER.

Mr. J. A. Kuyser's Paper evoked a provocative discussion before
the North-Western Centre on April 4. In general it was agreed that
the Merz-Price system had proved its efficiency in spite of some
disadvantages, jilthough power engineers were inclined to be
sceptical of protective systems. Those essential auxiliaries,
potential and current transformers, were severely castigated and
equally as warmly defended.

Improvements in Merz-Price Gear.

IVIr. G. A. Cheetham said that Merz-Price gear could now be set to
give 15 per cent, of fuU load without any danger of tripping under
overload conditions. Increase in impedence of relay circuits had
enabled current transformers to be worked higher up the magnetisa-
tion curve, balance then being more readily obtainable. The self-
balance gear gave a definite current setting instead of a percentage
of the full load current, as the lowest fault current operating the
relays was the minimum fixed current which would flow through
a bar primary transformer to provide voltage enough to overcome
the relay impedance. Under normal conditions self-balancing gear
gave lower fault setting than the Merz-Price gear, but an improved
scheme recently introduced enabled designers to give Merz-Price
gear protection at 7 "5 per cent, instead of 15 per cent, with an
earthing resistance passing fuU load current with a dead earth on
one phase. The new mid-point protective gear gave protection
between turns, but it needed potential transformers, and the
generator terminals themselves were not protected.
A Power Engineer's Abhorrence.

Mr. H. C. Lamb said that the power engineer abhorred interruption
of supply through automatic gear functioning without cause, and
hence he fought shy of protective devices, automatically operated
dampers and steam connections. The author had omitted
mechanical faults on rotors as a possible cause of damage to high-
tension windings. The closed air system had great advantages.
The pressure of water in the cooler should be below that of the
atmosphere. The system of mid-point protection had something
to recommend it, but came rather late in the day, as in these days
there should not be any faults between turns, even in end windings.
In the author's scheme of connecting potential transformers a
breakdown of the winding of one of the transformers or the blowing
of one of the protective fuses would cause the relay to operate and
cut out the generator. In the scheme for protecting two alternators
in parallel two generators would be cut out, one a sound machine,
because of a fault on one. The aim should be to kill the field
instantaneously.

Mr. G. A. JuHLiN said that very small faults frequently caused
complete burn-outs due to fire, which would have been avoided had
a system of protection been available. The author's remarks
regarding the use of string for bracing end connections could not
be endorsed. The system of mid-point protection was applicable
to transformers needing protection between turns as well as
machines.

Protection for Protective Gear !

Mr. H. A. Ratcliff criticised the minimum operating current
taken by protective systems, due to the d-iective design of trans-
formers and relays, and the erratic character of reverse power
relays. The weak point of the mid-point system was the potential
transformer. Since protective gear had to protect plant it had
to be more reliable than the plant to be protected, and this was
unlikely.

Mr. D. S. Paxton referred to an air-cleaning apparatus inter-
mediate between the wet and dry filters, consisting of thin copper-
plated steel tubes, the surface of which is covered by the cleaning
medium, a high-flash, highly viscous oil.

Mr. S. Ferguson suggested that some generator breakdowns
originated in surges on the cable system outside the generator
tself, causing failure between end turns. This could be prevented
by external reactance. The author had not mentioned the Ferranti
field protection system, consisting of a core-balanced transformer
slipped over the lead cover of the cable. He advocated the elimina-
tion of all relays and operating direct with the fault current. The
mid-point system was too complicated to be of value, especially
as a fault between turns would soon go to earth.

Potential and Current Transformers.

Mr. J. Frith referred -to and underlined the criticism expressed
about potential and current transformers. They were flimsy and
were not engineering devices. He suggested eliminating oxygen
from the closed air coohng system and using nitrogen or carbon
dioxide to prevent fire spreading in the machine.

Mr. R. TowNEND asked for a definition of the term " quickly," if

the field was to be killed. Was it ten seconds or sixty seconds ?
Short-circuiting the terminals after opening the main field circuit
was the quickest way of kiUing the voltage practically instantane-
ously. Regarding short circuits between turns, voltages might be
piled up between turns, especially end turns.

Mr. E. P. Hill gave some examples from practical experience of
breakdowns and said that it was possible, in the author's mid-point
system, to get two faults on even distance from the centre taps.

Mr. J. H. Buchanan defended the makers of potential and
current transformers, especially in view of the difficulties created
by slight increases in cost. Specifications varied so much that
it was impossible to supply aU varieties, and standardisation was
thereby discouraged. It was true that potential transformers,
which had more turns, were less dependable than current
transformers, but great improvements had been made. Finally,
the best results were obtained by not using the transformer for
both protective gear and instruments.

DISCUSSION AT NEWCASTLE.

^__Mr. Kuyser's Paper was read and discussed in Newcastle on
March 27. We give below a summary of the various speakers'
remarks :

Mr. C. H. Da\t:dson considered that a neutral switch should be
provided as if this neutral switch could be opened sufficiently
rapidly aU damage to the generator would be prevented.
If the generator air ducts were entirely within the station no trouble
should be encountered due to condensation of moisture. With
reference to the mid-poLnt protective gear which was so arranged
that it would trip out two machines when it operated, although
one machine would be healthy, and as the author said, ready for
synchronising again, how was it possible to ascertain which machine
was all right and which was faulty ? The arrangement of the sUp-
ring short-circuiting switch was open to objection, as the exciters were
not usually so robust as the alternators and damage was more liable
to result. It was necessary to kill the alternator field as quickly
as possible and to do away with aU damping circuits, but it was not
desirable to break down the exciter insulation every time the field
switch was opened.

An Unusual Procedure.

Mr. H. W. Clothier made the unusual statement that he had
read the Paper — a proceeding apparently not followed by all the
other speakers. He considered that the people responsible for
the protection of alternators had not previously properly appreciated
the necessity for such protection. The balanced systems of
protection had been in use for some twelve to fifteen years, but it
was only recently that generator manufacturers had realised the
extent of the damage which could result to the machine through
breakdowns and were beginning to pay more attention to the
systems of protection which had been available so long, but had
not received due consideration.

Temperature Rise and Damage.

Mr. J. Rosen did not agree that excessive temperature rise in
the generators had little effect on the insulation. He considered
that excessive temperature rises had caused a large number of
breakdowns and was satisfied that the higher the temperature
rises encountered, the shorter was the life of the alternator.

Mr. G. L. Porter said the " between-turns " protection was a
great improvement on previous generator protective schemes, as the
generator was really the only class of apparatus which was liable
to breakdown between turns. A breakdo\^-n on the machine
terminals could be taken care of by means of a screen cormected
to the mid-point of the gear, which was preferable to the installa-
tion of a separate protective system for this purpose. He
considered it preferable to put the reactance coil at the generator
terminals rather than at the switchgear terminals, as it was not
usually possible U) get the switchgear close to the generator, and the
inductive drop on the cables would often cause a greater potential
difference than that at which the gear would operate. The practice
of interlocking the main and field switches was sound as, if the
main switch (£d stick, the opening of the field switch would not
matter as the damage to the generator would be done in any case.
A Complicated Arrangement.

Ml-. J. W. J. TowNLEY also objected to the author's statement
that tempcratui-e rise did not appreciably affect breakdo-WTis, as
this was contrary to his experience. Operating engineers did not
have much experience of generator breakdowiis, but other machines
were seen more often and indicate that the breakdown was frequently
due to temperature rise. The breakdo^vn of large generators was
much more serious than the cost of repair would suggest. The
suggestion of the combination of mid-point protection with ordinary
Merz-Price protective gear would give a very complicated arrange-
ment, in which the possibility of a wrong connection causing shut-
down would be appreciably increased. Breakdowns were occasion-
ally caused by the protective gear, particularly if proper attention
was not available. In small stations, the operating staff might
not properly understand the protective gear, and its treatment
would suffer accordingly.

May 5, 1922

The Electrician.

535

Physics and Engineering Science.

On Wednesday, April 26, the first of a series of lectures on
" Ph3sics in Industry," entitled " Physics and Engineering Science,"
■was delivered by Prof. A, Barr, before the Institute of Physics.
The Right Horu H. A. L. Fisher (ilinister for Education) presided.

In the course of some opening remarks the Minister for Edcca-
Tiox said that the Institute of Physics had been founded to draw the
attention of the public to the importance of physical science as a
factor in industrial progress. Appeal had first been made to the
business man, but the call had also been addressed to schools and
colleges and to the Board of Education. He was very glad that the
Board of Education should be officially associated with the admirable
purpose which the Institute of Physics was designed to perform.
The industrial progress of the country -was insecure unless it was
based on a wide knowledge of science. We had built up our
industrial position in the eighteenth century by the method of trial
and error. We had been very fortunate in having cheap coal and
cheap labour, and being first in the field -with few competitors. Thus
•we had been able to travel fast and far -with but a very slender
equipment of scientific principle. But the -world had greatly
changed now. In every quarter -we met with competitors ; the old
rough and ready methods of business no longer served. Cheap
labour and cheap coal had gone ; science and science alone could
enable us to maintain and extend our industrial progress. A large
proportion of our research associations were employing men trained
as physicists or physical chemists ; this was a welcome sign.

An Inexhaustible Subject.

Prof. Bake said his subject was one which could never be
exhausted, but the exposition of the position in regard to one
industry might throw almost as much light on the possibilities in
another industry as a special treatment of the conditions of that
industry would provide. The professor of applied science stood in
relation to the physicist on the one hand and the practitioner of the
arts on the other in the position of a go-between. He ought to
know what were the points of contact and divergency between their
fields of acti-vity, to be able to appreciate the standpoints from which
they respectively viewed any question bearing upon their inter-
course and assist in constructing the lines of inter-communication.

The Relation of Theory and Practice.

There should be little need to-day to re-open the old disciission
on the relative value of theorj- and practice in the arts of construction
and production. The question of the relative values of the know-
ledge gained in the study of pure science and of that gained through
long experience in the practice of a particular art could not be
discussed in general terms, but we should arrive at no just views
regarding the application of physics in industry unless we assigned
full values to the mental equipment that might be derived from each
of those scources. It appeared to him that in general the practi-
tioner in the arts had sounder views regarding the aims of the men of
science than the pure physicists had of the conditions under which
industrial processes could be conducted and the hmitations which
those conditions imposed on men who would gladly avaU themselves,
as far as possible, of every advance made in the knowledge of the
physical principles that underlay the arts they practised.

No Place for Engineering Science.

Coming more closely to his subject, the lecturer said that there
had been physicists who held that there was no place for engineering
science as a special and a distinct subject in any educational system,
and that the study of mathematics and physics as branches of pure
science, afforded sufficient systematic training for men preparing
for the engineering profession ; but there had been engineering
chairs in o'or universities for more than sixty years, and their
existence had been justified. The teaching offered by the engineering
faculty in a university, was not purely, nor indeed mostly technical
in the proper sense of the term ; it was not so much so as in a medical
school, which supplied the student with a training in the practice of
his profession as well as in the science on -chich it was founded.
The term, engineering science, might be usefullj' taken as embracing
all the systematised knowledge that formed' the special mental
equipment of the engineer in practice from whatever source that
knowledge had been derived ; and if physics was taken to embrace
all that was kno-wn of the properties of matter, and the transforma-
tion of energy, of course, engineering science, in any sense of the
term, must be a branch of physics.

The problems with which the engineer had to deal were in their
essence, almost infinitely more complex than those that the physical
investigator set for himself. The more we studied the mechanical
structure of plants and animals, the more we realised how complex
were the functions to be performed, and the conditions to be com-
pUed with by each and every part ; but if the investigation of the
stru^fce of an animal or plant, as bearing upon its functions,
involved a complex and difficult problem, how much more difficult
would it be to solve the reverse problem of de-vising the structure
that would best meet the requirement* in respect of aU the functions
that had to be performed.

Correspondence,

AMATEUR "WIRELESS."

To the Ediior of THE ELECTEICIAX.

.Sib, — I have noted -with considerable interest various articles on
the subject of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony from the amateur's
and '-rperimenter's point of view recently published in the weekly
journals, and can from a long experience dating back to Mr. Marconi's
early exj)eriments, concur with you in lamenting the irksome
restrictions placed upon earnest research by British enthusiasts.

One hopes, however, that as a result of your publicity, coupled
with the efforts of the Wireless Society of London, a greater latitude
may be granted to those who, like my=f;lf. have inatters wireless
very much at heart. — I am, &c.

London, W., May 1. C. J. Close.

Southend's Diesel Sets.

:Mr. Robert Birkett, engineer and manager of the Solihkm)
Light Railways axd Electeictty Depaetmei^ts has long been
of opinion that the salvation of the electricity department lies in
the gradual substitution of Diesel engines for the old steam plant,
which has always worked under difficult conditions owing to the
high cost, and the unsatisfactory character of the Southend water,
and, in recent years, also owing to the high cost of coal and coal
carriage. The two 1 200 h.p. Diesel seta at Leigh saved the
situation during the last coal strike, when the supply would have
come to a standstill if they had not been available. Five Diesd
sets ordered by the Corporation from BetUss and Morcom were dia-
jxjsed of at the request of the Local Government Board for war pur-
poses, and in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining qtiick
delivery of land type Diesels (with which, by the way, Mr. Birkett
believes he coidd generate as cheaply as it could be done in the
projected super-stations, having regard to capital and all other
charges), the Corporation bought four 1 200 h.p. and two 000 h.p.
Diesels, which were taken out of surrendered German submarines,
and these are being tised with their original generators, four A. KG.
and two Siemens-.-^ chuckert. Two Heenan and Froude water coolers
have been installed at each of the Diesel stations.

Visit to the Stations.

On Thursday of last week the Councillors and the Press inspected
the sLx Diesels, of which two are at the main depot in London Road,
two at Leigh, and two at Thorpe Bay, and also the battery and
booster sub-station at Chalkwell Park- The firet of the Dieseb was
put on load at the Leigh station on December 21, 1920, and by the
time of last week's inspection it was expected that all the six engines
would be ready for regular work. Mr. Birkett, however, admitted
that one of the pair at the main depot still requires further adjust-
ment, which is expected to be accomplished in the very near future.
The working of the other five engines has been quite satisfactory.
The six sets, which have been converted and installed by Belliss
and Morcom, are now actuallvrated down to a total of 4 000 b.h.p. or
2 .500 kW.

The Corporation at " Sapper."

At a supper held after the opening ceremony, Mr. Rabford,
Chairman of the Electricity Committee, gave some figures with
regard to coal consimaption. He said the consumption at Southend
was .3*9 lb. per unit, or only about h lb. more than at Brighton,
where they had up-to-date turbine plant, but as he did not say
whether the imits generated by the Diesel sets were included in the
calculation, the figures are not of much value as an indication of
the comparative efficiency of the steam plant.

Mr. BmKETT, in replying to the toast of his health, said the
consumption per head of population at Southend was about the
same as in Brighton and Blackpool — tO tmits per head — and the
average price per unit at Southend was 4-24d. compared -with
o-.3i5d- at Brighton in 1921, and, according to the '"Electrical Times"
figures, about half the undertakings in the country charged more
than was charged at Southend, and most of these places were in the
north where coal waa easier to get.

Electric Clocks.

The Liverpool Overhead Railway have placed an order with
Gekt i CoMPAXT for a system of "their puLsynetic electric clocks.
Waterproof impulse clocks'in cast-iron cases are being fitted at every
station on the system, also in signal cabins, power stations, and
administration departments, and all are controlled from a master
clock or " transmitter " fixed at Dingle Station.

The installation is of more than ordinary interest, on account of
the connecting wires which loop op the clocks bein^ " broken " when
the drawbridge at Clarence Dock swings. The tunekeeping of the
whole svstem is not affected, however, by the temporary disconnec-
tion. Further, the vibration of the steel structure, caused by pass-
ing trains, does not affect the timekeeping of the impulse clocks.

536

The Electrician

May 5, 1922

Automatic Battery-Charging Plant.

The efficient handling of materials and the uninterrupted operation
of the transportation system in every industry where the storage battery,
truck, tractor, or locomotive can be used, has always been the keynote
in the design and construction of the various types of Wotton Battery
Charging .Plants manufactured by the Igranic Electric Company.
Each type has been designed to meet the battery -charging requirements
in connection with some one transportation problem, and they all
embody perfections and refinements that are the result of many years'
practical experience. _ _

The Wotton vertical motor generator, which we illustrate, is associated
with an automatic switchboard having equipment for distributing
the charging current to one, two, or three batteries at once. It com-
prises : — (a) The Wotton motor- generator, consisting of an a.c. motor,
mounted in the lower half of the frame, driving (through a one-piece
shaft) the d.c.^generator mounted above it. An annular self-aligning
bearing with centrifugal pump oil circulation is provided at the top,
while a combined thrust and annular bearing with splash lubrication
is fitted at the bottom. The motor re-
ceives power from the line at full voltage,
and the generator is wound to deliver a
modified constant voltage, with a starting
rate of three or four times the normal
finishing rate for lead batteries. For
Edison batteries the taper is not so steep ;
(6) A switchboard carrying a knife switch
for starting the motor, three single-pole
knife switches with fuses for placing the
batteries on charge, a field rheostat for
regulating the charging rate, an automatic
cut-off and reclosing
circuit breaker and
a combined volt-
meter and ammeter.

Tw^in Unit Plants.

^^ Many factories are
entirely dependent
upon the industrial
truck for all trans-
portation of material
and prefer to divide
the charging equip-
ment into two or
more sections so that
no combination of
circumstances can
reasonably put the
trucks out of com-
mission. Twin unit
sets are manufac-
tured to meet this
demand. They are
adapted to charge
two batteries simul-
taneously at normal
rate, or one battery
at double normal
rate, and at the same time provide a factor of safety against break-
down.

This arrangement includes two switchboards bolted together and
two vertical generators. A double-pole switch, for paralleling the
generators when boosting one battery, is carried on one of the
panels. It is, of course, a simple matter to extend such an installa-
tion to charge any desired number o' trucks simultaneously.

Assuming that two batteries are to be charged simultaneously, both
motor generators are started by closing the motor switches and both
charging switches are closed. The plant can then be left unattended.
As soon as one battery is charged, two contacts close in the meter which
is connected in the battery ciicuit, thus disconnecting the battery «,nd
causing the motor generator to stop. The second set is shut down in a
similar manner when its battery is fully charged.

If. during the charging operations, there is a temporary failure of
line voltage the set is automatically stopped and the charging circuit
is opened. Immediately the supply is resumed the motor generators
are automatically re-started and charging continues.

A Wotton Vertical Motor Generator.

I.E.E. : North Midland Centre.

The Annual Meeting of the North Midland Centre of the Institu-
tion of Electrical Engineers was held at Leeds last week, about
fifty members being present. In the absence of Mr. W. E. Burnand,
Mr. W. B. Woodhouse took the chair, and the accounts were duly
passed. The following officers have been elected for the ensuing
year : — Chairman : Mr. W. B. Woodhouse; Vice-Chairmen : Major
H. Bell. Major E. A. Barker, Messrs W. Howard Brown, and S.
Derwen Jones; Hon, Secretary : J. D. Bailie ; Committee : T. Roles.
T. B. Johnson, A. F. Carter.

The summer meeting is to be revived, and notice of this will be
given in due course.

Mr. W. H. Brown, the lepresontative for the North Midland
Centre of the Benevolent Fund, said a few words on behalf of the
Fund, for which a collection was afterwards made.

A concert and wireless telephony demonstration then followed,
which was thoroughly aii|)i'pcialp(l by all present.

'iM^jfti.

Flame-Proof Mining Boxes.

The General Electric Company have recently developed a range
of flame-proof lighting boxes for use with ■wore armoured V.I.R. cables in
fiery mines, in which, by the use of only three standard forms of box and
three types of glands, practically every lighting requirement in dangerous
areas has been catered
for. It wiU be seen from
the illustration that these
boxes are of robust con-
struction. They comply
in every respect with the
regulations laid down in
the Coal Mines Act, and
among the important
features in their design
may be mentioned
machined flanges of
generous width on both
box and cover, a simple
locking device, and special
attention to details of
insulation. The armour-
ing is clamped between
two concentric cones,
giving a large contact
area and ensuring a firm
connection and perfect
continuity.

The Universal Junction
box can be supplied as
a one, two, three or four-
way box with any one
of three tj'pes of cover
— (a) a solid front with
central outlet tapped J in.
gas and plugged ; (b) a
cover for attaching a
well - glass fitting ; and
(c) a cover for attaching
a bulkhead fitting. The
solid front is supplied
where the box is required
merely as a junction
box or where pendent lights are required. In the latter event, either
a conduit drop with well-glass fitting or a cable gland with sealing
chamber can be fitted. Two types of glands can be supplied, one
forming an integral part of the box and the other detachable. The
latter type can be removed, together with the sealing chamber by
removing two bolts. In this manner connections or complete branch
circuits can be prepared above ground and attached to boxes already
erected. In the event of a failure renewals or repairs can be effected
conveniently.

The third type of box is a split junction box for use with the mining-
type lighting boxes when running cables are employed. By the use of
split glands the cable may be tapped at any point and the branch
circuit which can be made up complete, attached with the minimum
interference with working.

Universal Box with Detachable
Glands and Well-Glass Fittings.

I.E.E. : North- Western Centre.

At the Annual Meeting of the North-Western Centre of the Insti-
tution of Electrical Engineers last week the committee reported that
eleven ordinary meetings and two special public meetings had been
held, the average attendance at ordinary meetings being 115, and
the average number of speakers at each discussion being nine. Four
of the meetings were informal in character, and the committee felt
amply justified in recommending their continuance during the next
session. The membership was now 1 343, an increase of 129 over
the previous session. The following officers were elected : — Chair-
man : Mr. A. S. Barnard ; Vice-Ch.airmen : Mr. G. A. Juhlin,
Mr. H. C. Lamb ; hon. secretary : Mr. W. A. Coates ; new members
of committee : Messrs. A. G. Ellis. A. B. Mallinson, W. J. Medlyn,
S. L. Pearoe. Mr. Ellis had resigned the honorary secretaryship
after three years of office, and Mr. W. A. Coates was elected to the
post. The committee was gratified to record the election by the
Institution of the assistant secretary. Mr. A. L. Green, as sni
Associate. Mr. Green had been connected with the North-Western
Centre for twenty-one years. The Liverpool Sub-centre, founded
in 1919, had a member-ship of 449. and the Students' Section had
had a very active year. After the meeting Mr. J. W. Beauchamp,
Director and Secretary of the E.D.A., gave a short lecture on
Enginoering Advertising, with special reference to the work of the
E.D.A.

The Reform Club Kitchen.

The kitchen of the Reform Club, Pall Mall, is to be modernised
and re-equipped this summer, and the contract for this work has
been placed with Benham & Sons, Ltd., of W^igmore-stroet, W.,
who originally fitted up the kitchen in 1842. under the instructions
of the famous chef, j\I. Alexis Soyer. Benham & Sons have in
their possession a picture of the first equipment, and a few of the
original fittings appear to be still in existence aft.-i" eighty years.
Mr. Stanley J. Benham. the present managing director, is the grand-
son of Mr. -Tolin Lee Benham, who carried out the contract in 1842.

May 5, 1922

The Electrician.

537

Economic Conditions in Germany.

In the introduction to their report on the ECONOMICAL and finan-
cial CONDITIONS in Germany for the year to March, 1922, Messrs.
J. W. F. Thehvall (Commercial Secretary to H.M. Embassy,
Berlin) and C. J. Kavanagh (Commercial Secretary, Occupied
Territories, &c., Cologne) state that there has been further pro-
gress towards order within the country; the more distressing
features i-esulting from the war have almost completely dis-
appeared ; work has been plentiful and the resumption of overseas
relations has taken place on a vast scale; but the bases of com-
mercial life— stability of exchange and the granting of credit— are
apparently as far from a satisfactory condition as ever.

Electrical Engineering.

The electrical trades were kept well employed on inland require-
ments, electricity supply and telephone extensions. The electrical
transport developments have provided an appreciable amount of
work, and the general activity in reconstruction throughout various
industries resulted in a keen demand for plant and apparatus of
all descriptions. The collapse of exchange in August led to a flood
of orders for foreign account. The electrical groups of the Rhine-
Elbe-Union concentration report that the community of interests
agreement which they entered into with the steel producers has
realised their expectations in greatly facilitating the supply of
raw and semi-manufactured materials as regards quantity, quality,
and regular delivery.

Research.

In the field of research and development in design the industry
was as active as ever. Tests carried out on a gas turbine of a
workable output are reported to have given satisfactory results,
the development of the brown coalfield led to a stronger manufactur-
ing oapacity in specialised plant, and the overland h.t. transmission
schemes gave a development to electrical apparatus required in
this connection. The interest aroused by the low-temperature dis-
tillation of coal gave an impetus to the construction of plant,
whereas the extension in the use of brown coal led to considerable
attention to steam generators adapted to this class of fuel.

Electric Pow^er.

The Rhineland-Westphalian industrial centre, together with its
neighbouring districts, benefit from a very highly developed system
of electric supply, and are calculated to receive an annual distri-
bution from the supply stations of r3 milliard kWh, whereas the
power generated on the mines and in the blast furnace and steel-
works is estimated at 4 milliard kWh. The supply is chiefly in
the hands of two large conperns. and augmented by the municipal
stations of some of the larger towns, such as Duisburg, Dortmund,
Oberhausen, Diisseldorf, Crefeld, Elberfeld, Barmen, and Cologne.

The chief private companies operating^ are the Rhenish-West-
phalian Electricity Works, installed with 350 000 kW capacity, and
the Communal Electricity Works Association, with 280 000 kW
capacity. The former, which was originally formed with a capital
of 2^ million marks, has now a share capital of over 100 million
marks. In the initial stages its development was chiefly brought
about by the absorption of various small supply stations, and more
recently by the installation of new plant, of which the super-power
station at Knapsack, operating on brown coal and having a turbo-
generator capacity of 190 000 kW, represents its latest effort. An
extension of the iplant by a further 100 000 kW capacity has
recently been decided upon, and it is proposed to install two
50 000 kW turbo-generators.

The impetus to its extension was given by the increased indus-
trial demand for power and the development during the war of
large electro-chemical factories. Its later development is interest-
ing in point of view of the acquisition of certain coal intei-este,
giving tlie company virtual control, and its extension into the field
of gas supply, receiving coke-oven gas and distributing it through-
out a length of 240 km. Hand-in-hand with the recent develop-
ment, the company has assumed a new character by a majority
participation of municipal interests, thus re-shaping it into a form
of a mixed private and municipal enterprise. The Communal
Electricity Works Association represents a merger of interests of
ten different supply undertakings to promote economy in generating
and distribution, to install new plant, to secure favourable deli-
veries of coal, and, while not encroaching upon the independence
of the component companies, to consolidate their technical and
financial interests.

Brown Coal.

An appendix to the report gives basic prices of coal in the Ruhr
district and tJie price for Cologne brown coal. In spite of the low
calorific value of the latter, the costs per potential heat unit deli-
vered to tPie boiler bunkers is preponderatinglv in favour of the
lignite. These prices represent merely the official controlled prices
to consumers, delivered at the pit mouth, whereas electricity under-
takings having coal interests get their fuel considerably cheaper.
The. brown coalfields being adjacent to the power houses result
in a considerable saving ui handling charges, as the operation
from mining to tipping into the bunker is completely mechanical.
Carrying about 60 per cent, moisture, the transport of raw brown
coal is not a commercial proposition, but when consumed on the
spot, and the electrical energy transmitted by e.h.t. feeders, its
importance as a cheap source of power is very appreciable. It is
estimated that the power developed by brown coal and transmitted
even into the Ruhr district from Cologne comes out very con-
siderably cTieaper than that generated at the Ruhr pit-head.

In the month of December, for example, Ruhr coal at the pit

mouth was quoted at about M.500 per ton, as against brown coal
al M.60, and, taking in an unfavourable case the calorific value
of brown coal as one quarter that of steam coal, the price differ-
ence equals alx^ut 50 per cent. Having excellent briquetting
qualities, it is possible for electricity works operating on lignite to
develop a considerable turnover in briquettes both for industrial
and domeslic consumption, and so reduce the overhead charges.
The problem of low-temperature distillation and recovery of by-
prt ducts is the subject of active research.

Owing lo the distance most of the large deposits are situated
from centres of industry, it is possible that tne future will see
many extensions to the h.t. overland transmissicwn schemes.

Rolling Stock.

Some tendency is apparent of the electrical firms engaged in
locomotives to combine interests with manufacturers of rolling
stock, and examples of this are to be found in the A.E.O.-Krupp,
Rheinmetall, and Linke-Hofmann merger, and in the Rhine-Elbe-
Union, which embraces the interests, amongst others, of the
Siemens-Schuckert Works, the Bochumer Verein. and Dortmund
Union. The reasons underlying these alliances might be found in
a desire to concentrate upon plant for the electrification of rail-
ways" outside of the movement to secure a supply of raw materials.

P.O. Programme of Extensions.

Estimates of the expenditxtre to be undertaken by the Post
Office during the current financial year are given in a White Paper.
It is proposed to spend £9 500 000 out of capital on the develop-
ment of the telephone system. The sum of £2 230 000 Ls to be
spent on trunk lines ; £343 000 for extension of the overhead
service; £3 500 000 for local w^orks, the provision of subscriber
circuits, junction lines, and public call offices; and £2 250 000 for
new exchanges and the extension of existing e^xchanges, including
sites and buildings.

The construction of two long underground routes will be put in
hand, namely, from Leeds to Edinburgh, via Darlington, New-
castle, and Jedburgh, and from Worcester to Bristol via Gloucester.
Among the shorter and more important extensions of the existing
underground system which will be begun or completed are the
following new routes : — London to Southend, Bristol to Bath.
Manchester to Preston, Preston to Lancaster, Bradford to Dews-
bury, Colchester to Ipswich. Pontypool to Abergavenny, Swansea
to iPontardawe, Glasgow to Whitecraig. Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth
and Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy. The new overhead trunk circuits
will number about 200.

Local Developments.

In connection with the local development works, underground
ducts and cables will be laid in various parts of London and in
a large number of towns, including Colchester. Cambridge, Tun-
bridc'e Wells, Brighton, Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham. Liver-
pool? Manchester, Leeds, Halifax, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen
and Falkirk. The scheme for new exchanges and the extension of
existing exchanges includes the installation of equipment for about
thirty new exchanges, and for the extension of some forty of the
more important existing exchanges.

A new exchange i- to be provided in Central London near the
Monument, and the work is to be begun at once. In the outer
suburbs exchanges will shortly be open at Tottenham and Barnet.
and equipment is to be provided for new exchanges at Eltham.
Kilburn, Southall, Nunhead, Woodford. WalUngton. Addiscombe.
Thornton Heath, and Hounslow. In the country the work will
include new exchanges at R<imsgate, Eastbourne. Southampton.
Swansea, Birmingham, Sheffield, Buxton, Liverpool. Inverness,
and Dundee.

The Automatic System.

Provision is made for a considerable extension of the automatic
telephone svstem in the working of the new exchanges at South-
ampton, Gloucester, Swansea. Sheffield. Shrewsbury, Fleetwood.
Dundee, and Kirkc-aldv, all of which will be equipped with auto-
matic plant. The equipment will also be extended at the aatomatic
exchanges already existing at Epsom, Newport (Mon.). Cheps-ow,
Leeds, Accrington, and Darlington.

Expansion of Hydro-Electric Business.

In INIav 1920 Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Company
initiated a" hydro-electric section as a part of their civil engineermg
department to secure orders for water turbines, (o be manuiactured
at their Elswick works to the designs of a well-knwni Norwegian
firm The business of this section has so expande<l that the hrm
formed in Januarv last a separate hydro-electric dep.oitmknt. as a
unit apart from the civil engineering d-partment. The new depart-
ment like the old section, is dealing with complete water-power
development schemes throughout all the various stages, m addition
to tl e various component parts of such schemes, civil engineering,
mechanical and electrical. Messrs. Armstrong now have survey
parties out in manv ports of the world hx>king into projects which
have been brought' before them. The offices of the hydro-electric
department are at 8. Great CTeorge-sti-eet. Westminster. b.W 1, and
the department is under the management of Mr. Douglas Spencer,
assisted by Mr. Robert P. Tod and Mr. V. Bataillard, and a krge
staff.

538

The Electrician.

May 5, 1922

Factory Magazines.

Mor« than sixty editors of works magazines or " factory news-
papers " attended the second Conference of Editohs of Works
Magazines at the offices of the Industrial Welfare Society last
Friday, Mr. Robert R. Hyde (Director of the Industrial Welfare
Society) presiding. It is clear that magazines of this kind, if well
edited and organised, will prove a valuable stabilising influence in
industry. They form a common platform, where all sides can voice
their views. Papers were read by Mr. Reginald Pugh (editor of
"Industrial Welfare"), Capt. J. Robinson ("Smiths' Dock
Monthly"), Mr. E. M. Weigitt (Sir Wm. Beardmore & Com-
pany), Mr. T. B. Rogers ("The Employees' Own Magazine"),
and Mr. Oliver Sheldon (" Cocoa Works Staff Journal ").
The general opinion was that the factory magazme should
be non-polilical, and that it should contain no deliberate
propaganda of any kind. Although the conference was mostly
concerned with magazines for general circulation among the
employees of large firms, an instructive paper was read on the
subject of " An Administrative Staff Magazine " by Mr. Oliver
Sheldon, who emphasised the importance of placing essential facts
concerning their own firms and industry generally, not only before
directors, managers, and departmental heads, but before foremen and
others who come into more direct contact with the workers. One
firm is publishing a magazine for this purpose.

At the luncheon, o\'er which Mr. Sam Mavor (of Mavor & Coulson)
presided. Sir Ernest Benn, who opened the first conference eighteen
months ago, said, in the course of liis speech, that he understood
that the fashionable "axe" had had its effect on the works maga-
ziHe, and that some of the magazines had been subjected to the
operation of economy in the last twelve months. There was nothing
he could conceive of as so foolish as the cutting down of that sort
of work.

He referred to the deterioration which was now taking place in
the general Press, and expressed the opinion that the time was
not far distant when the trade and industrial Press would be the
sole remanant of all that was worth having in the arts and practice
of journalism. Works magazines should avoid politics, as the word
was commonly understood, but they might be able to supply the
facts to educate the people in the principles of commerce and
industry, and thus obtain a greater influence than if they entered
into politics as such. Through works magazines they might get at
the rights of Communism. As an example of the methods of Com-
munists, he related a true story of an occurrence in Russia during
the first revolution, when one of the first proceedings of the workers
who took over a factory was to go to the offices to collect the capital.

It was decided to hold the next Conference not later than a year
henoe.

Chester Electricity Inquiry.

On behalf of the Electricity Commissioners, a public inquiry
was held last week at Chester into an application by Chester
Corporation for a Special Order to authorise them to supply elec-
tricity within the urban district of Hoole, parts of the rural
districts of Chester and Tarvin, and a .part of the rural district
of Hawarden.

On behalf of the Corporation, it was stated that they had plant
with 7 396 kW capacity. The maximum demand for electricity
during the winter of 1920-21 was 2 282 kW. The Corporation had
expended on their undertaking £236 000, of which £193 380 had
been provided by loans and £42 620 had been contributed out of
the surplus revenue of the undertaking. At present they had 2 500
consumers taking 4 000 000 units per annum, from whicli an income
of £48 000 was received. The electricity produced at the Hydro-
Electric Works had a substantial bearing upon the cheapness at
which the Corporation could give supply. The present charges
were S^d. per unit for lighting, and from 2;id. to l^d. per unit
for small power demands ; but for large power consumers, taking
not less than 25,000 units per annum, the charge was £6 per kW
demanded per annum, plus 0'75d. per unit. There was also a
special tariff for domestic purposes of 15 per cent, of the rateable
value plus Id. per unit. Mr. S. E. Britton, city electrical engineer,
estimated the capital cost of the compulsory v/orks scheduled in
the Order for Hoole and Newton at £7 000," but to deal with the
agricultural area £38 725 was required, making a total of £45 725.
The charges would depend upon the demand. If the demand was
not more than 200 000 units per annum the average per unit would
be lid. ; for 250000 units, 9d. ; 355 000, 6d. ; 550 000, 4d. He
estimated that 500 000 units would be sold during tho. first year.

On behalf of Flintshire Comity Council, it was urged that
Chester Corporation were attempting to poach on the preserves of
the North Wales Power Company, whose scheme had been
approved by the Commissioners, and to set up another authority.

Mr. Miller, for the North Wales Power Company, said that the
whole trend of the present inquiry suggested a determination to
reverse, if possible, the decision of the Commissioners that a big
area should be developed by means of the hydro-electric power of
North Wales. He contended that the present was not an applica-
tion which deserved consideration on its merits.

Owing to the splendid response to the invitations issued for th«
Electrical EnoiaEERs' Ball on Feb. 10 last, the sum of 55 guineas
has been handed over to the Institution of Electrical Engineers'
Benevolent Fund and 55 guineas to the Electrical Trades Benevolent
Fund.

Legal Intelligence.

An Electric Furnace Dispute.

The hearing was resumed on Monday, before Mr. Justice
Sankey, of the action, the hearing of which was begun in February.
The plaintiffs. Electro Metals, Ltd., sued the Malleable Steel Cast-
ings Company (1909), Ltd., to recover £1239 4s. 7d., balance of
purchase price of a 30 cwt. electric smelting furnace sold to defen-
dants in May, 1918. Defendants' case was that the plant was
unsatisfactory ; they alleged plaintiffs failed to comply with certain
conditions, and they counter-claimed for loss suffered by the alleged
defects of the plant.

Mr. T. W. H. Inskip, K.C , and Mr. Wilfred Lewis were for
plaintiffs; and Mr. T. Eastham, K.C, an'd Mr. R. Bennett repre-
sented defendants.

It was explained at the previous hearing that the price of the
furnace was £3 300, and the sum now claimed was an instalment
of £1 100 and the cost of certain materials required in connection
with the furnace which had not been supplied under the contract
between the parties, but which plaintiffs ordered at the request
of defendants. The furnace had not been used since the moulders'
strike in 1919, when the men working it were forcibly driven from
the building by the moulders, and it was said that parts of the
machinery had perished. Defendants admitted that the furnace
was received and set up, and that it was seen by plaintiffs' metal-
lurgist, Mr. Needham, before it was got into working order. Defen-
dants relied on a number of alleged breaches of the contract or
warranties ; they said that plaintiffs warranted that the furnace
should be capable of producing straight steel of a tensile strength
of 40 tons to the square inch, and 15 per cent, elongation unannealed ;
that it would produce steel entirely to defendants' satisfaction, and
would not use more than 800 units of electricity per ton of metal
melted.

Defendants said that these warranties were not complied with.
Plaintiffs denied the warranties, and said the furnace was capable
of doing what, under the contract, it was said it would do.

A considerable body of evidence had been given at the previous
hearings, and the only witness now remaining was Mr. Edward A.
Walsh, director and works manager of defendants, who referred to
the giving of the alleged warranties, and said that they were never
able to use the furnace successfully; as a commercial proposition
it never produced steel suitable for steel castings, nor did it produce
steel using 800 units per ton in the ladle.

After counsel had addressed the Court, Mr. Justice Sankey said
it was alleged that plaintiffs warranted that the furnace would pro-
duce steel of tensile strength of 40 tons to the square inch and
15 per cent, elongation unannealed, but, on the whole, he could not
conclude that any such warranty was given. The making of steel
castings was an expert work, and he did not think that INIr. Walsh
had adequate knowledge of those matters. He thought there was
a guarantee that the consumption of electricity would be about 800
to 850 units for continuous working, but he was of opinion he could
not find if there had been continuous working or that the guarantee
would have been complied with. He was satisfied, on the whole,
that the furnace was fitted for its work, but it was a long time being
got into proper order, and defendants were entitled to recover as to
certain expenditure for wages, electricity, &c. He gave plaintiffs
judgment on the claim for £1 139 14s. 7d. and costs, and on the
counter-claim he gave defendants judgment for £289 16s. 2d. and
half the costs of the counter-claim.

Improper Use of Electricity.

At the Bradford Police Court last week, Harry Wilkinson, a
builder, was charged with stealing electricity, the property of the
Bradford Corporation, and William W. Threapleton was charged
with laying an electric line communicating with another electric
line, the property of the Corporation.

Mr. W. H. Leatham, who prosecuted, said it was difficult to say
what was the value of the electricity alleged to have been taken.
It was probably under £5, but for the purpose of jurisdiction he
put it at £2. The defendant Wilkinson had built a house for him-
self at Baring-avenue, and Threapleton was an electric light con-
tractor. Having described the procedure necessary for obtaining
a supply of electricity, he said that Wilkinson applied for elec-
tricity in August, 1921. His house being further away from the
cable than usual, the Corporation required him to agree to take
a supply for five years instead of the usual two years, and to take
current to the minin^im value of £20 a year. He agreed to that.
On Dec. 29 last a service cable was laid to the house and a service
box installed. On Jan. 2 a meter was fixed, and that completed
the business of the Corporation. They waited for the receipt of
the test notice, which never came. The seriousness of the case was
that if the wiring installation was not in order, and if it was con-
nected up with the Corporation cables it might cause a fuse.
with considerable damage over a great distance in the mains. When
the meter was put into the house Threapleton was present. Two
Corporation servants lived in the district, and they noticed that
between Jan. 2 and March 10 the house was brilliantly lighted
with electric light. Inquiries were made, and an inspector, who
was sent to the house on March 10, found the service box had
been broken and the inst-allation connected direct to the service
cable. He suggested that Threapleton had connected the wire
direct to the service box without giving the required notice, and
he also suggested that Wilkinson knew what he had done.

The Stipendiary Magistrate : You cannot assum > that every
householder who employs a man to put in an installation has guilty
knowledge.

May 5, 1922

The Electrician.

539

Mr. A. V. Hammond, who defended, asked permission to with-
draw Threapleton's plea of " Guilty," and the magifitrat€6 agreed.

After Mr. Charles Gillin, mains manager for the Electricity
Department, had given evidence,

The defendant Wilkinson said he had no knowledge of electrical
fittings, and left everything to Threapleton. He had several times
complained about the delay.

Threapleton said the connection was made on the morning the
inspector found it. It was connected for testing purpoeee only.
The testing instrument broke down, and the only alternative they
had was to connect it up to the service pipe.

The Stipendiary Magistrate said that on the face of it it looked
very much as if Wilkinson must have known what was being done,
and that his installation was being connected improperly without
going through the meter. . The Bench were not satisfied that
Wilkinson was guilty of larceny, and the summons against him
would be dismissed. Threapleton must have known he was doing
wrong in making a connection in such a way that the current
would not pass through the meter, and he would have to pay the
maximum fine of £5.

At Larne Petty Sessions on the 25th ult., Hugh J. M'Kerrell,
proprietor of a motor garage, was charged by the Larne Electric
Light Company with fraudulently obtaining a supply of electricity
from the company's main.

It was stated that an employee of the company found two wires
connected with the company's main and leading into defendant's
garage, being there connected to a 100 W fixed lamp, to a portable
lamp of 40 to 60 W, and a board for the charging of accumulators
erected in the wall. The current for these lamps did not pass
through the meter. For the quarter ending Dec. 31 defendant's
meter only registered six units, but collectively the lamps on his
premises would consume one unit in 2^ hours.

Defendant, who said he had only connected the wires on the
previous night in order to get a light into the oil store, was sent
for trial to the Quarter Sessions.

Telephone Pole Rental.

On Monday the Railway and Canal Commission Court (Mr.
Justice Lush, Mr Tindal Atkinson, K.C., and Sir Lewis Coward.
K.C.) delivered judgment in a re-heard action which recently came
before Judge Crawford (at Romford County Court), and who fixed
the rent of some telegraph poles on private land at Grays, Essex.
The County Court Judge had fixed the rent of several poles at 5s.
each, of some at 15s.. and one at £1.

In delivering judgment, Mr. Justice Lush said the case raised a
question of general importance as to -the position and rights of the
Fostmaster-General with regard to the construction and maintenance
of telegraph poles and wires. It was the first case under the Tele-
graph Construction Act of 1916, which enabled the Postmaster-
General to apply to the court for a compulsory order if the ovraer
refused his consent to having the posts on his land. The Act of
1916 brought the land of private ovraers within the range of the
limited compulsory powers previously conferred on the Postmaster-
General. Certain posts and wires were erected imder an ageement
between Mr. Brooks and the National Telephone Company ; that
agreement having come to an end, a difference arose between Mr.
Brooks and the Postmaster-General, and that difference was referred
to Judge Crawford, who made an award. The Postmaster-General
was dissatisfied, and applied that it should be referred to that
court. In his Lordship's opinion, a mistake had been made in the
procedure adopted. It was never intended that a dispute as to the
compulsory entry on land of a private owner should be referred to
a magistate or County Court judge in the first instance, and Judge
Crawford had no jurisdiction in the matter. Mr. Brooks had
properly admitted that the question was only as to the terms and
conditions under which his consent should be given. The poles
were on woodland and near a private road, which was also his
property. If the convenient user or enjoyment of the land was
interfered with, such interference was subject to proper considera-
tion. The land in question had a valuable bed of chalk under it,
which would shortly be developed or sold in order that the chalk
could be worked, and Mr. Brooks' chief complaint was that it
would be a serious inconvenience to him, and would certainly cause
him loss as a prospective vendor of the land to have those obstruc-
tions there. His Lordship thought that the amenities of the land
were substantially affected by the existence of the poets and wires,
and particularly in respect of three of the posts a substantial pay-
ment ought to be made. He held that the sum of 5s. each ought to
be paid for all the posts, except those three. For two of the latter
10s. each should be paid, and for the third 20s. He did not think
that these sums were excessive when the posts and wires were
carried right across a wood, with a right to entry on the land.
Moreover, the Postmaster-General had the advantage of taking these
short routes for his telegraph wires. The present case must not be
treated as a precedent applying to all cases. If a landowner made
an unreasonable demand, wnicn was successfully resisted, the court
had power with respect to the costs, and the owner might have
cause to regret making his claim.

Mr. Tindal Atkinson and Sir Lewis Coward concurred.

As Mr. Brooks said he had not incurred any substantial costs, no
order as to costs was made.

Action Over Electrical Installation.

Before Mr. Justice Rowlatt on Monday Mr. George Pittman,
electrician, sued Mr. Jerome W. May and Mr. Samuel Walbrock for
£200 for electrical installation work at the Brixton Hall, and sug-
B 3

gested that he found, after the instructions of Mr. May, that the
defendants were in partnership as the Brixton Dancing Palace,
Ltd., but he knew nothing of the company till he received a noti-
fication from its receiver and manager. The receiver said he had
surrendered the lease as he was unaole to pay the rent. Mr. May
stated that he acted, and to plaintiff's knowledge, as agent for the
Brixton Dancing Palace, Ltd., and Mr. Walbrock that he was never
in partnership with Mr. May.

Hi Lordship, in giving judgment, said the question was whether
the electrician was employed by Mr. May personally or employed
by Mr. May on behalf of the company. The dispute showed how
important it was that a contractor, when he was asked to do work,
should say, " Who am I doing it for? " and if he was told it was
a company, he ought to find out whether it was worth the money.
The electrician had done work at Mr. May's own house. In reepect
of the work in question, May asserted, and plaintiff denied, that
there was mention of the company. The documents were against
plaintiff. He addressed Messrs. The Brixton Dancing Palace, and
received three cheques signed by the company. Plaintiff said he did
not notice the company's name on a document, but persons should
notice things in business, and that showed him as clearly as pos-
sible that the persons to whom he was giving a receipt were the
Brixton Dancing Palace, Ltd., and that the rest of the money was
to come from them. He might have said, " The contract %va5 with
May; I am not going to have it altered now." He did not, and
he did not see May till the company had practically gone to pieces.
His Lordship did not feel justified in giving him a judgment against
May. Judgment must, therefore, be entered for the defendants.

Weston Electric Lamp Company v. Baldes.

Last week Judge Cluer, in the Shoreditch County Court, heard
an action, brought by the Westcn Electric Lamp Company against
Mr. C. Baldes, for the recovery of £2 7s., balance alleged to be due
on the purchase price of an electric vibrator. There was a counter-
claim for £2 Is., amount paid as a deposit, as it wae alleged the
vibrator v/as not up to guarantee. It was stated that defendant
paid a deposit of £2 when he purchased the machine on May 31 last,
since which time he had not been heard of.

Louis Subtil, clerk to plaintiffs, said that instalments should have
been paid monthly. Defendant cross-examined to show that he paid a
deposit of £2 instead of the usual 5s., and agreed to pay the
balance in a month if the vibrator was satisfactory, but in three
weeks it was useless, so he wrote to plaintiffs to that effect on
August 18 and 22, and November 9. Plaintiffs' witness said they
never received the letters.

Judge Cluer : A business man does not copy letters in a book.
and then not post them. He then read the guarantee off the box.
which was for a year, by the Fitzgerald Electrical Company, of
Toronto and Conn., U.S.A.

Defendant, in his evidence, said he was being constantly asked
for the money, but he ignored the demands, as they took no notice
of his letters of complaint.

Judge Cluer said there would be judgment for the defendant on
the claim, and on his counterclaim for the return of the £2 deposit.
" I should like to add," he went on, " that it is a gross untruth
to say these letters were not received, and it is a misfortune that
a tradesman in this district should send anyone to say such a thing."

Telephone Charges.

At Brighton County Court on, the 27th ult. Judge Moore Cann
heard an action by the Postmaster-General against Mr. Gordon H. Bos-
wall Preston for the recovery of £22 9s. 4d., telephone rental fees
and deposit alleged to be due under an agreement dated May. 1921.

It was stated that the service had been disconnected in consequence
of defendant's failure to pay his account, but, notwithstanding the
interruption in the service, defendant remained liable for rental, &c.

For the defence it was urged that defendant was willing to pay
up to the the time of disconnection, but it was contended that the
Postmaster-General had no locus standi as a corporation to sue or
be sued, and that the certified account of telephone charges which
had been put in was not sufficient proof of the amount due.

The judge decided that the Telegraph Act of 1878 gave power to
the Postmaster-General to sue as if he were a corporation. On the
second point his honour held that a certificated account was not
sufficient proof of charges, but he was of opinion that under the
clause in the agreement the Post Office was entitled to the amount
of outstanding rental. Accordingly he gave judgment for £14 9s. 9d.

Kelly V. Alexandra Clothing Company.

In the Shoreditch County Court on Tuesday, before Judge Chier.
Messrs. Kelly & Tarshis, electrical engineers, sued the Alexandrn
Clothing Company to recover £15 6s., balance of an account for
£70 6s. for electrical work carried out.

Mr. Tarshis gave evidence, and said that they fitted defendant's
factory for lighting and power. He supplied a motor and starter
for £25. A question arose about a radiator, but he denied that he
had ever promised to take it back, as defendants had spoiled it them-
selves. They had laid it on its side, heated a kettle on it ; the water
had run over, causing "shorts." The electric lights in the office
went wrong, but that was due to a leak>- roof and not bad work.

In cross-examination, witness denied that he agreed to send a
3 H.p. motor for £25, but only a 2 h.p.

The defence was that the price had been agreed at £18 for a
2 H.P.. which plaintiffs declared they could not get. Finally Mr.
Tarshis said he could get a 3 h.p. for £25, to which defendant
agreed, but he sent in a 2 h.p. afte- all. One of tlie radiators wa<
intended for heating, but there was no heat from it.

Judge Cluer found for plaintiff for £3 16s. only, with coste.

540

The Electrician.

May 5, 1922

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Grampian Electricity Scheme.

On Tuesday a Select Committee of the House of Commons, pre-
sided over by the Hon. W. Ormsby-Gore, commenced consideration
of the Bill to authorise the incorporation of a company to con-
struct hydro-electric works, to utilise the waters of Loch Ericht,
Loch Rannoch, Loch Jlihairg, Loch An Duin, Loch Garry, Loch
Seilich, Loch Cuach, and certain rivers in their vicinity, and to
flupply'electricity in the counties of Perth, Kinross, Forfar, Argyll,
Stirling, and Inverness.

Mr. W. E. Tyldesley-Jones, K.C. , opening the case for the
promoters, said the area covered by the scheme was recommended
as a deeirable one by the Committee on Water-Power Resources
in July, 1921. In all cases under the scheme the water would be
discharged back into its natural waterway within a reasonably
short distance from the places where it was diverted. There was
under discussion with the Board of Trade a clause giving the
State the right to acquire the imdertaking at a certain date, pro-
vided such terms would not preclude the possibility of the com-
pany being able to raise capital. Last year the promoters deposited
a Bill for substantially the same scheme, but withdrew it because
one of their counsel retired and another was suddenly taken ill,
and the negotiations with some of the landowners were not in
an advanced stage. The British Aluminium Company also deposited
a Bill last year which conflicted somewhat with that of the pre-
sent promoters, and the result was that last year's Bill was ulti-
mately dropped. The promotion of the present scheme was
originally started by the British-Italian Corporation, and the
present promoters, the Hydro-Electric Development Company, Ltd.,
were representative of those interests, and its shareholders included
the British-Italian Corporation, the London County, Westminster
& Parr's Bank, Wallace Bros. & Company, the British Steamship
Investment Trust, Sir Heni-y Babington Smith, Sir Austin Harris,
Mr. Ernest Cox, and Mr. Manzi Fe.

There were 31 petitions deposited againet the Bill, but only three
were left. The Spey Fisheries Board had been satisfied by the
insertion of a clause requiring the company to main a certain
flow in the river, and Dundee Corporation had withdravm their
opposition upon the insertion of a clause precluding the company
from supplying in the Corporation's area of supply except for
railway purposes. The three petitions remaining were those of
three landowners, Mrs. Laterriere, the trustees of Col. Macpherson,
and Sir George Macpherson Grant. The pomoters did not desire
to oppose the granting of reasonable compensation to landovimers
whose property was injuriously affected. The estimated total cost
of the scheme was 4^ millions, exclusive of generating plant,
cables, &c., but in the early stages it was only proposed to raise
one million in share capital, and power was sougnt to borrow
2^ millions. The four generating stations which it was proposed
to build would generate 56 000 h.p. Counsel gave a brief outline
of the proposed works, and evidence in support of the Bill was
then given.

The promoters' case had not concluded when we went to press.

Sheffield Telephone Exchangfe Contract.

In reply to Mr. Manville, who askied (House of Commons,
April 27) if the First Conmiissioner of Works was aware that a
contract for the construction of the buildings of the new telephone
exchange in Sheffield had been let by the Office of Works to the
Wholesale Co-operative Society ; and was it to be the policy of
the Government in future to place contracts in the hands of this
or similar organisations, which, under the present system of taxa-
tion, contributed nothing to the maintenance of the country,
Lieut.-Col. Sir J. Gilmour (for the First Commis.sioner of Works)
said that a contract for preliminary wo- \ upon the site for a new
telephone exchange at Sheffield had bf.en let to the Co-operative
Wholesale Society, which submitted the lowest, coimpetitive tender.
The Office of Works was satisfied that the firm was capable of
exocntiiig the work in accordance with its requirements as to time
and quality of craftsmanship. The decision was based on the
general policy of economy. This consideration was entirely
separate and distinct from any question as to the taxation of
co-operative societies. On that question he referred Mr. Manville
to the evidence given before the Royal Commission on the Income
Tax and to the Report of the Commission published in March,
1920 (Cmd. 645), from which he would find 'hat the suggestion
contained in the last part of his question was based upon a
misapprehension.

Imperial Wireless Chain.

In reply to Mr. HuRn (House of Commons, April 26), the Post-
master-Geneial (Mr. Kellaway) stated that the only Dominion
which had entered upon any wireless project of its own was Aus-
tralia, whose representative at the Imperial meetings of last year
reserved to the Commonwealth Government full freedom of action
to decide in what manner it would co-operate in the Imperial wire-
less scheme. Precise infonnafinn as to the project of that Govern-
ment was not yet to hand, but wher it was received its bearing
on the remainder of the scheme would be carefully considered.
The Indian Government had stated that they would have difficulty
in finding funds to erect a high-power station of their own, and the
position thus created would also bo examined. Communications
were proeeoding with the Union Government, and the Canadian
Government were sending two representatives to this country to

discuss the matter. (Since the above date two offers, one by a
British and the other by an Indian firm, have been received to con-
struct and work a direct wireless service between India and Great
Britain under licence and in accordance with Government
requirements.)

Miners' Safety Lamp Glass.

In the House of Commons on Friday, Mr. Bridgeman introduced
a Bill to restrict temporarily the powers of approving safety lamps
under sec. 33 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911.

The Bill is intended to carry out a pledge given by Mr. R.
McKenna, when Home Secretary, in regard to glass for miners'
safety lamps. The glass came from Austria and Germany, and
]Mr. IMcKenna promised that British makers, in consideration of
their laying down plant and erecting factories, should be relieved
from foreign competition for three years after the official close of
the War. Hitherto foreign glass has been excluded on the ground
that it was of a " type " that would interfere with British-made
glass. But it has been found that " type" does not, from a legal
point of view, include place of origin, and the present Bill seeks to
put this right, but a clause provides that the British glass must be
adequate in quantity and quality.

Telephone Call Boxes.

Replying to Sir H. Brittain (House of Commons, April 26),
Mr. Ejillaway stated that the total number of public call-office
stations at March 31 last was 15 874. The total revenue, exclu-
sive of trunk calls, collected from public call offices during the
past financial year was £490000. No separate ax;count was kept
of the cost of maintaining call offices, but the operating was expen-
sive where coin boxes were fitted, as was usually necessary, and
there was, no doubt, some loss on this branch of the service.

Machinery Rating Bill.

That hardy annual, the Machinery Rating Bill, was read a second
time in the House of Commons on Friday, and committed to a
Standing Committee. This is the twentieth time the Bill has been
introduced, and we are afraid, as it is a private member's measure,
it will have the same fate as its predecessors.

Morecambe Corporation Tramways Bill.

The Bill to confirm the Morecambe Provisional Order was read
A first time in the House of Commons last week.

Electricity Supply in South-Western Victoria.

The Victorian Electricity Commission state, in a report on elec-
tricity supply for the South- Western District of Victoria, that
the population of the district is about 65 000, and Messrs. Lincolne,
MacDougall & Demaine estimate that, at the outset, about 4Cf per
cent, of this population would be served by the imdertaking. Three
alternatives have been considered : (A) A self-contained scheme, in-
cluding a steam-driven plant within the district ; (B) a transmission
line passing through the main centres of population and taking
current from the Melbourne Electric Supply Company. ; and (C) a
similar transmission line receiving its energ,y from the Government's
Morwell undertaking. In regard to (A), with a generating plant
at Warrnambool, the cost of the station, including two 750 kW
generators, would be £76 400, and the cost of transmission lines and
sub-stations £32 420, making a total of £108 820. The Commis-
sioners are, however, of opinion that under (A) Camperdown and
Terang would not obtain their requirements, except at a higher cost
than under (B) or (C), or from th^-jr existing plants, an^ the
average cost to the whole district would be higher than under (B)
or (C). (B) and (C) are on identical lines as far as the district
west of Geelong is concerned, but under (B) the supply would be
immediately obtained from Geelong, while under (C) the supply of
Morwell energy would later be made available at Geelong by a line
from Newport. The estimates provide for a 44 000 V transmission
line, consisting of a single circuit of aluminium conductors, steel
reinforced and carried on wood poles. The price (under B) quoted
by the Melbcjiirne Company is £3.7 per kW per annum, plus 0.67d.
per kWh, while in the case of (C) the estimated average price at
which energy could be supplied at the Newport terminal of the
Morwell line is £505 ner kW per annum, plus 0.073d. per kWh.
but this should be reauccd if the Newport-Geelong line were at
some future time called upon to supply in Geelong and neighbour-
hood, as well as the western district. The tot-al capital cost of
(B) is estimated at £117120 and of (C) at 139 280. including in
both cases an import duty of 10 per cent, on the aluminium con-
ductors, but if the duty should be 45 per cent, the figures would
be £122 130 and £1458l0 respectivelv, and the annual expenditure
would be £23 490 for (B) or £20 479 for (C). Assuming 45 per
cent, duty on the conductors, the average price at which energy
could be supplied to the towns •lo l>e served would be 4.21d. under
(B), or 367d. under (C) for the south-western district only, or 3.32d.
including supply in Geelong di.strict.

The Commission recommend that, as a first step in the ultimate
linking up of the South-Woslern district with the projected State
bulk supply scheme from Morwell, the supply of energy to the
south-western district be provided by the construction by the Com-
mission of a transmission line from Geelong to Warrnambool, with
an extension to Koroit and Port Fairy : and that a contract be
entered into with the Melbourne Electric Supply Company for the
supply of the whole of the electrical energy required for the recom-
mended scheme at the rates quoted by the company for a period
not e.xceeding five years.

Affly 5: 1922

The Electrician.

541

Electricity Supply.

The annual accounts of Nelson (Lanes.) electricity undertaking
show a deficit of £6 000.

The Minister of Transport proposes to confirm the Newport
(MoN.) Electricity (Extension) Special Order, 1922. Any
objections must be sent to the Ministry of Transport by May 22.

At a nicetinK of the Warrington Electricity Committee last week
it was stated that applications for electricity had bfeen received from
several local firms and from the L. & N.W. Railway, who intimated
that if they could not obtain supply they would apply to the Com-
missoiiers for an order to enable St. Helens to supply them with
electricity.

To meet the growing demand for electricity, the Stalybridge,
etc.. Joint Tramways and Electricity Board nave sanctioned the
installation of a 6 000 kW turbine. It is stated that the demands
for current have increased so much that when trade reviv<5S and
the mills in the four districts go on full time, the Board will have
to ask the millowners to work some of their machinery during the
night.

Mr. Williams, manager of Edmondson's Electricity Corporation,
has asked Elgin Town Council for their consent to an application
by the company for a Special Order to supply electricity to the dis-
trict. If the council's consent is obtained it is proposed to form a
public liability company, called the Elgin Electrical Supply Com-
pany, Ltd., with a capital of £25 000, half of which, it is hoped,
will be subscribed locally. The Council have appointed a committee
to consider the matter.

Blackpool Electricity Department generated 8 825 371 units
during the year ended March 31, an increase of 256 848 over €lTe
previous year. New connections numbered 574, bringing the total
up to 4 932. The estimated profit for the year, after providing
for capital charges, is £10000. The demand for electricity is
increasing so rapidly that a big scheme of extensions is proposed,
and the Electricity Commissioners on Monday held an inquiry into
the Corporation's application for sanction to boriow £220 000.

According to a report prepared by Mr. E. Moxon, borough elec-
tical engineer of Southport, nearly £70 000 is required for exten-
sions and alterations to the municipal electricity works to meet the
rapidly increasing demand for electricity. Between 1919-1922 the
increased consumption averaged 333 300 units per annum. Mr.
Moxon recommends the addition of a 1 500 kW three-phase turbo-
alternator to the generating plant, which consists of two 3 000 kW
turbo-alternators. He proposes to reorganise the distributing net-
work and the equipment at a number of the more important sub-
stations in the centre of the town. The total estimated cost of the
schemes amounts to £69 881, and it will take three years to carry out
the whole of the work.

The Minister of Transport proposes to confirm (1) the Isle of
Wight Electric Light and Power Company Special Order for
the amendment of the Bonchurch Electric Lighting Order, 1900;
the East Cowes Electric Lighting Order, 1901; the Cowes Electric
Lighting Order, 1902; the Cansbrooke and Northwood Electric
Lighting Order, 1903; the Ventnor Electric Lighting Order, 1897;
the Sandown and Shanklin Electric Lighting Order, 1899; and the
Newport (Isle of Wight) Electric Lighting Order, 1899, by making
provision for revision of the maximum prices authorised to be
charged thereby; (2) the Urban Electric Supply Company Special
Order fot the amendment of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Electric
Lighting Order, 1900; the Redruth Electric Lighting Order. 1900;
the Dartmouth Electric Lighting Order, 1900; the lUogan Electric
Lighting Order, 1903; the Kingswear Electric Lighting Order,
1913; the Godalming Electric Lighting Order, 1896; and the
Glossop Corporation Electric Lighting Order, 1899, by making pro-
vision for the revision of the maximum prices authorised to be
charged thereby; (3) Edmttndson's Electricity Corporation
Special Order for the amendment of the Dorking Electric Light-
ing Order, 1897, and the Cromer Electric Supply Order, 1899, by
making provision for the revision of the maximum prices authorised
to be charged thereby ; (4) the Alderley and Wilmslow Electric
Supply Special Order for the amendment of the Wilmslow Electric
Lighting Order, 1903, and the Alderley Edge Electric Lighting
Order, 1905, by making provision for the revision of the maximum
prices authorised to be charged thereby ; and (5) the Lymington
Electricity (Amendment) Special Order for the amendment of the
Lymington Electric Lighting Order, 1899, by making provision for
the revision of the ma.ximum charges authorised to be charged
thereby. Any objections to any of the proposed new orders must be
sent to the Ministry of Transport by May 13.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Aberdeen Town Council have passed the plans for the new boiler-
house extension at Dee Village-road. The estimated cost is £11 000.

Barnstaple Town Council has received sanction to loans of £2 100,
for condensing plant at the Electricity Works, and £1 500, for mains,
services, and meters.

Luton Town Council is applying for a loan of £3 733, for trans-
formers and switchgear, and £8 267, for trunk cables, in connection
with a supply of electricity in bulk from the North Metropolitan
Electric Power Supply Company.

A public inquiry was held at Navan (Ireland] last week into a
scheme of the Urban Council to establish electricity supply works
in the town. It was stated that the cost would be £9991, and
no objection was raised by the ratepayers.

The decision of the Electricity Commissioners into the schemes for
the re<^>rganisation of electricity supply in the North Lancs and
South Cumberland electricity district is not expected until June, as
the Commissioners have been busy on other work.

Royton District Council have decided that they have waited long
enough for Oldham to supply them with electricity, and have ap-
pointed a sub-committee to meet representatives of Crompton
Council in order to see if some joint scheme for supplying the dis-
tricts cannot be decided upon.

At a meeting of Brownhills Urban Council last week it was
reported by Mr. C. Jones (electrical engineer to the Cannock Chase
Colliery Company) that the company had decided to proceed with
the scheme for supplying Chasetown, Chase-terrace, Burntwood,
and Hammerwich with electricity. For private purposes the charge
would be a maximum of 8d. per uni*, for lighting, and for public
lighting the suggested charge was £3 per lamp per annum for the
Brownhills West district and £3 5s. for the remainder of the Brown-
hills area. The company would bear the cost of the cables and
standards. The council expressed its full sympathy with the
scheme.

Alteration of Charges.

Barnstaple Town Council has reduced the price of electricity for
lighting to 9d. per unit, and for power to 7d. per unit.

Warrington Electricity Committee announce a reduction in the
price of electricity of 20 per cent, for power and heating, and of
10 per cent, for lighting and traction.

Gravesend Town Council have decided to reduce the electricity
charges. As from March 31 last the flat rate has been reduced to
85d. per unit, and the other rate from 80 to 75 pei- cent, over the
pre-war figure. The minimum charge for the June and September
quarters is to be 10s. per quarter, and for December and March
15s. per quarter.

Manchester Electricity Committee have agreed to recommend
the Council to make a slight reduction in the electricity charges
as from the June quarter. The amount is not fixed. During
the past year it was reported there had been an approximate
net profit of £43 229, after meeting all capital charges and income
tax, and this amount is to be placed to reserve account.

Birjungham Electricity Committee have decided, as from
March last, to reduce the prices for l.t. supplies by ^d. per unit in
the case of ordinary lighting, and by gd. for power supplies. The
Committee report that there has been a marked improvement in
sales during the past few months. There has already been a sub-
stantial reduction in the prices for manufacturing prices under
contract.

The City of London Ei-ectric Lighting Company announce tlie
following reduced tariff : — For lighting. 8d. per imit in the winter
quarters for the first eight units per 30 W connected, and 4d. per
unit for all energy consumed in excess, and in the summer quarters
8d. a unit for the first four units per 30 W and 4d. after ; for power.
1 2-3d. per unit, plus a fixed charge of 10s. a quarter per kW of
connected demand ; heating, l^d. net per unit.

The following revised scale of charges for electricity for lighting
purposes has been approved by Canierbury Town Council, the
charges to become effective as from April 1 : — Up to and including
4 000 units per quarter, 8d. per unit; not less than 4 001 units per
quarter, 7^d. per unit; 5 001 units, 7d. per unit; 6 001 units, ejd.
per unit; 7 001 units, b^i. per unit; 8 001 units, 6d. per unit;
9 001 units, 5|d. per unit; above 10 000 units, 5id. per unit. The
maximum demand rate is t6 remain as at present — 9d. and 6d. per
unit. Current for motor generators for cinematograph pti'-poses i«
also to remain at 3^d. per unit.

> Institution Notes.

Sir Charles Par.sons has placed unreservedly at the disposal of
the council of the British Associ.\tion a gift of £10 000 5 per cent.
War Loan stock. The total grants in aid of research made by the
association since its formation in 1831 exceed £83 000.

Mr. B. Welbourn has been nominated chairman of the Liverpool
Sub-Centre of the North-Western Ceaitre of the Institution of
Electric.\l Engineers. Messrs. E. M. HoUingsworth and H. H.
Hairison hive been appointed 'Mcech.airmen, and Mr. 0. C.
Waygood, hon. secretary.

The annual meeting of the Royal Institution was held on
Monday, Sir James Reid. vice-president, in the chair. Fifty-seven
new members were elected in 1921 ; sixty-three lectures and nme+een
evening discourses were delivered ; 651 volumes were added to the
library during the vear, including 210 presentation volumes. The
follovving were elected officei-s for the ensuing year -.—Prfsident.
the Duke of Northumberland; Treasurer, Sir James Crichton-
Browne; Secretary, Colonel E. H. Grove-Hills.

In connection with the Domestic Labour-Saving Competition
organised by the Women's Engineering Society, prizes have been
awarded as follows : — Seriio7i A (engineering devices suitable for
mechanical, electrical and automobile work, &c.) : Miss Ashberry,
for dish-washing machine ; Section B (structural improvements) :
The assessors have decided not to award a prize in this section, as
the designs did not reach a sufficiently high standard to warrant an
award : Section C (anv other labour-saving appliance for the home) :
Miss Ramage, for "Ideal Oven." Two certificates of merit were
also awarded in Section C : one to Mrs. Lockyer. for the •' Hotlock
and Coldlock." and one to Miss Long, for " Forty Plat-es in One."

542

The EIeotri(»an.

May 5, 1922

Electric Traction.

Nelson (Lanes.) tramways were run at a loss of over £3 000 last
year.

For the year ended D^c. 31 last, Darlington Tramways Depart-
ment shows a net loss of £2 364, against £3 166 in the previous
year.

The accounts of Eochdale Tramway Department show that for
the year ending March 31 last the tramways were run at a loss :>f
£19 500.

LcTTON Town Council has applied for an extension of time, until
Auffust 11, 1923, to complete the work authorised by the Tramwavs
Order, 1905.

Glasgow Tramways Committee are recommended by the Sub-com-
mittee on Exuiisions to offer £250 000 for the purchase of Paisley
District Tramway Company.

As a result of a deputation from ratepayers to the Edinbxjrgh
Tramway Committee, the electrification of the tramways on the
Stockbridge route is to be started at once.

Preston Tramways Department report a decrease in the March
returns, as compared with last year, of 110 857 passengers, and a
decrease in the receipts of £638. A request from an advertising
agency for permission to erect electrically-illuminated signs on the
tramwi.y standards has been refused.

In a report of the Birmingham Corporation Salvage Department
just issued, the Committee state that the department has at present
a fleet of thirty-four electric vehicles, and that it is intended
to buy seven more. The vehicles are used in the collection of refuse
under the continuous system in those districts which are considerable
distances from depots, and which could only be worked on the con-
tinuous system by horses at greatly increased cost.

The SoTTTH Eastern & Chatham Railways Committee have agreed
with the Trade Facilities Advisory Committee upon the general
principles for raising the capital for their scheme for the
electrification of the suburban sections of their lines. The
capital, which will be guaranteed by the Government, will amount to
about £6 000 000, and as authority to raise it can be obtained under
the Electrification of Railways Powers Act, it is probable that the
actual work will soon be commenced.

For the three months ended March 31, the receipts on the York
tramways system have decreased £1 480, or an average of £114 per
week, compared with last year. In order to reduce expenses the
Tramways Committee have decided that on four routes the service
shall be reduced from 7^ to 10 minutes on all days except Saturdays,
during the morning hours between nine and noon. This will effect
a saving in mileage of 20 373, in wages £320, and in current of
£246 per annum. The maintenance charges will also be smaller,
and the reduced staff will be utilised to work in place of men taking
their annual holidays.

Personal and Appointments.

Major William Paxman has been elected to succeed the late
Mr. J. N. Paxman, as chairman of Davey, Paxman & Company.

Dr. W. E. S. Turner, Prof, of Glass Technology at Sheffield
University, has been elected President of the Society of Glass
Technology.

Mr. A. H. Dykes (Handcock & Dykes) has been elected chairman
of Beckenham Urban Council for the ensuing year, which office he
held also in 1914.

The marriage took place in Chester last week of Mr. D. Jenkin.s
(Swansea district manager for the Metropolitan Vickers Electrical
Company) and Miss J. W. Thomas.

Carlisle City Council has adopted the recommendation of the
Finance Committee to reduce the salaries of the electrical engineer
(Mr. C. W. Salt) and the assistant electrical engineer by 10 per ceiit..
as from Oct. 1 next.

Mr. W. L. Griffith has been appointed by the Canadian Govern-
ment to succeed Sir George Perley as the Dominions representative
on the Pacific Cable Board. Mr. Griffith is permanent secretary of
the High Commissioner's Office.

Mr. Henry H. Oxley has recently resigned tl-e position of Lon-
don and District Manager to Manii, Egerton >'k Company witli a
view to organising and developing the sale of tie Sims light and
power plant. Before joining Mann, Egerton & Conipany Mr. Oxley
was on the staff of Vickers, Limited, for some years.

Mr. C. I. Baker, Superintendent of Blackpool Corporation Tram-
ways, entered upon his duties as manager of the Ashton-under-Lyne
tramways on Monday. Prior to his departure he was presented with
«. cheque by councillor H. Brooks, chairman of the Electricity and
Tramways Committee, on behalf of the Electricity and Traniwavs
.Employees' In.stilute (which Mr. Baker was largely instrumental in
establishing, and of which he has been secretary). He was also
the recipient of an oak grandfather clock fioin the tramwavs
employees.

The late Mr J. N. Greenall, of Nottingham, managing director
of Thomas Danks & Company, has left estate valued at £23 255 (net
personality, £17 633).

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

The new underground trunk telephone service between Man-
chester AND London was opened for commercial use last week. One
of the chief features of the new line is the adaptation of the thermi-
onic valve amplifier. We recently gave particulars of the construc-
tion of this line.

Four automatic telephone call boxes have been installed at
Charing Cross Railway Station, and five at the Bank. The method
of procedure with the new instruments is that, instead of
waiting for the operator to connect the caller with the number
desired before the pennies are placed in the box, the pennies are
inserted before connection is_£)btained. The insertion of the pennies
causes the operator's lamp to glow, and she then inquires what
number is required. Should the caller desire to cancel the call,
he may depress a button labelled " B " and his money will
be returned. Should the call proceed, the caller will hear the sub-
scriber at the other end give the usual signal " Hello," but he
will be unable to make himself heard until he has depressed button
"A." The caller does this immediately on hearing " Hello," which
depression transfers the pennies deposited into another channel, com-
pleting the circuit and enabling subscriber and caller to carry on as
usual.

Wireless Notes.

The Swiss Marconi wireless station was formally opened at
Mtmchen Buchseo, near Berne, on the 26th ult.

The North Essex Wireless Society, of which Mr. H. E. Adshead
is president, and Mr. F. T. Smith, Rutlands. Felstead, is hon. sec.
and ti'easurer, hold weekly meetings at 15, Rayne-road, Braintree,
for discussion of wireless topics.

The Toronto correspondent of the " Manchester Guardian "
states that the radio fever has spread from the United States to
Canada, and all the electrical firms, and even other organisations
not closely associated with electrical apparatus, are experiencing
an extraordinary inflation of trade. Factories are running under
pressure, with three shifts every twenty-four houi's, under condi-
tions similar to those prevailing in munition works in the urgent
days of the war.

The International Wireless Conference, composed of repre-
sentatives of the Radio Corporation of America, Compagnie Generale
de Telegraphic sans Fil, Gesellschaft fur Drahtlose Telegraphic
m.b.h., and Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company, completed its
sittings last week. A number of important questions dealing with
the development in different parts of the world of wireless tele-
graphic and telephonic commimication have been considered and
satisfactorily settled. As a result of the agreement between the
four companies a number of new international wireless telegraph
services are to be opened in the early future. In order that com-
mercial wireless telegraphy and telephony should be developed to
the best advantage in the interests of the public and of inter-
national commerce, it has been decided that the companies should
not erect any stations which would entail the harmful radiation out-
side an agreed radius of harmonics or secondary waves which are
beyond the definite wavebands allotted to each particular station.

Business Items, &c.

Wilkinson Bros., electricians, of Eldon-street, Barnsley. have
recently opened new showrooms at 15, The Arcade, Market-hill.
Barnsley.

Mr. G. Lock, late of the Surbiton Electric Company, has com-
menced business as an electrical engineer at 164, Thornhill-road,
Tolworth, Surbiton.

Arthur Jones & Company, of 15. Dock-street, Middlesbrough,
have been appointed sub-agents for Middlesbrough and Teeside
under the Simplex and Credenda joint sales service.

Green & Smith, Ltd., electrical engineers and contractors,
Albert Works, Meadow-lane. Leeds, have l>een appointed sole
agents in the West Riding of Yorkshire for Greenwood & Batley.
Ltd., Leeds, a.c. and d.c. motors, dynamos, and alternators, and
are open to receive inquiries for complete electric light and power
plants, also a.c. and d.c. motors, dynamos, and switchgear.

John M. Henderson & Company announce that they have made
arrangements with Mr. F. G. Mitchell, of The Mitchell
(Conveyor & Transporter Company, contracting engineers, Atlantic
House. 45-50. Holborn-viaduct. London, E.C. 1. to undertake the
manufacture of Krom crushers, Rraxecon mills, and new-type Kent
mills for that company. They have also acquired joint selling
lights of these machines.

It is announc':'d that the United States Government have with-
drawn their action against the Postal Telegraph Company for the
recovery of £500 000 alleged to have been advanced to the Postal
Telegraph Company during the period of Federal control of tele-
graph communications. The company, as well iis the Commercial
Cable Company, are subsidiaries of the Mackay Comprnies, who were
strong opponents of Mr. Burleson's effort to take over tlie control of
cable comniunicationfi.

May 5, 1922

The Electrician.

513

Imperial Notes.

Possible Trade Openings.

The Shawinigan Water & Power Company has increased its
capital from $20 000000 to §40 000 000.

St. George (N.S.W.) County Council has in course of erection
(renorating plant for supplying current to the towns of Hogarth,
Sexley, Rockdale, and Hurstville.

In the report of the New Brunswick Electric Power Commis-
sion for 1921 it is stated that there are undeveloped water power
resources in the Province capable of yielding 200 000 h.p. con-
tinuously. Apart from the Grand Falls, estimated at 90 000 h.p.,
the various falls vary from 1 000 to 10 000 h.p.

The Australian Postmaster-General recently informed a Sydney
deputation, who complained of the inefficient telephone service,
that this was due to the inadequacy of the sums voted by Parliament
for the service, and the delay caused by having to wait for Parlia-
mentary sanction to orders for materials. To bring the service up
to date would require £9 000 000.

Tlie accounts of the Adelaide (S. Australia) Municipal Tram-
ways Trust for the half-year ended January 31 show revenue
£288 696, operating expenses £206 249, and net surplus of £3 569,
after providing for instalment of loans, interest, &c. The Trust
is unanmiously in favour of early connection of the Port Adelaide
system to the Adelaide lines in" order to reduce the loss on the
former. Fifty additional cars were on order at the time the report
was issued, and plans were being prepared for various extensions
of tramways under the control of the Trust.

Foreign Notes.

An electrical crematorium has been opened in Osaka.

The Griesheim Electron Chemical Works, Germany, are selling, it
is stated, some of their patents to United States interests.

It is announced that a Overman firm has secured a contract for
rebuilding Petrograd, including the restoration of the tramways
of the .city.

The Chinese Ministry of Commiuiications has decided to install
a long distance telephone between Nanking, Chinkiang, Yangchow,
Kiangying, and Shanghai. The material for this work will be sup-
plied by the Japanese branch of the Western Electric Company of
New York through its agents, the China Electric Company, Ltd.,
of Shanghai.

A Commission has been appointed by the Dutch Government to
examine a scheme for ei-ecting five large power stations, which are
to be linked up by a 50 000 V cable. One station will be in Amster-
dam, one in Rotterdam, one in Dutch Brabant, and another in the
Dutch coal-mine area. The situation for the fifth station has not
yet been chosen.

The water power at St. Martin de Landres, Herault (France), is
being developed by an agricultural co-operative society in order to
provide electricity in thirty-seven communes. The projected station
will be able to supply 1 500 h.p. for eight months, and for the
remainder of the year at least 500 h.p. The necessary capital (three
million francs) will be provided by members of the society, and
electric current will be used for light, power, and domestic purposes.

Miscellaneous.

A NEW X-RAY apparatus was formally opened at Clayton Hospital,
Wakefield, on Monday by Sir Edward Broth^rton, by whom it has
been presented.

The India Rubber, Gutta Percha & Telegraph Works Company
have been awarded the first prize (£1 400) in the Air Ministry com-
petition for Safety Fuel Tanks for Aircr.aft.

Prof. Alexander Horne has notified his intention to resign on
June 30 from the Chair of Engineering at Robert Gordon's Tech-
nical College, Aberdeen, having been appointed head of the Poly-
technic School for Engineerinp, London.

A complaint has been made that optical and scientific instru-
ments manufactured in Germany are being sold in the United
Kingdom at prices below those at which British goods can be profit-
ably manufactured, and the Board of Trade have referred the
matter to a committee to consider the question of the impocsition of a
duty under Part II. of the Safeguarding of Industries Ast on such
Germa>n goods. The committee will hear evidence on May 15.

Obituary.

The death occurred at Leigh-on-Sea on April 22 of Mr. James
F. Clunas, who for the last four years had been attached to the
staff of Vickers, Ltd., in their electrical, and latterly in the hydro-
electric, department. Mr. Clunas was trained and started his
engineering career in the works of Bruce, Peebles & Company, and
subsequently served in the London office of that firm. Previous to
the outbreak of War, he had been a number of years in the office
of Tozer, Kemsley & Millburn. whose service he left to volunteer
for Service. He served in the Roval Naval Volunteers Signal
Division, having gone through the (Jallipoli Campaign from the
second day until the withdrawal, and afterwards served a year
and a-half in Flanders, when he was invalided out of the Army,
owing to an accident. Mr, Clunas' cheerful, straightforward, and
conscientious disposition had gained him a wide circle of friends,
who will be grieved to hear of his sudden death.

A Western Canadian firm of wholesalers and distributors of
electrical supplies desire to get in touch with United Kingdom manu-
facturers of radio-telephone apparatus and supplies, including tubes
and bulbs. .

A firm of machinery merchants and agents in Christchurch, with
connections throughout the Dominion of New Zealand, desire to
receive catalogues from manufacturers of engineers' eupplies
(mechanical and electrical), motor accessories, &c. The firm, who
have shipping agents on this side, specially desire the catalogues of
manufacturers who exhibited at the recent British Industries Fairs.
Particulars can be obtained from the Department of Overseas Trade
(Re.f. No. 462).

H.M. Vice-Consul at St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, reports
that a local firm, which has secured the concession for lighting the
town with electricity, is anxious to obtain an agency for a United
Kingdom manufacturer of electric lighting house fixtures (switches,
lamp sockets, reflectors, insulated wire, &c.), and for incandescent
electric lamp bulbs of 200, 100, 32, and 20 c.p. The firm also
require quotations for fixtures for electric (incandescent) street
lamps. Applications for name and address must be sent to the
Department of Overseas Trade (Ref. No. 475).

H.M. Trade Commissioner at Winnipeg (Mr. L. B. Beale) has
recently been consulted by a Western Canadian company, regarding
the supply of transformers. Mr. Beale states that the general type
in use throughout Western Canada is a single-phase service trans-
former, pole type, 60 cycle, 2 200 to 110/220 V. The prices in all
cases quoted for these transformers include cut-outs and hangers.
For the guidance of United Kingdom firms he has secured from the
Winnipeg Hydro-Electric System details of tenders received during
the past month for all sizes of transformers (single and three-phase).
He has also forwarded to the Department of Overseas Trade, from
whom further paticulaxs may be obtained, a rough sketch of the
type of transformer that is in use in Western Canada.

Openings for Trade in the Netherlands.

Extracts from the Dutch press of recent dates include the follow-
ing, which may lead to openings for British trade : —

The N.V. pVovinciale Utrechtsche Electriciteits Mij. (Provincial
Electric Supply Company of Utrecht), of 32. Catharijnesingel,
Utrecht, are prepai'ing plans, in co-operation with the management
of the municipal electric works and tramways (Nicolaas Beetsstraat
3, Utrecht), for the building of a large provincial electric power
station near Utrecht.

Proposals have been put before Rotterdam Town Council to extend
the telephone exchange bv an additional building with a capacity
of 20 000 numbers. Estimate Gld. 450 000. It is also proposed to
build an additional electric power station, which will probably have
three generating sets of 1 500 kW each. Estimate. Gld. 600 000.

In connection with works to be carried out in the Prise d'Eau, ot
the Dune Waterworks, and at the pumping station, " Leiduin." pro-
posals have been put before the Town Council of Amsterdam for the
erection of a pumping station and the adoption of electrically-driven
pumps at the st-ations on the Westerkanaal and the Barnaart-
Schusterkanaal ; the laying down of a l.t. cable and of the necessary
telephone communication: the erection and eouipment of a trans-
former sub-station in the pumping station at the Barnaart-Schuster-
kanaal : the erection of a steam dynamo with condensinc plant for
the existing Laval steam turbine at the pumping station, " Leiduin."

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

An illustrated pamphlet, entitled Modern Welding Methods.
has been issued by Mr. C. L. Jones. Many patents covering im-
provements in welding methods and welding material have been
filed by Mr. Jones, to whom also is said to be due the discovery
of how to weld effectively alloy metals by the use of metal electrodes
which will produce in the weld metal of the same composition as the
metal welded. The illustrations show work being carried on in
Mr. Jones's welding shops at Islington.

Great strides have been made since the war by Fullers* United
Electric Works, Ltd., in the manufacture of their "Ebonite '
mouldings, and the firm state that they consider they are now
equipped to compete with Continental manufacturers m most of
the mouldings of which these firms held the monopoly. List
No. 150 A. recently published, illustrates the variety of mouldings
the companv now manufacture, and includes telephone component*,
insulators, motor-car radiator caps, knobs, lead conduits, steermg
wheels, accumulator lids, stoppers, separators and grids, also con-
tainers for accumulators.

Two excellently produced and fully illustrated publications are to
hand from Metropolitan-Vickers Electric.u, Company. Publica-
tion No. 7 874/2, entitled " Powea: in the Textile Mill," deals with
both electrical and mechanical drive, and the illustrations show
typical examples of installations carried out by the firm in this
country, including electrical installations at the Premier Mills Com-
panv. "Stalvbridge; James Halliwell'i Townsfield Mills, Darwen ;
Peel i\Iills. Burv ; T. Ashton Harrison & Company; John Haigh &
Sons, Huddeisfield ; Joshua Hoyle & Sons, Summerseat. Publicati<m
7 840/2, "The Electrical Drive and Control of Machine Tools,"
embodies the results of the firm's investigations in regard to the
individual electrical drive and control of machine tools, which for
tools requiring approximately 5 h.p. or above has. they claim, an
overwhelming advantage over the group system.

544

The Electrician.

May 5, 1922

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.
British Electric Transformer Company.

The nineteenth ordinary general meeting of this company was held
at Winchester House, E.G., on Tuesday, May 2, Mr. A. F. Berry
(the chairman) presiding.

In moving the adoption of the report and accounts, the chairman
compared the items in the accounts with those of the previous year,
the principal point being the addition of £47 000 to the freehold
land, buildings, plant, machinery account, &c., the bulk of which
represented new plant and machinery installed during the past year.
The loan on mortgage and interest accrued, amountmg to £31,851,
had disappeared from the balance sheet a6 being paid off in full.
Of the available cash, £68 536 had been invested, and such invest-
ments had since been sold, the money realised being reinvested as
opportunity afforded, so that it could be readily used when required
for manufacturing purposes. The general charges on profit and loss
account were £10 500 more than the previous year, but gross profit
on trading had increased by £40 000 and net profit by over £21 000.
Out of the available balance of £97 594 they \vere able to pay for
the fourth year in succession a dividend of 10 per cent., plus 2^ per
cent, bonus, and to carry forward £12 708. This was the nineteenth
annual meeting, and none of the previous years had shown anything
60 good.

A Difficult Period.

Continuing, the chairman said : We have been, and are going,
through times of such difficulty of late, that I cannot help feeling
that the time may not be distant when the strong confidence of the
shareholders will be needed to help us tide over the one or more
years during which it may be impossible to produce the splendid
results to which we are by now accustomed and therefore expect.
To-day it would have been pleasant to say nothing but those things
that please.

We have, however, at the annual general meeting, always
endeavoured to give to the shareholders as much information as we
could, and where it has been in any way possible to forecast results
we have endeavoured to do so. You may remember that last year
we started with 50 per cent, more work in hand (in money value,
or 30 per cent, more in horse power) than we had at the beginning
of 1920. This year we started with roughly 60 per cent, less work
in hand (calculated in horse power, it would be still worse in money
value) than we had at the beginning of 1921. This work in hand
will not carry with it the same ratio of profit which we looked
forward to at our last year's meeting. The difficulties due to this
shortage of work, magnified as they are by strikes and lock-out
troubles, cannot be overlooked.

Some Signs of Improvement.

Last year I ventured the opinion that " The next few years
will test the capacity of even the best captains of industry." Some
of us hoped that adversity would bring the different interest in the
ranks of industry rather closer together, but we all know this is a
state of affairs to be wished for and worked for rather than one
accomplished. It appears to me that the active minorities, whose
business or avowed intention it is to make trouble between the
different members of the various British industries' teams, are
having their own way far too much, and I fear that industry will
not prosper as we desire until its natural leaders are actually
encouraged to lead. You are well aware that the Stock Exchange,
which usually bases its opinions and judgment upon the ideas of
those best able to advise it, are indicating in no uncertain way
their belief in a return of comparatively good times.

There are signs, too, in the heavier industries of some improve-
ment, but I shall be agreeably surprised if the return of prosperity
will be sufficient to enalile ordinary dividends of any appreciable
value to be obtained, at any rate, for the ne.xt year. The.se
extremely bad times through which we are passing can be made to
have their uses, and in a company such &" ours there is very much
to do in the way of staff work and co-ordination of effort with other
sections of the indu.'*try. It is only by a continnance and even an
improvement on the efforts of office and factory staff that we shall
fit ourselves to play our full part in those better times wlhich some-
where ahead we are steering and working for.

The Result of Prudent Planning.

Few of the shareholders outside this company realise what an
effort it has been to achieve the results shown. Tl)ey are the result
of a carefully thought out policy carried out loyally and efficiently
in the main by office and works staff, and it is a ].'o;isur6 once more
to be able to thank all those who have pulled iheir full weight
during the past year and enabled us to accomplis'i what we have
done. Some of you may be shareholders in concerns which are con-
sidered less fortunate than ourselves. I may tell you that unless
our plans had been laid long ago with the greatest prudence aiicf
carried out with persistent care, we might, even during this past
year, have found ourselves with a heavy loss instead of record
profits. I do not mention these facts in .any boastful spirit, but 1
wish shareholdcl's to appreciate the position and times through which
we are passing.

Once again it is my pleasure, on behalf of the board to thank not
only those of the company's employees who have done their best
in the company's interests during the past year, but also those share-
holders who do their utmost to make it possible for themselves and
their fellow shareholders, including Iho.se who work in office and
factory, to derive the greatest advantage from this company by
taking an intelligent intere.st in its products. On the other hand,
it sometimes surprises me how little many of our shareholders do

to further their own general and particular interest in this company,
in spite of my requests made from year to year that they should take
an interest in their company's products if they desire to take the
maximum interest out. The real and ascertained value of what is
done by the comparatively few gives a very clear indication of what
great benefits to themselves and the company would result from
individual interest and action by the many. For instance, share-
holders might well go into electrical shops of all descriptions and
ask about " Thicity " goods — " ' Tricity ' as Advertised " —
" How it can help ME — Where — Why— and to what extent." Such
action on your part may appear small to you, but please think of
its effect taken with that of thousands of others in and out of this
company. The report and accounts were adopted unanimously.

Indo-European Telegraph Company.

Presiding last week at the annual meeting of the Indo-Exiropean
Telegraph Company, Mr. J. Herbert Tritton said that they were
still without the necessary information from other administrations
to enable them to close the books for 1921. The investments con-
tinued to show an appreciation, while, having regard to actual
political developments, the position of the Russian assets might be
regarded in a somewhat more favourable light ; the directors were
therefore of opinion that any drastic step, such as writing off, need
not at the moment be taken. With regard to the final dividend for
1921, the equalisation of dividends fund was, as the shareholders
were informed at the last meeting, now exhausted, and the totaa
dividend for 1921 was, therefore, restricted to 7 per cent. The
directors had at last good news to communicate. The Polish con-
cession was signed some time back. Within the last few days they
had been advised by the Russian Department of Posts and Tele-
graphs that their concession from the Moscow Government was
signed on April 12. This was a very important fact, as the con-
cession covei'ed the whole territory traversed by their line from
the Polish frontier on the west to the Persian frontier on the east,
transiting various Federated States, who had also approved the con-
cession. Their concession from Persia was already in existence, and
that from the German Government, although not actually signed,
owing to international politics, had for a long time been agreed in
principle, and should offer no difficulty.

The condition of the company's line was more satisfactory than had
been expected. They were informed from a reliable source that the
line was workable for a stretch of over 200 miles north-west of
Odessa, while east of Odessa a similar state of affairs existed for 300
miles into the Crimea. Beyond the Straits of Kertch the line was in
working order between Ekaterinodar and Tiflis. Between Tiflis and
Erivan there was a short section where the repairs had not yet been
completed. The section Erivan-Djoulfa, on the Russo-Persian
frontier, had undergone repair, and was now in working order, as
was also the company's Persian section, Djoulfa to Teheran. The
Black Sea cable, Odessa-Constantinople, was again in working
order, and, they understood, had already been officially opened by
the Soviet Government representatives at Odessa. This cable would,
therefore, shortly be able again to carry the classes of traffic formerly
dealt with by it, and would, they hoped, help to re-establish business
relations generally with Southern Russia and the Black Sea ports.
They were also informed by the Indo-European telegraph depart-
ment that their Persian lines were in good order. The most arduous
part of their work was undoubtedly the section from the German
and Polish frontier on the west to the Polish-Russian frontier on
the east. Much of their line in that territory had absolutely dis-
appeared as a separate international line, and where three or four
wires were suspended there were now ten to twenty of all sorts,
including telephone wires ; they, therefore, in accord with the Polish
Government, arrived at the conclusion that their line must be rebuilt
in a new location — namely, along the gre;.t chaussi'es, or high roads.
The directors hoped before long to be able to announce that the
Indo route was once more carrying international traffic, after being
totally interrupted since July 31, 1914.

National Electric Construction Company.

In moving the adoption of the report and accounts at the annual
meeting of the National Electric CoNSTRrcTiox Company last
week, Mr. G. H. Nisbett (the chairman) said that the year's work-
ing had again .-hown an improvement, and the balance of profit
amounted to £9 681, compared with £6 726 in 1920. Adding the
balance of £8 538 brought forward, there was a total available of
£18 219. It was proposed to write off £1 000 from the sum of
£4 510, at which the free-wired installations appeared in the books,
to start a genera.1 reserve fund with the sum of £3 000, and to pro-
vide a similar sum for a reserve for equalisation of dividends, with
a view to providing as far as possible for the payment of a steady
dividend in spite of the fluctuations which were inevitable with a
trading company. It was further proposed that £1 300 should be
added to the reserve on the Dewsbury and Ossett Tramways, thus
providing a total reserve for renewals of £2 000. A dividend of 6
per cent, on the ordinary capital was recommended, leaving £4819
to be carried forward. The Debenture Redemption Fund stood at
£25 090, as compared with £21700 the year before. The overdraft
at the bank was £7 997 at the date of the balance-sheet, as com-
pared wifli £12 003, but they had now a balance to their credit of
over £4 000. Contracts in course of completion (less pa.vments on
account) wore only £1736, as compared with .£12106 last year, but
they had reason to think that some further business of value would
shortly be in hand. The expenditure on the Wisbech Electric Light
& Power Company still continued. This concern was doing very
well, and it followed that with a light and power conii>any the better
it did the more the capital evpenditure increased for the provision
of additional plant, mains, and services.

May 5, 1922

The Electrician.

545

The directors of the City of Buenos Ayres Tramways Company
(1904) have declared a dividend of Is. 3d. per share (5 per cent, per
annum), less tax, for three months ended March 31.

Chagford and Devon Electric Light Company are offering for
public subscription £8 000 7^ per cent, guaranteed firbt mortgage
debenture6 in 1600 debentures of £5 each at par, and 5 000 9 per
cent, cumulative preference shares of £1 each at par.

Mexboro' & SwiNTON Tramways Company announce a dividend
of 2^ per cent., tax free, for the year. The sum of £2 000 has been
placed to reserve renewal account, £245 written off for plant, &c.,
£500 for income tax, leaving £246 to be carried forward.

The sum of £3 064 on account of the sinking fund of the British
Columbia Electric Railway Company's Vancouver Power Deben-
tures^ 1923, and first mortgage debentures is held by the British
Empire Tiust Company, who are prepared to receive offers for
sale of the debentures up to iVIay 2^.

The directors of the Great Northern Telegraph Company of
Denmark recommend a total dividend and bonus of 22 per cent, for
1921, including 5 per cent, already paid. The sum of £33 333 has
been set aside for reserve and renewal, £55 555 for pensions, and
£222 222 for extraordinary taxes, leaving £302 679 to be carried
forward.

The scheme of arrangement (Electrician, April 28), considered
last week at the meeting of the eight per cent. t«n-year note-
holders and shareholders of the Soui-hern Brazil Electric Com-
pany, was unanimously adopted. The meeting of the six per cent,
mortgage debenture holders was adjourned to next week in the
absence of the necessary quorum.

The income of the Direct United States Cable Company for
the year ended March 31, 1922, amounted to £45 224, plus £4 265
brought in, making a total of £49 489. After providing for income
tax, directors' fees and administration expenses, a balance remained
of £37 913, out of which the directors have paid a dividend of 4 per
cent, for the year, carrying forward £3 916.

The net profit of Craigpark Electric Cable Company for the
year ended March 31 was £12 054, after making provision for cor-
poration tax, making, with £2 160 brought in, £14 214. The direc-
tors recommend that £2 000 be placed to depreciation of machi-
nery, &c., £2 000 to reserve, and thiit a dividend be paid on 37 500
ordinary shares at the rate of 12^ per cent, for the year, leaving
£2 676 to be carried forward, subject to directors' fees.

The net profit of the International Lighting Association for
1921 was £1 046, making, with the balance brought in, less dividend
on the ordinary shares and directors' fees, £1 815. After payment
of a dividend on the preference shares at the rate of 5 per cent.
for the year, the balance of profit was £1 042, which the directors
recommend be carried forward, subject to directors' fees^ The
report states that the dividend on the 6 per cent, cumulative prefer-
ence shares of the Para Electric Railways & Lighting Company is
in arrear from November 30, 1920.

In moving the adoption of the report and accounts at the annual
meeting of the City of Santos Improvements Company, last week,
Mr. N. B. Dickson said that the progressive results of the company's
operations for the last two years had not been maintained owing
to the acute depression, both financial and eommercial, which had
existed in Brazil. The approximate trade returns for 1921, how-
ever, indicated that the adverse trade balaiice of the country would
be about £1 800 000, against £17 000 000 in 1920. That implied some
improvem.ent in the financial situation, and they might be justified
in hoping that during the current year a favourable trade balance
would be secured. An abstract of the accounts appeared in our issue
of April 21.

The accounts of the Radio Corporation of America for 1921 show
gross income from transoceanic communications $2138 626; gross
sales. $1468 920; from marine service, $553 298; making a total
of $4 160 844. After deducting general operating and administra-
tion expenses, depreciation of plant and cost of sales ($3 762 231),
a balance of .$398 613 remained, making, with other income,
$426 800, applied against amoitisation of patents. No dividend
was paid during the year on either the preferred or the common
stock outstanding. The report states that the current liabilities
have been reduced bv about $930 000. and that current assets exceed
current liabilities by nearly $4 000 000. During the year $3 000 000
was spent in extending plant and equipment, investments :n which
now total $12 702 086. Reserves for depreciation and obsolescence
of plant and amortisation of patents amount to $2 318 135.

The accounts for the year ended December 31, 1921, of the
Madras Electric Tramways (1904), Ltd., show a gross profit of
£34 661. After debiting interest and London office expenses, making
provision for the debenture stock sinking fund, and transferring
£10 000 to depreciation and renewal account, there remains a balance
of £9 744. To this has to be added the sum of £5 556 brought for-
ward from last year, making a total of £15 299. From this sum is
deducted dividends on the preference shares paid, less income tax,
on September 30, 1921, and March 31, 1922, amounting to £6 000,
leaving a balance of £9 299. The directors recommend the payment
of a dividend on the ordinary shares of 5 per cent, for the year,
free of income tax (£2 863), leaving £6 436 to be carried to next
year's accounts. The traffic receipts and running expenses in rupees
show decreases of 15'5 per cent, and 10'5 per cent, respectively on
1920. Repairs and maintenance have been debited to revenue, and
special improvements and renewals to " depreciation and renewal
account." as usual The debenture stock sinking fund now amounts
to £13 691.

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Eccles Town Council. May 8.— Supply and erection of overhead
distributing mains for 200 houses. Particulars from the Borough
Electrical Engineer, Cawdor-street, Patricroft.

Mountain Ash Urban Council. May 8. — Extra high-tension
overhead and underground transmission mains. Specification from
the Electrical Engineer.

Bradford Corporation. May 9. — Wiring and fitting 120
houses, comprised in the municipal housing schemes. Specification
from the City Architect, Town Hall, Bradford.

Fleetwood Urban Council. May 9. — One 1000 kW d.c. turbo
set, with switchgear and condenser. Specification from the Engineer
and Manager, Electricity Works, Fleetwood.

Great Western Railway. May 15. — Supply for three or six
months from June 1 of (18) telegraph instruments, (19) electrical
apparatus (insulators), &c., (21) telegraph ironworks and tools, (22)
telegraph drysalteries, (24) electric lamps. Samples and patterns
may be seen and tender forms obtained on application at the office
of the Stores Superintendent, Swindon.

Rathmines and Rathgar Urban Council. May 15. — Two 200 kW
converting sets, with high and low tension switchgear, cable connec-
tions, &c. Specification can be obtained at the Electricity Works.

Edinburgh Corporation. May 15. — Six or twelve months' supply
of electiicity meters. Particulars from the Engineer and Manager,
Electricity Department, Dewar-place, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Corporation. May 16. — 1 180 tons steel tram rails,
45 tons fishplates, 110 tramcar trucks, 110 trolley standards, and one
electric welding plant. — Specifications, &c., from the Tramways Man-
ager, 2, St. James's-square, Edinburgh.

High Commissioner of India. May 26. — Insulator cups, porce-
lain or glass. Particulars from Director-General, India Store
Department, Belvedere-road, Lambeth, S.E. 1.

Stepney Electricity Department. June 8. — Manufacture, supply
and erection complete of (a) three water-tube boilers, together with
chimneys, economisers and other accessories; [b] two 10 000 kW
turbo-alternators with condensers, accessories and switchgear.
Particulars from Mr Wm. C. P. Tapper, Borough Electrical
Engineer and Manager, 27, Osboi-n-street, Whitechapel, E. 1.

Hackney Electricity Department. June 14. — Pipework and
valves. Particulars from the Borough Electrical Engineer, 306,
Mare-street, Hackney, E. 8.

KiNGSTON-TTPON-Htn.L CiTY COUNCIL. — Automatic telephone ex-
change for Hessle. Particulars from Mr. T. Holme, Mytongate,
Hull.

Powell Duffryn Steam Co.«, Company. — Six months' supply of
copper wire and electrical accessories. Forms of tender, &c. , from
the Stores Manager, Aberaman Offices, Aberdare.

AUSTRALIA.

Department of Public Works, New South Wales. May 29. —
*Supply, delivery and erection at the State power-house station.
Uhr's Point, Sydney, together with the testing and maintenance
thereof for a period of three months, of one 1 0(X) kW steam turbo-
generator, complete with ^11 fittings and accessories.

Cheadle .\nd Gatley Urban Council has accepted the tender ot
the Macintosh Cable' Company, for cables for the electricitv scheme,
at £18 736 17s. 9d.

Ventnor Urban Council has accepted the offer of the Isle of
Wight Electric Light & Power Company for street lighting for three
years for a quarterly payment of £68 15s., plus 6d. per unit for
current consumed.

London County Council have accented the tender of Emerson
Bros, (lowest tender received) for the installation of electric light-
ing and firo alarms at the Intermediate Schools. Swaffield-road,
Wandsworth, at £366 12s. Forty-seven tenders were received, the
highest being £1 148 15s.

Sunderland Corporation have accepted ^he following tenders :
British Insulated & Helsbv Cables. Ltd.. 600 yards 0'15 four-core
cable ; Callender's Cable & Construction Company, service boxes and
link boxes: Armstrong, Addison & Company, capping: Ferguson,
Pailin, Ltd.. low-pressure switch panels: Cambridge & Paul Scien-
tific Instrument Company, temperature and flue-gas recorders; Con-
solidated Pneumatic Tool Company, electric drilling machine.

Books Received.

"Electricity." By Svdnev G. Starling. A.R.C.Sc, B.Sc.
F.Inst.P. (London : Longmans, Green k Company.) Pp. viii.-f24,5.
ids. 6d. net.

"A Coui-se in Electrical Engineering," Vol. II., Alternatine
Curren's. By Chester L. Dawes. S.B. (London : McGraw Hill
Book Company, Inc.) Pp. xiv.-f526. 20s. net.

" Economics of Electrical Distribution." By P. 0. Revneau,
M E.Mem. A.I.E.E.. and H. P. Seelye, B.C. E.Assoc.. Member
A.I.E.E. (London : McGraw Hill Book Company Inc.) Pp. vii

-f209. 12s. 6d. net.

• Particulars from the Departm'fnt of Overteaa Trade.

546

The Electrician.

May 5, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note.— The publication of extracts from the "Registry of
County Court Judgment* " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Regist^ed judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]
BARRAGL0T3GH, W., Ridgemont, Wyke, electrical engineer.

£15 7s. 7d. Mar. 5.
BURROWS, Frederick, 52, Victoria-road, Clapham Common.

electrician. £15 3s. Feb. 20.
HURLINGHAM ELECTRIC COMPANY, 28, New King's-road,

Fulham, electricians. £11 lis.. Feb. 28.
MARCUS, C. A., 212, High-road, Willesden-green, electrical

engineer. £17 Os. Id. Feb. 24.
PERRIN, Francis Leopold, 5 and 7, College-street, Northamp-
ton, electrical engineer. £47 2s. 5d. Mar. 1.
SMART. Mr. W. N., Cross-street^ Oldham, electrical engine©!-.

£32 17s. 7d. Mar. 4.
SOHO ELECTRICAL WORKS, 6, Soho-street, Islington, Liver-
pool, electrical engineers. £19 Is. 3d. Feb. 28
SPRINGER, Robert, 253, Plymouth-green, Manchester, electrical
engineer. £44 9s. lOd. Mar. 1.

Deed of Arrangement.

GRIFFITH, Benjamin, trading as EXCEL ELECTRIC COM-
PANY, 30, South Castle-street, Liverpool. In this matter (see
our last week's issue) the following are creditors : — ^Siemens
Bros. & Company, Ltd., London, £68; Newman Electric Com-
pany, London, £32; Baxendale Bros., Ltd., Liverpool, £946;
Moore & Barker, Ltd., Liverpool, £63; British Thomson-
Houston Company, Liverpool, £52 ; General Electric Company,
Liverpool, £41; Woolliscroft, J. H., & Company, Liverpool,
£18; Downes & Davies, Liverpool, £15; Buying, G., Liverpool,
£15; Burns, D., Liverpool, £200; Thomas, F. G., Liverpool,
£80; Ward & Goldstone, Ltd., Salford, £22.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
tie commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date. 5

LLANGEFNI ELECTRIC LIGHT & POWER COMPANY, LTD.
Registered April 20, transfer of mortgage securing £700, to
bank, charged on power station and electric light works. Mill-
street, Llangefni. *£2 400. Jan. 14, 1921.
NEWCASTLE & DISTRICT ELECTRIC LIGHTING COM-
PANY, LTD. Registered April 15, debentures dated March 27,
1922, securing £10 000 and further syms not exceeding in all
£20 000; general charge. *£301 180. April 7, 1922.
OMEGA LAMPWORKS, LTD., Lo: Jon, S.W. Registered
April 18, £1000 debentures; general charge. *£1 000
December 27, 1920. ^

WILKINSON (THOMAS) (ARNSIDE), LTD. . electrical engineers.
Registered April 18, £10 250 debentures and mortgage collaterai
thereto, to bank; general charge and land and works at Arnside
*Nil. May 14, 1921.

Satisfactions.

ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LTD., London, E.G.
Satisfaction registered April 19, £47 200, part of amount out-
standing July 1, 1908.

Private Meetings.

[Inclusion under this htading does vot necessarily imply failure.
Many prix-ate meetings are called merely for the purpose of the
debtor consulting his creditors as to his position when he mai/ not
be insolvnt.]

HUBERT D. CARTER (BANGOR), LTD. (in voluntary liquida-
tion), electrical merchants, &c., Bangor. The statement of affairs
f (resented at the statutory meeting of creditors showed ranking
labilities of £2,073. The indebtedness to the trade was £1 035.
Assets were estimated to realise £617. or a deficiency as regarded
the creditors of £1 456. The compr Vy was registered in Febru-
ary, 1920, when it took over an existing business as a going
concern. The company was to act as a distributing agency for
another concern on a 10 per cent, basis. The purchase price
paid by the company was £2 500, practically all of wliich was
satisfied by the allotment of fully-paid shares. A petition has

been presented for the compulsory winding-up of the company,
but it was stated at the meeting that if the voluntary liquida-
tion was continued Mr. Carter would withdraw his claim for
it794. Several creditors expressed the opinion that it would
not be advantageous for compulsory liauidation to take place,
and a resolution was passed confirming tne voluntary liquidation
with G. G. Poppleton. of Poppleton & Appleby, Birmingham,
as joint liquidator.
WATTS, WILLIAMS & COMPANY, LTD. (in voluntary liquida-
tion), electrical engineers, Leysfield-road Works, Goldnawk-
road. Shepherd's Bush, London, W. At a meeting of creditors,
held recently, a statement of affairs was submitted which
showed ranking liabilities of £25 607, against assets estimated
to realise £11027. After allowing £198 for preferential claims,
the assets were estimated to realise £10 829. or a deficiency of
£14 778. The company was registered in April, 1920, with a
nominal capital of £60 000, and shares to the value of £35700
were issued for cash. A further 5 000 shares of £1 each were
issued as fully paid to the British Generator Company, Ltd., as
consideration for assets transferred. The company nad manu-
factured lighting sets, but had experienced great difficulty in
perfecting them, while the sole selling agents recently went into
voluntary liquidation owing Watts, Williams & Company, Ltd.,
£2 200, of which nothing had yet been paid. The company
had lalso carried on a welding business and repair shops.
During the year ended March 31, 1921, there was a loss on the
trading of £8 350, while since that date there had been further
losses aggregating £16 000. Owing to the heavy losses the
directors and their friends had advanced substantial sums to
enable the company to continue, and they were now cash
creditors for rather more than £18 OOC. The creditors decided
to confirm the voluntary liquidation of the company, with Mr.
F. J. Carpenter, of W. B. Keen & Company, C.A., 23, Queen
Victoria-street, E.C., as liquidator.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but tee
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

BRITISH GENERATOR COMPANY, LTD. F. J. Carpenter, of
W. B. Keen & Company, 23, Queen Victoria-street, London.
E.C., appointed liquidator. Meeting of creditors at the offices
of the liquidator on Monday, May 8, at 3 p.m. Particulars of
claims to the liquidator by May 27.

STANTON & COMPANY, LTD., electrical and general eneineers,
Albert-road, Hinckley, Leicestershire (in voluntary liquidation).
Meeting of creditors at the offices of Watson & Meller, 29, Friar-
lajie, Leicester, Monday, May 8, at 3 p.m. Particulars of claims
to the liquidator by May 24.

Bankruptcy Information.

MAYNER, Robert Victor, 62, Harris-street, Peterborough, late
Narrow-street and Wentworth-street, Peterborough, eleotrica!
engineer. First meeting, May 9, 12.15 p.m. Public examina-
tion, June 9, 10.30 a.m.. Law Courts, Peterborough.

MORRISON, Roy Thomas, 82, Lumb-lane, Bradford, electrical
enigneering contractor. First meeting. May 6, 10 a.m., 12,
Duke-street, Bradford. Public examination. May 24, 10 a.m.,
County Court, Manor-row, Bradford.

ORMONDE, Frank Sinclair, in co-partnership with another under
the style of the SOHO ELECTRICAL WORKS, 125, Islington,
Liverpool, electrician. First meeting. May 11, 11 a.m., 11, Dale-
street, Liverpool. Public examinrtion. May 30, 10.30 a.m..
Court House. Government Buildings. Victoria-street, Liverpool.

RIMMER, W. F. (male), 21, Ellesmere-€treet. Patricroft, Lanca-
shire, electrical engineer. Receiving order, April 28. Creditor's
petition.

THREAPLETON, William Walton, Thornbury-drive. Bradford,
electrical, &c. , engineer. Receiving order. April 26. Debtor's
petition. First meeting. May 10. 10.30 a.m., 12, Duke-street,
Bradford. Public examination, May 24, 10 a.m.. County Court,
M.anor-row, Bradford.

Edinburgh Gazette.

LIVINGSTONE & MALCOLM, electricians, 7. Canal-street, Coat-
bridge (James Livingstone & Frank Malcolm, trading as).
Estates sequestrated April 22. Meeting to elect trusted and
commissioners. Library Hall, County Buildings, Airdrie, on
Monday, May 8, at 11.15 a.m.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

CAMP, WILLI. \M. tr.-.ding as WILLIAM CAMP & COMPANY,
Carr-lane, Siaithwaite, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, electrical
engineer. The first meeting of creditors was held recently ai
Huddersfield. The statx-'inent of affairs showed gross liabilitie.s
of .£594, all of which was expected to rank, against assets of
£100, or a deficiency of £494. Debtor attributed his failure to
shortness of capital, bad trade, and ill-health. The case being
a sinnniarv one, was left with the Official Receiver.

HENDERSON, Charles Archibald, 63, Queen Victoria-street, E.C.
At the statutory first meeting of the cieditors, held on Monday,
the Official Receiver reported that, according to statements,
the debtor, shortly after l>eing demobilised in 1919. bought
for £'150, which he borrowed, the business of .^llen &

May 5, 1922

The Electrician*

547

McMaster, insulating materials merchants. The trading was
a success until some nine months ago, when he found himself
short of capital in consequence of guarantees. Certain of his
customers also curtailed their credit when they heard that
it was his intention to manufacture on his own account. He
had been hoping from day to day that friends would provide
the money necessary to equip a factory, but he had done prac-
tically no business for some months past. He roughly esti-
mated his liabilities at £2 000, of which, he said, £500 was
due to moneylenders and the balance in respect of trade
accounts. Those liabilities were, however, apart from contin-
gent liabilities amounting to £20 000 (less £2 000 repaid), which
represented loans to him on security of life policies for
£30 000. Those liabilities were guaranteed jointly and sever-
ally by certain other persons. He added that he had received
no part of the loans in question nor any consideration, and that
the money had been lent to another company. He had roughly
valued his assets at £19 540, excluding the equity of redemp-
tion in a freehold house at Sutton. Efe attributed his present
position to the failure to equip a factory to manufacture the
goods in which he had dealt, and to heavy interest and loans
and guarantees from friends. He was prepared to make an
offer for the payment of 7s. 6d. in the £ to trade creditors.
It was understood that for the purposes of such a proposal the
family creditors would withdraw their claims. On behalf of
creditors, Mr. Webb pointed out that the bankruptcy petition
was adjourned for months to enable the debtor to make a
proposal. He was not very hopeful. The chief creditor, how-
ever, remarked that he was in favour of an adjournment, and
the Official Receiver thereupon adjourned the meeting until
May 22.

MAIDMENT, Percy Charles, electrical engineer, &c., 13, Beau-
champ-place, South Kensington, W. This debtor attended last
week for his public examination on a statement of affairs
showing liabilities of £1 688, all of which were expected to rank
for dividend, and assets £92. Debtor stated that after he was
demobilised in February, 1919, he entered into partnership with
two other persons, and they began business as electrical
engineers, under the style of Wright Brothers & Maidment, at
164, Sloane-street, S.W. They continued together until August,
1919, when the partnership was dissolved. The debtor said that
he agreed to pay his late partners £4 250 for their interest in
the business, stock, lease and fixtures, and he continued the busi-
ness under the style of P. C. Maidment until March of last year,
when he disposed of it for £4 500. He then began to trade as
a builder, decorator and electrical engineer at 13, Beauchamp-
place, where he carried on business until January, when his
stock-in-trade was sold under an execution. He attributed his
insolvency to lack of capital and to bad trade. HTs brother
prepared a balance sheet in October, 1920, which disclosed an
excess of liabilities over assets amounting to £800. In March,
1921, his brother left him, and the debtor, having no knowledge
of book-keeping, had not since kept up the books. He realised
that he was in a very bad way in October, 1920, but, notwith-
standing the loss shown in the balance sheet prepared, he con-
tinued the business in the hope that trade would revive. He
tried to find a purchaser for the business, and that he eventually
did in March, 1921, when his liabilities approximately exceeded
his assets by £1 500. Since starting the business in Beau-
champ-place he had contracted further debts amounting to
£100. To enable him to carry out the purchase he borrowed
£3 600 from his bankers, which loan he had since repaid, and
he also obtained a loan from his father, which was still out-
at-anding. This was the only occasion on which he had been
bankrupt. The examination was concluded.

VIVIAN, ALBERT, electrical engineer, 140, Gray's inn-road. W.C.
Under a receiving order made against this debtor, on April 10,
on the petition of the Burke Electrical Company, of Westminster,
the act of bankruptcy alleged being notice given by the debtor
on March 10 of suspension of payment, the statutory first meet-
ing of creditors was held last week. The debtor in June, 1920,
entered into partnership with another person, and they traded
together as bakers' engineers in Birmingham under the style of
A. Vivian & Company. The business was, however, unsuccess-
ful from the beginning, and in March 1921, the partnership
was dissolved ; his partner taking over the assets and liabilities.
He then met another person, who suggested that he should
begin business by himself. Financial backing was promised
provided that the debtor took two of this person's relatives into
th© business as employees. A sum of £355 was actually provided.
The business, however, from the outset was not very brisk, and
the coal strike affected his trade very adversely. Moreover, not
having sufficient capital, the debtor was unable to buy advan-
tageously, and his business rapidly declined. In January the
other person, who had guaranteed his overdraft at the bank,
stopped his account, at that time overdrawn to the extent of
£140, and through his solicitors applied for repayment of his
advances. The debtor, therefore, placed his affairs in the hands
of another, who immediately took possession of the business and
acted as trustee. A private meeting of the creditors was after-
wards held, when joint trustees of th© estate were appointed.
In March he executed a deed of assignment of his property in
favour of his creditors. He estima.tes his liabilities at £2,200
and values his assets at £140. He attributes his insolvency to
depression in trade and to his having begun the business with-
out sufficient capital. The case remains in the hands of the
Official Receiver as trustee.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY, May 5th (to-day).

The Iron and Steel Institute.
10 a.m. At the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George-
street, London, S.W. 1. Annual meeting.
Royal Society of Arts.
^ 30 p.m. At John-street, London, W.C. 2. Lecture ot.
" Imperial Wireless Communication," by Prof. W. H.
Ecclee, D.Sc, F.R.S.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(London Stthjents' Section.)

7 p.m. At the Institution, Savoy-place, London, W.C. 2. Lec-

ture on "Electrically Oscillatory Discharges," by Mr. R. P.
Howgrave-Graham.

The Junior Institution of Engineers.

8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. Lecturette on " Gold

Casting under Steam Pressure," by Mr. E. N. Ching.
Edinburgh Electrical Society.
8 p.m. At Philosophical Institute, 4, Queen-street, Edinburgh.
Annual meeting.

SATURDAY. May 6th.

R<3yal Instittjtion of Great Britain.
3 p.m. At 21, Albemarle-street, London. W. 1. Lecture on
" Industrial Relationships : (II.) The Problem of Struc-
ture," by Mr. D. H. MacGregor, M.A.

London Association of Foremen Engineers.
6 p.m. At Cannon-street Hotel, London. Sixty-ninth Anni-
versary Festival.

MONDAY. May 8th.

Royal Institution of Great Britain.
5 p.m. At Albemarle-street, London, W. 1. General Meeting.
Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Liverpool Sub-Centre.)
7.15 p.m. At Compton Hotel, Church-street, Liverpool. Third
Annual GeneraJ Meeting.

TUESDAY, May 9th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(East Midland Sub-Centre.)
6.^5 p.m. At Loughborough College, Loughborough. Annual
General Meeting.

THURSDAY. May 11th.

The Optical Society.
7.30 p.m. At the Imperial College of Science and Technology,
London, S.W. 7. Discussion on " Motor-car Head-lighte. "

FRIDAY, May 12th.

Physical Society of London.
5 p.m. At the Imperial College of Science, Sonth Kensington.
L " A New Apparatus for the ^leasurement of the Polarisa-
tion Capacity of Platinum Plates in Sulphuric Acid," by
Dr. A. Griffiths and Mr. W. T. Heys.
2. Demonstration of Some Electrical Properties of Neon-filled
Lamps, by Mr. S. O. Pearson and Mr. H. St. G. Anson.

New Companies.

Gardner Engines, Ireland.

Gardner Engines, Irel.\nd, Ltd. (N.I. 23). Private company.
Reg. in Belfast April 27. Capital, £3 000 in £1 shares. To carry
into effect an agreement between Norris, Henty & Gardners. Ltd.,
and L. Gardners & Sons, Ltd., and to carry on business as mechan-
ical. Electrical engineers, &c. Subscribers : C. Kendrick Edwards,
M. R. Wylie. Secretary : Mary R. Wylie. Registered office : 65,
66, 67, Scottish Temperance-buildings, Donegal-square South,
Belfast.

Invincible Electrical Engineering.

Invincible Electrical Engineering Company, Ltd. (181 286).
Private company. Reg. April 24. Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. To
carry on business as indicated by the title. First directors. J. H.
Challinor, B. A. Kelsall, and C. J. Arnold. Registered office : 134,
Park-lane East, Tipton, Staffs.

Sturge & Baker.

Stijuge & Baker, Ltd. (181 382). Private company. Reg. April
27. Capital, £8 000 in £1 shares (1 500 6 per cent, cumulative pre-
ference and 6 500 ordinary). To take over the business of electrical
accessories manufacturers carried on by W. H. Sturge and E. T.
Baker at Premier Works, Sheepcote-street, Birmingham, as " Sturge
& Baker." Permanent directors : W. H. Sturge and E. T. Baker.
Secretary : E. T. Baker. Registered office : Premier Works, Sheep-
cote-street, Birmingham.

Winsor Engineering.

WiNSOH Engineering Co.mp.\ny, Ltd. (12171) Private company.
Registered in Edinburgh April 25. Capital, £15 GOO in £1 shares.
Ventilating, heating, cooling, air contiitioning, insulating engineers,
&c. First directors : J. Marshall, G. Browning, and T. Neilson.
Registered office : 41, Cogan-street, Pollokshaws, Glasgow.

548

The Electrician.

May 5, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The loUomng al>$tract from $<me of the ipenfieatvmt reetnOy publUhtd have
been tpeeiaUy eompiltd by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent
Ajente, 70 and 72, Chaneery-tane, London, W.C,

Complete Specifications.
170 114 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. & Whitaker, F. P. Dynamo-
electric machines. (14/7/20.) ,-,r-,nlcns
170 117 Nichols, E. F. Electric circuit closers. (16/7/20.) ,„,„,„„,
170 148 Bolton, R. A. R. Construction of electric switches. (3/8/20.)
170 154 Franklin, C. S. Continuous wave telephony and telegraphy.

170 158 Bailey, H. & Pritchard, A. C. Means for use in ihe testing of
internal combustion engine ignition apparatus as employed on
motor vehicles and for remagnetising the permanent magnets of
such apparatus. (14/8/20.) ^ ^ . ^ ,■ ■ ^- .■ ^-l.

170 170 Robinson, J. & Crowther, H. L. Apparatus for indicating tne
reception of sound, light, heat or electricity. (23/8/20.)

170 180 British Thomson-Houston Co. Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Elec-
tric regulating systems. (4/9/20.) ..,,,,

170 191 Stauxig. K., Fritz, O. & March, A. Method of spectrum
analysis of Rontgen rays and for apparatus therefor. (1/10/20.)

170 207 Dick, E. Electrical quick-acting step regulator. (4/11/20.)

170 237 Igranic Electric Co. Ltd. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Co.).
Electric switches. (16/2/21.) ^ ^ ^ ^

170 327 Taogart, .J. Scott-, & Radio Communications Co., Ltd. Construc-
tion of vacuum tubes and the like as used for radio-signalling.

170 331 Brecknell. Munro & Rogers, Ltd., & Willis, A. M. Bow
current-collectors in overhead wire systems of electric traction.
(17/6/20.)
- - Sparking-plugs. (12/7/20.)

Portable dynamo-electric lamp. (14/7/20.)
D. Trolley wheel guides for electric tration.

Automatic step by step switches.
Electrolytic manufacture of com-
(28/4/21, Italy.)

electric indicators

170 344 Hanman, J.

170 357 Poole, G.

170 371 Master, S.
(16/7/20.)

170 375 Stone & Co., Ltd., & Honey, A. E. Dynamo-electric machines.
(16/7/20.)

170 377 Taggart, J. Scott-, Radio Communication Co., Ltd., & Turner,
L. B. Trigger relays especially for use in radio communica-
tion. (17/7/20.) (Addition to 130 408.)

170 378 Taggart, J. Scott-, & Radio Communication Co., Ltd. Modula-
tion systems and the like in radio comn.unication and the like.
(17/7/20.) (Cognate application 25 066/20.)

170 385 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Automatic
Electric Co.). Relays and their application to automatic tele-
phone or like systems. (19/7/20.)

170 400 Riley, G. B. Telephones. (20/7/20.) (Cognate application
4 737/21.)

170 401 Nadaud, C. L. J. B., & Young, F. Electric switches. (20/7/20.)

170 402 Reyrolle & Co., Ltd., A., & Harriman, W. A. Contacts for
electric fuses, cut-outs, and the like. (20/7/20.)

170 414 Lamb, H. R., & Huartson. H. Method of and apparatus for
conveying electric current to a movable truck or the like.
(24/7/20.)

170 420 Sykes Inteiilocking Signal Co., Ltd., W. R., & Sykes, F. J.
Mercury signal aim contact. (26/7/20.)

170 435 C. L. I. Manufacturing Co., Ltd., & Watson, E. A. Control
devices for electric circuits. (9/8/20.) (Cognate application
27 360/20.)

170 459 Joseph, B. C, & Joseph, N. C. Electrically-heated cooking
utensils. ((27/8/20.) (Addition to 158073.)

170 469 Brown, A. G. Sparking-plugs. (6/9/20.) (Addition to 145 348.)

170 472 Atkins. J. Electric switching systems for charging batteries.
(8/9/20.)

170 60J Jackson, W. J. Mellersh- (Taylor, A.). Radio-telegraphy signal-
ling systems. (12/4/20.)

10 728

10 744
10 754
10 791
10 792
10 796
10 812
10815
10 821

10 835
10 836
10 837
10 861

10 871
lOS.'iG
10S87
10 895
10 903

10 904

10 905
10 919
10 923

10 932

10 946
10 953
10 967

10 968

10 975
10 982

10 987

11 006

11007
11008

11009
11027

APPLICATIONS FOE PATENTS

April 18, 1922.

Circuit controlling devices for ignition

&c.

D. C. Williamson.
systems.

H. J. OSBORN. Incandescent lamps, vnreless valves,
S. R. Gibbon. Electric switches.
J. A. Crabtuee. Electric fuses.

A. E.. J. G. &, M. A. Muirhead. Production of radjant energy.
J. B. Belcher. Electric pump.

E. W. O'Hara, W. N. Cheyney & D. Maclachlan. Electric pumps.
E. Lawrench. Apparatus ior recording telephone messages.
British Brass B'ittings, Ltd., Sperryn ": Co. & G. N. Sperryn.

Switches.
E. Schroder. Electric seam welding machines.
E. Schroder. Electric cuff weidin'i »Ti:u".!iines.
E, ScHiioDEu. Electric heating and welding apparatus.
Safety Car Heating & Lighting Co. Storage batteries. (11/3/21,

U.S.) ■

G. Passarge. Wireless telegraphy. (25/4/21, Germany.)
C. Rockley. Selecting devices for telephone systems.
We.stf.rn Electric Co. Inductance devices. (21/5/21, U.S.)

B. Rogge. Elect! ic pocket lamps.
Etab. Gaiffe-Gallot, et Pilon. Radioactive tubes.

France).
CiE d'Entreprises Electro-Mecaniques. Cable guide

drums. (6/5/21. France.)
J. Bally. Commutating switches. (13/7/21, France.)
R. L. Rolfe. Lock for incandescent lamps.
E. J. Halling. Electric condensers.
April 19, 1922.
W. Frisby. Apparatus for automatically

switches.
R. F. Woodburn. Electrodes.
W. Calder. lixnition magnetos.
Metropolitan-Vickers Elec. Co. & F. B.

of cables to electrical apparatus.
X-Rays, Ltd., & A. C. Gunktone. Regulation of

tubes.

H. Kauffmann. Magneto electric machines.
Orientex Handelsges. Electric flatirons. (12/9/21, Germany.)

A. P.. G., C. & P. A. LUNDB:^RG & G. Pegg. Electric switches.

CiE Francaise pour L'ExpLoiTATior DEs Procedes Thomson-
Houston. Automatic traffic distribution for teleply)ne systems.
(19/4/21. France.)

B. T.-H. Co. Suspension devices.

B T.-H. Co. (International General Electric Co.). Electrically

heated devices.

H Baron (Frister Akt. Ges.). Electric flat iron.
J. R, QUAIN. Electric water heaters.

(24/5/21,
for cable

operating electric

Holt. Connection
;as-filled X-ray

11 044 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co.

(29/4/21, U.S.)
11 046 H. Goldschmidt & A. Stock.

pact metallic beryllium
11 047 A. Baderna. Electric cut-outs.

April 20, 1922.
11 060 R. Ainsley. Apparatus for actuatini

engine rooms, &c
11 095 B. R. Charles. Electric heating fabric.
11 121 E Haefely et Cie Akt. Ges. Insulating sleeves for transformers,

&c. (21/4/21. Switzerland.)
11 127 English Electric Co. & W. E. M. Ayres. Protective devices for

electric machines.
11 145 B. T.-H. Co. (Gouverneur). Insulators.
11 154 N. W. McLachlan. Telegraphic sending keys

11164 A. Negromanti. Electric thei-mal fabric. (30/4/21, Italy.)

11165 Scintilla. Switch apparatus for electric starters. (4/5/21,

Switzerland.) i

11 173 H. Wade (Gould Storage Battery Co.). Storage battery separators.

11184 V. Martinetto. Asynchronous induction machine. (2/7/21, Italy.)
April 21, 1922.

11 201 H. Sutton. Tramcara.

11 227 J. Jones. Squirrel cage rotors, &c.

11 259 J. Erskine-Murray. Electro-magnetic apparatus.

11 281 P. Sartory. Electric heating apparatus for hair waving.

11 287 Automatic Telephone Mfg. Co. Telephone systems. (29/3/22,
U.S.)

11295 Soc. Anon, le Carbone. Primary cells. (18/3/21, France.)

11 300 Siemens & Halske A. G. Alternating current rectifiers. (24/5/21,
Germany.)

11 302 General Electric Co., Ltd. Repeaters for railway signalling
systems.

11 306 Landis & Gyr. Supporting core on electrical measuring instru-
ments. (21/4/21, Switzerland.)

11312 Naamlooze Venootschap Philips Gloeilampenfabr. Electric lamps
with light diffusing globes. (28/2/21, Holland.)

11 314 Anc. Etab. Barbier, Benard et Tarenne. Automatic commutating
switches. (10/6/21, France.)

11 318 Electro-Mechanical Brake Co & M. J. Pattison. Electric
controllers.

April 22, 1922.

11 338 D. Denholm. Cover for protection of cables laid in the ground.

11 349 B. J. Baker. Multi-pole magnetic pendulum.

11 356 F^ Marshall. Electric light fittings.

11 362 Siemens Bros. & Co. Telegraph instruments.

11 363 R. Amberton. Electricity meters.

11 367 Siemens Bros. & Co. & A. Gordon. Telegraph instruments.

11 368 Siemens Bros. & Co. & W. G. Patterson. Metering calls in tele-
phone sy.«items.

11 369 Siemens Bros. & Co., J. Berry & C. L. Peters. Circuit arrange-
ments for operating automatic telephone systems, &c.

11 379 Telephone Mfg. Co. & R. L. Murray. Automatic telephone
systems.

11 380 Ges. fur. Drahtlose Telegraphie. Telephone systems. (23/4/21,
Germany.)

11 382 J. Hall. Oil immersed overload circuit breakers.

11 383 Nobel's Explosive Co. & W. O. Littlebury. Fuel heads for
electric firing.

11 396 J. T. Thompson. Overhead construction for electric conduits, «S:c.

11397 J. Scott-Taggart. Radio communication sigjialling systems, &c.

11 401 Johnson & Phillips & G. C. Pearson. Telephone cables.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, M.\y 2.

Copper — Price. Inc. Dec.

Best selected per ton £63 0 0 — —

Electro Wirebara .. „ £66 10 0 — —

H.C wire, basis per lb. Os. 9fff<l- — » d.

Sheet „ Os. 9f gd. — —

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone)

Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis „ Is. Hsd. — Jd.

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis , Os. 7d. — Jd.

Sheet, basis „ Os. s|d. — ^d.

Wire, basis Os. 9,'d. — |d.

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants . per ton £4 15 0 — —

Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG ,. £18 0 0 — —
Lead Pig —

English „ £25 0 0 — 6s.

Foreign or Colonial . . „ £24 0 0 — 2.=. 6d.
Tin —

Ingot £1^1 12 6 — £1 I7s. 6d.

Wire, basis per lb. 2s. Id. |d. —

Aluminium Ingots per ton £120 0 0 — —

Sveltcr per ton £26 1 7 t) — 7s. 6d.

Mercury per bottle £11 0 0 — —

Salammoninc. — Per cwt. 658.-608. Sodium Chlorate. — Per lb. 3Jd.

Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 los. Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°).—

„ (Roll-Brimstone). — Per ton Per ton £9 10s.

£10 15s. Copper Sulphaie.—Vei ton £26 IDs.

Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5Jd. 5ortc.4ct!f (Crystals). — Per ton £60

Rubber. — Para fine, lO'Jd. ; plantation 1st latex, S^'d

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby Cable*,

Ltd, and the rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works

Company.

The Editorial, Advertitement and Publishino Offieet of " Tki
Elkotrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, B.C. 4. Ttit-
grama: Benbrotnc, Fleet, Loudon. Telephone: City 9852 (5 lints).

The subscription to " Thk Electriciak " is £15 0 per annum
in the United Kingdom and £1 10 0 per annum Abroad. Advertif-
ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Aivsr-
tisement copy and blocks should bt received on the Friday prs4tdim^
aatt of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance^

No. 2295. [

No. 19.
Vol. LXXXVIII.

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1922

Prepaid Subscription U.K., l\ ;§.
perann. ; Abroad, /l 103.

Price 6d.

CONTENTS.

NOTBS OF THE WkBK 549

International Kadio-Communication 552

Post Office Matters 553

The Kecording and Printing of High-Spoed Radio Signals. By

Prof. G. W. O Howe. Illustrated 554

High Voltage Switchgear Design. By W. A. Coates. Illustrated. 556

Chains of Magnetically -Coupled Circuits. By E. Bellini, D.S.C. 560

Correspondence 561

The History of the Spearing Boiler. Illustrated 562

Street Lighting in the United St ites 563

Recent Progress in High Frequency Inductive Heating. By

E. F. Northrup. Illustrated 565

Magnetic Properties of Compressed Powdered Iron. By B.

Speed and G. W. Elman 566

Reviews 567

Protection of Electrical Apparatus. Illustrated 569

Metric System for Engineers 569

Industry in Spain in 1921 570

Luminous Signals for Power Stations 570

Italy in 1921 571

Presentation to Mr. J. D. Morgan 571

Parliamentary Intelligence

Legal Intelligence

The "Telur" Stop Clock

Induction Motor for U. S. Super Dreadnoughts.

Marble Firm's New Premises

Electricity Supply

Electric Traction

Personal and Appointments

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c

Business Items, &c

Institution Notes ,

Telegraph and Telephone Notes

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Companies' Meetings, Reports, Ac

New Companies

Tenders Invited and Accepted

Books Received

Commercial Intelligence

Arrangements for the Week

Recent Wireless Publications

Patent Record

572-
573
573
573
573
574
574
574
574
575
575
575-
575
576
576
577
577
577
578
579
580

Notes of the Week.

What More Wireless Means.

As we pointed out a fortniglit ago, tJie awakeming of
public interest in the etrnploymeint of wireless methods for
the dissemination of news cannot fail to have a satisfactory
influence on the progress of that branch of the electrical
industry which is concerned with such matters. This pro-
gress will be accelerated by the decision of the Postmaster-
General to establish a nittnber of broadcasting stations
which will be operated by approved British firms, the selec-
tion of which we hope will be as wide as possible. But at
the same time it will bring with it an increase in respon-
sibility. For the wireless amateur will require simple,
cheap, and efficient apparatus if he is to be able to take
advantage of the facilities provided, and equipment of the
same qualities will be equally required by the " broad-
casting " stations. Designers and manufacturers will,
therefore, have to devote close attention to a study of all
the questions which the production of this class of wireless
apparatus will involve, and to keep themselves acquainted
with what is being done in both theoretical and practical
fields. To ensure that acquaintance is obviously the duty
of a technical journal.

"The Electrician" and Wireless.

For that reason we propose to devote a certain amount
of space in The Electrician, which appears on the second
Friday of each month, to a consideration of technical ^vire-
less matters, in the hope that by so doing we may assist in
the '■ broadcasting " of information on this most important
question. Not the least useful part of this scheme will be
the series of articles by Prof. G. W. O. Howe, which we
shall publish in these issues, in which he will discuss
theoretical and technical matters of a controversial char-
acter connected with the progress of wireless telegraphy and

telephony. In this particular issue Prof. Howe deals with
the recording and printing of high-speed radio signals, and
points out to how large an extent the economic success of
long-distance radio-telegraphy must depend on the develop-
ment of both transmitting and receiving apparatus for this
purpose. He mentions what has been actually done in this
direction, and describes a new type of siphon recorder
which has been developed by the Radio Corporation in
America. This is a matter to which it will be agreed close
attention must be paid, and the development of which will
be of the greatest of xise for the purposes we have mentioned
above.

A Survey of Wireless Literature.

There is, perhaps, no electrical subject upon which more
is beiner written at the present time than that which can be
conveniently placed under the heading of radio communica-
tion. But the earnest seeker after truth finds the
distribution of the /information so wide that it is
a matter of considerable difficulty not only to find
any pai-ticular detail for which he is seeking, but
to discover what has beem written on a particular sub-
ject. We propose to make this task easier by publishing
in our second issue each month references (they are hardly
abstracts) to articles and other publications on wireless sub-
jects, always excepting patents, which will be found, as
heretofore, in oiir Patent Record. This last is an important
reservation, for in modern patent literature there are per-
haps to be found the most accurate indications of the trend
of wireless progress, and, not less interesting, the attempts
and failures that have been made to reach success by a
particular route. It may also be pointed out that a great
deal of useful wireless information is to be found in publica-
tions which are not strictly technical, and to which the
scientific worker does not have access or of which he is net
even aware. That gap \vill, we hope, be filled by the feature
which appears for the first time in our columns this week.

550

The Electrician.

May 12 1922

Imperial Wireless Communication.

In the Paper on " Imperial Wireless Communication,"
which he read before tlie Dominions and Colonies and
Indian Sections of the Royal Society of Arts last Friday,
Prof. W. H. EccLES took the wise course of summarising
in non-technical language what has been done to bring
radio communication to that state when it can not only
render useful international service, but can be used with
pleasure and profit by any ordinary human being. His
avowed object was to publish information which ought to
be in the possession of those who wish to form their own
opinion on the proposal to erect an Imperial Wireless Chain .
And though some of his conclusions were traversed by
Mr. Godfrey Isaacs in the course of the discussion, they
are not the less valuable for th.at. Prof. E coles, of course,
represents the ofl&cial view; Mr. Isaacs an alternative
method of providing a similar service. It is hardly likely
th.ey would agree on all points.

The "2 000" Mile Scheme.

One of the points of difference seems to be the advisability
or otherwise of working on the " 2 000 mile scheme "
recommended by the Imperial Wireless Committee. Mr.
Isaacs, argued against th.e scheme, but Prof.
Eccles, by means of an interesting meteorological analogy,
was able to show the technical disadvantages of building
stations with ranges beyond that limit. Purely from the
traffic point of view, the argument in favour of the shorter
range is also the more cogent, as messages can be both trans-
mitted and received at the intermediate stations, and a
more distributed and efficient communication thereby main-
tained. It is significant that Prof, Eccles' s review states
that few stations are working normally at a much greater
range than 2 000 miles, though, of course, the eixtretme
range at times may be much greater for reasons that are
well-known.

The Patent Situation.

Speaking upon the patent situation. Prof. Eccles also
made some interesting remarks. Exceipt for the Meissner
" feed-back " invention, owned by the Marconi Company,
the heterodyne patents of the Metropolitan- Vickers
Company, and two small German patents, no other
pateints of outstanding fundamental importance
appear to be employed, and wireless ,commiuiication
is, therefore, free to develop on the technical side with-
out what cannot, be regarded other than as a most^serious
stranglehold. We hope that the other kind of monopoly
which might be brought abooit by business and financial
combinations may also be dissolved, if necessary by Govern-
ment action. It is essential for the general good that it
should.

Amateur Wireless in the United States.

The possible wide extension of the use of -a ''reless equip-
ment by amateurs as a result of the concessions which it is
understood are to be granted by the Postmaster-Greneral
I'eceivea striking confirmation in reports that have been
published in the United States, where the use of radio
apparatus has evidently become a craze. It is stated that,
there are now about one million people in that country who
amuse themselves by listening to the broadcasting of news,
picking up " commercial codes," ami taking the time fi'om
Arlington, As there were only forty thousand receiv-
ing stations a year ago, the rapid increase is truly aston-
ishing, even for America. On the industrial side, we note
that organised efforts are being made to sell radio receiving
.apparatus and equipment, and to develop the business as

a distinct branch of the electrical industry. There is, how-
ever, another aspect of the matter, as we pointed out last
week, for the multiplication of stations has made the
exercise of some control by the Government necessary, and
this will not appeal to the average American, who strongly
resents any check on his actions.

Control of Radio Apparatus.

The Technical Committee of the Kadio Control Confer-
ence have, in fact, issued a long report, which recommends
complete control by the Department of Commerce over
transmitting stations, though receiving stations are to be
exempt. It is also recommended that wave lengths below
6 000 metres should be reserved for radio-telephone ser-
vice, bx't wave lengths which have become standardised for
telegraph service within this range, such as SOS signals,
are to be retained. The present development of radio art
warrants the employment of twenty different wave bands,
of which seventeen are below 2 000 metres, and the Com-
mittee consider that in assigning these wave lengths the
' ' broadcasting ' ' service should have priority ; but in deal-
ing with this ' ' broadcasting ' ' the Government should come
first, then education and public work, with private broad-
casting (including entertainment, news, &c.) third, and toll
broadcasting last. Amateurs are to have wave lengths of
150 to 275 metres reseirved for them, but are to be given
some opportunity to use experimental wave lengths. It is
further proposed to limit the amount of power used in
transmitting stations, in order to confine each of them to
some special zone, and thus minimise interference with
one another. This is an excellent provision, and a Bill has
been introduced authorising the Department of Commerce
to prevent the establishment of a transmission monopoly
and to regulate the hours during which sending stations
may operate. We do not envy the task of the Government
officials who will have to enforce these regulations. They
will have a lively time, and what is more — an unusual thing
with officials — they will fully earn their salaries. What we
may learn from what has happened is that rules for amateur
wireless should be laid down at once, not in a rigid, restric-
tive spirit, but so as to protect the community generally.

Ultra Vires.

We wonder how many electricity supply underakings
commonly perfw"m actions which are ult7-a vires, or, on the
other hand, fail in some respect to comply with some stipula-
tion that is laid down by statute. The fact is that many
supply engineers are but imperfectly acquainted with the
contents of the various Acts that ai-e supposed to govern
their actions, and it would be interesting to know how many
officers of position in unjder takings could acqxxit them-
selves satisfactorily under even an elementary catechism
of these formidable documents. It is true to say that every
one in any position of authority ought to have at his finger-
ends the chief points in electricity supply legislation, and
this should not be difficult, as the public Acts make in the
aggregate only a quite slender volume. Nevertheless, we
are often astonislied at the vagueness shown by many
officials on points connected with their own special work.
Most of them, of course, know generally what is required,
but that is quite a different thing from being able to give
the exact text. Fortunately, consumers are more ignorant
still, though this is no ai"gument for a state of affairs which
cannot be commended.

An Illegal Advertisement.

As an example of what we mean we may cite a case which
occurred in Uie Midlands. A large supply undertaking

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

551

advertised that a special discount wcaild be given for a cer-
tain period to all new consumera. This policy was, of course,
adopted merely as an advertisement, and as such is to be
commended as the awakening of the commercial spirit.
Unfortunately, it ignores the stipulation in the Electric
Lighting Act that preference must noti be given to one con-
sumer as against another of the same kind. So far aa we
know, no question was raised, probably because no o^ne
knew of the statutory provisions governing the matter.
But such ignorance or indifference cannot always be de-
fended, and an intimate acquaintance with the few Acts
governing the industry is certainly a duty incumbent on
everyone to whom any section of an electricity undertaking
is entrusted.

Paying for Electricity Inquiries.

Under Section 34 of the Electricity Supply Act, 1919,
the Electricity Commissioners are empowered to make rules
ag to the cost of any inquiries they may undertake. The
draft rules, which have now been issued, scheduling all
costs and expenses of the Commissioners arising out of any
inquiiy held by them, are, therefore, of interest. They lay
-down that the costs shall be borne by the parties concerned,
or by such of them and in such proportions as the Com-
missioners may direct. As heretofore, of coursie, the indivi-
dual expenses of the various parties at all public inquiries
will be borne by themselves, and the Order refers to the
special expenses incurred by the Electricity Coimmissioai, the
general expenses of the Commission being borne by the
industry aa a whole. This seems to be the most equitable
procedure, and though we do not know on what basis the
Commissioners will apportion the expenses, we hope the
effect will be to get rid of the long-windeduess which has
been too prevalent. If the parties find that the more they
talk the more they have to pay a most desirable succinct-
ness will result. To act in this way would, therefore, be
well-warranted self-protection on the part of the Commis-
sioners, since they are already worked hard enough with-
out having to spend valuable time in listening to long-
drawn-out arguments and counter-argumenta that everyone
in the industry by this time knows by heart. Arguments,
too, which fill legal pockets, drain the industry, and lead
nowhere.

The Gas Light and Coke Company's Order.

It is not often necessary for us to deal with the Legisla-
tion governing the supply of gas, but the Special Order of
the Gas Light and Coke Company contains some provisions
of such far-reaching effect that attention must be called
to them. The Company, which seeks authority to purchase
the Ilford Gas Company's undertaking, also desires to
obtain power to lay pipes through psurts of preanises for the
supply of other parts in different occupation without
apparently obtaining either the consent of the owner or
occupier. Only twenty-four hours' notice of the intention
to lay the pipes is to be given, and neither the owner nor
occrupier is to have a voice in determining the position of
the pipes or the manner of laying ! If a similar suggestion
was made by some electricity supply undertaking what an
outcry there would be by the gas journals.

Control of Fittings.

This, however, is not the only high-handed procedure
which the Company would like to adopt, for it is also
seeking power " to specify the size and material of the
pipes, with the fittings thereof, which are to be laid by the
owner or opcupier of any premisea, either in the first
instance or on the occasion of any renewal." Notice of

any such work must be given to the Company which is to
be empowered to approve or disapprove of the work, and
in case of disapproval to refuse a supply of gas. While
we sympathise with the desire to secure proper fittings and
good vvorkmanship, the power sought is altogether too wide
ior the protection of the Company's interests, and goes
farther than the corresponding powers of electricity supply
authorities. The only safeguard which the prospective ga«
consumer will have is a right of appeal to a Petty Sessional
Court'. In practice this will prove quite ineffective, as
magistrates have little or no technical skill, and a
monopolist Company like the Gas Light and Coke Company
will have pretty much its own way. A better plan would
be to refer any dispute concerning fittings to an engineering
inspector of the Board of Trade or to an arbitrator.

Minimum Charge to be Enforced.

There is a third point in the Company's Order which
fieems to call for some modification. The Company
wants to be in a position to make a minimum charge, not
to exceed 25s. a quarter, for a stand-by supply of gas. The
principle of the stand-by charge is now well known and is
generally inserted in Electricity Supply Special Orders and
in Gas Acts and Orders, but a sum of £5 a year is an
exorbitant charge and cannot be justified. It would
appear to be required as a menace to would-be users
of electric light and power, who may wish to retain a gas
supply for occasional heating or some other purpose, rather
than as a protection to the Company. Those who wish to
secure modifications of the clauses we have referred to should
take steps to make representations at once to the Board of
Trade. We believe the electrical industry is not likely to
be affected by the provisions, which, if adopted, will assist
rather than retard the progress of electricity supply.
Their real effect to us therefore will be beneficial, though
that is not their evident purpose.

Supply of Domestic Electrical Apparatus.

With the rapid expansion of the applications of elec-
tricity, particularly in the domestic sphere, new demands
and changes in practice have arisen. These develop-
ments, which are the outcome of public needs and require-
ments, are of gradual growth, and frequently their true
significance and trend are not understood or appreciated at
the outset by those who are most interested or affected.
We are afraid that many electrical contractors and supply
dealers are not yet sufficiently alive to the need for meeting
the increasing demands for domestic electric apparatus.
This business has already become an important branch of
the industry, and in the course of time it will attain to
far greater importance. Therefore, we hope that steps will
be taken to keep the supply of vacuum cleaners, electric
washing machines, and other domestic apparatus in the
hands of those who are competent to handle it. From the
letter of Mr. Morton, which appears in another coliunn,
there would seem to be some danger of this lucrative trade
being captured by those engaged in another trade. Appar-
ently others believe there is money to be made bv
catering for modern domestic requirements, and we venture
to suggest that those whose primary duty it is to de\-elop
this growing branch of the electrical industry should
organise themselves so as to keep this trade in their own
hands.

Inadequate Illumination and Miners' Nystagmus.

Much is heard in these days of the importance of good
industrial lighting, but we doubt if there is any problem
more urgent than the provision of adequate light in mines.

552

The Electrician.

May 12, 1922

where work is carried on in such, abnormal and diflS.cult cir-
cnmstiinces. It may be recalled that this point was illus-
trated in a discussion before the Illuminating Engineeaing
Society last year, when a concensus of opinion eonerged that
the disease of the eyes known as miners' nystagmus is due
mainly to work by insufficient light. This conclusion is now
endorsed in a report recently issued by a committee work-
ing under the Medical Research Council. The committee
unanimously regard deficient illumination as the chief
cause of this disease. The small candle-power available
from many forms of miners' lamps, the distance at which they
have to be placed from the working surface, the very dark
nature of the coal-surface itself, and the effect of coal dust
and grim© in absorbing light are all contributory factors.
The committee suggest that an increase in candle-power to
at least 2 to 3 candles is desirable, that lights might with
advantage be so designed as to be used on the miner's head
and so brought nearer the work, and that in parts of the
pit other than the coal- face whitewashing would form a use-
ful method of increasing the available illumination. If
such remedies are adopted it is belieived that miners' nystag-
mus of sufficient severity to cause disablement can, by
degrees, be entirely prevented. We should like to take this
opport'Unity of referring to the very valuable pioneering
work done in this field by Dr. T. Lister Llewellyn, the
secretary of the committee, who was responsible for opening
the discussion before the Illuminating Engineering Society
last year. It is gratifying that this country has taken a
leading" part in this research, and we have no doubt that
makers of miners' lamps will be quick to respond to the
requirements indicated as essential.

International Radio-
Communication.

A MOST important measure of agreement was arrived
at last summer at the meeting of the Technical Committee
on International Radio-communications, as appeiars from
the report, printed in the French and English languages,
which has just been issued. This Committee, which com-
prises representatives of the Governments of the United
States, France, Great Britain, Italy, and Japan, has been
considering a number of important questions, and while
decision on some of these is left in abeyanc-e, in other cases
complete agreement has been attained.

Ether Becoming Too Small.

To those in touch with wireless matters, it has been
obvious for some years that the ether — usually considered
as of vast eixtent. — was becoming much too small, in
the two-dimensional sense, for the enormous niimber of elec-
trical signals continually being shot into it, and that unless
some systematisation, based upon intema*^ional agreement.,
were inaugurated, this valuable method O'" oonimunication
would suffer a setback owing to the chaotic conditions which
the near future would probably bring. Foi' this reason
little surprise will be felt that the deliberations of the
Committee were oonoemed almost entirely with the broad,
yet enormously important, question of the classification of
waves and their distribution among the various communi
cation services, so that unnecessary interference is avoided .

Fourteen Important Points.

For the benefit of those who have not yet seen the Report,
it may be mentioned that after dealing with certain small
matters siuch as nomenclature, and the use of frequencies
(kilocycles per sec., kc/s) rather than wave-lengths, the
remainder of the Report is conoerned with fourteem ques-

tions, to which answers were to be supplied by the
Committee.

The first question, which deals with the classification of
waves, furnishes the key to the objects of the conference.
The next three questions are concerned only with
particular wave-lengths. Question 5 raises the matter of
the privileges of different classes of waves. Questions 6 and
7 further dealing with this. Questions. 8 and 9 consider
undesirable emissions; Question 10, the long-w^ave services.
Question 11 asks for a definition of normal range, while
Nos. 12 and 13 deal with radio-beacons and radio-
goniometry. Question 14 was left open in order that
other matters which might be bro'iight forward by the
delegates could be dealt with under this head.

Classification of Waves.

The Committee has adopted a classification under which
five ti/pes of waves are recognised, namely, four types of
A or continuous waves, and a fifth type, B, damped waves.
The four A types of waves comprise A tor unmodxilated
continuous waves, Al for key-modulated C.W., A2 for
audio-frequency modulated C.W., and A3 for speech-
modulated C.W. Within each type waves are classified
according to the degree of interference they produce at some
distance away, this degree being estimated by the
" equivalent decrement " (more fully defined in the
Report). In the waves of Class 1, the equivalent decre-
ment may be anything from zero up to 0005 in Class 2,
from 0 005 to 0 02 ; in Class 3, from 0 02 to 0 08 while in
Class 4 it may range from 008 to 010. Under this scheme
it results that the only tjrpe of wave permissible for
stations of longer wave-lemgths than 8 000 m. is Type Al,
Class 2. , In the next lower range of wave-lengths, namelv,
2 850 to 8 000 m., the damping of waves used for high-
speed signalling on waves of Type Al has to be such that
the emission complies with the requirements for Class 2.

Wave-Lengths for Radio-Telephony.

Now that so much interest is taken in wireless telephony
the question of the range of wave-lengths permitted is a.
matter of concern to numbers of people. For fixed stations^
this has been agreed on as from 1 550 to 1 650 m., and for
mobile seirvices from 300 to 340 m., but using continuous^
waves of Type Al only.

Long-Wave Fixed Services.

The recommendation that a study of the world needa for
wave-lengths above 2 800 m. should be made should be of
value in preventing the indiscriminate putting into opera-
tion of mammoth stations without due regard to the
interference which may be caused with stations already
working ; and the fact that it is proposed that each nation
should supply to the neixt International Conference a table
of data relative not merely to stations in operation, but
to those which are to be put into operation during ike
subsequent period of five years, will assist this laudable
endeavour. A further recommendation, that a nation,
before employing a new wave-length, should endeavour
to utilise the directional properties, is of interest as
.showing that more attention will have to be paid to
improving the directional qualities of transmittetrs using
long waves, in the sense of narrowing the beam of rays
emitted, as in the recent attempt of Franklin with very
short waves.

Normal Range.

The normal range is assumed to be the di .stance obtained
from the formulse in the report-, calculated on the basis of
an induced E.M.F. in the receiving antenna .of 150 mV
per metre. In a table are shown the values of Al (the

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

553

product of the radiation height of the antenna and the
current at the base of the antenna) that are necessary at
the transmitter for this value of 150 mV to be obtained
in the receiving antenna at ranges of 100 to 300 km. for
waves of 450, 600, and 800 m.

The ranges adopted for mobile, short range, and long
range beacons are respeotively 10, 30, and 200 nautical
miles. Radio-goniometric coast stations must be able to
give bearings either on 600 w 800 m. only, or else on 600
and 450 m. or 800 and 450 m.

Distribution of Wave-Length Amongst the Various Services.

Perhaps the most interesting thing in the whole reports-
interesting because it has never before beein shown up
clearly— is the graphic chart given at the end, showing the
distribution of frequencies and wave-lengths among the
different services. The range of wave-lengths dealt with
is 200 m. up to 5 000 m., and the distribution is shown
among the following four classes of service: Mobile, fixed,
militaiy, special — for each type of wave and class. Little
fault, it is felt, can be found with the rather extensive
bands of wave-lemgths appropriated for the military
services. The mobile services, however, also claim a fairly
extensive series of bands, and the resvdt is, that only com-
paratively thin bands are left for the fixed services —
namely, four, at 200 to 280 m., 950 to 1 050 m., 1 550 to

1 850 m., 2 850 to 3 300 m., and 3 900 to 4 800 m. respeo-
tively. These bands are, further, only of this extent for
the highest class of wave, Al, there being only threei bands
of reduced width for the more damped CIelss A3 wave. For
the special services there are six wavei-lengths allotted, not
bands; these are well known (450, 600, 800, 1 000, 2 100,

2 650 m.).

Post Office Matters.

It is often our duty to deal in these columns with the
ethics of municipal trading as evidenced by the electricity
supply departments all over the country. Our view is that
consonant with financial stability, the prices charged should
be kept as low as possiblei, and that under no circumstances
should the electricity consumers' pockets be searched for
the benefits of the general body of ratepayers. These views
are, it will be agreed, sound enough, and are equally applic-
able to Governmental as to municipal trading. In other
words, to fix the postal rates high in order to relieve the
general body of rateipayers is economically unsound, and
is, moreover, which is an added argument against it, likely
to defeat its own object. The operations of the Post Office,
which is the principal Government trading depai*tment,
should, therefore, bei governed by the principle of keeping
the rates at the lowest possible level. For it is one of the
disadvantages of any public trading department that it is
not necessary for it to make a profit, but at the same time
it is important that it should not be allowed to do so.

Trade and Lower Postal Charges.

The Postmaster-General is, therefore, to be con-
gratulated upon reducing the postal charges, and may also
be adjured to pluck up his courage, as he seems a little fear-
ful of the result. For this reduction will assist trade,
increase revenue, and will, we hope before long, make still
further reductions possible. The figures on which these
reductions are based are of interest. In 1920-21 there was
a loss ot £'i 300 000. In the first six months of last year
there was a loss of £2 800 000, and in the second six months,
when the increased charges began to operate, a surplus of
£1 000 000, leaving a deficit of £1 800 000, which would
have been the enormous sum of £5 000 000 but for the

increased charges. Owing, however, to the present im-
proved position, which is entirely due to a reduction in
expenditure from £67 120 000 to £53 800 000, the
estimated surplus in 1922-23 with the old charges would
have been £9 300 000. The Postmaster-General is,
therefore, quite right in reducing the charges as he has
done, and quite right, too, to resist the attempt of the
Treasury to sequester the balance.

It may be pointed out that the reduction now given will
not entirely wipe out the surplus, but Mr. Kellaway feels
it is wiser, in view of the uncertainty as to revenue, to go
slowly. We think that he is a little pessimistic, as with
lower charges, especially on printed matter, the revenue
might be considerably increased without Jiny difficulty.
The Postmaster-General must also turn his attention to
the reduction in the rates for telegrams and parcels.

Telephone Enterprise.

To electrical engineers, however, the most interesting
portion of the Postmaster-General's review, apart from
that on wireless broadcasting, upon which we comment
elsewhere, is that which deals with, the telephone system.
We are glad to see that the report of the Select Committee
on this ever-burning subject has induced Mr. Kellaway
not only to reduce the present high charges, but to prepare
a scheme of development on enterprising lines. It is a good
beginning, which will have good results, especially if the
pressure is kept up. By this time the Post Office Engineer-
ing Department should have caught up with its war arrears,
and should be in a position to launch out into a develop-
ment which is badly needed.

This deivelopment will be encoxiraged by a reduction of
the rental to private usei's by 30s. a yeaa-, by a reduction in
the local message rate from l|d. to l^d. per call, by a 25
per cent, reduction on trunk calls between 2 p.m. and
7 p.m., by improved facilities in country districts, by the
abolition of local fees on the longer trunk calls, and by a
reduction of the hotly-resented mileage charges from £10
to £8 per mile. This, once again, is a good beginning, but
progress must go on at the same rate.

High Charges No Check on Progress.

It is intea-esting to note that in spite of the present high
charges the total nmnber of telephone stations on March 31
was 995 242, an inci-ease of 16 991, and that the total number
of new subscribers was 75 000, and the number of cessations
64 000, of which 29 000 were due to an increase of tariff.
The remainder are probably explained by trade depression,
and, we hope, by the gradual cessation of Government
departments' activities. During the year 530 rural call
offices were opened, while 3 290 party line subscribers were
taken, on, showing that the preiudice against this
system of inter-communication is departing. This is satis-
factory as far as it goes, but it does not go far enough.
For, as Sir Henry Norman said, in the course of the
debate: " The Post Office must do what any business man
would do — reduce chai'ges, lisk a gamble, and advertise.
The Postmaster-General must thrust the telephone down
the throats of the people."

Economy a Necessity.

But what is wanted more than anything else in the Post
Office, as in other branches of tlie Government service, is
rigid economy. The lack of necessity of obtaining a profit,
which we mentioned above, is inclined almost unconsciously
to induce invertebrateness and to engender a disregard of
these true pi-inciples of trading, by following which alone
can true success be obtained.

654

The Electrician — May 12, 1922

The Recording and Printing of High-Speed Radio Signals.

By Prof. G. W. O. HOWE.

There can be little doubt that the future economic success
of long-distance radio-telegraphy depends to a large eixtent
upon the developmeinfc of reliable high-speed transmitting
and receiving apparatus. The speed of hand-sending and
direct telephoiiic reception cannot exceed about twenty-five
words per minute, and thei large amount of capital repre-
sented by the equipment of a high-power radio
station cannot obtain a satisfactory return on the limited
amovmt of traffic which it is possible to put through at this
rate. The Wheatstone automatic working over ordinary
land lines is capable of transmitting and receiving at speeds
of 300 to 400 words per minute, and the radio engineei"
cannot regard the wireless problem as satisfactorily solved
so long as the speed attainable is very much inferior to
this figure. .

Is the Limitation in the Transmission or Reception ?

Whether the limit is at pre&emt imposed by the trans-
mitti)ig or by the receiving apparatus it is difficult to say.
In a paper reicently read before the Institute of Radio
Engineers, Mr. Weinberger, of the Radio Corporation of
America, stated definitely that ' ' the limitation of working
speed is practically confined to the receiving side of the radio
system, so that it is obvious that increased speed possibilities
muat be obtained entirely by the development of receiving
appai-atus." In our opinion, this is an unduly optimistic
view of the po'sition with regard to high-speed transmission,
although the thennionio valve has done much to reduce the
instrumental difficulties on the transmitting side.

In discussing the Hbxie recorder in the same paper, the
author states that " it has extraordinarily high speed
capabilites (far in excess of what is actually required),"
which certainly suggests that the speed is limited elsewhere
than in the recordei'. Hoxie himself, in describing his
recorder on another occasion, showed a record taken at 600
words per minute.

The Lorenz and Hoxie Recorders.

One of the first to develop a systeim capable of recording
radio signals at high speed was C. Lorenz, who in 1908-9
adapted the Einthoven string galvanometer with photo-
grapliic recording and automatic development and fixation .
It was operated by a cryst^al detector, and in the absence of
reliable amplifiers it is not surprising that it was little used
on a commercial scale, although very good exj>erimental
results were obtained on high-speed signals from Poulsen
arc transmitters. It was capable of operation at 300 words
per minute. The Hoxie recorder, which has been developed
by the General Electric Company >i America within the
last three or four years, also employs photographic record-
ing, with automatic developing, fixing, waiishing, and
drying.

The actual recording instrument is really a vibration
galvanometer inserted in the anode circuit of the last valve
of the audio-frequency amplifier and tuned to the note
frequency, which, in the case of continuous wave transmis-
sion, is adjusted by means of the local heteicxiyne geuei-ator.
The coils and polarising magnets of the g;Jvanometer are
fixed, and the received signals cause the vil- ation of a tJiin
iron strip stretched between the poles of the magnet; this
movement of the sti-ip is transmitted by a light rod to a
mirror rotating about a knife-edge on jewelled bearings.

This recorder has been used at several stations in the
United States on Tran.satlantic work, and, as already men-
tioned, can operate at speeds up to 600 words per minute.
A single 1 000 foot roll of sensitised paper records about
10 OOO worda, and this suffices for several hours at tlie s{>eeds
of forty to fifty words per minut« commonly employed in
high-speed transmission. One of the great advantages of
the Hoxie recorder is the large degree of freedom from
interference obtained by the sharp mechanical tuning of
the vibration galvanometer to the audio signal frequency.

This is enhanced by shunting across the instiniment a
sharply tuned, closed oscillatory circuit, which acts as a
shunt for all but its resonant fi-equency.

Phonographic Recording.

Quite a different direction along which much work has
been done is that of recording the high-speed telephonic
signals upon the wax cylinder of a phonograph or upon the
steel wire of a telegraphone. The instrument is then run
at a reduced rate, and the message read by means of a
telephone receiver, as in the dictaphone. A limitation is
imposed on this method by the fact that the pitch of the
note is reduced in the same ratio as the speed. One advan-
tage of this method is that it utilises the operator's powea*
of discrimination between the signals and disturbances due
to other stations or atmospherics; it has the disadvantages
of being expensive in operation, of allowing a considerable
time to elapse before any faults of transmission or reception
are discovered and reported to the transmitting station, and
of leaving no permanent record of the message as received.

In the very early days of radio- telegraphy it was con-
sidered essential to record the signals, and telephonic recep-
tion was unknown. Two methods were employed; the
Marconi coherer operated a jNIorse inker, and gave dots
and dashes on the tape, whilst the Lodge-Muirhead mercury
and steel wheel detector operated a siphon recorder, and
gave a line with humps of shortea- or longer duration. Both
these methods have lately been modified and applied to
the recording of high-speed signals, using, of coiirse, modem
methods of detection, amplification, and rectification, by
means of thermionic valves.

The British and German Post Office eaigineers have
developed methods in which the beats produoed by the local
heterodyne are rectified and, through an intermediate relay,
caused to operate a Wheatstone receiver, in which tie
message ia I'ecorded as dots and dashes on the tape.

A New Type of Moving-Coil Siphon Recorder.

The Radio Corporation of America have lately developed
a new type of siphon recorder, which was very fiilly
described in the paper by Weinberger referred to above.
One advantage of the siphon record, as compared with that
of the Wheatstone, ia that it is easier to det^jct and allow

Ink

1/ Connecting Link-Coil to PIsn Arrr,

Motion of Tape Pen Arm / Fulcrum Spring

Paper
Tape

Magnet Coil ^Magnet Core

Fio. 1. — Essential Elements of Ink Keoordbk.

for the effects of atmospheric disturbances in the continuous
ink line of the fonnei' than in the dots and dashes of the
latter.

The new siphon recorder, or ink recorder, aa its designers
prefer to call it, is a very ix>bust and well-designed appara-
tus. The circular moving coil is very light, and moves

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

ODD

vertically in the annular gap between the top of the central
vertical core and the surrounding iron cover of a cylindrical
electromagnet. The moving coil hangs, by means of an
aluminium link, from the spring-supported pen-arm, which

Ink We//

Damping Oef'Ce

Tape Guide

Brushes

In/< Feedin^_
Nozz/e

/Recorder Coil

'ulcfum
Spring
Support.
Fulcrurn Spring

Coil Suspension
Height Adjustment

'Co// Suspension
Tension Adjustment

Fig, 2. — Ink Rkcobder, Commercial Model, Top View.

carries a pen consisting of a short piece of fine brass tubing.
One emd of this pen-tube moves over the siurf ace of the paper
tape whilst the other moves freely up and down in a
groove in a fixed metal block, the groove being kept charged
with ink by means of a flexible tube connecting the block
with an ink-well, the height of which can be adjusted to
maintain the ink level at tie correct height. The slot being
only a sixteenth of an inch wide, the surface tension pre^
vents any spilling of the ink. Details are given in the
accompanying illustrations.

The moving coil has 600 turns, a resistance of 1 000 ohms,
and gives a full-sized record of \ in. at 100 words per
minute, with a current of 4 mA. For higher speeds the
fulcrum-spring which caaTies the pen-arm has to be
changed, and at double the above speed double the current

In/<We//

J a

Damping Tape

Glass Coi/er. Pen Arm Device Guide

/\^agnet Core'
Magnet Coi/s ■
Magnet S/iell-

FiG. 3. — Ink Rkcordbb, Commercial Model, Section.

is required. On its way to the recorder the paper-tape
passes through a pair of brushes, which remove any paper
dust which might clog thie pen. The friction of the pen on
the paper doeis not provide sufiicient damping, and a special
damping device is fitted to prevent over-shoot; this device
is of the simplest character. The pen-arm moves between
the prongs of a lever, which it is forced to carry with it
towards the end of its travel, either up or down ; this lever
is held friction-tight between two washers, which are forced
together by a spring, which can be adjusted by means of a
milled nut.

A motor-driven tape-puller is installed at some distance
from the recorder, the tape passing in front of the clerk
or clerks on its way from one to the other. These clerks
read the message from the tape and record it directly on
typewriters. A single operator can take down the message
up to a speed of forty-five words per minute, but above this
D 2

several operators, each with his typewriter, have to be
spaced at distances of 10 ft. along the tape, the first man
doing what he can as the tape passes him, and marking on
the tape where he commenced and finished ; the second man
starting in where the first finished, and so on.

This sounds very cumbersome, and suggests a weak link
in the high-speed chain.

Although the Radio Corporation transmitting aerial at
Long Island is 18 miles away from the receiving aerial at
Ptiverhead, they are both connected by land lines, and suit-
able relay and transfer apparatus, to the operating office in
New York City, where the traiLsmitting clerk sits at the

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^ERMAiMV AT -40yyPM

O r FATHERS AMD

TRAFFIC FROM <^ENEVA TRAMSMlTTER.
SWITZERUAND. RECEIVED IN EM^LAMD
f»CX SO W-RM

O F HUMAn>TY

-nruTj\nrm__jwvi_yvunjnrxju~unn_iULJTjn/TrTn_

Fig. 4. — Typical Ink Eecorder Tapes.

same table as the receiving clerk, so that the latter can
immediately report any faulty reception to the European
transmitting station and request any necessary repetition.

The Use of the Creed Printer.

The only alternative available at pi-esent to the transcrip-
tion of the tape is the installation of that triumph of
ingenuity, the Creed Printer. In this system, which is
being used to some extent both in this and in other coun-
tries, the received signal, after passing through the usual
amplifiers, detectors, and rectifiers, operates through relays
the slide valve of a pneumatic perforator, thus giving a
perforated Morse record, which is then fed into the Printer
proper, which is essentially a pneumatically operated type-
writer controlled by the perforations of the tape passing
through it. This delivers the message printed directly in
Roman character^. Although in use on some Anglo-Con-
tinental service®, we do not know whether it has yet Deeu
successfully employed on long-distance work, where the
factor of safety against atmospheric and other types of
inteafereince is necessarily gi-eatly reduced.

The d^ath occurred at Tynycymmer Hall. Torth, on Mcnday of
Mr W H. M.*TinAS, a director of the Treforest Electrical Con-
eumers Company and a leading public figure in the Rhonrtda
Valley for some forty years. Mr. Malhias was seventy-seven years
of age.

656

The Electrician — May 12, 1922

High Voltage Switchgear Design.

By W. A. COATES.

(• oncluded from page 530.)

The problem of building electrical equipment for the high voltages which are now becoming common is mainly one of insulation. Two
main types of insidalion are required, thai which merely supports the conductor and that which insulates the conductor where it passes
through an earthed body. In high voltage work the limitations in design are mechanical rather than electrical, and in other ways greater
simplicity is possible than at lower pressures. Though high voltage gear was at first contained in cubides, it was soon fouiid that this was
unnecessary, while in 1908 the advantages of placing the gear out of doors was discovered. Mr. Coates discusses at length the details of
modern cmtdoor switchgear compared with indoor equipment, and points out its economic and engineering advantages.

Details of 100 kV Scheme.

In Fig. 6 is reproduced the section through the power-
house of the Tata. Hydro-Electric Company, Ltd., Bombay.
This layout may be taken as a sound engineering design,
without any unnecessary elaboration or wastei space. The
ground area occupied is, in fact, unusually small, due to
the double-floor arrangement. The step-up transformers,
which are in single-phase units, are placed in line, each
within its own cubicle, which is provided with a roller-typei
fire-door. Along the front of the transformer cubicles is
laid a pair of rails, carrying thei transfer truck employed
when it is necessary to remove any transfoi-mer unit for
repairs.

The high-voltage oil-switches are arranged in a single
row en the upper-floor. The transformers, rather than the
switches, control the length of building required, so that
an extremely simple supporting structure is possible for
the busbar and outgoing isolating switches.

The electrolytic lightning arresters for the outgoing lines
also are on two floors. A someiwhat unusual arrangement is
adopted in that the short-circuiting device for the horns is
operated from the ground-floor. Since it is desirable for
the operator to see the arc when charging his lightning
arresters, the more usual practice is for the short-oirciuiting
lever to be on the framework carrying the horn itself.

The isolating switch in series with the electrolytic
arrester, is not generally provided, since the horn itself can
be sAvung wide open, and thus acbs as an isolating device.

Alternative Outdoor Arrangements.

For the purposes of illustration alternative arrangements
of the high- voltage equipment have been prepared, every-
thing being out of doors. With these schemes, in addition
to the generator and turbine room, the building would only
have to enclose the switchgear at generating voltage.

As with the indoor scheme, the circuit centres on the
outdoor arrangements would be controlled by the trans-
formers, the overall length of the two schemes being the
same. Sectional elevation drawings will, therefore, serve
to give a proper comparison between the actual layout and
the possible alternatives.

In the first case, on the assumption rhati ground area is
not of particular importance', all apparatus has been shown
on ground level — Fig. 7. The equipment included is pre-
cisely the same as with the indoor scheme, with the excep-
tion that separatei isolators for the electrolytic arresters
have been omitted as unnecessary.

The steelwork required is quite simple. Doublentowear
structures, as shown, would be placed between eivery thi^ee
circuits, the towers being tied together only by the
horizontal I beans run to support the busbar isolating
switches, which are operated from ground level as thi'ee-
pole units. It is very unlikely that any access will be
required to the isolating switches, and there is no need to
run handrails or footwalks out to them. In all cases tlie
connections are arranged so that', with the switches open,
the hinge element, which Jiouses the blade-lifting
mechanism, is dead. The busbars themselves are straijied
between the tower structures, the various lengths being
connected by bus-seotionalising isolating switches.

Unusual Method of Straining-off.

The method of straining-ofT the transmission lines is a
little unusual. A steel cable is run between the tower
structures and the link-typo strain insiulators fasteaied to
this. It is more usxia^. to provide a rigid support in the
form of a horizontal, lattice-member spanning from tower

to tower. This arrangement facilitates straining the lines
when erecting, but is, of course, appreciably more expen-
sive. The choice between these two methods depends mainly
on the position of the first tower, since, if the line tension
on the switch structure is considerable, the rigid construc-
tion would be preferable.

The choke coil is built around a strain insulator, and may
safely be inserted in the length of the transmission line
itself. Electrically, it is equally effective, and it is some-
what easier to erect, if it is suspended in the length of the
jumper which goes to the feeder isolating switch, in the
manner shown in the illustration.

Since this equipment would be placed immediately adja-
cent toi the power-house building, no special striicture is
required for the star-point connection on the H.-T. side
of the transf onners. A light, steel cantilever built out from
the wall would support the insulators carrying this
connection.

For handling the single-phase transformer units a trans-
fer truck, similar to that used on the indoor scheme, would
be provided. In this way any transformer in need of atten-
tion could be transported bodily into the power-house work-
shop. The pipe-work for cooling water, and for oil drain-
age, together with the low-tension cable connections, are
brought to that side of the transfonner remote from the
track, so as not to interfere with removal.

When horned arresters are placed out of doors greater
clearance has to be given, to allow for the effect of wind
on the arc. This is sometimes the controlling factor which
determines the height of the main stnicture, since the trans-
mission lines must be carried well clear of the horns
beneath.

Position of the Tanks.

The tanks containing the aluminium trays are the only
portion of this equipment which may be at high potential,
and which are accessible from the ground. On the assump-
tion that only skilled operators will ever be inside the h.t.
switchyard, it is not usual toi do more than put a handrail
round the tanks, so as to prevent accidental contact, and
quite often even this is omitted.

With the high-tension apparatus arranged as Fig. 7,
the total space occupied by the whole plant would be 220 ft.
by 166 ft. The transf o^nners and outdoor switchgear would
occupy 220 ft. by 96 ft., and would require some 26 tons
of .structural steelwork. There is no real need for the whole
ground area to be concreted, if small plinths are made for
each j^ieoe of apparatus and proper footings for the towerg.
Assuming, however, that the full area is covered with 3 in.
concrete lying on 9 in. rubble, the present-day cost of con-
crete and steietl wonld be about £2 300, if erected in this
country.

The power-house buildings necessary have been estimated
at £20 000 present-day prices (roughly, 7'25d. per
cub. ft.). The switchgear and transf onnei-s would be
worth, say, £64 700, giving for the items which vary with
the switchgear an-angement a total of £87 000.

Against this for the fully indoor scheme, shown in Fig. 6,
we have an estimated building cost of £45 000 (6'3d.
per oxib. ft.). The difference between indoor and outdoor
apparatus, erected, i? not so marked at the higher voltages,
and the current price of the indoor gear would be £61 570,
giving a total of £106 570. The total space occupied by
this plant would be 220 ft. by 124 ft.

A More Economical Arrangement.

Another outdoor arrangemeait. which might be adopted
is shown in Fig. 8. This is ctmsiderably more economical

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

557

568

The Electrician.

May 12, 1922

in the matter of space occupied, but to some extent open to
the accusation of being '.' a forest of steel." This impres-
sion is very easily gained from pictures of outdoor stations,
particularly by those who have not seen the actual struc-
tures, but it is nearly always a matter of the angle from
which the photograph was taken.

than when mounted with their axes horizontal. Stub con-
nections are, therefore, strained between insulators top and
bottom, and jumpers taken to them from the trays and
transfer-switch. Similarly, just below the fuse of the
arrester, the connection is steadied between insulators
strained by steel cables off the steelwork.

Fio. 7. — Typical Lay-Out of 100 000 V Outdoor Sub-Station. (Scheme I.)

It will be recalled that there is only one outgoing line to
every three circuits. It would thus be quite feasible to
space out the lines sufficiently to permit other oonductora
to pass them. This is done, the horns of the lightning
arresters being placed right at the top, where, incidentally.

Charging operations woaild be carried out from the plat-
form on the same level as, but on one side of, the trans-
fer-switch, the operating levers for the gap-shortening
device and the transfer-switch being brought down to this
point.

ARRE.S-e.R HORN^
GAP.

OUTGOING UNE.

Fio. 8. — Typical Lay-Odt of 100 000 V Outdoor Sub-Station. (Scheme II.)

they are entirely removed from any risk of trouble due to
a flaring arc. The transfer switch ee are placed half-way
down, and the tanks on ground level. The method of sup-
porting the vertical connections is noteworthy. Multiple
shed insulators are much better in tension or compression

To facilitate renewal of fuses, a footwalk and handrail
ia shown on the top of the structure, a ladder up the tower
giving access.

In this ease the area occupied by the whole plant would
only be 220 ft. by 126 ft., and by the outdoor gear 220 ft.

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

559

by 56 ft., bub the outdoor steelwork goes up to 54 tons.
The complete cost of the scheme, on the same basis as
previously, works out at approximately £88 000.

The Power-House Roof as Switch- Yard.

Still another possibility, and one which has been quite
frequently adopted, is that of putting all high-voltage
switchgear on the power-house roof, as in Fig. 9. This
takes up less ground space than the indoor scheme actually
employed. No special comments need be made on the lay-
out suggested, since the notes on previous schemes apply
with equal force here.

That portion of the building which is retained is con-
siderably more expensive than the corresponding section of
the all-indoor building, since the roof has to be strong
enough to carry the switchgear, and all the main walls must
be stiilened right down to the foundations to bear the extra
ksad.

A rough estimate pla<5es the cost of building at £22 000

STRAIN INSULATOR.

where the power-house stands on the dam itself, or even
in some city terminal stations, ground space considerations
alone will often justify this construction.

The following table summarises the points for comparisooi
in the various schemes:

ARRESTER HORN GAP.

OUTOOING TRANSMISSION LINg;

FEEDER ISOLATOR,

Fig. 9. — Typic.\l Lay-Out of 100 000 V Outdoor Stjb -Station. (Scheme III.)

(8d. per cub. ft.), which, with the price of transformers
and switchgear, gives a total (comparable with those given
for other schemes) of £88 800.

It M'ill be seen that on cost, apart from ground space, this
arrangement is the least favourable of the outdoor schemes.
In the case of a low or medium head hydro-electric station.

It is impossible to set down in writing the whole case
for the outdoor station. It is submitted that enough has
been said to make it clear that outdoor cxjustiniction has not
only come to stay, but that in the end it will probably oust
completely the use of buildings for high-voltage switchgear
and traiisformers, save only in exce]>tional cases.

560

The Electrician — May 12, 1922

Chains of Magnetically-Coupled Circuits.

By E. BEI.LINI, D.Sc.

In an article recently published in this journal * the
frequencies occurring in three magnetically-coupled circuits
were mathematically determined and shown to be practically
verified by experiments.

In the present article the cases of four and five magnetically-
coupled circuits will be solved, and attempts to solve the
.problem of six and seven circuits will be made. From the
results obtained some general rules for an indefinite number
of magnetically-coupled circuits will be deduced.

A chain of magnetically-coupled circuits is shown in Fig. 1.
Each circuit is magnetically coupled to the preceding and to

Fig. 1.

the following ones, the first and last circuits being coupled
only to one circuit.

The method adopted for the calculations is the method of
operational determinant suggested by Mr. L. C. Pocock
in a letterf published on the occasion of the publication of the
article above cited.

As in the former article, it will be presumed in what follows
that the ohmic resistances of the coupled circuits are zero
and that all the circuits possess the same inductances and
capacities.

Four Magnetically-Coupled Circuits. '

The operational determinant in this case is :

,-L,^

0
0

0 -M;,p"- ^-Lp^

Multiplying out this determinant one obtains

(c-^P") -{c~^^'') (^''+^^ + ^^)i>*+^'2i/:Si/=0
In order to find the roots of this equation let us put in it
P= /v>^-^^=. ; we obtain

a'-a:\K^,+K:i.,+K;t,) + K-,K^=o

where

A,.j_ , ^23=--- and A.„=— -.

By solving this equation with respect to a we obtain

J . . :

Hence, the four periodicities of a chain of fcii.' magnetically -
coupled circuits arc :

l>ulh,lh, l>t =

^LC

In the particular case of K^„= K.l= K.fi= K- the four
periodicities are :

^ 2

* The Eleotkician, July 10, 1920.
t The Electrician, Aug. 0, 1920.

Three- and Four-Coupled Circuits Compared.

In the case of three magnetically-coupled circuits it was
found that, though three frequencies existed in the system of
circuits considered as a whole, only two frequencies existed in
the central circuit. This fact must logically lead us to verify if
all the four circuits in the present case possess four frequencies.
This verification can be accomplished by employing the above
operational determinant in which the values of C and L for
each circuit in turn will be made different from those of the
other circuits, by multiplying it out and by verifying if the
equation so obtained is confirmed by the four periodicities
found. If one or more periodicities were found to confirm
this equation, it would mean that in this particular circuit
the periodicity or periodicities considered do not occur and
that the timing of this circuit has no influence upon the
existence of these periodicities in the other circuits.

To simplify the calculations, it is convenient to suppose
all the M equal, as the values of the M (except in the extreme
case of one or more of them being equal to zero) cannot have
any influence upon the existence of the frequencies.

If we apply this method to the actual case of four magnetic-
ally-coupled circuits, we can find that the timing of the four
circuits is necessary for obtaining the four frequencies, and
we can infer, then, that the four periodicities exist in each of
the four circuits.

Five Magnetically-Coupled Circuits.

By multiplying out the operational determinant in this case
we obtain an equation of the fifth degree : . ,,^j»^ \^ ^^ ^Itfi

y^LC

is a root of the

It is immediately obvious that 2^ =
equation.

By dividing the equation for | -—Lp- \ it becomes :

Qj-I^P')-p' {j,-Lp^{M^,-VMl+Ml^Ml) + p\MfJ^l+

To solve this equation let us put in it p— , — . We

obtain: ^/iC(l-^-a)

from which we draw out :

e maj
1

The five periodicities of five magnetically-coupled circuits
are, consequently pi= -7^=-

P-i^ Ih, ih^ P:,--

\/l ^^\/Ji:^+K^+K!, + Kl±^(K^^+Kl+Ki,+Ki

In the particular case of Kti= Kl=Kl= Kl= K- the five
periodicities are ;

11 1 I

v'LG y/LCil + K)'

^LG(\-K) v'ica + ^8^)
1

It is interesting to note that five equal and equally
magnetically-coupled circuits possess the frequency of each

May 12, 1922

The Electrician,

»G1

circuit separately and those of two of these circuits
magnetically coupled.

By applying the method described, for the case of four
circuits we obtain that :

(1) the periodicity -^— exists in the' circuits 1, 3, and 5
and not in the circuits 2 and 4.

(2) The periodicities — =, exist in the circuits 1,

2, 4 and 5 and not in the circuit 3.

(3) The periodicities

5 circuits

exist in all the circuits.

Six Magnetically-Coupled Circuits.

By multiplying out the operational determinant in this
case we obtain :

It .was impossible to solve this equation. It shows, however,
that six frequencies exist in the system of six magnetically-
coupled circuits, and that the common natural frequency
of the circuits is not comprised among them.

Seven Magnetically-Coupled Circuits.

The operational determinant in this case, when multiplied
out, furnishes the following equation :

JV/^ + i¥|M-|, + M^Mi, + Mi,M,^ + MlMi, ) - (^ - Lp^y^^ (Mf^M!,
It is immediately visible that the fundamental periodicity

^ is a root of the equation.

If all the M are equal the equation, divided for | -—Lp- \
simplifies to ^ -^

Qj-L2x^'-6p' (j,-L2x'Jm'+ 10p'(^^^Lp-^'3P-4p'W = 0

It was not possible to solve these equations. But it can
be verified by substitution that

P2,l>3 =

L.— " . are two roots of the latter.

It is worth while to note that seven equal and equally
magnetically-coupled circuits possess the frequency of each
circuit separately, and those of three of these circuits magnetic-
ally coupled (which, in their turn, possess the first frequency).

Summary for the Case of Equality of all the Coupling
Coefficients.

1 circuit

2 circuits

3 circuits

4 circuits

1
1

— in both circuits.

7-— T, only in the end circuits
1

,^LG{\±K^-d^y/b)

in all circuits

y/LC
1

in circuita 1, 3, and 5

in circuits 1, 2, 4, and o

±^)

yLC'fl±v/aJD

in all circuits

6 circuits . .

7 circuits -

^LC(ldz\^2K)

Conclusions.

From the arguments set out it appears justifiable to draw
the following conclusions :

(1) The number of resultant frequencies of h magnetically-
coupled circuits is n.

(2) When the number of coupled circuits is even all the
resultant frequencies are present in all the circuits.

(3) "When the number of coupled circuits is odd, only the end
circuits have all the resultant frequencies ; circuits 2 and n — 1
have w — 1 frequencies; circuits 3 and ft— 2 have n— 2

n-^ 1
frequencies, &c., so that the middle circuits have only — 5—

frequencies.

(4) When the number of coupled circuits is odd, only the
circuits numbered 1, 3, 5, . . . (ft- 4), (ft— 2), » possess
the natural frequency of each circuit separately.

(5) The frequencies proper to n equal and equally magnetic-
ally-coupled circuits exist in a chain of 2ft -1 magnetically
coupled circuits.

Correspondence.

DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES.

To the Editor oj THE ELECTRICIAN.

SlE^_We feel that that section of the electrical industrj- which
is in closest touch with the general pubhc, i.e., the electrical con-
tractor and retailer, should be made aware of the endeavours that
are being made in another industry to secure a portion, if not all,
of the business to be done in the above.

The official organ ct the retailers of sewing and washing machines
and carpet sweepers is contuiually advising its readers to take up
these Unes.

The following passage is taken from the said joi'rnal, dated
May 1 : ^ ^

" We Avill only add that the daily Press is creatmg a demand
for sewing and washing machines and carpet cleaners, and that
it is for the domestic washing trade to supply the demand and not
leave it to the electrical trade."

Our own practice has, of coui-se, oeen to treat with the legitimate
electrical trader, but we think you should impress on your readers
the great danger they are in of losing a good portion of what is proving
a very lucrative and growing field. — 1 am, &c.,

The Sun Electrical Company

(E. R. Norton. Works Manager).

London, W.C 2, May 6.

AN ANOMALY.

To the Editor of THE ELECTEICIAN.

Sir,— The following should, I thmk, be placed on record in all
electrical papers : . • ri j

The headquarters of the Electricity Commissioners is Gwj-dyr
House, Whitehall, a board on the door announcmg tliis faet. I
was passing the place last Friday, and first noticed that the lamp
over the gate is fitted with an upright mcandescent gas mantle ;
further investigation resulted in finding two large cone-shaped
candle or torch snuffers, one on each side of the gateway on the
raihngs. Further, a notice is on the door stating that admittance
can be obtained by ringing the bell, which is one of the old-fashioned
brass knob crank bells. The place was closed, but it would be
interesting to know whether gae is used for Ughting the interior as
it is for the outside lamp. — 1 am, &c.,

WiLLL\M B. Clarke.

Ponders End, Middlesex, May 8.

562

The Electrician — May 12, 1922

The History of the Spearing Boiler.

Although the water-tube boiler
came into being more than half
a century ago, it is only within the
last twenty years or so that it has
been extensively used, and to a
large extent its adoption was
the result of engineering develop-
ments peculiar to recent times. The
growth of electric power stations,
the increase in the speed and size
of steamships — these and kindred
conditions created a demand for
boilers more flexible, more efficient,
and of greater capacity than the
traditional types. In turn, the
success of the water-tube prin-
ciple encouraged engineers to make
further demands upon it, in order
to obtain still higher thermal
efficiencies. Hence the movement
towards higher steam pressures
and higher superheat. Since the
war, owing to the heavier cost of
fuel, labour, and materials, the
need for boiler efficiency has become
more and more insistent. The
water-tube boiler of to-day has, it
will be agreed, to fulfil require-
ments much more onerous and
exacting than those formerly im-
posed.

An Established Boiler.

The Spearing boiler has been
designed to meet these conditions
in the highest degree, compatible
with economy in first cost and
maintenance charges. But it is
not, in its essential features, a new
boiler. The principles upon which
it is constructed were put to the
test about twelve years ago ; and
their soundness has been proved by
the continuous existence in satis-
factory service of boilers then built.
Improvements have been embodied
from time to time, partly as the
result of accumulated experience
and partly in response to the evolu-
tion of steam engineering in the
directions indicated ; and to-day it
is claimed that the boiler has
proved its ability to meet the most
exacting requirements. The chief
interest in the present stage of
the Spearing enterprise lies in the
arrangements which are being made
to establish manufacture on an
adequate scale. A controlling in-
terest in Tinkers, Ltd., an old-
established firm of boiler makers
at Hyde, near Manchester, has
been acquired and the works will
shortly be enlarged to double
their former capacity. i,

The Two Types of Spearing
Boiler.

It may be mentioned that there
are two types of Spearing boiler,
the first with a longitudinal drum
and the second with a cross drum.
The first type is adopted for smaller
sizes and the latter for boilers of
larger capacity. Both are of the

sectional header class ; and the distinctive features common to
both are : (1) the downcomcr pipes, (2) the reservoir mud drum,
(3) the enlarged nipples, and (4) the straight h(>aders.

Taking the last point first, it should be noted that the headers
are straight, rectangular,- and larger in area than usual by 40 per
cent. Straight headers liave, it is claimed, the advantage of
affording freer circulation to the steam and water and of being
more easily cleaned than the sinuous type. As it is not necessary
to stretch the material in construction to the same degree as in the
sinuous headers, the thickness of the straight headers is more

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

56:^

uniform. Further, it is a simpler matter to make the joints between
the straight headers airtight. The headers are connected to the
drums by nipple tubes which are 28 per cent, larger in area than is
usually the case — a feature which increases the safe and steady
steaming capacity of the boiler.

The Doivacoiner Pipes.

The reservoir mud drum has to be considered in connection
with the downcomer pipe which leads to it from the circulation
drum. The function of this pipe —
one, two or more are fitted according
to the evaporative capacity of the
boiler — is to secure positive circulation
from the main steam and water drum
through the mud drum to the headers
and tubes. Usually the internal
diameter of the downcomer pipe is
about 8 in., so that the risk of .
choking by deposit or incrustation is
altogether negligible. In the position
it occupies it is not subjected to exces-
sive temperature. Each pipe is solid
drawn, and is flanged at each end so
that it may be bolted to stand pipes
riveted to the steam drum and mud
drum respectively. This arrangement
enables the downcomer pipe to be
readily detached if necessary.

Efficient Circulation.

By means of the downcomer pipe
all the water is circulated through
the mud drum, which efficiently
collects and retains deposit which
would otherwise be distributed through
the headers or on the steam generat-
ing surfaces. The mud drum is of
ample size and is easily accessible for
cleaning. The water flows from it
through short connecting nipples to
the back headers ; and a glance (Fig.
1) at the general design of the boiler
will show that this arrangement pro-
vides a full supply of water to the
bottom rows of tubes first. Again,
the floM' is in the right direction along
the tube — upward and onward. As
the tubes nearer the fire play the larger part in steam generation, the
correct mode of water supply is of great importance.. It is claimed
that the Spearing boiler (Fig. 1) surpasses other water-tube boilers
in this connection, and it has been successful in the case of oil
firing, the freedom from blistering of the tubes due to the posi-
tive supply of water to the bottom rows of tubes being very marked.

In the longitudinal drum type the headers are connected to
the drum by curved nipples directly expanded into holes in the
drum. These holes are compensated for by a doubling plate, thus
avoiding the weakness of a cross- box with a large opening in the

shell and a considerable flat .surface. In the f^pearing boiler the
water tubes are staggered about 1 in., but no claim is made that the
arrangement adds anything to the efficiency of the boiler. The
advantage of the relatively small stagger is that it facilitates the
removal of soot by blowers.

Circulation Advantages.

One outstanding result of the general design of the Spearing
boiler, with large downcomer pipe, the large nipples, and straight

Fig. 2. — General Assembly of the Spearing Boiler.

headers, is that a free, natural and positive circulation is secured.
This feature, combined with the ample steam and water capacity,
enables the boiler to respond readily to overload demands. The
renewal and the cleaning of tubes are not only exceptionally simple,
on account of the tubes being straight and easy of access, but the
necessity for either is reduced by the peculiarities of circulation
mentioned above. Expansion and contraction stresses are also
minimised, as all parts liable to considerable changes in dimensions
are free to adjust themselves to an unusual degree. A general view
of the boiler is given in Fig. 2.

Street Lighting in the United States.

The evolution of electric street lighting in all countries has
necessarily been dependent on the development of dynamo-electric
machinery. The electric arc lamp reached a fairly advanced stage
at a time when the distribution of electricity was in its infancy.
The City of Paris, in years prior to 1878, had made lavish use of gas
light (according to the standard of that time), and the exhibition of
the now obsolete Jablochkoflf candle for the illumination of the
Avenue de I'Opera in that year attracted much interest and may be
said to mark the initiation of the use of arc lamps for street lighting.
The decade from 1880 to 1890 was signali.'^cd by the development
of series arc lighting stations, mainly using the Brush and Thomson-
Houston plant, about 50 to 75 arcs on a 10 A constant current system
being used. The Thomson-Houston dynamo had peculiar features
and attracted much attention at the Inventions Exhibition in
London in 1 885, where electricians, on seeing the dynamo-connec-
tions declared " It can't work, but it does ! "

Arc Lamp Progress.

Before 1890 street lighting with arc lamps had made considerable
progress, which was aided by the few restrictions then placed on the
use of overhead high-tension wres. The first notable change was
the reduction of the current to 6'8 A, with a corresponding increase
in the number of lamps that could be run with a given energy-
consumption. Enclosed arcs subsequently replaced open arcs in

^ * Based on a series of articles in the " General Electric Review."

many cases, owing to the longer life of the carbons, but the efficiency
of light-production with alternating current was very low. The
development of flame arcs, luminous (" magnetite ") arcs and
incandescent lamps of progressivelj' higher candle-power and
efficiency has created an interesting situation, and to-day it is
scarcely possible to predict wliich wiD finally " -v^-in out." In the
United States one feature of street lighting that diflers materially
from conditions in this country is the general use of series constant-
current circuits. This system is most common both for arc and
incandescent lamps, "though there are large multiple systems in
operation— nota bly in New i^oik, where the limitation of the pressui-e
to a low value is considered an advantage. Series systems, as a rule,
do not use a total voltage in excess of 5 OtO V, but insulation
must withstand at least twice that voltage, as an earth on any
part of the line may increase the voltage by 51 to !(■(' per cent.

Many installations are carried overhead, but the necessity for a
safe and inexpensive earth system in cities and for parks, play-
grounds, &c., has led to the development of steel tape cable, which
can be laid diicct in the ground at a comparatively small depth,
being frostproof and waterproof.

Gasfiilcd V. Magnetic Lamps.

It would appear that the two lamps most favoured for street
lighting are gasfilled incandescent lamps and luminous, or magnetite,
arc lamps. For gasfilled lamps, as well as arcs, the series lamp is
still the standard, and tvpes taking 66 A, 15 A and 2<.) A are in

564

The Electrician

May 12, 1922

common use. With such relatively high currents, strong filaments
and good conditions as regards life and efficiency can doubtless be
obtained. Thus the 20 A lamps are credited with 19-3 lumens per
watt, which is equivalent to about 0'66 W per mean spherical candle-
power — probably within half a watt per rated candle-power. It is
recognised, however, that lating in terms of candle-power in one
direction is unsatisfactory. Lamps are now rated in lumens ; what
was formerly a 4l)0 c.p. lamp, for example, being now regarded as
4 00 t lumens (the product of the " reduction factor " and 4 A being
approximately ](>)• It is stated that for typical street lamps the
depreciation should not exceed 10 per cent, over a natural life of
1 350 hours ; some companies replace all lamps that have burned
for 1 500 hours. Naturally the use of high-tension series systems
makes tlie series lighting transformer an important piece of
apparatus, and various models are described in the original articles.
Another essential piece of apparatus, also illustrated in detail, is
the cut-out, which is described as the safety valve of the a.c. series
system, and which automatically short-circuits any lamp that fails.

Details of the I^lagnetite Lamp.

The " luminous " or magnetite arc lamp was first put into opera-
tion in 19 3, and is still used in most of the larger cities of the
L^nited States. It will be recalled that in this lamp, which is little
known in England, the upper electrode consists of a rod of solid
copper, which is relatively non-consuming, and may last for 2 000-
6 0()0 hours. The nature and efficiency of the light is determined
by the lower electrode, which has been the subject of much study.
A mixture of titanium oxide with magnetite, together with a small
remount of chromium oxide to give added steadiness, is now commonly
used. It appears that the life of this lower electrode, which furnishes
the stream of luminous vapour, is a bout ] 50 to 200 hours, but depends
on the material. A high efficiency (1 7 to 25 lumens per W) involves
some sacrifice of life ; vnih the long-life electrodes 11 to 18 lumens
per watt is aimed at. It is stated that the slight motion of the arc
across the electrode that invariably occurs in these lamps does not
result in a positive flicker but is " just enough to give a sort of
sparkle or animation to the light."

The natural colour of the light is white, and these lamps are
commonly used in difi'using glass globes to give a soft effect. In
certain regions, however, such as the famous " Path of Gold " in
San Francisco, a yellowish tone is obtained by the use of suitable
tinted panes of glass. Clear globes are, however, also used, and the
fact of the light coming from a bridge of vapour of considerable
length is also regarded as an clement contributing to softness of
light. Another point emphasised is that the light is derived from a
vertical column of vapour, and is therefore a maximum in a
liorizontal direction. Relatively little modification of the natural
distribution of light is therefore necessar}' in order to secure con-
ditions favourable to street lighting.

White-Way Illumination.

A feature of street lighting in American cities has been the method
known as " white-way illumination," the latest development of
which, described as " super white-way lighting " was adopted in
San Francisco in October 1916. Generally .speaking, white-way
lighting involves the use of clusters of high-powered incandescent
or luminous arc lamps, commonly installed in diffusing
white globes in ornamental standards. In the latest form, such
lighting utilises .standards 18 ft. or more in height, carrjing two,
three or more high-power luminous arc or incandescent fixtures.
The distinction from the old white-way methods is mainly a matter
of higher po.sts and more powerful unit;, coupled A^-ith greater
illumination. The cost of installation is stated to be four to eight
dollars per foot frontage, as compared Avith one to two dollars per
foot on the original white-way basis. For such lighting, gas-
filled lamps of 1000, 1500 and 2 500 c.p. are commonly used.
In the original article some effective photographs of streets lighted
by those methods are shown

Another matter to which much attention has been given is the
design of ornamental street-standards of which attractive illustra-
tions are also given. For general work GOO to ' 000 c.j). lamps are
in.stalled in diffusing globesabout 17 in. in diaiiicerand 18 to 20 in.
long. This is assumed to give a degree of brigt (ncss that can be
viev/ed without diagrccable sensations of glare. Apart from the
shaping of (he standards, colour is of sonu^ imjiortance, and it is
considered preferable for tliem to be painted in i^ome light tint of
buff, green, or brown. Even trolley-poles, also carrying lights.
Iiavo been subjected (o decorative treatment.

The Finance of Street Lighting.

A point of considerable interest in connection with street -lighting
Is the method of finance. It is stated that three chict metliods are
employed.

1. Popular subscription amongst business men or property owners,

or both.

2. Installation by the lighting company, which charges a slightly

higher rate for current to amortise the original invcstnicnt.

3. Financing by coinnicrcial clubs or other civic organisations which,

in turn, pro-rate the cost against members of the organisation.
This special Avhite-wf.y lighting, the nearest equivalent to wliich

is perhaps what is known as " parade-lighting " in this country,
is regarded as being of special benefit to business houses fronting
on the region so illuminated. In some states the " Improvement
Law " has been modified to enable a special assessment to be levied
against the abutting property on which the improvement is made.
Statistics are presented showing the comparative expenditure on
lighting of a large number of cities. It is perhaps difficult to draw
general conclusions from such statistics. It appears, however,
that the expenditure on lighting varies from 1"23 to 3 '86 per cent,
in different cities- — in any case a comparatively small proportion.
The average cost per capita for 227 cities with populations over
30 000 has been found to be approximately 72 cents. There are,
however, a few cities whose expenditure rises over 3 doUars per
capita. For the 50 best lighted cities the average per capita is
about 2 dollars. The yearly cost of street -lighting commonly
varies from about 2 cents per linear foot of street for a poorly lighted
\dllage to over 5 dollars for an intensive s\^stem such as that in
Market Street, San Francisco. The average for all streets in the
United States, excluding " white-ways," would not exceed 5 cents
per foot per year. However if, as is indicated by the acceptance of
extra lighting in many districts, property owners and merchants
consider it a good investment to paj' over 6 dollars to light one foot
of street, the question may be raised whether it is not worth while
for a city to consider paying at least 5 cents ?

Classes of Street Lighting.

Setting aside special white-way or spectacular lighting. Dr. L. Bell
divides street lighting into three classes, i.e., (1) those in which to
the ordinarj' requirements of safety and convenience something is
added with a view to display ; (2) normal street-lighting suitable
for thoroughfares carrying important traffic ; and (3) lighting for
residential and other streets where traffic is small and requirements
of the police are not severe. For the highest grade of lighting the
eye must receive enough light to get beyond the " twilight vision "
stage, and, in practice, the most important public streets should
receive an average of 0'25 foot-candle. In such cases one may
compare the street to a corridor, the sides of which receive fairly
liberal illumination in order to produce an agreeable effect.
Powerful arcs, placed fairly high and spaced at a distance not over
four to five times then- height are effective.

The great bulk of street-lighting, however, demands less exacting
conditions, and a general order of illuminating comparable with full
moonlight, and ranging say from 1-2U down to ] -50 foot-candle
should answer. Here the larger incandescent lamps of 100 to 500 W
prove useful.

Need for Careful Tests.

In view of the low orders of illumination practicable in most
street-lighting, illumination tests, if embodied in the contract,
require special care. A sufficient number of lamps must be tested,
and due consideration must be given to the effect of reflection from
buildings, shadows cast by trees and other extraneous factors.
Important decisions should be based on laboratory tests, where exact
conditions can be noted. The most logical method, in rating lamps
for street-lighting, is to specify the mean spherical candle-power,
and to describe the lamp by type. Allowance for depreciation of
incandescent lamps during life must also be considered. With
regard to failures of lamps it is suggested that the central station
should be given sufficient notice to replace a defective lamp before
the deductions arc made. If not replaced within twenty-four hours
the central station may be deemed liable to a penalty.

The choice of the type of glass for the diffusing globes now becom-
ing commonly used for street-lighting presents interesting problems.
The aim of modern design is to secure complete diffusion of light
without undue loss of light, and without the globe becoming too
heavy. Diagrams show that increasing weight is accompanied bj'
progressive increase in absorption of light, but a transmission of
87 per cent, is claimed for some of the latest "alabaster" and
" carrara " glassware. Generally spealung the transmission varies
from 00 to 80 per cent, according to type. Considerable improve-
ments in the manufacture of such diffusing glass have been made
during recent years. Various special units intended to modify the
natural curve of light distribution .so as to secure even illumination
in streets have been devised. Some of these depend on the use of
prismatic glass refractors.

One special type, the " Higln\-ay " lighting unit, consists essen-
tially of two approximately jwrabolic reflectors pointing down the
street in either direction, whereby the peculiar curve necessary for
theoretical even illumination of pavement may be secured.

There appears to be much activity in the development of hydro-
electric POWER IN THE United States at present. The Southern
Power Company has let a contract for a 80 000 h.p. hydro-electric
plant at Moinitain Islands for S3 000 000. and it is also to develop
bOOOO u.v. at Great Falls (S.C.). Contracts, amounting to nearly
.$3 500 000, have been placed by the Southern California Edison
ConipaTiy for generating plant and auxiliary appaiatus for a 75 000
kW plant, an additional hydro-electric unit at an existing station,
sub-station equipmout, and the conversion of the 150 000 V Big
Creek lines to 220000 V operation.

The Electrician — May 12, 1922

565

Recent Progress in High Frequency Inductive Heating.

By E, F. NORTHRUP.

A somewhat detailed description is given of the furnaces designed
by the author for heating with high frequency currents. The
furnaces are made by the Ajax Electrothermic Corporation. The
high-frequency converter sets used for the purpo.se have been
greatly simpUfied. Those under 25 kW are designed for operation
on single phase circuits. They include three essential parts, namely,
an oil-cooled transformer, with internal reactance, a .set of con-
densers, and a metal discharge gap. A diagram of connections for
a 20 kW set is shown in Fig. 1.

Where the supply voltage is 6 600 V, it is practicable to operate
the three-phase high frequency converter set directly off the supply
circuits, no step-up transformers being required. On the other hand,
three high-tension reactances of 25 kV'A capacity must be inserted
in the supply line to limit the flow of current. An oil-switch must
be used as a starting switch ; and two current and two potentiaj

2Z0 Volts
60 Circles

ftJ

^ Watt
-SJ Meter

\smsmMsm3Smsm} Transformer
^""""""""iwyinrinnnnri 220/6600 ; 60 cy.

\^^

Discharge Gap

Safety Spi'll-Over Gap

(Set at IS Millimetres)

-Safety Spill-Over Gaps
/(Set at 6 Millimetres each)
" Electrostatic Condensers.

(1st. Shelf.)

(2nd. Shelf.)

(3rd. Shelf.)

Leads to Furnace Inductor

Fig. 1. — Theoretical Diagram of Connections of
20 kW High Frequency Converter Set.

transformers are needed to operate the integrating wattmeter.
There is, therefore, a loss in simplicity and little is gained in economy
of first cost in operating directly from high-tension supply lines.

Facts About High Frequency Converter Sets.

On account of the intrinsic high cost of transformers and con-
densers, these high-frequency converter sets constitute from SO
to 90 per cent, of the selling price of a complete metal melting outfit.
The liigh-frequency converter sets have, however, no moving parts
and the nature of the materials which enter into their construction is
such that they depreciate scarcely at all.

These high-frequency converter sets have proved in practice to
be so reliable and efficient, as constructed in units not exceeding
()0 kW, that a high-frequency alternator of this rating could scarcely
compete with them in simplicitjs ease of operation, life and cost.
It is only when single units of over 100 kW capacity are con-
Bidered that we should look to the high-frequency alternator of
about 12 000 cycles per second as the better apparatus for supplymg
high-frequency current for heating purposes. Satisfactory alter-

* Abstract of a Paper read before the American Electrochemical
Society.

natoi-s of 200 kW capacity have been designed, but as yet they have
not become available.

Types of Furnaces.

Several types of furnace are described in the original paper.

A high temperature furnace, which may be used with a vacuum, is

shown in Fig. 2. Here the inductor coil is made of 42 turns of in.

( 1 cm. ) flattened copper tubing. The inductor is wound as a solenoid

Fig. 2. — Standard D — 1 Model Furnace.

and is 9 m. (23 cm.) long and 4Y'^in. (10-5 cm.) inside diameter. The
high frequency potential is applied to the terminals of this solenoid
and also a water pressure of 30 lb. (13'7 kg.) or more, which main-
tains a flow of water through the flattened tubular solenoid. The
furnace may be used as a vacuum or as a non- vacuum furnace. It
is of the non-tilting type, and its contents are removed through
the bottom by withdrawing a slide of asbestos board. This type of
furnace imder favourable conditions wiU melt molvbdenum and can

ELECTRICAL
COIL,

C'RRIES THE CUR-
REnr, WHICH PRO-
DUCES THE HEAT
I1SIDE THE CRUCI-
BLE, COIL ITSELF IS
WATER COOLED,
MAKING THE FUR/1
-ACE BOX COOL AND
COMFORTABLE TO
^\ORK. WITH,

ELECTRICAL
INSULATIO/i. —

FOR PROTECTION,
AfiD TO HELP KEEP
THE HEAT in THE
CRLVIBLE.

LID.

■TERMINALS .

WHERE CmCWT IS BROKEH BY
LI FT me CfHJCIBLE TO POUR.

CRUCIBLE
LINING,

HOLDS THE UET^L
AHD HELPS KEEP
THL HEAT in THE
OKKIBLE.

■ HEAT

INSULA TION,

KEEPS THE HEiT
M THE CRUCIBLE
ffHERE /r/SSfA
ERATED-

\_L

BOX - FOR MECHAMCA^
RiGIOlTY AHO EASE OF
HAnOLine,

table - supports the electrical crlkible and provides
contact to the electrical pouier supply,

Fig. 3.— Cross Section of Ten-Inch '• Electric Cruciblk."

be used to melt electroh'tic iron in 0 to 6 lb. (2-3 to 2-7 kg.) lots
strictly carbon free. The furnace is very suitable for the recovery
of platinmu scrap. When a crucible of carbon or Acheson graphite
2j in. (5*0 cm.) inside diameter by 7 in. (17*5 cm.) long is used, and
this is heat- insulated with lampblack, it is not ditlicult to obtain
temperatures in from fifteen to twenty minutes which are more thsm
sulhcient to graphitise carbon completely.

Electric Crucible Furnaces.

For melting in vacuum, a quartz tuoe is used closed at the bottom,
which just fits the coil. Electric crucible furnaces are matle in the
fonu shown in Fig. 3. Since all types of furnaces operated by high-

566

The Electrician.

May 12, 1922

frequency induction are substantially at room temperature on the
outside, they can be handled very easily. A furnace of this type is
well adapted to the melting of precious metals and will melt and pour
about 1") lb. of copper. The melting is extremely rapid, and when
non-conducting crucibles are used the molten metal becomes
•violently stirred, so that there is perfect mixing.

When very high temperatures are required in electric crucibles,
it has been found advantageous to maintain a How of water through
the inductor coil, the water connections being made by means of
rubber tubing.

Several high-frequency furnaces have been used in the United
States Mint in Philadelphia. With an in-put of 12' kW per phase
i).90a lb. of silver were melted per kW hour, but, in this case the
furnace was really underloaded.

In the case of metals which do not take up carbon it is advan-
tageous to employ graphite crucibles, but these are subject to the
disadvantage that they oxidise and burn away. To overcome this
difficulty the author has developed a coating which will not
oxidize at a temperature of 1 800° C, even when a jet of oxygen
is steadily blown upon it. The coating is put on at a temperature of
2 200° C. An additional coating of zrrkite, magnesite, &c., may be
esksily applied.

In the original paper some particulars are given on the use of
special furnaces for heat treatment and graphitisation, c. With
regard to the latter, lamp black, or carbon black, is found to be the
best of all insulators at temperatures above 2 000° C. ; it is also an
electric insulator when not strongly compressed. Consequently,
when a pile of carbon blocks are embedded in this material and
inductively heated with high frequency current, they are heated
rapidly and uniformly and can be quickly brought to the temperature
of graphitisation. The efficiency compares very favourably with
that of other methods.

Magnetic Properties of Compressed Powdered

Iron.*

By B. SPEED and G. W. ELMEN.

The development of a successful method of compressing insulated
grains of iron to produce a material magnetically and electrically
suited for use in the telephone plant has had a determining effect
upon methods of loading and compositing telephone lines and the
introduction of carrier current systems of multiplex telephony.
This material is used in the construction of the cores of the loading
coils introduced to increase the inductance of a telephone circuit,
also in the cores of inductance elements in filters fc carrier current
systems, and reactance coUs and transformers for radio telephone
circuits. Such coils have to meet special requirements.

The inductance, and hence the permeability, of the loading coils
must remain constant throughout the entii'e range of intensities
(as much as 1 : 100) of the currents employed.

In addition, the variation in effective resistance caused by
hysteresis, which occurs when two currents of different frequencies
and amplitudes are superposed, must be so small that '" tiutter "
in the transmitted speech is inappreciable. Finally, the total
resistance of the coil, including copper loss, must be small com-
pared with the resistance of a length of hne conductor equal to the
length of the loading section. Hence the effect of hysteresis and
eddy currents which depends upon the frequency and amplitude
of the telephone currents must be reduct;d to a minimum.

Meeting the Requirements.

These requirements -were met successfully in the early develop-
ment of loading coils by the use of hard iron either in wire or in
sheet form. Cores of liard-drawn wire were developed and adopted
by the engineers of the American Telephone Telegraph Company,
and were used successfully until the core-material herein described
was put on a production basis. Two advantages pertain to the use
of hard material in preference to soft. In the hard material the
variation in permeability for a large range of magnetizing forces
ifl leas than in the soft iron. This is especially true at the initial
part of the magnetization curve where, for a very larae range of
magnetizing force, the permeability of the hard material is constant.
The second advantage is duo to the fact that over the range in
which the permeabilitj' is constant the hysteresis loss per "unit
of volume is less in the hard than it is in the soft material for the
same 11 ux density.

Design of the Coils.

In order to take advantage of the constancy in permeability and
the low hysteresis loss with small magi.etizmg forces, the coils were
designed so that for the range of speech currents the magnetizing
force corresponded to that of the initial part of the magnetization
curve. In a standard design of coil the magnetizing force corre-

* Abstract of a Paper read before the American Instituto of
Eleotrical Engineers.

spending to an average telephone current of one milliampere is of
the order of 0*0 1 gauss.

In addition to the magnetic requirements for the core-material,
its electrical resistivity is also of great importance.

Originally cores of hard-drawn wire were used. Hard material
is pi-eferable to soft as the variation in permeability is less, especially
at the beginning of the magneti/.aiion curve : also the hysteresis
loss in these circumstances is smaller. In a standard coil the mag-
netizing force with one mUhampere is about O'Ol gauss. Electric
resistivity is also important. The frequency of speech currents ia
about f^OO per sec, and with low resistivity eddy current losses
are excessive. Hence iron wire of 0-004 in. diameter was used,
separate convolutions being insulated.

The Need for Stability and Constancy.

With the introduction of rejieatera requirements as regards
stability and constancy became more stringent, and air gaps were
introduced at right angles to the path of the flux. For various
reasons the sjTumetrical placing of such gaps is important. The
making of such fine hard dravm wires requiied diamond dies, the
importation of which was greatly hindere(i by the war. Fortu-
nately, powdered iron cores were developed to a commercial stage.
The requirements of such materials are (1) a permeability at low
magnetizing forces between '..0 and !00, (2) material finely divided
at right angles to the flux to decrease eddy currents, (31 low hysteresis
loss, and (1) favourable cost of manufacture. Finely divided iron,
in some cases consisting of particles treated with wax, was
often proposed, and the use of particles of iron oxide was
studied. In general, however, little was known of compressed
material.

The iron powder used first in these investigations was mixed
witli a little water and heated at 100 to 1-50° C. until the particles
had a layer of oxide on them. Finally, it was mixed with a thin solu-
tion of shellac, dried and pressed into rings under a pressure of
iOO 000 lb. per sq. in. Thus the desired order of penneability,
between "lO and 00, was obtained. Other methods of insulation
were tried, hut were less satisfactory. Ultimately it was found
that if iron powder was rolled in a zinc-lined drum for a few hours
and then insulated with shellac solution, very tough insulation,
which did not break down under compression, was obtained,
coupled with a higher specific resistance. This method was even-
tually adopted in preparing powdered iron cores. A suitable
quahty of hard iron was obtained by electrolysis from a solution
containing ferrous sulphate and chloride and ammonium sulphate.
The deposited iion was stripped off the steel electrodes and ground
fine, until :} to ;)0 per cent, would pass through a 200-mesh sieve.
An anneahng process was also used and had an appreciable purifying
effect. At the present time three grades of material, having
respectively permeahiUties of 50, 3.">, and 25 are made. Tensile
strengths of the three varieties are I 37o, 925 and 37.") lb. per sq. in.
sp. gravity 7m, 0*4, and 'rO. A diagram relating specific resistance
to pressure for annealed and unannealed material is also given
in the original Paper. At 120 000 lb. per sq. in. values of 0-')07
and 0-(>i.»3 for annealed and unannealed material. At LI 60 000 lb.
per sq. in. a sp. resistance of the order of 0.00 1 Ohm-cm is recorded.
In the original paper full data on remanence, coercive force, &c.,
are also appended, and magnetization curves are given. The
greatest changes in specific gravity occur below lOO 000 lb. per
sq. in. ; additional pressure while altering specific gravity but little,
may double the maximum permeability. Witli a sp. gravity
of 7 '4 the specific resistance of the compressed uninsulated
powder is -0 to (»0 times that of solid iron. The effect of air spaces
in the insulated and uninsulated varieties is notably different. The
maximum permeabiUty recorded for compressed iron is 545 — aa
high a value as can be obtained from many grades of solid iron.

The following data are of interest :--

Permeability.

Kind of Material.

Maximum.

H = 0.

Electrolytic iron, wrought bar . .

7 800

250

Poor grade of cast steel, annealed

710

131-6

Poor grade of cast steel, hardened

170

Cast iron, annealed

620

175

Cast iron, unannealed

240

69-4

Iron powder, annealed, uninsulated.

compressed with 254 000 pounds

pressure . .

540

Iron powder, unannealed, uninsulated,

compressed with 254 000 pouutla

pressure . .

156

Grade A iron-powder cores

156-5

54-8

.. B „ "^

67-2

30-2

» C „ ' „ „

26-3

In the final section of the article an account is given of the plant
Hse»l in the preparation and compression of these powdered iron
cores.

May 12, 1922

The Electrician*

567

RevieYTS.

Die Transformatoren. By M. Vidmak. (Berlin: Julius
Springer.) Pp. xvi. + 702. Price IzO marks (bou d).

This is an excellent bcx)k. It is also a remarkable book.
The author is a professor in the University of Ljubljana,
and director of the Ljubljana Engineering Works and
Foundries. It interested us to discover where Ljubljana
was, and after numerous enquiries we were assured that it
was none other than the town known as Laibach in the old,
ramshackle empire commonly called the Dual Monarchy.
Thus the book emanates from a Jugo-Slav University,
about 50 miles north of Fiume. Though written in Ger-
man and published by a famous Berlin house, there are
many phrases which one would scarcely expect in a book
written by a " Reichsdeutscher," e.g., " Der Witz des
Grosstransf ormators. ' '

Interest is aroused in the preface, which is an essay to
show the proper place of the engineer in the world. Here
we have to do with an idealist, who makes no attempt to
conceal his subjective standpoint. We shall now try to
indicate a few of the interesting points dealt with in a
treatise of 700 pages.

Generally speaking, the author's method of treatment is
to start from first principles and leave off when he has
exhausted the subject as far as he is able to do so. In the
chapter on the magnetic circuit, among the matters dealt
with are the current rush on switching in and the third
harmonic of the magnetising current. When dealing with
windings, additional losses with various arrangements of
copper, the disruptive forces on short-circuit, pressure
surges, switching phenomena and capacity are among
the matters discussed. In a chapter of about
100 pages on heating, a great deal is said about radiation,
conduction, convection, time-constant, intermittent work-
ing, overloads, &c. The relations between cost and effici-
ency and between cost and main dimensions are discussed
by every writer on transformers, and the present author
is no exception. The next three chapters deal with aii'-
cooled transformers, oil-cooled transformers, and water-
cooled transformers.

The problem of the large transformer appears to have
a special charm for the author, ajid after paying his devo-
tion to Blathy, one of the pioneers in this work, he describes
in detail the design of his largest transformer.

The following particulars of this construction of Ganz of
Budapest may be of interest: Normal output 16 000
kVA, with a continuous overload capacity of 30 per cent.,
by increasing the cooling water from 200 to 300 litres per
minute. Frequency 50 cycles per second. Pressui'e-
ratio, 4 000/56 000 V. Total weight, 35 tons. Efficiency
at normal load and unity power-factor, 98.65 per cent.
The no-load current is 7 per cent, and the short-circuit
pressure 5.6 per cent. In addition to this 3-phase, core-
type transformer, the author works out a single-phase, shell-
type, furnace transformer for 3 000 kVA and 500/60 000
A, also built by Ganz.

Enough has been said, however, to give the reader a fair
idea of the contents of the book. Though objections can
be taken to various arguments, we have not found anything
to make the book unworthy of the serious consideration of
all who are deeply interested in transformers. There is
no doubt that the book will be a standard treatise for years
to come. It is printed and illustrated in the excellent
manner common to Springer's publications, but intending
purchasers are advised to buy hound copies.

Stanley Parker Smith.

The Elements of Direct Current Electrical Engin-
eering. By H. F. Trewman, M.A., and (;. E. Co^dliffe.
B.Sc. (London: Sir Isaac Pitman .v Sons, Ltd.) Pp. vii. + 219,
7s. 6d. net.
The authors suggest in their preface that there was a
gap existing between elementary text-books on magnetism
and electricity and the more advanced books which deal
with the design point of view, and their aim was to bridge
this gap. We can hardly subscribe to the view that the

gap was as great as is suggeeted, for there are many
text-books, bearing the too frequently used label of
" Electrical Engineering," which connect the pure with the
applied science. However, the authors have prepared a
concise course designed for second-year university students,
and presumably especially designed for their own students
at the Ordnance College, Woolwich. The course assumes
that the reader has an elementary knowledge of the
Calculus, and no attempt has been made to avoid its use.
The book is written in twelve chapters, the first four dealing
with the fundamentals of electro-magnetism and induced
current, after which there are chapters on instruments,
storage batteries, the dynamo, the magnetic circuit,
commutation and armature reaction, losses, operation of
dynamos, the motor, and motor testing. Numerous
examples are provided and answers are supplied. The
authors ask for suggestions and the notification of errors.
On page 169 it is stated that if a series dynamo be charging
a battery, and the battery E.M.F. becomes greater than
the dynamo E.M.F., " the current will be reversed in
both armature and field, and therefore the machine will run
as a motor in the same direction " ! This error is not
repeated in the motor chapter.

The compound wound dynamo is treated very briefly,
and we would suggest a rote on the paralleling and load-
sharing, as this would help to indicate the reasons for the
more general use of one type of winding. The word
" expotential " on page 25 is an obvious misprint.

Finally, we suggest that the method of deducing the
strength of the magnetic field due to a current is based
on an unjustifiable assumption, namely, that the magnetic
force produced by a current is automatically the same as
the electric force produced by a charge.

J. Paley Yorke.

The Diagnosing of Troubles in Electrical Machines.

By Prof. Miles Walkep, M.A., D.Sc. (London : Longmans,
Green & Co.) Pp. xi. 4-450. 323. net.

During the last few years, quite a number of books have been
written, especially in America, on diseases of machines and their
remedies, but none that we have reviewed can approach Prof.
Walker's book for real soUd interest and value.

A reader has not to read far into the first chapter on " breakdown
of insulation " before realising that the author i3 drawing on a vast
experience ; and then the fearful thought flashes through the mind
whether any one firm could possibly siurrive if it encoimtered
but a fraction of these multitudinous mishaps. Nor is the reader
consoled by the author's assurance that " the accidents that can
happen and the mistakes that can be made are so diverse and
numerous, and the ways in which a defect in the machine can hide
itself are so perplexing, that one can only hope to deal with a
small percentage of the troubles and to indicate the general methods
of attacking problems of the kind."

Another tliought that flashes across the mind on reading of the
strange things that have happened or may happen to electrical
machines is the following. Granted that many of these failiu-es
belong to the troublous period of birth and infancy of many types,
one still wonders whether many of these breakdowns or troubles
ought to occur at all. ( andidly, we think not. We have no
sympathy with the American idea of rapid " antiquation."
Engineers have no right to waste Nature'^ resources in this way--
rather, they should build thoroughly rehable macliines, which will
only break down m case of untoward accident. Everlastmg
" cutting " can be carried too far, and the possibihty of exact
calculation ought not to be strained too much — briefly, in tliis
respect, electrical ought not to be worse off than other machines.

The first few chapters on breakdown of insulation, over-heating,
low efficiency, &c., contain a great deal of well-digested information
arranged in an orderly mamier. Here, of course, many standard
well-known methods are included ; but let not the reader think
he is going to be let otf with a mere Ust of possible faults and
remedies. Dr. Walker's method is a very ditferent one — he is
concerned that the reader shall imderatand the cause of the trouble,
and spares no pain in analysmg the underhing theory. Much
of the material will be found as useful for designers as for testers—
indeed, the technical information is given ao as to be serviceable

to all. . , I J

A particularly pleasing feature about the book la the clear and
fair way in which methods or arguments taken from various
publications are given; the author makes the digest of the subject
so thorough as to render reference superfluous. Another instance

568

The Electrician.

May 12, 1922

of the wide aspect on -n hich the book is based is evidenced by the
eare taken to show how vector diagrams should be used to attack
problems in connection with windings and the like.

After the more general sources of failure have been dealt with,
the failures which occur in the several tj^Des are treated in separate
chapters. Among the more important sections may be mentioned
those devoted to balancing, in which a simple theory of this import-
ant subject is included ; defects in core construction ; unbalanced
loads ; synchronising troubles, with a theory of phase swinging ;
symmetry of armature windings ; instability of continuous- current
generators ; a lengthy and very valuable investigation into commu-
tator and brush troubles, with a complete discussion of remedies ;
starting and other problems in rotary converters and induction
motors.

The notes we made when reading the book include the
discovery of very few corrections and omissions. When
dealing with equalising currents in lap-connected armatures,
reference might perhaps have been made to the work of Lulofs and
Hawkins ; while in the useful expression for finding the tempera-
ture by resistance, it would probably be better to give this for
the final temperature, leaving the rise to be found by deducting
the temperature of the surrounding air.

No more need be said in praise of this excellent book. There
is no doubt that it will soon be as popular as its sister book on design,
to which it is similar in every respect. We only wish that more
authors would compel their publishers to produce artistic technical
books, with good binding, large text and well-drawn diagrams,
and also bind them so that they will remain open when opened,
as is the case with Prof. Walker's books. The book can be strongly
recommended to all who are interested in the technical side of
electrical machinery. S. Parker Smith.

Switching Equipment for Power Control. Stephen Q.
Hayes. (London : Hill Publishing Company.) Pp. vii. + 463.
20s.

To one familiar with Mr. Hayes' career this book is very dis-
appointing. Of all switchgear engineers he has travelled most
extensively, but he writes solely of American practice and material.
During twenty-five years' connection with switchgear industry
Mr. Hayes has built up an international reputation which justifies
the expectation of much greater things than are exhibited in this
book. The whole tone of the book suggests the salesman, and
there is usually little difficulty in identifying the " manufacturers
. . . descriptive matter utilised bodily," which the author
acknowledges in his preface. In the reviewer's opinion there is
far too much of this matter, much of which appears to have been
included so as to avoid giving offence to firms competing with the
author's employers.

The space is not well allocated. Five pages on instrument
switches, nine pages on fuses, two and a half pages on automatic
protection, twenty-six and a half pages, mostly catalogue quality,
on switchboard meters, and only forty-eight pages on cubicle work
and layouts.

Editorial work is conspicuous by its absence. Sentences and
even whole paragraphs are duplicated (see §§2 and 5, p. 98 ; §5,
p. 106 and the last lines of p. 107 ; § 1, p. 364 and § 1 , p. 407).
Related matter is separated. Thus one page and an illustration
is given to portable sub-stations in the chapter on large panel
switchboards, and another two and a half .)ages on the same subject
appear later under circuit breaker structures, A table should
have replaced a long, involved sentence, full of figures, on p. 94.
The article before a noun is frequently omitted, and phrases such
as " ... currents of 600 to " 1 000 at 650 V ... "
omitting the " amperes," are common.

, The only notes regarding the use of reactances appear in the
chapter on lightning arresters, and jiractically nothing is said about
their application to the switching system. More attention should
have been given to system connections as a whtle. The diagrams
of elements are often excellent, but the uninitiatt d are left seeking
the proper method to combine these cloraents.

The contrast between British and American practice is empha-
sised by the statement that it is customary to omit automatic devices
on a.c. generators, although rccenthj a scheme of dilTcrontial protec-
tion has been adopted. The latter system is given six lines, and
split-conductor protection a like amount.

The sixteen pages on automatic sulj-stations are of considerable
interest, and among other matters of note to British engineers may
be mentioned the automatic reclosing circuit breaker, the graphic
recording synchroscope, wliich show the exact phase relationship
at the instant of paralleling, the glow sj nchroscope for high voltages
and the multiple Kelvin balance totalising graphic meter.

On the whole, the book is likely to be useful to those who want to
know what American manufacturers arc doing, without bothering
about the why. In a future edition the author will do well to prune
ruthlessly the manufacturers data pages, and to elaborate on such
items as the operation of voltage regulators, means of insulation

for high voltages, the application of protective relays, the action
of lightning arresters, and the general substitution of definite
information for vague statements.

The printing, binding and production generally is well up to
McGraw-Hill standard, the only possible criticism being that a
few of the blocks are too small for convenient reference.

W. A. COATES.

Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony; An Outline for
Electrical Engineers and Others. By L. B. Turner, M.A.,
M.I.E.E. (Cambridge: University Press.) Pp. x. + 195.
Price 20s. net.

The object of the present volume is to provide an introduction
to wireless telegraphy and telephony which avHI serve as a ground-
work for electrical engineers and others who already have a knowledge
of electrical work, yet are unacquainted with radio developments.
The book is chieHy theoretical for the first three chapters. The
difference between wireless and other branches of electrical engineer-
ing is pointed out, the author always bearing in mind the object
of his book. Radiation, oscillatory circuits, and methods of coupling
receive attention in the second and third chapters. The fourth
brings us to methods of producing high-frequency alternating
currents. Spark methods are treated in an elementary maimer
which will be readily understood by the electrical engineer for whom
special analogies are repeatedly given. Alternators and arcs
are then explained. The explanation of the arc's action is such
that it will leave many of the readers of this book still in the dark
unless the circle is to be narrower than we imagine.

The author's comments on arc signalling are open to dispute.
As Mr. Shaughnessy has recently pointed out, the double-wave
method of signalling is likely to cause less interference at high
speeds — the speeds of the future — than the single wave. A steady
aerial load on the continuous-wave generator has many advantages
in high-speed working. The author's opinion, however, of arc
signalling is a high one, and he considers it to be the best available
at present for high powers.

Chap. V. brings the reader to methods of detection. Simple
receiving circuits are described in connection with crystal detectors.
Chap. VI. brings us to the all-important thermionic vacuum tube.
The author's treatment of vacuum tubes is exceedingly good. The
development of the subject is lucid and logical, and, while there
is no room for numerous practical examples, yet typical circuits
are described and explained.

The author's remarks on p. 97 regarding the constancy of the
grid current curve need some modification. He asserts that the
anode potential has practically no effect on the grid currents.
The following figures obtained from a similar valve will epeak for
themselves. When the potential difference across the filament
was 4 V and the grid potential + 20 V, the grid cuiTents obtained
were : With 12 V on the anode, 3*6 milliamps ; 34 V, 1 '2 > milliamps ;
50 V, 0"75 mUliamp ; 90 V, 0*5 milliamp. The author's grid
current curve of Fig. 61, which he says remains the same practically
for anode voltages of 10 to 139, represents the grid current for grid
potentials from 0-50 V. The greater the grid potential the greater
the error of such an assertion.

In connection with the author's remarks on p. 141, it has been
found that breaking the grid circuit is not suitable for high-power
transmission. Fig. Ill omits a microphone battery. Fig. 118 shows
the anode battery connected the wiong way round.

After dealing with the subject of tiiodes and their applications,
the author gives some information regarding direction finding and
the trend of modern development. He trusts, as we aU do, that
there will be some improvement in atmospheric eliminators. The
reviewer feels that we are lacking in inventive ability if we cannot
get over this t/ouble, and are taking the easier but probably far
more expensive alternative of increasing the power of the trans-
mittmg stations. The problem can be solved if we get down to it.

Mr. Turner is to be congratulated on the production of this
valuable little book. Even at its excessive price it is still not merely
of great interest to the student, but also to those of wide experience
who are yet anxious to see problems from a new and original view-
point.

John Scott-Taggart.

The LoNnoN County Council has made a two years' agreement
willi tile London Electric Supply Corporation for the supply of elec-
trical energy to the new County Hall, from July 1, 1922, on the
following teiins : [a] Ligliting, 5fd. a unit for first 1 000 units a year
ior each kW of plant mstallod (for first year the plant to be cal-
culated on a basis of 750 kW), and any consumption beyond at S^d.
a unit; (b) Power, 2^d. a unit for all power and heating required
from July 1, 1922, to June 30. 1923. After that date the price to be
increased or decreased by 0002d. a unit for every penny a ton by
which the cost to the company during the year ending December 31,
1924, of standard fuel having a calorific value of 11 000 B.th.u.
rises or falls above or below the average cost to .he company of
such standard fuel during the year 1923 ; (c) '• Stand-by " supply
for lighting, 5d. a unit, the Council bearing cost (39s. 6d. a vara) of
laving the cable over Westminster Bridge to provide this supply.

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

509

Protection of Electrical Apparatus.

Thermally Actuated Relays.

Tlie load capacity of any piece of electrical apparatus is deter-
mined by the temperature limits of the materials used in the con-
struction of the device. This characteristic sets a definite maximum
load which can be applied continuously.

In many cases, this load can be considerably exceeded for short
periods of time without danger to the apparatus. In other cases,
a succession of short-time heavy overloads can be applied without
injury, if followed by intervals of very light load, for the heat
developed is integrated over a considerable period of time, and the
temperature attained as a result of successive short overloads is the
same temperature as would be obtained if the integrated loading
had been applied continuously for that same length of time.

Induction Motor Conditions.

The squirrel c.nge induction moter is a typical example. Such a
motor talces a rather heavy starting current, especially if it is of
small size and is thrown directly on the line without starting com-
pensators. Fuse protection is generally supplied, but in order to
take care of the starting current the fuse capacity must be several
times normal full-load running current. This condition results in
the possibility of the motor being overloaded to a considerable extent
without blowing the fuses, and, if the overload continues long
enough, the motor may burn out. The fuses then only provide pro-
tection against an overload sufficiently great to stall the motor.

This condition should be protected against, and the thermal relays
recently developed by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufactub
ING Company are applicable for this purpose.

The theory of protection demands that an instrument be provided
which can be connected in electrical circuits, the instrument to have
in itself small losses which are converted into heat, and the device
should be so arranged that its temperature rises in proportion to
the current flowing through the circuit, and also designed to embody
a considerable heat capacity. The temperature in the relay will
then follow approximately the temperature of the apparatus to be
protected, and the relay can be adjusted so that it will open the
circuit when a predetermined temperature is reached.

The relay may be arranged with or without a pointer to indicate
its own temperature continuously, and, therefore, the temperature
conditions of the protected apparatus, thus giving an idea of the
amount of load which has been placed on the apparatus and the
increase in load which may be safely applied.

In designing the thermal relay it was necessary to obtain a heat
sensitive material which would have sufficient power to operate a

280
?.60
Z40
ZZO

70'C

Characteristic Curve

of Thermal Time

Limit Relay.

contact and still accurately follow changes in temperature. A high

?rade of thermostatic metal was found satisfactory for this purpose,
n order to obtain the greatest simplicity of design, this same
material is used aa the resistor or heat developing element, as well
as the heat sensitive element.

Operating Mechanism.

The operating mechanism of relay consists of a number of sheets
of thermostatic metal arranged in series or in parallel, and with
varying resistance, according to the desired current-carrying
capacity. A contact is attacned to one of the elements, and is

normally held with an initial tension against the stationary con-
tact. At the proper temperature the bending tendency of the
thermostatic metal takes up thi.s initial tension and the contacts
open, thus opening the holding Coil of a small circuit breaker to open
the main circuit.

Fig. 1 shows a characteristic relay curve. At room temperature
the relay may be'arjanged to carry continuously in the neighbour-

70C50CZ5C

4D0

hood of 110 per cent, of its rated capacity. If the current exceeds
this value, the relay will operate with a time element, as shown
by the curve. Fig. 2 indicates the effect of change of external tem-
perature, the various curves being marked to show the temperature
at which the determinations were made. It will be noted that the
change in external temperature only changes the capacity of the
relay by a small value. The amount of this change depends on the
operating temperature of the relay, the higher the operating tem-
perature, the less influence.

This change, however, is in the proper direction to give protec-
tion to apparatus operating in conditions of elevated temperature.
If the relay carries less than its rated current for a time, or after
operating has not fully ( ioled to room temperature, and an overload
occurs, the contacts will open in less time than indicated by the
curve in Fig. 1, but since the cause of this condition has also elevated
the temperature of the protected apparatus, the added measure of
protection is in the right direction.

Metric System for Engineers.*

This book gives a full and practical explanation of the metric
system of measurement in so far as it is met with in engineering
calculation and measurements. It is intended to be of use to
draughtsmen, mechanics and others who have to deal with calcu-
lation and measurement on the metric system, and we may 'say
at once that it is clearly and carefully written and distinctly justifies
its place in the series of " directly useful " books.

In dealing with length and area and volume measurement,
attention is given to the measuring devices in use — micrometers and
planimeters, for example — and calculations in connection with screw-
cutting and gear wheels are treated at some length. Mass and
weight, force, velocity and acceleration are tieated, followed by
the derived units of measurement, such as torque, work and power.
The C.G.S. system of absolute units and the practical derivatives
are carefully explained, and throughout the book worked examples
are provided in plenty.

There are thirty-four excellent tables of et\uivalents. which sum
up the deductions arrived at in the various chapters, and some
conversion charts which may hang uji in the office are supplied in
the wallet at the back of the book.

Thouf h the author surveys brietiy the various arguments for and
against the compulsory' adoption of the metric system, he does so
very honestly and does not use his book as a pulpit for propaganda
work.

There are twenty-eight illustrations, and the general get-up of
the book is excellent. J. P. Y.

♦Metric System for Ejjoineers. 'Ry C. R. Clapham. B.Sc.
(London : Chapman it Hall.) Pp. xii. -f 181. 128. tid. net.

570

The Electrician.

May 12, 1922

Industry in Spain in 1921.

In his report on the industbies and commerce of Spain for the
year to December, 1921, Capt. V. de B. Charlee, Commercial Secre-
tary to H.M. Embassy, Madrid, states that the year under review
could hardly be described as encouraging to British exporters.
High coste of production, high freights, and a high exchange rate
too often proved an excessive handicap against the low production
costs, low freights, and low rate of exchange of Germany, France,
and Belgium. With a further obstacle to overcome in the form of an
increased tariff, Great Britain had been engaged in an uphill struggle
against heavy odds. Under these difficult conditions a welcome
enterprise had been shown on the part of individual manufacturers
by their efforts to meet the Spanish buyer halfway. This new spirit
of flexibility was appreciated by the Spaniard, and would
undoubtedly bear fruit when conditions improved. At equal prices
British goods were still preferred owing to their reputation for
quality. In fact, within reason they often found a market even at
higher prices.

Imports.

An advance has been made in the import of British textile
machinery, though Germany and France both gained a considerably
larger share of the total trade than they had last year. Great
Britain also supplied the greater part of the multi-tubular cylindrical
steam generators, though here again the preponderance of British
imports was not so pronounced as it was a year ago, Belgium and
Germany having secured an increased share. In semi-fixed steam
and gas engines Great Britain captured substantial orders from the
United Sfates of America, but was overtaken and left far behind
by Germany. In fixed machines under 10 tons Great Britain just
retained the lead. Cranes, another preponderantly British import,
were bought in increasing quantities from France and the United
states. In pumps Great Britain fell back from the first place to
the third, benind the United States of America and Germany. Agri-
cultural machinery also showed a marked falling off. This is on
important market, which, it is suggested, it would well repay British
manufacturers to study. Germany again prevented Great Britain
from securing the lead in dynamos, motors and switchboards
between 401 and 2 500 kgs. in weight, for which the demand was
doubled. The British figures, nevertheless, showed an appreciable
improvement. In telegraph and telephone apparatus British manu-
facturers gained more trade, which the United States of America
lost, though Germany was more successful still. In cables, both
electric and haulage, the same thing happened — Great Britain and
Germany both sold increased quantities at the expense of the United
States. In machine tools the loss to the United States and gain to
Germany was repeated, but in this instance Great Britain also failed
to maintain last year's trade. Motor-cars were practically a dead
trade since the increase in the duties in November, 1920.

Transport.

The railway problem in Spain to-day is stated to be similar to that
in other countries. Operating costs long ago reached the point
where freight and passenger rates must be increased, or some other
form of relief discovered if the companies are to continue to run
vvithout a heavy loss. Public opinion is against any increase in rates',
and if this attitude is maintained it is said that State subvention or
nationalisation would seem to be the only solution.

Under the new Cabinet a scheme for the reorganisation of the
railways was introduced in October last, and a special committee was
a))pointed to consider the question, but nothing has yet been settled.
The central Catalan extension is being rapidly completed, and con-
siderable progress has been made since last year. It is proposed to
operate this line electrically on account of the heavy gradients.

The absorption of the Madrid Tramway Company by a Spanish
Company has naturally resulted in demands; Tor all tramway material
being placed where possible with Spanish manufacturers, but owing
to the enormous increase of cost the company were unable to supple-
ment the entirely inadequate service unless they obtained permission
from the Municipality to raise the rates on certain routes. This
permission has been granted, the increased rates to take effect on
each line as soon as extra cars can be put on that line. Whero
workmen's services are concerned, however, very small increases, if
any, have been adopted. Further concessions extending the various
services to outlying districts have been applied for, but owing to the
shortage of material and electric power it is doubtful whether these
will materialise for some time to come. In other towns in Spain and
the Balearic Isles considerable extensions of tram services are
reported, notably a line from Granada to La Zubia, which will put
the villages to the south-west of the Sierra Nevada within easy reach
of Granada. There should be openings, it is stated, for British
material, especially motors, when prices come down and if more
moderate customs duties are arrived at.

Hydro-Electric Works.

During the year under review hydro-electric development was
principally confined to installations of small horse-power, although
construction proceeded on a number of important installations in
different parts of the country. The ne,/ power station erected by
the Ebro Company at Camarassa, to the north-west of Barcelona,
'vhere the plai.t, which is one of the largest — if not the largest — in
Spain is now in operation, giving 150 000 h.p. to the industry of
Catalufia. The Hidroelectrica Espanola, the second most important
company in Spain, have nearly completed construction on their
station at Dos Aguas, the junction of the rivers Jucar and Gabriel,

to the south-west of Valencia. This station will give some
100 000 H.p. when completed, and will help to improve the inade-
quate power and light service of Madrid, where the demands have
increased so enormously in the past few years that the existing
stations are quite insufficient to meet the requirements. The problem
in Madrid is very acute, and it appears within the bounds of possi-
bility that a large steam power station will have to be erected ^o
make Madrid independent of power stoppages due to an inadequate
rainfall. The enormous potential horse-power of the Ebro and Duero
rivers are still unharnessed, although it is said that the inter-
national difficulties have nearly been overcome and development is
now not likely to be long delaved.

Luminous Signals for Power Stations.

The illustration below shows the latest luminous signal apparatus
manufactured by Siemens Brothers & Company. The increasing
size of central power stations and the extensions to smaller stations
which have been necessitated by the greater consumption of
electricity for light and power, have rendered necessary the provision
of means for enabling engineers in charge of switchboard attendants
to signal orders to engine drivers both rapidly and efficiently. The
Siemens luminous signalling apparatus fulfils this purpose, as it
enables such orders to be transmitted with certainty. The apparatus
acts in a positive and reliable manner by causing luminous signals
to appear and, at the same time, calling attention by an aural signal.

The complete equipment comprises a transmitting apparatus, a re-
ceiving apparatus, and a Klaxon horn or other electric calling device.
The transmitter — which can be supplied either in a pattern designed
for attachment to a wall or suitably mounted on a column, as in the
illustration — is enclosed in a cast-iron case having eight circular

Transmitting and Receiving Apparatus.

windows, on which the orders sent appear by illumination. As
shown in the illustration, the taranemitter is actuated by means of a
movable handle. The receiver consists of a sheet-iron case with a
glass front, uoon which the orders received also appear by
illumination. A push button switch is provided at the side to enable
the engine driver to acknowledge the signaJ. If desired, this switch
can be installed at any convenient position apart from the receiver.
An order sent by actuating the transmitter handle is immediately
illuminated on the ti-ansmitter as well as the receiver, and tJle call
will sound at the receiving end.

The luminous signal will remain visible both on the transmitter
and on the receiver, and the aural signal will continue until the.
engine driver acknowledges the signal by operating the press button
switch. As soon as this button is pressed the lamps are extinguished
and the circuit to tlie aural signal is broken. This obliteration of
the signal at the transmitting, as well as the receiving, end serves as
an indication to the sender that the signal has been received.

The whole apparatus is of simple design, and is very strong, all
parts being substantially constructed and of simple size.

An eleotuo-magnetic safety catch for railway carriage doors has
been invented by Messrs. A. Crankshaw and T. Markland, of Wigan.
who have obtained protection rights. By this device immediately
the guard of a train closes the door of his van every carriage door
on the train is automatically locked, and cannot be opened until the
guard's door is unfastened. This patent can also be used by house-
holders in conjunction with a bell-push.

Kay 12; 1922

The Electrician.

Italy in 1921.

The same uphill struggle to bring industrial conditions in Italy
back to the normal is reported by H.M. Commercial Secretary at
Roiiio (Mr. J. H. Henderson) in his annual review on the com-
mercial, industrial, and economic situation, as by the i^ommercial
Secretaries of other countries. The Budget deficiency, the adveree
balance of trade, taxation and labour disputes were among the chief
factors which had to be dealt with. Though not rosy, the out-
look for 1922 is said to be brighter.

British Trade with Italy.

Tlie aspect of the Italian market at the end of 1921, from the
point of view of British trade, was stated to be distinctly unfavour-
able. One merchant put it that " most British business for many
months paet has consisted in collecting old debts, or trying to collect
them, with as little sacrifice as possible, rather than resort to lengthy
law suits." Another estimated that the stock which he used to sell
in one year would now, at the present rate of demand, take over
five years to dispose of. With some exceptions, of which the most
notable are textile machinery, tinplate machinery, machinery acces-
sories such as belting, and English cloth, there was practically no
demand for most of the British products which previously had a
sale in the country. In the case of coal, England's principal export
to Italy, there was recently a slight revival.

In some cases this state of trade is attributed to the high prices
asked for British goods, prices which, it is stated, would limit the
demand even if there were no question of exchange. The failure ol
British exporters to study the conditions of the market is also given
as one of the reasons why British trade is not more flourishing.
In the opinion, however, of local observers, by far the most
important factor is that of exchange. It is becoming common to
agree in the contract on a maximum rate of exchange, giving the
buyer the faculty of paying either at this rate or at such lower
market rate as may be current when payment is due. To the extent
to which the conditions of business permit, this method is strongly
recommended to the attention of British exporters, since it is a very
popular one with the Italian buyer and is a strong inducement to
him to do business.

Foreign Competitioii.

Eiigland's principal competitors at present in the Italian market
are Germany and America, and of these the former is by far the
more formidable on account of the advantage she possesses in depre-
ciated currency. During the first half of 1921 the volume of trade
between Italy and Germany was practically the same as between
Italy and France. Germany thus took the third place along with
France among the countries with whom Italy trades, as compared
with sixth place in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Moreover, the volume of German trade was three-quarters that of
Great Britain, as compared with one quarter in 1920.

Railway Electrification.

The position of railway electrification at the end of last year is
summarised as follows : —

1. Lines which are xcmking at jnesent, in all about 650 kilo-
metres.— Turin-Trofarello-Chieri (completed in 1921) ; Turin-Pine-
rolo-Torrepelice and Brichevasio-Barge (completed in 1921) ; Turin-
Susa (completed at the end of 1920) ; Turi.n-Modane and
Bussoleno-Susa ; Genoa- Busalla-Ronco ; Genoa-Mignanego-Ronco ;
Genoa-Savona-Geva ; Milan-Varese-Porto Ceresio; Monza-Calolzio-
Soncino-Colico.

2. Lines which are now b€i7ig electrified. — R^nco- Alessandria- Asti-
Trofarello, to be finished in 1922 ; Novi-Tortona-Voghera ; Ronco-
Arguata-Tortona — (direct line) — Alessandria-Tortona ; Genoa-Spezia-
Pisa-Leghorn ; Firenze-Pistoia-Bologna; Firenze-Faenza-Bologna.

Good progress was made during the year on these lines, and
lately especially so on the Bologna-Pistoia-Florence and the Bologna-
Faenza-Florence lines, and also as regards the construction of the
material required for electrification generally.

3. Lines which will be electriiied in the near future. — (a) Directed
by the administration of the State railways : — (Direct line) Rome-
Naples ; Parma-Spezia-Fornovo-Borgo S. Donnio ; S. Stef ano-
Sarzana ; Piacenza-Voghera ; Stradella-Bressana ; Genoa-Ovada-
Alessandria ; Voghera-Milan-Chiasso ; Uasmate-Bergamo-Bugamo-
Ponte S. Pictio-Colobio ; Bologna- Verona-Trento-Brennero : Triante-
Opcina-Postuma ; Trieste-Monialcone-Gorizia. (6) By private enter-
prise : — Milan-Piacenza-Mestre- Venice ; Mestre-Portoguaro-Monf al-
cone ; Viareggio-Lucca-Pistoia ; Pisa-Lucca-Castelnuovo-Garafag-
nana ; Pisa-Empoli-Florence

4. Experimental lines. — Rome-Tivoli ; Rome-Anzio-Nettuno ; Bene-
vento-Fozzile ; Cagliasi-Monte Poni-Oristano.

When all these lines have been completed, the following lines,
which are included in the general programme, will be electrified : —
Turin-Milan-Verona- Vicenza-Padua; Savona-Ventimiglia; Florence-
Chiusi-Rome; Orte-Foligno-Ancona ; Faenza-Ancona-Castellammare
Adriatic© ; Tivoli-Salmona-Castellammare Adriatico ; Naples-Batti-
paglia-Paola-Reggio Calabria ; Paola-Coscenza ; Salerno Macato-S.
Severino-Benevento ; Torre Annunziata-Castellammare di Italia-
Gragnano.

Hydro-Electric Power Stations.

The progress made during 1920-21 on the hydro-electric power
stations for use in connection with these lines was as follows : —
The Melezet was completed. The work on the Bardonecchia station,
which uses the water power of the Rochesmolles, was brought to an
advanced stage. A start was mad© on the central station of Saviana
E 2

and Costrolo on the Reno and Linrentra near Bagni della Poretta,
and also on the station on the Sagittario near Anversa Scanno.

Water Power.

In 1915 there were 329 establishments, of over 300 h.p., which
developed a total force of 935 000 h.p. In 1920 there were 383 similar
establishments developing 1152 120 h.p., and 54 (359 210 h.p.) were
under construction. There were also 300 establishments of under
300 H.P., representing a total force of 300 000 h.p. In addition to
these there are several large schemes in hand which will not be
completed for some lime. These include the artificial lakes in the
valleys of the Reno and the Imentra, in the Bologna district, which
will be used in connection with the electrification of the trans-
Appenine railway between Emilia and Tuscany; similar work in the
Abruzzi ; the Silani lakes in Calabria, and the Tirso lakes in Sardinia.
These schemes are calculated to produce 700 000 h.p. The artificial
lake at Tirso, it is stated, will have a capacity of 416 million cubic
metres, and will be the largest in Europe and the third largest in
the world.

New Electricity Companies.

The principal companies founded during the first half of 1921
included E. Breda (Milan), with a capital of 60 000 000 lire; Euganea
di Elettricita di Venezia, and Elettricita del Veneto Centrale
(Padua), each with a capital of 10 000 000 lire.

Telegraphs.

Almost every commune with a population of over a thousand has
a telegraphic service. The Government are proposing to lay cables
connecting Rome with Messina, Catania, and Syracuse, and also
between Ravenna and Trieste, and between Genoa and Nice, which
it is hoped will be completed by the summer. In 1918-19 Italy
possessed 3 981 kilometres of cable, in 1920-21 4 904 kilometres, and
in 1921-22 there will be more than 6 000 kilometres. Telegraphic
communication between Italy and abroad is in the hands of foreign
companies. This is considered to be a danger to Italian political
and economic independence. It is expected that this will in part b«
remedied by the laying of Italian national cables to South America
and to Greece. Powers to undertake this work were conferred en
the Government by a decree dated Aug. 20, and the schemes are
under active consideration. For the construction of the South
American cable a company is being formed with a capital of from
75 to 80 million lire gold, subscribed principally by Italian residents
in Brazil, Argentine, Uruguay, Chili, and Peru. The cable will be
13 000 kilometres long, and it is hoped that it will be completed in
three years.

Wireless.

Italy possesses a regular wireless service with her colonies and
with ships, and in 1920-21 three million words were transmitted or
received. It is the intention of the Government to develop and
extend this service to foreign countries.

Telephones.

The question of telephones is stated to be urgent on account i
the insufiiciency of the service. The total number of town sub-
scribers is 120 000; public call offices, 3 000; trunk lines, 40000 km. :
and trunk calls less than 10 000 000 a year, almost all of which are
accounted for by the public authorities and the Press. The unsatis-
factory condition of the Italian telephone service is the subject *«f
constant complaint. It used to be attributed to the incapacity cf
the private companies, but to-day two-thirds of the telephones are
operated by the State, and still more than half of the communes in
Italy are without telephonic communications.

The Government have been authorised to expend 150 nillion lire
on telegraphs and telephones, the expenditure to be spread oyer four
years. The immediate programme as regards telephones is : — (1)
The completion of the automatic exchanges in the principal towns;
(2) the laying of new lines to carry the increased traffic ; (3) the
connection of 409 important towns with the trunk lines ; (4) the re-
establishment of direct telephone communication with the principal
cities in Central Europe; (5^ the improvement of audibility between
the extremities of Italy; (6) the completion of the laying of trunk
line cables between Milan, Genoa and Turin ; (7) the erection of
wireless stations.

The expenditure on the telephone service in 1920-21, without
making allowance for depreciation and interest on capital, v.is
74 million lire, airainst a return of 68 million.

Presentation to Mr. J. D. Morgan.

At the annual meeting of the South I^Iidland Centre of the Institu-
tion of Electrical Engineers, Mr. R. A. Chattock (chairman of the
Centre) presented to the hon. secretary, Mr. J. D. Morg.\n, on be-
half of the members, a silver coffee pot and milk jug of the
Georgian period, as a mark of their appreciation of his services, and
of the esteem in which they held him as a fellow-member of the
Centre. Mr. Chattock stated that Mr. Morgan took up his duties
as hon. secretary just over ten years ago. During his period of
office the membership of the Centre had increased from 450 to 795.
In addition, a sub-centre at Loughborough had been formed, and
also the Local Student's Section, which was pro%-ing very valuable
to the younger members of the profession. Mr. Morgan was now
devoting himself to some very special scientific research work, and
it was on this account (and so that he might devote himself whole-
heartedly to it) that he found it necessary to relinquish the honorary
position which he had held for so long.

0/2

The Electrician.

May 12, 1922

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Grampians Electricity Bill.

The Select Committee of the House of Commons which has been
considering this Bill passed the preamble, with certain reservations,
on the 4th inst., and the clauses were settled on Tuesday.

Engineering Details.

Mr. Basil Mott consulting engineer, said that Loch Ericht was
so situated in relation to other lochs and streams of the scheme that
it could be utilised as a good reservoir for impounding water. The
River Tay had not only the largest drainage area in Scotland, but
its head waters were so placed as to render its development for
hydro-electric power eminently suitable. The water could be useJ
five or six times over at the various falls. Altogether 417 square
miles were laid under contribution by the whole scheme. Loch
Ericht could be reservoired without inundating any land of much
agricultural value. By damming each end of Loch Ericht the storage
capacity of the loch would be 80 000 000 000 gallons. When com-
pleted the Loch Garry reservoir would have a storage capacity ot
410 000 000 and Loch Rannoch 1 600 000 000 cubic feet. The latter
would be useful as an adjunct, because it would enable the storage
of flood water which came down in wet seasons. In time of spate
the double power-house below Rannoch would be used, and that at
Ericht would be closed down.

Mr. J. Hall Rider, consulting engineer, said that by supplying
118 000 000 units of electricity he estimated they would save 160 OOU
tons of coal per annum on the first part of the scheme, while on the
whole scheme they would save 436 000 tons per annum. The over-
head transmission system would be about 165 miles, but in the
first stage it was not proposed to go further than 10 or 15 miles
south of Perth. In the first instance, it was only proposed to reach
Perth and Dundee. The total expenditure for the first section would
be £2 603 000, and for the whole scheme £4 500 000. On the com-
pletion of the first stage, if they assumed a sale of 170 000 000^ units
per annum, the cost per unit would be 03 996d. ; but the price
charged to the consumers would be higher, because of other charges
to be taken into account. At Dundee the cost of production in
May, 1920 (exclusive of capital charges), was 114d. per unit, and
at Perth the working costs were l'83d. per unit in 1921. Excluding
Edinburgh and Glasgow, which were special cases, the cost of pro-
duction under the Grampian scheme would be lower than any of the
existing steam stations after capital costs were included.

Sir Henry Babington Smith said that Mr. Pease, deputy chair-
man of Lloyd's Bank, and the Duke of Atholl were to be added to
the list of first shareholders, the latter being desirous of being asso-
ciated with a movement that would develop the Highlands. The
Credits Facilities Committee would be prepared to recommend a
guarantee on debentures, provided the scheme satisfied the Elec-
tricity Commissioners and the Bill was passed by Parliament. The
guarantee would be of considerable advantage, but they would have
to raise their £1 000 000 capital before they could get the guarantee.

In reply to the Chairman, Sir H. Babington Smith said negotia-
tions were in progress with financial houses, and, in his opinion, the
Ericht scheme, which was the larger one, would be the best to carry
out first.

Mr. Alex. Newlands, chief engineer to the Highland Railway
Company, said he had no authority from his directors to speak as
to their intentions with regard to electrification, but he had gone
into the question from the point of view of figures only. For the
railway from Perth to Inverness (118 miles) the estimated demand,
calculated upon summer traffic for 1920, would be 4 500 H.P. on an
average, the peak demand being 13 000 11. p. He was unable to say
whether it would be economical or not to electrify the railway with-
out full details of the present costs. Apart from the question of
costs, electrification would enable the con.pany to run heavier trains
and at a higher rate of speed. The Highland system was largely
single lines, and at the moment the maximum carrying capacity had
been reached. If more business was to be dealt with the question of
doubling part of the line at least would have to be considered.

Committee's Findings.

Major Ormsby Gore said that in view of the fact that all
opposition had been withdrawn, the Committee were willing to pass
the preamble, provided certain alterations were made in Clauses 8
and 9 of the Bill. They could not depart from the usual practice
that statutory companies in which the capital wo^s limited by statute
should be enabled to get further capital without 1 '^course to Parlia-
ment, and they thought that the capital should be provided collec-
tively by share capital and borrowing powers to meet the estimated
cost of the first stage of the scheme. The Committee were impressed
by the evidence thait the two power stations on the Ericht and the
Tummel were to be the main sources of power and that they should
be proceeded with as a whole. The scheme was more likely to be
a success, and to attract customers if the whole of that first stage
was definitely authorised and proceeded with. The cost of that
first stage was given as £2 600 000. The Committee felt, therefore,
that the authorised share capital, together with the borrowing
powers, should meet that amount at least. If it had not been for
the letter of the Trade Facilities Act Advisorv Committee, the
Committee could not have seen their way to authorise the issue
of debenture stock to an amount exceeding one-half of the ordinary
share capital. The Committee were prepared to accept, in view
of all the circumstances, a suggested amendment to Clause 9, with
the additional proviso that the company should not be able to raise

by debentures or mortgages, e\'en with the consent of the Electricity
Commissioners, an amount more than the equivalent of the ordinary
paid-up capital. That was to say, the Committee gave the com-
pany powers to borrow without the consent of the Electricity Com-
missioners half the amount of the ordinary share capital, and a
further half with the consent of the Electricity Commissioners.
The Bill was reported to the House on Tuesday.

Post Office Estimates.

In explaining the Post Office estimates in the House of Commons
on Thursday last, Mr. F. G. Kellaway, Postmaster-General, said
that in 1920-21 the deficit on the Post Office commercial account was
£7 300 000, but in 1922-23 he estimated on present charges a surplus
of £9 300 000. But for last year's increases in postal charges the
deficit, instead of being £1 800 000, would have been £5 000 000. The
improved position was entirely due to the drastic reductions of
expenditure, amounting to £10 650 000. Last year the staff was
191 000 ; to-day it stood at 185 000

The collection of letters on Sundays would be restored on May 28,
but he did not propose to reinstitute the delivery of letters on Sun-
day. The charge for inland letters not weighing more than 1 oz
would be reduced from 2d. to l^d., the rate for letters over 1 oz.
remaining as at present. On letters to the United States and all
parts of the Empire the rate would be reduced from 2d. to l^d. for
those not over loz., but for those over 1 oz. the present charge
would remain. These concessions would cost £3 800 000 and £150 000
respectively for a full year. The postcard rate would be reduced
from lid. to Id., costing £600 000. The printed paper rate would
go down from Id. to ^d. , costing £1 640 000, but he stipulated that
printed papers, unless posted by 3.30 p.m. in London, would not
be entitled to be dealt with that day.

Telephony Tariff Changes.

During the past year the number of telephone stations had
increased by 16 691, and on March 31 was 995 242. The total num-
ber of new subscribers was 75 500, and the number of cessations
was 64 000, of which 29 000 were due to the increased tariff. During
the year 530 rural call offices had been opened at post offices, and
3 290 had been opened on rural party lines. In submitting pro-
posals for the reduction of charges, he did not propose to proceed
on the principle recommended by the Select Committee of an all-
round percentage reduction. He would make a reduction of tele-
phone rental to private users of £1 10s. a year, making the rental
in London £7, in Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester
£6 10s., and in the rest of the country £6. The cost of the con-
cession would be £200 000 in a full year and £160 000 this year.
There would be a reduction of the local message fee from l^d. to
lid., which would cost £440 000 in a year and £350 000 this year.
He estimated there would be an increase of 5 per cent, in the num-
ber of calls. He also proposed to lower the extra mileage charge on
private wires and at terminals from £10 to £8, at a cost of £120 000
this year. The principal proposal in regard to trunk calls was tha<
there should be a substantially cheaper rate for calls between 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m. The average reduction of the rate would be 25 per cent.
He proposed to abolish the local fee on all trunk calls over Is. 6d.
in amount, and to make modifications below that charge. The pre-
sent charges for telephone facilities in country districts were
undoubtedly almost prohibitive, and amounted in many cases to a
rental exceeding £20. That was due to the hea\'j- capital cost in
connection with most rural extensions. He proposed that where
not less than eight subscribers could be got, the installation rentat
should be £8 per subscriber, and the local and trunk fees according
to the ordinary tariff. The cost of a night service, if required,
could be met by additional charges. He did not propose in future
to require any guarantee for a junction line unless the capital cost
exceeded £1 000. Where fifteen or more subscribers were obtained.
the service would be provided at £7 10s. for business houses or £6
for residential lines within a mile radius. He was unable to adopt
the recommendation of the Select Committee on Telephones that the
telegraphs and telephones should be united, as it would be extremely
expensive.

Wireless " Broadcasting."

Referring to the question of the broadcasting of wireless messages,
or radio-telephone broadcasting, Mr. Kellaway said that the system
had a grea/t vogue in the United States, where there had also been
a considerable increase in the number of transmitting stations, and
the result of that increase had been chaos. He hoped we should
be able io learn from the experience of the United States, and that
we would have a reasonable service without causing interference
either with the commercial use or the Government use of the wire-
less or with the facilities open to each other. He would allow a
limited number of radio-telephone broadcasting stations. The
country would be divided, roughly, into areas centring upon London.
Cardiff, Plymouth, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow
or Edinburgh (but not both), and Aberdeen, and one or more broad-
casting stations would be allowed in each of those areas. Permission
for those stations would only be granted to British firms who were
hona-fide manufacturers of wireless apparatus. It was impossible
for him to grant all the applications for the right of transmission,
but he would ask the various firms who had applied to come to-
gether at the Post Office and co-operate, so that an efficient service
might be rendered, that there might be no danger of monopoly,
and that each service should not he interfering -Aith the efficient
working of the other. The stations would be limited to a power of
1^ kW, and furnished with wave lengths which should not interfere
with other services. The normal hours for broadcasting would b»

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., e.xcept on Sundays, when there would be no
limit. There would be certain regulations in regard to the character
and class of news which these agencies could transmit.

West Indies (Cables).

Ill reply to Mr. Gideon Murray (House of Commons, May 4),
who asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what progress
had been made in connection with making provision for an efficient
telegraph service from Grea/t Britain to, and between, the various
British West Indian Colonies upon the termination of the present
agreement with the West Indian and Panama Telegraph Company,
Mr. Wood said that negotiations were still in progress for the con-
struction of a new cable from Bermuda to Barbados and beyond,
but he was not in a position to make any statement on the subject
at present.

Great Eastern Railway (Electrification).

Replying to Mr. Malone in the House of Commons last week, Mr.
Xeal said he was aware of the congestion on certain routes of the
Great £astern Railway, and he had been in consultation with the
company and had informed them that the Trade Facilities Com-
mittee were prepared to consider an application from them for
assistance in raising capital for electrification work, but he under-
stood that they did not propose to make such an application.

Coal Mines (Safety Appliances).

Ill reply to Mr. Charles Edwards (House of Commons, May
1), Mr. Bridgeman stated that it was impossible for the Govern-
ment to teet the numerous patent safety appliances, as the only
real test of the efficiency of such appliances lay in experience of
their behaviour over an extended period under actual working
conditions.

Dartford Light Railways Order.

The Minister of Transport has confirmed the Dartford Light
Railways (Amendment) Order, 1922, authorising additional borrow-
ing powers for the purposes of the light railways authorised by the
Orders of 1902 and 1903, and has issued an Order authorising the
construction of light railways in the borough of Plymouth.

The "Telur" Stop Clock.

Le^al Intelligence.

Tramway Arbitration Appeal.

Last week a Divisional Court (Lush and Greer, JJ. ) heard a
motion by West Bromwich Corporation to set aside an award by
Sir Lynden Macassey in an arbitration between the South Stafford-
shire Tramways (Lessee) Company and the Corporation.

Jlr. DisTURNAL, K.C. (for the Corporation) said that the arbi-
trator had made a series of declarations after his award, and it was
contended he had no jurisdiction to do so. Tha matter arose out of
a lease granted by the Corporation to the company of the tramways
within their area. The Corporation undertook to keep in repair the
tramways and the roads between the tracks and 2 ft. on either side
of the rails. There was a covenant under which the le&sees (the
company) agreed to contribute to the net cost, plus a percentage for
overhead charges, of the. renewals. They undertook to pay that
sum annually to the Corporation for the net cost of the track
renewals as distinguished from the track and the adjoining pieces
of the road. There were agreements entered into from time to time
varying that stipulation in the lease. Ultimately there was an agree-
ment in 1917 under which the Corporation were to keep the tramway
in the condition it had been during the war and the company should
contribute £1 500. The arbitration arose in connection with the
question, whether or not the Corporation had perfomed their obli-
gation in keeping the tramways in repair in accordance with the
agreement.

The company sent in particulars of damage they said they had
sustained, but the arbitrator found that they were not entitled to
any of the damage claimed, and gave them 40s. nominal damages
for what he held were breaches of covenant as against the Corpora-
tion, and the 40s. had been tendered to the company in the course
of the proceedings. The arbitrator then made a series of declara-
tions for which one could not see the necessity. He made a declara-
tion that the Corporation had broken their covenants, and he found
the damages were represented by £2, and he also made a declaration
in respect of all matters which another arbitrator must take into
consideration in considering what further sums the company should
pay by way of contribution to the Corporation in respect of repairs
to the line. In the document which varied the lease there were
certain fixed periods and an arbitration clause under which an
arbitrator could be appointed, in default of agreement to say, not-
withstanding the terms of the lease, what should be paid as the
annual contribution to the Corporation for repairs, but he had made
a declaration which would bind any other arbitrator.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones, K.C, having argued in favoui- of the
award,

Mr. Justice Lush said the only question was whether on the
pleadings the parties consented to enlarge the dispute, but he did
not think they did. It would be better to remit the matter to
the arbitrator to expunge from the award so much of it as related
to declarations of the future. He was not surprised that the arbi-
trator was in doubt as to what issues were raised on the pleadings
or what disputes were referred to him.

Mr. Justice Greer agreed, and the award was accordingly
remitted.

The " Telur " stop clock for controlling the length of telephone
conversations on trunk calls has recently been produced by James
McMillan & Company. The dial is divided into twelve minutes
The clock is started by pressing the handle to the left and a bel!
rings at three-minute intervals, or any other period which may be

The " Telur " Stop Clock.

specially required. It is stopped by pressing the handle Jo the right,
and it can be restarted from this position by pulling out the hand.©
from the right-hand position. To start the clock from zero the
handle is pressed over to the left. ,. , , . . ,

The illustration shows the clock as supplied for giving alarm ry
bell, but the manufacturers also supply it fitted with terminals lor
lighting a signal lamp at the periods required.

Induction Motor for U.S. Super-Dreadnoughts

At the East Pittsburgh works of the Westinghouse Electric &
Manufacturing Company a number of motors are being built to
propel electrically the super-dreadnoughts included m the iN aval
programme adopted by the Limitation of Armaments Conterence.
Foiu: motors are required to propel one battleship, one motor being
directly coupled to each <.f the four shafts.

The motors are each rated at 16 500 h.p., at 227 revs, per min.,
and are designed for the most economical operation at two ship
speeds— the battle speed of 23 knots and the cruising speed of 15
knots. This result is obtained by the use of two entirely separate
stator and rotor windings in the motor. At the battle speed, one
set of windings is used, and. at the cruising speed, the other set
is operative. Sixty thousand cubic feet of air per minute is requii-ed
to conduct away the heat losses developed in operation. Ihis
amount of ventilation air for a period of fifty minutes is equal to
the weight of the motor.

Marble Firm's New Premises.

In a few weeks' time Percy C. Webb, Ltd.. marble merchants,
will move lo their new premises at the Marble \\ harf, \ erney-road.
Old Kent-road, on the Surrey Canal. The whart co^^^ a° ^^^
of nearly an acre, with a frontage of about 80 ft. /« t^e Surre>
Canal. It has a substantial building, about Ifal ft. long \'>.62 ft^
wide. This was burnt down some few months ago, and 's now
being reinstated. The plant from the present F^n^^es both at
Dalston and the Docks, will be moved, and. furtW sa^^. polish-
ing machines, and cranes installed. The welfare of the staff has
not be overlooked : a large mess-room is to be P^oy^ded for the
workmen, while a rest-room and library is xallocated for the use
of the office staff. When all is completed the firm will have one of
the finest marble yards in London, if not in England.

The \A^ Mr Svmuel Rich.\rdson Blundstone, consulting engi-
neer, for manv years editor of the " Eailway Engineer," lately chair-
man of the Wolverhampton District Electric Tramwavs. Ltd.. and the
Dudlev Stourbridge, and District Electric Traction Con^pany Ltd..
a mem'ber of the council of the British Electrical Federation. Ltd., a
director of the Birmingham District Power and Tractiori Company^
Ltd of the South Staffordshire Tramways Company, and the !?oiith
Staffordshire Tramways (Lessee) Company, Ltd .who died <xn
Feb. 12 last, has left estate of the gross value of £19334, with net
personalty £18 955.

574

The Electrician.

May 12, 1922

Electricity Supply.

Rawtenstall Electricity Department made a surplus of nearly
£2 000 last year.

A profit of £4 098 has been made by Darwen Electricity Depart-
ment during the past year. Last year the profit was £3 111.

The net profit of the Rochdale Electricity Department for the
past year is £22 649. Of this £15 649 is being placed to reserve
and £7 000 is set aside for the relief of the rates.

A public inquiry is to be held at the end of this month by the
Electricity Commissioners into an application by the South-Eastekn
AND Chatham Railway Companies to erect a generating station on
the company's land known as Angerstein's Wharf, Charlton, Kent.

The British Insulated & Helsby Cable ComjJany have applied
to HuYTON-wiTH RoBY Urban Council for permission to : (1) cnange
the declared pressure of supply at consumers' terminals from 100 V
to 115 V, or, alternatively in special cases, to 230 V; (2) change
their systesm of supply from single-phase at 100 frequency to single-
phase at 50 frequency.

The feeder line from Hereford to Lydbrook, in the Forest of
Dean, has been completed, and the Hereford Electricity Committee
are now supplying electricity in bulk to several industrial under-
takings. It is anticipated that within the next twelve months the
revenue from the Lydbrook line will be sufficient to justify the
formation of a rural electricity scheme, by which the villages along
the route will be able to be supplied with electricity.

The new generating sets which have been installed at the Monta-
gue-street Salvage Depot, Birmingham, in connection with the
refuse destructor, were set in motion last week by the Lord Mayor
(Aid. David Davis). The generating plant has been installed at a
cost of £9 000, to utilise the steam raised by the burning of house
refuse in the destructor which would otherwise go to waste. The
current generated is sufficient to run the whole of the plant, for
lighting the depot, and for charging the accumulators of the
electrical vehicles used by the department.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

DoNCASTER Town Council has applied for a loan of £32 522, for
mains extensions, sub-stations, transformers, switchgear, services,
and meters.

Ormskirk Council has appointed Mr. J. Scott to prepare an elec-
tricity scheme (in conjunction with the Liverpool Corporation) to
submit to the Electricity Commissioners.

Dover Town Council has applied for a loan of £600 for a super-
heater, and £1 200 for undeifeed stokers, required at the Electricity
Works, in order that Kent coal may be burnt exclusively.

Saffron Walden Town Council have appointed a committee to
consider the expediency of establishing municipal electricity works.
There are at present thirteen private plants in the town, and it
is suggested that there would be a good general demand if the
Council undertook the supply.

Electric Traction.

The accounts of Darwen tramways for the past year show a loss
of £201.

Oldham Corporation Tramways Department made a profit of
£18 000 during the past financial year.

The accounts of Rawtenstall (Lancashire) Tramways Department
for the past year show a surplus of over £4 000.

Edinburgh Town Council have appri,ved the draft of a Provi-
sional Order to authorise certain tramway extensions, &c.

The accounts of Accrington (Lancashire) Tramways Depart-
ment for the financial year juet ended show a profit of £4 481.

The Ministry of Transport has rejected th© application of the
Hull Corporation for a Light Railway Order extending the tram-
ways to Hessle, a scheme which was estimated to cost nearly
£70000.

The Bury (Lancashire) Corporation's tramway services have
involved heavy losses during the past financial year. On the Bury
service the deficit is £12 460, and on the Radcliffe section it is
£2 856.

An expert report on the future of the Croydon municipal tram-
ways advises the leasing of the undertaking either to the L.C.C.
or the South Metropolitan Electric Tramways Company, or both
combined.

Burnley Town Council are applying for sanction to borrow
£49 950, less £9 450 sinking fund contributions, for the relaying of
tram tracks to the extent of over 9 000 yards on Padiham-road,
Manchester, and Rosegrove routes.

West Bromwich Town Council have decided to reconstruct the
tram track from Carter's-green to the Birmingham boundary at a
cost of £81 000, and to renew parts of the track from Carter's-green
to Wednesbury and Tipton at £17 000.

The London Electric Railway Company and the City and South
London Railway Company cive notice of an application to Parlia-
ment for powers to raise additional capital by borrowing and creat-
ing second debenture stock, for extension of time for construction
of works, and others mutters.

Personal and Appointments.

Lord Derby has accepted the presidency of the B.E.A.M.A. in
succession to Lord Ampthill.

Mr. B. Hudson, of Aldershot, has been appointed shift engineer
at the Southport Electricity Works.

Prior to taking up his post as street lighting inspector under the
Cardiff City Council, Mr. Frank Marsh, for nine years foreman at
Curran's Engineering & Foundry Company, Cardiff Docks, haa
been presented by the directors and employees with a gold watch.

Sw^indon Town Council has reduced, as from March 31 last, the
salary of the electrical engineer, Mr. A. Nicklin, from £5(K) to
£425 a year, and that of the tra.mways manager, Mr. T. Medcalp,
from £520 to £494. Mr. Nicklin, who is suffering from a nervous
breakdown, has been granted a month's leave of absence.

Hackney Establishment and General Pui'poees Committee recom-
mend that the 10 per cent, addition for the increase in the cost of
living included in the scale of salary payable to Mr. L. L. Robin-
son, borough electrical engineer, adopted by the Council on
March 10^ 1920, be discontinued, and that in future the salary of
Mr. J. K. Boavden, deputy electrical engineer, be subject to a
quarterly adjustment of 2 per cent, for each 15 points variation in
tne cost of living index figure as laid down in the schedule.

Mr. H. H. Lancaster, Executive Officer of Blackpool Corpora-
tion Tramways, has been chosen out of fifty-eight applicants to suc-
ceed Mr. C. I. Baker as traffic manager. The position carries a
salary of £400 with bonus, which must not make more than £500.
Mr. Lancaster is a native of Blackpool, and entered the service of
the Tramways Department in 1902. His father, the late Mr. James
Lancaster, was at that time the general manager. After seven
years Mr. Lancaster accepted the position of traffic assistant man-
ager to the West Ham Corporation under Mr. H. E. Blain, where
he acquired a wide experience of traffic arrangements. He returned
to Blackpool to take up the position of executive officer in 1910.

Mr. Henry Jackson has resigned his position with the London &
North Western Railway Company, having reached the age limit.
Mr. Jackson was telegraph superintendent and electrical engineer to
the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company for 32^ years, and
was transferred to the North Western Company when the amalgama-
tion took place. He commenced his career with Tyer & Company
in 1877, and in 1884 was appointed electrical engineer to the Furness
Railway Company, and in these early days, in addition to railway
telegraph work, had experience in electrical lighting of docks,
petroleum storage, and ship lighting. In 1889 he was appointed to
the position on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway which he has
just resigned. He was chairman of the Railway Telegraph Super-
intendents' Conference in 1899, and again in 1915. for the duration
of the War.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

The L.F.A. (London Factors & Agents, Ltd.) have issued their
May price-list of electrical accessories.

A new abridged net price-list (No. 95) of electrical accessories has
just been issued by Electrical Components, Ltd.

Erskine, Heap & Company have just issued three new illustrated
publications (pamphlets S.D. 1, A.T. 1, and R.S. 1), dealing respec-
tively with their oil-immersed Star Delta, Auto-Transformer, and
Rotor starters.

The " Stannos " concentric system of main distribution, which is
being adopted in many of the housing schemes now in progress, and
which is well known to readers of The Electrician, is the subject
of Pamphlet 130 F recently issued by Siemens Brothers & Com-
pany.

We have received from Trost Brothers a pamphlet describing
the "Rotameter,'' an instrument for measuring and regulating the
rate of flow of gases and liquids in distillation, absorption, reaction,
mixing, &c. ; measuring the consumption of air in compressed-air
tools, of gas in stoves, engines, &c. , petrol and fuel-oil consumption
in internal-combustion engines ; correct proportioning of gas mix-
ture in oxy-acetylene welding, in mixed gas narcosis ; as maximum
demand meters, &c. For laboratory and research work instruments
can be supplied to give accurate readings down to one hundredth of
a cubic ft. per hour, and for industrial uses up to 100 000 cubic ft.
per hour. The scale can be graduated to read in cubic ft., gallons,
litres, lbs., &c., per hour or per minute. Pressures up to 120 lbs.
per sq. in. and temperatures up to 220 deg. C. can be dealt with.

At Warrington last week, Mr. J. If. Brooking, general manager
of the St. Helen's Cable & Rubber Company, was fined £5 and
ordered to contribute two guineas towards the expenses of the
R.S. P. C. A. on a charge of starving a captive rat. In order to
test complaints that rats gnawed particular kinds of rubber insula-
tion for cables, the rat had been caught and put in a cage, witli
three pieces of cable smeared with oil of linseed. It ^-as given
water once a day, and once a small piece of bread, which it ate
ravenonslv. The animal lived under tliese conditions from Sunday
to Thursilay, when it died. Defendant advertised the result of the
experiment, and the society were inundated with piotests. Altliougli
a rat was only vermin, defendant became liable,' for ill-treating it
in laplivity. Mr. Steele, for the defence, admitted a technical
offence in the interests of science.

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

■J I .»

Business Items, &c.

Mr. J. W. Russell, electrical engineer, of 49a, Fore-street, Hert-
ford, and Watford, has opened a branch business at Ware.

The British Thomson-Houston Company have transferred their
Swansea office to larger premises at Madza House, 7, Melbourne-
place.

John Marsden & Sons, electrical engineers, of Huddersfield, have
removed their business from Aspinall's-yard, Market-place, to 1,
Upperhead-row.

The Hart AccuMtrLATOR Company, Ltd., Stratford, London, has
just opened a branch office at 6, Bridge-street, York, under the
management of Mr. R. H. Rawlinson. A depot for the repair of
storage batteries is also being prepared at the same address.

Mr. E. S. Spencer, of 80, Deodar-road, Putney, S.W. 15, informs
us that he has resigned the managing directorship of the Aqua
Electric Company, Ltd. He holds several inventions relating to
water heaters, and would like to get into touch with any concerns
interested.

RoYCE. Ltd., have just i-eceived an order from Kerr, Stuart &
Company, of California Works, Stoke-on-Trent, for four Royce
standard three-motor overhead electric travelling cranes, each of
40 tons capacity, and fitted with a 10-ton auxiliary lifting barrel,
for export to India.

Mr. Richard Fitzhenry, formerly with the English Electric Com-
pany, Siemen's Works, Stafford, has been appointed commercial
and technical representative for Callender's Cable & Construction
Company, for cable joint boxes and junction boxes, and all cable
accessories in the London district.

Johnson & Phillips, Ltd., of Charlton, London, S.E., whose
Australian branch office is in Sydney, N.S.W., would be glad to
hear from other British manufacturers desirous of Australian repre-
sentation, whose products could be sold in conjunction with their
own to mutual advantage. Their Australian manager is at present
in London, and interviews could be arranged with interested
applicants, by appointment.

We are informed that the Lassen Meter & Engineering Com-
pany, Lid., has been acquired by James Gordon & Company, Ltd.,
of Windsor House, Kingsway, W.C. 2. Mr. J. J. Lassen has
accepted the position of joint managing director, and will personally
conduct the section of the business dealing with boiler efficiency
appliances and instruments. The latter company also specialise in
the design and manufacture of water power plant.

With a view to demonstrating the utility and consistent results
produced with the Wilde-Barfield electric furnace, demonstra-
tions will be held at the premises of J. H. Holmes, Portland-road,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, for a week, starting on Monday next. Invita-
tions are extended to anyone who may be interested, and visitors
are asked to bring small samples for treatment. Further informa-
tion can be obtained from either the Newcastle Electric Supply
Company, or Prangnell Partnere, 47, Pilgrim-street, Newcastle.

Mr. S. C. Hurry has been appointed sales engineer to the Jackson
Electric Stove Company. Mr. Hurry joined the company on demobi-
lisation in December, 1919, as assistant sales engineer. He has
always been cloeely associated with electric heatmg and cooking
developments. He started his training at the West Ham Corpora-
tion Electricity Department, before the favour " Sales Department "'
was instituted, and was afterwards at Torquay -and Sheffield Electri-
city Departments, where he assisted in popularising domestic
electricity

Institution Notes.

Mr. G. Thompson has been elected chairman and Mr. H. E.
Dance vice-chairman of the Liverpool Students' Sub-Centre of
the Institution of Electrical Engineers for the session 1922-23.

Under the auspices of the I.E.E., and in connection with the
Dublin May Agricultural Show, Mr. R. Borlase Matthews is to
repeat the paper, " Electro-Farming," which he read recently in
London. This lecture will be given at 8 p.m., on the 16th inst.. at
Leinster House, Kildare-street, Dublin.

An invitation has been transmitted to the Iron and Steel Institute
by Mr. L. Greiner from the Association of Engineers of Li£ge to
participate in an International Congress which will be held at Li^ge
in celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the association, from
June 11 to June 16. Members desiring to attend the Congress
should communicate with Mr. 0. Leper sonne, the genei'al secretary
of the Association of Engineers of Liege. 16 Quai des Etats-Unis.
Liege. The latest date for the return of the foi'ms is May 15.

The sixty-ninth anniversary festival dinner of the London Asso-
ciation OF Foreman Engineers was held on Saturday at the Cannon-
street Hotel, London, the chair being taken by Mr. F. W. Bellamy.
The association has a membership of over 700 foremen, managers,
and employers connected with tlie engineering industry, and its
objects are purely educational and benevolent. The chairman, pro-
posing " Success to the Association," referred to the aggressive
tactics of the extremists in the engineering shops. No body of
men, he said, had need of more tact to preserve the balance between
the employers and men than the foremen. Some day they might
have a less bitter dividing line between Capital and Labour. Mr.
Austin Hopkinson, M.P., responding to the toast of " The En-

gineering Industry " (proposed by the Rev. J. A. S. Bullock;,
said that when the engineering trade was in trouble, as it was
to-day, they as employers must consider whether there might be any
fault with themselves, and should try and get a sympathetic view
of what was going on in the minds of the workers.

At the annual meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute last week
the new president, Mr. Francis Samuelson, announced the awara
of the Bessemer Medal for 1922 to Prof. Kotaro Honda, of the
University of Sendai, Japan, who, he said, had established the
theory of molecular magnetism based on the measurement of the
change of volume in the steel when magnetised. The recipients ot
thfe Andrew Carnegie Research Scholarships for 1922 are : Mr.
Arthur Bradley, who holds the D.Sc. (London) degree in Physical
Chemistry, £100, to assist in studying the carburising and decar-
burising effect of different ga-ses on iron and steel : Mr. Algernon L.
Curtis, £100, to carry on researches in steel moulding sande and
their behaviour under high temperatures ; Mr. Owen W. Ellis, lec-
turer in metallography at the University of Toronto, £100, for
studies in the effect 01 constitution on the malleability of iron and
steel at high temperatures; Dr. .1. Newton Friend, lecturer at the
Birmingham Technical School, £100, to continue his corrosion tests
on a large scale ; Mr. Arthur M. Parkin, of Sheffield University,
£100, for studies in the metallurgy of tungsten; Mr. Gosta Phrag-
men, of Stockholm, £100, to study the specific weight of molten
metals by a new method"; Mr. W. E. Williams, a graduate of the
University of North Wales, £100. to study the application of X-ray
spectography to the examination of the structure of st«el.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

It is reported that the Soviet Government has approved the pro-
ject of granting the Indo-El-ropean Cable Company a concession of
the cable running through the territory of the Soviet Republic link-
ing up with the cables of the company in other countries^

The amalgamation is announced of the three principal Germa»
cable companies, the Deutsche Atlantische having absorbed the
Deutsche Siid Amerikanische and the Ost Europaische companies,
at the same time i-aising its capital to 40 000 000 marks [nominally
two millions sterling].

Although there was a decrease during the past year of over
3 000 000 in the number of passengers carried on the Boi:^nemouth
Corporation tramways, the annual report shows that a profit of
£159 has been made, against a deficit in the previou.* year of £17 000.
The small profit, despite increased fares, was due to reconstruction
on main lines, fewer car miles run, the coal strike, trade depression.
&c. The total traffic receipts showed an increase of £10 524, and
working expenses were about £5 866 less.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, &c.

Tuesday, May' fl.
Copper — Price. Inc. Dec

Best selected per ton £63 1.5 0 £0 15 0 —

Electro Wirebars .. „ £67 0 0 10 0 —

H.C wire, basis per lb. Os. 9i|d. — —

Sheet Os. Qfgd. — —

Phosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone)
Phosphor-bronze

wire, basis „ Is. l^id. — —

Brass 60/40—

Rod, basis „ Or. 7d. — —

Sheet, basis Os. S^d. — —

Wire, basis „ Os. 9,d. — —

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants . per ton £4 15 0 —

Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 SWG „ £18 0 0 — —

Lead Pig —

English £25 10 0 10 0 —

Foreign or Colonial . . „ £24 7 6 - 6

Ingot „ £14!1 10 0 — £2 23. 6d.

Wire, basis per lb. 0 2 Of — Jd.

Aluminium Ingots per ton £120 0 0 — —

Spelter per ton £27 2 t> 5 0 —

Mercury per bottle £11 0 0 — —

Salarhmoniac—Pet cwt. 653.-603. Sodium Chlorate.— Per lb. 3. id.
Sulphur (Flowers).— Ton £10 15s. Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 163°).—
.. (Roll-Brimstone).— Per ton Per ton £9.

£10 153. Copper Sulphate.— Ver ton £26108.

Sodium Bichromate.— Per Ih. 516. ^oric^ciif (Cry8tals).—Perton £60

Rubber. — Para fine, 10\d. ; plantation 1st latex, 8.\d

The metal prices are supplied by Eritish Insulated & Helsby Cables,

Ltd, and the rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph WorKs

Oompany.

57()

The Electrician.

May 12, 1922

Companies' Meetings, Reports, &c.

Siemens BRoniEBS & Company announce a final dividend of Is.
per ehare, free of tax, making 10 per cent.

Tlie Westebn Union Telegraph Company has declared a dividend
of If per cent, on the common stock for the quarter, payable on
July 15th.

Caixenders Cable and Construction Company recommend a
dividend of 15 per cent. (3s. per share, of which Is. per share was
paid on November 2) for 1921.

The directors of the English Electric Company recommend a
dividend of 5 per cent, (less tax) on the ordinary shares, for the
year 1921, payable on May 31.

The Lancashire Dynamo and Motor Company have declared a
dividend of Is. 3d. on the ordinary shares, making 2s. per share
(10 per cent.), free of tax, for the past year.

The net profit of the Hart Accumulator Company for 1921 was
£47 134, making with the balance of £25 616 brought in £72 750.
The directors recommend a dividend of 11 per cent., subject to tax,
on the ordinary share capital, carrying forward £54 341.

The receipts of the Cuba Submarine Telegraph Company for 1921
totalled £65 974, and expenses amoimted to £33 009. After pro-
viding £8 502 for income tax and £9 334 for account of excess profits
duty, there remains £15 127, plus the difference in exchange of
£6 959 and £26 645 brought forward, making £48 732. less £15 000
added to general reserve. The directors recommend a final divi-
dend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum,
and a bonus of 4s. per share, free of tax, carrying forward £16 532,
subject to excess profits and other duties.

The accounts of Pinchin, Johnson & Company for the year ended
December last, after providing for all expenses, depreciation, and
taxation, show a net profit of £45 924, which, with £10 588 brought
in, make available £56 512. Interim dividends on preference and
ordinary shares absorbed £21875, and the directors reconmiend
payment of the half-year's dividend on the preference shares, a
final dividend of 2^ per cent, on the ordinary shares (making 7| per
cent, for the year, against 15 per cent, the previous year), that the
sum of £1 500 be written off for preliminary expenses of the new
capital issue, and £16 512 be carried forward.

After charging administration expenses and including £2 305
brought forward, the accounts of the Bath Electric Tramways
Company for the year ended December 31 last show an available
balance of £17 433, from which the following amounts have been
deducted : — £5 449 for interest on four and a-half per cent, first
mortgage debenture stock, £1 000 for sinking fund, and £3 750 for
dividend on preference shares, leaving a balance of £7 234. From
this the directors have transferred £5 000 to contingencies and
renewals account, and recommend that the balance of £2 234 be car-
ried forward to provide for contingencies and replacements.

The total revenue for the year 1921 of the Gateshead and District
Tramways Company amounted to £141803. After deducting all
expenses chargeable to revenue, including provision for renewals
(£3 000), there remains a balance on the year's working of £43 818.
To this is added £2 018, brought forward from 1920, making a total
of £45 836. The directors recommend that £3 173 be placed to
sinking fund for redemption of mortgages ; to dividend for the year
on £12 610 6 per cent, preference shares (on account of which 3 per
cent, has been paid), £757; to dividend for the year on £120 000
5 per cent, preference shares (on account of which 2^ per cent, has
been paid), £6 000 : to dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of
10 per cent, (on account of which 4 per cent, has been paid),
£13 500, leaving £22 407 to be car-ied forward. The expenditure
on capital account during the year amounted to £49 416, making the
entire capital outlay upon the undertaking £412 342.

The report of the English Electric Comp.\ny for the year ended
December 31, 1921, shows that the net profits, after crediting
dividends received from subsidiary companies, and amounts trans-
ferred from reserves previously set aside and no longer required,
and after charging all expenses, amounted to £317 423. The amount
brought forward from last year was £46 236, making a total of
£363 659. After charging debenture interest £52 533, interest on
8 per cent, secured notes £100 000, trustees' fees £360, and prefer-
ence dividends £41914, there remains a balance available for appro-
priation of £168 852. The directors recommend the transfer to
reserve for contingencies of £60 000, and a dividend on the ordinary
shares (payable May 31, 1922) of 5 per cent, (le-s tax), absorbing
£53 253, leaving a lialance to be carried forward of £55.599 (as com-
pared with £46 236 last year). Stocks of materials, &c., held by
the company and its subsidiaries have been written down to current
market values, or less.

The chairman of the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation,
Ltd., Lord Meston of Agra and Dunottar, K.C.S.I., who presided
over the annual meeting on Tuesday, stated that the increase of
capital expenditure from about £1750 000 to nearly £2 250 000 re-
flected payments for new plant now on its way to India, whicii
should shortly be producing increased levemie. The roccipts from
the sale of current showed a gratifying increase, being £'114 000 in
1921 against £330 000 in 1920. The" number of units sold had grown
by only 11 per cent., and the surcharge mainly expiauied the
balance. The continuing rise in the price of coal and in wages,
coupled with the higher Indian taxation, had, however, more than
absorbed the proceeds of the small surcharges. The net profit
amounted to £217 000, against £263 000 in 1920. They had obtained

welcome relief in the withdrawal of excess profits duty, and were
able to maintain the dividend at 10 per cent, for the year, plus a
bonus of 1 per cent., on a considerably increased share capital.
The new capital had not yet earned its quota of revenue, but would
commence to do so in the cui'rent year. Already there was a large
and satisfactory increase of units sold. Ample provision had been
made for depreciation and renewal of plant, and they had added
substantially to the reserve and insurance funds. Tne past year
was far from being free of difficulty ; labour troubles occurred, but
were wisely and successfully handled, and they had a competent and
loyal staff. There were troubles over coal as to both quantity and
quality, and increaeed expenses drove them to revise the scale of
charges for power. Industrial rmrest in thie country had caused
lamentable delay in the supply of new generating plant, of which
they were in urgent need. Nevertheless, they closed the year in a
stronger position than when it opened, and Major-General Mahon's
timely visit to Calcutta went far to consolidate the good feeling
between the Corporation and the Calcutta public. The domand for
further services grew unceasingly, and they were only at the
threshold of their possibilities.

New Companies.

G. Edward Carr.

G. Edward Carr, Ltd. (181 547). Private company. Reg. May
4. Capital, £12 000 in £1 shares. To adopt an agreement with
G. E. Carr, and to carry on the business of electricians, manufac-
turers and repairers of and dealers in mechanical and electrical
appliances and lamps, armature windersj- &c. Subscribers : G. E.
Carr, G. Y. Gray. Registered office : 560, Shields-road, Newcastle-
on-TjTie.

Russell Electrical Appliances.

Russell Electrical Appliances Company. (181 431). Private
company. Reg. April 29. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. To acquire
and work a patent manufacture of electric meters under Electric
Meter Patent No. 4 368/22, of which L. T. C. Russell is the sole
patentee, &c. Permanent directors : L. T. C. Russell, W. G. Dews-
busy, and E. W. Jones. Secretary : Iden R. Reed. Registered
office : 60, Queen Victoria-street, E.G. 4.

Woodstock Electric Light. v

Woodstock Electric Light Company, Ltd. (181541). Private
company. Reg. May 4. Capital, £5 000 in £1 shares. To carry on
business as indicated by the title, and to adopt an agreement with
the Woodstock Electric Light & Power Company. Subscribers :
G. W. Smith. J. H. Dew. Solicitors : Julius, Edward & Julius, 8,
Old Jewry, E.G. 2.

Grosvenor Clark Electrical, Ltd.

Grosvenor Clark Electrical, Ltd. (181 548). Private com-
pany. Reg. May 4. Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. Electrical
engineers, manufacturers, and agents for the sale and purchase of
electrical fittings and appliances, &c. Permanent directors : W. P.
Grosvenor, J. A. Clark, W. Clement Drew. Secretary : W.
Clement Drew. Registered office : 3-4, Great Winchester-street,
E.G. 2.

Edmund Nuttall, Sons & Company.

Edmund Xutt.ux, Sons & Company, Ltd. (181 501). Private
company. Reg. May 3. Capital, £100 000 in £1 shares. To take
over the business of public works and general contractors carried on
by E. Nuttall and J. Nuttall as "Edmund Nuttall & Company," to
construct and equip railways, tramways, &c. First directors : E.
Nuttall and J. Nuttall. Solicitors : Allen, Whitfield & Hodgson.
65, Princess-slreet, Manchester.

Holes, Ltd.

Holes, Ltd. (181508). Private company. Reg. May 3. Capital,
£1 500 in £1 shares. To adopt an agreement with S. H. Hole and

C. Hole, and to carry on at Bursledon, Hants., or elsewhere the
business of general engineers, manufacturers or repairs of all types
of steam, electrical, or internal combustion engines or machinerv.
&c. First di.eclors : N. H. Everitt, S. H. Hole, and C. Hole.
Qualification : 100 shares. Registered office : 61. Union-street,
Ryde, I.W.

Sunbeam Light Company.

Sunbeam Light Company, Ltd. (181 492). Private company.
Reg. May 2 Capital, £250 in £1 shares. Agents for and dealers in
electric lamps and light fittings, gas shades and fittings, oil and
others lamps, &c. Life directors : A. P. H. van den Dorpel and
Mrs. C. Al. Thoeenes. Registered office : 155, Praed-street,
Paddinglon, W.

Welwyn Gerdcn City Electricity Supply.

Welwvn (tarden City Electricity Supply Cojipany, Ltd. Reg.
May 1. Capital, £25 000 in 23 500 preference shares of .£1 each an>i
30 000 ordinary shares of Is. each. First directors: Sir Theodore
G. Chambers, J. R. Farqnharson, C. B. Purdam, and Capt. R. L.
Reiss. Secretary : F. J. Osborn. Solicitors : Grundy, Kershaw,
Samson & Company, 6, Austin Friars, E.G. File number is 181 468.

Stamford Kniiineering Company.

Stamford Engineering Company, Ltd. (181 461). Private com-
pany. Reg. May 1. Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. To acquire the
business carried on by D. Stevens at 400. Hoe-street. Walthamstow.
as the " Stamford Engineerinsr Company," and to ^arry on business
as general, electrical, and hydraulic engineers, &c. First directors :

D. Stevens, Mrs. R. Stevens. Registered office : 400. Hoe-street,
Walthamstow. Essex.

May 12, 1922

The Electrician.

■ u i

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

York Corporation. May ' 23. — Extension of electricity sub-
station, Lendal-biidge York. Particulars from the City Engineer,
(iuildhall, York.

Kirkcaldy Elkctricity Works. June 5. Steam turbine three-^
phase alternator, condensing plant and piping. Particulars from
Kennedy & Donkin, 17. Victoria-street, Weetmineter, S.W. 1.

Nottingham Corpor.\tion. June 9. — Manufacture, delivery, and
erection at North Wilford Power Station of (Sec. D.) six fuel
economisers, four steel chimneys, six induced draught fans, &c. ;
(Sec. E.) e.h.p. remote controlled main switchgear, &c. ; (Sec. F.)
three electric centrifugal pumps; (Sec. J.) one 75-ton overhead elec-
tric crane, one 10-ton and one 5-ton hand cranes; (Sec. K.) two
750 kW rotary converters, one 35 kW motor generator booster, &c.
Particulars from Preece, Cardew & Rider, 8, Queen Anne's-gate,
Westminster, S.W. h

Preston Electricity Undertaking. June 14. — Supply and erec-
tion of boilers, stokers, economisers, fans, chimneys, steam and
feed piping and feed* pumps. Particulars from the Town Clerk,
Town Hall, Preston,

AUSTRALIA.

Victorian Government Railways. July 5. — * Supply and
delivery of an industrial storage battery truck and battery charging
equipment (Contract No. 35 028).

NE\V ZEALAND.

Public Works Department. July 4. — * Manufacture, supply,
and delivery, c.i.f. Auckland, of three 1320 kVA single-phase
transformers, complete with accessories (Section 56).

WiLLESDEN Urban Council have accepted the tender of British
Insulated & Helsby Cables for twelve months' supply of cables.

Lambeth (London) Guardians have accepted the tender of the
Express Lift Company for dismantling an existing lift and supply-
ing an electric lift at Brook-street Infirmary, Kennington, at £953.

London <^ounxy Council Education Committee have accepted
tenders of A. Hawkins & Sons, at £718 10s., for wiring the Belle-
ville-road school, and at £718 15s., for wiring the Wormholt-road
school.

Battersea (London) Council have accepted the tenders of
Ferranti Ltd., Chamberlain & Hookham, and Reason Manufacturing
Company for meters for six months, and Dussek Bitumen Company
for box compounds and bitumen composition for twelve months.

Stepney Borough Council have accepted the following tenders : —
Sutton & Company, for the supply of one mile three-way 4-in. con-
duits, at £891; Burroughs Adding Machine, Ltd., for an electrically-
operated adding machine, at £233 10s. ;A. Reyrolle & Company, for
28 h.t. switches for Limehouse Generating Station, at £83 each.

Leyton Urb.\n Council have accepted the tenders of Bruce
Peebles & Company and A. Reyrolle & Company for motor converters
and armour-clad switchgear, W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works
Company for e.h.t. cable, Union Cable Company for tramway feeder
cable, and Hackbridge Electric Construction Company for
transformers.

The Philadelphia Electric Company has placed a large contract
with the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company for air
blast transformers, which includes sixteen 3 750 kV-A, single-phase
transformers for operation at 60 cycles, with a total capacity of
60 000 kV-A. The total cost cf the transformers will be approxi-
mately $100 000.

Books Received.

"Practical Engraving on Metal." (I<ondon : Percival Marshall
& Company.) Pp. 141. Is. 6d. net.

"Essais des Machines Electriques." Bv C. F. Guilbert. (Paris :
J. B. Bailliere et Fils.) Pp. vi. -1-522. 45 frs.

"Die Elektrotechnik und die Electromotorischen AntrieLe." By
Wilhelm Lehmann. (Berlin : Julius Springer.) Pp. v.-(-451. M. 96.

"Dynamo Design and Construction." By A. H. Avery,

A.M.I.E.E. (London : Cassel & Company, Ltd.) Pp. 263. 6s. net.

" Die Drahtlose Telegraphie und Telephonie." By Dr. P.
Lertes. (Dresden and Leipzig : Theodor Steiiikopff.) Pp. xi.-f-
152. 3s. 9d. net.

"A Dictionary of Applied Physics." Vol. I. Edited by Sir
Richard Glazebrook, K.C.B., D.Sc, F.R.S. (London. Macmillan &
Company, Ltd.) Pp. ix.-l-1067. 63s. net.

■' Maintenance and Repair of Electrical Measuring Instruments."
By H. G. Yarrill. (London : Percival Marshall & Company.) Pp.
78. 26. 6d. net.

" The Beginners Guide to the Miscroscope. " By Chas. E. HeaA.h,
F.R.M.S. (London : Percival Marshall & Company.) Pp. 120.
1-. 6d. net.

"The Principles Underlying Radio Communication." (Second
edition.) Radio Pamphlet No. 40. Signal Corps, U.S. Army.
(Washington : Government Printing Office.) Pp. 619. $1.00.

* Particulars from, the Department of Overseas Trade.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — Th« pubhcation of extracts from the " Registry of
County Court Judgments" does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
be«n settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgment*
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books -within
twenty-one days.]

ARROTA ELECTRICAL & MOTOR ACCESSORIES COMPANY,
LTD., Charles-street, Louth, electrical and general engineers.
£17 6s. Mar. 8.

BLAGDEN, Geo., 62, Weston-street, Sheffield, electrical engineer.
£46 14s. Feb. 24.

JEFFERYES, A. N., 8, Denman-place, Piccadilly, W. 1., electri-
cian. £21 17s. lOd. Jan. 30.

PAIN, J.. 105, High-street, Hythe, electrical engineer. £19 10=. 4d.

Mar. 2.
SEACOMBE, Jas, 98, Trevor-terrace, North Shields, electrician.

£64 12s. Id. Mar. 3.
THOMAS & EVANS, 4/7, Salubrious-place, Swansea, electricians.

£59 16s. 6d. Mar. S.

Bill of Sale.

[The undermentioned information is from the Official Registry.
It indudes Bills of Sale registered under the Act of 1822 and under
the Act of 1878. Both kinds require registration every five years.
Up to the date the information was obtained it was registered
as given below ; but payment may have been made in some of the
cases, although no notice had been entered on the Register.]

ROBERTS, John Estall, 56, Garmoyle-road. Sefton Park. Liverpool,
electrical engineer. Mav 6. £50.

Deed of Arrangement.

ROGERS, William, 136, Woodfield-street, and Dolcader House.
Cwmbath-road, both Morriston, Swansea, electrical contractor.
Filed, May 3. Trustee, S. E. Clutterbuck, 31, Queen-street.
Cardiff. Liabilities unsecured, £667 ; assets, less secured
claims, £323.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as detjcribed therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Aci,
specify the total amou.it of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In ea^ h case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the lasi
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (WEST BROMWICH). LTD.

Reofistered April 21, £1 100 mortgage, to T. A. Nightingale.
Bilhay -street. West Bromwich, iron merchant, and another:
charged on land with Heath-cot., 402. High-street, West
Bromwich. *Nil. Jan. 13, 1921.

MIDLAND COUNTIES ELECTRIC SUPPLY COMPANY.
LTD. (late TRAIMWAYS LIGHT & POWER COMPANY'.
LTD.), London, E.G. Registered April 27, trust deed dated
April 25, 1922 (supplemental to trust deeds dated Feb. 26,
1914, Nov. 15, 1915. and April 14, 1919, securing £375 000 de-
benture stock) ; charged on 305 918 shares fully paid of £1 each
and £56 785 5 per cent, debenture stock of the Derbyshire &
Nottinghamshire Electric Power Company ; 24 823 shares of
£10 each fully paid in the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Tram-
ways Companv; 241 preference shares of £10 each and 6 747
ordinary shares of £10 each fully paid and £32 950 4^ per cent.
first mortgage debenture bonds of and in the Leamington &
Warwick Isiectrical Companv Limited. '£544 150 (debenture
stock), £200 000 (notes). Mao-ch 15, 1921.

NORTHAMPTON ELECTRIC LIGHT & POWER COMPANY,
LTD. Registered April 29, trust deed dated April 11. 1922.
securing £40000 debenture stock and premium at the rate of
5 per "cent (no present issue) ; general charcje. *£110 000.
March 10, 1922.

Satisfaction.

MINEHEAD ELECTRIC SUPPLY' COMPANY, LTD. Satis-
factions registered April 28. £5 000, registered Dec. 9. 1907; and
£5 000, registered Dec. 31, 1909.

578

The Electrician.

May 12, 1922

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Company Winding-up Voluntarily.

ANGLO-MEXICAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, LTD. R. R.

Skelsey appointed liquidator. Meeting of creditors at 47, Par-
liament-street, Westminster, S.W. 1, Wednesday, May 17, at
3 p.m. Particulars of claims to the liquidator by June 1.

Liquidator's Notice.

ELECTRELLE, LTD.— Particulars of claims to T. R. Lawley, 24,
Fountain-street, Manchester, the liquidator, by June 19.

Bankruptcy Information.

BATE, Douglas Clavell, 16, John Dalton-etreet, Manchester, electri-
cal manufacturer and supplier. First meeting. May 17, 3 p.m.,
Official Receiver's Offices, Byrom-street, Manchester. Public
examination, June 30, 10 a.m., Court House, Quay-street.
Manchester.

Notices of Dividends.

BENNETT, William, Back Sitwell-street, Derby, electrical contrac-
tor. Amount per £, Is. l^d. First and final. Payable, May
10, 4, Castle-place Nottingham.

RAWSTHORNE, Thomas, 67b, Paradise-street, West Bromwich,
Stafford, electrical engineer. Amount per £, 3s. l^d. First
and final. Payable, May 17, Official Receiver's Office, Ruskin
Chambers, 191, Corporation-street, Birmingham.

Notices of Intended Dividends.

CAMP, William, Carr-lane, Slaithwaite. near Huddersfield, under
the style of WILLIAM CAMP & COMPANY, electrical
engineer. Last day for receiving proofs, May 20. Trustee : W.
Durrance, 12, Duke-street, Bradford.

ROTHWELL. Peter, 64, Higher Bridge-street, Bolton, in partner-
ship with Peter Ashworth Rothwell (a minor), under the style
of P. A. ROTHWELL & COMPANY, electrical engineer.
Last day for receiving proofs. May 13. Trustee, J. G. Gibson,
Byrom-street, Manchester.

Partnerships Dissolved.

BARTLETT, Ernest William, and CROCKER, Stanley Cuthbert,
electrical and mechanical engineers. 1, Pembroke-terrace, Car-
diff, under the etyle of the HEATH ELECTRICAL h
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, by mutual
consent as from April 11, 1922. Debts received and paid by
S. C. Crocker, who will continue the business.
BIBBY, Joseph, and MOTTERSHEAD, Fred, electricians, &c., 40.
Park-green, Maccleefield, under the style of BIBBY &
MOTTERSHEAD, by mutual consent as from March 31, 1922.
Debts received and paid by J. Bibby.
BILL, William Harry, and BERRY, James Henry, electrical
engineers and manufacturers' agente, at 18 to 26, Constitution-
hill, Birmingham, under the style of BILL & BERRY] By
mutual consent as from March 25, 1922.
DENYER, Frank, and HAYLER, Albert Waldegrave, electricians
89, Sackville-road, Hove, Sussex, under the style of DENYER
& HAYLER, by mutual consent as from April" 27, 1922. Debts
received and paid by A. W. Hayler.
VISSENGA, John Williams, VANSON. William David, and
NEWTON, Robert, electric welders, Queen Anne-road, Maid-
stone, under the .style of the MAIDSTONE ELECTRIC
WELDING COMPANY, by mutual cr-r-ent, as from April 29,
1922. Debts received and paid by J. A. Robertson and W. D.
Vanson, who will continue the business.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

COOKSON, Eugene, trading as W. TURNBULL & COMPANY, at
the Express Magneto Repair Works, Blackpool. Gross liabili-
ties are stated to be £932 and the deficiency £630. At his
public examination, held recently at Blackpool, debtor
attributed his failure to expenses incurred ii, renovating busi-
ness premises, pressure by creditors, and iTioney pafd for
vacant possession of premises. The Officiil Receiver said
debtor filed his petition owing to execution ha>^ing been levied
upon his effects. He was 23 years of age and unmarried, and
before branching out in trade he was in the Army. On
demobilisation he worked foi" a firm of electricians for three or
four months, and in May, 1919, started on his own account.
He then had £30 or £40 as his Army gratuity. He had three
removals from ])remises, and at the time of the last one he
had practically no capital, but he borrowed £375 from his
friends, £50 of which had since been repaid. T^'or the six
months ending September, 1921. he made a profit of £25. He
first became aware of his insolvency in March this ye.ar.

DICKEN, William John, trading as W. DICKEN & SON. 2.
Upper High-street, Bargoed, Glamorganshire, electrical
engineer. At his public examination this debtor, whose state-
ment of affairs showed a deficiency of £130, stated that he com-
menced business at his present address in October, 1920, with
about £550 free capital, his savings. The business had not paid
from the outset, an.l as a result of the heavy outgoings and

depression in trade, combined with the slump in prices, he had
been unable to recover his position. He became aware of his
position in January last. Tne examination was closed.

MAXIM LAMP WORKS, LTD., 75, Canonbury-road, Highbury,
N. Under a winding-up order made against this company the
statutory meetings of the creditors and of the contributories were
, held last week at the Board of Trade Offices, 33, Carey-street,
W.C. A statement of affairs showing the position as at the
date of the appointment of the receiver for the debenture-
holders on July 28 last was presented, in which the liabilities
were returned at £11 050. of which £4 987 were expected to
rank, while the assets were estimated to realise £3 579, and con-
sisted of the estimated sui'plus to come from the securities held
by creditors regarded as fully secured. After payment of the
preferential claims, £77, and of the loans on debenture bonds,
£3 000, there was a sum of £502 available to meet the claims
of the unsecured creditors, who were accordingly faced with a
deficiency of £4 485. The company has created mortgages or
charges, and on July 28 last Mr. Alfred Tosh, 75, Canonbury-
road, N., was appointed receiver under powers contained in a
debenture issued in July, 1918. The company was formed to
acquire the business carried on by the receiver for the debenture-
holders of the Maxim Lamp Works Electrical Company, Ltd.,
of Shernall-street, Walthamstow. The meetings resulted in the
liquidation remaining in the hands of the Official Receiver.
Appended is a list of the principal creditors : Duram, Ltd.,
London, £22; Edison & Swan Electric Company, Ltd., London,
£87; General Electric Company^ Ltd., London, £240; Imperial
Unilied Lamp Company,London, £474 ; Rose Bros., London, £10;
Swan Electrical Company, London, £393 : Stella Lamp Company,
Ltd., London, £43: Scientific Metals Companv, Ltd., London,
£528; Tomey, F., & Company, Ltd., Birmingham, £261 ; Vactite
Wire Company, Ltd., London, £26; Wiggins, H., & Company,
Ltd., Birmingham, £12; Electric Lamp Supplies. Ltd.. Birming-
ham, £156.

ROSLINGTON, William Henry, 240, High Holborn, W.C This
debtor formerly carried on business in partnership under the
style of the GREENLING ELECTRIC SUPPLIES. The statu-
tory first meeting of the creditors was held on Friday at
Bankruptcy Buildings, Carey-street, W.C, when it appeared
that in August, 1919, he became interested in a company, of
which he was afterwards appointed managing director, but in
April, 1920, he resigned, and the company had since gone into
liquidation. During the time he was with the company in
question he also carried on business in partnership under the
style of the Greenling Electrical Supplies, into which as sleeping
partner he put £100, his partner providing the experience.
They each drew £10 a week from the business from Dec. 1, 1919.
until the end of the following INIarch. The partnership, which
had been verbal, was dissolved by mutual consent in May, 1920.
the debtor taking over the assets and liabilities of the business,
although he had since ascertained that book debts of the face
value of £1 000 were irrecoverable. He afterwards transferred
the business to 240, High Holborn. and converted it into a
limited company, called Greenling Electric Supplies, Ltd., with
a nominal capital of £5 000. As vendor he was allotted 1000
ordinary shares in payment of stock and contracts, and he wa<s
appointed managing director of the company at a remuneration
of £500 per annum, plus director's fees. £100 per annum.
Preference shares to the extent of £1 000 were taken up for
cash. The debtor had, however, resigned his directorship and
transferred his holding in the company to another person. He
attributes his failure to the long illness of his wife and heavy
expenses thereof, and to the lack of trade. His statement of
affairs showed liabilities £1209 and assets nil. The meetinir
passed a resolution for bankruptcy and the case remained in the
Official Receiver's hands.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. May 12th (to-day).

Physical Society of London.
5 p.m. At the Imperial College of Science, Soutli Kensington.
Demonstration of Some Electrical Properties of Neon-filled
Lan>ps. by Mr. S. O. Pearson and Mr. H. St. G. Anson.

TUESDAY. May 16th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(Liverpool Students' Sub-Centre.)
S.J/o p.vi. At the University, Brownlow-street. Liverpool. Lec-
ture on " Cheapening of Electricity Supply in Great
Britain," b,y Mr. C H. Wordinghani.

THURSDAY. May ISlh.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
() p.m. Savoy-place. London. W.C 2. Kelvin Lecture on
" Electricity and Matter," by Prof. Sir Ernest Rutherford.
Junior Institution of Engineers.
ff.,W 2).in. At Moiiico Restaurant, London, .\iinual Dinner. '

FRIDAY. May I9th.

Institution of Electrical Enginee', i.
{London Students' Section.)
7 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C. 2. "The Elimination of
Atmospherics in Radio-Telegraphy," by Mr. A. H. Reeves.

Mav 12, 1922

The Electrician.

■)t

Recent Wireless Publications. Reference index to Recent Publications.

Set out below will be found a series of references to, and short
abstracts of recently published articles dealing with wireless
telegraphic and telephonic communication. In order to facilitate
reference these have been grouped under a few main headings
indicative of the general s.ubject matter discussed in the articles.
References to British Patents on wireless subjects will be found
included in our " Patent Record," which appears each we«k.

The very rapid growth of the volume of radio-literature published
during the last few years is rendering more and more evident the
need for some universal and internationally recognised system ot
classifying and referring to such publications. Quite recently the
Bureau of Standards at Washington put forward some suggestions
and subsequently issued a revised classification scheme based on
the well-known Dewey decimal classification, the class number
621 384 assigned to Radio communication in that classification being
for brevity designated by the letter R, followed by additional
group numbers for the various branches of radio work.

Another extension of the decimal classification system to include
the various branches of radio work has also been published in France
by the Institut International de Bibliographie, but the sub-groups
there defined are not in agreement with those set out by tiie
Bureau of Standards. Other classification schemes have also been
used in publications in this country and elsewhere.

The index headings in th© following list have been arranged in
accordance with the abridged classification put forward by the
Bureau of Standards, as at the present time this appears to meet
as well as any the requirements of the problem. The individual
references have been grouped under the main headings of the
Bureau of Standard's classification, but the group number of their
abbreviated classification scheme is given at the end of each
reference. Where the article in question deals with several
branches of radio work these are indicated as far as possible by
the addition of extra classification group numbers, these extra
numbers being separated from the main classification number by
a diagonal stroke. Thus should the need arise, the more complicated
scheme will be incorporated in subsequent lists of references, since
this can be done without in any way disturbing or rearranging the
class groups in which the present references are arranged.

Bureau of Standards Abbreviated Classification of Radio
References.

R.OOO — Radio Communication.
R.050— Books.
R.060— Societies.
R.090— History.
R.lOO — Radio Principles.
R.llO— Radio Waves.
Antennae.
Election Tubes.
Radio Circuits.
Generating apparatus.
Receiving apparatus.
Other Radio Principles.
Radio Measurements and
Standardisation.
Frequency, W a v e -

length.
Capacity, Dielectric.

Constant.
Inductance.

Resistance, Decrement,
Phase Difference.
Power Loss.
Current.
Voltage.

Signal Intensity.
Properties of

Materials.
Other Measurements.
R.300 — Radio A^naratus and
Equipment.
Antennae.
Electron Tubes.
Electron Tube Appara-
tus.
Generating Apparatus

Transmitting Set«.
Receiving Apparatus.

Receiving Sets.
Parts of Circuits, In-
struments.
R.400 — Radio Communication

Systems.
R.410— Modulated Wave

Svstems.
R.411— Spark. <
R.412— Radio Telephone
Systems.

R.120—
R.130—
R.140—
R.150—
R.160—
ft. 190—
R.200

R.210—

R.220—

R.230—
R.240—

R.250—
R.260—
R.270—
R.280—

R.290—

R.320—
R.330—
R.340—

R.350—

R.360—

R.380—

R.413 — Low - Frequency Mo-
dulating Systems

R.414— High - Frequency Mo-
dulating Systems.

R.420— Continuous Wave Sys-
tems.

R.421— High-Frequency Al-
ternator.

R.422— Arc.

R.423— Electron Tube.

R.430 — Interference Elimina-
tion.

R.440— Remote Control (by
wire).

R.450— Linkage.

R.460— Duplex and Multiplex
Svstems.

R.470— Wired Radio.

R.480— Relav Systems.

R.490— Other Systems.

R.500 — Applications of Radio.

11.510 — Navigation.

R.520 — Aviation.

R.530 — Commercial and

Special Services.

R.540— Private.

R.550 — Time and Meteoro-
logical.

R.560— Militarv, Naval.

R.570— Distant Control by
Ritdio.

R.580 — Other Applications.

R.590 — National Develop-
ments.

R.600 — Radio Stations : Equip-
m e n t , Operation ,
and Management.

R.610 — Equipment-Station De-
scriptions.

B.620 — Operation and Manage-
ment.

R.700 — Radio Manufacturing.

R.710— Factories

R.720 — Processes.

R.740— Sales.

K. 800— Non-Radio Subjects.

R.900 — Miscellaneous Radio.

GENERAL RADIO COMMUNICATION. R.OOO.

V. B. Warner. The Wa.shin(fton Radio Conference iQ.SJ., 5, pp. 7-12,

April 1922; Popular Radio, 1, pp. 61-63, April, 1922j.
Includes details of the wavelength allocations for varions radio-
telephonic uses. H.OOO.
P. r. Oodley. The Far Call (Wireless Age, 9, pp. 17-24, March, 1922).

Deals with the short wave Transatlantic Tests of December, 1921 R.OOO.
P. Boucheron. Amateurs Span the Atlantic (Rfidio Seics, 3, pp. 697-699,

February, 1922). R.OOO.
.■e. H. Pelix. Dr. Alfred \. Goldsmith on the Future of Radio Telephony

(Radto Broadcast, 1, pp. 42-45, May, 1922). R.OOO.
C. Austin. The Romance of the Radio Telephone (Radio Broadcast. 1,

pp. 9-19, May, 1922). U.000/4)2.

R. C. Higgy. The Succe.ssful Transatlantic Stations (Q.S.T.. 5, pp. 11-18,

.March, 1922).
An ilhustrated description of the successful transmitting stations in the
Transatlantic signalling tests 011 short wavelengths. R.000,'610
If. W. Austin. Long-distance Radio Communication (Journal of the

Franklin Institute, 193, pp. 437-459, April, 1922).
A historical resume of progress, including a number of recent •;igiial
strength measurements over long distances, and notes on the developments
of high-power stations in varions countries. R. 000/590/270/610.
A. F. van Dyck. A Transition Period in Radio Commanication. (General

Electric Review, 24, pp. 828-832, September; pp. 884-889, October,

1921).
A general discussion of recent developments in radio apparatus as
affecting the design of ship and other installations. The second instalment
of the article discusses the question of higti-power long-distance transmis-
sions and also the fields of application of radiotelephony. R.OOO.
E. M. Marchant. \^ireless Developments (Engineer, 132, p. 597,

December 2, 1921). R.OOO.
H. Gernsback. The New Radio Legislation {Radio Sews, 3, p. 944,

April-May, 1922). R.C07.
Recommendations of the Committee of the Wireless Society of London

regarding the Regulations Governing Amateur Transmission {W ire-
less World and Radio Review, 10, pp. 108-109, April 22nd, 1922).

R.007.
Regulations regarding Amateur Radio Stations in France (Radioelectricite.

3. pp. 128-130,- March, 1922). R.007.
Radio Regulation Conference opens in Washington (Electrical World, 79,

pp. 446-447, March 4th, 1922). R.007.

G. Vallauri. Technical Discussions of the Paris International Conference
on radio-communications. (Radio Rerietc, 3, pp. 17-25, January;
pp. 82-91, February. 1922). R.007.

The Organisation of a Radio School (L'Audion, 2, pp. 2-8, April 1st, 19221.
R.060.

C. P. Marshall. A Chronology of Communication (Engineer, 132, p. 615,

December 9th, 1921). R.090.

D. Jochmann. German Wireless in South-West .Africa (Telefunken

Zeitung, 4, pp. 41-48, September, 1921).
Describes the development during the period 1904-1914. R.090.
A. Bey. The evolution of physical theories since the 18th centurv.
(L'Eleltrotecnica, 8, pp. 664-665,. November 5th, 1921). R.090.

RADIO PRINCIPLES AND THEORY. R.lOO.

P. Addey. Modern Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony (Telegraph and

Telephone Journal, 8, pp. 98-99, April, 1922). R.lOO.
U. Bianchi. The theoretical basis of radiotelephony (L'Audion, 2, pp. 9-12,

April 1st, 1922). R.lOO.
G. Malgorn. Long distance wireless transmission {Revue Generale de
I'Electrieitd, 11, pp. 483-490, April 8th, 1922).
Discusses the discrepancies found between various wave-propagation
formula;. R.llO.

P. B. Coursey. The Ueverage Antenna (Wireless World and Radio
Review, 10, pp. 33-35, April 8th, 1922).
Describes the mode of functioning of this antenna. R.120.
A. Marino. On radiotelegraphic antennK for aircraft (L'Blettrotecnica.
9, pp. 242-247, April 15th, 1922).
Theoretically deduces formulae for the capacity, electric field, radiation
resistance, etc., of aircraft antennae. R. 120/520.

R. Scliachenmeier. The Electromagnetic field of a slightly dampe<i
radiating aerial (Zeitschrift ftir technische Physik, 2, pp. 530-353,
1921).
A. mathematical paper. K.120.
R. Schachenmeier. The electromagritic field of a slightly dampeil
radiating antenna (Physikalische Zeitschrift, 22, pp. 676-679,
December 15th. 1921).
A theoretical paper of a highly mathematical character. R.120.

WAVE THEORY, AERIALS AND RADIATION.

J. Bethenod. On the application of counterpoises to radio installations
(L'Onde Electrique, 1, pp. 90-95, February. 1922).
Discuses theoretically the influence of the size, height, etc., of the
counterpoise. R.120.

A. Meissner. The earth resistance of Antennae (Jahrbuch Zeitschrift fur
drahtlose Telegraphie, 18, pp. 322-338, November. 1921; Elektro'
technische Zeitschrift, 42. p. 1254, November 3rd. 1921; Zeitcchnft
filr technische Physik, 2, pp. 528-330, 1921).
A. discussion of the causes of energy dissipation in the earth at
transmitting stations, together with the results of a number of measure-
ments of effective resistances of various antennse at different wave-
lengths. A brief description is given of the extensive insulated counter-
poise installed at Kurlsborg, in Sweden, and also of the new earth system
to be installed at Nauen. consisting of a large number of properly
distributed earth rods connected by overhead wires. R.120.
H A. Brown and C. T. Krupp. The effect of pressure and gas content
on the action of vacuum tube detectors (Physical Review, 19,
pp. 278-280, March, 1922). R.130.
H. U. Arnold and H. E. Ives. The growth and decay of photo-
thermionic currents from oxide coated filaments (Physical Review,
19, p. 248, March, 1922). R.150.
H. D. Arnold and H. E. Ives. The Growth and Decay of Photo-
Thermionic Currents from Oxide-coated Filaments (Proceedings of
the Sational Academy of Sciences, December, 1921; Journal of the
Franklin Institute, 195. p. 514, April, 1922. Abstract). R.150.
P. E. Boucher. The measurement of the resonance radiation and ionisa-
tion potentials of several gases and vapours (Physical Reviev, 19,
pp. 189-,209. March, 1922). R.130.

580

The £lectriciaii.

May 12, 1922

E B Moullin and Ii. B. Turner. The Thermionic Triode as Rectifier
{Electrician, 88. pp. 442-444, April 14th, 1922,
Abstract of Paper read before I.E.E. Wireless Section. R.130.
J. Marsten. Note on Oscillations of a Two-element Valve (Radio News, 3,
p. 815, March, 1922).
A soft two-electrode valve arransed as a negative resistance R.130.
C. Outton. On the simultaneous maintenance of an oscillating and of
harmonic circuits (Comptes Rendui, 174, pp 941-943, April 3rd, 1922).
Discusses the establishment and maintenance of harmonic oscillations
by means of a three-electrode valve. R.130.
E. V. Appleton and B. van der Pol. On the Form of Free Triode

Vibrations (Physica, 1, pp. 327-332, November, 1921). R.130.
E. V. Appleton and B. van der Pol. On a Type of Oscillation Hysteresis
in a Simple Triode Generator (Philosophical Magazine, 43, pp.
177-193, January, 1922). R.130.
O. W. Richardson and T. S. Robertson. Contact difference of potential
thermionic emission (Philosophical Magazine, 43, pp. 557-559, March,
1922).
Gives experimental results. R.130.
G. G. Blake. The Modern View of Electricity and the Three-Electrode
Valve (Wireless World and Radio Review, 10, pp. 70-73, April 15th;
pp. 98-103, April 22nd, 1922). R.130.
S. Townsend and V. A. Bailey. The Emission of Electrons in Gases
(Philosophical Magazine, 42, pp. 874-891, December, 1921).
A brief account is given of a method of finding the velocity of electrons
and the application of the results obtained. R.130.

H. C. Btirger. The structure of drawn Tungsten wire (Physica, 1,
pp. 214-218, October, 1921).
Rontgen ray investigation of space lattice of tungsten before and after
drawing, and also after annealing. The research was carried out at
Phillip's lamp works. R.130.

W. Grosser. Thermionic valve transmitters with coupled oscillatory

circuits and capacity coupling (Archiv fur Elektrotechnik, 10,

pp. 317-338, December, 1921).

A theoretical investigation of the frequencies and decrements in both

cases, and their application to the phenomena of phase reversal and

discontinuities in the resonance curves. R. 130/140.

B. van der Pol. Oscillation hysteresis in a triode generator with two

degrees of freedom (Tijdschrift van het Nederlandsch Radiogenoot-

schap, I, pp. 125-147, December, 1921).

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the phenomena in a

generator with coupled- oscillating circuits; the coupling being by means

of condensers. R.130.

A. Boutaric. The Emission of Electricity by Incandescent Bodies

(Scientia, 30, pp. 189-194, September 1st, 1921).
An historical resume of the early discoveries of the emission of electricity
by heated bodies is followed by some remarks on the value of e/m for
electrons. R.130.

E. Ii. Chaffee. Detection Co-eflicient of Thermionic Valves (Physical
Review, 18, pp. 152-153, August, 1921).
A mathematical expression is derived for the detection co-efficient, taking
into account the grid circuit effects as well as the plate circuit rectifica-
tion. Experimental results agreed with the theoretical expressions. R.130.
E. W. B. Gill. Comparison of processes of lonisation which give rise to
currents in Gases (Philosophical Magazine, 42, pp. 852-856, Novem-
ber, 1921). R.130.

Alberti and Zickner. Wave form and phase in valve oscillators (Elektro-
technische ZMschrift, 42, p. 1252, November 3rd, 1921; Physikalische
Zeitschrift, 22, p. 652, December 1st, 1921).
Abstract of Paper describing experiments at Reichsanstaldt. Lissajous

figures were obtained by means of a Cathode Ray Oscillograph. The

various characteristics were investigated at wavelengths between 1 and 18

kilometres under various conditions. R.130.

N. H. Williams. Phase relations in Coupled Circuits (Physical Review,
19, p. 275, March, 1922). R.140.

B. L. Stephenson. Resistance-Capacity Amplification (Wireless World

and Radio Review, 10, pp. 18-19, April 1st: pp. 46-47, April 8th,
1922). R.140.

S. Butterworth. Eddy-current losses in cylindrical conductors and the

A.C. resistance of short coils (Transactions of the Royal Society

222a, pp. 57-100, September 9th, 1921). R.140.
E. r. Clark. Harmonics (Wireless World and Radio Review, 10, n 145,

April 29th, 1922). R.140.
A. L. Narayan. Mechanical Illustration of Three Magnetically Coupled

Oscillating Circuits (Philosophical Magazine, 43, pp. 575-580, March,

1922)

R.140.

^- '• /-^P.^y^*?-. Coupled vibrations by meaas of a double pendulum
(Philosophical Magazine, 43, pp. 567-574, March, 1922).
Galvoiiometer mirrors mounted on the pcidulums are employed for
indicating the o.scillations. R.140. '

K. Rogowski. The valve oscillator with mixed primary and secondary
grid coupling (Elektrolechnische Zeitschrift, 42, p. 1250 NovembeV
3rd, 1921).
A study of the discontinuous resonance curves obtained when the grid
IS coupled both to the inductance in the anode oscillatory circuit and
to the inductance of a secondary oscillatory circuit. R.14'o.
K. H. Warfvinge. Integral effect of two coupled o.scillation circuits
(Arkiv jtir Matemalik, Astronomie och Fysik, Stockholm 15, 00
1-19, 1921). R.140. . . pp.

F. Harms. Coupled oscillatory systems with self-excitation (Antialen
der Phusik, 66, pp. 25-49, October 27th, 1921).
A mathematical investigation of the conditions for ihe bui'ding up
and maintenance of oscillations in coupled pendulums tvith back coupling
followed by a consideration of the valve oscillator with coupled circuits
R.140.

P. R. Coursey. C. W. Reception viewed from another standpoint (TFire-

less World and Radio Review, 10, pp. 127-129, April 29th, 1922).

R. 160/ 360.
P. Luchsinger. An investigation of the Carborundum Detector (Physika-

hsche Zcilsriirilt, 22, pp. 487-491, September 1st, 1921).
No trace of electrolytic decomposition could be observed even witJi currents
of 01 ampere. The rectification persisted in liquid air', and also when
crystal was white hot. R.160.
I. B. Crandall and D. Mackenzie. Analysis of the Energy Distribution

in Speech (Physical Review, 19, pp. 221-232, March, 1922). R.190.
N. C. Krishnaiyar. On the amplitude of vibrations maintained by forces

of double frequency (Philosophical Magazine, 43, pp. 503-510," March,

A mathematical article. R.190.
A. Oibbs. Effects of Aurora on Telegraphs, Telephones, and Wireless
f-^cto Zealand Journal of Science and Technology, 4, 1921; Post
Office Electrical Engineers' Journal, 15, pp. 39-42. April. 1922
Abstract). R.190. , _ •- •

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.
The following abstract from tome of the gpeeifieatioru reeentiy publiehed have
been speciaiiy complied by Messes. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent
Agent*, 70 and 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

Complete Specifications.

146 997 HoGAN, JTTN., J. L. Method of and apparatus for receiving radio-

signals. (27/11/16.)

147 029 Beitish Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. Electric systems for the

transmission of power, a,nd multi-speed induction motors suit-
able for use therein. • (31/5/17.)
347 533 Radio Corpokation op America. Wireless signalling apparattuj.

(2/4/15.)
147 759 Latour, M. Telephone and the like systems. (25/6/15.)
147 793 Apple, V. G-. Electric-current controlling devices. (17/1/19.)

147 853 Ges. riJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Cascade high-frequoicj

amplifiers. (22/7/18.)

148 314 HuTH Ges., Dr. E. F. Manufacture and operation of vacuum

tubes. (30/3/18.)

148 318 HuTH Ges., Dr. E. F. Reels and the like for winding and un-
winding aerial conductors. (16/1/18.)

148 446 Ges. FttR Drahtlose Telegraphie. G.eneration of high-frequency
currents. (19/1/15.)

148 481 Majestic Electeic Development Co Electric heaters and the
like. (26/12/17.)

148 529 Silbermann, H. Slip-pieces for bow collectors for electric
vehicles. (1/9/15.)

148 976 Signal Ges. Electro-magnetic sound producers and receivers
(14/8/ 18.)

150 354 Thompson, H. H. Electric arc lamps. (26/3/18.)

1.50 990 Union (Firm of). Automatic electrical chain-welding machin»
(2/9/19.)

151 003 BiscH Akt.-Ge.s. R. Magneto-electric ignition apparatus.

(30/8/19.)
lol 255 Soc. Anon, pour l' Exploitation des Procedes M. Leblanc-Vickers.
Dynamo-electric machines. (18/9/20.)

152 001 Tanaka, T. Manufacture of electric rotating machines. (11/7/19.,
152 036 Ges. PtJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Means for receiving wireless

signals. (8/10/19.)

152 617 Elektrische Gluhlampenpabrik " Watt " Akt.-Ges. Process fpr

fastening the electrodes in vacuum tubes, more especially in
Rontgen tubes. (18/10/19.)

153 004 Schmierer, M. Luminous electric discharge tubes for the pro-

duction of illuminated signs and the like. (25/10/19.)

153 563 Western Electric Co., Ltd. Repeaters for multiplex signalling

systems. (31/10/19.)

154 884 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Transmission of high-frequency

oscillations over high-power conductors for high-frequency tele-
graphy and telephony. (1/12/19.)
157 063 Electric Outlet Co. Inc. Electrical connecting and supporting
devices. (10/1/20.)

157 095 Goosman, J. Electric gas lamps with glow discharge. (8/1/20.)

158 859 Hubener, H. Link-connecting piece especially for electroliers.

(11/2/20.)
158 909 Soc. Materials Elettro Trazione. Industrial process of and

apparatus for the internal electro-plating of insulators. (12/2/20.)
164 009 Latour, M. Electro-magnetic wave-rignalling systems. (8/12/15.)

(Addition to 147 462. Divided Application on 147 462.)
166 521 Akt.-Ges. Brown, Boveri, et Cie. Mercury-vapour pumps for

high vacua. (17/7/20.) (Addition to 165 400.)
170 612 Legge, W. a. Electric switch fuses. (29/4/20.)
170 614 Pouchain, a. Electrodes for electric batteries and accumu

lators. (3/5/20.)
170 615 PoucHiN, A. Negative electrode for electric accumtilators.

(3/5/20.)
170 618 Pouchain, A. Electric accumulators. (27/5/20.)
170 619 Taylor, A. M. Electrical power transmission systems. (12/6 20.)

fPatent of Addition not granted. Cognate Application 17 480'20,

22 617/20, 28 923/20, 31150/20. and 2/21.)
170 634 Macrorie, A. K., Airey, H. Morris, Shearing, G.. & Mullard,

S. R. Insulation and support of thermionic valve electrodes

between which a high potential difference exists. flO/7/20.)
170 643 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.).

Electric welding .ipparatus. (21/6/20.)
170 656 Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co., Ltd. (Goldsmith, A. N.).

Wireless telegraphy and telephony. (22/7/20.)
170 663 Cleaver, R. L. Dynamo-electric machine group. (24/7/20.)
170 692 Bowman, F. H., & Aspden, R. L. Transmission of power in and

to the electrical equipment of motor-vehicles, aircraft, and the

like. (6/8/20.)
170 701 Railing, A. H., & Angold. A. E. Means for charging portable

electric accumulators. (11/8/20.)
170 716 Prentice, H. B. Ceiling roses, cut-outs, connectors, rosettes, and

similar electrical fittin2s. (17/8/20.)
170 724 Zuckschwerdt, F. Electric switches. (20/8/20.)
170 728 Fawssett, E. Method and apparatus for the measurement of the

temperature of electric cables. (23/8/20.)
170 730 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.).

Amplifying systems for electric currents. (23/8/20.)
170 7,35 Burns, P. C. Telephone desk sets. (7/9/20.)
170 738 Schlegell, F. von. Construction and regulation of electric arcs.

(10/9/20.)
170 745 Rogers, T. W. (Krnpp Akt.-Ges. F.). Electric switch devices.

(21/9 /CO.)
170 746 British Thomson-Houston Co.. Ltd. (General Electric Co.).

Regulating systems for alternating current circuits. (22/9/20.)
170 748 Thompson, J. L. Storage battery testers. (27/9/20.)
170 751 Amberton, R. Casings, mountings, and connections for electrical

instruments, such as ammeters. (30/9/20.)
170 756 Crust, R. Electric junction box. (8/10/20.)
170 768 Ham, A. W. Bases of trolley poles for electric traction.

(2/11/20.)
170 784 McCrudden, H., & Callenders Cable & Construction Co.. Ltd.

Junction boxes for electric cables. (20/12/20.)
170 809 Turquand, F. J. Secret magnetic locks for electric battery

lamps, more particularly for use in mines. (23/1/20.) (Divided

application on 17 077 '20.)
170 873 Damey, C. a. Electric fly switches. (29/4/20.)

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THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Indus»try, Science and Finance.

No, 2296.

r No. 20. i

Lvoi. Lxxxvin J

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1922.

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per ann. ; Abroad, £l lOs.

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Notes of the Week

New Zealand's Electricity Scheme

Some Notes on the Theory of Phase Meters. By G. W
Stubbings. Illustrated

Reflections in Telephone Circuits. By L. C. Pocock. Illus-
trated. . .

A Story of Trade . .

The Anti-Dazzle Problem. .

Recent Improvements in Railway Electric Traction Equip
ment. By Roger T. Smith . .

Electricity Supply Progress in America

Short Wave Directional Wireless Telegraphy. By C. F
Franklin . . . . , . ...'•..

Recent Publications of British Engineering Standard
Association

Correspondence . .

CONTENTS.

581 District Industrial Council
584 G.E.C. Fittings at Drury Lane

Legal Intelligence . .
586 Parliamentary Intelligence

Imperial Notes

589 Electricity Supply

590 Personal and Appointments

590 Business Items, etc.
Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc.

591 New Companies

592 Electrical Exports and Imports .
Tenders Invited and Accepted .

593 Commercial Intelligence . .
Arrangements for the Week

594 Metal Prices

595 Patents

Notes of the Week.

An Interesting Scottish Water Power Scheme.

The Grampians Electricity Bill, the most important
private measure of the Session, has emerged success-
fully from the Committee stage in the House of
Commons, and we congratulate the promoters upon their
diplomacy and tact in getting rid of the powerful opposition
of the fishery and landed interests which at one time
threatened to wreck the scheme. By judicious concessions
the various opponents were induced to withdraw their
petitions, with the result that the Bill is now proceeding
as an unopposed measure. The powers sought include
authority to use the water power of Lochs Rannoch,
Ericht, Tummel and other lakes and rivers in the Grampians
for the generation of electricit}' and to supply electricity in
bulk, and also in retail, for power and lighting over a wide
area. Four power stations are scheduled, but the scheme
will be developed in sections, and the first power house
will be probably erected at Loch Tummel.

Unusual Financial Provisions.

The Bill is also interesting on account of the proposed
method of raising capital. The complete scheme is esti-
mated to cost £4 500 000, but it was proposed to raise
at the outset only £i ooo ooo as share capital and £2 000 000
or £2 500 000 by debentures. This unusual method of
finance, this unprecedented amount of borrowed capital,
was severely criticised by members of the Committee, but
as the promoters had secured from the Committee under the
Trade Facilities Act a promise of a guarantee of the prin-
cipal and interest on £2 000 000 of the debentures, it was
ultimately decided to alter the clause by permitting the
company to raise £1 750 000 in ordinary shares and
£1 750 000 by borrowing. Of the latter ,^850 000 can be

raised without the consent of the Electricity Commissioners,
but their sanction must be obtained before the remainder
can be borrowed. This seems to us a reasonable com-
promise under the circumstances, and will, we hope, ensure
the passage of the measure through the House of Lords
without further opposition.

Is State Guarantee JustiHed ?

We do not appreciate the attitude of Mr. Briggs, M.P.,
one of the members of the Committee. He objects to a
State guarantee in favour of a private enterprise,
apparently because tne commercial future holds a certain
amount of risk. But the Trade Facihties Act was passed
for the specific purpose of encouraging railway conipanies,
electricity undertakings and others to carry out useful public
works in order to increase emplojTnent, and we can conceive
no scheme to be of greater public importance and utility
than the Grampian Company's project. It will enable
50 000 or 60 000 E.H.P. to be developed from water power
which is at present running to waste ; it will assist by
economising coal, by introducing new industries in the
Highlands, by pro\'iding cheap power for operating the
local railways, and in other ways. In our opinion there
are few schemes more worthy of Government assistance
than the Grampian hydro-electric project, wluch seems to
contain no greater element of risk than some of those
already approved by the Trade Facilities Committee. We
are not enamoured of Government trading, but in certain
cases, and the present is one of them, financial assistance
might well be given for a Umited period*

Three Important Wireless Points.

A SECOND reading of Dr. \\'. H. Eccles' recent
Paper on " Imperial Wireless Communication " clearly
brings out three points. The first is that nothing is being

582

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

done to materialise an Imperial scheme except to talk
about it. And to those who know the history of the attempts
to bring a world-wide wireless communication into
being.Yand who will recall the many Commissions and
Committees which have reported and passed away and
the expert knowledge which has been tapped and spilt, may
well begin to wonder whether anything ever will be done.
As in many other things, Great Britain was the first
country successfully to achieve wireless communication.
But now we are falling behind in the race, and shall continue
to recede unless the problem is tackled in a more enter-
prising and broad-minded spirit. Government ownership
and private monopoly are equally bad solutions, but some-
thing might be done with a combination of the two.

Patents and Progress.

The second point is the burning patent question. Dr.
EccLES clearly brought out that the resources necessary
for building the Wireless Chain do not all lie in one set of
hands. For instance, probably the most vital patent of
all, Fessenden's heterodyne patent, is owned by the Metro-
politan Vickers Co., who are not usually looked upon as
wireless people at all Again, Mullardeilica valves are now
in course of construction which will have about ten times
the rating and about the sar^e size as the largest Marconi
valves ; so there is freedom that way as well. C. F. Elwell
has equipped many of the largest stations in America and
Europe with masts and general wireless equipment ; so
there is no monopoly there. And altogether, as we pointed
out last week, there is still that freedom of development
which is essential for the good of so young an industry and
science as wireless communication.

Is 2 000 Miles Enough ?

The third point is that of range. Dr Eccles thinks that
a 2 000 mile range is sufficient. The Marconi Company
would have the range increased. But it is significant that
no station of the size required under the scheme has yet
been built even for the shorter of the two ranges, and the
important question also arises whether it is economically sound
to build a station which could maintain so long a maximum
range as that suggested by the Marconi Company through-
out the twenty-four hours. To do so would cost three
times as much as to erect one of the official 2 000 mile
stations, if it could be done at all, and would not offer any
great practical advantages when it had been done, though
it would perhaps be a magnificent gesture. On the other
hand, the official relay stations will be utilisable for both
long distance and local traffic, and will also be amply large
enough to radiate a sufficient amount of energy for recep-
tion at practically every part of the earth at all times.
If therefore, as seems probable, any advance is made with
the design and construction of atmospheric limiting devices,
the hours of working per day will be increased without the
tremendous cost and added interference of the " super ';
station. But all these points arc really insignificant so long
as the Government shows reluctance to do anything.
Mr. Kellaway has exhibited courage over the postal
rates. Let him do the same with Imperial wireless
communication. It is work that is long overdue. At
present the position is most unsatisfactory, and Dr.
Eccles' Paper and the discussion thereon have not im-
proved it — unless it is by showing us how profound is the
disagreement between acknowledged experts.

Improving Electric Traction Equipment.

It is axiomatic that electric traction must stand or fall
on the economic results it brings in its train. These eco-
nomic results will, we hope, be higher in many ways than
the level we have reached to-day. One method by which
this -can be achieved is by an examination of all possible
ways of improving the electrical equipment, whether it be
on the locomotives, in the collecting arrangements or in
the sub-stations. The Paper which Mr. Roger T. Smith
read before a recent meeting of the Institute of Transport,
and of which we publish an abstract elsewhere in this issue,
is therefore opportune. Mr; Smith not only analyses the
costs of employing present-day apparatus, but indicates
ways in which that apparatus is being and may be im-
proved so as to attain those results which we have just
described as essential.

Railways and Electrical Manufacturers.

We are glad, moreover, to find him reiterating a point
which he has made before. It is none the worse for re-
iteration, for it is in truth of the very greatest importance.
In effect Mr. Smith asks whether it would not be better
for the railways of this country to gi,ve a fair trial to the
policy of helping to build up the manufacture of electric
traction equipment by commercial firms rather than to try
and manufacture that equipment for themselves, as they
have done to a large extent in the past in the case of other
engineering material. It seems to us that it is very much
worth while. Not only would it help British firms to create
and develop both home and foreign trade and all that that
implies, but it would place at the disposal of the railway
companies all those fruits of research and experience which
are only attainable by those whose work it is to design and
manufacture for a number of varying conditions, an
experience which cannot be obtained by the railway elec-
trical engineer, whose business is chiefly with maintenance.
While therefore we have the greatest admiration for the
work of British railway engineers, as evidenced in that
almost perfect machine the modern steam locomotive, we
hope that that policy of which that machine is the outcome
will not be followed when a conversion to electric traction
is undertaken. New ideas require new methods !

The Engineering Dispute.

Though at first sight the Court of Inquiry into the
engineering dispute seems to have failed, owing to the lack
of goodwill and good sense between the parties concerned,
the prospects of a settlement of what has been a most
disastrous misunderstanding are brighter as we go to Press
than they have been at any time since the lock-out started.
The fact is that Sir W. Mackenzie's report, if it did
nothing else, at least raised in the minds of both disputants
(palms as to the possibility of maintaining their stubborn
attitude to the bitter end (whatever that is), and this
combined with the war-weariness and disappointments
which arc the inevitable accompaniment of such occur-
rences, have induced a frame of mind which leads us to
hope that some formula, bridge or datum will be found
for getting out of the difficulty.

The EflFect on Trade.

How necessary this is has probably been brought up to
most of our readers in one or other forcible and unpleasant
Avay. And the trade returns for April only emphasise the

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

183

disaster which has been gratuitously brought upon us
Imports at 8o| milHons are seven miUions less than in the
previous month, total exports are down by 10 millions, and
exports of merchandise of home production by 9 millions.
Exports of British manufacture were only 44 millions as
against 51 1 millions in March, and for this machinery with
a decline of £1 600 000, and vehicles with a decline of
£3 300 000, were largely responsible. The stoppage has
indeed done harm from which the industry with which we
are most concerned will be a long time in recovering. Its
present state is pitiable, and makes the widespread assu-
rances that trade is reviving seem cynicism of the worst
kind in the ears of engineers.

An Important Development.

In a preceding paragraph we remark that the name of
the Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Company is not much
associated with wireless work. But that is to be changed,
for we are now able to announce that that well-known
concern is entering this field in conjunction with the Radio
Communication Company, of London, and is taking active
steps towards the manufacture of wireless receiving equip-
ment. It will be remembered that the Radio Communica-
tion Company was formed in 1919 to conduct business in
connection with the establishment of radio telegraph and
telephone installations, and is well known for its important
work in this connection during the war. The company is
also connected with the Indo-European Telegraph
Company and the Eastern Telegraph Company.

Wireless at TraflFord Park.

Mr. a. p. M. Fleming, the manager of the Metropohtan-
Vickers Company's research and education departments,
has been for some time in touch with the Postmaster-
General with reference to the establishment of broadcasting
stations. The precise areas to be covered by the different
stations have not yet been defined, but there is little doubt
that the Metropolitan- Vickers Works at Trafford Park will
form the site for the Manchester district station, and a
second station will probably be located at Slough, other
stations being projected as they are required. Imme-
diately details respecting the sites and areas to be covered
are settled it is expected that the work will go ahead
quickly and the manufacture of receiving sets is already
being pushed forward. It will be recollected that the
Metropolitan- Vickers Company is technically very closely
associated with the Westinghouse E. & M. Company, of
Pittsburgh, which was the pioneer of radio broadcasting in
the United States, and among the first of the companies to
undertake the extensive manufacture and distribution of
cheap equipments for the reception of broadcasted news,
musical programmes, weather reports, etc. The Metro-
politan-Vickers Company will therefore be able freely to
draw upon this unique experience, and this together with
the technical experience of the Radio Communication Com-
pany, and its own selling, manufacturing and research
organisation, should place the Company in a favourable
position in entering this new field. Further developments
will be awaited with interest.

Illegal Connections to Supply Mains.

A NUMBER of charges of stealing electricity and of making
unauthorised connections to the mains of supply authorities
have been before the police courts of late, and the question
arises whether the penalties for an offence, which is

evidently on the increase, are sufficiently severe to act as
a deterrent. We reported two cases a fortnight ago
in The Electrician and one in the issue before that. Two
of the parties were fined, one £s ^^^ the other £50, but it is
doubtful if courts of petty sessions can appreciate the
situation, or realise the damage that may be done by these
illegal connections, because the penalty seldom exceeds £$.

The Law on the Subject.

By Sec. 23 of the Electric Lighting Act of 1882, any
person who maliciously or fraudulently abstracts, causes to
be wasted or diverted, consumes or uses any electricitv
is guilty of simple larceny, and punishable accordinglv.
It is not always easy to prove felonious intent against a
householder who employs a contractor and relies on him
to make the connection to the mains, and, moreover, the
expense and trouble of prosecutions are so great that
usually recourse is had to the limited summary jurisdiction
of magistrates. Consequently, charges of illegal con-
nection are brought under sections of the Gasworks
Clauses Acts, 1847 ^^^ 1874, which have been incorporated
in the Electric Lighting Act, 1882, and which limit the
penalty to £5 for each offence, though the undertakers may
also recover the amount ofanv damage sustained by them.

An Inadequate Punishment.

This is an inadequate punishment, for an unauthorised
electric' ty supply connection may be far more serious in its
consequences than the tapping of a gas main, as it might
blow a fuse and lead to many neighbouring consumers
being deprived of electricity. Serious cases of fraud on
supply authorities should be sent to the Quarter Sessions,
where heavier penalties could be inflicted, and we also think
the law should be altered to enable tmdertakers to charge
the consumer with the value of the maximum amount of
electricity which the lamps and other current-consuming
devices on his premises could have consumed. Contractors
who lend themselves to these illegal acts should equally
be penalised, so that a stop may be put to dishonest and
mischievous practices.

The Rival*.

The recent debate in the House of Lords on the El jctricity
Supply BiU brought out a question of principle in regard
to legislation for the rival industries — electricity and gas.
Lord Newton, it will be remembered, put forward an
amendment in the interests of gas companies which ^"iscount
Peel suavely but summarily disposed of, explaining that
it has not been customary to allow gas companies a locus
standi on Electricity Bills simply on the ground of com-
petition, or to allow them the right to veto electricity
supply. The gas companies, in their view of the present
Bill, are evidently more optimistic as to the benefits of
electricity supply legislation than a certain section of the
electricity supply industry itself. This reminds us of
a semi-obsolete provision in the Electric Lighting Act
of 1882, which probably most people have forgotten.
Everyone at that time was exceedingly optimistic as to the
vast conquest which electricitj- would make when once
suitable legislation was provided (they have learnt better
since), and the framers of the Act of 1SS2 anticipated an
early demise of their gas rivals in certain localities. Under
Section 29 of the 1882 Act, Parliament therefore ver\'
considerately pro\aded that in any area where electric light
ousted its rival to such an extent that the supply of

584

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

gas was unremunerative, the gas company could make
application to the Board of Trade to be relieved of its
obligations to supply gas in such areas, and the Board of
Trade was empowered to give them such relief. But only
in one or two small areas have gas companies hauled down
their flag, though many of them have obtained electricity
supply powers in order to keep out rivals. Usually where
a gas company supplies gas and electricit}^ it will be found
that, owing to the novercal attitude of the company, no
attempt is made to push the use of electricity, and this side
of the business is in a chronic state of bankruptcy. If,
however, our good friends, the gas industry, feel alarmed
at the present legislation, they have the comfort that the
1882 Act provides for their respectable and dignified
obsequies.

A New Zealand Electricity
Scheme.

Interesting particulars of the progress made in the
evolution of the national scheme of electricity supply for
the Dominion of New Zealand are given in the annual
report for 1921 of the Chief Electrical Engineer, Mr. L.
BiRKS. Drawn up in 1916 by Mr. E. Parry, the scheme
was based on the gradual development of the water power
available in both islands and the estimated demand was
put at 0-2 H.p. per head of the population per annum. In
order to supply this power for the North Island a complete
interconnected scheme was laid out, consisting of i 112
miles of main transmission lines and 309 miles of branch
lines. The pressure adopted was no 000 V for main
transmission and 33 000 V for branch lines, except the
Waikato branch, where a pressure of 50 000 V was already
in operation from the Horahora station. The system is to
be connected up and fed from three main hydro-electric
stations — viz., Mangahao River (24 000 H.P.), Waikare-
moana (40 000 h.p.) and Arapuni (96 000 h.p.), but the ulti-
mate capacity of these stations will be 322 000 h.p. and the
transmission lines are to be connected up to three existing
plants of 12 000 H.p. at Horahora, New Plymouth and
Wairua Falls. The cost of the whole North Island system
was originally estimated at £7 303 042, but this figure will
be exceeded by over 50 per cent., and already authority
has been given to raise £9 322 500. /\nd the ultimate cost
of the schemes for the Dominion will be over ;£20 000 000.

Progress Turing 1921.

During the past year the Horahora plant and main
transmission line to Waihi (50 miles) were purchased for
£212 500 and it is proposed to extend the generating plant
by two units of 2 600 h.p. each, bringing the total capacity
of the plant to 13 600 h.p. Supply was commenced in
Caiubridge, Hamilton and Paeroa ; lines were erected to
Te Awamutu and Te Aroha, and the necessary material
was ordered for the first of the no 000 V main lines to
Auckland, which is now receiving a temporary supply from
Horahora. Some progress was also made with the Man-
gahao station, but tenders for the plant were not invited
until the end of the year in order to obtain the advantage
of lower prices. During the current month, however, the
Metropolitan Vickcrs Electrical Company secured this
important contract, which includes three 6 000 kVA and
two 3 000 kVA water wheel generators, switchgear, trans-
formers, &c. In addition, the approach roads and bridges

at Waikaremoana are being constructed and power house
surveys made, and at Rotorua the surveys have also been
completed. The total expenditure on all the North Island
projects at March 31, 1921, was £457 974, compared with
;^20i 723 in the previous year.

South Island Scheme.

No comprehensive plan has been drawn up for the supply
of the -South Island, but sufficient information is now
available to enable the general outlines to be laid down for
the Canterbury, Otago and Southland portions of the
Island. The scheme will consist ultimately of a completely
inter-connected transmission system on somewhat similar
lines to the North Island and supphed from four or five
main power houses and two or three subsidiary sources.
As the population in the South Island is more concentrated
round certain definite centres and as the transmission
pressure already adopted for the Lake Coleridge and tlie
proposed Southland system is 66 000 V, it is proposed that
this shall be the standard employed. This is stated as being
the highest pressure for which pin insulator construction is
reliable, and will effect a saving of /400 per mile in first cost,
compared with the no 000 V suspension insulator type.
For Canterbury, Otago and Southlands 759 miles of main
transmission lines are suggested, but a few isolated districts
wiU be dealt with separately. The various power boards
or retail authorities will be supplied in bulk from the main
lines ; sub-stations will be located at intervals of 20 to 60
miles, according to the demands, and from these sub-
stations supply will be given to the power boards at 11 000
or 33 000 V.

piaancial Results.

Some particulars are given of the operating results of the
Horahora and Lake Coleridge undertakings, the two main
Government supply systems, and of the local electric supply
undertakings. The capital outlay at Horahora was
£249 745 ; the total costs were ;^2i 004 ; the revenue
amounted to £14 663, and there is an accumulated debit
balance of £S 464. The total units sold were 15 376 000,
of which the Waihi Gold Mining Compan}^ took 14 477 387.
On the Lake Coleridge scheme the capital expenditure was
£499 957 (against £422 076 in the previous year) ; the year's
revenue was £51 373, working expenses came to £21 341,
capital charges to £18 639, and after allowing £y 946 for
depreciation there was a net profit of £3 447. The total
units sold were 31 402 351 (compared with 28 017 976),
costing o-366d. per unit, but the price received was o-288d.
from Christchurch City Council (14 700 000 units), o-294d.
from the tramways (6 379 717 units), 0'553d. from wholesale
consumers and local bodies (10 051 734 units) and i'58d. per
unit from retail consumers, who took only 270 coo units.
The power house mEiximum showed an increase of 6J per
cent., the output an increase of 10 per cent., and the load
factor improved from 59-9 to 6i'4 per cent.

Low Prices General.

The prices charged seem to be low and they compare
favourably with the best of the British undertakings. Yet
a profit was made on the year's working, and no doubt
better results will be shown when the system is fully
developed.

A new 3 000 kW generating set was started up, and various
extensions of the transmission lines, distributing networks
and sub-station equipment were canicd out dunng the
year. The total connected load (34 277 k\\) increased by
12^ per cent., and the very high diversity factor (5-1) is

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

D'^D

attributed to the encouragement of off-peak loads. The
transmission hne insulators have given indications of pro-
gressive deterioration and during the latter part of the year
breakdowns occurred, but a rigorous overhaul and replace-
ment of defective insulators have effected a pronounced
improvement. Of the fifteen councils and public bodies
taking energy in bulk and retaihng it to the public, nine
made an aggregate profit of £11 821 and six recorded a
total loss of £725. This seems satisfactory, especially as
those which made a loss were all small and undeveloped

undertakings.

Local Supply Systems.

Apart from the two Government hydro-electric works,
there are 53 supply stations in the Dominion. The total
capacity of these 57 stations is 49 630 kW of main plant
and 5 831 kW of subsidiary plant. There are 26 hydro-
electric stations of 23 895 kW (48-1 per cent, of the whole) ;
10 steam-^1riven of 21 820 kW (44 per cent.), 19 gas engine
stations of 3 195 kW (6-45 per cent.) and two oil engine
stations of 720 kW (1*45 per cent.). Seven additional
licences for local distribution and one licence for bulk
supply were issued during the year and construction is in
hand, but only slight additions were made to the total
plant capacity. It has, however, been decided to put in
new plant of 45 000 H.P., at an estimated cost of about
£1 600 000, and work on these extensions is proceeding.
Consumers and Units Sold.

Pending the completion of the large Government hydro-
electric stations some of the existing smaller plants are
being linked up and it is hoped that this will enable the
various authorities to carrj'' on until the larger soinxes of
power are in operation. At the end of the year there were
73 151 consumers, compared with 58 449 in the previous
year ; the total length of " reticulation " lines is 2 260 route
miles and of transmission lines 360 miles. The units
generated by the 57 power plants amounted to 149 476 379,
of which 124 446 459 were sold. The units sold per
consumer, after deducting the tramway supply, were i 246,
or 133 per head of the population. These figures are above
the average for British provincial undertakings, and when
the sparsely populated, rural character of many of the
supply areas in New Zealand is taken into account, the
record is quite good.

1 he Agricultural Demand.

Dairy farming is, and promises to remain for some years,
the main industry of the Dominion. Consequently, the
future of electricity supply is bound up with the extension
of the distributing system into the dairy districts. The
organisation of electric power boards is proceeding in a
satisfactory manner and four new boards were formed in
192 1, making fourteen in all and covering nearh' 19 000
square miles, or over 18 per cent, of the total area of the
Dominion. The importance of the dairy demand is seen
from the fact that there are about 40 000 milk suppliers,
and in April 1920 nearly 9 000 of these were using milking
machines, requiring 2 to 3 H.p. each ; and according to
Mr. BiRKS the number is increasing at the rate of 16 per
cent, per annum. The total demand for milking alone will
thus run into tens of thousands of horse-power, and will
constitute a large proportion of the total demand for
hydro-electric power in the Dominion.

Economics of Country Lines.

It is calculated that there will be a revenue of £"24 to £30
from the average dairy farm for milking machines alone.
This figure will justify the la5nng of a supply line, and when

once electricity is available on the farm it is probable that
it will be used for lighting, ironing, cooking, heating and
power generally. In view of the difficulty of making
country lines remunerative, tests were recently carried out
on five typical plants in the Canterbury district in order
to determine the power required to drive the average plant
and the consumption of energy over a season. A 3 h.p.
motor was employed, but as the tests indicated that a
2 H.p. motor would have been sufficient for at least four
of the test installations, 2 h.p. motors have. been installed
on several similar and even larger plants, with satisfactory^
results.

Standardization of the Milking Machine.

This size is in fact being standardized for milking
machine drives generally. The results of the tests are
set out in a table in a paper by Mr. Birks, which has been
reprinted from the " New Zealand Journal of Science and
Technology," and the conclusions to be drawn from the
table are : (i) The low power required ; (2) the high value
of "the idle current and the consequent high value of
kilovolt-ampere demand ; and (3) the power taken is ver>'
variable and apparently deoends more on the efficiency of
the plant and method of use than on the actual number
of cows milked.

Milking Demand an Ideal Load.

From the point of view of the supply authorit}- the milk-
ing load is said to be ideal, as the heaviest, load occurs in
the summer, when no overlapping of lighting and power
peaks of the main system is hkely, and it tapers away
almost to zero for the three worst winter months, when the
general demand is highest. Even in summer the milking
plant is finished before 8 a.m., and is not required again
until 5 p.m. ; thus the industrial or day peak is not inter-
fered with, and it allows an undertaking to work on a higher
diversity factor, produces a better load factor and tends
to flatten out the daily load curve, at the same time
5aelding a substantial revenue. Once electricity is a\-ailab e
in the milking shed it will also be used for heating water and
other purposes, and in the opinion of Mr. Birks the most
effective application of electric power to milking machine
work will consist of i small self-contained outfit comprising
the electric motor, a vaciuim pump, a cream separator, a
small water supply pump and lo-gallon hot water cist!:rn,
with the necessary switchgear, all mounted on a compact
hardwood base plate, suitable for moving about.

A Contrast.

Units such as these are said to be required hv the
thousand in the dair^ang districts of the Dominion, and
British manufacturers who are in a position to supply them
might well take note of the fact, as there is no part of the
Empire so favourable to British manafactures than New
Zealand.

This is sufficient to show that they are optimists in New
Zealand, and are not oppressed by doubts as to the finan-
cial results which will be obtained from the widest possible
use of electricity on farms.

In general, therefore, it may be said that electricity
supply is being conducted on modern lines in the Dominion,
and in some respects is in advance of what has been done
in this country. One of these seems to be the whole -
heart'^d efforts that are being made to establish a wide
spread system of electricity suppl}'^ on most modem lines
It is significant that it is in the newest countries that th ^
public good is the first endeavour and that onh* in tlu-
older kingdoms is obstructionism permitted to hold sway
to any extent.

=.86

The Electrician — Alay 19, 1922

Some Notes on the Theory of Phase Meters.

By G. W. STUBBINGS. A.M.f.E.E.. A.Init.P.

The author considers in detail a theory of single phase and three phase meters which is on simpler lines than the usual analytical
treatment. The re sttliant rotating field, pulsating fields, frequency errors, accuracy and the advantages of balanced load power factor

meters are discussed.

The prestnt paper is an attempt to put forward a "brief
account of the theory of phase meters which will be on
simpler lines than the usual analytical treatment, whilst
bJng somewhat more rigorous than the perfunctory
treatment generally accorded to this subject.
The Single Phase P.F. Meter.
The single phase power factor meter is the simplest instru-
ment of its class for a preliminary elementary consideration.
The moving element of this instrument consists of two
coils spaced at right angles and pivoted without control,
these two coils being of similar size and number of turns,
and traversed by equal currents proportional to the voltage
of the supply, one of these currents being in phase with,
and the other displaced in phase by 90 degrees from this
\-oltage. The fixed coil of the instrument is traversed by
the current the phase of which is to be determined. The
moving element gives rise to a uniform rotating field.
If time be reckoned from the instant that the direction of
the rotating field coincides with the axis of the coil in the
non-inductive pressure circuit, and 6 be the angle between
the axis of this coil and that of the fixed coil measured in a
direction against the rotating field, the position of the
rotating field with respect to the fixed coil at any instant
will be ipt-Q). The torque on the moving system is
^therefore proportional to

iv cos [pt — 9) sin {pt — 6)
or to iv {sin {2pt - 9 — 6) —sin (6—9)}

Since the moving system is without control it will take
up a position such that the average torque is zero.
The average value of the first term in the above expression
being zero, this condition is given by sin (0— 9)=0 or 0=9
The angle between the axes of the fixed coil and the non-
inductive coil of the moving system will therefore be equal
to the phase angle of the current with respect to the voltage.

An Alternative Consideration.

An alternative method of deducing the foregoing result
is to make use of the elementary proposition that a field
oscillating according to the simple harmonic law can be
resolved into two equal fields rotating in opposite senses.
These rotating components coincide in direction when the
resultant field passes through its maximum values.
According to this conception the non-inductive coil of the
moving system of the power factor meter gives rise to
two rotating fields. The reactive coil will similarly have
two rotating components. The current in this coil being
displaced 90 degrees in phase with that in the non-inductive
coil, at the instant the two rotating components of this
latter coil coincide in direction the two components of the
field due to the reactive coil will be spaced 90 degrees from
it. The angular spacing of the components of this field
with respect to the coil producing it will, of course, be in
opposite senses, since these components arc rotating
oppositely. One of these components will, therefore,
coincide in direction with the similarly rotating componc.'nt
of the non-inductive field, whilst the oppositely rotating
component of the reactive field will be 180 degrees
displaced from the similarly rotating component of the
other coil, and these components will cancel each other.

Uniform Resultant Field.

The total resultant field will, therefore, be uniform in
magnitude, and will have a constant angular velocity.
The fixed coil will likewise give rise to two rotating com-
ponents, the one of which rotating in the opposite sense to
the field due to the moving system will not be competent
to produce any average torque. The component which
rotates in a similar sense to that of the pressure fielel, has

its direction coinciding with the axis of the fixed coil when
the current passes through its maximum value. At the
instant therefore that the pressure field coincides in direction
with the axis of the coil connected in the non-inductive
circuit, the similarly rotating component of the current
field will be at an angle 9 from the axis of the fixed coil,
9 being meastired against the direction of rotation for a
lagging current and vice versa. If 0 have the same meaning
as before, at the instant considered, the angle between the
direction of the two fields is (9—0), and since they are
I'otating uniformly at the same angular velocity, this
angle remains constant. The torque on the moving svstem
being proportion to sin (9—0) this system will take up a
position such that this torque is zero and the direction of
the two similarly rotating fields is coincident.

Case of Two Coils at 90 deg.

The resultant rotating field produced by a set of coils in
a power factor meter is not in constant in magnitude,
nor uniform in angular velocity. The extremity of the
resultant flux vector describes an ellipse which in limiting
cases becomes either a circle or a straight line. The
properties of an elliptical field can be briefly noticed by
looking at the simple case of two coils spaced 90 degrees
apart, carrying unequal currents displaced 90 degrees in
phase. If X and y are the instantaneous values of the two
pulsating fields, the locus of the extremit3' of the resultant
flux vector is given by

y=b sin pt x— a cos pt

whence

%+^=i.

The angle described by the resultant flux ^•ector is given

tan p=- tan pt.

The magnitude of the resultant flux is F={x^+y^)i.
The angular velocity of the resultant vector is given by

or, smce

f^=cos2p^^_^
dt a cos~pi

..„ a^ cos^pt

d^ _J)ah

The rate of increase of the area swept out by the flux
vector is

ijr2 dQ_pab
^ dt 2

The movement of the rotating resultant is such that the
flux vector describes equal areas in equal times. The
angular velocity is thus less than the average when the
chrection of the resultant is in the neighbourhood of the
stronger coil and greatest when passing the axis of the
weaker.

Torque on the Moving System.

The torque on the moving system of a power factor
meter which generated such an elliptical field would have
the average value of

iF sin {pt—<?) sin (p -0).

The direct calculation of the value of 0 which makes this
average value zero, is troubk^some, but by resolving the
pulsating fields into rotating components, the calculation
is much simphfied. Cemsidering the case just discussed,
if 2a represents the maximum value of the pulsating
fields due to the non-inductive coil of the pressure, and 26
that of the reactive coil, the two fields differing in phase

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

187

by 90 degrees ; the components rotating in one sense will
reinforce, and those rotating in the opposite sense will
oppose each other. The values of these components svill
be respectively {a + b) and {a — b). The rotating components
of the field due to the current coil will, at the instant the
stronger pressure field coincides in direction with the axis
of the non-inductive coil, be distant from the axis of the
series coil by an angle 9 measured against the direction of
rotation of each field. If the angular displacement of the
moving system as previously defined be 0, then at this
instant the angular distance between the pairs of similarly
rotating components will be (9— 0) and (9 + 6) respectively,
and the torques produced by these pairs of components
will be opposite in sense, and the resultant torque is

{a + b) sin (9-6)-(a-&) sin (9 + 6).
When this torque is zero

tan 6= tan 9.
a

Nature ol the Frequency Error.

This expression gives the nature of the frequency error
for a single phase power factor meter having the reactive
circuit in the form of a condenser. The phase displacement
in such a case will be very nearly 90 degrees, and the
effect of frequency is only to alter the value of the current
in the reactive circuit.

When the reactive circuit of a single phase power factor
meter is inductive it is not usually possible to obtain a
much greater phase displacement than 80 degrees. If
the actual angle be (90 — a) degrees, and the maximum
values of the two fields be equal, then the component of
the reactive field which tends to reinforce the similarly
rotating component of the non-inductive field will be a
ahead of it, whilst the oppositely rotating component of the
reactive field will be 180 + a in advance of that of the
non-inductive field

If a be the maximum value of the two fields, the resultant

of one pair of components will be a cos- , which is - ahead

of the axis of the non-inductive coil when the field of this
coil is a maximum, the resultant of the other pair being

a sin -, 90 -t-- in advance at the same time. The resultant
2 2

torque is

ai COS - sm (9 -f - — 6) — sm - cos (9 + - -f 6) r

When this resultant torque is zero

COS- sm (9 + -— 6)=sm- cos(9-(-- -1-6)
22 22

givmg

sin (9— 0-f-a) -i-sin (9— 0)=sin (94-0-i-a) —sin (9 + 0)

and cos (9 + a) sin 0 =sin 9 cos 0

finally

tan 0=

sm 9

cos {9 -fa)

When 9=90 degrees, corresponding to zero power
factor lagging, tan 0= — cosec a, and 0 is greater than 90
degrees. With zero power factor leading 0 is less than 90
degrees. The scale is, therefore, opened out on the lagging
side and cramped on the leading side. The best compensa-
tion for the lack of quadrature of the two fields is to space
the two coils of the moving system in such a manner that
the backward rotating field is eliminated. If the axis of
the reactive coil be 90 -j- a degrees in advance of that of the
non-inductive coil, reckoning this angle in the direction
of rotation of the principal field, the backward rotating
components will be at 180 degrees and will cancel. A pure
rotating field will, therefore, be produced, the axis of the
non-inductive coil of the moving system being displaced
a degrees from the axis of the series coil at unity power
factor.

The Three-Phase Power Factor Meter.

The three-phase power factor meter for unbalanced loads
utilises two rotating fields which are produced by three
sets of coils, each spaced at 120 degrees, excited respectively
from the voltage and the current of the three-phase supply.
Assuming a symmetrical \'oltage system the currents in the
three pressure coils will be equal, and will differ in pha.>e
by 120 degrees. At the instant that the current in one of
these coils is passing through its maximum, and the
two rotating components of the field that it produces
coincide in direction with its axis the components of the
other two coils rotating in one sense will have a phase
angle of advance equal to their physical angle of lag, and
will, therefore, at the instant considered coincide in direction
with the similarly rotating components of the first coil.
The oppositely rotating components of the second two coib
will have their phase angle of advance added to their
physical angle of advance and wiU therefore be spaced

(^Z+tg+lg)

Fig. I.

240 and 480 degrees from the corresponding component of
thefirstcoil. The three components of this latter sense of rota-
tion will, therefore, be spaced at 120 degrees and their re-
sultant will vanish. The \oltage coils, therefore, gi\e rise to a
pure rotating field. The forward rotating components of
the current coils will, due to their ph\-sical spacing, be
displaced 91, 92, and 93, from the axis of the coil carrNing
the current in phase I. The backward rotating components
of the current system will give rise to no torque, since there
is no voltage component of similar sense with which it
can combine. If 0 be the angular displacement between
the axes of corresponding current and pressure coils the
resultant torque on the mo\'ing sj-stem is proportional to

vli'isin (91— 0)-^^. sin (93— 0)-r»3sin (93— 0))-

This is zero when

„ E t sin 0

tan 0=.=-v^ -.

1. 1 cos 9

=588

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

If the instrument is scaled to indicate cos 0 the power
factor so given is

„ _ ^ <* cos 9

^°^ ~ lis"* «ir<p)2 + ( S i cos 9)2} 4

The meaning of this vahie of the power factor of an
unbalanced three-phase circuit is shown in Fig. I. The
upper diagram indicates \ectorially the phase relationship
of the circuit, the lower diagram showing the summa-
tion of the power and wattless volt amperes in each phase.
OA represents the total power, and AB the wattless
component. The quantity OB, which represents

vKSisin 9)2 + (St cos 9)2} i

is in general less than the actual volt-amperes Tsiv. In the
diagram the actual volt-amperes are represented by OC and
the power factor of the circuit as given by the relation

power . AC
volt amperes OC

Accuracy Dependent on Voltajie Balance.

The theoretical accuracy of the indication of the power
factor of an unbalanced three-phase circuit as previoush^
defined, by a six-coil power factor meter, depends upon the
voltages of the three lines being balanced. It has been
shown by Gifford * that such departures from balance
in the voltage system as are likely to be met with in practice,
affect the accuracy of indication of such a power factor
meter to an extent so small as to be negligible.

Three-phase power factor meters are frequently con-
structed with four coils only for use in circuits that are
approximately balanced. Such instruments are of two
classes, the one ha\dng three voltage and one current coil,
and the other, three current and one voltage coil. The
type with three voltage coils has, if the voltage be balanced,
a uniform rotating pressure field, and such an instrument
will, it is obvious, indicate the phase angle of the particular
current supplying the series coil with respect to the corre-
sponding star voltage. The inaccuracy of such an instru-
ment on unbalanced loads will therefore depend upon the
line in which the series coil is connected.

-~. ^z

Fig. 2.

ment to obtain the relative position of the three components.
These components will, therefore, be displaced 91, 240 — 92,
and 480—93 from the axis of reference. The spacing of
these components for the circuit represented in Fig. i is
shown in Fig. 2 by OFi, OF,, and OF3. These three
vectors are not in equilibrium and have a resultant F,.

Measure of Single Phase Reaction.

This backward rotating resultant field derived from the
current system is evidently a measure of the single phase
reaction in the alternator supplying the circuit, and of the
double frequency ripple in the flow of power. It appears
that in a three-wne circuit this resultant will only disappear
if the currents in the three lines are equal, when the voltages
are balanced. If, however, a fourth wire is provided to take
a resultant out of balance current back to the neutral of
the generator, a circuit can be arranged in which the pulsat-
ing component of the power disappears, notwithstanding the
currents are unl^alanced. Thus, a circuit in which the line
currents are represented vectorially by OF^, 0F„, and OF3,
would produce a pure rotating field, but these currents
could not flow in a three-wire system, but would require
a fourth wire to return to the star point of the alternator
the neutral current represented by OF^. It has been shown
by ]\Iiles Walker * that the double frecjuency ripple in the
flow of power can be ehminated in an unbiUanced three-wire
circuit if the voltages are imbalanced.

Four Coil Power Factor Meter in Unbalanced Circuit.

When a four coil power factor meter of the type considered
is connected in an unbalanced circuit, the inaccuracy in-
troduced by the backward rotating field will depend upon
the phase from which the pressure is obtained, as the angle
between this field and the similarly rotating component of
the pressure field for a given position of the mo\ing system
will be difierent for each method of connection.

In the case of a four-wire circuit in which the backwiird
rotating field was eliminated it appears that this t\'pe of
power factor meter would give accurate readings irrespective
of the actual degree of unbalance in the three lines, and of
the manner in which the pressure coil was connected.

The natural scale of a power factor meter subtends an
angle of 120 degrees between the points o"5 leading and
lagging. It sometimes happens that a more contracted
scale than this is required for switchboard work, and with
a balanced load instrument it is readily possible by increas-
ing the ampere-turns in one of the system of three coils to
produce a contracted scale in the neighbourhood of luiity.
The calculation of the increase of ampere turns necessary
for a required contraction is easy when the method of
rotating components is used. Considering an instrument
with three-pressure coils, if the ampere turns in the coil
in the same phase as that of the single coil be >i times those
of the two other coils, the phase relationships remaining
s]>Tnmetrical, the system is equivalent to a balanced system

giving rise to a rotating field of avalue - , on which is super-
imposed a pulsating field of viilue {n — i) giving two rotating
components of opposite sense, the value of each btiug
« — I

There aie advantages in constructing balanced load power
factor meters with one pressure and three current coils,
since this type is more suitable for the inductor principle
in which conducting ligaments are eliminated, and a
360 degree rotation of the moving system is possible. In
^uch an instrument the backward rotating components of
the fields due to the series coils will combine with the
similarly rotating component of the single pressure field
to produce a torque that will introduce an error in the
indications of the instrument if the circuit is unbalanced.
The nature of the backward rotating resultant field in such
an instrument is worthy of note. The ph\sical angular
spacing of the coils is added to the angles of phase displace-

♦ The Electrician, Vol. LXXV., April 16th and May 7th, 1915.

The total forward rotating field will therefore be

The backward rotating field is

2
»— I

The condition for equilibrium of the moving system is
therefore

- sm (9 + 6)= — . — sm (9— 0)

or tan 9= -— tan 9.

2n-hi

* " Supply of Single Phase Power from Three Hiase Sjrstems,"
Journal I.E.E., vol. 57, p. 109.

The Electrician — May 19, 1922

>89

Reflection in Telephone Circuits.

By L. C. POCOCK, B.Se., A.M.LE.E.

There is probably no part of telephone transmission
theory which is so little understood as the phenomenon of
reflection in telephone circuits. For some reason this
subject is generally treated historically ; the supposedly
familiar analogous phenomenon in the theory of light
and sound is adduced and thence an argument from
the existence of wave propagation in long conductors
leads to a complex theory of reflected waves in such
conductors.

History not the Best Policy.

Now, however natural this course of development may
be to the mathematical physicist, it is not the one best
suited to the student of telephony, especially if his first
serious encounter w'th the theory of wave motion happens
to be in telephone engineering instead of in pure physics.
Such a student will probably very soon realise that in a
great deal of practical calculation the first step is to replace
the wave propagating conductors with distributed con-
stants which are so fruitful of involved formulae, by
equivalent T's or equivalent r's ; he will then ask what has
become of the reflection effect now that there is no longer
any wave propagation in time and space. It is the object
of this article to answer such a question.

Let there be two dissimilar lines connected together and
let them be represented at a given frequency by equivalent
T's such as are shown in Fig. i, where the Z's are not
necessarily pure resistances but may be any kind of
impedances.

Fig.

Let an E.M.F. e be applied at one end and let the other
end be closed through an ammeter : the circuit equations
are then as follows : —

' .. (I)

— Z zi i^ [Z i-r Z 3-r Zi+ Z i)-ii — Z ii ^=0

-Ztii-^iZs+Zt)^^ =oJ
Here we may note that (Zi+Z^) is the sending end
impedance of the first line with the far end of the same
line open, and (Z^-r-Zt) is under the same conditions the
sending end impedance of the second line ; since these are
characteristics of the lines we will replace them by Z' and
Z" respectively.

The equations then take the shorter form : —
Z'i\— Zjijj =e\

- ZJi -r {Z' -rZ")i2 - ZJ,^=0 r (2)

-Ziii'rZ'i^=o)
If A is the determinant of these equations we find for
the current sent i^, and the current received i^,
. _e_ j Z'+Z" -Z4
^'~A -Z, Z"

._e -Z, Z'-rZ'
A o -/^

Now let the applied voltage and the ammeter change
places ; we find for the current sent i' ^, and the current
received i\,

~A -Z, Z' Z" I I

(4)

(3)

-z.

■'-A

-z.

Z' : Z"

'■•4

r^z"

0
-z.

Comparing (3) and [4) we see that the current received
is the same in each case but the currents sent differ.

The fact that the currents received are the same in the
two cases might be expected from the symmetry- of the
determinant or the law of reciprocity, which, as applied
to current networks states that if a voltage e acting in a
branch A oi 3. network produces a current i in another
branch B then a voltage e acting in B will produce the
same current i in the branch .-1. A point frequently
missed is here made clear, namely that although the
transmission allowance of a non-uniform line is generally
different in the two directions, yet for a given E.M.F.
acting at either end the current received at the other end
will always be the same.

The difference between the transmission allowances for
the two directions evidently depends on the fact that the
current sent is not the same in the two cases and thus we
see that the reflection effect makes its appearance as a
change in the sending end impedance of the line when the
far end is connected to a different line instead of being
connected to an indefinitely long line of the same kind.
This will be clearer if ,we consider w^hat is meant b\- trans-
mission allowance and reflection loss or gain.

The Transmission Allowance.

The transmission allowance for a given piece of hne is
the length of standard cable (an arbitrarily defined type of
cable) in the middle of an infinite standarel cable in which
the attenuation would be equal to the attenuation in the
given piece of line if the given piece of line were placed in
the middle of an infinite Hne of the same kind as itself.
The allowance depends therefore upon the attenuation it
produces when it is so connected that there is no reflection
effect at the ends.

Confining ourselves to line No. i represented bv the
impedances Zy and Z2 the actual attenuation is found in
accordance with the above definition by putting the
section considered between two long lengths of line of the
same kind, and since the physical construction of the line
is of no importance so long as the network representing
it has the same input impedance at the frequency con-
sidered, we may evidently substitute for the long line a
simple impedance Zq equal to the sending end imped^ice.

(5)

Fig. 2.
The equations are : —

1 1 (Zo -rZi '+Zt) - itZt =c\
-I'lZj-htj (Zo-Z,-Z2)=oj
so that the attenuation

*2 Z,

ll Zo-rZi-rZ,

but if the short line is connected at i<^- ''r ^nA'^^" -'vne
other impedance Z we find

i'l Z—Zi—Zt

so that if r is the attenuation equivalent to the'reflection
effect between the line of characteristic impedance Z, and
the line of actual impedai^ce Z

_a' Zo-^Z, — Z,

'''a ~ Z'Z,-Z,*

r .'= .i- or

?= ?

59"

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

whence we see that if Z^ is greater than Z the attenuation
is greater than unity so the reflection effect is a gain and
if Zo is less than Z there may be a loss. . ■^- k

We also see that if the length of line for which we have
substituted a T is made very long, Zi+Z^ approaches the
limiting value Zq ; thus the typical reflection effect at the

2,Z

junction of two lines having impedances Zq and Z is "

Z +Z(,

in the direction Zq to Z. The reflection attenuation in

the reverse direction will be different for evidently it will

, 2Z

Z + Zo'

2Zn

If the impedances Z and Zo have the same angle, — — —

is a real fraction, but if they have not the same angle r is
a complex quantity and must for given values of | Z | and

Zo I be greater than

Z+Zo

Hence, any difference of

angle between Z and Zo leads to a reflection gain as com-
pared with the reflection attenuation expressed by the
modulus of r.

Separation of Reflection Effect.

Thus it is seen that the reflection effect can be separated
into two parts, one depending on the ratio of the moduli
of the impedances connected together is a loss in one
direction and an unequal gain in the other. The other
part is alwa.ys a gain and depends upon the difference of
phase angle between the impedances as well as the ratio
of the moduU.

Secondly it has been shown that reflection has the effect
of altering the sending end impedance from what it would
be if the given hne were infinitely long, to a value deter-
mined by the terminal impedance.

A Story of Trade.

In a recent address to the Students' Section of the Institution
ot Electrical Engineers Mr. J. S. Highfield remarked that
true engineers always remain students because the science on
which their business rests is always advancing and because
all engineering work is " team work," involving a knowledge
of human nature. The present time is a difficult one for
everyone, and not least for students. Anxiety will remain
until trade improves. The reasons for the present trade
depression are many, and the subject is of vital importance
to engineers. Engineering schools should pay more attention
to principles of trade and commerce.

Electrical Engineering Development.

Mr. Highfield traced the development in electrical engi-
neering from the days when electricity was studied only by
a few men gifted with the love of natural science. He
recalled the results of Faraday's discovery in 1832, which
only led to the first useful dynamo about 1870. Modern
engineering took its birth from the invention of the steam
engine, but the methods pursued by early investigators were
necessarily different from those demanded by the complex
conditions prevailing to-day.

Trade has always been largely a matter of adventure. In
early daj'^ merchants were often captains and owners of small
vessels, and risked all— vessel, cargo, and lif''. The advances
made by the engineer were rendered possible by the efforts of
the successful trader who found the money, th'> surplus of food
and goods that forms the foundation of all progress. There
are two broad classes of men, the traders, the masters who bear
the risks, and the salaried workers who may share the responsi-
bility with, the owners but do not run the same risks. This
vast difference is not sufficiently realised. It would seem that
training colleges are somewhat apt to turn out men inclined
towards accepting a salary, rather than to risk all in initiating
new ventures. There are countries and parts of the Empire
with ample space for new adventure. One would like to see
them tested by a proper colonising venture, consisting of
picked men and women skilled in appropriate trades. The
conception is not new ; it was used centuries ago by the
Greeks. The main dilficulty in such cases is to find an efficient
leader. An engineer's training fits him for carrying out a

multiplicity of jobs, and he can render useful service in such
ventures.

The Indu tries of Cornwall.

The war had damaged all business, including engineering.
But there were other industries in a much worse condition.
As an instance Air. Highfield mentioned the industries of
Cornwall. The mines of Cornwall date back to very early
times. But even to-day there is a great element of chance in
opening up new workings in tin and other metals, and the
variations in complexity of different lodes are remarkable
The Cornish mines have sent skilled workers to all parts of the
world. The china clay industry is another one that has
fallen on bad times. This is an interesting process, of relatively
recent growth. The clay is decomposed granite, originall}^
used only for pottery, but in 150 years has grown to a business
greater than the tin mining industry. The rock contains
about 20 per cent, of clay substance varying in colour from
pure white to yellow ; besides its use for potten,^ the clav is
used for filling paper and other fibrous and cellular materials.
It is obtained in modern plant by hydraulic mining with
pressure jets, and in all the processes there are fine oppor-
tunities for resource and ingenuity. All the traders are rela-
tively poor, but the skill of the workers is great, and Cornwall
and the Camborne School of Mines have sent skilled miners
to all parts of the world. On these primary trades depend
coal miners, rope and sail makers, shipbuilders, carriers,
manufacturers of plant, and finally the electric power company.
Now, owing to the failure of the tin mining, then of the export
trade in china clay, all are in want. Coal is not wanted,
electric power output is reduced to a point where the company
cannot meet expenses, and all subsidiary trades suffer. The
failure in Cornwall is not due to strikes or demands for
unpayable wages. The source of their wages is so clear that
the men are fully seized with knowledge of economics. They
are willing to work for any living wage, but there is no one to
pay it. 1 he position is a grievous one and there is no clear
remedy. Until the American demand increases there is no
prospect of revival in china clay.

Adventure and Risk.

Mr. Highfield mentioned these circumstances as an illus-
tration of the risks underlying trade, and the misfortune that
may occur, in spite of honest endeavour. Generally speaking,
the man who made safe investments, primarily to provide for
old age, did not help trade much. The essence of trading is
adventure involving risk, carried either by the man who trades
with his own monev or by investors in ordinary shares; ^^'hen
ordinary shares were in demand, then it could be said that
trade was reviving.

In concluding his address Mr. Highfield suggested that a
stud}? of the history of trade was full of interest. History was
taught too much in terms of the doings of kings, their ministers,
and the law makers, rather than of the traders in whose interests
many of the laws were made and many wars fought. The
record of Simon of Montfort, the Wars of the Roses, and the
laws of Henry Vll and the Stuart times should be examined
in the light of trade. The histories of City companies often
provided interesting and even exciting reading. The lives of
such men as Thomas Gresham and Cecil Rhodes afforded
examples in adventure and statesmanship. It was for the
young men to remain students and to add to the greatness
of the Empire by facing fortune, bearing the risks, and winning
the rewards, as in davs of long ago.

The Anti-Dazzle Problem.

In a lecture, last Thursday, before the Optical Society on the
problem of glare from motor head-lights, Mr. J. W. T. Walsh,
of the National Phy.sical Laboratory, said the number of devices
to give the lamp beam the required distribution to eliminate glare —
including those wliich were on the market — was very great. Some

2 000 had been produced over five years ago, but the problem might
still be regarded as awaiting solution. The difficulty lay in the fact
that, while a safe driving light required a beam of at least

3 000 c,p,, it was necessary, in order to avoid glare to drivers of
oncoming traffic, to reduce this to about 500 c.p. There
appeared to be no really satisfactory method of escape from this
position of mutually antagonistic requirements. In the I'nited
States the problem had been dealt with by confining the main part
of the beam to the region below the horizontal. Mr. Walsh empha-
sised the desirability of uniformity of anti-dazzle legislation through-
out the world, and mentioned that the International Commission on
Illumination had appointed a special commission to secure this
object.

The Electrician — May 19, 1922

591

Recent Improvements in Railway Electric Traction

Equipment/

By ROGER T. SMITH.

The author discusses the relative financial advantages in this country of steam and hydraulic stations and shows that generally
for agricultural reasons the former will continue to he used. He gives for the first time details of a new machine for converting
alternating to direct current and then brings up to date the figures for the cc :i of haulage by electricity and steam which he set out in hn
Presidential Address to the Institution of Electrical Engineers. Finally he reiterates his opinion that railway companies and manu-
facturers should work in the closest conjunction for the production of electric traction equipment.

Uniformity of electrical equipment on the railways of a
country is of more importance than a relatively small saving
to-day upon one system which might be turned by progress
into an equal loss to-morrow.

The recommendations in the final Report of the Ministry of
Transport Advisory Committee on the Electrification of
Railways urged uniformity, and the author claims that the
advantages to be derived from following these recommenda-
tions will in the long run lead to the least capital expenditure
for a given group of railways and result in the least working
expenses to each group. The only exception to the recom-
mendations is the Brighton Railway, and time alone can show
if the inconvenience of its isolation from through running is
as free from serious objection and its economics are as sound
as they appeared to the Committee to be.

Economies in Railway Electrical Equipment.

Hydro-electric generating stations will in general compare
unfavourably with steam turbine stations in Great Britain.
For a steam-power station with a maximum load of loo ooo kW
the cost exclusive of the site is of the order of /i8 per kW of
maximum load, and may be less. Hydro-electric plant worked
at 50 per cent, load factor requires two-thirds of an acre of
water i ft. thick falling i ft. for each kW of plant installed.
;^2o per acre for agricultural land is an often quoted figure in
this country, so that it is evident tliat if a steam station costs
less than £'i8 per kW the cost in an agricultural district of the
land alone required for water storage, without any hydrauHc
works or machinery, becomes prohibitive unless the fall of
water is very considerable.

Statistics of 463 generating stations consuming coal or coke
sliow that during the year ending March 31, 1921, the highest
thermal efficiency of any station was 1775 per cent., and the
lowest coal consumption per kWh generated was 170 lb.
The average consumption of coal per kWh for these 463
stations was 3-32 lb., the kWh generated being approximately
5 000 000 000. Electrical engineers and turbine makers
together have been able to improve the thermal efficiency of
large steam turbo-generators with outputs of the order of
15 000 k\V to 20 000 kW until to-day station efficiencies are
being obtained of 20 per cent, in actual practice, and in the
newest stations an efficiency of 24 per cent, is confidently
anticipated. Under test conditions thermal efficiencies of
25 per cent, have been obtained from individual turbo-
generators since 1913. The thermal efficiency of a steam
locomotive is believed to range from 6 per cent, downwards
during the time the locomotive is actually in traffic.

Power Station Economies.

The long sequence of economies in power stations containing
large units of power each of at least 15 000 kW output, has
resulted in generating the kWh for an expenditure in coal of
not more than li lb., the coal having a calorific value of not
less than 11 000 B.Th.U. and costing to-day about 8s. per ton
at the pit.

Two tables, one showing typical capital and working costs
for generating stations of various sizes and the other showing
the cost of three-phase transmission systems for carrying the
electricity to sub-stations where it can be transformed or
converted for distribution are given in paper. These tables
were taken from a paper read by Mr. Highfield in 1919, and
have been brought up to date. After analysing these tables
the author proceeded to consider whether there was any
prospect of reducing the cost of transmission either by the
employment of the Thury system or by the use of the " Trans-
verter/' designed by Mr. W. E. Highfield and .Mr. J. E.
Calverley.

The **Transverter."

The latter machine is for producing direct current from alter-
nating current and consists essentially of a static transformer

* Abstract of a Paper read before the Institute of Transport.

and of a fixed commutator with revolving brusli gear driven
by a small motor running in synchronism with the alternating
current supply to the primary windings of the transformer.
Secondary windings on the transformer connect to the com-
mutator, which converts the alternating current to airect
current. Several groups 'of secondary windings may be placed
on the transformer and by connecting them to commutators
connected electrically in series, high pressure direct current is
produced. Each commutator in the first made machine deals
with a pressure of the order of 12 500 V, so that the 'eight
commutators provided give 100 600 V. Figures were quoted
showing a saving of some 50 per cent, in a sub-station plant
equipped with transverters, as against rotary converter
equipment.

The inventors have allowed the transverter to be publicly
mentioned for tlie first time in tlfis paper, because, should the
metliod of conversion and transmission be proved to be a
commercial success, the apparatus becomes a matter of out-
standing economic importance to railway electrification, as
well as for the inter-connection of generating stations, and for
transmission generally.

Cost of Electric Haulage of Trains.

In the author's address to the Institution of Electrical
Engineers in 1919, an attempt was made to compare the costs
of electric and of steam working on main line railways. The
method of comparison was to analyse the locomotive working
costs of one large railway wliich for steam working showed fair
average annual costs per steam locomotive, and to couple those
costs wuth the train mile, which is the most convenient revenue
earning unit. In the anlaysis the locomotive costs were /i 240
per annum for a passenger locomotive in 1913. inclusive of
5 per cent, interest on the cost of the locomotive, and for a
goods locomotive, ;^i 020. These costs were averaged over
the total number of locomotives possessed by the railway,
and not only those available at any one time for service.
The locomotive costs — superintendence, running wages, fuel,
water, lubricants and other stores, repairs and renewals of
locomotives, including depreciation and interest at 5 per cent.
on the first cost of the locomotive — per average train mile
hauled during the year '^y the respective tj'pes of locomotives
were iid. per passenger train mile, and 2S. oid. per goods
train mile. In 1919 the locomotive costs per passenger train
mile were raised to 2s., and per goods train mile to 4s. Scl. On
the assumptions made it was sho\\'n that if electric locomotives
were substituted for steam locomotives, electricity costing \(\
per kWh and the electric locomotive costing (as it did then)
2^ times the cost of the steam locomotive, a first charge of
5 per cent, on the cost of tlie electrical equipment of the line
including locomotives would only allow a passenger train of
the average weight of 175 tons to be hauled electrically, but
would allow a goods train of i 000 tons to be hauled electrically.

Working Costs and Revenue.

Careful consideration points to the most satisfactory unit
of working costs and of revenue to be the train mile per
engine hour. Both quantities can be obtained with a fair
degree of accuracy. In 1920 the train miles per engine hour
for all steam locomotives in Great Britain, includmg all
shunting hours and miles as taken from the Blue Book, were :
coacJiing 9-64, freight 3-18. The annual locomotive costs of
all the engines in Great Britain— these costs comprismg
superintendence, locomotive running wages, coal and water
lubricants and other small stores, and maintenance and renewal
of locomotives— amounted in 1920 to £3 088 per engine, or
per engine hour to 22s. 8d.

An analysis of the same figures arranged for main hue and
branch line electric locomotives moving both passenger and
freight trains, gives the cost per engine hour as 25s.. but this
assumes that the engine hour of the steam and of the electric
locomotive represents the same work done, which is not the
case.

DV-

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

Comparative Costs of Steam and Electric Working.

The comparative costs as between steam and electric
working where a steam railway is converted consist therefore
in the capital and maintenance charges on the electrical
equipment of the track and the locomotive working costs, all
capital charges on the generating station and on the sub-
stations (if anj^) being included in the cost of electricity. In a
particular case in Great Britain, using round figures, the annual
working cost of the steam locomotives for working 400 miles
of busy single main track line for passenger and goods service
with extensive sidings is estimated to be £^ 200 per annum
for steam locomotives and ^5 700 per annum for electric
locomotives with electricity' delivered to the track at o-yd.
per kWh. This sum of ^5 700 includes also the maintenance
of the track equipment and interest at 6 per cent, on its
first cost. But whereas 200 steam locomotives are required to
work the existing service, only 100 electric locomotives are
required to work the same service, so that for the same haulage
the annual cost of electric working per existing steam locomo-
tive is £2 850, or a saving of /350 per annum for each steam
locornotive replaced.

If, however, instead of electricity being delivered to the track .
at o-7d. per kWh as above, it is delivered from a generating
station at o-4d. per kWh, so that the losses,- capital, and
maintenance charges making up the cost of transmission are
not included, nor the w'orking capital and maintenance charges
on the sub-stations, the annual working costs per electric
locomotive become ^4 800 or £2 400 per steam locomotive
replaced. This is a saving of ;^8oo per annum for steam loco-
^motives replaced, out of wliich saving has to come an unknown
amount for the annual cost of transmission and of sub-stations.
The average number of steam locomotives in Great Britain
per mile of single track on December 31, 1920, as taken from
the Ministry of Transport Blue Book, was 0-48.

Capital Charges.

For a fairly busy line wdaere goods traffic exceeds passenger
traffic, requiring a steam locomotive to work the traffic for
every two miles of single track, replaced out of revenue by an
electric locomotive for every four miles of single track, the
capital charges which must be met out of savings in locomotive
expenses will be : —

Single track.
First cost of electric equipment of the track consisting
of 70 lb. per yard conductor rail, laid, jointed and
protected against i 500 V d.c. with bonds for both
contact and for running rails, cost per mile . . . . £2 000

First cost of sub-stations and their equipment each
giving 3 000 kW at rated output and 6 000 kW on over-
load at I 500 V spaced 10 miles apart, cost per mile £2 000
Cost of transmission . . . . . . . . . . Unknown

Cost per mile

;^4 000

The annual saving, per steam locomotive displaced is £;^50
per annum on the assumption that electricity is delivered to
the track at o-7d. per kWh, saving per mile, ;^i75 ; or a
saving of ;^8oo per locomotive per annum on the assumption
that electricity is delivered from the generating station at
o-4d. per kWh, saving per mile, /400.

Electrical Savings.

WTiere it is assumed that electricity is delivered at o-7d. per
kWh to the contact rail, including the sub-station working
costs, maintenance and interest, the saving is ;^i75 on £2 000,
representing 8f per cent, profit on the capital over and above
interest at 6 per cent, on that capital, this interest having
already been included in the annual working costs. This
covers the case of a railway supplying itself with electricit}'
from its own generating station close to the track with only
transmission along the track to the sub-station. Where
electricity is delivered at o^d. per kWh from a generating
station, the saving of /400 per mile of single track makes no
allowance for capital charges or working costs for tlae trans-
mission and sub-stations. These may be taken as follows : —

Cost per mile
of single track.
Losses in transmission and conversion, reckoned at 20

per cent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £jo

Sub-station staff and maintenance . . . . . . 100

Interest at 6 per cent, on cost of sub-station . . . . 120

;^290

This leaves a balance of ;^iio per mile of single track to pay
interest and maintenance charges on the transmission and

provide a profit on a capital of £4 000 additional to the 6 per
cent, already charged.

Manufacture of Electric Locomotives.

A railway company of necessity maintains its own steam
locomotives. The great railway companies have elected also
to construct these locomotives, -Such work representing con-
siderably less than half of the work of maintenance, repair and
renewal. Commercial locomotive builders in this country,
outside the railways have in consequence a small home market,
the bulk of their business being abroad. It is generally held
that in the manufacture of machinery both a home and a
foreign market are necessary for the best progress and for the
full development of ideas. There is no doubt that by their
policy the railways have saved a certain amount of money on
the construction of new locomotives and that they build
machines wliich, designed by engineers who have to maintain
them, have a long useful life.

It is, however, a matter for speculation whether, if the
railways had encouraged commercial locomotive building by
buying from outside, this country might not have taken the
same place in the world's market in locomotive building as it
has in shipbuilding and in marine engineering. It is possible
that in hauling the materials required for such a world trade
the railways might have gained in revenue sums compared
with which the saving in the first cost of locomotives is
insignificant.

The Part the Manufacturer should Play.

It does, how^ever, seem worth w-hile, on the eve of a demand
for electric locomotives for the railways, to consider whether
an organisation and workships designed for efficient and
successful maintenance are the best for constructing electric
locomotives, which require electrical and mechanical research
of the highest order, and the employment of every advance
in electrical and engineering knowledge not only in locomotive
building, but in several branches of electrical engineering.
Advances in the design of electrical machinery in this country
are almost entirely due to electrical manufacturers and to
workers in pure science and the manufacturers have spent
millions of pounds in experiment and research. Railway
electrical engineers in tliis country have not been in a position
to contribute anything of importance to the research and
experiment needed in the development of the electric loco-
motive, nor will they be able to do so if electric locomotives
are manufactured in workshops organised and staffed for
maintenance only. It has not been the custom for our railways
to set aside regular sums for general research, although some
of our locomotive departments have spent and are spending
considerable sums on individual researches. The organisation
for research in the electrical industry apart from railways is
on a sound basis, and is more than adequate for electric
locomotive building if the railways choose to use it.

It is therefore a question whether it would not pay the
railways of this country at least to give a fair trial to the
policy of helping to build up the manufacture of the electric
locomotive in Great Britain bj^ commercial firms, who, with
an important home market as well as a foreign market, would
have a chance of creating a world trade.

Electricity Supply Progress in America.

.■According to Statistics Compiled bv the " Electrical World,"
72 electric light and power, and nine electric railway companies of
the United States and Canada had an output exceeding 100 000 000
units in 1921. Five United States companies supplied over one
thousand million units, compared with seven .\merican and two
Canadian companies in iqzo. The Commonwealth Edison Co.
of Cliicago, which added 40000 new lighting consumers in iq2i,
now heads the list with an output of nearly two thousand million
units, and is followed by the Niagara Falls Power Co. (mainly an
industrial power concern, which was first in ig2o), the Pacific
Gas and Electric Co., the New York Edison and I'nitcd Electric
Light and Power Companies (grouped as one), and the Southern
California Edison Co. The figures show clearly that the country
has been suffering from trade depression, for companies, such as the
Niagara Falls, Detroit and Montana undertakings, wliich supply
industrial and mining areas appear to have suffered most.

The total output of the 72 light and power companies was
31 0()3 021 872 units, of which 3 225 939 413 units were distributed
by Canadian companies. The figures of the American companies
represent 65 per cent, of the total output of all pubhc electric
generating and distributing companies during 1921. The larger
supply undertakings are not confined to any part of the country,
but liic Pacific and Middle Atlantic States have each two billion
unit companies.

The Electrician — May 19, 1922

59:

Short-wave Directional Wireless Telegraphy/

By C. S. FRANKLIN.

In this paper it is proposed to give some results of investi-
gations made with reflectors and wave-lengths below 20 metres.
The investigation was commenced by Mr. Marconi in Italy
in 1916.

The waves used were 2 metres and 3 metres. The only
interference experienced with such waves is from motor boats
and motor cars. These machines apparently emit waves from
near zero up to about 40 metres in length. At Mr. Marconi's
suggestion a coupled-circuit spark transmitter was developed,
the primary having an air condenser and spark in compressed
air. By this means a moderate amount of energy was
obtained, and the small spark-gap in compressed air proved
to have very low resistance. The decrement of the waves
emitted was judged to be of the order of 003.

The receiver used was a carefully picked crystal, while the
reflectors employed were made of a number of strips or wires
tuned to the wave, arranged on a cylindrical parabola with the
aerial at the focus. The transmitting system was arranged so
that it could be revolved and the effects studied at the receiver.

Italian and British Experiments.

These Itahan experiments showed that good directional
working could be obtained with reflectors properly propor-
tioned with respect to the wave-length. The attenuation over
sea for the wave-length used was found to be very high, and
with the apparatus available the maximum range obtained
was 6 miles.

The experiments " were continued at Carnarvon in -191 7.
With an improved compressed-air spark transmitter, a
3-metre wave and a reflector havirg an aperture of 2 wave-
lengths, and a height of 1-5 wave-lengths, a range of over
20 miles was obtained to a receiver without a receiving
reflector. The experiments at Carnarvon brought into promin-
ence a very rapid increase in the strength of the electric field
with height above the ground. The rate of increase appears
to be a function of the height divided by wave-length, and
while not very noticeable with waves of several hundred
metres, is very marked with waves of a few metres, length.

In 1919 experiments were commenced at Carnarvon with
valve transmitters, with the idea of producing a directional
telephone system. Mr. R. H. \\'hite and Mr. E. Oreen, and,
later, ^Vlr. A. W. Hall, assisted the author in this work. A
wave of 15 metres was selected, which while well ^\'ithin the
capacity of the power valves available, allowed a simple
reflector to be used without too large a structure. After some
trials a single valve transmitter was arrived at taking about
200 W with a I5»metre wave, and giving i A in the
centre of a half -wave aerial. A heterodyne receiver with
supertonic beat-note was employed.

After gaining some experience, and solving many small
practical difficulties, very strong speech was obtained at
Holyhead, 20 miles away. The strength was such that
shadows produced by small hills and buildings were hardly
noticeable, unless the stations were close behind them.

In June, 1920, during this test, speech was received right
into Kingstown Harbour, 70 nautical miles from Carnarvon,
and the point was proved that there was no rapid diminution
of strength after passing the horizon line from Carnarvon.

Range of Short Wave Reflector System.

As a result of these experiments it was decided to test the
range of a short-wave reflector sj'stem whoUy over land. A
i?ite was chosen at Hendon, and a reflector and transmitter
for 1 5 -metre waves erected with the reflector pointing towards
Birmingham. Tests were commenced in February, 192 1, from
Hendon to a portable receiver on a motor car. Very good
speech was received up to 66 miles, and fair speech in the
neighbourhood of Birmingham. A reflector station was then
erected at Frankley near Birmingham, 97 miles from Hendon,
and tests were started there in August, 192 1.

Transmitting Arrangements-

The transmitter consists of two medium-size power valves
working in parallel. The power to the valves is usually 700 W
(4000 V, 175 mA). The aerial is rather longer than half a
wave-length, and has a radiation resistance of the order of
90 O. The efficiency, input to valves to aerial power, is

* Abstract of a Paper read before the Wireless Section of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers.

between 50 and 60 per cent., and about 300 W are actually
radiated. With the reflectors up at both ends speech is
strong, and of very good quahty. It is usual) v strong enough
to be ju.st audible with a J to i (3 shunt across a 60 O telephone.

With both reflectors down the speech is usually only just
audible with no shunt. Average measurements indicate that
the energy received when both reflectors are up is about
200 times the energy received when not using the reflectors.
Thus to get the same strength without reflectors as \v\th. them
a 140 kW valve transmitter of the same efficiency would be
required. Local measurements of the polar curves taken
round the station show that the electric field in front of the
station is increased approximately four times by the use of the
reflector, and that the same order of increase is obtained
during reception ; the increase of energy received due to the
use of the two reflectors should therefore be 4* x 4^ = 256
times.

Experiments made with revolving reflectors, where it is
comparativelv easy to make measurements at any distance,
prove that the polar curve is practically constant at all ranges.

Production of Short Waves.

The production of waves of the order of about 12 metres
and upwards is quite practicable up to several kilowatts by-
large power valves, and it is also practicable to operate valves
in parallel. With such high frequencies ver>' large currents
pa'^s into the grid and anode ; the seals through the glass must,
therefore, be large. The production of a reliable transmitting
valve entailed a large amount of work, and the great dissimi-
larity of results from apparently similar valves was ven,-
puzzling for some time. In a new batch of valves the efficiency
at 15 metre wave would vary from about 60 per cent, down
to 3 per cent., and if any attempt was made to push up the
power on a bad valve the glass would promptly melt at some
spot. The cause of the trouble has been found to be due to
losses in the deposits on the glass, owing to high-frequency
currents induced. Such deposits are always produced in valves
during exhaustion, and van,' considerably.

If a number of valves are laid successively between the
plates of a small air condenser in a ven,' high-frequency field
of the order of 20 000 000 per sec. (without making any con-
nections to the valves), the results are quite remarkable.
Some produce no appreciable effect, while others at once put
a big lead on the circuit, and if 200 W of high-frequency
energy are available, the glass gets hot and \\-\\\ quickly melt
at some spot. One of my assistants, ^Mr. E. Green, made the
useful discovery that if the electric field in the neighbourhood
of the valve was constrained by means of a shield, so that it
was at right angles to the deposit on the glass, then this loss
disappeared, and a formerly bad valve would give nearly the
same efficiency as a good one. It is now therefore possible to
use what are practically standard valves, and their Ufe appears
to be about the same as for lower frequencies.

Reception on Transmitting Aerial.

During the continuous-wave tests at Carnarvon it was found
that reception was quite possible on the transmitting aerial
while the transmitter was operating. This has been used
successfully for duplexing between Hendon and Bimiingbam,
and eliminates all switching.

The heterodyne may be either the transmitter, or an inde-
pendent smalf heterodyne in the receiver. Both the trans-
mission and the reception utiUze the same aerial and reflector,
and the transmitter is left going and can be operated while
receiving.

There is no reduction in strength while the transmitter is on,
but a practical trouble has appeared. Owing to the compara-
tively large power, strong currents are induced in all conducting
structures and circuits close to the reflector and transmitter,
such as the supporting towers and buildings, and every-
variable contact produces a noise. The ehmination of all
variable contacts in the neighbourhood of the transmitter has
proved a work of some magnitude.

Advantages of Reflec ors.

Reflectors besides giving directional working, and econo-
mizing power, are showing another unexpected advantage,
which is probablv common to all sharply directional systems.
It has been noted that practically no distortion of speech

594

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

occurs, such as is sometimes found with non-directional
transmitters and receivers.

Although the results between Hendon and Birmingham
constitute a record for telephony for ratio of range to wave-
length— for sucb results were believed to be impossible two
years ago — they are only a first attempt and do not represent
tlie best that can now be done after the experience gained.
Birminghain, it is interesting to note, is 10 400 wave-lengths
from Hendon.

It has thus been demonstrated that wave-lengths of the
order of 20 metres are quite capable of providing point-to-point
directional commercial service over very considerable ranges.
Such services will be comparatively secret as compared with
the usual non-directional type of transmission.

The directional effect obtained with reflectors which are
large compared with the wave-length, is so good that it was
suggested that it would prove very useful for position finding
for ships near dangerous points.

An experimental revolving reflector was erected on Inch-
keith, and tests were made to s.s. " Pharos," the lighthouse
tender of the Northern Lights Commissioners during the
autumn of 1920. With a 4-metre wave, spark transmitter, a
reflector of 8 metres' aperture, and a single valve receiver on
the ship, a working range of 7 nautical miles was obtained.
Tiie reflector made a complete revolution once every two
minutes, and a distinctive signal was sent every half-point of
th? compass. It was found that this enabled the bearing of the
transmitter to be determined within J point of the compass,
or within 2"8 degrees.

DISCUSSION.

The Institution lecture theatre was crowded and a very
appreciative audience bad the pleasure of hearing a most
interesting paper, an abstract of which we give above, delivered
in an unusually short space of time and of seeing soine very
successful demonstrations.

A tiny transmitter with reflector, was installed on one side
of the lecture table, and was shown clearly to have its radiation
confined to a beam directed upon the receiver on the other
side of the lecture table. The radiation was shown to be
absorbed by the body and by a suitably tuned coil of wire.
The transmitter with its reflector were rotated several times
while signals were being sent. As the beam traversed the
receiver the signals were picked up and reproduced in a
loudspeaker.

Many Compliments.

The discussion was largely of a complimentary nature.

Mr. G. Marconi recalled his early experiments in which
he showed Sir William Preece the successful transmission
of short waves over if miles where a range of only J mile was
possible without reflectors. This was 26 years ago, and
almost immediately afterwards the progress of the elevated
wire sj'stem was so rapid that it took all attention.

Major R. C. Trench thought the author's claim for economy
was not sustained by the power of 700 W required to telephone
97 miles. He thought the weight of the reflector made the
system inapplicable to work in the field, but as the author
had pointed out that the strength of /ne electric field increased
rapidly with height abov5 the ground the system would have
some application as regards air craft.

Mr. J. E. Taylor was not new to the subject. He had
advocated research on similar lines during the early days of
the War on account of the need for secrecy. He looked
forward to better results with even shorter waves than those
employed by the author and thought that by some sucli
reflector system wireless telegraphy would before long take
the place of land lines.

Major H. G. T. Lkfroy liad worked on ihe subject in 1913,
using a Hertzian oscillator for working to au'ships.

Useful for Marine Work.

Mr. a. Grey read a letter from the consulting engineers to
the " Northern Light," expre.ssing the opinion that for giving
bearings to ships at sea and as fog signals this system promised
to revolutionise present practice.

.Mr. R. Carpenter enquired why radiation was not restricted
in the vertical plane. He suggested that the axis of the small
transmitting aerial might be rmde horizontal instead of
vertical and that the reflector made in the shape of a parabcloid.

Prof. G. W. O. Howe referred to the enormous range of
v.ave-lengths now covered by wireless, namely 16 octaves,
from I metre to 30 000 metres. This was greater than the
range of either the " eye " or the ear.'" ' As regards the

increase of field strength above the surface of the earth, he
enquired whether experiments had been made to determine
the nature of the field near the earth surface. He thought
that the wave front would be found to be sloped and that the
maximum effect would be obtained from an aerial with a
corresponding slope. He did not understand why the distor-
tion of telephony should be less when a directiona.1 system was
employed.

Replying to the discussion Mr. Franklin said that attempts
had been made to compare the attenuation of short-wave
signals over land and sea, but the results had been incon-
sistent. He had in view the question of the best wave-lengths
to employ and had a new valve which was suitable for wave-
lengths of 20 or 30 cm. He found standard power valves
satisfactory for 12 metrec and had had special valves made for
2 metres. The experimental work mentioned by Mr. Car-
penter had already been done. As regards the slope of the
wave-front, he found this about 20 deg. ^\-ith the vertical,
but he did not consider that the weak signals at the earth's
surface had only to do with that. He agreed that the lack of
distortion was probably due to the use of short wave-lengths
rather than to the directive transmission.

Recent B.E.S.A. Publications.

Among recent publications of the British Engineers' Standards
Association is B.S.S. 108 — 1922, which is put forward as the first
list of British Standard Graphical Symbols for use in Electro-
technics, and is the result of cordial co-operation between Govern-
ment Departments, I.E.E. Technical Societies, Industrial Organisa-
tions and Experts interested in the subject.

While it is realised that the list is admittedly incomplete, it is
felt that it will meet a long-felt need, in view of the fact that at
the present time Public Departments, Manufacturers' Associations
and engineers employ their own individual lists of symbols leading
to obvious confusion, and an unnecessary duplication of work.
The symbols should be of particular assistance to export work. A
large number of them will be found in agreement with symbols
used in other countries.

All publications of the B.E.S.A. being subject to periodical
revision, provision has been made, in numbering the symbols, for
many additions.

Two Points for Notice.

Two points especially may be noticed. In section 7, " Telegraphs
and Telephones," the scheme of symbols and conventions adopted
by the Post Office has been largely utilised. The symbols in sec-
tion 8, Radio Communication, were prepared by a joint committee
of the Post Office, Admiralty, War Office, Royal Air Force and
Marconi's Wireless Telegraph and Telephone Company, Ltd. The
main object before the Association has been to endeavour to draw
up a list acceptable to every branch of the industry, and it is urged
that every engineer should assist the work of the Association by
using this list.

Annealed Copper Wires.

Another \ publication is Specification No. 128—1922. This
specification, which gives the Dimensions and Resistances of
Annealed Copper Wires, has been issued to meet the needs of
the users of copper wire for winding electrical macliinery and
apparatus, and refers only to bare annealed high conductivity
copper wire.

The values of the resistance given have been calculated from the
value for the resistivity of copper laid down by the I.E.C. The
resistivity of commercial copper at the present time is variable,
and therefore a tolerance on the standard vahies of resistance of
I .V per cent, nas been adopted for u.se until such time as conditions
in regard to copper improve. '

Following the general trend of modern practice, the sizes are
designated by the diameter expressed in decimals of an inch, and
should be styled " British Standard Sizes " (B.S.S.) of wire.

The importance of aiming at the use of a small number of sizes
by the designers of plant lies in the need for users to carry stocks
of all sizes in which they are interested for rewinding purposes :
therefore it is particularly important, especially for colonial and
foreign customers, and for Government use abroad, that the number
of such sizes be restricted as much as possible.

With a view to encouraging reduction in the number of sizes
commonly used, the twenty-nine sizes which constitute the even
numbers of the S.W.G. are classed as primary standard sizes.
The remaining twenty-eight are secondary standard sizes, and use
of the third class or exceptional standard sizes should, it is urged,
be restricted to the utmost.

Copies of both these publications may be obtained from the offices
of the Association, 28, Victoria-street, London, S W.i.

Sir Frederick Orr-Lewis, of Montreal, Caiuida, founder and
president of the Canadian Vickers, who died last November, has
left property in this country of the value of ;^i8 342.

May 19, 1922

The ELctrician.

595

Correspondence.

CHAINS OF MAGNETICAI,!.Y-COUPLED CIRCUITS.

To the Editor 0/ THE ELECTRICIAN.
Sir, — With reference to Dr. Bellini's article in The Elec-
trician for 12th instant, may I be allowed to point out that
the determinantal expression for n magnetically-coupled
circuits may be written in tlie equivalent form : —

I -Lip^ -M\.p' O

l—L,p^ -M\sP* '

L^P'

o
o
o

"r-LnP'

whicli is a continuant, and as such can be evaluated from
inspection — i.e., without actually multiplying out. For,
putting P,, Pg. -P3. ^tc, for the quantities in the principal
diagonal, and Q^, Q^, Q3, etc., for the quantities in the neigh-
bouring bordering diagonal, we may write the expression in
the special notation — -

A={P„-^\.P2,-Q'-2. -p.)

and this may be developed —

A~P,{P„-0\, . . .Pn)-Q\{P,.-Q\. . . . .Pn)

and so on. Dr. H. W. Malcolm has used determinants of the
above type very extensively in his " Theory of the Sub-
marine Telegraph and Telephone Cable " (Benn Brothers,
Ltd.), and the present writer gave, in the "P.O. Electrical
Engineers' Journal" for April last a rule based on the properties
of continuants, for writing down from inspection the expansion
of determinants of this type. Following out the suggestion
made by Mr. L. C. Pocock in The Electrician of August 6,
T920, the present writer also dealt with the case of three mag-
netically-coupled circuits in " Electricity " of September 9,
1921, and obtained the values of the frequencies with and
without a condenser in the intermediate circuit. — I am, etc.,

H. P. Few.
Engineer-in-Chief's Office,
G.P.O., London.

HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHGIAR DESIGN.

To the Editor of IHE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — We have read with very great interest the article
appearing in your issue of the 5th inst. on the above subject
by Mr. W. A. Coates, and your editorial comments on same,
and we are pleased to note that due recognition has been given
to the experience of Continental manufacturers.

There is one point, however, in the article referring to
insulator dimensions which we think calls for some comment
and explanation. The dimensions given in Table I. are
approximately the dimensions of insulators used on the
Continent, but it is not said positively whether the lengths
in the table are to be understood to be the spark-over distance,
of the complete insulator with fittings or of the bare porcelain.

The essential point for the customer is the test voltage
up to break-down voltage in air. The new Swiss prescription
for testing high voltage insulators demands, when test voltage
=£, and working voltage =£,,, : —

Et = \S xE^ -f 20 000 V.

This results in a higher test \ oltage for the voltages most
frequently used in England than that which English or
American firms have offered up to the present. The resulting
test voltage is also higher than specified either in English
or American prescriptions. \Xe may say that the insulators
used by us come up to the new prescription as given
above, and it may be of interest to you that it is exactly
on the score of guaranteed test voltage that American porce-
lain manufacturers encounter difficulties, since their insulators
do not come up to the requirements of the Swiss prescriptions
for wet test and voltages of 44 k\' or more. — We are, etc.,

For Sprecher & Schuh Co.,

J. B. RUDKIN.

London, W.C.2.
May 13th, 1922.

Morwell Brown Coal Scheme.

It is reported that the scheme for utilising the brow.v coal
DEPOSITS at Morwell for the generation of electricity and for fuel
purposes is piogressing rapidly under the direction of the State
Electricity Commission of Victoria. The township of Morwell
is five miles from the site selected for the new power house, and, in
order to avoid confusion, a new name, Yallourn, has been found
for the power house and the new township which is springing up
around it The principal contracts have been let for the equipment
of the Yallourn power house, which will have a capacity of 50 000 kW
and will contain five 12 500 kW turbo generators, one being held
in reserve. The voltage of transmission will be 120 000 V.

As the power requirements of the Metropolitan area are increasing
rapidly and the Yallourn power house will not be ready for two or
three years, it has been decided to push on as rapidly as possible
with a new power house in Melbourne, to be known as the Newport
B. Station, which wdl later be linked up with the bulk supply.
At the outset this station will have two 14000 k\V turbf>-
generators, one being for stand-by purposes. It is hoped that this
station will be in operation by Ma\-, 1923. The Commission antici-
pate being in a position to supply raw brown coal from Morwell to
the public next month. An inclined approach to the surface of the
coal is being constructed, and two " Bucyrus " shovels, with a
capacity of 2^ and 3^ cubic yards respectively, will be used for
excavating both the overburden and the coal. From the open out
the coal will be transported to a crushing and screening plant by a
system of endless rope haulages. In view of the encouraging
results obtained in other parts of the world from the use of pul-
verised black coal as a fuel, the Commission intend to install an
experimental plant for the production of brown coal in powdered
form and to investigate its suitability for boilers.

District Industrial Councils.

The second annual report of the District Industrial Council No. 5
(West Midlands Area) of the Electricity Supply Industry has been
issued, and states that many matters engaged the attention of the
Council during the year ended March 31. The business was con-
ducted throughout in a spirit of reasonableness and with an obvious
desire on the part of all concerned to arrive at fair decisions.

The Council is composed of twelve employers' and ten trade union
representations, and Mr. R. A. Chattock was re-elected chairman
and Mr. E. J. Jennings, secretary and treasurer. Seven meetings
of the Council and seven meetings of the Standing Committee were
held, and among the matters dealt with were (i) the change made
in the constitution of the National Council by which, instead of
being represented by nominees of employers' associations, the
employers' side consists of representatives from the various District
Councils, and (2) working conditions and wages adjustments.

Working Cooditions.

The Council determined that the standard conditions were more
favourable than the conditions of service obtaining in many parts
of the district previously, and that such standard conditions must
be regarded as a whole. It was held, therefore, that it would be
wrong in principle for employers to be entitled to select the best
of such model conditions and at the same time to retain certain of
the former conditions that were more favourable to them.

As the result of negotiation with representatives of small under-
takings (of 100 kW or less) a modified set of working conditions
was approved and has now been ratified by the National Council.

Adjustments of Wages.

The District Council approved a scheme, which had been prepared
in February, 1921, for the adjustment of wages to correspond with
variations in the cost of Uving. Tliis scheme was not confirmed by
the National Council, which decided that the question was one to be
dealt \vith on a national basis. In Nc\ ember, 1921, the latter
formulated a sliglitly different scheme. From November 15, 1921,
when the National Agreement was adopted, three revisions of wages
have been made to date under it— viz. .November 15, 1921, January i,
and April i, 1922. The collective effect of these re\-isions was a
further reduction of 2 id. per hour, which with the 6s. 9d. pre\-iously
made, represented a "total reduction in wages during the year of
i6s. 6kl. per week (47 hours) or u>s. gd. per week ^48 hours).

Engineering Employees, Short Time. etc.

It has been agreed ^\'ith the A.E.U. that engineering trade
employees working in electricity supply undertakings shall have
their rates of pay regulated by the industrial Council for the
industry. It was agreed by the Council that where there had been
a reduction in the demand for electricity by reason of trade depres-
sion it was competent for undertakers to reduce temporarily the
working hours hi agreement with the Union representatives so as
to obviate as far as possible the discharge of employees, and the
undertakings concerned followed this procedure. All the employees,
with few exceptions, have now^ reverted to full-time working.

In regard to the model constitution for Works Committees
drafted by the National Council, the District Council approved in
principle "the setting up of Works Committees, but the Standing
Committee reported that, in their opinion, the details of the consritu-
tion of such Comnuttees should be left to the decision of the under-
takings incHvidiiallv.

)96

The Electrician.

G.E.C. Fittings at Drury Lane.

ht fittines At fli*» Th^-,*^„ td. , . .

May 19, 1922

The whole of the electiir hah+ «<-<-■ , .

Drury Lane, which has atelvh.ln^"^' ^^ }^^ ^^^^^^^ Royal,
structed and redecorated hlve\e^n /'" "^'^'^^ ^"^"^ ^^"^g "-^con:
the General ELEcirc Compa^v in !^^^^^^^^^ ^"f^ manufactured by
shown in the illustration subidrarv fit. " 1° *^^ ™^i" ^"^"gs

ceiling fittings xn lobS polce lights '"tf' '"'^ ^^ " '^^' " ^^S"^'
thc fir.. A. ..u be see^r^ fhl%nStVaTo^:;ire ^^^^^^

upper corona and brackets "^ '^^''^"' ^"* ^^^ ^^'thout the

Numerous two-hght flambeau brackets on th. k
fronts give additional illumination .nH k . ^°'' ^"^ '^i'"'^le

installed four large standards 1 w' , ^ between the boxes are
enrichment ^ standards on black marble bases with ormulu

Fkndant for Boxes.

executed m the ICariy Empire style
which IS characteristic of the fn-
tenor decoration of the theatre

frni^%if"'^'*°v'""^ '" illuminated

from the ce)hng by a central

fitting and five smaller ones of

similar type. The main fitting

which IS arranged tor 30 lights, is

» ft. m diameter, and weighs

15 cwt. It consists of a larec

upper corona surrounded bv six

3-iight flambeau brackets a 'inwr-r „

basket, the whole being c^ried out '"r^K ^"'"Pl^^^i'^R =' Panelled

ormulu judiciously relieved with blue ^'"^"V"''^'^^^' "^ '''^ ^^rk

panels are gla.,ed with heavy cut pyat^ll"'"' onnohme.it. The

completed by a lower cut glass bowl Th/-^'"'"' '''"^' *'^^^ <"'"*"« i^

this fitting is one of niassfve fo^m" etahfinJ'trn"'" ^""^">"^ •'>'

iLtaining the necessary spirit of

Two-Light

FOR ClRCI.

Two-Light Fitting for
Circle Pilasters.

fin sLV^ h'-^'^"' ^°^^ Pendants
finished dark ormulu and blue with
silk cord suspension and '• Equi-

r^y fl^^'''''''' ^'■^ installed.
Ceding fittings of the same type
provide the main illumination f^
the circles and are supplemented
by threc-hght flambeau brackets
applied to the front of decorative
^,, pilasters.

Flamheaux

E I'^ITTINGS.

authorising the MidlS d^E c?tr r i.ht " f 7>" *'^^ ''''^''^' -■^'-•
supply electricity in the rin/d districts^o! x""^ ^"'^"' "^-"'"Pany to
Tamworth, Hinckley a d MarIpX i?^ Atherstone. Nuneaton.
-ust be sent to the M.Xy':^i^:^^^^^J^y ^>''i-tions

chargesTor eSSv"from''6d"\?T?' ^"^" "•^^"^^^ '^ -^^--^'^
from 2ld f^ oi^ ^ from Od. to 5jd. per unit for lighting and
11 om 2jd. to 2id. per umt for power, cooking and heating \
discount of 5 per cent, is to be allowed on all ac^o'int pSd "fithin

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

597

The "Hardy-Bedford" Goal Cutter.

The patent " Hardy-Bedford " electrical coal cutting machine,
recently improved by the Hardy Patent Pick Company, is claimed
to be the first successful attempt to solve the problem of a light
heading machine for the electric drive, but of the same weight as,
and to do similar work to the small air driven percussive heading
machines.*

This new machine cuts the coal by rotary action. The general
construction is clearly shown in the illustration. The machine

machine is moved rbund the column, cutting with the side of the
cutters. An arc shaped undercut is thus made, and this increases
in depth and width as the repeated cuts are effected and as each
successive length of cutter bar is inserted in the main cutter shaft.
The machine will cut from 12 ft. to 15 ft. in width by 4 ft. 6 in. in
depth from one setting, and the height of the cut is about 3^ in.
As soon as the desired depth is obtained at the centre of the working
place, the operator squares out the corners of the arc-shaped cut
until the undercut or channel is of uniform depth at every point.
When p liars are taken out, or, in working on a longwall face, the

The Hardy-Bedford Electrical Coal Cutting .Machine

itself is fixed in position and held up to it^s work by means of a
column or standard provided with jack-screw and toothed head and
foot. The power unit is a ij h.p. a.c. motor, which can be wound
to suit the voltage, phases and periodicity of the current in use at
any particular mine. The motor drives the main cutter shaft
through a train of machine-cut gearing, at a speed of 350 revs, per
min. In the cutter shaft are placed the cutter bars of various
lengths fitted at the ends with cutting picks of special design. The
whole machine is seated in a cone cup forming part of a clamp
which is attached to the column. This clamp carries a worm, the
teeth of which mesh with those of a worm wheel bolted rigidly on
the column. The whole of this attachment is mounted on a
patented ball-bearing device which allows the machine to be moved
round the column with a minimum effort.

In operation the cutter bar is fed forward into the coal to a depth
of from 2 in. to 6 in., and then by means of the worm handle the

successive cuts break into one another, a continuous undercut the
whole length of the coal face, whatever this may be, is obtained.

The Cutting Speed.

The cutting speed of the machine naturally varies with the hard-
ness of the material. Speeds as high as 120 sq. ft. per hour have
been attained, and under ordinary circumstances the output of
the machine is approximately the same as that of a compressed
air driven percussive heading machine. The whole of the machine,
apart from the motor, runs in an oil bath, and is fitted throughout
with ball thrust and line bearings, thus attaining economy of power
in a very great measure. A percussive air driven heading machine
requires 25 b.h.p. to drive it, whereas this machine, we understand,
does approximately equal work with an expenditure of i^ b.h.p.
The weight of the coal cutting machine proper is about 280 lb., and
the total outfit weighs, packed, about 8 cwt.

A Journal of Scientific Instruments.

The Institute of Physics has under consideration the publica-
tion of a journal dealing with methods of measurement and the
construction and use of instruments, to be called " A Journal of
Scientific Instruments." In Germany there are some four or five
journals which cover this field, and one of these, which devotes
itself entirely to the subject of scientific instruments, has been of
great influence in imparting a sense of the importance of scientific
methods in the study of technical and industrial problems. Research
workers and manufacturers in this country have long felt the need
of such a journal. The journal will be managed by a committee
appointed by the Institute of Physics on which the Department of
Scientific and Industrial Research and the National Physical
Laboratory will be represented, and the editorial work will be
carried out at the N.P.L., assisted by a scientific advisory committee
appointed by the Institute of Physics. It will probably consist
of 32 pages, and will be pubHshed monthly at 2s. 6d. per issue.
The Institute will only find it possible to make itself responsible for
tlie journal if its financial position is secured ; and as a means of
ascertaining what support may be expected a specimen number for
free issue is now being issued. Anyone desiring a copy of this
number is asked to appl}' to the Secretary of the Institute of Physics,
10, Essex-street, London, W.C.2, and to enclose 6d. to cover postage.

A new Bulletin (No. 15) entitled " Street Lighting by GasfiUed
Electric Lamps " has recently been issued by the Gener.al Electric
Company. The publication is a complete handbook on modern
street lighting practice, and in addition to valuable technical data
contains particulars of complete ranges of lanterns suitable for
every street lighting requirement. Noteworthy features of the
Bulletin, are the polar curves and illumination data provided for the
more important types of lanterns, and the very full instructions for
calculating the size of lamp required.

Hydro-Electric Power in New Zealand.

The Minister of Public Works recently made a statement on the
progress made in hydro-electric power development- iv New
Ze.aland. He anticipated that at Mangahao 24 000 h.p. would be
available by the end of next year, wliile works to supply i 000 h.p.
were under construction at Waikaromoana. Until better financial
conditions prevailed he did not anticipate that either the main
development at the latter place or the Arapuni scheme would be
proceeded with. The Arapuni scheme should take precedence of all
the smaller schemes in the Auckland district. The Government's
commitments for hydro-electric developments to the end of the
year 1923-1924 amount to over £3 300 000. The following ex-
penditure, wliich includes money already spent, has been authorised
for the various schemes up to March, 1924, or earlier dates : —
Southland, ;^ 2 50 000 ; Lake Coleridge, /i 154 500 ; Horahora,
/^695 000 ; Mangahao, ;^i 218 000 ; Waikaremoana, £113 000 ; Otago
/550 000.

Chicago Pageant of Progress.

The organisers of the Chicago " Pageant of Progress." to be
held from July 29 to .\ugust 14 next, have expressed the hope tliat
British goods will be shown at the exhibition, which is to be held on
the Municipal Pier. (The pier, the construction of which cost
£1 000 000, runs for a r 000 yards out inio Lake Michigan.) A
similar exliibition last year was remarkably successful. The exhi-
bition is to be divided into 16 trade sections, including automobiles,
electrical industries, advertising and paper, &c. British firms
will be charged the same rates for space as Cliicago firms, \'iz. :
$500 for an enclosed floor space of 20 ft. by lo ft., including lighting
and heating. Apphcations for space should be addressed to the
Organising Secretary, "' Pageant of Progress," 307 City Hall.
Chicago, U.S.A.

59^

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

Asbestos Woven Resistance Nets.

Fig

Electric Fire with Three Nets.

The illu'^trations show the asbestos woven resistance grids manu-
factured by A. HiNDERLiCH. The net and grids manufactured
bv this firm are fundamentally composed of warps of specially

spun asbestos, with
wefts that consist of
wire, flexible cable or
strips made of nickel
silver, constantan or
chromo-nickel. Any
necessary tappings re-
quired for variable re-
sistances are wo\ en
firmly into place so
that the completed
unit is strong and
durable. The units are
constructed for tem-
peratures up to 600'C.
The nets and grids
can be made with wire
free areas at the ends
or in other parts, so
that they can be held
where desired without risk of the wires coming in contact with the
supports. As many tappings as desired, can be provided, and
these are usually made of flexible wires. The resistance nets

themselves are made
either rigid or flexible,
and impregnated or
non-impregnated. The
width of the units can
be from f in. up to
19 in., while the length
may be up to 60 ft.

Insulating Separa-
tors.

The firm also make
nets entirely of asbes-
tos for insertion as
insulating separators
between adjacent cur-
rent carrying nets.

The asbestos used is
treated with composi-
tion, in a special man-
ner, so as both to in-
crease its resistance
and reduce its hygro-
scopic nature. The
insulation resistance of
a cubic centimeter is
5 megohms, while the
breakdown voltage through a thickness of 2 cm. was found to be
1,200 V. as a minimum. The resistances can be mounted in a large
number of different ways, two of which we illustrate. The distance
between two adjacent units should be from | to | in. for currents
up to 25 A., i^in. for currents from 25 to 50 A., and i^ in. for currents
from 50 to 100 A.

A New Toaster.

Among the latest domestic Ir.bour-saving appliances to be put on
the market by the Credenda Conduits Company is the " Creda "

Swingate
jQ toaster, which

^ we illustrate.

The two out-
standing
features of this
toaster are the
revolving bread
racks, and the
ease with which
the element can
be replaced
when neces-

sary. The latter
process occupies
only a few
minutes, where-
as previously a
very consider-
able time has
usually been

required. The toaster is supplied in all standard voltages, and has
a loading of 500 W.

The Consumers' Power Company of Jackson (Michigan) has
I 300 miles of transmission line, of which 526 miles arc 140 000 V
and the remainder no 000 V. Thirty -one hydro-electric and steam
plants are linked up.

Fig. 2. — Back of Three-phase Motor
Starter with Resistance Nets Built in.

" Cred.\ SwiNC.ATic Toaster.

Henley Cable Winches for India.

The cable winch illustrated is one of two designed and manu-
factured by W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., which have
recently been shipped to a large firm in India. The winches are being
used in connection with the sinking of two mine shafts, where it is
necessary to use motor-driven sinking pumps.

The supply cable for the pump motors was also manufactured
by Henley's, and each length is i 014 ft. and weighs 7^ tons. It is
a 0-75 sq. in. 3-core cable, rubber insulated, armoured with special
high tensile steel wire, and jute braided, the over all diameter
being 3t in.

It was specified that the winch should be operated by hand, and
it was therefore necessary to provide gearing giving a reduction of

Fig. I. — View of Henley's Mine Shaft Winch for India

524 to I. This reduction is obtained by means of bevel, worm and
spur gearing. The large spur wheel is 6 ft. i^ in. diameter, and, as
can be seen from the illustration, is attached to one of the drum
flanges.

The worm-gearing has been designed so that the angle of the worm
is at the limit of its self-sustaining value, and a band brake is
provided on the worm-wheel shaft so that the drum can be held in
any desired position. In addition to the band brake, a ratchet
wheel and pawl are fitted to prevent the drum running back when the
cable is being wound up.

Method of Mounting Drum.

The method of mounting the drum is very interesting, as no
shaft is used. Instead of a shaft heavy hollow cast steel trunnions
are attached to the side of the drum. The necks of these trunnions
run in cast iron bearings, which are supported by heavy steel
framework surrounding the drum.

To enable the pump motors to be fed while the cable is being
lowered, current transmitting gear has been provided, and it will
be seen mounted on the -
right-hand side of the winch.
We give a "close-up" view
of this with the cover
removed. Three heavy slip-
rings are mounted on the
end of one of the trunnions,
and are supported by three
insulated studs. Current is
transmitted to the sUp-
rings by means of heavy
laminated copper bands,
provided with an adjustable
spring tension device. The
small slip-ring at the ex-
treme end of the gear is con-
nected to the drum and the
laminated copper bands
to the steel framework, so
that the drum is always
earthed. The cores of the
0-75 sq. in. cable for feeding
the pump motors are per-
manently attached to the
shp rings, and the cable Fig. 2. — "Close Up " of Current
passes through the hollow Transmitting Gear.

trunnion up the centre of 11

the drum and along a hole in the opposite flange. It is next laid
in a groove case in the trunnion casting attached to tlus flange,
and is held in position by means of heavy clamps. The cable then
passes through another liole in the flange and on tc che barrel of the
drum.

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

599

An Electric Floor Polisher.

It is generally agreed among housewives that floor-polishing is
the most arduous of all domestic duties, so that to many the electric
polisher is a greater boon than any other electric labour-saving
appliance yet invented. The Electrolux polisher, which is
shown in the illustration, is the smallest electric floor polisher
on the market, and is claimed to be the most economical. Two
sets of brushes, hard and soft, arc supplied, and, as can be seen,
each set is made up of two separate portions, the bristles of the

The "Electrolux" Floor Polisher.

outer frame facing in the opposite direction to those on the inper
block.

The method of operation is extremely simple, and the appliance
is so light a child can easily use it. Before putting on the polish
the floor should be rubbed over with turpentine. After this has
vaporised, the polish is applied with the hard brush, and then
polished with the soft brush. To change the brushes does not
occupy more than a few seconds. The polisher can be worked
from the lighting circuit. The loading is 140 W.

Carron Electric Cooking Appliances.

The latest pamphlet of electric cooking appliances issued by the
Carron Company contains particulars of several new appliances
recently put on the market by the firm. Among these are open coil
boiling rings and solid type boiling plates, both of which we
illustrate.

The soUd top boiling plates are made in two sizes. No. 565 is 6 in.

in diameter ; the top
is of cast iron, ma-
chined and dull nickel-
plated, the casing is
nickel-plated, the side
handles brass nickel-
plated, and the base
is of cast iron. The
heating elements are
loaded to a maximum
of from 600 to 750 W,
and a porcelain metal
sheathed connector
and b.c. adaptor are
provided ready for
connecting to the
lamp-holder. No. 566 is of the same construction but measures
8 in. in diameter, and the heating elements are loaded to a maximum
of 1 000 to 1250 \V. It is wired to two terminals, and is provided
with a porcelain metal-sheathed connector, but no flexible cable.

No. 566 A is
the same size
as No. 566, but
is wired to
three terminals,
and is provided
with three
smgle-pole con-
nectors, ar-
ranged for
three-heat con-
trol. The prices
of these appli-
ances range
from 50s. to 85 s.
The open coil boihng rings are made in the same sizes as the boil-
ing plates, and range from 20s. to 35s. in price.

Solid Type Boiling Plate.

Open Coil Boiling Ring.

R'dwlplug Enterprise.

The Rawlplug Co. are having a front-page advertisement in
the " Daily Mail " on Thursday, May 25.

^ The design, which is reproduced herewith, shows a very con-
tented " handy man " doing a job in his house, watched by his
small son — to say nothing of the dog. The appeal is clever, and
the copy will se«nd the buyer to the ironmonger or electrician for his

LARGE
PACES

prttia

3Ilail

Ravvlplugs make Fixing easy &. Fixtures secure

DAWLPLUGS

What the " R.\wlplug " Advertisement will look like.

supphes, which should stimulate demand, especially in view of the
spring cleaning period, which the Rawlplug Co. have chosen as
being notably suitable. We understand advance copies of this
front page can be had on application to the company.

We congratulate the company on keeping their name before the
public, which means so much in these days, and add our tribute
to the worth of Rawlplugs as a labour-saving appliance.

A New Type of Switch-Plug.

The s\\dtch-plug illustrated has just been put on the market bv
Simplex Conduits, Ltd., to meet the demand for a thoroughly

satisfactory- water-tight inter-
locked switch and plug for use
in factories, shipyards, etc. It
has been designed so that the
insertion or withdrawal of the
plug actuates the quick make
and quick break switch mech-
anism. This principle ensures
the maximum of safety, as
when the current is not re-
quired the plug must neces-
sarily be withdrawn.

The plug is of the two-pin
and earth type and is made
entirely in brass ; the gland
fitted on the plug is suitable
for twin cab-tyre cable with
earthing strand. A locking
ring is also p^o^^ded to prevent
accidental withdrawal of the
plug. As will be seen, the equip-
ment is of solid construction,
and once fixed its "fool-proof"
qualities should make it par-
ticularly suitable where the
labour available is of a non-
electrical character. With the
electric drive now being intro-
duced as the best of labour-i
swing methods its wide use
should therefore be assured.

Interlocking Switch-Pllg.

6oo

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

Legal Intelligence.

Dispute about Electric Light Poles.

A Divisional Court (Justices Bray and Greer) heard on Thursday
last the appeal of the Rev. Edward \\'m. Porter, from a decision
of Judge Marchant at the Ipswich County Court that the bank into
which the Ipswich Corporation, as electricity undertakers, dug six
poles in Rushmere-road was not the property of the plaintiff and
part of his boundary fence, but wayside greensward and part of the
dedicated public highway.

Stating appellant's case, Mr. Hawke, K.C, said Mr. Porter had
brought an action for damages for trespass and for an injunction
to restrain the Corporation from erecting the poles in the roadside,
but the County Court Judge on April 12 last dismissed his action.
The judge purported to find that the jjoles were put on the highway.
They were erected to supply electric light to the house of a lady
lower down the road. Supposing it were said, Mr. Hawke explained,
that the poles were put on Mr. Porter's half of the road, there might
still be something to argue, and as to two of the poles, Mr. Porter
contended that if they were on the edge of the bank which consti-
tuted, with a hedge, his boundary, he had an action for interfering
with his subsoil by digging 6 ft. without his consent. The other
four poles were put in the bank. In the correspondence the Corpo-
ration asserted that the bank had slipped forward, helped by frost,
rain and snow, and so encroached on the highway, and the poles
in the bank were really put on that part of the highway on which
the bank had encroached 4I in. The plaintiff apparently was the
trespasser and not the Corporation. The Corporation pleaded
their statutory right as the electricity authority, and said that as
to the overhead wires, the Ministry of Transport had given its
consent. The judge viewed the scene, but he (Mr. Hawke) submitted
there was no evidence on which the judge could find as he did.

Mr. Montgomery, K.C, for the Corporation, said the important
point for them was to establish that, as the electricity authority,
they had power to put posts into land the surface of which was
dedicated to the public as highway. Prima facie the roadway
extended from the hedge on one side of the road to the hedge on
the other side. He said the bank on which the hedge was placed
was 2 ft. high, and, horizontally, from the line of the hedge to the
edge of the grass was 2 ft. 6 in.

Mr. Hawke asked that the case should not be sent back, but
should be decided now, for life was too short to try cases twice.
Mr Porter had thrown the onus of proof on the Corporation, and
they had failed to discharge it. There was nothing to rebut his
evidence that the right line of bank had been adhered to.

DeUvering the judgment of the court, Mr. Justice Bray said it
was clear that a hedge upon a bank, with the bank, was one struc-
ture, a boundary fence. There was no evidence on which the judge
could have found as he did. He found the grass was greensward,
including the bank on which the four poles were placed, and part
of the highway. Supposing the whole bank part of the road, no
question could arise as to encroachment on the road by the bank.
There could be no proper judgment except that the bank belonged
to plaintiff. But it was strongly argued that what the judge found
was simply that the particular points where the poles were put did
not belong to plaintiff. It was not disputed ihat the poles were
placed on the slope. The correspondence spoke of the bank creep-
ing into the road, but the plaintiff and his gardener stated that
when the Corporation men cut back the edge of the bank some
years ago they pro.vided a line which had been carefully observed
ever since. The surveyor said the same, and the Corporation
called no evidence to rebut this. The judge undoubtedly found,
and wrongly, that the whole of the bank belonged to the highway.
The judge himself viewed the bank, but he could not use the view
as evidence ; if he had seen anything, r.o contradict the plaintiff's
account he could have put that matter in cross-examination. The
Corporation, as to the four })oles, musr. be found to be trespassers.
As to two poles, the digging for which the plaintiff said disturbed
his subsoil, the lighting authority pleaded sec. 2 of the Gas Works
Clauses Act, 1 8.^7, which they said entitled electric lighting undertakers
reasonably to break the surface of dedicated roads. The appellant
said the following proviso required that when the land of a private
owner was to be disturbed his consent must first be obtained, and
only the surface of the road was dedicated and not the land beneath
to any extent. The proviso did not limit the powers given in
sec. 6 ; 6 ft. was a reasonable depth for *.1.< poles, no structure
beneath was interfered with, and plaintiff niu<t lose on his conten-
tion as to those two poles. He also complained of the cutting of
an Austrian pine for the electric wires, tor which the Corporation
said his sister gave permission ; but the sister was not the owner,
and when plaintiff returned home he withdrew any consent, and
made it clear that he consented to nothing. Plaintiff would
be given the nominal damages of 5s. for the cutting of the tree,
40s. damages for placing the four poles, and an injunction against
the electric lighting authority, with costs, except that he must
bear the additional costs (if any) of his plea with regard to the
digging for the two other poles.

Mr. Justice Greer said the digging for the two poles was done
in land dedicated to the public, so the proviso following clause h
did not apply. He was, however, a little troubled in his mind as
to what would have been the effect of it if there had been a cellar
or other building beneath the road into the roof of wliich the poles
went. He referred to Thompson v. Sunderland Gas Company,

which decided that a cellar was jiist as much a building, under
ground, so far as electric lighting undertakers were concerned, as
a warehouse was above ground.

Mr. Montgomery asked for leave to appeal as the supply of elec-
tricity to a consumer was affected.

Leave to appeal was refused, but appellant agreed to a limited
stay of execution.

What is Power Supply ?

An action which raises an important issue for electricity supply
companies and authorities came before Mr. Justice Swift on the
loth inst. The Westminster Electric Supply Corporation
sued Wykehams Studios, I<td., for the recovery of ;^82 i8s. 5d. for
electricity supplied to the defendants for photographic purposes
and for meter rent. There was no dispute as to the amount of
electric current consumed, the only point being the rate of charge.

Mr. W. S. Kennedy (for plaintiffs) said that up to May of last
year the defendants were supplied with electric current on the power
basis. By an agreement which was then made with the Photo-
graphers' Association a rate was arranged midway between the
power and lighting charges, but defendants declined to accept the
revised scale and claimed to be entitled to receive electricity at the
former rates. If the contention were upheld that plaintiffs had no
authority to differentiate between the various uses of power, and
that, say, a big railway company must pay precisely the same for
its current as, say, a consumer who had only a small lathe motor,
then the supply must cease altogether, as the companies could not
afford to supply electricity on those terms.

No evidence was called as it was admitted that the electricity
supplied had been used for other than lighting purposes and that
the figures put in were substantially correct.

For the defence, Mr. H. Blanco \\'hite said that he relied upon
the case of the .\ttorney-General v. the Hackney Borough Council,
and he submitted that as the supply given was for photographic arc
lamps it was used for power and not lighting purposes. He con-
tended that defendants were in the power class and were entitled
to be charged not more than the least favoured of power users.
What the company had done was to alter slightly their form of agree-
ment and call it a general form of agreement for supplying electricity.
The defendants originally took a supply of electricity in 191 6 ; the
agreement was terminated in 1921, and they were charged the
lighting rate until Christmas, 1921, when the plaintiffs made an
agreement with the Photographers' Association; the Corporation
admitted that it was not a power charge at 4d. per unit. His
clients were not parties to that agreement, and they said that the
charge for power was 2d. or ijd. per unit, and as defendants were
in the power class they said that they were being charged more than
the maximum for power, as they were asked to pay 4d. instead of
i^d. The Photographers' Association had admitted it was not
power, and in consideration of that admission they had got a reduc-
tion of 2d., but defendants were not bound by that. He relied upon
the company's advertisement that they supplied electricity for
power at i^d. per unit.

Mr. Kennedy admitted that the company offered to supply
electricity for power at lid. per unit — that was the price. adopted
for some cases, but not all. In each case a special charge was made.
They were charging defendants the same rate as every other con-
sumer in the district who was using the current for the same-purpose
under similar circumstances. There was no undue preference. In
the circumstances the company were justified in charging defendants
4d. per unit.

Mr. Justice Swift said that what the plaintiffs appeared to have
done was to create a new class of consumers altogether, and to
divide them into three sections — illuminating, pow'er, and photo-
graphic— and to rate them accordingly. Had they the power to do
that ? As the point raised was an important one, he would take
time to con.sider his judgment.

Right to a Trade Name.

Last wec'.v Mr. Justice Astbury heard a motion by Messrs. W. H.
Dorman & Co., Ltd., for an injunction to restrain Messrs. Henry
Meadows, Ltd., Wolverhampton, from using the name " Dorman "
on their engines. It appeared that plaintiff company was registered
in 1897 to take over the business carried on since 1872 by Mr. W. H.
Dorman who became chairman of the company. Henry Meadows
Ltd., were registered in 191 7. Mr. W. H. Dorman remained
chairman of plaintiff company until 191 1, and his son, Mr. John
Dorman, was a director of it from 1898 to 1910, when he sold his
shares and resigned his directorate, beconung sales manager until
1921 . In September, 1921, he entered defendant company's service,
becoming sales manager and a director. Plaintiff company stated,
and it was not denied by defendants, that their engines were gencr-
allv known as " Dorman " engines ; but in March. 1922, defendants
caused notices to be put in motor newspapers calling attention to an
internal combustion engine made by them, described as the
" Meadows-Dorman " engine, and stated to have been designed
by Mr. John Dorman. "They also claimed that they were entitled
to use the name of Dorman for it.

After hearing counsel for the parties, his Lordsliip said he was of
opinion there was no justification for defendant companj-'s use of
the name " Meadows-Dorman " for engines. Dorman did not form
part of their title, and no business carried on Ly Dorman had liecn
assigned to them. Defendants had only lately begun to advertise.

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

601

but plaintiffs had already received a letter from a firm assuming
that the " Meadows- Dorman " engine was connected with them.
If defendants used the description, confusion would ensue. There
was no justification for the defendants' action in law. and the only
question was the form of the injunction. The case was stronger
than those where defendants were actually using their own name.
He granted a perpetual injunction to restrain defendants from
using the description " Meadows-Dorman " and from having their
engines described or marked with the name " Dorman " or from
using that name as part of their description without all proper pre-
cautions for distinguishing their engines from those made by
plaintiffs or from leading or inducing customers to believe that
their engines were plaintiffs' engines, or that there had been any
amalgamation or arrangement between plaintiffs and defendants.

Re Hubert D. Carter (Bangor), Ltd.

At Bangor County Court last week an application was made for
the compulsory winding-up order of Hubert D. Carter (Bangor),
Ltd., electrical instrument dealers.

Mr. BuRGis said the company was formed in 1920 with a capital
of £5 000. The directors were Herbert and Eric Carter, the former
being the promoter, and the shares were held mainly by members of
the Carter family. There was also another company at Colwyn
Bay, which was established in 1917 with a capital of £s 000. The
Colwyn Bay Company supplied electrical appliances to the Bangor
firm ; the two ftrms had the same secretary (Mr. Rowley Redwood),
the same directors, and the same auditors (Messrs. Maclntyre and
Redwood). The Colwyn Bay Company had issued debentures to
the amount of £2 000 to Hubert Carter. Rowley Redwood, who
retired from the Colwyn Bay Company, was appointed receiver ;
then the Bangor Company went into liquidation. Redwood being
appointed hquidator. Mr. Burgis suggested that the two com-
panies were so closely allied that there ought to be an independent
investigation. He represented Higgins, Ltd., Downes and Davies,
Electrical Appliances, the General Electric Company, and another
creditor with claims amounting to ;(36o. One of the Carters had
a claim for two years' salary (^978), which he was prepared to with-
draw if the petitioning creditors would withdraw the demand for
compulsory liquidation.

Mr. Bone, who appeared for certain creditors, assured the Judge
of the honourable standing of Mr. Poppleton and Mr. Johnson,
who represented other creditors, said the suggestion that Mr.
Poppleton would be influenced by Redwood was absurd.

Eventually an order was made for the voluntary winding-up of
the estate, the official liquidators to be Messrs. Poppleton (Bir-
mingham) and Eaves (Manchester) .

Attorney-General v. Oetzmann.

In this case the Ministry of Labour, on the information of the
Attorney-General, sought to recover £5 from Messrs. Oetzmann &
Company, being the price of a new controller drum to be used for
revolving electric light advertisements supplied bj'^ the Ministry-
Mr. G. M. HiLBERY (with the Attorney-General) said that the
Ministry of Labour had a stand connected with the Government
Instructional Factory at the " Efficiency " Exhibition held last
spring at Olympia, on which was displayed a controller drum for
working revolving advertisement lights. Defendants ordered one,
but when the bill was sent in they refused to pay, because they
alleged that it was a term of the bargain that there should be a
week's trial of the drum, and they said that the apparatus was faulty.
Mr. Justice McCardie gave judgment for plaintiffs for the amount
claimed. He held that there was no such term as that pleaded,
and that there was no evidence to show that the apparatus was
intrinsically faulty. The department could not be blamed for a
very hot summer, which warped the woodwork of the sign and
disarranged the apparatus so as to preclude its effective operation.
On the question of costs it was submitted that where the Attorney-,
General is unable to obtain judgment for more than £^^0 he was not'
entitled to any costs unless he could show that he could not have
brought the action in the county court. His Lordship, after com-
menting on the High Court being occupied for two hours in dealing
with a claim for £^, said he would fix a time for argument as to costs.

Claim for Electrical Goods.

In the Shoreditch County Court, on Friday, before Judge Cluer,
Messrs. Ira Miller & Company, Ltd., sued Messrs. A cS:. E. Lower,
of South Tottenham, mechanical engineers, to recover £- 4s. 5d.,
balance of an account for electrical goods supplied.

Plaintiff's Traveller said he called at the defendant's pre-
mises at Seven Sisters Road, and took orders from Albert John
Lower. Accounts had been paid, but the balance was due that was
sued for. In cross-examination he agreed that Mr. Lower said he
had got a job on at High Wycombe, that he was a struggling
man, and he could only ]pa.y on the completion of the job. His
firm agreed to those terms, and the goods were supplied. Later
they got a letter from the brother of Albert saying that he had
heard that his brother Albert had been having some goods, but the
firm were not liable.

For the defence, Albert John Lower said he at one time was
manager to his brother, who was sole proprietor of A. & E. Lower.

Judge Cluer : I cannot see that the firm had to make any
inquiry when the firm was " A. & E.," and the^- got orders from
" A." Besides, here is a memorandum in which it refers to the
goods supplied " to our order." Judgment was entered for plain-
tiffs, with costs.

Holbrook v. Court.

In the Mayor's and City of London Court last week J. Holbrook
& Company, electrical engineers, sought to recover £0935. from Mr.
H. J. Court, of Whyteleafe, Surrey, for an electric light installation.

The defence was that plaintiffs' representative said they had
made the necessary arrangements with the local Electrical Supply
Company to lay cables in defendant's road, and that they would
be laid within two or three weeks. Defendant gave the order on
the faith of that representation.

Plaintiffs said they did not represent that the company would
lay the mains in any definite time, but they did their best to induce
them to do so. Defendant replied that plaintiffs' services were
useless to him as the supply was not yet in the village, because
plaintiffs never got fifteen customers as arranged.

The Judge came to the conclusion that there was misrepresenta-
tion, but not fraudulent misrepresentation. He need not go into
the question of whether there was any warranty or not, although
he thought there was. He found for plaintiffs for the amount
claimed, without costs, and for the defendant for 50 guineas on a
counter-claim, with costs.

Re J. G. White A Co., Ltd.

The High Court has sanctioned a reduction in the capital of
J. G. White & Co., Ltd., from ;^500 000 to £350 000 by writing 15s.
off the 200 000 £1 ordinary shares. In 1920 the business of a
subsidiary company (The J. G. White Commercial Co.) developed
extensively, particularly in South America, but in the autumn of
that year the company suffered severe losses by the fall in prices
and in exchange. Some of the indebtedness of the Commercial
Company is irrecoverable and had to be written off.

Registration of Business Names.

At Bow Street Police Court last week, Mr. Geo. Weston, who
carries on business as Geo. Weston & Co., at Hounslow, was fined
five guineas, with three guineas costs, for failing to register the
name of the firm under the Registration of Business Names Act,
1916.

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Ayr Electricity Bill.

A Select Committee of the House of Lords, presided over by Lord
Bristol, has been considering this Bill, which confers powers {inter
alia) upon Ayr Corporation to utihse the water power of Loch
Doon in the generation of electricity. Originally the Corporation
desired to extend their area of supply in the southern part of the
county, but this proposal was dropped, though they wish to
obtain the right to supply electric power in the county if it proved
desirable. The County Council withdrew their opposition on terms,
but Kilmarnock Corporation, which had an agreement vri^h Ayr for
bulk supply, was given a locus standi.

Mr. H. P. Macmill.\n, K.C, who appeared for Ayr Corporation,
gave a general outline of the scheme, which was promoted because
of the increasing demand for electrical energy and because the
present steam plant was nearly loaded to its full capacity. It was
really a small and simple undertaking. The cost of the hydraulic
works would be about ^113 000 ; the power station aud equipment.
;^43 000 ; the transmission system, £^8 000 ; and general costs.
£6 000, a total of £zio 000. It was also proposed to increase the
maximum charge to is. per unit, and to extend the area supplied
by the Corporation, by including the southern portion of the county,
with the burghs of Maybole and Girvan. The scheme would involve
the acquisition of land, the erection of a power station, the turning
of Loch Doon into a reservoir, etc.

Engineer's Evidence.

Mr. J. H. Rider, consulting engineer, gave technical details of
the scheme, and said it was intended that a minimum of 4 000 000
gallons per day should be left in the bed of the river where it was
proposed to withdraw the water for power, .\rrangements might
be made for a daily flow of o 000 000 gallons, but anything beyond
that would be fatal to the scheme. They could complete the works
in two yearb from the time of starting.

Replying to Lord Xovar, witness said that so far as their pro-
posals went the scheme would be complete in itself, but that was
not to say that there was no possibility of further hydro-electric
schemes in the same watershed. He would foresee tfic time when
the whole of the energy of Loch Doon would be required for .\\r.

Mr. W. .\. Tait, consulting engineer, said Loch Doon was suitably
situated for hvdro-electric power. If the scheme were proceeded
with he did not think there would be any appreciable effect on the
amenity of the loch. The cost of the works were correct, and were
based on 100 per cent, increase on pre-war prices. The scheme was
capable of being extended in conjunction with any larger scheme
that might be launched. He had seen a section of the bed of the
river, and he thought that relatively small works would make a
successioa of pools and runs which would result in the better utilisa-
tion of the water. The scheme would be to the advantage of the
mills in the vicinity of the river, because they would have a bigger
storage of water and more regular flow.

On the nth inst. Mr. Tait continued his evidence, and said that
raising the dam on Loch Doon by 3 f... would submerge about 200
acres. In the Bill the water to l>e reserved for the stream would be

602

The Electrician.

May ig, 1922

6 000 000 gallons per day. If the dam were raised to lo ft. it would
mean an increase of ;^ioooo on their present estimates, and a
corresponding increase on the annual charges.

Mr. Godfrey M. Taylor, civil engineer, said that, whatever
compensation water was given, it must be an elastic quantity in the
interests of the fish. It was for that reason that it was proposed to
store 3 000 000 to 4 000 000 gallons of water for each of four succes-
sive days, and then release it on the fifth day. The storage capacity
of Loch Doon, when raised 5 ft., would be 7 000 000 gallons, but
under the present scheme only 5 500 000 gallons would be required.

Mr. .\rmiste.\d, fishery expert, said that it was on his advice that
the minimum flow of the river was fixed at 4 000 000 gallons. The
river was a verv fine salmon river, but its bed could be improved
by making a series of pools with easy runs between. He could say
that, with the works contemplated and the volume of water that
was to be sent down, the proprietors on the Doon need have no fear
that the stock of fish would be affected.

The Committee adjourned.

Electricity (Supply) Bill.

Mr. A. Neai,, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Trans-
port, moved the second reading of this Bill in the House of Commons
on Monday. In explaining the provisions of the Bill, which has
already passed the House of Lords, he said the measure proposed
to complete and make workable the Act of 1919. It would give
joint electricity authorities, with the approval of the Electricity
Commissioners, power to borrow, and certain councils and companies
interested power to lend, in respect of electricity supply works and
undertakings. The measure was mainly financial, but it also con-
tained powers to make agreements for the working of generating
stations and, by consent of the authorities concerned, to extend
the periods of purchase at present vested in local authorities.
After referring to what was being done in other countries and to
the need for economising our coal supply, he said the Bill would
be of value in relieving unemployment in the best possible way.

Mr. G. Balfour moved the rejection of the Bill, mainly because,
he said, he wished to secure proper and adequate control by the
House over the finance of the large authorities proposed to be set
up under the Act of 1919. He regarded the proposed joint authori-
ties and the methods of finance proposed as bad public policy,
which would lead, not to progress and prosperity, but to stagnation.
The Bill proposed to confer powers on joint electricity authorities
to borrow very large sums of money and pay interest while capital
was unremunerative, and to suspend the sinking fund on un-
remunerative undertakings for five or six years. It also conferred
certain financial powers on local authorities, which, with those
conferred on joint electricity authorities, were subject only to the
confirmation of the Ministry of Transport and the approval of the
Treasury. He contended that financial powers should be given to
the joint authorities by provisional orders, which would have to
be laid before Parliament for confirmation.

Sir R. Clough having seconded the motion for the rejection of
the Bill,

Sir P. Dawson said he was glad that the compulsory clauses in
the Bill of 1919 were now optional, but he thought there were many
clauses in the present measure which were dangerous from the
point of view of the economical production of electricity. Under
the Bill the main reason which now existed for local authorities
producing cheap electricity would cease to exist, and instead of
promoting a cheap supply it might result in a dearer one.

Mr. Myers supported the Bill, and the debate was adjourned.

German Optical and Scientific Instruments.

A Committee appointed unc'er the Safeguarding of Industries
Act is investigating the complaint made with regard to optical
and other scientific instruments manuf" Lured in Germany.

On Monday Sir Arthur Colefax (for the applicant associations)
said that they would submit evidence upon a few typical standard
articles, and more especially upon prism binoculars, microscopes,
photographic lenses, drawing instruments, etc. The excellence
of British prism glasses led the Admiralty and War Office to select
them as standard articles, and at the end of the war the output
capacity had considerably increased. To-day German binoculars
were being sold at a)x)ut one-third of the cost of similar English-
made articles. He cited an instance in which £^ i8s. 6d. was
charged for German binoculars which before the war sold for £6 los.
British manufacturers could not possibly sol! at anything like
;^3 1 8s. Od. Apart from Government contr.icts for India, the
British industry was practically closed down. Home manufacturers
were also unable to compete with prices charged for German-made
microscopes, photographic lenses, spectacles, cheap lenses and
drawing instruments. In consequence some home firms were now
employing less than half the number of workers they employed in
191.^.

Mr. Watson Baker said that although a duty of 33J per cent,
had been imposed upon imported microscopes the prices of the
German articles had been advanced by only i()^ per cent. They
were hoping for an a])preciation of the mark and an increase oi wages
in Germany. If that occurred a further duty of 33 J per cent, would
greatly assist British manufacturers.

L.C.C. Tramways.

On the nth inst. a Select Committee of tlie House of Commons
passed the preamble of the London County Council (Tramways,
Trolley \'ehiclcs, and Improvements) Bill. Originally ll\e Bill

contained proposals for constructing a trolley omnibus line from
Norwood Road to the Crystal Palace, but owing to the veto of
Lewisham Borough Council that part of the scheme had to be
dropped. The remainder of the Bill was concerned with the con-
struction of about five-eighths of a mile of tramway along Amhurst
Park, connecting the L.C.C. tramway at Stamford Hill and that of
the Metropolitan Electric Tramways, Ltd. (who opposed the Bill)
in Seven Sisters Road. The local authorities concerned desired that
the tramway should be made, but the Metropolitan Co. opposed.
The committee found that the Metropolitan Company's property
would not be damaged, or in any way rendered less valuable or
productive by the construction of the line.

Coal Mines (Safety Lamps).

In reply to Major Barnes (House of Conunons, May 11), Sir R.
Horne said that no financial assistance by way of grant or loan
had been given to firms engaged in the production of safety lamps
for use in coal mines for the purpose of putting down or extending
their plant. With regard to Excess Profits Duty, only such allow-
ances had been given as were authorised by the statutes relating
to that duty which were applicable to trades and businesses in
general, including those to which Major Barnes referred. The
Commissioners of Inland Revenue were precluded by statute from
disclosing information relating to the taxation of particular tax-
payers.

Merchant Ships and Wireless Staff.

In reply to Mr. Maclean (House of Commons, May 15), Mr.
Baldwin stated that the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee
had reported on the question of wireless watchers, and recommended
that no change in the regulations was at present justified. At the
same time, the Committee called attention to a lack of co-operation
between operators and watchers, and to the unsatisfactory practice
obtaining on some ships of taking watchers from their wireless watch
for other work. Steps were being taken by the Board of Trade to
effect improvement in these respects. The Committee's report
was being printed.

to borrow

Imperial Notes.

Coraki (N.S.W.) Council are seeking permission
£b 500 for the equipment of electricity works.

The accounts of the Port Pirie (South Australia) municipal
electricity department for the past year show a profit of ;^53o.
Units purchased from the Broken Hill Associated Smelters were
320 420 and sold 246 399. Income was £j 733.

The Town Clerk of Bendigo (Victoria) has written to Ballarat
Council urging that the two Councils should co-operate in an
endeavour to secure prompt Government action in regard to pro-
viding electricity supply at reasonable rates for consumers in
country districts.

The report of the manager, Mr. Guy Allbut, on the working of the
Newcastle (N.S.W.) municipal electricity undertaking for 1921,
states that there was a net surplus of ;^io 128 os. 8d., after providing
for all charges, including instalments of loans and depreciation.
Revenue was^;^ioo 238, compared with £bb 499 in 1920. The capital
expenditure on new works was ;^44 173, compared with ^37 062.
New consumers connected were i 997, compared with i 325 in
previous year.

The expenditure authorised to be made in the year ending June
•30 next on the scheme for the exploitation of the water power of the
Austrahan River Murr.w for generating electrical energy is
;^8o 000, which will be spent cliiefly on the Hume reservoir, the
Lake Victoria (South Australia), storage and locks at Torumbarry
and at Wentwurth, near the junction of the Murray and the DarUng.
The full scheme will take eight years to complete, and will involve the
construction of 35 locks and weirs. Work is proceeding on No. 3
lock, four miles below Kingston (South Australia).

Wireless Wave Meters.

On Monday the Royal Commtssion o.v Awards to Inventors
heard a claim by Prof. J. S. E. Townsend, in respect of a wave met^r.
At the time the invention was made Prof. Townsend was an officer
in the R.N.V.R., his duties being to instruct officers in the theory
and practice of wireless telegraphy.

Mr. Whitehead, for tlie claimant, said the invention indicated
the ])articular wave which an instrument was emitting when used
as a transmitter or the length of the wave which the instrument was
receiving wlien operating as a receiver.

Prof, Townsend and Prof. Whiddington gave evidence in
support of the claim, the latter laying stress on the fact that the
invention could be used for continuous wave work, and that it was
extremely accurate.

Mr. Trevor Watson (for the Crown) said tha<^ about 2 000 of
the wave meters were in use towards the end of the war, and he
admitted that the instrument was the best of its kind at that time.

The Commission reserved their decision.

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

603

Electricity Supply.

Winchester City Council has authorised the expenditure of £150
for the purchase of electric cookers for hiring out.

The Electricity Commissioners will hold an inquiry on the 30th
inst. at Lyme Regis Town Hall into the Council's application for
a Special Order to supply electricity in the borough and the adjoin-
ing parish of Uplyine.

The Electricity Commissioners will hold an inquiry at the
Middlesex Guildhall, Westminster, London, on May 30, at 10.30 a.m.,
and following days if necessary, into the application of the South
Eastern and Chatham Rail-way for permission to establish a
generating station on Angerstein's Wharf, Charlton, Kent, and
into that of the West Kent Electric Company to establish a generat-
ing station at Belvedere, in the Urban district of Erith. Anyone
interested in the applications of either company may attend.

At a meeting of Accrington Town Council on Monday it was
stated that the revenue of the electricity undertaking had suffered
as a result of the coal strike, &c., and the sale of current was down
by a million units. Notwithstanding the increase in price the re-
ceipts had only increased by £i 500. Owing to the fact that
generating costs had been reduced from £ji 000 to ^45 000 the loss
last year of £8 800 had been turned-into a profit of ^13 790. After
the appropriation of various sums they had a total profit for the
year of £12 640. Until indu.strial conditions became more settled
nothing could be done with regard to a reduction in price.

A block of twelve model dwellings in Shoreditch is to be
lighted electrically by the London County Council. The Borough
Council will fit the tenements for lighting, cooking and water heating,
the County Council bearing half the cost (/15 each), which is claimed
to be less than the charge for installing gas fittings. Electricity will
be supplied at a flat rate, the average charge for a three or four-
roomed tenement for lighting and water heating being estimated
at 2s. a week, and for a five-roomed one, 2s. 4d. When current is
not used for lighting it operates automatically for heating water.
For cooking, a separate meter will be installed, and electricity will
be supplied at 2d. a unit.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Portsmouth Town Council has received sanction to a loan of
£^ 000 for the extension of the engine house at the Electricity
Works.

Berwickshire County Council have granted permission to the
Greenlaw Electric Supply Co. to erect overhead transmission lines
in the town.

Croydon Town Council have applied for a Special Order to supply
electricity to Addington at an estimated cost of £1 000. Owing to
the increased demand for electricity at Croydon, ;^I2 084 is to be
expended on additional plant.

Bradford Corporation have decided to inaugurate a modified
scheme of street lighting in an endeavour to secure further economy.
Only about half the present number of lamps will be lighted, and
the experiment will last for one month.

A limited company has been formed at Corwen to carry out a
combined water and electricity scheme for the town. Electricity
will be generated at the Cynwyd waterfalls, about two miles away,
where two turbines will be fixed, with a statiortin the centre of the
town.

Warminster Electric Supply Company have acquired an old
foundry near the Market Place for use as a generating station.
Arrangements have been made for the mains to be extended to the
village of Sutton Veney, and it is hoped to have electricity available
by Christmas.

Worcester City Council are making application to the Electricity
Commissioners for a Special Order to enable them to supply electricity
outside the boundary of the city and within a radius of three miles
from the Cross at Worcester, and to supply in bulk to the Shropshire
Power Company and the Malvern Urban District Council.

The Electric Supply Corporation are asking the Electricity Com-
missioners to rescind the Hitchin Electric Lighting Order, 1902.
and the Exmouth Electric Lighting Order, 1900, and to grant
new orders authorising electricity supply in the respective urban
districts of Hitchin and Exmouth as constituted at the date of the
proposed Orders.

Alteration of Charges.

Tonbridge Urban Council has abolished the minimum charge
of £2 per annum hitherto levied on consumers of electricity.

Bromwich Electricity Committee recommend a further reduction
of i2h per cent, to power consumers as from the March (1922) meter
readings.

Sunderland Town Council has authorised the following reduced
scale of charges for the supply of electricity for heating and cooking
purposes, in place of the previous rate of 2jd. per unit : — Xot
exceeding 500 units per quarter, 2^d. per unit ; 500-1 000 units,
2jd. ; I 000- 1 500 units, 2d. per unit; 1500-2300 units, ifd. ;
exceeding 2 500 units, lid.

Personal and Appointments.

Prof. R. W. Chapman has been elected President of the Institu-
tion OF Engineers (of Australia) for the year 1922.

Sir Richard Gregory has accepted the position of President of
the Decimal Association in succession to the late Lord Belhaven
and Stenton.

Owing to his business premises in Packer's Row, Chesterfield
having been demolished, Mr. Edgar R. Morris, electrical engineer,
has taken temporary premises in Elder Yard.

Sir Thomas Henry Holland has accepted the invitation of the
Governing Body of the Imperial College of Science and Technology,
London, to be Rector of the College, in succession to Sir Alfred
Keogh, who will retire on September i next.

Prof. C. L. Fortescue, of the Royal Xaval College, Greenwich,
has been appointed to the Chair of Electrical Engineering at the
City and Guilds (Engineering) College in succession to Prof. T.
Mather, who is resigning at the close of the present session.

Mr. J. W. BisPHAM, of the London County Council service
(Technology Section), has been appointed principal of the Borough
Polytechnic Institute, to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement
of Principal C. T. Millis. He will take up his duties in September.

Miss A. C. Davies, of the Royal Holloway College, Englefield
Green, Surrey, has been awarded the annual international prize of
I 000 dollars given by the American Association to Aid Scientific
Research for her paper on " The Investigation of Critical Electronic
Energy Associated with the Excitation of the Spectra Helium."
Thirteen papers were received — from Great Britain, six ; L'nited
States, five ; Australia, one ; Russia, one.

Mr. C. Mitchell, who recently retired from the position of
works manager of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company,
Chelmsford, after 16 years service, has been presented with an
antique walnut bureau and a silver cigar case by employees who
were under him ten years or over. Mr. A. Eddington, in making
the presentation, referred to the great service rendered by Mr.
Mitchell in being instrumental in forming the men's and girLs'
club rooms and the fine sports ground.

Recent appointments to the staff of the Technical College,
Bradford, include Mr. R. E. Stradling, as head of the Department
of Civil Engineering, and Mr. Henry J. B. Chapple, as lecturer in
Electrical Engineering. Mr. Stradling was formerly at Bristol
University and is now Lecturer in Civil Engineering in the Univer-
sity of Birmingham. Mr. Chappie is at present undertaking post-
graduate work in wireless telegraphy and telephony at the Cit>- A:
Guilds of London College. He was for some years engaged in
practical electrical work at Portsmouth.

Business Items, etc.

Mr. Wm. H. Bill has ceased to be a partner in the firm of Bill &
Berry, as from March 25 last. Trie firm will be carried on as
before by Mr. James H. Berry as sole proprietor, who will discharge
all the liabilities.

Automatic and Electric Furnaces, Ltd. inform us that in
response to enquiries, they have introduced a marine-t>-pe of
Wild-Barfteld electric furnace for use on board ship. This t>-pe of
furnace has been inspected by Admiralt\ experts and passed for use
on H.M. ships.

U.S.A. Electrical Manufactures.

An analysis of the census of electrical manufactures in the
United States for 1919 appears in the " Electrical World " of
April 22. A comparison is made with the position in 1914. ^"d
though both years? were abnormal, it is clear that enormous progress
was made in the period. The total value of the electrical products
in 1919 is given as S997 9^'^^ "9. against $335 170 194 in 1914. ^"d
of subsidiary products as §21 092 700, a to*-al of $1 019 060 S79.
against $359 432 r55. Generating plant and parts increased to
$S(> 266 114, from §1786554^. transformers and feeder potential
regulators to $53 495 570 from $28 276 338, and motors (excludmg
starters or controllers) to S116S93638 from $44176235. There
were also large increases in the values of electric locomotives,
batteries (storage and primary), carbons, searchlights, incandescent
lamps, telegraph and telephone apparatus, domestic devices, switch-
boards, radio apparatus, vSrc. In fact, the only heading showing a
reduction is arc lamps, though in the actual number manufactured
(but not value) carbon filament lamps also showed a slight drop.

A notable feature was the increase in the size of the generating
units and the demand for large transformers. Though the carbon
lamp production remained st;itionary, the tungsten lamp output
rose to 211383193 from 74434059 in 1914. The demand for
domestic electric apparatus and devices is clearly sho\%'n by the fact
that their value was about fourteen times that of 1914- Heaters,
stoves and ranges, grills, toasters, flat-irons, vacuum cleaners,
vibrators, cutters. cS:c.. all seemed to share in the popularity of
domestic appliances. Farmhouse plants and radio apparatus were
also much in request.

6o4

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

Electric Traction.

Walsall Town Council has decided to reduce by 20 per cent,
the charge for electricity supplied to the Tramways Department.

Sunderland Corporation has decided that while repairing the
tramway track in Tatham -street they will provide a new inter-
lacing line at an estimated cost of £450.

Reading Corporation tramways show a net profit of £2 988
this year against a deficit of £14 023 last year. The number of
passengers carried during the year was 11 349857, a decrease of
I 326 240.

The report of Sir William Marwood and Colonel J. W. PringK
recommending the erection of centre poles in Princess Street,
Edinburgh, has been issued by the Ministry of Transport as a
White Paper.

Barrow Electricity Committee have notified the Tramways
Committee that they are unable to reduce the charge for current
for traction purposes, but for lighting the charges will be reduced
from 8d. to 2jd. per unit.

The Standard Electric Co. have obtained a concession from
the British Electric Federation, Ltd., for erecting illuminated
signs on the electric light standards and tramway poles in Swansea,
from which the Corporation will obtain a revenue of about £1 600
for the electricity used.

Institutions.

The annual conversazione of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers will be held on Thursday, June 29, from 8.30 to 11 p.m.,
at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington.

The following members have been nominated to serve on the
Wireless Section Committee of the I.E.E. for 1922-23 : Chair-
man— Prof. G. W. O. Howe. New Nominations for Membership
of the Committee — S. Brydon, J. St. Vincent Pletts, Captain H. R.
Sankey, R. L. Smith-Rose. The following will continue to serve
as members of the Committee : B. Binyon, R. C. Clinker, Dr.
W. H. Eccles, Prof. C. L. Fortescue, G. H. Nash, C. C. Paterson,
Captain H. J. Round, L. B. Turner.

In a lecture on " Brakes for Tramways and Road Vehicles,"
delivered last week before the Yorkshire Association of Civil
Engineers, Mr. J. W. Dawson described the method of braking
in operation at Bradford. Professor Charnock, who presided,
said that nearly all tramway accidents in this country had been
traced to inefficient or defective brakes, and the operation of stopping
a car was not by any means the simple matter it was sometimes
assumed to be. A passenger who stopped a car, either in entering
or leaving, was responsible for the expenditure of an amount of
energy which would suffice to carry him nine miles. The energy
absorbed in starting and stopping the cars on a given tramway
system was enormous, and it had been ascertained that in several
large cities as much as £^0 000 was expended annually in stopping
cars.

Arrangements have now been completed for the summer meeting
of the Newcomen Society, which is to be held on Thursday and
Friday, June i and 2. On the first morning a conducted tour will
be made through the engineering collections of the Science Museum,
South Kensington, followed in the afternoon by a conducted inspec-
tion of the roof of Westminster Hall, by kind permission of Sir
Frank Baines, Director of Works ; a visit to the Clockmakers
Company's Horological Collection, and, if time permits, to the
Guildhall. At 7 p.m. the party will meet for dinner at the Engineers'
Club, Coventry Street, W.i (morning dress, probable cost 5s. each).
On Friday morning a visit will be made by motor coach to the
Rotunda Museum, Woolwich, and after lunch at the Ship Hotel,
Greenwich, the Naval Museum will be inspected. At 4.30 p.m.
the party will leave for Deptford, wh^re a visit will be made to
Boulton and Watt Engines, 1812 and 1824, M.W.B. pumping station,
Brookmill Road, by kind permission of Mr. T. Mclhuish,
District Engineer. -

Linke-Hoffmann Works.

"The Times" Berlin correspondent states that in the annual
REPORT of the Linke-Hoffmann Works dctu.ls are given of the
arrangement come to with the Allgemcine Elcctr.citats-Gesellschaft
in view of the future electrification of the Gernia.i railways and the
expected demand for electrical locomotives. For this purpose a
new group has been formed consisting of the Linke-Holimann
Works, the A. G. Laushcncr, and the A. E.G., and by these the
" Sgahl and Walzwerk Hennigsdors " has been founded. The
Linke-Hoffmann and A. E.G. have acquired an interest in the
Rhenische Metallwaaren and Maschinen Fabrik of Diisseldorf,
and the former's holdings in J. P. Goossens Lochner and Company
and Rudolf Lochner and Company have been increased. The
capital of certain subsidiary companies has also been increased.
In 1920 the Linke-Hoffmann raised its capital by 50 000 000 marks,
and of this increase the A.Ji.G. has taken over 30 000 000 ordinary
shares. An increase of 80 000 000 marks was autlioriscd last
December, the greater part of which is being expended in improving
the company's holdings in other countries. "The Linke-Hoffmann
gross profits for the year 1921 were 218 019 928 marks, compared
with 82 000 000 in 1920 and 2O 000 000 in 1919.

Possible Trade Openings.

The Municipal Council of Den Ham (province of -Overijsel,
Holland) has decided to proceed with the electrification of Den
Ham and Vroomshoop, for which purpose a loan of Gld.115 000
will be issued.

A correspondent in Nova Scotia asks for the addresses of United
Kingdom manufacturers who can supply wireless apparatus and
sets suitable for home use. Particulars from the Canadian Govern-
ment Trade Commissioner's Office, Portland House, 73, Basinghall
Street, London, E.C.

An electrical engineer in Weston, Ontario, desires to obtain the
representation of United Kingdom manufacturers of machine tools,
coal handling machinery, boiler house plant, etc., on a commission
basis, for the Province of Ontario. Particulars from the Department
of Overseas Trade. (Reference No. 522.)

In connection with the invitation by the Siamese Department
of Posts and Telegraphs for tenders to be submitted by June 28
for telegraph and telephone materials, the Acting Consul General
at Bangkok has now forwarded to the Department of Overseas
Trade a copy of the form on which quotations are to be made. The
form specifies the following material as being open to tender ;
galvanised iron wire ; insulators, white Cordeaux pattern ; G.P.
insulated submarine telegraph cable ; twin openin-g out wire ;
rubber cable ; galvanised steel suspension wire for aerial cable ;
magneto ringing wall telephones.

A Committee has recently been formed in Vladivostock for the
purpose of rebuilding the town of Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, which
was burnt down in 1920 and which is at present under Japanese
administration. The plans of the Committee provide for the
establishment of a town electric lighting station, a commercial port
with wharves, warehouses, and full equipment both for marine and
river transport, the installation of a sewage system, water supply,
and telephone service, and also for the erection of i 500 dwelling
houses. The Committee invites the co-operation of British enter-
prise and capital in the work of reconstruction. Further details
can be obtained from the Department of Overseas Trade.

A company who maintain a telephone system in Western
Caa<iada have intimated to Mr. L. B. Beale, H.M. Trade Com-
missioner for Western Canada, that they are prepared to do business
with firms in this country who can quote advantageous prices and
delivery dates. The company are accustomed to purchase lead-
covered, paper-insulated cable, 22 B. & S. gauge, in standard sizes
up to 800 pairs in large quantities of some 480 000 lb., sufficient
for a year's work, and are now in the market for such cable. The
name and address of the firm to whom communications should be
addressed can be obtained on appUcation to the Department of
Overseas Trade. The import duty on telephone cable of United
Kingdom manufacture is 20 per cent, ad valorem, as against 30 per
cent, ad valorem in the case of United States manufacture, to which
must be added in each case a sales tax of 4 per cent, of the duty paid
value. In estimating the cost of delivering material in British
Columbia, the advantages in the matter of cheap freight rates
to be secured by shipment via the Panama Canal should also be
considered.

Miscellaneous.

The death occurred last week at Bridgend, at the age of 73, of
Mr. John W^illiams, one of the pioneers of the Ogmore Valley
Electric Light Company.

On the last line but one in the second column of our leading article
on International Radio-Communication which appeared on p. 552
of our last issue 150 mV should read 150 [iV.

" The Cost Accountant," the official journal of the Institute of Cost
and Works Accountants, starts its second volume with the June
number, and will contain the first instalment of a new series of
articles by M.. C. W. Charlesworth, F.C.W..\., entitled The In-
terpretation and Analysis of Electricity Supply Costs.

Licences of Right have been granted to the K.W. Ignition
Co. for Patent No. 105328 (3268/17) for "improvements in
impulse starting mechanisms for the ignition magnetos of internal
combustior engines," and to P. F. Brittain for Patent No. 135 747
(8 560/19) for " improvements in or connected with motors for
dynamo-electric machines."

The forty-third annual Canadian National Exhibition will be
held at Toronto from August 26 to September 9. United Kingdom
firms desiring to secure space should apply to the Secretary,
Canadian National Exhibition, Lumsden Building, West Adelaide
Street, Toronto. A Bureau of Information will again be main-
tained by H.M. Trade Commissioner Service in Canada, at
wliich trade literature, small attractive posters, samples, etc., may
be displayed, free of charge. Catalogues, etc., of electrical
machinery and apphances ; mining machinery and suppUes,
electrical railway equipment ; scientific instruments, etc., are
specially mentioned as being useful, and should be sent direct
to H.M. Trade Commissioner, 24, West Adelaide Street, Toronto,
not later than June 30. Leaflets issued by the Exhibition
authorities, copy of correct form of invoice, etc., 'an be examined
at the Department of Overseas Trade (Canadian Section). (Kef.
D.O.T. 4985/FB/PN.)

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

605

Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc.
The English Electric Company, Limited.

Presiding at the annual general meeting of the above company
on Tuesday, May 16, Sir Charles E. J':ilis, O.H.E., K.C.B. (chairman
of the company), said that the balance sheet showed for the first
time the full liability for the note issue, but there was a considerable
reduction in sundry creditors and credit balances. On the assets
side there was an increase of nearly ,/|700 000 in land, buildings,
plant, machinery, etc., while interest in subsidiary and other
companies was reduced by £82^ 000. These differences indicated
further progress in the absorption of the constituent firms. The
company's stocks had been much reduced during the year both in
quantity and value, as they were able to foresee in 1920 that, although
orders continued to flow in, the market was becoming exhausted.
In addition to making a reduction in quantity of stocks they had
met the heavy fall in the market value of all materials by a special
writing down to a figure representing to-day's value or less.

Unprecedented State of Trade.

Turning to the profit and loss account the available balance was
slightly in excess of that last year. The net profits brought to credit
included dividends received from subsidiary companies and amounts
transferred from reserves previously set aside and no longer required.
In considering what dividen(J should be paid they had. felt bound
to look ahead and there they saw uncertainties on every hand.
The state of trade was unprecedented, and the engineering industry
had to face peculiar industrial difficulties. In recommending a
dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum,
the directors considered that they had reconciled the natural
expectations of the shareholders with the needs of a difficult and
obscure period to come.

Need for Private Enterprise.

Important steps had been taken to effect every possible economy
throughout the company's organisation, but their selling organisation
at home and abroad had been increased and strengthened. The
chaos in many of our best markets and the apparent failure of any
scheme on the grand scale to breathe new life into the trade of
Europe had produced a situation without precedent in British
industry. He was strongly of opinion that the way out of most of
the present difficulties would be through the efforts of private
enterprise. So strongly did they hold this view that they had
recently, with five powerful associates of world-wide reputation,
formed the Power and Traction Finance Company, Ltd., with the
object of dealing with comprehensive engineering contracts on a
large scale. The electrical industry had been less seriously affected
than many others, and during the past year they had secured many
important contracts, including the complete central station for the
City of Leicester, important railway electrification contracts in
Spain and Japan, and others. There were signs that public works
too long delayed must shortly be put in hand, and competition by
Germany and other countries with depreciated currencies was not
so serious as the abnormal rates of exchange would appear to imply.

The Engineering Lock-out.

The Chairman concluded ;■ —

Perhaps the most disturbing feature in the prospects for the elec-
trical industry is the continuance of the engineering lock-out. If
the favourable view with which foreign buyers have regarded the
industrial stability of this country in the past is to be threatened
by disputes such as this, the trade revival in this country may be
indefinitely postponed. In this connection the remarks of my
colleague Lord Meston, speaking the other day as chairman of the
Calcutta Electric Supply Company, are particularly apposite. He
said : " Disputes which mutual forbearance might obviate, unless
they are shortly abated, will surely drive concerns like ours, however
genuine our patriotism, to place our orders for heavy electrical
plant outside England."

This is neither the time noi place to discuss the merits and
demerits of the engineering lock-oat, but it is in my judgment
certain that the vast number of workmen and employers are pre-
pared to take the common-sense view that by real co-operaticn and
not by abuse of power on either side are the security of one class and
the aspirations of the other to be achieved. Whilst expressing a
determination loyally to support the majority of the great Federa-
tion to which our trade is allied, we are bound to say that in ail our
works the relations between our workpeople and ourselves are
excellent in every way. The damage to British trade in the eyes
of the world by the present serious labour dispute in this country
will be almost irreparable unless it be brought to a rapid conclusion,
and I sincerely trust that the joint meeting which is to be held
to-day will be the precursor of a settlement satisfactory to both
parties. It may be that there are extremists on one side or the
other, but whether that is so or not, a most grave responsibility
rests upon the negotiators which can only be met by a policy of
co-operation and goodwill.

The Castner-Kellner Alkali Company announce a dividend
of 8 per cent., actual, for six months.

The dividend for the year of the French Thomson-Houston
Company remains unchanged at 45 fcs. per share.

The Indian Electric Supply and Traction Company announce
a final dividend of 7 per cent., making 10 per cent, for the year.

The directors of Babcock and Wilcox announce a final dividend
of y per cent, actual, free of tax, making 16 per cent., free of tax, for
the year.

The Calcutta Tramways Company last week offered for public
subscription ;^25o 000 7 per cent, second (registered) debentures.
The issue was heavily over-subscribed within a few hours.

The net profit for the past year of Scarborough Electric
Supply Company amounted to ^45 after adding £4 000 to deprecia-
tion. The sum of £g 81 7 was brought in. .\ dividend of 2} per cent,
is proposed, leaving £7612 to be carried forward.

The net revenue of Tynemouth and District Electric Trac-
tion Company for 1921 amounted to £3 860, plus £8 794 brought
in, making ;{^i2 654. The directors propose a dividend on the ordi-
nary shares at 10 per cent, for the year, carrying forward £6 488.

The accounts of the Shanghai Electric Construction Co.
show that £^0 000 has been placed to reserve. .\ final dividend of
8 per cent, (actual) is recommended, making 20 per cent, for the
year. In June last a share bonus of 25 per cent, was distributed out
of reserve. ■

The profit of the Cleveland and Durham Electric Power
Company for 1921 was £40 462, making with £5 359 brought in
;^45 821, of which interest on debentures, etc., absorbed £43 945.
leaving £1 876 to be carried forward.- The capital expenditure on
works during the year amounted to ;^33 627.

The revenue of the Submarine Cables Trust for the year to
April 15, 1922, was ;£29 958, and expenses £1 983, leaving balance of
£27 974, plus ^19 brought forward, j^fter provid-ng £7 941 to meet
payment of coupons and /546 to be refunded to Inland Revenue.
£19 456 has been transferred to redemption fund and ;^50 canied
forward.

The profit for 1921 of Gravesend and Northfleet Electric
Tramways Company, after providing £11 576 for repairs, renewals
and maintenance and meeting debenture interest, etc., was £40<p.
making available, with £4 944 brought forward, £5 344. £1 000 is
placed to reserve (making £10 687), leaving £4 258 to be carried
forward.

The net profit of the Havana Electric Railway, Light and
Power Company for 1921 amounted to S4 620 064. The sum of
$1923879 has been placed to reserve, leaWng $2696185, plus
$3 629 099 brought in, making §6 326 084. Dividends paid (6 per
cent, on the preferred, and 6 per cent, on the common stock) absorbed
$2 155 579, leaving $3 781 041 to be carried forward.

The revenue of Peterborough Electric Tr.\ction Comp-\ny
for 1921 from all sources was ;^29 267, a decrease of /i 466. Expenses,
including debenture interest and ii 500 placed to renewals fund
(against £3 000), amount to ;^26 607, a decrease of £328, leaving
£2 660, plus £932 brought in, making (s 592. The directors recom-
mend payment of a dividend at 5 per cent, on the ordinary' shares,
carrying forward £1 272. £571 was expended on capital account.
Total capital expend"ture amounted to £72 266, compared with
shares and debenture stock issued of £'63 000.

The accounts of Callender's Cable and Construction Comp.any
for 1921 show a credit balance of £217012. .\fter deducting interest
on debenture stock, dividends on preference shares, appropriarion
for depreciation of buildings, plant and machinery of £30 000 and
of office furniture ^^500, the net profit was £117012. making with
£108 loi brought in £225 113. The directors propose payment of a
dividend on the ordinary shares at 15 per cent, per annum, less
tax, being 3s. per share, of which is. per share has been paid. The
sum of £150 113 remains to be carried 'orward.

An Exchange message states that the report of the Swedish-
Danish-Russian Telephone Co.mpany, which has a telephone
system in Moscow, shows a loss last year, when the company's
activities were practicallv at a standstill, amounting to 1.55 milhon
kroner, of which 1.39 million is directly conceined with the Moscow
branch. Since 191 7 accumulated losses have reached^a total of
3.()i milhon kroner. The company owns S 80S of the 9 000 shares
of the Cedergren Telephone Company, which last year incurred a
loss of 1. 41 milhon kroner, making its total losses since 1916 7.79
million kroner.

The report of the Ever Ready Company (Great Britain) for
the year to March 31 last shows, after allo\\-ing for various charges,
/39 376 available for appropriation. The directors recommend
final dividends of 5 i per cent, for the haU- year to March 31. 1922.
on the preference shares, fullv paid, making 9 per cent, for the year,
and 9 per cent, on the ordinary shares for the year. carr>-ing forward
£5 152. Early in .March, 1922. a final settlement was made with
the authoritic's of all taxation up to March 31. 1922 (excepting
coriwration profits tax, wliich is reserved for). The sum of £4 9--^
in su.spense in the balance-sheet as at March 31, 1921, was absorbed
in the settlement.

The accounts of the Indian Electric Supply and Traction
Company for 1921 show surplus on working in Cawnpore of £20 501.
against £34 969 in 1920, and including transfer fees and bank interest
the credit balance is £30 409. Actual net earnings in India were

6o6

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

Rs4 35.232, as against RS4 10.222 for 1920, but sterling equivalent
is lower owing to the fall in exchange. London expenditure was
£2 433, and after providing £z 979 for debenture interest and includ-
ing £^ 075 brought forward there remains £^0 162. The board have
placed to reserve for depreciation and renewals £7 736, and recom-
mend a final dividend of 7 per cent., making lo per cent., carrying
forward, subject to taxation, £3 197.

The accounts of the Potteries Electric Traction Company
for the year ended December 31 last show that the capital ex-
penditure during the year amounted to ;^i2 199, and the revenue to
;^300 832. The traffic and parcels receipts, which totalled ;^283 153,
exceeded those of last year by £2 521. Expenses increased bv
£6 562. After deducting all expenses chargeable to revenue, includ-
ing ^11 025 for debenture interest, and a provision of ;£io 000 for
renewals fund, making it ;^55 891, there remains ;^27 841 against
;^28 500 los. for 1920. Adding ;^6 082 brought forward there is a
balance available for distribution of £^^ 923, which the directors
recommend be applied as follows : To reserve account ;^5 000
(bringing it up to ;^ii4 523), to payment of a dividend on the pre-
ference shares at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum £12 250, to
payment of a dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 4 per
cent, per annum £g 800, leaving £6 873 to be carried forward.

Presiding last week at the annual meeting of Pinchin, Johnson,
Ltd., Mr. Edward Robson said that, in common with practically
every other industry, they had found that the general financial and
economic conditions of the world had been so exceptional and, in
regard to their foreign trade, so chaotic, that with some of the
overseas markets it had been almost impossible to trade. They had,
however, maintained their markets in a reasonably satisfactory
degree. Their home trade had been extremely satisfactory, and
even in some of the most difficult of their export markets they had
been able considerably to strengthen and consolidate their position.
Their stock in trade at December 31 last showed a very consider-
able reduction compared with the previous year, and they now
appeared to have reached the position that was clearly established
in regard to raw material values. It was difficult to predict the
future in the present unsettled state of affairs, but their returns to
date gave every indication that the extreme slump was more or less
at an end, and there were already indications, as far as their par-
ticular business was concerned, that a moderate but, he hoped,
steady, improvement had set in, and they looked forward to a very
satisfactory year of trading in 1922.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of the Bath
Electric Tramways, Ltd., last week, Mr. J. B. Hamilton (the
Chairman) first apologised for the late date at which the report
and accounts were being presented. The delay, he said, was entirely
due to his having had, for health purposes, to take a long rest. This
took the form of a journey round the world, and being, if anything
at all, a transport man, he had been able to advance his knowledge
of what was being done in this respect in other countries. He wished
to say that those who had invested their money in tramways in cities
of this country need have no fear of such undertakings being super-
seded by other forms of traction which were very loudly applauded
in some of the motor journals. There was not a single example,
cither in America or throughout the East, of tramways being super-
seded by any other form of traction in cities. It was quite true that
in some places where tramways were unsuitable, owing to great
density of traffic, such as prevailed in London, motor buses had been
introduced, and that, in districts where the population was too sparse
lo justify the high initial cost of installing a tramway, other forms
of traction had been adopted, such as motor omnibu.jes or railless
electric traction ; but in all the cities of the world where the electric
tramcar was practically doing the work of transportation it was, in
his view, likely to continue to do so for ;iany years to come. An
abstract of the accounts appeared in our last issue.

The revenue of the Cork Electric Tramways and Lighting
Company for the year 1921 amounted to /|ii4 773. The revenue
from the tramways was £1 406 less than for the previous year, due to
the strike referred to in the directors' last report. The revenue from
lighting and power shows an increase of £6 430 and the profits on
supply sales, discounts, etc., a decrease of £1 018 ; expenses
amounted to ^^98 772. The cost of generating was £1 393 less than
for 1920, due to the fall towards the end of the year in the price of
coal. There were increases of {a) £6Sj in the cost of maintaining
and operating the tramways, (h) £1 841 in the lighting and power
distribution expenses, (c) £2 576 in insurances, management, and
other general expenses, and (d) £2gi in bad debts. The gross profit
for the year was ;^ 16 001 to which is added £;i 702 carried forward
from 1920, and after meeting income tax and interest charges and
transferring to reserve for depreciation and renewals ;^ 12 000
(compared with £6 300) there is a balance to carry forward of
£2 800. The capital expenditure during the year amounted to
£35 "3'- This mainly covers the installation of a 2 000 kW Curtis
turbine and other plant at the Cork generating station, additional
cables and house services to meet the increasing demand for lighting
and power, and new plant at the yi-?enstown generating station
which has been installed in order to reduce the cost of generating.
The revenue to date shows an increase over the corresponcling period
of last year and enables the company to pay a half-year's dividend
on the 3 per cent, cumulative preference share capital. This
payment will clear the arrears to June 30, 1020.

New Companies.

George McCombe and Company,

George McCombe and Company, Ltd. (18 200.) Private
company. Reg. in Edinburgh May 4. Capital, £2 500 in 2 300
preference shares and 200 ordinary of £1 each. Motor, steam and
electrical engineers, etc. Subscribers ; J. K. MacDonald, R. Cunning-
ham.

Snperadio, Ltd.

SuPERADio, Ltd. (181 747). — Private company. Reg. May 12.
Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers, exporters and im-
porters of, and dealers in wireless telegraphic and telephonic appli-
ances, installations, goods and accessories of all kinds, electrical
lighting goods, &c. Subscribers : C. Orgel and S. Orgel. Registered
office : III, Great Eastern Street, E.C.

Nevrcaatleton Electric Supply Company,

Newcastleton Electric Supply Company, Ltd. (12 204).
Private company. Reg. in Edinburgh, May 9. Capital, £1 000 in
£1 shares. To carrj' on business as indicated by the title. First
directors : Miss Agnes Scott, C. Wood, T. Martin, T. J. Ewart,
T. Oliver, A. Oliver, R. Wilson, J. Davidson, D. Oliver and J.
Carruchers. Registered office, 44 a, South Hermitage Street,
Newcastleton.

Tylor Engineering Company,

Tylor Engineering Company, Ltd. (181 672). Private com-
pany. Reg. May g. Capital, ;£i20ooo in £1 shares. To acquire
the business carried on by J. Tylor and Sons, Ltd., and to trade as
mechanical, consulting, hydraulic, electrical engineers, manufac-
turers of electrical plant and apparatus, etc. Subscribers ; A. J.
Fletcher, H. E. Herrick. Solicitors : Collisson, Prichard and
Barnes, 27, Bedford Row, W.C.i.

Illuminated Identification Number Plate Company. Ltd.

Illuminated Identification Number Plate Company, Ltd.
(181 688.) Private company. Reg. Maj^ 10. Capital, ;/^500 in £1
shares. Manufacturers and sellers of parts and apparatus of all
kinds for lighting, illuminating and heating : contractors, general
engineers ; manufacturers of and dealers in lamps, lanterns, etc.
Subscribers : D. A. EUam, H. Robinson, N. R. Spencer. . Registered
office : 10, Raglan-street, Halifax.

Magneto Repair and Winding Company.

Magneto Repair and Winding Company, Ltd. (181 658.)
Private company. Reg. May 9. Capital, £500 in ;^i shares. To
take over the business of magneto repairing and electrical engineer-
ing carried on by D. Jones at 3, Salubrious Place, Swansea, as the
" Magneto Winding and Repairing Company." Provisional direc-
tors : D. Jones, F. H. Thomas. Secretary : D. Jones. Registered
office : 3, Salubrious Place, Swansea.

French Mntagraph Company.

French Mutagraph Co., Ltd. (171 646.) Private company.
Reg. May 9. Capital, £5 000 in 4 300 preference shares oi £1 each
and 10 000 deferred shares of is. each. To adopt an agreement
with L. E. Falcy, and to carry on the business of advertising sign
manufacturers, mechanical and electrical engineers, etc. First
directors : L. E. Falcy and H. L. Dixon. Qualification : £ioo.
Registered office : 14, Bedford Row, W. C.

Acme Production Company.

Acme Production Company, Ltd. (181 732). — Private company.
Reg. May 12. Capital, ;^3 000 in £• shares. To acquire the
business of manufacturers of and dealers in electrical and mechanical
appliances and scientific instruments now carried on by W. J.
Allen and W. D. Vick at 73^, Coleshill Street, Birmingham. Per-
manent directors : W. J. Allen, W. D. Vick, and W. H. Fulford.
Registered office : 73 J, Coleshill Street, Birmingham.

The Wayne Engineering and Equipment Company.

The Wayne Engineering and Equipment C!omp.\xy has opened
the following branch offices : The Efandem Company, Ltd., 28,
Queen-street, Albert-square, Manchester ; Astbury and Madeley,
Empire House, (ireat Charles-street, Birmingham ; W. Anderson
Penman, 36, Exchange-street, Norwich ; G. F. French, Kent
Works, Kendal ; Douglas G. Cochrane and Co., Ltd., Princes-
buildings, II, Akensidc-hill, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; Philip and Bruce,
Ltd., 30, Wellington-street, Glasgow.

H. R. Gear.

H. R'. Gear Co., Ltd. (181 390). Private company, Reg. .May fi.
Capital, ;^3 000 in £1 shares. To acquire from E. C. Hatcher and
T. Rooke, the benefit of certain existing inventions relating to
reduction gears, and to carry on the business of engineers and
contractors, manufacturers of and dealers in railway, tramway,
electrical, magnetic, galvanic and other apparatus, etc. First
directors : \hijor E. C. Hatcher, T. Rooke, H. C. B. Underdown,
G. E. Marten. Solicitors : Kimbers. Williams and Co , -o. Lombard-
street, E.C.

Park Electrical and Enginecrin '.

Park Ei.ectricai. and Engineering Co., Ltd. (181 622).
Private com])any, Reg, May 8. Capital, £\o am in /'i shares.
To acquire the land and building in .\shburton Road, Traflord
Park, Manchester, and n(>w owned by the Park Electrical »and

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

607

Engineering Co., and to carry on the business of electrical and
mechanical engineers, electricians, and manufacturers, etc. Per-
manent directors : G. L. Brown, A. C. Penny. Secretary : Ci. L.
Brown. Solicitor: J. Prior, 438, Corn Exchange-buildings,
Manchester.
Wholewile Eleotriccl Company.

Wholesale Electrical Co. (1922), Ltd. (181 757). — Reg.
May 12. Capital, ;^20 300 in 20 000 cumulative 10 per cent partici-
pating preference shares of /i each and 10 000 ordinary shares of
IS. each. To adopt an agreement with A. W. Little, and to carry
on the business of electrical and mechanical engineers, manu-
facturers of electrical equipment, &c. First directors : A. W.
Little (chairman), N. E. Rutherdon, and T. W. Greaves. Registered
•office : 5, Guildhall Chambers, 31-4, Basinghall Street, E.C.2.

Sir Cbiirlai Bright and Partners.

Sir Charles Bright and Partners, Ltd. Reg. May 10 .
Private company. Nominal capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. To
adopt an agreement with Sir Charles Bright and Partners, and to
-carry on the business of advising, inspecting, consulting and superin-
tending engineers, electrical (including telegraph, telephone and sub-
marine cable) engineers, etc. Permanent directors : Sir Charles
Bright, A. H. Seabrook, A. J. Stubbs, Lieut. -Col. H. W. Wordall.
Secretary : A. J. Stubbs. Registered office : 146, Bishopsgate,
E.C. File number, 181 695.

Electrical Imports and Exports.

Imports. — The following are official values of electrical machinery,
apparatus and material imported into this country (a) during
April, 1922, and {b) the aggregate figures from January i to April 30,
with increase or decrease compared with corresponding periods of
1921 :—

Electrical machinery, (a) £b^ q(:>-j (increase ;^i6 810), [b) £'^^0 512
(increase ;£i5i 439) ; telegraph and telephone cables, submarine,
nil ; other than submarine, (a) £1 241 (decrease £<) 364), (b) £\z 156
(decrease £2(i 188) ; telegraph and telephone apparatus, [a) £\z 323
^(decrease ;^24 705), (6) £'^\ 610 (decrease £73 850) ; other elec-
trical wires and cables, rubber insulated, \a) £1% 023 (increase
£\'^ 170). ^) ;^37 384 (increase £26 'jbz) ; with other insulations,
(a) £z 445 (decrease;^! 857), [b) £1% 954 (decrease ;^24 045) ; carbons,
(a) £1 609 (decrease £6 304), (b) ;^ii 899 (decrease ;^29 085) ; glow
lamps, (a) ;^io 435 (decrease ;^27 614), {b) £6s i45 (decrease ;^37 578) .;
arc lamps and electrical searchlights, (a) £15 (decrease ;^829), (6)
£65 (decrease £5 570) ; parts of arc lamps and searchlights (other
than carbons), {a) £1 383 (increase ^^484), (b) £i 552 (decrease
£2 500) ; batteries, (a) £fo 233 (decrease ;^3 447), (6) £21 918 (decrease
;^37 600) ; electrical instruments, commercial, scientific and elec-
tricity meters, [a) ;£4 683 (decrease /^i2 238), (6) ;/|i9 000 (decrease
;^66 060) ; switchboards, {a) £\i,o (increase ;^34), (6) £\ 519 (increase
2243) ; other electrical goods and apparatus, {a) £42 000 (decrease
.Z39 8"3)' (^) ;^i75 990 (decrease ;^203 627). Total of electrical
machinery, apparatus and material (other than uninsulated wire),
i(a) ;^i69 497 (decrease ;^93 663), [b] £&}■] 704 (decrease ;^327 659).

Exports. — The exports of electrical machinery, apparatus and
material (a) during April, 1922, and (b) from January i to April 30,
with increase or decrease compared with corresponding periods of
1 92 1, were as follows : —

Electrical machinery, (a) ;^450 489 (increase ;^27 732), [b) £1 886 883
(increase ^^209 315) ; including railway and tramway motors, (a)
£^ 098 (decrease ^^22 323), [b) £^S 708 (decrease ;^23 868) ; other
generators and motors, (a) ;^202 263 (decrease ;^i6 797), (6) £1 001 453
(increase ;^74 no) ; and other electrical machinery, (a) £2^^ 128
(increase ;^66 862), [b) ^^826 722 (increase ;^i59 070) ; telegraph and
telephone cables, submarine, (a) £23020 (decrease ^^364 929), (6)
;^I05 271 (decrease ;£569 610) ; other than submarine, [a) £bi 813
•(decrease £bj 268), [b) £20 j 549 (decrease ;^400 305) ; telegraph and
telephone apparatus, {a) ^166909 (increase ;^36 229), (6) £70-] g-jS
(increase /I131 657) ; other electrical wires and cables, rubber
insulated (a) ;£49 931 (decrease ;^H2 983), (b) ;£ 193 504 (decrease
£^bi 073) ; with other insulations, (a) £9<2^ 367 (decrease ;^I46 157),
{b) £421 026 (decrease ;^4i9 284) ; carbons, (a) £z 850 (decrease
£3'^^), {b) i;i5 458 (decrease ;£28 178) ; glow lamps, (a) i39 178
^decrease ;^I4 321), (b) ;^I36 120 (decrease ;^53 522) ; arc lamps
and searchlights, (a) ;^409 (decrease ;^73 7), (b) £i 254 (decrease ;£722) ;
parts of arc lamps and searchlights (other than carbons), (a) £54^
(decrease ;^46o), (b) £1 938 (decrease £1 085) ; batteries, (a) £41 990
(decrease £32446), [b) ;£i47 903 (decrease / 144 009) ; electrical
instruments, commercial and scientific and electricity meters,
(a) ;^28 547 (decrease ;^i4 905), {b) £; 134 488 (decrease ^27 177) ;
switchboards, (a) £1^ 185 (decrease ;^9 322), (b) ^[139 030 (increase
£jo 483) ; other electrical goods and apparatus, («) £82 146 (decrease
2116391), (6) ;^4i8 993 (decrease ;£483 167). Total of electrical
machinery, material and apparatus, other than uninsulated wire,
(a) £^1 044 380 (decrease /814 286), (6) £4321417 (decrease
£2 166677).

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

I3EI.FAST Tramways Committee. May 19. — Four junctions and
12 crossovers; also reconstruction of 10 miles, or alternatively
35 miles of single track. Specifications from General Manager.

County Borough of West Bromwich. May 22. — Supply of
the following in connection with the recon.struction of the tramways :

(1) Rail, fi.sh plates, &c. ; (2) tie bars, bolts, &c. ; (3) points, cross-
ings £.ad special work ; (4) copper Ixjnds. Particulars from .Mr. A. D.
Greatorex, Borough Engineer and Surveyor, Town Hall. West
Bromwich.

Cheshire Lines Committee. .May 30. — Six months' supply of
stores, including telegraph materials, iron tubing, oils, paints, &c.
Specification from the Stores Superintendent, Cheshire Lines,
Warrington.

Great North of Scotland Railway Company. May 30. —
Telegraph material, ca.stings, ironmongery, rubber goods, &c.
Forms of tender from the Stores Superintendent, 80, Guild-street,
Aberdeen.

Lambeth Guardians. May 30. — Wiring and fitting of Lambeth
Hospital. Particulars from the Clerk, Guardians' Offices, Brook
Street, Kennington Road, S.E.ii.

NoTTiNGn.\M Electricity Committee. June i. — General stores
for the electricity department for six or twelve months. Forms of
tender from the Electrical Engineer, Electricity Station, Talbot
Street, Nottingham.

Islington Guardians. June 15. — Installing electric light and
power equipment at St. John's Road Institution, Guardians' Offices,
and Rehef Offices. Paiticulars from Messrs Wallis Jones A- Dent,
Consulting Electrical Engmeers, z}, Old Queen Street, Westminster,
London, S.W.r.

Dublin County Council. — Tenders for the removal of the old,
and installation of a new system of inter-communicating house
telephones. Particulars from Mr. H. J. Clancy, Secretary-, Dubhn
County Council, xi, Parnell Square, Dublin.

BELGIUM.

Municipality of Saint Gilles (Brussels). May 23.* —
Supply of (i) About 4 000 metres of armoured cable of 3 by 50 mm.*;
for three-phase current at 3 000 V. between phases, 50 cycles ;

(2) about 2 000 metres of armoured telephone cable of 2 by i mm.* ;

(3) all the necessary accessories for the above.

INDIA.

High Commissioner of India, June 9. — Supply of copper
telegraph wire, Carsack elements for Leclanche cells, V.I.R. cable.
Particulars from the Director-General, India Store Department,
Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.E.i.
AUSTRALIA.

Commonwealth of Austr.\lia. June 20. — 426^ tons bronze
wire (Schedule 28), 400 tons galvanised iron wire (Schedule 32),
47 tons galvani.sed steel wire (Schedule 32). 313 400 jointing sleeves
(Schedule 33). Particulars from Supply Officer, Room loi,
Australia House, Strand, W.C.

Victorian Electricity Commission. September 1 . — Five
surface-feed water heaters, six surfa^ce vapour condensers, and
twelve feed-water evaporators. Specifications from the Agent-
General for Victoria, Melbourne-place, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

SOUTH AMERICA.

Argentine Board of Sanitary Works. June zS.* — Con-
struction and erection of equipment for a hydro-electric ge.ierating
station and transforming sub-station for the town of Catamarca.
Province of Catamarca.

Buenos Aires Waterworks.* — Machinery for three pumping
stations, one power station, and eight transforming sub-stations.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Municipal Authorities of the City of Gr.\hamstown.
September i.* — Complete Lighting scheme for the city.

Faversham Corporation has received a protest from the A.M.E.E.
against the reduction of the salary of the electrical engineer (Mr. G. S.
Somerville) to £^396 per annum ; but at last week's meeting the
Council decided to adhere to the decision to make the reduction.

Cheadle Urban Council have accepted the tender of the Macin -
tosh Cable Compan}' for cable at £iS 737.

Bridgend Corporation have accepted the tender of W. H. Allen,
Son cS: Company for a two-phase turbo-alternator at £3 445.

The tender of G. H. Blackburn has been accepted for electrical
equipment for a new cinema in St. George's-road Bolton.

Bradford Tramways Committee have accepted the tender of
Hadfields, Ltd., for 12 pairs of manganese steel points at £ior per
pair.

Bolton Tramways Committee have accepted the tender of the
General Electric Company for e.h.p. switch gear for Bradshawgate
sub-station.

London Countv Council have accepted the tenders of A. Hawkins
(.t Sons for electric wiring, Ovrc, in Belle\-ille Road (Battersea^ schools
at £718 I OS., and Wormholt Road (Hammersmith) schools at
£718 15s.

Portsmouth Town Council has accepted the following tenders : —
Pirelli General Cable Works, Ltd.. cables at £483 los. ; Johnson
and Phillips, Ltd., cable. £32 los. ; G. and J. Weir, Ltd., circulating
pump. £970, and three feed pumps, £185 each.

* Particulars from the Popartment of Overseas Trade.

6o8

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Deeds of Arrangement.

WYNESS, Thomas Reginald Watt, and BALE, George Wilfred,
trading at 13, Commercial Street, Brighouse, as WYNESS
& BALE, electrical engineers. Filed May 10, by order on
terms. Trustee, H. S. Dickinson, 30, Huddersfield Road,
Brighouse. Secured creditors, £726 ; liabilities unsecured,
£2 704 ; assets, less secured claims, £1 656. The following
are creditors : — W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works, London,
;^i99 ; English Electric & Siemens, Ltd., London, £157 ;
Berry's Electric Company, Ltd., London, £^4 ; Metallic Eng.
Company, Birmingham, £j6 ; Simplex Conduits, Ltd., Bir-
mingham, £6^ ; Donovan & Company, Birmingham, £109 ;
Hirst, J. A., Brighouse, £150 ; Albion Electric Stores, Leeds,
;^3i ; General Electric Company, Leeds, £25^ ; Wholesale
Fittings Company, Manchester, ^31 ; Beardsell & Company,
Manchester, £^7 ; Edison & Swan, Ltd., Ponders End, £s9 ;
British Insulated & Helsby Cables, Ltd., Prescot, £56 ; St.
Helen's Cable & Rubber Company, St. Helen's, ;^88 ; Walsall
Hardware Company, Walsall, ;^I90 ; Siemen Bros. & Company,
Woolwich, £47.

JONES, Herbert Henry, electrical engineer, trading as the STAN-
DARD ELECTRICAL COMPANY, 4, Dillwyn Street, Swansea,
electrical engineers' merchant. Filed May 11. Trustee,
C. H. Harvey, 3, Goat Street, Swansea. Secured creditors,
;£293 ; liabilities unsecured, £1773; assets, less secured
claims, £j 448.

RECEIVERSHIP.

REMCO CARBON COMPANY, LTD.— R. Crane, of 46 and 47,
London-wall, E.C., was appointed Receiver on March i, under
powers contained in debentures dated November 29, 1918.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mor-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

AIREDALE ELECTRICAL & MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
LTD., Bradford. Registered May 2, ;^35o ; general charge,
*;^525. March 14, 1922.

BODMIN ELECTRIC LIGHT & SUPPLY COMPANY, LTD.
Registered May 4, ;^ioo debentures, balance of £2 000 ; general
charge. *Nil. February 21, 1922.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Companies Wiading-up Voluntarily.

AQUA ELl'XTRIC COMPANY, LTD. C. H. McKnight. 30,
New Broad Street, E.C.2, appointed liquidator. Meeting of
creditors at the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, 59a, London
Wall, London, E.C.2, Monday, May 29, at 2.30 p.m. Particulars
of claims to the liquidator by July 10.

BETA BATTERIES, LTD. J. A. Cameron, 5, New Court,
Lincoln's Inn, London, W.C.2, appointed liquidator. Meeting
of creditors at the liquidator's office, Friday, May 2(), at 1 1 a.m.
Particulars of claims to the liquidator by June i'7.

PARK BROTHERS, LTD.- M^ A. J. O.sborne, Balfour House,
Finsbury pavement, London, E.C., appointed liquidator
Meeting of creditors at the liquidator's oflice. May 19, at
12 noon. Particulars of claims to the liquidator by June 23.

Bankruptcy Information.

CARTER, Thomas, 2, South Street, Dorchester, and at High Street,
Swanagc, Dorset, electrical engineer. Receiving order, May 1 1 .
Creditor's petition.

GIBBONS, Albert Ralph, 3, The Parade, New Eltham, Kent,
electrical engineer. Receiving order. May 9. Creditor's
petition. First meeting, May 22, 12 noon, 29, Russell-square,
W.C.I. Public examination, June 20, 11 a.m.. Court House,
Greenwich.

HILL, George, NOBLE, George, and COWLEY, Edgar, in co -
partnership as GEORGE HILL & COMPANY, 22, Chantry-
lane, Great Grimsby, electrical engineers. Receiving order.
May 6. Debtor's petition. First meeting, May 20, 11 a.m.,
Official Receiver's office, St. Mary's Chambers, Great Grimsby.
Public examination, June i, 11 a.m.. Town Hall, Great Gpmsby.

MAGSON, Reginald Silver, 10, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry,
as R. S. MAGSON & COMPANY, electrical engineer. Receiving
order. May 11. Debtor's petition.

RIDGWAY, Fred, and TYNAN, Thomas, in co-partnership at
21, Bowling Old-lane, Bradford, under the style of RIDGWAY
& TYNAN, electrical engineers. Receiving order. May 8.
Debtor's petition. First meeting, May 19, 3.30 p.m., 12,
Duke-street, Bradford. Pubhc examination, May 24, 10 a.m..
County Court, Manor-row, Bradford.

RIMMER, William Frederick, 21, EUesmere-street, Patricroft, co.
Lancaster, electrical engineer. First meeting. May 23, 2.30 p.m..
Official Receiver's office, Byrom-street, Manchester. Public
examination, June 15, 10.30 a.m.. Court House, Encombe-place,
Salford.

Appl'cation for Discharge.

HOPKINS, John Howard, formerly trading as THE ELECTRICAL
MAINTENANCE COMPANY, 57, Castellaine Mansions, Maida
Vale, lately at 140, Wardour Street, London. Hearing,
June 16, II a.m.. Bankruptcy Buildings, Carey Street, I^ondon,

W.C.2.

Notices of Dividends,

DAVIS, William Aaron, late 3, Coronation-street, now 14, Basinghall-
street, Leeds, electrical engineer. Amount per £, 2jd. First
and final. Payable, May 25, 24, Bond-street, Leeds.

OWEN, Joseph (trading as J. OWEN & SONS), 186, Westcombe-
hill, Greenwich, and 3, The Grove, Greenwich, electrical engi-
neer. Amount per £, 2s. 3d. First. Payable, May 30, 29,
Russell-square, W.C.i.

WOLLMAN, Harry Michael, late 9, Greasbro'-road, Parkgate,
Rotherham, co. York, electrical factor. Amount per £, 4s. 4:^.,
first and final. Payable, May 17, 14, Figtree-lane, Sheffield.

Order Made on Application to Approve Scheme.

ROTHWELL, Peter, 13, Hampden-street, Bolton, trading with
P. A. Rothwell (a minor) as P. A. Rothwell & Company, 64,
Higher Bridge-street, Bolton, electrical engineer. Order made,
April 1 2. Composition of 7s. in the £ to all unsecured creditors.
Receiving order discharged.

DUBLIN GAZETTE.

PORTARLINGTON ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COM-
PANY, LTD. Particulars of claims by June 22, to Michael
Crowley, 16, College-green, Dublin, the liquidator.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

Details of the Hilger Chemical Spectrometer are given in an
illustrated leaflet just issued by the firm.

The advantages of intercommunication telephones are attrac-
tively set forth in a leaflet on the subject lately published by the
Reliance Telephone Company.

A " Handbook on Controllers for Electric Motors " has
lately been published by the Electric Power Club, St. Louis, U.S.A.,
and contains a simple description of controllers and definitions of
the terms used in connection with them.

The Shurvent renewable fuse, recently developed by the Westing-
house Electric and Manufacturing Company, of East Pittsburgh,
Pa., is described in detail in Folder 4 472, entitled " Shurvent Pro-
tection," which has just been published by the company.

The quarterly bulletin (No. 94) of A.C.E.C. (Ateliers de Con-
structions Electriques de Charleroi) is to hand, and contains
further particulars regarding the effects of the German occupation
of the company's works. Interesting articles on electric winding
engines, high lift centrifugal pumps and condensers for power factor
improvement, etc., are also given.

An excellent photograph of the machine, fitting, and winding
shop at the Albert Works of Green & Smith, Ltd., is shown on a
leaflet just issued by the firm. The shop is fitted with a 3-ton
travelling crane, modern machine tools and drying oven for stators.
armatures, etc. Another leaflet shows, after repair, a 500 Vd.c.
coal cutter armature, which was sent to the firm with a broken
shaft and loose core.

Watson & Sons (Electro-Medical). Ltd., are circulating
several now publications. The " Sunic " ionostat, a new instru-
ment for galvanization, ionization, electrolysis, illumination el
surgical lamps, etc., is fully described in Bulletin 43 S., which also
contains particulars of various instruments for electrolysis, etc.
Bulletin 45 S. deals with the radiological iv.nometer and other
instruments for measuring X-ray dosage ; and in Bulletin 46 S.
waterproof surface " Sunic " intensifying screens are described.

May 19, 1922

The Electrician.

609

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. MAY 19th (to-day).

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
(London Students' Section.)

7 p.m. At Savoy-place, London, W.C.2. " The Elimination

of Atmospherics in Radio-Telegraphy," by Mr. A. H.
Reeves.

SATURDAY. MAY 20th.

Royal Institution of Great Britain.
3 p.m. At Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, London, W.i.
Lecture on " The Disappearing Gap between the X-ray
and Ultra- Violet Spectra (II) Photo-Electric Methods," by
Prof. O. W. Richardson, D.Sc, F.R.S.

WEDNESDAY. MAY 24th.

Royal Society of Arts.

8 p.m. At John-street; Adelphi, London. " The Natural

Power Resources of Ireland (Coal, Peat, Water Power),"
by Mr. George Fletcher.

THURSDAY. MAY 25tb.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
6 p.m At Savoy-place, London, W.C.2. Annual General
Meeting.

Illuminating Engineering Society.
8 p.m. At Royal Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi,
London. Annual Meeting. Presidential Address' by
Sir J. H. Parsons, C.B.E., F.R.S.

FRIDAY, MAY 25th.

Physical Society of London.
5 p.m. At the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington,
London. Lecture on " Atomic Weights and Isotopes,"
by Dr. F. W. Aston, F.R.S.

Junior Institution of Engineers.

8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. " Engineering

Appointments and How to Get Them," by Mr. J. Cameron
Rennie.

Royal Institution of Great Britain.

9 p.m. At 21, Albemarle-street, London, W.i. "The

Internal Combustion Engine : Its Influence and its
Problems," by Mr. W. E. Dalby, B.Sc, F.R.S.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, etc.

Price.

per ton
per lb.

Copper —

Best Selected
Electro Wirebars
H.C. Wire, basis
Sheet

Phosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone) —
Ph'osphor Bronze Wire,
basis . . per lb.

Brass 60/40 — -

Rod, basis . . ,,

Sheet, basis . . ,,

Wire, basis . . ,,

Pig Iron—

Cleveland Warrants
Galvanised steel
wire, basis 8 S.W.G.

;^63

OS.
OS.

lO^d.

Tuesday,
Inc.

id.

May 16.
Dec.

5S.

IS. 2^d.

7d.
8fd.
9id.

per ton £^ 15

;^I8 o

i^5

£'149 10
per lb. 2S. o|(
per ton £100 o

per bottle /ii o

5S.
7s. 6d.

Id.
£20
s. 6d.

Lead Pig—
Enghsh
Foreign or Colonial

Tin —
Ingot

Wire, basis
Aluminium Ingots
Spelter . .
Mercury
Sulphur (Flowers) — Ton £10 15s.

,, (Roll-Brimstone) — per ton
£io 15s.
Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5jd.
Boric Acid (Crystals). Per ton £60.
Rubber. — Para fine, lo^d.; plantation ist latex,

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby
Cables, Ltd., and the rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph
Works Company.

Sodium Chlorate — Per lb. 3jd.
Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168^)

per ton, £g.
Copper Sulphate. — Per ton

£^20 lOS.

The telephone service in France appears to be so bad that
many deputies are urging the Government to hand over the business
to a private company for development. The inefficient service is
said to be the cause of the limited use made of the telephone in
France, where there is only one instrument for each 143 of the
inhabitants, compared with i in 64 in England, i in 59 in Germany
and I in 8 in the United States. The demand for an improvement
of the service and an extension of telephone facilities is growing in
volume and intensity, notwithstanding certain allocations for
equipping new exchanges and for erecting additional trunk lines.

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The following abstract from some of the specifications recently fnthlisked Have bun
specially compiled by Messrs. Mewbub.v, Ellis & Co., Chartered PaterU Agents,
70 and 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

Complete Specifications.

Marek, a. Process and apparatus for coating articles by electro-plating

and heat treatment. (10/10/17.)
Siemens Bros. & Co., Ltd., Petithorv, £. A., & Collyer, J. E. Selecting

devices lor automatic telephone systems. (18/5/20.)
GoussET, G. B. Collectors for mag.ietos used with four-cylinder internal

combustion engines. '20/6/19.)
Gree.vhalch, E., & Electromotors, Ltd. Dynamo-electric machines.

(5/7/20.)
Zoller, a., & Fischer. G. Electric lamps. (7/11/13).
Ges. fur Drahtlose Teleoraphie. Electronic tubes. (23/J/18.)
Schroter, F. Electric discharge tubes for coupling electric circuits. (9/2/i5.>
Soc. Francaise Radio Electrique. Electro-magnetic wave-receiving

systems. (7/5/19-)
Apple, V. G. Construction of armatures for dynamo-electric machines.

(29/1/17.)
Apple, V. G. Armature construction for dynamo-electric machines.

(19/11/14-)
Adert, L. (formerly Adamczak, L.). Driving system for alternating ctirrent

meters on the Ferraris principle. (14/1/19.)
KoHLER Co. Electric generating systems. (20/3/19).
Signal Ges. .\coustical improvements in electro-magnetic sound producers-

and receivers. (20/1/19.) (Addition to 148 976.)
Siemens Bros. & Co., Ltd., & Ckristian, D. .\. .-Vutomatic and seAi-

automatic telephone systems. (12/7/20.)
HuTH Ges., Dr. E. F., & Heller, W. Method for generating and amplifying

oscillations of any frequency, especially for wireless telegraphy. (17/7/18.)
Huth Ges., Dr. E. F., & Rosenbaum, B. Arrangement for wireless

telegraphy from submarines. (8/12/16.)
Forest, L. de. Radio-signalling systems. (10/5/15).
Luftfahrzeugbau Schutte-Lanz. Electro-magnet for locking devices.

(9/12/16.)
Adert, L. (formerly .Adamczak, A.). Driving system for alternating

current meters on the Ferraris principle. (31/12/18.)
Allge.meine Elektricitats-Ges. Safety switch for installation systems and

for windings of electrical machines and apparatus. (6/10/13.)
Allgemeine Elektricitats-Ges. Coin-fireed meter for electric current,

gas, water, or the like. (19/9/14.)
Allgemeine Elektricit.\ts-Ges. Coin-freed meter for electric current,

gas, water, or the like. (4/7/17).
Ducousso, T. Driving electro mechanism for operating rafl-track apparatus.

(15/7/20.)
British Thomson-Hovston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). .Apparatus

for electric arc welding. (16,7/20.)
Clark, W., & Clark's Neo-Electric Devices, Ltd. Electrical resistances.

(9/8/20.)
Taggart, J. Scott-, & Radio Communication Co., Ltd. Modulation

systems and the hke in radio-communication and the like. (10/9/20.)
Railing, -A. H., & .Angold, A. E. Electric arc lamps. (11/8/20.)
Smith, F. P., & Wilson. T. F. Safety-lock electric switches. (12/8/20)
Western Electric Co., Ltd. (Western Electric Co., Inc.). Method and

means for determining the transmission equivalent of an electrical circuit.

(13/8/20.)
Sullivan, H. W., & Joseph, J. Variable electrical condensers. (16/8/20.)
British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electric

switches. (17/8/20.)
Mauri, D. Three-phase electric furnaces. (19/8/20).
Miller, C. A., Miller, F. J., & Sanders, E-A. Switch and fuse-holder

units for use in electric car-lighting systems. (21/8/20.)
Automatic Telephone MANVFACTrRiNO Co., Ltd., & Mercek, R. Circuit

arrangements for controlling automatic selector-s^vitches. (21/8/20.)
Seward, G. O. Electrolytic apparatus. (23/8/20.)
Lepiney, L. .A Incandescent electric lamps. (1/9/20.)
Radio Communication Co., Ltd., & Lea, X. Production of and modulation

of electrical oscillations by means of thermionic valves. {2I9I20.)
Siemens Bros. & Co., Ltd., Petithorv, E. A., & Collyer, J. E. Number-
dials for automatic ant. -emi-automatic telephone systems. (3/9/20.)
Hammonds, A. C, & Wagg, M. J. Electric cooking appliances. (8/7. 20.)
Remus, S. Sparking-plugs for internal combustion engines. (g/9/2a)
RiCH.\RDS, F. H. Electric ignition in internal combustion engines.

(10/9/20.)
Taylor, .\. M. Electric power transmission. (11/9/20.) (Patent of

addition not granted.)
Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Lid. .Electro-magnetic

relays. (31/12/19).

Watkinson, J. Electric switches. (5/10/20.)

Crabtree, J. A. Electric switches. (6/10/20.) (Addition to 140 180.)
P.UNTER, F , & Idge, G. H. Electric switches. (7/10/20).
Hoff.man, O. Electric pocket lamps. (4/T1/19.)
Latour, M. Thermionic valves. (iS/3/20.)
Rees, H. p. Tuning instruments for use in wireless telegraphy and teJephonv.

(20/1/21.)
Marsollier, C. J. Electrical connecting devices and lamp-holders.

(29,6/20.) (.-Vddition to 145 587.)
Smith, E. .\. Lavton-. Magnetos for ignition purposes. (30,6/20.)
Railing, .K. H., Garrard. C. C, & Wilson, \V. Balanced electrical

relays. (27/7/20.) _

Round, H. J. Reception of wireless signals. (30, 7; 20.)
NOBUHARA, K. Cooling of dvnamo-electric machines. (31/7 ,'20.)
Macrorie, .\. K., .^IREV, H. Morris-, & Mullard, S. R. Thermionic
valves. (3,3/20.)

M.\CRORIE, A. K., GOLDUP, T. E., & MtXLARD, S. R,

(3 8,20.)
Macrorie, a. K., .Airev, H. Morris-, Shearing, G., & Mvllarp. S. «l.

Thermionic valves. (^,8/20.)
British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd.. Young. .V P.. & Warre.v, H. \\. H.

Magueto-electric machines. (4/S/20.)
Glaser, W. H.. & Gl.\ser, Ltd., W. H. Combined electric rectifying and

motive-power producing app.iratus (4 S 20.)
Bern \rd, P. J. H. Process of m.mufacturins electric insulators. (18/8/20.)
British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electric

motor control. (20/S/20.) ^ . ^ ^, . .. , .

Vandervell, C. .a., & Vandervell & Co., Ltd., C. A. Electncally-dnven

air compressors. (24/S,2al
Davky, J. A., & Electro Metals, Ltd. Operating the electrodes of

electric furnaces. (9/9/20.) . „ v ....

British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Elrctnc Ca). Electnc

distribution s>-stenis. (16'9/Jo.)
Lofts, G. H. .Alloy for use in electric heating .appliances. (28/9/20.)
Hastings, R. C. M. Telephonic call svstems. (10/6/20,)
Railing, .M. J., & Taylor, T. Electric conduit boxes. (2/7/20.)
Bellinger, H. R. Sparking-plugs. (7/7/20.)
British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd., & Young, .A. P. Magneto electric

machines. (3 8/20.)

43 250

71 423

45 406

71 430

46492
47441
47463
47466

47777

47778

48 229

48368

48 985

71433

49 192

49 194

49 272
54 914

5I 245

52316

51972

51973

71 441

71 442

71 451

71 453

71 458
71 463
71 470

71 481
71 484

71 494
71 497

7 1 498

71 502
71 517
7I 520

71 523

71 544
71 547
71 553

71 554

56076

71578
71 579
71 581
54 93J
60 456
70 893

70 901

70902
709-5

70941
70946
70953

70 954

70 955

70 961

70965

70 980
70984

70989

71 003

71 009

71 019
71 129
71 133
71 137
71 145

Thermionic valves.

6io

The Electrician.

May 19, 1922

157

171

161

180

171

183

• 71

194

171

207

171

214

171
I7J

216
218

171

231

171

250

171 231

171

263

171

271

171
171
171
171

279
285
313
317

Smith. F. S. Process of and apparatus for electrically treating foods and

like products. (6/8/20.)
SvLLiv.w. H. W. Sub I ariue and oth.^r electrical cables. (7/8/20.)

(Cognate Application, 14 o7g/2i.)
British Thomson-Housto.n Co., Ltd., & M.\rtin, J. Systems of electric

ship propulsion, (i 1/8/20.)
M.\CRORiF, A. K., & .AiREY, H. MoRRis-. Transmitting and receiving

circuits for wireless telegraphy, (i 1/8/20.)
Hoover Sixtion Sweeper Co., Ltd. (Hoover, H. E.). Electric motors.

(17/8/20.)
Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd., & Roseby, P. N.

Electric furnaces for obtaining high temperatures. (21/8/20.)
Ellmore, F. a. a. Fault-indicator for use in connection with electric ignition

systems. (24/8/20.)
Sturge, W. H. Electric fires. (25/8/207)^
Igranic Electric Co., Ltd. (Cutler Hammer Manufacturing Co.). Means

for regulating alternating current circuits. (26/8/20.)
IcRANic Electric Co., Ltd (Cutler Hammer Manufacturing Co.). Current

regulators for incandescent lamps and other translating devices. (1/9/20.)
Greengate & Irwell Rubber Co., Ltd., & Povey, R. Junction-boxes
for electric cables as used chiefly in collieries. (15/9/20.)
British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electric

transformers and like apparatus. (15/9/20.)
British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Systems of

electrical distribution. (23/9/20.)
Sphinx Manufacturing Co., Ltd., & Clark, W. A. Sparking-plugs for

internal-combustion engines. (25/9/20.)
Schroeder, F. W. Sparking-plugs. (5/10/20.)
Lion, A. A. Magneto pocket lamp. (11/10/20.)
Burton, H. Sparking-plugs. (2/12/20.)
ELViRSON, A. J. H. Terminals for high-tension electric cables. (10/12/20.)

12 067 Rotax (Motor Accessories) & A. G. Benstead.

to position of switch in ignition circuit.
12 069 R. Amberton. Electricity supply apparatus.
12070 Wayne Engineering, &c., Co. & N. D. G. Robertson.

holders and switches.
12 072 W. S. Smith. Insulating material.
12073 J. Bethenod. Protecting electric apparatus from excess current. (3/5/21,

Means of drawing attention

Electric lamp

France.)
! 088 Western Electric Co.

Selecting Switches.

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS.

April 24, 1922.

II 422 A. M. Taylor. Neutralising capacity currents on polyphase systems.

11 430 R. L. Hall. Hanger or rack for electric cables.

II 436 J. Robinson, H. L. Crowther & W. H. Derriman. Wireless apparatus.

II 456 C. G. Bennett. Switches.

II 462 F. M. M. de Vaulserre. Voltage transformer force. (27/4/21, France.)

11466 Western Electric Co. Selecting systems.

II 475 O. Ellinger. Electric connecting devices. (23/4/21, Germany).

II 483 O. Y. Imray (Hineline Engineering Co.). Electric stop motions for textile

machinery.
II 487 R. Barwinkel. Supplying low voltage current from high voltage supply.
II 503 R. a. Driscoll. Electric furnaces.
II 508 A. LuzY. Device for electro-mechanical lamps for mines, etc. (4/8/21,

France.)
11 511 C. V. Smith. Incandescent lamps.

April 25, 1922.

II 517 H. E. DicKERsoN. Portable electric power stand.

II 528 R. R. Leggott. Electric horns.

II 539 A. E. Thurstan. Electrical connection.

II 558 & II 559. H. P. Stokes. Machines for dressing rails.

11585 Metropolitan ViCKERS Electrical Co. Securing blades to turbine rotors.

(10/5/21, U.S.)
II 592 Heinze Electric Co., B. Ames & P. J. Gillinson. Electric horns, &c.
II 600 B. T.-H. Co. (G.E. Co.). Electric heating units.

II 601 Western Electric Co. Means for reducing distortion in repeating systems,
n 606 D. C. A. Hulstrom. Receiving, reproducing or reinforcing sound waves.
11 611 J. Collie (Nikolsky). Electric indicating and recording mechanism for

weighing apparatus.
II 613 Fallimento Soc. Anon. Manifattura L. Duca. Support for mounting

electric head lights on automobiles. (28/4/21, Italy.)
II 617 V. Paivelecki. Electric safety lamps for mines, &c.
II 634 W. S. Smith. Electric conductors.

April 26, 1922.
II 667 A. E. Thomas. Electric lamps.

II 671 F. M. Soulsby, S. Coxon & P. Ross. Electric light fittings, &c.
II 676 A. R. Dow. Cooking attachment for electric heaters.
II 703 P. C. Hanks. Car lighting dynamos, &c.

II 704 A. P., G. C, & P. A. Lundberg & G. Pegg. Electric switches.
II 726 W. Bradley & J. H. Williams. Electric ovens.
II 727 British Lighting & Ignition Co. & E. O. Turner. Induction coils.
II 732 Sir C. a. Parsons & J. Rosen. Electric machines.

II 750 Fallimento Soc. Anon. Manifattura L. Duca. Electiic head lights for
automobiles. (28/4/21, Italy )

April 27, 1922.

II 762 E. Isherwood Detachable electric light fittings.

II 773 R. Gaskell & W. E. Herslake. TroUey h-ads for electric cars.

II 775 A. C. Wynne. Electric tumbler switches.

II 797 G. W. Wacker. Electric alarm switchef.

II 813 P. G. P. McCuLLOCH. Electric head lamps. '

II 817 A. H. Mollik. Rotary hand-switch.

II 852 & II 853 A. Renaudin. Insulators for suspended h.t. wires.

II 883 L. Torda. Magnet poles for commutator machines with compensating

windings.
11 886 C. E. Bennett & W. E. Marshall. Apparatus for detecting defective

insulator units in a.c. series. (30/4/21, Spain.)

April 28, 1922.
II 890 J. CuTNER. Electric spinning wheel.
II 896 G. R. Baynton. Dry batteries.
II 901 W. J. Cole. Electric condensers.
II 907 A. K. Gordon. Magnetos.
II 908 A. NicoLSON. Armature coils.
II 931 British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd., & G. H. N'isbett. Appar.Uus

for distributing electric current.
11945 E. Barber. Electric burglar alarm contact.
II 962 Evershed & Vignoles & G. B. Rolfe. Instruments to indicate electric

resistance of circuits.
II 965 A. Reuther. Electric alarm clocks.

II 975 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Railwav signalling systems.
11976 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Telephone systems. (28/4/21,

11 977 Bureau d'Organisation Economique. Phase-increasing apparatus for

supplying current rectifying devices, etc. (28/4/21, Germany.)
12,001 Newton & Wright & E. C. Burnsidf .X-ravs, &c., tubes.
12,005 C. E. HoRTON & L. G. Preston. Direction 'finding apparatus for wireless

telegraphy.

April 29, 1922.
10 013 W. H. Illingworth. Cores for mercurial cut-outs.

12 014 W. H. Illingworth. Electric cut-out.
12 047 W. E. Shore. Electric plug connectors.

May I, 1922.

12 io8 C. Holt. Thermionic vacuum tubes.

12 122 C. R. Crofton. Devices for converting electrical into mechanical energy.

12 144 G. S. Helliwell. Cycle lighting dynamo.

12 145 W. B. Shaw. Jointing glass covers of electric lamps to fittings or casings.

12 146 M. C. Pierce. Attachment for telephones.

12 152 H. A. Thomas. Electrical means for indicating, measuring and recording

small movements of solid bodies.
12 153 P. M. Macintyre. Telegraph apparatus for transmitting messages,

drawings, &c.
12 174 H. Krebs & E. Wolff. Multipolar magneto.
12 175 R. F. Baerlacher. Drum type controller.
12 176 R. F. Baerlacher. Resistance grids.
12 192 W. H. Egginton & H. Lucas. Electric lamps.
12 199 A. ScHERBius. Electric ciphering apparatus. (23/5/21 Germany.)
12 229 Metropolitan -V'icKERs Electrical Co. & F. B. Holt. Transmission

systems for electric drives.
12 236 J. D. K. Restler. Means for preventing use of telephones without pre-

payrnent.

May 2, 1922.
12 268 J. Murphy. Tram rails.
12 270 Radio Manuf.\cturing Co., E. W. Scammell, S. H. van Abbott & W. Ede.

Resistances.
12 272 H. S. Cowx. Metallic electric conduit systems.
12 274 & 12 275 J. B. Regan. Induction train control systems.
12 317 G. Sperti. Electric meters.

12 333 W. Ramsay. Electric meters for recording telephone calls.
12 347 Igranic Electric Co. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Co.) Electric

controllers for lighting circuits.
12 363 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Incandescent lamps.
12 364 B. T.-H. Co. Electron discharge devices. (24/5/21 U.S.)
12 369 Western Electric Co. -Driving mechanisms.
12 370 Ever-Ready Co. (Great Britain) & A. H. Sheppard. Illumination means

for testmg eggs.
12 383 Soc. des Etablissements Gaumont. Electro-mechanical control systems.
12 386 S. Kleck. Power plants.
12 389 Watts, Fincham & Co. & F. W. Jolly'. Gas light e'ectric switches and

lamps.

May 3, 1922.

12 404 A. W. Knight. Inductance coil holders for wireless telegraphy, &c.

12 411 J. R. Cahill. Tramcars and tramway tracks.

12 431 R. B. Clamp. Time indicating device for use with telephones, S;c.

12 439 W. J. Nicholas & P. J. W. Roberts. Generators and switches for electric

lighting sets of motor vehicles.
12 473 F. P. Fletcher. Electric light fittings.

12501 B. Staheli & L. L.waillant. Electric pocket lamps. (14/11/21 France.)
12503 B T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Measuring instruments.
12 504 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Electric lamps.
12 50S Industrial Appliances, Ltd., & J. E. Hamilton. Electrically propelled

vehicles.
12 538 Ever-Ready Co. (Great Britain) & F. S. Johnson. Electric torches.

May 4, 1922.

12 553 Forges et Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Gaumont.

Alternating current motor groups. (9,621 France.)
12 554 Forges et Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Gaumont

Loading coih. (27/3/22 France.)
12 562 A. Wheatcroft. €>perating and releasing brakes on tramcars, &c.
12 590 J. D. Morrison. Electrodes for electric welding.
12 591 K. A. B. Gilfillan. Electric engine starters or turning gear.
12 607 F. H. B. Rathborne. Electric lamp fittings.
12 624 Scintilla- Riveted joints for connecting conductors to insulators. (4/5/21

Switzerland.)
12 642 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Tungsten wires.
12 654 A. Monard. Electro-mechanical apparatus for working siding points,

(30/5/21 France.)

May 5, 1922.
12 662 E. Y. Robinson. Antenna systems for wireless communication.
12 719 Siemens Bros. & Co., J. E. Collyer & E. A. Petithory. Selecting devices

for telephone systems.
12 735 Callender's Cable and Construction Co. & E. Warbrick. Electric irons.
12 753 Mather & Platt, S. F. Barclay & H. E. Mellor. Bi-polar electrode

electrolyzers.
12 763 C. E Brown & F. W. Cox. Telephone mouthpiece.
12 769 G. Morel, Electric switches and incandescent lamps.
12 770 C. L. Thompson. Direct current generators and motors.
12 771 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Train control.
12 775 S. Jonas. Means for supporting incandescent lamps.

May 6, 1922.

12 785 A. E. D..EW. Relays for protection of electric circuits, &c.

12 788 A. N. Haworth. Shades for electric lamps, &c.

12 793 J. W. Co.\. Electric supply systems.

12 795 L. Newsome. Electric lighting of motor vehicles.

12 834 C. T. Marks, A. E. Foxlee & S. G. Higgins. Electric sign.

12 844 Metallurgiqi'e Electrique. Relays. (21/5/21 France.)

12845 Metallurgique Electrique. Relays. (25/5/21 France.)

12 846 Vox Maschinen Akt. Ges. & W. Vogelsang. .Magnetic phonographs.

12 847 Telegraphic Ges. System Stille. Magnetic sound boxes for phonographs,

etc.
12 '^48 Telegraphic Ges. System Stille. Magnetic phonographs.
12 855 M. D. Hart. Conversion of electric currents.

12 856 Watson & Sons (Electro Medical) & H. B. Govch. Induction coils.
12 861 J. H. Chambers & H. Lucas. Ignition magnetos.
12 862 Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie. Multiple control apparatus for electr'c

railways. (20 12,21 Switzerland.)
12 868 .Automatic Telephone .Manufacturing Co. Telephone systems. (18/5/21

U.S.)
12 869 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Telephone svstems (14/5/*'
U^O

The Editorial, Adiirtisciniiit and Publishing Offices of " The
Electrician " arc at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4. Tele-
grams : Bcubrotric, Fleet, London. Telephone : City 9852 {5 lines).

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tisement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Indus^try, Science and Finance.

No. 2297. [vo..L°x)^xvin.]

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1922.

Prtpaid Subscription U.K., fA 5^.
per ann. ; Abroad, £l 10s.

Price IS.

CONTENTS.

Notes of the Week . . . . . . . . . . 6n

Indian Electricity Supply . . . . . . . . . . 614

Industrial Essentials . . . . . . . . . . . . 614

Some Problems of Modern Manufacturing. By P. J. Pybus. . 616

Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 617

Electricity and Safety First in Factories. By W. H. Seal.

Illustrated 618

Tariffs for the Sale of Electrical Energy. By Julius Frith . . 624

Modern Industrial Organisation. By Hugo Hirst . . . . 625

Price of Greenock Tramway Current . . . . . . . . 626

Electric Traction in Chile . . . . . . . . . . 626

The Future of Industrial Research. By F. Peake Sexton . . 627

America v. Europe. By A. P. M. Fleming . . . . . . 627

The Psychological Effects of the Whitley Councils . . . . 628

Royal Society Conversazione . . . . . . . . . . 629

Modem Lamp Manufacturing at Dalston. Illustrated . . 630

Institution of Electrical Engineers . . . . . . . . 632

Correspondence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 632

Centrifugal Clutches and Small Motors. Illustrated.. .. 633

Langmuir Condensation Pump .. -.. .. .. .. 634

G.E.C. " Freezor " Fans . . . . . . . . . . . . 634

The Ediswan Fullolite Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 635

New Type of Lightning Arresters . . . . . . . . 635

Junior Institution of Engineers . .

American Trade with Latin America

Parliamentary Intelligence

Bulk Supply Powers of Undertakers

Legal Intelligence . .

Electricity Supply

Electric Traction . .

Business Items, etc.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes . .

Personal and Appointments

Wireless Notes

Imperial Notes

Foreign Notes

The Engineering Industry in Belgium

Miscellaneous Notes

Obituary

Catalogues, Price Lists, etc.

Arrangements for the Week

Company Reports, etc.

New Companies Registered

Tenders Invited and Accepted

Commercial Intelligence . .

Patent Record

Metal Prices, etc. . .

636
636
637
^37
638

^39
^39
640
640
640
640
641
641
641
642
642
642
642

643
644
644

645
646
646

Notes of the Week.

The Faraday Medal.

The illness of the President during the Commemoration
meetings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in
February robbed the function of a good deal of its glamour
and success in the mind of the ordinary member. But
those who were behind the scenes knev^ that in another
respect things had not quite gone according to plan. For
it had been decided, as Mr. Highfield disclosed at last
week's meeting, tangibly to celebrate the Jubilee of the
Institution by striking a " Faraday Medal " for periodical
award to those whom electrical engineers may delight to
honoui. Now that the preliminary obstacles have been
overcome we learn with no surprise that the first award of
this medal is to be made to Mr. Oliver Heaviside. Mr.
Heaviside's qualifications for this honour are too well
known to require expatiation here. The aptest thing we
can do, therefore, is to follow the example of a recent
honours list in which the name of a very weU-known
gentleman was published with no explanation as to why
he had received the distinction. For it was felt that his
reputation was so world-wide that the reason for the
honour was patent. It is the same with Heaviside and
the Faraday medal.

The New Council.

At last week's meeting of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers Mr. Highfield announced the result of the
ballot for the election of officers and new members of the
Council for the session 1922-23. Mr. F. Gill, Dr. W. H.
EccLES, Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton, and Sir James
Devonshire will be the president, vice-presidents and
honorary treasurer respectiv'ely, while the discrimination of
the election among an embarrassment of choice has

resulted in the lot falling on Messrs. J. W. Beauchamp, R. A.
Chattock, F. W. Crawter, D. N. Duxlop, K. Edgcumbe,
A. F. Harmer, and W. R. Rawlings. The unsuccessful can-
didates are therefore Mr. A. C. Cramb, Dr. C. C. Garrard,
Mr. W. M. Sel\^y, and Mr. A. B. Hart in the official
nominees list, and Mr. R. H. Fletcher and Mr. A. M.
SiLLAR among those who were nominated from outside
the Council. This result rather goes to support the view
that the Council are better able to choose candidates who
will receive general acceptance than are unofficial groups
of members, however influential and enterprising. The
strength of this argument is not lessened by the election
of Mr. R. A. Chattock, who is too well knowTi in the
electrical industry' to run the risk of being classed as a
provincial. Nevertheless we hope that unofficial nomina-
tions will continue to be made, especially under the new
bye-laws. To make these nominations is not only the
members' right but their duty, in • rder that the Council
may be as representative as possible.

Broadcasting Delays.

Electrical firms concerned may be trusted to meet the
demands of the enthusiastic wireless amateur, actual and
prospective, for all the equipment he requires. Indeed,
there is already a good deal of activity towards this end.
But it is not so certain that the " broadcasting " which
win make the employment of this apparatus a useful and
profitable hobby will be estabhshed quite so quickly as once
seemed probable. A conference of the firms who were
likely to be interested in this matter was called by the
Postmaster-General on Thiursday last, and a further
conference of the firms themselves without the official
element was held on Tuesday. From both these meetings
the Press were excluded, which is rather a curious pre-
liminary' to a development which, whatever else its result,
will mean the wider dissemination of news. Nevertheless

6l2

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

it is evident that matters are not going too smoothly,
and that there is some difference of opinion, to put it mildly,
on more than one point.

The Points at Issue.

The principal point at issue at both these conferences
has been not, of course, a technical, but a commercial, one-
That element can unfortunately be kept out of few wireless
discussions. The difficulty is to decide whether all the
broadcasting stations should be placed in the hands of one
firm, subject to safeguards of some description or other, or
whether the stations should be formed into groups operated
b}' different interests, so as to allow of competition. If the
latter plan is adopted the patent bogey then takes the stage.
Broadcasting by wireless telephony is impossible, we
understand, without infringing the patents of a certain
company, though that is disputed in other quarters. In
any event licence to use these patents would be given,
again under certain safeguards. A third point is whether
small wireless manufacturing firms who do not contribute
to the cost of , broadcasting should be allowed to sell
receiving sets. Here, then, are three controversial and
important points which, if past history is anything to go by,
will not be settled without a good deal of discussion. And
as the Postmaster-General cannot start broadcasting
without the assistance of the wireless manufacturers,
even the most optimistic wiU agree that there must be
some delay.

Technical Difficulties.

Delay will also arise from the fact that no definite
conclusions were, we understand, reached on the technical
points raised at the conference. Unanimity was, in fact,
only achieved on the proposed prohibition of both advertise-
ments and news from the operation of the broadcasting
stations. We consider ourselves that advertisements
should be rigidly excluded (for one reason because their
propagation would mean the crowding out of more
interesting information), but that news, though not
comment on it, should be allowed. The newspapers
would lose very little by this, and would stand to gain by
the interest that had been aroused. For the accounts
given by wireless could be neither so detailed nor so circum-
stantial as those published in the morning or evening
journals ; and in any event the newspaper habit has
become too ingrained to be eradicated so easily.

A Change and An Opportunity.

If the present enthusiasm to possess a wireless telephone
has no other result it will, we hope, give the
amateur a tighter grasp on electrical knowledge and a
better appreciation of scientific method. The wireless
amateur is at present, we are glad to see, desirous of obtain-
ing the fullest information about the apparatus which he
will use, and this has been reflected by the issue by enter-
prising contemporaries of more than one text book designed
to satisfy this craving. Reviews of already published
wireless books, both for the expert and the amateur, are
appearing in the columns of the daily papers, an event
that is nearly, if not quite, unique, while now that wireless
is the fashion it will doubtless be adequately boomed in all
the accepted ways, with the exception that, as far as we
have been able to ascertain, the information which is given
is accurate, if a little dull, and not of the kind which we

have so often had to criticise when commenting on other
attempts to make an interesting story out of scientific or
technical matter. This is a great change and a great oppor-
tunity for the electrical industry. And now that a start
has been made we hope progress will continue along the
same lines. *

Some Manufacturing Companies' Results.

The reports of five distinct manufacturing companies
which have recently been published supply a further
illustration of the comparatively prosperous condition of
the industry notwithstanding the industrial situation and
the stagnation in many other trades. For instance, the
net profit of Callender's Cable and Construction Co. in
1921 was over £iy3 000, compared with £139 000 in the
previous year, and after making the usual provision for
depreciation and reserve and paying the preference dividend,
the ordinary shareholders have been given 15 per cent., as
in 1920, with a carry forward of over /150 000, as against
/108 000. Another cable manufacturing company, Siemens
Brothers and Co., announce a final dividend of 5 per cent,
making 10 per cent, (tax free) for the past year. Though
this is the same rate as in 192O, it must be recollected that
the amount of ordinary shares is nearly ;£5oo 000 more,
and there are also :(300 000 of 10 per cent, new preference
shares to be provided for, so that there must have been a
substantial increase in the profits. Both companies are
well organised, soundly financed undertakings whose
business greatly expanded during the war and since the
Armistice, and the reorganisation of the supply industry,
apart from Colonial and foreign demands, should mean
even increased prosperity in future.

The English Electric Co.'s Progress.

The third company to which we may refer is the English
Electric Co., whose profit amounted to £317 423, compared
with ;;^266 936 in the previous year. After meeting deben-
ture and other interest, paying the preference dividend of
6 per cent., and placing £60000 to reserve, an ordinary
dividend of 5 per cent, has bei^n declared, against 8 per cent,
in 1920 and 1919. It will be noticed that the company,
which, as our readers know, is an amalgamation of five
engineering concerns, made '£50 000 more profit than in
the previous year, but the interest on the £1 250 000 of
8 per cent, notes absorbed over £15 000 more, the reserves
are credited with £35 000 more and the amount carried is
£9 363 higher than in 1920. In view of the present
situation in the engineering industry this is no doubt a
prudent course to adopt. The company's organisation has
been steadily developed during the year ; the various
factories are specialising in certain classes of work ; and the
selling arrangements have been strengthened both at home
and abroad. The result has been, as might be anticipated,
increased efftciency and economy. Important contracts
for generating plant, and for railway electrification in New
Zealand, Spain and Japan have been secured, and there is
no doubt that the company will secure its share of the
important orders for British railway electrification, which
will soon be placed. In addition, arrangements have been
made, through the recently-formed Power and Traction
Finance Co., to obtain a share of big foreign engineering
contracts. Notwithstanding the present disastrous engi-
neering dispute the outlook for the company seems to be
promising and it should do at least as well in the present
year as in 1920.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

613

A B.T.H. Year.

AxoTiiEK company which has done very well, not-
withstanding the unpropitious business conditions, is
the British Thomson-Houston Co., which made a gross
profit of £509 259, compared with £470 470 in 1920 and
£412 399 in 1919. After allocating £160 000 for deprecia-
tion and reserves, paying interest on debentures and loans
and the 7 per cent, preference dividend, the directors have
decided to declare a dividend of 6 per cent, (tax free) on
the ordinary shares, leaving ;^23o 704 to be carried forward,
or £s 000 more than the amount brought in. The company' s
report is a good record of expansion and development at
Rugby, Birmingham and elsewhere, and new glass works
is being erected at Chesterfield.

B. & W, Progress.

Babcock & Wilcox are also able to point to a larger gross
profit (£Soy 500) than in any previous year, but owing to
taxation and other liabilities the net profit is less by £y 300
than in 1920. The ordinary dividend is, however, main-
tained at 16 per cent., the usual provision has been made
for depreciation and reserve, and the value of stocks in
hand have been written. The expenditure on orders not
invoiced is higher than in the previous year, so that the
outlook in spite of the industrial dispute, seems to be
healthy. On the other hand, Johnson & Phillips have had
a disappointing year, the net profit being only £42,737,
compared with £98,406. The stock in trade and work in
hand have had to be written down drastically, and the
coal strike and the engineering dispute must have increased
the company's difficulties. However, the firm is an old-
established one, with a good connection and electrical
reputation, and we confidently hope that it will be able
to resume the payment of an ordinary dividend again next
year.

Accurate Metering.

A REFERENCE in the Bulletin of the National Electric
Light Association to some courses of lectures for electric
meter men at the Yale and Florida Universities, is a re-
minder of the very important part which meters play in
electricity supply undertakings. At the present time,
when the price per unit is high, the question of correct
metering becomes correspondingly impojtant. But it is
just where correct metering becomes quite crucial, namely
in small undertakings, that the provision for accuracy is
usually most lax. This is a matter of serious concern,
since faulty registration in meters is normally against the
undertaking — that is, a meter in use tends to under-register.
In addition, of course, there are the faults such as failure
to start when one or two lamps are switched on, which also
means a loss to the undertaking. It can be easily seen,
therefore, that inaccuracy or faultiness of metef"s may
affect revenue to a most serious degree. But this serious-
ness seems to be by no means as widely appreciated
as it should be. Extraordinary " economies " are often
practi ed, such as leaving meters out on duty for an un-
conscionably long time, neglecting to have them regularly
inspected and tested for starting, and so on. Further, the
duty of superintending meters and inspecting thtm on
circuit is too often left as an odd job to a man who is very
far from a specialist. And this is in face of the incontest-
able fact that a skilled man to look after the meters would
be a most profitable investment, while a more frequent
change of meters would repay the extra capital outlay.
There seems always to have been in the industry an un-

fortunate tendency to under- estimate the importance of
a proper meter department, although it is a matter which
might most beneficially receive careful consideration, as
it evidently is doing in America, to judge from the Bulletin
we have mentioned.

Private Generating Stations.

By Sec. 11 of the Electricity (Supply) Act no electricity
authority can establish a new, or extend an existing
generating station or main transmission line without the
consent of the Electricity Commissioners. This restriction
does not, however, apply to a private generating station,
except that the Commissioners may make regulations as to
the type of current frequency and pressure which shall be
used, provided that they are so framed as not to interfere
with the economical and efficient working of the business
for which the svipply is generated. The Commissioners
have now decided not to make regulations as to t^-pe of
current, frequency and pressure of private generating
stations having an installed capacity not exceeding 50 kW.,
and no notification need, therefore, be made to the Com-
missioners regarding the establishment of such stations.
It is obvious that private plants of the size indicated cannot
play an important part in the economy of a national system
of electricity supply and no useful service would therefore
be gained by attempting to control them so that the
Commissioners have relieved themselves of a duty which
might have been arduous without being useful.

Limited Liability Companies' Contracts.

Wiring contractors would do well to read and carefully
note the judgment in the case of Pittman v. May. It
shows, among other things, the necessity of ha\-ing a
definite contract before work is undertaken and the
desirability of knowing whether the financial position of
a newly formed limited liability company is such as
to justify credit being given. Unfortunately, contractors
are too often content with verbal instructions, and
then when they have finished a job they find they
cannot obtain pajonent. In the present case an
electrical engineer was instructed to wire a dancing haU
owned by a limited liability company which went into
liquidation before the whole of the work had been paid for.
In the circumstances the contractor sued the person who
originally instructed him, together with another, who were
alleged to be in partnership for running the hall. Un-
fortunately for him, it was proved that he had received
three cheques from the company in part pa^Tnent for the
work, and the judge reluctantly held that only the company
was liable. The contractor could have refused to accept the
cheques and he could have insisted upon pajmient by the
person from whom he received the instructions, but as he
did not he lost £200, the balance owing for the work. We
sympathise with him in his misfortune, but we hope that
he and other contractors in a similar position will be wiser
in future ; that they will see that contracts are clear and
unambiguous in their terms, and that they will take care
credit is only given where it is justified.

The " Central " Appointment.

A LITTLE while ago an important railway company took
the retrograde step of placing its electrical engineering
department imder the chief mechanical engineer. But it
has been left for the delegacy of the City and Guilds
(Engineering) Institute to appoint a physicist to the chair
of electrical engineering at the Central Technical College.
For Prof. C. L. Fortescue (our criticism is quite impersonal).

6i4

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

who is to succeed Prof. Mather, now holds the chair of
physics at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and his
sole connection with electrical engineering is through
wireless science. This appointment is therefore a great
and unnecessary mistake, for which the delegacy is alone
to blame. We are second to none in our recognition of the
need for maintaining progress in wireless work, but at the
present time the heavy engineering branch is more
important both because of its greater technical scope and
of its greater commercial possibilities. Embryo electrical
engineers require above all a thorough grounding in the
fundamentals of engineering practice and to be taught how
to consider problems from the engineering view point. It
is difficult to see how Prof. Fortescue, with the best will
in the world, can achieve these aims.

It is difficult also to see what can be done. The ap-
pointment can hardly be cancelled, and the best that can
be expected is that it will do a minimum of harm. That
result will depend on Prof. Fortescue. He should realise
his limitations, and do his best to carry on the high
tradition of his new position which it is vital should be
upheld by every means in his power.

Indian Electricity Supply.

Though there are a number of electricity supply and
tramway undertakings in India, mainly owned or con-
trolled by British companies, there is, strange to say, no
organisation to protect their common rights, no association
to enable the engineers and officers to come together and
discuss problems and difficulties which must have an equal
interest for them all. The immense distances between the
various towns and industrial centres, and the expense and
difficulty of travelling are mainly responsible for this
splendid isolation, but we are glad to see that steps are now
being taken to remedy what is an unfortunate state of affairs.
From the purely electrical point of view, the Empire of
India is one of great promise. Though some progress has
been made, there are clear indications that much more will
be made in future. There is an increasing demand for
power and lighting, and this will have to be satisfied.
There are vast sources of water power available, and if
means of development were provided there would be ample
supplies of electricity for industrial power, for the electrifica-
tion of the railways, for irrigation and other purposes. In
a country so undeveloped cheap power is no less essential
than in an overpopulated land lil c ours, and electricity
supply is given a chance of developing imder the most
modern conditions, a chance which we hope will be seized
with both hands.

" Useful Survey Work.

Much useful survey work has already been carried out
under the direction of Mr. J. W. Me ares, the Government
electrical adviser ; and the chief obstacle to progress seems to
be the lack of suitable legislation. We hop;', therefore that
the British Indian Electric Committee, which is representa-
tive of the Supply Companies, when they have their new or-
ganisation, will take up this important matter, and we should
also like other British engineering associations to study the
situation and make suitable representations to the Govern-
ment of India upon it. Until reasonably fair and attractive
concessions for the development of water power are avail-
able engineers and financiers will not be induced to risk
-their skill and capital in the country. In America, a highly-
industrialised country, concessions are granted for 50 years,

but for India a longer term is necessary ; and in addition
good facilities should be given for the purchase of land, for
the erection of works, for the acquisition of way leaves for
transmission lines, etc.

Trade Outlook Better.

There is evidence that the wave of trade depression
which has affected the country for some time is passing,
and that the political agitation, which has, no doubt, been
aggravated by bad trade, is dying down. Consequently
the outlook is distinctly better, and the future of industry,
particularly of the electrical industry, is promising and
should provide a good investment for capital. Apart
from any new hydro-electric projects or electric railway
schemes, most of the existing undertakings are making
rapid progress, and extensions of plant and mains have had
to be undertaken. For instance, the Calcutta Electric
Supply Corporation reports that it is swamped with applica-
tions for new connections ; its output for 192 1 was over
four million units more than in the previous year, and its
ordinary dividend and bonus are maintained at 11 per
cent. In Bombay, where a similar situation prevails, there
is a large demand for electric power for the cotton mills
and factories. Other supply companies are also able to
point to increased connections and to a sustained demand
for both light and power.

Co-operation by Conference.

It is, therefore, satisfactory to learn that in future there
is to be greater co-operation between the various under-
takings in India. It is hoped to inaugurate an annual
conference of the chief engineers and officials similar to
the annual gatherings of the I.M.E.A. and the Municipal
Tramways Association. Of course, the circumstances in
India are widely different from those which prevail in this
country, but nevertheless there should be plent}^ of useful
work for such a conference to do. There are many engineer-
ing problems, administration questions and other matters
which could be discussed. In addition, the legislation
affecting electricity supply, import duties, industrial
relations and many other things can be dealt with much
better by co-operation than by individual action. There-
fore, we welcome the new organisation, and we hope it
will be as successful as the British associations upon whose
constitution it is, we believe, to be modelled.

The casting vote it will be seen, remains with the
politicians. In this country they have done the electrical
industry no good. We hope that in India, where the
political situation is so difficult, a means will at least be
found of encouraging, not discouraging, a most important
development.

Industrial Essentials.

The only commentar}^ on life which could do justice to
the present position of the engineering industry is one of
iEsop's fables. We have not a copy of that leader writer's
vadc mecum at hand, but we feel sure that among its ancient
wisdom is to be found some succinct and enlightening
description of a state of affairs where all parties are working
to their own hindrance. But it is a state of affairs where,
if the parties would only recognise the community of interest
that exists between them and the excellent results which
would follow from honest common effort, they could really
obtain for themsehxs the prosperity which they are attempt-
ing to achieve by means which are as little likely to lead
to success in actuality as they are suited to :he politics of

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

615

some Utopian kingdom. There is, we recollect, something
about grasping the shadow and losing the substance in the
authority we have just quoted. That is what the engineer-
ing industry appears to be doing now. It would be as
well that all concerned should look facts in the face and
learn the lesson that they teach before it is too late. At
present cynical laughter is the only fit comment on both
their practice and performance.

Theories as a Diet.

During the past few years it may be said with some
truth that we have been feeding on theories, basing our
actions on suppositions and trying to build up a fabric
of a better and more efficient industry upon a foundation
which time has speedily shown to be quicksand. That
is no cause for blame ; it is a natural reaction from war-
time conditions. Still less is it a cause for blame, or even
regret, that much of that fabric is good and well designed,
and that, given sounder foundations, it can still take its
place in the building which we must still continue to strive
to erect. The Whitley Council movement, the realisation
of the need of research, the ethical and physical value of
welfare work, the introduction of labour-saving and labour-
aiding devices so as to make the worker less of a machine
and more of a human being are all stones in the temple
of the new industry which will be as useful in the future
as they are at present. But these parts of sound con-
struction must not be allowed to conceal the fact that we
have not yet found the way to build an industry that shall
be well established throughout, or rather that we have ijot
yet cleared away the numerous obstacles which are pre-
venting that construction. The design itself is well con-
ceived. It is its realisation that is difficult.

The Difficulties that Exist.

To consider the difficulties that stand in the way of
regaining industrial prosperity may make a solution of the
problems that have to be faced easier. It is obvious that
manufacturing conditions are undergoing a profound
change. Selling the product when it is made is perhaps
the most difficult of all the difficulties. This is indicated,
perhaps not so clearly in engineering as in other branches
of industry, by the feverish activities which are made to
obtain the smallest order, in the cajolery of, in the prayers
to and almost in the intimidation of the buyer, and generally
in the amount of energy which is being expended, if not
wasted, to secure what can only be in the nature of things
a very small return. The right sort of propaganda should
receive every encouragement from the modern manufac-
turer, but to expend time, money and energy in employing
the wrong kind is useless.

A Significant Change.

But more significant, because less directly connected
with selling, which after all is naturally a conflict of psycho-
logical opposites, is the change which has come over the
production side of the factory. The time has gone by when
the manufacturer bought at the lowest and sold at the
highest price he could without any clear idea of what the
connection was between the two sets of figures or whether
it was possible to improve the efficiency of his factory (in
the mechanical sense) by reducing the margin between them.
And providing Mr. Micawber's idea of happiness was
realised in his balance sheet he did not much care.

Counfiog the Cost.

Now the cost, and every factor which has an influence
on the cost, of ever,y article and part made in the factory

is known, and its progress through the shops is watched and
controlled so that the cost is kept at its minimum, and so
that its effect on other parts which are passing through
the shops is such that their cost is also kept at a minimum.
Though it may be argued with truth that the multiplication
and complication of some costing systems are more apparent
than their utility, it is axiomatic that to know the cost of
any particular product, however small, of the factory and
to be able to check any Wcuste that occurs in its production
are results that are well worth striving for and are an
advance towards that real simplicity which it is worth
while some effort to make.

To know of what every part of the organisation is capable
must, therefore, be the aim of the manufacturer of to-day.
For only with that knowledge -can he be assured of a return
for his capital and labour, with a steady upward movement
towards that prosperity which shall allow further expansion
and a greater scope for his efforts.

The Most Difficult Question.

It is the intention in the special Manufacturers' Issues of
The Electrician, the third of which we publish to-day, tp
deal with those questions of interest to the industry which
can be properly said to lie within the foiu: walls of the
factory. And of these, especially at the present time, the
most important and the most difficult to solve is that of
Labour. The manufacturer has had a good deal of success
in dealing with the organisation of his shops, in preparing
costing systems and in instituting research, but his success
in dealing with the human element as represented by his
operatives has not been so patent, and, if we are to judge
by present circumstances, might be more aptly described
as failure.

A Psychological Problem.

This is to a large extent due to the worker himself, who
may be labelled as a mass-individual. In other words
the worker is employing organisations which have been
laboriously built up for other purposes to further the
interests of his own class at the expense of all the others.
That way madness lies. The Socialist is at bottom the
most individual of men, and equally the Trade Union is the
most individualistic of societies. It is this narrowness of
outlook which is at the bottom of all Labour difficulties,
and bids fair, if recent defeats are any guide, to lead to
the immolation of the Trade Union movement. This
immolation would be disastrous, but if reluctance to take
lower basic wages is combined with a refusal to do more
work, no other result can follow. And when to this is
added a disinclination to submit to .:he slightest discipline,
things look very black indeed — and blackest of all for the
Trade Unions. On the employers' side matters are not
what they should be. There is a rigidity and conservatism
which can only lead, as they have done, to violent
clashing. The alternative must lie in a determination to
widen the outlook by seeing the other side's point of view
and by a real working together on the lines which the
Whitley Council movement has shown leads to a con-
siderable share of success.

It is because the organisation of the engineering industry,
except in the comparatively small things, is so confused,
and because those most concerned in it seem blind to the
confusion, that we have labelled it as we have done in our
opening paragraph. It is difficult to see how the present
condition- can be changed without a return to something
like indi\'idualism, and certainly without a return to some-
thing like discipline among all parties.

6i6

The Electrician — May 26, 1922

Some Problems of Modern Manufacturing,

By P. J. PYBUS. C.B.E., Managing Director English Electric Co.

However much the penduhim has swung over from the
optimism which followed the Armistice to a depression
which is equally unjustified, there is no doubt whatever
that lately the engineering works of Great Britain have had
opportunities for gaining experience in the real science of
production such as maj^ never recur. Everyone was a
superman in those days, and the process of recovering a
slight sense of proportion has been in some cases a fatal
operation and in every case somewhat painful. In mj^
opinion the prime mistake did not lie with the works
manager or those responsible for production at all.
Industrialists are not the only ones who can be wise after
the event, and it is regrettable that the economists who
now fill our papers with statements that the slump which
has hung over industry for the last year was a natural
result of all wars did not secure the same publicity for this
prediction immediately after the Armistice as they now
give to their views when the depression is plain to everyone.
Industry made the mistake of allowing " the tail to wag
the dog " when they were deciding on their post-war
programmes. Having got a plant in many cases financed
by Government funds, and of a highly repetitive character,
they immediately looked round for something to produce
on it, with the result that the market^is flooded with stocks
of articles resembling war products in shape and dimensions
for which there never has been nor ever will be a sufficient
market. There is a plague of articles which are short in
length, round in shape and which can be handled without
a crane, and the wise ones turned down every proposition
which came into this category as one in which over-pro-
duction was certain. The happy undertaking to-day is
that which has had the courage to close down its war
extensions, to readjust its ideas as to possible turnover
and to see to it that the foolishness of the Armistice year
is forgotten and that every scrap of the knowledge and
experience of production which was gained during the war
is made use of wisely and in a moderate way.

Some Useful Wartime Lessons.

The knowledge gained during the war must not be lost
in a revulsion from the extravagances of the war period.
In nearly every modern works machine tools which before
the war were unknown to the executive have come to help
costs. Grinding and hardening have becpme, for those who
were amateurish before the war, exact sciences. The
extended use of gauges, manufacture to perfectly definite
limits and the resultant elimination of shoddy operations
for making one part fit another have promoted many of our
post-war products into a class which cannot be equalled
anywhere in the world. The wholo of the internal organisa-
tion of factories has been revised. Ehmination of guess
work has not only come about by the use of limit gauges
and more accurate methods, but there are few works to-day
which have not entirely revised the basis upon which piece-
work prices are calculated. The old system of barter, with
all its inaccuracies and irritation as between master and
man, has been replaced b}^ something more accurate and
scientific.

The Importance of Costing Mvthods.

I think it will be agreed that the post-war system of
estimating works costs is an improvment, with the
result that many contracts have been secured against world
competition which before the war would have been lost.
The importance for British industry of a proper system of
costing for estimation purposes cannot be exaggerated,
and, much as most of us abhorred the activities of the costing
departments of the Ministry of Munitions, there are few
who did not gain something by demands for actual costing
as again-:t mere " rule of thumb " methods. The real
menace to the prosperity of an industry is the concern
which does not know its true costs and which quotes

accordingl}'. It is often necessary in bad times to quote
prices below cost, but there must be a price at which it
pays better to leave work than take it, and the man without
the accurate costing sj^-stem does not -know what this limit
really is. A practice which ruled in few factories before the
war was a definite reconciliation of the costs which were
used for estimating purposes with the books of the compan3^
Often the results shown by the works accountant were
irreconcilable with the distribution of labour and charges
which formed the basis for the original quotation. In this
direction I think there was a great gain during the war.

The tendency with regard to piece-work prices which
had been developed in a few factories before the war, and
which made it possible to show to labour a detailed calcula-
tion as to feeds and speeds, grew very much from 1914
onwards. It was the vast numbers of the same product
which brought home both to the employer and the workman
the necessity for scheming in detail the exact method by
which a piece of work could best be carried out, and the
five years' war experience of repetition on a vast scale
brought home to everyone the impossibility of securing
real efficiency unless a good deal of thinking as to method
was done before work actually started. _

Unscientific Price Fixing.

I believe that, suicidal as has been the attitude of certain
sections of labour regarding piece-work, unscientific
methods of fixing prices contributed largely to the support
which the organised objection to payment by results
received after the war. In many shops before the war
new prices were fixed during the boom with far too large a
time allowance ; then, when competition became greater,
the employer had either openly to reduce his piece-work
price, or alter the method by which the job was done in
order to get out of an established piece-work price the
maintenance of which meant that his products were un-
saleable on account of their high cost. The more scientific
practice of fixing piece-work times, wirti the e\ddence clearly
before employer and workman, has the effect of remo\ing
once and for all anj' question of an enormous gamble for
either party.

Rate-fixing & la Mode.

Rate-fixing as it is commonly understood has in practice
often meant simply this, that the employer or his repre-
sentative fixed rates, scientifically or unscientificall^^ but in
secret, wrote them down on a card and gave them to the
workman " to take it or to leave it." There was no pretence
of making the operation a bargain between the parties,
no opportunit}^ for either party in ?L\\y open and straight-
forward manner to have rates reviewed when once fixed.
This system is fair neither to the employer nor to the
workman. The old notion that any foreman or his clerk
was good enough to fix rates is exploded. The job calls
for complete familiarity with the work done in the shop
and the machines employed ; for special training ; and,
what is even more important, for a human manner. There
are other walks in life than the diplomatic service for which
a rough tongue is not a recommendation, and rate-fixing
is one of them.

The Whitley Movement.

But not even the most cificient and the most tactful of
rate-fixers can avoid making mistakes on occasion or
alwaj-s succeed in convincing the workman that he is being
given a square deal. His work must be supplemented by
proper machinerj^ for appeal, -which is quick in action and
not cumbersome in operation, for the rectification both of
a price which is too low and of a price which is too high.
It is in this direction that most progress has been made,
and it is a matter of the very gravest anxiety to the industry
as a whole that any feelings caused by the lock-out shall
not interfere with the co-operation which has grown up so

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

617

splendidly since the Armistice. The movement originated
by Mr. Whitley, together with the establishment of Works
Committees in many factories which had no consultative
body at all before the war has, in the main, been successful.
The Works Committee to-day differs in most factories very
materially in scope and power from those created imme-
diately after the war. But there are few factories on
which this movement, idealistic though it may have
appeared at the beginning, has not left a permanent
impression. Wliile many of the original functions of the
Works Committee had to be omitted from their constitution
owing to the fact that they did not give the proper irepre-
sentation to the organisation of the great craft unions, the
movement has come to stay.

Improvement in Working Conditions.

In what was known by the general and quite unsuitable
expression, " welfare work," the activities of the war have
produced a definite change in the factories and workshops.
You have only to walk round the average engineering works
to see on all sides improvements in hygienic and sanitary
conditions of the shops. Most of the larger works have
appointed, and still retain, even in these bad times, their
male and female supervisors. The work among girls was
easier to initiate than that amongst boys, but it is remark-
able that in many of the shops the welfare activities
amongst the lads have produced more permanent results
than any other form of welfare work. In many works large
areas of recreation grounds, containing club houses and in
some cases halls in which dancing and concerts take place
every week, have rendered the works a definite social centre.
Some of the more ambitious schemes will possibly fail to
continue on their present scale, but those in which the
management is vested in the workpeople themselves will
undoubtedly continue to flourish. I do not think that
there is any room for a large social organisation connected
with a factory situated in a large town where the workers
live a considerable distance from their work and where
recreation is easily obtained near their homes, but in more
isolated works the factory has, since the war, become more
than a mere workshop — it is a centre of many activities
ordinarily outside the scope of an engineering company.
A Real Advance.

We have, in the last few years, grown so accustomed to
lighter and better workshops, proper medical and hj^gienic
appliances and all that these improved facilities make
possible, that we are apt to overlook the real achievement
which has been effected. If we think back to the time of
our own apprenticeship the change is almost unbelievable.
The workman hurrying along with his tea-can in one hand
and a tin box containing food in the other is now seldom
to be seen. The modern canteen, generally spotlessly clean
and equipped like a modern restaurant, has changed all
that. The ambulance room, with the trained nurse in
charge, has replaced the " belt-mender " with his sticking
plaster and friar's balsam as a remedy for all wounds.
Proper changing rooms, with adequate washing accommoda-
tion and a host of other amenities, have changed the whole
appearance of the workshop of to-day, and while before
the war there were many modern and advanced establish-
ments, it is not too much to say that the more general
adoption of such improvements is a direct outcome of the
war and a step which was too long delayed both in the
interests of the workman and his employer. Let no one
imagine that these changes, however far they are pursued,
can solve the problem of workshop management. It is
easier to design an automatic machine than an automatic
man. The disciples of Mr. Taylor will continue to fail if
they do not appreciate how complex is the combination
of the man and the machine, and how impossible a task
it is to analyse the human mind into simple terms. Educa-
tion and social progress have been applied for generations
to the deliberate enlargement of the human aspirations of
the workers, and to think to-day that men can be controlled
like a machine by the setting of cams is to believe that it is
possible to unscramble an egg.

Reviews.

Hydro-Electric Fngincering. Vol. I. Ciwi. .^.sL>
."\fECHANic.\L. Bv Prof. A. H. Gibson, D.Sc, and
H. D. Cook, M.Sc. (London : Blackie & Son, Ltd.)
Pp. XX. - 232. 23s. net.

Prof. Gibson is editing two volumes on hydro-electric
engineering — the present one deals with the civil and
mechanical side ; the second volume will deal with the
electrical equipment and lay-out, the economic side of the
question, and with the possibilities of tidal power. Of the
volume under notice, Dr. Gibson is responsible for the
sections on : Rainfall and run-off ; the flow of water and its
measurement ; the available power, storage, &c. ; hy-
draulics ; the development of Water-power schemes ;
turbines ; speed regulation ; and water-power reports.
Mr. H. D. Cook contributes the sections on civil and
mechanical engineering works, and on general arrangement
of stations.

Reading this book has been a very refreshing task. The
Editor has chosen his matter carefully, and by refraining
from an extensive use of purely descriptive matter, has
retained ample spacie for the " real stuff " in the form of
calculations in hydraulics, turbines and speed regulation.
Thus the work is essentially technical in character, and will
serve as an admirable text book. It is doubtful if there arc-
many subjects of more immediate interest to civil, mechani-
cal, and electrical engineers than the utiHsation of water-
power for the generation of electrical energy, and the Editor
might have written at even greater length on certain
aspects, such as the linking up of stations. The various
means that have been adopted of late years for obtaining a
continuous supply of energy from water-power form a very
instructive study, and might well provide a section in a
book like the present. The electrical designer will not find
much comfort in the fact that the runaway speed may equal
three times the normal speed. On this point at least the
electrical engineer can den}^ responsibility, unless perhaps
it is his duty to find the means of preventing this danger I

It is an authoritative book, which can be thoroughly
recommended to engineers. Both printing and illustra-
tions are good, though we should like to see " o " placed
before the decimal point — 04 is much better than "4 in
every way.

S. Parker Smith.

Boiler Inspection and Maintenance. By R. Clayton.

(London : Sir Is.iac Pitman & Sons, Ltd.) Pp. iiS.
2s. 6d. net.

This little book is a useful guide for boiler inspectors and
others interested in the close examination of steam boilers.

As a practical and experienced boiler survej'or, Mr.
Clayton knows exactly " w^hat to look for " when a boiler is
down for inspection and o\-erhaul, and giA'es the result of
this experience in a concise and readable form.

In the initial chapters he deals with the principal tj'pes
of boilers, including Lancashire, water-tube, vortical, loco.,
and others, analysing their salient features, and calling
attention to possible constructional defects, normal and
abnormal effects of wear , and tear, water corrosion, and
other causes.

The later chapters are de^'oted to accessor}- steam plant,
such as economisers, superheaters, water softeners and
mechanical stokers, and contain many practical hints on
the care and maintenance of valves, pipe lines, fittings and
other details which will be useful to all operating engineers.

In the preface the question of coal economy is lightly
touched upon, but the scope of the work does not call for
exhaustive treatment of the operating side, and this phase
is not, therefore, developed to any extent. At the same
time, there is no doubt that closer attention to the question
of maintenance will materially reduce the risk of breakdown,
and Mr. Clayton's treatise may therefore be recommended
as a useful addition to the boiler engineer's library.

Percy E. Rycroft.

6i8

The Electrician — May 26, 1922

Electricity and Safety First in Factories.

By W. H. SEAL, H.M. Deputy Superintending Inspector of Faoiories.

Mr. Seal's article is written to stimulate interest in the important problem of how safety can best be insured in our factories. This
is both a human and an economic question, and in its solution electricity can be of the greatest assistance. Mr. Seal suggests a code
of safety rules and calls attention to the legislative difficulties which prevent the full blossoming of " safety first." Certain precau-
tions desirable in using electrical machinery are discussed in detail.

It is only possible in the brief space alotted to me for
this article to touch the fringe of such an interesting and
important subject ; if, however, anything herein stimulates
more active interest or encourages further efforts by those
to whom it appeals, it will not have been written in vain.
Moreover, this is not an official review, but some reflections
of my own personal impressions.

Politics and Safety First.

The late Mr. Gladstone once defined the science of
politics as "to make it easy to do right and hard to do
wrong " ; the same words apply equally to the science of
the subject under review, particularly from the electrician's
point of view, for the art and functions of true statesmanship
consist, not so much in trying to deal successfully with
national needs and international problems as they arise,
but, what is far more important and valuable, in fore-
seeing and averting dangers which threaten the State.
Similarly, and with equal force, this apphes when dealing
with " Safety First in Factories," which may be summed
up in the prosaic words, 'I prevention is better than cure."

Apart from the problem of creating a more harmonious
and better co-operative relationship between employers
and employed — a most desirable achievement in the present
state of industry — no industrial issue of recent years has
become, perhaps, so prominent a theme for discussion, or
involves more important prospective results.

This Country the First.

There can be no question but that this country was the
pioneer in this desirable movement, mainly, perhaps, owing
to its excellent Factory Acts and their administration ; but
its commercial value was quickly recognised by employers
of labour and insurance intellectuals in America, which
country, with its usual activity and hustle, was not slow
to explore and develop this comparatively unknown sphere
of utility, so that it has actually outdistanced us in the
great strides made and wonderful results achieved.

True, its propaganda may appear sometimes crude in
conception and somewhat gruesome in the illustrations
used to illuminate its efforts ; still, the movement is so
widespread, the efforts so forcible, and its promoters so
sincere, that, judged by results, " it gets there " ; this is
proved by facts and figures which are imimpeachable,
but which space forbids being chronicled here.

The Pathos of Comtnerce.

The subject under review assumes additional prominence
when we try to realise the constant and continuous toll
made upon our industrial fife, and the human misery
involved by the fact that during 1920 accidents reported
under the Factory Acts to H.M. Inspectors totalled i 404
fatal, 42 012 due to machinery, and 94 286 others. And,
quite apart from the necessity of complying with safety
requirements enforceable under the Factory Acts, and
the moral obligations arising out of th'- human aspect,
there is the industrial side — viewed fron. the employers'
standpoint — and this is the one with which, for the present,
we" are here mainly concerned; and thus the question
naturally arises, does " Safety First " pay ? Leaving out
other considerations, the issue may be thus expressed :
is there, commercially, an adequate return in interest to
an employer for the capital outlay involved in carr^^dng
out the provisions to ensure its success ? One way of
recovering part of such cost would probably be in a
reduction of insurance premiums when protective measures
were adopted to the company's satisfaction. This is done in
the laundry trade, where the Lancashire Mutual Insurance

Association allows 5 per cent, discount off premiums when
the machinery is protected up to the standard required by
its inspectors, whose expenses are paid by members of the
Association, and occupiers are keen to reap the advantage.

The Cost of the Worker.

Further, the question is partly answered by asking
whether we folly reahse what it costs the State to feed,
clothe, educate, etc., a worker until the age of productive-
ness, either professionally or industrially, is attained ;
and even after that period is reached there are still years
of probationary labour required before such a worker can
give, either directly or indirectly, back to the State his
own cost of production. Hence it follows that whatever
can be done to secure the safety, physical comfort, and
welfare of each producer is a' valuable asset, not only to
the breadwinner and his household, but to his employer
and the State. No employer willingly allows his machinery
to become obsolete or to neglect its efficient working and
subsequent impoverishment for the sake of necessary
repairs, adopting improved and more up-to-date methods,
or, it may be, even the use of a little oil. And so it is with
the human element in industry : whatever tends to make
the producer less efiicient, whether by unhealthy or unsafe
conditions, is unjust to the workers, an inconvenience
and a loss to the employer, and wrong to the State, for all
this has to be repaid either in lessened production, com-
pensation, insurance, etc., etc.

The late Charles Dickens must have been gifted with a
prophetic vision of the partial solution of this problem
when, 70 years ago, he said, " If ever there was a time
when any one class could of itself do much for its own good
and for the welfare of society — ^which I greatly doubt —
that time is unquestionally past. It is in the fusion of
different classes without confusion ; in the bringing together
employers and employed ; in the creating of a better,
common understanding among those whose interests are
identical, who depend upon each other, and who never
can be in unnatural antagonism without deplorable
results,"

How Electricity can Help.

And there is no field perhaps which affords such scope
for progressive safety devices as the electrical ; already
much has been done, but very much more can, and must,
be done. The first essential is the ehmination, as far
as practicable, of risks arising from overhead diiving
shafts, pulleys, and belts, the cause of so many and serious
accidents, which can be greatly reduced by use of direct
local or basement drives, to a minimum. No one visiting
factories, grsat or small, can fail to observe the network
of potential risks which everT^'where prevail from unsecured
loose belts suspended from overhead shafts, putting belts
on pullej'S, oiUng bearings with shaft in motion, and the
use of unsuitable ladders in work incidental thereto, etc.
Other advantages of the electric drive include : —

(a) Flexibility. — The machinery in the mill can be
arranged in the manner most suitable for convenient
operation, without having first to consider whether it is
possible to drive the machine in the position chosen.
.\lteration and extensions can be easily and efficiently
carried out. The buildings can be scattered over a large
or irregular area without appreciable disadvantage.

(b) Lighter Building Construction. — The absence of
heavy mill gearing when electrical drive is adopted will
often permit of a lighter type of building construction.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

619

ciimstances sometimes arise which necessitate the operation
of only a portion of the machinery. In such circumstances
a prime mover does not operate at its maximum efficiency,
and at the same time the percentage Joss in friction
increases, due to shafting and belting running round light.
With a well-arranged electric drive, using purchased power,
sections of the mill can bo shut down, and the remaining
sections will still operate at full load efficiency, whereby
considerable economies are affected.

(d) Smoothness of Drive. — The individual motor drive
of certain classes of machines will assist in obtaining a
smooth and constant speed drive, especially if belts can be
eliminated altogether. Such irregularities in speed as may
be obtained from a belt drive are well known to have a
very adverse effect on production, and one of the chief
advantages of the electrical drive is that it enables the
belt drive to be replaced by direct drive where desired.

(e) Speed Variation. — Where machines are required to
be driven at variable speed the variable speed motor

Fig. 1. — Large Woodworking Plant without overhead driving shaft, pulleys
and belts the pipes show system of mechanical dust extraction.

offers an ideal form of drive, as the speed can be perfectly
and easily controlled, and it is much simpler than any
mechanical variable speed device.

(f) Reduction in Breakdowns. — The breakdown of a
prime mover in a steam driven mill is a very serious matter
and often involves a prolonged stoppage. On the other
hand, a breakdown or failure in an electrically-driven mill,
using purchased power, will, generally speaking, only
necessitate the shutting down of a portion of the machinery,
and that for a short time, as a faulty motor or cable
can be quickly repaired 01 replaced. Where electricity
is privately generated, this advantage of course, cannot
be claimed. Apart from the breakdown of the prime
mover in the case of the mechanically-driven mill, there
is always the question to be considered of the breakdown
of some detail in the mechanical drive which may shut
down the mill for some considerable time. With the
sectionalised electrical drive this disadvantage does not
exist to the same extent in either the scheme using pur-
chased power, or in that where the power is privately
generated.

(g) Ease of Control and Upkeep. — Electrical energy can
be very easily and accurately measured, and such measure-
ments afford a continuous indication of the state of the
machinery and the amount of work beng done.

(h) Increased Light. — Due to the reduction in the amount
of overhead shafting, belting and other transmitting media
in an electrically-driven mill, more effective lighting, both
artificial and natural, can be obtained.

(i) Improved Welfare of Personnel. — The reduction in
the amount of shafting belting, etc., with electrical dnving
improves the safety, appearance and cleanliness of the
mill, thereby adding to the comfort and health of the staff
and to the ease of supervision.

Good Conditions Assisted by Electricity.

The accompanying illustrations (Figs, i to 3} seive to
emphasise the foregoing where direct electrical drive
operates, whilst, in addition, it is possible by suitable
gearing to arrange for the stoppage of any machine from
various points by means of push-buttons, which of course,
involves the use of an automatic circuit breaker, contactor,
or some electro-magnetic means of holding the switch ann
in position.

Further, it is practicable, by means of automatic startmg
gear to arrange for the starting and stopping of electrical
motors from points remote from the motor. For example,
a " blower " for a foundry might be installed in an archway
where it was difficult to fence it, so as to
safely approach it whilst running, but it
could be arranged, by means of push-
button starters interlocked with the ma-
chine house door, and from outside, so
that there would be no possible danger to
the operator There are many variations
of this method of controlling machinery,
but in dangerous places it is quite pos-
sible to make starting independent of
visual or sound signals. Where basement
drive prevails, local pulleys and belts
immediately above the working floor can
be easily railed off or shielded whereby
the only risks arise from the moving parts
of machinery, which, in turn, should be
adequately fenced as far as practicable.

A Code of Safety Rules.

Having adopted all reasonable precau-
tions for adequate protection from danger-
ous machinery and conditions of employ-
ment, the next step is to try and enforce
their use, and the following " Safety
Rules " are in successful operation at a large
and important works in this country : —

I. Always be careful. Make sure you are
right before you proceed with your work.

2. If you have any doubt about how any work given you has to
be done, or if you have av Y uncertainty as to the manipulating of
any machine you are set to operate, say so. Your foreman or
overlooker will help you. Don't take a chance.

3. Use extra care whenever you see a machine painted red, or
where you see a red disc. Remember persona] caution is the
greatest and best safety guard. Want of care often does more
harm than want of knowledge.

4. Report any dangers you see to your foreman at once.
Cultivate the " Safety habit."

5. If there are any safety guards or devices on your machine, be
sure they are in place before starting. Never start a machine until
you have made sure everything is in order.

6. Do not wear clothing with unfastened or ragged sleeves. These
may be caught in machinery.

7. All GIRLS must wear their hair neatly coiled to the satis-
faction of the forewoman, when at work.

8. Larking or fooling is strictly forbidden. Do not throw
anything.

9. Do not leave any boards

ing on the floor with nails pro-
truding. You may lame a workmate for hfe.

10. Do not oil shafting or machinery in motion without
direct orders|[from your foreman.

11. Do not use a ladder on wooden floors unless it has safety
spikes or feet.

12. Do not use tools^with burred ends, or hammers with cracked
or broken shafts.

13. Do not pile^material so that it can fajj.

14. Protect the premises against fire. A fire in these works
may put many people out of work. Prevention is better than

CURE.

15. Help to keep the factory and plant dean. There is less
chance of accidents happening.

16. If you are INJURED, no matter how slightly, report at
ONCE to your Charge Hand or Fceman. Neglect of prop«

620

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

attention may'cause pain and suffering as well as loss of wages
TO YOU. ^ Skilled^treatment is always available.

The Use of Safety Bulletina.

In large works much can be done by a competent safety
engineer or inspector with time and authority to supervise
and enforce safety'' conditions, but in smaller works this
mustpiecessarily devolve upon the employer, or some
responsible manager, or foreman ; but in either case their
efforts can be very usefully supplemented by warning

inadequately protected to meet the Factory Act require-
ments, and the answer, briefl}', is : There exists no statutory
power, at present, to compel them to do so, but what is
being done is, wherever new machinery is found in use in
factories with dangerous parts inefficiently protected, to
interview its agents or makers' and urge the desirability
of fencing such parts to meet adequate safety requirements,
pointing out that wherever during official inspection such
machines are found in use, the employer will be instructed

Fig. 2.— Woollen Mill — Twisting Frames (Showing Part of Disused Mill Gearing and Pulleys).

placards — sometimes known as safety bulletins — exhibited
in the works, of which the following are typical : —

THINK

BETTER BE

PREVENTION

DANGER.

SAFETY AND

SAFE THAN

OF DISTRESS

DANGER

practice

SORRY.

IS NOBLER

SIGNS ARE

IT.

THAN

FIXED FOR

RELIEF.

YOUR
SAFETY. DO
NOT DISRE-

GARD THEM.

FOOLING.

HABITS.

WOUNDS.

Many accidents

It is better to lose

Septic wounds.

are caused by

a minute in avoid-

however slight,

fooling, horseplay,

ing an accident

require careful

and distracting

than a month in

treatment. Have

attention of others.

nursing an injury.

them dressed daily

Be sensible.

in the Surgery.

It takes less time

It is better to be

It takes less time

to prevent an acci-

careful than to be

to learn to do a

dent than it does

crippled.

thing right than it

to report it.

does to explain why
you did it wrong.

Legislative Difficulties.

The question is sometimes asked why makers of, or
agents for, machinery are allowed to sell machinery

that, from the official safety point of view, they disclose
defective conditions which must be remedied. This
sometimes has the desired effect on the seller, but others
demur [a) on the ground of the additional expense involved ;
(6) some employers prefer to provide their own guards ;
(c) that as agents for such machines manufactured abroad
(principally America) their power's are limited.

Need of Signalling Systems.

Another very important step taken by the Home Office
is to call conferences from time to time with the accredited
representatives of employers, employed, and expert
inspectors cf factories in certain important industries where
voluntary agreements are arrived at, as to what parts of
their machinery should be fenced, the methods of fencing,
together with other questions likely to effect the safety
and welfare of the worker — i.e., temperature, ventilation,
etc. Tliis is being followed up by the publication of
concise explanations in illustrated pamphlets. This is a
most praiseworthy development ; for " he who runs may
read," thereby standardising uniformity of safety condi-
tions and their administration. One important factor in
the domain of safety deserving of development is a mo^e
efficient method of signalling between two or more persons
working in conjunction witli, but each independent of,
the other ; as frequent accidents occur owing to mis-
understandings, often due to noisy surroundings, restricted
view by, and of, machinery, and wliich could be largely
overcome by the intelligent use of signal lights. Here is
an example : —

May 26, 1922

ThelElectrician.

621

An Example of Protection.

Two operators are working at a double crank " Bliss "
two-man press, one at the back, the other at the front,
and the latter operates the lever which vv^orlcs the press,
the device herein described being a signalling apparatus
from the operator at the back thst the material is in
position, and ready for the action of the press.

The device consists of two flush type spring push-buttons
set at a con-
venient position
within the opera-
tor's reach, and
at such a dis-
tance as to com-
pel -the operator
to use both
hands. The
action of press-
ing the switches
starts an electric
current which
operates a signal
lamp, but first
of all passes
through a sole-
noid, which, by
magnetic action,
withdraws the
safety pin from
the press opera-
ting lever. The
press J,_^then ! re-
turns'^toTthe
normal position
by mechanical
means which is
integral with the
operating me-
chanism of the
press, and as it
does so, the sole-
noid pin is forced
back to its origi-
nal position by a
spring strong
enough for ^the
purpose, but not
too strong to re-
sist unduly^ the
magnetic action
of the solenoid.

Two points
have been found
by close observa-
tion to be neces-
sary to prevent
miscliievous in-
terference with
the safe working
of this device :
one is that the

push switches be of the flush spring type to stop one or
both from being locked in the " ON " position ; and the
solenoid must be encased to prevent the pin being trapped
back in such a position as to leave the lever open. The
above excellent device was the outcome of an acciflent
by which the operator at the back lost a hand,
through the operator at the front of the press imagin-
ing he had seen the signal light and starting the press
whilst the injured man's hands were in a dangerous
position.

Many accidents occur during loading and unloading
vessels owing to inefficient signalling, etc. These dangers
can be largely overcome by the mechanical device
illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3. — Driving a Crane in Safety and Security.

A Device for Safe Unloading

By this method of control it is possible for the operator
to leave the crane cabin and control the operation of the
crane from any part of the ship or dock by means of a small
portable master controller, which he can easily csLtry from
place to place. When working from the hatchway, the
driver^^has a better view of his work throughout the whole
range than^if^he is'up in the crane cabin and is consequently

not so dependent
on the signals of
other people.
This is especially
useful when
drawing cargo
from spaces in
the hold beyond
the hatchway
opening and also
inswinginggoods
into these posi-
tions. This
better view
makes the opera-
tion so much
■^afer for the man
m the hold. It
has also the ad-
ditional advan-
tage of saving
the wages of a
signaller. There
is another point
which is specially
important at
night time, and
that is the com-
parative danger
to a man ascend-
ing a crane, and
especially some
very large cranes,
when used in the
dark. This is of
special import-
ance where a
man may require
to work one out
of two or more
cranes at various
periods in the
night.

There is also
the matter of
comfort of the
operator in-
volved, as it is
found that most
crane cabins are
N'ery draughty
and require to
be heated, and
many operators would prefer to work in the cold wth a
coat in the open air than in a heated but draughty cabin.

Hoist Protection.

Notwithstanding improved methods of protecting the
hoist-well itself, the number and seriousness of hoist
accidents still continue to be so alarming that it has been
found -desirable — and even necessar}- — to try* and stan-
dardise certain precautionary measures of addirional
safety, and a pamphlet thereon recently issued by the
Home Office states " a large number of accidents are
caused by crushes between the travelling cage and door
hntels or other projections in the hoist well. Practically
the xi'hole of these would be prevented by fitting a collapsible

622

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

gate on the cage itselj. In addition each doorway should
be provided with a gate or door fitted flush to the inside
of the ' well,' so constructed that (i) it cannot be opened
until the cage is at rest opposite to that floor or landing, and
(2) the cage cannot be moved away until the door or gate is
closed and fastened ."

This recommendation is essentially an unique oppor-
tunity for electrical equipment to come into its own, as
thereby the use of hoists can be made practically " fool-
proof," as an auto locking device can be, and is being,
applied to electrically driven hoists, whereby the electric
circuit between the cage and protecting gates or doors
become operative or broken by the arrival at, or departure
from, any floor. In addition, by a mechanical interlock
between the gate of the cage and the door, the latter can
only be opened when the cage is opposite the door and the
cage can only be moved when the door is closed. At first
difficulties arose in applying the arrangement to belt-driven
and hydraulic hoists, but " necessity is the mother of inven-
tion," and these obstacles are now mainly overcome. In
one such instance not only are the Home Office recom-
mendations referred to above carried out, but when the gates
are properly closed, and not till then, a lamp in the cage
becomes automatically alight, and continues so whilst the
cage is in motion and the doors or gates remain closed.

Cranes and Accidents.

In proportion to the numbers employed on cranes, the per-
centage of accidents — mostly serious or fatal — is far too
high. There are invariably three types : (1) overhead,
{2) runway, (3) overhead, but running on ground rails ; and
risks may be classified generally as {a) falls of persons.

crane and fixed structures in the building ; where this is
likely to occur, curved shields on the principle of the cow-
catcher should be fitted, so that persons are pushed out
of danger. All cranes should be fitted with a distinct
form of sound signal — preferably of a continuous type.
This is especially important where the workplace is noisy.

Electrical Crane Dangers.

Electrically, the danger on cranes is from shock, which
may or may not give rise to a fall ; it is therefore important
that the cabin switch-board be of a safe type, and switches
for various operations be plainly marked. Overhead feed
wires should be protected near aU parts to which access
may be required, and wires along walls from which power
is supphed be protected at those points which are to be
crossed when the operator has to enter or leave the cabin
— a shield fitted so as to run with the crane acts effectually
as a protection.

Fire Precautions.

Prompt and efficient means for notif3nng an outbreak
or alarm of fire are a valuable asset to employers and
property owners — quite apart, from the more important
consideration of saving life — hence it is very important
that premises be fitted with an electrical device wherebv
danger signals by lights or bells, or both, can be imme-
diately communicated as a distinctive fire alarm. The
necessity for some such arrangement was emphasised
recently by an outbreak of fire in a factory in a large city
resulting in the loss of five lives, and a miraculous escape
of 30 other persons. The fire broke out at 6.30 p.m.
(October) on the first floor of a four-storey building, and

a=D=&^ + +

"—I IwVWA^ |wv'

[>{>=a={M]

Sketch 7.

{h) falls of material, (c) contact with other workmen on floor,
{d) electrical.

Falls of persons in the hand operated crane occur mainly
owing to insufficient fencing of the hoisting platform or
faulty means of access ; in the electrically driven type the
same causes operate. Wncre repairs have to be carried
out to the overhead structure a saf'> platform or other means
should be provided. Occasionally, through some failure,
the crane cannot be brought back to the usual point,
hence means must be at hand whereby the operator can
descend safely — i.e., by ladders at intervals, or a rope
ladder in the cabin.

Falls of Material are mainly due to («) failure of machine
(either faulty design, overloading, or wear and tear) ;
(6) failure of chains, slings or ropes ; (:) contact of hoist
materia] with fixtures ; (d) improper slii.ging ; {e) careless
working of crane. Therefore, plant n.ust be pi'operly
designed with adequate factors of safety ; stop blocks
fitted at ends ; maximum safe load clearly marked on
cranes ; structure, chains, ropes, etc., be periodically
examined by a competent person ; faulty wire ropes be
repaired or replaced, and chains annealed ; material be
loaded under proper supervision ; the crane be i}i charge
of an experienced and careful person with a proper system
©f signals with the ground.

Contact with workmen on the ground may occur either
owing to improper handling of the crane, whereby workmen
are struck by the load, or, in a gantry crane'with floor
rails, by crushes between the moving framework of the

|vwwi/< Lvvvwi^ hWAvj |^^^v.^4

-\ Ch=0=LhCK]

Sketch 2.

Insulating
Strips

Fig. 4.

at the time 35 persons were in the top workroom, but
before they could be commrmicated with, the internal
staircase was full of smoke, and efforts to make the danger
known to them by persons outside were unavailing, so
that by the time the alarm could be given the outside
iron staircase was enveloped in flames and escape practi-
cally cut off. An efficient system of signalhng by meajis
of a substantial bell, operated from, say, the time lodge,
would have given ample warning to the occupants of the
room that danger was about. The following is an excellent
arrangement in operation at a company's large premises
for calling appointed firemen from the respective parts of the
building to the works' chief fire station, wherein are two
sets of accumulators of 15 V each, charged from the
electrical supply mains. These acctunulators control
seventeen 6 in. bells, distributed over the main staircases
of six large seven-storey biuldings. They are fixed in
position on the staircases so that firemen emploj'ed can hear
them at any time they are reqiured, the wires being run
from each bell to accumulators and control pushes in
Chief Fire Station. A push-t>utton is also fixed in each
block of buildings in a small fire box with glass front,
marked " Fire," so that warning can be given to Chief Fire
Station in case any of these buildings get on fire ; the
chief fireman can then ring all firemen from other sections
of the premises. A wire is taken from each push-button to
a bell in the Chief Fire. Station, the chief fireman from the
station can press a button and call any section of the men
from any single building, or, by pulhng downi the lever.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

623

which connects all the push-buttons, he can call all men
together at the same time from the whole six blocks of
premises.

Electrical Accidents in Testing Departments.

Electrical accidents in testing departments may be due
to the three following causes : —

A. — Testers' own carelessness — i.e. :

1. Burn or shock due to interfering with connections
on switchboard or machine on test without making circuits
dead.

2. Burn due to tester shorting mains with one piece of
wire owing to not making certain that the voltmeter switch
i> in correct position for reading a high voltage.

3. Burn or shock which may be caused by paralleling
a d.c. machine on the Une and 'tester not carefully testing
that there are no v^olts across switch before closing it.

B. — Bad arrangement of testing sets and materials used — i.e. :

1. Burn on hands or face owing to the fuses on the
test switchboard being in too close proximity to the switch.

2. Burn on hand due to plugging up a resistance frame
and an arc extending from plug to the opposite pole. Arc
may occur across AB, see Fig. 4, Sketch i.

This can be prevented by placing an insulating strip
between the rows of contacts, and thus prevent arcs.
See Fig. :\, Sketch 2._

3. Various firms have different methods of deaUng with
shock prevention on H.T. flashing circuits, and each may
have its defect ; but I will deal with the one only with which
I am familiar.

In the standard flash test up to 2 000 V the H.T. circuit
is supplied by means of a small motor-alternator through a
transformer, one pole of which is earthed and the other
pole run through H.T. wire down the Test Department,
and is tapped off at various points to a guarded hook.

The H.T. lead consists of a special H.T. cab-tyred cable
'(capable of standing 20 000 V) with specially prepared
connectors at each end, and consequently quite safe to use.
Care is taken that only one flashing lead is in use at once,
and arrangements are made so that the H.T. line is dead
when not in use. Thus if a Test Department is arranged
conveniently and all testing circuits are entirely separate
and controlled by switches and breakers, so as to make it
impossible for a tester to obtain shock, etc., from another
circuit close at hand, and also all testing leads to be clear
of any passage, then the risk of accidents is very much
minimised.

First-aid Methods.

Notwithstanding the adoption of efficient provisions to
ensure safety, accidents udll continue to occur from a
variety of unforeseen or unpreventable causes, lack of
reasonable care, inadequate supervision, etc., and to deal
therewith there should be provided means to enable treat-
ment of injuries sustained during work. And the first
essential is a first-aid box (or boxes) suitably placed in the
works, equipped, maintained and used in accordance with
the requirements needed for each trade dealt with in
various Welfare Orders issued from time to time by the
Secretary of State.

In certain industries where 500 persons and upwards are
employed this provision should be supplemented by an
ambulance room suitably placed — in charge of a qualified
nurse or other person trained in first-aid, who should be
readily available during working hours — and contain at
least : —

(i) A glazed sink with liot and cold water always available.

(ii) A table with a smooth top.

(iii) Means of sterilising instruments.

(iv) A supply of suitable dressings, bandages and splints.

(v) A couch.

(vi) A stretcher.

Accidents arising from electric shock require special
treatment apart from these provisions, the most important
being the immediate application of artificial respiration as
a means of resuscitation in cases of apparent death, to be
resorted to at once, and persevered with for at least two
hours, or until the patient revives. ' Here again it is quite
impossible to go into details, and readers are referred to
Home Office recommendations thereon. It has also been
found desirable by some electrical authorities — to avoid
any possibiUty of misunderstanding verbal instructions —
that, before commencing work on any high tension system,
the erector, foreman or jointer in charge shall receive from
the engineer supervising the work a form as follows : —

To the Foreman-in-charge,

. . ,. Cable.

Time

The above cable is dead and earthed, and work can now be
started on this Une.

Signed

Engineer-in-charge, Power Station.

Then when the work is completed the preson in charge shall report :
To the Engineer-in-charge at th3 Power Station.

or
Senior Operation Engineer,

Cable.

Time

Ail men are clear of the abc ve cable.

Signed

Mains Department.
Date

Conclusion.

Prejudice against new developments, such as " Safety
First," dies hard, and difficulties are not so easily overcome.
Some day— soon it is hoped — the long contemplated
provision and equipment of what has been termed a
" Safety Museum " will be estabUshed in this country on
the lines, it may be, of those in America and on the Conti-
nent, whereby can be made known to our manufacturers
the adaptation and uses of safety apparatus and the details
of organisations in this and other coimtries that have
more or less grappled with the problem of accident pre-
vention. The American museum of safety holds a special
charter of incorporation granted by the Assembly and
Senate of the State as follows :— " The objects of the
Corporation hereby created are to study and promote
means and methods of safety and sanitation and the
application thereof to any and all public or private occupiers
whatsoever, and of advancing knowledge of kindred sub-
jects ; and to that end to establish and maintain a museum,
library and laboratories and their branches, wherein ail
matters, methods, and means for improving the general
condition of the people as to their safety and health may
be studied, tested and promoted with a view to lessening
the number of casualties and avoiding the causes of
physical suffering and of premature death ; and to dis-
seminate the results of such study, researches and pubhca-
tion."*

As this article commenced by quoting ^Ir. Gladstone,
with another quotation from him it maj- fitly conclude :
" Apart from his agreement with his employer, each man
should have a contract witli himself, always and in all
things to do the very best he can " ; for only by the lo5'al
co-operation of the worker to make the best use of tlie
means provided by his employer can " Safety First in
Factories " be translated from the visionary dreams of
idealists into the new awakening of an accomplished
reaUtv.

* In opening the Paris Museum of Safety, the then E>resident of
the French Republic' (President E^ubet) said : — " Never does one
appeal in vain m France when it is a question of social usefulnes.s.
Thus the Crtavernmeut of the Republic is associated with this
museum. How could it be otherwise .' For this work, protecting
and lengthening the life and labour of our workmen, is a most
valuable asset to our country, and you may be sure that whenever
a work of tliis nature is presented for governmental consideration
it will support it with grants of money."

624

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

Tariffs for the Sale of
Electrical Energy.

By JULIUS FRITH, M.Sc, M.I.E E.. M.Cons.E.

Electrical energy is so essentiallj' unlike anything else
which is bought and sold that the principles involved
require ver}^ special study. In the case of no other com-
modity do the capital charges involved play so important a
role. This is mainly due to the fact that storage of electrical
energy on any large scale is hardly practicable, and, there-
fore, that the energy has to be made as and when required.

Roughly, if the total cost of a vmit is, say, one penny,
one halfpenny of this is for capital costs and only one-half
of the remainder, or one farthing, is for coal. This gives
to the " load factor " of the demand a preponderating
effect which does not obtain in any other commercial
transaction.

Object of a Tariff.

Before deciding how to embody these conditions into a
" tariff " it is necessary to settle clearly what the tariff is
to accomplish, and here a difference which is often lost
sight of is brought to light, namely, whether the supply is
given by a company or by a municipality.

In the first case the company manager is appointed by
the shareholders to earn as good a'return on their money as
possible, under certain statutory limitations. The prices
charged should be as high as possible consistent with not
imperilling the securing of additional custom. The
division of the contribution levied from the different types
of consumers need not necessarily bear any relation to
what each consumer costs to supply ; it might conceivably
be good -business to charge a uniform rate to all comers,
hoping to make up on the swings what was lost on the
roundabouts. The price asked, in other words, is limited
only by the will and ability to pay.

Municipal Trading.

The case, however, is very different with the municipal
undertaking. Here the ratepayers, for their own ends,
have put up a station with money borrowed on the security
of the rates. There should be no question here of making a
profit, and each consumer should contribute to the joint
expense as far as humanly possible, in proportion to what
his supply costs the community.

Two Systems of Charging Permissible'.

It is seen at once that these two cases may, quite rightly,
lead to very different systems of charging for electrical
energy. There is one rule, however, to which all successful
systems should conform. It is that the tariff should be
simple and easily understood. The great majority of
tariffs at present offered are far too complicated, giving the
impression of being manufactured by a mathematician
rather than by a business man. It is essential that the
prospective consumer shall be able with some certainty
to predict what his bill for energy will come to.

After this first principle has been established the tariffs
suitable for the two types of supply may be grouped under
the following requirements : —

For companies the consumer who pays best should be
most encouraged, and the consumers from whom it is next
to impossible to derive a profit, should be made to pay as
much as an all-wise Government will allow. The aim of
the tariff should not be so much to mak.^ each individual
consumer pay as to make the concern as a whole pay.

For municipally owned concerns the aim of the tariff
should be, as before said, to make the punishment fit the
crime and make each consumer pay what it costs to supply
him.

Determining the Cost of Supply.

When these two are compared in this way it is seen that
each has an interest in knowing what a certain supply
actually costs. Now this is much more difficult to deter-
mine thdn would appear at first sight, for although it is
comparatively easy to find out what the cost of the supply
is as a whole and how the cost per unit is affected by the

load factor of the station as a whole, it is far from easy to
see how the connection of any new load will affect this cost.
It is desirable that those consumers whose demand
lessens the load factor of the station should in some way
contribute on a higher scale to the expenses than those
whose demand increases the load factor. It is, however,
a very difficult thing to devise a tariff which will effect
this ; for instance, any consumer who takes energy from
the station at however low a load factor, but who does not
increase the maximum load on the station, increases the
station's load factor, but if he does increase the total
maximum demand on the station and does not increase the
average load by an equal ratio, then his load reduces the
load factor of the station as a whole.

It is thus seen that any particular load that may be
offered to the station is not good or bad in itself, but only
as it differs from or approximates to that of the majority
of the other consumers already connected.
Need of Diversity.
It is thus seen that a station stands to gain by the
diversity of the individual demands, for its load factor may
be increased by a demand at a lower load factor than its own,
but cannot be decreased hy a load at a higher load factor,
even if the maximum of the two coincide in point of time.
Two distinct attempts are being tried at present to meet
this ; the first is a restricted hour tariff which offers energy
at a price free of all capital charges except those of the new
service cables, etc., required, to those consumers who do not
under any circumstances increase the maximum load on
the station. This condition is often enforced by the use of
a time switch. The second is a method of charging on the
load factor of the new demand, irrespective of its relation
to and effect on the load factor of the station as a whole.

In the light of what has gone before, the justice of this
latter is more than doubtful — e.g., two new consumers may
be connected and by reason of the equaUty of their load
factors may be charged equally whilst one may not add
anything to the maximum station load, and so be supplied
at little more than the cost of coal, whilst the second may
involve the concern in capital charges equal to the maximum
demand of the new load.

Justice and Experience.
What is not always just may nevertheless sometimes be
expedient, and the mixed tariff of so much per annum per
kW of maximum demand plus so much per unit taken
meets the average case of a demand for industrial purposes
fairly well. In some cases the kVA is substituted for the
kW of maximum demand, with, however, only a show of
justice, as the capital charges are perhaps half way between
the voltamperes and the watts.

Supply undertakings are becoming more alive to the cost
to themselves of carrying about magnetizing current for
their consumers' devices, free of cost, and are one and all
considering how the question of low power factor can best
be dealt with. As mentioned above, some authorities are
making the fixed part of their tariff proportional to the
kVA instead of the kW of the maximum demand. This
appears to be as unfair to the consumer as the other is to
the supply authority. This fixed charge is to cover the
capital cost involved in being ready to give a supply if
called upon to do so. Now the cost of buildings, steam-
raising plant, coal and ash-handling plant, as well as that of
the prime mover is unaffected by the power factor and
depends on the kW alone.

Other concerns increase the whole quarterly account by
a percentage w'hich increases as the power factor decreases.
It is, however, ver}' difficult to say what the average power
factor of an installation is ; this could be found by com-
paring the readings of integrating watt-hour and volt-
ampere-hour meters.

It is most desirable that some uniformity should be
arrived at between all the supply authorities in regard to
this matter, as well as in the other parts of the tariff, as
there are at present in use about three times as many
tariffs as there are supply undertakings in the country.

The Electrician — May 26, 1922

625

Modern Industrial Organisation.*

By HUGO HIRST, M.I.E E.

Industry may be defined as the combined efforts of brain,
labour, and capital to create values from raw materials.
The brain, because it directs the activities of the body, comes
first. Capital is the accumulation of savings produced by the
efforts of brain and labour.

Among Government Departments, now being so keenly
criticised, the Post Office alone seems to resemble more closely
a business concern than any other Government Department,
but even here the possession of a monopoly eliminates many
of the difficulties inherent in competitive businesses. In
industry questions of mutual interest arising between pur-
chaser and seller cannot be settled by regulations imposed by
either side. Every point has to be settled diplomatically by
persuasion or by compromise. It is necessary, however, to
bear in mind the fundamental difference between an industrial
and a Government organisation. The Government has to
render services to the community, the value of which cannot
be expressed in money, and its departments are not in most
cases limited by the time factor. Industry has to render
services, which must be expressed in terms of £. s. d., the result
being obtained within a limited period. The civil service
organisation is framed to last for long periods, and absence
of fiexibilitj^ may be an advantage.

Individualism in Industry.

It will be clear, therefore, that in industrial organisations the
individual must receive more latitude than in Government
Departments. Industry is in a constant state of evolution,
and changes due to fashion, competition from other countries,
financial conditions, inventions and many other circumstances
may produce sudden stoppages or changes. It is essential
that an industrial organisation should be pliable, simple,
human and personal, rather than rigid and anonymous. The
consequence of this is that men engaged in indu.stry must be
ambitious and with strong will-power and personality. Such
qualities would be a handicap to a civil servant, for this
service seems to require men of high integrity and education,
but with capacity for self-effacement. They must suppress
the spirit of risk and adventure so much appreciated in indus-
trial life. Examinations ma}^ conceivably be used for selecting
Government servants, and a system of promotion by seniority
might be arranged, but no examinations could be used to
select men required for industry : character, initiative, energy,
enterprise, decision, and all the many factors in personality
count as much in artindustrial worker as his accomplishments.

The Organisation of the General Electric Co.

Experience has taught us that the only safe basis of organisa-
tion is not the system, but the human factor that controls the
system in this industrial undertaking. The General Electric
Company has some fourteen factories, each belonging to a differ-
ent industry in different parts of the country, and thirty or forty
sales organisations in the United Kingdom, and some thirty
others overseas, all managed independently. The relations
between management and staff, between management and work-
people, the relation between a company and its customers, and
authorities or public bodies, its attitude towards competition
in this and every other country, its share in the development
of industry, should be conducted everywhere on the same
lines. This can only be accomplished by having placed at
the head of each factory, each branch, each enterprise, a man
of good character, fuUy conversant with the policy and the
mentality of the chiefs of the concern, and being a faithful
interpreter of their wishes and ideals. Such men cannot be
found from without ; they can only be created by a process
of education from within. Education of one's staff as regards
business policy and business principles is one of the great
problems of industrial organisation.

Rising to the Top.

I have, in the course of years, brought on a number of men
and placed them at the head of works, at tlie head of branches
at home and overseas, or at the head of companies which we
control. Many of them started at los. to 20s. per week and
have risen in course of time to high and responsible positions,
with emoluments ranging from £1 500 to over ;^5 000 per

* This article is^ based on an address delivered to the Association
of Civil Servants. Had the audience been from a less limited field
some of the comments would have been different.

annum. We leave it to them to work the enterprise for which
they are selected, putting at their disposal trained experts
both on business and technical sides, assisting them with
publicity and propaganda, catalogues and general sales regu-
lations. We give them the fullest power within the limits of
the ci^pital put at their disposal — power equal to that com-
manded by ownership. Except the annual audit, there is
no system of control and inspection. They have, vis-a-vis
to customers and staff, the same authority as if they were
principals. Their limitations are only known to themselves
and the Board.

In the 35 years of my experience, I know of no single
instance where this confidence has been misplaced, though I
do not say every one has been successful.

The yearly balance sheet and certain statistics bring out the
weaknesses of each organisation and lead to discussions,
alterations and improvements. I therefore can describe our
system as management by personal representation or substi-
tutes, and yet there is a very real control and direction from
above.

The system that we are applying is particularly suitable
for English industrial concerns. In industrial concerns in
Germany and America more rigid organisations exist. The
system of schools and Universities in those countries is more
standardised, and it is more possible to find a number of men
of similar qualifications that can replace with each other.
In this country you can scarcely find two men with the same
qualifications ; you must let each work in a manner that he
can get the best out of himself.

Some Fundamental Industrial Safeguards.

I now wish to dilate on a number of points which will
explain how it is that an organisation so apparently loosely
knit together can still act as one unit, carry out one pohcy,
and how irregularities and risks are limited .

There are a few fundamental safeguards, such as : —
(i) Limitation of the capital put at the disposal of the
different undertakings.

(2) Separate finance for expenses and trading.

(3) Head office control of all trading finance and capital
expenditure.

Apart from these, all interference, all direction emanating
from head office, is suggested by watchfulness of balance sheet
and monthly statistics of expenses and sales. It is little
realised, even by the subordinates of one's own organisation,
what an eloquent document a balance sheet is, what it tells
the chief of a concern who knows his business. The actual
profits made are by no means the determining factor in the
eyes of the chief whether a concern is well managed or not.

The branch manager producing a document thinks all the
items are peculiar to his branch or district ; the man at the
head, reviewing scores of these documents year after year,
has learnt that economic laws are governing them like every-
thing else. For instance, assuming that a manager sends me
his balance sheet, what are some of the critical points to oe
considered ?

Critical Points in the Balance Sheet.

(i) Sales. — Is the total turnover which he does a reasonable
proportion of the possible sales in the territor}-, bearing in
mind the relative position of my company with competition
in the country ?

(2) Stock. — Is his stock in the right proportion to sales ?

(3) Accounts. — Are his outstanding accounts in propor-
tion to his turnover ?

(4) Expenses. — Are the expenses in the right ratio to turn-
over ? What is the ratio of salaries to other expenses, etc. ?

It can be elaborated in a ver>- few words how an intelligent
study of these figures leads to ]ust appreciation of the merits
or failings of the management.

]\Iore difficult is the criticism of works accounts, owing to
the factor of changing prices of raw materials and the frequent
change of patterns, designs and methods of production which
influence works balance sheets, which is in some measure
mitigated by fixing maximum and minimum stocks. A
specific indication in a works balance sheet is the ratio of
output to productive and non-productive wages, etc., etc.
But generally it is expected of the managing head that he
should have ever present in his mind all that is happening so
that he can form a correct picture.

626

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

The Captain of Industry.

It is little known what volume of high pressure work and
ijitensit}' of thought are expected from a modern industrial
chief, frequently called " captain of industry." His duties
are ever so much more complicated than those of the mere
merchant or distributor. He has to deal with all the problems
of the merchant so far as the distribution of his goods throughout
the world is concerned, but whilst the merchant has the
whole world open to him to buy in the cheapest market, the
industrialist has to produce under conditions prevailing in his
countr}' in a manner to enable him to compete against the
cheapest market. It is for him to judge the possible market
for his wares and to la}^ out his works accordingly. We have
no reliable census of production in this country, and a mistake
made by him in this respect is often the fundamental cause
for eventual ruin. It depends on his judgment whether he
succeeds in selecting the best scientists, the best technical
men, the best works managers and the best commercial
people. It is up to him so to co-ordinate them that there is
the least amount of friction, and yet in an industrial concern
you have not only to reckon with petty jealousies like every-
where else, but there is the fundamental jealousy or fight
for supremacy between the commercial and technical elements.
He cannot possibly know all the details of his business, but
he must be a man of high integrity and education so as to
understand the intricate scientific, technical and comniercial
problems which are put up to him for judgment and decision
when experts diflfer, which is all too frequent. Research,
development, production, sales and distribution must be
correctl}'- co-ordinated in his programme. He must keep
himself informed of all progress in his industry, of all progress
in methods of production, of all new inventions affecting his
interests, of activities of competition all the world over. He
should know something of the raw materials and the purchasing
capacit}'' of each countrJ^ with which should be combined a
knowledge of the political, social and economic conditions
in these countries. It is for him constantly to encourage and
inspire the men under him. He must endeavour by personal
attainments to merit their regard and, by unbending and
mixing with them on the right occasion and in the right manner,
to merit their friendship and confidence. Above all, it is for
him to bring home to his people the national need for pro-
duction. He must have a good understanding of the prin-
ciples of law and finance and should take everj' opportunity
to ofler bis valuable experience to the country and those that
rule it.

No Regulations or Agreements.

Under normal conditions, it is my duty to direct an organisa-
tion of from 15 000 to 20 000 people. In industry we have no
army regulations that enable us to command and that forbid
subordinates to ask why. We have no common great danger
which spurs us on to united effort : united effort is only
possible if those you lead believe in your high ideals, your
integrit)'', fairness and correctness in every detail of your
actions. To my knowledge not one of the principal members
of our whole organisation has an agreement. Weekly or
monthly servants have been with us for a generation and do
not worry about their future.

His task, which has ever been difficult, is not lightened in
modern times by the fact that the majority of his men have
not only him but many others as masters. All his decisions
must be quick, otherwise he loses opportunities and, though
he may be subject to a board, unless the board give him the
fullest confidence— including the right to make mistakes — so
that he can act independently and quickly, he cannot make a
success of the enterprise in the face of the world's competition.

Price of Greenock Tramway Current.

At last meeting of Greenock Corporation, Baihe N. M. Brown,
coivener of the Electricity Committee, announced that they had
RECEIVED THE FINAL AWARD in the arbitration concerning the
charge for electricity for traction purposes. The local Tramways
Company appealed to the arbitrator against his first finding, but no
alteration had been made. Under the award the Corporation obtai ned
an additional £2 811 and a proportionate increase for the next four
years. Under the old scale the first 500 000 units was at i Jd. per
unit, the next 150 000 id., and all beyond o-85d. per unit. The new
scale was z-^d., i-85d., and ro3d. respectively, all subject to a coal
clause. Putting it shortly, aud taldng ^he average price of coal at
30s. this year, the Corporation would (he said) receive £1 400 more
under the award than under the old scale. They also got all expenses
in the first part of the arbitration and half of the latter. He thought
the Committee was to be congratulated on the result, and thanks
were also due to tlieir legal and engineering advisers.

Electric Traction in Chile.

For the last ten years the foreign trade of Chile has been mainly
with the British Empire, the United States and Germany, and
though the latter lost her trade to the Americans during the war,
she has again entered the ChiUan market, and the Commercial
Secretarj^ at Santiago (Mr W. F. V. Scott) thinks that British
manufacturers have more to fear from German than from American
competition. The coal market prospects continue depressed, and
the electrification of the first zone of the State Railways, of the
Iquique Nitrate and Chilian Transandine Railways, and the com-
pletion of the power plant of the Compania Nacional de Fuerza
Electrica will effect considerable economies in the consumption of
coal, and further affect the situation.

During the year the Westinghouse Electric International Company
secured what is said to be the largest electric traction scheme
executed by any American firm abroad. The contract is for the
conversion of the first zone of the Chilian State Railways (between
Valparaiso and Santiago) at a cost, including locomotives and all
material required, of $5677947.71 (U.S.) and $2319707.56
(Chilian). Power will be supplied b}^ the Compafiia Chilena de
Electricidad, Ltda., at 4 centavos gold (o-yad.) per kWli. The work
has already been commenced, and a special commission of Chilian
engineers has left for the United States of America to take deUvery
of the locomotives and other material purchased.
A Political Hitch.
The Iquique Nitrate Railways concession had been renewed by a
Ministerial Decree for 50 years, and the company was empowered
to raise its tariffs 35 per cent., in consideration of which the railway
agreed to electrify the system and repair certain deficiencies in the
service. The decree has been pronounced unconstitutional, having
been signed without the consent of Congress, and has consequently
been rescinded. The matter will be brought up for reconsideration
at a future date, and it is believed that it will be passed.

The Chilian Government has agreed to the fusion of tlie Cliilian
Transandine Railway with the Argentine Transandine Railwaj'.
It is proposed to make such improvements on this line as will make
stoppage during the winter by snow almost impossible, as well as
to electrify the major part of the line. During the negotiarions with
the Chilian Government, estimates were required for the electrifica-
tion, and help was sought from the representatives of some British
firms capable of undertaking the work, but none was found and
recourse had to be had to the International Electric Company' of
America. The railway will require to purchase considerable
quantities of rolling stock, machinery, etc., at an early date.

Several small railway lines have been constructed, and some are
in course of completion. The most important future work is the
construction of a new line between Valparaiso and Santiago, passing
through Casablanca and Curacavi, with a short branch to Talagante,
which will bring the principal port twentj'-six miles nearer the
capital, the tortuous line at present used, and now being electrified,
is 130-2 miles long. Owing to lack of funds, the railway will have
to be constructed under concession. The line is to be worked by
steam or electric equipment. The concession is to lapse on the
termination of the amortization, but may be terminated earher
by the payment of the outstanding capital plus ro per cent.

Electricity Supply end Tramways.

The Chilian Electric Tramway and Light Co., Ltd., of Santiago,
which was handed over to the Receiver of Enemy Firms during the
war, and in which an English firm acquired the controUing interest,
has been reformed into the Compania Chilena de Electricidad
Limitada, with an increased capital of ;^i 2 000000, and has also
acquired the controlling interest in the recently formed Chilian
Compania Nacional de Fuerza Electrica, whose original capital M'as
;^8oo 000, now increased to £'^ 000 000. A large power plant is
being erected to utilise waterfalls within 30 miles of Santiago, which
is anticipated to be in operation in July next. Distributing stations
will be erected for utilising the power over a large radius round
Santiago, and beyond lighting the Capital and running its tram
service, the contract has already been secured for running the first
zone of the S'.ate Railway between Santiago and Valparaiso.
Other contracts likely to be secured are the running of the Trans-
andine Railway, shortly to be electrified, Valparaiso Port Works, and
a large number of industries in the zone covered.

The Madrid combination of Spanish and German interests took
over the Valparaiso tramway undertakings cf the Deutsche Uber
seeische Electricitats Gesellschaft in March, 1921, A small electric
tramway service was started during this year at tlxe town of
Temuco, and permission was requested in November, 1921, to instal
a similar service in Valdivia.

Submarine and Radio Telegraphy.

Interest is being taken iu the project for laying a submarine cable
connecting Italy with South America. The cable will start from
Fiumicino, in Italy, and run to the Argentine, Uruguay and Brazil,
and in Europe have branches to the Near East, the Balkan States,
Spain and North Africa. It is proposed to connect the Pacific
Coast to Buenos Aires by direct telegraph line.

The Chilian Government concluded a contract in October, 1921,
with the Siemcns-Schuckert Co. for the erection of eleven radio
telegraph stations at Santiago, Valparaiso and Punta Arenas (all
capable of communicating with Buenos Aires) and at Iquique,
Autofagasta, Taltal, Tocopilla, Caldera, Conccpcion Valdivia and
ChiIo6, witli a maximum radius of i 550 miles. The contract price
is $1 383 000. and the Telefunken system will be installed.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

627

The Future of Industrial Research.

By F. PEAKE SEXTON,

K The question of industrial research has been much to the
fore since the war demonstrated what could be done within
a short period by well organised work. It may be truly said
that the valour and courage of the troops would have been
wasted but for the continued success of our hastily organised
research.

Many of the largest and most progressive firms in the
country began to create research departments directly after
the termination of the Armistice, doubtless thinking that
what had so profited the country could in an equal manner
profit commerce. Funds were plentiful, the excess profits
tax was still in force and private enterprise stood to gain much
for the smallest expenditure, but unfortunately the conditions
soon changed with the development of labour troubles and
financial uncertainty. Then arose the real test of the pro-
gressiveness of our manufacturers, and sad to relate many
were induced to abandon their pioneer work.

Not a Simple Question.

The question of research laboratories is not so simple as
might be inferred or, naturally, all firms would have adopted
or dispensed with them. It is not fair to say, as some scientists
do, that because some firms have not adopted research
laboratories they are backward, out of date, or unprogressive,
for the mere success of a business implies considerable ability
from the management, even though, naturally, errors may be
made. Hence we should carefully search for the reason in
many, in the very many, cases of the absence or under-
staffing of the technical departments. The commercial
management looks with invariable disfavour on any department
tliat is not either directly engaged in production or the sale
of the trading commodity. Office systems were at one time
regarded as wasteful luxuries only to be indulged in by the
most successful, yet now success beyond the " one-man
business level " is impossible without the highest organisation.
In the same way the question of industrial research is passing
tlu-ough this stage until it will ultimately reach the lev^el of a
business necessity.

The Financial Aspect.

Nevertheless, the engineer or scientist, who is pressing for
the universal adoption of works laboratories, must remember
that he is proposing a heavy expenditure on laboratory,
apparatus and personnel that can only with profit be borne by
the larger firms. Although the result would help even the
smallest manufacturer, in Ms case, in all probabiUty, the gain
would not pay for the expenditure. Commerce being entirely
financed for the production of profit does not wish to take
risks, thus accounting in the past for the gross neglect of tech-
nical research.

The present trend of progress is indicated by the development
of trade combinations, acting jointly in the provision of a
research laboratory and its endowment with maintenance funds.
The results of the work done there are open only to the support-
ing firms, which also should have the right of having tests made
on their behalf either free or at a nominal charge. These
tests should cover the testing of raw material, the finished
product or of proposed new methods.

The Importance of Trained Personnel.

The personnel of the laboratory is the most important item,
for here are not required men of great inventive genius,
but rather men of great practical care and thoroughness in
the testing of details. The work is hard and exacting and
not likely to yield that glory sometimes obtained by research
on the purely scientific side. On the other hand, there is
the great satisfaction of knowing that the work is being
immediately applied either in the saving of raw materials by
the perfection of a process, orin the production of new materials.

A Lesson from Germany.

We can even now learn something from Germany, which in
pre-war times was heavily involved in industrial research.
As an example a glass works may be cited where independent
of tlieoretical considerations the effect of varyiiig proportions
of minerals in glass was tabulated and correlated by a
staff of observers and experimenters. Here were found a
number of small furnaces and testing plants so that each
experimenter worked on his special section, the joint results
being interpreted by another department

The staff need not have the inventive genius ocfore-
mentioned, be they assistants or chief, and while in the former
case thoroughness and skill are required, in the latter to these
must be added' great clearness of vision and organising ability
Although technical ability is not mentioned, it can be taken
for granted that a good technical training is absolutely
necessary for success in work of this nature.

If a laboratory be founded on these lines, and well equipped
with personnel and apparatus, success and great profit are
assured, provided that there is whole-hearted, co-operation
between all concerned.

The staff should work together with the directors as one
man with the one idea of furthering the industry. Too often
valuable progress is retarded by internal friction, sometimes
inter-staff, sometimes between the staff and directors. The fault
is often on both side^ and is due to lack of firmness in the
control and a certain natural reluctance to take a firm course.
There should be mutual consideration on all points and where
possible joint discussion and consideration of grievances, bat
if friction develops, then it is the duty of the director to clear
his staff of it, or if he fails the management should not hesitate
to act. Drastic action is distasteful to all but in circumstances
it is necessary, as otherwise the whole efficiency is likely to be
lost. There are many case^ of whole institutions being ruined
from lack of control.

America v. Europe.

By A. P. M. FLEMING.

It is notorious that the greater the odds against which men
have to struggle the greater will be their efforts to overcome
them. Much of the fear the Allies have of future German trade
competition arises from the strength Germany \vi]l gam in
fighting to regain her place. A somewhat similar thought
was evidently in the mind of Mr. D. T. Farnham, an American
efficiency engineer, who visited Europe in 1920 with the object
of obtaining a first-hand impression of the strides which
industry made during the war under the tremendous stimulus
of war-time conditions, the result of which has recently been
published for the benefit of his countr>'men.*

Raw Materials and Industry.

The importance of surveys of this character can scarcely
be exaggerated. In the initial stages of gro\nh the location
of industries in any particular country' was determined not
merely by the genius of its people, but by the presence and
appropriate distnbution of raw materials. To-day the position
is profoundly modified Due to striking improvements iu
means of transport and communication, the success of an
industry is dependent to a much lesser extent upon the
necessary raw materials being found in any particular location.
As potential wealth, of course, raw materials are of vast
importance, but their distribution is immaterial. On the
other hand, it is now recognised that labour is comparatively
immobile. Success in industry is therefore becoming in-
creasingly dependent upon the other great factor concerned,
the organising and administrative abihty of leaders of industry.
In an era of world competition the standard of living of people
at large, the industrial supremacy— ultimately the pohtical
supremacy — of an industrial nation depends upon its economy
of manufacture. To a much greater extent than is commonly
supposed the future of industrial countries hes in the hands of
its industrial leaders. Comparisons between the principal
manufacturing countries, Great Britain. U.S.A., Germany.
France, Smtzerland, Italy. Japan, Belgium, assume therefore
a considerable importance, particularly' with regard to their
methods of organisation and industrial control.

Understanding One Another.

Herein Ues the value of Mr. Farnhams attempt, the British
precursor of which was Dr. Arthur ShadweU's well-known
" Industrial Efficiency." Apart from its dprect contribution
to management, Mr. Farnhams book should ha\'e considerable
value in enabhng business men on both sides of the Atlantic
to understand one another. In Europe only too frequently
are American business methods condemned because of the

* " America ;v>sms Europe iu Industry," by D. T. Farnham,
New York, Rouald Press, igzi, xvii+492 pp. $4-

628

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

prevailing American tendency towards advertisement. Even
when this is allowed for fully there still remains an enormous
amount wliich Europeans can learn from American energy
and enterprise. On the other hand, American business men
may be surprised to find how advanced are industrial concerns
in Europe. Their ignorance very largely arises from lack of
advertisement on this side of the Atlantic, because industry
is taken as a normal and everyday afEair about which we should
no more think of talking than about eating, breathing or
sleeping.

Need for More Examination.

It is inevitable that a book covering such a wide field should
be to some extent discursive, and American publishers have
not been compelled by circumstances to disciphne authors
\vith regard to space. Nevertheless, there is matter of con-
siderable interest relating to the personal methods of business
leaders in various countries, methods of organisation, labour,
factory buildings and management. On the whole, the con-
clusions drawn with regard to the industrial position in Europe
are correct, and we may predict that those responsible for
industrial enterprises will in future be more and more com-
pelled to examine what is being done in other countries, for
each country will ultimately produce only that which it is
most economically fitted to undertake.

The Psychological Effects of the
Whitley Councils.

By A MEMBER.

The Whitley system has now been operating in the electricity
supply industry for somewhat over two years. Its inaugura-
tion and the first year of its life coincided with a very disturbed
state so far as labour was concerned. The " Industrial
Coimcils had therefore plenty of work to do and it is generally
acceded that they did their work well. Now, largely — and
indeed mainly — to their good offices, the industry is entering
smooth waters. The croaker's opportunity has therefore
come, we hear overt or more often veiled criticism, sometimes
even a suspicion of back-door intrigue. " What is the good
of the Councils ? " is the question we hear asked by these
ingenious critics.

Now, to answer this question, accepting it as abona fide one,
is the object of this article.

The Growth of Mental Intimacy.

The tangible results in the way of codification of wages
adjustment to cost of living and so on speak for themselves,
so does the " industrial peace " of the years under review.
But what is not so obvious, but is equally real and indeed
potent for good, is the psychological result. By this we mean
the subtle but fundamental change in the whole mental
attitude of both sides towards each other. There has
been engendered a kind of mental intimacy, so to speak,
which makes for mutual understanding. This is a funda-
mental condition without which therf is no chance of " living
together." And labour and capital have most certainly got
to " live together," and to achieve the fine art of doing so,
like man and wife. In each case — the industrial no less than
the matrimonial — this can never be achieved by any meti-
culous settlement of rights and duties and so on. Sir William
Mackenzie, in his recent decision in the Industrial Court
on the engineering dispute, came to this conclusion, and
pointed out that no amount of rigid definition could take the
place of good sense and good will, or in other words, of a
mutual and amicable understanding. But it is just the
latter that the Industrial Councils in the electricity supply
industry have, to a very great measure, achieved. The
scheduling of wages and conditions of working and so forth
are excellent so far as they go, but their real value is only
to be assessed in conjunction with the potent concomitant of
good will and understanding which is being gradually but
surely built up. After all, a paper agreement is a bruised
reed to rely on if the attitude of each party is one of suspended
hostility, or even of mutual suspicion. (Seldom has a more
salient example been forthcoming of this than in the present
engineering dispute.) Schedules of wages and so forth could
have been formulated by ad hoc joint committees, but what
would they have been worth without the continuous influence
of the Councils, which is the sole vital and integrating force

which prevents all these schedules being treated, sooner or
later, as dishonoured " scraps of paper."

The Critics' Fundamental Error.

But the fundamental error of the critics of the Whitley
Coimcils lies in the assumption that a permanent " settle-
ment " can be arrived at between Capital and Labour, and
after that each can go its own way. But this state of industrial
afEairs is long since past — anyhow, in such a highly organised
industry as that of electricity supply. In modem industry,
as in modern matrimony, workman's rights like woman's
rights have come to stay. We have a new state of afiairs,
where the problem is to take the new conditions as we
find them, and evolve a modus vivendi, or in other
words, some satisfactory mode of continuous relationship.
This is a psychological, not a legal problem, and it is the
virtue of the \ATiitley system that it is constituted so as to
achieve this — the only industrial machinery, in fact, which has
ever been capable of doing anything at all in the way of
maintaining a continuous relationship between both sides.

What the Councils Have Done.

How the Whitley councils have accomplished this is
obvious. It is a natural result of their procedure. You can-
not meet a man face to face every month or so and discuss
with him at length intimate problems which affect his life
and well-being (and your well-being too) without either
becoming determined enemies and breaking off negotiations
X)r else becoming something very like friends. Further, when
the watchword is (as in the Whitley councils) " we meet as
friends," then each party instinctively curbs any unfriendly
proclivities, and it only requires time for the ideal tone to
become the real tone. The old spectres vanish from the
dispute, or are laughed away. You cannot visualise the
opposite side (if you are an employer) in a lump, as Bolshevists
or so on, or (if you are an employee) as grinders of the face of
the poor. You cannot theatricalise the situation when you
are sitting calmly and quietly facing each other time after
time across the ^Ministry of Labour's tables. You have to let
go the hereditary and clap-trap feuds between abstract
capital and labour.

As Human Betais.

You have got to deal with each other as human beings
as reasonable as your individual interests at the moment will
allow you to be. And so you come, willy nilly, to more and
more of a mutual understanding. Such, indeed, is the in-
evitable result of the Whitley system when comprehensively
applied to an industry as it is in the electricity supply industry,
a result none the less valuable since it is wholly psychological.
And it is just this important aspect of Whitleyism that we
would specially commend to the consideration of the critics
when they talk as though the industry would go on just as
well if the Whitley Councils were snuffed out.

Electrification of Swiss Railways.

In his report for 1921 on the economical and commercial condi-
tions in Switzerland Mr. J. Picton Bagge, H.M. Commercial
Secretary at Berne, states that the electrification of the Gotthard
line is making satisfactory progress. Work on the line Lucerne —
Zug — Zurich i= proceeding, and is expected to be completed by the
end o' 1922. It is anticipated that electric traction will be started
on the Sion — ^Lausanne section in the course of 1923. The electrifica-
tion of the Berne — Neuchatel line as well as of the Emmenthal group
of lines has been postponed owing to the fall in the, price of coal.

This latter, together with the high capital outlay involved by the
present cost of labour and materials on the construction of the great
dams and -other necessary works, has made the extension of electri-
fication schemes a matter of grave consideration. It is doubtful
however, Mr. Bagge states, whether Switzerland, in view of the
anxiety and loss suffered during the war tlirough difficulties in the
coal supply, can afford to renounce schemes which insure her
against anv possible recurrence of such troubles.

With regard to the electrification of private railways, the Rhetian
Railway has already 200 km. of line run by electric power, and the
electrification of the Roichenau — Ilanz — Disentis hne is expected to
be completed this summer.

Water Power.

Tlie total water power available in Switzerland is estimated at
4 000 000 n.p. New principals and regiilations for the exportation
of electric power were established by the Federal Council in its
sitting of June 3.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician,

629

The Royal Society Conversazione.

To the electrician the most interesting novelty among tlie
exhibits at the first Royal Society Conversazione, on
May 17, was the demonstration, by Mr. W. M. Mordey, of
some very curious effects of alternating magnetism. jNIr.
Mordey had arranged 12 poles of finely-laminated electro-
magnets, wound for monophase or diphase circuits, in a row,
the laminations being parallel to the common longitudinal
axis of the poles. On the poles he placed small and large
trays, made of glass and cardboard, containing coarsely or
finely-powered magnetic materials, pure or mixed with sand,
etc. In ordinary experiments laminated alternating-current
magnets are supposed to behave like direct-current magnets,
and they do not appear to offer any special advantages for the
magnetic ore concentration. Mr. Mordey 's striking demon-
stration will alter that view, and the phenomena, which
Mr. Mordey associates with hysteresis susceptibility, should be
seen fully to be appreciated. When filings of iron, nickel or
cobalt, were placed, say, on the left side of the tray, which
covered several poles, the particles merely arranged themselves
axially with the monophase currents. When the second phase
was turned on, the mass became greatly disturbed and the
particles were impelled in three directions, upward, longi-
tudinally to the right and crossways. " Planes of force " formed
on the left side, the particles standing up in parallel fins more
than a centimetre in height ; the material was drawn in on
the left and expelled to the right, new fins finally forming on
the right wall of the tray. The particles travelled rapidly, at
the rate of several inches per second, and the upward move-
ment was so lively that glass covers had to be put over the
trays. When the tray was moved crossways, the planes of
force swayed to and fro witli the motion ; when the field was
weakened or the tray lifted higher, the planes would collapse
while the movements continued. One thinks of eddy currents
as the cause ; but powdered aluminium gave no effects at
all, and when a copper disc, capable of spinning about a
vertical axis, was approached to one of the poles, the rotation
in the half of the disc over the pole was to the left, i.e.,
opposite to the migration of the iron filings.

Equatorial Grouping in Monophase Fields.

Magnetite and iron sands from New Zealand and powdered
stalloy behaved similarly to iron filings, but the effects were less
marked. Specular haematite seemed to vary. This iron-
grey variety of haematite (iron oxide) is paramagnetic,
though very feebly. In a one-phase field of two poles only, the
haematite placed itself equatorially, like a diamagnetic
material. But when the tray was put over three poles (of the
row of electro-magnets), and the central pole was not excited,
the particles arranged themselves in two intersecting rings
about the poles, while the square outlines of the poles were
indicated by tufts of the powdered material ; and it was shown
that the equatorial grouping was a special case of monophase
fields with small pole gaps. When the magnetic materials
(comprising earthy red haematite) were mixed with sand, the
magnetic materials were driven out of the sand, in the same
three directions, especially when the sand was stirred, the ore
collecting on one side. A mixture of tungsten and tinstone
was sifted and the tungsten concentrated in the same way.
Similar movements, modified by buoyancy and surface tension,
are further observed in water, and Mr. Mordey has also
experimented on the treatment of ore slimes. As regards the
theory, the number of laminations has at any rate no direct
connection with the number of the vertical planes of force
mentioned, and moderate frequencies (85 periods per second
were used) seem desirable. At 150 and 350 periods haematite
particles stand erect, oriented to the poles, but without motion,
and Mr. Mordey assumes the hysteresis has ceased or is
diminished at 150 periods.

Hughes* Historical Apparatus.

Historically we ought to have mentioned the original micro-
phones of 1878 and Experimental Apparatus of David E.
Hughes in the first instance. These were exhibited by tlie
Science Museum at South Kensington and comprised the
original model of his induction balance and of the apparatus
for the transmission and reception of wave signals, which
Hughes showed at the Royal Society Conversazione in 1879.

In the astronomical clock and uniform motion governor of
Lord Kelvin, now in the entrance hall of the Royal Society
building, the Graham dead-beat escapement wheel is reduced
to a rotating arm so that the whole train of wheels need not be
stopped by the pressure of a tooth moving with the pendulum.
The original hand-winding meclianism (with its weight

dropping 11 ft.) lias been replaced by the Cambridge and
Paul Instrument Company by an electric automatic winding
gear of the type adopted by Howard Grubb for equatorials.

Radio-telegraphic Records.

Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton's radio-telegraphic records
obtained by various methods comprised string galvanometer
recc-rds obtained with signals sent from the Poulsen arc station
at Tralee, in 1910, and the most recent Creed perforated tape
Roman type prints. The telephone transmission measuring
apparatus exhibited by the Western Electric Company,
gives direct readings of the transmission loss of telephone
apparatus in miles of standard cable as well as visual readings.
The high-frequency oscillator consists of a voice-oscillator
(200 to 3 000 cycles) and an ultra-audio oscillator (up to
50 000 cycles in steps of 100 cycles) provided with inductance
and condensers to filter out higher harmonics.

The precision bridge for platinum thermometry of the
National Physical Laboratory was- designed by Dr. F. E.
Smith. There are two potential and two current leads ; one
of these is shunted as in a Kelvin double bridge, one is in the
galvanometer circuit, and two are in the variable bridge arms ;
the resistance of these two arms is about 100 times that of the
thermometer, steps on the lowest dial corresponding to
o-ooi°C.

New X-Ray Apparatus

There were two new X-Ray Bulbs. The one, exhibited by
Sir William Bragg and Prof. W. L. Bragg, together with
numerous models, mostly on a scale of 100 000 000 to i of
crystal structures of inorganic and organic substances, is
a wide glass cylinder closed at both ends by brass mountings
for connection with air-pump and cold water pipes. Along
the axis of the cylinder runs a brass tube enclosing the long
leads of the tungsten filament, the rays from the target pass
through an aluminium window outside and fall on the specimen,
a crystalline powder pasted on paper. The other bulb, shoAvn
by the Radiological Branch, Woolwich Research Department,
is made of iron and glass, and is self -shielding. The kathode
tube fits into the stem of an iron cup-; the anode, also iron,
is separated from the cup by a sleeve of glass. The cup and
anode are water-cooled. The rays faU through an aluminium
window on the material which, as in the Bragg tube, is quite
close to the window. The apparatus is designed for the
testing of explosives, the dielectric constants of which are
determined with the aid of another apparatus exliibited by
the Explosives Branch of the same department. The speci-
men is placed in a condenser, and the pitch of the note given
by two valves at radio frequency on the heterodyne principle
is altered; by means of a variable condenser the original
pitch given by a tuning-fork is restored.

New^ Microscope Lamps.

The many microscopes served chiefly for the display of
physiological specimens. New microscope lamps were shown
by the National Institute for Medical Research (quartz-
mercury lamp) ; by Mr. J. J. Fox, a monochromatic illumina-
tor without lenses with rapidly interchangeable parts (made by
Messrs. Bellingham & Stanley); and by Messrs. Ogilvy & Co.,
a new gasfiUed lamp (mounted on a tripod base to which a
small optical bench is attached), made of a very fine opal
glass which obscures the metal filament and does not show
any grain of the glass.

Cutting Tool Stresses

We briefly notice a few other exliibits. Prof. E. G. Coker
demonotrated, on behalf of the Cutting Tool Research Com-
mittee of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, tlie action
of milling and cutting tools and the stresses set up in the
material by means of his beautiful polarisation apparatus.
Mr. Cecil C. :Mason, of Cambridge, showed an autographic
record indicating tlie loss of rotational velocity of a projectile
during flight, obtained for tlie Ordnance Committee. The
Cambridge and Paul Instrument Company exhibited a
new micro-indicator for high-speed engines, the invention
of I\Ir. W. G. Collins, by means of which ten indicator diagrams
are scratched on a celluloid disc within half a minute ; the disc
is placed under a microscope provided with a guticule.
Enlarged photographs of these permanent records should
prove very useful, especially for taking track tests and study-
ing aeroplane flights. The simple original apparatus, which
weighs about i lb., comprises an automatic electric switch
driven by the engine. This is screwed into the top of the
cvlinder.

030

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

Modern Lamp Manufacturing at Dalston.

Although the general run of the methods employed is well
known to readers of The Electrician, it is not realised fully
how great a part engineering skill and inventive genius play
in lamp manufacturing operations of the present day. That
this is so was, however, obvious during the course of a recent
inspection of Siemens Electric Lamp Works at Dalston.

The Siemens factory at Dalston is a modern six-floor
building, which was originally erected in 1902. Compact but
roomy, it is conveniently situated for delivery purposes and
in an area in which laboj.ir is plentiful. As will appear from
the following description, novel and intricate automatic
machinery is employed for the various operations to a much
greater extent than hitherto. This is maintained by the
enguieering staff of the finn, and in fact certain machines
are of Siemens' exclusive design, among them those which are
being used for spiralling and for making the pigtail loops for
the filament supports.

Filament Manufacture.

Perhaps the most interesting of the processes employed in
the manufacture of the lamps is that of the filament itself.

The starting material is ordinary- commercial oxide of
tungsten. This is first chemically purified and the purified
oxide is then reduced to rhetal by heating in a current of
hydrogen, the result being grey tungsten powder.

This powder is pressed under hydraulic pressure into a
stick 7 in. long by J in. square, which is baked in order to
increase its strength for subsequent handling. The baked
slug is then " sintered " by raising it to a blinding white heat
by means of an electric current in an atmosphere of hydrogen.
(This operation, for convenience, is carried out at Woolwich,
and not at Dalston.) The slug at this juncture becomes a
solid piece of tungsten metal, the particles having been welded
together by the sintering process.

The sintered slug is now passed through the hammer-
ing or swaging machine, its diameter being reduced from J in.
square section down to a diameter of 32 mils, round. The
length of the slug is gradually increased on each successive
pass through the swaging dies from a length of 7 in. up to
over 30 ft.

Drawing the Tungsten Wire.

The wire is next drawn through a succession of diamond
dies on machines specially designed for the purpose. The
wire is passed through a lubricating bath and heated before
entering the dies, after which it is automatically wound on
to small drums or bobbins. This process is repeated on a
number of wire-drawing macliines, each of which has a smaller
die, so that the wire is eventually reduced to the diameter
desired.

Photo-Micrographic Records.

Owing to the importance placed on the quality of tungsten
produced, a plant for taking photo-micrographs of the tung-
sten, both in slug and wire form, has been installed. By this
means the grain and fibrous texture of tungsten produced
from various mixtures can be examined and the changes
which take place after the tungsten has been under current in
an electric lamp compared.

The Spiralifing Processes.

The spiralising of the filament, which is the next process
with which we may deal, is now done exclusively by machinery.
For the heavier gauge wires a number of automatic machines
of special design which can be regulated to wind any desired
style of filament are being used.

The wire is wound on to a mandril in a similar manner to
that employed in making an ordinary spiral spring, with the
exception that in these machines the holder containing the
drum of tungsten wire is carried on a traversing attachment to
ensure even winding. The wire is passed through adjustable
tension grips, and the traverse is automatically " tripped " at
intervals, so that a number of short straight lengths of wire
are left between the sections of spiralled filament. These
facilitate mounting on the spider and occur where the filament
passes through the supporting loops.

The process is different for the fii^e wires. In this case a
mandril composed of soft brass wire Is fed into the macliine
from a drum, and the filament is spiralised round this as it
passes through the machine. Then the wire mandril with the
spiralised filament round it, is rewound on to a separate drum.
Owing to the small diameters worked on these machines it is

practicallj'- impossible to remove the spirals from the mandril
in the ordinary' manner without damaging them, so the
former is dissolved in a chemical solution, leaving the spiralised
wire intact ready for mounting on the spider.

Foot and Spider Making.

The combined foot and spider is the interior glass structure
which provides a sealed entry for the conducting wires, and
to which the filament supports are attached. The design
varies in accordance with the type of lamp manufactured, but
generally it is made up of three component parts — the flanged
leading-in tube, the leading-in wires, and the glass stem.
After manufacture the three component parts are assembled
on the foot-making machines. In tliis operation the leading-in
wires and the stem are first fixed in their correct positions in
the flanged tube. The glass components are then heated to
a suitable temperature by means of gas flames, and the
" pinch '■ is made which hermetically seals the lower end of
the flanged tube, and at. the same time welds the stem and
the leading-in wires into the " seal."

Details of the Spider.

The spider is built up on the glass stem and provides a
method of supporting tlie filament. The design varies for
different types of lamps, but the process is similar for each
and consists of two operations. A suitable number of roses
or buttons are first formed on the stem by heating to a suitable
temperature and pressing. The radial supports are then
fixed into these, the number of supports being determined by
the type of lamp.

In the past these two operations were carried out separately
and by hand, but some special machines in which the two
processes are combined have been installed. I he assembled
foot and stem is placed in a machine and the button or rose
is first formed by heating tlie end of the stem to a suitable
temperature and pressing. The machine next brings the
stem into the correct position for fixing the spider arms.
The wire used for these is fed into the machine from bobbins,
and gas jets are concentrated on to the glass button in order
to raise it to a suitable temperature to receive and hold the
supporting wires. The machine automatically adjusts the
lengths of the supports and forms the pigtail loops.

Filament Mounting.

The first operation iii filament mounting is placing it on
the pigtail hooks. This process is accomplisJied completely
by hand. The filaments for the varying types of lamps are
supplied specially spiralised to suit the design of lamp required,
and the ends are securely fastened to the leading-in wires.

In the case of high wattage gasfiUed lamps where the
leading-in wires are required to carry a heavy current, metal
tape electrodes are used instead of the round wire conductors
employed in the lower wattage types. The ends of the fila-
ments— which are necessarily of fairly heavy gauge — are
secured to these metal tapes by a process of spot welding

All spirals are carefully inspected before being mounted on
the " foot." This is especially necessary in the case of the
very fine filaments used for the 30 and 40" W gasfiUed types of
lamps, where the filament diameter is approximately i/roooth
of an inch. These small spirals are examined by placing them
in an optical apparatus, wliich projects the highlj' magnified
image of the spiral on to a screen. Subsequently the lamps are
flashed and sealed in.

*'Pipless*' Lamps.

In this connection it may be recalled that the modern trend
in electric lamp making is in the direction of so-called pipless
lamps. Certain types of gasfiUed lamps are now being marketed
in which the pip is concealed within the cap of the lamp, thus
leaving the base of the bulb perfectly rounded. This is
arranged for when the " foot " is made. A sniiiU stem tube
IS passed through the flanged leading-in tube, and welded on
to the " foot " just above the " pinch." The filament is then
mounted and the completed foot is sealed into the neck of
the bulb in the ordinary way. The bulb is afterwards
exhausted through the stem tube and the pip is formed at the
cap end of the bulb. It is found that tliis method does not
add materially to the cost of manufacture, while the elimination
of the " pip " end from the finished lamps, considerably
reduces breakages in transit.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

631

Some Aspects of Dalston.

Fig. I. — Swaging and Wire-Drawing Machines.

[Fig. 2. — A Corner of t:ie Stemming Department.

Fig. 3. — Filament jMounting eor Larg£ Lamps.

Fig. 4. — Sealing-in jL'epaktment for standard and
Gasfilled Lamps.

Fig. 5. — Fine-wire Drawing Machines.

Flo. 6.— Some of the VAcrrcM Pumps.

632

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

The Institution of Electrical
Engineers.

There was a very crowded attendance at the Institution
OF Electrical Engineers on Thursday last, to hear Sir
Ernest Rutherford give the Kelvin Lecture on "Electricity
and Matter."

Mr. J. S. Highfield (President), before calling on Sir Ernest
Rutherford, announced the result of the ballot for the election
of President and Council as follows : — President, Mr. F. Gill;
Vice-Presidents, Dr. W. H. Eccles and Mr. A. A. Campbell
Swinton ; Hon. Treasurer, Sir James Devonshire ; Members
of Council, Mr. J. W. Beauchamp, ]\Jr. R. A. Chattock and
Major Kenelm Edgcumbe ; Associate Members of Council,
Mr. F. W. Crawter.Mr. H. F. Harmer and Mr. \V. R. Rawlings ;
Associate, Mr. D. N. Dunlop.

The Faraday Medal.

Continuing, the President said he had an announcement to
make. At its meeting on Februarj^ 16, 1922, the Council
decided to institute a bronze medal, to be designated ' The
Faraday Medal of the Institution of Electrical Engineers," to
commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the first ordinary
meeting of the Society of Telegraph Engineers, now the
Institution of Electrical Engineers. The medal might be
awarded by the Council not more frequently than once a year,
either for notable scientific or industrial achievement in
electrical engineering or for conspicuous services rendered
to the advancement of electrical science, without restriction
as regards nationality, country of residence or member-
ship of the Institution. With the medal would be
presented a parchment certificate of award. A bronze medal
was chosen rather than a gold medal, first because a gold medal
was a rather difficult piece of property to take care of, and a
bronze medal could be an equally beautiful work of art, and
it was also desired that there should be no suggestion of any
intrinsic value in the medal itself, but rather that it should
owe its value first to the fact that it was to commemorate an
important event in the history of the Institution ; secondly,
that it was offered for world-wide services without any restric-
tions ; and, lastly, that it was hoped, as time proceeded, its
importance would be advanced by the illustrious names of its
holders. A design prepared by Mr. Metcalfe had been adopted
for the medal. It was intended to announce the institution
of the Faraday Medal during the Commemoration Meetings,
but circumstances arose which prevented this being done, and
he felt considerable personal pleasure in the delay. He was
stiU more pleased to be able to announce that the Council
had made the first award to Oliver Heaviside.

He need say no more about the life work of Oliver Heaviside
than was contained in the resolution paissed at the Commemora-
tion Meetings, which he read. Heaviside was one of our famous
men who in his work displayed the wide and fearless view of
the real pioneer. He was sure that all present hoped that in
the evening of his life he might feel that those who followed
him revered his name.

The Heaviside Layer.

Sir Oliver Lodge, who was greeted with prolonged
applause, said it was an unexpected privilege to be called upon
to support the action of the Council. He congratulated the
Institution on the use it had made of its first Faraday Medal.
A man like Oliver Heaviside, who wrote very abstrusely, and
who a good many years ago retired into private life and into
the heart of the country, might very well have been forgotten
and overlooked. They had sent him an eloquent message,
and they had made him the recipisnt of the first Faraday
Medal. Oliver Heaviside might pretend that :ie did not care
much about medals ; he was given to express liimself in
peculiar ways about things of that sort, but he could not but
appreciate the feeling which lay behind the award, and the
words of the message which had been sent him must, if he
were human, give him joy. He understood that the President
had been down to see Mr. Heaviside in the country, and that
it was his intention to go again and take the medal, which
they could not expect Mr. Heaviside to come to London to
receive, so that whether Mr. Heaviside liked the medal or not,
he would at any rate like the visit cf the President.

Sir Ernest Rutherford then delivered the Kelvin Lecture
on " Electricity and Matter," which we shall deal with in a
subsequent issue.

Correspondence.

IMPERIAL WATER POWER PROGRESS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — We note in the April 21st issue of The Electrician
an article under the heading of " Imperial Water Power
Progress," referring to the operations of the Hydro-Electric
Power Commission of Ontario, in which you have made certain
reference to recently published and widely distributed criti-
cisms of the Commission's activities, by Mr. W. S. Murray, a
New York engineer, employed by the National Electric Light
Association, an organisaticn under the absolute control of the
private power interests of the United States.

In your comments regarding the Murray Report, we note
that you have taken for granted that Mr. Murray's statements
are all true and that his conclusions are correct. Located,
as you are, a long distance from the Province of Ontario,
would it not be well, before condemning the largest and most
successful co-operative municipal ownership undertaking in
the world, to obtain the actual facts of the case, so that your
readers may not be misled in their judgment of this great
scheme, in which you, as publishers of a technical journal
widely read throughout the British Colonies, should be vitally
interested, as we believe it is your aim to publish facts and
not fiction in your journal.

Regarding the Murray Report, I might say that this Report
was prepared to the specifications of the National Electric
Light Association, by Mr. Murray, criticising the Commission's
activities, in an attempt to stem the tide of public opinion,
which is rapidly crystallising in the United States and other
parts of this continent in favour of Municipal Ownership of
Public Utilities, similar to the plan that has been in such
successful operation in the Province of Ontario for the past
eleven years. Mr. Murray's Report is full of mis-statements and
comparisons of figures not comparable.

We are, at the present time, preparing a reply to the Murray
Report, a copy of which we will forward you for your informa-
tion, in order that you may be in a position to correctly inform
your readers regarding publication. — We are, etc.,

F. A. Gaby,

Chief Engineer.
Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario.

Toronto,
May 8th.

DOES THE INSTITUTION NEED A WIDER OUTLOOK?

To the Editor o/THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — On several occasions after some years residence
abroad I have, on coming home, been struck by the insular
parish pump point of view that characterises meetings of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers. Naturally having its
origin in Great Britain the "happenings here must loom large
at the meetings and in the proceedings, but the Institution
has now widened its activities to ail parts of the British
Commonwealth and moreover is concerned with a branch of
engineering that has a world-wide appeal. I tliink therefore,
that matters that happen outside the British Isles should
receive more attention than they do and also that speakers
in the discussions might endeavour to see things in a broader
way.

Readers may have noticed that the Institution of Civil
Engineers is as much interested in engineering abroad as
in what happens at home and the proceedings of the I.C.E.
contain many papers descriptive of engineering work in all
parts of the world. Partly as a result, the membership is very
wde-spread.

Engineers as a class travel a gieat deal, and large manu-
facturing concerns ai*e as much interested in orders from
overseas as they are in local orders so the Institution member-
sliip must contain many members who think as I do.

I suggest that a suitable leaven of engineei-s (now resident
in this country), who have lived in some particular country
overseas long enough to know intimately actual conditions,
should be introduced into ihe Council in order to ensure that
the proceedings of the Institution shall in future have that
wider outlook which several observers as well as myself, feel
that it needs. — I am, etc.,

E. Kilburn Scott.

London, N.
May 16, 1922.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician

633

Centrifugal Clutches and
Small Motors.

A simple and inexpensive device to enable small power motors
from ^ H.p. to 1 H.p. to start up freely has long been needed. Engi-
neers have made many attempts to overcome this starting torque
difificulty by improving the design of the motor or by special switch -
gear, but neither of these improvements has given real satisfaction.
It' is, therefore, interesting to note that Thomas Broadbent and
Sons, of Huddersfield, have recently been investigating this matter

SPIDER WITH -FERODO-SHOES
' FASTENED TO MOTOR SPIN

DRIVING PULLEY

Fig. I. — The Parts of the Clutch.

• and after considerable experiments have designed a small and com-
pact centrifugal clutch, which appears to have solved this complicated
problem. This small clutch embodies all the features of the firm's
well-known^larger power clutches.

The purpose of a centrifugal clutch is to enable the motor to
accelerate up to 75 per cent, of full speed without load, the load being
then^gradually and automatically apphed until at full speed the

it two loose friction shoes with " Ferodo " lacings, carried in
suitable pockets and clear of the driving pulley rim. These shoes
are spring controlled, the tension of the spring being adju.sted to
retard any movement of the .shoe until the motor has attained
75 per cent, full speed.

Immediately this speed is reached the shoes are automatically
thrown radiaUy outwards by centrifugal force and engage %Nith
the interior face of the belt pulley, thus gradually accelerating the
driven machine to full speed. The weights of the shoes are so
regulated that when the motor is running at full speed the friction
developed exceeds the power of the motor, and, by this means the
motor is enabled to start up and accelerate absolutely without load.
If desired, the clutch can be arranged to slip at any desired overload,
thus acting as a safety overload device.

Test Results.

Broadbents have just supphed a number of these clutches
to the General Post Office for use with \ h.p. stamping machine
motors. The sizes ranged from 4 in. diameter to 5 J in. diameter at
speeds varying from i 400 revs, per min. to r 700 revs, per min. ,
and arranged for both flat and round belt drives. Before despatch
these clutches were put through the usual tests and some very
interesting data was obtained which showed that in every case the
motor attained a speed of well over i 000 revs, per min. before
any load came on. The clutch then began gradually to pick up
until at full speed the torque transmitted well exceeded the power
of the motor.

Fig. I illustrates aU the interior parts of the clutch, consisting of a
hollow driving pulley, a central disc or spider fastened to the motor
spindle containing two loose friction shoes and an end cover plate
and spring for fastening the plate. It will be seen that the clutch
is of such simple design that it cannot possibly get out of order ;
there are no metalhc wearing parts and the action is entirely auto-
matic. The clutch cannot fail to positively pick up the load after
the motor has attained pre-determined speed.

Fig. 2 shows the arrangements that were made to carrj' out the
tests. This type of clutch will probably become standard practice
for use with small power motors, and engineer.^ will therefore be
well advised to give it their serious consideration.

SPRING BALANCE

WOODBLOCK

^4 H.RCLUTCH
UNOERTEST

Fig. 2. — The Clutch under Test.

drive becomes positive. The clutch forms part of the driving pulley
or coupling »s tke case may be and can be adapted to almost any
type of drive.

Details of the Clutch.
Briefly described, this small power clutch consists of a centre-
piece or spider which is keyed to the motor spindle and carries with

A New Network Box.

Callender's Cable and Construction Company have lately put
on the market a new design of network box, the two chief improve-
ments on existing types being (a) the mounting of the fittings on
metalhc frames or grids ; {b) the provision of renewable and adjust-
able spring contacts for fuses or hnks. In addition the new boxes
embody an improved design of definite grip fuse or Unk extractor.
The insulators on which the fittings are mounted are carried
on a grid consisting of steel rods which are supported at each side
by metallic frames. This grid, with its fittings, drops inside the
outer containing cast iron box and rests on feet provided on the
frame. The insulators are moulded with grooves at each side so
that they are readily shpped into position along the steel rods.
This form of construction gives the necessary' rigidity and mechanical
strength, provides a clear space on the underside of the grid for the
cables to be jointed in the box, permits ready assembhng and
jointing, and also enables the interior gear of the box to be packed
for transit separately from the outer containing caist iron box, thus
reducing breakages. With the new arrangements of gear no joints
other than sweated joints are below the compound level, which is
a great advantage and one which will be appreciated by those
who have charge of the maintenance of network boxes.

The Gallender-Watson Spring Clip.

A special type of spring chp — the Callender- Watson — has been
evolved after months of e-xperimentin^, which, it is claimed, has
none of the disadvantages of the usual type spring cUps. which are
invariably either too flimsy and result in undue heating, or are
so constructed that it is impossible to renew them without con-
siderable trouble and expense. These spring cUps form part of a
loose contact head which is connected to the --able or busbar stalks
bjr a grip contact wliich introduces a minimum electrical resistance.
The stalk is supported in the insulator by means of an internal nut,
so that when the contact head is removed for any purpose there is
no possibility of the stalk dropping down and making contact %vith
the bottom of the box.

Manipulation of Fuses.

The question of the manipulation of the fuses or links has received
considerable attention. It was considered undesirable to provide
each fuse with its oAvn handle, as this increases the cost. On the
other hand, the form of loose porcelain handle suppUed vdth the
old Callender- Ward pattern boxes had the disadvantage that when
used by inexperienced operators the fuse or Unk was apt to slip out
of the handle. In the new fuse extractor supphed with the C.S.W.
type of box, however, a definite grip on the fuse holders or doll-
heads is obtained. Tliis extractor is made in Kalanite, and consists
of a two-part handle, one half being made to shde over the other.
In cases where customers prefer enclosed fuses, these can be
supplied.

634

The Electriciai].

May 26, 1922

Langmuir Condensation Pump.

The Langmuir condensation pump is now being manufactured
in Rugby by the British Thomson-Houston Co., who are the
owners of the English patent rights.

The Langmuir pump has been designed to produce very high
vacua — much higher than can be obtained by other means — and is
therefore of value in connection with the manufacture of electric
lamps and for many forms of research work. By its aid pressures
lower than iO'5 bars have been produced and measured and a
soeed of 3 000 to 4 000 c.c. per second is obtained under normal
working conditions.

The action of this pump is briefly as follows : The mercury

in the base of the pump is
heated by a gas burner and
the mercury vapour which is
given off impinges on the
baffle-plate at the top of the
heating chamber. This baffle-
plate deflects the mercury
vapour downwards and out-
wards into the water-cooled
condensation chamber, where
it mixes with the gas to be
removed. This gas is thus
carried downwards by the mer-
cury vapour until the vapour
condenses, when the condensed
mercury flows down the walls
of the chamber and returns to
the base of the heating chamber
while the gas is carried to the
atmosphere by means of an
auxiliary pump.

Fig. I. — Langmuir Condensa-
tion PUMF.

Amount of Mercury Required.

The proper amount of mer-
cury required for each pump is
626 gms., and should consist
of mercury which has been
thoroughly cleaned and preferably distilled.

The gas burner is fixed in position beneath the heating chamber,
the connection to the gas supply being made by means of ordinary
rubber tubing. The amount of air suppUed to the bunsen burner
should be regulated to obtain a non-luminous flame, and the mercury
keptlboiling steadily, but not too vigorously, so that condensation

may be as complete
as possible in the
water-cooled cham-
ber. It should always
be ascertained that
the water is flowing
through the conden-
ser at the proper
rate before heating is
started.

Both water con-
nections extend from
the bottom of the
pump, and can be
used for either inlet
or outlet. Ordinary
rubber tubing is suit-
able for connecting
to the water supply,
the tubing being
firmly bound to the
pump connections
and source of supply.
The rate of flow of
the water should be
about I 000 c.c. per
minute.

Methods of
Connecting.
The method of
connecting the con-
densation pump to
the vessel to be
exliausted depends
on individual re-
quirements. A
ground-glass connec-
tion to fit the top
vacuum port or a
metal connection
ground to fit the
port may be used-
the joint being carefully greased, but care must be takeu to prevent
any grease from getting to the pump. Another method is to fit,
a copper cup over the top vacuum pot and by means of sealing
wax to make a vacuum-tight seal. A suitably shaped glass con-
nection may thus be fitted over the vacuum port and sealing wax
melted in the metal cup imtil it melts and flows round the end of the

Fig. 2. — Diagram showing Construc-
ITION OF Langmuir Condensation Pump.

glass connection : when the wax cools an efficient joint is made,
which can easily be broken if required by reheating the wax in the
cup.

In some cases the presence of mercury vapour in the vessel being
exhausted may be detrimental, and this may be avoided by putting
a trap (cooled by solid carbon di-oxide or hquid air) between the
pump and the vessel.

The auxiliary pump is connected to the small vacuum port in the
side of the condensation pump by means of stout-walled rubber
tubing, and should be capable of producing a vacuum of o'l mm. of
mercury. If an oil-sealed pump is used as auxiliary, a pinch cock
should be fixed between the two pumps to prevent oil entering the
condensation pump when shutting down the system.

Method of Cleaning.

The presence of a very little oil or dirt in the inner chamber will
make the pump ineffective. To clean, the mercury is first removed
by turning the pump upside down, having the large vacuum port
closed with the hand, and then returning the pump to an upright
position and pouring the mercury out of the smaller port at the side
of the pump. This is repeated until all mercury has been removed.
Petrol is then poured through the large vacuum port, and the pump
shaken vigorously thoroughly to wash the interior. In the same
manner the petrol is removed and the washing repeated with benzol.
The vapour of petrol or benzol left in the pump is exhausted by
means of the auxihary pump before replacing the correct w^eight
of clean mercury.

G.E.C. "Freezor" Fans.

The General Electric Company announce that they are
launching this season a great " Freezor " fan campaign. Full
particulars of the campaign, which is designed to assist the trade,
will, they state, be announced in due course. Meanwhile we

The Latest " Fkeezor " Fan.

have received an advance copy of a booklet V.2754 which gives
full descriptions of the numerous tj^es of " Freezor " fan,
together with revised prices which, we notice, represent very
substantial reductions. This is just the weather for fans.

New Range of Oscillating Fans.

This booklet contains amongst other things details of a complete
new range of oscillating fans. These fans represent an entirely
new departure in oscillating fan construction, and are claimed to be
the only fans of their kind manufactured in England. They are
fitted with a very simple and efiicient oscillating mechanism.
The arc of travel can be adjusted between the limits of 110° and
zero and a sHpping clutch is provided which allows the blades to
continue to revolve even when the oscillating mechanism is pre-
vented from operating by some external obstruction. These fans,
one of which is illustrated, are made for d.c. and a.c. circuits in
two sizes with blades 12 in. and 16 in. in diameter, and can be easily
converted from table pattern to bracket pattern by loosening a
thumb scyew. The blades are stout sheet brass punchings and are
carefully dished to give a definite curvature which has been found
by experiment to give a maximum air dehvery \vith a minimum of
air friction losses.

The vanes are rivetted to a stout spider which guarantees a rigid
structure capable of standing up to air resistance without warping
or creaking and the complete rotating portion — armature and blades
— is carefully balanced and tested at the works before being finaUy
passed.

H.M. Consul at Colon, Republic of Panama (Mr. C. Graham),
reports that a general importer and manufacturers' representative
is desirous of forming connections with United Kingdom firms for
electric motors and electrical supphes, and steam, water^wind and
air motors. Further particulars may be obtained from the Depart-
ment of Overseas Trade.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

635

The "Ediswan" Eullolite Lamp.

The Royal " Ediswan " Fullolite lamp is already well known
to our readers for its many advantages in the elimination of glare
and its perfect diffusion of light. A happy adaptation of the lamps
is shown in the illustration. The fitting shown is installed at the
Oxford Street showrooms of the Rapson Tyre and Jack Co., Ltd.

" Ediswan " Fullolite Lamps.

The fittings, which have been .supplied by Maple and Co., are of a
massive type and are finished in gilt to harmonise with the general
scheme of the showroom decoration, which is in gold and black.
The candle flames are 40 W Fullolite lamps, and a practically
shadowless distribution of light is given oyer the entire showroom.

We believe that this is the first instance in which these lamps
have been adopted for this combined decorative and illuminating
purpose, and the effect gained has certainly justified the experiment.

New Type of Lightning Arrester.

The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company
has developed a new type of d.c. electrolytic lightning arrester,
known as " Type AR," for car or station use on railway, power and
lighting circuits.

The new type is for voltages up to 3 800, and contains one to
twelve cells. Each cell consists of two aluminium plates immersed
in a suitable inorganic electrolyte and supported from a porcelain
cover clamped by a zinc ring to a gla.ss jar with a gasket placed
between the porcelain cover and the glass jar. Hollow concentric
cylinders made from sheet aluminum form the plates, the outer
cylinder or plate being punched and upset at frequent intervals
in order to allow free circulation of the electrolyte within the cell.
Balancing resistors are used with arresters of more than one cell.
These resistors cause each cell to take its proper portion of the line
voltage and thereby tend to keep the aluminum hydroxide films
equally formed.

Position of the Arresters.

The arresters are " floated " between line and ground so that a
leakage current of only a few millamperes passes continually. This
leakage current serves to keep the film upon the aluminum plate
or plates in proper order.

The product is capable of passing a surge current of approximately
1,000 A at double normal voltage when the arrester is functioning,
and one arrester should be used for each 500 kW of feeder bus, rotary
converter or motor generator capacity to which the arrester is
connected. Any voltage in excess of normal line voltage is dis-
charged promptly through the arrester.

Function of the Arrester.

The functioning of the " AR " type of arrester is similar to the
functioning of a steam safety valve or a hydraulic release valve.
When the impressed pressure, or voltage, exceeds the normal, the
valve opens and the excess pressure, or voltage, is reheved ; then
the valve closes and is again ready for operation. A fuse is placed
in series with the arrester cells to prevent destruction of the arrester
in the event of a short or heavy discharge for an appreciable length
of time occurring. Evaporation of the electrolyte in the cells is
prevented by a layer of oil on the surface of the electrolyte.

The arresters are mounted and securely held in asbestos board
and wool-fibre lined cypress boxes. The boxes with a flat top are
intended for mounting beneath the car and with a slanting top for
station, car interior, car roof or outdoor mounting on any vertical
flat surface. Although all arresters are inherently outdoor arresters,
they can be used satisfactorily indoors.

Advantage of Interlinking.

A good illustration of the advantage of the interconnection of
electricity supply systems was recently given at Ontario, where,
owing to accidents at two generating stations, the Hydro-Electric
Power Commission was suddenly deprived of about 160000 h.p.
Within 15 minutes of the occurrence the Canadian Niagara Falls
Power Co. and the Toronto Power Co. were feeding the system of
the Commission, and part of the deficiency is also being supplied by
the American plant of the Niagara Falls Power Co., so that the
whole of the municipal power and lighting service in Ontario has
been maintained without interruption.

According to the " Electrical World," the accident occurred at
the Niagara Falls .station of the Ontario Power Co. at about 3 a.m.
on April 30, and is said to have been due to a short circuit on one
of the Commission's transmission lines. Two 20 000 h.p. generator
sets were destroyed, and as part of one of the generators was hurled
through the roof the covering of the new wing fell and smashed
the casings of two other turbines. Water then flooded the whole
bay and rushed into the main power house, four 16000 h.p. units
being flooded. A few days prior to the accident damage was
caused to a 55 000 h.p. generator set at the Chippawa-Queenston
station, so that within a week the Commission lost the use of units
aggregating 159000 h.p. Some of the plant has been repaired,
and by means of interlinking with neighbouring systems a full
service has been maintained and no inconvenience has been caused
to consumers.

The prospect of a settlement of the engineering dispute has
improved during the week, as the .17 " other " unions involved
have now agreed to take a ballot of their members on the proposals
submitted by the employers on Saturday last. No definite recom-
mendations will be made, but members will be asked to give the
proposals serious consideration. The ballot papers will be return-
able by June 2.

Electric Bread-baking Ovens.

Interesting particulars of an experiment made by Fisher Bros.,
of Cleveland (U.S.A.), in the baking of bread in gas and electric
ovens are given in the " Electrical World." Two i 000 loaf
conveyor type ovens were used for a year. Formerly natural gas
of approximatelv i 000 B.Th.U. per cubic foot was used, costing
30 cents per cub' ft. or $66 a day. The electricity bill, at 2 38 cents
per unit, came to $36, but, in addition to a greatly improved
quality of bread, an unexpected saving was effected. It was found
that the amount of flour required to turn out 125 000 i J lb. loaves
of bread a week was much less than had been the case -with gas
ovens, and ten additional li lb. loaves were produced from each
barrel of flour. As the firm use 57 barrels of flour a day, the
additional loaves meant an increased income of $6270 per day, or
more than sufficient to pay for the increased cost of the electricity.
Apart from the above advantages, with an electric oven -^o con-
structed as to retain the steam driven out of the loaves, it is
unnecessary to injert hve steam into the oven, thus avoiding the
use of steam boilers, a matter of considerable importance in small
bakeries.

Liverpool Sub-centre of the LE.E.

The third annual report of the Liverpool Sub-Centre of the
North-Western Centre of the I.E.E. states that seven general
meetings have been held, with an average attendance of 99, when
papers on various subjects have been read and discussed. The
annual meeting was held on May 8, when Mr. B. Welbourn was
elected chairman and Messrs. E. M. HoUingsworth and H. H.
Harrison, vice-chairmen, for the ensuing year. Mr. O. C. \\ aygood
was elected hon. secretary. The meeting was followed by a smoking
concert.

The membership (including members, associate memb^s,
graduates students, associates) increased from 367 to 447. Members
transferred to other districts numbered 38. The area of the bub-
Centre has been extended to include the whole of the County of
Flint, Denbigh, Merioneth, Montgomery and Carnarvon, and aloo
the Isle of Anglesey.

The Committee of the Students' Section record a very successful
Session. Nine general meetings (average attendance 45) and one
open meeting (150 present) were held.

It has been agreed between the Electrical Contractors' Asso-
ciation of Scotland and the Electrical Trades Union, in view of the
reductions in wages which have taken place since the be^nmng
of the year, that the present rate of oay should be stabihsed until
December 31 next, when it will be open to either party to review
the situation.

636

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

Junior Institution of Engineers.

A dinner to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the foundation of
the Junior Institution of Engineers took place on the i8th inst.
at the Cafe Monico, London, Mr. C. H. Wordingham, C.B.E.,
being in the chair.

The fact that this Institution is regarded as a serious and impor-
tant factor in upholding the traditions of the engineering profession
was demonstrated not only by the professional eminence of the
President, but by the attendance of such distinguished engineers
as Dr. H.'s. Hele-Shaw (President of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers), Dr. W. H. Eccles, Prof. E. G. Coker, Mr. W. B. Worthing-
ton (President of the Institution of Civil Engineers) and Mr. T. J.
Gueritte (President of the Society of Engineers), while the number
of grey heads at the function was sufficient to disabuse one's mind
of any preconceived idea that " juniority " would be a prevailing
feature.

Dr. Hele-Shaw, proposing the toast of "The Institution,"
commended the universal feehng of brotherhood which existed
amongst the members. There were members present from places
as far distant as India, China, and the West Coast of Africa. Many
men who had been members had reached the highest positions.
As an example of the serious work done by the members he referred
to a Paper on " Friction," by Mr. C. H. Plant (with a prefatory
note by Mr. E. C. West, Chairman of the Institution), in the
May number of the Institutions "Journal" in which the subject
was treated in an original way and the subject of electrons was gone
into with great gusto.

Mr. E. C. West (Chairman of the Institution), in responding to
the toast, said the sentiment which actuated the founders of the
Institution 37 years ago that the whole of the proceedings should
be based on friendship and goo^I Vlowship still held the Institution
together. They had now nine loc n -notions, amongst the recent
additions being one in Assam and oua ai Australia, and the total
number of members was just over 2,000. He mentioned that the
Gustave Canet gold medal which was awarded annually to a gentle-
man of eminence invited to read a learned Paper before the Institu-
tion was to be presented shortly to Sir Eric Geddes, who would
read a Paper on " The Railway Act, 1921."

Need for a Broad Initial Training.

Mr. C. H. Wordingham, in reply to the toast of " Electrical Engi-
neering " proposed by Dr. W. H. Eccles, said electrical engineering
hardly had any separate existence apart from the older branches
of engineering. Electrical engineering progress depended primarily
on the men engaged in it, and their success depended primarily on
character and secondly on training. Training, in the first stages,
should be the broadest possible, so that, whatever branch a man
finally elected to take up, there would be the soUd groundwork of
engineering principles to fall back upon. At a meeting of the
Electrical Research Association recently. Dr. Eccles had said if
there were to be much progress in a particular branch of research
it was important to keep an eye on other branches of science and
to see whether it might not be possible to apply discoveries in
different directions to the particular branch in which one was
interested. That speech made a great impression upon him, and
it was one they should think over. The great difficulty was that
there was such a vast mass of new mr.terial constantly welling up,
that an engineer should know, that it was hopeless for him to try
to deal with it. Attempts had been made to provide condensed
selection - by means of abstracts, but there were so many different
institutions compiMng abstracts, so many pubhcations, more or less
of a proprietary nature, and such a terrible profusion of periodical
hterature that it was impossible to read even the best of the matter
thoroughly. Again there was much published that need not be —
it was purely ephemeral. The great rp dson for this state of affairs
was jealousy and envy. Each institution published its own Pro-
ceedings— they did not work together. Another difficulty was the
multiplicity of things in which the proceedings were pubUshed.
There ought to be some tremendous effort made to get a permanent
record in which one could find what he wanted to know of progress
and discovery during the year. Such a record might be issued
weekly and might be the repository of all the Papers of the various
Institutions that really mattered.

A European Automatic Sub-Station.

According to " The Times " Engineering Supplement, there is
in Europe only one example of a sub-station with a completely
developed automatic mechanism. This is used on the tramway
between Basel and Lorrach. The equipment consists of a single
250 kW rotary convertor which transforms three-phase current
at 6 300 V to direct current at 600 V. The necessary operations for
starting and stopping are effected by a combination of relays, con-
tact appliances and electrical remote control devices on the different
switches. The electrical mechanisms that control the switches
are positively connected with each other, and are divided into a
connecting system and a disconnecting system, each of these
systems being again divided into several groups. The connections
are such that on starting or stopping work the switches always come
into connection in the sequence required.

American Trade with Latin-America.

Increasing efforts are being made in the United States to develop
trade with Latin- America and Spain, but more particularly the
export of Electrical Plant and Apparatus. As a result the
electrical goods sent to these countries in 192 1 was not less than in
the previous year, notwithstanding the universal trade depression.
Compared with 19 14, the electrical exports show an increase of
240 per cent., the actual values being $10 194 964 in 1914,
$34456554 in 1920, and $34719906 in 1921. The important
items of export were batteries, insulated wire and cable, wiring
accessories, incandescent lamps, switches and telephone material,
though there appears to be an increasing demand at present for
domestic apparatus and meters also.

Bright Prospects.

According to our contemporary, the " Electrical World," the
outlook for all electric fight and power apparatus in South America
is bright ; stocks are said to be low, political conditions are satis-
factory, and an upward trade tendency is already noticeable.
With the revival of industry in the United States and Europe there
should be an increased demand for South American raw materials,
and this should ultimately result in improved exchanges and a
greater demand for manufactured goods.

In Spain, the openings are said to be fimited, and are mainly for bare
copper trolley and transmission fines and wire bars, dry batteries
and pocket lamps. The situation in Spain, where a fair amount
of hydro-electric development is taking place, is not so promising
as in South America, as efforts are being made to estabhsh local
factories and there is also increasing competition from Germany.

The Brazifian, Mexican and Cuban markets are said to be fikely to
improve during the coming year, and regular types of American
manufacture are recognised everwhere except in Argentina, Uruguay
and Chile, where European types of material are employed and
competition has to be faced. The trolley fine material in use is also
different from the American standard, and European lamps and
meters have fikewise a wide vogue and enjoy a good reputation.
Lamps are being made in Brazil and Argentina, but the output is
small. As might be expected, arc lamps are being discarded in
favour of gas filled lamps for street fighting. There is an increasing
demand for domestic apparatus (except labour-saving appliances),
fans, ornamental fittings, etc., though Argentina, Brazil and Spain
are endeavouring to meet local requirements by estabfishing
factories for manufacturing cooking and heating apparatus.

Small Generating Sets in Argentina.

There appears to be an increasing demand for small independent
plants for pubfic buildings in the country towns in Argentina,
and also for farming purposes, especially in the northern part of the
repubfic. The most popular fighting unit appears to be an oil or
paraffin set, capable of supplying electricity to 40 to 70 16 c.p.
lamps, or a 4 kW set for cinemas. Some German firms have already
entered the field, and the Siemens- Schuckertwerke have recently
introduced a new set. It must be remembered that small lighting
installations must be economical in first cost as well as in operation.

In Brazil there is also a good prospect of a better demand for
electrical suppfies, but the import duties have been modified and
increased. Duties are now mainly levied according to the weight
and not on the ad valorem basis.

In regard to Latin-America generaUy, it must be remembered that
the position of the United States, owing to its position and the finan-
cial assistance it has given, is much stronger than in pre-war days.
During the past year the loans advanced by United States banks to
South American countries amounted to $210 000 000, and it is
hoped that, as the greater part of this sum will be spent on railways,
harbour and other pubfic works, many orders wiU be obtained for
machinery, locomotives and rolling stock, telegraph and telephone
materials, etc. In addition, efforts are being made to attract
South American students to technical coUeges and institutions in
the States, because it is felt that when they return they will be
famifiar with American machinery and practice, and they will be
favourably d'sposed towards American manufactures.

Possible Trade Openings.

An old-established firm of wholesale merchants at Buda-Pest
desire to obtain the representation of United Kingdom manufacturers
of machine tools, electric motors, etc. Particulars from the Depart-
ment of Overseas Trade. (Reference No. 575).

.According to the " Industrial Daily News," important proposals
for the electrification of the Duchy of Luxembourg have been
submitted to the Government of the Duchy by a group of Belgian
financiers. A central power .station near the town of Luxembourg
is to be built, which will develop power from the rivers Semis and
Lesse. British engineers in a position to quote for the plant,
machinerj' and equipment required in the scheme will, it is stated,
be given every opportunity of submitting estimates. A total
expenditure of 150000000 frs. is anticipated. The decision of tlic
Luxembourg Government is shortly to be announced.

The foundation stone for the completion of the new wing of the
St. Pancras electric power station, in Great College Street, St.
Pancras, London, was laid on Tuesday, by the Mayor.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

637

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Ayr Electricity Bill.

The case for the promoters of this Bill continued on the i6th
inst., when Mr. J. H. Rider was recalled and gave further evidence.
He said that the raising of the dam at Loch Doon from five to ten
feet would increa.se the cost by ;^i 1.500, and that would mean
;£6oo or ;^700 more per annum for operating costs. That extra
cost would destroy the economic advantages of the scheme.

For Kilmarnock Town Council, who opposed the Bill, Mr. C. P.
Sparks, consulting engineer, stated that in his opinion some of the
charges given by Mr. Rider were underestimated. He thought
there should be added to the cost an extra sum of ^^29 000. The
main objection to the scheme was the limited output due to the small
catchment area. Ayr could not stand alone for 2| years until the
larger scheme was available ; during that time provision must be
made for an additional supply of electricity. It would be more
economical to get the additional supply from Kihnamock, instead
of proceeding with the Loch Doon scheme. The municipal under-
talang at Kilmarnock had been an economic success.

In cross-examination witness admitted that the generating station
at Kilmarnock was no bigger than was required for their own area.
They could supply Ayr, but they would have to increase their
plant. He agreed that the smallness of the scheme was no reason
why it should be objected to.

Mr. W. Collier Bexon, electrical engineer to the Burgh of
Kilmarnock, said that in 1920 negotiations were opened between
Kilmarnock and Ayr as to the former suppljdng electricity to the
latter burgh. Terms of agreement were drawn up in November,
1920, but were never executed. In the expectation that they
would be called upon to supply Ayr with electricity they made
certain alterations to their plant. He agreed that the Loch Doon
scheme was not an economical one ; there was not sufficient water
to deal effectively with the district and the expenditure proposed
was an extravagant figure.

On Wednesday Mr. Tyldesley Jones, for Ayr Corporation,
put in a new clause providing that in the carrying out of the works
all reasonable regard should be had to the preservation of the beauty
of the district.

Mr. Morton, consulting engineer, said he estimated the capital
cost per kW of the Grampian electricity scheme at /108, and of the
Lochaber water power project at ^56, including the cost of the
Parliamentary proceedings. The proposed croys in the stream
were ingenious in theory, but he was afraid they would not work
out in practice. A flow of 4 000 000 gallons per day would give
a depth at one fixed point of only 2J in., while 6 000 000 gallons
would give about 3J in. The compensation water was absolutely
negligible, but he agreed that the extra yield of water secured by
raising the dam on Loch Doon to 10 ft. would not compensate for
the extra cost.

Many local witnesses were called in opposition to the Bill, and on
the i8th inst. the Committee passed the preamble, subject to the
minimum average flow of water in the river being 8 000 000 gallons
per day instead of 6 000 000 gallons which the promoters were
prepared to concede, and that the clause dealing with the amenities
of the district should be approved by the Lord Chairman.

During the sitting for the adjustment of clauses the promoters
agreed to a proposal of the Doon Fishery Boards that there should
be a minimum flow of 1 3 500 000 gallons in the tail-race off the
mills of the river Doon to ensure a good salmon run, but the claim
of the Marquis of Ailsa for the minimum flow of 36 000 000 gallons
to maintain full water power for the riverside mills was disallowed, as
was a claim for the fencing of the Doon reservoir.

Grampian Electricity Bill.

In reply to a question by Mr. Briggs, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer (Sir Robert Home) stated in the House of Commons
last week that if a guarantee was given under the Trade Facilities
Act the Advisory Committee appointed under that Act would
scrutinise the prospectus, and their approval would have to be
obtained before the prospectus was issued, so that there was no
danger of the public being misled as to the form of the State
guarantee.

On the Report stage of this Bill on Tuesday,

Mr. Briggs moved its rejection. A letter from the Trade
FaciUties Advisory Committee was put in as evidence before the
Committee which considered the Bill, promising a State guarantee
of part of the capital to be raised by the promoters. He took
exception to that particular guarantee because the assets of the
Grampian Electricity Supply Company were not such as warranted
it ; they were not those of well-established businesses, but were
only waterfalls and salmon fishing. He also objected to the
guarantee because the scheme was highly speculative.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore, as Chairman of the Select Committee to
which the Bill was referred, hoped the motion for rejection would
not be pressed, though he agreed that the letter was an improper
one. The Bill ought to be considered on the merits of the actual
proposal which it contained. It would be advisable in future,
before any guarantee was given, that the Trade FaciUties Advisory
Committee should wait until the Committee stage of the Bill was
completed. In his opinion the scheme was as good a one as was
likely to be produced -for the development of water power in the
Highlands.

Mr. Hilton Young and others supported the Bill, and the motion
for its rejection was defeated by 185 votes to 78. The Bill was then
ordered for third reading.

Worknaen's Compensation.

We are likely to have a Bill for amending the Workmen's
Compensation Acts this year, for the House of Commoas have
unanimously passed the following resolution : " That in view of the
unsatisfactory state of the law relating to workmen's compensation
and of t'ie fact that the War Additions Acts expire at the end of the
year this House is of opinion that a Government Bill to amend the
Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, should be introduced and
passed during the course of this Session."

In the coursejof the debate, the Home Secretary (Mr. Shortt)
said he did not believe that a single hon. member would allow the
War Additions Acts to lapse without an5r^hing beingputin their place.
They must either pa.ss new legislation this S^sion or include the War
Additions Acts in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill He did not
pledge the Government to any detailed reform which had been
advocated. All agreed that the maximum amount of compensation
was inadequate, but there was by no means unanimity of opinion
as to what the sum should be or as to compulsory insurance and
State insurance. There were many points in the report of the
Departmental Committee which were highly controversial, and it
might be very difficult for the Government when introducing a Bill,
as he hoped they would be able to do, to deal with those points.
With a view to securing agreement between all concerned, he had
approached men representing the employed and the employers,
and had put forward certain proposals as a basis of discussion.

Telephone Apparatus.

In reply tc Captain Terrell (House of Commons, May 22)
Mr. Kellaway said that there was now no scarcity of telephone
materials, and generally no difficulty was found in dealing promptly
with applications for telephone service ; but there were still a few
localities where from various causes it had not been possible yet to
complete the cables which were necessary in order to meet the
demands for telephone service. He would be glad to investigate
any case that was brought to his notice of an apphcation which
had been outstanding for a considerable time.

Safeguarding of Industries Act.

In a written reply (House of Commons, May 16) to Dr. Murray,
who asked the amount of duty collected on various scientific instru-
ments and appliances under the Safeguarding of Industries Act,
Sir Robert Horne stated that ;{946 had been collected on electrical
instruments (other than telephonic and telegraphic) and commercial
instruments (including ammeters, voltmeters, etc.) ; ;^3i on house
service meters, /211 on scientific instruments, and £^ 555 on electro-
medical apparatus. X-ray tubes, wireless valves, vacuum tubes and
X-ray apparatus.

The Severn Scheme.

In reply to Mr. Mills (House of Commons, May 16), Mr. Arthur
Neal said it was not possible, omng to the financial position and the
necessity for drastically curtaihng the expenditure of Government
Departments, to set up the Technical Commission recommended
by the Water Power Resources Committee to consider the posa-
bihty of utilising the tides in the River Severn for the generation
of electricity.

Bulk Supply Powers of Undertakers.

An interesting conflict of opinion has arisen between Hammer-
smith (London) Borough Council and the Electricity Commissioners
in regard to the Council's proposal to give a bulk supply of electricitj-
to Ealing Corporation, and it is probable that the matter may lead
to legal proceedings.

It appears that in November last the Borough Council agreed
to give a bulk supply for general purposes to Ealing on terms and
conditions which were to be approved by both Councils, and applica-
tion was made to the Electricity Commissioners for the sanction
to the proposal. The matter has since been th'^ subject of corre-
spondence between both Councils and the Commissioners, and
conferences have also been held with the Commissioners and repre-
sentatives of the Councils. The Commissioners now state that,
after consideration of the circumstances, they are unable to approve
the proposed agreement. On the 3rd inst. a joint meeting of the
Ealing and Hammersmith Electricity Committees was held, and
directions were given for steps to be taken to test the powers of the
Commissioners to refuse their approval of the proposal.

While we are unaware of the reasons given by the Commissioners
for their refusal and of the full facts of the case, it is doubtful if
the Council can succeed in any proceedings against them, for Sec. 19
of the Electricity (Supply) Act distinctly states that any two or
more of the authorised undertakers within the locality (of any
Electricity District) may, with the approval of the Electricity Commis-
sioners .... enter into and earn,- into effect arrangements for'
mutual assistance with regard to the giving and taking of a supply of
electricity, etc. The Commissioners have hitherto been so business-
like and reasonable in their decisions that we venture to think there
must be good engineering or economic reasons for their present
attitude. At all events, we should deprecate litigation on such a
point as that which has arisen.

638

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

Legal Intelligence.

An Undue Preference Allegation.

On Tuesday Mr. Justice Swift delivered his reserved judgment
in the action brought by the Westminster Electric Supply Corporation
against "Wykeham Studios, Ltd., for the recovery of £82 i8s. 5d.
for electricity supplied for their art photography business. Defen
dants admitted liabihty for part of the sum claimed but denied
they were liable for the rate charged.

In giving judgment his Lordship said : — Defendant company
admitted Hability for £48 5s. lod. ; judgment for that amount had
been signed and liberty was given to defend as to the balance of the
claim. It was admitted that the amount claimed was accurate if
plaintiffs were entitled to charge the rate they had done. The
plaintiffs were suppljang electricity under the provisions of the
Westminster Electric Lighting Order (1889) in the area mentioned
in the first schedule of the Order. For many years plaintiffs had
been in the habit of supplying electricity at two different rates of
charge, one rate for hghting and a lower rate for purposes other than
Ughting and supphed through a separate meter and known as

power rate.

Defendants have been usingelectricity for aphotographic arc lamp,
and it was admitted that the electricity had been used by defendants
for purposes other than general illuminating purposes. Plaintiffs
sought to charge defendants at a higher rate than the maximum
rate stated by them to be payable for electricity used for power,
and defendants object that the current having been taken and
used by them for power purposes, that is to say for purposes other
than lighting and through a separate meter, they were not liable
to be charged more than the maximum rate for power. He found
as a fact, on the admissions made, that the electric current used by
defendants was used for power purposes and not for hghting, and
that it should be charged for at the power and not at the lighting
rate. That, however, did not dispose of the action, for plaintiffs
contended that even if they were under the circumstances compelled
to treat defendants as taking electricity for power purposes only,
they might still charge them at the rates which they had done,
that is to say yd. per unit for the quarters ending midsummer and
Michaelmas, and 4d. for the quarter ending at Christmas 1921.
The right of plaintiff's to so charge was dependent upon the con-
struction of section 19 and 20 of the Electric Lighting Act, 1882,

Having quoted both sections, his Lordship referred at length to the
judgments in MetropoHtan Electric Supply Co. v. Ginder, the
Attorney General for Victoria v. Melbourne Corporation, the Attorney
General v. Long Eaton Urban Council, and the Attorney General v.
Hackney Borough Council. He thought the result of those decisions
was that where current was supplied on two different systems, the
choice of which was left to the consumer, there was no infringement
of sections 19 and 20, and that as between customers of each
system the undertakers were entitled to differentiate as to price
provided that the special circumstances of each customer were
regarded. But it was contended in the present case that defendants
using the current for power purposes had been charged more than
the rate which was fixed and advertised by plaintiffs as being the
rate for current supphed for power. He did not see why this should
not be done, if regard was had to the special circumstances of those
who were charged at the higher rate and if a proper differentiation
could be made between them and others who were being supplied
with electricity for power in the same area, provided that the
undertakers did not charge more than the amount which was fixed
by the Act, or which for the time being was agreed upon between
them and the consumer. He could not see why they should not
be allowed to charge a consumer more if the circumstances under
which he was taking power were not similar to those of other
persons who were taking it.

In that case, photographers, speaking generally, were not taking
current for power under similar circ imstances to other consumers.
Their lamp was not burning regularly and for fixed hours during
the day or night, but was intermittently used as occasion necessi-
tated for the taking of particular photographs, and he thought that
the undertakers were entitled to say that, although their ordinary
charge to persons using current for power was 2d. per unit, they
would charge a liigher rate to persons who took current for use in
a photographic arc lamp. At any rate he saw nothing in the
sections of the 1882 Act referred to or the decisions upon them
which was inconsistent with that view. It is clear that plaintiffs
were under no agreement to charge defendants other than the
rates which they did, and defendants had an.ple notice of the rates
which they would be charged. All photogr: phers in the area had
been treated in the same way, and under the circumstances there
would be judgment for plaintiffs for the amount claimed with costs.
Improper Use of Electricity.

Last week the Southend magistrates had before them three
charges of improperly using electricity, and in two of them alterna-
tive charges of fraud were alleged. P. Morgan and Co. were sum-
moned under Sec. 12 of the Electric Lighting Act, 1882, for im-
properly using electricity within the last six months at their
premises ; and there was a similar summons against Marshall
Rowland Cook, but it was also alleged alternatively that during the
past six months he consumed electricity fraudulently, contrary to
Sec. 10 uf the Larceny Act, 1916. A similar charge of fraudulent
consumption of electricity during the past six months was made
against Harris Goldstein.

The cases against Morgan and Co. and Goldstein were adjourned
for three weeks.

The Asst. Town Clerk (Mr. Beresford) said that Cook, who
pleaded guilty, had a supply on the contract rate for light, with a
separate supply for power for hairbrushing and for sharpening
razors. Requiring more light in the selling portion of the shop,
instead of applying for an increased supply, he tapped the power
circuit, with the result that he was pajdng the power rate for that
hght (3jd.), instead of the lighting rate of 8d. per unit. He did not
inform the Corporation of what he had done, but when spoken to
by one of the inspectors, he said : " All right, old man. You need
not take the matter any further, I know I have done wrong."

Evidence having been given by a meter inspector and by the
meter superintendent, defendant said he knew nothing about
electricity. He had the power meter installed some years before
the war, and having been away in the Army for seven years, he
forgot the terms. He agreed with the statements concerning the
lamp, and wished to apologise.

The Bench came to the conclusion that Cook had improperly —
not fraudulently — used the light, and fined him £5.

Is a Tramcar a Carriage ?

Last week the Bradford Stipendiarj- Magistrate {Mr. Beaumont
Morice) gave his reserved decision on a charge against Mr. S.
Goldthorpe, brought under section 28 of the Town Police Clauses
Acl;, for not keeping a motor wagon on the right or off side of the
road when passing a certain carriage.

The defence was that the tramcar was not a carriage within the
meaning of the Act, but Mr. Morice held that he was bound by a
decision of the High Court that a tramcar was a carriage. Having
regard to the fact, however, that in the present case two tramcars
were on their respective lines, and to the conflicting evidence, he
was of opinion that the circumstances were a sufficient reason for
the deviation.

The case was therefore dismissed, with costs.

Institution Notes.

The list of successful candidates for the AMT.E.E. Examination
held last month has now been published. Thirty-six candidates
passed the whole examination, sixteen passed Part II only, and
two passed Part I only. Results relating to candidates who sat
for the examination abroad will be published later.
* * In the examination for officers of the Corps of the Royal Engineers,
fifteen passed the whole examination, one passed Part I onlj-i
Of the officers of the Roj-al Corps of Signals two passed the whole
examination.

Members of the Institution of ^Mining Engineers from Glasgow,
Edinburgh, the Lothians, and other centres, paid a visit of inspection
last Saturday to the works of the British Electric Plant Co. at
Alloa. The visitors were conducted through the works by Mr.
F. G. Warburton, of the directorate ; IMr. A. S. Murdoch, the
works manager ; and Mr. R. Wright, the secretarj- ; and great
interest was taken in the various departments.

The result of the ballot for the election of officers and new
members of Council of the Institution of Electrical Engineers
for 1922-23 is as follows : — President, Mr. F. Gill ; vice-Presideuts,
Dr. W. H. Eccles, Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton ; Hon. treasurer.
Sir James Devonshire ; ordinary inctnbrrs of Council, Mr. J. W.
Beauchamp, Mr. R. A. Chattock, Mr. F. W. Crawter, Mr. D. N.
Dunlop, Major K. Edgcumbe, Mr. A. F. Harmer, Mr. W. R.
Rawlings.

The fourth Quadrennial Gustave Canet Lecture entitled " The
Railway Act 1921," will be given lefore the Junior Institutio.n
OF Engineers by Sir Eric C. Geddes, on Thursday, June i, in the
Lecture Theatre of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Victoria
Embankment, London. The chair will be taken at 7.30 p.m. by
Mr. C. H. Wordingham, President of the Institution. Tickets
may be obtained from the Sec^etar3^ 39, Victoria Street, S.W.i.

South Wales Engineering Exhibition.

The Council of the South Wales Institute of Engineers have
decided to hold an Engineering Exhibition at the Drill Hall,
Cardiff, during the week commencing November 20 next. Each
morning a conference will be held at the Institute, when short papers
on various subjects connected with the exhibition will be read and
discussed. Offers of such papers will be welcomed.

The exhibition will be divided into six sections, including : — (I)
Scientific, Measuring and Recording Instruments ; (II) Water-
Softening and Cooling Plant, Boilers and Equipment, Oil Burners,
Pipes, etc. ; (III) Electrical Section ; Switchgear, Cables, Con-
trollers, Overhead Lines, Electrical Tools and other appliances.
Small Motors, Electric Cranes, Telephone and Wireless Apparatus ;
(IV) Mechanical Transmission of Power, Bearings, Clutches,
Gearing; etc. ; (V) \\orkshop Appliances : Machine Tools, F^aeu-
matic Tools, etc. ; (VI) Mining and General Industrial Section.

The British Engineers' Association has been entrusted with the
task of organising the Shipbuilding, Marine, Mechanical and General
Engineering Section of the British Empire Exhibition to be held
in London in 1924. Full particulars, plans, and forms of application
for space will be available for issue at an eprly date. Enquiries
should be addressed to D. A. Bremner, Director, The British
Engineers' Association, 32, Victoria Street, London, S.W.i.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

639

Electricity Supply.

At a meeting of the IIkywood Electricity and Tramways Com-
mittee it was reported that the consumption of electricity for lighting
and power purposes during March last was 150 328 units, as against
109 755 units for the corresponding period of last year, showing an
increase of 40 573 units, or 36-96 per cent. There was a loss on the
working of the Electricity Department for the past year of £1 047,
due to the coal strike and the slump in trade.

To celebrate the reduction of coal consumption to one ton per
I 000 units, Aid. C. Hardman, chairman of Oldham Electricity
Committee, entertained members of the Committee and staff to
dinner last week. In the course of a speech he recalled the fact that
in 1913-44 the coal consumption was 6f lb. per unit, whereas it was
now about 2 A lb., and he hoped it would be brought down to 2 lb.
or less. Although they had expected an adverse balance on the
year's working, they had come out with a four-figure profit, and a
reduction of prices would be considered shortly.

Hammersmith Finance Committee recdmmend the Council to
apply to the Electricity Commissioners for sanction to borrow
additional sums of (a) £(i\ 590 in connection with the extension of
the electricity generating plant ; (6) ^7 057 relating to the pro-
vision of the No. 16 (Stirling) boiler, and (c) £>) 717 in respect of the
erection of the building for the powdered fuel plant. The Electricity
Committee recommend that a sum of /i 000 be set aside out of the
surplus revenue of the electricity undertaking for the financial
3'ear, 1921-22 for the purchase and hiring out of electrical apparatus.

The annual report of Barrow Electricity Undertaking showS
a net profit of £^,1^ compared with a deficit in the previous year
of £2. 500. The income from the sale of electricity was ;^ii 798
below last year, but general lighting and heating receipts advanced
by £^ 194, and tramway supply by ;^38i. There was a drop of
;^i6 373 in power and industrial supply. Public lighting has
increased by £\ 172, and rents of motors and apparatus on hire by
£\ 121. Working expenses are ;^i7 653 le.ss than last year, chiefly
due to a decrease in the coal bill of /13 409. The total revenue for
the year was ;^77 122, and the working costs £'^\ 010. The capacity
of the plant at the end of the year was 7 025 kW, and the number
of units sold 6 886 504, against 9 282 017 units in the previous year

New^ Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Warrington Corporation is now supplying electricity to Stock-
ton Heath, the formal switching on of current taking place from
the sub-station on Monday, May 22.

Accrington Corporation have applied to the Electricity Com-
missioners for a Special Order to extend the Corporation's area
of electricity supply to the Urban District of Oswaldtwisti-e.
Any objections must be sent to the Electricity Commissioners by
June 19.

The Electricity Commissioners have sanctioned the borrowing of
;^i3 500 by Shrewsbury Electricity Committee for extensions to
the electricity works, and have intimated that they are prepared to
consider the sanctioning of the borrowing of any further sum, which
may be found necessary when the cost has been approximately
ascertained.

HoYLAKE Electricity Committee propose to obtain a loan of
£\ 000 for mains and services. The Committee have gone back to
the pre-war condition of giving 15 ft. free service to consumers,
and where extensions of mains are not involved work will be pro-
ceeded with without awaiting the Committee's -consent. There
are now 2 000 consumers, or 150 more than twelve months ago.

The Electricity Commissioners have declined to sanction a loan
of /5 000 applied for by Grays Urban Council for extensions at the
electricity undertaking, and recommend the Council to wait until
they can obtain a supply from the proposed new station at Barking
of the County of London Electric Supply Company. The urgency
of the situation with regard to the continuity of supply during the
coming winter is to be explained to the Commissioners by the
Council.

Preston Town Council has received formal consent of the
Electricity Commissioners to the establishment of a generating
station at Penwortham, with an initial capacity of 20 000 kW. The
Committee ai'e applying for the Commissioners' consent to the
establishment of a further generating station, and to the borrowing
of ;^4i6 450 for the purpose. The Town Clerk has been authorised
to take the necessary steps, in conjunction with the Blackburn
authority, for the presentation of a scheme for the Mid-Lancashire
Electricity District to the Commissioners at the local inquiry.

Alteration of Charges.

The charges for electricity at Crewe are to be reduced by i2i
per cent.

Wallasey Electricity Committee have decided to exercise their
powers under the Electric Lighting Act regarding minimum charges.
Under the Act the Corporation is entitled to charge a minimum of
£1 13s. 4d. per year to lighting consumers.

Preston Electricity Committee have decided to allow 10 per cent,
discount to hghting consumers in Preston and Fulwood on meter
readings as from the June quarter, and to increase to 15 per cent,
the present 5 per cent, discount to power users.

Electric Traction.

Rotherham Corporation has applied to the Minister of Transport
for permission to run motor-omnibuses on certain routes.

Heywood municipal tramways were run at a loss of £2 431 last
year. In 1914 the working cost per car mile was 3id. : it is now
nearly is.

It is stated that the electrification of the I^ondon and North
Western Railway between Chalk Farm and Euston will be
complete d by the end of next month.

The experiment made by Aberd.\re Urban Council in the use of
one-man tramcars and omnibuses has proved satisfactory, and
the system is being extended to the trolley omnibus cars.

The annual conference of the managers' section of the British
Municipal Tramways Association will be held in Glasgow on
June 15 and 16. The topics of discussion will be chiefly questions
of car maintenance.

A revision has been made this month of the fares charged on the
Bristol tramways. Under the new rates children under twelve
are carried at reduced prices, and cheaper fares have been introduced
on certain routes for all passengers.

By a majority of 7 499, Newport ratepayers, on Saturday,
decided upon the introduction of a Sunday service of tramcars.
Over 50 per cent, of the electors went to the poll, which was pre-
ceded by 19 public meetings. The new service will start next
Sunday.

The Birmingham Corporation Electric Tramways Department
made a net profit last year of £\<^2 500, but this sum will be absorbed
by the programme of reconstruction work undertaken during the
past year by the department. The passengers carried numbered
183^ millions as against 218 millions in the previous year.

Serious corrugation has set in on Cardiff tram tracks. At a
meeting of the Tramways Committee last week, the tramways
manager (Mr. R. H. Horsfield) said it was apparent even in the new
track which had been laid. The problem was a serious one, and
must be dealt with. The attention of the city engineer had been
drawn to the matter, and it was decided to await his report.

The new express tram track in Leeds from Harehills to Oak-
wood was officially inspected last Friday by Major Hall, R.E.,
of the Ministry of Transport, and on Sunday was opened for traffic.
The chief interest in the new system is that for the first time in the
city it suppUes an example of tramcars run on rails and sleepers,
the cost of this particular form of construction being much less than
that of lading down concrete beds in the centre of the road. The
cost of renewal will also be less.

Alderman Higham, chairman of the Accrington Tramways and
Electricity Committee, informed the Town Council on Monday that,
compared with a loss on the tramways last year of £z ooS, they now
had a balance on the right side of £5 300. After contributions to
the appropriation fund they would be able to place £2 234 to the
repairs and renewals fund, which now stood at £30 000. The saving
had been in general repairs and maintenance of track, which had
cost only £\o 000, compared %\ath £17 000 last year.

A recommendation has been sent to all the tramways under-
takings in the Midlands, including Nottingham and Leicester, by
the Midland Area Industrial Council for the Tramway Industry,
urging the adoption of the covered-in (or vestibule) front for
all tramcars, as it is found that the dust caused by the increased
motor traffic causes the drivers, when too much exposed to the
weather, to suffer from bronchial and eye troubles. The executive
of the Municipal Tramways Association have also had the matter
under discussion with a view to finding the best type of vestibule
to adopt.

Members of Liverpool Tramways and Electricity Committee
paid a visit of inspection last Thursday to some of the most impor-
tant undertakings of which they have charge, including the Lambeth-
road works, where a large number of tramway cars are being reno-
vated, and eight new uties of the latest type being built, and the
Lister-drive Power Station. The new tramway in course of con-
struction from the city boundary at Knott],- Ash to Prescot was
partly travelled over, and the .Aigburth-road improvements were
also inspected. At the luncheon at the Midland Adelphi, Mr. Frank
Wilson, chairman of the Committee, who presided, gave a resume
of the year's work. At the Lambeth-road works (lie said) a large
amount of renewals were being steadily carried out. They had
spent £692 738 in this connection during the last three years, and
that was one reason why they had had to go in for increased fares.
Many of the cars were twenty years old, and a number of them
ought to be scrapped. They had now 6iS cars in service, of which
450 were twenty years old. He thought the increased fares were
justified, for thev were now doing very well, and before long he
hoped thev would have a clean slate. Then they might talk of
cheaper fares. They hoped, indeed, to do this later in the year.
With regard to the Prescot route, they would be running right
through on the new line in three months' time. Their electricity
undertaking had increased greatly, and the area of supply now
covered the whole of the city from Garston to Aintree. Negotiations
were nearing completion to take over the supply in Bootle. Waterloo
and Great Crosbv, and to supply Highto.N-n and Forraby.

640

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

Business Items, etc.

MrTE. F. Turner, for many years works manager for Brind,
Gillingham and Co., has started business as an electrical engineer
at 20, Banbury Road, Oxford.

Mr. Eric Toft, having retired from the firm of Radford and Toft,
electrical engineers, 8, Station Buildings, Altrincham, the business
will be continued by Mr. Luke Radford under the style of L.
Radford and Co.

Mr. F. Kent, who was formerly with Crompton and Co., has been
appointed manager of a branch business at Priory Road, High
Wycombe, established by Walters, Dobson and Co., electrical and
general .'engineers, of Sheffield.

Mr. Duncan White, lately with Brooks and White, has now
joined the Hotpoint Electric Appliance Co., London, W Mr.
\Vliite will deal with applications and problems relating to heating
and cooking apparatus and will also deal with maintenance and
repair work.

The Manifoldia (Regd.) System, designed bj' Mr. A. H. Human, for
ensuring perfect supervision and record keeping of electrical installa-
tions, is on view at the stand of Manifoldia, Ltd., at the Efficiency
Exhibition which opened at Bingley Hall, Birmingham, yesterday
(Thursday), and will remain open till June 3. We hope to give
further details of the system in an early issue.

Plant and Supplies, I,td., announce that they have purchased
the business of Mr. Ashley Pope, Toddington, near Dunstable, and
that he has been appointed managing director. Plant and Supplies,
Ltd., are the sole agents and distributors for London, the Home
Counties and the southern portion of England for the " Sceando "
lamp which is manufactured throughout in this country in both the
one watt and half watt types.

In order to cope with their increasing business in the south of
England Ward and Goldstone have opened extensive premises
at 8a and 9, Great Chapel-street, Oxford-street, W.i (three minutes
from Tottenham Court-road Tube Station), where in future all
London and district orders will be dealt with. Mr. J. S. Child
(ex joint sales manager to the Edison Swan Electric Company)
has been appointed to represent the firm in this district.

Telegraph and Telephone Notes.

The reduction in telephone charges, foreshadowed in
Mr. Kellaway's speech in the House of Commons on May 4, and
given in our last issue, will come into operation on July i.

The CABLE SHIP " Monarch " which has been at Sheemess Dock-
yard undergoing her first refit since the war, has left Sheerness to
resume duties. Arrangements have been made for the " Alert "
to refit at Sheerness.

Hull Corporation Telephone undertaking for the year ending
March 19 last shows a net profit of £^ 938. The undertaking has
to pay over /lo 000 royalty annually to the Government, and up
to date £7^ 000 has been paid under that head.

The Commercial Cable Company notifies that on and after

May 22 deferred messages between Groat Britain and Cape Breton,

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the

provinces of Quebec and Ontario will be reduced to 4|d. per word

It is reported that the Indo-European Trust has obtained the
concession for the exploitation of the telegraph system of Russia.
In addition to this, it is stated that the company will take over
the main cable from Odessa to Constantinople and the line from
Odessa to Kerlch, Tiflis and the Persian frontier.

In connection with the scheme for the construction and laying of
TWO SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH CABLES between Germany and America,
orders have been placed with German firms for the manufacture of
the cables, which will be operated by the Deutsch Atlantische
Telegraphen Gesellschaft. This company has recently been
reorganised ; its capital has been increased to 40 000 000 marks
and agreements have also been made with American cable com-
panies.

The Chinese Telegraph Administration announces that
telegraphic communication between the Far Last and Europe via
Siberia has been re-established. Telegrams latended for trans-
mission by this route should be marked " via Ht'ampo." They will
be accepted for the following countries : — All countries in Europe,
Russia in Europe, Russia in Asia west of, and including, Habarovsk,
Outer Mongoha (Urga). Rates are as follows: — Europe, $1.40;
Russia in Europe, $0.75 ; Russia in Asia, $0.55 ; Outer Mcmgolia
(Urga), I1.25.

A five years' agreement has been entered into by the London
County Council with the London Telephone Service for the hire by
the Council of an automatic internal telephone system at the new
County Hall. The electric power required in connection with the
exchange apparatus is to be supplied by the Council, and the rent
to be £1 734 a year for any number of lines up to 400, and £4 a year
for each additional line ordered up to a total of 900 lines, together
with the usual charges for wiring more than the normal length, to be
paid by the Council.

Personal and Appointments.

Sir Charles Addis has joined the board of the Eastern Tele-
graph Co.

Sir Dugald Clerk has consented to become hon. president of
the Cardiff University College Engineering Society.

Mr. Oxenham, of Launceston, has been appointed engineer to
Bideford and District Electric Supply Co. He has been in charge
of a similar plant at Launceston running on sawdust fuel, which is
also to be used at Bideford.

Mr. J. W. Rodger, who for some years has been chief transformer
designer and assistant manager with Ferranti, Ltd., has severed his
connection with this firm In order to take up a similar position with
the Hackbridge Electric Construction Co.

We are asked to state that any business friends of Mr. C. D.
Falcke, managing director for the past six years of The B.E. Co.
(of London and Birmingham), Ltd., now in voluntary Uquidation,
and proprietor of the original business in Birmingham for a period
of nearly twenty years, who wish to communicate with him, may
do so by addressing him at the Engineers' Club, Coventry-street,
W.I. For purely personal matters his telephone number is :
Paddington 5069.

Mr. C. G. Schi.uederberg, of the Westinghouse Electric Co.,
has been elected president of the American Electro-Chemical
Society. Mr. Schluederberg belongs to a number of engineering and
other societies and has been particularly active in the American
Electro-Chemical Society. He has also served on several committees
of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. He has pubhshed
a number of articles covering original research work and electro-
chemical activities and developments.

Wireless Notes.

A meeting of an international committee of shipowners is being
held in London this week to consider what changes, if any, should
be advocated in the present system of wireless communications
respecting ships in distress.

Glasgow and District Radio Club report a considerable addition
to their membership and an increased attendance at their meetings .
New premises have been obtained at 200, Buchanan Street, and next
session meetings will be held weekly.

Mr. J. H. Hammond, junr., an American, claims to have perfected
apparatus to prevent a radio station from receiving messages except
those intended for it. He further claims that " the same wave
can be made to carry several messages at the same time and that
both voice and code may be transmitted."

Subject to the approval of the Postmaster- General an agreement
has been made, we understand, between the MetropoUtan Vickers
Electrical Company, and the Radio Communication Company, for
the joint estabUshment and operation of wireless telephone
broadcasting stations throughout Great Britain.

A successful experiment in wireless communication between
the earth's surface and places in coal mines was recently made by a
party of geologists and scientists m the Blue John I\Iine, Castleton.
A receiving set was taken into the cave known as the Lord Mulgrave's
Dining Room about 280 ft. from the entrance and a quarter of a
mile in any direction from the open. Here a 50 ft. aerial was
suspended across the cave and with a small apparatus signals were
received clearly from Poldu, in Cornwall, from a station near
Berlin, and from other high power transmitting centres.

Representatives of twenty firms attended the conference last
Thursday at the General Post Office to discuss the arrangements
to be made for broad-casting matter (including music) by wire-
less sets. It was recognised generally, the official report of the
conference states, that, in order to avoid interference, broadcasting
stations would have to be very limited in number. Some of the
representatives thought that not more than eight could work
simultaneously in Great Britain, using the power (i^ kW) and the
band of wave lengths (350-425 metres), allowed for the purpose,
without such interference as would produce practical chaos. It was
also recognised that the provision of a suitable daily programme at
the various stations would be expensive, and that it was important
in the interests both of the public and the manufacturing industry
that the continuity of the service and the maintenance of a high
standard in the programme should be ensured. The best means
of attaining these objects seemed to lie in co-operation among the
firms concerned, and it was suggested that one or possibly two
groups should be formed, which should become responsible, both
financially and otherwise, for the erection and maintenance of the
stations and the provision of suitable programmes. In accordance
with these suggestions it was arranged that the representatives of
the various firms should collaborate in the immediate preparation
of a co-operative scheme, or at the most of two such schemes, for
consideration bv the Post Office authorities.

The " Daily Mail " announced last Friday that the Ideal Home
Exhibition will be held again next March, instead ol waiting until
1924, as previously proposed. Our readers will do well to make
early application for space.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

641

Imperial Notes.

The Metropolitan- Vickers Electrical Company have obtained a
contract for the supply of plant and equipment for the electricity
supply scheme for Jubbulpore (India).

Kandy (Ceylon) Municipality is taking over the electrical
generating plant of the Colombo Gas and Water Works Company
at Kandy. The purchase price is R. i 50 000 (£io 000).

Grenville Shire Council contemplate the provision of electricity
supply works for Linton (Victoria), and expert advice is being
obtained on the possibility of using water power for generating
electrical energy.

It appears that the German experts engaged by the Victorian
Government in connection with the Morwell briquette scheme
are now unwilling to land in Australia. They have, however, been
assured that they need fear no hostile demonstrations.

" Indian Engineering " says certain home firms were in com-
munication with the Ceylon Government with a view to entering
into partnership with the Government in relation to the proposed
hydro-electric scheme. It is now stated that the Government has
decided to carry out the work itself, with the assistance of a special
staff of engineers engaged from Great Britain.

The Royal Commission appointed by the Ontario Provincial
Government to investigate the Queenston-Chippawa hydro-
electric SCHEME of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of
Ontario consists of the following : Mr. Walter D. Gregory (Chair-
man), Mr. M. J. Haney, Mr. L. Harris, Mr. J. A. Ross and Dr. R. A.
Ross. The chairman is a lawyer, and there are two engineers and
two manufacturers on the Commission.

In an article on Trolly Omnibuses in " Indian Engineering " it is
suggested that r.mlless traction might be adopted in certain
cases of approaches to hill stations, where good roads exist. At
Gauhati-Shillong, for instance, there is a first-class road, and
hydro-electric power could be provided cheaply in the locaHty.
With cheaper and quicker transport than that now available, the
possibilities o^ Shillong are believed to be unlimited.

Foreign Notes.

The third International Congress of consulting engineers,
organised by the Federation Internationale des Ingenieurs Civils,
will take place at Warsaw from the 28th to the 31st inst.

According to the 1920 census, there are 27 077 electrical engineers
engaged in the practice of their profession in the United States.
TMs compares with 15 278 shown in the 1910 census. In 1920
there were 212 964 electricians, as compared with 120 241 in 1910.

It is reported that arrangements have been made to merge the
Dubilier Condenser Company of America, the Federal Mica Company
and the Cambridge Manufacturing Company into one corporation,
to be known as the Dubilier Condenser and Radio Company.

Forty American investment bankers who are at present in France
have come over, the " Chicago Tribune " (Paris edition) states,
primarily to inquire into some hydro-electric projects along
the Rhone and in the P5a-enees. The estimated cost of harnessing
the Rhone is over five hundred million francs.

The supply of radio receiving sets is developing into a big
business in the United States. For instance, the Westinghouse
Company is reported to be turning out 500 outfits a day at present ,
and its production capacity is to be increased to i 000 a day. As
there are several other manufacturers engaged in the same field it
will be seen that the radio " craze " is very acute.

In the report of the American Engineering Standards Com-
mittee it is stated that work is now proceeding on 79 distinct
projects, and 160 National Associations are co-^operating. During
1 92 1 the Committee approved 15 standards, including a standard
method for sampling coal. The National Electrical Code Specifica-
tions for soft or annealed copper, and the Industrial Lighting
Safety Code.

An ambitious electrical programme has been prepared by
the Superior Council of Public Works of France. It is suggested
that hydro-electric generating stations of a total rating of i 370 000
kW should be erected with a high-tension transmission sj^tem
of 9000 to 10 000 miles. The cost is estimated at 15000000
francs, to b' spread over 15 years. If carried out the scheme will
make France less dependent upon imported coal.

The shareholders of the Illinois Central Railroad Company
have authorised the issue of $50 000 000 preferred stock in order to
finance the company's Chicago terminal. Over $80 000 000 will be
spent on tjhe work, and the suburban service must be electrified by
1926. Further time is allowed for other portions of the scheme, but
through passenger service must be operated completely by electric
service by 1939. Mr. A. S. Baldwin, vice-president, in charge of
electrification, and Mr. Hugh Pattison, chief engineer, are visiting
Europe in order to study Continental systems.

An important new company, entitled the Societd Italo-Americana
per la Elettrotrazione, has been formed in Italy for the purpose of
constituting an association of Italian power companies and
American firms in order to promote the generation and distribution
of electricity and the construction and v/orking of electric railways

and tramways. The principal object of the company is the adoption
in Italy of American systems of continuous current traction at high
potential, and -some Italian engineers have been sent to the United
States in order to study electrification methods.

An engineering standards committee of 70 members was
recently formed in Japan, and much useful work has already been
undertaken, including investigations into electric wires and cables
and electric motors. The Minister of Agriculture and Commerce is
president of the Committee. There are seven secretaries, all
engineers in government departments. The " Electrical World "
states that there are now national standardising committees or
associations in the following countries : Austria, Belgium, Canada,
Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Italy,
Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

Breaking records is one of the pleasant pastimes of our American
friends, and judging from the statistics published in the " Electrical
World," the supply industr\' is out to keep itself well " in the lime-
light," or perhaps we ought to say the electric light. During
February the average daily output of electricity in the
United States was 132 720 000 units, or i 840 000 units more than
the previous highest record, in December last. Another feature of
the month's record was a drop in the lighting loads, owing to the
longer days, and an increase in industrial power requirements.
During 1 92 1 the total output was 43 Q05 000 000 units against
45 678 000 000 in 1920, but notwithstanding this drop the total
revenue showed an advance of 7 per cent.

The total consumption of electricity in Italy in 1919-20 for
lighting power and traction was 3 826 562 180 units, or an average
consumption of about 9'5 units per head of the population. There
is great activity in the development of water power, and even at
present most of the plant is hydro-electric. In Lombardy, the most
highly developed part of the country, there are plants of 603 000 kW,
but less than one-sixth are steam driven ; and in Piedmont, out of
405 000 kW steam sets only account for 30 000 kW. Considerable
progress has been made since the war, especially in connection with
the electrification of railways and hydro-electric schemes, as the
high cost and scarcity of fuel compelled attention to the develop-
ment of a substitute for imported coal.

Mr. Malan, South African Minister of Mines and Industry, intro-
duced into the Union House of Assembly last week an Electricity
Bill providing for the appointment of a Commission for estabhshing
and maintaining stations for the supply of electricity to Government
and local authorities, companies, and individuals, also for an
investigation regarding additional supplies and the co-ordination
of existing undertakings with a view to stimulating the provision
of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity. Except in the case
of municipalities the Commission would be empowered under the
Bill to fix prices and order a return to consumers of 25 per cent,
of the surplus profits. After 38 years the Government may give
two years' notice of its intention to expropriate all but municipal
electrical undertakings, paying nothing for goodwill or prospective
profits.

The Engineering Industry in Belgium.

Mr. R. F. H. Duke, H.M. Commercial Secretary at Brussels,
states in his annual report on the economic situation of Belgium that
many of the engineering firms have profited by the slackness in trade
during 1920 and 1921 to complete the reconstruction of their works
damaged by the Germans and to install new equipment. At the
same time attention has been given to the importance of making
Belgium independent of other countries, and particularly Germany,
in regard to electrical material, and during 1919 six new electrical
factories were established, manufacturing conduits, switch boards,
incandescent lamps, machinery and signal apparatus. The Ateliers
de Construction Electrique de Charleroi, which has a capital of
40 000 000 francs, has installed entirely modem machinery and
e.xtended its works. Varied types of machinery are manufactured
by this firm, from ^ h.p. motors to tlie most powerful alternator,
with all necessary high and low tension appliances. The construc-
tion of extraction machines and sets of centrifugal motor pumps for
coal mines has also been 'developed during the year, the production
of small motors in series has been organised, and the cable works
have been extended.

The Society d'Electricit^ et de M^canique Proced^s Thompson
Houston et Carels have also extended their works ; the machine tool
and mounting department has been enlarged, the foundry' for small
parts has been doubled ; and a mechanical foundry installed.
Large modelling workshops have been built, and also a warehouse
for general purposes. Regulators, alternators, transformers and
large motors are now manufactured, while as regards the mechanical
construction of Diesel motors and steam engines, it is claimed that
production has reached the pre-war figure.

German competition in the electrical constructional industry is,
however, states Mr. Duke, growing serious in Belgium, and the
Allegemeine Electricitaets Gesellscliaft have opened offices in
Charleroi under the mask of a Luxemburg firm. Any sale of
British technical goods in this country is exceedingly difficult owing
to the high prices quoted.

The Post Office (Pneumatic Tubes Acquisition) Bill passed its
second reading in the House of Commons on Monday, and was
referred to a Select Committee.

64;

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

Miscellaneous.

Licenses of Right have been granted to E. L. R. Couch for
Patent No. 23 454/13 for " improvements in apparatus for electro-
lyticaUy cleaning articles."

Incandescent electric lamp bulbs are not apparently included
in the Coal Minos (Temporary Provisions as to Safety Lamps) Bill,
and only glasses for flame lamps are to be dealt with.

The late Mr. Jacob Atherton, director of the County of London
Electric Supply Company and the South London Electric Supply
Corporation has left estate valued at ;^2o 603 (net personalty
£2 328).

A cenotaph to the employees of the Birmingham. Corpora-
tion Electric Tramways, who were killed in the war has been erected
on the Tramways' Stadium, at Kings Heath, and will be dedicated
by the Bishop of Birmingham on Sunday, and unveiled by Lt. Clarke
of the Dorset Regiment.

At a meeting of the Council of the South Wales and Monmouth-
shire University College, Cardiff, the Finance Committee reported
that the bequest of the late Sir Archibald D. Dawnay to the South
Wales Institute of Engineers had enabled the college to offer an
" Archibald Dawnay " Scholarship of the value of £50 a year,
tenable for three years, for competition at the entrance scholarship
examination held in April last.

A committee of eleven members, including Mme. Curie, Professor
of Physics, University of Paris, Herr Einstein, Professor of Physics,
University of Berlin, and Senor de Torres, Director of the Electro-
technical Laboratory, Madrid, have been appointed by the Council
of the League of Nations to study the question of International
Intellectual Co-operation in conformity with the resolution
passed by the second General Assembly of the League.

We regret that owing to an oversight, it was stated in our issue
of April 28 that the New Grimsby Exchange was the first auto-
matic telephone installation in the country. This is, of course,
not the case. Automatic exchanges at Epsom, Accrington, Chep-
stow, Portsmouth, Paisley, Blackburn and Leeds were all in exis-
tence before that at Grimsby, and in every case the work was
carried out by the Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company.

A meter for stamping letters was tested and approved by the
Post Office last week when letters at the rate of 250 a minute were
post-marked, stamped, sealed, counted and stacked. These
meters, it is understood, will be obtainable under license from the
Post Ofi&ce, and attached to specially electrically operated machines
in the offices where they are to be used. Each meter has a maximum
capacity of 100 000 imprints, which are paid for in advance. A new
supply is obtained by taking the meter to the Post Office to be
reset. After each setting the register door is locked and officially
sealed .

On Thursday, May nth, Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson,
Ltd., launched from their Neptune Shipyard, Walker, a telegraph
cable repairing steamer, constructed for the Commercial
Cable Co. of New York. This vessel, called the " Marie Louise
Mackay," is smaller than the " John W. Mackay," launched by the
company last November. She is 246 ft. in length by 34 ft. in
breadth by 24 ft. 4 in. in depth, and will be propelled by twin screw
machinery. The cable will be carried in three cable tanks, placed
forward of the propelUng machinery, and having a total coiling
capacity of about 1 8 000 cub. ft. The machinery required for working
the cable includes picking up and paying out gears, Lucas dyna-
mometers, and a Lucas patent sounding machine, and is being
supplied by the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company.

Fatal Accidents.

An open verdict was returned at the mquest held on Saturday
by Sheriff Shennan and a jury into the deaths of Andrew Martin
and. John Chalmers, miners, who were killed by an explosion in
No. I Pit in Viewpark Colliery, Uddingston, on April 11. The
evidence showed that the explosion occurred at an electrical coal
cutter in the splint coal seam of the pit.* It was stated that com-
plaints with regard to the coal cutter had been made, and that the
machine had been repaired by the colliery electrician, who stated
that it was in good order prior to the explosion. After the explosion
the machine was found to be without certain '■tuds and bolts.

In order to obtain a good view of a local cricket match at Hull
on Saturday, Thomas Butlin, aged 12, climbed on electric standard
and was killed through touching the live wires. At the inquest
on Monday it was stated that there was barbed wire round the pole
about half-way up, but Butlin got past it. The boy di^l not know
he was trespassing, as there was no notice board on the gate.
The Deputy Coroner (Dr. T. C. Jackson) said that the Corporation,
acting upon instructions of the Board of Trade, had every fifth pole
marked " Danger." A boy, Taylor, who was with Butlin at the
time of the accident, and who had tried to prevent him from climbing
the pole, said he noticed the next post to where the accident happened
had " Danger " on it, and he pointed this out to his companion,
who said : " This one will be all right." A verdict of " Accidental
death " was recorded. Mr. Hopkins (for the Hull Corporation)
said he would report the circumstances to the Electricity Com-
mittee, who would see whether anything could be done to prevent
a similar accident in the future.

Obituary.

We regret to report the death on Sunday of Mr. R. E. Graves,
Chief Inspector of Factories.

The death occurred on May 10, at^the age of 61, of Mr. Frederick
Edwards, electrical engineer, of 2, Brooke Street, Dumfries.

The death took place at Llangammarch on Wednesday, May 17th,
of Mr. John Temple, C.B., in his eighty-fourth year. Mr. Temple
entered the telegraph service in 1852, and after serving in Leeds,
Manchester, and London, working on the staff of Sir Charles Bright,
engineer-in-chief, obtained a post on the " Agamemnon " during
the laying of the first cable across the Atlantic. After acting for
three or four years as engineer for the Malta and Alexandria Cable
and other cable companies he returned to England, and in 1865-6
assisted in laymg the second Atlantic cable.

The death is announced of the distinguished American metallur-
gist. Prof. Henry Marion Howe, University of Harvard ; and
Professor Emeritus of the Columbia College, New York. Among
his many contributions to the science of metallurgy was his great
work on " The Metallurgy of Steel," pubU.shed in 1891. He was
also the author of innumerable papers on metallurgical subjects.
In 1895 he received the Bessemer gold medal of the Iron and Steel
Institute, and the EUiot Cresson gold medal of the Franklin
Institute of Philadelphia ; also a special prize and gold medal from
the Societe d'Encouragement pour ITndustrie Nationale, and,
finally, in 191 7, the John Fritz gold medal, an honour he shared
with Lord Kelvin, who received it in 1905, Sir WiUiam \Miite in
1911, and Sir Robert Hadfield last year.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

The " Genii P.S.." (push system) Water Heaters are illustrated
and described in Leaflet Y 204 just issued by the manufacturers,
George Nobbs, Ltd.

British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd., have sent us a
copy of Pamphlet P. 174, which they have just pubhshed, giving a
list of cables supphed by them for working pressures of 11 000 V
and over. This shows that i 370J miles have been supplied at a
voltage between 11 000 and 12 000 V, 114 at 13 000 V, 495 at 20 000
and 22 000 V, 17 J at 25 000 V, 39 J at 33 000 V, 12 at 100 000 V".

Eight new leaflets have just come to hand from the Edison
Swan Electric Company, and deal respectively with mo\dng coil
switchboard type instruments (IN 252/5 and IN 252/6), portable
combined testing set (IN 252/40), moving iron switchboard type
instruments (IN 252/106), moving iron instruments for direct or
alternating currents (IN 252/105), galvanometers (IN 252/79),
moving coil type cell testers (IN 252/77), and insulation testing set
(IN 252/73).

We have received from the Enfield Ediswan Cable Works
a most useful wall calendar, which will carry us through to the end
of next March. Beneath a photograph, showing the "Quest"
(fitted with Enfield cables) in the Thames before starting for the
Antarctic, are monthly tear-ofif shps of the same dimensions. The
figures are printed in large black type, and below the calendar for
the current month that for the preceding and following month is
also given.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY. MAY 26th (to-day).

Physical Society of London.
5 p.m. -At the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington,
London. Lecture on " Atomic Weights and Isotropes,"
by Dr. F. W. Aston, F.R.S.

Women's Engineering Society.

7 p.m. At 26, George Street, Hanover Square, London.

Paper on " Wireless Telegraphy," by Mr. H. R. Rivers-
More, B.Sc.

Junior Institution of Engineers.

8 p.m. At Caxton Hall, London, S.W. " Engineering

Appointments and How to Get Them," bj' Mr. J. Cameron
Rennie.

Royal Institution of Great Britain.

9 p.tn. At 21, Albemarle Street, London, W.i. " The

Internal Combustion Engine : Its Influence and Its
Problems," by Mr. W. E. Dalby, B.Sc, F.R.S.
TUESDAY. MAY 30th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers (Summer Meeting).

10 a.»i. At the Royal Technical College, Montrose Street,

Glasgow. Paper on " The Dalmarnock Generating
Station," by Mr. R. B. Mitchell.
WEDNESDAY. MAY 31«.

Institution of Electrical Engineers (Summer Meeting),
10.15 a.m. .\t the University, Glasgow. Paper on " The
Hydro-Electric Resources of the Scottish Highlands."
by Prof. Magnus MacLean.
THURSDAY. JUNE l»t.

The Junior Institution of Engineers.
7.30 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Victoria
Embankment, London, W.C.2. Gustave Canet Lecture
on " The Railway Act, 1921," by the P*. Hon. Sir Erio
Geddes, G.C.B., G.B.E.

May 26, IQ22

The Electrician.

643

Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc.

Indian Electric Supply and Traction.

In the course of his speech at the annual meeting of the Indian
Electric Supply and Traction Co., on Monday, Mr. John G. B.
Stone, who presided, said that the company's earnings in Cawnpore
showed steady expansion, but in remitting to this country the
directors had had to contend with the fall in the exchange value of
the rupee from is. 11 Jd. to is, 4d. Owing, however, to their
conservative policy in the distribution of profits in the past the
directors were still in a position to recommend the same dividend
as last year — namely, 10 per cent. — and to add a reasonable figure
to the reserves. In the past year the output had been increased
from 4 334 724 units in 1920 to 5 204 324 in 192 1. The earnings
of the company in India were ;^26 416, as compared with £35 189
in 1920. The fall in exchange accounted for nearly ;^io 000. They
had erected a new alternating current h.t. power station on the banks
of the Ganges, which was at present equipped with 6 000 kW of
plant. Unfortunately, owing to unforeseen delays in delivery and
erection of plant, the company had not yet had the benefit of its
output, but the station was expected to be in working in August, if
not earUer. As soon as the new station was open they would
secure a large addition to their earnings, and so rapidly had the
demand, actual and prospective, increased that in order to meet it
they had found it essential to make arrangements for a further large
extension to the new power station, for which purpose debentures
had been issued to the extent of some ;^250 000, including the
conversion and repayment of the existing "outstanding ;^49 600
debentures. In order to get a closer and more accurate view of the
company's business in Cawnpore, he went there in the early part of
this year. It was a very active centre of trade, and in order to
provide for the growth of its industries, etc., it had been found
necessary to lay out a large new area as an extension to the city.
The work was being actively pressed forward, and he did not think
it would be more than a year or two before there would be an active
demand from this new area.

Hurst, Nelson & Co. announce an interim dividend of is. per
share, free of tax, on the ordinary shares.

Brisbane Electric Tramways Investment Company announce
a dividend of 4s. per share, tax free, on the ordinary shares for the
half year, making 8 per cent, for the year, carrying forward £^6 163
subject to corporation profits tax.

The directors of the British Electric Traction Company
recommend, subject to audit, the payment of a dividend of 4^ per
cent, on the ordinary stock for the year ended March 31 last, com-
pared with 4 per dent, for the previous year.

The profit of La Plata Electric Tramways for 192 1, after
providing for debenture and other interest, was £2 720, making with
;^i4 531 brought in £17 251. The sum of ;^io 000 has been placed to
reserve, leaving £7 251 to be carried forward subject to corporation
tax, if any.

Allotment letters in respect to the recent issue of ;£250 000
Calcutta Tramways 7 per cent, second mortgage debentures,
which was largely over-subscribed, show that applicants for less
than ;£400 have been passed over. Applicants for over ;£400 and up
to ;^i,ooo have only received ,^100, and larger applicants in like
proportion.

The annual meeting of the Rhondda Tramways CoMPANYrwas
held last Thursday, Mr. Harold T. Bamett (chairman) presiding.
Out of the disposable balance, /5 000 has been transferred to the
reserve and renewals account, £^ 000 in payment of a 4 per cent,
dividend on the preference shares, leaving /i 825 to be carried for-
ward. The election of Mr. E. Morley to the board to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Mr. Schlesinger, chairman of the company,
was confirmed.

The accounts of the Ramsgate & District Electric Supply
Company for the year to December 31 last show gross profit of
£8 033 compared with £5 356 for 1920. After providing for prefer-
ence share dividend, interest on loans and income tax, and adding
the amount brought forward from last year, ;^477, there remains a
balance of ;^6oii. The directors recommend the payment of a
dividend of 10 per cent., that £2 200 be placed to the reserve account,
and £1 500 to reserve for depreciation, leaving a balance of ;£3ii
to be carried forward.

The report of Johnson and Phillips, Ltd., for 192 1 shows profit
(including claim for repayment of excess profits duty), after making
provision for bad and doubtful debts, and after charging to revenue
upwards of £16 000 for maintenance of buildings, plant, etc., of
;^42 737, plus ;^38 727 brought in. After deducting directors '
remuneration, debenture interest, etc., ^18428 for income and
corporation taxes, and ;^i2 255 for depreciation on machinery', etc.,
;^i5 138 remains to be carried forward. In view of the present
state of trade caused by the engineers' lock-out and the consequent
falling off of business, the directors do not recommend payment of a
dividend on this occasion.

The South Eastern and Chatham Railway Companies
Managing Committee, the S.E.R. Co., and the L.C. & D.R. Co.
give notice of intention to apply to the Minister of Transport for
an Order under Sec. i (r) (b) and (c) of the Railways Electrical Power
Act, 1903, to authorise the construction of a generating station at
Angerstein Wharf, Charlton, and works and transmission lines
necessary for conveying electric power to certain of their railways
in Xorth and Mid Kent, and to work such railways by electric
power, etc. A meeting of the proprietors of the S.E. Railway
Company is to be held on June 2 to consider this application, and to
authorise an agreement with a construction company for the
electrification of the suburban lines of the South-Eastem and
Chatham Railway Companies.

The net revenue of the Birmingham District Power and
Traction Company for the year ended December 31 last, from the
tramways and from dividends and in+erest upon investments, was
;^99 830. After deducting payments to local authorities, income
tax, etc., there is a surplus of ;^62 840, while £4 508 was brought
forward, making a total of £6-j 348, from which had to be deducted
interest on debenture stock, provision for renewals, dividend on
the cumulative participating preference shares, and £cj 430 placed
to the debenture .sinking fund, leaving a balance of £25 657. The
directors recommend a dividend of 6 per cent, on the ordinary
share.s, carrying forward ;^2 98i. The Shropshire, Worcestershire,
and Staffordshire Electric Power Company was also affected by the
trade depres.sion, but there were signs of improvement in the
industrial position.

The net profit of Babcock and Wilcox, Ltd., for the year to
December 31, 1921, amounted to £490 181, to which was added the
balance brought forward from the last account of ;^99 828, making
;^59o 008 los. From this sum had to be deducted interim di\'idends
paid in November of 3 per cent, on the preference shares, 2J per
cent, on the second preference shares, and of 7 per cent, on the
ordinary shares, amounting to £157 894, leaving a balance of
^432 114, from which the directors recommend that the following
dividends be paid for the half-year ending December 31 last :
3 per cent, on the preference shares (less income tax), £3 000 ;
2h per cent, on the second preference shares (less tax), ;^4 476 ;
9 per cent, on the ordinan,- shares (tax free), £19$ 394 los., making
a total of ;^20o 871. The sum of £i=,o 000 is to be placed to reserve
and ;^io 000 to the staff pension fund, leaving a balance to be carried
forward of ^71 243.

The report of Siemens Brothers and Co. for 192 1 states that the
company has not escaped from sharing in the general trade depres-
sion, though it had obtained its full share of orders in the market.
Fortunately, contracts in hand from 1920 enabled the company's
output to be maintained almost on the previous year's level, except
in the case of submarine telegraph cable shops, where work became
scanty in the latter months of the year. Prospects in this depart-
ment are now better. Reduction in output of lamps from Dalston
factory was necessary owing to the general depression also affecting
the lamp trade and to dumping of Dutch lamps on the English
market and colonies. Dumping has now been effectually stopped,
so far as gas-filled lamps are concerned, by a recent judgment in
the House of Lords upholding an important patent in which the
company is interested controlling manufacture of such lamps in
this country. No definite assessments have yet been made for
liability to excess profits duty for 1918, 1919 and 1920, but ;^ioo 000
was paid during the year in respect of same. Profits for 192 1 are
not liable. The profit was ;;^2oo 993, plus £437 218 brought in,
making /638 212, less corporation tax for 1920 and 192 1 £29 100.
The directors recommend a final dividend of is. per .share en the
ordinary shares, making 10 per cent, for the year, free of tax. to
write off book value of s.s. " Faraday " i'lo 000, carrying forward
(subject to balance of excess profits duty for 1918, 1919 and 1920)
£334 "2-

The report of the British Thomson-Houston Company for 1921
states that no new works were begun dunng 1921, and the amounts
expended during the year were principally in connection with the
completion of the extensions at Rugby, and with the glass works
being erected at Chesterfield. It is expected that the latter will be
completed during the current year. The profits for the year, after
deducting all expenses and charges other than interest on debentures
and loans, were /,309 259, plus/225 892 brought in. making £735 150,
less interest on debentures and loans, £119446, leaving iM5 704.
Of this amount the directors recommend that £i6o 000 be placed to
depreciations, reserves, etc., and the payment of dividends at
7 per cent, free of income tax on the preference shares, and 6 pe-
cent., tax free, on the ordinary shares, leaving £230 704 to be
carried forward. Arrangements on reasonable terms are practically
completed \sith the holders of the preference shares, whereb\- from
January i, 1922, the dividends thereon will be at the rate of 7 per
cent, per annum, subject to income tax. During the year, the
directors arranged for the issue of £i 500 000 par value 7 per cent,
mortgage debenture stock, being part of an authorised issue of
£3 000 000. The issue was largely over-subscribed. From the
proceeds *he companv's indebtedness was substantially reduced,
and since December 31 the entire amount due to the International
General Electric Company has been paid off. Debenture stock
outstanding amoimts to £146995. The amount outstanding at
December 31. 1921. was £152,295. Since the beginning of the year,
£7 500 par value of the new 7 per cen*. debenture stock has also
been retired.

644

The Electrician.

May 26, 1922

New Companies.

Uiiniihon and Co.

Hamilton and Co., Ltd. (18222). Private company. Reg. in
Edinburgh, May 18. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. Electrical, con-
sulting and general engineers, etc. Subscribers : A. G. Hamilton
and A. R. Fyfc. Registered office : 135, Buchanan-street, Glasgow,

Calphos Eleotriaal Company.

Calphos Elhctrical Company, Ltd. (181 726). — Private com-
pany. Reg. May 12. Capital, ;^ioo in £1 shares. Dealers in electric
and other lamps and fittings, &c. First directors : J. Pedersen
and F. E. Kewley. Reg. office : 66, Victoria- street, London, S.W.

W. K. Simpson and Company.

W. K. Simpson and Co., Ltd. (181 674.) Private company.
Reg. May 9. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers of and
dealers in scientific instruments of all kinds, electrical apparatus,
etc. First directors : W. K. Simpson, F. J. Milestone. Registered
office : 38, Goddard Avenue, Hull.

Sa'iroTe & Company (Birmingham).

Sadgrove & Company (Birmingham), Ltd. (181 770). — Private
company. Reg. May 13. Capital, ;^50oo in £1 shares. Auto-
genous welders, mechanical, constructional, electrical engineers, &c.
Subscribers : H. F. V. Sadgrove and H. J. Ardley. Secretary :
H. G. Sadgrove. Reg. office : 140, Conybere-street, Birmingham.

Good Bros.

Good Bros., Ltd. (181 852). Private company. Reg. May 18.
Capital, £^ 000 in ;^i shares (2 900 cumulative preference and 100
ordinary). Manufacturers of and dealers in electrical, magnetic,
telegraphic, telephonic and other appliances, etc. Permanent
directors : S. Coxon, W. IngUs and F. M. Soulsby. Registered office :
35, South John-street, Liverpool.

Triumph Electric Manufacturing Company.

Triumph Electric Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (181 843). —
Private company. Reg. May 17. Capital, £6 000 in £1 shares.
To acquire the' business carried on by A. T. Costigan and C. E,
Jenks, trading as " The Triumph Electric Company," at 16, Loveday-
street, Birmingham. Permanent directors : A. T. Costigan,
C. E. Jenks and W. L. Topple. Registered office : 16, Loveday-
street, Birmingham.

Woodcliff.

WooDCLiFF, Ltd. (181 910). — Private company. Reg. May ig.
Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers and sellers of all elec-
trical and mechanical processes or appUances for treating silver
or other metals, etc., and to adopt an agreement with R. F. Wood-
burn. First directors : R. F. Woodburn (managing director),
W. Ratcliff and H. R. Wilson. Secretary : H. R. Wilson. Registered
office : 33, Southwick-street, Paddington, W.2.

T. C. Murphy & Company.

T. C. Murphy & Company, Ltd. (181 771). — Private company.
Reg. May 13. Capital, £3 000 in £j shares (500 preference and
2 500 ordinary). To adopt an agreement with Ada A. Murphy,
and to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in
ebonite, vulcanites, rubber goods, and other insulating materials.
First directors : G. H. Almenrader and Mrs. A. A. Murphy.
Registered office : 10, Manchester-avenue, Aldersgate-street, E.C.i.

John Fowler and Co. (India).

John Fowler and Co. (India), Ltd. (181 834). Private com-
pany. Reg. May 17. Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares. To acquire the
branch business carried on by John Fov Ilt and Co. (Leeds), Ltd.,
in India, and to carry on the business of civil, hydraulic, telegraph,
mechanical and general engineers, manufacturers of and dealers in
wire and other cables, etc. First directors : A. Fowler, C. H. Fowler,

E. G. Pelly and T. Davis. Reg. office r 113, Cannon-street. E.C.

H. Cecil Taylor.

H. Cecil Taylor, Ltd. (i8i 779). Private company. Reg.
May 15. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. To acquire the business of an
advertising agent and consultant carried on by H. Cecil Taylor at
15-16, Steelhouse-lane, Birmingham, and to carry on the same and
the business of electricians, manufacturers of and dealers in mechani-
cal devices and illuminated and other signs fc advertising, etc.
First directors : H. C. Taylor, I. Mindelsohn and J. W. Pickavant.
Registered office : 6, Grosvenor-buildings, Steclhousc-lane, Birming-
ham.

Gas and Electricity Dev«lopment Company.

• Gas and Electricity Development Company, Ltd. Registered
May 9. Private company. Nominal capital, £2 000 in £1 shares.
To adopt an agreement with Sir Charles Bright and Partners, Ltd.,
The Premier Gas Engine Co., Ltd., Crompton and Co., Ltd., and

F. J. Palmar, and to carry on the business of gas, electricity and
water supply, etc., engineers, electricity and gas makers and dis-
tributors, consultants, technical and financial advisers, and heat,
hght and power specialists, etc. Signatories to the Memorandum
of Association : E. W. Goodale and R. W. Fiddes. Registered
office : 146, Bishopsgate, E.C. 2. The file number is 181 648.

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Sheffield Electricity Department. May 30. — Supply of
materials and works required in connection with the erection and
completion of a transformer sub-station in Standon Road, Winco-
bank ; also of a small pump house at Blackburn Meadows power
station, Sheffield. Particulars from Mr. S. E. Fedden, General
Manager and Engineer, Commercial Street. Sheffield.

Islington (London) Borough Council, Jiine i. — Renting of
electric light standards for affixing electric advertisement signs.
Forms of tender, etc., from the Electrical Engineer, 50, Eden-grove,
Holloway, N.7.

Barnes Electricity Department, June 5. — Supply, laying and
jointing of about 3,500 yds. of triple concentric l.t cable. Particu-
lars from Mr. C. S. Davidson, Electricity Works, High Street,
Mortlake, S.W.

Rhondda Urban Council, June 6. — Two sets of switchgear for
sub-stations. Specification, etc., from the Engineer, Electricity
Works, Forth, Glam.

Y.M.C.A., Old Colwyn, June 7. — Lighting scheme. [Particulars
from Mr. J. Evans, Architect, Mohrcroft, Old Colwyn.

Manchester Electricity Committee, June 13. — Specification
No. B.32, electrical distance indicating and recording thermometers ;
5 electrically driven fans (B.33) ; 6 electrically driven auxiliary
circulating water pumps (B.34) ; electric capstans and bollards
(B. 35). Particulars from Mr. S. L. Pearce, chief engineer and
manager, Dickinson Street, Manchester.

Salford Electricity Department, June 15. — Supply and
erection of turbo-generators (specification A.P.S.i) ; boilers, stokers,
etc. (specification A.P.S.2). Particulars from the Borough Electrical
Engineer, Electricity Station, Frederick Road, Salford.
AUSTRALIA.

The Victorian State Electricity Commissioners, September
I.* — Supply and delivery of (i) feed water heaters and vapour
condensers (specification No. 226) ; (2) feed water evaporators
(specification No. 227).

Victorian Electricity Commission, June 17. — Aluminium
steel-cored cable and accessories. Specification (No. 243) from the
Agent General for Victoria, Melbourne-place, Strand, London, W.C.2.

Wellington City Corporation, June 10. — Supply and delivery,
c.i.f., of one 25-ton overhead travelling crane (Sec. " C ") ; three
I 500 kW rotary converteis with transformers, and one 500 kW
rotary converter with transformer (Sec. " D "). Particulars from
Preece, Cardew and Rider, 8, Oueen Anne's-gate, Westminster,
S.W.I.

BULGARIA.

Bulgarian Post and Telegraph Authorities. June 15.*
Supply of : (i) I A fuses, (2) cartridge fuses for protection from
lightning, (3) 3 A fuses, (4) line annunciators, (5) carbon lightning
arresters.
ITALY.

Italian State Railways. July 31. — -The limit of the period
for the reception of tenders for the electrification of the Bologna-
Venice-Monfalcone line, fixed previously for April 30 last, has been
postponed until July 31, 1922. Offers received before April 30
will be returned in order that they may be re-presented before
July 31.

The Edison Swan Electric Co. have secured from the War
Office a contract for the supply of dry batteries.

Bideford and District Electric Supply Co. has accepted the
tender of Crompton and Co. for the erection and equipment of an
electricity generating station, &c.

Chippenham Town Council has accepted the tender of the
Electric Supply Co. for electricity for public hghting for six months
at 6Jd. per unit and £1 7s. per quarter for maintenance.

A Reuter's message states that the Government of New
Zealand has accepted further tenders aggregating £32 000 in con-
nection with hydro-electrical installations on the NN'aikato River,
Auckland Province. The acceptances comprise tenders for head
gates, turbines, generators, and exciters. All the tenders accepted
were British, including one Canadian, although in some cases
foreign tenders were the lowest.

London County Council have accepted the following tenders
for works at the new County Hall : Express Lift Company, eight
electric service lifts (extension of existing sub-contract), £^ 470 ;
Stella Conduit Company, steel conduits and accessories, £2 889 2S.,
further quantities, not exceeding £^ 000, and c.i. boxes, ;^263 14s. 6d.,
further quantities not exceeding ;^6oo ; Dorman & Smith, main
switchboard for auxiliary lighting supply, ;^8oo ; Crompton & Com-
pany, motor-booster for auxiliary Ughtiug supply, ;^850 ; P. W.
Rands, electric fittings (about 600), ;{950 ; Da-/is, Cash & Company,
ditto (about 960), £1 170 ; Best & Lloyd, ditto (about 750), 2^° '•
Dorman cS: Smith, cut-outs for permanent installation, 2^30 ;
Hooper's Telegraph & Indiarubber Works, Ltd., twin flexible
conductors, ;^i50 ; Sterling Telephone & Electric Company, about
70 division bells, /450 ; Lamson Pneumatic Tube Company,
pneumatic despatch tube in connection with electric annunciators,
^100.

May 26, 1922

The Electrician.

645

Sydney (N.S.W.) Corporation have accepted the tender of the
Electricity Meter Manufacturing Co., for 5A meters, ,^3 1 87.

Mountain Ash Urban Council have accepted the tender of W. T
Henley's Telegraph Works Co. for e.h.t. overhead and underground
transmission mains. Five tenders were received.

Melbourne (Victoria) Electricity Supply Committee have ac-
cepted the tender of British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd.,
for copper bars, /i53, and 25 tons bare h.d. copper cable, £2 267.

Glasgow Corporation have accepted the following tenders :
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., h.p. switchgear for Whitevale
sub-.station ; Electro-Mechanical Brake Co., spare resistance for
electric welding plant ; J. Spencer, Ltd., steam piping for 10 000 kW
turbo-alternator ; Stewarts and Lloyds, Ltd., tramway poles.

Hammersmith Borough Council have accepted the tender of the
Hackbridge Cable Company for 1000 yards 005 l.t. cable at
;£i63 los., 500 yards 02 l.t. cable at ;^i83 5s., and 500 yards -^ twin
cable at l^-^ los. ; also the tender of Ferranti, Ltd., for the supply
of ordinary and pre-pay ment meters for 12 months commencing
April I, 1922.

Heston and Isleworth Urban Council have been recommended
to accept the following tenders : Pirelh General Cable Works
(lowest tender), 3 500 yards 075 sq. in. single core, paper insulated,
lead covered cable, for 600 volts, £1 720, and with 15 lead sleeves
and connectors for same, £^ 6s. 3d. (Seven tenders received, highest
£1 925 and /20 for cable and sleeves respectively) ; G. Warne
(lowest tender), i 500 yards rectangular troughs and covers, 5 in. by
2| in., IS. 4^d. per yard (six tenders received, highest 4s. i^d.) ;
British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd. (lowest tender), two 4-way
link disconnecting boxes (five tenders received, highest ^82 5s.),
with frame and cover, £^^ iis. ; General Electric Co., £i?>j (one
other tender received, ;£20o), i 000 ampere feeder panel, with
circuit breakers, instruments and switches.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

CNote. — The publication of extracts from the " Registry of
County Court Judgments " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. They may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]
GREENHALGH, E., 99, Hawkshead Street, Southport, electrical

engineer. ^15 2S. 8d. March 29.
HARDACRE, Wilfred Herbert, 174, Corporation Street, Birming-
ham, electrical and mechanical engineer. £1 1 4s. 8d. March 22 .
KIRK, John William, 19, Kings College Road, N.W., electrical

engineer. £12 iis. Februarj' 14.
MAXWELL (ARTHUR), LTD., 2, Fairhazel Gardens, South.

Hamp.stead, electrical contractors, ;^i4 os. 7d. March 28.
OBORN, Thomas, iunr., 4, Crawford Place, Edgware Road,

electrical engineer, ;^io 9s. 5d. March 28.
ROBERTS. Edward Henry, 34, New Dorset Street, Brighton,

electric lamp factor. £5/^ its. 7d. March 1 7.
ROTHERAY, Leonard, 23, Hall Ings, Bradford, electrical engineer,

/35 17s. 4d. March 24.
SHAW, F., 51, High Street, Boston, electrical engineer. £20 3s. 3d.

March 24.
TRAlSnVIERE ENGINEERING CO., LTD., 599, Borough Road,

Birkenhead, electrical engineers. ;^i7 os. 9d. March 20.
WARREN, A., 66, Elm Street, Cardiff, electrical engineer, ;^36 los.

March 28.
WARNE & SONS, 19B, North End Road, W., electrical enigneers,

;^20 13s. 4d. March 20.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Winding-up Petition.

CORONA LAMP WORKS, LTD. A petition for winding-up has
been presented by the British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd.,
and is to be heard before the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand,
June 13, 1922.

Bankruptcy Information.

COUPE, George Francis, 2, Spring-gardens, Stockport, electrical
engineer. Receiving order. May 1 3 . Debtor's petition. First
meeting. May 31, at 3.30 p.m.. Official Receiver's Offices,
Byrom-street, Manchester. Public examination, June 13,
at 10.30 a.m.. Court House, Vernon-street, Stockport.

FRANCIS, William, 4, Prospect Place, Cheam, Surrey, electrical
engineer. Receiving order. May 16. Creditor's petition.
First meeting. May 30, 12.30 p.m., 29, Russell Square, W.C.i.
Public examination, June 21, 11 a.m., County Court, Scarbrook
Road, Croydon.

MAGSON, Reginald Silver, 10, Stoney Stanton-road, Coventry, as
R. S-. MAGSON AND CO., electrical engineer. First meeting.
May 31, at 3 p.m. f^Jfficial Receiver's Office, The Barracks,
Smithford-street, Coventry. Public examination, June 12,
2.45 p.m.. County Hall, Coventry.

MORGAN, Edward William, Eccles Mill, Monton-lane, Eccles,
Lancashire, electrical engineer, etc. Receiving order. May 17.
Creditor's petition.

Notice of Dividend,

MATTERS, Ernest Edward, loc. High Street, Doncaster, electrical
engineer. Amount per £, iifd. First and final. Payable,
May 24, 14, Figtree Lane, Sheffield.

Order made on Application for Discharge.

KERSHAW, Arthur, and WOOD, Charles Herbert, in partnership
as electrical engineers and merchants, 9, Bradford Road,
Dewsbury, under the style of KERSHAW <fe WOOD. Order
made April 5. Discharged subject to consenting to judgment
for ;£200 and costs of judgment.

Partnership Dissolved.

GREEN, Frederick Samuel, CAIG. John David, and CAIG, Archi-
bald, electrical engineers, 61, ' Renshaw-street, Liverpool,
under the style of CAIG BROS. AND JONES, by mutual
consent as from April 27,' 1922. Debts received and paid by
J. D., and A. Caig, who will continue the business.

WALKER, Harold Stephen, PARTRIDGE, John Alfred, and
MAYER, Frank Antony, carrying on business for the manu-
facture, sale and exchange of electrical and wireless instruments
and material, 22, Park Road. Colliers Wood, Merton, S.W. 19
under the style of THE WIRELESS EQUIPMENT COMPANY,
by mutual consent as from May 8, 1922. Debts received and
paid by H. S. Walker and J. A. Partridge.

Edinburgh Gazette.

BROWN (J. I.) AND CO., electrical engineers, 920, Pollokshaws
Road, Glasgow. In this sequestration A. P. Gilmour, 174,
West George Street, Glasgow, has been elected trustee.
Examination of the Bankrupt at 70, Hutcheson Street, Glasgow,
Wednesday, May 24, at 10 a.m. Meeting of creditors within
the chambers of Nelson, Gilmour and Co., 174, West George
Street, Glasgow, Tuesday, June 27, 1922, at 3 p.m. Particulars
of claims to the trustee by June 5.

LIVINGSTONE AND MALCOLM, electricians, 7. Canal-street.
Coatbridge. In this sequestration WilUam Gilchrist,
chartered accountant, Glasgow, has been elected trustee.
Examination of the bankrupts in the Sheriff Court House at
Airdrie, on Tuesday, May 30, at 10.15 a.m. Creditors' meeting
at the trustee's chambers, 30, George-square, Glasgow, on
Thursday, June 8, at 11 a.m

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

GIBBONS, Albert Ralph, 8, The Parade, New Eltham. Kent-
electrical engineer. The statement of affairs shows liabih,
ties of ;^587 and ^\o assets. Debtor attributes his failure
to depression in trade, depreciation of stock, losses on
contracts and unremunerative wages paid. For eight years
prior to 1 91 4 he carried on business as a electrician aid auto-
mobile engineer at Tunbridge Wells. In March, 1919, he
started business at his present address as an electrical and
automobile engineer with /90 capital. The business was
successful until about March, 1921, when there was a depression
in trade, and he was under the necessity of retaining a number
of skilled workmen for whom he had not full remunerative
employment. Since September, 192 1, the creditors had pressed
for payment, and in December, 1921, a creditor obtained
judgment for ^145. The only books of account kept were a
creators' ledger and cash book. At the first meeting of
creditors the matter was left in the hands cf the Ofiftcial Receiver,
as trustee of the estate.

MAGSON, Reginald Silver, trading as R. S. MAGSON AND CO.,
10, Stoney Stanton-road, Coventry, electrical engineer. jThe
receiving order in this matter was made in May 11 on debtor's,
own petition. The statement of affairs shows habiUties of ;£496,
while the assets are estimated to realise /2S3, or a deficiency
of /213. Debtor attributes his failure to illness of self and
family. He commenced business in March, 1912, at his present
address as an electrical engineer, his capital consisting of /20
cash saved. Shortly afterwards he borrowed £.^o as additional
capital, which had since been repaid. He became aware of
his position about four months ago.

RIDGWAY, Fred, and TYNAN, Thomas, trading as RIDGWAY
AND 'TYNAN. 21, Bowling Old-lane, Bradford, electrical
engineers. Statement of affairs shows gross liabihties of
/439, of which £432 is expected to rank for dividend, against
net assets of ;^79, or a deficiency of £353. At the first meeting
of creditors the matter was left in the hands of the Official
Receiver as trustee.

646

Ihe Electrician.

May 26, 1922

Ltd. (Westinghouse
Electrical systems of

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The following abstract from some of the specificalions recently published have bee**
specially compiled by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent Agents,
70 and 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

Complete Specifications.
171 717 Radio Communication Co., Ltd., and Taggart, J. Scott-. Apparatus for

detecting or translating electrical impulses. (20/5/20).
171 716 Ledwinka, J. Jigs for use in electrically welding the parts of automobile

bodies. (20/5/20).
145 469 SlEMENs-ScHUCKERTWERKE Ges. Electric driving of shfp propellers.

(1/8/16).
147785 Apple, V. G. D>'namo-electric machines. (23/4/17).
149 217 Huth Ges., Dr. E. F., and Loewe, Dr. S. Process and connection for

obtaining a strengthening of wireless messages. (1116/17).

149 664 Ebner, a. .-Xutomatic stopping device for talking-machines of all kinds

worked by electric motor. (12/7/20). (Convention date not granted).
171 412 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Synchronous motors for mechanical

loads. (21/7/19).
171 743 Vesme, E. Apparatus for the production by electrolysis of gas under

pressure. (26 7/20).
171 752 British Thomson-Houston Company, Ltd., Clinker, R. C, and Carter,

F. W. Frequency filters. (16/8/20).
171 756 Prentice. H. B. Electric switches. (17 8/20).

150 323. Akt.-Ges. Brown, Boverie et Cie. Regulating resistances composed

of contact-pressure elements with spring-pressing mechanism. (26/8/19).
171 782 Young, A. Machine for the generation of electric currents also applicable

as a motor. (23/8/20). (Addition to 171 782).
171 795 Metropolitan -Vickers Electrical Company,
Electric and Manufacturing Company).
automatic substations. (26/8/20).
171 796 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, Ltd. (Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing Company). Automatic electrical sub-
station systems. (26/8/20).
163 021 Wilson Welder and Metals Company Inc. Electric rheostats. (7/5/20).
171 808 Igranic Electric Company, Ltd. (Cutler Hammer Manufacturing

Company). Electric motor controllers. (3/9/20).
171 809 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, Ltd. (Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing Company). Polarized relay for use in
controlling rotary converters. (3/9/20).
171 823 CouLSON, W. T.. AND OpTALYTE, LTD. Charging-boards for electrical

batteries. (14/9/20).
171 829 Sphinx Manufacturing Company, Ltd., and Clark, W. A. Terminal

protectors for sparking-plugs. (17/9/20).
171 836 British Thomson-Houston Company, Ltd. (General Electric Company).

Electric transformers and the like. (20/9/20).
171 846 Waygood Otis, Ltd. (Otis Elevator Company). Motor control systems

for electric lifts and the like. (23/9/20).
171 850 Lofts, G. H. Electric irons that are fitted with a power's-on indicator.

(28/9/20).
171 857 British Thomson-Houston Company, Ltd. (General Electric Company).

Operating-mechanism for searchlights, guns, and the like. (5/10/20).
171 859 Thompson, H. H., and Davies, A. E. Magnetic separators. (8/10/20).
152 361 Akt.-Ges. Brown, Boveri, et Cie. Process and apparatus for regulating
the direct-current voltage in metal vapour rectifier installations.
(14/10/19).
171 870 British Electric Plant Company, Ltd., and Whitesmith, L N. Brush-
holder for dynamo-electric machinery. (16/10/20).
171 878 Oldham, C, Oldham, G., and Oldham, J. Electric switches (21/10/20).

(Cognate application, 19 097/21).
167 445 Pedersen, p. O. Arc generators for producing oscillating current of high

frequency. (5/8/20).
165 433 Bergman, S. R. Electric reactors. (24/6/20).
171 900 Tessmann, H. F., and Horn, R. C. Insulation of electric overhead lines.

(23/11/20).
171 904 British Thomson-Houston Company, Ltd. (General Electric Company).

Electric motor control systems. (29/11/20).
171 906 Woodburn, R. F. Electric resistance welding. (1/12/20).
155 579 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, Ltd. Electrolytes for use

in electrolytic cells. (9/12/19).
171 911 British Thomson-Houston Company, Ltd. (General Electric Company).

Regulating-systems for electric circuits. (8/12/20).
155833 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company, Ltd. Telephone
systems. (27/12/19). (Patent of Addition not granted).

157 104 Behn (nee Eplinius), H. Electric resistances. (3/1/16).
171 921 Cattley, L de M. Accumulator plates. (10/1/21).

159 887 LiEBREiCH, E. Process of electrolytically separating chromium. (8/3/20).

158 222 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company, Ltd. Automatic

telephone systems. (28/1/20).

12885
12886
12 890
12 910
12914
12 927
12939
12 945
12 949

12 959

13 970

18 971

12974
12975

12977
12 983

12 985

13007
13047

13 048
13049
13059
13 067
13079

13080

13081

13083

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS.

May 8, 1922.
.\. E. W. Maseyk. Electrically controlled gear-box.
K. A. Homer. Electric welding of cast iron.

F. Wilde. Generators, motors, &c.
J. H. Wild. Electric motors.

M. Guthrie. Electric lamp reflectors.

M. W. W. Mackie. Plug and socket connections for electric circuits.

M. W. W. Mackie. Dynamos and motors.

Evershei) & Vicnoles & J. C. Needham. Telegraph apparatus.

B. T.-H. Co. (G.E. Co.). Sound reproducing machines.

C. A. W. HuLTMAM. Setting arrangements for selectors in automatic
telephone systems, &c. (28'5/2i Sweden.)

Felten & Guii.LEAUME Carlswerk Akt. Ges. Pupinizing high frequency

telephone lines. (7/5/21 Germany.)
Akt. Ges. Brown, 13overi et Cie. Multiple contir.l apparatus for electric

railways. (1/4/22 Switzerland.)
J. Houston. Locking device for electric lamps.
Deutsche Glimmlampen-Ges. & J. M. Schmierer. Glow lamps. (9'5/2i

Germany).
M. A. Persson. Electric contact plug.

English Elec. Co. & W. O. Manning. Trollies for transport of seaplanes, &c.
A.Wkhnelt. Oxide cathodes for discharge tubes. (6/5/21 Germany).

May 9, 1922.
T. F. Wall. Electric condensers, &c.
N. F. S. Hecht. Wireless s^'s terns.
N. F. S. Hecht. Thermionic valve circuits.
R. T. Smith. Regulating wind-driven electric generators on aircraft.

G. H. Armstrong. Electric switches.

D. W. Dant. Electric fittings.

Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co.. R. Brooks & B. A. G. Churcher.

Controllers for electrical apparatus^
Metropolitan-Vickers Electric\l Co., R. Brooks & R G. Cunliffe

Contidlers for electric traction, &c.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. & A. Priestly. Controllers for

electrical apparatus.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., R. Brooks & W. T. Gray.

Controllers for electric traction, &c.

13 084 Naamlooze Vennootschap Philips Glozilampen-fabr. & D. Lely. Leading

in conductors for vitreous material.
13085 Naamlooze Vennootschap Philips Gloeilampenfabr. & J. C. Lokker

& E. OosTERHUis. Leading in conductors for vitreous material.
13095 J. H. Compton. Electrically operated organs.

May 10, 1922.
13117 R. Greaves. Magnetic separators.

13 127 A. p. Clark & P. O. Knowles. Electric switch boxes, &c.
13 168 H. S. Potter, & M.L. Magneto Synd. Electric lamps for mines, &c.
13 169 Callender's Cable Co. & S. E. R. Beecroft. Electric cables.
13 187 H. Booth. Wireless telegraphy and telephony.
13215 B. T.-H. Co. Electric relays. (5/7/21 U.S.)
13 218 Western Electric Co. Loaded signalling conductors.
13 229 P. Fogartv. Magneto control devices.

May 11, 1922.
13254 A. Mavere. .\rc lamps. (12/5/21) France.)
13 267 O. T. Baker. E.vterior adjustable brush rocker for dynamos, &c.
13 278 A. E. Jones & S. Robison. Telephone, &c., call register.
13 298 F. CoNTELF. Current converting machinery.
13 307 P. H. Taylor. Magnetos.
13 310 A. H. Railing, A. E. .\ngold, H. C. Turner & P. H. Coales. Tripping

gear for automatic circuit breakers.
13 316 F. CicoGNA & E. Mariani. Press button switches for electric circuits.
13 322 British Electric Transformer Co. & J. Roothaan. Transformers.
13 330 F. .\iNSLEY & W. Platt. Overhead electric tramway systems.
13 341 F. Cr.^wford. Electric vehicles.

13 342 Western Electric Co. Loaded signalling conductors.
13 343 Naamlooze \'ennootschap Philips' Gloeilampenfabr. Electric discharge

tubes. (14 6 21 Holland).

May 12, 1922.

12 910 H. F. Basset. Electric motors.

13 382 E. Y. Robinson. Generation of alternating currents by thermionic devices.
13 384 R. W. Strawson. Electrode holder for electric welding.

13 394 J- Dugdill. Movable supports for electric lamps, &c.

13 412 C. R. J.\RMAN. E.^ploding air bombs by electricity.

13 422 A. P. Strohmenger. Welding electrodes.

13 442 B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Circuit controllers.

13 445 A. Rothschild. Wireless induction coil holders.

13 447 A. P. Ford. Portable accumulator cells.

13450 P. Arnouil. Convertible and multiple electric junction plugs. (12 '5 '21

France).
13 454 Western Electric Co. Electron discharge devices.
13 460 O. & S. OiLLESs Bearing Co. & R. B. VViggins. Checking apparatus for

telephone calls.
13465 Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Pressure appljing means. (20 9/21 Germany.)
13 471 Etab. de Dion-Bouton, Soc. Anon. Regulation devices for electric

installations. (27/6,21 France).

May 13, 1922.
13 506 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. & C. Gillings. Telephone

systems.
13 509 Vereinigte Metall. & Stanzwerke. Vapour lamps.
13 525 J- Dugdill. Movable supports for electric lamps, &c.
13 547 L. G. .\. D. C. Gaunt. Electrical control of hydraulic machinery, &c.
13 551 W. P. Granville & W. S. Smith. Cables for submarine telegraphs and

telephones.
13 552 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Wired wireless telephone systems.

(14 5/21 Germany.)

Prices of Metals.

Chemicals, etc.

TuESD.w, May 23.

Price.

Inc.

Dec.

Copper —

Best Selected . . per ton

£(^5 15 0

£^ 5s.

—

Electro Wirebars . .

£70 0 °

£^

—

H.C. Wire, basis . . per lb.

OS. lo-^d.

Id.

—

Sheet

OS. 9^d.

id.

—

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone)-

—

Phosphor Bronze Wire,

basis . . per lb.

IS. 2^d.

id.

—

Brass 60/40 — ■

Rod, basis

7d.

—

Sheet, basis

8Jd.

—

Wire, basis

9id.

—

— ■

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants per ton

;^4 15 0

—

Galvanised steel

wire, basis S S.W.G. ,,

;^iS 0 0

—

Lead Pig —

English

;£26 0 0

15s. od.

—

Foreign or Colonial

£^4 17 6

17s. 6d.

—

Tin —

Ingot

;^I50 12 6

£1 2S. 6d.

—

Wire, basis . . per lb.

2S. ojd.

id.

—

Aluminium Ingots . . per ton

^100 0 0

—

Spelter ,

£27 5 0

.5S.

—

Mercury .. .. per bottle ;£ 12 10 0

£1 lOS.

—

Sulphur (Flowers) — Ton ;£io 15s.

Sodium Chlorate — Per lb.

3id.

(Roll-Brimstone) — per ton Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°)
£10 15s. per ton, £9.

Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5 Jd. Copper Sulphate. — Per ton
Boric Acid (Crystals). Per ton ;^6o. ;^26 los.

Rubber. — Para fine-, lojd.; plantation ist latex, jjd.

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby
Cables, Ltd.

T/te Editorial, Advertiscuieut and Publishing Offices of " The
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4. Tele-
gratns : Bcnbrotric, Fleet, London. Telephone : City 9852 (5 lines).

The subscription to " The Electrician " ic £1 5 o per annum
in the United Kingdom and £1 10 o per annum Abroad. Advertise-
ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
tisement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Indus^try, Science and Finance,

No. 2298. [vo..^°x)IIViii.]

FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1922.

Hrfrpaid Subscription U.K., {,1 5s. Prir/=> f\A
perann. ; AUoad, jfl 10s. ^ ^ "-^ -'*-'•

Notes of the Week

National Electric Traction . .

T IE Electricity (Supply) Bill

Iistitttion Business

Tlie International Railway Congress at Rome, ^y Roger

T.- Smith
Sjme Reflections on the Lead Hydrate Accumulator. By

W. R. Cooper, M.A., B.Sc

Correspondence

Exponentials Made Easy . .

Institution of Electrical Engineers : Annual Meeting . .

The FuUagar Oil Engine . .

The Posterlite

A Large h.t. Oil Circuit Breaker . .

Retirement of Sir William Noble

Barton Power Station . . . . . . . . . .

The Institute of Physics . .

CONTENTS

647

649
650

651
652

654
657

657
658
660
661
661
662
662
662

Railway Companies' Electric Power

Opening up Europe. By Sir Ernest J. P. Benn

Tae Palestine Water Power Concession.

Brighton's Electricity

Efficiency Exhibition at Birmingham

Wireless Developments at Trafford Park

Legal Intelligence . .

Parliamentary Intelligence

Electricity Supply . .

Business Items, etc.

Personal and Appointments

Wireless and Telegraph Notes

Foreign Notes

Companies' Meetings, etc.

Commercial Information . .

New Companies Registered

Patent Record

Metal Prices, otr. . .

6'',3
664
664
665
665
665
666
667
668
669
669
669
670
672
674

675
676

676

Notes of the Week.

Wireless and the Wreck of the "Egypt,"

At a time when " broadcasting " is shortly to be started
in this country, and when pressure is being brought to bear
on the authorities to allow further facilities for trans-
mission, both by amateurs and others, the letter from Mr.
Thomas Hesketh, managing engineer of the Folkestone
Electricity Supply Co., which was published in last Friday's
" Times," should be carefully studied. Mr. Hesketh is
himself a wireless amateur. On the night when the
unfortunate wreck of the " Egypt " occurred he heard two
or three separate S.O.S. calls west of the Isle of Wight.
Then the jambing of normal traffic prevented further
distress calls being heard, until the Niton station in the
Isle of Wight and a French station, probably Ushant,
began to call on the other stations to keep silence, as they
were hstening for S.O.S. calls.

An Appeal Disregarded.

According to Mr. Hesketh this appeal was disregarded,
at any rate for a time, and " one home station and several
foreign stations continued commercial working, rendering
the selective reception of this otherwise clearly receivable
message almost impossible." Even after the North
Foreland station had subsequently called for silence com-
mercial working still continued, and Mr. Hesketh estimates
that from 35 to 45 minutes were lost at a time when every
second was of importance. In commenting on Mr.
Hesketh's letter Mr. Godfrey Isa.\cs points out that the
" Egypt's " signals and the calls from Ushant were picked
up without difficulty by a number of vessels, and that as all
commercial wireless operations between ship and coast
stations in the Channel are worked on a wave length of
600 m. every S.O.S. signal would be heard in the Channel

and answered promptly not only by Government stations,
but also by ships within range.

Some Change in the Present System Necessary.

Taken together these two communications form a
powerful argument for some change in the present system.
Wireless telegraphy, as has been shown again and again,
is one of the most efficient methods of saving life at sea, and
anything that detracts from that efficiency should be
drastically forbidden. ]\lr. Hesketh suggests that the
land lines should be used for giving publicity to the fact
that an S.O.S. eall ha> been heard, but Mr. Isaacs points
out, quite rightly, that in this particular case that would
have been of no avail. A better method seems to us to be
to allocate a special wave length for S.O.S. working and for
all powerful land stations to be equipped with special
apparatus for picking up this call. The Marconi Company
already have in use an automatic alarm, and its employment
might well be extended. Ships' stations might be required
to listen in on that wa\e length from time to time, and
transmission on it, except in cases of real emergency,
should be forbidden. The fact that ; uch signals are now
sent out on the ordinary commercial wave length is a con-
demnation of the present system, while the whole episode
is an argument against further extending facilities fo.-
transmission.

An Industrial Entente.

At the present time engineers will be the first to agree
that any proposal for bringing about industrial harmon\-
is wor-thv of the most careful examination. What is
wanted is not only a" mere settlement of the present
dispute but some tool which shall strike down to the very
basis of the relations between employers and employed and
disco\'er a bedrock upon which a finn superstructure can
be built. Only in this way can our trade de\-elop and our
commercial property be ensured. How can this bedrock

648

The Electrician.

June^2, 1922

be found ? We think that a letter published in last
Friday's " Times " and signed on behalf of the Industrial
League and Council shows one of the most certain ways.
The only hope of industrial peace, the signatories say, is
an effective entente between employers and employed
founded on a mutual recognition of the essentials of each
other's position. That recognition, unfortunately, has been
too often lacking in the past. They propose to make it
more clear that a group of employers and a group of trade
unionists should meet in more or less continuous session to
formulate a policy of agreement in its general bearings, and
especially to secure " team working and the requisite level
of technical and productive efficiency."

The Matter in Figures.

Passing from the general to the concrete, we note that
in the same issue of " The Times " Sir Charles Macara
recommends that work should be resumed until the
differences in the engineering dispute can be settled. This
may be a hard saying for some on both sides, but it is
axiomatic, as he adds, that " the position of our trade is
such that we cannot tolerate these prolonged stoppages."
Mr- G. S. Francis, honorary secretary of the National
Confederation of Foremen, Managers and Supervisory
Associations, puts the matter into the figures, which
engineers are supposed to understand better than anyone
else. In 1919- we lost 34 000 000 working days through
strikes and trade disputes, in 1920 over 27 000 000, in 1921
nearly 90 000 000, and already, in the first five months of
1922, we have lost 30 000 000. What need, then, we may
ask, have we of any further witnesses ? The Industrial
League and Council suggestion should be adopted with the
least possible delay. And at any conference that is called,
and running through any suggestion that is adopted for the
alleviation of this trouble must go the recognition that it
is human difficulties that have to be solved and human
failings and weaknesses that have to be dealt with.

The Ruteaberg Concession.

Considerable stir has been caused, especially in Par-
liamentary circles, by the granting of a concession to
supply electricity in Palestine to a Russian, one Pinhas
Rutenberg. This concession amounts to an almost com-
plete monopoly, the sort of thing every capitalist dreams of
and seldom achieves. If the details given by Sir W.
JOYNSON Hicks in a letter pablishcd in Monday's " Times "
are to be believed, M. Rutenberg is to be allowed two
years to raise £200 000 and, if he succeeds, he will then be
given a monopoly to use the waters of the Jordan for a term
of seventy 3'ears, subject only to the proviso that existing
users may continue to use such water, but no more, as they
do at present. Expropriation of land and buildings is
allowed, and no one else may supply electricity or do any
work to that end. Finally, as a sort of make- weight,
valid pre-existing concessions may be annulled in favour
of the Rutenberg Company.

Why were British Firms Excluded ?

This, it will be agreed, is a little strong. The whole of a
most important development in a country which the
British taxpayer has to maintain is to be handed over to a
foreigner. Now we arc not bigoted in this matter of giving
of contracts to foreign firms. Indeed, we have often
pointed out that British firms have themselves to blame
when work goes abroad after tenders have been fairly
invited. But in this case we believe no public tenders were

invited. The concession was simply granted without any
British firms being permitted to compete, and this at a
time when our industry is starving for want of foreign
trade. It is a matter which deserves, and, we hope, will
receive, the fullest investigation.

Tramway Passengers Rights.

An important decision ori the rights and duties of
tramway undertakings and on the hability of employers for
the acts of their servants was given by the House of Lords
on Friday, and should be carefuUy studied by those who
are engaged in the operation of transport services. The
circumstances out of which the action arose were trivial,
but an important principle has been \'indicated. A
passenger on a Glasgow Corporation tramcar tendered an
indented penny in payment of his fare, but the conductor
refiised to accept it and demanded another coin. As the
passenger refused to comply with this request an inspector
was caUed and then a policeman was summoned, the result
being that the passenger, in spite of having given his name
and address, was taken to the police station and there
charged with not pajdng his fare and with tendering a
defaced coin. After ten minutes' detention he was allowed
to go, on giving an undertaking to appear in court next day
At the police office on the following day the passenger was
informed that the charge against him was foolish.

The Issue to be Tried.

Thereupon he commenced an action for false imprison-
ment against the Corporation, whose by-laws allow their
servants to detain and give into custody a person evading
payment of his fare, if his name and address are unknown.
The Lord Ordinarj' allowed the case to go to trial, but on
appeal the First Division of the Court of Session reversed
this on the ground that the Corporation had not given
authority for the arrest under the circumstances. On
appeal the House of Lords have now unanimously reversed
this decision and restored the judgment of the Lord
Ordinary, holding that the tramway employees were
acting within the scope of their agency and that the
passenger was entitled to have the issues of facts tried. As
the action has yet to be tried we refrain from comment,
except to say that it is equitable to presume that uniformed
officials are prima lacie acting in the course of their employ-
ment and in pursuance of authority conferred on them.

The S.E. Lancashire Electricity District.

The scheme for the South-East Lancashire Electricity
District, recently approved by the Electricity Commissioners,
has now been embodied in a draft Order and will form the
subject of a further inquiry at Manchester on the 20th inst.
The Order purports to constitute the electricitj' district and
to establish the South-East Lancashire Electricity .\d\asory
Board as set out in the schedule to the Order, which will
come into force as soon as it has been approved by a
resolution passed by each House of Parliament. Par-
ticulars of the area of the District and of the technical
scheme have ahead}' appeared in The Electrician, and
as these have undergone but slight modification, the only
points of interest are the constitution, powers and duties
of the Advisory Board.

Powers and Duties of Advisory Board.

This Board is to consist of 50 members, of whom 42 are
to be appointed by the authorised undertakers in the
District (35 by local authorities and 7 by companies) ; four
will be jointly elected by those local authorities who are not

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

649

undertakers but in respect of whose area there is a
Provisional Order or Special Act, two by the remaining
local authorities, and two by railway companies in the
District. A Board of 50 would appear to be too big and
unwieldy to be v'ery effective in action, but its limited powers
and duties will probably be performed by the Engineering
Advisory Committee, which is to be appointed by the Board
soon after the final approval of the scheme. The Board are
to take all steps " within their power " to secure the
carrying into effect of the technical scheme ; they are
bound to submit to the Commissioners within two years
proposals for the extension of electricity supply in districts
outside the areas of authorised distributors where there is a
reasonable prospect of such supply being remunerative ;
and the Board may make investigations and recommenda-
tions to its " constituent authorities " and to the Com-
missioners upon any matter connected with the improve-
ment and development of supply in any part of the District.
Each " constituent authority " is required to submit plans
and estimates of extensions of plant and main transmission
Unes to the Board, who will then investigate the matter
and make a recommendation thereon.

Delegation of Powers.

The Board also have the right to enter and inspect
generating stations and main transmission lines, to make
recommendations as to running hours and charges for
supplies and to require statistics of supply from constituent
members. As the Board ma}^ delegate any of their duties
to a committee it will be found in practice that all real
authority will be exercised by the Engineering Advisory
Committee. We believe this would be a good thing, for it
would ensure efficiency and progress, which cannot be
expected from a Board of 50 without technical or scientific
training. Each undertaking which sells more than five per
cent, of the total units sold by all the authorised undertakers
in the District can nominate one member of the Engineers'
Committee ; those selling more than three and less than
five per cent., two members jointly ; those selling more
than one and a half and less than three per cent, will have
one, and those selling less than one and a half per cent,
will also have one member. There is power to co-opt an
electrical engineer of one of the railway companies, and in
the not unlikely event of railway electrification in the
District he would prove useful.

National Electric Traction.

In an article which we publish on another page of this
issue Mr. Roger T. Smith gives his impressions of the dis-
cussions at the electric traction meetings during the recent
International Railway Congress in Rome. We are glad to
find that he agrees with the opinion that we expressed a
week or two ago, that the greatest good of these gatherings
comes not from the formal meetings and discussions, but
from the informal interchange of ideas and experiences by
" men engaged in the sale of transport in other countries
where conditions are quite different from our own." We
especially commend the phrase " sale of transport " to the
attention of our readers. For to sell transport economically
and profitably must be the aim of every railway company
in this country, and the discovery of ways and means by
which electric traction can do this is the rt;al problem at
the present time. It is a problem, therefore, which includes

many other things beyond the mere choice of system, and
upon .some of these, as a result of his visit to Rome, Mr.
Roger Smith, throws a useful light.

Methods of Generation and Syitem.

A particularly interesting point is the influence of the
methods of generation on the choice of system adopted.
Mr. S.iiTH puts forward the suggestion that the single phase
system has been adopted in countries where water power is
abundant because the employment of that form of power
makes it possible to use different plant for the generation of
low frequency traction energy and the generation of high
frequency energy for industrial and domestic purposes.
That choice of frequency is indeed one of the most vital
problems with which the railway electrical engineer has to
deal, and it is interesting to note in passing that in Switzer-
land the frequency is being raised from 15 to 16 § and that a
definite distinction between the generation of the two forms
of energy is being made.

The Limitations of Steam Generation.

Unfortunately such a separation of supplier is im-
possible in this country. For, as Mr. Roger Smith points
out, as it is more economical for us to use large steam
turbo alternators and to generate at a high frequency, it
almost foUows as a corollary that we must use direct
current traction in order that the same plant shall be
employable for all electrical purposes. In other words,
definite sets cannot be allocated to the traction and the
industrial loads respectively, as is possible where water
power is available. Though we do not suppose for a moment
that this argument is incontrovertible by single-phase
enthusiasts, it is one of the soundest reasons for the findings
of the recent Advisory Committee on Electric Traction
that we have yet seen advanced.

Direct Current on the Continent. -

It is for this reason, and for the reason that transmission
limitations, make it advisable that all generating stations
should be " combined " stations, that has led Holland and
Belgium to adopt direct current ; and the same may be said
for France, though this has not been the only factor in
their choice. Unfortunately, the policy of most British
railway companies that are considering the adoption of
electric traction at the present time is in favour of a separate
traction station. Arguments to support this pohcy may be
found in dense traffic areas such as the London suburbs,
but nothing can be said in favour of separate traction sta-
tions elsewhere. To obtain true economy there must be
combined stations, and we hope therefore that for the
general good individualism on this matter will gi\-e way to
co-operation.

Some Important Technical Questions.

A word or two must also be said about the technical
questions raised at the conference. As regards locomotive
tjTpes, Mr. GiBBS objected to motors geared direct to the
axles except for slow speeds, and thought that even though
the quill drive was better it was not altogether satisfactory
for heavy service. He preferred gearless motors, with the
rod drive, especially on the counts of liexibihty and
weight distribution. This point does not seem to have been
very much considered, though we believe that in this
country and on the Continent opinion is rather against
Mr. GiBBS.

The Overhead Equipment.

More information was available on the design and con-
struction of the overhead equipment. We were glad to see

6so

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

Mr. Savers insisting on the need for flexibility and the
ehmination of hard spots by increasing the number of points
of suspension. Signer Don ati (an Itahan engineer) , who also
insisted on the need for flexibility, was able to put forward
an excellent argument in favour of simplicity by saying
that only 80 minutes per month as compared with the
2 080 minutes due to other reasons were caused by the
failure of the overhead equipment on the Italian State
Railway. But even this might be reduced. The elimina-
tion of hard spots, as pointed out by Sir Philip Dawson
and the American and Swedish delegates, also has an
important influence on the ease of current collection and
trolley wire wear. No similar information on the effect
on the wear of the contact rail of the method of mounting
and fixing seems to have been given. Faulty insulators
are not the least important of the troubles that arise in
both cases.

Inductive Interference.

A good deal of information on the subject of inductive
interference and its prevention was put forward. In
Switzerland considerable alterations in the telegraph and
telephone lines have been necessary, and in many cases they
have been put underground. On the other hand, in France
it was stated that it had been found quite possible to suppress
all inductive interference without moving the lines, though
the cost of the necessary apparatus was considerable. In
Italy the heroic course has been taken of removing the tele-
phone lines altogether. There was some difference of opinion
as to the effect of direct current traction on telephone and
telegraph lines, and this is generally a subject to which
railway engineers in this country will have to give close
attention. The final conclusion reached at Rome was that
while it is technically possible to neutralise inductive effects
it is not always financially sound to do so.

It is hardly to be expected that agreement would be
reached on all the points discussed. Indeed, in the present
state of our knowledge, it is not desirable that there should
be agreement. But one thing appears perfectly clear. In its
broadest aspect elec'ric traction is rather a national than
an international problem, and it is essential therefore that
in every way our policy, design and equipment should hi
as thoroughly British as are the difliculties that have to be
solved.

The Electricity (Supply)
Bill.

The threatened challenge to the Second Reading of the
Electricity (Supply) Bill made by Mr. George Balfour was
met by a promi.'^e of further concessions in Committee ; a
division v/as thus obviated, but the progiess of the measure
was delayed by nine da5's, and this may have an important
effect on its ultimate fate. On the whole the debate was
of very poor quality. Mo.st of the speeches dealt M'ith the
history of the 1919 Act or with points which were more
appropriate to the Committee stage. The efforts of Mr.
Balfour and Mr. Marriott were frankly directed to the
advocacy of private enterprise and to the creation of a
bogey to frighten the House about an t xtt nsion gf municipal
trading. We must, however, recognise facts, and so must
they. It is impossible to ignore the strongly entrenched
position of municipal electiicity supply, and therefore the
provisions of the Bill are essential if any progress is to be
made, as it must be made.

Fantastic Figures.

Some fantastic figures of the expenditure of joint
electricity authorities were given by Mr. Marriott, who, on
the authority of an anonymous financial critic, put the
total amount to be borrowed at /no 000 000. His methods
of calculation are so ingenious, not to say ingenuous, that
they deserve to be put on record. The Electricity Com-
missioners having provisionally determined sixteen elec-
tricity districts, he assuiues there will be more to follow,
and so he takes 25 as the probable ultimate number. Then,
as the authorised capital expenditure of all the electricity
undertakings in the country at the end of 19 18 was over
£4f^ 000 000, he assumes this figure to have risen to
£60 000 000 by now. He puts this forward as the sum
which will have to be borrowed by the Joint Electricity
Authorities at the outset, and as each authority is allowed
£2 000 000 for a new capital station and transmission lines,
he makes the total ;^iio 000 000 ! We believe that
history has hitherto been Mr. Marriott's /or/^', but, as he
has evidently a vivid imagination, he should do much
better in fiction.

Calculated to Scare. >

No doubt the sum mentioned by Mr. Marriott has been
well calculated to scare timid ratepayers, who have been
blistered by high rates and are alarmed at Poplar methods
of finance. On analysis it will be seen, however, that there
is no foundation for the figures. In the first place, he has
no right to assume that Joint Authorities will be established
in all electricity districts ; probably we should not be far
out if we put the total number at 10 or 12. In the next
place, he has taken the gross capital authorised to be
borrowed by the w'hole of the municipal authorities of the
United Kingdom, whether in electricity districts or not.
Now, a considerable proportion of the borrowed money has
already been repaid by sinking funds or other means, and
a further large sum must have been expended on the dis-
tributing networks of the undertakers and on plant and
apparatus which will not be acquired by the Joint
Authorities. When all proper adjustments of accounts are
made we should be surprised if the total came to 50 per
cent, of Mr. Marriott's figure, and of that the London
District will account for a large proportion. Further,
whatever sums will have to be paid b\' Joint Authorities for
the acquired generating plant and transmission lines vdW
be paid to local authorities, who will then repaj^ their
existing loans, and so the total municipal debt of the
country will not be increased by the transaction.

The Control of Joint Authorities.

There was also a great deal of unnecessary talk about
the financial control of Joint Authorities and of the need of
further safeguards. It must be remembered that the
Electricity Commissioners only grant borrowing powers for
sound schemes and that the periods allowed for the repay-
ment of loans are well within the economic life of the plant ,
mains and other apparatus for which the money is borrowed.
Further, the Joint Authorities must furnish annual accounts
to the Commissioners, who have also the right to appoint
auditors. \\'e think, however, that the power to suspend
the sinking fund for five or six years and to pay interest
out of capital on unremunerative undertakings is one
which should be sparingly used, and should only be
authorised in exceptional circumstances and for strictly
limited periods. We hope that this uneoifjang spectacle
will soon be closed as the result of the passing of the Bill.

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

651

But as the session is already well advanced no time should
be lost in bringing this about.

Conflicting Wisdoms.

During the recent debate on the Second Reading of the
Electricity Supply Bill in the House of Commons, Sir Philip
Dawson, following Mr. George Balfour's lead, wished
to substitute the " wisdom " of the House for the " wisdom "
of the Electricity Commissioners. In doing so Sir Philip
Dawson, referring to the Commissioners, naively asked,
" Are they absolutely certain never to make a mistake ? "
fearing apparently that there was some little danger that
they might " look at the picture a little too much from the
rosy side." Now anyone who has followed the cogitations
of the House on electricity supply legislation will not have
anything like absolute confidence in the wisdom of the
House. We can hardly imagine, for instance, anyone
seriously claiming that the " wisdom " displayed by the
House is greater than the " wisdom " displayed by the
Commissioners, and when individual lay-members of the
House dissertate on electrical questions wisdom of any
sort is generally conspicuous by its absence. We notice,
for instance, that a recent issue of the " Financial limes "
contained an article by Mr. F. A. Macquisten, M.P., on
the Electrification of Raihva\'s in which he claims that
" concurrently with electrification of the railway systems
each railway company should be empowered to sell current
for heating, light and power to the whole district wherein
it operates," and cheerfully concludes by saying, " Let u'.
therefore defeat the Electricity Bill, which will exclude the
railways from what is their own by nature and circum-
stance." Now IMr. Macquisten is a solicitor, and, we
presume, fully acquainted with the whole system of electric
lighting legislation, but here, at a single blow, he proposes
to demolish the legislation of 40 years. Personally we
should prefer the " wisdom " of the least of the Commis-
sioners or of the least of the Commissioners' assistants to
this sort of stuff.

lastitution Business.

The annual general meeting of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers, which was held on Thursday of last
week, did not— attract members' attention more than is
usually the case. There was but a small attendance
and the interest in the whole proceedings was decidedly
languid. Of course Mr. F. W. Purse had something to
say about the annual accounts and to make his plea (it is
becoming his annual plea) for the reduction of the sub-
scriptions, but apart from that everyone seemed satisfied
and the proceedings were soon over. They would have been
over sooner but for the fact that the commemoration
1 umber of the " Journal " had delayed the printing of the
Report. This, therefore, had to be read in abstract, but
may well be studied at leisure.

1 he Annual Report.

The most interesting paragraph in the Annual Report,
with which we deal elsewhere in this issue, is that relating to
the organisation of a National Electrical Convention. That
such a Convention should be held regularly is a suggestion
that has often been put forward in these columns. It has
also received much unofficial support from the leaders of the
profession and was officially commended by Major H.
Richardson in his Presidential Address to the Incorporated

Municipal Electrical Association last year. It will also be
generally agreed that the Institution, with its 10 000
memb rs, is the proper body to make the first move in the
organisation of such a gathering, which can only be pro-
ductive of good. If the Institution leads others will follow.
But we hope our proposal that the actual work of organising
this function should be placed in the hands of a representa-
tive ad Iioc committee will be adopted. The appeal of this
conference should be of the widest ; it should be popular
and it should be well advertised. This is a special task
which mil require special treatment.

The British Empire Exhibi4ion.

Fortunately, to work on these Unes will be made easier
by the decision to .synchronise the holding of the conference
v/ith the postponem nt of the date of the British Empire
Exhibition to 1924. This will give time for consideration
and will have the added advantage that an international
flavour can be given to the proceedings. Mr. Dunlop has
done a good deal of spade work in organising the electrical
section of the exhibition and full advantage should be taken
of his work and efforts to make this larger idea a success.

Otherwise there is not much of note in the report. This
is not due to any relaxation on the part of the Council
but is rather due to the way in which decisions and policies
are announced as they fructify. The report tends more and
more to become a record and less and less an out-of-date
newspaper.

The Informal Meetings.

We are glad to see that a word of commendation is given
to those responsible for the informal meetings. These can
be, and are, of the xddest use to all classes of members
and their usefulness is likely to increase. The depressed state
of the industr}^ is indicated by the increase in the niunber of
members on the unemployed register from 51 to 120. We
^ hope that all those who can will take the most decdded steps
to reduce these numbers. That highly trained men should
at the present time be out of employment proves clearly
that something is wrong with the machine.

The Electrical Proving House,

Another development that is, we suppose, delayed imtil
better times shall da\ra is the establishment of the electrical
proving house. We hope that something will be done about
this before long. It is as essential as standardisation,
whose claims are now recognised, for the well-being of the
electrical industry.

Electrical Engineering Training.

It is interesting to find that the claims of the Institution
to have a \-oice in the organisation of engineering training
has been recognised by the Board of Education. A well
thought out scheme of suggestions on this matter has been
made and is under consideration. And, as the report
rightly says, the matter is one of the very greatest im-
portance, we hope some early decision will Ix^ arrived at.
There is perhaps no part of our educational machine which
requires more overhauling than that which concerns the
preliminaries of scientific and technical education.

Finance.

As regards finance, the balance on the cash accounts is
rather less than last year, doubtless owing to the expenses
caused by the return to the new building; but generally
the finances are in a sound enough state. The same may be
said of the Institution. The affairs are well directed, and
it is now thoroughly representati\'e of all phases of
electrical interest. »

652

The Electrician — June 2, 1922

The International Railway Congress at Rome.

Some Impressions of the Discussions on Electric Traction.

By ROGER T, SMITH.

The ninth Congress of the International Railway Asso-
ciation was held at Rome from April 18 to May 3- Owing
to the war no Congress had been held since 1910, when the
meeting was at Berne. In the interval the " reporters "
of the various sections and others have contributed articles
on the various " questions " for discussion at the Congress ;
and under Section II, Locomotives and Rolling Stock,
" Question " VIII, dealing with electric traction, have
pubhshed some very important papers from time
to time in the monthly Bulletin of the International
Railway Association. Among those contributions may
> be mentioned the following as being of special importance
and value to all interested in railway electric traction.

(i) Report on Electric Traction in America, by George Gibbs,
published in Vol. Ill, No. 12, December, 1921, of the Bulletin.

(2) Report on Electric Traction in Italy, by Alfredo Donati,
published in the same December, 1921, number as the American
report.

(3) Report on Electric Traction in Switzerland, by E. Huber,
published in Vol. Ill, No. 10, October, 192 1, of the Bulletin.

(4) Report on Electric Traction in Holland and in Great Britain
in the same October, 1921, number as the Swiss report.

(5) Report on Electric Traction in Sweden and Norway, byM. I.
Ofverholm, in Vol. Ill, No. 11, November, 1921.

(6) Report on Electric Traction in France and Spain, by M.
Sabouret, published at the Congress, appearing as the report for
all countries except Holland, Great Britain, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, Italy, Switzerland and America.

Valuable Documents.

The three first reports are most valuable documents for
the railway electrical engineer and traffic officer, full of
statistical "information, but also containing the views of
the several authors on the general question of railway
electrification and the apphcation of those views to the
past, present and future equipment of main line railways
for electric traction in their respective countries.

It is the duty of the President of each section, who,
together with the section secretary and the assistant
secretaries, is nominated by the Permanent Commission,
although elected by the section, to submit a summary of
the various reports prepared by a special reporter appointed
for that purpose by the Permanent Commission. The
summaries for all the sections are published in the April,
1922, number of the Bulletin of the International Railway
Association.

Ei^ht Questions for Discussion.

The summary of the various papers contributed to
Question VIII Electric Traction was made by Ernest
Gerrard, a vice-president of the Permanent Commission
and a reporter for the secondary lines of the Belgian State
Railways. The summary ends with a series of eight
questions to be discussed at the meeting of the section
which is expected to give answers to thes? questions, thus
providing a set of international resolutions or conclusions
on certain important points.

These questions included (i) the choice of system as
between ihree-phase, single-phase and direct current, and
the circumstances which make the choice of one of them
proper ; (2) the international standardisation of the costs
of working electrified railways and the choice of a unit in
terms of which those costs and other statistics could be
expressed ; (3) the relative advantages of catenary sus-
pension and of simple transverse suspension for the over-
head contact line, and {4) whether any particular type of
current is more satisfactory than another where two or
more locomotives are required to work one train.

The section proceeded to remove from the form in
which the question i were put everything which could make
the answers to them too definite. The answers were non-
commiital, and those who wish to see them are referred to
the Bulletin of the I.R.A. when it is published.

Opinion and Experience.

But the discussions of these subjects were really interest-
ing, and the value to the British electrical engineers of the
meetings under Question VIII was the expression of
opinion based on experience of the design, construction
and maintenance of hundreds of miles of main line electri-
fied railway by such men as Mr. George Gibbs (Chief
Engineer for Electric Traction Long Island Railroad), the
President of Section II, Signor Donati (Chief Engineer for
the service of electrification, Italian State Railways),
M. Huber (Chief Engineer for electrification to the Swiss
Federal Railways), M. Sabouret and M. Parodi (both
Chief Engineers of the Orleans Railwaj^ the latter chief
of the electrical service).

The general impression gained from the discussion on
systems was that Mr. Gibbs was almost alone in wishing
the section to declare that no one system of electric traction
ought to be standardised as applicable in all cases, chiefly
because it was assumed that he meant " all cases in one
country." All those who spoke from experience appeared
ready to argue that no one system wa;s applicable to all
cases, but they firmly believed that each European country
should choose a system and stick to it.

Italy and the Three-Phase System.

In his paper on the electrification of the Italian State
Railways (already referred to), Signor Donati shows that
when the Valtellina line was electrified in 190 1 the three-
phase induction motor was the only motor which se med
capable of performing heavy railw^ay service, while when
the mountain railways in Piedmont and Lombardy were
equipped the problem was to find an equipment for an
electric locomotive to give the necessary draw-bar pull
with an axle load not exceeding 15 tons. Railways in the
foothills of the Alps of necessity have many costly bridges.
Axle loads on these bridges are limited to 15 tons. The
three-phase locomotive fulfilled these conditions. When
later a programme was drawn up which, when completed,
wdll raise the length of main line track electrified in Italy
to 2 800 miles, it was found that if any system other than
the three phase would save as much as 10 per cent, in the
locomotive working costs this would only affect the total
working costs by 17 per cent. The Italians therefore
decided to continue their three-phase system which had
served them so well, and the programme is being rapidly
carried out. For the most part hydro-electric power
stations supply the two contact wires and the rails with
three-phase ciu^rent at 3 500 V between conductors at
a periodicity of i6f. The whole output of some of the
hydro electric power stations is required for traction, but
where an industrial supply is also required from the same
station this is gi\'en from separate machines at 42 periods
or 50 periods. Having effected savings by electric traction
of the order of fifty million lire a year in locomotive coal
and some million and a half lire in other expenses, the
Italians roncentrated on the improvement of the three-
phase sj'stem and to its extension at least throughout
Northern Italy.

The Position in Switzerlaad.

In Switzerland some 500 miles of main line ha\o been
electrified mostl)' on the single-phase system at 15 000 V
165 periods. The original frequency of 15 is in process
of being changed to this standard. IMr. Huber, who is
carrying out the electrification of the Feder.U Railways,
was emphatic in stating that nothing would induce the
State Railways to alter the decision come to in 1912 to
adopt the single phase system for all their lines as the
system most suitable for Switzerland. As in Italy, the
power stations arc h}-dro-electric, and even to a greater
extent than in Italj- the whole output of many of the

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

653

stations is required for traction. The railways are therefore
free to choose the best frequency for single-phase traction,
which has been decided to be 16 1 periods per second.
This frequency is too low for industrial power and lighting,
for which the Swiss have adopted the frequency of 50.

Frjnce, Belgium, Holland and Sweden.

The French, the Belgians and the Dutch have adopted
I 500 V direct current for electric traction, and though the
Belgians and the Dutch have not actually carried out any
main line electrification, schemes are being prepared on the
basis of a uniform system throughout those countries.
The French have co-operative schemes for using the
extensive water power in the Pyrenees in the Central
Plateau and in the Rhone Valley for the supplies of
electricity, both for industry and for railway traction.
The Orleans Railway system stretches from the Western
Psrenees to Paris, and both M. Parodi and M. Sabouret
insisted that the proper thing to do was to electrify the
railways throughout the country on one uniform system.
The Scandinavian reprefentative did not join in this part
of the discussion, but it is well known that M. Cfverholm
is a strong believer in the single-phase system and that it
is being used and extended both in Sweden and in Norway.
Generally, it may be said that in those countries where
coal is an expensive import, and the generation of electricity
from water power saves large sums of money in locomotive
coal, the single-phase system of electric traction at 15 000 V
is favoured. Italy began before the single-phase system
was developed, and having spent large sums of money on
three-phase equipment, which have proved most success-
ful, and saved large sums in locomotive coal, continues to
use the three-phase system because, as previously stated,
even if another system saved them as much as 10 per cent,
in their annual locomotive expenses the result on the total
expenses of running the railway would be insufhcient to
decide the best system to use.

Single-Phase and Hydro-Electrics.

It is worth while considering why those countries which
generate by water power have adopted single-phase.
The importance of such large units of plant as are essential
for the supply of cheap electricity from steam turbine
stations does not exist to the same degree in hydro-electric
stations, so that the railway alternating traction supply
can be given at the low frequency of i6| periods from part
of 'the plant and an industrial and lighting supply at a
frequency of 50 from the rest of the plant without much
loss in economy. To obtain the full advantages of single-
phase or three-phase traction this low periodicity seems
on the Continent to be considered essential.

The Steam Turbine and Direct Current.

Those countries like Belgium, Holland and Great Britain,
possessing little or no water power, where electricity for
traction must be generated by the steam turbo- alternator,
have adopted i 500 V direct current (including in France
3 000 V in special cases, and in Great Britain a sub-
multiple or multiple of i 500 V), which p.miits the use
of the most economical frequency for steam generating
plant, namely, 50 periods, current at this frequency being
at the same time most suitable for industrial electric motors
and for lighting. The density of main line traffic which
it would pay to electrify in Great Britain appears to require
from 30 000 to 35 000 kW per 100 miles of double track
railway. But with three-phase transmission it is doubtful
if one generating station can economically feed to a greater
radius than 25 miles. If, therefore, the 100 miles of double
track is not contained within that radius, the steam
generating station for the railway load alone is too small
to be really economical and the combination of the railway
load with the industrial load in one station becomes
necessary for cheap supply. This steam turbine generator
condition is quite different from the water turbine generator
condition and illustrates the wisdom of the choice of the

direct current system in Great Britain, Holland and
Belgium, since the same station can supply electricity
for railway traction, for industrial power and for lighting.
So far as generating electricity is concerned, France appears
to occupy an intermediate position between those countries
where the choice of alternating current traction has been
made as most suitable and those where direct current has
been chosen. With her wealth of water power in the
South centre and South-east, and with her intention to
extend its present use for industrial purposes to electric
traction, the best frequency for generation is not a govern-
ing feature. Nevertheless, after full consideration, France
has decided to electrify on the direct current system, and
the delegates who spoke at the Congress were highly
satisfied with the choice.

This is no reflection on the American attitude of wishing
to keep the open door — for America. The conditions in
America are not the conditions in Europe — above all in
Great Biitain — and while America is not ready to decide
on a uniform system and can go on trying to find the ideal
system (which as Mr. Gibbs pleaded must be much better
than any existing system) without stopping railway electrifi-
cation on any of the existing methods, that is not the case
in Europe.

rCo Great Difference in the Systems.

People have talked system so long that they have
forgotten that the differences in the cost of working one
system, as compared with any other system at present in
use, do not exceed one or two per cent, on the total cost of
running the railway while other great economies possible
from electrifying certain dense main fine systems are
neglected. The Advisory Committee to the ^linistry of
Transport very properly left an open door in the matter
of the choice of system. It is to be hoped that none of
the new groups will use that door until someone has fomid
that ideal system which is so much better than any other
that it will be worth. while for the railways of the world
to scrap all that they have done and are doing in order to
adopt it. Meanwhile the lesson to be learned from the
discussions and talks at the Rome Congress seems to be
that each country's choice as to system appears to have
been wisely made to suit the conditions in that country*,
and that British railways might get on \nth the job of
suburban electrification to meet the conditions of traffic
which have overtaken and pa'^sed the abilities of steam
traction to meet them, and of main line electrification
under those particular conditions of traffic which would
result in a substantial profit on the capital invested.

Overhead Equipment.

A short discussion on the relative advantages of catenary
suspension for the overhead contact wire, as against the
method generally adopted on the Italian State R.iilways,
where the two contact wires required for three-phase
traction are earned by insulators hung from the string of
a bow structure which is itself fixed to the bracket arm of
a post. These brackets are symmetrical either side of the
post, and as many as 10 tracks have their twin contact
wires so supported from one post. The maximum speeds
on the Italian State Railway's are not high, the latest
electric locomotives having four speeds of 2^, 31, 46 and
62 miles per hour, but it must not be forgotten that with
three-phase traction, unhke single-phase or direct current
traction for which the series motor is stand.u:dised, the
speed is constant and the average speed and the maximum
speeds are the same independently of grades. These
maximum speeds are therefore also the average speeds, and
compare with the average and not with the maximum
speeds of steam or of electric traction by other sx'stems^.
The general result of the discussion on contact wire sus-
pension was that whereas the cross, suspension adopted by
the Italian State Railway's was obN-iously a success with
their speeds, nothing but catenary suspension was suitable
for the higher speeds used m ether countries with other
systems.

654

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

On the question of a standard nnit by which all the
statistical and financial results, of electric traction could
be measured in all countries alike, the section adopted a
motion by Sir Henry Fowler referring the question of the
standardisation of the method of keeping accounts and
statistics to a special commission to be set up by the
Association under vSection II.

No conclusion was come to as to whether dLXiy one system
of electric traction was better than any other system in
the case with which two or more locomotives could be
employed in moving one train, it being generally considered
that system had little or nothing to do with this matter
and that such " multitraction " is equally satisfactory
with all three systems.

Such are one delegate's impressions, for what they are
worth, of the discussions at the electric traction meetings.
The great use of such a Congress is not so much the official
conclusions come to as the interchange of ideas and experi-
ences with men engaged in the sale of transport in other
countries where conditions are quite different from our
own and the inspection and travel which make those con-
ditions evident. Delegates who were neither reporters
nor secretaries had also the opportunity of seeing beautiful
things for part of every dzy and for the whole of some
days, and it is possible that the uplifting of the spirit in
the atmosphere of so much beauty, whether the work of
nature or of man, may have done as much for the delegates
as the Congress itself.

Some Reflections on the Lead Hydrate Accumulator.

By W. R. COOPER, M.A.. B.Sc.

There is considerable difficulty in expressing definite
views upon any new secondary cell when the critic is armed
merely with a nodding acquaintance or a brief introduction
to the newcomer. As a rule, the virtues that are claimed
can only be decided in the light of a somewhat lengthy
experience, running, it may be, into years. On mere
inspection one can only say that a claim is possible, probable
or improbable, as the case may be ; or even impossible, if
the inventor is sufficiently rash. The cautious inquirer,
however, is generally loath to state frankly that some
particiUar claim is impossible, for there have been many
false prophets in the history of electro-technics. On the
other hand, the history of the lead accumulator consists
largely of magnificent claims which have failed to
materialise ; and although there has been progress over
lengthy periods, and very solid progress too, this has been
of the slow variety, and we have long since ceased to expect
any claims of a revolutionary character. Readers of the
technical press have therefore been somewhat startled
recently to learn that the Lead-Hydrate Accumulator has
properties far superior to those of other lead cells. Although
it is not proposed in the present article to say just what
this new cell can, or cannot, do (for the writer has not had
the opportunity of deciding these points experimentally),
it may be useful to consider some of the claims in the light
of common knowledge.

Claims Examined.

First let us take the name. Upon first hearing the name
" Lead Hydrate " Battery one is apt to suppose that lead
hydrate is the active material. Since, however, sulphuric
acid is the electrolyte there is no reason to suppose that we
are dealing with any other cell than the well-known lead
acciuTiulator. The active material is still lead and lead
peroxide on the respecti\'e plates. Consequently, the name
can only mean that a special material has been used, like
imto the old name " Chloride," which is still with us,
although the cells so designated have for very many j^ears
ceased to have any accpiaintance with chlorine. It would
be equally pointed to call cells which contain ordinary
pasted plates by the name " litharge ' or " red lead."
Still, a name is often commercially vah.able, particularly
if the buyer is led to wonder what it means.

So-called lead hj'drate, so far as the author is aware, is
not a novel ingrc^dicnt. Perhaps it would be more correctly'
described as impure lead hydroxide. From the small
amount of information that has been made public, the
o.xide in the present instance appears to be made directly
irom pure lead, and is lead sub-oxide, PbjO. This readily
takes up moisture and changes to a mixture of the higher
hydroxide and metallic lead. A paste of this material with
water is suitable for pasting grids, and the plates so obtained
can be " formed " electrolj^tically into positives and
negatives in the usual way. Briefly, this is the Lead
Hydrate Battery as made by Mr. C. W. Jenner, to whom
the present development is due.

Certain Limiting Factors.

It is claimed that a much greater capacity is obtained
by this method of manufacture. If this is actually the
case it means that the material pasted on to the grid is
utilised to a much greater extent than hitherto. This high
degree of utilisation has always been the aim of every
manufacturer. The difficulty is that the chemical actions
involved are mainly surface actions, and consequently
efficient utilisation of the material demands a high degree
of porosity. This is not, however, the only difficulty.
High porosity has often been attained, but beyond a certain
point it leads inevitably to lack of strength ; and, when
this point is passed, disintegration and diminution of life
are the inevitable consequences. But it does not follow
that all methods of obtaining porosity give the same degree
of weakness for the same degree of porosity. Any such
idea is disproved bj- the superiority of present da\' batteries
as compared with those of some 20 years ago. It may be
that the paste obtained by the lead hydrate method may
lead to greater porositj^ and to superior results.

Perhaps it may be well to point out that the porosity
must in any case be sufficient not only to admit the electro-
lyte, but also to provide space in which the lead sulphate
(and also peroxide) can be formed without blocking up the
pores and thus preventing further action.

It may now be desirable to form some idea of what has
hitherto been done, and what remains 3Tt to be done, to
secure the maximum utilisation of the active material.

Theoretical Limits.

Theoretically i ampere-hour should be obtained by con-
verting 3 86 grs. of lead into lead sulphate ; or i kilogramme
of spongy lead should give 260 ampere-hours. Translating
this into the more familiar unit of weight used in these
matters it may be said that theoretically i lb. of spongy
lead should give 102 ampere-hours, and i lb. of lead
pel oxide should give 117 ampere-hours. Actuall}', the
capacities obtained are only about 25 per cent, of these
figures ; or, say, 25 for spongy lead and 30 for lead peroxide.
This does not, however, mean that the specific output,
expressed as watt-hours per pounds of complete cell could
theoretically be four times the present figure (assuming
that the character of the electrolyte remains the same),
for there are many parts of the cell which would not be
correspondingly affected by such an improvement.

In order to facilitate approximate calculations we may
assume a mean figure of, say, no ampere-hours per
pound of lead or lead peroxide, so that half this figure
or 55 ampere-hours per poimd of lotal active material
(spongy lead plus lead peroxide) is the theoretical
maximum. The figure is, of course, halved because
both kinds of active material are required together. The
percentage of active material in light pasted plates of
the traction type varies somewhat with tlu make and with
the plate, and is not necessarily the same in both plates.
We mav assimie that the active material averages, say,

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

Lbs.

•65

56 per cent, of the total weight of the formed plate, whether
positive or negative. The figure varies, but the one here
taken is commercially realised. If we start with a certain
weight of active material, we must then add the weight of
the grids, and something for the weight of the box, con-
nections, separators, etc., leaving the electrolyte as the sole
remaining ingredient. The weight of these sundries may
be taken at, say, izl per cent, of the weight of the plates,
but will be less in the largest cells. In round figures this
means that the weight of grids + sundries is equal to the
weight of the active material. The weight of the electrolyte
depends simply on the range of specific gravity that is
permissible. What is necessary is a certain weight of
H2SO4 which may be removed by the action of the cell to
provide the assumed number of ampere-hours. The
calculation is not quite straightforward, because water is
formed at the same time as H2SO4 is removed. On these
assumptions the weight in terms of active material works
out as shown in Table I.

Table I. — Active Materiel Utilised, 25 per cent.

Assumed weight of total active material . . . .

Grids, connections, etc., 100 per cent, of active material
Electrolyte, assuming 13^ amp. lirs. per lb. of total active

material [i.e., 25 per cent, of the active material is utilised)

and range of spec. gr. from 1-280 to 1-170 . .

Total

Assuming an avei"age voltage of i 95, this gives a specific
output of 1375 X i'95/2"65 or loi watt-hours per pound of
cell at the lo-hour rate. Taking i'93 volts as the average
voltage at the 5-hour rate, and a drop in capacity of, say,
12J per cent., the specific output at this rate is 8*8 watt-
hours per pound.

Some readers may say that such calculations are not
dependable ; and in order to reassure the faith of such
doubters it may be said that figures of
this kind are not uncommon. They are,
in fact, a little low, as an output of 10
watt-hours per pound at the 5-hour rate
wo'jld, no doubt, be expected. This may
mean that the conditions in practice are a
little more favourable than those which
have been assumed. But probably the
difference is due to the fact that the acid
range is really greater. The strength of
acid in the pores of the active material is
always greater or less, as the case may be,
than that of the free electrolyte, because
diffusion takes time.

Possibility of Securing Improved
Results.

We may now consider how far these
results may be improved with a given
electrolj'te. For this purpose there are
two main lines of attack, one being to
increase the extent to which the active
material is usefully employed, the other
being the reduction of the weight of the
grid as compared with the weight of the
active material. The results that are theoretically obtain-
able are shown in Table II.

Table II. -Theoretical Outputs on Certain Assumptions

Taking first the case of electrolyte with a working range
of I 280-1 170 and the grid forming 44 per cent, of the plate
on the average, then if the active material is utilised to the
extent of 50 per cent., instead of 25 per cent., the watt-hours
per pound rise from loi to i6'3. If the utilisation could be
brought up to 100 per cent, the watt-hours per pound would
only rise to 23" j, which seems a comparativ^ely low figure.

If the grids were made relatively lighter, say half the
weight, making 22 per cent, of the plate, and if the active
material were used to the extent of 50 per cent., the watt-
hours per pound would rise to ro5, as against 16-3 in case
No. 2. The corresponding figure for 100 per cent, utilisa-
tion is 26.5. In looking at these cases of high utilisation
it will be noted how increasingly important the weight of
the electrolyte becomes, being now well over 5u per rent.
of the whole. It becomes evident that the only means of
further progress is the use of a wider range of specific
gravity.

The Use of Strong Acid.

One of the surprising features of the Lead Hydrate
Cell is the use of unusually strong acid. The range of
specific gravity in charging and discharging is stated to
be 1 300-1 350. Such strong acid has hitherto been
avoided because it tends to " self discharge," and the
author is not acquainted with any manufacturer who
would contemplate for a moment the use of such strong
acid. In the case of lead cells of the usual type for auto-
mobile working the upper limit for the acid has commonly
been 1-280, and often lower. The object in this case has
been to reduce the weight of the electrolyte as far as
possible ; and since this can only be done by eliminating
some of the water, a large working range is adopted, the
lower limit of specific gravity being, say, i 170, or somewhat
lower. If the lead hydrate plates can stand up against an
acid strength of i 350 the cell should be capable of working

3-0

150

aniprhr's.

r ■ 1
1

193

amf.

irhr

-s

226 an.

o.-hi

2-8

t —

——

Z5i

)s/r

P--I

irs.

'"'

2633mprhrs.

2-6

iX-

2-4

xiiAt

2-2
Cell

—

' —

— '

Volts.

72 hours

Fig t.

No.

Assumptions.

Weight in lbs.

Watt-hours
per lb.

.\ctive
material
utilised.

Grid.
% of
Plate.

.\cid
Range.

Total
.\ctive
material

Grids,
Box,
etc.

Elec-
trolyte.

Total.

10-hr. 5-hr.
rate. rate.

3
4
5
6
7
8
9

25%
50%
75%

100%
50%

100%
25%
50%
75%

100%
50%

100%

44%
44%
44%
44%
22%
22%
4-t%
44%
44%
44%
22%
22%

1-280-1-170

1-260-1-170

1-280-1-170

1-280-I-I70

1-280-1-170

1-350-1-170

1-350-1-170 1

1-350-1-170

1-350-1170

I
I
1
I

I
I
I
1
I
I
1
1

0-44

0-65
1-3

1-3

2-6

0-41

0-82

1-22

1-63

0-82

1-63

2-65

3-3

3-95

4-6

2-74

4-04

2-41

2-82

3-22
3-63

2-22

3-07

lo-i 8-8
16-3 14-0
20-4 17-6
23-3 -'o--:
19-5 16-9
26-5 t 230
1 1 -8 ; 10-2
30-2 : 17-4
26-6 23-0

31-4 ' 27-2
25-7 ' 22-1

37-2 320

23 4S6789J0n JZhours
Ch.\rge and Dischargk Curves of Lead Hyjkate Cell.

through the great range of, say, i 170-1-350, which would
reduce the weight of t.-lectrolyte appreciably. The average
voltage on discharge would also be greater, being, say,
207 volts for the lo-hour rate, instead of 195 ; and
205 volts for the 5-hour rate as against i 93. Tliis leads
to a still greater output, but has the disadvantage that the
variation of voltage over the discbarge is necessarily greater.
It should also be noted that the internal resistance of the
cell is materially increased by the use of very strong acid,
but the voltage drop becomes less as the acid becomes
diluted, and therefore the discharge curve is flatter than
would othenvise be the case.

Discharge Curves.

The results thus obtainable arc shown in the lower half
of Table II. There is a very considerable gain by the use

6S6

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

of the stronger acid in this way. But, curiouslj- enough,
the makers of the Lead Hydrate Cell state that the acid
range is only i '350-1 300, which means that the chief
advantage of the stronger acid is not secured. This view
is not altogether supported by the pubHshed discharge
curves, which are reproduced in Fig. i. Here the discharge
starts at about 2 18, which is what would be expected
having regard to the strength of the acid ; but, although
the voltage is maintained high for the greater part of the
discharge it finally falls to about 1-83 volts at the 12-hour
rate, which is about the commonly accepted figure for other
cells. Now, for this low value the strength of acid should
be, say, 1170. If the acid does not fall below 1-300, or
thereabouts, the only explanation of the phenomenon
appears to be that the weak acid in the pores of the plates
(which are stated to be much thicker than usual, up to \ in.
for positives and -^ in. for negatives) has not had time
to diffuse out, and that the plates are really working in
much weaker acid at the end of the discharge than is
apparent. It is also noticeable that the capacity at the
12-hour rate is not as large in comparison with that at the
i-hour rate, as is usual, and this may possibly be due to
some similar cause.

It wiU be noticed that, even under these conditions,
carried to a very high ideal, the highest output is 37 2
watt-hours per lb. The author does not wish to set any
particular limit beyond which we must not expect to go, for
there may be conditions, or even new reactions, which
cannot be taken into account in an analysis of this kind.
But the figures here given are sufficient to show the great
practical difficulties that are ahead of anyone who claims
revolutionary results.

Purity and Sulphating.

The Lead Hydrate Cell is stated to be immune from
" sulphating," and this characteristic is attributed to the
purity of the active materials and consequent elimination
of local action. It will be conceded at once that any local
action must cause the plate containing the impurity to
become discharged more or less slowly. But it is not at all
so clear that " sulphating " is only due to local action. In
fact, but little is known as to the real difference between
" sulphate " and the normal lead sulphate that must be
formed in the action of the cell. Be this as it may, we may
bear in mind that other types of lead cell are also capable
of remaining on open circuit for considerable periods without
adverse effects, and that if greater purity gives advantages
that are worth the money, the litharge and red lead that are
commonly used in the manufacture of pasted plates can
also be made highly pure, so that such advantages are open
to any maker of lead cells.

As already stated, the active materials must in any case
be spongy lead and lead peroxide, just as in every other
lead cell. When the statement is made that the active
material derived from lead hydrate does not change its
volume under any condition of charge and discharge, and
therefore no buckling can take place, it may perhaps be
well to point out that certain changes in vohmie are
inevitable. Both spongy lead and lead peroxide increase
in volume when they are converted into lead sulphate, and
the further this conversion is taken the more the pores of
the active material are closed. This change is more serious
with lead peroxide than with lead. Buckling will take
place if this closing up of the pores is carried so far, and so
unequally, as to set up serious stresses on one side of the
plate. It is clear that if the porosity is sufificienth^ high no
such stresses will arise. In any case the active material
does not change its volume as a whole in normal working,
but whether the active material of the Lead Hydrate Cell
is so porous that no internal stresses can arise, the writer is
not in a position to say.

The two statements that the battery is (i) indestructible
and (2) thac it has a much longer life than that of any other
battery seem a little incompatible ; or perhaps it would be
more correct to say that the second statement is somewhat

unnecessar}' if the first is true. The average cell comes to
an end of its life through various causes, of which one of
the most important is the shedding of active material.
This is due largely, no doubt, to the persistent mechanical
action of gassing, and it is usual to provide a considerable
space in accumulator boxes so that the shedded material
may collect without remaining in contact with the plates.

Electric Automobilism.

Some remarkable claims are made for the Lead Hydrate
Cell in automobilism. In this connection it is well to
remember that the specific output of a cell (or watt-hours
per pound) is related very simply to the distance that can be
travelled on a single charge. Assume that a specific output
of II watt-hours per pound at the 5-hour rate is the specific
output for ordinary lead cells, and assume that an electric
vehicle requires on the average no watt-hours per ton-mile
(which is about the figure for large commercial vehicles).
Then i lb. of battery will give energy sufficient to run
one-tenth of a ton-mile, or 224 pound-miles, or will propel
I lb. for 224 miles. In other words, if a battery could be
mounted on a massless chassis it could run 224 miles on a
single charge. Actually the chassis will weigh, say, twice
the weight of the battery, and the limiting distance is
reduced to one-third, or, say, 75 miles ; and in ordinar}?-
practice this becomes, say, 50 miles when the vehicle is
loaded. Cells have been made, and are still listed, with an
output of 14 watt-hours per lb., and with such cells the
distance would be correspondingly increased, but this
figure tends to fall as the cell becomes older.

According to figures which have appeared, the specific
output of the Lead Hydrate Cell is ovc r 27 watt-hours per
pound, but tliis is at the 12-hour rate. The corresponding
figure for the 5-hour rate may be taken as about 24 watt-
hours per pound. This high specific output, if realised in
practice, would be of great value and would mean that the
distance an electric vehicle could travel on a single charge
would be increased to about double the distance hitherto
possible ; or, say, 100 miles instead of 50 miles, or perhaps
150 miles instead of 75 mider special conditions. This
would be a marked advance, but it is very much less than
the advance from 50 miles to 300 miles, as suggested in a
recent article. The latter would require a specific output
of six times what is now obtained, or something between 60
and 84 watt-hours per pound. But such a figure seems quite
impossible, as already shown, even if the cell consisted onh'
of active material and electrol3i;e worked over a large
range — i.e., if the grids, box, connections, etc., weighed
nothing. The vehicle, of course, may be improved, so as
to run more economically, but this will not alter relative
positions.

It is also claimed that the cell can be recharged in 15
minutes. But does anyone want this ? What would be
the temperature of the cell ? And would the station engi-
neer be prepared to give charging currents at this rate ?

Messrs. Siebe, Gorman and Co., who are manufacturing
the new battery, are a firm of repute and are allied with
Vickcrs, Ltd., so that we may reasonably suppose that all
claims have been amply substantiated. On the other hand,
for the reasons here given, the writer finds it difficult to
accept some of the statements that have appeared. As
already stated, time alone can decide whether many of the
claims are justified, and pending this slow process of
justification most users and manufacturers alike will prefer
to await the verdict of time before accepting the view that
the art of the lead accumulator has been wholly
revolutionised.

The " Angl()-Swiss Review " states that the new electric trans-
mission Une, lately erected between Monthey ^\'alais) and Forclaz
(Vaud) is connected with the Fridbourg transmission cables on one
side and, on the other side, with the Monthey-Brigue cable. The
latter conveys 45 000 h.p., and the surplus can be diverted over the
Alps to the Fribourg and JBenic cables. The Monthey- Forclaz cable
is the last of the four connecting the power stations on the south
of the Alps with those on the northern side ; one runs through
the Bernina, a second through the St. Gothard, a third over the
Gemmi Pass.

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

657

Correspondence.

"BROADCASTING" PIONEERS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — In your Editorial Notes of May 19 you cite the
Westinghouse E. & M. Co., of Pittsburg, as " the pioneer of
radio broadcasting."

Their work along this line began in 1921. How many
months, or weeks, are required in such an advancing art as
radio to qualify one as a " pioneer " ?

In 1909 the first " broadcasting " station was installed on
the roof of the Metropolitan Opera House, N.Y.C. It was
a temporary affair to seek to interest the Opera Company
directors in my project of a free distribution of good music
by radio-telephone. Microphones were installed in the foot-
lights, and wires run to the arc transmitter on the roof. I
recall that " Cavalleria Rusticana " was the opera chosen for
the first broadcasting — and Caruso, as Turiddu, w^as thus
the first singer whose voice was broadcasted.

The music from these first radio operas was picked up by
ships near N.Y.C, but the cult of American Amateurs had
then scarcely seen light, and lacking an audience this demon-
stration was logically shortlived.

There was more or less sporadic broadcasting from several
San Francisco radio telephone stations, 1910-13. In 1916
the De Forest Radio Telephone Co. began a regular nightly
radio programme, chiefly phonograph music, from its High-
bridge, N.Y., plant, which service was maintained regularly
until approach of our war cloud led the Government to close
down all but official stations.

On " Election Night," November, 191 6, two-minute bul-
letins of the election returns were broadcasted for several
hours, being picked up as far west as Buffalo.

About this time the first " Radio Dances" were begun —
parties in New Jersey, 35 miles distant, danced to music
played in Highbridge. In 1920 the first regular broadcasting
station in connection with a theatre was opened by my com-
pany in San Francisco, this service being maintained ever
since. Each afternoon and night, and also on Sunday
mornings, the very excellent orchestra music of the California
Theatre is picked up by microphones carefully designed and
located to best catch the various instruments, transmitted
to an upper room, and there " put on the ether."

These concerts are frequently heard as far as Seattle and
Los Angeles, and by ships half-way to Honolulu.

To some little mountain villages, where an enterprising
amateur has an amplifier and loud speaker, ranchers drive in
for miles to hear the Sunday morning concerts played in
San Francisco.

It is indeed a keen gratification to observe how enthu-
siastically that early idea of radio-phone broadcasting has, at
last, " caught on." — I am, etc.,

Lee de Forest.

Berlin.

May 22nd.

THE SEA IRETURN OF A SUBMARINE CABLE.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — On going over the interesting work of Messrs. John R.
Carson and J. J. Gilbert on " The Sea Return Impedance of a
Submarine Cable " referred to in your issue of April 28, 1922,
may I be permitted to note that the form of solution given
obtains only for stationary waves, as against a combined
stationary-progressive wave on the cable.

In view of the fact that hysteresis, real or effective, plays
quite an important part, especially in connection with high-
frequency phenomena, it would seem that a loss of generality
results by taking account only of the usual R L G C line
parameters.

In a paper which appeared in the April, 192 1, issue of the
Journal of the I.E.E. on "The Radiation Resistance of Various
Types of Antenna Construction," the writer disclosed a
mathematical method taking elliptical hysteretic phenomena
into account. As a consequence, on page 441 of the above
journal, it stated that " it appears that the voltage-distribution
curve lies on a rotating helical sheet winding about the antenna
as an axis." In the Carson-Gilbert case, where hysteresis, real
or effective, is ignored, the locus lies in a rotating plane passing
through the antenna as an axis.

The above distinction is of some consequence in cable and
antenna work as the writer has later pointed out mathemati-

cally. For in the general case considered it was necessary'-
not only to solve Maxwell's equations for the field external to
the line conductors, but also at one and the same time satisfy
the line characteristic d, la Heaviside. This study was made
possible by making use of the concept of complex capacitances
and inductances. — I am, etc.,

A. Press.
Chavy Chase, U.S.A.
May 16, 1922.

ELECTRIC PROPULSION METHODS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — It is interesting to note in your current issue (Maj- 12,
1922) that the new U.S. super-Dreadnoughts are to be driven
by two-speed motors, at 23 knots and 15 knots. This speed
ratio is met by the " Cascade " Motor with a single winding.
Yet our American friends obtain tliis result " by the use of
two entirely separate stator and rotor windings." At the
present moment there is a strong likelihood of two-speed
" Cascade " motors being used on British-driven ships in the
near future. — I am, etc.,

Ernest W. Ashsy.

Ha war den.

May 19, 1922.

HENLEY'S CABLES.

To the Editor 0/ 1 HE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — We regret that there was an error in our advertise
ment on the front cover of your journal last week, and we
trust you will grant us the hospitality- of your columns to
correct it. We described the illustration of the 33 000 V.
Birmingham cable as a " Split Conductor " cable. This, of
course, is not correct. It is a three-core cable for use with a
pilot, on the Beard-Hunter System of Automatic Protection.

We always endeavour to state only the truth in our advertise-
ments, and we regret that this rather silly slip should have
got in.^ — I am, etc.,

W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd.,

London, E.C. W. F. Bishop.

May 29, 1922. Manager, Sales Department.

Exponentials Made Easy.

Some fifty years ago the teaching of mathematics in this
country suffered severely from programmes rigorously
mapped out, departure from which meant loss of official
recognition. In the old days every Cambridge student had
to learn Euclid's proofs, and in the first part of the mathe-
matical tripos the student was forbidden to use the calculus.
It was no wonder that many gave up the study o* mathe-
matics altogether once the}'' had got through their exami-
nation, the official diet provided having proved both
uninteresting and indigestible. Then Perry, and later on
Silvanus Thompson, made the stud^^ — at least for engi-
neering students — more attractive. They laid stress on its
practical applications and successfully showed that man\-
mathematical theorems were of human interest and could
be understood by the average reader without much
difficulty.

This volume* is wTitten as a companion volume to Silvanus
Thompson's "Calculus Made Easy." The titles of the
various chapters indicate the way in which the author
treats the subject. For example, the titles of Chapters IX. ,
XL. and XIII. are " Epsilon's Home : The Logarithmic
Spiral," " Epsilon on the Slack Rope : What there is in a
Hanging Chain," " Where Epsilon Tells the Future : The
ProbabUity Curve and the Law of Errors." We welcome
a book of this nature. It will clear up some of the mathe-
matical difficulties of the junior reader, and will both widen
his knowledge and encourage him to make further mathe-
matical research. It is both well written and accurate.

A. R.

* '• Exponentials Made Easy, or *\\e Storj' of Epsilon." — By -M.
E. J. Gheury de Bray. ^Macmillan Sc Co., Ltd., iQzi.)

6=;8

The Electrician — June 2, 1922

Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Annual General Meeting.

The Annual General fleeting of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers was held on Thursday, May 25, at the Institution building,
the President (Mr. C. S. Highfield) in the chair.

The President, commenting upon the Council's Annual Report
(which is abstracted below) said the Council laad just managed to
arrange to have the ceremony of unveiling and dedicating the
Institution's War jMemorial on June 28, the Wednesday just pre-
ceding the Conversazione.

He then announced the following awards of premiums for Papers
presented to the Institution during the session.

Institution Premium of £z:) to Mr. J. G. Hill, for his paper
on " Phantom Telephone Circuits and Combined Telegraph and
Telephone Circuits Worked at Audio Frequencies." Ayrton
Premium of ;rro to Mr. L. H. A. Carr, for his paper on
" Induction-type Synchronous Motors." Fahie Premium, of £10
to Mr. E. S. Byng, for his paper on " Telephone Line Work in the
United States." John Hopkinson Premium of £10 to Mr. F. P.
Whitaker for his paper on " Rotary Converters, with special
reference to Railway Electrification." Kelvin Premium of ;^io to
Mr. P. Torikai, for his paper on " Abnormal Pressure Rises in
Transformers, and its Remedy." Paris Premium of ;^io to Mr.
J. A. Kuyser, for his paper on " Protective Apparatus for Turbo-
Alternators." Willans Premium of £14 6s. to Mr. K. Baumann,
for his paper on " Developments in Steam Turbines." Extra
Premium of £10 to Mr. F. J. Teago, for his paper on " Test Results
obtained from a Three-Phase Shunt Commutator Motor." Extra
Premium of £5 to Mr. J. Anderson, for his paper on " Electric
Motor Starters." Extra Premium of /^ to Mr. W. Wilson, for his
paper, " Some Notes on the Design of Liquid Rheostats." Duddell
Premium of £20 to Mr. T. L. Eckersley, for his paper on " An Investi-
gation of Transmitting Aerial Resistances." A Premium of £10 to
Mr. E. M. Moullin and Mr. L. B. Turner, for their paper on " The
Thermionic Triode as Rectifier." A Premium of £10 to Mr. C. S.
Frankhn for his paper on " Short- Wave Directional Wireless
Telegraphy."

Mr. HiGHFiELD, resuming his comments on the Report, said he
had visited all the Territorial Centres except Glasgow, which he
would visit next week, and Dublin, to which he had not been asked
to go. In every centre he found the same keenness for the well-
being and good name of the Institution that was found at the
meetings in London. Members of other societies envied the radio-
active qualities of their membership. He was glad to say nothing
had been done in the way of exacting German reparations by
requiring Germans to put up electric power stations here. With
regard to electrical engineering training and examinations, the
Committee, of which Mr. Gill was chairman, hoped to put a scheme
forward which would be useful to the Students. There was a
gratifying increase in the number of subscribers and donors to the
Benevolent Fund, the total being i 351 during the past year,
compared with 884 in the previous year, while the sums they con-
tributed amounted to £1 693, compared with £440.

The Report having been adopted, Sir James Devonshire (Hon.
Treasurer) explained and moved the adoption of the Accounts, and,
after some remarks by Mr. F. W. Purse, who referred to the
increased revenue, increased contributions to reserve, &c., and
suggested that the Council should consider the question of reducing
members' contributions, the motion for the adoption of the Accounts
was agreed to.

Votes of thanks were accorded the Hon. Secretaries of Local
Sections, the Hon. Secretaries abroad, the Hon. Treasurer, and the
Hon. Solicitors, and Messrs. Allen, Attfield & Co. were reappointed
Auditors.

Annual Report.

Membership of the Institution.

After references to the Royal Charter, the new seal, and the
liquidation of the old Institution, it is stated that on April i, 1922,
the total number of members of all classes was 10 275, a net increase
of 826.

The average annual increase of membership for the last three
years is over i 000, and the Council express gratification at this
rapid growth, notwithstanding the increasing stringency of the
qualifications for admission.

Deaths.

The deaths of 54 members occurred during the year. Amongst
them were M. J. Carpentier, Prof. F. B. Crocker, Dr. Edward
Hopkinson, and Mr. R. E. Winkfield (Past Chairman of Calcutta
Centre) .

A design for two bronze tablets to be placed in the entrance hall
has been approved as a war memorial. The War Memorial Book
containing the biographical notices and portraits of members who
fell in the war is now in an advanced state of preparation. The
editing of the hook has been undertaken by Lieut. -Col. W. A. J.
O'Meara.

Wireless Aerial on Institution Building.

On the recommendation of the committee of the wireless section,
a permanent aerial has been erected on the Institution building, the
dimensions of which we have already given. The natural wave-
length is about 200 metres.

National Electrical Convention.

The Council have approved a suggestion made to them that a
National Electrical Convention be held under the auspices of the
Institution. In view of the postponement of the British Empire
Exhibition to 1924, the Council will reconsider the question of the
date for the first Convention.

Territorial Centres and Sub-Centres.

The attendance reported at the meetings held at the Territorial
Centres and Sub-Centres afford evidence of the interest taken by
members outside London in the work of the Institution. During
the Session the President paid visits to the Centres at Birmingham,
Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, and to the Sub-Centres
at Loughborough, Liverpool and Sheffield. The Council regret the
discontinuance of the Aberdeen Sub-Centre on account of the small
number of members in that district.

Mr. R. V. Picon has resigned the office of Local Honorary Secretary
for France, and Mr. J. Grosselin has been appointed in his place.

Wireless and Informal Meetings.

The Wireless Section of the Institution has held seven meetings,
and seven papers were read, and ten informal meetings have also
been held. The Council are highly gratified at the success of the
latter meetings, and congratulate the Informal Meetings Committee
on their excellent work.

Students' Sections.

The number of students on the Register of the Institution has
reached a record total of 2 455. The Council have recently granted
permission for the formation of Students' Sections at Leeds and
Sheffield. The latter Section has held two meetings. A students'
tour in Switzerland, organised by the London Students' Section,
took place towards the end of July, 192 1, and several works were
visited.

The following Scholarships have been awarded by the Council :
David Hughes Scholarship — Mr. W. T. Slater ; Salomons Scholar-
ships— Mr. G. R. A. Murray and Mr. P. G. A. Voigt.

War Thanksgiving Education Research Fund.

A grant of £ioo for educational purposes has been made under
the provisions of the Trust Deed to Mr. J. D. Cockcroft (College of
Technology, Manchester) .

Return Visit of Dutch Engineers.

The return visit of Dutch Electrical^^Engineers took place from
the 23rd to the 28th May last. The party consisted of representa-
tives of the Royal Dutch Society of Engineers and of the Association
of Managers of Dutch Electricity Undertakings. After being shown
over various places of interest in London, the vi.sitors travelled by
motor via Henley, Oxford, Hereford and Chester, and to Manchester.

Library.

After a period of over four years, the Institution and Ronalds
Libraries were again accessible to members last summer, and the
number of readers from September, 1921, to March, 1922, inclusive,
was r 202, of whom 52 were non-members. The Council have
decided to keep the Library open on the evenings on which ordinary
meetings of the Institution, informal meetings and meetings of
the Wireless and Students' Sections are held.

Electrical Appointments Board.

The Electrical Appointments Board report that the number of
unemployed members on the Register is 120, as against a total of
51 last year. The Council hope that firms having vacancies will
assist them by reporting them to the Secretary of the Board at the
Institution offices.

The Journal of the Institution.

The number of pages in the 1921 volume was 852, compared with
944 in 1920. In addition, a supplementary volume of 336 pages
was printed in 1920, making a total of i 280 pages for that year.
The net cost of printing and pubhshing, after allowing for sales,
was £4. 936, compared with ^6 739 (including the supplement) in
1020. Owing to the trade depression of the past twelve months,
tlie pubhcation in the Journal of the Classified Index of British
Manufacturers has been delayed, but a preliminary issue will appear
at an early date.

The contribution of the Institution towards the cost of publishing
Science Abstracts in 192 1 was £978, compared with /261 in 1920,
but the average for the two years was approximately the same as
the average annual contribution since its conception in 1898.

Wiring Rules.

The Editing Sub-Committee have completed the re\-ised draft of
the Rules, audit is now being considered in detail by the Main Com-
mittee. In connection with the rc\-ision, specifications for certain
electrical apparatus are being prepared by Committees of the British
Engineering Standards Association. It is hoped that these specifica-
tions will be available before the new edition is finally published, so
that reference may be made to them in the Rules, It is proposed
to issue the revised " Conductor " section in advarce of the re-
mainder of the Rules.

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

659

Model Conditions for Contracts,

On the suggestion of the liritish Illcctrical and Allied Manufac-
turers' Association the Council have appointed a committee to
prepare model conditions of contract for (a) " Home " orders when
no erection is included in the contract, and for ip) " Export " orders,
with or without erection.

Sea-going Electricians.

A deputation of the Ship Electrical Equipment Regulations
Committee has been received by the Board of Trade in connection
with the steps that are being taken by the Institution, at the
request of the Electrical Trades Union, to urge the Board to hold
examinations and grant certificates to sea-going electricians.

British Elec'rical Proving House.

The Wiring Rules Committee have reported to the Council as
follows : — •

" Very grave difficulty is found by this Committee in dealing with
inquiries as to the conformity of appliances and fittings with the
Wiring Rules, and the Committee are strongly of opinion that a body
for dealing with questions of this kind should be set up, and they
recommend the Council to reconsider the question of a National
Proving House."

The Council have referred the matter to a committee for considera-
tion and report.

Registration of Electrical Contractors.

The Council have set up a committee consisting of representatives
of the Institution and other interested bodies, to prepare and report
on a scheme for the voluntary registration or certification of electrical
contractors.

Power Lines Committee.

The Regulations Sub-Committee have been engaged in the
revision of the Board of Trade Regulations, for (a) securing the
safety of the Public, and (b) ensuring a proper and sufficient supply
of electrical energy ; also the Overhead Line Regulations for (a)
high pressures and {b} low and medium pressures. Drafts of the
revised Overhead Line Regulations have been completed, and that
for high pressure has been circulated amongst the associations
interested. Various criticisms and suggestions have been received,
and the draft Regulations are consequently being reviewed. A
similar course will be followed in regard to the low and medium
pressures Regulations, and it is hoped that a report on both sets
of Regulations will be ready before next Session.

German Reparation Payments.

On November 17, 1921, The Times published a letter from Sir
Henry Strakoseh proposing that German reparation payments be
made in kind, principally in the form of electrical machinery. The
Council addressed a letter to the Prime Minister and to the Chancellor
of the Exchequer taking strong exception to the proposals.

City and Guilds of London Institute (Grade 1).

The Council have been glad to give their support to an application
to the Board of Education from the Council of the Electrical Con-
tractors' Association for the temporary reinstatement of the
examination in electrical installation work. Ihe Board have
granted the application for the year 1922, and have left the
question of the future of the examination for discussion between
the Board and the Association.

Electrical Engineering Training.

The Council received last year a letter from the Board of Educa-
tion inviting the Institution to appoint a small body of representa-
tives to discuss with representatives of the Board the possibility
of the co-operation of the Institution with the Board in the regulation
of courses of study and the issue of certificates and diplomas to
successful students.

The Council appointed a committee to meet representatives of
the Board, and iive conferences were held. As a result a scheme
to give effect to the objects in view was submitted to and approved
by the Council. The proposals are now under consideration by the
Board of Education. The main points of the scheme are •■ —
. (i) The aboHtion of single-subject examinations and the substitu-
tion of grouped courses in electrical engineering.

(2) A joint board of three members appointed by the Institution
and three by the Board of Education will be set up to manage the
scheme, including the curriculum and the examinations.

(3) The entry of any .school into the scheme is entirely voluntary,
but no school can be included unless approved after detailed inquiry
by the Institution, and such approval may be withdrawn by the
Institution at any time, if found necessary.

(4) The holding of internal examinations by the approved schools
and of a final internal examination with external assessors appointed
by the Institution. These assessors will review the questions set
and give the final marks to the answer papers.

(5) National certificates and diplomas bearing the names of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers, the Board of Education and the
School will be issued to successful candidates.

The Council regard this matter as one of very great importance,
tendirtg to bring the schools more closely into touch with the
educational needs of the industry, affording a guide to young men
as to lines of study, and providing for a certificate, the value of
which will be recognisable all over the country.

Similar arrangements have been made by the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Chemi.stry.

Co-operation among Engineering Institutions.

The Council have appointed the President and Mr. R. T. Smith
to represent the Institution at a conference summoned by the
Institution of Civil Engineers to examine the question of co-operation
among engineering institutions.

Development and Research Association.

The membership of the .Xs^ociation has reached a total of 610.
Members of the Institution interested in development work are
recommended to communicate with the Director of the Association,
who will be glad to give particulars of membership, &c.

The Council of the British Electrical and Allied Industries Re-
search Association now consists of twenty members, of whom seven
are nominated by the Institution. The work is di\'ided under
eleven sections, and there are over forty research committees. The
Association has the regular assistance of about T50 experts and the
occasional assistance of many others. The expenditure on research
now amounts to about /16 000 per annum.

The B.E.S.A.

Seven British Standard Specifications for electrical purposes were

issued during the year.

Considerable work has been done in connection with the co-
ordination of the electrical specifications of eight Government
Departments, and much of this work will become available for
general use.

The revision of the Standardisation Rules for Electrical Machinery
(B.S.S. No. 72) has been in progress for over a year, and it has been
decided to sub-divide the Rules and draft them in the form of
specifications as follows : (a) Large machines ; (b) transformers ;
(c) industrial machines. These should be available during the
coming year.

The list of " Terms and Definitions " originally prepared by
the Institution in March, 1916, has been reviewed and greatly-
enlarged. It will not be issued until it has been considered by hte
International Electrotechnical Commission.

International Electrotechnical Commission.

The changed conditions in all countries have made the work of
the International Electrotechnical Commission during the past year
proceed at an apparently slower rate than formerly, each country
with its own national standardising body now finding it necessary
to consult all the various interests before instructing delegates to
attend the meetings.

The revision of the I.E.C. standard of resistance of copper has
been completed. Proof copies can be seen by those interested on
application to the Secretary of the Commission. A corresponding
standard for aluminium is in course of preparation.

A request for the co-ordination of the rules and regulations
relating to distribution systems (overhead and underground) in the
various countries has been acceded to. A questionnaire is being
prepared for circulation, and each national committee will be asked
to prepare replies.

Benevolent Fund.

"On December 31, 1921, the capital account of the Benevolent
Fund stood at £7 859 7s. 3d., and the accumulated income at
/i 583 i6s. 9d. Donations and subscriptions in 1921 amounted to
£1 424 17s. 3d.

Grants were made to 14 persons amounting to £525 5s.

Reference was made in the last annual report to the generous
offer of Mr. E. M. Hughman (late of Bombay) to present /250 to
the Fund, provided 19 other donations of a similar amount were
received by June 30, 1921. Mr. Hughman was good enough to
extend the date to December 31, 1921, and entirely to waive his
conditions, both as to the number and the amount of the other
donations. An appeal based on the offer was widely circulated,
and the result has been that the Fund has already benefited to tlu
extent of £2 306 6s. ^d.

The Institution's Annual Accounts.

After making provision for contingencies, as in the pre\-ious year,
there is a margin to the good on the revenue account for 1921 of
£639 2s. lod. This amount, which has been carried to the credit of
the general fund, compares with £673 7s. id. in 1920. In the
accounts for 1920 mortgages Stood at £29 2S4 15s. They now stand
at /24 331 19s. I id.

The total of the Life Compositions Fund on January 1, 1921, was
£5 676 IIS. Out of this the sum of £'86 is. has been transferred to
the general fund on account of Life Compositions of members
deceased during the year, leaving to the credit of the Fund £5 590 los.

Taking the Tothiil Street property and the investments at cost,
and the Institution building and lease, the hbrary and furniture,
etc., at the values standing in the books after writing ofi deprecia-
tion, the assets amount to £115 354 15s. lod. against liabilities
£0 415 7s. iid., leaving a surplus of £ioS 939 7s. iid., which com-
pared with /102 696 OS. lod. in the previous year.

A diagram is attached to the report. This is a truly imposing
list showing the organisation of the Institution and its representation
on other bodies.

66o

The Electrician — June 2, 1922

The FuUagar Oil Engine.

The demand for oil engines of relatively high powers has led the
ExGUSH Electric Company to take up the manufacture of the
FuUagar oil engine for the driving of dynamos, water pumps, air
compressors, and for similar purposes.

The arrangement of exhaust and air inlet ports used in this engine
is diagrammatically shown in Fig. i. Here there are two pistons
moving in opposite directions in one cylinder — one piston first
uncovers the exhaust ports, which extend all round the cylinder
bore, then the other piston uncovers a set of scavenge ports at the
other end of the cylinder. These ports also extend all round the
bore, and fresh air at a low pressure, supplied by a pump, fiows from
one end of the cylinder to the other, sweeping out the burnt gases
and leaving the cylinder filled with fresh air. This method of
scavenging has been used for many j^ears by the employment of
three cranks per cylinder, the centre crank being connected to the
piston nearest to it, and the two outer cranks coupled to the piston
more remote.

The special feature of the FuUagar engine consists in having only
one crank and connecting rod per cylinder, in place of the cumber-
some arrangement of three cranks just described. Fig. 2 shows
two cylinders exactly similar to that in Fig. i, each having two
pistons v/orking in it. By connecting the lower piston in the fir.st
cyhnder to the upper piston in the second cylinder, and the lower
piston in the second to the upper piston in the first by pairs of
oblique rods external to the cylinders themselves, the need for three
cranks per cyhnder is overcome.

Further Advantages of the Engine.

Apart from the air scavenging arrangements, the following are
among the many advantages obtained from the FuUagar system of

Exhaust

Scavengs

Exhautt

Pig. I.

Fig. 2.

a relativelv small floor space. The outline general arrangement
drawing in Fig. ^ indicates the saving in floor space of a 750 b.h.p.
FuUagar engine as compared with a compact four-stroke cycle

opposed pistons cross-connected : (i) the direct stresses caused by
the pressure between the pistons arc not transmitted to the framing.
There is thus an important saving in weight, the stresses on the
framing being only those due to the side thrust of the upper and
lower crossheads ; (2) the work which has to be expended in com-
pressing the air in the cylinder adjoining that in which combustion
is taking place is done directly by means of the external oblique
rods, instead of being transmitted through the crankshaft, as in all
other types of engine ; (3) the lubrication of the main bearings of
the crankshaft and the connecting rods is rendered easier by the
connecting rods being alternately in compression and tension, for
the reversal allows the lubricating oil, which is under pressure, to
flow freely all over the bearing surfaces ; (4) the loads on the main
bearings are greatly reduced, the pull of one connecting rod being
largely counteracted by the thrust of the adjoining rod ; (5) the
balance of the engine is excellent, owing to the fact that the centres
of gravity of the reciprocating masses working side by side nearly
coincide ; (6) the engine, owing to its construction and balance, is
suitable for working at higher rotating speeds than the ordinary
reciprocating engine ; (7) the turning effort of a 4-crank FuUagar
engine is equal to that of an 8-crank engine working on a four-stroke
cycle. Both this point and the previous one are of special importance
in connection with the driving of dynamos ; (8) the engine occupies

Fig. 3. 750 B.H.P. 4-Crank Fullagar Oil Engine, Running

AT 250 R.P.M.

Diesel engine of 500 b.h.p. — i.e., two-thirds of the power of the
Fullagar engine. The length of a six-crank Fullagar engine of
I 125 B.H.P. would be only one- third greater than that of the
300 B.H.P. Diesel engine referred to ; (9) the total weight and the
individual weights of the various parts of this engine are less than
those of the standard 500 b.h.p. Willans Diesel engine. The lower
weight facilitates handling during transport and erection, and also
overhauling ; (10) although the Fullagar engine, owing to the
opposed piston construction, is decidedly higher than an ordinary
Diesel engine, the height required to the crane hook for getting out
the pistons is less than is necessary to withdraw the piston of the
standard 500 b.h.p. Diesel engine complete with its connecting
rod clear of the top of the cylinders. The oblique rods do require
more head room, but these can be drawn out when necessary bv a
light fitment attached to the crab of the crane. The pistons can be
readily withdrawn without disturbing any high-pressure joints, and,
of course, there are no cylinder covers to be removed.

Fig. 4 shows a four-crank Fullagar oil engine which develops
750 b.h.p. at 250 revs, per min. This engine is coupled to a 500 kW
dynamo, and is used for suppljdng current for power and light in
the Rugby Works of the English Electric Company. The engine
works on the Diesel system — i.e., the air in the working cylinders is
compressed to raise the temperature of the air to about i 006° F., in
order to ignite the fuel oil, which is atomised and blown in by com-
pressed air. A three-stage air compressor driven from the end of
the crankshaft supplies the air required tor starting the engine and
for injecting the oil. The scavenging air is supplied from the
chambers in which the upper crossheads work. The crossheads

X Height of Crsne ffcck

^ r 1 —

750 B.H.P. -^1 "^ '

Engine

Fig. 4.

Comparison of 750 b.h.p. Fullagar 2-cvcle and
500 B.H.P. Diesel 4-CYCLE Engines.

thus act as pistons, the automatic air inlet and delivery valves being
contained in the boxes in front of and behind the chambers in
question.

Valve Gear.
The valve gear is illustrated in Fig. 5. The only mechanically
operated valves are the fuel admission valves, of which there is one

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

661

per cylinder. The starting air valves fitted on two of the cylinders
are opened by compressed air, these valves being in operation only
during the first few revolutions at starting up. All the main bearings,
connecting-rod bearings and lower crossheads are forced lubricated.
The main pistons, upper crossheads, air compressor and practically
all other parts are lubricated by mechanically operated lubricators
driven from the camshaft.

Fig. 5. — ^ViEW of Valve Gear.

The fuel oil used in the engine is that normally supplied for use in
Diesel engines built by this company. It has been demonstrated
by extended trials that the fuel economy of the FuUagar engine per
B.H.p.-hour is at least equal to that of a Diesel engine having the
same size of cylinder.

A Large h.t. Oil Circuit Breaker.

^ The Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company has
just shipped to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company what is believed
to be the largest oil circuit breaker yet built. The breakers were
built for the 220 000 V Mount Shasta developmnet, and are for use

The h.t. Oil Circuit Breaker for the Mount
Shasta Development.

The

on a 220 000 V .system having a solidly earthed neutral,
breaker has stood a 350 kV wet test.

The gross shipping weight of the apparatus, including oil, is
90 000 lb. or 45 tons. The net weight of the unit, erected on foun-
dation, is 75 000 pounds. The breaker requires 2 000 gallons of
oil for each pole and its net weight exclusive of oil is 300001b.
The height from the ground to the top of the bushing is 1 7 ft. 6 J in.,
and from the ground to the top of the tank is 9 ft. 8^ in. The long
diameter of the tank is 8 ft., while its short diameter is 5 ft. 8 in.

The " Posterlite."

The poster which tells its story by night as well as by day has
obvious advantages over its rivals whose appeal ceases at sundown.
In some cases, however, hoardings cannot be illuminated by means
of floodlights fixed at a distance, and for these conditions the
" Posterlite," a new bracket unit which can be fixed above the
top of the surface to be illuminated, has been designed by the
British Thomson-Houston Co.

This unit consists of a sheet copper trough with silvered glass
reflectors bent to correctly designed contours to give a concentrated
flat beam. The mouth of the trough has across its length louvres of

Fig. I. — B.T.-H. "Posterlite" Unit (patent applied for)
showing backplate fixed to back of hoarding, which is

' ghosted " IN THE PICTURE.

diffusing glass and metal. These modify and diffuse the light en
the upper portion of the hoarding without in any way interfering
with the main beam of light which illuminates the lower portion.
In this way an even illumination is produced over the entire vertical
surface.

Lateral Distribution of Light.

The lateral distribution of light is very wide, allowing the units
to be spaced as much as 10 ft. apart. Each unit tak^s two 250 \V
projector type Mazda lamps, which can be connected either in
series or parallel for use on high or low voltage circuits. " Poster-
lite " units can be used on all hoardings from 10 to 20 ft. deep.
Where hoardings stand alone and have no brightly illuminated
surfaces adjacent these units will be found satisfactory for depths
up to 25 ft. For average conditions, units spaced 10 ft apart will
give good results.

The Backplate.

The backplate is so designed that it may be attached either to
the front or back of the hoarding, the tube being secured in position

Fio. 2. — Swan Vesta Poster, Strand, lighted by me.\ns of
TWO " Posterlite " Units.

by two taper pins passing through the boss in the backplate. An
entry (tapped i in. conduit) is pro\-ided through which the supply
can be brought into the bracket. An insulated connector is pro-
vided in the head of the bracket to which connection can be easily
made, the unit being sent out \vith the holder wired to this point.

662

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

Retirement of Sir William Noble.

On Wednesday Sir William Noble, Engineer-in-Chief at the
G.P.O., retired, after 45 years in the postal service. Beginning his
ofticial career in 1877 as a telegraphist in Aberdeen, William Noble
was not content to be a manipulator all his life. He devoted his
spare time to acquiring a proficient knowledge of Pitman's shorthand
and to studying English, mathematics, the principles of electricity
and magnetism, and other kindred sciences. He won medals in
both the ordinary and honours grades in the City and Guilds
examinations in telegraphy and telephony and was appointed
lecturer in those subjects at Gordon's College, Aberdeen. His
classes were remarkably successful. In one year three of the five
medals offered went to Aberdeen. Later in his career Sir WiUiam
was appointed examiner in telegraphy by the Institute of the City
and Guilds of London and held the post for some ten years.

His success attracted attention throughout the service and in
1893, after a short training in routine procedure in the Engineering
Department in Edinburgh, he was appointed engineer-in-charge
of the Aberdeen Section. Four years later he was promoted to a
first-class engineership at Headquarters, and in 1900 he was
appointed second-class technical officer. The Post Office had just
undertaken the task of installing a telephone system in London,
and in 190 1 Mr. Noble was selected to act as assistant superin-
tending engineer in the newly created Central Metropolitan District.
He had a large share in the work of the " telephoning of London,"
the magnitude of which is not generally appreciated.

Steady Promotion.

In 1905 he was recalled to hea'dquarters as first-class staff engineer
and placed in charge of the Telegraph Section, which included
wireless telegraphs in those days, the operations of radio work not
then having reached the magnitude and importance now attained.
The comparative seclusion of a section at headquarters did not act
as a sedative to his energy. It was during this period that central
battery working was introduced. He also vigorously promoted
the development of machine sending and printing telegraphy. In
1907 he returned to the London District as superintending engineer
of the Central Area. After improving and consoUdating the
organisation of that district he recommended the amalgamation
of the three London districts into one, in order to reduce the over-
head charges and to simplify the transfer of the National Telephone
Company's system and staff to State control. The recommendation
was not accepted at the time, but after the transfer two districts
were formed out of three and eventually his original proposals were
adopted and a single London Engineering District covering the
entire area came into being.

During the years in which he held the post of superintending
engineer. Sir William was called upon to serve on many depart-
mental committees. For five years he was chairman of the Factory
Works Committee. He, in conjunction with Mr. Sinnott, was
responsible for the present system of joint examination which
deals with the examination and repair of all apparatus used by
the department. ^Prior to the transfer of the National Telephone
Company he was " appointed engineering representative on the
Staff Transfer Committee, set up for the purpose of grading into
the existing Post Office classes the members of the national com-
pany's stali'.

Services Recognised.

In 1902 Sir William was appointed assistant engineer-in-chief
The engineering staff by the transfer of the company had increased
tlircefold, nnd the new assistant immediately set himself to organise
the combined staffs into a homogeneo'..-. whole. The next few
years were years of great activity. New exchanges were installed
everywhere, underground schemes were provided in almost every
industrial centre, obsolete lines and plant had to be recovered, and
a vast network of main underground trunks was planned and com-
menced. But* for the war the telephone service in this country
might by thjs time have been equal to the best in the world. For
his services in connection with the work done by the Signals, R.E.,
during the war, which was largely Post Office, the King of the
Belgians created him a Chevalier de I'Ordre dc la Couronnc for
" constant and generous help " during the war.

In 1919 Sir William Slingo retired and was succeeded by Mr.
Noble. One of the most remarkable tributes to Sir Wiliiam's
success during his tenure of office has been the fact that the telephone
industry has been entirely free from disturbance or dislocation due
to trade disputes. His services were recognised by the King in
1920 by the conferment of knighthood, an honour which came to
him earlier than to any of his predecessors in office.

In the course of his career Sir Williani has visited many European
countries on telegraph and telephone business and has reported on'
the methods and apparatus used by Continental administrations.
He is president of the Institution of Post Office Electrical Engineers
and is also a Member of Council of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers, and last year read a papci before that body on " The
Long Distance Telephone System of the United Kingdom " for
whicli he was awarded the Fahie Premium. He is probably the
best known Scot in London to-day, outside the ranks of the Parlia-
mentarians ; and it is not at all unlikely that even this exception
mav be omitted in the near future.

Barton Power Station.

Mr. S. L. Pearce, chief engineer and manager to Manchester
Electricitj' Department, gave a description of the new Barton
power station and other electrical developments in south-east
Lancashire to the Manchester Rotary Club last week. The designs
of the station, he said, had been most carefully thought out.
Thanks to the generosity of the Manchester Electricity Committee,
he had btfen enabled to see some of the large plants not only in other
parts of this country but also on the Continent and in the United
States, and he assured them that the best features which could be
embodied in a modern power station would find a place at Barton;
Every factor the}^ knew of which made for efficiency had been intro-
duced. They were installing some 120000 h.p. of the plant in
three large units of, approximately, i\o 000 h.p. each. The capital
outlay on and incidental to the station had been very heavy,
totalling about 3 -J- million pounds sterling — on the station about
£2 400 000, on the transmission lines £650 000, and on distributing
stations about £230 000 to £240 000. Roughly speaking, the
cost of every kW installed at Barton, as compared with what the
cost would be in 19 15 and 191 6, was about 2i times as large.
Some of them might ask whether the Corporation was justified
in embarking upon the scheme at such a time of high prices.
He tnought there could be only one answer. Manrfiester
was a most important growing industrial centre, electricity
entered into the life of its people at every point and stage, it
could not buy its electricity elsewhere, and it was necessary to make
provision to-day for the needs which would arise when trade im-
proved. The effect of the high capital outlay could be minimised to
a great extent. The station had been designed to reduce to the lowest
possible basis the coal bill and labour charges and to ensure a high
degree of reliability. The plant must be run for the maximum
number of hours possible. It must become what the Americans
called a " base load " station. The ideal station would, of course,
run at full load for 8 760 hours per annum, giving 100 per cent,
load factor. This was impossible, of course, but the aim should
be to get as near that figure as practicable. There was no reason
why 60 per cent., and possibly more, should not be attained. At
Stuart Street it was about 40 per cent. At Barton, as compared
with Stuart Street, the coal consumption would be reduced by at
least 30 per cent.

Tariff Reduction.

Referring, lastly, to the subject of prices, Mr. Pearce said that
the average prices obtained in ilanchester during the last financial
year did not compare unfavourably with those of other large under-
takings, such as those of Liverpool, Glasgow and Birmingham.
They were lower in all respects, excepting that of lighting in Glasgow.
Still, they recognised that prices would have to come down, and a
start was to be made in June. He hoped that as Barton came into
operation and energy became available the Electricity' Department
would adopt a more forward sales policy with regard to the supply
of electrical apparatus for household use. Last year's results,
notwithstanding the industrial slump, were better than might have
been expected. Although sales fell to the extent of 42 million units
there was a substantial sum on the light side.

In the course of some discussion the opinion was expressed by
two speakers that Manchester was the most backward city in the
north in the use of electricity for cooking purposes, and that the
cost of electricity might be considerably reduced. One speaker
said he was obtaining it in Grimsby at half the price he had to pay
in Manchester, and that in a new factory his firm was using oil in
place of electricity.

The Institute of Physics.

At the Annual Meeting of the Institute of Physics, held on May
23, the following officers and board were elected to serve for the yeax
beginning October i, 1922. President — Sir J. J. Thomson. Pa^t-
Presidcnt — Sir R. T. Glazebrook. Vice-Presidents — Sir Charles
Parsons, Prof. \\\ Eccles, Prof. C. H. Lees. Mr. C. C. Paterson.
Non-Official Members of Board — Dr. R. S. Clav, Prof. C. 1. Fortescue,
Prof. A. Gray, Major E. C. Henrici, Sir J.E. Petavel, Dr. E. H.
Rayner, Sir Napier Shaw, Mr. R. S. Whipple. Representatives of
Participating Societies — Physical Society, Mr. C. E. S. Phillips,
Mr. F. E. Smith ; Faraday Society, Mr. W. R. Cooper ; Optical
Society, Mr. John Guild ; Rontgeii Society, Dr. G. W. C. Kaye ;
Royal Microscopical Society, Mr. J. E. Barnard.

The annual report stated that there were 408 members of the
Institute at the end of the year, of whom 258 were fellows. The
Institute is watching the possibihty of establishing a central hbrary
for physics, although the financial difficulties in the way of it^
realisation are stated to be considerable.

In the course of his presidental address Sir J.J. Thomson, after
dealing with the project to establish a Journal of Scientific Instru-
ments, spoke of the present depression in industry, but he made the
reassuring statement that out of 67 students who graduated with
distinction in physics and chemistry in 1921, 46 had obtained suit-
able positions, while 14 were doing research work. He hoped that
the scries of lectures on Physics in Industry which had been
established would act to some extent as " Keiresher Courses."

Speaking of tlie difficulties which the Safeguarding of Industries
.\ct had in many instances placed in the w^y of research, he
characterised research as a " key industry," and Iv hoped that the
Government would put every facility in the way of research workers
being able to obtain without delay the apparatus they required.

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

663

Railway Companies* Electric Power.

The South-Kastern and Chatham Railway Companies' and
West Kent Electric Company's Schemes have been before the
Electricity Commissioners (Sir John Snell and Sir Harry Havvard)
during the past three days at an inquiry at the Middlesex Guildhall,
Westminster.

Mr. W. D. Clode, K.C. (for the S.E. Railway Company, the L.C.
and D. Railway Company and the South-Eastern and Chatham
Railways Managing Committee), opening the case for his clients,
said it was proposed to erect a station at Angerstein's Wharf,
Charlton, 20 acres of which were available for the generating
station. The energy woiild be supplied to a sub-station at Lewis-
ham, about 3 1 miles away. The railways he represented were
included in the 1921 Railways Act in a group which also included
the South-Western and the Brighton Companies. The L. and S.W.
Company were generating their own energy and the L.B. and S.C.
Company were taking a bulk supply from the London Electric
Supply Corporation. Both were using a.c. at 25 cycles. The
Companies Act of 1903 scheduled six sites which his companies
might use for generating stations, but these did not include Anger-
stein's wharf. As soon as the cloud caused by the war began to
pass away, their friends in the neighbourhood around London began
to jog their memories with regard to their intention to electrify
their lines, and several local authorities decided to support the
application of the railway companies for sanction to the electrifica-
tion of the North Kent and loop lines. A deputation waited' upon
the Chairman of the Companies' Committee on May 23, and
impressed the urgency of the matter upon him. The Managing
Committee applied to the Advisory Committee under the Trade
Facilities Act asking if the necessary capital could be guaranteed
by the Treasury, and the Advisory Committee agreed that the
capital could be raised on much better terms if a guarantee were
given.

Lines ^ to be Electrified.

The railway lines proposed to be electrified in the first instance
were the North Kent and Greenwich line, theBexley Heath line, the
Dartford loop line, the main line down to Orpington, the Bromlej-
North Branch line, the Mid-Kent and Hayes line, the main line to
Bickley and Orpington, the Crystal Palace and Greenwich Park
line and the Catford loop line. These amounted to 94 route miles
(210 single line miles). Ultimately the electrification of 241 route
(640 single line) miles was contemplated. His chents might be able
to cater for the Brighton Railway when the present agreement of
the latter for bulk supply ran out. The Advisory Committee found
the proposals technically sound, and referred the matter to the
Minister of Transport, who appointed a committee of experts,
presided over by Sir Philip Nash, and including Sir Alex. Kennedy
Sir Philip Dawson and Mr. Stevens, who approved proposals to
erect the generating station at Angerstein's Wharf. The estimate
of the total cost was from 6 to 6^ millions. The Treasury were
satisfied that the estimate was reasonable, and the Government
had intimated that they were prepared to give a guarantee for the
payment of principal and interest, provided a satisfactory agreement
could be arranged. The generating station would be erected by
the Construction Company, which was being formed with a capital
of /lo 000 and borrowing powers of 6i millions, and would be leased
to the Managing Committee, who would pay an annual rent to
cover the interest on the debenture (which would be the form of the
loan from the Bank of England) and a sum of not less than £q^ 000
per annum for redemption, taxes and expenditure in connection
with the formation of the Construction Company. The maximum
period during which the Treasury guaranteed the payment of
principal and interest was four years. The provisional agreements
would be put before the Minister of Transport, and an application
would be made for an order under the 1903 Railwaj'S Electrifica-
tion Act.

Necessity for New Station.

Counsel agreed with Sir John Sncll that the present inquiry might
make the Minister of Transport's inquiry unnecessary. The com-
panies could not afford to wait for other supplies to be provided, as
their opportunity for getting the Treasury guarantee would be
gone by November 22 next. The West Kent Company luid not
yet got the Commissioners' consent to their station, and he under-
stood the West Kent Company's proposal was strongly objected to.
Their negotiations with the Advisory Committee and the agreements
were based on the completion of the station and tnc line in three
years. In the agreement between the Construction Company and
the Treasury it was provided that the Railway Companies should
have the option of taking over the station, on terms specified, at
June, 1927, or any subsequent five years until 1942, and the Treasury
guaranteed the payment of the principal and interest of the loan.
The plant was to be wholly of British manufacture. They had had
communications from the West Kent Company, which took current
in bulk from the South Metropohtan Electric Light and Power
Company. The West Kent Companj' was a small company with a
large debt and was not now in a position to raise a large sum of
money. It proposed to erect a station at Belvedere, and the
proposal was opposed by London County Council. He intimated
that he proposed to call Mr. Cosmo Bonsor, Chairman of the South-
Eastern Company and of the Managing Committee, to deal with
the financial proposals, but he suggested that he should not give full

teclinical details showing the cost of generation until the West Kent
Company had given evidence on their scheme. After which the
figures as to cost of energy for both schemes should be pat in
simultaneou.sly.

Mr. W. E. Tyldesley Jones, K.C. (for the West Kent Company),
said this procedure was ridiculous. It was essential that they
should know first what the railway companies oflered.

Sir John Snell ruled that the railway companies -must call
evideiice to prove the cost at which they could supply energy. They
would have the last word after other parties had been heard.

Evidence for Cooipanies.

-Mr. H. O. Cosmo Bonsor confirmed counsel's statements as to
the necessity for the electrification, and said it was. only after the
Trade Facihties Act was passed that they were in a position to go
to the Treasury. The Advisory Committee said this scheme was
one of the be.st put before them. The arrangement with the
Treasury was that the Construction Company would create a
debenture which would be lodged at th& Bank of England with a
Treasury minute attached. They would borrow the money as they
wanted it. They could get their money in the cheapest market
but they could if they wished get their money at the current bank
rate, which was 4 per cent, at pre.sent. The treasurj- Bill rate wa.-.
only 2^ or 2^, and he could get money at a shght fraction over that.
Therefore he could get his money cheaper than anybody else.

Cross-examined by Mr. Tyldesley Jones, witness said he did
not think Sir Philip Nash's Committee considered the questions of
erecting a power station and of purchasing electricity in bulk.

Answering questions by Commissioners, Mr. Bonsor said the
practice of the Bank of England was to lend money for three months,
after which it had to be repaid or the loan renewed. In this case
they had gone out of their way to lend it fot three years. At the
end of that time they would probably only renew for three months.
He still had no intrinsic objection to taking current from an outside
supply if the price were as cheap and the guarantees were as good.

To Mr. W. S. Kennedy (for the London Electricity Joint Com-
mittee) witness said when the proposed Joint Electricity Authority
was in working order it might be in the pubhc interest for the
railway companies' station to be taken over for general supply.

Replying to Sir H.\rry H.wvard, he admitted that he would only
get the mone}- cheaply so long as the Bank rate was low, but he
always borrowed at less than the Bank rate. At the end of the
three years the temporary loan w^ould be turned into a permanent
loan. Before that time the Southern Group would have taken
over the whole thing. The annual amount for redemption, taxes,
etc., would be nearer ;£iioooo than £95 000. The Treasur\- had
made no requirements with regard to turning the temporan,- loan
into a permanent one. There would have to be a .sinking fund set
up after the three years to liquidate the indebtedness in 22 years.

Questioned by Sir John Snell, he said he thought the only
discussions between his companies and the Brighton company were
as to whether they were to link up with the London Electric Supply
Corporation's station at Dcptford. As to the desirabihty of getting
part of the supply for the Southern Crroup from Wimbledon, part
from Deptford and part from Angerstein's Wharf, witness said they
might all get it from .Angerstein's Wharf when the station was
developed.

Mr. C. P. Sparks then j^ave technical evidence.

Branch Factories in Canada.

In a letter to " The Times," based on the recent correspondence
on " \\Tiat can we do with our Sons," Mr. Frank Carrel, member
of the Legislative Council of the Pro\nnce of Quebec, and proprietor
of the " Quebec Telegraph," who is now in England, urges British
manufacturers to take more interest in he establishment of branch
factories in Canada. During the last 23 years some 700 American
and foreign factories have been established and are doing well.
New labour-saving machinery is being rapidly introduced. Such
modernism does not (he states) , as Labour representatives say, cut
down general labour, but increases production, /"t a less cost, with the
same capital and plant. While it is perhaps, true that Canada
is not ripe for everv class of such branch factories, there is ho
doubt that there is room for a large number of them, particularly
in a province like Quebec, where, within the next 25 years, tlie
greatest electrical development of any part of the world is about
to take place. In this short period of time millions of pounds
will be invested in developing the immense waterfalls to generate
electricity for railways and factories. This will again reduce manu-
facturing costs.

Speaking on this subject, a Government otficial over here, Mr.
Carrel states, enumerated all kinds of reasons why British manu-
facturers did not go to Canada, among them the difference in
electrical apparatus or appliances. This, he says, may be true, but
asks, would it not be in order to adopt the American product to fi 1
the branch factor\' with orders ?

■' From existing facts, staring us n the face," he concluded,
" it seems to me that all offices engaged in preserving British trade
should be most oprimistic relative to the estabhshing of branch
factories, particularly in Canada, where, all things being equal,
they would be assured of a thri\-ing business and protection of
capital in a growing country, whose population \sill soon rival tiie
British Isles."

664

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

Opening up Europe.

By SIR ERNEST J, P. BENN.

The illimitable possibilities of Europe as a market are at
long last beginning to attract the serious attention of commercial
men. The continent of Europe, the centre of civilisation, with
I 000 000 000 human souls, has, from a trade point of view, for
nearly eight years been dormant. From a business point of view
there never were such opportunities and openings as now present
themselves in Europe. The people have learnt that Peace Treaties
and Supreme Councils cannot provide food and houses and clothing
and all the little luxuries on which they have set their hearts ; the
•eyes of the world are coming round to the business man, and the
business man will undoubtedly show himself worthy of the oppor-
tunities that now confront him. Mr. Lloyd George, on his return
from Genoa, told us that all the peoples were yearning to get back
to business, and that they looked to England to give them a lead.

Potential Trade Openings.

Apart from these general considerations, a study of the problems
in detail and an examination of the situation in each of the thirty
sovereign States which now compose the Continent of Europe lead
to the same conclusion. Everywhere one finds potential trade
openings of unprecedented magnitude, and everywhere one also
finds that the eyes of the populace are turned towards England in
this connection. Take as an example the new State of Poland, a
vast area almost as large as the United Kingdom. Less than four
years ago the new Poland was partly German, partly Russian and
partly Austrian, and it is now a mighty new nation anxious to build
up a great commerce on its own. This new sense of independence
which fills its blood makes it turn to new quarters in commercial
matters and seek in England and in France for trade connections.
By transferring trading interests in this way a new independence
is established on a more solid and a firmer basis than a mere Treaty
of Peace. Similar considerations and similar circumstances are
found wherever one turns.

Englishman's Hazy Idea of Europe.

The average Englishman knows something of Paris and Brussels,
he is vaguely aware of the location of Berlin, and if he is a young
man he is closely and painfully acquainted with the geology of
Flanders ; but, apart from that, our ignorance of Europe as a whole
IS little short of appalling. Most people are surprised when they
are told that Warsaw is a town which rivals Manchester in importance
and astonished when they find its fine, broad streets swarming with
hundreds of thousands of clerks and messengers, and its postal
and transport and telegraph services buzzing and humming with an
activity which is only equalled by our own. Yet Warsaw is one of
thirty towns within a couple of days' journey of London all of
•equal commercial importance. Very few people know that there
is a daily train which runs from Ostend to Constantinople, or that
you can get into a train de luxe at Riga and run straight through
to Madrid any day of the week that suits you. There is hardly a
corner of Europe which is not to-day oozing with business opportuni-
ties ; all along the thousands of miles of Soviet Russian frontier are
isquatted eager traders, profiteers if you like, engaged in illicit
lousiness with the unfortunate Russians, and this commerce has
assumed such vast importance that a big international exhibition
is to be held this year at Reval.

The Americans have, as might be expected, not been slow to
realise these possibilities, and Europe is to-day literally swarming
with visitors from the United States. The farther east one goes
the more one seems to meet these enterprising people Constanti-
nople is full of them, and every town on the way has its quota.

Difficulties v. Opportunities.

There are difficulties — of course th^rr are difficulties — grave
difficulties, but the chief difficulty is surely that the manufacturer
and the trader of our generation has been so spoilt, so spoon-fed, so
•cared for and looked after, that he cannot work up the energy to
attempt any business except that which is positively smooth, easy
and certain. There is first of all the question of currency. It is far
too commonly supposed that a fluctuating currency or a depreciated
currency is a bar to business. It is an inconvenient circumstance,
but nothing more. The risks of fluctuation can be covered by the
purchase of currency at any moment in any market. The way in
which the peoples of Europe have accommodated themselves to the
instability of currency conditions is one of the n arvels of the age.
If the people of Austria can still live in comfort w;f:h a monej' which
lias depreciated to a ten-thousandth part of its former value, surely
the British merchant is not incapable of accommodating himself to
similar conditions. All these difficulties do not really count when
measured by the opportunities which exist. If the ICnglish trader
still insists on having his business made fool-proof before he will
proceed, then others will .supply the needs of Europe ; but, if that
fine, commercial spirit, which was at one time England's pride
would to-day arouse itself, both Itngland and Europe might be very
much better off in the next few years.

A European Trad^ Paper.

These are the considerations which have led Benn Brothers,
Ltd., to take the bold step of establishing a commercial weekly
paper In the very centre of Europe. The " European Commercial,"
which will make its appearance from Vienna in the first week in
September, will have a dual mission. On the one hand, it will set

itself to inform the merchants of England and America of the actual
conditions in the various States of Europe. On the other hand, it
will be acclaimed throughout commercial circles in Europe as a
link between them and England and will enable them to do the
thing which to-day they most desire — to get into touch with English
merchants, manufacturers and financial houses, and open up
business negotiations. The " European Commercial " comes upon
the scene at the moment when Europe is ripe for a commercial
revival ; the business men of all coimtries now realise that they must
get together and get busy if civilisation is to be saved, and the
" European Commercial " is the first big important step in that
direction.

The Palestine Water Power Concession.

The New York correspondent of The Times gives some particulars
of the CONCESSION obtained by M. P. M. RuTENBERG, a Russian
engineer, for the exclusive development of the water power resources •
of Palestine and for the general supply of electricity. It is un-
fortunate that we should have to go to New York for information
on a subject of such interest to British engineers, but it is not
the first time in recent years that we have had to rely on foreign
sources for our knowledge of British and Imperial affairs.

It appears that M. Rutenberg is at present in New York in
order to raise capital for the first part of has project, which includes
the erection of a hydro-electric station on the Jordan below Lake
Tiberias, and the construction of three power houses at Haifa,
Jaffa and Jerusalem. These three stations will be equipped with
Diesel engine sets, and for the whole project about one million
pounds will be required. The terms of the concession, according
to M. Rutenberg, provide for the retention by the Palestine
Government of a large measure of control — both financial and
technical — over the company, which will be formed to exploit the
concession. The financial organisation of the company, and its
methods of generation and supply, must be approved by the
Palestine Government. Dividends up to 10 per cent. wiU be retained
by the company, but from 10 to 15 per cent, they will be divided
equally between the company and its consumers in the shape of
a reduction of rates. AU profits above 15 per cent, wall be paid
to the Government of Palestine.

In the course of an interview M. Rutenberg said he believed
that when the country was at peace sufficient electrical energy
would be available, and industries at once could be estabUshed
to provide work for large numbers of people. Both Jewish and
Arab labour could be employed in the construction and operation
of the power-houses. The Palestine Government had arranged to
grant loans, which the company would guarantee, to municipahties
in Palestine, to enable them to participate in the scheme as shaxe-
holders. A loan to the municipality of JafiEa had already been
arranged. In addition to ;£ioo 000 each subscribed by the London
Economic Board, Baron Edmond de Rothscliild, and the Palestine
Development Council, ;^2oo 000 had been subscribed by the Jewish
Colonial Trust of London. No orders for machinery and materials
had been placed, and none would be given until the £\ 000 000
had been obtained. M. Rutenberg stated that he had wTitten
to the Colonial Office stating that he was •walling to pay British
firms up to 10 per cent, more than was asked by firms of other
countries.

In a further interview M, Rutenberg stated that all consumers
(Arab and Jewish) would enjoy equal privileges, and municipalities
would be entitled to buy electricity in bulk and have their own
distributing systems ; with Jaffa and Jerusalem municipal authorities
negotiations have been opened and they will both probably partici-
pate in the scheme. The directors will be elected by the share-
holders according to the amount of capital invested.

Orders have been placed in Germany for two Diesel engines and
electric generators for the Jaffa station, which will be the first to
be erected. The cost of this plant is given as £1=, 954, but cables
and wires of the value of £2 743 have been ordered from Great
Britain. The reason for placing the orders for the generating
plant in Germ?ny is stated to be due to the fact that Biitish prices
were over 120 per cent, above those of the accepted tender. The
German quotation for a 500 h.p. set was ;^5 235 c.i.f. Palestine, and
the lowest British tender was £11 610 f.o.b. British port.

Grime Detection by Wireless.

Wireless telephony is being used extensively in New York and
Chicago for the detection of crime and the capture of criminals.
Both cities possess research departments for studying the adaptation
of wireless to police work. The pohce liave wireless distributing
stations, from which news of crimes is flashed over a wide area every
day, and they also possess high-power motor-cars equipped with
receiving and transmitting .sets, enabling conversations with pohce
headquarters to be kept up even when the cars are travelling at
fifty miles an hour. As soon as sufificient equipment can be manu-
factured every Chicago policeman will, it is staced, be equipped with
a miniature receiving set. Wireless receiving sets have been ordered
for each of the fifty police stations of Cliicago.

The Chief Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Pohce is
also keeping in touch with wireless telephone developments. For
the past three months experiments have been made at Scotland
Yard to test the use of wireless as an aid to directing the movement
of officers in search of criminals. The Chief Engineer of the Yard
is in charge of the experiments.

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

665

Brighton's Electricity.

In an address at the weekly luncheon of the Brighton and Hove
Rotary Club last week Mr. John Christie, electrical engineer to
Brighton Corporation, traced the history of the Brighton electricity
works. He mentioned that when an electricity company began
operations in 1882, before the Corporation had obtained a Provisional
Order, there were 200 consumers and the approximate cost was 2s.
per unit. The goodwill of the company was purchased for £-, 000
th(< Corporation Order (obtained in 1883) was put into force in 1890,
and the first section of the North Road works opened in September,
1 89 1. In 1900 an Act authorised the new power station at South-
wick, which was opened in June, lOcO. In 1892 the number of con-
sumers was 213, the price yd. per unit, the capital expenditure
^55000, and the total revenue ;^4 680, while in 1921 consumers
numbered 8 441, the units output (at 8d. per unit) was 11 261 408,
the capital expenditure £'897 787, and the total revenue ;^202 117.
During that period £s"5 000. or 1)4 per cent, of the total capital,
had l^een set aside for repayment of loans, £12 492 (including ,^8 000
of this year's surplus) had been applied to relief of rates, and the
reserve fund stood at ;^30 000.

With regard to the policy of finance he was up against his
Council and Committee, because he held — as a ratepayer and not
as an official — that the consumers were really being super-taxed by
paying higher prices than they should pay for the benefit of a large
proportion v/ho were non-consumers of electricity. Would not they
as business men rather have a 10 per cent, reduction on their
electricity account than a paltry 3d. off their rates ? The Gas Com-
pany were the biggest ratepayers, and their keenest competitors
but they did nothing in the way of helping the electricity undertaking
to get new business. The Corporation ran the undertc-king for the
benefit of their users and with the object of supplying at the lowest
possible rates, and when they had a reasonable surplus it should be
put to a reserve fund and not to the relief of the rates. The plant
would probably outlive the period of the loan, but it did not pay
to utilise plant all that time. It paid them to scrap it and use
modern machinery, so that they could generate cheaply. Ulti-
mately all ratepayers would be users of electricity, and they therefore
wanted a substantial surplus available. They must get rid of
obsolete plant, and, having secured a system of oil fuel firing and
suction coal-handling, thej'- hoped to be able to eflect a good deal of
labour saving, and at the same time to ensure a supply of electrici+y
for the trams, public lighting, and various industries.

Brighton's Front was the finest in the world, but he thought the
lighting should be brought up to date, and was confident that if the
Corporation would see their way to substitute for the present lights
a modern type of lantern at a comparatively moderate cost the
lighting could be greatly improved. Their shops were the finest in
the country, but it was pitiful to see the lack of enterprise on the
part of shopkeepers after dark. In the early evening the shop win-
dows were brilliantly lighted, but the tradespeople appeared to give
little consideration to the scientific lighting of their premises after
the closing hour, although it could be easily and simply arranged.

Efficiency Exhibition at Birmingham.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham opened on Thursday last an
industrial and commercial efficiency exhibition at Bingley Hall,
Birmingham, which will remain open until to morrow f Saturday).
The venture has attracted a good deal of attention, for it is recog-
nised that if firms are to make headway when trade revives business
must be run efficiently and economically on taking advantage of
scientific and modem methods.

In addition to the system, shown by Manifoldia, Ltd.. for
ensuring perfected supervision and record keeping of electrical
installations, of which we propose to give a fuller description next
week, there are a few other exhibits of interest to the electrical
industry. In a comprehensive display of goods, by the British
Institute of Industrial .\rt, the object of which is to show the
importance of a close alliance of art with industry, there are some
choice electric light pendants, lamps, etc. ; and the Rel.w .\uto-
matic Telephone Co. .show a complete installation for an inter-
departmental automatic telephone system, giving facilities for
connection to fifty telephones. It comprises the automatic switch-
board, power board, two sets of 24 V batteries and telephone instru-
ments all connected up for use. The functions of the power board
and accumulators are to store and distribute the electric energ^'^ for
working the switchboard : the power used for this purpose is sup-
phed from a 24 V battery of accumulators, which can be charged
from the exi.sting electric light system, either direct or through a
motor generator. .\ variety of scientific instruments are exhibited
by the Foster Instrument Company, including tberniometers of
the electrical resistance type, in fixed indicating form ; and Delco-
Light plants are displayed by F. S. Bennett, Ltd., with generator
direct connected to engine for 32 V or 1 10 V «ervice.

Wireless Developments at Trafford Park.

A practical demon.stration of the possibilities of the radio receiving
sets which will be manufactured at the Metropolita.v-V'ickers
Company's Works at Trafford Park, was given to a representative
of The Electrician a few days ago. When the arrangements for
broad-casting are completed and the formal permission of the Post
Office is given the company will proceed to manufacture three types
of receiving apparatus.

Ihe simplest and cheapest type comprises a small crystal detector
fitted with an ordinary telephone head-piece. It is expected that this
will sell well at about £^ to £\o and will pick up mc-ssages roughly
over a range of 25 to 40 miles. The next size, which is a valve set,
will have a range of 50 to 70 miles and will probably cost about £10.
The largest set will cost about £~$ and will have a range of at least
150 miles and will probably pick up all over the British Isles. This
set is extremely well finished and resembles a cabinet gramophone in
appearance. It contains four thermionic valves.

The manipulation of these sets is very simple. The pressing of a
button and tuiTiing of a small control handle through 180° are all
that is necessary, the latter operation being to tune the set to pick
up a particular wave length. Slight detuning diminishes the sound
without altering the pitch.

A demonstration was given in the company's research department,
waves being sent on an im.provised transmitting apparatus from one
part of the building to another ; the largest receiving set was
employed, no aerial being necessary. Songs, viohn solos, etc.,
were reproduced faithfully on the gramophone, and ordinary speech
was rendered quite naturallv.

An Electric Scaling Hammer.

Representatives of shipowning and slfip repairing firms in South
Wales witnessed at the Mount Stuart Dry Dock, Cardiff, last week
the first demonstration in the Principality of a new electrical labour-
saving tool. This is known as the Sandblom electric scahng
hammer and rust remover, placed on the market by the Electric
Scaling Hammers, Ltd., London, and the demonstration was given
by the International Paint Compositions, Ltd. The Sandblom
hammer is practically a spindle making about i 200 revs, per min.
equipped with a number of short chains with hammer heads at their
free ends. The number of chains varies from two to eight, according
to the class of work to be done. The driving power is supplied bv
a small electric motor of such light weight that it can be convenientlv
held by the workman operating it. When the motor is started
the chains are thrown outward by centrifugal force and the revolving
spindle is held parallel to the work so that the hammer heads com*
into contact with the surface to be scaled. The hammer strikes
10 000 blow.s per minute, and actual tests made at Copenhagen are
stated to have demonstrated that the machine does the work of
from 10 to 25 men \vith hand hammers. The current consumption
of the hammer is 330 W, and with current at i Jd. per unit the cost
is therefore only ^d. per hour. Hand and pneumatic scaling have.
it is stated, been supplanted by electric scaling in Norway and
Sweden, for not only are ships' plates scaled electricallv at a much
more rapid rate, but they are left with an absolutely smooth surface,
the small hammer heads entering all the badly corroded indentations
and cavities and removiag from them thoroughly all the smallest
particles of rust without weakening the surface. "The demonstration
on Wednesday was watched with great interest by the assembh ,
although the apparatus could not be shown to its best advantate
in consequence of the fact that a restricted supply of current did
not allow the spindle to revolve at more than 90 revs, per min.
However, large portions of thick scale were quicklv and easdy
removed. The machine, which is so portable that it mav be
employed as part of a ship's equipment for chipping and scaling
decks and holds, is not yet in use in this country, but the .\dniiraltv
is considering its adoption.

The Zenith Manufacturing Co. have just issued Leaflet
Z.M.55, giving prices and particulars of their new range of " Zenite "
vitreous embedded resistance \inits. Since this firm started the
manufacture of these units nearly a year ago, they have had.
frequent demands for them in similar sizes to those hitherto im-
ported from abroad, and are able to meet all requirements.

Radmolite.

Makers of electric cooking and heating app,..ratus who use refrac-
tories of various kinds for supporting the heating elements will be
interested in Radmolite. a material which the Moler Fireproof
Brick and Partition Co. have now placed on tlie market. Mr.
B. P. Deane, the general manager of the company, claims that this
material offers marked advantages over ordinary fireclay and
steatite formers for heating elements. Radmolite is largely com-
posed of diatomaceous eartli and is remarkably efficient as a thermal
insulator. Wlien made up into a firebar it absorbs heat at such a
low rate that tiie element springs into life almost as soon as it is
switched on, antl with fires which rely on a high temperature element
for their popularity this feature is of immense importance. With
ordinary fireclav a considerable time elapses before the element
attains its maximum temperature, because fireclay absorbs heat at a
much higher rate than Radmolite. Recent tests by the National
Physical I laboratory indicate that the new material, which can be
supplied in moulded form in any of the shapes now common to
electric fires employing a fireclay bar will greatly increase the
efficiency of electric cooking and heating apparatus, and it also
scores heavilv over fireclay in the matter of weight, being at least
half that of any firebar of similar volume. Lionel Robinson and Co.
have been appointed selling agents for this material.

666

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

Legal Intelligence.

Electricity Commissioners' Powers.

On Friday last a Divisional Court (the Lord Chief Justice, Greer
and Acton, J J.) heard an ex parte application by ]\Ir. Ross-
Brown, K.C., for a rule nisi for a mandamus directed to the Elec-
tricity Commissioners requiring them to show cause why they
should not hear and determine, according to law, an application by
Ealing Corporation, as the authorised suppliers of electricity for
the Borough, for leave to enter into an agreement witli Hammer-
smith (London) Borough Council for a supply of electricity. He
also asked for a rule for certiorari to bring up to the Court to be
quashed an order made by the Commissioners refusing them leave to
proceed with the agreement which had been provisionally drafted.
Counsel said that his ground of application was that the Com-
missioners, in arriving at their decision, were influenced by
extraneous and irrelevant matters, and therefore their assent to
the agreement which they could give under Sec. 19 of the Electricity
Supply Act 1919 was not properly or judicially exercised. By the
Act of 1919 the Commissioners were appointed to regulate and
supervise the supply of electricity. From an affidavit of the Town
Clerk of Ealing, counsel said it appeared the load on that Corpora-
tion's station was up to 75 per cent, of its full capacity and the
safety margin had been reached. If during the coming winter
there continued to be an increase of consumers the supply capacity
would be overtaxed. In the meantime an arrangement had been
made with Hammersmith for a bulk supply to augment that of the
Ealing District. The terms for this supply in bulk were more
favourable than those offered by the Metropolitan Electricity
Supply Co. The provisional agreement was put before the
Electricity Commissioners, who were told that Hammersmith
Borough Council were quite willing to stand by their bargain.
The Commissioners, however, refused to allow the agreement, even
though the combination of the two boroughs in the supply of electricity
woxdd have made a great financial difference to Ealing. Counsel
argued that the Commissioners, in considering the merits of the
two proposals (one from Ealing and the other from the Metropolitan
Electric Supply Co.), went beyond the jurisdiction given them
by the Act of 191 9, and that if a satisfactory agreement was put
before them the Commissioners should accept it.

In reply to the Lord Chief Justice, counsel said he submitted
that the Commissioners were dealing with extraneous and irrelevant
matters and they went beyond the discretion vested in them if
they went into the question whether a supply should not be supplied
by another authority.

The Lord Chief Justice said it looked as if the Commissioners
had made enquiries into the proposed arrangements and into other
matters bearing upon them, and on the whole had come to the
conclusion that, although there might be slight financial benefit, it
was more than counterbalanced by other objections. " What is it
you are persisting should be done ? " he asked. " What is the rule
you are asking for — that the Commissioners shall approve ?

■' Not necessarily," rephed Mr. Ross-Brow^n, " but that they
shall consider the application apart from the consideration of the
relative advantages of rival schemes. I submit that the section of
the Act which I have quoted empowers authorised undertakings to
come to such arrangements as they think proper,"

The Lord Chief Justice : With the approval of the Com-
missioners.

Mr. Ross-Brown agreed, but he .said it did not say anywhere in
the Act that the Commissioners should have a voice in selecting the
specific undertaking.

Mr. Justice Greek : They have not ; they have refused to
approve because they think there is an opportunity to have
something better.

The Lord Chief Justice : How can a "body or individual who is
required to decide on a question of approval consider one particular
plan to the exclusion of all otliers ? Is it not material to the question
to compare it with others ?

Mk. Ross-Brown : In the present case there was no other
application before the Commissioners ; the question was whether
Hammersmith's ay>p]ication was such as should be granted.

Mr. Justice Greer : It seems to me that your argument is like
an application for a rule to exclude from Sec. 19 of the Act the words
" with the approval of the Electricity Commissioners." Of eour.se,
you do not mean to ask for that, but your argu'iicnt goes to that.

After further argument, the Lord Chief Jistice snid the rule
could not be granted.

Mr. Ross-13rown asked for leave to appeal, but the Lord Chief
Justice replied that leave was not needed. " If it were," he added,
" this Court would not encourage it."

On Monday, Mr. S. J. Turner, on behalf of Ealing Corporation,
applied to the Court of Appeal for a rule nisi for a mandamus
directed to the Electricity Commissioners to show cause why they
should not give their approval to the provi.sional agreement entered
into between the I'^aling Corporation and the Hammersmith Borougli
Council. The application was made to a Divisional Court on
Friday last but it was refused. Having referred to the fact
reported above, counsel said the ground of the Corporation's
objection to the decision of the Commissioners was that, in consider-
ing the application, the Commissioners had taken into consideration
purely extraneous matter which they were not entitled to consider
at all. Applicants sai<l that the discretion given to tlic Commis-

sioners by sec. 19 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 191 9, had not
been exercised by the Commissioners judicially.

In the result their lordships granted a rule and directed that the
form of the rule should be settled in the Crown Office.

Electricity Company's Claim.

At Stamford County Court, last week. Judge Dobb heard the
claim of the Urban Electricity Supply Co. to recover from Alfred
Cade £24 4s. 6d., alleged to be due for electricity supplies. An
affidavit by defendant admitted £2^ 9s. of the claim, and the dispute
arose over the difference in price for electricity consumed for lighting
and that for heating.

It was stated that in Sept., 1919, a contract, which had been in
existence, was cancelled by the company. They were prepared to
enter into a fresh agreement, but after several letters had been sent,
a postcard was received stating that it had been decided to have the
current on the flat rate. For three quarters in 1920 an allowance
had been made for the current used for heating, but afterwards the
company said that if a rebate was expected defendant must have a
separate meter for the electricity consumed for heating.

Defendant said that the business had been transacted by his wife
and daughter, who had come to an arrangement with the company
to ha /e the current for heating at a lower rate, but the company's
engineer (Mr. Holman) denied any agreement had been come to by
his wife who was away at present.

In the absence of proof of a verbal agreement, his honour gave
judgment for plaintiffs for the amount claimed.

Award Against Herr Stinnes.

The Anglo-German Mixed Arbitral Tribunal has issued its decision
on the claim by Mr. Arnold Lupton, mining engineer, against
Herr Hugo Stinnes, of Miihlheim-Riihr, Germany. Mr. Lupton
sought to recover £2 000 (with interest at 5 per cent, per annum .
from October, 191 3) under the provisions of Article .196 of the
Treaty of Versailles. The claimant entered into an agreement with
Herr Stinnes on June 19, 1913, to secure a lease of 900 acres of a
coal area near Barnsley, in consideration of the above-mentioned
sum being paid to him if negotiations resulted successfully.

It was contended on behalf of respondent that the terms had not
been finally negotiated before August 4, 1914, the date of the
declaration of hostilities, and that claimant had not completed his
part of the contract.

The tribunal, however, decided that the contract had been
performed by the claimant, and ordered that £2 000, with interest
at 5 per cent, per annum from October, 191 3, should be credited to
the British Clearing Office, together with ^50 to cover the costs.

Damage to Telephone Wires.

In the Court of Appeal (Lords Justices Bankes, Scrutton and
Atkin) last week Liverpool Corporation appealed from a judgment of
a Divisional Court reversing a decision of the County Court Judge
of Liverpool who had found against the Postmaster-General on
his claim against the Corporation to recover the agreed cost
(£40 8s. 7d.) of repairing damage done to telephone wires and plant
by an electric light main belonging to the Corpoi-ation. The
electric light cable had been laid in 1889 and enclosed in an iron
pipe or conduit ; the telephone wires were in an adjoining iron pipe
but underneath the electric cable. On August 6, 1918, there was
an escape of electric current through a breakdown of the insulating
material of the electric cable, causing an explosion wliich damaged
both the cable and the telephone wires.

At the conclusion of the legal argument their lordships reserved
judgment.

Theft of Wire.

Two vouths, named Leslie Isaacs and George Haines, were charged
at Cardiff Police Court last week with stealing three coils of wire
(valued at £5 gs. 8d.) from John Ryan, a local electrical contractor.
Arthur Lawrence, an electrician, was also charged with receivingthc
coils from Isaacs. Lawrence pleaded that he purchased the m.aterial
and also othe/ electric fittings (the subject of further charges) from
Isaacs, who told him he was in business and represented that
he wanted to dispose of the goods because there was no trade.
He paid a fair price for everj'thing and had no knowledge that
it had been dishonestly obtained.

Isaacs was fined {10, or two months' imprisonment, and Haines
/3, or one month's imprisonment. Lawrence was committed for
trial at the next Quarter Sessions.

A reduction is announced in the Canadian duties on 50 articles.
The reduction applies almost entirely to imports under the British
preferential tariff, the exception being agricultural implements,
which, being imjwrted w-holly from the Inited States, are also
reduced in the general tariff. On a number of items the Briti.>^h
preference is increased by an average of 2I per cent. To pro\-ide
additional revenue the sales tax is increased 50 per cent., and other
taxes are also increased. . The regulation requiring foreign goods to
be marked with the name of the countr>- of origin is repeated as a
general law, but will be applied in special cases by an Order in
Council. Henceforth also goods will be valued for duty at the
market jirice in the country of production, while the exchange rate
is to be as certified on the invoice by the Consul or commercial
agent at the port of shipment.

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

667

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Torquay Corporation Bill.

A Select Committee of the House of Lords has passed this Bill,
which autliorises the transfer of the Newton Abbot electricity
undertaking of the Urban lilectric Supply Company to Torquay
Corporation.

Mr. W. J. Jeeves, K.C. (for the promoters), urged that Torquay
needed a more adequate station than it possessed in order to meet
the demand for electrical energy m the district. A big station
within the borough might be detrimental to the town as a whole,
and they had to get outside the borough to find a site for new works.
The Urban Electric Supply Company would also have to extend
their works. For some reason they declined to supply the Council's
workmen's dwellings with electrical energy. In the end Torquay
Corporation and NTewton Abbot Urban Council met and came to the
conclusion that it would be to the interest of both areas that the
Newton Abbot Council should exercise their option of purchasing
the company's undertaking, and that Torquay should find the
necessary money. All the Bill desired was that Torquay Corporation
should purchase the undertaking at Newton on terms on which the
owners were bound to sell to the Newton Urban Council.

Mr. H. F. G. Woods gave evidence in support of the Bill and said
that the scheme would provide Newton with a cheaper and better
supply of electricity.

In the course of discussion between counsel and the committee
in regard to the price of the undertaking, Mr. Jeeves said £66 000
was suggested, but Mr. Woods considered this sum far too much.

Mr. Tyi.desley Jones, I\.C. (for the Urban Electric Supply
Company), said the Bill was absolutely unprecedented. But for the
world war the company would be in a very different position,
and when the option to purchase by Newton Abbot was agreed to,
quite a different set of circumstances was contemplated. He was
going to ask their lordships' protection from what could only be
a partial measure of confiscation. Torquay was not even an agent
in the purchase. It was a fraud, and Torquay sought to avail itself
of what was intended for Newton. The local authority in the case
(Newton Abbot) Wc.s a mere shadow. Torquay was seeking to
obtain permission to buy his client's undertaking, and for an alien
corporation to come in and expropriate his undertaking upon terms
which were unjust, and for the benefit not of the local inhabitants
but of the flourishing borough of Torquay, was the grossest injustice.

No evidence was called for the opposition, but the Committee
found the preamble of the Bill proved, and suggested that the terms
of purchase be arranged by arbitration.

Electricity (Supply) £ill.

In the House of Commons on the 2,:jth ult. this Bill was read
second time without a division, Mr. Geo. Balfour having withdrawn
his motion for its rejection on a promise that amendments would be
considered in Committee.

In the course of the debate, Mr. M.\rriott said that local inquiries
had been held by the Electricity Commissioners at Birmingham,
Manchester and Barrow, and the result proved that those progressive
industrial districts were strongl}' opposed to the setting up of joint
electricity authorities on anything approaching a compulsory basis,
though they were anxious for co-operation between authorised
undertakers on a voluntary basis. The best hope of a rapid progress
in the development of electricity supply was to be found in the
encouragement of private enteiprise. It had been computed that
the joint electricity authorities would have to borrow £110 000 000
for the purpose of taking over the existing generating stations,
transmission lines, &c. The Bill was a gigantic experiment in
municipal trading. In.stead of tlic financial procedure being by
resolutions of the House, it should be by way of provisional orders.

Mr. Neal said the Government desired to retain Parliamentary
control over finance, and he was advised that they had done so.
But, as the matter was one of great importance, he was quite
prepared to consider with an open mind, in Committee, any amend-
ments to secure that reasonable and adequate protection was given
to the House to control expenditure.

Mr. J. D. Gilbert said that if London was to have a cheaper
supply of electricity there must be some kind of working arrange-
ment by which many of the smaller suppliers — municipal and others
— would be merged into larger suppliers. At present there was
chaos, with different prices in different London areas. The system
needed reforming, and the Bill would liclp in doing that.

Wirel9:s Communicatioa on Railways.

Mr. F. Roberts asked the Postmaster-General (House of Com-
mons, May 24) (i) whether he could indicate the results of the
experiments undertaken by the Midland Railway Company and the
London and North W^estern Railway Company with regard to the
establishment of wireless communication between the more impor-
tant points on their railway systems ; (2) what progress had been
made as the result of the extended trial of wireless communication
in connection with the British railway system, which was undertaken
by the Marconi Company with his consent ?

Mr. Pease : Permission was given in 1920 to the Midland Railway
Company to establish wireless communications between certain
points on their svstem and to the Marconi Company to conduct
tests of such communications on the system of the London and
North Western Railway Company. The Marconi Company pro-
posed last year to supplement the preliminary tests on the London

and North Western Railway by a more extended trial, and they
were offered a licence for the purp*jse, but the proposal was not
proceeded with. So far as I am aware, no experiment in \\-irelcss

communication on railways have since been carried out.

London-Stvitzerland Wireless Service.

Mr. T. Griffiths asked the Postmaster-General (House of Com-
mons, May 25) whether the new wireless service which has been
insti'^uted between London and Switzerland in competition with the
Government Land Line and Cable Service is being conducted under
a temporary or permanent licence ; and whether, having regard to
the importance of this question, he would cause the terms of the
licence to be laid upon the Table of the House ?

Mr. Kellaw.ay : No licence has yet been issued. Temporary
permission has been given to the Ma-coni Company to start a service
between London and Switzerland, but this is subject to withdrawal
if a suitable agreement is not arrived at between the Government
and the company as to the conditions on which such licences may be
granted. The question of the conditions under which hcences'can
be issued is stdl under consideration. Should such licences be
granted their terms will be laid before Parhament.

On Tuesday Mr. Pike Pease gave a somewhat similar reply with
regard o the London-Paris service.

Wireless on the s.s. "Egypt."'

In reply to Mr. Mills (House of Commons, May 24) Mr. Baldwin
stated that no reports had yet been received by the Board of
Trade from ships' captains who received the wireless message
SOS from the " Egypt," to the eftect that they were unable
to obtain details of latitude and longitude from the vessel, but
reports on the subject were being obtained. The " Egypt " carried
three fully quahfied wireless operators. Ocean-going passenger
vessels which carry more than 200 persons in all were required to
have three fully qualified operators. Ocean-going vessels, whethtr
passenger or cargo, which had less than 200 persons on boarci,
carried one or two fully qualified operators, as the case might be,
and, in addition, one or two certificated watchers.

Yorkshire Electric Power Bill.

This Bill has been passed by the Unopposed Bills Committee of
the House of Commons. Powers are conferred for the sub-division
of the shares for the doubling of the capital of the company, tVc.
The Electricity Commissioners have authorised the erection of a
new generating station at Ferry Bridge, and as the company arc to
proceed with the scheme the additional powers are necessary-. The
share capital will be increased from two to four million pounds,
wifh the usual borrowing powers.

The Bill was read a third time on Monday.

Select Comm ttee's Telephone Report.

Replying to a question by Major Glyx in the House of Commons
on May 2^ Mr. Chamberlain stated that an opportunity for a dis-
cussion on the Report of the Select Committee set up to inquire into
the telephone services of the Post Office was afforded o« the Post
Office Estimates, and the Postmaster-Creneral himself dealt wixh the
most important recommendations of the Report. He (Mr. Chamber-
lain) could not give special facilities for a further discussion.

Wireless on Passenger Aeroplanes.

In reply to Sir H. J .sittain (House of Commons. May 22).
Captain Guest said that he hoped that long before the end of the
year all machines, British and foreign, travelling between this
country and other countries would be equipped with wireless.

Progress of Private Bills.

The Ayr Burgh (Tramways, etc.) Order Confirmation Bill passed
its third reading in the House of Lords last Thursday.

The Ayr Burgh (Electricity) and the Torquay Corporation
(Electricity) Bills were read a first time :'a the House of Commons on
Tuesday. The Grampian Electricity Supply Bill and the L.C.C
(Tramways and Improvements) Bill have been read a third time and
passed, and the Ixsndon Electric and City and South London
Railway Companies Bill has been read a second time. The Hou-o
of Lords have agreed with the Commons amendments to the Notting-
hamshire and Derbyshire Tramways Bill.

Aids to Rural Contentment.

In a communication to " The Times," a correspondent strongly
advocates, as .aids to rural contentment, new and better houses,
a better system of lighting, anil better means of transport between
towns and villages. Improvements in metliods of lighring have not
received the attention they deserve, especially in the small towns
and villages. No doubt if Joint Electricity .\uthorities could be
formed much would be done to extend electric hghting, but in the
meantime there are mtuiy places where electric light plants could
be established with success and private houses and streets would be
lighted better than at present, and at no great cost. It is important
to have improved lighting, for better light would compel bettor
houses. Better hghting would mean fuller opportunit\'- for social
intercourse, and for so many of the amenities of life, fuller use of the
institute buildings, wliich at present depend for artificial fight upon
oil lamps. Better means of transport would also aid by widening
the intellectual interests of village life and putting neighbouring
villages in touch with one another.

668

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

Electricity Supply.

Durin» the year ended March 31 last 846 new consumers were
connected at Willesden, bringing the total up to 6 636.

iXerms have been arranged for the supply of electricity by the
Accrington Corporation to Oswaldtwistle. For a period of five
years an extra charge of 5 per cent, is to be made, but afterwards
the same price will be charged in both districts.

Hemel Hempstead Rural District Council has sealed an agree-
ment with Watford Urban Council for the supply of electricity to the
parishes of Kings Langley and Bovindon. Under the agreement the
charge may be 12 J per cent, over and above the price for the time
being charged for a corresponding supply at Watford, but the
maximum charge must not exceed gd. per unit.

A conference of electricity authorities in South-East Lancashire
will be held in Manchester on June 20, in order to consider the
preparation of a draft Order for giving effect to the scheme for the
reorganisation of electricity supply in the District which was
recently approved by the Electricity Commissioners. The Com-
missioners will be present at the conference, and it is expected that
the Order will come before Parliament in the autumn.

Last year BiRMtNGHAM Electric Supply Department made a
surplus of £.'\o?>^i, against ;^68 160 in the previous year. The
accounts last year had to bear heavy charges in the way of interest
on the temporary unproductive works at Nechells which are not
yet in operation. The proposed system for extending the supply
to the eastern and southern districts of Birmingham (at an estimated
cost of ;^ioo 000) has been altered to a system by which low tension
direct current can be made available. A saving will thus be made
of ^15 000.

The accounts of Bexhill-on-Sea Electricity Department for the
year to March 31 last show a gross profit ol £10 145, an increase of
£2 684 on the previous year. After making provision for repayment
of loans, income tax, etc., there remains a net profit on the year's
working of £z 122 (£'517). The credit balance carried forward is
£z 639. The committee have decided to reduce the charges for
lighting from lod. to gd. per unit, and for power from 3d. to 2jd.
per unit, the reductions to take effect as from the beginning of the
current quarter. Application is to be made to the Electricity
Commissioners for sanction to borrow £15 083 for new plant, etc..
and the erection of a small sub-station at Cooden to supply the
western area, necessary to deal with the requirements of the forth-
coming winter.

The Electricity Commissioners have notified Chester Electricity
Committee that the Draft Order for the North Wales and Chester
Electricity District is in the hands of the printers, and that, having
regard to the lateness of the Parliamentary Session, the Commis-
sioners had decided to issue the Draft Order not only to the members
of the Provisional Committee, but to all interested parties, and to
hold the second inquiry at Llandudno on June 13. At their meeting
last week the Committee resolved (i) to enter a protest both against
the procedure which the Commissioners propose to adopt and against
the date on which it is proposed to hold the second inquiry, as not
allowing sufficient time for consideration of the terms of the Order ;
(2) that the services of Mr. J. H. Rider, of the firm of Preece,
Cardew and Rider, be retained to advise the Corporation on the
technical portion of the scheme.

Arising out of a statement made at a recent meeting of the Hull
City Council by Mr. B. Pearlman, that five members of the Corpora-
tion had shares in the Melton Cement Company, which had been
given exceptionally good terms by the Electricity Committee, it
was moved by Mr. E. E. Keighley, at a meeting of the committee
last week, that all the members should give the chairman a Hst of
firms or undertakings in which they are interested. The resolution
was seconded by Mr, A, Digby Willoughby, and carried without any
dissent. With regard to reducing the tariff it was stated that this
would not be entertained until the reserve fund was brought up to a
reasonable figure. Compared with last year, there had been an
increase in the sales of 28 per cent., and the gross revenue had
increased by 15 per cent., while the revenue expenses had decreased
by 3 per cent. The reserve fund amounts to ;^i 3,000, half of which
is earmarked for the purchase of inter-connecting machinery.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

MuLLiNGAR Motor Co. have submitted to the Town Commissioners
a scheme for the electric lighting of the town.

A company has been formed at Tregaron to carry out an electric
lighting scheme, promoted by Dr. J. T. Lloyd.

Chulmleigh (Devon) Parish Council have decided to have the
town lighted by electricity, and to install eighteen 100 c.p. lamps.

GouROCK Town Council have agreed to accept the offer of
Crreenock Corporation to supply the town with electi-icity, on the
same terms as those on which electricity is being supplied to Port
Glasgow. •

The Minister of Transport proposes to confirm the Caerphilly
Electricity Special Order, 1922, authorising tlie supply of

electricity by Caerphilly Urban Council, and any objections must be
sent to the Secretary, Ministry of Transport, by June 10.

The proposal of Salford Electricity Committee to erect a gener-
ating station at Agecroft was finally approved by Salford Council
last week and application is to be made to the Electricity Commis-
sioners for sanction to borrow £'jog 287 to cover the cost of erection.
A heated discussion took place concerning the financial details of
the Committee's proposals, but the scheme itself met with little
opposition.

The Electricity Commissioners will hold a local inquiry at the
Guildhall, Nottingham, on Tuesday, July 11, at 10.30 a.m., and
following days, with reference to the area to be included in the
proposed East Midlands Electricity District and to consider a
scheme which has been submitted by the Conference of Municipal
Electrical Undertakers for the improvement of the organisation
for the supply of electricity within the said district and for the
establishment of a Joint Electricity Authority. Anyone interested
may attend the Inquiry. Any representations or objections with
regard to the scheme should be addressed to the Secretary, Elec-
tricity Commission, Gwydyr House, Whitehall, London, S.W. i, not
later than Tuesday, June 27.

Glasgov.' Corporation has agreed to apply to the Electricity
Commissioners for a Special Order extending the limits of supply
of the Corporation so as to include the districts of Killermont,
Lambhill, Bishopbriggs, Robroyston, Millerston, Ruchazie, Bail-
lieston. Mount Vernon, Broomhouse, Carmyle, Cardonald, Hilhngton
and the other areas adjacent thereto in the counties of Lanark and
Renfrew. The Corporation has had no important extension of its
electric lighting area since the original Electric Lighting Order was
obtained in 1890. Various districts have been added to the area
by Corporation Exten.sion Acts, but a number of these districts
were "at the date of annexation already possessed by the Stra^-hclyde
Electricity Supply Co., and the Clyde Valley Electrical Power Co.,
and the extension of the city boundaries over these districts was,
so far as concerned electricity, subject to the rights and powers of
these companies in the annexed areas.

Diverse views were expressed at a combined meeting of the Barrv
Urban Council, the Property Owners and Ratepayers' Association,
and the Chamber of Trade held last week to consider further the
question of the council entering upon an electrical scheme. Mr.
W. Seabrook, representing Sir Charles Bright and Partners, who are
advising the council, said that as a commercial proposition the
installation of an electrical supply was one that required careful
consideration. The council were relying upon the local ship-
repairing and engineering firms and the authorities in control of the
docks to take a supply of electricity, but the council would not be
able to produce power as cheaply as the dock authorities could. Mr.
Seabrook's firm had previously reported that an electrical scheme
at Barry would prove remunerative and that a capital outlay of
;/|20 000 would be required for generating plant and ;^20 000 for
mains. It was suggested that current for industrial purposes
4d. per unit, but workshop proprietors would not look at it
at that price, as they required it at about ^Id. Replying to a ques-
tion, Mr. Seabrook said the lowest cost of installation and wring was
now 22s. per point. Eventually it was decided to defer the matters
for a conference between a sub-committee composed of members
of the council, the Chamber of Trade, the Ratepayers' Association
and the general public.

Alteration of Charges.

Derby Electricity Committee recommend a reduction in the
price of electricity from 2d. to i^d. per unit from July next. This
will mean a saving of ;^io 000 a year to users.

Messrs. J. & \\'. Purves are applying to the Electricity Commis-
sioners for a Special Order to amend the Teignmouth Electric
Lighting Order, 1915, by increasing the prices which maj' be
charged, and providing for a periodical revision of such increased
prices.

Ii FORD Urban Council has adopted the following scale of charges
for electricity- supplied to cinemas : — Primary charge of 5s. per kW
of maximum demand per week ; secondary charge, up to 10 000
units per quarter, 3d. per unit ; 10 000 to 20 000, 2.M., beyond. 2d.
Accounts axe to be paid weekly.

Stirling Town Council has made the following reductions in
the cliarges for electricity : private lighting, from 8d. to 71!. per
unit (reduction of 12^ per cent.) ; slot meters, from Sd. to 7d.
(reduction of iz\ per cent.) ; power 4d. to i|d., plus 25 per cent.
instead of 57^ per cent, (reduction of 32 J per cent, in the war
increase ; heating, first 160 units, per quarter, 2id. per unit, all
over 160 units, per quarter, 2d. per unit (a decrease of from i6i to
332 per cent.).

Rawtenstall Electricity Committee has revised its system of
charging for electricity supplied to dwelling houses of £zo rateable
value and under. Instead of the present flat rate, a consumer may
elect to have a fixed charge of £z izs. per annum (payable quarterly)
for 82 units, including meter rent, but all units used in excess of
82 are to be charged at lid. per unit. For houses on the Corpora-
tion's housing estates a weekly charge of is. will be made and
collected each week with the rent.

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

669

Business Items, etc.

Mr. C. M. Cosby, northern district office manager of The Westing-
house Morse Chain Co., has joined (as from June ist) the firm of
Jenks Bros., Ltd., of Wolverhampton, who have been appointed
sole agents for Yorkshire for the Westinghouse Morse inverted tooth
rocker-joint chain drives. Mr. Cosby will be located for the
time being, at "Standard Buildings, City Square, Leeds.

Shenton and Company announce that they have been appointed
agents by the Mullard Radio Valve Company for all their manufac-
tures such as valves, grid leaks, etc., for the districts of Newport and
Cardiff. Shenton and Company have been developing wi less
apparatus during the past twelve months, and have just issued a
four-page list of their receiving sets, accessories and parts for use
where it is desired to make up receiving sets complete by the user, as
well as for additions to existing sets.

Lionel Robinson and Co. (partners : Lionel Robinson and
W. E. Warrilow), 3, Staple Inn, London, W.C. i, have been
appointed selling agents for the Moler Fireproof Brick and Partition
Co., Ltd., for the handling of their Moler refractory material which
they are putting on the market for electric cookers, fires, grills,
hotplates, etc., under the trade name of Radmolite. Enquiries will
be welcomed at the above address and samples of solid Radmohte
can be supplied on application. The company also handles
" Moler " in porous and granular form for the thermal insulation for
•electric ovens, furnaces, etc.

^ Mr. Ernest A. Marx has resigned his position with Pope's Electric
Lamp Co., and has joined the Z Electric Lamp and Supply Co.., of
73, Newman Street, W., as joint managing director as from June i.
Mr. Marx first became associated with the Pope's Electric Lamp
Co. sixteen years ago, and at the time of his retirement from the
firm occupied the post of general manager. He has an unrivalled
experience of the electric lamp industry, an experience not confined
to this country alone, for he spent over seven years in Australia and
New Zealand. He is a member of the Electric Lamp Manufacturers'
Association and also of the Executive and Council of the E.D.A.
The object of his present change is to extend his operations. As
joint managing director with Mr. James Scrivener he will still be
in a position to handle Pope Elasta Lamps, as well as all other
association makes, together with other electrical supplies, such as
moonstone glassware, heating and cooking apparatus, etc.

Electric Traction.

Radcliffe (Lanes) Council has decided to reduce the price of
electricity for tramways from i-gd. to i"7d. per unit.

A swarm of bees stopped the tramway service at Maidstone
«n Tuesday by settling on the trolley-pole of a car in the main street.
A local bee-keeper had to remove the swarm.

Ayr Town Council have agreed to purchase from Manchester
Corporation five single-deck cars at the price of £120 each. The
carriage will be £30 per car, and about ;^ioo will have to be
expended to make the cars suitable for local conditions.

During the recent intense heat i 000 000 c. ft. of air wa,s pumped
per minute through the tube railways by means of huge electrical
fans. The system of ventilation is thoroughly scientific. Some of
the fans used are exhaust fans, to draw out exhau.sted air. Others are
pressure fans, to force in fresh supplies, and in the latter case all the
air is first washed and ozonized.

The Department of Overseas Trade report' an opportunity for
British nationals or organisations to purchase certain shares in the
Posen Tramway Company, which are held by the Reparation
•Commission, in accordance with Article 260 of the Treaty of Ver-
sailles. A provisional allocation of these shares will be made at the
office of the Reparation Commission in Paris on June loth in favour
■of the highest offer received up to that date, and any further offers
(which must be at least 3 per cent, higher than any previous offer)
will be considered on J-une 17th. Further particulars can be
obtained from the D.O.T.

A statement of the works proi^osed for the improvement and
•extension of the railways of the Underground Railw.\ys Company
OF London has been issued by the chairman. Lord Ashfield. Par-
ticulars of these have already appeared in The Electrician. It
is stated that when the new works are finished the capacity of the
train service upon the sections of railwaj' concerned will be more
than doubled, and it will open up for development a new territory
in the north of London. Contracts have been placed for a large
part of the works. In about a year the first portion will be com-
pleted and opened for public use, the remaining portion being
finished in about two years from now. The whole of the rolling
stock, rails, bridges, turbo-alternators, machinery, cables, etc., with
the one exception of certain parts of the escalators, will be manu-
factured in this country.

Personal and Appointments.

Mr. H. Leigh Mossley has been elected chairman of WiHesden
Electricity Committee in succession to Mr. W. A. Hill.

Mr. a. J. Abraham, tramway manager and electrical engineer
to the Aberdare Urban District Council, intimated to the council
at a special meeting on Friday that he had been offered a post
elsewhere, but was prepared to remain at Aberdare provided his
salary did not fall below ;^6oo per annum. It was stated that Mr.
Abraham's basic salary was £'\f>o, plus bonuses, making it in all
/700 a year. The council accepted the resignation with regret, and
resolved to advertise for a manager at a ba.sic salary of £450 pc-r
annum, plus bonuses.

Mr. Marconi, with two technical a,ssistants, left Southampton on
Friday on board his yacht " Elettra " for America. At New York
he will conduct a number of tests in co-operation with some of the
modern American stations, and show what can be acc9mplLshed in
the high speed dispatch and reception of messages. Over long
distances, such as from America to England, messages are now-
received at a rate of eight to ninety words a minute, and Mr. Marconi
will use improved instruments by means of which speed can be
increased uf) to one hundred words a minute and over. Besides his
other experiments, Mr. Marconi will carry out tests for the Metero-
logical Office in London during his voyage. These will have special
reference to the collection of reports of the weather in the areas of the
Azores and the Bermudas. He expects to be absent from England
until the middle of July.

Wireless and Telegraph Notes.

Arrangements have now been completed for the establishment by
the Commercial Cable Co. of a base at Queenstown for the repair
of Transatlantic cables.

The wireless station at Abu Z.\bel is now open for full wireless
public service between Egypt, the Sudan, Sj'ria, and the British
Isles, and the Continent of Europe.

The English wireless concert transmitted each Tuesday
evening from Writtle, Essex, will take place in future at 8 p.m.
British summer time, on a wave length of 4<X) metres ; not at
7 p.m. on a wave length of 700 metres, as hitherto.

Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co. announce that the telegraph
office at Marconi House is now open at the following times only : —
Monday to Saturday inclusive, from 7 a.m. to midnight ; Sundays
and Bank Holidays, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. During the time
Marconi House is closed cychsts will collect messages on receipt of
a call to London Wall 3606.

Nauen wireless station is being extended to meet the increasing
traffic in the L^iiited States and the Argentine. Twenty five millioa
marks additional capital is being raised by the Trans-Radio Co.,
and a beginning has already been made with the constructive work.
The plans include the erection of seven new masts, each 210 metres
high (689 ft.), and the dismantling of four of the existing masts.

An Exchange Telegraph message states that the Deutsch Atlan-
tische Telegraphen Gesellschaft, which lately absorbed two other
German cable companies, has announced its intention to lay a sub-
marine cable from Emden to Horta (Azores) and from there to New
York. An agreement with this object has already been entered into"
Negotiations are proceeding with the German Government for
compensation to the three companies for losses caused by the war.

In reference to our article on the 19th ult. relating to the New
Zealand n.\tionai, scheme of electricity supply, we are
informed that the transformers for Mangahao scheme were ordered
from Ferranti, Ltd., and they are now approaching completion.
The order comprises .seven 4 000 k VA single-pha.se 30-cycle oil-
immersed forced-cooled transformers, ratio 11 ooo.iioooo V.

Imperial Notes.

Last year the Ontario Legislature passed an Act authorising
the Government to bear 50 per cent, of the cost of extending primary
distribution lines of the Hydro-Electric Comi.iission in rural areas,
but in a Bill recently introduced this privilege will be extended to
municipalities that may be in a position to purcha>e power from
private companies. It is not intended to allow a re1->ate to a private
company that may be constructing rural primary lines, but a
township or a group of farmers may build primar>- lines and own
them, the Government paying 50 per cent, of the cost.

.\ Bill has also been introduced into the Ontario Legislature
dealing with the construction and operation of municipai electric
railways. On the demand of the corporations of two or more
municipalities, in any locality in which electrical energy is supplied
bv the Hydro-Electric Commission, the latter as the agent of and
at the expense of such corporations, may investigate the cost and
advisability of constructing the desired railway. The proposal
must be submitted to a vote of the electors and conditions are laid
down for raising money for the work, and for the appointment of an
Association to controlthe equipment and operation of the railway.
Any group of municipalities may build electric railways, but the
Hydro-electric Commission must approve of the work, and power to
of>erate the system must be purchased from the Commission.
The Government desire to assist municipalities to build radial
hnes where there is a reasonable guarantee of financial «uccess.

670

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

Foreign Notes.

Tlio scheme for utilising the watei- power of tlie Rhone and
many smaller rivers is likely to cause great activity in the French
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY, and it is Stated that soon manufacturers
will find difficulty in supplying the countiy's requirements in
electrical machinery and apparatus.

In an article in the last issue of " Eclairage et Force Motrice, "
M. Paul Basiaux estimates that at least 100 000 h.p. could be
obtained from the water power of the Meuse and its affluents,
of which 50 000 H.p. could be developed in Belgium, and he pleads
for the collection of data on the subject.

The accounts of the Societe Belge pour la Fabrication des
Cables et Fils Electriques show a net profit of 750 000 frs. in 192 1.
compared ■with i 248 000 frs. in the previous year, and the dividend
is only 36.10 frs. per share against 45.62 frs. Owing to the French
tariff a subsidiary company, the Societe des Cables et Tubes du Nord,
of Roubaix, has been obliged to erect a factory in France.

Dutch manufacturers of electrical machinery and apparatus
continue to complain of the disastrous effects of German compe-
tition. The N. V. Nederlandsche Kabelfabriek attribute the
drop in their profit in 192 1 to i 106000 florins, compared with
1 388 000 florins in 1920, to this cause, and the dividend is only
17 per cent, compared with 23 per cent, in the previous year-

Luxembourg will" shortly decide upon the offers recently sub-
mitted for the electrification of the whole of the Grand Duchy.
About 15 tenders were received and the concession will be for
30 years. A commission of three officials, presided over by the
Director-General of Pubhc Works (M. Leidenbach), is investigating
the various schemes which have emanated from Belgium, French
and German firms. Two foreign engineers, one of whom is a
Belgian, have been called in, and it is anticipated that a Belgian
offer will be accepted.

Ma Hui-chieh and other capitalists have raised a sum of $5 000 000
for the establishment of the Kiao-ao Electricity Company,
Ltd., at Tsingtao. The company will undertake electrical enter-
prises along the Kiaochow-Tsinan Railway. Its head office will be
situated at Tsingtao with branches at Tsinan, Shanghai and Tientsin.
TheTiAo HuA Electric Light Company, Ltd., at Tipu, Chekiang,
has been established by Lang Er-k'ang and others. Application
for registration has been sent to the Ministry of Agriculture and
Commerce through the Board of Industry of Chekiang.

The Budapest correspondent of " The Times " reports that a
Hungarian engineer named Szabo claims to have invented a device
for printing at limited distances by electric current as well as by
wireless. The apparatus can be fitted to any telegraph transmittei'.
Complete sentences are set up in lines and columns in the transmitting
apparatus, and a corresponding impression is conveyed to the
receiver either by electric current or by wireless waves.- The inven-
tion, it is said, will make it possible for newspapers to appear
simultaneously in different parts of the world.

There are i 121 miles of Swiss Electric railways, including
700 miles of light railways. Of the main lines 317 miles are equipped
on the single-phase and only 82 on the three-phase system. The
mean annual consumption of energy per ton kilometre in 1920
ranged from 48 to 51 units. Electric locomotives are cheaper to
maintain than steam locomotives. On the Loetschberg line
maintenance is 17 per cent, lower, and on the narrow gauge Rhaetian
railways 27 per cent, lower. The Loetschberg electric locomotives
are of from 2 000 to 2 500 h.p., and the comparison is with steam
locomotives of less than half that power, Swiss opinion favours
the single-phase system, using current direct from the generating
station supplied at high tension to the contact wire.

In connection with the Marseilles Colonial' Exhibition an
interesting congress on the applications of electricity is being
organised by tlie Association des anciens eleves dc ITnstitut Electro-
technicpio of Grenoble, and will be held in Marseilles from the 17th
to the 20th inst. Papers (followed by discussions) will be read on
the generation and transmission of electrical energy, including large
power units, high tension transmission, switchboards, insulators,
and safety devices ; electric traction systems ; domestic electrical
apparatus ; electricity in mining, iron and steel works ; use of blast
furnace gases, electric propulsion of ships, &o. , radio-telegrajihy
and telephony, and electro-cliemistry and electro-metallurgy.
Particulars may be obtained from the Director of the Institut
Electrotechnique, Grenoble.

The " Journal " of the British Chamber of Commerce of Turkey
and the Balkan States reports that the Constantinople market is
flooded with cheap foreign electrical goods, German to a very
great extent, and the prices charged are from 30 to 30 per cent,
lower than British prices. Shortly after the armistice a British make
of lamp was to be seen in most of the retail shops, and it held its own
until the rise in the exchange and the reduction in price of Dutch and
German lamps made further business impossible. Many orders for
cables have been placed in (iermany, Czecho-Slovakia and Italy.
Lately few orders have gone to the United Kingdom. British firms
are liandicapped by the fact that the public utility companies in
Constantinople are mostly French or Belgian.

Miscellaneous.

Mr. Henr>' Chitt}' has applied for the restoration of patent
No. 121 320, dated December 5, 191 7, for " Improvements in or
relating to commutators for dynamo electric machines," which
expired on December 5, 1921, owing to non-payment of renewal fee.

INIembers of the brass and nickel silver trades last week attended
demonstrations of a new type of electric rotating furnace
designed and made by T. H. Watson and Co., of Sheffield, for the
proprietors of the Greaves- Etchells electric steel furnace. The
furnace is of independent arc type of 2 cwt. capacity, in the form of
a barrel, which is rotated when a bath of metal is formed, in order
to ensure the complete mixing of the alloy. The demonstrations
showed a considerable reduction in cost on present methods. This
is said to be the first British-inade electric furnace adapted for the
melting of non-ferrous metals to be put on the market.

For the purpose of thanking the tramway employees for their
assistance to his distress fund the Lord Mayor of Cardiff (Councillor
F. H. Turnbull) gave a reception to the tramwaymen on Sunday at
the City Hall, and announced that the conductors had collected
over ;^950 since the scheme of selling distress tickets on the sj'stem
was inaug-arated. He hoped the efforts put forward would not be
diminished as, owing to the unemployment benefits being restricted,
there was still urgent need for more funds. The Lord Mayor was
supported by Councillor Sydney Jenkins (chairman of the Tramway's
Committee), Mr. R. L. Horsfteld (general manager), Mr. Howell
David (traffic superintendent), and about 200 employees.

Alden Lighting Plants at the Royal Counties
Show.

At Stand No. 35 at the Royal Counties Show, Guildford, the
Alden Engine Co. have a representative exhibit of their Hghting
plants for countrv'-house work, designed to compete with the small
high-speed American and other sets, and selling at prices sub-
stantially below the quick-speed installations. The engines furnish-
ing the motive power for driving the Alden sets run at slow speeds
of 500 to 600 revs, per min., and they are consequently suitable for
general power purposes as well as generating electricity.

The sets exhibited include the Alden-Iyight Plants : Model " C,"
2 kW, 50 V, capable of supplying 100 lights, consisting of a 5 b.h.p.
Alden vertical oil engine mounted on extended girder frame, and
belted to dynamo, complete with water-cooling tank, tool-box, etc. ,
and hand-operated switchboard, including shunt regulator. (The
standard battery for tliis set is one with a capacity of 200 Ah. at the
lo-hour continuous rate of discharge) ; an Alden- Light plant, model
" C," 2 kW, 50 V, capable of supplying 100 lights, which is the same
as the previous model, except that the engine and dynamo are direct-
coupled ; and an Alden-Light Plant, model " .\ ", f kW, 25 or 50 V,
capable of supplying 30 lights or more.

On the same stand is exhibited one of the Company's new semi-
automatic switchboards for use in connection with small electric
lighting sets, which permits of the engine being started up automatic
ally from the battery by merely turning a starting switch.

Electricians' Wages.

It is announced that, in accordance witli the National Wages
Agreements between the National Fede'"ated Electrical Association
and the E.T.U. (under date August 7th, 1920 and September 22nd,
1921) the variation in cost of living now justifies a 22 per cent.
reduction in wages in place of the previous reduction of 16 per cent.,
the net hourly rates of pay applicable to the respective grades of
the agi^eements are as follows : Grade A, is. 11 Jd. (tliis rate includes
a travelling allowance) ; Grade B, is. 9d. ; Grade C, is. ~l<i. ; Grade
D, IS. 6d. The above rates come into efi"ect to-day (June 2nd), for
the period covered by that pay day, and will remain current up to
and including the period covered by the first pay day in October,
1922.

At the meeting of the N.J.I.C. held on May 24th, 1922, the agiee-
ment to vary the grading of Sussex from Grade " C " to Grade " D "
was ratified.

Obituary.

We regret to announce the death of Mk. John Martin, head of
the Alternating Current Designing Dej^artmcnt of the British
Thomson-Houston Co., Rugby, who died on I\Iay 23 at his residence
in Rugby. Mr. Martin was "born at Little Arduthie, in 1S78 and
was educated at Stonehaven and Aberdeen, studying engineering
afterwards at Glasgow Iniversity, where he took the degree of B.Sc.
On leaving the I'niversity he joined the works of the British
lUectrical Plant Co., at Alloa, as a pupil, and later entered the
British Thomson-Houston Works at Rugby in 1903. Shortly after
joining these Minrks he entered the designing office and became
associated with the design of induction motors and allied apparatus.
From 1914 he was in charge of this work, and the high reputation
that the B.T.H. induction motors have enjoyed for many years is
the result of his energy and ability. -Mr. Martin was an .Associate
Member- of both the British and flu- .\merican Institution of
Electrical Engineei-s.

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

671

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Manchester Electricity Committee. June 15. — Cable for
six months. Specifications, etc., from Mr. F. E. Hughes, Town
Hall, Manchester.

Dublin Electricity Committee. June 14. — Magazine flame
arc lamps. Specification, etc., from the City Electrical Engineer,
Fleet-street, Dublin.

Tynemouth Corporation. June 26. — One a.c. booster. Par-
ticulars from C. Turnbull, Borough Electrical Engineer, Electricity
Works, Tynemouth.

Preston Electricity Department. June 28. — E.H.T. switch-
gear for the Kibble Power Station. Particulars from the Town
Clerk, Town Hall, Preston.

Metropolitan Asylums Board. June 21. — ib) installation of
electricity for lighting and power, telephones, etc., at Tooting Bee
Mental Hospital extension.

Middlesbrough Corporation. June 26. — Laying double line
of tramways, equivalent to t 630 yards of single track. Specifica-
tion from Borough Engineer.

West Ham Corporation. June 13. — 10 000 kW turbo-alternator
and 10 000 kW surface condensing plant. Specification, etc.,fronj
Mr. F. W. Purse, 84 and 86, Romford Road, Stratford, E.15.

Dublin United Tramways Co. (1896), Ltd. June 12. — Six
months' supply of car fittings, electrical stores, etc. Forms of
tender from the General Manager, 9, Upper Sackville Street,
Dublin.

St. Pancras Electricity Department. June 15. — Two sets of
motor generator balances, each of i 000 kW ; 1. t. cables. Par-
ticulars from the offices of the Electricity Department, 57, Pratt
Stieeij, Camden Town, N.W.i.

Kent County Mental Hospital, Barming Heath, Maidstone .
June 30. — Two 3-phase back-geared electric . motors and two
centrifugal pumps and acces.sories. Particulars from Handcock &
Dykes, 11, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W.

Manchester Electricity Committee. June 28. — Subsidiary
cables between generators, auxiliaries, transformers and switch-
boards in the Barton power station, together with materials for
fixing tail-end boxes and pot heads for all the cables as scheduled .
Particulars from Mr. S. L. Pearce, Chief Engineer and Manager,
Dickinson Street, Manchester.
INDIA.

High Commissioners of India. June 23. — (i) Cable, switch-
board, lead sheathed, and cable for wiring buildings ; (2) cable, dry
core, lead sheathed, armoured ; and cable, underwater, unarmoured,
lead sheathed. Particulars from Director-General, India Store
Department, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.E.i.
NEW ZEALAND.

Public Works Department of New Zealand. July 4.*- —
Manufacture, supply and delivery of i pelton wheel of 225 h.p.
direct-coupled to a.c. generator of 150 kVa {120 kW at 08 power
factor), 3-phase, 2 200 V, 50 cycles, adapted to run in parallel with
a 100 kW alternator, all in accordance with specification.
SOUTH AFRICA.

Municipal Council of Johannesburg. June 28*. — -Electric
lamps and fittings as follows: 5 ooo- 210 V 60 W, 4000 210 V
100 W, I 000 210 V 20 W, 5 000 240 V 60 W ; one watt metal
filament lamp fitted with bayonet type cap, and marked with the
letters " J.M.C." The 210 V lamps are required for use on a.c.
circuits and the 240 V lamps on d.c. circuits. The following cast
iron street lighting suspension fittings are required : — loo fitted
with 8J- in. refractor bands and Goliath screw holders, too fitted
with d,}} in. refractor bands and bayonet holders, 100 fitted with
6i in. refractor bands and bayonet holders.

Llandudno Electricity Committee have accepted the tender of
Whipp and Bourne for l.t. switchboard, /825.

Dublin Corporation have accepted the tender of Babcock and
Wilcox for two water-tube boilers for the Electricity Department at
^35 533-

Farnborough Urban Council has accepted the tender of Burch
and ^"ertue for wiring and fitting the large hall at the Town Hall
at ;^37 7S. 6d.

Brighton Corporation have accepted the tender of W. H. .Mien ,
Son, and Co., for 400 kW. hou.se service turbine for Southwick power
station, £^ 6G2.

Weymouth Town Council has accepted the tender of the Brush
Electrical Engineering Company for a commutator for the
ti.rbo-generator at ;^i95.

Warwick Town Council have accepted the tender of the
Leamington & Warwick Electrical Company for lighting certain
streets in the Stratford-road district.

Wolverhampton Corporation have accepted the tenders of the
English Electric Company {£2 639) and the General Electric Com-
pany {/2 902), each for a i 000 k.W. rotary converter.

* Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

London County Council have accepted the tender of Boiling cc
Lowe for tramrails, £g I2s. 6d. per ton, fLsh plates 15s. 3d. per cwt.,
bolts and nuts £i 12s. hd. per cwt., and points and cros.sings ;£io 5s.
per set.

Glasgow Tramways Committee have accepted tenders of the
Western Electric Company and Pirelli General Cable Works, Ltd.,
for cable, and British Insulated and HeLsby Cables, Ltd., for globe
strain insulators.

Burntwood Parish Council has accepted the tender of the
Cannock Chase Colliery Co. for public lighting by electricity at
Chase Town and Chase Terrace at ;£205 for the seeison, against
:£226 I2S. 6d. paid for gas.

Steel, Peech & Tozer recently quoted the Sheffield Tramways
Committee £n los. per ton for 500 tons of basic steel rails. As the
committee required only 200 tons they placed an order for that
quantity at £12 los. per ton.

Edinburgh Tramways Committee have accepted the following
tenders: Brush Electrical Co., Loughborough, for 119 trucks at a
cost of ;^i3 310 ; and Dorman, Long & Co., Middlesbrough, for
tramway rails and fish plates at a cost of £1^ 456.

Bexhill-on-Sea Electricity Committee have accepted the
following tenders : — R. Hornby & C-o., 150 meters at 36s. each ;
Landis & Gyr, Ltd., 50 meters at 45s. 8d. each ; Crompton dt Cjj.,
new circuit breakers to No. 5 generator panel, £^2 los. complete
with marble panel.

St. Pancras (London) Council have been recommended to accept
the tender of the British Thomson-Houston Co. for h.t. switch-gear
for Grafton Road and Regent s Park sub-stations, at £3 044 .
Thirteen tenders were received vanking from £i 000 to £5 429.
The Council have also accepted tenders of Palmer and Co.,
Merton, for the supply of 10 switchboard frames, /^ii los. ;
Northcote, Heaver and Co., 33, King's Road, N.W. i, for 10 l.t.
direct-current switchboard?, /799 15s.; and Holden and Brooke
for an electrically driven 8-stage centrifugal pump, /914 15s.

The " Electrician " Tables of Electricity
Supply.

A good idea of the steady growth of the electricity supply industry-
may be gained from a study of The Electrician Tables of Electricity
Supply Undertakings, the 1922 edition of which has just been
published. On the present occasion information of about 30 new
stations has been included in the British section and over 100 in the
Colonial and Foreign Tables. Not only has there been a considerable
increase in the number of entries, but substantial progress has also
been made in the connections to the mains, in the number of fresh
consumers, in reductions of prices, and in other ways.

Apart from the particulars of the chief officials, the systems of
supply, consumers' voltage, motors and total connections, public
lamps, steam raising and generating plant, prices charged for
electric current, etc., h. therto given, information has now been
added concerning the types of mains and distributors, converting
plant, showrooms, motor hiring and assisted wiring schemes. The
whole of the entries, as well as the statisrics of the British Power
Comjianies have been carefully revised, and it is confidently beheved
that the new edition of the Tables ^\^ll prove indispensable to
manufacturers of plant and apparatus, to electrical contractors and
suppliers, to power users and others interested in electricity supply.

The Colonial and Foreign Tables have been greatly extended, and
no effort has been spared to make the Statistics as accurate and as
complete as possible for those parts of the British Empire in which
there is a demand for electric plant and apparatiis. Many Austra-
lian, New Zealand, South African and Canadian entries are included
for the first time, and through the courtesy of the Overseas Trade
Department we are able to give brief particulars of all the supply
undertaking's in Chili. With the great expansion of hydro-electric
supply there should be an inci-easing market for electrical goods
overseas, and the Tables will prove invaluable to manufacturers
and exporters who want to open up new colonial and foreign
connections.

The present edition also gives particulars of tlie principal electric
tramways and railwavs in the British colonies and in foreign countries.
The Tables are published at the usual price of ids. 6d.. post free,
by Messrs. Benn Bros., Ltd.. o and S, Bouverie Street. Fleet Street,
London, E.C.4.

Licences of Right have been granted to F. Lowenstein for
Patent Xo. 122040 (1302 19) for "improvements in electro-
magnetic wave signalUng arrangements " : to Vickers. Ltd.. and
others for Patent No. 137 370 (i 206:19) for " improvements relating
to turbine blades " ; to the Vapor Car Heating Co. Inc. for Patent
No. 147 177 (1924320) for -improvements in electric contact
thermostats'" : and to Geb. Stork and Co. for Patent Nos. 6 732 15
and o 733 13 for " regulating and safety apparatus for Iwiler feed
pumps" and " condensing plant."

672

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc.
Siemens Brothers.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of Siemens
Brothers and Co., on Tuesday, Mr. G. Mure Ritchie (the chairman
of the company), who presided, said that their expectations in
respect of volume of business and gross profits for 1921 were not
realised, because owing to the general decline in industry, so acutely
aggravated by the great coal strike, the wave of depression caused
their order book to shrink severely, particularly during the second
half of last year. Nevertheless, as 192 1 results were not subject to
excess profits duty, they were able, after making the appropriations
already detailed, to carry forward to 1922 a larger amount than was
carried forward from 1920 after ehminating the excess profits duty
liabihty for that year.

As to manufacturing operations in 1921, the year's turnover
although less than in 1920, exceeded ;^3 oco 000 sterling, and the
average profit on the turnover was under 7 per cent. In previous
years he had given details of the work in their principal departments,
and now, without repetition, it need only be said that throughout,
though in most directions on a smaller scale, similar work had been
done with similar results. As soon as necessary they hoped to have
in substitution for the "-Faraday" another cable-laying and cable-
repairing steamer of modern type and adequate dimensions, but
which would be kept afloat with much lower running charges than
was possible with so old a craft as the " Faraday." Business in
telephonic apparatus, especially in automatic exchanges, increased
substantially during 1921, and, in addition to British orders, included
three exchanges for public service in Canada — they had also secured
against strong competition from the United States a large contract
for a 6 000 line automatic exchange for Winnipeg, but that order
was secured in 1922 ; they had in 192 1 contributed substantially
towards the progress of submarine telephony by designing and
manufacturing cable of the continuously loaded type, their manu-
facture of ebonite fully maintained its high standard of excellence
and their Stannos system of house-wiring continued to make satis-
factory headway.

Relations with their employees continued of the most friendly
nature, notwithstanding that a comparatively small section of
workers connected with one of the engineering unions ceased work
some time ago, no doubt out of loyalty to their leaders, whose policy
was controlled by a small number of extremists. As compared
with the later months of 1921, their orders during the earlier months
of 1922 had on the whole increased, and they were, therefore,
hopeful that as far as volume of work was concerned they were past
the worst. Taking a long view, he thought that in their particular
lines of industry the prospects were good. Omitting submarine
cables, which might be laid anywhere — though fortunately the chief
cable -companies had their headquarters in England — their products
were delivered in 1921 to Britain 72 per cent., against 67 per cent,
for 1920 ; to their overseas Dominions 17 per cent, in 1921, against
20 per cent, in 1920, and to foreign countries 11 per cent, in 1921,
against 13 per cent, in 1920. In their overseas Dominions they had,
partly in connection with the Enghsh Electric Company, a network
of important agencies through which they hoped to build up an
expanding and satisfactory business in the future.

An abstract of the accounts was given in our la.st issue.

Johnson and Phillips.

In the course of his speech at the annual meeting of Johnson and
Phillips, Ltd., last week, Mr. W. Claude Johnson (the chairman),
who presided, said that although the year's profit of ^4 737 showed
a considerable reduction on last year's profit of IgBi 405 it was
satisfactor}' to be able to say with confidence that the profit on the
year's working would have compared quite favourably with that
of the previous year had it not been for tliC heavy fall in prices of
raw materials and stocks which necessitated the writing down of
values to current market prices. The year under review, which
looked so promising at the beginning, soon became very seriously
hampered by the coal strike. The works practically "came to a
standstill for a time for want of coal. In the meantime some
important orders were unfortunately cancelled, with the result that
raw materials were left on their hands. Not only were their own
works affected, but many firms with whom they did a large business
were also compelled to shut down. The reduction in profits would
not, however, have prevented the pf.yment of .1 dividend, as they
had an abundance of funds accumulated from undivided profits
which would have justified the payment of a dividend. Having
regard, however, to the prospective outlook and the present state
of trade caused by the engineers' lock-out, and the consc(|uent falling-
off of business, the anticipated recovery in trade was being indefi-
nitely deferred. The lock-out had lasted ncnv just over eleven
weeks, with the result that the greater part of the works had been
closed down during this period. In view of these facts the directors
regretted that they could not recommend the payment of a dividend
on this occasion. Although a great number of their employees had
been locked out in common with those of other federated firms in the
engineering trades, they had not given the sliglite.st trouble or
anxiety to the management by picketi.ig or interfering with the few
non-union men and apprentices who remained in the works. Indeed,
they had bc-n helpful and sympathetic in .settling the one or two
minor incidents. This feeling of good fellowship still prevailed
between the workpeople and the management and would liave ?.
beneficial effect on the results when a new start was made in the
works.

Mr. John Macgregor (managing director) said the strike outlook
was rather black at present, but they were hoping that a way out of
the difficulty would soon be found and work resumed. There was
no doubt that a large amount of work had to be done. Take, for
instance, the electrification schemes prepared by the home and
Colonial railways, most of which were ready to go ahead immediately
financial arrangements had been made, and the Government Elec-
tricity Bill for bulk supplies which was now before Parliament, and
which, when passed, would mean the erection and installation of huge
central stations. There were also the many municipal extensions,
which should bring a large amount of work to the industry and inci-
dentally to themselves. There were likewise the proposed extensions
of the telephone service by the General Post Office, which would
mean new cables, of which they hoped to get a share. There was
no doubt that electrical engineering would be one of the very first
industries to feel the effects of a trade revival.

An abstract of the accounts appeared in our issue last week.

British Thomson-Houston.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the British Thomson-
Houston Co. on Tuesday, Mr. H. C. Levis (the chairman and
managing director) stated that the volume of unfilled orders on
hand at the end of 1920 was such that, notwithstanding the fact that
during 1921 the orders received were less in volume than for the
previous year, the output for 192 1 — that was to say, the amount
billed to customers— was the greatest in the history of the company .
In spite of the general depression throughout the country, the
volume of orders received by the company this year to date was
over 37 per cent, in excess of the orders received for the corre-
sponding period of 1921. The companj^ now had on hand orders to
the value of over £2. 250 000. With regard to inquiries, the volume
was very large, and while the proportion which had resulted in
orders was not as great as in 1920, nevertheless there was still a
great demand for electrical machinery, which must be satisfied
sooner or later, and from which they confidently expect to get their
fair share of business.

In the latter part of the j^ear under review, it was deemed wise to
make provision to liquidate the floating debt of the company. An
issue of £^ 000 000 of debenture stock was authorised, and £1 500 000
par value was issued on satisfactory terms. The issue was largely
over-subscribed, and it was satisfactory to note that this stock
stood at a substantial premium to-day. Although on the balance
sheet there still appeared an amount of £764 000 due to the Inter-
national General Electric Company, tliis had since been liquidated,
and the only debt which the company had, in addition to debenture
stock and employees' savings certificates, was sundry creditors,
retentions, etc., which was covered more than three times over by
apparatus, supplies, etc., finished and in progress of manufacture,
and the sundry debtors, retentions, money, and other outstanding
accounts.

A scheme of " Employees' Savings Certificates " had been
instituted during the year, which enabled employees to invest their
savings by purchasing certificates bearing a fixed rate of interest,
and pay for same on an instalment plan. The number holding the
Certificates was now over i 300. During the year the expenditure
on factories was over £^^0 000, all of which was in connection with
works started or authorised prior to the year under review, and
principally in connection with the new Birmingham factor}*, the new
Glass V.'orks at Chesterfield in connection with the company's
electric lamp business, and extensions to the Rugby plant, all of
which would be completed during the current year.

The total cost of property, buildings and plant to the end of
December last was £2 670 000. From this cost there has been
written off sums aggregating ^793 2Sr), or over 29 per cent, of the
total cost. Owing to the expansion of the company, the offices at
Cannon Street had been given up, and the company were now in
larger quarters at Crown House, Aldwych.

The memorial to the employees who fell in the war had l.>een
completed, and was unveiled by Field-Marshal Sir William
Robertson.

An abstract of the accounts appeared in our last issue.

Callender's Cable and Construction.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of Callender's
C.A.BLE and Construction Co. last week Sir J. Fortescue Flannery
(the chairman), who presided, said that they had been compelled
to clo.se their works for more than two months during the year
owing to the stoppage in the coal trade, .\dvantage had, however,
been taken of the interruption to institute refonns in their organisa-
tion wliich should lead to permanent and sultstantial economies both
in administration and manufacturing. The net result of the trading,
namely, £217012, was approximately £33 000 more than at the end of
1920, in spite of the trade depression which had continued throughout
the year. Their business in India, in .spite of grave unrest there,
had been carried out successfully. Business from Australia and
South Africa had at times been much restricted, but in South
America they showed more advance. In their Continental business
their most .serious diminution of trade had occurred. One of the
great difiiculties there was the depreciated exchange. Tlie far more
important tlisativantage which this country had felt the effect of
during the last two or three 3*ears was the unwillingness of the
worker, which had yet to be overcome. The current; year showed a
reasonable prospect of a successful result, but that must largely
depend upon developments during the next few months. The
company must depend for its success not only upon a substantial

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

^73

home trade but upon large orders coming from abroad. The sooner,
therefore, that an effective international agreement was reached and
industrial peace in this country was secured the sooner the company
and others like it would be able to get to work without let or
hindrance.

Sir T. O. Callender (managing director) said it had been an
exceedingly difficult year for the management, but to a certain
extent the stoppage of the coal trade had tended to their advantage.
They had not only taken the opportunity thoroughly to reorganise
their factories and administration but they had found that when they
had resumed work, after nearly ten weeks, their men had thrown
off many of the pernicious doctrines which had been upsetting
production, and that the ca' canny policy was conspicuous by its
absence. It was disappointing that the large extensions in the
electrical field, of which so much had been heard, had so far not
materialised. From the city of Manchester certainly their company
had received the largest order which had ever been placed in the
cable industry, and they had had important contracts in various
other parts of the country, but the general great developnient of
electricity was still in the lap of the gods, although from his intimate
knowledge of what was going forward he thought they could look
forward with great confidence to excellent business in the near
future. His view was that the long outlook for their trade had never
been better than it was at present.

An abstract of the accounts was given in our issue of May 19th.

Oriental Telephone and Electric.

The net revenue of the Orikntal Telephone & Electric Com-
pany for the year to December 3 1 last amounted to £4^ 228, to which
is added the balance from 1920 of /lo 492, making a total of £59 720.
After deducting ;^i3 076 for interim dividends paid, there remains a
sum of £^6 644, wihch the directors recommend should be appro-
priated as follows :■ — ;^24 652 in payment of a final dividend of 6 per
cent, on the ordinary shares and a bonus of 2 per cent., and a final
dividend of 3 per cent, on the preference shares ; £10 000 to de-
preciation and general reserve ; £2 000 to staff pension fund ;
leaving £9 992 to be carried forward. The business at all the branches
of the company — viz., Madras, Rangoon, Moulmein, Singapore and
Mauritius, and of the associated companies — continues to expand,
and shows increased revenues for the past year. Owing to the fall
in the rupee exchange, however, the net revenue from the branches
does not stand at so high a figure as in the previous year, but com-
pares favourably with that for the year 1919, in which no abnormal
movement of exchange rates occurred. The Government of India
have now definitely decided not to purchase the undertakings of the
company and its subsidiaries in India in 1923. As the result of
prolonged negotiations which have recently been concluded in India
by Mr. G. Parker Ness, the vice-chairman of the company, in con-
junction with the local companies, the Government have decided to
grant security of tenure to the companies until March, 1943. At
December 31 last the company had a total of 10 071 stations in
operation, an increase of i 034 during the year. The Indian local
companies have declared the following dividends for the year 192 1 —
viz., the Bombay Telephone Company, 14 per cent., and the Bengal
Telephone Company, 10 per cent. The annual report of the Bom-
bay Telephone Company has not yet been received, but according
to advices already to hand that company had, on December 31 last,

9 885 exchange and private lines in operation, being a net addition
of 1 76 during the year. The directors of the Bengal Telephone Com-
pany report that the demand for new telephone services continues
to increase and that the prospects for the future are excellent. At
December 31 that company had 8 272 stations in operation, being a
net addition of i 434 during the year. The net revenue of the China
and Japan Telephone and Electric Company shows a substantial
increase over the previous year and a dividend of 10 per cent., free
of income tax, for the year has been declared, as well as a bonus of

10 per cent., also free of income tax, in view of the passing of the
dividend by that company last year. At December 31, 1921, that
company had 6 785 stations in operation, an increase of 673 during
the year. The liquidation of the Telephone Company of Egypt,
L.td., has now been completed.

Vera Cruz Electric Light, Power, and Traction.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the above company last week,
Mr. Vincent W. Yorke (the chairman of the company) said that the
net profits in Mexico for the year 192 1 were the highest yet earned
since the company was incorporated, and were practically S200 000
(Mexican) liigher than they were in 1920. After providing out of
the profits for the year for debentures and corporation profits tax
there remained a balance of £6^ 752. An interim dividend of 5 per
cent, had already been paid in respect of 1921, and it was proposed
to pay a further 5 per cent, dividend, making 10 per cent, in all,
and in addition a bonus of 2\ per cent, for the year. This total
dividend and bonus would absorb ,^43750. ;{20 000 had been
transferred to depreciation and reserve account, this being ;^5 000
more than they had transferred in any previous year, and £22 983 was
being carried forward, approximately £1 000 more than the amount
brought into the accounts from last year. The depreciation and
reserve account now stands at £95 000. The rate of exchange ruling
between London and New York had for the last three years resulted
in a profit in respect of all money remitted to London, and profit on
exchange for the year 1921 amounted to some /13 000. The bonus
to be paid really represented profit on exchange and might not be
pos.sible in future years. During the year their investment in the
company which owns and operates the bathing establishment at

Balneario had been increascfl by approximately £5 000. Nego-
tiations had been opened with their management in \'era Cruz foj
a lease of this property. Owing to the popularity of Balneario and
the consequent heavy demand for transport and also to cope wth
increasing traffic generally, orders had been placed for six additional
tramcars. The company had received practically the whole of its
power from the Tuxpango plant of the Puebla Tramv/ay Light and
Power Company, which continued to afford a very satisfactory
servic*^.

The Globe Telegraph Trust Company announces a final
dividend of 5s. per share net on the ordinary shares.

Altrincham Electric Supply Company have declared a dividend
of 7^- per cent, for the year. £726 is<arried forward.

Doulton & Company recommend a dividend of 5 per cent, on
the ordinary shares for the year. The sum of £^53 243 is carried
forward.

Alley & Maclellan announce a dividend of 6 per cent, for the
year less tax. £26 227 has been set aside for depreciation, leaving
£5 564 to be carried forward.

The directors of the Chloride Electrical Storage Company
announce a final dividend of 5 per cent., actual, tax free, making 10
per cent., tax free, for the year. Last year the dividend was the
same.

The directors of the Electric Construction Company recom-
mend a final dividend at 9 per cent, per annum on the ordinary
shares, making 7 J per cent, for the year ended March 31 last, plus
a bonusof 2^ per cent., both less tax.

The directors of the Madras Electric Supply Corporation
recommend a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, free of
tax, for IQ2I. The Corporation on Monday offered for public sub-
scription £^200 000 of seven per cent, second (registered) debentures
at 95. The issue was more than ten times over-subscribed within a
few minutes after the opening of the lists.

The net profit of the Thomson-Houston (Cie. FRAN9AISE) for
1921, less debenture and other interest and general and miscellaneous
charges, was 23 322 422 frs., making with 610 765 frs. brought in
24 133 187 frs. The directors propose to place to redemption fund
3512 405 frs., to reserve i 000 500 frs., administrative expenses
900 951 frs., to pay a dividend of 45 frs. per share and carrj- forward
719 329 frs.

The accounts of Dickson & Mann for the year ended March 31,
after providing for all usual charges, depreciation and half-year's
dividend on the preference shares, show a total deficit brought up to
/9 000, largely due to heavy fall in value of stock. From reserve
the directors have transferred sufficient to meet this deficit. The
company have a recognised claim for return of income tax paid,
which will considerably induce the deficit. No dividend on the
preference shares can be paid for the half-year. The directors report
that as regards volume of business the year has opened favourably.

The accounts of Mirrlees, Bickerton & Day for the year ended
March 31, after providing for depreciation and directors' fees, show
a loss of ;^io 552, reducing the balance of £14 369 brought in to
£3 817. In arriving at these figures the directors believe they have
made sufficient provision lOr depreciated values of stock and work
in progress, and have not over-estimated amount of excess profits
which will he recovered. The directors recommend the withdrawal
of £io 525 from reserve, paying a di\4dend on the ordinary shares at
5 per cent., less tax, for the year, carr\-ing forward £z S^S and lea\-ing
reserve at £1^ 000.

The report of the Rees Roturbo Manufacturing Company for
the eleven months ended August 31 last states that the final adjust-
ments in respect to the Finance Act, 192 1 (winding up excess profits
duty), under which the company claimed approximately £5 000, has
not yet been settled and was therefore not included in the balance
sheet. The balance to the credit of the profit and loss account,
including £6 727 brought In, was £10 255. A dividend of 3 per cent.,
less tax, on the preference shares for twelve months ended Septem-
ber 30, 1917 (£2 837), was paid in December, leaving ^7 417, out of
which the directors recommend payments of a dividend of 3 per cent,
on the preference shares for the year ended September 30, 191 S,
less tax; £2000 to depreciation reserve, making £17000; /i 013
to taxation reserve, making £10 000, carrying forward £i 367.
£7 555 has been added to capital expenditure for patterns and loose
tools.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of the
Lancashire Electric Light and Power Co.mpany last week, Mr.
Alfred Shepherd, who presided, said that the net result of the
company's working, after crediting the interest and dividends
received and debiting the interest on the company's debentures and
other expenses, and adding the balance brought forward from last
year, gave a sum of /40 98S available for dividends. The directors
recommended thatidividends should be declared upon the 6 per cent,
cumulative convertible first preference shares and the 7 per cent,
cumulative participating preference shares, after which there would
be a balance to carry forward of £8 438. As regarded the future, he
hesitated to prophesy. But the returns received from the Parlia-
mentar^'■ Company up to date indicatea that next year the accounts
of this comi^any should show considerably better than those for the
past year.

6/4

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

BEVAN MANUFACTURING CO., 146, Gooch Street, Birmingham.

makers of electro-plate wares. £1^ 2s. 6d. March 29.
BRADBEER, John E., 2c, Engiands Lane, N.W., electrical engineer.

/26 5s. 2d. March 14.
CARTER (HUBERT D.), LTD., Edi.son House, Colwyn Bay,

electrical contractors. £'iiiis. id. March 29 ; and/57 5S. 9d.

April 9.
FISHER, Mr. N., i, Victoria Square, Holmfirth, electrical dealer.

/21 3s. lod. March 30.
GRE'ENFIELD, Mr. F., 47, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush,

electrical engineer. £1^ 17s. 6d. March 29.
JOHNSON, Frederick, Esher Street, Upper Kennington Lane, S.E.,

electrician. ;^24 12s. April 3.
LEPPARD, F. H. (trading as ELECTRIC EXCHANGE), 45,

St. Nicholas Street, Bristol, electrical dealer. £ig 15s. id.

March 23.
ROYSENTUL, Mr. J., 46, Balls Pond Road, N.. electrical engineer.

;^23 15s. 6d. March 28.
SMART, William Nathan (trading as W. N. SMART AND CO.).

19A, Cross Street, Oldham, electrical engineer. ;^io os. 7d

March 30.
VENN, Robert (trading as VENN BROTHERS), 39, Turnham

Green Terrace, Chiswick, electrician. ;£2i 7s. 5d. March 24.

Bills of Sale.

[The undermentioned information is from the Official Registry.
ITp to the date the information was obtained it was registered as
given below ; but payment may have been made in some of the
cases, although no notice has been entered on the Register.]
CHAPPELL, WilHam, 26, Alldis Street, Great Moor, Stockport,
electrical and mechanical engineer and contractor May27. ;^4o.

RECEIVERSHIPS.

B.E. MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.— J. E. Pritchard, of 115,
Colmore Row, Birmingham, was appointed receiver and
manager on May 19, under powers contained in debentures
dated February 28, 1922.

CORONA LAMP WORKS, LTD.— V. G. Teale, F.C.A., of 65,
Chancery Lane, W.C., was appointed receiver on May 15, 1922,
imder powers contained in trust deed dated April 10, 1919.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which wMild, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

BRITANNIC ELECTRICAL CO., LTD., Solihull Lodge.— Regis-
tered May II, £250 debentures, balance of ;^i 000 ; general
charge; also registered May 11, ;^i 000 second debenture's,
present issue, -(650 ; general charge. *;,''750. I'Ybruary 24,
1921.

KELVIN-HARDY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.. Liv;Tpool.— Registered
May 10, £1 500 debentures, present issue £1 000 ; general
charge. *Nil, December 31, 1921.

NORTH.AMPTON ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER CO.. LTD.
— Registered May 6, /40 000 second debenture stock ; general
charge, ♦^iio oqo. March 10, 1922.

RODD (R. J.), LTD., Walton-on-Thames, electricians. — Regi.stered
May 16, £^ 000 debentures ; present issue, £;^ 500 ; general
charge. *Nil. June 17, 1921.

Satisfaction.

BOMB.\Y ELECTRIC SUPPLY AND TRAMWAYS CO., LTD.
— Satisfactions registered May 9, ;^6oo 000 registered Novem-
ber 18, 1905; £150000 registered May 17, 1909; /30000
registered March 17, 1911 ; and ;^io 000 registered Febriu-iry 17,
1915-

I. T. E. ELECTRIC CO. (1907), LTD., London, E.G.— Satisfaction
registered May 23, £2 400, registered December 18, 1907.

Private Meetings, etc.

\_Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily imply failure.
Many private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the debtor
consulting his creditors as to his position when he may not be insolvent.]

AQUA ELECTRIC CO., LTD. (in voluntary liquidation), electric
geyser, etc., manufacturers, 116, Putney Bridge Road, London,
S.W.15. A meeting of creditors was held on Mondaj-, at the
Chartered Institute of Secretaries, 59A, London Wall, London,
E.G. Mr. C. H. McKnight, 36, New Broad Street, London,
E.G., the liquidator, stated that he had prepared a statement
of affairs, from which it appeared liabilities totalled £1 586
(trade creditors, £580). Assets estimated to realise £250, or'a
deficiency of £1 336 so far as the unsecured creditors were
concerned. A resolution was passed confirming the voluntary
liquidation of the company, with Mr. McKnight as liquidator.

PARK BROS., LTD., electrical engineers. Spring Bridge Road;
Ealing, London, W. — Creditors were called together on Friday
at the offices of Corfield and Cripwell, accountants and auditors,
Balfour House, Finsbury Pavement, E.C. Mr. W. A,. J..
Osborne, the liquidator in the voluntary liquidation of the
company, submitted a statement of affairs which showed
liabilities of £2y/, all due to the trade. The assets were
estimated to realise £119, or a deficiency of £1^8. Mr. Osborne
stated that the stock included a quantity of old material
which would be very difficult to dispose of. The business
was an old-established one, previously carried on under the
style of Park Bros., and was converted into a company in
December, 1900, with a nominal capital of /i,ooo, of which
;/^334 represented preference shares and ;^66o ordinary shares.
The vendors received 603 ordinary shares as the purchase
price of the business, while 250 preference shares had also been
issued. For some years the business was successful, but
during the last three or four years there had been losses on
the trading. Efforts had been made to introduce further
capital, but without success. The creditors passed a resolution
confirming the voluntary liquidation of the company with
Mr. Osborne as the liquidator.

THOMAS, John, 19, Forth Street, Forth, Rhondda Valley, electrical
engineer, etc. At a meeting of creditors held recently in
Cardiff, sympathy was expressed with the debtor, and it was
decided to accept a composition of 6s. 8d. in the £, payable as
to 2S. 6d. in three months, 2S. 6d. in six months, and is. 8d. in
nine months. It was also decided that the matter should be
carried through under a deed of assignment, with Mr. S. E.
Clutterbuck, of Messrs. Clarke, Dovey and Co., as trustee, and
a committee of inspection. A statement of aft'airs presented
showed liabilities of £1 305 (trade creditors £822), net assets
estimated to reahse £212, deficiency £1 093. Debtor com-
menced business in January, 1920, with a capital of about
;£630, and took over an existing business. At the outset the
turnover was £33 per week, but it went up to £45 weekly, but
had now dropped to £28 a week. The gross profit was estimated
at about 15 per cent., while the outgoings were £13 weekly.
The following are creditors; — Baxendale and Co., Manchester,
£;r-,o ; Catterson and Sons, S. P., London, £2y ; Enghsh
Electrical and Siemens Co., London, £ii6; General Electric
Co., Cardilf, £26; Rose Bros., Bristol, /34 ;- Siemens Bros.,
London, £^36 ; Shenton and Co., I ondon, £'6i ; Smith, J. and
W. B., London, £23 ; Witty and Wyatt, Cardiff, /17 ; Whole-
sale Fittings Co., Bristol, ;^23.

TOFIELD AND ROBINSON, LTD., electrical engineers, Edmund
Street, Birmingham. At a conference of creditors held
recently in Birmingham it was unanimously decided to leave
their accounts in abeyance for a period of six months, during
which time they would not exercise any pressure, subject to the
directors reporting to a committee of inspection every three
months, and to a report being issued by the committee at the
end of six months. The committee consisted of the repre-
sentatives of the Callander Cable Co., Sterns Electric Co.,
W. R. Henley Telegraph Co., the English Electric Co., and the
Wholesale Traders' Association. A statement of affairs
lircscnted showed ranking Habilities of £io 755 (unsecured
creditors, £2 476 ; bankers, £;8o79). Assets consisted of cash
in hand, /30 ; book debts, £2 000 ; stock in trade and work in
progress, £^4 500 ; furniture and fittings, £^200 ; and plant and
machinery. ^270, or a deficiency of £i 755 7s. lod. With
regard to the claim of the bank, they held debentures to the
extent of £8 000. The business was incorporated in May, 19-O.
and took over the Birmingham business of another concern as
from November i, 19:9, pavnng £x 880 for the goodwill. The
first year's trading showed a profit of something like /300. but
in the succeeding twelve months there was a heavy loss, which
approached /4 000. That loss was largely- due to heavy pur-
chases of goods which could not be readily sold, and had since
depreciated very seriously in price. The directors had never
received anv fees. The company also opened a London office
which resulted in a loss of over £1 000. and w.ts closed. Econo-
mies to the extent of at least £1 300 a year had been effected,
and there were a number of profitable orders on hand.

June 2, 1922

The Electrician.

675

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for a>iy errors that may occur.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

ALIO ELK( TKICAL ENGINILKKIXG CO., LTD.— J. R. Dickin,
37, Moorfields, Liverpool, iippointed liquidator. Meeting of
creditors at 20, Castle Street, Liverpool, Monday, June 12, at
3 p.m. Particulars of claims to the liquidator by June 6.

MENAI BRIDGE ELECTRICITY SLPPLY CO., LTD.— W. Grey
Pritchard, High Street, Menai Bridge, appointed liquidator.
Meeting of creditors at the Council Chamber, Menai Bridge,
Wednesday, June 7, at 2 p.m.

Bankruptcy Information.

CARTER, Thomas, 2, South Street, Dorchester, and at High Street,
Swanage, electrical engineer. First meeting, June 8, 12 noon.
Official Receiver's Office, City Chambers, Catherine Street,
Salisbury. Public examination, June 23, 10.30 a.m.. County
Hall, Dorchester.

VELIKOID MANUFACTURING CO., Daw Bank Works, Stock-
port. Receiving order, May 18. Creditor's petition.

Notice of Dividend,

BECKETT, Samuel, Junior, 50, Deane Road, Bolton, electrician.
Amount per £', 6^d. First and final. Payable, June 6. Official
Receiver's Offices, Byrom Street, Manchester.

Notice of Intended Dividend.

GOSS, Frederick Charles, 32, Windsor Road, St. Andrews Park,
Bishopston, and 71, North Road, Bristol, electrical engineer.
Last day for receiving proofs, June 13. Trustee, F. W. Darley.
26, Baldwin Street, Bristol.

New Companies.

Edinburgh Gazette.

DENHOLM, CRAIG AND CO., electrical engineers, 81, Townhead
Street, Hamilton. Partnership dissolved as at April 29, 1922,
by the retiral of Alexander Duncan. John Gilmour Denholm
and Alexander Gray Craig will continue the business under the
same firm name.

H.ARVEY, Thomas, mechanical and electrical engineer, 31, Arling-
ton Street, Hillhead, Glasgow. A creditor's petition for
sequestration has been presented.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

BATE, Douglas Clavell, 16, John Dalton Street, Manchester,
electrical manufacturer and supplier. The first meeting of
creditors was held at Manchester. Statement of affairs showed
liabilities of ;ti.959. assets estimated to realise £663, from
which preferential claims of ;^79 had to be deducted, leaving
net assets of ;^584, or a deficiency of ;^i,375. Debtor attributed
his failure to marked fall in prices, his periodical ill-health for
the past three years, and his total inability to attend his office
since September, 1921. He was in the electrical business
for over 40 years as an employee. About 14 years ago he
came to Manchester and started on his own account at 40,
Brazennose Street, removing to his. present address in 1916.
Until the armistice the business was fairly successful, but he
had two bad periods, one after the armis-tice, which lasted
about six months, and another which started in the spring of
1920 and still persisted. A full set of books of account had
been kept. Debtor became aware of his position about the
middle of March last. The creditors decided to appoint Mr.
J. F. Warburton, 28, Queen Street, Manchester, as trustee.
The following are creditors : A. and A. Electrical Co., London,
;^35 ; Benjamin Electrical Co., London, ;^7o ; Bi-Metals, Ltd.,
London, ;^io ; Concordia Electric Wire Co., Ltd., New Sawlej-,
£56 ; Central Electric Co., Manchester, £50 ; Eureka Conduits
and Fittings Co., Walsall, ^'25 ; Edison Swan Electric Co.,
Ltd., Manchester, £^6 ; Efandcm Co., Ltd., Wolverhampton,
;^20 ; Greenwood and Batloy, Ltd., Leeds, /300 ; Hackbridgc
Cable Co., Ltd., Hackbridge, £20 ; Hogan and Waidrop,
London, £1^ ; Hopkins, H. H., Manchester, £40 ; Moores,
John, and Co., Manchester, £[35 ; Premier Elec. Contracting
Co., London, £16 ; Record Electric Co., Altrincham, £^22 ;
Simmonds Bros., Ltd., London, ;/]i6o ; Steel Tubes and Con-
duits Co., Keighley, t''-^ ; Velekoid Manufacturing Co.,
Stockport, /81 ; White, J. C, Manchester, £'65.

HENDERSON, "Charies Archibald, 63, Queen Victoria Street, E.C.
The debtor, who carried on business as an insulating materials
merchant, attended for his public examination last week
before Mr. Registrar Francke. His statement of affairs dis-
closed liabihties £2^ 371 {£2j, 405 expected to rank), and
estimated assets £i?> 359. The debtor was adjudged a bank-
rupt on May 22, and it was now reported by the Official
Receiver that his statement of al?airs was only filed on May zj,.
Under the circumstances he asked for an adjournment until
July 14. This application His Honour granted. Appended is
a list of the principal creditors : — All's Well Paint Co., London,
£2^ ; Brooker and Jackson, Ltd., London, £30 ; Chmax
Stopper Co., Ltd., London, £234 ; Ebo Rubber Co., Ltd.,
London, £857 ; Fuller's United Electric Co., Ltd., Chadwell
Heath, ,1(^522 ; Highlensite, Ltd., London, £57.

Hayirard Turb.ne EntfiDceriotf Co.

Haywakd Tlrbi.m: E.vgineering Co., Ltd. (181 045). Private
company. Reg. May 25. Capital, ;{ioo in is. shares. Turbine,
electric, irrigation, electrical and general engineers, etc. Sub-
scribers : I. B. Blaiberg and S. Miles. Sec: S. Miles. Reg. office :
Libertv Works, BoUo Lane, Acton, W.3,

St. Hcl«ii* Motor and Eatfincef istf Co.

St. Helens Motor and Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd.
(182,032). Private company. Reg. May 25. Capital, /600 in £1
shares. To carry on the bu.siness as indicated by the title. Perma-
nent directors : H. Devany, E. Filmer, and F. Newton. Secretar\- :
¥. Xewton. Reg. office : Canal Worns, Church Street, St. Helens.

Naylor Benzoa Engineering

Naylor Benzon Engineering, Ltd. (182004). Private com-
pany. Reg. May 24. Capital, £^20 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers
and installers of, and dealers in engines, boilers, gearing, machinery- ^
plant and other goods, railway, tramway and road locomotive;-,
etc. First directors : C. S. Ascherson, A. D. Tisdall, and .\. C. Hay.
Sohcitors : Lawrence, Webster, Messen and NichoUs, 14, Old Jewn,-
Chambers. E.C. 2.

London Magneto Repairing and Winding Co.

London Magneto Repairing and Winding Co , Ltd. (182 002).
Private company. Reg. May 24. Capital, £^3000 in £1 shares. To
take over the business carried on by S. T. Boon, at 78, Hampstead
Road, N.W., as the " Magneto Repairing and Winding Co." Life
directors : S. T. Boon and H. C. Fade. Solicitor : C. R. A.
Edmonds, 61 and 62, Chancery Lane, W.C. Reg. office : 78,
Hampstead Road, N.W.

Burke Electrical Manufacturing Co.

Burke Electrical .Mancfactl-ring Co., Ltd. (182020).
Private company. Reg. May 25. Capital, ;£500 in £1 shares. To
adopt an agreement with S. Burke, and to earn,- on the business of
electrical and general engineers, manufacturers and patentees of
electrical machines and apparatus, etc. First directors: S. J.
Burke, W. Dawson, H. W. Penney and H. A. Douglas. Reg. office :
6, Francis Street, Westminster.

A^ams Silent Burglar Alarm Co.

Adams Silent Burglar Alarm Co., Ltd. (181 985). Private
company. Reg. May 24. Capital, £^ 000 in £1 shares. To adopt an
agreement with S. G. Adams, A. B. Adams, G. E. Appleton and
A. Adams for the acquisition of Patent No. 33 839 of 1920, for
improvements in burglar and like alarm systems, etc. First
directors : S. G. Adams, A. B. Adams, W. C. Sayers, G. E. .Apple-
ton, A. Adams, F. E. Sayers and O. E. H. Birc'hall. Reg. office :
58, Leander Road, Thornton Heath.
Wireless Appliance*.

Wireless Appliances, Ltd. (iSi 0S4.) Private company.
Reg. May 23. Capital ^3 000 in is. shares. Electricians, manu-
facturers of generators, accumulators, suppliers and distributors of
electricity for hghting, heating, telegraphic, telephonic and signalling
communication, proprietors and managers of telegraph, telephone
and signalling works, ci'stributors of news, etc. Pro\isional
directors, W. .\. Heylano, W. G. Chapman. Secretan,-, C. H.
Kiehng. Reg. office : 132 and 134. Shaftesbur\- Avenne, W.i.

Universal Postal Franker;.

Universal Postal Frankers, Ltd. Private company. Reg.
May 25. Nominal capital. /looooo in £1 shares. To adopt an
agreement with the Sterling Telephone and Electric Co., Ltd.
(vendors and promoters), to acquire and turn to account certain
patents and rights, and any inventions relating to machinery for
franking letters, telegrams, cablegrams marconigrams. receipts
and the hke, etc. Subscribers: F". S. Gaylor and J. Findlay.
Sohcitors : Steadman, Van Praagh and Gaylor, 4. Old Burlington
Street, W. File number is 182 037.

Arrangements for the Week.

WEDNESDAY. JUNE 7th.

Institution of Electrical Engineers.
6 p.m. At Savov Place, \'ictoria Embankment, L^yuion. W.C. 2.
" The Performance of a Radio-Telegraphic Transmitter,
with Special Reference to the New Installation at North
Foreland." by Mr. N. Lea, B.Sc. " A Dynamic Model of
Tuned Electrical Circuits," bv Prof. C. F. Jenkin. C.B.E..
MA.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9th.

Physical Society of London.
3.30 p.m. V^sit to the National Physical Laboratory-. Ted-
dinston.

The unveiling and dedication of the War Memori.\l in memon,-
of the members of the Institution of Electrical Engineers who
fell in the Great War will take place at the Institution building on
Wednesday, June 2S. at 4.30 p.m. The Memorial will be dedicated
by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Rvle. Dean of Westminster, and unveiled
by Air Cliief Marshal Sir H." .M. Trenchard. assisted by the president
of the Institution, Mr. J. S. Highfield. and tiie senior Wee-president,
Dr. W. H. Ecclos.

676

The Electrician.

June 2, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The following abstract from some of the specifications recently published have been
specially compiled by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent Agents,
70 and 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

Complete Specifications.
Marks, E. C. R. (Langguth and Haar). Electric heaters for heating

liquids. (21/5/20.)
Creed and Co., Ltd., and Lenaghan, T. Electro-magnetic relays. (3/6/20.)
Chauveau, L. L. E. Automatic switch for distant control. (3/4/19.)
Glaser, W. H., and Glaser, Ltd., W. H. Electric current regulating

devices. (23/7/20.) (Cognate Application 23650/20.)
Grillette, L. Sparking plugs for internal combustion engines. (6/8/20.)
Bishop, G. A., and Chadwick, R. A. Electrically-driven motor wheels for

automobiles and other road vehicles. (25/8/20.)
Gely, E. L. Insulating chain for electric transport lines. (25/8/20.)
FiLippo, H., Lely, D., jun., and Naamlooze Vennootschap Philips'

Gloeilampenfabrieken. Electric discharge lamps. (27/8/19.)
Wilson Welder and Metals Co., Inc. Electric arc welding systems.

(26/6/20.)
SiMPLE-x Conduits, Ltd., and McLoughlin, H. F. Electric switches and

enclosure boxes therefor. (30/8/20.)
Frost, R. J. Electric water-heater. (30/8/20.)
Marks, E. C. R. (Horn, J. A. L.). Telegraphic receiving and transmitting

apparatus. (30/8/20.)
Wall, T. F. Means for limiting change of speed in alternating current

generators. (31/8/20.) (Cognate Application 13 971/21.)
Medway, E. M., Smith, E. C, and Medway, A. S. Stopping or slowing of

electric xnotors. (1/9/20.)
Macrorie, a. K., Airey, H. Morris-, and Shearing, G. Valve transmitters

and receivers for wireless telegraphy and telephony. (2/9/20.)
Metropolitan-Vickers El'ECTrical Co., Ltd. (Westinchouse Electric

and Manufacturing Co.). Automatic electric sub-station systems.

(3/9/20.)
Kremenezky, J. (Firm of). Electrolytic rectifier cell. (14/3/18.)
Rovce, F. H. Electrical turning-gear for starting internal combustion

engines. (15/9/20.)
Soc. Anon, des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Cie, and Ains

worth, H. M. .Starting and lighting systems for use on motor vehicles.

(25/9/20.)
Davies, D. R., and Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Elec-
trical switch gear. (28/9/20.)
.Siemens Bros, and Co., Ltd., and Siemens, A. Automatic and semi-
automatic telephone instruments. (15/10/20.)
Eriksson, E. G., and Jonasson, K. G. Electric indicator boards and the

like. (18/10/20.)
Meissner. 6. .Sparking plugs. (11/6/20.)
Miller, L., and SIetropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Electrically

driven planers and the like. (25/10/20.)
British Thomson Houston Co., Ltd. Braking systems for electrically

driven vehicles. (25/3/18.)
Schulze, O. Magnetic control mechanism for liquid-raising apparatus.

(1 7/2/2 1.)
DuTEiL, E. Electrolytic device for increasing the speed of ships. (16/3/20.)
Allmanna .Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget. Arrangement of neutral

point resistances for electric high-tension transmission systems. (16/4/20.)
Soc. Francaise Radio-Electriquf. Electro-magnetic wave-receiving

arrangements. (3/11/16.) (Divided Application on 146 204.)
Hailwood, E. a. Incandescent electric lamps. (25/8/20.) • (Divided

Application on 24 597/20.)

172 036

172 041
146 336
172055

172 069
172 o98

172 091
152 690

J65 760

172 102

172 104
172 105

172 112

172 122

172 127

172 131

T50 958
172 153

172 167

172 170
172 186
172 187

164 705
172 192

T57 721

172 246

160 459
idj 955

165 426
172 267

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS.

May 15, 1922.
13 588 C. O. Olson. Wind-dri\'en electric generators.
13 595 G. Fornaca. System of regulating voltage of electric generators.
13 601 V. E. Richards. Primary cells.

13602 V. E. Richards. Apparatus for forming depolarizing element of primary cells
13 627 A. Bushell. Electric light fittings.

13 640 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Flexible couplings for shafts.
13 641 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Electric protective systems.

(24/5/21 U.S.)
13 647 R. C. Kay.
13 649 Igranic Electric Co. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Co.). Pressure

regulating devices.
13 657 A. G. T. Cusins. Reduction of disturbing effects of atmospherics in wireless

signalling.
13 662 J. C. Lincoln. Electric machines. (13/5/21 U.S.)
13 670 H. Mace. Electric engines.

May 16, 1922
13 707 J. W. Stevens. Electrically illuminated devices.
13 726 J. D. Morrison. Electrodes for welding.
13 746 C. F. Elwell, Ltd.. and B. E. G. Mittfll. Wireless telegraph transmitters,

etc.
13 747 C. F. Elwell. Ltd., and B. E. G. Mittell. Thermionic valves.
13 748 Radio Communication Co. and J. Scott-Taggart. Continuous wave

transmitters.
13 749 Radio Communication Co. and J. Scott-Taggart. Thermionic valve;, etc.
13 750 J. Scott-Tagcari. Radio communication, e'c, signalling.
13 751 Eiandem Co., J. Eaton and A. H. Williams. Electric hand lanterns.
13 762 J. B. BoLiTHo. Contacts for relays.

13 7"3 J- U- Bolitho. Wireless and wired wireless telegraphy and telephony.
13 779 Brecknell, Munro and Rogers and H. J. Rogers. Trolley poles.
13 794 E. J. Clarke. Electrodes for electric welding.
13 795 Metropolitan ViCKERS Electrical Co., A. Siubbs, and J. F. Perry.

Electric mining plant.
13 811 Philips Gloeilampenfabr, E. Oosterhuis, an I G. Holt. Leading in

conductors for vitreous material.

May 17, 1922.
13 902 R. S. Clay. Transmitting pictures by telegraphy.
13 904 R. O. King. IClectric ovens, etc.
13 905 British L. M. Ericsson Manufacturing Co. and W. M. Crowe. Telephone

instruments.
13908

13912 M. A. Persson. Electric switch (2/6/21 Sweden.)

13913 R. T. Smith and R. C. Bookless. Wireless systems and apparatus.

13 917 Evershed and Vicnoles, and G. B. Rolfe. Magneto electric generators, etc.
13 918 Evershed and Vicnoles, and G. B. Rolfe. Electric testing instruments.
13 925 B.T.H. Co. (G.E. Co.). Electric control systems.
13 926 B.T.H. Co., A. R. Young, and E. G. Parrott. Terminals or connections for

electric conductors.
13 945 J- Scott-Taggart. Radio communic.uion, etc., signalling.
13 956 .'Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., S. R. Smith, and P. N. Roseby.

Receivers for telephones, etc.
13 957 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Telephone s>'stcms.

(23/5/21 U.S.)

May 18, 1922.
13 967 W. J. Birnie. Lbcking device for electric lamps, etc.
14004 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. .'\utomatic switches. (23/5/21

U.S.)

14009 Bureau d'Organisation Econo.mique. Fan device for electric trans-
formers, etc. (17 5 21 U.S.)
140ZI Siemens Bros, and Co., H. .\. E. Eason. Incandescent lamps.
14022 Siemens Bros, and Co., J. E. Collver, and E. A. Petithory. Selecting

devices for telephone systems.
14030 B.T.H. CO. Radio receiving systems. (18/5/21 U.S.)
14 038 H. A. Gill (Vigilant .Automatic Fire .Alarm Co.). Thermostat for electric

fire alarm systems.
14040 J. E. F. Young. Synchronous recording and reproduction of sounds and

moving pictures.
14 042 General Electric Co., Ltd. Incandescent lamps. (i9/5,'2i Germany).
14043 C. J. Coleman. Transmission of messages through cables having high

electrostatic capacity.
14 049 E. G. F. Swangren. Electric ignition for oil fuel.
14050 Metropolitan-Vickers Electric Co. and H. Fawcett. Operating gear for

electric switches, etc.
14052 Soc. des Accumulators Electriques .\nc. Etab. A. Dinin. Batteries.

(6/7/21 France.)
14064 Brecknell, Munro and Rogers, and A. M. Willis. Insulators.
14 059 H. Leitmer. .Accumulators, etc.
14083 E. Schattnar. Electric starting switches.
14088 Clarke, Chapman and Co., and R. C. Harris. Electric control gear.

May 19, 1922.
14 120 W. Travis. Electric melting furnaces.
14 121 W. H. Wilson. .Attachment of picture projecting apparatus to electric hand

lamps, etc.
14 132 C. S. Goode. Wireless aerials.
14 182 S. G. Frost. Thermionic valves, etc.
14 189 V.M.L. Experimental, Ltd., F. L. J. Johnson, and 0. D. Lucas. Electric

primers and vent sealing tubes.
14 190 F. Aldendorff. Electric relays.
14 193 B.T.H. Co. Signalling systems. (20, 5 21 U.S.)
14 196 A. M. Keays and F. Paton-Moore. Utilizing parts of gramophone, etc., for

wireless telegraphy or telephony.
14 198 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Telephone systems. (25 5/21

U.S.)
14 203 H. W. F. Ireland and O. D. Lucas. Electric horns.
14 204 G. Ellison and H. Bamford. Jointing devices for electric cables, etc.
14 205 G. Ellison and J. Anderson. Oil insulated electric switch gear.
14210 Benjamin Electric, Ltd. Electric outlet and fixture support. (20 5 '20

U.S.)
14 211 Benjamin Electric, Ltd. Electric outlet and fixture support. (23 6/21

U.S.)
14 212 Benjamin Electric, Ltd. Electric outlet and fixture support. (22 8/21

U.S.)
14 219 Electro-Mechanical Brake Co., E. M. Taunton, and G. N. Cadbury.

Undertrucks for tramcars, etc.
14 224 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. .Arrangements for multiplying fre-
quency of alternating current. (30/5 21 Germany.)
14 225 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. .Antenna systems. (27/5/21 Germany.)
14 226 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Reception of wireless signals. (27/5 21

Germany.)

May 20, 1922.
14 234 H. E. Foard. Accumulators, etc.
14 264 Britannic Electrical Co. Diaphragm horns.
14 283 L. A. H. Davis. Apparatus for electrically heating water.
14 298 D. Macadie. Electric measuring instruments.
14299 B.T.H. Co. Variable current generators. (20 5 '21 U.S.)
14 300 B.T.H. Co. and A. P. Young. .Sound producing devices.
14 321 G. D. Brooks. Electric circuit fittings.

14 328 Barrite, Ltd., and F. Fernie. Insulation of electric conductors.
14 330 .A. S. Bewley. Telephones, phonographs, etc.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, etc.

Tuesday, May 30.
Price.

Inc.

Dec.

per ton

i;66

5 0

I OS.

/.71

0 0

£1

per lb.

OS.

lo^d.

id.

OS.

9|d.

-ikd.

IS. 2-X.d.

id.

Copper —

Best Selected

Electro Wirebars

H.C. Wire, basis

Sheet
Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone) —

Phosphor Bronze Wire,
basis . . per lb.

Brass 60/40 —

Rod, basis

Sheet, basis

Wire, basis
Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants

Galvanised steel
wire, basis 8 S.W.G.
Lead Pig —

English

Foreign or Colonial
Tin —

Ingot

Wire, basis . .

Aluminium Ingots . .
Spelter . .

Mercury . . . . ^

Sulphur (Flowers) — Ton £10 15s. Sodium Chlorate — Per lb. 3id.
,, (Roll-Brimstone) — per ton Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°)
;^io 15s. per ton, £9.

Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. sjd. Copper Sulphate. — Per ton
Boric Acid (Crystals). Per ton £60. £26. los.

Rubber. — Para fine, lod.; plantation ist latex, 7jd.

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby
Cables, Ltd., and the rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph
Works Company, Ltd.

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publisl,ing Offices oj " The
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7d.

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id,

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lod.

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:}. „

£^&

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„

£26

—

••

1^5

2S. 0

£151

lOS.

per

lb.

2S.

oid

—

per

ton

/,ioo

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/28

17s.

per bottle ;^i2

—

od. —

6d.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATKD JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2299. [vo,.^°Xx'^VIII.]

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1922. ""^'^^T^ia^i^-iS ''• Price 6d.

Notes of the Week

The German Industrial Situation . . . . . . . . 680

Wireless Telegraphy in the Mercantile Marine. By F. J.

Chambers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 682

The Radio-Telephone Broadcasting Boom. By Professor

G. W. O^Hdwe 684

On the Earth Resistance of Antennae. By A. Meissner.

Illustrated 685

Metropolitan-Vickers' Edinburgh Showroom . . . . . . 686

Some Notes on Dalmarnock Power Station. By R. B. Mitchell 687

The Manufacture of Ediswan Accumulators . . . . . . 689

Institution of Electrical Engineers . . . . . . . . 690

Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . 691

Electric Locomotives for Chilean Railways . . . . . , 693

Railway Companies' Power Supplies . . . . . . . . 694

Legal Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 694

Busy Europe : Politics and Business. By Sir Ernest Benn 695

CONTENTS.

677 • " Manifoldia

System of Supervision
Electricity Supply
Personal and Appointments
Business Items, etc.
Electric Traction . .
Foreign Notes
Exhibition Notes . .
Wireless and Telegraph Notes . .
The Rutenberg Concession
Institution Notes . .
Companies Meetings. Reports, etc.
New Companies
Arrangements for the W^eek
Tenders Invited and Accepted . .
Prices of Metals, Chemicals, etc.
Commercial Intelligence . .
Reference Index to Recent Wireless Publications
Patent Record

. 095

. 696

. 697

• 697

. 698

. 699

■ 699

700

. 701

• 701

. 702

• 703

• 704

. 706

Notes of the Week.

The Institution Summer Visit.

By judiciously mixing technology, Highland topography
and social entertainment, and by enlisting the good offices
of the Clerk of the Weather, the Institution of Electrical
Engineers scored a distinct success for their visit to Scotland
last week. Members saw something and heard a great deal
more of the hydro-electric possibilities of the country, and
are now in a position to form their own opinions upon the
various schemes of water-power development that have
been put forward. To see all these things for oneself is
the first step to knowledge, and the Scottish Centre are
to be thanked both for the opportunity they gave of so
doing and their overflowing hospitality.

An Interesting Contrast

The papers read during the meeting by Mr. R. B.
Mitchell and Dr. Magnus Maclean respectively form an
interesting contrast. The former, in describing the
Dalmarnock station, showed what can be done with the
modern steam station and made the prophecy that some-
thing better can be achieved. The key to economical
working, he said, lies in the boiler house, where, with a
steam pressure of 274 lb. and a temperature of 700° F.,
6 5 lb. of water are evaporated per pound of coal consumed.
Of the losses that occur, the most important are those in the
flue gases, and opportunity should therefore be taken, where
possible, to use these to pre-heat the air supply. Another
indirect means of economy lies in a judicious expenditure on
and the constant use of coal weighing equipment. At
Dalmarnock, under normal working conditions, a boiler
house efficiency of 74 per cent, is obtained, so that the use of
these instruments is quite justified.

Flexibility in the Auxiliary Plant.

Mr. Mitchell also called attention to the need for
flexibility in the auxiliary plant, a matter which has been
carried even further at the new Xechells station of the
Birmingham Corporation than it has at Dalmarnock, and
to the need for constant and careful testing of the equip-
ment. He gave a number of figures of cost, whence it
appears that the total generating costs during April
amounted to 0'26d. per unit and rather less for the
whole year, the coal consumption being 10-65 lb. per unit
generated. As the cost of coal is falling and other
conditions will improve, there is no doubt that these
figures will be reduced in future. Even so it is evident that
Scotland is not lagging behind so far as generation by coal
and steam is concerned.

The Hydro-Electric Problem.

Professor Magnus M.\cle.\n, however, was anxious
that members of the Institution of Electrical Engineers
should realise the amount of water power that there is
available in Scotland for industrial purposes, and ver\-
eloquent he was. But the utilisation of this power is not
purely an engineering question. The Highlands are
practically depopulated, but if the water power p^sent
were developed there is no reason why commercial work
should not be carried out under the best possible conditions
and the national life thereby elevated, man-power restored,
congestion in large centres relieved, and social conditions
improved. It is a great dream which we do not Nvish to
rudely sliatter. The difficulty is, however, that the water
power of the Highlands is not over large in amount and is
widely scattered in smallish units. To develop it will
require enormous capital expenditure, and to use it either
on the spot or in the present industrial centres an expendi-
ture equally enormous. While, therefore, we admire the
enterprise of such undertakings as the Grampians Power Co.,

678

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

we feel this i§ a case where it will be well to hurry slowly ;
and for the present at least to leave development to sUch
' undertakings as the British Aluminium Co. , whose processes
are particularly adapted to the use of water power and to the
harnessing of some of the smaller falls for supplying country
houses and their adjacent villages. There is a great deal of
profitable work to be done under the latter heading, and it
certainly should not be neglected.

Sir Eric Geddes on Railway Progress.

The lecture of the first Minister of Transport to the
Junior Institution of Engineers, last week, though pleasantly
reminiscent and retrospective in character, contained little
that our readers are not already acquainted with. The
address is mainly a defence of the Railways Act of 1921,
and of Sir Eric Geddes' own policy. But although the
schemes of amalgamation authorised by the Act must have
effected great economies in administration costs and
running expenses, so far traders and the travelling
public do not appear to have gained much from the change.
The wages bill of the railways has been reduced by over
£25 000 000 a year, and other expenses have also decreased,
but so far there have been only slight reductions in freight
charges and passenger fares. In fact, it is only the railways
that have gained any benefit from the legislation of which
Sir Eric seems so proud, and we are not sure that the Act,
which practically confers a monopoly, is an unmixed
blessing. Time alone will show. The market value of
railway stocks and shares has risen more than Government
securities and the best industrial shares, so that from this
point of view the railway unification policy has been a
success. But the charges are high enough to handicap
trade and industry, and unless something more than the
recent illusory concessions to the coal and iron trades are
made there will be a pubUc agitation which no Government
or railway will be able to withstand.

Electrification and Motor Transport.

On the important subject of electrification, Sir Eric
Geddes had not much to say, though evidently he is a firm
believer in electric traction and an advocate of the stan-
dardisation recommended by the Advisory Committee.
He is also right to pronounce in favour of the railway
against the road transport of goods. For passengers and
for light parcels, the automobile is coming into favour in
certain districts, especially in urban and industrial areas,
and the electric vehicle can also fiU a place in towns, but
the railways have only themselves to thank for this com-
petition. If they will persist in high fares, and if they
refuse to take the obvious course of electrifying their
suburban lines, they will lose more and more of their clients
to the owners of motor lorries and charabancs, just as they
did in earlier days to the electric tramway.

The Honours List.

While the Honours List issued on the occasion of His
Majesty's birthday last Saturday contains no more names
of engineers and physicists than usual, it does at least
contain two names which our readers will welcome with the
heartiest congratulations. Mr. George Sutton, the
chairman and managing director of Henley's Telegraph
works, receives a baronetcy, and Mr. Ernest Montague
HuGHMAN, honorary secretary of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers in India, receives a knighthood. The
connection with, and services, of both these gentlemen to
the electrical industry are well known to readers of The

Electrician. Sir George Sutton represents all that is
best and most enterprising on the manufacturing side, and
by assisting in the foundation of the Cable Makers' Associa-
tion has not only raised the standard of the products in
which he is interested, but has paved the way for that
closer co-operation between employers and employed which
all but reactionaries desire. By his benevolence Mr.
Hughman has placed the industry in his debt in another,
but no less certain, way. They are two representative men
whom we are delighted to see recognised.

The Engineers' Dispute.

As we go to Press it seems likely that the dispute in the
engineering industry is to come to an end. We cannot say
that it has been settled, for no true settlement has been
reached and the twin reasons that have forced the men to
return to work are hopelessness and a lack of funds. But
it is only fair to leaders of the A.E.U. to point out that they
realised that this would be the outcome months ago, when
they recommended that members should accept the terms
they had negotiated with the employers. This recommenda-
tion was, however, rejected by the members as a whole.
The leaders have now arranged once again to submit
the proposals of the employers to the rank and file,
and though it is uiisafe to prophesy there seems every reason
to suppose that this time they will be accepted, as they
have been by all the other " forty- seven " unions except
three. Even in these cases two are to re-ballot, so that the
only sign of further prolonged cessation of work comes from
the boilermakers. It may well be asked, what good has
this dispute achieved ? The answer is, none, except as
affording yet another illustration of the need tor the discovery
of some better methods of dealing with such matters. That
discovery must be made without delay, and in the meantime
we hope that the long-promised trade revival will now
really dawn.

Overhead Wires.

The decision of a Divisional Court that poles and wires
erected on a bank by the side of an ordinary public highway
in Ipswich must be removed because their presence is ia
trespass on private property is disconcerting. But it is a
good illustration of the difficulties undertakers have still \o
contend with in their efforts to extend the facilities for
electricity supply. In some respects the judgment is
unsatisfactor3^ and we hope that the Corporation will
take the case to the Court of Appeal. Notwithstanding
the alterations made by the Electric Lighting Act of 1909
and the Electricity (Supply) Act of 1919, the law relating to
the use of o^'erhead wires is still far from what it should be,
and the obstructive tactics of some owners of land adjoining
public highwaj^s are the cause, therefore, of much needless
expense and delay.

The Law of Property.

In the present "^case the road is on the outskirts of
Ipswdch, and, as ordinary underground mains would have
been too expensive, the sanction of the Electricity Com-
missioners was^^sought "and obtained for the erection of
poles and overhead wires. Assuming that the reverend
gentleman who sued the Corporation is correct in his
contention that the bank is his property, no real damage
could have been caused to him by the poles as he could not
have used the greensward. It was a mere technical
infringement of a pureh- abstract right, and we think,
therefore, that an injunction is not the appropriate remedy.

June 9, 1922

The Electrician.

679

for it may lead to some consumers being deprived of
electricity supply. We should like to see a discretionary
power vested in Judges which would enable them to fix a
rental for the poles as in the case of telegraph and telephone
poles of the Post Office. Electricity is no longer a luxury,
but a public necessity, and somewhat similar legal principles
should be applied to all important public services.

Alteration of Law Required.

In many districts it is not easy to say how far a public
highway extends. Some good authorities assert that it
stretches from fence to fence and includes the banks by the
side. An ordinary highway is not confined to the metalled
part or that portion kept in order for carriages and foot
passengers, and consequently greensward or grassy banks
at the side would usually be included. This was, apparently,
the decision of the County Court Judge, but he has now
been overruled, and the reverend plaintiff has been awarded
40s. for the four poles placed on the bank and 5s. for lopping
a pine tree, together with an injunction restraining the
Corporation from continuing the trespass. The law
relating to the rights over the soil and subsoil of public
highways is somewhat complicated, but with great
deference we have our doubts about the legality of the
present decision. We had hoped that sections 21 and 22
of the Electricity (Supply) Act would have smoothed the
path of electricity undertakers and would have enabled a
wider use being made of overhead methods of distribution.
Apparently the change made was not so great as some
hoped or anticipated, and it is clear that stronger powers
will have to be conferred on the Electricity Commissioners
in order to defeat obstructionist tactics and to enable
supply authorities to extend with comparative freedom
into rural areas.

Electrification Schemes.

We are glad to record that satisfactory progress is being
made with the scheme for the conversion of the suburban
lines of the South Eastern and Chatham Railways. Special
meetings of the stock and share holders have been held and
have approved of the application to the Ministry of Trans-
port for an Order under the Railways (Electric Power) Act
of 1903, to authorise the construction and equipment of a
power station at Angerstein's Wharf, Charlton, and the
laying of electric cables, etc., for the electrical operation of
a number of the Kentish lines. We believe this is the first
use made of the powers conferred by the 1903 Act, but we
hope it will be the forerunner of many similar applications.
At present the Electricity Commissioners are investigating
the proposal to erect a generating station as well as the
alternatives sources of power available, and we shall await
their decision with interest. The actual work of construc-
tion will be carried out by a construction company ^^•hich
will grant leases to the railway companies of the generating
station, rolling stock and equipment. The cost of construc-
tion will be raised by debentures or debenture stock of the
construction company, to be redeemed by 1947 at the latest,
but there is an option to redeem in 1927, 1932 or 1942 if the
railway companies purchase the station, plant and equip-
ment. The rent payable under the lease Nvill provide {inter
alia) the interest on the debentures or debenture stock of the
construction company ; the principal amount required to
redeem the securities in June, 1947 ; a fixed dividend on
the share capital of the construction company (not to
exceed £10,000), and administration expenses of the
construction company.

Underground Improvements.

The proposals of the Underground Electric Railways
Company of London for the extension and improvement of
some of the lines have also taken definite shape. The new
Bill of the London Electric and City and South London
Railway Companies seeks powers to enlarge the tunnel of
the laiter, to provide new rolling stock, and to extend the
London Electric line from Golders Green to Edgware.
The estimated cost is £6 000 000, and the Treasury has
agreed to guarantee a loan of ,^5 000 000, repayable in
50 years. The London Electric and City and South
London Companies will be empowered to borrow further
sums of £2 250 000 and £1 250 000 respectively, and these
borrowing powers may be exercised by mortgages or by the
issue of Second Debenture stock carrying interest at a
rate not exceeding 6 per cent. Interest may be paid out of
capital during construction, the final date for which is
August, 1926. The contracts for the various works have
already been let, and a start will be made on them almost
immediately. When completed the transport facilities of
London will be greatly increased, and there will be readier
means of access to South and North West London.

Secretaries of Societies and the Technical Press,

At a meeting of the Circle of Scientific, Technical and
Trade Journalists, held in the Hall of the Institute of
Journalists on May 30, a suggestive paper was read by
Mr. Percy L. Marks on the duties of secretaries, especially
those associated with scientific and technical bodies.
Mr. Marks was doubtless right in assigning as two of the
chief qualifications of a secretary, tact and a sense of
humour. The latter enables him to be with equanimity
the " slings and arrows of outrageous fortune " occasion-
ally hurled at him by well-meaning but precipitate mem-
bers of Council. In no field is the wisdom of a secretary
more shown than in his dealings with the Press. One
occasionally hears complaints from scientific bodies to the
effect that their doings are insufficiently appreciated and
imperfectly reported, or even ignored. The technical
press as a whole is naturally anxious to give pubUcity to
useful scientific knowledge, but space is Umited and
editors are human. The attention they can devote to a
subject often depends more on the manner in which informa-
tion is presented than its intrinsic merits. Secretaries who
make a practice of issuing summaries of proceedings in
which the salient points are clearly indicated, and selected
with a view to their interest to the journal approached,
will find their labour well repaid. Another point is that
information should not be too long delayed. It is a great
assistance to an editor to have the material in hand before
the actual date of reading of a paper. For the rest we
are glad to note that the Circle, whose work was naturally
interrupted to some extent by the war, is resuming active
operations and has appointed a small committee to review
its programme for the future and prepare for the nexi
session.

Postal Rates for Trade and Technical Publications.

We are also glad to observe that a resolution was passed
at this meeting of the Circle dealing v^ith the matter of
postal rates — a subject to which we have several times
drawTi attention in the past. The moment is opportune
for an agitation for decreased rates and we think it is
generally admitted that in the past technical and scientific
publications have not been generously treated, haWng re-
gard to the fact that they play such an important role in the

68o

The Electrician.

June g,1ig22

dissemination of useful knowledge. It is also aggravating
in the extreme to observe that foreign periodicals are
delivered in England at a rate far below that charged to
periodicals of precisely similar nature printed and published
in this country. If the Circle can use its influence to get
these anomalies removed it wiU deserve well of the public,
as well as the Press. Governments have been driven by
the force of public clamour to spend more on education.
They "seem to overlook the fact that in technical journals
they have a most valuable educational medium, supported
by private enterprise, that might weU be encouraged by
the slight concession involved in providing reasonable
charges for postage.

Labour Representation on J.E.A/s.

During the recent debate in the House of Commons on
the Electricity Bill, Mr. Myers, a Labour member, again
raised the question of Labour representation on Joint
Electricity Authorities. There is no such provision in the
Electricity Supply Act, 1919, or in any of the schemes at
present drafted by the Electricity Commissioners. And
there is no call for the representation of labour in the way
suggested. As it is the fuUest provision for dealing with all
questions concerning labour is ensured by the Industrial
Councils, bodies which are comprehensive in their scope both
as to undertakings and employees. But if some other body
were entitled to deal with questions of labour (and labour
representation means nothing if this is not the object), then
conflict would be sure to arise.

German Industrial Situation.

The Report on the Economic and Financial Conditions
in Germany recently issued by the Department of Overseas
Trade covers much ground and contains a mass of
statistics and useful information. We have already pub-
lished an abstract of the portions relating to the electrical
industry, but we believe a review of the general industrial
situation would be interesting, and so we propose to place
before our readers some of the general conclusions to be
deduced from the Report of Mr. J. W. Thelwall and Mr.
C. J. Kavanagh. It must, however, be borne in mind that
many of their figures are only approximations.

Country Fairly Prosperous.

The most striking fact seems to be that, notwithstanding
the restrictions imposed during and since the war, aiid in
spite of the reparations demands of the Allies and other
difficulties, the country is in a fairly prosperous
condition and there appears to be practically no un-
employment. Further progress was made during the
past year in the restoration of order in the country, and
overseas trading relations were expanded in various
directions. As the Germans are a highly trained, well-
disciplined and hard-working people, this is only what
might be expected, but in face of the great and continued
depreciation of the mark, it is obvious that stable commercial
intercourse cannot be established between Germany and
other nations until the violent daily fluctuations of the rate
of exchange cease. How this i? to be brought about must
be settled by bankers and business men, for apparently it is
little use depending upon those peripatetic politicians
who indulge in picnics in various parts of Europe

JTemporary Advantages of ^Depreciated Mark, aixa ^^

The fall in the mark is attributed (a) to the large issue of
paper money (on December 31 last the total was
121 964 200 000 paper marks, compared with 5 500 000 000
marks in 1914) ; {b) to the necessity of purchasing large
amounts of foreign currency beyond that which is secured
in the ordinary way of trade ; (c) to international gambling
in marks ; and {d) to the reparation demands of the AUies.
No doubt there are other causes which have contributed to
the depreciation, and it is highly expedient that all these
should now be investigated in a rational, businesslike way,
so that Germany may resume her place in the comity of
nations, and so that this country and other industrial
nations shall not suffer through the effects of the de-
pressed mark. It is clear that Germany has been able to
attract to herself during the past year a large part of the
world's trade in manufactured goods owing to the low rate
of the mark. Not only has she returned to her former
overseas markets, but she has opened up new ones ; she has
largely reconstructed her mercantile marine by means of
paper marks, and the ships can earn freights paid in gold ;
the low mark has saved her from the burden of unemploy-
ment, and it has enabled her manufactvu^ers and exporters
to re-establish foreign balances, because they were able to
sell their goods and thus obtain foreign currency and sup-
plies of raw materials.

Large Capital Issues.

During the past year the amount of capital issued by
new and existing companies reached the large total of
25 90736 milliard marks, against 8 80377 miUiard marks
in 1920, so that apparently there was no shortage of capital
for new enterprises or for the expansion of old businesses. A
large portion of the increases in capital was required to meet
the higher expenditure caused by the inflation, but it would
seem that the country cannot have been unduly burdened
with taxation when such a large sum was found
for industrial and commercial undertakings. Incidentally,
it may be noted that the electrical industry and gasworks,
the metal and machine trades and foodstuffs absorbed the
largest amounts of fresh capital.

Fuel Situation Improved.

The coal and fuel situation has greatly improved. The
science of fuel improvement is being energetically pursued
by research into the chemical components of coal and
lignite, particidarly for the extraction of oils, and by the
utilisation of the utmost calorific value by new firing
methods, especially for lignite. It is stated that the result
will be a great reduction of Germany's dependence on coal
and oil imports. Another important factor in the situation
is the great development of electric power, first by the
erection of generating stations on lignite mines where the
coal is fed straight from the mine into the boilers, and
secondly by the development of water power. Tlie vast
schemes for the erection of hydro-electric stations will
probably take a decade to complete, but each year should
see substantial progress and easier fuel conditions for the
country. British engineers will watch this activity with
sympathetic interest, for the results obtained may have
valuable lessons for the supply industry of this country.
At all events, it would appear as if some of the difficulties
created by the war would be turned to the economic advan-
tage rather than to the detriment of Germany, and the
ultimate result will probably be greater industrial capacity
and cheaper production.

June g, 1922

The Electrician.

681

Rhenish Electricity Tariffs.

One of the appendices to the Report contains an interest-
ing table of tariffs for large power consumers^of the Rhein-
isch-WestphalischeElektricitatswerke, which shows^[ that
manufacturers enjoy the great advantage of a very cheap
supply. The basic price for low voltage supply ranges
from 14 pfg. per kWh for 700 units or under per month
to 8 '5 pfg. for 8 000 units ; the high tension supply tariff
ranges from 11 5 pfg. per kWh for i 000 units to 6 pfg. for
50 000 units a month, but rebates are granted on these
rates ranging from yl per cent, for 750 to i 000 working
hours per year to 25 per cent, for 2 750 hours. The basic
prices are varied according to the price of coal. For
high tension supply the increase amounts to 0-3 pfg. per
kWh per 10 tons for each increase in the price of 10 tons
of coal over 160 marks per 10 tons, Nut Coal III or IV at
Coal Syndicate price and delivered power house being taken
as the basis. No rebates are allowed on these increases.
It is clear that there are few parts of the world where such
a cheap supply of electricity is available and this will no
doubt assist German manufacturers in keeping down costs
and in competing with other industrial countries in foreign
markets.

The Position of Foreign Trade.

A large portion of the Report is devoted to an examina-
tion of Germany's imports and exports, though, owing to
the incompleteness of the figures, and to the fact that
values are given in paper marks, no reliable conclusions can
be drawn. However, it is clear that substantial progress
was made, though it is to be noted that an export of about
20 6 million metric tons in 1921 brought a smaller return
than 19 8 million tons in 1920, when the mark was much
higher. There was also an excess of exports over imports
of 848 000 000 marks, but the total quantity of exports was
only 27 per cent, of the figure for 1913. The value of
British exports to Germany was ;^40 700 000 (against
3^51 100 000 in 1920), and the imports from Germany only
£20 550 000 {against £30 300 000). The exchange is taken
at 405 33 marks to the £ in 1921 and 215 marks in 1920.
The quantities would have been a more reliable guide
than the values, but it is stated that Great Britain furnished
138 per cent, of German imports in 1921, compared with
11-5 in 1913 ; and absorbed 83 per cent, of Germany's
exports, against 162 per cent, in 1913.

Germany's Large Imports.

During the year Germany imported large quantities of
cotton and copper from the United States, and her exports
to America were only about one-fifth in value of her
imports. In regard to Canada also the situation is some-
what similar, Canadian exports to Germany being more than
twice the value of those of 1914, her imports from Germany
being only about one-seventh of pre-war figures. On the
other hand, Germany's trade with Italy, Holland, some of
the Baltic and Balkan States, China, Japan and the Dutch
East Indies is greater than in pre-war times, and there is a
steady expansion in business with Sweden, India, Egypt,
Spain, South Amerita and elsewhere. Altogether we cannot
help feeling admiration for the manner in which the Ger-
mans seem to have surmounted most of their difficulties.
Energy, skill and experience have been expended in
repairing their lo.sses, and a large measure of success seems
to have attended their efforts. Plant and factory equipment
have been largely renewed out of reserve funds, thus placing
them in a better position to compete in the world!s
markets.

Iron and Steel Trades.

Mr. C. J. Kavanagh's contribution on the iron and
steel and allied trades makes interesting reading ; but a
good deal of what he states concerning Germany's losses
of iron ore and coal through the Peace Treaty is now ancient
history, and many of his figures can only be rough approxi-
mations. It appears that the Saar producers of iron and
steel now find themselves unable to compete with the
Rhineland producers owing to the payment of wages, coal
and transport in French currency, and the Lorraine ore
fields and blast furnaces are also suffering from acute
depression for similar reasons. The German industry was
helped by the inflation of the currency, the absence of large
stocks of raw materials, cheap fuel, power and labour, and
by internal reconstruction schemes. The coal strike in
England also deflected many orders to Germany, and the
result was that business was good and employment brisk,
especially since the great depreciation of the mark set in.
This general condition of affairs is not, however, healthy ;
and the plenitude of orders has enabled exporters to adopt
the procedure of invoicing in foreign currency. The
movement towards the consolidation of interests and the
fusion of companies has continued, and the Report gives an
interesting review of the most important groups, together
with tables of prices, outputs and wages.

Labour and Wages.

Notwithstanding adverse conditions, the attitude of
Labour towards production has so far been most exemplary,
and to this must be attributed the steady progress made
in the past year. The German workman seems to have a
higher sense of discipline and is more easily controlled
than other workers. The disputes which arose were readily
settled ; the extreme element seems to be smaller and to
have less influence than in other countries, the result being
that the output per man is now said to be almost equal
to that attained before the war. During the first half of
the year there was a gradual upward tendency in wages,
owing to the increase in the cost of Hving, and the latest
reports show that there has been a further sharp rise in the
price of foodstuffs, with a rapid slump in the purchasing
value of the mark. These factors will have a most import-
ant influence upon the future attitude of the workers ; and
as prices are likely to rise still further, Gennany may not
much longer enjoy that comparative industrial peace which
has helped her during the year. Generally speaking, the
working hours are longer than in this country ; and as the
result of the collapse of the strike of the South German
metalworkers, ten hours a day are 10 be worked in future.
There is a similar tendency in other trades, owing to the
pressure of economic conditions, and this will undoubtedly
react unfavourably upon the trade and commerce of other
countries, but especially upon the export of goods.

As Germany is not yet in the League of Nations, there
is no direct means of controUing the length of the working
day in that country, but we venture to suggest to the leaders
of Labour in this and other countries that it is most
desirable to find means of eliminating the extreme competi-
tion of German workers who put in ten, twelve or more
hours a day. The question of the length of the German
working day and the stabilisation of the mark are two
urgent problems upon which employers and workers in
this country might profitably co-operate in finding solu-
tions, for it is upon the right treatment of these that th >
future of both as well as the prosperity of the country
depend.

682

The Electrician — June 9, 1922

Wireless Telegraphy in the Mercantile Marine.

B7 F. J. CHAMBERS. M.Inst. Radio E.

At the date of the Armistice the wireless arrangements in
the British Merchant Service were abnormal in relation to
what was requisite for ordinary commercial requirements.
Under the Defence of the Realm Act, all vessels of any
size, even coasting vessels, were called upon to carry
installations, and sufficient operators to maintain a constant
watch, day and night. There was actually only one com-
pany in a position to equip merchant steamers, and ship
owners were obhged to make the best bargain possible under
the circumstances. The standard arrangement was a con-
tract for hire, maintenance, and the supply of operators,
covering a term of ten years from the date of installation.
Meanwhile, the famous master patent, by virtue of which,
assisted by Government Regulations, an effective monopoly
had been achieved, had completed its term. Two new
companies were registered for the supply of wireless
apparatus, and a third company revived their wireless
department, and re-entered the market.

A Monopoly Uadesirable.

There was at this time a growing feehng amongst ship
owners that a monopoly was not desirable, more especially
in view of the fact that it was obhgatory to carry the
apparatus. It may be said that the first evidence of this
was the decision taken by the Cunard Steamship Company
to make trials of the other apparatus offered in order to
ascertain what alternative service could be obtained. Two
sister ships were selected, and the masts slightly heightened
so as to represent the conditions obtaining in the average
cargo steamer. A i| kW quenched spark set was installed
on board one steamer, with a crystal receiver which could
be used alone, or in conjunction with a three-valve " note
ampUfier." In the other vessel a i| kW, high-note frequency
" rotary spark " transmitter w^as installed, with a single
valve receiver which could be used in combination with a
two-valve " note amplifier." Through the good offices of
the Post Office authorities, arrangements were made by
which the station at Valentia, on the south-west coast of
Ireland, assisted in the trials. On account of these being
carried out upon different occasions by the individual ships,
night comparisons were considered misleading, and the
actual tests were strictly confined to the periods between
one hour after sunrise at the westerly station, and one hour
before sunset at the easterly. Test messages were trans-
mitted at frequent intervals as the vessels approached the
point where communication was just possible. It was the
best means of comparison which could be devised for
vessels on their ordinary trade voyages.

Results of Official Tests.

The actual results are given in the following table : —

Main Sets . .

1^ kW quenched
spark transmitter,
crystal detector,
3-valve amplifier

i\ kW rotary spark
transmitter, valve
detector, 2-valve
amplifier

Maximum range with-
out amplifiers

Maximum range with
full amplification . .

358 nautical m.
(on reduced power)

553 nautical m.

355 nautical m. (on
full power)

584 nautical m.

Emergency Sets . .

Hammer break in-
duction coil,
quenched spark,
crystal detector

Wilson induction
coil, plain spark,
valve detector

Maximum range with
Valentia, no amplifi-
cation . ,

169 nautical m.

234J nautical m.

The above distances were calculated as arcs of great
circles. Night ranges would be approximately double the
above figures.

Comparisons of the Apparatus.

It will be seen that the crystal receiver set gave as good
results as the single valve arrangement. The superiority
of the latter used in conjunction with a note amplifier was
pronounced, and may be partly due to an advantage in
applying the more prolonged impulses permitted by the grid
leak method of rectification.

MesLsurements of the respective aerial currents with
a specially calibrated Fleming high-frequency thermo-
ammeter indicated a ratio of the order of 11 to 7, for
equivalent d.c. input, in favour of the quenched spark set,
both aerials being identical in height and form. The trials
were therefore considered inconclusive as regards the rela-
tive transmitting ranges of the two stations. The ob\dous
indication was that less " quenched spark " transmitting
power could be installed for the same results ; accordingly,
a \ kW set was substituted for the i| kW transmitter, and
the amphfier retained. Subsequent observations over a
prolonged period showed that the substitution was quite
justified. Similar experience of the same character was
obtained on board s.s. " Kaiserin Auguste Victoria," fitted
with a modern amplifier receiver, and a \ kW quenched
spark transmitter. This vessel, which handled heavy traffic,
showed that she was able to hold her own with steamers
employing higher powered transmitting apparatus, and
similar receivers.

The Need for Amplifiers.

It therefore became apparent, very early, that " cargo
boat " service with modem coast stations could be main-
tained, under practical conditions, with less costly appar-
atus, provided amplifiers were employed. But the case of
large and fast Atlantic liners had to be specially considered.
The volume of traffic to be handled is considerable ; the
atmospheric conditions extremely bad at the time of year
when traffic is heaviest ; and the jambing and congestion
very serious matters. An important step towards improving
this class of traffic was taken by the Marconi Company
G.W. valve plant of 3 kW. was added to the installa-
tions on board the principal liners. This resulted in an
immediate relief of traffic congestion. The daylight trans-
mitting range was very considerably increased, and, by
the adoption of a special wavelength, additional terminal
coast stations could be operated independently of spark
traffic.

Overcoming Atmospherics.

Atmospheric troubles proved much more severe on the
longer wave adopted, and it soon became clear that, if a
direct telegraph ser\ace in the true sense was desired, the
only solution lay in using higher transmitting power.

Accordingly, the s.s."Caronia" was equipped with a 10 kW
" Elwell-Poulsen " arc, in addition to the usual i\ kW
spark set. As it was the first occasion when a large arc of
the kind was called into service on board a British vessel,
the first experience was valuable. Early trials indicated
that there was room for improvement, more especially in
conn,ection with the means for providing the " atmosphere,"
and in ehminating the spacing wave. The objection to the
latter was principally the jambing caused in oscillating the
arc after a period of rest, which involved a certain amount
of interference with other traffic. These troubles were sur-
momited by introducing a special form of alcohol vapour-
iser, which was kept operating by a current in a heating
element during the intermittent periods when the arc was
not required ; and by the adoption of a certain form of
back shunt circuit which involved no breaking of the aerial
continuity, and consequently an absence of keying troubles.
After these improvements had been introduced it was
found that the installation was capable of very superior
service, and direct communication with the shore stations
was assured under all conditions normal to the require,
ments of the passengers.

June 9, 1922

The Electrician.

683

Introduction of Rival Systems.

The success attending the above trials encouraged ship
owners generally to instal rival systems, and there is at
the present time a large and increasing number of British
steamers equipped with these.

Different Commercial Methods.

Until recently, it was practically the universal custom for
shipowners to hfre the apparatus and make arrangements
for its maintenance, and for the supply of trained operators,
with the Wireless Company. An alternative system,
advocated more particularly by one company, is to sell
the apparatus outright, and enter into arrangements for
maintenance and for supplying operators who become,
temporarily at any rate, the directly-employed servants
of the shipping company. As to the relative merits of the
respective systems, it is still a little early to judge. But
an organisation set up by any company contracting for a
large number of vessels, under either system, is a strong
instrument against a newcomer. It is a comparatively long
4nd costly business to build up a service for ship owners,
and, unless well supported in the initial stages, a new
concern has uphill work. For this, and other reasons, it is
difficult to understand why British ship owners do not
make arrangements to perform the maintenance and opera-
ting services for themselves. Their collective organisation
abroad is enormous, and could easily be adapted to the
requirements. The advantages gained would be that any
suitable manufacturer would be encouraged to enter what
would then be a really open market, and shipowners would
then be able to do as they chose in wireless matters. In
severed foreign countries it has already been recognised
that the first necessity is as the writer indicates, and it
should be a comparatively easy matter to co-operate with
foreign organisations which are proceeding along the same
lines.

The Effect of a Strike.

Shortly after the Gunard trials a strike by wireless
operators, resulting in an increase of wages, gave rise to
negotiations between the shipowners and the wireless
companies. These were protracted, but an arrangement was
arrived at eventually by which the two principal parties
accepted a new form of contract. Shipowners had the
option of proceeding under their old arrangements, or
signing the new form. In effect, the latter gave the ship-
owner the right to purchase his installation, at stated times,
at a price which allowed for depreciation from the date of
installation. After five years from the latter date the ship-
owner had power to terminate at six months' notice, pro-
vided he paid compensation at agreed rates for the second
period of five years, making up the original ten-year term.
Further details of the arrangements were published at the
time. The arrangement is equitable as regards compensa-
tion, and throws the market open to competition without
undue hardship to the original contractor. A competing
company must, however, frame their proposals to be still
more attractive, having regard to the fact that the shipowner
must take the compensation scale into consideration. The
Y onus of the arrangement falls very much upon the new con-
tractor. In spite of this, there is a good deal of business
done, though one would perhaps prefer to see this more
fairly distributed in the interests of healthy competition.

Patents and Monopolies.

The present virtual monopoly has been legitimately
built up during the enjoyment of the rights conferred. It
has been further supported by the work of inventors in
many countries. The two words patent and monopoly are
synonymous, and invention is probably a greater force in
the wireless than in any other branch of industry. So long
as shipping, which is the main section of the industry,
:, ' .remains in the hands of any one organisation, there will be
<:omparatively little return for capital invested in the
development of wireless inventions, except from the
smaller markets. The inventor, whether he be here or
abroad, will therefore be practically compelled to make the

best bargain possible with the representative of the con-
troUing organisation in his own country. There lies the
true secret of the monopoly, and until concerted, world-
wide action is taken by the parties interested in the open
market, conditions will remain very much as they are.
On the other hand, if there were another epoch-making
development of the same importance, say, as the therm-
ionic Vixlve, and every manufacturer were able to exploit
the invention on fixed terms, the industry would receive
an unparallelled stimulus. Were such an invention to
come into the hands of a " ring," it would involve a great
setback to others. Two important reasons for the revival
of competition in this country have been the facts that the
tuned coupled circuit patent has expired and the lapse of
the de Forest basic valve patent. Had either of these two
master patents merely changed hands, the industry as a
whole would have been no better off. The remedy for
monopoly is no monopoly : a free market.

An International Wireless League.

Experience of recent years shows the vital importance
of consolidating wireless interests in the principal countries.
It would appear to the writer that the needs of the industry
call for an " International Wireless League " ; that is an
organisation which could be supported by commercial con-
cerns, patentees, physicists, engineers, and all parties who
are interested in the maintenance of the open market, and
the unfettered advancement of the art. Members of the
League should undertake to carry out repairs at special
rates, and generally assist through their organisations,
visiting foreign vessels operated by other members. Should
an operator fail, through sickness or other cause, to present
himself for duty abroad, an appeal could be made to a local
member or representative of the League, who would arrange
to meet the situation, and avoid the risk of the steamer being
held up by the authorities. With regard to patents, it
would be necessary, individually, to accept a principle for
the good of the industry as a whole. A suggestion is that
members of the League should have the option of retaining
their exclusive rights in the country where they are located
but should undertake to grant hcenses for the exploitation
of their foreign patents to any member of the Leag^ie, on
terms fixed by (Msinterested arbitration. The local branch
of the League in each country might undertake to bear the
cost of obtaining and maintaining certain appro v^ed patents,
which, with an administration charge, could be debited to
the licensees. The functions of the League could be ex-
tended, and the scheme \'.'ould tend to succeed if carried
out in the spirit of mutual co-operation. Fortunately, the
latter should be encouraged by the evidence on record
showing that the small concern, struggling alone, nas
generally been ousted from the shipping business in the long
run, or has fallen into the hands of the " ring " organisation.

Electricity Supply in Belgium.

The demand for electricity supply ia Belgium coatiaues to
increase, and many schemes of extension and development are
projected. The Society de I'Electricit^ de I'Escant, which supplies
in Antwerp, has made a ten years' agreement for the supply of light
and power to the docks in the northern part of the city, and arrange-
ments are being made for extending the supply cables along the
Scheldt-Meuse canal to Tumhout. A 7 000 kW generating set was
recently installed by the company, and a 10 000 kW unit is being
erected. Out of 152 communes in the Antwerp province, only
62 have an electricity service, but efforts are being made to devise a
scheme to cover the entire province.

The Society des Centrales Electriques des Flandres, which supplies
a number of communes, and has 13600 consumers, is negotiating
with the Provincial Government for tlie extension of its service to
a number of villages in East Flanders, and with the State Govern-
ment for the supply of 2 000 kW for the radio station at Ruysselede.

A committee of tliree engineers is examining the merits of two
schemes for the supply of electricity throughout the province of
LiMBOURG. A private company's proposals have been rejected,
and it is probable that the Pro\'incial Government \vill undertake the
supply of electricity in bulk to the whole of the communes, and
erect and maintain the high tension transmission lines, leaving the
work of distribution to the local communes. Already about 40 miles
of overhead transmission line have been erected, over 40 miles of
line are being constructed, leaving about 1 10 miles to complete the
scheme which mil entail a total expenditure of nearly five million
francs.

684

The Electrician — June 9, 1922

The Radio- Telephone Broadcasting Boom.

By Prof. G. W. O. HOWE, D.Sc.

The boom that is taking place at present in the reception
of radio-telephonic messages and concerts cannot but
interest, and, to some degree amuse, the radio engineer ;
to a much greater extent it should interest the advertising
agent, the manufacturer of wireless equipment, and the
student of psychology. The public is periodically swept
by some novelty or by the resurrection of some old and
well-known form of amusement. Within recent years
we have had ping-pong, roUer-skating, standard bread,
rag-time music, and many others. In some cases the
origin of the craze is difficult to trace, but for the most part
they provide eloquent sermons on the text " Sweet are the
uses of advertisement." In the present case our daily
papers have responded well with a regular display of catchy
headlines, intriguing descriptions of the delights which
await the purchaser of a receiving set, and even photographs
of celebrities hstening to wireless concerts.

An Eastward Course.

As in so many similar cases, the boom appears to have
travelled here from the United States. Owing partly to the
eagerness with which any scientific novelty is taken up in
the States, partly to the greater publicity given there to all
such matters, but mainly, no doubt, to the almost entire
absence of Governmental restriction, amateur wireless is
much more widely practised there than here. It was
apparently a simple matter for any college or school or
even private person to fit up a transmitting station and
" blaze away " to some distant receiving station. In this
country, on the other hand, and in Europe generally, the
authorities have kept a much firmer hand on the situation,
and onty gave transmitting licenses in exceptional cases.
To judge from the recently issued report of the Radio-
Telephonic Committee of the American Department of
Commerce, it is proposed to control more rigorously the
issue of licences and the allocation of wave-lengths in the
United States. It is stated that about 19 000 transmitting
licenses have been granted, and that about 16 000 of these
are amateur.

The Oriiinal Amateur.

Even before the war there were scattered about this
country a large number of amateurs who had aerials and
receiving equipment and took the time signals and wsather
reports from Paris and Norddeich and whatever other
signals they were fortunate enough to pick up. Generally
speaking, these amateurs were interested in wireless
telegraphy itself and not in the weather reports and other
messages received. They were content to experiment with
various coils and couplings and "i^arious types of detectors,
and to increase the facility with w liich they could take down
the Morse Code signals. Since the jirmistice, however, a
great development has taken place ; the thermionic tube,
with its manifold applications, has opened up undreamed of
possibilities. The amateur can now receive transoceanic
signals with ease and make them audible to a large audience.

A New Sense.

The crowning factor, however, ha^ been the greatly
increased probabihty of picking up not only Morse signals,
which are, after all, very impersonal and unsympathetic,
especially when conveying a message in some unknown
cipher, but also spoken messages and vocal and instru-
mental music. Even if one has no great interest in the
wireless weather or market reports, and if the music, when
received, may not be very much superior to that obtainable
at any hour of the day or night from a good gramophoiie,
it seems incredible that any thinking being can know that
electromagnetic waves are sweeping continually through
the room in which he is sitting, carrying music and speech
of which he is absolutely unconscious, without wislung to
provide himself with what is virtually a new sense, enal)ling
him to understand and appreciate the messages being
carried on these invisible and scarcely-to-be-credited waves.

Many people wiU be moved by such feelings as these to
purchase a receiving set.

An Increased Sense Range.

Our senses of sight and sound are operated by means of
waves ; the eye is, however, only sensitive to about one
octave, the ratio of the wave-lengths of red and violet
being roughly two to one ; the ear has a much wider range,
extending to ten octaves or more. The range of wave-
lengths now actually employed in radio-telegraphy is
greater still and, in view of the short wave tests recently
described by Mr. Franklin, can be put at about fifteen
octaves. Signals are passing us continually, a large
number simultaneously, any one of which we may hear by
suitable adjustment of this new sense, which can be
purchased for a few pounds. So long as the signals when
received were unintelligible sounds, one could well ignore
them, but now that they may convey songs or instrumental
music or news of any kind, one may be excused for showing
some curiosity to " listen-in."

Progress in America.

In America it has been suggested to use radio-telephony
for broadcasting market and weather reports from a
munber of centres to the farmers within a given radius. In
Germany, where the energies which would otherwise have
been employed in developing an Imperial Chain have been
concentrated on an intensive development of the internal
radio network, experiments have already been made with
a view to distributing information of general interest from
a central station to a number of receiving stations scattered
throughout the country. So far as one can judge from
announcements in Parliament and in the Press, the main
functions of the broadcasting stations to be Hcensed by
the Postmaster-General are to interest and amuse the public;
that is, they are for pleasure rather than business. Mr.
KeUaway suggested that it might be possible to enable
constituents to listen to their member's eloquence in the
House. We hardly know whether to sj^mpathise with the
member or with his constituents at this alarming prospect.
We are pleased to see that the matter to be broadcasted is
to be strictly controlled. We were rather afraid that
financial considerations would entail the Hstener, in the
interval between two musical items, in being urged in
stentorian tones to try somebody's pUls.

Four Categories of Service.

The American Committee divide broadcasting services
into four categories, wliich, in the order of importance, are
as follows : — Government, Public, Private and Toll. The
first is that carried out by Government departments ; the
second that by public institutions, universities and Ucensed
disseminators of information and educational service ; the
third is that by private companies hcensed to send out
news and entertainment ; the toll service apphes to those
cases in which a charge is made for the use of the
transmitting station.

Even the American Committee recommend the prohibi-
tion of direct advertising and the company doing the
broadcasting are limited to a statement of the name of the
company. A very interesting point is the recommendation
that, in view of the pubhc demand for broadcasting, ^vireless
telephony be not used for point to point communication,
where it can be effected by other means.

Good for the Electrical Industry.

One very satisfactory aspect of the boom is that at least
one branch of the electrical industry is very fully occupied,
and those firms who were far-seeing enough to anticipate —
or should we say cultivate ? — this feverish demand for
receiving sets should be reaping their re^vard.

The wave-lengths between 350 and 425 metres are to be
allocated to the broadcasting stations, but the actual wave-

June 9, ig22

The Electrician.

685

lengths of the individual stations will have to be carefully
chosen, so that a receiver which is equidistant from three or
four transmitting stations will be able to hear one without
interference from the others. This can be accomplished by
giving adjacent stations wave-lengths at the opposite
extremes of the range, whilst widely separated stations,
such as London and Aberdeen, may have wave-lengths
differing but little.

The American Committee recommend the allocation of
150 to 275 m. to amateurs, 100 to 150 m. and 285 to 485 m.
for private and toll broadcasting, 275 to 285, 484 to 495,
700 to 850, 1 050 to 1 500 and i 850 to 2 050 m. to
Government and Public Services.

Radiation from Receiving Aerials.

A difficulty that will need serious consideration is that
of the radiation from the receiving aerials due to the
heterodyne method of reception ; although weak, this may
be sufficient to cause trouble in neighbouring receivers. We
note that 440 m. has been allocated as an amateur
transmitting wave-length. This may prove troublesome to
a receiver listening to a concert on 425 m.

A useful suggestion has been made in a recent issue of
the Wireless World and Radio Review that a distinction
should be made between those who merely wish to buy a
more or less standardised receiving apparatus for listening
to the broadcasting service and nothing more, and those
who wish to carry out experiments and modify their
apparatus from day to day. The former cannot con-
ceivably cause any interference, and it is not difficult to
understand that such a person may conceivably wonder
why he should have to pay ten shillings for a licence
permitting him to sit in his own house and listen to the
messages being conveyed, whether he wish it or not, through
the ether around him.

It is interesting to note that this new development of
radio-telephony depends for its success upon what was
considered its greatest defect, viz., its lack of directiveness
and secrecy. Broadcasting requires approximate uniformity
of radiation in every direction and ease of reception.

We conclude with the words of the Postmaster-General,
" the possibilities of this service are almost unhmited."

The High Frequency Resistance of Inductance

Coils.

A Scientific Paper recently issued by the Bureau of
Standards contains an interesting contribution by Mr.
Gregory Breit on the high frequency resistance of
inductance coils. At low frequencies there is little
difficulty in discovering the resistance of a coil. But at
high frequencies complexities are introduced by the
skin effect and by the influence of capacity. The skin
effect has in general onl}^ a minor influence, but the
effect of capacity, as shown by the author, is of more
moment. The capacity leads to a collection of charges
and a non-uniform distribution of current in the coil. Hence
a special definition of resistance is needed. The definition
adopted by the author is such that PR is the power lost
in the coil where / and R are measured at the point where
the E.M.F. is apphed. The correctness of the formulae
derived are borne out by experiments.

Another study by the same author relates to the
field radiated by two horizontal coils such as have
been used in an antenna for directing radio waves
upwards and assisting an aeroplane to land at times
when visibility is poor. It was believed that the waves
would radiate in the form of an inverted cone above
the antenna, and experiment has shown this to be broadly
true. The nature of the field radiated has been calculated
and the currents received by a coil aerial or open antenna
determined. In particular the portions of space where
the signal can be heard have been studied. It is of interest
to note that the signal was a maximvun at an angle of
30 degrees with the vertical, for a vertical receiving coil.

On the Earth Resistance of
Antenna^/

By A. .MEISSNER.

For quite a long time one of the most important problems
in wireless telegraphy has been the question as to how a
transmitter for high powers should be constructed. In 191 1
the position was one of complete uncertainty. In England
L-antennae i 000 to 2 000 metres m length and 50 m. in
height were being built, and to these fabulous directive
properties were ascribed. The Telefunken Co., on the other
hand, declared in the main for the umbrella antenna, while
others, again, wished to use only earth antennae.

Experiments on Antenna: Types.

In order to provide a basis for the design of the then
projected high-power German colonial stations it was therefore
decided by the Telefunken Co. to carry out a long series of
experiments on antennae. These were to comprise : Pre-
determination of their capacity, natural vibration period and
damping ; efEect of insulation of the metal parts from, the
mast and its supports ; and, finally, investigation of the
radiation relations. The first experiments at Nauen were
supplemented by a longer series between Nauen and Jena,
and the guiding lines as to design thereby estabUshed, which
since then have been generally applied in the calculation of
antennae, were in the main as follows : —

1 . The relation, that the radiation resistance is proportional
to h^H^, is true for all types of antennae (where A=height,
X= wave-length) .

2. The shape of the antenna is, for equal medium heights,
immaterial over a wide range ; only an L antenna is less
favourable owing to the large losses in the earth with this
construction.

3. The directional efEect of an L antenna is practically
negligible when the horizontal extension exceeds 20 per cent.

The question of how the earth resistance could be reduced
remained at that time unanswered.

Efficiency and Earth Resistance.

Now this very question became of burning importance,
since the efficiency of the entire antenna installation depends
mainly on the earth resistance, especially in large plants. So
far as the generation of electric oscillations itself is concerned,
efficiencies of 70 to 80 per cent, have been obtained during the
last few years. On the other hand, the effectiveness of the
antenna installation has deteriorated o\ving to the tendency
to adopt longer and longer waves, for the purpose of diminish-
ing the absorption and the habiUty to interference. For even
if the highest practicable masts were used, a radiation resistance
of o-i to 0-3 O only would be obtainable with wave-lengths of
12 000 to 20 000 m. ; the earth resistance, on the other hand,
with these long waves would be 1-5 to 5 O. This means an
efficiency of the antenna installation of only 5 to 15 per cent.
It is thus evident that the whole problem of the efficiency of
antennae having large horizontal expansion can be solved b}'
reduction of the earth resistance.

There are several ways of attaining this result. One way is
to increase the antenna capacity. This expedient, however,
is of restricted application in that, even under the most
favourable circumstances, the resistance cannot be brought
down below 2 to 2-5 O ; further, in the case of unsymmetrical
antenna, the resistance actually rises as the capacity is
increased.

The Use of the Counterpoise.

Another way to reduce the earth resistance is to employ a
counterpoise. At the Karlberg station a very large counter-
poise system, utilising in its construction some 400 km.
of I mm. copper wire, was used ; in this case the earth resist-
ance was less than 01 O, so that for the first time there was
attained, in this way, the ideaUy low value desirable for a
high-power station. This low value, however, is obtained a ;■
great cost, and if the same counterpoise system were to be
employed at a modern really high-power station an area of
5 to 6 sq. km. would be required.

Owing to the proliibitive cost of the counterpoise construc-
tion the Telefunken Co. was forced to return to earthed
installations. After long-continued experiments an arrange-
ment was evolved by means of which similar low earth
resistances can be obtained as with the large Rendahl counter-
poise. The principle employed con-rists in taking the current
• Abstract of an article in the Jahrbiich der Drahtlosen TeUgraphi*^

686

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

from the earth's surface always at the spot, so far as possible,
where the hnes of force proceeding from the antenna enter the
earth. In this way lengthy current paths and equaUsing
currents in the earth are obviated — that is, the current from
the transmitter is so distributed among the separate earthing
places that each earth wire only receives just so much current
as'corresponds to the current generated by the antenna's lines
of 'force (induced current) in the locaUty. If the whole surface
of the ground cannot be covered with earthing conductors, the
earth should preferably be placed where the greatest percentage
of such induced current enters the ground. It is precisely this
point which has hitherto been missed. Actually, in the case
of a high-power antenna of radius 500 m. and height 200 m.,
the chief part of the antenna capacity, and hence the chief
part of the antenna's lines of force entering the ground, lies
outside the projected edges of the antenna, far from the centre
of the antenna. If, therefore, the current at the mid point of
the antenna is taken straight to earth, the whole of the current
which enters the earth beyond the projection of the antenna

diagram is indicated on the second line on the right-hand side
of the figure.

Resistances of Various Arrangements.

On the left-hand side of the figure are given the measured
earth resistances when the separate rings were used ; the
second and third lines give the resistance when several rings are
combined ; the fourth, the resistance when aU the rings are
connected together. It will be noticed that, when working
with ring 4 onlj' — that is, with one earth, which corresponds
to, or is better than, the normal earthing arrangements
hitherto used — a resistance of 5-7 O is obtained, a value such
as is usually found for an earthed antenna of this size. When
working with ring i only the resistance falls to 0-64 O. By
joining all the rings a resistance of less than tV O is
obtained. This resistance was measured for waves down to
400 m. in length ; above i 200 m. it increases somewhat, and
at I 835 it reached <o-4 O. It can be seen from these
measurements that the central portion of the antenna and
earths is practically of no importance and could be omitted.

777777777777777777777777777777^

Earth Resistance of the
Separate Rin^s

2-0 5'7S2

All Rin^s jollied

6'7
9-{

14-Z
14-2

24-6
23-0

S4-8

Per Cent of

Total Current
Theoretica.1
S3-S Current Values

Resultant (measured)
> Ear th^ Rests tance
when Rj'n^s are joined >

Current Distribution in Model Earthed Antenna.

(which means more than one-half of the whole antenna
current) will have to traverse the whole length dimension of
the antenna through the badly conducting earth.

Current Distribution.

The figure shows the current distribution in the case of a
model actually constructed on scale of i : 20. The antenna
was of pentagonal form with a radius of 25 m. The height
was 10 m. above the ground, and the capacity 2 065 cm.
Under the whole antenna and extending beyond the projection
of the antenna, earths were arranged in four concentric rings,
each being in the form of a star. In the first ring, counting
from the outside, were 28 earthing stars ; in the second, 25 ;
in the third, 15 ; and in the fourth, 5. Fic m the first ring
18 conductors were taken to the centre ; from the second, 13 ;
from the third, 8 ; and from the fourth, 2. The conductors
were fastened to the central mast at about 3 m. above the
ground. The earths were arranged in a ring, as mentioned,
and by connecting them to the coil L — that is, by switching
in more or less self-inductance in the earthing conductors —
the current distribution in the separate rings could be altered
at will. On so arranging the amount of self-inductance that
the system had the smallest resistance, the total current was
distributed over the separate rings in the proportions shown
on the right-hand side of the figure. The outermost ring, it is
seen, carries more than 50 per cent, of the total current. The
theoretical current distribution calculated from the line-of-force

were it not important for the purpose of conducting the
current towards the outer edge.

It is intended to use the above-described earthing arrange-
ment for the contemplated extension of the Nauen station.
Since the antenna will in this case have a height of 190 to
200 m., the radiation resistance at a wave-length of 12 600 m.
will be 0'3 to 0*33, and the coil and antenna wire resistance
can be brought down to 0-3 O ; the total resistance of the
antenna is hence o-6 to 0-7 O. The efficiency of the new
installation will then be approximately 50 per cent., as against
7.5 per cent, at the present time.

Metropolitan- Vickers' Edinburgh Showroom.

Splendid new showrooms have just been opened by Metropolitan-
Vickers Electrical Company, Ltd., in Edinburgh. This is in
pursuance of their plan to establish trade showrooms in the leading
towns where contractors and the trade generally will find all
facilities for inspecting the latest designs in domestic Ughting,
heating, and cooking apparatus, and of obtaining all information
with regard to power installations. The showrooms are at 127,
George Street, and are therefore very central. " Cosmos '*
lamps and fires are attractively displayed, and a wide selection
of electric kettles, jugs, hotplates, cookers, grillers, toasters,
domestic irons, urns, etc., may also be seen. An extensive range
of accessories is also exhibited, including the Cosmos new type
connector, the " M-V " super switch plug, " Harcourt " electric
fittings, &c.

The Electrician — June 9, 1922

687

Some Notes on Dalmarnock Power Station.

By R. B. MITCHELL.

As a detailed description of the plant (see The Electrician,
Vol. LXXXV, pp. 303, Sept. loth, 1920) at Dalmarnock has
already been published, it is advisable in this short address
to deal only with some special features of the station and
with some of the results which have been obtained from its
working. This will be illustrated by extracts from the
working figures for the whole station, test results of individual
parts of the plant, and by notes on the equipment which has
been provided for the oversight of the most important
quantities.

Boiler Plant.

It is recognised that the boiler house provides the greatest
scope for obtaining economies, and so far as the original
lay-out of the station permits, everything possible has been
done at Dalmarnock to help to attain high efficiency.

The following figures will indicate the results which are
being obtained at present. These figures are abstracted from
the working logs of No. i Boiler House ; no attempt has been
made to select a specially favourable example.

Data and Heat Balance of No. i Boiler House.
(4 to 7 Units in operation.)

Average Boiler Pressure . . . . . . 274 lb. sq. in. gauge

Average Total Steam Temperature . . . . 700° F.

Average Temperature Feed Water, Econo-

miser Inlet .. .. ., .. .. 141° F.

Average Temperature Feed Water, Econo-

miser Outlet . . .. .. .. .. 274° F.

Average Temperature Flue Gases, Economiser

Inlet 630° F.

Average Temperature Flue Gases, Economiser

Outlet 400° F.

Average Percentage CO.^ . . . . . . 10 per cent.

Calorific Value of Coal 10 800 B.Th.U.

Air Temperature . . . . . . . . 70° F.

Draught Over Fires (in. H2O) . . . . . . 0-3 in.

Draught at Damper (in. HgO) . . . . 1-5 in.

Draught at Fan (Ind.) (in. H,0) . . . . 2-5 in.

Total Coal Consumed . . . . . . ' . . 953 580 lb.

425-7 tons

Ashes . . . . . . . . . . . . 45'33 tons

Ashes per cent, of fuel consumed . . . . io'65 per cent.

Total Water Evaporated . . . . . . 6 264 960 lb.

Condensate . . . . . . . . . . 6 024 000 lb.

Make up water . . . . . . . . 240 960 lb.

Make up water per cent, of total . . . . 3-85 per cent.

Lb. of Water evaporated per lb. of coal . . 6-5 lb. (actual)

Power consumption of auxiliaries as per-
centage of fuel consumed .. .. .. I •68 per cent.

From the information on the above table, the following heat
balance is obtained : —
Heat Balance, No. i Boiler House, Dalmarnock.

B.T.U. Per cent.
To Calorific Value of Coal . . . . . . 10 800

To Power Consumption of Boiler-house

auxiliaries . . . . . . . . . . loo

B.T.U. Equivalent, per lb i8i

Total 10 981

To Heat Transfer in Boiler . . . . . . 6 253

To Heat Transfer in Superheater . . . . i o 1 4

To Heat Transfer in Economiser . . . . 864

To Heat Transfer in Combined Plant .. 8131

To Loss in Flue Gas . . . . . . . . i 644

To Loss in Radiation . . . . . . . . 549

To Loss in Ashes, Moisture and Unaccounted

for 657

100

56-94

9-23
7-86

74-03
14-98

5 -co
5-99

Total . . . . . . . . . . 10 981 loo-oo

It is evident from an inspection of these figures that the
chief source of loss is in the heat escaping in the flue gases.
Provided that space is available and that a sufficiently large
heat transfer apparatus can be built for a moderate capital
outlay, there seems to be nothing to prevent the use of these
hot flue gases for pre-heating the furnace air supply, and the
gain wiU be represented in a more efficient heat balance, and
in a saving of coal per kilowatt-hour.

Lay-out and Eoooomy.
The lay-out of Nos. i and 2 boiler houses does not, un-
fortunately, lend itself to the installation of an apparatus of
the foregoing description. In Nos. 3 and 4 boiler houses,

• Abstract of a paper read before the Summer Meeting of the Institu-
tion of Electrical Engineers.

which have yet to be built, its possibilities will not be lost
sight of. The installation of automatic coal weighing machines
has made it possible to obtain accurate figures of the coal
consumed during each shift, without any delay. It is then
a simple matter to balance this figure against the station
output for the same shift. By plotting the results on a chart,
a " Willans " line is obtained which is recognised as a
standard to which the station engineers must aspire.

Benefit of Daily Results.

At Dalmarnock these results are plotted daily and the
records have been of great benefit. This method of record-
keeping would not have been possible had it not been for the
weighing machines weighing the fuel as it is burned. In many
modern stations it has not been thought necessary to instal
these machines, but without them or some equivalent, no
quick or accurate method of obtaining efficiency figures over
short periods is available. Under modern boiler house con-
ditions, where the closest supervision of the burning of fuel
is imperative, the author is of the opinion that money expended
on these appliances is well spent. The guaranteed combined
efficiency of boiler, superheater, and economiser, is 80 per cent.

It will be noticed from the foregoing table that the boiler
house efficiency attained under normal working conditions is
about 74 per cent. It is expected that under better circum-
stances this figure will be considerably improved.

Auxiliary Services.

The method or methods adopted for driving the auxiliary
plant and of using the heat energy rejected, is next in import-
ance, if not equal, to the economics of the boiler house. At
Dalmarnock, this problem has been tackled in various ways ;
in fact, it may seem that too many complications have been
introduced. These auxiliary arrangements have been very
severely criticised in an American magazine, but the diversity-
of auxiliary plant gives experience and data which could
hardly be determined other than by trial.

All the rotary auxiliaries are electrically driven from : —

1. {a) Two house turbo-generators each of 500 kW capacity' exhaust-

ing into open-type heaters through which the condensate

is pumped ;
{b) Two house transformers taking power direct from the 20 000 V

bus bars,
(c) Nos. 3, 4, and 5 sets have auxiliary- low-tension windings on

the step-up transformers.

2. Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 5 turbines have steam led at low-pressure to

heaters through which the condensate may be passed. Nos. 2
and 3 have surface heaters integral with the turbine and Nos. 4
and 5 external open tvpe heaters.

3. The steam ejectors on Nos. i and 5 turbines exhaust into open-

type heaters, and the steam driven boiler feed pumps exhaust
direct into the hot well tanks. Electrically driven boiler
feed pumps are also installed.

It is too early yet to state definitely which system, or
combination of systems, is the most economical to use, but
it will be agreed, that the operating engineers have ample
means at their disposal for investigating the relative merits "
of the different combinations. It is Cv.rtain that the integral
heaters introduced in Nos. 2 and 3 sets add in a marked degree
to the overall efficiency of the units, and there is much to be
said also for the regular use of the house turbines.

The Ideal to be Aimed At.

The ideal to be aimed at, however, is to have sufficient
flexibility in the use of exhaust steam to be able at any time
to use just the exact quantity required and no more. In the
past, where steam driven auxiharies have been used ^vithout
alternative, the amount of exhaust steam produced has been
far in excess of requirements. Tliis, of course, depends on
the size of unit installed, and the comparatively low ratio of
auxiliary power to main unit power is one of the advantages
of large units over small ones.

It has been said by a critic and it \v-ill be agreed that
" valuable lessons may be learned from the results observed
in the operation of the Dalmarnock Station, particularly in
the matter of heat balance control and the auxiUar>' drive.
The very complexity of the design makes for exceptional
flexibility in operation, and affords a rare opportunity to
test out the different combinations under actual operating
conditions."

All auxiliary motors are of the induction tj'pe and their
reliability has been extremely satisfactory'. The economic

688

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

aspect is by no means so clear, and investigations are being
carried out to see whether too great a price is not being paid
for the obvious advantage of simplicity of A.C. motors.

Testing and Control.

Every effort has been made to measure as accurately as
possible all important quantities, and for this purpose each
circuit in the station has been treated separately. The
quantity of coal going to the furnaces is measured accurately
by automatic weighing machines, as already stated, and is,
in addition, indicated approximately on each furnace. The
total quantity of air for combustion is indicated, and the
temperature of the outgoing air is measured accurately, so
that these quantities give the chimney losses at any instant.
The degree of combustion is measured by indicating COg
meters, one of which is placed on each furnace. The pressure
of air at various points in the furnace circuit is measured by
draught gauges.

For the steam circuit, the usual equipment of pressure and
temperature indicators for the live and exhaust steam,
together with steam flow meters, provides an indication of
the boiler output, which is almost as reliable and accurate as
the electrical equipment for the output of the generators.
This equipment provides the staff with means for practically
continuous oversight of the boiler performance.

Continuous Records.

The performance of the turbo-alternator sets is also
under continuous observation, the steam consumption being
measured by a Lea Recorder in the condensate circuit, while
the output of the machine is measured by accurate watt-hour
meters. It is interesting to note that no difficulty has been
experienced in obtaining consistent results well within o'l per
cent, at the electrical end, although of course, the question
of the absolute accuracy of the results is much more doubtful.

For accurate tests on the turbines, two steel test tanks,
each of 28 000 lb. capacity have been installed permanently
close to the turbine roo n, so that very accurate measurement
of the steam consumption of any set can be made when
required.

The whole testing equipment has proved extremely con-
venient in practice. The general idea underlying the arrange-
ment of all testing equipment has been to take the pressure,
flow, and resistance, as in an ordinary electrical circuit. To
illustrate the performance of the various units in the station,
tabulated tests are given. These include boiler, turbine, and
auxiliary plant tests.

It is interesting to note how the various instruments have
gradually gained the confidence of the operators. The steam
flow meter, which was looked on in the early stages as a toy,
is now considered to be absolutely essential, and the tempera-
ture measurements are now quite as reliable and accurate as
the pressure measurements.

Operation of Plant.

Owing to the prevailing depression and to the lock-out in
the engineering trades which has been in force recently, the
station output during the past few months has been much
below what was expected. DalmaTiock has been carrying
the whole load of the system and operating at a load factor
of about 034 per cent.

On an output for the last month for which figures are
available, the generating costs were as follows : —

Dalmarnock Power Station Generation Costs.
Comparison Costs for the Month of April, 1922.

Pence per Unit Delivered.

Average P/eceding

for year. month. April.

0'i825 0-1707 0*1752

0-0063 0-0065 o-oo6o

0-0080 0-0084 0-0082

0-0009 o-ooo8 o-ooog

0-0037 0-0044 0-0040

0-0172 0-0169 0-0202

Operation ;
Coal . .
Coal Handling
Ash Handling

Water

Oil and Stores

Shift Wages and Salaries

Maintenance and Repairs :
Building Wages

Material
Engine Room — Wages

Material
Boiler Room — Wages
Material . .
On cost Charges

Totals

Totals (less Coal)

0-0045
0-0008
0-0070
0-0040
0-0113
0-0044
0-0078

0-2584
0-0759

0-0046
0-0007
0-0070
0-0054
0-0114
0-0043
o-oo8o

0-2491
0-0784

0-0057
0-0007
0-0082
o-oo6i
0-0132
0-0056
0-0095

0-2635
0-0883

Units :

Generated

Delivered
Coal Consumed :

Tons . .

Lb. per unit delivered

B.Th.U. per unit delivered
Ashes Removed :

Tons . .

Percentage to coal . .
Make-up Water :

Gallons per unit delivered
Number of Men Employed :

Shift — Salaries
Wages

Time — Main and Reps.
Maximum Load at Station
Load Factor on Station :

Units Delivered

Maximum Load x Hours

10 764 200
10 233 203

9056
1-98
20 679

I 210
13-36

0-046

131
42 200

33-68

The cost of coal per ton in that month was taken at 163. 6d.
This figure is gradually becoming lower, and under better
conditions of output and load factor, it is certain that the
total cost. figures will be very much improved.

Boiler Test at Dalmarnock.

{Test on Singh Unit.)

Normal Working Conditions.

Rate of Steaming

Heat Transfer in Boiler
Heat Transfer in Superheater
Heat Transfer in Economiser. .

Heat Transfer in Combined Plant

Losses in Flue Gas

Losses by radiation

Combustible in Ash unaccounted for

^^ 000 lb/hour
Per cent.

59-4
10-6

9-75

79*75

I5-0

4-0

1-25

1000

Average kW Induced Draught Fan Motor. . . . 85-5

Duration of test . . ... • • 4 hours on induced draught

Test results obtained on a turbo-alternator set corrected to
standard conditions for the station.

Steam pressure, 250 lb. per sq. in.; temperature, 650° F.; vacuum
29-1 in.:

Load in Lb. Steam per

kW. kW-hour.

II 250 IO-68

15 000 IO-53

18 750 10-48

These figures were obtained without special preparations on the
part of the turbine makers. The various measurements were made
as accurately as possible both on the steam and on the electrical
side.

Arrangements for Comparison.

In logging the station performance, an attempt has been made
to get tlie results tabulated so that comparisons can be made
readily with other plants, and at the same time give figures
which the operating engineer can readily remember. In the
boiler house the usual figure of lbs. water per lb. coal has been
improved upon in accordance with modern practice, and this
is now given as equivalent evaporation per 10 000 B.Th.U.
The coal being sampled from the hoppers and tested every
day, this fig^ire becomes strictly comparable from day to day.

A summary sheet of the daily log is also compiled, the sheet
being drawnn out for seven days. This sheet (which is repro-
duced herewith) gives the daily performance compared mth
a standard, which represents the average results under good
running conditions. The summary sheet is not for the
compilation of costs : it is provided so tliat the operating
staff may note any serious departures from the standard and
take steps to rectify them.

As the all-important figure is lb. of coal per unit, the
scheme suggested by Mr. R. H. Parsons some rime ago in the
Electrical Review, as referred to earlier in [the paper, has
been adopted. The total coal consumed, and units generated,
are plotted out per sliif*- for each month. The same is done
for water. Then each month a base line is drawn on squared
paper, which represents the coal per unit or water per unit,
less the station losses, that is to say, if the coal line for the
previous month is C=i6 600 plus i-7i4 K, then the base line
is at 16000, and the performance of each sliift is plotted
against this line. If any shift sho%vs a great departure from
the base, an inspection of the summary sheet should help to
find the cause of disparity.

June g, 1922

The Electrician.

689

GLASGOW CORPORATION ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT.
DAILY RUNNING STATISTICS FOR WEEK ENDING

4th

5th

7th

8th

Standards

Thursday.

Back Pressure, in. Hg.
Theo.-Act. Vacuum, in. H.S.

Tr II-2
Engine Room Steam Efficiency

3 410X 100

{H — h)x\b. per unit

Stack Temperature, ° F.

Per cent. COj

Boiler Kennedy Factor

Water Evaporated
50 000 X Hours

Boiler House Efficiency

Station Efficiency

Calorific Value of Coal as Fired

0'9 m.

0-55 in.

1-83

0-42

1-04 . i'i8

24 per cent. ' 22-25

400° F. 395

10-6 per cent. 12-7
90-II , 79"24

7777
17-15

80-45
17-93

+033
— o'i3

- 1-75

- 5

+ 2-1

-10-87

+ 2-68
+ 0-78

Friday.

1-36
0-63

1-20

22-28

378
II-6
76-26

76-39
16-97

+ 0-46
+ o-o8

— 1-72

— 22
+ i-o

4-13-85

- 1-38

- 0-18

10 656

Saturday. Sunday

Monday.

9tb
Tuesday.

1-23
0-57

1-34
21-95

382
ii-i
76-34

76-98
16-95

+ 0-33
— 0-02

- 2-05 t

-i8

+ 0-5
-13-77

- 079

- 0-20

1-51 1+ o-6i
0-78 j-t- 0-23

1-4 + 0-3

065 :+ o-l

10587

1-31 1-56 '

2f33 — 2-67 22-3 — 1-7

392 I- 8 _ 395 - 5

12-5 '4- i'9 II-8 .+ 1-2

76-82 —13-29 7848 —11-63

73-26 - 4-51 74-3 - 3-47

1606 — 1-09 17-49 i+ 0'34

10 257 10 814

Wednesday.

1-39
o-6z

1-31
22-26

389
13-3

79-27

+ 0-49
-f 0-06

- 1-74

— II

+ 3-7
— 10-84

76-79 - 0-98

1715 !■
10 315

W=lb. Water per unit generated. r>-=Temperature rise circulating water. H=Total heat in steam. A = HotweIl temperature.

Test results under ordinary working conditions, showing the
effect of running the set (a) from its own auxiUary turbo-alternator,
and {b) from the works sub-station supply : —

No. Turbine.
Averages over One Hour
House Turbine Supplying Main
Steam Pressure
Steam Temperature
Superheat . .
Steam Pressure after first experiment . .

Barometer . . . .

Vacuum

Theoretical Vacuum
Vacuum referred to Barometer 30 in. Hg.
Condensate Temperature
Heater Discharge Temperature . .
Circulating Water Temperature, Inlet . .
Circulating Water Temperature, Outlet
Temperature Rise of Circulating Water
Circulating Water

Total Water per Lea Recorder
kW-hours generated
Lb. Steam per kW-hour

's Run.

Unit Auxiliaries.

274 lb. sq. in. G.

725° F.

310° F.

74 lb. sq. in. G.

29-6 in. Hg.

28-6 in. Hg.

28-673 in. Hg.

29-00 in. Hg.

77° F.

130° F.

53° F.

65° F.

12° F.

26 100 galls. /min.

180 000 Ib./hr.
16 900
10-65

House Turbine.
Steam Pressure, ist Governor Valve

Steam Pressure, 2nd Governor Valve
Steam Temperature
Steam Pressure at Exhaust
Steam to House Turbine
Average load

Heat Balance.

Input

Heat in Exhaust . .

Heat regained in Feed Heater . .

Loss in Heater . . , . ' . .

Heat Cost in Auxiliary Energy per kW-

hour
Total Heat Cost of Auxiliary' Energy . .

219 lb. sq. in. G.

25 lb. sq. in. G.
710° F.

16 lb. sq. in. absolute.
10 35olb./hr. (calculated)
348 kW.

14 127 750 B.T.U./hr.

12 420 000 B.T.U./hr.
9540000 B.T.U./hr.
2 880 000 B.T.U./hr.

13 100 B.T.U./kW-hr.
4 560 000 B.T.U.

Heat Balance — Multijectors and Feed Heater in Service —
Electrical Auxiliaries Supplied from M.un Unit Energy

Main Unit kW

Steam Consumption
Heat Cost of Main Unit Energy
Power for Electrical Auxiliaries
Expenditure in B.Th.U. for Electrical

Auxiliaries
Steam Consumption of Multijectors

Equal to
Temperature Rise of Condensate
Total Heat regained in Heater . .
(Ejector Exhaust and Entrained Gases)
Heat Consumption of Ejectors
Total Expenditure in B.Th.U. for all

Auxiliaries . . . .

17 000

ii-oolb./kW-hr.
14 972 B.T.U. /kW-hr.
210 kW.

3 134 670 B.T.U./hr.
5 904 Ib./hr.
8017632 B.T.U./hr.
42" F. 42 B.T.U. /lb.
7854000 B.T.U./hr,

163 632 B.T.U./hr.

3 298 302 B.T.U. /tr.

The Manufacture of Ediswan Accumulators.

The Edison Swan Electric Co. have now been manufacturing
accumulators at their Ponders End Works for over four years. The
accumulators, which are of the pasted ty^e, are manufactured
according to formulae which have proved successful during a period
of over twenty years. The positive active material in the Ediswan
accumulators consists of a specially evolved oxide, the physical
characteristics of which give a high efficiency and long life. This
is obtained without the aid of any inert substances, which not only
reduce the volume of active material and consequently the capacity,
but introduce matter which can be of a highly injurious nature.

The Ediswan accumulator department is self-contained, and is
laid out for the carrying out of the work with a minimum of handling
and transportation. The grid casting room is situated at one end
of the building. Here the lead and alloys are melted in gas-heated
furnaces, which are equipped \\ith air-trunks for the exhausting of
fumes, etc., from the shop. The grids are cast in moulds of special
construction, so designed that the resulting grid will effectually and
securely hold the paste under the most severe conditions of \abration .
Above this shop is situated an acid-mixing tower from which the
acid diluted to various specific gra\-ities is conveyed to the different
sections of the building by means of a system of lead pipes.

The Pasting Department.

Adjoining the casting shop is the pasting department in which
are machines for the wet and dry mixing of the oxides. This process
is partitioned off from the main pasting room. The machines,
which are power driven, are of special construction for handling
the necessary heavy quantities of lead that go to the making of the
paste. After mixing, the paste is conveyed to the pasting benches,
which are lead covered. Here it is appHed to the grids in a manner
which ensures intimate contact between the paste and grid. The
plates are then subjected to a pressing process, and are then con-
veyed to the drying room, where they pass through a special drying
process.

WTien the plates are thoroughly d^y, they pass through to the
forming room. Here there are a series of forming rows which are
controlled from panels situated in an adjoining switch room. The
formation process is of too comphcated a nature to give in detail
here, but every care is taken to ensure that the resulting plate is
absolutel)' free from defects. On completion of this process, the
plates are passed to another drying room, where they are thoroughly
dried out and stored ready for assembly. The next process is the
section casting and lead burning. Here the plates have the section
bars either cast or burnt on according to the type of battery- under
construction. From this department the made up sections are
passed to the assembUng room, where separators are inserted, and
the sections placed in their containers. A part of the assembling
room is devoted to pitching in the sealed top type batteries.

The next section is the test room. Here there are four charging
panels, each capable of deahng \N-ith accumulators up to 360 Ah
capacity. The last stage is the packing for despatch. Ju the
packing department, cells of all sizes and types are carefully packed
for despatch to all parts of the world.

Chemical Treatment of Wood Separators.

Adjoining the main accumulator shop is an annexe in which wood
separators are treated. These separators, which are made in the
works, are here treated in a series of chemical baths for the removal
of resin and other oily matter, which would have a detrimental
effect upon the working of the battery. The raw material store
also adjoins the main shop.

690

The Electrician — June 9, 1922

The Institution of Electrical Engineers.

A Successful Summer Meeting in Scotland.

The success of tlie summer meeting of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers, which was held last week in Scotland
— and there is no doubt it was an unqualified success — may
be ascribed to two authorities — the committee of the Scottish
Local Centre, and especiallj'' the chairman and honorary
secretary, Mr. E. T. Goslin and Mr. J. Taylor; and the
Weather Bureau, as represented by that much-maligned and
misunderstood person the Clerk of the Weather. That to
visit Scotland, and especially the Western Highlands, in early
June is an adventure is well evidenced by the recommendation
to those joining the expedition to take warm clothing and
rain-protective devices. The Clerk of the Weather, however,
saw fit to render these recommendations quite nugatory,
and, except on the voyage from Fort William to Kinloch-
leven, the weather was dry and very warm. A party of
nearly 400 took part ; and though a large number of these
were either local Scots or Scots once again visiting the land
of their birth, there was a sufficient intermixture of Southrons
to give a representative character to- the whole. Many new
friendships were made, a number of old friendships were
renewed, many interesting places were visited, and, generally,
the visit may be described as a liberal education, which we
hope will be repeated in due course.

Monday, May 29.
Thanks to the courtesy of the London and North-Western
Railway Company, the party from London travelled down in
the comfort of a reserved restaurant car, a facility that was
all the more appreciated as the weather was very hot. During
the course of the day visitors from other parts of the country
converged on Glasgow, and made preparations for the strenuous
life of the next few days.

Glasgow and Kelvin.

Tuesday, May 30.
The first business this morning was an official welcome to
the Institution by the Corporation of Glasgow. This took
place in the Royal Technical College, when the Lord Provost
(Dr. Paxton) said that it gave him great pleasure, on behalf
of the Corporation and the citizens of Glasgow, to extend to
the Institution a most cordial welcome. He referred to the
Jubilee celebrations, and said it was fitting that in its Jubilee
year the Institution should visit the city where Lord Kelvin
had spent so many years of his long and useful life, and had
carried out work which had made his name famous throughout
the world.

The President (Mr. J. S. Highfield) in reply, thanked
the Lord Provost for his welcome, and expressed the pleasure
it gave the Institution to meet in the city associated with the
labours of Watt and Kelvin.

Dalmarnock and Clyde Mills.
A paper on " The Dalmarnock Generating Station " was
then read by Mr. R. B. Mitchell. He began by giving some
details of the progress of electricity supply in Glasgow, the
latest phase of which was the erection of the generating station
at Dalmarnock, whose various feature^ he detailed. (A full
description of this station was given in The Electrician of Sept.
loth, 1920.) He also gave an interesting account of the working
and test results obtained and replied to some criticisms which
had been levelled at the station's design and performance. This
portion of the paper is given in abstract on another page of
this issue ; but it is interesting to note here that the guaran-
teed combined efficiency of boiler, superheater and cconomiser
is 80 per cent., and that under normal working conditions
74 per cent, is obtained, though it is hoped that this figure
will be improved.

It will be remembered that the first sectior of the station
is to have a capacity of 93 750 kW in five sets of 18 750 kW
each : and that a feature of the station is the coal-handling
and storage plant. Energy is transmitted from the station
at 20,000 V by cables to various sub-stations, and an inter-
connection is also to be made with the sj'^stem of the Clyde
Valley Electrical Co.

After having heard all about the station those present
(or some of them) followed Mr. Squeers' policy and went
to see it. It was generally agreed that it came up to
expectations.

Lunch at the City Chambers.
Subsequently the Institution was entertained to luncheon
by the Corporation at that handsome building — the City
Chambers.

Bailie Sadler, in proposing " The Institution of Electrical
Engineers," paid a tribute to the fame and work of Kelvin
and quoted Varley's well-known saying regarding the future
of the Institution. Varley was a true prophet, for who could
set bounds to the scope of electricity. Every advance in our
knowledge of the structure of the universe — and enormous
strides had been made since his day — increased the probability
that electricity " embraces every operation in nature." As
Varley foresaw, the specialist character of the original body
was soon merged in a diversity of electrical interests. Its
growth had been steady, and the Institution had fulfilled its
role in the highest degree, in that it had provided continuously
an arena wherein electrical problems of every description
might be debated, new methods and ideas brought forward
and discussed, and accounts of progress, both at home and
abroad, placed before its members. Much of its work was
pioneer work, the benefits of which the industry was now
reaping.

Mr. J. S. Highfield, in acknowledging the toast, said they
had to deal with far more than the application of electricity. It
was being shown more and more clearly every day that the
whole of the universe was made up of electricity, and tKey
had the whole range not only of matter but of energy.

In the afternoon visits were paid to the Clydesmill generat-
ing station of the Clyde Valley Electrical Power Co., a descrip-
tion of which appeared in The Electrician, Vol. Ixxxvi. p. 86,
June 3rd, 1 92 1, and to the Corporation reservoirs at Miln-
gavie. At both places the visitors were entertained to tea.

Civic Receptions and Informal Meetings.

In the evening a civic reception was held at the City Chambers,
the principal attractions being music, dancing and refreshments
(these are not necessarily arranged in order of merit). The
national dances of the Scots, as performed with vigour and
enthusiasm by the natives, were a great attraction, and to
the Southern members the more usual terpsichorean evolutions
were good exercise. We think it is a tribute to the vitality
of the Institution that past-presidents and members of
Council were particularly active in this exercise. Surely we
have nothing to fear in the future when the seniors of the
profession are so youthful in both outlook and action.

It is onl}'^ right that the veracious chronicler should add that
many unofficial meetings took place in the lounges and
smoking rooms of the various hotels, whereat the subjects
discussed were not wholly technical. Considering the hour at
which some of these meetings broke up they must have been
interesting.

Kelvin's Lecture Room.

Wednesday, May 31.

On Wednesday morning the first business was a lecture by
Prof. Magnus Maclean on " The Hydro-Electric Resources
of the Scottish Highlands." Prof. Maclean is liimself a
Highlander and he is an enthusiast on his subject, a combina-
tion which makes for a successful lecture.

Principal Sir Donald Macalister, in welcoming the
Institution on behalf of the University, said he was happy to
receive them in the room where Lord Kelvin had laid the
foundations of electrical engineering. Minor alterations had
taken place, but his spirit remained and no one would welcome
more than he the great developments which had taken place
in the science he had founded so well. Sir Donald mentioned
that he himself had also had to do with the beginnings of
electrical engineering. He had helped to correct Clerk
Maxwell's " Electricity and Magnetism," and had overlooked
a great many mistakes that subsequent editors had discovered.

The Hydro-Electric Resources of Scotland.

Prof. Maclean began by saying that one of the most
far-reaching effects of the late war had been to bring the
nation face to face with its o^vn resources. For decades
previously its cliief concern had been tlie promotion of
specialised industries in the large centres. Almost everj'thing
else was sacrificed to this national activity, and the lives of
men were moulded to feed the fires and keep going in pitiless
monotony the rattle of machinery, which was fast becoming an
industrial Moloch. No doubt the age of coal and iron might
have to be regarded as a necessary stage in the onward march
or evolution of civilisation, but we had only to visualise the
effects as we knew them to realise how far a large proportion of
the working classes had been sidetracked by this industrialism.

June 9, 1922

The Electrician.

691

The wonderful thing was that we had been so blind with regard
to our real assets. We had erred in two ways. On the one
hand, we had wasted most extravagantly many of our resources,
and on the other hand we had almost entirely neglected others.
In the midst of the Great War struggle we were forced by stern
necessity to take stock of our resources, and our eyes were
opened to new possibilities. Of the various national resources
to which the attention of the Government and the people was
now directed water power was dominant. Personally he was
concerned with it not only as an industrial proposition, but as
a means of elevating th e national life, of restoring man-
power, of relieving the congestion in the large centres, of
resettling the people on the land, and of furnishing them with
better houses, better food and clothing, and a more natural
life in the country. In a word, he held that the proper use of
water power in the Scottish Highlands would go far to solve
some of our pressing problems and promote comfort and
contentment among large sections of the population. The
extent of the Highlands was 40 per cent, of Scotland,
though only 7 per cent, of the population was within that area.
Prof. Maclean then described in detail the Lochaber and
Grampian power schemes and said that we were now at a
point of departure in our whole industrial system. The old
order, black and barbaric in many features, was yielding place
to new methods. We were in the midst of readjustments
which heralded the dawn of a new era, and it was given to us
to be pioneers in the process. For all practical purposes light,
heat and power were coming more and more to be com-
prehended in the word " electricity," and as our coal resources
were being depleted we must rely for its production in the
future to a greater extent on oil and water-power and other
at present undeveloped agencies.

A Babcock Afternoon.
In the afternoon members combined work and pleasure in
a most ingenious fashion. At the invitation of Babcock and
Willcox they joined the " Queen Alexandra," a steamer with
a gallant war record, at the Broomielaw and steamed past the
shipyards of the Clyde to Renfrew, whence they were conveyed
by special train to the works of the company. Here they
were divided into parties and conducted through part of what
is the largest boilermaldng concern in the world. At these
works are manufactured mechanical stokers, water softeners,
superheaters, coal and ash handling plants, steam and water
piping, valves, structural steel work and cranes ; in fact,
everything for the steam side of a modern generating station,
except the turbines. There is evidence enough of a thorough
system of production, a splendid organisation and a general
efficiency, and it was gratifying among the present industrial
troubles to find so many men at work. The one drawback
to the visit was the intense heat, which caused one eminent
electrical engineer to enquire anxiously for the v/hereabout of
the canteen, for, we hope, platonic reasons only.

The " Queen Alexandra " was required shortly after
4 o'clock, when tea and other liquid refreshments were in
great demand as the good ship headed down the river. A
most enjoyable evening was spent viewing the beauty spots
of the Clyde and the famous Kyles of Bute. Much speculation
arose as to the ownership of the many palatial residences on
the banks. Sir Harry Lauder, as being the only Scot known
to most Englishmen, being the favourite. We hear on the
highest authority that most of them are hotels, another tribute
to the canniness of the native. During the course of the
evening dinner was served, a photograph taken, and two
very short speeches of thanks and acknowledgment made
by Mr. Highfield and Sir James Kemmal. The best testimonial
to the success of the expedition was in the remark we ovt rheard
a member make " That if Babcock's boilers were as good as
their hospitality he must really buy one." Unofficial meetings
again continued until a late hour.

A Tour in the Highlands.

Thursday, June i.
At an early hour the party set forth by special train for
Queen Street Station, Glasgow, for Fort W^illiam. Tliis
journey is Scotland peptonised. First tunnels and Glaswegian
suburbs. Then Clydebank, Dumbarton and shipbuilding.
Then Helensburgh seaside resorts and yachting. Loch
Lomond, Ard Lui, moimtain and loch scenery. Then the
Moor of Rannoch, Caledonia stem and wild, and once again
the sea and hills at Fort William. The Institution saw all
these under the most favourable conditions, the necessary
technical leaven being introduced by an inspection at TuUoch
of the headwaters of the Lochaber power scheme. At this
point we became aware that we were in the Highlands.

Pipers joined the party and their music and ceremony was a
feature of the remainder of the visit.

Highland Hoapitality.

Fort William was reacherl in the early afternoon in advance
of the time table, rather to the consternation of the various
hotel keepers on whom the members had been billeted.
Highland hospitality is proverbial, but it is different from
that to which we are accustomed in the South. One of its
peculiarities is gregariousness. In other words, two beds in
a room and a room-mate is the order. To those of us who
have experienced worse things in the Army the prospect was
one which could be viewed with equanimity, but some of the
others gave the unfortunate hotel keepers a mauvais quart
d'heure, until their desire for single blessedness had been
satisfied in some way or other. Our best advice to the
" Fort Wllhams " is that before the Institution visit them
again they build a hotel with nothing but single bedrooms.

We congratulate the local hospital on their piratical instincts
in arranging a dance, sweepstakes and other money-getting
enterprises on the day the Institution visited their town. The
results must have been most gratifying.

Kinlochleven.

Friday. June 2.

The day's work began with a sail down Loch Linnhe, past
Ben Nevis, and up Loch Leven, past Glencoe to the works of
the British Aluminium Co. at Kinlochleven. These works
have already been fully described in The Electrician,
and are substantially the same as at that date, except that
two extra generating sets have been added. The continuous
load is about 20 000 kW. A feature of the place is the model
village, which is a garden city among mountain scenery. There
is a general air of well being which the activities of the company
do not belie. It was suggested that an International Chmbing
Contest might take place up to the dam, but we did not hear
of any entries.

After being entertained to lunch by the British Aluminium
Co., the party set sail for Oban, where the meeting officially
came to an end. Most of those taking part spent the week-end
in profound sleep, having thoroughly exhausted and enjoyed
themselves.

Reviews.

Factory Administration and Cost Accounts. By

Edward T. Elbourne. (London : Longmans, Green t^

Co.) Pp. xx-j-8ii. 45s. net.
The war period provided new experiences in many directions,
and not the least of these was the new experience obtained in
the various branches of industrial administration. Mr.
Elbourne published a book on industrial administration,
entitled " Factory Administration and Accounts," in March,
1914. The present vo'iime is of a more comprehensive char-
acter than the earlier volume, and aims at a more specific
purpose, so justifjdng the change in title to " Factory Adminis
tration and Cost Accounts."

7 he volume is divided into two main divisions, the first of
which relates to Works Management and includes three sub-
divisions referring respectively to Production Control, Labour
Administration, and Material Control. The second di\-ision
relates to Works Accounting and includes the two sub-
divisions of Administrative Records and Cost Accounts. The
book is prefaced with a chapter on General Administration,
and concludes with a chapter on Works Routine, the latter
containing a large number of specimen forms used in industrial
administration. Production Control deals with manufacturing
processes, production, estimating, and rate-fixing, the pro-
vision and maintenance of tools and plant, concluding with
an important section on the functions of foremanship and
inspection. The section on Labour Administration records
in considerable detail the more important features of industnal
relations, trade union agreements, and working conditions,
together with systems of wage payment, the selection and
training of workers, and works regulations. Material Control
includes information relating to purchasing and stores organisa-
tion, and to the warehousing and the despatch of goods. The
section of the book relating to Works Accounting sets out in
logical sequence the important aspects of administrative
records, including emplo}-ment and production statistics, and
stock accounting. The section on Cost Accounts compre-
hensively analyses the underlying principles of a sj-stem of
cost accountancy.

In view of the importance in modem industry of the suitable
training of apprentices and all grades of industrial workers.

692

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

and also the growing importance of industrial research, it is
unfortunate that the author makes scant reference to the
first subject, and practically no reference at all to the latter
subject.

At first sight it would appear as though the present volume
fails to include an important chapter of the author's first
volume, relating to the general problem of industrial works
design, and contains such information as the choice of site,
and general arrangement of both buildings design and process
organisation. Much of this, we find, however, is contained in a
sub-section of the Works Management division of the book
relating to buildings and plant, and marks a distinct advance on
the matter included under this heading in the earlier volume.

An important adjunct to the text is the system of cross
references that has been developed, so that when the reader
has once found a particular subject through the index, he is
readily referred by the marginal page references to other pages
bearing on the same subject. Another important and useful
detail feature of the book is the glossary appendix giving defini-
tions of the more important terms used throughout the text.

The most obvious use of the book is as a volume of reference
for industrial administrators, works managers, and persons
in like positions, but the volume should refer to a much wider
field than this. It provides for the student of industrial
administration a most up-to-date and valuable text book, and
affords the ever-increasing number of students of the human
problem in industry an opportunity of becoming familiar
with the more important aspects of industrial organisation.

It is important to indicate that the book is by no means
academic. The author has had wide industrial experience,
and during the war period practised as a works manager of a
large national factory. Throughout the book discussions
relate to modern methods, and enumerate detaUs of procedure
in addition to the broad underlying principles.

While no one book can exhaustively deal with the whole field
covered by the subject of industrial administration, the present
volume constitutes a very commendable attempt to outline
the more important aspects of industrial administration. It
is reasonable to expect that further volumes dealing in greater
detail with the special phases of industrial organisation will be
required. A. P. M. Fleming.

The Electric Furnace. By J. N Pring, M.B.E., D.Sc.
(London: Longmans, Green & Co.). Pp. xii-l-485.
32s. net.

Electro-metallurgy has during the last few years developed
so rapidly along so many different lines that it is a very
difficult matter to cover the subject adequately in one book,
and even more difficult for any one man to be able to keep his
information on all the different branches up to date. Dr.
Pring's book deals with a great many subjects, and he has
accumulated information of great interest from a number
of sources, but in many cases the information is now out of
date. For instance, he publishes on p. 391 a table showing
the permis.sible current density on different sized electrodes,
which for 16 In. diameter electrodes is given as 107 A per
sq. in. He also refers several times to the necessity of using
several electrodes clamped together in steel furnaces, owing to
the impossibility of obtaining satisfactory large electrodes.
These statements were perfectly correct ten years ago, but
fortunately the time has passed when one of the chief qualifica-
tions of an electric melter was the ability to remove large pieces
of broken electrode from the furnace rapidly.

A considerable part of the chapter on electrode holders might
also have been written in 1910, and in a number of other cases
references are made to papers written between 1909 and 191 3.
Electro-metallurgy has advanced so rapidly in the last few
years that most of these papers now only possess a historical
interest. The information on graphitisiiig electrodes is
necessarily not very detailed, as it is to a larj'e extent a secret
process. The particulars given do not represent modern
practice, and the output of 3 to 3J tons for i 000 11. p. units in
a run of 20 to 24 hours is unduly optimistic.

We think that sufficient credit has not been given to Great
Britain for the great expansion of her electro-metallurgical
industries during the war. In the chapter on ferro-alloys,
while numerous Continental and American works are men-
tioned by name, there is no reference to the fact that by 191 8
a firm in Newcastle was employing over 15 000 kW in the
manufacture of ferro-chrome, fjrro-tungsten and ferro-
molybdenum, which was sufficient to supply the whole of the
very large British requirements of ferro-chrome and a con-
siderable proportion of the ferro-tungsten consumed. More-
over, the erection of one British graphitising factory and four

amorphous electrode factories, with a capacity of about

13 000 tons a year, is ignored.

The application of the electric furnace to the brass industry
has been dealt with very briefly. Only four pages are given
to this branch of electro-metaUurg^, and the Ajax-Wyatt
induction furnace, which is more widely used in American
than any other type, is not even mentioned.

Several other interesting subjects have either been discussed
very shortly or completely ignored. Among those which might
have received more recognition are the whole subject of auto-
matic regulation, the various types of electrode economiser,
the possibilities of the new Soderberg continuous electrode
process, and above all, the extent to which the war develop-
ment in all electro-metallurgical branches in likely to be
permanent. Information on these points would surely be of
more interest than a highly theoretical consideration of the
most suitable size of electrodes, which entirely ignores the '
relative cost of the amorphous and graphite products, the size
most suitable from the metallurgical standpoint, the standard
sizes available from different works and the fragility of the
smaller sizes of graphite electrode.

In spite of these criticisms, we consider that the book is a
valuable addition to the technical library of all who are in-
terested in electro-metallurgy. The illustrations and plates
are excellent, and a useful bibliography is included as an
appendix. W. S. Gtfford.

Notes and Examples on the Theory of Heat and Heat
Engines. By John Case, M.A. (Cambridge : W. Heffer
& Sons, Ltd.) Second Edition. Pp. 138. Price 7s. 6d. net.

In the reviewer's student days. Prof. John Perry (of whom
grateful memories) used to tell us that we were too much
" spoon-fed " ; then out of his kindness he used to do his best
to extend the process. We cannot help feehng that this
delightful httle book is another step in the same direction.

We know what the present-day students will say in reply
to this. We know they will point out that they are expected
to learn more and still more, that so much data has been
accumulated in science, and now it is proposed that they should
take courses in law and economics. Probably in no distant
future'enthusiasts will require them to take a course in eugenics
as well. However this may be, here is a little book in which is
collected together all the important formulae relating to the
first and second Laws of Thermodynamics, together with
clearly worked out examples which will be of great help to
the student who has to memorize such matters for examination
purposes. It will also be of great use to many older engineers
who only occasionally wish to dip into such matters.

1 here is very little to criticize. It seems rather a pity that
the author should take the symbol I instead of the universal
symbol H. It seems also a pity that he should base on Smith
and Warren's Tables when Callendar's Tables now hold a
practically unchallenged position. We do not feel very
sympathetic towards his handling of the question of internal
energy of steam. Most of the problems which he gives for
tliis quantity can be more simply treated by dealing with the
total heat. We rather pity the poo^" student who has to do
many examples on the simple logarithmic formula for entropy
based on the conception of a constant average specific heat
for superheated steam. Why also should he have to do such
a lot of work on reciprocating engines ?

If his course at Cambridge is to be of any real help to him
when he comes to deal with questions of steam in actual
practice, he could not be more helped than by giving him
Callendar's Tables and telling him what they mean, and how
to use them. There must come a day when this sheer memory
work as indicated by the science tripos questions must break
down, and the division between college and the drawing office
tend to disappear. In the meantime, however, we have no
hesitation in recommending this book to our student friends.

W. M. Selvey.

Testimony to Exide Batteries.

In a letter to the Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Mr. E. B.
Grindrod states : " I had the car in 1912. I have done over
50 000 miles, and your battery has never let me down yet. This
must be very near a record. Of course, I look after it entirely
myself, and have taken somo pains to keep it in good condition. As
regards its looks, I question if even you would be able to improve
on it. I have nothing but praise for ' Exides.' I do a good deal of
wireless work and use ' Exides ' for this also. It is a great pleasure
to pay this tribute to your extraordinary battery. You saw it
after eight years' service and I will guarantee yoa would find it in
just as good condition to-day. You may make any use you like of
my letter, and if you come across any doubting Thomases, send them
along to me and I will convert them."

June 9, 1922

The Electrician.

693

Electric Locomotives for Chilean Railways.

Work on the electric locomotives, which are being built for the
Chilean State Railways, is rapidly progressing. The cabs for the
first eight of the fifteen road freight locomotives have been delivered
by the Baldwin Locomotive Works to the Westinghouse Electric
Company for the installation of the equipment. There will also be
seven shunting locomotives. The cab of the road locomotive is
of the box type, carried on two articulated trucks, each having
three driving axles with direct geared motors. The total weight
is 226 000 lb. The locomotive will operate at 3 000 V d.c, and
will be able to develop 3 200 h.p. for short periods. With natural
ventilation the locomotive will deliver for one hour a tractive
effort of 27 950 lb. at 22 6 miles per hour, but the continuous capacity
with forced ventilation is 20 880 lb. at 24 '8 miles per hour. The
maximum speed is 40 miles per hour. The general dimensions and
estimated weights of the locomotive are as follows : —

Dimensions and t Weights.

Track gauge, 5 ft. 6 in. ; length over buffers, 49 ft. 10 in. ; length
over cab, 38 ft. ; total wheel base, 37 ft. ; rigid wheel base,
13 ft. 9 in. ; height, top of rail to cab roof, 12 ft. 7 in. ; width over
cab sheets, 10 ft. ; height of coupler, 41 in. ; wheel diameter, 42 in. ;
weight of electrical equipment, 86 00a lb., and weight per driving
axle, 37 670 lb.

The locomotives will operate over the 116-mile route between
Santiago and Valparaiso, and the 28-mile branch between Las Vegas
and Los Andes. The heaviest grade is 2-25 per cent, for 12 miles
from Llai Llai to La Cumbre ; the maximum curvature is 1 1 deg.
The present main line freight trains average 550 short tons, and are
operated by a single steam locomotive, except on the heavy

The cam group comprises a number of switches mounted on a single
shaft, connected through a rack and pinion to a double acting
air piston. Each axle is driven by a motor wound for i 500 V
and insulated to operate two in series on 3 000 V. The nominal
rating of the motor is 280 h.p. at 153 A and i 500 V. field control
is secured by two separate field windings on the main poles. The
motors are geared directly to the axles with a rario of 3-94 to i .
The gear is of the flexible type.

A motor-generator set provides low voltage power to compressors,
blowe-s, control equipment and lights. The 3 000 V motor is a
bi-polar double-commutator machine, and the continuous rating in
the generator is 35 kW at 92 V. A master controller is located of
each engineman's compartment to provide double end operation,
the same master controller being used for both motoring and
regenerative braking. This controller provides 50 control notches
in acceleration, so that tractive effort variations are small, thereby
permitting a smooth handling of the trains. The control provides
speed combinations by varying the grouping of the motors to give
one-third, two-thirds, and full speed. Field control gives three addi-
tional speeds. Transition from one motor combination to another
is made by the shunting method. For regenerative braking, the
main motor armatures are arranged for the same combinations as
when motoring, and the motor fields are separately excited by the
motor-generator set. The range of speed in regenerative braking
wiU be from 8 to 30 miles per hour.

Shunting Locomotives.

The shunting locomotives will be the last ones to be built. The cab
is of the steeple type and is carried on two swivel trucks. On each
truck are mounted two motors driving direct through standard
helical gears. The estimated weight is 136 000 lb. The control is

Outline of Freight Locomotive.

12-mile grade southbound, and on a northbound grade of 6-8 miles.
On these two sections a steam helper is used to maintain speeds of
from 10 to 14 miles per hour. One electric locomotive will haul
770 short tons in either direction between Valparaiso and Santiago
without assistance, except on the Tabon grade. On level track
the speed with such a load will be 35 miles an hour. The average
running speed on the Tabon grade will be 24 miles per hour. The
time saved by the elimination of delay to take fuel and water and
by the higher running speed will shorten the time of a trip from
four to five hours in each direction.

Equipment of Locomotives.

These locomotives are equipped with Continental spring buffers
and M.C.B. couplers, arranged to take attachments for chain
couplers temporarily. The two six-wheel trucks are connected at
the inner ends by a Mallet hinge. The bar-type cast steel side frames
are outside the wheels and are connected by cast steel bumpers
and cross-ties. The semi-elUptic driving springs over*the journal
boxes on each side are connected by equal beams, and the ends of
each set of three driving springs are attached to the side frames
through coil springs. The 38 ft. box type cab, including an engine-
man's compartment in each end and a central equipment compart-
ment, is carried on centre pins over the midpoint of each rigid
wheel base. One centre pin is restrained both longitudinally and
laterally, and the other in the lateral direction only, permitting free
longitudinal movement of the cab relative to one truck. The loco-
motives are equipped with air brakes interlocked with the regenera-
tive brake, so that the latter may be supplemented by service
application of the train brakes, if desired, without applj'ing the
air brake to the locomotive driving wheels. Current is collected by
spring-raised, air-lowered pantagraphs, which are controlled by
compressed air and are mechanically locked in the lowered position.

Control and Motor Equipment.

Individual switches, mounted in banks, establish the main
circuit connections. Each switch is a complete unit and may be
removed without disturbing adjacent switches. Compressed air,
controlled by electro-magnetic valves, is used to operate the switches .
For certain circuits, where no current is broken, and for low voltages,
there are cam switches, which are also operated by compressed air.

arranged for double end operation. The nominal rating of the
locomotive is 560 h.p. With 3 000 V, and natural ventilation, the
tractive effort for one hour is 19 600 lb. at 106 miles per hour, and
the continuous capacity is 11 400 lb. at 12-7 miles per hour. With
25 per cent, nominal adhesion the starting tractive effort is 34 000 lb.
The maximum speed is 35 miles per hour. For short periods the
equipment is capable of developing i 000 h.p. In view of an
expected increase in traffic the locomotives will be able to handle
trains of i 200 short tons in yards with level tracks. The trucks
are of the rigid bolster equaUsed type with rolled steel frames
located outside the wheels. A centre pin is located approximately
midway along each rigid wheel base. The central cab has an
engineman's stand at each end, and control apparatus centrally
located and suitably protected. Buffers, couplers, air brake and
control equipment are similar to those on the main locomotives, and
the pantagraph is also of the same type. The four motors of the
series type are wound for i 500 V, and are insulated for operation
two in series at 3 000 V. The motor has a one-hour rating of 140 h.p.
at 75 A and i 500 V. The motor-generator set, to supply
power for the compressor motor, lights and control circuits, has a
two part frame, each part containing two bearings in which runs
a common shaft carrying two armatures, one a i 500 V motor
(insulated for 3 000 V) and the other a low voltage generator. With
3 000 V applied to the motors, the generators wiM. deMver 22-5 kW
at 92 V. The main resistance, connected ahead of all niotors. is
designed with ample capacity for frequent, heavy accelerations, and
for a reasonable amount of emergency operation wth one pair of
motors cut out.

The troubles of would-be " broadcasters " already begin to mani-
fest themselves. A Rhvl hotel licensee inquired last week at the
local pohce court if it would be necessary to have a music licence
if he put in a wireless set to intercept " musical messages." The
Magistrates' Clerk stated that if there was music there must be a
hccnce, whereupon the applicant repHed that he could not say that
wireless was music. It was noise.

Ultimately, the Magistrates advised appUcant to wait and see
what happened when he had his set leady, when he could renew
the application.

694

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

Railway Companies' Power Supplies.

The inquiry by the Electricity Commissioners (Sir John Snell
and Sir Harry Haward) into the proposals of (i) the S.E. & C.
Railways and the Managing Committee of the two companies, and
(2) the West Kent Electric Co. in regard to the erection and
equipment of electric power stations and the provision of electrical
energy for working certain of the S.E. and C. lines, was adjourned
from the ist inst. until Wednesday.

Advantages of Angerstein's Wharf Site.

Mr. C. P. Sparks said he had examined the Angerstein's Wharf
scheme. Without extensions of the present wharf into the Thames,
seaborne coal could be unloaded there from steamers carrying
I 500 to 2 000 tons, and an alternative source of fuel was available
by means of the existing railway connection. By extending the
jetty 50 ft. an extra 7 ft. of water would be obtained, and large
steamers could be anchored alongside. The contour of the fore-
shore was favourable for drawing condensing water from the river.
The proposal was to supply, in the first stage, 43 000 kW to Lewis-
ham, to Redhill (i8i miles from Lewisham) 5 400 kW, to Ton bridge
(24 miles from Lewisham) 3 700 kW, and to Rochester Bridge
(25 miles from Angerstein Wharf) 4 600 kW, or a total demand,
approximately, of 57 000 kW. Stage ia comprised the electrifica-
tion of 94 route miles, a demand of 29 000 kW, annual units required
90 000 000, and operating load factor 25 per cent. ; stage ib com-
prised 241 route miles, 57000 kW, 222000000 units, and load
factor 44^. In stage 2 it was estimated that a similar quantity
would be supphed to a future member of the Southern group,
raising the kilowatts to 11 4 000, annual units to 444 000 000 and
load factor to 44-4. At stage ia there would be four turbo-
generators of 15 000 kW rating each (two being reserve), and boilers
to steam 30 000 kW continuously, with reserve for maintenance
purposes. At stage ib there would be six turbo-generators (2 being
reserve), and boilers to steam 6ooookW continuously. The station
might eventually be equipped with 10 generators of 15 000 kW
each, of which two would be reserve, and boiler power to steam
120 000 kW continuously, plus reserve. Main distribution would
be 25 ~', 33 000 V, three phase. The estimated cost of power was
o-475d. per unit for the 90 miUion units, o-345d. for the 222 million,
and 0'305d. for the 444 million. The estimates were based on
coal at 15s. per ton, and -with calorific value 11 000 B.Th.U. per lb.,
and the estimate of coal per unit was 1-82 lb. Taking the load
curve of the power supply, the load factor was estimated at 35 per
cent., as there would be considerable time when the plant would
not be fully utilised.

Equipment of Station.

Cross-examined by Mr. Tvldesley Jones, witness said the
South Western Railway had a 40 per cent, load factor on their
suburban railway. They had 25 000 kW, and he thought they
had a reasonable amount of spare plant. He was speaking of a
load factor taken over half an hour. He had taken the load factor
under the present scheme as 35 per cent, on average demand for
half an hour with a maximum demand of 29 000 kW and an output
of 90 million units per annum. In the first stage there would be
50 per cent, spare of generators only — two generators. He agreed
that the larger the generators were the greater would be the saving
in capital cost and in operation. The value of the site at Anger-
stein's Wharf had not been debited to cost of generation. As the
company had other land to which the engineering materials now
on the site could be removed there would be no cost. His figures
for turbo-generators and step-up transformers were based on
;^4 I OS. per kW, to-day's price. It was proposed to have ten
boilers (7 working and 3 reserve), each with a capacity of 50 000 lb.
of steam per hour. He had in view a pressure of 300 lb. to
350 lb. per sq. in. In stage 1 the whole of the energy would be
transmitted to Lewisham. The cables would be 33 000 V, 0-25
sq. in. and three core. Each of the cables would cost £^ 650 per
mile, together with the control pilots and telephone cables. This
cost was based on present day quocations. In stage ib there
would be transmission to Redhill, Rochester Bridge and Tonbridge .
The cost might then be different. The centre of gravity of the load
would not be altered to any large extent. Probably all the feeders
to Redhill and Tonbridge would pass through Lewisham. At the
end of stage ib, Lewisham would require 43 300 kW, Redhill
5 400 kW, Tonbridge 3 700 kW, and Rochester 4 600 kW. Regard-
ing size only, he did not know of any station of that size which had
17 per cent, efficiency, but he did not know of any station similarly
equipped. He had allowed i per cent, for maintenance, and
7 per cent, allowed for interest and depreciation.

Mr. Herbert Jones, electrical engineer to the L. and S.W. Railway
Company, said his company's power station at Wimbledon had been
working seven years, had an output of 45 million units a year. It
was desirable that the S.E. and C. Railways should adopt 25 '~. It
was an advantage to use rotary converters.

System to be Adopted.

Mr. Alfred Raworth, electrical engineer to the S.E. and C,
Railway Companies and the Managing Committee, said his com-
panies had had negotiations with the West Kent Company and the
London Electric Supply Corporation, and had been unable to get
any definite offers from them with regard to a supply of energy. He
prepared tho scheme of electrification now under consideration. He
advocated the use of 25 '~, because 50 '^ rotary converters were not
reliable, and motor generators would give lower efficiency.

Cross-examined by the Hon. Evan Charteris (for the West Kent
Company), witness said the electrification had not been debited with
anjrthing for the site to be occupied by the station. Uniformity
of system of collection was more important than periodicity, but
they should try to get uniformity in both. A frequency of 50 was
better than 25 for purposes other than traction. The.systems of
collection on the South Western and on the Brighton hues were
different, and it was proposed to adopt a third on the S.E. and C .
system. The report of the Committee on Electrification of Rail-
ways permitted such a system when it could be shown to be finan-
cially justified.

Replying to Mr. Kennedy (for London Electricity Joint Com-
mittee) : The transmission to Lewisham would probably be at
33 000 V. The highest total figure estimated for cost of energy at
Angerstein's Wharf was o-75d., or o-gd. at Lewisham. He could
not say whether there would be any advantage in generating at
Angerstein's Wbarf compared with Deptford. He would not
hesitate to recommend a railway company to take a supply from
an outside source if there were any advantage in taking it, and he
did not think a railway company must necessarily retain sole
control of its generating station.

Uniformity of System Desirable.

Replpng to Sir John Snell, witness said he had had conversa-
tions with Sir Philip Dawson some considerable time ago in regard
to supply of energy to the S.E. and C. system. By or before
August of next year the Brighton, the S.E. and C, and the South
Western Railways would become one system. It would be a great
advantage if the supphes for the railways were obtained from a
common source. It should bring about a reduction in cost. Com-
bining railway and other loads should have the same effect. They
carried the negotiations as far as they could, but got no definite
offer. His original recommendation was to obtain, if possible, a
supply from outside if satisfactory conditions could be obtained.

Mr. Sydney Hitchcock (rating surveyor to the S.E. and C.R.
Companies and the Managing Committee) said on the basis of a
station with 60 000 kW of generating plant he estimated the rat-
able value at £16 000, at 15s. in the £, or ;^i2 000 a year for rates.
Ihose figures were increased by 50 per cent, for 90000 kW. ' On
a 150000 kW station the ratable value would be ;^40 000 at 15s.
in the £, or ^30 000 per year. He had checked these figures by tiie
actual figures for the S.W. Company's Wimbledon generating
station. At Belvedere (in Erith) rates for the year to March 31
last were 29s., and there was also a sewerage rate (7d. last year
and 3d. this year). This year the poundage was 27s., but in
Greenwich the rate this year was 17s. 2d.

On the resumption of the proceedings, Mr. Tyldesley Jones
opened the case for the West Kent Electric Company, and the
inquiry was continued yesterday (Thursday).

Legal Intelligence.

Trading With Infants.

At the Shoreditch County Court, last week, Thos. Cook and Co.,
Ltd., sued J. Rurka, trading as the British Commercial Trading Co.,
of 61, Chancery Lane, W.C. It appeared that defendant ordered
goods to the amount of ;^2i 12s. 4d., before December 7, 1921, and
these were admittedly delivered on dates from December 9 to 21.
When payment was demanded, defendant said he was only 2 1 years
of age on December 7, so that he was not of age when the contract
was made, and was not liable.

On Friday, Judge Cluer said he had allowed the matter to
stand over to see if he could make defendant act honestly. It was
clear defendant was an infant when he made the contract, and the
Statute clearly said that all contracts made b}' an infant were void.
There would have to be judgment for defendant and costs.

Mr. Robinson (for plaintiffs) : The matter now gets into the
police court, as we have information as to what he has done with
the goods.

Judge Cluer : I am very pleased indeed to hear it, and it will
be good news to a number of infants who are trading in this district.

Altering an Eleotric Meter.

Last week the Colchester Bench fined William Godfrey £5 for
altering the index of an electricity meter at the Sea Horse Hotel, and
the vnie of the proprietor was also fined £5 for counselling and pro-
curing the commission of the offence.

Transferring a Telephone.

At the Mayor's and City of London Court last week the Postmaster-
General sued the Seat Indicator and Advertising Syndicate, of
Chiswick, for £s 13s. 4d. for arrears of telephone rental.

For the defence, Mr. Wm. Hammerton said he had carried on the
business of the Seat Indicator Syndicate. A man named Moody had
taken over his business and agreed to pay the Postmaster-General's
charges. He, therefore, brought Moody in as a third part>'.

Judge Jackson pointed out that that did not exempt the defendant
from liability, as the Postmaster-General had not made the agree-
ment with Moody. Judgment must be given for plaintiff against
the Seat Indicator, and Hammerton would have an indemnitj' over
against Moody, with costs.

June 9, 1922

The Electrician.

695

Busy Europe : Politics and Business.

By Sir ERNEST BENN.

The very natural prominence which has been given to political
questions, and the frequency with which international conferences
are held, and international crises developed and settled, are natural
outcomes of the War and the Treaty of Peace, but these things are
giving to us and the world in general a dangerously false impression
of fundamental conditions in Europe, and are doing much to retard
that resumption of normal trade and commerce upon which all so
much rely. A close study of the full report of the Genoa Conference
leaves one with the impression that Europe is a pitiful mass of
dejected peoples all vying with one another to explain how unbear-
able are their burdens, and how bad is their plight. There is, of
course, a. certain amount of truth in all this, but it is of the greatest
importance that most of these questions should be got into better
perspective.

For instance, there is often a very marked difference between the
position of a nation and the position of the individuals who compose
that nation. A national balance sheet may be a very discouraging
document, while the balance sheets of the individuals who make up
the same nation may be in the most flourishing condition. If,
therefore, a nation is bankrupt, it does not necessarily mean that
the nationals are undesirable customers, or that they may not
themselves be wealthy persons, capable of transacting very desirable
business.

Undue Prominence of Political Problems.

Many of the questions which loom so large in the newspapers and
occupy so much time in public discussion, and sound so important
when discussed in broad principle, are of no more interest or moment
to the persons inhabiting the countries concerned than is the
question of Proportional Representation to the average English
citizen. Yet because these political matters are so much before
the public, they are allowed to cloud our vision, and give an
impression in commercial circles, in England certainly, that Europe
is not in a fit position to trade, and that the markets of Europe are
for the time being not worth consideration. There are, of course,
many people who know better, but our trading figures disclose all
too clearly how widely these false impressions are held.

To take a few examples : the city of Vienna brings to the mind of
the average Englishman, famine, rickety children, absence of food,
poverty, and general wretchedness and starvation. That is the
effect upon the mentaUty of the public of all the efforts which have
been made to alleviate the distress which did undoubtedly exist in
certain parts of Vienna a couple of years ago. Vienna to-day is by
no means happy, but no more is London or Manchester. And
Vienna is full of ordinary, active, business mortals, getting along
with the ordinary work of life in a more or less ordinary way, and
desirous and indeed anxious to develop commercial relations with

the rest of the world. The same sort of misunderstanding, arising
from the undue prominence of political problems, is seen in con-^
nection with Germany. Or, speak of Hungary, and the English
mind turni: at once to Bcia Kun, to whites and reds, to revolutions
and counter-revolutions, to massacres and pogroms, and other
political incidents, traces of which it is very difficult for the ordinary
commercial visitor to find when he travels in this delightful land.
There is no doubt at all that things are not what they were in
Hungary, or what they will be again, but there is equally no doubt
that business is waiting to be done in Hungary and that conditions
are (juite good enough for the business man who will take the
trouble to study them.

Rus.sia is supposed to be closed to normal business and for
practical purposes that is undoubtedly so, but nevertheless, it is
significant to notice that the Russian rouble is quoted on the Berlin
money market. On May 22, seven and a half million roubles could
be purchased in Berlin for a .sovereign. It is surely not to be
presumed that people buy seven and a half million roubles for the
fun of looking at them, and it is hard to imagine any use to which
these roubles can be put except for the purchase of Russian goods ;
further, it is difficult to see how these same roubles got into Berlin
except in return for German goods delivered in Russia.

Trading Difficulties Exaggerated.

There are other ways in which our knowledge of the Continent of
Europe is by no means as complete and accurate as it should be. In
pohtical discussions a very great deal is made of the inconveniences
which arise from passport arrangements. Within the last few
months I have crossed and re-crossed all the frontiers of Central
Europe, and I can state without the least hesitation that there is no
frontier in the world that I know, except New York, which has half
the terrors, half the inconveniences, or half the indignities that are
put upon one in endeavouring to enter an English port. The
currency difficulties are quoted far too commonly as an excuse for
the absence of business. A fluctuating currency is a great incon-
venience. It would be absurd to belittle the seriousness of the
position of some of the European countries in this matter, but a
fluctuating currency is, nevertheless, not a bar to business, if the
business man is wiUing to take a httle extra trouble. Many firms
are adopting the very simple expedient of doing business both ways :
one well-known manufacturer is selling his goods freely in a country
with a very uncertain currency, he having taken the precaution to
provide himself with two or three buying agencies, thus enabling
him to buy and sell and balance his books, and be completely
independent of any fluctuation in the rate of exchange. The pohtics.
of Europe are important, but it is equally important that we should
not allow impressions gained in the pohtical field to warp our views
on commercial matters, or to mislead us into a totallv erroneous
impression of commercial possibilities.

" Manifoldia " System of Supervision.

In referring to the Industrial and Efficiency Exhibition at Bir-
mingham, in our last issue, brief mention was made of the Mani-
foldia (Regd.) System for ensuring the perfected supervision
and record keeping of electrical installations. The system, which
was exhibited on the stand of Manifoldia, Ltd., of West Bromwich,
has been designed by Mr. A. H. Human, and its interest and value
lie in the labelUng provided by which the distinguishing number
of each individual item of plant in an electrical installation gives
also its geographical position in relation to the rest of the installation.

Thus is ensured the systematic and periodical examination, cleaning
and routine overhaul of the installation. All repairs and alterations
of items of plant are recorded and brought automatically to the
notice of the manager, and so the system affords, it is claimed, an
insurance against delay in restarting a plant after a shut down.
Another advantage secured is that the system allows the manager
or engineer to keep before him essential data which wiU enable him
to appreciate immediately how much his plant is costing him in
repairs, maintenance and energy, and the extent to which these
items of cost vary from time to time.

"Manifoldia" System apfued to Electrical Installations.

696

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

Electricity Supply.

The Electricity Commissioners will hold their second local inquiry
at Birmingham on the 29th inst. into the scheme for the reorganisa-
tion of electricity' supply in the South West Midlands Ei.kctricity
District and in order to determine finally the area of the district.

One of the Cardiff papers remarks that, if the Barry Council
decides to go in for an electric supply scheme, it should see that it is
in a position to supply electric fittings on a hire purchase
SYSTEM, as the absence of tliis power on the part of Cardiff Corpora-
tion has retarded the extension of electricity supply in that city.

The Minister of Transport proposes to confirm the Folkestone
Electricity (Extension) Special Order, 1922, authorising the
Folkestone Electricity Supply Company, Ltd., to supply electricity
in Cheriton Urban and Elham Rural Districts. Any objections
must be sent by June 26 to the Secretary, the Ministry of Transport

T^ANCASTER Electricity Committee have passed a resolution to
the effect that no undertaking of an authorised undertaker should
be shut down unless a supply of electricity could be obtained from
some other source at a lower cost to the undertaking than the
authorised undertaker could generate it, and every such authorised
undertaking should be
free to develop so long
as it is able to generate
at a cost not greater than
it can obtain a supply
from some other source.

The Electricity Com-
missioners will hold an
inquiry on June 13 into
the Order of Liverpoot
Corporation to extend
their area of supply to
Bootle, Waterloo, Sea-
forth, Litherland, and
Great Crosby. The in-
quiry is necessary solely
because objections to
the Bootle transfer have
been lodged by a section
of the consumers and
ratepayers of that
borough. Instead of the
£-] 500 subsidy, the ob-
jectors ask for ;^ 1 2 500,
or in the alternative one-
ninth of any profits
above £67 500 on which
- the Ij 500 to be paid
by Liverpool to Bootle
annually is based. It
is also contended that
the compensation for
loss of office should not
be hmited to the Bootle
borough electrical en-
gineer, but given to the
rest of the works staff.

New Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Kendal Town Council has decided to expend £\ i 655 on new
plant and cables in connection with the electricity undertaking.

Folkestone Electric Supply Co. have been granted an Order
to supply electricity to Cheriton, Jaltwood, Newington and
Hawkinge.

Newcastleton electric supply scheme has now been completed.
The power station is said to be the smallest in the British Isles.
The installation has cost ,(600.

Croydon Town Council has applied for a loan of /14 700 for
steam raising plant at the electricity works. The original estimate
of the cost ol the plant was £2^ 000.

Denbigh Town Council have appointed the firm of Sloan and
Lloyd Barnes, consulting electrical engineers of Liverpool, to
prepare a scheme for supplying electricity to the Vale of Clwyd area.

It has been decided to light the streets of Welwyn Garden City
by electricity. A contract is to be entered into with the local
supply company and steps are being taken to obtain the necessary
loan from the Electricity Commissioners to cover the cost of in-
stallation.

Elgin Town Council have agreed to the terms put forward bj-
Mr. Williams, manager of Edmundson's Electricity Corporation,
with regard to supplying the burgh witfi electricity. A committee
has been appointed to carry out the various details, and work is
to be started as early as possible.

The new sub-station at Stockton Heath which was opened last
month receives its supply from the Warrington Power Station by
means of duplicate e.h.t. cables which run underneath the Man-
chester Ship Canal. The generation and transmission pressure is
C 600 V. ^-pliase, 50 periods, but at the sub-station the pressure is

A Little Learning is a Dangerous Thing.

" I SAY, Harold, those ghastly people, the Dudd-Robinsons, have
asked us to one of their filthy dinners on Tuesday. Tell me what

excuse to make while I KEEP MY HAND OVER THE TELEPHONE."

Reproduced hy kind permission of the proprietors of " PioicJi."

reduced by transformers to 440 \'. for power and 250 V. single phase
for hghting, domestic power and heating purposes. The h t.
switchgear consists of ironclad truck panels made up in single units,
and designed to facilitate extension. A switch panel is provided
for coupling up to the Latchford sub-station now in course of
erection. From this sub-station the transmission cable will be
continued to meet the cable running down Knutsford Road, which
crosses the Manchester Ship Canal by the railway bridge near
Latchford Locks, and if any accident should occur to the duplicate
cables through the canal subways, a supply will be available through
the Knutsford Road cable. The cables were laid by the Warrington
Electricity Department's staff. The h.t. switchgear was erected
and the l.t. switchgear was designed and erected by the Department.

Alteration of Charges.

EccLES Town Council has reduced the advance of 100 per cent,
on the standard rates of charges for electricity by 25 per cent,
with a discount of 5 per cent, for prompt payment.

The charges for electricity at Stokk Newington have been
reduced aS follows : — -Lighting, 7d. to 6-Jd. per unit ; heating, 2id.
to 2d. ; power, 5d. to 4 Id. on the first i 000 units consumed.

Preston Town Coun-
cil has reduced the
charges for electricity
for lighting bj^ allowing
10 percent, discount for
payment in three weeks.
For power the discount
will be increased from
5 to 15 per cent.

Maidenhead Elec-
tricity undertaking for
the past year showed
an increase of 61 306
units over 1920. It
has been decided to
reduce the fiat rate to
gid. in the borough,
and make a reduction
of 5 per cent. on
other rental meter
charges for lighting and
power.

The Kent Electric
Power Co. has decided
to reduce, as -Jfrom
July I, the price of
electricity for lighting
and power at Roches-
ter and Chatham to
lod. per unit for the
first 400 units per
quarter, and to yjd.
above 400 units. Power
charges are to be
reduced from 4d. to
3jcl.

Demand Attachment for Watthour Meter.

For smaller power installations, which cannot use the more
expensive graphic demand meter, or where the indicating type of
demand meter is satisfactory, a demand attachment for use with a
standard type OA polyphase watthour meter is being manufactured
by the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company.
The attachment is a watthour meter register, which combines the
regulator wa+thour meter register with the scale and pointers of an
indicating demand meter. By replacing the register and cover of a
standard polyphase OA watthour meter with this attachment and a
special cover, the meter is converted into an indicating block-
interval demand meter, wliich will indicate the maximum kilowatt
demand and the integrated kilowatt hours.

The cleniand attachment has two pointers, one white and the other
black. The white pointer advances the maximum demand black
pointer to any maximum demp.nd position on the demand scale,
where it is held by friction while the white one returns to zero at the
end of each time interval. By watching the movement of the white
pointer, which shows an integrated and not an instantaneous demand,
the iluration of the demand interval can be checked as well as the
demand at the time of reading the meter, .\fter the gears driving
the white pointer have been disengaged from the gear train ol the
watthour meter, the pointer is returned by gravity to zero. The
time at which the gears are disengaged, and therefore the time
interval of the attachment, is determined by an induction motor,
which, although small, gives several times the torque necessary to
release the white pointer. The motor has practically a constant
speed over a vintage range varying from 90 to 1 10 per cent, of the
rated voltage. The demand scale, which is 3J ins. long, is marked
directly in kilowatts demand, but the watthour <l\als are used with
the register constant of 10 or multiples of 10,

June 9, 1922

The Electrician.

697

Personal and Appointments.

Mr. a. a. Campbell Swinton has joined the board of W. T.
Henley's Telegraph Works Co.

Lord Ashfield has been appointed hon. president, and Sir
Sam Fay, president, of the Institute of Transport for the year
1022-23.

Mr. John Jackson, of Ilalbcrton, near Tiverton, has been
appointed electrical engineer at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hos-
pital, Exeter.

Major T. F. Purves, assi.stant engineer-in-chief to the Post Office,
has been appointed engineer-in-chief in succession to Sir William
Noble, whose retirement we announced last week.

Mr. Gerald Bellhouse has been appointed Chief Inspector of
Factories in succession to Mr. R. E. Graves, whose death we
announced in our i.ssue of May ' 26th. Mr. Bellhouse has been
Deputy-Chief Inspector since IQ17. ■

The marriage took place at the Parish Church, Queenborough,
Kent, on May 27, of Mr. Roger Hodgson, chief electrical engineer,
R.N., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Miss May Crowe, youngest
• laughter of Mr. Crowe, of Eastchurch, Sheppe y.

Mr. a. J. Abraham, of Aberdare, has been appointed electrical
engineer and tramway manager for Bexlej' Urban Council at a
salary of ^500 per annum. Mr. Abraham is at present chief
engineer and general manager of electricity and tramways of the
.A.berdare Urban District Council, a post which he has held for the
past twelve years.

Sir William Noble, who, as we announced in our issue last
week, has just retired from the position of engineer-in-chief to the
Post Office, has accepted a seat on the board of the General Electric
Co. We understand that Sir William proposes to devote his
attention mainly to the development of the telephone and wireless
sections of the Company.

The marriage took place at St. Mary's Church, Leigh Woods,
Bristol, on June i, of Mr. H. F. Trewman, Prof, of Electrical
Engineering at the Artillery College, Woolwich, and Miss V. C. B.
Morse, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Morse, of " Alpenfels,"
Leigh Woods, Bristol. The presents included a pair of silver vases
from the electrical engineering branch of the Artillery College,
Woolwich.

Mr. H. H. Burness has been appointed Lecturer in Civil
Engineering at the University College of Swansea. While serving
an apprenticeship of five years with Messrs. G. Anderson, he gained
First-class Honours at Dundee Technical College, then went to St.
Andrew's University, where he graduated in civil engineering.
Afterwards he acted as assistant to the construction staff of the
Dundee Electricity Department under Mr. H. Richardson. For
the last twelve months Mr. Burness has been acting as assistant
lecturer in Victoria University, Manchester, under Prof. A. H.
Gibson.

Among the King's Birthday Honours we notice the following : —
Peer : The Right Hon. Sir Archibald Williamson, Bart., M.P.,
financial and Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office, 1019-21.
Sir Archibald Williamson has taken a noteworthy part in Parlia-
mentary affairs, having acted as chairman of various committees,
including those on Telegraph Organisation and on Electric Power
Supply. Baronet : George Sutton, M.I.E.E., chairman and man-
aging director of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Company, a
founder and past chairman of the Cable Makers' Association.
Knights : Edwin Airey, Governing Director of William Airey and
Son, engineers and contractors. Ernest Montague Hughman, late
partner in Pyne, Hughman and Co., engineers and shipbuilders.
Member of Council of Institution of Engineers, India, and Hon.
Secretary Indian Council English Institution of Electrical En-
gineers ; William Walker, C.B.E., recently retired from the post of
Director of Health and Safety in the Mines Department of the
Board of Trade. Knight Bachelor : Thomas Ranken Lyle,
D.Sc, P.R.S., chairman of the F.lectricity Commissioners of the
State of Victoria.

Business Items, etc.

Messrs. Hill and Provo have started business as electrical
engineers, at 36, St. Michael's Street, Oxford.

Mr. W. J. May has been appointed sales manager and secretary
of Pope's Electric Lamp Co., Elasta House, 5, Arthur Street, W.C.2.

The office of the British Empire Ch.\mber of Commerce in
THE U.S.A. is now situated at Cunard Buildings, 25, Broadwav,
New York.

The North-Eastern District Office of Ferguson, Pailin, Ltd.,
has been removed to 90, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle-on-Tvne. Tele-
phone No. : Central 5574. Telegraphic address : '"' Tension "
Newcastle-on-Tyne.

On the 6th inst. the Electric Construction Company moved
to new offices at Ingersoll House, 9, Kingsway, London, \V.C.2.
Their telephone numbers are Gerrard 8833 and 460'i. and the
telegraphic address " Concordance, Estrand, London."

The Jeary Electrical Co. have taken larger premises in Glas-
goe, and their address in future will be 95, Waterloo Street. fTele-
phone : Central 5239.) Mr. John Grogan, the Scottish manager,
will he pleased to give his personal attention to all inquiries.

Mr. A. T. West and Mr. J. S. Williams have resigned their
positions with Pope's Electric Lamp Co., and have joined the

Z " Electric .Lamp and Supplies Co. Mr. West will represent
the company in the Southern and Ea.stern Counties, and Mr. Wil-
liams 'las been appointed Northern manager at the company's new
branch at 10, Hockenhal! Alley, Dale Street, Liverpool.

Reahsing the importance of extensive advertising, the Benjamix
Electric, Ltd., is launching an intensive publicity campaign.
Broadly, the scheme consists of an attractive series of full-page and
half-page advertisements in the motor press. The advertisements
are designed to create the demand on the retailer, and in addition,
the company are sending to the whole of the motor trade throughout
the country a series of four special folders at regular intervals
containing actual reproductions of the advertisements to appear in
the ensuing weeks so as to enable the recipient to visualize what
they are doing in order to create the demand on him. They are
also preparing a series of small leaflets, attractively printed, de-
scribing the various accessories, for distribution to consumers, and
are prepared to supply quantities of these overprinted with the
retailer's name and address.

A new and important company for the production of high-class
wireless instruments of entirely new design has recently been
formed under the name of Radio Instruments, Ltd. Mr. J.
Joseph, who has recently resigned his position as general manager
for Mr. H. W. SulUvan, and who has been associated with the design
and manufacture of wireless instruments for the past 23 years, ha-s
been appointed managing director, as from June 1. In addition,
the company has secured as director of research and chief designer
the services of Mr. W. A. Appleton, late Admiralt>' technical
research officer at H.M. Signal School, Portsmouth. The works,
offices, and showrooms are situated at 12 a, Hyde Street, New
Oxford Street, W.C.i, within a few yards "^f the British Museum
Station, and their central position renders them readily accessible
from all parts of London. A special department will deal with
laboratory standards and radio measuring instruments, and the
company will be pleased to receive enquiries and advise on any
special problems in connection with high frequency and radio work.

Electric Traction.

The Mile End Road extension of the South Shields Corporation
Tramways and the new hght railway to Cleadon^Park were opened
to the public last week.

London County Council have sanctioned a loan of /6077 to
Islington Borough Council for the purchase of four 2i ton electric
lorries and one 4 ton petrol vehicle.

West Hartlepool Tramways Committee recommend the Town

Council to introduce trackless trolley trams on the FoggA* Furze
route. It is estimated that the running expenses of these trams
will be about a third chea^^er than that of the present sj'^tem, and
that the initial expenditure will be about one-half.

After full consideration Southport Tramways Committee has
come to the conclusion that owing to the high cost of running
omnibuses there are no districts in Southport where it would pay to
run them as feeders to the trams. They are also unanimous in the
opinion that it would not be advisable to substitute buses for trams.

The Ministry of Transport having refused the application of
Burnley Tramways Committee for a ^^ rspension of j>ayment to
the sinking fund for tramway constructional works for a period of
five years, in order to utilise the money for relaying certain tracks,
the committee have applied for sanction to borrow £46 950 to carr\-
out the work.

.'Vt Edinburgh Council meeting last week a motion by Mr.
Whitson disapproving the Council's decision of May 4 to electrify
the Hanover Street-Mound tramway route was carried by a large
majority. It was stated that it would cost iSo 000 to electrify thi.s
route, and that by electrifying 300 yards of the Chambers Street
track people travelling by car trom the North Side to the Infirmar\-
might be taken by BrouEjhton Street. Leith Street, the Bridges.
and Chambers Street, and so the /So 000 jiroposed to be spent on
the Hanover Street-Mound route would Le saved.

The question of the electrification of some of the steam railroads
in OuEKEc and Ontario was recently discussed in the Dominion
Parliament. A member asserted that the railway in the St. Maurice
Valley could be worked ver\' much better and cheaper by electricity
than by steam, and as the Canadian Pacific Co. proposed to convert
the line from Montreal to Quebec the urban line'' around Montreal
should have been electrified. In reply, the Minister of Railways
said his Department was keenly alive to the situation, and as soon
as financial conditions warranted a heasy expenditure the matter
would be dealt with.

698

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

Foreign Notes.

The German Syndicate of Manufacturers of High Tension
Insulators have decided to increase prices as from June i by about
40 per cent.

Lucerne and Goldau electric railway, on the Saint Gothard
Jine, was opened last week. The first train ran from Goldau to
L«cerne in 32 minutes, with tliree stops.

Mr. C. G. Schluderberg, of the Westinghouse Electric and Manu-
facturing Co., has been elected president of the American Electro -
Chemical Society for the ensuing year.

Progress is being made with the electrification of the first
section of the Central Brazil Railway (about 53 miles), and orders
have been let in the United States for the supply of 22 electric
locomotives and 150 motor coaches.

Two large electric locomotives have been built by the Ganz
Danubian Works of Budapest, and will shortly be tested on a strip
of line which has been electrified with a view to the ultimate
electrification of the Hungarian State Railways.

Fire Risk Rules for Radio Equipment have been drafted and
are under consideration by a committee of the National Board of
Fire Underwriters. In the meantime copies of a tentative code have
been circulated by the Department of Commerce.

Los Angeles Municipal Council recently acquired for $12 044 370
the distributing networks of the Southern California Edison Company
which are within the municipal boundaries. The Council has under-
taken to take all bulk supply needed from the company and not to
compete with the company outside the municipal area.

An electric hght company was recently organised by the merchants
m Tehtsing, Chekiang. The Ling Hu Tung Li Electric Light
Co., of Huchow, Chekiang, has been granted a license by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. The Pao Sing Electric
Co., in Hupeh, has been registered by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Commerce.

For the year ended March 31 last the sales of the Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing Co. amounted to nearly |ioo 000 000,
a higher figure than in any previous year, except in 1919-21. The
net profit was $6 260 180, and after taking into account miscellaneous
receipts and paying bond interest, etc., the amount available for
dividends was I5 837 389. The orders booked since January were
higher than in 1921 and there has also been a keen demand for
radio-telephone receiving apparatus.

The possibility of electrifying two or more divisions of the
National Railways of Mexico is being investigated. As oil fuel
must be hauled from Tampico, it is thought that electric traction
would be more economical than steam upon the mountain divisions,
especially as there is an abundance of hydro-electric power available.
The Guanajuato Electric Light and Power and the Northern Power
Companies are in a position to supply electricity if required, but it is
thought an independent plant or plants may be erected.

Important changes have recently taken place in the directorate
of the General Electric Co., of America. Mr. C. A. Coffin has
retired from the chairmanship and is succeeded by Mr. O. D. Young,
and Mr. Gerard Swope becomes president in place of Mr. E. W.
Rice, jun., who will devote his whole attention to the scientific and
engineering phases of the company's business. Other changes and
promotions have also taken place. Mr. Coffin remains a director,
and the office of hon. chairman has been created for Mr. Rice.

In order to stimulate interest in hydro-electric development in
Brazil it has been decided to hold a hydro-electric congress in
connection with the forthcoming Centennial Exhibition at Rio de
Janeiro. The potential wealth of the country in undeveloped
water power has not yet been fully investigated, but it is known that
its resources are large and the approxir lave capacity of several falls
has been calculated. It is expected that the Congress will lead to
more organised efforts to utilise water power for industrial purposes
and for traction.

Mr. J. E. Aldred, a New York banker, is reported to have acquired
a controlling interest in certain Italian Hydro-electric Com-
panies which supply electricity in Milan, Venice and Turin.
Between $25 000 000 and $50 000 000 will ultimately be invested
in these enterprises, and Mr. Aldred 's engineers are at present in
Italy preparing reports on the undertakings. The financial arrange-
ments wil), it is stated, be worked out in New York and London.
Mr. Aldred is president of the Shawinigan Vv^ater and Power Co.,
and chairman of the Pennsylvania Water and I ')wer Co. and of the
Consolidated Gas, Electric Light and Power Co. of Baltimore.

The Paris Orleans Railway has recently placed an important
ORDER for electiic equipment, including 80 freight locomotives and
80 heavy high-speed passenger motor cars for the section of the
main Une between Paris and Vierzon, a distancfe of about 125 miles.
This section is being electrified on the direct current, 1 500 V
system, and most of the equipment will be supplied by French
electrical manufacturers, including the Compagnie JFrancaise
Thomson-Houston, but it is expected that some American material
will be used. The order for the e'?ctric locomotives, which will
weigh 250 000 lb. each, and be capable of running at speeds of 80
and 85 mi!'3S an hour, has not yet been given out, but it is expected
that the company will do so at an early date, and also let additional
tenders for equipment, as about 2 000 miles of fine are to be
electrified.

Exhibition Notes.

The British Industries Fair (Birmingham) is to be held from
February 19 to March 2 next year.

The sum of ;^6o 000 has now been guaranteed by Manchester for
the British Empire Exhibition, which will be held next year.
This is the largest amount guaranteed by any city outside London.

At a meeting of the guarantors in connection with the proposed
Welsh National Exhibition to be held in Cardiff, it was decided,
in view of the industrial conditions obtaining at present, to postpone
further discussion on the matter until May, 1923, by when, it is
hoped, the time will be more favourable.

It has been decided to hold the Shipping, Engineering, and
Machinery Exhibition at Ol5anpia in September next year.
Dr. H. S. Hele-Shaw, president of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, has been elected chairman of the Hon. Committee of
experts, with Captain H. Riall Sankey, vice-chairman.

In view of recent announcements of a projected voyage round
the world by the steamship Orontes, renamed British Trade, the
directors of British Trade Ship, Ltd., announce that this ship has
no connection whatever with British Trade Ship, Ltd., whose
proposal is to build a special ship for the purpose of an exhibition
and send her round the world in 1924.

The International Technical Exhibition of Engineering
will be held at Liege from June 1 1 to July 14, under the organisation
of the Association des Ingenieurs de I'Ecole de Liege. At the last
exhibition, organised by the Association in 1905, there were nearly
I 200 exhibitors, representing more than 30 nations. The exhibits
will include machines and machinery equipment, instruments,
models, books, plans, diagrams, and all documents relating to
engineering.

An International Metal Industries Exhibition is to be held
at Ghent from June to October next year, under the patronage of
H.M. the King of the Belgians and with the co-operation of the
Belgian Government, and the Province and City of Ghent. It is
intended, the Department of Overseas Trade states, to form a
British section, the official representative for which in the United
Kingdom is Mons. C. J. A. Lobo, Shirley House, 10, Throgmorton
Avenue, London, E.C.2. The exhibits, covering every branch of
the metallurgical industry, will be divided into 13 main groups and
46 classes, all confined to articles with a metaUic construction of
not less than 50 per cent. German exhibits, however, will not be
admitted. The main groups include : — General mechanical appa-
ratus ; metallurgy and mines ; machine tools ; electricity ; decoration
and hygiene of the home (five classes — fighting, heating, ventilation,
sanitation, ironmongery, etc.) ; transport.

Wireless Notes.

Remarkable records were made in cabling the result of the
Derby last week. The Eastern Telegraph Company received the
names of the three winning horses at 3.24^ p.m. at their ofl&ces in
Moorgate, London, and telegrams recording this result were deUvered
in Bombay at the local equivalent of 3.26 p.m. (London time) ; in
Sydney at 3.27 p.m., in Durban at 3.26 p.m., and in Calcutta at
3.30 p.m. Owing to the immense interest created by the race all
over the world, special arrangements were made to clear the lines.
The Imperial Cable also achieved a remarkable record. The result
of the race was telephoned to the Central Telegraph Office, £Mid
was immediately transferred to the Imperial Cable. The message
arrived in Sydney at 3.30 p.m. English summer time, which is
equivalent to 12.30 a.m. Austrahan time, or six minutes after the
time of despatch from London. The previous record in the time
of transmission by the Imperial Cable between the Central Telegraph
Office and Austraha was eleven minutes, on the occasion of the
1 92 1 Derby.

The wireless message sent out at the instance of the Chief Con-
stables' Association on Friday last from Marconi House, London,
respecting the apprehension of an imaginary criminal, was
clearly heard by a representative of The Electrician who was
" listening-in " at the workshop of Mr. G. Castagnoh, at Brain tree,
Essex. 'The message was also picked up by a " detective " pro-
vided with a portable receiving set for the purpose of the experiment
between Chelmsford and Braintree. The wording of the despatch
was as follows : — " Wanted at Chesterfield on a charge of obtaining
food and money value 5s. by false pretences from William Stiggles,
with intent to defraud, on May 21, 1922, Frank Beecroft, ahas
Bennett and Merchant ; ship's cook ; no fixed abode ; age 32,
height 5 ft. 4 J in. ; brown hair, inclined to be curly, hazel eyes,
mole under right eye. Warrant issued. Information to Chief
Constable, Chesterfield." Three of the most important words,
namely, the surname and alias of the fugitive, were not rendered
quite -SO clearly as they might have been, and it would appear to be
advisable to repeat each name letter-by-lettcr.

A military teleplione between Tsingkiang and Chunghing has
been installed by the Kiangsu miUtary authority with the approval
of the Ministry of Communication.

June 9, 1922

The Electrician.

699

The Rutenberg Concession.

In the House of Commons on the 3rst ult., Mr. A. 1". Davies
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies by what authority the
High Commissioner for Palestine granted a concession for important
public works to Mr. Rutenberg ; what efforts or inquiries were made
by the High Commissioner to discover British engineers who could
command the capital necessary to carry through the work in con-
templation ; what were the names of the capitalists in the United
States who were finding the necessary capital for Mr. Rutenberg ;
and whether the High Commissioner was empowered to grant con-
cessions to foreigners without consultation with his Majesty's
Government.

In reply to the first and second parts of the question, Mr.
Churchill referred his questioner to the statement made in reply
to a question by the member for Twickenham on November 7 last.
Mr. Rutenberg had not yet received the concession referred to, but
an agreement was concluded with him in September, 1921, under
which, provided he succeeded in forming a limited liability com-
pany with adequate capital within two years from that date, the
concession would be granted to the company on application. The
agreement was concluded under the authority of H.M. Government.
No such company had yet been formed, and he was consequently
imable to give any information as to the source from which the
capital was to be provided.

With regard to the last part of the question, the High Com-
missioner was not empowered under present conditions to grant
concessions of any kind without the prior approval of H.M. Govern-
ment.

German Scientific Instruments.

At last week's sitting of the Committee appointed under the
Safeguarding of Industries Act to inquire into the complaint by
British manufacturers of optical and other scientific instruments of
alleged unfair German competition, the case for the importers of
German goods was heard.

Mr. Inskip, K.C, M.P., on behalf of seven agency firms, said
that every effort was made to keep German trade in the hands of
authorised agents who were not permitted to sell articles below
certain prices. Though illegitimate trade was being done from
Germany, the genuine agents were not putting goods on the market
in competition with British goods at unfair prices. Scientific study
was an international affair, and people were prepared to purchase
microscopes regardless of expense. He urged that it was not
German, but American and French competition that affected
British manufacturers.

Prof. W. A. Bone said that scientific workers were impeded a-nd
retarded by the duty on foreign instruments. Their work demanded
the very finest apparatus that could be procured, and in many
cases such could only be purchased from abroad. An increased
price of instruments would be a hardship to students. Already
drawing and experimental equipment had increased in price in
some cases by several hundred per cent. The consensus of opinion
was decidedly that microscopic lenses made abroad were .shghtly
better than those made at home.

Agents for German instruments said that their trade had greatly
fallen off since the imposition of the duty of 33^ per cent.

The Committee adjourned until June 19.

Institution Notes.

The annual conversazione of the Institution of Civil Engineers
will be held at the Institution Building in Great George Street on
Tuesday, June 27.

The 27th ANNUAL convention of the Incorporated Municipal
Electrical Association will be held at Wolverhampton from
Txiesday, June 20, to Friday, June 23. In our Arrangements for
the Week we give the complete programme of the proceedings.

The British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association has
just issued, in its quarterly Bulletin, a Union List of Periodicals
of interest for reference on industrial metallurgy. The service
provided by fourteen libraries in London, Birmingham and Man-
chester is clearly indicated so far as concerns the 118 periodicals
which have been selected, and the next edition will include additional
libraries and periodicals which experience with the present list
suggests as desirable.

The Powell Duffryn Coal Company, which is engaged in large
colliery developments in South Wales, have made great progress
towards the complete electrification of their pits. The main
power station is at Bargoed, and an extension to this has just been
completed by Heenan and Froude. The capacity of the turbo gener-
ators is 1 8 000 kW, and another set is to be installed of 12 000 kW
capacity. In the Aberdare Valley there is another main power
station having a capacity of nearly 30 000 kW. From these main
stations the power is transmitted to the several pits and sinkings
by means of overhead cables supported on steel latticed transmission
poles.

Miscellaneous.

On the 31st ult. the Royal Assent was read to the following
new Acts of Parliament : Ayr Burgh (Tramways), etc.. Confirmation
Act, Metropolitan Railway Act and Yorkshire Electric Power Act.

While placing a belt round some shafting at the electrical porcelain
works of Gaskell & Grocott, Longport, la.st Friday, John Cooper
was caught by the belt, and his left arm was torn off from the
shouldtr and his chest badly crushed. He is reported to be in a
critical condition.

An order was made on May 27 for the restoration of Patent
No. 1453, of 1915, granted to George Saint for " Mercury globule
electrical contact maker for relea.sing mine winding signal indicators,
actuating indicators .of the stopping, starting and reductions of
speed of machinery and the like."

An application has been made for an extension of the periods
OF patents Nos. 21290 and 23271 of 1906 granted to Joseph
Johnson and John Tetley. Notices of opposition must be lodged
at Mr. Justice Sargant's chambers, 317, Royal Courts of Justice,
Strand, London, W.C, seven days before July 7, when an applica-
tion will be made to the Court concerning the matter.

The National Association of Supervising Electricians will
hold a smoking concert at the St. Bride's Institute, Ludgate Circus,
London, E.G., on Tuesday, June X3th, at 7.30 p.m. At this gather-
ing, which wiU bring the 1921-2 Session to a close. Major T. Vincent
Smith will resign his office on the ground of ill-health and will hand
over his duties to his successor, Mr. W. E. Highfield, who has
accepted the office of president.

At the annual conference of the Association of Teachers in
Technical Institutions, held in London last week, a resolution
urging that the time had arrived when the position of technical
education should be reviewed, and asking for the appointment of a
committee of inquiry to investigate the whole field of technical
education, was moved by Professor G. Knox, of South Wales
and Monmouth School of Mines. The motion was carried, also
another resolution " viewing with alarm the reduction in the
number and value of scholarships available for higher education."

The Board of Trade state that they have received a complaint by
the British Electrical and .Allied Manufacturers' Association that
vulcanised fibre manufactured in the U.S.A. is being sold in the
United Kingdom at prices below the cost of production as defined
by the Safeguarding of Industries Act, 1921, and that in consequence
employment in the vulcanized fibre industry in the United Kingdom
was Ukely to be seriously affected. They have therefore appointed
a committee to inquire into the case. The first sitting for the taking
of evidence will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 20, at 5, Old Palace
Yard, Westminster, London, S.W.i.

An example of broad tendering by British contractors who
compete for orders in India is given in the ' ' Times Trade Supplement.
The Corporation of Calcutta requires eight electric lorries for con-
servancy service. The tenders for 5-ton lorries, based on exchange
at IS. 4d. per rupee and subject to exchange variation, were as
follows : — Heatly and Gresham (Clayton lorries), Rs.19 863 each,
or total for eight, Rs.i 58 904 ; j'essop and Company (Orwell
lorries), Rs.24 524 each, or total for eight, Rs.i 96 272 ; The Asso-
ciated British Engineers (CArrett lorries), Rs.30 500 each, or total
for eight, Rs.2 44 000 ; Walford and Company (electro mobile
lorries), Rs.32 330 each, or total for eight Rs.2 58 640. The tender
of Heatly and Gresham was recommended for acceptance, subject
to the inspection of the lorries in England by the chief engineer
and his approval.

The total number of apphcations for patents during 1921 was
35 132, which, although i 540 less than the number for 19^20, is
substantially more than in any pre-war year. The complete specifica-
tions filed numbered 19 139, or 2 637 less Lnan in 1920, the decrease
being due to the expiry, on January 10, of the extensions of time
granted by the Treaty of Peace with Germany and the Berne Agree-
ment for the fifing of applications under the Convention, The
number of apphcations to register designs was 13,387, against
13 669 in 1920, and the number of designs registe:-ed \va3 12 313, as
compared with 13 071. There were 11959 apphcations for the
registration of trade marks as compared \vith 14 064 in the pre\'ious
year. Trade marks registered numbered 7 518, an increase
of 396 over 1 92 1.

Damages for Tram car Passenger.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last week Sheriff Shennan ;awarded
Mrs. E. Wilson £50 damages for injuries sustained while travelhng
in a tramcar of "the Lanarkshire Tramway Co. Plaintiff sued the
company and the Hamilton Central Co-opera rive Society-, because
the injuries were alleged to be due to a colhsion between the tramcar
and a motor lorry belonging to the Co-operative Society.

The Sheriff Substitute found that plaintiff received a shock to her
nervous system from the collision incapacitating her at first wholly
and then partially for several months ; that the tramcar was being
driven carefully and at a moderate speed and the driver was
blameless : but that the accident was caused through the fault of
the driver of the motor lorry in trying to cross in front of the tramcar
when it was within a short distance of the lorn,'.

700

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc.

Oriental Telephone and Electric Company.

In the course of his speech at the annual meeting last week of the
Oriental Telephone and Electric Company, Sir H. Babington
Smith (chairman of the company), who presided, said that the
important question of the Indian licences had at last been settled.
The negotiations began more than two years ago. The terms,
briefly, were that the Government undertook not to exercise their
option of purchasing under the existing licence before 1943. If the
option were exercised then, the purchase would be on the terms
defined in the original licences — that was, on plant value without
any payment for goodwill. Conditions were laid down for securing
efficiency in the plant and its operation (including the obligation to
provide automatic or central battery plant in all exchanges over
200 subscribers). The maximum rate chargeable for an exchange
connection within four miles of the exchange had been raised from
Rs. 250 to Rs. 350 per annum per subscriber, subject to certain
conditions as to periodical revision of the rates, such revision to be
on the basis of a standard dividend of 12 1 per cent, on the paid-up
capital. The rate charged in the past had not, till recently,
exceeded Rs. 200. The agreements applying these conditions to
the Bombay and Bengal Companies had already been signed. Those
relating to the company's branches at Madras and Rangoon were
practically settled, and would be signed in the near future. Steps
had been taken for organising the Bombay and Bengal undertakings
on a new basis, suited to the new conditions, and for raising the
capital required for new developments. It was probable that it
might be found advisable to form separate Indian companies to
take over the systems at Madras and Rangoon.

Mr. Parker Ness had, at the request of the board, made another
journey to the East. He left this country last October, and had
visited Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Rangoon, Singapore and Hong-
kong. Mr. W. W. Cook, the company's consulting engineer, had
also gone to India, Singapore and Hongkong for the purpose of
advising on numerous questions which had arisen. Mr. Cook was
recently appointed by the House of Commons Committee on
Telephones to be its technical adviser. He was giving particular
attention to the question of the use of automatic exchanges in
tropical climates and would advise also on questions of rates and
organisation generally as well as on the valuation of the company's
plant. The new exchange at Singapore, which had been brought
into use in June, 1920, had proved very satisfactory, and the
efficiency of the service given was now generally recognised. The
Singapore licence extended at present to 1934, ^^nd the company had
for some time past been in communication with the Singapore
Government with a view to a prolongation. Similar questions had
arisen at Hongkong, and they had just heard from Mr. Parker Ness
that an agreement had been arrived at for an extension of the
Hongkong licence to 1955 ; for a revision of the rates ; and for the
formation of a local company, the Oriental Telephone Company
receiving payment for its property in debentures and shares of the
new company. The liquidation of the Egyptian company had at
last been completed, and the final distribution of £15 638 had been
made by the hquidator.

Shanghai Electric Construction.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of the
Shanghai Electric Construction Co. last week. Sir Alfred Dent,
who presided, said that, although the accounts did not show the
largest sterling profit in the history of the company, they might be
regarded as satisfactory, inasmuch as the operating profit, reckoned
on the usual basis of 2s. to the dollar, was larger than ever before.
After providing for all expenses there was a disposable balance of
;^I22 361. The loss by depreciation of sub.sidiary coinage amounted
during the year to ;^93 731, which was rather more than the com-
pany's operating profit. Negotiations with the municipal council
for extension of the system under railless traction and for additional
track facilities were well advanced, and the indications were that
a first instalment of extensions would shortly be proceeded witli.
The traffic pressure was very great, and it was realised that tlie
congestion in the streets could best be relieved by the extensions of
the system which were contemplated and by the proposed doublings
of the track and improved terminal faciUties. The new routes to
be developed had at length been agreed upon with the municipal
council, but unfortunately they had not reac'ied an agreement on
all the terms and conditions. The company weir recently approached
by the Singapore Electric Tramways Compai.y, and negotiations
had been opened with a view to their making arrangements for
administering the Singapore system.

Mr. Donald McColl, the company's general manager, said the
fact that the volume of traffic had increased from 11 J millions of
passengers in 1909 to 120 millions in 1921, with only a mile and
a third of additional route, and was increasing further, so that they
were carrying 7 000 000 passengers per mile of route per annum,
was evidence of the congestion and of the urgency of extensions.
If all the proposed extensions could be introduced to-morrow they
woidd only partly meet existing needs.

An abstract of the accounts was {,iven in our issue of May 19.

Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway.

Mr. J. W. Hill (chairman) presided at the 72nd annual meeting
of the Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway Company. The
report showed that, after providing for debenture interest, and

transferring £\ 023 from the amount received under the Railways
(Settlement of Claims) Act, 192 1, there was available £1 339, out
of which was recommended the payment of a preference dividend
of 5 per cent, for the half-year, absorbing £475 (leaving the cumu-
lative preference dividend six years in arrears). The sum of £Sb^
is carried forward. The chairman said that the British Government
had entered into an agreement to pay £'^ 000 000 in settlement of
all claims by the Irish railways, and, out of a sum paid on account,
this company had received £2. 728. One-sixth of the total sum
available would be allocated to the smaller companies to divide
amongst themselves. This company, with other smaller companies,
was having its interests protected by representation at the Railway
Commission, and everything possible would be done to further
the interests of the undertaking and the shareholders. The receipts
were considerably lower than in 1920, and it was only by transferring
a considerable amount from the Government sum referred to that
they were able to pay the dividend recommended. Last year,
owing to curfew regulations, strikes, coal supplies, etc., the mileage
was further reduced, and the number of passengers carried was
reduced from 502 719 in 1920 to 387 194 in 1921. \Vith regard to
wages, while there had been some reduction, the sum payable w-as
out of all proportion to the revenue of the company, but the directors
had no responsibility for it, the huge increases granted during the
war being decreed by the British Government.

Electric Construction Co.

The net profit of the Electric Construction Co. for the year
ended March 31 last, after providing £(> i^i for debenture interest
and ;^io 000 for depreciation, amounted to £^2 685, plus ^^53 498
brought forward, less provision for excess profits duty for year
IQ2I (final period), ;^30 000, making a total of 2io6 182 los. Interim
dividends paid on November 30, 192 1, on the preference and
ordinary shares amounted to £11 197, leaving a balance of
;^94 985, which the directors recommend be appropriated as follows :
Final dividend at the rate of 7 per cent, on the preference shares
{£2 197) ; final dividend at the rate of 9 per cent, on the ordinary
shares, making a dividend of 7^ per cent, for the year (£13 500) ;
bonus of 2|^ per cent, on the ordinary shares, all under deduction
of income tax {£j 500) ; transfer to general reserve fund, which
will then amount to £^140 000 (;^i9 715) ; transfer to dividend
equalisation fund (£30 000) ; leaving ;^22 073 to be carried forward.

The Br.\zilian Traction, Light and Power Co. announce a
dividend of i\ per cent, on the cumulative preference shares to
holders of record on the 15th inst.

Yorkshire (West Riding) Electric Tramways Company
announce a dividend of 3 per cent, on the Preference shares for
the half-year ending the 30th inst.

A dividend of if per cent, has been declared by the Pennsyl-
vania Water and Power Company for the quarter ending June
30 to holders of record on June 16.

The Consolidated Gas, Electric Light and Power Company of
Baltimore has declared its regular quarterly dividend of $2 per
share on the series " A " preferred and common stock.

The directors of Brunner, Mond and Co., recommend a dividend
on the ordinary shares of 11 per cent, per annum, making with the
interim dividend, 8 per cent, for the year, subject to deduction of
income tax.

The annual accounts of Pernambuco Tramways and Power
Co. show, after providing for debenture interest and transferring
£^io 230 to capital reserve, and £1 500 to amortisation fund, a surplus
of £1 108, which it is proposed to carry forward.

The net profit of J. Stone and Co. for 1921, after making the
necessary allowances for depreciation, etc., was £iy(i 152, making
with £^2 633 brought in ;^228 785. The directors recommend
placing £2^ 000 to reserve, paying a dividend of 7* per cent, per
annum on the ordinary shares, and carrying forward £12^ 755.

The direci-ors of the Western Telegraph Company have
declared the third quarterly interim dividend of 5s. per share, free
of income tax, for the year ending June 30, 1922, payable to share-
holders registered on June 9, being at the rate of 10 per cent, per
annum. The transfer books of the company will be closed from
June 9 to i6, inclusive.

The profits of the Intern.\tional Automatic Telephone Co.
for 1921 were £^11 799, plus £634 brought in, making ;^i2 433. Of
this directors' fees and dividend on preference shares absorbed
/ii 790, leaving £^643 to be carried forward. A dividend on the
preference shares for 192 1 has already been paid to the extent of
6 per cent., leaving 1 per cent, to be paid on July i.

The net revenue for 1921 of the MeRthyr Electric Traction'
AND Lighting Company amounted to £21 074. After deducting
administration and general expenses, debenture and other interest,
and placing £^ 000 to renewals account, there remains £5 002 phis
Jt 429 brought forward, making £6431. The directors projwse to
place £1 200 to reserve, and to pay a dividend of 6 per cent, on the
ordinary shares (same as previous year), carrying forward £1 331.

The report of the Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. for
1921 shows profit of £;2 8 578, plus £0 861 brought in. After pro-
viding for directors' fees (;(f2 560), debenture mterest (£9 5^7)>
depreciation on patents, etc. (£i 000), dividend on preference shares

June 9, 1922

The £Iectrician.

701

(;^i2ooo), ;^4 313 remains to be carried forward. Owing to the
heavy cost of financing orders due to the high Bank rate and the
writing down of stock values, the directors are unable to pay any
ordinary dividend.

The accounts of the Brisbane Electric Tramways Investment
Company for 1921 show dividends for the year on shares held by
the company £()() 933, plus sundry receipts £4 381 and l^i 837
brought in, making ;^I47 151. After deducting general charges in
London (including corporation profits tax) and expenditure in
Brisbane, the net balance was ^132 487. After paying debenture
interest and preference dividend, the directors recommend a balance
dividend of 4s. per share, free of tax, making 8 per cent, for the
year, carrying forward, subject to corporation tax, £i\(i 162.

The report for 1921 of the Lewes and District Electric
Supply Company states that the total capital expencliture amounted
to £j,^ 919, compared with shares and debenture stock issued to
the amount of ^32 070. Surplus on working showed a balance of
£^ 575. After adding interest (;^5o) and deducting administration
and general expenses and remaining items charged against revenue,
including debenture interest and provision for £\ 750 for renewals,
totalling £^ 170, there remained £^^5, making with £\ 119 brought
in £1 574, which the directors recommend be carried forward.

The net revenue of the Delhi Electric Tramways and Lighting
Company for 1921 was ;^'22 669. In place of a substantial profit on
exchange earned during 1920 there was a small loss under that head
during 192 1. Profit, after charging general expenditure in London
and Delhi and debenture interest, was ;^i8 253, plus ;^982 brought
in, making ;^i9 235, less depreciation of plant and equipment £6 000.
renewals reserve, £1 500, reserve for taxation £1 000, leaving
/jto 735- Dividends of 8 per cent, per annum upon the preferred
and participating shares, and is. 6jd. per share upon the ordinary
shares are proposed, leaving /530 to be carried forward.

New Companies.

H, Ha- don and Co.

H. Haydon and Co., Ltd. (182 123.) — Private company. Reg.
May 29. Capital, £x 500 in £1 shares. Electric light and general
electrical engineers, etc. First directors : H. H. Haydon (managing
director) and R. Dunn. Secretary : R. Dunn. Registered office :
3, Welford Road. Leicester.

Suoray Ltd.

SuNRAY, Ltd. (182 199.) — Private company. Reg. May 31.
Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers of and dealers in
electric cables, wires, lines, lamps, and all kinds of electrical plant
and accessories, etc. First directors : — J. A. Hartley and C. S.
WaUbridge. Reg. office : 196, Green gate, Salford, Manchester.
Brcward Sale* Co.

Breward Sales Co., Ltd. (182 055.) — Private company. Reg.
May 26th. Capital, ;^io 000 in ^i shares. Manufacturers, designers
and importers of and dealers in electrical plant, house-lighting sets ,
accumulators, batteries, dynamos, and electric fittings of all kinds,
etc. Subscribers : W. A. Anderson and L. R. Shaw. Registered
office : St. Margaret's House, 57-59, Victoria Street, S.W.i.
L. MoMiohael. Ltd.

L. McMichael, Ltd. (182 184.) — Private company. Reg. May
31. Capital, ;£io 000 in £1 shares. Wireless engineers and con-
tractors, dealers in electrical, magnetic, galvanic and other appa
ratus, etc. Permanent directors : — Hubert Leslie McMichael, Reni
H. Klein, and Armand G. Bloch. Secreiarj'^ : Leslie McMichael.
Reg. office : Providence Place, West End Lane, Kilburn, N.W.
Radiola Wireless Telephone Parts Co.

Radiola Wireless Telephone Parts Co., Ltd. (182 102.) —
Private company. Reg. May 27. Capital, ;^8 000 in £1 shares.
Manufacturers, importers and exporters of and dealers in wireless
telephones and telephonic and telegraphic apparatus, parts and
accessories, etc. First directors: W. Mansfield and J. F. Little.
Secretary: W.Mansfield. Registered office : 17, Brunswick Street,
Liverpool.
H. D. Butler and Co.

H. D. Butler and Co., Ltd. (182 157.) — Private company.
Reg. May 30. Capital, £2 500 in £1 shares. To acquire the business
of a wdreless engineer and electrical instrument maker and agent
carried on by H. D. Butler at 222, Great Dover Street, W., as
" H. D. Butler and Co." First directors : — H. D. Butler (permanent
managing director) and G. \. Huxley. Reg. office : 15, Queen Street,
Cheapside, E.C.2.
South Eastern and Chatham Construction and Power Co.

The South Eastern and Chatham Construction and Power
Co., Ltd. Reg. May 29. Nominal capital, £10000 in /lo shares.
To adopt an agreement with the S.E. Railway Co., the IC. and D.
Railway Co., and the S.E. and C. Railway Companies Managing
Committee, and to carry on the business of engineers, contractors
for the electrification of railways, tramways or similar works,
constructors of generating and transforming stations, suppliers of
electricity or other energy, etc. First directors : H. C. Orme
Bonsor, Brigadier-General Hon. Everard Baring, Viscount Chilston,
Sir William Hart Dyke, Charles Sheath, Sir Alfred Waldron Smithers,
P. Crosland Tempest. Solicitors : H. N. Groves, 9 and 10, Railway
Approach, London Bridge, S.E. File number 182 131.

Arrangements for the Week.

TUESDAY, Jl 'NE 20ib.

Jncorpokated Municipal Electrical Association.

9.0 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. Assembly at Grand Theatre, Lichfield
Street, Wolverhampton.

10 a.m. At the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton Opening of

the Convention. Welcome by the Mayor ; Presidential
address by Mr. S. T. Allen, chief engineer and general
manager of the Wolverhampton Electricity Supply Depart-
ment ; paper on " The Exten.sion of the Uses of Electricity
for Domestic Purposes," by Lieut. -Col. W. A. Vignoles,
borough electrical engineer, Grimsby.

I p.m. Luncheon at the Royal Artillery Headquarters, West
Park, Newhampton Road, Wolverhampton.

2.30 p.m. Visit to .\pley Terrace on the River Severn.

8.30 p.m. Reception by the Mayoress at the Art Gallery,
Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton.

WEDNESDAY. JUNE 21st.

9 a.m. Members residing in Birmingham assemble outside
the Queen's Hotel (New Street Station), where the con-
veyances for Stoke-on-Trent will be in readiness ; members
residing in Wolverhampton assemble at St. Peter's Steps.

11 a.m. In the As.sembly Room, Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent.

Paper : " The Administration and Control of Electricity
Departments," by Mr. E. Calvert, cliief electrical engineer,
Finchley. (A visit to Pottery Works will be arranged
for any of the ladies or others who do not attend the
reading of the paper. Conveyances will be in attendance
at 11.15 a.m.)

I p.m. Luncheon to members, delegates, and visitors, by the
Stoke-on-Trent Electricity Committee, in the King's Hall,
Town Hall.

'2.15 p.m. Visit to : (i) Central Power Station ; or (2) Main
Electricity Sub-Stations of the Stoke-on-Trent Corpora-
tion ; (3) Pottery Works* ; or (4) Trentham Gardens
direct.

4 p.m. Assemble at Trentham Gardens, where facilities ioi
tennis and boating are available.

5.30 p.m. Conveyances will leave the Gardens for Wolver-
hampton and Birmingham.

* The following firms have arranged to conduct parties
of members through their works : — Pottery Works —
Cauldon Potteries, W. T. Copeland and Sons, Doulton and
Co., Ltd., Mintons, Ltd., Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd. ;
Engineering Works — The Boving Engineering Works ,
Cowlishaw, Walker and Co. (1920), Ltd.; Kerr Stuart and
Co., The North Staffordshire Railway, The Potteries
Electric Traction Co.

THURSDAY, JUNE 22nd.

9 a.m. Members residing in Wolverhampton should assemble

at St. Peter's Steps, where the conveyances for the General
Electric Company's Works, Witton,* Birmingham, will be
in readiness.
9.40 a.m. Members residing in Birmingham should assemble
outside the Queen's Hotel (New Street Station).

10 a.m. In the Maia Hall, Magnet Club, Witton. Paper:

" Sub-Station Equipment, including Automatic Control."
by Mr. R. A. Chattock, city electrical engineer, Bir-
mingham.

11.30 a.m. Tour round the various branches of the Witton
Works.

(The General Electric Co. have placed their club house,
with recreation rooms and grounds, at the disposal of
members. An exhibition of (lomestic and other electrical
labour-saving appliances will also be held during the
visit) .

1.30 p.m. Luncheon at the Magnet Club.

2.30 p.m. prompt. Visit to Ncchells Power Station of the
Birmingham Corporation.

3.45 p.m. Conveyances will leave Nechells Power Station for
the Botanical Gardens, where members will be received
and entertained by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor of
Birmingham.

5.30 p.m. prompt. Leave Garden Party.

7-45^-w'- forSp.m. Annual dinner ^evening dress), in the Royal
Field Artillery Headquarters, West Park, Newhampton
Road, Wolverhampton.

FRIDAY. JUNE 23rd.

9.30 a.m. Meeting of the Council in the Grand Theatre,

Wolverha m pton .
10.30 a.m. Annual general meeting in the Grand Theatre.

Wolverhampton.
.Afternoon. Visit to Wolverhampton Corporation Electricity

Generating Station, Commercial Road, when the President

(Mr. S. T. Allen^ will personally welcome members.

TUESDAY. JUNE 13th.

The Rontgem Society.
8. 15 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Victoria
Embankment, London, W.C.2. Annual general meeting.

702

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Tynemouth Corporation, June 26.— One a.c. booster. Specifi-
cations from the Borough Electrical Engineer.

Cadbury and Fry Joint Buying Department. — Electric
cables, fittings and accessories. Specifications from ENM, Cadburj'
Bros., Bournville.

Edinburgh Corporation. June 20. — Thirty tramcar-top
covers. Specification from the Tramways Manager, 2, St. James's
Square, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Corporation, June 12. — Underground insulated
cables for twelve months. Specifications from Engineer, Electricity
Dept., Dewar Place, Edinburgh;

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Nenagh. June 17. — ■
Wiring and fitting. Specifications, etc., from Messrs. MacEntee,
Lavelle and Gregory, 22, Nassau Street, DubUn.

Clyde Navigation Trustees. June 12. — Electrical stores,
rubber, iron and steel ironmongery, etc., for three, six or twelve
months. Specifications from the Superintendent of Stores, i.
Graving Dock, Govan.

Portsmouth Tramways Committee. June 13. — Supplies for
six or twelve months, from July i, including insulating materials,
overhead fine materials. Particulars from the Engineer, Mr. V, J.
Lironi, Engineer's Office, Vivash Road, Fratton, Portsmouth.

Reigate Town Council. June 2^. — (i) Diesel engines and
single phase alternators ; (2) two steel tanks, 20 ft. diameter, foj
oil storage ; (3) 12 -ton overhead traveller driven by single phase
electric motors ; (4) alteration in position of existing cast-iron
water tank. Particulars from Mr. C. H. Wordingham, 7, Victoria
Street, Westminster, S.W., and 11, Mosley Street, Manchester.

AUSTRALIA.

Victorian State Railways. June 28. — 2 687 tons 80 lb. rails,
2 200 tons 100 lb. rails, 224 tons fishplates. Specifications from
John Coates and Co., Victoria House, Melbourne Place, Strand,
London, W.C. 2, > f-^ytiMi'l-A^iySi ■^., ^

Johannesburg Corporation have been recommended to accept
the tender of Bruce Peebles andCo. for one 2 000 kW Bruce
Peebles-La Cour converter, ^^lo 750.

Aberdeen Town Council have accepted the tender of the Steel
Construction Company, of Glasgow, for the steel work for the first
section of the new boiler-house at the electricity works, Ferryhill,
Aberdeen, at a sum of ;^8 113.

Glasgow Corporation has been recommended to accept the
following tenders : Carron Co., McDowall, Steven and Co., and
R. Taylor and Co., c.i. boxes, section pillars, etc. ; Stewarts and
Lloyds and Scottish Tube Co., tubes and fittings ; Enfield Ediswan
Cable Works,, Callender's Cable and Construction Co., W. T. Glover
and Co., and Craigpark Cable Co., cables ; Edison Swan Electric
Co., Chamberlain and Hookham, and Ferranti, Ltd., d.c. meters ;
Beacon Carbons, Ltd., carbons ; Edison Swan Electric Co. and
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., a.c. meters ; Metropolitan-
Vickers Electrical Co., reconstructing car magnetic brake equip-
ments and adding skid-proof attachments ; Steele, Turner and
Wright, T. Lane and Sons, Alexander and Co., General Electric Co.,
Simplex Conduits, Ltd., Malcolm and Allan, Wm. Brown and Co.,
and Alston, Scott and Co., electric fittings and accessories ; D. King
and Sons, Carron Co., M. McCuUoch, J. Allen, Senr,, and Son, and
Philip and Bruce, lamp pillars.

Electric Ovens for Paint Drying,

The issue of the " Electrical World " for May 27 records a case of
economy in the use of electric ovens for drying paint by the
Schleuter Manufacturing Company, of St. Louis. An operating
economy was obtained in drj'ing paint on light metalware of 12 lb.
to 60 lb. per kWh, the extent of the saving depending on the bulki-
ness of the material handled, and the time of day. Three electric
ovens, which arc used for drying coloured paints at temperatures
varying from 160° to 270° F., were installed in place of large gas
and low pressure steam ovens because of thei* speed, cleanliness
and even heat, and the improvement in produ-.tion has been so
satisfactory that the Company proposes to use electric heat for a
number of other purposes. The existing ovens are of the standard
box or kiln design, with large double doors at one end. The loading
is done by hand and the ovens are heated by standard air heaters,
placed in the lower side walls. The largest oven has a capacity' of
36 kW and operates at a baking range of 270° to 450° F, and four
inches of heat insulating material, covering all sides, has been built
into it. The two other ovens are of 27 kW and are used for light
colour work, at from 150° to 180° F.

A cutting from the " Eastern Province Herald," of Port Elizabeth
South Africa, which gives the award of contracts in connection with
the Municipal electricity supply in respect of sections a, b, c (part i),
d, and e, may be seen by interested United Kingdom firms on
application to the Department of Overseas Trade (Room 49).

Books Received.

" Elektro-Auskunftei." By Georg Heber. (Leipsig : Paul
Schulze.) Pp. 754. los. net.

" The Year Book of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony, 1922."
(London: Wireless Press.) Pp. Ixxxix.-fi 477.

" Electric Power Systems." By William T. Taylor. (London :
Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons.) Pp. xii. + io7. 2s. 6d. net.

" High Voltage Power Transformers." By WilUam T. Taylor.
(London : Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons.) Pp. x.-f-ii7. 2s. 6d. net.

"Modem Practice in Heat Engines." By Telford Petrie, M.Sc.
(London : Longmans, Green & Co.) xi.-F264. Price 15s. net.

" Practical Profit Sharing." Reprinted from " The Manchester
Guardian Commercial," with Introduction by Seebohm Rowntree.
(Manchester : Manchester Guardian, Ltd.) Pp. 67. is.

Marconi International Directory.*

The first annual edition of the Marconi International Direc-
tory, Buyers' and Exporters' Guide, just pubhshed, marks a
new era in directory publishing and will be welcomed by business
men everywhere. The volume embodies many new features and
is arranged throughout for quick reference to any item. The
Alphabetical Section, which gives the full titles, description of
business, full postal and cable addresses, of the leading business
houses of the world, is arranged in one complete series instead of
providing separate lists for each country or state. Similarlj% the
Buyers' and Exporters' Guide shows under each trade heading
the principal firms in each country engaged in that particular trade,
and at one opening one is able to select firms in any part of the
world. The time-saving advantages afforded by this arrangement
are obvious. Another special feature is the indexes to the Buyers'
and Exporters' Guide, which have been translated into five different
languages. Not the least important section, however, is the Cable
Address Register, by which the sender of a cablegram can be
identified when an unfamiliar signature has been used.

We learn from the " Electrical World " that business in elec-
trical supplies in the United States is steadily improving, as
the result of organised sales campaigns. The orders received are
much higher than those of 1913 and 1914 and employment in
electrical manufacturing is increasing. The electric light and power
companies, the largest market for electrical plant and goods, are
ordering large quantities of generating plant, transformers and line
material, and at least ? 400 000 000 will be expended during the
current year. This will, in due course, involve the increased use of
wires and cables, meters, lamps and other supplies. The general
industrial situation is also improving and there is a better demand
for motors and switchgear, while the electrification of railroad lines
and terminals also promises to bring much work to electrical
manufacturer,^;.

* " Marconi International Director}' of Cable Addresses, Buyers'
and Exporters' Guide, 1922." London: The Marconi International
Code Co. 25s. Pp. I 134.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, etc.

Tuesday, June 6'
Price.

Copper —

Best Selected . . per ton
Electro Wirebars . . ,,

H.C. Wire, basis . . per lb.
Sheet . . , . „

Phosphor Bronze Wire [Telephone) —
Phosphor Bronze Wire,

per lb.

1^7

OS.

10 o
lO o
loid.
io|d.

IS. 2id.

Inc.
i'^ 5S.

lOS.

^d.

Dec.

7d.

9d.

lod.

per ton

basis
Brass 60/40 —

Rod, basis

Sheet, basis

Wire, basis
Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants

Galvai.ised steel
wire, basis 8 S.W.G.
Lead Pig —

English

Foreign or Colonial
Tin —

Ingot

Wire, basis
Aluminium Ingots
Spelter . .
Mercury
Sulphur (Flowers)-

,, (Roll-Brimstone) — per ton
;^io 15s.
Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5jd.
Boric Acid (Crystals). Per ton ;^6o.
Rubber. — Para fine, lod.; plantation ist latex, 7fd. — 7|d.

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby
Cables, Ltd.

£4

£26
£24

£^54
per lb. 2s.
per ton ;£ioo

£28

lid.

£3 OS.
Ad.

2S. Od.
od. —

is. 3d.

per bottle ;^i2 10
-Ton ;£io 15s. Sodium Chlorate — Per lb. 3id,

Sulphuric Acid (PjTites. 168°)

per ton, £g.
Copper Sulphate.— Ver ton

;f26 lOS.

June 9, 1922

The Electrician.

703

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

£1^ 4s. 2d. April 6.
HAINE, William Ernest, and BLISSETT, Henry Cornelius (trading

as STAMFORD BRIDGE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL

ENGINEERING CO.). 495, Fulham Road, S.W. £11 los. 2d.

April 5.
MACAULEY, R. A., 48, Ashton New Road, Beswick, electrician.

■ £j,o IS. 2d. April 5.-
MESSENGER, Mr. G. V.. 26, Edna Street, S.W. 11, electrical

engineer. £'2() 12s. 6d. March 29.

Bill of Sale.

[The undermentioned information is from the Official Registry.
Up to the date the information was obtained it was registered as
given below ; but payment may have been made in some of the
cases, although no notice has been entered on the Register.]
WILLIAMS, Frederick, The Retreat, County Oak, Crawley, electrical
apparatus manufacturer. May 30. /300

RECEIVERSHIPS.

S. GILLITT AND CO., LTD.— A. Dees, of 25, James Street,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, ceased to act as receiver and manager on
April 29, 1922.

YORKSHIRE INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP CO., LTD.—
J. A. Couper, of Stoney Lea, Ilkley, was appointed receiver on
May 24, 1922, under powers contained in second mortgage
debentures, dated October i, 191 4.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — -The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges wliich would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

CALCUTTA ELECTRIC SUPPLY CORPORATION, LTD.—
Registered May 25, supplemental Trust Deed dated May 22,
1922, securing ;^202 500 debentures with a premium of 2 per
cent., present issue £go 000 ; charged on property as charged
by Trust Deed registered November 30, 1920. *;^50o 000.
May 26, 192 1.

YORKSHIRE INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP CO., LTD.,
Leeds. — Registered May 25, /i 400 and ;{20o ist debentures
part of ;^6 000 ; general charge. *y^ii 400. June 21, 1920.

Satisfaction.

WATSON, MARSH AND CO. (HAMPSTEAD) LTD., manufac-
turers of electrical apparatus. — Satisfaction registered May 26,
all moneys, etc., registered April 21, 1922.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from, printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Bankruptcy Information.

COATON, Thomas Green, i6, Humberstone Road, Leicester, under
the style of T. G. COATON AND CO., electrical engineer.
Receiving order. May 29. Debtor's petition.

GRIEVE. Gideon George, MANGES, Archibald Arthur, co-partner-
ship under the style of THE UP-TO-DATE ELECTRICAL
AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, 14, West Bute Street,
late 236. Bute Street, Cardiff, electrical and mechanical en-
gineers. Receiving order. May 31, Debtor's petition.

Partnerships Dissolved.

DAVIES, Frederick HoweU, and ROWE, Edward George, under
the style of DAVIES AND ROWE, 119, Dunraven Street.
Tonypandy, co. Glamorgan, electrical contractors, by mutual
consent, and the business will be continued by E. G. Rowe.

DEARDS, Robert, and CUSDEN, George Augustus, under the
style of the ELECTRO METAL CLEANING CO., 86b, South

End, Croydon, by mutual consent, as from May 20, 1922.

Debts received and paid by R. Deards, who will continue the

business.
MARSDEN, Herbert John, and HUTCHINSON, Edward Thomas,

electrical, etc., engineers, De Montfort Street, Leicester, under

the style of H. J. MARSDEN AND CO., by mutual consent a.s

from March 25, 1922. Debts received and paid by H. J

Marsden.
RODDA, WiUiam Duncan, and NEUREUTER, Joseph, electrical

factors, 37A, Fountain Street, Manchester, under the style of

W. D. RODDA AND CO., by mutual consent, as from May 15,

1922.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

FRANCIS, Wilham. 4, Prospect Plac-5, Cheam, Surrey, electrical
engineer. The first meeting of the creditors was held
last week. The statement of affairs showed liabilities £'/ii.
net assets estimated to realise £9, deficiency ;(|702. Debtor
attributed his failure to losses on contracts and high interest '
paid to moneylenders. Prior to August, 1915, debtor was
employed as- an electrician. In August, 1916, he started
business as an electrician at his present address, without capital.
The business steadily increased until early in 1920, when he
made a loss on a sub-contract and was sued by a creditor for
£■^6. He had had recourse to moneylenders. A full set of
books had not been kept. Debtor became aware of his
position in April, 1920. The case being a summary one, was
left in the hands of the Official Receiver as trustee of the estate.
The following are creditors : — Southern Electric Co., London,
£i^ ; B.E. Co., London, £10 ; General Cable Manufacturing
Co., Leatherhead, ;^40 ; Times Electric Co., London. ;^2i.

HILL, George, NOBLE, George, and COWLEY, Edgar, trading as
GEORGE HILL AND CO., 22, Chantry Lane, Great Grimsby,
electrical engineers. The statement of affairs shows Uabihties
of £i\2b, and a deficiency of £21 j. The business was commenced
by~^G. E. Hill and G. Noble in January', 1919, with a joint
capital of £"2.00, provided in equal shares. In November, 1920,
E. Cowley joined them, bringing in a borrowed capital of £150.
Debtors estimated their turnover in 1919 at £1 000, in 1920
at £2 000, and in 1921 at £1 400. No balance sheets had been
prepared. They became aware of their position about a year
ago. At their public examination last week debtors attributed
their failure to losses on contracts, insufficient capital and loss
on stock owing to fall in prices.

PRINS, Nathan, late Forest Road, Dalston, X.E. — This debtor,
who dealt in electrical accessories, attended at the London
Bankruptcy Court recently for pubhc examination on a
statement of affairs showing a UabiUty of £143 and assets £-.
In reply to the Official Receiver he said that he was a Dutch
subject who cani^ to this country in 191 2. Before the middle
of 1 91 9 he was in employment, latterly with a firm of dealers
in electrical appliances, but then began business on his own
account as a dealer in electrical accessories. He had no
capital, and traded at 74, Forest Road, Dalston, until the date
of the receiving order. He had not kept any books of account.
Debtor attributed his failure to bad trade and to depreciation
of his stock. The examination was concluded.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

We have received from J. C. White a copy of the new addition of
the J.C.W. Wiring System.

The " K.\LEECo " wiring system is the subject of a new illus-
trated booklet issued by Callender's Cable and Construction Co.

No. 9 of the " Transformer Abstracts." published by Johnson
and Phillips, deals with current distribute, n with inter-connected
star static balancers.

The Porter Patent Safety Seals, Ltd., of 7 and 9, Belfast
Road, Stoke Newington, N.16, have just pubhshed. in English,
French and Spanish, a new catalogue of their seals for electricity-
meters, cables, etc.

The Electrical Alloy Co. have sent us a copy of their latest
pubUcation relating to resistance \\-ires and ribbons used for electric
heating purposes. The pubhcation contains a useful set of charts
for determining the current carr\-ing capacity of ribbon and strip.

The English Electric Comfany have recently issued several
new pubhcations. Nos. 330, 331 and 332 deal %%-ith E.E. cyhndrical
balanced valves, rehef valves, and bucket attachments for impulse
wheels ; No. 357 wth the E.E. camshaft control for electric locomo-
tives ; and No. 359 contains an illustrated account of Blackburn
(East) Power Station, reprinted from the January number of the
E.E. Journal.

We have received an advance copy of a new section (X.j) of
the G.E.C. complete catalogue. This hst deals with d.c. and a.c.
motor starters, and includes full particulars and prices of d.c. face-
plate starters of the open, semi-enclosed, totallj- enclosed cover
and totally enclosed types, plain a.c. starters, oil immersed ^roto^
starters, auto-transformer starters and star-delta starters. Com-
plete ranges of starting panels, including ^^^•itches with fuses, both
pedestal-mounted and with angle iron framework, are also given
and fully dimensioned line drawings for all t^-pes are pro\^ded.

704

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

Reference Index to Recent
Wireless Publications.

We continue below our series of references to recently published
articles dealing with wireless telegraphic and wireless tele-
phonic communication.

R.200. RADIO MEASUREMENTS AND STANDARDI-
SATION.

J. M. A Simple Generator of High Frequency Current for Measurement Purposes
(Electrician, 88, pp. 436-438, April 14th, 1922).
Describes the ElweU looW arc with examples of laboratory measurements that
can be made with it- Full circuit details are given. R.200.

F. Trautwein. New applications of thermionic valves to high frequency measure-
ments (ElektroUchnische Zeitschri/t, 42, p. i 249, November 3rd, ip2i).
Abstract of paper read at Physics Congress at Jena. Methods are described whereby
two valves with the coils of a differential galvanometer in their anode circuits can be
employed to determine the phase difference of two alternating voltages or the scalar
product of two alternating currents. R.200.
J. Marsten. Inductance, capacity and resistance of coils {Wireless Age, 8, pp. 33-35,

September, 1921). R. 200.
M. Chatel. Armagnat's method for the measurement of the wavelength of sustained
oscillations {L'Onde Elecirique, 1, pp. 96-100, February, 1922.)
Gives the theory of a null method of wavelength measurement. R.2io.
J. R. Weeks. The Dielectric Constant of Mica {Physical Review, 19, pp. 272-273,
March, 1922).
Variations from one grade to another of mica found to be due to air films. When
carefully split to eliminate air films, and using mercury electrodes, no differences were
found between different grades. R.220.

S. Rschewkin and B. Wuedensky. The measurement of capacity and high resist-
ances by means of the vacuum-tube generator of intermittent oscillations
(Physikalische Zeitschri/t, 23, pp. 150-153, April ist, 1922).
The valve oscillator with grid condenser and leak adjusted to periodically interrupt
the production of oscillations is applied to measure the value of the capacity and
resistance inserted in the grid circuit. R.220/230.

M. Bedeau. The Measurement of the Dielectric Constant of Gases and Vapours by
means of sustained waves {Comptes Rendus, 174, pp. 380-381, February 6th,
1922). R.220.
R. Ettenreich. Capacity measurements on Antenna Models (EUktrolechnische
Zeitschrift, 42, p. 1 289, November loth, 1921).
Abstract of paper describing measurements on small models and a comparison of
the two results with those obtained from the formulae of Austin and Howe. R.220.
R. Whiddington. A Laboratory Valve Method for determining the Specific Inductive
Capacities of Liquids {Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 20,
pp. 445-446, November loth, 1921).
The method employs alternating electromotive forces of low frequency generated
by a thermionic valve. R.220.

L. T. Jones and H. Q. Tasker. A Braim Tube, Undamped Wave Precision Method

of Determining Dielectric Constants of Gases (Physical Review, 18, pp. 330-331,

October, 1921).

Abstract of paper read before the American Physical Society describing a method

of carrying out such measurements in which the small changes of frequencies are

observed by a Braun cathode ray tube. R.220.

D. N. Mallik. On the Mutual Induction between two Circular Currents (Philosophical
Magazine, 43, pp. 604-606, March, 192??).
A mathematical article. R.230.
A. Esau. The inductance of a solenoid of rectangular section (Jahrbuch Zeitschrift
fiXr drahtlose Telegraphie, 18, pp. 453-457, December, 1921).
A criticism of a formula published by Nirva in the Journal of the F.lectrical Society of
Japan, 1919. The formula gives good results when the ratio of length of coil to length
of side of square does not exceed 0-05, and the pitch is not more than six times the
diameter of the wire. R. 230.

L. V. King. On some New Formulae for the Numerical Calculation of the Mutual

Induction of Coaxial Circles (Proceedings of theRoyal Society, looA, pp. 60-66,

October 4th, 1921).

A mathematical paper divided into four sections, entitled respectively (i) note on

the direct numerical calculation of elliptic integrals ; (2) the scale of arithmetico-

geometrical means ; (3) application to mutual inducta:ice formulae for coaxial circles

and (4) numerical illustrations. R.230.

J. Wallot. Inductance and Capacity of Single layer coils (Archir fiir Elektrotechnik,
10, pp. 233-256, November, 1921).

An investigation of the experimental results obtained by K. Schafer which are com-
pared with those of Drude, Gothe, Lenz and others. He comes to the same conclusion
that the self-capacity of a coil depends very little on the size of wire and pitch, but
mainly on the overall dimensions of the coil. R.230.

J. J. Dowling and Miss K. IVI. Preston. On the Resistance of Electrolytes at High
Frequencies (Philosophical Magazine, 43, pp. 537-545, March, 1922).
The method employed is similar in nature to that employed in Dowling's ultra-
micrometer using three-electrode valvos. R.240.

P. O. Pedersen. A Method for the Measurement of R.F. Resistances (Wireless
World and Radio Review, 10, pp. i35-'J9. April 29th, 1922).
The method described is based on the use of a quadrant electrometer in conjunction
with a special vacuum mercury make-and-break key. R.240.

Q. Breit. High-frequency Resistance of Inductance Coils (Scientific Papers of the
Bureau of Standards, No. 430, Vol. 17 ; Journal of the Franklin Institute, 193,
pp. 544-545, April, 1922— Abstract). R.240.
L. Frank. High Frequency Resistance (Radio News, 3, p. 932, April-May, 1922).

R.240.
J. Erskine-Murray and B.Williams. The Determination of the Decrement of a
Distant Station by means of a Coil Aerial (Journal of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers, 60, 3p. 347-351, March, 1922).
A frame aerial at 45" to the bearing of the station is used to obtain a current equal
to ij's/i of the current in the main receiving coil, for the direct determination of
decrement. R.240.
Q. L. Addenbroke. The Electrostatic Wattmeter (Electrician, 88, pp. 466-469

April 2ist, 1922). R.240.
R. R. Ramsey. .\ simplified method of correcting for the decrement of a Decremeter

(Physical Review, 19, p. 274, March, 1922). R.240.
N. Qrosser. The Damping of two Oscillatory Circuits with Capacity Coupling and a
Small Decrement (Archir fiir Elektrotechnik, 10, pp. 257-276, November, 1921).
R.240.
F. Trautwein. Measurement of Losses at High Frequencies (Jahrbuch Zeitschrift fiir
drahtlose Telegraphie. 18, pp. 261-290, October, 1921).
The method described is a null differential method for determining the losses in a
condenser. It is discussed in great detail and numerical data are given. R.240.
H. Pauli. Decrement Measurements with Undamped Oscillations (Zeitschrift fur
Physik, 5, pp. 376-386, 192 1 ; and Jahrbuch Zeitschrift fiir drahtlose Telegraphie
18, pp. 338-347, November, 1921). R.240.
H. Pauli. A New Method of Measuring Decrement with Electric Oscillations (.?^iVs-
chrift fiir Physik, 6, pp. 118-126, 1921 ; Jahrbtcch Zeitschrift fur drahtlose
Telegraphic, 18, pp. 348-354, November 1921).
This is an ordinary ammtter-voltmcter method of detcrnxining the effective re-
sistance in a tuned circuit. The novelty consists in tvuiing the voltmeter circuit so
that it also takes a pure energy component current ; this allows the current taken by
the voltmeter to be corrected for as in D-C measurements. R.24o.
E. B. Moullin. A Sensitive Direct Reading \'oltmeter and Ammeter for High
Frequencies (Wireless World and Radio Review, 10, pp. 1-6, .\pril ist'; p. 54,
.^pril 8th, 1922),

The apparatus described is based on the rectification effect obtained when using
a grid condenser and leak. The indicating galvanometer is joined in the plate circuit
of the valve. R. 250/260.

A. Leontiewa. The Discharge Potential of Small Gaps with Very High Frequency
(Physikalische Zeitschrift, 23, pp. 32-35, January 15th, 1922).
Experimental investigation of the voltage necessary to spark across gaps less than
o-i mm. with high frequency oscillations. X = 2-4o metres. For a gap of 0-05 mm
it requires i 000 volts if X = 40 but over 3 000 volts if X = 2 metres. R.260.
R. Mesny. Radiation Measurement (L'Onde Electrique, i, pp. 54-61, January,

1922). R.270.
The Properties and Uses of Micas (Journal of the Insiituiion of Electrical Engineers,
60, pp. 339-342 March, 1922 ; Electrician, 88, pp. 446-447, April 14th, 1922 — •
Abstract).
A classification of various grades of micas, with an indication of their suitability
for various electrical uses. R.280.

F.Schindelhauer. The Atmospheric Vertical Electric Current in Antennae (Physikal-
ische Zeitschrift, 23, pp. 36-39, January 15th, 1922).
A record of systematic observations of the current in both a high and a low antenna
due to atmospheric electricity. R.290.

W. Arkadiew. The Production of Very Short Hertzian Waves of small Decrement
{Physikalische Zeitschrift, 23, pp. 35-36, January i5tb, 1922).
A. note on the production of waves of a few centimetres length Ijy means of Hertz
oscillator and parabolic mirrors. R.290.

IVI. Brenzinger. A practical Cathode Ray Oscillograph (Physikalische Zeitschrift
22, pp. 491-495, September ist, 192 1).
The H.T. supply was obtained from a transformer, rectifying valve and smoothing
condensers. The time axis was obtained by deflecting coils in series with a large
inductance, only the lower approximately linear portion of the growth curve-was
employed. Some photographic results are given. R.290.

F. Zacher. High voltage polar oscillograms by means of a rotating Gehrke oscillo-
scope (Zeitschrift fiir Technische Physik, 2, pp. 250-256, September, 1921).
R.290.

R.300. RADIO APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT.

M. B. West. Improving Antenna Efficiency (Q.S.T., 5, pp. 16-21, April, 1922)
R.320.

H. H. Beverage. Improving the C.W. Ground System (Q.S.T., 5, pp. 25-26, Novem-
ber, 1921), R.320.

Aerial Insulators for Wireless Telegraphy (Electrical Review, 90, p. 551, April 21st'
1922).
Describes the insulators fitted at Leafield and Northolt radio stations, and the tests

applied to them. R.320.

D. S. Fine. Antenna Tower Erection for New York Radio Central (Engineering

News Record, 88, pp. 230-234, February 9th, 1922). R.320.

H. M. Ryder. A " Dry Cell " Vacuum Tube (Wireless Age, 9, p. 29, March, 1922).
Describes and gives characteristic curves of a valve which requires a filament
current of 0-2 A at fi V. R.330.
W. R.Q. Baker. The UV-2i7 Kenotron — its operation and application (Wireless

■^S^, 9, pp. 20-25, February, 1922). R.330.
A. Blondel. On th« Negatron (Revue Generate de I'Electricite, 11, p. 145, February

4th, 1922). R.330.
R. F. Yates. Future of Vacuum Tube in General Engineering Field (Electrical

World, 78, p. I 176, December loth, 1921).
A short resume of the various possible applications of the thermionic valve.

R.330.
L. T. Jones. The Simplest Mercury Vapour Pump (Physical Review, 18, p. 332,

October, 1921). R.330.
L. T. Jones. A New Rotary Mercury Pump (Physical Review, 18, pp. 332-333,

October, 1921). R.330.
A. H. de Voogt. The double grid valve as a dynatron (Radio Nieuws, 4, pp. 289-292,

October ist, 1921).
The two grids are merely connected together and treated as one. R.330.
Q. Beauvais. The power rating of a three-electrode transmitting valve (Radio-

electricite, 3, pp. 1 12-113, March, 1922).
Points out the confusion that arises through inaccurate reference of the power rating
to anode dissipation, input or h.f. output. R.340.
H. P. Waran. A New Form of High Vacuum Automatic Mercury Pump (Proceedings

of the Physical Society of London, 34, pp.120-125, April 15th, 1922).
A modification of the Sprengel pump in order to obtain high speeds of exhaustion
with the use of a small mass of mercury. R.340.
Q. P. Kendall. Faults in Valve Circuits : Diagnosis and Cure (Wireless World and

Radio Review, 10, pp. 95-97, April 22nd, 1922). R.340.
F. Marietti. The Resistance-coupled Amplifier (L'.-lwiiJod, 2, pp. 16-18, April ist,

1922). R.340.
H. E. Bussey. Improvements in Multi-stage Audio Amplifiers (Q.S.T., 5, pp. 13-14,

April, 1922). R.340.
F, A. Anderson. Arc Welding of Audion Parts (Science and Invention, 9, p. 632,

November, 1921).
.\n illustrated article dealing briefly with the construction of thermionic vacuum
tubes. R.340.
L. T. Lease. Measuring the Characteristics of Vacuum Tubes (Radio News, 3, p. 199,

September, 1921). R.340.
A. Nasarischwily. A new Method of Generating Undamped Waves by means of a

Cathode Ray Tube (Annalen der Physik, 64, pp. 759-760, September, 192 1).
The primary of a transformer is inserted in series with the high tension battery
between the cathode (incandescent filament) and the anode. The secondary of the
transformer is connected to the deflecting plates or coils of the tube. High frequency
current is produced which the author has employed for heterodyne reception.
R.340.
J. Corver. New Circuits for Double Grid Valves (/Jarfio-.VirfutfS, 4, pp. 257-261,

September ist, 192 1).
K discussio- of a number of methods of connecting up double grid valves for recep-
tion. R.340.
French Wireless Time Signals (Nature, 108, p. 351, November loth, 1921). R.350.

E. H. Hansen. Signal Corps Valve Transmitter suitable for Amateur Use (Radio

News, 3, p. 281, October, 1921). R.350.
A. H. Lynch. .\ practical Radio Telephony Set (Science and Invention, 9, pp. 536-

537, October, 1921). R.350.
C. Jegtiers^. The reception of the FL Concerts (L'Electriciti pour Tous, 4, p. 72,

March 31st, 1922). R.360.
C. R. Leutz. A German Trench Radio Set (Radio News, 3, p. 805, March, 1922).

R.360.
The Hall Air Jet Relay for Recording Radio Signals (Radio News, 3, p. S09, Marc

1922). R.360.
H. de A. Donisthorpe. .\ method of Recording Wireless Sign.Als by means of a

Morse Inker (Radio Nats, 3, p. 813, March, 1922). R.360.

F. W. Dunmore. A Relay Recorder for Remote Control by Radio (Journal of the

American Institute of Electrical Engineers, 41, pp. 310-313, .\pril, 1922).
Describes the development of a recorder for direct operation by the radio receiver
without the use of a delicate relay. R.360.
P. Maurer. Practical Radiotelephone Installations (L'Electricien, 53, pp. 1S8-1S9,

.\pril 15th, 1922). R.360.
R. Jouaust. On the Reception of Undamped Waves by " Modulation " (Comptes

Rendus, 174, pp. 35-36, January 3rd, 1022). See next abstract. R.360
R. Jouaust. The Reception of C.W. signals by'the " Modulation-method " and its

.\pplication to the French Type Z Amplifier (T.'Onde Electrique, i, pp. 26-35.

J.iiiuary, 1922).
A heterodyne arrangement utilising direct coupling of the heterod>iie to tin'
detecting valve. R.360.
A. A. Campbell Swinton. Modem Wireless Telegraphy (Fngineering, 112, pp. 6.5i-.

November 4 th, 1921).
.MMlract of a lecture delivered before the Royal Society of .\rts describing various
methods of recording wireless signals. R.360.

June 9, I922

'Ihe Electrician.

7'^S

Zevenbergen. The Reception of American Ainateor Signals {Radio Nieuws, 4,

PP- 359-362, December, 1921).
A (liscussioii of various heterodyne methods of receiving short waves. R.360.
W. Borgsmiiller. New German Receiving Sets (Telegraphen und Fermprech-

Technik, 10, pp. 173-178, December, 1921).
Description with photographs and diagrams of connections of simple compact sets
for direct connection to a direct current supply for use in connection with the German
broadcasting service. R,30o.

L. Q. Pacent. The Relay Antenna Transfer Switch (Radio News, 3, pp. 820-821,

March, 1922). R.380.
A. S. Blatterman. Notes on the Design of Radio Frequency Intervalve Amplifier

Transformers using Iron Cores [Wireless World and Radio Review, 10, pp. 48-51,

April 8th ; pp. 78-84, April 15th ; pp. 104-107, April 22nd, 1922).
Discusses the theory of such transformers with practical applications, examples of
design and experimental verification. R.380.
C. F. Phillips. Discussion on Methods of Amplification (Wireless World and Radio

Reviexv, 10, pp. 37-42, April 8th ; pp. 74-77, April 15th, 192^2). R.380.
V. H. Laughter. A Capacity Increase Method of Reception (Radio News, 3, p. 933,

April-May, 1922).
The incoming signals cause the diaphragm of a telephone to change the capacity and
frequency of a heterodyne so as to pass through the " dead-space " and thus to
produce an audible tone and pitch determined by the natural frequency of the
diaphragm. R.380.
H. Chretien and P. Ditishelm. Electric Chronograph (Comptes Rendus, 174, pp.

999-1 002, April loth, J922). R.380.
H.Q.Evans. A Detachable "Pin-type" Resistance-capacity Coupling for H.F.

Amplifiers (Wireless World and Radio Review, 10, pp. 133-134, April 29th,

1922). R.380.
H. Abraham and R. Pianlol. On the Use of Valve Amplifiers in Chronographic

recording (L'Onde Electrique, i, pp. 18-25, January, 1922). R.380.
L. Brillouin. Resistance Amplifiers (L'Onde Electrique, 1, pp. 7-17, January, 1922 ;

pp. 101-123, February, 1922).
Gives the theory of their operation. R.380.
M. J. Huizinga. A Simple Device for Selective Amplification (Tijdschrift vanhet

Ncderlandsche Radiogenootschap, i, pp. 148-153, December, 1921).
A description of an arrangement consisting of an ordinary audion receiver with
retroaction and a separate heterodyne generator, with tuned audio-frequency ampli-
fier. R.380.

R.40O. RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS.

J. R. Carson. Notes on the Theory of Modulation (Proceedings of the Institute of
Radio Engineers, 10, pp. 57-64, February, 1922).
Discusses " frequency modulation " versus " amplitude modulation," and concludes

in favour of the latter as utilising a narrower band of wavelengths and giving less

distortion. R.410.

C. Lubben. High Frequency Telephony with Triode Transmitters (Zeitschrift fiir
Fernmeldetechnik, 2, pp. 145-154, August, 1921).
A comprehensive collection of the various methods of modulation, with numerous

references to patent specifications, etc. R.410.

C. R. Leutz. Notes on High Power Quenched Spark Sets (Radio News, 3, pp. 808-809,
March, 1922).
Describes a numi)er of experiments conducted on 10 «uid 2okW quenched spark

transmitters. R.411.

Methods of Transmission used in Broadcasting Stations (Radio News, 3, p. 946, April-
May, 1922). R.412.

L. Q, Pacent. Radio Telephony (Radio Neivs, 3, pp. 940-943, April-May, 1922).
R.412.

M. E. Pelgrims. Portable Radio Telegraph-Telephone See (Radio News, 3, p. 925.

April-May, 1922). R.412.
J. W. Harrington. Radiotelephone tests with the ss. America (Popular Radio, i,

PP- 34-37i April, 1922). R.412.
H. Yagi. Modulation Control in Radio Telephony (Technology Reports of Tohoku

Imperial University, Vol. 2, No. 3 ; Electrical World, 79, p. 394, February 25th,
1922-^Abstract). R.412.
L. Kuhn. Wireless Telephony (Elektrotecknische Zeitschrift, 42, p. 1 254, November

3rd, 1921).
.Abstract of paper describing the recent methods of modulation. R.412.

O, Pession. Some Experiments in Radiotelephony (L'Elettrotecnica, 8, pp. 617-621.

October 15th, 1921 ; Wireless World and Radio Review,, 10, pp. 164-168,

May 6th 1922).
A description of tests made with a Poulsen arc with a tuned oscillatory circuit with
which the aerial is loosely coupled. The modulation is by changing the resistance
in a circuit coupled with the aerial. In some tests four carbon microphones were put
in series directly in the modulating circuit ; in others, three electrode valves were
inserted in the modulating circuit, the grids being controlled by other three electrode
valves, the grids of which were coupled up to the microphone circuit. The article
is illustrated with diagrams of connections and Gehrke tube oscillograms. R.412.
L. Kuhn. A new method for Wireless Telephony with Thermionic Valves (Jahrbuch

Zeitschrift fur drahtlose Telegraphic, 18, pp. 419-452, December, 1921).
The method is the well-known choke control which the author says was developed
independently by Hu'th and Co., of Berlin. Very complete mathematical investiga-
tion is given of the necessary magnitudes of the choke coil and condensers. R.412 .
J. F. Bront. Some Practical Points on Arc Operation (Radio News, 3, p. 701,

February, 1922). R.422.
J. IVIarsten. A Sea-plane High-power Bulb Transmitter (Radio News, 3, p. 804,

March, 1922). R.423.
A. Meissner. The Development of Tube Transmitters by the Telefunken Co.

(Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers, 10, pp. 3-23, February, 1922).
A well-illustrated account of various types of valves of German manufacture, and
of various radio installations. R.423.
J. V. L. Hogan. Interference in Radio Signalling (Radio Broadcast, i, pp. 5-8,

May, 1922). R.430.
L. Hanson. The Super Differential Circuit (Radio News, 3, p. 287, October, 1921).
Combined arrangements of loop and elevated aerial and two loops in diflerent
directions are described for eliminating interference. R.430.
H. Q. IVIdoller, Selectivity and High Speed Wireless (Elektrotechnische Zeitschrift)

42, p I 253, November 3rd, 1921). '

Abstract of paper pointing out that the attempt to obtain freedom from disturbance
by using almost undamped receiving circuits is inconsistent with high speed signalling
at the loBg wavelengths now employed. R.430.
L. Q. Pacent. K Radio System for Simultaneous Sending and Receiving (Radio

News, 3, pp. 812-813, March, 1922). R.460.
L. Jacquot. Duplex Radiotelephony (La T.S.F. Moderne, 3, pp. 4-8, January ;

pp. 58-63, February ; pp. 105-108 March, 1922). R. 460/412.
H. R. IVIiiler and H. E. Hallborg. " Breaking-in " with Amplified Signals (Radio

News, 3, p. 702, February, 1922). R.460.
Successful Duplex Radio-Telephony (EleMrotechnische Zeitschrift, 42, p. i 177,

October 13th, 1921).
The German Post Office and the Lorenz Company have carried out experiments
between Berlin and Copenhagen, using a 4 kilowatt arc at Konigswusterhausen.
The Berlin subscriber could not detect that ordinary line telephony was not being
employed, except that the loudness and clearness were better than usual. The
modulation was done by causing the microphone current to vary the saturation of an
iron cored inductance in the antenna, thus affecting the resonance.
H. S. Williams. Harnessing Waves to Wires (Popular Radio, i, pp. 14-21, April,

1922). R.470.
Wired Wireless Telegraphy (Post Offict Electrical Engineers Journal, 14, pp. 191-

194, October, 1921). Notes re possible developments. R.470.

J. R. Carson. Radiation from Transmission Lines (Journal of the American Institute

of Electrical Engineers, 40, pp. 789-790, October, 192 1).
A discussion of the radiation of cnt^igy from overhead lines used for high frequency
wire telegraph transmission. It is concluded that there is no additional attenuation
of the current due to this radiation but that the radiation energy k»ses may be
regarded rather as terminal impedances. Formula are given for the magnitude of the
radiation losses. R. 470/190.
Q. Qiorgi. High Frequency Telephony on Overhead Power Transmission lines

( L' Elettrotecnica, 8, p. 682, November 15th, 1921). R. 470.
M. A. Maior. High Frequency .Multiplex Telephony and Telegraphy (Revue Generate

de I' l^.ledricUe, 10, pp. 281-282, September 3rd, 1921).
Correspondence with regard to the invention of high frequency multiplex communi-
cation. R.470.
A. Meissner. Wireless telephony (Telegraphert und Fermprech Technik, 10, p. 131,

September, 1921).
.\ general description including high frequency line telephony.
H. Qe>Mecke. High Frequency Telephony on High Voltage Transmission Line-?.

(Telefunken Zeitung, 4, pp. 3-14, September, 19211.
.\ semi-popular well-illustrated account of the principles of the system and of its
application to the no 000 volt Hirschfelde- South Dresden transmission line.
R. 470.
H. R. Rivers-Moore ; A. Crossley. Further discussion on Piloting Vessels by

Electrically Energized Cables by A. Crossley (Proceedings of the Institute of

Radio Engineers, 10, pp. 33-40. February, 1922). R.4')o.

A. Crossley. Improvements in Piloting Cable Receiving Apparatus (Proceedings

of the Institute of Radio Engineers, 10, pp. 24-32, February, 1922;.
Describes recent experiments, and discusses the design of the receiving coils and
components of auxiliary apparatus. R.490.
E. H. Hanson. Audio Frequency Transmission (Radio News, 3, p. 929, April-May,

1922). R. 490.
A, Zacek. The Use of Electron Tubes in Experiments with speaking Arc-lamps and

speaking Condensers (Physikalische Zeitschrift, 22, pp. 528-529, October,

1921).
In such experiments, the difficulty usually experienced is that due to the small
current carrying capacity of the microphone ; this can be overcome by usirig an
amplifying valve. R. 490.

E. Dershem. Secret Photo-Electric Signalling (Physical Review, 18, pp. 424-425,

October, 1921). R.490.
A. Bull. Fog Signalling by means of Polarised Soimd (Engineer, 132, pp. 305-306,
November nth, 1921). R.490.

R.500. APPLICATIONS OF RADIO.

F.Marguet. The Plotting of a Radio Bearing (Radioilectricite, 3, pp. 11 o-iii, March

1922).
Gives tables to facilitate the operation. R.510.
R. Lenier. Wireless Direction Finding as an Aid to Navigation (Radioelectricue, 3,

pp. 117-118, March, 1922). R.510.

F. W; Dunmore. The Development of Radio Telephone Communications between

lifeboats and shore stations (Radio News, 3, p. 694, February, 1922). R.510.
J. Erskine-Murray and J. Robinson. Directional Transmission of Electromag-
netic Waves for Navigational Purposes (Journal of the Institution of Electrical

Engineers, 60, pp. 352-362, March, 1922).
Describes several arrangements of directional transmitter de-'eloped by the Royal
Air Force, including a new type of apparatus in which the wavelength is vsuied for
each direction of radiation. R.510.

Radio for Lifeboats (Radio Broadcast, i, pp. 67-68, May, 1922. R. 510.
P. Q. Watson. The Operating Principles of a Radio Compass (Radio News, 3, p. 928,

April-May, 1922). R. 510/190.
M. E. Pelgrims. Improved Land and Marine Pattern Wireless Direction Finding

Cabinets (Radio News, 3, pp. 922-923, April-May, 1922).
Describes apparatus manufactured by Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co. R.510.
F. A. Kolster and F. W. Dunmore. The Radio Direction Finder and its Applica-
tions to Navigation (Scientific Papers of the Bureau of Standards, No. 428,

Vol. 17, pp. 529-566, January i6th, 1922).
Gives a detailed description of the installations at New York, and the results of
tests. R.510.

Wireless Direction Finding Stations ; British Isles, France, Germany and Italy

(Flight, 13, p. 664, October 6th, 1921). R.510.
Radio Thread will Guide future Ships of the Air (Telegraph and Telephone Age, 40,

p. 153, April ist, 1922). R.520.
P. Brenot. Wireless Telegraphy Applied to Aviation (RadioiUctriciti, 3, pp. 89-101,

March, 1922).
Contains many illustrations of jTrench aircraft wireless apparatus. R.S20.
J. Boyer. The Guiding of Aeroplanes during Fog and at Night {La Nature, 50 (i),

PP- 39-43i January 21st, 1922). R.520.

L. Whittemore. Some Physical Problems of .-Vircra/t Radio (Physical Revieu-, i3,

p. 149, August, 1921).
Summarises the chief problems in connection with aircraft Radio work. R.520.
Wireless Telegraphy in Czecho-Slovakia (RadioelectriciU, 3, pp. 114-1 1 7^ March, 1922) .

R-530.
The Radio Broadcast (Science and Invention, 9, pp. 1 148-1 149, .\pril, 1922).

Includes a list and map of the U.S. radiophone broadcasting stations. R.530.
A. Anselmi. Radiotelegraphy in the Canary Islands (L' Audion, 2, pp. to-12, March

1922). R.530.
French Radio Time Signal Transmissions (Radidtcctriciti, 3, pp. 119-121, March,

1922). R.550.
Russian Time Signals (Wireless World and Radio Review, 10, p. no, Apriband.

1922). R.550.
M. Bigourdan. Corrections to the Time signals measured at the Bureau International

de I'Heure during 1920 (Comptes Rendus, 174, pp. 5S5-5S6, February 2rth,

1922). R.550.
The Internal Radio Network [Aniutles des Posies, Telegraphes et Telephones 10, pp.

551-552, September, 1921).
A short account of the French internal communication network which is dassined
into four systems connecting respectively (i) Perpignan, Mont-Louis and Bourg-
Madame ; (2) La Roche-Sur-Yon and the Island of Yen ; (3) La Rochelle, Saint
Martin-de-Re and Saint Pierre d'Olaron and (4) Nice, Fontan, Saint Martin, Vesubie.
The last two of these are completed and practically ready for service. R.560.
S. R. Winters. The Vaughan radio controlled car (Radio News, 3, p. 295, October,

1921). R.570. , ».

S. Jourdan. The distant Control of Ships by Wireless (La Nature, 49 (2), p. 292,

November sth, 1921. R. 570.
L.Chauveau. Pilotless Aeroplanes and Motor Boats (Radioclectrictte, 3, pp. 104-111.

September, 1921). . ._ , j- 1

Describes and illustrates apparatus invented by the author for distant control
purposes. R. 570. . ., w

Radiophone for Trains (.Radio Neu-S, 3, p. 949. Apnl-May, 1922).

Illustrates equipment used in Germany.
Q. Ferrirf. The establishment of a new survey of the geographical positions of the

principal points on the surface of the earth (L'Onde Electrique, i, pp. 81-S9,

Februarv, 1922). R.580. . ,

A. Nasarischwily. New Experiment* with the Telegraphone (Elektrcttchntscie

Zeitschrift. 42, p. 1 06S, September ;2nd, 1921).
Experin\ents are briefly described in which a message was magnetically recorded on
railway lines and read in the locomotive which was equipped with an amplifier and
telephone connected to a coil carried close to the rails. R.5S0.
D. Wilhelm. United States Radio Network (Radio BroaiUast, pp. 21-27, May

1922).
Includes charts of U.S. Army and Navy radio stations. R.sgo.

7o6

The Electrician.

June 9, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.
Tht following ahsiraet from some of the specifications recently published have been
speaaliy tompiUd by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent Agents,
70 and 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

Complete SPECincATiONS.
144 628 CoNNERS, W. W. Method and apparatus for indicating the geographical

location or movement of bodies and for control by wireless. (12/6/19.)
172 349 Charlet, H. Dynamo-electric machines. (2/7/20.)
147 033 ScHROTER, F. Vacuum-discharge apparatus for the protection of electrical

circuits. (29/1/14.)
172350 Taggart, J. Scott-, and Radio Communication Co., Ltd. Modulation
systems for wireless signalling and the like. (6/7/20.)

147 701 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Reception of electric oscillations.

(2/5/16.)

148 576 Meyer Akt.-Ges., Dr. P. Driving-systems for alternating current meters

according to the Ferraris principle. (12/6/19.)
148 894 Soc. Internationale pour l'Exploitation de la Bougie Sol. Sparking-
plugs. (i5/7/)i9.) (Patent of addition not granted.)
172 353 RocHFORD, T. H. Electric illuminating-devices for theatrical stages,

■ cinemas, and the like. (21/7/20.)
172 357 Roberts, A. Electric stop-motions for machines operating with yarns or

threads. (30/7/20.)
i5i 546 Electric Outlet Co., Inc. Electrical connecting and supporting devices.

(9/4/20.)
172 593 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electron

discharge devices. (24/8/20.)
172 376 Taggart, J. Scott-, and Radio Communication Co., Ltd. Radio-receiving

systems. (31/8/20.)
172 384 Moll, J. Electrical rivet-heating machine. (1/9/20.)
172 387 Smith, H. H., and Healey, T. G. P. Self-regulating dynamos. (2/9/20.)
172 389 Taggart, J. Scott-, and Radio Communication Co., Ltd. Signalling
systems, particularly wireless modulation system. (2/9/20.) (Cognate
application 11 061/21.)
150 726 La Pichardais, D. M. G. R. de. Holders for electric incandescent lamps.

{3/9/19)
172391 Price, W. A. Systems and apparatus for converting alternating electric

current into direct current. (2/9/20.)
154 177 Etablissements Continsouza Soc. Anon. Electric aro projection

apparatus. (19/11/19.)
172 394 Taggart, J. Scott-, and Radio Communication Co., Ltd. Radio-signalling

systems. (3/9/20.)
172 396 Igranic Electric Co., Ltd. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Co.). Rheo-
stats. (3/9/20.)
150 957 Schaeffer, E, Luminous electric discharge lamps. (9/9/19.)
172 428 Olliffe, C. E. O. Telephone transmitter mouthpieces. (14/9/20.)
172 429 McGregor, D. Electrically-operated warning signals. (15/9/20.) (Cog-
nate application 12 059/21.)
172 433 Rogers, T. W. (Krupp Akt.-Ges. F.). Overload electric switches.

(16/9/20.)
172 436 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electric power

limiting systems. (17/9/20.)
172 437 Urmston, J., James, R. N., and Callender's Cable and Construction
Co., Ltd. System for measuring the capacities of electric conductors.
(17/9/20.)
172 440 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Means for

controlling electric switches. (21/9/20.)
172 445 Evershed and Vignoles, Ltd., and Needham, J. C. Electrical means for
indicating at a distance the direction of motion of an apparatus.
(21/9/20.)
172 446 Illingworth, W. H. Electrical cut-out. (22/9/20.)
172447 Miller, L., and Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Electrical

speed-regulator systems. (22/9/20.)
172 460 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Automatic Electric Co.).

Telephone systems. (30/9/20.)
172 461 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Casings for

electrical and other apparatus. (30/9/20.)
166 097 CooLiDGE, W. D. X-ray apparatus. (9/7/20.)
172 482 Cosmophos-Werke Akt.-Ges. and Boltshauser, C. Electric pocket lamps.

(20/10/20.)
154 885 Ges. FiJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Process of telephony and telegraphy
by high frequency currents and stationary periodicity transformers.
(26/10/20.)
172 510 Waygood Otis, Ltd. (Otis Elevator Co.). Push-button control electric

lifts and the like. (23/11/20.)
154 533 Hanson, E. C. Radio signalling systems for lifeboats. (20/2/19.)
172 512 Lucas, H., and Turner, W. C. Electrical starting-mechanism for internal

combustion engines. (24/11/20.)
158 542 Platschick, B. Hand-rests for electric polishing-lathes. (8/12/20.)
156493 EusTicE, A. L. Electric safety-fuse. (14/3/17.)
157 258 LowENSTEiN, F. Spark-gaps for electro-magnetic wave-rignalling systems.

(25/8/14.)
160 179 Trichard, p. Frequency multipliers for alternating electric currents.

(16/3/20.)
172582 CoLEBROoK, W. Electric water-heater.. (22/9/20.) (Divided application

on 152 012.)
168 320 Electric Outlet Co., Inc. Electrical connecting and supporting devices.

(9/4/20.) (Divided application on 161 546.)
172 592 Hailwood, E. a. Miners' and other electric lamps. (25/8/20.) (Divided

application on 24 597/20.)
172 666 Silica Syndicate, Ltd., and Reynolds, F. Mercury and other vapour

electric lamps. (7/6/20.) (Cognate application 5 246/21.)
T44 660 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Multi-phase dynamo electric machines.

(14/12/17.)
172 671 Hamilton and Co., Ltd., R. F., Pile, F. S. J., and Srone, G. E. M. Elec-
trical pyrometers of the thermo-couple type, and electrical measuring-
instruments used in conjunction therewith. (10/6/20.) (Cognate appli-
cation, 4 249/21.)
146 421 Mautsch, R. Systems of electro-mechanical starting and operating from

a distance by multiple currents. (10/4/14.)
146 539 Radio Corporation of America. Thermionic vahes for wireless telegraphy

and other purposes. (1/2/16.)
146 908 Champion Ignition Co. Insulating-material and body composed thereof.

(22/8/17.)
172 679 Fromont, G. Accumulators. (10/7/20.) (Patent of addition not granted.)
172 681 Alexander, A. E. (Stuart Electrolytic Cells, Inc.). Electrodes for electro-
lytic batteries. (4/8/20.)
172 694 Knapton, G. a., and New Union Electric Co., Ltd. Electric lamps for

cinematograph apparatus. (1/9/20.)
172 703 Field, A. B., and Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Ventila-
tion of dynamo-electric machines. (7/9/20.)
172 717 Carpenter, R. E. H., Creed, F. G., and Creed and Co., Ltd. Electro-
magnetic apparatus specially suitable for use as a relay, switch, or like
device. (10/9/20.)
172 718 Line, W. J., and Tucker and Co., Ltd., J. H. Contacts for electrical

switches. (10/9/20.)
172 722 British Thomson-Houston Co , Ltd., and Young, A. P. Magneto-electric

mmhines. (11/9/20.)
172 727 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electric

induction-motors. (13/9/20.)
172728 Heasman, R. W. Electrode holders. (13/9/20.)

172 731 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd., and Trencham, H. Electric power
distribution systems. (14/9/20.)

172 735

172 751
172 757

172 758

172759

151 638

172 771

172 780

172 785

British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd., and Astley, J. W. Sup-
porting devices for overhead contact and trolley wires for use on electric
railways, tramways, and the like. (15/9/20.)

Lucas, O., and Turner, C. Electric switches. (21/9/20.)

Taggart, J. Scott-, and Radio Communication Co., Ltd. Thermionic
relays, oscillation producers, and the like. (24/9/20.)

Taggart, J. Scott-, and Radio Communication Co., Ltd. Thermionic
generators, amplifiers, and the like. (24/9/20.)

British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electric
heating-devices. (24/9/20.)

Bowen, R. S., and Rier, J. K. Timing-devices or rotary current distri-
butors for ignition apparatus of internal-combustion engines. (26/9/19.)

British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electric
switches. (29/9/20.)

Murray, R. L., and Telephone Manufacturing Co. (1920), Ltd. Tele-
phone transmitters. (1/12/20.)

Norris, a. F., and Holley, H. L. Electrical indicator. {4/10/20.)

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS.

May 22, 1922.
14 352 J. TousPAULOs. Electric motor.

14 354 W. Preston, H. E. Sutherland and W. Walker. Electric switch^.
14 355 and 14 356 W. Preston and H. E. Sutherland. Electric switches.
14 369 J. B. BiGNAMV. Starter transmission gears with automatic switch and dash-
board indicator.
14 385 A. H. Clark. Switches for electric horns, etc.
14 390 F. W. Williams. Electric signs, etc.

14400 Western Electric Co. Duplex motor and control therefor.

14 426 C. E. Iredell, fusible cutouts for electrically heated articles.

14 42E E. P. Barfield and L. W. Wild. Electric furnaces.
May 23, 1922.

14449 A. G. Mill. Gas or electric heatins apparatus convertible into cooking
apparatus.

14 452 G. H. Huntsworth. Telephone circuits.

14455 Forges et Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Jeumont. Ter-
minal boxes for high voltage cables. (2S/3/22, France.)

14 452 T. G. Anderson. Telephone circuits.

14 460 B. Schmelzer. Electric fan.

14 462 L. E. Taylor. Electric speed indicating devices.

14 469 H. Furse and J. B. Lovatt. Testing electric lamp filaments.

14 489 C. C. Garrard, A. H. Railing and W. Wilson. .Starting and controlling
apparatus for electric motors.

14 494 H. P. Rees. Wave length, etc., indicators for wireless telegraphy, etc.

14 502 E. Schattner and I. S. Dalgleish. Resistance coils, etc.

14513 Western Electric Co. Loading signalling conductors. (16/8/21, U.S.)

14 516 H. W. F. Ireland and H. Lucas, jilagneto electric machines.

14 518 Cambridge and Paul Instrument Co. and W. H. .^pthorpe. Adjustable
sensitive elec-tric regulating device.

14 530 Creed and Co. and F. G. Creed. Electro-magnetically controlled switching
apparatus.

14 535 P. Lonsdale. Timing device for telephones, etc.
May 24, 1922.

14 600 E. E. MooRE. Relay for telegraphy.

14 611 English Electric Co. and R. A. R. Bolton. .Automatic electric circuit
breakers.

14 622 H. C. Braun. Insulated conductors.

14 623 A. C. HusKiNSON. Electric condensers of continuously variable capacity.

14 627 Evershed and Vignoles and J. C. Needham. Establishing electrical con-
nection between movable contacts.

14 648 Ever Ready Co. (Great Britain) and M. Goodfellow. Electric torches.
May 25, 1922.

14 663 E. N. Bray. Electric resistances.

14 664 and 14 665 E. N. Bray. Starting switches for electric motors.

14 666 E. N. Bray. Starters, circuit breakers, etc., for electric motors.

14 667 E. N. Bray. Means for making electric connections.

14 678 J. Robinson, H. L. Crowther and W. H. Derrimax. Directional wireless
systems and apparatus.

14 685 A. F. Carter. Electric switches, cut outs, etc.

14 690 A. M. Taylor. Electric transmission systems.

14 694 A. C. Brown. Electric signals for fire, police or ambulance calls, etc.

14 709 A. C. NoBBs. Electric motor attachment for bathchairs, etc.

14 713 F. E. Pernot. Means for receiving a.c. signals.

14 729 F. J. MoLLER. Electric heating utensils.

14 731 F. Hamer. Conversion of kinetic energy contained in energy carrying fluids
into electrical and mechanical energy.

14 740 E. E. Collins. Electric machines, etc.

14 765 W. S. G. Baker and J. Y. Fletcher. Holders for electric lamps.

14 773 B.T.-H. Co. Wireless signalling systems. (25/5/21. U.S.)

14774 LoDGE-CoTTRELL. LTD. (Moller). Elcctricallv separating Suspended pajticles
from electrically non-conducting gaseous fluids, etc.

14 781 Hart Accumulator Co. and F. J. Holmes. Terminals for batteries for
miners' lamps, etc.

14 797 G. Weissmann. Electric battery. (25/5/21, France.)
May 26, 1922.

14 798 S. C. Midwinter. Electric clock escapement damper.

14 815 Rose Street Foundry and Engineering Co. and C. A. Hadlkv.^^ Electric
resistance welding.

14 820 R. Bosch Akt. Ges. Electric lighting and starting installations for motor
vehiftles. (30/5/21, Germany.)

14 835 M. Walker. Electric harmonic analysers.

14 873 R. M, Radio, Ltd. and H. R. Rivees-Moore. Detectors for wireless tele-
graph" and telephony.

14 874 W. H. .T. Fuller and S. G. Sandkman. Electric testing apparatus.

14 887 Alloemeine Electricitats Ges. Apparatus for winding spring motors.
(27/5/21, Germany.)

14 901 R. C. Philpott. Incandescent lamps.

14 906 B.T.-H. Co. Protective devices. (26/5/21, U.S.)

14 908 L. N. Reddik (Officine Meccanische Italiane). Electric measuring instru-
ments.

14 909 Hydrotherm Fabrik Elektrischer Apparate Ges. Electric hot water
fountain, (8/6/21, Germany.)

14917 Soc. Internationale M.D.M. Electric disconnector. (4/7/21, France.)
May 27, 1922.

14 942 A. M. Taylor. Electric transmission sj'stems.

14 943 J. M. Ford and A. B. Wood. Synchronous motors. •

14 950 A. Hewlett. Electric ignition systems.

14 974 B.T.-H. Co. (G.E. Co.). Electric relays.

14 980 and 14 981 H. L. Thomas. Multi-layer electric coils for wireless telegraphy,
telephony, etc.

14988 J.S.Smith. Suspension of reflectors from electric lamp holders, etc.

14989 "W. G. Hill. Amplification and rectification of oscillatory electric currents.

The Editorial, Advertisenient and Publishing Offices of " The
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London. E.C. 4. Tele-
grams I Bcnbrotric, Fleet, London. Telephone 1 City 9852 {5 lin^s).

The subscription to " The Electrician " is £1 50 per annum
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THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2300. [voi.Lxxxvni]

FRIDAY, JUNE i6, 1922.

spaid Subscription U.K., fA 55. T^r\rp f\r\
perann.: Abroad, £l 10s. ^ ^ "^^ "'*-'■

Notes of the Week

U.S. Power Station Practice . . . .

A Few Considerations Relating to the Design of Oil Circuit

Breakers. By D. R. Davies. Illustrated
Indian.Trade in 1921-22 . . , , . . . . . .

Recent Developments in Power Production. By D. L. Selby-

Bigge

Reviews . . , . , . . , ^ . .

The CM. and M.-Delas Air Extractor. Illustrated

The Problems of Technical Education . . , , . . - . .

Our Spoon-Fed Traders. By Sir Ernest Benn

Correspondence . ,

Railway Companies Power Supplies

Association of- Consulting Engineers

Electricity Companies Officers' Association

CONTENTS.

707 Small Ironclad Cut-outs . .

Electricity Supply

Electric Traction . .

Municipal Accounts

Imperial Notes

Foreign Notes

Institution Notes . .

Telephone and Telegraph Notes . .

Wireless Notes

Personal and Appointments

Tenders Invited and Accepted . .

Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc.

New Companies
7-2 The Multiversal Test Set . .

7-5 Patent Record

725 Prices of Metals, Chemicals, etc.

710

712
714

715
717
718
720
720
721

7^f>
727
728
728
729
729
729
730
730
730
731
731
733
733
736
736

Notes of the Week.

A "Char-a-Banc Convention."

This year's meeting of the Incorporated Municipal
Electrical Association, which begins at Wolverhampton
on Monday, should go down to posterity as the
"Char-a-banc Convention." Owing to the hotel accom-
modation in Wolverhampton being limited it will be
necessary for a proportion of those attending to live in
Birmingham, and, for political reasons no doubt, arrange-
ments have also been made for meetings to be held in the
latter town and in Stoke-on-Trent. This will make essen-
tial the organisation of transport arrangements commen-
surate with those with which we were familiar during the
war, and the convergence of a number of brilliantly painted
vehicles on the chosen towns should not only add to the
impressiveness of the occasion, but make for an increased
pleasantness. Our only regret is that at an electrical con-
vention the electric vehicle should not be in the ascendant.
For, favoured by the weather and fostered by that care for
comfort which is usual at these gatherings, nothing should
be lacking to make the function an entire success, on both
the technical and the social sides

Electricity Progress in the Far East.

The Municipal Council of Shanghai have every reason to
be proud of their electricity department. It is in a very
flourishing condition and excels the most enterprising of
British electricity undertakings except perhaps Manchester.
And while in 1920-21 nearly 200 000 000 units were
sold in Manchester, compared with over 185 000 000
units in Shanghai, this year Shanghai takes for
the first time the premier position. On the other
hand, owing to the heavy power demands which

represented sales of about 117 000 000 units in the past
year, and to the exceptionally high load factor of 51-5 per
cent., Shanghai possesses advantages which no British
undertaking enjoys. The maximum load at Manchester
in 1921 was 89 500 kW (against 41 074 kW at Shanghai),
and the load factor only 25*46 per cent. But as
the past year's net profit at Shanghai was /174 754,
of which £104 167 was contributed to the municipal fund,
it would seem as if the present tariff is too high ; so
that when the plant extensions on order are completed
the prices should be rensed, if not before.

Heavy Power Demands.

During the past year the Shanghai electricity under-
taking appears to have made substantial progress in every
department. The thermal efficiency of the plant at the
power station was improved, three new generating sets
were put into commission, about 2-00 additional premises
(representing 10 519 kW) were connected to the mains, and
nearly 41 000 000 more units weie sold. Though the new
power demands were not as great as were anricipated, yet
the sales were over 38 million units more than in 1920 ;
and as local industries are now being consolidated on a
permanent basis, there will, no doubt, be a steady increase
in the output for power for some years.

The Domestic Load.

We are also glad to notice fliat a substantial advance is
recorded in the electric heating and cooking demands,
notwithstanding the relatively high rates for these ser\-ices.
There was a particularh" brisk demand for heating and
cooking apparatus on hire, and though largely augmented
stocks of radiators were carried by the Department, the
requirements of customers again exceeded the supply,
I 769 radiators having been issued during the year. The
result of tiie policy in increasing the size of hired radiators

-o8

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

from 2 to 3 kW has been justified, for the larger size is
almost invariably selected by consumers. The Depart-
ment, which is not hindered by the legislative restrictions
on hire-purchase which prevail in this country, also let out
ranges, motors and other apparatus on hire. Though
the customs of the Chinese cook are said to impose a heavy
handicap upon electric cooking progress, nevertheless a
real advance was made. The hiring and showroom facihties
of the Department are much appreciated and have greatly
assisted in the rapid development of electricity for power
and domestic purposes. We would like to see every
electricity authority in this country equally well equipped
for meeting prospective consumers' requirements. Mean-
while Mr. Aldridge is to be heartily congratulated.

Are Two Public Inquiries Necessary ?

Draft Orders constituting two Electricity Districts
have recently been issued by the Commissioners, and
the second public inquiries will take place later in the
month. In both the districts concerned, South-East
Lancashire and the South- West Midlands, it is proposed
to set up Joint Advisory Committees in place of the Joint
Authorities suggested in the Electricity (Supply) Act, but
the chief point is of what use is further inquiry. The
position was thoroughly investigated at the first hearing,
and though there is a statutory obligation to hold a second
inquiry after the adoption of a scheme and the preparation
of the draft Order, it is only a waste of time and money.
We therefore hope that if the second inquiry must be held
and is protracted, those responsible will be compelled to
pay for it.

A Contrast in Committees.

In both cases some slight adjustments of the proposed
areas, and some small amendments of the original schemes
have been made, but each district gets substantially what
apparently the majority of the authorised distributors
want. That is, South-East Lancashire is to have a cumber-
some Advisory Committee of about 50 members, who will,
however, be dependent upon a much smaller committee of
engineers ; and in the South- West Midlands there will be
a small Advisory Committee of four, two appointed by
Birmingham Corporation and two by the Shropshire,
Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Co. There
could scarcely be a greater contrast in method, but then
the economic eccentricities of Lancashire had to be placated
and the peculiar position of the South-West Midlands
taken into account.

Powers of S.-W. Midlands Committee.

The South-West Midlands Order does not appear to
confer many advantages or enlarge the powers of the
authorised undertakers much beyond those already autho-
rised by the Electricity Acts of 1909 and 1919. It does,
however, define the spheres of influence of the Birmingham
Corporation and the Shropshire Co., sanctions three
agreements to safeguard the interests of the Leicestershire
and Warwickshire Electric Power Co., and of the Worcester
and Malvern Councils, and lays down rules for the consti-
tution of the Committee of four, two of whom, we are glad
to notice, are to be the chief engineers of the Corpora-
tion and company respectively. Three members are to
form a quorum, and as the chairman, who is to be elected
from amongst the members of the Committee, will not
have a casting vote, there may be occasions when no
decision can be arrived at. In this event the Committee

must report to their principals who, if they cannot agree,
are at liberty to submit the matter to the Commissioners
for their decision. The Committee's functions are to be
purely advisory, and are concerned with the operating time-
table of the interconnected generating stations, the best load
factor obtainable, the conservation of fuel, the proper
return upon capital, the standardisation and regulation
of supply, and any other matters that may be referred
to it. All this seems to be vague and very general, but
we have no doubt that the engineers of the parties will
" carry on " without much assistance from the Commission-
ers being necessary.

That Cheap and Abundant Supply.

We notice that it is solemnly laid down " it shall be
the duty of the Corporation and the company to secure
the provision of a cheap and abundant supply of electricity
in the District." It is time this clap-trap about cheap and
abundant supplies, so dear to ignorant politicia.ns and
to popular newspapers, was stopped. It is clearly to the
advantage of both undertakings to supply as cheaply
and efficiently as possible, and they would have done
much more than they have if legislative restrictions had
been earlier aboUshed. Even now the Commissioners can
help materially by removing the obstacles to the use of
overhead transmission fines, and thus getting rid of the
restrictions upon expansion in rural areas, a matter of which
a correspondent this week emphasises the importance.

Undue Preference in Methods of Charging.

We imagine that the recent revival of allegations of
undue preference may be ascribed to the increased charges
for electricity which have become necessary since the war.
Naturally, no one wishes to pay more than he is legally
bound to do, but it is clear that charges of unfair preference
are more easily made than proved, as shown by the judg-
ment in Westminster Electric Corporation v. Wykeham
Studios, Ltd., which we reported recently. Though
this decision appears to be in conflict with the
judgment of a Divisional Court in Linsdell v. Paignton
Electric Light Co. it is substantially just and in accordance
with previous judicial pronouncements upon the con-
struction of sections 19 and 20 of the Electric Lighting
Act of 1882, the basis of all methods of charging

The Legal Position.

By section 19, where a supply of electricity is proxided
in any part of an area for private purposes, then, generally,
every consumer is entitled to a supply on the same terms
to which any other consumer is entitled under similar circum-
stances to 1 corresponding supply. By section 20 the
undertakers must not, in making agreements for the
supply of electricity, show any undue preference to anyone,
and though they may make such charges as may be agreed
upon, these must not exceed the limits set out in their
Order. These clauses seem to be quite clear and sufliciently
elastic for all purposes.

An Important Phrase.

Incidentally, it is well to remember that there is no
reference in them to light or power, but only to electricity
Light, power, traction and heating are later distinctions
introduced by electrical engineers as the applications of
electricity have expanded. In dealing with electncity tariffs
many consumers seem to ignore the important phrase,
" under similar circumstances," but it must be recollected
that this has received a liberal judicial interpretation. It

June i6, 1922

I'he Electrician.

709

has been held to embrace the amount of energy consumed,
the expense of supplying and getting payment, the uni-
formity of the demand, and the time when the energy
is required. Consequently different charges have been
authorised for lighting power, heating, traction and other
purposes, according to' the load factor, diversity factor and
other factors affecting each particular class of consumer. It
is satisfactory to see, therefore, that the present judgment
is based upon, and professes to maintain, these principles.

Is Electricity for Photographic Lamps Power?

One class of consumers — viz. : cinema theatres — will be
specially interested in the judgment of Mr. Justice Swift,
for it has decided that electricity supplied for photographic
lamps is power and not light. As the contrary was held,
we think rightly, in the Paignton case in 1920, all electricity
authorities will now be called upon to give power rates for
the supply to cinema lanterns where they have been
charging at lighting rates. We have always contended
that the cinema load is so good that special terms should
be given to this class of consumer. As a matter of fact,
many supply undertakings have introduced a scale inter-
mediate between hghting and power for cinemas, and we
hope that where this has not yet been conceded the matter
will now be reconsidered. At all events, we should depre-
cate more litigation on the subject, because it will
benefit no one but the lawyers, and will engender
friction between the supply authorities and their
consumers. •'

The Inefficiency of the Domestic Range.

The Fuel Research Board has published the results of
a scientific investigation into the efficiency of domestic
ranges and cooking stoves. Readers of The Electrician
will not be surprised to learn that Mr. A, H. Barker, who
made the tests upon which the report is based, finds that
to design a range to do several things is only relatively
economical, when it does all those things at once, and is
most uneconomical, when it is only doing one at a time.
At best the total efficiency figures only lie between
5 and II per cent., while in apparatus designed to do only
one thing 30 per cent, is easily obtained. But with a range
used for one purpose alone at a time efficiencies as low as
I per cent, were obtained, the average being only 2\ per
cent. It is not stated whether these tests were made with
new equipment, but they probably^ were, and, as is well
known, the efficiency of ranges, for reasons connected with
the deterioration of the brickwork, cleaning and fixing,
falls off very much with use. To overcome this waste it
is suggested that a central (or rather communal) heating and
water supply should be used even in cottages, as has been
successfully done in the United States.

One Job, One Apparatus.

We need hardly say that we consider that matters ought
to be carried a great deal farther than this. Without
descending to propaganda, in which we are too modest to
indulge, the pohcy in domestic life should be to use
specialised apparatus of the most efficient kind for per-
forming one operation and one operation alone. Wlien it
is not in use that apparatus should not be consuming fuel.
Continuous fuel consumption to little purpose, apart from
other considerations, is one of the gravest disadvantages
of the kitchen range. To adopt our policy would mean
labour saving as well as fuel economy, two objects which
are well worth striving for in these stressful days.

Physical and Physiological Aspects of Science.

The Annual Report of the Council, presented at the
meeting of the Illuminating Engineering Society on
May 25, showed that the Society has of late had much to
do with physiological aspects of illumination. The Presi-
dential Address delivered by Sir John Herbert Parsons,
who is an eminent ophthalmic surgeon, contained some
happy allusions to the need for co-operation of scientists
in dealing with that borderland between physics and
physiology. For the scientific treatment of a physical
problem measurement is a necessity. Advances in methods
of measuring illumination have had much to do with pro-
gress in the art of artificial lighting, and in the field of
natural lighting (notably the conception of the " daylight "
factor attributed to Mr. A. P. Trotter) measuring instru-
ments have also proved of value. But physicists too often
forget that the basis of physical measurements is biological.
The so-called " outer world " only exists for us by virtue of
the sensations it arouses in our bodies, and physical
measurements are open to the errors of all human obser-
vations. In the case of photometry, especially in the com-
parisons of sources of Light which differ in colour, we soon
become acutely conscious of the influence of personal error,
which we can eliminate only by some system of averaging.
Similcir considerations arise in connection with the much-
discussed problem of glare, to which Sir John also made
cdlusion. We have at present been compelled to resort to
practical compromises, such as those embodied in recent
reports of the Departmental (Home Office) Committee on
Lighting in Factories and Workshops. But there is still a
great deal to be done on a joint physical and physiological
basis before we can claim to have disposed of the problem
in a scientific manner.

British Electric Traction Company.

Seeing that all tramway imdertaldngs of the country
have been experiencing a lean time, the British
Electric Traction Co., the bulk of whose revenue is still
derived from provincial tramway and transport enter-
prises, are to be congratulated on the results of the past
year's working. For ihough the gross revenue was
;^262 900, a drop -of about £22 000, the net revenue
of £134 000 was only £1 000 less than in the previous
year, so that expenditure must have fallen in a slightly
greater ratio than receipts. An ordinary dividend of 4^ per
cent, is recommended, compared %v'ith 4 per cent, last year,
and, after placing ;^I4 700 to reserve the amount carried
forward is £194 200, though this is subject to three years'
Corporation Profits tax. We notice that the company's
investments, which now stand at £^ 987 600, or /125 Soo
more than the preceding year, are spread over a variety
of home and foreign securities, and that the average )n[eld
has fallen from 5-39 to 5*24 per cent. The tendency of
the company appears to be to \nden their sphere of opera-
tions, for a number of the new investments are unconnected
with electric traction. This portion of the business has
so far been quite successful, though some of the foreign
Government securities in the fist look a little risky.

Electric Povrer Demands in Lancashire.

One of the modern tests of the industrial progress of a
district is the amomit of electricity used in it for power
purposes. If we judge the area supplied by the Lancashire
Electiic Power Co. by this standard, Lancasliire enter-
prise cannot be in so bad a way as is sometimes represented.
For the company generated (or purchased) nearly 63 000 000

710

The Electrician.

June 1 6, 1922

units during the past year, compared with 60686500
in 1920, and the connections increased from 44 000 h.p. to
54700 H.P., by far the highest figure for any year since
the company commenced oper£|.tions in October, 1905.
The gross receipts and trading profit also showed a striking
improvement, being £294 900 and £94 300 respectively
compared with £249900 and £47 400 in 1920. All the
company's financing is done by the Lancashire Electric
Light and Power Co., which has raised £800 000 in deben-
ture stock and preference shares during the past two and
a half years. Moreover there seems no reason why the
company should not do still better once trade begins to
revive.

Efficiency of Wireless Watchers.

The findings of the Merchant Shipping Advisory Com-
mittee, which was appointed to report on the efficiency of
" wireless watchers " and on the sufficiency of Sec. i (2)
of the Merchant Shipping Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1919,
are singularly lame and inconclusive. Though many
witnesses were examined, the Committee state that the
time at their disposal was not sufficient to enable them to
investigate thoroughly the cases Of alleged inefficiency of
watchers. But they consider that even if the allegations
should, on further inquiry, be sustained they do not afford
grounds for altering the present regulations. The logic of
this statement is difficult to understand and appreciate. An
inefficient watcher is obviously a source of danger to all
on board under the present requirements, but in any event
the procedure involves delay as recent accidents at sea
have shown. Watchers, whose employment cannot be
much more economical than wireless operators, should
either be thoroughly efficient or else be replaced by men
with qualifications of the latter. We hope the Board of
Trade will take steps to alter the regulations accordingly.

The Limitations of Broadcasting.

The " broadcasting boom " shows no signs of diminution
Amateurs are still being pressed to invest in receiving sets^
and instructed often with more enthusiasm than wisdom
in their use and possibihties. Generally we have nothing
to say against this, as it will be of both direct and indirect
advantage to the electrical industry. There is, however, a
possibility of having too much of a good thing, and when
the suggestion is made that the broadcasting can be
usefully employed for tracking and capturing mobile
criminals that stage has beer reached. We have no
expert knowledge of criminal psychology, but such autho-
rities on the subject as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mr.
Wm. Le Queux and Mr. John Buchan lead us to suppose
that operations of this kind are best conducted in secrecy.
Now secrecy is no quality of broadcasting, and, as Sir
Charles Bright rightly points out, to distribute informa-
tion of this kind by wireless means is more likely to lead
to the criminal's escape than to his capture.

The " Commemoration Journal."

The Commemoration Number of the " Journal " of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers, which has just been
issued, contains not only a full account of proceedings at
the meetings which took place in February, but a number
of additional communications from well-known pioneer
members, and a series of photographs of both human and
historical interest. The whole forms a record of enterprise,
high endeavour, faith, with sometimes consummation and
sometimes failure as their result, and generally a record
which is tinged with humour, pathos, and human interest.

It is a record to be read, studied and preserved. In fact,
if any electrical engineer is on the look-out for a bedside
book, he might do a good deal worse than take this number
for that high purpose. For he will find in it qualities which
give a quiet mind and lend rest after toil to the weary soul.

The Standardisation of Cooker Types.

We have always protested against the too early starr-
dardisation of electrical apparatus. For, if not in its
infancy, our industry is still young enough to make it wise
to use every effort to avoid grooves, whether in policies or
in more material things. At the same time ultimate
standardisation should ever be kept in mind, and an
immediately useful way of doing this is by a close and
continued examination of all parts of the apparatus so
that weajc features can be eliminated or improved.

One Type, One District.

This is particularly necessary with cookers, and indeed
with all domestic electric apparatus, and a step towards this
end might be made by electricity supply engineers arranging
to use only one type of cooker in their districts. In this
way not only would they and their staffs become experts
in the qualities of that particular type of apparatus, but
consumers would be relieved from an embarrassment of
choice, salesmen from embarrassment of another kind, and
stocks of spares reduced to a minimum. The argument
against this policy is that it is difficult to make the
choice, and that speciahsation is as necessary to avoid as
standardisation. But no cooker on the market at the
present time is of outstanding merit, while equally none
outstandingly lacks merit. And supply engineers do meet
for discussion from time to time when notes can be
compared. Now, when the domestic load is growing, is
the chance for taking what should be a useful step.

U.S. Power Station Practice,

Conscientiously to attend the Annual Convention^of
the National Electric Light Association must be a devastat-
ing experience, both mentally and physically. Commenting
on the proceedings of this body two years ago we pointed
out that no less than twenty-one papers were down for
reading, while seventy-three reports were to be presented
for discussion. In addition there were the usual dinners,
municipal welcomes and social functions which, though a
change from the more technical labours, are equally tiring.
At this year's convention, held at Atlantic City last month,
the figures, though we have not actuallj' taken a census,
must be quite as large, and we are not therefore surprised
to find the opinion growing that the whole proceedings are
too gargantuan to be useful. For not only are the pro-
grammes of the various sessions overcrowded, but, two or
more sessions being held in parallel, it is difficult for even
the most energetic to get the full benefit from them.

The Better Way.

We cannot help tliinking, therefore, that ours is the
better way. To take this 3'^ear's I.M.E.A. Convention as
an example. Three papers only, all on important subjects,
are to be discussed ; and the time provided for tliis
purpose is adequate, if not generous. The social functions
and the visits to works are not too numerous or too exlaaust-
ing, and there will therefore be no excuse for anyone
attending not taking his or her full share in ever}'' item in
the programme. On the other hand, there are conven-
tions even in this country- where the programme is over

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

711

crowded. We hope that when the British National
Electrical Convention comes into being the better example
will be followed. . For there is such a thing as mental
gourmandising with its consequent ill-effects.

Turbine Performances.

In making these criticisms we have no wish to minimise
the usefulness of the information pubhshed at the National
Electric Light Association's Convention. Some of the
reports, which represent a year's calm work, should be
especially interesting to electrical engineers in this
country. For example, the Prime Movers Committee
gives data of the performance of seventy-eight turbines
with outputs oi from 20 000 kW to 45 000 kW. »This data
shows that much has yet to be learned in the design and
manufacture of these large units before finality can be said
to have been reached. At present breakdowns are frequent
and lengthy. In the case of one 35 000 kW machine
running at i 500 revs, per min., the period during which it
was shut down for various purposes amounted to no less
than 47'2 per cent, of the total time in service, while in the
case of a 20 000 kW machine also running at i 500 revs, per
min. it was 32*6 per cent. It is only fair to say that in
several other cases the ratio of time in use to total time
was extremely high ; nevertheless we think the committee
aie justified in stating that 100 per cent, availability of
generating equipment is essential from a service stand-
point, and that as existing units do not approach this
figure it would generally be better to invest money in
improving their rehability than to arrive at the same end
by purchasmg reserve units.

The Question of Turbine Size.

A CORRELATED question is the best and most economical
size of turbines for large generating stations. In this
country we seem to have become crystallised round about
15 000 kW or 20 000 kW, and it is doubtful whether on
the balance anything is to be gained by going much higher.
The very large machines now in use in the United States, as
Mr. Patchell, among others, has shown, have their own
peculiar disadvantages, wliile the fact that in many cases
they cannot be fully loaded for a great part of their hfe
will, we hope, combine to Umit their use over here.

Boiler House Practice.

The same might be said about boiler house practice.
In the States the trend seems ever upward, a boiler with
a normal rating of 2 982 h.p. having been installed in the
Congress Street heating plant of the Detroit Edison Com-
pany. In this country it may be said that we have gone
far enough. In the United States, as over here, there is
a continued tendency towards higher pressures, the present
maximum being 350 lb. with a steam temperature of
700° F. This compares with the steam pressures of 270 lb.
and 300 lb. at Runcorn and Edinburgh, where the total
steam temperature is about 700° F. Rumour hath it,
however, that the New North Tees station is to show us
something extraordinary in this respect. i

Boiler House Economics.

As Mr. Mitchell pointed out in his Paper on the Dal-
marnock station, read before the Summer Meeting of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers, the place where econo-
mics in generation are now to be primarily sought for is
in the boiler house. A careful record of results is one of
the most important means of achieving this end. But
equally important is the careful design of the equipment
employed and a rigid examination of the materials used

in manufacture and of the effect of these materials on the
initial and ultimate performance of the plant. Working
on these Hues, attention has been given by the Prime
Movers Committee to the study of refractories both as
regards temperature effects and mechanical strength, with
a result that the specification of the Panama Canal Com-
mission for firebrick has been recommended for use.

The Auxiliaries Problem.

The problem of how most economically to drive the
power station auxiliaries is one that is much exercising
the minds of electricity supply engineers in this country.
Here again we may obtain some useful hints from
the Prime Movers Committee's report. Reliability, they
insist, quite rightly, is the first essential, and it is also
essential that the equipment should be in duphcate,
Othen^ase there seems to be as great a variety of practice
as in this country. The house turbine is the favourite
method to employ either in conjunction with steam-driven
sets or with an emergency electric drive for the main bus
bars. A third course is to bleed the main turbines to
supply the auxiliary steam drive. It is pointed out that
theoretically the greatest economy is gained from multiple
stage bleeding of the main unit, but that practical opera-
tion has limited the bleeding points to two. It is interest-
ing to note the recommendation that the control of the
auxiharies should be in the hands of one man who should
be responsible for maintaining a heat balance at all times.
There is no question that the proper operation of auxiharies
has a most satisfactory downward effect on the coal con-
sumption per unit generated, and if the introduction of
a psychological factor is likely to assist economy it is
certainly worth trying.

Other Useful Reports.

In examining at some length the findings of the Com-
mittee on this important subject we have been obhged to
neglect other reports which are of almost equal interest.
These include one on electrical apparatus to which we shall
hope to refer in a later issue, as it includes an important
discussion on the rating of circuit breakers and automatic
substation practice ; another on inductive interference, on
which subject agreement has apparently been reached
between the electricity supply and telephone authorities,
and particularly a mass of information relating to
merchandising finance and selling. These reports all
show that electrical engineers in the United States are
fully alive to the possibiHties of the commodity with which
they have to deal. They equally show that there is much
to be done before that commodity has that universal
application which is its right.

A Poll— and its Result.

As an example of this we may quote one incident at
which we were more than a little relieved. At a meeting
of the merchandising section a count was taken of the
number of men in the room who used electric raiiges in
their own homes. There were twenty less than 10 per
cent, of the audience. We really thought they were more
progressive in the United States. \\'hat would be the result
of a similar poll at one of the meetings of the I.M.E.A. —
say when Colonel Vignoli:s' paper on " The Extension of
the Use of Electricity for Domestic Purposes " is read next
week ? But even about this backwardness we may be
optimistic, for it shows what a vast deal yet remains to be
done, and that electrical engineers at least will not need
to look for work just yet awhile.

712 The Electrician — June i6, 1922

Considerations Relating to the Design of Oil

Circuit Breakers.

Br D. R. DAVIES, A.M.I.E.E.

In the first part of the article the author discusses the methods usually adopted for reducing the losses in oil circuit breakers.

Information is also given which can be used for estimating the maximum temperature rise of small condiictors during short circuit.

Such information is, of course, quite applicable to potential transformer connections or the like.

The interruption of alternating current is now almost
universally accomplished b}' means of the oil circuit breaker,
and although air break t5rpes are used both on the continent
and in America, they are only to be found on small
subsidiary circuits.

The disadvantages of the air break switch are :

(i) The length of time during which the arcing lasts,

{2) The uncertainty of breaking all three phases simultaneously.

(3) The amount of space required when used indoors.

(4) Impossibility of breaking very heavy currents.

Certain test results for this type of switch were published
in the " General Electric Review " for September, 1914,
and the average arcing time is given there as about six
seconds, whereas in a good oil switch it would probably not
exceed half^a^cycle.

Enlarged Section
3t A-A
Fig. I. — Showing Method of Reducing Eddy Current Loss.

Although the use and manufacture of the oil circuit
breaker has been in vogue for the past twenty years, there
is still a dearth of reliable information concerning the
behaviour of arcs in oil, and consequently designers must
rely to a certain extent upon semi-empirical data, derived
from tests on existing breakers. An inspection of most
recent designs will show that, in the way of tank strength,
air chamber, and head of oil, modern breakers are more
hberally proportioned than their predectssors. Electrical
operation is now the recognised system adopted for central
station oif circuit breakers, and to a smaller extent for
sub-station work ; in fact it would be impossible to close
manually some of the larger sizes of breaker with the
rapidity necessary for synchronising.

Current to be Dealt With.

The current that must be interrupted under fault con-
ditions greatly exceeds the normal load current, and oil
circuit breakers therefore have a normal rating, and a short
circuit rating, commonly called the breaking capacity.
Breaking capacity may be defined as the maximum
kilovolt-amperes which the circuit breaker can break under

prescribed conditions, at stated intervals, a specified
number of times. The value of the maximum lalovolt-
amperes is the product of the rated working pressure in
r.m.s. kilovolts, and the actual r.m.s. current at the time
of separation of the contacts, multipUed by i, i 73 or 2,
for single-phase, three-phase or two-phase systems respec-
tively.

The short circuit rating is by far the more difficult one
to meet, and is the one mainly responsible for the size and
cost of the breaker. It must be remembered, too, that in
the case of large breakers there is not the same opportimity
for testing the ability of the breaker to fulfil this rating
before going into commission as is the case with other
electrical apparatus.

The class of service for which a breaker is intended
determines to a great extent the amount of consideration
that must be given to certain features. Breakers having
short circuit ratings up to about 50 000 kVA enjoy a more
extensive market than larger sizes, and their manufacture
on mass production principles must therefore influence the
designer in his conclusions.

Heating during Normal Conditions.

During normal operation the maximum teyiperature
rise should not exceed the following Hmits : —

(a) For breakers rated up to and including 2 000 A, the tempera-
ture rise should not exceed 30 deg. C.

(b) For breakers rated above 2 000 A, the temperature rise
should not exceed 40 deg. C.

Although no difficulty is experienced in keeping within
these limits on breakers intended to carry less than i 000 A,
more attention must be paid to hea\der currents in order
to avoid trouble due to local heating.

The losses occurring during normal service are:

(i) Copper loss (I^R) in contacts, stems, etc.
(2) Iron loss in top cover and tank walls.

Contact stems intended for currents of the order of 2 000 A
may either be built up from a number of copper straps in
parallel, or solid round rod may be used. Although the
use of straps is undoubtedly desirable for keeping down
the heating, such an arrangement lacks the requisite
stiffness, and is difficult to insulate at the point where
it passes out through the top cover. Tliis is mainly the
reason why strap conductors are more suitable for breakers
where their length may be comparatively short, and the
voltage low. On the other hand, round rod permits the
use of porcelain insulators, and also makes a sound job
mechanically. It is well known that conductors offer a
greater resistance to the flow of alternating current than
they do to direct current, owing to the skin effect. By
referring to Table i it will be seen that when conductors
as large as 2 in. diameter are used on 50 period circuits,
this increase in resistance becomes quite appreciable.

TABLE I.

Diam. in.

■Tf J- Resistance A.C.
*^^^° Resistance D.C.-

I -00

1-25

1.50
1-75

2-00

loq
l-i8
1-38
I 60

1-75

Another cause of heating in large solid conductors is
due to the eddv current loss, and, as this loss increases as

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

713

the fourth power of the diameter of the conductor, the
heating increases very rapidly. Therefore, when solid
conductors as large as 2 in. diameter are used it is necessary
to have a small slot milled down nearly its entire length
as shown in Fig. i.

Heating Precautions Unnecessary for Small Currents.

Generally speaking special precautions to prevent
heating due to iron losses are unnecessary on breakers
designed to carry less than about 350 A. Larger
currents, however, demand certain modifications to the
top cover, and the designer must either introduce short air
gaps into the magnetic circuits, or else specify the use of
non-magnetic metal.

Fig. 2.

-Showing how High Flux-density is Produced
Between Phases.

Fig. 2 shows the plan of a typical small breaker, and it
will be noted that at the particular instant of time when the
current in phase B is at its positive maximum, that in
phases A and C is half the negative maximum, so that when
the normal load exceeds about 350 A the flux-density
becomes great enough to heat up the top cover unless the
usual precautions have been taken.

The heat generated in the oil is conveyed by convection
currents to the tank side, from which it is then dissipated
by radiation to the surrounding atmosphere. In order to
assist the oil to circulate in the tank it is essential that :

(i) An oil layer be left between the lining and the tank wall.

(2) The top edge of the lining is beneath the oil surface.

(3) The lining is arranged so that it can only rest on the tank
bottom at certain places.

A further advantage of allowing these spaces is that, the
oil being in direct contact with the tank side, the heat flux
is not constrained to pass through the lining before reaching
the tank wall, and the temperature gradient is therefore
uniform.

Circuit Breakers for Furnace Equipments.

The rapid development of the electric furnace during
the war created a demand for very heavy current breakers
for low voltage service. As the heat developed in this
type of breaker is great in comparison with the mass of oil
and the area available for radiation, certain special features
must be incorporated in the design, such as, for example, the
corrugated tank, non-magnetic top, or even perhaps
the main brushes may be mounted outside, the arc tips
only being immersed in small oil tanks.

Heating of Conductors during Short Circuit.

So far the heating of the copper contact stems due to the
passage of the normal load current only has been con-
sidered, and, even when breakers are intended to interrupt
currents of the order of 30 000 A r.m.s. the thermal
capacity of the stems is always sufficient to prevent any
excessive rise in temperature, although their sectional area
may have been determined from the point of view of the
normal current carrying capacity only. ,

Even in an extreme case, where a purchaser would require

a breaker capable of carrying, say, 300 A normally, and to
interrupt 30 000 A on short circuit, it is very doubtful
whether any manufacturer would offer a breaker having a
normal current rating of less than 600 A.

The cost of the copper is only a small percentage of the
total cost of a large breaker, and from the manufacturer's
point ^f view the saving effected by a design with a
normal rating of less than 600 A does not really justify
carrying the extra number of parts in stock.

Generally speaking, a breaker having leading-in stems
not less than f in. diameter is quite capable of dealing
with 30 000 A, during short circuit conditions, without
producing a temperature rise sufficient to cause damage.
We can say, then, that to a certain extent the area of the
leading-in stems is independent of the short circuit rating
of the breaker.

Design of Arcing Contacts.

When we come to consider the design of the arcing
contacts, however, the conditions are very different, and
the flimsy pieces of copper which are sometimes provided
for this purpose are wholly inadequate for their duty.
It is important to remember, when designing arcing
contacts, that the sectional area and contact area are both
functions of the short circuit current only, and both are
therefore entirely independent of the normal load current of
the breaker. Arcing contacts which are intended to carry
currents of the order of 30 000 A or more during the arcing
period should receive special consideration, and anything
in the nature of flexible shunt leads should have an ample
sectional area, or the danger of fusing them is always
present.

Temperature Rise.

The following information, together with the curves,
Fig. 3, wiU enable those interested readily to determine
the temperature rise obtainable under the worst possible

018

0-16

, 0-14

c^O-12
o

wO-10

^0-08

006

004

002

010 0-20 0-30 0-40

Time t in Seconds.

0-50

0-60

140
120

^100

"o 80
to
I 60

^ 40

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Tdsi- C. riserAssumin^, Initial /e/np. of 25de^C.

Fig. 3. — Heating of Conductors on Short Circuit.
conditions, i.e., when a breaker is closed on an incipient

714

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

fault which develops at the instant at which the arcing
contacts separate.

Let t =time in sees, from moment of short circuit.
T=temperature rise in time t (in deg. C).
<= instantaneous value of the current,
oc =temperature co-efl5cient of copper per deg. C.=0'428,
A = cross-section of conductor in sq. cms.

Then, neglecting the heat radiated, the necessary con-
dition is : —

42— 2ji^.dtXio-7

^logioi^ + ccT)

The value of i^ depends upon the machine constants and
the point of the voltage wave at which the short occurs.
If we assume that the current falls to about one-half
its initial value / in 10 cycles then we can write i^.dt=2P X K
where K is given by the curve (Fig. 3), and / is the r.m.s.
value of the first alternation.

These values of K are based on the machine damping
constants generally found in practice. Substituting for
i^.dt in the above equation we obtain

., 2PXKX10-7

logio{i-i-ccT)

2/2x7^X10-7

Where

M=~ %ic(i + ocr)

Values of T corresponding to those found for M may be
obtained from the curve, Fig. 3.?

Not only must the sectional area of the shunt path
through the arcing contacts be sufficient to deal with the
short circuit current, but the contact area of the arcing
contacts themselves must also be capable of deaUng with
the current in the arc. We know quite well that an arc
can only be maintained by supplying to the electrodes
sufficient heat to keep them at incandescence.

We can imagine this heat as penetrating for a short
distance below the face of the arcing contact, and
this depth, multiplied by the contact area, would represent
approximately that portion which becomes volatilised
by the arc.

Clearly, then, according to this reasoning, the greater
the contact area the less will be the depth of penetration,
and the longer will the arcing contacts give service before
requiring renewal.

Heating of Closing and Trip Coils.

Closing coils and trip coils for use with oil circuit breakers
are usually proportioned so that the temperature rise
cannot exceed 50 deg. C. in 30 seconds.

The effect of radiation is, of course, neglected, and the
total watt loss is considered as being consumed in heating
up the copper.

The heat loss produced in the coil in 30 seconds is clearly

30PR watt-seconds.
Also if

s=specific heat of copper^o"095 celI per grm.
0= temperature rise =50 deg. C.
M=mass of copper in grms;

then, since 4*2 calories per second=one watt per second,
we can write

3oPR=4-2sMQ
Now one lb. =453-6 grms
Therefore 72j?-4-2X 0-095 X 453-6x50

30
Whence 72^=302 W. per lb. of copper.

Conditions Existing during the Arcing Period.

The interruption of a flow of current is analogous to

the introduction into the circuit of a resistance rapidly
increasing in value to infinity. In the case of an oil
circuit breaker, a thin film of oil is interposed directly
in the path of the current at the instant at which the
arc tips separate. Such a small quantity of oil must
necessarily have a high ohmic value and an extremely
low thermal capacity ; consequently, the passage of even
a small current in the form of a spark is at this instant
sufficient to produce a high temperature in the immediate
region of the arc tips, and the original thin film of oil
becomes dissociated by the heat into a bubble of ionised
gas. A condition is then established which is favourable
to the formation of an arc, and this condition wiU remain
so long as a certain relationship is maintained between
the voltage and gap length. The intensity of the spark
following the interruption must be due primarily to the
self -inductance of the circuit, and therefore the initial
arcing conditions are to a certain extent independent of
the particular values of voltage and current when separation
occurs. The E.M.F. of self -inductance is in quadrature
with the current, and even when separation takes place
at zero current, the gap length can never,, with a finite
switching speed, increase with sufficient rapidity to prevent
the E.M.F. of self -inductance puncturing the oil film and
initiating a spark.

, When the breaker is operating on normal load it is quite
reasonable to regard the line voltage as assisting under
certain circumstances in establishing the arc at the moment
of interruption ; but obviously under short circuit con-
ditions, -^hen the voltage is practically zero, the creation
of the arc must be due to the E.M.F. of self-inductance.
{To be coniintied.)

* The writer is indebted to Mr. S. Neville, B.Sc, A.M.I.E.E., for
the mathematical investigation of this problem.

Indian Trade in 1921-22.

H.M. Senior Trade Commissioner in India, in forwarding to the
Department of Overseas Trade the March number of the monthly-
trade returns of the Government of India, states that the toti
imports of merchandise into India declined from 335-5 crores in
1920-21 to 206-4 crores in the year under review. Imports from
the United Kingdom fell from 204-5 to 150-9 crores (26 per cent.),
while those of the United States fell from 35-3 to 21-6 crores (39
per cent.), and those from Japan from 26-4 to 13-5 crores (50 per
cent.). The most noteworthy feature was the increase in the
imports from Germany from 4-75 to 7-24 crores, the increases being
mainly in dyestuffs, hardware, glassware, iron and steel.

Machinerjr Imports.

The most remarkable feature of the yea.T was the prodigious
import of machinery and millwork equipment. In 1920-21, the
total was 22-37 crores, but in the past year this increased to 34-25
crores, of which the United Kingdom supphed 28-32 crores and the
United States 4-51 crores. British shipments increased during the
year by almost ri crores, and American supplies by ^ crore. The
principal increases were under the following heads : Cotton
machinery (from 3-67 to 7-64 crores), jute macliinery (2-77 to 4-32
crores), electrical machinery (2-19 to 3-90 crores), and boilers (1-59
to 2-55 crores). There were aJso substantial increases in machinery
for mining, nil crushing and refining, paper, rice and flour mills. The
only serious competition in machinery at present is that from the
United States, but the United Kingdom more than maintained its
position. An increase in imports from Germany (from 17 to
55 lakhs) was largely due to rice mill machinery and sugar plant.

The to+al imports expanded from 14 to nearly 19 crores, of which
the United Kingdom supphed 18-4 crores. In this enormous trade
there is as yet little competition, the imports from America being
only 13 lakhs. Imports from Australia (mainly sleepers) rose from
12-4 to 20-5 lakhs, while those from Canada fell from 20-75 to 2-14
laklis. The expansion in this valuable trade may be expected to
continue in view of the new capital expenditure programme on
railways, which amounts to 30 crores per annum for five years.

The trade in iron and steel products showed a considerable
reduction, but German and Belgian wire nails, steel bais and
channels, etc., showed increases.

Electrical Instruments and Apparatus.

Tliis trade has been well maintained, the total imports in 1920-21
being 4-18 crores, compared with 4-06 crores in the past year.
Supplies from the United Kingdom show little alteration, and are
roughly 70 per cent, of the total (2-84 crores). American shipments
were, however,*reduccd from 95 to 80 lakhs, while those from Italy
rose from 7 J to 16J lakhs.

The Electrician — June i6, 1922

715

Recent Developments in Power Production.*

By D. L. SEI.BY BIGGE.

The Paper is a nummary of the advances that have been made in the economics of power production during the past eleven years.

Tlie need for remodelling steam-raising plants is pointed out, the tendencies in steam-rat '^inq methods are noted, and the

advances that have been made in turbine and condenser design are detailed. Finally a typical colliery power station is described.

The author thinks much remains to be done before the bedroc?' of economy in power production is reached.

Eleven years have passed since the author read his last
paper before the Iron and Steel Institute. Abnormal trade
conditions now prevail, and various developments have taken
place in power production which tend to greater economy.
The main source of power in this country is primarily derived
from coal. Tlais is the datum line from wliich we must start in
the investigation of the problems of power production. Im-
mense quantities of combustible fuel of low-grade quality and
waste gases, which with modern appliances and treatment can
be economically converted into steam or other assets of great
value, still remain unutilised. -•

The Economic Problem.

Of late, however, the economics of power production have
been more closely studied. Present methods in the generation
and transmission of electric power have reached such a high
standard that we can only expect small economies in the
engine-room or power station. We must turn to the boiler-
houses and the efficient use of various grades of fuel for further
savings. Here an immense field for economy exists. Con-
sideration will also be given to the utilisation of waste assets —
e.g. blast-furnace gas, coke-oven gas, and gas from reheating
and regenerative furnaces, for steam-raising for power pro-
duction purposes. One very important point is the need for
skilled supervision and control in the boiler-house. In most
collieries and works the boiler staff employed is not of such a
high standard as the staffs usually employed in the engine-
room. Possibly collieries and iron and steel works have
hitherto not required to work on such fine margins as a cor-
poration or pubUc supplies, and have therefore used coal and
waste-heat in a prodigal manner.

In colheries advances in washing and grading fuels, and in
the installation of coking and by-product plants, have reduced
the amount of fuel usually allocated to boilers, and have in-
creased the quantity ot low-grade fuel, which will not bear the
cost of transport and for wliich in normal times there is not a
ready sale. In iron and steel works the introduction of the
more efficient turbo- blower has hberated large quantities of
waste gas, which is now available for power production.

Much has been heard during the last few years of the urgent
necessity for an abundant supply of cheap power. The right
source from which to obtain such power is from the coal at
the collieries, and the waste gases at iron and steel works.

Coal Consumption.

There is a wide field for the remodelling of steam plants at
colheries, wliich consume about 18000000 tons per annum,
or over 7 per cent, of the total coal raised.

In twenty-four collieries studied by the Board of Trade
Coal Mines Department in 1918, the consumption of coal
varied from 4'5 to i6'5 per cent, of the total production. In
certain districts — notably South Wales — much attention is
being paid to coal economy, but there are still many cases
where little is being done. Interest attaches to tlie possibiHty
of utilising " pit heaps," many of which have been standing for
forty or fifty years. Mr. David Wilson gave, in 1918, a
comprehensive analysis of these fuels.

It was calculated that there were some three milUon tons of
refuse coal Ipng at the pit heads, of an average estimated
calorific value of 5000 B.Th.U.'s.

The author reproduces a table from the paper specified
to illustrate the great variety of such waste-heaps. Thus
calorific values varying from 3 825 to 10 240 B.Th.U.'s are
recorded ; the ash percentage varies from 10-51 to 67-65, the
moisture content from 1-75 to 27-39. It was proved that a
great deal of this material could be used for steam-raising.

For the iron and steel industry the estimated consumption
for 1 91 3 — the last available normal year — was 31 000 000 tons
(including coal used for smelting and blast-furnaces as well as
steam-raising). It appears the consumption of coal under
boilers in the iron and steel industry is approximately
5 500 000 tons per annum.

In the report issued by the Electricity Commissioners in Janu-
ary of tliis year the number of stations is given as 403, the total
units generated as 4 965 514 403, the average coal consumed

* Abstract of a paper read before the Iron and Steel Institute.

3-32 lb. per unit generated, the lowest coal consumption 1.7
lb. per unit, and the highest thermal efficiency recorded
17-75 per cent.

The Cleaning of Coal.

The Froth flotation processes for cleaning fine coals
deserve mention. Coal or coal-bearing waste crushed to pass
a screen of about i-io in. hnear aperture is treated as a pulp
consisting of approximately four parts of water to one part of
coal. There is a series of units each composed of an agitation
box and a frothing box. The pulp is initially mixed ^v^th
about I lb. per ton of coal of a suitable oil reagent ; minute' air
bubbles are then formed and become attached to the coal
particles. The pulp then passes from the agitation box to the
first frothing box, where it is brought to comparative rest,
the air-buoyed coal being permitted to rise to the surface and
form a froth, which is automatically skimmed from the surface
and contains approximately one part of water to one part of
dry coal, and, as it is free from clay or shale shme, filters with
readiness. Continuously operatii.g filters can deal ^\^th over
2 000 lbs. of dry coal per sq. ft. of surface per 24 hours on
this material, dehvering a product containing 12 to 14 per
cent, of moisture.

Recoveries of 98*9 per cent, and over are recorded. Several
units having capacities of 40 tons hourly are now in
course of erection, and with an average cost of coal-cleaning
(inclusive of power and labour, but exclusive of interest and
depreciation) of 4d. per ton treated. The potentialities of
these processes are therefore considerable.

Steam Production.

The author then refers to several main tendencies in steam
production, leading to advances in efficiency. Water-tube
boilers capable of evaporating normally 1 30 000 lb. per hour
have been absorbed ; in the Ladd boilers at the Detroit works
of the Ford Motor Company 276000 lbs. of water per hour
for fifteen hours, and 327 coo lb. per hour for one hour, were
actually evaporated from one of these boilers. There appears
no limit to the size of boilers, but wtli industrial plants 30 000
lb. capacity is a convenient size.

Pressures of 250 lb. are now common and several boilers
work at 350 lb. One large new boiler-bouse is being even
operated at 475 lb. per sq. in. Higher pressures seem feasible
if desired. Integral superb Paters to give a final steam tempera-
ture of 650-750° F. are available. This maximum is unhkely
to be exceeded, as it approaches the hmiting temperature of
steel tubes.

The stokers employed are now largely mechanical, and
include the chain giate type with natural and forced draught,
sprinkler and coking stokers and multiple retort types. These
varieties are described and illustrated in the original paper.
Among the advantages claimed for the underfeed stoker are (i)
greater economy and boiler efficiency .\ith a given coal ; (2)
abihty to burn a wider variety ot fuels ; ^3) abihty to meet sud-
den demands for steam, and other constructional advantages
such as less space occupied in front of boilers, examination and
repair of stokers wthout removal, no necessity for high chim-
neys, self-dumping clinker plates, etc. The chief feature of the
multiple retort stoker is that no refractory brickwork setting
is needed. Such a stoker can be assembled from any number
of retort units, without limit to size and capacity of furnace
The type is specially useful for modern large unit boilers. Ihe
development of tliese stokers has beeu very interesting, a
feature being the continuous automatic shcing 01 the fire-bed
whereby incombustible residues are reduced to a minimum.
Maximum thermal efficiency is attainable both \\-ith good and
very bad coals. A brief account is also given of the well-
known Bennis sprinkler with compressed air furnace, with
which very poor coal, containing up to 53 per cent, of incom-
bustible mpterial, can be used.

Production of Power from Watte Gases.

(A) Blast-furnace Gases. — In general, blast-furnace gases
in this country are uncleaned. When using such gas for firing
boilers an external chamber is pro\id^d. Ihis does not give
such a good intermixture of air and gas as a Bunsen type
burner, but has the advantage of not becoming clogged up %\-ith

7i6

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

dust. With the advent in iron and steel Vorks of gas-cleaning
apparatus, the tendency is now to fit boilers with Bunsen or
multiple-type burners. With clean gas and burners the efficiency
can be raised and 73 to 75 per cent, (as compared with 63 to
65 per cent.) obtained, so that for each lb. of actual steam
evaporated about 16 cub. ft. of gas at 100 B.Th.U.'s per cub. ft.
is required.

In a test . using blast-furnace gas in conjunction with a
Harrison furnace, the water evaporated per hour from and at
212° F. was 12 495 lb.

(B) Coke-Oven Gases. — There is a wide field for the use of
surplus heat from coke-ovens and by-product coke-oven plant.
As an average Sojper cent, of the gas will be available in the
form of waste heat at a temperature of i 800° to 2 000° F.,
and 20 per cent, in the form of surplus hve gas with a calorific
value of 450 to 500 B.Th.U.'s.

By using waste heat and surplus live gas rj tons of water
can be evaporated from and at 212° F. per ton of coal
carbonised. This gas is generally burnt in Bunsen burners.
Efficiencies for the boiler and economiser combined as high as
80 per cent, have been obtained. Under normal worldng con-
ditions, an efficiency of 70 per cent, can be relied upon for the
boiler alone.

(C) Great scope for the use of waste heat from reheating
puddling and other furnaces, where burned gases are available
at I 800 to 2 000° F., also exists. With a well-designed boiler
5^ to 6 lb. of water can be evaporated per lb. of coal burnt.

One firm installed a water-tube boiler for utilising the waste
heat from two hoop-mill furnaces consuming about 10 cwt.
of coal per hour, and was able to save approximately 42 tons of
coal per week.

(D) Gases from Regenerative Furnaces. — In furnaces of
this type, with gases available at i 000' to i 150° F.,
the draught requirements fare generally about i in. W.G.
This difficulty is overcome by installing a boiler combined
with an induced draught fan.

As a general rule, the coal consumption at the producers is
5^ to 6 cwts. per ton of steel produced. An average evapora-
tion of about 2 000 to 2 200 lbs. from and at 212° F. can be
obtained per ton of steel with gases entering at i 100" F.

Waste-Heat Boilers.

Kirke Waste-Heat Boiler. — This boiler consists of a drum
traversed by straight tubes of abnormal length relative to their
bore, through which hot products of combustion already burnt
in some other furnace are drawn at a high mean velocity not
less than 40 ft. per sec, by means of an induced draught fan
or other mechanical means.

In the front of the boiler a superheater may be arranged,
over which the products of combustion pass before entering
the boiler tubes. An economiser is not absolutely necessary,
but the heat available for transference to the water therein is
so much reduced that the whole of the water heated in the
economiser can be usefully used in the boiler instead of only a
portion of it.

This type of boiler claiming tube efficiencies of 90 per cent, or
over, minimum radiation losses and exceptional cleaning
facilities, justifies its use with even very low grade heat.

Thus, in a case mentioned, an evaporation of 2 300 lbs. from
and at 212° F. per hour was obtained. This boiler is suitable
for generating steam from blast-furnace gas which, owing to its
poverty, produces products of combustion at a moderate
temperature (say i 000° C. only).

A brief description of the Kirke gas-fired boiler, which is
generally similar to the above, is also given. It is mentioned
that a boiler 7 ft. diameter, working on producer gas, with 2 in.
draught, can evaporate 12 000 lbs. of steani per hour.

Pulverised Fuel.

The idea of pulverised fuel is not new. In 1831 an English
patent was issued to Mr. J. S. Daws, and this was rapidly
followed by a number of patents in England, the United States,
and on the Continent.

There are not many applications • of the system in this
country, and more attention has been given to the subject in
the United States and on the Continent. Two years ago, in
the United States 11 000 000 tons of coal were used per annum
in powdered form. The amount is now much increased. In
France progress has also been rapid. Installations were only
commenced in 1918, and theie are now more than 200 turbo-
pulverisers alone in successful operation.

The pulverised coal system for steam generation at the plant
of the Puget Sound Power and Light Company consists of ten

boilers, with a total heating surface of 41 000 sq. ft., together
with complete drying and pulverising plant. The com-
bustion volumes of the furnaces per square foot of heating
surface were 0-2 cub. ft. under four 3 000 sq. ft. boilers and
three 4 000 sq. ft. boilers ; 0-3 cub. ft. under one 5 000 sq. ft.
boiler and one 6 000 sq. ft. boiler ; and 045 cub. ft. under
one 6000 sq. ft. boiler. The coal used is refuse material
accumulated during the last twenty years, and is very fine,
practically all of it passing through a 20-mesh screen. The
heating value averaged 9 300 B.Th.U.'s. About 190 000 tons
of this coal have been burned with an average boiler efficiency
of 80 per cent., and very high evaporation was obtained.
Altogether the results appear to be remarkable.'

Other instances in America are the powdered coal installa-
tion at the boiler plant of the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas
Railway at Parsons, Kan. ; the new Lakeside Generating
Station of the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company,
and at the comparatively new River Rouge Boiler Plant of the
Ford Motor Car Works at Detroit.

At the Ford installation the boilers, which are without
economisers, and are four in number, have each 26 400 sq. ft.
of heating surface. It is said that 276 000 lbs. of water per
hour were evaporated from one of these boilers for fifteen
hours, and for two hours 327 000 lbs. of water from one boiler
per hour. These boilers are probably the largest boilers ever
installed. At the maximum the evaporation was just under
12^ lbs. of water per square foot of heating surface. Favourable
experience of powdered fuel installations on the Continent
is also quoted, and a brief account is given of the use of
powdered fuel in reheating processes.

Steani Turbine Progress.

Recent improvements in steam comprise the use of higher
steam pressures and higher superheat, and the adoption of
higher turbine speeds.

Mixed pressure turbines have played a prominent part
in connection with steam-driven winders and roUing-mills
utilising the exhaust steam. However, the centrahsation of
power production in collieries and steelworks and the electrifica-
tion of the entire plant tends to lessen the field of apphcatdon
of the mixed pressure turbine.

Figures are given for pressure, temperature, &c., steam
consumption, &c., of various types of turbines. Thus, with
some Metropolitan- Vickers (Rateau) types values ranging
from 12-6 to i6-8 lbs. per kWh are recorded, with Parsons
high-pressure type consumptions from I3'5 to i4'92 lbs. per
kWh.

Reducing turbines have recently been preferred. This
machine is arranged automatically to bleed steam at a certain
pressure for process work, mainly in paper mills, oil factories,
distilleries, &c., or for heating purposes. When large quantities
of low-pressure steam are required — e.g. in paper-mills, the
saving is considerable.

Turbo-compressors find an extensive application where
compressed air in pneumatic tools for mining operations, for
coal cutting, for riveting in shipyards, &c., is needed. One of
the largest compressors built in this country has a normal
capacity of 30 000 cub. ft. of air per minute, compressing this
quantity against 100 lbs. per sq. in. G,

Turbo-blowers are machines working against moderate air
pressures, up to 40 lbs. per sq. in. The 35 000 cu. ft. is a
common sire, but upper limits are determined solely by
economic considerations.

Condensers.

With reciprocating engines Uttle can be gained in steam
economy by the installation of condensers to give more
than 26 in. Hg. vacuum with the barometer at 30 in. This
does not apply to steam turbines with which the highest obtain-
able vacuum can be fully utilised.

Available types of condensers include : (i) Surface con-
densers ; (2) Jet condensers with water extraction pumps and
separate air pumps or other air extraction appliances ; (3)
Ejector condensers with water-circulating pumps and no
separate air pumps.

With surface condensers condensed steam can be used for the
boilers, but tlie first cost is liigh, and their use, where clean
condensing water cannot be obtained, necessitates trouble-
some and costly cleaning of tubes and periodical renewal.
The modern metliod of dealing with boiler feed water by heat
and soda ash. has extended the apphcation of c ondensers of the
jet or ejector types.

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

717

Industrial sites are only rarely near a natural and adequate
supply of water for condensing. However, with a loss by
evaporation of about 80 per cent, of the boiler feed, the con-
densing water can be re-used after cooling in towers or by
spraying over ponds.

For high vacuum plants with artificial cooling the ratio of
condensing water to steam condensed should not be less than
■60 : I. This gives a maximum requirement of temperature
reduction of 10° F. for the cooling installations.

The area required for cooling towers is 08 to i sq. ft., and
for spray cooling plants 4 to 5 sq. ft. per kW of plant installed.
Where space is available, spray cooling is preferable to tower
cooling, as the first cost is lower and better cooling is obtained
with sprays. Moreover, maintenance charges are negligible,
whereas with cooUng towers maintenance and depreciation
may involve a heavy charge.

Example of a Typical Industrial Poiver Station.

Itis of interest to describe a typical industrial power station,
viz., the actual case of a colliery power station in this
country.

^This station supplies a group of collieries principally for
underground power (pumping, hauling, coal cutting, and
Ijeneral purposes, and also for main shaft winding). The
system of supply settled in 1907 was 3 000 V 3 phase, 50
cycles.

The station equipment now- comprises one i 500 kW and
two 3 000 kW turbo-alternators. The condensing plant is of
the multi-jet type, all the water for condenser purposes is re-
cooled through spray nozzles. A vacuum of 28 in. under full
load conditions on the large units (with bar. at 30 in.) is
maintained. There are six large boilers of the water-tube
type, each capable of evaporating 22 000 to 27 000 lbs. of
steam per hour. The steam pressure is 200 lbs. per sq. in.,
with superheat to 588° F. The condenser equipments are all
joined together ; any of the three circulating pump equipments
will operate any condenser.

No. I condenser is operated by a steam-engine, the other
two by motors. There is also a steam-driven exciter and a
motor-driven exciter, the latter of full capacity for all the units
in the station. The exhaust steam from the condenser and
exciter engines, feed pumps, and fan engines is used for heating
up the feed water, which is treated in a heater softener by the
temperature and soda ash method.

The Erith stokers are each of the seven retort type and are
capable of burning approximately 4 340 lbs. of low-grade
fuel per hour. The first four are operated by electric motors,
the fifth and sixth are operated by steam. Hydraulic wagon
coal-tippers are used. Each boiler is fitted with an inde-
pendent elevator and all elevators are separately driven.

The fuel was charged at approximately lis. 7d. per ton.
With low-grade fuel charged, as is possible in many cases, at
5s. per ton at the colliery, the fuel cost would be reduced to
oo77d. per unit, and tiie cost of production would then
become 01 3d. per unit.

Gas Engines.

Single installations of from 15 000 to 20 000 h.p. of gas
engines working upon blast-furnace gas are already in opera-
tion in this country.

In a modem furnace producing i million cub. ft. of gas per
hour, only 055 of this is required for the furnace, leaving
o'45 million or 450 000 cub. ft. of gas available per furnace for
other purposes. This at 150 cub. ft. per kWh is equal to
about 3 000 units per furnace per hour. With fifty furnaces
the aggregate would be 150 000 units per hour and i 030 510 000
per annum ; this with the boiler saving represents an economy
of about 400 000 tons of coal per annum.

Results are presented for a i 500 h.p. gas engine, the
B.Th.U.'s per b. h.p. -hour being 10 400 in the first half-hour
and 9 650 in the third half-hour's working. Particulars are
also given of a 450 h.p. engine using coke-oven gas at a colliery
a thermal efficiency of 28 per cent, on overload and 2 4 4 per
cent, on half load being attained. In the former case 9 100
B.Th.U's per b.h.p. was consumed.

Oil Engines.

Some particulars for internal combustion engines working
on oil are given. Thus, in a test on Sult;^er-Diesel engines of
2 000 B.H.P. the total running cost of o"384d. per b.h.p. hour.

Other cases are mentioned where cost per kWh worked out
to o-745d. and o-8iod. respectively.

CoDc!ution.

Much remains to be done before the bedrock of economy
in power production is reached. Water power an*^! tidal
power have not been discussed in this paper. Coal, however,
remains the basic source from which we derive the bulk of the
power in this country.

Attention may with advantage be directed towards the
following points : —

1 . The cleaning of fuel from ash and other impurities prior
to combustion.

2. The reduction of labour, and economical burning of fuel :

{a) by the use of efl&cient mechanical stokers ;
[b] by fuel in powdered form.

3. The purification, softening, and heating of boiler feed-
water and provision of efficient cooUng plant for condensing
purposes.

4. A closer and more scientific control in the boiler-house.

5. A more comprehensive utilisation of waste ga^es from
blast-furnaces, coke-ovens, and producers.

6. The development of markets, either industrial or public
supply, to absorb the surplus power available from collieries
and iron and steel works.

Reviews.

Rays of Positive Electricity and their Application
to Chemical Analyses. By Sir J. J. Thomson, O.M.,
F.R.S. (London : Longmans, Green & Co.). Second
Edition. i6s. net.
This is a well-known work devoted mainly to a new method
of determining atomic weights by the simultaneous electro-
static and magnetic deflection of positively charged atoms.
Since the magnetic deflection is inversely proportional to
mv, and the electrostatic deflection is inversely proportional
to mv'^, where m is the atomic weight and v the velocity of the
atom, the simultaneous deflection allows us to determine
both m and v. If both deflections are recorded on a screen
normal to the original direction of the atomic " rays," a
gradual increase in the velocity of projection will trace out a
parabola on the screen, which is then measured for the purpose
of the above determinations.

The present second edition of the book is about double the
size of the first edition, which was pubhshed in 1913. It
contains many new chapters, notably on the use of hot
cathodes covered in the lime, and on Aston's focus method,
by which particles of the same e/m but different velocities are
made to converge towards the same point. There is also an
account of the Doppler effect in positive rays and of the
polarisation of the lighv from them, both discovered by Stark.
The author discusses tlae origin of the mj^sterious parabola
indicating an atomic weight 3, and guardedly refers to Fabn^-'s
discovery of a line in the spectrum of certain nebulae, wliich
also indicates that atomic weight.

The value of the new method of chemical analysis lies
cliiefly in that it is not affected by impurities. It has already
led to the discovery of two forms of chlorine, of atomic weights
35 and 37 respectively, and has bi -ought the atomic weights
closer to integral numbers than ever before.

E. E. FOURNIER.

Practical Testing of Electrical Machines. By L.

OuLTON and N. J. Wilson. (London : Sir Isaac Pit-
man & Sons, Ltd.) Pp. iii+i5S. 6s. net.

This is a useful book on the testing of electrical machines
and transformers, wlxich should be of value to the college
student or apprentice, as well as to the engineer actually
engaged on a works test plate, or in working up tests in a
design office. A full description is given of the tests which
are usually employed commercially to determine the satis-
factory operation of any macliine, both from the standpoint
of design and manufacture. Numerical examples are included,
wliich are worked up into curves, tlius explaining tlie uses to
which test figures are put, and indicating the information to
be obtained from tiiem. It is regrettable that in revising the
book for tills, the second, edition, the symbols have not been
brought into line with the recommendations of the International
Electro-technical Commission.

A useful appendix is formed by the inclusion of the principal
rules of the B.E.S.A. for the standardisation of electrical
machinery. L. H. A. Carr.

yiS

The Electrician — June i6, 1922

The C. M. and M.-Delas Air Extractor.

Interesting Test Taken in Paris.

A short while ago we gave an account of a new air extractor
which had been desigfned for use with condensing plant, and
we are now able to give details of some tests on this equipment
which were carried out in the Paris workshops of the Societe
Condenseurs Delas, by whom the apparatus is made. The
tests were carried out Avith an air pump made for a large turbo
set to substantiate the claims with regard to steam consump-
tion made by Cole, Marchent and Morley, who are Ucensees
for the manufacture of these condensers in this country, and
who had put them forward in connection with an extension
scheme at a Corporation Power Station. The air pump
makers made satisfactory airangements to reproduce working
conditions. These consisted of complete means for loading
the air pump, both with air and vapour in any desired propor-
tions, and for regulating a supply of water at any desired
temperature to an intermediate condenser, and thereafter
extracting it.

*%^"*^ yiBS.

30 0

so 60 70 80 90 100

/J//? AND STEAM LOADING LBS./HR,

Fig. r. — Curves Giving Results of Tests on Delas Extractor

The Air Pump.

The air pump in question is one in which the air and vapour
to be extracted from the condenser is compressed in two stages.
Each of these stages is operated by a single steam jet and
difiuser. The steam used by the first jet is condensed by a
portion of the condensate used as tne condensing water of a
small jet condenser. The special features of the pump are
that the diffuser is of the parallel type in each case, and is
completely water-jacketted. It is claimed that this con-
struction does away with the instability observed in other
makes of pump when used for very high vacuum with very
httle loading. It is stated that the water-jacket to the diffuser
■is a necessary feature in connection with the use of a parallel
diffuser, the tendency of the combined st-eam of " working
steam " and " gases pumped " to diverge being counteracted
by the rapid condensation caused by th.> water-jacketted
diffuser.

Details of the Tests.

The pump was tested for the full range of the experimental
apparatus when pumping dry air, and also when using for its
working steam superheated and saturated steam alternatively.
A series of supplementary tests were taken in which to the
dry air were added definite quantities of saturated steam, all
the results being tabulated in the following tables and plotted
in the curves which are given herewith.

It will be noted (from the curves Fig. i) that the pump does
not give th3 same vacuum weight for weight when part of the
duty is steam. This is obviously because the steam has a
much greater volume than the equivalent weight of air and
the pump has, to some extent, a " volume " characteristic

as well as a " weight " characteristic. The difference is not
very serious.

We understand the pump showed an extraordinary stabihty
over all working ranges explored, and no change was made in
the apparatus or adjustments in changing from superheated
to saturated steam.

It will be noted from the curves and tables that the steam
load was entirely condensed in the intermediate condenser,
since the second stage compression was just the same when
steam load was added to the air load as when air load alone
was dealt with.

A further subsidiary test was made in which the load of air
and steam was kept constant. The temperature of the injec-
tion water was varied by heating it up with steam previously
to its uoe. The vacuum in the intercondenser naturally
followed this injection temperature, but the net result was
that the first stage took up almost all the work that the second
stage was compelled to drop.
This shows that the pump is
not particularly sensitive to con-
densate temperature, and can
therefore work at a high efi&ciency
when connected to the actual
condenser.

Limit of Load Obtainable.

The limit of the load obtain-
able with the experimental appar-
atus can be seen by reference to
the diagram of the experimental
apparatus (Fig. 3). In this diagram
it will be noted that an artificial
'•' U " or water seal had to be
provided to imitate working
conditions. When the pressure in
the intermediate condenser was
greater than the vacuum in the
hypothetical condenser A, then,
of course, the water on the
right-hand side of the hmb was
depressed. As the pressure in
the intermediate condenser in-
creased, it is naturally seen in
the hmit that the water seal
would be blown. With a greater
water seal, of course, the range
of the pump could have been
taken further, but this would
have served no useful purpose as being outside the working
range of the pump.

When considering the above report and results of tests
allowance should be made for the condensation of the steam
which passes through the nozzle to extract a mixture of air
and steam. As is well known, this is very detrimental to the
results.

Again, the vacuum in the intermediate condenser remains
approximately the same for any variation in temperature of
between 86-9°F. and 109-4° F., and it should be remembered
that in practice the condenser temperature never varies
between such limits, otherwise the vacuum in the main
condenser would drop because the temperature of the circulat-
ing water would be too high for the same vacuum to be
obtained as with circulating water at a lower temperature.
Therefore too much steam is used by the nozzles of the first
stage without gain in vacuum. A vacuum of 28-5 in. is never
required with the condensate at a temperature of 97-1° F.

After taking the above into account it has been found that
in practice nearly half the steam used by the first jet could
be saved.

Working Condition«.

As mentioned above, the experimental apparatus only
admitted of a limited range for the test. The reporter,
therefore, arranged to inspect a pump actually working and
was enabled to do tliis by a visit to Billancourt Station, where
a ]3elas pump was seen maintaining an excellent vacuum on
a 6 000 kW set. A photograph of this pump in situ (Fig. 2)
is given herewith. The pump exhausted the condenser
to a vacuum of 25-3 in. eighteen minutes from the start.

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

719

using the second stage of the pump only, and completed the
exhaustion to 29-5 in. on adding the first stage after a
further three minutes' operation.

The actual steam consumption of the extractors at this
station was approximately 500 lb. of steam per hour for a
vacuum of 28| in., hut the jets had been designed according

Fig. 2. — C. M. & M. Jet Condenser, having a Capacity sufficient

TO DEAL WITH 82 OOO LB. OF StEAM PER HoUR, FITTED WITH

Three Sets of C. M. & M.-Delas Steam Jet Air Extractors
OF the Intermediate Condenser Type.

to the French method — i.e., for securing the best results
when extracting dry air. When deahng with saturated air
the first jet is, of course, too large in diameter; and if designed
according to English practice for deaUng with saturated air,
the steajn consumption would be very considerably reduced, as
only about half the amount would be required for the first
jet.

In support of the statements made by Cole, Marchent
and Morley, Ltd., as to steam consumption, which was the
primary object of the inquiry, it was found that, on comparing
results of the C. M. & M.-Delas air extractor with other first-
class makes of a similar type, the reporter was able to give
the following comparative results :

Vacuum

maintained

inches.

Steam used by
the C. M. & M.-Delas
Pump per cent. less.

28-25
28-5
2875
29-0

24-9
190
22-4
20 0

As a result of the test it was considered that the claim made
by the firm that. this pump is an improvement on existing
equipment was substantiated by the tests made, and the

:^>.

Absolute
pressure

AIR AND STEAM
LOADING

Cooling I

Injection water ^
(warmed)

LiVe steam
for — -»-c=k:
adjusting temp,
of injection water

Cold water

M ' ' ^ t ' ^ ^

^^--^

Auxiliary jet
for maintaining
sufficient vac-
uum to allow SH
discharge of
injection water]]
from <^

CtoA after
condensing water
from 1^^ stage of pump.

ylypothetical
condenser.

Water
Extraction
Pump.

Mercury
U-tube

To atmosphere
or feed heater

Water from

intermediate

condensation.

EXPERIMENTAL
APPARATUS
FOR TEST.

F1G.3.-

-DlAGRAM OF the EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS USED FOR THB

Tests.

C. M. & M.-Delas pump was recommended for the plant for
which^the test was carried out.

Tests of Delas Air Extractor.

Working with Superheated Steam and dealing with Dry Air.

Barometer at 30 in. of mercury.

Back Pressure of Exhaust. 3-28 ft. of water.

Steam Pressure at the Jets, 242 lb. per sq. in.

Steam Consumption, 600-5 lb. per hr.

.\bs.

Suction

Vacuum,

Corrected

Boiler

Press.

Second

Air

inches

Intermediate

Air Nozzle

Steam

Main

Com-.

intro-

mercury.

Press.: inches

Diaineter(s)

Temp.

Suction,

pression.

duced,

Barometer

mercury.

inches.

"F.

inches

lb./hr.

30 in.

vacuum 30m.

mercury.

Barometer.

665
695

0-236

27-8

29764

27-76

0-079

0-295

27-8

6-a

29-705

27-84

O-I18

707

0-354

27-7

13-7

29646

27-68

0-157

717

0-5x2

27-3

23-8

29-4S9

27-29

0-I97

700

0-670

26-8

30-4

2933

20-70

0-236

690

1-002

25-8

53-0

28-94

25-80

0-275

680

1-457

24-7

72-0

28-55

24-70

0-275 & o-iiS

695

1-690

239

85-7

28-31

23-95

0-275 & 0-197

700

2'2IO

22-1

108-4

27-8

22-15

0-275 & 0'236

700

3185

21-2

1250

26-82

2 1 -20

2^otc. — Pump was discharging against a back pressure of 3-28 ft. of
water = 2 -9 in. of mercury.

720

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

The*^ Problems of Technical Education.

At the annual conference of the Association of Teachers in
Technical Institutions, held last week in London, the neces-
sity for the immediate appointment of a special committee of
inquiry to investigate the whole field of technical education
in its relation to education generally and to industry was
urged. In his presidential address Mr. J. Paley Yorke
pointed out that it was now forty years since an^' national
inquiry on technical education had been made, and that the
advance of scientific knowledge and the development of the
applications of science to industry and manufacture since that
time had been tremendous. Technical education had de-
veloped too, but it had developed furtively and unobtrusively ;
and it had developed beyond the recognition of many of those
who were supposed to be its guardians. The conference urged
that some qualified committee should advise whether or not
technical education should be promoted, and, if so, to advise
what measures were necessary for that promotion in the
interests of those industries and professions which depend
upon the applications of science.

Lord Burnham's Opinicn.

Lord BuRNHAM expressed the opinion^ that technical
education was slowly gaining its proper place in the assessment
of national values. In reality it was only thirty years old,
and it had not proceeded from motives of State policy in this
country as it had in Germany, nor had it been created by the
wands of multi-millionaires as in the United States. It had
not come from the urgent demands of the great industries,
and comparatively little had been done for its foundation
either by employers or employed. Lord Burnham thought,
however, that employers were showing a livelier sympathy
with technical training, though he noted that the Trades
Union Congress agenda paper contained small reference to it.

Real Scientific Education.

The President also urged that technical education, which
is definitely scientific education, was as essential educationally
and culturally as any other brand of intellectual activity. He
said that the time had come when reconsideration should be
given to the essentials of " a good general education," and
whilst he would not urge for too early specialisation, yet
submitted that the sum total of knowledge was so great that
it was inevitable that each individual should be a smatterer
in most things and something of a specialist in one. He
asked for careful investigation of the old idea that any subject
which approaches the region of usefulness could not possibly
be of any educational value. Sir William Noble had said
that tliose would have the best chance and hold the field who
had 70 per cent, of specialised knowledge and 30 per cent,
of the habit of dealing with men. Lord Burnham did not
think that education should exist in water-tight compartments
such as that wliich prohibited the teaching of modern languages
in junior technical schools, and, having regard to the world-
wide problem, he would say to technical teachers that they
could not make their field too wide, provided that it was in
accord with and in subordination to the first principles upon
which they had drawn.

Need for Research Facilities.

Attention was also diawn to the fact that the opportunity
for research work in technical institutions was scant, and that
it was essential that teachers of technology should have botli
the opportunity for research and for contact with industry.
The difficulties and the possibilities of abuse were recognised,
but the mutual advantage which would accrue both to educa-
tion and to industry was so great that it was suggested
some scheme might be devised whereby Industrial directors
could submit problems to the education auth<.> ities and tlirough
them to the technical institutions in the area. It was recog-
nised that, owing to a certain amount of neces,sary publicity,
all rcsearcli problems could not be dealt with tliat way, but
much good work could be done.

No Reduction in Grants.

The proposals to reduce the grants- for scientific research
and national scholarships for higher educatioiLwere criticised.
It was pointed out that these reductions would imperil scien-
tific and industrial development ; and that the percentage
reduction lu the estimates for these items was gieatcr than
that for items in other branches of educational work.

.-' Useful Co-operation.

Reference was also made to the scheme of examinations
which had been inaugurated by the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers in conjunction with the Board of Education. It
was foreshadowed tliat other professional institutions would
inaugurate similar schemes. Whilst the conference looked
with considerable interest upon the scheme, which seemed to be
full of promise, it was made clear that that interest would
speedily evaporate if it developed mereh^into an examination.

Our Spoon-fed Traders.

By SIR ERNEST BENN.

Our business men are not rising to their opportunities.
There never were so many opportunities in the world, and
trade was never so slow. So far as I am able to diagnose
the position this unfortunate situation arises from the habit
of spoon-feeding into which trade and industry has sunk. For
the purposes of war everything had to be arranged for every-
body, military discipline had to be imposed upon us all, we
were enjoined to obey and to submit our will and our opinion
to higher authorities. We absorbed this habit so thoroughly
that we have almost forgotten how to act upon our own
initiative. If anything is wrong the only thing we seem
capable of doing is to pass a resolution and send it to some
Government department. If, as of course happens, we get
no satisfaction in that way, v/e then content ourselves with
pious reflections upon the plight of the foreigner or the foUies
of somebody else, and we fold our hands and wait for trade
to revive. Could anjrthing well be more silly ?

Getting Back to Smiles.

As a nation of business men we need to get back to Samuel
Smiles ; we want a big dose of his old-fashioned self-help. If
some of the great men whom Smiles catalogues for us could come
back to life and compare present conditions with those with
which they had to struggle they would be amazed at the
apathy, the indifference, the helplessness, of the modern
commercial mind. The working-man no longer thinks for
himself, he does what his trade union leader teUs him. His
master is following in the same foolish way.

Now trade is what we make it and will never be anything
else. The conditions of which we complain are very largely
the result of our own actions. Politicians and Government
departments can only deal with them after they have arisen.

Progress and Individual Effort.

It is not necessarj- to go back so far as dear old Samuel
Smiles in order to illustrate these points. Sucli men as
Westinghouse and Stokes in modern times have not relied
upon trade associations, upon Government development
departments, upon outside agencies or public opinion. They
have invariably had all or most of these things against them.
A study of progress shows that everything we enjoy has been
forced upon us by individual effort on the part of someone
who was strong enough to believe that his salvation rested in
his own hands, and that he had a duty to perform quite
independent of anybody's opinion. Other people cannot
arrange our fortunes for us, nor can we arrange a fortune for
other people. Our salvation is in ever}' case in our own Ixands,
and that salvation is spelt WORK.

A Contrast.

These truths are so evident to-day that it seems almost
absurd to state them. We can see them demonstrated in
individuals and in nations. In Russia we hav^e one great and
valuable illustration which ought to satisfy the world for all
time of the futility of organisation, administration, and all
those other fetishes which we call Bolshevism wlxen we see
them in the Russian form, but fail to describe them properly
when we are ourselves practising the same vices in our own
arrangements at home. In German}^ we see the other side
of the matter ; the whole world is busy arranging affairs for
Germany ; every Government in Europe is telling Germany
what it ought to do ; supicme councils and world-wide
conferences meet regularly in order to put Germany right.
Germany the while goes on quietly working, and by that
simple expedient will, in course of time, defeat the lot of us.

It is no good bothering what other people do or what otlier
people think. From a business point of view tliis attitude of
mind is fatal ; the business man who talks of trade as bad, who
tries to find in the faults of otliers excuses for his own failings,
who is waiting until others make trade good, before he will
himself become active, is no business man at all ; he ought
to join the most socialistic trade union he can find.

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

721

New G.P.O. Chief Engineer.

Major T. F. Purves, O.B.E., the new engineer-in-chief of the
Post Office, was born at BJackadder Mount, Berwickshire, on
December 31, 1871. He was educated at Greenlaw and at the
Duns Academy. He entered the Post Office service by open com-
petitive examination in i88g, and was appointed telegraphist at
Edinburgh. He studied science at Heriot-Watt College and
Edinburgh University, and in 1892 won the first medal of the
Heriot-Watt College in electricity and technical telegraphy, as a
result of which he was in that year selected for transfer to the
engineering department in Edinburgh. In 1894 he secured, by
departmental examination, an appointment as mechanical and
electrical draughtsman in the Engineer-in-Chief's Office, London,
and in 1900, after a further competitive examination, he was
appointed Technical Officer on the Headquarters staff of the
Engineer-in-Chief. In 1905 he became assistant' superintending
engineer for London, and the following year he was transferred to a
similar position in the Southern District of England. In 1907 he
returned to headquarters as staff engineer in charge of the
designs section.

War Services.

On the outbreak of war he took a keen interest in the supply of
electrical equipment to the Army Signal Services, in which many
thousands of the P.O. engineering staff were engaged. To]^meet

Major T. F. Purves, the New Engineer-in-Chief of
THE Post Office.

modern trench warfare conditions he devised and sent out special
adaptations of telegraph and telephone apparatus. As a result
he took up a commission in the Royal Engineers as a haison officer
between the Army Signal Services and the Post Office. He also
designed a series of new types of electrical signalling and detect-
ing apparatus for military purposes, and controlled their [manu-
facture and supply.

Assistant £ngiaeer-in-Chief.

In June, 1919, Major Purves was appointed Assistant Engineer-
in-Chief, in succession to Sir William Noble, whom he now succeeds,
at the age of 50, in the premier position of Engineer-in-Chief. As
the position of the Engineer-in-Chief is one of the most onerous in
the country, involving the supervision of almost every type of
electrical engineering plant, to the value of nearly one hundred
millions sterling, the responsibility for an expenditure of about
fifteen millions per annum on new construction and maintenance,
and the control of a highly technical staff of about 25,000, this
wide experience will be a great advantage.

Future Developmentt.

In the course of an interview with a representative of " The
Times," Major Purves said he hoped to be Engineer-in-Chief for
ten years, and in that time, if the country continued to prosper.

the number of telephones in use should approach four miUions.
All overhead wires and aerial cables in our large towns would be
cleared away. Exchange accommodation and line plant would
overtake requirements, and in all parts of the country the
service would be available at short notice to any subscriber. The
underground trunk system of telephones and telegraphs would be
extended to hnk up all important centres of population. The
main telephone cables would each contain from four to five
hundred speech channels. The equipment of the London tele-
phone service with automatic exchanges would be two-thirds
completed, and the automatic would have become the standard
system in most provincial town-;.

Correspondence.

OVERHEAD WIRES AND PRIVATE PROPERTY.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — Further to your Editorial Notes on Overhead Equip-
ment in this week's Electrician, as I have had untold
difficulty over this matter I think the following observations
might interest your readers.

Originally when roads were being constructed and fields
divided the owners marked out a length 6 ft. wide, the earth
from three of which tlaey threw on to the other three to form
a bank or " cop." In the centre of this they planted a
hedge, the excavated portion becoming a ditch for irrigation
purposes, so now in conveying land the hedge belongs to the
man with the ditch. By the above you will see a landowner
can only claim 18 m. from tlie centre of the hedge to the
road, however wide the hedge or bank may be.

At various times waUs have been erected which in
course of time have become covered with soil, but this
concealed wall is the boundary, as no sane man would set
his wall back so as to present land free to the highway, and
this boundary also apphes to fences unless in the latter case
there are only a few yards fixed in the centre of the bank
to make good a dilapidated hedge.

Care should be taken, however, that no wire be over a
bank or wall. In one case an owner looked up from the top
of his garden wall and found my wire above it, and it cost me
nearly ^^lo to remove.

Should trees be overhanging a road they are trespassing
and the highway authority can demand their removal or,
on giving due notice, can themselves prune or cut them,
but the difficulty is for a private company to get the
authority to move in the matter.

At the present time it is advisable to watch the Post Office,
as they are overhauling all their overhead lines and are
demanding very serious alterations, but I would far sooner
deal with their engineers than -.vith private landowners.

For small companies where there is, say, gas competition,
it is better to get the prospective consumers to obtain way-
leaves, as then the dispute and insults are between them,
and their neighbour^.. — I am, etc.,

C. A. COPPINGER.

Bentham.
June 10.

RADIO TELEGRAPHY IN CHILE.

To the' Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — In your issue dated May -6 there appears the following
paragraph under the heading " Submarine and Radio
Telegraphy."

The Chilian Government concluded a contract in October, 192 1,
with the Siemens-Schuckert Co. for the erection of eleven radio
telegraph stations at Santiago, Valparaiso, and Punta Arenas (all
calpable of communicating with Buenos Aires) and at Iquique,
Antofagasta, Taltal, Tocopilla, Caldera, Concepcion, \"aldi\Ta and
Chiloe, with a maximum radius-of 1,550 miles. The contract price
is $1 385 000, and the Teiefunken system will be installed.

We should like to say that according to our information,
that statement is incorrect, tlie Chilian Government not having
concluded such contract with the Siemens-Schuckert Cornpany
or any other company. — We are, etc.,

Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co., Ltd.,
Henry W. Allen,

Joint General Manager.
London, W.C.2.
Jime 7.

[This information was taken from the report of Mr. W. F.
Scott, Commercial Secretarj- at Santiago. — Ed. E.]

722

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

Railway Companies' Power
Supplies.

The inquiry by the Electricity Commissioners into the pro-
posals of the S.E. and C. Railway Companies and the West Ken't
Electric Company for the erection of power stations at Angerstein's
WTiarf, Greenwich, and at Belvedere, respectively, was concluded
on Wednesday.

West Kent Company's Scheme.

In opening the West Kent Electric Co.'s case, Mr. Tyldeslky
Jones said the Kent Electric Power Act of 1902 authorised the
incorporation of a company to supply electrical energy in Kent.
An Act of 1906 made some amendments, and authorised the
company to supply to authorised undertakers, to anybody for
power, and for lighting in any area which at the date of the Act
of 1902 did not form part of the area of supply of any authorised
undertaker. The company could be required to supply to autho-
rised undertakers, and to anybody for power purposes, on terms
which had to be settled by arbitration failing agreement. In
1909 the West Kent Electric Power Act was passed, transferring
the powers and obligations of the Kent Electric Power Co. to
the West Kent Electric Co. In the latter company's area for
bulk supphes and for supply to railway companies were Dartford,
Bexley, Beckenham, Penge, Chislehurst, Erith, Woolwich and other
districts in which there were already authorised undertakers. The
company could only supply for power within the limits of authorised
distributors with the consent of the authorised distributors, or, if
such consent be unreasonably withheld, with the consent of the
Ministry of Transport. The company could, however, supply for
railway traction purposes without the consent of any authorised
distributor, and the energy could be used by a railway company
anyAvhere on its system, with the consent of the Minister of Trans-
port. Provisions in the company's 1917 Act removed all restrictions
with regard to capital. They had expended over ;^t55 000 on
capital account. The company was promoted by the South Metro-
pohtan Electric Light and Power Co. In 191 7 it was determined
to ask Parhament to remove the restrictions upon the develop-
ment of the West Kent Co. as a generating company, and to enable
it to perform the functions of a power company on a large scale.
The money spent so far was found by the South Metropolitan Co.
The bulk of the ordinary shares in the South MetropoHtan Co.
were acquired in 1918 by a group of companies including Vickers
Ltd., and the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon and Finance Co. The
total issued and paid up capital of the South Metropolitan Co.
(ordinary and preference) was £'\o^ 834.

Mr. P. C. Tempest, general manager of the S.E. and C. Railways,
said he preferred that the railway companies should have their own
generating station, as there would be less risk of failing to comply
with the terms of the Government guarantee on the 6i- millions
capital, viz. that the station should be completed in three years.

Financiers' Evidence.

Mr. R. McKenna, chairman of the City and Midland Bank, gave
evidence as to the abihty of the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon and
Finance Co. to finance the West Kent Co.'s project.

Sir E. Wyldbore Smith, chairman of the Metropolitan Carriage,
Wagon and Finance Co., and a director of the West Kent Electric
Co.. said the former company were prepared to advance forthwith
to the latter company, as a permanent investment, 3 J miUions for
the construction of the proposed station, laying mains, etc., and
would be satisfied with a general return of 7 per cent, on the capital
spent. The West Kent Co. s application to the Commissioners
would be dropped unless an agreement were arrived at with the
S.E. and Chatham Companies to supply energy to them. He
beUeved the L.B. and S.C. Co., which had a contract with the
London Electric Supply Corporation until 192.7, would at some
time take current from the West Kent Co. Wlien that time
arrived he believed the West Kent Co. would be able to supply
more cheaply than the London Co.

Engineering Details.

Sir Philip Dawson, M.P., consulting electrical engineer, said he
prepared the estimates for the West Kent Co.'s proposed statiop
at Belvedere. In the lirst stage of the scheme there would be
100 000 kW of plant (in units of 25 000 kW each) running, and
50 000 kW of spare plant. The cost of the first stage would be
;^340 000. The West Kent Co. would be prepared to supply the
S.E. and C. Companies three years hence at o-575d. per unit, after
transmitting the current 10 miles, assuming coal cost 15s. per ton.
This cliarge for current would be varied as follows : The charge
per kW per annum would be £4 5s. up to and including a maximum
demand of 25 000 kW, and ^■^ 5s. per kW for any excess above
25 000 kW, and then an amount equal to o"252d. per k\^^^. As
soon as all other demands outside the S.E. and C. Companies
became equal to their demand, a rebate would be given them of
I per cent., when other demands were double that of the railway
companies they would be given a rebate of 2 per cent., and when
the other demands were three times that of the companies they
would be allowed 3 per cent. There must also be a sliding scale
according to changes in co.st of coal, rates of wages and improve-
ments in machinery, wliich might justify renewals. Mr. Sparks 's

figure of o'5d. for energy supplied at Lewisham was based on a
thermal efficiency of I7'l per cent. That was nearly i per cent.
higher than he (witness) allowed for in a larger station wdth larger
units and boilers. He allowed i6'2 per cent. The efficiency of his
station should be 2 per cent, better than that of Mr. Sparks, accord-
ing to his calculations, and assuming 15 per cent, efficiency for the
Angerstein's Wharf station, that would increase the coal bill by
I "4 per cent. Assuming, also, 5 per cent, interest on the capital
for the Angerstein station, instead of 4 per cent., and an addition
of ;^o-3i to the ;£i7'8 estimated as capital cost per kW of plant, an
addition of £% 750 for cost of pilot and telephone cables, and /70 000
as the value of the generating station site, it brought the cost of
current to o-588d. At the 90 000 kW stage he estimated that Mr.
Sparks's station would cost ;^i8'2 per kW (compared with the
estimate of ^I7'8), at the first stage— -60 000 kW — the figure would
be £18-45. ^ 1.50 000 kW station with 10 units of 15 000 kW must
cost more per kW than his proposed station with 25 000 kW units.
The greater the number of units the greater the cost per kW, and
the smaller the units the more rapidly the cost increased. If Mr.
Spaiks' figure was correct for 150 000 kW, his figure for 60 000 kW
was too small. On the debenture for £6 500 tjoo to be created by
the Construction Co., it was agreed to pay interest not exceeding
6 per cent., so it was clear that 4 per cent., or even 5 per cent., was
not the rate at which capital was expected to be obtained. He did
not think many modern designers would plan a station with 10 units,
particularly units as low as 15 000 kW. He had had information
from all the railway power stations that were' running. Higher
steam pressures and higher temperatures were now being dealt with,
but there were no stations running which enabled one to know the
resulting increase in efficiency. The thermal efficiencies of some of
the largest railway generating stations to-daj' were 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Advantages of Diversity.

Replying to Mr. Miller (for the S.E. and C. Companies), witness
said he thought it could not be, assumed that the efficiency at
Angerstein's Wharf would be i7'5 compared with I4'2 at the South-
western power station at Wimbledon. The West Kent load,
assuming they got the L.B. and S.C. demand, the S.E. and C.
demand and a big industrial load, would give them an advantage
over the S.E. and C. Companies' proposed station, because of the
better diversity. It was not always a disadvantage to produce
energy at two sites. It was an advantage if they had a big and a
varied business and a high density factor, and could work their
boilers at a high efficiency. It was a disadvantage to produce at
two periodicities 50 and 25, but the S.E. and C. Companies had the
disadvantage of a smaller demand and lower diversity factor.

Replying to the Commissioners, he said the West Kent Company
would supply at the price which he suggested for the railway load
(£4 5s. per kW per annum plus o-252d. per unit, uath reductions at
certain stages) if the conditions as to power factor, etc., were similar.
He did not think it followed that even if the price quoted to the
railway companies proved improfitable the general consumers would
have to bear the extra cost. Four of the generators would be 25
cycle machines because that was the L.B. and S.C. periodicity, and
two would be on 50 cycles, plus two converters to enable the higher
efficiency to be obtained. The cost would be less for the same kW
capacity if the plant were all 50 cycles. The extra cost was incurred
because of the desirability of catering for the railway load, which
would cheapen the general supply. If the S.E. and C. scheme were
passed the general consumer would have to wait.

To Mr. Turner (for the Joint Conference of Local Authorities),
Sir PhiUp said a Joint Electricity Authority, wlfich included dele-
gates of local authorities, could not compete with the railway com-
panies as to price of energy. A private undertaking had to give its
word to supply at a reasonable rate, but the Joint Electricity
Authority would be able to charge what it liked to cover interest and
sinking fund.

Re-examined by Mr. Tyldesley Jones : The advantage the
S.E. and C. had by having their generating station nearer Lewisham
would be counterbalanced by the West Kent Company having
increased generating facilities at Belvedere. The disadvantage in
regard to trivUsmission would tend to disappear as the load shifted
eastward. The West Kent Company's charge to the railway com-
panies would be o-584d. with coal at X7S. 6d. Anybody else could be
supplied at the same price under similar conditions. The price to
the Qiilway companies would come down to o-55d. when other loads
- the L.B. and S.C. and the industrial loads — were approximately
equal to three times the S.E. and C. Companies' demand.

Replying to the Commissioners, Sir Pliilip said Mr. Sparks esti-
mated a cost of £65 000 for cables from Angerstein Wharf to
Lewisham. He (Sir Philip) suggested tliat with spares and pilot
and telephone cables the total would be £200 000. He thought the
60 000 kW station could not be carried out for an}i:hing like the
amount I\Ir. Sparks estimated. If the Commissioners assented to the
West Kent Company's scheme orders for Iwiler plant and turbines
could be placed wdthin two or three weeks, and operations on the
site could start at once.

Further Evidence for the Railways.

Mr. C. P. Sparks was recalled (for the S.E and C. Companies) and
said 171 per cent, thermal efficiency had been obtained in stations
with units the same size as those he proposed, and with a shghtly
lower load factor. Sir Philip Dawson had worked out the thermal
efficiency on the basis of units deUvered at Lewisliim. He (witness)
had calculated it on units sent out. About iS-i might be assume*

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

723

for the larger station. The efficiency at the power station might be
I per cent, higher than that at Lowisham. He did not think it could
be substantiated that the power company were in a better position
to give this supply than the railway company. Out of a demand
of 57000 kW the main load— 43000 kW — would be given at
Lewisham, and the centre of gravity was in that neighbourhood. The
railway companies started with an advantage of £i5S 000 as regarded
expenditure in the first stage and at stage iD that figure would rise
to £^io 000.

Trade Facilities Committee's Views.

Mr. W. J. Sainsbury, secretary of the Trades' Facihties Advisory
Committee, said, in reply to Sir John Snell, when the S.E. and C.
Railway Companies first approached the Committee wdth regard to
a guarantee they did not propose to generate their own power. The
Committee said they would require to be satisfied that the power
would be available when the line was ready for it. Later, when the
railway companies proposed to generate the energy themselves, the
amount was increased from 5 million to 6 J millions, but the guarantee
was not to be given unless a satisfactory arrangement had been
entered into for the supply of t\\c power required. The Committee
would be prepared to recommend a guarantee provided the Com-
missioners were satisfied that the power would be available when
required, and that the price was acceptable to the railways.

In replv to the Hon. Evan Charteris (for the County of London
Electric Suppl}^ Company) witness said he did not think the reduc-
tion of the 6h million to 5 million would entail any delay.

To Sir Harry Ha ward, he said a condition of the guarantee was
that contracts for plant and equipment must be let to British firms,
with the exception of small amounts for which sanction would be
given for expenditure abroad. If the Commissioners decided in
favour of the West Kent Company the Committee would instruct
tlte consulting engineers that the contracts must be all placed on
competitive prices, and that the Committee's sanction must be
obtained for any purchase outside this country. These would be
the conditions to whomsoever the guarantee were given.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones said it had been pointed out to him that
the West Kent Company had not stated the load factor at which the
89 million units were to be taken by the S.E. and C. Companies.
It was meant that they should take them with a load factor not less
than 35 per cent. The maximum demand that had been specified
was to be taken over half an hour or an hour. Coal cost was taken
on a basis of 15s. and the wages were based on the present rates. He
wished to explain more definitely the arrangement for reduction of
the charge to the S.E. and C. Companies with the growth of the
general demand. When the S.E. and C. Companies took 89 million
units per annum, and the L.B. and S.C. and the industrial loads
amounted to 216 milUon units the S.E. and C. would get the full
benefit of the 3 per cent, rebate. The i per cent, and 2 per cent,
rebates would apply when the S.E. and C. consumption was below
89 millions under the conditions stated. It was proposed that the
agreement should be for 60 years and the terms of purchase were
suggested to be 20 years' purchase on the average production for
5 years, subject to the parties being safeguarded if one or more of the
five years were abnormal.

County of London Company's Case.

The Hon. Evan Charteris, opening the case of the County of
London Electric Supply Company, said his clients had always taken
the view that the capital station was the correct solution of the
electric supply problem, would be able to give a supply at a price
not higher than the railway companies could generate it themselves.
The erection of a station for a specialised purpose was a proposition
opposed to the interests of electrical development. The County of
London Company were prepared to begin the construction on their
Barking site of a 100 000 kW station.

Mr. Craig Henderson (for London County Council) pointed out
that the Commissioners had issued a Memorandum last month stating
that the consent given to the County of London Company for the
Barking station was for the company's own needs. Notice ought to
have been given of the company's intention to appl}'- for sanction to
supply the railway companies.

Sir John Snell said they must put in a formal application.

Mr. Charteris said the Company were entitled to supply within
their area, and the terms of their proposal would in due course be
laid before the Commissioners. Cheap capital had to be considered
in relation to the purposes for which the capital was to be used.
Was it to be devoted to an economical purpose or squandered on a
system which all the evidence of the last 10 years showed did not
produce*the best results and which was only to be justified in the
event of there being no alternative which could commend itself to
the Commissioners ? Was the smallness of the cost of money com-
mensurate with the capital saving which it would be showii could
be effected by the County of London Company ? Mr. Sparks said he
started with a predilection for 50 cycles, which Avas used by the
majority of authorities in the London district. He submitted that
there would be no advantage in the adoption of 25 cycles. It was
hoped that 50 would be the standard periodicity for London, and
therefore it was a mistake to adopt 25.

Sir John Snell said if Mr. Charteris could show that the railway
companies could still adopt the system they proposed to adopt if
they used 50 cycles that was a matter the Commissioners must
consider. His clients were not there to oppose the West Kent
Company's appUcation, except so far as putting forward an alterna-

tive involved criticism. It was estimated that there would be a
capital saving of ;^483 000 by taking a supply from the Barking site,
after allo-wing for transmission mains. ^024 800 was the difference
between (a) the station being erected for the purposes of the rail-
way, and (b) the provision for the railway being part of the combined
load, and the cost of the transmission mains being taken from the
;{624 000 brought it to £483 000, which was the saving in capital
cost by combining the load compared with that at Angerstein's Wharf.

In reply to Sir John S.vell, Mr. Charteris said if his company
had t\e S.E. and C. load and constructed a tunnel under the river
to contain the cables it was not suggested that it would necessarily
take the place of the West Kent Company's proposed station. The
cables through the tunnel would supply the County of London
Company's area south of the river — which was the largest portion
of its area. The question was whether the railway companies' load
should be added to the County Company's load south of the river,
thereby cheapening the whole supply north and south of the river.
They had 30 000 kW industrial load, and were turning down
demands for further supply owing to want of facilities.

Sir John Snell said that sanction was given on the Company's
representations that it wanted the plant to comply with its statutory
obligations. He understood that they wanted to shut down one or
two of their existing stations on account of the risky condition of
condensing water facilities.

On Tuesday, Mr. C. H. Merz gave evidence on behalf of ^e
County of London Company, and Mr. R. H. Houghton was called
for the railway companies.

Mr. W. F. Fladgate went into the witness-box on Wednesday,
after which counsel addressed the Commissioners.

Shanghai Electricity Undertaking.

The annual report and accounts of the Shaxgh.\i Municipal
Electricity Department for the year 1921 have come to hand,
and show the undertaking to be in a prosperous condition, further
progress having been made during the year. The total capital
outlay is now 20 771 469 taels (about £-i 461 911) and on plant in
operation 17654 556 taels (;^2 942 426), the return on the latter
being 10-56 per cent., against iO'34 per cent, in 1920.

Year's Profits and Plant Extensions.

The gross profit on the year's working was i 863 810 taels
(£310 602) and the net profit, after meeting interest, providing for
depreciation, etc., was 1047608 taels (£174641), against an
estimated amount of ;^i7i 636, and of £191 970 in the current year.
From 1916 to 1921 a sum of 2 170000 taels (;^36i 667) has been
handed over to the general funds of the Council out of the profit of
the electricity department, including /104 167 from the past year's
revenue. The generating plant at the Riverside power station was
increased by 46 000 kW (two 18 000 kW and one 10 000 kW sets),
making the total capacity of the generating plant at that station
79 000 kW. Two 20 000 kW turbine sets and two 3 000 kW
machines (the latter for providing independent supply for operating
the auxiUary plant) are on order and will be available during next
year. When these have been installed two 2 000 kW sets will be
discarded, leaving plant of 121 000 kW at the station. The old
Fearon-road generating station will also be shut down.

Cable Extensions and Sub-Station Developmeot*

During the year 168 miles of overhead cable were erected and
66 miles of underground cable laid by the stafi of the Department.
The average capacity of the modern sub-stations is about 2 ooo kW,
though for supplying large mills and other purposes larger sub-
stations have been equipped. The Tonquin-road " super sub-
station " is already supplying 20 000 kW, and is being equipped to
deal with 50 000 kW. At Robinson-road a large switch-house has
been completed and is designed for ultimately handhng 28 000 kW.
The Department is now supplying elecvricity to 33 334 premises, an
increase of 2 692 over 1920. The highest maximum load was
43 554 kW (Riverside 42 000 kW, and Fearon-road i 554 k^^^, and
the estimated maximum for 1922 is 64 000 kW. The load dehvered
to feeders was 41 074 kW, an increase of 16 per cent. Eight of the
boilers have been equipped for burning oil fuel, experiments ha\ing
shown that by supplementing coal-fired boilers with oil burners the
steam capacity could be raised by about 25 per cent. The load
factor has improved from 46-7 to 51-5 per cent.

The total units generated were 226 418 95S, of which the Riverside
station accounted for 2x9251888. The total units sold were
185 364 746, an increase of 28-24 per cent, over 1020. The largest
increases were for power (over 38 milHon) and private Ughting (over
two milhon units), though the sales for pubUc lighting, traction and
heating and cooking were also larger. The new industnal power
demands were not, however, as high as anticipated, but the existing
consumers' requirements were higher. 0\\-ing to post-war condi-
tions, delay in delivery of plant and other causes, the motors con-
nected only amounted' to o 900 h.p., compared with 12 242 h.p. in
1920, which was a record year. The motor installations increase,
but the number on lure shows a steady decrease, proving the
popularity and established position of electric power. At present
there are only 927 motors (of 15 888-5 h.p.) on hire.

Progress on the extensions at the I^verside station have not, it is
stated, progressed as rapidly as mijht be desired owing to the
amount of constructional plans required and to labour shortage.

724

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

Conference of Employers
and Employed,

The first of a series of week-end conferences of employers and
employed, which have been organised by the Industrial League
and Council, was held on Saturday and Sunday last at the house of
Sir Ernest Benn, at Oxted, Surrey. Among those present were :
Mr John Ames (general secretary Industrial League and Council),
Sir Ernest J. P. Benn, Bart., C.B.E., Mr. W. Vincent Boby
(W Boby and Sons), Mr. H. J. Cash (National Federated Electrical
Association), Major A. G. Church, D.S.O., M.C. (general secretary
National Union of Scientific Workers), Sir Ernest Clarke, Mr. W. F.
Dawtry (A.E.U.), Mr. H. H. Elvin (general secretary. National
Union of Clerks), Sir Alfred Herbert (chairman. Machine Tool
Trades Association), Mr. H. Wilson Howes (general secretary,
Printing JNIachine Managers' Trade Society), Mr. K. A. Scott-
Moncrieff (J.I.C. Electrical Supply Industry), and Mr. H. G.
WilUams.

Paper on Unemployinent.

The Conference was divided into four sessions, presided over
respectively by Sir Ernest Benn, Bart., C.B.E., Mr. H. Elvin, Sir
Alfred Herbert and Mr. H. Wilson Howes. The subject for discussion
was " The Fundamental Causes of Unemployment," and the case
was presented by Mr. H. G. Wilhams, M.Sc, A.M.I.C.E.

Mr. Williams said that many excuses were given for unemploy-
ment, but in his view unemployment was due to bad trade. That
was too often overlooked, and in consequence people sought to solve
the problem of unemployment, instead of the problem of trade
fluctuation which caused it. The immediate general causes of trade
fluctuation were changes either in the volume or the direction of
expenditure, or both combined. The Governments or large corpora-
tions had spent unwisely large sums of money. That had its present
reflection on the unemployment in this country. The three causes
of the changes in the volume of expenditure were : — (i) Economic
disasters, (2) abstention from buying, and (3) inflation or deflation of
currency or credit. Numerous disasters — e.g., failure of harvests,
war, revolution, industrial disputes — each deprived the people
directly affected of their buying power, and that caused bad trade
in other countries or industries'. War, after its first stage, had the
reverse effect when future production was mortgaged to raise loans.
Abstention from buying might be caused by fear of war, revolution,
abnormal legislation, bad trade, or resentment at high prices and the
desire to reduce them.

Inflation and Deflation.

With regard to the inflation or deflation of currency and credit,
the State or the banks, by the creation or destruction of credit in
any way, e.g., the printing of paper money or its withdrawal, the
creation of book credits or their cancellation, could increase or
dimijiish the amount of purchasing power available and thus raise
or decrease the demand for commodities. Experience had shown
that inflation or deflation produced appropriate reactions. Wherever
dehberate inflation had taken place, disaster followed.

Unemployment was caused by changes in the direction of expendi-
ture and changes which were partly changes in volume and partly
changes in the direction of expenditure. Goods manufactured in
anticipation of a demand which failed to materialise owing to a
change of fashion become unsaleable, and persons who would have
continued to produce such goods had to find fresh employment.
Capital sunk in such products would be lost wholly or in part. In
changing production the employer had a tremendous responsibility
placed upon him, and should endeavour to make arrangements for
displacing as httle labour as possible.

Changes of State pohcy also tended to cause unemployment.
Extravagance in spending an' undue proportion of individual or
national income on goods of immediate consumption and not
enough on capital goods, e.g., factories, machinery, railways, etc.,
would render idle both plant and people in constructive industries,
and had its influence on the future efficiency of other industries.

Improved Methods.

Increase in the efficiency of firms in one part of the countryanight
throw temporarily out of employment numbers in the same trade
in another part of the country, and the same apphed to firms
producing goods in another country of the same quality, but at a
cheaper rate. Improved methods resulted in cheaper production
because each person's output was increased. The ultimate effect
was to increase the demand through lowering prices. The immediate
effect of it might be the temporary unemployment of some of the
men. Those, however, were much more readily taken up when an
increase of output was increasingly distributed.

It was possible for bad trade to be avoided, but only if all the
causes which led to it were removed. Some of the causes were
beyond human control, while others could be completely avoided if
everyone was not only good but also wise. Better understanding of
the consequences of the unwise acts on the part of Governments and
employers and of workpeople which led to trade dislocation, and the
more we could educate people on those lines the less bad trade we
should endure in future.

There was a considerable need for an economic fly-wheel, which,
like the fly-wheel of an engine, would take up undue speed and assist
to regulate action when energy was reduced. In that way, during
periods of prosperity, the State, municipalities and Governments

should accumulate the funds needed for capital expenditure and usa
them when trade was slack.

Resolution of Conference.

There was considerable discussion, in which all those present took
part. The conference, at the last session, unanimously passed the
following resolution : —

" That this week-end conference of employers and employed
after considering ' The Fundamental Causes of Unemployment,'
find that discussion discloses varied and complex causes of unemploy-
ment which are unknown to the great majority of the people ; they
are of opinion that the incidence of unemployment should be fully
inquired into and they respectfully recommend to the Joint
Industrial Councils and Joint Interim Reconstruction Committees
that each Council should appoint a special committee of inquiry
who shall make a full investigation into the whole question of
unemployment as it affects each industry and that each Council be
requested to issue individual reports of each inquiry."

Efficiency of Wireless Watchers.

The report of the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee,
which was appointed in December last to inquire into the efficiency
of wireless watchers, has been issued. The committee (of 12
members) state that they have had the advantage of hearing the
views of representatives of the Association of Wireless Telegraphists,
of witnesses nominated by the Shipowners' Parliamentary Com-
mittee, the Institute of Marine Engineers and the Imperial Merchant
Service Guild, and of Commander F. G. Loring, R.N., of the General
Post Office. The time at the disposal of the Committee was,
however, not sufficient to enable the members thoroughly to
investigate the cases submitted by the Board of Trade. As, however
after examination of the cases it appeared that in only four of them
was technical inefficiency on the part of watchers alleged, the com-
mittee consider that even if the allegations made should on further
inquiry be sustained, they do not afford ground for advising any
alteration in the present regulations.

At the same time, the evidence reveals in some cases a want of
friendly co-operation between operators and the watchers, and the
committee are of opinion that shipowners, masters and seamen's
organisations should be impressed with the desirability of taking
all steps open to them to encourage such co-operation in the interests
of aU on board. Further, watchers should not be removed from
their duty during their period of watch.

In a reservation by Mr. J. Henson it is stated that if technical
inefficiency is proved that justifies alteration in the regulation^,
and also that an alteration is required providing that before a
certificate is issued by the Post Office to any person acting as a
watcher, more technical knowledge should be required.

*' Permoil " Lubrication.

Loco AND Auto Economy Accessories, Ltd., of 183, West-
minster Bridge Road, London, S.E.i, have devised the " Permoil "
system of greasing for axle boxes which, it is claimed, when once
installed; requires no re-oihng until after 60 000 miles running on
a railway coach or wagon and 90 000 miles on a tramcar. A special
oversized pad, constructed of horsehair and wool, is used. This is
strung together to keep its form, and is so arranged as to keep its
tension like a collection of springs. This special construction
prevents the usual rapid compression of the packing. The pad is
soaked in a specially prepared oil which has a viscosity of from
15 to 16, and is without impurities or acid content. After
60 000 or 90 000 miles have been run a fresh supply of oil poured
on the pad will enable another run of similar length to be made
before the pad is discarded. The initial cost of filling an axle box
is only los. to 12s. 6d., and the cost per mile on a hfe of 90 000 miles
is about ooid. compared \vitho-24d., which is said to be the lowest
figure reached under the old system. The old method of using a
wick to conduct oil from a container to the pad is entirel)' dispensed
with. The thin layer of the " Permoil " lubricant between the
bearing and the axle gives the lowest possible coefficient of friction
without loss of permanence of the film, and a dry or semi-dry
condition of the bearing does not occur, even under the greatest
pressure. The " Permoil " E.B.5 lubricant, which is used for
railway and tramway axles, is said to act perfectly in the hottest
cUmate without getting tloin and down to 30 degs. without congeahng.
It is not necessary to change the construction of axle boxes in order
to instal the system.

A table prepared by the company shows comparative results of
tests with the " Permoil " system and with ordinan,'^ oil lubrication.
On a G.E. 52 motor one charge of ordinary lubricant in summer
gave three days' running on an axle bearing and two daj-s on an arma-
ture bearing, compared with 120 days and 160 days respectively with
the " Permoil " system. With a G.E. Soo motor the figures were
three days and one day with ordinary lubricant and 100 days and
80 days with " Permoil." In winter the figures were with ordinary
lubricant four days (axle) and three days (armature) on a G.E. 52
motor, and six days and four days on a G.E. 800, while with the
" Permoil " 160 and 140 days were run on the G.E. 52 and 150 and
130 days on the G.E. 800.

The " Permoil " system is now being used on the Great Western
Railway, amongst other traction undertakings, and it is said to be
regarded with favour by the mana.gers of many railways and tram-
ways. Tests will be made shortly on the L.C.C. Tramways.

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

725

Association of Consulting Engineers.

The annual general meeting of this association was held on the
29th ult., Mr. W. Vaux Graham, M.I.C.E., presiding.

The report of the committee stated that nine new members
(including one from Cape Town and one from Calcutta) were elected
during the year, the total membership being now 84. A letter was
received last summer from the Belgian Association of Consulting
Engineers inviting the association to attend a meeting in Paris in
connection with a proposed International Federation of Consulting
Engineers, but after consideration it was decided that no useful
action could be taken at present. Owing to the coal strike, the
annual dinner was postponed until November. The result showed
that this period of the year was more convenient than the spring
and it is proposed this year to adopt the same course.
Gonditiont of Contract.

The association had a representative on the Committee of the
I.E.E. to revise the model general conditions of contract, but during
the year it becarhe evident that the association could not accept the
conditions in the form in which they appeared likely finally to take,
and the representative was withdrawn. After discussion with
representatives of the B.E.A.M. A. it was decided that the association
.should itself draft a set of conditions for use where members of the
association and members of the B.E.A.M. A. were jointly concerned.
A draft was accordingly prepared by a sub-committee. One
principle underlying these conditions was that the responsibility for
the design of the works should rest with the engineer, and that the
work should be carried out to his instructions and satisfaction, but
that in the event of the contractors being dissatisfied with any of his
decisions they should have the right to refer the matter to an
independent arbitrator, who should hold a single arbitration on
the completion of the work to decide whether such decision of the
engineer had entailed additional expense to the contractor. This
principle was mutually approved, and the conditions were agreed,
except clauses 27 and 34. These were held over for further dis-
cussion at the end, as the committee found themselves unable to
accept the limitations of the B.E.A.M. A.

Limiting Contractor's Liability.
The first was an addition to clause 27, limiting the liabiHty of the
contractor for damage or loss caused to the purchaser, owing to
neglect by the contractor or to improper workmanship or design of
the plant, to a sum not exceeding the value of the contract. The
B.E.A.M. A. claimed that such a clause had already been included in
the draft agreed by the representatives of the I.M.E.A. on the
Committee of the I.E.E. The committee of the A.C.E., however,
felt that as the liabiUty of contractors to make good such damage
was not limited under Common Law, they could not agree to recom-
mend the members to put before their clients a set of conditions by
which the contractor was relieved of this legal obligation. The
addition to clause 34 limited the penalty of i per cent, of the contract
value of any portion of the plant for every week by which the " Time
of Completion " was exceeded, to 25 per cent, of such contract value.
Unfortunately the B.E.A.M. A. finally decided that without the
inclusion of these two additions the conditions could not be issued
as agreed, but as so large a measure of agreement had been arrived
at, the committee issued them in the name of the as.sociation and
recommended its members to make use of them, leaving the
B.E.A.M.A. to raise those questions in any particular case.

The report and accounts were adopted, and the following members
were elected to serve on the committee : — London : Mr. A. T.
Cooper, Mr. J- Mitchell Moncrieff, C.B.E., Mr. Arthur Henry Preece,
Mr. Henry John Rofe. Couiitry : Mr. Harry Prescot Hill (Man-
chester) and Mr. John Alex. Warren (Glasgow).

Electricity Companies Officers' Association.

In the 192 1 report of the Executive Committee of the Association
of Officers and Staff Members of Electricity Companies of Great
Britain it is stated that Sir Alex. B. W. Kennedy, F.R.S., has again
kindly consented to accept the Presidency of the Association.
Mr. F. Wood has resigned his seat on the Committee and the hon.
treasurership of the Association, and Mr. A. C. Tappenden (of the
City of London Company) has undertaken the duties of hon.
treasurer. The Committee have watched the proceedings at the
local inquiries of the Electricity Commissioners with the view of
keeping before the Commissioners the desirability of the foundation
of superannuation schemes by any new authorities.

In regard to the Morley award, the Committee are of opinion that
all questions as to the detriment suffered by officers and servants
of an undertaking by operations under the 1919 Act would best
be dealt with by referees fully acquainted with the nature of the
industry ; and they have (in conjunction with other Associations)
submitted this opinion to the Electricity Commissioners. Many of
the powers of combination conferred on undertakers by the Act
of 1919 are similar to those given by the Acts of 1908 and 1909,
but any such combination as may take place in future will be in
consequence of the Act of 1919, and the Committee think that any
member who may suffer detriment should be entitled to the pro-
tection given by Sec. 16 of that Act. They were afforded an oppor-
tunity of laying their views before Sir John Snell and Sir Harry
Haward, with the result that a new section has been inserted in the
Bill now before Parliament favourably amending the section.

The accounts shows a credit balance of £517 12s., which sum,
except for the amount which it is necessary to keep on current

account, has been placed on deposit at the bank. The members
of the Executive Committee who retire are Messrs. V. A. Hitchman,
W. A. .Mackenzie, A. W. Seabright, and J. H. WilUs. Mr. Mackenzie
has resigned his seat, but the other gentlemen offer themselves for
re-election. The hon. secretary (.Mr. O. M. Andrews) having found
it imprjssible, owing to other engagements, to devote the necessary
time to the business of the Association, an assistant hon. secretary
(Mr. R. Litt, of the Westminster Company) has been appointed.

Small Ironclad Cut-outs.

In Henley's new pamphlet dealing with Cut-ol'TS we notice that
the company have made a departure which will te appreciated by
many engineers. Extracts are given of tests carried out at the
National Physical Laboratory, part of which we produce below.
With this information confidence can be reposed in a cut-out.
whereas previously the performance of a cut-out depended too
much upon theoretical assumption. In many cases engineers, for
the sake of safety, install a higher capacity cut-out than is necessary.
Obviously this is an expense which could be reduced considerably.

The Henley " Isco C" cut-out, dealt with in this pamphlet, is
rated for a working current of 10 A and a fusing current of 30 A,
and the test certificate of the National Physical Laboratory states,
that : — " The cut-outs are rated for 10 A 250 V, fitted with fuse
wire of o-oi8 in. dia. tinned copper. A battery of i 000 Ah. cells
giving 240 V was used for the test. The resistance was adjusted
to give a short circuit current of i 000 A. The positive pole of
battery was connected to the top terminal and also with a resistance
of o-ioo ohm, to the earthing screw of the metal box, the negative

Fig. I.

pole being connected to the bottom terminal. The result of five
tests was as follows : The fuse opened the circuit clearly without
arcing. The blowing of the fuse blackened the asbestos liring in
the hd, but this was purely superficial."

There are a number of other interesting features in this Henley
cut-out, including a patent slam catch and sealing device (shown
in Fig. i) so that there is no loose seahng pin to WTCStle with; the

Fig.

carrier is fitted with seLf-ahgning contacts, and sohd brass terminals
fitted with a pair of brass cheesehead pinching screws. These
cut-outs are specified for a working current of 10 A, and Messrs.
Henley inform us that although the fusing current of this new
cut-out is 30 A they consider it is more important that engineers
should know the actual working current. This is, or should be,
standard practice. We also illustrate a Home Office type of fuse
carrier, showing the method of \viring and the patent self-aligning
contacts. A copy of pamphlet W.L.3 may be obtained from W. T.
Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Blomfield Street, London, E.C.2.

726

The Electrician.

June 16, 1922

Legal Intelligence.

Re Corona Lamp Works, Ltd.

A petition by the British Thomson-Houston Co. for an order to
wind up the Corona Lamp Worlis, Ltd., came before Mr. Justice
Astbury on Tuesday. ^^ .,

■• Counsel for the company' asked for an adjournment. He said
the petition was the result of an appeal to the House of Lords for
a decision of the Court of Appeal. There was a sum of l^ 529 from
costs wluch were ordered by the House of Lords to be repaid to
his clients. There was also a subsequent action, tried by Mr.
Justice Astbury, between the same plaintiffs and defendants,
and that resulted in judgment against defendants. It was alleged
in the petition that negotiations had taken place for a compromise
on the different matters between the parties, and the matter was
allowed to stand over for some scheme to be carried through.
Unfortunately, while the negotiations were pending the petitioning
creditors put in an execution on the goods of the company. A
receiver was appointed by the debenture holders, and the sheriff
came out. Then the petition was launched. If the negotiations
had been allowed to proceed the Corona Co. had every reason to
believe that there would have been no necessity for the petition,
and a scheme would have been brought forward to satisfy every-
body. The nominal capital of the company was £2 000, but there
were debentures in three classes for £^2 000 ; and the receiver was
in possession. He asked that the petition should stand over for a
month to allow of the negotiations between the petitioners and the
Company to be continued.

Mr. Turner (for the petitioners) said his instructions prevented
hifti making any concessions.

His lordship then made a compulsory winding-up order.

Is a Motor Repairing Waggon a Tractor ?

Sheriff Robertson, of Falkirk, has given his considered judgment
in the case against the Falkirk and District Tramways Company for
having used, on February 26 last, a motor tower repair waggon for
which a licence under the Finance Act, 1920 (as amended by the
Roads Act, 1920), was not in force. The company had apphed to
the StirUng County Council for a licence, for which a postal order
for 5s. was enclosed, but the Council, not being satisfied that that
was the appropriate duty, dechned the 5s. and communicated with
the Ministry of Transport, who expressed the opinion that the
correct duty payable on the vehicle was £25. The company main-
tained that the waggon, which was not used solely in the course of
trade or agriculture or in carrying goods from one place to another,
was a tractor, and should be hcensed as such at 5s.

In the course of his judgment, the Sheriff said. that for effecting the
repair of the overhead wires the company used a motor tower repair
waggon, which was an ordinary four-wheeled lorry propelled by an
internal combustion engine capable of developing 24 to 25 h.p.
On the front part of the lorry there was a telescopic tower, by means
of which a platform could be raised to enable workmen to carry out
repairs to the wires. The rear part of the lorry contained a box, in
which tools, pieces of spare wire and other fitments necessary for the
repairs were carried. The Finance Act of 1920 provided that on
mechanically propelled vehicles used on public roads duties should
be paid at the rate specified in the second schedule of the Act, but for
vehicles used solely in the course of trade or in agriculture (loco-
motive ploughing engines, tractors, and other agricultural engines)
the duty was to be 5s. If the vehicle was not a " tractor," the
company's argument failed. He could not conceive any definition
which would be wide enough to include the vehicle in question that
would not also include every motor lorry used to carry any kind of
burden. The general feature of all " tractors " must be that they
draw their burden behind them and do not carry it. He had no
doubt but that the company when they asked for a licence failed to
tender the appropriate amount of the duty payable by them.
Therefore he imposed a fine of ;^io, three guineas of which he
allocated to the County Council.

Parliamentary Intelligence.

Key Industries.

In the House of Commons on Monday, Mr. S. Baldwin stated.
in reply to Major Mackenzie Wood, that he was aware of Sir J. J,
Thomson's general attitude on the Safeguarding of Industries Act
and on the alleged difficulties in getting apparatus for research.
He would point out, however, that the inferiority of apparatus and
materials could not be ascribed to that Act, since there was no
prohibition of importation, and the duty was not of sufficient
magnitude to deter an investigator from obtaining foreign goods
if their quality was appreciably higher than that of domestic
products. There was conclusive evidence that Germany was far
from maintaining her pre-war standard of quality. He could not
con.sider Sir J. J. Thomson's suggestion that a system of licences
under the Act for research institutions should be set up.

Supply Companies Charges.

Answering Viscount Curzon in the House of Commons on Monday,
Mr. A. Neal stated that the increases in the maximum charges

authorised to be made by electricity authorities had sometimes been
made under the terms of their provisional orders, which incorporated
Sec. 32 of the Schedule of the Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act, 1899,
but in the majority of cases under the Statutory Undertakings
(Temporary Increase of Charges) Act, 1918. In each case the
Minister had considered a report by the Electricity Commissioners,
and under these circumstances he did not think that the appointment
of a Committee to deal with the matter would be useful.

Suburban Railway Electrification.

On Monday, Mr. J. D. Gilbert put a long question to the Minister
of Transport on the subject of the electrification of the suburban
lines of the S.E. and C. Railway Companies. Mr. Gilbert asked
whether, seeing that the Government had undertaken to guarantee
capital expenditure of six and a half millions by ihe companies for
their electrification scheme ; that it was a condition of the guarantee
that the work should be started at an early date and be carried
out within three years, and that the generation of the necessary
power should be done at cost price ; that the formal application of
the railways for consent to erect a generating station was opposed
by. the West Kent Co. ; that the latter company were themselves
promoting a scheme for putting up a station at Erith ; that practi-
cally all the shares in the West Kent Co. were owned by the South
MetropoUtan Co., who had recently joined a large group of London
electricity companies ; that the opposition of the West Kent Co.,
if successful, was likely to delay the electrification of the railway
lines and to increase the cost of power supply for the lines ; and
that the erection of a non-purchasable capital station at Erith
would seriously affect the purchase rights of the London County
Council, he would state whether the Advisory Committee under the
Trade Facilities Act were aware, when they came to the agreement
to assist the railway companies, that the consent of the Com-
missioners would be necessary for putting up the station ; and
whether there was any consultation between the Treasury and the
Ministry of Transport on the subject ?

In reply, Sir R. Horne said the answer to both parts of the
question was in the affirmative. He must not, however, be taken
to concur in all the statements of the preamble, many of which were
matters for argument.

Motor Transport by Railways.

On Monday it was announced that, owing to the opposition, it
had been decided to withdraw the L. and N.W. and Midland
Railway Bill for road transport powers.

Overhead Transmission Line Material.

B.S. specification No. 137 for Porcelain Insulators for Over-
head Power Lines, the first of a series covering overhead trans-
mission line material, has been issued by the British Engineering
Standards Association, and copies may be obtained (at is. 2d. each)
from the Secretary.

In preparing the Specification the Committee considered that,
in view of the number of designs available at present, none of which
could be said to represent finality, it was not desirable to standardise
the shape or dimensions of the insulators. The Specification is.
therefore, confined to the conditions of test and performance of
two types of insulators. Considerable difficulty was experienced
in finding suitable terms for these types, and finally the terms
" Supporting " and " Tensioning " were adopted. They are
defined as follows : —

" Supporting Insulator " denotes one which supports the con-
ductor but is not intended to withstand the load due to the full
tensile stress in the conductor. Pin type supporting insulators are
generally used for declared pressures up to about 60 kV and
suspension type are employed generally for declared pressures in
excess of 60 kV.

" Tensioning Insulator " denotes one which is de,signed to with-
stand the load due to the full tensile stress in the conductor.
Tensioning insulators are of the disc and shackle type, but the
latter are practically obsolete. Disc t^-pe insulators are divided
into interlinked and metal hooded types.

I.E.E. War Memorial.

The unveiling and dedication of the War Memorial in memory
of the members of the Institution of Electrical Engineers who fell
in the Great War will take place at th^ Institution building on
Wednesday, the 28th inst., at 4.30 p.m. The Memorial will be
dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ryle, K.C.V.O., D.D., Dean of
Westminster, and unveiled by Air Chief Marshal Sir H. M. Trenchard,
Bart., K.C.B., D.S.O., assisted bv the President of the Institution,
Mr. J. S. Highfield, and the Senior Vice-President Dr. W. H. Eccles.
F.R.S.

The Entrance Hall, where the Memorial will be erected, will be
reserved for nearest relatives, and special tickets ^^^ll be issued to
them for tliis purpose. Members (other than relatives) and'their
ladies will take their places in the lecture theatre, for which no
tickets will be required. It is requested that those attending
should arrive not later than 4.15 p.m., and it is desired that
officers who have uniforms should attend in =ervice dress with
decorations.

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

727

Electricity Supply.

For the year ended March 31 the Bacup Electricity Department
made a profit of about £2^.

Kendal Town Council have decided to spend £11 685 on exten-
sions and plant in connection with the electricity undertaking.

Canterbury City Council has applied to the Electricity' Com-
missioners for a loan of £/{ 650 excess expenditure in respect of
new generating plant.

Dumfries Town Council has now received the terms upon which
the undertaking of the Electricity Company can be acquired, and
the offer is to be investigated.

Blackrock (Dublin) Urban Council have applied to the Pro-
visional Government for a Special Order to authorise the supply
of electricity in the township.

Glasgow Electricity Committee have decided to purchase
240 000 tons of coal during the next twelve weeks at a price which
is about los. a ton less than last year.

Blackpool Tramways and Electricity Committee have decided
to allocate £s\ 000 of their balance of £6 286 to reserve fund, and
£1 000 to third-party insurance, carrying forward £1 236.

A meeting of residents of Abbeyfeale (co. Limerick) was
recently held in support of a scheme for the formation of a company
to establish electricity works. Canon Cregan presided over a
representative gathering.

Worksop Urban Council is being sued by the Grafton Angling
Association for damage caused by alleged negligence in permitting
heated water to enter the Chesterfield Canal from the condensing
plant at the electricity works.

Blackpool Electricity Committee will support the scheme for
the improvement of the existing organisation for the supply of
electricity in Mid-Lancashire Electricity District, and for
setting up a Joint Advisory Board.

The large power consumers having complained of the high charges '
for electricity, the Corporations of both Bacup and the adjoining
Borough of Rawtenstall are in negotiation with a view to a new
scale of charges being adopted in the two towns.

Mr. A. Elhs, of Cardiff, who was appointed to report on Hull
electricity undertaking, states in his report that if it was a case of
wishing to find work for the unemployed he would say the Com-
mittee had succeeded beyond the limits of anticipation.

The institutions under the control of the Blackburn Guardians
are apparently quite up to date, for Mr. P. P. Wheelwright, who
is acting as electrical adviser to the Board, has been instructed
to instal six electric irons at the laundry, and also to lay a cable
to the Sanatorium.

Owing to the delay in making known the proposals for dealing
with electricity supply in the area which includes Burley-in-
Wharfedale, the Urban Council find themselves unable to pro-
ceed with their scheme for providing public and private electric
lighting in the village.

On February 23, Stepney Borough Council applied to the
Electricity Commissioners for sanction to a loan of £^^92 140 for
extensions to the electricity undertaking. They have now received
permission to borrow ;^268 000 on account, a former sanction to
■^125 000 for the same purpose given in May, 192 1, being cancelled .

The Bursar of Marlborough College has applied to the Town
Council for permission to carry cables under and above roads in
connection with an electric lighting scheme for the college buildings
and boarding-houses. It is suggested that the Council should take
advantage of the scheme by endeavouring to obtain a supply of
electricity for the town.

Crook (co. Durham) Urban Council are applying for a Special
Order to authorise the Council to purchase, and the County of
Durham Electrical Power Distribution Company to sell, so much
of the company's undertaking as is situate in the Council's district,
to authorise the Council to take a supply of electricity from the
said company or any other body or person, etc. Objections to the
Electricity Commissioners by July 10.

Hackney Borough Council have passed a resolution asking the
Electricity Committee to consider and report on the question of
initiating a scheme whereby electricity for all domestic purposes
may be made available to families of limited means without the
necessity of appreciable initial expenditure ; and requesting the
borough electrical engineer to prepare a report on the matter for
submission to the Electricity Committee.

The Electricity Commissioners have informed Bacup Corporation
that although the town has not been included in the S.E. Lancashire
Electricity District, that fact does not preclude the possibility of
Bacup obtaining a supply or giving a supply of electricity to an
authorised undertaking or to a consumer in that district if it be
established that such a course is the most economical and is in
the best interests of the parties concerned.

Colonel Ekin held an inquiry last week into the application of
Lyme Regis Town Council for a Special Order to enable them to
purchase the undertaking of the Lyme Regis Electric Light and
Power Co. It was stated that the purchase price agreed upon

was £}, 730, and it was proposed to expend an additional £>i 000
on extensions and improvements. Tlie price charged by the
Company was is. per unit, and it was proposed to increase this to
IS. 2d., with a maximum charge of is. M.

St. Pancras Electricity Committee, in a report on the Council's
scheme for supplying electricity to small dwellings, states that at
present there are 285 consumers, and that Flaxman Terrace and
Prospe t Terrace DweUings have been wired for 488 lights, but the
supply to these houses has been delayed pending a decision of the
Special (Housing) Committee as to the wiring of the staircases, the
caretaker's residence, etc., as the tubing for the rising mains can
be utilised for both schemes. Instructions have now been given
for the work to be proceeded with.

The fourth and last of the new gas-driven sets for Buxton
electricity undertaking has been installed, and it is confidently
anticipated that the works, which have shown a loss since 191S,
will now show a substantial profit. The loss for 1918 was £1 863 ;
for 1919, £2 057 ; and for 1920, £1 378. But when the first portion
of the new plant was installed matters began to improve. In 1921
the loss was reduced by £2 000, by a further ;^400 in March, 1922,
and would have been wiped out if the coal strike had not occurred.
It is hoped soon to reduce the charges to consumers.

Nevir Schemes and Mains Extensions.

The Navan (Ireland) Urban Council have started work in con-
nection with the erection of the new electricity works.

York City Council have apphed for sanction to loans of £1 zoo
for two air filters, £2 000 for transformers, and £^ 000 for services.

Cheadle (Lanes) Council has decided to canvass the residents
in Cheadle Road in order to ascertain the demand for electricity
supply.

FoRMBY (Lanes) Council have received offers of electricity supply
from Liverpool and Southport Corporations and the L. & N. W.
Railway Company.

Warrington Rural Council wiU consider at their next meeting
the apphcation of the Corporation for authority to lay an extra
cable along Padgate Lane.

Hastings Corporation Council has apphed for authority to
borrow £'] 000 for mains, including £1 113 over-spent, and £^ 418,
excess expenditure on various loans.

The Electricity Commissioners have sanctioned the borrowing of
;^26 050 for electricity extensions at Lytham and St. Annes, where
there are now 3 222 electricity consumers, against 2 553 last year.

The talk of utilising Irish water power for generating electrical
energy is still going on, but it is ob\nous that no real progress in
that direction can be achieved till a calmer political atmosphere
prevails.

Elgin Town Council are supporting an application by Edmund-
son's Electricity Corporation for a Special Order authorising the
supply of electricity in the burgh. A limited company is to be
formed with a capital of ;^20 000.

Henley-on-Thames Council have before them two schemes of
electricity supply, one being by means of overhead cables from
Reading, which would also hnk up other parishes, and the other
by utilising the water-power of the river.

Messrs. Armstrong, ^^^litworth and Co. have obtained an extension
of time from Inverness To\\-n Council in regard to the Loch
Luichart hydro-electric scheme. The firm have alternative pro-
posals for utilising the water-power of the Caledonian Canal.

Bury (Lanes) Corporation has apphed to the Electricity Com-
mission for sanction to borrow £2 700 Tur laying a third mam
between Chamber Hall and Rochdale Road power stations, and the
permanent laj'ing of the two exisring trunk mains along Tanpits
Road.

Hawarden Rural Council has apphed for a Special Order to
authorise the supply of electricity in Connahs Quay Council area,
but the apphcation is opposed by Chester Corporation, who have
apphed for an order to distribute electricity within a radius of
five miles of Chester, and also by Wrexham Corporation

The question of providing additional generating plant is being
considered by C.\rnarvon Corporation. Aid. J. Pritchard. chair-
man of the Electricity Committee, explained at last week's meeting
tliat the proposed plant would cost about /S 000, while the cost
of providing bulk supply from the North Wales Power and Traction
Company would be about £12000. The arrangement with the
National Construction Company would end in three years, but
there was an understanding by which the period might be extended
to eight years.

An inquir\' was held at Liverpool on Tuesday into the application
of the Corporation for a special Order to authorise the purchase of
the Bootie Municipal Electricity Works and to extend the Liverpool
area of supply' to Bootie, Litherlaud. Waterloo, Seaforth and Great
Crosby. The inquiry' was conducted by Col. Ekin, and there was
no opposition, save from a section of Bootie ratepayers, who
demanded an annual payment of /12 500 to Bootie. instead of the
£'j 500 agreed upon by the two corporations, and for a periodical
review of the price per unit to be charged to Bootie consumers.

728

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

Electric Traction.

Blackpool Tramways Committee has declined an offer to rent
the electric standards for advertising purposes.

Burnley Tramways Committee has applied for sanction to
borrow l'\ 950 for relaying the double Une between Park Lane
and Padiham, and a single line in Manchester-road to Towneley,
and Rosegrove.

Work was started on Monday last on the schemes for the improve-
ment and extension of the railways of the Underground Electric
Railways Co. of London. Part of the City and South London
line will be closed on August 8, when the widening of the tube
will be commenced. The first sod of the ground for the Edgware
extension was cut on Monday.

Glasgow Tramways Sub-Committee are to consider and report
on the revision of fares and the improvement of the services.

The wages of the tramway employees were reduced by 3s. a week
on June i, and by a further as. on the ist prox.

The shareholders of the Glasgow Subway Co. have now autho-
rised the sale of the undertaking to the Corporation for ;^385 000.
It is probable that electric traction will be adopted when the
transfer has taken place.

For some time the tramways department has been employing men
each alternate week on reUef work, and under arrangements with
the Employment Exchange these men received an out-of-work
donation for the week of enforced idleness. The Ministry of Labour
has decided that this practice must be discontinued, and men
employed on such terms are not to get the out-of-work donation in
future. The Tramways Committee are endeavouring to secure the
continuance of the practice.

It is reported that satisfactory trials have taken place of the
North Eastern Railway Co.'s new electric passenger locomotive.
It is intended to haul a 450-ton express train at an average speed
of 65 ni.p.h., but the running gear is designed for a maximum safe
speed of 90 m.p.h. The trials are stated to have clearly indicated
that the full h.p. for which the engine was designed — i Soc h.p.
one-hour rating, or i 260 h.p. continuous rating — could be developed,
and that the heavy gradients could be dealt with in the manner
anticipated.

The demand for a reversion to penny tram fares was renewed at
last week's meeting of Liverpool City Council. It was stated that
since the minimum twopenny fare was introduced about eighteen
months ago there had been a falling off of passengers amounting to
40 000 000 per annum. Councillor Wilson, chairman of the
Committee, said an effort would be made to cheapen fares towards
the end of the present year, but the department must first get out
of debt. Liverpool was paying higher wages to its tramway em-
ployees than any other municipality in the country, and nowhere
were there better cars or better tracks.

The inauguration of the electric train service between Goldau
and Lucerne on the 28th ult. completed the electrification of
THE GoTTHARD RAILWAY, about 140 milcs in length. The steam
line was opened in 1882 and work on its electrification began in 1913.
The scheme, which was delayed by the war, also involved strengthen-
ing some bridges and viaducts. Electrical energy is supphed by
Lake Ritom hydro-electric station but as soon as the Amstey
power station is capable of furnishing a supply the electric service
will be extended to the Lucerne-Basle line. Some particulars of
the electrical equipment Kave already appeared in The Electrician,

The proposal of Glasgow Corporation to purchase the Airdrie
and Coatbridge Tramways is severely criticised in tlie report issued
by the Ratepayers' Federation. It is thought that the present is
an inopportune time to purchase the tramways. The Federation
are, apparently, reconciled to a railway monopoly but a tramway
monopoly is to be opposed, for the report states : " Were it proposed
simply to hnk up Glasgow tramways with those of another burgh
no objection could be offered, but it was a different matter for
municipalities to borrow money in order to create great tramway
and omnibus monopolies, which in turn were to become destructive
of the capital supplied by the same public to run the railway
companies." It is also objected that though the Corporation are
now promoting a Provisional Order to purchase the tramways they
paid the purchase price of £82 250 in December last. The purchase
scheme has been before the ratepayers for a long time and the
promotion of the Order was approved. In fact as no petitions
have been lodged against the Provisional Order it is now proceed-
ing as an unopposed measure.

A large installation of electrically operated sugar plant,
consisting of centrifugals, has been sent to Java by Pott, Cassels &
Williamson, of Motherwell. The centrifugals have been dehvered
to the Tjomal sugar factory, and comprise 73 electrically driven
units, arranged in two double rows, batteries of 42 and 33 machines
respectively, ^v^th steel baskets, 36 in. dia., 18 in. deep. Each
machine has its own 3-phase overhead motor, running at i 200 revs,
per min. The centrifugals are driven by the motors through a
.special form of friction clutch which also acts as a flexible coupling
between the motor and centrifugal. The switches are also of special
design and are interlocked with the brakes of the centrifugals.
Each of the four distributing mixers has its own motor, operating
through suitable bevel and worm gear. There are altogether
83 electric motors.

Municipal Accounts.

Walsall Municipal Electric Tramways Department shows
a net profit in the year ended March of £^ 987, compared with
£Z 107 in the preceding year.

The profits of the Walsall Electricity Supply Department
for the past year amounted to £1 110, compared with;^i 613 in
192 1. Receipts from the sale of current fell from ;^94 658 to ;^85 117,
but generating expenses dropped from £10 458 to ^y 935, and
management expenses from £6 556 to £$ 944.

Aberdeen Corporation Tramways department has completed
a record year. The total revenue of the tramways and motor
omnibuses was ;^i96ii9, against ;£i95 312 last year. There was
a decrease of £6 968 on the tramways, but an increase on the 'buses
of £'j 775, or a net increase of ;^8o7. The estimated net profit will
be about £2 248.

The net profit on the past year's working of the Swansea elec-
tricity department was over £j, 400, although there was a large
drop in consumption owing to trade depression. In 1920-21 the
profit was ;^3,878. Arrangements have been made for the con-
struction of a railway siding at the electricity station which will
effect a saving of 2s. 6d. per ton on coal delivered, or £z 000 a
year.

The accounts of Tynemouth Electricity Department for the
year ended March 31, 1921, have only recently been issued and show
a surplus of £2 895, compared with a loss of ;^293 on the previous
year. The capital expenditure during the year amounted to
^23 623, against £^ 578 in 1920, bringing the total capital expenditure
up to £i2'j'j6x, less ;^67 408 repaid. Ihe units sold numbered
7 516 571, an increase of i 704 687. The total works cost per unit
sold was o-892d. against 0'868d. the previou'S year.

At Lincoln City Council meeting last week. Alderman W. S.
White (chairman of the Electricity Committee, said the accounts
of the Electricity Undertaking -showed a loss on the year's
working of ;^i2 833, making, with the deficit of ;^6 833 brought
forward, a total of ;^I9 666. The Ministry of Health had granted
permission to spread the repayment of this deficienc}'- over a period
of five years. The balance standing to the credit of the depreciation
account at the close of the year was £^ x66. and in addition works
of replacement and renewal to the value of ^^27 213 had been met by
that account.

With regard to the Tramways Undertakings, the year began
with a deficiency of ;£4io, and the loss on the year's working was
;^644, leaving a deficit of ;^I054. A reduction of ;^i 368 in the
working expenses was more than counter-balanced by a fall of
;^i,403 in the revenue.

The gross profit of Worcester Electricity Undertaking for
the year ending March 31 last amounted to ;^i3 758. After
allowing for interest (£5845), repayment of capital (/5 418), and
income tax {£1 149), there remains a net profit of £1 346, which is
carried forward to the a'ppropriation account, bringing the balance
up to £5 ot8 ios. Of this sum a contribution of £1 500 has been
made to the relief of rates, leaving ;^3 185 to be carried forward.
In several previous reports, special reference has been made to the
desirability of building up an adequate reserve fund. About two
years ago the Council approved of this policy, but up to the present
no contributions have been made for this purpose, allsurpluses being
appropriated for the relief of rates. In addition, the accounts have
been further burdened by increased charges for rates and taxes. To
meet increased demands it has been decided to extend the power
.station and generating plant at an estimated cost of ;^53 950.
;^i57 04& of the capital expenditure has been repaid, lea\-ing the
outstanding debt at the end of March, /104 176.

The units sold during the year were 4583621, compared with
3 663 349 last year ; 25 new motors and 27 heating devices of a
capacity aggregating 630 h.p. were connected ; 3 599 633 units were
sold for ind'-strial service, heating and traction ; and 742 108 units
for lighting and domestic heating, compared with 589 204 units
last year.

The annual report of Liverpool Corporation Tramways
Undertaking for 1921 shows a decrease of 47989531 passengers
carried cornpared with 1920, but an increase of £105 006 in the
receipts. The average earnings per car mile amounted to 27-48d.
against 22-82d., or an increase of 4-66d. The gross profit was
^^258 122. Interest, however, required ;^54 787, and sinking fund
and repayment of loans ;^46,650, lea\ing a surplus of £156 685.
The sum of ;;t205 261 was spent on renewals. The reserve, renewal
and depreciation fund was practically exhausted at the end of 1920
so that the whole of the surplus (£\^(i 685), together with an addi-
tional sum of ^48 576, was spent on renewals. Tliis latter amount
has been carried forward to next year's accounts. The committee
approved of the introduction of an improved type of car designed
by the general manager (Mr. P. Priestley), and certain new cars of
this type were placed in service, and 16 of the older t\-pe were
re-built and re-modelled. Progress was made in the installation of
the new type of route indicator boxes and side screens. Some of the
old motor equipments, which were in the works, were converted
into an electric welding plant, and the saving eff*»cted by being able
to carry out repairs with this plant instead of buying new material
considerably lessened the cost of repairs and maintenance.

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

729

Imperial Notes.

Electricity supply was commenced in Belgrave (Victoria)
early in April from a power house at Upwey.

The Corporation of Johannesburg have decided to spend
£1$ 000 on extensions of the electric supply mains to the suburbs.

The Municipal Council of Salisbury (South Africa) recently
raised a loan of £jo 000, of which £;^o 000 is to be expended on
electricity generating plant.

The Provincial Government of Quebec have now decided to,
enforce an Act passed in 1921, and commonly known as the " Elec-
tricitj' Licensing and Inspection Act," for the licensing of electricians,
for the inspection of wiring installations in pubhc buildings, etc.
At first it is proposed to enforce it in Montreal, Quebec and a few
of the larger towns.

According to the Toronto correspondent of " The Times " agree-
ments have been completed for the purchase of the radial railways
and electric power companies by the Province of Ontario and the
city of Toronto, which will require Toronto to assume obUgations
amounting to $30000000 (^6000000) and the Provincial Govern-
ment $18 000 000 {£^ 600 000).

A correspondent of the " Times Trade Supplement " states that
reports are current that the Government of Ceylon are going to raise
fifteen milUon rupees to start work in connection with a hydro-
electric SCHEME and other important public works, by imposing
the Indian Tariff Scale. This will mean a large increase on the
existing Customs tariflE. It is also stated that preparations are
being made to raise another loan in London shortly to finance the
hydro-electric scheme as a whole.

The Dominion Steel Corporation has recently been organised for
the manufacture of alloy steel in Canada. Works are to be
erected at Sarnia (Ontario), and the plant will contain two 75-ton
open hearth furnaces, together with two electric furnaces (one
20-ton and one 6-ton), roUing, blooming and sheet mills, etc. The
capacity of the works will be 100 000 tons of alloy steel a year, and
the initial demand for power, to be supplied by the Hydro-Electric
Commission, will be about 15 000 h.p.

A deputation from the Kuranda (Queensland) Progress Associa-
tion recently received an assurance from the Home Secretary that
he would give all the assistance in his power to the scheme for
utilising the Barron Falls in the generation of electrical energy.
The State Government have agreed to support the scheme provided
a load (apart from the Cairns lighting) sufficient to justify the
expense can be rehed upon. A committee has been formed to
endeavour to secure the establishment of power-using industries in
the district.

The Johannesburg correspondent of the " Financial Times "
states that Mr. Bernard Price, chief engineer in South Africa of the
Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power Co., in the course of his
evidence before the Rand Mining Board, said that the unions
seemed under the impression that by the company's refusal to meet
them in conference they had been unfairly treated. His view was
that when it was impossible to acquiesce in a request it was insincere
and useless to engage in a conference. Shareholders in the company
had been paid out of reserve funds ever since the establishment of
improved conditions after the strike. Certain men had not been
reinstated because the company recognised that it was better
without them. Such action did not constitute victimisation. He
did not agree that it was incumbent upon the companies to re-engage
everybody. The machinery created for the purpose of securing the
settlement of disputes had been rendered valueless by the extreme
action of certain sections, who were always active. His company
had been compelled to sell current at the fixed rate prevailing in
1914, being unable to pass the increased charges on to the consumers.

Mr. Forbes Mackay, general manager of the Sydney (N.S.W.)
Electrical Department, who, returned recently from a visit to Great
Britain and Europe, has submitted his report to the Munici-
pahty. The report deals with boiler pressures, stokers, ash handling,
pulverised coual, ad the automatic protection on the h.t. distributing
system. Mr. Mackay thinks it is not desirable in the case of
Sydney to go beyond a gauge pressure of 350 lb. to the square inch.
With this pressure, and a steam temperature of about 700 degrees
F.. the steam consumption of turbo-alternators could be brought
down to shghtly over 11 lb. per kWh. The reduction which might
be obtained by going as high as 450 lb. or 500 lb. to the square inch
would not ju.stify the extra first cost and probable extra cost of
maintenance of boilers, pipework, etc. Provided prices quoted
were suitable, the Council should consider the installation of retort
automatic stokers. The best method of dealing with ashes which
he had seen was that of allowing the ashes to fall continuously from
the back of the grate into a trough kept automatically full of water,
in which trough there was travelling under the water an endless
chain conveyor. The use of pulverised coal under the boilers
should not be adopted yet. It is not advisable to provide full
automatic differential protection for the whole high tension dis-
tributing system. Under Sydney conditions of high temperature
of circulating water and therefore comparatively low vacuum, there
is no reason why a turbo-alternator to run at 3 000 revs, per min.,
and rated at from 14 to 16000 kW, should not be ordered. The
armour-clad type of switchgear would be better for Sydney
Council's purpose if it was decided to establish a new power house.
At present the use of the mercury arc rectifier was not advisable.

Foreign Notes.

From June 17 to June 26 an I.vdustrial Goods Fair will be
arranged by the Budapest Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The first 100 000 V transmission system in America dates from
the year 1909, and since then about 20 electric supply companies
in the United States have adopted a transmission voltage of 100 000
or over. Four companies Use 100 000 V, two 102 000 V, two
104000 V, and seven no 000 V lines, the remainder employing
120 000 to 1.50 000 V. On the Pacific coast one company is making
preparations to introduce 220 000 V in a portion of its area.

The " Times " correspondent at Cairo states that the Rutenberg
CONCESSION has caused considerable indignation in Palestinian and
Syrian circles there. The opinion, he says, is freely expressed that
the concession, if allowed to stand, would give Mr. Rutenberg and
his backers a position of control which would be intolerable ; and
the Government of Palestine is blamed for its action, which is
regarded as being in every respect an abuse of the mandatory powers.

Mr. W. F. Vaughan Scott, who has been Commercial Secretary to
H.M. Legation in Santiago, Chile, is in the United Kingdom pending
transfer to another post, and will be in attendance at the Depart-
ment of Overseas Trade (35, Old Queen Street, S.W.i) until June 24.
He can be interviewed by firms interested in trade with Chile,
and he will also (if desired) furnish information concerning trade
with Bolivia. After the 24th inst. Mr. Vaughan Scott will visit
important industrial centres in the provinces. Apphcations for
interviews should be addressed to the Department (reference
3808/TG/GP).

H.M. Consal-General at New York (Mr. H. Gloster Armstrong)
has written to the Department of Overseas Trade calling attention
to the facilities now available to representatives of U.K. firms
visiting New York, at the offices of the British Empire Chamber of
Commerce (Cunard Building, 25, Broadway). The Chamber has
arranged for the formation of a sample room where British com-
mercial travellers can, for a moderate charge, exhibit their goods,
take orders, obtain office facilities and clerical assistance, and
generally make it their headquarters during their stay in New York.
Firms requiring the use of the sample room for their representatives
should communicate with the Chamber well in advance. Further
particulars can be obtained from the secretary'.

Institution Notes.

The annual meeting of the Association of Officers and Staff
Members of Electricity (power .\nd supply) Companies of
Great Britain will take place at 8 p.m. on Tuesday next, at
Caxton Hall, Westminster.

The Swansea meeting of The Institute of MET.^xs ^\-ill be held
on September 20 to 22 next. Swansea is a metallurgical centre
of great importance. Those who are desirous of attending the
meeting can obtain membership particulars from the Secretary.
An election of members will take place on the I3tb, prox.

At the last meeting of the. Diesel Engine Users' Association
Mr. H. F. P. Purday, B.Sc , A.C.G.I., read a paper on " Marine
Diesel Engines." He referred to the main points of difference in
the design of marine Diesel engines compared with land engines,
and after deahng with the principal t^-pes of marine Diesel engines
the author dealt with the four-stroke and two-stroke engine and
referred to opposed piston two-stroke engines using soUd injection
and air injection of fuel. He discussed the thermal difficulties of
large Diesel engines and pointed out that the trend of modem design
seemed to be to eUminate extensive temperature stresses by
dividing the castings into smaller pieces uaving considerable free-
dom from expansion. He favoured the pro\'ision of concave crowns
to pistons, as the further the centre of the crown wus away from the
fuel valve the less heat it would presumably receive. He considered
that the Diesel engine must be seriously considered in the near
future for propelhng large ships.

In the ensuing discussion the view was expressed that further
development of the marine Diesel engine was likely to follow along
the'hnes of the double acting two-stroke engine. Further interesting
information was given concerning the cylinder construction of the
" Still " engine.

A.C. House Meters.

A well designed series of watt-hour meters for alternating current
domestic circuits has been put on the market by Me.\surement.
Ltd. These are made in two types, for two and three wire single
phase circuits respectively. Both meters are manufactured in
sizes up to and including 30 A, and are made throughout in accord-
ance with the B.E.S. A. specification. In addition, the makers call
attention to the simphcity of their design and their easy accessibihty.
while another important point is the light weight of the mo\'ing
element. Electrically the meter follows the usual hues, and an
accuracy within 2* per cent, from 25 per cent, overload to ^\jth
load at' any power factor from unity to 05 is claimed. These
claims are borne out by test curves.

730

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

Telephone and Telegraph Notes.

The Belgian telephone service, which was of course very
much disorganised by the war, last year exceeded the number of
subscribers (54 700) existing in 191 4 by over 4 000.

Mr. J. Mihvard, the manager in Austraha of the Pacific Cable
Board, is at present in London in connection with the proposed
scheme for the duplication of the Pacific cable, and a decision
is expected in a few days.

An important fusion of telephone interests has been recently
arranged between the L.M. Ericsson General Telephone Co. and the
H T. Cedergren General Industrial Company, manufacturers of
telephone wires and cables. This amalgamation has been brought
about for the purpose of effecting economies and to increase the
competitive value of the Swedish telephone industry.

The telephone and telegraph lines connecting Lungchingtsun
with the neighbouring marts of Yenki and Towtaokow, erected
last year by the Japanese military authorities, are now being
operated by the Japanese post office. A telephone system is to be
established in Kaifeng, Honan ; the Peking Telephone Administra-
tion will shortly establish a new south office with facihties for 2 000
additional subscribers. The equipment is being obtained from
America.

According to a return which has been prepared for the Postmaster-
General, during April last the number of telegrams which passed
through the Central Telegraph Office was 3 600 000, the highest
figure since July, 1921, when 3 625 143 messages were dealt with,
and 660 000 more than in April, 192 1. The instances of complaints
of delay from all causes during April, 1922, were only eight. The
number of telegrams received from subscribers to the telephone
system during the financial year was 785 622, an increase of 49 859
over the corresponding period of 1920-21. The number of tele-
grams delivered by telephone was 663 754, or 2 per cent, less than
in the previous year. The number of telegrams which passed
through the cable room of the Central Telegraph Office was 9 324 825,
as compared with 9408297 in 1920—21. This small variation is
regarded as not unsatisfactory in view of the trade depression which
affects Europe generally. . Direct wires are now worked from the
London Stock Exchange to Paris and Amsterdam, and have fully
justified themselves. There was an increase of 11 per cent., or
I 116 218 words, in the traffic sent by the Imperial Cable, the
respective figures for 1920-21 and 1921-22 being 9885640 and
10 999 858.

Wireless Notes.

A reduction from 4|d. to 4d. a word is announced in the rate for
DEFERRED WIRELESS MESSAGES via Marconi from Great Britain to
the Eastern zone of Canada.

The Belgian merchant service, which before the war included
ten wireless units, now possesses more than 120, which are controlled
by the Administration des Telegraphes.

Messrs. Cross Bros., Ltd., have installed a wireless receiving
station at their premises in St. Mary Street, Cardiff, engaged a
wireless engineer and announce daily demonstrations to which the
pubUc are invited.

The Central Telegraph Office is now carrying on wireless services
to Berlin, Cologne, Posen, Rome, and Egypt. News handed in at
that office is broadcasted from the Post Office wireless station at
Leafield, near Oxford, and is picked up in India and Au.stralia,
except when atmospheric conditions are unfavourable ; while a
regular wireless news service is carried on with Halifax, Canada.

In his report for 1921 on the economic, commercial and industrial
situation of Sweden, Mr. H Kershaw II.M. Commercial Secretary
at Stockholm, states that serious atlcnticn is being paid to the
possibilities of the practical use of tLe wireless telephone, and
during the summer exhibition in Lulea wireless telephone com-
munication was carried on largely between that city and Boden.
Experiments were also carried out during the early part of the year
with the object of examining the possibilities of the use of high
frequency power cables.

Personal and Appointments.

The Albert Medal of the Society of Arts for 1 .^22 has been awarded
to Sir Dugald Clerk, K.B.E., for his impo: .ant contributions to
the development of the internal combustion engine

The marriage took place on June i, at St. Paul's Church, Halifax,
of Mr. Eric N. Johnson, A.M.I.E.E., elder son of Mr. S. C. Johnson,
of Manchester, and Mi.ss Lena Barnes, third daughter of Mr. F. J.
Barnes, of Luddenden Foot.

The engagement is announced between Norman Felix Herbert
F"reudcntlial, late Grenadier Guards, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J.
Freudcnthal, Eton Avenue, London, N.W., and Iris Hilda, cider
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Raihng, of " Whiteknights," Reading,
and Duke Street. W.

Mr. J. H. Taylor, assistant engineer. Central Argentine Railway,
has been awarded the " George Stephenson " Gold Medal of the
Institution of Civil Engineers for his paper on " The Application of
Electric Traction to the Suburban Lines of the Central Argentine
Railway." Mr. Taylor is also a Miller Prizeman of the Institution.

Miscellaneous.

Cambridge University have gratefully accepted the offer of
Sir Ernest Moir, Bt., to endow a prize in the Engineering Depart-
ment in memory of his sou Reginald, an engineering student, who
was killed in the Avar.

A Berhn special message to the " Temps " says that following
the example of Herr Hugo Stinnes, his rival, Dr. Rathexal', is
buying up big industrial concerns in Austria, and has just acquired
the large establishments of Woellersdorf.

The i2-cylinder Sunbeam Racer, on wMch Mr. K. Lee-Guinness
surpassed many previotis world's records at Brooklands on
May 17 and 20, was equipped with B.T.-H. magnetos. A B.T.-H.
magneto was also fitted to the Trium.ph machine on which Mr.
W. W. Brandish secured second place in the Senior T.T. race.

We regret that in the Editorial Notes referring to Mr. Mitchell's
paper in last week's issue we said that the coal consumption at
THE Dalmarnock GENERATING STATION was 10.65 Ibs. per uuit
generated. This, of course, should be the steam consumption,
the coal consumption given by Mr. Mitchell being 1.98 lbs. per unit
deUvered.

The result of the Engineers' ballot is a majority of 36 000
(nearly two to one) in favour of returning to work at once. Only
about one-third of the members voted. The lock-out, which has
now been hfted, occurred on March 11. Arrangements have been
made for resuming work at once, and some returned on Wednesday.
As the Foundry Workers' Union have also accepted the masters'
terms, only the Boilermakers remain to be settled with.

During the year 1921 there were 35 132 applications for
patents, or I 540 fewer than in 1920, and the complete specifications
filed numbered 19 159, (2 637.). The applications from women
inventors were 297 (against 311) and those made by way of com-
munication from abroad i 339 (compared with i 265). The total
receipts were ;^525 500 (against ^487 542), including ;^445 947 from
patent fees, £q 648 from designs, and ;^47 803 from trade marks fees.

The new White Star liner " Pittsburgh," is interesting
because she is propelled by steam generated by oil fuel, but apart
from that nearly every other service on the ship is performed by
electricit3^ The electric generating plant is capable of supph-ing
over I 000 h.p., and upwards of 80 miles of electric cable are used.
The steering is by the Wilson-Pirrie electric gear-, the boats are
lowered electrically ; there are seventeen electric winches for cargo
handling ; the Ufts, sounding machines, printing press, bilge pumps,
etc., are all operated by electricity. Moreover, the " Pittsburgh "
has a very complete electric cooking outfit. Mr. W. J. Willett
Bruce, superintendent engineer of the White Star Line, is making
the voyage for the purpose of observing the way in which the
electrical installation operates.

Business Items, etc.

Mr. W. M. Selvey, consulting engineer, of Sheffield, is opening a
London office at 23, Old Queen Street, Westminster, S.W.i, and
from July i he will reside in London.

An agreement has been concluded between the Minerals
Separation, Ltd., of London, and the Electro-Osmose A ktien-Gesell-
schaft, of Berlin, which includes a mutual exchange of patents.

Messrs. Owen & Palmer have taken over the business of Messrs.
H. D. Carter, Ltd. (Bangor), carried on at Faraday House, High
Street, Bangor. ]ftr. Owen was manager for Messrs. Carter and
Mr. Palmer has been with Vickers, Ltd., and the General Electric Co.

The board of the Industrial Publicity Service has been
reconstituted and the following have been appointed directors :
W. Rutherford (Chairman), IMajor J. Proctor Humphris (appointed
by the F.B.I.), T. C. Elder (appointed by the I?. E. A.M. A.), R. H. W.
Hope, M.C. (C.M.A.), and C. J. de B. Sheringham, D.S.O., M.C.
(British Engineers' Association).

The Socitrfe Anonyme Fama, of Paris, has the exclusive Hcence
under the Riley patents to construct and instal Riley stokers for
(ireat Britain and its Dominions, as well as for France, and a
British company will shortly be formed, but meanwhile inquiries
for the stokers should be addressed to 64, Mark Lane, London, F..C.3.
The company has recently installed the stokers at the Gennevilliers
power station of the Union d'Electricite, Paris.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

The monthly magazine and price list of Higgs Brothers for June
is, as usual, full of both entertaining and useful information.

The June price list of motors and dynamos manufactured by the
A.C.E.C. (Ateliers de Constructions' Electriques de Ch arlekoi)
is to hand.

The Swedish General Electric, Ltd., have issued the following
new stock lists: — No. 42 F, single-phase a.c. fans; No. iii d.c.
" K" motors, and s.p. Century motors; No. ma, 3-phase and
2-phase motors, s.]>. commutator motors, transformers, etc.

An illustrated leaflet (Supplement i to Catalogue 600) is to hand
from Siemens Brothers and Co., and contains detailed information
regarding the primary cells and batteries (dry and fluid) manu-
factured by the firm for the h.t. circuit of wireless apparatus using
thermionic valves.

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

731

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Brighton Guardians. June 20. — Electrical fittings, etc. Ten-
der forms from the Clerk, Mr. H. Burfield, Prince's Street.

West Derby (Liverpool^ Guardians. June 20. — Electric
lamps. Tender forms from the Clerk, Mr. H. P. Cleaver, Brougham
Terrace, Liverpool.

W.^rrington Guardians. June 20. — Electrical goods for three
months. Tender forms from the Clerk, Mr. A. Bottomley, Bewsey
Chambers.

Salford Corporation, July 3. — E.h.t. and l.t. swtchgear and
transformers. Specificatiohs from Borough Electrical Engineer
(Frederick Road), and tenders to Town Clerk, Town Hall, Salford.

Kirkcaldy Corporation. — July 10. — Converting plant specifi-
cations from Kennedy and Donkin, consulting engineers, 17, Vic-
toria Street, Westminster, S.W.i.

INDIA.

East Indian Railway. June 21. — Electric overhead travelling
cranes. Tenders to the secretary of the company, 28/30, Nicholas
Lane, London, E.C.4. Particulars from the Department of Over-
seas Trade.

East Indian Railway Co., June 21. — Electric overhead travel-
ling crane. Specification at company's offices, 28-30, Nicholas
Lane, London, E.C.

SOUTH AFRICA.

Municipality of Robertson. August 14*. — Supply, deUvery
and erection (optional) of *two 75 kW steam sets and equipment for
power station (Contract No. i) ; one 300 A.h. battery (Contract
No. 2) ; material for the outside distribution system (Contract
No. 3).

CHILE.

Chilean State Railways. July 11. — -Structural steel for

repairing bridges ; insulated copper cable for welding purposes,
440 V.

Canterbury City Council has accepted the tender of Meldrum,
Ltd., for a dust destructor at £1 395.

Bray (Co. Wicklow) Urban Council have accepted the tender of
Mirrlees, Bickerton and Day for a Diesel engine and alternator at
£5 233-

York Corporation have accepted the tender of the British
Thomson-Houston Co. for a rotarv converter, switchgear, etc., at
£■2- 753-

Blackpool Gas Committee have accepted the tender of Mr.
Thomas Barton for the supply of electricity controlling gear at the
gas works.

Barrow Corporation have accepted the tender of Johnson and
Phillips for e.h.t. and h.t. transmission lines to Rampside and Roa
Island at £2 816 3s. yd.

Navan Council have accepted the tenders of Hay, Maryon and
Co. for turbines, at £z 983, plus ;^28o for erection ; and British
Mannesmann Tube Co. for 120 poles, ;^6i6.

Halifax Corporation are recommended to accept the tenders of
the British Thomson-Houston Co. for feeder equipment and control
panel, £9^^^ ; and A. Reynolle and Co. for nine e.h.t. switch panels,
£3 100.

Liverpool Corporation have been recommended to accept the
tender of R. Dempster and Sons for ash conveyor and accessories
and coal-handhng plant at Lister Drive, No. 2 power station ;
British Insulated and Helsby Cables, for 33 000 V main ; and
A. E. and T. H. Chesters for wiring 24 houses.

Stepney Borough Council have accepted the following tenders : —
Ransomes and Napier (lowest tender received), a 50-ton electrically
driven overhead travelling crane at Limehouse generating station ;
the provision of spare parts and accessories and the dismantling of
the existing 20-ton hand-operated crane and its re-erection at
Mile End sub-station, £2, 455. Eighteen tenders were received, the
highest being that of Isles, Ltd., £6 200. Perry and Co. (Bow),
Ltd., circulating water pipes at Limehouse^ ;^2 134 ; General
Electric Co., three motor converters, ;£io 114 ; E. and F. Wright,
cast iron pavement boxes, frames and covers, 3^60 6s. yd. ; Sutton
AND Co. (Overseal), Ltd., troughs and covers, £452 9s. 8d.

The Madras Government have ordered from the Marconi
Co. seven sets of wireless apparatus for erection in the Moplah
country. One will be set up at the headquarters at Malapuram,
and the others at the various auxiliary police posts.

H.M. Charge d'Affaires at Havana has prepared a report on the
market for wire and wire products in Cuba, which can be seen at
the Department of Overseas Trade. A recent catalogue of an
American wire company, who have secured a large proportion of
the Cuban trade in wire and wire products, can also be inspected at
the Department, as well as samples of certain goods referred to in
the report.

Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc.

Great Northern Telegraph Companr.

The report of the directr^rs for the year 192 1 .states that the
company succeeded in repairing two of the three cables (one Anglo-
Danish and one Franco-Danish) wliich were difficult to repair on
account ^^f mines, but it has not yet been possible to repair the
Petrograd-Libau cable. The liussian Government is, however,
taking the necessary steps to clear the mines from the area where
the cable is broken, and there are, consequently, good prospects
of the cable being repaired this summer. Besides these repairs,
the company has had to deal with 21 interruptions on 8 cables in
Europe, and 12 interruptions on 5, cables in the Far East. The
c.s. " H. C. Orsted " has been occupied in European waters for
253 days, of which 12 have been for the account of other adminis-
trations, whilst in the Far East the " Store Nordiske " and " Pacific "
have been in commission for 191 days, including 120 days on
charter by other administrations.

Commanication ^th the Far East.

Both the Russian Government and the company have done
everything in their power to re-establish telegraphic communication
between Europe and the Far East via Siberia. WTiilst the lines
through Russia and Siberia are maintained in good condition by
the Russian Government, it is impossible to estabUsh communication
between the Russian telegraph system and the cables and landlines
in the Far East, either via Wladiwostock or via Kiachta, owing to
the total interruption of both routes. The restoration of the
Wladiwostock route is hindered by vhe state of war between the
Governments of Tchita and Wladiwostock, whilst the restoration
of the Kiachta route is dependent upon the Governments of Peking
and Urga succeeding in arriving at an agreement. Under the
circumstances, the company has had to fall back upon another
scheme which became possible of reahsation, thanks to the facihties
granted by the Russian and Chinese Governments, resulting in the
estabhshment of a quite new route by means of a wire placed at
the exclusive disposal of the company by the two administrations
between Irkutsk and Peking, vm Blagowestschensk — Helampo —
Harbin, and worked in connection with the company's direct wire
between Petrograd and Irkutsk. A repeater station, equipped by
the company and manned by Danish operators, has been estabUshed
at Harbin. Communication was thus re-estabUshed on March 26
last after an interruption of nearly four years.

The company's negotiations with Russia, mentioned in last year's
report, have been brought to a successful issue, and in the course
of the summer an agreement, covering a long term of years, was
signed whereby the company is enabled to renew its former activities
in Russia. Although the preparations for reopening the company's
telegraph office at Petrograd proved very difficult, as well as long
and costly, the company was, nevertheless, able to re-estabhsh
telegraphic communication with Petrograd on January 18, 1922.
The concession granted by the Government binds the company to
open a telegraph station at Moscow, thereby placing the Russian
capital in direct telegraphic communication with the company's
European system. Various causes have, however, hitherto pre-
vented the carrying into effe t of this undertaking. The Russian
terminal traffic exchanged with Western Europe and America is.
so far, quite inconsiderable compared with the corresponding traff.c
in pre-war times,

Conceuions and Year'* Working.

Negotiations with England and Sweden in connection with a
prolongation of ,the company's concessions have been carried on
during the year, but have not yet been brought to a final conclusion.
Prehminary discussions w-ith the Chinese Covemraent were com-
menced last year by the company, in conjunction wth the Eastern
Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Co., with the object of
obtaining a prolongation of the existing agreements bet\s-een China
and the two companies. Owing, however, to the decision come to
by the International Conference in Wasliington to include the
question of telegraph communication in China amongst the items
for discussion there, it became necessary to suspend temporarily
the companies' own negotiations in Peking. -\ new cable steamer
destined to replace the " Store Nordiske " is being built at a Danish
shipyard. The company's new building at Shanghai and the
dwellings for the staff at Peking were completed during the year.
The directors record with regret the death of the honorary Chau-man
(Commodore E. Suenson), for so long associated with the company.

In spite of the fact that the net profit is about 32 per cent. less
than the previous year, and that the traffic as a whole does not
as yet show any tendency to increase, the directors consider them-
selves justified in recommending a total dividend and bonus of
22 per cent., a decrease of onlv 2 per cent, compared \^-ith last year.
The reserve fund \\\\\ be credited ^^^th the usual amount (^33 333).
whilst it is proposed to contribute £^5 555 to the pension fund of
the staff, and to carry for.vard about the same amount as the prevnous
year. The traffic receipts, etc.. are about £533 670 less tiian the
previous year, mainlv due to the loss on exchange showing a drop
of about' /395 yoo. ' The decrease in traffic receipts is partiy
counterbalanced bv a reduction under expenditure of about /331 625.
The latter decrease is mainly accounted for by only ;^ii6 9S0 ha\dng
been taken to meet the payment of taxes, against /416 666. The
actual working expenses show a decrease of about ;^32 000 only.

732

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

Aluminium Corporation.

Addressing the shareholders at the annual meeting of the
Aluminium Corporation, Ltd., last week, Mr. Kenneth M. Clark
(the chairman), who presided, said that the accounts submitted
covered a period of two years. The gross profit for the two years
amounted to £'87 434, or an average of just over l^i 000 per annum.
The net balance of profit and loss account, after paying the preference
dividend for 1920, amounted to £25 150, and this enabled the
directors to recommend payment of the 7 per cent, preference
dividend for the past year, leaving a balance of ;fi3 261 los. to be
carried forward to next year's accounts. A sum of £32 1 421 had
been expended during the past two years on constructional work.
The depreciation reserve now amounted to ;^26 000. Shares and
loans in subsidiary companies stood at ;^I02 957. Stocks of metal,
raw material, etc., showed an increase of ;^43 775, which was not
abnormal, and sundry debtors were up about £2j 000. Cash at
bank and in hand amounted to ^7 443. The accounts did not
include any returns from the very heavy expenditure incurred
during the last five years in the construction of the dams at Cowlyd
and Llugwy.

The great difficulty in the development of water power was
the time required to make the necessary reservoirs and to negotiate
the various rights. He was glad to say that the whole rights
had now been acquired ; the dams had been completed, and the
work of constructing the canal connecting the two lakes was in
active progress, and should be completed within three months.
Once this was carried through they would have a greatly increased
supply of electrical energy at their disposal, both for the supply
to the power company and for the manufacture of aluminium.
During the whole period of depression they had been able to obtain
sufficient orders to keep the roUing mill in continuous operation.
An extraordinary general meeting of the company had been called
to follow this meeting for the purpose of increasing the directors'
borrowing powers. If this resolution was agreed to the directors
proposed to increase the capacity of the rolling mill, to instal a
second and larger pipe line with pen stock reservoir, and to erect
a new power house with the necessary machinery. This would
enable them to 'utilise a considerable amount of water power at
present partly developed, and was called for by the business they
were able to do in aluminium sheet and by the demands that would
be made upon them for energy by the North Wales Power Co.

At the meeting which was afterwards held, the directors were
empowered to borrow for the purposes of the company (in
addition to the amount authorised by clause 83 of the articles of
association, and the extraordinary resolution passed December 13,
1920) sums not exceeding in the aggregate £500 000.

The directors of the Electrical Apparatus Co., Ltd., invite
applications for 50 000 8 per cent, cumulative preference shares at
par. The lists close on or before the 17th inst.

A petition for confirming the proposed reduction of the capital
of the British Power Railway Signal Co., Ltd., and reduced
from ;^50 000 to £2^ 000, will be heard by Mr. Justice Astbury on
June 27.

The net profit of Doulton and Co. for 192 1, after providing for
depreciation, was £']^ 568, making available with £$j^ 251 brought
forward ;^i29 820. A dividend of 5 per cent, has been declared,
carrying ^53 243 forward.

The transfer books of the Automatic Telephone Manufac-
turing Company will be closed from the 17th to the 24th inst. for
preparing the dividend warrants on the preference shares for the
half-year ending the 30th inst., when the warrants will be posted.

The directors of the Yorkshire (West Riding) Electric Tram-
ways Company have decided to pay on July i an interim dividend
of 3 per cent, (being at rate of 6 per cent, per annum) on the 6 per
cent, cumulative preference shares for the half-year ending June 30,

The net profit of the British Electric Traction Co. for the
past year amounted to ;^2i8 494, plus l^-TT ^^9 brought forward.
A dividend on the ordinary shares of 4 per cent, is proposed, placing
;^i4 677 to reserve, and camjnng forward £19^ 238, subject to cor-
poration tax for three years.

The Stock Exchange have allowed deaUngs in ;^94 200 6J per
cent, cumulative " A " {(reference, and £177 100 7J per cent,
cumulative " B " preference shares of the General Electric
Co. This represents the whole of the unissued balance of the
*' A " and " B " preference capital.

At the annual meeting of the Penarth I-'.lectric Lighting
Company last week, the chairman, Mr. Geo. J. Somerville, presided.
The report and the accounts were adopted, and dividends of 7 per
cent, on the preference shares and of 7^ per cent, on the ordinary
shares were agreed to, leaving £2 532 17s. 7d. to be carried forward.

At the ordinary general meeting of the Merthyr Electric
Traction and Lighting Company on the 8th inst., it was reported
that the available balance for the past year was £6 432. A sum of
£1 200 was placed to reserve, and dividends of five per cent, on the
preference and six per cent, on the ordinary shares were declared,
•^i 332 being carried forward.

The profit of the Chloride Electrical Storage Co. for the year
to March 31, 1922, after providing for depreciation and taxation,
was ;^73 968, plus ;^23 340 brought in. The directors recommend
a further dividend of 5 per cent, on the ordinary shares, making
10 per cent, free of tax, placing ;^2o 000 to employees' benefit fund,
;£20 000 to reserve (making it ;^6o 000), carrying forward /31 613.

The directors of the Brazilian Traction Light and Power
Company have decided that, although the exchange value of the
milreis continues considerably lower than was generally anticipated,
there are clear indications of such improvement in general con-
ditions as to justify the resumption of the payment of dividends
on the ordinary shares. The Board have accordingly declared a
dividend of i per cent, on the ordinary capital, payable September i
next. The last ordinary dividend was paid in 191 7.

The net receipts of the Pernambuco Tramways and Power Co.
for 1921 totalled £6^ 731, plus £i2i 373 brought in. After providing
for interest, reserve, amortisation fund, etc., £1 107 remains to be
carried forward. The directors regret it was not possible to pay
any dividend on the preference or ordinary shares. The reduction
in the net revenue was entirely due to the fall in Brazilian exchange.
If exchange had remained the same as in the preceding year, net
results would have shown an improvement over the previous year.

The accounts of Ransombs, Sims and Jefferies (associated with
Ruston and Hornsby) for the year ended March 31, 1922, after
making provision for depreciation and bad and doubtful debts,
more particularly those debts affected by the war, also after deduct-
ing interest on debenture stock and deposits, show profit of ^3 997,
against £1^ 457 for the previous year. The dividend on the pre-
ference shares to June 30, 1921, absorbs £2 750, leaving with ;^40 811
brought forward, ^^42 058. Owing to the continued adverse trade
conditions the fall in selling values and the necessity for conserving
the resources, the directors regret that they are unable to recom-
mend any dividend on the ordinary shares for the year or on the
preference shares for the half-year to December 31, 1921.

The report of Ruston and Hornsby, Ltd., for the year ended
March 31 last shows a balance on profit and loss account of ;^ioi 637,
which, after allowing for depreciation ^55 952, and interest on
debentures £2^ 500, leaves a balance of ^20 185. This, with the
balance from last year of ;^43 920, makes a total of £6:^ 105, from
which is deducted the preference dividend paid last July, leaving
a net balance of ^^58 230. The directors " regret that o\ving to the
continued trade depression and the serious fall in stock values, it is
essential that the whole of the above balance should be retained in
the business, and in addition they thought it wise to transfer
£100 000 from the general reserve to meet a possible further fall in
the values of stock-in-trade. Under the circumstances they do not
recommend the payment of the outstanding dividend on the pre-
ference shares, or a dividend on the ordinary shares for the past
year." For the year ended March 31, 1921, there was a profit of
£108 683, but no ordinary dividend was paid. For the previous
year 5 per cent, was paid on a profit oi £jf>^ 397.

The gross earnings of the United River Plate Telephone Com-
pany for the year 1921 were £1 161 848, and the maintenance and
other charges in Argentina and London were ;^98i 411, leaving a
profit of ;^i8o 438. Deducting interest on debenture stock, dividend
on preference shares to December 31, 1921, and the interim dividend
on the ordinary shares (;^72 100), and adding amount brought
forward (;^38 367), the available balance is ;^i46 705. The directors
recommend payment of a final dividend of 5 per cent, on 324 000
ordinary shares, making, with the interim dividend, a total of 8 per
cent, for the year, tax free (;^8i 000), and a dividend of 5 per cent,
on 108000 ordinary shares, tax free (^^27000), the balance to be
carried forward being £38 705. Progress has been made during the
past year, but although a record number of subscribers have been
connected, many thousands of applicants are still awaiting service.
The automatic plant in course of erection will rcUeve the position
somewhat, but it is hoped the Government will shortly reahse that
the large amount of capital needed to meet the additional telephonic
requirements of the country cannot be raised until the increase in
the tariffs petitioned for in 191 9 is granted.

The net revenue of the Globe Telegraph and Trust Company
for the year ended May 31, after deduction of expenses, amounts to
£},2,o 146, and, with £2 181 brought forward, the total is £332 327.
From this amount £z},^ 605 has been distributedininterim dividends,
leaving £98 722. The directors now recommend payment of the fol-
lowing final dividends — viz., 3s. per share (less tax) on the preference
shares, making, with previous distributions, a total dividend for the
year on those shares at rate of 6 per cent, per annum (less tax) ;
and 5s. per share net on the ordinary shares, making, with previous
distributions, a total dividend on those shares at rate of 10 per cent,
net for the year. These dividends \v\\\ absorb £77 868. lea\-ing
£20 853 14s. 8d. to be carried forward. During the year under
review fifty-three certificates of the Submarine Cables Trust
belonging to the Globe Company were drawn and paid off at £120
per certificate. The proceeds have been reinvested in Eastern
Telegraph Company's ordinary stock and Eastern Extension and
Western Telegraph Companies' shares. The articles of association,
which date back to the incorporation of the company in 1873, are
now out of print, and, as they are in many respects obsolete, new
articles will be submitted for approval at an extraordinary general
meeting which will be held after the annual "meeting.

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

733

New Companies.

Commercial Knjineeriiig Co.

Commercial Engineering Co., Ltd. (182 117.) — Private com-
pany. Reg. May 29. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. Electrical,
automobile and general engineers, etc. Subscribers : J. McNaugh-
ton and F. C. Farthing. Solicitors: Nash, Field and Co.,' 12, Queen
Street, Cheapside, E.C.
Summit Electrical Co.

Summit Electrical Co., Ltd. (182 383).— Private company-
Reg. June 9. Capital, /loo in £1 shares. Electrical engineers,
manufacturers of, dealers in and agents for all kinds of general
electrical supplies, motor cars and parts, etc. Reg. office : 11, Buck-
nail Street, Bloonisbury, W.C.2.

John M. Boyd.

John M. Boyd, Ltd. {12 249). — Private company. Reg- in
Edinburgh June 6. Capital, ;^5 000 m £1 shares. General, elec-
trical, and motor engineers, etc. Directors are : J. M. Boyd and
J. B. Andrews. Secretary : David R. Galloway. Reg. office :
Ballochmill Roacj, Eastfield, Rutherglen.
Ledger Taylor & Co.

Ledger T.\ylor and Co., Ltd. (182263.) — Private company.
Reg. June 2. Capital, ^3 000 in /i shares. Electrical, hydraulic
engineers and contractors, etc. First directors : R. W. Taylor
and Mary J. Taylor. Secretary : F. Boothby. Reg. office : Moor-
gate Ironworks, Moorgate. East Retford,

Building and Insulatiag Material Co.

Building and Insulating Material Co., Ltd. (182 210.)
Private company. Reg. June i. Capital, ^5 000 in £1 shares.
Builders and contractors, etc., electrical engineers and contractors,
suppliers of electricity. Subscribers : S. G. Robinson and O. V.
Monk. Reg. office : 20, Essex Street, Strand, W.C.

Arco Institute. Ltd.

Arco Institute, Ltd. — (182 285. ]i — Private company. Reg.
June 6. Capital, £100 in £1 shares. To adopt an agreement with
A. Rosenberg and to carry on the business of electro-therapy,
electro-medical treatment, etc. Directors are : H. J. Munro and
A. Rosenberg. Reg. office, 3, London Wall Buildings, E.C. 2.
Abrey and Gerratt.

Abrey and Gerratt, ltd. (182 355). — Private company. Reg.
June 8. Capital, £2 000 in £1 shares. Mechanical, electrical
heating and ventilating engineers, contractors, manufacturers,
sheet metal workers, exporters, etc. Permanent directors are :
H. S. Abrey and W. Gerratt. Reg. office : Wexham Road, Slough,
Bucks.

World's Electric Co.")

World's Electric Co., Ltd. (182 283.) — Private company.
Reg. June 2. Capital, £1 000 in is. shares. Manufacturers of and
dealers in electrical accessories, appliances, lamps, apparatus, plant
and machinery, contractors, etc. First directors : A. Richmond,
J. W. Conrad and W. F. Pearce. Reg. office : i, Gresham Build-
ings, E.C. 2.
Jobnscm Radio Co.

Johnson Radio Co., Ltd. (182 326). — Private company. Reg.
June 7. Capital, ;^ioo in £1 shares. Engineers, manufacturers of
and dealers in ordinary and wireless telegraphic and telephonic
apparatus and accessories, electrical apparatus, etc. Directors are :
H. M. Smith and S. Tootill. Secretary (pro tern) : K. G. Goodsman.
Reg. office : 244, Tottenham Court Road, W.C.

V. P. & G. Hastings.

V. p. AND G. Hastings, Ltd. (182 307.) — Private company
Reg. June 6. Capital, ;^5 000 in £1 shares. Engineers, manu->
facturers of machinery, tool makers, founders, metal workers,
electrical engineers, manufacturers of and dealers in automobiles,
etc. Permanent -directors are : V. P. Hastings and G. S. Hastings,
Reg. office, Duchy Chambers, Clarence Street, Manchester.
New Electric Sign Co.

New Electric Sign Co., Ltd. (182 266.) — Private company.
Reg. June 2. Capital, £2 500 in £1 shares (i 000 preference).
To take over the business of an electric sign manufacturer and
agent carried on by A. E. Davis as the " New Electric Sign Co.,"
at 53, Haymarket, S.W. First directors : A. E. Davis and J. H.
Slingsby. Secretary : S. H. Grant. Reg. office : 53, Haymarket,
Westminster. S.W.

W. Blackburn (Kew'.

W. Blackburn (Kew), Ltd. (182280.) — Private company.
Reg. June 2. Capital, £1 000 in £1 shares (800 8 per cent, cumu-
lative preference). Electrical, mechanical, motor, and general
engineers and contractors, manufacturers of and dealers in trans-
formers, radiators, dynamos, motors, and all kinds of electric
lighting, power and transmission plant, etc. Solicitors : T. E.
Godbold, 529, High Road, Chiswick, W.4.

Chimes, Ltd.

Chimes, Ltd. (182289). — Private company. Reg. June 6.
Capital, £500 in £1 shares (400 " A " ordinary and 100 " B "
ordinary)^ To adopt agreement with W. A. Greening, W. A.
Rowe, and W. E. Schall and to develop and turn to account patent
No. 171 835 for the manufacture of apparatus for the electrical
chiming of church bells. Permanent directors are : W. E. Schall
and W. A. Greening. Secretary, E. Dunkel. Reg. office, 71-75.
New Cavendish Street, W.

Radio Instrumeatt.

Radio Instruments, Ltd. (182 272.) — Private company. Reg.
June 2. Capital, £10 000 in 7 500 8 per cent, cumulative preference
shares of £1 each and 50 000 ordinary shares of is. each. Electrical,
mechanical and general engineers and contractors, manufacturers
and sellers of transformers, radiators, dynamos, motors and radio
instruments of all kinds, and electric lighting power and trans-
mission plant and wireless apparatus, etc. Permanent directors :
J. Josepii and W. A. Appleton. Reg. office: i8a, Hyde Street,
Oxford Street, W.
A. Adams A Co.

A. Adams and Co., Ltd. (182 208.) — Private company. Reg.
June I. Capital, £^9000 in £1 shares. To acquire the business,
and all or any of the assets and liabilities in connection therewith,
carried on by B. Foulkes Winks at 24, Charing Cross Road, W.C,
as Adams and Co., and to adopt agreements with the said vendor
and C. J. Bannister and to carry on the business of manufacturers
of electrical and scientific apparatus, and electrical, mechanicaj or
scientific instruments, etc. First directors : B. Foulkes Winks,
C. J. Bannister, and Miss M. A. Foulkes Winks. Reg. office :
24, Charing Cross Road, W.C.

The "Falco" Breakfast Cooker.

The " Falco " electric breakfast cooker has just been placed on
the market by the Falkirk Iron Company. It is substantiallj-
constructed of fine cast iron, with a bright top table and adjustable
strip tin and grid. The inside measurements are 10^ in. wide by
9 in. deep by 5f in. high. The top table measures 12^ in. by loi in..

" Falco " Electric Breakf.^st Cooker.

and is fitted with a grid covering the griUing element, which also
acts as a boiUng plate. An asbestos mat is also supphed to lay on
the grid when grilling only The cooker is fitted with an easily
accessible, open coil heating element protected by a wire guard and
controlled by a three- heat SN^'itch.

The Multiversal Test Set.

A booklet recently issued by Elliot Bros. (London), Ltd.,
contains full details of their " Multiversal " test set, an instrument
which recalls the many happy days we once spent in company
with their " Century " standard test set. The Multiversal test
set was, it will be remembered, originally designed to give the
mains engineer a testing set as accurate and practical as the meter
engineer or consultant found the Century set. As time has gone
on, however, the scope of the original set has been enlarged and it
now covers practically the whole field of duect current testing.

The test set comprises a sensitive pivoted moNing coil galvano-
meter with specially arranged constant resistance shunts for var\-ing
the sensibihty, together with a number of coils giving from o to 1 10 O
by steps of i O (an infinity step is also provided), coupled up in
conjunction with two ratio arms to form a Wlieatstone Bridge.
Each ratio arm consists of four coils of i 000, 100, 10. i O. respec-
tively, together with a special stud for use in fault locahsing by the
Murrav loop test.

A self-contained standard resistance of 100 000 O and a three-way
switch is provided for taking the " constant " of the galvanometer
and making insulation tests. By means of a constant resistance
universal shunt five sensibilities can be given to the galvanometer.
An enclosed key is fitted in the insulation portion of the apparatus,
and a double successive key, that breaks both galvanometer and
battery circuits, in the bridge part. The galvanometer is provided
with external zero adjuster, and knife edge pointer and mirror
scale for taking accurate readings.

An impressive series of tests can be made with the instrument,
the range of voltages being from 0:75 milhvolt to i 200 V, and the
current from the microampere up to any magnitude by means of
e.xternal standard resistances or shunts, the instrument being direct
readingin all cases. Insulation resistances and conductor resistances
over wide ranges ; fault localisation and capacities can also be

measured. - . j x i

The whole equipment is mounted on ebonite in a varnished teak
case with carrying handle, and a 3-foot tripod is provided on to
which the set can be screwed when in use.

734

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

[Note. — The publication of extracts from the " Registry of
County Court Judgments " does not imply inability to pay on the
part of the persons named. Many of the judgments may have
been settled between the parties or paid. Registered judgments
are not necessarily for debts. Jhey may be for actions. But the
Registry makes no distinction of the cases. Judgments are not
returned to the Registry if satisfied in the Court books within
twenty-one days.]

ARl^OTA ELECTRICAL & MOTOR ACCESSORIES CO., LTD.,
Charles Street, Louth, electrical engineers. ^20 6s. 6d.
Mai-ch 30. '

BARTLE, Charles H., J, Mount Parade, Harrogate, electrician.
^14 6s. 6d. March 31.

BURGE, A., & CO., 300, Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, electrical engi-
neers. £16 5s. 3d. April 6.

GAUNT & CO., Cambridge Place, Paddington, electrical engineers.
£17 9s. 3d. April II.

JEFFERYS, Arthur Neast, 8, Denman Place, Denman Street, W.,
electrical engineer. £j\?! 12s. 4d. April 7.

SHEPHERD, Mr. F., 7, Hamsell Road, E.C., electrical factor.
;^i3 6s. 5d. April i.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Axinual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

ARROTA ELECTRICAL AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES CO.,
LTD., Louth. Registered May 29, ;^i 5,000 debentures ;
charged on Great Northern Mills, Louth, also general charge.
♦Nil. August 23, 1921.

BRITISH DRIVER-HARRIS CO., LTD. (late DRIVER DREN-
NAN AND COOPER, LTD.), Manchester, cable manufacturers,
&c. — Registered June i, ;^i4,500 mortgage. *Nil. November
8, 1921.

BUCKLEY, SAUNDERS AND CO., LTD. (late NATIONAL
ELECTRIC WELDING CO., LTD.), London, S.W.— Regis-
tered May 30, ;^4,ooo debentures, present issue ;^2,ooo ; general
charge. *£'joo. December 31, 1921.

HACKBRIDGE ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.— Regis-
tered May 31, ^10,000 mortgage to A. I. Drapkin, 33, Highbury
Place, N. *Nil. July 2, 1921.

MIDLAND ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER CO., LTD., London,
E.C. — Registered June 2, ;^io,ooo debentures, balance of ;^3o,ooo;
general charge. *_^20,ooo. March 4, 1921.

SAUNDERS ELECTRICAL CO., LTD., Coventry.— Registered
May 30, ;{i,ooo debenture, to G. E. Stanley, 23A Coundon Road,
Coventry, engineer and another. */i,50o. October 27, 1921.

WATFORD ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
(late THOMAS KESNOR & CO., LTD.).— Registered May 26,
conveyance supplemental to and giving further security for the
moneys secured by mortgage dated November 16, 1920, and
transfer of mortgage dated November 16, 192 1, securing ;^5 000,
to J. Fletcher, Carnarvon, slate manufacturer. *£^ 400.
August 29, 1 92 1.

Satisfaction.

CHAGl'ORD AND DEVON ELECTRIC LIGHT CO.. LTD.—
Satisfaction registered June 7, i2,q2^, totcJ amount issued of
debentures registered March i, 1911,

Private Meetings, etc.

PATTISON, W., asbestos-cement manufacturer, etc., Widnes.
The committee of inspection which was appointed at a meeting
of the principal creditors, has deferred calling the general body
of creditors together to enable Mr. Pattison to come to some
satisfactory terms with parties. who had made tentative offers
to work his processes. Mr. Pattison has reported that arrange-

ments are now almost completed for the working of/ his
processes which he hopes ^vill prove satisfactory, in which
event he will at once put before his creditors a scheme whereby
their claims maj^ be satisfied. The committee have no alterna-
tive scheme to recommend and suggest giving the debtor a
further six months' grace, when he should call the creditors
together again, whether his expectations have materialised or
not, or earlier, if he has been successful, and has the details of a
satisfactory scheme worked out for their discussion and
acceptance.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

DOYLE, Herbert, trading as ACCESSORIES SUPPLY CO., 56,
Hardman Street, Deansgate, Manchester, factor in electrical
accessories. Amount per £, 9s. id. First and final. Payable,
June 21, Official Receiver's Offices, Byrom Street, Manchester.

KEYNSHAM ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER CO., LTD.—
A. Collins, 28, Baldwin Street, Bristol, appointed liquidator.

RICKARD, WRIGHT AND DEAN, LTD.— R. S. Dawson, Tan-
field Buildings, Hustlergate, Bradford, appointed liquidator.
Meeting of creditors at Tanfield Buildings, Bradford, Tuesdaj^
June 27, at 3 p.m.

Bankruptcy Information.

COATON, Thomas Green, 16,' Humberstone Road, Leicester, under
the style of T. G. COATON & CO., electrical engineer. First
meeting, June 16, 3 p.m., i, Berridge Street, Leicester.
Public examination, July 7, 11 a.m., The Castle, Leicester.

HOGG, George James (trading as F. HOGG & CO.), 66, Waterloo
Road, Smethwick, Stafford, electrical engineer. Receiving
order, June 2. Debtor's petition.

Partnerships Dissolved.

BARNET, Bernard, HELLER, Myer, and LEDERMAN, Raphael,
104, Whitechapel Road, E., and 17, Maddox Street, E., under
the style of THE REGENT ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
CO., by an Order of the High Court of Justice, July 29, 1921.
Particulars of claims by June 15 to the Receiver, A. C. Hey-
ward, 14-15, Coleman Street, E.C.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

CLAYTON, Aubrey Victor, trading as CLAYTON MOTORS. Park
Lane Mills, Chorley Lane, Leeds, engineer. In this matter
the following are creditors : — Coquantin, M., London, ;^2 7 ;
Electrical Apparatus, Ltd., London, ;^383 ; English, A., Leeds,
;/^i8 ; General Electric Co., Ltd., Leeds, ;/^i6 ; London Electric
Wire Co. & Smiths, Ltd., London, /28 ; Mica & Micanite
Supplies, Ltd., London, £15 ; Rhodes Gill & Co., Leeds, £28 ;
Sankey, Joseph, & Sons, Ltd., Bilston, £1 493 ; Vono Co.,
Port Dudley, /470 ; Whitehead Bros., Farsley, £2^ ; New
Felaphone Engine Co., Ltd., Leeds, £'148 ; Spencer, P., Bedford,
£1 302 ; Elvey Robb & Welch, London, ;^2 75.

COATON, Thomas Green, trading as T. G. COATON AND CO.,
16, Humberstone Road, Leicester, electrical engineer. The
receiving order was made on May 29 on debtor's own petition.
Statement of affairs shows liabiUties £2 331, net assets estimat«d
to realise £1 022, deficiency £1 309. Debtor attributes his
failure to bad trade for the past two years owng to general
slump, bad debts, depreciation in value of machinery and stock
in trade, and ill-health of children. A private meeting of
creditors was lield on March 31 last, when it was decided to
accept a composition of los. in the £ payable by instalments,
satisfactorily guaranteed. For the protection of the estate,
debtor executed a deed of assignment. He was unable to carry
the proposed composition into effect and consequently filed his
petition. Debtor states tlrat in April, 1914, he and liis brother
entered into partnership and commenced business in Leicester
as electrical engineers with a combined capital of /250, of
wliich he contributed ;^5o. In 1918 they were joined by
another partner who provided /loo capital. In the same year
debtor's brother retired from the business, and in August, 1919,
his other partner also withdrew. The usual books of account
have been kept. Debtor became aware of his position early
in the present year. /

KEENAN, John Norman, 63, Queen Victoria Street. E.C. The
first meeting of creditors under a receiving order made against
the debtor on May 24 was held last Friday. It appears that he
is an electrical and rubber engineer, and has recently been
trying to induce friends to form a company with the idea of
manufacturing ebonite. He came to England from the U.S.A.
in 1915- He has been obliged to obtain loans from money-
lendeis and as a result now owes ;^i5o. He says that he
possesses no assets and he attributes his failrre to his inability
to obtain employment. The debtor consented to being
adjudged a bankrupt aud his affairs remained in the hands of
the Official Receiver.

June i6, 1922

The Electrician.

735

Arrangements for the _ Week.

TUESDAY. Jl fNE 20th.

Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association.
9.0 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. Assembly at Grand Theatre, Lichfield
Street, Wolverhampton.

10 a.m. At the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Opening of

the Convention. Welcome by the Mayor ; Presidential
address by Mr. S. T. Allen, chief engineer and general
manager of the Wolverhampton Electricity Supply Depart-
ment ; paper on " The PZ.xtension of the Uses of Electricity
for Domestic Purposes," by Lieut. -Col. W. A. Vignoles,
borough electrical engineer, Grimsby.

I p.m. Luncheon at the Royal Artillery Headquarters, West
Park, Newhampton Road, Wolverhampton.

2.30 p.m. Visit to Apley Terrace on the River Severn.

8.30 p.m. Reception by the Mayoress at the Art Gallery,
Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton.

WEDNESDAY. JUNE 2Ut.

11 a.m. In the Assembly Room, Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent.

Paper : " The Administration and Control of Electricity
Departments," by Mr. E. Calvert, cluef electrical engineer,
Finchley. (A visit to Pottery Works wiU be arranged
for any of the ladies or others who do not attend the
reading of the paper. Conveyances will be in attendance
at II. 15 a.m.)

I p.m.. Luncheon to members, delegates, and visitors, by the
Stoke-on-Trent Electricity Committee, in the King's Hall,
Town Hall.

2.15 p.m. Visit to : (i) Central Power Station ; or (2) Main
Electricity Sub-Stations of the Stoke-on-Trent Corpora-
tion ; (3) Pottery Works* ; or (4) Trentham Gardens
direct.

4 p.m. Assemble at Trentham Gardens, where facilities foi
tennis and boating are available.

5.30 p.m. Conveyances will leave the Gardens for Wolver-
hampton and Birmingham.

* The following firms have arranged to conduct parties
of members through their works : — Pottery Works —
Cauldon Potteries, W. T. Copeland and Sons, Doulton and
Co., Ltd., Mintons, Ltd., Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, Ltd. ;
Engineering Works — The Boving Engineering Works,
Cowlishaw, Walker and Co. {1920), Ltd., Kerr Stuart and
Co., The North Staffordshire Railway, The Potteries
Electric Traction Co.

THURSDAY, JUNE 22nd.

9 a.m. Members residing in Wolverhampton should assemble

at St. Peter's Steps, where the conveyances for the General
Electric Company's Works, Witton, Birmingham, will be
in readiness.
9.40 a.m. Members residing in Birmingham should assemble
outside the Queen's Hotel (New Street Station).

10 a.m. In the~Main HaU, Magnet Club, Witton. Paper:

" Sub-Station Equipment, including Automatic Control,"
by Mr. R. A. Chattock, city electricaJ engineer, Bir-
mingham.

11.30 a.m. Tour round the various branches of the Witton
Works.

(The General Electric Co. have placed their club house,
with recreation rooms and grounds, at the disposal of
members. An exhibition of domestic and other electrical
labour-saving appliances will also be held during the
visit).

1.30 p.m. Luncheon at the Magnet Club.

2.30 p.m. prompt. Visit to Nechells Power Station of the
Birmingham Corporation.

3.45 p.m. Conveyances will leave Nechells Power Station for
the Botanical Gardens, where members will be received
and entertained by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor of
Birmingham.

5.30 p.m. prompt. Leave Garden Party.

7. 45p.m. for 8 p.m. Annual dinner (evening dress), in the Royal
Field Artillery Headquarters, West Park, Newhampton
Road, Wolverhampton.

FRIDAY. JUNE 23rd.

9.30 a.m. Meeting of the Council in the Grand Theatre,

Wolverhampton .
10.30 a.m. Annual general meeting in the Grand Theatre,

Wolverhampton .
Afternoon. Visit to Wolverhampton Corporation Electricity

Generating Station, Commercial Road, when the President

(Mr. S. T. Allen) will personall)' welcome^members.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23rd.

Physical Society of London.
5 p.m. At the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington,

London.
I. "An Experiment on Molecular GjTostatic Action," by

-Mr. J. W. Fisher, B.Sc.
_'. " On the Viscous Properties and Molecular Dimensions
of Silicane," bv Prof. A. O. Rankine, D.Sc, and Mr.
C. J. Smith, B.Sc.

3. " The Pressure-Gradient in Liquids Flowing through

Cones," by Mr. W. N. Bond, M.Sc.

4. Demonstration of " A Mercury- Drop Method of Producing

Visual Effects by Means of Sound," by Dr. E. E.
Fournier d'Albe. . *>

Peking Tramways.

The latest weekly bulletin to hand from the Chinese Government
Bureau of Economic Information gives the following particulars of
the Peking Tramways Co. The company, it is stated, is entirely
Chinese. Originally a concession was given to the Banque Indus-
trielle de Chine, but on the representations of various public bodies,
which reminded the Government that tramway undertakings are
generally controlled by municipalities, the first agreement was
superseded by a second, and this whittled down the concession to
such an extent that the French bank was only given the privilege
of appointing certain officials. The capital of the company was
fixed at $4 000 000, of which $2 000 000 was to be subscribed by the
Chinese public and $2 000 000 by the Government. Public sub-
scriptions amounted to $2 000 000, so the first call was for $500 000
from the public and $500 000 fron. the Government. The arrange-
ment between the Banque and the Government was that the latter's
share of the capital should be furnished out of its credit with the
Banque. However, the Banque suspended operations soon after
the second agreement was signed, and left the Government to find
the $500 000 unaided. There was a long delay before the money
was forthcoming. Eventually the Ministry of Finance found the
Government quota, and, as the necessar\- preliminaries had. been
completed, tenders were called.

There are eleven directors in the company — six elected by the
Government and five by the Chinese shareholders. One of the
stipulations of the agreement between the Banque and the Govern-
ment was that the Peking manager of the Banque Industrielle
should have a seat on the Board. That seat has been left vacant
since the suspension of the Banque. The remaining ten directors —
all Chinese— have met on numerous occasions, but the French bank
representative has never put in an appearance, although nominally
he remains a director. The company is governed according to
Chinese law.

Tenders for the supply of power plant, machinery-, rolhng stock
and accessories, have been received from the following firms :
Siemens (China) ; Innis and Riddle ; Brush Electrical Engineer-
ing Co. ; Mitsui Bussan Kaisha ; Arnhold Brothers ; Jardine
Matheson ; Anglo-French (China) Corporation ; Compagnia Itahana
d'Estreme Oriente ; Chinese Commercial Corporation ; Zedehus,
Westphal and Co. ; Sintoon Overseas Trading Co. ; Reiss and Co. ;
Wah-Chang Trading Co. ; Liang Mao Trading Co. ; Andersen.
Meyer and Co. and Will .m Forbes and Co. These tenders are
being examined by a commission of experts who will make their
recommendations in due course. The la>-ing of the track is expected
to be begun in the late summer.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21«t.

Institution of Railway Signal Engineers.
3 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Victoria
Embankment, London, W.C.2. Papers entitled " Light
Signals," by Mr. H. E. Fawkes and Mr. W. J. Sadler.

Books Received.

" Boiler Plant Testing." By David Brow,nhe. (London : Chap-
man and Hall.) Pp. x.-f 168. ios.6d.net.

" Drahtlose Ubersee-Verkehr." By Dr. Gustav Eichhom.
(Zurich : Beer and Cie.) Pp. 69-f xix. Fr. 7.

" Elektrische Zugforderung." By Dr-Ing. E. E. Seefehlner.
fBerlin : Juhus Springer.) Pp. xi. -1-587. £.2 los.

" Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony." By E. Redpath.
(London : Cassell and Co.) Pp. 150- ^s. 6d. net.

" The Lead Storage Battery." By H. G. Brown, A.M.I.E.E.
(London : Locomotive Pubhshing Co.) Pp. 162. 5s. net.

" Alternating Current Electrical Engineering." By PhilUp Kemp.
M.Sc. (London: Macmillan and Co.) Pp. xi. + 5i5- iTs.net.

" Elementary Determinants for Electrical Engineers." By
H P Few. (London : S. Rentell and Co.) Pp. 95- 4S. net.

•• Principles of Electrical Engineering." Bv Wm. H. Timbie and
Vannevar Bush. (London : Chapman and Hall.) Pp. vnn.-foij.
20s. net.

" Testing of Transformers and A.C. Machines." By Charles F
Smith, D.Sc. (London : Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons.) Pp. x.-}-9i.
2S. 6d. net. . « \

" S^vitching and Switchgear." By Henr>- E. Poole. B.Sc. (Hons.),
Lond. (London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons.) Pp. %au.H-ii8.
2S. 6d. net.

" Report on Peat " Issued bv tlie Commission of Inquiry into
the Resources and Industries of Ireland. (Dubhn : Commission
of Inquiry into the Resources and Industnes of Ireland.) Pp. no.
2S. 6d. net.

IZ^

The Electrician.

June i6, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED,
T\e following abstract from some of the specificatiotti recently published have been
specially compiled by Messrs. Mewburk, Elus & Co., Chartered Patent Agents,
70 and 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

CcMPLETE Specifications;
172 787 Carpenter, R. E. H., Creed, F. G., and Creed and Co., Ltd. Electro*

magnetically controlled switching-apparatus. (4/10/20.)
172 795 Johnson and Phillips, Ltd., and Wood, P. M. Switch-gear of the truck

or similar type for electric installations. (7/10/20.)
172 805 Winterbotham, C. W. Electrically-heated sad-irons. (12/10/20.)
152 652 VoGLHUT, F. Process for the regeneration of electric incandescent lamps.

(17/10/19.)
166 506 ScHAEFFER, E. Luminous electric discharge lamps. (14/7/20.) (Addition

to 150957.)
172 844 Lehmann, G. Electric switches. (5/11/20.)
172 845 Western Electric Co., Ltd. (Western Electric Co., Inc.). Terminal blanks

for selector switches. (5/11/20.)
172 850 Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd. (Smith, E. W.). Secondeiry

battery plates or electrodes. (12/11/20.)
172 865 Rutter, W. v., Farrington, A., and Nicklin, G. M. Sparking-plugs for
internal-combustion engines. (11/12/20.) (Addition to 136109.)

155 264 Akt.-Ges. Brown, Boveri, et Cie. Apparatus for measuring the tempera-

ture of windings in electrical machines and apparatus. (12/12/19.)
172 868 Beckton, E. Twin clip for regulating the height of electric lamps attached

to flexible electric wire. (20/12/20.)
172 872 Telecr.aphon Ges. Telegraphonographs. (3/1/21.) (Addition to 147 555.)

156 554 Reinicer, Gebbert, and Schall Akt.-Ges. R6ntgen-ray apparatus.

(23/6/I5-)
156 67S Reinicer, Gebbert, and Schall Akt.-Ges. Rontgen-ray apparatus.
(12/1/21.) (Addition to 156 554.)

156 721 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Electric fuses. (12/1/20.)

157 383 Lederer, a. Electric gas-filled flow discharge lamps. (15/9/13.)

158 907 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Wireless signalling in mines (9/2/20.)
172 901 Coates, W. a., Davies, D. R., and Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co.,

Ltd. Electrical i. switch-gear. (28/9/20.) (Divided application on

ay 557/20.)

172995 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Bates, P. T., Mercer,
R., and Gillings, C. Telephone systems. (16/6/20.) (Cognate appli-
cation 28 143/20.)

172 996 Apollo Plug Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and Brown, F. Electric diaphragm
alarma. (24/6/20.)

172 998 Creed and Co., Ltd., and Lenaghan, T. Electro-magnetic relays.

(26/6/20.)

146 491 Forest, L. de. Electric signalling. (17/4/19.)

147 753 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Electro-magnetic wave navigational

or direction-finding systems. (23/10/18.) (Addition to 145 629.)

147 784 Apple, V. G. Construction and operation of dynamo-electric machines.

(23/4/17.)

148 445 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Thermionic-tube electro-magnetic

wave generating apparatus. (25/10/18.) (Addition to 148 447.)
148 447 Ges. FDR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Thermionic-tube electro-magnetic

wave-generating arrangements. (9/9/18.)
148 803 HuTH Ges., Dr. E. F. Method of connection for producing oscillations wtih

vacuum tubes. (27/9/17.)
148 995 Soc. Francaise Radio-Electrique. Wireless telephony systems.

(26/10/16.)
149951 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Electric are welding-apparatus. (19/8/19.)

173 009 Western Electric Co., Ltd. (Western Electric Co., Inc.). Telephone

systems. (10/8/20.) ,

173 010 Byrne, E. L. W. Submersible dynamo-electric machines. (11/2/21.)

(Cognate applications, 29 380/20, 34 537/20, 4 801/21 and 10 799/21.)
173 028 Barker, J. T., and United Alkali Co., Ltd. Electrolytic cells, more

especially intended for use in the production of the chlorates of the alkali

metals. (10/9/20.)
173 033 Smith, E. R. Electric calling or time-alarm devices for use in hotels and

the like. (14/9/20.)
173 062 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd., and Boddy, W. J. Oil-immersed

transformers. (21/9/20.)
173 066 Imray, O. y. (legal representative of Imray, O., deceased) (Bosch Akt.-Ges.

R.). Electric-starting device for internal-combustion engines. (22/9/20.)

(Addition to 2 815/20.)
160746 BouDou, G. Electric apparatus for the permanent waving of the hair.

(26/3/20.)
173 089 Marks, E. C. R. (National Carbon Co., Inc.). Deferred-action dry battery.

(5/10/20.)
173098 Gittins, G. E., and Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd. Elec-
trical oil switches. (9/10/20.)
173 125 Pearce, H. Means for protecting alternating electric-current apparatus.

(23/10/20.
173 130 Rossi, P. Device for automatically controlling a gas or oil burner or an

electrical heating element. (3/11/20.) (Cognate application, 32 307/20.)
^73 134 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Systems of

electric power transmission. (9/11/20 }
155 823 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Telephone systems.

(20/12/19.)
J56 494 Eustice, a. L. Enclosed electric fuses of the cartridge type. (22/6/14.)
161 171 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Automatic or semi-
automatic telephone systems. (29/3/20.)

15 000
15 003

15004
X5 009
15019
15025
15048
J 5 049

15052
15 058
15087

15097
15 105
15109

15 132
15 135

15 J36
15 143
15 167

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS.

May 29.
A. Hewlett. Current testing apparatus.
G. C. Clark and W. J. H. Walter. Removing a id refitting apparatus for

electric bulbs.
A M. Taylor. Electric transmission systems.

E. Phillipson. Electric heating apparatus.

Air Reduction Co. Spark gap detector. (7/6/21 b.S.)
A. C. Hess. Electric transmission mechanism.
P. L. Jensen and E. S. Pridham. Telephone, etc., receivers.
Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co. Telephone systems. (6 '7/21
U.S.)

F. W. Uren. Electric switchboard, etc. (29/6/21 Australia.)
V. Amberc. Automatic telephone systems, etc.

Thurincesche Landesunwersitat Jena. Dissociating oscillatory electric

circuits. (27/5/21 Germany).
W. A. Loth. Staking out a route by phonic cables.
J. W. Ewart. Generating electric power from water supplies.
E. L. Gaston. Production of tubular metallic articles by electro-deposition.

(3/6/21 Trance.)

May 30.
A. Wilkinson. Locking electric lamps in holders.
Forces et Ateliers de Constructions Electriques de Jeumont. Direct

current circuit breakers. (21/3/22 France.)
R. Bosch Akt. Ges. Electric head lights. (11/8/21 Germany.)

G. Eccleston. Combined switch and fuse.

Mullard Radio Valve Co. and C. F. M. Hayes. Thermionic valves, etc.

15 200 Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Co., B. Beesley and J. B. Hansell.

Terminals for transformers.
15 201 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Transformers. (3/6/21 U.S.)
15 204 Ges. FtjR Drahtlose Telegraphie. High frequency telegraph and telephone

systems. (1/6/21 Germany.)
15 214 A. M. E. Beavan. Electric heating apparatus.

May 31.

15 228 A. T. Thompson. Transmitter for telephony, etc.

15 229 E. Kirk. Electric indications of lamps being alight.

15 237 A. E. Roberts and L. H. Thompson. Sound conduits and amplifiers for
wireless telephones and recorders.

15 296 W. H. Jones and W. A. Robinson. Prepayment apparatus for telephones.

15 304 F. E. Pernot and L. J. Rich. Multiplex telegraphy.

15 305 Deutsche Glimmlampen Ges. and J. M. Schmierer. Current direction
indicator. (30/3/21 Germany.)

15 306 W. E. Peek. Wireless receiver sets.

15 307 W. E. Peek. Variable condensers.

15 320 T. W. Bennett. Electric switches.

15 332 Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. and A. H. Brunessaux. Inoan-
descent lamps.

15 334 Siemens Schuchertwerke. Electrolytic protection of boilers, etc., from
corrosion. (1/6/21 Germany.)

15 346 Rudge-Whitworth, Ltd., and W. H. Whitmill. Controlling magneto-
electric machines.

15 349 M. Latour. Electric outfit for games or demonstrations. (4/6/21 France.)

15 351 Soc. Anon. Le Carbone. Dry batteries. (1/5/22 France.)

15 359 Bureau D'Organisation Economique. Metallic vapour electric rectifier
(2/6/21 France.)

15 365 W. T. Ditcham. Electric condensers.

15 367 H. T. Round. Wireless telegraph receiving circuits.

15 368 J. R. Coltman and N. Davan. Burglar alarm, etc., electric circuits.

June I.
15 381 J. Walmsley. Incandescent lamps.
15 408 H. 1 . Jones and C. E. Wood. Electro-magnets.
15 442 F. M. Thomson. Electric signs.
15 448 Fahrzengfabrik Eisenach Zweigniederlassung der Gothaer Waggon-

fabrik A.G. Magneto-electric ignition and illumination. (31/3/22

Germany.)
15 452 C. E. Prince. Electric clocks.

15 460 Dubilier Condenser Co. (1921) and W. H. Goodman. Electric condensers.
15 472 J. P. Williams. Electric protection systems.
15 473 W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., E. Moor and E. E. Judge. Electric

distribution apparatus.
15 476 General Electric Co., Ltd. Electric filaments. (18/6/21 Germany.)
15 481 Muirhead and Co. and E. S. Heartley. .'\utomatic telegraphy.

June -2.
15 483 British Battery Co. and J. W. H. Reynolds. Electric connections for

batteries.
15 493 and 15 495 S. H. Heywood and Co. and C. L. Browne. Electric lifting

blocks, etc.
15 494 S. H. Heywood and Co. and C. L. Browne. Electric controllere.
15 516 P. Freedman. Electric arc devices.
15 532 E. R. Maddox. Electrical variable condensers.
15551 H. Booth. Electric heating units for irons, cookers, etc.
15 584 Telephone Manufacturing Co. and R. L. Murray. Receiving apparatus

for oscillating electric circuits.
15 594 A. R. Matthews and R. F. Tomner. Electrical connectors, terminals, etc.
15 596 Siemens and Halske Akt. Ges. Telephone systems. (2r,'6/2i Germany.).

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, etc.

Tuesday, June 13.

Price.

Inc.

Dec.

Copper —

Best Selected . . per ton

;^66 10 0

—

£1 OS. od.

Electro Wirebars . . ,,

£yo 10 0

—

£1 OS. od.

H.C. Wire, basis . . per lb.

OS. lofd.

—

id.

Sheet . . . . „

OS. lojd.

—

Phosphor Bronze Wire (Telephone)-

—

Phosphor Bronze Wire,

ba;sis . . per lb.

IS. 2fd.

—

Jd.

Brass 60/40 —

Rod, basis . . ,,

7d.

—

Sheet, basis . . „

9id.

id.

—

Wire, basis . . ,,

lojd.

Jd.

—

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants per ton

£4 15 0

—

Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 S.W.G. „

;^l8 0 0

—

Lead Pig —

English . . . . ,,

;£26 0 0

—

Foreign or Colonial

■^24 15 0

—

2S. 6d.

Tin —

Ingot . . . . „

£^52 0 0

—

£2 2s. 6d.

Wire, basis . . per lb.

2S. id.

—

id- .

Aluminium Ingots . . per ton

;flOO 0 0

—

Speller . .

£28 2 6

—

IS. 3d.

Mercury .. .. per bottle ;^i 2 10 0

—

Sulphur (Flowers) — Ton ;^io 15s.

Sodium Chlorate — Per lb. 3 Jd

„ (Roll-Brimstone) — per ton
£^0 15s.
Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5id.
Boric Acid (Crystals). Per ton ;^6o.

Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°)

per ton, £g.
Copper Sulphate. — Per ton

^26 I OS.

Rubber. — Para fine, gjd.; plantation ist latex. 7jd.

The metal prices are supplied by British Insulated & Helsby
Cables, Ltd., and tlie rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph
Works Company.

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Offices oj " The
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4. Tele-
grams : Benbrotric, Fleet, London. Telephone i City 9852 (5 lines).

The subscription to " The Electrician " is ;^i 5 o per annum
in the United Kingdom and £1 10 o per annum Abroad. Advertise-
ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
isement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEKLY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

Electrical Engineering, Industry, Science and Finance.

No. 2301. [vo,.^°Xx'|v

ViiiJ

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1922.

Prepaid Subscription U.K.. £l 5s.
P':r ann. ; Abroad, £l 10s.

Price 6d.

Notes of the Week

• 737

Electricity and Matter

• 740

Electricity Supply in Birmingham

• 744

Correspondence . .

• 751

Automatic Train Stops . .

• 751

London Electricity Supply

• 751

" Empire " High Tension Fuse . .

• 752

German Scientific Instruments . .

• 752

Railway Companies' Power Supplies .

• 753

Electricity Supply in Liverpool . .

• 754

Electrical Situation in Uruguay . .

• 755

Parliamentary Intelligence

. 756

Electricity Supply . .

• 757

Municipal Accounts

. 758

Electric Tractio n . .

• 758

CONTENTS.

737 Personal and Appointm.ents
Business Items
Miscellaneous
Obituary

Imperial and Foreign Notes
Wireless and Telegraph Notes
Catalogues, Price Lists, etc.
Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc
New Companies

Tenders Invited and Accepted .
Arrangements for the Week
Electrical Imports and Exports .
Commercial Intelligence . .
Prices of Metals, Chemicals, etc. .

•• 758

■• 759

•• 759

760

761

.. 76^

•• 765

.. 766

. . -66

Notes of the Week.

The I.M.E.A. Convention.

The twenty-seventh annual Convention of the Incor-
porated Municipal Electrical Association opened at Wolver-
hampton on Tuesday, under the presidency of Mr. S. T.
Allen. In accordance with our usual custom we shall
defer until next week's issue a full and complete account of
the proceedings, which do not conclude until Friday. We
shall content ourselves here with giving some impressions
gathered at an early stage in the meeting. The attendance
does not seem to be so large as usual, certainly the number
of ladies is less. This may be due to the strenuous times,
but it is also undoubtedly partly due to the imavoidable
scattering of the members over more tSian one town. This
is both an administrative and social disadvantage, and we
suggest to the Council that the time has come when
precedent should be disregarded and the Convention held
in some place which is either naturally or artificially
designed for the accommodation of large numbers of visitors.

Wolverhampton — Past and Present.

The Convention opened with a municipal welcome
from the Mayor of Wolverhampton (Councillor James
Thompson, J.P.). Councillor Thompson is also chairman
of the Electricity Committee. This probably saved him
from declaring ore rotundo that electricity is still in its
infancy. Instead, beginning with the Romans he connected
Wolverhampton with the high lights of English history and
finished by pa3n[ng a tribute to the town as a health resort
and to the beauty of the surrounding scenery. This caused
some amusement, but everyone agreed during the afternoon
that the Mayor was justified. The Black County, in itself.
is not a thing of beauty, but it does at least heighten the

contrast of mountain, woodland and river into which one
drives quite suddenly when driving towards the Shropshire
border.

A Brain Stimulant.

The Presidential address was full of meat. We shall
refer to it more particularly next week. Its form, as
Aid. Beaumont suggested, is almost Baconian, and it
certainly provides a cerebral stimulation whose oscillations
will, we hope, effect some not too -sensitive receiving
apparatus. It says what everyone is thinking, which make^
it seem trite. But it also indicates what ever\-one ought to
be doing. And it is from this point of \'iew it must be
primarily regarded. It was, therefore, an excellent idea
to make Colonel Vignoles' Paper on "The Extension of the
Uses of Electricity for Domestic Purposes " a sequel to the
Presidential Address. As the author pointed out, a number
of domestic consumers are being supplied at a loss and the
soundest, if not the obvious, method of combating this is to
encourage a greater use of electricity. This is the more
necessary as the domestic load is a " big thing," as large as
the power load in a highly developed dom.estic area. To
achieve a success in this direction the price must be right,
thcFe must be pubUcity, and the supply authority must
hire and maintain. The discussion largely turned on the
tariff question, and Ur. L. L. Robinson's remarks on this
subject were particularly apposite, as were Mr. Wording-
ham's on diversity' and multipUcity of tariffs. And so to
lunch and Severn scenery, and on Wednesday to Stoke-on-
Trent, municipal finance, and pottery.

The Nechells Generating Station.

On another page of tliis issue we give a description of the
new generating station which the Birmingham Corporation
have erected at Nechells. This station, which is nearing

738

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

completion, has been available for the inspection of those
attending the Convention of the Incorporated Municipal
Electrical Association during the present week, and the
formal opening will probably take place in about a month's
time. In these days of standardisation it is a little difficult
to pick out from the equipment of modern generating
stations an3i:hing of outstanding interest. Nechells is,
however, fortunate in this respect, both from the engineering
and the journalistic points of view. In the first place,
orthodoxy will be shocked by the idea of using cooling
towers and sewage effluent instead of the more usual river
for condensing purposes. The decision required courage
(perhaps the courage of despair),* but experience at the
Nechells temporary station shows that the practice gives
rise to no difficulties and indeed forms a method of solving
what, in Birmingham at least, would otherwise be a very
difficult problem.

The Auxiliary Problem.

The other main point of interest lies in the system
adopted for obtaining the necessary auxiliary supply of
electricity. Not only have both electric motors supplied
for the main 'bus bars and steam engines been provided for
this purpose, but a special auxiliary generator in addition
to the exciter is carried on the main alternator shaft.
Other minor points (minor because they are not quite new)
are the switchgear and the building construction. The
latter is mainly of concrete, and special difficulties were
encountered owing' to the marshy nature of the ground.
The former is of the ironclad construction and combines
safety with robustness in a way which, as our photographs
show, is most impressive. The whole structure is an
example of the best modern practice, upon the design and
construction of which Mr. Ghattock and his assistants are
to be heartily congratulated.

Coue-ism at the Post Office.

Force of circumstances require that Postmaster-
General after Postmaster-General shall become a
disciple of M. Cou6 and attempt to persuade a sceptical
House of Commons, and a stiU more sceptical public, that the
British telephone system is not only not bad, but is every
day becoming better and better. Mr. Kellaway's task
in performing variations on this theme on Friday was a good
deal easier than that of some of his predecessors. It has
always been the general opinion that one of the ways of
improving the telephone system would be to spend more
money upon it, and in announcing that a five-year pro-
gramme of expansion had been prepared, involving an
expenditure of some £35 700 000, he therefore carried his
audience with him.^ This programme will be based on an
estimated cumulative growth in the number of telephones
of 8^ per cent., which was the actual growth in 1920-21, an
estimate which is certainly on the conservative side, for if,
as Mr. Kellaway argues, reviving trade ; leans a greater
demand for telephones, there is eveiy reason why this
figure should be exceeded, especially when the domestic
demand is taken into account. But to stimulate or check
that demand is largely in the Post Office's own hand.

Providing for the Future.

We are glad to see that a large proportion of the proposed
expenditure is to go in placing trunk lines underground,
£504 000 being allocated for this purpose during the present
year. The provision of new exchanges and the modernisa-

tion of Jold exchanges are other important matters which
are to be taken in hand, and we hope that there will as well
be plenty of provision allowed for expansion in laying sub-
scribers' cables and junctions, so that when the demand
does arise, as it assuredly will, there will be no delay in
meeting it, as there has been until quite recently. How
this is done in the United States was described by Mr. E. S.
Byng in the Paper he read before the Institution of Elec-
trical Engineers some months ago, and though Sir William
Noble, who is an even more advanced disciple of M.
CouE than Mr. Kellaway, assured the audience that every-
thing that could possibly be done was being done over here,
still there is no harm in doing just a little more. Major
PuRVES states that expansion is to be the first plank in his
policy. We congratulate him on building on so sure a
foundation, for combined with efficient working this must
lead to an improved telephone system, especially if reduced
charges and a more enlightened administration are the
order of the day.

Wireless Legislation.

Apart from the necessity for providing for the " broad-
casting " craze, it is time the legislation governing the use
of wireless telegraphy and telephony was put on a more
satisfactory basis. The Act of 1904, which conferred
certain powers of control and of issuing licences upon the
Postmaster-General, was only meant to be a temporary
measure. Actually, it expired at the end of 1906, though
it has since been continued by means of the Expiring Laws
Continuance Act. But Mr. Kellaway has now introduced
a short Bill, which has already been read a second time in
the House of Commons, to amend and make permanent the
Act of 1904. According to the provisions of this measure
wireless licences are to be subject to such terms, conditions
and restrictions as the Postmaster-General may lay
down, and penalties are provided for the contravention of
the regulations or of the terms of a hcence.

Three Specific Offences.

Three specific offences are also created, viz., the sending
by wireless telegraphy of a message of an offensive
character, or a misleading signal as to a vessel in distress, or
improperly divulging the purport of any message. For
these offences a fine not exceeding £10, or imprisonment
for 12 months, maybe inflicted, and the penalties imder the
1904 Act have also been increased. Apparently, the old
distinction as to experimental licences is to disappear, and
the Act is to be applied to aircraft (with the necessary
modifications) and to visual or sound signalling stations for
communicating with ships at sea. Provision is made for
the control of wireless telegraphy, or of visual or sound
signalling apparatus in cases of national emergency. The
Bill seems to be devoid of definitions, and though no doubt
a good deal will depend upon the Regulations, it would be
well if certain technical teiTns were clearly and unambig-
uously defined. Apart from this we see little to object to
in the new measure. Regulation is absolutely necessary
unless we wish to get into the state of confusion and chaos
which at present prevails in the United States.

The Railway Supply Inquiry.

We had hoped that last year's exhaustive inquiry into
the electricity supply problem of London and Home
Counties would have been the last. But probably owing
to the chaotic condition of affairs we have been compelled

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

739

to listen for the past fortnight to evidence by a succession
of expert witnesses (all of whom were heard by the
Electricity Commissioners at the last inquiry) on the
subject of the supply for electric traction. This enquiry
has been occasioned by the South Eastern and Chatham
Companies being unable to obtain definite quotations for
supply froni the West Kent Electric Power Co. or the
London Electric Supply Corporation for the electrification
of their suburban lines. They therefore applied to the
Commissioners for sanction to erect their own generating
station at Angerstein's Wharf, Greenwich, and the enquiry
into the matter occupied ten sittings.

Is a Traction Station Desirable ?

In addition to the application of the railway companies,
the Commissioners also investigated proposals of the West
Kent Electric Power Co. for the erection of a power station
at Belvedere and of the County of London Electric Supply
Co. to give a supply for traction purposes from their pro-
jected station at Barking. We have given a full abstract
of the evidence adduced in support of each of the three
schemes and we now await the decision of the Commissioners
with keen interest. The South Eastern and Chatham
lines are about to be reorganised, with the London, Brighton
and South Western companies, into the Southern Group of
railways, and we consider it would be a misfortune if each
of these three units were allowed to electrify on different
systems with three separate sources of supply. The
proposal to use a periodicity of 25 at Angerstein's Wharf,
instead of the standard 50 periods, would also make it more
difficult to introduce uniformity into a complex situation,
though to adopt such a high frequency for a traction load
presents many difficulties. Moreover, it is generally agreed
that it would be an advantage if railway supplies were
obtained from a common source as this would mean a reduc-
tion in cost. We hope, therefore, that the Commissioners
will not authorise the erection of a separate traction station
unless there is a manifest advantage to be gained by doing
so or there is no suitable alternative source of supply which
would be as cheap as that from Angerstein's Wharf.

Progressive Hackney.

Hackney Borough Council is exhibiting commendable
energy' and enterprise in developing its electricity under-
taking. Recently it organised a successful exhibition of
electric labour saving appliances for domestic purposes, and
now its borough electrical engineer (Mr. L. L. Robinson)
has prepared an interesting scheme for wiring the premises
of the working and middle classes. Undoubtedly the chief
obstacle to the more extended use of electricity in the
majority of houses is the initial cost of the wiring and
fittings, and the Council are now recommended to devote
£5 000 out of the revenue of the imdertaking in order to
embark upon an experimental scheme. It is truly pointed
out that the gas industry has already proved that it was
essentially sound business to put in installations free, or
nearly free, of initial cost to the consumer, charging a little
more for gas by prepayment methods in order to avoid^bad
debts and to secure an adequate return both for the gas
supplied and the installation. We believe Mr. Robinson is
right when he says his committee should tackle the same
kind of business in a similar manner.

Mr. Robinson*s Scheme.

Accordingly, he recommends that consumers should
be supplied, free of initial expense, with simple pendant

lighting installations and cooking and heating services, but
the consumer must pay outright for lamps, glassware, any
special lights or certain portable articles such as immersion
heaters or irons. Supply would be given through shilling-
in-the-slot prepayment meters and the charge would be 2d.
per unit in excess of the ordinary flat rate for lighting and
Jd. in excess of the flat rate for cookmg and heating, and
at present this would be 8d. for hghting and i|d. for
domestic uses. A six-light installation would cost £14,
and the average consumption would be 150 imits a year,
giving a revenue of £5 a year. Of this sum £1 5s. would be
allocated for fixed charges. The cost of a complete cooking
installation would be ^^20, and with a family of four the
consumption would average i 000 units, the revenue being
£6 5s. per year, of which one-third, or £2 is. 8d. would be
taken for fixed charges. The consumer would naturally
have the option of purchasing the installations at any time.
We beheve that the interest, sinking fund and depreciation
on installations of this class should not be less than 12 i per
cent., and though Mr. Robinson's estimate does not amount
to this, we are inclined to agree that with the better class
of consmner there would be little risk. Consequently, we
hope that the Council will give the opportunity of making
an experiment, which, if successful, should lead to good
results for the industry as a whole.

Model Conditions of Contract.

The preparation of suitable conditions of contract is an
important subject which crops up periodically at meetings
of engineering and other professional associations. The
ideal of a complete set of standard conditions which can- be
used as occasion requires will never be reached owing to the
changes which are always taking place in engineering
practice, necessitating constant modifications in the con-
ditions. Nevertheless seme standardisation is possible, and
in the past the Institutions of Civil and Electrical Engineers,
the B.E.A.M.A., the F.B.I., the I.M.E.A. g^id other associa-
tions have indulged in the compilation of m.odel condi-
tions. Recently the Association of Consulting Engineers
have also exercised themselves in the preparation of a set
of their own, on the giound that they foimd themselves
unable to accept the revised set of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers.

A Fundamental Weakness.

All these codes, however, have the weakness that those
who prepare them have as their primary object the pro-
duction of conditions which, though fair and equitable to
themselves and their friends, may quite imconsciously be
entirely the reverse to the other parties to the contract.
For instance, the Association of Consulting Engineers, who
drafted their conditions in consultation %vith members of
the B.E.A.M.A., failed to reach agreement on two clauses
relating to the Umitation of the contractor's liability for
negligent or improper workmanship and to the penalty for
delay in completion.

Asking Too Much.

On the first point the B.E.A.M.A. desired to limit the
hability for damage or loss caused by neglect or improper
workmanship or design to a siun not exceeding the value of
the contract. As the contractor is frequently not the maker
or designer of the plant used, and as the value of the plant
usually represents a substantial srm, we are disposed to
think that the demand of the consulting engineers for the full

740

The Electrician/

June 23, 1922

common law rights,^vhichMo^not admit of any such limita-
tion, is asking for too much. On the other hand, we think that
they are right in rejecting the claim of the manufacturers
to limit the penalty for delay in completion to 25 per cent .
of the contract value. The usual penalty is i per cent, of
the value of any portion of the plant for each week by
which the time fixed for completion is exceeded, and thus
the contractor's Uability would cease at the end of 25 weeks.
This is scarcely fair, as under another clause of the condi-
tions the time is to be extended in all cases where the delay
is caused by anything beyond the contractor's control.

Patent Office Report.

Government reports are not remarkable for their
lucidity or for the ease with which information can be
obtained from them, and the annual report of the Comp-
troller-General OF Patents must rank as one of the
worst examples. It consists of a dry record of facts, and
a number of drier tables. Now a record of the trend of
invention, with particulars of the subject matter of the
year's patents, would make useful and interesting reading-
Instead we have fourteen pages of bare summaries and
arid statistics, for which the sixpence charged, represents
a great deal more than the report is worth.

Past Year's Record.

We gather that during the past year the total number of
patent applications was 35 132, a decrease of i 540 com-
pared with 1920, and that the complete specifications filed
were 19 159, or 2 637 less, mainly due to the expiry of the
extensions of time granted by the Treaty of Peace with
Germany and the Berne agreement of 1920, The number
of new patents sealed during the year was 17 697, against
14 191. In spite of the fact that we now have women
engineers, chemists and scientists, they do not appear to
trouble the Patent Ofhce examiners much, for the women
inventors decreased from 311 to 297. The patents of addi-
tion also dropped from 959 to 827, but the applications by
way of communication from abroad increased from i 265
to I 339. There were 594 requests for hcences of right, and
endorsements were effected in 561 cases. Only 4 of the
requests were withdrawn, and 29 were still pending at the
end of the year, so that the hcence system seems to be
pretty extensively used.

Increase of Renewal Fees.

It is interesting to note that there was an increase in the
amount of the renewal fees from ;^286 498 to £303 823, but
less than 15 percent, of patents survive their eleventh year,
over 7 per cent, continue to the fourteenth year, and only
3*6 per gent, run the full period of 16 years. Inventors are
notorious for their optimism and hopeful views, and though
this high percentage of patent mortality would be enough
to damp the spirits of the most ardent inventor, we do
not suppose it will check the flow of invention. The
inventor is the greatest public benefactor on the earth's
surface, and though he seldom reaps a proper reward for
his inventive skill and genius yet he has still the satis-
faction of knowing that he has done something for progress
and for the benefit of his fellow-man.

A Burning Question.

The Institution of Gas Engineers has been having a
joyous time at Cardiff. As members of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers know, Cardiff is quite a good place to

have a joyous time, but in this case its tonic qualities seem
to have over-stimulated the President, Mr. James Robb, of
Chepstow, to say tilings which he may by now regret. Mr.
Robb's presidential address was devoted to the question,
" Does the gas industry receive the recognition and respect
which from its great importance is its due ? " We do not
propose to assist Mr. Robb in elucidating that burning
question, except to say that when it is necessary to devote
more attention to pointing out what an industry has done
than to what it is going to do the future of that industry is,
as the Irishman said, behind it.

The Present Condition of the Gas Industry.

Mr. Robb ascribes the present condition of the gas
industry (whatever that is) to Government indifference
(would we had had a little of that indifference in the
electrical industry), and, descending from the general to
the particular, considers that the Government decided to
build the Chepstow generating station solely to find
employment for ex- " so-called Royal Engineers " (this is
a joke, but we cannot see it) who had been trained in
electricity but knew nothing about gas. But worse
remains behind ! When the Office of Works first investi-
gated the relative advantages of electricity and gas for
hghting the model villages at Pennsylvania and Bulwark,
near Chepstow " gas came out triumphantly, which it
always did when it had a fair field and no favour." Never-
theless this inept Government Department insisted on
wasting pubhc money in laying electric cables, and now the
tenants of Bulwark were " clamouring for a supply of gas,"
which is " the finest, most diffusive, effective, healthy and
cheapest artificial light for general use in existence."

A Joyous Document.

On the other hand, electric lighting is " destructive to
the eyesight, nerves and hair, and, if persisted in, would
convert us into a nation of Chinese, besides exliausting our
coal supplies within a very short period." The only thing
that worries us about all this is, " Why Chinese ? " But,
more strange still, a fact of which Mr. Beauchamp ought to
take immediate note, " Everyone connected with electricity
held a brief for it, from the top dog down to the messenger
boy — including directors, shareholders and workmen's
wives. Everyone of these was an active canvasser fiUed
up to the brim with the fanciful, preposterous, unattainable
virtues of electricity." Altogether a joyous document
which every electrical engineer should study.

Electricity and Matter.

In these days of labour troubles, financial stringency, and
economic pressure, engineers worthy of the name will be
glad to be given an opportunity of considering problems
which, though of high interest, are as httle affected as it is
possible for problems to be by either finance or the human
element. These problems include those where pure
Science, with her immutable laws, is supreme. The mental
tonic which such a study provides is in itself worth the
labour expended, and at the same time there is the comfort-
able feehng that the knowledge acquired may some day be
put to useful purpose in imexpected ways. An opportimity
of thus widening the intellectual basis is afforded to electrical
engineers in the Kelvin Lecture recently dehvered by Sir
Ernest Rutherford before the Institution of Electrical
Engineers on " Electricity and Matter." This lecture we

June 23, 1922

The Eiectrician.

741

have summarised on another page of this issue. Both as
an historical document and from the prospect it opens of
new fields of electrical development it is worth close study.

Some Necessary Expository Qualities.

Now, to make clear the hidden paths of a new and
abstruse subject, such as that with which Sir Ernest deals,
certain qualities are required. Needless to say, the lecturer
must know his work. He must be an enthusiast, well
equipped with the talent of selection so that not only shall
he avoid stressing the obvious, but that he shall give all the
information that an audience not entirely composed of
experts may require to assist them in understanding his
arguments. All these qualities Sir Ernest possesses. He
is in the first rank of workers in the dark fields of the
atomic constitution. He is an enthusiast in his work^he
says so himself — and his gift of presentation has been
polished b}?' frequent delivery of lectures on the same
subject.

Indeed, it would be interesting to know how many
lectures on the various facets of the atomic theory Sir
Ernest has delivered during the past few months. We
know of at least half a dozen ; and from the electrical
engineer's point of view, and doubtless because constant
practice makes perfect, the Kelvin lecture seems to have
been the best of them all.

It is certainly the best for electrical engineers to study
because it is a review of the great advances that have
been made in recent years in our knowledge of the rela-
tions between electricity and matter, a question which is
intimately bound up with the constitution of the atoms of
the elements. Such a review is very useful at the present
time, when some progress has been made and yet more
remains to be done.

Kelvin aad the Atomic Structure.

In a Kelvin Lecture it is only fit that the subject chosen
should be connected with some phase of that master's work
and that his o^vn contribution to the solution of the problem
under discussion should be mentioned. This has usually
been done, and Sir Ernest did his best to follow precedent.
But the task is not easy ; for though, as he pointed out,
Kelvin as long ago as 1883 gave an illuminating account of
the evidence that went to prove that all matter is atomic in
structure, he did not accept entirely the current explanation
that radio-activity is a consequence of the successive
disintegrations of the atoms. To that extent, therefore,
and though he devised types of atoms which under certain
disturbances broke up with explosive violence simulating
in behaviour the atoms of radium, the trend of modem
thought and work has rather been away from than in
continuance of his ideas.

The Modern Line of Thought.

What that modern Une of thought is was clearly laid
down by the lecturer. Faraday's laws of electrolysis
form a remote beginning, followed, after a long interval, by
Johnstone Stoney, Townsend, and Millikai* showing
conclusively that the charge carried by the electron is
numerically equal to that carried by the hydrogen ion in
the electrolysis of water, and thus allowing the mass of the
atom of all the elements to be deduced. Moreover, Crookes'
assumption that the different properties of the elements
were not due to the existence of different lands of matter,
but to different quantities and arrangements of a single
fundamental " substance," was an advance of importance.

The Constitution of the Atom.

The next stage was the conception that the atoms of the
different elements, so far from being indivisible, have a
common complex structure made up of protons (or units of
positive electricity) and electrons. Progress during the
past twenty years has mainly depended on a clearer under-
standing of the relative part played by positiv^e and negative
electricity in the atomic structure, and it is now generally
accepted that the atom is an electrical system. Further,
the nuclear charge of any element is identical with the
number of the places into which that element falls in the
series originally discovered by Mendeleeff from other
considerations.

Transmutation of the Elements.

If we accept these theories, it is but a step to the idea
that one element can be changed into another, so that a
very old dream for which many worked and suffered has
at last been realised. Sir Ernest himself has bom-
barded a number of the lighter elements with a particles,
and has thereby succeeded in breaking up nitrogen into
hydrogen and heUum. We hasten to add for the benefit of
those who would otherwise entertain ideas of alchemical
wealth that this disintegration has only been effected on
a very small scale, and that most of the atoms are stable
bodies held together by enormously great forces.

The Fngincer and Atomic Disintegration.

But nevertheless it is upon the part of Sir Ernest's
lecture which deals with this subject of disintegration that
the imagination of the engineer may weU fix. For it is
conceivable that i-n the energy changes which take place
as a part of these phenomena is to be found the solution
of some of our present difficulties in power generation.
Great as are the advances in the economic utiHsation of
fuel that have been made during the past few \'ears, the
total efficiency of the process is still low, and this means,
among other things, that we are expending our resources
without adequate return. We do not mean to suggest that
within the next few years our generating stations \\-ill be
equipped with plant for transforming nitrogen into
hydrogen and helium ; or that the place of the present
boiler house staff wiU be taken by bespectacled workers
from the Cavendish laboratory engaged in these pursuits.
But the possibihty of utilising the energy set free by the
disintegration of the complex atom into something simpler
does suggest methods which must for every reason receivt
the fullest investigation.

Atomic Structure and the Strength of Materials.

The problem has another aspect wliich should be of
more immediate importance to the engineer. For the
■greater our knowledge of the atomic structure the greater
^vi]l be the information we shall be able to obtain of the
capabilities of the materials that are being employed in
engineering, until the point is reached when methods of
trial-and-error can be replaced by definite knowledge, a
state which will not only be of theoretical but of practical
engineering advantage. As it is. X-ray analx'sis is being
used to obtain fresh information on the internal structm'e
of metals and their behaviour under heat and stress.
More might well be done on these hues, for. after all, that is
only a first step towards linking up more closely the work
of the theoretical physicist with the solution of problems of
a most practical nature. In this finking up fies one of the
brightest chances of future progress in many fields.

742

The Electrician — June 23, 1922

Electricity and Matter/

By SIR ERNEST RUTHERFORD. F.R.S.

In the Kelvin lecture Sir Ernest Rutherford gives a review of the great advances made in recent years in our knowledge of the
relations between electricity and matter. This leads to a consideration of the fundamental problem of physics — the constitution

of the atoms of the elements.

In the earlier Kelvin lectures it has been customary to
give an account of some phase of Kelvin's work. This could
easily be done this evening by concentrating on the publica-
tions of Kelvin that deal \vith the proof of the atomic nature
of matter, the dimensions of atoms and molecules, including
the first suggestions of the mechanism of atomic constitution.
This was a subject in which Kelvin was permanently interested.
In his Royal Institution lecture of 1883, reprinted in "Popular
Lectures and Addresses," vol. i, he gives an illuminating account
of the different lines of evidence that all converge to a cumula-
tive proof that matter is coarse-grained or atomic in structure
and set a definite minimum limit to the dimensions of the
atom. His deduction of the diameter of the water molecule
from the coohng effect observed when a water film is stretched,
is one of the most notable of his examples. In his later
papers, lie accepts Stoney's arguments in support of the
atomic nature of electricity and in a paper of curious title
" jEpinus Atomized, "t he restates the old theory of ^pinus
of the nature and relation of positive and negative electricity
in a more modern form by assuming that the negative
electricity in an atom is distributed in the form of definite
units called " electrions " held in equilibrium embedded in
a sphere of uniform positive electrification. In some of
his later papers Kelvin devised types of atoms which, under
certain disturbances, broke up with explosive violence,
simulating in behaviour the atoms of radium. While keenly
interested in such speculations, there remained the curious
anomaly that he did not entirely accept the current explanation
that radio-activity was a consequence of the successive dis-
integrations of atoms.

An £veat of Extraordinary Signifieance.

The discovery in 1897 of the individual existence of the
negative electron of small mass, and the proof that it was a
component of all the atoms of matter, was an event of extra-
ordinary significance to science, not only for the light which
it threw on the nature of electricity but also for the promise
it gave of methods of direct attack on the problem of the
structure of the atom.

The Relationship betiveen Electricity and Matter.

The first definite proof of the close relations that exist
between electricity and matter we owe to the famous ex-
periments of Faraday on the passage of electricity through
electrolytes. After a long inter-^al the suggestion of the
atomic nature of electricity was mentioned by Maxwell and
Helmholtz, although with reservation, but was revived with
conviction by Johnstone Stoney, who suggested that the
name " electron " should be applied to the fundamental
unit of electricity and made a rough estimate of its magnitude.
Following the discovery of the- independent existence of the
electron and the proof of the production of charged ions in gases
by X-rays and other radiations, it was implicitly assumed by
scientific men that electricity must be atomic in nature, and
all the experimental data were interpreted on this view.

Nature of the Negative Electron.

It was soon recognised that the negative electron of small
mass was an actual disembodied atom of electricity and
that its apparent mass was electrical in origin. J. J. Thom-
son had- early shown (1881) that a charged body in motion
behaved as if it had an additional electric mass due to its
motion. The experiments of Kaufmann and others on. the
swift electrons ejected from radium showed that the mass
of the electron, while sensibly constant for slow fields, increased
rapidly as the velocity of the electron approached that of
light. Later, Einstein from considerations of relativity showed
that for any material particle, whether charged or not, the
mass m must vary with speed according to the relation
w/mo = (i — P')~i, where m^ is the mass for low speeds,
and p is the ratio of the velocity of the particle 10 the velocity
of light. Experiment has been shown -to agree closely with
this calculation.

* Abstract of the Thirteenth Kelvin Lecture delivered before the
Institution of Electrical F,ngineers.

t " Philosophical Magazine," March, 1902.

The Positive Electron.

One of the main difficulties in the attack on the question
of atomic constitution has lain in the uncertainty of the
nature of positive electricity. The evidence as a whole
supports the idea that the nucleus of the hydrogen atom is
the positive electron. It might a priori have been anticipated
that the positive electron would be the counterpart of the
negative electron and have the same small mass. There is,
however, not the slightest evidence of its existence. The
unsymmetrical distribution of positive and negative electricity
that is characteristic for all atoms is a consequence of the
wide difference in the mass of the ultimate electrons which
compose their structure. No explanation can be offered
at the moment why such a difference should exist between
positive and negative electricity.

Estimates of Electron Mass.

On the classical electrical theor}' the mass of the electron
can be accounted for by supposing that negative electricity
is distributed on a spherical surface of radius about i x 10-13
cm. In some recent theories of Compton and others it has
been supposed that the electron behaves like a flexible ring
whose dimensions are about 10- 11 cm, or about 100 times
the original estimate. Without going into these difficult
questions, what little experimental evidence there is seems
to support the older estimate of size. Taking this view
the greater rnass of the proton or unit of positive electricity is
to be explained by supposing that the distribution of electricity
is much more concentrated for the proton than for the electron.
Supposing the shape spherical, the radius of the proton should
be only 1/1800 of that of the electron.

The Nuclear Theory of the Atom.

Progress in our knowledge of atomic constitution during
the last twenty years has depended mainly on a clearer under-
standing of the relative part played by positive and negative
electricity. It is now generally accepted that the atom is
an electrical system, and that the atoms of all the elements
have a similar type of structure.

The nuclear theory of atomic constitution has been found
to be of extraordinary value in offering an explanation of
the fundamental facts that have come to light, and is now
generally employed in all detailed theories of atomic constitu-
tion. On this view of the atom the problem of its constitution
naturally falls into two parts, one the distribution and mode
of motion of the outer electrons and the other the structure
of the nucleus and the magnitude of the resultant positive
charge carried by it. In a neutral atom the number of
external electrons is obviously equal to the number of units
of positive (resultant) charge on the nucleus.

The general conception of the nuclear atom arose from the
need of explanation of the very large deflections experienced
by swift a and p particles in passing through the atoms of
matter. The next great advance we owe to the experim.ents
of Moseley on the X-ray spectra of the elements. He showed
that his experiments received a simple explanation if the
nuclear charge varied by one unit in passing from one atom
to the next. In addition, it was deduced that the actual
magnitude of the nuclear charge of an atom in fundamental
units was equal to the atomic or ordinal number when the
elenients were arranged in order of increasing atomic weight.
On this view, the nuclear charge of hydrogen is i, of helium 2,
lithium 3, and so on up to the heaviest element, uranium of
charge 92.

Bohr's Distribution Theory.

It is now generally supposed that the electrons are arranged
in groups or shells round the nucleus. The theory of Bohr
offers a general explanation of the periodic variation in the
properties of the elements and even accounts for the presence
of the group of rare earths where the chemical properties
of successive elements closely resemble one another. It
endeavours to account not only for the hght spectra but also
for the X-ray spectra of all the elements. While it is too
soon to express a definite opinion of how far it is capable of
explaining the gieat multitude of facts kr.own about J:he
elements, there can be no doubt that a substantial advance

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

743

has been made in the attack of this most fundamental of
problems which lies at the basis of physics and chemistry.
The Structure of the Nucleus.

The most definite information on the structure of the
nucleus has been obtained from a study of the modes of
disintegration of the radio-active atoms. In the great
majority of cases the atoms break up with the expulsion
of a single a particle which represents the doubly charged
nucleus of the helium atom ; in other cases a swift p ray or
electron is liberated. The expulsion of an a particle lowers
the nuclear charge of the atom by two units and its mass by
four, while the expulsion of an electron raises it by one.
On tliis simple basis we can deduce the atomic number and
the general chemical properties of the long series of radio-
active elements and understand the appearance in the radio-
active series of isotopes.

Elements Without Isotopes.

Some very definite and important information on the
structure of nuclei has been obtained by Aston in his experi-
ments to show the existence of isotopes in the ordinary stable
elements by the well-known positive-ray method. He found
that a number of the elements were simple and contained no
isotopes. Examples of such " pure " elements are carbon,
nitrogen, oxygen and fluorine. It is significant that the
atomic weights of these elements are nearly whole numbers
in terms of 0=i6; on the other hand, elements such as
neon, chlorine, krypton, and many others consist of a
mixture of two or more isotopes of different atomic masses.
Aston found that within the limit of error the atomic weights
of these isotopes were whole numbers on the oxygen scale.
This is a very important result, and suggests that the nuclei
of elements are built up by the addition of protons of mass
nearly one in the nuclear combination.

Disintegration of the Elements.

To obtain evidence to prove that the proton exists as a
unit of the structure of the nucleus the obvious method is to
effect the disintegration of some of the ordinary elements and
to examine the masses and charges of the ejected fragments.
In order to test whether the atoms can be artificially disrupted,
a stream of a particles have been employed to bombard the
atoms of the material under examination. When a stream of
a particles is passed tlirough oxygen or carbon dioxide, a few
long-range particles are observed which appear to be H
nuclei liberated from hydrogen present in the radio-active
source. When dry air or pure nitrogen is used, the number
of particles is three or four times as numerous and of greater
average range. These swift particles are bent in a magnetic
field as if they were hydrogen nuclei, and it was thus concluded
that they arose from the disruption of the nitrogen nuclei
due to close collisions with a particles.

Examination of the Lighter Elements.

Further progress has depended mainly on improving the
methods of counting the weak scintillations produced by these
particles. Dr. Chadwick and the author have made a syste-
matic examination of a number of the lighter elements and
have found that similar long-range particles are liberated from
boron, fluorine, sodium, aluminium and phosphorus, as well
as from nitrogen. The range of the particles in all cases is
greater than that of the H particles liberated from free H
atoms under similar conditions. In some recent ex{)eriments
it has been found that these long-range particles are bent in a
magnetic field as if they were hydrogen nuclei. While it is
very difficult to measure the mass of these flying particles
witla accuracy, there can be little doubt that the long-
range particles from these elements consist of hydrogen nuclei
in all cases. The maximum speed of emission of these nuclei
depends on the speed of the bombarding a particle and varies
from element to element.

These results suggest that the elements are in the main built
up of heUum nuclei, mass 4, and protons. The a particle is
unable to liberate a proton from elements like carbon or
oxygen which are built up entirely of helium nuclei as secon-
dary units, but can do so from an element like fluorine which
presumably is built up of 4 helium nuclei and 3 protons.
Disintegration by oc Particles Small.

It should be borne in mind that the disintegration effected
by a particles is on a very minute scale. Only two protons
are liberated from aluminium for a million a particles traversing
it. This disintegration has been observed only by the utiliza-
tion of such a sensitive method that the individual proton
can be counted. In some cases the energy of the expelled
proton is greater than that of the a particle which liberates

it. For aluminium, the proton has a maximum energy about
40 per cent, greater than that of the a particle. There thus
appears to be a gain of energy in some cases, and this excess
energy is presumably derived from the nucleus.
Radio-Active Evidence.

From the radio-active evidence, we know that the nuclei
of heavy atonxs are built up, in part at least, of heUum nuclei
and electrons, while from the experiment outlined above
it seei.is clear that the proton can be released from the nuclei
of certain light atoms. It is, however, very natural to suppose
that the helium nucleus which carries two positive charges
in a secondary building unit composed itself of a close com-
bination of protons and electrons — viz., 4 prptons and 2
electrons.

From the point of view of simphcity, such a conception
has much in its favour, although it should be mentioned that
it seems at the moment impossible to prove its correctness.
If, however, we take this structure of the helium nucleus as a
working hypothesis, certain very important consequences
follow. On the oxygen scale, the helium atom has a mass
very nearly 4000, while thehydrogen atom has a mass 10077.
The mass of the hehum atom is thus considerably less than
that of four free H nuclei. Disregarding the small mass of
the electrons, in the formation of i gm. of helium from
hydrogen there would be a loss of mass of 77 milligrams.
The First Fruits of the Investigation.

It has been pointed out by Perrin and Eddington that in
all probability the energy of radiation from our sun and the
stars is mainly derived from the enormous emission of energy
accompanying the formation of hehum from hydrogen. If
this be the case, it is easy to show that sufficient energy can be
derived from this source for our sun to radiate at its present
rate for several thousand milhon years. This interesting
suggestion of the probable origin of the greater part of the
enormous energy radiated by the sun and stars is one of the
first-fruits of the investigations on the structure of atoms.
It is believed that the formation of heUum from hydrogen
occurs under certain conditions in the great central furnace
of the sun and stars. There is no evidence so far that this
combination can be produced under laboratory conditions.
It may be that it can be effected only under conditions of
very high temperature and enormous intensity of radiation
such as occur in the interior of a sun. Even then the process
of formation may go on at a very slow rate and for periods
measured by miUions of years.

Atoms Purely Electrical Structures.

It is hoped that it has been made clear that most workers
on the problem of atomic constitution take as a working
hypothesis that the atoms of matter are purely electrical
structures and that ultimately it i3 hoped to explain all the
properties of atoms as a result of certain combinations of the
two fundamental units ul positive and negative electricity —
viz., the proton and electron. During recent years, unex-
pectedly rapid advances have been made in our knowledge
of this subject, but we have only made a beginning in the
attack on a very great and intricate problem.
Future Work.

Great difficulties arise the moment we consider why the
nucleus of an atom holds together, and progress seems Ukely
to be slow because it seems clear that the ordinant' la\\'3 of
force between electrified particles break down at such minute
distances. There are, however, a number of obvious lines of
attack that may xaeld us ven.' valuable information. In
particular, a closer stud}' of the modes of transformation of
radio-active bodies may be expected to give us much more
important data. During recent years the study of the y
or verj- penetrating X-rays from radio-active bodies has
progressed very rapidly. The general e\ndence indicates
that the 7- rays' like the a and (3 particle have their origin in
the nucleus. The study of the y ra^'s thus gives us information
of the frequency of \-ibration of the electrons which form part
of the nuclear structure. In addition, Ellis has shown that it
appears probable that the laws of quantum dynamics which
govern the motions and vibrations of the outer electrons
apply also to the nuclear electrons. If this conclusion can be
verified, it offers the hope that we may later be able to form
some ide? of the detailed structure of nuclei. Harkins has
pointed cut some very interesting relations that appear to
exist between the relative abundance of elements irj the earth
and their atomic number, while the close study of steUar
"evolution should ultimately throw much light on the general
problem.

744

The Electrician — June 23, 1922

Electricity Supply in Birmingham.

Details of the New Nechells Generating Station.

At the time when the Annual Convention of the Incorporated
Municipal Electrical Association was held in Birmingham
eight years ago, it was common though unofficial knowledge
tliat the demands of the consumers of the electricity department
had caused the Electricity Committee, on the advice of Mr.
R. A. Chattock, to purchase a site at Nechells, on the outskirts
of the city, and that preliminary work had been started there
for the erection of a generating station. But Birmingham,
fortunate enough in some ways, is not well favoured with
places where power stations, which conform to modern ideas
of design, can easily be erected. Coal supply is abundant,
but water supply, owing to the absence of rivers, is more than
usually limited. At Summer Lane, which was the principal
generating station in 191 4, a combination of canal water
and cooling towers are used, but for this reason and owing
to more physical difficulties connected with the site the

imtil some coalition between its plant and that in the " per-
manent " station can be made. For the time being the two
stations feed into the network and are interconnected through
special cables. The Nechells permanent station has a present
capacity of 30 000 kW and an ultimate capacity of 105 000 kW.
A detailed description of the Nechells temporary station
will be found in The Electrician, Vol. Ixxv., p. 388, June 18,
1915. Its genesis was due to the reason mentioned above and
to the fact that no other site could be found for the erection
of the generating plant that was so urgently needed. For-
tunately a site adjacent to the permanent station at Nechells
was available, and here a station of 10 000 kW capacity was
erected and got to work in the short space of eight months.
This was partly achieved by making the buildings of a steel
framework, covered with asbestos composition corrugated
sheeting, an arrangement which, incidentally, saved a great

A - TRAnSFORMEU M0U5E
B- COMPRESSOR MOUSE.

D- COOLING TOWERS FOR TEMPT STATION

£ - CLERK OF IVORKS OFFICE.

F - LOCO. SHED.

G - WINCH HOUSE-

H - ASH BUNKER.

J - ARM OF CANAL.

K - WEIGH BRIDGE.

Fig. I. Site Plan of the Nechells Station.

ultimate capacity of 36500 kW has been reached. Hence
the original reason for building afresh at Nechells.

The Effect of the War.

So far the history of electricity supply development in
Birmingham docs not differ very greatly from that in many
other towns. Nechells opens a new phase In the first place,
it was decided to use the sewage effluent froia the neighbouring
sewage farm for cooling purposes, thus overcoming in an
ingenious and successful way a problem which must always
arise in towns situated as Birmingham ; apd secondly, the
outbreak of the war first caused the work to be discontinued ;
then when an urgent demand for power and yet more power
was made a temporary station had to be built ; and lastly,
in 1919, work was resumed on the permanent station, work
which is just now nearing completion.

A " Permanent-Temporary " Station.

It may be pointed out, however, that in spite of alternate
booms and slumps demand has more than kept pace witfi
supply. As a result the " temporary " station is in a fair
way to become permanent and will at least be retained in use

deal of money. This station was subsequently increased
to 22 000 kW capacity.

Site of Permanent Station.

Turning now to the permanent station, the site utilised has
an area of about 21 acres and is situated close to an
industrial area where large power loads will be available.
The surroundings are very open, and the site is bounded on
one side by the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.
Railway connections can be made both to the Midland
Railway main line to Derby and to the London and North
Western Railway branch line from Stechford via Aston to
the Black Country and Cannock Chase coalfields. Fig. I
shows the boundaries and surroundings of the station.

As mentioned above,, the site is close to a large block of
filter beds belonging to the Tame and Rea District Drainage
Board, from which approximately 3 000 000 gallons per day
of filtered sewage effluent can be obtained for make-up for the
towers used for cooling the condensing water.
Station Details.

The generating station, wliich is designed for an ultimate
capacity of 105 000 kW, consists of an engine house, boiler

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

745

house, switch-gear house, workshop and offices, with coohng
water reservoirs and towers, telpher system for coal and ashes,
private canal basin having access to the Birmingham and War-
wick Junction Canal (which is to be widened), railway sidings
connected to the Midland Railway, and large coal storage
accommodation. Fig. i shows the general lay-out, the portion
shown in full lines being that already equipped, while the
dotted lines indicate space available for future extensions.
Buildings.
It was determined after careful examination and considera-
tion that, as the soil was composed largely of sewage sludge,
and was soft, spongy and waterlogged in wet weather (being
on the site of an old sewage farm), it would be necessary to
support the whole of the buildings on ferro-concrete piles of
a sufficient length to reach down to the bed of sandstone
which runs pretty uniformly over the whole area, 17 ft. below
surface.

The general plan of foundations was carried out on the
Mouchel-Hennibique system of ferro-concrete construction.
The total load on each cluster of piles in the boJer house .s
276 tons, along the line supporting the wall separating the
engine and boiler houses. The foundation raft constituting
the basement floor of the boiler house consists of a slab of
ferro-concrete 4 in. thick, divided by main secondary concrete
beams into panels 13 ft. long by 5 ft. 3 in. wide.

The beds for the turbine foundations in the engine house
consist of ferro-concrete slabs 15 in. thick, supported on 14 in.
square piles, the total load on each bed being i 180 tons.
On the top of these come the massed concrete turbo-alternator
foundations, bringing the level up from the basement to that
of the operating floor.

The building work was carried out under the supervision
of Messrs. A. Jackaman and Son, Ltd., of Slough. The archi-
tectural work was entrusted to Messrs. Ewen Harper, Bro., and
Co., and the design of the ferro-concrete work to Messrs.
L. G. Mouchel and Partners, Ltd.

Cooling Tower Foundations.
The foundations for the cooling ponds and cooling towers
involved some very heavy ferro-concrete beam work and
containing walls. The coohng ponds carry 10 ft. 6 in. depth
of water, and are entirely above ground level. The whole
system of beams is connected by a continuous slab of concrete
5 in. thick, forming the bottom of the ponds. An idea of the
extent of the cooling tower system may be gained when it is
remembered that there are at present 17 towers installed,
and that there will ultimately be no less than 41 towers.

Owing to the shortage of bricks and of labour in the building
trade, the architects desired to reduce to a minimum the em-
ployment of such trades as would be drawn upon largely in
the erection of domestic houses, and decided to carry the whole
weight of the structure and equipment upon steel stanchions
and girders. The brickwork shell could then be considered
as a covering only, with the result that the walls above ground-
level in no ca?e exceed 14 in. thick.

General Arrangements.
The engine house, see Figs. 2 to 5, at present measures 218 ft.
9 in. in length by 66 ft. 3 in. in width by 72 ft. high (to the
underside of the roof) ; but an extension of 65 ft. 9 in. for the
third turbo is now being commenced, and for future require-
ments there is a further extension available of 240 ft. 9 in.,
making an ultimate length of 525 ft. 3 in.

The boiler house at present measures 218 ft. 9 in. in length
by 98 ft. wide by 54 ft. high ; but an extension of 306 ft. 6 in.
is available for future extensions, making an ultimate length of
525 ft. 3 in. The feed tank floor is at a height of 36 ft. ab jve
firing floor, and the pump room floor at 18 ft: above firing floor.
The steel chimneys (104 ft. high) are carried upon a platform
at a height of 32 ft. above firing floor.

The workshop and office block adjoins the engine house,
and consists of stores, messrooms, workshop, battery room and
offices.

The switch house block (see Fig. i) adjoins the end of
office block and of engine house, and consists of a covered
yard (in which is situated a turn-table), control room, switch
room, galleries, etc., a section of the building being in three
storeys and the rest in two storeys ; a granohthic stairca.se
giving access to all floors. The transformer cubicles, for the
30 000 V transformers, are built into the west side of the
switch-house block, at yard level.

The Control Room.
The control room occupies one end of the floor over the
cartway, and covers an area of 5 400 super, ft., and is 20 ft.

high. It has access to the engine room by the main staircase
and is provided wdth large windows on both outer walls and
towards engine room.

The switch room adjoins the control room, and has a
height of 32 ft. a width of 44 ft. and a length of 79 ft. 2 in.
On the floor of this room are situated the heaviest (or " M ")
oil switches. The general arrangements of the station are given
in Figs. 2 and 4.

Coal-Handling Plant.

The contract for the coal and ash-handhng plant was let to
the Mitchell Conveyer and Transporter Co. The coal-bandling
plant was required to deal, on a large scale : (i) With coal
arriving by railway truck, or (2) by barge. In the first case
plant had to be provided for tipphng the trucks bodily over
the grabbing pit, then tor removing the coal at the rate of
40 tons per hour per boiler house bay ; lifting it through a height
of 50 ft., traversing it from 200 to 300 ft., and dropping it
into the coal bunkers situated over the varioas boiler-house
sections at the top-floor level of boiler-house.

In the second case, the plant had to be suitable for lifting
the coal by means of grabs out of the barges in the canal,
or the canal siding, at the rate of 30 tons per hour per boiler-
house bay, traversing some 200 to 300 ft. (ultimately some
500 ft.), lifting it some 50 ft. and dumping into the hoppers
in the various boiler-house bays, at the top-floor level.

The wagon tipplers for discharging the railway trucks on
to the coal dumps are entirely automatic, and are the latest
form of labour-saving device. They can deal with 120 tons
of coal per hour. Special advantages are claimed for this form
of tippler, in the matter of distribution of the coal, quick hand-
hng later by the grabs, and avoidance of damage to railway
trucks.

Ash-Handling Plant.

The ash-handhng plant is required to collect the ashes and
riddhngs from the hoppers under the boilers (of which there
will ultimately be 42), carry them to a convenient storage
centre, and feed them from thence either into railway wagons
or into barges. For the first three boiler sections eqiupped
the capacity of the plant is sufficient to deal with 30 tons of
ashes, chnker and riddlings per hour.

There are two trucks and an electric locomotive for deahng
with the ashes and chnker, and one truck for dealing with the
riddhngs. A complete S5^tem of 30 in. tracks is laid under
the boilers in the basement. These lead to the foot of the
two ash hoists.

The capacity of the ash bunker, which is of ferro-concrete
construction, is 300 tons.

Cooling Tow^ers and Circulating Water System.
The sewage effluent used for coohng is first passed into a
chlorinating house, where it is sterihsed by chlorine treatment.
Thence it passes tlirough a suction culvert to the condensers,
and from the condensers it is forced through discharge piping
to the tops of the sprayers in the coohng towers and thence
falls into the cooling ponds.

The contract for this work was divided up as follows :
Cooling tower foundations, including coohng ponds and suction
culvert and chlorinating house, A. Jackaman and Son, Ltd. ;
cooling towers. The Davenport Engineering Co. ; heavy
suction and discharge pipework and valves connecting cooling
towers with condensers, E. E. Jeavons and Co.

The coohng towers are of the natural draught chimney t\'pe,
capable of deahng with a total capacity on normal full load of
2 877 500 gals, of water per hour, reducing the temperature
from 92° F. tc 75° F , with atmosphere at 55° F. and So per
cent, humidity.

There is a " main " trough, two " intermediate " troughs,
and a large number of " distributing " troughs in connection
with each tower. An excellent view of these cooling towers
is given in Fig. 3.

Boilers and Steam Piping.
The boilers and steam and feed piping were suppUed by
Babcock and Wilcox, and the chimneys and Prat induced draft ^
arrangements by Utting and Co. The first section of plant
consists of twelve land type marine water tube boilers, each
complete with an integral superheater, superposed steel tube
economiser, and chain grate stokers.

Each boiler has a heating surface of 5 34S sq. ft. ; the super-
posed steel tube economiser having a further heating surface
of 3 393 sq. ft., making a total effective heating surface of
boiler and economiser of 8 741 sq. ft. The boilers are con-
structed for a working pressure of 320 lbs. per sq. in., while

746

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

■^i* ts-6

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

747

748

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

provision is made for superheating the steam to a final tem-
perature of 700° F.

The chain grate stokers have a grate area, per boiler, of
224 sq. ft., are provided with forced draught attachment and,
when burning fuel with a calorific value of g 000 B.Th.U.'s
and with a feed inlet temperature to the economiser of 150° F.,
each steam-raising unit is designed to easily evaporate
35 000 lbs. of water per hour under normal working con-
ditions, with a maximum evaporation, when desired, of
42 000 lbs. of water per hour.

The first four groups of boilers deliver their steam through
two 12 in. branches, with a separator in each branch, into a
12 in. cross-over main running parallel with the engine-house.

From the cross-over mains 12 in. steam pipes oranch off
to the turbines.

There are four Weir reciprocating, and two turbine-driven
pumps — all driven by steam. The six feed pumps deliver
into two 8 in. mains of mild steel throughout : these are made
for a working pressure of 375 lb. per sq. in.

shunt wound d.c. generator for the purpose of supplying
auxiliary plant requiring d.c. current.

Alternator Construction.

The stator windings are of the bar type, arranged in two
layers, in slots of the open type. The slots have openings
shaped to accommodate dovetail section keys of impregnated
hard wood which hold the windings securely in position. The
winding consists of an upper and lower layer of conductors,
there being one conductor per layer per slot. The end portions
of the windings are supported by deep section bronze wings,
well insulated and mounted on brackets on the end flanges.

The ventilation both of the stator and of the rotor is
ef&ciently carried out and thermo-couples, embedded in the
stator windings during construction, permit of the tempera-
tures being observed during operation of the machine. The
stator windings are subjected to a high potential test of
12 000 V for one minute, both to earth and between phases,
before the machine is put into service.

Fig. .5. General View of the Turbine Room at Nechells.

Turbo- Alternators.

The contract for the two turbo-alternators, air filters,
condensers, air and circulating pumps, water extraction pumps,
feed heaters, evaporators, Venturi meters and atmospheric
relief valves, was placed with The British Thomson-Houston
Co., who sublet the condensers and other auxiliaries to G. & J.
Weir, Ltd., and the air filters to Wm. Grice and Sons.

The two turbo-alternator sets each consist of a high-pressure
Curtis horizontal combined-impulse type steam turbine,
suitable for working at 300 lbs. pressure (gauge) and 278° F.
of super heat (total — 700° F.) with 28 in. vacuum, coupled
to a 22 500 kVA alternator designed for giving a maximum
continuous load as above either at 80 per cent. P.F. or at
66-6 per cent. P.F. at a speed of i 500 revs, per min.
. The normal full load current of each alternator is 2 470 A
at 5 250 V when delivering its maximum continuous output,
i.e., 22 500 kVA. The instantaneous short circuit current
(with full load excitation) will amount to approximately six
times normal current.

The exciter for each alternator is mounted on an extension
of the shaft and is 125 kW capacity at 220 V. It is capable
or giving 20 per cent, more current and voltage than is
required at 22 500 kVA at 66-6 per cent, power factor.

On the same shaft with each alternator there is also carried
(in combination with the exciter) a 250 kW 440 to 460 V,

The rotor is of the cylindrical non-salient-pole type, with
distributed windings. Axial and radial openings are pro-
vided through the rotor core at different points, to assist
ventilation. The rotor windings are of solid copper strip,
edgewise wound, insulated from one another with mica, and
from the core by means of mica and fibre troughs. The slot
keys are of hard copper and are connected at each end of the
rotor to massive bronze end plates, so as to constitute a
squirrel cage winding on the rotor. A view of the two sets at
present installed is given in Fig. 5.

Air Filters.

The air filters supplied for the two alternators are of Wilham
Grice and Sons' manufacture, and are of their twin tj'pe
" Invincible " wet air filters, each twin unit being capable
of dealing with 60 000 cu. ft. of air per minute. Each filter
is driven by a 1-75 h.p. direct current motor.

Condenser Details. ,

The surface condensers arc of G. «.^- J. Weir's manufacture,
and each deal with lySooo lbs. of steam per hour, and main-
tain a vacuum of 28 in. with barometer at 30 in. of mercury,
and require 1 8 500 gallons of circulating water per minute at
a temperature of 75° F. The cooling surface is 24 500 sq. ft.

The air pump is of the steam ejector type. Two sets, each
at full duty, operate on one condenser. The joint consumption

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

749

is I 130 lb. steam per hour at 150 lbs. pressure. The water
circulating pumps are by G. & J. Weir and are in duplicate,
one being turbine-driven and the other motor-driven, each
set operating at half duty (i.e., 9 500 gallons per minute)
the total head is 51 ft. The water extraction pumps arc also
by G. & J. Weir and are also in duplicate, one being turbine-
driven and one motor-driven. Each pump will deal with
198000 lbs. of condensate per hour. The Weir ejector
heater deals with the condensate before it enters the direct
contact heater and utilises the exhaust from the air ejector
for this purpose.

A Weir direct contact feed water heater imparts the final
elevation in temperature to the condensate before it enters
the hot-well tank, and utilises for this purpose the exhaust
steam from the water extraction pump turbine and the cir-
culating pump turbine, augmented by exhaust steam bled
from the L.P. turbine if a higher temperature is desired.
The evaporators are each capable of evaporating" 7 000 lb.
•of water per hour when supplied with saturated steam direct

cent, respectively. Regulation at 08 P.F. is 40 per cent,
and 35 per cent. The reactance is 5 per cent, and 45 per
cent. The efficiency of the large size is 98 5 per cent, at
i/i load and 9875 per cent, at half load, and of the small
size 987 per cent, and 98O per cent.

Switchgear.

The contract for the initial installation of high ten.sion
switcht,ear was placed with ReyroUe and Co. The apparatus
which will ultimately have to be controlled by the switchgear
is as follows : seven 22 500 kVA alternators ; six group feeder
buses (each for 10 000 kVA ; six 30,000 V 10 000 k\'A trans-
formers and trunks, to suitable distributing centres — all
(including generators, transformers and group feeders) directly
off the main bus bars. A view of the gear is given in Fig. 6.

The group feeder switches w ill each feed through reactances
on to feeder bus bars, and from these latter bus bars there
will run link mains to other generating stations, and ring main
feeders for direct distribution to consumers, and such local

Fig. 6. The Main Switchgear from Above, Showing the Massive Construction.

from the boilers. The Weir boiler feed pumps, which are in
duplicate and of two kinds, draw either direct from the hot
well tanks, or alternatively from the condensed water tanks,
through the normal, or the emergency, feed suction ranges.

Step-up Transformers.

Standard 30 000 V Ferranti transformers are used to step up
the pressure at Nechells from 3 000 V — the bus-bar pressure —
to 30 000 V for transmission to the Summer Lane generating
station (where it is stepped down to 5 000 V) , and to the
Bournville substation on the extreme south-west of the town,
where the current is fed into the 5 000 V distributing system.

For this purpose two 10 000 kVA banks of Ferranti single-
phase transformers, each having a rating of 3 500 kVA per
transformer, with a ratio of 18 500/5 350 V with one spare
single-phase unit, are employed at I^echells, one similar
10 000 kVA bank being at Summer Lane, and a 5 000 kVA
bank at Bournville. In the last-mentioned case a spare
single-phase unit will also be available.

The banks are all star-connected on the high tension side
and delta-connected on the low tension side. The technical
data for the two types of single-phase transformers are :
5 per cent, tappings are supplied on the L.T. side. The open-
circuit watts at 15° C. are 12 500 and 9 000 W for the small and
large sizes respectively.

The regulation at unity P.F. is 11 per cent, -and 0-85 per

supply circuits as are required for the needs of the station
itself.

On referring to the skeleton diagiam of switchgear con-
nections (Fig. 7) it will be seen that the main bus bars are in
duplicate and that all those oil switches which are directly on
these bus bars are provided with duplicate isolating switches,
by means of which the oil switch may be put selectively on to
either set of bus bars.

All the oil switches at present installed on the main bus
bars are of the " M " type of Re>ToIle gear, which is capable
of breaking a short circuit representing momentarily i 500 000
kVA. The alternator switches are each rated at 3 000 A
continuous carrying capacity. There are no potential trans-
formers direct on the main bars (these being placed on the
generator side of the generator switches and on the load side
of the other switches) ; thus one source of risk is avoided.
The nine switches on the feeder bus bars are of the Re>ToIle
A. 2 draw-out armour clad type, and are automatic and of
500 000 kVA rupturing capacity.

Trunk Connections.

The 30 000 V 10 000 k\'A trunk connections beiwoen the

Nechells permanent station, the Summer Lane station and the

Bournville substation are controlled, on the H.T. side, by

ReyroUe " R 2 " type switches, and rre not without interest.

By means of the two 30 000 \' 10 000 kVA trunks, the

750

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

present Summer Lane generator load will be very greatly-
eased, by being partly transferred to Nechells, in addition to
the easement already afforded \>y the Nechells Temporary
Station (some 20000 kW).

The main switches (" M " type) for the 30 000 V step-up
transformers have a normal rating of i 500 A.

Group Feeder Switches.

The group feeder switches of i 500 A capacity control
the group feeder single-phase cables leading to the feeder
bus bars in which cables are inserted the group feeder reactances
each designed to normally carry i 500 A and absorb 120 V.
The reactances are of British Insulated and Helsby Co.'s
design and manufacture.

Link and Ring Main Switches.

The] " A. 2 " switches on the group feeder board are of a
smaller breaking capacity (506 000 kVA) but are protected

Nechells

PERMANE^T

Generating

and lead sheathed, and of 0-5 sq. in. sectional area (six cables
in parallel to each phase of machine) and were supplied
by Callenders Cable and Construction Co.

A cable bridge over the River Rea is intended for the outlet
of the 30 to 40 ring main i 500 kVA feeders, and the two
30 000 V trunks the former of which will eventually carry the
distribution supply to the north and east districts of the city :
also for any future 30 000 V trunks (feeding the central and
south and south-west or other districts).

The six single-core 0-25 sq. in. 30 000 V cables, connecting
the high tension windings of the two 10 000 kVA step-up
transformers with the switchgear, were supplied by Callenders,
as were also the two six-core 0-185 sq. in. 5 000 V spht con-
ductor cables, connecting the Nechells " Permanent " station
with the Nechells " Temporary " station.

Trunk Feeders to Summer Lane and Bournville.

The^triink feeder cables between Summer Lane and Bourn-

Station

Fig. 7. Diagram of Switching Arrangements at Nechells showing Lnterconnection with Summer Lane and Bournville.

by the group reactances and again by the " M " group feeder
switches on the main bus bars.

The whole of the foregoing switchgear is provided with
electrical and mechanical interlocks in accordance with
ReyroUes' standard practice, thus rendering all switches slife
to handle.

Control Room Equipment.

The control room is equipped with four main sets of control
boards — viz., {a) for the main alternators, step up transformer
switchgear and the group feeder switchgear ; [h) for the 5 000
volt ring mains and works supply, also link mains between
stations ; (c) for the low-tension a.c. supply ; {d) for the d.c.
supply. A feature of the main a.c. e.h.t. control board is
the presence of an electrically operated diagram of connections
of the switchgear. By this diagram the operating engineer
can see at a glance the exact position of all the main " M "
switches and isolating switches in the station.

Main Cables.

The whole of the main alternator cables between the
alternators in the turbine room and the main oil switches in
the oil switch room arc single-core cables, paper insulated

ville are for 30 000 V pressure at the dehvery end and are of
W. T. Henley's manufacture. They have the following
characteristics ; The cables are of 0-2 sq. in. three-core paper
insulated, lead-sheathed, served armoured with a single layer
of galvanised steel wires, and again served

We have to thank INIr. R. A. Chattock, city electrical
engineer, Birmingham, for giving us an opportunity of inspect-
ing and describing this interesting station.

Electricity Supply in Ayrshire.

.\n interesting scheme for the formation of a Joint Electricity
Board for Ayrshire, consi.sting of representatives of the County
Council and of the Burgh of Kilmarnock, has been put forward.
The sclieme has been formally approved by the County Council,
and as the IClectricity Commissioners are said to be favourable, it
will probably take definite shape in a short time. In a report
Messrs. Mcrz and McLellan state that a joint Board would be of great
advantage to the countv, as it would be alilc to develop electricity
supply on uniform lines under one management for practically the
whole county. The County Council will assume responsibility for
about /200 000 of capital expenditure, and as sorn a.s the Board is
forme(i an offer will be placed before Ayr Corporation, who will be
asked to abandon the T.och I^oon .scheme and join the Board.

June 23, 1922

Ihe Electrician.

751

Correspondence.

•'MAIN LINE RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATU3N."

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — Your leading article on this question in your issue for
the 2nd instant has probably an interest for many of your
readers besides myself, and I therefore crave the hospitaUty
of your columns for a few notes on same, as well as on Mr.
Roger Smith's " impressions," published in the same issue.

I may say I have no axe to grind with reference to the use
of single-phase current, and therefore will content myself with
saying that it seems unfortunate that the pioneers of this
system have so persistently stuck to a frequency as low as
i6f periods, whereas I understand that there is no material
additional loss in single-phase locomotives, if run at 25 periods.
If they had from the beginning pronounced equally favourably
for 25 periods as for i6f periods, the probabihty is that they
would have disarmed a good deal of the criticism wliich has
been levelled at the latter, more particularly as regards the
impracticabiUty of making generators for this periodicity, and
the fact that in London, Birmingham, and Glasgow, a supply
at 25 periods could be obtained, would have helped their cause.

No doubt it will be said that the supply in these three cities
is three-phase, but I cannot see that there is any insuperable
difficulty in taking a tliree-phase supply ofE the busbars
tlxrough step-up transformers, and dehvering to substations
in which the load may be only partly balanced, since the
traction load would, in any case, be only a fraction of the
total load.

Even in the case of Manchester, which has no 25-period
supply on a large scale, I suppose that this would have been
forthcoming had there been a demand for it, and it is surely
not without significance that the Hell Gate Station, in New
York, one of the largest and very latest stations in the world,
generates equally both 25 and 50 periods, and is laid out with
this object.

The other point which I desire to bring forward is that,
while in America there has been no particular incentive, with
their overhead transmissions, to cut down the frequency, from
the point of view of line construction, yet, in this country,
where we are almost pledged to underground transmission, we
are cutting our own throat and precluding the use of the.
higher voltages, which we shall certainly endeavour to make
for, by insisting upon 50 periods. The dielectric hysteresis
losses at 50 periods will undoubtedly be rather serious if we
ever succeed in getting up to voltages of 100 000 to 150 000 V,
and special means will have to be devised for their reduction.

I know that at the moment we are carrying along merrily
at 30 000 V, but it must be common knowledge to all those
who have looked at all into the question of main line electrifi-
cation, or of the interlinking of important cities or areas, that
30 000 V is terribly uneconomical as compared with what we
might do if able to run up to 100 000 V.

Mr. Roger Smith states in his article that " with three-
phase transmission it is doubtful if one generating station
could economically feed to a greater radius than 25 miles."
I agree that it is doubtful, if we are limited to 30 000 V, but I
do not think it is at all impracticable to consider 50 miles if
the voltage could be raised to 100 000. Hence, if this figure
could be attained, the arguments which Mr. Roger Smith
deduces as to the steam generating station, for the railway
load alone, being too small, would be considerably weakened
— if not cancelled.

The fact that 25 periods has proved no disqualification to
the Glasgow and Birmingham Corporations, and the Clyde
Valley Co., obtaining a very large motor load proves that
there is still a great deal to be said for 25 periods as a general
proposition, and the importance of being able to extend the
area of operation^ of those stations wh'.ch are really able to
generate economically may well prove to be worth as much as
a slightly reduced cost on industrial motors and on trans-
formers.— I am, etc., Sigma.

very little newspaper publicity — simply a dignified protest at
the low figure oftered (£1 500 per annumj and then the ban.

I would like you to ask Technical Engineers what would
happen if a similar situati<^)n arose in the appointment of an
engineer. Just an undignified rush for the position without
any reference to any representative body, and with very little
consideraticjn as to whether tho position was worth more or not.
And why ? — Bad times. Xonsen.se ! In times of full shops
and plenty there would still be the same rush for any position
offering £1 500 per annum. Yet engineers are quite as neces-
sary as — perhaps more necessary to the common good than —
the doctors. The reason is simple. There is no representative
body to apply to. We, as technical engineers, are not strong
enough to protest against low salaries — disgracefully low in
many cases. The moulders are — members of the railway
unions are- — and yet we consider ourselves intelligent men.
Yea, even the salt of the earth — some of us.

Surely the one instance I have cited shows the necessity of
getting together and giving our society the power to assert
itself and to exert its power in its members' interests, as was
done by the B.M.A.

The only way this can be done is by wholehearted co-opera-
tion among technical engineers, through the medium of a
society such as the Society of Technical Engineers.

Technical.

Automatic Train Stops.

The Report oi' the Committee appointed by the Ministry of
Transport in October, 1920, to inquire into automatic train control
and to examine devices under trial was published on Tuesday.

The Committee find that there is a prima jaci' case for automatic
train control on British railways, and that the method most likely
to suit existing conditions on British railways should supplement
rather than replace existing block telegraph and signalling systems,
and comprise [a) automatic train-stop, located at or near selected
stop-signals, which shall, in the event of a train passing such signals
when they indicate danger, bring the train to a standstill ; (6) auto-
matic warning control at distance signals, and at other places where
danger from too high a speed may be anticipated.

The Committee have drawn up a series of conditions with which
any acceptable system of automatic train control should generally
comply. The estimated cost for the fuU scheme on passenger routes
on which there are two or more lines in existence is : — First cost,
£4 660 000 ; annual charge, -{407 000. The Committee recommend
the immediate formation by railway companies of a committee of
experts to standardise track and locomotive apparatus, having
regard to differences in structural and loading gauges.

The report is imfavourable to the adoption of the continuous
type of control, which aims at entire and constant protection of a
train at all stages. With regard to localised (intermittent) control,
the Committee state that the contact type of apparatus has proved
reUable after many years' operation under worldng conditions, and
capable of withstanding satisfactorily the effects of high-speed
traffic, but they cannot recommend it for British conditions.

THE REMUNERATION OF TKCHNICAL ENGINEERS.

To the Editor o/'THE ELECTRICIAN.
Sir, — I would like to draw the attention of technical
engineers to the notable victory just gained by the strongest
and closest Union in the world, viz., The British Medical
Association. I claim that in forcing the Manchester City
Council to recommend the payment of ;^i 700 to £2 ooo per
annum to their Health Officer this Association has given a
wonderful lead to other unions of technical men. It is note-
worthy that there have been no fireworks — no processions —

London Electricity Supply.

It will be remembered that the Electricity Commissioners in
announcing their decision on the scheme submitted at the Lo.ndon
Inquiry, stated that they concurred generally in the technical
proposals for the first stage of development, but that they differed
from the promoters on the proposals for the second stage. By the
alternative proposals of the Commissioners for the later stage, it
was esrimated to bring about " an annual saving of upwards of
£1000000 (15 per cent.1 and 10 per ctnt. in fuel, with all the
advantages derivable from a capita! station, such as availability
for large railway or other suppUes in bulk on favourable rates."
Subsequent correspondence took place bet-«een the Commissioners
and the Engineering Committee, wth the result that the Com-
missioners have agreed that a substantial raoaification must be
made in the figures Tor comparative purposes wth a consequent
substantial reduction in the estimated saving between the Com- .
missioners' proposals and those of the promoters.

The Commissioners are of opinion that in fairness to the Engi-
neering Committee this should be made known to the promoters.
They, nevertheless, adhere to their conclusion that their alternative
proposal to supplement existing stations during the srco»id stage by
capital stations (if the rate of growth estimated by the promoters
is realised) will result in substantial economy compared with a
further comprehensive extension of existing stations. The im-
pression wliich appears to have arisen that the Commissioners
desire to fetter the engineers of the future Joint Authority by
proposals made now for dealing u-ith the demands during the second
stage of development, is unwarranted. The consent given by the
Commissioners to the County of London Electric Supply Co. to
construct a station at Barking with an installation of 100 000 k\V.
is " for the needs of the County Co.'s own statutory- obligations
only." Whether or not that .station will hereafter be rnade a
capital station for wider purposes is a matter for consideration by
the future Joint Authority in the first instance and for subsequent
approval by the Commissioners.

752

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

The "Empire" High Tension Fuse.

A considerable amount of thought has recently been given to the
problem of limiting the area of disturbance caused by a short-
circuit on a high tension network. As a result much protective
apparatus has been devised, and schemes, both compUcated and
simple, have been evolved with the object of ensuring that the
faulty portion shall be cut out with accuracy and speedy and that the
sound portions shall be left in circuit. One of the ways of doing
this, which at least has the merit of simplicity, is that well-known
device, the fuse, of course specially designed and constructed for the
conditions which are present on high
tension networks.

A fuse of this kind which seems to
fulfil all the essentials is the " Empire "
S. and C. high tension fuse. This, we
are informed, is the result of many years
actual experience under working con-
ditions in the United States, and we are
therefore interested to learn that the
British rights of manufacture have been
exclusively secured by Electric Con-
trol, Ltd.

Constructional Details.

As our illustrations show, the con-
struction of the " Empire " S. and C.
high tension fuse is quite simple. It
consists of a strong glass tube of the
same strength and quality as used for
high pressure steam gauges. Inside the
tube there is a spring, one end of which
is connected to a brass ferrule, the
other end being fixed to the fuse wire,
which passes through a cork and is
connected to another short wire fixed to
the top ferrule.

Between the cork and the spring, and
fixed to the latter, is a funnel-shaped
liquid director. The glass tube is filled
with a non-inflammable liquid which has
a dielectric strength of 250 000 V per in.

Instead of the ferrule type of contact,
the fuses for the larger currents are fitted
with knife blade contacts as shown in
Fig. 2.

Operation of the Fuse.

The operation of the fuse is as follows :
" Empire " Fuse ^ The melting of the fuse wire releases the
spring, which instantaneously contracts,
and thus introduces a large gap into the circuit. Simultaneously the
liquid extinguishes the arc and thus interrupts the flow of current, the
rapidity of its action being accelerated by the liquid director, which
is drawn down by the spring, and thus causes the hquid to be forced
directly on to the moving terminal. The length of the fuse depends
on the voltage, and the size of the different parts on its continuous
current capacity.

( The large gap and high dielectric strength of the liquid gives, it is
claimed, a factor of safety equivalent to several hundred thousand
volts.

It can be seen at a glance when an " Empire " S. and C. fuse has
blown, owing to the closed spring leaving a large clear space. Fuses

Knife Blade Contacts.

mounted on outdoor pole installations can easily be detected by the
linesman from the ground, which, in addition to saving a great deal of
time, reduces the danger to life to a 1 liniinum.

Tests show that these fuses will clear short circuits without
causing thv; circuit breakers to trip. To take a particular example,
on the A fuse successfully opened a short circuit of 1 170 A in
00 1 3 sec. Other important points are that the fuses always open
on the zero point of the current curve and no danger has been
experienced or anticipated from the glass container breaking.

Electric Power Supply in East Norway.

H.M. Minister at Christiania has informed the Department of
Overseas Tradd that the Commission, appointed by the Storting in
1918 to investigate the question of a National Scheme for the supply
of electricity to the whole of Norway, has agreed on temporary
recommendations for the power supply of East Norway. The
recommendations have not been published, but in a communique
to the Press, it is stated that the Committee are of opinion that to
furnish an efficient supply of electricity to East Norway the district
must be treated as a unit. The main source of power for the district
will be the Nore power station, of which the construction should
be continued. In the meantime, the Raanaasfos power station
has been finished, but is not under full load. The Mrkfos-Solbergfos
scheme will be completed in 1924, and will yield about 40 000 k\V.
There will be about 20 000 kW further available from the Rjukan
station.

The new power is said to be comparatively expensive. The
economic situation indicates that the increase in the consumption
of power will not be very great during the next few years. The level
of prices is falling and large constructional operations which can
be postponed should not be pressed, but, in view of the prevailing
unemployment, work should be continued on the Numodal Railway
and on the Nore scheme, in which wages form the chief expense,
while orders for pipe lines and machinery as well as the construction
of the power station should be postponed. Considerable amounts
of power can, however, be acquired at comparatively little cost by
the regulation of the Glommon and Numedalslaagen operations,
which also call for a comparatively large staff of men, but do not
require so much in the way of material.

The power not sold in the district should be distributed by the
State to convenient places within the various counties, and should
be offered at a price of Kr. 150 per kW per year, decreasing to
Kr. 125 as the regulation of the Glommen progresses. When the
Nore power station comes into use the price should be reduced to
the tariff in force for that station. The price proposed does not
apply to the Rjukan power. As, however, the Rjukan power Une
will, in the view of the Commission, retain a permanent value, this
installation need not be written off as quickly as was the original
assumption. It is also proposed that the price for this power
when delivered at Kongsberg should be reduced to Kr. 125 per
annum.

German Scientific Instruments.

Final evidence was taken on Monday by the Board of Trade
Committee which is inquiring into the request of British manufac-
turers of optical and other scientific instruments for protection under
the Safeguarding or Industries (Part II.) against German
competition.

Major A. G. Church, general secretary of the National Union of
Scientific Workers, said there was great difficulty in obtaining
British scientific instruments of the more uncommon type. Research
and teaching institutions considered that they were being badly
treated under the Act, and he quoted Sir J. J. Thomson in support
of the statement that Part I. had greatly increased the difficulties of
research. Witness regarded research as a key industry' which should
be entitled to protection against the present Act. He gave par-
ticulars of various institutions in which researches had been delayed
or abandoned.

The results of the Act were : Increased costs, waste of time on
preparation ot materials which would be more profitably spent on
research, and spoilage of work owing to restrictions put upon
importation of glass and laboratory' ware of the requisite standard
and quality. The Act had been characterised as a " nasty German
device for ruining British industry." Scientific workers feared that
British manufacturers did not realise the essential importance of
. improving the quality of their wares, and protection against outside
competition would inevitably tend to things being left much as they
are.

Mr. S. Segal said that since the introduction of the 33^^ duty
his business of scientific instrument importer had dropped by 60 to
70 per cent. The production of cheap-grade opera and field glasses
was almost totally a French industry, and the trade in those had
disappeared since the duty had been levied.

Sir .\kthur Colefax, K.C. (for the applicants), announced that
it was their intention to withdraw the claim with respect to electrical
apparatus.

Mr. Inskip, K.C, MP., submitted on behalf of the opposing
firms that the present conditions in the industry were largely due
to temporary post-war influences. Some manufacturers had over-
produced during the post-war boom and the policy had proved
disastrous when the slump came. The evidence given did not
establish the points which the Committee had been asked to
consider.

Sir Arthur Colsfax submitted that German catalogue prices of
many firms were purely fictitious. By reason of the depreciated
currency with which the low cost of manufacture was bound up
German goods were sold here at prices with which we could not
compete. He did not beheve research would sulliT to any appreci-
able extent, and, on the other hand, national interests and employ-
ment might be assisted.

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

753

Railway Companies' Power
Supplies.

The inquiry by the Electricity Commissioners into the pro-
posals of the S.E. and C. Railway Companies and the West Kent
Electric Power Company to erect generating stations and supply the
electrical energy for working certain of the lines of the S.E. and C.
Companies, and also an offer of the County of London Electric.
Supply Company to supply the railway companies' requirements
from their proposed Barking station was concluded on the 15th inst.

Mr. R. H. Houghton, chief electrical engineer to the L.B. and S.C.
Railway Company, said the company had 224 route miles or
69'6 .single track miles of their system electrified. The annual
consumption was 16080000 units, purchased from the London
Electric Supply Corporation. The electrification of another small
section of 58 route miles, or 25*6 single track miles was in hand.
A scheme had been prepared for the electrification of the whole
suburban system, which included loi route miles, or 400 single
track miles. The electrical energ;y required was over 200 million
units per annum and the maximum demand would be 63 000 kW.
The supply at present was at 6 700 V. If the complete suburban
scheme were carried out the voltage would be changed to 11 000 .
The electrification at present went to Sclhurst, but the company had
a scheme before the Ministry of Transport which would go as far
as Coulsdon. There was also a scheme for electrifying to Chcam.
They had found the supply from the London Electric Supply
Corporation perfectly satisfactory.

County of London Company's Offer.

The Hon. Evan Charteris (for the County of London Electric
Supply Co.) read the offer of the company to the South-Eastern
Railway Company. The County Company would supply electrical
energy to the South-Eastern Company at a periodicity of 50 and
a pressure of 33 000 V, the supply to be sufficient to deal with a
railway load of 30 000 kW ; the County Company would pay the
increased cost of motor generators as compared with rotary con-
verters and transformers, the full supply to be available within
three years from June 30, 1922. The South-Eastern Company
would pay for the supply on a fixed annual rental equal to 74 per
cent. (4'5 per cent, interest, plus 20 per cent depreciation) on the
estimated capital cost to the South-Eastern Company of the
Angerstein's Wharf station and the transmission mains from that
station, or such other rate of interest and depreciation as the
Commissioners might fix.

The South-Eastern Company would pay the actual local rates paid
by the County Company in respect of 45 000 kW of plant at Barking,
and also the actual local rates incurred by the County Company in
transmission mains in respect of a capital value of ^65 000 ; the
South-Eastern Company to pay as a running charge the cost per
unit other than the fuel cost estimated by the South-Eastern
Company's witnesses for operating their station, with a minimum
equivalent to 25 per cent, of the said operating and maintenance
cost for a load of 2g 000 kW ; the South-Eastern Company to pay
as a fuel charge the actual cost of fuel incurred by the County
Company on the basis of 20 000 B.Th.U. per unit sent out from
Barking at 33 000 V ; the Count^'^ Company would allow a rebate
on the fuel cost of half the difference between the coal consumption
per unit sent out from Barking at 33 000 V and 20 000 B.Th.U. ; as
a further rebate the County Company would allow 4 per cent, on
the running charges and coal bill on account of the decreased operating
efficiency of motor generators ; for all extensions of the South-
Eastern Railway Company's electrification the County Company
undertake to supply electrical energy on similar lines as above,
and the South-Eastern Company agree to take such additional
supply. There would be arbitration, strike, coal and land clauses,
and the period of agreement would be for a minimum of 25 years.
Economy of Combined Statit>ns.
Mr. C. H. Merz said there was an enormous saving of expenditure
on distribution in the case of a combined station. The creation of
separate stations for railway supply was a retrograde step. If a
separate station were erected for railway purposes consideration
should be given to the question how far it could eventualh' be brought
into a general system. The proposed S.E. and C. station would be
on a wrong site to supply an industrial load and ;t would have the
wrong periodicity. He estimated that the result of supplpng the
railway demand from a station for combined purposes would be a
saving of ;^483 000 in capital expenditure, and there would also be
considerable saving in operating cost. The saving would be some
;^I9 000 per annum, apart from fuel. In a general system there
would be a gradual increase in coal economy by the introduction of
improved plant, whereas a railway power station would not gain by
improvements in the electrical industry until its original plant was
written off. Suppose one took a ten years' load on a big combined
system, and every year 50 000 kW of plant were added to the system,
ten years hence the system would have grown to 250 000 kW, the
last 50 000 kW installed might be 15 or 20 per cent, more efficient
than the first 50 000 kW, and the last 50 000 kW would probably
turn out 40 per cent, of the total output. On the North-East Coast
there were about 300 000 kW of plant, and not more than 120 000 kW
was of the most economical type. The railway company had no
opportunity of improving unless they extended the electrification of
their line. In the case of the North-Eastern Railway, the railway

company got the benefit of improvements. Half the total charge
for energy was based on the coal costs. A similar arrangement
would be made between the County of London Company and the
South-Eastern. From the technical point of view the Belvedere
site was a good one, but a connection between the north and south
sides of the river would have to be made sooner or later, and it would
be cheaper to supply from the Barking station.

Engineer's Evidence.

The County of London Company were some months ahead of the
other parties from an engineering point of view. It was proposed
to generate at Barking at 50 cycles, but they would supply to a
railway company at the periodicity they wanted. He was not sure
that the County Company would not make more money by supplying
at 25 cycles, but from the point of view of the general utility for
London 25 cycles was wrong. The life of generating plant came to
an end in 15 or 20 years, and the system could then be altered, but
that did not apply to transmission and distribution. When tran.s-
formers, motors, motor generators and rotary converters were put
down at a certain periodicity it was almost impossible to change.
He thought 25 cycles would be inconvenient for the railway company
as it would not be the right periodicity for Hghting and industrial
purposes along the company's route. There was a considerable
saving in cost of transformers. He thought it was essential that
50 periods should be standardised for the London district. In the
offer made by the County Company the cost of motor generators,
the extra cost of transmission and the construction of a tunnel under
the river had been taken into account. The company had a demand
of 30 000 kW, and 45 000 kW was a conservative estimate of the
industrial demand in 1926. To deal with that and a railway load
of 30 000 kW the most economical way would be to install four
35 000 kW turbo-alternator sets.

The Barking Station.

The Commissioners had only authorised 100 000 kW of plant at
Barking. The 35 000 kW sets would be tandem sets — with two
generators. If the company were restricted to 100 000 kW he
would advise that four 25 000 kW sets should be installed. The
actual saving which he estimated on the power station, compared
^vith the railway company's figures, was £(>2^ 000, and after deducting
transmission and £16 000 for extra cost of motor generators, the
saving would be ;^483 000. He was only crediting the South
Eastern with three cables. The reserve cables would be available
for their supply as well as for general supply. PooUng the reserve
meant a saving in capital cost. Each cable would cany- 16 000 kV.\.
The use of 50 cycles had a bearing on the cost of the cable network
as the cables used to supply the railway could be interchanged with
the other cables for the County Company's own transmission. It
might be possible in a large station to effect considerable economy
bj' low temperature carbonisation of a portion of the coal. A
commercial plant for that purpose was nearing completion on the
site of the Dunston power station.

Sir John Snell and Sir Harry Ha ward expressed the opinion
that the offer of the County of London Company should be trans-
lated into a definite charge per unit so as to make it comparable with
the South-Eastern cost and the West Kent figures. Sir Harr\- also
said it should be shown whether* the proposed charge was an
economical charge from the point of Yiew of the County Company
and what bearing it had on the amount which a Joint Authority
would have to pay to the company when it took over the station.

Mr. Charteris promised that figures showing the capital and
running cost to the County Company should be supphed to the
Commissioners.

Replying to a suggestion by Mr. Clode that the allowances made
in his figures did not cover all the extra cost to the County Company,
Mr. Merz said there would be no additional switchgear — the switch-
gear would be rather simpler. The County Company were prepared
to indemnify the railway company in the event of current not being
ready when the line was equipped for cler'-ric working.

Replying to Sir John Snell. witness said the County Company's
offer amounted to about o-48id. v'er unit in the first stage, and after
that stage thev would share %\nth the railway company the benefit
of improvements in regard to consumption of fuel.

Position of London Companie*.

Mr. W. F. Fl.'VDGATE, chairman of the Charing Cross, West End
and City Electricity Supply Co. and of the London (Electricity)
Joint Committee, said the engineering scheme put before the Com-
missioners last year had never been departed from as far as the nine
companies corriprising the Joint Committee were concerned. Ii
was always contemplated that they would get the railway load.
They contemplated the erection of a power station in due course,
but not in the first stage unless they had the railway load. The
London Electric Suppiv Corporation could supply 30 000 kW to the
S.E. and C. Companies by extending their present station, but a
new station would be required to supply the S.E. and C. ultimate
load and the LB. and S.C. load. They had not yet been informed
by the LB. and S.C. that they wanted the additional supply. He
thought the London companies should be allowed to group them-
selves into one joint electricity authority. The improvement of
the supply in London could then be commenced at once. He saw-
no difficuitv in the suppiv being given to the railway companies by
]une, lO-'si by either the West Kent, the County of London or the
London FlectVic Suppiv Corporation, xle was not at the moment

754

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

prepared to say his companies could do the business cheaper than
the West Kent or the County of London Company.

Gas Company Claims Protection. 6b l

Mr. Seager Berry (for the South Metropohtan Gas Company)
said certain sections of the Kent Electrical Power Act, 1906, the
Electric Lighting Act, 1909, and the London Electric Supply Act,
1908, provided that the railway companies (unless a Special Order
were obtained) could only use electricity taken from an authorised
undertaker for traction and carriage lighting. If the S.E. and C.
Companies got the powers they asked for they could use their
energy for any purpose, and they could take from the gas company
the best 'customers amongst the railway companies' tenants. He
asked that a proviso to prevent this should be imposed if the rail-
ways took power from an outside undertaker.

After the conclusion of the evidence, counsel for the various
parties addressed the Commissioners. For the Conference of Local
Authorities, Mr. Turner asked for the insertion of a purchaSg
clause should one of the companies obtain the right of supply.
Concluding Proceedings.

Mr. Craig Henderson, on behalf of London County Council,
said the West Kent Company's application was really an apphcation
by the parent. company, the South Metropohtan Electric Light and
Power Company. If the station was authorised the latter company
would transfer its main source of supply to Belvedere, which would
have a serious effect on the position of the purchasing authority in
London. There would be nothing to prevent the West Kent Com-
pany supplying the South Metropolitan Company with current for
distribution in the London area. The Commissioners had con-
stituted a certain electricity district, which included the County of
London, and their scheme was that it should be administered by a
Joint Authority, representing all interests, municipal and company.
The West Kent Company's proposal undermined those foundations,
and if it were carried through the L.C.C. would have to reconsider
their position as the purchasing authority. He asserted the County
of London Company and the West Kent Company were aUied com-
panies, in the sense that Sir Harry Renwick was a director of both,
and the County Company made their offer at the eleventh hour
when they thought the West Kent Company's case was falling.
The L.C.C. favoured the railway company's apphcation in preference
to the other schemes, although they recognised the desirability of
supplying for traction and other purposes from a combined station.

Mr. Charteris (for the County of London Company) contended
that under section 11 of the 1919 Act the Commissioners could give
consent to the County Company to increase their Barking station
to 140000 kW. The Company's 1905 Act gave power to supply
energy for traction.

Mr. Tyldesley Jones (for the West Kent Company) said the
company were not seeking to take away any railway load from a
Joint Authority or any London authorised undertaker, because none
of them (with the exception of the County. Company) had offered
to cater for it. The main point was, could they supply at a cheaper
price than the South-Eastern Company could supply themselves ?
The West Kent Company's offer was to supply at o^y^d. in the
initial stage, subject to a rebate clause and deductions under the
efficiency clause. That was less than the cost at which the railway
company could generate and when they reached the stage when the
maximum demand was 29 000 k.W., the output of 89 million units
and the load factor 35, the price would be o-555d. He was advised
that the railway companies' estimates were too low. It was
dangerous to put the transformers in the turbine house and proper
provisioh for their housing would increase the expenditure ; also
the interest of 3 per cent, on capital during construction was too low.

Demand for Separate Traction Station.

Mr. Clode (for the S.E. and C. Companies) said there was every
expectation of combining the S.E. and C. and the L.B. and S.C.
.supplies and also assisting the genera' cequirements by supplying
surplus energy. Until the present inquiry not a single offer had
been made of a supply at a price as low as the cost at which the
railway companies could supply themselves, and they could not
see that the prices now quoted were any lower. He asked the
Commissioners to u^ their discretion and approve the railway
companies' scheme even if, in their judgment, cither of the other
supplies offered were very shghtly lower in price. There would be
considerable reductions in cost if the railway companies supplied
surplus energy. If they supplied 10 million surplus units, the cost
of the railway power became o-36id. at Lewis'iam, if they supplied
20 million units it was o-354d., and if 4c million, o-339d. If
anything had to be added to the railway com,>anies' estimates for
the site of the station it could only be Ij 000, as the whole of the
39 acres (of which the station would occupy 20) cost ;^I3 500. His
figure of o-339d. per unit compared with the West Ivent figure of
o-493d. if the thermal efficiencies were levelled up. The South-
Eastern and Chatham were on the eve of a gieat change of their
system, and he did not see how they could hand themselves over to
the joint stock company and the private company who were putting
forward the Belvedere proposal. Why should they place themselves
in their hands for 60 years ? What was-the advantage of putting
the generating station and the electrification in two different hands ?
In the case of the County of London Company he did not know what
figure he could take for comparison, but he asked the Commissioners
to approve the railway companies' proposals which would not
disturb in any way the scheme for the Joint Authority in I-ondon.

Electricity Supply in Liverpool.

-Last week an inquiry was held into the apphcation of Liverpool
City Council for a Special Order to authorise the extension of their
electricity supply area to Bootle, Waterloo-^vith-Seaforth, Litherland
and Great Crosby. The inquiry lasted seven hours and was held by
Col. T. C. Ekin.

The Deputy Town Clerk (Mr. E. W. Pierce) appeared for the
Corporation, and the Town Clerk of Bootle and the clerks of the
other three authorities and of the Mersey Docks Board also supported
the application. There was some opposition by dissenting Bootle
ratepayers ; and applications were made by Mr. J. Lias, for the
Municipal Employees' Council ; and Mr. W. Arthur Jones, for the
Electric Power Engineers' Association.

In opening the case for the Corporation, Mr. Pierce said the
proposed order would extend the Liverpool area of supply from
21 219 acres to 27 313 acres and there would be an additional
population of 136000. When the Corporation acquired the elec-
tricity undertaking in 1896, the city consumption was i^ million
units, and that had grown to 88 million units. After negotiations
an agreement had been made with Bootle, an important borough to
the north of the city, and evidence would be given to show that the
agreement was very fair to Bootle. Litherland had obtained a
Provisional Order, expiring in 1942, and that order, which had been
transfer: ed to Bootle, would be extended to 42 years. The company
which supplied Waterloo-with-Seaforth and Great Crosby had an
order with 16 years to run. The company had been bought out at
the amount of the actual paid-up capital, and its order extended
to 42 years. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Board had given
unqualified approval to the application. With regard to the
opposition from workers, the employes at both stations would be
absorbed at not less than their present wages.

Mr. Harold Dickinson, city electrical engineer, gave technical
details of the scheme. He said the £'j 500 per year paid to Bootle
could be applied either in relief of rates or in reduction of the charge
to electricity consumers. Liverpool would not make a net profit of
£^ 000 yearly by the arrangement. The agreement with Bootle was
influenced by the fact that Bootle was threatening Liverpool with
an action because Liverpool had extended its supply into the Bootle
area through the Dock Board mains.

Advantages of Unified Supply.

Mr. Frank C. Wilson, chairman of the Liverpool Corporation
Electricity Committee and of the conference of Merseyside electricity
authorities, said he was convinced that all Bootle consumers would
reap an advantage by taking supply from Liverpool. Bootle was
protected as to the prices of electricity for lighting and other services.
The whole port would gain by an economical supply of electricity
to the entire dock estate.

Mr. James Scott, chairman of the Bootle Electricity Committee,
considered the Liverpool and Bootle district an ideal area for the
development of manufactures and commerce by electric energy.
The fixed subsidy of £-] 500 annually was preferable to a subsidy
varying according to profit and loss. Waterloo and Crosby would
gain through the proposed Liverpool supply. Liverpool could
make l^ 000 a year out of the Bootle supply more than Bootle could
make.

At the close of Liverpool's case, Mr. Lias and Mr. W. Arthur Jones
submitted in writing proposed clauses for the protection of the
workmen and staff at the Bootle and Waterloo electricity works.

The legal representative of the Bootle objectors having addressed
the Inspector, Mr. Pierce replied for Liverpool and said the amalga-
mation of the Liverpool and Bootle electricity undertakings and
the payment by Liverpool to Bootle of £7 500 yearly, were both
" for all time." None of the manual workers would suffer in wages,
but would gain in prospects.

Electricians' Tools.

The " Enox " saw frames shown in the accompanying illustrations
are among the latest products of Frys (London) Ltd.

Fig. I shews a frame suitable for bench use in works where
ordinarily the bulk of the material would be cut in a machine.

Fig. 2

This frame cuts material up to 1 in. It is also useful for electricians
to carry in their tool kits.

The frame shown in Fig. 2 can be used in the same way as that
in Fig I, but has the additional advantage of being a handy size
for small work. The firm have caUed it the " Tool Makers' Frame, ^
as with it dies can be cut up more quickly than in the usual way. .

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

755

Electrical Situation in Uruguay.

An interesting article by Mr. H. D. Bindon, A.M.I.E.E., on
Uruguay as a market for electrical goods, appears in a recent issue
of the Journal of the British Chamber of Commerce in Uruguay.
The country is mainly agricultural, and there is not, apart from
the requirements of the electricity undertakings of the cities and
provincial towns, much demand for big power units or for motors
with a rating above 100 h.p. The generating plant of the city of
Montevideo is state owned ; electricity is generated at one main
steam station near the water's edge by turbo-alternators, and
three-phase (50 cycle) h.t. current is delivered by underground
cables to sub-stations throughout the city, supply being given
at 220 V for light and power. The two Montevideo tramway
companies (Sociedad Comercial de Montevideo, a British-owned
company, and Compafiia Transatlantica, a Spanish company of
German origin) have their own d. c. generating stations.

Prohibitive British Prices.

In the provinces, except in a few isolated cases, alternating
current at 220 V is supplied. There is little or no water power
in the Republic, but steam and oil engines are much used.
Hitherto, few electrical goods of British manufacture have been
sold in the country, as the prices were too high, but large quantities
of wiring materials have come from Germany, Italy and the United
States. The flexible lamp cords and insulated wire are in many
cases of an infenor quahty, and for ordinary h'ouse lighting most
of the cord and insulated wire sold is rated as 50c V. A high
percentage of house wiring is done by means of flexible cord strung
on small porcelain insulators. Tumbler switches are unknown
(and are considered unsafe by municipal authorities, etc.). Practi-
cally the only type of switch adopted is the " Hart " snap switch,
of American manufacture. For steel conduit wiring, until recently
nearly all fuse and jointing boxes were of wood impregnated with
tar or suchlike, and no attention was paid to the earthing of conduit
or fittings. On the other hand, wood casing is strictly prohibited,
but Bergman insulated brass or tin tubing is used extensively.

With regard to house lighting fittings, there is a demand, since
the introduction of period decoration, for corresponding fittings,
highly ornamental brass fittings being used. These are largely
manufactured in South America from the original French patterns,
and the home manufacturer cannot compete with these cheaply
made articles, though he scores in the higher class fitting, finished
in oxidised silver or copper, etc. Highly decorative glassware is
also much used in conjunction with lighting fittings. The screw
type of lamp-socket is commonly used ; in fact, outside railway
and tramway companies the bayonet type of socket is unknown.

Demand for Small Domestic Appliances.

While electric cooking is not considered very much, such articles
as portable stoves, coffee pots, tea kettles, toasters, irons, etc.,
are much in demand. These articles mainly come from the United
States and are not only unique in design but are well made, with
provision for the easy renewal of heating elements. Mr. Bindon
states that of late the home manufactured articles of this class
are not only very expensive but of poor construction, coupled in
many cases with antiquated ideas. Only recently an important
home manufacturer sent out, amongst other things, a large quantity
of electric irons, badly nickel-plated, fitted with non-heat resisting
handles of composite material, combined with the old type of
heating element built of round wire mounted on micanite instead
of pure mica. These irons were circulated by the firm's repre-
sentative amongst several of the most important local electrical
supply shops, with the result that the manufacturer soon lost
his reputation in Uruguay, and it will be more difficult for him
to get his goods into the market in future. Many home manu-
facturers, who are anxious to get a footing in the country, will
persist in sending out the wrong class of goods, and in many cases
catalogues printed in English wliich the native buyer does not
understand.

All incandescent lamps come from Holland, Germany or the
United States, and Mr. Bindon inquires why we cannot manu-
facture a lamp suitable for export, and if not, why not ? He suggests
that we are too conservative in many of our ideas and that we forget
that what is suitable for the requirements of the Northern Hemi-
sphere may not be suitable for the Latin-American Republics.

Wiring Regulations in Quebec.

In the Province of Quebec, a strong reaction seems to have set
in AGAINST SLIP-SHOD WIRING METHODS and ineffective inspection
of installations. As a result of representations by the Electrical
Co-operative Association it has been decided to allow in future only
a single service entrance for any one class of electricity service in
new public buildings. The rule, as well as other regulations, have
been adopted by the Fire Underwriters' Association, and became
effective on the ist inst. In cases where a building is already wired
and additional apparatus is installed arrangements must be made
to connect the new work to the existing service, increasing the
capacity of this if necessary. If the present service does not
compl}' with the specifications a new service of sufficient capacity
for both the old and the new loads should be installed.

The new regulations dcahng with earthing and general installation
work arc somewhat similar to British practice, as exemplified in the
Wiring Rules of the I.E.E., the Phoenix Fire Office, etc.

Gas Wail from Birmingham.

The Birmingham Gas Qjmmittcc wero recently aik<d to rej.Kjrt
on the pos.sibility of [a) narrowing the present margin between
prices charged to small and large consumers and (6) charging the
same price for gas, irrespective of the purposes for which it might
be used. In a long report the Committee state that there is every
justification for differential charging, and point out that after
Midsummer, 1915, the price to large consumers was advanced more
rapidly than to small consumers. In future revLsions of prices the
different e would be narrowed so that the increases over 1915 would
become more nearly equalised.

There was a two-fold justification for the lower rates granted for
gas supplied for power and industrial heating, viz. (1) the great
advantage gained by having a regular day load, summer and winter
alike, and (2) the more important factor of competition by electricity,
oil furnaces and producer gas plants The Gas Department for
a long time past had very serious competition with electricity for
power purposes, and the Electric Supply Committee have been
authorised for many years past .to charge much lower prices to
manufacturers than to ordinary users of electricity, and that applied
particularly to those taking h.t. current, where the price to-day was
a little over a penny per unit, compared with the maximum rate for
l.t. current of 6d. per unit. The justification for that had always
been the necessity for obtaining a day load, and that was just as
important from the point of view of the gas undertaking, as without
it storage accommodation greatly in excess of the present storage
would have to be provided.

Henley Wiring System.

The photograph illustrates a showcard, 15 in. by 10 in., which
W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co. have produced to help
electrical contractors to get business with the Henley Wiring System.

The showcard is produced in nine colours by the Hthographic
process and forms an attractive and neat advertisement,

Cantem;
cheaply without
damaqe or
disturiDance to
— - _ voiir decorations

' andwitiivHTjlittle

\\ irino systxMn inconveiiience

full occupation.
ASK INSIDE FOR PARTICULARS

Thb New Showcard.

The lettering " Electricity in your Home " is outhned in blue on
the original card. In the reproduction the blue has, of course
photographed white and has given the letters a " run-together "
appearance. On the original they are, however, quite distinct
The firm will be pleased to send contractors one or more of these
cards on application.

756

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

Parliamentary Intelligence.
Telephone Development.

The House considered in Committee on Friday a resolution
declaring it expedient to authorise the issue out of the Consolidated
Fund of such sums, not exceeding in the whole fifteen million pounds-,
as were required for the further development of the telephone
system and to authorise the Treasury to borrow money, by means of
terminable annuities or by the issue of Exchequer Bonds, for the
issue of such sums or the repayment thereof to the Consolidated
Fund ; and to provide for the payment of the terminable annuities
or of the principal of and interest on any such Exchequer Bonds out
of moneys provided by Parliament for Post Office serviceSj or, if
those moneys were insufficient, out of the Consolidated Fund.

Mr. Kellaway (Postmaster-General), who moved the resolution,
said the sum of fifteen millions of capital expenditure proposed would,
it was estimated, last till the end of April, 1924, Recalling the
history of the telephone system, he pointed out that after the
Government took it over they were almost exclusively occupied till
the end of 1914 in putting it into proper condition, and could devote
little time or money to extension. Then from 1914 to 1918 no
development was possible. It was not until the beginning of 1919
that the engineering department was able to devote its attention
to the development of the system. In 1919-20 £j, 230 000 was
proposed out of telephone capital for the development of trunk
lines, exchanges, etc., of which amount £2 647 000 was actually
spent. In 1920-21, out of a proposed expenditure of ;^'6 884 000,
£$ 866 000 was spent, while last year out of £() 032 000, Ij 438 000
was spent. For the present financial year the proposed capital
expenditure amounted to £q 250 000, of which sum £2 760 000 was
for the provision of new trunk lines and the completion of trunk
lines now under construction. A sum of £^ 740 000 was for new
exchanges and the extension and improvement of existing exchanges,
and ;£750 000 for sites and buildings.

Underground Trunk Lines.

The main object was that the whole of the trunk lines in this
country should be no longer in the air, but underground, the advan-
tage of which would be enormous. There was also included in this
year's programme an amount of £s'^'\ 0°° for new underground
cables. This included two long routes from Leeds to Edinburgh and
from Worcester to Bristol. The former would complete the pro-
vision of the main routes for underground communication between
London and the North of England and Scotland, while the latter
would complete the underground communication between Bir-
mingham, Bristol, and South Wales.

There was an item of £1 537 000 for the provision of new and the
extension of existing switchboards.

There was still a very heavy programme of building work to be
carried out in the near future, owing to the exhaustion of many
exchanges and the approaching exhaustion of others. Estimates
had been secured for a programme of work for the next live years
which amounted to ;^35 700 000.

The number of new subscribers connected during the twelve
months was 71 500, and the number of new instruments connected,
including extensions of existing installations, was 134 000. The
number of new subscribers for April was the second largest on record,
and for May was the largest on record. Taking the country as a
whole, the average time taken to get a reply from the telephone
operator on a local service was six seconds from the moment when a
subscriber removed the receiver from its rest. On the trunk under-
ground cable the delay between Manchester and London had been
decreased from twenty-one minutes to eight minutes. The Tele-
phone Department was greatly indebted to the work of the Select
Committee. He had not been able to adopt all of their recommen-
dations, but he had adopted most of them.

After a short discussion, to which Mr. Kellaway replied, the
resolution was agreed to, and reported to the House.

German Insulators for India.

In the House of Commons last week, Colonel Wedgwood asked
the Under-Secretary of State for India whether .any contract for
insulators had recently been given out ; if so, had the order been
given to firms in this country ; and, if not, when it was expected
that the order would be placed ?

In reply. Earl Winterton said the High Co nmissioner for India,
who contrt)lled purchases for, and under the orders of, the Govern-
ment of India, had informed him that no contra t had recently been
made for the supply of insulators. He had, however tenders in
hand for a supply of those articles, and the lowest acceptable offer
(having regard to price, delivery and other relevant considerations)
was thafof a firm in this country for insulators of (ierman manufac-
ture. The contract was about to be placed accordingly.

To a question put on Monday by Mr. Finney, who inquired
whether advertisements were appearing in German papers for
tenders for porcelain and glass insulators,

Karl Winterton stated that the High Commissioner for India
had informed him that he had not hitherto found it neces.sary to
advertise directly in Continental papers.

Merchant Ships' Wireless Service.

Colonel Hurst asked the President of the Board of Trade last week
whether he was aware that some 800 certificated wireless operators.

mostly ex-service men, had been discharged by wireless companies
since the institution of watchers on cargo ships ; and whether, as the
danger of failing to notice distress calls had been enhanced by the
change, he would consider the desirability of abolishing wireless
watchers in the Mercantile Marine and of re-employing certificated
operators in their stead ?

In reply, Sir W. Mitchell- Thomson said the main cause of the
unemployment among wireless operators was the general depression
in shipping which afiected all classes of officers and men of the
Mercantile Marine. Pending the results of the inquiry into the loss
of the s.s. " Egypt," he was not in a position to say whether there
was any failure in the wireless service on the occasion of her loss.

West Kent Electric Company.

Mr. Gilbert asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of
Transport (House of Commons, June 19) whether the representatives
of the West Kent Electric Company, whose application for permission
to erect a capital generating station at Erith was now before the
Electricity Commissioners, had an interview with the Commissioners
on the subject towards the end of last or the beginning of this year ;
if he would state whether the interview was an official or private
one ; if shorthand notes of the proceedings were taken ; and if it
was the custom of the Commissioners to grant such interviews to
all applicants who had to appear before them at public inquiries ?

Mr. Neal ; I understand that the Electricity Commissioners have
had more than one interview with representatives of the company.
These interviews were of a semi-ofhcial nature, and shorthand notes
were not taken. It is the custom of the Commissioners to grant
interviews if by so doing they can advance the public interest.

Wrexham Generating Station.

Mr. Gilbert asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry
of Transport whether the Wrexham Corporation had applied for
consent to extend their generating station ; whether the Electricity
Commissioners had refused to sanction such extension and had
called upon the corporation to take what further power they required
from the North Wales Power Company ; whether the latter company
had quoted a price of ;^6 a kW and 75d.aunit, which was the maximum
price which they were allowed to charge ; and whether, in view of
the attitude taken up by the power company in the matter, the
Commissioners proposed to reconsider their decision withholding
consent to the extension of the Wrexham undertaking ?

Mr. Neal : The hon. Member has been misinformed. The
consent asked for by the Wrexham Corporation was granted by the
Electricity Commissioners. I understand, however, that the Cor-
poration subsequently decided to obtain a bulk supply and are in
negotiations with the company.

The Electricity Supply Bill.

We regret to notice that opposition to this Bill is still being
organised, not only by a group of the power companies, but by some
of the local authorities. We had hoped that the amendments made
in the House of Lords would have placated the opponents of the
measure, but, judging by the amendments to be moved in the com-
mittee stage in the House of Commons, this is far from being the
case. Apparently the local authorities are going to move for the
insertion of a proviso to Clause 15, with the object of precluding the
powers and duties in connection with a municipal electricity under-
taking, which is transferred under a scheme of reorganisation, being
given to a company unless so determined by the majority of the
local authority representatives upon the Joint Electricity Authorit^^
This seems to be quite unnecessary as the matter is one to be dealt
with in the respective schemes.

Telephone Subscribers (Deposits).

In reply to a question by Mr. Hard, the Postmaster-General (Mr.
Kellaway) stated in the House of Commons on Thursday last that
the total amount held on deposit on March 31, 1922, was^i 441 000.
The deposit usually represents two-thirds of the credit given for
calls, and the present system of payment is more favourable to
subscribers than the previous arrangement, under which all local
calls were paid for in advance and trunk calls, against which a
deposit was held, monthly in arrear. Deposits arc required, not
merely as security, but in order to finance the service during the
period for which credit is given.

Rhonddn Valley Telephone Facilities.

In reply to a question by Mr. Wm. John, the Assistant Post-
master-General (Mr. Pike Pease) states that a scheme is being
considered for a central telephone exchange to serve Treorchy,
Trchcrbcrt and Pontro, provided a suitable site can be obtained.

Private Bills.

Torquay Corporation (Electricity) Bill passed its second
reading in the House of Commons on Monday, and on Tuesday
.\yr IUtrgh (Electricity) Bill also pas.sed its second reading.

.\s no petitions have been lodged against the Bill to authorise the
London Electric and City and South London Kailw.w Com-
panies to raise additional capital, amounting to /3 500 000 for
improvements and extensions, it will now proceed as an unopposed
measure.

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

757

Electricity Supply.

Of Blackpool's electricity surplus of /14 322, £/[ 000 is being set
aside for relief of rates, £6 000 is being placed to reserve, and £2 000
devoted to a working balance, £z 228 being carried forward.

A " Death's Head and Cross Bones " illuminated electric sign has
been put into position in the Port of Dublin to indicate the spot
where an electric cable runs from one side of the Liffey to the other .

Following the adverse balance of £92^ on the account of Witney
electricity undertaking for the year ended March 31 last, the
Urban Council have decided to call in May and Hawes, consulting
engineers, to inspect the works and accounts, and to advise the
Council of any alteration they would suggest in connection with the
management, prices, extension of output, etc.

Over 4 500 persons visited the Hackney Electrical Domestic
Labour Aids Exhibition, the net cost of which was £^^0. The
main object of the Exhibition, which took place at a period when
trade was slack, was to introduce cooking, etc., by electricity into
the homes of residents, and already definite arrangements have
been made for the installation of 51 cookers. Many direct sales
took place from Exhibition stands, including cooking appliances,
vacuum cleaners, immersion heaters, fittings, and washing machines.

The inhabitants of North Houghton and Castletown are very
anxious to have electricity supply, and they have, therefore, asked
the Sunderland Rural Council to finance a scheme. Though the
Sunderland Gas Company has undertaken the laying of gas mains
the people are unanimous in their demand for electricity for lighting
and domestic purposes, as it is considered cleaner, better and safer.
The people are prepared to defray' the cost by instalments. It was
also mentioned that, for street lighting the cost would be £^ 000,
and for domestic supphes about £2 000, but an electrical engineer
has been asked to prepare further particulars.

Ne^v Schemes and Mains Extensions.

Sunderland Electricity Committee have authorised extensions
of mains at a cost of about £1 200.

The Electricity Commissioners have given sanction to St. Anne's
Council to borrow £26 050 for electricity purposes.

KiRKBURTON Urban Council has consented to overhead cables
being used in parts of the town by the Yorkshire Electric Power Co.,
and has decided to ask the company to submit a scheme for public
lighting.

The North Wales Power Co. has offered to supply Bangor
Corporation with a bulk supply of electricity at £6 per k.W. of
maximum demand with a minimum of £2, 000 per annum plus
|d. per unit.

In connection with the proposed purchase of the Oswestry
Electric Light and Power Company by the Town Council, Mr. W. M.
Selvey has been instructed to make a valuation of the undertaking
for the Council.

Calnk Town Council has instructed the Gas Committee to
consider the question of establishing electricity works in connection
with the gas undertaking, and the advisability of applying for a
Provisional Order for electric lighting.

Blackpool Electricity Department have made a start with their
scheme of extensions, which are estimated to cost ;^ 169 000. The
Tramways Committee have received tenders for the construction of
a new switch-room annexe for e.h.t. switchgear.

It has been decided that from the date of the termination of its
agreement with the Bury Corporation at the end of the present
calendar year, the Radcliffe Council shall obtain its bulk supply of
electricity from the Lancashire Electric Power Company.

Sunderland Electricity Committee has been canvassing certain
districts of the town for new consumers with the result that con-
siderable extensions of mains have been authorised to meet the
demand, the total cost being estimated at £^ 954, which is to be
borne out of capital account.

Portsmouth Town Council have approved of the Finance Com-
mittee making a loan of ;^9i 000 from the corporation sinking funds
at £^ los. per cent, per annum (free of income tax), to the Electric
Light Committee, repayable by instalments of principal and interest
within a period of eleven years from March 31 la-st.

The NoRTHWOOD Electric Light and Power Co. are extending
their distributing mains to Ducks Hill Road, Jacketts Lane and
Copse Wood in the Northwood district, Sharps Lane, Manor Road,
Church Avenue, King Edward Road and High Street in Ruislip
and Elm Avenue and Lime Grove in the Eastcote district.

Bangor Corporation recently applied to the Electricity Com-
missioners for sanction to a loan of £^ 000 for supply mains, services,
etc. Permission has now been received to borrow £3 768, ;^232
being deducted as representing the amount which would have been
repaid had the loans been sanctioned at the time of expenditure.

. Whitehaven Town Council have received sanction to borrow
f3 500 for services, and £2 800 for extension of the mains to the
Council houses, at Bransty. They have also decided to oppose the
Sipplication by the Cumberland Waste Heat Owners' Co. for a

Special Order to empower the company to supply electricity in the
urban districts of Egremont and Cleator Moor.

Last week the Tynwald Court heard the petition of Douglas
(Isle of Man) Town Council for sanction to borrow £j^2 000 for
carrying out the work authorised by the Douglas Corporation
Electric Light and Power Act, 1921. The petition was strongly
opposed by the Attorney General, on the ground that Douglas had
now got a debt of /f)36 000, which was too heavy for a town of its
size.

Alteration of Charges.

A revised scale of charges has been adopted by W'est Bromwich
electricity department.

Brierfield Urban Council have fixed a flat rate of yd. per unit,
net, for electricity used by cinemas.

Nelson Electricity Committee have decided to reduce their
charges for Hghting by ^d. and for power :Jd. per unit.

Maidenhead Town Council lias reduced the charge for electricity
for hghting from lod. to 9d. per unit as from June 30.

Carlisle Electricity Committee has reduced the ordinary charges
for electricity from 80 to 60 per cent, above pre-war rates.

The increase of 100 per cent, in electricity charges which was
made some time ago by Shrewsbury Town Council is to be reduced
to 75 per cent, as from this month's readings.

Rotherham Town Council has fixed, as from July i, a minimum
charge of los. for electricity for any quantity consumed in any one
quarter up to 20 units.

ToNBRiDGE Urban Council has decided to reduce the charge for
electricity for private lighting by 2d. per unit as from October i,
and for street lighting by 50 per cent.

The charges for electricity for ligfiting at Lowestoft are to be
reduced as from July i, by Jd. per unit, and the discount for both
power and lighting increased to 5 per cent.

Crewe Town Council has reduced the price of electricity by
12 per cent., and has applied to the Electricity Commissioners for
permission to erect an overhead cable to Sydney.

Portsmouth Town Council has reduced the price of electricity for
lighting to 7d. per unit for the first 5 000 units per annum, 6Jd. from
5 000 to 7 500, 6d. from 7 500 to 10 000, 5|d. from 10 000 to 20 000,
and 4|d. beyond.

RusHDEN and District Electric Supply Co. have reduced the charge
for electricity for power by ^d. per unit. For hghting, a scale has
been introduced for the benefit of large users at lod. per unit for the
first 200 units per quarter and 8d. beyond.

Northampton Electric Light and Power Co. has reduced the
charge for electricity for power by another id. per unit, and that for
lighting by id. per unit, with additional reductions to large users by
the introduction of the following scale : — 8d. per unit for the first
200 units per quarter and 6d. beyond. Tlie rates for hired motors
have been further reduced by 10 per cent.

The new electricity charges at St. Annes for this quarter are
as follows : Lighting : 7d. pe- unit net, or maximum demand rate
8d. and 5d., cinemas and signs, 4id. ; motors, heating and cooking,
up to 500 units per quarter, 2d. net ; over 500 and under 5 000 units,
if d. per unit, less 10 per cent. ; over 5 000 and under 10 000 units,
ifd., less 15 per cent. ; over 10 000 units, ijd. per unit, less 25 per
cent. The charge for current for street lighting is 3jd.

From this month's meter readings the flat rate of charging at
Manchester will be reduced from 7id. to 7d. a unit, and on the
shding tariff the fixed charge remains as at present, but the units
consumed will be at 2id. instead of 3d. The ordinary power rates
have been reduced by about Jd. a unit, and now vary from 3-25d.
to i-4d. Special consumers, with a coal clause in their agreements,
will benefit from the reductions in coal, in addition to 15 per cent,
reduction in the war percentage additions. The question of allowing
discounts has been postponed for the present.

The Westminster Electric Supply Corporation announce that
from the midsummer quarter's readings a reduction of Id. per unit
will be made on all units in excess of i 000 used in any one calendar
year for lighting purposes. From the date of the midsummer
quarter's readings, therefore, the charges will be as follows : —
Lighting : For the first i 000 units used in any one year, 7id. per
unit ; for the next 3 000, 6M. ; for all units used in excess of 4 000,
5d. Heating, cooking and motors : If taken through a separate
meter, ijd. per unit. The above rates are subject to a mim'mum
charge of los. per quarter.

Chagford and Devon Electric Light Company have notified
Chagford consumers of their intention to increase the hghting
charges after the June quarter by 2d. per unit. A protest against
the increase, which brings the charges up to is. per unit, is being
made and the Parish Council, whose contract with the company
terminates inNovember, have asked the company whether they pro-
pose making a corresponding increase in the charge for street lighting.
The Council are considering approaching the Ministry of Transport
with a view to ascertaining whether, under the local circumstances,
such an increase would be justified.

758

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

Municipal Accounts.

The Plymouth electric trams are paying and doing well according
to the effgineer's return for the financial year ended March 31st.
The income amounted to /169994, and irom the motor 'buses
£30061. The expenditure left a gross surplus of £'^2 399 on tha
former, and Iz 884 on tlie latter. After payment of capital charges
there remained a net profit of £11 863 on the trams, and a loss of
£1 542 on the 'buses, leaving a balance of £\o 321, which it has been
decided to place to the reserve fund. During the four weeks ended
June 3 the passengers carried on the trams numbered 2 182 070,
and the receipts were ;^i4 827, compared with i 746 076 passengers
and ,£ii 742 receipts in the corresponding period of last year.

The total income of Lowestoft Electricity Department for
the past year amounted to £^2 268 compared wdth £i<) 803 in the
previous year. Working expenses were £2,0 932, a decrease of
£6 6^^. The gross profit amounted to ;^ii 335 compared with
£z 219. After providing for interest and sinking fund charges
(;£io 942) there remained a credit balance of ^^393, compared with a
loss last year (if sinking fund charges had been met) of £•/ 314.
The income for the trams for the year (;^22 115) showed a decrease
of £2 180 but working expenses also decreased by /3 652. After
allowing for interest and sinking fund charges (£5 533) there was a
deficiency of £2 1.58, a decreased deficiency of £808 as compared
with last year.

For the year ended March 31 there was a surplus of £44 564 on
the Manchester electricity department. Interest and sinking
fund charges on the new generating station at Barton and the high
tension mains therefrom were met out of revenue. The total
income was £1 429 995, and the expenses (exclusive of depreciation)
£977 102. The decrease in business during the year, due to trade
depression, was 21 per cent., the annual sales totalling 158^ million
units, compared with over 199^ the previous year. The average
price paid for fuel fell is. 4d. a ton, and the fuel consumed rose
0-03 lb. per unit sold. The efficiency of the distributing system
equalled 84-77 P^r cent., the quantity absorbed in the mains and
distributing stations being 15-23 per cent., an increase of 3-44 per
cent, on the previous year. The increase was mainly due to the
reduced sales during the year on the large consumers' accounts.
Good progress has been made with the lighting of the various
housing estates, and work has been completed on the inhabited
portions at Anson, Blackley, Catterick Hall, Clayton, Gorton
Mount and Wilbraham Road. The electric lighting of several
streets has been carried out, thus completing the scheme of electric
lighting so far sanctioned for the main thoroughfares.

During the past year Oldham electricity imdertaking has made
a profit of £1 403, compared with £3 836 in the previous year.
At a meeting of the Electricity Committee last week, the chairman
(Alderman Hardman) said that thej* had an adverse balance of
£i 900 to overcome on the first two quarters, and had been afraid
they might be obliged to increase the rates. He thought they would
all regard the outcome as very satisfactory, particularly as they had
had to pay so much for coal. The increase in units sold over the
previous year had been approximately 4 millions. He expected
that during next year they would have an increase of 22 millions.
He thought that at an early date they would have to consider what
to do with the prospective profit. They had been getting some
prices from other towns, and at a future meeting the committee
would be asked to consider a scale of reduction in prices for electricity.
In wages, they had had an increase of £2 000 to meet, and in materials
for distribution another £2 000. This all had to come out of the
revenue. The interest on sinking fund and loan came to £39000,
as against £24 000 the previous year, again showing a considerable
increase in the costs against the undertaking. The revenue was
about £20 000 more than in the previtms year. The total number
of units sold was 862 546, as compared with 435 068. The number
of cwts. of coal used was 24 268, against 23 005, and the amount
of coal used per unit generated 2-50 lb. against 4-45. The efficiency
was put at 79-38 per cent., as compared with 75-18 per cent.

The annual report of Burton electricity undertaking shows that
a gross profit was made of £36 235. After meeting the loan charges
and other items, the surplus remaining was £19 812, compared with
£12611 last year. Of this surplus, £14812 has been allocated
to the renewals fund, and £5 000 to rate fund. The amount of the
renewals fund at March 31, 192 1, was £3 346 ; the income during
the year (amount transferred from revenue account £14812, and
contributions under agreement, etc., £425) £15,237 ; making a total
of £18 583 ; which, less excess capital expenditure of £13 570, left
a balance remaining at March 31, 1922, of £3,013. The total capital
expenditure, including £69 373 during the year, is £274 532, of
which £54 189 has been provided out of revenue. The net out-
standing debt at March 31 was £138002. The total number of
units sold was 8 157743, compared with 7 132945 last year, an
increase of i 025 698 units. The power supply shows an increase of
866 159 units on last year. The h.p. in motors connected has
increased by 964 during the year, the total now being 9 195. The
total costs have decreased from i -588d. per unit to i •434d., or 9-7 per
cent. The total maximum load of 3 490 kW was reached on
December 16, 1921, and represents an increase of 790 kW. It is
interesting to note that the gross income of the undertaking on
December 31, 1894, the first year of the works' existence, was £329,
the working expenses £844, and a gross loss of £315 was made.

Electric Traction.

West Bromwich Corporation have applied to the Ministrj' of
Health for sanction to a loan of £75 000 for the reconstruction of
the tramway track.

Wolverhampton Corporation have decided to commence work
on the general renewal of the tramway track, and a tender (at
£3 871) has just been accepted for renewing the Waterloo Road
route.

The first section of the new electric tram service on the Leberton-
Granton route in Edinburgh was officially inaugurated on Tuesday
by Lord Provost Hutchison by the breaking of a broad ribbon
stretched across the street at the old border line which formerly
separated Edinburgh from Leith.

Sunderland Town Council has approved a scheme submitted
by the Tramways Committee for the establishment of a retirement
fund for members of the traffic staff. Subject to a certificate of
exemption under the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, being
granted by the Ministry of Labour, a fund will be established by
which the Corporation and the employees -will each contribute lod.
per man per week. The retirement allowance will be reckoned at
50 per cent, of the wage for the time being in operation for motor-
men. The Corporation is not to be liable to contribute in any one
year more than 20 per cent, above their present contribution under
the Unemployment Insurance A.ct, 1920, in respect of tramwav
employees. The Corporation unanimously approved the scheme in
principle, and the final drafting of the scheme will be proceeded
with, subject to official sanction.

The scheme for the construction of an East-to-West railway
in North London has been revived in a modified form. The
projected line would connect the Great Northern, Great Eastern,
Great Central and Great Western Railways. Probably the
line, if constructed, will be equipped electrically. It would be
twenty miles in length, connecting the joint railway of the G.W.
and G.C. Cornpanies near Denham, with the G.N. main line, near
Wood Green, and the G.E. line at the adjoining Palace Gates ter-
minus, skirting en route many towns and villages, including Watford,
Elstree and Chipping Barnet. No doubt such a line would be
extremely useful, and would increase the transport facilities in
North London. It would also enable trains to proceed from the
north to the south of England without coming into London. Direct
rail communication between the northern and north-western suburbs
would be given, and it would enable the Eastern Group of railways
to run circular suburban passenger services from and to their respec-
tive termini.

Personal and Appointments.

Professor A. S. Butler, M.A., has resigned the chair of Natural
Philosophy at St. Andrew's University.

Keighley Tramways Committee recommend the Council to
appoint Captain C. Jackson of Sheffield to the post of tramways
manager.

Mr. W. H. Durrell, assistant electrical engineer, Eastern Bengal
Railway, has been appointed to officiate as electrical engineer of
the railway.

Mr. a. G. Warren is appointed to officiate as electrical inspector
to the Indian Government in the United Provinces, vice Major
H. C. C. TuFNELL, resigned.

Barnes (Surrey) Urban Council have fixed the salary of the
electrical engineer, Mr. C. S. D.widson, at £1 000 per annum, to
include bonus, as from June i. His previous salary was £952.

Wimbledon Town Council has made a grant of £75 to Mr. W. J.
Oswald, chief assistant electrical engineer, for the services rendered
by him as acting chief electrical engineer from February i to May 31 .

Mr. F. T. Foxlee, district electrical superintendent of the Bengal-
Nagpur Railway, is on si.x months' leave and Mr. D. Kerridge,
district electrical superintendent, Khargpur, is officiating in his
place.

Southport Town Council has appointed Mr. W. T. Gann principal
assistant to the electrical engineer (Mr. E. Moxon) at a commencing
salary and bonus of £469 a year, to be increased by two annual
increments to £580.

Mr. A.J. Bridge informs us that he has left the service of Metro-
politan Vickers Electrical Company, Manchester, to take up the
appointment of manager of the Publicity Department of The Brush
Electrical Engineering Company, Loughborough.

Owing to ill-health Mr. W. R. Rendell has decided to resign the
general managership of the Metropolitan Electric Supply Co.
in the autumn. He has held the position with great success since
the commencement of 1916, and his resignation has been accepted
with regret by the Board.

In connection with the ft)rthcoming retirement of Mr. J. Dyer
Lewis, H.M. Divisional Inspector of Mines in charge of the South
Wales Division, Mr, J. M. Carey, at present serving as a senior
inspector in that Division, has been promoted to take Mr. Dyer's
place, and Colonel J. A. S. Ritson has been appointed a senior
inspector in place of ^Ir. Carey.

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

759

Business Items, etc.

The address of the hon. secretary of the Sheffield and District
Wireless Society (Mr. L. H. Crowther) is now 18, Linden Avenue,
Woodseats, Sheffield.

The Commercial. C.\BLE Company announces the removal of its
administrative and central operating offices to the Mackay House,
27-33, Wormwood-street, E.C.2.

Mr. I. Stephenson, junr., announces that he is continuing the
business of his father, the late Mr. I. Stephenson, electrical engineer,
of 36 and 37, Flowergate, Whitby.

The address of the Mines Department is now Dean Stanley Street
Millbank, Westminster, S.W.i. Telephone No. : Victoria 9310
fe. Telegrams : Minindust, Vic, London.

^ Owing to the engineering and shipbuilding disputes, the departure

of the s.s. British Trade has been somewhat delayed, but we are
informed that the ship will sail at an early date.

Mr. J. E. Sayers announces that he has taken into partnership
Mr. Thomas G. Crum, who has been his assistant for several years.
The business will now be carried on under the firm name of James
E. Sayers and Co., consulting engineers and electricians. Ocean
Buildings, 190, West George Street, Glasgow.

Kennedy and Donkin have removed to new offices at Broadway
Court, 8, Broadway. Westminster, London, S.W.i. The new
offices are situated on the fourth floor of the building, wliich is
midway between St. James's Park Station and Victoria St eet.
The telegraphic address, " Kinematic, Vic, London," will remain
unaltered, but the telephone number will be Victoria 3601 (3 lines).

In these days accurate and up-to-date information is essential,
especially for engineering firms. Though the technical journals
supply, or endeavour to supply the needful, there are so many of
these to be perused if one is to make sure that nothing important is
missed. Time and opportunity are often lacking for this laborious
task, and consequently any system which eliminates some of the
work should be welcome. The Lefax system claims to have
solved the problem, for they publish selected articles, boiled down
to essentials, in a standard loose-leaf form, self-indexed and classified
for filing in filing boxes or cabinets. The sheets are also pimched
for insertion in the pocket firm. Standard engineering tables and
data, as well as blank forms, are also supplied. The British agents
for the system are Norman and Hill, 54, Holborn Viaduct, London,
E.C.i, who will supply further particulars.

Institution Notes.

The annual conversazione of the Institution of Civil Engineers
will take place at 8.20 p.m. ou Tuesday next at the Institution

offices.

The following officers have been elected for the 1922-23 session
of the RoNTGEN Society : — President, Sir Humphrey Rolleston ;
Vice-Presidents, Professor Sir William H. Bragg, Professor Sir
Ernest Rutnerford, A. E. Barclay ; Hon. Treasurer, Geoffrey PearCe ;
Hon. Secretaries, E. A. Owen, Russell J. Reynolds.

The British Engineering Standards Association have issued
their revi.sed specification (No. 7, 1922) of insulated annealed copper
conductors for electric power and light. It contains the information
as to sizes, tests, .standard thicknesses of dielectric, etc., given in
the 1919 edition, with the addition of a new size of cable 0.03 sq. in.
in area. Standard thicknesses for cab tyre sheathing have also
been incorporated. The Association have also issued Specification
No. 152, which is a metric edition of No. 7. One additional size
of cable of 1.5 sq. mm. area has, however, been included as this is a
size commonly used in countries using the metric system. Copies
of the specifications may be obtained from the Association, 28,
Victoria Street, London, S.W.i, price is. 2d. each.

Obituary.

By the death of Frederick Wm. Sanderson, headmaster of
Oundle School, science loses an ardent disciple and education a
man of original mind. Mr. Sanderson was the author of several
elementary text-books on electricity, mechanics and geometry.

We regret to announce the death of Mr. F. R. Reeves, who was
for many years secretary, and later secretary and general manager
of Crompton and Co., Ltd. Subsequently he became managing
director of the Sevenoaks and District Electricity Co., and he was
also a director of the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation and two
or three British provincial supply companies. Mr. .Reeve was 79
years of age.

The death is announced from New York of Mr. George Gray
Ward, vice-president of the Commercial Cable Co., in his 78th year.
Mr. Ward, who was born in Hertfordshire and educated privately
at Cambridge, entered the Electric Telegraph Co. In 1865 he
joined the Egyptian Government Telegraph Service and was
stationed for about three years at Alexandria, and in 1869 he
accepted a position with the first Fren:h Atlantic Cable Co. Return-
ing to England in 1874, he joined the Direct LTnited States Cable Co.
as superintendent, but in 1884 he accepted the post of commercial
secretary and general manager of the Commercial Cable Co. In
1890 he was relieved of the position of secretary and elected vice-
president of the company, and in 1902 he was made chairman of
the Board.

Mr. Ward displayed great activity in organising the Commercial
Cable Company's system and in laying its cables ; upon the extension
to Japan being completed in 1906, he was decorated by the Emperor
with the Order of the Commander of the Rising Sun. Mr. Ward
was instrumental in laying the New York-Hay ti cable in 1896 and
had much to do with connecting Portugal directly with America,
via the Azores. He also rendered valuable assistance to the
Deutsche Atlantische Telegraphen Gesellschaft in establishing the
direct communication which formerly existed between* Germany
and the United States, and upon the completion of the Emden-
New York cable in 1900 the ex-Kaiser conferred on him the Royal
Order of the Royal Prussian Crown of the Second Class. Mr. Ward
was vice-president and general manager of the Commercial Pacific
Cable Co., a vice-president of the Postal Telegraph Co., vice-
president of the Mackay Companies, and a director of several other
companies. .He was also a member of the New York Chamber of
Commerce and of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers,
and local hon. secretary and treasurer of the Institution of Electrical
Engineers.

Miscellaneous.

The British Industries Fair will be held as usual next yea.r,
from February 19 to March 2, but the Birmingham section will
have a more comprehensive display of mechanical plant.

Mr. Herbert W. Sullivan is seeking leave to amend drawings
forming part of the specification of Letters Patent No. 166 970,
for " Improvements in or relating to duplex and like telegraphic
sy.stems."

The conference which had been arranged to take place on
Wednesday, between all the e.ngineering unions and the Engineer-
ing Employers' Federation, to discuss the employers' demand for a
reduction of the war bonus, has been postponed.

The staffs of the Eastern and Associ.\ted Telegraph Com-
panies have sent a cheque for /i 000 to St. Bartholomew's Hospital
for maintaining a bed in memory of the late Lady Denison-Pender,
wife of the chairman of the companies. Sir John Denison-Pender.

It is announced that the Boilermakers and Iron and Steel
Shipbuilders' Society have agreed to accept the terms agreed upon
between the Engineering and the National Employers' Federation
and the other trade unions concerned on the 2nd inst. The dispute
is, therefore, now terminated.

The current number of the " Decimal Educator " includes reports
of the meeting of the National Chamber of Trade, which passed a
unanimous resolution advocating the adoption of the high- value
penny ; American views of the " Easy Stage " proposal (a modifica-
tion of which is fully set out), and of the progress of the U.S.A.
metric bill.

An inquiry was opened on Tuesday by the Board of Trade Com-
mittee into the complaint of dumping vulcanised fibre in this
country. After taking some evidence, the Committee decided to
adjourn the inquiry indefinittly. A difficulty was experienced in
dealing with the case owing to fluctuations in the market price
since the complaint was lodged.

Last week's issue of the " Manchester Guardian Commercial " was
the third of the series of special numbers on Reconstruction in
Europe. Mr. J. M. Keynes, the general editor of the series, has
assembled a most valuable collection of articles on the Genoa
Conference, on the problem of Austria, together with an exhaustive
survey of the present position and prospects of the textile industries
of Europe. Among the contributors are Mi. Keynes. Signer Nitti.
Baron d'Estournelles de Constante, and Prof. Cassel.

At a meeting in connection with the " Safety First " movement,
held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers last week. Mr. A.
Stevenson Taylor, Home Office Senior Engineering Inspector, stated
that in 1920 nearly £6 000 000 was paid in compensation for indus-
trial accidents, and he was convinced that by proper teaching of
workers and employers a great number of those accidents were
preventible. In the same period i 400 fatal accidents were reported
under the Workmen's Compensation Acts and 140 000 accidents of
all classes occurred.

Education Notes.

The foundarion stone of the new East Midland University at
Nottingham was laid last week by Viscount Haldane, who announced
that an anonymous donor had sent him a cheque for £100 000 towards
the endowment of the University. An appeal for support was
made to large manufacturers and employers of labour, as true
scientific knovledge could never be an enemy.

The University Court of Aberdfen University have asked the
Committee on Engineering to confer with the governors of Robert
Gordon's Technical College on the question of the creation of a
school of higher education in engineering, including the foundation
of a Chair of Engineering in the UniversitN". Professor C. Niven
has resigned the Cliair of Natural Philosophy as from October i
next.

760

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

Imperial Notes.

Port Elizabeth (S. Africa) Municipal Council have recently
placed contracts with British firms for additional generating plant
of the value of about ;^52,ooo.

LiTHGOW (N.S.W.) Council have placed an order with Ramsay,
Sharp and Co. for electricity generating plant for supplying electricity
in the centre of the town. Orders for mains and a h.t. transmission
hne to the Oakley Park Colliery are still to be given out.

Mr. Butters, manager of the Government hydro-electric depart-
ment, has made proposals for suppl5ang electrical energy in bulk to
Zechan (Tasmania) Municipahty, and the payment of £1 184 per
annum for ten years to cover interest and sinking fund on the
Council's present electrical plant.

According to the " Industrial AustraUan and Mining Standard,"
the Electric Supply Co. of Victoria has offered to arrange for the
distribution in Ballarat and adjacent districts of the electrical
energy supplied from the Morwell coalfields, provided the munici-
palities undertake to meet financial obligations required for con-
verting plant and mains, and also if an extension of its present lease
be granted, or that the undertaking be purchased by the munici-
pahties at the expiration of the existing lease. Further negotiations
are pending between the councils, the Electricity Commissioners and
the company. The company has asked ;^5oo 000 as the price at
which it would be willing to part with the present plant.

The Newcastle (N.S.W.) City Council and Chamber of Com-
merce have again been urging the Government to grant faciUties
for the electrification of the district tramways. In reply to a recent
deputation, the Chief Commissioner of Railways (Mr. Eraser) said
the Commissioners had repeatedly endeavoured to get money for
the electrification of the Newcastle tramways, but their apphcation
had been refused each time. They needed £\ 100 000 for the work,
and it was no use starting unless they felt sure that there would be
sufficient money to continue the work. It was no use tinkering,
as had been done in Sydney with the proposed electrification of the
railways. The provision of electric railways in Sydney was urgent,
and if funds were found for that the Government might consider
it equally fair to provide funds for Newcastle.

Sydney (N.S.W.) Electricity Committee have decided to postpone
the question of erecting a new power station and to enter into
negotiations with the Railway Commissioners for the supply of
electricity in bulk. The Council would want a supply as cheaply
as they can generate it themselves, and the agreement would be
terminable by either side on five years' notice. A new power house
would cost the Council from £1 000 000 to £\ 250 000, and it would
have to be ready in five years time, but the Commissioners can give
a supply whenever it is required. There is a good deal of opposi-
tion to the proposed agreement, some members maintaining that
the Coimcil could generate current as cheaply as the Commissioners.
Already nearly £^ 000 000 capital has been expended on the
undertaking, and the Council is, it is claimed, as well able to
find the money for extensions as the Commissioners.

Foreign Notes.

A PROVISIONAL TELEGRAPHIC CONVENTION has been made between
Finland and Russia, was signed on the 13th inst., and came
into force this week. Telegraphic connection between Finland and
Russia has, therefore, been resumed over the Helsingfors-Moscow
and Viborg-Petrograd hnes, and the Finnish Government will not
oppose the establishment oi telegraphic communication between
Northern Norway and Northern Ru- s:a over Finnish territory.

The use of electricity for farm work is steadily expanding in
the United States. Apart from the extension of transmission lines
from urban centres, there is an increasing demand for independent
generating plants. These latter are usually petrol-driven sets,
though there are also a number of small water-power stations.
It is estimated that there are already over 300 000 of these indepen-
dent plants in use, and the number is rapidly increasing. Electricity
is employed for lighting the farm house and adjacent buildings, and
for a great variety of power purposes. Owing to its convenience
and efficiency, electricity is rapidly displac ng rival forms of power.

The order for the 80 freight locomotives required by the Paris-
Orleans Railway, to which we referred .1 our issue of June 9,
(p. 698), has been placed with the Societe Oerlikon and fhc Soci6t6
de Construction des Batignollcs. both in Paris. These locomotives
are each for a one hour rating of i 720 11. p. The Soci6tc Oerlikon
is to supply and erect the electrical equipment, while the Society de
Construction des Batignollcs deals with the mechanical part.
Except in the case of the five first locomotives, which will be com-
pleted at the works of the .Atehers de Construction Oerlikon and will
serve as models, the whole electrical equipment will be built in
France, to the Oerlikon design, at the works of the Soci^te C)crlikon.
The locomotives arc intended for goods trains and are to be capable
of hauling a load up to i 200 tons ; but they arc al.so to be suitable
for passenger service, in which case a speed of about 68 miles per
hour must be attainable. The locomotives arc equipped with
four motors wound for i 500 V d.c. and having each an output of
430 H.p. measured at wheel rim.

Wireless and Telegraph Notes.

The West India Committee announce that a system of wireless
telephony has been successfully estabhshed in the Turks and
Caicos Isles (B.W.I.), Grand Trunk now being connected with the
South Caicos and Salt Cay, distances of twelve and eight miles
respectively.

A senseless and stupid outrage was perpetrated on Sunday at
the Valencia (co. Kerry) cable station of the Western Union
Telegraph Company. During the night some masked and armed
men forcibly entered the station and smashed several instruments,
doing damage to the extent of £-i 000.

A further meeting in connection with wireless broadcasting
was held last Friday at the General Post Office. The Postmaster-
General was present, and representatives of the twenty-three firms
who attended the conference held a month ago. The proceedings
were private, and the manufacturers are holding a further conference
among themselves this week.

An agreement was recently made between the Italian Government
and the Eastern Telegraph Company for the re-opening of the
submarine Cable between Trieste and Corfu. The new company
have agreed to give special facihties for the transmission between
Italy and Egypt of State and Press telegrams, as well as between
Italy and Eritrea, Abyssinia and Italian Somahland.

Catalogues, Price Lists, &c.

Ronald Trist and Co., speciahsts in sand-blast machinery, have
published in pamphlet form, a reprint of a paper on " Sand-
Blasting," by Mr. E. L. Samson, read before the Institution of
British Foundrymen (London Branch) last February. The paper
is fully illustrated and gives much useful information.

" Tips on Odd Jobs about the House " is the latest pubhcation
of the Rawlplug Co., and without doubt will prove most popular.
The booklet is attractively produced with dainty little marginal
illustrations in blue, showing various household fixtures and the
Rawlplug tools required to repair minor defects, or to put up the
fixtures.

The importance to business men of the Dictograph Telephone
SYSTEM is clearly shown in an illustrated booklet just published by
Dictograph Telephones, Ltd. One of the great advantages of this
system is that there is neither mouthpiece nor earpiece to hold, and
conversations can te carried on easily and clearly if the speaker is
as much as 15 ft. away from the instrument.

Isenthal and Co. have just pubhshed a new pamphlet
(Section 2) dealing with their regulating resistances. The new
publication gives illustrations and particulars of the company's
field regulators for back of board (B.O.B.) mounting, dimmers for
incandescent lighting, resistance units, load and standby resistances,
meter calibration resistances, arc regulators, etc.

Simplex Conduits, Ltd., have just issued a new illustrated price
list (No. 909) comprising Section T. of their manufactures (Ught and
heavy gauge conduits, couplers, normal and sharp bends, circular
junction boxes, ceiUng rose and pendant fittings, porcelain connectors,
screwing tools, etc.). The firm's original intention was to publish
this catalogue on January i, but owing to the extreme instability
of prices at that time, its issue wai postponed until June i. Even
now the prices of conduit have been omitted from the list and
printed on a separate card, in order that they may be revised when
necessary and that the section may not be obsolete within a few
weeks of its appearance.

We have received from the General Electric Company a copy
of a new edition of their electric light supplies catalogue, in which
all prices have been revised to present day level. Numerous illus-
trated descriptions with dimensions, weights and prices are given of
distribution boards, cutout boards, branch swatches. " H. and H."
snap switches, wall plugs, ceihng roses, lampholders, flashers, etc.
A handy catalogue of electrical measuring instruments has
also been issued by this Company. It is an abridged edition
of section M of their complete catalogue, and covers switchboard
ammeters and voltmeters of both round and sector patterns,
pedestal type, instruments and portable instruments, " Salford "
testing sets, meggers, etc., the prices of which have been revised to
date.

The bi.siness of Verdun Cutts c^- Co., electro-metallurgists, of
Fargate, Sheffield, has been converted into a private limited hability
company. The business was .^^tarted about twelve years ago by
Verdun O. Cutts and during that time the firm have designed and
erected many complete electro-metallurgical works and plant.
They have cnrried out work for clients in Groat Britain, the Colonies,
India, on the Continent and in China and Japan, and they have
also done a good deal of original work in the desijn and operation
of plant for the production of steel, non ferrrus metals and allcA -^
ferroalloj's, prcciou.s and rare earth metals, artificial abrasives, c((

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

761

Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc.
British Electric Traction.

The twenty-sixth ordinary general meeting of the British
Electric Traction Co., Ltd., was held on Friday at the Holbom
Restaurant, London, Mr. J. S. Austen (the Chairman) presiding.

The chairman in moving the adoption of the report and accounts,
said : — We propose to ask you to-day to sanction the payment of a
dividend of 4I per cent., which compares with 4 per cent, paid last
year. There may be some among you who will ask why we are
to-day paying an increa.sed dividend when our earnings are only
about the same as they were last year. Our answer to that is that
we believe that our income is more stabilised and is becoming still
more stabilised, and that consequently we are justified in going
rather nearer to our limit than we have done before. With your
permission I will explain as simply as possible exactly what we have
done daring the past year. We have earned this 4^ per cent, which
we propose should be paid, and in addition we have earned a sum of
about ^31 500. That sum of l.'^i 500 we propose to dispose of by
putting ;^i4 000 to reserve and by adding to our carry forward a sum
of about £17000. The net results are almost exactly the same as
those of last year, but, although there has been very little change
in the result among the component parts which make up the whole,
there have been some very material changes. It is not necessary to
specify them, but I may say that we have had increases on some
investments aggregating about /41 500, but against that we have
had losses on others amounting to £40,000. These sums, as you
see, are very considerable, but it is only to be expected that in a
company like this, with a multitude of different investments, the
gains as a rule will meet the losses, and in good years surpass them.

Current Year's Prospect*.

It is difficult to draw any general conclusion from these results,
but perhaps it may interest you if I summarise what the various
branches of our business are doing at the moment. Our main
business may be divided into three classes— namely, tramways,
electric power and electric lighting. With regard to the tramways,
during the current year up to date there is a falling-off in receipts.
It may not be quite safe even to try to specify what that falling-off
is, but perhaps it will give you a general idea, if I say 20 per cent.,
which naturally is a serious amount ; but against that the tramways
can set a very considerable saving in expenses. On the whole, I
should doubt if the general results from tramway working during the
present year will be so good as they have been in the past. Then
we come to electric power, and there it is obvious that owing to the
engineering strike, depression in trade, and so on, there will be a
decrease. With regard to electric lighting, however, which includes
the use of electricity for domestic purposes, that received a stimulus
during the war, and up to the present there has been no setback,
and I do not think that any setback is coming. There is a fourth
portion of our business and that is the omnibus business.

Subsidiaries' Nevr Issues.

During the year two of our subsidiary companies have made new
issues of capital ; one is the Shropshire Power Co., which made a
very successful issue, and the other is the British Automobile
Traction Co., which was not so favourably received by the public.
Those of you who have taken the trouble to examine our hst of
investments will have found that we have during the year increased
that list by a number of investments of what I may call a general
nature. Since the close of the year we have still further increased
those investments, and I think it is probable that by the time you
get the next report we shall have very considerably increased that
list. In that connection I may say that it will probably be
advisable to alter the form in which we at present show our invest-
ments, which is not altogether satisfactory.

It is the present intention of the directors, if circumstances are
satisfactory, to declare an interim dividend upon the stock about
December next.

With regard to the immediate prospects, it is really very difficult
in a company like this, with such a variety of undertakings, to
forecast exactly what one is going to do. I prefer to touch on the
dividend question. I have now had two years' experience of this
company, and I am pleased to say that with that experience my
regard for the company has increased. It has been the business of
my life, mainly, to build up trust companies, and in every case the
result has been satisfactory, and I can see no reason why we should
not have steady progress in this company.

Mr. Emile Garcke (deputy-chairman), seconded the resolution,
which after a brief discussion, was carried unanimously.

Madras Electric Supply Corporation.

At the annual meeting of this company, last week, the chairman,
Mr. James Gray, stated that, owing to the delay in installing
additional converting plant, the number of new consumers was not
as high as usual, but the total connections and the gross revenue
were more than maintained in consequence of several large power
consumers having come on to the company's mains. With the
exception of the tramways, which were affected by the strike in the
early part of 1921, increased supplies of current were provided all
round. The gross revenue increased by £11 091, but the working
expenses showed an increase of £12 297, due to the higher cost of
fuel and to a readjustment of salaries between the company and the
tramway company. The adjustment of exchange showed a debit of

£19 739 instead of a credit of /i 254, so that there was a total
reduction of £22 199 compared with 1920. Their application to
the Government of Madras a few years ago to increase the rate for
current for lighting and fans on a combined circuit from 4 annas
to 5 annas was absolutely necessary. They were indebted to the
Government for removing the restriction of three years from
August I, 1919, during which the increase was to operate, and the
position now was that any revision of the tariff would be subject
to the ordin...ry provisions of the Indian Electricity Act, under which
all Indian electric supply companies operated.

After payment of the preference dividend there was a balance of
£30 356, which would be applied in paying a dividend on the ordinary*
shares of 8 per cent, (tax free), paying additional remuneration to
the directors, and after placing £5 000 to reserve, a sum of £g 728
would be carried forward. The expenditure on buildings and
machinery amounted to £29071, representing chiefly a new water
tube boiler and three new sub-stations. Expenditure on mains
(£21 217) included new high tension feeder lines in various parts of
the area. The debenture stock sinking fund reserve and general
reserve fund showed substantial increases and now more than covered
any depreciation on investments. The sum provided for deprecia-
tion and renewals for 1921 was £15 000, bringing the total to £67 319.
In consequence of the strike in the early part of 192 1, the results
from the tramway were less satisfactory than formerly, and the
dividend on the ordinary shares was reduced from 8 to 5 per cent.,
tax free.

To meet continuous demands for supphes of current additional
generating and converting plant was being supphed. The additions
included a water-tube boiler, one 5 000 kW turbo-alternator and
additional rotary converters aggregating 3 000 kV/. To provide
the funds the Board took advantage of issuing £200 000 7 per cent,
second debentures.

Mr. John G. B. Stone, who seconded the motion for the adoption
of the report and accounts, said he had paid a visit to Madras. He
found their relations with the Government and the Municipality
were of the most cordial kind. He came away with the feeling that
they had now a body of men whom it would take a ven,- great deal
to bring out on strike again. The trouble they were going to have
was to meet the demands. The demand for both light and power
was growing at a very rapid rate. There was one peculiarity in
Madras wliich did not exist in many places, and that was the use of
the fan, even in winter, practically without ceasing by day and even
by night. During the day there was not only the heat to deal with,
but the use of fans kept the mosquitoes off. As to their use at
night he found that if he did not have the fan going, even in spite
of mosquito curtains, the mosquitoes got in sometimes. There was
not a great deal of industrial power at present in Madras, but that
was probably due to the fact of there being no really cheap power
available. Now that the company was in a position to offer cheap
power, his impression was that they would find that their power load
would grow very much.

Whitehall Electric Investments, Ltd.

Presiding at the annual meeting of Whiteh.xll Electric Invest-
ments, Ltd., on Tuesday, the Hon. Chve Pearson (chairman of the
company), in moving the adoption of the report and accounts, said
that over a period of years L -rd Cowdray, through one of his
companies, the Whitehall Securities Corporation, Ltd., had acquired
a controlling interest in various electrical companies in Mexico
supplying certain large cities and their surrounding districts with
light and power, and operating the tramway system in such cities.
These enterprises were remodelled, and had been built up over many
years into good properties ; they had been nursed through Mexico's
troublous times, and were now in an estabhshed position, with steady
earnings and good additional prospects still before them. An oppor-
tunityaroseat the end of the warof purchasingfrom the Public Trustee
the share control of the EngUsh company ow-ni.ig and operating the
tramways and the power and light distribution s>'stem in Santiago,
a city of 500,000 people, and the capital of Chile, which company had
been controlled for some years before the war by the A. E.G. At the
timn of this purchase it was known that vcnk* considerable sums
would have to be spent on extensions in order to develop the proper-
ties to their fullest extent, and to embrace not only the city of
Santiago, but also the rich territory- stretching to Valparaiso, the
chief port of the countrv. It was. therefore, determined to form the
WTiitehall Electric Investments, Ltd., and to transfer to it the whole
of the debentures and sliares in the different electrical companies,
both Mexican and Chihan, giving in exchange only ordinary- shares
in the Investment companv, and to issue debentures and preference
shares of this company to pro\ide the cash required for the extension
work.

A Fine Fie'd for Buiiacss.

Upon acquiring the Chilian properties a complete examination
of the position showed the existence of a ver>- fine field for a large
and satisfactorv business. It was found that the development of
considerable additional hydroelectric power w-as essential, and
remodelling and extensions were required, both of the tramways in
Santiago and the hght and power distribution system. To pro\'ide
the additional water power a controlling interest was obtained in and
amalgamation effected with the Cia. Nacional de Fucrza Electrica, a
company wliich had been formed and into which Chihan Narionals
subscribed over half a million cash for the puri->ose of developing
hydro- electric power at Maitenes, some thirty miles outside Santiago.
The Cia. Chilena was thus inaugiirated as the owners of hydro-

76,2

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

electric developments, and of a very large system of trams and light
and power distributing facilities. It was earning a large immediate
income in a field very favourable for the investment of additional
capital to extend it? activities. When the Maitenes water power
development was completed the company would be enabled to fulfil
the important contract it had entered into for the supply of power
to the Government railways, the electrification of which was already
in hand.

The Position in Mexico.

With regard to Mexico, in spite of all its misfortunes, political and
financial, during the last nine years- — it still continued one of the
richest countries in the world with an unlimited future. Mexico had
a population of some 15 000 000 of people, whose capacity for work
and whose reputation for honesty must be regarded quite apart
from the relatively small number of people who constitute the
disturbing factor in the country. To enable the factories to work
they required the services of the great utility companies for the
supply of electric light and power. It was a noteworthy fact that
during the whole of the disturbed period Uttle or no damage had
been done to any electric power and light plant throughout the
RepubUc. The demand for the supply of electric energy was con-
stant and growing. Referring to the company's Mexican invest-
ments, the chairman said the Tampico Company was formerly an
English company, now in voluntary liquidation, owing to English
income-tax. The port of Tampico had grown largely in the last
few years, due to the oil industry having developed so materially in
the district, and while there was a temporary lull, their profits for
1922 would not be as large as those of 192 1, the company's record
year, there seemed to be no reason why the earnings of this company
should not before long again equal the 192 1 figures, and, in fact,
exceed them. So far as they were able to judge there was no reason
why — in addition to the payment of its debenture interest and sinking
fund, and dividend on its preference shares — it should not earn a
reasonable dividend on its ordinary shares for the current year. The
Puebla Company, which operated in the city of Puebla— the centre
of the cotton industry in Mexico — was a Canadian company which
was formed many years ago. The company supplied power over a
large district, and Puebla was probably one of the best-lighted cities
in the world. The water-power station at Tuxpango was now
developed for 17000 h.p., and was capable of developing 17000
more. The total horse-power at present developed by the company
at its three stations— Tuxpango, Portezuela, and St. Augustin was
26 000. The outlook for this company was good, and the earnings
ought steadily to increase.

Electric Construction Co.

In the course of his address at the annual meeting of the Electric
Construction Co. last Thursday Mr. Philip E. Beachcroft, who
presided, said that the accounts submitted showed a reduction in
net profit of only ,^425 compared with that of the previous year — a
satisfactory result having regard to the prevailing conditions. The
net revenue for the year amounted to £d.2 684, and after payment of
various dividends ;^22 072 remained to be carried forward. In the
balance sheet the item of properties, patents and goodwill stood at
;^350 705. Since the accounts were made up a careful valuation
had been completed, from which it was evident that the value of
buildings, plant and machinery and other fixed assets exceeded the
amount in the balance sheet. The properties for many years had
been maintained out of revenue at a high state of efficiency, and
provi.sion for depreciation had also been liberal. The directors,
therefore, considered that the reference to patents and goodwill in
the balance sheet should in future be eliminated. Orders since the
beginning of the new financial year were 50 per cent, greater than
in the corresponding period last year. Whether the improvement
would be maintained he could not say, but the discontinuance of
the engineers' strike should give ^hc trade of the country a con-
siderable impetus. Dealing with the general situation, the chairman
said that, before the country could recapture its export business,
lower costs of production were essential, and these could only be
obtained by a lower standard of wages and salaries, by a lower
margin of profit, and by increased output. Above all, there must
be co-operation between capital and labour, for without it all
efforts would be in vain. To that end he would counsel the
adoption to a far greater degree than hitherto of the piecework
system, which was not now regarded by labour with the same
antagonism as formerly. If it were adopted, labour would procure
week by week the fruit of its own effort v-ithout being dependent on
profits, which were not ascertained for ma.!y months. An abstract
of the accounts was given in our issue of June 9.

Anglo-Argentine Tramways.

Presiding at the annual meeting of the Anglo-Arc.entineTr.\m-
w AYS Co., last week, Sir George A. Touchc (the chairman) said he feared
that the report for the year might have been received with some
disappointment by the shareholders. Their total receipts were less
by ;^i35ooo, and their total expenses more by ;^io7ooo. In 1920
the receipts from all sources were ;£4 413 164. In 192 1 they were
l^ 277 600, a difference of ^135 564. In his address last June he
called attention to the manner \\\ which the revenue for 1920 had
benefited by the favourable exchange and the large credit for income
tax, owing to the heavy payments for arrears of dividend on the
first preference shares, and explained that such credits were windfalls
not likely to recur. The diiiercncc in exchange alone represented

a larger sum than the difference in net receipts, while income tax
accounted for nearly as much as the reduction in receipts from all
sources. The par rate of exchange for the Argentine gold dollar on
London was .^7'58d. Their remittances for the year totalled nearly
£\ 000 000, at an average rate of 45J. In 1920 the average rate was
SS'Sgd, and they had thus lost heavily on the exchange.

When they separated the traffic receipts from the other credits
there was some ground for encouragement. In his report a year ago
the general manager estimated an increase of 5 per cent, in 1921.
This estimate had proved accurate. The traffic receipts in 1920 were
;^4 000 741 ; in 1921 they were £4 203 369, an increase of ;^202 628.
The traffic receipts were the backbone of their undertaking. Last
year they carried nearly 90 000 000 more passengers than in 1916,
and they ran nearly 7 000 000 more miles.

The total expenditure for the year amounted to ,^3305081.
against £t, 198 028 in 1920. Traffic expenses were £1 223 358, or
^65 093 in excess of the previous year. Of this £^-] 218 represented
increases in wages. Traction expenses were ;i^644 724. These were
governed by the cost of fuel. The traffic expenses in 1920 were
;^8i2 693. The sum of ;^433 481 was paid to the Municipality
of Buenos Ayres for taxation. It consisted principally of the per-
centages on traffic receipts payable under the terms of the company's
concession. The balance carried to the net revenue account was
£972 519. They had paid the current year's dividend on the first
preference shares, £\'jboQO, leaving ;^I43 531 undistributed. This
enables them to satisfy 12 months arrears on the second preference
shares to December 30, 1917, requiring ^Ti 3 7 500, and left to be carried
forward to 1922 £6o2,\. They had already paid one-half of this
second preference dividend, and now recommended the payment of
the second half. It was a question whether they should pay a full
year's dividend on the second preference shares, or only a half-year's
dividend. To pay the full year it was necessary to encroach, to a
small extent, on the amount carried forward, which was reduced
from ;^I5 884 to ;^6 031. It went against the grain to do this, but
the Board felt it to be desirable to prevent the arrears on the second
preference shares from increasing. There were still four years of
dividend in arrear on these preference shares, while the ordinary
share capital of £^ 250 000 had received no return since 1914. This
was not a satisfactory position. The business should be .self-
supporting on a commercial basis. The city was supplied with the
finest tramway service in the world. The gain to the Tramway
Company was very disappointing. The present tariff arrangement
was authorised in 1920, and was subject to review in 1923.

United River Plate Telephone.

At the annual meeting of the United River Plate Telephone
Co. on Tuesday, the Chairman (Sir Frederick Green, K.B.E.), after
an analysis of the report and accounts (given in our last issue),
stated that they were paying a final dividend of 5 per cent, on
324 000 ordinary shares, making (with the interim dividend) a total
of 8 per cent, for the year, and a dividend of 5 per cent, on loS 000
ordinary shares, both tax free, leaving £38 705 to be carried forward,
against (38 367 in the previous year. He was sorry to say the
Government had not yet given them permission to make the
moderate increase in rates for which they petitioned in the spring
of 1919. That attitude on the port of the Government, failing, as
they thought, to recognise the present high costs of working a
telephone business had been unfortunately reflected in the accounts,
for there was no balance available for the usual reserve appropria-
tion. The necessity for an increase was constantly being urged upon
the authorities, and they would also lose no opportunity of bringing
home to the Government and the pubhc that although the company
was only too anxious to provide all the telephone facilities needed,
they were imfortunately unable to embark upon further consider
able extensions until increased rates were forthcoming.
Extensions and Additions.

During the year they had completed extensions to many of their
common battery manual exchanges, to the Rosario automatic
exchange and to several magneto exchanges, as well as having opened
two add'tional automatic installations in the City of Cordoba and
one in Rosario. Most of that equipment was ordered shortly after
the armistice, but manufacture had been slow, and it was only in
the current year that they would reap the full benefit of that
expenditure. The new plant had enabled them during 1921 to
connect 13 1)72 new st?tions, making the total number connected
97 274, against 83 6021 *he end of iq?o. There were still a large
number awaiting service, and they regrctte<l that until the auto-
matic exchanges were opened they should be able to do but httle
towards reducing the number. Last July they came into possession
of the important Bahiense system, operating in the City of Babia
Blanca and neighbourhood, and they were now engaged in con-
solidating the system with their own. It had not, however, been
■possible yet to connect that south western part of the Province of
Buenos Aires to the Federal capital, though they hoped to be able
to do so before long, and also other systems which were at present
isolated. Though trade conditions in the Argentine were not of
the brightest, the outlook from a telephone point of view w?s most
encouragnig. as was evidenced by the large number of the public
still awaiting service. Notwithstanding the question of rates,
their relations with the National Government and the Provincial
Governments and the various municipalities continued to be cordial.
The deputy chairman (Mr. Percy Cross^ would leave for Buenos
.Mres in August, accompanied by Mr. Dawbarn. the London manager.

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

763

Sir John Gavey, whose health had made it necessary for him to
relinquish the position of deputy chairman, retained his seat on
the Board. With regard to the current year, he said they did not
anticipate considerable difficulty in maintaining the dividend on the
present capital ; but the Argentine C.overnment fnust recognise
that the company could not embark on further extensions requiring
fresh capital, having regard to increased wages and the high cost
of material, unless adequate rater, were permitted.

Globe Telegraph and Trust.

Sir John Denison-Pender, G.B.F... K.C.M.G., presided over the
49th ordinary general meeting of the Glofe Telegraph and
Tru?t Co., Ltd., on Tuesday and expressed his pleasure at being
able to submit figures which exceeded those of last year. They
were in no way due to a windfall, or any transitory cause. The
year's total receipts, after deducting working expenses, amounted
to i^33o 146, an increase over last year of ^42 374. The directors
recommended a final dividend of 3s. per share on the preference
shares, making 6 per cent, (less tax), for the year, and of 5s. per
share on the ordinary shares, making a total of 10 per cent. net.
The company were thus paying the same rate of dividend to their
ordinary shareholders as they did last year, but whereas last year
they found it necessary to draw upon their reserve fund for con-
tingencies to the extent of £10 000, this year not only did they not
require to borrow anything from that fund, but they actually carried
forward a surplus of over £20 000. The arrangement entered into
about two years ago between the British Government and the
Direct United States Cable Co. was supposed to expire on March 31,
1923, when their company would receive about £6 per share for its
holding in that company, the shares having cost them £5 4s. gd.
each. When they received the money (about ;^90 000), they would
be able to repay the ^60 000 they had had to borrow owing to the
fact that 6 000 of their new shares were held and not allotted, and
they would have about /30 000 to invest. The income from their
American investments showed a reduction in each instance, but in
no case was that due to any diminution in the rate of dividend paid.
On the other hand, they now received the benefit of a full year's
dividend on their investment in the new issues of stocks and shares
of the Eastern, Eastern Extension, and Western Union Telegrapli
Companies. That increase alone amounted to over ;^58 000, and
entirely dwarfed the small losses referred to. While many first-rate
industrial concerns which had held Investments for many years past
had been setting aside sums to meet depreciation, the present value
of their company's securities showed an appreciation of over
£2 000 000.

The report and accounts were unanimously adopted, and at an
extra-ordinary general meeting new articles of association were
approved.

Benn Brothers, Ltd., recommend a second interim dividend at
the rate of 2^ per cent, per annum on account, payable on July i,

Callender's Share and Investment Trust propose to pay
an interim dividend of 4 per cent, (at 8 per cent, per annum),
less tax.

The Aluminium Corporation proposes to increase its 6 per cent,
first debentures from ;^25o,ooo to ;^5oo,ooo, and to redeem them in
1941 at a premium of £$ per cent.

The Canadian General Electric Company have declared a
quarterly dividend of i^ per cent, for the three months ending
June 30, 1922, on the common stock.

The directors of the Barnsley and District Traction Company
have declared a dividend of 15 per cent, on the ordinary shares for
the past year. An issue is being made of 20 035 ordinary shares at
par.

The net profit of the Para Telephone Company for 192 1 was
;^2 482, plus ;^8 605 brought forward, making ;^iio87. A further
dividend is announced of 3 per cent., making 6 per cent., free of
tax, carrying £^ 457 forward.

The accounts of Veritys Ltd. for 1921, after providing ;/^2 783
for depreciation, show a net loss of £}, 002, plus /6 300 for interim
dividends paid during the year. After deducting credit balance of
£1 656 brought in, a debit balance of £j 646 remains to be carried
forward.

A special dividend of one-half per cent, has been declared on the
common stock of the Manila Electric Corporation for the
quarter ending June 30, payable on the istprox., and making with
a regular quarterly dividend of 2 per cent, already announced, a
total of 2i per cent., or S2.50 per share.

The net profit of James Keith and Blackman Company for the
year ended March 31 was £20481. After providing for debenture
interest and allowing for depreciation and reserves, with £12 575
brought in, the total is ,£33 056. It is proposed to pay a dividend
on the ordinary shares of 7 J per cent., tax free, carrying forward
£15 944-

The Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power Company announce
a final dividend of 4 per cent., less tax, on the preference shares,
making 10 per cent, for 192 1 (the same), and also a dividend of

3 per cent., less tax, on the preference shares on account of 1922 ,
The dividend on the ordinary shares for 192 1 is 5 per cent., less tax
(the same).

The net receipts of the Shropshire, Worcestershire and
Staffordshire Power Company for the past year were £95 153.
After deduction of administration and general expenses, debenture
and loan interest, and adding {16 183 brought in, there remains
£^\ 083. The directors propose dividends on the 7 per cent,
preference and 6 per cent, preference shares for the year, leaving
£27 272 to carry forward.

At the meeting of the Yorkshire (Woollen District) Electric
Tramways, Ltd., last week, it was reported that the receipts
for 1921 totalled ;/;i24 330. Deducting all expenses, includmg
repairs and maintenance, debenture and other interest, and setting
aside £^15000 to renewals fund, there remains ^8881, plus £9356
brought in. making ^18237. It is proposed to place ;£5 000 to
reserve and to carry forward £13 237.

The profits of Waygood-Otis, Ltd., for the year ended March 31,
after providing for depreciation, amounted to ^77 360 (again.st
£83 069), and ;^27 980 was brought forward. .V sum of /40 000 has
been placed to reserve, £f, 000 to pensions fund, and the directors
propose a final dividend of 5.J per cent, on the ordinary- .shares,
making 8 per cent, for the year, and a bonus of 2 per cent. A sum
of ;^22 340 is carried forward. The dividend was 9 per cent, for the
previous year.

The profit of Head, Wrigiitson & Co. for the year ended April 30,
after providing for taxation, amounted to £^i 163 (against £f>^ 033),
while £i<) 028 was brought forward. After providing for debenture
interest, preference and interim dividend on the ordinary shares,
etc., and placing ;^20 000 (against £30 000) to reserve for general
purposes, there remains ;^2 7 889. A final dividend is proposed on
the ordinary' shares at the rate of 5 per cent., making 7 J per cent.,
less tax, for the year (the same), the amount carried for^vard being
/i6,.544.

The report for 1921 of Richardsons, Westgarth and Company
shows a profit, after providing for estimated liabiliries to the Govern-
ment, of ;^305 207, compared with /155 635 for 1920. The directors
recommend the payment of two years' dividend on the preference
shares up to April this year, and of 8 per cent, on the ordinar\'
shares. The sum of £^0 000 has been set aside for the development
of the new department for the building of Diesel engines, /50 000
has been placed to reserve, /45 000 has been written off for deprecia-
tion, and /54 785 carried forward. The directors state that the
financial position of the company is l>etter and stronger than ever
before in its history.

The report of Kidderminster and District Electric Lighting
AND Traction Company for 192 1 shows that the net receipts of the
hghting undertaking, including dividends, were £^ 848, plus £35
brought forward, making £^ 884. After deducring administration
and general expenses and interest on temporary loans, there remains
£z 888. The directors propose to pay a dividend of 2i per cent, on
the ordinary shares for the year, carrying fonvard /213. Kidder-
minster AND Stourport Electric Tramway Company made a
profit, after providing for renewals, of £2 149, plus £114 brought
forward, making £2 264. A dividend at the rate of 3i per cent, on
the share capital absorbed £2 002, carrying forward £262.

Mr. F. A. Govett presided )ver the annual meeting of the Zinc
Corporation last week, and stated that as he was not ven,' hopeful
of a rapid improvement in world conditions and he regarded it as the
duty of the Board to preserve the company's resources as far as
possible. They had an option to acquire about one-sixth interest in
the Australian'rights of the Elmore process, and they had recently
acquired, at a depreciated price, about 45 000 shares in the parent
company, the Chemical and Metallurgical Corporation. On the
whole, thev had confidence in the future of this branch of their
industry. '.\s to the Electrolytic Compan'-, the full plant was
expected to be in operation by next year, and the profits were
estimated as likely to be sufficient to pay from I2i to 15 per cent,
on the ordinary stock which their company held.

The net profit of Edmundson's Electricity Corporation for
the year ended March 31 last, after providing .'or income tax.
mortgage and note interest and debenture stock charges, amounts
to /31 369. as compared %vith £16053 for 1921. With the biilance
of ^14 143 brought forward the total profit available is £45 312, of
which the directors propose to pay £30 000 in respect of dividends
(and arrears) on the cumulative preference shares and a di\-idend
of 3 per cent, on the non-cumulative preference shares. lea\nng
£\=y 512 to be carried forw-ard. During the year £56 100 of the
6i per cent, three year notes have been paid off at a premium of
;^2So los., leaving ViS 000 outstanding. The directors intend to
redeem these remaining notes when they fall due for repayment
next February. In the meantime, they have arranged with the
trustees to accept Cxovernment Bonds in heu of prior lien debenture
stock as collateral security for the notes, and the prior Hen debenture
stock has accordingly been released and cancelled.

The report of the South Wales Electrical Power Distribu-
tion Co. for the year ending December last shows that the units
sold amounted to "46 533 098," a decrease of 10 510 540, as compared
with the previous year. This decrease is attributed largely to the
three months' coal strike and also to di»hculties \rith the plant
which have now been remedied. The commercial side of the

764

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

undertaking is operated by the Treforest Electrical Consumers '
Co.. and after payment of all working expenses there is a credit
balance from that company of ;^35 294, which, with ;^4 4^7 brought
forward, makes available a balance of ;^39 7ii. Deducting the
interest on the two classes of debenture stock of the company and
depreciation on the new plant, l^ 653 remains to be carried forward.
The directors state that the agreement between the company and
the Treforest Electrical Consumers' Co. has been revised, and that
the company's Bill adjusting the ordinary share capital and con-
taining other provisions advantageous to the shareholders has been
passed by the House of Lords and read a second time in the House
of Commons. Mr. W. Gascoyne Dalziel, chairman of the company,
since 1907, has resigned the chairmanship, to which Mr. Westgarth
Forster Brown has been elected. Mr. Dalziel still remains a member
of the board.

The working of Lisbon Electric Tramways, Ltd., for the past
year, after deducting interest and amortisation due on the debentures
of the " Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa " and after the
payment of £'24 415 interest on and redemption of debentures of
the Lisbon company, and also payment of London expenses and
directors' remuneration, shows a loss of £2g 184. To this sum is
added the balance of loss brought forward from last year, ligzyi,
which gives the sum of ;^48 455 to be carried forward to the debit
of next year's profit and loss account. During the past year the
tramways have carried 83626312 passengers with receipts of
Esc. II 102068, as compared with 80567940 passengers and
receipts of Esc. 6 088 286 in the preceding year. The working of
the tramway was again adversely affected by the stoppage and
restriction of the service owing to strikes and other disturbances.
The rate of exchange at the beginning of the year stood at 6fd.
per Escudo and at the close of the year had fallen to the low figure
of 4^d. This materially increased the working expenditure and
especially the cost of all supplies purchased outside Portugal. No
increase in the fares was obtained during the period under review,
although constant applications were made both to the Government
and the Camara, in view of the operating losses. A Commission
was appointed in July last by the Portuguese Government to
inquire into the matter, but its recommendations were not carried
out as the Camara withheld its approval, and it was not until the
present year that an agreement was at last concluded, to enable an
increase in the tariffs to be made, which it is hoped will put the
company's future operations on a sounder basis.

New Companies.

E, N. Bray.

E. N. Bray, Ltd. (182489). — Private company. Reg. June 15.
Capital, ^3 000 in £\ shares. Electrical engineers, contractors and
manufacturers, etc. First directors : E. N. Bray, E. S. Dawn and
R. C. Court. Secretary : E. S. Dawn. Solicitors : Warrens, 5,
Bedford Square, W.C.i.
Johnson, SaTatfe & Co.

Johnson, Savage and Co., Ltd. (182 492).^ — Private company.
Reg. June 15. Capital, £s^o in £1 shares. Electricians, mechani-
cal engineers, suppliers of electricity, etc. Provisional directors :
R. M. Johnson and E. M. Savage. Secretary : E. M. Savage.
Reg. office : i, Argyle Street, Oxford Circus, W.i.
Elaotrioo.

Electrico, Ltd. (182506). — Private company. Reg. June 16.
Capital, £(> 000 in £1 shares. Manufacturers of and dealers in
electrical goods, etc. Permanent directors: E. Bronfman (man.
dir.), A. E. Glassey, F. R. Ozzard, H. Kirby and J. Brewer.
Sec. : H. G. Perrett. Reg. office : 105, Old Christchurch Road,
Bournemouth.

Britiih Radiophone.

British Radiophone, Ltd. (182 427). — Private company.
Reg. June 13. Capital, ;^2,5oo in £1 shares. Manufacturers of
and dealers in apparatus of all kinds relating to wireless telephony
and telegraphy ; to deal with land and submarine telegraphs, etc.
First directors : N. de M. Watsham and A. H. S. MacCallum. Reg.
office : 33, King-street, Covent Garden, W.C.

Dundee Electrical Repairs Co.

Dundee Electrical Repairs Co., Ltd. (12 256). — Private
company. Reg. in Edinburgh June 12. Capital, ;{;3 000 in £1
shares. To carry on the business of repairing all classes of electrical
plant and machinery, etc. First directors • W. Brand, W. A.
Andrew, T. Innes, J. P. Andrew, and J. Taylor. Secretary : Wm. A.
Andrew. Reg. office : Graham Street. Dundee.
R. Bennett.

R. Bennett, Ltd. (182 399). — Private company. Reg. June 12.
Capital, ;^i,50o in £1 shares. To adopt an agreement with R. T.
Bennett ; to lease property' and to erect thereon buildings : to
contract for the supply of heating apparatus, electric light and bell
installations, etc. Permanent directors : R. Bennett and G. P.
Barnes. Reg. office : Colliers Water Lane, Thornton Heath.
W. H. Sutfden & Co.

W. H. SuGDEN and Co., Ltd. (182 446). — Private company.
Reg. June 13. Capital, £2 500 in ;^i shares. To adopt an agree-
ment with W. H. Sugden, and to carry on the business of electrical,
mechanical and general engineers, etc. First directors : W. H.
Sugden (permanent managing director), and Mrs. D. E. Sugden.
Secretary : H. C. Mundy. Reg. office : Glenny Road, Barking.

Bedford Electrical & Radio Co.

Bedford Electrical and Radio, Co., Ltd. (182 405). — Private
company. Reg. June 12. Capital, £1 000 in £\ shares. To
acquire business of electrical engineers, builders, house decorators
and automobile engineers carried on by A. J. E. Osbourn, and to
carrj' on the business of electricians, manufacturers and repairers
of or dealers in mechanical and electrical appliances, etc. First
directors: A. J. E. Osbourn and C. T. Morris. Reg. office:
22, Campbell Road, Bedford.

Etc red & Co.

Evered and Co., Ltd. (182 412). — Private company. Reg.
June 12. Capital, ;£50 000 in £1 shares. To acquire all or part
of the undertaking and assets of Evered and Co., Ltd., of London,
Birmingham and elsewhere, and to carry on business of the brass-
founders, coppersmiths, hardware merchants and factors, manu-
facturers of electric hght and power fittings and apparatus, lamps,
metal work, etc. Directors : J. H. Wilson, H. E. Wilson, E. A.
Wilson and S. Evered.
Loco and Auto Economy Aceessories. •

Loco and Auto Economy Accessories, Ltd. (182 377). —
Private company. Reg. June 9. Capital, ;^io 000 in £1 shares.
To acquire from Harvey and Spencer and A. H. Emons, certain
existing sales rights, to manufacture and deal in machinery,
apparatus and implements and to carry on the business of mechanical
engineers, electricians, founders, etc. The Directors are : A. H.
Emons, L. C. Harvey, and F. B. Spencer. Secretary, W. Peskett.
Reg. office : 25, "Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W.i.

Specialities (Liverpool).

Specialities (Liverpool), Ltd. (182 418). — Private company.
Reg. June 12. Capital, £1 000 in ;^i shares. To take over the
whole or part of property, assets and goodwill of H. F. Kerley and
Winifred E. Kerley, trading at 45, Seel Street, Liverpool, as the
Electrical Specialities Co., and to carry on the business of manu-
facturers, importers and exporters of and dealers in electric lamps,
shades and electrical accessories. Permanent directors : H. F.
Kerley (managing director), and Winifred E. Kerley.

Verdun Cutts & Co.

Verdun Cutts and Co., Ltd. (182 419). — Private company.
Reg. June 12. Capital, ;^io 000 in £j shares. To acquire business
of a consulting and contracting engineer and electro-metallurgist
carried on by V. O. Cutts at Sheffield, as Verdun Cutts and Co.,
and to carry on the business of electrical and mechanical engineers,
founders, etc. Directors : C. A. Longbottom (chairman), V. O.
Cutts (permanent man. director), D. Flather and D. E. Beardshaw.
Secretary : A. E. Cutts. Reg. office : Towti Hall Chambers, 87,
Fargate, Sheffield.

Sir William Prescott & Sons.

Sir William Prescott and Sons, Ltd. Reg. June 15. Private
company. Nominal capital, ;^io 000 in £1 shares. To acquire,
work and otherwise deal with contracts and property of all lands,
including railways, rolling stock, tramways, British and Colonial
contracts, electrical generation, traction and supply. Signatories
to the Memorandum of Association : Sir WiUiam Henry Prescott,
Sir L. Stanley Johnson. First directors : Major Sir William H.
Prescott (chairman), Lieut.-Col. A. E. Prescott (vice-chairman),
Sir L. Stanley Johnson, Dr. R. Marshall, and R. S. Prescott. Reg.
office : 146, Bishopsgate, E.C. File number : 182 482.

Claim for Electric Lamps.

In the Shoreditch County Court, the Weston Electric I^amp Co.
sued Mr. Evans, of Llanelly, to recover £2. 5s., the price of six
250 V lamps.

A preliminary defence was raised that the contract was made in
Llanelly, and that therefore the Shoreditch Court had no jurisdic-
tion, but Judge Cluer held that he must have that proved as a fact.

The solicitor for the defendant said his chent considered it inad-
visable to waste time and money in coming to London, and plain-
tiffs' manager proved the receipt of the order and the despatch of
the lamps on December 12. It was not until March that they
heard anything from defendant, who then said that he had never
had the goods. Judgment was given for plaintiffs for the amount
claimed, and costs.

Foundry Trades Exhibition.

At this Exhibition, wliich is being held at the Bingley Hall,
Birmingham, from June 15 to 24 inclusive, practicallj' every phase
of foundry plant is being shown. About i 000 tons of machinery
are installed and between 300 and 400 h.p. is supplied to the working
exhibits. There are 120 exliibits, which include electric furnaces,
moulding machines, foundry equipment, refractories, etc.

Interesting features of the Exhibition arc the competitions for
foundry employees in core-making, moulding and pattern-making,
and in an annexe a cinema hall is established for the purpo.se of
exhibiting appropriate films. Vickers, Ltd., who claim to be
pioneers in the use of cinematography for illustrating their manu-
factures, show five films, all made l;y the photographic department
of the firm. These are: Vickers" Sheffield peace products: (i)
motor car chassis frames, etc. ; (2) crucible steelfoundries, etc. ;
Barrow shipbuilding works, (3) launch and trials of a battle.<;hip,
airship R.80, Vickers aircraft, etc. ; (4) Vickers' Ward End (Bir-
mingham) works during war : and (5) Wolseley works during war.

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

76:

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

i;nited kingdom.

Portsmouth Board of Guardians, June 28: — Electrical
fittings for three months. Particulars from the Clerk, Mr. H. C.
Morrell, St. Michael's Road.

Commissioners of H.M. Works, June 30. — Incandescent electric
lamps. Particulars from the Controller of Supplies, H.M. Office of
Works, King Charles Street, Westminster, London, S.W.i.

Glasgow Corporation, June 30.- — Electric wiring and fitting of
Belvedere Hospital, London Road. Specifications, etc., from the
City Electrical Engineer, 75, Waterloo Street, Glasgow.

Manchester Electricity Committee, June 30. — Two 3 000
kVA three-phase weather proof type transformers and two 3 000
kVA three-phase indoor type transformers. Specifications from
Mr. F. E. Hughes, Town Hall, Manchester.

The Commissioners of His Majesty's Worics, July .\. —
(i) Electrical and (2) mechanical engineering labour in daywork.
Forms of tender, etc., from the Contracts Branch, H.M. Office of
Works, Westminster, S.W.i.

Cheadle and Gatley Urban District Council, July 10. —
a.c. meters (2^ to 20 A) and rod. indicators ;3 hectowatts to 5 kilo-
watts). Particulars from Mr. C. H. Wordingham, 11, Mosley
Street, Manchester, or 7, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S.W. i ,

Edinburgh Corporation, July 11. — Wheels and axles for 50
electric tramcars. Specification, etc., from the Tramways Manager,
2, St. James Square, Edinburgh.

AUSTRALIA.

Commonwealth of Australia, June 23. — Telephone and
telegraph instruments and parts, switchboard, wire, etc. Particu-
lars from Supply Officer, Room 10 1, Australia House, Strand,
London, W.C.

Commonwealth of Australia, June 30.- — -Telephone and tele-
graph instruments and parts, wire protector apparatus, subscribers'
equipment. Particulars from Supply Officer, Room 10 1, Australia
House, Strand, London, W.C.

Commonwealth of Australia, July 7. — Telephone subscribers'
equipment. Particulars from Supply Officer, Room 10 1, Australia
House, Strand, London, W.C.2.

Postmaster General's Department, Melbourne. July 11*. —
4 000 pairs of protectors (Schedule No. 26) ; covered wires (Schedule
No. 21) ■ telephones, calling dials and switches (Schedule No. 34).

Commonwealth of Australia, July 14. — Telephone subscribers'
equipment. Particulars from Supply Officer, Room 10 1, Australia
House, Strand, London, W.C. 2.

AZORES.

Municipal Authorities of Ponta Delgada in the Azores,
July 3.* — Hydro-electric plant for supplying electric Hght and
power to the city.

BULGARIA.

Directorate General of Bulgarian Railways and Ports,
June 30. — *Electric travelling platforms for locomotive repair shops.

INDIA.

High Commissioner for India, July 14. — (i) Cable, under-
water, unarmoured, single wire, brass taped, G.P. ; (2) cable, five
wire, V.I.R. insulated and lead sheathed ; (3) braided wire for
crossings over power circuits. Particulars from the Director
General, India Store Department, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.E.i.

SOUTH AFRICA.

A specification has been received from H.M. Senior Trade Com-
missioner at Johannesburg in connection with a call for tenders
issued by the Rand Water Board for the supply of electric cable,
junction boxes, etc., and may be inspected at the Department of
Overseas Trade on application to Mr. Fagan, Room 49.

Aylesbury Town Council have accepted the tender of the
British Thomson-Houston Co. for a turbo alternator at /lo 302.

Douglas (Isle of Man) Town Council has accepted the tender
of Siemens Bros, and Co. for underground mains and accessories at
A234 4S.

Blackpool Town Council have accepted the following tenders : —
The General Electric Co., switch gear cubicles : Peter Brotherhood
Ltd., the erection of a cooling tower in connection with the town's
electricity extensions.

London County Council have accepted the tender of the
English Electric and Siemens Supphes, Ltd., for the supply of
electric lamps for the ensuing 12 months. The contract covers the
supply of Siemens traction type lamps for tramcar lighting through-
out the L.C.C. system, standard vacuum and gas filled lamps, and
a\itomobile lamps.

* Particulars from the Department of Overseas Trade.

Arrangements for the Week.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23rd (to-day).

Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association.
9.30 a.m. Meeting of the Council in the Grand Theatre,

Wolverhampton.
10.30 a.m. Annual general meeting in the Grand Theatre,

Wolverha m pton .
Afternoon. Visit to Wolverhampton Corporation Electricity
Generating Station, Commercial Road, when the president
(Mr. S. T. Allen) will personally welcome members.
Physical Society of Londo.v.
5 p.m. At the Imperial College of Science, South Kensington,
London.

1. "An Experiment on Molecular Gyxostatic Action,"
by Mr. J. W. Fisher, B.Sc.

2. "On the Viscous Properties and Molecular Dimen-
sions of Silicane," by Prof. A. O. Rankine, D.Sc., and
Mr. C. J. Smith, B.Sc.

3. " The Pressure-Gradient in Liquids Flowing
through Cones," by Mr. W. N. Bond, M.Sc.

4. Demonstration of "a Mercury-Drop Method of
Producing Visual Effects by means of Sound," by Dr.
E. E. Fournier d'Albe.

MONDAY. JUNE 26th.

SoClftrfe DES iNGfeNIEURS CiVILS DE FRANCE (BRITISH SECTION).

5.30 p.m. At the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Storey's
Gate, London, S.W.i. Paper on "The Rhine Lateral
Canal," by Monsieur A. Antoine.

TUESDAY, JI 'NE 27th.

The Institution of Civil Engineers.
8.30 p.m. At Great George Street, London. Annual Conver-
sazione.

Electrical Imports and Exports.

Imports. — The following are official values of electrical machinerj-,
apparatus and material imported into this countr>- [a) during
May, 1922, and (6) the aggregate figures from Januar>' i to May 31,
with increase or decrease compared with corresponding periods of
1921 : —

Electrical machinery, [a) lq2> 991 (increase £5 369), (6) £549 503
(increase ;£i56 8o8); telegraph and telephone cables, submarine,
nil ; other'than submarine, («) /2 675 (decrease £}, 480), (fe) £1^ 831
(decrease ;^28 668) ; telegraph and telephone apparatus, [a) £1% 932
(decrease iig 395). {b) £lo b^^ (decrease i:83 245) ; other electrical
wires and'cables, rubber insulated, (a) ^^lo 565 (increase £9 450.
(fe) ;£47 949 (increase £i^'n.-h) ; with other insulations, (a) £.\ 733
(decrease ;^7 195), (t) ^^-s 687 (decrease £31 240) ; carbons, (a)
^4010 (decrease £;4 534). W ;^i5 909 (decrease £33 619) ; glow
lamps, {a)£\o 748 (decrease £15 250), (6) ;^73 893 (decrease £52 82S) ;
arc lamps and electric searchhghts, (a) £7 (decrease £2), (6) £72
(decrease £^5 572) ; parts of arc lamps and searchhghts (other than
carbons), {a) £(>6}, (decrease £2 250), \b) £4 ^15 (decrease £;4 750) ;
batteries, {a) £5 972 (increase £8 426), (b), ;^ii9 487 (decrease£io 438);
meters and electrical instruments (commercial and scientific) and
electricity meters, (a) £8 862 (decrease £(>o^^), [b) £27 862 (decrease
£72134); switchboards, ^a) nil (decrease £3115). (^) £^5^9 (de-
crease £2 872) ; other electrical goods and apparatus, [a) £40 977
(decrease £2 044), (6) ;^2 16 967 (decrease £205 671). Total of electrical
machinery, apparatus and material (other than uninsulate 1 wire),
(rt) £;207 155) decrease ;^27 488), (6) £1 074 859 (decrease £;365 147).

Exports. — The exports of electrical machinery, apparatus and
material (a) during May, 1922, and (fe) from January- i to May 31,
with increase or decrease compared with corresponding periods of
1 92 1, were as follows : —

Electrical machinery, {a) £296 2%: (decrease £163338), (6)
^{2183170 (increase ;^45 977) ; including railway and tramway
motors, [a) £9 031 (decrease £24 644). (6) ^£67 739 (decrease ^48 532) ;
other generators and motors, (a) £153 872 (decrease £97 777). (6)
£^ 155 325 (decrease ;^23 667) ; and electrical macliinery unenumer-
ated, (a) ^^133 384 (decrease/40 897), [b) £960 ic5 (increase£ii8 176);
telegraph and telephone cables, submarine, (a) £25 765 (decrease
^781 325), (6) ;^i3i 036 (decrease £1 350 935) ; other than submarine,
{a) £43172 (decrease £84903), ib) £250721 (decrease £485208):
telegraph and telephone apparatus, (a) £161 564 (decrease £io 078),
(6) |869 542 (increase £121 579) : other electrical wires and cables,
rubber insulated (a) £50 277 (decrease £(>i 962), (6) £245 781 (de-
crease £523 035) ; with other insulations, (a) £63 784 (decrease
£127 514) (6) V484 810 (decrease £546 798) ; carbons, (a) /4 889 (in-
crease £1 755) .'^(b) :^20 347 (decrease £26 423) ; glow lamps (a) £32 730
(decrease ;^i4o68), (b) /16S 850 (decrease ;£69 590) : arc lamps and
searchhghts, (a) £589 (decrease £2 333), (b) £3 843 (decrease ^3 055) ;
parts of arc lamps and searchhghts (other than carbons), (a) £i 948
(increase £1 677), (6) £3 886 (increase £592) ; batteries, («) £47037
(decrease /24 S71), (b) ;£i94 940 (decrease ;{i68 880) ; electrical
instruments (commercial and scientific) and electricity meters,
(a) £20583 (decrease ^[26 144), (b) £155071 (decrease £51321);
switchboards, (a) £8251 (decrease £7 575). {i>). /i47 30i (increase
£61 908) ■ other electrical goods and apparatus, {a) £92 141 (decrease
£82508). (b) /511 136 (decrease ^^565 675). Total of electrical
machinery material and apparatus, otlier than uninsulated wire. («)
£849017 (decrease /i ^04 187), (t) £5 370 434 (decrease £;3 ^(^ S64).

766

The Electrician.

June 23, 1922

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

County Court Judgments.

manufacturers. £16 5s. yd. April 21.
BRASON AND FINDLEY, 34, Laygate, South Shields, electrical

engineers. £15 2s. lod. April 19.
CARTER (HUBERT D.) (BANGOR) LTD., registered office,
Accountancy Offices, Castle Street, Conway, electrical con-
tractors. ;£37 2S. April 20.
CARTER, T. J., 16, Durngate Street, Dorchester, electrical engineer.

£1^ 13s. 6d. April 24.
GIBBONS, A. R., 8, The Parade, New Eltham, electrical engineer.

£iG 8s. 8d. April 25.
HERBERT, R., 337A, Norwood Road, S.E., electrician. ;^i2 53.

April 7.
JERRARD, Frank, 57, Church Street, Eastbourne, electriciam.

£10 13s. lod. April 27.
NORMAN JOHNSON AND CO., Baker Street, Enfield, electrical

engineers. £26 los. 3d. April 18.
STAMFORD BRIDGE ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL ENGI-
NEERING CO., 495, Fulham Road, engineers. /38 5s. 4d.
April 4.
WOOD, Harold, Old Manor House, Oak Lane, Bradford, electrical
engineer. £1^ 3s. lod. April 20.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be registered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

BURKE ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., London,

S.W. — Reg. June 10, debenture, to J. Bibby, 36 Kingsway,

W.C., general charge.
COATES AND CO. (SHEFFIELD), LTD., electrical engineers.—

Reg. June 12, ;£6 500 debenture.s ; general charge. *Nil.

June 6, 1922. *
HINDHEAD .\ND DISTRICT ELECTRIC LIGHT CO., LTD.—

Reg. June 12, £icio debentures, part of amount already reg. ;

general charge. */4,65o. August 9, 1921.
MIDLAND ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER CO., LTD., London,

E.C. — Reg. June 10, £10 000 debentun's, present issue £\^ 000 ;

.i^encral charge. */2o 000. March 4, 1921.

Satisfactions.

EDMUNDSON'S ELECTRICITY CORPORATION, LTD., London,
S.W. — Satisfaction reg. June 9. ,^100 000, reg. April 29, 1920.

Bankruptcy Information.

BROWN, Leslie, The Street, Frensham, Surrey, electrician.
Receiving order, June 13. Creditor's petition. First meeting,
June 26, 12.30 p.m., 29, Russell Square, W.C.i. Public
examination, July 4, 11.30 a.m., Guildhall. Guildford.

GRIEVE, Gideon George, and MANGES, Archibald Arthur, in
co-partnership at 14, West Bute Street, late 236, Bute Street,
Cardiff, under the style of THE UP-TO-DATE ELECTRICAL
AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. First meeting, June 27,
11.30 a.m., 34, Park Place. Cardiff. Public examination,
July 5, 2.30 p.m.. Law Courts, Cathays Park, Cardiff.

HOGG, George James (trading as F. HOGG AND CO.), 66, Waterloo
Road, Smethwick, electrical engineer. First meeting, June 23,
II a.m.. Official Receiver's Office, Ruskin Chambers, 191, Cor-
poration Street, Birmingham. Public examination, July 7,
II a.m.. Law Courts, Lombard Street West, West Bromwich.

ROGERS, Philip Marsden, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth,
as the LONGBRIDGE ENGINEERING CO., electrical engi-
neer. Receiving order, June 14. Debtor's petition.

Notices of Dividends,

C.\MP, William, Carr Lane, Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, under
the style of WILLL\M CAMP AND CO., electrical engineer.
First and final, payable June 27, at Official Receiver's office,
12, Duke Street, Bradford.

ROTH WELL, Peter, tr ading at 64, Higher Bridge Street, Bolton,
in partnership with P. A. Rothwell (a minor), under the style
of P. A. ROTHWELL AND CO., electrical engineer. Amount
per /, 6s Composition (first instalment) payable June 28,
at Official Receiver's Offices, Byrom Street, ^Manchester.

Notices of Intended Dividends.

HALLETT, Graham Moore, 7, King Street, Frome, electrical engi-
neer. Last day of receiving proofs, July i. Trustee, J. P.
Emett, 18, Nicholas Street, Bristol.

MAYNER, Robert Victor, 62, Harris Street, Peterborough, late
Narrow Street and Wentworth Street, Peterborough, electrical
engineer. Last day for receiving proofs, July 7. Trustee,
J. O. Morris, 5, Petty Cury, Cambridge.

RIDGWAY, Fred (separate estate), in co-partnership with Thomas
Tynan, at 21, Bowling Old Lane, Bradford, under the style of
RIDGWAY AND TYN.\N, electrical engineer. Last day for
receiving proofs, July 5. W. Duirance, trustee, 12, Duke
Street, Bradford.

TYNAN, Thomas (separate estate), co-partnership with Fred Ridg-
wav, at 21, Bowling Old Lane, Bradford, under the stvle of
RIDGWAY AND fYN.\N, electrical engineer. Last day for
receiving proofs, July 5. W. Durrance, trustee, 12, Duke
Street, Bradford.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken frotn printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors that may occur.

Companies Winding Up.

THE CORONA LA.MP WORKS, LTD. Registered office, 10,
,\scham Street, Kentish Town, Middlesex. Winding up order,
June 13.

GILLITT. S., AND CO., LTD. Registered office, 33, Groat Market,
Newcastle-upon Tync. Winding-up order, June 13.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

Sl'LlTDORF ELECTRICAL COMPANY Oi-' LONDON, LTD.—
H. J. Hinley, 162, Great Portland Street, London, appointed
liquidator. Particulars of claims to the liquidator by July 5.

KEYNSHAM ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER CO.. LTD. (in
voluntary liquidation). Meeting of creditors will be held at
28, Baldv.-in Street, Bristol, on Tuesday, June 27, at 12 noon.
Particulars of claims to the liquidator, Arthur Collins, 28,
Baldwin Street, Bristol, by July 31.

Dublin Gazette.

PORTARLINGTON ELECTRIC LIGHT .\ND POWER CO.,
LTD. .\ petition for winding up has been presented to the
Court by Patrick Joseph Weymes, a contributory of the
company. Wm. Smyth and Son, sohcitors for the petitioner,
29, Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

COUPE, George Francis, 2, Spring Gardens, Stockport, Cheshire,
electrical engineer. .\t his public examination debtor was-
closely questioned regarding some of his affairs, and was
ordered to file a cash account from March, 1921, up to the date
of the proceedings. The statement of affairs showed liabilities
<5f ;^.590. and there was a deficiency of £538. Debtor attributed
his failure to bad trade and insufficient knowledge of the busi-
ness. He commenced business as an electrical engineer in
May, 1920, his father paying accounts to the extent of £100.
He said that he had not sufficient experience to do the work
himself, and had to rely on workmen. The examination was
adjourn<^d.

HOPKINS, John Howard (formerly trading as the ELECTRICAL
MAINTENANCE CO.), 57. Castellaine Mansions, Maida Vale.
W. The affairs of this debtor, who was adjudged a bankrupt
on December 15 last, came before the London Bankruptcy
Court on Friday on the hearing of his application for an order
of discharge. The Official Receiver reported that a proof of
debt for £g 562 had been lodged in respect of the only claim
returned by the debtor as expected to rank. Two disputed
claims aggregating £^ 619 were returned in the statement of
affairs as not expected to rank and no proofs had been lodged
in respect of them. No available assets were disclosed by the
debtor and only £q iqs. id. was realised. In July 191S, wth a
capital of £1 000, the debtor began business as an electrical
engineer at 87, Shaftesbury Avenue, W.C. under the style of
the Electrical Maintenance Co., and in March of the follo^ving
year he was joined in partnership by one C A. Hall, who
introduced capital to the amount of ;^3 000 into the business

June 23, 1922

The Electrician.

767

which was continued from the same address until August, 1919.
It was then removed to 140, Wardour Street, W. In September
1920 the partnership was dissolved owing to disagreements
between the partners and the debtor took over and continued
the business and agreed to pay his late partner for his interest
£^ 000, payable as to £.500 down and as to the balance by
instalments of £^0 a week. In December, 1920, a meeting of
creditors was held when the debtor executed a deed of assign-
ment but the petitioning creditor refused to join in the deed.
The debts of the assenting creditors amounted to ;(|20 000 and
dividends aggregating 2s. in the £ had so far been paid. After-
wards the debtor was for a time engaged by the trustees in
the realisation of the assets and he attributed his failure to lack
of capital and to ignorance regarding one branch of the business.
A complete set of books of account had been kept before the
execution of the deed of assignment ; they were in order and
profit and loss accounts and balance sheets were prepared every
six months from July 1918 until the date of the deed. The
unsecured liabiUty represented the claim of the petitioning
creditor for cash advanced. The only offence reported by the
Olftcial Receiver was the insufficiency of the assets to pay los.
in the £ to the unsecured creditor and the Registrar granted
the discharge subject to a suspension of four weeks.
THE MAXIM LAMP WORKS, LTD., Maxim Works, Canonbury
Road, Highbury, N. In this compulsory liquidation the
Official Receiver has now issued a summary of the statement of
affairs which di-scloses habilities ;^ii 050 of, which 1^4987 are
returned as expected to rank, and assets £502 after providing
for the claims of debenture holders and of preference creditors.
A deficiency of £4 485 is accordingly disclosed with reference to
the creditors while in relation to the shareholders a total
deficiency of £g 485 is shown. The Maxim Electrical Co., Ltd.,
was formed in 1904 with the object of carrying on business as
manufacturers of electric lamps. In March 1908 Mr. J. F.
Poynter was appointed receiver and manager by the debenture
holders in respect of their debentures for ^15 000. Pojmter as
receiver and manager continued to carry on the business until
e&.rly in 1910 with the assistance of Mr. F. Taussig, who
advanced £2 000. Early in 19 10 arrangements were made with
the approval of the debenture holders to form a new company
to acquire the assets of the old company. According to
Mr. Poynter the purchase agreement provided for a purchase
price of £2 220 payable as to ;^72o in cash and as to the balance
by the allotment of i 500 fully paid preference shares of £1
each in the new company. At the end of 191 4 the company
became short of working capital and borrowed from the
Imperial United Lamp Co., Ltd., a sum of £1 000 for which a
debenture was given. On October 18, 1915, a further debenture
for ;^500 was issued to them as additional security. At the
time that the first debenture was issued to them that company
agreed to take up in future practically the whole of the com-
pany's output at a certain price, the contract stipulating that
any increase in the cost of production should be borne propor-
tionately by the Imperial Co. and providing for arbitration in
the event of any dispute arising. As time progressed cost of
production rose as the result of the War, but it is alleged that
the Imperial Co. failed to pay the whole of their share of the
increase with the result that in February 191 8 the company
refused to make further deliveries. The Imperial Co. thereupon
began a debenture action against the company which was,
however, withdrawn on the company paying off their debentures
amounting to £1 500 out of moneys advanced by Mr. Poynter.
Arbitration proceedings were then begun under which the
company claimed £^ 527 representing the difference in the
price of lamps due from the Imperial Co. These proceedings
lasted 18 months and eventually the award which was made in
April 1920 provided that the company should pay the Imperial
Co. ^783 in full settlement of the latter's counterclaim for
£'i 731 for raw material supplied and /200 costs and should
supply the Imperial Co. with 2 000 lamps a week at a certain
price for a period of 18 months from January 2, 1920. Mr.
Poynter says that the Imperial Co. did not take delivery under
this award and in consequence the company in September, 1920,
again approached the arbitrators with a claim for damages
amounting to £1 500. No further proceedings were, however,
instituted. The company about this time found itself burdened
with a large number of lamps with little hope of disposing of
them owing to the depression in trade which prevailed. On
April 8, 1918, debentures for £}, 000 were issued to Mr. Poynter
in respect of cash advanced and personal guarantees given and
subject to the bank's prior charge. Certain of these debentures
w-ere afterwards transferred and on July 28 last Mr. Poynter
appointed as receiver and manager on his behalf Mr. Alfred
Tosh, accountant, 75, Canonbury Road, N., and that gentleman
is now carrying on the bu.siness. Mr. Poynter says that in his
opinion the failure of the company is due to the unprofitable
transactions with the Imperial Co. which had the effect of
causing the company to incur great expense in the production
of lamps which were eventually left on its hands with little
prospect of disposal. The Official Receiver concurs in this
view but is of the opinion that the company has been hampered
by lack of working capital from its inception and that its affairs
have been mismanaged. The liquidation remains in the hands
of the Official Receiver

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, etc.

Copper —

Best Selected
Electro Wirebars .
H.C. Wire, basis .
Sheet

Price.

per ton £66 10 o

£71 o o

per lb. 08. lo^d.

,, OS. lojd.

Tuesday, Ju>rE 20.

Inc.

IDS. od.

Dec.

IS. 2^d.

7d.
9i<i.
9|d.

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone) —
Phosphor Bronze Wire,
basis . . per lb.

Brass 60/40 —
Rod, basis
Sheet, basis
Wire, basis

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants per ton £4 15
Galvanised steel

wire, basis 8 S.W.G. „ ;^i8 o

Lead Pig —

EngUsh . . . . „ £26 o

Foreign or Colonial ,, £2^ 12

.d. —

\d.

o —

— 2s. 6d.

Tin —

Ingot
Wire, basis

Aluminium Ingots

Spelter . .

Mercury

£152 15
per lb. 2s. id,

o 15s. od.

per ton ;£ioo o o

;£28 o o

per bottle /ii 10 o

2s. 6d.
/i OS. od.

Sulphur (Flowers) — Ton ;^io 15s. Sodium Chlorate — Per lb. 3jd,

„ (Roll-Brimstone) — per ton Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168°)
£^0 15s. per ton, £g.

Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. 5id. Copper Sulphate. — Per ton

Boric Acid (Crystals). Per ton ;£6o. ^^6 los.

Rubber. — Para fine, 9|d.; plantation ist latex, y^d.

The metal prices are suppUed by British Insulated & Helsby
Cables, Ltd.

STOP PRESS.

Now that the recent industrial dispute has
been fortunately settled, the Metropoli-

TAN-VlCKERS ELECTRICAL Co., LtD., have

pleasure in infonning their numerous
clientele that men are being started as
rapidly as circumstances will permit at
their Trafford Park, Sheffield, Brimsdown,
and other factories, and every endeavour
will be made to mitigate the time lost.

Orders will be executed as promptly as
heretofore and all inquiries will receive
immediate attention.

768

The Electrician,

June 23, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.
The foMw n% abstract from some of the specifications recently published have been
specially compiled by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent Agents,
Jo and 72, Chancery-lane, London, W.C.

Complete Specifications;

145 470 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Electric induction motors. (29/1/18.)
173 247 Wade, H. (Vanadium Corporation of America). Power control apparatus

for electric furnaces. (30/6/20.)

173 251 Brydon, S., and Cummings, E. Galvanic batteries or cells. (3/7/20.)

158217 Meyer Akt.-Ges., Dr. P. Alternating current meters according to the
Ferraris principle. (27/1/20.) (Addition to 148 576.)

173 268 Marino, Q. Electrolyte for use in the electro-deposition of metals and
metallic alloys. (25/8/20.)

151 591 Soc. de l'Accumulateur Tudor. Containers of electric accumulator cells.
(27/9/19.)

173 272 Siemens Bros, and Co., Ltd., and Ferreira, L. de M. G. Electric signalling
arrangements for use on railways and for other purposes. (27/8/20.)

173 278 Tavlor, a. M. Means for and methods of earthing the neutral point of
three-phase systems. (30/8/20.)

173284 Western Electric Co., Ltd. (Western Electric Co., Inc.). Ringing-
arrangement for carrier wave-signalling system. (16/9/20.)

151 6io Negromanti, a. Device for heating by electricity. (19/9/19.)

173291 Crompton AND Co., Ltd., and Jones, W. F. Electric resistances. (22/9/20.)

173292 Crompton andCo., Ltd., and Jones. W. F. Electric resistances. (22/9/20.)
173 293 Crompton and Co., Ltd., and Jones, W. F. Electricrheostats or resistances.

(22/9/20.)

151 929 Siemens and Co., Geb. Process for the manufacture of sliding and pressure
contacts for electric purposes. (30/9/19.)

163 675 VicLET, R. A. L. Dynamo-electric machine commutators and like electrical
apparatus. (21/5/20.) (Patent of Addition not granted.)

173 316 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd., and Wedmore, E. B. Protective
devices for alternating current electric distribution systems. (28/9/20.)

173 317 Wall, T. F. Alternating current generators. (28/9/20.) (Cognate appli-
cation, 6 205/21.)

173 320 British Insulated and Helsey Cables, Ltd., Bayles, E. A., and Higham,
H. Electrical condensers. (29/9/20.)

173329 Booth, A. C, and Willmot, A. S. Telegraph keyboard perforators.
(30/9/20.)

156096 Coolidge, W. D. X-ray apparatus and methods. (9/7/20.)

173 363 General Electric Co., Ltd., and Trippe, C. F. Vacuum or low pressure
bulb electron-discharge apparatus. (16/10/20.)

173 368 Booth, A. C, and Willmot, A. S. Mechanism for providing feed-holes
to the paper-tape of telegraph perforating instruments. (20/10/20.)

158 224 Graf, A. Switches for electric installations. (26/1/20.) (Patent of
Addition not granted.)

173 402 Raphael, F. C, and Edison Swan Electric Co., Ltd. Means for bonding
metal-covered electric cables and wires. (22/11/20.)

173 404 Timmins, R. Electric fuse contact embodying a method of holding or clamp-
ing fuse wire. (24/11/20.)

155 819 Platschick, B. Mounting of brush-holders upon electric motors. (24/12/19.)

173 413 Igranic Electric Co., Ltd. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Co.). Electric
motor controllers. (30/11/20.)

154906 BoscH Akt.-Ges., R. Magneto-electric ignition machines. (3/12/19.)

173 419 Davis, W. J. Electrical connectors. (13/12/20.)

173 442 Cook, J. W. Portable accumulators. (3/2/21.)

173450 Oliver, A. L. Electric blasting-fuses. (7/3/21.)

168 583 Wesiinghouse Brake and Saxby Signal Co., Ltd. Control of electrically-
operated fluid-compressors. (31/8/20.)

164756 Siemens-Sciiuckertwerke Ges. Air-removing apparatus adapted for use
with mercury vapour rectifiers and like devices operating with a permanent
high vacuum. (15/6/20.)

173 531 Angus, A. R. Electric control of railway trains or vehicles. (10/7/20.)

173 535 Mei, P. Sparking-plugs for internal-combustion engines. (25/6/20.)

146 175 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Asynchronous electric motors. (30/3/16.)
146176 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Asynchronous electric motors. (12/1/17.)

(Addition to 146 175.)
146 242 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. Asynchronous electric motors. (30/3/16.)
173 530 Michigan Spark Plug Co. Electric ignition plugs. (31/1/19.)
147037 Schroter, F. Electric-discharge apparatus. (23/1/18.)
148 132 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. Electron-discharge apparatus.

(28/10/15.)
148 322 Huth Ges., Dr. E. F. and Loewe, Dr. S. Method of tuning direct-coupled

transmitting-apparatus for wireless telegraphy. (18/9/15.)
173 549 Satterthwaite, A. Automatic switch which is particularly suitable for

electric hoists. (20/7/20.)
173556 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Induction

motors. (5/8/20.)

150 352 Levy, L. Anti-parasitic selecting and receiving system for telegraphy and

telephony with or without wires. (25/8/19.) (Addition to 133 306.)
173 568 Tacgart, J. Scott-, and Farley, G. G. Construction of thermionic valves
as used in wireless signalling systems. (3/9/20.)

151 611 Holst, Dr. G., Oosterhuis, Dr. E,, and Naamlooze Vennootschap

Philips' Gloeilampenfabreken. Ftocess fr>r removing gas residues and
for purifying inert gases in electric vacuum .abes, incandescent lamps, and
the like. (23/9/19.)

173 606 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electric
inductance apparatus. (4/10/20.)

173 613 Watkinson, J. Resistance switches for controlling the intensity of electric
currents. (5/10/20.) (Cognate Application, 21/12/21.)

173621 Creed, F. G., and Creed and Co., Ltd. Circuit-controlling apparatus
suitable for use in wireless telegraphy. (8/10/20.)

173629 Midgley, a. H., and Vandervell and Co., Ltd., C. A. Electric-starters
for internal combustion engines. (14/10/20.)

173633 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Webster, P., and
Mercer, R. Telephone systems. (18/10/20.)

173 638 Shannon, W. H. Portable electric lamps. (19/10/20.)

173 641 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a-xd Savin, J. Tele-
phone systems. (21/10/20.)

155 568 Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co., Ltd. M.asurcd service tele-
phone systems. (13/12/19.)

173 643 Watson, E. A,, and M-L Magneto Syndicate, Ltd. Distributors for high-
tension ignition apparatus. 21/10/20.)

173648 McKenzie, Holland, and Westinghouse Power Signal Co., Ltd., and

Pearce, W. a. Electric relays. (25/10/20.)

173649 Robinson, H. Magnetic circuit of electrical motors and dynamos. (25/10/20.)
173657 Ic.ranic Electric Co., Ltd. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing Co.). Ther-
mally-controlled circuit interrupters. (2/1 1/20.)

173 660 Cheshire, H., and Summkrhayes, V. Electrical heating units. (11/4/20.)
173661 Barker, A. J. Self-acting locking lamp-holder for incandescent electric

lamps when same are inserted. (4/1 1/20.)
173 669 Danson, R. J. Trolley heads for electrically propelled vehicles. (12/11/20.)
173671 Oldham, O., Oldham, G., and Oldham, 1. Galvanic b.ittiries. (i5'ii/20,)
173674 Thornton, A, A. (Ignition Co. of America). Sparkplug. (22/11/20.)
154 936 Oesterreichischk Siemens-Schuckertw-rke. Method of controlling

continuous current motors. (29/1/16.) (Divided Application on 145 589.)

(Addition to 145 589.)
157331 Stalhane, O., andlvRiNG, O. O. Electric connecting plugs. (27/11/18.)
168 600 BouDou, G. Electric apparatus for the permanent waving of the hair.

(26/3/20.) (Divided Application on 160 746.)
146294 Quick Action Ignition Co. Magneto-electric generators. (17/2/16.)
173 793 Latour, M. Thcrniionic-lubc amplifying devices. (7/7/20.)

147 760 Latour, M. Multiplex telegraph and telephone systems. (25/6/15.)
147 855 Reichenheim, Dr. O. Wireless telegraph receivers. (10/9/15.)
147 856 Kossel, W. Electric discharge tubes. (23/12/16.)

147 882 Siemens-Schuckertwerke Ges. I>ynamo-electric machines. (15/6/18.)

148 184 KossEL, W. Electric discharge tubes. (1/3/17.)

148 525 Ges. FtJR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Production of oscillations by high
vacuum tubes having heated cathodes. (30/4/19.)

148 971 Ges. FtjR Elektro.mechanische Telephonapparate. Circuit arrange-
ments of automatic telephone exchanges. (10/1/14.)

148 891 Ges. FtjR Drahtlose Telegraphie. Generator of electric oscillations

consisting of a thorinionic tube in return coupling connection. (7/8/17.)

149 213 Huth Ges., Dr. E. F., and Loewe, Dr. S. Thermionic valve amphfiers and

generators. (4/7/17.)
149218 Loewe, S. Thermionic receiving apparatus for wireless signalling. (18/4/18.)

149 663 Ebner, a. Electrically-driven talking-machine. (12/7/20.) (Convention

date not granted.)
173 800 British Electric Transformer Co., Ltd., and Roothaan, J. Electric

transformers. 14/7/20.)
173 807 Alexander, A. E. (Newsprinter Corporation). Printing- telegraph receivers.

(9/8/20.)
173 812 Wild, L. W., and Barfield, E. P. Electric furnaces. (11/8/20.)

150 961 Gouin, P., and RoESEL, E. AlkaUnc storage batteries. (10/9/19.)
173832 Brydon, S., and Johnson, S. Wireless telegraphy. (13/9/20.)

151 935 Bosch Akt.-Ges. R. Means for securing machines such as dynamo-electric

lighting-machinci for cycles and the like. (2/10/19.)
158 865 Ramoneda, C. Manufacture of frames for polyphase dynamo-electric
machinery. (10/2/20.)

151 999 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. X-ray apparatus. (29/10/13.)
173848 Frei, F. Electric immersion heaters. (5/10/20.)

152032 M'lAG, F. Eleceric heating-devices. (8/10/19.)

173 859 British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Electric

welding apparatus. (7/10/20.)
173 865 Ventiheta (United Kingdom), Ltd., and Ogle, P. J. Electric heating and

ventilating apparatus. (8/10/20.)
173 868 Richard, A. Insulators for the suspension of high-potential electric lines.

(8/10/20.)
173 869 Aarons, S. E., and Smith, A. P. Hand-tools for electricians and the like.

(8/10/20.)
173 873 Simpson, J. Electrical indicating-apparatus for indicating the opening or

closing of electrical contacts and the sequence in which the contacts were

opened or closed. (9/10/20.)

152 683 Cordes, H. G. Radio interference preventers. (21/10/19.)

5 633
5636
5 681
5 690
5 709

5 710
5 730
5 737
5 744
5 749

5 750
5751
5765
5767

5808
5817
5830
5845
5852

5857
5 859

5884
5 902
5918
5926

5 935
5 937

5 942
5 953
5 969

5972
5978

5 980
5981

6018
6050

6052

6 061
6 062
6066

6068
6075
6088

6 112

6 117
6 157
6158
6 161
6 162
6 1O4

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS.
June 6, 1922.

C. A. Coleman. Automatically lighting electric street lamps.
R. Simpson. Magnetos.

F. B. Cox. Automatic electric switches.

J. R. Laird and G. Pate. Insulated cable.

A. Reyrolle and Co., B. H. Leeson and W. D. Owen. Alternating current
transformers.

D. H. Brayne. Selective switches for electric inductances, etc.
J. A. Slee. Primary batteries.

M. J. Railing and C. W. Saunders. Electric camp fittings.

H. D. Nyberg. Galvanic cells.

International Electric Co. and F. R. Baldock. Central battery exchange

telephone systems and switchboards.
H. Baron (Aldendorff). Electric switching apparatus.

B. T.-H. Co. and A. S. Fitzgerald. Electro-responsive devices.

G. W. Humphry. Insulating and protecting wires or cables.

Skywing Aircraft Corporation. Electric ignition devices, (1/12/20, U.S.)

June 7, 1922.
W. H. Smith. Instrument for distributing audibiUty of wireless speech, etc.
J. B. Bignamy and H. R. Hewling. Wireless tuning inductances.
B. T.-H. Co. and R. D. Given. Controllers for electric circuits.
Western Electric Co. Telephone systems. (16/6/21, U.S.)
Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellschaft. -Apparatus for driving talking

machines. (25/6/21, Germany.)
Sterling Telephone and Electric Co. and F. Clark. Telephone receivers.
W. T. Henley's Teleg. Wcrks Co., H. W. Breeze and H. S. Wheeler.

Electric switches.

June 8, 1922.
G. Pelletier and F. Pellin. Electric resistances. (8/6/21, France.)
W. H. Brook. Wireless telephone advertising cabinets.
L. M. Perkins. Electric generators.
M. Webber, Ltd., and R. S. C. Ball. Semi-automatic electric lighting

systems.
G. R. Judge and R. A. Storey. Electrical transmission of photographs, etc.
Marine Motor Machinery Co. and A. O. Kolstad. Electric central

apparatus.
G. F. Critchley and A. Peel. Transmitting and receiving apparatus.
R. R. R. Sarafin. Means for exciting alternators, motors, etc.
Johnson and Phillips and C. J. H. Stevens^ Means for gripping cables in

junction boxes, etc.

B. Guest. Wireless receiving systems.

E. C. R. Marks (Soc. .'Vnon. .\ppareiUageTheco). Protective mount for fixing
electric meters.

Akt. Ges. Brown, Boveri and Co. Gas-tight leading in insulating bushes for
metal vessels of mercury vapour rectifiers. (8/6/21, Switzerland.)

C. F. Elwell, Ltd. and B. E. G. Mittell. Connections of aerials to wireless
receivers or transmitters.

June 9, 1922.
O. W. Walke\. Wireless telegraph and telephone apparatus.
Siemens Bros, and Co. and D. A. Christian. Telephone systems employing

selecting devices.
W. Watson. X-ray grid for radiography, etc.
E. Habann. Thermionic tubes. (24/6/21, Germany.)
E. Habann. Thermionic valves. (14/10/21, Germany.)
Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Co. and E. A. Binney. Control of

electric motors.
L. N. Reddie (Office Mec -aniche Italiane). Electric measuring instruments.
C. Conradty. Current collector bow for electric vehicles. (1372/22, Germany.)
Automatic Telephone Manuf.vcturing Co. Telephone systems. (22/7/ji,

U.S.)

June 10, 1922.
W. A. Andersen, Predetermining time of actuating apparatus by electric

currents.

A. P. Welch. Rheostats for controlUng filaments of vacuum tubes.

B. T.-H. Co. (G. E. Co.). Incandescent lamps.

B. T.-H. Co. and A. P. Young. Telephone receivers, etc.
Telegraphie Ges. System Stille and C. Stille. Telephone relays.
English Electric Co. and L Rothera. Controlling gear for motors.
N. N. Ogloblinsky. Dcttector for magnetic compass (11/1/21, France.)

The Editorial, Adveriisonent and Publishiitg Offices of " The
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4. Tele-
grams : Benbrotric, Fleet, London. Telephone : City 9852 (6 lines).

The subscription to " The Electrician " is ;^i 5 o per annum
in the United Kingdom and £1 10 o per annum Abroad. Advertise-
ment Rates can be obtained 07i application to the Manager. Adver-
isement copy and blocks should be received on the Friday preceding
date of publication.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

Ill

BLACKIE'S

Scientific & Technical Books

HYDRO-.ELECTRIC ENGINEERING

Edited by A. H. GIBSON, D.Sc. M.Inst.C.K., M.I.Mtcli.K.

IN TWO VOLUMES

Vol. I. Civil and Mechanical Engineering
Vol. II. Electrical Engineering

Vol.1. Ready. Sup. roy. 8vo, X.+232 pp., with 164 figures, includins
2 coloured plates, 10 halftones, 7 folding diagrams, and four large folding
plates in pocket. Price, 25s. net.

THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION
ENGINE

By H. R. RICAKDO. B.A., A.M.Inst.CE.. M.I.A.E-
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Vol. I. GENERAL THERMODYNAMICAL PRINCIPLES AND SLOW-
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with 214 figures and half-tones. Price 30s. net.

Vol. II. HIGH-SPEED ENGINHS AND RECENT RESEARCH
REL-'i.TING THERETO. In iht Press.

FUEL AND REFRACTORY
MATERL\LS

By A. HUMBOLDT SEXTON. F.I.C., F.C.S.
West of Scotland Iron and Steel Institute, &c.

Past
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President of the

NEW EDITION. COMPLETELY
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382 pp., with 111 figures.

REVISED AND ENLARGED.

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Price, 12s. 6d.net.

THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHEMICAL
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THE ELEMENTS OF PHYSICAL AND GENERAL
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By R. M. CAVEN, D.Sc. (London). F.I.C, Professor of Inorganic and
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demy 8vo. viii. +266 pp., with 46 figures. Price.12s.6d.net.

A GENERAL TEXTBOOK OF
ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA

ByE. H. CHAPMAN, M.A. (Cantab.) D.Sc. (Lond.), late Senior Mathe-
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AN ACCOUNT OF THE MORE ELEMENTARY PROPERTIES OF
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Large crown 8vo, viii.+ 336 pp., with Answers, including 146 figures and
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The book covers completely the syllabus in Geometry for the Pass B.Sc,
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APPLIED CALCULUS

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8vo. xii.+446 pp., and Answers, including 106 figures and 17 half-toni*
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This book has been specially written for science and engineering
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SCIENTIFIC METHOD

ITS PHILOSOPHY AND ITS PRACTICE

By F. W. WESTAWAY.
426 pp., with 24 figures.

New Edition.

Large crown 8vo. xxiv.-i-
10s. ed.inet.

Please send postcard for List A .

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The Electriciao.

June 30, 1922

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June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

O u p

illustration
shows a 400
k.V.A. .3 -phase
11, 000 /440V. , onitdoor
tpansformer recently installed
in the North of England. It will be of
considerableinterestinthesedaysof rigid
economy, since without any marked increase in
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of this transformer lies in the construction of the outlet ter-
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_ water. The great advantage of this form of outlet terminal is that no live metal
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Johnson & PhilHps Ltd.

Electrical Engineers and Cable Makers sine* '75

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Branches in London City and principal
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-zr //

a^uzu^-mcuitz^ C7 tyutuuA^/A

vi The Electrician. June 30, 1922

THE

HACKBRIDGE
CABLE CO., LTD.

Are Manufacturers of

CABLES

INSULATED WITH PAPER
INSULATED WITH BITUMEN
INSULATED WITH RUBBER

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June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

Vll

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The Yorkshire Copper Works, Ltd

LEEDS,
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2. 54 Weeks' Test. The

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"BEMAL TUBES"

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Vlll

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

BOILER FEED REGULATORS

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June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

TheBesuIt (^loi
inBlecitic LsL

Bxpetimce

ALL types of Vacuum and Gasfilled Metal
Filament L: mps manufactured by Siemens
have been consistently improved as a result
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New Processes have been evolved in connection
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The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

THE EUROPEAN
COMMERCIAL

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Prospectus^ subscription terms and advertisement rates will be sent, post free^ upon request to
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June 30> ^922

The Electrician.

XI 1

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Highlow Electric
Fire

List No. Finish. Loading. Price.

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.Und .^hldixiy page 7, wireless TTLEGRAPUrCOMMISSiaslUTORTWeS.

O?^

MdRCO/f/ ffOCSE, STRASD, LOSDOy .

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

Xlll

CONDENSERS

SURFACE AND M U L T I - J E T

fitted with the

HICK-BREGUET EJECTAIR

(PATENTED)

12,000 K.W. Set Installed at the Bolton Corporation Electricity Works

THE Hick-Breguet system is absolutely stable, and combines highest
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Guaranteed reliability
Minimum upkeep charges

Patent Automatic Control ensures vacuum stability

Our design, workmanship, and finish are universally recognised as the best obtainable

HICR HARGREAVES 81 CO., Ltd.

BOLTON

ESTABLISHED 1832

ENGLAND

{" HICK ROr TON "
•' UMSHAWVAPC' FLEET. LONDON."

Telephone Nos. { £gkLoN-si;4'cENTR.^L.

LONDON OFFICE: 90, Temple Chambers, Temple Avenue, London, E.C.4

Telegraphic Code:— A BC, Fifth Edition; Al (138S) Western Tnion (I'niversa! Editioni, Lieber's Standard.

XIV

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

<4^'

FLEXSTEL Book'et, sent post free, records original monay-saving facts.

Dorman's Patented Flexible Joints used with Hose is a Guarantee against Hose breakages at
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FLEXSTEL" is a Registered Trade Mark and Patented in ihe Principal Countries of the World

XVI

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

BBC

AUTOMATIC
PRESSURE REGULATORS

VERY ROBUST CONSTRUCTION.
PRACTICALLY NO ATTENTION REQUIRED.
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'Particulars and Estimates from :

BROWN, BOVERI & CO., LIMITED,

Trafalgar House, Waterloo Place, S.W.I.

"lOCO"

Insulating Materials.

Avoid Uaemplo^t by Supporting BRITISH INDUSTRIES.

Insulating Cloth Varnished Paper
Insulating Tapes Miocarta Sheets
Insulating Silks Adhesive Tape

of the highest grade and guaranteed efficiency are now manufactured by

THE '' lOCO " RUBBER & WATERPROOFING CO., LTD.

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Telegrams

Cablegrams

" Ocoproof," Glasgow.

Telephone : 2328 Western (3 lines).

Price Lists and Particulars submitted on application.

June 30, 1922

^iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiililij

The Electrician.

IlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllliaillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllU

xvu

1 1 BABCOCK & WILCOX BOILERS

I I for

[I ELECTRICAL UNDERTAKINGS

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m \ These Boilers are constructed to suit all conditions of working^ and can be
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Branch Work* : Dumbarton, Scotland ; Oldbury. England ; and also in Italy, Australia and Japan.

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llllllllllllllllll

Improve your PoTv^er Factor
with our Phase Advancer

iiniimiiMiiiiimiiimmiiiiiiiiiMiMiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinM

Diagram showing improvement
obtained by our Phase
Advancer on a 3-Phase Motor
1,380 H.P., 48 5 R.P.M..
5.500 Volts, 25 Cycles.

Can be installed on

anySlip ring Induction

Motor.

iVrite for particulars.

SOCIETE ALSACIENNE

de CONSTRUCTIONS MECANIQUES
— BELFORT -

iiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiN

SOLE REPRESENTATIVES: T^Tti^lVT'V^ ^ T T Ti^ 4 CJ T TD

BRITISH ISLES UlliiN 1 & HJCAh L^

COLONIES AND DOMINIONS 329 HIGH HOLBORN - - LONDON, W.C.I

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^

XVlll

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

CASING
CAPPING

Manufactured by

John Wilesmith & Co.

(Successors to Bourne & Grove),

Bridge Saw Mills,

Worcester.

Contractors to the Postmaster Genera' .

F.C.S..

P. THOMPSON,
M.I.Mech.E., F.I.C.P.A.

G. C. DYMOND,
M.I.Mech.E., F.I.C.P.A.

W. P. THOMPSON

CO.,

12 Church Street,

1 V E R P 0 0 L.

CHARTERED PATENT AGENTS. |

M.Sc.

H. E. POTTS,

Hon. Chem., F.I.C.P.A

J. V. ARMSTRONG
M.T.I . F.I.C.P.A.

— THE —

* ELECTRIC

FIRE

Has given

Universal

satisfaction.

LOW PRICE,
ROBUST,
CHEERY,

ECONOMICAL

WHY?

Because OUR

Patented
Element is of

HEAVY
SECTION and
has LOW Cur-
rent Density,
yet it

GLOWS
at a
HIGH TEM-
PERATURE.

Write for LIST G (Fires and Cookers),

to Sole Manufacturers-

THE ARORA CO., LOUGHBOROUGH.

FULLER BLOCK ACCUMULATORS

at approximately ii}^ %
below Makers' prices.
Send for pamphlet and revised trade terms.
Internal short-circuitinK an impossibility.
Will hold thei; chari^e for 18 months.
THOUSANDS SOLD, THOUSANDS STILL IN STOCK
We have supplied most of the public
electricity supply undertakings with these
batteries for Mains Testing purposes.

We have also for sale

7,100 POPE'S 8 G.p. TUBE LAMPS

3| ' X s" S.B.C. 6/- per dozen.

Voltages 100, 110, 200, 210, 215, 240 & 250.

THE CITY ACCUMULATOR CO. (Oept. E)

79, MARK LANE, B.C. 3. Avenue 91.

Automatic
Motor Starter
with Push
Button Control

Automatic
Control Gear
designed and
built for all
classes of
m achinery.

Elliston, Evans & Jackson, Ltd.

13, CROSS STREET, FINSBURY, E.C.2.

Telephone.: LOS'DON W ALL 21 i \ 7:flH. Tole;;r,ims : "ELEVAXJ.X LONnON."

SBB^

Led the way in 1899.
Set the standard to-day.

Telephones, Switchboards
and Apparatus.

Write for particulars and Catalogue.

Sole Agent for Scotland : MALCOLM BREING.^N, 57. Robert.on St.. GUsjow.

BRITISH L. M. ERICSSON MANFG. CO., LTD.,
6!, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS. LONDON, W.C.2.
'Faciory: BEESTON. NOTTS.

r^r»^»^

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XIX

LOWEST BRITISH
PRICES

Every Meter is sold
under a three vears'
guarantee ; and the
services of an expert
travelling staff are
available to all users
of E.A.C. Meters.

D.G. METER

Having large stocks we are in a favourable
position to give quick deliveries.

In addition to the merit
of the design, which
embodies all the refine-
ments of modern prac-
tice, E.A.C. Meters are
easily the best finished.

The Electrical Apparatus
Company, Ltd.,

VAUXHALL WOBKS,

SOUTH LAMBETH ROAD,

S.W8

Telephone : BBIXTON 2075.

Telegrams: EL4PR4TUS. VAUX, LONDON.

A.C. METER

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

THE WELL-KNOWN TRADE MARK

denotes QUALITY and SERVICE

— IN THE —

MANUFACTURE AND SUPPLY

— OF —

Wires, Cables & Flexibles

in every class of INSULATION
for ALL Electrical Purposes.

THE LONDON ELECTRIC WIRE COMPANY AND SMITHS, LTD.,

PLAYHOUSE YARD, GOLDEN LANE, E.O.I. ]f^r'- clerkenwell isss. isss. 1390

Telegrams: 'ELECTRIC, LONDON."

We Request the Favour of Your Introductions to our

NEW FITTINGS SHOW ROOMS

New

Catalogue

and

Show Room

Introductory

Booklet

sent on

Request

Heating
and

Cooking
Appliances

BRANCHES

CORNER OF OUR LONDON SHOW ROOMS

Sloaiv Hectrical Q>M

8, 10 & 12 Golden Lane, London, E.C.I

All Fittings

and

Apparati

Wired for

Ready • Display

and

Demonstration

Silk Shades
in New and
Exclusive
Designs

BRANCHES

MANCHESTER ^ivoiv ricLirn;cii v»;is- „, 8, fs^TH™™, s„«

De 111™ 8, 10 & 12 GoUen Une, L.Ddon, E.C.I ,,=A«'=?" ,

Ueansgate » ' ' 27 Hope Street

Agents for Messrs. Peyton & Peyton, Ltd., Bordesley Works, Birmingham

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XXI

ELECTRIC OVERHEAD CRANES

OF HEAVY CAPACITIES

RECENT POWER STATION INSTALLATIONS :

BIRMINGHAM - 100 TONS

BLACKBURN - 60 TONS

GRIMSBY - 30 TONS

FIQ. 1323

100 TONS 61-FT. SPAN TRAVELLER AT THE NEOHELLS PERMANENT STATION OF THE

BIRMINGHAM ELECTRIC SUPPLY DEPT.

ELECTRIC GOLIATHS

JUST
COMPLETED

For War Dept.
For S. America
For G.W. RIy.

260 Tons Working Load
60 Tons Working Load
20 Tons Working Load

STOTHERT & PITT, "-td

BATH ENGLAND

XXll

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

ACKROYD & BEST, LTD.

MORLEY, near LEEDS

Works cover 4| acres

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiy^^

Jlctual Makers of

Glassware. — Chemical and Heat-resisting, and for
all lighting purposes.

Lamps. — (Oil, Spirit and Acetylene) for Mines,
Quarries, Engineers and Shipbuilders.

Stampings and Pressings in all kinds of Metal.

Hoes. — Pressed from one piece of Steel, Strong and
Light.

Coins, Medals, Tokens,* etc.

Cement for Repairing and Rebuilding Furnaces.

'Uclephone ^o. :

86 MORLEY.

telegraphic Address :

" LAMPS, MORLEY, LEEDS."

CENTRIFUGAL COUPLINGS

FOR ELECTRICALLY- DRIVEN MACHINERY

ENABLE the MOTOR to Slart Up ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT LOAD

Write for New 36-page Catalogue — Post Free
^iiMiiniiiiiiiMiiiiiMiiiimiiihiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiTmMiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin

^;5g:2fe^

Thomas Broadbent&SonsLP

CENTRAL IRONWORKS.
HUDDERSFIELD,

j^^

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

xxm

Patent Self-Cleaning:

CIBCyUTIHE MliTEII SCBEEII8

CLEAN CONDENSING WATER means LOW COSTS

Installation of l^l0\^ 1 1 mtml^ — as used where the variation of water level

IS small, e.g., canals and rivers.

BAND TYPE

VERTICAL AND INCLINED

For tidal estuaries and other situations

where the variation in water level is

considerable.

I SCREENS IN OPERATION AND j
I ON ORDER DEALING WITH OVER i

1 2,531,900,000 GALLS per hr. \

RAKING
TYPE

Suitable for dealing with very
coarse material, as in sewage.

F. W. BRACKET! & Co., Ltd., col%VTter

XXIV

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

MACHINE PACKED IN CASE.

TUBE BENDING '"' '

^ v«««^* ««-.«*^.^ EFFICIENT

SIMPLIFIED H.NDY

Close Joint Tube can be bent
to whatever angle is required,
the cost in Tube and Fittings
being thus very considerably
reduced.

THE STOCKBRIDGE PORTABLE TUBE BENDER

Provisionally Protected.
Owing to improved manufacturing facilities we are now able to offer this Tool, f> C C f\
complete with all necessary fittings for J in., | in., and % in. Conduit, at nett oOO • O • \J

VINCENr FERRAND. LTD. STOCKBRIDGE, KEIGHLEY.

■**'i^'

PERFECT
BENDS

NO
KINKS

Tel. 676.

MACHINE IN U5E

D.C. MOTORS AND DYNAMOS

MOTOR GENERATORS— PLATING SETS
VARIABLE SPEED MOTORS. BOOSTERS. ETC.

High Efficiency — Cool Running

Low Prices

Write for List No. 3

THE GLOBE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.

Telephone: 99 BRIGHOljSE Telegrams :" Globe, Brighouse "

London Office : 48 WATLING STREET, E.C.4. Telephone: City 6120

"INVINCIBLE" (WET) AIR FILTER

AND HUMIDIFIER (fullv patented)

TURBO-ALTERNATORS and all
DS OF GENERAL VENTILATION

The Air Current is directed through gills, where it is brought into intimate contact
with constantly changing wetted surfaces, afterwards passing through a hurricane
water spray and free moisture eliminating devices.

Air outlet guaranteed water free. Turbo alternators as
clean when opened up after use as new.

WRITE FOR NEW ILLUSTRATED PAMPHLET.

Illllllllllllllllllllllllll

We have supplied Filters to the principal Municipal Undertakings in Great
Britain & Ireland. For big power houses such as in Collierie*, Ironworks,
Chemical Works, Cotton Mills, Electrical Railways, and Power Supply
Coys., the Admiralty, and for Export to France, Japan, India, Australia, China,
South Africa, New Zealand, etc.

We specialise in the manufacture of ducting and flume work.

IIIIIIIIIN lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

MIIIIIHIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIinilHINIIMIIIIUIH

SOLE MANUFACTURERS:

W. GRICE & SONS, LTD.,

Ironfounders & Engineers, Minerva Works,

FAZELEY ST., BIRMINGHAM.

London Office: "Howard House," 4 Arundel St., VV.C. 2" Telephoue:

IQ22 IVIndel 'P^^oie: city 8067 Central 114, Birmingham

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XXV

POWER STATION EQUIPMENT

5,000 kW 3,000 r.p.m. Brush-Ljungstrom Turbo-Generator.

(1227)

TURBO-GENERATORS

The economy of operation and reliability
of the " Brush-Ljungstrom" Turbo-Generator
is a proved and well established fact.

We have built upwards of 200,000 kW of
these units, which are giving every satisfac-
tion in Power Stations both at Home and
Abroad.

WE CAN GUARANTEE TO OBTAIN
A LOWER STEAM CONSUMPTION
THAN CAN BE OBTAINED BY
ANY OTHER PRIME MOVER.

TRANSFORMERS

Since commencing the manufacture of
Transformers twenty-seven years ago, our
yearly output has shown a steady increase.

We specialise in the production of Trans-
formers for all classes of duty ; both indoor
and outdoor.

Our Transformers are designed to withstand
the heavy service conditions of operation
in close proximity to large generating units.
Excellent workmanship, combined with the
use of the best possible materials through-
out, have secured a reputation for Brush
Transformers which is second to none.

THE

2,000 kVA 3-phase. 50-period 1 1.000 3. 300- Volt
O.I.W.C. Transformer.

(2029)

BRUSH

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
FALCON WORKS, LOUGHBOROUGH

XXVI

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

ELECTRIC CAPPING AND CASING

GREATLY REDUCED PRICES

LET US QUOTE YOU

ALL SIZES in WHITEWOOD & DEAL

FIRST QUALITY FINISH

SHERRY & HAYCOCK

MOULDING MANUFACTURERS
OXFORD ROAD, BOURNEMOUTH

AND AT LONDON, POOLE, NEW MILTON

'Phone :
800 (2 lines)
Bournemouth

193 Poole

Wires :

" Lightning,

Bournemouth"

MILLS :

LONDON

AND POOLE

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XXVll

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XXVIU

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

SOLE AGENTS

FOR THE

CONDOR LAMP MANUFACTURING

CO., LTD.,

VENLO, HOLLAND.

ENGLAND & WALES.

THE B.T.T. ELECTRIC LAMP
AND ACCESSORIES CO.,

5/10, Rangoon Street, Crutched Friars,

London, E.C.3.

Telephone ; (Two lines) Avenue 8768, 8769.

Telegrams : Duchavwat, Aid, London.

BRANCHES .—

MANCHESTER

BIRMINGHAM

NEWCASTLE

BRISTOL

LIVERPOOL

HULL

LEEDS

WOLVERHAMPTON

Our sales of Gac Filled lamps have been suspended by an injunction granted in the High Court.

We are therefore substituting round bulb T.A. lamps of practically equal efficiency with most Gas
Filled lamps. Our T.A. lamps will also give many hours longer life than Gas Filled lamps, and our
prices — with every lamp guaranteed — are as follows : —

Low Voltage 30 Watt

2/9

HiGH Voltage

.. 3/-

40 „

... 2/9

. 3/-

60 ,.

... 3/6

.. 4/.

100 ..

... 5/.

5/.

150 ,.

... Ih

.. 7/-

200 ..

... 8/-

8/-

300 „

10/-

£0
IS

I. *
« w

O k

■HJC
>.■*'

«>

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, •H'H Ul

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^ SIS-"

* O^ (0

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>'2

^ 0

C(D

a-H

(8(8

- 0

>«F

^i-

0 0

>£

Owing to the fall in the cost of labour and raw materials and our
increasing trade, we arc able to reduce our prices for Metal Filament
lamps. Our new list is as follows : —

Low Voltage 10 Watt to 30 Watt ... ... 1/9

40 ,. .. 60 ... 2/-

HiGH Voltage 10 Watt to 20 Watt
30 „ „ 60 „

2/6

2/3

W.B.P,

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XXIX

CAMBRIDGE

STATOR

AND

ROTOR

TEMPERATURE
OUTFITS

STATOR TEMPERATURE
INDICATORS

'T'HE Outfit for Stator Temperatures consists of a
double pivoted indicator of high sensitivity en-
closed in a dust-proof case with a multi-way switch,
together with fine gauge flexible thermo-couples
which are embedded in the stator windings. The
cold junction of the thermo-couples is controlled
by a thermostat, buried junction or vacuum flask.

ROTOR TEMPERATURE
INDICATORS

TN Rotor Temperature Outfits the changes in
the resistance of the rotor are measured by a
differential ohmmeter which is calibrated in terms
of temperature.

This ohmmeter is similar in external appearance
to the Stator Indicator.

npHESE instruments are included as standard equipment by most of the leading turbine builders. When you
are putting down your turbine plant

specify " Cambridge Instruments."

Tke Cambridcfe and Paul

INSTRUMENT CP W>

^^•"^' u ^r.TT' 45.GROSVENOR PLACE

'.ONDON & ffead Office ' rr^IVIT-k/^TSJ-ft \X/i

CAMBRIDGE &Showroamj LONUUIN, 5> . >V I

XXX

The Electrician.

june 30, 1922

Visit us at
STAND 307

Royal Agricultural

Society's Show

at Cambridge,

JULY 4-8

THE STURDY, RELIABLE,
ALL-BRITISH PLANT THAT
YOU CAN INSTAL WITH
ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE.

IXTEEN years'
experience of
manufacturing
direct-coupled elec-
tric generating
plants is embodied
in these sets which
are supplied in a
wide range of
capacities from 500
watts to 6,400 watts.
WRITE FOR
BOOKLET.

Semi -Automatic, and
runs on any fuel.

List Price for 25-Light Set,
complete with Battery

£145

Also supplied for 37, 50, 75,

95, 150, 200, 270 and

360 Lights.

SIMS

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS,

3 & 4, Stanhope Terrace,

Gloucester Gate,

London, N.W. 1.

Telephone: Museum 4321(2 lines).
Telegrrams : "Simsansims

Norwest, London."

H. K. LEWIS & Cat

Publishers and Booksellers,

A thoroughly up-to-date and representative

STOCK OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL WORKS

always on hand.

LARGE STOCK OF SECOND-HAND BOOKS.

Special Department — 140 Cower Street.
Telephone: Museum 4031.

Orders by post for all claires of lilerature carefully executed.

Catalogues post free on application.

136 GOWER ST., LONDON, W.C.I.

Telegrams : Publicavit, Fusroad, London.

Telephone : Muieum 1072

LEWIS'S CIRCULATING

SCIENTIFIC AND
TECHNICAL LIBRARY.

Covering the widest range of subjects, including

Engineering (Technical, Theoretical and Industrial).

New Books and New Editions are added immediately.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION (Town or Country) from ONE GUINEA

Subscriptions may commence from any date.
TLe^Library, Reading and Wri'ing Room is open daily to subscribers

Prospectus, with Quarterly List of Additions, post free.

H. K. LEWIS & CO. LTD.,

136, Gower Street and 24, Gower Place, London, W.C.I.

Manufacturers of

Steam Turbines,
Turbo Blowers,
Turbo Comp^ressors,
TurboAlternators &

D.C. Generators,
Turbo Exhausters,
Turbo Pumps & Fans
Geared Turbines for

Mill and Factory

Drives,
Condensing Plant,
Reduction Gearing.

The above Illustration shows Four 10,000 K\v. Turbo-Alternators, 3,300 volts.
Supplied to the Victorian Railways Power Station. Melbourne.

C A PARSONS & C9 UP

Hcaton AVorkis
NE^VCASTLE ON TYNE

London Office : 56. Victoria. St . S.Wl

none

unnc

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XXXI

WROUGHT COPPER
CABLE SOCKETS

Each shape in FOURTEEN sizes made to fit all
B.E S.A. Cables over 0-0225 ^4- ^''^^' Bolt-hole
varied without extra charge to suit requirements.

Price-list gives all dimensions, ^ny quantity supplied.

Also Asbestos-woven Resistance Nets for
Earthing Resistances and the like.

Small quantities of copper wires for instrument
repairs and research work,

A. HIIMDERLICH

Central Hall ' Southall

Telephone

Southall 121

Mr.
Power
Station
Engineer

By investigating the merits- of

ELECTRIC
FiRES

you will definitely prove
that they embody the

HIGHEST EFFICIENCY
& DURABILITY OF ELEMENT
BEST WORKMANSHIP AND
MOST ORIGINAL DESIGNS

That means we're helping you
to create that domestic load.

H.W.SULLIVAN

WINCHESTER HOUSE
LONDON. E.C.2

Phone . . Avenue 487 1

oomethinfiT^
^^Z' DJff

Different

THEBrookhirstAuto.
matic Motor Starter
embodies two apparent-
ly contraclictor>'features,
, (a) a single solenoid and
:^ ample starting steps and
(J)) a butt contact under
pressure on each.

The left - hand view
above shows the starter
in the "off " position,
the front of one carbon-
holder being removed to
show the spring. In the
middle view, the contact
bar has just establishe 1
full-face contact wit h this
particular carbon. The
right hand view sho\s-s
this carbon pressed
home agamst the spnng,
securing ample contact
pressure. The arrowhead
on the contact bar indi-
cates its wiping and
self - cleaning action
afterwards.

Write for Leaflet F.U6 de-
scrib ng the complete panel.

BROOK, HIRST |

& CO., LTD. =

CHESTER J

Branches ^^=

BiTminsham. Belfail, Glasgou: Leeds, Liverpool. LonJitt, Aia»cas(/e, SiMNira ^E

XXX 11

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Macmillan's Latest List.

A DICTIONARY OF APPLIED PHYSICS.

Edited by Sir RICHARD GLAZEBROOK, K.C.B.. D.Sc,

F.R.S.In 5 vols. MediumSvo. Fully illustrated. ;f3 3s. net each.

Orders for the complete set of five volumes will be accepted

through a bookseller at the price of /14 14s. net, pajabe in

advance. Vol. I, MECHANICS— ENGINEERING -HEAT.

*** Full descriptive Prospectus post free on application.

The spectator.— " The editor's object, namely, to supply the practical
man with a full and accurate statement of the researches of the physicist
who is concerned with principles, appears to have been fully attained. The
book is admirably planned and the separate articlts are thoroughly scientific
in treatment. We shall look with interest for the remaining volumes of a
work that does great credit to British men of science and to the publishers. ' '

SECOND EDITION.

ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTRICAL EN-
GINEERING. By PHILIP KEMP, M.Sc.Tech.,M. I. E.E.,
author of " Rudiments of Electrical Engineering," Head of the
Electrical Engineering Department at the Polytechnic, Regent
Street, London. Second Edition, Illustrated. 8vo. 17s. net.

Electricity says of the First Edition: — " One of the best books yet pro-
duced on alternating current engineering. Indeed we can recollect no other
volume which covers the whole field in a ininner so well adapted to the
needs of the average student. . . . A fir;t-class volume."

A FIRST BOOK OF APPLIED ELECTRICITY.

By S. R. ROGET, M.A., A.M.Inst.C.E., &c. Illustrated.

2s. 6d. [First Books of Science.

The Technical Journal. — " It is clearly written, and if it stimulates a
reader to ask for more, and also a better understanding of some of the
formulae, a useful service will have been served."

*** Send for Macmillan's Classified Catalogue,
post free on applicaticn.

MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd., London, W.e.2

COAL-FLOW Indicators

for

CHAIN-GRATE STOKERS

'CHAIN DRIVE
From
WORM SHAFT
OF STOKER.

(1) COMBINED METER & INDICATOR.

The above illustration shows a Standard LEA COAL METER, fitted with
Patent " Rate of Combustion " or " Rate of Flow " Indicator. For observing
Instantaneously THE CONSUMPTION OF COAL in POUNDS PER HOUR.

(I) INDEPENDENT INDICATORS without Meters ALSO SUPPLIED

Full particulars, prices, etc., from —

The LEA RECORDER CO. Ltd. 28 Deansgate, MANCHESTER

BATTERIES >«r

TRIPPING PURPOSES

and

SWITCHGEAR OPERATION

It would be difficult to find anything that
meets Power Station requirements better than

"NI-FE" BATTERIES

The fact that they are installed by leading
Power Stations all over the Country is iample
evidence of their excellence, while the follow-
ing advantages give them "points of superi-
ority " over other types of storage cells : —

Practically everlasting, and therefore cheeper
than aiy other type.

No self-discharge, consequently operating for
months without attention. '

Small cells can supply heavy currents without
being damaged.

Abseice of acid.

Full detailed description of the "NI-FE" Bat-
tery is given in our latest Booklet entitled "Elec-
tric Accumulators," whi<h should be in the
hands of all Power Station Engineers.

Why not write for Copy to-night ?

BATTERIES, L™ Redditch, England

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XXXlll

Electrical Engineers and Contractors who insist
on having the best Electrical Appliances and
will be satisfied with nothing less, should see that
these are stamped with the hall-mark— CARRON.

The only Electric Appliances that carry the mark of Royal favour

OPEN COIL BOILING RINGS

Casing of spun sheet-brass, nickel-plated, containing the
specially prepared fireclay former, with heating coil pro-
tected with expanded metal guard, base, terminal box, and
feet of cast iron. Base and terminal bcx are finished in
black, feet and guard nickel-plated. Supplied in various
sizes from 6 to 10 ins. diameter, and consuming current
fropi 3 to U units per hour.

SOLID TYPE BOIMNG PLATES ]

Having cast-iron top. machined and dull nickel
plated ; nickel-plated casing, brass nickel-plated
side handles and sheet-iron base. Made in 6 and
8 ins. diameter sizes, and loaded to a maximum of
600 750 and 1000 12. 0 Watts.

Electric Cooking Appliance Pamphlet No. 22G free on request

Vfc^ FOUNDED 1759.

WOTiKS

BliASCH WORKS

(jq«:xv^i^ VJ1J,^j^Dnf9. C AKRON, Stirlingshire. Phoenix Foundry, Sheffield

Showrooms : London— 15 Upper Thames Street, E.Cand 50 Berners Street, Oxford Street. W. Liverpool— Redcross Street. GIass;ow— Buchanan Stree-
Edmburgh— George Street. Bristol— Victoria Street. Offices: Manchester, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Leeds and Birmingham.

TRANSFORMERS

The Westminster Transformer complies with the most ex-
acting Specification and is remarkable for very low iron loss

Apparatus for testing the di-electrlc strength
of transformer oil :: Inquiries invited

A Brief note from you
stating your requirements
will bring a full speci-
fication from us

J. G. STATTER & CO.

Sole Agents for
The Westminster Transformer

Queen Anne's Chambers
Westminster, London, S.W.I

Telegrams : - - - - " SWITCHONI.A. LONDON •*
Telephone : VICTORIA 6196

XXXIV

The Electrician.

June ^0, 1922

THE

DAVENPORT ENGINEERING

CO., LTD.

BRADFORD

FOR HIGHEST EFFICIENCY
INSTALL A

" BRADFORD
COO LER

NATURAL DRAUGHT

FAN DRAUGHT

OR OPEN TYPE

as supplied to all Leading

Power users HOME AND

ABROAD

COOLING TOIVER

The Wolverhampton Corporation Electricity JVorks.

WATER COOLING
TOWERS

for all purposes and quantities

TOWERS IN COMMISSION
DEALING WITH OVER
31,500,000 GALLONS OF
WATER PER HOUR AT

Electric Power Stations
Steel Works
Co llieries
Factories, etc.

COOLING TOWERS
The County 'Borough oj Stoke-on-Trent Electricity Worlds.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XXXV

ILLUSTRJTION OF 17 COOLING TOf^ERS IN COURSE OF ERECTION
The Qity 0^' Birmingham Electricity Worlds. Nee hells Permanent Power Station

OUR NEW PATENTS CONSTITUTE THE GREATEST
IMPROVEMENTS IN COOLING TOWER CONSTRUCTION
AS THEY ENSURE MAINTAINED EFFICIENCY
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE LIFE OF THE TOWER

JVRITE FOR INFORM.^TION

ILLUSTRATION OF JBOFE FULL}' COMPLETED

The City of Birmingham Electricity Works. Nechells Permanent Potver Station

THE

DAVENPORT ENGINEERING

CO., LTD.

BRADFORD

Telegrams: '' Humidity, Bradford." Telephone 3553 Bradford

LONDON OFFICE: 90, TEMPLE CHAMBERS, TEMPLE AVENUE, E.C.4

XXXVl

The Electrician

June 30, 1922

30,000 VOLT CABLE JOINT

PATENT Nos. 21646/13—6093/15.

ABSOLUTE RELIABILITY PROVED BY LARGE
NUMBER IN USE UNDER SEVERE CONDITIONS

TEST PRESSURE

BETWEEN CONDUCTORS

AND ALSO

BETWEEN EACH CONDUCTOR & BOX CARCASE
75,000 VOLTS FOR ^HOUR
100,000 VOLTS FOR 10 MINUTES

WITHOUT BREAKDOWN

W.T.GLOVER & C9 LTP

TRAFFORD PARK,

MANCHESTER.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XXXVll

THE RECORD ELECTRICAL CO., LTD.

REGISTERED PROPRIETORS OF THE WORD

CIRSCALE

WHICH THEY HAVE APPLIED TO THEIR PATENT MOVING COIL SYSTEM

Made in All Sizes, 3" Dial to 16" Dial Dia.

DESCRIPTION

An Astatic Moving Coil Instrument
for direct Current.

COMPLETE INSTRUMENT

MAGNET SYSTEM

MOVING COIL

CASE REMOVED

A Scale Length three times that of
the usual type.

No Gearing.

An improved Mechanical Construc-
tion, with all parts easily
accessible

Small Power^ Consumption and High
torque.

Will work in conjunction with
Standard Shunts, 075 volt drop.

Easily read scales.

Dust-tight Case, removable without
dismantling instrument from
switchboard.

Cheaper and occupies less space
than sector or edgewise instru-
ments of same scale length.

Can be read like a clock; the angle
of the pointer indicates the load.

Fully complies with all requirements
of the B.E.S. specification.

ALL ENQUIRIES TO HEAD OFFICE AND WORKS

Sole Manufacturers and Patentees .-

THE

RECORD ELECTRICAL CO., Ltd.

BROADHEATH, nr. MANCHESTER

Telephone 164 Altrincham. Teleerams: " Infusion, Altrlnch»m. '

xxx\aii

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Switch-Board Clocks

Solid Brass Cases. Non- Magnetic. Lever Movement.
Sizes 6 to 20 inches diameter.

PRICES ON APPLICATION.

New Type of

Chronograph Watch.

Every chance of
error eUminated.

P'inest

Finish
17 Jewels

9 ct.
Gold Case

£21 0 0

Sterling Silver
Case. ..£10 10 0

New Type of

Chronograph Watch.

Perfection of Starting,
Stopping and
Fly-back action.

Oxydised
Steel Case

£8 8 0

Nickel

Case

£8 8 0

With
Ra Iway
Speed
Recording Dial
10/- txtra.

Other Chronographs from £2 2 0.

See guide (£1) to the Purchase of a Watch, just puh'.ished.

Fast free on Application.

THE NEW ANTWERP TELEPHONE
& ELECTRIC.\L WORKS, ANTWERP

VOLTMETERS

AMMETERS

SINGLE PHASE METERS

Sole Representatives for the British Empire :

W. F. DENNIS & GO.

70 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4

"/forthem'

ELECTRIC VACUUM CLEANER

This is the Cleaner you have been looking for, because —

It is the most up-to-date.
It is the most efficient.
It is the most reliable.

Write to-day for lists, and we will tell you all about it>
and our 100 per cent, service.

You cannot buy a better

Every voltage 25-250
in stock.

THE

NORTHERN STEEL

AND HARDWARE

Co. Ltd.

9 SOUTH PARADE
MANCHESTER

Write also for particulars of the famous

" Laundry Queen " electric washers.
" Laundry Queen *' electric irons.

'Phone : 3768 Central. 'Grams : " Assiduous.'

No 2

THE "BRIARTON"

TOTALLY ENCLOSED SPEED REDUCTION GEAR.

Meets the need for a reliable small
reduction gear at a reasonable price.
Powers up to h H.P. Can be
arranged for varying ratios. Highest
possible ratio 175 to I. Fitted with
automatic clutch to enable A.C.
motors to start up free from load.
Two ratios can be obtai ned at the same
time from the one reduction box.

Sole Matters :

ARTON & WALTON, LTD.,

THOMAS STRCET. CHEETHAM HILL, MANCHESTER.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

XXXIX

FERRANTI TRANSFORMERS

FERRANTI TRANSFORiMERS

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FERRANTI
TRANSFORMERS

A 1,000 K.VA. Three-Phase Transformer.
33,000/6,600 Volts. 50 periods.

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FERRANTI LIMITED

HOLLINWOOD, LANCASHIRE

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FERRANTI TRANSFORMERS

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

CLARKE, CHAPMAN ft CO.

^ LTD.

Victoria Works,

GATESHEAD.

General and Electrical Engineers and Boilermakers.

WOODESON PATENT WATER

TUBE BOILERS.
WOODESON PATENT PUMPS

OF ALL SIZES AND
FOR ALL DUTIES,

Contractors to
ADMIRALTY,

WAR OFFICE,

COLONIAL and

FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.

Telegrams: "CYCLOPS." GATESHEAD.
Telephone: 1070-1073 CENTRAL NEWCASTLE.
137 CITY.
Trunk Call: 2196 CENTRAL.

SPECIAL LISTS IN ALL
GLASSES OF STEAM AND
ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN
SHIPS AUXILIARY
MACHINERY

ELECTRIC LIGHT
INSTALLATIONS

CATALOGUES

on
APPLICATIO^

LONDON OFFICE:

(SINGLE FEED PUMP,
WOODESON PATENT.)

50 FENCHURCH ST, E.G.

Tebgrams: "CYCLOPS." FEN, LONDON.
Telephone: 4251 AVENUE.

NOW READY

A LIFE OF

GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE

By Colonel H. C. PROUT

As the fascinating record, by a close associate, of a
wonderful life ; as an intimate disclosure of many here^
tofore unrevealed industrial episodes; as an inspiring
analysis of the engineer's part in modern civilization, this
volume well repays reading, and must be recognized as
an unusual contribution to the literature of our age. The
record of the years when Westinghouse pushed on —
alone — against the judgment of the scientists of two
continents, finally to establish the alternating current as
supreme, serves more than merely to mark a ne\A/ epoch
in the manufacture of power, it serves as an inspiration
to every engineer of to-day.

Demy 8vo. 374 pp. With 8 plates Price 18/- (Postage 1/- Extra)

LONDON: BENN BROTHERS, Ltd., 8 BOUVERIE ST., E.C.4

June 30, 1922

The Electrician

xli

xlii The Electrician. June 30, 1922

C 56

DEVELOPMENTS IN
FIRTH'S STAINLESS STEEL

The following list sets out the full range of
Firth's Stainless Steels. Descriptive pamphlets and
further information will be supplied on request.

1. STAINLESS CUTLERY STEEL

FfFiRTHl U

Supplied in the softened condition for subsequent hardening, for the manu-
facture of cutlery, machine blades, optical mirrors, etc., and for purposes
where final hardness is an essential characteristic.

N.B. — Cutlery made of Firth's Stainless Steel, when correctly hardened
and tempered, maintains its cutting properties, and may be sharpened when
necessary without affecting its stainless qualities.

2. HIGH TENSILE STAINLESS STEEL

Supplied in the heat-treated condition to be machineable, and to comply
with the mechanical properties required for specific engineering purposes.

3. MALLEABLE STAINLESS STEEL

FfFIRTHL
Rainless)

This form possesses a high degree of malleability. It is specially prepared
for cold pressing, and for other purposes where the rust-resisting property is
desirable without further heat treatment. Where excessive cold working
is necessary, simple annealing may be required. It is more easily forged
than the two preceding forms of Stainless Steel.

4. "STAINLESS IRON"

FfFimTn I
(^AINLESg) I

" Stainless Iron " may also be used for cold press-work, etc. It can be
used when it is desirable to avoid annealing, and where the mechanical
properties are not required to indicate great strength.

Thos. Firth & Sons, Ltd.

SHEFFIELD

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

xliii

The illustrations show
a B.T.H. 1,300 K.V.A.
synchronous condenser,
and a B.T.H. phase
adjuster for power
factor correction.

Improvement
of Powrer Factor

This Company can supply
synchronous motors, syn-
chronous condensers, or
phase adjusters for the Im-
provement of power factor ;
the particular machine ad-
vocated depending on the
special conditions of each
individual requirement

The British Thomson-Houston Company, Ltd.

Electrical Engineers

Head Office & Works

and Manufacturers

Rugby, England

xliv

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

LAURENCE. SCOTT & ^ U?

MANUFACTURERS OF

Electric Motors & Control Gear

for DIRECT CURRENT ONLY

Contactor Controller
for Winches, etc.

Relay Starter and
Auto Regulator

Any of the following Control Gear Leaflets post free on application :

No. 289. Crane Control by the Power-Rheostatic System

290. Auto-Starters, Solenoid Type

291.- Shunt Regulators

292. Resistances

293. Reversing Barrel Controllers

294. Barrel Starter with Circuit-Breaker, for mounting on Motors

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

xlv

THE OLDEST YET UP-TO-DATE HOUSE

FOR *

AMMETERS ( P^*^"^^^'-^- Moving Iron and Moving Con

J SWITCHBOARD, n in. Dial to 18 in. Dial
VOLTMETERS I pocket. ah Types and Finish

MAKERS OF THE RECOGNISED STANDARD METERS FOR MOTOR CARS
DETAILS AND APPARATUS MADE TO CUSTOMER'S SPECIFICATION

HIGH INSULATION TEST SETS
SWITCHBOARDS, SWITCHGEAR
WIRELESS APPARATUS l?Si^&^

SPECIAL ATTENTION TO QUALITY, ACCURACY, DELIVERY

THE WALSALL ELECTRICAL Co., Limited

WALSALL, ENGLAND

Telegrams : " ELECTRICAL. WALSALL."

Telephone No. : 45 WALSALL

NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY

ELECTRIC

FANS

LISTS ON
APPLICATION

BELCO Ltd., electrical suppliers

WINDSOR HOUSE, KINGSWAY, W.C.2

Tclcphooe :
Keicat 4912

xlvi

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

LOCOMOTIVE ELECTRIC CRANE Fig. 615

THE illustration shows our standard One-Motor Crane. The control is
'placed in front so that the driver can readily see his work. The hoist-
ing gear is driven by our special friction clutch, enabling light loads to be

dealt with very expeditiously.
We are builders of Steam and Electric Cranes o: every description from
the smallest to the largtst capacity. ESTABLISHED 1820.

THOMAS SMITH & SONS (RODLEY) LTD., Nr. LE EDS
LONDON OFFICE :-25, YICTORIA STREET, S.W.I

Worth Investigation

•— -,t^ mo. \ "

DONOVAN'S Patent Combined Switch and Wall Plug.

Suitable for portable machinery where Safety and
Reliability are important.

When the Plug is out both poles are absolutely " dead."

Plug cannot be inserted or withdrawn unless Socket

is " dead *

Current can be turned off without withdrawing the Plug.

The Switch has a Double Break on each Pole.

Made in 5 and 15 amp. sizes, Double and Triple Poles.

. Complies with Home Office Rules for the use of
1 Electricity in Non-Textile factories.

WATERTIGHT and FOOLPROOF

Patentees & Manufacturers —

DONOVAN & COMPANY

47 Cornwall Street, BIRMINGHAM

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

xlvii

EMFHIE

1 ampere 33,000 volt Fuse with
indoor type mounting.

Extra High Tension

Fuses
up to 115,000 volts.

Standardised from 1 ampere to 200 amperes,
with indoor and outdoor type mountings,
with or without isolating switches or choke
coils. Descriptive pamphlet on request.

200 ampere 25,000 volt Fuse.

►

Protect against faults and short circuits.

Open during first half cycle.

Prevent formation of arc.

Can be inspected without being removed.

Are easily renewable at low cost.

Do not deteriorate with age.

Do not blow without cause.

Enable Switchgear rating to be raised.

Suitable for all climates, indoor or
outdoor mounting.

ELECTRIC CONTROL LIMITED,

Engineers, GLASGOW.

LONDON : Hastings House. Norfolk Street, W.C.2
MANCHESTER : 37 Cross Street
LEEDS : 42 Pearl Chambers, East Parade

25 ampere 25.000 volt Fuse with

combined isolating switch,

outdoor type mounting.

xlviii

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

^ IMPLEX Triple-Purpose Signs offer
^^ a very attractive combination of
^^-^ advertisement, illumination and
decoration which is at once both
economical and remunerative.
Their advertising is forceful, their lighting
well distributed, their decoration distinc-
tive— and their initial cost, their only
cost.

It is not too early to consider the question of
shop-window lighting, and for the convenience of
customers delivery of signs may be postponed
until actually required.

Being manufacturers of almost 25 years* standing
and experience in elect.ic lighting, etc., we wish
specially to emphasise our ability to produce, at a
very reasonable figure, signs which have been
carefully designed and constructed with a full
knowledge and appreciation of their triple-purpose.

Lists or special designs willingly sent on request.

Head Office and Works :

GARRISON LANE, BIRMINGHAM
LONDON : 1 13-117, Charing Cross Road, W.C.2

GLASGOW: 72. Waterloo Street
MANCHESTER: 1 6 Corporation St.
BRISTOL: lO-ll Denmark Street
LIVERPOOL: 96 Whitech.pel
LEEDS : 6 White Hor.e Street
NEWCASTLE : 72 St. Mary'i Place

CARDIFF : 4 Weitgate Street
SWANSEA : 5 College Street
SHEFFIELD: 281-3 Attercliff. Common
NOTTGM : Maypole Yd.. Long Row
Also at
IPSWICH and MIDDLESBROUGH

BOILER AND PIPE COVERINGS

CALOPERITE

Tested to withstand looo deg. Fah.

Specially suitable for the highest degrees of
superheat

85% MAGNESIA

CROWN ASBESTOS

" TELLURIC" COMPOSITION

(The hardest and most durable plastic
covering manufactured.)

Sutclif fe Bros. & Bryce

Limited

Unit Works, GODLEY,

AND AT

Seal Wharf, STRATFORD, E.15

NEAR
MANCHESTER

Lorival Insulating Material

Two distinct standard grades, either of which
can be varied to meet your requirements.

Grade A. — For small mouldings.

Grade B. — For large mouldings
and machining purposes.

BOTH GRADES ARE HEAT, ACID AND OIL
RESISTING AND NON.HYQROSCOPIO.

Write for Samples :

LORIVAL MANUFACTURING Co. (1921)Ltd.

NORWOOD WORKS, SOUTHALL

J. BRIDGE & SONS

MANUFACTURERS OF

WIRELESS

INSTRUMENTS

AND ALL COMPONENT PARTS

If you are starting a Wireless
Department get our prices

NELSON ST. WORKS, SOUTHEND-ON-SEA

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

xlix

Telephone :

4167 Gerrard^

OERLIKON

Telegrams :

Oerlik, Estrand,
London.

MANUFACTURERS OF

TURBO-GENERATORS.

^?5'o

5|000 kw,, 3,000 r.p.m. Turbo-Generator, supplied to a British Municipal Council.

HYDRO-ELECTRIC EQUIPMENTS.

TRANSFORMERS, SWITCHQEAR.

ELECTRIC TRAIN EQUIPMENTS, D.C. & A.C.

MOTORS FOR ALL INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES.

ELECTRIC ROLLING MILL PLANT.
STEEL WORKS & FOUNDRY CRANES, &c.

OERLIKON Ltd., electrical engineers & contractors

G. WUTHRICH (Swiss), M.I.E.E., General Manager & Chief Eng^ineer,

Oswaldestre House, 34 Norfolk St., Strand, London, W.G.2

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

TUDOR

The Be h her Battery

from the contractor's viewpoint.
This little Tudor book on
country house plant will help
to put your cUent's signature
on that outstanding contract.
Our advertising campaign in
the right quarters is bringmg
big business to contractors.
Wriia for special particulars.

The TUDOR ACCUMULATOR CO.,Ltd.
2, Norfolk St., Strand, London, W.C.2.

Telephone
Telegrams
Work» -

Central 3308.
Subconical, Estrand. London
Dukinfield. near Manchester

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

THE C\Carl( of E0iciency.

m^^m

ELECTRICALT

Traf ford Park

CO.. LTD

Manchester

THE cJiCark of Efficiency.

608

lii

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Western Electric

TEIP E¥ STEP SlfST

ilL

The Unit with Doors Open.

The Western Electric Co. has made a careful study of Automatic Telephone
Systems of all patterns and is in a position to offer a system of a type most

suitable for any particular service.

The No. 47001 System has been designed essentially for small private installatioilt

and the aim throughout has been

Simplicity

Reliability

Durability

Western Electric Compottg Limited.

Works: NORTH WOOLWICH. E.16.
Sales Department : 62 FINSBURY PAVEMENT. E.C.2.

Branches :
Birmingnam, Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

liu

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REES RoTURBo

R iiiiiiiiiiiiiii

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^

S2>*^

Rees RoTURBo 250 K.W. Dynamo.

Continuous Current

Dynamos & Motors

Embody all the best features of Modern Practice in this
branch of Engineering, together with the cumulative results
of over 30 years* experience in Dynamo and Motor design.

Robust construction throughout, generous Liargins and
best quality insulation ensure Maximum Service with

Efficiency and Reliability.

Full Particulars on Application.

ON ADMIRALTY, WAR, INDIA and COLONIAL OFFICE LISTS.

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiffliiiMiM

jiaB^Pl

LONDON OFFICE:

Hastings House,

Norfolk Street. Strand, W.C.

(Opposite Temple Station).

REES ROTURBO MFGC?!?

Ill**" Hydrauuc. /^ Electrical W

^ I, General V^^ ENGiNEEr"

tWOLVERHAMP?

TELEGR.-VMS :

Hydroturbo. Wolverhampton.
Hydroturbo, Estrand — London.
TELEPHONES :

No. 1444 (3 lines)

Wolverhampton.

No. ISM CentnU London.

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■m

liv

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

V"!"" I "■■■■"■■ ll""l"l" " ""fl

\ 66,000-volt cunent
transformer control-
ling inter-connected c
network around Paris

P" '■■■ i"i ■'■ ■ ■ ■'■! " ■ ' " ■ MTrTTlT

X.X.M.T.

REYROLLE

SNA/ i"rcn<3E:»^R.

No matter how aaverse the conditions, how high the
voltage and current, we can supply the switchgear
required for economy and reliable operation.

Re)nrolle gear

for

L.T.. H.T.. E.H.T., & X.X.H.T.

We also invite enquiries for :

SUPER-POWER
POWER & SUB

INDUSTRIAL

AND
DOMESTIC

STATIONS

INSTALLATIONS

Armoured Main Switchgearfor Direct
and Remote Control. Armoured iso-
lating and Selective Devices. Protec-
tive Systems : —Core Balance, Leak-
age, Current and Voltage Balance,
Self-Balance, Split Conductor, &c.
Industrial Switchgear. Flame-proof
Switchgear for Fiery Atmospheres.
Fuses. Circuit Breakers. Switches.
Switch Pillars. Motor Starters (Drum
Type). Distribution Gear. Charging
Plugs. Cable Sealing Bells and
Dividing Boxes.

Wall Plugs. Ironclad Switches. House
V Service and Distribution Fuse Boxes.

SIMPLY TELL US YOUR PROBLEMS

REYROLLE

HEBBURN-ON-TYNE.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

Cable Bridge across the River Rea.

Main Cables and Pilots on Special Stays supplied and erected
by us for the Birmingham Corporation.

Security

WHEN you remember that
we manufactured and laid
the ten miles of 33,000 volt
3-core Cable fortheCity of Birmingham
super-power scheme, will you please
also remember that we manufacture

THE

tlEJSILJEy

"Wiring Syston

There is no direct connection between
the two things, but we want to em-
phasise that we have, throughout the
many years since William Thomas
Henley started in the dim pioneer
days to manufacture Telegraph Cables,
built up a great reputation for all
kinds of Electric Cables.

All Henley Cables, whether for high
or low pressure, whether large power
mains or smcill house wires, whether
metal covered for the Henley Wiring
System or Braided V.I.R., all carry
a reputation for high quality of which
we are proud and which must mean
security to every Engineer who uses
them.

Artisans' Dwellings at Rosyth, for the 'use of

Admiralty Workmen. Wired on the Henley

Wiring System by Pratt Bros., Edinburgh.

'^^OE MA»*^

W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd., Blomfield Street, E.C.2

Makers of Electric Cables since the beginning of Electrical Transmission

Ivi

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Motors

■you can recommend.

Because they
in desigfn

Because they

Because your
what you

represent the latest practice
and construction.

are reliable in operation.

are competitive in price.

clients will be satisfied with
have gfiven them.

" Magnet," Manchester. 741 Openshaw.
" rders," Cannon, London. 5370 City.

Openshaw

Manchester, England

London. 49 Queen Vicrona Street. E.C

"Fully licensed under Patents Nos.
23499109, 10918113 and others."

OOK for the above words on the Lamp Wrapper, as they are evidence that the Lamp
contained therein is a

GENUINE GASFILLED LAMP

The Words

ROVAL

^\S^^ht

and

"GASFILLED"

on the Lamp bulb itself are a further

GUARANTEE

that the Lamp is genuine and can be relied upon for

BRILLIANCY, EFFICIENCY, ECONOMY & STRENGTH

Lamps of similar appearance, if not marked ' Gasfilled," even if they are offered as
" Half-Watt " type, either infringe the master patent or are not genuine gasfilled lamps.

The Edison Swan Electric Co., Ltd.

Ponders End, Middlesex

London Showrooms

123/5 Queen Victoria St., E.C.4, & 71 Victoria St., S.W.I

Branches in all large towns

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

Iv'ii

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THE

^oNw CIRCUIT BREAKER

WITH

JL ELECTRIC

BRAINS.

The Auto-reclose Circuit is almost human

It always opens when the load exceeds a pre-
determined value.

Closes again, automatically, after the load has fallen
to pre-determined value.

Will not close — will not try to close — until the
required reduction of load has occurred.

It renders useful service that no other
circuit breaker can.

AFFORDS COMPLETE PROTECTION
TO YOUR EQUIPMENT.

_^ Write for a copy of our Leaflet No, 420

IGRflniC

ELECTRIC CO., LTD.

147, Queen Victoria Street, LONDON

Works: Elstow Road, BEDFORD.

BRANCHES :-GLASGOW : 50, Wellington Street. MANCHESTER : 30. Cross Street

BRADFORD : 18. Woodvlew Terrace, Manningham. BIRMINGHAM : 73 & 74. Exchange Bldgs. "^
MELBOURNE : 499/501, Bourke Street. CARDIFF: Western Mall Chambers

JOHANNESBURG : Brown's Buildings. Loveday Street. P.O. Box 1 159.
DURBAN : Mutual Buildings. Smith Street. P.O. Box 352. SYDNEY : 1 15. Clarence Street.

TGRANIC

Jl electric

Jllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllli

'i:illlll<!llll!lillllll!ll!illl!lll!l

Iviii

The Electrician.

^miMiiitB^^M^^mmmiimmsissmmmmmnwam^

June 30, 1922

laiiisii

:iiiiiiiB^^^^^

This can only be ascertained by a
reliable Weighing System to check
your fuel consumption and which gives
you the knowledge that will enable you
to raise your plant to the highest
possible point of efficiency.
Avery Patent Automatic Boiler Scales
give you exact information at any
desired point and assure economical
Boiler House Efficiency.

These machines give you the know-
ledge to get fuel economy, and at the
same time reduce labour costs.
Over 2,000 are in use to-day and it will
pay you to instal these machines without
delay.

WRITE FOR LIST NO. 4 TO-DAY TO

ilHIIillliiliilil^^

"iiwwaiif-^i

mmediate
el i very

We issue this monthly stock list of A*C.
and D.C. Motors and Dynamos, giving
sizes, types and numbers of machines
available for immediate delivery.

The current issue contains particulars
of over 1200 machines now in stock.

Can we add your name to our mailing list ?

THE
JT^ m ^^ • d • ^^ •

(Ateliers de Constructions Electriqnes de Cliarleroi>

LONDON OFFICE:
56, Victoria Street. S.W.I

Tdephont :
Victoria 3662.

Tdetramt :
'EdempaiD, London."

tfiiJ -niontfUj/ JXoc^ ^Ulf

June 30, 1922 The Electrician. hx

I^our Guarantee

Look for the words "MAZDA"
and "GASFILLED' on the
bulb : they are your guarantee
of maxifnunv light and
maxinvum economy.

Recent decisions in the House of Lords and other Courts have finally
established the validity of The British Thomson- Houston Co.'s Patent
No. 10918/13 for the manufacture of Mazda Gasfilled Electric Lamps.
Lamps made under this patent by The British Thomson- Houston
Co., Ltd., or its Licencees, are the only genuine Gasfilled Lamps.

GASFILLED

ELECTRIC LAMPS

are made in Rugby by the owners of the above-mentioned

master patent and should be specified by all who desire

the high brilliance and efficiency which can only be

obtained by the use of genuine gasfilled lamps.

Lamps of similar appearance, if not marked
** gasfilled," even if they are offered as
" half=:watt " type, either infringe the B.T.=H.
Co.'s patent or are not genuine gasfilled

lamps.

THE BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO., LTD.,
Mazda House, 77 Upper Thames Street, London, E.C.4

WoTh : Rugby. Willesden, Coventry. Birmingham. Branches : Manchester. Liverpool

Birmingham. Sheffield, Leeds. Newcastle. Middlesbrc. Cardiff, Swansea, Glasgow and Dublin

The £lectrician.

June 30, 1922

• • •

A-I ELECTRIC RESISTANCE WELDING MACHINES
and ELECTRIC RIVET HEATERS

THIS ILLUSTRATION SHOWS HOW
THE WORK IS GRIPPED BETWEEN
THE CLAMPS WHEN WELDING

STATOR WELDERS for WELDING COPPER WIRE, etc,
also HAIR PIN WINDING OF STATORS

CAPACITIES UP TO 5/16 In. DIAMETER OR SECTION OF EQUAL AREA
INSTANTANEOUS AND AUTOMATIC IN ACTION

SPOT, BUTT AND SEAM WELDEBS

A-I ELECTRIC WELDING APPLIANCES COMPANY

{Owners and Manufacturers of the A.I Patents and Machines)
Office and Demonstration Room

183, Westminster Bridge Road, LONDON, S.E.1

Telephone: HOP 3868 Telegrams: "AlWELDS." LAMB, LONDON

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

Ixi

Jti/X tr9.CtS/rom owr

Specification

TERMINALS

These are fitted inside the stator feet, making
them both easily accessible and well protec-
ted ; a standard tapped hole suitable for
conduit is provided.

WE SHALL BE
PLEASED TO SEND A
COPY ON REQUEST

HIGGS(m)BROS

Manufacturers of

AC&DC MOTORS
DC DYNAMOS

MOTOR
GENERATORS

Head Office and Works

SAND PITS, BIRxMINGHAM

CENTRAL 1648 • "HIGBRO"
LONDON • 265 STRAND, W.C.2 • City 5956

MANCHESTER • 3 YORK ST. • City 3713

(Lancashire and Cheshire)

LEEDSoo- 84 ALBION STREET • 22762

(Yorkshire)

Transporting
& Conveying
Machinery

MECHANICAL HANDLING
difficulties are much better
dealt with by co-operation than by
individual action. May we not come
together, and discuss your problems ?
Remember I we manufacture
machinery that we are proud of.

W. J. JENKINS & CO., LTD.,

Beehive Works,

RETFORD, Notts.

Telophon* Not. 131132 Retford
'rcle;ram« : "Je-kins. Rerfoid."

WRITE FOR DHSCRIPTIVB LIST K41.

Laadoa Offic* :

17. Vittoria St. S.W.I

Tele: 22S2 Vic.

Ixii

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

ISCALY
I BOILERS

eat a Big Hole
in your Profits

Here's the remedy — fine Flake
Graphite. A small quantity of
D XON'S fed into the boilers
every day not only loosens all
existing scale in steam pipes and
boilers, but protects the metal sur-
faces and prevents the accumula-
tion of fur and water deposits.
Why ? Because

DIXON'S

Boiler Graphite

penetrates into cracks, loosens the
scale ; forms a fine smooth polish
upon metal surfaces, preventing

pitting, minimising repairs, and

facilitating cleaning,

whilst prolonging tVe life of
boilers and increasing the
efficiency of heating surfaces.

Booklet "E," post free on request, tells
all. Write for it now.

C. R AVERILL (Sole Agent)

JOSEPH DIXON CRUCIBLE CO.,
28, Victoria Street, London, S.W.I

Established 1827.

Get DIXON'S
and you will
get satisfacti n

Telegrams :
" Crucigraph, Vic, London.'

Telephone ;
Victoria 1754.

LEFAX

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house. Leave facts to Lefax and keep

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The fa ts are presented to you on the loose-leaf pages of a pocket memo-
randum book. FACTS pertaining to your industry or to your profession
may be selected from 3,000 loose-leaf technical treatises.

Lefax Loose Leaf Data Sheets

The data sheets contain up-to-date practical reference information on
all branches of engineering, chemistry, architecture, agriculture, business,
and general subjects. They are loose-leaf, 6i "^ 3f inches. They enable
you to carry in a handy pocket bind r just the facts you need at any p irti-
cular time, and to build up a compact reference file relating strictly to the
subjects in which you are interested. You buy only the sheets that you
neod.

Tho information is gathered only from reliable sources, boiled down to
essentials and carefully checked by our own editorial staff assisted Ly con-
sulting experts in nearly every line of endeavour. No pains are spared to
insure absolute accuracy.

The sheets come to you all ready for systematic filing either numerically,
alphabetically, by the Dewey Decimal classification or by your own filing
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New data sheets are published monthly, divided into 11 classes. Here
again you can get just what you want because you need only subscribe to
the class or classes in which you are interested.

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among the thousands of data sheets already published, and among the new
ones published monthly, many sheets containing facts that will save you
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Ask us for particulars, stating details of your requirements-

N:0RMAN & HILL, LTD..

54, HOLB3RN VIADUCT, LONDON, E.C.I

mmuiE.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

1X111

MISCELLANEOUS ADVERTISEMENTS.

Is. 3d. per line, single column.

(minimum, 3t.)

CONTRACTS OPEN.
LEGAL NOTICES.
PARTNERSHIPS.
AGENCIES.

Is. per line, single column.

APPOINTMENTS VACANT AND WANTED.
SALES BY AUCTION. PATENTS.

PLANT AND MACHINERY FOR SALE AND WANTED.
PREMISES FOR SALE. TO LET AND WANTED.
SITUATIONS VACANT. MI.CELLANEOUS.

12s. per inch, tingle column.

EDUCATIONAL

AN.NOU.NCEMENTS

9d. per line, single column.

'minimum, 2*. 3d.)
SITUATIONS WANTED.

All announcements of this description averase 10 words to a line, and must be prepaid. Replies to Advertisements can be addressed
to the Ofl&ces to be called for, but where these replies are to be sent on to Advertiser by post, 6d. must be added for postage.

'Phone:
City 9852 (5 lines).

THE "ELECTRICIAN" ADVERTISEMENT DEPARTMENT.

8 Bouveritt Street, Fleet Street, London, E.C 4,

Wi«e:
Benbrotric Fleet London.'

TENDERS INVITED.

FOR SALE.

LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL.

TENDERS are invited for the supply, delivery and
erection of HIGH TEiSTSION SWITCHGEAR at the CENTRAL IlEPAIR
DEPOT, CHARLTOX. The specification, form of tender and general conditions
may be obtained from the Clerk of the Council, County Hall, Westminster Bridge,
S.E.l, on payment to the Cashier of the Council of a deposit of £2, which amount will
be returnable on receipt of a bona fide tender. Particulars of the work may be
obtained on application at the County Hall before payment of the fee.

Tende.s should be addressed to the Clerk of the Council and delivered at the County
Hall, Westminster Bridge, S.E.l, not later than four p.m. on Monday, July 24,
1922. No tender received after that time will be considered.
The Council does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender.

JAMES BIRD,
Clerk of the London Coimty Council.

WIRE TINNED COPPER. Schedule 31, August 15.
CABLE SWITCHBOARD SILK AND COTTON COVERED. Schedule
35, August 22. AUTOMATIC COMMON BATTERY TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT,
TOGETHER WITH ALL ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING EQUIP-
MENT FOR USE AT SUBSCRIBERS' PREMISES. Schedule 39 and 40, October 17.
PROTECTOR APPARATUS. Schedule 563, August 9.

Tenders, returnable on the dates named, are invited by the Commonwealth of
Australia for supply of the above-mentioned. For Tender Forms, Specifications, and
full particulars apply. Supply Officek, Room 101. Australia House, Strand, London.

TELEGRAPH AND/OR TELEPHONE APPARATUS,
TESTING INSTRUMENTS, PROTECTIVE APPARATUS (Schedule 734).
Tenders are receivable for the above by the Deputy Postmaster-General, Perth,
Western AuBtralia, up to noon on Wednesday, 26th July, 1922. For Tender Forms,
Specifications, etc., apply Supply Officer, Room 101, Australia House, Strand,
London, W.C.2.

THE High Commissioner for India is prepared to receive
TENDERS for the supply of :—

1. Automatic Telephone Sets, Desk and Wall.

2. Cords for Telephone Switchboards, etc.

3. Cells of various descriptions for Accumulators.

Forms of Tender may be obtained from the Director- General, India Store Depart-
ment, Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.E.l, and Tenders are to be delivered at that
Office not later than TWO o'clock p.m. on Friday, July 21, 1922.

T. RYAN,

Director- General .

PATENT RIGHTS FOR SALE, &c.

THE Patentee of certain " Improvements in apparatus
for transforming, and especially for rectifying, alternating or polyphase
currents," No. 102 977, already in successful operation on the Continent, desires to
procure the commercial working of the invention in the United Kingdom, and with
that object is prepared to grant licences to suitable British Manufacturers and to
furnish them with all necessary information and assistance. Enquiries may be
addressed to Mr. G. G. M. Hardingh.^m, Clun House, Surrey Street, London, W.C.2.

Patents and Designs Acts, 1907 and 1919.
'• ELECTRIC ROTARY CONVERTERS."

THE Proprietors of British Letters Patent No. 16933/15
are prepared to sell the patent or to license British Manufacturers to work
under it. It relates to a rotary converter having an automatic switch controlled by
the speed of the armature to open and close the outgoing alternating current circuit.
Address: B. W. & T.,

112 Hatton Garden,
London, E.C.I.

HE Proprietors of Letters Patent No. 131,166 relating

to
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING DISTANT DEVICES BY

MEANS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
desire to dispose of their Patent or to grant licences to interested parties on reasonable
terms with a view to the adequate working of the Patent in this Country.
Enquiries to be addressed to

CRUIKSHANK AND FAIRWEATHER,
6.1-66, Chancery Lane,

Loudon, W.C.2.

DIESEL TWIN CYLINDER ENGINE 160 h.p. by
Carels Frercs wit h Tangye centrifugal pump, cooling tower ar--' • - ' i- - -"-asaiy
oil tanks and pump. Compound 100 kW. D.C. generator : panels f;- tble

instruments; 3 ton hand travelling crane, etc., together with ! ED

IRON BUILDING 24 ft. high 37i feet long, 21 ft. wide, glaz^ i.....» „., . ..^lOi-
boarding inside ; roof half glazed. Appiv Box J. X. D., Electrician Ot&cea, 8,
Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4.

FOR SALE : 35 kW Electric Generating Set comprising
Westinghouse 3-cylinder 53 B.H.P. Vertical Gas Engine coupled to Westing-
house 220-volt Dynamo. Switchboard Panel, Ammeters, Voltmeters. Switches, etc.
Also Aston Motors 220-volt D.C, one 10 b.h.p., three 7.5 b.h.p.. two 5 B.H.P., on*
4 B.H.P. , and one 1 b.h.p. — Fuller details Box 22. Post Office, Bristol.

FOR SALE.— PUMPING PLANT, comprising two Pulao-
meter Stereophagne Pumps, each pumping 100 gal. per min., each pump
connected to a 5 h.p. D.C. Electric Motor, 220 volts 202 amperes, with Starters,
Regulators, Cut-outs on Switchboard, Vacuum Starter and accessorie?. Laid down
in 1918 and as good as new and in perfect order. Price, £200. — SjilTH, 48, Satton
Road, Southend-on-Sea.

NEW TELEPHONE CABLE, rubber and cotton covered,
30s. mile. Henley's Brass-sheathed 7 twin, suitable for rnArshy land and
underground work, 130s. per J mile. Prescot lead-covered 4 pair, lOOa. per J mile.
Bell Wire, 10s. per J mile. — David Greex and Son', lu5, S€>Tnour Road, Ljtham,
Lanes.

ONE Lancashire Boiler, 30 ft. by 8 ft., 1-10 lbs. steam, by
Clay-ton, Leeds, fitted with Deighton's patent flues. £400 on site.

ONE 95 kW Willans Compound Engine, coupled direct to Rosling and Appleby
6 pole compound wound generator, 120 volts, 460 revs.

ONE 60 H.P., 2-pha3e slip ring Motor, 200 Volts, 50 cycles, 720 revs., by Fuller,
fitted with B.L. and S.C. device, complete with pulley, rails, oil immersed starter And
double pole switch and fuses. Price £120 delivered.

ONE 300 kW Compound wound Generator, by Brush Co., Ltd., 300 volts, 250
r.p.m., with outer bearings, half coupling and bt dplate, suitable for coupling dUeet
to Steam or Internal Combustion Engine ; would give about 350 h.p. at 2oO revs, as a
motor. Price £300 f.o.r.

SEVEN brand-new 440/500 volts, 850 revs., Siemens, shunt interpoles Motors, 10,
20 and 30 Horse Powers, complete with pulleys, rails and Igranic starting panels.

Large stocks of A.C. and D.C Motors, also several A.C. and D.C. Generators.
ALL GU.'.RANTEED ONE YE.\R.

Hudson's Eleotrio.a.l Bngiseerin'o Co., 7 and 8, Prudential BuUdings, Park
Row, Leeds. 'Phone 22792. Telegrams : " AlternAte," Leeds.

ON SALE, Two Electric Automatic Type-Printing Ticker
Equipments, transferred from Buenos .\ires and Rio de Janeiro after short
working, say 3 to 400 Tickers with Motors, D)'namos and Accessories, in Impaired
condition. — Full details and specifications provided on application to Oomtklbcvo,
Limited, 11, Tokenhouse Yard, E.C.2.

TELEPHONES, National desk portable, Magneto ringing,
complete with battery case, flex, and terminals, 25s. each. Exchaogea 8
lines. 308. each. — D. Greex and Son, Seymour Road, L>-thaffl, Lanes.

FOR SALE. — Oiiices without a copy of the " Electrician "
Electrical Trades' Directory for 1922 are without the only publicatloa that
contains a complete Tradee" Directory of the Electrical Indusuy. 1,430 pa<«^
50,000 entries. Price 2as. net. Postage (inland) la.— Bkxs Brothkrs, Ltd.,
8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C.4.

FOR SALE. — Particulars and Valuable Statistics relating
over 1,750 British Colonial and Foreign Electricity Supply CndertaUnjs ara
given In the 1922 Edition of the " Electrician " Tables. Bound in limp doth, pried
10s. net, by post lOs. OU.— Benn Brother.^, Ltd., S, Bouverie Street, London, K,C.4.

NOTICE.

1'^HE Eastern Extension, Australasia and China Tele-
graph Company, Limited. The Share Register of this Company will be
closed from the 1st to the 8th July, both days inclusive. By Order, F. E. HESSE,
General ^Manager, Electra House, Moorgate, London, E.C.2. June 22, 1922.

PARTNERSHIP WANTED.

DIRECTORSHIP.— Mr. J. F. Poynter, 75, CanoDbury-
Road, N.l, will be glad to hear from friends willing to associate with him la
the reconstruction and future managen\ent of the " Maxim " lamp factory. £5 000
required. __ ai

Ixiv

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

EDUCATIONAL NOTICE.

FINSBUKY TECHNICAL COLLEGE,
LEONARD STREET, CITY ROAD, E.0.2.

DEAN FOR THE SESSION, 1921-22 :
PROFESSOR W. H. ECCLES, D.SC, F.R.S.

The College provides practical scientific training for Students who desire to become
Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineers, or Chemists. tt*

Candidates are required to pass an Entrance Examination in Mathematics and
English, but the Matriculation Certificate of any British University, and certain
other qualifications are accepted in lieu of it. The next Entrance Examination will
be held on Tuesday, September 19. Applications for admission should be forwarded
to the College on forms to be obtained from the Registrak. The Programme of the
College is under revision and will be issued shortly.

SITUATIONS VACANT.

BELFAST CORPORATION.

ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT.

APPLICATIONS are invited for the position of
GENERATING ENGINEER. Candidates must have had experience in a
large power station and be conversant with e.h.t. three-phase generation from coal
to switchboard. He will be responsible to Works Superintendent for the efficient
operation of the plant and will have control of station operation staff.
Salary in accordance with N.J.B. Schedule, Class F, Grade 5.
Applications, stating age, giving full particulars of training, experience, qualifica-
tions, and the earliest date on which duties could be commenced, together with
copies of three recent testimonials, to be received not later than Monday, July 10.
JOHNSTONE WRIGHT, M.I.E.E.,
City Electrical Engineer and Business Manager.
Electricity Works,
East Bridge Street, Belfast.
June 27, 1922.

MAN used to Wireless to take charge of Department in
the Jlidlands, handling popular sets for " Broadcasting " reception. Must
thoroughly understand technical and commercial details, able to buy in right markets
and prepaxe Sales Campaigns. Part salary and payment by results. — Apply, stating
experience and enclosing copy references to J. X. G., Electrician Offices, 8, Bouverie
Street, E.C.4.

HE Advertisers under Box J.W.Z. beg to thank

applicants and to say the position is now filled.

SITUATIONS WANTED.

JUNIOR ELECTRICAL DRAUGHTSMAN, age 21,

%3 wishing to gain experience, seeks post with Municipal Undertaking or Manu-
facturer. H.T. and L.T., Switchgear, Substations, Mains, Lighting. — Box J. X. E.,
Electrician OflSces, 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.G. 4.

WIRELESS. — Public School man, first-class certificate
Marconi, Telefunken systems, nine years' experience spark, valves,
telephony, requires appointment. Late Wireless OflScer R.A.F. Thoroughly
acquainted modem practice and latest developments amateur work ; good knowledge
general electrical work ; liighest references ; moderate salary. — Box J. X. C, Eleo.
TRICIAN Offices, 8, Bouverie Street, E.C.4.

MISCELLANEOUS.

WANTED. — Electrical Contractors in good residential
districts to handle the " Briarton " (British) Electric Washing Machine.
Good discount and technical assistance free. — Particulars from Arton and V^ALTON,
Ltd., sole makers, Thomas Street, Chectham Hill, Manchester.

OUR BOOK DEPARTMENT can supply your needs in
TECHNICAL BOOKS and places its services at your disposal. Send full
i nfonnation of your requirements to Manager, Book Department, Benn Bros., Ltd.,
8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C.4.

NTI-SULPHURIC'ENAME

Should be used in all ACCUMULATOR ROOMS.

SOLE MAKERS : for Protection from Acid Fumes.

GRIFFirHi BROS. & CO., L« NOON, Ltd. ^''t^l^aii^Titr

PATENTS, TRADE MARKS &. DESIGNS

IN AI.I, COl'NTRIKS.

LEWIS WM. GOOLD, Chartered Patent Agents,

British Membvrs of t],i: .tvicrlcim I'lifiiit l.iiif .ISM„-i„ric,ii „,i,l of Ihr I iistiliiU- of PatciU

Jit,

:ORPORAT

Lewis Wm. Goold, Rowland L. Goolo,

F.C.I. p. A. C.I.MECH.C. F.C.I. P. A., r.C.S.. A.I.A.E., A.I.E.C,

Telcgrmm : •■ Uijilimittci/." /Ihiiin. Tilfiihonv : i;'iitral i700

5 CORPORATION STREET. P IRMINGH AM .

BENN BROTHERS'
List of Up-to-Date Books.

ELEMENTARY THEORY OF ALTERNATE
CURRENT WORKING. By Major G.
L. Hall, K.E. For many years a
standard textbook in colleges and
technical schools.

Second Edition, lis. 3d. Post Free.

ELECTRICITY METERS: TIEIR CON-
STRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT. By

C. H. W. Gerhardi, A.M.I.E.E. A

practical manual for central station
engineers, distribution engineers and
students.

" A valuable addition to the engineer's library."

Electrical Times.

Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged,
19s. Post Free.

ELECTRIC WELDING. Its theory, practice,
application, and economics. By H. S.
Marquand.

13s. 3d. Post Free.

ELECTRIC MAINS AND DISTRIBUTING
SYSTEMS. By J. R. Dick and F.

Fernie.

" The best book on the subject known to us."

Electrical Times.

Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged,
18s. 9d. Post Free.

THE ELECTRICAL HANDLING OF MATERIALS.

A manual on the design, construction,
and application of cranes, conveyors,
hoists and elevators. By H. H.
Broughton, M.Inst.M.E., M.Inst.E.E.
Vol. I. deals with Electrical Equipment,
and Vol. II. with Structural Work.
26s. a Volume. Post Free.

THE LOCALISATION OF FAULTS IN ELECTRIC
LIGHT AND POWER MAINS. By F. C.

Raphael, M.I.E.E.

Third Edition, Revised, 13s. 3d. Post Free.

NOTES ON THEORY AND DESIGN OF CON-
TINUOUS CURRENT MACHINES. By

Dr. Stanley Parker Smith.

" Admirable." — Electrical Review.

5s. Sd. Post Free.

PRIMARY BATTERIES.

struction, and use.
M.A., B.Sc.

Their theory, con-
By W. R. Cooper,

Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged,
16s. Pest Free.

BENN BROS., Ltd., 8 Bouverie St., E.C.4.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

Ixv

WALL
FAN

Swivel & Trunnion
BRACKET FANS

No. Dia. Blades. Voltage.

S3641 12 in. 200—225

Price £5 2 6

Direct Current.

No. Dia. Blades. Voltage.

S3646 12 in. 20O— 225

Price £5 14 0

Alternating Current.

Fans for ALL conditions

The fan season has already begun, and every
Electrical S ppller should see that his stock of
" Meta Fans is complete.

You can order " Meta Fans with every con-
fidence, for they have I een designed to meet
Universal Conditions both at home and abroad.

We a-'e already experiencing an enormous
demand for the popular "Meta Fan. which
for price and quality cannot be excelled-
Let us know your requirements at once.

All Prices

subject to

liberal

Trade

Discounts

Fixed Base

Type.

No.
S3631
S3633

Dia. Blades. Voltage.
10 in. 200—250
12 in. 200—250

Price.
£2 18 6
£3 16 6

Direct
Current j

S363S
S3637

- 10 in. 200—250
12 in. 200—250

£3 3 6
£4 3 6

Alternating
Cnrrent

LONDON-

-13 Charterhouse Bgs. E.G.
'Phone: Clerkenwell 1491.
'Grams: " Metatubes, Barb."

MANCHESTER— 63 Bridge Street,
Deansgate.
'Grams : "Flask."
LIVERPOOL— 57 Paradise Street.
'Phone: Royal 2806.
'Grams: " Metseam."

ELECTRICALENCINEERINC&k

mf/.//^^ >Icta.HouseXorpomtionS\ ^^^^^^._

SOLE SCOTTISH AGENTS:- , . ^ w j

Messrs. Rotary Engineenng Co., Ltd.
116 Hope Street, GLASGOW

LEEDS-9 York Place.

Phone: Cent. 24763.
Grams: "Flask."
SWANSEA— 3 Dillwyn Street.
'Phone: Cent. 206.
'Grams: " Flask."
NEWCASTLE-2 St. John Street.
'Phone: Cent. 822.
'Grams: "Flask."

SECTIONAL ELEVATION LOOKING TOWAfiU.>
OUTLET END.

Mei

Deptford Patent Rotary
Water Strainer.

TO maintain a high vacuum, clean circulating
water is essential.
The most economical and efficient cleanser is the
" Deptford " Rotary Self-Cleaning Strainer.
As the whole of the straining surface is thoroughly
cleaned rhree or four times per minu*:-^. Strainers
of large capacity are quite small.
When these Strainers are used, the usua' large
straining pits in the suction line are unnecessary.
Some of the Sirainers have been in continuous use
with Thames water for over 12 years. The cost
of upkeep has been almost negligible and they
have proved thoroughly reliable in operation.
The power required for op:?rating varies from 2 to
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THE LONDON ELECTRIC SUPPLY CORPORATION,

LIMITED,

Stowage Wharf, DEPTFORD, S.E.8.

Ixvi

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

MULIARD mLVE EQUIPMENT

'^O ensure that users of Mullard
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June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

Ixvii

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Ixviii

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

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The Electrician

June 30, 1922

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THE ELECTRICIAN

ESTABLISHED 1861.
THE OLDEST WEEELY ILLUSTRATED JOURNAL OF

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No, 2302. [

No. 26
Vol. LXXXV

'viii.J

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1922.

Prepaid Subscription V.K., £l 5s.
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Notes of the Week

Their House in Order.. .. .. .. ..

The Choice of Steam Conditions in Modern Power Stations

By L. C. Kemp. Illustrated
Review

CONTENTS.

769

Recent Tendencies of Switchgear Design Manufacture.

J. R. Cowie. Illustrated
A Commentary on Power Station Switchgear. By \V.

Coates. Illustrated . .

The Development of Condensing Plant and .'Auxiliaries.
J. "H. Shaw. Illustrated

Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association —
Presidential Address

The Extension of the Use of Electricity for Domestic
Purposes. By Lieut.-Colonel \V. A. Vignoles.
Illustrated

Administration and Control of Electricity Departments.
By E. Calvert

77.1

774

777

778

7«4

788

792

!..,!.

Sub-station Equipment in<
R A. Chattock . .

Annual Report
Correspondence . .
The Magnet Club and Electric C ooJitry
" Usco " Ash Conveyor at Wolverhampton
Confirmation of Electrical Schemes
A Mercury^ Turbo-Generator Plant
I.E.E. War Memorial
Parliamentary InteUigence
Legal Intelligence
Electricity Supply . .
Electric Traction . .
Business Items
Wireless and Telegraph Notes
Companies' Meetings and Reports
Commercial InteUigence
Patent Record

707
799

800
800
800

So I
801

>oj

v,3

S04

S04
S04
So 5
^■07

Notes of the Week.

The First Electricity District Authorised.

The second inquiry into the scheme for the South East
Lancashire Electricity District proved to be formal, only
occupying a couple of hours. The brevity and com-
paratively harmonious character of the proceedings are
to be attributed to the fact that the engineers, led by
Mr. S. L. Pearce, had agreed upon a policy w^hich, while
it confers the local autonomy desired in the district, gives
useful powers of co-ordination of both supply and expendi-
ture. The new Advisory Board will not have much to do
or say except to advise and recommend, but in the course
of time, as the good effects of co-operation manifest them-
selves, we have no doubt its influence will grow, and it may
lead to a closer association of the various supply authorities
— even to the formation of a Joint Electricity Authority.

Railway Companies' Frivolous Opposition.

The only objection to the formation of the Advisory Board
came from the railway companies serving the district,
though we cannot see any substance in their demands.
The Midland Company objected to the compulsory
supply of statistics, but as all railways are so accus-
tomed to the preparation and supply of statistics there
can be no real grievance in having to supply a few extra
figures relating to the generation and use of electricity.
The opposition of the North Western Company was to
the Commissioners having the right to accept any recom-
mendation of the Advisory Board. This sounds somewhat
like objecting to the principles of the Electricity (Supply)
Act of 1919 and to the powers of the Commissioners, and
will, we hope, receive speedy justice. The Town Clerk of

Manchester asked for the insertion of clauses authorising
the payment of pensions to retiring officials and to enable
members of the new Board to be paid for loss of remunera-
tive time while engaged on the affairs of the Board. As
practically the whole of the useful work to be done will be
performed by the Committee of Engineers, we hope that
the Commissioners will consider this matter very carefully
and will hesitate to set up what may be a dangerous pre-
cedent for using public funds in an improper way.

Substation Practice and Performance.

It is unfortunate that circumstances, avoidable and
unavoidable, combined to cut short the discussion on
Mr. R. A. Chattock's Paper at the I.M.E.A. Conv-ention
last week. Eor when it withered in its early prime it
showed every prospect of becoming a valuable contri-
bution to those eternal problems : the comparative
advantages of alternating and 'direct current for distri-
bution purposes and the economic value of pro^^ding
sufficient plant to keep the supply going in everj' con-
ceivable circumstance. Short as the discussioQ. was it
showed, however, that the consensus of opinion is against
Mr. Chattock on the second of these two points. He. it
will be remembered, preaches and practices direct current
distribution combined with everj' precaution to ensure
continuity of supply in the strictest interpretation of the
teiTn. The natural corollary is, therefore, not only an
unusual proportion of spare converting plant in the sub-
stations, but a battery capable of maintaining the supplj'
for two hours.
Some Disadvantages of the Substation Battery.

Now a battery is at best an inefficient piece of apparatus
for such a purpose. It is costly in itself, £35 per k\V is the
figure mentioned in the Paper, and it adds to the costs
of the land, buildings, and switchgear involved in the

770

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

substation construction. If it is to be used entirely in
emergency it is a form of over-insurance which cannot
be recommended, and, if it is to be employed as a part of
the ordinary substation plant, its work can be better done
in other ways. It is significant to note that though Mr.
Chattock has been using batteries in substations for
some years, and that though in 1914 his policy was com-
mended it has never been widely followed; and is now
almost universally condemned.

Moving Towards A.C. Distribution.

This condemnation is due to a greater cause than any
defect inherent in the battery itself : the accelerated
movement towards alternating current distribution, com-
bined with a desire to get away from complications and
approach simplicity in power station practice. The lot of
the supply engineer saddled with a direct current system
is therefore not a happy one, though he is offered methods of
overcoming his difficulties which are worth examination.
In making a choice it will be necessary for economic
reasons to take risks rather than to play for safety. As
was emphasised by many speakers not only during this
discussion, but throughout the meeting, it is useless to
talk about " cheap and abundant " electricity if the
engineering policy of our supply undertakings mainly
results in increased capital costs. For this and for other
reasons it is a thousand pities that the discussion was so
curtailed. We hope an early opportunity will be taken
to deal further with the subject.

Municipal Finance.

The Paper read by Mr. Edward Calvert before the
Incorporated Municipal Electrical Association last week
raises an important question : How far shall the finance
of a municipal electricity department be controlled by
an official who is not imder the orders of the head of that
department ? This is one of those questions which it is
meet that a body like the I.M.E.A. should consider, but
it is one to which it is difficult to give a general answer.
This was evidently realised by those who discussed the
subject, many of whom inclined to consider that both the
problem and its solution lay in the clash of the personali-
ties of those most concerned — the electrical engineer and
the borough treasurer. In other words that it would
be best to arrange for the quality of tact to be present
in full measure in the composition of those two officials,
and to trust to it rather than to written laws and regulations.

A Financial Responsibility Necessary.

But further consideration will show that the matter
cannot be left there. It is obvious on the one hand
that nothing is to be gained by the electrical engineer
insisting on deahng with such matters as the raising of
loans or similar pure financial questions. On the other
hand everything is to be gained by the electrical
engineer having full financial control of Ws own depart-
ment ; in fact disaster will follow if he does not have
that control. Fortunately for the success of municipal
electricity supply the large majority of cases fall between
these two extremes and can be dealt with by a " give and
take " poUcy such as that outlined by Mr. W. C. P.
Tapper. In cases where the collection of accounts has
been allowed to fall into the hands of the borough treasurer
it is rather a matter for the conscience stricken engineer
to deal with than to bring into play the full weight of the
Association. In any event, as Mr. Wordingham said.

the engineer must have many tools in his bag, and a
knowledge of finance is one that should be kept among the
sharpest and most constantly in use.

Expenses — Wholesale or Retail.

By far the liveliest discussion at the I.M.E.A. Convention
was on whether the expenses of members attending
Council and Committee meetings should be paid by the
Association or by the authorities employing the individuals
concerned. The latter is the present procedure and the
weight of opinion seems to be in favour of its continuance.
But so divergent were the views expressed and so hot
some of the threats of what would follow if this or that
policy were or were not adopted that the meeting took
the wisest, if not the most heroic, course in postponing
further consideration untU next year. We hope that even
after further consideration no change will be made.
Individual local authorities gain advantages from having
a member on the Council and in the large majority of cases
have no objection to paying for these increased facilities.
On the other hand it is obvious that if each local authority
pays a share, on whatever basis that share is arranged,
the way will be open to undesirable bickering.

A Chance for Logical Action.

Another reason for making no change is that it is just
as well, even for associations, to be logical when they can.
To pay the Council members' expenses on a communal basis
and then to object to paying the Commissioners' expenses
on the same basis would hardly do. Yet we note that the
Association passed a strongly worded resolution that the
Commissioners' expenses should be a national charge,
which is going a step or so farther. On its merits
there is much to be said for making the change.
A large undertaking may cause the Commissioners very
little trouble (or expense), and contrariwise a small imder-
taking may cause them both, yet on the unit basis one
will pay a great deal more than the other. Moreover,
as the work of the Commissioners is undertaken for the
good of the nation as a whole, it might well be argued
that it should be paid for by the nation and not only by
a section of it. We are glad, therefore, that the resolution
was carried in spite of a characteristic outburst from
Mr. Purse, who drew a lurid picture of the results of
Government control. This, however, is largely a bogey.
The Commissioners work under statutory authority, and
wherever their money comes from will continue to perform
their duties in an atmosphere as free as possible from
Treasury minutes. A more weighty reason for the change
is that these expenses are becoming a heavy charge on
many undertakings with the unfortunate result that
" cheap and abundant " electricity is being relegated to an
ever and ever more distant future.

Possibilities of Tramway Development.

The papers read at the 14th annual congress of the
Tramways and Light Railways Association last week
revealed an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with pro-
gress and a suspicion, most frankly expressed by Mr.
Spencer, that tramway undertakings will have to rouse
themselves if they are going to compete successfully with
other forms of motor traffic. The record of the Bomne-
mouth tramways narrated by Mr. Bulfin was not a very
inspiring one. He explained past difficulties by the fact
that the Bournemouth Corporation was not bom with
tramways, hardly achieved them, but rather nad tramways

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

771

thrust upon them ! It was many years before the differ-
ences between the various interests were composed. Even
to-day Bournemouth, as a seaside resort, is not an
ideal place for a tramway undertaking. The winter
months almost inevitably lead to loss, which may or may
not be recouped by the influx of visitors during the
summer.

Railless Traction.

Mr. Munro, in deahng with railless traction, made out
a good case for this system in circumstances where the cost
of construction of a permanent track is not warranted ;
possibly Bournemouth might have benefited from the
method, had it been available in the past. The great
advantages are doubtless the low capital charges and small
cost per passenger mile. The author, however, did not
make enough of another advantage over the tramway — ^the
greater elasticity arising from the fact that cars are not tied
to a line of rails, and so have more freedom in negotiating
traffic and avoiding blocks due to the breakdown of an
individual car.

Improvements in Rolling Stock.

The third paper, by Mr. Spencer, dealt with improve-
ments in rolling stock. The contrast between the title and
contents of the paper reminds one of the famous chapter on
" Snakes in Iceland." There aren't any. It is doubtless
broadly true, as the author contends, that rolling stock is
substantially similar to that used 20 or 25 years ago. The
improvements he suggests, largely with a view to diminish-
ing weight, noise, and vibration, would doubtless be
valuable, though hardly revolutionary. There is, however,
good ground for thinking that tramcars constitute a pecu-
liarly good example of the British passion for solidity, and
that their weight might, with advantage, be materially
reduced. Mr. Spencer does no more than justice to the
enterprise of designers of motor vehicles. But it must be
conceded that in a vehicle that proceeds along iron rails
and is essentially electrical, the line of development was,
from the first, much more clearly defined.

Electricity Supply in Manchester.

The results of the past year's working of the Manchester
Corporation electricity department, the largest and most
important municipal undertaking in the United Kingdom,
are not quite as good as those for 1920-21. Considering
-the circumstances, however, they are quite as satisfactory
as could be expected. The total revenue was nearly
£1 430 000, compared with £1 547 226, a decrease of over
£117 231, mainly due to a drop in the sales of current for
lighting and power. The working expenditure was
£138 137 less, so that the gross profit was £452 893, against
£431 987 in the previous year ; but as interest, sinking
fund and other payments absorbed £408 329, the net
surplus was only £44 564, against £69 123. All interest
and sinking fund charges for the year on the new Barton
power station and the high tension mains therefrom were
met out of revenue, and to this fact, coupled with the
restrictions on the use of electricity, and the increased cost
of coal, must be attributed the temporary setback, for we
feel sure it is not more than temporary. The total sales
decreased by 21 per cent. (158-5 million units against
199 618 813), a strange experience for a department which
has shown progressive increases every year since its
inauguration, except in 1919 and 1920. The average price
of fuel only fell by is. 4d. a ton, and the average weight of

fuel rose o-03d. per unit sold, but we imagine there will be
a substantial improvement on these figures during the
current year as the quality of the coal has improved and
its price has decreased.

Year's Progress and Developments.

We are interested to note that fair progress has been
maae with the Barton power station, though it b to be
feared there will be a delay in the erection of the plant
owing to the engineers' strike. No. i boiler house at
Stuart Street has been modernised, and an additional
8 000 kW turbo-alternator and condensing plant have been
installed. This station now contains 100 250 kW of plant,
and it is therefore probably the largest single station now
operating in the country, at any rate municipally owned.
A number of sub-stations, both d.c. and a.c, have
been enlarged or erected ; a net addition of over 50 miles
has been made to the mains, and considerable progress has
been made with the 33 000 V transmission cables in con-
nection with the Barton supply. The electric lighting of
six streets was carried out, thus completing the scheme of
public lighting sanctioned by the Council. There are now
858 public electric lamps, compared with 564 in 1921. A
considerable advance has also been made with the lighting
of the various housing estates, and work has been completed
on the inhabited portions of six estates. It will thus be
seen that the past year was one of great activity and pro-
gressive achievement in many ways. The total capital
outlay is now £5 607 698, but the mortgage debt is only
£3 248 936, and there are substantial reserve and renewals
accounts, amounting jointly to nearly £230 000. The
undertaking is therefore in a prosperous condition, and
provided the trade boom materialises, next year's accounts
should show a decided improvement.

Railway Accident Statistics.

The " Returns of Railway Accidents dming 1921 " and
the report of the Ministry of Transport Committee, presided
over by Colonel Pri.nGle, which was appointed in October
1920 to consider the adoption of automatic train control,
have been issued with an opportune simultaneity. With
regard to the former, out of i 217 687 000 passengers carried
only 18 were killed in accidents to trains and 71 from other
accidents connected with the running of trains or other
railway vehicles. In addition 11 railway ser\-ants and
three other persons were killed in accidents, while suicide
accounted for 250, making a grand total of 726 for
passengers and railway servants killed for one reason or
another. This figure is ver\' small compared with the
number of passengers carried, and except for the suicides,
with whom it is difficult to know how to deal, it might be
argued that perfection has as nearly been reached as it ever
will be.

The Advantages of Automatic Control.

But the object of automatic train control is something
other than the prevention of accidents, useful as that
prevention will be. In the first place it will make possible
the acceleration of both signal and train movements,
and for these reasons its use is almost compulsor>' where
electrification is undertaken. It will relieve a number of
men from an exacting and heavy task, and, while increasing
efficiency, will at least reduce a mmiber of \mnecessar>-
deaths due to human or mechanical failure. Experience
on the London Undergroimd Railways ^^is sufficient
guarantee of that. It is interesting to note that after a

772

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

period of prejudice the drivers are now favourably inclined
to train control, and the real difficulties are to make a
selection of the various systems and to take the necessary
steps towards the standardisation of both track and
locomotive equipment. With this end in view the
Committee, who see the weak points rather than the advan-
tages in all the systems now available, recommend the
immediate formation of a committee of experts for this
purpose. From the merely human point of view it is
work that should be undertaken.

The Northumberland Clause in a Gas Bill.

The principle embodied in what is known as the
Northumberland clause, has in the past been appHed to a
number of electricity undertakings. It is somewhat of
a novelty, however, to see it in a gas Bill. As our readers
know, it was introduced in 1904 at the instance of the gas
interests who dreaded the effect of competition by
municipal electricity undertakings. Generally speaking,
the clause which imposes upon municipal authorities the
obhgation of fixing their charges for electricity supply
so that their undertakings shall not become a charge upon
the rates, is fair, for all municipal services such as electricity
or gas should be self-supporting. Therefore we are glad
a Select Committee of the House of Commons has now
inserted the clause in the Bill of the Stretford Joint Gas
Board, which is to take over the business of the old gas
company. The Board will not be allowed to impose a rate-
in-aid until the maximum permissible price has been
reached, and when this event happens it must apply to
the Board of Trade for authority. Thus a device invented
for the protection of gas interests is now being applied
against them ! Poetic justice !

The Eastern Companies Jubilee.

When an industry celebrates its jubilees, as the
electrical industry is now doing, it is not necessarily a sign
that it is growing old. Indeed we are pleased to think
that in the case of our own industry it is an indication of
an increased virility and of a determination to make
progress in the future proportional to what has been made
in the past. That, we feel sure, is the view of those
responsible for the conduct of the Eastern and Associated
Telegraph Companies, a group of undertakings which will
celebrate their jubilee on July 24 by a banquet, fete and
reception in the gardens of the Royal Botanic Society.
The Duke of York has expressed his intention of being
present, and invitations have been issued to men and
women, both British and foreign, who are distinguished in
science, art, and literature. The opportunity is to be
seized by the staffs of the companies to present their
chairman, Sir John Denison-Pender, with a volume
containing the signatures of nearly 8 000 subscribers, and
the reproduction in platinum set with brilliants of the
stars of the Orders of St. Michael and St. George, and of
the British Empire. In addition, a bed will be endowed
in St. Bartholomew's Hospital in memory of the late Lady
Denison-Pender.

Fifty Years of Progress.

In our Diamond Jubilee issue last November we gave a
detailed account of the progress with which the Eastern
Telegraph group had been connected. It will be sufficient
to say here that when the Eastern Co. was incorporated
in 1872, only about 8 000 nautical miles of cables were
in existence, while now there are roundly 325 000 miles.
The capital invested in submarine cable enterprise
fifty years ago was £2000000, now it is £50000000,

nearly half of which is represented by the undertakings
comprising the Eastern and Associated Telegraph
Companies. Technically, though not so spectacular,
progress has been equally sure. And it is interesting to
note that the Eastern Co., by establishing their own
research department were among the first to realise that
for success science, technology and commerce must go ever
hand-in-hand. They have built firm and sure. There is
little doubt that the next fifty 5'ears will add further
success to their credit, so that the celebration will not only
recall the past, but welcome the future.

A Duty on Illuminating Ware.

The Report of Sir William Ashley's Committee on
Domestic, Illuminating and Mounting Glassware, is of
some interest to readers of The Electrici.'^n as, in conse-
quence of its findings, an Order 'has been made by the
Board of Trade imposing a duty of 33^ per cent, on glass
imported from Germany. The. Committee found that the
import of electric bulbs in 1921 from Germany and Czecho-
slovakia was not on a sufficiently large scale to have a
serious effect upon unemplo5mient. On the other hand, the
Committee find (with one dissentient) that the statutory
conditions, required before a duty can be imposed on
domestic and illuminating ware, were fulfilled. Conse-
quently, an Order has been made applying the duty for
two years. This is good ; but we regret the restriction
should be confined to German goods alone, for we are
afraid that under the circumstances neither the manu-
facturers nor the workers in the British glass industry \vill
reap much benefit.

The Newcomen Society.

At the second summer meeting of the Newcomen Society,
which was held recently in London, the proceedings were
mainly devoted to visits to places of either intrinsic
historical interest or where equipment of historical interest
was to be found. The first of these included Westminster
Hall, with its centuries-old roof, and a great deal of time
was spent in inspecting the steps that have been taken to
repair and protect the roof of this structure from the
ravages of the death-watch beetle. In the second class
were the Rotunda at Woolwich, where old arms and
ordnance were examined, the Naval Museum at Green\vich,
and the Deptford pumping station of the Metropolitan
Water Board, where two Watt engines were on %aew, AH
these visits are instructive in that they show the^ advances
that have been made in our knowledge of engineering design
and construction during even a hundred years. But it is
to be hoped that at some of its subsequent meetings the
Society will deal with apparatus of electrical interest.

Their House in Order.

The technical proceedings at the twenty-seventh Annual
Convention of the Incorporated Municipal Electrical
Association, of which we give a full and complete account
elsewhere in this week's issue, fall naturally into three parts.
Perhaps from the purely technical point of view it might be
said that none of these parts was more important than the
others. Sub-station design and the control of finance are
obviously both questions that have not yet been given a
final solution, and still present problems that require treat-
ment. For that reason it is well they should be discussed.
But looking at the matter from the broadest possible point
of view, these two questions are completely overshadowed

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

773

by what may be conveniently called the subject of develop-
ment. It is therefore fortunate that the President's
Address, with Colonel Vignoles' Paper and the discussion
thereon, formed a unit of opinion concentrated into one
day of the meeting from which some very useful lessons
can be drawn.

The Reiteration of Fundamentals.

The President's Address deals in generalities. It
states fundamental propositions which have been stated
before, stated so often, in fact, that they have become trite.
But because a statement is trite it is not necessarily un-
true ; and it is sometimes well, if not essential, that it
should be reiterated, and reiterated, until its lessons have
been acted upon and it can be consigned to an honourable
position in our mental museum.

The Tribute of Attention.

When, for instance, Mr. Allen announces that : " The
electricity supply industry is indissociably wrapped up in
other great industries," and that " Each section of industry,
by its action or inaction, affects the destinies of other
sections," the ordinary individual automatically brings
into play his critical and cynical faculties, shrugging his
shoulders in a depreciatory way at this glorification of the
obvious. But do the majority of electrical engineers,
whether they be connected with supply or manufacturing,
or research or teaching, or selling, or with any other branch
of the industry, always act as if that interdependence were
ever present in their minds ? They do not ; because they do
not realise its truth in practice, however much they may
pay it the compliment of a depreciatory shrug. For
that reason we are pleased that this obvious fact was
stated by Mr. Allen, by Mr. Hirst at the luncheon given
by the General Electric Company to the Convention, and
by Dr. Ferranti at the Annual Dinner. Such a body of
opinion should be paid the tribute and attention and the
still greater tribute of action. For if I.M.E.A. are really, as
Dr. Ferranti said, trustees for the electricity users, they
must not run the risk of being treated as false trustees.

An Atomic Fable.

Now Sir Ernest Rutherford, as we noted last week,
has recently been telling us something about the constitu-
tion of the atom. The atom is composed of a large number
of smaller, and to some extent antagonistic, bodies. These
bodies are constantly in motion. They possess an amount
of energy which is large but can with difficulty be released
for useful purposes ; and their actions and interactions,
therefore, go far to neutralise their potential utility.

A National Service.

Now analogies are not always exact, but our imperfect
account of the modern atomic theory, and still more a study
of Sir Ernest Rutherford's Kelvin lecture, may be re-
commended as a fable (with a moral) to those who think
that all is well with the electrical industry and that progress
can be achieved by sitting down and waiting for it, with
intervals for the exercise of their skill in tennis and golf. To
quote Mr. Allen again : " Directly we realise that elec-
tricity supply is a national service we also realise the
opportunity of establishing between contending parties
within the industry that confidence the absence of which
may have been the cause of troubles and delays in the past."

Meeting a Universal Demand.

We believe it was Colonel Crompton who, a short time
ago, said that what the electrical industry had to sell was

electricity — a commodity that everyone would increasingly
require. We suppose that this also is trite, but it certainly
is not always realised. That is sufficiently evident from
the discussion on Colonel Vignoles' Paper, to which we
have referred above. Colonel Vignoles laid down, quite
rightly, that the domestic load must be developed to supple-
ment and to relieve the fluctuations in the power load, and
that to do this means paying much more attention in the
fucure to the small consumer and especially to encouraging
him to employ more and more electrical apparatas. He
lays down as essentials for this development propaganda,
hiring, and a low price per unit.

The Scientific Tariff Bogey.

Now a discussion on any or all of these points would
have been both interesting and profitable. Yet what do we
find ? Speaker after speaker rising, not to suggest means
for selling electricity but methods for discovering a tariff
which shall be scientifically accurate and, at the same time,
bring into the undertaking a fair economic return from each
consumer. It is like the search for the Philosopher's Stone ;
and about as hkely to succeed. What we want is the
business, not the scientific, view point.

Waiting for the Future.

Then there is the reminiscent, or self-congratulator>'
speaker. We say this in no carping spirit. It is satis-
factory to find that there are so many enthusiasts for
development and so much enterprise is being successfully
displayed. But these speakers do not seem to imbue their
audiences with their enthusiasm, and to that extent they fail.
In any event there is much more to do than has ever been
done. Finally there is the t^-pe of man who is sure that the
domestic load is a thing of the future, but proposes to wait
for the future (and the perfect machine) before he does any-
thing to help progress. The Watts, the Stephensons,
the Ferrantis have always been in a minority amongst
us, but nowadays we seem, in addition, to have more than
our fair share of Doubting Thomases. Coupled with these
is the man who thinks there is nothing in the domestic load.
It is wonderful to find how many of him there are among
central-station engineers. But it is difficult to say anything
about him that will pass the censor. We do not propose
to try.

Get Rid of Pessimism.

One thing, however, is e\adent : the electricity supply
industry must rid itself of pessimism, and, though it may
seem a bold thing to say, of science, at least in connection
with tariffs, electricity supply is a business, not a science,
and requires business men to rim it. The others must
change their methods, as they could easily afford to do, or
drop out. Fortunately there is this saving grace about the
whole matter. The industry, partly \\ittingly and partly
unwittingly, has, like Frankinstein, riised a monster. The
public has already begun to demand cheap and abundant
electricity. It \vill not rest until it is supplied.

What Cheap Electricity Means.

Yet that, after all. is a poor tiling to permit to happen
to us. How much better would it be, in Mr. Hirst's
fine phrase, to work and endeavour to inoculate England
^vith electricity I Such an enterprise is abundantly worth
while. It \\\\\ mean the continued healthy growth of the
electrical industry', and all the industries dependent upon
it, which are the majority of the industries of the country.
It ^vill thereby mean the restoration of the worlds trade
and continued and permanent commercial prosperity.

774 -^^^ Electrician — June 30, 1922

The Choice of Steam Conditions in Modern

Power Stations.

By L. C. KEMP, B.So. (Eng.) A.M.Inst.C.E.

During the last few years much thought has been given to
thermo-dynamics in relation to the design of steam power
stations, and considerable progress has been made in the
improvement of overall thermal efficiency. Steam pressures
£ind temperatures have been rapidly increased, and it is of
interest that in this respect British has tended to be ahead
of American practice. At the same time, it is a fact that
the advantages derivable from a proper selection of steam
conditions have not received adequate recognition, and it is
only in comparatively few cases, among the most modern

o-4ro

^ 0-40(A
^0-390

ti 0-380

% 0-370

0-360

0-350

034O-

of:

^5^

'//

^//

200 300 400 500 600 700 600
Pressure-Lbs. per square inch gau^e.

Fig. I.- — Variation of Heat Conversion Co-efficient
WITH Pressure.

power stations, that the results of investigation into the
subject have been put into practical effect.

Initial Steam Temperature and Efl&ciency.

The higher the initial temperature of the steam on its
admission to a heat engine the better will be the efficiency
of generation. This is due both to the greater proportion
of heat available for conversion into mechanical energy and
to the fact, in the case of the steam turbine, that the thermo-
dynamic efficiency is, generally speaking, improved by an
increase in the total temperature or superheat. Recipro-
cating engines are, for mechanical reasons, incapable of
dealing with steam at the high temperatures now con-
sidered permissible, and this may be mentioned as one of
the many weU-known reasons for the choice of the steam
turbine as the prime mover best suited to the requirements
of the modern steam power station.

Thus the tendency in recent times has rightly been
towards increasing the total temperature of the steam in
the boiler house to the highest satisfactory working Umit,
compatible with the strength of the materials of construc-
tion at present at the disposal of boiler and turbine manu-
facturers. This safe working limit, which is largely a
matter for individual opinion and discretion, is at present
taken to be located between 650° F. and 750° F. There
are some seven or eight power stations in this country
operating with initial steam temperatures between 700° F.
and 750° F., and with one exception no considerable
trouble has been experienced. There is no doubt that all
the difficulties incidental to temperatures near the higher
limit have not been fully overcome, but recent experience
leads us to expect that when mirutc care is given to every
individual detail in the boiler house, steam pipeline and
joints, valves and turbines, the difficulties can be met and
advantageous results obtained.

The Selection of Steam Pressure.

Having decided upon the total steam temperature for
which a new power station is to be designed, a considerable
range of working pressures is open for selection. Under
these conditions an increase in pressure is accompanied by
an improvement in the proportion of heat available for
conversion into mechanical energy, but, unfortimately, at
the same time this is offset to some extent by a decrease
in the superheat carried by the steam and by a drop in the
thermo-dynamic efficiency for which the turbine can be
designed.

It is intended in the present article to make an examina-
tion of the various effects on the economy of electrical
generation in a power station when the steam pressure is
increased whilst keeping constant the selected total tem-
perature. In approaching the subject it is well to bear in
mind the processes of heat conversion which occur in a
power station between the coal entering the boiler furnaces
and the electricity leaving the tvurbo-generator.

The Thermal Efficiency Chain.

The overall thermal efficiency of a power station may be
represented by a chain of the thermal efficiencies of the
individual units of plant comprising the power equipment.

In general terms,

Overall Thermal Efficiency
of a Power Station
(based on units sent out) = Average boiler efficiency a.

X Station co-efficient 3 covering radia-
tion, leakages, steam for auxiliary
plant, and boiler blow-down.

X Station co-efficient y representing
the ratio of units sent out to total
units generated.

X Heat conversion co-efficient S (01
Rankine efficiency) representing
the ratio of the adialDatic heat drop
to the total heat in the steam.

X Average turbine thermo-dynaraic
efficiency \x.

X Average alternator efficiency -i).

= a. p, y, B. [I. V-

The efficiencies a, [i., yj will be average values dependent
on the load curve and the degree of care exercised in the
supervision of the plant.

The value of the heat conversion co-efficient is of the
order of 30 to 40 per cent., depending on the steam condi-

<t>0-77
-^0-76
\^0-75

200 300 400 500 600 700
Pressure - Lbs. per square inch ^au^e.

dOO

Fig. 2.— Comparative Turbine T.D.E. and Pressure

tions, whereas the other efficiencies and co-efficients are of
the order of 80 to 95 per cent. For this reason an improve-
ment of the conversion factor by i per cent, has a relatively
greater effect upon the overall thermal efficiency of the
power station than the same per cent, improvement in the
efficiencies of the boilers, turbines, or station co-efficients,
and, furthermore, a greater range of variation is obtainable
with the conversion co-efficient.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

775

Effect of Variation ofjSteam Condition*.

Variations in the steam conditions will affect the thermal
efficiency of the power station mainly in respect of the
heat conversion co-efficient and the turbine thermo-
dynamic efficiency. The efficiency obtainable from water
tube boiler plants of first-class design and manufacture
will not be altered by increases in steam pressure, nor will
the station co-efficients be appreciably affected. Experience
so far obtained in the operation of high-pressure water tube
boilers tends to show that maintenance and repair charges
are no higher than for standard boilers designed for the
more moderate pressures. The cost of the power equip-
ment will, however, be increased for the Ixigher steam
pressures, and this fact must be taken into account in
deciding the particular steam conditions at which a correct
balance between first cost and thermal efficiency is obtained.

Effect on Heat Conversion Co-efficient.

For any given value of total steam temperature increases
in pressure will be accompanied by a reduction in the

^0-310

.^^

■1

..^1

Te/;

TP^

fjf\

■^

15^

f'^p^^

^ '^e/np.

■

■1

K^oo

^0Z80

•1

^X) 300 400 500 600 700
Pressure -Lbs. per square inch gau^e.

800

Fig. 3. — Combined Co-efficient and Pressure Curves.

superheat carried by the steam and an increase in^the
available heat or the adiabatic heat drop. The total heat
shows only small variations, and is in fact shghtly reduced
at the higher pressures.

This is shown clearly in Table I., in which the values of
superheat, available heat, total heat and heat conversion
co-efficient have been tabulated for boUer pressures between
200 and 800 lb. per square inch and for constant total tem-
peratures of 650, 700 and 750° F. The available heats have
in each case been based on a vacuum of 287 in. (Bar. 30 in.).

To show the way in which the heat conversion co-efficient
varies with steam pressure, the curves in Fig. i have been
plotted. From this it will be seen that increases in pressure
for constant total temperature improve the conversion
co-efficient, but that the rate of improvement diminishes
at the higher pressures. For example, taking the total
temperature of 700° F., the same improvement in con-
version co-efficient is obtained for increases in pressure
between 200 and 350 lb. pei" sq. in. as between 350 and
700 lb, per sq. in.

Effect on Turbine Thermo-dynamic Efficiency.

In examinmg the thermo-dynamic efficiency for which a
turbine, may be designed under varjang conditions of

steam pressure and superheat it is necessary to consider
individually the effect upon the principal losses^which
occur in the turbine, namely : —

(a) Hydraulic losses in the fixed and moving blades.

\b) Mechanical losses.

{i) Disc frictional losses.

{e) Wetness correction.

Tixe hydraulic efficiency is inherently dependent upon
the ratio U/Cq of blade sjjeed to steam speed, and thus, if
the disc diameters and the number of stages are not con-
siderably altered, a rise in pressure will have the effect of
increasing the steam speed between each stage and cause
corresponding reduction in the ratio U Q and the hydraulic
efficiency. The actual loss from this cause is not very
great, and in fact does not exceed 5 per cent, over the
whole pressure range considered, even when the disc
diameters ^and number of stages are allowed to remain
unaltered.

Mechanical Losses and Hi^er Pressures.

The mechanical losses, representing bearing friction and
the power required to drive the governor and oil pump, are
not effected by changes in the steam conditions. Gland
losses are certainly increased for an increase in pressure but
not to a very considerable extent. For example, the gland

0-15^

200 300 400 500 600 TOO

Pressure -Lbs. per square inch gauge.

doo

Fig. 4. — Curves of Thekm.\l Efficiencv .\Nn THERM.^L
Economy, .\pplied to .\ p.\rticular Power StATioy.

losses in a 20 000 kW turbine designed for 200 lb. per sq. in.
working pressure would be about 0-5 per cent., but even
with considerably increased boiler pressure the gland losses
would not be more than 065 per cent., and this small
difference could in practice be reduced by suitably increas-
ing the length of the glands.

Disc frictional losses increase with pressure but not quite
in'proportion to the increase in the initial pressure of the
steam, for the reason that a greater propxjrtion of the in-
creased pressure would in all probabiUty be taken across tlie
first stage of the machine \s\\\\ the object of Umiting the Iiigh
pressures and temperatures to r comparatively small portion

776

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Table I

Total Temperature =

650° F.

ToTAi- Temperature =700° F.

Total Temperature=750° F.

Steam

Total

Available

Heat

Total

Heat

Total

Heat

Pressure.

Super-

Heat

Con-

Super-

Heat

Available

Con-

Super-

Heat

Available

Con-

heat.

(from

(Vac.

version

heat.

(from

Heat

version

heat.

(from

Heat

version

lb. per sq. in.
(gauge).

°¥.

150° F.)
B.T.U.'s.

28-7 in.)
B.T.U.'s.

Co-
efficient.

°F.

150° F.)

B.T.U.'s

•

B.T.U.'s.

Co-
efficient.

°F.

150° F.)
B.T.U.'s.

B.T.U.'s.

Co-
efficient.

200

262

1222

4260

0-3483

312

1246

438-0

0-3510

362

1272

448-0

0-3525

300
400
500

228

1217

446-0

0-3660

278

1241

459-0

0-3692

328

1267

4700

0-3710

201

1213

459-0

0-3773

251

1238

473 -o

0-3815

301

1263

485-0

0-3840

179

1210

468-0

0-3870

229

1236

482-0

0-3900

279

1261

4960

0-3932

600

162

1208

475 -o

0-3935

212

1235

489-0

0-3965

262

1260

504-0

0-4002

700

146

1208

480-5

0-3980

196

1235

495-0

0-4010

246

1260

510-0

0-4050

800

134

1208

484-5

0-4010

184

1235

499-5

0-4040

234

1260

515-5

0-4086

of the high pressure end of the turbine casing, and so avoid-
ing many mechanical difficulties. Such a practice would also
tend to keep down gland leakages as well as disc frictional

losses.

The wetness correction has the greatest influence on the
overall efficiency. The superheat is reduced at the higher
pressures, and a corresponding increase occurs in the per-
centage of moisture in the steam passing through the later
turbine stages. Thus, for a constant total temperature of
650° F. the effect of increasing the pressure from 200 to
700 lb. per sq. in. would be to increase the final percentage
of moisture from about 7 to 12 per cent., and a correction
of approximately 3I per cent, on the overall efficiency
would become necessary.

Fig. 2 shows the change in turbine thermo-dynamic
efficiency which is brought about by variations of pressure
at constant total temperature. These curves are based on
the above considerations and apply particularly to turbines
of 10 000 kW capacity. For the purpose of showing relative,
as opposed to actual, turbine efficiencies they may, however,
be taken to apply to all standard sizes of turbines between
5 000 kW and 20 000 kW capacity. It is seen that the
overall turbine efficiency is reduced some 4 J per cent, for
an increase in pressure from 200 lb. per sq. in. to 700 lb.
per sq. in.

Pressure Variations and Thermal Efficiency.

In order to show the effect on the overall thermal
efficiency of the power station it is necessary to multiply
the conversion co-efficients by the corresponding turbine
efficiencies. This operation has been carried out in Fig. 3,
which shows the combined co-efficients for the various
pressures. A point is reached round about 700 lb. per
sq. in. where a maximum value is obtained for the combined
co-efficient and thus also for the thermal efficiency of the
power station.

Effect of Increases in Capital Cost.

The main items of plant to be affected in this respect will
be the boilers and steam pipework. The turbines will also
be rather more expensive at the higher pressures due to the
heavier steel castings at the high pressure end and to possible
additions to the number of stages. On the other hand, the
capacity and surface of the condensers will be slightly
dAreased by reason of the reduced steam consumptions at
the higher pressures and this will tend to offset the increased
cost of the turbines.

Standard types of water tube boilers with integral super-
heaters and steel economisers are suitable for all pressures

Table II.

Working pre.ssure —
lb. per sq. in.

200

250

300

3-50

400

450

Approx. cost in £ per

I 000 lb. per hour

steaming capacity.

[a) 50 000 lb. capacity

units

[b) 72 000 lb. capacity

units

1760
159-0

i8o-5
163-0

184-5
167-0

189-0
171-0

193-5
175-0

19S-0
1790

up to 450 lb. per sq. in. without serious modification except
in respect of the dimensions of the tubes and drums.

In Table II. approximate figures are given to show the
extent of the increase in the cost of Babcock and Wilcox type
C.T.M. steel cased boiler units of 50 000 and 72 000 lb.
capacity, designed in each case to deliver steam at a total
temperature of 700° F. It is seen that for every 100 lb.
per sq. in. increase in pressure the first cost of the boiler
installation would be increased some £8 to £g per i 000 lb.
per hour in steaming capacity. This applies only within
the pressure limits stated, since the standard t^'pe of con-
struction could not conveniently be used for pressures
above 450 to 500 lb. per sq. in. Radical modifications in
design then become necessary, with the effect of increasing
the first cost by at least 15 per cent, above that for the
standard type of construction. Thus between boilers of
standard type designed for 450 lb. per sq. in. and boilers of
a special type designed for 550 lb. per sq. in. the increase
in cost would be in the neighbourhood of £30 per i 000 lb.
steaming capacity. The design of the steam pipework
calls for special consideration at the higher pressures, and
the amount of increase in cost would of course depend
upon the layout and capacity of the power station.

The Cost Factor and Overall Economy.

The incidence of the total increase in capital cost upon
the economy of generation will depend upon a number of
local factors, of which the coal cost, load curve and thermal
efficiency of generation are the most important.

Each addition to first cost attendant on increased
pressure wiU involve the undertaking in yearly capital
charges which correspond in purchasing power to a certain
niunber of pounds of coal or units of electricity. Thus in
their effect on the economy of generation the additional
capital charges wiU tend to counteract the advantages in
thermal efficiency obtained at the higher pressures as
indicated by the curves in Fig. 3.

Each new power station will present a new set of working
conditions and will call for special consideration in this
respect, but in order to indicate the method of applying the
correction for increased cost it is purposed to make calcula-
tions applying to a particular example.

Consider the case of a power station to be erected in a
district calling for a maximum demand of approximately
30 000 kW at 30 per cent, load factor and designed to the
following operating conditions : —

Units Installed.
4 — 10 000 kW turbo alternator units (one spare).
8 — 60 000 lb. capacity water tube boiler units (two spare).
Coal Cost — i6s. per ton delivered.
Calorific Value — 11 500 B.T.U.'s per lb.
Vacuum (yearly average) =28-7 in. Bar. 30 in.

The aggregate steaming capacity would then be
480 000 lb. per hour and the total increase in cost of the
boiler plant £4 000 per 100 lb. per sq. in. pressure increase
for pressures up to 450/500 lb. per sq. in.

The inci-ease in cost of boiler house headers, steam pipe-
work, feed ranges and other items of auxiliary equipment

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

777

200

300

400

450

500

■ —

4 000

8 000

10 000

12 ooo*

—

I 440

2 880

3 600

4320

—

5440

10 880

13 600

16 320

— 599 I 197 I 496 I 797

affected by pressure may be taken for a power station of
this size to be about £3 per i 000 lb. of steaming capacity
for each 100 lb. per sq. in. pressure rise up to a limit of
500 lb. per sq. in.

Pressure — lb. per sq. in.
Additional capital costs —

(a) Boiler plant . .

(b) Steam pipework, etc.

Additional capital charges

(11 per cent.)
£ per annum

On the basis of a selection of 700^ F. for total steam
temperature and using the combined turbine and con-
version co-efficients from Fig. 3, cost factors may be
obtained to represent the effect of the additional capital
charges on the economy of generation by means of a
calculation such as is shown in Table III. In this case the
cost factor has been taken to be unity for 200 lb. per sq. in.
working pressure, and it is seen that by increasing the
pressure to 450 lb. per sq. in. the undertaking would be
called upon to find additional capital charges to the amount
of £1 496 per annum, or approximately 3 per cent, of the
annual coal cost. This is economically equivalent to a
3 per cent, increase in coal consumption, and it is apparent
therefore that an index to the thermal economy of genera-
tion is obtained by multiplying the thermal efficiency by
the cost factor.

This operation has been carried out in Fig. 4, in which
the curves of combined co-efficient in Fig. 3 have been
reproduced to a new scale indicating the thermal efficiencies
for the example now under consideration, and corresponding

Tabli; III.

I. Pressure — lb. per sq. in.

200

300

400

450

500

2. Thermal efficiency of

power station at 30

per cent, load factor

per cent.

1 6 00

16-65

16-99

17-1

17-2

3. Coal cost — pence/unit

01592

01530

0-1500

0-1490

0-1481

4.^Total units generated

— milUons/annum . .

78-84

5. Yearly coal cost, £ . .

52 300

50 200

49 200

48 goo

48650

6. Capital charges corre-

sponding to increased

cost of plant —

£ annum

Nil

599

I 197

I 496

I 797

7. Ratio :

Additional cap. charges

Yearly coal cost

Nil

0-0119

0-0243

00306

00369

8. Cost factor (based on

unity at 200 Ib./sq.

. , _ Item 5— Item 6
■' Item 5

I -oooo

0-9881

0-9757

0-9694

0-9631

economy curves added for total temperatures of 650° F.
and 750° F. as well as for 700° F.

The steam conditions at which maximum economy of
generation is obtained in this example would appear from
the curves to be as follows : —

A. B. C.
Selected total temperature °F. . . 650 700 750
Pressure— lb. /sq. in. . . . . 400 430 450

Superheat . . . . , . . . 201 244 289

It is of interest to note that by taking 450 lb. per sq. in.
pressure for Case C instead of, say, 250 lb. per sq. in., a
saving would be effected equivalent to i"32 per cent, in
coal consumption or nearly ;^700 per annum after allowance
has been made for additional capital charges at the higher
pressure.

The Cost Factor and Working Pressures.

The cost factor has a very considerable effect in reducing
the working pressures at which the economic maxima occur,
and it is important that a correct estimate should be
obtained of the additional capital charges and maintenance
costs, if any addition to the latter is to be anticipated.
The foregoing figures, although applying to a particular
example, are helpful in so far as they indicate a method of
arriving at a positive result, and show that the choice of

♦ Assuming water tube boilers and standard type for this pressure.

steam conditions for any given power station can with
advantage be based on calculations which take into account
economic as well as thermo-dynamic considerations.

The Reheating Problem.

Mention must be made in this article of the revolu-
tionising effect on steam conditions and the general design
of power stations which will be brought about by a satis-
factory solution of the problem of inter-stage reheating in
steam turbines. Very large gains in thermal efficiency are
promised both by reason of the augmented heat drop and
the fact that the turbine efficiency can be maintained at a
high level due to the comparatively dry state of the steam
throughout its expansion. There is no doubt that such a
power station, introducing into its design a successful
application of inter-stage reheating, will utilise advan-
tageously very much higher boUer pressures than those
indicated by present practice, and a big field for investiga-
tion will be opened out in this direction.

In conclusion, the author wishes to express his thanks to
the EngHsh Electric Company, Babcock and Wilcox,
and Stewarts and Lloyds, for the assistance and
information they have provided.

jview.

Protective Relays ; Their 1 heory, Design and Practi-
cal Operation. By Victor H. Todd. (London ; Hill
Publishing Co.)

Not many years ago the American electrical engineer was
wont to pride himself upon connecting up his system " solid,"
to the exclusion of all automatic gear. British engineers, on
the other hand, have always maintained that to ensure con-
tinuity of supply a minimum number of simple and reUable
automatic devices were essential, in order that a faultj"
machine or feeder should be isolated from the system.

It is interesting to note the result of experience by these two
schools of thought. The British engineer has succeeded in
perfecting his protective gear, in the direction of still greater
simphcity and increased reUabiUty, whilst the American engineer
has now gone to the other extreme and has devised a relay for
almost every purpose under the sun.

The book under review treats of the protective relays manu-
factured by two firms only, but even so the number of varieties
dealt with is so large as to bewilder anyone in search of the
relay best suited to his particular requirements. However.
to anyone wishing to know what relaj'S can do, this volume
will prove of interest. *

It is stated in the preface that che book is intended " not
only for the operator a-:d tester who has a fair knowledge of
electricity" but also lor the "designer of the s\-stem."
Whether the "designer of the system" is not to be credited
with a "fair knowledge of electricity" is not clear, but even
he should hardly require to be told that " the secondary-
terminals of a voltage transformer should never be short-
circuited " or the windings will be burnt out.

The author rightly emphasizes the importance of a mini-
mum time lag at heavy overloads in the case of inverse time
lag relays, but he does not point out that for feeder protection
a momentary' overload is unhkely to occur and that, for such
purposes, a definite time lag can often usefully be employed.
The reason for tliis omission is doubtless that the only definite
time lag relay with which he appears to be famiUar is the
" bellows ' pattern, which he rightly disparages.

The most difficult systems to protect — in fact the only
systems which present any real difficulty — are those forming a
ring mam, which the author dismisses in less than two pages.
The directional relay with graded time lags, which is the method
of protection advocated, is certainly a very excellent one ; but
there are others — the .Merz-Price for example. This^ latter
system is briefly described in another part of the book, but no
mention is made of the difficulties which occur with it owing
to capacity currents, or how their effects can be eUminated.
The author is evidently averse, and rightly so, from using pilot
■wires at all, if they can possibly be avoided.

It is eosy to cnticise a treatise written to meet the conditions
ruling in another country — conditions which necessarily differ
very widely from our owii, but in any case the author is to be
congratulated upon producing a volume which, although it
may not contain much that is actually new. deals with a sul>-
ject of great importance and on which the existing hterature is
excessively meagre. Kenelm Edgcumbe.

The Electrician — June 30, 1922

Recent Tendencies in Switchgear Design and Manufacture.

IByJJ. R. COWIE.

Amongst the many developments during the past ten
years those relating to poiver station switchgear are out-
standing. Designs may be classed under two headings for
comparison : —

(i) Armourclad gear embod^nng the total enclosure of all con-
ductors in earthed metal cases.

(2) Cell structures of brick or stone housing and supporting bare
conductors and apparatus.

The first is a development introduced to give complete
safety in handling, compactness, and therefore economy
in buildings, ready accessibility of essential parts, robust
construction and a minimum of cleaning and maintenance.

Disadvantages of Cell Structures.

The present-day examples of the second may be taken as
representing an improved arrangement of the earher designs
without ehminating the disadvantages. Conductors are
partially protected by providing phase and busbar barriers,
but the size of the structure becomes alarming when dealing
with large capacities or when operating with the higher
voltages. Many improvements have been made in the
switches used for this class of work, principally in the
emplo5mient of cast steel instead of cast iron on the switch
top plates and in the strengthening and ribbing of the oil
switch tanks.

Another point to which more attention is being paid in
some designs is the screening of all live metal, especially
on the oil switch tops. But with this class of gear it is
almost impossible to provide efficient interlocks between
the many parts and so ensure correct sequence of operation.
In the early designs the most frequent cause of accident
was the opening of air break isolating switches on a wrong
panel — i.e., on isolators carrjdng load, and such operation
mistakes have resulted in serious damage to buildings,
switchgear, structure, and in some instances loss of life.

Maintenance, cleaning, etc., is an expensive item, which
has usually to be carried out at night or during the week
ends, and is a source of worry to the engineer in charge
until the last cell doors have been closed.
Dusty Insulators.

Especially with the higher voltages, leakages across dusty
insulators may give the engineer in charge quite an un-
comfortable time until this defect has been located and
rectified. As a result, in many large stations complete
enclosure of transformer and alternator terminals is being
called for.

Evolution of Armourclad Gear.

These difficulties were appreciated in the early days of
switchgear development, and an armourclad switchgear
unit was produced primarily for ase on the North-East
Coast Power Companies' systems. The growth of the use of
this equipment has been phenomenal, and enormous savings
in cost have been effected : in buildings, in maintenance
staff ; by convenience in handling ; by interchangeabihty
of parts, simplification of erection, and immunity from
operators' errors in the manipulation of isolating switches
owing to effective interlocks. The manufacturers being
satisfied that these features were of importance to the
industry, apart from their commercial value, larger designs
to cover wider applications were made, and various medium-
sized power stations were equipped throughout the country,
one of the earliest power station equipments being at the
Stepney Borough Council's Osborne Street generating
station.

In igi2 Mr. S. E. Fcdden decided to instal a large
armourclad switchboard in his Neepsend Power Station,
this being the first installation for a really large station.
Twelve panels were first erected, a3 shown in Fig. i (i and 2).
Certain novel features are evident from the photographs.
The operating or control board overlooks the turbine room
with the switch house immediately behind it, the separating
wall fulfilling the double duty of a partition and a sub-

stitute for the usual slate panels. The wall is tiled with
dark vertical bands between the panels, and all the instru-
ments, relays, operating mechanisms, etc., are mounted
directly on the wall. The switchgear is of very massive
construction, particularly the oil circuit breakers, as may
be seen by reference to Fig. 2. DupHcate bus bars are
provided, either of which may readily be connected through
the oil circuit breaker to the outgoing or incoming cables
via the transformer chamber, which houses any required
combination of current transformers.

Sw^itchgear Details,

The essential parts of the switchgear may be divided
into the " fixed " and " movable " portions, as follows : —

Fixed Portion. — (i) The Bus bars — Each set of three
bus bars is mounted in a cast metal chamber and is sup-
ported from the main frame standards. Each bus bar is
connected to a socket supported by a large tubular insulator
fixed in a spout -like aperture to the front of the chamber.

(2) The Transformer Chamber is mdtmted immediately
below the bus bar chamber, and is provided \vith sim-ilar
spouts and sockets to the latter. The size of the chamber
depends upon the number of protective gear and instrmnent
transformers required. A potential transformer of the
totally-enclosed oil-immersed type is mounted in front of
the chamber and is connected through plug type e.h.t.
fuses which pass through insulators embedded in the hood
of the transformer case and the main chamber.

A cable dividing box with the requisite number of glands
is mounted on the lower side of the transformer chamber, or
spur connections may be taken through the wall behind or
through the floor.

Movable Portion. — (3) Oil Circuit Breaker. — Despite
the size and weight of the oil circuit, effective means of
handling are provided. The breaker is of the " carriage "
type and may be moved backwards and forwards on the
main frame supporting standards through the agency of
rollers and a rack and pinion device which is actuated by a
ratchet lever. This movement affords means for completely
isolating the circuit breaker or the cables from the bus bars.
The plug contacts seen in the illustrations projecting from
the front of the switch engage with the sockets in the fixed
chambers bus bar and transformer chamber and therefore
to the cable. The movement of the oil circuit breaker
actuates folding doors, which cover the spout openings of
the fixed chambers when the circuit breaker is withdrawTi,
in order to prevent access to live conductors.

Mechanical Strength of Tank Necessary.

A portable truck with a moving platform is used for
lowering the heavy tanks when a circuit breaker is with-
drawn, or for moving a switch bodily. These circuit
breakers have dealt with some severe faults close to the
bus bars with complete satisfaction. Extensive experience
under actual operating conditions has conclusively proved
that great mechanical strength of the tank and supporting
top plate, a large volume of oil and extremely rapid motion
of the separating contacts through a moderate distance are
necessarj-.

Too much reUance is apt to be placed on the cushioning
effect of the air above the oil, and whilst this is of certain
value, mechanical strength must not under any considera-
tion be sacrificed in its favour. Adequate vent pipes
suitably baffled to prevent undue discharge of the oil are a
further safeguard against the high internd pressures estab-
lished.

It should be mentioned here that with the heavy steel
tanks used a solid web some 3 in. by 2 in. thick is formed
romid the top of the tank (see Fig. 2) to give a secure fixing
to the supporting studs, and further to prevent the emission
of oil or flame at this point, which is between two machined
surfaces.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

779

780

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Speed Rather than Length of Break Important.

Yet another important feature in the actual oil switch
itself which has not been previously mentioned is that
within limits, provided that the speed of operation of the
switch be fast enough and the containing tanks and
structures strong enough, length of break is not an impor-
tant criterion in the rupturing capacity of the oil switch,
but speed of break is. This has been proved by experience
in this country and has recently been confirmed by ex-
periments on the Continent, thus proving that an armour-
clad switch 6f high velocity is a better switch than a more
lightly clad switch of slow breaking velocity and with a long
break.

Super Pow^er Station Gear.

About 1915 it was found that a much larger type of
switchgear was necessary to meet the requirements of the
super power stations then under consideration. The
illustration Fig i (4) shows a switch room with twenty-eight

out incurring enormous expense. It is necessary'- to make
special arrangements with the railway authorities for the
transport of complete units owing to their dimensions,
but by partially dismantling them ordinary trucks may
be used.

General Design and Construction.

Before describing installations of this class of gear, a
brief summary of the objects of design and general con-
struction is desirable. The fundamental object in the
design has been to attain a high degree of safety from every
point of view, and at the same time to render all parts
requiring inspection readily accessible. This is obtained by
the adoption of the draw-out feature and a complete system
of interlocking ; the latter has been appUed to the extent
of rendering it impossible to obtain accessjto any live
conductor without deliberate mechanical interference." The

Fig. 2. Details of Oil Switch (1912).

switches, each switch having a rated rupturing capacity of
1 500 000 kVA. These are at the moment the largest
switches that have been constructed. Fig. 4 illustrates the
control room of these switches with their instruments, tele-
graphs, and visible indication of the operation of the salient
parts of the switch panels. To meet these requirements a
special design was prepared and models were made on some-
what different hues to those previously described, but
retaining all the salient principles.

An illustration of a typical equipment is shown on Fig. i (3)
It may be noted that complete assembly of the unit may be
made in the shops, so that erection work on site is reduced
to an absolute minimum. The photograph i (3) was
taken as the unit was leaving the works for Carville^ Power
Station, and pending the completion of the switch house it
was erected with five other units in a corner of the engine
room. It is difficult to imagine how an equivalent equip-
ment in a stone cell structure could be similarly used with-

FlG. 3.

interlocks equally assure the correct sequence of operation
of the various switches.

The general construction of a panel is shown in Fig. 3,
which depicts a compact three-phase unit with separate
metallic enclcsures for each phase. The central tanks are
steel cylinders of great mechanical strength, which contain
the main circuit breaking parts. The rectangular tanks on
either side contain the incoming isolating switch with
instrument transformers and the busbar selector switches
respectivel}'.

The bus bars are arranged between two lines of panels, and
each bar is insulated with varnished cloth, surrounded by a
metallic earthed case, wiiich is then filled with insulating
compound.

Arrangements of Sparking Contacts.

A striking characteristic of the oil circuit breaker is the
arrangement of the sparking contacts. The arc or. breaking
circuit is substantially horizontal with a large unobstructed

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

781

head of oil above it. A bell-mouthed vent in the top casing
immediately above the break leads through large steel
pipes fitted with non-return valves on each panel.
The sparking'contacts are attached to the ends of sub-
stantial arms so arranged that a relatively small movement
of the main contacts gives a large movement to the sparking
contacts in opposite directions, thus the speed of break is
extremely high, due to the sum of the velocities of the arms
moving in opposite directions. Further, the conductors
supporting and forming the sparking contacts are ingeniously
arranged to form a complete loop in the path of the current ;
the resultant electro-magnetic forces elongate the arc and
impel it upwards. (Gregory's Patent No. in 766 of 1917.)

Means of Inspection.

For convenience in inspection, the removable portion of
a panel, comprising the massive top plate carrying the
solenoid operating mechanism, one set of isolating switch
contacts on either side, and all movable parts of the main

Automatic Earthia){ Device.

In connection with earthing, a further detail is of interest
in that all isolating switch tanks when lowered, auto-
matically operate a lever which earths conductors within.
Interlocks prevent the tank being lowered (Coates and
Mirrey's Patent No. 122 443 of 1919) unless the enclosed
conductors are dead, so that a double safeguard is afforded.
The interlocks also provide operation of all parts in
correct sequence. Reference to Fig. 3 wiU give a clear idea
of the general construction, though lack of space prohibits
a detailed description.

Control Board Coastruction.

A departure has also been made in the control board con-
struction, as shown in Fig 4. Each panel consists of
polished slate slabs mounted on the front of a dust-tight
sheet steel cubicle in the form ofja complete unit. The
upper slates are enamelled white, with a bold diagram of
connections in colours, all switches being represented by an

Fig. 4.

circuit breaker, may readily be raised by the crane pro\dded
for the purpose.

The separation of the conductors in both the fixed and
removable portions (Clothier's Patent No. no 808 of
1917) is made under oil, and metal screens automatically
cover the apertures left in the fixed portion, so that
whether the removable portion is in or out, all the live
conductors are metal clad. The insulators are always
immersed so that in no case is there dependence upon the
insulation of the air. The whole framework is of earthed
metal, which is securely bolted, so that a short between
phases is rendered impossible.

Oil Circuit Breakers.

The oil circuit breakers are remote electrically controlled
and the isolating switches are operated by hand from le\'ers
mounted on a pedestal accessible from the platform erected
along each side of the panels. There is a separate lever for
operating an earthing switch on the incoming conductors,
to enable either phase of a feeder or generator to be sub-
stantially connected to earth. This switch is. of course,
interlocked to ensure that the main isolating switches are
open before conductors are earthed.

automatic indicator, so that during operation the position
of any switch is seen at a glance.

The lay-out of these units is arranged for convenience
with the\mits in four rows with the busbars between the
outer rows and with a junction at one end of the building.
This makes for compactness and small l^oor and building

space.

The circuit breakers illustrated are the largest which
have so far been constructed, and are installed \\\ manv of
the large power stations in this countr>-, mcluding Dal-
marnock (Glasgow), CiurN-ille (Wallsend), North Tees
(MidcUesbrough), Nechells (Bimiingham). Their beha%iour
in these important situations has been very successful, and
quite up to the manufacturers' expectations.

All-British Design.

It is gratifving to find that ContiuontiU aiid .\iueric.m
practice is entu'elv supei-seded by an all-Bntish desigii.
although we gather from the Amencan Press that the
lead which has been given will soon be followed across the
water Concurrent with the developments of switchgear
has been the steadv progress maae on discnnunatmg auto-

782

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

matic protection devices for alternators, feeders and power
transformers, all of which have been very fully discussed in
papers read before the Institution of Electrical Engineers,
and in the technical press, sho^ang the importance that is
attached in this country to the reliability of supply. Such
discriminating protective gear has made it possible to link
up feeders in parallel, and so utilise the cable capital
expenditure to a much greater extent. Modern tendency,
however, tends to divide a large city up into separate
sections, and the cable lay-out in Glasgow has been
designed to allow the city to be divided into four indepen-
dent sections, so that in the event of any serious trouble on
any one section of the plant, from the boiler house onwards,
only one-fourth of the supply will be affected.

The Distribution Problem.

Another great problem which calls for switchgear of a
very different nature to super station gear is the difficulty
engineers are experiencing in adequately handling the large
amount of power that is being used in modern buildings
in a large city, owing to the very great increase of domestic
appliances in the home. This distribution problem varies
in various local areas, and it is interesting to note a sug-
gestion by Mr. Woodhouse, in a paper before the Institution
of Electrical Engineers, that the distribution voltage for

consumers should be 3 300 V. The writer is in agreement
with this view, which means that we are in this work re-
turning to the days of the early pioneers, with this essential
difference, that switchgear designs, naturally of a much
smaller and special class, are in being ready to tackle house
to house and building to building demand.

British Engineers Can Meet the Demands.

In conclusion, modem power stations call for the last
word in efficiency in the boiler house, in the turbine room
and auxiliaries. There is no useful purpose served if the
switchgear installed be not of the same high standard as
the rest of the plant. Rehabihty of supply means business
from the large power users. British designers have had to
face the problem of pouring power into densely populated
areas and into cable net works connected, inter-connected
and re-connected, so that experience in handUng heavy
fault currents is unique. The experience in using dis-
criminating protection gear is unique. The switchgear
itself, the safety valve of the whole system, is the result of
long experience in handling difficult problems. Whether
it be for low voltage work or for extra high voltage work
British engineers are in a position to meet the demands
of the supply industry, either in this country or from our
kinsmen beyond the seas.

A Cominentary on Povrer Station Switchgear.

By W. A. COAXES.

The cost of buildings has fallen very rapidly during the
last few months, so that to-day for a simple building such
as is usually required for housing switchgear the price will
hardly be more than 20 or 25 per cent, of the maximum
figure reached during the war. This being so, the space
advantage (with corresponding decreased building costs)
enjoyed by ironclad switchgear is largely discounted in the
case of new installations, and comparison between con-
ventional cubicle structures and totally-enclosed ironclad
equipments must be made more particularly on their
technical merits. As a matter of fact, from the space
standpoint it is often possible to accommodate gear in
conventional cubicles occupying very little more space than
an ironclad structure, when the cubicle design is approached
with this end specifically in view. Present-day cubicle
designs are to a great extent a legacy from days when
minimum safe clearances were still indeterminate and
plenty of space round all apparatus was considered
essential.

Ironclad Switchgear Claims Examined.

Ironclad switchgear claims as its principal advantages :
[a) Fool-proof features in operation ; [h) immunity from
attacks of vermin ; (r) reduced maintenance ; and (d)
simplicity in erection. In power station work fully inter-
locked switchgear is probably not an unmixed blessing,
since interlocks necessarily carry with them a certain
degree of inflexibility. We have heard, for instance, of a
generator having to be shut down to permit a potential
transformer fuse to be replaced. In the power station are
employed only skilled operators who can operate a conven-
tional cubicle equipment with perfect safety. Where the
switchgear is liable to be operated by semi-skilled persons
interlocks are tmdoubtedly very valuable, and it is suggested
that this is the principle field for gear of this class. Rugged
mechanical interlocks' are to be preferred to electrical
devices which ultimately generally depend on more or less
flimsy auxiliary switclies.

Interlocks and Duplicate Bus Bars.

In particular this lack of electrical flexibility is found on
those switching systems in whicTi duplicate bus bars are
employed. In cubicle arrangements the connection to the
two bars is usually made by means of independent single
pole selector switches, so that (especially when an oil
circuit breaker is used coupUng the two sets of bars) it is

possible to transfer any circuit from one set of jbars to the
other without interrupting the supply. Due to the
necessity for interlocks it is not possible on any ironclad
switch structure to close the selector switches on to both
bars simviltaneously, and if it is desired to transfer a circuit
from one set of bars to the other the current must first of
all be interrupted. In a large power system this can some-
times be accomphshed without actually interrupting the
supply to a sub-station, by sending current round an
alternative cable route, but even so the labour and time
occupied in making such changes is distinctly greater than
would be the case with a cubicle structure. It may be
noted that some authorities have deliberately sacrificed"
this extra flexibility on their cubicle layouts and have used
double throw selector switches so as to avoid any chance
of the two bars being tied together inadvertently.

Saving Cleaners' Wages.

The next two advantages referred to — i.e., the freedom
from attacks of vermin and the smaller amount of cleaning
required — are of course self-evident, and are distinct
advantages in practically all locations. In some cities the
latter point may conceivably enable at least one cleaner's
wages to be saved, where much switchgear is installed.
Ease of transportation and erection is specially valuable
for sub-station applications in rapidly extending areas.
As the sj^stem increases in capacity the smaller units
originally installed can be shifted towards the outlying
districts and new units of larger breaking capacity pur-
chased for the close-up sub- stations.

Ironclad Equipments require Higher Insulation.

In designing ironclad equipments a higher factor of
safety is desirable on the insulation, not because this class
of equipment is more liable to trouble in this direction, but
merely because if trouble does occur it is more difficult to
get at the conductors to repair the damage. In a con-
ventional cubicle, should an insulator or a protective
transformer fail, it is a comparatively simple matter to
effect repairs.

It would se(Mn that at the present moment it is impossible
to lay down any definite statement as to which class of
gear should be used for a given location. The choice is
very largolj' a matter for decision on the merits of each
particular case, bearing in mind the class of operator which
will be available.

June 30, 1922

The" Electrician.

783

Limiting Resistances and Potential Transformers.

A point to which considerable attention has been directed
recently is the desirability of using limiting resistances in
series with potential transformers which are connected off
the main bus bars of a large power system. The short
circuit current which may flow through the wires con-
nected to a potential transformer should the h.t. terminals
of the latter become short-circuited may very easily be
sufficient to fuse the connecting wires themselves during
the same period as is required to melt the protective fuses.
Moreover, the fuses are generally distinctly limited in their
breaking capacity. The carbon tetrachloride fuse is pro-
bably the best available, and it has shown its ability on
very large systems to clear short-circuit currents which
were limited only by the resistance of the fuse itself. The
limiting resistance should be divided and placed half on
each side of the transformer protected, immediately
between fuses and bus bars. The actual ohmic value
employed depends on the transformer characteristics, but
it is usually possible to keep the maximum short circuit
current down to 25 or 30 A and still maintain B.E.S.A.
limits of accuracy in transformation.

Limitations of Limiting Resistances.

The use of limiting resistances for potential transformers
does not safeguard the only point of danger, however, and

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Minimum Sizes of Small Conductors on. Large Switch Gear.

for very large systems there should be established a
minimum cross-section of conductor which should be used
to make any direct connection from the main bus bars.
In a previous article* the writer showed some curves con-
necting short-circuit currents with conductor temperature.
It is now suggested that on the switchgear of large steam-
driven power plants the smallest conductor should not be
less than indicated in the curves given herewith. These
are based on an assumed alternator reactance of 10 per
cent., and the possibiHty of a circuit breaker bein^^ reclosed
on a short circuit after it has once tripped. The final
conductor temperature would be approximately 500° C.
under these conditions.

Series Transformer Design.

The series transformers used on the switchboards in
large power stations should invariably be of the bar primary
type on account of the risk when heavy short circuits occur
of bursting transformers having wound primaries. Further,
the copper sections used in small wound primary series
transformers will often be much less than the minimum
proposed above. Small feeders connected direct off the
main switchboard may conceivably have normal full load
currents such that a bar primary transformer is by no

• " Small Conductors on Bus Bars of Large Systems " — "Metro-
politan-Vickers Gazette, June, 1920.

means correct, but accuracy in such a case should be put
second to safety in operation.

Control Room Cootideratiooa.

There is a growing tendency towards using separate
control rooms in connection with large stations. Although
this is done it is still necessary to consider seriously what
stei-s shall be taken to facilitate the work of the switch-
board operator. The dummy diagram system which is so
popular in .'\merica has not been used in this country to any
very great extent. It is undoubtedly a great advantage
where the switching system is at all complicated or where
possible alternative paths of s:upply exist. It should not
be used, however, except in those cases where the isolating
switches are of the three-pole type, arranged so that when
they are operated a corresponding indication is auto-
matically given on the dummy diagram, either by means of
a pilot light or an electro-magnetic indicator. The small
hand-operated links sometimes put into dummy diagrams
to represent isolating SNvitches are a questionable advan-
tage, since a man may easily forget to move them at the
right time.

To bring the size of the control switchboard do\vn to
more reasonable proportions it can frequently be arranged
that the controUing elements — i.e., the indicating instru-
ments, rheostat handwheels, oil circuit breaker control
push-buttons and sjmchronising devices, are mounted on
one board, while on a second board, frequently standing at
the rear of the control board, are mounted all relajrs and
integrating instruments. The equipment on this secondary
board does not have to be adjusted or read save at infre-
quent intervals, so that there is no objection to it being
located in a somewhat inaccessible position.

The Ideal Ccnttol Board.

While we are not within reach of it yet, it is suggested
that the ideal will only be attamed when we can get a desk
control board, which is about the size of an ordinary
writing-desk. In this case the indicating instniments
would be similar to those which are used on the battery
circuit of a motor-car. These could conveniently be located
on the vertical part of the desk, leaving the horizontal
surface for a series of small push buttons operating the
various oil switches, and worked into the nm of a miniature
bus bar system in which pea lamps serve as pUot lights.

Dash board instruments, about 3 in. diameter, and of
either moving iron or d' Arson val pattern are already on
the market. Exti.me accuracy is xmnecessary at the
central control point, although in point of fact these little
instruments can be built to the accuracy requirements of
the B.E.S.A. First Grade. Development would be required
for A.C. wattmeters, and power factor meters. A large
synchroscope will probably always be desirable, so that
the operator can see his position at a glance.

Hammersmith Mains Elxtensions.

Hammersmith Electricity Committee propose to spend /i^.i^-
on the extension of mains. In March, igjo, the T ' J

of the extension of the main distribution system ■ >1

demands in the King Street and St.irch Green disi.... ^le

which is now feeding the northern area of the borough, was laid
from the generating station to Wootl Lane, at a cost of £21.693.
But as there is no stand-by cable, it is necessary to draw in a second
main to form a ring, the" estimated cost of which is £.V*^*' The
load in the Hammersmitli Koad district has considera! " • d

and additional demands have to be met which are cr
supply required of the Post Office Sa\-ings Bank in i... .... ..> -d

and also additional requirements of the •' Olympia •" premises,
having regard to their extension. The existing h.t. feeders are
not capable of dealing with this additional supply, and the
Electricity Committee concur in the recommendation of the
Engineer that the Council should proceed with the arrangements
for an e.h.t. supplv to the " Olympia." where a sub-station could
be equipped from' which the existing h.t. system could be fed.
The suggestion is to divert »he proposed new feeder to \yood Lane
;jrt " Olympia," thus forming a ring main from the electricit>- works
to Wood U\nc, from there to " Olympia." and from " Olympia " to
the works. .\ scheme for the extension of the l.t. distribution
system is also to be carried out at an estimated cost of £1 994 »os-

784

The Electrician — June 30, 1922

The Development of Condensing Plant and Auxiliaries.

By J. H. SHAW. M.I.E.E.

To meet the reqmrements of large turbo-units demanding
low absolute pressures and high rates of duty it has not
been necessary to develop new types of condensing plant,
or make radical changes, neither has it been necessary to
depart materially from the design used for reciprocating
engines.

There was ready for use the very excellent Edwards air
ptmip. This is highly efficient as an air extractor for
vacua up to 28 in. But the hmitations of this pump are
reached because it is impossible to keep the valves
tight at extremely low pressures, while the clearance on
the top of the bucket lowers the volumetric efficiency.
The large bulk required for the bigger sets is also a dis-
advantage.

The Vacuum Augmentor.

Then Sir Charles Parsons introduced the vacuum aug-
mentor which consists of a steam jet and an auxihary
condenser between the main condenser and the air pump.
This augmentor increased the air-withdrawing capacity
of the combination at low absolute pressures, thus de-
creasing the required displacement capacity of the air
pump. The disadvantage of the vacuum augmentor is,
that whereas the air pump takes almost the same amount
of power to drive as without the augmentor, the augmentor
itself takes about i per cent, of the steam consumption of
the turbine.

Dry Air Pumps.

The advantages of withdrawing the air and water
separately from the condenser, the water from the hottest
part^and the air from the coldest being recognised, different
forms of dry air pumps were evolved. Among these
whirling jets, plugs of water and water ejectors were
developed for the purpose of withdrawing the air and
included the Le Blanc pump, the Rees-Roturbo air pump,
and the Muller-Jose ejector. All these are, however, being
rapidly replaced by the almost universal steam jets.

Steam Jets Now Universal.

The best known of these latter class are the Le Blanc
ejector and the Hick-Breguet ejectair. The first named

was developed as a tandem ejector, the steam used by the
first jet being compressed by the second jet. The result
was that the steam consumption was high and the vacua

150.000

% 100, 000

■of

50,000

10,000

100

Ids. ofAirperMoLir

200

INJECTION WATCR.

STfAM TO PRIMARY EJECTOR

STEAM TO SECONDARY EJECTOR

MR SUCTION FROM

MAIN CONDENSER

PRIMARY EJECTOR

AIR CONTROL VALVE
11^

SECONDARY EJECTOR

STEAM AND AIR DISCHARCt,
TO HOTWELL.

VVATER OUTLET THROUGH SEALING PIPE TO
MAIN CONDENSER

Fig. I, — Diagram of the HicK-BREGUExiEjECTAiR.

Fig. 2. — Air Capacity of Ejectors for Surface Condensers.

varied, in the case of one with which the writer was
acquainted, more or less with the steam pressure.

The compound Le Blanc and the Hick-Breguet ejectors

are similar in appearance and design. In the first named

there are numerous jets in each stage, whereas in the

Hick-Breguet one steam jet is used in each

stage. A crogs section of a Hick-Breguet ejectair

is shown in Fig. i.

In'this case an intermediate condenser is used to
condense the steam used by the first or primary
jet, the water for condensation being obtained
from the discharge of the extraction pump, and
the water and condensed steam being drained
from the intermediate condenser by means of a U
leg into the suction of the extraction pump.

The quantity of air to be withdrawn by an air
pump attached to a steam turbine condenser
depends on the type of low pressure gland used on
the turbine and the layout of the condenser. It
can be calculated by assuming o-6 lb. of air at
60° F. per I 000 lb. of steam. This formula and
the Hick-Breguet formula are given graphically in
Fig. 2.

Efficiency Comparisons.
There is little difference in the efficiency attained
by the modern steam jet extractors, ejector or
ejectairs, and for approximate calculations it can
be assumed that with vacua between 28 and 29 lb.
a steam jet extractor fitted with an intermediate
condenser will extract i lb. of dry air at 60° F.
for every 10 lb. of steam used and that the total
consumption of the ejectair will amount to approxi-
mately I per cent, of the steam consumption of the
turbine. One per cent, of the steam may appear
to be high, but because all the heat units in the
steam except those used for compre^-^ion can,
by the means of a feed heater, be absorbed

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

785

by the condensate the consumption of heat units is almost
negUgible. Roughly, 80 per cent, of the heat originally
in the steam is taken up by the condensate, this 80 per
cent, representing i 000 B.T.U.'s per lb. of steam, and
the ejectairs requiring approximately i per cent, for
their operations means that the condensate temperature is
increased by 10° F.

The arrangement generally adopted is illustrated in
Fig. 3, which shows the U leg draining the intermediate
condenser and the provision of a small heater to condense
the discharge from the secondary ejector.

A later design of ejector is the De Las.* This requires
the combining tubes to be water cooled, and water at a
lower temperature than that possessed by the condensate
is necessary for this cooling.

Extraction Pumps.

The water extraction pumps usually employed call for
little comment. They are generally efficiently designed

last twenty years. The size has, of course, kept pace with
the demand for larger sizes of plant, and the diameter as
a function of the length h^ increased until it is seldom less
than half the tube length.

It is surprising that this quality of condenser design is
not more universally recognised; even to-day condensers are
installed in which the length is 25 to 3 times the diameter.
A little thought would convince the technical buyer that
with a long but small diameter condenser the ends of the
tubes are performing very Uttle duty, it being impossible for
the steam to travel down the exhaust pipe at a velocity
of 27 000 ft. per min. and abruptly turn through 90
degrees to seek out the ends of the tubes.

In order that the steam shall have access to the heart of
the condenser and to reduce the pneumatic drop across
the bank of tubes it is usual to arrange the centre of gravity
of the tube mass eccentric to the centre of gravity of the
bore of the condenser. This is clearly shown in Fig. 6

Fig 3.^Sectional Arrangement of Typical Hick-Breguet Surface Condensing Plant, (Hick .'-.argreaves and Co.. Bolton.)

This figure also illustrates Hick Hargreaves' latest design
of tube plate. In the top half of the tube plate the ordinary
pitch of the tubes is turned horizontal and makes a series
of nariow lanes direct to the heart of the condenser.

with large and well -arranged entrances pumping a com-
paratively small volume against a high head. Care should
be taken that such pumps are installed so as to have a good
head of water on the suction side. With such a low
pressure in the condenser as 0-5 lb. absolute it is obvious
that the water must flow to the pump by gravity. Usually
24 in. between the bottom of the condenser and the centre
line of the pump is suf&cient, but more should be allowed
especially if there are any bends in the suction pipe.

Even if a reasonable head is allowed the discharge from
all rotating extraction pumps is more or less variable or
pulsating, as can easily be seen on any plant employing a
Venturi water meter. It is recommended that where these
meters are used an extra 12 in. is left between the con-
denser bottom and the extraction pump.

Little Development in Condenser Design.

The condenser proper has changed very little during the
* See The Electrician, June i6th. 1922, p. 718.

The rating of condensers is, of course, being gradu-
ally increased, but perhaps not to the extent that the
rating of other plant has advanced.

No Fixed Rules of DesiiJn.

In spite of the large amount that has been %\Titten upon
condenser design, there are no fixed rules regarding the
best shape, transmission rates, sizes of tubes, etc., and
each manufacturing finn has its o\\x\ data as to limiting
rates of transmission, water velocity, etc. As an appro.xi-
mate guide to the comparative values of transmission
rates, Hausbrand gives K=453H''v in English units^
K = B.T.U.'s transmitted per square ft. per deg. Fah. mean
temperature difference, and v=velocity in ft. per second
of water in the tubes. This is high for British practice

786

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

and' very few condensers are tojbe found that are designed
for such high rates of transmission. It is common practice
to design for K equal to between 600 and 700 with v equal
to between 6 and 7 ft. per sec. With some waters, for
instance, those containing silt and fine mud, it might be
advisable to increase the water velocity up to 10 and ii ft.
per sec, in order to prevent any settlement in the tubes.
The transmission rate is again modified by the speed of the
water particles and the condensed steam across the tubes,
but no data that is readily applicable exists on this subject.

Condenser Costs.

A large condenser with the correct ratio between diameter
and length will contain a larger number of tubes, and cost
considerably more to build than one of small diameter,
but containing the same surface.

A condenser for a 15 000 kW with 27 500 sq. ft. cooling
surface and 16 ft. between tube plates will contain
8 770 tubes, whilst a condenser for 20 000 kW with
40000 sq. ft. will contain 12000 tubes. It is impossible
during a week-end to clean such a condenser, and therefore
the continuous service or twin box condenser has been

plates. A f in. outside diameter condenser tube, gauge
No. 18 thick, and 14 ft. 8 in. long, supported at both
ends, will sag 3i| in. when empty. The same tube supported
at each end with two intermediate supports will sag ^ in.
when full of water, and g^? in. when empty. If the tube,
14 ft. 8 in. long, has only one support plate in addition to
the tube plates, the sag is 3% in. when empty, and ^f in.
when full of water. It being inadvisable for water to be
left standing in the tubes after a condenser is presumably
drained, sufficient support plates should be fitted, so that
the greatest span does not exceed 5 ft.

The Effect of High Steam Pressures.

The use of high steam pressures has increased interest
in the necessity of preventing feed water from being
contaminated by air, and the advisability of freeing all
make up water of air or other gases. In many stations
closed feed systems are being installed, and in others de-
gassing plants.

A considerable number of power station designers are
intending to or are actually bleeding the main turbine, at
one or more stages, into feed heaters. Through these heaters

Fig. 4.

-Hick Hargreaves Condenser with
Patent Hinge.

Fig. 5.

-Hick Hargreaves Continuous Service
Condenser for Shanghai.

evolved. The water box and return end are divided
vertically, two circulating water inlets and outlets being
provided. In this case one half tne condenser can be
shut off on the water side, only the steam space being
common, and with the turbine running at about half load
full vacuum can be maintained in the steam space whilst the
doors can be removed from one half and the tubes cleaned.

Continuous Service Condenser.

A continuous service condenser, built for the Shanghai
Municipal Council to condense the steam from a 20 000 kW
set is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The door is formed in two
parts, the division being made on the vertical centre Hne.
To enable the joints and the end box to be satisfactorily
made it is necessary to provide for relative movement
between the door and the end box, because if the doors
were hinged on a fixed pin it would be impossible without
considerable straining to satisfactorily make tliis joint.

The condenser shown in Fig. 4 is fitted with Hick
Hargreaves and Go.'s patent hinge, which by means of
eccentric bushes allows the doors to be moved bodily away
from or towards the joint,

A detail of design which is now being appreciated is the
sagging of condenser tubes due to insufficient support

the condensate is pumped and into the hotwells or feed
pumps. The condensed steam is drained either into the
condenser or the suction of the extraction pump. It is
claimed that the reduction in overall heat consumption
is a maximum when the feed is heated to 180° F. if only
one feed heater per turbine is employed and that the reduc-
tion in consumption is approximately 4 per cent. If,
however, multi-stage heaters are employed the reduction
in heat consumption can be shown to be approximately
7 per cent, if the feed water is heated to approximately
300° F. If it is desirable to heat the feed water before it
reaches the economizers, or if economizers are not to be
installed the problem should be studied in connection with
the driving of the auxihary machinery.

House Turbine Condensers.

In order to obtain rehabiUty it is necessary that a certain
proportion of the auxihary plant be steam driven. Small
auxiUary turbines are, however, most uneconomical and
troublesome. It therefore appears desirable that a house
turbine be installed to supply power to the essential
auxiliaries, such as circulating pumps, stoker drives, forced
and induced draught fans, etc.

Such a turbine would have an output of from 3-5 per cent.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

787

to 5 per cent, of the output of the main sets, and if direct
current is required a geared set could be employed ; if
both d.c. and a.c. are necessary the generators can be
arranged in tandem. The circulating water for this
condenser would be the condensate from the main sets.

As the steam turbine would be of reasonable size and
arranged to run at an economical speed the efficiency would
only be about 10 per cent, less than the efficiency of the
large sets, and providing all the heat rejected from the
condenser can be absorbed by the feed water, the proposed
arrangement is thermally perfect.

The objection to this system is that whilst the circulating
water or condensate from the main sets is proportional to
the load on the bus bai s, the load on the house machine will
be roughly proportional to the number of sets running.
From this it will be gathered that during short periods of
light load, when the time is too short to shut a large set down,
the temperature in the house set condenser will rise, with
a corresponding fall in vacuum. To overcome this difficulty

Fig. 0, — Hick Hargreaves Condenser."

Hick Hargreaves and Co., have recently designed and
patented a condenser which does away with this drawback.

House Turbine Economies.

In the Hick Hargreaves house turbine condenser, in
addition to the connections and tubes for admitting and
passing the condensate from the main macliines, a small
number of additional tubes are provided, and connections
arranged on the water boxes for admitting an amount of
circulating water at periods of light loads. The quantity
of circulating water required to maintain the absolute
pressure in the steam space of the house, turbine condenser
at a reasonable figure is quite small, and as the main
machines are on partial loads when this condition prevails
the circulating water can be drawn from the system
without affecting the efficiency of the main sets. The waste
of heat units will be negligible and the valve admitting the
circulating water to the house turbine condenser can be
controlled by a thermostat or by an electriccilly operated
valve, worked from a control room or switchboard, or any
other convenient method.

The steam space in the house turbine condenser would
be one chamber, but the water spaces reserved for the
condensate from the main machines and the water spaces
for the circulating water would be kept quite apart.

The vacuum would be a function of the two watei
quantities and their temperatures.

In the event of a cessation of supply from the main sets
the amount of cold circulating water could be immediately
increased, thus enabling the auxiliary power to be main-
tained and immediate resumption of normal operation.

The present method of operating a hoase turbine when
using condensate as circulating water is to run the auxiliary
bus Lars in parallel with the main bus bars, and at times of
Hght load to transfer some of the load to the main machino.
This is a dangerous method, as in the event of a shut down
of the main sets the continuance of the auxiliary supplv
depends on the correct operation of a reverse power rela\'.

The Rutenberg Concession.

A discussion took place in the House of Lords on the 21st inst.
on the form of the Palestine Mandate and the concession granted
to Mr. P. Rutenberg for the development of water power.

The subject was introduced by Lord Islington who moved : —
" That the mandate for Palestine in its present form is inacceptable
to this House, because it directly violates the pledges made by hii
Majesty's Government to the people of Palestine, and is, as at
present framed, opposed to the sentiments and wishes of the great
majority of the people of Palestine ; that, therefore, its acceptance
by the Council of the League of Nations should be postponed until
such modifications have therein been effected as will comply Miith
the pledges given by H.M. Government." He complained that the
Rutenberg concession, if allowed to materialise, would give to a
Jewish community over an Arab "ommunity wide powers in respect
of economic and industrial conditions for a number of years — power>
in respect of water and electric power. It was quite obvious that
the grant of that concession was not based on its merits, but on thf
deliberate policy of economic preference to the Zionists. Thev
were jeopardizing the good feeling which had alwaj-s existed between
this country and the Arab community by adopting a policy, whicli
he described as an unnatural, partial, and altruistic experiment.

In reply. Earl B.alfgur declined to go into the details of the
Rutenberg controversy, as it would be debated in the House ot
Commons. The whole scheme was examined in the most critical
spirit by the experts of the Colonial Office and they were qMit"
unanimous that the terms and the character of the undertak:: _
were such that there was no hope of. any better contract being i;; li
tlian that which was offered by Mr. Rutenberg. The terms ha-.:
been examined by persons who were not only disinterested, but
also extremely competent. In the Rutenberg scheme there wa-.
nothing in the nature of undue favouritism, and if it could Ix-
carried into effect it would give economic advantages to Palestine
which could be obtained in no other manner.

The terms of the concession were severely criticised by Lords
Sydenham and Buckmaster. The former said some of the term>
of the contract were distinctly improper, and the latter complained
that a special privilege nad been granted to one person to go, a-.
far as he could see, and exploit America and other countries for
raising capital necessary to carry out an important engineering
scheme. He did not doubt that that would be of the greatest
value, and he had the greatest confidence that under Sir Herbert
Samuel the monopoly would be fairly exercised. But that was not
the point. Why was the offer not made publicly ? It might be
a good scheme, but in all these matters he was strongly in favour
of public and open competition. He would have hked .0 see if
there were not other people who would have given the necessar\-
guarantees and might also have had the opportunity of interesting
their capitalistic friends in embarking on this venture.

A Rival Scheme.

In connection with the criticism of the Rutenberg concession, a
" Times " correspondent states that in the e;u-ly summer of 1920
Suleiman Dabbub and other Bethlehem Arabs applied for a con-
cession for {inter alia) electric light and power for Jerusalem and
district. The apphcation, which was put forward by the then
Deputy Military Governor of Bethlehem, stated that they were
already in possession of a capital of £500 000 and that thoy would
luive no difficulty in raising two million sterling or more if nece;isar>-.
In reply to Suleiman Dabbub's application, Headquarters of the
.Vdministration replied that no concessions were being granted at
the moment, but that the application would be considered later.
Nothing further has been heard of it.

It is announced from New York that Mr. Rutenberg has been
successful in raising the required capital from members of the
Palestine Development Council and others.

According to the latest othcial survey there are sufficient Mi-ater-
falls of I 000 H.p. and over in the Island of Java to develop 303 000
H.p. ; but in Sumatra about i 200000 h.p. is a\'ailable, 500000 in
Celebes, and 373 000 h.p. in Borneo, or a total of about 2 37S 000
in the Dutch East Indies. At present only 49000 h.p. has been
developed, of which 47 000 is in Ja\-a, but two large nitrate plants,
one of 200000 HP. in Sumatra and one of 50000 h.p. in Java,
are projected. The islands are rich in minerals, and with the
expansion of the rice, sugar, tea and rubber industries the demand
for electrical machinery and appara'^us is hkely to be a growing one.

y88 The Electrician — June 30, 1922

INCORPORATED MUNICIPAL ELECTRICAL

ASSOCIATION.

A Successful Gathering in the Midlands — Ideas on the Domestic Load — Finance and Substations.

Monday, June 19.

The opening of a Municipat, Electrical Association
Convention is always rather Uke the first day of school. It is
a time when old friendships are renewed and when a certain
amount of justifiable curiosity is shown in the personalities
and antecedents of the newcomers. These, in the case of the
I.M.E.A. Convention, are mainly aldermen and councillors,
for once a municipal electrical engineer always a municipal
electrical engineer, except in the few cases where he returns,
as have Mr. C. H. Wordingham and Mr. J. E. Edgcombe on
this occasion, in the honourable position of honorary member,
or receives promotion from an assistantship like Mr. R. B.
Mitchell or Mr. NichoUs, of York. The councillor " new boys "
tlris time contain a large sprinkling of the Labour element.
This is all to the good. If these gentlemen attend the
meetings, both formal and informal, as learners, which they
seem inclined to do, they will gain a closer knowledge of what
electricity supply means and what electricity supply can do
to further in a legitimate way the ideals upon which they
build much of their policy. It is pleasant to note that their
opinions as expressed in convention have been almost
universally sane and temperate, and their influence on municipal
electrical development should therefore be all to the good.

Wolverhampton, as a town, has many pleasing features, but
one of them is not a sufficiently large hotel accommodation to
deal with the load that the I.M.E.A. affords. While, therefore,
the Council, the Press, and a number of the more distinguished
guests are living in the town, of the rest the majority are
mainly staying in Birmingham and others are scattered
around in Dudley, Stafford, Coventry and Nuneaton. This
is a real disadvantage, in spite of the fact that opportunity
will be given during the convention for much of that social
intermixture and many of those informal meetings which make
for the success of these gatherings. The time has, however,
come when precedent must be broken and the conventions
be held only in towns which can easily accommodate those
attending, preferably under one roof.

Tuesday, June 20.

The meeting to-day was held in Wolverhampton. Those
staying in that town were therefore able to make a leisurely
breakfast before it was time to go to the Grand Theatre.
Shortly before 10 o'clock, however, when the Birmingham
contingent arrived by chars-a-bancs, there was a large crowd in
the foyer, and by the time the Mayor of Wolverhampton
(Councillor James Thompson, J. P.) rose to give the convention
his official blessing the dress circle was well filled and the front
rows of the stalls were occupied, if not crowded. It is becoming
customary for the convention meetings to be held in theatres
with the council grouped artistically on the stage in front of a
drop scene, and it would be interesting to trace the connection,
if any, between theatricalism and municipal electricity. The
arrangement has the disadvantage, however, that the audience
is scattered and that speakers in the discussion, to be heard,
must ascend to the stage by devious ways, thus causing some
delay and heightening the discomforts of those who incline to
nervousness.

A Municipal Welcome.

The Mayor, in welcoming the Association to Wolverhamp-
ton, tuned his remarks to history and archaeology rather than
to electricity, beginning with the Danes and ending with
Prince Albert, via Charles II. and other celebrated and less
celebrated persons. Amongst the industries which had in
recent years come to the district he mentioned the motor
trade and (with natural modesty) boiler making. Wolver-
hampton, though perhaps not beautiful in itself, was blessed in
its surroundings, and it was possible to stay for a fortnight in
the town and visit a fresh beauty spot every day. Turnnig to
other matters, he paid a tribute to the foresight and energy of
Mr. Allen, and said that if he made as good a president as he
did a borough electrical engineer the Association were lucky.
(A sentiment which the meeting cordially endorsed.) The
electrical industry was the most wonderful and at the moment
the most prosperous industry in the country, and without
associations like the I.M.E.A. the improvements that must be
made in it cnuld not be effected.

The President (Mr. S. T. Allen. Wolverhampton) briefly

replied, and then proceeded to deliver his Presidential Address
which we give in abstract below.

Mr. S. T. Allen's Presidential Address.

The unfortunate economic position which has arisen, as an
aftermath of the Great W^ar is by far the most important
factor affecting not only the prosperity of the electricity supply
industry, but almost all of our national industries. The
whole country is struggling against long odds, on the one
hand, to adjust itself to the conditions prevaiUng at the
present time, and, on the other hand, to bring about such
changes in those conditions as will make for the stabiUsing of
industry, full employment of all classes on productive opera-
tions, and a reduction of the financial burdens under which
we have been suffering.

Need for an Adjustment of Outlook.

In connection with the supply industry it has been necessary
to adjust our outlook, tariffs and operations to the condition
of things existing at the moment. It is, however, dangerous
and wrong for iis to continue to remain satisfied with doing
this, hoping that conditions will improve without effort on
our part. Each section of industry by its action or inaction
affects the destinies of other sections. The electricity supply
industry is indissociably wrapped up with other great industries,
such as, for example, the manufacturing undertakings dealing
with plant and apparatus. They in their turn affect the
operations, prosperity or otherwise of innumerable other
engineering and allied industries. It is towards the develop-
ment and progress of the electricity supply industry our special
attention must be given at the present time, in order that we
do our share in creating that impetus which will hasten the
increase of production and sales of commodities manufactured,
thus reducing the unemployment and the many doles which
must now be made to maintain the country in its unfortunate
position.

To bring this about we must first of all fully realise that all
those engaged in trade and industry in this country have
important common interests, that the success of the electricity
supply industry is dependent upon the success of other trades
and industries, and without those other industries being kept
in a healthy condition the electricity supply industry cannot
succeed. To help to promote the common interests, therefore,
is to assist our individual interests.

Electricity Supply a Social Organism.

It must be remembered that the electricity supply
industry/ is a part of the social organism. Directly we
realise that electricity supply is a national service, we also
reahse the opportunity of establishing between contending
parties within the industry that confidence the absence of
which may have been the cause of troubles and delays in the
past. The individual interests are only a part of ^vider
interests, the promotion of which should benefit the individual.
It is for the I.M.E.A., therefore, to progress with the right
driving force behind it, to endeavour to see to it that aU
industrial concerns are fully educated to the methods, by the
adoption of el'^ctricity, of cheapening and improving industrial
operations in their many phases.

Electrical Co-operation.

The day has gone by when anyone can argue that each
mvinicipality in its various operations can quite well act on its
own behalf, Avithout regard to or the necessity of co-operating
with other local authorities tlirough associations like the
I. INI. E. A. Just as co-operative associations are necessary and
in operation in connection with the supply companies, com
mercial, technical, employer and emplo^-ee bodies, so is the
I.]\I.E.A. a necessary body continually- to look after and
safeguard the interests of local authority undertakings.
Joint action does often bring about Avhat indi\ndual action
fails to. and the results of joint counsels are far more fruitful
of success than heterogeneous collections of views made by
individuals without regard to the views of others. On
account of its very association the I.]\I.E.A. is asked and
expects to be represented on joint committees with other
bodies, and in this direction alone is doing vciy good work
which could not otherwise be accomplished.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

789

The Importance of the Personal Element.

It must be remembered that the Association cannot function
at all until after efforts have been made by the representatives
of which it is composed. Individual authorities, committees
and managers of undertakings have, therefore, their pecuhar
responsibihties at this critical period. One of the most
important factors which has special bearing upon successful
operation is the personal element. This factor covers the
correct attributes of members of committees and responsible
officers, a full sense of responsibiUty, justice, fairness and
truth, a keen intention of framing sound policies which will
bear sound and fair criticism, an enthusiastic endeavour to
bring about the best results even at personal inconvenience,
and perhaps at times in the face of small-minded destruc-
tive criticism.

No Need for Pessimism.

There is still a tendency for conmiittees to be dissuaded
from a sound progressivs policy, under the mistaken idea that
expenditure for whatever purpose should, at the present time,
be curtailed. This is often due to the fact that little distinction
is made between the operations of the non-trading and rate-
financed sections of a municipality and the electricity depart-
ment, which as a trading concern, should be conducted on
commercial lines. It is also asserted at times that the difficulty
of finding the necessary money is a reason for withholding^
expenditure on buch developments which would in normal
times be agreed upon . Money can be obtained by municipalities
more easily for electricity supply development than by any
other bodies. The electricity undertaking of a local authority,
when it has been developed on sound business lines, is one of
the best assets which that authority possesses.

Having regard to enormous potential loads in towns and in
their neighbourhoods, the great advancement which is being
made in the application of electricity for industrial, business
and private purposes, and the growing demands which are
being made for supplies, no municipality having rights to supply
electricity should hesitate to develop its undertaking on broad
lines. As nowadays, more so than in the past, every town in
itself may be considered a large commercial undertaking,
competing with other towns, those municipalities who neglect
to realise the importance of electricity supply development on
the right lines will suffer in the great competition which is
ahead of us.

Development Must Precede Demand.

It is of little use for municipalities to say that they will
develop their undertakings after demands have arisen. They
must create the demands by seeing to it that they have ample
electricity supplies ready and available in anticipation of
requirements. Successful development does not come by
itself, but only follows continued and increasing effort and
outlay of money. Expenditure on administration, organisa-
tion and publicity must necessarily increase with increased
turnover. It is quite useless to expect an undertaking which
has reached successfully a certain stage in -development to go
on increasing its revenues without increasing the amount spent
upon administration, publicity, etc. The guide should be
mainly the return made per pound of money spent per annum.

Money Necessary for Development.

If close inquiry were made as to why some undertakings
have remained almost stationary as far as, for instance, the
development of domestic load is concerned, while others have
gone ahead so successfully, it would be found due to the
hesitation of those particular authorities to expend sufficient
to develop the necessary business and the failure to realise
that it is as necessary to apply the usual business principles
to an electricity supply concern as it is in any other progressive
business concern.

During the last twelve months, owing to strikes and industrial
troubles, and to the international economic position, many
undertakings have suffered considerably from the reduction
of output which has naturally resulted in an increase in the
cost of production per unit in respect of the capital and other
standing charges. These reductions, we hope, will be of a
temporary character.

The gaps made in the output curves due to these causes
may well be more than made up when normal trade conditions
are resumed and after the encouragement of the more extended
uses of electricity in the many directions which the public are
daily more and more realising make for more efficient opera-
tions, the saving of labour and money, and the adding to the
comforts and health of the community. Increased output in
almost every case means cheaper production costs, and also in
itself means more electrical plant and apparatus being sold

and thus cheaper apparatus. Cheaper supplie-> i-r^i lo ytt
greater increased demands and mors installations being wired
and equipped. Thus the cycle of effects of increa.sod output
of electricity is very far-reaching, and tends to increase the
prosperity, health and gfxxl condition of our towns and improve
the industrial condition throughout the country.

What the Use of Electricity Means.

It has been clearly shown also that incrca.sed use of electricity
proves a great national bles.iing, in that it means conservation
of our coal supplies either for our own future use or for our
export trade. The country has, during the last few years, been
critically examining the existing methods of generation of
electricity, and has found that great improvements can be made
in many directions. It has recognised that individual genera-
tion of electricity was natural enough, and th?? only practical
procedure, as long as its use was comparatively small, but that
as electricity is now a commodity of such everyday use and
with such a large and general growing demand, to adhere to
the original practice would in many cases bespeak oljsolescence.

It has realised the great necessity of generation on a much
larger scale, and to provide for greater areas, and, on that
account, the necessity of joint action of various supply autho-
rities in the different districts in connection with gen^rarion
and main transmission, and has shown its decisions in legisla-
tion towards those ends. So far the divergent interests of
various individual authorities have not permitted the estabhsh-
nient of constructive policies satisfactory to groups acting
together, but now that it is reahsed that joint action for the
generation portion of their operations can be made without
prejudicing the rights or stability of their individua' under-
takings, and that by such joint action they can reduce the
cost of supplying themselves, approved schemes for joint
working will soon come into satisfactory operation in many
districts throughout the country.

The Public's Support.

The public, seeing its interests properly safeguarded, can
be counted on for sympathetic support towards the schemes,
while industrial interests in general, being in the business of
manufacturing commodities rather than electrical energy, will
find it natural to favour any action that will facilitate a cheaper
supply of energy which is an accessory to their op)erarions.
The outcome of the establishment ot properly co-ordinated
and balanced schemes for the estabhshment of joint generation
with common and general main transmission lines vill be the
tendency to equalise industrial opportunity, and I consider that
we can look towards the future in the most optimistic spirit.

In proposing a vote of thanks to the President for his
address. Councillor J. G. Beaumont (St. Mar>'lebone) said
that the remark that " each section of the industry by its
action or inaction afiects the destinies of each other section."
approached the dignity of an aphorism. Mr. Allen's arguments.
put forward in short sentences, fell hke hammers on their
brains and stimulated them to take in ideas to which they had
hitherto remained insensitive.

The President then called on Lieut.-Col. W. A. Vignoles
D.S.O. (Grimsby), to read his Paper on " The Extension of
the Uses of Electricity for Domestic Purposes." This we give
in abstract below.

The Extension of the Use of Electricity for
Domestic Purposes.

By LT.'COL. W. A. VIGNOl.ES. D.S.O.. Borough ElectriotU Ea«ui««r.
Grtmtby.

The subject of this paper is of great importance at tJie
present time. Though the worst period of high prices has
passed, many undertakings are left with the burden of large
capital expenditure on buildings, plant and mains, at prices
much above those ruling to-day. This expendittire ^onld
be \\Titten down out of revenue. Meantime the reduction in
load factor on shop-lighting, due io early closing and summer-
time and the falling off in the power load owing to the slump
of trade, make it necessary to look for revenue in other direc-
tions. In the domestic field tiie largest consumers are already
connected. The demand comes from the smaller houses, which
are apt to prove unremunerative. The paper is accOTdingly
devoted to tiie questions : (i) Is a substantial increase in
domestic load obtainable on a remunerative tariff ? and {2)
how can such business be obtained ?

The Value of the Domestic Load.

The value of any load is approximately represented by tlie
load factor. In the original paper tlie autiior presents t\-picai

790

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

figures for the 1922 and pre-war hours per annum for various
classes of consumers in the Grimsby district. Hours per
annum for offices (both hghting and heating) are the same as in
pre-war days — viz., 175 to 200 for Hghting, and 900 for heating.
For shop Hghting there has been a diminution from 600 to 800 to
450 to 650. Theatres and cinemas, as in pre-war days, are
credited with i 200. The industrial load is put at 2 360, as
compared with 2 710 for power, and 250, as compared with
400 for Hghting. Domestic Hghting shows a fall, i 450 to
I 250, but domestic heating and cooking, at 2 500 and 3 250
respectively, are unaltered. The actual hours of maximum
demand will, of course, be less. With heating a new form of
peak — the " cold-snap " peak — has to be considered. With
cooking there is no " cold-snap " peak, and the heaviest load
occurs on Sunday mornings, when the power load is a minimum.
Moreover, the demand in summer should be higher than in
winter, when some coal fires are used. On weekdays tlie
heaviest load wUl probably be about midday. This is, there-
fore, a very useful load. The same applies to thermal storage
(electricity being used to heat water during " off-peak " hours).
Experimental work in this direction has been done on the
Continent, and should be closely watched.

C/'nemas
Theatres

1 2 3 4- 5 6 7 8 9 10 71 JZ 1 Z 3 4- 5 6 7 8 9 10 11J21
Noon yVz/Af

Fig. I. — Load Curves.

Grimsby, Friday, December 16,
1921.

Generally speaking, wliile a heating demand is desirable,
there are certain difficulties that must be watched. The
supply for cooking and auxiliaries, such as irons, washers, etc.,
is still more desirable, and does not have the drawbacks that
may occur with a purely heating load.

The Cost of Supply.

Cost can be divided into : (a) Consumer cost — i.e., expenses
due to dealing with additional consumers ; (6) standing charges,
proportionate to consumer's maximum demand ; [c] running
costs, proportionate to units consumed. In order to illustrate
how average cost per unit varies witli number of hours of use,
curves for Grimsby and Wolverhampton are presented (see
Figs. I and 2). In Grimsby the present cost of supplying a
consumer with a maximum demand of i kW (coal 20s. per
ton) is based on the formula : l,i per annum per consumer,
plus £20 per annum per kW of maximum demand, plus o-75d.
per unit sold. In Wolverhampton the corresponding formula
is ;^i5 IS. per annum per kW of maximum demand, plus o-423d.
per unit sold. Thus in Grimsby the average cost of supplying
a shop taking 450 units per annum per kW of maximum demand
is about IS. per unit, as compared with a charge of lod. In
Wolverhampton the corresponding cost is 8^d., the charge
being 8d. At present many consumers are probably supplied
at a loss by undertakings, on a flat rate of 8d, or even lod.

The Problem of the Small Consumer.

The problem of supplying small consumers is an acute one,
as the number tends to continually increase. Large consumers,

especially if they purchase plant at very low post-boom prices,
may be able to compete with the undertaking.

To show the size of domestic load where a suitable charge is
made for heating and cooking the following figures for five
different towns are presented, assuming no gas is used and
heating and cooking are done electrically : — •

1. 2000 to 2 500 units per annum per house (140 for lighting).

2. 2 000 to 2 800 units per annum per house.

3. Six times the lighting consumption.

4. I 300 units per annum per house (housing area).

5. Ten times the lighting consumption.

In one toAvn with a tariff of 2jd. per unit, and no special
effort made to develop heating load, 35 000 out of 2 900 000
units were sold for heating to 700 consumers. A heating load
builds up rapidly under a suitable tariff. Thus in Norwich
I 500 000 units were sold in 1921 at 2d. to i^d. in Glasgow
6 859 000 units. In Maxylebone 2 000 000 units were sold
on a flat rate for heating and cooking, and 7 000 000 on a
multipart tariff for light, heat and cooking. Norwich had
over 5 000 kW of cooking and heating appliances connected
at the end of 1921, Glasgow 26907. Assuming the domestic
consumer would use i 500 to 2 000 units per house per annum,
sales would be 15 to 20 million units per annum if only half
the houses were supplied on this basis in a town with a resident
population of 100 000 in 20 000 houses.

Essentials of Domestic Load.

The essentials in developing a heating and cooking load are :
(a) the price for electricity must bear comparison with the cost
of coal or gas ; (6) apparatus must not be too expensive, and
must give little trouble. It is useless to go in for publicity
unless the undertaking can " deliver the goods," and no amount
of publicity can replace the skilled canvasser or demonstrator.

Tariffs.

A two-part tariff is che only fair way of charging for electricity
for all purposes ; but at present an alternative flat-rate must
be offered (except in Grimsby, where special powers have been
obtained). This flat-rate should be the maximum price
authorised. All reductions should be in the form of a two-
part tariff. Prices must, naturally, be fixed with due regard
to the local cost of gas or coal. For cooking and heating a
flat-rate of 2|d. might be fixed. The alternative two-part
tariff should involve : {a) a fixed first sum per consumer ;
and (&) a charge per kW of maximum demand, or its equivalent.
The running charge part of the tariff should not exceed \\^_
per unit, and is less in some towns. In Grimsby the tariff has
been fixed at £^ per annum per consumer, ^^20 per annum per
kW of maximum demand, and ijd. per unit. For private
houses tlie first charge will be ;^2o, plus 20 per cent, of the
rateable valuable of the premises. For other premises the
maximum demand charge is calculated on the estimated
maximum demand for lighting, based on an inspection of the
premises, with an addition of ^\ per kW of the heating or
cooking load during " peak " hours.

Under the Grimsby Corporation Act of 192 1 it is not com-
pulsory to offer a flat-rate. But at present a flat-rate of
lod. for lighting and 2^d. for heating is being retained until
some experience has been gained of the two-part tariff, which
t is hoped will be voluntarily adopted by most consumers.

Cost of Extra Heating and Cooking,

The cost of supplying additional heating or cooking load,
allowing for ' ' thickening ' ' the mains and feeders, is estimated at
£4 los. per kW of maximum demand, and o-75d. per unit sold
(with coal at 20s. per ton). The average costs for office heating,
domestic heating and domestic cooking, work out to i'9d.,
i-3d. and i-id. respectively. A flat rate of ijd. will cover
the cost except in the case'of offices, where the addition of a
charge per kW is specially necessary. The profit on the supply
for cooking should be substantial.

The tariff should be framed with an eye to competition.
So far as lighting is concerned it is not necessary to cut prices
finely. For other purposes we may adopt the ratio : Price of
gas per therm to price of electricity per unit for heating and
cooking should not be less than 6-5. Thus witli gas at lod. per
therm a fair competitive price for electricity would be ijd. per
unit.

The Attitude of the Supply Engineer to the Domeatic Problem.

The author recalls two meetings held about 1913 or 1914.
one at the Institution, the otlier at an I.M.E.A. Convention,
where domestic electrification was discussed. Evidently but
a very small proportion of. those present used electricity in

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

791

their own houses for lieating, and fewer still for cooking. If
a supply engineer believes in the domestic load, he should
first introduce a suitable tariff. He should then train his staff
and interest the electrical contractors in the town. The
British Electrical Development Association is prepared to
launch a campaign, but they must have the sympathetic
support of the supply engineer and the contractor.

Adequate and Reliable Apparatus.

The provision of adequate and reliable apparatus is naturally
important. There has been much progress during recent years,
and the cost of maintenance is not now excessive, even if
apparatus is handled by servants. However, elements do fail
at times, and apparatus should be so designed that they can
be readily replaced by an unskilled man. The supply under-
taking should be prepared to do this work on receipt of a
telephone message. If apparatus is hired out, maintenance
must be included in the charge for liire and periodical calls
made to see that it is working satisfactorily. Lady inspectors
could do this work well.

Hire of Apparatus.

So far the cost of apparatus has been high, a complete cooker
with oven, grill and hot plates being listed at ;^i8 to £7.2. Such
high prices are apparently due to small output, and undertakings
should combine to purchase in bulk. Standard types should
be evolved for hiring. With a suitable demand, the price of
an electric cooker should not exceed £xo to £12. On the basis
of a seven years' life, this might be hired out at ^■^ or £^ per
annum, including maintenance. It is not necessary'- to hire
out radiators which are obtainable at reasonable prices ; the
same applies to light articles such as toasters or fiat -irons.
Generally speaking, the rent should cover all expenses, unless
there are special inducements to a lower rental in the form of
anticipated revenue from the sale of electricity.

The following table, taken from an article by Mr. W. F. T.
Pinkney * is interesting as showing both the rentals quoted in
Newcastle and the units per annum estimated for each piece
of apparatus : —

Approxi-

Average

Rental

mate units

Apparatus.

Net cost.

Retail price.

Mainten-

N per

sold per

ance cost

annum.

item per

per annum

annum.

£ s. d.

i s.

£ s. d.

Iron

12 8

I I

I 0

6 0

Kettle (2-pt.) . .

i6' 0

I 10

2 8

8 0

Kettle (3-pt.) . •

I 10 0

2 10

2 8

10 0

Fires . .

I 10 0

2 12

2 7

12 0

500/1 000

Cookers

12 10 0

22 0

I 0 0

I 10 0

I 600

Cookers

16 0 0

25 0

100

200

I 750

Conclusions.

To sum up the arguments in this paper : —

[a) The domestic load may rise to enormous figures if properly
encouraged.

[b) A price not exceeding i^d. per unit for heating and cooking
is a satisfactory figure from the consumer's point of view, under
present conditions.

[c) At this price there is some danger of heavy peak loads develop-
ing due to office heating, but supply for cooking at this price will
show a substantial profit.

{d) A hire scheme is essential to the development of a cooking
load.

{e) Apparatus should be let on hire at rentals calculated to cover
all expenses, except perhaps in the case of ovens and complete cookers
where, owing to the high cost of the appliances, some help is required
from the profits from the sale of electricity.

(0 Maintenance of apparatus on hire must be included in the
rent.

[g] The department must keep in touch with cooking consumers
by periodical calls of some member of their staff.

(h) Every member of the staff of an electricity department (and
everyone connected with the electricity industry) should live in an
" All- Electric " house.

The Results of a Vigorous Policy.

A vigorous policy on the above lines by undertakings in the
country would have a remarkable effect on tlie future of
domestic supplies. The increased demand for apparatus
would have a marked effect on the first cost, while maintenance
charges would be reduced with proper organisation ; the
effect, too, on the consumer would be cumulative, and tlae
" Second Hundred Thousand " electric cookers would be far
easier to place than the first.

• The Electrician, March 31, 1922, p. 371.

The Electrical Papers frequently compare electrical progress
in the United States with that in Great Britain, to the disad-
vantage of the latter. The Electrician, in the issue of
March 31, 1922, stated that of the hou.ses wired in the United
States 36 per cent, use electric washers, 40 per cent, use electric
vacuum cleaners, 2 per cent, use electric dish washers, 71 per
cent use electric irons, 2 per cent use electric cookers.

Though no figures are available, the writer is of opinion that
Great Britain is not behind as regards the last two items,
which are the important ones from the point of view of current
consumption, and that there is no rejison why we should not
lead in electric cooking.

The convention of 1913 saw the formation of the Electrical
Veliicle Committee, which has been of material assistance in

Z4-

i 1

1 1 t ! 1 : 1 ! 1 ' ' 1 • 1

<!]'-''

A. - Grimsby -£2 per Consumer,
£20 per Kw. 0 ■ 75 d. per unit.

Br Woli^erhampton -£l5- 1 per Kw.
0 -42301. per unit.

]

C- Grimsbq-Additional Heating

£4-5 per Kw. 0-75d per unit.

;

Note. ■"' ' -^ — —

■ ineaoove rerers 10
Direct Current •

;

i 1 1 1

! 1 ' • ' ' ' 1

b 2

—

:=^

■*»..

^dr^- — ' —

< .

. 1

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4C00 4500 5000
//ours use per Annum of M.D.

Fig. 2. — Average Cost per unit in Relation to Hours
USE PER Annum of M.V.

developing the electric vehicle, to the great advantage of many
undertakings. The Convention of 1914 saw the inaugiiration
of the Development Committee, from which sprang the vigorous
British Electrical Development Association, an organisation
which is doing valuable work for electrical industry. The wish
of the writer is that the Convention of 1922 may see a number
of towTis combine together to introduce hiring schemes for
cookers, and generally to develop the supply of electricity for
domestic purposes.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. R. B. Mitchell (Glasgow), who made his first appearance at
an I.M.E.A. Convention, agreed that it was desirable to encourage
the domestic load. The cooker must first be encouraged, for ever^•
cooker connected could be depended upon to consume i 500 units
per annum. But cookers must be hired. They must also be accom-
panied by an electric kettle to overcome the criticism of the hot
plate. It was of ro use hiring out small appliances, but
it might pay an unde.taking to give current consuming de\-ices
free. In Ghisgow the " snap peak " load had amounted to
between 8 000 and 10 000 kW, but the great point about it was
that it usually came in the morning, and need not be fea "ed unless
the plant was too small for the load. At May 31, 1922, they had
30 489 kW of domestic load connected, the charge being \i\ per
cent, of the rental, plus id. per unit.

The Curves — Fact or Imagination.

Mr. L. L. Robinson (Hackney) aiLed how the author arrived at
the analysed load curve in the Paper which gave the curves for the
individual portions of the supply. It was enormously useful if
accurate, but he suspected that many of the curves depended
largely on the imagination. They had all experienced the " snap
peak," but it was nothing to lie afraid .^f. and could be dealt
with by their normal reserve plant, especially if some of the tx>ilers
were oil-fired. Flat rates should lie kept high, and consumers
rewarded in accordance with their deserts by means of multi-part
tariffs. In the past they had made too much of the power kiad.
They must now endeavour to develop a well mixed load so that
when one sort slumped another would boom. .-Vpparatus must be
hired at rates which met interest, capital charges and maintenance,
but no more. He was about to experiment wth free installa-
tions and charging a slightly higher price, through prepayment
meters, for the electricity supplied. For developing the domestic
load an enthusiastic and a competent sales department was neces-
sary. Even now if electricity were suppUed below ijd. anylnxiy
who cooked by gas had money to throw away. His department
included a 3-pint kettle with each cooker, but he would not
Uke it to go out that the electric hot plate was inefficient. It was
a most efficient piece of apparatus on a cooker for its own work.

Conditions in Marylcbone.

Aid. J. A. G. Beaumont (Marylebone) siiid the rateable value
tciriti might be ideal on paper, but it would be impossible to apply
it in Marylebone, where the rateable value of similar houses varied

792

The Electrician.^

June 30, 1922

according to the uses to which the houses were put. Results in
Marvlebone seemed to show that their progress with heating and
cookino' and to a small extent with power, had been decidedly
orofttable with the low figure of ijd. flat rate. Hot plates and
radiator elements should be so designed that they could be replaced
bv any user in the same wav as a lamp. In Marylebone they
oreferred to let rather than sell heaters, as it kept the under-
taking in touch with the users and the apparatus in proper working
order Buying in bulk, which the author had suggested, was worth
consideration. His undertaking has been supplying free heaters
and cookers for some time and adding Jd. to the unit charge. He
agreed that the staffs should have " all-electric " houses, but they
could not be expected to do it unless they got a favourable tanff .

Mr C W Charlesworth (Wolverhampton) said the most
imoortant question awaiting solution in every industry was over-
capitaUsation To deal with this, rate rehef and rate aid were both
unsound and the only way to effect the writing down was from
revenue ' which meant maintaining prices beyond the immediately
necessary level until the required surplus was obtained. Whether
this was possible at present, having regard to the grave difficulties
in the way of reducing prices to keep pace with the reduction of
wages and certain other items seemed problematical. He felt
that the most fruitful method was to increase the output.

The Hopkinson System the Only Logical Basis.

Mr C H WoRDiNGHAM Said that in all towns the domestic load
was of considerable importance, and particularly in those towns
which were mainly residential. Getting the domestic load, however,
depended entirely on a suitable tariff. The Hopkinson system was
the logical basis to which we would ultimately come for domestic
as for power purposes. A large number of different scales of charge
vrere to be deprecated. The greatest want at present in connection
with tariffs was a cheap reUable demand indicator, for it was
essential to work out the maximum demand, and not to play with
rateable values and other absurd things which had nothing to do
with the demand, while the ridiculous flat rate should be abohshed.
If the consumer could be properly educated in demand dodging so
that he used most of his appHances off the lighting peak he would
obtain electricity practically for a penny per unit, and he ventured to
think the scope for domestic apphances was a wide one at that rate.

Councillor A. Sinclair (Swansea) did not agree with the author
that the small Ughting consumers might easily become a source of
loss. His experience showed the contrary.

Fertilising the Field.

Mr. E. E. HoADLEY (Maidstone) said what they had heard during
that discussion concerned the fiUing up of the load curves from six
in the morning till midnight. They had heard Uttle of what should
be done to help the same curves between midnight and six in the
morning. At Maidstone they had a load of 3 000 kW, of which
50 per cent, was a night load. But that left a big valley to fill. He
hoped the problem of thermal storage and the supply of hot water
by electrical means for domestic uses would be well explored within
the next year or two. He would Uke to impress on members the
necessity of prompt and efficient service in regard to repair of hired
cookers. A flat iron was the most satisfactory electrically
heated article that could be put into a household, and after using
it a month or so the feminine mind was in a nice condition to
receive information about electric cooking.

South African Experiences.

Mr. E. Poole (Durban) said since the introduction of a low
tariff in Durban the output had enormously increased. A low
tariff, he believed, would bring about such a demand for apparatus
that manufacturers would soon turn out something not too expen-
.sive or troublesome. The consumption per consumer had been
practically doubled, and out of 8 miUion units sold for lighting and
cooking one half was entirely for cooking.

More Ways of Using Electricity.

Mr. J. W. Beauchamp said Col. Vignoles had shown that the
conditions were complicated by short hour demands for lighting
and power. But there were things which could be done that had
not yet been done. The later hghting of shop windows was one.
The cheapness of electrical cooking depended on the price of gas ;
i^d. per unit against 5s. for gas was a favourable figure. If they
did not get hundreds of cookers on that it would be because they
were not pushing the business. A fire load unaccompanied by
cooking was not altogether a blessing, particularly in a city area.
Mr. Allen had on view in Wolverhampton a heat accumu-
lation stove. He (Mr. Beauchamp) had put it there because
he wanted the members to tliink about that problem. Nitrates
afforded a means of taking supply when it suited the supplier to
give it and when it suited the buyer to receive it. No change of the
kind would come about quickly, but it was one of those new things
to which they should give attention. It was well known that there
were thermal storage water heaters. He had bothered with this
stove because they had little appara'.us for warming air or
rooms. Members might know Harrison and Beard's heat accumu-
lation stove. It warmed the air, using the latent heat of acetate of
soda. They should get busy thinking about fiUing those hollows in
the curves by means of heat accumulation. If they took the heat
inthc night they would get it for 2d. or sometliing of that nature.

The small water heater introduced by Mr. Kussell of Shoreditch was a
useful adjunct for cookery, and took a lot of duty off the hot plate.
If they were going to get half the heat in each of the homes in large
cities like Wolverhampton a great deal of it would have to be
delivered on the storage sj'stem.

Mr. A. H. Shaw (Ilford) said, on his multi-part tariff he had
different rates for summer and winter, because the power load was
only small and he had a heavier load during the winter and a very
light one during the summer. This secondary rate was i^d. in
summer and 2d. in winter. The primary rate worked out at 21 per
cent, of the rateable value. In Ilford they had 600 small houses
connected by services in blocks. Some services supplied 12 houses
and others 24. There were small meters in every house, although
no meter rent was charged. The results were, on the whole,
satisfactory.

Mr. George Wilkinson (Harrogate) deprecated the idea of
having a high initial price per unit. Better means could be adopted
than introducing a lod. or is. initial rate.

At the conclusion of the meeting those present were con-
veyed in motor chars-a-bancs to the Royal Artillery Head-
quarters, where they were entertained to lunch in the Drill
Hall by the Wolverhampton Electricity Committee. Our
hosts are to be congratulated on having such a fine hall at
their disposal, and on the tasteful way in which it was
decorated, not only with modern tapestry hangings but with
a drop scene reminiscent of the country round Wolverhampton
itself. Thanks for the entertainment were suitably presented,
in a speech by Councillor Beaumont and musically by the
remainder of those present, and were acknowledged by the
Mayor.

Then once more chars-a-bancs were requisitioned to take the
party to Apley Terrace, on the River Severn. The route
taken was via Bridgnorth, while on the return Shifnal, the
scene of a certain Royal honeymoon, was passed. The grounds
and the view were adequately inspected as they deserve to be,
and tea was served in the grounds. We heard a certain amount
of shop in spite of the sylvan scenery, but, then, engineers are
like that.

In the evening a Reception was given by the Mayoress of
Wolverhampton at the Art Gallery.

Wednesday, June 21.

This morning members were early astir armed with coats
and umbrellas for the journey by road to Stoke-on-Trent.
The now familiar chars-a-bancs were under weigh soon after
9 a.m., and a very pleasant run via Stafford w^as the reward
of those taking part. On nearing Stoke, the local beauty spot,
Trentham Gardens, of which a closer view was given in the
afternoon, was passed.

Unfortunately in some w^ays the organisers of this expedition
had been a little too optimistic. The two hours allowed for
the journey was barely sufficient for the W^olverhampton party,
and nothing like adequate for those coming from Birmingham.
The result was the proceedings started nearly an hour late with
the briefest of welcomes from the Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent
(Aid. S. Sproston) and the President, after an even
briefer reply, called on Mr. E. Calvert to read liis Paper on
" The Administration and Control of Electricity Depart-
ments," explaining as he did so that luncheon would be put
off for half-an-hour in order that there might be some
discussion. We give this Paper in abstract below.

Administration and Control of Electricity
Departments.

By EDWARD CALVERT. Chief Electrical Engineer, Finohley.

Municipal accounts have received much consideration in
recent years. The Public Health Acts do not contain any
detailed method of control of accounts, but deal rather with
the form in which district councils' accounts must be kept,
provisions for audit and pubUcation, etc. Accounts of
receipts and expenditure must, however, be made up "in
such a form and to such day in every year as the Local
Government Board may appoint." Considerable latitude is
allowed to the qualifications of the treasurer, but it is evi-
dently assumed that other officers \vill handle the money.
The Acts did not therefore contemplate a finance department
which would deal with the whole finances of a local authority.

The Provision of Independent Checks.

Some doubt exists as to whether the PubUc Health Acts
govern municipal trading undertakings. In 1906 the Local
Government Board appointed a Departmental Committee
" to inquire and report w-ith regard to the system on which

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

793

accounts of local authorities in England and Wales should
be kept." Of the witnesses who gave evidence none was
directly responsible for the administration of a municipal
trading department. The chief feature of the recommenda-
tions of the Committee, issued in 1907, is the differentiation
of duties of executive officers and departments in such a way
that transactions may be checked by independent records
of accounts. It is recommended that officers concerned with
administration should n(jt control the final accounts thereof ;
and conversely officers who supervise finance should not
take part in the administration or in the receipt and payment
of money. The efEect of these and other recommendations
would be to place in the hands of the Finance Committee
powers which might even take away power from the hands
of the local authority itself. Much opposition to the recom-
mendations has been raised, and no further action appears
to have been taken by the Ministry of Health.

Among the criticisms raised may be mentioned that it
would be impracticable for any one committee to deal efficiently
with the financial details of all committees ; that duplicate
books of accounts would be needed ; that a single finance
officer would not have sufficient technical knowledge to deal
with the business of several departments ; that a great increase
in staff would become necessary ; that committees other than
the finance committee would become practically sub-com-
mittees, leading to inefficiency in view of the absence of a
suitably responsible head ; that the interpretation of the
recommendations would lead to difficulty.

Some Weak Points.

There has been some revival of the movement in favour
of these recommendations, and the Council of the I.M.E.A.
recently passed a resolution disapproving of the efiort to
place the general control of electricity departments under
any officer other than the chief electrical engineer and general
manager. The principle underlying the recommendations
is analogous to that in force in the L.C.C. since 1889. From
the report of a Special Committee appointed on June 21, 1921,
it appears that the L.C.C. is not entirely satisfied with existing
procedure. The present highly centralised system is regarded
as having drawbacks, including over-elaboration and over-
lapping, and especially the division of responsibility between
heads of executive departments and the head of the accounting
or checking department. Accordingly a new scheme is
proposed under which the comptroller would act as financial
adviser, pa)miaster-general, and receiver-general and auditor,
and would keep the main accounts, but the heads of executive
departments would have entire responsibility for all payments
for which they are certifying officers, for collection of revenue
in their department, and for keeping their departmental
accounts. Such a scheme of decentralisation would, it is
thought, be quite feasible.

The conclusion confirmed by these considered opinions
is that a chief officer cannot efficiently carry out the work
of his department unless he is held solely responsible for
the financial position.

I.M.E.A. Opiaton.

In conchision, the publication of the following considered
opinion of the Council of the Association may be opportune : —

In municipal trading departments which have to be run
on business lines, it is imperative that the chief electrical
engineer and general manager should bear the full responsi-
bility for the working and development of the undertaking.
If tHe financial control is taken away from him and placed
under another officer, a state of dual control is set up and the
usual evil results will inevitably follow. The effective check
upon the financial details can best be obtained by a properly
organised system of audit, and preferably by auditors inde-
pendent of the permanent staff of the municipality. When
the operations of the department in question justify the
same, the books should be kept by the staff of the department.
A continuous audit is always preferable. In electricity
departments questions of commercial management and
financial details are so dependent upon technicalities as to
render these inseparable ; they can only be satisfactorily
dealt with by one who has high engineering qualifications
for dealing with all branches of the department's business.

DISCUSSION.

Aid. A. Senington (Bri.stol) said that London could not
be taken as typical of the conditions to which the author referred.
The demarcation of the duties of officials was important in connec-
tion with a trading committee such as an electricity committee, but

financial chaos might result if one man, say the electrical engineer,
were allowed the sole control.

-Mr. F. W. Purse (West Ham) remarked that many insidious
attompts were being made by financial officers to obtain the
control of electricity undertakings, and the movement was
still more dangerous now that the " Geddes " Committees, set up
by many of the (x)uncils, were at work. It was true electrical
engineers did not want to be troubled with raising money, and the
actual keeping of certain accounts was a matter which none of
them would differ upon. But when it came to a question of
sayr'ng whether certain extensions should be made the engineer
was the only man who could give information. Therefore, there
could not be any question as to what theline of demarcation
should be.

Mr. C. H. WoRDiNGHAMsaidan engineer who did not have charge
of the financial part of his work was a contradiction m terms. He
concurred heartily with the Council's resolution. .\fter all, the
technics of accountancy were nothing compared with the technics
of the scientific side of engineering. It was the man himself who
was going to determine whether the undertaking was a success or
not. His technical knowledge was merely a box of tools, and the
the accountancy tool was the simplest and easiest of the lot.

Differences Between Municipal and Company Finance.

Mr. NoRMAK Staniland (Homsey) said Mr. Calvert had imagined an
autocratic finance committee and a very autocratic borough treasurer.
It was wrong to compare municipal with company finance, because
the way money was spent was quite different. The ordinary
council had a united district fund, and the debts were more
or less merged in that. .\t Homsey all the chairmen of the
spending committees were on the Finance Committee, and had
their chance to say what they thought about the treatment of
their particular committee. H-^- did not see how one could ask for
a watertight electricity department when it was dependent on the
whole district for any out-balances. The L.C.C. had recently
appointed a special control officer to look into the financial standing
of all the departments and keep an eye on how they were worked.

Councillor F. Burgess (Bristol) supported co-operation between
the two departments.

A Working Arrangement.

Mr. W. C. P. Tapper (Stepney) said with the present methods
there was duplication of work. Many records were kept twice
over. The engineer must be able to get the information he wanted
when he wanted it, and if he had not the books in his department
he could not do so. The books should be kept in the department
by an officer who was a qualified accountant, under the general
manager. The borough treasurer or accountant should carry on a
continuous audit of the books of all the departments. The L.C.C.
had gone into this question carefully, the committee charged
with the work had come to a definite conclusion, and they should
follow their lead.

Councillor E. R. Dvmond (Hereford) said if two people were
responsible for the financial efficiency of the electricit>- department
failure would result. No man trained simply in accountancy and
finance could accept the whole responsibility- of so technical a
work as electricity supply.

FoUow the L.C.C.

Aid. C. R. Attlee (Sn^pney) remarked that the electricity depart-
ment must not be too widely separated from the others. It was
carried on for all the inhabitants and not only for the consumers.
If too much power were put into the hands of the technical officer
the tendency would be to look after the consumers rathei than^ the
ratepayers generally. They should follow the lead of the L.C.C. in
the matter.

Mr. J. W. Beauchamp thought tliey should make the collection
of accounts an opportunity for propaganda. This could not be
done if they were sent out from the borough treasurer's office.

Mr. L. L. Robinson (Hackney) saia in his undertaking there was
a Uaison officer in the offices of the electricity department who kept
it in touch with the finance departments. What was to be
done from an engineering or trading point of view was settled
by the Electricitv Committee and confirmed by the Council with
the advice of the" engineer, .\rrangemcnts were made so that the
treasurer could have the greatest possible facilities for a running
audit of the electricitv department's accounts. The accounts ^-ent
out from and were paid in their own buildmg. and they obtamed
the useful result Mr, Beauchamp had referred to.

Baihe W. Crawford (Paislev) said at P.usley the Electncity
Committee was a committee of "the whole Council, and out of that
they formed an advisorv committee to co-operate with the manager.
They gave the manager freedom with regard to extensions, and also
to spend monev. ^^•ith ^he proviso that his suggestions were put
before the advisorv committee and afterwards submitted to \hc
Council The I.M.E.A. should see that all their engineers were well
equipped technically, and were also commercial men able to extend
their undertakings.

Co-operative Solution.

Councillor A. j. Warp (Sheffield^ did not agree with the borough
treasurer having control, but in cases where the engineer had more
than he could do, a qualified commercial man should be appointed
to relieve him of some of the duties.

794

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Mr. Calvert, in reply, said his view was that in every muni-
cipahty there should be co-operation between the principal officers
of the various departments. Municipalities, in appointing an
engineer to manage a large trading department, did not sufficiently
carefully assure themselves that his qualifications included other
things than ordinary mechanics. The municipality was then at fault,
and not the engineer. The engineer, so-called, was nowadays the
general commercial manager with a sound knowledge of engineering
thrown in, and, as such, he should be presumably in a position to
employ engineering brains to carry out the more detailed work.

At the conclusion of the meeting those attending were
entertained to luncheon by the Stoke-on-Trent Electricity
Committee, and subsequently divided into parties which
visited various engineering and pottery works in the district.
These parties co-ordinated again at Trentham Gardens,
where tea was served, and the return was made by road to
Wolverhampton and Birmingham. In the evening, some-
what mercifully, we were left to our owm devices, and a
Wild West drama at the local picture house tintillated the
intellects of some.

Thursday, June 22.

This morning the Convention journeyed to the Witton
works of the General Electric Co. where the meeting was held
in the Main Hall of the Magnet Club. The Wolverhampton
party this time had a taste of Black Country scenery in cold
weather and were quite ready to enjoy the warm welcome
which this unofficial hostelry knows so well how to provide.
Unfortunately all this sort of thing made the meeting very
late starting and a strangulated discussion fought for existence
between club amenities and the attractions of Witton works.

The subject was " Sub-station Equipment, including Auto-
matic Control," a Paper on this subject, of which we give an
abstract below, being read by Mr. R. A. Chattock,

Sub-Station Equipment, including Automatic
Control.

Br R. A. CHATTOCK. City Electrical Engineer. BlrminCham.

The equipment of modern sub-stations involves the con
sideration of several types of transforming apparatus and
switchgear. In this paper it is proposed to deal with : —
(i) the various types of sub-station plant available ; (2) the
application of these types to various classes of supply ; (3) the
conditions under which automatic operation is beneficial, and
the methods of obtaining it ; (4) typical sub-station lay-outs,
buildings, plant and switchgear, and results obtained under
working conditions.

Types of Sub-Station Plant.

The various types of sub-station plant available are dealt
with briefly, assuming an incoming supply of 11 000 V three
phase alternating current : an outgoing supply of 500 V d.c, for
power and lighting purposes, with a regulation of ± 5 per cent,
or I 500 V d.c. for railway traction purposes : a speed of 500
revs, per min.

Supply engineers are familiar with the details of such
machines. It is only necessary to tabulate their charac-
teristics for reference as follows : —

The Rotary Converter.

The efl&ciency of a i 000 kW rotary converter equipment
supplying d.c. at 500 V at 25 cycles varies from 92 per cent, at
half load to 94 per cent, at full load, and from 91-4 per cent, at
half load to 94 per cent, at full load at 50 cycles. When a d.c.
voltage of I 500 is required — e.g., for railway traction — the
ef&ciency varies from 92-8 per cent, at half-load to 94-5 per
cent, at fuU load. In this case it is necessary to run two 500 kW
sets in series in order to obtain i 000 kW. The efficiencies of
such a combination vary between 91-1 per cent, at half -load
and 93-5 per cent, at full load.

Another advantage of the rotary converter is high power
factor which can be kept either at unity or with a leading
characteristic — a great advantage on systems carrying a large
inductive load.

The present-day costs of rotary converter equipments of
I 000 kW capacity vary from ;^6-io to £7-^7 per kW.

The La Cour Motor Converter.

This machine is not quite so efficient as the rotary converter,
and is only advocated for 40 cycles or over.

Rotary converters now run satisfactorily even at 50 cycles,

so that the need of the La Cour converter is disappearing.
For the higher d.c. voltages required for railway traction
work, it will, however, enter the field, as it is possible
to construct i 000 kW machines supplying d.c. at i 500 V,
thus avoiding the necessity for running Irsvo in series as is the
case with 50 cycle rotary converters. The efficiency of a La Cour
converter varies from 90 per cent, at half-load to 92 per cent,
at full load. The power factor can be adjusted to unity. The
cost per kW at present-day prices amounts to £^'^7.

The Synchronous Motor Generator.

The efficiency of a synclironous motor generator varies from
85-8 per cent, at half-load to 89-5 per cent, at full load. There is
no distinction in machines built for 25 and 50 cycles. Special
starting motors are required for starting and running up to
synchronism. The power factor can be b^t at unity, or given
a leading characteristic if desired, by varying the excitation,
without affecting the stability.

The cost at present-day prices is ;^6'89 per kW for 25 cycles
and /6'5 per kW for 50 cycles.

The Induction Motor Generator.

The efficiency of the induction motor generator is slightly
higher when run on 25 cycles than when run on 50 cycles, and
varies from 85'5 per cent, at half-load to 88-8 per cent, at full
load.

The power factor cannot be adjusted, and varies from 84 per
cent, lagging at half-load to 90-5 per cent, lagging at full load
when running on 25 cycles, and 74-5 per cent, lagging at half-
load to 85-5 per cent, lagging at full load when running on 50
cycles.

The cost at present-day prices is ;^5'84 per kW for 25 cycles
and £5-56 per kW for 50 cycles.

The Synchronous Induction Motor Generator.

The efficiency of the synchronous induction motor generator
is lower than that of the ordinary induction motor generator,
but the power factor can be adjusted to unity at full load,
and with constant excitation it has a leading characteristic
at lower loads. This may be a valuable consideration. If
the excitation is varied to keep the power factor at unity
the machine tends to become unstable at low loads.

The cost at present-day prices is ;^6'40 per kW for 25 cycle
plant, ;^6-i8 per kW for 50 cycle plant.

The Mercury Arc Rectifier.

The mercury arc rectifier has only recently been made com-
mercially in large sizes. The efficiency depends upon a constant
loss in maintaining the arc in the rectifier cylinder. Accordingly,
as the d.c. voltage is increased, so the efficiency improves, and
may attain 92-5 per cent, at full load (on 500 V d.c. 50 cycles),
9i'2 per cent, at full load when run on 25 cycles. 95-8 per
cent, efficiency is attainable for i 500 V d.c. at full load on
50 cycles with a 825 kW rectffier.

For a I 500 V d.c. supply this apparatus is tlierefore more
efficient than any type of rotary apparatus on the market ;
on 3 000 V the difference is still more marked. The power
factor of this apparatus remains practically constant at all
loads. The cost at present-day prices is : —

Two Cylinder — i 000 kW, 500 V, 25 Cycle . . £^'7^ per kW

I 000 kW, 500 V, 50 Cycle . . 17 ■'{9 per kW

Single Cylinder — 825 kW, i 500 V, 25 Cycle . . £^-38 per kW

825 kW, I 500 V, 50 Cycle . . 25-04 per kW

The Storaga Battery.

The storage battery is a valuable adjunct to tlie d.c. sub-
station. Its efficiency regarded as a unit witli its cliarging
boosters and its necessity for drawing transformed energy from
the a.c. system is about 63 per cent. When the cost of the
current passed tlirough the battery is taken into account, a
higher economic efficiency results. The battery, being charged
at niglit, can be supplied at the cost of coal only ; at times of
emergency the supply returned to the line is practically price-
less, and at times of peak load the value is a maximum. Taking
the two hour rate of discharge as a measure of capacity, and
including the cost of regulating switch and charging booster,
the cost per kW at present-day prices is ;^35.

The Static Transformer.

The efficiency of this apparatus is very liigh, varying
between 96 per cent, at half-load and 98 per cent, at full load.
The cost at present-day prices is £2 per kVA for small sizes up
to 100 kVA, and down to £x per kVA for larger sizes.

June 30, 1922

I'he Electrician.

795

The Frequency Changer.

A frequency changer is only applied to small sections of the
supply and not for linking together large systems having
different periodicities. The efficiency varies from 89-5 per
cent, at half load to 92-5 per cent, at full load. The power
factor can be adjusted to unity, and the cost at present-day
prices is /5*i6 per kW.

Lighting and^Power Applications.

Most thickly populated centres of supply are dealt with by
a d.c. three-wire network, divided into reasonably sized
sections, each one fed by a distinct sub-station through low
tension d.c. feeders. Sub-stations are commonly equipped
with rotary converters or La Cour motor converters, drawing
their supply from extra high tension polyphase a.c. mains.
Recently the mercury arc rectifier has found favour. When
the price of this is reduced from its present high level, it
should prove a formidable rival to the rotary converter. The
advantage of using d.c. in a thickly populated district is largely
due to the possibility of installing storage batteries.

The overall eflficiency of a rotary converter sub-station
equipped with a storage battery, over a period of twelve
months, and converting an output of about nine million units,
amounts to 87 per cent.

The present-day cost of such a sub-station, including land,
buildings, plant, battery and switchgear, amounts to ;^I9*9 per
kW for a two storey sub-station and £iT^ per kW for a single
storey sub-station.

A limitation to the capacity of the d.c. sub-station is imposed
by the loading up of the low tension feeders. A point is
reached when it becomes practically impossible, without a
very heavy expenditure on additional copper, to maintain the
proper pressure in the outlying parts of each district. The
best way of handling such a condition is to instal automatic
rotary transforming plant or mercury arc rectifiers in the out-
lying districts, feeding back into the distributing network at
times of heavy demand.

Apparatus can be made entirely automatic, or semi-auto-
matic by connecting to the main sub-station through pilot
wires.

The present-day cost of such plant installed in single units
of 250 kW capacity amounts to : — for the automatic rotary
converter equipment, ^{23 7 per kW, and;^i7'i per kW for the
mercury arc rectifier.

In a thinly populated residential district the use of d.c. is
harcjly justified, and low tension a.c. supply has to be adopted.

The comparison of the cost of three schemes for dealing with
a suburban area of about 13 sq. miles at present-day prices
works out as follows : —

Three automatic mercury arc rectifier sub-sta-
tions, each comprising one 230 kW rectifier, one
100 Ah battery for balancing purposes, switch-
board and sub-station buildings, with direct cur-
rent feeder and distributor mains . . . . £6^ per kW

Three automatic rotary converter sub-stations,
each comprising one 250 kW rotary converter,
switchboard, station buildings and direct current
feeder and distributor mains . . , . . . ;^58-5 per kW

Six static transformer sub-stations, each equipped
with one 100 kW transformer, with switchgear,
sub-station buildings and alternating current dis-
tributing mains . . . . . . . . . . ;£26 per kW

The efficiency of operation of these three systems of supply,
reckoned from the high tension input to the sub-stations to
the supply delivered at the consumers' premises, and assuming
a load factor of 15 per cent, per annum, works out as follows : —

For the automatic mercury arc rectifier equipment 89 per cent.
For the automatic rotar\' converter equipment . . 84 -5 per cent.
For the static transformer equipment . . . . 95 per cent.

Tramway Traction.

For tramway traction purposes rotary converters, syn-
chronous and induction motor generators are chiefly used.
In thickly populated districts tramway traction plant can be
worked in conjunction with the fighting and power plant,
but in country districts such equipment is costly to operate,
and automatic rotary converting plant and mercury arc recti-
fiers will probably be used. Control can be conveniently
obtained over great distances from a single centre by means of
pilot wires operating relays.

Railway Traction.

Requirements for railway traction are not so well defined
in this country as are those of the two preceding sections.

The standard pressure of i 500 V (d.c.) recommended by the
Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Transport is not
being accepted without question. Advocates of the Brighton
and South Coast Railway System (single pha.se a.c. at 1 1 000 V)
consider this a cheaper proposition On the other hand d.c.
pressures above i 500 V can be obtained and used with safety.

The mercury arc rectifier can supply d.c. at 3 000 V, or the
rotary converter utilised by couphng the d.c. endi in series.
In order to utilise 3 000 V train motors would be run two in
series with i 500 V on each.

It is doubtful whether rotary converters will be suitable for
these higher d.c. pressures. On a 25 cycle system they are
more satisfactory than -wnth 50 cycles.

Sub-stations for railway traction should be automatic in
operation, and La Cour converters, induction motor generators
and mercury arc rectifiers can be conveniently adapted.

The use of single phase alternating current for ordinary
traction purposes requires only static transformers installed
at intervals along the line to reduce the pressure from 66 000
or no 000 V to the line pressure of 11 000 V.

Continental experience indicates that frequencies not
exceeding 25 cycles are desirable for single phase operation.
Frequencies as low as 16$ are generally adopted.

Automatic Operation of Sub-Stations.

Sub-station apparatus should be designed to automatically
control the starting and stopping of the plant. For a single
unit, feeding into a network control is effected by relays
actuated by the pressure of the fine supply. For a number
of units feeding into a network control would be better deter-
mined by the current supplied from the group. It is advisable
to allow a time lag of about five minutes before the control
actually operates, especially in automatic sub-station plant for
traction purposes.

Typical Sub-Station Lay-outs.

The single-storey sub-station is cheaper to build and equip
than the two-storey sub-station, but the space occupied by this
type is greater, hence in a thickly populated district a two-
storey sub-station may be adopted. The batter^' room is
then arranged over the machine room, and this necessitates a
stronger and more costly building.

The incoming high tension cables are housed in a trench on
one side of the building, the outgoing low tension cables in a
trench on the other side. The h.t. swtchboard is disposed
over the h.t. cable trench ; thence the supply is passed into
the transformers, into the rotary converting plant, and to the
l.t. switchboard situated over the l.t. cable trench. Space
is provided also for feeder boosters and balancers.

The heavier plant should be under an overhead traveUing
crane to afford facihties for instaUing and overhauling.

In the one-storey sub-station all apparatus is on one floor,
and the batter\' room is built alongside the station on the l.t.
side. In the two-storey sub station transformers, rotary con-
verting plant and balancers are installed on the ground floor ;
h.t. and l.t. switchboards on galleries carried between the
overhead crane stanchions and the outer walls. The battery
room is overhead. Space must be provided for an attendant's
office, with simple cooking facilities, and a heating chamber to
maintain a temperature of 55° F. in the winter : ample ventila-
tion is necessary in summer.

Battery Room Design.

As regards the battery room in the early da>-s trouble was
experienced in providing and maintaining an acid-proof floor.
Asphalt becomes soft and is not impervious to acid, inti-
mately a floor was developed constructed of i in. of asphalt
laid on the concrete and a 2\-\n. hard pressed blue brick
tile laid on this, place \ in. apart aul run in with hot pitch.
This is impervious to any acid.

A roof of ordinary steel construction over the batteries is
not recommended, as acid spray damages the steel work. A
paint of the best red lead and boiled oil put on in five coats and
finished in ordinary colour paint lasts as long as an> special
material, but this' is not absolutely impervious. The best
construction is to put a flat concrete roof and to case in all the
joist work in concrete, so that there is no exposed metal of any
kind to be attacked.

Ample ventilation should be provided in the batten,- room
by means of fans. With batteries of 2 000 Ah. capacity
and over, it is necessary to provide add neutrahsers, screens
of finely perforated lead plates, over which water is allo\v-ed
to trickle, and tlurough which the air is dra\vn.

The operating efficiency of a sub-station is about 87 per cent.
per annum. The actual working cost at present-day prices for

796

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

a sub-station containing 4 000 kW of rotary converting plant
with a maximum load of 3 560 kW, and an annual converted
output of 9 200 000 units, supplying a l.t. 3-wnire power and
lighting network and an overhead tramway traction system,
is as follows : —

Pence per
unit sent
£ out.

Interest at 6 per cent, and Sinking Fund
according to the life of the buildings and

plant on a capital expenditure of ;^79 732 8,368 0218

Rates and taxes . . . . . . . . 810 0021

Wages of attendants on shift (eight men) 2,063 0"054

Wages of maintenance men . . . . 1,130 0-029

Costs of materials used for repairs and main-
tenance . . . . . . . . . . 380 O'Oog

Proportionate amount for supervision .. 456 o-ooii

Costs of units used on the works reckoned at

Jd. per unit . . . . . , . . 527 0-014

Total

1^13 734 0-356

Static Transformer Sub-Stations, A.C. to A.C.

This is a simple and cheap arrangement, comprising a small
building equipped with switches for controlling the incoming
and outgoing h.t. cables, a static transformer generally of
50-100 kW capacity, equipped with a h.t. switch, fitted either
\vith automatic overload control or combined with h.t. fuses,
and a l.t switch combined with fuses, for connecting to the
l.t. distributing network. The cost of such a sub-station is
now about £6 per kW.

With overhead lines transformers are frequently fixed to
poles, l.t. connections being made either to overhead lines or
underground distributing cables, probably the cheapest form
of distribvition. In America this method has led to " open
air sub-stations." Transformers and switchgear are in
weathertight cases, installed in the open, and fed from e.h.t.
overhead mains, at pressures of 150 000 V. This may be
suitable in the dry American climate, but would not prove to
be satisfactory in this country.

Large Conituiners' Sub-Stations.

For consumers taking large power supplies of 150 h.p. and
upwards, it is usual to provide an e.h.t. supply, which the
consumer transforms and distributes in his own premises. The
costs of the Supply Department's panels at present-day prices
are roughly £i^S per cable panel and ;^I73 per consumer's
panel. A minimum of three panels is required, but in a large
works actually six or nine panels are installed to provide
sufficient alternative sources of supply. The maximum capa-
city of each of the incoming cables is 2 000 kW.

Power Factor.

The power factor can be corrected in sub-stations equipped
with rotary converters and other synchronous converting plant,
but in the case of long h.t. feeders supplying large consumers
it is important to correct at the consumer's premises and to
give inducements to consumers to adopt such an arrangement.

A simple apparatus is an ordinary condenser attached to the
l.t. side of the transformer. Another device is the Kapp
vibrator, which can be attached to individual induction motors
and arranged to correct the power factor to unity.

The cost of such apparatus suitable for use on 25 cycle circuits
at present prices is as follows : — for condensers £g 9s. per
kVA, for vibrators ^3 12s. per kVA.

DISCUSSION.

Mr. S. J. Watson (Bury) said Mr. Chattock dealt with the speed
of 500 revs, per min. only, but during the last few years speeds had
been pushed higher, and at present i 000 kW rotaries were being
made to run at i 000 revs, per min., and he believed makers were
prepared to go to higher speeds. In consequence tlie prices were
relatively lower, the machine was as good and the efficiency slightly
higher. It was reasonable to say one could get a rotary with trans-
former and switchgear at less than ^4 per kW. Those who had
purchased self-synchronising rotaries during the last year or two
would realise their advantages. They could be run up quickly
and put on the bars in less than half a minute in the smaller
sizes. The old battle on the use of rotaries or synchronous
or asynchronous motor generators had been revived in this
paper. Rotaries had been much improved <luring the last
few years, but they still had certain defects. No rotaries would
hold in when a bad short on the e.h.t. side set up surges, whereas
a synchronous motor-generator was far less sensitive. The author
referred to " the relatively less reliable system of low tension a.c.
in c()mpari.son with d.c." But from the generation right through
to the detailed distribution the a.c. system was equal to and in
rnany cases far better than d.c. Almost the sole advantage of d.c.

was the possibility of using storage batteries when the loads were
small, and it was possible to shut the plant down. But as a system
grew and the plant had to be run over 24 hours, a.c, and especially
single phase, was simpler and better than d.c. The only other
advantage of d.c. was in speed regulation.

Cheap and Abundant Supply Impossible.

Mr. S. E. Fedden (Sheffield) thought it would be impossible to
give a cheap and abundant supply of electricity on any large scale
by using the system the author advocated. To lay minds the
complications must appear enormous, and to skilled minds the capital
expenditure was enormous. At Sheffield they had been endeavour-
ing to cheapen substations, and had been assisted very much by
the ironclad switchgear. In the substation they had evolved the
door frames and doors cost ;^50, at present-day prices, and materials
and labour for the concrete erection, ;^ioo. The whole station cost
;^I50 exclusive of timber for the concrete sheeting, the cost of which
was spread over a number of substations. The door frames were
put up and concreted in, and when the floor was down the concrete
was built up. The ironclad switchgear was put in through the door
on one side and the transformers through the other side. Instead
of putting up kiosks the same thing was done on a smaller scale,
and II 000 V could then be handled in any outlying district. Those
little concrete buildings only cost ;^3o. The cost of a 2 000 kW sub-
station was : building, ;^294 ; e.h.t. gear, ;^6oo ; l.t. gear, ^j^ ;
e.h.t. transformers, £\ 258, and l.t. transformers, ;^286. The cost
was only £2 or £^ a kW instead of £^ or £6. In the case of mercury
arc rectifiers the figure was about ;^32. We could not sell cheaply
on that capital expenditure. Batteries were all right for small
country houses, but one could not distribute cheap electricity with
an efficiency of 60 per cent., and there was very large capital expendi-
ture. Automatic rotary substations would no doubt be useful for
railway and other big work, but the big capital expenditure barred
them out for other purposes. Mr. Chattock made a point of the
great advantage of keeping up the power factor by having all
these rotary substations, but it was a most expensive way of doing
it. Low power factor was a bogey on most distribution systems.

Colonial Experiences.

Mr. W. H. Alabaster (Melbourne) said he had recently had to
go into the design of rotary substations and numerous static sub-
stations. He agreed as to the desirability of hmiting as far as
possible the area to be supplied by d.c. He had recently put
forward a proposal to cut off an outlying district which was poorly
developed, and arranged for it to be transferred to the a.c.
system. Half the d.c. area was run without a battery with satis-
factory results. In the most important area, however, there was
a 4 000 Ah battery. He was rather appalled by the author's figure
of o'36d. per unit being added to the working cost by a fairly large
substation. He thought that was due to the inclusion of a battery
and to the fact that Mr. Chattock was providing for smaller sub-
stations than the one to which he had referred. For the last few
months he had been running a 5 000 kW frequency changer for
connecting a 50-cycle power house with a 25-cycle railway power
house, and the result had been so good that he did not see why they
should not be satisfactory elsewhere.

Batteries not Justified.

Mr. R. B. Mitchell (Glasgow) agreed with the first two speakers
with regard to system of supply. He did not think batteries in
substations were justified, on account of the cost. In Glasgow there
was one substation of 6 000 kW capacity, and there was room for
another 3 000 kW. If he put in a battery of 6 000 kW, according
to Mr. Chattock's figures the cost would be ;^2io 000. In Glasgow
they had also installed a rectifier, but their experience had not been
so fortunate as Mr. Chattock's. It was of i 500 kW capacity in
three cyUnders. That introduced complications. One of the
cylinders gave trouble, apart from the relationship of one cylinder
to another, and the coils and switchgear caused complications. At
the same time he felt sure the makers would get over the difficulties
and would be able to run three cylinders in parallel in one sub-
station with success. At Glasgow they had decided to risk 25
cycle supply to outlying areas.

Witton Works Revisited.

At the conclusion of the meeting the party were taken round
the various departments of the Witton works, special attention
being given to the electric kitchens in the Club premises and
to the exhibition of domestic and other electrical labour-saving
appliances. A short description of the former will be found
elsewhere. As for the latter it enabled visitors to see in
peptonised form the activities of the firm on the less impressive,
if idtimatel}^ more useful side, of electrical engineering. It is
hardly necessary here to dilate on the details of " Magnet "
domestic equipment, but the display should have had the
effect of hastening the conversion of those who believe that
the perfect, or even the fairly perfect, apparatus is still to seek.
In other fields we noticed the Haydn Harrison 1 antern andji
warning apparatus for platelayers which makes use of a
sensitive relay and bell operated by the vibration of an
approaching train.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

797

At the conclusion of the works inspection the company were
entertained to luncheon in the Magnet Club by the Cieneral
Electric Co.

Mr. Hirst on Cheap Electricity.

In reply to the toast of " The General Electric Company,''
proposed by Mr. S. T.Allen, Mr. Hugo Hirst, who presided,
recalled the days of 1914, the last time that the I.M.E.A.
visited \\'itton, when the whole world was suffering from a
sickness from which it had not yet recovered. It would only
recover when Britain recovered and it was therefore our duty
for the sake of universal good to concentrate on our c^wn
recovery. In his opinion the only way in which we could
recover was by the increasing employment of electricity. To
that extent the aims of the Association and the G.E.C. were
identical. To produce cheap electricity wherewith to inoculate
England would strengthen the electrical industry and every
other industry that depended on cheap power, so giving
employment and increase of strength. It must be realised
that there could be no more living for ourselves. It was the
aim of the G.E.C. to build up a concern as large as any and the
I.M.E.A. could help them by placing at their disposal the
cheap unit which was the most essential raw material for
fighting the competition from abroad.

Annual Dinner.

In the evening the annual dinner of the Association was held
at the Royal Field Artillery Headquarters, Mr. S. T. Allen
being in the chair. A large number of members and guests
were present, including Mr. J. S. Highfield, the Mayor of
Wolverhampton and Dr. S. Z. de Ferranti.

Replying to the toast of " Our Guests " proposed by Mr. R. A.
Chattock, Dr. Ferranti said the convention gave an excellent
opportunity for renewing old friendships and making new ones.
He referred to a visit he had paid forty-one years ago to Wolver-
hampton in connection with the lighting of the Ironmasters Exchange
The effort of keeping the lights going on that occasion had been so
worrying that he had decided he must give up electrical engineering
if lie could not worry less, and in any event he had had no oppor-
tunity of seeing the beauties of the town. He was only too pleased
to endorse the remark that Mr. Hirst had made that afternoon that
we required far more electricity. The country was in a difficult
position and there was no surer way to success than by increasing
the use of electricity for every possible purpose. The I.M.E.A. had
the great responsibility of being the trustees for electricity users and
that great responsibility could only be met by endeavouring greatly
to increase the use of electricity. It was true there were
difficulties in the way but there must be no waiting for perfection.
Electricity could, and should, be used for every purpose for which
combustible was now employed, for in every case electricity did the
work much better than anything else. It was really a question of
salesmanship for there could be no better thing to sell than elec-
tricity and we must therefore increase its sales by pushing it for all
it was worth and by getting together and devising means for
bringing about this result.

In proposing the toast of the " Incorporated Municipal Electrical
Association," Mr. J. S. Highfield said that municipalities were at
present engaged in a great electrical work. Such stations as
Nechells, Dalmarnock and Barton made it certain that municipal
electricity supply was going to endure. On the Tyneside they could
see the work of private enterprise and that was also going to endure.
To bring about the position that Dr. Ferranti had outlined the first
matter of importance was to realise that companies and munici-
palities must assist each other, and if they would only work together
Dr. Ferranti's dreams might well have a chance of coming true.

The toast was responded to by Mr. S. T. Allen who said he would
like to reply to the complimentary things that had been said about
the municipalities by referring to the position of the Institution of
Electrical Engineers which was known and respected throughout the
world. As he had already pointed out, the I.M.E.A. was the oldest
municipal association, and it was therefore a pleasure to have with
them to-night representatives of similar associations in Australia
and South Africa.

Friday, June 23.

This morning the annual general meeting was held in tlie
Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. The proceedings opened
by the President reading a telegram from tlie Prince of
Wales, expressing his thanks for the Association's message
of congratulation upon his return from the East.

The New President.

The President next announced that tliere was only one
nomination for the office of President, and he tl^erefore
declared Lieut. -Col. W. A. Vignoles (of Grimsby) duly
elected.

Tieut.-Col. W. A, Vignoles, in thanking tlie members for his
election, asked them to support him by reading the monthly

report that was sent to them and answering the conundrums
which appeared therein.

The President said there was also a single nomination
fdr the Vice-Presidency, and he declared Atr. S. E. Brittox,
of Chester, duly elected.

The Hon. Solicitor (Mr. P. M. Heath), the Hon. Treasurer
(Mr. H. Faraday Proctor), and the Hon. Secretary (Mr. A. C.
Cramb) were re-elected unopposed.

The President read a resolution electing Mr. F. Aytox,
Past President, an Honorary Member.

The Expenses Problem.

Mr. Faraday Proctor, at the request of the President,
dealt with the question of the payment of the expenses of
members attending Council meetings. The expenses of the
Association were at present about £1 500 per annum, and the
expenses of individual members of the Council in travelling
to London and the provinces were another £1 500, so that if
the Association were to pay the whole of those expenses, the
total would be about £^ 000, but if it paid the travelling
expenses only, the amount required would be £550 less.
The Council put forward a scale for drawing from the indi-
vidual undertakings id. for every /20 of gross revenue, which
would bring in ;^3,ooo per annum. An alternative was to
obtain income by the same means, with a maximum of £y3
instead of £=)0. That would mean that about 16 of the
largest undertakings would pay £yi, whereas under the
first alternative they would pay £50. The contribution of
the other undertakings would be id. per £20 of revenue,
subject to a minimum of £'5. The balance of the letters
received by the Secretary expressed disapproval of any
alteration.

Mr. A. C. Cramb said the Municipal Tramways Association
considered this question last year and turned it down.
Their subscriptions, however, were two to three times those
paid by members of the I.M.E.A.

Mr. S. J. Watson (Bury) said the expenses of the Council
of the Borough Treasurers' Association were met out of the
borough funds.

Coun. V. Blessley (Hampstead) agreed that the expenses of
the Council should be borne by the autliorities generally,
but it seemed an unfair ' way to meet the expenses
by charging so much on every £20 of gross revenue. He
proposed that the contributions paid by local councils
should be increased by 100 per cent, with a limit of £50.

Aid. A. Senington (Bristol) seconded Mr. Blessley 's
amendment.

Coun. E. H. King (Islington) moved that the question be
deferred until next year. Some Councils would leave the
Association if the matter were pushed now.

Aid. R. Dalton (Ceirlisle) said he seconded tliis amendment.
To put a limit of £50 on tlie large undertaking was not fair
to places like Carhsle.

Mr. W\ C. P. Tapper (Stepney) said the figures put forward
by the Coimcil would not involve a very large increase for
a small undertaking, but the proposal of ilr. Blessley would
have that effect.

Mr. Hinnell (Willesden) thought the Association should
fall into line with otlier associations that paid the expenses
of tlieir executives. The Council should divide into tiiree
or four panels, eacli panel meeting for three or four months
of tlie year, and that the whole Council should only meet
about once a quarter. A committee of two or three always did
better work tJian one of 20 or 30. His proposal would cut
the expenses by about 40 per cent.

After further discussion, the amendment (that nothing be
done for 12 months) was carried

The Annual Report.

Mr. A. S. Blackman (Sunderland) moved the adoption of the
Council's report and the accounts, of which we give an
abstract below :

Iha Council, in submitting their 27th annual report, state
that the work of the Association has progressed satisfactorily
during the last twelve montlis, and that the results attained
show that it is being rehed upon more and more to look after
the interests of municipal electricity supply authorities in
many directions.

Membership.

The total number of municipal electricity ^uppiy under-
takings belonging to the Association is now 200, representing
a population of 19663270. This represents Si per cent.

798

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

of all the undertakings eligible. Of the 47 municipal
authorities which have not yet joined the Association, 43 are
in the provinces, and represent a total population of only
788 746. Four London municipalities are not yet members,
but the difficulty which precluded them from belonging in the
past has now been removed under Section 30 of the Electricity
(Supply) Act, X919. The Council would be glad if members
would use any influence they may have with the undertakings
referred to above in order that this small minority may be
induced to join the I.M.E.A., and thus pay their share, in the
form of the annual subscription, towards the expenses which
are incurred for the benefit of all municipalities.

During the year applications for membership were received
and accepted from Long Eaton, Stafford, Cheadle and Gatley,
Swinton and Pendlebury and Cambuslang, and the Council
have extended to them a very hearty welcome. It is to be
regretted that Great Yarmouth and Morley have resigned
membership.

Under the Articles of Association the Bootle Corporation is
no longer eligible for membership owing to its electricity under-
taking having been transferred to Liverpool Corporation.

Committee Work.

A section of the report amounting to three-fifths of the
whole is devoted to drawing attention in great detail to the
nature and number of the various Committees upon which
members of the LM.E.A. have been actively engaged during
the past year. These include the five standing Committees
of the Association, and special Committees on agreements,
and with the B.E.A.M.A., the E.L.M.A. and the E.C.A. The
Association is also represented by one or more members on
the B.E.D.A., the various Sub-Committees of the British
Engineering Standards Association, the Electric Vehicle Com-
mittee, the Revising Committee of the I.E.E. Model General
Conditions of Contract, the I.E.E. Committee on Overhead
and Underground Conductors, the I.E.E. Wiring Rules Com-
mittee, the National Proving House Committee and the Rail-
way Rates Joint Conference.

Charges for Traiuvt^ay Supply.

The Council were asked to investigate the charges for tram-
way supply laid down in the I.M.E.A.-M.T.A. Joint Report
of 191 1, but after a questionnaire had been circulated, it was
decided to take no further action for the present.

The Subscription Question.

At the last Annual General Meeting, the Council were
requested to make arrangements for the expenses of members
of the executive attending meetings to be borne by the whole of
the undertakings who benefitted from the work of the Council.
An investigation of the matter shows, however, that this would
cost £1 500 per annum, if all expenses were covered, and that
it would not be possible to do this without increasing the sub-
scription, a policy which is not wise at the present time. The
matter was discussed at the Annual General Meeting as
reported above.

Marking Underground Cables.

The difference of opinion between the Association and the
"G.P.O. on the question of marking underground cables is
mentioned as are also the important provisions contained in
the Grimsby Corporation (Omnibus Act), 192 1.

As regards the maximum repayment periods at present
allowed for apparatus to be let on hire, the Electricity Com-
missioners were informed that as much apparatus now on the
market was not standardised, the Association did not press
at the moment for any extension of the seven years period.

The Minimum Charges Clause.

In connection with the interpretation of the wording of the
Minimum Charges Clause in Provisional Orders, the Com
missioners stated that they would recommend the Minister
of Transport to circulate an explanatory memorandum pointing
out that the clause was intended to cover any case where no
unite were registered on the consumer's meter. The Honorary
Solicitor also recommends that it would be advisable to regard
92 days as being the shortest period for which a minimum
charge could be made. Manufacturers are going into the
matter with a view to meeting the demand for a meter that
will read below 25 A.

Stand-by Supplies of Electricity.

Members have frequently drawn attention to the unfairness
of Section 15 of the 1909 Electric Su->iply Act, which, from the
legal aspect, does not cover those premises which have a private
or independeiit source of electric supply, and require a stand-by

supply of electricity from the public inains. In many areas
the difficulty has been overcome by the insertion of a clause
in a private Act to cover all cases of stand-by supplies. The
Council took up the matter with the Electricity Commissioners
in January last, and obtained a promise that steps would be
taken to insert a clause in the Electricity (Supply) Bill, 1922,
so as to make it perfectly clear that a sufficient income should
be obtainable to cover capital charges, etc. This point is
dealt with in the Electricity (Supply) Bill, 1922, now under
consideration by Parliament.

Financial Position.

The annual accounts show that the Association is financially
in a satisfactory position. The total receipts for the year were
£2 090, and the total amount expended £i 808.

In a discussion on the report, Mr. F. W. Purse (West Ham)
said he was a whole-hearted supporter of compulsory wiring
regulations. The power companies as a rule were opposed to
compulsory rules, and quite a number of municipal authorities
were equally opposed.

The Monthly Report.

Referring to the monthly reports, which were sent out to
members, Mr. S. J. Watson said be commended their usefulness.
He appealed to engineers and chairmen to obtain the necessary
quantities of these reports and circulate it at least among the
members and the Committee. It would be of assistance in
enabling them to understand and appreciate many of the
difficulties they were up against.

Mr. A. C. Cramb, as responsible editor of the monthly reports,
invited chairmen and engineers to criticise them, adversely
or otherwise, and let him have any information of interest to
other readers.

The Neiv Council.

The President then announced the result of the ballot
for the election of new members of Council. The members
elected were : Committee Representatives — Aid. A. Wilkinson
(Luton) and Aid. H. Leese (Stoke-on-Trent). Engineers
{Large Towns)— Mr. R. B. Mitchell (Glasgow), Mr. W. H.
J. Wood (Bolton), and Mr. H. R. Burnett (Barrow-in-Furness).
Engineers {Small Towns) — Mr. T. Hall (Burton-on-Trent) .

Mr. N. Staniland proposed that the Electricity Commis-
sioners be informed that the Association is desirous that the
Institution Rules, when adopted by any supply authority,
should be enforceable on contractors.

Mr. A. De Renzi (Newcastle-under-Lyme) seconded the
motion, and it was carried.

Mr. L. L. Robinson suggested that the Council should
arrange in the autumn of this year an excursion to the capital
station at Gennevilliers, which was to supply Paris.

The President said the matter would be considered by the
Council.

The Commissioners' Expenses.

Mr. F. Newington (Edinburgh) moved a resolution that
" in the opinion of this Association the expen.ses of adminis-
tration of the Electricity Commissioners should be a national
charge."

Mr. F. L. R. Stewart (Rawtenstall) seconded the motion,
and said there were amendments down in the House of
Commons for modifying the 1919 Act by making the Electricity
Commissioners' expenses a national charge. A resolution
by that Association supporting such amendments would
help a great deal.

Mr, F. W. Purse said that Treasury control would mean
more red tape than ever.

It was ultimately agreed to refer the matter to the Council
for consideration and report.

Votes of Thanks.

Votes of thanks were accorded the President and Council,
and to the Lord Mayor and Corporation of Birniingham and
the Mayors and Corporations of Wolverliampton and Stoke-
on-Trent for the assistance they had given in making the
Convention a success, and the Mayoress of Wolverhampton
received a special tribute for her assistance.

On the motion of Coun. Thickett (Gt.-Grimsby) the
members passed a vote of sympatliy with Lady Wilson in her
bereavement by tlie murder of her husband, Field Marshal
Sir Henry Wilson.

This concluded the business in the Convention. In tlie
afternoon parties visited the Wolverhampton Corporation
Generating Station, and thus brought to an end a successful,
if somewhat tiring, meeting.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

799

Correspondence.

THE INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY CONGRESS.

To the Editor of THE ELECTRICIAN.

Sir, — In his article in your issue of June 2, 1922, Mr
Roger Smith seems to indicate that the choice of system for
railway electrification depends appreciably on the mode of
generation, and instances hydro-electric stations as being
suitable for supplying low-frequency, single-phase current,
whereas steam turbine, 50 cycle stations would lead to the
adoption of the direct current system. The suggestion is
interesting, but does a broad view of the situation really
support the contention ? Thus the i6f- cycle railways in
Germany, namely the Dessau-Bitterfeld and the Silesian lines,
are supplied from steam stations ; likewise the 25 cycle,
Hamburg-Altona line. In U.S.A., the Norfolk and Western,
the New York, New Haven and Hartford, and the Pennsyl-
vania Railroads are worked with single-phase current at
25 cycles supphed from steam stations. Similarly the Brighton
line in Great Britain.

In another place, we read : " Those countries like Belgium,
Holland and Great Britain . . . have adopted i 500 V direct
current " ; but later, " The Advisory Committee to the
Ministry of Transport very properly left an open door in the
matter of choice of system " — let us hope the latter is the
correct statement.

I can agree with Mr. Roger Smith, however, when he
says : " People have talked system so long that they have
forgotten that the differences in the cost of working one
system, as compared with any otiaer system at present in use,
do not exceed one or two per cent, on the total cost of running
the railway." In this country the coal pits will probably
have to be much deeper before main-line electrification
becomes a domestic problem. Instead of worrying so much
about " system " therefore, it would be better to encourage
our manufacturers to lay themselves out to get whatever work
there is to be had. In this respect it seems to me that the
policy of the Swiss electrical firms who supply any type of
equipment is a much better example to follow than that of
the American General Electric Co., which advocates so per-
sistently the direct current system. Ought we not to en-
courage the North -Eastern Railway to proceed with their
direct current project and the Brighton Railway with their
single-phase project in order to try out things for ourselves
and to give our manufacturers the necessary experience ?

Stanley Parker Smith.

City and Guilds (Engineering) College,
Exhibition Road, S.W.7,
June 27, 1922.

Electricity Supply in Victoria.

The Electricity Commission of the State of Victoria is developing
its policy in a systematic way, and a survey of all fuel resources is
to be made, though for the moment attention is being concentrated
on the Morwell brown coal scheme. In a recent lecture, the chair-
man of the Commission (Sir John Monash) pointed out that there
was no effort in which co-operation was so beneficial as in the
generation and distribution of electricity, because the needs of the
community were always less than the sum of the needs of the
individual consumer. That was why the generation and distribu-
tion of electricity had been declared a public utility in Victoria.
When the Commission was first appointed its first duty was to
survey the electrical resources of the State. The sources of genera-
tion were threefold, namely, black coal, brown coal and water
power. Victoria's black coal resources were at present very meagre,
so the choice lay between brown coal and water power. There was
no doubt that the state was very rich in water power resources, but
the territory was almost inaccessible, and little was known of the
behaviour of its streams throughout the year. Before electrical
schemes could be carried out, accurate information would have to
be obtained. Want of knowledge, coupled with the possession of
rich brown coal deposits, made them decide upon a scheme for using
brown coal. Deposits of the latter pervaded practically the whole
of Gippsland. There were three open-cut areas (at Morwell,
Traralgon and Welshpool), about 30 square miles in area in each.
The coal was from 160 to 600 ft. thick. In one corner of the Morwell
area, where minute exploration had been made, one square mile
contained more coal than Victoria could use in 130 years.

He did not altogether exclude black coal from the power schemes
of the future, because there were no doubt fields to be discovered,
and water power would take its place in the scheme in the not
distant future ; but whatever happened there would only be one
State electricity scheme. He condemned the suggestion put for-
ward for a flat rate to be charged for all power sold by the State
electricity scheme. The cost of electricity was governed by the
length of transmission.

N.A.S.E. Smoking Concert.

There was a large gathering of members of the National
AssociATiON OF SUPERVISING E.sGiNEEks at the smoking concrt
held on June 15 at the St. Bride's Institute, Ixjndon, on wliK.h
occasion the President, Major T. Vincent Smith, who has Lten
obliged to resign on account of ill health, formally introdnced the
new President, Mr. W. E. Highfield.

Major Smith accompanied several members in their songs,
and the rest of the entertainment was provided by Mr. Alfred
Stone's Concert Party. Just before the interval the President
i. Jdre.ssed the gathering.

He had just completed his year of office as President, and dunng
that time had enjoyed the most loyal co-operation of the mei:. : - .'
in carrying out the necessary work connected with the po.'^it' n
Unfortunately, he found he was unable to devote the time and
energy necessary to maintain the dnties of an active President,
and as he did not want to be a sleeping partner, he was reluctantly
obliged to resign from the position. However, his retirement
enabled him to introduce the President-elect, Mr. W. E. Highfif:Id,
who was the most suitable man the Association could pos^ihly
have found. In conclusion he wished the Association everj-
prosperity in the future, and if there was any way in which he
could further help them, he would be only too pleased to do so.
Mr. Highfield was then welcomed as the new President of the
Association and took the chair.

In his opening speech the incoming President said he highly
appreciated the privilege of becoming the President of such an
Institution and would do his very best to help to justify their
choice. The Association was really one of the most important in the
country, as it represented the best brains and work of an industry
that it was now impossible to do without. He only hoped his
own experiences would be of some use.

Australian Wireless Services.

The shareholders of the Amalgamated Wireless f Acstralasla) ,
Ltd., have sanctioned an amendment of the company's articles of
association in order to comply with the terms of the agreement
entered into with the Commonwealth Government. The chairman
(Sir Thomas Hughes) explained that the agreement with the
Commonwealth was the outcome of at least three years' effort on
the part of the Government and the company to establish an
effective commercial wireless service between AustraUa and Great
Britain. An exhaustive series of experiments had been carried
out by the company in Australia, and they had an experimental
station able to receive messages direct from Europe and the Atlantic
Coast of America at all hours of the day at speeds up to 30 words
a minute. The Commonwealth Government had operated a
number of short-range stations for communication with merchant
ships round the coast of Austraha, but the service had involved the
Commonwealth in a heavy annual loss, because in its present
condition it could not possibly become profitable. It was possible
to ehminate the loss by installing more modem apparatus and
merging that service with a properly organised commercial service
for communication with countries overseas. The co-operation of
the Government ai:d the company was therefore necessan,-. The
company's capital would be increased to one million pounds, and
the Commonwealth would subscribe for 500.001 shares. The
Commonwealth would appoint three directors and the private
shareholders would also have the right to elect three directors. The
six directors would mutually select a seventh.

The company will proceed at once \\-ith a comprehensive plan of
development, including a direct commercial serv-ice between
Australia and England ; direct commercial service Setween Aus-
tralia and North America : and feeder stations in each capital city.
The existing coastal service of the Commonwealth will be taken
over by the company. Duiing the period of reconstruction the
company is guaranteed against any loss on conducting existing
services, but when the new stations are ready the combined sor\nces
will be carried on as one under! :»king and the revenue i^om the
coastal service will be a valuable contribution to the total revenue.

The chaimian stated that when their first programme \»-as
completed they would have one of the most efficient high-power
wireless stations in the world, capable of seniunp and receiving
messages simultaneously between Au'^t-alia and England at high
speed. The main tnmk station would be situated near Sydney or
Melbourne, but the operating staff would be in the city. The
capitals of all the States will lie able to .send and receive their
messages by wireless direct to and from the main operating centre.
A rapid press service \\\\\ also be organised. The company will
carry all classes of .Vnglo- Australian messages at 33 J^ per cent.
reduction on existing charges, so that full-rate and code messages
will be 2s. per word." deferred messages is., and week-end messages
od. per word.

The I'nited Fruit Co., of Boston, have placed an order with
Cammell, Laird and Co. for three insulated motor ships. The
vessels are to be of about 4 000 tons gross, and will l>e propelled by
electric motors, the current being generated by Cameliaird-Fullagar
Diesel engines. It is claimed that by the adoption of this combi-
nation of machiner>- there is an enormous reduction in fuel con-
sumption, and greatly increased cubic space and dead-weight
capacity, while the machinery lends itself to the greatest flexibility
of control.

8oo

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

The "Magnet" Club and Electric Cooking.

The Witton factory of the General Electric Co. is distin-
guished not only for its engineering prodvictions, but for the
social work which is undertaken for the good of those there
in employment. A standing monument to the interest whicli
the firm take in their employees' welfare is the magnificent
club house which was erected by the company in memory of
many who went from Witton to the front and did not return.
Some details of these premises have already been given in

Fig. I. — General View of Kitchen.

The Electrician, and those attending the I.M.E.A. Conven-
tion last week were given an opportunity of inspecting them
for themselves.

A Satisfactory Ansvi^er.
The first question that we hope most readers of The Elec-
trician ask when they are shown a kitchen in an electrical
factory is : " Is electric cooking used ? " We are glad there-
fore to record that the Magnet Club possesses an up-to-date
electric kitchen, the whole of the eqinpment for which was
manufactured at the company's Heating and Cooking Works,
at Birmingham. The kitchen was planned for the supply of
meals to a staff and employees approximating 2 000, and has
now been in operation for over eighteen months with complete
success. The main equipment comprises four ranges, each
fitted with three ovens, grillers, steaming ovens, vegetable
boilers, fish fryers, stock-pots, hot cupboards, saucepans and
boilers, together with the necessary control gear.

In considering the planning of the kitchen, it had to be
borne in mind that whilst large numberf had to be catered for,
there was no need to make provision for great variety in the
type of meal. Any portion of the plant for cooking in any
particular way had to be capable of providing
for the full number of diners at any one time.
In the design of the whole of the appliances, the
guiding principle adopted was simplicity of con-
struction, so that access could be easily obtained
to any particular part. In the ovens the whole
of the electrical portion can be readily removed,
leaving an entirely free space for cleaning. There
are no crevices for fat or dirt to accumulate, and
all seams are welded.

With the exception of the stock pots, all
appliances have self-contained elements, the
problem of vegetable boiling has been successfully
solved by providing such loading that an ample
reserve of heat is available to raise tiie tempera-
ture quickly to the boiling point.

The following details of the equipment are of
interest : —

Ovens. Four rangjcs are provided, each fitted with
three ovens of 2 cub. ft. capacity, wired for 5 k\V
maximum consumption, with low heats of 2^ kW and
i^ kW. They are operated by series parallel switches,
the elements being of the Firenza type. On two of
the ranges plug receptacles are provided for separately
heated utensils.

The grillers are arranged with hot-cupboards above
and below, the upper ones receiving the heat from
the actual grilling elements. Each half of the griller
is wired to consume 8 k\V, and is sub divided again

so that only a quarter of the total grilling area need be in use
if so desired.

The steaming ovens, are double cased and lagged, and the
doors are arranged with steam-tight joints. Constant water
level attachment is fitted, to avoid the possibility of boiling dry.
The current consumption 5 kW maximum, with low heats of 2i
and i\ kW.

The vegetable boilers are each of 30 gallons capacity, and are
made in heavy copper, double cased. The loads are 6 kW, 3 kW,

Fig. 2. — Another View in the Kitchen.

and 1 2 kW, and they are fitted internally \vith the usual wire
baskets and strainers, etc.

The fish-fryers are made with welded steel pans 36 in. by 18 in.
by 8 in., the current consumption to each section b kW, with low
heats of 3 kW and li- kW.

The stock-pots are made of heavy copper, and the heating
elements are not self-contained, but the stand is provided with hot-
plate 20 in. square loaded to 5 kW maximum, with low heats of
2i kW and i\ kW.

The, hot-cupboards and carving tables are each provided with
three carving wells, heated separately, the consumption for each
being 500 W. The hot-cupboards have a maximum consumption
of 3 kW.

The saucepans and boilers are all fitted with self-contained
heating elements, with series parallel control. Pilot lamps are
fitted near the plug receptacles to which they are connected.

The series parallel principle of control has been adopted through-
out the whole of the cooking apparatus in the canteen, and pilot
lamps fitted to every circuit. The internal connections in the
apparatus are almost entirely of stiff strip metal, and the use of
beads is almost eliminated. Mica insulation is adopted throughout,
except where red-hot coils are used.

Fig. 3. — View of the Ovens in the " Magnet " Club Kitchen.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

801

Usco Ash Conveyor at Wolverhampton.

One of the more important economic and engineering problems
connected with modern central stations is that of ash disposal.
There are those who would take the heroic course in this matter by
using oil and doing away with coal altogether but for many reasons
the system employed at the Wolverhampton Corporation Elec-
tricity Works has more to recommend it.

The " Usco " Ash Cofveyor.

The ash convej-or here installed is of the continuous action water-
trough type, supplied by the Underfeed Stoker Co., and in
principle consists, as shown in the illustration, of a horizontal water-
lilled trough containing a conveyor chain of special construction.
The trough is situated below the boiler furnaces and receives the ash
direct from the grates through chutes terminating below the water
level in the trough. The cool damp ash is removed from the trough
by the conveyor to any desired point. It should be pointed out that
the action of the conveyor being continuous the load is handled in
most economical manner, while other features of this system are its
automatic action and the way in which it eliminates manual labour.
The power absorbed in running the conveyor is said to be extremely
small, while a perfect air seal preventing the' admission of air to the
combustion chambers is maintained. There is an absence of dust,
heat and fumes in the ash tunnel and the storage of hot ashes in
hoppers under boilers is avoided.

These Usco conveyors may be installed in any arrangement of
boiler house whether with or without basement and are in fact
now installed and in continuous use working under a wide range of
conditions.

At Wolverhampton the conveyor is set in a basement under a
line of six boilers. The trough is built in concrete with cast iron
bottom plates and the chain returns inside the trough, the ash drop-
ping through it on to the operative portion of thechain. The continua-
tion of the trough is formed by an elevator inclined at 35 deg. to the
horizontal, up which the chain carries the ashes and delivers them
into a 50-ton capacity concrete storage hopper from which carts
are loaded. The overall length of the conveyor is 225 ft., the trough
being 153 ft. long. The conveyor is driven by an electric motor
through worm and spur reduction gear and final chain drive. The
power absorbed being approximately 2^ h.p. The load handled
is about 4 tons of ash per hour.

A Safeguarding of Industries Order.

The draft of the new Order under the Safeguarding of Indus-
tries Act schedules a number of articles on which a duty of 33. V per
cent, is payable on importation if manufactured in Germany. The
articles include illuminating glassware for use wth artificial light,
not including electric incandescent lamp bulbs, miners' lamp glasses,
or oil lamp chimneys.

The list does not, however, include any article of glassware
(whether domestic or illuminating) which is only pressed, or any
article composed of fused silica, vitreosil, or similar material.

The Order will remain in force until August 19, 19-4-

Confirmation of Electricity Schemes.

The Ministry of Transport has made Provisional Rules relating to
the pro'X'dure in connection with the confirmation of Orders approv
ing scheftics of electricity supply under .sec. 7 of the Electricity
(Supply) Act of 19x9.

Under the rules, before the .Minister of Transport confirms an
Order he willpublish, in such a manner as he may think best adapted
for informing persons affected, notic* of the proposal to confima
the Order, and of the place where copies of the Order may be
obtained.

Any person desirous of objecting to the confirmation of an Order
must do so by a memorial, addressed to the Minister of Transport,
written on one side only of foolscap paper.

Any memorial objecting to the conhrmation of an Order must
be sent by registered post, addressed to The Secretary, Ministry
of Transport, and posted not later than the date mentioned in the
notice and a copy of the memorial must be sent in like manner to
The Secretary, Electricity Commissioners, GwydjT House, NNTiite-
hall, London, S.W.i.

Every such memorial must be sealed or signed by the person
objecting or by some responsible and duly authorised person on
his behalf, and must .state: — (a) The Order or portions of Order
objected to, (1^) the specific grounds of objection, and (c) the omissions
additions, or modifications asked for.

^!ot less than 10 clear days' previous notice in writing, addressed
to the persons objecting to the confirmation of the Order or their
Agents, and to any other persons (or their Agents) whom the
Minister of Transport considers to be affected, will be given of the
time and place of anv inquiry which the Minister of Transport may
direct to be held.

The costs of any such inquiry shall, unless otherwise directed
by the Minister of Transport, be paid by the parties appearing at
the inquiry, or by such of them and in such proportions, at such time
and in such manner as the person holding the inquiry may direct.

L.C.C. Tramway Accounts.

The total receipts of the Lex don County Council Tramw.ws
Department for the year ended March were Is 160 320, compared
with £^ 904 427 in 1920-21, and the working expenses were
£4 386 891, against l^ 623 654, leaving a surplus of £773 429
(against £2^ 773), or ;£570 581. after charging proportion of
renewals (;^202 848).

These figures include revenue from and cost of operating the
Leyton Tramways from July i, 1921, and the amount payable to
Leyton Council is £l 599, after deducting income tax, thus reducing
the surplus to ^^566 982. After deducting interest (£293964).
redemption of debt (£i53 636), income tax, &c., there is a deficit
of ;^88,757. In the past year the cost of track renewals has been
charged equaJlv to capital and maintenance account, but it is
anticipated that in the current year the tramways revenue will be
sufficient to defray the whole cost of all renewals. The total
gross debt was ;^i5 616 069, but £6 713 048 has been paid off. lea\nng
£8 772 227 as the outstanding debt.

A Mercury Turbo-Generator Plant.

The Hartford (lonn.) Electnc Eight Co. ha.■^ ..rdereU a.
commercial mercury boiler and turbine plant for its Dutch
Point generating station. The unit, which \^,^ll be of 2 000 kVA
capacity, is claimed to be the first of its kind in the wnld. Fuel
oil will be used, and it is expected to cut down the fuel consumption
for the generation of current by 50 per cent. The Electrical \\ <>rld
states that it is intended to instal a mercury turbcngenerator on
the top of an oil-fired mercur\- boiler containing a charge of about
?o 000 lb. of mercur}'. The turbine will be operated by the mercury-
vapour at rather low press'ure. and the exhaust from the ir.-^T-, in-
turbine generates steam in a modified water tube boiler.

I.E.E. War Memorial.

On Wednesday the memorial, erected w the entrance hall of the
Institution of Electrical Engineers' building, to the memory of the
members of the Institution who fell in the Great War, was unveiled
by Air Chief .Marshal Sir H. >f. Trenchard, B;\rt.. K.C.B.. I>^0..
and dedicated by the Riyht Rev. Bishop Ryle, K.C.V.O., D.D.,
Dean of Westminster. The choristers of H.M. Chapel Royal, Savov.
under the direction of Dr. Bromley Derrj-. and a section of the
band of the Royal Engineers. Chatham, attended, and led the smging
of •* Oh, God, our help in .\ges Past " and the National Anthem.

A fuller report of the ceremony will appear in our next issue.

The hand of the assassin has been busy during the last «-eek
Great Britain loses, through the dastardly act of two wretched
miscreants, a distinguished soldier and statesman m Fibld-
Marsh\l Sir Henry Wilson ; while Germany is deprived by a
somewhat similar crime of Dr. W.^iter Rathenau. an ableoigmeCT
and industrial magnate as well as a statesman of some standing and
character. As our readers know. Dr. Rathenau was chairman and
head of the well-known AUgemeine Eleck-tricit&ts GeseUschait, of
Berlin In the past we have sometimes cnticiscd the pohcy ol the
company, but w4 regret it has lost xts guiding hand, especially under
such tragic circumstances.

8o2

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Parliamentary Intelligence.

S.E. and C.R. Electrification.

Mr. Hannon asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (House of
Commons, June 20) whether the Tiade Facilities Committee had
undertaken to guarantee capital expenditure and interest of six
and a half millions by the South Eastern Railway Company, such
expenditure including an amount of about one and a half millions for
the erection of a power station for the sole use of the South Eastern
Railway Company ; and, seeing that such outlay upon a power
station by the South Eastern Railway Company would defeat
the objects of the Electricity Supply Act, 1919, and of the Electricity
Supply Bill now before the House, that the South Eastern Railway
Company had undertaken to keep the capital cost of its power
station apart from other capital expenditure under its scheme, and
also keep separate accounts of costs of generation, so that the
travelling public might not suffer from undue capital expenditure
and abnormally high costs of generation, and that in the public
interest one superstation, as contemplated in the 191 9 Act, would
more adequately meet the transport and power and lighting needs
of the areas affected, whether he would inquire further into this
matter ?

Sir J. Baird, in reply, said : The Treasury have expressed their
wiUingness on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee under
the Trade Facilities Act, to guarantee the principal and interest of a
loan of .^6 500 000 to be raised for the purpose of electrifying the
suburban service of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway
Company, and for the erection of a power station. As regards the
erection of the power station, the recommendation of the Advisory
Committee has been given subject to the approval of the Electricity
Commissioners, who are holding an inquiry into the applications
which have been made by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway
Company and' other parties for permission to erect a station in the
area concerned.

Mr. Wise asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the
security the Government would hold against the advance to the
South Eastern Railway Company under the Trade Facilities Act ?
Sir J. Baird : The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. No
advances are made by H.M. Government under the Trade Facilities
Act which is limited to guarantees of loans raised by the parties
concerned. The South Eastern and Chatham Company have
undertaken to make annual payments sufficient to cover the service
of the guaranteed loan.

Electricity Commission.
Sir James Remnant asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the
Ministry of Transport (House of Commons, June 26) whether,
under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, the salaries of the
Electricity Commissioners, their staff, office, and other expenses,
had to be paid by the authorised undertakers supplying electricity
throughout the country ; what these salaries and expenses for the
year 1921 amounted to ; and whether he was aware that a compulsory
levy was now being made on the undertakers to recover them ?

Mr. Neal : The answers to the first and third parts of the question
are in the affirmative. The net cost of the Electricity Commis-
sioners in the financial year 1921-22 is, approximately, ;^40,ooo.

Sir J. Remnant : Is the hon gentleman aware that since the intro-
duction of this Bill something like ;^250,ooo has been spent by the
Electricity Commissioners, which is charged to the authorised
electricity authorities throughout the country ; and, if that is so,
how can he expect, with these expenses being piled on them,
that they can reduce the price of electricity ?
Mr. Neal : I cannot accept those figures.
Sir J. Remnant : They are absolutely correct.
In reply to a further question by Sir J. Remnant, Mr. Neal said
he understood that the Electricity Commissioners had no infor-
mation as to the cost incurred by the a'l^-horised undertakers
supplying electricity in the proposed London and Home Counties
Electricity District of the public inquiry held in June and July last.
As the result of the inquiry the Commissioners issued in December
last a statement of their decision, which was circulated to all
interested parties, and were now engaged upon the preparation
of a draft special Order.

Sir J. Remnant : Is it not a fact that the cost of the London
inquiry has been definitely fixed and levies have been made on the
authorised undertakers for repayment ?
Mr. Neal : No, sir, certainly not.

Electric Pow^er Charges.
In the House of Commons last Thursday, rcplyinj; to Lieut. -Col.
Archer Shee, who asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the
Ministry of Transport if he would state why the charge for electric
power supplied by the County of London Electric Supply Co. still
remained at ijd., plus 90 per cent., in view of the reduction in the
cost of material and labour, and whether he was aware that there
was a general feeling of dissatisfaction among the consumers of this
company's electricity owing to the fact that the high cost was
detrimental to the revival of trade, Mr. Arthur Neal said the
Electric Lighting Orders under which the company was authorised
to supply electricity fixed the maximum price which might be
charged to consumers. The price mentioned m the question was
within such maximum. He had no knowledge as to any general
feeling of dissatisfaction.

Empire Wireless Sohem*.

Mr. Pike Pease (Assistant Postmaster-General), in reply to Mr.
Hurd (House of Commons, June 20), said the British Post Office

had no share in the arrangement made between the Australian
Government and the Marconi Australian Wireless Co., except to the
extent that the contract contemplated communication with a
station in this country, and that for the erection of such a station
the co-operation of the British Post Office in some form or other was
necessary. The bearing of the contract upon the Empire wireless
scheme was under the consideration of the Government. The
Canadian Government would shortly send two technical represen-
tatives to discuss the scheme with representatives of his Majesty's
Government, and after these discussions had taken place it would
be possible to describe the relationship of Canada towards the
Empire wireless scheme.

Water Power Undertakings.

Mr. Mills asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of
Transport (House of Commons, June 20) whether, in view of the
continued problem of unemployment and consequent unproductive
expenditure on unemployment pay and local relief, he would recon-
sider his decision not to proceed ^vith the recommendations of the
Water Power Resources Committee appointed to consider the utilisa-
tion of water power for electrical generation ?

Sir W. Mitchell-Thomson, who replied, referred the questioner
to the answer given to the hon. Member for the New Forest Division
(Mr. Perkins) on March 13, but added that legislative authority
had recently been obtained in one case, and in two other cases was
being sought in the present Session by the promoters of water power
undertakings.

Monte Video Trams.

In the House of Commons last week Colonel Newman asked the
Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he had been successful
in his efforts to obtain for the British-owned tramway undertaking
at Monte Video the return of its property and funds sequestrated
some time back by the national or local authority.

Mr. Harmsworth (in reply) said that since the date of the hon.
member's last question on this subject the BiU for the increase in
tariff on the tramway had passed the Chamber of Deputies and gone
. up to the Senate. The appeal of the company against the action of
the municipality was now before the Uruguayan Courts. Pending
a decision of the Senate in the one case and the Courts in the other,
representations by H.M. Government would be out of place.
Electricity Orders Confirmed.

On the motion of Mr. Neal (Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of
Transport), the Special Order made by the Electricity Commissioners
under the Electricity (Supply) Acts, 1882 to 1919, in respect of the
parishes of Anlaby, North Ferriby, Melton, Welton, Waudby,
Swarland, Willerby, Halternprice, Kirkella, and Westella, in the
rural district of Sculcoates, in the East Riding of the County of
York, and for the amendment of the Kingston-upon-HuU Electric
Lighting Act and Orders, 1890 to 1915, was approved on Friday.
Private Bills.

The Court of Referees of the House of Commons have allowed
a locus standi to the Aberdare and Aberaman Consumers Gas
Co. and other gas companies to oppose the Bill of the South Wales
Electrical Power Distribution Co., which confers further capital
and other powers upon the company.

Electrical Vehicles for Municipal Work.

An interesting discussion took place at the annual conference at
the Institution of Municipal and County Engineers at Cardiff
on Friday on a paper by Mr. R. B. Mitchell, electrical engineer to
the Glasgow Corporation, entitled, " Electric Vehicles for Municipal
Work."

Mr. E. J. Elford, Cardiff, the newly-elected president of the
Institution, was in the chair, and Mi. W. J. Steele, Newcastle,
opened the discussion. Mr. Steele contended that whilst electrical
vehicles proved the best in certain districts, over long distances
they were not so useful as steam. In an experiment over six months
they found that steam was slightly cheaper than petrol.

Mr. H. G. Whvatt, Grimsby, said he noticed that Mr. Mitchell
did not think that for Glasgow electric vehicles were an advantage
over horse vehicles. His experience in Grimsby was that they
saved 2s. yd. per ton by using electric veliicles. These vehicles
were bought about 18 months ago, and the total cost of collecting
by them was 8s. iijd. per ton, whilst by their own horses the cost
was IIS. 6?d., and by other horses which they hired, 6id. per ton
more.

Mr. J. A. D.\wes, Inspector of Cleansing, Ministry of Health,
mentioned that his data showed that up to a distance of a mile the
horse vehicle was quite satisfactory, but after a mile, especially
where they had what was called kerb collections, the electric vehicles
were cheaper. For longer distances the heavier vehicle answered
best, and for distances of three miles or more steam was to be
preferred.

The Presipknt was of the opinion that they could not get a
proper basis of comparison if they put one vehicle on a .short distance
and another on a longish haul with different kinds of refuse. He
thought the loading line was a very important question, and that
many of the standard vehicles of the manufacturers were a good
deal higher than they need be.

Mr. Mitchell was not present to reply to the discussion, but wrote
stating that he would be pleased to supply any member with what-
ever information he had in his possession.

During the conference demonstrations of a number of electrically-
driven appliances were given.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

803

Legal Intelligence.

Weldia^ Patent Litigation.

Last week Mr. Justice Jive heard a somewhat unusual action
brought by Weldrics, Ltd., against the Quasi Arc Co., Ltd., for an
injunction to restrain defendants from threatening them by means
of circulars, advertisements or otherwise with legal proceedings or
liability in respect of falsely alleging infringements of patent rights,
of which defendants claimed to be the owners or were interested
in. Defendants denied there was any threat to plaintiffs.

Sir Duncan Kerly, K.C, and Mr. C. Terrell appeared for
plaintiffs, and Mr. j. Hunter Gray, K.C, and Mr. J. Whitehead
for defendants.

Inopeningplaintiff'scase, Sir Duncan Kerly said defendants had
not suggested that plaintiffs had infringed their patents. Their
case, in reply to the plaintiffs' charge of threats, was that there was
no threat, but only a warning. Both plaintiffs and defendants
made welding electrodes. In that case the electrode weld was
covered with asbestos. Defendants were possessed of certain
patents, but so far as the present case was concerned only one of
them was of importance. That was a patent which was an improve-
ment on an earlier patent. The original patent was that the
electrode should be laid out for the purpose of welding along a
groove. By way of improving it the patentee said he had dis-
covered that the better way was, instead of putting it in a groove,
to put it on an incline and that the covering should be of blue
asbestos fibre. The first patent to be referred to was i 274 of 191 2,
and the later one was ii 079 of 191 2, which amended the previous
one with a view to reducing the oxidising of the metal. Some time
after this defendants commenced an action against a Mr. Scott
Anderson and as the result of negotiations he elected not to defend
the action, which came on undefended. Defendants obtained a
judgment against Mr. Anderson which counsel contended was too
wide in its terms. They got an injunction against Anderson
restraining him from infringing the patent or from selling " any
metal electrode covered wholly or partly with blue asbestos."
These last words, counsel said, were quite unnecessary. Having
got the injunction defendants proceeded to issue circulars to the
trade in which they stated that all electrodes covered with blue asbes-
tos were infringing patents held by them. This, later on, came to
the knowledge of plaintiffs, and it was seriously interfering with
their business. There were only a few firms engaged in making
asbestos covered electrodes, and at least one firm was " bluffed "
by defendants' circular and they ceased manufacturing them. In
July, 1921, plaintiffs, having heard of the circular, wrote to
defendants asking whether their electrode infringed the defendants'
rights, and the latter having seen samples rephed that plaintiffs'
covering material appeared to be apphed as a paste and in their
view did not interfere with their patent rights. In November,
1 92 1, however, defendants wrote to the Rose Street Foundry and
Engineering Co., of Inverness, enclosing a copy of the circular and
pointing out they were using blue asbestos. The Rose Street Co.
were plaintiffs' manufacturers and their case was that this amounted
to a threat against them of legal proceedings in connection with
defendants' patents.

Mr. Samuel H. Gordon, of the Rose Street Foundry, gave evidence
of the receipt of the letter enclosing the circular of which plaintiffs
complained.

Mr. Andrew Stewart, a director of the Pneumatic Consolidated
Tool Co., said the company proposed to take up an agency for
plaintiff's goods, but learning of the circular about the blue
asbestos he was unable to do business with them.

At the close of plaintiff's evidence, Mr. C. Terrell suggested
that the sending of the letter and circular to the Rose Street Co.
was intended to frighten plaintiffs, as defendants must have known
the company were making plaintiffs' electrodes, and that amounted
to a threat, as alleged in the action.

Mr. J. Hunter Gray, K.C, who opened the case for defendants,
said he was of opinion the warning issued by defendants had over-
stated what was the judgment against Anderson, and he had
advised his clients to modify it. They did not propose to send out
any similar statements in that form. Those remarks, however, did
not prejudice defendants in the present action, and he submitted
that plaintiffs had no cause of action, and, further, thai the circular
was in no sense a threat, but a general warning to the trade.

Mr. Charles Henry Champneys, chairman and joint managing
director of defendant company, stated that the Rose Street Com-
pany were customers of defendants, but he was not aware till the
correspondence in connection with the action that there was any
working connection between them and plaintiffs. In cross-exami-
nation (by Sir Duncan Kerly), witness said he thought he had the
sole right to use blue asbestos. He was inclined to say he had a
monopoly in the use of blue asbestos.

After further evidence was given, his Lordship, in giving judg-
ment, said the case presented a great deal of difficulty. The facts
were not really in dispute. In 192 1 plaintiffs discovered it was
possible to utilise blue asbestos after pulverisation and making it
into a paste for the purpose of covering electrodes. Defendants
got to know that these were being put on the market, and in July
of that year plaintiffs took a strong but perfectly straightforward
course by writing asking if they were infringing defendants' patent.
Eventually defendants wrote that the paste did not come within
the scope of their patent rights, not knowing that the paste was
made of blue asbestos. Later in the year they found that the Rose

Street Co. were dealing in blue a.sbesto5, but did not know that
company were intimately associated with plaintiffs. The result was
the defendants wrote that the paste was not an infringement, but
if blue asbestos was used they would stand upon their rights and
take proceedings. Under those circumstances, his Lordship said he
did not see how it was possible to hold that plaintiff company were
aggrieved. The circular was a general warning that they inf^-nded
to assert their rights if there was any infringement of their patents.
The action failed, and would be dismissed with costs.

Postmaster General v. Liverpool Corporation.

The Court of Appeal (Lords Justices Bankes, Scrutton, and Atldn)
deUvered their reserved judgment on Monday upon the appeal of
the Liverpool Corporation from a judgment of a Divisional Court
reversing a decision of the Liverpool County Court judge who had
found against the Postmaster-General upon his claim against the
Corporation for the agreed cost (/40 8s. yd.) of repairing damage
done to the Post Office telephone plant by an electric light main
belonging to appellants.

The electric light cable had been laid in 1889, enclosed in an iron
cable. The telephone wire, laid in 1903, was in an iron pipe, and
was adjoining and underneath the electric cable. On August 6,
19 1 8, there was an escape of electric current causing an explosion,
which damaged both the electric light cable and the telephone
wire. Contrary to the views expressed by the County Court judge,
the Divisional Court held that both on the ground of nuisance
and on the ground of debt the Postmaster-General was entitled
to succeed, and from this result the Corporation appealed.

Lord Justice Bankes, in giving judgment allowing the appeal,
after setting out the facts and referring to the material statutory
provisions cited during the arguments, said that upon the facts the
Postmaster-General could not, in his opinion, occupy any other
position in regard to the telephone wire than that of a mere licensee.
He thought, therefore, that he could not succeed in his claim.
Having regard to the finding of the County Court judge the Post-
master-General must be "regarded as a licensee with knowledge of
the facts and of possible damage from the electric main. The
damage arose from deliberately putting the telephone cable in
immediate contact with the electric main. For these reasons he
thought the appeal must be allowed, with costs there and below,
and the judgment of the County Court judge in favour of the
Corporation restored. (Lord Justices Scrutton and Atkin concurred.)

Electric Lamp Patents.

Last week Mr. Justice Astbury heard a motion on behalf of the
British Thomson-Houston Co. for judgment in four actions in
respect of patents. The defendants were H. Bake and Co., Childs
Thomann, and the Empire Electric Lamp Co.

Counsel said the judgment was drawn in the usual form, and his
Lordship gave judgment for plaintiffs, as asked.

Personal and Appointments.

Alderman Ha.muton has retired from the chairmanship of the
Preston Electricity Committee.

The Council of the University of Leeds has appointed Dr. W. T,
David, M..\. Cambridge, D.Sc, Wales, to be Professor of Civil and
Mechanical Engineering, and to take up his duties next October on
Prof. Goodman's retirement from the chair.

Mr. E. B. P.\usey has resigned his appointment as power station
superintendent at the Loughborough Corporation Electricity Works,
having accepted a similar appointment at the Poulton power station
of the Wallasey Corporation.

Readers of The Electrici.kn will be interested to learn that The
Metropolitan Electric Supply Company have appointed Major H.
Richardson, O.B.E., M.C., Manager of the Electricity L'ndertaking
of the Dundee Corporation, as General Manager of the Company in
succession to Mr. W. R. Rendell. who ha.s resigned on account of
ill heaJth. Major Richardson will take up his duties on ist October
next.

Sub-Station Fire on Metropolitan Railway.

A tire broke out at about 6.30 on Sunday evening at the Metro-
politan Railway Company's Moor Lane sub-station, and did damage
estimated at about £ioo 000. Traffic on the Metropolitan line
from Aldgate to Bakor Street, and on the tireat Northern and City
Railway from Moorgate to Finsbury Park was stopped , during
Sunday night, but was resumed on ^^onday.

We are informed that the fire was due to an internal short circuit
in one of the transformers. The oil became ignited, burnt through
the tanks and set fire to the building. There is no foundation for
the statements in some of the daily papers as to overloading being
the cause.

On the West Ham Borough electricity- account there is a surplus
for the year of £'23,472.

8o4

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Electricity Supply.

The Ministry of Transport has revoked the Deal and Walmer
Electricity Order held by the Gas Co.

As from July i the charges for electricity at Mansfield are to
be reduced from 150 per cent, to roo per cent, above pre-war prices.

Preston Electricity Committee has decided to charge half hghting
rates to private users of electricity for the decorations during Guild
week.

Exeter City Council has reduced the charges for electricity by
Jd. per unit and the charge for power to the tramways from 2fd.
to a^d. per unit.

Hemel Hempstead Rural Council has consented to an application
by Watford Urban Council for an Order to enable them to supply
electricity to Kings Langley and Bovingdon.

Barnstaple Town Council have received a letter inquiring
whether they are prepared to consider negotiations for the sale of
the Corporation Electricity Works. A special meeting is to be held
to consider the proposal.

Douglas (Isle of Man) Town Council has accepted the offer of
the Manx Electric Railway Co. for electricity for the decorative
lighting on the front up to September 30 at 6Jd. per unit up to
II p.m., and gd. per unit after that hour.

Norwich Electricity Committee announce a reduction in the
charges for electricity as from July i. This will leave the advance
in the charge for power at 50 per cent, above pre-war instead of
100 per cent., and bring the charge for lighting in combination with
the assessment charge to id. per unit. The committee also propose
to reduce the charge for public lighting from ^'^ per lamp per annum
to £2 15s. The number of public lamps is 2 627.

At a meeting of the Faversham Town Council, on June 20.
Councillor Clark proposed that the municipal electricity under-
taking should be disposed of, on the grounds of the cost to the rate-
payers, the deficiencies aggregating upwards of /17 000 in 17 years,
and that a large capital expenditure was necessary to put cables
in order. It was stated that ;^I4,I33 had been repaid off loans,
and that the largest loan of £1^ 000 would be repaid in six years.
The motion was defeated by 6 votes to 4.

Hammersmith Borough Council have received the forma] sanction
of the Electricity Commissioners to the borrowing of (a) ;^i7 735
(on account of ;^27 000), in connection with the supply of electricity
to the Wormholt Housing Estate, repayable as to £1^ 155 (mains
and services) within 25 years, ;^42o (switchgear) within 20 years,
and £2 160 (meters) within 10 years ; {b) ;^i6 894, ^or general main
extensions, etc., repayable as to ;^8,494 (mains and services) within
25 years, £^ 423 (transformers, etc.), within 20 years, and £2 977
(meters) within 10 years.

For some time past the Light Railways and Electric Lighting
Committee of Southend Town Council have been considering
alternative schemes to meet the future demands for electricity in
the town. At their meeting last week they decided to recommend
the Council to adopt the scheme submitted by the consulting
engineer, Mr. C. H. Wordingham, who advocates the generation
of electricity by means of turbo-alternators, the scrapping of the
existing works in London Road, and the sub-stations, and the
establishment of a generating station on a site outside the borough.
The estimated cost of the scheme is ;{ 409 000. The alternative
scheme recommended by the borough electrical engineer (Mr. R.
Birkett) recommends the continuance of the present works, and the
installation of additional Diesel plant, at an estimated cost of
;£240'ooo. A special meeting of the Town Council is being held
this week, when the report and recommendations of the Committee
will be considered.

Business Items, etc.

Electric Lamp Factors, Ltd., have removed to larger premises
at 44, Berncrs Street. London, W. i. Telephone : Museum 6886.

Mr. Rop.ert Leach has been appointed sales engineer to Fer-
guson, Pailin Ltd., for Lancashire, Yorkshire and North Wales
areas.

It is announced that Head Wrightson and Co. h.:ve taken over
the interest of the amalgamated industries in Whit.vell and Co.,
Ironworks, Thornaby.

F. W. Parkes and Co. announce that they have removed from
65, Dame Street, Dublin, to larger premises at Faraday House,
Temple Lane, Dame Street.

Radio Instruments, Ltd., announce that the address of their
company is I2a, Hyde Street, New Oxford Street, W.C.i, not i8a,
Hyde Street, as stated in our issue last week.

The Birmingham sales office of Callender's Cable and Con-
struction Co. is now at Daimler House, Paradise Street, Birming-
liam. The company's representative at this office is Mr. J. M.
Dunkeley.

The business offices and manufactory of the British Clip Co.,
makers and patentees of the " Whippet " Clip, have been transferred
to more central premises at 146, Blackfriars Road, S.E.i, to which
address all communications should be sent.

Electric Traction,

By 52 votes to 28 Glasgow Town Council last week decided to
offer ;^2 50,000 for the purchase of Paisley District Tramways Co.

Hammersmith Borough Council recommend that the original
penny fare stages on the London United Tramways system be re-
introduced.

Dewsbury Town Council has applied to the Ministry' of Transport
for an extension of two years for carrying out the work authorised
by the Tramways Order, 191 1.

The Weston-super-Mare and District Electric Supply Co., have
apphed to the Ministry of Transport for an extension of time until
August, 1924, for the completion of the tramways authorised by
the order of 1900.

After fully considering the position with regard to the tramways,
trolley 'bus, and motor- 'bus undertakings of the Corporation
Keighley Town Council have decided that for the present at any
rate, a /40 000 scheme for the reconstruction of the tramway track
must be shelved. An electric arc welding plant is to be purchased
at an estimated cost of ;^3i6 for welding up tram rails where the
foundations are good, also a rail grinder, at an estimated cost of
;^ijO. These .iteps are only palliative, and the bigger problem of
dealing with those portions of the track which are in a very unsatis-
factory state will have to be dealt with later.

With regard to the motor-'bus and troUey-'bus services the
Council is faced with a serious position, due to the heavy Josses of the
trolley 'busses, caused largely by constant failures of the mechanism.
The tramways department have, it is stated, at least half a dozen
vehicles which are not fit to run at the present time, and the repairs
have not been worth the money spent upon them. The greatest
difficulty has been with regard to the motors, which are an integral
portion of the rear wheels, but now the committee has obtained the
sanction of the Council to carry out a conversion from the present
wheel drive to a back axle drive, the cost being estimated at ;£525.

The Hull members of the Tramway men's Union are greatly
disturbed at the proposals of the Corporation Economy Committee.
These have not yet been publicly disclosed, but it is understood
that a sum of £30,000 is to be saved. At a meeting held on
Friday a resolution was passed by which the men pledged themselves
to resist to the uttermost any attempt to economise at the expense
of the men employed in the undertaking, which would obviously
curtail the efficiency of the service, and in turn cause the public
further inconvenience. The meeting also discussed the competition
of motor 'buses with tram cars, and it was suggested that privately,
motor-owned 'buses should not be licensed by the Corporation,
unless the persons employed on such vehicles are working under
trade union conditions as to pay and hours. The tramwaymen
were advised that they had no power to enforce this ; but they
passed a resolution, pointing out that with proper tramway organi-
sation private 'buses could not carry passengers within the city
boundaries.

Wireless and Telegraph Notes.

At the request of the German Chamber of Commerce at Cologne,
the postal authorities have agreed to the appointment of officials at
the main Cologne telegraph office who have a thorough knowledge
of French and English .

A Renter's message from New York states that Signor Marconi
has announced the invention of a Wireless Searchlight, by which
wireless waves, reflected like light waves, may be sent in any direc-
tion in a beam instead of being scattered in all directions.

Considerable acceleration of the commercial wireless service
between England and Spain has been secured by the recent
transfer of this service from the Poldhu station to a new Marconi
station at Ongar. Under the new conditions messages to Spain,
marked " via Marconi,' instead of being relayed by long land line
circuits to Cornwall are transmitted direct by distant control from
Rio House. London, to the receiving station in Spain.

American data is now added to the collective European wire-
less weather report which is transmitted daily at 11.30 a.m.
(Greenwich Mean Time) from the Eiffel Tower. "The observations
circulated consist of the reading of the barometer and the direction
and force of the wind at i a.m. (G.M.T.) on the day of issue at about
thirty places scattered over the Continent, including Bermuda,
Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Cape Hatteras, Salt Lake City, San
Francisco, Washington, and Winnipeg. Approximate positions of
the centres of cyclones and anticyclones are also indicated.

On July 24 the Eastern Associated Telegraph Companies
will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their incorporation at a
banquet and fete, to be held in the gardens of the Roj^al Botanical
Society, at which the Duke of York has promised to be present.
The staffs of the companies are marking the occasion by a presenta-
tion to the chairman. Sir John Dcnison-Pender, of a bound volume
containing the signatures of nearly 8 000 subscribers, and the
reproduction in platinum, set with brilliants, of the Stars of tlie
Insignia of the Orders of K.C.M.G. and G.B.E. In addition they
are permanently endowing a bed in St. Bartholomew's Hospital to
the memory of Lady Beatrice Kat^erine Denison-Pender (the
chairmaji's late wife). ; •

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

80^

Miscellaneous.

The J. S. Fry and Sons, Ltd. Colston Research Fellowship,
which provides for payment of fees and a maintenance allowance of
;^i5o a year, at Bristol University, has been awarded to Mr. Francis
Baliol Wrightson, a student in the Faculty of Engineering.

The District Industrial Council for Electricity Supply Industry
(West Midlands area) notifies a further reduction of a halfpenny per
hour IN the wages of employees as from July i next. The revision
is based upon the average of the cost of living figures for the three
preceding months, the agreement providing that there shall be an
increase or decrease of one half-penny per hour for every completed
six points variation. The average of the figures for April, May and
June shows a decrease of nine points.

We are asked by the Institute of Physics to mention that a great
many persons who have received a copy of the preliminary number
of the proposed Journal of Scientific Instruments, and who
may wish to support it have not yet filled in the form inserted in the
Journal It is hoped that all who intend to subscribe will inform
the Institute without delay so that an estimate may be formed of
the support which may be relied upon. Sufficient support must be
forthcoming before it is possible to issue the Journal.

A new SCHEME for the development of British chemistry
AND science has been put forward by Sir William Jackson Pope,
Prof, of Chemistry at Cambridge University. He proposes the
immediate establishment of an Advisory Science Committee to the
Board of Trade. Extravagance and muddling could be saved once
and for all, he maintains, by the establishment of an advisory body
of about twelve scientific and chemical experts, whicli would meet at
stated intervals and give expert guidance to the Government in all
matters concerning the nation's scientific welfare. As it would
not be a part of the Government machine, the cost of maintenance
would be negligible, and the saving it could effect in national
expenditure would be incalculable.

Companies' Meetings, Reports, etc.

Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Co.

The ordinary general meeting of the Shropshire, Worcestershire
and Staffordshire Electric Power Co. was held on June 22, at
Electrical Federation Offices, 88, Kingsway, W.C, Mr. Wm. L.
Madgen (chairman and managing director) presiding.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts,
said that a great change had recently taken place in connection with
electric supply undertakings. When most of the undertakings were
established, a few years before the beginning of the present century,
there was a marked difference between distribution companies and
power companies. Whereas distribution companies were liable to
be purchased by the local authorities after a term of years, usually
about 22 years — 20 of which had already elapsed — power com-
panies had a perpetual tenure and were not subject to expropria-
tion. It was now to be observed that the progress of electric supply
although very slow to commence, had during the past few years
undergone a remarkable change, both in the use for power and for
domestic purposes.

Past Year's Working.

With regard to their own company, the volume of business done
and the net profits obtained during the year 192 1 had not been so
large as in the previous year. The obvious explanation was that
the coal strike had suspended industrial operations and inaugurated
a severe depression in trade generally. The figures for the past
year were better than those for 191 9, but they expressed only a
small part of the improvement that had taken place. The sale of
electricity for power purposes was in their area an accurate baro-
meter of the general state of trade ; therefore they were probably
dependent to a larger extent for their profits on general industrial
conditions than many other electricity supply undertakings. This
was brought out very clearly by the number of potential consumers
on their mains. During the last few years they had connected up
a large number of new consumers, and old consumers had increased
their equipments for the employment of electricity ; there was a
larger potential demand on their generating plant than at any
previous period. But notwithstanding all this, the output of
electricity from the company's generating station at the present
time was only about 50 per cent, of the generating plant installed,
showing clearly that the prosperity of the company was very largely
dependent upon the state of trade in the district.
ImproTcd Financial Position.

A comparison of the balance sheet now presented with the
preceding balance sheet showed a marked improvement in the
financial standing of the company. They had paid off many of
their liabilities ; had improved their reserves and increased their
available cash resources. They had been enabled to do this by the
issue made during the past year of £300 000 7J per cent, ten-year
guaranteed convertible debenture stock. The issue was over-
subscribed, and had enabled the company to put its finances on a
satisfactory basis. The loan from the Ministry of Munitions had
been reduced by the agreed annual instalment of /13 666, which
made with previous instalments a total amount repaid of £()Z 867,
leaving a balance outstanding and repayable by annual instalments
during the period of twenty years from 1921 of £251 133. The
reserve fund now stands at ;^86 3io, after applying the amount
appropriated from the sinking fund under the first debenture trust
deed.

A sum of ^48617 was expended during the pa.st year upon
buildings, plant, machinery and mains. They had, however, about
reached the practical limit of extensions on the site of their power
station at Smethwick, and contemplated that their further require-
ments would have to be met by means of an additional p^jwer house
of considerable magnitude at Stourp<jrt on the River Severn.
The S.W. Midlaada District.

During the past year an inquiry had been held in the district by
thj Electricity Commissioners for the delimitation of the company's
area with a view to the constitution of a joint electricity authority
for the district.

The company, in association with the city of Birmingham, had
made an alternative proposal to the effect that an advisory com-
mittee should be constituted to administer the supply m the South-
west .Midland area, including a portion of their own statutory area
and of the Parliamentary area of the city of Birmingham. The
Commissioners had acceded to that suggestion. If the scheme was
confirmed at a second inquiry, to be held on the 29th inst., it would
probably be put into effect immediately after the passage of the
Electricity (Supply) Bill now before Parliament. Application had
been made to the Treasury to guarantee the expenditure involved
for the erection of the above-mentioned power station on the Severn,
and a decision might shortly be expected, in which case a meeting of
the shareholders would be called to authorise the constitution of the
undertaking of the power-house as a separate undertaking.

The report and accounts were adopted.

.The General Electric Co. (of New York) announce a dividend
of 2 per cent, on capital stock, payable on July 15.

At a general meeting of the Allgemeine Elektricitats
Gesellschaft last week, it was decided to increase the capital by
an amount up to 250 000 000 marks.

The directors of the India Rubber Gutta I*ercha and Tele-
graph Works announce that they are unable to recommend an
interim dividend on the ordinary shares.

After providing for interest on and redemption of debentures.
the accounts for 192 1 of the Lisbon Electric Tramway Co. show a
loss of ;^29 184, which increase the debit carrj^ forward to l^i 455.

The directors of the Eastern E.xtension Austr.\lasia and
China Telegr.\ph Co. have declared an interim dividend for the
three months ended March 31 last of 5s. per share, payable free of
income tax, on the 15th prox.

Edgar Allen and Co. report a net profit for the year of £2$ 238.
The directors propose a final dividend on th.e ordinary- shares of
6d. per share, making 5 per cent, for the year, tax free, carrying
forward ;^20 067, compared with /30 246 brought in.

The directors of the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co.
announce their intention to increase the sinking fund for the redemp-
tion of the six per cent, prior lien debentures by setting aside this
j-ear the additional sum of /131 233, and that the whole of the above-
mentioned debentures will be paid off at par on January ist, 1923.

The E.\STERN Telegraph Co. announce the payment on July
15, of dividend at the rate of 3^ per cent, per annum less income
tax on the preference stock of the company for the quarter ending
June 30, 1922, and a first quarterly interim dividend of 2\ per
cent, on the ordinary stock, free of income tax, in respect of profits
for the year ending 1 'ecember 31, 1922.

Subscriptions are now invited for the expected issue of ;^2 500 000
in 4^ per cent, second debenture stock by the Underground Electric
Railways. The loan, /i 000 000 of which is on behalf oi the London
Electric Railway and £1 500 000 for the City and South London
Railway, is issued at £94, and is guaranteed as to principal and
interest by the Government under the pro\isions of the Trade
Facilities Act. The proceeds of the issue will be applied towards
the construction and equipment of the Edg^^•are and Hampstead
Railway, forming an extension frci the terminus of the section of
the London Electric Railway at Golders Green to Hendon and
Edgware, the construction of connecting railways at Camden Town
to enable a through service of trains to be worked between the City
and South London Railway and the London Electric Railway, the
enlargement of tunnels and improvement e f stations on the City and
South London Railway, and the provision of new rolling stock and
equipment.

The profit of J. G. White and Co. for the year ended February 28
last was £1 1 154, plus /13 193 brought in, making available £24 347.
which has been used in pursuance of the scheme for reduction of
capital. The nominal capital was reduced from £500 000 to
£350 000 by writing off from each of 200 000 issued ordinary- shares
of £1 each the sum of 15s. per share. The sum of £150 000 was
written off from the debt due by J. G. \Miite Commercial Co. and
£100 000 has been received from that company in cash, reducing the
balance of its debt to £84 000. Investments now stand in the books
at £304 88 7, after deduction of reserve of £'50 000, balance on profit
and loss account above-mentioned, and £5 149 available on revalua-
tion of office furniture, plant and instruments, making total deduc-
tion of /79 497 As a further part of the scheme for the reduction
and reorganisation of capital, 50 000 of unissued ordinary shares
of /i each were sub-divided into 200 000 ordina^^• shares of 5s. each,
and these shares, since the date of the balance sheet, have been
allotted at par. Preference shareholders have accepted the
arrangement waiving their cumulative rights for a period of three
years ending .\ugust 31, i9-3-

8o6

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Tenders Invited and Accepted.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Gellvgaer Urban Council, July 4. — Transformer plant, e.h.t.
and l.t. switchgear, steel poles, h.d. copper wire, cable and boxes,
etc. Specifications from the Electrical Engineer and Manager.
Bargoed.

Wimbledon Corporation, July 10. — Four 1000 kVA, 10000/
2 000 V transformers. Specification from the Borough Electrical
Engineer.

Torquay Corporation, July 12. — One 3 000 kW turbo-alternator
and condensing plant. Specification, etc., from the Borough
Electrical Engineer.

Navan Urban Council,- July 12. — D. c. main switchboard, d.c.
genera^tors, mains, oil engine set, house service meters and fuses,
public lighting fittings and brackets, lamps, cables, insulators,
etc. Specifications from Mr. J. J. Woods, Clones, co. Monaghan^

CoNNAHS Quay Urban Council, July 14. — Sub-station equip-
ment, overhead and underground mains, public lighting, etc.
Specifications from Mr. A. J. Leigh, 122, The Albany, Old Hall
Street, Liverpool.

Gravesend Corporation, July 17. — Five thousand kW turbo-
generator, condensing plant, switchgear, mains, artesian well and
automatic stokers. Specifications from the Borough Electrical
Engineer.

London County Council. July 24. — H. T. Switchgear at
the Central Repair Depot, Charlton. Particulars from the Clerk
of the Council, County Hall, Westminster Bridge, S.E.i.

London County Council, July 31. — Four electric lifts for the
Council's tramways central repair depot, Charlton. Particulars
from the Clerk of the Council, County Hall, London, S.E.i.

Dublin Corporation, August i. — Two sets of electrically-driven
sewage pumps, each capable of dealing with 18 million gallons per
day. Specifications from the City Engineer or Mr. J. S. Alford,
II, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W.i.

AUSTRALIA,

Postmaster-General's Department, Brisbane, August 9 * — ■
Protective apparatus (Stores Schedule No. 563)

Postmaster-General's Department, Perth, August 9* : — •
Telephone and telegraph apparatus, testing instruments, and pro-
tective apparatus (Schedule No. W.A. 734).

Commonwealth of Australia, August 22. — Silk and cotton-
covered switchboard cable (Schedule 35). July 25. — Paper-insu-
lated and lead-covered submarine cable (Schedule 42). October 17-
— Automatic c.b. telephone equipment (Schedules 39 and 40)-
August 9. — Protective apparatus (Schedule 563). Specifications,
etc., from the Supply Officer, Room 10 1, Australia House, Strand,
London, W.C.

INDIA.

High Commissioner of India, July 21. — (i) Automatic tele-
phone sets, desk and wall ; (2) cards for telephone switchboards,
etc. ; (3) cells of various descriptions for accumulators. Particulars
from the Director-General, India Store Department, Belvedere Road,
Lambeth, S.E.i.

Hammersmith Borough Council have accepted the tender of
the Clay Cross Co., for a " Green " economiser at £x 550.

Barnes Urban Council have accepted the tender of the Pirelli
General Cable Co. for i 750 yd. of cable, £s'2iO.

Hebburn-on-Tyne Electricity Committee recommend the Council
to accept the tender of A. ReyroUe and Co. for nine e.h.t. panels,
iZ 100.

Ayr Corporation have accepted the tender of Callender's Cable
and Construction Co. (lowest tender of two received), for cable to
Allaway, at ^4,791 os. .

Doncaster Town Council has accepted the tender of Babcock
and Wilcox, Ltd., lor two water tube boilers, with economisers,
induced draught plant, and steel chimney, at £21 663.

Rugby Urban Council has accepted the tender of W. T. Henleys
Telegraph Works Co. for i 050 yards of l.t. three-core cable ; and that
of the British Thomson-Houston Co., for three transformers.

Dover Corporation have accepted the tenders of Callender-s
Cable and Con.struction Co. for service cables for Carr House, Arksey ,
at ItS^ 19s. 8d. ; and Johnson and Phillips for e.h.t. switchgear, £()fi.

Douglas, I.O.M. Electricity Committee has decided to accept
the tender of Siemens Bros, and Co. for lighting equipment at
/8 237, subject to the consent of Tynwald being obtained to borrow
the money.

London County Council have accepted the tender of E. Bennis
and Co. (lowest complete tender received) for an ash conveyor for
Greenwich power station at £2 874 i8s. (10 complete tenders
received ; highest £6 164) ; and the same firm's tender for an ash
hopper at £2 409 (13 complete tenders received, varying from
/i f)8o to Ij, 277).

* Particulars from the Department ol Overseas Trade.

Glasgow Corporation are recommended to accept the following
tenders for plant required at the Provan Chemical Works : —
Bruce Peebles and Co., 60 h.p. totally-enclosed motor ; McFarlane
Engineering Co., 10 h.p. ditto ; J. Bennis, Ltd., 15 cwt. electric-
driven lime and ash hoist ; Paterson Hughes Engineering Co.,-
electric crane ; W. Weir, electric lighting work of Blackfriars
Church (;^252).

Sunderland Corporation have, accepted the following tenders : —
Steel, Peech and Tozer, tramway rails ; Ferranti, Ltd., 108 d.c.
meters ; Pirelh General Cable Works, l.t. cable ; Consolidated
Pneumatic Tool Co., electric blower ; W. G. Allen and Sons, two
^-ton soot waggons ; Callender's Cable and Construction Co.,
7 a.c. disconnecting boxes, 9 d c. disconnecting boxes ; Plenley's
Telegraph Works Co., i feeder pillar.

Bradford Corporation have accepted the following tenders : —
Cole, Marchent and Moreley, 20 tons brake shoes, £2^^^ ; Reyrolle
and Co., e.h.p. switchgear for two i 500 kW motor converters at
Bolton Road sub-station ; Bertram Thomas, d.c. switchgear for
two I 500 kW motor converters ; English Electric Co., 150 kVA
special testing . transformer ; Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co.,
control gear for a.c. motors for No. 4 boiler-house, at Valley Road
station ; Landis and Gyr, Ltd., 600 single-phase a.c. house service
meters ; Biitish Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd., overhead line
from transformer chamber in Thornton Road to York Street.

Arrangements for the Week.

MONDAY, JULY 3rd,

Royal Institution of Great Britain.
5 p.m. At Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W.i.
General meeting.

TUESDAY, JULY 4th.

The Institute of Physics.
5.30 p.m. At the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Victoria
Embankment, London, W.C.i. Lecture on " The Physi-
cist in Engineering Practice." By Sir J. Alfred Ewing
K.C.B., F.R.S.

SATURDAY, JULY 8th.

Electrical Power Engineers' Association
(Derby and District Section).
5 p.m. At the Queen's Hotel, Bridge Street, Burton-on-
Trent. Address on " Economy in Mains Laying," by
Mr. T. A. G. Margary.

Prices of Metals, Chemicals, etc.

Copper —

Best Selected
Electro Wirebars .
H.C. Wire, basis .
Sheet

Phosphor Bronze Wire {Telephone) —
Phosphor Bronze Wire,
basis . . per lb.

Price.

per ton £t6 10 o

per lb. OS. ic^d.
„ OS. io|d.

Tuesday, June 27.
Inc. Dec.

los. od. —

is. 2^d.

Brass 60/40 —
Rod, basis

Sheet, basis . . „
Wire, basis , . ,,

7d.
9id.
9|d.

—

Pig Iron —

Cleveland Warrants per ton
Galvanised steel
wire, basis 8 S.W.G. ,,

£4 15 0

;£l8 0 0

—

Lead Pig —
English
Foreign or Colonial ,,

;^26 0 0

£H 7 6

5s. oc

Tin-
Ingot . . . . „
Wire, basis . . per lb.

2S. Ijd.

Jd.

—

Aluminium Ingots ,. per ton

;^IOO 0 0

—

Spelter

£^7 12 6

—

7s. 6d

Mercury .. .. per bottle ;^ 11 lo- 0

—

Sulphur (Flowers) — Ton ;^io 15s. Sodium Chlorate — Per lb. sjd.

„ (Roll-Brimstone) — per ton Sulphuric Acid (Pyrites, 168")
;^io 15s. per ton, £9.

Sodium Bichromate. — Per lb. sJd. Copper Sulphate. — Per ton
Boric Acid (Crystals). Per ton ^£60. ^^^ '5S-

Rubber. — Para fine, gjd.; plantation ist latex, j^d.

The metal prices are suppUed by British Insulated & Helsby
Cables. Ltd.. and the rubber prices by W. T. Henley's Telegraph
Works Company

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

807

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

RECEIVERSHIPS.

BROTHERTON EDISWAN TUBES AND CONDUITS, LTD.—
R. H. Johnston, of 49, Queen Street, Wolverhampton was
appointed receiver and manager on June 14th, 1922, under
powers contained in debentures dated April 7, 1921.

REEVE AND BAYMAN, LTD.— E. H. Hawkins, of 4, Charter-
house Square, E.C., was appointed receiver on June 13th, 1922,
under powers contained in first mortgage debenture dated
December 7, 192 1.

Mortgages and Charges on Limited Companies.

[Note. — The Companies Act of 1908 provides that every Mort-
gage or Charge, as described therein, created by a Company after
the commencement of the Act, shall be regfistered within 21 days
after its creation, otherwise it shall be void against the liquidator
and any creditor. The Act also provides that every Company
shall, in making its annual Summary under the Companies Act,
specify the total amount of debt due from the Company in respect
of all Mortgages or Charges which would, if created after the
commencement of the Act, require registration. The following
Mortgages and Charges have been so registered. In each case the
total debt prior to the present creation, as specified in the last
available Annual Summary, is also given — marked with an * —
followed by the date of the Summary, but such total may have been
reduced since such date.]

ELCO ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO.. LTD., Bristol-
Registered June 15, £^ 500 debentures ; general charge. *Nil.
February 22, 1921.
FELLOWS MAGNETO CO., LTD., London, N.W.— Registered
June 16, ;^6o 000 debentures; general charge. *Nil. August
12, 1921.
STELLA LAMP CO., LTD. (late Harlesden Lamp Co., Ltd.),
London, N.W. — Registered June 14, £2^ 500 debentures ;
general charge. * — — -. February 17-, 192 1.

Private Meetings, etc.

[Inclusion under this heading does not necessarily imply failure.
Many private meetings are called merely for the purpose of the debtor
consulting his creditors as to his position when he may not be insolvent.]
W. WATKIN AND SON, LTD. (in voluntary liquidation), 18 r.
Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., electrical engineers, etc.
At a recent meeting of the principal creditors, held prior to the
company meeting to wind up, a committee was appointed
consisting of Ashby and Sons, Grimwood and Co., H. P. Smith,
Ltd., the National Radiator Co., and Woodworkers, Ltd. At
the statutory meeting of creditors last week, Mr. A. Quaife,
whose appointment as liquidator was confirmed, stated that an
approximate statement of affairs presented at the preliminary
conference showed that there were unsecured liabilities amount-
ing to ;^io 903, wliile a partly secured creditor, the bank,
claimed ;^765 17s. 8d. This creditor held a charge on certain
contracts, valued at the same amount, which concerned an
electrical job at Aldershot. He, the liquidator, had been going
into the figures, and it was difficult to see how this job would
work out, but the architect had recommended a payment of
between ;if5oo and £600 on account of the contracts, and the
War Office, for whom the work was undertaken, had refused to
pay a penny, because of the unsatisfactory nature of the work.
With regard to the assets, he thought that if they produced in
all something like £1 500, or at the very outside £2 000, it
was as much as the creditors could expect to receive in the
course of the realisation. The company was registered on
April 12, 192 1, with a nominal capital of ;{5 000, and the
directors were Mr. Sandiford, Mr. Munro, Mr. Bearfoot, Mr.
Lewis, and Mr. H. C. Wood. The object of the company was
to take over the business of engineers which had been carried
on by Mr. Sandiford. The misfortunes of the company
seemed to have grown out of the fact that the business, which
was originally connected with electrical and general engineer-
ing, etc., was extended to embrace building, and the unfor-
tunate part was that this latter branch of the business was not
sufficiently understood to enable the directors to cope with the
contracts which were undertaken with any hope of success. It
was not intended that the business should be in any way
continued. The following are creditors : Baxter and Gaunter,
Ltd., £108; Butterfield, H., £257; Credenda Conduits Co.,
Ltd., £320 ; Farmiloe, Geo., and Sons, Ltd., ;{i49 '• Fell,
Anderson and Co., Ltd., ;^3i6 ; Grimwood and de Gcus, Ltd.,
£520 ; General Electric Co., Ltd., £91 ; Henley's, W. T.,
Telegraph Works Co., Ltd., £46 ; Heywood and Bryett, Ltd.,
£306 ; Kartret Engineering Co., Ltd., ^433 ; Morgan and Son.
Ltd., £j2 ; Fenwick, J. Owen and Son, £173 ; Sharman, P. R.,
£244 ; Watshams, /103 ; Woodman, G., £130.

London Gazette.

The following information is taken from printed reports, but we
cannot be responsible for any errors thai may occur.

Companies Winding Up.

HUBERT D. CARTER (BANGOR), LTD.— Voluntary winding-up
to be continued, but subject to the supervision of the Court ;

G. G. Poppleton, of Birmingham, and A, T. Eves, of Man«
Chester, appointed joint liquidators in place of W. R. Redwood.

Companies Winding-up Voluntarily.

CHASE, A., AND CO , LTD.— A. M. Cole, of Fairfax Road. Ted*

dington, appointed liquidator.
TREDEGARS, LTD — Norman Bell, of T. Fuller, Carter, Son and
White, and B. B. McCallum, of Taasley Witt and Co., 5.
Chancery Lane, W.C.2, appointed joint liquidators. Meeting of
creditors at the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Moorgate
Place, E.C., on Friday, June 30, at 12.30 p.m.

Bankruptcy Information.

(rILL, Frederick John, 26, Hardwick Street, Buxton, electrical
engineer. Receiving order, June 19. Debtor's petition.

HENSON, Leslie Rowland, 23, GreenJanes, Islington, London,
electrical engineer. Rece-'ving order, June 23. Debtor's
petition. First meeting, July 6, nam., and public examina-
tion, July 28, II a.m.. Bankruptcy Buildings, Carey Street.
London, W.C.2.

WYNESS AND BALE, 13, Commercial Street, Brighouse, York,
electrical engineers. Receiving order, June 23. Creditor's
petition.

Notice of Dividend,

GOSS, Frederick Charles, 32, Windsor Road, St. Andrews Park,
Bishopston, and 71, North Road, Bristol, electrical engineer.
Amount per £, 2s. 6}d. First and final. Payable, June 30,
26, Baldwin Street, Bristol.

Notice of Intended Dividend.

LUDLOW, Jesse Frederick, and LUDLOW, Robert Redvers, in
co-partnership as LUDLOW BROTHERS. 196. Church Road.
Redfield, Bristol, electrical contractors. Last day for receiWng
proofs, July 8. Trustee, F. W. Darley, 36, Baldwin Street.
Bristol.

LIDDELL, Robert Henry, under the name of LIDDELL XSD
McINNES, 4, The Crescent, CarUsle, electrical engineer.
Last day for receiving proofs, July 14. Trustee, K. J. Hough,
34, Fisher Street, Carlisle.

Dublin Gazette.

Notice is given, that the partnership between BR AB ANTS. Jules
and O'CALL.AGHAN, John, electrical and mechanical en-
gineers, 16, Queen Street, Cork, under the style of BRABANTS.
OCALLAGHAN AND CO., has been dissolved by mutual
consent, as far as regards J. Brabants. Debts received and
paid by J. O'Callaghan, who ^^-ill continue the business under
the present style.

Bankruptcy Proceedings.

ROTHWELL, Herbert. WATSON, Stanlev James, and JINKS.
Francis Cecil (sued as the VULCO MAGNETO CO.,), n, I^ng
Acre, W.C. In this bankruptcy the Official Receiver has now-
issued to the creditors a summ'ar>' of the debtors' joint state-
ment of affairs, which disci >ses ranking habiUties £2 076. and
assets nil. The separate estate of the debtor Watson shows
liabilities ^34 775, of which £io 317 are expected to rank.and
estimated "net assets £2 793 I" his obser\-ations the Official
Receiver report- that the debtor Watson has stated that in
May, 1910, he was appointed sole representative and agent in
the United Kingdom" for a German company carr>-ing on
business as manufacturers of electric parts, magnetos, etc..
and on the outbreak of the war he assumed the pioprietorship
of the business. In the early part of 191 5 be took premises
at 37, Sheen Road, Richmond, for the purpose of manufa. turing
electrical goods required for war purposes. The debtor
Rothwell states that in January. 1918. he and another person
began business at 11, Long Acre as electrical and mechanical
engineers, and carried it on unaer the st\-le of the Vulco Magneto
Co. In November, 1918. his partner retired, and the debtor
then took into partnership the debtor Watson, who pro\-ided
£700, of which £350 was treated as a personal loan. In May,
IOI9, they were joined bv the debtor Jinks, who paid £."^00 for
a one third share in the "business, ihe first years trading, to
November 30. 1910, produced a'small profit, but the trading
was after\vards conducted at a loss, and in October. 1920. Jinks
severed his connection \\'ith the business, and the debto;-
Watson expressed his inabilitv to provide further capital. The
partnership then for all practical purposes came to an end.
although no formal dissolution to^^k place. The debtor Roth-
well afterwards transacted, but in the name of the firm, what
business was done, although he ^^•as mainly engaged in realismg
the firm's assets. Eventually a creditor who had obtnmed a
judi^ment against the firm presented the petition on which the
receiving order was made. The debtor Roth\vell attributes the
failure and insolvencv of the Vulco Magneto Co. to -lack of
working capital to pav wages and other outgoings, to the firm s
inability as a consequence, and also txxause of the non-deliver>-
of necessar>- parts to complete certain work on hand, as a result
of wliich there ^^'as a heaw trading loss, and to liabilities for
breaches of contract and law costs^ At a sitting of the London
Bankruptcy Court last week, the public examination of the
debtor Watson was adjourned and that of his late i>artners
concluded.

8o8

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

Patent Record.

SPECIFICATIONS PUBLISHED.

The following abstract from some of the specifications recently published have', been
specially compiled by Messrs. Mewburn, Ellis & Co., Chartered Patent Agents,
70 and 72, Chan eery -lane, London, W.C.

Complete Specifications.
173 878 Scott, J. L. Electrical contact makers for use with the steering-wheels of

motor-vehicles. (9/10/20.) (Addition to 134 973.)
173 886 Igranic Electric Co., Ltd. (Cutler- Hammer Manufacturing Co.). Electric

regulating systems. (12/10/20.)
173 889 Jhamuotila, K. R. Disposition of safety devices and connexions in multi-
phase or polyphase generators and other electrical apparatus. (12/10/20.)
152 352 KoMiNiK, O., and Nossic, J. Electric fuses or cut-outs. (10/3/19.)
152358 Pelizzola, M. Sparking-plugs. (14/10/20.) (Convention date not granted.)
173 905 Baker, P. W. Thermally-actuated electric switches. (18/10/20.)
173 916 Igranic Electric Co., Ltd., and Yerger, C. W. Control of electric cir-
cuits. (25/10/20.)
173 922 Railing, A. H., Garrard, C. C, and Wilson, W. Means for interlocking
electric switches. (29/10/20.)

173933 Schmidt, J. (Buckholtz and Co., A. R.). Electric torches for medical

purposes. (3/11/20.)

173934 British Thomson-Houston Co. , Ltd. (General Electric Co.). Incandescent

lamps. (4/1 1/20.)

173948 Bassett, E. Electric iron for domestic purposes. (26/11/20.)

173950 Fletcher, G. H., and Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Co., Ltd.
Systems for controlling electric motors. (30/11/20.)

155 S30 Veifa-Werke Verf.inigte Electrotechnische Institute Frankfurt-
Aschaffenburg, and Dessauer, Dr. F. High-tension electric trans-
formers. (29/9/15.)

156099 VoGELi, F. Apparatus with electric arrangement for the generation of
steam. (18/7/18.)

173 969 Calllnder's Cable and Construction Co., Ltd., and Watson, J. F.
Manufacture of electric cables and apparatus therefor. (31/12/20.)

173 976 Watkinson, J. Resistance switches for controlling the intensity of electric
currents. (5/10/20.) (Cognate application 2 114/21.) (Divided applica-
tion on 173 613.)

173 977 Gundry, W. L. D., and Lord and Shand, Ltd. Lighting gas by electricity.

(I5/I/2I-)

158 245 KopPENSTEiNER, Dr. K. Elcctric distribution systems. (31/12/19.)
162 642 Siemens and Halske Akt.-Ges. Mercury vapour jet pumps with elec-
tric arc. (24/4/20.) (Addition to 157 118.)

173 986 Mead, A. G., and Mead and Jefferv, Ltd. Electric incandescent lamps.

(15/2/21.)

174 001 Reddie, L. N. (Consorzio per Elettrotrazione). Means for the suspension of

electric contact wires. (15/4/21.)
169 442 Latour, M. Thermionic transmission systems for wireless telephony.

(20/11/16.) (Divided apphcation on i.9'5'i6o/20.)
174093 FuRNivAL, J. M. Microphones or telephone transmitters. (20/10/20.)
174 094 Lee, F. W. R., Lee, E. R., and Golledge, V. F. H. Thermal switches for

electrically-heated apparatus. (20/10/20.)
147 145 San Giorgio Soc. Anon. Industriale. Electro-hydraulic steering

apparatus. (17/9/18.)
147 612 ScHupHHARDT BERLINER Fernsprech und Telegraphenwerk. F. Device

for strengthening telephone currents and other electrical oscillations.

(14/5/17.) (Addition to 147 579.)

147 865 Columbia Graphophone Manufacturing Co. Dies or moulds for dupli-

cating gramophone records and for like purposes. (14/8/16.)

148 182 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Reception of continuous electric

oscillations. (15/10/15.)
148 380 Day, a. van T. Electric high-frequency signalling. (17/7/16.)
148801 HuTH Ges. Dr. E. F., and Kuhn, Dr. L. Apparatus for rhythmically

influencing electric waves produced by cathode tubes. (3/4/19.)
148 804 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F. Switching arrangement for wireless signalling, par-
ticularly for aeroplane sets. (8/9/16.)

148 992 Ges. fur Drahtlose Telegraphie. Electro-magnetic wave-receiving

arrangements. (8/2/16.)

149 01 1 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F. Wireless telephony. (31/12/17.)

149 013 Loewe, Dr. S. Installation for the operation of Rontgen tubes. (5/3/19 )
149 014 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F. Arrangement of connections for generating and

receiving electrical oscillations. (2/5/19.)
149 195 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F., and Loewe, Dr. S. Method of connection to produce

oscillations with vacuum tubes. (16/7/17.)
149 197 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F., and Rosenbaum, B. Antenna for wireless tele-
graphy. (14/7/15.)
149 198 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F. Connection for sending and receivine electric waves

(13/10/17.)
149 209 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F. Combined wireless transmitting and receiving

arrangement. (15/12/17.)
149 211 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F. Electric discharge vessels. (29/12/17.)
149 214 Loewe, Dr. S. Wireless telephone transmitters. (29/10/18.)
149 215 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F., and Rosenbaum, B. Arrangements for the combined

transmission and reception of wireless signals. (28/8/17.)
149235 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F., Rosenbaum, B., and Loewe, Dr. S. Process for

wireless telegraphy and tclephon). (18/8/17.)
149 237 Loewe, Dr. S. Thermionic receiving-apparatus for wireless sienalline

(18/4/18.)
149 240 HuTH Ges, Dr. E. F. Thermionic receiving-Systems for wireless and

wired wireless signalling. (13/10/17.)
152 311 Loewe, Dr. S. Vacuum tube. (20/4/18.)
174 118 Line, W. J., and Tucker and Co., Ltd, j. H. Mounting clips for electric

switch gear. (10/9/20.)
174 134 Taggart, J. Scott, and Radio Communication Company, Ltd. Negative

resistance devices particularly for electro-magnetic wave systems and the

like. (30/9/20.) (Cognate application 17839/21.) (Patent of addition

not granted.)
174 137 Painter, F., and Idob, G. H. Electric switches. (7/10/20.)
174 149 British Thomson-Houston Company, Ltd. (General Electric Company).

Electron discharge devices for use as valves or oscillators. (13/10/20 )

152 355 Haddan, R. (Neumeyer Akt.-Ges. F.). Electric starters for iuternai-

conibustion engines. (13/10/20.) (Convention date not granted.)

174 156 Oldham, O., Oldham, G., and Oldham, J. Magnetic Jocks. (14/10/20.)
(Cognate application 32 248/20.)

174 163 Glaser, W. H., Wickens, A. L., and Glaser, Ltd., W. H. Brush-gear
for electrical machinery. (15/10/20.)

174 185 Oliver, V. F. M. Device for testing the electric ignition of internal-com-
bustion engines. (19/10/20.)

174192 Parson, Sir C. A.. Bennett, E., and Rowe, H. Searchlight and other
piojectors. (20/10/20.) (.Addition to 152 728.)

174 202 Hadwen, H. E., and Willis, H. Drop electric lamps. (23/10/20.)

153 002 SciiAEFFER, E. Method of operating vacuum tubes. (26/8/19.)

153 003 Schaeffer, E. Method of operating vacuum tubes. (24/10/19.) (Addition

to 153 002.)

174223 Igranic Electric Company, Ltd. (Cutler-Hammer Manufacturing
Company). Electro-magnetically operated circuit-conlrolliug devices
(2/11/20.)

154 582 Betulander, G. a. Call distributing arrangements for telephone plants

(22/11/19.)
174242 Amberton, R., and Brav, E. N. Loose-handle electric circuit breakers,

current limitcrs, overload releases, prepayment meter switches, and the

like. (10/11/20.)
167446 McKinzie, Holland, and Westinghouse Power Signal Company

Ltd. .Alternating current relays. (6/8/20.) '

156496 EuSTiCE, A. L.- Renewable electric fuses. (31/3/19.)

174279 Hodges, H. C. Fusible cut-outs and distribution fuse-boards for electric

circuits. (6/1/21).
158 238 Soc. DES Ateliers de Constructions Electriques du Nord et de l'Est.

Electric systems of ship propulsion and the like. (25/5/15.)
174298 Taylor, A. R. Means for supporting thermionic valves. (12/3/21.)

6 199
6 202

6 226
6 243
6249
6268

6 276
6 277

6 284
6 voi
6 302
6303
6305

6351
6 362
6 370

6376
6382

6398

6 420
6434
6442

6443

6447
6448

6450
6455
6472
6477
6478

6491
6492
6498
6499
6518
6530

6537
6557
6575
6576

6577

6578

6591

5 614
6626

6 642
6 649

6664
6665
6 668
6671
6677

6682

6 701
6 702

6 709

6 713
6 716

6717
6 718
6733

6747

6 757
6 758
6 776
6 794
6 796

6 797
6804

6 821
6826

16827

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS.

June 12, 1922.
W. G. Brown. Joint boxes for cables.
A. M. Taylor. Electric transmission systems.
E. W. Powell. Detachable filament for wireless valves, etc.
R. A. Jouaust. Reception of imdamped oscillations. (22/6/21, France.)
G. C. Snijders. Telephone exchange systems. (14/6/21, Holland.)
Skywing Aircraft Corporation. Electric ignition devices. (1/12/20

United States.)
British Thomson-Houston Company. Motor control mechanism.
British Thomson-Houston and H. W. E. Liddiard. Contr^ of electrical

machines.
W. F. M. Rose. Mechanical transmitter for wireless telegraphy.
H. D. Nyberg. Galvanic cells. (28/3/22, Sweden.)

Scintilla. Lighting plants of motor vehicles. (13/6/21, Switzerland.)
Scintilla. Windings of electro-magnets. (9/7/21, Switzerland.)
W. H. Wilson. Radio communication, etc.

June 13, 1922.
A. Jones. Electric furnace.
W. B. Savers. Electric conductors.
M. Plohl. Production of compensation voltage by self-induction and

capacity.
Morkrum Company. Printing telegraph receiver. (13/6/21, United States.)
A. E. White (Elyria Iron and Steel Company). Electric cutt-welding

machines.
L. Frost and W. Stubbs. Electric heaters. (13/7/21, AustraUa.)

June 14, 1922.
J. B. Tucker. Quick make-and-break switches.

A.E. Roberts and L. H.Thompson. Hornless cabinets for wireless recorders.
British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd., and F. Mercer. Rendering

line capacity of telephone cables uniform.
British Insulated and Helsby Cables, Ltd., W. Holttam, and F.

Mercer. Elimination of overhearing or cross-talk in telephony.
W. Gee. Electrical device for giving set speeds to gramophones.
W. Gee. Revolving disc for electric motor and foot switch for dental

purposes, etc.
A. S. Cubitt. Electric switches.

E. Curtis. Automatic electric signalling system.

L. G. Preston and G. Shearing. Signalling in wireless telegraphy.

Western Electric Company. Electric wave filters.

Western Electric Company. Automatic telephone switches. (21/7/81,
United States.)

Siemens und Halske Akt. Ges. Telephone systems. (15/7/21, Germany.)

H. Barkes. Pipe and socket couphng for electric connections. •

H. AND O. Lucas. Automatic electric switches.

H. AND O. Lucas. Brush-holders for electric machines.

Pittsburgh Transformer Company. Polyphase transformers.

R. S. Clay. Transmitting pictures by telegraphy.
June 15, 1922.

W. J. Polyblank. Electric couplings.

H. North. Electric lighting devices.

Sir O. J. Lodge and E. E. Robinson. Wireless telegraphy.

A. Orung, M. Compare and G. A. O'Hanlon. High-frequency selective
wireless receiving apparatus.

A. Orling, M. Compare and G. A. O'Hanlon. Low-frequency selective
wireless receiving apparatus.

A. Orling, M. Compare and G. A. O'Hanlon. Secret wireless intercommuni-
cation.

F. E. Pernot. Electric signalling.

W. J. Evans and E. F. Joyce. Portable electric boring machmes.
Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, J. P. Campbell, L. Miller,

AND F. B. Holt. Electrically operated valves.
Quarzlampen-Ges. Electric heat radiator for therapeutic purposes.

(15/6/21, Germany).
Skywing Aircraft Corporation. Ignition systems. (1/12/20, United

States.)

June 16, 1922.

F. Lehner and I. Rosenstok. Two-piece glow lamp bulb.

G. Frieman AND A. H. Kirbv. Telephone transmitters, etc.

H. S. Jones. Apparatus for cutting off electric supply at a given time.

W. T. Turner. High-tension magneto electric machines.

Veritys, Ltd., and F. W. Thorpe. An ti- vibration fittings for electric
lamps, etc.

Electric Control, Ltd., and O. Ellefsen. Electric transforming
machinery.

S. T. Hosken. Electric signs.

NoRWEST Electrical Manufacturing Compa-jy. Safety device for elec-
trical apparatus.

British Thomson-Houston Company (General Electric Company).
Insulators.

A. A. Price. Generating sets.

P. G. A. H. Voigt. Attachments to valve detectojg for wireless telegraphy,
etc.

O. Morduch. Rotating electric machines.
C. Davis. Wireless direction finding apparatus.

Peckham Truck and Engineering Company and S. Thomas. Trucks for

Soc. Anon. Ei-ectricite et Electromechanique. Elecuic welding.

(11/5/22, Belgium).

June 17, 1922.
W. W. Wilson. Electrodes for welding, etc.
A. R. Angus. Telegraph and telephone devices.
J. H. Parr. Electromotors.
T. G. Hodgkinson. Oscillatory electric circuits.
British Ti'omson-Houston Company (General Electric, Company).

Incandescent arc devices.
L. Vallino. Overhead switches for electric trolley conductors. (18/6/21,

ItalyK „ .

Erda Ges. fur Wissenschaftliche Erderforschuno, R. Ambronn.

Devices for locating masses of dissimilar electric conductivity over the

earth, etc. (17/6/21, Germanv.)
Sir C. a. Parsons and J. Rosen. Electric machines.
Siemens-Schuckertwerke. Electrical metal-vapour apparatus. (18/6/21,

Germany.) .

J. C. W. Drabble and L. G. Preston. Receiving arrangements for wireless

telegraphy and telephony.

The Editorial, Advertisement and Publishing Offices oj " The
Electrician " are at 8, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. 4. Tele-
grafns .' Benbrotric, Fleet. London. Telephone 1 City 9852 (6 lin£s).

The subscription to " The Electrician " is ;^i 5 o P<"' annum
in the United Kingdom and £1 10 o per annum Abroad. Advertise-
ment Rates can be obtained on application to the Manager. Adver-
isement copy and blocks should be received on the Frida-" preceding
date of publication.

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

[Supplement] Ixxi

BRITISH UNION

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LAMPS

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SELF-CONTAINED TRAVELLING GRATE STOKER AND MECHANICAL ASH CONVEYOR

Ixxii [Supplement] . The Electrician. June 30, 1922

HiiiiiimiiiiiiimiiiniiiiniitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiniiiMiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiN

I NOW READY.

I The Electrician i

I ELECTRICAL TRADES DIRECTORY I

1922

THE BLUE BOOK

40th Edition

The Recognised Work of Reference for the Electrical Industry.
1,450 pages. 50,000 entries. Eight Distinct Divisions.

Price iSO/- net. |

By Post 26/- (inland only) |

ACCURATE. UP-TO-DATE, j

EXCLUSIVE. I

I Send your Order NOW to— I

I ANNUALS DEPARTMENT |

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The Electrician

ANNUAL TABLES OF
ELECTRICITY UNDERTAKINGS

Published June 1st.

35th Edition

1922

Price 10/-, by post 10/9.

Valuable Data relating to 750 British and over 1000
Colonial and Foreign Undertakings.

In addition to information relating to the systems of
supply, consumers' voltage, connections to mains, price of
electric current, etc.,

Particulars now include generating and converting plant,
mains, oil fuel, motor hiring schemes, showrooms, etc.
The Tables have been completely revised and are indispen-
sable to engineers and manufacturers.

NEW STYLE

NEW INFORMATION

130 Pages. Bound in limp cloth. Size 12 ins.X9|^ins.

BENN BROTHERS LTD.

Proprietors and Publishers
8 Bouverie Street, LONDON, E.C.4

June 30, 1922

The Electrician.

[Supplement] Ixxiii

SWITCHGEAR

UlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllMllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllillllllllllUIIUIlllllHlilllllll^

"THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING' —

P.P. Switchgear installations elicit many gratifying
testimonials :

• u ^^ ^^^ "^^^ * "^''y considerable number of your cubicUs.

' The behaviour of your gear, at all time!, has been exceedinglv satis-
factory, and the general finish and substantial character of the cubicle and
its contents have given us complete satisfaction.

" We are convinced of the general superiority of your proposition."

— A Nortbern Corporation Electricity Dept>
" Very satisfied with the appearance and workmanship"

— An Eastern Counties Corporation Electricity Dcp<<
" Very pleased with the general appearance and standard of work."

— A Midland Corporation Electricitr Dept>

Thirty H.T. remote control switches, after 10 years' service during which
many short circuits have been successfully dealt with, still stand-up to
the work satisfactorily in spite of the load having trebled.

— Preci* of a lettcnr from a North Western
Corporation' EJectricity Dept>

"As good a job as I have yet seen."

— A comment by a very weU-kno«m encineer on
the sixth ex eosion lo a 40,000-yolt F.P.
iostailalion in North Wales.

" Real top-hole stuff — about the best sn'itckgear made."

— A prominent arsineer's opinion of F>P. Swilchcear*
" Very high-class quality. . . Do not recollect ever seetrg a better
turned oxU job."

— A large electric supply corporation in Australia.

F.P. Switchgear comprises :
SWITCHBOARDS.

Cubicle System : Sheet Steel, stone work or truck types;

L.T.^to E.H.T.

Unit System : Industrial and mining pattern for wall or floor

mounting.

Panel System : Open type for all outputs. Factory and Ship

patterns.

COMPONENT EQUIPMENT.

switches,

knife switches ironclad

Switches : Isolating
switches, and fuses.

Oil Switches and Circuit Breakers.

Pillars : For equalising, exciting and regulating, or synchron-
ising.

Reactance Coils.
Earthing Resistances.
Cable Boxes and Adapters.

The services of our stafE engineers, with long experience
and specialised knowledge in switchgear problems, 'are
always at your disposal.

We invite yo ir enquiries.
Oar prices are competitive.

\ er9:u6^0Tv

, lailiTv jL

SWITCHGEAR SPECIALISTS

Hea.d O/^Mce&Works.
HIGHER OPENSHAW, MANCHESTER

TelepKorve 0per\sKaw323 : TeIe<)rAm5~Iet\sior\ MAncKest«c

Branch Offices ;

LONDON - 37. NORFOLK STREET, STRAND, W.C.2
BIRMINGHAM - - Daimler House. Paradise Street
CARDIFF - City Chambei-s, 47. Qaeen Street

NEWCASTLE 90, Pilgrim Street

BRANCH WORKS - Marrickville. Sydney, N.S.W.

Ixxiv [Supplement]

The Electrician.

June 30, 1922

GUISELEY, LEEDS.

Cablegrams : " Parkinson, Guiseley.
Telegrams : " Parkinson, 35 Guiseley.'
Telephone : 35 Guiseley (3 lines).

LONDON.

39 Victoria Street, S.W.I.

Telegrams : " Parkmota Vic. London."

Telephone : Victoria 5673.

MANCHESTER.

20 St. Annes Square.
Telegrams : 6764 Manchester.
Telephone : 6764 Central.

GLASGOW.

69 St. Vincent Street.
Telegrams: " Torque, Glasgow."
Telephone: 1246 Central.

Also at Amsterdam, Brussels,
Invercargill, Bombay, Buenos Ayres, etc.

It is different

it is Compensated

/H E essential difference between an
ordinary Repulsion Induction Motor and a
Parkinson "Com " Pattern Motor, is that
the wattless magnetising current is compensated
for in the Parkinson Motor.

The result of this compensation is a reduction of
current consu'mption by approximately 20%.
The Parkinson " Com " Pattern Motor renders
expensive synchronous motors and phase
advancers unnecessary.

The Parkinson " Com " Pattern Motor will start
against full load.

We guarantee that the current consumption is
15% to 25% less than with any other type of Single
Phase Motor, thus the slight extra cost of the
Parkinson "Com" Pattern Motor is far more
than justified by the enormous reduction in
current consumption.

Fj/1.B(rki!^

GUISELEY

LEEDS

THE "ELECTRICIAN" INDEX TO ADVERTISERS.

Eleo-

A.I. Electric WeldinfC .Appliances Co.. .
A. C. E. 0. (AteUer« d Construcliou

triqaes de Ohaneroi)

Ackroyd <fe Best, Ltd

A. Q. E. Electric Motors, Ltd

Allen West & Co., Ltd

Anchor Cable Co., Ltd

Armstrong, Thos., & Brother, Ltd

Arnold, Ed. & Co

Arora Co

Arton & Walton, Ltd

Avery, W. & T., Ltd

Babcock & Wilcox, Ltd

Batteries, Ltd

Belco, Ltd

Belling <fe Co

Benham & Sons, Ltd

Blackie & Son, Ltd

Brackett, F. W., & Co., Ltd

BridKfi, J-. ''i' !^ons

British Electric Transformer Co., Ltd

British Insulated & Helsby Cables, Ltd

British L. M. Ericsson Mfg. Co., Ltd

British Mannesmann Tube Co., Ltd

British Thorason-Houaton Oo., Ltd

British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd. (Mazda)

Broadbent (Thos.) & Sons, Ltd

Brook Hirst & Co., Ltd.

Brown, Boveri & Co., Ltd

Bruce Peebles <fe Co., Ltd

Briwh Elect rical Kn«. Co., Ltd

B.T.T. Electric Lamp & Accessories Co

B»irns, J., Ltd

Cable Makers' Association

OalleDder's Cable & Con. Co., Ltd

Cambridge & Paul Instrument Co., Ltd

Oarron Co

Cbaml>erlain & Hoolcham, Ltd —

Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd. Outside Front Cover

City Aoeumulator Co xviii

Clarke, Chapman & Co., Ltd xl

Concordia EUctric Wire Co., Ltd —

Oredeiula Conduits Co., Ltd xlviii

Crosby Valve & JCnj?. Co., Ltd viii

Damard Lacquer Co., Ltd —

Davenport lOng. Co .\xxiv,xxxv

Dennis, W. F. & Co xxxviii

Dictograph Telephones, Ltd

Dieiiy ^ L\icas, l>td

Dlxoh, Joseph, Crucible Co

Donovan & Co

Dorman, W. H., & Co.. Ltd

D. P. Battery Co., Ltd

EdlBon Accumulators, Ltd

Edison Swan Kloctrio Co., Ltd. . . .

Electrical Apparatus Co., Ltd

£leotrio Construction Co., Ltd. ....
Eleotrio OoDtrol, Ltd

Iviii
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XXV

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Electric & Ordnance Accessories Co., Ltd

Electro-Meohaninai Brake Co., Ltd

Electromotors, Ltd

Elliston, Evans & Jackson, Ltd

English Electric Co.. Ltd

English Electric <fe Siemens Supplies, Ltd

Evershed & Vlgnoles, Ltd

Ferguson Pailin, Ltd -

Fcrranrt, Vincent, Ltd

Ferranti , Ltd

Firth, Thos. & Sons, Ltd

General Electric Co., Ltd

Gent & Co., Ltd

Gilman (Frank)

Globe Engineering Co., Ltd

Glover, W. T. & Co., Ltd

Goold, Lewis W

Greengate & Irwell Rubber Co., Ltd

Qrice (W.) & Sons, Ltd

Griffiths Bros. & Co., Ltd

Hackl)ridt;e Cable Co., Ltd

Hart Accimiulator Co., Ltd

Henley's (W. T.) Tel. Works Co., Ltd

Herbert (Alfred), Ltd

Hick Hargreaves & Co., Ltd

Higgs Bros

Hiiiderlich, A

HolUngs & Guest, Ltd

Holmes (J. H ) & Co

Hydraulic Gears, Ltd

Igranic Electric Co., Ltd

India Rubber, Qutta Percha and Telegraph

Works Co., Ltd

loco Rubber & Waterproofing Co., Ltd

Jeary Electrical Co., Ltd

Jenkins, W. J. & Co., Ltd

Johnson <t Phillips, Ltd

Laurence, Scott ii Co., Ltd

Lea Recorder Co., Ltd

Lewis, H. K., & Co., Ltd

Liverpool Electric Cable Co., Ltd

Lloyds Bank Ltd

London Kloctrio Supply Corpn., Ltd

London Electric Wire 60. & Smiths, Ltd

Lorival MfR. Co. (1021), Ltd

Low, Archibald & Sons, Ltd

Macmillan & Co. , Ltd

Manifoltli^t, Ltd

Marooni Wireless Telegraph Co., Ltd

Metallic Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd

Metropolitan- Vlckers Electrical Co., Ltd

Mewburn, Ellis & Co

Mlcanlte & Inmlators Co., Ltd

Muilard Radio Valve Co., Ltd

Nalder Bros. A Thompaon, Ltd.

New BritUh Electric Supply Co.. Ltd

Norman &• Hill, Ltd

Northern 3t«el & Hardwaro Co., Ltd.

Ixx

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xy'ri;

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XXX

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Ocrlikon, Ltd xlix

Parkinson, F. & A., Ltd ixslv

Park Royal Eng. Works, Ltd —

Parsons (C. A.) & Co., Ltd .\xx

Peebles (Bruce) & Co., Ltd ii

Petersen, G. H. T. (Engineers' Merchants), Ltd. —

Pinchin, Johnson & Co., Ltd —

Power- Rectifiers, Ltd xi

Power Specialty Co., Ltd Outnde Back Corer

Premier Accumulator Co. (1921), Ltd iii

Radio Communication Co. Ltd -

Record Electrical Co., Ltd .......... xxxvii

Reesoils, Ltd

Rees Roturl,o Mfg. Co., Ltd

Relay Automatic Telephone Co., Ltd

Reyrolle (A.) & Co., Ltd. . . . .

Richardson's Weatgarth & Co., Ltd .

Sandycroft, Ltd

Sankey (Joseph) & Sons. Ltd .

Sh(>rrv & liavcork

Showell (E.)" & Song .

Siemens Bros. & Co., Ltd

Simplex Conduits, Ltd

Sims & Sims

Sloan Electrical Co., Ltd

Smith, S., & Son, Ltd xxxviii

Smith, Thos. A Sons (Rodley), Ltd xlvi

Statter (J. O.) <fe Co xxxiii

St. Helens Cable & Rubber Co., Ltd -

Stothert .t Titt, Ltd xxi

Strachan & Henshaw, Ltd —

Sugg (Wm.) & Co., Ltd —

Sullivan, H. W xxxl

SutclilTe Bros. & Brvce, Ltd xlviii

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XXX

Taylor A Hubbard .

Taylor, Tunniclifle A Co., Ltd

Telegraph Condenser Co

Terry, Herbert <fe Sons, Ltd

Thompson. W. P. A Co

Tucker (J. H.) A Co., Ltd

Tudor Accumulator Co., Ltd

Undorfeod Stoker Co., Ltd

Union Cable Co., Ltd

Vldal Engineering Co

Wailes Dove Bitumaatic, Ltd

Walsall Kleclric Co.. Ltd

Waygood-Otis, Ltd

West, Allen A Co., Ltd

Western Electric Co., Ltd

Westlnghouse Electric International Oo. .
Weston Electrical Instrument Co., Ltd. .

White, Rd., A Sons

Wtiite Electrical Instrument Co., Ltd. . .

Wiiesmith, J., <ft Co

WiUoox, W. H.,&Co.,Ltd.

Wright Motors, Ltd

Yorkshire Copper Works, Ltd

Zenith Manufacturing Co.

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