Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-05-08
ELECTRICITY IN THE HOUSE.
Can-Bslls, Burglar Alarms, and Gas
Lighting Apparatus, and
Their Cost.

Their Cost.
"What is the cost of electric call-bell
annunciator systems for house and Of
ficeP" asked reporter of dealer in
electrical instruments the other dav.
The prices were S345 for hotel of 100
rooms; 500 40 for office, store or factory;
so 20 for dwelling of ten rooms, and
1856 for an automatic house burglar
alarm with eight indicators. For the
hotel the estimate was: Annunciators
and bells $500, 100 push buttons $50,
four cells, battery and box, 80; wire
$40, labor, ETC., $75; for office, store
and factory, eight bells. $2S; eight push
buttons, 81 40; battery 80, and wire and
labor $50, for the ten-room dwelling.
annunciators and bells $94, nine push
buttons 81 20, one door-pull 81 5Os bat
terry 80, wire "a, and labor $lS; for the
house burglar alarm, annunciator with
bells and nine switches $50, battery 80,
eight door connections SIP, sixteen win
dow connections $32.
"Gas-lghting by electricity has BE-
come another great convenience, added
the reporters informant. '.As applied
to private residences it is of two sys-
TENS, the pendant and the automatic.
The latter system embraces several
kinds of burners. the one most generally
in use being the rachel. 1t obtains its
name because 1t has a rachet-wheel gov
erning a stop-cock so arranged with a
pawl and spring that one pull of the
chain turns the wheel one notch for
ward, bringing one of the gas-ways Of
the gas-cock in. direct line with the
burner gas-way, thus turning on the
gas, and at the same time, through cleo
trical connections, lighting it. The
next pull of the chain turns the rachel
wheel another notch and the gas is
turned of. The plain pendant differs
from the other in that it does not oper-
ate stop-cock, but simply lights the
gas after it is turned on by the ordinary
key. 1t is especially useful in stores, or
in the kitchen, where the ratchet burner
is not necessary, and at the same time
materially reduces the cost and the pos
sibility of the gas being left escaping
where the burners are subject to the
use of careless and ignorant persons.
Argands fits both as ratchet and pend
ants, and they differ from the common
burners only in having argands instead
of the common burners above the stop
cock. In regard to gasoline pendants.
any burner can be fitted to light by cleo
tricity."
What is the automatic systemp"
1T is that by which the gas is lighted
and extinguished from some distant
point by buttons placed in the wall for
that purpose, and consists of the auto
matte burners and the push buttons, or
keys for lighting them. In the auto
matte the electricity not only lights the
gas, but also turns it on and off. This
is done by two pairs of electromagnetic,
one on either side of the gas-way, gov
erning an armature, which by the lever,
operates the gas-cock. Thus, when an
electric current is obtained through one
of the magnets, the armature is attract
ed to that magnet and the lever moves
the stopcock and turns on the gas, and
when the current of electricity IS Undue
ed IN the other magnet, the armature is
drawn in that direction, thus turning
of the gas. This system is not adapted
for general use in house, for in most
places. as on chandeliers. the pendants
are much more convenient and cost
very much less; but in few places the
automatic is almost indispensable. One
in the front hall, to be lighted by but
tons, placed at the front door, and also
by the chamber door, or one in the base
ment, with PROSECUTIONS or keys at the
head of the basement stairs, and at
some convenient point be lighted from
the bedside and room door, are all lux
uries which, after accustomed use, be
come necessities to household comfort.
The electric burners cost from 81 to So so
each. '-Neto York Mail and Express.