The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-10-05
THE DAILY


of the Minister of Finance that the ''Sav
bolt Electric Tester" will hereafter be
used In testing kerosene oils, the follow.
ing correspondence on the subject will
indicate the reason why the change has
been made. There can be no doubt that
1t is an improvement on the antiouated
method heretofore in use here.
HONOLULU, Fl. L., Sept. II, 1891.
HIS ExCELLENCY J. Mort SMITH, MINIS
TER OF FINANCE.
Sir: In compliance with the request
made during a conversation, relating to
the ACCESSIBILITY of adopting officially
what is known as the "5aybolt Electric
Tester" for the purpose of testing Kero-
sene oils imported into this kingdom, l
beg to submit my views on and expert
ments with the testers now and hereto
lore IN use, as compared with the ''Elec-
trio"
Section 1 of the Act of 1890 states, in
regard to kerosene oil. CATER being in
sPected and tested in the most approved
manner and with the most approved an.
planes, shall ignite or evaporate anv
1nt1ammable vapor at any Temperatures
below 115 degrees Fahrenheit
From the above it would appear that
the Act does not provide that anv
particular apparatus or appliance should
be used.
Inc TACT is, however, that from the
date OF the first Act relative to kerosene
oil, approved May, 1868, up to the time
OF the passage of the present Act. what
Is known as the ,Tagliabue Open Gun |
tester had been used by the Marshal. |
Fire Marshal and several importers and |
that the Honolulu Board of Underwriters
10 whom the matter of raising the testing
nad oeen referred by the Committee Of
the Legislature, selected the above men
toned tester, for the reason that it was
used and recommended by the San
francisco Board of Underwriters.
from this am convinced that this
tester is implied by the Act, and it has
Deen with this apparatus that all official
ment.
The principal objection to this form nj
apparatus is that it requires the passino
from time to time of lighted taper over
the surface of the oil contained in the
cup.
There is no doubt but that the lighted :
taper heats the immediate surface of the t
OIL beyond the temperature of the lower E
portion, which registers on the thermo- {
meter.
Inns surface film, if it were possible to a
lake the temperature of, would no doubt }
De 1ound to be from five to eight degrees t
ABOVE the temperature of the balance OF
Inc on, thus giving an unequal test.
win this form of tester haste or care
essness on the part of the operator or
ne too frequent application of the \
lgated taper to the surface of the oil will q
orlng on a flash before the oil has >
the point where an inflammable
1apor Is given Off. On the other hand. q
~ withholding the taper for some time E
ne OIL may be pushed to high tempera- p
une before it will fash. u
Testing by this method is no true in s
location of the real safety or burning n
lua!ty OF an Oil, for in the distillation. o
n OIL can be run SO much heavier in o
,Ienslty that it will hold in suspension,
ne more volatile or inf1ammable Dor il
cached. 40
The Electric Tester possesses the ad. N
antage that the tests made with II are m
nder all circumstances uniform and 81
ccurate. By this 1 would not mean
nat all tests here would agree with the d
ests made In New York or San Fran hi
isco. Allowance must be made for hi
Inference in barometric pressure, etc, it
he flashing is done by an electric
park, which is always at the same dis kt
ance from the surface of the oil. instan- &C
aneous in its action and radiates no
eat 10 the surface of the oil. W
This is the only machine adopted nv kr
ne New York Produce EXCHANGE in ps
S79 as the official tester, and has been
sed continuously by them since that
me.
The Electric Tester, if adopted, will
ass oils which if tested by the old tester H
o1id flash below 115 dogs. Fahrenheit liz
ms will not imply that the oils are -
nsaie. On the contrary, it will provide In
II good burning and perfectly safe oil. l.
ests then made here will agree (near-
, with those abroad, and the great o.
ariance heretofore existing, on acconnt T.,
the difference in appliance used, will
'ase to exist. -
In view OF the foregoing facts, I do not 9 g.
estate to recommend to the Govern =
ent the adoption of the " Saybolt Elec- s.,
&c Tester " as the official appliance for
sting oils entering this Kingdom.
have the honor to be
Your Excelleney's obedient servant.
=. GEo. w. SMITH, tin
Inspector Of Kerosene Oil.