Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-27
FIRE ENGINE REPAIRS
SHOP WHERE THE APPARATUS Is
MADE GOOD.
Damaged Vehicles, Hose and Machin-
cry Given Prompt Attention
Upon Short Notice.

of the District, Of Columbia OF which the
public knows but little. but which Is most
important. On 1t depends in q large meas
ure the efficiency Of the entire ire-fghting
apparatus OF the District. Reference is
made to the repair department under the
control of Chief Machinist c. M. Robin
son. The engines. hose carriages. trucks
and other apparatus are seen at every fire.
but 1t is seldom that thought Is given as
to where these machines are taken to be
repaired when out Of order or how they are
kept up to the high standard OF efficiency
required by the regulations Of the District
fire department.
The repair shop is located in No. engine
house. on North Carolina avenue between
9th and 7th streets southeast, adjoining the
Eastern market. In a small room adjacent
to the engine house proper Mr.. Robinson
has his headquarters. and here Is done
much of the work that makes the Wash
ington department a model for efficiency Of
apparatus.
There the two new metropolitan engines
which arrived here yesterday from Seneca
Falls. N. Y. were taken to be fitted up
for service. The Star reporter found Mr..
Robinson there yesterday afternoon hard at
work on the new apparatus connecting up
the working parts and making them ready
for the tests that will take place within
the next two or three days.
The repair shop does not look like
machine shop. would suppose. a
small foot-power lathe and hand drill press
are the only machine tools in the place.
But with the aid Of these implements and
hand tools all the repair work on the ma
chinery Of the apparatus Is done.
1t has been several years since a local
machine shop was called upon to make any
ception of painting, wheelwrighting. large
forge work and boiler work. all the re-
pairs to damaged apparatus are made by
Mr.. Robinson and his one assistant They
do oiro o. H. A1yIo
small forge work. so that the cost of re-
pairs to fire apparatus is reduced to a
small figure when the number Of engines,
hose carriages and other apparatus in serv-
Ice in the District Is taken into consid-
Grafton.
Duplicates Kept.
Should an engine break an axle, or a
wheel on the way to d fire. Mr. Robinson
Is notified. He has duplicate parts of all
apparatus in his shop. This Is quickly
found, loaded in supply wagon. rushed
to the scene Of the accident and in a short
time the engine is again ready for service.
rms Is true also Of other parts Of the
machinery Of the engines. so that but little
oelay Is occasioned in making repairs and
length Of time '
IN the repair shop, properly labeled. so
that they can be obtained in few minutes
are spare portions for every machine, truck
are also kept at the various engine houses
where they can be reached quickly in time
of accident ''''o
Not only does the repair shop look after
Work on the engines and the big apparatus
but repairs are made to damared hose
nozzies and then new MOBILES couplings
Tor nose and other small parts are made
rom the rough brass casting made at one
OF the foundries.
Another duty devolving on the repair de-
partment is the testing Of all hose. Mr..
Robinson has In hand about 5000 feet of
new nose ready to be sent to any engine
whose hose may become defective BY keep
ing supply on hand and by frequent in
spections of hose in service, and replac-
ing all that is weak with new. the danger
of bursting hose ard the delay in conse-
quence is greatly reduced
The bursting of hose and the consequent
stoppage of the water has allowed many a
fire to spread, and this is what the Dis
trfct fire authorities are guarding against
In Keeping supply of new hose on hand.
Besides the hose a supply Of all kinds of
suction pipes for the engines Is also on
hand at the repair shop.
Amount of Work Required.
When 1T is known that the shop is TAX
ing care of all repair work on nineteen
steam fire engines. nine hook and ladder
trucks, seven hose wagons. fifteen hose
reels. four large chemical engines, one
small chemical engine, fourteen wagons
and buggies used in the work of the fire
department. some idea of the amount Of
work done by the repair shop Of the fire
department can be obtained
What is wanted, and badly so. is a prop
erly equipped shop with machine tools
capable of doing ordinary work. Much of
the work done now is by hand, which
takes time In a properly equipped shop
time could be saved, and saving time in
that case would be saving expense. With
a good machine shop. paint shop and equip
ment for doing wheelwright and forge
work the District fire department repair
shop would be second to none in the coun-
try and the fire apparatus would then al
ways be in the best of order for efficient
work