Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-05
THE EXECUTIVE APARTMENTS CORNER OF 10TH AND
STREETS

localities where the water does not at
tack and rapidly destroy the metal Tor
it is more than probable that the pipe
will last as long as the house, or If It
, but lasts the lifetime Of the owner IL
will have paid for itself, and can be
easily replaced. at small cost. without
on the other hand, while it will last
longer. is open to the objection that wnen
used to conduct soft water some OF the
metal might be dissolved from the pipe
and cause lead poisoning to those VINO
partake of the water. Further, 1t is much
more expensive to install. without addlne
one bit to the value of the plumbing sys-
tenn; it Is a temptation to thieves 10 Gu.
out the pipe for the value of the Old
metal when the house is empty; nails are
sometimes driven through concealed pipes,
causing them to leak. and rats may gnaw
holes through the pipe. IT. however, an
everlasting system of water pipes Is de-
sired and there is no danger of lead
poisoning. nor objection to the expense.
lead pipe will prove very satisfactory
material.
Satisfy the Women.
The duty of looking after the installa-
ton of the rough part of the plumbing
work will devolve upon the man OF the
house. When however, it comes to select
ing the plumbing fixtures. 1T Is the woman
who must be satisfied. The time was, and
that not so very long ago, when the
plumbing fixtures in the house were put
in the most out-of-the-way places, and
their presence forgotten, If possible, when
not in use. Conditions have so far
changed at the present time that instead
Of being concealed from sight the bath
room kitchen and laundry are features
of every well equipped building, which the
housewife delights to show to her friends
AS she Is the one responsible for the seiec-
know what is good and what is bad In
fixtures. Every woman loves bargain
and the question is, how will she know
real bargain in plumbing fixtures when
offered?
Plumbing fixtures at the present time
are made Of imperial porcelain and of
porcelain enameled wate. Imperial por-
celain goods are made OF clay coated with
all enamel and fired in q kiln like china
Porcelain enamel ware may be considered
as a coating Of white glass, applied to
iron. In the manufacture OF plumbing
| fixtures of these materials, some of the
output are defective. and the chance OF
securing bargain lies In the knowledge
Of what kind of damaged goods may be
| purchased with safety. 1t .lnay be laid
down as a rule to which there is no ex-
ception that when purchasing porcelain
| enameled ware, 1t is an unWlSe pollcy 10
| select fixture which is not guaranteed
| In the manufacture of porcelain enameed
ware, as in the manufacture OF all knos
| of goods there are some articles which
do not come up to the high standard set
| by the inspectors; and anything falling
| below that standard Is sorted out and
disposed of to the best possible advantage.
| If the defects are visible and d.stigure
the fixtures they are broken up to be
remelted; while if the defects are not
G airing, the fixtures are sold as seconds.
These seconds find their way into the
market as unguaranteed goods. and per-
sons who purchase them do SO at their
own risk. This in itself would not be SO
| bad if the defects were all evident, but
| as matter of fact there might be a space
| where the enamel does not adhere to the
| iron but covers 1t like the skin of a bis
| ter and II this enamel should peel of, or
any other defect ultimately develop, the
! loss would fall upon the purchaser. In
the case of guaranteed goods, the condi-
| the enamel so firmly adheres to the iron
that it can be cracked or Clipped only by
striking with a hammer or other equally
/ hard instrument. The bond between the
| two materials is so intimate that the
| enamel on a perfect fixture Will always
| remain in perfect condition If not de-
stroyed by some accident. IF. however, u
| defective fixture should escape the watch
| full eyes of the inspectors, and DE sold
under guarantee, or should defect
subsequently develop in a guaranteed fix
ture, the loss will be made good by the
manufacturers. who will replace the old
| fixture with a new one. 1t might be we'll
to add that it Is not often that guar
| anteed fixture is found defective, while
with unguaranteed fixtures defects are as
! often the rule as the exception; SO that
| the Slight difference between the cost or
| guaranteed and an unguranteed fix
| ture, which amounts to but few dollars,
GiIl hardly warrant the risk.