The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-14
$1,000 PURCHASE
HAS QUEER LOOK
School inspectors Decide Against
Vacuum Cleaner Which Is Cheap
est and Stands Test Best.

Mayor Thompson will investigate
the purchase of vacuum cleaners by
the board OF education, which the
board attempted to "cinch" Thurs
day night by voting down motion to
reconsider II Is claimed on behalf
of the United Electric Co.. of Canton,
o., that It's machine, the "Tuec." was
turned down In spite OF the fact that
II showed the highest efficiency. q
greater saving In price and cost OF
maintenance over its nearest competi-
tor, and Inspector Mumford will lay
the matter before the mayor with a
request that he veto the boards ac-
ton.
The matter has already come to the
attention OF the mayor In an informal
way, and he has manifested genuine
interest In the proposition. Accord
ing to the information he has receiv-
ed, the board, In making its selection
schools. practically disregarded the re-
port of Its engineers, zimmerman, Nc
Coll q Anderson, as TO the tests made
OF the various sweepers by commit
tee of experts chosen by this firm. The
experts were Prof. John r. Allen. OF
the University OF Michigan; Charles
II, Treat. chief designer OF the Ameri-
can Blower Co., and Howard E. Cofin,
yice-president and chief designer OF
the Hudson Motor Car Co., all OF
whom are members of the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers and
men of national reputation.
In these tests. the "Tuecv cleaner
scored highest OF the two-sweeper
plants entered, 97.6 out OF a possible
100 points. The Richmond" manu-
factured by the MeCrum-HoweH Co., q
New York concern, scored 85.5 per
cent. Three other "two-sweeper" ma
chimes scored SO, 57.7 and 35.4 per
cent
The specifications called for the dis
placement of SO cubic feet of air at
the end of each 75-foot section OF hose
simultaneously, total displacement OF
160 cubic feet. According to the
tabulated reports, the "Tuec" dis
placed 177.8 cubic feet with an ex-
penditure OF 1.95 kilowats of energy.
while the Richmond" displaced 142
cubic feet with an expenditure OF 3.19
kilowats. 0Es
OF education, Thursday night. on the
recommendation of the committee on
JanitoEs and supplies, voted to pur.
chase eight of the Richmond. sweep
ers at cost of s6,400 and one "In-
vincible,' manufactured by the Elec-
trio Renovator Co., at $968lS7, total
Of s7,36S.s9. The United Electric Co.
offered to sell the board nine OF its
sweepers at $5,193.90, saving OF So
174.97. but the committee, II Is assert
ed, would not even give the company's
representative hearing
The "Invincible" people, II Is claim
ed, did not enter the tests at all, while
the United Electric Co.. notwithstand.
ing its showing OF highest efficiency
and lowest cost, was turned down cold
by the board. The board also voted to
try out a couple Of single sweepers,
manufactured by Hanlon & Wilson and
II. L. Walker.
Inspector Mumford tried to have the
whole question referred back to the
committee. declaring that, In fairness.
all the companies that complied with
the specifications be allowed to place
their machines In the schools so that
the board could pass judgment on
them. A motion to that effect was
lost, however, IL to 5. The four who
stood with Mr.. Mumford were Inspect.
ors Move, Condor, Began and Presi
dent Robertson.
Later In the evening, on motion OF
Inspector Small. the purchase OF the
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