The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1913-09-16
RESULT OF TEST OF
PUMPING ENGINES
C. j. Gross Writes Of Robin
son Apparatus Showing.

G.. J.. CROSS, eastern safes agent VI
the Robinson Fire Apparatus Manu-
factuEing company, has written us. re-
garding the reeen test of automobile
pumping engines held in New ork
city under the direction of the na-
ionai board Of fire underwriters. MI
Cross iast week telegraphed Presi-
dent Stiles, of Humane Engine com
pany, that a story appearing IN 10
cal paper derogatory OF the ROBIN
son apparatus OF the type selected
for the Morristown fire department,
was untrue. Mr. Cross summarizes
for us the results OF the test as 1oi-
lows
'sThe test of engines, was most
severe one, but l am pleased to say
that all of them stood up wonderfully
and has proven the wisdom of adopt
ing motor pumping engines.
"a certain element of luck always
accompanies such tests, and while
some of the engines We're lucky
enough to get through without any
great troubles, some met with dis
aster, but all of them: proved that
manufacturers of motor pumping en-
gines are sincere in their efforts to
build first-class machines.
I'VE entered two Robinson engines
for the test. BY referring to the Of
ficial report, you will see that dur
ing the first six hours run, the Rob
inson engines pumped more water ina
any other, with the exception of the
large Seagrave and the large Amerl-
can-La France, which were doubtless
built especially for the convention,
and both of which are too heavy for
practical purposes, the former being
over 10000 and the latter nearly lS,-
900 pounds. With these exceptions
we pumped more Water at higher
pressure during the first six hours
than any other engine. The above
applies to both Robinson engines.
s4 During the next three hours
wherein the pumps were run at 2oU
pounds pressure, we repeated this per
formance of pumping more water thai
any of our competitors in the same
class.
"The last three hours We only en-
tered one engine, as the other was
not equipped for the high pressure
run. We encountered some troubles
with two of our rubber valves which
unbalanced our pump and caused the
hose to vibrate somewhat.
"WhiIe this could have been fixed
up in a few minutes, We decided to
continue it through the test and we
finished the twelve hours in splendlo
condition. and could have run on IN
definitely.
1.-THE trouble with the valves was
inexcusable, as they were not our
regular kind, but some new ones
which we're just purchased, and wnici
were unfortunately too soft. aa.
1.-TWO of our motor valve springs
broke. which was of no consequence
and the machine could have run IN
definitely without repairing them
"The above slight troubles are
small compared with the important
troubles of some of our competitors,
and while we were not fortunate
enough to have AN absolutely clean
slate. such as we had last year at
Denver. we are justified in saying,
that the Robinson engines going
through twelve hours of such hard
testing. have proven themselves Sec
ond to none in the country. Botn
engines were in operation the follow
ing day in the streets, and We have
been complimented on every side for
our beautiful run Notwithstanding the
small troubles experienced.
Except for our slight rubber valve
trouble late in the Afternoon, we
showed conclusively. that the Robin
son engine will perform its work with
out vibration The oiling system be-
ing automatic caused us no trouble
throughout the day, and one man was
all that was necessary for the operat-
ing of each machine
.As to the question Of weight, we
have the highest engine built, the com