The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-20
AUTO TRUCK MADE INVALUABLE PART
 OF CIVIC SYSTEM
,continued From Page Fourteen)

tContinued From Page Fourteen) 2 rom the same source as the larger en- l. zine, that is. water is pumped from the |. bottom of the truck radiator through flex- ! ihle metal hose to the marine engine :. and returned to the top of the radiator t after circulating around the cylinders of $ the truck engine. By this method of $ cooling the cylinders of the marine en- 2 zine are always kept warm, which, of Z course. greatly facilitates starting, espe- : cially in cold weather.
 z The suction of the pump Is connected < through a priming device to three three- : inch brass gate valves by means of an iron pipe line suspended under the body. 7 These valves are located one on each side i. of the body below the side doors and < one in the rear, so that hose connec- < ton can be obtained. regardless of the z location of the manhole, without violating : any of the traffic regulations.
 i. The valves are set at an angle of 45 degrees with the street bed in order to < avoid unnecessary bends in the suction {. hose The discharge side of the pump . is connected to three-inch flexible metal 7 pipe, which can be turned through an angle of 1s0 degrees for the purpose of : exhausting the water in the most advan- < tageous direction. When not in use this pipe is hooked to the under side of the running board
 : The pumping engine also operates ,small dynamo which, in addition to fur 2 nishing ignition for the marine engine, : supplies sufficient current for illuminat-
 ing manholes. By the aid of the port
 able lamps which can be plugged in on
 the dynamo current, duct chambers may be examined for a distance of 50 feet 1. to determine the nature and cause of ob- structions in the conduits.
 Unusual Features
 !, The most unusual and interesting fea- 7 ture of the outfit, however, is the wire- l. less equipment, through the agency of { which the department keeps in constant { communication with it's trouble crew, so
 that all emergency calls can be handled with the greatest dispatch before serious !. damage can ensue. The truck serves as receiving station only.
 1. The antenna is suspended immediately under the roof of the car and was made !: of approximately 425 feet of No. IA strand :. ed, rubber insulated, copper wire, which was laced back and forth until 40 wires were obtained with a separation of one
 inch. The aerial is therefore inconspic-
 uous and well protected.
 A series of rigid tests proved conclu- svely that the equipment is entirely prac- 1 tical and that excellent results can be ! obtained through the aid of simple code, of signals without resorting to the em-
 ployment of trained wireless operators. It was also demonstrated that direct
 earth connection was unnecessary, inas-
 much as the iron framework of the chassis
 serves admirably as a counter-poise
 ground, thereby enabling the truck to
 receive while in motion.
 During all the preliminary tests the
 truck never failed to intercept any mes
 sage sent to it within a radius of 10 miles
 of the sending station, and even under
 the most unfavorable conditions. with the
 truck running at full speed and blank
 eted by tall buildings of steel construc-
 ton. no difficulty was experienced in
 reading the messages.