Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-12-17


motor pumping engine, chemical and
hose carrier, bought early in August
by the fire commissioners with the
$4,000 appropriated at the annual city
meeting, was unloaded here on Thurs
day morning at 11.3O by the delivery
engineer, Edward c. Rumsey, who had
come from the factory at Columbus,
O. That it arrived ready for instant
service, if necessary, was shown, Tor
after it had taken trip down the
skids from the box freight car on the
track in the rear of the Charles Os-
good company building, Engineer
Rumsey put a little gasoline into the
tank and a little water into the radl-
ator and ran the pumper up to the
central station under its own power.
In the afternoon the pumper was run
over to Falls avenue, where 1t was
given a preliminary test, draughtlng
on two suction lines from the river
from them. Everything worked
smoothly and the pumper performed
all that was expected of it.
Fire Chief Howard L. Stanton and
Alderman Casper K Bailey, who is
chairman of the fire commissioners,
were present at the preliminary test
and were highly pleased at the show
ing that was made by the pumper-
Later Chief Stanton said that the
official delivery test of the pumper
would probably be maze az the same
place on next Thursday, if it can be
arranged to have the engineer from
the National Board of Fire Under
writer's here at that time. All the in
suranCe agents in the city are plan
ming to invite agents from other
places here to see the test of the new
piece of Norwich fire apparatus. which
is declared to be the best type of
modern fire fighting machinery and
particularly adapted to the require
ments of this city.
According to the arrangements
made by Chief Stanton, the new piece
of apparatus is to be kept at the CEN
trail fire station, and Engineer James
/. Hubbard has been transferred from
the spare list of Engine Co. No. l and
is to have charge of the operation of
the new auto pumper, also instruCting
others of the department in its opera
ton. The apparatus of Engine Co. No.
l will be held in reserve at the central
ity of the pumper. At the station the
pumper has been placed on the floor
behind the autochemiCal.
All of the most p-tO-date ideas
have been incorporated in the Norwich
auto pumper, number of these ap-
pearing in the line of extras that were
the results of suggestions and CORE
spCndence that Chief Stanton has had
with the company. These were all
checked up on Thursday and it was
found that everything that had been
contracted for with the Seagrave peo-
pie had been furnished.
Specially Valuable Device.
One of the particular improvements
on the pumper which is the idea of
Chief Stanton and has now been
adopted by the SeagraVe people for all
their apparatus is a special device by
which when the 40 gallon chemical
tank has been emptied of chemical it
will be possible to pump water through
the tank and out through the "a inch
chemical hose, thus giving a 81 inch
stream of water that could be used
on a fire. This connection is near the
outlet on the working side of the pump
and will add to the equipment i'm
measurably, as it is often the case at
fire that the chemical tank is enough
to take all the danger out of the fire
but it is handy to have a line of water
on hand at once to follow up the work
of the chemical.
The pumper weighs about 1-2 tons
and is equipped with a six cylinder
40 horsepower engine, which will in
sure plenty of power to climb any of
the hills which increase the fire haz-
ard in this city. The bore of the cyl
inders is 3-4 inches, the stroke 1-2
inches.
The transmission is seIective type,
having three speeds forward and one
reverse, direct drive on third speed.
The two side chains are driven by in
Interchangeable SprOCketS which are
bolted to rear wheels.
There arc five brakes. Two are ex-
ternal contracting bands operated by
pedal lever. and when in operation
brake directly through sprockets and
side chains to rear wheels. taking all
strain off the transmission, beveI drive
and differential gears. Two are expan-
sion cast shoes, bOlted to rear wheels
and operated by emergency hand brake
lever. There is also a clutch brake
automatically operated 10 prevent
clutch from spinning when released.
Both emergency and foot brakes are
provided with equalizers.
Wheel Base 172 Inches.
The wheel base is 172 inches. tread
81 inches, and the wheels are of wood
artillery type, with steel bands for
tires and brass hub caps. Hubs are
fitted with taper roller bearings. The
wheels are of specially compact con-
struction which will not loosen under
the most severe strain. The tires are
solid rubber.
The car has electric self starting and
lighting system and a specially design
ed steering gear. This is of the worm
and nut type, with extra large bearing
surfaces. The steering mast is placed
oil an angle and provided with an IS
inch steering wheel. Seats having high
DIOR PUMPING ENGINE