The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-02-03
STANDARD Hose
COUPLINGS ARE
BEING ADOPTED
BY Number Of Organizations
and They Are Advocated by
Federal Department.

IT, T..
WASHINGTON, Feb. s.-An account
standard for those couplings and at
tings for public fire service is con-
tanned in circular number SO, just is
sued by the bureau of standards OF
the department OF commerce.
The movement for the adoption OF
standard fire hose couplings dates
from the great Boston fire Of 1872,
which showed the impossibility OF the
fire departments Of adjacent towns
acting in unison when provided with
the diverse sizes OF hose fitting then
prevailing.
The Baltimore Fire.
The matter YVES taken up at the
first convention of fire engineers, in
1873, and was discussed at various
conventions in succeeding years. The
resolutions gradually became more
definite, although little was accom-
plished toward bringing about the de-
sired changes until the agitation re-
ceived a new impetus from the Bal
timore fire in 1904, when neither the
Washington, Philadelphia, nor New
York fire engines on their arrival
could make connection with the local
fire hydrants.
This condition led the Merchants
and Miners Transportation Company
in April, 1904, to request the secretary
OF the department of commerce and
labor to investigate the subject of fire
hose couplings. The secretary refer
red the matter to the bureau Of stan
dards, and in the investigation which
followed, it was found that there was
great diversity in the sizes and
threads of couplings throughout the
United States. 1t was evident that con-
siderable expense would be involved
in changing from one standard to an
other, and therefore, at the conference
of the committees OF the National Fire
Protection Association and American
Water Works Association,( held in
Ne WORK City, April "a, 1903, the
bureau OF standards proposed the
adoption, either Of the thread which
could be shown to be most extensively
used, or that threads which possessed
the greatest advantages in other re.
spects. Following The latter course
the conference resolved that Z l.:
threads per inch should be recommen
ded for 1-2 inch fire hose couplings
This thread was not regarded as al
ideal standard, but was considered thu
most practicable basis for unificatior
under prevailing conditions.
Standard adopted:
At the annual convention OF the In
ternatlonal Association OF Fire Engin
GERS, at Duluth, In 1905, this STANDARD
was adopted after lengthy discussion
and at Dallas, in 1905. the convention
reafiirmed the action taken at Duluth
and made its record complete b,
adopting the national standard spec
ifications covering couplings Of ant
IL inches inside diameter, each II
have 6 threads to the inch, and Il:
inch coupling having four threads II
the inch.
Since then a dozen large organize
tons have adopted the national stan
dard. The report of the committe,
of tho American Society of Mechan
ical Engineers, adopted December 3
1918, treats its present status in {
very clear and comprehensive man
ner, with suggestions for converting
non-standard couplings for service
able interchange with the nationa
standard. Up to 1913 the nationa
standard had been put into service ii
70 cities or towns, either as new
equipment or by adoption Of non
standard couplings to interchang,
with the standard.