The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-07-04
FIRE DEPARTMENT
TESTS STANDARD
Hose Holder Designed by Chief
Carlson Proves Success
ONE MAN CAN HANDLE PRESSURE
ONCE HARD FOR FOUR.
New COntriyance VIII Increase Effici-
ency Of Department and Assure
Greater Safety.

What many people at first believed
to be a call for the fire department
Thursday afternoon proved to be a
most interesting test with new noz-
zle holder designed by and construct
ed under the supervision OF FIRE ChleI
Fred A. Carlson The test was held at
the corner of Shoshone and Second
avenue east, before a large number
of interested onlookers
The local department has long felt
the need of some nozzle-holdlng de-
wise which would make it possible for
one man to handle the hose under the
pressure applied by the use of the fire
engine. Up to this time it has been
necessary for four men to handle the
nozzle at a pressure far below that
possible of being maintained by the
engine. Even at this pressure 1t has
been dangerous for the men at the
hose because of its liability to become
unmanageable.
At the suggestion of several inter-
ested people about town Chief Carlson
has been at work perfecting a stand
ard which would overcome the diff
Guilty and this test was the third and
most successful of his experiments
along this line, the first two tests
proving that changes in his standard
were necessary before a successful
holder would result.
The standard is made of one-half
inch steel and consists of a rod three
feet long attached by universal joint
to a four-legged base, each leg being
eighteen inches long and having sharp
ened prongs one and one-half inches
in length which rest in the ground To
the arm of the holder are attached
two straps with which to fasten the
nozzle securely to the standard. Two
handlers on the nozzle make it posi-
BILE for one man to manipulate the
stream in any direction. The advan-
tage of this standard over those in
use in the east lies in the greater lev
erage possible. On the eastern type
of holder the nozzle is attached to
lever on top of the standard, making
possible a more limited play of stream.
The permanent attachment on this
standard will consist of an eight-foot
hose screwed to the regulation noz-
zle which will be strapped to the hold
er. A great saving in time will be
another result of the use of this stand
ard for only one connection will be
necessary under the new condition
whereas three connections were re-
quired heretofore before the pressure
could be applied This connection will
he the one between the new appliance
and the hose coming from the fire
engine.
The first of Thursdays test was the
use of the appliance under pressures
varying from ordinary plug pressure
which is 60 pounds to the square inch,
to that of 100 pounds. The changes in
pressure were made at ten second in
tervals upon signal of the fire chief
with one man handling the hose. The
second test was that of a steadily in
creasing pressure from 60 to between
$50 and 1876 pounds. Under neither
test was any trouble encountered in
the use of the standard and a stream
was turned in all directions from YER
teal to horizontal. Under top pres
sure it was estimated that the stream
was thrown over $50 feet With 100
pounds pressure it would have been
impossible for four men to handle the
nozzle for it it with difficulty and
danger that four men handle the pres
sure at 10 pounds With the new
standard, however, one man had no
difficulty in playing the stream in any
direction.
Chief Carlson was greatly pleased
with the result of the tests and feels
that no further change will be neces-
sary to make the standard more eff
fective The use of Mr.. Carlsons noz-
zle-holder will greatly increase the
usefulness and efficiency of the local
force and assure a greater control OF
fire under more dangerous conditions
So far as Mr.. Carlson knows, this is
the only standard of this type in use