The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-13
Successful Test Made of
 Unique Device on Second Avenue Yesterday
FUSED WIRE STARTS
 MACHINE TO WORK
Rattermann Tells How Central Is Called and Department Informed of Exact Location
 of Fire

The testing of one of the most unique fire alarm devices ever seen In Birmingham proved to be as sue cessful as the system is unique at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon when Commissioner Arlie Barber unknown to any member of the fire department. except Chief Middleton, touched a match to a small cotton string in the offices of the East Lake Land company, 2121 First avenue, and sat down to await results.
 The small cotton string was at tached to a small bit of wire which is guaranteed to melt at a heat of 160 degrees. When this wire melts, circuit is broken and a record placed in a metal box outside the building, which is connected with the telephone wires entering the building. This calls the central telephone station and asks for fire department. After a short in terval the record begins to tell the fire department in a calm, clear tone that there is fire at 2121 First ave-
 nue in the offices of the East Lake Land company on the second floor. | Time was kept on the device and when the fire broke Commissioners Barber began to count time. It was exactly two minutes until the fire de- partment arrived in force. Four sta tions sent out all their equipment and the huge hook and ladder truck reached the scene in a jiffy. The fire men had not been informed of the test and were unreeling the hose as the wagons dashed into First avenue around the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company building. It was one of the most remarkable runs in the history of the local fire depart ment.
 The new fire alarm system is the in- vention of George B. Rattermann, a Birmingham man. who has for his as- sociate in it's production Walter B. Garrison. MT. Rattermann calls his system the new telephonographic fire alarm system and explained its work ings to an Age-Herald reporter last night
 "The photographic system Is simply a number of wires with fusible units placed about the room of the building to be protected and connect ed with the photographic device, which is incased in a steel box on the out side of the building said Mir. Rat uermann. "Ine IuS1Dle unllS are p1dCeu in the wire at intervals of about six feet and they melt at 160 degrees of heat When the wire melts the cir cult is broken and the photographic device, which is connected with the telephone wires entering the building, asks the company operator for the fro department. After a very short inter val the machine begins to tell the fire department the location of the fire, the floor it is on. the number of the building and all information they need to get to the fire quickly.
 "It is one of the most flexible sys- tems I have ever seen and I have given the last three years to work on it. We hope to manufacture it right here in Birmingham and expect to place it in cities throughout the coun- try"
 Among those who witnessed yester- days demonstration were: Crawford Johnson Henry l.. Badham. Webb w. Crawford. Commissioner Arlie Barber A. A. Adams, H G. Seibels J. B. Cobbs Dave Meyer Simon KlotZ, I.anders Sevier A. l.. F'ulenwider. R. w Fon vile. T. J. Kidd, J. B. Hodgson of Terre Haute Ind: R. A. Hardin, Lee Bonner, Wilbur Kelley, J. Bonfield, Harry Licht, Harry Mullen, fire de- partment inspector; Robert Parham, electrical engineer fire department; Paul Cawthorn, assistant electrical en- gineer fire department; Chief of Fire Department S. A. Middleton. Assistant Chief William Walton, George B. Rat termann, Walter W. Garrison and others