Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-03
|B0RATOR|ES SECOND
WONDERLAND TO VISITOR
ricly of Tests Take Place
|Bhcn Underwriters Go
Through Experiments.
Efficiency Is by WORD
;k" Must stand All Mrnnx Used by
Iurglnrs. nnd PILLARS Must Repu,sc
ss'ry Means Of Consumption by
Try AssocIntcd rress1

Ivy Associated pressl
incAGO. Dec.A Am Iron teIe-
one pole swinging from the roof
giant pendulum hit "A station
automobile bumper and bent II
n.y. Then derrick lifted red
stec! safe high above third
2r roof and dropped /, on pile
brick bats far below.
rhe days work had begun at the
nerwriter's Laboratories, Inc. "A
,sy-turvy land wilder than any
ng Alice In Wonderland ever
,a'ned ola place where experts
rn and smash and break the crca
MS or other experts. all To make
- and property safer,
nc glowing safe. fresh from a fur
c" with temperature OF 100 de-
= ees. failed TO break under the
ain OF the long drop. SO scurryine
Wf1Smcn bundled IL back into the
en- for another hours cooking. II
survives that they will chisel, burn
~ smash their way into its COM
rin"nts. and II the books and ma
n there Are found in good condl
~ the manufacturer may attach an
hdefwr!ier's Laboratories, Inc"
,cl TO his product
Jhstaifs a little automatic machine
h'irking keys in AUTOMOBILE. locks
;hfee locks ut time-uniocking
8ip, I"cking them again aud then
htTawing tho Keys. An automatic
8ihtcr records it's operation. The
ks must stDnd III. strain OF co.
similar operations.
Finmrs Sep Through Cracks.
d IN" hcat-testinE rooms, names
sc"png through the cracks of n
% ilhcd. mctal-covcrcd IRE door.
8ht ihto the brick front OF "A fur
uc' nearby an attendant with
recording devices In study
what is happening in the 1900
s'"e inferno behind the red-ho,
Tor. suddenly the "n,ir. furnace
a'ht' hp"r and all. rolls away on an
8e'"c'H trhck7 and a workman
Es tw"-tich fire hose over IN.
HMlhs d"or. III" color dies away
~ - IN" metal covering Is a mass
.h"r'oii' but tue steel plates hay.
e'"'h AN hours baking withou,
tinI sufficient hrc through To liz
ANYTHING beyond the door.
cement covered steel nil
Il such as is used I'm modern build
H. - neIns installed In tall mr.
'" concrete High above "A
s.nt!c hydraulic press c.n,n,s
wn. applying an enormous prces
re Inc furnace front is scalcd.
II gas turned on. the heat gradual
rising. until a; $50 end Of cignt
hre' u VIII reach 1900 degrees
4 tfe pillar s,ill stands. IN. nv
ahc press. with maximum
liver o! s4'.cDo pounds TO the saunri
N, VIII be turned loose TO crush
From the tangled debris exper,s
J! construct the theories on which
eprooi pillars are 10 b. built.
9Iopsy-iuTvy land Is working A.,
blast. In the roof testing room
3e testers have completed NINA
roof of pat%t composition
ingles gas fame at the end Of
long wind tunnel sweeps up over
e caves and plays along the roof
rface. Asphalt In the roofing
tchcs fro. hut when the blast Is
Ut of tho flames die out. The roof
passed the test aud would re-
III the usual flying brands from
~ burning buildings.
las the burning roof dies out
orkman pnurs hv" gallons OF gas
dtnt into nearby tank and lights
i, Up above an automatic valve
Ifns and nils tho tank with q foamy
9nmical. smothering tho nre.
III party Of visitors is coming down
0e hall. An engineer builds "A
PAIL hrc on the tile floor. The
fnes crackle for minute or two.
len an automatic fire door. which
NJ lions II the temperature changes
II degrees In two minutes. closes,
n automatic sprinkler head blow,
i and the fire Is out.
The Underwriters Laboratories.
It.. was founded by W. II. Merlin.
p president, with funds furnished
|. the National Board ~ Fire I'm
fwritcrs. The institution Is self
sporting through nominal testing
|es aud the service charge for fac
~ inspection and the sale OF its
bells. which are familiar on. nun
ads of different devices.
MIR. Merrill. who came to Chicago
s1Sa+ as chief electrical inspector OF
e Worlds Fair. originally started
testing laboratory to standardiZc
actrical equipment. Now there are
boratorcis here devoted to fire pro-
ttion devices. hydraulic and fire.
ihting equipment. gases and oils,
emicals. electricity and signals. au-
motive parts. safety devices for
achinery, and an aviation section
hich passes on tho safety OF air
anes and rAe qualifications OF pilots.
ajor r. W. Schroeder. former holder
. the worlds altitude record, is In
large of the latter work.
x Laboratories In New York.
In addition 10 tho big thrcc-story
Yira tories here, covering half n city
pck. an electrical laboratory is
aintaincd in New York to pass on
e efficiency Of electrical apparatus.
.similar laboratory here deals with
e fire-resisting qualities of insu-
fed parts.
In addition to the original test, the
boratory follows up all labeled
,,ducts ny testing samples purchas-
+ in the open department or received
pm users from time to time. The
lock department alone.
tssing on locks which. by their use.
sfTease insurance premiums. exam
es thousands OF samples yearly.
AN inventor appeared at the labora-
ftes recently to have new automo-
le lock which he had perfected
stcd. Besides what he believed TO
a absolutely hurglar-proof lock,
had equipped his car with n signal
viec Intended to blow II any one
mpered with the machine.
while he was arranging for the