The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1922-12-15
FIRE ENGINE WILL.
SOON Be READY

AT the present rate of progress.
Gardneyille will In about two weeks.
De the owner and possessor of one Of
the finest and most effective fire
engines that the ingenuity of man
anl the skill of mechanics has yet
been able to construct.
The machine, which on account Of
a series of unavoidable delays, one
thing after another intervening 20
stop construction, has been a long
time reaching its present state of
near completion and unless another
something serious crops up, will be
so far along that 1t will be ready for
Its preliminary workout within the
next three weeks. The building of
the fancy body, application of the
red paint and varnish, will be left
until later late, but for the main
purpose of which fire engine Is used
the pumping of large quantity of
water through hose for extinguish-
Ing fires, 1t will be ready for busi-
ness.
Fo motive power, it will be equip
pen with a splendid automobile eng
Inc of SO horse power. brake test.
The engine after propelling the ma
chine to the location of a fire, can.
by an ingenious mechanical con-
trivance, be instantly switched over
and the power which drove 1t to its
station will be Immediately used to
operate a powerful rotary pump,
capable OF discharging $50 gallons
of water per minute under a pump
pressure of 120 pounds to the square
inch. This stream, by changing
gears and using a smaller nozzle on
the hose, can be made SO powerful
that 1t Is doubtful If men enough to
handle the hose could find places
along the nozzle to hang on. -
The propelling engine is SO large
and the compression Is SO great,
that none of the ordinary electric
starting apparatus to be had was
sufficiently powerful to turn the eng
charge of the construction Of the ma
chine, has added a double starter to
the fittings, an invention OF his own.
Two first-class starters have been
hitched together to act as one, and
when the current is turned on, both
work together. are expected to start
the powerful engine instantly. To in
sure a quick start, when fire alarm
calls out the machine, an automatic
primer has been attached, and the
driver from his seat can give all of
the big cylinlers supply of gasoline.
This, with the duplex system of
ignition, using both battery and a
high tension magnetic, have made the
thing as sure for starting purposes
as 1t is possible for a gasoline engine
to be.
AS soon as the new apparatus shall
have undergone its trial run and been
accepted by the officials of the fire
department, Gardnerville will have as
good fire protection as any city, and
far better than most places. The
suction pipe of the engine may be
either dropped into a cistren or
stream of running water. or attach
ed to a hydrant, and the stream will
be delivered to the hose. With the
high water pressure 1t will be capable
of knocking down frail buildings and
shingles and such roofs will be mere
playthings for such powerful
stream.
The pump, according to A. W. H
Helberg, the designer and builder oi
the apparatus, Is guaranteed to take
up its suction at 25 feet, without
priming, so that i: may be set on the
bank of the river, or any of the ir'
rigation bitches, as well as at the
places within the city limits. which
will be povided and begin operations
without any delay.