New Britain herald., 1924-10-09
NO DECISION ON
 NEW. FIRE ENGINE
Board and Council Committee Will See Machines in Action

 The joint committee composed Of members of the fire board and three members of the common council will investigate the qualifications of the 7b0 gallon bumpers in this state, it was decided at the meeting last night after a lengthy discussion. Tomorrow afternoon the commit ' tee will so to South Manchester to see the Ahrens-Fox machine, and on Monday of next week they will journey to New Haven and to Wat erbury to see the Seagraves and the American LaF'rance respectively, in action.
 The clerk, J. J. Keough. sent letters and telegram some time ago to the concerns whose machines the committee had under consideration. In reply to the request that ma- chimes be sent to New Britain for a public demonstration, all but two replied that this would be impos- sible, hence the meeting last night to map further course of action.
 Commissioner George Cans moved, after the letters had been read, that the committee dispense with try ing to have a public demonstration in this city and his motion was adopted. .
 Cans Moves to Buy
 Mir. Cans said that 1t was use less to daily along any longer. He said that the members of the com- mon council committee had prob ably had enough time to investigate the types of apparatus and de- cision should be made. It would be folly to recommend the Seagraves, he said, since the council is op- posed to that machine. He was or the opinion that the mayor was openly opposed to the Maxim. He said he would not. recommend the Ahrens- Fox because 1t is so differ ent from anything else ever used in this city. He moved that the joint committee recommend to the com mon council that an American La France bumper be purchased.
 The bids of the manufacturers were then asked. The following quotations were read by the clerk: American LaFrance, $14,1S5; Sea- graves, $14,256.30: Ahrens-Fox, s14,- ss5; Stutz, s13.90o; Maxim, s12,9oo.
 Alderman William H. Judd said that the members of the council committee should be given chance to see the other makes of cars in ac- ton. The chairman asked If the joint committee was convinced that the Ahrens-Fox was not the maA chine for this city. The members seemed to desire further investiga- ton. @
 Here Commissioner Cans motion was withdrawn and a vote was talk en at the suggestion of Alderman Judd, as to the advisability of see- ing more machines. He personally favored further investigation, he said.
 Keevers Breaks Tie
 : Upon taking the vote it was found that three favored investigation and three were opposed to such meas ure. Chairman Keevers settled the question by voting for an. investiga- ton. It was brought out that only three pieces of apparatus have been viewed in action.
 Commissioner Walter Blair moved that the invitation of the stutz man. ufacturers to view pieces of appara- tus in action in Lawrence, Mass, be accepted. Councilman Charles Bradley expressed himself as being opposed to this, since the stutz Is comparatively new machine.
 It developed in the course of the discussion that Chief William Noble favors the American LaFrance, but it also was claimed that the ma- chimes are not giving good service.
 Rough treatment, due to the fact that green drivers are broken in on these pieces of apparatus, may be the reason for the fact that they are not giving the proper service, said Commissioner Cans. /
 The question of the Ahrens- Fox was again brought up and Alderman Judd asked if 1t is true that the Ahrens-Fox is 50 complicated that the ordinary fireman cannot run 1t. The reply by Commissioner Cans was that while in New York city, 6 short time, ago, one of the deputy chiefs had told him that a man in that city Is never switched from an Ahrens-Fox to another machine, be- cause of its complicated working ap- paratus. The opinion was expressed that if other towns could run one of the machines. New Britain could also.
 Judd And Keevers Spar
 Upon Alderman Judd's statement that all but the Ahrens- Fox and the American LaFrance had been eIim- mated, Chairman Keevers swung in- to action.
 Have you eliminated the Sea- graves?" he asked.
 T don't think It has B chance" replied the alderman.
 Don't you think, that in Justice to the members of the fire board, you should view the Seagrayes in action and see just why we recom- mend it?" shot back the chairman.