IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANNER OF INDICATING THE POSITION AND SUPPLY OF FIRE-PLUGS, FIRE-COCKS, FIRE- ALARMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lewis Matthews Becker, of No. 2, Guildhall
Chambers, Basinghall Street, in the City of London, Telegraphic
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANNER OF
INDICATING THE POSITION AND SUPPLY OF FIRE-PLUGS, FIRE-COCKS, FIRE-
ALARMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 31st July 1868, and dated the 21st February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lewis Matthews Becker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 21st February 1868.
I, LEWIS MATTHEWS BECKER, of No. 2, Guildhall Chambers, Basing-
hall Street, in the City of London, Telegraphic Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANNER OF INDICATING THE POSITION AND SUPPLY OF FIRE-PLUGS, FIBE-COCKS,
FIRE ALARMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
At the present time there is no simple and effective means in use
by which a ready knowledge of the position, description, and power
of the fire-plugs, fire and other cocks, and other arrangements can be
obtained, nor for indicating the position or neighbourhood of fire engines

page_text: and fire escape stations, fire alarms, or other apparatus connected with
fire extinguishing.
In order to obviate the difficulties which are found to exist, and to
obtain a more ready, effective, and simple mode of obtaining the desired
end, I employ or make use of the lamps now used in the streets and
other places for lighting purposes, and by placing an independent
piece or pieces of glass or glasses of such size or sizes as may be found
most convenient either in or on the side or sides of the said lamp or
lamps, on which glass or glasses I paint, attach, engrave, enamel,
emboss, burn in, or otherwise cause to appear a distinctive mark or
marks, symbol or symbols, letter or letters, figure or figures, or such
other arrangement or combination as may be found most convenient
for the purpose of affording a ready and correct indication of the
required object. With the view of affording an immediate and ready
method of doing this with the greatest amount of publicity, I obtain
the distance or distances of the object or objects from the nearest or
most suitable lamp or lamps, and I then cause such indications to be
made in the manner herein-before described as will apply to or show
the distance, direction, and point at which the object or objects required
will be found. Supposing that a fire-plug on the fire-main is the object
to be indicated, I take a piece or pieces of ordinary white glass of the
same size or sizes as one of the glasses used in the lamp, and affix or
otherwise place thereon the letters F. M., and underneath the same I
also attach or otherwise place an arrow, with the head pointing towards
the position of the plug; parallel with and underneath the arrow I
place figures denoting the distance in feet or other measures, which
I place on that side of the lamp nearest the plug to be indicated.
When the plug is not situated opposite to the lamp I take another
piece of glass similar to that herein-before described, on which is
affixed or otherwise placed or indicated an arrow with the head pointing
in the direction of the plug to be indicated, with the figure or figures
denoting the distance in feet or other measures, and place the same
on that side of the lamp at right angles to the first glass, as herein-
before described, by means of which the two distances indicated on
the glasses show the direction and position of the plug.
I propose that the before-mentioned letters, figures, and symbols be
made of transparent glass, and affixed or otherwise placed on the
independent glass or glasses, and thus when placed within the lamp

page_text: they are between the smooth surfaces of the glasses and the letters,
figures, and symbols are protected from being destroyed by wear and
tear or injured, and likewise by their transparency do not decrease the
illuminating power of the lamp or lamps.
As the ordinary varieties of fire-plugs in use consist of the main,
the fire-main, and the service main, and the cocks of the main, fire-
main, and service main, each of the former of which yield various
quantities and pressures of water, I propose to indicate the deliveries
by distinctive and different colors in the letters, figures, and symbols
indicating the same, also by placing or otherwise affixing the initial
or initials of the class of plug or cock on the glass or glasses; thus
the main fire-plugs would be indicated by the letters M. in red, and
the arrows or symbols and the figures would likewise be in red; the
main cocks would be shown by the letters C. or letters M. C. in red,
and the arrows or symbols and the figures would also be in red; the
fire-main plugs would be shown by the letters F. M., and the fire-main
cocks belonging to that service would be indicated by the letters F. C.
or letters C.; these and the arrows or symbols and the figures apper-.
taining thereto would be in blue; the service main plugs would be
shown by the letters S. M., and the service main cocks by the letters
S. or the letters S. C., and the arrows or symbols, letters and figures
of that service would be in green.
I
In order that the required objects shall be the more readily attained,
propose to place upon the top of the lamp or lamps a ball or other
symbols, figures, or signs in colors, transparent or otherwise, so as to
distinguish in the daytime with greater facility the positions of the
distinguishing signs or indications, and the lamp or lamps or any
portion thereof may be painted in the color or colors of the services,
marks, or symbols. The lamp or lamps on which these indicators are
placed may, if preferred, be erected opposite to or near or above the
plug or plugs, cock or cocks, or other object or objects which are
desirable to be indicated or readily found.
Although by preference I employ the colors, letters, figures, and
symbols, and the mode of affixing the same as herein-before described,
I do not confine myself thereto, for the reverse arrangement may be
employed, such as using the glass or glasses of such colors as may
be preferred, and having the letters, figures, and symbols of the natural
color of the glass, or by making each portion of a different color; or

page_text: the letters, symbols, and figures may be affixed on or otherwise attached
or indicated as herein-before described on the protecting glass or glasses
of the lamp or lamps.
I do not claim the adoption of the street lamps for indicating the
localities or positions of any desired object, but I do claim the Invention!
of utilising the same for all purposes in connection with fire extin-
guishing, fire prevention, guarding, and watching, and also the system
of ascertaining the supplies of water readily obtainable for fire
purposes,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Lewis Matthews Becker in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LEWIS
MATTHEWS BECKER, of No. 2, Guildhall Chambers, Basinghall Street,
in the City of London, Telegraphic Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters, bearing date the Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto the said Lewis Matthews Becker, Her special licence
that I, the said Lewis Matthews Becker, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Lewis Matthews Becker, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANNER OF INDICATING THE POSITION AND SUPPLY OF
FIRE-PLUGS, FIRE-COCKS, FIRE-ALARMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Lewis Matthews Becker,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same

page_text: to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Lewis Matthews Becker, do hereby
declare the nature of said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manner of
indicating the position and supply of fire-plugs, fire-cocks, fire alarms,
and for other like purposes.
At the present time there is no simple and effective means in use
by which a ready knowledge of the position, description, and power
of the fire-plugs, fire and other cocks, and other arrangements can be
obtained, nor for indicating the position or neighbourhood of fire
engines and fire escape stations, fire alarms, or other apparatus con-
nected with fire extinguishing.
In order to obviate the difficulties which are founed to exist, and
to obtain a more ready, effective, and simple mode of obtaining the
desired end, I employ or make use of the lamps now used in the
streets and other places for lighting purposes, and by placing an
independent piece or pieces of glass or glasses of such size or sizes
as may be found convenient either in or on the side or sides of the
said lamp or lamps, on which glass or glasses I paint, attach, engrave,
enamel, emboss, burn in, or otherwise cause to appear a distinctive
mark or marks, symbol or symbols, letter or letters, figure or figures,
or such other arrangement or combination as may be found most
convenient for the purpose of affording all the information needed for
giving a ready and correct indication of the required object or objects.
With the view of affording an immediate and ready method of doing
this with the greatest amount of publicity, I obtain the distance or
distances of the object or objects from the nearest or most con-
venient lamp or lamps, and I then cause such indications to be made
on the lamp or lamps in the manner herein-before described as will
apply to or show the distance, direction, and point at which the object
or objects will be found. Supposing that a fire plug on the fire main
is the object to be indicated, I take a piece or pieces of ordinary
white glass of the same size or sizes as one of the glasses used in the
lamp, and affix or otherwise place thereon the letters F. M. and under-

page_text: neath the same I also attach or otherwise place an arrow with the head
pointing towards the position of the plug parallel with and underneath
the arrow, I place figures denoting the distance in fect or other measures.
which I place on the side of the lamp nearest to the plug to be indicated.
When the plug is not situated opposite to the lamp I take another
piece of glass, similar to that herein-before described, on which is affixed
or otherwise placed or indicated an arrow with the head pointing in
the direction of the plug to be indicated, with the figure or figures
denoting the distance in feet or other measures, and place the same
on that side of the lamp at right angles to the first glass herein-before
described, by means of which the two distances indicated on the glasses
show the direction and position of the plug.
I propose that the before-mentioned letters, figures and symbols
be made of transparent glass and affixed or otherwise placed on the
ordinary glass or glasses of the lamp, and thus when placed within the
lamp there may be an independent glass or glasses, by which means
the letters, figures, and symbols will be between the smooth surfaces
of the glasses, and be protected from being destroyed by wear and
tear or injured, and likewise by their transparency do not decrease the
illuminating power of the lamp or lamps.
As the ordinary varieties of the fire plugs in use consist of the main,
the fire main, and the service main, and the cocks of the main, fire
main, and service main, each of the former of which yield various
quantities and pressures of water, I propose to indicate the deliveries
by distinctive and different colors in the letters, figures, and symbols
indicating the same, also by placing or otherwise affixing the initial
or initials of the class of plug or cock on the glass or glasses, thus,
the main fire plug would be indicated by the letter M. in red, and
the arrows or symbols and the figures would likewise be in red; the
main cock would be shown by the letter C. or letters M. C. in red,
and the arrows or symbols and the figures would also be in red; the
fire main plug would be shown by the letters F. M. and the fire main
cock belonging to that service would be indicated by the letters F. C.
or letter C. these and the arrows or symbols and the figures appertaining
thereto would be in blue; the service main plug would be shown by
the letters S. M. and the service main cock by the letter S. or by the
letters S. C. and the arrows or symbols, letters, and figures of that service
would be in green or other suitable color.

page_text: In order that the required objects shall be the more readily attained I
propose to place upon the top of the lamp or lamps a ball or other symbol,
figure, or sign in colors, transparent or otherwise, so as to distinguish
in the daytime with greater facility the positions of the distinguishing
signs or indications, and the lamp or lamps or any portion thereof
may be painted in the color or colors of the services, marks, or symbols.
The lamp or lamps on which these indicators are placed may, if pre-
ferred, be erected opposite to or near or above the plugs, cocks, or other
objects which is desirable to be indicated or readily found.
Although by preference I employ the colors, letters, figures, and
symbols, and the mode of affixing the same as herein-before described,
I do not confine myself thereto, for the reverse or other arrangements
may be employed, such as using the glass or glasses of such colors as
may be preferred, and having the letters, figures, and symbols of the
naturel color, or the letters, figures, and symbols may be affixed on
or otherwise attached or indicated as herein-before described on the
projecting glass or glasses of the lamp or lamps; but what I claim as
my Invention is the utilising of street or other lamps for all purposes
in connection with fire extinguishing and fire prevention and also the
system of ascertaining the supplies of water readily obtainable for fire
and other like purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lewis Matthews Becker, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
LEWIS MATTHEWS BECKER. (L.S.)
Witness,
WN. ROBERTS,
2, Guildhall Chambers,
Basinghall Street,
E. C.