28

PROGRESS OF THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES.

THE following reports supplied to us by the various firms and companies will show, to a certain extent, the progress made during the past year.

J. D. F. ANDREWS & Co.

Messrs. Andrews have been devoting great attention to the extension of Andrews's system of concentric wiring which they have made their speciality, and we are pleased to be able to report that they have made most satisfactory progress; besides their own contracts with this system they have received orders from several electrical firms, who have recognised the advantages of the system. They have made preparations for the manufacture of a new armoured wire, and they have taken additional premises in Westminster for manufacturing their various specialities.

They are also about to introduce into the market a new insulating stone as a substitute for slate for base boards of switches, &c.; we are told it is much cheaper and is easily cut and worked, but just as strong and hard.

This firm a few months ago purchased the business of White, Romanze & Co., and have continued the manufacture of telephones, type writing instruments, arc lamps, meters, and other instruments. In their engineering department Messrs. J. D. F. Andrews & Co. carry out contracts in mechanical ventilation with the system known as the D. C. Green, of which they are proprietors, and they also supply high speed and other engines for electric lighting, traction, and power.

THE BRUSH ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING COMPANY,

LIMITED.

As this company develops its business and extends its operations, it becomes more and more difficult to condense in a short statement a record of its year's work.

It would be futile to attempt to specify the many contracts it has carried out, its present volume of business being nearly four times what it was four years ago, and embraces practically every department of electrical engineering.

One of the principal features of the year's work has been the carrying out of extensions consequent upon the amalgamations last year with the Falcon Engine and Car Works and the Australasian Electric Light Company.

At the Falcon Works, Loughborough, considerable extensions have been completed, new foundries, fitting, and erecting shops having been started last summer. By means of these extensions, the company is now enabled to manufacture engines for electric lighting and boilers. It now also makes

all its own dynamo castings.

The car shops are very extensive, and the company has carried out important contracts for the supply of tramcars and omnibuses. It is making all the new omnibuses for the Road Car Company.

The manufacture of vertical engines for electric lighting has added an important department to the company's business.

The amalgamation with the Australasion Company has necessitated the opening of a branch office at Sydney in charge of Captain Rowan.

The business on the Continent is also extending largely, and a new factory is being built at Vienna.

The company has struck out in a new direction by opening shops for the sale of fittings, and for the transaction of retail business generally. One of these shops has been opened at 300, Regent Street, and another in a very prominent position at 53, Queen Victoria Street, opposite the Mansion House station.

Among the more important contracts concluded during the year may be mentioned the City lighting agreements with the Commissioners of Sewers. In May last the Brush Company obtained the contracts for the whole of the public lighting in the central division of the City, together with a concession for private lighting,; and quite lately the company has received a similar contract for the western division. The protracted negotiations with the City Commissioners which the Brush Company has persevered in during the past nine or ten years have thus at last been concluded.

[JANUARY 2, 1891.

The city of London is the only instance we know of in this country where a concession has been given for private lighting, amounting to a monopoly coupled with a contract for the lighting the whole of the public thoroughfares in the district, and as the execution of these contracts necessarily implies a very considerable amount of work, the Brush Company may be congratulated upon its future prospects.

CITY AND SOUTH LONDON RAILWAY.

We hear that to date the working of this railway has been most successful, the only difficulty encountered being the absolute impossibility of carrying the number of passengers desiring to travel. So great has been the rush, that at times the booking of passengers has been stopped, in order to clear the platform of waiting people. There has only been one hitch due to electrical cause, and that merely the slipping out of a connection. It must, however, be borne in mind that the working powers have been strained to the utmost, trains frequently running with many passengers standing; and with free fights for seats, &c. For a few weeks traffic will be stopped on Sundays and early on week nights, to give time for a thorough examination of the system.

DAVIS AND TIMMINS, LIMITED.

This company has during the past year been exceedingly busy in all branches of its manufactures, and has, in order to meet the requirements of its customers, been obliged to nearly double its plant of machinery. It has taken additional extensive premises at 4A, York Road, King's Cross, which are fitted up with its patent automatic machinery, and it is thus enabled not only to ensure great accuracy of work but also prompt execution of orders. The head office of the company, however, as before, remains at 24, Charles Street, Hatton Garden, at which place the Company has made considerable additions to its machinery. Its stock of fittings, screws, &c., has (in view of the increasing demand for these goods) been greatly augmented. The British Association thread, which is made a speciality, has had so great a demand that occasionally the stock has run out. This difficulty, with the present increased facilities of turning out work, has now been overcome, and at Charles Street there is kept a very large assortment of British Asso⚫ciation screws, both in iron and brass. From the demand for these it is evident that the standard thread is coming more and more into daily use, and no doubt the efforts of Messrs. Davis and Timmins, Limited, have largely assisted its introduction in the trade.

At the late Edinburgh Exhibition a gold medal was awarded to this firm for excellency of its manufactures, as also for its standard gauges of the British Association threads.

It is probable that the progress in the electrical trades during the past year may have caused an increasing demand for the class of work manufactured by Messrs. Davis and Timmins, yet at the same time it must not be lost sight of that the Company does a very large business with manufacturers totally unconnected with the electrical world.

MESSRS. DRAKE AND GORHAM.

This firm has added considerably to the already long list of completed installations which have been successfully erected in London and the country. The results show that the spread of central stations has not materially affected the demand for installations worked by separate plants; in fact, the firm is strongly of opinion that for any installation of more than about 200 lights it is considerably cheaper to manufacture the current on the premises. This question was debated very thoroughly in connection with the large installation at the New Scotland Yard, where the firm is just finishing a plant to supply 1,500 lights of 16 C.P.

:

Amongst the more important installations executed during the year, we may mention the lighting of Madame Tussaud's Exhibition, equivalent to some 400 16-C.P. incandescent, and a number of are lamps; the lighting of Caundon Court, for G. Singer, Esq. Buscat Park, for Alexander Henderson, Esq.; Adderley Hall, for R. Corbett, Esq.; supply of apparatus for Board of Trade Laboratory; Kippington Park, for W. Hemmant, Esq.; Woodlands, for F. F. Back, Esq.; Clatford Mills, for J. C. Forster, Esq.; Java Lodge, for Charles Gill, Esq.; Rhinefield, for Lieut. Munro, by means of 300 lights;

JANUARY 2, 1891.]

The Lodge, for H. De La Rue, Esq.; Leonardslee, for Sir E. G. Lader, Bart.; offices of the Union Discount Company; Metallurgical Laboratory, King's College; offices of Messrs. Hornsby and Sons; Moor Court, for A. S. Bolton, Esq.; 17, Grosvenor Place, for A. Wilson, Esq.; completion of Alnwick Castle, for the Duke of Northumberland. In addition to the above, the electrical plant has been supplied to the War Office, for an electric locomotive; and work has been done for R. Whitehead, Esq.

A large number of houses have been wired for central station supply, amongst which we may mention: Lord Reay, Sir Augustus Adderley, General Keatinge, and many others.

The firm has been engaged in developing a modified Planté cell, which has now been placed on the market, and the results obtained are stated to be very satisfactory.

ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES COMPANY, LIMITED.

This company has been engaged in the arduous task of establishing a reputation and completing its standard patterns of switches, fuses, &c., in which it is already doing a brisk trade.

The orders received have considerably exceeded the manufacturing output of the works, and it is intended shortly to issue fresh capital, and move into larger premises.

MESSRS. J. H. HOLMES AND Co.

This firm has been extremely busy throughout the year, the output in dynamos being about double that of any previous year. They have sold, during that period, 152 dynamos, having an average output at usual speeds of 18,000 watts each, or equal to maintaining say 45,000 glow lamps of 16 C.P. The demand for these machiues has increased so rapidly that although the works have been doubled in size during the year, the firm has been obliged to decline some urgent orders. Messrs. J. H. Holmes and Co. have, in addition to supplying other electrical engineers with dynamos, completed 66 installations of electric light in mills, factories, residences, steamships, &c.

THE KENSINGTON AND KNIGHTSBRIDGE ELECTRIC
LIGHTING COMPANY, LIMITED.

The secretary informs us that this company has, during the year, laid about four miles of new mains, making a total length of 10 miles. The number of lamps has been increased from 11,300 to over 25,000 supplied to nearly 300 consumers. The plant has been increased to meet the extra demand.

PATERSON AND COOPER.

During the whole of the year Messrs. Paterson & Cooper have been busy, and have carried out a large number of ship lighting installations. Amongst the vessels lighted have been the Peruvian, Brazilian, and Parisian, belonging to the Allan line; the City of Vienna, City of Venice, City of Perth and City of Dundee, for the City line; and the Arranmore and Tuskar for the Clyde Shipping Company. They have now in hand the lighting of the St. Nicholas and the St. Sunniva, the America, and four new boats for the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company.

By far the greater part of the manufactures are purchased by contractors who erect plant themselves, or by shippers who forward them to distant parts. In all manufacturing departments the business has been brisk. A greater number of dynamos has been turned out than in any previous year, and the sizes have all round averaged larger. Especially noticeable is the increased demand for direct driven combinations, Chandler, Westinghouse, Tower and other special types of engines being freely employed for coupling to the dynamos in addition to those of the ordinary inverted openfronted class. In the instrument and fittings department trade has also been good, a new alternating current arc lamp having been designed, which gives great satisfaction in working.

Amongst the installations which have been carried out during the year are the lighting of Messrs. Symington's Stay Factory at Market Harboro', and the depôt of the Tank Storage Company at Purfleet. They have also completely fitted an installation at Balnagown Castle, Ross-shire, the

29

residence of Sir Chas. Ross, Bart.; Arthur's Club and the White Hart Hotel at Windsor, the current being furnished by supply companies. They have in hand the lighting of Messrs. Lipton's shops in London, Dublin and Birmingham,

and are at the moment at work on an installation of arc and incandescence lamps at the works of the Lancaster Waggon Company. The prospects for the new year are very encouraging.

PRIESTMAN BROTHERS.

Messrs. Priestman state that during the year which is closing they have been exceedingly well employed, and amongst the many oil engines put in for electric lighting are those supplied to Messrs. Verity & Sons; Messrs. Woodhouse and Rawson; F. M. Newton, Esq.; Messrs. E. Scott & Co.; Messrs. Lea, Sons & Co.; and other electrical engineers. They have also supplied numbers of engines to firms and private individuals-amongst these we may mention the names of Captain Morgan, Buckingham; Baron Barreto, Brandon Park; G. Jarmay, Esq., Hertford; Messrs. Blair and Co., Stockton-on-Tees; B. R. Beale, Esq., Twyford. These engines are found admirably adapted for this kind of work, as they require very little attention when running; they govern exceedingly well; and as they use the ordinary mineral lamp oil they are perfectly safe.

MESSRS. J. E. SPAGNOLETTI AND CROOKES.

This firm states that, although trade has been very good, a better year is anticipated. A large business has been done, consisting of the manufacture of railway telegraph and block instruments, and general railway appliances, together with many sets of Mr. C. E. Spagnoletti's patent electric locking block apparatus, and they claim that, by the use of this system, railway accidents can be avoided, excepting, of course, through any mechanical failure, or breakdown of the train. This system has been employed on the Metropolitan, Great Western, and other railways, and has recently been fitted up on the City and South London Electrical Railway, so that people may travel on this line with the knowledge that the greatest precaution has been taken for their safety. On this line they secured the contract for the whole of the telegraph arrangements, both block and speaking, and have had the greatest success with the work. They are contractors to many of the English and Colonial Railways, who are very particular in their requirements for reliable work. A great number of the Penny Automatic Reading Lamps have been made, and the necessary appendages which were fixed under the direction of Mr. Tourtel, the inventor, in carriages on the District Railway, where they have realised a greater profit than the most sanguine expectations suggested.

Looking through the day-book of the last year, it is found that a considerable amount of work has been done for the trade in railway instruments, fire alarms, &c.

Considerable attention has been given to this latter work; as a rule, people are somewhat slow to adopt these safety appliances until they have suffered the inconvenience and danger, occasioned by the want of them, and this firm have before them many instances of the services rendered by fire alarms which have been fitted.

When the Notting Hill Electric Lighting Company applied for their provisional order, the firm was appointed engineers to the company, and the work is now rapidly progressing, many of the mains in the district having been completed, and the first central station is so advanced, that it is expected current will be supplied early this year. Many thousands of battery cells have been made in the factory during the past year, and this trade seems to be a very increasing one. fair share of ship lighting plant, measuring and test instruments for cable work, has been made.

SWINBURNE & Co.

A

This firm finds business in transformers has not been so brisk during the last few months as it was a little earlier in the year. They merely supply contractors with transformers, and have sent several to various central stations; they have also had orders from France, Austria and America, and think there is every probability of developing a large business in the States as well on the continent.

30

MR. A. A. CAMPBELL SWINTON. During the past year Mr. A. A. Campbell Swinton has completed electric light installations at Hatchlands for Stuart Rendel, Esq., M.P., with 160 lights; and at Bingfield Park, for W. R. Cookson, Esq., with 240 lights; and also smaller installations for Messrs. James Green and Nephew, Queen Victoria Street; Charles Balfour, Esq.; Earl Cairns; Captain F. Cookson; W. P. Consett, Esq. and others.

During the same period the electric lighting of New Scotland Yard with some 1,250 lamps and plant of about 160 H.P. has arrived at an advanced stage, under Mr. Swinton's supervision as electrical engineer to the Metropolitan Police, and though this large installation is not yet completed, a considerable portion of the building is already lighted every

evening.

Mr. Swinton is very full of work for the New Year, and has recently found it necessary to extend his offices at 66, Victoria Street, in order to find room for the increase of his staff required by the rapid growth of his business in all its branches.

EDISON AND THE TELEGRAPHIC "OLD STAGER.”

JUST as we are on the point of tendering our hearty wishes for the New Year to those engaged both at home and abroad, in the profession of telegraphy, we hear that the Bostonian ex-telegrapher, known to not a few people on this side of the Atlantic by the name of Thomas Alva Edison, has discovered that the genus telegraph clerk, telegraphist, or telegrapher, especially the "Old Stager," is a creature of hardened iniquity, a barrier to telegraphic advancement, and a clog to electrical science generally.

In fact, to use seasonable and pantomimic language, he is an Imp from the region of Infernal Darkness clinging metaphorically to the dazzling drapery of the Good Fairy Electra retarding her graceful movements and frustrating her magical beneficence. In short, Edison thinks that the telegraph clerk of to-day is entirely the enemy of telegraphic progress.

We are inclined to regard this as a specimen of the Transatlantic jokes which take us by happy surprise occasionally, but of course we are not quite aware how the legion of telegraph operators, scientific and operative, will look upon the candid utterances of the gentleman posing, apparently, as the oracle of the American Electrical Temple of Delphi. We can scarcely bring ourselves to consider such remarks as being seriously meant. Possibly the frankness of the oracle was a hint to the ubiquitous interviewer that he had lingered in the sacred presence long enough, and as the remark was made at the end of the interview, the hint seems to have been taken.

However, upon due consideration, though with a respectful and proper diffidence, we venture, notwithstanding the Edisonian decree, to extend our seasonable good wishes to those interested, as we feel that no one will laugh more heartily at the insinuation than telegraph operators themselves as they, of all people, must go with the times.

At all events, we must affirm, in conclusion, that the subject properly handled, staged, and dressed by those catering at this season of the year for the amusement of the public, might have made a highly exciting, strikingly original, and, scientifically speaking, very instructive pantomime.

The transformation scene allegorical, for instance, of the change from the "Dismal Den of the Old Stager to the Celestial Abode of the Future Telegrapher," could be invested with novel and, judging by Edison's remarks, even " startling effects."

RESEARCHES ON SECONDARY BATTERIES.

SOME time ago F. Streintz, in conjunction with Aulinger, advanced the theory that in the secondary cell, the seat of the decrease of the electromotive force, is to be found in the Trogen" plate. This theory was propounded in the

[JANUARY 2, 1891.

Annalen der Physik und Chemie (ride series (2) vol. xxvii., p. 178.)

Shortly after the announcement of this theory, F. Streintz succeeded in showing that the hydrogen plate is the seat of the decrease of electromotive force. This was proved by the results of some experiments on the charging and discharging of secondary cells., for during the discharge the potential of the positive plate remains practically constant, and of a value to which that of the negative plate gradually approximates.

In cells that contain only one positive plate associated with two negative plates each of the latter may be discharged, and the potential brought to that of the positive plate, while the latter remains practically unaltered. In fact, the durability of the positive plate compared with that of the negative plate is very great.

This work was described at length in the Annalen der Physik und Chemie, series 2, vol. xxxviii., p. 344.

Streintz has recently been pushing his investigation further in this direction, and in conjunction with G. Neumann has succeeded in throwing more light upon the theory of the secondary cell.

As we have seen, Streintz has already demonstrated the electromotive behaviour of the plates of a secondary cell on charging and discharging. The new investigation was undertaken with a view to fixing the chemical relations which take place at the same time.

For this purpose the difference of potential exhibited by various lead compounds with respect to an amalgamated plate has been investigated.

The compound to be examined was packed tightly into two strong glass cylinders, one being provided with a bright lead electrode, whilst the other was furnished with an electrode of platinum.

The zinc plate was immersed in dilute sulphuric acid, and the connection with the lead compound under examination was effected by means of a woollen thread moistened with the acid.

In order to study the variations in the potential, a sensitive quadrant electrometer was employed; the zinc plate was connected up with one pair of quadrants, and the lead or platinum electrode with the other pair.

The readings were taken till the same result was obtained with the lead electrode, as when the platinum electrode was connected with the electrometer. When this step was reached, it was then concluded that the connection was metallic. When it was otherwise, it was assumed to be electrolytic. The lead compounds which were investigated in this way by Streintz and Neumann, were the following:

Lead sub-oxide or plumbous oxide...
Lead protoxide or plumbic

Red lead or minium

...

...

...

Pb2 O Pb O Pbs 04

Pb Og
Pb (OH), (?)
РЬ О (ОН), (3)
Pb SO

- In the above list the queries are used to indicate that authorities differ regarding the composition of the hydroxide or hydrate of lead.

Of all these substances, the only one that really showed metallic conduction was the peroxide of lead, and, in general, the difference of potential against zinc increased in the case of the oxides and hydroxides according to the quantity of oxygen in their composition.

The following conclusions are deduced from these and the previous investigations.

1. The phenomena in a secondary cell are sufficiently explained by the behaviour of metallic lead, its sulphate and its peroxide, together with the gaseous ions, hydrogen and

oxygen.

2. When a secondary cell is discharged, the metallic surface of the negative plate is converted into sulphate of lead, which partly passes into peroxide of lead. On the other hand, the peroxide on the surface of the positive plate is superficially converted into sulphate of lead."

3. When a secondary cell is charged, the sulphate of lead disappears from both negative and positive plates, and, finally, the positive plate consists entirely of pure peroxide of lead, whilst the negative plate consists entirely of lead and absorbed hydrogen.

JANUARY 2, 1891.]

It may be noticed that the latter part of statement three was, in a measure, suggested by a previous observation of Streintz, namely, that lead possesses in a marked degree the power of occluding hydrogen, the occlusion being apparently similar in character to that observed in palladium. This was shown by the study of the effect of current density upon potential differences.

A full account of this research by Streintz and Neumann may be read in the Annalen der Physik und Chemie, series [2], vol. xli., p. 97. And as bearing upon the same subject, we may recommend our readers to study in this connection the researches of Frankland on the chemistry of storage batteries, of which we gave some account in our issue for August 23rd, 1890.

20,019. Improvements in circuits for electric railways." F. W. SABOLD. Dated December 9th. (Complete.)

20,043. "A combination of telephones and mechanical signals." G. L. ANDERS and C. H. ELLIOT. Dated December 9th.

20,053. Improvements in and relating to electric signals for engines." P. JENSEN. (Communicated by H. G. Underwood, United States.) Dated December 9th.

20,062. "An improved perforator for automatic telegraphy." S. D. WILLIAMS. Dated December 9th.

20,063. “Improved apparatus connected with column printing telegraphically and otherwise." S. D. WILLIAMS. Dated December

20,102. "An improvement in dynamo-electric and electro-dynamic machines." A. S. BAXENDALE. Dated December 9th.

20,111. "Improvements in apparatus for use in the electrolytic decomposition of metallic salts." H. H. LAKE. (Communicated by I. L. Roberts and T. H. McGraw, United States.) Dated December 9th. (Complete.)

20,134. แ "Improvements in suspenders for suspending electric light and other cables from a carrying wire." W. P. J. FAWCUS and E. W. COWAN. Dated December 10th. (Complete.)

20,146. "An improved electric lamp." G. S. RAM. Dated

December 10th.

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20,307. 'Improvements in electrical switches." C. G. DAHLGREN and J. H. SVENSSON. Dated December 12th. (Complete.)

20,321. "Improvements in the lighting of tables and the like by electricity." O. H. STOVELL. Dated December 12th.

20,329. " Improvements in and relating to transformers for electric currents." A. B. WOAKES. Dated December 12th.

20,332. "A combined arrangement of switches and gearing for controlling any number of dynamos and engines from one or more fixed positions." S. HARGREAVES and R. J. BOTT. Dated December 12th.

20,360. Improvements in electric meters." S. L. TOMKINS. Dated December 13th. 20,372. "Improvements in electrical switches." C. H. CATHCART. Dated December 13th.

20,379. "Improved underground electric conduit." J. P. BAYLY. (Communicated by C. E. Loth, United States.) Dated December

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20,424. Improvement in alternating current motors." M. VON DOLIVO-DOBROWOLSKY aud the COMPANY ALLGEMEINE ELEKTRICITATS GESELLSCHAFT. Dated December 15th. (Complete.)

20,425. "Improvements in the regulation of the speed and power of alternating current motors." M. VON DOLIVO-DOBROWOLSKY and the COMPANY ALLGEMEINE ELEKTRICITATS GESELLSCHAFT. Dated December 15th. (Complete.)

20,498. "Improvements in connectors applicable to joining electrical or other wires, or for any similar purpose." J. P. BAYLY. (Communicated by R. T. Moore, Ceylon.) Dated December 16th. 20,538. Improvements in or relating to electric lamps." A. J. BOULT. (Communicated by D. Tommasi, France.) Dated Deeem

ber 16th.

66

20,571. Improvements in the arrangement and simplifying the mechanism of an electrically-controlled arc lamp." A. McDONALD, J. P. MCDONALD, J. C. and J. MCDONALD. Dated December 17th. 20,591. "The life protector pneumatic and telephonic fog signalling apparatus." D. HANCOCK and J. H. HUMPHRIES. Dated December 17th.

66

20,612. Improvements in socket holders for incandescent electric lamps." W. WHITE. Dated December 17th. (Complete.)

20,632. Improvements relating to the manufacture and coating of metallic articles by electro-deposition, and to apparatus therefor." S. O. COWPER-COLES. Dated December 17th.

20,651.

"An improvement in electrical transformers." Sir H. C. MANCE. Dated December 18th.

64

20,712. Improvements in and relating to electric batteries." E. ORTELLI. Dated December 18th. 20,743.

"An automatic releasing and electrical resetting signal." W. J. FARR. Dated December 19th.

20,821. Apparatus for transferring electric car batteries." F. G. COMING. Dated December 20th. [Date applied for under Patents Act, 1883, Sec. 103, May 21st, 1890, being date of application in United States.] (Complete.)

20,830. "Improvements in and connected with electric ceiling roses and in electric wall connectors." H. BAYLEY. Dated December 20th.

ABSTRACTS

OF PUBLISHED SPECIFICATIONS, 1890.

66

272. Improvements in electro-magnetic dispatch apparatus." R. HADDAN. (A communication from abroad by J. T. Williams, of New York.) Dated January 7th. 8d. Relates to certain details of mechanism. 3 claims.

693. "Electric motors." S. C. C. CURRIE. Dated January 14th. 8d. The object of the invention is to obtain a constant and even torsion, an equal distribution of forces at all periods of revolution, and avoid dead points. To this end the inventor employs multiple field poles, and causes the changes of polarity in the poles of the armature to pass from + to neutral and then to —, and vice versa. claims.

5

Improvements in dynamo-electric machines and electric C. BOLLE. (Communicated from abroad by L. Gutmann.) Dated January 21st. 8d. Consists in an improved arrangement or construction of the armature and certain details of said arrangement, the invention being more particularly intended for dynamo-electric machines for the generation of alternating electric currents. 9 claims. 1,094. 'Improvements relating to secondary or storage batteries." H. H. LAKE. (Communicated from abroad by T. Ewing, of New York.) Dated January 21st. 6d. Claims:-1. A secondary or storage battery electrode containing active material consisting of massicot. 2. A secondary or storage battery electrode comprising a support of lead or lead alloy, and an active material consisting of massicot applied to or packed in said support. 3. The method of treating storage battery electrodes by first applying active material to or packing said material in a support, and then slowly and gradually immersing said support in an electrolyte. 4. The method of treating storage battery electrodes by first applying active material in a dry, pulverulent state to or packing said material in, a support, then gradually and slowly immersing said electrode in an electrolyte, and then charging said electrode in said electrolyte.

1,106. Improvements in conduits for electric conductors." H. H. CARPENTER. Dated January 21st. 6d. Relates to a method of distributing electrical energy, by utilising the space between the head, shank and base of traction railroad rails. 1 claim.

2,199. 'Improvements in cores and armatures for electro-magnets, solenoids, and the like." S. C. C. CURRIE. Dated February 11th. Consists firstly, in providing a core or armature of a compact mass of iron in granular form, such as iron chips, filings, or shavings, as hereinafter fully described. Consists secondly, of a core or armature formed by mixing or combining with iron filings, chips, or shavings, an insulating substance or material in a granular or liquid condition, and then causing the same, after being subjected to pressure and drying, to assume a compact mass; and consists thirdly, of a core or armature, formed by mixing or combining with iron filings, chips, or shavings, an insulating substance or material, as silicate of soda, in a granulated or finely divided state or condition. 10 claims.

32

2,464. 'Improvements in electric light fittings." C. M. DORMAN and R. A. SMITH. Dated February 15th. 6d. Consists, partly, of forming the metallic terminals of the lamp-holder and ceiling plate with a projecting hook round which the wire conveying current can be twisted. The weight of the fitting is then borne by these hooks instead of by the terminal screws. 5 claims.

2,621. "Improvements in electrically-driven fans." H. G. WATEL. Dated February 18th. 6d. Consists in applying the electrical driving at the centre of the fan, accommodating the electro-dynamic apparatus within a hollow boss. 1 claim.

Improvements in Telephone Switchboards.

I cannot claim to be an electrician, and it is with some reluctance that I reply to your correspondent who has been "An electrician all his life." My admiration for electricians is, I think, largely due to my appreciation of the fact that, unlike poets, they take a good deal of making. I shall not permit that admiration to abate in consequence of the phenomenal appearance of one who happens to have been born and not made. Following are the replies to his questions:

1. The greatest "stretch" of the cords is 3 feet 6 inches from the heel of the plug to the point of exit from the shelf. The cords do not stretch more if there are a number of boards, nor stretch less if the board should be a solitary one, nor is their length affected by the presumption of 10 boards being in one line or in ten lines.

2. In the event of 2,000 subscribers to the exchange at which these boards exist, the boards would, in all probability, be arranged somewhere else. Wherever they might be, their arrangement would largely depend upon circumstances. If any boards aggregated 30 feet, and the room were only 15 feet long, the exchange manager would probably despair of getting them in one line, and might begin to seriously consider the qnestion of turning a corner or two. If a floor were fully occupied, he might find it necessary to take one aboy beneath. "An electrician, &c.," will observe that re not long enough to permit the plugs being

[JANUARY 2, 1891.

taken up or down stairs, so that some other method of communication between the two systems would in all probability be adopted.

3. An inspection of the photograph will answer the first part of this question. There has been no experience that will enable me to answer the second part.

4. There is no law fixing the line of demarcation between multiple and non-multiple rank, but multiple rank is usually attained when the exchange can no longer be worked with speed and economy by non-multiple boards. In the article. which began this discussion (October 24th), 400 was implied to be multiple rank. This is too low, unless an exchange is expected to quickly grow; but judged by ordinary standards, an exchange of 1,000 subscribers has already attained multiple rank. "In what manner would the boards and connections be arranged for such?" If this refers to the multiple boards, I cannot spare the time, and you cannot spare the space required, to answer it. If it does not refer to the multiple boards, it is a riddle, and I must give it up.

5. The name of the exchange is on the photograph. I am sorry that I omitted to consider the possibility of anyone interested failing to take advantage of my offer to show it. I send you the photograph again so that "An electrician, &c.,) may inspect it at your office. In a previous letter I mentioned names of exchanges, and recollected, too late, the impropriety of doing so without consent.

6. In his sixth question your correspondent has inverted the subject matters of discussion. The board, whose merits were submitted to public judgment, was the one of which an outline of the connections was, as he says, published (on October 24th). To assist public judgment, I pointed out certain inaccuracies, and continued certain comparisons. Unfortunately for the contention of "An Electrician, &c.,' the outline of connections did not much help the formation of a true judgment of the merits as far as the working was concerned. Your correspondent, "Z" (October 31st), asked a very pertinent question on this point and did not receive a public reply. I have taken up too much of your space without any diagrams, and by their absence anyone having a knowledge of the subject will not have suffered and everyone else will have gained.

There are some inaccuracies in the remainder of your correspondent's letter which should be corrected if the letter could be regarded as a serious contribution to the discussion, but his questions produce the very strong impressions that his experience of telephone switchboards is limited to that gained at the inspection which he records, and, that his knowledge does not extend to elementary first principles. He has certainly not attentively followed the discussion in your columns. His reference to patents is probably the attempt of an indiscreet and over-zealous friend to remove the discussion from the arena of public to that of private interest. I have already said all that is needed to show that there is no personal interest whatever in the matter. If those more immediately concerned desire, or the public interest demands, that I should enlarge upon other questions, I will do so, but I am not to be tempted into the more personal departments by an indiscreet "friend" from whom my friends on the opposite side of the discussion would probably prefer to be saved.

Against facts and arguments "An Electrician, &c.," places his admiration. He was shown a switchboard, "admired the perfectness of its working," and straightway proceeded to invent another of so much greater perfection as to be "worthy the brains of England's electricians." By this remark I gather that your correspondent has also been English all his life. So have I. I can therefore recognise the high praise which he gives beforehand to his plans. Great expectations will be justified, and if they are not realised the disappointment will be proportionate. On this account I would mildly urge your correspondent to moderate his transports and your readers to moderate their expectations. In saying so much I am not afraid of prejudicing the ultimate judgment when the embryo scheme is born to the world in your columns, for I know that the "brains of England's electricians are too well cultured to be affected by prejudices of any sort, and that they are able to ungrudgingly recognise a meritorious production whencesoever it may emanate.