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THE MUSIC TRADE
43
REVIEW
THE CAUSE AND PREVENTION OF FIRES IN FACTORIES
Ignorance and Carelessness on the Part of Factory Employes Each Contribute Largely to Con-
flagrations in Piano and Woodworking Factories—Fire Loss Greater Than in Foreign Countries
"*When we consider that the per capita loss
from fire in the United States, despite our elab-
orate fire protection devices, greatly exceeds
that of any foreign country, it must be evident
that there is some serious defect in our methods
of fire control and prevention. As evidence of
this condition it may be mentioned that in re-
cent years the per capita loss by fire in this
country was $2.62; in Germany $0.21; in France
$081, and in Italy $0.31. England's rate was
$0.53. In one recent year New York City had
324 fires for every hundred thousand people,
whereas London had but sixty-seven for the
same number.
This furnishes considerable food for thought.
The noteworthy thing about the statement is,
that the fire fighting equipment in Europe is
decidedly inferior to that of this country, and
yet despite this the figures showing loss are far
in excess of those in the European countries.
There are a number of causes that lead to
fires in factories. Probably the foremost of
them is spontaneous combustion. Combustion
is the process whereby substances or individual
constituents combine with oxygen and become
oxidized by the liberation of heat. Decompo-
sition is slow combustion. Oxygen uniting with
carbon produces heat and if the union is rapid
and in large quantities the combustion becomes
visible in flame and is called fire. Before it can
burn an article must be raised to a certain tem-
perature. The process by which chemical sub-
stances combine with the oxygen of the air is
called spontaneous combustion.
Cotton rags, saturated with animal oils and
thrown carelessly around, perhaps on piles of
sawdust or behind them, are frequently the un-
suspected cause of fires, especially by night.
Whenever fibrous, porous and finely divided
materials are used, spontaneous ignition is pos-
sible because they are always saturated with
oxygen. When oils or fats saturated with oxy-
gen come into contact with such materials, the
tendency to spontaneous combustion is greatly
increased. The oxygen-saturated oils and fats
scattered over a large surface increase the ra-
pidity of oxidization and the production of heat.
The heat becomes more and more intense un-
til the point of ignition is reached and then
flame bursts forth.
Although stringent rules have been made in
regard to the use of waste and other materials,
there is, nevertheless, still considerable care-
lessness in regard to handling these materials in
many factories. Many a mysterious fire, the
cause of which is apparently inexplicable, may
finally be traced to oil-soaked waste lying
around the factory.
Smoking is regarded by most insurance com-
panies as an unmitigated evil in the woodwork-
ing factory, and in recent years rules against
smoking are to be seen prominently displayed
on the walls of many such institutions. The
trouble is that the rule is too often more hon-
ored in the breach than in the observance. The
temptation to light a pipeful of tobacco just a
minute after quitting time is a common one,
and then if in the dark a match is carelessly
tossed away into a pile of sawdust, the damage
begins. According to the experts on insurance
most fires are caused by the stubs of cigars or
cigarettes, rubbish heaps, lighted matches and
by exposed gas jets.
It is for this reason that so much stress is
laid on cleanliness and clean-swept floors by
insurance men, as it is recognized that great
danger lurks in the rubbish heap. There is only
one way to prevent the accumulation of rubbish
and that is to insist on absolute cleanliness,
constantly swept floors and fireproof cans
where cuttings, waste and rubbish can be de-
posited. Tt should be made the duty of some
boy to clean up all rubbish as fast as it accumu-
lates and to see that it is deposited in such a
receptacle.
Rags, however, and waste are not the only
GEO. W. BRAUNSDORF, Inc.
Tuners* Trade
Manufacturers of
Solicited
PAPER, FELT AND CLOTH PUNCHINGS
BRIDLE STRAPS, FIBRE WASHERS AND BRIDGES
FOR PIANOS, ORGANS AND PLAYER ACTIONS
c^rd e and r pr a ™e pl iist
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
C.E GOEPEL*C0
137 E A S T I3 T -* ST.
NEW
YORK
means by which spontaneous combustion is
started. A greasy pair of overalls hung in a
wooden locker or on a wooden partition may
start a fire just as quickly as waste. For this
reason the steel or fireproof well-ventilated
locker will be found a good investment.
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions
of any kind.
The Ohio Veneer Co.
CINCINNATI, O.
Importers and Manufacturer* of Figured
Mahogany and Foreign Woods for high-
grade piano cases and cabinets.
m
JVew York Office and Sample Room
Grand Central Palace Bldg.
Lexington Ave. and 46th St.
G. H. VAUGHAN, Eastern Representative
Office and Factory: 4 2 2 4 3 0 East 53d Street, New York
THE COMSTOCK, C H E N E Y & CO., 1V0RYT0N - C0NN -
=MANUFACTURERS-
Piano-forte Ivory Keys, Actions and Hammers,
Ivory and Composition Covered Organ Keys
Established 1863
GRUBB & KOSEGARTEN BROS.
Manufacturers ol HIGH GRADE
PIANO-FORTE ACTIONS
NASSAU. Rensselaer County, N. Y.
THE STANDARD CO., T0R c R E 0N
Manul.c.urers
SYLVESTER TOWER CO.
Towers Above
All Others
*5?
S51
Keys, Actions. Hammers. Brackets and Nickel Rail Furnished Complete
131 to 147 Broadway
.
.
.
CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASS.
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
MANUFACTURERS OF
Manufacturer* of a
Complete Line of Piano Action Hardware
Brasi Flanges, Damper Rods, Special Capstan Screws,
Bracket and Ball Bolts, Key Pins, Regulating Brackets
and Specialties.
WHITE, SON COMPANY
Manufacturers
ORGAN
AND PLAYER-PIANO BOSTON,
LEATHERS
53(W340 ATLANTIC AVENUE
MASS.
PIANO
ACTIONS
HIGHEST GRADE
ONE GRADE ONLY
OFFICE
457 WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
FACTORIES—WEST FORTY-FIFTH ST.
Tenth Arenne and West Forty-Sixth Street
NEW YORK
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
M am ..ff. A #,,^ M «# (PNEUMATIC ACTIONS FOR PLAYER-PIANOS
Manufacturers of -jeiGH-GRADE PIANOFORTE ACTIONS
rACTIFTAM WFW VilDK
C A S 1 L L I U N , N E W Y U K l l