APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES. 617 



hub is of malleable iron, from which a flange extends on the 

 inner side of the wheel. An outer removable flange is bolted 

 through the spokes to the inner flange. The Sarven wheel has a 

 wooden hub with an outer and inner flange that are pressed into 

 position and then bolted through the spokes. The Warner wheel 

 has a wooden hub upon which is shrunk a solid metal band with 

 openings to receive the spokes. The spokes are driven through 

 the openings into mortises cut in the hubs to receive them. The 

 Archibald wheel is made by a company of that name in Law- 

 rence, Mass. The Sarven and Warner, and some other wheels 

 not described, are made by several different firms. 



A distinct feature of American fire apparatus is the swinging 

 harness, which is too well known to need description. There are 

 several kinds in use, and much conflicting testimony uttered in 

 regard to their priority. In a decision rendered by the United 

 States Circuit Court, sitting at Kansas City, Mo., it was stated 

 that swinging harness was used as early as 1843 by Dr. B. F. 

 Whitney, of Loudonville, Ohio; in 1871, by the fire departments 

 of Allegheny City, Pa., and St. Joseph, Mo., and by the Hughes 

 Brewery, Cleveland, Ohio ; and in 1872, by the Louisville (Ky.) 

 Fire Department. The writer is informed by Major Edward 

 Hughes, chief of the Louisville department, that Mr. Thomas 

 Pendegrast, a member of that department, invented the first 

 harness used there. Mr. Edward O. Sullivan invented a swing- 

 ing harness in 1875, which was first manufactured by the Wors- 

 wick Manufacturing Company, and also by Isaac Kidd, of Cleve- 

 land. In 1880, Mr. Charles E. Berry, of Cambridge, Mass., 

 invented a harness which he still manufactures; and in 1885, 

 Chief George C. Hale, of the Kansas City Fire Department, in- 

 vented a harness that is now manufactured by the Fire Depart- 

 ment Supply Company of that city. The sliding pole, by which 

 firemen facilitate their descent from the second story of the 

 engine house, was invented by Captain B. F. Bache, of the Louis- 

 ville Fire Department. In nearly all engine houses the steamers 

 are kept connected with boilers, and an automatic lighter kindles 

 the fire as the engine starts in response to an alarm. 



When it was first found necessary to have some warning sig- 

 nals upon fire apparatus, tinkling bells were used, and in many 

 cases a fireman would run ahead, blowing a bugle. The intro- 

 duction of horse cars made bells so universal in our streets that 

 clanging gongs were substituted in their place on apparatus. 

 The cable and trolley cars of to-day being exclusively provided 

 with gongs, in many instances the fire officials have returned to 

 the use of tinkling bells, although the bugle is still used. 



The use of sail cars, introduced in Salem, Mass., and vicinity 

 in 1774, was continued as late as 1843. The Scientific American 



VOL. XLVII. 51 



