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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[September i, 1905. 



AN INSULATED WIRE INSPECTION BUREAU. 



AN important measure in connection with the insulated 

 wire industry in the United Stales has been an organ- 

 ization formed among the manufacturers (or maintain- 

 ing the quality of output of rubber insulations, and es- 

 pecially such as are intended for use in connection with fire 

 risks. There have been so many fires attributed to defective 

 insulation that the principal makers of insulating materials de- 

 cided that active steps should be taken whereby new manufac- 

 turers entering the field for this line of goods should be kept 

 up to the certain standard which has been maintained for years 

 by the older companies. 



The new organization is known as the Wire Inspection Bu- 

 reau affiliated with the Underwriters' Laboratories, and the 

 headquarters are at No. 32 Nassau street, New Yoik, where aie 

 the offices of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. The 

 president of this new institution is Mr. Ira \V. Henry, vice pres- 

 ident of the Safety Insulated Wire and Cable Co. (New York), 

 and the treasurer, Mr. J. C. Forsyth, chief inspector of the New 

 York Board of Fire Underwriters. The governing committee 

 embraces also Messrs. W. H. Merrill, Jr., of the Underwriters' 

 National Laboratories (Chicago) ; C. M. Goddard. chiel inspec- 

 tor of the New England Fire Underwriters' Association (Bos- 

 ton) ; William M. Habirshaw, of the India Rubber and Gutta 

 Percha Insulating Co. (New York), and George A.Cragin, o( 

 the American Steel and Wire Co. 



The clerical work of the Bureau is carried on by Mr. Hugh 

 T. Wreaks, whom the committee has elected secretary, with an 

 office at No. 32 Nassau street. The objects and methods of the 

 new Bureau are more fully set forth in a circular which has 

 been issued to the trade, and of which the following is a copy : 



On May 22, 1905, a conference was held at the rooms of the 

 National Board of Fire Underwriters. The purpose of the 

 meeting being to devise ways and means of testing all rubber 

 insulated wire manufactured under the rules of the National 

 Board of Fire Underwriters, and to prevent the introduction 

 into commercial use o( any such wire which would prove infe- 

 rior to the standard demanded by the National Board of Fire 

 Underwriters — this to protect reliable manufacturers against 

 unfair competition, and practically preventing any further use 

 of wire with defective rubber insulation. 



At this meeting a joint committee was chosen, consisting of 

 si.T members, to form the " Wire Inspection Bureau." This 

 bureau to draw specifications for testing of rubber insulated 

 wire, manufactured under the rules of the National Board of 

 Fire Underwriters, to decide on such tests, and when and how 

 they are to be made. Also to appoint the necessary electrical 

 inspectors, three being considered sufficient at present, which 

 inspectors shall from time to time visit the testing laboratories 

 of any factories making rubber insulated wire and make, super- 

 vise, and verify tests specified by the bureau. 



The expenses of these inspectors to be paid by fees collected 

 from the manufacturing companies whose product is tested, 

 each company paying its share in proportion to the amount of 

 wire manufactured. 



For the purpose of collecting the money to cover these ex- 

 penses, stamps will be issued by the Wire Inspection Bureau 

 and sold to the different manufacturers at a charge of one cent 

 per 100 feet of wire tested. These stamps to be attached to the 

 coils of tested wire by the manufacturers themselves, and to 



serve as a guarantee that wire so stamped has successfully with 

 stood the tests specified by this Bureau. 



The majority of the rubber covered wire manufacturers 

 have recently agreed that on and after October I, 1905, all Na- 

 tional Code wire manufactured by theircompanies will be made 

 up under the new specifications and duly tested, and will bear 

 identification mark of the Wire Inspection Bureau. It is under- 

 stood that a reasonable time will be allowed after this date for 

 the disposal of Code wire not bearing the stamp of approval of 

 the Wire Inspection Bureau, on all such wire manufactured be- 

 fore October i, 1905, and with this understanding the October 

 List of Electrical Fittings will contain the names of all rubber 

 covered wire manufacturers agreeing to the tests of the W. I. B. 

 on their products, and to the use of identification stamps of 

 W. I. B. guaranteeing that these tests have been properly made. 



The Wire Inspection Bureau will supply identification stamps 

 to the rubber covered wire manufacturers as may be required 

 by the latter, and on receipt of their order for the same. These 

 stamps will be for 250 feet, 500 feet and 1000 feet coils, and will 

 cost at the rate of one cent per 100 feet. No wire will be con- 

 sidered as having been tested which does not contain an iden- 

 tification stamp. (Stamps to be of linen paper and to be se- 

 curely fastened to the shipping tags attached to wire coils.) 

 Stamps will have serial numbers and on coils of less than above 

 specified lengths where stamps specify more wire than coil con- 

 tains, a credit for excess in stamp value can be obtained from 

 the W. I. B. on presentation of the facts in writing, giving size 

 of wire, destination, numberof feet and serial number of stamp 

 used. All stamps to be cancelled by manufacturer when used, 

 the date of manufacture of wirealso being plainly shown. Wire 

 Inspection Bureau specification giving factory tests which will 

 be required on all wire having approved stamps will be ready 

 in a few weeks, and will be furnished to manufacturers of Na- 

 tional Electric Code Wire. 



Kindly read this letter over carefully, so that we may be sure 

 that you understand the plan given, and in order that no appar- 

 ent discrimination may be made against you next October 

 through your not being fully advised of the scope and intent 

 of the Wire Inspection Bureau. 



Advise whether or not you decide to avail yourself of the 

 services offered so that we may plan accordingly, and let us 

 know as soon as possible how many identification stamps you 

 will require and the proportionate number for 250 feet, 500 

 feet, and 1000 feet coils. Respectfully yours, 



HUGH T. WREAKS, Secretary. 



ELECTRICAL ENTERPRISES IN PARA. 



THE Pard Electric Railwaysand Lighting Co., Limited, was 

 registered in London July 25, with /yoo.ooo [=$3,406,- 

 550] capital, to acquire all existing and certain projected tram- 

 way and electric lighting and power undertakings in the city of 

 Para, and to engage in similar undertakings elsewhere in Bra- 

 zil. Electric traction is to be introduced on the Pard street rail- 

 ways, and the electric power and lighting plants are to be en- 

 larged. Registered office : "5. Lombard street, E. C, London. 



A WESTERN newspaper, in an article on the felt boot indus- 

 try, states that whereas in earlier days most of the product was 

 sold to lumbermen, at least 65 per cent, is now worn by farm- 

 ers. 



