Hose Couplings.

Hose Couplings.

In a recent article under the above caption we said : “It is essential that all couplings of 2 1/2 inch hose—the kind generally found in Fire Departments—should be uniform, so that hose may be interchangeable between Departments, and that the hose of one make may be used in connection with that of any other. This cannot be done if each maker of couplings is permitted to follow his own inclinations.” A manufacturer of couplings thinks we do injustice to the coupling makers, and declares that it would be greatly to their beriefit if all Departments used the same thread upon their couplings. The fault, he claims, lies with the Departments themselves, which have adopted different standards and will not change. If the threads of couplings were all of one style the manufacturers of the different couplings could keep a stock on hand ready to fill orders at a moment’s notice. As it is, however, they make their couplings uncut, and on receiving orders for them have to ascertain the style of thread desired before they can fit them up for use. This causes delay in supplying hose, and tends to keep up the price of couplings. Our friend contends, however, that the standard adopted by the National Convention of Engineers is an unreasonable one, and unlike any now in use. This standard has been laid down for use at the National Tournament, but our friend declares that not even Chicago’s couplings are cut in the manner prescribed, and that, consequently, Chicago companies, as well as others, will be excluded from the contest.

耦合中的统一性是“虔诚的完善”，这一事实经常被说明，不需要进一步的代价，就需要进一步的代价。尽管波士顿发生了巨大的大火，但轮船来自邻近的城市来提供援助。但是很快发现，他们无法将软管连接到波士顿使用的任何软管，也无法将其固定在消防栓上，因为耦合线未切成相同的图案。他们所能做的就是在他们能找到的水箱中吸吮，并独立于城市弟兄们工作。不久前，普罗维登斯发生了同样的事情，其他部门也有类似的经验。所有这些不同的耦合模式的结果（或者是切割了许多不同的线程）的结果是，在紧急情况的情况下，部门无法彼此提供帮助。如果在纽约发生了巨大的大火，那么是否可以怀疑是否是否可以与我们的消防栓或我们的水管建立联系，仅仅因为它们的软管耦合线被切入，是否可以与我们的消防栓或水管建立联系一种与我们不同的风格。不应该这样。尽管关于市场上各种耦合的卓越性，诚实的观点有诚实的差异，但没有正当理由为什么他们不应该所有人都有相同的线程。 The advantages to be gained from such uniformity are innumerable, while nothing can be said in favor of the diversity that now prevails. The subject is of sufficient importance to warrant the Fire Commissioners of the different cities taking the matter under consideration, with a view to establishing a uniform thread to be applied to all couplings. New York, as well as Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia, has seen the time when the assistance of neighboring cities was eagerly sought for the suppression of conflagrations. Such emergency is liable to arise again at any moment, and it would but add to the calamity if those neighbors were unable to assist us in our hour of need, simply because their hose couplings were not cut the same as ours. The simple cutting of a thread on a piece of brass seems too insignificant a thing to attract so much attention, but the fact remains that if all the steamers of Boston and Philadelphia were to come to New York to help us in subduing a great fire, it would be found that none of them could make connections with our hydrants or any of our apparatus for this simple reason.