662

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

September 27, 1918.

The Chance Acetylene Safety Lamp.

The President moved a cordial vote of thanks to
Mr. Maurice for his paper on ‘‘ The Chance Acetylene
Safety Lamp ” (see p. 653).

Mr. G. L. Kerr (Glasgow) enquired if the lamp had
been tested in any Government station, and had any
records been obtained as to its efficiency for gas
testing ?

Mr. Maurice replied that the lamp had not been
tested, as the Government had apparently made up
its mind that an acetylene lamp could be made safe
enough to submit to a test. In reply to the president,
he said that it had not been tested in the United
States because, as he understood, a lamp could be
used in the United States without the approval of the
authorities.

Mr. Mountain wished to know what the compari-
son was in the matter of weight and cost as compared
with a modern electric lamp. It was said that about
7| oz. of carbide were required for charging. What
did that work out to—including depreciation, ordi-
nary wear and tear, and getting the lamp into proper
working order—as compared with an electric lamp?

Mr. Milton said that the q'uestion of the lighting of
our mines was becoming a very important one. He
was recently told most emphatically by the leaders of
certain sections of the men that after the war no
oil lamp would be permitted, except for gas testing,
and that electric lamps would be required to be used
generally in our mines. If he could say with perfect
confidence that he had a lamp of the illuminating
power of the one before them, of a reasonable weight
and at a reasonable cost, as well as adapted to all the
conditions of a mine, there would be no reason to fear
the men calling out for electric lamps. The latter
had many advantages, but they had also many disad-
vantages, and, if it were thought interesting, he
should be glad to give a paper detailing his experiences
with the electric lamp. He would like to know what
was the reason the Government had refused to test
this lamp?

Prof. O’Shea (Sheffield) remarked that Mr. Maurice
spoke of a valve which served to shut off gas or to lower
the flame for methane-testing. To what extent could he
reduce the luminosity of the acetylene flame so as
to make a methane cap visible?

Mr. Lloyd (Altofts) wanted to know if Mr. Maurice
had solved the problem of keeping the lamp from
going out. In some acetylene lamps the light was
easy to lose, and then they had an element of danger
at once.

Mr. Dron asked if the lamp would be extinguished
in firedamp or blackdamp, or give warning in any
way of the presence of danger?

Mr. G. Spencer asked how long it would take to
charge an acetylene lamp as compared with an oil
lamp.

Mr. Lloyd enquired if it was a fact that one could
get an acetylene flame to light in 14 or 12 per cent,
of oxygen. If so, a man might get into an atmosphere
which would not support life and the lamp would still
go on burning.

Mr. H. Kirk (Sheffield) seconded the vote of thanks
to Mr. Maurice, and suggested that the institution
might use its influence to get the lamp tested, if the
Government still refused.

Mr. Maurice, in replying to the discussion, said
that, with regard to Mr. Mountain’s question as to
the cost of maintenance, it must be evident that as
that was practically the only lamp of its kind it was
impossible to say anything reliable about mainten-
ance. The carbide required was about | lb. a shift,
and the present cost was £38 or <£40 per ton. It would
probably be less after the war, but he doubted if
it would come as low as £13, at which it could be
bought before the war. The re-igniting burners cost
a few pence each, and though they were perfectly
easy to handle by anyone using reasonable care, there
would probably be several dozen per day smashed
under ordinary conditions. However, these re-ignit-
ing burners were not really necessary, for this lamp
was not easy to put out. Uneven generation and
small gas pressure had caused the flame to dwindle in
the early acetylene lamps, but with an adequate
generation of gas there was no need for special
burners. In reply to Mr. Mitton, he might say that
the lamp had been taken down a few American mines,
but it could not be claimed that it had been submitted
to such tests as it might reasonably be expected to
fulfil if it were to come into general use in this
country. The only reason that he became associated
with it was that he was firmly convinced that they
could get more light out of an acetylene lamp than
any other. The electric lamp had a bad set-back
owing to the war. We were on the point of getting
from Vienna a bulb of approximately double the
efficT^Tlcy of anything we had at present. It would
have made a remarkable difference to the electric-
lamp, which was by no means on its last legs, but
would make a good fight for it. With regard to
testing the lamp, he ought to explain that on one
occasion he was at Eskmeals having some other lamps
tested, and he said that he had an acetylene lamp,
and would it be accepted for testing? He was told
that it would not, and that they would not under any
circumstances accept an acetylene lamp for testing,
the idea being that no one would design an acetylene
lamp in the use of which it was impossible to prevent
the escape of acetylene gas. His own opinion was
that it was practically impossible for a pit filled with
acetylene lamps to produce such a volume of acetylene
—even on the assumption that the whole lot of them
went out at once and generated all the acetylene in
them—-as would increase the liability to explosion or
to any other danger. As to the lowering of the flame
for gas testing, Mr. Maurice demonstrated this by
reducing the light to quite a small point. The illu-
mination of the roof it was impossible to illustrate in
the daylight. As to liability to go out, he could say
that he had it burning for several days, and he was

satisfied that it would readily last more than an
ordinary mining shift. If knocked over, there was
a momentary increased pressure of gas, but not much.
At the same time, he admitted that it would have to
be developed considerably before it was all right for
general use. As to what would happen in the pre-
sence of firedamp, he could not say very much. Ger-
many and Spain were the only countries in Europe
where acetylene mine lamps were officially permitted.
So far as tests had been carried out, the lamps came
out very well., Mr. Spencer asked as to the time
required for charging. Well, it was hard to say
without having to handle a number of them. It
would not take him five minutes to clean and charge
the lamp before them, and he was inclined to say that
a considerable number of them could be handled in
not any more time than it would take to handle the
same number of oil lamps. As to Mr. Lloyd’s ques-
tion, an acetylene lamp was less sensitive than any
other lamp to the oxygen contained in the atmosphere
—that was to say, that they might be working in an
atmosphere with less oxygen than the normal and the
acetylene flame would not indicate danger. But that
was only up to a point, and when an acetylene flame
did go down for want of oxygen a man knew that it
was time for him to clear out; whereas with an oil
lamp he might argue that he would be all right for
another twenty minutes or half an hour. He pro-
posed, purely in the interests of lighting, for there
could be no question of the lamp becoming a commer-
cial product for some time, to ask the Government
officially whether they would test the lamp or not.
He should be satisfied if he could produce an improve-
ment in the lighting of our mines, for he felt that
they ought not to rest until the working places of a
mine were as well-lighted as an up-to-date engineer’s
shop.

Mr. G. Spencer mentioned the erection shortly of
some huge by-product works, wrhich would turn out
carbide on a large scale, so that it would probably
become very cheap indeed.

Votes of Thanks.

The proceedings closed with thanks to the authori-
ties of the Nottingham University College for the
use of the Lecture Theatre; to the president and
officers of the Midland Counties Institution of
Engineers for making arrangements for the meeting;
and to Mr. G. Blake Walker for presiding.

THE BY-PRODUCTS TRADE.

Tar Products.—Pitch prospects remain good, subject
to no interruption in the English and Continental
briquette industry. One cannot speak with confidence
regarding users abroad, but there seems no reason to
suppose that the home consumption of pitch is likely to
suffer. Quotations are firm in London, and the provincial
figures still tend to advance. Enquiries suggest good
possibilities. The only fresh point relating to crude tar
is the proposed new scale of prices to be paid by dis-
tillers. Crude carbolic is in better demand than supply,
and the price has advanced. Crystals, too, have moved
upwards. Anthracene is in good request, and. heavy
naphtha is firm. The other by-products are steady and
practically unchanged.

Sulphate of Ammonia.—Sulphate, under official licence,
is now being delivered under the Government price for
the September to November period—i.e., £15 15s. per
ton on the 24£ per cent, basis, with a reduction of 10s.
per ton to dealers.

Restricting Coal Supplies in Canada.—Mr. Charles A.
Magrath, Fuel Controller of Canada, has been holding
a conference with representatives of various industries
with a view to restricting coal supplies in the coming
winter. It was represented by most of the industries
affected that, in the climatic conditions such as prevailed
in Canada, it was impossible to put in force the same
restrictions as in the United States. Railway economies,
it is said, will result in a 50 per cent, saving in bituminous
coal.

The Industrial Reconstruction Council.—At the annual
general meeting of the Industrial Reconstruction Council,
Incorporated, last week, the chairman, Mr. Ernest J. B.
Benn, C.B.E., stated that there were already in existence
between 50 and 60 joint bodies, either fully fledged indus-
trial councils or interim and drifting committees, and
it was probable that with the advantage of the experience
of the past year the rate of progress in the future would
be much more rapid. The following new members were
elected, to serve on the executive committee : Sir Charles
McLeod, Miss Lilian Dawson (Fabian Society Women’s
Group), Mr. George Selby (cloth hat and cap manufac-
turer), Mr. John Baker (Iron and Steel Trades Confedera-
tion), Mr. T. Owen Jacobson, M.P., Miss M. F. Peake
(Welfare Superintendent), Mr. E. W. Mundy (Labour
Co-partnership Association), and Lieut. H. V. Roe, R.A.F.

Austrian Coal Production.—The Austrian output of coal
in July amounted to 12,000,000 metric cwt., as against
11,800,000 metric cwt. in June 1918, and 12,500,000 metric
cwt. in July 1917. The output in the Ostrau-Karwin
district increased by 300,000 metric cwt. over that of
June. The coke production was also higher by 1,800,000
metric cwt. than in June, but showed a decline of 60,000
metric cwt. as compared with that of July 1917. In the
first seven months of 1918 the output amounted to
85,900,000 metric cwt., as against 95,400,000 metric cwt.
in the same period of the previous year. The briquette
production amounted during this period to 634,551, as
against 15,100,000 metric cwt. in 1917. The production of
lignite in July shows a slight decline in the Brux district
as against the production in June. On the other hand
there was an increase of 155,000 metric cwt. in the
Falkenau district. The total production of lignite in July
amounted to 17,000,000 metric cwt., as against 17,300,000
in June and 18,600,000 metric cwt. in July 1917. For the
first seven months of 1918 there was an output of
120,300,000 metric cwt., as against 123,000,000 metric
cwt. in the corresponding period in 1917. The production
of briquettes from January to July 1918 amounted to
906,129 metric cwt., as against 983,553 metric cwt. in
the previous year.

ECONOMISING INDUSTRIAL COAL
IN FRANCE.

• At various industrial centres in France great efforts
are being made in order to >ave coal; and some of the
means employed have been dealt with in the reports of
factory inspectors. In Paris, steam plant has been
replaced, in many works, by electric power furnished
by the district companies. A vaseline works has sub-
stituted peat for co?d in steam-raising producers, clay
drying, heating filtering tanks, etc. The peat is
obtained locally, and only a slight alteration in the
grates is needed to burn it with satisfactory results.

At Limoges, the Vierzon Company have increased
their furnace draught by raising the chimneys an addi-
tional 17 metres. They also utilise poor gas, produced
from wood wastes, for forging, hardening, and annealing.
Porcelain has also been successfully baked in a kiln
fired with gas from wood waste.

In the chemical works at Dijon, gas furnaces have
replaced coal furnaces, and other means for economical
heating are being studied. The Cruesot works has
instituted a “section for the study of industrial
heating,” which has already started a series of tests on
types of furnaces which seemed capable of improve-
ment. The chief object of the experiments is to increase
the fuel efficiency by diminishing the losses due to the
breaking down of the coal, losses by radiation, air
leakage or other causes, and to make better use of the
waste heart. New regenerative gas furnaces have super-
seded the less economical types, and more extensive
use of continuous furnaces is being made where
possible. In spite of the scarcity of heavy oils, special
burners have been mounted on old furnaces, especially
those for nosing shells. In a works at Gueugnon,
mechanical stokers fed by hoppers and silos are being
installed at the power station, with automatic coal feed,
ash hoist, etc. A glass works has installed a steam
blast under the gas producers, which are charged with a
mixture of coal and wood. A foundry washes the
producer clinkers, and is thus able to use about 15 per
cent, of them as fuel.

A mixture of coke, sawdust and lean coal has been
found suitable for steam raising in a brewery heating
boilers; 3 tons of lean coal, added to 2 tons of
sawdust, effecting a saving of 1 ton of coal when
burned on a apeci al grate fitted with regulator and
ventilator. A cable factory is experimenting with
the utilisation of the waste furnace heat for steam
raising, and expects to save over half a ton of
coal per diem. A cotton factory uses a fuel saving
preparation, which, according to tbe manager, facilitates
the lighting and burning of the coal, diminishes the
quantity of smoke and soot, and lessens waste. Several
establishments have replaced plain bearings by ball
bearings, and others have electrified all or part of their
plants by connecting them with central power stations.

At Nancy, tbe managers of several works have
received orders to use hydraulic power wherever avail-
able, and to fall back upon steam engines only in case
of urgent need. In other places wood is being used for
steam raising, whilst both peat and sawdust have been
Successfully used.

One industrial concern in Rouen has acquired four
waterfalls, hitherto unharnessed, and is installing
turbines and electric plant for a cotton mill. Other
factories use a mixture of wood and coal, or have
adapted their grates for burning wood only. Two large
cotton spinners have saved 20 per cent, of their coal by
an admixture of cotton waste, and some gas works are
using a mixture of wood and coal or peat in their
retorts.

A firm at Bordeaux feeds the gas producers with oak
charcoal, which gives a gas rich enough to drive gas
engines. Other works substitute pine for coal in steam
raising. A Marseilles cabinet maker generates gas from
the waste timber of the works, and in this way has
replaced electricity by gas engines.

In some works steam is being raised by heavy shale
oil sprayed by compressed air; and at one steel works
20 tons of fuel are b-ing recovered per diem from the
coke in the slag.

OBITUARY.

The death is announced at Doonlea, Dunaskin, of Mr.
William Smith, aged 49 years, who for nine years was
assistant and 17 years general mining manager to the
Dalmellington Iron Company Limited.

The death is announced of Mr. W. W. Jones, ship-
owner, of Cardiff, who succumbed to a sudden heart
seizure on the golf links at Llandrindod Wells on Sep-
tember 19. Mr. Jones, who was 62 years of age, was
at one time a director of the Newport-Abercarn Colliery
Company, and was chairman of the South Cambria Com-
pany ; also interested in other South Wales enterprises,
but chiefly as a shipowner, his firm controlling the Field
Line of steamers as well as other undertakings.

The first of a series of lectures arranged by the Indus-
trial Reconstruction Council will be held in Saddlers’ Hall,
Cheapside, E.C. 2, on Wednesday, October 2. The chair
will be taken at 4.30 by the Right Hon. G. N. Barnes,
M.P., and an address on “Commerce and Industry after
the War” will be given by the Right Hon. Sir Albert
Stanley, President of the Board of Trade. Applications
for tickets should be made to the Secretary, I.R.C., 2 and
4, Tudor-street, E.C. 4.

Colliery Clerical Staffs’ War Bonuses.—With reference
to the recent sanction of the granting of aggregate war
bonuses to members of colliery clerical staffs, the Coal
Controller desires it to be understood that these advances
are not chargeable to the Board of Trade as war wage.

Exhibition of “ Key ” Industries.—Mr. H. J. Mackinder,
M.P., chairman of the Tariff Reform League, draws atten-
tion to the fact that, by permission of the Ministry of
Munitions, an exhibition of new British and “ Key ”
Industries, organised by the industrial section of the
League, will be held at the Central Hall, Westminster,
next month.