Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 47.djvu/633

Rh 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 Lawrence, 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 swinging harness in 1875, which was first manufactured by the Worswick Manufacturing Company, and also by Isaac Kidd, of Cleveland. 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, invented a harness that is now manufactured by the Fire Department 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 Louisville 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 signals upon fire apparatus, tinkling bells were used, and in many cases a fireman would run ahead, blowing a bugle. The introduction 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