ready in use on over 2,000,000 sq. ft. of radiation.

POSITIVE CIRCULATION AND UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF FRESH AIR is a new booklet devoted to the Knowles' "Notch" air controlling cap and diffuser, heretofore known as the Knowles improved mushroom ventilator. This device is used in connection with the indirect or mechanical system of heating and ventilating auditoriums of theatres, schools, churches, public buildings, etc. It is stated to be equally effective with either the up-draft or down-draft methods. It is also described as ideal for moving picture theatres. The appliances are made by the Knowles Mushroom Ven tilator Co., successor to George E. Knowles. The company has recently taken new quarters at 9 Church St., New York.

POWELL UNION COMPOSITE DISC VALVES, which are the subject of newly-issued circular matter published by the Wm. Powell Co., Cincinnati, O., are shown in sectional form in the accompanying illustration. These valves are furnished in sizes from 1 in. to 3 in. (bronze), and from 2 in. to 8 in. (iron body). They are intended for medium steam pressure, hot water or steam

slipping, the Acme threads on the stem consisting of six threads. These are all in use when the valve is closed and are designed to prevent stripping from too strenuous use. The valves are guaranteed to stand a steam pressure up to 150 lbs.

SURRELL BOILER, for steam and hot water heating, is described in a new catalogue issued by the Surrell Down Draft Boiler Co., 39 Cortlandt St., New York. The heater is described as a cast-iron sectional push nipple down-draft internal combustion chamber steam and hot water boiler. The accompanying illustration shows one of the company's smaller size boilers. It will be

SMALL TYPE OF SURRELL BOILER FOR HOUSE HEATING OR HOT WATER SUPPLY. (Patented).

noted that it is composed of a central combustion chamber with water tubes on the inside of the fire box and an outside water jacket. The space between the combustion chamber and the outside water jacket is the coal receptacle. Attention is called to the vertical construction of the tubes, insuring water circulation and preventing their burning out. The company guarantees, among other things, that under ordinary house heating conditions, when fired once in 10 hours, these boilers will carry the amount of direct radiating surface stated in the price list. They are made in three series each for water and steam, and include 26 in., 31 in. and 47 in. series. Size 52 by 81⁄2 in. Pp. 8.

TYLER UNDERGROUND HEATING SYSTEM, showing the various Tyler specialties for use on all ditch and tunnel piping for every purpose; also the Tyler boiler feed water weighing machines, meters and traps, are the subject of a chart being sent out by the Tyler Underground Heating System, Pittsburg, Pa. A circular letter accompanying

the chart explains the advantages of the various appliances.

VACUUM SEPARATORS for handling pulverized material of all descriptions are described in Bulletin No. 1, received from the Osborne Patented Machinery Co., Inc., 120 Liberty St., New York. Size 61⁄2 by 92 in. Pp. 20. The company also publishes another booklet (Bulletin No. 2) devoted to its line of smoke-consuming apparatus. Size 61⁄2 by 91⁄2 in. Pp. 8.

NEW CATHEDRAL BOILERS, installed in the new St. Louis Cathedral, St. Louis, Mo., by Joseph F. Wangler Boiler & Sheet Iron Works Co., St. Louis, are the subject of a circular printed in colors, describing in detail the Wangler boilers used in this structure.

SPRAGUE ELECTRIC FANS, made by the Sprague Electric Works of General Electric Co., New York, is the title of the 1914 catalogue of this company's product (Catalogue 329), covering its assortment of direct and alternating current desk, ceiling, column and exhaust fans. Size 8 by 10% in. Pp. 36.

PORTABLE OZONATORS, made by the Sprague Electric Works of General Electric Co., New York, are presented in a new bulletin (No. 49,000) illustrating the various types of these machines and describing their uses and operation. They are built in two sizes, known as the Household and Univer

ALTERNATING CURRENT HOUSEHOLD OZONATOR.

sal. Both sizes are practically identical with the exception of their ozone capacity, the Household size being supplied with two ozone producing units and the Universal with eight. They are furnished for operation with either alternating or direct current. The manufacturers state that they have been approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters. These ozonators are constructed wholly of non-combustible

HOUSEHOLD

OZONATOR WITH CASING
REMOVED.

as to allow an air space between the two tubes. When a high voltage current from the transformer flows between the outer metal coating and the inner tube, an electric discharge takes place through the glass and the intervening air space. Air enters the casing through holes in the bottom and passes up through the space between the outer and inner tubes. In its passage through the electric discharge a portion of the oxygen contained therein is changed to ozone, and in this form is drawn through an orifice in the top of the casing and mixed with the air circulated by the fan. The fan provided with each ozonator is 8 in. in diameter, and may be operated independently of the ozone-producing units. A control is also furnished allowing the fan to run without ozone, with one-half ozone capacity, with full ozone capacity, and stopping all operation. Size 8 by 10% (punched for binding). Pp. 8.

M-H STEEL VALVES AND FITTINGS for highpressure and superheated steam, made by McNab & Harlin Mfg. Co., Paterson, N. J., are the subject of the company's latest monthly bulletin of product. These valves are made with monel metal and nickel alloy trimmings. Size 5 by 7 in. Pp. 8.

17-The Cyclone Vacuum Cleaner.

Another type of stationary vacuum cleaning apparatus which depends on the action of water to create the desired suction is shown in the accompanying illustrations, and is known as the Cyclone vacuum cleaner. The central feature of this system is the suction generative device which is made of brass and is wear-proof and rustproof. The pipe, connected with the water system A, allows the water to enter through the intake nozzle B. The force of the water, as it spurts down the pipe C, creates a vacuum, which exhausts the air from the seamless brass tubing pipe above D, to which the vacuum hose and wand are connected.

An unobtrusive handle F in the floor, conveniently located, permits the water to be turned on or off at will. The amount of water used is said to be less than that

TYPICAL INSTALLATION OF CYCLONE VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEM.

SUCTION

GENERATIVE DEVICE OF CYCLONE VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEM.

The dust and dirt are carried down into the pipe below the suction generative device where they mix with the stream of water. The foul air is carried off in bubbles and it escapes through an exhaust pipe G, while the dust and dirt are taken by the water through a trap H in the bottom of the basement and discharged into the sewer I.

Provision is made so that the air, which is washed and purified by the water, may be directed into any stuffy basement room that needs ventilating or into a furnace to provide fresh air, or arrangements may be made for the return of this purified air into the room from which the foul air was taken.

This system, it is pointed out, always works at maximum efficiency, because there is no place where the air and water can be obstructed, such as sometimes occurs with dirt bags. The system is applicable to the cleaning of floors, walls, mattresses, draperies, curtains, carpets, rugs, upholstering, or similar kinds of surfaces.

The system is placed in operation by turning on the water by means of handles in the floors of the various rooms. Attention is also called to the noiseless operation of the system, due to the absence of moving parts. An observation glass, located

where the hose is connected with the intake pipe shows the amount of dust being removed. When no dust shows, it is an indication that the given spot is cleaned.

The system is manufactured by the Cyclone Vacuum Cleaner Co., 716-717 Hippodrome Building, Cleveland, O.

The Early History of Vacuum Cleaning.

Additional light on the early history of vacuum cleaning is contained in a letter recently received by Maxwell S. Cooley, author of "Vacuum Cleaning Systems," from the British Vacuum Cleaner Co., Ltd., of London, England. In its letter this company calls attention to the fact that the Booth patents, under which it is operating, is the same patent now in effect in the United States under the name of Kenney, and that the Booth patent was the first to be issued covering the fundamental features of a vacuum cleaning system.

"The inventor Booth," says a writer, "is a well-known civil engineer in England, being a full member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and practicing in Westminister, in London, as such in a large way. In the early part of 1900 he commenced considering the use of atmospheric air fcr the purpose of cleaning, and after certain experiments, on August 30, 1901, he applied for patents throughout the world for his invention. A search through the United States Patent Office will reveal that Booth's application, on or about the date mentioned in 1901, was filed in the patent office and subsequently this patent application was sold to Mr. David T. Kenney, a United States citizen.

"Mr. Kenney had been considering, so he informed us, the proposition of cleaning by vacuum, but up to then he had, like most other American thinkers on the cleaning system, been imbued wholly with the idea of using compressed air. However, after the purchase of the United States application for a patent, he took out a patent, under his priority rights as a United States citizen, which is now known as the Kenney patent, embodying the whole of the Booth patent application, which, the moment the Kenney application was on file, was allowed to lapse. The foregoing are the facts as to how modern cleaning by vacuum had its beginning in America.

"In the very early part of 1902, the inventor's brother, Stone Booth, who was

occupying himself in Boston in literary pursuits, came to England and was shown the Booth vacuum system in operation. So impressed was he with the system that he took two machines of the larger type; that is to say, of the 4 H. P. type portable, back with him to the United States, and a number of demonstrations were commenced between Stone Booth and Mr. Kenney, which ultimately resulted in the requirements by Mr. Kenney, as set forth above, of the United States patent application.

"The Booth system is known throughout the world. The patents for foreign countries have been sold for a sum approximating £68,000, a very small sum when he value of the invention, which is now known, is taken into account.

"The vacuum cleaning system has been developed in such a way that we are now dealing with the removal of coal dust from mines, the removal of all classes of dust from factories, such as boot factories, ore refineries, leather works, color works, printing works, etc., for the textile industry for removing dust from carding engines, for large power plants for emoving dust, that is, flue dust fom the boiler flues and also dust from the economizers that go with such plants, and in fact, everywhere where dust is found.

"The success of this patent in England has meant very little litigation, but you will see by the notice which we enclose that the patent has been held valid by the House of Lords, which places it in a master position. The result is that many machines made in America, such as the Santo and Duntley, and others, are being sold in this country (England) under the licenses of the Booth patent.

"Referring to the first portable cleaner constructed, we were sending portable machines to the United States in a portable form in 1902."

The letter is signed by Charles F. Hitchins, M. I. Mech E., managing director of the British Vacuum Cleaner Co., Ltd., London.

In commenting on the foregoing statements, Mr. Cooley says, "Mr. Kenney made patterns and models for vacuum cleaning machinery and appliances in 1900, or near if not coincident with the work of Mr. Booth in England. Mr. Kenney applied for his patent Nov. 29, 1901. Mr. Booth applied for his British patent Aug. 30, 1901, but did not file a complete claim until May 28, 1902. Mr. Booth's application for his American patent was not filed until Jan. 27, 1902, or two months later than Mr. Kenney. This American application of Booth's was not purchased by Mr. Kenney

until 1904 and was not allowed to lapse until the Kenney patent was granted in 1908.

"Mr. Kenney first heard of the work of Mr. Booth in vacuum cleaning through conversation with men who had seen it in London in the fall of 1902, and also through a consular report of about that time. Mr. Kenney saw the Booth apparatus in action in Boston during the latter part of 1903 and purchased the Booth apparatus of the Boston company early in 1904. Mr. Kenney's own apparatus was installed in the Frick Building early in 1902.

"From the above data, all of which were taken from sworn statements of Mr. Kenney and records contained in the patent papers in connection with various suits in connection with the Kenney patent, it is evident that while Mr. Booth may be the first person in the world to utilize a vacuum for cleaning, Mr. Kenney first introduced vacuum cleaning in America on a commercial basis.

"Regarding the statement that the British Vacuum Cleaner Company had portable machines in this country before the machine of Dr. Noe, the writer does not consider a 4 H. P. machine, mounted on a truck, as a portable in the sense we now use the word."

Scott Company Succeeds the John G. Sutton Company.

The John G. Sutton Company, well known San Francisco heating contractors, has been reorganized and will, in the future, be known as the Scott Company. William P. Scott is president; H. M. Van Pelt, vice-president, and C. J. Dowdy, secretary. Mr. Sutton retires entirely from the company, as it is his intention to devote himself to the management of the Ocean Shore Railroad. Messrs. Scott and Sutton had been associated together since before the San Francisco fire. At that time the business was carried on under the name of John G. Sutton & Co. In 1906 the company incorporated as the John G. Sutton Company, Mr. Sutton being the president, Mr. Scott vice-president, and Julia A. Scott, secretary. Since the fire the company has executed some of the largest heating and plumbing contracts in the west.

Samuel R. Lewis, a junior member of the discontinued firm of Lewis & Kitchen, Chicago is engaged in the practice of consulting heating and ventilating engineering, specializing in schools and public buildings, with offices at 910 Michigan Ave., Chicago. Mr. Lewis is designing engineer of the schools in Toledo and Columbus, O., as well as consulting engineer to James B. Dibelka, the Illinois state architect.