May, ~937.] CURRENT TOPICS. 68 I

is intended for shipboard service in " s t and ing w a t c h " for emergency calls from other vessels at all t imes when the radio operator m a y be off duty, as on cargo vessels of 5,5oo gross tons or over employing only one radio operator. Charles J. Pannill, President of the Radiomarine Corp. of America said tha t the new a larm had received the approval of the Federal Communicat ions Commission after a rigid, s ix ty-day test, both in the Bureau of Standards laboratories and in the Sandy Hook stations of the U. S. Coast Guard. When connected, the device is set for reception on the 6oo meter distress call wave, and adjusted so as to recognize a distress signal. When such a signal is received it rings bells and turns on warning lights, calling the a t tent ion of the operator. In addition to this the same alarms are automat ica l ly operated should the device itself become defective.

R. H. O.

Rogue's G a l l e r y . - - I n Electrical Contracting for March 1937 there is an interesting exhibit consisting of photographs of horrible examples of avoidable electrical hazards taken from the files of the publication. One shows a spray booth where illumination is provided by a bare lamp on a drop cord. Light is directed by a misfit reflector and a piece of paper. The reflector is tied to the socket and allowed to contact the metal frame. I t is pointed out tha t one short circuit will cause an explosion. Another picture was taken in a food processing plant. I t shows light switches and fuse blocks on a 220 volt circuit, mounted in an inclosing case. The door, however, was allowed to remain open and there is a consider- able collection of dust in the case a n d on " l i v e " parts. There are six photos, each one of which serves to call a t tent ion to dangers tha t exist through negligence or ignorance. These and similar hazards m a y present themselves in any industrial plant unless constant and strict observance is maintained.

R. H. O.

Largest Spiral-Guided Gas Holder Being Erected.--( Gas Age Record and Natural Gas, Vol. 79, No. 6.) This is being erected at Wincobank, Sheffield, England. In circumference this gas holder may be likened to a speedway track. I ts total weight, when completed, will be 3495 long tons; and the total capaci ty of four lifts will be 8,052,226 CU. ft. The number of rivets in the t ank itself will be I2O,OOO, while the four lifts will have 868,7oo. The largest rivets used are I 9/16 in. in diameter by 6 7/8 in. long.

R. H. O.