June .II, 1910





RECORD  AND   GUIDE





'.1259





Fireproof Quality of Asbestos  Roofing.

Over a million times during the past
ten years the country has witnessed the
thrilling sight of burning buildings. In
the year 1889 this cost the nation $123,-
046,833; ten years later the loss amounted
to $153,597,830; while last year $204,000,-
000 worth of property was destroyed by
fire. This constantly increasing annual
flre loss in the United States has induced
engineers interested in fire protection to
seek with renewed zeal for all practical
methods of lessening the danger of igni¬
tion and spread of flames. As a result
of this, tile, vitrified facings, terra cotta,
concrete construction and numerous other
flre-'resisting materials Jhave been de¬
veloped for use in all parts of building
except the roof, while but few important
improvements have been made in rooflng
materials, notwithstanding the fact that
authorities claim that from 27 per cent,
to 50 per cent, of the conflagration are the
result of flames being communicated to
adjoining buildings by burning sparks and
embers falling on an inflammable roof.

Factories, barns, etc., are probably more
at the mercy of burning sparks and em¬
bers than other types of buildings, he-
cause they are usually covered with so-
called ready roofings, and nearly all roof¬
ings of this type are made of wool felt,
rag stock, paper, coal tar and other highly
infiammable materials. There is one roof¬
ing of this type, known as J-M Asbestos
Rooflng, which is being largely used on
factories and large buildings, which seems
to overcome the objections to all others
of this Type. It is said to be so fireproof
that it w-ill withstand the flame of a
blow-torch for an hour without being in¬
jured. This rooflng is made by the H. W,
Johns-Manville Co., of New York, well
known as manufacturers of asbestos prod¬
ucts.

From the manufacturers we were able
to get the following interesting Inforraa-
tion regarding the manufacture of this
roofing, which is made of asbestos (a
stone) and Trinidad Lake asphalt (a
mineral). The asbestos rock when it comes
from the mines is in appearance much
the same as other rock. When scientific¬
ally crushed, this rock produces long,
tough fibres which are woven into cloth
for asbestos theatre curtains, made into
sheets of felt for roofing, and treated in
various ways for making hundreds of dif¬
ferent fireproofing materials.

In making this roofing, several sheets
of this asbestos felt are thoroughly satu¬
rated with genuine ^Trinidad Lake As¬
phalt, well known as the most permanent
waterprooflng material. These sheets are
then cemented firmly together w^ith this
asphalt, making one homogeneous mass.
This, then, constitutes an actual covering
of stone, which, because of its all-mineral
nature, not only offers to a building pro¬
tection against fire, w^ater, wind and
weather, but which also naturally cannot
rot, rust, melt, run or crack, and requires
no painting to preserve it.

A copy of the very handsomely illus-
tratted catalogue, which we received from
the manufacturers, will, no doubt, gladly
be sent to anyone inquiring for it.





Installations Speak Louder Than Words.

When a manufacturing company can
point to this building or that residence
as one where its product is installed, it is
a prima facie evidence that satisfaction
is being given and that that manufactur¬
ing company can deliver the goods; in
other words, can do what it lays claim to.
But when the building indicated is a high-
class one, where it is common knowledge
that no inferior equipment went into it,
the recommendation is all the higher. It
is therefore hardly necessary to do more
than mention the fact that the Hill-
Canton   Sanitary   Laundry   Dryers   went





into the Arinsmear apartments, Hart¬
ford, Conn.; the Spencer Trask residence,
Saratoga Springs. N. Y.; the A. L. du
Pont residence, Wilmington, Del.; the
Bishop Strong Day Nursery, Fall River,
Mass.; the Fluri Construction Company's
apartments, 176th st and St. Nicholas av,
and the Henry Guttman apartments, 174th
st and St. Nicholas av, this city; the
Drexel apartments, Philadelphia, Pa.; and
the Columbia apartments, Washington,
D. C.

This device is especially designed for
private residences, hotels, apartment
houses, hospitals and institutions, and the
New York distributing offices are at 47
■ and 49 West 13th st, telephone, 4167
Chelsea.





A   Metal   Substitute  lov   Ceramic   Tile.

The problem, frequently difflcult of so¬
lution, and generally encountered by
building owners and architects, especially
where a limit of cost for equipment and
decoration is previously fixed, is how to
finish walls and ceilings in the most du¬
rable and ornate yet inexpensive w-ay.
There is a material on the raarl;et now
which offers one way out of this diffi¬
culty. It is an improved enameled metal
tiling, that comes in any design and color.

Heretofore the element of rust has en¬
tered into this type of decoration, es¬
pecially in bath rooms w.liere quickly
changing temperature blisters wall pa¬
per and tinting, warps wood trim and
even cracks plaster. Tile and marble, of
course, are expensive. The aim, there¬
fore, was to find a metal that would not
rust or corrode but which at the same
time would sustain a coat of enamel, yet
would not craize or blister. After con¬
siderable study the New Tork Metal Cell¬
ing Company, 539 West 24th st, produced
w.hat they call "Enametile." It is put
on a zinc backing. This" material can be
washed and even scrubbed without do¬
ing damage to it, as zinc is a non-rusting
and non-corroding metal. It is backed up
on the wall with cement so that it can¬
not be dented and it cannot crack. It is
made in a variety of designs or special
designs can be made to conform with
architect's plan of decoration.

The fact that this material is shipped
to Italy South America, Hawaii, the Phil¬
ippines and. in fact, all parts of the
world, attests its popularity and general
utility.

The New Tork Metal Ceiling Company
manufactures its own product in this
city and can therefore make quick de¬
liveries of metal celling and any of its
products in remarkably short time, as
large quantities of the finished product
are  constantly carried in stock.





One Way to Keep Subiu-ban Cellars Dry.

Many a homeseeker has bought a
property in the suburbs only to find in the
w-inter and spring that a serious menace
to his health and happiness exists in his
porous cellar. Sorae of them have spent
considerable money in doctors' Bills and
others have sought waterproofing process,
simple in application, that will not require
the presence of melting kettles and at the
same time do what is'promised for it.
Mr. Douglas Robinson, of the real estate
flrm of Douglas Robinson, Charles S.
Brown Co., had this experience in his
East Orange home.

But Mr. Robinson's attention was di¬
rected by a friend to a product of the
Universal Compound Company. 449 West
2Sth St., known to the trade as Exhydro-
plastic. This is a water and damp proof¬
ing material that is applied cold by any¬
one who can handle a trowel. No heating
or melting is required, therefore there is
no litter incidental to its application. It
mav be  laid as a course in cement con¬





struction with another layer of cement or
concrete over it. This was done in certain
operations in the Panama Canal zone. It
fills all pores and voids in brick, cement
and masonry walls, and when applied on
such surfaces forms a perfect bond with
coats of plaster stucco or cement mortar.





Tlie   Selling   Arguments   for   Metal
Ceilings.

A campaign of education is being con¬
ducted by the Berger iVIanufacturing
Company on the subject of metal ceilings
and their uses, and the results have
proved surprisingly great, according to
our informant. The keynote of the cam¬
paign is that the steel ceiling has direct
and Important advantages to every build¬
ing owner, architect and contractor.
Therefore, some of the pulling arguments
used to show the advantages of Berger's
"Classik" steel ceilings are interesting as
well .as enlightening.

This company PjOints out that the steel
ceilinar improves the appearance of a
room, therefore making it more habit¬
able. Furthermore, it says that this
Ivind of w-all and ceiling finish is the most
servicable known regardless of use, size
or style of apartment. Reference is made
to the methods for rejuvenating delap-
idated plaster, by nailing over it, furring
strips and to it attach the steel plates.
For quickly restoring burned-out build¬
ings to tenancy this kind "of ceiling is
said to be indefectible. The fact that
ceilings of this kind do not shrink or
crack, nor need repairs, appeals strongly
to property owners, not to mention the
fact that they are fire-resisting. They are
moderate at first cost, but their long life
makes them economical in the long run.

Berger ceilings are clearly stamped,
says our informant, are made of No. 29
gauge open-hearth steel specially an¬
nealed for flne stamping, the dies are re¬
productions of skilfully modeled originals,
and the priming paint used by this house
gives a durable and tenacious finishing
surface. "The Standard Lap Joint" con¬
struction peculiar to Berger ceilings, it is
pointed out, embodies a concave surface
at the inner side of the bead, ma-king it
fit snugly. The outer edge of the bead
is concealed when over-lapped, forming a
dustproof construction.

This company maintains a free ad¬
visory service. If sketch and dimensions
of room or rooms to be covered are sent,
giving measurements from point to point,
also indicating height of cornice permis¬
sible above the door and window* tops, the
company will prepare and submit free
suggestions,  drawings and estimates.





"Pennanite"   In   a   Hoboken   Building.

Schmalz & Sons, bakers, of Hoboken,
recently erected another large reinforced
concrete building in that city, and, as a
result of nuraerous tests of various paints
for whitening and coloring the walls and
ceilings, M. Ewing Fox & Company's
"Permanite"  was specified and  used.

But this company's "Permanite" is in
popular demand, principally because it is
permanent and easily applied. In the case
of the Schmalz building, one heavy
coat was applied by brush directly to the
raw concrete surface. It produced a splen¬
did, snowy white effect. The ceilings and
upper part of the walls were all painted
with white "Permanite," and the lower
parts were wainscoted with gray "Per¬
manite."

M. Ewing Fox & Sons, of 136th st and
Rider av. New Tork, also manufacture
"Muralite," w-hich is a decorative prepa¬
ration, applied like a paint for sand-fin¬
ished surfaces and plaster. It does not rub
off, and leaves no brush marks. It has
had a wide use in this city, and, in fact,
throughout the country in high-grade op¬
erations.