In the planning of the construction of the small house, the architect
has many problems of selection, such as the choosing of this brand of
roofing material from among many makes or the specifying of this type
of furnace from among many patterns, and, in fact, the selection of
the best type and the best materials which the market affords in all
branches of structural and mechanical devices. If he does not specify
any one brand, but merely states that the contractor shall use an
approved make of paint or an acceptable brand of hydrated lime, he has
merely deferred his ultimate choice in the matter to a later date,
for in the end he must decide whether the particular make or brand
is acceptable, and in order to do this he must know enough about the
various makes and brands on the market to judge wisely and in a fair
spirit, for the chief motive in back of the contractor’s choice will be
rather one of money than quality.
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The problem, therefore, which confronts the architect in acting as
judge of materials and brands as to their quality is very serious and
extremely full of pitfalls, and outside of his personal experience
and that of his friends, the choice must be made upon the claims of
the manufacturers as presented in advertisements. Now, of course,
the difficulties which advertising literature presents are the
overstatements which are found in them and the suppression of facts
which appear to the makers as derogatory of their product. But if the
circulars of information and advertising statements are collected
for any one type of mechanism or any one type of material or system
of construction, it will be found that the truth of the matter will
be implanted in the accumulated statements of the various concerns
manufacturing these mechanisms or materials. What one manufacturer
does not say another will, and very often a rival firm will reveal the
defects of its competitor’s products by its advertisements. In fact,
if you want to find out what is the “nigger in the wood-pile,” read
the advertisements of a rival manufacturer. Of course it is not good
taste in advertising to knock the other fellow’s products, but general
statements are made which are enough to enlighten the alert reader as
to what should be the good points to look for.
For example, suppose the architect knew little or nothing about what
should be the good qualities of a hot-air furnace of the pipeless type,
but had before him the advertisements of various makers which we will
designate as _A_, _B_, _C_, _D_, and _E_, although the quotations which
are given are accurately taken from real advertisements of well-known
firms, the identity of which we have purposely concealed under the
assumed titles of the letters of the alphabet.
Let us pick up advertisement of (_A_) manufacturer, and select what
appear to be the important statements which occur in it. We read:
“The grate is slightly cone-shaped, which breaks up all clinkers and
makes the fuel roll toward the wall of the fire-pot, where air is
mixed with the gas. This generates a much greater degree of heat than
it is possible to obtain with the old duplex and flat grates, and
clinkers that would form and be wasted in other furnaces are thereby
consumed.” From this the architect has learned to consider the question
of the grate, and certainly he has definitely found out what is the
disadvantage of the furnaces which use the old duplex or flat grates.
It ought to be his aim to ask the manufacturer of furnaces using these
types of grates what they have to say in defense of this indictment.
But let us continue to read: “The ash-pit is large and roomy on
the inside, and is provided with a very large door, which makes it
convenient for the removal of ashes.” It is evident from this that
there are furnaces on the market which have this defect of too small an
ash-pit and door. The architect can then mentally pigeonhole this as a
point to be considered in examining a furnace.
Continuing our reading we come across this statement: “The (_A_)
radiator is cast in one piece, with no joints to be cemented or bolted
together.” This is evidently a reflection upon the weaknesses of other
makes which have radiators that are bolted and cemented together, and
on investigation we soon learn that furnaces often have leaky radiators
which permit the coal-gas to escape into the warm air delivered through
the house. Here is a definite defect to be remembered.
Suppose we turn now to advertisement (_B_), and here we read the
following: “Insulating air-chamber acts as a positive division between
the bodies of warm and return air.” This is certainly a hint of a
possible defect in a furnace. Perhaps not all of the furnaces are
adequately insulated at this division between the bodies of returning
cold air and the outgoing warm air, with the resulting loss of
efficiency and sluggishness of circulation.
Reading on in the same advertisement we find the following: “The
(_B_) smoke-plate is an added precaution against the leakage of smoke
and gas.” Evidently there is some possibility of smoke leaking into
the warm air, or else this device would not have been suggested, and
probably there are some furnaces where this is a very serious objection.
Turning to the next advertisement, (_C_), we read: “Only the best grade
of iron goes into the casting.” This is another consideration; for
evidently, from the following, certain types of furnaces do not use
the best castings, and give trouble. “Breakdowns and imperfections are
reduced to a minimum. The endless series of treatments and repairs is
never required.”
A further reading tells us that “the humidifier is ample capacity,”
which statement suggests the possibility that not all humidifiers are
large enough.
But look what advertisement (_D_) informs us: “No heat lost by being
radiated through casing into cellar.” This is certainly an interesting
point to consider. And reading on we learn: “Long fire-travel in
radiator insures a cool smoke-pipe and there is no fuel wasted.” This
is surely a matter of design that ought to be observed in good furnaces.
Still another fact is brought to light by “Fire-pot—one piece,
heavy-ribbed for purposes of increasing its radiating surface and to
give it greater power of resistance against expansive force of the
fire.”
But here is something none of the other advertisements have told us:
“Steel radiators are preferable for the use of hard coal; cast-iron
radiators for soft or hard coal or wood.” Also: “Radiators can be
turned in either direction, thereby permitting smoke-pipe to be
connected with chimney from the most advantageous point.”
Finally, when we read in advertisement (_E_) the following, “Grate-bars
are quickly removed and replaced. No bolts used,” we wonder whether
other furnaces use bolts, and whether there is a real objection to them.
Taking the information given in these advertisements, we can now make
the following list of points to be considered in selecting any one make:
1. Is the grate so designed that clinkers will not
form?