LOADED AIR GAS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2251, 24 July 1908, Page 1

LOADED AIR GAS.

A NEW ILLUMINENT. In these days of trusts, combines, and syndicates, it is rare to hear eta privato individual securing tlio pat cut rights of a successful invention with money in it. Such, liowevci, seems to have been the good Birtune of a young Gisborneito, Mr. Ghauts S McFarlane, who, though only years of ago, has secured the patent rights for the counties ot Cook, \\ airoa, and Waiapu of loaded air gas, a new method of manufacturing incandescent vapor light. , Almost from the day ho could toddle, voung McFarlane has exhibited a bent" for mechanics, and spent ms spare hours in boyhood round Ins grandfather’s thrashing machines and engines. At twelve yoars of ago lew knew more about running an ongine that ho, and in many an emergency the boy’s knowledge set the macliinery running aga.in alter a temporary break-down. Later, he devoted •a couple of years to electrical engineering, and acquired technical training which will stand him in good stead in his latest speculation. Wlion spending a holiday in Wellington in April last, the youthful engineer happened to mentioned that he was looking for anything in tlie way of a speculation ho could pick up. His friend replied that ho believed that ho could put him on to tho very thing that would suit lnm, and took him along to Mr. A. A. Stephenson, of Melbourne, the sole patentee of loaded air gas, who was in Wellington with’the object of putting his patont on tho market in New Zealand. Young McFarlano at once saw tho possibilities in the new light, and before leaving the office had purchased tlio sole rights for loaded air gas in Cook, Wairoa. and Waiapu Counties. A “Times” representative was shown a model of a gas holder which Mr. McFarlano has fitted up in one of tho rooms at tlio rear .of His Majesty’s Theatre, and had ocular demonstration of tho power anil utility of the new illuminent. The apparatus includes a tank like a small ordinary gasometer, such as dentists use, the inner tank of which is lifted up so that air passes into it through a valve. It is then weighted to produce pressure of air within it. Air is carried through a carburetter, which is simply a small box, and tlio oil is vaporised and used for lighting purposes with the ordinary ‘‘Welsjach” or other mantle. There is absolutely no danger, and this is ono of its best features. Mr. McFarlane unscrewed the top of tlie carburetter, and lighted the escape with a match. The gas flared ,up a couple of foot high wlion the air was turned on but died down almost immediately oil the air being turned off, and the top was screwed on. again with the gas apparently still burning in the carburettor. Tlie whole invention consists in the particular mixture of hydrocarbon Oils, which makes a combined oil volatiliziblo by tho mero passing over its surface of a current of air. No bellows, blower, or motor of any sort is required, and the system is exceedingly easy to handle. One notable feature of tho system is the splendid effect obtained with the incandescent burner, and any incandescent can bo used with the best effects. The air and vapor mix with perfect safety, and thus tlio greatest possible amount of light- is obtained from a given quantity of gas. A most brilliant, steady light is produced, and a remarkable feature about is is that ono can look directly into it without having the eyes dazzled at all. The explanation for this is -that the light is entirely free from ultra violet rays, which are so injurious to tho eyes. The system of lighting is equally adapted to the lighting of privato houses, factories, churches, halls, ■farms, or villages, and will drive engines. The apparatus is automatic, producing the exact amount of gas required according to tlio number of lights in use. It can be started instantly, and no further attention is necessary. Tlie complete apparatus occupies only a few square feet of floor space, and may be placed in the yard. Every householder in town or country can have his installation un.dor his own control at a small initial cost, and make the gas for distribution over tlie house by tlio ordinary gas pipes and fittings. It can be used for cooking-stove or heating purposes with the very best results. One of its chief recommendations is tho small cost of production. Tho consumption of oil used for obtaining light aggregating to 6,000 candle power is about one-third of a pint in about two hours. The cost of gas consumed by 230 lights of 50 candle power each, is about id per hour. It is claimed that it is less than onequarter the cost of coal gas, less than one-sixtli of acetylene, and one-sev-enth of electric light.

Many people who have' seen the light have expressed unqualified praise, and a proof of belief in its utiity is that Mr. C. J. Parker lias had tho light installed at his residence on tho YVaikanae, where be had nine lights put in. Mr. George Grant is having a 15-light installation at his new residence, while a 15-light plant was shipped away this week as far afield as Opotoki for Mr. E. Allen. Mr. Allen saw the light when in Gisborne on a holiday recently, and was so

taken with its simplicity and effectiveness that bo gave an order lor a plant before leaving Gisborne. Mr. McFarlane has also purchased the rights for this district of Stephenson’s improved coal gas expander and onriclior. This niacliino is filled with a chemical solution to expand tlio gas and then re-purity it again before it goes to tho lights. Jt has been tested and showed a. saying of 33 per cent, in ono month, giving a far better light than with coal gas in the usual way. 'When attached to gas engines it increases tlie efficiency of the engines by 35 per cent, with a decrease in the consumption of 33 per. cent. This test was made by tlie engineer for tlio Melbourne City Council. It is intended to instal tlio new ■light at His Majesty's I licatra, and Mr McFarlano is just aiv.ii.vmg the arrival of inverted burners and Mirill incandescent mantles for the footlights before proceeding with the installation.