DANGERS OF WET WOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3267, 12 July 1911, Page 2

DANGERS OF WET WOOL.

INVENTION FOR MAKING TESTS

A PRACTICAL. DEMONSTRATION.

What amount of moisture in wool renders it dangerous for shearers to handle sheep? How is it possible' to get an accurate test tor wet wool? These are questions whieli have caused industrial upheavals in Australia —the great centre of the wool-growing industry of the world —for many years. Hitherto the shearers themselves have put their hands into the wool and declined to shear if there was any sign of wetness. It did not matter h6w the overseer of the shed urged them to get their shears or machines to work, or how the squatter pointed out the importance of getting the wool off the sheep’s backs and on to the markets, the men who handled the wool declined to work until the sheep were —according to their sensitive touches —-free from a surcharge of moistre. Nor is it to be wondered at, considering the evil effects which follow the handling of wet wool, not only to the shearer and the wool-classer, but persons who have to handle it during the process of manufacture. It is claimed that the problem, as to the amount of moisture contained in wool, is likely to be settled by a simple machine, of which Mr. F. Simpson, a wool-classer, of Sydney, is the inventor, is put into use in the shearing sheds of the Commonwealth. Several demonstrations have been given of the working of the invention, which is on the hot-air principle, founded on the system in use in England and other wool-manu-facturing centres in Europe, where wool has to be tested, because buyers will not pay for water, which has been known to be added in order to increase weight. To-day Mr. Simpson gave a demonstration of the apparatus for determining the amount of moisture in wool. The process can be termed by the name distillation. A quantity of wool that had been stored for 12 months was placed in a cylinder, and the lamps were lit.

A pipe leads from the cylinder to a specially-made recording glass hlled with kerosene, into which the moisture after a quarter of an hour, commences to percolate. This process is continued until all moisture is extracted and the water thus drawn off records itself according to a scale engraved on the glass. The wool placed in the cylinder showed nearly 7 per cent, of moisture, and the material was taken out as sound as when it was put in. The secret of the success is the maintenance of a heat at a regular stanauni —a special thermometer being attached to the apparatus. The lamp is -a simple contrivance, burning methylated spirits and oil, and the working of the apparatus is so easy that a child could attend-to it ana i«cord the tests. There is nothing c>> get out of gear and no danger of explosion. It is small and compact, and could be set up in any corner of a shearing she-d. When wool is too mvc to handle the apparatus will record the fact in. a few minutes, for the more moisture the more rapid the condensation.

Interviewed immediately after the test, Mr. F. Simpson said that he aid not agree with certain statements respecting dry wool. Even after a year’s •storing wool shows from 6 to 7 i per cent, of moisture, and he contends that wool containing 10 to lOf per cent, of moisture can be handled safely. Above that it should not be worked.

‘\Vhy,” added the inventor, “you can get about 5 per cent, of moisture . ut of a man’s woollen coat.’’