Mr. Ontway, inventor and patentee of the May-Ontway Fire Alarm, is at present in Shanghai. It is claimed for this system that it automatically detects fire, indicates its position, and gives the alarm to the inmates of the bnilding and to the Fire Brigade. The detector or automatic nerve is simply copper wire, slack and free from tension, attached at each end to a steel compensating plate of suitable From the wire a graphite cireait-closer is suspended over " pair of platinum-faced phosphor-bronze terminals, or an opening device is substituted for closed circuit work. When a fire breaks out the wire quickly expands, sags in the centre, and the alarm is given. There are no microscopic adjustments, the telegraph which calls the Fire Brigade automatically arrests itself if accidentally started by a blow, or by momentary dstarbance of the circuit. Mr. Ontway gave a practical demonstration of the effect of heat on the detector, to a representative of this A. steel compensation allows for fluctuations of temperature and presents false alarms. unique, special code word being automatically recorded four times when an outbreak of fire occurs. For home tasse the alarm can be combined with house-bell. The May-Oatway system has been instrumental in preventing many serious fires, including an outbreak in the Government Buildings at Pret The compensator, mentioned above, feature that is peculiar to the May-Ontway alarm.
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