is A i : uF a ee oe a2 \ op is "AVERY LIBRARY COLUNBIA UNIVERSITY MOLY FF QIAN IAY AAVIAL °C) YleDdif ‘O ‘NOMNV “IOOHDS AATIIN SCHOOLHOUSE ACOUSTICS EXT to light and ventilation, no problem in schoolhouse construction 1s more important than the acoustics, and this problem presents itself in two phases, namely, the conveyance of sound and its confinement within its own sphere of usefulness. The first phase has received far more attention than the last, but educators have finally awakened to the fact that the latter is of much greater practical importance. In these days of numerous courses and hard study, and the consequent strain upon the nervous system which is so apparent in our school children, few things can be more important than absolute quiet in which to master their lessons. If a class is constantly interrupted by the singing, marching, or reciting of the scholars in the next room, it is impossible for them to apply themselves and accomplish the best results in study, and they are continually wrought up to a state of nervous excitement, which is injurious to the health and a perfect torment to their teacher. For these reasons the necessity of preventing the sounds of one room from penetrating into another is now generally recognized, and has led to exhaustive inquiry into the various methods and materials to be employed for the accomplishment of this result. It is known that the ordinary plaster and timber construction forms a very im- perfect barrier to the conduction of sound, plaster being at all times a poor non-conductor, and the timbers, so far from helping matters, often increase the difficulties, each one forming a telephone to convey the sound. It is therefore necessary to line the floors and walls with some material that will break up and absorb the sound-waves, and which will also at the same time meet the other requirements, such as durability, reasonable expense, hygienic properties, etc. Common felts and papers are practically valueless as deafeners, being thin and dense, and having no resiliency or sound-absorbing power worth mentioning; and they are short lived. Heavy felts made of matted hair, shoddy, etc., are fairly good when new, but, like all materials of animal origin, are subject to destruction by moths and other insects and vermin (which they of course attract) and to rapid nitrogenous decay, losing in a comparatively short time such virtue as they originally possess, and producing very unsanitary conditions. Mineral wool is unsuccessful, because its fibre is so fragile that it will not support any weight, and therefore cannot intervene between the boards and timbers to interrupt the telephonic conduction of sound, but can only be used to fill up the spaces that are built for it. It has absolutely no elasticity, and in a short time the jarring of the building a Pe ee eee li BOM FAN FRIENDSHIP SCHOOL, PITTSBURG, PA. C. M, Bartberger, Architect, Pittsburg causes it to settle, so that it does not fill up the spaces, and eventually reduces it to a worthless powder. While fairly cheap itself, special construction 1s required to use it, which adds much to the expense. None of these materials were devised for sound-deadening pur- poses, and their introduction into this field has been done in a hap- hazard, experimental manner, and is a result of the groping that has ro) been going on for years in search of some really efficient deadener, of which the need has been urgent. This urgent need was the cause of the researches which led to the production of CABOT’S DEAFENING “QUILT.” The materials and construction of this Quilt were carefully chosen to form an article which would meet all the requirements, not only in the isolation of sound,—although that was the first consider- ation, —but also in permanence, hygienic qualities (freedom from decay, or the attraction or harboring of insects), etc. It is composed of a peculiarly laminated matting of cured eel- grass (Zostera Marina), held in place between two layers of tough manila paper by “quilting,” whence its name, “Quilt,” which is the registered trade-mark of the material. Eel-grass was selected for the filling, after exhaustive tests of that and other materials, for four very important reasons, namely: (1) because the blades are long and flat, and when felted as they are in the Quilt they form innumerable minute dead-air spaces, making the absorbent cushion which is neces- sary to break up and dissipate the sound-waves, and which is impos- sible with a round fibre; (2) because eel-grass, being a sea plant, HIGH SCHOOL, BURLINGTON, VT. W.R. B, Willcox, Architect, Burlington contains Silicon to a large extent in place of the Carbon of plants that grow in the air, and therefore is very uninflammable, it being impos- sible to make it burn at all unless direct flame is applied, and such slight combustion as then takes place ceases instantly when the flame is withdrawn; (3) because it is indestructible by decay, as is well known to every dweller on the seashore, while the Iodine, which is always present in sea plants, repels insects or vermin;* (4) because it is very tough, and never loses the elasticity which is so necessary for non-conducting purposes. It will therefore be seen that Quilt is constructed upon rational and scientific principles in every particular, and the result is the most efficient and nearly perfect deafener on the market, and at as low a price as any that has any value worth men- tioning for this purpose. Where aésolutely fireproof construction is wanted our ASBESTOS QUILT should be used. This is the regular Quilt covered on both sides with heavy asbestos paper, and forming a fireproof sheathing infinitely superior to sheet asbestos or the other so-called fireproofings. Asbestos Quilt is the only thing of the kind which combines high insulating, deafening, and fireproofing power, all other insulators or deafeners being inflammable, and all other fireproofings being poor non-conductors. *The walls of the old Pierce house, Dorchester, Mass., built in 1635, are stuffed between the studding with eel- grass. This fact was discovered in 1893, while making some repairs, and it was found that the eel-grass was in a perfect state of preservation. We have a sample of this 275-year-old eel-grass in our office. HIGH SCHOOL, CHESTER, PA. Seymour Davis, Architect, Philadelphia An absolutely fireproof, thoroughly deadened partition can be built of iron studding, Quilt, metal lath, and plaster; and such a par- tition will be of minimum weight, thickness, and cost. Quilt can also be used in connection with plaster blocks, plaster boards, or hollow tile, increasing the fireproof qualities of either, and giving sound-proof qualities, which they lack, in addition. The accompanying illustrations, showing schoolhouses in all parts of the country where Quilt has been successfully used, give an idea of the wide vogue which it has obtained among architects and educators, and these and the letters testifying to the satisfaction it has given show that it has been cordially received by those who have been seeking the best results in this direction. IMITATIONS. The success of Quilt has brought imitations, as usual. Two of these in particular have copied our material and methods and adver- tising as closely as the law would allow; but they are made of cow hair, scraped from tanners’ hides, and crude flax or tow respectively. We did not cover either of these things in our patents, because we knew them to be unfit to put into any building. They both are subject to rapid decay, both form harbors and breeding places for moths and vermin, and the latter is dangerously inflammable, tow being perhaps the most inflammable of all vegetable fibres. Samples of the Quilt, with circulars containing prices and full information, will be sent, on application, by the patentee and sole manufacturer, SAMUEL CABOT, 141 Milk Street, BOSTON, Mass. NORTH SIDE HIGH SCHOOL, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. C. FF, Struck, Architect, Minneapolis We used Quilt in floors, between floorings, and in walls, with furring strips to hold it to the studs, to deaden sound for an invalid’s room. The owner tells us that he is much pleased with it — that carpenters hammering in the hall adjoining do not disturb him in the least. This seems to us a good proof of its usefulness, and we propose to use it in all places where a good deafener is desirable. HAVERHILL, Mass., April 6, 1897. PERKINS, .& BANCROFT, Architects. ie ‘ule aa: i pnts HAZELDELL SCHOOL, CLEVELAND, O. M. M. Gleichman, Architect, Cleveland SCHOOL AT WATERTOWN, WIS. Claude & Starck, Architects, Madison, Wis. About fifteen months ago I used your two-ply Quilt for deafening between the floors, with no plaster to intervene, and the result was excellent. Now I am building another such Swiss house and need one thousand feet more, which I want you to send. CLEVELAND, OHTIo, Feb. 23, 1899 FREDERICK BAIRD, Architect. I have used Cabot’s Deafening Quilt on a number of buildings, and I find it excellent as an insulator of sound, heat, and cold. I take pleasure in recommending it for these purposes. NEW YORK UN»... Octy 2uigor CHARLES ALLING GIFFORD, Architect. WASHINGTON IRVING SCHOOL, TARRYTOWN, N. Y. A.J. Manning, Architect, New Voerk City HIGH SCHOOL, MARION, O. Yost & Packard, Architects, Columbus ~~ I have been much gratified with the success which I have had in the use of your sheathing Quilt SN, as a sound deafener. I have used it in several apartment buildings, where the question of sound is paramount, with greater satisfaction than any other material with which I have experimented. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., Oct. 31, Isor. HARRY W. JONES, 4rchitect. FERNWOOD SCHOOL, CHICAGO, ILL. William B. Mundie, Architect, Chicago MPD YAOR Many ‘oageyoe py ‘AQQNT “JF Af ‘ACN ‘I-17 ‘voOIVNW[ ‘IOOHODS HOIH GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL, LOUISVILLE, KY. Mason Maury, Architect, Louisville The Deadening Quilt you sent us for deadening sound in our Masonic Temple was put down according to directions, and I can truthfully say it is all you claim for it—a complete deadener. MENDON, Micu., June 17, 1899. GEORGE ENGEL, W.M., Mendon Lodge 137, F.& A. M. STRONG SCHOOL, NEW HAVEN, CT. Witham H. Allen, Architect, New Haven, Ct. LIBERTY SCHOOL, ENGLEWOOD, N. J. Davis & Shepard, Architects, 203 Broadway, N. J. We have specified Cabot’s Sheathing and Deafening Quilt in school and flat work, and it has always proved perfectly satisfactory. We consider it the best deafening medium in the market, and shall continue to specify it when we require a deafening material. TOLEDO; OHIO, Oct. 17, 190m LANGDON & HOHLY, 4rchitects. WILLIAM STREET SCHOOL, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Guy Kirkham, Architect, Springfield TONER SCHOOL, WASHINGTON, D.C. "Hornblower & Marshall, Architects, Washington, D C. We have used the Samuel Cabot Sheathing Quilt in a number of our school buildings as an insulator, and find the material to give perfect satisfaction. WM. B. ITTNER, Commissioner of School Buildings. Sr Louis, Mo., Sept. 26, 1901. I have used your Quilt in the Berkeley High School as a deadener of sound, and it has given perfect satisfaction. I shall not hesitate to specify it in future. SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., Oct. 14, 1901. ILOUWUS Se SWONTE, 4agnaa HIGH SCHOOL, BERKELEY, CAL. Louis S Stone, Architect, San Francisco HIGH SCHOOL, LITTLE FALLS, N. Y. Archimedes Russell, Architect, Syracuse We have used Quilt between floors in all our later schools and apartment houses, and have obtained better results than from any other process of deadening we have ever used. TOLEDO, OHIO, Oct. 3 UG, WACHTER, HUDSON & CO., Architects. CENTRE AVENUE SCHOOL, NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. Orchard & Joralemon, Architects, Niagara Halls, N. V. ST. BONIFACIUS PAROCHIAL SCHOOL, PHILADELPHIA, PA. HT. D. Dagit, Architect, Philadelphia I used Quilt for deadening the floors of the Harding school building, Monmouth, IIl., with entire satisfaction. I consider it far superior to any other deadener I have ever used. CHICAGO, PILE, “Oct. 17, 1.1599- OLIVER W. MARBLE, Architect. EAST SIDE SCHOOL, BEDFORD, IND. M. C. Pritchett, Architect, Louisville, Ky. Scientific ana Conclusive Tests followed by Perfectly Satisfactory Results. In 1902, when the new buildings for the New England Conservatory of Music were projected, the question of sound-proofing the floors and par- titions was considered a most important one, be- DORMITORIES, N. E. CONSERVATORY cause nearly all of the rooms, especially in the OF MUSIC dormitories, were to be used by the students for E. T. Barker, Architect, Boston practicing, and would be useless for that purpose if the sounds from one room could penetrate into the others. The Trustees therefore commissioned Prof. C. L. Norton, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an eminent authority upon the sub- ject, to make practical tests of the various methods of deadening sound. His tests were of the most exhaustive character, made on a large scale, and probably the most elaborate tests of the kind evermade. The re- sults proved that our Quilt was far superior to the five other methods employed, as the following extract from Professor Norton’s report shows: “The efficiency of the Cabot Quilt as a material for rendering the partition ‘ sound-proof’ is so clearly demonstrated in these tests that I recommend it for use in the partitions for which these tests were made.” (All of the other partitions were thicker, heavier, and more expensive than the ones in which Quilt was used.) Quilt was accordingly used in both the Dormitories and the Conservatory itself, with such completely satisfac- tory results that the musicians in one room do not conflict with their N. E. CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, BOSTON, MASS. neighbors, Wheelwright & Haven, Architects As a further result of the above tests, the Canadian Conservatory of Music, at Ottawa, also used Quilt for deadening, and the follow- ing letter shows their result: CANADIAN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC. OTTAWA, December 21, 1903. DEAR SIR: — A primary requirement of paramount importance in the construction of such an edifice as a Conservatory of Music is that the building shall be in- ternally sound-proof, and in this essential particular the Canadian Conservatory of Music has exceeded the most sanguine ex- pectation of both Architect and Director- ate. We used Cabot’s Sheathing Quilt next to the studding in all partitions and between ceiling and floors with the above THE CANADIAN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, excellent results. - Yours truly, OTTAWA, ONT. Isl, IU IDIDIELCO MUNN, £. L. Horwood, Architect, Ottawa Musical Director. SAMUEL CABOT, Sole Manufacturer, BOSTON, Mass.