WITH ° 0F Steps Frictio 0 $ J.T. Cowles’ Improved General Office , 7&9.SJeffei^son St. CHICAGO. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Columbia University Libraries https://archive.org/details/jtcowlesinventorOOcowl J. T. COWLES, r Inventor and Proprietor IMPROVED - " — ,TAND-J)lPE Fire-Escape. GENERAL OFFICE, 7 and 9 <7)outd e erson )treet HICAGO, LL. Rand McNally & to., printers and engravers, ('hicagd I CHALLENGE THE WORLD IN l^ead and eason. HF. inventor of this apparatus is a mechanic, and appreciating the need of a good and practical Fire-Escape, knowing there was no effective one in existence, more than ten years ago he set him- self the task of inventing one that should be perfect. After years of arduous labor and experiment, he be- lieves that he has now produced the best , the simplest , the most effective Fire-Escape in the world. 1 he true principle of a Fire-Escape is not alone to provide a mode of fleeing from the fire , but at the same time to provide a mode of access to the fire for the pur- pose of extinguishing it. This is accomplished by the combination of a stand-pipe and ladder, so arranged that the exact location of the fire can at once be dis- covered without going inside the building, and an eftective stream of water at once applied to it, or the roof opened up to provide the escape of smoke. The hose valves are so located that should the fire on a given floor have obtained such a headway that it is impossible to attach a hose, the valve can be opened from the floor below, and the stream breaking the glass will discharge 1,500 gallons of water per minute within the building, thus effectually flooding any floor in less than three minutes. No. 1 Balcony. 6 feet long, 28 inches wide. (2';e 0d v/aniaeje of Plotf, forms Or balconies, in combination with a Stand-Pipe and Fire-Escape, are : the firemen are not obliged to enter the building, each platform affording room for three firemen, from whence they can direct a stream to any point on the floor. They also afford a ready and safe means of exit to all persons within the buildino-. PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY. 3 No. 1. This cut represents the form of my apparatus specially adapted for hotels and manufactories where women and children are employed. Prices given on application with or without Stand-Pipe 4 I CHALLENGE THE WORLD IN In combination with platforms and ladders: It is apparent to all who have had any experience with fires that the process of getting a hose to the top of a build- ing by means of ladders is slow and dangerous, and very often at the moment of greatest need the hose bursts or escapes the hold of the fireman and is useless. The Stand-Pipe is always ready, always in position, firmly anchored to the building, and it never bursts. of a good Fire-Escape is a step that is at all times and under all circumstances safe — it is here simple and per- fect. In all fire-ladders ever made heretofore, the rungs were of round iron, and when wet or ice covered they have proven fatal traps rather than a means of escape. In this ladder the rungs are square iron with a corner up-wan/, giving a safe footing, and when festooned with icicles from top to bottom, every particle of ice falls off every rung as it yields to the weight of the person, even though a man is barefooted, thus giving a square angle to tread upon. I he STAND-PIPE is made of the best three-inch wrought-iron pipe, lap-welded, with 2% inch outlets at each window and on the roof, and to each outlet is at- tached a 2 l / ? . inch brass hose valve, with oil soaked sole- leather discs, thus preventing any sticking of the valves by expansion or contraction. This valve can be opened or closed with the strength of one finger at all times. At the bottom of the Stand-Pipe is a two-way Siamese valve, so arranged that two steam fire engines can attach and work at the same time. This Siamese has automatic valrcs , so that should one working steamer burst its hose it does not stop the working of the apparatus. PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY. 5 No. 2- Tlii-i cut is the same as No. 1, with Platforms instead of Balconies specially adapted for warehouses and heavy manufactories. Prices given on application with or without Stand-Pipe. 6 I CHALLENGE THE WORLD IN The ladder is first made independent of the stand-pipe and then securely bolted to the stand-pipe with short tap bolts. The pipe and ladder are then securely bolted to the platforms, which have previously been securely an- chored into the walls of the building with forty-five degree iron bar anchors. When complete on the build- ing, the ladder is warranted to sustain a weight of five tons. In places where there is sufficient water pressure, it is .very desirable to connect the stand-pipe with the street mains. When this is done it is only necessary to open the valve on any floor, and you have a stream of water before a fire engine could leave its quarters. There are numerous instances where fires have been put out by this apparatus before the fire department were on the ground, although notified promptly, and names and dates will be furnished on application to verify this asser- tion, if doubted. Many fires have started in buildings supplied with this apparatus, but there is no instance on record where the fire has not been confined lo the floor where it originated. No building ever burned down equipped with this— the best device in the universe — when a prompt alarm has been given. In all factories and schools using this Escape, pains should be taken to instruct the employes or scholars as to the exact location — relative to hallways, etc. — of the Es- capes. And in hotels every room should have suspended, on or near the gas bracket, a placard giving plain direc- tions as to how to find the Fire-Escape. Hallways should be provided with red lights at the windows where the Escape balcony is located. Guests should never, on entering a hotel for the first time, ascend in the elevator, but always by the stairways, and endeavor to get a definite idea of the situation. nsurance The attention of Insurance men has been drawn to the advantages of this Escape, and in New York, Chi- cago, Indianapolis, Detroit and other cities, where it is erected upon buildings, a substantial reduction is made in the rates On the wholesale house of Marshall Field & Co. (formerly Field, Leiter & Co.), Chicago, the reductions made on a single year’s premiums more than sufficed for the payment of all the Escapes. PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY. 7 No. 3. With or without Stand-Pipe and Water Connections, and with cast or wrought iron ornamental railing if desired. Prices furnished upon application. 8 I CHALLENGE THE WORLD IN imoma Treasury Department , Office of the Supervising Architect. C. E. Creecy, Esq., i i 7 C Street , N. £., Washington D. C. : Sir — Yours of the yth instant is received , submitting, as Attorney for John T. Cowles , a proposal to erect four Stand-Pipes and Fire- Escapes in the court yards of the Treasury Department , as per cut No. 2 of his catalogue , for tivo thousand dollars ($ 2 , 000 ), and the pro- posal is hereby accepted : two Stand-Pipes and Ladders to be placed in each court yard, and con- nections for hose to be made at the fourth story and at the roof. Please proceed with the work at once , and complete it at the earliest possible date. Very respectfully , JAS. G. HILL, Supervising A rchitect. PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY. 9 No. 4. This cut represents the Fire-Escape Ladders simply, with double balconies. This is so arranged that fifty or more persons can escape simultaneously. The large balconies (each of which can accommodate fifteen persons) are a safeguard against falls for a greater distance than the space between the balconies. Competent assistants at every balcony can. from t he OUTSIDE, aid children o»* infirm persons to escape down the INSIDE of the ladder Prices given on application with or without Stand-Pipi . io I CHALLENGE THE WORLD IN Designed for main entrances to schools, academies, factories, asylums, etc. Made in any desired length, size or shape, with plain pipe or ornamental railing. The treads and risers are perforated, and ice-proof — impossible to slip on them — no accumulations of snow, ice or dirt; do not exclude the light; serve as perfect foot scrapers; light, airy and substantial. This stairway erected at Michigan School for the Blind, Lansing, Mich., to the management of which I refer all who may desire information as to the practical utilities of this stairway. PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY 11 Stairway No. 1. Prices furnished upon application. 12 I CHALLENGE THE WORLD IN Stairway No. 2. Designed for rear stairways, where landings with angles are required. Same practical advantages as Stairway No. 1. PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY. 13 h 1 Of tf|e Uqited States is divided as fol.ows be- tweeq JOHN T. COWLES, tfqe Patentee, aqd MATHIAS Benner, of Chicago, eacf] f)av ng ex- clusive rights iq his owq States: JOHN T. COWLES has the following territory: Minnesota, Olqio, Iowa, Delaware, Missouri, Marylaqd, Arkaqsas, New Jersey, Louisiaqa, Pennsy Ivaqia, Michigan, West Virgiqia, Iqdiaqa, Dist. Columbia, Virgiqia, Nortf) Caroliqa, Coqqecticut, Brooklyn, N, Y. MATHIAS BENNER, HOME OFFICE 264 SOUTH JEFFERSON ST., CHICAGO, ILL. HAS THE FOLLOWING TERRITORY: Wiscoqsin, , New York, I Hiqois, Rljode Islaqd, Keqtucky, Verrqont, Tennessee, Maiqe, Mississippi, South Caroliqa, Georgia, New Hampshire, Alabarqa, Massachusetts, Florida. CITIES WHICH HAVE ADOPTED THE IMPROVED fftand-pipe and Fire-Escape CHICAGO, ILL. ST. LOUIS, MO CINCINNATI, OHIO. MILWAUKEE, WIS. MEMPHIS, TENN. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. KANSAS CITY, MO. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. AKRON. OHIO. DAYTON, OHIO CLEVELAND, OHIO GRAND HAVEN, MICH. DENVER, COL. SOUTH BEND, IND. RACINE, WIS. ROCKFORD, ILL. NEWARK, N. J. PHILADELPHIA, PA. PITTSBURGH, PA. EVANSVILLE, IND. MASSILLON, OHIO. NEW YORK CITY. DETROIT, MICH. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. BURLINGTON, IOWA. Prominent Buildings Saved BY THE USE OF THIS APPARATUS. Honore Building, Chicago. St. Mary’s Block, Chicago. Marshall Field’s Building, Chicago. Le Grand Burton Building, Chicago. Furst & Bradley’s Agricultural Works, Chicago. Windsor Hotel, Denver, Col. Baum’s Building, St. Louis, Mo. Daniel O. Stewart, Indianapolis. AVERY LIBRARY COLUMBIA UlllVLiw.i i ill** -S57 ^83 DOPTED G> U. S. Government AND All the Largest Cities in the United States and Canada. Six Distinct Patents: FEBRUARY I, 1876. SEPTEMBER 5, 1876. MARCH 13, 1877. JANUARY 18, 1881. FEBRUARY 27, 1883, Two Patents,