You will observe that of the 64 fires where the damage has been severe, in no less than 41 cases the cause is not definitely known. As, however, almost all serious losses are placed in the hands of Assessors, I have consulted our friends, the Assessors in Birmingham, and they have been kind enough to inform me that, as far as they have been able to ascertain, a very large proportion of the fires have apparently originated in the polishing shops.

I am sure you will all agree with me that this is a very important fact for us to consider when surveying or rating a brass risk.

I heartily thank the chief officers of the Birmingham and Aston Fire Brigades, and the Fire Loss Assessors for their kindness in assisting me to gather the above particulars, which, I trust, will be of some service.

FISH HOOK AND FISHING-TACKLE
WORKS AND NEEDLE WORKS.

By DAVID KYD,

Northern Assurance Company, Birmingham.

A Paper read before the Insurance Institute of Birmingham, 8th March, 1907.

It would not be an easy matter to select a more interesting or desirable minor-subject for a fire paper than the one now before us. It is true that to Midlanders the title is most likely to appeal principally, yet there are reasons why the interest should not be purely local. The fact that a fishing-tackle establishment may comprise so many different processes of importance one might indeed say, so many different trades-at once suggests that a study of the industry must prove profitable to all. Moreover, the theme has not been rendered stale by reason of too liberal treatment in the past-in fact, quite the reverse is the case.

Yet, on the other hand, such risks, from the underwriters' point of view, can scarcely be said to embrace many features peculiar to the class. It is rather in the variety of processes that the interest lies. The diversity is wide. Thus we may find sawmilling and general woodworking (with and without power), engineering and metal work, including furnace tempering; plating and polishing; varnishing; rope walk; basket-making; as well as the delicate hand-processes connected with the finishing of fly-hooks. Surely such a class is inviting in its very comprehensiveness. And if that remark applies to the fishingtackle division, it is evident that the addition of a description relative to the allied trade of needle-making must necessitate that much ground be covered under the present title. Such being the case, it is clear that all temptation to romantic or historical prologue should be resisted, and a step taken right away in medias res.

It is perhaps desirable, in view of the relatively narrower field covered in the needle-making industry, that that branch of the subject be dealt with first, thus clearing the way for the more important and more interesting (because more varied) section-that of fishing tackle.

NEEDLE WORKS.

It may be said at the outset that, apart from the relative trades of cardboard-boxmaking and general fancy work, occasionally, but by no means invariably, to be found in such factories, the actual work required in the manufacture of the needle is practically non-hazardous.

The wire, with which operations commence, is received in coils from the wire-rolling mills. Usually, only the best steel wire is used. Occasionally something is done in the way of wire-drawing (that is, stretching) by slowly-revolving powerdrums. As a rule, however, the wire is received by the needle people in the required thicknesses. It is thus ready to be reduced, by machinery and by hand, to the length and to something like the shape required. In the tool shop the definite size is arrived at, and as needles are invariably made in pairs, each length of steel is, in the early stages, twice as long as the finished article. The size determined, the actual making is proceeded with. This is done by stamping machines, usually worked on the treadle system, but occasionally by power. For pointing, a small power grindstone is as a rule required, while the eye is pierced by means of a hand-press. These processes completed, filing by hand ("burring ") is needful, to do away with all roughness and edge imperfections. This done, each piece of steel is divided into two complete needles.

The

After these preliminaries comes an important stage. article has to be rendered fit for use by passing through the furnaces. This is known as hardening-that process so essential for producing utility and durability to many kinds of metal goods. Hardening is frequently done in a detached building, probably specially built for the work. If so, the furnace, with its flue, will no doubt be found to be quite satisfactory, and the shop itself to contain as little as possible of a combustible nature. Later on, in the other section of the subject, further reference will be made to hardening, with the

closely-allied, if not synonymous, processes of tempering and annealing.

On leaving the hardening shop, scouring is needful. For this the needles are packed in rolled sacks, which are spread with soft soap and emery powder, and by large and powerful runners the sacks are made to revolve. They are driven to and fro in a manner suggestive of mangling, and the treatment frequently lasts a week, each package being daily renewed with fresh supplies of soap and emery powder. This mangling process is succeeded in turn by cleansing, first in soap-suds vats, usually steam-heated, thereafter in pans of sawdust. The latter,

although used as a rule cold, must be quite dry as well as clean. The shaking-barrel, as a further means of cleansing and brightening the stock, is at this stage usually resorted to. The finishing touches are obtained by application to an emery-wheel or buff-leather bob. This is a particularly delicate process, requiring extreme dryness of hand. If it is successfully done, the finished needle is ready for packing and despatch.

There is nothing hazardous or specially inflammable about the paper used in packing; blueish-black in colour and tough in texture, it is, no doubt, invariably procured from the papermills. It must, however, be kept specially dry, because of the fragile nature of the stock, which would quickly be damaged by any suggestion of moisture. While the bulk will be stored in bundled reams, it is important to observe by what means the paper that is about to be used is maintained in proper condition. Sometimes this is done by placing it on rails near pipe stoves, an arrangement to which (all due precautions as to proximity and otherwise being taken) there is perhaps little objection, because actual drying is not so much required as merely an absence of dampness.

Such, then, is the comparatively uneventful story of the making of that invaluable little instrument the needle. It cannot be said that any of the mechanical or manual dealings through which the wire passes ere the finished article is produced offer in themselves much fire hazard. No mineral oils or other inflammables are required, either for cleaning the machinery or otherwise. The buildings, moreover, with the exception of the roof, are frequently incombustible internally, stone floors, with an entire absence of wood lining to walls, being the rule rather than the exception. Wood partitioning