EHL317. Winser & Co’s. c1894. Location: 40 Coltstocks Road, ‘The Village’ Meads, Eastbourne. what3words: taped.thus.agents

 

Winser & Co’s - Inspection Cover - London S.W. - Buckingham Palace Rd.

From ‘Plumbing Practice’ published 1888 by J. Wright Clarke, First National Honours Medallist for Plumbers' Work, 1881, technical lecturer and instructor of practical plumbing at the Polytechnic, London: ‘Cast-iron manhole-covers are made in an endless variety of patterns, and may be divided into two classes, one being the open ventilating cover, and the other the air-tight cover, both being cast in heavy and light patterns. If the open cover is fixed in a situation likely to be traversed by heavy traffic, such as coal-carts etc, a strong pattern should be used, and fitted with a galvanized iron dirt-box; the light patterns can only be used in situations entirely free from traffic…the closed covers may be used where air-inlets are not required, a light-hinged cover being suitable for the purpose, except close to buildings, when the chambers should always be protected by what are known as ‘air-tight covers’.  These are generally made by having a strip of India-rubber in the frame, into which the cover presses when closed.  Instead of India-rubber, a groove in the frame is sometimes filled with sand or with oil, glycerine, or soft soap, and in addition the cover is screwed down into the frame…most of the best sanitary engineers have inspection-chambers, or manholes, built at all junctions of drains, and also at any change of direction, and have only a half-pipe or half-bend at that point, so that if any obstruction should lodge there it can easily be removed; or, if the obstruction should be in the straight lengths, any ordinary drain-machine (which is similar to a chimneysweep's) can be pushed through, and so clear it away… the channel-bends of Mr. Winser have an overhang on the outer side to prevent the escape of sewage on to the floor of the manhole, and the branches are higher than the central channel….Winser & Co. are Patentees and Manufacturers of several approved appliances, such as Channel Bends, Traps, Manhole Covers etc, of which particulars may be had on application. They are prepared to undertake and carry out work of any description, either in large or small jobs, at the lowest remunerative price. They are, however, neither able nor willing to compete with ‘skin plumbers,’ as they only put in good work and material. Sole Address: Works: - Belgrave Buildings, SW. Winser & Co., 52, Buckingham Palace Road, London, S.W.’  

Note: The Royal Polytechnic Institution (now the University of Westminster) was built by William Mountford Nurse in 1837 and opened at 309 Regent Street on August 6th 1838 to provide (in the words of its prospectus of 1837) ‘an institution where the Public, at little expense, may acquire practical knowledge of the various arts and branches of science connected with manufacturers, mining operations and rural economy.’