I. The movement for the adoption of standard fire hose couplings dates from the great Boston fire of 1872, which showed the impossibility of the fire departments of adjacent towns acting in unison when provided with the diverse sizes of hose fittings then prevailing.
- The matter was taken up at the first Convention of Fire Engineers, in 1873 , and was discussed at various conventions in succeeding years.
The resolutions gradually became more definite, although little was accomplished toward bringing about the desired changes until the agitation received a new impetus from the Baltimore fire in 19o4, when neither the Washington, Philadelphia, nor New York fire engines, on their arrival, could make connection with the local fire hydrants.
- This condition led the Merchants and Miners Transportation Company, in April, 19o4, to request the Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Labor to investigate the subject of fire hose couplings. The Secretary referred the matter to the Bureau of Standards, and, in the investigation which followed, it was found that there was a great diversity in sizes and threads of couplings throughout the: United States. It was evident that considerable expense would be involved in changing from one standard to another, and therefore, at the conference of the committees of the National Fire Protection Association and American Water Works Association, held in New York City, April 24, 19o 5 , the Bureau of Standards proposed the adoption either of the thread which could be shown to be most extensively used, or that thread which possessed the greatest advantages in other respects. Following the latter course, the conference resolved that 7~ threads per inch should be recommended for 2~-inch fire hose couplings. This thread was not regarded as art ideal standard, but was considered the most practicable basis for unification under prevailing conditions. 4. At the annual convention of the International Association of Fire Engineers, at Duluth, in 19o5, this standard was adopted after lengthy discussion, and at Dallas, in 19o6 , the convention reaffirmed the action taken at Duluth, and made its record complete [J. F.I.