Sleuths of the GWR Works

At the Great Western Railway Works at Swindon are men who spend their days counting the number of bristles in a broom.

When they are not engaged in that rather depressing occupation, they are separating wool from cotton in French carpet and totting up the number of cotton threads, or determining how many violent shocks will shatter an inverted gas mantle.

These men, about twenty in all, who work in brown coats at their benches, are the special investigators of the Great Western Railway. Officially they have the prosaic title of "Inspector" but, actually, they are sleuths, who combine the powers of observation of a Sherlock Holmes with the deductive skill of Father Brown. Their task is to examine and test all supplies used by the company. It is work that involves a multitude of detail and a thousand scientific experiments.

“This department, which has been in existence for about thirty years," said Mr. Sidney F. Adams, the chief, who conducted an Evening Advertiser representative around the building; has meant the saving of thousands of pounds to the railway company. “We have, ensured that the company gets what it pays for. Everything is subjected to the most exhaustive tests, from which are evolved standard specifications. - Below those a contractor may not go. If his goods do not reach the standard required, back they go.”

“Of course, it means many arguments with contracting companies, but usually they are glad to accept our standards. Indeed, many manufacturers have visited us and taken advantage of our tests.” Here Mr. Adams opened a long drawer which contained thousands printed forms, all neatly filled in. “AlI our tests are recorded and tabulated," he explained. "Any one can be referred to in a minute or two.

“Here is an instance of the work we do. French rep is wanted for the upholstery of carriages. The consignment is measured and then a test piece is cut off. The dimensions of the piece are analysed, the weights of the wool and of the cotton are taken, and the number of cotton threads counted. Finally, the tensile strength is determined. From these tests, a standard is arrived at. Any carpet below it is rejected”

“Our experiments with rubber have revolutionised its method of production, and we have secured new standards in paints by means of experiments involving the mixing of colours with a tintometer, and the testing of the effect of different atmospheres upon them.” "Then there are shunting poles. Each is separately examined, and if it passes the initial test for grain and weight, a hook is attached. Then a weight of ten stone is applied forcibly and if it passes that it goes out into service. When its life as a shunting pole is over, it comes back to the stores, and is converted into a handle for a hammer.”

“Similarly, we have reached such a standard with files that we are able to convert those of a certain length when their life is over into a smaller size. Thus, we no longer have to buy any of the latter type. Even rat traps and rat poison are investigated with care.”

“Some years ago," said Mr. Adams, we found that the dye in the pattern of towels which are used in trains ran upon being washed. It caused a good deal of trouble, but we were able to tell the contractor what was wrong with the dye and get it changed.”

“We started work upon lamps and found that in almost every case their reflectors did not reflect at all. Investigations showed us how to make them reflect, and the information was passed on to the manufacturers. I invented a machine which will subject the inverted gas mantle used to illuminate railway carriages to two thousand shocks. Our standard is one thousand shocks, but our tests carry the investigations much further."

This remarkable department of research was built up by one man, Mr. H. J, Edmonds, who invented the system, His work has been carried on by Mr. Adams,