lain or enameled iron is known to the trade as "No. 1 Zinc White Finish", and consists of a number of coats of enamel each baked on and smoothed down. This may be decorated with lines or patterns in colors, as desired.

Grades of Goods. Porcelain goods are marketed in two grades with considerable variation in price. "Class A" represents the highest average of production possible, "Class B", a lower average grade but one of fine quality, it being well understood that it is impossible to make large pieces of this ware absolutely perfect, that is, without speck or mark of any kind whatever.

Enameled iron goods are put on the market in two grades, the better of which represents an article thoroughly coated with enamel, applied as evenly and smoothly as the art permits, and under careful inspection during the different processes of manufacture. The second grade includes goods with a coating reasonably smooth, two or three pinholes and minute scratches or lines being allowed. Unimportant blemishes, such as small specks of foreign matter in the enamel, cannot be entirely prevented in goods of either grade.

Shower Baths. The shower bath has become a fixture of general use in the modern well-equipped bathroom. It may be installed either in connection with the tub or as a separate fixture. The simplest way is to extend the hot- and cold-water pipes of the bath supply up to a connecting valve, within easy reach, which controls the flow from a shower head set to discharge into the tub. This valve should be of an anti-scalding pattern so arranged that it is impossible to turn on hot water of an unexpectedly high temperature. A rubber or duck curtain supported from a large ring prevents the spray from splashing beyond the rim of the tub, and the water falls into the tub and drains through the regular fixtures, Fig. 72.

A separate shower-that is, one not over a tub- -can be set in a corner of the room at the side, or in a niche or cabinet, receptors being made to meet all conditions. One advantage of a separate fixture, is that it permits the installation of encircling pipes giving needle-baths, liver-sprays, and a variety of showers.

Medicine Cabinets. Cabinets for medicine or toilet goods are an important feature of the bathroom. These may be finished on the outside and hung to the wall, but a better arrangement is to provide a pocket the depth of the studs and to set the cabinet in

with little or no projection. Cabinets of different sizes may be bought; some are made of wood and finished with wood, others are made with a celluloid covering over wood. The best cabinets are

Fig. 74. German Silver or Copper Pantry Sink with Overflow and Waste Connection Courtesy of Crane Company, Chicago

of enameled metal with adjustable glass shelves, and have a plain enameled door or a mirror set in the face of the door. These are usually set over the lavatory and flanked on either side by lights.

Sinks and Trays. Not the least important of the 'plumbing fixtures are the sinks and wash trays, which are subject to harder and more constant use than any of the others. For the kitchen sink the choice will lie primarily between soapstone, porcelain, and iron.

Soapstone sinks, although they have been the standard for many years past, are open to the objection that they present a surface slightly absorbent, which in time becomes dingy from grease and soap. Porcelain sinks are very satisfactory but expensive and are used only in costly houses.

In iron sinks the choice may be made between a plain and an enameled finish. The old style of plain iron sinks to be set in a wood frame are still on the market and are a good article. At a little more expense sinks enameled on the inside only may be obtained, but a better sink and one of increasing popularity is enameled inside and out. The best type of these is cast with integral backpiece on back and end, Fig. 73.

The pantry or "butler's" sink for the washing of dishes is best if made of German silver, white metal, or copper, Fig. 74. These sinks have a standing overflow, designed to retain a considerable depth of water so that fragile dishes can be washed conveniently and with little danger of breakage. Sometimes the sinks are made to order with a central partition giving separate compartments for washing and for rinsing, and it is possible also to have the drainboards and back covered with the same metal as the sink.

Open

Laundry Tubs. These are made in the same range of materials as the better grades of kitchen sinks and the selection of the particular kind will depend mainly upon the location of the tubs. If the laundry is put in the basement or is a distinct apartment anywhere, a two- or three-part set of soapstone tubs is very satisfactory. If, however, as is often the case, tubs are installed in the kitchen, the style of the kitchen sink may influence the choice of the tubs.

Closed

Fig. 75. Section Showing Ground Cock Open and Closed

Cocks. The choice of cocks for the fixtures will lie mainly between two kinds, the ground cock and the compression or screwdown cock. The former consists of a ground plug through which is

put a hole in line with the aperture; the cock is opened by turning the plug so that the hole is in the range of the bore, and closed by turning it so that the hole is across the bore, Fig. 75. Although simple and positive in action, this form of cock is open to the objections that when in constant use the plug and socket become worn, especially if the water contains any sand or grit, and if used only occasionally, the adjacent parts become corroded so that the plug

E

B

D

A

-C

Fig. 76. Section of "Cornell" Self-Closing Faucet. A-Handle; B-Stem; C-Ball; D-Seat; E-Spring; F-Union Courtesy of Federal-Hueber Company, Chicago

refuses to turn. A better form is the compression cock, Fig. 76, in which the spindle is screwed down hard upon the opening and is given a perfect contact by means of a washer of leather or composition, which can be easily renewed when it becomes so much worn that it allows the cock to leak. Compression cocks require several turns to seat the valves in place and are in no sense quick closing. If quick closing is desired, it may be secured by using a type known as the Fuller cock, Fig. 77, in which a core or plug is operated in the waterway by a quarterturn of an eccentric stem. There is some objection

to the use of quick-acting faucets if the water pressure is high on account of "water hammer", but with ordinary house pressure this is not a serious objection.

Faucets for lavatories and bathtubs may also be obtained of a double pattern that mixes the hot and cold water before it flows from the pipe. The connecting parts are sometimes visible and

sometimes concealed by the porcelain or enameled rim, the labeled handles only showing.

The cocks in bathroom and china closets should, in general, be nickel-plated, but the cocks and piping of kitchen and laundry will be more satisfactory if of polished brass. The cold-water cock of these fixtures, and of the pantry sink as well, should have a hosenozzle termination to facilitate washing the back porch, etc. Supervision. When the plumbing

fixtures have been installed, the superintendent should see that they are properly protected from accident or abuse, until the owner is ready to assume the care of the house.

HEATING

Systems of Heating. While the plumbing work is being done, another set of men have been putting in the heating apparatus. The selection of the heating apparatus will depend upon local custom, expense, and personal preference. Three principal methods present themselves with some special features to recommend each. These are the hot-air furnace, the hot-water heater, and the steam boiler. The simplest and least expensive to install is the hot-air furnace, Fig. 78, which also has the merit of introducing a continuous supply of warmed fresh air into the house, thus improving the ventilation. Next in cost of installation, is the system of direct steam heating; when once installed, the cost of maintenance is less than the hot-air furnace. This is due in part to the fact that in direct steam heating, the already tempered air of the rooms is simply raised to the desired warmth, and fresh air must be supplied by other means. The system has the advantages of being more easily adapted to the heating of distant parts of the house, and of being positive in its action at all times.