CHIMNEY SWEEPING DESCRIBED.
A number of flues concentrated, forms a stack of chimneys, as represented in the engraving. Flues, at a distance from the stack, are conveyed to it either in a horizontal or sloping form, as at A and G. The size of flues generally is nine inches by fourteen inches; a space sufficiently large to convey the smoke, but not large enough to be ascended, except by little children, for the purpose of cleansing them.
The plan adopted by the climbing-boy to ascend chimneys is, by pressing his feet, back, and knees against the sides of the flue, by which means he propels or hitches himself up by degrees, having one arm above his head, holding a brush, and the other arm by his side, as described in B. At C the boy is represented as putting his brush out of the top of the chimney-pot, but generally he rattles it with his brush, to satisfy the parties below that he has been to the top. This accomplished, he gradually slides down to the stove or grate.
It has frequently occurred, that boys have, either through fear or inattention, got into the form of nose and knees together, as described at E; sometimes they remain in this cramped and painful position for hours before they are liberated, being totally unable to extricate themselves.
Climbing-boys are exposed to considerable danger in horizontal or angular flues, as at A. The reason is obvious; after passing through the chimney and descending to the second angle from the fire place, the boy finds it completely filled up with soot, which he has dislodged from the sides of the upright part. He endeavours to pass by it, and after much struggling, he succeeds till stopped by his shoulders; but the soot is compressed so hard all around him, by his exertions, that he cannot go back; he then endeavours to move forward, but his attempts in this respect are often useless, for the covering of the horizontal part of the flue being stone, the sharp angle of it bears hard on his shoulders, as at H, and prevents him from moving in the least either one way or the other. His face being covered with a climbing-cap, and being completely enclosed in the soot beneath, his breath is stopped. In this dreadful condition he struggles violently to extricate himself, but his strength fails him, and in a few minutes he is gone for ever.
Many instances have occurred of boys being thus suffocated in chimneys, or burnt, or smothered in the rubbish, while attempting to core a chimney; others have been killed by falling from the tops of chimneys. Such accidents have happened in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Waterford, Wakefield, Newport Isle of Wight, Hereford, Preston, Dumfries, Dudley, Deal, Keighley, Clapham, and Belfast; and many other cases may have occurred without having come to the knowledge of the public.
Some persons have an idea that a round brush will not sweep a square flue, but in the annexed diagram, the diameter of the brush B B is compared with the chimney A, which clearly shows that the whalebone of which the brush is composed, is forced into every part of the flue, and being repeatedly thrust up and down, must sweep it effectually.
A bricklayer might here observe, “Admitting you can sweep chimneys with the machine, how would you core them?” More effectually and with greater facility than boys can possibly do it. Chimneys that are straight, or nearly so, do not require coring, and the rubbish that falls on the diagonal part of the flue, where the angles are obtuse, can easily be dislodged by a stiff brush attached to the machine, and introduced into the top of the chimney. At right angles, or when they are nearly so, an opening should be left six or nine inches square at the angle: and when the chimneys are finished, the core can be extracted in five minutes, which a boy would not be able to accomplish in several hours or days. It has frequently occurred, that a boy could not succeed in clearing the chimney of the core, and an opening has been made for that purpose at last. This plan was adopted with success at Buckingham Palace, the London University, Post Office, St. Martin’s-le-grand, and Fishmonger’s Hall. It is altogether unreasonable to employ boys to core chimneys at the imminent danger of their lives, when it can be so easily done as described, and at so much less expense.
A builder might remark, “You have explained how you can core chimneys without a climbing-boy, but how would you place a brick or stop a crevice in any part of a flue, if required, without a climbing-boy?” On the first appearance of smoke, I would advise that a carpenter should remove the board that forms the plinth, and one or two flooring boards, when the defect would at once be discovered. A bricklayer would soon make it sound and secure; the boards and plinth might then be replaced, and all would be safe, and no further annoyance experienced.
A good machine, in the hands of a person who well understands the use of it, will not meet with one chimney in a thousand that it cannot effectually sweep. Several persons of this description, who have served their time as chimney-sweepers, are employed in the use of the machine, by the Agents of the Society for Superseding Climbing-boys.
N.B. The provisions of the late “Chimney-sweepers Regulation Act” were entirely against the opinion and advice of the above Society, and the obnoxious clause, prohibiting chimney-sweepers from calling in the streets, was inserted at the suggestion of the principal master chimney-sweepers themselves.
The Society will never be satisfied till the use of climbing-boys is done away with altogether, being a cruel and unnecessary method.
Manufactured by Joseph Glass, No. 2, Moor-lane, Fore-street.
If a Machine is required partly of Ash, and partly of Cane, the cost will be in proportion to the number of joints of each used.
N.B. The screws of all the joints of Glass’s Machine are stamped with his name, to distinguish them from spurious ones.
The following form is recommended to those who may be disposed to become Benefactors to this Society by Will:—
“I give and bequeath untoA. B.andC. D.the sum ofto be raised and paid out of my Personal Estate and Effects upon trust, to the intent that they, or either of them, do pay the same to the Treasurer for the time being of a Benevolent Society, which is now called or commonly known by the name of ‘The Society for Superseding the necessity of Climbing Boys,’ which sum I desire may be applied to the purposes of that Society.”
Ten Guineas constitutes a perpetual, and one Guinea an Annual Member. Subscriptions and Donations are received by the Treasurer, W. Tooke, Esq., 39, Bedford-row; the Honorary Secretary; Messrs. Hoare, Fleet-street; Messrs. Williams and Co., Birchin-lane; and by the Collector, Mr. H. Clemson, No. 7, Grange-road, Bermondsey.
Macintosh, Printer, 20, Great New-street, London.
Transcriber’s NoteMinor printer’s errors have been corrected by the transcriber; otherwise, as far as possible, original spelling and punctuation have been retained.
Transcriber’s Note
Minor printer’s errors have been corrected by the transcriber; otherwise, as far as possible, original spelling and punctuation have been retained.