In the issue of "Housing," for 7th June, appeared a copy of General Housing Memorandum, No. 27, issued by the Ministry of Health with regard to the sale of houses built by local authorities.

In response to numerous requests by local authorities to the Ministry of Health, for general guidance as to the conditions to be observed in drawing up schemes for the sale of houses on the plan of payment by instalments, a further Memorandum, No. 33, has now been issued to all local authorities and is on sale (price 1d.). It deals with the mortgage of property to the local authority, the limit of loan which may be advanced, the amount of monthly or weekly instalments, and the form of mortgage, etc. Illustrations are given of the manner in which instalments should be brought into account, and Tables are appended showing the amounts of monthly or weekly payment for loan charges for loans of various amounts, the amounts of loan outstanding at the end of each half-year, and the apportionment of instalments between (1) interest, (2) repayment of loan, and (3) expenses of administration.

NEW METHODS AND MATERIALS.

(Continued.)

The Metal Jointing Co., Ltd., 16, Lower Roadway, Adelphi, W.C. 2.

"

Amalgaline Plumbing. This system of plumbing offers a useful and economical alternative to wiped " joints and enables the plumber to make stronger and neater joints more quickly.

The method of jointing may generally be described as one whereby two surfaces of lead, or one of lead and one of brass, are fitted closely together. The surfaces are cleaned, and between them is placed a metallic ribbon, 0.002 in. thick, treated with a composition which acts as the flux. The surfaces are kept in close contact whilst heat is applied by means of a blow lamp until the ribbon melts, which occurs at a lower temperature than the melting point of lead. When this takes place the two opposing surfaces of lead fuse or run together, the resultant joint being then indistinguishable from the solid lead and also unbreakable. For making running joints in water service pipes, tools are used for cutting the ends of the pipes so as to form a spigot and socket, or "coned joint. Around the spigot end is wra p p ed a piece

(a) Spigot.

HOUSING BONDS AT CALNE.

71

of Amalg'a'line, which is then inserted the socket,

in

Overton

Rock

St. Austell

206

Wigston Magna .. 24

Ware

28

28

or

(b) Socket.

reducing down joints, lead fittings are used ; and as these are already coned, it is only necessary to make a short spigot cut on the

entering pipe. For

connecting lead to

The method employed with light waste and soil pipes is that of cupping "-i.e., expanding one pipe to the exact overall diameter of the entering pipe by means of moulds made for the purpose.