Drain Smoke Tester

These were known as the “Eclipse” smoke generator and are made up of a combustion chamber for smoldering, smoke producing paper and a pump/bellows to provide pressure.
Made by Burn Brothers, it is featured in the May 1898 issue of “The Sanitary Engineer”.
Salt glazed underground drainage pipes were laid without a bedding material but with holes dug in the trench to allow for the pipe collars. They were then jointed by firstly caulking the joint with Tarred Gaskin, a tar impregnated rope and applying a sand and cement fillet around the entire pipe.
A pressurised smoke test was then applied to test for leaks – a true test of workmanship.
These have been on this site for 70+ years.