June, 1912. THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. xix.

THIS IS

The : : : 
R oll-a-w ay

Screen.
ALL STEEL 

AND

STEEL WIRE.

UNRUSTABLE

AND

PRACTICALLY

IMPERISH.

_________________________________________ ABLE.
Keeps out Hies, mosquitoes, etc. Rolls up and down like a blind.

For Particulars, Prices and addresses o f  local Agents, apply :

Valentine Agencies, Co.,
P*?57jox Steytler’s Buildings, Johannesburg.
Or H. E. Casse, Durban & 5 Chorlton Chbrs., J ’burg

HOHEISEN & CO., Ltd.,
General Contractors 

6, CULLINAN BUILDINGS
(in Basement),

JOHANNESBURG.
P.O. Box 5976. Telegrams: “ HOFULD.” Telephone 769.

W A LTER CUMMINGS,
CERTIFIED SANITARY PLUMBER 
.-. AND HEATING ENGINEER. / .

S P E C IA L IT IE S .— H ot W ate r  Services and Septic Tank 
Insta l la t ions.

S h o p  a n d  O ffices  :

T W IS T  S T R E E T , H IL L B R O W ,
Phone 1 668. JO H A N N E S B U R G . Phone l668.

-------  T H E  -------

Vereeniging Brick & Tile Co., Ltd.
Wire-cut and Pressed Building Bricks,
Fire Bricks, Fire Clay, Blue Paving 
and Stable Bricks, Salt-glazed Pipes, 
and F it t in g s  of a ll dim ensions.

Head Office : L EW IS & M A R K S ' B U ILD IN G S,

Corner President and Simmond Streets, 
JOMAMMESBURQ. ----------

P.O. Box 4480. T elegram s: "  COVER." Telephone No. 166

E M R F I  I O
THE BEST DRY DISTEMPER (Local Manufacture).

Superior to the best Imported Article.

Always Clean. Always Bright. Any Tint.

2/- Per 71b. Packet.
Sold Everywhere. Ask for a Colour Book.

Manufactured by

HANNAM & Co, Ltd.,
MAXWELL BUILDINGS, HARRISON STREET.
Telephone 937 P.O. Box 5645



X X . the  African  architect . June, 1912:

“ R O K ”  (  B ritish  M ade)

ROOFING &  DAMPCOURSE
As ?io7v specified by Leading Architects 
throughout South A frica. Used by the 
P. W .D . and  other Government bodies.
The latest Contract is Johannesburg s
--------------- N ew To7vn H a l l .----------------
Only Experienced Asphalt Layers employed.

Sole Agents : J E N K I N S  &  C o.
174, Main Street, JOHANNESBURG.

C O R R E S P O N D E N C E
Letters f o r  this section should be w ritten  on one side o f  the paper only. The 

w r ite r  m,'>y adopt an assum ed nam e f o r  pm  poses o f  publication, but he must in a ll  
cases fu rn is h  h is  re a l nam e a n d  address to the E d ito r.

COMPETITIONS FOR STUDENTS.
SIR,—Will you please convey to the right quarter 

my opinion that the interests of the profession would 
be far better served if the subjects generally that 
are set for the students’ competitions were of a far 
more modest order. The desirability of the May 
subject, even if only the rough idea of a plan were 
asked for, especially in the limited time mentioned, 
would be open to criticism, but when one reads what 
is required for its representation, one can only regret 
that such a request should be in “ The African 
Architect.”

Being temporarily in the Public Works Department 
—surrounded by numbers of young men—strengthens 
me in any plea for invariable modesty of subject, 
which I am sure will best serve the end we all have 
in view.-—I am, etc.,

Wm . LUCAS.
P.S .—Why use such unusual terms as “ reticulated” 

and “ Rhineland”  feet?
Pretoria, May 8th, 1912.

THE “ BOKE.”

The researches of Mr. Charles Welch, F.S.A ., at 
the Record Office have brought to light a book of 
ordinances of the Carpenters’ Company. The “ boke,” 
as it is called, is dated 1 3 3 3 , though the fraternity 
was not formally incorporated until 1477- The 
ordinances show a very complete state of organisation. 
Work had to be given in preference to members of 
the guild, sickness and incapacity from accident were 
assisted from the “ common-box,” and if the common- 
box was not sufficient, the brethren were assessed to 
make good the deficiency.

A R C H IT E C T S , C L IE N T S  A N D  S P E C I A L I S T S
In cases where a building and its equipment are 

designed entirely by the architect, and completed 
under his direct superintendence, the relations 
between the latter and his client rest upon a perfectly 
satisfactory basis. It happens, however, in the 
present day that the work of engineering specialists 
enters so largely into the domain of building construc­
tion, using the term in its broadest sense, that the 
architect cannot always undertake the whole of the 
details unless he happens to be a structural, mechani­
cal, electrical, hydraulic, and sanitary engineer as 
well as an architect.

Consequently there is need for expert engineering 
assistance, which is easily obtainable, but for which 
the architect’s client is not always ready to pay, for 
the reason that he considers the architect’s hardly- 
earned fees ought to cover everything in the nature 
of professional advice. When this exceedingly com­
plimentary view is taken of the architect’s competency 
only two alternatives are open in respect of highly- 
specialised branches of building construction and 
equipment. One is for the architect to enlist the aid 
of professional specialists and pay their fees out of 
his own pocket, a course he cannot reasonably be 
expected to adopt, and the other is for him to invite 
competitive specifications and estimates from com­
mercial specialists, who are always ready, and usually 
advertise their readiness, to furnish projects and 
drawings “ free of charge.”

Architect Not to Blame.
The architect cannot be blamed if he is driven to 

accept the second alternative, choosing the scheme 
or schemes best suited to his requirements, making 
such modifications in his detail drawings as may be 
necessary, and undertaking the supervision of, and 
responsibility for, the works executed.

As a matter of fact, the system of providing expert 
advice “ free of charge”  is far more illusive than the 
equivalent practice of giving away free various

DREW’S, HARRIS & SHELDON, Ltd.
-------------- SH OP FRO N T C O N T R A C TO R S

STO RE, O FFIC E  &  B A N K  FIT TIN G  S P E C IA L IS T S  JOHANNESBURG

Agents for St. Pancras Ironworks, Ltd 
Pavem ent & Stall Board Lights, Lamson’s 
Pneumatic Cash Tube and Store Services.

P.O. Box 3 7 7 0  T elegram s: “ F R O N T S”



June, 1912. THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. X X X .

“ PAIN T” IS SUCH AN INDEFINITE TERM
th a t, failing- techn ical know ledge, the  buyer m ay— and  does often g e t a  substance  
w hich rep resen ts  an y th in g  from  9 to  90% of th e  genu ine artic le  an d  ye t h is  specifications 
will be fulfilled. I t  therefo re  behoves you to  buy or o rder y o u r p a in ts  by b rand , a 
b ran d  th a t signifies pa in ts  m ade by p rac tica l people w ho know  w hat p a in t shou ld  be 
an d  m ake it so.

F o r beau ty , for econom y, for w ea rin g  qualities, n o th in g  is superio r to

E V A N S’ R E A D Y -M IX ED  PAINTS
C o n ta in ing  the  p u res t ing red ien ts , they are m ixed by m achinery  in p ropo rtions which 
30 y ea rs ’ p rac tica l experience show s is co rrec t for the  S outh  A frican clim ate.

E V A N S ’ R E A D Y -M IX E D  P A IN T S  are ready for use  in 21 beau tifu l shades ; any 
o th e r shade m ade to  o rder a t no h ig h e r price. 14lb. 10/- C olour card  on application .

No. 3 Red Roof Paint, 7/6 per gallon. Navy Grey Paint, lOOlbs., 70/-

H ER BER T E V A N S &  CO.,
P R I T C H A R D  S T R E E T , V O N  B R A N D I S  S Q U A R E ,

’Phone 2215. J O H A N N E S B U R G . P.o. Box 1231.

P .O  Box 1 4 2 T e l e p h o n e  1 5 7 8

W. HAINE,  L i m i t e d ,
E l e c t r i c a l  E n g i n e e r s  6  C o n tr a c to r s .

O f f i c e  a n d  S h o w r o o m

W A L T E R  M A N S I O N .
E L O F F  S T R E E T ,

J O H A N N E S B U R G .

C. C O L L I N S ,
S T O N E  M E R C H A N T  
a n d  C O N T R A C T O R .

Office: 252, COMMISSIONER STREET, Johannesburg.
Works : Commissioner, Green, Fox and Berea Streets. 

Telephone 1475.

Estimates given for any description of Stone, Slate, 
Marble or Granite Work-

JOHANNESBURG.
Office.: 54, SAUER’S BUILDINGS. 

W orks : POLLY STREET.

Telegram. : “ Granolithic.
P.O. Pox 2665.
’Phone 2408.

Contractors for all 
kinds of

FLOORS AND SIDEWALKS

CONCRETE, GRANOLITHIC, 
s 'A S P H A L T I C  & ASPHALTE, &c., &c.

MALTHOID ” Roofs a speciality.

LYSAGHT'S
GALVANIZED CORRUGATED IRON

Used by the South African Railways. 
LASTS A  LIFE-TIME.

BAERECKE & KLEUDGEN, Durban Agents,
P. O. B o x  849 Telephone 946



X X I I . THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. June, 1912.

Tel. Address : “ POYNTON ”
Telephone 65

Box 247

POYNTON BROS.
Htttlfcrs’ irmmtongt'rs

P R E T O R I A

RANGES : BATHS : SANITARY FITTINGS 
IN T E R IO R S AND T IL E S  
STEEL SASHES AND FRAMES

Registered
Trade
Mark.

ORANGE SERIES
Registered

Trade
M ark

M A N U F A C T U R E R S  IN  JO H A N N E S B U R G  O F

‘ ORANGE BRAND’ FERRO PRUSSIATE PAPERS & LINENS
B y  most modern process and plant, any speed 
from 15 seconds to 5 minutes, guaranteed fresh.

‘ ORANGE BRAND’ BLACK LINE PURE LINEN
for Municipal Plans, to print in one-third time 
taken by other brands.

‘ ORANGE BRAND’ DRAWING PAPERS, TRACING 
CLOTHS AND PAPERS, SECTIONALS AND DETAILS

Specially selected from the finest English,
Continental, and American Mills, to withstand 
climatic conditions in South Africa.

A:J E W  S A M P L E  H O O K  O F  “ O R A N G E  
B R A N D S '' O N  A P P L I C A T I O N

In  the P ress—D escriptive Pam phlet containing 
hints on selection a n d  detailing sfecia  qualities  
Possessed by “  O R A N G E  B R A N D S ."

M O O R E ’ S M O D E R N  M E T H O D S
for keeping records, suitable for Architects,
Builders and others.

R. L. ESSON &  CO.,
Steytier’s Buildings, Loveday Street, JOHANNESBURG

Drawing Office Material 
and Systems Specialists,

P.O . B ox 3664. Telephone 367. Telegram s : “  D raw ing . ”
F acto ries: N ew  D o o rn fo n tein .

articles with a pound of tea. The enterprising tea 
merchant merely gives up a percentage of profit on 
goods actually sold and recoups this by increased 
sales, being thereby enabled to keep down his price 
to the current market rate. On the other hand, the 
structural or engineering specialist gives away speci­
fications and drawings to any person who may ask 
for them without the certainty of selling anything in 
return. So universal has this pernicious system 
become that the commercial specialist is fully aware 
of the fact that all his competitors are engaged in it, 
and that he must count himself fortunate even if 
comparatively few of his projects result in profitable 
business.

How it Works in Practice.

Now let us see how this works out in practice. 
The steel contractor, reinforced concrete specialist, 
heating engineer, or electrical engineer has to 
maintain a costly drawing office and estimating 
department for the preparation of technical projects.
If every one of these were accepted, the cost would 
be equivalent to a very small percentage of the 
estimate price, and the architect s client would suffer 
no loss. But, owing to the competition of rival firms, 
the specialist can only hope to be successful occasion­
ally, and it is found even by firms in an exceptionally 
favourable position that the net cost of producing 
schemes and drawings to be given “ free of charge ” 
amounts to from five to ten per cent, on the resulting 
annual turnover.

The net upshot is that for work which could 
otherwise be executed for £10,000 the specialist is 
obliged to charge from £10,500 to £ 11,0 0 0  in order 
to get back the money wasted on unproductive 
projects. The figures here used for the purposes of 
illustration may not be of universal accuracy, but 
there is no escape from the inexorable conclusion that 
enormous sums of money are being paid every year 
by architects’ clients, quite unconsciously, for the 
wasted work done in the drawing offices of commercial 
specialists, a state of things for which architects are 
in no way responsible.

Builders’ Estimates.
Perhaps it may be thought by some of our readers 

that the same could be said of building contractors 
and their estimates. We are quite aware that builders 
have to face a certain proportion of unremunerated 
work as the result of competitive tendering, but their 
position is more favourable than that of engineering 
and structural specialists for the reasons that they 
are never asked to prepare designs, and that the 
quantities issued by architects reduce the work of 
estimating to a minimum. Moreover, builders only 
tender for work that has been definitely authorised, 
and each competitor knows that his tender has a fair 
chance of being accepted.

The specialist is not by anv means on so good a 
footing, having to prepare designs, work out details, 
and get out quantities, in addition to the preparation 
of estimates, and, further, he is willing to do all these 
things for the convenience of architects and others 
who merely wish to consider whether or not the kind 
of construction or work involved shall be adopted, or 
to aid the architect in preparing designs to be 
submitted in competition with those of other 
architects.



June, 1912. fHE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. xxiii.

South
African
General
Electric
Company.

Commercial Exchange 
Buildings, Main Street, 
J O H A N N E S B U R G .

P.O. Box 19 0 5. 
’ Phone 4 3 2 1 .

For Modern Scientific Lighting
—  — — — —  — ----------  U S E ------- — —— —  --------------------- -------

G. E. EDISON MAZDA LAMPS,
With drawn tungsten wire filaments.

MAZDA-HOLOPHANE STILETTO PRISM REFLECTORS.
Highest Efficiency. Greatest Economy.

EYE COMFORT SYSTEM
of indirect illumination.

X-RAY WINDOW FITTINGS
for Store Lighting.

The great variety of scientific glassware available for all purposes, 
and the high efficiency and convenience of the Holophane System of 
Illumination render it suitable for, and adaptable to, any scheme of lighting.

The Eye-Comfort System is specially suitable for the lighting of 
large interiors such as Restaurants, Concert Halls, Dining Halls, etc., etc.



xxiv. THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. June, IQ12.

i

■

i

.W .V V .V .V .V .W .V .

P. JA N SE N ,
EN G IN E E R  A N D  C O N TR ACTO R

foi
Buildings, Bridges and Railways, Subways, 

Tunnels and Excavations.
L A R G E  P L A N T  A L W A Y S  O N  H A N D

22 YEARS SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

. . . Address E nquiries .

P.O. Box 3421, JOHANNESBURG.
- v . v - v .

P.o. Box 3603. T elephone 941

SAM W ILK IN S O N ,
B u il d e r  a n d  C o n t r a c t o r .

Estim ates G iven  for all kinds o f  W ork.

Corner Macintyre & Fawcus Streets, 
JEPPESTOW N.

Telephone No. 2577. Box No. 5184.

HENDERSON & GORDON,
—  Builders and 
General Contractors.

Workshops and Offices :
CORNER BEREA & COM MISSIONER STREETS,

JO H A N N E S B U R G .

pecialists in

Colonial-made Furniture 
Shop and Office Fittings

------  E STIM A TE S SU P PL IE D  FR EE. ------------

BEARD, ELLIS & SCOTT
-------- (Late with Gordon Mitchell & Co.)---------

Workshops : 160, Anderson St., JOHANNESBURG
P.O. BO X  5 2 1 5  ’P H O N E  4 4 9 3

Not an Easy Position.
The position is not an easy one to deal with, for 

it has arisen largely from the anxiety of the specialist 
firms to secure the favourable consideration of archi­
tects. The same kind of thing prevails in engineering 
practice, as shown by the presidential address of 
Mr. Michael Longridge to the Manchester Association 
of Engineers only a few weeks back. Consequently 
the waste of money in speculative estimates and 
designs would not be absolutely stopped if consulting 
engineers were associated with architects in all 
necessary cases. Nevertheless, the more general 
adoption of such co-operation would be a. move in the 
right direction, and there is no doubt that if clients 
would pay directly for all necessary professional aid 
there would be an important reduction in the indirect 
payment now levied in the form of enhanced prices 
for work done by commercial specialists professing, 
but really unable, to furnish plans and specifications 
free of charge. In the case of many important 
buildings completed during recent years co-operation 
of the kind mentioned has been adopted on the 
recommendation of the architects, and we feel sure 
that the practice would be generally followed by the 
profession, where advisable, if clients would be more 
ready to recognise its advantages.—“ The Builder.”

THE BRITISH SCHOOL AT ROME.
Particulars have been published in a White Paper 

issued from the Privy Council Office of the Royal 
Charter which it is proposed to grant to the British 
School at Rome, to be erected on the site of the 
pavilion which contained the British Section of Fine 
Arts in the International Exhibition held last year in 
Rome. The articles of the charter are of interest and 
importance, setting forth the object and constitution 
of the school, and further reference will be made to 
the proposals in our next issue. The appointed 
members of the council will include two appointed by 
the Royal Institute of British Architects, both of whom 
will be architects, and four by the Royal Academy of 
Arts, one of whom will be an architect and one a 
sculptor.

NETICHATEL.
Swiss archaeologists are puzzled about the dis­

covery at Neuchatel, by workmen on the future site 
of a hospital, of a vault built in bronze, which they 
state was erected 600 years B.C. In the vault the 
skeleton of a young woman was found, whose bones 
seem to be mummified, and on her wrists were four 
bracelets in bronze and two in lignite, while by her 
side was a little bronze bell.

MOUNT LEBANON.

Accompanying the gift of a gavel to the Marl­
borough Lodge, Liverpool, from Bro. Everett C. 
Brenton, Grand Master, State of Mass., U.S.A., was 
a framed address which announced that the log from 
which the gavel was made was brought down from 
Mount Lebanon by members of the Mount Lebanon 
Lodge. The log came from the same forest where 
the timber was secured for the building of the-Ark 
and the two temples at Jerusalem.



June, 1912. THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. xxv.

A R T H U R  C H E S TE R ,
A .I.E .E .

E l e c t r i c a l  E n g i n e e r .

E M P I R E  B U I L D I N G S ,
K R U I S  S T R E E T ,  P h o n e  1 8 9 5

J O H A N N E S B U R G .  P.o. B o x  3 3 1 7

H U G H  B A R K E R ,
P.O Box 575. Established 1893. ’Phone 1458.

Plumber and Sanitary Engineer
C O PPER SM ITH  A N D  SH E E T  M ETA L W O R K E R

fffifiijiiiiffi h o t  w a t e r  in s t a l l a t io n s
COILS, CARVING TABLES AND PLATES

O ffice  and W o rk s:

211, MARSHALL ST., JOHANNESBURG

S. C. BROWN
Fencing Contractor, Manufacturer & Importer. 

F E D E R A L  G A T E S ,  t u b u l a r  ^ w r o u g h t  

FF O F  R A T FF  N r  INC, c y c l o n e  f e n c i n g  and aiir r ciasses of W IR E FEN C IN G

Concrete Reinforcement. Brick Reinforcement. Crimped Wall Ties.

I AM AN EX- 
PERT, and I 
know just  
what you want 
It will save 
you both time 
and money to 
consult me be­
foretendering.

S. C. BROWN, 38-42, Raine s Buildings, 
---------------------------  90, Fox Street,

JOHANNESBURG.

"■-v
VVT
'i&S

a
$
a
VVY
VjY1
a
a

Electric Joinery Works,
Makers of High-Class Joinery and Furniture, in 
Colonial, Imported, or any other W ood. 
SPECIALITIES: Purpose made Doors, ^Vindows, 
Mouldings : : Shopfronts and other Fittings to 
any Architect’s Design : : All Branches of the 
Building Trade Contracted for..................................

Works and Offices :

271, Queen Street, PRETORIA
(Corner Queen and Proes Street)

Proprietor: F. CORBISHLEY.

G E N E R A L  EN G IN EER, 
B LA C K SM IT H  A N D  
O R N A M E N T A L  
W O R K ER

In Wrought Iron, 
'Brass and 
Copper.

Gates, 
Railings, 

'Balconies, Grilles, 
Vanes, Staircases, 

Casements, Constructional 
Work.

Cor. VON BRANDIS & ALBERT STREETS, 
J O H A N N E S B U R G .

Wire cut, pressed face and repressed face.
------  Flooring Tiles and Pottery Ware. ------
— Chimney Pots and Garden Borders. —

Four First Prizes at Johannesburg Show, 1912.

_____________________I N S P E C T I O N  I N V I T E D , ____________

M. DONOVAN,
P.O. Box No. 4. 

Phone No. 2.

Waterfall Brick and Tile Works
NEWCLARE.



X X V I THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. June, 1912.

B ox 5 2 6 . Tel. A d d ress: " H E A T IN G .” P hone 2 8 7

New Muckleneuk Brick Factory,
Office : C/r. VERMEULEN & VAN DER WALT STS., 

P R ET O R IA .
W ork s: N E W  M U C K LEN EUK . PR ETO R IA .

P r ic e s  on a p p lic a tio n  to the  above J ld d r e s s .

W IR E  CUT, FA C IN G  A N D  FIR E B R IC K S: BU L L N O SE  and a 
large assortm ent o f  F A N C Y  and  O R N A M E N T A L  BRICKS  

alw ays in  stock.

Quickness and Saving of Time
A re the underlying Principles which make

LOOSE LEAF BOOKS
Attractive to the Up-to-Date Accountant

The Mechanism of the “ Majestic.

Patented
Sole A g en ts:

Basson & Timberlake,
JO H A N N E S B U R G .

P. O. B ox 26S0. Telephone 38.

W. F. Johnstone,
j Timber Merchant,
♦ Builder and Contractor.
♦ —
I ♦

D U RBAN , N atal: P.O. Box 13 8 . J
| JO H A N N E S B U R G : P.O. Box 189 6 . J

MODERN ARCHITECTURE AND RESTORATION

The “ Morning P o st” published some interesting 
autobiographical particulars of Mr. lhoinas Graham 
Jackson, R.A., apropos of the completion of the 
seventy-sixth birthday of this distinguished architect. 
He mentions that he was born at Hampstead, and 
articled to the late Sir Gilbert Scott, adding : As in 
some other professions—the Bar, for instance the 
progress of a young architect is exceedingly slow. 
For those who have no private means the prospect is 
indeed a dreary one. For my own part, I earned very 
little during the first thirteen years of my professional 
career. I consider that 1 owe everything to the
outside fellowship which I obtained from my old
college, Wadham. It is due to that that I was not
under the stern necessity to earn my bread daily, and 
I was in a position to travel and to pursue mv studies. 
When I started on my professional career we were m 
the midst of the fervour of the Gothic revival.
In those days, influenced by the writings of the 
celebrated French architect, Viollet le Due, we learned 
to look at nothing but Gothic architecture, more 
especially the earlier forms of it. I do not think I 
ever was a fanatical adherent of that school, and I 
soon came to see that modern art must be eclectic— 
that is to say, that it is impossible to shut one’s eyes 
to the teaching of all the styles, and Confine himself 
simply to one. This eclecticism is the main character­
istic of modern architecture, and the result is that 
men work with far greater freedom. They now think 
less of ‘ the styles ’ and more of style itself. At the 
same time it must be borne in mind that this freedom 
is only permissible to those who possess the true 
artistic instinct. The Gothic revival had an important 
effect, inasmuch as it destroyed all tradition. Previ­
ously, workmen had certain traditions derived from 
the Renaissance writers ; they knew how to make 
doors and windows in good proportion. But after the 
Gothic revival this was all destroyed, and all styles 
were thrown into confusion. Our domestic architec­
ture was at its worst early in the reign of Oueen 
Victoria. Since then there has undoubtedly been a 
great improvement, chiefly in the revival of some of 
the beautiful forms of the eighteenth century. I 
know, of course, that a good deal is said in these days 
about the misdeeds of the jerry-builder. We are told 
that in the olden days men never scamped their work, 
and so forth. I doubt, however, whether such a 
Golden Age is anything but the product of certain 
writers’ imaginations. In my opinion, there has been 
jerry-building in all ages.

“ With regard to the restoration of ancient 
buildings, in which I have been so largely engaged, 
the fundamental principle on which I have acted has 
been to make no substitution : to secure, not to undo. 
. . .  To the architect, the successive additions and 
alterations to a building afford an object lesson in the 
history of architecture, and are of priceless value. 
Another great thing in dealing with old buildings is 
to avoid ‘ tidying up.’ They should never be made to 
look neat and new, as has been the case abroad 
almost more than in this country. Chipped capitals or 
damaged mouldings should be left as they are. What 
is put in is of no historical value, and you may be 
forced to devise something that perhaps you do not 
understand. The thing as it is is at least genuine.”



June, igi2. THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. X X V I I .

P.O. Box 1301. Tel. Add. : “ T h is tle ."  Tel. No. 1.

PRENTICE & MACKIE
Builders, Electrical and 
M echanical Engineers,
R a i l w a y  and Mi ni ng  
---------  Contractors.

Agents for Garrick & Ritchie, Waverley Engineering Works, Edinburgh.

workshops 127, SCHOEMAN STREET, PRETORIA.

P.O. Box 3761.

Office &  Workshop :

H A R R I E S  S T RE E T  (Near Salisbury Mine), 
JOHANNESBURG.

H. RAIN EY,
Builder and Cont r a c t or ,  

Millwright, Engineer &  Railway Contractor

THOMAS CLARK & SONS
B uilders and C ontractors, 
J O H A N  N E S  B U  R G .

COLD STORAGE WORK A SPECIALITY.

P.O. Box 6277, Johannesburg;.
Telephone 2266.

Office & Works: 209, MARSHALL STREET

’P h o n e  1255. P.O. Box 1605, Jo hannesbu rg .

Thos. Douglas
B u ild e r  a n d  C o n tr a c to r .

Workshop and Office:

FORD & COMMISSIONER STREETS, FAIRVIEW.

1 3 1 ,

Commissioner St., 

Johannesburg.

P.O. Box 970 .

L. Furman
GLASS, PAINT 

AND
WALLPAPER
MERCHANT.

Telephone 4140

LANE & ALLW RIGHT
B u ilders and C ontractors, 

Shop  an d  O ffic e  F itters.
E stimates F ree for all Classes of B uilding W ork

77, M AR SH ALL S TR E E T
(B etw een L oveday an d  H arrison  S treets)

J O H A N N E S B U R G .

Cable and Telegraphic Add. : “ Mouldings." Telephone 835. P.O. Box 326.

H. E. CASSE,
VICTORIA SAW MILLS &  STEAM JOINERY WORKS, 

MILNE STREET, DURBAN.
M anufacturer of W indows, Casements, Shop Fronts & Fittings. 
Joinery of every description. My quotations will secure contracts

Johannesburg Representative: W I L F R E D  C A S S E R E ,  5 
Chorlton Chambers, Harrison St. Box 1607 . ’Phone 2 5 0 3

P.O. Box 5 2 4 . Telephone No. 9 66 .

O ffice and W orkshops :
6, JOUBERT STREET, SOUTH.

S u c c e ssfu l M erch a n ts A d v e rtise  in 

“  T h e  A fr ic a n  A rch ite ct.

George Begg,
B U ILD ER  A N D  C O N TR AC TO R , 

JOHANNESBURG.



X X V I I I . THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. June, 1912.

RUBEROID ROOFING.
Ruberoid, Roof Talks. No. 2.

Malting House for Durban Corporation.

The reliable qualities and numerous advan­
tages of RUBEROID have been recognised by 
men noted for their keen business methods.

Messrs. Tt>e American Tobacco Co. 
ordered in one lot 1,30b,000 sq. ft. of Ruberoid 
for use on their buildings.

Messrs. Lever Bros., of Port Sunlight, 
have completely roofed their works at Durban, 
with some 140,000 sq. ft. of Ruberoid.

We have also supplied large quantities to  ̂
the Admiralty the P. W.D., the South African  
Railways (for workshops, station buildings,“car- 
roofing, etc.), the Corporations of Johan­
nesburg, Durban and Cape Town, Messrs.
Stewarts & Lloyds, Sir L. J. Hulett & Sons,
Ltd., and many of the well-known Mining,
Sugar, Tea and Colliery Companies.

The use of RUBEROID by such authorities 
is an undeniable guarantee of its sterling merits.

The RUBEROID BOOK, with sample, rciU , be 
sail free and post-paid on appli-ation. RUBEROID  
gives better and longer protection, and costs less to 
maintain than any other roofing.

S. SYKES & Co., Ltd., Johannesburg, Durban, Bulawayo and 
Salisbury ; R. B. HENDRY& Co., Capetown ; DUNN & Co., 
East London; GRIFFITHS & Co., Port Elizabeth.

Drains Installed and Chokages Cleared. Every Description of Jobbing Work
All Work Guaranteed. and House Decorating Done.

W . H. D E A N ,
BUILDER, CONTRACTOR 
& SANITARY ENGINEER.

(17 years experience under London County Council).

1 7 ,  F R E R E  R O A D ,  B E R T R A M S .

THE COMPETITIVE SYSTEM IN AMERICA
From an address delivered by Mr. J . Milton Dyer, 

F.A .I.A ., before the Annual Convention of the 
American Institute of Architects • on the effect of 
competitions on design, we gather that as much 
improvement in the general ethics and conduct of 
competitions is required there as here, if they are 
always to exercise a beneficial influence on architec­
tural design. It is as true here as there that “ you 
are afraid to be impulsive, to play with the motives, 
to do the thing you yourself feel,” because' your 
“ independence is only too often influenced by a vague 
mistrust as to the personal likes or dislikes of the 
jury,”  and that this does too often create the tempta­
tion to “ sell one’s soul to win.”  Both this and the 
complaint that the competitor cannot get into touch 
with his client seem to be rather defects of method 
than vices inherent in the nature of the competitive 
system. When juries and assessors learn to judge on 
generally accepted principles, rather than on personal 
predilection, the first should disappear. The second 
would be considerably mitigated if assessors, remem­
bering that they are the interpreters of the wishes of 
the promoters, would acquire all such general informa­
tion on the whole situation—beyond the bare facts of 
the case—and on the ultimate intentions and point of 
view of the promoters, as they would themselves 
acquire from their own clients if called upon to design 
a similar building. If this was incorporated in the 
conditions by way of information only, the competitors 
would not feel quite so much in the dark. Even more 
perhaps in this country than America do “ the efforts 
of all in collaboration, working in an office upon a 
serious competition, develop not only draughtsman­
ship, but a real conception of architecture in its higher 
meaning, such as many months of routine work may 
not accomplish,” for here there are fewer educational 
opportunities than appear to obtain in America for the 
study of large architectural schemes. It is hardly to 
be disputed that in this respect the competitive system 
has had a beneficial influence here, although we are 
not perhaps altogether free from the tyranny of the 
order which Mr. Dyer considers so undesirable a result 
of this system in America.

Always 
look for 

this 
Trade 
Mark.

“ O LSIN A ” W A T E R  PAINT
IS THE FINEST OF ALL W ATER PAINTS AND IS FAR SUPERIOR TO ORDINARY DISTEMPERS. 
IT DOES NOT SCALE NOR CRACK ; ALW AYS BRIGHT AND CLEAN. SEND FOR COLOUR CARD.

WE ARE SOLE AGENTS.

THE BOSTON WALLPAPER COMPANY, LTD.,
WALLPAPER, PAINT AND GLASS MERCHANTS, YORK BUILDINGS, KERK STREET.

P.O. BOX 6 7 4 . ’PHONE 3 0 3 5 . Manager : P. BAKER.



June, 1912. THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. xxix.

A

L I M  I

^ g rA B L lS H E D

FIRE
B Y  S P E C I A L  APPOINTM ENT.

T H E  GENERAL IS THE ONLY INSURANCE COMPANY 
HOLDING HIS M AJESTY’S ROYAL W ARRANT. 

CHIEF OFFICE FOR SOUTH AFRICA:
General Buildings,- Greenmarket Square .

C A P E  T O W N .
Johannesburg : Commercial Exchange Buildings, Main Street.

Port Elizabeth : Cuthbert’s Buildings, Main Street.
Durban : Natal Bank Buildings, West Street.

SOUTH AFRICAN MANAGER : * T.K. O G ILVYM ITCH E LL .



xxx. THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. June, ,191:2.

♦
B A N K , S H O P  A N D  O F F IC E  F IT T E R , 
:: :: A IR -T IG H T  G L A SS CA SES, :: 
S H O P  F R O N T S  A N D  M A N T L E P IE C E S ,

MANUFACTURED FOR THE TRADE,

DESIGNS AND ESTIMATES FREE.

M . R O S S ,
1 0 8 ,  P R E S I D E N T  S T R E E T , N r. V o n  W e illig h  S tree t, 

--------- J O H A N N E S B U R G . ----------------L _
P.O. B ox 3529. * ’P/kpne 3388

a®- ■ ® G

Head Office;— 17-18, Provident Buildings. 
© Fox Street, Johannesburg.

T& legraphic A d d  : “  N atfedsa ,"  T e lephone  2767- Box 4651

C ode A .B .C . 5 th  Edition.

LONDO.N OFFICE : Technical Journals, Ltd., Caxton House, Westminster 
EUROPEAN ADVERTISING AGENTS; Hastings Bros., Limited, 

King’s Chambers, Portugal Steet, Kingsway, London, W.C.

Jas. T. Brownes

Publications

1
®

C Y C L O N E
Steel Gates and Fencing

O ur repu ta tion  for good w ork canno t bu t redound to the 
builder’s cred it who erec ts  the genuine “ C y c lo n e” 
G ates and  Fencing.

. W e supply ready  W oven F encing  to any leng th , which 
m erely needs e rec tin g  ; also Plain and B arbed W ire ; 
we also  und ertak e  the  erection  of Fences in any part 
of South Africa.

Q uotations g iven ; Price L ists supplied.

Use our Patent Crimped Pickets for lacing new Fences 
or repairing old ones.

Cyclone Gate & Fence Co.,
LIM ITED.

p.o. Box 5748. 124) Main Street, off Von Weilligh Street, 
JO H AN N ESBU RG.

T ransvaal M an ag e r: C . E . W E S T M O R E L A N D .

j  Telephone 961.

The Plate Glass Bevelling and 
i- I Silvering Co. l  i

(E . B E A R D M O R E . )

B e v e l l e r s , S i l v e r e r s  a n d  E m b o s s e r s .

T ra d e  Signs. M otor Screens. G lass Shelves,
C arriage and M otor L am p G lasses. ::

D rilling and every description of Glass 
W o rk  undertaken. Im porters of C abinet 
M akers ' and U pholsterers ' Sundries, T im ber,

:: :: etc., etc. :: :: ::

7, B u i t e n k a n t  S t r e e t , C A P E  T O W N .
O N E  D O O R  F R O M  D A R L I N G  S T R E E T .

®

I

The S.A. Master Builders Federation 
Journal.

Official O rgan  of the  N ational 
F edera tion  of B uild ing T rade 
E m ployers in S ou th  Africa. P ub ­
lished on the  15th of each m onth . 
7/6 Yearly, Post Free.

The S.A. Master Builders Annual.
T h e E d itio n -d e -L u x e . 150 p.p. 
Royal Q uarto , P rin ted  on A rt 
P ap er and elaborate ly  Illu stra ted . 
P ublished beginning- of each year. 
3/6 Post Free.

The African* Architect.
T he Jo u rn a l o f the A ssociation  
of T ran sv aa l A rchitects. Pub- 
on the 1st o f each m onth 
10/6 Yearly, Post Free.

The Architectural Year Book & Diary.
C on tain ing  full D irectory  of 
R eg iste red  A rch itects in South  
Africa, and nam es of Builders 
affiliated to  the  N ational F ed era­
tion of B uild ing T ra d e  E m ployers 
in South  Africa, besides full 
epitom e o f useful general in form a­
tion, F irs t Issue, Jan . 1st, 1912. 
Price 3/6, Post Free.

Builders Export Number.
N ow  in process o f com pilation. 
A useful production  show ing  p ro ­
g re ss  of S ou th  A frican C ities in 
B uilding, and o th e r in te resting  
in form ation  re la tin g  to  the last 
h a lf  century . D istribu ted  am ongst 
affiliated M aster B uilders and 
M erchan ts in  G rea t B rita in  and 
S ou th  Africa.

Specimen Copies, Advertisement Rates and all information on applica­
tion to the Manager, J. T. Brown’s Publications, 17-13, Provident 
Buildings, Fox Street, Johannesburg.

g ®  " ■ ® E

®

I



June, 1912. THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT.

Red and Blue Wire Cuts, Splays 
Beaded Double and Single, W ELLS BROS., W orks: 

Bottom of
Bull Nose always in Stock. P.O. B ox  1 5

N EW
T elep hon e No. 7

CLARE, Auckland Park Race
Moulded Bricks made to order JOHANNESBURG Course.

i t

O ne  Gcvllorv 
c o v e r s  f r o m  
60  to 70  sq . y d s .  
o n  a. p r e p a r e d  

s u r f a c e .

SANALENE
T H E  P E R F E C T

ENAMEL 
PAINT.

F lo w s  F r e e ly ,  

Ha^rd W ea .r in g ,  

E a s i l y  W a s h e d  

a n d  P o l i s h e d .

FOR

INSIDE
OR

OUTSIDE
USE.

-  -  FO R  -  -  
P R A C TIC A L  W O R K  

B Y  P R A C TIC A L  USERS.

Supplied by all Dealers throughout South Africa.

ASPINALL’S ENAMEL Ltd.,
New Cross, LONDON, S.E>.

SU PPLIED IN -  -

WHITE
OR

COLOURS
AS DESIRED.

Successful Merchants 
advertise in “ The 

_  African Architect.”

P U B L I S H E D  M O N T H L Y .

Cr ami tm ul It c after
WE are Newspaper, Magazine, and General* 
Printers, Lithographers, Bookbinders, Steel, 
Copper, Brass and Process Block Engravers, 
Manufacturing Stationers, Artists, Show 
Card and Poster Designers and Address 
Illuminators.
We do the whole of the work in our own 
factory.
We carry the largest stock of raw materials 
for Printing in South Africa.
Our factory organization provides for the 
employment of high skilled labour only. The 
proper division of labour cannot very well be 
accomplished in a small print shop.



THE AFRICAN ARCHITECT. June, 1912.

United Engineering Co
T e l e g r a m s : “  A R M A T U K E ,  
' P h o n e s ; 3484, 3485.

LIMITED.

G E N E R A L  M IN IN G  B U ILD IN C S, M A R S H A L L  S Q U A R E ,

JOHANNESBURG.
(E stab lished  1888. )

Works . N E W  D O O R N FO N TEIN .

P .O . B O X  1082. 
W o r k s  'P h o n e  2484.

Crusher Station, recently constructed at our Doornfontein Works for the Modierfontein “ B” G.M. Co., ltd.

Structural Steelwork
O F  E V E R Y  D E S C R IP T IO N  C O N S T R U C T E D  L O C A L L Y , O R  IM P O R T E D , A S R E Q U IR E D

Large Stocks of Steel Joists, Channels,
Angles, Tees, Plates, Bars, etc., etc.

Designs Prepared. Quantities Taken Out. Estimates Given at Shortest Notice

^  SPECIALISTS IN HEATING AND VENTILATING INSTALLATIONS, j
Printed by the “ Transvaal Leader,” Harrison Street, Johannesburg, for the Proprietor, Jas. T. Brown, 17 and 18, P rov iden t Buildings, Fox Street, Johannesburg.

,

... ' . i  i r ■. 
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      University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 

 
 
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