1851 Great Exhibition: Official Catalogue: Class VII.: James Walby

148. WALBY, JAMES, 59 Greek Street, Soho Square — Inventor.

Universal fire-escape.

The novelty of the plan is stated to be that of passing persons from the window of the house on fire to the near window of the neighbour's house adjoining, in a direct horizontal line, right or left, in lieu of lowering them down as in the ordinary way. This is accomplished by having bracket-hooks of a peculiar construction, projecting about 12 inches from the face of the brickwork, permanently fixed to the front of the house at the uppermost floor, by passing the end or stem of the hook through the brickwork, and screwing it up tight by plates and nuts inside. By the assistance of the neighbour at the adjoining window, a rope is attached to the hooks; a basket or cradle (which traverses upon a friction-roller) is then hung upon the rope, which, by the person therein placed, or by a person at the adjoining window, with the assistance of a hook stick provided for the purpose, may be moved forwards or backwards as the case demands.

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