r^ureau oi fcitandards

jaN 1 9 1932

COMMERCIAL

STANDARDS

MONTHLY

book not to bo ^T*

lal'.bii u oi.'i liis Liorai;^ Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Simplification

Photographed by Army Air Corps AIRPLANE VIEW OF BUREAU OF STANDARDS (LOOKING SOUTH)

ISSUED BY THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS OF THE UNITED

STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, WASHINGTON, D. C., U. S. A.

Vol. 9, No. 7 January, 1933

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. $1 .00 annually ($1 .60 foreign); single copy, 10 cents
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

ROY D. CHAPIN, Secretary

BUREAU OF STANDARDS

LYMAN J. BRIGGS, Acting Director

COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY, S. F. Tillman, Editor

The Commercial Standardization Group

A. S. McAllister, Assistant Director

DIVISION OF SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE

Edwin W. Ely

The division of simplified pradtice cooperates with industrial and commercial groups to reduce wadle, usually through

eliminating unnecessary variety of produdt, method, or

pradtice. Its fundtion is to bring together all parties interedled in a projedt of this charadter, and to coordinate their

work in developing a simplified pradlice recommendation.

Such work includes surveys of current pradlice, formulation of a simplified pradlice program, and presentation of

that program for adlion by a general conference representing

all interedls. The division then transmits to all concerned

a full report of the general conference, with a requedl for written acceptance of the adlion taken. When the volume

of acceptances is sufficient to indicate initial success, the

Department ofCommerce indorses the program and publishes

the recommendation. The division thereafter cooperates

with a ^landing committee appointed by the industry concerned, in condudling periodic surveys to determine the

degree of adherence, to maintain and extend support of the

recommendation, and to secure data for reaffirmation or

revision. Simplified pradlice may be applied to any com- modity or adlivity in which it will reduce

wadte. The division dlands ready to render

service in developing and making effedlive any application of simplified pradlice which

will reduce wadle, dlabilize business, or extend commerce.

BUILDING AND HOUSING DIVISION

J. S. Taylor

The division of building and housing,

formed in 1921, cooperates with business,

technical, and professional groups in furthering condlrudlion adlivities. It works to modernize building codes and to encourage improved dlandards for the quality of building condlrudlion, and the practical application of the latedl development in design and use of building materials.

It encourages home ownership through the development

of an enlarged, steadier, more intelligent, and more discriminating demand for dwellings—the large^l single class of

buildings which the condlruction indu^lries provide.

The division also cooperates with other governmental

agencies and with many private business and professional groups in efforts to didlribute building adlivity more evenly

throughout the year and to secure less fludluation from

year to year. The work on city planning and zoning has the broad

objedlive of making buildings more useful through proper

location with respedl to other ilrudlures, dlabilizing of land

values and property uses, well coordinated thoroughfare

sy^lems, and well laid out public works.

STANDARDIZATION

..IS.. A CONTINUING PROCESS

C'tO ITS AIM IS NOT FIXITY OR STAGNATION

..BUT.. TO ADD SERVICEABILITY

AS OFTEN AS THE

POTENTIAL GAIN

MAKES IT WORTH WHILE

DIVISION OF SPECIFICATIONS

A. S. McAllister

The duties of the division of specifications are to promote

and facilitate the use and unification of specifications. In doing so it carries on adlivities involving cooperation with

technical societies; trade associations; Federal, State, and

municipal Government specifications making and using

agencies; producers, didlributors, and consumers; and teeing

and research laboratories. It ascertains the standardization

and specifications promoting adlivities of the associations and societies, and brings to their attention the work being

done by the commercial dlandardization group. It brings the

Federal specifications and commercial dlandards to the atten- tion of the maximum number of producers and users of commodities complying with these dlandards and specifications.

It compiles and didlributes liils of sources of supply of materials guaranteed to comply with the ilandards and specifi- cations. It shows both buyers and sellers the benefits from

handling nationally specified, certified, and labeled commodities. The division prepares diredlories of governmental and

nongovernmental telling laboratories and theDiredlory of

Specifications, and is working on an encyclopedia of specifications, the firdl two volumes of which

have been issued, namely, “Standards and

Specifications in the Wood-Using Indu^lries”

and “Standards and Specifications for Nonmetallic Minerals and their ProdutTls.” It also

aids in preparing the Standards Yearbook.

DIVISION OF TRADE STANDARDS

I. J. Fairchild

The division of trade standards, on reque^l,

assi^ls industrial and commercial groups in the voluntary establishment of Standards

covering grades, quality, dimensional inter- changeability, or other acceptance criteria as a national

basis for marketing manufadlured commodities.

The detail criteria are seleSled or determined voluntarily

by interested buyers or sellers, without any Government

didlation or domination, and adjusted at a general confer- ence of producers, distributors, and users so as to represent

the composite views of all branches. The division funtflions chiefly as a neutral agency to see that all interested elements

are given full opportunity to be heard and satisfied; to

solicit and record acceptances; and to publish and promulgate

the Standard when a satisfactory majority of acceptances is obtained and provided there is no active opposition.

Industries are encouraged to apply self-certifying labels to produts meeting the commercial Standard requirements, as a means of proteting the consumer and the scrupulous seller from misrepresentation or unfair methods of marketing.

Provision is made for regular revision of the Standard

through the appointment of a Standing committee to consider periodically any necessity for revision of the Standard,

in order that it may be kept constantly compatible with

progress in the induSlry.

Address BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Washington, D. C., for further information
COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY

A Review of Progress in

Commercial Standardization and Svnplification

Volume 9 WASHINGTON, D. C., JANUAKY, 1933 Number 7

SUBJECT ANALYSIS

ASSOCIATIONS

Page

Advocates standard limitations for size and speed of trucks 165 American Standards Association 152 Book of A. S. T. M. tentative standards for 1932 avail- able 150 Dry-goods men consider improvement of quality standards 146

Federal specifications ' 150 News in brief 167

Standardization of cast-iron soil pipes and fittings 162

Street and highway safety . 162 To enlarge railroad research 166 Uniformity of undei’ground railroad equipment 165 BUILDING AND HOUSING (CONSTRUCTION)

Douglas-fir plywood 165 Experimental work forecasts plumbing economics 161 Exposure tests of wire cloth for insect screen 151 Measures to protect home values proposed 158 Planning of construction on basis of research 147 Small houses of the future may be revolutionary 160

Specifications and the contractor 164

Steel spiral rods 152 Walnut veneers 154 Wheelbarrows 165 ELECTRICAL

Canada lists “approved” motors 152

Eliminating unsafe equipment 165 Standard appliances and flexible eords 163 INTERNATIONAL AND FOREIGN

Canada lists “approved” motors 152 Color marking of airplane equipment 166 Making British standards effective 166 News in brief 167 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics reorganizes weights

and measures agency 155 METALS AND GLASS

Certification plan for gray-iron castings 156 Exposure tests of wire cloth for insect screen 151

METALS AND GLASS—Continued Page Glass containers for preserves, jellies, and apple butter. . 165 Standardization of cast-iron soil pipes and fittings 162 Standard methods of test lor metal-working tools 157

Steel spiral rods 152

Uniformit}^ of underground-railroad equipment 165 Wheelbarrows 165 MISCELLANEOUS

News in brief 167 Standard classification of feldspar 156 Why quality standards 159 PUBLICATIONS

Book of A. S. T. M. tentative standards for 1932 avail- able 150 Constructing a sundial 148

Douglas-fir plywood 165 Measures to protect home values proposed 158 Small houses of the future may be revolutionary 160 Uniformity of underground-railroad equipment 165 Wheelbarrows 165 QUALITY MARKS AND LABELS

Canada lists “approved” motors 152

Certification plan for gray-iron castings 156 Eliminating unsafe equipment 165 Making British standards effective 166 News in brief 167 Standard appliances and flexible cords 163 Type size in advertising wool and part-wool blankets 155 TEXTILES AND RUBBER

Application to textiles of simplified practice 153 Dry-goods men consider improvement of quality stand- ards 146 Hard fiber twine and lath yarn 162 Testing of rubber goods 149 Type size in advertising wool and part-wool blankets 155 W’aterproofed cotton fabrics 158

AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE BUREAU OF STANDARDS

A cordial invitation is extended to all interested in scientific progress to visit the laboratories of

the Bureau of Standards when in Washington. A personally conducted trip is organized at 2.15 p. m.

daily except on holidays. Special trips for groups may be arranged at other times by writing to the

bureau in advance. The bureau’s illustrated Visitor’s Manual may be had for the asking. This lists the work in progress and gives an airplane view of the ensemble and a brief statement of typical dis- coveries and inventions which have been notable, basic contributions to radio, aviation, and other

modern arts and industries.

152694—33 1 145
Dry-Goods Men Consider Improvement

of Quality Standards

(T^

E^ablishment of new ^andards of merchandising, advertising, and service, with particular emphasis on quality and

on the redu(5fion of the co^ts of distribution, featured the

1933 convention of the National Retail Dry Goods Association,

held January 16-20 in New York.

The association has given careful Study to the matter and

recently launched the National Quality Movement, which

has for its purpose an improvement in the quality of goods

manufaStured. The association has in mind a general readjustment of Standards, in every field of retail operation, to

present-day economic requirements and changed consumer

buying habits.

“The retailer knows now that quality pays,” recently

^ated P. A. O’Connell, the president of the association, in

discussing the National Quality Movement, “so he goes to a manufacffurer of quality merchandise and from him buys

garments that he is sure are well made —faSt dyes, good fabric,

and good workmanship.

“The return to quality mu^ likewise extend to all other

divisions of business activity —quality in advertising, quality

in transportation, quality in banking, quality in the investment securities that are offered, quality in real eSlate, quality

in labor, and quality in service,” he added. “These and other

fields of adfivity are all part of the vaSt machine we call business. A return to a basis of solid quality value will create

the confidence and economic saving necessary to keep this

machine running.”

148
JANUARY, 1933 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 147

PLANNING OF CONSTRUCTION ON BASIS OF RESEARCH

Research Activities of Bureau of Standards for Modernizing Construction Standards for Use of Industry

By Heney D. Hubbaed, Bureau of Standards

The Bureau of Standards of the Department of

Commerce has two main branches, research and test- ing and commercial standardization.

Both conduct work of direct interest to the construction industries in both the commercial and technical aspects of these industries. The purpose of this

brief series is to point out how these activities are coordinated in the interest of the business groups and

of the consumers. The Department of Commerce, through the Bureau

of Standards, aids the construction industries in many

ways. In the following brief summary details will be

given only to illustrate the scope or success of such

aids as those relating to fundamentals of planning, standards, materials, equipment and devices, assembly, processes, cooperation, and information. The first article will

touch upon the subject of

planning. The bureau’s

work in this field relates

to the testing of measuring instruments, strain

gauges, testing machines; to the standards of dimension and quality which precede intelligent planning;

to the physical constants and properties of materials

which to the technical designers are the basis of accurate quantitative planning ; to the coordinating systems

of city planning and zoning within which public purposes and rights are wisely achieved; and to the processes which the architect and builder may choose to achieve their pi-ojects.

In the technical laboratories of the bureau, hundreds

of researches have been made and the results have

entered current building practice. In the special division devoted to building and housing, a service

unique in its nation-wide scope and application is rendered by the compilation of pertinent data—eco- nomic, statistical, industrial, and scientific—relating

to construction.

The planning of construction involves the use of

such data, which include the location of structures as

affected by zoning and city planning; the choice of

materials on the basis of their properties ascertained

by research, the use of systems of construction such

as welding; the safeguards suggested by experience

and research to insure minimum hazards from fire, lightning, noise, corrosion, wear, leakage, and the like

such being assured by efficient waterproofing, thermal

insulation, and acoustical insulation, to cite examples.

The bureau has been especially active in expert col- laboration in preparing specifications (cement, lamps,

and buildei’s’ hardware being examples of great interest and success) and in formulating codes (such as those for electrical service, gas service, lumbering,

lightning protection, and elevator practice) ; in re- search and testing of building materials (notably

metals, brick, building tile, concrete, paints, and many

others) ; and finally has investigated structural processes such as welding, the promotion of which is re- cently assuming significant interest. The success of the Avork led the American Institute

of Architects, through a special committee, to rec- ommend in 1918 that the Bureau of Standards draft

standard building-code requirements to serve as guides

for cities in preparing or revising local ordinances.

Congress, upon recommendation of Mr. Hoover,

then Secretary of Commerce, gave the bureau the

necessary funds, and in 1921 he organized a division

of the department under his immediate direction.

This was later made the

Division of Building and

Housing of the Bureau of

Standards and has from

the beginning been most

active in promoting the

interests of construction,

particularly in the smallhouse field. The union and close contact betAveen the research

laboratories of the bureau

and the aboA^e-mentioned

diAusion stimulated specific researches and formed an

outlet for the results, permitting the better technical

planning of codes for building, and of the equipments

and materials entering into the design of structures. The Advisory Committee on Building Codes, apjjointed by Mr. Hoover, has been active in laying a

basis for relieving obsolete strictures on active building operations, as illustrated in the committee’s formulation of the minimum requirements for small dwelling construction in the light of recent progress in

building technology.

Every feature of building construction has received

expert attention at the bureau, from the concrete of

the foundation to the materials for roofing; from the

testing of the surveyor’s steel tape and the strain gauge

of the engineer to the layout of lightning protection

or noise-eliminating construction; from location in

harmony with advanced principles of city planning

and zoning practice to the practical family problems

of home ownership and maintenance; from the technical specifications for the small dwelling to tests of

the structural members for giant bridges; and finally,

from the pure physical chemistry and physics of building materials to the practical phases of concrete mixing.

The Advisory Committee on City Planning and

Zoning appointed by Mr. HooA'er in 1921 has promoted the modern moA^ement for planned cities. City

planning and zoning have merited public interest be- cause thej^ promote civic elllciency, orderly growth,

stabilized values, and better distribution of industrial,

business and residential occujjancies by segregating

(hem according to needs, facilities, and services

required.

This is one of a series of articles by Mr.

Hubbard, assistant to the Acting Director of

the Bureau of Standards, outlining the Avork

of the bureau as it concerns the construction

industry. These articles will cover research,

testing, simplified jjractice recommendations,

commercial standards, and the certification

and labeling plan.
148 COMMEKCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY

Cities have grown like weeds in an open lot. But

few had limits to the height of buildings or the area

of the lot they might occupy or the use to which the}"

might be i^ut. It was a new idea to enact zoning regulations suited to each class of activity in segregated

groups.

Planning helps to preserve residence districts intact,

free from noisy industries or unsightly service shops.

To protect the rights of citizens, the committee drafted

the standard State zoning enabling act, providing authority for municipalities to enact zoning ordinances

suitabl}^ safeguarded. In 11 years of committee activity the number of zoned municipalities has increased

from 60 to 1,165. The number of States which have

zoned municipalities has increased from 12 to 47, with

populations in zoned areas having increased from

11,000,000 to 47,700,000, comprising more than twothirds of the urban population of the Nation and

ranging from villages to wreat cities like New York

and Chicago.

The Bureau of Standards makes surveys of zoning

progress and disseminates information on request to

civic bodies, municipal officials, and others interested.

The City Planning Primer has received wide circulation and the standard city planning enabling act has

served as a model for a number of States and has stimidated legislation of this character.

The model act provides for the creation of city planning commissions, which among other functions, are given a control over the layout of new subdivisions.

To date, 840 city and town planning commissions have

been created.

The Zoning Primer has been accepted as the most

influential single publication in the field. A recent publication prepared by the committee is The Preparation of Zoning Ordinances, a reference manual to aid officials and others in preparing ordinances. The

committee is now completing a special rep>ort on subdivision regulations.

In connection with home building and home ownership problems, a number of booklets were prepared and

issued by the bureau, including How to Own Your

Home, Present Plome Financing Methods, and Care

and Eepair of the Plouse. Of the first, 350,000 copies

have been sold, and of the last named, 45,000 copies

have been sold. Mimeographed bulletins are available on home heating, home building and maintenance, and building materials, respectively. Copies of talks on drives for

better homes, neAv trends in home design, and related

CONSTRUCTING A SUNDIAL

One of the earliest methods of determining time was by observing the position of the shadow cast by

an object placed in the sunshine. As the day ad- vances the shadow changes, and its position at any

instant gives an indication of the time. The relatiA'e length of the shadow at midday can also be used to in- dicate the season of the year. It is thought that one

of the purposes of the great pyramids of Egypt was to indicate the time of day and the progress of the seasons. Although the origin of the sundial is very obscure,

it is known to have been used in very early times

in ancient Babylonia. One of the earliest recorded

.TANUARY, 1933

topics are also available. In this and many other

ways a notable informational service has been con- ducted on the economic, statistical, practical, and legal

phases of home building and home ownership.

This brief review can not touch upon all lines of

work of concern to the construction industry and the

Government’s construction projects, and the ultimate owner or user of houses and other structures. As a net

result of 11 years of educational effort, in cooperation

with all groups concerned, the industry has advanced,

construction has been facilitated by new materials, new processes, new designs, and by safe reduction in

needless restrictions on building. The aim has been

to relieve housing deficiencies and unemployment, to mitigate seasonal unemployment, and modify the

number and variety of building codes throughout the

country. The latter were studied by the advisory

committee on building codes and experimental re- searches were conducted on such doubtful points as

fire hazards and plumbing requirements. Since the

beginning of this work, about 300 cities have used the

bureau’s lindings in the preparation or revision of

their building codes.

Among the helpful services rendered may also be

cited the drafting of a standard State mechanic’s lien act aimed to remove certain difficulties in the present

practice. This was formally approved on October 5, 1932, by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

The director of the Bureau of Standards cooperated

in the President’s Confei’ence on Home Building and

Home Ownership, and seiwed as chairman of the cor- relating committee on technological developments. The

bureau’s specialist on engineering mechanics compiled an elaborate report covering a j>rogressive collation of

many ingenious ideas for consideration by architects,

engineers, and home makers. In all, members of the

bureau staff have cooperated, as officers or members,

with 18 of the 31 committees of the conference and

have aided in the editing of the 11 volumes of its published reports.

As a result of the President’s conference, a per- manent committee is at work promoting the reconditioning, remodeling, and modernizing of homes. In

this work the bureau is taking an active interest. This

committee is now advisory to the bureau’s division of

building and housing. Late reports now available

indicate that some 78 cities have organized modernizing campaigns during 1932, and secured an aggregate

of $65,000,000 in pledges for reconditioning, remodeling, and modernizing.

is the dial of Ahaz, eighth century B. C., mentioned

in the Bible, II Kings XX: 8-11. The Greeks used

sundials in the fourth century B. C., and one was set up in Rome in 293 B. C. To-day sundials are used

largely for decorative purposes in gardens or on

lawns, and many inquiries have reached the Bureau

of Standards regarding the construction and erection

of such dials. To take care of these inquiries the Bureau of Standards has issued letter circular No. 347, in mimeographed form, which may be had without charge upon

application to the bureau. This circular gives an outline of the generally accepted best practices for the

construction and erection of sundials.
JANUARY, 1933 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY 149

TESTING OF RUBBER GOODS

Resume of How Rubber Goods Are Tested at the Bureau of Standards Indicates the Ways in Which the

Testing Saves Money for Federal and State Governments, as Well as Assisting the Manufacturer

and Consumer

By A. T. McPherson, Bureau of Stanilards

The Testing of Rubber Goods ivas the title of one

of the first iiiiblications on rubber issued by the Bureau of Standards about 20 years ago. Since that

time the bureau has maintained a position of leadership in setting standards and developing methods of

tests for the rubber industry. This service has been

of especial value during a period when the industry

has undergone radical changes, and the consumjition

of rubber has increased almost tenfold because adequate standards and test methods were used by the

manufacturer as a giude to new development, and b}^

the consumer as a means of intelligent and economical

purchase.

The testing of rubber goods conducted by the Bureau of Standards is of two general types. One is a relatively simple, and

often routine type of

testing that is conducted

to ascertain whether cer- tain rubber products con- form to the specifications

set up for their purchase.

The other type of testing

is broader and more fundamental, and has for its purpose a study of the

composition, design, construction, and performance

of rubber articles to determine how well they serve

their intended purposes. Often the latter investigational type of testing is carried out to provide an

adequate basis for the preparation of specifications.

Virtually all of the rubber products purchased by

tlie Federal Government are bought under specifications, as was indicated in the previous article in this

series. Representative samples of a great manj^ purchases, ranging from dredging hose to hot-Avater

bottles and from truck tires to electric cables, are

tested for compliance with specifications at the Bureau of Standards. Last year about 9,000 tests Avere made on 1,500 different rubber articles. The testing

services of the Bureau of Standards are as freely

available to the State Governments as to the various

branches of the Federal Government. A number of

the larger States make A^ery extensiA’e use of such

services in connection with their oAvn purchases.

There is a popular misapprehension regarding the

nature and scope of this testing of rubber products.

The most frequent inquiry regarding rubber from

visitors at the Bureau of Standards is, “ VTiat make of

tire do your tests show to be the best? ” The ansAver

is that the tests are neither designed nor conducted to place a relative rating on tires. The Government does

not test all available tires and buy the best, but rather

it buys the cheapest tire offered which meets a given

standard of quality. In the majority of cases tests are made onh'^ on the tires supplied by the lowest

bidder, and furthermore, such tests are conducted only

to such a point as to ascertain that the tires conform

to the minimum requirements of the specification.

Except in the case of the rejection of the loAvest bid. no tests are made on the tires of the next higher bidder.

While the testing of rubber products under specifications is done for the specific purpose of insuring the

quality of purchases by the Federal and State Goa’- ernments, there are certain definite Avhich accrue to the industry. This testing aids in the maintenance of

uniform test methods; and procedures throughout the

country, a service which is especially needed in the

case of rubber because of the technical difficulties in- volved in testing. Another benefit is the setting up

and maintenance of standards for rubber iiroducts

Avhich frequently find wide acceptance. For example,

the commercial standard for hospital rubber sheeting

recently adopted by the

industry is identical with

the Federal specification

for the same commodity.

The other type of test- ing, construing testing in a broad sense, is different

in character from specification testing, and sometimes iiiAmlves detailed in- A^estigations and scientific studies on rubber products. One illustration of this

type of testing is the study that was made on the

subject. The Wearing Quality of Tire Treads as Influenced by Reclaimed Rubber. This investigation

Avas conducted in 1925 Avhen the price of neAV rubber

Avas high and Avas subject to Avide fluctuations. At

that time reclaimed rubber Avas used in tires to quite

a large extent and many manufacturers claimed that

it could be employed in I’easonable proportions as sat- isfactorily as new rubber. As a matter of fact, some

laboratory abrasion tests indicated that this was the

case. The bureau inv^estigators, however, recognized

that the laboratory abrasion tests then aA'ailable were

frequently not in accord with road tests, so they se- cured the cooperation of tAvo manufacturers each of

whom built 50 tires in which the treads were made up

of sectors containing Amrying projjortions of reclaimed

rubber. Performance tests on these tires showed that

the rate of tread AA’ear increased dii’ectly in proportion

to the per cent of reclaimed rubber used. The logical

conclusion from this finding was that the use of re- claimed rubber in tire treads Avas of no economic

advantage.

This conclusion did not find immediate acceptance,

but was for a time the subject of discussion and controversjR The situation Avas recently summed U]) in a paper by C. W. Sanderson, of the Goodyear Tire &

Rubber Co., AA-hich Avas published in Industrial and

Engineering Chemistry (September, 1931). This au- thor states, in part:

Therefore, it can be said tliat up to 20 per cent, the use of reclaim will cut doAvn the resistance to road wear by approxiThis article, the third and last of the series on rubber, tells how rubber goods are tested

at the Bureau of Standards and indicates the

Avays in which the testing saves money for

Federal and State Governments, assists the

manufacturer, and benefits the public.
150 COMMEKCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1933

mately the percentage used. This is essentially the conclusion reached by Holt and Wormeley (authors of the Bureau of Standards paper). Their method was severely criticized, but

this criticism was not justified, and their conclusion was essentially in line with the facts. Partially as a result of this investigation, the practice of using reclaimed rubber in the tread of tires has

been very largely discontinued, and the saving to the

motorists of the country as a result of increased tire mileage is very material.

Incidentally, it should be understood that the above

discussion is in no sense a general indictment of re- claimed rubber. As is indicated in another Bureau

of Standards publication, reclaimed rubber has a

legitimate place in rubber manufacture, and its use

in certain types of rubber goods that are not subject

to severe wear may be advantageous. Other tests of

this type will be mentioned briefly to indicate the

varied scope and application of this type of work.

A study was made of the rubber balloons used by

the Weather Bureau to determine the height of the

ceiling at flying fields and the velocity and direction

of the winds aloft. The results of these tests were employed to draw up specifications to permit the

purchase of more serviceable and more reliable

balloons.

A series of tests on the lateral movement of the tread

of a tire as it comes in contact with the road were of

especial interest to designers of automobile tires, and

the results published were used by some manufacturers

as the basis of redesigning their tread patterns.

In answer to numerous requests for information on

puncture-sealing compounds, tests were conducted on

the different types of commercial preparations available. The results were published in a circular Avhich

has had wide circulation. Tests that were made on garden hose were jjublished in a circular entitled “ Selection and Care of

Garden Hose.” This publication tells the householder how to make an intelligent selection of hose

without undertaking any laboratory tests and also

gives timely advice on the proper care of hose.

_ The Bureau of Standards, through its varied activities in the testing of rubber, benefits the Federal and

State Governments as purchasers, maintains standards for the industry, and furnishes accurate and

reliable information which is of value to the manufacturer and the public.

BOOK OF A. S. T. M. TENTATIVE STANDARDS

FOR 1932 AVAILABLE

Announcement of the availability of the 1932 Book

of A. S. T. M. Tentative Standards, has just been

made by the American Society for Testing Materials.

The book includes all of the 226 tentative specifications, test methods, definitions of terms and recom- mended practices effective as of October 31, 1932. Of

this number, 47 were accepted for publication for the

first time in 1932. A general classification of the

tentative standards with the number pertaining to each group follows

Ferrous metals 39 Nonferrous metals 20 Cement, lime, gypsum, concrete, and clay produtcs 31 Preservative coatings 25 Petroleum products and lubricants 15 Road materials 26

Coal, coke, timber, timber preservatives, shipping containers, waterproofing and roofing materials, slate, and

building stone 24

Electrical insulating materials 15 Rubber products 8 Textile materials 14 Miscellaneous subjects 9

Total 220 This book which is issued annually by the American

Society for Testing Materials, includes all of the tenta- tive standards in effect at the time of publication. The

term “ tentative ” is applied to a proposed standard,

which is given approval throughout the various steps

of American Society for Testing Materials procedure,

and which is published for one or more years to

elicit comments and criticism, of which cognizance is taken before it is formally adopted and issued as an American Society for Testing Materials standard.

Although in the trial stage, these tentative standards

are in wide use due to their careful preparation.

The 1932 book contains a comprehensive subject in- dex and a complete table of contents which lists under

the general class of materials covered, all of the tentative standards pertaining thereto. The publication,

comprising 1,236 pages bound in blue cloth, is obtainable from the headquarters of the American Society for Testing Materials, 1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pa., at $8 per copy, with copies in heavy

paper binding available at $7 each.

FEDERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Twenty specifications were acted on by the Federal

Specifications Board during the month of December.

Of this number, 5 proposed specifications and 15 re- visions have been sent out for official comment and

criticism. Copies of these specifications are available in mimeographed form and further information

can be obtained from the Federal Specifications

Board, Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.

New designation Specifications proposed Old

F. S. B. No.

Reindeer meat

Laminated glass for glazing automobiles... Aluminum alloy No. 1 (aluminum-oopper-magnesiummanganese), sheet and plate . . Brass, low and rich low, sheet and strip Wire, low brass

Specifications for re^dsion

GG-S-751 Sterilizers, accessories and portable lockers for use with

sterilizers - 68a GG-T-311 309 PP-S-51a Sardines, canned QQ-C-541 Copper-nickel-alloy, bars, plates, rods, shapes, sheets.

strips, wire, and seamless tubing 585 QQ-F-181 145 QQ-N-321 Nickel-silver (German silver), bars, plates, rods, shapes,

sheets, and strips 468 RR-C-251 171a SS-M-501a Mold-wash, silica ... . _ _ _ ZZ-B-71a ZZ-M-71 382 ZZ-P-351 232b ZZ-S-451 Sleeves, dredging 42 GGG-J-51 481 GGG-S-291.... Shears, tinners’, hand (snips) and bench . 451 LLL-R-191a-- Receptacles, waste-paper, fiber, office, and lobby
JANUARY, 1933 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 151

EXPOSURE TESTS OF WIRE CLOTH FOR INSECT SCREEN

Work Carried on by Bureau of Standards Aided by American Society for Testing Materials

By G. Willard Quick, Bureau of Standards

The serviceability of a number of commercial insect screen wire cloths has been the subject of a cooperative investigation by the American Society for

Testing Materials and the Bureau of Standards since

1920.

Committee D-14 of the society was organized at that time to initiate the program. The committee consisted of representatives of manufacturers of the wire,

of the woven wire cloth, and of the fabricated screens, together with representatives of several Government

departments. The Bureau of Standards’ representative was made chairman of the committee and of the

subcommittee on tests. It was thought that under

this arrangement the laboratory tests and the gathering of data on weather exposure tests which might

extend over a number of years would be done by a continuing responsible body in a strictly impartial manner. Standard specifications for nonferrous insect screen

cloth, sponsored by the committee, have been accepted

by the society and are published in the American Society for Testing Materials Standards, Part I, 1930,

page 773. Materials to be investigated were furnished by the

members of the committee. Laboratory tests and the

preparation and setting up of the specimens for ex- posure to the weather in a variety of atmospheric conditions were carried out by the Bureau of Standards.

The atmospheric exposure tests have been under way

for about seven years. The exposure specimens are

in the form of screens of No. 16 mesh, woven from

uonferrous wire, 0.0113 inch in diameter and of seven

different compositions. Two of the compositions, tlie 90 copper, 10 zinc, and the unalloyed copper, corre- spond, respectively, to class A and class B materials

of the specification referred to above. The other materials are all obtainable commercially under various

trade names. The nominal compositions of the seA^en materials are shown in Table 1.

Table I.

Approximate composition of ivire cloths

No. Copper Zinc Nickel Tin Alunii- nuiB

1 Per cent90

80

7530

10098

95

Per cent

1020

5

Per cent Per cent Per cent

2

3 20

4. 70

5

6 . ... 2

7 5

Each kind of cloth Avas placed in three types of

frames; namely, (1) 30 by 36 inch wood, (2) 30 by 36

inch copper, and (3) 12 by 12 inch wood. The cloth

Avas mounted in the large frames by a manufacturer

of screens according to regular commercial practice.

The cloth in the small Avood frame was mounted so as

to be under very little tension. The wood frames Avere painted Avith white-lead paint free from such impurities as might be harmful Avhen Avashed OA^er the clotli.

Through the courtesy of several Government bureaus, the materials Avere exposed at four locations

representing different corrosive conditions; namely,

the Bureau of Mines at Pittsburgh, Pa., with a heavy ” industrial atmosphere ; the Bureau of Lighthouses at Portsmouth, Va., Avith a temperate seacoast atmosjjhere and considerable industrial contamination; the Panama Canal, with a tropical seacoast atmosphere; and the Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C., with a normal inland atmosphere and no

industrial contamination. The seven materials Avere exposed in each of the three types of frames at the

four locations ; hence, 21 specimens are under observation at each location, or a total of 84. Through the cooperation of several Government

laboratories, daily determinations of the sulphurdioxide content of the atmosphere over a period of one year were made at or near the four exposure stations. These results Avere published in the Proceedings, American Societ}^ for Testing Materials, Vol. 30,

1930, Part I, page 864. After seven years’ exposure no failures have oc- cured in any of the screens exposed at the Bureau of

Standards. A number of screens exposed at the other

stations haA^e failed. Portsmouth^ Y

a

. —After four years’ exposure, material No. 2 failed in the large wood frame, and subsequently in the other two frames. The cloth became

very brittle and fell in pieces when slightly crushed.

The fractures of the material showed a deterioration

of the alloy by dezincification, which had penetrated

deeply into the wires and had rendered them quite

brittle. Small holes were found in some of the other

materials but they appear to have resulted from some

external object striking the screens. The wires in

materials 3 and 4 were in good condition and were

not brittle, whereas the wires in materials 1, 5, 6 and 7

became somewhat brittle. Pittsburgh^ Pa. —After four years’ exposure material No. 4 failed, and since that time failures occurred

in materials Nos. 2 and 7. The other materials show

heavy coatings of corrosion products, but no further

failures have been reported.

Panama Canal. —The only failures occurring at Panama were in screens of material No. 2. The fail- ures started after about four and one-half years of

exposure. After five and one-half years’ exposure the

failure had progressed so that the screens Avould have

been unfit for service. The specimens mounted in the

small frames were destroyed by vandals several years

ago, so that only the materials in the large frames

remain at this location.

Exposure tests .

The exposure tests have not proceeded far enough to ascertain the extent to Avhich

they parallel the laboratory accelerated corrosion

tests. HoAvever, the exposure tests checked the laboratory results for the alloy Avith 80 per cent of copper and 20 per cent of zinc, Avhich has failed at three

exposure stations and giA’en the poorest results in

accelerated corrosion tests. On the other hand, the
152 COMMERCIAL. STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 19:’.3

alloy with 30 per cent of copper and 70 per cent of

nickel which withstood repeated immersion in weak

sulphuric acid and in the salt-spray tests with less loss in weight than the other alloys was the first to fail at Pittsburgh; hence, the laboratorjr tests did not serve

as a criterion for this service. No failures have oc- curred with this alloy at the seacoast and Bureau of

Standards.

Details of the exposure tests and of some laboratory

tests on the materials are given in the Proceedings,

AMERICAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION

Current develoinnents of the following standardization projects under the auspices and procedures of

the American Standards Association have been re- ported by that association

Spur-gear tooth form.—A new American standard,

spur-gear tooth form, has been aproved. It is a combination of the data on the 1414° composite system and

the 20° stub involute system approved by the association

in 1927 as an American tentative standard, with new

data referring to the 141/2° and 20° full-depth involute

system. The committee having charge of the project

is jointly sponsored by the American Gear Manufacturers Association and the American Society of

Mechanical Engineers.

Steel-flanged fittings.—The new American standard,

steel-flangecl fittings and companion flanges, recently

approvecl, is a revision of the American tentative

standard. In this revision, the pressure ratings of 250

and 1,350 pounds per square inch, have been increased

to 300 and 1,500 pounds per square inch, respectively.

The standard now covers the same flanged fittings as the old standard, and in addition to these fittings for a maximum steam service pressure of 150 pounds per

square inch at 500° F. (or 100 pounds per square inch

at 750° F.) and flanged base-fittings for pressures of

300, 400, 600, and 900 pounds per square inch, companion flanges are given for the pressure ratings of

150, 300, 400, 600, 900, and 1,500 pounds per square

inch. The 3i/2-inch size flanged fittings in the 900 and

1,500 pound series have been established. The revision

of the standard has resulted in changes of certain

dimensions, such as the minimum metal thickness of some fittings which was increased on account of the

increase in two pressure ratings.

Electrical standards committee.—The electrical

standards committee, at its November meeting, as- sumed sponsorship for the following projects organized under A. S. A. procedure, which were formerly

under the sponsorshiji of the American Institute of

Electrical Engineers and the National Electrical

Manufacturers Association : Insulators for electric- power lines, power-switch gear, electrical measuring

instruments, and rotating electrical machinery.

The project on power-switch gear is a consolidation

of two former projects, oil circuit breakers and disconnecting and horn gap switches. The new project has

the following scope: Oil circuit breakers, large air

circuit breakers, disconnecting and horn gap switches.

The committee also approved a new scope for the

project on electrical measuring instruments as fol- lows: Definitions, classification, rating, methods of

test, and construction details for all types of elec- trical measuring instruments, but not including (1)

American Society for Testing Materials, volume 26,

1926, Part I, pages 487-498. In volume 30, 1930, Part

I, pages 864^880, the status of the exposure tests and

the results of determinations of sulphur dioxide in the

atmosphere at the exposure stations are given.

The present status of the exposure tests will be published in the Report of Committee D-14, Screen Wire

Cloth, Proceedings, American Society for Testing

Materials, volume 32, 1932, Part I, which will be

available within a short time.

watt-hour meters, (2) demand devices and their auxiliary apparatus, and (3) low precision or special

instruments.

A new project on transformers, which is a consolidation of the projects on instruirient transformers,

recommendation for the temperature operation of

transformers, constant current transformers, and

transformers, induction regulators, and reactors, has

been initiated. The scope is as follows: Formulation

of standards for transformers (exclusive of auto transformers used as part of auto starters, automotive ignition transformers, and communication trans- formers), voltage regulators of the induction or transformer type, and reactors.

STEEL SPIRAL RODS

Revised simplified-practive recommendation No.

R53-32, steel spiral rods for concrete reinforcement,

has been accorded the required degree of written ac- ceptance from members of the industry, and became

effective as of December 15, 1932. The diameters of the fourth simplified rods listed in

the original recommendation remain unchanged in the

revised program. Their corresponding areas, in square inches, however, have been added to the table

of simplified sizes. A detailed tabulation which shows

the application of the sizes of simplified reinforcing

spirals to all normal column core diameters with one- fourth inch intervals of vertical spacing between successive turns, has been included to facilitate the use of sjjiral rods by specifying authorities.

CANADA LISTS “APPROVED ” MOTORS

The Canadian Engineering Standards Association

has recently completed the first draft of Essential

Requirements and Minimum Standards Covering Electrical Equipment (Specification No. 11) Construction

and Test of Fractional Horsepower Motors. These

specifications cover general requirements, construction

details, markings, and tests—all related to fire and cas- ualty factors. Under the existing Canadian conditions, the

hydroelectric power commission’s testing laboratories

at Ontario, the Dominion laboratories of Canada at Ottawa, or Underwriters’ Laboratories, may list or approve motors complying with these specifications.

In those Provinces where required, only motors listed by one of these laboratories will be accepted for sale. No definite time has yet been set for the adoption of

the requirements.
JANUARY, 1933 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 153

APPLICATION TO TEXTILES OF SIMPLIFIED PRACTICE

Cooperation of Bureau of Standards with Industry to Eliminate Redundancy and Reduce Variety of

Products

By Edwin W. Ely, Bureau of Standards

Simplification when applied to industrial products

consists of reducing unnecessary variety and of select- ing from among a large number of sizes or types the

particular items in sufficient demand to justify establishing them for regular stock purposes. The idea of

simplification is not new; in some form or another, it is as old as industry itself. The first attempt at nation-wide simplification was made during the World War, when the War Industries Board surveyed the entire field and assisted in- dustry in eliminating nonessential items and in establishing those items which should be placed in regular

production. The result was a great increase in essential items, reduced to fewest practical sizes and types,

and the release of enormous quantities of basic materials for war purposes.

The division of simplified practice was established

in the Bureau of Standards following the war, when

peace-time activities required economies in production, distribution, and use similar to those obtained

by simplification during the war. Its function was

to assist industry, with the difference that cooperation

by industry was to be voluntary. With the establishment of this division, the term “ simplified practice ”

first came into our industry. Simplified practice is simplification applied throughout an entire industry,

rather than by a single company. It is a voluntary

activity, in which manufacturers, distributors, users, and all other concerned with a jiarticular article or commodity cooperate to reduce the number of varieties regularly manufactured as “ stock ” items. The

division of simplified practice does not initiate projects, nor does it attempt to dictate or even suggest

definite things to be done. Most simplified jiractice

recommendations are initiated by the manufacturers

of a product, but they may be initiated by distributors

and users, and quite frequently the original suggestion comes from a distributor or a user. The experience of the division of simplified practice has shown that the success of a simplification

project depends on four fundamental steps: First, a comprehensive survey of the demand for existing variety; second, a sound and conservative elimination

of nonessential items, with proper consideration of

the needs of all groups affected; third, enlisting the

active support of producers, distributors, and con- sumers; and fourth, maintaining interest and adherence by keeping the program abreast of current practice through periodic revision. The work in connection with steps 1 and 4 is carried on through committees selected by the industry, called, respectively,

the simplified practice committee and the standing

committee of the industry. These act as liaison agencies and perform the necessary duties which precede

and follow a general conference. The simplified practice committee, usually composed of representatives

of one element of an industry ; for example, producers

develop step 2 in the procedure in cooperation with

the entire group, and often with existing committees

152694—33 -2

of other groups, such as distributors. Quite often

the simplified practice committee is an existing committee of a trade association appointed to cooperate

with the division of simplified practice.

The third step in the procedure is undertaken by

the division, following a general conference where

the recommendation of the simplified practice committee is presented for the consideration of all ele- ments of the industry concerned with the commodity.

The general conference approves the appointment

of the standing committee, composed of representatives of each branch of the industry ; that is, manufacturers, distributors, and users, and this committee carries out step 4. The standing committee through its chairman represents the industry in respect to all questions which may be brought up during the life of the recommendation, and generally it is the agency

through which the industry may be promptly consulted on any question of operation or revision. This

committee also receives all information showing departures from the recommendation, and applies such

corrective measures as appear to be in the best interest

of all concerned.

Various industries have utilized the clearing-house

facilities of the division in the development of recom- mendations in the past 10 years, and a total of more

than 130 recommendations are in effect to date. Of

these, several are for textiles, or for commodities in

which textiles are used.

One of the first recommendations developed was for

beds, springs, and mattresses. As a result, bed sizes were reducecl from 78 varieties to 4, automatically

reducing the number of sizes of stock mattresses. Since textiles are used in the construction of mattresses as well as mattress covers, this program was

of direct benefit to the textile industry. The simplification of bed blankets made of cotton, wool, and cot- ton and wool mixed, reduced the number of sizes of

blankets from 78 to 12. Those concerned with this

program have recently expressed the opinion that

further reduction in the number of stock sizes could

be effected without interfering in any way with the

normal requirements of the trade.

The simplification program for hospital beds, like

the earlier one for beds, springs, and mattresses, had

for its purpose the reduction in the number of sizes in current production, which in turn required the

jiroduction and distribution of a large number of sizes of springs and mattresses. As these components are bulky, much storage space was needed for stocking

only a few sizes. The program effected a reduction

in number of lengths from 33 to 1, and number of

widths from 34 to 2, one of which was considered

“ Special.” The benefits to the textile industry result- ing from such a program can readily be appreciated.

Another program of great importance to that portion

of the industry concerned with production, distribution, and use of cotton duck is the simplified practice

recommendation for this material, which has been in
154 COMMERCIAL, STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1933

use for many years. This program established, the

widths for the various numbers of duck and the weight

per square yard. The reduction in variety was from

460 to 90 for stock purposes, with resulting economies

to manufacturers, distributors, and users. The recommendation for hospital and institutional cotton textiles is of equal importance to producers,

distributors, and users of textiles. This project was

proposed by the American Hospital Association after a study of their requirements, and was accepted by

the industry for promulgation by the division of simplified practice. It covers sizes of bed pads, pillowcases, sheets, draw sheets, spreads, towels, etc., for

hospital and institutional use, and resulted in reduction in variety from 675 items to 26. Elastic shoe goring is a textile into which is woven

rubber threads during the process of manufacture.

It is used in certain kinds of shoes and slippers. The

simplified practice recommendation developed by the

industry, for stock varieties of this material, resulted

in a reduction from 70 to 29, considering widths and

qualities of this material.

The recommendation for surgical gauze covers widths and constructions of surgical gauze and crinoline in bolts; and constructions, widths, and lengths

of bandage rolls, bandages, and package goods. In

this case the industry was able to reduce the variety of

constructions of this material, from 15 to 7. A recom- mendation for surgical dressings, made of surgical

gauze, has recently been approved. This recommendation is based on a study made by the hospital research

and information department of the American College

of Surgeons, in cooperation with hospital executives,

surgeons, manufacturers, and scientific laboratories.

The results of this study were made available to all concerned through the development of the simplified

practice recommendation at the request of the American Hospital Association. The program covers no- menclature, sizes, and methods of preparation of the

following dressings : (1) Sponges, dressings for sponging and wiping; (2) abdominal pads, dressings for

walling off; (3) sterile guaze dressings, dressings to

cover incisions after operations; and (4) pads, dressings to absorb drainage after operations. The methods of preparation of these dressings are illustrated by

sketches showing the sequence of folds, sewing, etc. Tabulated information gives details as to the amount

and kind of gauze to be used for each class and kind of

dressing.

Fast selvage Terry towels, or Turkish towels, were made in 74 sizes, betAveen 16 by 30 inches and 24 by 48

nches. The industry’s simplification program reduced

these sizes to six, which are now the regularly stocked

sizes for this kind of towel.

Various other recommendations have been developed

for commodities in the production of which textiles enter in some form or another. Among these are coated abrasive products, adhesive plaster, and full disk buffing wheels. Twines of all kinds are classified as textile products and in these industries four simplified practice recommendations have been developed.

These are: Hard fiber twines, soft fiber (jute) twine,

polished cotton twine, and flax and hemp twine.

These programs established twine numbers, or ply,

feet per pound, tensile strength, and put ups for the

various kinds of finished and unfinished twines made

of hard fibers, jute, cotton, and flax and hemp. Each

program effects substantial reductions in variety for

regular stock purposes.

Other textile products and related items have been

suggested for simplification from time to time. One

of these, of great importance to the entire textile

industry, covers textile machinery parts, such as bobbins, spindles, spools, paper and wooden cones, and

paper tubes. Part of the program for textile-machinery parts was recently approved by a general con- ference of the industry. This program deals with

paper tubes and cones used for winding various kinds

of yarns. This recommendation specifies the length,

inside diameter, and weight per 1,000 for parallel

paper tubes, and the length, taper, and weight per

1,000, etc., for paper cones. Its adoption should result

in the benefits which have been found to follow the

adoption of a simplification program.

WALNUT VENEERS

The commercial standard grading rules for walnut

veneers, as approA^ed by a general conference of the

industry, were circulated for the acceptance of the

trade on November 10, 1932, and thus far they have

been indorsed by 106 companies, representing the leading producers and users of the product.

Certified Grading of Walnut Veneers is the title of an announcement issued by the American Walnut

Manufacturers’ Association Avhich explains the plan as

folloAvs

Certified walnut veneers.-—The American Walnut Manufacturers’ Association, representing approximately 70 per cent of

all domestic Avalnut veneers, is pleased to announce the inauguration of a system of grading walnut veneers. Plans for grading of walnut veneers were formulated by a group of veneer producers and were then submitted to a number of important panel and furniture manufacturers to assure

a plan which would serve the interests of veneer consumers in every particular. The grading rules as finally adopted and

here set forth represent the ideas and efforts, therefore, of pro- ducer and consumer alike. These rules have been thoroughly

proved at test inspections during the past six months'; and

they have already been strongly indorsed by a number of indi- vidual purchasers.

Under this plan, specifications for minimum quality are de- termined and all A’eneer footage is graded in accordance with

these specifications.

They constitute complete assurance of uniformity of

manufacture, and in addition, serve to increase greatly

the yield value to the purchaser.

It is confidently believed that the new grading specifications will eliminate much of the doubt from the

purchase of walnut veneers, will facilitate the selection

of proper stock from samples or swatches submitted, ancl will reduce manufacturing costs and will greatly

improve the guaranteed yield value.

Bonded quality. —Under the provisions of the

grading rules, all veneer must be of the same grade

as was the sample upon which sales are based. A lati- tude of only 4 per cent is allowed for unavoidable

human error. The producers who are operating under these grading rules have placed themselves under bond to meet

these exacting requirements. Should they fail to meet

the required specifications, one can readily secure adjustment—and the producer is under bond to see that

the adjustment is made promptly and satisfactorily.
JANUARY, 1933 COMMEBCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 155

U. S. S. R. REORGANIZES WEIGHTS AND MEASURES AGENCY

New Institute Will Foster Progress in Metrology and Standardization

In order to insure uniformity, correctness, and mutual conformit}^ of measures, measuring instruments,

and methods of measurement applied in science, engineering, industry, and commerce, the U. S. S. R. Main

Chamber of Weights and Measures has been reorganized into the All-Union Scientific Research Institute

of Metrology and Standardization (VIMS), under the

All-Union Standards Committee of the U. S. S. R.

State Planning Commission.

The primary functions of the institute includes:

(a) The development, construction, custody, and maintenance of reference and working standards obligatory

in the U. S. S. R. ; (&) adoption of technical standards

for standard measuring appliances (secondary standards) ; (c) checking of standard measures and measuring instruments, which are to serve for further

checking of measures and instruments, supplying the

former with special brands; {d) study and development of methods of physical and chemical measure- ments; (e) scientific and technical assistance in the

manufacture of measuring and controlling instruments

to be used in the Union; (/) to act as an expert

organization for the All-Union Standards Committee

as to problems of planning the production of measuring and controlling instruments as well as problems

concerning the import of such instruments from

abroad; (g) to elaborate projects of dimensional and

quality standards (specifications) in the field of measuring and controlling instruments, as well as to work

out, on the recommendation of the All-Union Standards Committee, draft standards and specifications for

items within the activities of the institute, and to draw conclusions on such draft standards and specifications; (/i) to develop scientific methods of control over adherence to the all-union standards ; {i) to train

and raise the qualification of workers in the field of

metrology; {j) to bring to a conformity, the plans of

scientific research work in the field of metrology,

which the committees of the federated Republics, state departments and institutions in U. S. S. R. are con- cerned with, and are to work out a compound all-union

plan for such work to be submitted to the All-Union

Standards Committee for approval; (k) to set up a

contact and cooperation with the committees of the

federated Republics by means of mutual and regular

information on the progress of work and of mutual

assistance in scientific and engineering activities in

the field of metrology and standardization.

The institute is entitled to organize, with the permission of the All-Union Standards Committee: (a)

Commissions for scientific research work, consisting of

experts, foreign specialists included; (6) congxesses

and conferences for the elaboration of scientific re- search problems and metrology and standardization;

(c) competitions, lectures, shows, and scientific demonstrations relating to metrology and standardization; (d) to publish, through the publishing office of the All-Union Standards Committee, transactions,

scientific papers, reports, etc.; (e) to organize, in ac- cordance with the plans approved by the All-Union

Standards Committee, bureaus, laboratories, and auxiliary shops; (/) to receive from abroad, scientific technical books and papers, scientific instruments, appliances and materials, with the rights and privileges

granted to U. S. S. R. scientific institutions.

The institute is headed by a director, with two substi- tutes approved by the All-Union Standards Committee. The assignment of functions among these officials must be approved by the U. S. S. R. Standards Committee, which approves also the organization and procedure of work for the institute (VIMS).

For the solution of scientific research problems,

arising in the progress of work, under the director

of the All-Union Institute of Metrology and Standardization there is provided an advisory body, known

as the scientific and technical council, consisting of

the following members : The director of the institute,

his substitutes, individual workers of the institute, and

of members personally appointed by the All-Union

Standards Committee upon representation of the di- rector of the institute. The latter is entitled to invite

experts, whom he may consider necessarjq with deliberative votes. The scientific and technical council will

meet not less than once in every three months.

The maintenance of the institute is determined bj^

the estimates of the All-Union Standards Committee

of U. S. S. R. State Plaiming Commission and within

the budget of the U. S. S. R., and is entitled to use

the seal of the All-Union Standards Committee with

the name of the institute (VIMS) engraved thereon.

TYPE SIZE IN ADVERTISING WOOL AND

PART-WOOL BLANKETS

At a joint meeting of the merchandise managers and

sales promotion divisions of the National Retail Dry

Goods Association and a committee representing the

manufacturers of wool and part-wool blankets held in

New York, the following recommendation relative to

size of type for use in connection with labeling and advertising wool and part-wool blankets was adopted:

In advertising matter applying to part-wool blankets, the words “ not less than — per cent wool ” shall be shown in the same size and style, and as legible and distinct type, as the words part wool ” and shall follow immediately after the

words “ part wool ” or be set up within three consecutive lines

in the following order and relative position

Part Wool

BLANKETS

Not Less Than — Per Cent Wool

This recommendation has been approved by the

standing committee on wool blankets and at an early

date will be circulated to the industry for acceptance.

If it receives the indorsement of the industry it will

become a supplement of the Commercial Standard

CS39-32 for Wool and Part Wool Blankets and be in- cluded in the next edition of the printed pamphlet.
156 COMMEKCIAL STANDAEDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1933 STANDARD CLASSIFICATION OF FELDSPAR

Chairman of Standing Committee Reviews Status of Commercial Standard for Feldspar

By B. 0. Bukgess*

When the classification for feldspar (CS23-30) was drawn up it was realized that there might be points

which would need revision from time to time, so provision was made for annual meetings to consider recom- mendations for revision. A majority of the consumers and producers of feldspar accepted this standard when

it became effective on September 1, 1930.

There seems, however, to be some need for a clearer

understanding of the classification. The following

questions have come up

(1) Assumption that the standard Avould destroy

existing or established grades.

(2) An impression that the classification is a set of grades on which feldspar producers have standardized which would cut out indiiddual consumers’ specifications. (3) The physical classification, based on the designated mesh and 200-mesh, has been considered inadequate by some consumers. An explanation of these points is

;

(1) The commercial standard does not interfere

with existing grades. Chemically its scope covers the

entire range of alkali feldspars. Physically it covers

the full range of particle sizes in general use in the

ceramic industry. Its effect is felt to be rather toward

giving an adequate and comprehensive means of classi- fying the existing grades according to the SiOg content and the ratio between alkalies. (2) Individual consumers’ specifications are in

most cases a help to the feldspar producers, and all of them welcome individual specifications from their

customers and adhere to them as far as possible.

However, all of these specifications can be classified

according to the commercial standard grades, though

the commercial grade may be wider than the individual specification. The individual specification

then serves as a supplement to the standard.

(3) The physical classification according to particle size is a remarkably close specification as to grinding. However, it represents limits which are commercially practical to maintain on all of the types

of grinding equipment now in use for grinding feld- spar. At the time the standard was drawn up it

^ Manager, Tennessee Mineral Products Corporation, Spruce Pine, N. C. ; chairman of the standing committee on commercial standard for

feldspar.

was realized that additional grain sizes might need to be added to complete the physical classification. To

determine the extent of this classification a large number of siey^e analyses of feldspar ground and classified in different types of equipment Avere plotted and the

relation at 200 mesh was shoAvn to be maintained on

the finer meshes down to 325 mesh. In consideration

of these data the committee decided to allow the

original size classification to stand rather than to complicate the standard by specifying limits on finer

sieves. Use of the commercial standard for feldspar has a number of advantages over any other means of classi- fication now in use. Some of the advantages that may

be mentioned are

(1) Silica content is a major factor in controlling

the shrinkage and thermal expansion of a ceramic

body. Specification of silica content is of great as- sistance along this line. (2) Fusion point is primarily a factor of the ratio

between the alkalies, another of the fundamentals of

the commercial standard.

(3) Certification that the material is of the specified

grade under the standard is an excellent assurance to the user as to what he is getting.

(4) Standardization of particle size simplifies cali- bration of classification equipment and allows the producer to furnish more uniform grades, thereby giving

the consumer less trouble from lack of uniformity of

size.(5) The consumer has a direct comparison of prices.

(6) The comparison of quality is simplified.

(7) The standardization allows the producer to give

better values, more uniform quality, and better service.

The questions raised during the first year and a half

of the operation of the commercial standard for feld- spar are the ones outlined above. The committee will

welcome suggestions concerning the standard and will

be glad to offer explanation of any points in the standard Avhich are not clearly understood. Those not having copies of the standard may secure it from the

Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing

Office, Washington, D. C., for 5 cents per copy.

The standards committee of the American Ceramic

Society has requested that feldspar be included in the

1933 report of the committee.

CERTIFICATION PLAN FOR GRAY-IRON

CASTINGS

A certification plan is being developed by the Gray

Iron Institute through which casting buyers will be

able to purchase castings produced for a particular

service condition, according to Arthur J. Tuscany,

manager of the institute. Under this plan members of the institute will submit

a test bar from each heat of iron to be checked at the

laboratories of the institute. The technical department of the institute will then furnish the member

complete information as to the results secured in his

bar and, if necessary, the steps to pursue to maintain

or improve the quality of his output.

By this arrangement, every foundry producing certified gray iron Avill be under the direct technical

control of competent authorities, who will only certify

as to the quality of members’ output after a given

organization has shown conclusively that it is able to produce iron of the quality under consideration. The

certification plan requires continuous testing of bars

so that members who avail themselves of the plan must

maintain specified quality in their product.
JANUARY, 1933 COMMERCIAL STAKDAEDS MONTHLY 157

STANDARD METHODS OF TEST FOR METAL-WORKING TOOLS

Industrial Engineer Presents His Views on Standard Methods of Tests, and of Presenting Test Results,

for Metal-Working Tools

By Robert Cobet Deaile, IndAistnal Engineer

While much information has been published on various phases of the cutting of metals, the production

superintendent attempting to make use of this intelli- gence, finds it very difficult to set feeds and speeds in

his own shop. Practically all of this information is incomplete, and therefore of little value in other than

the shop where the tests ivere made. To make full use of available experimental work, not only should

the experimenter give full information as to all pertinent details, but there should be a certain amount of

standardization in the method of making the tests, and

of presenting the results. It would be highly desirable to be able to make

exact comparisons of two different tools, whether of

tool steel or other material, as for example, stellite or tungsten carbide, and to know exactly how much better one may be than another. While it may be known

in general that one tool is better than another, it is highly desirable to know the amount of this difference

when there is a difference in cost between the two. At present, the manufacturers of metal-cutting tools

give only very general instructions as to the permissible speeds and feeds to be used with their tools. In

selling them, they rely on unsupported assertions as

to the merits of their tools, or, in cases where the

amount of the prospective sale warrants the procedure, they put an application engineer in the shop of

the prospective purchaser. This man, who does not seem to be supplied with any definite information as

to possible speeds and feeds, depends on a series of

trials to determine the best speeds and feeds to be

used on each operation. By this means, it is not at all uncommon for the new tool to be credited with a large

gain over the tool previously used, when it might have

been possible to have run the old tool at a greatly

increased speed. While these men are usually excellent mechanics, and consequently are able to improve

conditions greatly when the shop has been depending

on their own mechanics in the past to find the best

speed and feed for each cut, it is believed that these

practices are neither economical, nor do they insure

that the shop makes use of the best tool for each

operation.

It should be possible to buy a tool, with a guarantee

as to its performance under standard conditions,

which may be duplicated in any shop, should it be

desired to check the guarantee. A guarantee of this

kind might very well consist of a performance curve

for the tool, under standard conditions. A performance curve of this sort, which would consist of a series of curves giving the cutting speed as a function

of feed, for a given depth of cut, in a standard test material, as for example, S. A. E., No. 1020 steel. Curves designed to show the comparative value of some particular material for use as a cutting tool,

might well be based on a standard size of tool, such as a % by 11/4 inch forged tool. The experiences of the writer—and in this he is confirmed by other industrial engineers—indicates

that it is entirely possible to make up standard information in the form of curves which will be entirely

applicable for all shops of a given class. To make

such curves of universal use the power required for

any cut must be given, so either speeds or size of cut may be reduced when necessary to prevent overloading of shop equipment. To be complete the results of

any metal-cutting test should include the following

information

1. Cutting speed.

2. Feed.

3. Depth of cut.

4. Tool life (with a notation as to the method of

determining the end point).

6.

Horsepower required.

6. Type of metal cut, giving complete identification, so that the test might be repeated in another

shop if desired. Steel may be designated by S. A. E.

number or by composition. A hardness test, such as Brinell or Rockwell, is desirable, particularly if the

steel is heat-treated before the test. Tests with cast iron should report the presence of any important

alloying element, i. e., as nickel, while the Brinell

number should be given as the best available indication of the hardness of the metal.

7. Material of tool. (The heat treatment of highspeed steel tools should be in general accordance with

the recommended practice for heat treatment of the

American Society for Steel Treating.)

8. Dimensions of tool.

9. Shape of the tool.

10. Rake and clearance angles of the tool.

11. Description of the machine on which the test was made. (As this is largely in order to indicate the

possible influence of the machine in causing tool breakdown, any abnormal looseness in the machine

should be reported, because of its great effect on the

results.

)

12. Definition of tool condition at the end of the

test and method of determining the end point.

13. The coolant used, if any, and the approximate

quantity supplied per minute.

Of the above, particularly in those tests designed to measure the relative value of various tool materials,

there are a number of points which might well be

standardized, in order to facilitate the comparison of

results, and to make comparisons more reliable. These points, with a suggested form of standardization, are outlined below.

1. Form of data.—All data shall be presented by means of curves showing the variation of cutting speed

for each feed, for a given depth of cut, and a given

size and form of tool.

2. Tool life.—The cutting speed shall be given on

the basis of a tool life of 60 minutes. If possible, six to eight tests shall be made for each point of the curve, and the cutting speed computed from an average of

these results. In most cases, it will be satisfactory to make the test cuts from 10 to 15 minutes long, and
158 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1933

reduce the cutting speed determined from this condition to that for the 60 minute tool life by use of an

equation of the form YT"'=g^ as developed by F. W.

Taylor, in which Y is the cutting speed, T is the tool

life, and n and g are constants for any given cutting

conditions.

3. Metal Gut.-—All data made up for the purpose

of comparing tool material and form shall be based on the cutting of S. A. E. No. 1020 steel, or of gray

unalloyed cast iron having a Brinell hardness of 150

to 180.

4. Tool. —All data ni4de up for the purpose of comparing tool material and form shall be based on the

use of a standard % by I14 inch roughing tool.

5. Preparation of the work pieoe. —Before any test cut is taken, the test piece shall be inspected, and if it is found to be eccentric, tapered, rough from a pre- ceding cut taken with an unusually wide feed, or glazed from a tool failure, a light truing cut shall

be taken to make sure that the test cut is uniform

throughout.

6. Test cuts. —When tests are being made on standard machine tools, in which the speed stejis are rela- tively coarse, it is recommended that the piece to be

cut be long enough to insure the destruction of the

cutting edge of the tool in a single pass.

7. Coolant. —All standard results shall be based on

dry cutting, although additional work showing the

effect of a coolant is highly desirable.

There are relatively few published recommendations covering the feeds and speeds which may be used

with modern cutting tools. The Bureau of Standards

has done valuable work in this connection, but very

little other than this may be used with any confidence.

Incidentally, this work by the Bureau of Standards

is the only published information since the classic paper. On the Art of Cutting Metals, presented more

than 25 years ago in a paper to the American Society

of Mechanical Engineers, by Frederick W. Taylor, in

Avhich the cutting of metals is presented in a way to be

thoroughly useful to any shop, as well as giving complete information as to the conditions of the test. Cutting data, determined from a standardized

method of test which may be repeated in any shop,

and presented in a standardized manner, will be of

great value in giving the machine shops of the country information which will enable them to obtain the

maximum productivity. The purchase of cutting

tools would be placed on a definite basis, as the manufacturers of such tools would furnish data showing

the speeds at which their tools will run under definite,

reproducible conditions.

Tools believed to be defective could be checked

against a known standard. Mechanics could be given

a chart showing the proper speed to use for any combination of feed and depth of cut for any metal cut. If properly used, such data would enable much more

effective use of the present shop equipment, and en- able costs of production to be reduced materially.

MEASURES TO PROTECT HOME VALUES

PROPOSED

To the millions of Americans who have seen their

investments in lots and homes shrink in the present

deflation the President’s Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership offers, in the publication

of Volume IV of its reports, a timely and commonsense program to increase the stability of residential

property.

Instability is due primarily to the periodic booms

to which American real estate is subject. These booms

are said to be based on false hopes inspired by igno- rance of the true situation. Knowledge of the per- centage of vacant lots, of new construction, of real

estate transfers, of vacancies, and of related phenomena in each community, correlated with a knowledge

of the population trends of the community would, ac- cording to the report, deflate these false hopes and pre- vent booms and their after effects. The report analyzes long-time trends, seasonal variations, cycles, and

random movements and illustrates each with pertinent

examples selected from the history of real estate in this

country.

As a further protection of the home-owner’s investment, the volume includes some carefully detailed advice to the prospective home owner on many points,

including time of purchase, location and neighborhood, features of construction, budgeting the purchase, and zoning and deed restrictions. In this con- nection the report says : “ The decision to buy a home

should not in any way depend upon making profits

out of buying a home for resale. The satisfactions

of home ownership do not depend upon making

money out of holding the property.”

The present volume, called Home Ownership, In- come, and Types of Dwellings, contains part of the

program formulated by the President’s Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership at its meeting at Washington in December, 1931, to raise the

standard of American housing. The complete reports

of the conference have been published in 11 volumes,

which can be purchased for $1.15 each, postpaid, from

Dr. James Ford, President’s Conference on Home

Building and Home Ownership, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C.

WATERPROOFED COTTON FABRICS

In order that the waterproofers and tent and awning manufacturers may have an opportunity to study

the method of test developed at the Bureau of Standards by W. C. Smith, research associate of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists,

and proposed by that association for use in establishing a system of rating and classifying waterproofed

fabrics, outlines of this method have been circulated

to the industry for comment.

The proposed test will include exposure of the sample for 45 hours to a fadeometer, a mechanical aging

treatment which consists in drawing the sample back

and forth under a thin weighted bar in such a way

that the sample is subjected to bending, rubbing, and

distortion. This operation is performed when the

sample is dry and again when it is wet. The specimen

is then clamped over the side of a box in a position

so that it receives the full weight of the water as the

box is filled. The proposed rating of the fabric is based upon the quantity of water that flows through

the fabric in a given time.
JANUARY, 1933 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 159

WHY QUALITY STANDARDS?

Consumers Demand Means of Judging Quality and Justifying Complaints

By I. J. Faiechild, Bureau of Standards

In examining the questions, “Why are commercial

standards ? ” “ What is the incentive for the establishment of commercial standards ? ” and “ What needs

do they fill ? ” it seems natural to consider the woman’s

point of view since women buy at least 85 per cent

of consumer goods.

On September 29, 1932, Miss Neysa IMcMein summed

up the resentment of American womanhood against

so-called bargains, when she said to a national meeting of retailers:

While I’m a little vague on the facts, and don’t know whose

fault it is, I do know it’s wrong to advertise and sell a dress

that will barely last until you get home, and won’t clean, and

pulls out at the seams. This isn’t economy. It just makes

poor people poorer. The

women who can shop around

and afford a good dress are so cross with such “ bargains ” that they end up by not buying anything at all. * * * It may be a little tw’o-faced for me to stand up here and

complain about bargains, be- cause I’ve always loved them. But I’ve reformed. I have

wasted heaven knows how

much money, and I’ve had an

expensive and dreadful lesson. So give us our money’s worth,

and we’ll go through your

stores like locusts. Mr. Earnest Elmo Calkins, an experienced advertising consultant, in an article in the December, 1932,

Atlantic Monthly says

“ Quality ” is an elusive word. A low-priced article can be good of its kind, can have quality within the limits of its price. The contention is that poorly made merchandise is masquerading as something better, that it is being misrepresented. It is not the bargain that it pretends to be. It is not better goods sold at a sacrifice, but cheap goods sold at a

liberal profit. If the consumer knew what she was buying, she would not buy it ; but she is not an expert in much that she buys. * * * gpe thinks that the cheap, shoddy,

scamped goods are the products of the conscientious manufacturers, or at least some of the same grade. She finds it difiicult to discriminate. Even the professional buyers of the

retail stores are sometimes fooled. Mr. Loring A. Schuler, editor. The Ladies’ Home

Journal, in an address before the recent Boston Conference on Retail Distribution, said : From all over the country there come to my desk letters from exasperated buyers pouring out their complaints against

fly-by-night dealers who had fooled them. As you may imagine

it would be both difiicult and embarrassing for a woman to burn a piece of silk thread to find out how much tin was in the fabric or to slice open the upholstery of a chair to see what might be underneath. This brings us to a point on which there has been a good

deal of talk but not much action. How can the consumer know? By what means can she learn to buy? Deplorable

as it may seem, recent events have left many women in so suspicious a frame of mind that they are beginning to doubt

even what they know to be true. “ You urge us to buy trade- mark goods,” one woman wrote me only a few days ago, “but how are we to know that it is not a gigantic racket?”

The buyer, whether acting for a large corporation,

a department store, or a .single family is confronted

with a bewildering variety of products, prevalent

propaganda, clever claims, glittering guarantees,

salient sales talk, and adulant advertising which are

difiicult to evaluate. How can he compare quality or value with any degree of safety or assurance?

Whether he plans to purchase a carload of sheets for

a group of hotels or a clinical thermometer for the

home, where and what is the yardstick for quality ? Buyers have indeed lost confidence in many products, and manufacturers and retailers are anxious to restore that confidence, for confidence is the keynote

of all commerce. The establishment of commercial

standards provides a basis for restoring confidence in

a given commodity. Let us consider briefly some of

the various methods

which have been e m - ployed in the direction of

making the unscrupulous

manufacturer and retailer

behave.

Perhaps the most com- mon method is legislation.

When a manufacturer

loses an order to a competitor as a result of unfair

methods or when a buyer

finds himself cheated by

an unscrupulous seller the

cry frequently arises “ there ought to be a law.” Indeed, certain groups have been successful in placing

upon the statute books of the Nation, acts intended to prevent cheating in interstate commerce. For example,

there is the national stamping act of 1906, forbidding

the false stamping of gold and silver articles with particular reference to fineness; the food and drug act of

1906; the act on white phosphorous matches of 1912;

the oleomargarine act of 1902, amended in 1925.

Many groups have tried to have national legislation

enacted to correct trade evils but have fallen short of

their final goal for one reason and another.

It may be said that legislation is generally an unsatisfactory method of correcting trade evils, first, be- cause it is difiicult to obtain an agreement as to the

form and substance of national legislation on any

given commodit}^ ; second, for most ordinary commodities enactment of national legislation would constitute an abrogation of State’s rights; third, legislation by individual States is generally uncoordinated

and confusing for those who are trying to do an inter- state business; fourth, legal regulations attempting to control quality tend to become fixed and are not suffi- ciently flexible to cover natural improvements which

develop from time to time ; fifth, legislative control of

quality, grading, or measurements usually involves

cumbersome and expensive means of enforcement

whether it is to be done by direct Federal policing or whether private initiative is depended upon to report

and prosecute violators; sixth, as a correction of trade

evils, legislation entails an unwarranted extension of

governmental function and taxation.

This is the first of a series of articles by

Mr. Fairchild, chief, division of trade standards, Bureau of Standards, searching into the

whys and wherefores of commercial standards : “ Who requests them ? ”, “ How are they

produced ? ”, “ How used ? ”, “ How en- forced ? ”, and how they have accomplished the

desired results without a corresponding ex- tension of governmental function.
160 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1933

Generally, those who propose legislation as a corrective have in mind only the single commodity in question and honestly believe that the necessary testinglaboratories or other policing methods are entirely

justified. Yet it seems obvious that the extension of

legislation for the control of quality so as to cover the

entire gamut of commodities from acetone to zinc or from apricots to yeast would entail an astounding ex- tension of governmental function and a corresponding

increase in taxation not comparable with the American

ideals. There is ample evidence of the interest being taken

in the proposition of providing some means of assur- ance to the consumer regarding the character of goods

juirchased. Several periodicals such as Good Housekeeping and Popular Science Monthly are making

laboratory tests of the items which they indorse as satisfactory, although it does not seem to be customary

to reveal the specifications or other -criteria upon which

indorsement is based.

Trade associations are standing behind association

grade rules and other standards through the use of

trade-association labels applied to the goods; for ex- ample, the “ lavelle ” label sponsored by the Silk Association of America which permits this label to be

used only on wash silk meeting the minimum specification of the spun-silk research committee, or the grade

marking and tree mark on lumber sponsored by the

National Lumber Manufacturers Association. Then

there is the trade agreement sponsored by large companies such as the crown label applied to rayon goods

and garments, under contracts with the Viscose

Company.

A number of organizations have sprung up with a view toward giving the consumer confidential information about various products or to hall mark the goods

which are recommended or to maintain and promote

quality merchandise in one way or another; for ex- ample, Consumers’ Research, National Standards

Council, Public Approval Bureau, Quality Standards

(Inc.), Quality League of America, National Quality

Maintenance League of America, American International Academy, Consumers League of U. S. A., and

Rice Leaders of America.

An increasing use of references to laboratory tests

is noted in national advertising, and when definite

laboratory data are lacking the advertisements are frequently embellished by photographs of laboratory

apparatus to give the impression that the statements

are based on scientific data.

It is clear, therefore, that there is a definite and

growing demand among buyers for real information

about the products they buy and for some authoritative assurance that they meet certain tests, that they

are definitely of certain grade, or that they are really

satisfactory for the service intended. The buyers are increasingly skeptical, and they insist upon proof of

the claims made or evidence of definite responsibility.

In other words, the buyers are no longer satisfied with ordinary guarantees; they are demanding and

receiving direct from the sellers certification based on

printed specifications properly established and re- corded, namely, commercial standards. They are in- sisting further that restitution or a satisfactorj'^ adjustment shall be forthcoming in the event the goods

are later found to be substandard.

SMALL HOUSE OF THE FUTURE MAY BE

REVOLUTIONARY

Houses of steel and copper, and even of aluminum,

as well as of wood and masonry, built at the factory,

with rooms such as the kitchen and bath completely

equipped, and the rest ready to be assembled at the

site, insulated against heat and cold and noise, cost- ing perhaps only half as much as the present small

house, and placed in cities virtually free from smoke,

are described as merely awaiting the application of

knowledge already largely in hand in the eleventh vol- ume of the reports of the President’s Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership.

This statement comes from a committee of nationally known scientists and engineers, led by the

late Dr. George K. Burgess, Director of the Bureau

of Standards. It is supported by a careful analysis

of practices and materials at present employed in

small-house building, which leaves no room for doubt

as to their relative wastefulness and inefficiency. For

example, the committee shows that the adoption of

the practice of welding pipe would permit the use

of thinner tubes and eliminate the laborious threading by hand at the site which now raises the cost of

plumbing. This practice, plus the possible reduction

of numbers of pipes, fittings, and fixtures by simplification and standardization, would, in the opinion

of one contractor who has installed a great deal of

welded piping, “ reduce the cost of heating and plumbing installations by one-half.”

The committee’s analysis takes no aspect of the pres- ent small house for granted, and concedes no authority

to tradition. Beginning with the foundation and cel- lar and going through the walls and floors and finishes to the roof, every feature of the house as we now know

it is made to answer as to whether present materials

and practices are less efficient than others that might

be used. As a result, a good many things which we now take for granted are found wanting. The universal practice of fabrication at the site and the use

of the sloping roof are alike condemned as costly

and unnecessary and practical substitutes are recom- mended. It is definitely shown that some of our pres- ent heating practices are wasteful and that it is possible to reduce the cost of heating to the home owner

and eliminate the dirt and the smoke nuisance.

This final volume of the President’s conference re- ports, entitled “ Housing Objectives and Programs,”

completes the program, formulated by the conference

at its meeting at Washington in December, 1931, to

raise the standard of American housing. The report

of the committee on standards and objectives gives a picture of the quality of housing that Americans ought

to enjoy. The statement of these standards reveals

how far short of the possible our present housing falls. It also reveals the complex nature of housing—its dependence upon the neighborhood, public utilities, the

financing system, and the government of the community.

The 11 volumes of the conference reports can be

purchased for $10.50 a set, postpaid, or for $1.15 each,

postpaid, from Dr. James Ford, President’s Conference on Home Building and Home Ownership, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C.
•TANTTAIiY, 1933 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 161

EXPERIMENTAL WORK FORECASTS PLUMBING ECONOMICS

Progress of Interest in Good Plumbing Traced and Experimental Work Conducted at the Bureau of

Standards Briefly Described

By George N. Thompson, Burcati of Standards

Millions of dollars are spent on elaborate waterworks systems to provide a pure water supply. Other

millions are devoted to sewage disposal. All this, for

a few brief moments when the water emerges under

pressure from a closed system of pipes, is used, and

then disappears through the beneficence of gravity

into an ojien system. These critical moments of use

are when the plumbing system comes into play. If it does its work well, there is no danger to health, no

offensive odor, no unsightly and destructive overflowing. If otherwise, the money and care spent at the

points of origin and disposal of the water may be

wasted. It is not, then, simply plumbing with Avhich

Ave liaAT to deal and to think about, but a great co- ordinated system in Avhich plumbing is an essential

link. The problem of iilumbing design is a special and

complicated one. There are certain materials to be

moved—considerable water, a great deal of air, and a

relatiA^ely small amount of waste material. The rate

at which the water and waste floAVs away depends on

a number of factors, such as the size of pipe, its slope,

the condition of its interior, the number of bends, and

so on. Some means has to be provided to get rid of

the air, since this will tend to block the water and

eATn blow it back through some fixture. Rain water

has to be conducted off from the roof so that it will

merge with the house drainage without disturbance.

In spite of the need for accurate knoAvledge, plumbing until comparatiATly recent j^ears has remained a neglected subject. The reason for this is simple. A

century ago primitive means of disposal, still observable in spai’sely settled districts but representing

merely folklore to the most of the younger generation, were sufficient. Where running Avater was available in urban districts buildings were comparatiATly

low, served with feAV plumbing conveniences, and con- sequently expense was not much of an item.

With the coming of higher buildings plumbing

became a matter of real concern. It was no longer

possible to deal with a situation simply by providing

a pipe obviously too large for any possible demand

upon it. Rather, attention Avas directed to sizing

pipes so that they bore some relation to expected demands. The controlling force was, of course, cost, and this was felt to be a matter of importance in all buildings, since owners of dAvellings Avere commencing to think in terms of complete bathroom and

kitchen equipment instead of merely having running

cold water. But, as plumbing is primarily concenied

with health and convenience, it Avas evident that reductions in cost must not extend beyond the point where

these considerations Avere paramount. The question was hoAV far could we go in effecting economies or, more properly speaking, what Avere the absolute neces- sary features for health and convenience.

Up to this point the field had been left almost ex- clusively to the master plumbers, among Avhose numbers there were certain progressive members who at- tempted practical experiments and demonstrations.

Plumbing regulations had grown up, based on observation and experience, but these varied widely and

there Avas no common stock of scientific information.

The hydraulic engineer was largely preoccupied Avith

problems of Avater suppl}'^ and distribution. But the

importance' of plumbing as the connecting link in the

complete system of sanitation could no longer be

minimized.

To-day, as the result of cleA'elopments occurring

since the war and chiefly in the last decade, a nCAv at- titude toward plumbing is eAudent. The research that

has taken place in university laboratories and at the

Bureau of Standards has gone far in substituting facts

for opinions.

The work at the Bureau of Standards has been

divided into two phases. The first Avas concerned

with plumbing in dwellings and similar buildings.

Tj^pical layouts Avere tested under various conditions

and the results obtained were submitted to qualified

sanitary engineers and others for interpretation.

The second phase is an extension of the first and is concerned Avith performance in higher buildings.

The experimental work noAv going on is being done

in a tower 12 feet square and 100 feet high, sur- mounted by a 3,000-gallon tank. Ten floors in the

structure proAude locations for A'arious plumbing fix- tures that may be used in various combinations and

the results noted at stations along the drainage pipe.

By Auarying the type and size of this pipe a very good

idea of Avhat happens in plumbing systems is obtained.

As the work progresses observations in existing buildings Avill be made, so that a correlation betAveen ex- perimental work and actual Avorking conditions should

be established.

The original experimental Avork was performed to establish a basis for issuing recommended minimum

requirements suitable for use in local plumbing codes.

The vai-ying and often conflicting requirements in use throughout the country Avere studied by the subcommittee on plumbing of the Department of Commerce

building code committee and the tests, performed

at its suggestion, Avere directed toward clearing up

points AAUere there Avere outstanding differences

of opinion. Later recommendations by the subcommittee have extended by the scope to higher buildings, but in a tentative way. They Avere prepared by

using the experimental data on small installations

together Avith obsei’A'ations in high structures, both

Avhere no trouble had occurred and where difficulties had developed.

It is these difficulties that indicate the need for

caution in reducing pipe sizes noAv required and used

Avithout some more substantial basis than theory and

opinion. AVith the facts fairly Avell established it

Avill be possible Avithin (lie next feAv years to indicate
162 COMMEECIAL STANDAEDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1933 more precisely just how far we can go in more eco- nomical plumbing installations. At that time, further recommendations will be made available.

The connection of health with good plumbing is so

close that scientific determination of what is neces- sary touches the daily life of every citizen. Health

is, and alwa3

^s will be, the prime concern, but the citizen is also entitled to know whether the plumbing

systems now in common use do what they are supposed to do and whether some requirements are really

necessary or merely represent an inroad on his pocketbook without conferring any particular benefit. The

work now going on should go far to establish a basis

that may be accepted with confidence.

HARD-FIBER TWINE AND LATH YARN

Printed copies of the revised simplified practice rec- ommendation No. R92-32, hard-fiber twine and lath

yarn (ply and yarn goods), are now available and can

be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents,

Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., for

5 cents each.

The revised recommendation is based on a survey of

current demand made by the standing committee of

the industry, composed of representatives of manufacturers, distributors, and users. Important features

of the revision are the substitution of classes for fiber names and the addition of lath yarn to the schedule.

As in the original recommendation, the program deals

with twines made of hard fiber only, such as Manila,

Java, New Zealand, Sisal, and Istle. The original recommendation resulted in a reduction from 1,304 kinds and put-ups to 391, corresponding to the elimination of 70 per cent in 8 classes. The

current revised schedule reduces the 8 classes to 5, with 1 quality in each class. The number of put-ups

is increased to provide adequately for the requirements of all sections of the country.

STREET AND HIGHWAY SAFETY

The activities of the National Conference on Street and Highway Safety were directed, during the past

year, mainly toward assisting States and municipalities in bringing State motor-vehicle laws and municipal traffic ordinances, signs, signals, and markings

into harmony with the uniform vehicle code and other

standards prepared and recommended by the confer- ence for nation-wide adoption. The recent contribution of the conference toward this end consisted largely

in supplying detailed information regarding the rec- ommended standards and the beneficial effects of these measures in the States and municipalities which have

adopted them.

A significant feature in the progress of uniform

motor-vehicle regulation in 1931 was the adoption in several States of the Middle West and Far West of

the standard drivers’ license system with examination

of all new drivers, which had previously been in effect only in the North Atlantic States and California.

Early in 1932 Virginia was also added to the States

having drivers’ license laws in harmony with the uniform Operators’ and Chauffeurs’ License Act of Uniform Vehicle Code.

Another feature of the legislation adopted by eight

States in 1931 and 1932 based on the uniform vehicle

code has been a closer adherence to the text of the code

than in any previous legislative periods.

Thirty-four States now have adopted the code in

whole or substantial part or have made changes in

their motor-vehicle laws bringing them into closer harmony therewith.

The model municipal traffic ordinance was adopted

by a number of cities and towns during the past year

and further progress has been made in the adoption

of standard traffic signs, signals, and pavement markings.

Work is now under way to develop complete uniformity in traffic signs, signals, and markings in both

urban and rural districts. The national conference on street and highway safety and the American Association of State Highway Officials have created a

joint committee to combine and make any desirable

revision of the manuals for these traffic guides and

markers, prepared by the two organizations, respectively, for urban and rural districts. This is one of a

series of steps to, promote uniformity in traffic laws,

ordinances, and driving practices throughout the

country.

Research work on several projects, recommended by

the executive committee of the national conference as urgently important to promotion of safe and orderly

traffic conditions, has accordingly been undertaken by

the Bureau of Public Roads of the Department of

Agriculture under authority of the Federal Aid HighAvay Act. The Bureau of Standards is also assisting

with needed research work.

The conference and its participating organizations

are continuing close cooperation with State and local

officials responsible for traffic conditions.

STANDARDIZATION OF CAST-IRON SOIL PIPE

AND FITTINGS

The standardization of cast-iron soil pipe and fit- tings was actively undertaken by industry in January,

1931, with the American Society of Sanitary Engineering and The American Society of Mechanical Engineers as joint sponsors under the procedure of the

American Standards Association. The work of devoloping this standard was divided into three main

subdivisions: (1) Nomenclature, (2) materials, markings, and inspection, and (3) dimensions and weights.

A standard nomenclature has been completed, consisting of terms and names of the component parts of

soil pipe and fittings, which it is proposed to recom- mend for promulgation. The work on materials,

markings, and inspection has resulted in the development of a simplified specification compared with that

now in use, but which is nevertheless more rigid in

the essential features, and will therefore be better

suited to meet the exacting requirements of presentday practice. The third subdivision, that of dimensional standards and unified weights for soil pipe and

fittings, is necessarily of prime importance, and with

the exception of a very feAv items is ready for final approval by the committee members and distribution

to industry at large for review and comment, according

to C. B. Le Page, assistant secretary, American Society

of Mechanical Engineers.
JANUARY, 1933 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 163

STANDARD APPLIANCES AND FLEXIBLE CORDS

City of Chicago Conducts Educational Campaign to Eliminate So-called “ Substandard ” Grades

By Charles K. Ckegier '

The records of the bureau of electrical inspection

of the department of gas and electricity of the city

of Chicago for the past two years indicate that the

fire department has responded to a great number of

fires directly traceable to inferior appliances and

materials, commonly termed “ substandard.”

This resulted in a considerable loss to the public,

and a great expense to the city for the cost of attending these fires. During the past two years the use of

such appliances and materials has resulted in manjr

electrical shock accidents and four fatal electrical ac- cidents. The constant increase in fires and accidents,

due to the increased use of substandard appliances,

caused the department of gas and electricity much

concern and presented a serious problem.

The corporation counsel of the city of Chicago was

consulted with the object in mind of enacting an

ordinance to prohibit the sale of substandard materials and devices in the city. It was his opinion

that such an ordinance would prove unconstitutional

in the courts and he suggested that, “ the best way to control the situation at the present time in the absence

of express authority from the State legislature au- thorizing cities to license the sale of electrical appliances, is through the education of the public as to the

inherent danger of substandard equipment.”

Much time and effort are expended by the bureau of

electrical inspection to guarantee the owner of buildings a safe and secure electrical installation. The

high degree of safety from fire and accidental contact by persons, guaranteed by the Chicago Electrical Code,

is in most instances broken down by the attachment

of unsafe portable appliances equipped with substandard flexible cords.

The bureau of electrical inspection of the city of

Chicago is a public service organization maintained

by the citizens and operated to safeguard life and

property by the enforcement of an ordinance, the Chicago Electrical Code. To carry into effect the cor- poration counsel’s opinion “ that the way to control

the situation was by the education of the public as to the inherent danger in the use of substandard portable

appliances and materials,” and to give to the public

the fullest measure of protection in electrical safety,

and to comply further with the corporation counsel’s

opinion, “ that it was the duty of the department of

gas and electricity to educate the public to the dangers

involved in the use of substandard portable appli- ances and cords.” The commissioner of the department

of gas and electricity immediately sanctioned an educational campaign of the public, by the bureau of elec- trical inspection, to eliminate inferior forms of flexible cord and to bring about the universal use of approved

flexible cords in the city of Chicago, bearing the new

bracelet identifying label of the UnderAvriters’ Laboratories, placed at intervals of five feet on the cord.

The electrical inspection bureau in its present educational campaign to eliminate inferior cords, is co-

* Chief electrical inspector, bureau of electrical inspection, depart- ment of gas and electricity, city of Chicago, 111.

operating with the National Electrical Manufacturers

Association (cord section). The bureau has no interest in this organization other than the elimination of

dangerous cords as a protection to life and property of

the people of the city. The new bracelet label of the

Underwriters’ Laboratories placed at 5-foot lengths on a cord, seems to be the ideal means of identifying

the approA^ed safe flexible cords. The following sys- tem or method for educating the public was adopted.

FiA^e of our most experienced inspectors were as- signed, part time, to this work and visited more than

500 jobbers, electrical dealers, contractors, hardware

stores, drug stores, A^ariety stores, and other retail outlets to learn of existing conditions and to measure

the interest of such agencies in the educational work

contemplated. These contacts brought much praise

for the proposed campaign, and the city was then di- vided into five zones and each of the special inspectors was assigned part time to a specific zone. Report

forms to cover each call were provided, upon which

a systematic follow-up might be based. A special

oral argument was prepared for the inspectors to fit the type of business called on. By the cooperation of

the cord section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, small stickers were furnished the

inspectors reading as follows:

Notice.—Electrical cord furnished in connection

with this order must have Avrapped around it, at

5-foot intervals, the new identifying label of Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc. Retail outlets were, as a matter of cooperating with

the inspection bureau, requested to use this sticker on

all future orders inAmlving flexible cords. Inspectors

also carried samples of nonstandard cords and of standard bracelet-labeled flexible cords to demonstrate the

differnece between the cords. To date, approximately

20 per cent of the retail outlets have been called

upon and the fullest cooperation has been assured.

Some appliance manufacturers were called on, and

slight changes suggested in the assembly of appliances, so that approA^ed labeled cords could be used.

One hundred per cent cooperation by the Chicago

daily newspapers, including foreign and English

languages, was secured by presenting our problem to the city editors, Avho immediately recognized the in- herent danger to the public from the use of dangerous

flexible cords, and realizing that the}^ Avere rendering an important service to their readers, published in their columns the message of Avarning from the elec- trical department. Many trade magazines have sent

inquiries requesting details as to our plan of procedure

in the educational campaign. The newspaper publicity brought many requests from women’s clubs, and

parent-teacher and civic organizations, for speakers

to carry the warning message appearing in the daily

papers direct to their respective membership.

Our experience in this matter to date has plainly

indicated to us the absolute necessity of endeavoring

to eliminate the use by the public of all forms oT substandard appliances, mateiuals, and devices, in the

interest of safety to life and property.
164 COMMEECIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1933 SPECIFICATIONS AND THE CONTRACTOR

A Contractor’s Views of Specifications With an Outline of Their Weaknesses

. B.y William D. Foy ^

When plans and specifications are completed they

are generally sent to a selected list of contractors for

competitive bids. The drawings as prepared by a competent architect are usually so excellent that they

provide a clear index of quantities of the various materials required and as a result there is little variation

in the quantitative analyses of the bidders.

When bids are received and opened, there is almost

invariably a considerable range between the high and

low bids, frequently as high as 26 per cent. The bidders are practically equal in ability and reputation.

There must be a variable factor somewhere. It lies in the contractor’s qualitative analyses of the requirements of the specifications and his speculation as to

just what will be the architect’s interpretation of the

superlative adjectives generally used in qualifying

materials, and his tolerance in the acceptance of alter- nates for products named and qualified with the words

“ or equal ” appended to them.

Each bidder is eager to secure the contract, and

under the competitive bidding system he is in effect selling short on the building market, paring his bid

to the lowest possible fi^ire, his hope resting on his

trading and buying ability to secure a profit.

The work done by general contractors themselves is generally confined to masonry and carpentry, and subcontractors’ bids are secured for the remaining

branches and used in compiling the general bid. The

speculation as to specification requirements is thereby more involved, as there is a great variation in subbid's

and the contractor is frequently placed in a quandary,

fearing to use certain of the low bids as received and

realizing that their use by competitors will result in

lower bids than his own. It may be said that the

uncertainty in bidding and the subsequent misunderstandings that so often arise are due more to indefiniteness in specifications than in drawings.

The use of superlative adjectives is indefinite. A

specification will require that all plaster surfaces be

lierfectly straight and true, when in actual execution

there are no such surfaces, at least not in commercial

work. There are many such instances scattered

throughout the text of the average specification.

Generally, in writing a specification the architect

in naming a manufactured product, specifies his first choice, adding the word “ or equal.” The “ or equal ” product assumed by the contractor may cost 50 per

cent less than the article named and this provision

gives rise to speculation as to Avhat will be accepted.

A specification should be definitely segregated by

branches to enable the contractor to secure definite

and clear subbids and care should be taken to see that

trade jurisdictional requirements are observed, so as

to avoid the trouble that will inevitably result if cer- tain elements are specified in the Avrong branches of

the work.

1 For many years tlie author was in charge of specifications and con- tracts for Holabird and Roche and Holabird and Root, architects ; now

with Ralph Renwick, general contractor of Chicago.

Considerable assistance has been afforded the architect by groups outside of the profession. Reference

IS made to the various associations formed by manufacturing groups, such as the Portland Cement Association, the various lumber manufacturers, the

associated tile manufacturei’s, and others. Their liter- ature is entirely reliable and truthful in setting forth

the uses, merits, and limitations of their products

and has proven inA^aluable to the specification writer.

Incidentally, this literature is most sparing in the use

of superlatives in describing tlie various products.

The schools of architecture turn out skilled designers

and draftsmen but giAT their students little or no

training in the matter of specifications. Specification Avriters are often accidental. A man Avitli general

experience in drafting and superintending is fre- quently selected for this task by his employer as the

necessity arises and by that mere chance becomes a specification writer. Incidentally, the writer has

uever met a specification Avriter Avho Avas in love Avith his task. The job is a difficult one requiring intense

concentration. If no trouble develops, the specification has performed its task, its praises unsung, but

let misunderstanding arise and criticism is heaped

upon it. The specification is a vital factor in the production

of a building, just as important as the drawings and

yet it is produced under the most severe handicap.

The specification writer is require to complete his

work simultaneously with the drawings, the architect being under pressure from his client as to time.

This means that the specifications must really be com-

[ileted ahead of the draAvings, as time must be alloAved

for proofreading, printing, and binding. As a result,

the specification writer has little opportunity to perfect his work and is forced to cover eleventh-hour

notes and changes in the drawings by addenda to the

specifications. These addenda may affect all trades

and force a great deal of refiguring and adjusting

of estimates by the bidders.

It Avould certainly save time to give the specification writer an opportunity for final review of his

specification after the completion of the drawings and

before bids are obtained.

As to training in this field, it would seem obvious

that such an important factor in architecture should

receive more attention from the schools and also from

the architectural societies and an opportunity to learn

specification writing should be extended to all who

are engaged in the profession. At present, it receives

less consideration than the preparation of the drawings.

The contractor woidd welcome a definite specification, containing a description or schedule that will

inform him of the location of the various materials as

Avell as qualifying them. Perfected specifications will

result in a far better understanding and unity of effort on the part of all parties concerned with carrying out

the intent of the specifications,
JANUARY, 1933 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY 165

GLASS CONTAINERS FOR PRESERVES,

JELLIES, AND APPLE BUTTER

Simplified practice recommendation No. R91-32,

glass containers for preserves, jellies, and apple butter,

has been accorded the required degree of written approval by all elements in the industry, and became

effective on December 15, 1932. This simplified practice recommendation was originally formulated by the industry in 1928. It is ex- pected that by the inclusion of the 48-ounce jar for

preserves in the new schedule, the recommendation

will prove of more value to the industry. The revised

program limits the stock sizes, based on avoirdupois

weight of the food content of glass containers for preserves to 9; jellies to 7 ; and apple butter to 4.

ELIMINATING UNSAFE EQUIPMENT

A campaign against the sale of electrical equipment

and merchandise not approved by the Underwriters’

Laboratories is being conducted by the Electrical

Department of the District of Columbia government.

To date the entire campaign has been educational, no

compulsory action being taken against the retailers. Representatives of that department point out the

hazard and lack of economy in substandard equipment.

The retailers, particularly the department stores, are urged to specify on all orders for electrical appliances

and equipment, that every piece shall have the approval of the Underwriters’ Laboratories. It is stated

that the stores are not only demanding that their merchandise be approved, but, in many cases, are insist- ing that a seal or sticker, indicating such approval,

be attached to each article. They are calling the at- tention of purchasers to the value of this labeling.

UNIFORMITY OF UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

EQUIPMENT

The underground mileage in coal mines of the

United States is one-fifth of that of all the steam rail- roads in the United States. With 50,000 miles of un- derground track over which cars operate in handling

coal from the 6,000 collieries in the United States

alone, it will be readily seen that the correct details

for underground track is a matter of very considerable

importance.

Chief among the problems of standardizing the details of underground track is that relating to uniformity of frogs, switches, and turnouts. Frogs and

switches last from three to eight years. When a new

one is needed it must fit. Unless standards exist that

maintain the dimensions of these track parts the same

over a long period of years, repair parts will not fit and

a considerable loss ensues. Again, there is the matter

of cars that jump the track when the projier track details are not supplied.

To meet this problem, the standardization division

of the American Mining Congress in 1926 formulated

standards, under the procedure of the American Standards Association, that have come to be pretty widely

used. A new edition of these standards called American Recommended Practice for Frogs, Switches and

- Turnouts for Coal Mine Track has just been issued

that brings up to date, revises, and reduces the number

of these items. The standards include all the struc- tural details for a complete mine turnout including

frogs, switches, plates, braces, etc. Complete assembly

drawings are included also, with over-all dimensions

for all standardized turnouts from a 3-foot 6-inch to a 10-foot switch.

WHEELBARROWS

Revised simplified practice recommendation No.

R105-32, wheelbarrows, is noAV available in printed

form and can be obtained from the Superintendent of

Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington,

D. C., for 5 cents a copy.

The original recommendation, as formulated by the

industry, contained 41 sizes and types of wheelbarrows. In the reAused schedule this number has been

reduced to 27. Designation numbers have also been

given the Avheelbarrows listed in the revised program.

The use of this uniform terminology by the manufacturers is expected to prevent confusion in the mind of

the customer.

ADVOCATES STANDARD LIMITATIONS FOR

SIZE AND SPEED OF TRUCKS

Standard maximum Aveight, height, length, and

speed limits for motor vehicles, limiting busses and

trucks to a speed of 45 miles an hour and barring all vehicles more than 35 feet long from the highways,

except by special permit, were recommended for adoption by the States in a recent statement issued by the

American Association of State Highway Officials, fol- loAving consideration of the problem at its recent an- nual convention in Washington.

Under the suggested standard requirements, solidtire vehicles would be limited to a speed of 10 miles an hour, no vehicle with or Avithout load could exceed

a height of 12 feet 6 inches, combinations of vehicles

could consist of not more than two vehicles with a

total length of not more than 45 feet, and no Avheel could carry a load of more than 8,000 pounds. The

load limitations, it Avas explained, should not apply

to metro]iolitan areas if the State so desires. The recommendations Avere described as necessary to establish one of the fundamental prerequisities of

highway design, to assure safety, and to promote

efficiency.

DOUGLAS FIR PLYWOOD

General aijproval of the commercial standard for

Douglas fir plyAvood has been indicated by a satisfactory majority of the trade, and accordingly an an- nouncement of the success of the project Avas circulated by the division of trade standards, Hni-eau of

Standards on December 15, 1932. This standard definitely outlines the several grades

of Douglas fir plyAvood and should facilitate the procurement of the proper material for its various uses. Mimeographed copies of the standard, designated

Commercial Standard CS45-33, may be obtained

gratis from tlie division of trade standards. Bureau of

Standards.
166 COMMERCIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1933 TO ENLARGE RAILROAD RESEARCH

Cooperative research on problems of railroad supplies and operation through the offices of the American

Railway Association, on a wider scale than ever

before, was planned at the recent annual fall meeting

of the association at New York City. More than 3,000

specifications, rules, and standards of importance have

already been adopted through such a program.

Topics slated for early consideration include the fol- lowing items of importance.

To determine what improvements can be made in

the manufacture of steel rails and car wheels ; whether

the exhaustive air brake tests recently completed by

the railroads, show that any changes are necessary in

present equipment, and, if so, what improvements

should be made; further standardization in the construction of freight cars with a view to increasing

their capacity but with a saving in weight of equipment; improvements in design of tank cars and tank

car appliances and devices ; standard specifications for

draft gears, which is the mechanism back of the couplers on cars designed to absorb the shock caused by the

starting and stopping of trains ; improvements in

crating and packing all kinds of freight in order to reduce the amount of loss and damage to commodities

in transit; modernization of terminals, shops, and

freight yards ; and standardization and disposition of

obsolescent materials.

MAKING BRITISH STANDARDS EFFECTIVE

In order to increase the benefits to be derived from

standardization by small consumers as well as large consumers, the British Standards Institution is licens- ing manufacturers to mark commodities made in ac- cordance with British standard specifications, with

the term “ British standard ” or its symbolic equivalent.

This labeling of specification-made goods, already

carried on for some time in certain commodity fields,

is now being expanded to cover the whole range of in- dustry, in view of the recently enlarged scope of the

institution. Penalties are attached to the misuse of

the “ British standard ” mark.

A number of the advertisements appearing in the

latest combined index of specifications and annual re- port of the British Standards Institution contain

guarantees of compliance with the requirements of

British specifications. Among the commodities for

which such guarantees are made are incandescent

lamps, lighting fittings, wires and cables, conduit and

conduit fittings, ammeters, voltmeters, transformers,

switches and circuit breakers, motors, motor starters, fans, and other electrical apparatus and supplies;

identification plates for pipe lines ; malleable iron pipe

fittings; and nonferrous alloys and products.

COLOR MARKING OF AIRPLANE EQUIPMENT

National standard colors for the identification of the

operating parts of airplane equipment are being used

with great satisfaction by the entire German airplane

industry, according to information received from the

Standards Committee on Aeronautics of Germany, by

the American Standards Association. The standard

colors are considered to be an important safety device,

because of the great number of pilots who frequently

change planes, so that familiarity with the location of

controls and equipment is important.

The standards, which are also being accepted by

other European countries, for use on handles, handwheels, etc., are as follows: Fire extinguishers, fire alarms, short-circuit switches, red; temperature regulator for cooling water (cooler valves), green; gas

levers (throttles), yellow; temperature regulator for

lubricating oil (coolers), brown; and ignition levers

(change of ignition), black.
JANUARY. 1933 COMMEECIAL. STANDARDS MONTHLY 167

NEWS IN BRIEF

The chapters of the American Institute of Architects can render a valuable service to the profession

by taking an active interest in building-code revision

and by urging the adoption of accepted national standards, states F. Leo Smith, in the structural service

department of The Octagon, the official publication

of the institute.

The British Standards Institution has issued a

specification for mortised, dowelled and ledged, and

braced doors for internal and external purposes. The

tables of dimensions, which provide for 27 British

standard door sizes, including garage doors, are based on the principle of uniform height, which, it is hoped,

will eventually replace the existing practice of varying the height of the door with the width.

Steadily growing in importance as a substance in

chemical and technoligical processes for industrial

purposes, wood is now being converted into a wide

variety of products other than lumber, ranging from

explosives and motor fuel to yeast and soap, according to the national committee on wood utilization of

the Department of Commerce, in an announcement

pointing out that the wood industry is gradually

changing into a series of coordinated industries.

. Garnet wheat will be graded as a separate variety in

the wheat crop of western Canada after August 1, 1933, if a bill to amend the Canada grain act, which

will probably be presented to Parliament early this year, is given approval. It is likely that only two

grades will be set up for the Garnet variety instead of

three, as recommended a year ago by Western Grain

Standards Board, this being a sufficient number in the

opinion of overseas buyers.

Standard time for railroads first became effective on November 18, 1883. Prior to that date there were some 80 different standards of time used by the rail- roads alone. In view of the fact that 1933 will see the observation of the golden anniversary of standard

time, readers of the Commercial Standards Monthly

should find Time Zones of the World by Ralph E.

Gould of the Bureau of Standards staff, which is scheduled for a forthcoming issue of the magazine, of

timely interest.

The American Electric Railway Association has

changed its name to American Transit Association,

and its affiliated organizations (engineering, accounting, claims) changed their respective names, the

former American Electric Railway Engineering Association becoming the American Transit Engineering

Association.

The National Electrical Contractors Association has

readopted its former name, changing it from the

Association of Electragists International by which name it was* designated for the past several years. The trade-mark Electragists will be retained for use with the association title by the members as identifi- cation of their membership.

The Exhibition of Chemical Plant and Equipment

(Achema VII) will be held in Cologne, Germany,

June 2 to 11, 1933, inclusive.

The Province of Manitoba has adopted the Canadian

Electrical Code, which has now been adopted by the

nine provinces of Canada. It is now possible to se- cure complete uniformity in electrical rules from

coast to coast. A “ sectional meeting ” of the World Power Conference will be held in Scandinavia in 1933 for the

purpose of discussing the supply of energy to largescale industrial establishments and transportation

services. The meeting will open in Stockholm, Sweden, on June 28, 1932, and continue until July 7.

“ Standardization is something much broader than

the various definitions invented for it by the critics,”

editorially observed the Saturday Evening Post of

November 19, 1932, pointing out that “ it is, in one

sense, the spirit of democracy applied to the forms of

everyday life. It is the one process by which some of

the finer things of life can be stepped down to the masses, and the sole method of distributing the direct

benefits of progress to everyone.”

In China the officially recognized standardizing

agency is known as the national industries standardizing committee, with headquarters at the Ministry

of Industries, National Government of the Republic of

China, Nanking. The committee is under the direction of a commissioner and general secretary, with

directors in charge of six divisions, covering civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, dyeing and textiles, chemicals, and mining.

The Canadian Engineering Standards Association

has announced the issuance of its publication. Standard Blade Punching for Road Grading Machinery.

The chief object of this standard is to secure interchangeability in the attachment of cutting blades and

mold boards used in road-grading machinery in Canada. This standard has been unanimously approved

by all highway departments in Canada as well as by

leading manufacturers of road-grading machinery.

In Sweden they have standardized the milk bottles

in sizes of one, one-half, one-third, and one-quarter

liters, according to information received from T. O.

Klath, American commercial attache at Stockholm,

Sweden. Provisionally, there has been accepted a standardization of industrial cost accounting terminology. Furthermore, states Commercial Attache

Klath, plans have practically been completed respecting the standardization of certain Swedish, Finnish,

Norwegian, and Danish wood products. The work in

Sweden is under the supervision of the Swedish Committee on Standards which, since 1929, has been active

in developing rules and standards for the products of

the Swedish machinery, iron, agricultural, building,

and electrical industries.
168 COMMEECIAL STANDARDS MONTHLY JANUARY, 1933 The Government of Luxemburg has established a board to inaugurate a system for the grading, classi- hcation, and standardization of agricultural and horticultural products grown within the Grand Duchy.

In guaranty of origin, quality, and condition of all agricultural and horticultural products, a national

mark will be created.

The November, 1932, issue of the Journal of Electrical Workers and Operators, reprints the article Interior Illumination, by G. H. Stickney and Walter

Sturrock of the General Electric Company, from the

September, 1932, issue of the Commercial Standards

Monthly. In commenting on the article the Journal

stated that the “ Bureau of Standards is taking the

lead in getting manufacturers, business men, managers,

personnel men, and labor, to realize the high conser- vation value of correct illumination. The value of

correct illumination depends upon adequacy of interior wiring.”

The standard sales agreement and trade customs of

the gray-iron industry defines clearly just what is expected of the seller and just what the buyer is to contribute to the transaction, thus eliminating misunderstandings, and saving money, according to Arthur J. Tuscany, manager, the Gray Iron Institute

(Inc.).

The Canadian Engineering Standards Association

has received the suggestion that consideration be given

tp the preparation of a safety code for passenger and

freight elevators. Certain Provinces and some of the

leading cities of Canada have rules dealing with elevators, but it is felt that uniformity in these rules is most desirable, and that they be as complete as possible. Invitations have therefore been issued by the

association to the various Dominion and Provincial

Government departments interested in the proposal,

as well as the leading technical and insurance organizations, and manufacturers, to cooperate in this study.

o
To determine whether an applicable specification exists for any

commodity—consult—

National Directory of

Commodity Specifications, 1932

which indexes the standards and specifications of trade associations, technical societies,

and other organizations nationally representative of some branch of American industry,

as well as those of governmental agencies that represent the Federal Government.

Uses the decimal system. Cross-references related specifications. Defines uses

of commodities, if known, when not self-evident from the title. Contains

comprehensive index.

The direct purpose of any wise cooperative effort in the adoption of specifications is to secure constructive application of scientific knowledge to service requirements; to co- ordinate similar demands and eliminate unessential differences; to balance increases

in cost against probable service improvements, taking full advantage of existing commercial varieties; and to formulate adequate test or inspection methods—all this result- ing in the development of greatly improved products, vital support to the national

movement toward simplification of lines, processes, and business practices, and marked

lowering of costs and prices. —Herbert Hoover.

Compiled by Bureau of Standards

IVI iscellaneous Publication No. 130

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

Price $1.75

Cloth bound

554 pages
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

ROY D, CHAPIN, Secretary of Commerce

“ * * * this department * * * is devoted solely to aiding and fostering the development of higher standards of living and comfort of our people * * * its ideals are clear: That by cooperation and not by compulsion it should seek to assist in maintaining and giving the impulse of progress to commerce and industry in a nation whose successful economic life underlies advancement in every other field.” —President Hoover, at the laying of the corner stone of the new building of the U. 6". Ddfjartment of Commere, June 60, 1939

AERONAUTICS BRANCH, Clarence M. Young, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics. Establishment of civil airways and maintenance of aids to air navigation; inspection and registration of aircraft and licensing

of pilots; enforcement of air traffic rules; investigation of acci- dents; encouragement of municipal airports; fostering of air commerce; scientific research in aeronautics; and dissemination of information relating to commercial aeronautics. (Some

of these functions are performed by special divisions of the Lighthouse Service, the Bureau of Standards, and the Coast and Geodetic Survey.)

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS, William M. Steuart, Director. Taking censuses of population, mines, and quarries, water

transportation, and religious bodies every 10 years; censuses of agriculture and electrical public utilities every 5 years; and a

census of manufactures every 2 years. Compilation of statistics of wealth, public debt, and taxation, including financial statistics of local governments, every 10 years; annual compilation of

financial statistics of State and municipal governments.

Compilation of statistics of marriage, divorce, births, deaths,

and jjenal and other institutions annually, and of death rates in

cities and automobile accidents weekly.

Compilation quarterly or monthly of statistics on cotton

wool, leather, and other industries; annually of forest products.

BUREAU OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE,

F. M. Feiker, Director. The collection of timely information concerning world market

conditions and openings for American products in foreign countries, through commercial attaches, trade commissioners, and

consular officers, and its distribution through weekly Commerce

Reports, bulletins, confidential circulars, the news and trade

press, the monthly Survey of Current Business, and district and

cooperative offices in 65 cities. The maintenance of commodity,

technical, and regional divisions to afford special service to American exporters and manufacturers. The compilation and distribution of lists of possible buyers

and agents for American i^roducts in all parts of the world and

publication of weekly lists of specific sales opportunities abroad. The publicity of statistics on imports and exports. The study of the processes of domestic trade and commerce. BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Lyman J. Briggs, Acting Director. Custody, development, and construction of standards of measurement, quality, performance, or practice; comparison of standards used by scientific or other institutions; determination

of physical constants and properties of materials; researches and tests on materials and processes; and publication of scientific and technical bulletins reporting results of researches and

fundamental technical data. Collection and dissemination of information concerning

building codes and the planning and construction of houses. Establishment of simplified commercial practices through

cooperation with business organizations in order to reduce the wastes resulting from excessive variety in commodities.

BUREAU OF MINES, Scott Turner, Director. Technical investigations in the mining, preparation, and

utilization of minerals, including the study of mine hazards and

safety methods and of improved methods in the production

and use of minerals.

BUREAU OF MINES—Continued.

Testing of Government fuels and management of the Govern- ment Fuel Yard at Washington.

Research on helium and operation of plants producing it. Studies in the economics and marketing of minerals and col- lection of statistics on mineral resources and mine accidents. The dissemination of results of technical and economic

researches in bulletins, technical papers, mineral resources series, miners’ circulars, and miscellaneous publications.

BUREAU OF FISHERIES, Henry O’Malley, Commissioner.

The propagation and distribution of food fish and shellfish, in order to prevent the depletion of the fisheries; investigations

to promote conservation of fishery resources; the development

of commercial fisheries and agriculture; study of fishery methods,

improvements in merchandising, and collection of fishery statistics; administration of Alaska fisheries and fur seals; and the protection of sponges off the coast of Florida. BUREAU OF LIGHTHOUSES, George R. Putnam,

Commissioner.

Maintenance of lighthouses and other aids to water navigation. Establishment and maintenance of aids to navigation

along civil airways. Publication of Light Lists, Buoy Lists, and

Notices to Mariners. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY, R. S. Patton, Director. Survey of the coasts of the United States and publication of charts for the navigation of the adjacent waters, including

Alaska, the Philippine Islands, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin

Islands, and the Canal Zone; interior control surveys; magnetic

surveys; tide and current observations; and seismological investigations. Publication of results through charts, coast pilots, tide tables, current tables, and special publications.

BUREAU OF NAVIGATION AND STEAMBOAT INSPECTION, Arthur J. Tyrer and Dickerson N. Hoover,

Assistant Directors. Superintendence of commercial marine and merchant seamen. Construction and administration of navigation laws covering

documentation, ship mortgage act, entry and clearance, move- ment of vessels, welfare of seamen, admeasurement, load line, adjudication of fines, collection of fees, tonnage tax, etc. Compilation of Federal statistics of tonnage and merchant seamen. The inspection of merchant vessels, including boilers, hulls, and life-saving equipment, licensing of officers of vessels, certi- fication of able seamen and lifeboatmen, and the investigation

of violations of steamboat inspection laws. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, Thomas E. Robertson,

Commissioner.

The granting of patents and the registration of trade-marks,

prints, and labels after technical examination and judicial

proceedings.

Maintenance of library with public search room, containing

copies of foreign and United States patents and trade-marks. Recording bills of sale, assignments, etc., relating to patents

and trade-marks. Furnishing copies of records pertaining to patents. Publication of the weekly Official Gazette, showing the patents and trade-marks issued.

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1933